spring home improvement guide

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Colonial Plaza 45 East Main Street Westborough, MA 01581 508-870-2211 • fax 508-870-2230 www.roomswav.com [email protected] FINE TILE • STONE • MARBLE GLASS • FIXTURES Personalized Design and Installation Services ROOMS for Improvement! AFTER Your local source for design & more! BEFORE THANK THANK YOU YOU for your for your business! business! Celebrating Our 2 nd YEAR in Westborough Spring Home Improvement Guide Special Supplement APRIL 12, 2013

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Page 1: Spring Home Improvement Guide

Colonial Plaza45 East Main Street

Westborough, MA 01581508-870-2211 • fax 508-870-2230

[email protected]

FINE TILE • STONE • MARBLEGLASS • FIXTURES

Personalized Designand Installation Services

ROOMS for Improvement!

AFTER

Your local source for design & more!

BEFORE

THANKTHANKYOUYOU

for your for your business!business!

Celebrating Our2nd YEAR

in Westborough

SpringHome Improvement Guide

Special Supplement APRIL 12, 2013

Page 2: Spring Home Improvement Guide

2 • Community Advocate • Spring Home Improvement • Friday, April 12, 2013

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By Sharon Naylor

Kids’ rooms are often a chaos of clothing, colors and craft items. Parents strive to keep some sense of order in their little ones’ rooms, often experiencing aggravation when youngsters don’t follow clean-up directions. One way to reduce the struggle, and give kids an organized, clean living space where they can play in peace, is to create a new organizing plan for the room’s biggest opportunity for order: the closet. Robert Guerin, owner of the professional closet design company Hang It Up Closets, says that “when a child grows up in an organized, neat room, good skills are developed for later in life.” As kids learn their new organizing system, they’re also learning their colors, matching items and thinking about item function - lessons that may help them in school and stick with them to create a foundation of order in their adult lives. Right now, their belongings will fi nd easily accessed storage spots and bins in that closet, getting all of

Tidy children’s roomsFive organizing tips

the clutter off the fl oor, desks and dressers. Kids will also get pride of accomplishment when they clean their rooms more easily - and enjoy the perk of praise from you. A key to organizing kids’ closets is formulating a plan that can be easily and inexpensively adjusted as they grow. “Th ere’s a big diff erence be-tween baby hangers, kids’ toys and a teenager’s more grown-up collections,” says Guerin. “[You need] closets designed to grow and adjust for your child’s changing needs.” At the start, decide if you want to hire a professional closet organizer to construct the ideal layout of bars for hang-ing clothes, floor-to-ceiling cubbies and higher shelving features. An expert knows ex-actly how to take a small closet and maximize the storage space within, using perfectly measured shelves, bins and other features. When two or more children are sharing one closet, the expert can create a sector for each. Or you might wish to tackle your closet-organizing plan on your own, using these fi ve top suggestions: - Start by pulling every-thing out. Have four bins near-by, marked “Current,” “Do-nate,” “Hand-Me-Downs” and

“Trash.” “Current” is for clothing, shoes, accessories, toys and other items the child uses now. “Do-nate” is for items to be donated to a charity. “Hand-Me-Downs” is for outgrown items that can be off ered to siblings or friends’ children. And, of course, trash is for ripped, stained and other-wise unwearable items, broken toys and other discardables. If items can be recycled, have a bin for those, as well. With an entirely empty space before you, and items in their bins, thoroughly clean the closet walls, ceilings and fl oor, and consider painting the closet interior. Kids can help choose their desired color, and stencils and wall clings can add a fun, decorative fl air to parts of the wall visible beneath hanging clothes or on the side walls. - Install double bars for kids’ clothes, set low enough for your child to be able to hang his or her own clothing. Since kids’ clothing is short and thin, hang one rod higher and further back in the closet, with the sec-ond rod lower and toward the front. Kids can then hang up their clothes with more space between each item, for easier viewing - or your older child can claim the back bar, while your smaller child gets the front bar. Spring tension rods can be used for narrow closets, so you don’t need to drill holes and screw in the bars. As kids age, the tension bars can be raised to the heights needed. Make hanging up clothing easier and more fun for kids by investing in colorful plastic hangers. As a rainy day project, kids can affi x small stickers of their choice to the center point of the hanger just below the hook. Th is gives kids ownership of their hanger collection, which may inspire better use of them. - Set colorful fabric bins on the closet floor, such as bright pinks or apple greens, with pictures on the front for pre-readers or large letter iden-tifi cation labels for older kids. Th ese labels identify what’s to be placed in these lidless bins. Laundry is more easily depos-ited, especially when you teach kids to stand a few feet away and score “baskets” with their dirty socks and shirts. Another bin might be for stuff ed animals, giving beloved Teddy bear col-lections a cozy home “where they can all be together.” When storage bins have lids, kids are less likely to take the extra step

Children’s rooms page 3

Page 3: Spring Home Improvement Guide

Community Advocate • Friday, April 12, 2013 • Spring Home Improvement • 3

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Tidy children’s roomsFive organizing tips

of pulling out the bin, opening a snap top and closing it again. Th e open-top of a fabric bin inspires more use. - Plan tall enough shelves in built-ins. Meryl Starr, profes-sional organizer and author of “Th e Organizing Workbook,” suggests shelving heights that allow for a 6- to 12-inch pile of folded clothes to still have room on top for airier storage that cuts down on any mold or mildew. When cubbies or shelves have room on top, it’s easier for kids to retrieve the shirt they want without the entire pile of shirts

falling to the fl oor (and staying there). --Use hanging organizers for smaller items. A hanging fabric shoe rack can be used for shoes and also for kids’ little purses and dress-up items like tiaras. A hanging travel orga-nizer intended for toiletries can hold jewelry, craft items, small toys and other tiny things. When organizing bins and items are colorful and inviting, off ering easy access, kids will use them. And on those days when kids are resistant to stowing the Teddy bears in their bin, it’s very easy for you to deposit them there and call it a day.

Children’s room Continued from page 2

By Eric Figueiredo, owner Power Home Remodeling Group

It’s that time of year when many homeowners consider investing back in their homes. Whether it’s a project you’ve

been meaning to do or you’re trying to be proactive after taxes, springtime is when many remodeling projects are scheduled so the summer can be enjoyed to the fullest. When tackling an interior or exterior project, there are

many vital things to keep it mind to make sure the project gets done right the fi rst time. One of the most important things is picking the right company. Finding a company that suits your needs and can solve your problems is what every-one wants. Unfortunately, the remodeling industry has an unforgiving complaint rate. Simply put, many homeown-ers will fi nd a genuine com-pany, one that promises the world, and when the project begins it doesn’t turn out how they thought. A few sugges-tions to consider in prepara-tion are: Go to the company website and do a little research

before you get an estimate. Read about the company’s background, how they started, what they’ve accomplished and then view recent cus-tomer reviews. All of these things, next lead into having questions prepared for your consultant or salesperson to maximize your time and leave you with the most knowledge. Other questions to be asking are: Is the company insured? Can you see proof of their policy? How much coverage do they have? What else will they be covering, like dump-sters/permits? How are their installers trained and what certifi cations do they hold? Have they done work in your

town? All of these questions will help protect you and lead you to your ultimate goal of getting the project done right the fi rst time. A vast majority of hom-eowners do not mind spend-ing a little bit extra to ensure a stress-free installation and peace of mind, whereas spend-ing a little bit less can be something you will regret and remember. Companies who are legiti-mate and successful should not be hiding any facts from you. Everything should be put on the table for you to make the best decision and make you feel 100% confi -dent. So this spring, whether it is a bathroom renovation, a roofi ng project or porch/patio addition, my recommenda-tion is to do your homework before getting the quote; therefore you’re not wasting your time. Eric Figueiredo currently works for Power Home Re-modeling Group. He can be reached with any questions at eric.fi [email protected].

When tackling an interior or exterior project,

there are many vital things to keep it mind

to make sure the project gets done right

the fi rst time. One of the most important

things is picking the right company.

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Page 4: Spring Home Improvement Guide

4 • Community Advocate • Spring Home Improvement • Friday, April 12, 2013

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Although the vast amount of available information on composting is helpful, that same vastness can be over-whelming. For the beginner composter, this is an intro-ductory look at the world of wiggly worms, soil enrich-ment and carbon footprint reduction.

Composting made simpleWhat are the benefi ts, and how do you start?

What is compost? Com-post is made from an equal

mixture of brown and green organic matter, e.g., dead plants, table scraps, egg-shells, coffee grounds and even lint. With the proper combination of carbon, ni-trogen, oxygen and water, helpful microorganisms will feast on this pile of unwant-ed materials and produce useful fertilizer. Compost even retains soil moisture in the heat of the summer and protects roots from the cold in the winter. “Any way you use it is ben-eficial,” says Sonya Harper of Peter’s Garden Center. “Regardless of the problem facing your plants, adding organic matter is the ... best healer.” There are many differ-ent options for storing your compost outside. The easiest of these may be the f ree-standing pile. To begin your pile, start with yard waste - including dry leaves, lawn clippings and pulled weeds - and then layer kitchen scraps on top. As the pile begins to decompose, helped along by you turning the pile and adding moisture as needed, beneficial bacteria will be released, and you will be left with a dark, nu-trient-rich pile of compost. Other ways of storing your compost include static bins (new materials are added to the top, and a door on the bottom allows easy access to the most nutrient-rich compost), tumblers (easy-to-turn manufactured con-tainers that let in oxygen to speed up the composting process) and wire cylinders (using chicken wire to house the compost pile). However, not everyone has the means for tradi-tional outdoor compost-ing. Spacious yards with lots of soil can be hard, if not impossible, to come by in larger cities. For those eco-f riendly city dwellers who still want to churn out compost, there are some easy alternatives. Vermicomposting, or

composting with worms, is perhaps the most common. Inside a ventilated container, place your red wiggler worms on bedding materials - such as dampened, shredded pa-per or leaves - and then add your kitchen scraps. It is important to keep in mind that bones, pet waste, dairy products, meat scraps, diseased plants and perni-cious weeds should not be included in any composting venture, according to the Sunset Western Garden Book. As the weeks and months go by, replace the depleting bedding with new leaves or paper waste, and be sure to keep the bin at the dampness of a wrung-out sponge; your worms will die otherwise. Knowing there are worms wriggling, flourishing and banqueting in your home is not always an easy thought to bear. However, as Harper explains, “they don’t smell. They never need to be cleaned. And if you use com-mercial composting bins, they can’t escape.” The ben-efits of these squirmy worms far outweigh the possible ick factor. You even can use the collected liquid as a fertilizer “tea.” Adding a “50-50 mix-ture of the liquid and water

to your garden acts like an extra dose of vitamins for plants,” Harper says. If dealing with your com-postable waste yourself is too much to bear, look into whether your municipality has the means of collecting the waste. In San Francisco, for example, the Mandatory Recycling and Composting Ordinance went into ef-fect in 2009, and according to a city press release, the residents and businesses there are “required to sepa-rate and put their recycling, composting and trash in the right place.” The city even goes as far as providing resi-dents with a kitchen com-post pail if they are unable to obtain one themselves. Seattle and New York City have similar composting strategies, as do many other cities around the nation. If your municipality does not have a means to collect compost, ask your local gov-ernment to start a program. Whether you have acres to spare and are using com-post as mulch or are tending to a tiny windowsill garden, using compost will heal soil, help retain moisture and add nutritional value for your plants to grow to their fullest potential.

Compost is made from an equal mixture of

brown and green organic matter, e.g., dead

plants, table scraps, eggshells, coffee

grounds and even lint.

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Page 5: Spring Home Improvement Guide

Community Advocate • Friday, April 12, 2013 • Spring Home Improvement • 5

Drought-friendly landscapingSaving money and water

By Kristen Castillo

A great-looking yard takes lots of time and eff ort. It can also take a lot of money and water. To save cash and the environment, you may want to consider drought-friendly landscaping. “I strongly suggest using the phrase ‘drought tolerance’ over ‘drought resistance,’” says Jay Popko, a research associate at the University of Massachu-setts Stockbridge School of Agriculture. “Drought condi-tions are not something that can be overcome completely.”

Dollars and cents Drought-friendly land-scaping, which often is called xeriscaping because it’s about reducing water use, also can cut your water bill. Landscape architect Chad Kennedy says savings will be dependent on local water costs and the size of your landscape. “A retrofi t from a traditional lawn to low-water-use shrubs with an effi cient system and smart controller can reduce water use by up to 75 percent,” he says. Denis McCausland of Green Mountain Enterprise estimates, “[Depending on location, a]... yard of 2,500 square feet can save about $500 per year in water sav-ings.” He says you also can expect to save maintenance time, in-cluding mowing grass, weed-ing and fertilizing, as well as not having to do maintenance on your irrigation system as often.

Getting started Th e Professional Landcare Network (PLANET), which is the national association of landscape professionals, recommends getting an irriga-tion audit. “An irrigation system may need repair or adjustment, and a professional can also check for water distribution uniformity and make sure ir-rigation systems are installed and maintained properly,” says PLANET member Kurt Bland of Bland Landscaping.

Plant smartly “Drought-tolerant land-scapes do not have to be boring, and with proper plant selection, they can be as inter-esting as any other landscape,”

Hydrozoning clusters plants that have similar water requirements together.

says Bland, explaining that most of the United States has a “mesic climate” rather than a “xeric climate,” which means drought comes in cycles in-stead of being constantly present. “’Drought-friendly’ doesn’t necessarily mean concrete, rock and no plants,” says Ken-nedy, who suggests choosing plants with low water require-ments. “It is more about wise use and application of water and the correct choice of plant species.” He advises choosing plants that grow within the space available. “Plants that get too large for the space in which they are planted require more re-sources - water, etc. - than a smaller plant,” says Kennedy, who also recommends spacing plants far apart because the plants will “compete less for available water.” PLANET suggests conserv-ing water by “hydrozoning,” which clusters plants that have similar water requirements together, noting that plant water requirements typically range from very low to low to medium. Another drought-friendly idea is to limit grass in your landscaping. “Turf grass uses most of the water in a landscape,” Kennedy says. “Th e less lawn to water, the more water can be saved.” Don’t forget to use two to three inches of organic or inert mulch. “Th ese mulches keep the soil underneath moist by minimizing evaporation … and minimizing the heat of the soil,” Kennedy says. “An organic mulch can actually hold on to moisture and will add nutrients to the soil.”

What to avoid When xeriscaping, there are also things to avoid. For example, don’t use too much rock. “Th is can cause heat buildup,” McCausland says. “Instead, combine rock with wood mulches and/or low-water-use lawn grass.” Although sloped landscape might be pretty, it can be wasteful. Here’s why: “The more ups and downs you have in a landscape, the more water runs away from the plants and to the surround-ing gutters or storm drains,” Kennedy explains. “If you

need height in the landscape, do it with boulders, walls and vegetation rather than sloped landscape.” PLANET suggests avoid-ing watering on windy days to reduce evaporation, and being careful not to overwa-ter plants, which can damage them.

When to water Maximize your water use by irrigating before sunrise. “By irrigating during the coolest time of the day, you avoid excessive evaporation of the valuable water being applied, and the surface will dry up as the sun comes up,” Kennedy says. “Avoid irrigat-

ing just after sundown, as you may cause the soil surface to be wet for too long, allowing fungus and molds to grow.” PLANET advises watering your garden with rainwater stored in rain barrels. Be mindful that good water-ing helps plants and trees get established. “Water new plantings throughout the first year,” Popko says. “Proper estab-lishment relies on making sure new plantings adjust to their new surroundings and develop healthy root systems. On larger trees, watering may be needed for more than the fi rst year.”

Drought resources As you’re preparing your landscape, know your area’s drought conditions, soil types, plant hardiness and ideal planting schedules. Th e fol-lowing websites can be great drought resources: http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb, http://drought.unl.edu and https://www.land-carenetwork.org/index.cfm.

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Page 6: Spring Home Improvement Guide

6 • Community Advocate • Spring Home Improvement • Friday, April 12, 2013

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Shower spruce-upsWake up your oasis

By Sharon Naylor

Your shower is your oasis. It may be where you begin your day, waking up with the scents of your shampoo and body cleanser, but it ’s also where you go after a tough workout or a day of grueling yard work to soothe your muscles and get squeaky-clean again. It’s where you might sing and scrub, so make your shower a place of pure relaxation and rejuvenation with a few easy refurbishing projects that don’t require a pricey remodeling project. The goal is to create a de-stressing place, not create stress with the hassle, noise and a mess of contractors, nor the scary codes and budget-killing plumbing upgrades to be sure your pipes and water heater can handle multiple shower stream jets and the addition of a steam bath. Here are eight easy ad-ditions to spruce up your shower into a place you love to be. Easy shower fi x-ups create a calming oasis without a major remodel.

your body so that you can move freely without bump-ing into that liner. It’s an easy installation project requiring just a screwdriver in most cases, and your new, arched rod can then be dressed up with new, easy-slide metal ball or disk curtain rings holding your new, luxe shower curtain. While you’re at it, get a fl uff y, curtain-matching bath rug to step onto after your relaxing shower. Choose the color that says “spa” to you. It could be white or sage green - a soft, neutral shade that creates a natural scene.

Fixtures A little bit more plumb-ing talent is often required for this task, or you could have a plumber come in to install your new, non-rusted shower handles or single shower pull. Plumbing experts say that older turnstile shower knobs can sometimes rust inside the connection, which can cost expensive leaks inside your wall down to the level

Sensational showerhead

A new showerhead is easy to install, using manufacturer in-structions and the installation videos found on some manu-facturer websites. You can change your old-fashioned spray showerhead into an in-dulgent waterfall showerhead, and with a twist of the wide circular disk, choose f rom gentle rainfall-type spray to a more massaging shiatsu-style stream. Angle the showerhead to give you the direction of spray that ’s right for your height, and taller homeowners can even choose a new show-erhead with an extender arm to raise the showerhead up above their heads, something they might not have gotten to enjoy with a standard shower placement in an older home or apartment.

Shower curtain rod You may have experienced the airy, roomier shower in a luxury hotel, with an arched curtain rod moving the cur-tain liner further away from Shower spruce ups page 9

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Page 7: Spring Home Improvement Guide

Community Advocate • Friday, April 12, 2013 • Spring Home Improvement • 7

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What better way to relieve the stress of a long, hard day than soaking in a hot tub? Whether in your bathroom or on your deck, little can beat the warmth and relaxing ben-efi ts of a hot tub. It simply has a way of shedding the hassles of a hectic day. If you’re considering buy-ing and installing a hot tub, it’s smart to have some idea of what is available on the market and how you plan to use one prior to making your purchase. The installation of a hot tub is signifi cantly more complicated than that of your standard bathtub. So, if your bathroom remodeling plans include a hot tub, talk with your framing contrac-tor, plumber and electrician prior to purchasing one. A hot tub requires additional framing, and the extra weight of it when fi lled with water may require strengthening of the fl oor. In addition, a hot tub typically requires larger plumbing supply lines and electricity to drive the neces-sary electrical system. Another key consideration is the size and shape of the tub. Hot tubs come in a vari-ety of shapes and sizes. Prior to shopping, write down the measurements for the area you have reserved for it. Some hot tubs fi t a rectangular foot-print similar to that of a stan-dard tub and are perfect for mounting on walls, whereas others are oval or circular

Benefi ts of a hot tubKey considerations when buying and installing a hot tub

in shape. Th ere are even hot tubs that are designed to fi t into corners to conserve fl oor space. Although most large home improvement centers sell hot tubs, you may fi nd a wider selection and more options by shopping at a specialty store. A specialty store often off ers installation services, as well, and no doubt the people there will know more about hot tubs than the average em-ployee working at a home im-provement center. Also, they will likely have better access to replacement parts when the time comes for making repairs to your hot tub - which inevitably will happen. Pumps and motors are move-able parts that over time wear

out. When shopping for a hot tub, compare warranties. Th ey can vary signifi cantly between manufacturers. Th e specialty store may also off er its own warranty for installation. Expect to pay two to three times the cost of a standard bathtub for your hot tub. Also, expect to pay several hundred dollars more for the installation of the hot tub. There is simply a lot more work required in installing a hot tub than there is with a basic bathtub. So go for it. Spend some extra money on that hot tub. You won’t regret it down the road. Really, there is little that can dissolve the day’s head-aches and hassles better than an evening soak in a hot tub.

Page 8: Spring Home Improvement Guide

8 • Community Advocate • Spring Home Improvement • Friday, April 12, 2013

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Plants for privacyPlan properly when planting for privacy

By Eric Christensen

Homeowners too close to a neighbor’s windows or a loud highway often plant privacy screens. But hedges and trees can vary not only in shape and price, but they can also take months or years to grow. Ho-meowners who rush to solve their screening problems can accidentally create unsightly privacy screens or run afoul of homeowner associations. Re-placing or repairing a privacy planting is expensive. Instead, take the time to consider a few details so that you can be con-fi dent in the long-term success of their privacy planting. Clare Siegel, president and owner of Land Art Design Inc., and Kelly Smith Trimble, an editor for HGTV Gardens, agree that homeowners should begin by considering what they do and do not want to screen. Trimble says, “Do you want to make a patio more private for outdoor dining? A lattice enclosure trained with jasmine, roses or another fl owering vine could be a nice solution.” Simi-

or completely block their view of the sunset?” Homeowner associations vary dramatically, so make sure your planned pri-vacy planting satisfi es any rules regarding plantings. Siegel also suggests thinking about when to screen. “If you are screening an area that you only use during the summer time (for example if you won’t go out on your patio during the winter), you can use a deciduous tree to screen above you, leaving your patio in shade from May until October.” Once you have decided on the type of plants, don’t run to the nursery and buy the fi rst plant they try to sell you, Siegel warns. Inexpensive plants are often young and not as pest-resistant as the more expensive trees. Ask questions about how tall and wide the plants will grow, and how long it will take to reach that size. And ask about whether the plants root structure. Th ese sorts of ques-tions will help you purchase the correct plants for their needs and plant them properly.

larly, Siegel says, “It could just be the neighbor’s car or their kids’ play set, in which case they don’t need to plant a tree that will grow 75 feet tall and block out their horizon.” Let your needs and limitations dictate

the ultimate shape and form of the privacy planting. But do not consider just your needs, Trimble and Siegel warn. Consider your neighbors and any homeowner associations. Trimble says, “You should think

about property lines and … consider how planting just on your side of the line could af-fect your neighbor. For example, would planting a shade tree end up shading out your neighbor’s vegetable garden in a few years Privacy page 9

Page 9: Spring Home Improvement Guide

Community Advocate • Friday, April 12, 2013 • Spring Home Improvement • 9

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Shower spruce-ups: Wake up your oasisof clutter and creates a more calming atmosphere.

Plants Freshen up the air in your bathroom with live plants chosen for their love of a steamy environment and also the amount of light you get in your shower room. Having healthy, shiny green plants in

your shower space adds to the spa-like atmosphere.

Sound As great as your shower singing voice might be, it can be immensely relaxing to set your iPod in a dock on your bathroom countertop - safely distanced from water - and play calming instrumental

spa music or the sounds of a rainforest to create a soothing experience before and after your shower.

Some of these shower spruce-ups are f ree, some cost less than $30, and some might cost $200 or so, but the improved experience of your shower oasis will be worth it.

Plants for privacy: Plan properly

Planting is as important as selecting the plants. Trimble suggests planting the trees or shrubs no closer together than the recommended spacing. “Planting too closely can also result in disease spread and a not-so-pleasant patchwork of green and brown plants.” Oth-erwise, she says, “Th ey’ll com-pete for water and nutrients and end up dwarfed and/or more susceptible to problems.” Siegel says one of the most common errors is planting in a straight row. “What happens,” she says, “is that in fi ve years, the plants

become unhealthy … If you stagger the plants slightly - it doesn’t need to be a lot, depend-ing on the size of the tree - then the tree will be healthy and your investment will pay off .” Also when planting, ensure that your plants won’t interfere with power lines. If your space is large enough, layering your privacy planting might be an option. Trimble says, “Layers and plant combi-nations are preferable for a more natural style. A good design might place taller evergreens in the background and stagger de-ciduous plants, such as smaller trees and shrubs and perennials toward the front of the bed.”

Privacy Continued from page 8

below. So changing out your shower knob fixtures could wind up saving you hundreds or thousands of dollars down the road. A new, more modern style of fi xtures adds to the luxury of your shower.

Chromatherapy It sounds space age, but some top shower supply com-panies now off er showerheads that project relaxing col-ors of light, such as purple, blue or green in a relaxing pattern meant to stimulate the de-stressing sensors of the brain. HGTV recently showcased this holistic fea-ture via the Ondine Electric Light Shower, or ELS, which “pours light and water” from each of its large number of nozzles, “in a combination of fi ber optics and halogen lights.” Also in the holistic realm - and pricey - is the “healing power of crystals via Ondine’s Krystal ELS, boast-ing Swarovski crystals around the perimeter.” If you don’t have the budget for crystals in

your showerhead, think about colored light options in your overhead shower light fi xture.

Fix that grout It can be a do-it-yourself project, using the grout-elim-inating attachment in your Dremel tool and a practiced hand with fresh caulking ap-plication, or you can hire a pro to knock this job out for you in a fraction of the time. Your local home improvement store might have a free grout-fi xing seminar to help you perfect your caulking skills and help you avoid damaging your shower stall tiles. Whichever method you choose, f resh, white grout and caulk cre-ate the impression of a new shower and add value to your home.

De-clutter Just removing that collec-tion of 3/4-used shampoo bottles and conditioners from your shower shelf and shower organizing caddy, leaving just one shampoo and conditioner set and body wash in a sooth-ing scent, plus your loofah, removes the stressful energy

Showe spruce ups Continued from page 6

But Sigel suggests homeowners layer with restraint. Otherwise, she warns that it might end up looking like a mismatched mess. Planting for privacy can help homeowners defi ne the spaces within their property, improve ugly sightlines, and introduce new shapes and color into their landscape. But many homeown-ers underestimate the diffi cul-ties. Consequently, they make expensive mistakes. “Do your homework,” Siegel says. “Go online; look at the habit of trees; and read about how they will age.” Th is should help protect your investment and ensure you will enjoy it for years to come.

Page 10: Spring Home Improvement Guide

10 • Community Advocate • Spring Home Improvement • Friday, April 12, 2013

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Maximizing space in your homeResearch and planning is a necessary and informative fi rst step

Today, many homeowners are making the decision to remain in their existing homes rather than buying new, creating the need to maximize their current spaces. If you are among this group, you are not alone. Th ese updates can range from simple reorganization of cupboards and closets to full bathroom renovations. Maximizing space in your home allows you to go about your day-to-day living in a more organized manner. Improve-ments can be made in an area such as a mudroom by installing storage units for boots, hooks for outerwear, and new fl ooring for an easier cleanup in what can be a heavily traffi cked catch-all space. Kitchen and bathroom reno-vations are a popular choice for homeowners looking to increase the value of their home while creating a more cohesive liv-ing environment. Re-design of kitchens and baths typically stems from issues with the lay-out of the current space and lack of function. For example, those who fi nd they seldom sit down to eat dinner at a dining table can format the new space

Th e research and planning of your project is a necessary and informative fi rst step in the pro-cess. Th oughtful consideration of cabinet style versus storage needs and the aesthetics of a finish material as compared to recommended use are ex-amples of compromises that will be necessary throughout the decision-making process. With all of the virtual design inspiration available through online resources such as www.houzz.com and www.pinterest.com, homeowners are fi nding inspiring new ways to re-invent their existing spaces to maximize use and impact. Th ese electronic “idea books” and “boards” allow you to save project visions in a central location. Having these design ideas gathered is a great

way to share your visions with your designers, vendors and installers prior to beginning a project. Th is information is provided by Rooms With A View, a full-service design showroom and authorized Schluter Dealer, showcasing and specializing in tile and natural stone. Various other off erings include hard-wood, cork, plumbing fi xtures, countertops, cabinet hardware, a wide array of interior fi nish materials, and a continued fo-cus on personalized customer service. We invite you to visit our showroom to discuss your spring projects with us. We are located in Colonial Plaza in Westborough. You may also fi nd us online at www.rooms-wav.com.

to include a large island in an open kitchen, allowing for a casual location for the fam-ily to gather while incorporat-ing a large workspace. Many people fi nd that they no longer use oversized master bathtubs,

which can take up valuable real estate. Th e choice to redesign the space to include a larger walk-in shower, a smaller soak-ing tub and storage-conscious custom-built vanity cabinets is becoming more commonplace.

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Page 11: Spring Home Improvement Guide

Community Advocate • Friday, April 12, 2013 • Spring Home Improvement • 11

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Organic fertilizers, pesticides best for spring yard work Believe it or not, it is spring. For most of us it ’s been months since we have caught a glimpse of our lawns. As you all know it has been quite a snowy winter and our beloved lawns are thriving below the “white stuff ” ready to spring into action. It ’s safe to say a little care goes a long way when preparing your lawn to look its best for the season. For starters (and of course after the snow disappears), walk your property and remove all broken limbs that have fallen onto your lawn. Removing the branches makes it easier to hand-rake the entire lawn. It is important to start the season with a lawn free of debris to get the best results for the season. We suggest using an organic approach for your lawn and landscape needs this year. In years past we all applied chemical-based fertilizers and pesticides to obtain the nicest lawn in the neighborhood. However, you have to ask yourselves at what cost do you need to have the

nicest lawn? Fortunately, you can still obtain the perfect lawn by using an organic ap-proach to fertilizing and pest control. Th e goal with organics is to treat the soil and unlock the nutrients that lie within it subsequently neutralizing the soils PH level. I recommend

gathering a soil sample and having it tested for the PH level before beginning the organic fertilization process. Th is will provide a starting point for your treatments. Neutral soil will produce a healthy lawn, which is your best defense against weeds, insects and disease.

One of the best ways to safely control ant, fl ea and tick problems is with an organic approach. Imagine having the ability to spray an organic cedar oil mixture once a month that will give you an insect-free backyard to relax in. Sounds like ev-erybody’s dream.

Organic treatments are not only good for us; they are good for the environment. By using organics, we are reduc-ing our own carbon footprint , leaving more resources for the children of the future.

Th is information has been provided by David Veron, of Th e Veron Company. Since 1982, the Veron Company, located at 112 Forest Street, Marlborough, has been a leading supplier of a wide array of landscaping services, for every property from resi-dential homes to industrial parks and businesses. Services include the installation of sprinkler systems, custom-built stone walls, patios and fi re pits. Veron also provides ongoing maintenance ser-vices such as mowing, weed-ing and pruning. Th e Veron Company can be reached at 508-485-488.

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Page 12: Spring Home Improvement Guide

12 • Community Advocate • Spring Home Improvement • Friday, April 12, 2013

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By Julia Price

Keeping up with what’s trending in the world is nearly a full-time job. Take a look at fashion: One minute, bell-bottoms are back in and the whole Flower Power move-ment feels as if it’s come back to life. But just as you’re weav-ing daisies through your hair, you open a magazine and see that sleek black-on-black is now the hottest look. The fashion world isn’t the only place where change is constant. In fact, florists experience waves of diff erent tastes depending on the year and season. Pete’s Flowers, a family-owned and -operated fl ower shop, has been in the fl ower business since the ‘70s. Since they opened in 1977, the owner says their top-selling fl ower has consistently been the same as most fl ower shops across the country: roses. Red roses are the fashion equivalent of the little black dress. They’re classic, and everyone knows they symbol-ize romance. On Valentine’s

Forever fl owersTh e staying power of fl owers

Day, you’d better believe that they’re the No. 1 seller. But while red roses are always in style, the latest fad consists of orange, yellow and even hot-pink roses ready to be wrapped in a bouquet. The brighter, the better, when it comes to roses. If red roses are the little black dress of the fl ower world, then white lilies are your favorite cozy sweater that you just can’t live without. Lilies are known for their soothing power and rank just behind roses as the most desirable type of fl ower. Purple and lavender lilies are extremely popular right now, and many fl orists are fi nding that white lilies are also in high demand. In fact, full arrangements of all white flowers are re-quested more often now than ever before. It’s common to see pearl-colored roses, white daisies and off -white garde-nias bunched together. White flowers used to symbolize weddings, but now they’re accepted for nearly every oc-casion.

Wildfl owers are the rebel of the classic fl oral world. You may attend a wedding where the bridesmaids are holding bouquets of wildfl owers tied together with lace, cloth, straw or hemp. Wildfl owers induce a country feel - as if you just walked into your very own backyard and picked them. However, if you purchase them from a fl orist, the colors will be much more vibrant than anything you would fi nd on your own outdoors. To complete the rustic country feel, display wildflowers in a tall Mason jar fi lled with water, and embrace your inner freedom. Often confused as a fl ower themselves, orchids (which Pete’s Flowers staff explain are in fact plants) are everywhere. As they would say in the “Zoolander” movie that re-lentlessly pokes at the fashion industry, orchids are “so hot right now!” But just as it goes with anything in demand, if you want what’s hot, you have to pay for it. While you can

Flowers page 14

Page 13: Spring Home Improvement Guide

Community Advocate • Friday, April 12, 2013 • Spring Home Improvement • 13

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As more home gardeners seek to expand their harvests - having enjoyed the delicious freshness of their herbs and vegetables, and saved a bundle in grocery money – there is a growing trend for planting fruit trees, as well. Th e tart-ness of freshly picked limes, the sweetness of oranges and peaches, the excitement of kids who get to pluck fruit from the trees - the allure is strong for new fruit tree and bush plantings. Also enticing gardeners to plant fruit trees is the vast list of expected and surprising fruits that can be grown in a home garden: apples, apri-cots, blueberries, cherries, fi gs, jujubes, lemons, limes, mul-berries, nectarines, oranges, peaches, pears, persimmons, plums, pomegranates and quinces. Your local nursery or home-supply store will stock popular hardy fruit trees, and you can also order online specialty fruit trees, such as variations of Asian fruit trees that are popular now. Horticulturists work magic with fruit fusions, such as pluots (plum-apricot hybrids) and similar plumcots and apriplums, resulting in new gourmet flavors recognized by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

First: chill Before selecting any fruit trees online, though, it’s im-portant to know which fruit trees are best for your region. “Th e possibilities vary dra-matically depending on where you are,” says Ellen Evans, sales clerk at Bay Laurel Nurs-ery, a top source for ordering bare-root fruit trees for plant-

Just one planted fruit tree can deliver a large bounty of fresh, ripe fruit.

ing. “You have to know how many ‘chill hours’ your region gets, since that’s an important factor for each fruit tree.” “Chill hours” is the term for how many hours the tempera-ture reaches below 45 degrees F, and many fruit trees NEED exposure to these chilly tem-peratures. “If you pick a tree that doesn’t get enough chill hours, you won’t get fruit,” says Ev-ans. To fi nd out how many chill hours your area gets, Evans suggests calling your local nursery or state agricultural offi ce for the current numbers they measure. You can also check the interactive USDA Plant Hardiness Zone map at usda.gov. You plug in your ZIP code, and it tells you which zone you’re in. The Bay Laurel Nursery website lists the number of chill hours needed by each variety of fruit tree (and lists low-chill fruit trees) to help you identify which trees would thrive in your yard.

How to plant fruit trees Bay Laurel Nursery sug-gests the following steps: - Dig a hole. In a loca-tion that gets the amount of sun prescribed on the fruit tree label, dig a hole that is at least wide enough for the roots of the tree so that none of them is bent. A wider hole is ideal, to give roots the room to extend and grow. For depth, again, follow the label directions, being sure that all roots will be covered. Then use your shovel to loosen the soil around the outside edges of the hole so that roots can continue to grow. -Drive in a stake. If your chosen tree requires a sturdy

stake, “use at least a 5- or 6-foot garden stake ham-mered about 2 feet into the bottom of the hole, a little off center on the southern side, if possible,” says a Bay Laurel Nursery staff member. Driv-ing in a stake after the tree has been planted can damage roots. - Make a soil mound. Use the soil you dug for the hole to

create a mound a few inches high in the center of the hole, and pat it down gently. -Place your tree. Carefully place your loose-roots tree in the hole, centered on the mound, and spread its roots gently. “Th e tree has a graft union (sometimes called a bud union) visible where the root stock is grafted to the trunk.

Th is should be placed slightly above the existing ground level. It is better to plant a little high than low, since trees often settle,” say the nursery’s instructions. - Fill the hole with soil. Check with your garden cen-ter for the recommended nu-trients and organic additives

Fruit trees page 14

Page 14: Spring Home Improvement Guide

14 • Community Advocate • Spring Home Improvement • Friday, April 12, 2013

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for your soil’s pH level and nutrient needs, and add as instructed. Add this amended soil into the hole, covering over just the roots. Gently pat down the soil, and then water to help the soil settle around the roots. Continue adding layers of soil and gently water-ing to help settle and secure the tree, until the soil reaches original ground level. - Build a circle. Use any left-

over soil to build a raised circle around the tree, about 4 feet in diameter, to keep water in. “Placing organic material such as leaves, mulch or bark inside the circle can help pro-tect the tree’s roots and help water retention. Make sure that you keep any mulch away from the trunk of the tree,” says Evans, because mulch in contact with the trunk can create harmful rot or disease to the tree, lessening or elimi-nating your fruit harvest.

Fruit trees Continued from page 13

Flowers Continued from page 12

certainly expect to shell out some cash for orchids, they also tend to last longer than other flower arrangements. Orchids have seen a steady rise to the top, and based on sales, it ’s unlikely anyone’s ready to call them just another fad anytime soon. Flowers are unique because they symbolize so many dif-ferent emotions, feelings or messages intended for the receiver or the home of the person buying them. Th ey rep-resent love, friendship, beauty and strength and are typically present at every momentous

life event. So while the lan-guage of each specifi c fl ower is open to interpretation by both the giver and the receiver, the meaning for each individual will never go out of style. Maybe in five years we will look back and wonder how anyone could ever have thought that brightly colored roses were attractive. But have you ever kept a fl ower long after it dried out? Just as an old pair of jeans can take you back to your teenage years and the way you felt wearing them, classic fl owers like red roses can take you back to some-thing that will never go out of style: the way you felt when you fi rst received them.

Forever fl owersTh e staying power of fl owers

Planting fruit treesExpanding your gardening horizons

Extend your living space with a screened-in porch Extend your living space to the outdoors with a screened-in porch and you’ll have hours of carefree, mosquito-free and fresh-air living. Whether you are screening in an existing deck or porch or building one from scratch, here are a few tips from the pros on how to do it. David L. Businelli of Stu-dio 16 Architecture, in New York, reminds folks to check their local ordinances regard-

ing design and new structures. “In many towns and cities, an owner needs to engage an ar-chitect to design the structure and prepare documents for fi ling and to secure permits,” he said. Even if you don’t require an architect, you may have to submit drawings and obtain required permits. Key issues municipalities consider include placement, safety, engineering, setbacks (distances to neigh-

boring properties) and overall aesthetics. Check with your lo-cal municipality and ask to see the building codes; many towns have these available online. “I think professional help is more needed in the design and documentation of the project,” suggested architect Paul Buum of SALA Archi-tects. “The porch has to be ‘programmed,’ and how it will

Screened-in porches off er the best of both the indoors and the outdoors.

Porch page 15

Page 15: Spring Home Improvement Guide

Community Advocate • Friday, April 12, 2013 • Spring Home Improvement • 15

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be used has to be determined fi rst,” to help decide placement. Th ink of using the screened-in porch as an extended room. If you want easy warm-weather entertaining, the porch might be set off of the living room or den; if you are looking for comfortable “outdoor” din-ing without the bugs, place the porch off your kitchen. Buum feels there is a lot of leeway in choosing materi-als for your porch. “If natural wood, then cedar or Douglas fi r is often used,” he said. “If not, treated structural lumber can be used and covered or cased with a composite board or a cement board, such as hardy board. Screens can be aluminum, copper, bronze or fi berglass.” Screening in the area can be easy. “Th e simplest method is to staple screen directly to the structure and cover it with the fi nish wood,” Buum said. “More detailed construction methods include building screen sashes, like individual window frames, and stop-

ping them into the structure like windows. Finally, another method is to use pre-made screen doors and jamb them side by side, fi xing all the ones that need not operate.” Even though the area is screened in, it still will be subject to

Mosaic basically added a whole new living room to the house,” he said. You can add months or even full seasons to the “liv-ability” of your porch or deck, Buum said. “Extending the season means controlling the temperature. Fireplaces, wood stoves or temporary electric heat can add to the months spent outside. Also, extended rooflines or overhangs can help keep the water out of the porch (remember that this is an exterior space, even though it’s screened in) while providing a great place to sit during a warm rainstorm.” Part of the planning, though, should consider the eff ect of outdoor elements. “I would say watch the water. As I mentioned, this is a room on the outside and is subject to rain and snow,” Buum said. “Water will get in during driving rains, so fl oors should be sloped for drainage, and a means for the water to get out should be planned for. Also, all materials, even on the inside of the porch, should be weather-resistant.”

rain and outdoor weather extremes. “Floor material can also be cedar, but another great product is Iron Woods’ Ipe, which is very dense and weather-resistant,” Buum said. “It’s harder to install and more expensive than cedar, but it’s a

pleasure to look at and stand on. It ages beautifully with little maintenance.” Rick Goldstein, co-owner of the Mosaic Group in At-lanta, spoke about a recent project his company did. “By adding this screened porch,

Extend your living space to the outdoors with a screened-in porch and you’ll have hours of carefree, mosquito-free and fresh-air living.

Porch Continued from page 14

Page 16: Spring Home Improvement Guide

16 • Community Advocate • Spring Home Improvement • Friday, April 12, 2013

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