2015

Home&GardenIMPROVEMENT

FALL

10 • October 2015: 2 • The Pelham Post www.thepelhampost.com

Robert Potrafke

Home Restoration - HistoricalCustom Carpentry Design & Building

Expert Custom CarpentryWood Furniture Creation & Finishing

Antique Interior DecorationRemodeling Kitchens/Bathrooms

Tailored CountertopsCabinetry Building

Renovating Windows/DoorsCustom Tiling

Licensed & Insured Residential

Clientele by Referral (914) 740-4509

HOMEOWNERS‒SENERCHIA‒BOSCO INC.Electrical ContractorsResidential & Commercial

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Over 50 Years of Reliable Family Service

Member of Westchester County Licensed Electrical Contractors Assoc.Licensed & Insured • Serving Westchester & N.Y.C.

914-738-2807 914-668-0961 Fax# 914-738-2862 67 Lincoln Ave., Pelham, NY

• Panel Upgrades

• Computer Circuits

• Landscape Lighting

• Kitchen Modernization

• Telephone Wiring

• Air Conditioning & Heating

• Lighting Specialist

• Violations Removed

• Recessed Lighting

• Electric Repairs

www.shorelinepub.com The Pelham Post • October 2015: 2 • 11

Steve SaccoBESPOKE HANDYMAN

• Carpentry

• Kitchens

• Bathrooms

• Tiling

• Wallpaper Hanging

All home repairs/maintenance including masonry, wall prep, painting, doors, windows, plumbing & electrical.

25 Years in Business

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917 769 7100 BespokeHandyman@live.com

Five Home Improvement Tips You’ll Fall ForAutumn is here,

and with the new sea-son comes a time for everyone to make some improvements around the home. With the colder weather ap-proaching and leaves about ready to fall from the trees, homeowners can take the opportu-nity to finalize projects before the first snow.

Upgrade to a new gut-ter system.

You’ve all had that problem: dead leaves get stuck in your gut-ters and they become clogged. Animals making their nests in gutters, the possibility of cracking, and the worst – cleaning the gutters out before it snows in order to avoid them being pulled from the roof, and even taking some of your roof

with them. With the proper gutters, all of these problems can be easily avoided. Most companies will offer a no ob-ligation, in-home consulta-tion that help you decide if an updated gutter system is for you. Look for a system that has guaranteed no clogs. This will save your wallet, and your back, in the long run.

Protect with a storm door.Your house has a beauti-

ful wooden door on it. It would

be a shame for it to be dam-aged by rain, wind, snow or a combination of the three. The answer is for you to install a storm door. Reputable com-panies offer several different models of storm doors, one sure that will be perfect for

your own style and budget. Or if you’re feeling adventurous, replace your existing door with a new one, sure to protect the home against unfavorable elements. Be prepared, before the winter months hit and you notice your door deteriorating.

Check for cracks and fix them now!

A window. A piece of sid-ing. Regardless of how new or old your home is, you aren’t exempt from the possibility of

a crack happening at any mo-ment. Even the smallest open-ing can increase your oil and electricity bill during the cold months. Homeowners should take the opportunity to check their homes for any issues and resolve them accordingly. If the problem goes beyond a simple repair, your local busi-ness offers energy efficient windows and siding options that will lower heating bills while increasing the value of your home.

Give your interior a face lift.With the holiday season

approaching, you’re sure to

have guests flocking to your home regularly. Some ways to give the interior of your home a more seasonal feel are to replace a lampshade or two, change the throw on the back of the sofa, place themed candles around rather than air fresheners, or clean out the fireplace and start a fire. These methods are sure to impress your guests and give a whole new feel to your home that you don’t have to commit to for an extended length of time.

Update with a fresh coat of paint.

Yet, if you’re looking for an interior project that you’re ready to live with for a while, there’s nothing like a fresh coat of paint to change your look and your mood. You can get in-spiration from anywhere, be it the color of the leaves, or sim-ply knowing the snow is com-ing and not wanting to look at a white landscape both inside and out. Whether you choose a classic color or opt to try some-thing new, you’ll be having fun inside avoiding the chilly weather, while giving yourself, and your home, a treat.

GunHill

FenceEST. 1959

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Paulie the RooferPaul Georges

Slate & Tile Specialist and Expert on Stopping Leaks on any roof

516-621-3869Most homeowners take roofs for granted -- until they start to leak. Then they face tough decisions weighing cost, aesthetively easy to install and inexpensive, but are environ-mentally unsuitable since after about 20 years they have to go to a landfill. Real wood shingles (or shakes) are attractive, moderately expensive, but are not fire resistant and they attract insects. Real slate tiles can be very attractive and last up to 100 years, but are quite expensive.

Paul Georges, known professionally as Paulie the Roofer, has been fixing roofs in and around Pelham for over 25 years. His specialty is slate and tile roofs but he can stop leaks on any roof.

Professional roofers like Paulie are normally licensed by New York State, so that’s one credential homeowners might check for when comparing contractors. It’s also a good idea to get a written proposal and to check which neighbors for names of reliable roof-ers. No Pelham Village permits are needed if the work is limited to repairs.

Please call Paulie at 516-621-3869 for a free estimate. He has local referrals.

Charles & Michael Farrell’sHomeside Bldg & Remodeling Corp.

Architectural Remodelers since 1987In Pelham since 2006

Kitchens

Bathrooms

Interiors

Additions

REMODELING& BUILDING166 Old Mamaroneck Road

White Plains, NY 10605(914) 682-1616

homesidebuilding.com

www.shorelinepub.com The Pelham Post • October 2015: 2 • 13

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219 Wolfs LanePelham, NY 10803

Cost-Conscious Home Upgrades

If you’re looking for ways to improve your home but don’t have the budget for a full-scale renovation, look at up-grades that add instant value with a smaller investment.

Projects that enhance existing features or add new functions to the home are smart ways to spruce up the aesthetics and improve livabil-ity without breaking the bank. In between extreme weather seasons is the perfect time to tackle home improvement projects, so this fall consider some small-scale projects that can make a big impact on your home.

Revitalize worn wood-work. Nothing ages a home’s appearance faster than tired, weathered woodwork on the front porch or back deck. These structures are typically major focal points of a home’s exterior, so sprucing them up can go a long way toward trans-

forming the overall aesthetic. A fresh coat of stain or paint is a minimal investment to bring fresh life back into your entry-way or backyard living space.

Pull out a new kitchen look. If changing out the cabi-nets isn’t an option, you can still create a new look with a minimal investment. Wipe down cabinets thoroughly and apply a coat of paint to make them look their very best, then look for subtle changes that bring a wow factor, such as new hardware. Simply chang-ing out dated pulls for a more contemporary look in a new color can bring a new mood to the room. Clear away clutter and add some fresh accesso-ries for a whole new look.

Punch up the power. Add-ing function can be as valuable as aesthetics when it comes to enjoying your home to the fullest. When bad weather or other factors interrupt your

power supply, a standby gen-erator lets you run appliances such as air conditioners, heat-ers, refrigerators, clothes washers/dryers, lights and electronics, minimizing the in-convenience of a power outage. For extended outages, a gen-erator can even save money, preventing unexpected costs from spoiled food or hotel stays. Hooked up to a home’s existing propane or natural gas line, a standby generator sys-tem, oftentimes called a home generator, switches on by it-self when power fails. Models such as Briggs & Stratton’s newly redesigned 12 kilowatt standby generator provide whole-house power in a small footprint that maintains curb appeal. Plus, the price point of standby generator systems is continuing to drop because power management systems like Symphony® II continue to get smarter. Symphony II pow-

er management, which can be included with all Briggs & Stratton generators, automati-cally balances the power needs of a home’s electrical loads — including high-wattage items. Therefore families get unin-terrupted, whole-house power with a smaller — and, thus, more affordable — standby generator. For more infor-mation about the entire line of Briggs & Stratton standby generator systems, visit www.powernow.com.

Look at new lighting. The lighting in a room has a significant impact on its over-

all feel: a bright, airy room exudes energy while a dim-mer, soft illumination evokes a cozy impression. Changing up the lighting can completely transform a space. Use window treatments such as drapes and blinds to control natural light and lend a stylish addition to the room. Floor and table lamps are ideal for more subtle task lighting, while overhead fixtures can make a stronger statement.

Explore a new floor. Over time, the rich pile of new car-peting loses its inviting spring, and once-sharp grout lines

fade and crumble. If a thor-ough cleaning still leaves your flooring looking drab, it may be time to explore alternatives. Replacing heavily worn car-pet in high traffic areas with a more durable option such as wood or tile may not only im-prove the look, but also prove a smart investment as it wears better in the future. If you still enjoy the look of your tile, con-sider removing and replacing the grout, then sealing it to protect the finish. Don’t feel beholden to the original color; a new shade can introduce a

914.774.3547

...continued on page 14

14 • October 2015: 2 • The Pelham Post www.newrochellereview.com

Tiso Appliances, Inc.Last Little Appliance Store With Big Discount Prices

107 Wolfs Lane Pelham 914-738-1221 Fax 914-738-8273

Tell Your Contractor You Want to Buy in Pelhamwww.tiso.homeappliances.com

Visit our Family Owned & Operated Store in Downtown Pelham

Joseph DellaripaLawn Sprinkler Systems

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Design

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Service

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The Kitchen ShopProfessional Design Services

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79 Lincoln Avenue, Pelham, NY 10803(914) 738-7183

Showroom Hours: Tues.-Fri. 10am-4pm & Sat. 10am-3pmDesign Hours: By Appointment

whole new color dimension to the room.

Making updates to your home is a natural part of ownership and a good way to protect and grow your invest-ment. Fortunately, making a big difference doesn’t always have to come with a big price tag attached.

Before embarking on a home improvement project, there are several steps a home-owner can take to manage the time and expense while making the effort run more smoothly:

1. Regardless of the type of project you’re planning, re-search the possibilities before you get started. From compar-

Cost-Conscious Home Upgrades...continued from page 13

ing prices to evaluating styles and features, knowing all your available options will help en-sure you make right choices for your needs.

2. When evaluating ap-pliances or equipment, pay at-tention to variables that may affect the overall project cost. For example, installing a gen-erator with a power manage-ment system like Symphony® II from Briggs & Stratton, can help meet your home’s backup power requirements with a smaller, more affordable gen-erator. This can potentially knock hundreds if not thou-sands of dollars off a generator purchase with a little research ahead of time to find the right-

size generator needed for a home. An online calculator tool at www.powernow.com can help match homeowners with the best generator for their individual needs.

3. Determine a budget, and stick to it. Be realistic and remember that a little more investment upfront may buy quality that will save money on repairs and replacements down the road. Another good rule of thumb: add at least 10 percent buffer to help cover unexpected expenses.

4. Assess whether the project is something you can tackle on your own, and whether time or ability may impede your progress. If you

need to enlist help, gather es-timates and check references for at least three contractors.

5. Set expectations for yourself and your family about how long the project will take.

If you’re working with a con-tractor, get a time projection in writing, as well as a written agreement about what hap-pens if the project runs past deadline.

www.shorelinepub.com The Pelham Post • October 2015: 2 • 15

VAL LANDSCAPING•

LANDSCAPE CONTRACTOR

GARDEN DESIGN & INSTALLATIONLAWN & GARDEN MAINTENANCE

- 45 YEARS EXPERIENCE -- LICENSED AND INSURED -

- VINCENT LAGANA, OWNER -- PELHAM REFERENCES -

914-646-6922 VALLandscapingCorp@gmail.com

Anton Martinez, AIAArchitect P.C.

Specializing in historically correct new homes, additionsrenovations, and rehabilitations in New York, Connecticut and The Caribbean

(914) 738-0193 + (203) 962-4327

Lawn Care Tips to Keep Your Yard Healthy This FallA beautiful lawn can be

the foundation to a happy, healthier life and lead to spending more time outdoors. In fact, 86 percent of Ameri-cans consider their lawn im-portant to their home and life.

“A healthy lawn encour-ages you to live life outside more with your family, friends and neighbors,” said Dr. Kirk Hurto, Chief Science Officer, TruGreen. “There’s no time like late summer and early fall to start preparing your yard for those spring and summertime outdoor gatherings.”

While a recent sur-vey conducted by TruGreen showed that seven out of 10 Americans believe themselves to be knowledgeable about the health of their yard, the lawn care experts at TruGreen offer these helpful reminders to get your yard ready for fall:

AeratingAeration involves removal

of soil cores to improve water and air movement in compact-ed soils, and aids in promoting

deeper and more root growth and thatch management. Long term, your lawn will respond quicker to fertilizer and water runoff will be reduced when ir-rigating.

OverseedingWhen it comes to in-

creasing lawn thickness and health, overseeding can be es-sential. It can help discourage future weeds while also aiding recovery from summer heat, disease and insect activity. Seeding during late summer or early fall will give grass the

maximum time to develop a deep ex-tensive root system and mature before the onset of winter stresses. Aeration is recommended when overseeding to give seeds more soil con-tact and provide a moist, protected en-vironment required for germination.

FeedingFall feeding

gives your land-scape the nutrients needed to prepare for a healthy, green

spring revival. Hiring a trained specialist with a plan custom-ized to your region will help trees and shrubs thrive. If you fertilize your own lawn, make sure to follow the product di-rections and sweep all fertil-izer that may reach pavement back onto your lawn.

Maintaining Health and Appearance

Throughout the fall, there are things you can do to main-tain your yard’s appearance

and health, Remove fallen tree leaves and debris from your lawn. Studies have shown mulching tree leaves back into your lawn effectively clears away tree leaf debris that oth-erwise can become matted and damage your lawn over the winter. Lowering the mower height by one or two settings the last couple mowings be-fore winter reduces grass dis-eases associated with snow. Avoid walking on frost-covered lawns as doing so may cause brown footprints to appear later that can remain visible until spring. Clean and edge landscape beds, leaving no more than 2-3 inches of mulch in the beds.

PruningPruning is an essential

maintenance practice for trees and shrubs. Landscapes can

quickly become overgrown if not cared for, but yearly pruning will maintain trees and shrubs to an ideal size and shape. Remove

dead or damaged branches from trees and shrubs to prevent rot organisms from invading the trunk and stems of plants.

16 • October 2015: 2 • The Pelham Post www.newrochellereview.com

Reserve your ad space in The 2015 Holiday

Gift & Entertainment Guide will be mailed to ALL homes

in Pelham and Bronxville. FEATURES INCLUDE:

• Full color glossy format

• The Holiday Guide will also be distributed to businesses such as real estate offices, banks, city offices, schools, hospitals, professional offices, shopping areas, libraries, drug stores and more.

• Perfect marketing tool for all sorts of businesses and restaurants.

• Reserve your ad space early and receive the following: -- Editorial space with a photo -- Free Directory Listing online with web link.

MATERIAL DEADLINE: OCT. 22PUBLISHING DATE: NOV. 15

RESERVE YOUR SPACE...in the BRAND NEW

olidayHGIFT & ENTERTAINMENT GUIDE

2015

CALL 914-738-7869 TO LEARN MORE!