The average return on investment for midrange home improvement projects focused on aesthetic appeal, such as kitchen or bathroom remodels, is down since 2007, according to “Remodeling” magazine.

“Energy efficiency upgrades provide homeowners with the rare opportunity to see a return on their investment almost immediately and at resale,” says Kateri Callahan, president of the Alliance to Save Energy, a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit dedicated to promoting energy efficiency. “We can’t always predict how the market will impact home prices over the long term, but all homeowners can improve their home’s energy efficiency to increase its value.”

Heating and cooling can account for nearly half of a home’s energy bill, according to the Alliance to Save Energy, and with temperatures dropping, it’s the right time for homeowners to focus on ways they can trim costs and energy consumption.

“The reality of the new economy is that homeowners want to save money while maintaining the value and comfort of their homes,” says Mike Lawrence, vice president and general manager of Insulation Systems for Johns Manville, a manufacturer of building products. “There are economical and smart steps homeowners can take that will positively impact their monthly energy bills today and their home’s value tomorrow.”

Homeowners can tackle projects that are low in cost and high in value and return on investment, either as do-it-yourself projects or by hiring a professional contractor.

To get started, homeowners should first estimate the current performance of their home by using an online energy efficiency assessment tool, such as the Home Energy Analysis test available at JMHomeowner.com.  Online assessments help gauge the savings that could be realized by making efficiency upgrades.

“After evaluating their home, most homeowners will find that adding insulation to their attic is a smart and cost-effective first step, since most homes are under-insulated,” Lawrence says.  “When adding insulation, homeowners should also consider weatherizing their attic to help eliminate any holes or gaps that may exist in the floor or walls.  By using caulk, spray foam or weather stripping to close such gaps, homeowners can further decrease wasted energy.”

A programmable thermostat is another cost-effective option that helps boost home energy efficiency.  Programmable thermostats let homeowners regulate the temperature of their home to deliver savings without sacrificing comfort. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, homeowners can save about $180 a year by properly setting their programmable thermostats and maintaining those settings.

A triple return on your remodeling investment

Compared to other home improvement projects, energy efficiency upgrades typically come with a considerably smaller price tag, compared to aesthetic-focused renovations like kitchen and bathroom remodels. In addition, there’s a triple return on these remodeling investments over the course of home ownership:

* Save on your energy bill today: According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), with a properly air sealed and insulated home, homeowners can reduce their heating and cooling costs by as much as 30 percent. The average U.S. home needs 19 inches of attic insulation for maximum energy efficiency.

* Save up to $1,500 with a tax credit: Through 2010, insulation purchases qualify for a 30 percent federal tax credit for energy-efficiency improvements, which reimburses homeowners up to $1,500 for the cost of materials.  Additional incentives from adding insulation or making other energy efficiency improvements may be available from state and local governments and utilities.

* Save for the long term: Investments made in home energy efficiency pay dividends for the lifetime of a home and improve the home’s resale value. According to the Appraisal Institute, for every dollar saved in annual utility costs, homeowners can expect to add $20 to their home’s market value.

For more information on energy efficient home improvement projects and to take advantage of local incentives, visit www.jmhomeowner.com/insulation/energytaxcredit.asp.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

• Gigantic List Of Tips On How To Save The Environment May I present to you the most complete and most informative list I have ever seen on tips about saving the environment and what you can do to help. I found this list over at ThinkQuest.org. Enjoy! RECYCLE!!!RECYCLE!!!! Find programs near you; there should be lots of options. o toner......
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Ice dams usually form when heat from inside a home causes snow on the roof to melt and trickle to the roof’s edge, where it refreezes on cold eaves, blocking gutters and drains. Since water cannot flow over the built-up ice, it backs up behind the ice, creating pools, and seeps into the home under the shingles.

“A typical U.S. winter will generate more than $500 million in property damage from ice dams,” says Mike Convery, chief claim officer for MetLife Auto & Home. “By taking a few proactive measures in the fall, homeowners can often prevent ice dams and save themselves a lot of time, money and frustration.”

Steps to take in the fall:

* Keep all gutters and downspouts clear. Make certain that leaves, sticks and debris are removed completely from your home’s gutters and downspouts.

* Keep your attic chilly. The most effective way to eliminate ice dams is to stop snowmelt by making the roof colder. This can be achieved by insulating the floor of the attic and under the roof, and by blocking all crevices (known as bypasses) where warm air from the interior can rise into the attic.

* Identify water entry points within the home. You may wish to contact a contractor to locate these entry points and take the appropriate actions to create a waterproof barrier.

* Protect your roof with some extra help. If you’re still getting ice dams after insulating and ventilating, consider installing extra protection along your eaves. An ice belt, a solid, metal flashing, allows snow to easily slide off it while providing a barrier for melted snow. Electrical heat tracing can help if an ice dam starts forming, melting it away with one flip of a switch.

Steps to take in the winter:

* Keep a lookout for giant icicles. One of the first warning signs of possible ice dams – and definitely poor insulation and ventilation – are giant icicles hanging from the eaves.

* If possible, keep snow off the roof with a roof rake. Use a roof rake or push broom to reduce the amount of snow that could melt. Do not climb on the roof to clear the snow as serious injury may result. Also, be cautious of electrical wires.

* To melt the ice, bring new life to an old set of legs. Placing old nylon stockings filled with ice melt – containing magnesium chloride, potassium chloride, and/or calcium chloride – on an ice dam is an effective way to melt the dam and create a channel for the water to run off. Be certain to lay the stockings perpendicular to the gutter near the edge of the roof.

In an emergency situation, where water is seeping into the house, the best advice is to notify a professional contractor.

For a free brochure, “Protecting Your Home Against Damage From Freezing Weather,” call (800) 638- 5433 (800-MET-LIFE).

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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Drafts, such as those around doors, windows and pipes, are the largest source of heating and cooling loss in the home. Most homeowners are well aware of the benefits that caulk and weather-stripping provide to minimize energy loss and drafts.

But what can you do about drafts from the four largest “holes” in your home – the folding attic stair, the whole house fan, the fireplace and the clothes dryer? Here are some tips and techniques that can quickly, easily and inexpensively seal and insulate these holes:

Attic stairs

Installing attic stairs creates a large hole (approximately 10 square feet) in your ceiling. The ceiling and insulation that were there have to be removed, leaving only a thin, unsealed, sheet of plywood.

Often you can see a gap around the perimeter of the attic door. Try this yourself: at night, turn on the attic light and shut the attic stairway door – do you see any light coming through? If you do, heated and air-conditioned air is leaking out of these large gaps in your home 24-hours a day. This is like leaving a window or skylight open all year ‘round.

An easy solution to this problem is to add an insulated attic stair cover. An attic stair cover seals the stairs, stopping drafts and energy loss. Add the desired amount of insulation over the cover to restore the insulation removed from the ceiling.

Whole house fans and air conditioning vents

Much like attic stairs above, installing a whole house fan creates a large hole (up to 16 square feet or larger) in your ceiling. The ceiling and insulation that were there have to be removed, leaving only the drafty ceiling shutter between you and the outdoors.

An easy, low-cost solution to this problem is to add a whole house fan shutter seal. Made from white textured flexible insulation, the shutter seal is installed over the ceiling shutter, secured with Velcro, and trimmed to fit. The shutter seal can also be used to seal and insulate air conditioning vents, and is easily removed when desired.

Fireplaces

Sixty-five percent, or over 100 million homes in North America are constructed with wood- or gas-burning fireplaces. Unfortunately one study has shown that an open damper on an unused fireplace in a well-insulated house can raise overall heating-energy consumption by 30 percent. Your heating bills may be more than $500 higher per winter due to the drafts and wasted energy caused by fireplaces.

Even if the chimney damper is shut, it is not air-tight. Glass doors don’t stop the drafts either. The fireplace is like a giant straw sucking your expensive heated or air-conditioned air right out of your house.

An easy, cost efficient solution to this problem is to add a
Fireplace Plug to your fireplace. Available from Battic Door, a company known for their energy conservation products, the Fireplace Plug is an inflatable pillow that seals the fireplace damper, eliminating drafts, odors, and noise. The pillow is removed whenever the fireplace is used, then reinserted after.

Clothes dryer exhaust ducts

In many homes, the room with the clothes dryer is the coldest room in the house. Your clothes dryer is connected to an exhaust duct that is open to the outdoors. In the winter, cold drafts in through the duct, through your dryer and into your house.

An easy, low-cost solution to this problem is to add a dryer vent seal. This will reduce unwanted drafts, and also keeps out pests, bees and rodents. The vent will remain closed unless the dryer is in use. When the dryer is in use, a floating shuttle rises to allow warm air, lint and moisture to escape.

For more information on Battic Door’s energy conservation solutions and products for your home, visit www.batticdoor.com or send a self-addressed stamped envelope to P.O. Box 15, Mansfield, MA 02048.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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You may not realize it, but allergens and toxins camp out in your house during the colder months, just waiting for a chance to give you and your family a case of the sniffles or the flu. Hannah Keeley, host of public television’s “Hannah, Help Me!” offers a few simple tips to guarantee a healthier home.

Schedule a home check-up

You can’t take your house to the doctor, but you can still give it a check-up. Schedule a home assessment with your local American Standard Heating & Air Conditioning dealer before winter strikes to make sure your furnace’s components are clean and working properly.

As an added precaution from unpleasant germs, ask about the American Standard AccuClean(TM) whole home air filtration system, which is proven to remove more than 99 percent of the common flu or influenza A along with influenza B, C, and avian and H1N1 flu from your home’s filtered air.

Clean up your home’s act

Thorough hand washing is key to preventing the flu, but it is equally important to maintain good home hygiene in order to combat the spread of germs. To prevent the spread of the flu virus, it is important to sanitize everything you and your family touch – from your counters and tables to appliances to your children’s toys.

Wash your family’s clothing, bedding and other linens in hot water (at least 130 degrees) to keep dust mites and other germs away. While you’re at it, be sure to transport dirty laundry in a basket or bag to help keep germs away from your body.

Practice good home health habits

Make it a house rule to remove your shoes as soon as you walk into the house, and prevented unwanted outside dirt particles from being tracked into difficult-to-remove carpets and other surfaces. Give family members and guests a comfy alternative by keeping cozy slippers near the front door.

Pick up some allergy-proof covers for your mattresses and pillows. These easy-to-find and use covers are a quick and immediate solution to keep germs and contaminants to a minimum.

Make sure your home is well insulated to minimize heat loss. Inspect all windows and doors for tight seals and seal air leaks to reduce drafts. Sealing air leaks and adding insulation will improve the comfort level and health of your home.

Taking a few easy, preventive measures now will ensure a warm, comfortable, and – most important – healthier home during the winter months. So when that old north wind begins to blow and Jack Frost is paying you a visit, you can rest easy knowing your home and family are happy and healthy.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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Don’t wait until the first frost or snowfall to prepare your house for winter. One night with no heat or frozen water pipes can wreak havoc. Last year’s ice and wind storms in the Northeast and across the Midwest left families without power for many days. Here is a checklist of items to help you make sure you’re ready for winter:

* Outdoor plumbing – Start with the easy things by turning off and draining all of your outdoor plumbing. Go through everything at your house; hose connections, pool connections, sprinkler systems, etc. After you’ve turned off the water, leave all the faucets in the “on” position and remove any plastic components. If you suspect that the pipes might not be completely drained of liquid, compressed air can be used to purge water from the lines.

* Gutters – As soon as all the leaves are off the trees, clean the gutters of any debris. Clogged gutters can cause ice buildup or ice dams on the roof. Also install gutter downspout extensions a minimum of four feet from the house for the winter months. This keeps the melting winter snow and ice away from the foundation.

* Roof – Take a good look at the shingles. Make sure none are missing or curled up. Also check for signs of leaks – i.e., stains, cracks, damp spots – and make sure you seal the cracks. If you have an ice dam problem, install heated coils along the edge of the roof. They’re easy to install – just hook them to the shingles with a few clips and plug the coil into a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter outlet. If you don’t have a GCFI outlet, a qualified electrician can install one for you.

* Driveways and sidewalks – Get out and seal any cracks on your driveways or sidewalks because the freezing and thawing temperatures will only make them bigger during the winter months. Use crack filler or hydraulic cement to prevent the cracks from growing.

* Install a standby generator – When ice and wind storms hit your home, you don’t want to be without power for very long. Winter is not a time to try and rough it with freezing temperatures. Plus, when the inside temperatures drop, you’ll have to worry about freezing water pipes. And frozen pipes lead to expensive plumbing repair work.

A Kohler standby generator runs on propane or natural gas and is connected to your home’s existing gas lines. A transfer switch monitors electrical activity coming into the home, and when that activity stops due to a power failure, the transfer switch kicks in – in as little as 10 seconds – and the generator has your power up and running again.

“I tell people to get a generator that fits your lifestyle,” says home improvement expert Ed Del Grande. “Any homeowner will want to make sure the heat stays on at all times for the safety of their families. Standby generators are a must-have for emergency situations such as storms.”

It takes about a month to select, size, purchase and install a standby generator, especially since you’ll have to work around electrical wiring and gas lines, which includes local codes and proper testing. It’s better to get started earlier than later on this project. Once the ground is frozen, it might be too late.

By preparing your house for the winter season, you’ll be able to spend the colder months sitting comfortably inside without worrying about water damage or cold temperatures.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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Replacing an older garage door with a new, energy-efficient model can reduce energy loss through the garage door by up to 71 percent, according to a comparison study conducted by Clopay engineers.

“Since attached garages typically share one or two common walls with the house, any hot or cold that travels through a door will ultimately affect the adjacent living areas,” says Mark Westerfield, director of product development for garage door manufacturer Clopay Building Products. “An insulated garage door can help stabilize temperatures in the garage to reduce heat losses or gains from common house walls.”

Depending on the specifics of your home and attached garage construction, a well-insulated door can help keep your unheated garage 10 to 20 degrees warmer on a cold winter day. “That can have a significant impact on the comfort of family rooms or bedrooms located above or next to the garage,” says Westerfield.

Homeowners who purchase an energy-efficient garage door now through Dec. 31, 2010, will not only save on their heating and cooling bills, they may qualify for up to $1,500 in federal tax credits, thanks to the new stimulus legislation. Certain criteria apply. Visit www.clopay.com or call (800) 225-6729 for more information and a list of eligible models.

Helpful tips

More than 40 percent of the current housing stock was built prior to the era of energy efficiency, according to a report by The Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University. If your garage door is a hold-over from the dark ages, here are some things to look for when making an upgrade:

* Two inch-thick, three-layer “sandwich” construction including environmentally safe, chlorofluorocarbon-free insulation layered between two sheets of heavy-duty galvanized steel.

* R-value or U-factor – these are measurements of the thermal efficiency of a door’s insulation. The higher the R-value, or the lower the U-factor, the more energy-efficient the insulation.

* Energy Tax Credit eligible – available for garage doors with a minimum factor of 0.30 installed on a homeowner’s primary residence.

* Insulation type – There are two different types of insulation used in garage doors; expanded polystyrene and polyurethane. Doors constructed using either kind qualify for the Energy Tax credit, and both are strong and durable.

* Design – Get the most out of your garage door upgrade. Choose a model that complements your home’s architectural style.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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“Fall is a great time to redecorate because as the weather cools people start heading indoors again,“ says Jonathon Fong, a Los Angeles-based interior decorator and author of “Walls that Wow.”  “Home is more important again whereas summer was all about the outdoors. We want to make our homes comfortable, cozy and beautiful again. And when we decorate during the fall, we can show off our efforts at the holidays.”

So what are the hot trends and easy do-it-yourself decorating upgrades that will be hot this fall? Fong and artist Matthew Lew offer a few tips:

Bright, aggressive color

“The hot colors in home décor this fall will be brighter, happier versions of traditional fall hues – butter yellow, orange, persimmon and all shades of blues,” predicts Fong. “These are colors of optimism, and in the current economy, people want to be surrounded by hope. These happy colors put you in a good mood.”

“The hottest colors for room redesigns this fall will be aggressive color combos, using colors like scandal red or lobster paired with yolk yellow or custard,” says Lew, whose work has been featured on “Extreme Makeover Home Edition,” HGTV’s “Divine Design” and CBS’s “The Early Show.”

“People want a splash of color in their homes,” Lew adds. “The aggressive color combinations are great because they can make a bold statement very simply without overdoing it. I think people are attracted to that, especially with the economy right now.”
Texture that’s easy to achieve

Adding texture to a wall is another trend, especially if it’s a simple texture – such as stripes – that homeowners feel confident doing themselves, Fong says. Patterns, vinyl lettering or decals, and even wallpaper murals are great ways to add interest to boring walls.
Both designers agree wallpaper murals will continue to be popular, both for their versatility and ease installation by DIY homeowners. Fong has incorporated wallpaper murals from the Web site www.MuralsYourWay.com into his designs, and Lew’s artistry is featured on several of the site’s made-to-order wallpaper murals.

“Wallpaper murals are one of my favorite design options because they make a huge impact in a room at an affordable price,” Fong says. “If you were to have a decorative painter replicate some of the great designs available in wallpaper murals, it would cost thousands of dollars.”

If you’re intimidated by the idea of a mural, you can start out smaller by adding wallpaper murals elsewhere in your décor, Fong suggests. “Cut the mural into smaller pieces and frame the individual pieces. Put it on a door. Mount it to a piece of wood and make a headboard or a dressing screen out of it,” he says.

Finally, when you’re ready for your fall design spruce up, Lew and Fong have a few tips for creating a design you can love:

* “Think baby steps,” Fong says. Decorate a small wall or section of a large wall first. Give yourself a day to get used to your new wall.

* Consider your favorite colors and how you can use them to make your design “say what you want it to say,” Lew suggests.

* Go beyond paint and texture. Try fabric, paper and metal, Fong urges. Get creative, but don’t forget simple tricks too. “Sometimes the simplest thing is a mirror,” Lew says. “It opens up the entire room and brings in light.”

* Keep it real. “Look at your wall’s dimensions and be realistic,” Lew says. “Sometimes having the entire wall covered is too overpowering and a smaller scale would look better. For example, you might want to use part of the wall as a mural and then paint the other portions a similar color.”

* “No matter how it turns out in the end,” Fong says, “say you meant it to look that way.”

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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Plant now, bloom later

Judy Nauseef, president of the Association of Professional Landscape Designers (APLD), suggests planning ahead for next spring. “Fall is the time to take stock of your garden and plan for next year,” she advises.“You can see what worked and what didn’t, where you have holes and what needs to be replaced or moved.”

If you need help assessing your garden, she recommends calling in a professional landscape designer for help. You can find one in your area at www.apld.org.

“Once you know what you want to add, plant new perennials and shrubs in the fall, and you will have larger, stronger plants with better blossoms next spring,” adds Nauseef.

Many perennials provide color through the end of the season, especially trendy grasses. For your shade garden, try Hakonechloa ‘Beni-kaze’ from Briggs Nursery for its attractive green foliage that turns brilliant red in the fall. This gorgeous flowing Japanese forest grass is stunning planted in mass with ferns, hostas or other shade-loving perennials.

Give your containers a fall facelift

By summer’s end, container plantings have often seen their day. Give your tired containers a fresh look by adding bright fall annuals and colorful foliage in bold fall colors of red, orange, deep purple and gold. There are still plenty of plants available at your local garden center that will see your containers through the cooler months of fall.

“There are plenty of pansies, mums and asters available, but don’t stop there,” says Ed Bemis, of the Massachusetts Flower Growers Association. “You can create wonderful unique fall flower pots using foliage and flowering plants in the colors of autumn.”

Some favorites are yellow, red and rust colored snapdragons that will keep blooming through a bit of frost, and orange and rust coleus.

Everything’s coming up roses

“Fall is an excellent time for planting, and roses are no exception,” says Steve Hutton, plantsman and president of Conard-Pyle Co.

“Establishing roses in the fall is easy,” adds Hutton. “The weather and soil conditions are better in the fall, as opposed to spring when it tends to be cold, muddy and wet.”

For fall color, Hutton recommends planting the new Drift groundcover roses. Continuously blooming from spring to early frost, they are naturally dwarf, with very attractive foliage. Just remember to give them plenty of water and lots of sun.

Frost protector

No matter what you’re growing, a sudden frost or freeze is deadly, spelling doom to your garden and landscape. Protect your lush flowering baskets, vegetables, herbs and favorite plants from Jack Frost with FreezePruf, new this year from The Liquid Fence Company. This non-toxic spray can increase a plant’s tolerance to cold and protect home gardens from damage caused by cold.

This means gardeners can get a couple more weeks of growing and harvesting – at least two weeks earlier in spring and two weeks later in the fall. Just imagine tomatoes in October and mums still blooming after Thanksgiving.

Deer-proof your garden

Winter months are some of the deadliest times for deer destruction in the garden. “Deer are creatures of habit and stay near a good food source – like your backyard,” says Dave Mizejewski, naturalist with the National Wildlife Association. “A lush garden or lawn is a magnet for hungry deer and rabbits, especially in the winter.”

To keep deer out, look for all-natural products, like Liquid Fence Deer & Rabbit Repellent, that use taste and scent aversion to turn animals off your plants and make them unappetizing to common garden-munchers.

Repellents should be applied monthly and should be reapplied after a heavy downpour of an inch or more.

Winterize your accessories

Mother Nature “naturalizes” cast stone and terra cotta garden accessories, but the harsh forces of winter can cause fine planters, birdbaths and statuary to crack and crumble.

According to the “garden accessory connoisseurs” at Campania International, a little care will help your garden “art” last for generations.

Cast stone planters and statuary should be raised off any surface which freezes and thaws. Terra cotta planters, which can absorb moisture and are subject to winter freeze-thaw cycles, should be stored indoors for winter.

If your planters are left planted outside over the winter, raise them off the ground so they will drain and not freeze to the surface. To winterize both cast stone and terra cotta accessories, simply place them on two pressure-treated wood strips, making sure not to block the drainage hole.

For birdbaths and fountains, bring tops in for the winter. All bases, bench legs and statuary should be raised up off the ground, so as not to freeze to the ground’s surface.

Remember, fall is for more than watching football games and raking leaves. It’s the best time to protect your investment, so you can have a glorious spring garden.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

• The Daffodil Adds Color And Protection To Your Garden Deer view many plants, flowers, and vegetables in the garden as a tasty snack to compliment their normal forest diet. However, not all flowers strongly attract deer and some actually repel the creatures. The daffodil is a pretty flower that adds beauty to the garden and deters deer. The daffodil......
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• Make Landscape Changes to Your Country Garden Although fall and winter are upon us, and most gardeners think having a garden is now out of season, it is an excellent time to make landscape changes to your country garden. During this time, the plants and weeds have begun dying and thanks to the occasional fall rain, the......
• New Complete Guide to Landscaping: Design, Plant, Build by Better Homes and Gardens If you want to increase the value of your home, one of the best ways to go about it is to have your home professional landscaped. However, this is pretty costly and many homeowners, especially those with green thumbs, like the satisfaction of being able to do it on their......

Whether you have the best yard in the neighborhood or you haven’t had much success with your turf, you can improve and maintain the condition of your lawn if you take these three steps:

Build a foundation

The ideal conditions that come with fall — cool nights and warm soil — make it the best time to feed your lawn. The autumn window of opportunity to repair summer damage and achieve long-term lawn success is small, but it’s also a critical time to build and strengthen the root system. A product like Scotts Turf Builder Winterguard helps build strong, deep roots for a better foundation in your existing lawn. The better the root system, the more robust your lawn will be next year. A good fall feeding will keep your turf strong and green throughout the fall, winter and into spring.

Encourage new growth

Fall is also the best time to seed your lawn. The soil is still warm, but the air is cooler, meaning weeds have less opportunity to compete. Trees are shedding their leaves so grass receives more sun, and diseases that attack grass seedlings are less active in the fall. Overseeding with Scotts Turf Builder grass seed promotes (or helps create) a thick, lush lawn at the start of spring, making it difficult for airborne weed seeds to root in the soil. Seeding autumn bare spots will thicken the lawn and make it more resistant to future bare spots.

To reseed your bare spots, dig up bare areas, mix in compost, sow your seeds and cover with more compost. If the weather is dry, keep the seeded soil moist until new grass begins to grow.

Leave the rake behind

Don’t spend time raking and bagging leaves this season. Mulching leaves into dime-sized pieces by mowing over them and leaving them on the lawn provides valuable nutrients needed to produce thick, green turf in the spring. Mulching helps build a better foundation and returns much-needed organic matter back into the soil.

For more information on fall lawn care, visit Scotts.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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• Guide to Landscaping Tools No matter what type of home maintenance or repair job you’re doing, it pays to have the right tools, and landscaping is no different. While some elements of a good landscaping job don’t actually require any tools, having some available makes those tasks quite a bit easier. Other parts of......
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One of the best ways to protect your property from the elements is by sealing surfaces where rain, ice, wind and melting snow can intrude. You can save thousands in repair costs when spring arrives by sealing windows, doors, the roof and even the driveway now, before the damage occurs.

Seal from the top down

Winter elements – from temperature extremes, ice and snow, to wind, rain and water intrusion – can cause extensive damage to roofs, exterior walls, garages, windows, driveways, patios and pavers, sidewalks and other exposed areas. Seal cracks in these areas to keep out winter’s intrusive, damaging elements and prevent costly problems.

Fall sealing prevents spring leaks

Many expensive, major spring roof repairs start as simple leaks that could have been solved through sealing. The most common roof leaks begin around chimneys, skylights, pipes, flashing and vents.

As part of your fall maintenance routine, seal these potential problem areas by troweling on asphalt cement such as Leak Stopper or All-Weather Roof Cement. Or try a new product – Black Jack Neoprene Flashing Cement, a 100 percent rubber formula that gets tougher over time.

For flat or low-slope asphalt roofs that are cracking at the seams, reseal with Black Jack Roof & Foundation Coating.

Take the chill off winter energy bills

Heat loss is a major cause of high winter energy bills. But according to Energy Star, you can save up to 20 percent on heating and cooling costs – or up to 10 percent on your total annual energy bill – simply by sealing and insulating.

Outside, use 100 percent acrylic caulk to seal around windows, outdoor water spigots, door frames, wall seams and corners, garage doors and under eaves. Caulk anywhere pipes, ducts or vents enter the home. Seal around any seams or cracks in walls and ceilings. Indoors, seal any breaks in walls or ceilings with fume-free SMART zero-VOC elastomeric caulk. Also seal dryer vents, exhaust fans, pipes, ceiling ducts, recessed lighting and attic hatches.

Don’t forget the driveway

Road salt and driveway ice melt products may do the trick to keep driveways and sidewalks from being slippery, but they take a toll on asphalt and cement surfaces. Pitting and cracks from winter water, salt and chemicals can intrude into small driveway or sidewalk cracks, creating major repair issues come spring. Sealing your driveway, sidewalk and patio can help prevent damage.

To avoid expensive problems, caulk cracks in asphalt or concrete with Black Jack or Gardner crack fillers. Then seal concrete (cement) driveways, patios and sidewalks with Krystal Brilliance, a 100 percent acrylic clear sealer that effectively stops salt and water damage. For asphalt (blacktop) surfaces, use a long-lasting sealer like Gardner Pro7 or Black Jack Ultra-Maxx 1000 to reseal your driveway.

The time and money spent on sealing your home now can save you thousands more when warm weather arrives. Visit www.gardner-gibson.com to learn more about sealant products.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

• Lake House Spring Maintenance Some of you who are interested in a lake house for a vacation home or for retirement might be wondering what it's like to maintain a home on a lake. As nice as it is to live on the water, there are maintenance and upkeep issues that must be considered.......
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• Keep Your Home Safe with a Maintenance Check List Every home has certain requirements, and a seasonal maintenance checklist can help you remember when you last did something, and when it needs to be done again. We all know to replace a light bulb when it burns out and to repair grout when it cracks. But those things that......
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• Prepare Your Home for Winter As the dog days of summer begin to grow shorter it is a great time to think about winterizing your home to prepare for the colder months ahead.  Snow, ice and sub-freezing temperatures can damage a home’s exterior, leading to costly repairs.  Inadequate seals and insulation can force home heating......