Bathroom Upgrades Pay Off
More than 80 percent of new single-family homes have at least two bathrooms, which occupy an average of 300 square feet of floor space, or 12 percent of the total area, according to a study by the National Association of Home Builders.
The home builder’s study reports a major return on value for extra bathrooms: “When the number of bathrooms is approximately equal to the number of bedrooms, an additional half-bath adds about 10 percent to the home’s value, and one additional bath adds about 19 percent.”
A mid-range bathroom remodel, which costs $10,500 on average nationwide, repays a home buyer at least 100 percent of the outlay when the property is sold, the home buyer study concludes.
Source: Chicago Tribune, Mike McClintock (09/21/2009)
October is National Fire Safety Awareness Month
This year’s fire safety awareness theme is Stay Fire Smart! Don’t Get Burned!
Testing the water before putting a child in the bath may sound like common sense. Wearing short or close-fitting sleeves when cooking on the stovetop may show foresight. This and other simple actions may be all it takes to prevent devastating burns.
Fire Prevention Week 2009 is October 4-10 and focuses on burn awareness and prevention, as well as keeping homes safe from the leading causes of home fires.
During Fire Prevention Week fire and life safety educators across the country will bring important safety messages to their communities, showing them simple ways they can “Stay Fire Smart! Don’t Get Burned.”
What is your local community planning? Read the full story…
September Tip: Carpet Care and Maintenance
Carpet is everywhere! People who understand carpet know that its immense success and consumer acceptance is not due to chance. Few construction materials offer the advantages that carpet does. Carpet is colorful, comfortable and yet easy to maintain. Even though it appears expensive, it is often the most economical choice for floor covering. Carpet and rugs found on the floors of residences and commercial buildings still represent a substantial investment. In light of this, is it not wise to maintain them correctly?
Like all textile materials, the beauty and life of a carpet depends largely on the care that it is given. Proper maintenance can add years of attractive life. Specific maintenance procedures for carpet are determined by where the carpet is installed. In general, proper maintenance involves regular vacuuming and periodic cleaning by methods such as hot water extraction, shampooing, bonnet cleaning, foam cleaning, etc. Read Full Story…
Top 10 Mistakes to Avoid in Home Landscaping Design!
Success in home landscape design is certainly attainable for do-it-yourselfers, but there are some pitfalls that should be avoided if maximum satisfaction is to be achieved. Thus the need for this list of 10 mistakes to be avoided in home landscape design. The mistakes covered range from miscalculations that have practical ramifications to more subtle errors that negatively impact your enjoyment of your home landscape design.
- Piecemeal Planting: Failure to Have a Plan
- Having a Lawn Just Because “Everyone Else Does It”
- Insufficient Fall Color in Your Home Landscape Design
- Lack of Winter Interest in Your Home Landscape Design
- Failure to Irrigate
- Planting on a Hillside Prone to Erosion
- Failure to Work With What You Have
- Failure to Incorporate Deer-Resistant Plants in Your Home Landscape Design
- You Never Get Anything Done in the Yard Because Tools Are Never Handy
- Forgetting Functionality in Home Landscape Design
Source: about.com, landscaping
Burglars Go Shopping While You’re On Vacation!
PICTURE THIS You and your family are returning from a fun-filled vacation, ready to unpack and update the photo album. Only when you get home, you find the front door open, the back window broken, and valuables missing from all over the house, including your “clever” hiding places in the dresser drawer and in the back of the freezer. You’re not alone. Each year, nearly 5 million families become victims of household burglary, often while they’ve been away on vacation.
YOUR HOME SENDS SIGNALS According to the National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association (NBFAA), there are some simple steps you can take to make your home less attractive to would-be burglars. The best way is to combine the list of ideas below with a professionally installed and monitored electronic security alarm system in your home. Before you leave on your trip, pack your sunblock and be sure to:
- Get a trusted friend or relative to “house sit.” Or, make sure your neighbors know your plans.
- Have a neighbor pick up your newspapers and your mail for you daily.
- Lock all doors and windows, and secure the garage door.
- Leave a car parked in the driveway, or ask a neighbor to park in your driveway.
- Leave a house key — and a number where you can be reached — with a trusted friend or neighbor.
- Use timers to turn lights on and off at certain times, altering lighting patterns, to create an occupied look.
- Leave drapes and shades open as normal. (Closed blinds during the day are a sure sign of an empty house, plus they allow a burglar to attend to his business unseen by neighbors.)
- Arrange to have your lawn mowed.
- Be sure your trees and hedges have been trimmed. This gives burglars fewer places to hide.
- Replace any burned-out lights in your yard. Consider upgrading outdoor light fixtures with devices that have built-in motion detectors, which turn on the lights whenever anyone walks past.
ELECTRONIC SECURITY An electronic security system adds a barrier of protection to your home that is unparalleled. The NBFAA recommends that consumers purchase systems from its members. NBFAA members are exposed to training, certification and information that sets them apart from the rest. The association recommends calling at least three companies before selecting an installer. Prices will vary, based on the level of protection and type of technology used, so be sure to compare apples-to-apples bids on similar systems. Don’t forget to factor in monthly monitoring charges.
April 2009 Tip – Grill Maintenance 101
GRILL MAINTENANCE 101
To prevent food from sticking, lightly coat the grate with a high-smoking-temperature oil such as peanut oil before turning on the grill. Cooking spray works too.
Grills clean up best when slightly warm. After cooking, scrub the grate with a wire brush or a ball of heavy-duty aluminum foil held between tongs. Use brass wire brushes on stainless steel grates and stainless steel ones on cast iron.
When the grill is completely cool, wipe up spills with a damp paper towel. Grease and salt accelerate corrosion.
For charcoal grills, discard ashes after they have completely cooled. For gas grills, regularly clean or change the catch-pan liner.
Place a water-resistant cover over your grill after every use.
GET FIRED UP
When the temperature outdoors rises, a jar of barbecue sauce, a package of fresh chicken, and a backyard grill offer an enticing alternative to slaving over a hot stove. Cooking out is casual and simple, but don’t let that fool you into taking your grill’s upkeep lightly. Knowing how to properly clean and maintain a grill will ensure great barbecues for years to come.
ANNUAL UPKEEP
Give your grill a thorough cleaning once a year. If you cook out year-round, clean your grill in the spring and fall.
Combine one part distilled white vinegar and one part water in a spray bottle, and then coat the interior of the grill. Close the grill lid and allow to stand for one hour. The solution will break up burnt particles, making them easier to remove with a brush. Wipe clean with a wet cloth.
Clean the grate with a sponge and mild dishwashing soap, or try an oven or grill cleaner, following manufacturer’s instructions carefully. Note: Use oven cleaner only on the grate because it can damage painted surfaces.
To remove rust on the exterior, use a fine steel-wool pad to gently rub spots. Spray area with paint made for grills.
GRILL SAFETY
Using proper precautions is just as important as cleaning. Take these four steps to avoid common grilling mistakes.
- Be sure to open the lid before lighting your gas grill.
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Make sure your grill is at least 10 feet away from your house and any other flammable materials. Never fire up your grill in an enclosed area.
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If you’re out of charcoal lighter fluid, never substitute gasoline or kerosene. Once you start the grill, be patient. Do not add more lighter fluid to speed up the heating process.
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Store propane tanks outside, sheltered from direct sunlight.
Source: Southern Living magazine, 2009
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