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B SECTION • THE CRITTENDEN PRESS • THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2018

Home and GardenSPR

ING

PHOTOS BY ALLISON EVANS, THE PRESS

Michael and Jackie Wood spent two years turning a mistreated home on Levias Road that they purchased in fore-closure into a 3,200-square-foot dream home. Above, the couple stands in their newly-renovated kitchen. The be-fore-and-after comparisons on this page show the exterior (top), and interior hallway (just below), the living room(middle) and the basement (bottom). Additional photos on Page 9B show more of the transformation.

FixerupperCouple flips shabby homeinto house oftheir dreams

PHOTOS & STORY By ALLISON EVANSTHE CRITTENDEN PRESS

It took two years of blood, sweat– and even a few tears – forMichael and Jackie Wood to

reach the vision they had for asmall, run-down home purchasedout of foreclosure.Location drew the young Crittenden

County couple to the property on LeviasRoad. It certainly was neither the floodedbasement nor storm-damaged roof. Theyfound holes in the bathroom ceiling andkitchen, and vandalism had left basementwindows in shambles. The sight of themolded siding, sunken roof and deplorableinterior didn’t scare the couple away either. This wasn’t their first real estate flip. They

knew going in what to expect.They purchased their first fixer upper in

Colorado while Michael was enlisted in theU.S. Air Force. Sadly, with the crash of thehousing market in 2008, they sold it for thepurchase price and felt fortunate. It didn’t deter them from trying again

upon returning to Kentucky. They faredmuch better when they flipped a home inLivingston County, doubling their moneyupon its sale.Then they turned their sights to the house

in the Levias community near Michael’s fam-ily, living across the road in a double-widewhile waiting for the bank to release theirnext project from foreclosure.As they fixed up the mobile home they

were living in, they looked out their frontdoor at the 1,500-square-foot home that wasin desperate need of … well, everything. Itturned out to be a complete gut job, startingwith a basement full of water from stormdamage, busted pipes and months of neglect.When they finally were cleared to purchase

the early 1990s home from the bank, the cou-ple – with three children under age 9 at the

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See FIXER/Page 9B

METRO SERVICESJust when winter thaws

out and people are anxiousto enjoy the blooming flow-ers and luscious lawns ofspring, pesky pests can ap-pear and impact comfortlevels and safety.

Many pests resume theirlevels of activity as springdraws closer and tempera-tures warm up. The pres-ence of these insects androdents may cause prob-lems in and around a home,which makes it essential torecognize them and avoidissues. The following aresome of the more commonspring pests and how toremedy infestations.

- Pavement ants: Pave-ment ants are some of themost common pests resi-dents encounter inside andoutside of their homes.These ants are light brownto black with appendagesthat are lighter than the restof their bodies. Small instature, pavement ants haveparallel lines on their headsand thorax, according topest extermination com-pany Orkin.

Although pavement antsnest outdoors, they canenter homes through smallcrevices in search of foodscraps. Their large coloniesmay not disappear untiltreatment is introduced.Keep foods in tightly sealedcontainers, clear countersand floors of crumbs, andaddress water sources, suchas leaks. Pesticides may beneeded in extreme condi-tions.

- Fleas: Fleas are tiny,jumping, biting pests thatmust find a host uponwhich to live. As ectopara-sites, they feed on bloodwhile living on the body of

living hosts. Pets can bringfleas inside the yard andhome in warm weather. Ac-cording to the University ofCalifornia Statewide Inte-grated Pest ManagementProgram, flea larvae developmore quickly at higher tem-peratures. At normal roomtemperatures, the entire lifecycle of a flea is about 18days.

Several flea control prod-ucts are available to controlfleas on cats and dogs. Therealso may be powders andsprays to alleviate flea infes-tations in the home. Vacu-uming is also very effectivein killing larvae in the carpetand at picking up adults.

- Wasps: An errant wasp,hornet or yellow jacket mayhave survived winter andridden out the colder tem-peratures within a home.Once the weather warms,queens will begin to look forplaces to lay eggs and estab-lish colonies. Treating areaswhere wasps are seen en-tering and leaving the homeis key. Seal holes as soon as

possible.Although wasps help

control other insect popula-tions, their painful stingsand potentially aggressivenature can make them chal-lenging to have around ahome. If a nest is found, hirea professional to remove it.

- Spiders: Many spidersare not harmful enough tohumans and pets to bemuch of a problem. In fact,spiders can be helpful tohave around to control thepopulations of other insects.Still, many homeownerswould prefer these web-slinging friends remain out-doors. Therefore, sealingcracks in a home’s founda-tion and repairing smallopenings around windowsand doors can help keepspiders out. Also, alleviatingmoisture issues in base-ments, garages or attics maykeep out other bugs thatwould be prey to spiders.

Homeowners can takethe steps necessary to cutdown on pests in andaround their homes.

2B | SPRING HOME & GARDEN THE CRITTENDEN PRESS, Marion, Kentucky 42064, Thursday, May 10, 2018

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In the springtime, with warmer weather, pesky insectslike ants (above) can appear and impact comfort levelsand pests like wasps and spiders can affect safety.

From ants to wasps, pestcontrol rite of springtime

METRO SERVICES

Gardening attracts newdevotees year after year.While Baby Boomers mayspend more on gardeningthan any other demographic,even millennials are gettingon the gardening band-wagon.

A 2016 National Garden-ing Survey from the NationalGardening Market ResearchCompany found the averageamount spent on backyard or

balcony gardening projectsexceeded $400 per house-hold. More than $36 billionwas spent in 2015, and thevast majority of the 6 million“new” gardening householdsbelonged to millennials.

When it comes to outfit-ting a gardening shed, gar-deners will not want to bewithout certain tools andgear.

- Shovel: A rounded-blade digging shovel is

needed to plant shrubs andtrees as well as to excavateareas in a landscape.

- Rake: A rake can beused to clear the ground, re-move thatch and leavesfrom a lawn and level soil ina garden bed.

- Hand tools: Hand tools,such as a hand fork andtrowel, are essential forsmall digging jobs, espe-cially when working withflower pots or containers.

- Edging spade: This flat-blade shovel is handy tohave around because of itsversatility. Edging spadescan slice turf, edge gardensand cut through roots.

- Pruners: Sharpenedpruners cut through stemsand branches effortlessly.

- Hose: Choose a high-quality hose that is light-weight and durable, ashoses will always be neces-sary.

THE CRITTENDEN PRESS, Marion, Kentucky 42064, Thursday, May 10, 2018 SPRING HOME & GARDEN | 3B

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Technology is infiltratingevery room of the house.Many new home buyers aremillennials, and this tech-savvy demographic covetstechnological innovations.

A recent survey by BetterHomes & Gardens Real Es-tate indicates 77 percent ofGeneration X and Y homebuyers want their homesequipped with the tech ca-pabilities they have grownaccustomed to. Many ofthese involve smart innova-tions, including those thatcan transform one of themost private rooms in thehouse — the bathroom.

Automated home the-ater rooms and Wi-Fi-en-abled home securitysystems have become thenorm, but what tech im-provements are available tomake the powder roommore in touch with today’sdigital lifestyle? Accordingto the home improvementresource The Spruce, bath-rooms have the most poten-tial of any rooms to beimproved with technology.The following are just someof the bathroom gadgetsand gizmos no one shouldresist before giving a try.

- Automatic faucets: In-

frared sensors have beenhelping keep public rest-rooms more hygienic foryears. The same technologycan be used in home bath-rooms to curtail waterwaste and keep faucets andsinks from becoming in-fested with germs. In addi-tion, faucets with built-intimers can be programmedto set tasks for brushingteeth or washing your face.

- Musical shower: In-stead of having to blast thevolume on the portablespeaker you use in the bath-room, a wireless speaker is

built into some shower-heads. This enables thosewho like to sing in theshower or listen to podcastswhile washing up to enjoythis luxury effortlessly.

- Smarter weight man-agement: Bathroom scaleshave gone high-tech as well,with various options en-abling users to measureweight, BMI and body fatpercentage before sendingthe data wirelessly to aphone, tablet or computer.This can put you in greatercontrol of fitness goals.

- High-tech toilets: Bor-

rowing ideas from bidetsand trends around theworld, modern toilets donot require hands or paper.These toilets have tempera-ture-controlled water,spritzing wands and airdryers to clean and sanitize.Self-cleaning toilets helpbusy professionals savetime and are ideal for thosewho always want theirbowls as clean as possible.And if you desire extra com-fort, toilet seat warmers areavailable, while LED lightscan make nighttime rest-room visits easier.

- Soaking tubs: As fast asstand-alone showers wereintroduced to the modernbathroom, tubless designshave been replaced withstreamlined soaking tubs.Tubs come with differentfeatures, including chro-matherapy, which employscolored lights to enhancemood. Air baths are con-trolled electronically andprovide different levels ofsensation for those who areskipping the hot tub.

Round out these innova-tions with automated lights,chilled medicine cabinetsand aromatherapy, andyour bathroom will indeedbecome a technological spa.

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A recent survey by Better Homes & Gardens Real Estateindicates 77 percent of Generation X and Y home buyerswant their homes equipped with the tech capabilities,including those that can transform one of the most pri-vate rooms in the house — the bathroom.

Bathrooms going high-tech

Rake, pruners, hose tools of gardening trade


METRO SERVICES

The arrival of a new sea-son can be an excitingtime. Homeowners mayhave renewed vigor to starthome renovation projectsor even tackle some clean-ing and organization tasks.Before the weather startsto warm up too much,homeowners may want toevaluate their home cool-ing needs and ensure thatall equipment is in goodworking order.

Spring air conditioninginspections and tuneupsare essential steps in sys-tem performance. Home-owners should not take forgranted that a system thatperformed optimally lastyear will do so this yearwhen temperatures climb.Various factors, includingweather damage, dust andgrime, mechanical wearand tear, and even rodentor insect infestations, cancompromise HVAC sys-tems. Since HVAC systemshave so many movingparts, a thorough inspec-tion of such systems cansave headaches and moneydown the road.

According to Heating

Ontario, the extremeweather conditions thatcome along with fall andwinter can be especiallytaxing on homes and thesystems that keep themcomfortable. During aspring visit, an HVAC tech-nician will perform main-tenance on the airconditioner and make sureit is ready for the heat ofsummertime. This mainte-nance may include clean-ing the unit, checkingcontrols, calibrating thethermostat, lubricatingmoving parts, checking re-frigerant levels, tighteningelectrical connections, andclearing any clogs. Home-owners are urged to alsochange the filter at thestart of the cooling season.

Correcting any issues inthe HVAC system well inadvance of the arrival ofwarm weather can helpensure comfort when airconditioning is needed. Asan added advantage,homeowners should installprogrammable thermo-stats if they do not alreadyhave them to keep coolingas cost- and energy-effi-cient as possible.

Prepare HVAC systemfor increasing temps

METRO SERVICES

Before the weather starts to warm up too much, home-owners may want to evaluate their home cooling needsand ensure that all equipment is in good working order.

METRO SERVICES

Home plumbing sys-tems are designed to han-dle heavy usage. Wheneverything is working as itshould, toilets flush, show-ers drain properly, and sinkbasins empty of water in asnap. But when a clog ispresent in a system, watercan quickly back up.

There are various tech-niques to clear cloggeddrains. Minor clogs may becleared without the help ofa plumber or even anytools. More significantblockages will requiremore elbow grease.

The first step to clearinga clog is to locate the prob-lem. Drainage issues thataffect a particular sink ortoilet may be isolated tothat fixture. Clogs that arepresent throughout thehouse may be indicative ofa larger problem in theplumbing that is directingwaste away from the houseand into the sewer system.

Sometimes a clog can befreed by pouring boilinghot water or a combinationof baking soda and vinegardown the drain. If thatdoesn’t help, move on to aplunger, advise the expertsat This Old House. By creat-ing pressure within thepipes, a plunger can dis-lodge whatever is causingthe backup. If the clogseems to be further downthe drain, hair or grimemay have become trapped.An auger, often referred toas a “plumber’s snake,” canbe inserted into the drainto remove the grime andfree up the water flow.Homeowners without ac-cess to an auger can try tofish the clog out of thedrain with a wire hanger.

If clogs cannot be allevi-ated, drain traps may needto be accessed. Those whodo not know their wayaround pipes andwrenches should hire aprofessional.

How to clearclogged drain

METRO SERVICES

After bringing home abubbly baby boy or girl, itcan be hard for parents toimagine that a day will comewhen their kids are off tocollege and then onto theirown apartment or house.After spending decades nur-turing and caring for chil-dren, parents are then leftwith a suddenly quiet houseand probably much moretime to spare. If saying good-bye to the kids also meansextra house, there’s the op-tion to downsize or makethat extra space more useful.

Homeowners whochoose to stay put can reno-vate vacant rooms intospaces that meet their new-found needs.

- Hobby haven: If you’vealways meant to set up acrafting room, home-brew-ing station or an artist’s stu-dio, now is an ideal time todo just that. Figure outwhich supplies you will needand begin reworking thatformer bedroom into a newsanctuary for leisure inter-ests.

- Guest suite: If you’venever had a spare bedroomto entertain guests, a child’sformer bedroom can fit thebill. It may not be that diffi-cult to transform such spacesinto relaxing and invitingrooms for overnight guests.Be sure there is at least aqueen-sized bed and adresser or chest of drawersto stash belongings. Selectpaint colors and linens inneutral tones so the roomwill be inviting to guests.

- Living room redo: Whenthere’s an entire soccer teamcoming over to hang out,that large sectional sofa ormodular seating may be

ideal. Now that the kids areout of the house and theirfriends are no longer comingover for movie night, livingrooms can be made more in-timate with small-scale seat-ing. A small sofa and twocomfortable chairs may be amore fitting option.

- At-home gym: Save ongym membership fees bybuilding a mini studio rightat home. Choose one of thelarger bedrooms and then fillit with some fitness equip-ment, such as an ellipticaltrainer, a bench press benchand some free weights. Storerolled-up mats in the closetfor yoga or Pilates sessions.

- Expanded bathroom: Ifspace has always been at apremium in the bathroom,borrow area from an emptybedroom and turn it into aspa. Install a soaking tub sep-arate from the shower, andfill the room with otheramenities.

- Home office: Workingfrom home a few days aweek may be more plausiblewhen nearing retirement, asit will be a smoother transi-

tion from heading to the of-fice each day to spendingmore time at home. Turn abedroom or den into an of-fice space with a new deskand bookshelves.

An empty nest can be abittersweet experience, butparents can make such situ-ations work for them bytransforming their homes tobetter reflect their currentneeds.


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If saying goodbye to the kids means extra house,there’s the option to make extra space more useful.

Ideas for empty-nestersto transform their home


METRO SERVICES

Many homeowners as-pire to make their homesappear as beautiful andwelcoming as possible. Ex-terior renovations may behigh on homeowners’ to-do lists, and landscaping isoftentimes a key compo-nent of those projects.

When planning gardens,homeowners may benefitby considering more thanjust flowers and shrubswhile giving thought toother elements that canbreathe vitality into theirlandscape designs. Waterfeatures can do just that, assuch features provide morethan just visual appeal.

- Aesthetic appeal:Water elements stand outagainst the greenery andfoliage and can be used to

create focal points aroundthe garden or yard. A singlefountain can draw the eye,while a trickling stream orwaterfall can deliver waterto various spots in thelandscape.

- Soothing sound: Raindrops on a rooftop orwaves lapping on a shore-line elicit feelings of har-mony and relaxation.Water features can bringthat gentle sound close tohome, further enhancingthe ambiance.

- Brings texture: Waterhas its own unique andfluid texture that can pro-vide stark contrast toblades of grass or the hardlines of architectural ele-ments, such as pergolas orretaining walls. A pond orfountain can soften lines.

- Enhance the naturalecosystem: Water featurescan attract wildlife to aproperty. Birds may visit totake a quick sip, and drag-onflies are sure to dart andhover over the shimmeringripples. Inviting naturalwildlife to the yard can addhours of entertainment byenjoying the animals andinsects.

- Remedy problemareas: Rather than fightingwith the landscape, home-owners can adapt it. Anarea of the yard prone tosoggy conditions or flood-ing can be transformed intoa pond or waterfall to workwith natural surroundings.

- Foster a passion: Manypeople turn to water fea-tures so they can explorethe hobby of nurturing an

outdoor aquarium. Koiponds are relatively easy toinstall and maintain, andthe vibrant fish add visualappeal.

- Add a personal touch:Water features are asunique as the homeownerswho create them. To setlandscaping apart fromneighbors’ homes, home-owners can add fountains,ponds or flowing water el-ements to their properties.Decorative water featuresalso can be melded withpools and spas to helpthese manmade recre-ational areas seem like theywere carved right out ofthe natural landscape.

Water features can takelandscapes to the next levelwith sounds, texture,movement, and beauty.

Water features offer multitudeof benefits to garden landscapes

METRO SERVICES

No homeowner wants tobe confronted with plumb-ing problems, which manyassociate with costly repairsand water damage. Butmany plumbing problemsare preventable if home-owners take the time tolearn about them and makethe effort to nip them in thebud before they becomesomething major.

- Clogged kitchen sink:Kitchen sinks get used quitea bit in the average home,and what makes its waydown the sinks can con-tribute to plumbing prob-lems. Avoid pouring gravy,grease, cooking oil, or fatdown the kitchen sink, asthese substances can cling tothe pipes and lead to abacked up sink and a messysituation. Discard thick liq-uids and sauces in the trashcan instead of the sink. Peri-odically turn the faucet on ashot as it can go and run it fora few minutes to dislodgeanything that might havestuck to the pipes.

- Clogged shower drain:The pipes in theshower/bathtub can easilybecome clogged as well. Hairis the main culprit whenshower drains get clogged,so install hair traps thatcatch any hair you and oth-

ers might shed while theyare bathing. Instruct eachperson to remove their hairfrom the drain upon gettingout of the shower. If you sus-pect the drain might alreadybe on its way to clogging, usea wet/dry vac to remove anyhair that might have startedpiling up in the pipes.

- Washing machines: Fewhomeowners think to peri-odically inspect their wash-ing machines, but normalwear and tear on washingmachine hoses can graduallybuild up, potentially leadingto flooding if left unchecked.Periodically inspect hoses forcracks and other damage, re-placing them if they look es-pecially vulnerable.

- Water heater: Waterheaters also can produceplumbing problems if home-owners don’t keep an eye onthem. Rusty tank fittings onwater heaters are a warningsign that the heater mightneed some repairs. Whenleft unchecked, waterheaters can cause floodingthat produces significantwater damage, and waterheaters may even need to bereplaced, which can be veryexpensive. If you detect anyproblems with your heater,call in a plumber to confirmif anything is awry and ad-dress the problem.

Plumbing problemscan lead to costly fixes


NEWS RELEASE

Home sales in Kentuckydid not follow the nationaltrend in March, as transac-tions in the state were down6.8 percent for the monthcompared to March 2017(4,576 in 2017 versus 4,262 in2018). Nationally, sales rose1.1 percent. Even with thedrop of 314 total sales, March2018 was still the secondhighest on record, just edg-ing out March 2006 when4,106 homes were sold. Totalhomes sold for the monthwere up 36 percent over theprevious month.For the first quarter of

2018 sales ended down 3.7percent, with 10,419 homessold in 2018 compared to10,821 homes sold in the firstthree months of 2017, a dif-ference of 402 transactions.“The housing market is

still really strong,” said Steve

Cline, 2018 president of Ken-tucky Realtors. “Last year wasa record breaking year inhomes sold and home prices.This year, we had to endureunseasonably cold weatherthrough the latter part of thequarter, which may havenegatively affected the mar-ket. The spring and earlysummer months will betelling as to how the rest of2018 will look.”Lawrence Yun, National

Association of Realtors chiefeconomist, says that whilethe healthy economy is gen-erating sustained interest inbuying a home this spring,sales are lagging levels fromone year ago due to low sup-ply and home prices keepclimbing above what somewould-be buyers can afford.On the national level, medianhome prices are north of$250,000, however, that is

not the case in Kentucky.Home prices in the state

reached a median of$132,290 in March, an 11.5percent increase over March2017 and 10.7 percent overthe previous month. March’smedian price is the fifthhighest on record, but is stilljust over half of the medianfor the country.The months ahead are

traditionally the peak forhome sales and Kentucky hasseen a slight decline in hous-ing inventory to this point inthe year, with 3.8 months ofsupply for March – a de-crease of 5 percent over lastyear and down 2.1 percent, to4.7 months, for the quarter.Because of the tight sup-

ply, days on market also sawa decline, falling to 120 daysin March which is down 4.8percent over last March. Forthe quarter, homes closed 4

days faster, hitting 122 daysin 2018.“I’m optimistic about the

real estate market becausewe have a strong economy,”said Cline. “We are at a placewhere both state and na-tional unemployment is nearrecord lows and the environ-ment is stable for home pur-chases. Certainly, we coulduse more inventory to meetdemand as activity is pickingup with the warmer weather,but overall it should be an-other strong year.”Nationally, the momen-

tum is swinging towardhome ownership. In 2017, thehomeownership rate rose forthe first time in 13 years andthe first quarter of 2018marked the fifth consecutivequarter where the home-ownership rate rose from theprior year, jumping almost 1percent to 64.3 percent.

Home sales fall, prices strong

METRO SERVICES

Gardeners eager to revi-talize their lawns and gar-dens may spend hundreds ofdollars on tools and productsdesigned to improve soil andgrowing conditions. Al-though many of these itemscan be advantageous, gar-deners also may want to lookto nature’s best gardenhelpers: earthworms.It is believed that nearly

3,000 different types ofearthworms inhabit theplanet. Worms have beenaround for hundreds of mil-lions of years.Worms can be seen as bait

dangling on fishing lines or asmeals for red-breastedrobins. But these subter-ranean dwellers play theirbiggest role beneath the soil. Earthworms move

through dirt as they searchfor food. The worms con-sume particles in the soil,helping to recycle materialslike dead leaves, plant parts,decaying animals, and feces.Through their travels, wormsalso serve to aerate the soil.Worms bring the subsoilcloser to the surface and mixit with the topsoil. Earth-worms’ castings also helpnaturally fertilize the areas inwhich they reside. The slimymucus that worms leave be-

hind contains nitrogen,which also helps to amendthe soil.The University of Illinois

Extension says most earth-worms found, particularly inNorth America, can onlygrow so long, even thoughsome worms seem like theystretch forever underneaththe ground. Depending onthe type of worm and howmany segments it has, as wellas its age and ability to getnutritious foods, worms typ-ically reach only a few inchesin length, offers National Ge-ographic. There are someanomalies, however. TheOregon giant earthworm isone of the largest earth-worms found in North Amer-ica, growing to more thanthree feet in length. Thatworm is very rare, however.In 2016, a 16-inch-long earth-worm was discovered in Eng-land and became part of thecollection at the Natural His-tory Museum in London.Worms need the correct

mix of oxygen, moisture andfavorable temperatures tosurvive. If they do not havethese components, they willseek them out elsewhere. Because of the many ben-

efits earthworms provide,they can be a boon to land-scapes.

Earthworms can beboon to landscapes


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METRO SERVICES

To former apartmentdwellers or those who havenever enjoyed the benefitof a dedicated laundry area,even the smallest washerand dryer space can seemlike a luxury.

The benefits of dedi-cated laundry roomsabound. However, disor-ganized laundry rooms cannullify such benefits. De-pending on the needs andpreferences of each home-owner, laundry room de-signs can be customized forconvenience.

- Employ vertical space:Floor space may be at a pre-mium in a laundry room,especially for those whowant to devote as muchspace as possible to bulk-size washer and dryerunits. Therefore, utilizingwall space is key. Use shelv-ing, wire racks, hooks, andother organizational tools

to store items on the wall.Shelves can be tucked intojust about any space, andthere are different optionsthat can fit into corners orshallow areas. These are agreat option for keeping de-tergent or other laundry es-sentials nearby.

- Clean designs reduceclutter: Simple, clean de-signs can be an asset in alaundry room. If budgetand space permits, cabi-netry built into the designwill help keep items out ofsight in the laundry room.Cabinets hung directlyabove the appliances canstore detergent, bleach andfabric softener. Use cabi-nets elsewhere in the roomas catch-alls for cleaningsupplies used in variousother rooms around thehouse.

- Incorporate a sink inthe design: Some olderlaundry room setups have a

slop sink to drain dis-charged water fromthe washing machine.However, newerhomes may haveplumbing installed di-rectly through thefloor or walls. It is stilla worthwhile idea tohave a sink in thelaundry room for rins-ing out stains, hand-washing items andhaving a go-to sink formessier cleanup.

- Utilize a tensionrod: A rod installedbetween two cabinetsor across a narrowwidth of space in thelaundry room is ahandy spot to hangshirts or pants to pre-vent wrinkling. Re-purposing a ladder andsuspending it from the ceil-ing also creates a spot tohang clothes.

- Consider laundry room

flooring: It’s important toselect flooring materialsthat will not be damaged bycontact with moisture orspills. Vinyl, tile and somecomposite products often

make good laundryroom floor materials.Resilient flooring thatmimics the look ofhardwood may add aclassy touch, and givethe appearance ofwood without havingto worry about dam-age. To alleviate fa-tigue while spendinglong moments in thelaundry room, investin a memory foam matthat can be placed un-derfoot.

- Keep lighting inmind: Lighting can beimportant in the laun-dry room. Rely on tasklighting, under-cabinetstrip lighting and over-head lights as neededfor efficiency.

Laundry room designcan maximize the spaceavailable and make it moreconvenient to launder andsort clothes.

Preparefor elderguestsMETRO SERVICES

Homeowners may findthemselves hosting seniorguests several timesthroughout a typical year.These occasions can bewonderful opportunitiesfor making memories, buthomeowners may need totake certain precautions toensure that guests are safeand comfortable. This mayinvolve making someminor modificationsaround the home.

Mobility and comfortneeds for seniors may dif-fer those necessary to ac-commodate other guests.Meeting the needs of sen-ior guests may involve anyof the following.

- Make sure pathwaysleading to and from thehome are level, clearedand easy to see.

- If possible, add aramp over stairs that leadto the front door. Ensurehandrails are sturdy.

- Remove clutter andexcess furniture if a guestvisiting will be using awalker or a manual/mo-torized wheelchair.

- Remove accent rugsfrom a home, and be surethat any mats are securedwith nonslip material.

- Increase lighting inentryways, staircases andhallways, especially areasleading to kitchens orbathrooms.

- If guests will be stay-ing overnight, arrangesleeping accommoda-tions on the first floorand/or in a room closestto the bathroom.

- Well-placed grabbars in the bathroom canbe an asset. See if you canborrow a portable showerseat to make bathing orshowering easier forovernight senior guests.

- For long-term guests,consider replacing rounddoorknobs and otherpulls with lever-actionones that are easy to grab.

- Concessions mayneed to be made con-cerning interior tempera-ture, noise levels andtelevision viewing.

Several easy modifica-tions can be made to makesenior guests feel comfort-able when visiting others.

Laundry room renovation ideas made simple

METRO SERVICES

The benefits of dedicated laundryrooms abound, but disorganized laun-dry rooms can nullify such benefits.

PHOTOS BY ALLISON EVANS, THE PRESS

Michael and Jackie Wood spent two years turning a home in disrepair on Levias Road into a 3,200-square-footdream home. A series of photos (starting at top) show the home before and after, including the kitchen, bathroomand rear of the house. Below, after the remodel, (from top) a custom-designed metal railing stands around thebasement steps that emerged from the remodel, the dining room allows the family of five to sit together formeals and a basement bathroom has a kid-friendly design for the couple’s three young children.

time – began the project,serving as general contrac-tors, laborers and consult-ants.

After Michael finished ashift as an electrician at aCalvert City plant, he wouldspend several hours on thehouse before catching ashort night’s sleep – nearlyevery day for 24 months.

“Our friends stoppedasking us to do things. Wedidn’t go on vacation; all wedid was work on the house,”Jackie said.

And they worked on it inevery sense of the word.They built a two-car garage,framing and raising thewalls on their own. Theyeven hung the trusses withthe help of a front-endloader. They knocked downwalls, relocated the frontdoor, ripped up tile, in-stalled new heating and airand electrical and laid thedecking for a new roof.

The only thing the twodidn’t do was finish the roofand hang the gutters.

Once the basement wasdry, they stained the con-crete, hung dry wall andpainted to create a familyroom, three bedrooms anda full bath in an area thatonce looked more like apond filled with floatingabandoned baby toys andpersonal items from theprevious owner.

Achieving the visionthey and to double thesquare footage took time,but now they have a mod-ern ranch style home andcountless stories about thetrials and tribulations of anamazing renovation.

“I was reluctant in thebeginning; he had to con-vince me,” Jackie said aboutthe project.

They used a blow torchto heat up the tile floorthroughout the main levelbefore it could be scrapedup.

“There was no duct workin the basement, and wehad to use acid and specialcleaners and wear respira-

tors to clean the basementfloor before we stained it,”Michael explains. “And wemoved the laundry roomupstairs, built a 40-footdeck out back and added afront porch.”

Virtually no stone wasleft unturned, and the cou-ple takes pride in theirlabor. While Michael was athis job, Jackie was laying agood portion of the three-quarter-inch, hand-scrapedbirch hardwood throughoutthe main floor.

It helps that Michael hasthe skill and willingness totackle any project, includinga walk-in tile shower withconcrete seat, poured con-crete counter tops and anew kitchen table top madefrom reclaimed wood froma train car floor that Jackiebought at a Paducah salvagestore.

Michael’s step-father, PatGuess, a pipefitter, customdesigned a metal railingaround the exposed base-ment steps that emergedfrom the remodel. Thepainted black metal railsgive the entrance a modernvibe.

“I can’t say enough aboutFredonia Valley Bank,”Jackie said. “It took us a lotlonger than a year, but theywould come out periodi-cally to see that we weremaking progress. It did takeus about two years.”

What advice would theygive other couples consid-ering flipping a house orhand-crafting a dreamhome?

Have patience, Jackiesays.

Michael agrees, but alsosays to add a 10-percentcontingency to materials.Otherwise, you might beshocked in the long run.

Technology played a bigrole in Michael’s ability tomeet the job’s required skillset, he said.

“I looked up how to doeverything. A lot was onYouTube, so there was re-ally no reason we couldn’tdo it ourselves,” he said. “Ilooked up the building codeon a lot of things. UsedGoogle a lot.”


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RatesSingle bag............................................................$2Two bags..............................................................$3Three bags...........................................................$5Six bags ..............................................................$10Cans, barrels.......................................................$5Televisions ..........................................................$5Pickup, short bed (half)...............................$12Pickup, short bed (full)................................$18Pickup, short bed with sides.....................$27Pickup, full-size bed (half).........................$20Pickup, full-size bed (full)..........................$35Pickup, full-size bed with sides...............$6010- to 14-foot trailer.....................................$4515- to 16-foot trailer.....................................$60Recliners/chairs ................................................$8Sofa/loveseat....................................................$12Bed.......................................................................$15Roofing materials............................$100-$150Dump truck, 1-axel (half) ..........................$75Dump truck, 1-axel (full).........................$125Dump truck, 2-axle (half)........................$125Dump truck, 2-axel (full) .........................$160

BrushThe county’s brush dump on Bridwell Loopis accessible 24/7, but dumping is restrictedto natural materials only.

AvailabilityThe center is open to CrittendenCounty residents from 8 a.m. to3:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thurs-day and Friday and 8 a.m. to noonWednesday and Saturday. The cen-ter is closed Sunday.

Free dump days next weekThe county has free dumping dayseach year in the spring and autumn.The next dump days will be this au-tumn. The center will accept itemslike furniture, appliances and a va-riety of other items at no charge.Every-day trash is not included forfree. Other restrictions apply.

RecyclingBins are available for paper, card-board, glass, steel/aluminum andplastics Nos. 1 and 2. Electronicsmay be recycled, but there is a feefor disposal. There is also a mobilerecycling bin taken to communitiesin the county.

Location, contactLocated at 1901 U.S. 60 E., Marion, Ky. Call (270) 965-0892.

2018 Crittenden CountyConvenience Center rates

NEWS RELEASE

With the arrival of warmweather, homeowners, con-tractors and others are get-ting outside to work onprojects that have been onhold through the winter.This increase in excavationactivity is usually accompa-nied by an increase in thenumber of incidents of dam-age to underground utilityfacilities.The Kentucky Public

Service Commission (PSC) isjoining with the National As-sociation of Regulatory Util-ity Commissioners andutility regulators across thecountry to remind anyoneplanning a project involv-ing excavation to call 811before beginning work.“Striking a utility line

while digging not onlycauses damage and disruptsservice, but it also can pose adanger of severe injury oreven death,” PSC ChairmanMichael Schmitt said. “Hit-ting a natural gas line cancause a fire or an explosion,while digging into a powercable can lead to electrocu-tion.”Like every other state,

Kentucky has a statewide811 service that, by law,should be called at least twodays prior to beginning exca-vation. That will allow ampletime for utility lines to be lo-cated and marked so that ex-cavation can proceed safely.Natural gas providers are

required to provide the loca-tion of their lines to the 811center. Most electric utilities,larger water providers andtelecommunication compa-nies also provide locationdata to 811, but, in somecases, it also may be neces-sary to contact a local utilityservice provider directly.Beginning in mid-July,

failing to call 811 in Kentuckymay have consequences be-

yond the risks that go withstriking a utility line.A new law (Senate Bill

104), enacted by the Ken-tucky General Assembly andsigned by Gov. Matt Bevin,gives the PSC the authorityto enforce existing provi-sions in Kentucky statutes

that are intended to protectnatural gas and hazardousliquids pipelines. The PSCwill investigate incidents ofdamage to pipelines to de-termine whether a locationrequest to 811 was made in atimely manner, whether thepipeline was located accu-rately and properly, andwhether the excavation wasconducted safely.Excavators, including

homeowners, could be pe-nalized for not calling 811 orfor ignoring location mark-ers. Utilities could be penal-ized for not responding torequests to locate lines or forimproperly or inaccuratelylocating or marking under-ground facilities.Penalties are up to $1,250

for a first violation, $3,000for a second and $5,000 forsubsequent violations“Not every incident in

which a gas line is hit will re-sult in a violation being is-sued and a penalty assessed,especially if 811 has beencalled,” said John Lyons, di-rector of the PSC division ofInspections, which will in-

vestigate incidents. “How-ever, a failure to call 811 ismuch more likely to triggeran enforcement action.”In 2017, there were more

than 1,200 incidents in Ken-tucky in which a gas line wasdamaged during an excava-tion. A PSC review of a sam-

pling of the damage reportsindicates that:- Contractors and other

professional excavatorswere responsible for 85 per-cent of the incidents, withwater and sewer line re-pairs, building construction,swimming pool installation,and irrigation systeminstallation among themost common causes.- About 60 percent

of the excavators whohit natural gas lines called811 before digging.- Homeowners ac-

counted for the remaining15 percent of incidents. Themost common causes wereinstallation of mailboxes orfencing, landscaping andwater or sewer line repairs.- Only about 27 percent

of those landowners called811 before beginning work.PSC Chairman Schmitt

said that the stepped-up en-forcement of the call-before-you-dig statutes andregulations reflects a greateremphasis nationally and atthe state level on pipelinesafety.“This new law brings

Kentucky into line withtougher federal standards,which the PSC enforcesunder an agreement withthe US Department of Trans-portation,” he said. “Moreimportantly, it is an effort tosignificantly improve publicsafety by reducing the unac-ceptably high number ofdangerous dig-in incidentsinvolving natural gaspipelines.”

New Ky. law makes calling811 before dig more critical


NAHB RELEASE

There are thousands oflegitimate, ethical contrac-tors in business around thecountry. Unfortunately,there are also scam artistslooking to cheat you out ofyour money who pose as le-gitimate contractors. These"fly-by-night" operatorsoften show up in communi-ties impacted by natural dis-asters to try to scamdistressed home ownersinto paying for shoddy re-pairs or work that they willnever show up to perform.

Here are some warningsigns to look out for:

- Doesn't have licenseand insurance. All profes-sional contractors should beinsured and able to showtheir certificate proving suchinsurance. Although allstates do not require licens-ing, contractors in states re-quiring licenses should haveit and be able to provide acopy.

- Asks you to sign any-thing before you've hiredthem. If they want you tosign an "estimate" or "au-thorization" before you'vemade the decision to hirethe contractor, look out.They may be trying to getyou to sign what is an actualbinding contract.

- Doesn't write contracts.Professionals have clear con-tracts that outline the job,process, the cost, and helpsclarify how problems will bemanaged. If you don't have a

contract, you are not pro-tected when something goeswrong. Don't hire anyonewho tells you a contract"won't be necessary."

- Requires cash or pay-ment in full before startingthe job. Shady contractorsdemand cash and then runwith the money. Manyhome owners have beenstranded by paying in full upfront. A deposit towards ma-terials is common, but onlypay it once you have a con-tract signed by both you andthe contractor. It's also sus-pect you're asked to paycash to a salesperson insteadof a check or money order toa company.

- Vastly underbids allother contractors. They mayhave the best price, but thatdoesn't guarantee the bestwork. Such contractors maycut costs on quality, whichcan end up costing you morewhen you have to have thesubstandard work redone.

- Offers "special" pricing.If you're told you’ve been“chosen” as a demonstrationproject at a special, lowprice, or you’re told a lowprice is good only if you signa contract today.

- Cannot provide cus-tomer references. Profes-sional contractors shouldhave current references theycan provide from currentand past clients — and youshould be able to reachthose references, not just ananswering machine.

- Difficulty contacting thecontractor. Professionalshave a physical office, mail-ing address, phone, andemail. They should respondto your queries in a timelymanner. Make sure you canverify the contractor’s busi-ness address. If they onlyhave a P.O. box, be wary.

- Tells you to obtain thebuilding or remodeling per-mits. Professional contrac-tors go to the county or stateoffices and get permits fortheir work themselves. Ask-ing the home owner to do itis a sign that they are not alegitimate contractor.

Your best bet is to takeyour time, do your researchand choose someone youfeel completely comfortablewith. If your state requirescontractors to be licensed,look them up on the state li-censing website even ifyou've seen a piece of paperthat looks like a license.Make sure they don't have arecord of consumer com-plaints lodged with yourlocal Better Business Bureau.

You can also find yourlocal home builders associa-tion and contact ThreeRivers Home Builders Asso-ciation at (270) 871-1145 fora list of reputable contrac-tors in the area. Or you maysearch the National Associa-tion of Home Builders’ Di-rectory of ProfessionalRemodelers to find a NAHBRemodelers member in thecommunity.

Don’t get scammedFind qualified contractor for home remodel

METRO SERVICES

Of the 29 projects it stud-ied for its 2017 “Cost vs. ValueReport,” Remodeling maga-zine found that the averagepayback in resale value was64.3 cents.

The lone project in the2017 report to return a highervalue than its cost was instal-lation of loose-fill insulationin an attic, which provided areturn of 107.7 percent.Homeowners who replacedan existing entry door with a20-gauge steel unit recouped90.7 percent of their invest-ment at resale, placing thatproject second on the list.

What helps homeownerswho finance such projects re-

coup their associated costs isthe relatively low stickerprice of the projects.

But a recovering real es-tate market has helpedhomeowners recoup more oftheir investments on someexpensive projects as well.For example, the 2017 reportsaw the biggest year-over-year percentage increases invalue on expensive projectslike upscale bathroom re-models, upscale mastersuites, two-story additions,grand entrance installations,and family room additions.The increase in value onthose projects ranged from5.6 percent to 7.4 percentfrom a year earlier.

Most remodeling notrecovered in resale

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