Home &Garden GuideSpecial Advertising Section

_ Inexpensive Ways To Bring Spring IN!

_ Finding A Great Contractor

_ Lawn Care: More Than Just Cutting The Grass

_ Expert Tips: Creating A Beautiful Landscape

_ How’s Your Curb Appeal?

_ Curb Appeal Checklist

_ Eight Ways To Be Green At Home

Spring 2010

SPONSORED BY:

Bart’s Carpet

Certa-Pro Painters

Diffley & Daughters

Gorrie’s Landscaping

Griggs & Browne

Housewrights

Koi Villa

MEB Landscaping

Pro-Paint Plus

Servicemaster

Warner Brothers

Spring is a time of new beginnings.

Flowers and plants are blooming, the sun is shining and the weather is finally getting warmer after winter’s chill. So why not bring some of spring’s beauty into your home so you can enjoy it day after day?

“Some people think they have to purchase new accessories to refresh their home for spring. Nothing could be further from the truth,” says Christine Silverman, director of small project paints for Rust-Oleum. “There are some easy, affordable ways to bring spring into your home by ‘upcycling’ the things you already have. These simple projects are fun ways to give a new beginning to the things you have sitting in the garage or basement, while keeping them out of the land fill. It’s a win-win for both you and Mother Nature.”

Bring your flower garden indoors A great way to perk up a home for spring is by decorating rooms where you spend the most time - like the living or family room or kitchen - with flowers. By spray painting flower pots you already own bright yellow, purple or green and grouping them into indoor “gardens,” you will give them new life, while bringing the great outdoors inside.

Consider using a fast-drying spray paint that works well on wood, wicker, metal, plaster or unglazed ceramic and resists chipping and fad-ing. Or, place your “new” pottery on wrought iron plant stands or pedestal tables painted in coordinating colors to add a burst of color to any room.

Winds of change Adding color to a ceiling or oscillating fan is a great way to add a pop of color in an unexpect-ed way. Rediscover a fan you have stored in the attic. Or find a good deal on a fan that com-pliments your personality at a flea market or discount store and bring it home for a facelift. Covering the fan in just one coat of inexpensive spray paint in a fresh spring color will create a conversation piece that will last throughout the year. For this project, try using Rust-Oleum Universal spray paint. Its unique trigger spray makes it easy to use at any angle and it can be used on any surface - plastic, metal, wood and more.

Restore and renew flea market finds Flea markets are full of treasures that some-times just need a little TLC to give them new life. Save that dingy chandelier, tarnished lamp or outdated bookcase from the trash by restor-ing it with a fresh coat of spray paint, which is sometimes all that is needed to turn garage sale or flea market finds into treasures.

Inexpensive Ways To Bring Spring - IN!

Bring outdoor patio furniture inside Remember the old wicker chair and loveseat you picked up at Aunt Ida’s garage sale? They’re not for outside.

Just spray paint them with a coat or two of a bright spring color like Aqua or Green Apple and suddenly you have new seating that is per-fect for your sunroom, front porch or foyer.

For hundreds of easy project ideas to help you decorate and transform your home, visit www.paintideas.com. Before you know it you’ll have splashes of sunshine, spring color and great conversation pieces throughout your home without spending much time or money. Say goodbye to the winter blues and hello to some springtime cheer!

Reliable, trustworthy service contractors who keep your home in good working order at a fair price are

worth their weight in gold. But finding them can be a challenge. Whether you pick one out of the phone book or get one on referral, you still need to do your homework.

Service contractors handle annual duties like boiler or furnace cleaning and septic system pumping; small jobs like plumbing or electric fixture change-outs; and emergency repairs like roof leaks or plumbing clogs.

All contractors are required to have a state license or registration to ply their trade so the first thing to verify is that they do, and that it is current. Electricians, plumbers, telecommuni-cation electricians, burglar alarm installers and mechanical (HVAC) contractors have Depart-ment of Labor Division of Professional Regula-tion Licenses. Sewer / Septic system companies are licensed by the DEM and can be checked out at on its website. Almost all other con-tractors like handypeople, roofers, carpenters, painters and so on need to be registered with the Contractors Registration and Licensing Board. Their website can be found here.You can find information on claims, complaints and state actions against the contractors (if any) in addition to their license / registration status.

Referrals are probably the most reliable means to find a good contractor.

Referrals usually come with a client’s evalua-tion; but one person’s experience may not tell the whole story so check deeper before engag-ing a service contractor. Ask a prospective contractor for his / her 4 most recent clients. Then call and ask each client about his/her experience with the contractor. Many people get the names of references but fail to call and ask them questions. Make a list of questions to ask. This helps to frame their answers, and dig a little deeper. These are some questions you may want to consider:

How did you find the contractor? fWhat work did the contractor do for you? fDid they start and finish the work when fthey told you they would?How did the contractor respond to your fcalls and questions?How did you feel about the workers / tech- fnicians the contractor sent to do the work?How would you rate the contractor for fcleanliness?How would you rate the contractor for reli- fability and follow-up on their work?How would you rate the contractor’s fees fand charges?

Finding A Great Contractor by Mike Guertin

If you’re picking someone out of the phonebook or service advertising, follow the same back-ground check steps and be more diligent ask-ing questions of the contractor’s recent clients. And look for contractors who specialize in the area; they will be more familiar with the nu-ances of the local homes. They know typical problems your house is likely to experience and how to solve and repair the problems quicker.

In addition to a license or registration, all the trades are required to maintain minimum insur-ance as well. Ask for a certificate of insurance to be sent directly to you even if the work was in an emergency situation and the certificate arrives after the work is done. The certificate is issued by the insurance agent and outlines the types of insurance the contractor carries and

the coverage limits.

Mike Guertin grew up and lives in East Greenwich. A licensed contractor, he writes frequently for trade publications in the construction and remodeling industry. Learn more at www.mikeguertin.com

Mowing a lawn is certainly important to having a nice landscaped yard. But, it isn’t

the only thing you need to tend to.

The truth is that lawn care encompasses much more than cutting the grass, and to obtain a well-kept lawn, you will also need to focus on some more of the finer details of landscaping. That means that you will eventually have to get off of your riding lawn mowers and break out the weed trimmers and the lawn grass seed. You can also spray some liquid lawn fertilizer, hunt for some good flower garden ideas and maybe give some thought to different styles of wooden fences and other landscaping accesso-ries.

The first thing you will want to do is know what your lawn needs. From your lawns health, cutting your grass is usually the first step in lawn care. After that, you need to do some trim-ming of weeds and over growth as well as some edging. After this, you can better access your lawns needs. You might needs some simple weed and feed mixture, or you lawn may need more extensive work such as reseeding or even sodding.

After you have addressed the health of your lawn, it is time to give it some sprucing up. Planting flowers is always a great way to add some color and some beauty to a home’s lawn. Lawn Care from a decorative perspective does not have to end there, however. Dressing up a backyard patio or walkway is a good way to add to your lawns overall appeal. Other land-scaping features like decorative fences, planters and outdoor lighting are ways you can really punch up the look of your home’s exterior and increase the curb appeal as well.

Lawn Care: More Than Just Cutting The Grass

Fountains and other water features can make your yard look beautiful as well.

There are many things that can add to a homes landscaped design, and it is different for every-one. Fortunately, there are plenty of options. However, before you start dressing up your lawn, make sure that it is healthy. A beauti-ful garden or some slick landscaping features will not do much if your lawn is dying or being chocked off by weeds and overgrowth. With a healthy lawn, not only will your grass look good, it will also help you to maximize all the wonderful landscaping features that would look so good in your yard.

Greg S. Wallace writes about lawn care, gardening, lawn mowers, fertilizer and other topics at http://hubpages.com/hub/Lawn-care500

Expert Tips: Creating A Beautiful Landscape

It may be cold outside, but homeowners are already dreaming of creating beautiful garden

settings around their homes come spring. Land-scaping success doesn’t have to be hit or miss, and if it has been for you, it may be time to call in a professional landscape designer.

Why? One of the best reasons is that a high-quality landscape increases home sale prices up to 10.8 percent, according to the Journal of Environmental Horticulture. Another economic benefit: hiring a landscape designer can cost less than doing it yourself. You’ll get a “do-able” design created right the first time, saving you the cost of repeated tries at getting it right or planting the wrong plants in the wrong spots

. Here are some tips from professional landscape designers to create your dream garden:

First, consider your space. Hiding an unsightly air conditioner, adding privacy and changing boring views to beautiful ones are issues that landscape designers face with many clients.

Next, do your homework. Start tearing out favorite pictures from gardening magazines, and make a file on what you would like for your dream garden. Don’t forget about hardscape such as patios, decks and fencing; designers can help with these also.

Take your time. Avoid the temptation to buy plants at a garden center and attempt a garden make-over. This can be a costly gamble for those without experience.

Consider carefully what you want to achieve. “People are busy, and they want to have an out-door space that makes them feel comfortable, not frustrated and worn out,” says Judy Nau-seef, APLD, of Iowa City, Iowa, and president of the Association of Professional Landscape Designers (www.apld.org).

Research and reach out to a few landscape de-signers. Interview several designers to find one who meets your needs and personality. Review the portfolio or Web site of each designer, and visit some of their work if possible. Finally, if you have a budget in mind, share this with the designer up front.

And don’t forget: you don’t have to complete the whole plan at once. A landscape can be in-stalled over a period of time as well. Homeown-ers can decide what areas are most important and start there.

Given the effects of weather, most homes are in need of a little TLC every few years

whether it is a new paint job or repairing cracking sidewalks or driveways.

But if you are considering selling your home soon, it is imperative to spend some time making the exterior of the home as nice as the interior - improving its ‘curb appeal’ - since that is the first impression potential buyers have.

Increasing the curb appeal is a great thing to do for your property and there are many ways to improve it. The single largest change you can make is to change the exterior color.

Changing the color of your house, or even just a fresh coat of paint, will make all the difference in the world. Just changing the color of the trim will do wonders as well. If you do choose to re-paint, best to hire a qualified professional painter; you’ll save time, avoid falling from the high roof, and ensure that the job is done right.

Alternatively, if you like the color of your home, something as simple as a good a pressure wash will freshen the exterior, and you can invest your time or money in perking up the trim or painting your front door a new vibrant color instead.

Landscaping is another big curb appeal factor.It is not always necessary to hire a professional landscaper to do this if just a few new plants

and flowering pots by the front are all that’s needed. The biggest thing needed is sweat equity and hard work to clear out any overgrown plants and weeds.

Another great touch is window boxes on the home filled with colorful flowering plants that can be changed out with the seasons. But if your home requires more than this, it’s a good idea to involve the pros.

A cracking driveway or dirty, unsightly walkway leading to the front door makes the whole exterior of your home look bad. You’ll get a good return from upgrading to beautiful pavers for walkways, but installing them for the driveway contributes to a very upscale appearance. Stamped concrete is another (and less expensive option) that looks like real stone or pavers but is not. Be sure to consider the color when putting in a new walkway or driveway to coordinate with the color or stone of the house so it blends together nicely.

The last piece of the curb appeal puzzle is to add some nice accessory pieces. A new house number and mailbox give a nice first impression for example. New front door hardward is a plus. And if there’s room, a nice chair with an outdoor pillow on the front porch is a nice addition as well. With all of these, be sure not to overdo it, and make sure all the accessories coordinate well with each other.

How’s Your Curb Appeal?

Make Your HomeSay Wow!Start with the mailbox. Remove all signs of deterio-

ration, repaint, and put on new numbers. Then:If there are flowers around the mailbox base, make Dthem look as fresh as possible.Kill mold and mildew on the house, sidewalks, Droof, or driveway.Repair any cracks in the driveway and walkways. DKeep the lawn neatly cut and get rid of weeds. DEdge sidewalks and remove vegetation growing Dbetween concrete and bricks.Rake and dispose of leaves, even if your lot is Dwooded, trim tree limbs that are near or touching the roof.Place trash containers and other similar items out Dof sight.Remove all toys, bicycles, tools, unsightly patio Dfurniture, trash, etc. from the yard.Stow away unnecessary garden implements, hoses Dand tools.Firewood should be neatly stacked or out of sight. DUse flowering plants to dress up the yard, walk- Dways, and patio.Make any repairs to fences that appear run down, Dsagging or squeaking gates, missing pickets, rusty latches, or pealing paint.Touch up exterior paint if necessary. Faded or Dchipped exterior paint is an immediate buyer turn-off. New paint is not a quick-fix, but is a great way to add appeal and increase market value.Make the front entrance of your home clean and Dattractive. The entry should be spotless and freshly painted if necessary. Buy a new doormat. Add a wreath or other decorating elements.Make sure the front door, storm door, screen door, Detc. work wonderfully.Outdoor furniture should be kept clean and/or Drepainted if necessary.Shades and awnings should be in good condition. DReplace if the color has faded. Remove windsocks.Shutters and trim should be in perfect condition. DClean, repair or paint the gutters and downspouts. DPoint downspouts away from the foundation.Replace dated or tarnished outdoor light fixtures, Dinstall new bulbs.All roof shingles, tiles, etc. should be secured or Dreplace. If the roof leaks, fix it.

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Eight Ways To Go Green At Home

1. Use less electricity. Switch to compact fluorescent bulbs each time you replace an old incandescent bulb. As a bonus, you’ll save money on your electric bill.

2. Run the washer, dryer and dishwasher only with full loads. You reduce both electricity and water usage by only running these appliances when necessary.

3. Install a low-flow shower head. The newest models still produce strong water pressure while using much less water.

4. Retrofit your hot-water system with a hot-water recircula-tion pump. These pumps recirculate cold water back to the water heater and only release water when it is hot.

5. Choose Zero VOC paints for your next home decorating project. Most paints contain toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are released into the air when you paint. VOCs can cause short and long term health problems.

6. Look for furnishings made without glue or formaldehyde. This will green your home by improving your indoor air-quality.

7. Recycle, reuse and compost. Reduce the amount of stuff you send to the landfill. Find out about recycling programs in your community. Find new uses for items. Compost yard waste and kitchen scraps.

8. Properly dispose of hazardous waste. Cleaners, oils, paints, pesticides, batteries and solvents should never go out with the household garbage; they end up contaminating the soil and groundwater in your community.