page 2 - times spring, thursday, march 25,...

Tony Whittemore takes pridein the quality roofing he and hisemployees provide. He is theowner of Whittemore Roofingthat has been in business forover 40 years, and has per-formed the work for over 20years. The workmanship isguaranteed, a feature that cus-tomers should be sure of whenselecting a company that per-forms work on your home.

"Whittemore's recommendsspending a little more to pur-chase quality supplies. He per-fers timberline from GAF with a30 year rating, known for itsrugged, dependable perform-ance.

These shingles are designedto withstand 80 mile per hourwinds, and with the wind pat-tern in the Lafayette area thatdoesn't hurt.

"They stay on better, and lookbetter," Tony said. He purchas-es supplies from local buildingmaterial companies here inLafayette. He recommends aquality 30 lb. roofing paper, pro-viding extra protection againstthe elements. Some people electto use very thin 15 lb. paper, buthe's not recommending that.

Free estimates are providedfor roof repair, tear-off, new roofconstruction, tin roof, flat torch,or any other roofing need.

Generally WhittemoreRoofing bids the whole job,shingles, paper, and labor.

As spring arrives, many doinghome improvement, some folksbegin looking closer at theirhome, and decide to replaceroofs. Some are reluctant toremove old shingles. It is betterto tear off than roof over. The

heat builds up and instead ofgetting the typical life-time of ashingle it is significantlyreduced. So while it may seemmore economical at the time, thereduced life and the laterremoval of two layers makesdoing it properly worth the cost.

Proper attic ventilation is acrucial factor in a long-lastingroof system.

Metal roofs are becomingmore popular due to theincreased price of shingles.With metal roofs you are gettingmore for your money since thelife expectancy is longer.

"Tony advises, "check aroundand know the roofer."Whittemore Roofing will gladlyprovide references as needed.

"It's tempting to hire a week-end warrior, people that want tomake a buck in these tough eco-

nomic times," Tony says. "Theupfront savings from cheaplabor to often becomes a biggerexpense than imagined whenthat has to be re-done orrepaired by a professional, andthat goes for any type of con-struction, not just roofing."

It is important t to know yourroofer, know the materials thatyou will be getting, and makesure the company will be heredown the road, should you needthem.

"Ask them if they have work-man's compensation and generalliability insurance because it'sfor your protection if someone

was to get hurt or do damage toyour property," Tony says.

Tony lives in Lafayette withhis wife Catina. He has threesons: Anthony Whittemore,Jonathan Whittemore, andLandon Whittemore. He is alsothe Pastor of Full Gospel Houseof Prayer, where he has been forseveral years.

For professional roof installa-tion where all work is guaran-teed and local references areprovided call WhittemoreRoofing at 688-ROOF (7663) or572-0073. Visit their website atwww.whittemoreroofing.com.TN contract license No. 62894.

Page 2 - TIMES Spring, Thursday, March 25, 2010

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Thursday, March 25, 2010 - TIMES Spring - Page 3

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TIMES Spring, Thursday, March 25, 2010

With spring around the cor-ner, Tri-County Electric mem-ber-owners have the opportu-nity to participate in a newTVA program designed topromote energy efficiency toresidential customers.

The In-Home EnergyEvaluation Program offers acomprehensive in-home ener-gy assessment as well asfinancing options and incen-tives to help homeownerswho choose to make invest-ments in significant energyefficiency improvements.

“We are excited our mem-ber-owners have the opportu-nity to participate in the In-Home Energy EvaluationProgram”, said PaulThompson, Executive V.P. &General Manager. “This is aprogram that will help pay forenergy saving improvementsto your home and may also beeligible for federal tax cred-its.”

If homeowners makeimprovements that are recom-

mended during the evalua-tion, they could be eligible forfinancing or reimbursementof 50 percent of installationcost, up to $500. Homeimprovements could includereplacing windows, sealrepairs/replacements, insula-tion or an HVAC tune-up.Visit HYPERLINK" h t t p : / / w w w. t c e m c . o r g "www.tcemc.org for a com-plete list of eligible improve-ments.

The program is part of aneffort, which involved inputfrom power distributorsaround the Valley, customersand the public regarding thebest options for encouragingelectricity users in the Valleyto save energy. TVA antici-pates Valley-wide expansionin spring 2010.

People wishing to partici-pate in In-Home EnergyEvaluation Program shouldcontact their local Tri-CountyElectric office for additionalinformation.

Tri-County Electricpromotes In-HomeEnergy Evaluation

Every spring, homeownershead outside to take stock ofhow the winter treated theirlawn. Homeowners in areasthat experience heavy snowor rainfall each winter likelydo not look forward to thisinventory, fearful of whatanother harsh winter did totheir property. Fallen treebranches, frozen ground andwinter wind storms can do anumber on even the mostwell-manicured lawns, turn-ing a summertime labor oflove into a nightmare.

While homeowners mightnot be able to do anythingabout the weather, there areways to revitalize a lawn eachspring. And you don't have tobe an accomplished landscap-er to handle the task. The fol-lowing tips can help bringyour luscious lawn back tolife, helping make winter adistant memory.

• Remove all debris fromyour yard. Debris includesany trash in the yard, wood,large roots, fallen branches,and even stones. The pres-ence of trash such as brokenglass or even faded paperproducts such as cups or bagsis not only unsafe for theenvironment, but it can proveharmful to anyone who might

be out in the yard once yourgrass grows, especially if youhave children. Oftentimes,winter winds can blow trashfrom nearby garbage cansacross the yard, no matterhow neatly homeowners putout their trash.

• Smooth the soil. Once alldebris been removed, exam-ine the soil for any abnormal-ities that might need to besmoothed out. Use a spade orrake to smooth any areas thataren't up to par. Next you'llwant to loosen the soil aswell, something that can bedone with a garden rake. Anyunsightly areas, such ashumps or ditches, shouldeither be smoothed out orfilled in, depending on whichis appropriate. This can bedone with some soil andshould not prove too costly.

• Consider seeding the lawnif need be. For lawns thattook a particularly harsh beat-ing over the winter, considerseeding the lawn to help revi-talize it. When seeding alawn, be sure you choose theright seeds. Different regionsrespond better to differenttypes of grass. But don't beintimidated if you don't knowthe correct grass to choose.Simply ask a landscaper or

consult a lawn care specialistat a nearby home improve-ment center as to which typeof grass is the best fit yourregion and your yard.

When you're read to seed,the seed can be scattered byhand for smaller yards, orwith a drop spreader for larg-er lawns.

When spreading with adrop spreader, use the sug-gested amount of seed on thebag (even a little less seedshould do the trick) and makesure you spread out the rowsevenly in the same direction.

Once you've sowed the firstpart of your lawn in onedirection, you can crisscrossback over that part at a 90-degree angle, making sureyou keep equal distance andcalibrate your spreader at thesame speed.

• Add mulch for aestheticand practical appeal. Moisthelps the soil, and can alsoadd aesthetic appeal to alawn.

Moist helps the soil byallowing it to retain moisture,making it more conducive togrowing healthy grass.

When laying mulch down,keep the mulch at roughly aquarter-inch to ensure yourlawn will grow in nicely.

Revitalize your lawn after a long winter

Seven easiest vegetables to grow at homePerhaps you're wondering

what vegetables are the easiestto grow if this is your firstattempt at a food-based gar-den. There are several to try.

1. Tomatoes: While com-monly considered vegetables,tomatoes are actually fruits.But tomatoes can be an inte-gral part of a vegetable garden.Tomatoes are high in lycopeneand other antioxidants. Thereare also myriad varieties totempt your palate. Tomatoescan be planted after the soilhas thawed and there is noother chance for frost. They'llrequire plenty of sunlight.

2. Zucchini: Zucchini are anItalian squash variety thatappear similar to a cucumber.They can be green or yellow in

coloring. This vegetable is fullof potassium, folate and man-ganese, making it a great addi-tion to your menu. Zucchinitake about a month to matureand be ready to harvest. Theygrow on vines and producelarge flowers before bearingfruit.

3. Beets: Root vegetableslike beets and radishes workwell in the garden as well. Thebright purple color of beetsindicates they are full of manyessential vitamins and miner-als.

4. Carrots: Another subter-ranean-growing veggie, car-rots require moist soil as theygerminate, but as the plantsmature need less water.

5. Peas: Peas grow inside

the pods of legumes. Theseplants like moist soil thatdrains well. Water frequentlybut make sure the soil doesn'tbecome flooded if you wantpeas to flourish.

6. Peppers: Peppers come inso many varieties it's easy tofind ones that appeal to yourtaste in cooking. Generallypeppers thrive in soil high inmagnesium.

7. Lettuce: Lettuce is anoth-er staple and the basis formany salad dishes. Lettucealso tops sandwiches and canbe filled and wrapped for otherrecipe ideas. Seeds should beplanted between 8 and 16 inch-es apart. Water in the morninginstead of at night to preventdisease from developing.


energy efficiency

pays

Save money and energy through the new In-Home Energy Evaluation plan from Tri-County Electric and TVA. Earn a cash incentive for half the cost of qualified home modifications (up to $500), or choose a convenient financing plan.

The following local contractors are network members: Birdwell Heating and Cooling, Bransford Electrical and Mechanical Services, Inc., Charles (Chuck) Sandifer, Driver Construction Group, Hauskins Heating and Cooling, and Young’s Electric Heating and Air, Inc.

For additional program details and information on arranging a home evaluation,contact your local Tri-County Electric office, or call 866-441-1430.

Perhaps thanks to the grow-ing popularity of home the-aters, basement remodels arebecoming more and morepopular among the nation'shomeowners. With advance-ments in television and hometheater technology, it's nowonder homeowners are look-ing to make the most of theiroft-ignored basements toenhance their home entertain-ment experience.

But remodeling a basementinvolves more than simplythrowing out the pingpong orpool table and replacing themwith leather sofas and a bigscreen television. Beforedoing anything with the base-ment, it's best to prepare thearea to ensure the home the-ater experience is as enjoy-able as possible.

•Check for moisture.

Nearly every basement hasissues with moisture. Perhapsvictims of floods or heavyrains, basements do not typi-cally boast ideal living condi-

tions, requiring work beforehomeowners and their fami-lies and friends can spendtime in them knowing they'resafe.

Many times, fixing mois-ture inside a basementinvolves going outside thehome, particularly to inspectgutters and the external sur-face area around the base-ment. Gutters and downspoutscould be channeling water inthe direction of the basement.If so, direct downspouts awayfrom the home.

Surface area around thebasement could also be direct-ing water toward the home. Ifthat's the case, it might be asafe bet to consult a landscap-er to determine if that areacan be dug up and possiblymade to slant away from thehouse. While this might seemtime-consuming, it's worth itto ensure a home theater doesnot become a musty placewhere no one wants to spendsignficant time.

•Decide what to do with theceilings. For those who reallywant to create a theater expe-rience in their basement, theceilings will likely need somework. Many basements haveceiling tiles, which create anambience more suited to abasement than a theater.Homeowners should considerreplacing ceiling tiles withdrywall. It's good to work onthe ceiling before doing any-thing with the floors, as paintor debris from the drywallwill likely drip or fall onto thefloor, creating a mess that noone wants on his or her newfloor.

•Examine the walls. Afterworking on the ceilings, thewalls should be next on thelist. Home theaters tend tohave dark walls like those inmovie theaters, so if the wallsare white, homeowners mightwant to paint them with adarker color. Again, thisshould be done before doinganything with the floor toavoid stains or debris on anynew flooring.

If the walls need new dry-wall, it's a good idea to plan alayout of the room once it's afinished product before hang-ing any new drywall. Thiswill give a sense of which

walls will need holes forcables and other cords, andholes can be cut in the drywall accordingly once thatlayout has been determined.

•Fix the floors. Oftentimes,basements are not carpeted,typically covered with athrow rug here or there andsome linoleum tiles.However, for those hoping toget a genuine theater experi-ence in their basement, it'sbest to lay down some carpet-ing. Much like the walls, car-pets should be a darker colorto create an ambience morelike that of a movie theater. Ifputting a refrigerator or bararea in the basement, avoidlaying carpet down in thatarea as spills might stain thenew carpet.

Of course, before layingdown any carpeting, home-owners must clear the room ofeverything that's removable.This should give homeownersthe chance to remove anyclutter from the basement anddecide what to keep or clearout of the basement.

•Before buying any prod-ucts, determine if they will fit.Chances are large productscan fit through the doorwaysand into the basement. Sincemany homeowners have pooltables and refrigerators intheir basements already, it'shighly likely that other bigticket items like large screentelevisions and leather sofaswill be able to fit through thedoorways.

However, for homeownerswho have used their basementlargely for storage, it's best todo some measurement beforevisiting the nearby electronicsstore and buying that bigscreen television. After all,there's no guarantee that 70-inch projection screen televi-sion or those leather arm-chairs can fit through thebasement doorway. Thoughhomeowners will eventuallyfind something they like thatwill fit, the doorway measure-ments might dictate that deci-sion more than homeownersknow.


Basement remodels are a favorite for homeowners

Few home improvement projects provide a more rewarding finishedproduct than installing a home theater. However, when doing so inthe basement, the area first must be prepared before homeownerscan get to work.

261 Burnley Rd.ScottsvilleKY 42164

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For more information call 615-444-1861 or 800-765-7172

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Lebanon, [email protected]

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Wood is one of the mostbeautiful floorings you canchoose for your home. Noother flooring offers thewarmth, beauty and value ofwood.

There are not only count-less colors available butthere are also many differentspecies as well, each withtheir unique characteristics.

This is why choosing theright wood floor to meetyour specific taste and decorneeds can be a challenge.

According to MichelCollin, Marketing Directorof Mercier Wood Flooring,one of North America's lead-ing hardwood flooring man-ufacturers, there are a fewkey factors to consider whenchoosing wood flooring.

First, you should considerthe finished look you wantto achieve for your decor."It's always best to start withyour floor when decorat-ing," advised Collin. "If youwant a modern or contempo-rary look, you should con-sider wood species that havea cleaner look with less tex-ture and grain such asMaple, Birch, or Cherry. Ifyou prefer a more rusticlook, then White Ash or Oakwould be best."

Another factor to consideris the type of furniture youselect for the rooms.

If it's wood furniture, it'simportant to ensure it does-n't clash with your newwood floor.

"You can either match thewood furniture to the flooror you can opt for a contrastwhich gives a very nicelook," he added.

Dark mahogany, oak orcherry furniture, for exam-ple, will show up much bet-ter on a light colored woodfloor than it would on a darkwood floor.

There are also many dif-ferent sizes of width and

lengths of wood flooringavailable to consider.

Keep in mind smallerwidths and shorter lengthswill give off a busier looksince there will be morevariation, while widerwidths and longer lengthstend to open up the look of aroom.

Then there's the finish.Solid hardwood floors comeeither unfinished or prefin-ished. "Prefinished woodflooring is a popular choicetoday because you avoid thelabor, dust and fumes thatcome with finishing a floor,"added Collin.

He should know MercierWood Flooring has been theleader in factory-finishwood flooring since it intro-duced the concept 29 yearsago.

Trends to watchNorth American hard-

woods like red oak, mapleand walnut are traditionalfavorites, but more exoticwoods are gaining populari-ty today. "Our SouthAmerican wood species likeSantos Mahogany andBrazilian Cherry are soughtafter by discerning home-owners for their rich tones,beautiful grains, and superi-or hardness," Collin added.

Another popular trend istoward engineered woodflooring, a veneer of hard-wood in the species of yourchoice glued on top of threeto seven thin sheets ofwood.

Solid wood will expand orcontract with heat and mois-ture, whereas engineeredwood flooring, because it'smade of crossbanded layersof wood, offers more dimen-sional stability.

It's ideal for kitchens andbasements where moisture isa factor.

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Home improvement projectsseem to drum up images of shys-ter contractors or bumbling do-it-yourselfers. However, homerepairs don't have to turn into anunorganized mess. By avoidingsome common mistakes and tak-ing common-sense precautions,you can end up with renovationsthat wow.

1. Accepting the lowest bid.Smart homeowners shop aroundfor everything --including workdone on their home. But accept-ing the lowest bid right off the batto save money may cost youmore in the long run. A low bidcertainly may be a great deal. Butgenerally it could be a sign of aninexperienced contractor, or onewho plans to use subpar materialsor skimp on the job. Contractorswill have similar prices. Shopbased on experience and recom-

mendations, not price alone.2. Choosing friends and fami-

ly. There certainly are skilled pro-fessionals that also may be a closefriend or family member. Butmixing business and pleasurecould be a recipe for trouble,especially when workmanshipand an exchange of money areinvolved.

"We had a friend replace ourhome's furnace," says Beth inPennsylvania. "While we got agreat price, we found out later onwhen there was a glitch in thesystem that certain things weren'tdone up to code. We had to spendmore money to have it repaired,and the friendship has since suf-fered."

Some relatives are adamantabout doing repairs -- but theymay not be skilled or know thecorrect laws governing remodel-

ing. Stick with a third party con-tractor with whom you'll feelcomfortable talking if you feelrepairs need to be done a certainway.

3. Thinking you can handle it.Many do-it-yourselfers (general-ly in an attempt to save money)believe they can learn every DIYtask from a book or magazine.There are some jobs, however,that should be left to the profes-sionals, including major plumb-ing work or electrical repairs.There's no need to risk a fire,injury or death by doing inexperi-enced electrical modifications.

4. Letting maintenance slide.Many homeowners think oncethe repair is made that they're allset --failing to keep up with rou-tine maintenance. But complica-tions can arise by not maintaininga new appliance or keeping up

with an improvement."Our homeowner's association

required proof that the dryer vent-ing for our clothes dryer wasreplaced on an annual basis,"offers Bill in California. "I'd sim-ply go out and buy a new box ofthe venting material and submitthe receipt as 'proof' so I couldsave the money on a professionalinstallation. But one day the linttrapped in the venting, whichIhadn't bothered to change,caught on fire. It not only dam-aged the venting, it damaged theentire dryer --resulting in the pur-chase of a new dryer. Luckily noone was hurt. I've since learnedmy lesson."

5. Following every trend.Anyone who has a harvest goldor avocado green appliance col-lecting dust in the garage or base-ment knows how interior style

choices come and go. Instead ofjumping on every trend, thinkabout what will work for yourhome and be timeless.

6. Asking questions later.Make a list of every question youcan think of and ask it before thework gets started. This wayyou're left with few surprises andcan do changes without costingyourself time and money. Don'twait for the finished productbefore you start to question thehows and whys.

7. Expecting things to be per-fect. If you go into a project withthe idea that there will be nomishaps, even minor ones, youmay end up stressed out whenone arises. Everyone makes mis-takes --even professionals. If youthink something is not being donecorrectly, speak up or get a sec-ond opinion.

Top home-repair blunders for homeowners to avoid

As if they weren't alreadygrowing in popularity, do-it-yourself home improvementprojects are likely to becomeeven more popular as home-owners continue to cope withthe sagging economy.

While it's tempting andperfectly understandable forhomeowners to seek ways tosave while simultaneouslylooking to improve theirhomes, a DIY project canprove more work than expect-ed for first-timers or evenveterans. Those thinking oftackling projects themselvesshould consider the followingtips.

• Establish a budget. A suc-cessful DIY project may costyou less than hiring a contrac-tor simply because you won'tbe paying for labor. However,a DIY project can quickly spi-ral out of control, negating orminimizing the advantages ofdoing the project yourself.Establish a budget before-hand and stick to it. Thelonger a project takes, themore likely it is you'll spendmoney. So consider howmuch time you have availablewhen establishing a budget.

• Embrace reality. Whilethe idea of saving money in

the current economic climateis tempting, homeownersshouldn't fall in love with theidea of doing their own homeimprovements if they'venever even lifted a hammerand nail before. Though someprojects are beginner-friend-ly, others are best left to theprofessionals. Overestimatingyour abilities and starting aproject you can't possibly fin-ish could end up costing yousignificantly more time andmoney than simply hiring acontractor in the first place.

• Enlist some friends orfamily. Though it might befeasible for a lone individualto tackle a smaller project, it'sa good idea to enlist the helpof a friend or family memberwhen undertaking a largerproject. Most professionalcontractors are accompaniedby at least one assistant whenworking on a larger project,and there's no reason for aDIY-er to assume he or shecan handle a medium- orlarge-sized project all by him-self or herself. Whether it'sfor safety reasons or for qual-ity control, having a helpinghand available is a good idea.

• Clear the project withyour local officials first. One

of the benefits to hiring acontractor is that a contractorwill know how to handle anypotential red tape with respectto local zoning laws and anyother possible restrictions.However, more than one DIY-er has faced a trial by firewhen attempting to undertaketheir own home improvementproject.

Rather than learning whatyou can and can't do on yourproperty as you go along,contact your local zoningboard or even a local contrac-tor and seek advice on whatyou'll need to do legally tomake sure your project goesoff without a hitch.

• Put safety first. Whenwatching a contractor workon a project, the ease withwhich many work has a ten-dency to mask the preparationand safety measures they takebefore they even hammertheir first nail.

For a DIY-er, safety shouldbe paramount. Make sure allpossible precautions aretaken, and don't put too muchpressure on yourself to get ajob done quickly.

While it's important to havea project schedule, don't takesafety risks to make surethose scheduling goals aremet.


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Tips for first time DIYers

Successfully completing a do-it-yourself home improvementproject involves more than sim-ply grabbing a hammer and nailand going to work.

One of the easiest homeimprovement projects -- onethat will add the most valueto your home for the leastamount of money -- is paint-ing. It's easy to keep yourpaint job looking great so itcontinues to add value toyour home for years tocome, just do what profes-sional painters do: use onecoat of primer and one coatof paint instead of two coatsof paint. Here's why:

• Primers hide previouscolors -- even the darkestblues and deepest reds -- farbetter than paint alone andprevent them from showingthrough or changing thecolor of the topcoat. They'llmake your new color lookmore vibrant and even.Here's a little secret: By tint-ing your primer towardsyour paint color, you'll useless paint -- plus get all thebenefits of priming. Just ask

your paint store or homecenter associate to add onehalf the same colorant theyuse to mix your paint.

• Primers work hard toblock stains. If you try tocover a stain with a freshcoat of paint, the stain willprobably bleed through -- nomatter how many coats ofpaint you apply. Qualityprimers seal in stains andprevent them from ruiningyour paint job.

• Primers prevent commonpaint problems. Becauseprimers are formulated toprevent problems like crack-ing, peeling and blistering,they'll make any paintedsurface more durable, wash-able -- and last much longer!

• Primers provide a soundbase for paint. Paint is for-mulated to provide rich,beautiful color -- but don'texpect it to do a primer'sjob.

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North Central TelephoneCooperative has always hadone goal in mind throughoutits 59 years of service-takingcare of its customers. Justbecause a person chooses tolive in the beautiful areas ofnorthern middle Tennesseeand southern Kentucky doesnot mean he should sacrificetechnology. It takes manyresources to keep up intoday's society, so whenNCTC was awarded $50Million in stimulus funding,how to best take care of thecustomer was the first priori-ty. The first thing NCTC isdoing with its $50 MillionBroadband Award is toincrease its internet speedsand lower its Internet pricesso customers can see firsthand the direct benefit ofmore accessible broadband.

"We want to make sure ourcustomers see almost instantgratification in thisBroadband Award, so begin-ning April 1, many of ourInternet customers will getautomatic decreases in theirmonthly High SpeedInternet/Broadband prices,"said Nancy White, NCTC

president and CEO."We're also hopeful that

these reduced prices willallow customers to take thesavings and upgrade theirInternet speeds if theychoose."

In some areas, NCTC isnow offering a 12 MbInternet speed, which is 10times faster speed for thesame price as 1.5 Mb wasbefore. Both residential andbusiness customers will beable to take advantage of thistremendous opportunity.And with NCTC, you don'thave to worry about a threemonth introductory offer andthen the price going back atthe end of the three monthperiod; this is a permanentreduction!

While decreasing theInternet prices and addinghigher speed is the first thingNCTC is doing with itsBroadband Award, manyother projects are underway.NCTC encourages you tocheck its website often fornews and information abouthow the effort is progressingand what other excitingoffers are in store.

NCTC has not forgottenthat home entertainment is amust for most families. Withthe launch of its new InternetProtocol Television (IPTV),NCTC brings this area thebest in TV with all the localbroadcast stations, more kids'channels, more sports chan-nels like ESPNU andSportSouth, High Definition

(HD), Digital VideoRecording (DVR), on-screencaller ID, parental controls,and so much more. Not onlydoes the new service allowsubscribers the best program-ming of any TV provider,NCTC also offers local con-tent and community eventsthat cannot be found any-where else. This makesNCTC the choice in digitalTV entertainment, and thebest part is that you have alocal office with a local voicewhen you need one.

Not only can you findInternet and TV you will lovefrom NCTC, but you willalso find local and long dis-tance phone service withadvanced calling featuresand dependable customer

service. NCTC is also a par-ent company of NorthCentral Security Services(NCSS), located inLafayette.

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As the economy continued tostruggle over the last year,many homeowners put offhome improvement projects asa means of saving money andinsulating themselves from anypotential financial pitfalls.While the economy has yet tofully recover, the speculationthat 2010 will be much better

than 2009 has led some home-owners to begin seeking smallerhome improvement projects.

Though it might be too earlyto commit big dollars to a proj-ect, there are several options outthere for homeowners lookingto make small and inexpensiveadditions or improvements.

• Consider any new guests.

An unfortunate side effect ofthe bad economy is that manypeople have lost significantamounts of money in invest-ments, be it sinking real estatevalues or poor performancefrom investments in the market.This has forced many seniors tomove back in with their fami-lies, either because of retire-ment plans that have been post-poned or because of the highcost of senior living facilitiesthat families can no longerafford.

For families with a new sen-ior house guest, chances are thehome needs to be equipped withseveral things to make it moresenior-friendly. For as little as$100 apiece, projects such asinstalling easy-grip door han-dles, grab bars in the tub or nearthe toilet, and even easier to usefaucets that are more amenableto people with arthritis can becompleted on a weekend after-noon.

• Make aesthetic improve-

ments. Structural improvementsare often the most expensiveand require the largest timecommitment. However, projectsthat are purely aesthetic aren'tterribly expensive and can becompleted in a much shorterperiod of time.

One easy project that cangive the home a new feel is towork on the entryway of thehome. Painting the front doorcan create an entirely differentlook and first impression by vis-itors, and it's a very easy andinexpensive project to under-take.

Another low-cost aestheticimprovement is to power washa home that has vinyl siding.Siding often collects mold,mildew and grime that requiresthe use of a power washer toremove. One can be rentedrather inexpensively and a thor-ough power washing can becompleted as a weekend proj-ect.

Painting the interior of the

home can also add new life to aroom that a homeowner has oth-erwise grown accustomed to ora room in which the paint hasbegun to dull or even chip.Because paint is relatively inex-pensive, this is a great way tomake major changes to a homewithout a major impact on thepocketbook.

• Clean up. Cleaning a homeis not only inexpensive toimprove its feel and look, but itshould also be free unless theoccupants are genuine packrats.

For homeowners who havelived in the same home a longtime, clutter has probably creptits way into the home and takenover certain areas.

Clearing out this clutter cancreate whole new areas of thehome, and unless the local sani-tation department needs to becalled to tote it all away, clear-ing out the clutter costs nothingexcept some time and effort onthe weekend.


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Fast, easy and inexpensive ways to improve a home

Ask apartment dwellers oneproblem they'd most like toaddress about apartment lifeand you're likely to hear many,if not most, groan about theirrelative lack of closet space.While renting has its benefits,the dearth of closet spacerenters routinely must live withis one disadvantage they haveversus their homeowningcounterparts.

While renters might havelimited options with respect tohow far they can go to improvetheir closet space, there areways to create more space ineven the tiniest of closets. All ittakes is some creativity tomake the most out of existingclosets.

• Add a second clothing rod.Closet space can be doubled bysimply adding a second rod.And doing so does not requirenailing anything into the walls,which should keep landlordshappy as well. A second cloth-ing rod works best when hang-

ing shorter items, such as skirtsor jackets. Those with twoclosets should reserve onecloset for longer items (such asdresses) and the other forsmaller items.

• Purchase over-door racks.While some people might feelover-door racks have too muchof a college dorm room feel,for renters with scarce closetspace, that's simply a concernthey must live with. Over-doorracks can be thrown over theback of any closet door and donot need to be nailed in, anoth-er benefit for those who don'twant to upset their landlord.

• Consider closet cubes.Closet cubes can also be awonderful asset when trying tomaximize closet space. Shortand often stackable, closetcubes come in a variety of sizesand can hold a number ofitems. Consider storing season-al items, such as sweaters, inthese closet cubes during theseasons you won't be wearing

them. Simply rearrange yourcloset with what's in season toavoid digging through yourcloset cubes on a daily basis.

• Use hangable shoe racks.Shoe racks can be hung on acloset rod to reduce the amountof space shoes and sneakerstake up. Because footwear istypically stored on a closetfloor, this can eliminate valu-able storage room for itemssuch as luggage or even closetcubes.

• Clear out the clutter.Clothing items that haven'tseen the light of day in yearspopulate the closets of peopleacross the country. While part-ing can be sweet sorrow, it canalso be a great way to makemore room in a cluttered clos-et.

Homeowners can afford tobe nostalgic when it comes totheir clothes, but apartmentdwellers must buck up andclear the closet clutter to makethe most of their closet space.

Reclaiming your closet space

With the spring season finallyupon us, the annual rite of pas-sage that is spring cleaning hasarrived as well. For homeown-ers that means it's time to stopresting on their laurels and startcleaning house.

But cleaning house doesn'tonly involve throwing away aseason's worth of magazinesand donating clothing that nolonger fits. Spring cleaning alsoinvolves improving a home'soverall environment. That'sespecially true for the health-and environmentally-conscioushomeowner.

One way to clean a homewhile making it healthier andbenefitting the environment isto rid the home of chemical con-taminants that can be harmful toboth your personal health andthe air you're breathing. Many

of these contaminants are notassociated with traditionalspring cleaning but can have asbig an impact as anything youdo around the house this season.

•Don't allow smokingindoors. Nearly everyoneknows of the potentially harm-ful physical side effects ofsmoking cigarettes. Cigarettesmoke contains more than 4,000chemicals, including severaldozen that are known carcino-gens, including formaldehyde,ammonia, hydrogen cyanide,and arsenic, among others.While it's ideal to avoid smok-ing entirely, a good place to startis to stop allowing both guestsof the home and residents tosmoke indoors. This will alsomake a home more enjoyablefor those who don't smoke, asthey likely have an aversion to

the smell of cigarettes and willwelcome that smell's banish-ment to the home's exterior.

•Stop burning candles insidethe home. While aromatic can-dles have grown in popularitythanks in large part to the bene-fits they provide to a home'sambience, it's also important toremember the harmful byprod-ucts of combustion. Thoseinclude carbon monoxide,hydrocarbons, soot, and VOCs(volatile organic compounds),which can be toxic. So the nexttime you consider the aestheticappeal of a candle, don't forgetits potential to release harmfulemissions every time you light itup.

•Pay closer attention to whatyou're doing in the home.Oftentimes, our homes are ourhavens. What we do in our

homes is certainly our business,but it can also be problematic.Something as innocent as wear-ing slippers or going shoelesswhen taking out the trash cantrack dust and other contami-nants into a home. Whenattempting to clear a home ofpotentially harmful chemicalcontaminants, something assimple as what's on your feetcan have a meaningful impact.

•Avoid overdoing it withhousehold supplies. While buy-ing in bulk can help savemoney, it can also be harmfuldepending on what you're buy-ing. For instance, storing excesspaint, solvents and other haz-ardous chemicals can lead toharmful emissions if not sealedproperly or if they leak. Toavoid such risks, simply pur-chase what you need when you

need it and avoid storing toomany chemical products in thehome, be it inside or in thegarage.

•Open the windows whencleaning. There likely is not asingle person who enjoys thesmell of household cleaningproducts. However, many peo-ple often forget to open the win-dows or turn fans on when usingchemically-based householdcleaners. While these productsno doubt do a fantastic jobcleaning a home, they mightalso be emitting harmful toxinsinto the air. If you must usechemically-based cleaners,open the windows and use fanswhen cleaning to avoid thatfamiliar odor from overtakingthe home and potentially emit-ting harmful chemicals into theair.


Simple means to making a home a little healthier

Few things exude the spiritof summer more than a back-yard barbecue. Casual attire isexpected, and the a good timeis had by all.

One thing that can ruin eventhe best barbecue, however, isthe uninvited guest with a bigappetite. And it's not UncleFrank. Mosquitoes might notask for a third or fourth ham-burger, but they do tend tofeast whenever they get thechance. At best, mosquitoesare annoying and pesky. Atworst, mosquitoes pose a seri-ous health risk to adults andpets, as mosquitoes can carryviruses that result in illness.

But mosquitoes don't haveto ruin your outdoor plans thissummer. Instead, taking aproactive approach before thesummer season starts can helpreduce the risk of mosquitoesdropping by your next barbe-cue. The following methodscan make your yard lessattractive to hungry mosqui-toes, ensuring Uncle Frank

will be the only one filling upat the next barbecue.

• Destroy or dispose of tincans, old tires, buckets andsimilar water-holding contain-ers.

• Drill holes in the bottomof recycling containers thatare left outside and cover trashcontainers to keep out rainwa-ter.

• Clean clogged roof gutterson an annual basis.

• Change water every weekin birdbaths and wading pools.

• Aerate ornamental poolsor stock them with fish.

• Clean and chlorinateswimming pools that are notbeing used.

• Check for trapped water inplastic or canvas tarps andarrange them so they drainproperly.

• Clean animal troughsweekly.

• Irrigate lawns and gardenscarefully to prevent waterfrom standing for severaldays.

Keep mosquitoes from ruining your barbecue


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MBT_HomebuyersTxCrdt_T 1/29/10 4:44 PM Page 1

Homeowners typically spendlots of time caring for their prop-erty. Be it a modest ranch houseor a mansion on top of a hill, ahome's outside appearance isoften a point of pride for home-owners.

One commonly overlookedelement of an aestheticallyappealing home is the role treescan play. Trees can add an ele-ment of beauty to a yard whilealso playing a practical role, suchas shading the grass from intensesummer sun and acting as greatsupport for hanging a hammock.

While trees can add appeal to ahomeowner's property, they canalso be an eyesore if not properlypruned. Homeowners hoping toget the most out of their treesshould consider some pruningguidelines.

• Fruit trees. If the buds on afruit tree have already startedswelling, you've waited too longtoo prune. In general, fruit treesare best pruned in late winter orearly spring. When pruning, besure to remove all branches grow-ing inward as well as limbs grow-ing straight up.

• Berry bushes. Berry bushesare typically pruned in late fall orearly winter, once you have fin-ished harvesting the berries.When pruning berry bushes, keepin mind the importance of shapewith respect to a berry bush's aes-thetic appeal.

• Rosebushes. Rosebushes aregenerally best pruned in late win-

ter, with early spring the latestpossible cutoff date. Remove anyolder shoots and leave betweenfour and eight canes whileremoving any that are growinginward. When cutting themdown, try to cut them to rightaround two feet above ground,and cut close to an inch above abud or strong shoot.

• Evergreen shrubs. Evergreenshrubs won't flower, but they canbe pruned after they have pro-duced cones or shrubs. That typi-cally occurs between late winterand early spring, so this can bedone as the weather begins towarm up as part of your early sea-son spring cleanup.

• Evergreen trees. In general,evergreen trees do not need to bepruned. It's generally obviouswhen an evergreen does need tobe pruned, as the tree will benoticeably larger and in obviousneed of pruning. Evergreens thatdo need to be pruned typicallyneed it in late spring or early sum-mer.

• Deciduous trees. Deciduoustrees are generally only prunedfor shaping.

• Deciduous shrubs. Mid to latespring is often the best time toprune deciduous shrubs. That'sgenerally after they have flow-ered, and it will be obvious whenthey are in need or pruning, asthey will likely have lots ofunsightly branches evident to thenaked eye.

Pruning tips for thosetrees and shrubs

When trimming bushes and trees in the yard, homeowners shouldbe mindful that the best time to trim often depends on the type ofbush, tree or shrub.


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There may only be half adozen good days each year tobe on a roof all day long. It'seither too hot, too cold, orraining, so in the summermonths, roofers like DonnieLikens get up very early, andhis crews are up on a rooftopas the sun comes up, tearingoff the old shingles, replacinga few bad boards and puttingon new shingles with blackfelt paper underneath.Theblack paper is a necessarycomponent of good modernroofing practice, because itprevents the condensation onthe back side of shingles fromsoaking into the wooden roofdeck. What past generationshave called "dry rot" is usuallyreally wet rot caused by natu-ral condensation.

Donnie Likens has beenroofing houses in Macon andsurrounding counties for 30years. His dad, Bud Likens,started the business some 45years ago. The third genera-tion of Likens Roofing, JerryLikens is the designated"future owner" of his dad'sbusiness. He is now a fulltime employee, along withWilliam Likens, son ofMichael.

Business is good. More andmore homeowners are replac-ing their old, twenty-yearroofs with 30-year architectur-al shingles, or with numberone grade commercial metalroofing.

The improved, modern roof-ing materials are more expen-sive, but they last longer and

look better. Nothing is moreaggravating than a leakingroof, as most homeownersusually experience a leakbefore they replace an agingrooftop.

They prefer to get up on aroof early, get a lot done, andquit before the heat of theafternoon makes the hard, hotwork unbearable.

"I like working for differentpeople from week to week,and most everyone is friendlyand easy to get along with. Wedo a good job. This is ourhometown--me and my familywere raised here and I enjoyserving the people of MaconCounty," said Likens, whoowns the family business withhis brother Michael Likens.

"We'll do most any roofing

job--tear-offs, re-decks andrepairs, metal roofing, flatroofs, rubber (torch down)roofs, patch jobs and, ofcourse, new construction. Wereally mean it when we say nojob too little or too big, and all

our work is guaranteed."Likens Roofing is fully

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Spring can be a great timefor homeowners. After a longwinter spent lounging aroundthe house, spring is a timemany homeowners can getaround to those homeimprovement projects they'vebeen dreaming about.

One project many home-owners like to do in spring isrefurbished a bedroom.Spring is often the ideal timeto paint or hang new wallpa-per in a home, as the warmweather outside allows home-owners to open the windowsand let the fresh air in, allow-ing paint to dry and home-owners to do some work in acomfortable environment.

Not all projects, however,are as easy as they seem.Such is the case with hangingwallpaper. While hanging

paper might seem like a proj-ect that simply requires somecommon sense and elbowgrease, there's a lot more tohanging paper than just hardwork and choosing the rightpattern. When hanging paperthis spring, consider the fol-lowing tips.

• Stock the toolbox. Beforedoing anything, be sure tohave the proper tools.Measuring tape, a sharp knifeand scissors to trim the paperare all valuable tools. It's alsoimportant to have spongesand a seam roller to makesure you can smooth out theinevitable bubbles that willform before the paper dries. Apoor paper hanging job isalways evident because ofbubbles in the paper, so besure to have a roller on hand

to smooth these out andensure your end productlooks as good in reality as itdoes in your plans. Othertools or instruments to havehandy include a ladder, a stepladder and a couple of buck-ets.

• Make your measurements.Hanging paper can be likedoing math homework.Measure the room carefullyso you don't end up delayinga project to order more paper.Multiply the ceiling height bythe wall width to determinethe square footage of eachwall. After doing that witheach wall in a given room,add the square footage of allwalls to determine the totalsquare footage of a room.

But the measuring does notend there. In fact, to ensure

you have sufficient paper fora project, divide the totalsquare footage by 25. Thatfigure will show how manysingle rolls of paper youneed. Because all paper issold in double rolls, dividethe figure above by two,which will show how manydouble rolls you'll need toadequately paper a room.

• Ready the surface. Oncethe measurements have beenmade, it's time to ready thewalls. Clean the surface toremove any stains, and fillany holes in the wall's surfaceas well. It's also a good ideato remove any light switchplates and outlet covers.

• Hang the paper. Hangingthe paper should start bychoosing a good startingpoint. Oftentimes, the area

around a window or doormakes a good starting point,as any errors will not be asnoticeable. When starting,draw a straight line from ceil-ing to floor to line up the firststrip of paper. This line willessentially act as a guide touse and make sure the paperis hanged straight.

When the first strip ofpaper is hung, use the rollerto remove any bubbles. Usethe knife to trim any excessfrom the bottom or top ofeach sheet.

When moving on to thenext sheet, be sure to avoidany gaps or overlap.

While hanging paper canseem like a snap, it's often adetail-oriented job thatrequires careful attention.

A few wallpaper hanging pointers for those DIYers

page 2 - times spring, thursday, march 25,...

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