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2 • Community Advocate • Fall Home Improvement Guide • Friday, October 4, 2013

Energy-effi cient windowsWhat a window upgrade can do for your home

Many people have ex-perienced trouble-some windows at one point or an-

other. Mold and condensa-tion are unsightly and un-healthy. Years of weathering can make windows diffi cult to open or close. And drafts can make your favorite room uncomfortable. Installing new windows will not only fi x these problems, they can also improve your energy ef-fi ciency if you choose models that take advantage of new materials and manufacturing processes. Brian Ng, communications manager of the Energy Star Residential Branch, said there are now new windows that use a combination of glazings, tintings and refl ective glass that helps keep solar heat out of the house. “Some also use better frame materials that have foam in-sulation built inside of them that helps increase what is called the U-value of the

The Energy Star website (www.energystar.gov) has helpful information for consumers who are looking to replace their home’s windows.

build up. But climate is not the only factor that should determine which windows to buy for your house. A crucial factor to consider is the orientation of your home. “You will want to install south-facing windows with one SHGC, while north-facing windows will have another,” Ng said. He added that consum-ers can visit the Energy Star website (www.energystar.gov) to look for windows based on climate and orientation. “Make sure the windows meet the local energy code and are Energy Star quali-fied. Look for the efficient properties on the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) label. The NFRC label displays whole-window energy properties, and it is the only reliable way to compare products. Choose products that are right for your home,” Haglund said. “Use tools found at effi cientwindows.org to help educate yourself about the products.” A third factor is installation. “Installation is key,” Ng said. He recommended con-sumers “ask contractors if they have any certifi cations from manufacturers. Typi-cally window manufacturers have their own certifi cation programs for installation. There is also a body called the American Window and Door Institute, which certifi es window installers.” He added that if your house was built before 1978, it may have lead paint on it, so hom-eowners should consult a lead professional before installing new windows.

inert gasses like argon that keep solar heat out of house and that also slightly increases the U-value.” Kerry Haglund, owner and founder of Haglund Design Inc. and one of Glass Maga-zine’s “2012 Most Infl uential Individuals Impacting the Glass and Metal Industry,” said, “The coating in the glazing surface has prob-ably the most impact, but it is these technologies used in combination that have greatly aff ected the thermal performance of the whole window.” Unfortunately, those tech-nologies are measured using many technical terms that can be diffi cult for consum-ers to understand. U-value is measured on a scale of 0.25 to

1.25, and the lower the U-val-ue, the better the insulation. Visible transmittance is the measure of how much light passes through the window, and it is measured on a scale of zero to one. Th e higher the number, the more light that passes through. “Solar heat gain coef-fi cient” measures how much solar heat passes through the window, on a scale of zero to one. Ng and Haglund said those in climates that are cold year-round should look for windows with a higher SHCG, while those in year-round hot climates should look for lower SHGC. Finally, condensation resistance is measured on a scale of zero to 100. So the higher the rat-ing, the less condensation will

windows, which is a measure of how well the window itself insulates,” he added. “And some windows are fi lled with

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Community Advocate • Fall Home Improvement Guide • Friday, October 4, 2013 • 3

Protect and preserveCleaning tips for a home’s fl ooring and furniture

In order to maintain long-lasting furniture and fl oor-ing, the key is to keep up with a cleaning routine.

Th e American Home Furnish-ings Alliance’s(http://www.FindYourFurniture.com) rec-ommends using some “elbow grease” and patience to make sure furniture will remain in great condition. Easy cleaning tasks, such as dusting and wip-ing up spills, can help preserve furnishings. Eric Hayes, U.S. strategic business unit manager for Bona, suggested cleaning your floors as often as possible. Dust as often as you see fi t; it mainly depends on how much traffi c goes in and out of your house. You also can use a broom to “dust” the fl oors. Nancy Rondina, founder of NancyProtectz furniture socks, suggests that you use a broom that has soft bristles; one with coarse bristles could leave scratches on the fl oor. Rondina also recommended vacuuming after sweeping to get rid of dirt and sand.“A clean fl oor equals a longer-lasting fl oor,” Hayes said. When it comes to hardwood fl oors, sweep and vacuum them weekly to trap dust and elimi-nate debris. Linda Jovanovich, executive vice president of the Hardwood Manufacturers As-sociation, said to wipe fl oors with recommended cleaning products on a monthly basis, depending on how much the room is used. Hayes recom-mended steering clear of vin-egar and water and soap-based cleaners; vinegar tends to dull the fl oor’s fi nish, and soap can leave an oily residue.Hardwood fl oors face several “enemies” that can aff ect their fi nishes and shapes, according to the Hardwood Manufactur-ers Association. Water, pet ac-cidents and other liquids must be cleaned up immediately. Sitting water can destroy a fl oor’s luster or warp its shape. Over time, sunlight can lighten and age wood. Keep fl ooring out of direct sunlight with drapes or curtains. Be careful when mov-ing furniture over fl oors. Th e Hardwood Manufacturers Association suggested putting glides under the furniture legs to eliminate the chance of scratching the fl oor. Furniture is another im-portant home decoration that

must be cleaned routinely. To protect upholstered furniture, Abe Abbas, furniture writer for About.com, recommended us-ing fabric protectants and stain repellents, such as Scotchgard products. Fabric usually is pre-treated at the furniture mills, or retailers will sell additional fabric protection “as a fi ve- to

seven-year warranty against accidents,” according to Abbas. If you want to put on a fabric protectant yourself, products can be found at supermarkets and hardware stores. It takes about 15 minutes to spray and two to three hours to dry. “Please remember that even with Scotchgard, you can’t

let spills sit there for a long time, as liquids can permeate the protective layer and seep through,” Abbas said. For commonly used fur-niture pieces, use protectant about every six months. Th e arms, headrests and seats need the most protection, according to Abbas. Don’t forget to treat

loose pillows and the backs. Patricia Bowling, vice presi-dent of communications at the American Home Furnishings Alliance, suggested vacuum-ing regularly to remove dirt, whether or not your furniture has been treated with a fabric protectant. Dust the piece with a soft cloth and polish.

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Second only to kitchen modernization, resi-dential bathroom ren-ovations are quickly

rising to the top of the list for homeowners today. Th e bath, and more specifi cally the shower, is changing drastically due to improvements with installation technologies and

There are many new options to help you create a beautiful shower.

New options in shower design

mosaics, hand-made decora-tives, embossed metallics, water-jet carved stones, and many more. Accents can be incorporated in a variety of areas, from the shower walls to tub surrounds and mirror frames. In the past, acrylic and fi ber-glass shower surrounds were the standard, and sometimes the only, solution for show-ers. Th is is no longer the case. Porcelain, ceramic and natural stone tiles are durable options in shower installations. Build-ing a stable and long-lasting foundation for these materi-als has been a challenge over the years. Integral shower waterproofing is crucial in ensuring a tile installation that will stand up to daily use. Schluter® Shower Systems are easily becoming the in-dustry standard for water tight shower installation. Schluter is a European company that has been established for over 30 years and is rapidly making

increasingly vast offerings of finish materials. While marble, travertine and other natural stones are timeless options, there are numerous alternatives available. Por-celain tile can now off er the look, and even feel, of natural materials without the main-tenance. Decorative options in tile are practically limitless; glass blends, patterned stone

a name for itself here in the United States. Th is integrated system is specifi cally designed to support the installation of porcelain, ceramic, and stone tile without the vulnerabili-ties of conventional shower construction. Unlike traditional shower pan liners in conventional assemblies, Schluter water-proofing membranes bond directly to the mortar bed to protect it f rom becom-ing saturated with regular use. In addition, the Schluter KERDI membrane protects wall cavities from vapor pen-etration, efflorescence, and mold growth. What makes this system so unique? Th e waterproofing material is installed on top of backing materials, rather than behind or below. Th is eliminates the potential for moisture to seep into the mortar bed or the tile backer on the walls, and thus allows the tile covering to dry between uses.

Th e newest introduction to the Schluter family is the Schluter KERDI-LINE drain. The KERDI-LINE drains are a low-profi le option that is designed specifi cally for bonded waterproofi ng as-semblies, such as the Schluter Shower System. Th ese linear drains allow home owners options such as curb-free, seamless shower installation and larger format tile. Rooms With A View is a full-service design show-room and authorized Schluter Dealer, Showcasing and spe-cializing in tile and natural stone. Our various other off er-ings include hardwood, cork, plumbing fi xtures, counter-tops, cabinet hardware and a wide array of interior fi nish materials. We invite you to visit our showroom to discuss your next project with us! We are located in Colonial Plaza in Westborough. You may also fi nd us online at www.roomswav.com.

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As the temperature changes from summer warmth to fall cool-ness, it ’s the perfect

time to schedule a tune-up for your furnace. Doing so now, while your furnace is working, prevents the night-mare of a dead furnace in the middle of winter, with its lofty costs for an emergency visit by a repairman, which can run you hundreds of dollars in just a site fee and another potentially hundreds more for repair parts and labor. If your furnace has been operating on straining parts for a long time, you may also run the risk of expense and hassle of having to get an entirely new furnace. Th at can be prevented by making a simple phone call now to a reputable heating, ventilation and air condition-ing, or HVAC, company to set up your annual furnace checkup and tune-up. When you do call an HVAC company, be sure to ask for a technician who is NATE-certified. NATE stands for North American Technician Excellence and is an HVAC industry certifi cation of qual-ity. NATE-certifi ed techni-cians can spot wear and tear in a multitude of furnace systems, and a reputable one will suggest needed new parts in addition to cleaning the existing ones. Another benefi t of schedul-ing a furnace tune-up is that your furnace warranty might require it. Check your product manual to see how often the manufacturer recommends tune-ups and what the war-ranty states about regular maintenance schedules in order for your warranty to remain in eff ect. As a smart consumer, be ready to look up prices of parts at http://www.furnace-priceguides.com/gas-furnace before your furnace repair technician’s visit so that you’re familiar with potential parts and labor costs. It’s also a good idea to keep that site book-marked and easily accessible when your technician sug-gests any repairs or changes. Of course, the technician’s company sets the prices, but at least you’ll have an idea of the average ballpark price. When you get your furnace tuned up, you also arrange for the following:

Time for a furnace tune-upFall is the perfect time for a furnace tune-up

Money spent on a furnace tune-up may potentially save hundreds or thousands more later.

• Saving energy. Regular maintenance can improve some furnace models’ effi cien-cy by about one-fourth. When your technician removes dust from the air ducts as part of your tune-up, your system will run more easily and use less energy, which cuts down on your expenses. Th e U.S. Department of Energy and the Alliance for Residential Building Innovation report that regular furnace tune-ups and replacement of parts can result in cooling energy sav-ings of 30 to 50 percent.• Reduce air pollution. Well-maintained heating and air-conditioning systems will minimize greenhouse gas emissions, and some parts may be Energy Star-marked for eco-friendly use.• Keep your family safe. A tuned-up furnace may be less likely to create dangerous and life-threatening carbon mon-oxide leaks. Your technician will test for leaks, encourage you to place a new carbon

monoxide detector by your system, and also advise on additional safety hazards that are found. • Extend the life of your sys-tem. A tuned-up furnace working with less eff ort creates less wear and tear on parts and on the system as a whole. Tune-ups extend the life of your furnace, perhaps even preventing you from having to buy a new one any time soon. • Prevent costly breakdowns. It’s not just a full system re-placement that can be the danger. Your furnace might stop working because a part is not functioning properly. Th e broken part will cost money to replace, in addition to labor costs. Regular tune-ups can prevent these types of occur-rences. Rather than perform a tune-up yourself, instead appoint yourself the guardian of your newly tuned-up furnace by changing the fi lters regularly and keeping fl ammable items far from your furnace.

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Tool time Winterizing your garden tools

You may be looking forward to a respite from mowing the lawn and pruning the hedges

during the winter. But before you close the shed door on your gardening chores, make sure your tools are cared for so that they’ll be fresh and ready next spring when you need

Taking the time to properly clean and store your tools after the busy fall season will help ensure they will be ready for you to use come spring.

them. Th e time you take now will save you time and money next year. You’ll need a wire brush, a steel wool pad, sandpaper, a few old rags and a pair of gardening gloves. Use the wire brush to remove stub-born, caked-on mud. Use the steel wool to wipe away rust. If necessary, soak the tool in

a solution of white distilled vinegar before rubbing with the steel wool. Clean and smooth wooden handles with a fi ne sandpaper, and fi nish up by wiping them with linseed oil or paste wax. Sharpen any tools that need it using a fi le or sharpening stone. Wipe down each tool with a damp rag, and let them air

dry completely. Keep in mind that you may have used a spade or other tool to dig up diseased plants. If so, add a bit of rubbing alcohol to the rag to reduce the chance of bacteria living through the winter; you don’t need to rinse the alcohol off . Spray a lubri-cant (like WD-40) on moving parts to reduce friction, or coat with used cooking oil or motor oil. Get a bucket of clean, dry, coarse sand, pour in a few cups of motor oil (new or used) and place the metal parts of smaller hand tools in the sand up to their handles. Th is will help keep the parts lubricated and clean during the damp winter months. Hang rakes, shovels and other long-han-dled garden tools from wall hooks or a pegboard to keep them off of the cold, damp garage fl oor. Bring in the garden hose(s) from outside. Make sure the hoses are empty and dry.

Now is the time to inspect hoses and repair any punc-tures with hose repair kits or plumber’s tape. Coil empty hoses loosely, and store fl at or on a hose reel, making sure there are no kinks. Don’t hang hoses on a nail or hook, as they will stretch and could crack. Make sure outdoor faucets are turned off and sprinkler heads are drained, clean and dry. Avoid storing gasoline in lawn mowers, weed whack-ers and leaf blowers. Most lawn mowers have small tanks and can be run until the fuel is gone; some larger riding mowers have drainage valves. Stored gas and oil will de-grade over time and should be used or safely discarded. Wipe the mower blades clean and sharpen them; dirt, residue and cut grass can rust and pit the blades. Pull the spark plug out and spray the socket with a lubricant, and then turn the motor once before replacing the plug. For electric weed whackers and electric leaf blowers, inspect the cords and repair minor wear with elec-trical tape, or replace severely frayed cords and plugs. Wipe down the exterior of your mo-torized gardening tools with a damp rag before winter storage. Wheelbarrows and wagons need to be wiped clean, as well, and be sure to lubricate wheels and other moving parts. Use a rust-inhibiting spray paint wherever there are chips in the paint. Make sure the tires are fi lled with air, and avoid dry-rot by stor-ing the conveyer on ground high enough that it will not sit in standing water. Be sure to thoroughly rinse pesticide sprayers, and hang them up-side down for storage. Inspect your tools for any missing pieces, and replace those pieces before storing your tools for the winter; af-ter several months of nonuse, you’re liable to forget until you go to use it again in the spring. Spray hinges and moving parts with a lubricant. Store your equipment inside if pos-sible, but if you need to store anything outside, make sure it’s off the ground and covered with a tarp for protection. Hanging a dry-erase board in your garage or garden shed provides a good place to mark any necessary reminders you will need to start the season.

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Simple fall landscape ideas to improve your home’s appeal and value

By Rosado & Sons, Inc.

From simple landscape upgrades, planting, light-ing projects and major construction, there are

many ways to greatly enhance the appearance of your home, help you enjoy more family time and considerably increase market value. All it takes are a few ideas, vision and design plan and you’re well on your way to creating an enviable landscape. Here are some basic sugges-tions for improving your home’s functionality, curb appeal and value for years to come: *Colorful and vibrant fall fl owers, gardens, beds, shrubs and trees add signifi cant value and aesthetic appeal to any home. Trees and shrubs provide shade and privacy, but because they take years to grow and mature, this is one of the fi rst in-vestments a homeowner should consider. *Landscapers are busiest in the spring and summer, so it’s a good idea to plan in the fall. Often times, fall discounts are available. Th e simple installation of a brick, paver and/or stone entrance and border along a driveway can bring the asphalt to life and provide an elegant look and prevent lawn damage. A granite mailbox post and lighted pillars at the driveway entrance add a beautiful fi nish-ing touch. *A simple patio, retaining wall, walkway, sitting wall, steps, pergola or the ultimate outdoor sitting and kitchen area, adds value, functionality and years of enjoyment season after season. Landscape construction profes-sionals can provide hardscape design ideas and suggestions for various product/material selec-tions and multiple price points. *Water features such as a fountain, pond or waterfall provide a tranquil and relaxing environment right at home. Enjoy the calming sounds and sights by surrounding water fea-tures with natural stone, rocks, fl owers, water thriving plants and statues. *With cool nights ahead, an outdoor fi replace or fi repit warms the air and adds months of enjoyment, relaxation and a great outdoor entertaining spot. A variety of material, size and design choices are available to choose from. *Have you thought about energy-effi cient and aff ordable

Elegant entryway

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landscape lighting? With the days getting shorter, outdoor spaces are more inviting, secure and appealing. Lighting can illuminate your entire home, outdoor living areas or just a few trees, gardens, stairways and

walkways. It’s amazing what a few lights will do. *Well-maintained lawns are a must and require regular evaluation, seeding, irrigation, multi-step fertilization pro-gram and fall lime application

for a healthy and attractive landscape. *Re-mulch, weed throughout and naturally prune shrubs for a neat and fi nished look *Fall core aeration and over-seeding will greatly enhance the

appearance of a lawn and im-prove oxygen levels in the soil, reduce compaction, decrease weed/ insect disease and in-crease eff ectiveness of applied fertilizers and lawn treatments. Aeration will stimulate root growth which will increase lawn density and produce a lush, green lawn in the spring. *Establish a plan and budget for your home improvements and discuss your preferences and options with your land-scape consultant. Based on your needs, schedule the proj-ects to be done one at a time, area by area (such as front, side and backyard areas) or season by season! Th e experienced landscape professionals at Rosado & Sons, Inc. “DO IT ALL” and would be glad to provide recommen-dations, discuss your options and present an innovative and creative design plan. Call today at (508) 366-3700 for a free, no-obligation estimate! For further information, visit www.rosadoandsons.com today.

— PAINT CENTER —

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Fall is the ideal time to transplant bushes and shrubs because that ’s when they ’re not in

bloom. “In areas with colder climates plants go dormant, meaning their growth slows and plant-ing or replanting them isn’t as much of a shock,” said Lou Manfredini, Ace Hardware’s home expert. “Since they’re a little sleepy, they don’t mind as much.” *Transplant Prep Look for the right location to move the bush, taking into consideration how much sun and water the area gets. Try to plant bushes with similar sun and watering needs close to each other for easier main-tenance. Before you start digging, make sure it’s safe to do so. “Check with your munici-pality to ensure there are no buried wires before you dig,” Manf redini said. “Even a shallow hole could be close to buried wires or pipes.”

Transplanting bushesWhat to do and what to avoid

When transplanting

bushes, follow the advice of

experts to help protect your investment.

Getting Started Landscape designer Cathy Stein of Eclectic Design Choices advises prepping the bush for transplant in the fall and completing the move in mid to late winter. In fall’s cool weather, she suggests pruning the shrub to

“help lessen transplant shock and make the shrub easier to dig.” Use a sharp shooter shovel to cut around the root ball. “This will allow the shrub to regrow some feeder roots within the root ball before you transplant it,” said Stein.

Digging the Hole “Transplanting in the fall is all about the hole you dig, what you put in it and the tem-perature when you do it,” said Manfredini, who stresses that transplanting needs to be fi n-ished “at least two weeks before temperatures are consistently lower than 45 degrees.” It is important to avoid disturbing the roots. When digging a hole, make sure it’s twice as large as the bush’s root ball. Manfredini recommends a hole that’s two feet wider than the plant’s footprint. “Th is will allow a root ball to stay in place for the move,” he said. “Older, more established plants, meaning those that are 10 years old, may be more diffi cult to move and would require an even bigger hole.” Some shrubs may be too large for you to transplant on your own. If so, get transplant-ing help from fellow garden-ers or hire a professional to

handle the move. Dig around and below the plant, making sure the hole is “at least two feet below the base of the roots,” said Man-fredini. Next, pull the shrub from the soil and prepare to move it to its new spot. “Th e new hole should be as big as the one you just dug,” Manfredini said. “Place some compost in the base of the hole -- about 2 inches -- and place the plant in the hole. Surround the ball of the plant with a 50-50 mix of compost and top soil.”

Best Bushes Most bushes are safe to transplant and should do well if taken care of properly. “Evergreens are one of the most hardy of plants and stand the best chance of being suc-cessful and growing well come the spring,” said Manfredini. Still, some transplant better than other. “The one shrub that comes to mind that I fi nd does not transplant easily is rosemary,” Stein said.

Watering Watering is essential to your shrub’s growing success. “Be attentive to watering for the fi rst year after transplanting,” said Stein. Surround the bush with a few inches of mulch to help the shrub maintain moisture. Avoid fertilizer and simply let the bush get used to its change in location. Don’t be discouraged if the bush doesn’t seem to grow much in the fi rst year or so after the transplant, since transplanted bushes typically need extra time to settle in to their new environment.

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Tree CareWhat are tree suckers, and how can you get rid of them?

If you notice a large num-ber of “little branches” growing upward from the older, established limbs

of the trees in your yard and landscaping, that ’s likely not your plant growing new limbs. Instead, those thin branches are more likely to be “suckers,” which can present a danger to your tree’s health and growth. According to Steve Nix, from the About.com guide to forestry, tree-sucker sprouts are “vigorous, upright shoots that grow from dormant buds on older wood.” Th ey are seen most often on landscape and fruit trees, and are often an indicator that your tree has an injury or dead wood sections. “Th e tree is trying to com-pensate, using these sprouts to increase vigor,” Nix said, “but these suckers need to be removed as soon as possible so that the tree can direct its nutrients to the established trunk, major limbs, smaller branches and leaves that comprise their structures.” Th is is not a do-it-yourself job. If you were to tear away those thin sprouts, you might injure your tree’s core or cre-ate “wounds” that will soon turn into ugly mounds on your tree branches, where your tree has developed a scar to protect its vulnerable inner core. And depending on your type of tree, the spot where suckers are cut away might need to be treated with a special sealant that is formulated for your tree’s particular type. A tree service, with its team of professionals, will be able

to assess the exact variety of tree or trees in question, assess how long your suck-ers have been growing, and confi gure any natural sealant needed on your bare wood spots. Th ey can then sched-ule a day for their workers to safely access those branches that are higher up using a cherry picker. Professionals also have the proper cut-ting tools to saw off suckers where needed - and do so right at the same level as the branch for the most attractive result. If your tree looks sparse after you remove the suckers, don’t fret. You’ve just thinned the tree so that sunlight can reach more of its leaves for nutrition and photosynthesis. When suckers are gone, so too are any pests that may have made a home in them. Once your suckers are removed, you will want to ensure that you do not allow them to take over your tree again. Here are some tips to help: 1. Keep your trees in good health. Very often, trees will start to grow suckers when they experience stress, such as overwatering or under-watering during times of drought, or when the tree is experiencing disease or pests. Take a good look at your trees often to assess any signs of disease or pest damage, and talk to your local nursery’s tree specialist to get detailed instructions on how much water your particular kind of tree needs. Older trees might escape your watering regi-men, particular if you think

regular rains are enough for it. Your tree may need more water. Or less. If your sprin-kler system for your lawn douses your tree, or if your tree sits in accumulated water after rainstorms, suckers may grow. So you might have to adjust your watering plans, or arrange drainage away from your tree roots to correct the problem. And of course, you might need to have your tree professionally treated for pests or use an organic pest repellant. 2. Don’t over-prune your tree. You might think you’re helping your tree by pruning it several times a season, but over-pruning can actually stimulate the growth of tree suckers. Prune regularly. Regular, healthy pruning accomplished on a schedule recommended by your nursery tree expert, done at the proper time of year for each of your tree varieties, can help prevent suckers from growing.

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You may never eliminate tree suckers, since your tree is doing what it does naturally. But with regular care and careful removal of suckers be-fore they grow too large, your tree will continue to grow full and healthy for many years of enjoyment and full value of your investment.

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In fall and winter, the days are getting shorter, the air cooler, and you’re spending more time indoors - which

makes this the perfect time to tackle painting the rooms you didn’t get around to last spring. A great many hom-eowners think they’re limited to the cool spring season when they can open their windows to allow for fresh air circu-lation during painting, but interior designers say that fall and early winter still allow for the open-window solution without the risk. What’s the risk? Too-cold air wafting into a room can chill your paint supply - espe-cially in the rolling pan - and make application difficult, streaky and perhaps unattract-ive. But before temperatures dip too low, there’s still time to paint your rooms. And open windows in fall may let in a far more acceptable level of fresh air, especially when you’re avoiding the moisture

of spring air and humidity of summer air.

Choose your hues Th e rooms you spend time in can aff ect your mood. Dur-ing the long, dark, cold winter months, it ’s far cheerier to

spend time in a vibrant, en-ergizing room – such as one painted yellow, currently a very popular shade. If you rather would feel warm and cozy, your den or bedroom can soothe you in comforting shades of cappuccino or sage green. Visit the website of a popular paint retailer to take a free “paint color personal-ity” test which will show you tones relating to specifi c emo-tions, e.g., energized, relaxed, romantic and more. You even can try diff erent paint colors on images of room layouts to choose the perfect combina-tion for your wall and ceiling. And often times, when you take an item to a paint store, they may be able to show you an exact color match from their collection. One secret of interior designers is to use lighter shades to make a small room appear larger and to refl ect

the sunlight that you do get in a room during the fall and winter months. Deeper, darker colors often make a room look smaller. And designers also say that updating your ceilings, moldings and chair rails with a fresh application of white or near-white paint gives a room an instant makeover that can help to raise your spirits dur-ing the dark, bleak winter months.

Choose your paint type

A big trend in paint col-lections is low-VOC paint. It makes painting in fall and winter even more of a well-timed task because it emits fewer chemicals and odors, making it healthier to use indoors, especially with small children in the house who have asthma or allergies. Sev-eral major brands’ eco-friendly

paint lines have been tested by Consumer Reports and other notable product assessment companies, so check online for the latest news in VOC-free or low-VOC paints. Bear in mind that these special for-mulas will cost a bit more than traditional paints, but you may fi nd the health benefi ts and the lack of fumes to be worth the investment.

Pick your time An important factor in fall/winter painting is choosing the right time of day. When you’re painting with alkyd- or latex-based paint, allow three to four hours of drying time at recommended drying temperatures before nightfall to prevent evening moisture from aff ecting wet paint.

Choose who will do the painting

During fall and winter, many professional painting companies are more avail-able to take on your more challenging painting jobs, such as rooms with vaulted ceilings. Investigate expert paint companies well, and ask your friends and neighbors whom they hired to get the job done quickly, effi ciently, with attention to detail and with eco-friendly materials and methods. And always hire licensed professionals who have insurance. Or you can invite friends over for a painting party. Supervise and help children to paint their own rooms, which give them a sense of ownership and pride, as well as wonderful memories of a colorful family project.

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Drab to Fab 3 easy steps to transform a tired room

Need a quick fi x for a boring room? There’s no need for a time-consuming

remodel or expensive new furniture; it’s all in the details. Transform that tired room and take your space f rom drab to fab in three quick and inexpensive steps.

Choose a new hue “Painting a room is one of the cheapest ways to create an entirely new look,” said interior designer Andrea Evans, owner of In the Pink Boutique, a specialty decor shop. “Use bright colors to make the room unique, or if color makes you nervous, try neutral colors and go for more experimental home ac-cessories.” For the most dramatic makeover, look up. A fresh coat of crisp white paint on the ceiling will brighten the space instantly, or be adven-turous and choose a darker hue to create a cozy feel. “It is a cliche, but paint is the quickest and biggest bang for your buck, and a painted ceiling has the ability to adjust the entire vibe of a room,” said interior designer Kristin Drohan. “Painting the ceiling

can expand the space if ceil-ings are short, and it can bring them down, creating intimacy, if the ceilings are tall.” Don’t forget to tackle the trim. Make that wood-work and molding pop with a contrasting color. Bright white makes a bold statement against darker-hued walls and ceilings, whereas rich browns and warm grays create con-trast against lighter walls.

Fix the fl oor plan “One of the biggest things that you can do without spending a single dime is to rearrange that furniture,” said interior designer Debra Lesinski, owner of Interior Style, a design consultation fi rm. “When you walk into a room with a bad fl oor plan, you will typically see many furniture pieces up against the walls, with a wide-open fl oor space in the center of the room - and most people can feel it, that something is wrong in the space.” From a functional stand-point, shoving the sofa and chairs to the far edges of the room hinders conversa-tion, causes distraction and creates a less-than-pleasant atmosphere.

instant cozy appeal.” Arrange seating areas so all the furniture pieces are directed toward one another, with a maximum of seven feet between furniture and focal points - and play up those focal points. Whether it’s a bay window, a fi replace or a great piece of artwork, let the

furniture direct the eye to the room’s most striking feature rather than focus all the at-tention on the television. “Your objective in your re-design is to entertain the eye,” Lesinski said. “Once these spaces are rearranged, people can’t believe the diff erence in the way the room feels.”

Something as simple as new picture frames can go a long way when transforming tired spaces, says interior designer Andrea Evans.

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“A great fl oor plan can help a space perform better,” Le-sinski said. “With all the fur-niture up against the wall, the traffi c cuts right through the center of the room. Th at un-settles the room emotionally, but rearrange that furniture to keep kids and dogs traveling along the outside and you get

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Winterizing your garden Plants need proper care to survive harsh winter climate

By Kimberly WhiteLandscape DesignerNature Scapes by Kim

It’s that time of year when we can’t help notice that the days are shorter, the nights are longer and cooler, and

the maple and birch trees are beginning to turn. Yes, it ’s time to begin thinking about winterizing your garden in preparation for the harsh New England winter to come. Let’s start with the peren-nials. As the energy transforms into the roots and the plant prepares for its dormant sea-son, it is important to remove the spent leaves and stems as they turn brown and appear as though they are dead. It’s even more important to wait until all the energy has transformed into the roots and not cut any green stems – patience seems to be the key with this process. If perennials are cut back too soon they may not decide to wake up in the spring. In

hopes of lessening confusion at this point, remember that perennials are plants that are usually smaller in size and are more leafy than woody. They will flower once dur-ing the season. Even though the fl owering time could last for weeks at a time, it sleeps every winter, and then wakes back up in the spring to re-peat the same pattern. Some examples of perennials are day lilies, irises, black-eyed Susans, (Rudbeckia), hostas, and ferns. I have a tendency to cut my garden back a little bit at a time so that it looks fresh and new for as long as I can have it. Th ere have been some seasons when it has snowed while some perennials are still flowering. No worries though - they will go through the natural process and sleep, and the winter birds will enjoy munching on the seeds as they poke up above the snow. You want to get the majority of the debris and spent leaves,

fl owers and stems out of your garden before the winter to prevent future pest and dis-ease problems. Some of my favorite plants are ornamental grasses. Th is time of year I’ll get 5 to 6 foot wooden stakes and a nice strong two-ply string or rope that is environmen-tally friendly and that will decompose in time. We then insert three stakes around each grass, like a triangle, and tie the grasses up in a way in which they still look natural. We then leave them up all winter long. Th ey look beauti-ful with a little bit of snow on

them and they can easily be cut down with a pair of hedge trimmer’s in early spring. It’s a good idea this time year to walk your property to check to see if any larger trees may be hanging over power lines. If you do see any, call a local tree company to come and trim them so there will be minimal problems during the winter. We have a practice of ty-ing up certain ornamental trees (with the same twine used on the grasses) that have a tendency to split and open up when snow falls on them. These include any-

thing in the Arbotae family such as American Holly and Hynoki Cyprus. Smaller shrubs such as dwarf Japa-nese maples may require a wooden tent set over them to prevent broken branches. A nice snuggly blanket of burlap protects the tender buds of the Hydrangeas. All broadleaf evergreens such as rhododendrons, holly, and es-pecially boxwood should get sprayed with “Wilt Proof ” to prevent leaf curl during those bitter cold days. Th is will help prevent wind and sunburn on the tender leaves as they are exposed throughout the win-ter. Th e cleaner your garden and lawn is through the fall and winter, the easier it is to start up in spring. It will also be much healthier. If this all seems over-whelming to you feel free to email us at NatureScapes-byKim.com or visit www.naturescapesbykim.com. We will be happy to take care of all this for you.

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Check your chimney Winter extremes, pests can cause damage

Fall is the perfect time to schedule a profes-sional checkup on your chimney. Over time,

weather extremes, moisture and even wild animal nibbling and nesting can damage the structure of your chimney, caus-ing perilous dangers inside and out. For instance, chimney leaks and water penetration cause rust in steel and cast iron, weaken-ing or decomposing the metal parts. Some damages can cost a fortune down the road, and some pose serious fi re threats and cause the buildup of toxic gases. If cracks and water intru-sion are left to compromise your chimney and fl ue over time, a complete rebuild will be neces-sary. According to Th e Brick Industry Association, chimneys require special attention, inspec-tions and maintenance to pro-tect them from the elements. Your chimney is not just the lead-out for your fi replace. In some instances, it is the lead-out for wood-burning stoves and your recently upgraded kitchen, as well. According to the Na-tional Fuel Gas Code, when a new appliance is installed into an existing system or an existing appliance is removed from a common vent, the entire venting system, which may in-clude a masonry chimney, must conform to current codes. Th ere are few fall home im-provements as necessary as a thorough chimney check, and the trained professional eyes of a licensed chimney repair company will best advise you on your structural needs. Don’t make the mistake of trying to save money by re-mortaring the loose bricks you see and calling it a day. Many of the dangers

are inside your chimney, and experts will send down cameras to locate the weaknesses and threats to be repaired. - Tuckpointing: Th e process of tuckpointing repairs the masonry mortar joints between your bricks to safeguard your structure from water intrusion and further structural weakness and damage. Expert application will repair your chimney’s weak points, returning your chimney to full security and aesthetic value. Your chimney even may return to a greater waterproof standard than it had when it was fi rst built. Many homes are more than 50 years old, so the materials used in tuckpointing and masonry are vast improve-ments over those decades-old mortar mixtures. - Crumbling bricks: In ad-vanced stages of disrepair, the faces of some bricks may chip off and fall, posing injury threats and causing weakness in your chimney structure. When bricks fl ake, or “shale off ,” the lessened

thickness of the chimney wall allows cold drafts and perhaps even insects into your home. - Crown damage: Th e crown of your chimney is the concrete slab on top of your chimney. If this slab cracks, it can allow moisture to enter your chimney or home, causing expensive damage. A professional can assess whether your crown needs a simple seal repair with a fast-drying sealant or needs a complete replacement to fully protect your chimney’s structure and your home. As another reminder that today’s repair materials are far superior to the original mixtures used decades ago, modern sealants are now available in eco-friendly formu-las. Some products off er war-ranties of 15 years or more. - Flashing repair: Flashing is the metal strip that con-nects the base of your chimney to your roofl ine. Flashing is immensely important, as it prevents water from seeping into this joint and entering

your home. When flashing sections have warped or lifted, they require fl ashing seal. In extreme conditions, entirely new and improved fl ashing is warranted. - Post-repair or replacement sealant: On top of any chimney repair work, such as brickwork and tuckpointing, your profes-sional chimney repair specialist will apply a waterproof sealant. Ask questions about the type of sealant used, because some sealants have been found to dry into an unexpected hue. Th e most popular brands used by experts whose work is 100 percent guaranteed - meaning they don’t buy the cheap stuff - provide full waterproofi ng through their modified si-loxane, which reacts with the minerals in the masonry ma-terials, creating a waterproof quarter- to half-inch layer to protect your chimney. Top-end waterproofing sealants are VOC-compliant and even protect against UV damage and atmospheric moisture.

They protect against stains and are mildew- and fungus-resistant, as well as formulated to protect in freeze-thaw con-ditions. Ask plenty of questions about the products your chim-ney repair team plans to use. It’s a terrible error simply to trust that repairmen are go-ing to show up with the best products possible. Ask for the brand names of their materials, and research them online to be sure they waterproof from the outside and are 100 percent breathable, which means they allow water vapors formed when the chimney is in use to pass through the stone and escape into the air; they are not trapped, which would cause damage to the inside of your fl ue. Look for 100 percent va-por-permeable materials. And ask that chimney fl ue liners also conform to safety codes. Yes, chimney inspections and repairs are pricy, but they are worth every penny to protect your home and family.

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Conserving Energy The importance of turning lights off

Get ready for the stormy season Weatherize your house to avoid dealing with damage later

When you were a teen-ager, your parents probably not only told you to “turn

down that music” but to also turn off the lights when you left a room. You may or may not have listened then, but now as an adult, you really should pay attention to what experts have to say about conserving energy. “It’s amazing what a diff erence simple behaviors can have on your comfort -- and energy bills -- in your home,” said Barbara Buff aloe, sustainability manager for the city of Columbia, Mo. “Just something as simple as opening and shutting curtains or blinds can really aff ect the temperature in a room.” In the wintertime it’s best to keep the curtains open on the east, south and west sides of your home to allow those rooms to soak up the sun’s free solar heat. “At night, you can close those curtains tightly and keep all of that warm air inside to keep the

room more comfortable,” Buf-faloe said. “Insulated curtains also help because they act as an additional layer of insulation.” In the summer you’ll want to close the curtains during the day. Paul Frantz, chief marketing offi cer of the energy supplier Energy Plus, advises that you “take control of home tem-peratures.” “In winter set your thermostat to 68 degrees or less during the daytime and 55 degrees be-fore going to sleep -- or when you’re away during the day,” he said. “During the summer set thermostats to 78 degrees or more.” Frantz also suggests using appliances effi ciently. Set your refrigerator temperature at 38 to 42 F, while your freezer should be set between zero and 5 F. “Use the power-save switch if your fridge has one, and make sure the door seals tightly,” he said. “You can check this by making sure that a dollar bill closed in between the door gaskets is diffi cult to pull out. If it slides easily between the gaskets, replace them.” Th e upcoming fall and winter holidays will have you spending more time in the kitchen. Frantz says to avoid “peeking” inside the oven more than necessary. When meals are fi nished, use your dishwasher wisely. “Wash only full loads in your dishwasher, using short cycles for all but the dirtiest dishes,” he said. “Th is saves water and the energy used to pump and heat it. Air-drying, if you have the time, can also reduce energy use.” Buff aloe said some appliances even use energy when they are off . Small electronics with LED

lights and/or clocks on them are constantly pulling electricity. “Th e little red light on the DVD player and television doesn’t have to be on when you’re not watching television,” she said. “Even some cell-phone chargers pull electricity when no phone is plugged in. “Th e energy used by these electronics when not in use is called ‘vampire load,’ and it’s a waste of energy that can add up over the course of a year,”

she added. Instead, Buffaloe suggests plugging in small elec-tronics and chargers to a power strip that allows you the ease of turning off multiple “vampire loads” with the click of one switch. Buff aloe said to remember to control “the power you have on your own comfort.” “Your grandmother was on to something when she said, ‘You’re cold? Put on a sweater.’ Every blanket or layer of clothes

adds an additional layer of insu-lation to your body -- making you more comfortable in your own home or on the go. “You know that adding more insulation to your attic is good for your home energy bills,” Buffaloe said. “Put that into practice with adding an addi-tional layer onto your own body and you won’t have to turn up the thermostat as high -- and thus heat more space than you’re even occupying.”

Mother Nature seems to like getting dra-matic these days, unleashing ear ly

blizzards, windstorms, hail, torrential rain, sleet and arctic blasts all across the country, now quite often in regions that are not used to such intense weather. So let’s take that as a warn-ing that Mother Nature could whip up some dangerous and damaging weather again this year. But this time you’ll be well prepared with preventive steps that can save you from having to deal with home damage and sky-high energy bills during the dead of winter. Take these steps to weatherize your home now: --Clean your gutters. For safety, hire a professional gutter-cleaning service that also can inspect your gutters for needed repair. A clogged gutter could lead to a flooded basement when the snow melts, costing you thousands in cleanup and perhaps carpet replacement.

--Turn off outdoor water faucets. It’s not enough just to turn them off ; shut off the water supply to them, if possible, and cover them with an insulated outdoor faucet “sock” to keep the connected pipes from freez-ing, breaking and leading to leaks or fl oods later. --Insulate water pipes that may be close to freezing tem-peratures. A plumber can help you assess the pipes under your sink, in your bathrooms, in the basement and elsewhere. If there is not adequate wall insulation, say, between an exterior wall and a bathroom wall, the water pipes beneath your vanity could freeze, expand, burst and cause very expensive fl ooding. --Install carbon monoxide de-tectors or replace all the batteries in your existing ones. It’s wise to have these lifesaving detectors working optimally year-round, and it is especially important during storm power outages and fl oods that may create a CO2 situation in your home. Gas log fi replaces and portable heaters

can give off carbon monoxide and cause tragedies when high-quality detectors are not used in a home. Also install top-quality fi re detectors. Call your local fi re department to schedule a free fi re safety home inspection, in which their fi re safety expert will assess your home and sug-gest products and placement for detectors. --Weatherize your windows. New energy-effi cient windows are often made of two layers of insulating glass, and some states allow a tax write-off for their purchase. Older single-pane windows let in cold air, which could cost you heating bill money and perhaps get bad enough to freeze pipes. If you cannot afford new windows, consider installing storm win-dows. Caulk around windows, and if necessary, install large plastic insulation sheets over the entirety of drafty windows, using a hairdryer to seal the sheet according to package instructions.

Stormy season page 15

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Laundry or mudroomIdeas for maximizing your space

What better room to trick out than your laundry or mud-room? Usually, it’s

the smallest room in a house, so going for fun wallpaper or specialty faux fi nish shouldn’t be frightening. You are not committing to a wild color or pattern for the entire house. It is the perfect room to ex-periment with a faddish color - e.g., a citrus green or bold watermelon - as the paint can be changed easily once you tire of the hue. Often this is the room to hang cute signs or a whimsical piece of art. Th e room also can do double duty as a message center or a room for wrapping gifts. Beyond adding pizazz to a utilitarian room, you can add some functional elements that might prove to be huge conveniences. These ideas are mainly for a laundry in a more spacious home. I’ve seen clients install shower pans and low faucets so that dirty garden shoes or rain boots are cleaned without creating a mess. People use those same acrylic shower pans as a catch for a drip-dry area to hang hand-washables. Sometimes simply adding a door from a

that indicate you should “hang dry” or “not tumble dry.” Items such as boots, hats, gloves and bulky coats also can be dried safely in this way. A mudroom is also a logical place for a message board and a charging station for electronic gear, such as cellphones and tablets. Check out the eNook, by Anthro, to see a compact station with a fl ip-down mini desk. It comes at approximate-ly 36 inches wide, and when closed, it is a mere seven inches deep. When open, it is about 22 inches deep, and you can lock the entire thing to keep your devices secure. Th ere is a channel with multiple plugs for charging, and when it’s closed, your devices remain able to recharge. Simple whiteboards and old-school cork bulletin boards are popular and very useful for the room that everyone passes through on the way out of the house. Racks or hooks for coats are also useful, as are benches with a shelf for shoes.

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laundry to the yard or garage area is a boon. Th e sink that is pictured here features gentle whirlpool jets to thoroughly launder delicate washables. It is 25 inches long, 22 inches wide and 11 inches deep and uses approximately fi ve gallons of water. Careful hand-washing extends the life of a garment and is a wise way to treat expensive garments. Other cool ideas include small pet spas and pedicure tubs. For the single woman with resources, what better way to spoil yourself than having your private spa at home? Other amenities might include drying racks or dry-ing cabinets. In Europe, they have had drying cabinets in Laundromats since the 1980s because the typical home is too small for residential use. Th e luxury home market here in the U.S. encouraged a handful of appliance manufacturers -- such as Asko, Maytag and Staber -- to supply drying cabinets that are approxi-mately the size of a narrow apartment-size refrigerator. A drying cabinet is an electrical machine designed to expedite the drying of clothing articles that are delicate and have tags

--Install a programmable thermostat. It will not only keep your home’s temperatures comfortable but also kick on while you’re away for a vaca-tion or the holidays, warming up your home and preventing frozen pipes. --Install quality insulation. Either hire insulation experts or take a free seminar on insulation installation at your local home improvement store. Choose from energy-effi cient or organic insulation materials, and apply generous amounts in your attic and crawlspaces to keep your home’s heat in, which will help tremendously if you lose power for a few hours during a winter storm. --Have your driveway re-surfaced now, or patch cracks with an asphalt kit. During winter, water can enter cracks, expand and create large cracks and gaps that will cause you to have to repave your entire

driveway later. Th e same applies to pathways and in-ground pool surface areas. --Store fi rewood far from the house. Keep chopped wood at least 50 feet from your home to prevent termites and other insects from infesting your home and necessitating a costly fumigation project later. --Apply sealant to wood decks and rails. Extreme freez-ing/thawing cycles can damage wood planks without proper sealant, leading to splits and rotting. --Caulk around the seals of dryer vents, cable outlets and other spaces where cold air can get in. --Prepare an emergency kit that includes a radio, batteries, a fi rst-aid kit, packaged foods, bottled water and other essential items in case you’re stuck in your home in dangerous weather, and buy waterproof tarps to have on hand to cover any damage to your car or home from fallen tree limbs.

Stormy season Continued from page 14

Get ready for the stormy season

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