home improvement

HOME IMPROVEMENTA S P E C I A L S E C T I O N O F T H E D E N I S O N B U L L E T I N A N D D E N I S O N R E V I E W

www.DBRnews.com | Friday, September 21, 2012

A cost-effective restoration by Greg Forbes

Evan Blakley, a designer/copywriter at bluespace cre-ative, purchased an early 1900s house from NathanMahrt, an industrial technology teacher at Denison Mid-dle School.

Mahrt, along with his wife, Amber, purchase and re-store old homes in Denison to resemble their eras’ style.

On this particular house on North 13th Place, Mahrtstripped off the vinyl siding,painted the exterior, restoredthe original windows andhelped improve the conditionof the heating and water sys-tems.

Blakley knew the houseneeded countless fixes, ad-justments and additions butbelieved he and his girlfriend,Meriah Summerfield, couldprovide the attention thehouse needed.

“Nathan got a hold of meand said ‘It’s a really cool house, but it needs help. Youguys should look at it.’” Blakley explained. “It turnedout to be an awesome house, but it needed some tune-ups. We bought the house two years ago and startedworking on it before we owned it to make it livable butour changes haven’t stopped.”

Since the purchase of the home, Blakley and Sum-merfield have concentrated on improving its aestheticsboth inside and out.

On the inside, they repainted the walls, removed car-pet and focused on restoring the originality of the house.One of the bedrooms had been converted from a sun-room with drywall and a drop ceiling. The drywall andceiling were removed to reveal a well-preserved, dark-

stained wood wall and ceil-ing. Blakley and Summerfieldfocused on returning theroom to its original purposeand installed new lightingand refinished the woodworkand trim. They completed thesunroom with a new door andstorm door and a half-bath-room.

The removal of the carpetthroughout the house also re-vealed the original wood floorin excellent condition.

Blakley stated that although the carpet, vinyl sidingand drywall additions were not true to the house’s his-tory, they helped preserve the original features of thehouse.

Blakley . . . Page 6

The front of the Evan Blakley and Meriah Summerfield house reveals both past and present. The original siding, windows and doors remain, while Blakley and Summerfield haveadded stone terraces, walkways, Japanese-style trees and landscape lighting. Photos by Bonner Photographic

Evan Blakley and his girlfriend, Meriah Summerfield, siton the handmade porch of their restored Denison home onNorth 13th Place. The deck drops off to a pond filled by awaterfall.

Denison couple restore 1910 house, add exterior appeal

“If you have a house with any historical

significance and make decisions

that cater to the historical nature

of the house, you can’t go wrong”

~ Evan Blakley

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DMU, MRES offer residential rebateson energy-efficient appliances

Denison Municipal Utilities and Missouri River Ener-gy Services, through Bright Energy Solutions, are pro-viding cash rebate incentives for homes, including En-ergy Star appliances, compact fluorescent lighting, heat-ing and cooling systems, appliance turn-ins, and high-efficiency building envelope (windows, doors, insula-tion, etc.).

Bright Energy Solutions offers a unique portfolio ofenergy-efficiency cash incentive residential programs tohelp residents reduce electric energy costs and operatemore efficiently.

Bright Energy Solutions is a program offered to resi-dential and business customers of participating munici-pal utilities that are members of Missouri River EnergyServices.

Cash incentive commercial programs are also availablethrough Bright Energy Solutions, including lighting, mo-tors/ pumps, VFD’s, and cooling/chillers.

Once the energy efficient equipment is installed, own-ers will continue to enjoy the energy savings well into thefuture.

To take advantage of the incentives, contact DenisonMunicipal Utilities at 712-263-4154.

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Ceiling fansThe offer: When DMU customers purchase a qualified

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RefrigeratorsThe offer: DMU customers who purchase a qualified

Energy Star refrigerator will receive a $50 rebate (withrecycling of old, working unit).

Energy Star refrigerators are about 20 percent moreefficient than new standard models.

Customers can save about $200 a year by replacing arefrigerator manufactured in the 1970’s, and about $100a year by replacing a 1980s model.

Energy Star Clothes WasherThe offer: When DMU customers purchase a qualified

Energy Star clothes washer, they can receive a $50 rebatefrom DMU. Rebate forms are available at the DMU Ser-vice Center, West 7th and Broadway.

Energy savings: The U.S. Department of Energy saysabout 90 percent of the energy used in a conventionaltop-load washer is for heating the water. When consid-ering the purchase of a new washing machine, look forthe Energy Star and EnergyGuide labels. Energy Starclothes washers clean clothes using 50 percent less en-ergy than standard washers.

Energy Star DishwasherThe offer: When DMU customers purchase a qualified

Energy Star dishwasher, they can receive a $25 rebatefrom DMU. Rebate forms are available at the DMU Ser-vice Center.

Energy savings: Energy Star qualified dishwashers useat least 41 percent less energy than the federal minimumstandard for energy consumption. They use less hotwater compared to new conventional models.

Energy Star room air conditionerThe offer: When DMU customers purchase a qualified

Energy Star room air conditioner, they can receive a $15rebate from DMU. Rebate forms are available at the DMUService Center.

Energy savings: A new Energy Star qualified room airconditioner will use at least 10 percent less energy thanconventional models. Also, remember to size your roomair conditioner to the room you want to cool. Accordingto Energy Star, a room air conditioner that’s too big forthe area it is supposed to cool will perform less efficientlyand less effectively than a smaller, properly sized unit.

Residential heating and coolingThe offer: The Bright Energy Solutions Residential

Heating and Cooling Program offers cash rebates to cus-tomers who purchase and install qualified, energy-effi-cient central air conditioning units, air-source heatpumps, and ground-source heat pumps in their homes.

Energy savings: Heating and cooling a home uses moreenergy than any other system in a house. About 46 per-cent of the utility bill goes toward heating and cooling.

About Energy StarEnergy Star, a joint program of the U.S. Environmen-

tal Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Ener-gy, is designed to help people save money and protect theenvironmental through energy efficient products andpractices.

According to the Energy Star Web site, in 2008 Amer-icans, with the help of Energy Star, saved enough ener-gy to avoid greenhouse gas emissions equivalent tothose from 29 million cars and saved $19 billion on theirutility bills.

For more information on the rebates go to DMU’s web-site at www.dmuonline.com or Bright Energy Solutionswebsite at www.brightenergysolutions.com.

SEPTEMBER 21, 2012 HOME IMPROVEMENT PAGE 3

For Information On These Great Opportunities, Please Call City Hall at 712-263-3143,

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Drought costs homeownersDry, shifting earthcauses homes’foundations to crack

by Ross Boettcher, Omaha World-HeraldLast summer, Susan Recker and her husband, Robert,

were fortunate to avoid severe flooding at their lakehome just off of Lake Manawa in Council Bluffs.

As levees strained and rain continued to come inwaves, Recker thought for sure that they were going tolose the house. But the floods were held at bay and thehouse remained intact.

That is, until this summer.Months of heat and drought that scorched much of the

Midlands this summer took its toll on the Reckers’ sec-ond home on the lake. In late July, Susan spotted a sig-nificant crack in the home’s foundation. From inside acrawl space, the crack was wide enough that a sliver oflight shone through.

"I truly didn’t know what to think," Recker, 72, said. "Ithought a drought is terrible, but I had no idea somethingwould happen to our house."

While precipitation has increased and temperatureshave grown more temperate recently, drought conditionshave sapped Midlands soils of moisture. Those condi-tions are costing homeowners bundles of money as theirfoundations crack, shift or crumble because of the clay-heavy Midlands earth pulling away from homes becauseof a lack of moisture.

Repairing damaged foundations can cost from $5,000into the tens of thousands, depending on severity, areabasement repair experts said.

About 70 percent of Nebraska is in the worst catego-ry of drought, while about 60 percent of Iowa, includingmost of western Iowa, is experiencing extreme drought,the second-worst rating by the National Weather Ser-vice.

Even though more than an inch of rain fell on much ofeastern Nebraska and western Iowa in the past week,that precipitation won’t put to rest concerns over foun-dations, said Steve Gnader, owner of Quality Founda-tion Repair.

Gnader said the rain penetrated about six inches intosoil in the Omaha area. "The water can’t get that deep."

Fixing the crack in the Reckers’ home and adjustingthe foundation of the home’s crawl space was a "straight-forward" repair, said Dan Thrasher, vice president ofThrasher Basement Systems. It cost the couple $5,500.

If the Reckers would have waited, the damage wouldhave been more serious and more costly.

"We want to try and catch it as quick as we can, so wedon’t have any other damage to the rest of the house,"Thrasher said. "I think people do have a certain sense ofurgency to get these kinds of things fixed, but it’s not thekind of expense anyone looks forward to."

Andrew Kolakowski learned the hard way what hap-pens when you wait to act.

A couple of years ago, Kolakowski, 58, started notic-ing small cracks around the frame of the front door of hisPapillion home. This summer, the cracks got worse, ra-diating from the door into the home’s drywall. Ko-lakowski started having difficulty locking the door. Even-

tually, he couldn’t even open it.As the drought dried up the soil around his house, the

ground pulled away from the home’s foundation, caus-ing it to tip.

The estimated price to fix the shifted foundation within-ground piers that will permanently prop up Ko-lakowski’s house? $16,000.

As in most cases like this, his homeowners insurancedidn’t cover the damage "because it’s not a sudden acci-dent or event," Kolakowski said.

"I was kind of surprised ... but yeah, I was kind ofshocked," he said with a chuckle that hinted of disbelief."I was hoping or thinking maybe five or six thousand.

"My reaction is: I hate to do it, but it’s something thatneeds to be done. It is the home."

Despite the urgency of Kolakowski’s situation, the ear-liest a repair firm could confirm an appointment was No-vember, underscoring the pressure the drought is puttingon basement repair firms.

The increase in drought-related damage has been aboon for them, but it also has strained their workers,causing some to work seven-day weeks and extra hours.

Thrasher said the number of foundation repairs tied tothe drought have been at least three times higher thanduring a normal summer. Typically, the company’s seventhree-man crews have their work split between droughtrepairs and waterproofing jobs.

That’s not the case this year. "We’re fortunate that wa-terproofing is a lot slower because crews usually doingwaterproofing are doing drought repairs."

Still, he said, "It’s getting to the point now where peo-ple are going to have to start waiting a couple weeks toget an estimate."

Jim Zocelka, sales manager at Jerry’s Basement Wa-

terproofing and Foundation Repair of Omaha, said thatalthough his workers have been swamped, business hasbeen lucrative.

Zocelka said much of the business uptick has been inCouncil Bluffs, where, as with the Reckers’ home, groundmoisture increased during flood conditions last summer,then rapidly contracted after high heat and little precip-itation this summer.

"There are more problems from being swelled up lastyear then having the opposite this year," Zocelka said. InCouncil Bluffs "they just took off a lot faster."

Jim Hesse pushes pipe down to bedrock at a home in Council Bluffs, Iowa, on September 7. Many homes across thedrought-stricken Midlands are facing underground issues as foundations are cracking and crumbling as the bone-dryground receeds from foundation walls. Photos by Jeff Beiermann, Omaha World-Herald

Felipe Valdez, the foreman of the Thrasher Basement Sys-tems' crew, carries away tools while Manuel Vera, left, digsbelow the foundation of a home in Council Bluffs, Iowa, onSeptember 7.


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The Last StrawGetting dry or powdered graphite into a lock mechanism can be tricky. Club member

Blaine Schattenberg, of Tooele, Utah, accomplishes this by blowing graphite into the lockthrough a hollow coffee stirrer.

He partially fills the stirrer by placing one end over the graphite container’s nozzle (orneedle) and holding his finger over the other end. Once the straw is filled, he places theopen end in the lock and blows.

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Blakley, from Page 1

“There were some things we saw as negatives thatlooked bad like the vinyl siding, that actually preservedthe natural wood of the house,” Blakley said.

Once the house was improved and livable on the in-side, Blakley and Summerfield launched an effort tocreate an appealing exterior view.

Blakley, who previously worked as a crew managerfor a landscaping company, put his experience to useto create a woodland theme to match the rustic natureof the 1910 home.

He and Amber also focused on creating an invitingfront and backyard for the community all while stick-ing to a budget.

They began by planting several Japanese maple andbonsai-style evergreen trees, creating a flagstone walk-way and patio in the backyard. A straight drop off fromthe patio leads to a pond and a waterfall.

In the front, Blakley said a stone terrace was addedto utilize an area of elevated lawn beside a retainingwall.

Blakley said that while they have made many addi-tions to the interior and exterior of the house, theyhave managed to be cost effective by utilizing and re-purposing existing features of the home as well as com-pleting projects without hiring expensive help.

“The story of the house is that what we lack inmoney as first-time homebuyers is made up for in whatwe do ourselves,” Blakley said.

“It’s been our hobby throughout but it looks like itcosts a lot more than we actually spent.”

Blakley continued that projects were decided on aneeds basis and completed when time allowed. He stat-ed that if too many projects were pursued at one time,the amount of work could be overwhelming and de-crease desire and motivation.

“One thing Nathan told me that I didn’t take to heartat first was to work on things when you wanted to orelse you’d wear yourself out. Just take a break to getmotivated again,” he said.

Like Mahrt, Blakley explained that he knows thevalue of staying true to the era of his home. While mod-ern details look up-to-date now, historically accuratedesigns will stand the test of time.

“If you have a house with any historical significanceand make decisions that cater to the historical natureof the house, you can’t go wrong,” he said, adding, “Ifyou try to modernize it, it may not look good in 10years. If you do something from the era, it will lookgood forever.”

Right: The kitchen in theBlakley and Summerfieldhome features new countertops but original windows.The windows open similar toa door which Blakley refersto as one of the most uniquefeatures of the home.

Below: The living roomfeatures original wood floor-ing and woodwork. Thefloor throughout the housewas preserved by carpet in-stalled by previous owners.

Photos by Bonner Photographic


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Before Evan Blakley and Meriah Summerfield purchased the home on North 13th Placein Denison, the sunroom had been converted to a bedroom with drywall and a drop ceil-ing. The original ceiling, pictured, was preserved by the drywall.

The entry way leads up to the originaldoor and siding of the North 13th Placehome owned by Evan Blakley and MeriahSummerfield. The original siding was pre-served by vinyl siding, which was torn offduring the restoration process.

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Vinyl siding once covered the 100 year old house. Evan Blakley and Meriah Summer-field, with the help of Nathan Mahrt, have utilized original features of the house as well asadded new landscape to revitalize a piece of Denison’s history.


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Drought damaged lawns need helpThe drought of 2012 has

taken a toll on many lawnsacross Iowa. The crispybrown lawns of Augusthave begun to recover withSeptember rains, but all isnot well.

Kentucky bluegrass isthe most dominant grassin Iowa lawns, accordingto David Minner, turfgrassspecialist with Iowa StateUniversity Extension andOutreach.

“Most summers whenwater is lacking, the turf-grass leaves turn brownbut the below-groundcrowns, buds and rhi-zomes survive in a dor-mant condition only toproduce new growth whenwater returns,” Minnersaid. “We have becomevery accustomed to lettingthe lawn turn brown in thesummer and then watch-ing it re-green in the fall.”

Minner said the problemwith this strategy is thatsummer dormancy is notan absolute guarantee thatthe grass plants will sur-vive. Most of the time non-irrigated lawns turn dor-mant in late July afterabout two to three weekswith no water. They canremain brown and dor-

mant, but alive, for ap-proximately four to sixweeks without water.Again, these are generalstatements and estimates,not absolute values. It isimportant to remember

that the dormancy factor inKentucky bluegrass alsohas its limit, and it wasreached in many lawnsacross Iowa in 2012.

Minner has been drivingthrough many new and

older neighborhoods inIowa to get a feel for theamount of turf damagecaused by the drought. Hehas found that olderneighborhoods wheretrees shade the ground

don’t seem to have asmuch turf loss. Lawns withhills and slopes, especiallythose facing the south lostsubstantial turf. Thatchyand sandy soil lawns leftun-irrigated also experi-enced severe turf loss.

“The green grass of wa-tered lawns is easily dis-cernible from the dormantlawns that are now strug-gling to recover,” he said.“My travels across Iowaindicate that most neigh-borhoods have approxi-mately 25 to 50 percent ofthe lawns showing somedegree of turf loss from thedrought and of the injuredlawns approximately 25 to50 percent of the turf ineach lawn has beenkilled.”

The bad news is thatsome of homeowners arenow dealing with deadgrass and no amount ofwatering or rain will makeit recover. In fact, the deadareas of the lawn that arenot repaired this fall willlikely be invaded by weedsnext year.

The good news is thatSeptember is the perfectmonth to renovate thelawn or at least reseed thedamaged areas.

“Don’t delay; if the grassis brown it’s probably dead(not dormant) and won’trecover and you will havemissed the best seedingwindow to re-establish thelawn,” Minner said.

He outlines renovationand reseeding steps in thearticle Drought DamagedLawns Need Help; the arti-cle was recently posted onthe ISU Extension andOutreach Dealing withDrought website under thehome and lawn tab.

Minner pointed out thatmanagement practices inthe fall and spring deter-mine the drought toleranceof the lawn in summer. Toreduce the need for irriga-tion, a lawn managementprogram should maximizeroot volume and depth inpreparation for summerdrought. By the time sum-mer rolls around, there islittle to do to help a lawnexcept mow and irrigateproperly.

Management practicesthat prepare a lawn fordrought and tips on waterconservation while water-ing a lawn are included inthe full article at www.ex-tension.iastate.edu/topic/recovering-disasters.

Some homeowners are now dealing with dead grass and no amount of watering or rainwill make it recover. Dead areas of the lawn that are not repaired this fall will likely be in-vaded by weeds next year. Photo by Gordon Wolf


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Improve your home’s curb appealIndividuals who have

tried to sell a home arelikely familiar with thephrase "curb appeal."

Curb appeal is similar togetting ready for a bigdate, only you're notdressing yourself up tomake a strong first im-pression. Instead, improv-ing curb appeal involvesdressing your home up inthe hopes it makes astrong first impression onprospective buyers, manyof whom will have a strongopinion about the propertybefore they even get out oftheir cars to have a lookaround.

A home with strong curbappeal can entice buyerswho are likely to believethat a home with a well-maintained exterior is like-ly to have an equally im-pressive interior. Home-owners who want theprocess of selling theirhome to go smoothly canimprove the property'scurb appeal in a number ofways, many of which don'tnecessitate a substantialhome improvement budg-et.

Clean up. The most ef-fective way to improvecurb appeal is to clean upthe property. Many home-owners are savvy enoughto remove toys and otheritems from the yard before

showing a home, butcleaning up goes beyondremoving clutter from theproperty. Make sure allhedges are trimmed andremove weeds, sticks andother debris from anyflower beds. Lay mulch inthe flower beds and gar-den, as mulch preventsweed growth while helpingthe soil retain moisture, re-sulting in more attractivegardens to catch a buyer'seye.

Get an "edge" on othersellers. Edging is anothereasy and effective way toimprove curb appeal. Edgedriveways, sidewalks andother walkways aroundthe property, removing ortrimming anything that ishanging over the drivewayor walkways. If the bound-ary between your drive-way and lawn is not dis-tinct, consider installingedging materials such asstone or bricks. The edgingcan be level with the drive-way or elevated, but keepin mind that elevateddriveway edging can pro-tect the lawn, preventingkids from riding their bicy-cles onto the lawn or carsfrom driving onto it.Adding edging is not avery difficult do-it-yourselfproject.

Take to the trees. Manyhomeowners grow accus-

tomed to overgrown treesaround their property andmay not notice that low-hanging, unsightlybranches are hiding thehome from view. Buyerswant to see the house, sotake to the trees and trimany branches that hangtoo low or obscure yourhome.

Clean the gutters. Leavesand sticks hanging fromthe gutters are a red flag tobuyers, who tend to asso-ciate clogged gutters withroof damage. Clean thegutters thoroughly beforeputting your home up forsale and keep them cleanthroughout the sellingprocess. If your propertyincludes lots of trees, in-stall guards to keep twigsand leaves out of the gut-ters.

Make the home accessi-ble through the front door.Many homeowners entertheir home through a sidedoor or through theirgarage.

If you fall into this cate-gory, keep in mind thatprospective buyers will beentering through the frontdoor, so make this area ac-cessible. Clear any clutter,such as overgrown hedges,away from the front door,and consider upgradingthe door handle to a moremodern feature. In addi-

tion, make sure the lock onthe front door doesn'tstick, forcing the realtorand buyers to immediatelystruggle before enteringthe home. You want buy-ers and their real estateagents to get in and out ofthe home as smoothly aspossible.

Make sure all plants, in-cluding flowers, are living.Dehydrated or dead plantsand flowers are eyesores,and they will give buyersthe impression that youdidn't pay much attentionto your property.

Make sure all plants arealive and thriving and re-

place those that aren't. Youcan replant new flowers orplants or just use pottedplants instead. Chooselow-maintenance varietiesthat appeal to buyers whowant good, vibrant plantsbut might not want to putin much work into the gar-den.

Ensuring a home's primary entryway is welcoming and well-groomed is one way home-owners can improve curb appeal. Photo submitted


Choosing your patio materialCurb appeal can have a

dramatic impact onprospective home buyers.Landscaping improve-ments and renovations tothe outside of the homecreate a strong first im-pression on buyers, whooften feel a home with anappealing exterior has anequally impressive interi-or.

A patio is one area of ahome that can boost ahome's appeal while alsoproviding a great place forcurrent homeowners torelax outside.

Many homeownerswaver when choosing amaterial for their patio be-cause each material has itsown advantages and dis-advantages.

A backyard patio is aplace where friends andfamily members can con-vene in the nice weather toenjoy dining al fresco.

In the cooler months, a

patio is a great place togather around a fire pitand warm chilly toes whilesipping mugs of hot cocoa.

When designing a patio,homeowners must make ahost of decisions, not theleast of which is choosinga patio material.

Wood, stone, concrete,paving blocks, and tile allcan be used to create ap-pealing and functional pa-tios. Because of the wide-spread availability of con-crete, pavers and wood,many patios are construct-ed of these materials.

Concrete is one of themore affordable patio ma-terials.

With stamped concrete,homeowners can enjoymore colors and designsthan ever before, and newtechnology in tinting andstyling enables concrete tolook like other expensivestone materials at a frac-tion of the cost of stone.

For the experiencedmason, laying concrete isa relatively easy job. It maybe more difficult for thenovice do-it-yourselfer be-cause laying concrete re-quires knowledge of grad-ing and also installingspacers correctly to detercracking.

Because concrete is notas labor-intensive as someother materials, homeown-ers may save some moneyif they choose concrete.

Concrete is durable, butover time cracking is in-evitable. Some concrete re-quires the application of asealant every few years toprotect coloring and dura-bility. Around pools, con-crete can become slipperywhen wet if an anti-skidagent was not applied.

Many homeownersgravitate toward pavingstones because their variedtexture and shapes cancreate quite an appealing

look in a yard. If installed correctly,

pavers will not crack and itis possible to easily add onto an original design be-cause of the portability ofthese stones. And becausethey can be moved, paverscan be repaired from un-derground and stones canbe replaced without anydemolition. Homeownerslike that pavers can quick-ly make a yard look high-end.

Although pavers can beinstalled as a do-it-your-self project, such installa-tion can be labor-inten-sive. The ground needs tobe accurately leveled andprepped before the stonescan be placed to help en-sure there is no shifting ormovement.

Polymeric sand shouldbe applied and pushed intothe joints between blocksto alleviate shifting. Thesand contains a polymer

that hardens and locks theblocks in place. Such de-tailed work is beyond theabilities of many home-owners, who typically paya substantial amount tohave the stones profes-sionally installed.

Though the sand mayinhibit weed growth,weeds can still pop up be-tween the blocks, so main-tenance is necessary. Also,paving blocks are slightlyuneven and they canloosen, which can prove asafety hazard to the elder-ly or young children whoaren't surefooted.

Wood is often thought ofin a raised deck scenario,but it can also be laid atground level to create alow-lying patio.

A wood patio can beunique and stained orpainted in a variety of col-ors. It also may be less ex-pensive to install than con-crete or pavers.

If the shape is relativelysimple, a do-it-yourselferalso may be able to do thejob without hiring a pro-fessional.

Though wood is a goodchoice for many home-owners, it is one of themore maintenance-heavymaterials. Wood must beroutinely cleaned, stainedand sealed.

Even with the best care,wood can warp, splinterand chip. When surround-ing a pool, wood may dete-riorate after coming in con-tact with chemicals fromthe pool water.

Though most wood istreated, it may be suscepti-ble to boring insects andother pests.

Creating a patio can addvalue to a home. The harddecision is selecting apatio material that fitsyour budget and givesyour patio the look youdesire.


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Removing weeds from lawnsHomeowners know a

well maintained lawn is anintegral part of an attractivehome landscape. Iowa StateUniversity Extension andOutreach horticulturalistsshare mechanical andchemical measures that canbe undertaken to remove ordestroy broadleaf weedswhen they invade lawns.

To have additional plantand garden questions an-swered, contact the ISUHortline at 515-294-3108or [email protected].

When is the best time toapply a broadleaf herbi-cide to the lawn?

Fall (mid-September toearly November) is the besttime to control perennialbroadleaf weeds in thelawn with broadleaf herbi-cides.

In fall, perennialbroadleaf weeds are trans-porting food (carbohy-drates) from their foliage totheir roots in preparationfor winter. Broadleaf herbi-cides applied in fall will beabsorbed by the broadleafweed’s foliage and trans-ported to the roots alongwith the carbohydrates, re-sulting in the destruction ofthe broadleaf weeds. Spring

applications are generallyless effective than fall ap-plications.

Effective broadleaf herbi-cides include 2,4-D, MCPP,MCPA, dicamba, triclopyr,and others. The most effec-tive broadleaf herbicideproducts contain a mixtureof two or three herbicidesas no single compound willcontrol all broadleaf weeds.Broadleaf herbicides can beapplied as liquids or gran-ules. Before applying anyherbicide, carefully readand follow label directions.

What is the proper wayto apply a broadleaf her-bicide to the lawn?

Broadleaf herbicides canbe applied as liquids orgranules. Before applyingany herbicide, carefullyread and follow label direc-tions. When applying liquidformulations, potentialspray drift problems can beavoided by following sim-ple precautions. Don’t spraywhen winds exceed fivemiles per hour. Also, don’tspray when temperaturesare forecast to exceed 85degrees Fahrenheit within24 hours of the application.

Since coarse droplets areless likely to drift than fine

sprays, select nozzles thatproduce coarse droplets anduse low sprayer pressurewhen applying liquidbroadleaf herbicides. Whenspraying, keep the nozzleclose to the ground.

If only a few areas in thelawn have broadleaf weedproblems, spot treat theseareas rather than sprayingthe entire lawn. Apply justenough material to wet the

leaf surfaces.Granular broadleaf herbi-

cides are often combinedwith fertilizers. Apply gran-ular broadleaf herbicidesand fertilizer/broadleaf her-bicide combinations whenthe weed foliage is wet.Broadleaf herbicides areabsorbed by the weed’s fo-liage, not its roots. To be ef-fective, the granules muststick to the weeds and the

herbicide absorbed by theweed’s foliage. Apply gran-ular products in the earlymorning when the foliageis wet with dew or irrigatethe lawn prior to the appli-cation. To insure adequateleaf surface and herbicideabsorption, don’t mow thelawn two or three days be-fore treatment. After treat-ment, allow three or fourdays to pass before mow-

ing. This allows sufficienttime for the broadleafweeds to absorb the herbi-cide and translocate it totheir roots. To prevent thebroadleaf herbicide frombeing washed off theplant’s foliage, apply thesematerials when no rain isforecast for 24 hours. Also,don’t irrigate treated lawnswithin 24 hours of the ap-plication.

How do I control creep-ing Charlie in my lawn?

Ground ivy (“creepingCharlie”) in lawns can becontrolled with broadleafherbicides. Products thatcontain 2,4-D or triclopyrare most effective. 2,4-D isan active ingredient inmany broadleaf herbicideproducts. Triclopyr can befound in Ortho Weed-B-Gon Chickweed, Clover, andOxalis Killer for Lawns andseveral other products. InIowa, herbicide applicationsshould be made betweenmid-September and thefirst of November. Two ap-plications are necessary toeffectively control groundivy. The first applicationshould be made in mid tolate September, the seconda month later.

Two applications of broadleaf herbicides are necessary to effectively control ground ivy.The first application should be made in mid to late September, the second a month later.


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Restoring the front porch society of DenisonDenison man, wife purchase, restore and sell historical houses

by Greg ForbesA Denison man has made it his mission to turn Second

Avenue North into a front porch neighborhood and restorethe historical housing on one of the city’s oldest streets.

Nathan Mahrt, an industrial technology teacher at Deni-son Middle School, started the Second Avenue North arearestoration project with his own home, which is currentlythe oldest house in Denison.

Nathan and his wife, Amber, looked at the house in 1996but were turned off by the price compared to how muchwork the structure required. Then, in 2002, the house wascompletely gutted by a fire and left abandoned for nearlytwo years. The Mahrts were able to attain the house for areasonable price and return the house to its aura of the1870s.

Nathan said they bought the house because neither be-lieved it could just be left to crumble, as it was a part ofDenison history.

The next project targeted the house of the west side ofMahrts’ block. Nathan and Amber purchased the houseand stripped off the modern siding. The house was restoredto look like it did in the 1910s and sold to a resident thatshared the Mahrts concern of preserving past Denison.

Nathan and Amber’s current project extends beyond asimple restoration. The Mahrts selected a tract house builtin 1892. A tract house is one of 15 or so identical homesbuilt on a plot of land.

With this particular tract home, Nathan decided to devi-ate from the normal style. He added a porch to the frontmodeled after the porch that once graced the front of Pfan-nebecker Funeral Home.

“This house didn’t have any curb appeal so we wantedto depart from the restoration norm,” Nathan said. “If youlook at old photos of Pfannebecker, you can see where Itook the details. I look at it as homage to past Denison ina new location.”

The focus on the front porch is to not only restore the his-tory of Denison but to encourage community interaction.

“Times are changing and people are living in their frontyards,” Nathan explained. “We looked at this an opportu-nity to make a statement about porches and get to knowour neighbors. I don’t really think Facebook and Twitter arecommunity building tools.”

Nathan continued that although he and Amber differedfrom the normal style of the 1892 tract home, they kept trueto the era’s architecture, as they do with all restoration proj-ects.

“We just look at a house and see where improvements

need to be made that wouldn’t affect the overall character-istics of the house,” Nathan said. “Everything is aestheti-cally correct. We try to keep the house as original as pos-sible.”

Although the project benefits the Mahrts financially to anextent, Nathan explained that he looks at the restorationsas a form of community service in two ways.

First, they are preserving history. Outside of buying,restoring and selling houses, Nathan has restored the porchfor the McHenry House and has done some cosmetic workfor the Donna Reed Theatre.

Second, by purchasing and rejuvenating old houses, theMahrts are also providing a new housing market. They arere-utilizing houses that have been left for dead by realtorsand opening them up to first-time homeowners. Nathanexplained his goal is to encourage people to buy houses asopposed to renting.

“What we do with the houses is find people in rental sit-uations that shouldn’t be there,” Nathan stated. “Whenyou look at the numbers, owning a home is the better deal.

You have something to sell.”Nathan added that he and Amber are not landlords. They

are simply looking to restore a historically important homein the Denison community and selling it to a homeownerthat takes pride and cares for the house at a reasonableprice.

“We want to create a community of attractive houses andproud homeowners,” Nathan said. “Our goal is to have thepeople that own the houses take great pride and care oftheir homes.”

While the Mahrts are nearly finished with their currentproject and don’t have any definite plans for future proj-ects, Nathan said they are always willing to help anyonelooking to restore or buy a home, as long as it’s beneficialto the community of Denison.

“I need help restoring the town. I need other people doingthis too,” Nathan explained. “I don’t mind helping with de-sign work or where to get materials. I’m a resource and Idon’t charge; it’s just what I do. I’m just trying to make thecommunity a better place.”

Nathan Mahrt applies a coat of paint to a porch railing at a house he and wife Amber restored in the neighborhood ofSecond Avenue North in Denison. The porch was added to the front of the house. Mahrt’s view is that people are onceagain spending time in their front yards and on their front porches. Photo by Gordon Wolf


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How to make your home more energy efficientHomeowners annually

lose hundreds of dollars toinefficient appliances anda drafty home. Makingsimple changes can benefitthe planet and your bottomline.

Choose the right appli-ances: appliances in yourhome as well as certain be-haviors can have a consid-erable impact on howmuch energy is consumed.

The Energy InformationAdministration reportsthat the average homeuses approximately 1,000kilowatt hours (kwh) eachmonth.

Kwh is measured bymultiplying the number of1,000 watts of electricityused by the number ofhours the device is in use.

Every appliance has adifferent measure of elec-tricity usage. Here aresome examples of commonappliances in the homeand how much energy theyconsume in one hour,courtesy of Bright Hub.

Electric clothes dryer:6,000 wattsWashing machine: 425wattsRefrigerator: 188 wattsDishwasher: 200 wattsCentral AC: 6,000 wattsWindow AC: 1,300 wattsFlat screen TV: 150 watts

LCD TV: 213 wattsVacuum: 1,100 wattsFreezer: 273 wattsWater heater: 473 wattsToaster oven: 1,200wattsCoffeemaker: 1,200wattsDesktop computer: 95wattsDVD player: 25 wattsCable box: 20 wattsLaptop: 50 wattsSelecting energy-effi-

cient appliances and usingthem in a conservativemanner can reduce energyusage and the cost of yourmonthly utility bill. Try to

run high-wattage appli-ances during the eveningor early-morning hourswhen energy rates may bereduced. Also, if theweather will be warm, run-ning these appliances dur-ing cooler hours preventsthe home from heating upeven more -- possibly re-quiring the additional useof an air conditioner.

Unplug appliances whenthey're not in use to avoidvampire drain. Many ap-pliances still draw a smallamount of power evenwhen turned off. Also, besure to properly insulate

and position appliances sothey can run at the highestlevel of efficiency.

Energy audit: you canrequest or hire individualsto conduct an energy auditor home energy assess-ment. According to theU.S. Department of Energy(DOE), the audit will as-sess how much energyyour home consumes andevaluate what measuresyou can take to make yourhome more energy effi-cient.

If you prefer to do an en-ergy audit yourself, youcan look at a few key areas

around the home wherethere may be air leaks orinefficient uses of energy.First, turn off any com-bustible appliances, suchas water heaters and fur-naces. Make sure the win-dows are closed, then turnon exhaust fans in thebathroom and kitchen tosuck the air out of therooms. Feel around out-lets, doors, windows,baseboards, fireplaces, andattic hatches for any ap-parent leaks. Use a stick ofincense to easily see theflow of air in the incensesmoke.

If any leaks are found,address each one. Thisgenerally involves re-caulking or sealing aroundpoints of entry. The DOEsays the potential energysavings from reducingdrafts in a home mayrange from five percent to30 percent per year.

Additional steps to takeinclude:

Install solar panels todraw power from thesun.Plant deciduous trees orbushes on the south-and west-facing areas ofthe home. The leaveswill shade the home dur-ing the summer monthsand fall off to allow sun-shine in during the win-ter months.Plant bushes by thefront door to act as awind buffer.Use skylights to addlight and warmth fromthe sun to the home.Think about using mo-tion-activated lights inthe home.Install a new program-mable thermostat.Check the insulation inattics and basementsand install new if the in-sulation you currentlyhave is no longer effi-cient.


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How to save on home improvement projectsMoney is tight for many

homeowners. That realitycan present a problem tothose who want to improvetheir homes without spend-ing too much money.

The cost of a home im-provement project dependson a host of factors, includ-ing the scale of the projectand the availability of ma-terials. Upscale projects likea full roof replacement willset homeowners back asubstantial amount ofmoney. In its 2011-2012"Cost vs. Value Report," Re-modeling magazine re-vealed that the average costof such a project was nearly$38,000. However, a small-er project like a garage doorreplacement could be com-pleted for fewer than$3,000.

When deciding if a homeimprovement project iswithin your budget, it's agood idea to consult suchfigures before choosing aproject. For example, if yourhome is a fixer-upper, thenone project may not be moreurgent than another, some-thing that may allow you tochoose less expensive proj-ects now while savingmoney for more expensiveprojects down the road.

It's also important forhomeowners to know that

figures such as those in the"Cost vs. Value Report" arejust averages. Some projectsmight cost more than theaverage, while others mightcome in well under budget.To ensure your project isone of the latter and not theformer, consider the follow-ing ways to trim costs offyour next home improve-ment project.

Avoid the DIY movementif you don't have adequateexperience. Many home-owners fall into the DIY trap,feeling they can pull off aproject without hiring a pro-fessional contractor. Whilethis is an option for thosehomeowners with home im-provement experience, it'san approach that's bestavoided by those withoutsuch experience. Home-owners who decide to go italone on a home improve-ment project should knowthat mistakes are costly.One mistake could have youpaying for the same materi-als twice: once when youbegin the project, and thenagain when you need to hirea contractor after your ef-forts didn't work out. Afailed DIY project also costsyou time, something home-owners hoping to sell theirhomes post-project cannotafford to waste.

Hire the right contractor.The best contractor for thejob won't necessarily be theone who comes in with thelowest estimate. The rightcontractor will know howlong a project will take andwhat the materials will cost.The wrong contractor, whomight lack the experience ofhis competitors, might makeempty promises that ulti-mately cost you moremoney via overrun costs.Find a contractor who

comes highly recommendedand is willing to provide ref-erences and show you his orher past projects like the oneyou're hiring him or her un-dertake. If you hire thewrong contractor, the proj-ect may never be completedand you may find yourselfin court, where the moneyyou had budgeted for homeimprovements is beingspent on lawyers instead.

Consider supplying yourown materials. If you dili-

gently research your project,you should be able to buythe materials yourself, evenif you plan on hiring a con-tractor to do the work. If youresearch the project andlearn about the materialsyou want to use, you cansave a substantial amountof money buying those ma-terials yourself and thenhiring a contractor.

Don't overlook recycledmaterials. Buying recycledmaterials is another way to

reduce home improvementcosts. Bathroom fixtures,doors, flooring, and lightingare just a few of the materi-als that are commonly recy-cled and resold at a fractionof the cost of new materials.Shop around for stores inyour area or peruse the In-ternet for recycled materials.Homeowners undertaking areplacement project ratherthan a remodel might evenbe eligible for tax breaks ifthey donate their old mate-rials.

Choose projects that pro-vide more bang for yourbuck. Another way to saveis to choose projects thatprovide a strong return onyour investment. The "Costvs. Value Report" comparesthe cost of popular remod-eling projects with the valuethose projects retain at re-sale. If money is a motivat-ing factor behind your proj-ect, choose a project that willget you the most moneyback at resale.

While the economy hasnot necessarily been kind tothe home improvement in-dustry, plenty of homeown-ers still look to improve theirhomes. Savvy homeownerscan do just that and savesome money along the wayby putting a few strategiesto work for them.

Homeowners can trim home improvement costs by buying their own materials before hir-ing a contractor to complete the project. Photo submitted


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Before starting a project, Denison residentsshould check the building codes

by Greg ForbesBefore a homeowner installs a new lighting system or

builds a new deck, it is important to understand thebuilding codes.

Denison Building Inspector Randy Reis offered a fewpointers before beginning a home improvement project.

Any additions such as a deck, garage, changes to thestructure or installation of plumbing or electrical units re-quire a permit.

Permits may be obtained at the building inspector’soffice at Denison City Hall.

If someone chooses not to complete a home improve-ment project themselves, they may choose to hire a con-tractor.

The contractor, too, must have a permit or license tobegin a project.

“If someone is doing additions or improvements of anykind, they should always contact us to make sure theyare following codes and to take care of their payments forpermits and other fees,” Reis said.

Anyone that chooses to hire an unlicensed contractoror pursue a project without a permit is subject to penal-

ties and fees, as well as having to pay for a permit. Codes and permits can be enforced a number of ways. “Violations may either be reported as a complaint by

a fellow resident if they feel someone is working with-out a permit or it could be someone in our office thatspots it,” Reis explained and added that sometimes, othercontractors that come in to apply for permits raise con-cern regarding possible license violations.

For any questions regarding building codes or to applyfor a permit, call Reis and the inspection office at City Hallat 712-263-3143.


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September is MoldAwareness Month and theNational Association of theRemodeling Industry(NARI) wants homeown-ers to know how to recog-nize signs of mold or waterdamage, and how to catchthese issues early on - orprevent them all together.

Mold is everywhere,though the amount and lo-cation of the mold is whatcan be harmful to yourhome and your health.

Brian Jones, president ofJones Design Build LLC,based in Minneapolis,knows first-hand aboutmold in the home, how itimpacts a house and howto have it safely removed.

Moisture brings moldMold becomes a problem

when moisture is present,and the mold begins togrow.

The risk increases inplaces that are more ex-posed to moisture, such asbathrooms, kitchens, atticsand basements.

“Oftentimes, bathroomsthat are not properly venti-lated or not properly insu-lated are at greater risk ofmold issues, regardless ofthe age of the home,”Jones said.

This was the case withJones’ clients and their 10-year-old home. Theybegan to notice stains ontheir first floor ceiling, di-rectly under the location oftheir upstairs shower, andgrew concerned. Once

Jones took down the dry-wall during the demolitionphase of the project, theirconcerns were realized -the fiberglass batt insula-tion throughout the entireshower wall area was cov-ered in mold.

“In this instance, theceiling of the shower wassloped, and it can be diffi-cult to install fiberglass in-sulation properly when thearea is sloped, increasingchance for error,” Jonessaid. “There needs to be aplastic barrier that protectsthe insulation from open-ings where moisture seepsin.”

Given the oddly shapedshower, the vapor barrierbetween the drywall andthe insulation was nottaped or sealed at allseams, so moisture foundits way under the plastic,creating a ripe environ-ment for mold to thrive.

Mold growth behind thewall reduced the directhealth risk to the home-owners, but according toJones, if left untouched,mold poses another risk tothe structural elements oftheir bathroom.

“Mold that continues togrow for years can actual-ly eat through the wood,causing structural prob-lems,” he stated.

Removing moldAfter the discovery,

Jones called in mold reme-diation experts to clear thearea before work could

continue. If not properlyremoved, mold can re-emerge.

Luckily for Jones, reme-diation is a fairly simpleprocess.

“A plastic barrier con-tains the area with themold, so that it doesn’tspread into other parts ofthe home. As it is being re-moved, a fan drives air tothe outside through a win-dow, and HEPA vacuumsremove leftover mold par-ticles from the area,” hestated. Once the area iscompletely cleared of moldand dried, it is sealed witha mold-inhibiting paint tohelp prevent future out-breaks.

Following the remedia-tion, Jones recommendedusing a polyurethanespray foam insulation in-stead of the fiberglass battinsulation that was origi-nally used.

“The polyurethane foaminsulation is sprayed intothe area, so it completelyfills every crevice and holethat may be present,”Jones said. Not only doesthis type of insulationblock all moisture, but it isalso known for its energy-efficient elements.

Jones provides the fol-lowing tips to ensure earlydetection of moisture is-sues and preventativemeasures for mold growth:

Staining: by the timeyou notice staining, youcan be sure that water ei-ther has been or is present.

Take care of mold before it turns ugly

“Drywall and paint is easyand cheap to replace, sowhen I see staining, I rec-ommend clients cutthrough the drywall imme-diately and locate theproblem,” Jones said.

Odor: many times youdon’t need to physicallysee the mold to know thatit is present because it willhave an odor. If you walkinto a room or basementand notice an odor, it’stime to investigate.

Blistering: paint that ispeeled or blistering is an-other sign of water dam-

age. Also bulging dry wall,and screws or joints thatare popping out is evi-dence that the wood iswarping from repeatedwater exposure.

Ventilate: areas of thehome that have accessiblewater systems or couldface water exposure fromthe outside are extremelysusceptible to mold growthand must have proper ven-tilation. “I suggest a bath-room fan with a wiredtimer, that will continue torun 30 to 60 minutes fol-lowing shower use to keep

the moisture level down,”Jones stated.

About NARIThe National Associa-

tion of the Remodeling In-dustry (NARI) is the onlytrade association dedicat-ed solely to the remodelingindustry. The Association,which represents 7,000member companies na-tionwide—comprised of63,000 remodeling con-tractors— is “The Voice ofthe Remodeling Industry.”To learn more about mem-bership, visit NARI.org.


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Green options for your homePrivate residences con-

sume lots of energy. TheEnergy Information Ad-ministration (EIA) saysthat Americans are in-creasing their electricityconsumption at home,with some homes evenusing more energy thansmall businesses.

The EIA says that on av-erage a home uses be-tween 936 and 1,000 kilo-watt-hours of electricityeach month. There is also aheavy reliance on naturalgas, one of the primaryfuels used to heat homes.On average homes use 100million BTU for heatingand cooking needs peryear.

Thousands of dollars arespent every year on homeheating, cooling and elec-tricity needs, but there aremany different ways toconserve energy. This in-cludes using alternativeenergy sources that maybe better for the planet andmore cost-effective for theaverage homeowner

When considering greenenergy, many homeownersthink of solar panels,which currently accountfor .01 percent of all elec-tricity used in homes

across the United States.However, solar powercould provide as much as10 percent of that electric-ity by 2025. Californialeads the nation with themost solar projects to date,but homeowners acrossthe country are consider-ing solar panel additions to

their homes. While the initial cost of

solar panel installation canbe considerable, the panelsgenerally pay for them-selves in energy savingswithin a few years of in-stallation. Also, some solarpower companies nowallow homeowners to rent

the photovoltaic panels,which can cut down on thecost of installation.

Choosing green energymay not involve any efforton the part of the home-owner. In fact, there aremany different companiesthat work in conjunctionwith traditional energy

suppliers so that a portionof the energy supplied tohomes comes via an alter-native energy source.Homeowners who choosethis option will still receivethe same bill and must stillopen an account with theirlocal utility companies. De-livery of the energy to that

local utility changes, butconsumers won't haveanything to do with thatprocess.

Homeowners interestedin making any otherchanges for energy sav-ings can sign up to have anenergy audit. Conductedthrough a utility provideror a third-party organiza-tion, energy audits assessmany things in the home.Appliances are examined,as are insulation and thetypes of windows anddoors used in the homeand an inspector will checkthe home for drafts.

A report is generated,and homeowners are pro-vided recommendations asto how they can improvetheir home's energy effi-ciency.

Making such changesmay make homeowners el-igible for tax breaks oreven rebate incentiveswhile reducing the cost oftheir monthly utility bills.

Homeowners hoping toembrace green energyhave many options at theirdisposal.

It's just a matter of re-searching those optionsand taking the initiative tomake changes.

Opting for an energy audit can help identify areas of the home that need improvement for energy savings. Photo submitted


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Help your lawn recover after winter hibernationEvery weekend of the last

few months, homeownershave mowed, weeded,edged and trimmed theirlawns so they will look theirbest. In order to ensure yourlawn makes a complete re-covery after winter hiberna-tion, you may want tospend the fall taking stepsto help your lawn survivethe winter months ahead.

Winterizing a lawn variesdepending on where youlive and how harsh a typicalwinter is. Certain key tasksneed to be completed beforeyou can rest for the winterseason.

Remove fallen leavesand debris. Leaf cleanup isamong the tasks homeown-ers dread the most. Rakingleaves can be arduous, butit is well worth the effort.Fallen leaves can smotherthe grass and lead to deadspots and decay next sea-son. Wait until the majorityof the leaves have fallenfrom the trees before youbegin to rake; otherwise,you could find yourself re-peating the processthroughout the fall.Mulched leaves can beadded in small amounts togarden beds to provide richorganic material for nextyear's crop of flowers.

Be sure to pick up anytwigs and other debris as

well. Additional debris canbecome up trapped undersnow and hinder grassgrowth when spring ar-rives.

Cut your lawn short.Unless the season is unsea-sonably wet and warm,your lawn shouldn't growtoo much in October andNovember. Continue to cutyour lawn until there is novisible growth for about twoweeks. It pays to give it ashort cut before frost arrivesso that long piles of deadgrass will not smother anynew growth in the spring.Also, long grass tends tobend down upon itself,trapping moisture that canlead to fungal diseases likesnow mold.

Aerate the lawn. Soilcan be compacted over time,especially in yards that seeheavy foot traffic. You canrent an aerator from a lawnsupply store so that waterand fertilizer can reach thesoil.

Fertilize. Now is the timeto give the lawn fresh foodto overwinter and also re-plenish the strength of theroot system. All summerlong the lawn has been de-pleting the soil of nutrition,but autumn presents a greatopportunity to strengthenthose roots. Consider aslow-release formula de-

signed for winterizing thatwill feed the lawn all winterlong.

Edge the garden beds.Take advantage of the cool-er weather and slow-grow-ing grass to re-edge aroundflower beds. Even thoughthe grass above the surfaceof the soil will stop growing,the roots will remain viableand the lawn will still besending out rhizomes andtillers to produce new grassblades in the spring. Thesecan easily encroach on gar-den beds. Edge now so youwill have less work to do inthe spring.

Trim hedges and trees.If there are any overhang-ing tree branches or shrub-bery blocking sunlight fromreaching the lawn, cut backthese areas once the foliagehas thinned. Take advan-tage of your town's leaf andtwig pickup services.

Seed bare patches.Scour the lawn for barepatches and put down someseed in these areas. Thecooler weather will enablethe seeds to germinatewithout having to competewith weed growth.

Once you have preparedyour lawn for the winteryou can bring in any lawntools that need repair andhave them set and packedaway for the spring. Raking leaves is a key step in preparing your lawn for the winter months. Photo submitted


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Select the right carpetingfor your home

Although many peoplemay tout the benefits ofhardwood flooring overcarpeting, many individu-als like to have the soft andluxurious feeling of carpet-ing underfoot. Selectingthe right carpeting for aparticular room and pur-pose can be a bit dauntingbecause of the abundanceof available colors and ma-terials.

According to the Carpetand Rug Institute, carpet-ing is an added safetymeasure that makes playareas safer, potentiallylessening the severity ofan injury in the event of afall. This is why carpetingis often preferred in chil-dren's rooms and playareas.

Carpeting can help insu-late rooms both in thesummer and winter. It canbe easier on feet than ahard floor, and few materi-als absorb sound betterthan carpet.

Choosing the right car-peting for a room comesdown to identifying thekind of foot traffic you ex-pect in your home andwhich carpeting optionsmost suit your needs. Fol-lowing are some tips to getstarted.

Don't overlook padding.Padding can make the dif-ference in the way carpet-ing feels and how long itlasts. The thickest or mostexpensive padding isn'tnecessarily the best or thebest-suited for your home.However, it is wise to picka pad that matches thetype of carpeting you're se-lecting. You may be able togo with a thinner pad inlow-traffic rooms andunder dense carpeting likeberber. In high-trafficrooms, choose thicker,more durable padding.Padding prevents carpetbacking and fibers fromcoming apart over a dura-tion of time, so if you're

spending a lot on the car-pet, it pays to invest in apadding that will last theduration of the carpet aswell.

Recognize the type ofcarpeting that best suitsyour needs. Carpet is avail-able in many types andstyles, and they won't allbe the perfect match foryour home. For example,plush and saxony carpetsare better in low-trafficareas. These carpets mayshow footprints and alsovacuum tracks and dirt.Berber, meanwhile, ismore flat and dense, mak-ing it highly effective atmasking stains and tracks.Textured carpets like friezeare cut from fibers of dif-ferent heights, so theymask stains and are alsosofter on the feet thanberbers. An entryway or aden may be better off car-peted in a dense carpeting,while a bedroom may befine and luxurious with

plush carpeting. Carpeting may come in

stain-resistant varieties orlow-maintenance options.These are generally best inhomes with pets and chil-dren. However, you maybe able to save money byopting out of special treat-ments to resist stains andsimply invest in a steamvacuum, instead.

Choose color wisely.Choosing a color comesdown to preference andhow much the room will beused. Although light, neu-tral colors are often pre-ferred because they workwell in just about anyroom, lighter colored car-pets will show stains muchmore easily than other car-

pet colors. Textured, multi-colored carpets are prefer-able to hide stains and canlook just as elegant assolid-colored carpeting.Much in the way paint col-ors are chosen, carpetingcolors come down to per-sonal preference. Dramamay be created with boldcolors that draw the eye tothe carpet. However, forthose who want the carpetto fade into the back-ground instead of upstag-ing decor, neutral colorsare better.

Hire a good installer.Many beautiful carpets areavailable, but unless youchoose a reliable installerand store, you may end uppaying more or receive

subpar service. Poll friendsand family members forrecommendations to helpyou narrow down options.Then be sure to havestores price out materialsseparate from installationso you can make more ac-curate comparisons. Also,you don't necessarily needto use an installer provid-ed by the carpet store. Youcan shop around to find aseparate installer or evendo the work yourself.

Carpeting can make afine addition to a homeand make it feel more com-fortable and inviting. Re-member to take your timewhen selecting carpeting,as your decision will havelong-lasting effects.


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Seven inexpensive ways to update a home now

Oftentimes, buying ahome opens up a bottom-less pit of opportunities forprojects and improve-ments.

While some homeown-ers engage in different re-pairs and fix-ups out ofnecessity, many others liketo freshen-up their spacesout of personal preferenceinstead of need. But eventhe most well-intentionedprojects can be waylaid ifbudgets are tight.

What many homeown-ers may not realize is thatthere are many ways tomake updates and changesto a home that do not re-quire a major overhaul or alarge price tag. The follow-ing are seven projects that

won't break the bank.1. Move around furni-

ture. You may be able tochange the look of a roomwithout spending anymoney. Interior designersknow how to arrange fur-niture for maximum ap-peal, but the averagehomeowner can do it, too.Find a focal point in theroom and angle the furni-ture toward it. Don't makethe focal point the televi-sion, however. Try chang-ing the placement of chairsand sofas. Simply movinga curio cabinet from onecorner to another may alsomake a difference.

2. Add lighting. Lightingat different levels in theroom can create a vibrant

impact. Many homeownersmistakenly put in a coupleof table lamps and thinkthat will be adequate.However, properly illumi-nating a room means vary-ing the lighting to createdifferent moods at differ-ent times. Plus, more lightcan make a room feel morewelcoming.

3. Add new pillows ordrapes. Changing a few as-pects of a room can give itan entirely new look. Ifyou want to add a splashof color but don't knowwhat to do, think about in-corporating some newthrow pillows or changethe curtains. An accessoryhere and there in a brightcolor also can incorporate

a new hue without it beingoverwhelming.

4. Change knobs orsmall accents. Give a rooma new look by focusing onthe small details. Switchout cabinet knobs forsomething updated andmodern. Take inventory ofwall outlets and lightswitches and think aboutselecting new ones that co-ordinate with your homedecor.

5. Use plants. Emptycorners or spots you're notcertain how to fill maybenefit from a plant. Plantsare inexpensive ways toadd instant color and visu-al appeal to a room. Plus,having live plants can helpimprove indoor air by fil-

tering out contaminants. Ahome with plants also feelsmore cozy.

6. Hang new wall art. Itmay be time to look at yourphotos and artwork andmake a few adjustments.Finding new prints to hangcould instantly change aroom's ambience. And youneedn't spend a lot ofmoney on professionalphotography, either. Grabyour camera and take afew close-up shots of flow-ers or take in a landscapescenery. Many of today'shome printers can produceprofessional-quality printsin minutes.

7. Try a new coat ofpaint. After you've ex-hausted other avenues,

choosing a new paint colormay be the new look youdesire. Painting is one ofthe least expensive yetmost dramatic methods ofchanging a home's interi-or. With dozens of hues tochoose from, and newapps that enable you totake snapshots of things innature or in your life andmatch them up to a paintcolor, you will have scoresof opportunities to explorefresh new colors for yourhome.

When you get inspired tomake improvements to thehome but fear how much itmay take out of your wal-let, consider inexpensivetricks that can induce a big"wow" factor.


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Make the most of small bathroomsRenovating bathrooms is

commonly at the top ofhome improvement to-dolists.

Though some roomsaround the house may re-main timeless, bathrooms,like kitchens, show theirage (and era) much moreeasily, which could be whyhomeowners are always onthe lookout for new ideas.

Although many peoplemay dream about creatinga spa-type oasis in theirhomes, not everyone islucky enough to have alarge bathroom, much lessa large budget for a full-scale renovation. Smallbathrooms are common,particularly in older homes,but they needn't forcehomeowners to compro-mise on style when reno-vating.

Small bathrooms may bea half-bath on a mainhome level or even a fullbath, depending on thehome. By thinking cre-atively, homeowners canmaximize their spaces andredo bathrooms in waysthat bring out their best as-sets.

When space is at a pre-mium, it's best to look forfixtures and items that fitwith the scale of the bath-

room. Although you maywant a large vanity andcabinet in which to hide allof your toiletries, this sim-ply may not be practical -taking up most of the bath-room real estate. Instead,look for elegant pedestalsinks that have a muchsmaller profile. They'll alsohelp you control the clutterin the bathroom becausethere won't be anywhere tohide it.

Use optical illusions tomake the bathroom appearmore roomy. For example,lay tile diagonally to createthe impression of space. Alarge mirror will reflect theroom back and make it ap-pear much larger than it re-ally is.

Select lighter hues inpaint colors and acces-sories. Dark paints and fix-tures could make the roomfeel cramped. Dark colorsare generally used to makespaces feel more cozy. In asmall bathroom, it maymake the space feel claus-trophobic. Instead, thinklight and bright and theroom will instantly feelmore airy.

Minimize wall hangingsand keep fixtures smaller.Filling the walls withknickknacks may con-

tribute to clutter and makethe space appear closed in.Use decorative items spar-ingly.

If possible, store towelsin a closet outside of thebathroom. This way youwon't have to devote spaceinside the bathroom to acloset, leaving more roomfor other things.

While some people likethe thought of a separatebath and shower, in small-er bathrooms this may notbe possible. Instead, lookfor a combined shower andbath, or select a walk-inshower with a much small-er profile.

Windows are often wel-come in bathrooms be-cause of the ventilationthey provide, but theycould be a hindrance insmaller bathrooms becausethey take up prime wallspace. Cover a window in ashower stall to free upspace. Just be sure to installa venting fan to reducemoisture in the bathroom.

Maximize wall space ifyou need storage. Findcabinets that will fit be-neath windows or be ableto fit in thin areas betweensinks and toilets. Over thetoilet is prime area for cab-inetry.

Consider a framelessshower.

This is a partitioned areaof the bathroom that's setaside for the shower and istypically only cordoned offby a thin wall or piece ofglass. Or a shower with no

walls at all is the ultimatein space-saving. The entirebathroom floor is deckedout in tile, and a portion issloped toward a showerdrain.

Think about installing askylight if you prefer natu-

ral light, but there is noroom for a traditional win-dow.

Thinking creatively canhelp turn a cramped bath-room into a space-savingand well-designed roomhomeowners desire.

A frameless shower can take up less space in a small bathroom. Photo submitted


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P.O. Box 453 • Hwy. 30 East • Denison, IA 51442712-263-3981 • Fax 712-263-6367

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Our Store Hours are:Monday thru Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Saturday by Appointment

Drywall available in 1/4”, 3/8”, 1/2”, 5/8” in different lengths,also carry Moisture Board, Dens-Shield Tile Backer, etc.

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Factors to consider before refinancing your mortgage

Many homeowners are finding it is a great time to re-finance their mortgages. Lower interest rates and leg-islation aimed at helping owners whose mortgages areunderwater have encouraged homeowners to take ad-vantage of these opportunities.

Before refinancing a mortgage, it's wise for home-owners to examine their credit ratings and take thesteps necessary to ensure they get the best rates pos-sible when refinancing.

Get your credit report. Many people know they can access their credit report

once a year for free. However, what those same peoplemight not know is that three agencies keep track ofyour credit, and you can access reports from each onefor free once a year. So that's essentially three free re-ports per year.

Homeowners who want to refinance their mortgagesshould stagger the reports so they don't receive all threeat the same time. This allows you to show how muchprogress you're making on improving your credit overthe course of a year.

Spreading out your credit reports also makes it eas-ier to address any errors that may appear. For example,if your first credit report shows an outstanding balanceon a given account, then you pay off that balance, thatpayoff should be reflected on your second report if youallow ample time between the payoff and when youplace the order for your second report.

If the second report does not reflect up-to-date activ-ity, consult the credit reporting agency and have theissue corrected.

Stop paying bills late. If you routinely pay your bills late, especially credit

card bills, then you almost certainly won't get the low-est interest rate when refinancing your mortgage. Makeall credit card, utilities and installment loan paymentson time.

Once you've established a lengthy pattern of payingbills on time, that might be a good time to visit yourbank and discuss refinancing your mortgage.

Don't open new accounts. If you have a bad credithistory, don't open any new accounts, especially if youstill have outstanding balances on existing accounts.Pay existing accounts down completely before you evenconsider opening a new account.

Once balances are paid in full, then you might shoparound for a new credit card. Many people with highoutstanding balances have high annual percentagerates, so once you have paid down balances on thosecards, you'll be in a better position to apply for a cardwith a lower APR.

Once you have addressed your credit score, youshould investigate the refinancing process. First andforemost, don't expect the process to be free.

The Federal Reserve stated that it's not unusual forhomeowners to pay anywhere from three percent to sixpercent of their outstanding principal in refinancingfees. Fees vary depending on where an applicant lives,but you should expect to pay an application fee, a loanorigination fee and points.

Points are a percentage of your mortgage loan; youmight have to pay two kinds. Loan-discount points are

a one-time fee you're paying to reduce your existingloan's interest rate.

Some lenders also charge points to earn money on theloan. You likely paid points on your initial loan, butpoints when refinancing aren't necessarily fully de-ductible like they were the first time around. Addition-al fees can include an appraisal fee, inspection fee, clos-ing fee, and other fees that, when added up, can costhomeowners a substantial amount of money.

Another factor homeowners should study before de-ciding to refinance is no-cost refinancing.

No-cost refinancing is a bit of a misnomer, as youmight not pay closing costs if yours is a no-cost refi-nancing, but you will avoid those costs at the expenseof a higher interest rate on the remainder of the newloan.

Since many homeowners refinance their mortgagespecifically to lower their interest rates, no-cost refi-nancing might not be in their best interests.

In some instances, no-cost refinancing may simplyinclude the aforementioned fees in the new loan. Thismeans the fees are added to your loan's principal. Youwill be repaying them with interest over the life of theloan.

In such instances, many homeowners simply preferto pay the refinancing fees upfront, but that's a decisionfor each individual to make.

Many homeowners are taking advantage of lower in-terest rates and refinancing their mortgages.

But before doing so homeowners should repair theircredit and determine if refinancing is truly for them.


1334 BroadwayDenison, IA 51442712-263-5055

www.unitedbk.comMember FDIC

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JeanHeiden

RATES ARE AT HISTORIC LOWS!

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