trends september 14th 2012

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IMPROVEMENTS~TRENDS redo. refresh. remodel. fall HOME add drama to rooms this season prepare your home for winter transform your space affordable home improvements special feature FALL CAR PREPARATION GET YOUR CAR READY FOR COLD WEATHER PAGE 05 A Special Supplement to The Valley News and The Herald-Journal. Copyright September 2012

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Trends September 14th 2012

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Page 1: Trends September 14th 2012

IMPROVEMENTS~TRENDSredo. refresh. remodel.

fallHOME

add dramato rooms this season

prepare your homefor winter

transform your spaceaffordable home improvements

special feature

FALL CARPREPARATION

GET YOURCAR READYFOR COLDWEATHER

PAGE05

A Special Supplement to The Valley News and The Herald-Journal.Copyright September 2012

Page 2: Trends September 14th 2012

TRENDS2 September 2012 The Valley News/Herald-Journal

BUSINESS DIRECTORY:

114 W, Main Suite B, Clarinda712-542-2181

617 W. Sheridan Ave., Shenandoah712-246-3097

Bank Iowa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Pg 02Crowley Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Pg 02McNeilly Garage Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Pg 04Gee Building Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Pg 06Gowing Plumbing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Pg 04Jason Graham . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Pg 06Johnny’s Body Shop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Pg 05Lawn World . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Pg 04McQueen’s Carpet Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Pg 07Miller Building Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Pg 06

Orscheln Farm & Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Pg 03Page County Federal Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Pg 07Phillips Family Electric . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Pg 04Red Oak Glass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Pg 07Sears . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Pg 05South West Iowa Appliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Pg 04Spencer’s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Pg 07The Green Tree Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Pg 06United Farmers Mercantile Coop . . . . . . . . . . .Pg 08Watkins True Value . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Pg 03

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Page 3: Trends September 14th 2012

TRENDS September 2012 3 The Valley News/Herald-Journal

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By JASON GLENNStaff Writer

We all know the saying about waitingfive minutes if you don’t like the weathernow, well, even though it seems like justdays ago we were suffering through arecord heat wave, that five minutes will beup in no time. And when the first cold northwinds start blowing, no one wants to be upon the roof checking the shingles becausethey forgot to plan ahead.

That’s right, it’s winterizing time.September, when temperatures are pre-dictably mild and rainfall reasonably light,offers the perfect opportunity to get aheadof the curve and make sure the outside ofyour home is ready for whatever wintermay bring. When embarking on your win-terizing projects, it’s perhaps best to look atthe exterior of your house in terms of thesecategories: roof, house, yard and equip-ment.

RoofThough you may have to make your way

back up the ladder in October after theleaves have fallen, it doesn’t hurt to begin atthe top and work your way down. Start bymaking sure your chimney is clean, free ofdebris and covered with a screen to preventrodents and birds from finding a way inwhen the weather gets cold. If you plan onusing your fireplace during the wintermonths, calling a chimney sweep to removesoot and creosote is a good way to handle anasty task without getting yourself (and theinside of your home) unnecessarily dirty.

Inspect your roof, gutters and down-spouts for leaks, breaches and obstructions.Checking the flashing to make sure waterwon’t be able to get inside and replace any

worn out or damaged shingles or tiles.Clean any leaves, twigs or other debris outof your gutters and downspouts and thenspray them out with a hose to ensure allsmaller debris is washed away and therearen’t any obstructions. And though it’sreally more of an interior job, adding extrainsulation in your attic will help preventwarm air from rising to the roof, meltingaccumulated ice or snow and causing icedams along the gutters.

HouseMake a thorough inspection of the exteri-

or of your home, including the doors, win-dows and foundation. Look for cracks andexposed entry points around pipes and sealthem with a good silicone caulk to preventwarm air from escaping and water and crit-ters from getting in. Use weatherstripping

around doors and caulk around windows tokeep the cold out and replace any crackedwindows as well. And if you still have thescreens in your storm doors, change themout for the glass replacements you tuckedaway in the garage.

Don’t forget the foundation as you makeyour way around the house, raking away alldebris and vegetation that comes in contactto prevent moisture from accumulating andsmall animals being attracted by food andshelter sources. Seal any cracks you mightfind in the foundation and check all win-dowsills for rot or infestation.

YardThe first item on this list is really an

extension of the last one, but offers a goodtransition point for moving into preparingyour landscaping and outdoor surfaces for

winter. To prevent costly and inconvenientplumbing freezes, always remember toinsulate any exposed water or septic pipesand drain all garden hoses long before themercury has a chance to dip below 32 forany extended period of time. Consult a gar-dener or arborist as to when the best time toprune trees and bushes is and trim backthose that hang to close to your house orelectrical wires, taking obvious precautionsto avoid contacting wires with any laddersor tools.

As with your home’s foundation, sealingdriveways, patios and wood decks with aquality, surface-specific product can helpprevent damage and deterioration frommoisture seeping in and going throughfreeze/thaw/refreeze cycles.

EquipmentDon’t forget to prepare any tools or

mechanical equipment – whether it’s com-ing into use or going into winter storage –for the long, cold season. Drain the gasfrom your lawnmowers, weed trimmers andthe like to protect engine parts from beingdamaged or dirtied by varnished fuel comespring. And as long as you’ve already gotgrease on your hands, service or tune-upyour snow blower so it’s ready to go for thefirst big blizzard. Trying to change outspark plugs at 20 below is no fun at all.

Check your snow shovels and/or scoopsand replace them if necessary and clean,dry and store any gardening equipment so itdoesn’t accumulate rust over the winter.And finally, it never hurts to go ahead andbuy a few bags of ice melt and sand andstore them in an easily accessible locationso they’re on hand when that first slipperymorning arrives, probably a bit beforeexpected.

Preparing the outside of your home for winter

Page 4: Trends September 14th 2012

By JOHN VAN NOSTRANDExecutive Editor

With the turn of the calendar toward the latermonths of the year, homeowners are encouraged

to prepare the inside of their home for winter.The sooner the preparations are made, the moretime there is for needed work to be done.

Having the furnace inspected by a reliablecompany is important. Things to check include

Thermostat; inspecting the filter, and chang-ing or cleaning filter as needed; checking allelectrical components and controls; and inspect-ing the heat exchanger for possible cracks.

When the furnace is ready to go, be sure thateverything is running safely. Be prepared forodd smells. It is normal for dust to collect on theheat exchanger over the summer, and the firsttime you turn on the heat the dust will burn off,resulting in a strong, distinct odor. Consider onehigh-quality carbon monoxide detector. Havesmoke alarms ready and distributed throughoutthe house. If you've already have detectors,replace the batteries and check to make surethey are working properly. If the detector unit isolder than 10 years it still may not be activatedby smoke. Test older units with a smoke deviceor replace them.

“There are a variety of things to considerwhen winterizing your home,” said MikeAnderson, owner of Easter’s True Value.

Have chimney and fireplace inspected by achimney service before using it for the season,

and have it cleaned if necessary. A cleaning isimportant because chimney flues that havebecome lined with creosote can cause fires.

Insulation is important when keeping a housewarm and energy efficient during the winter. Awell-insulated and ventilated attic will save onthe heating bill and prevent ice dams. Consideradding a second layer of insulation to your attic.R-30 insulation is considered the minimum ahome should have. Newer homes are more like-ly to conform to this minimum, but if yourhouse is older it is probably time to add insula-tion.

Heat can also be lost through cracks in thewalls of your home, reducing the efficiency ofthe heating system and increasing bills. Sealingthe home on both the interior and exteriorreduces the risk of drafts, leaks, dry rot andmold.

“The window kits, which people place largepieces of plastic over windows that may beolder, should be replaced, or face the winterwinds are popular items,” Anderson said.

TRENDS4 September 2012 The Valley News/Herald-Journal

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Page 5: Trends September 14th 2012

TRENDS September 2012 5The Valley News/Herald-Journal

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By TESS GRUBER NELSONManaging Editor

As temperatures and leaves begin to fall, it’s time to startthinking about preparations for fall and winter – includingwhat needs to be done to our vehicles before the snow startsto fly.

Mark Courtier, owner of Mark’s Shenandoah Tire &Auto, and Blain Petersen of Petersen Auto agreed that littlethings done now to your car or truck can lead up to big sav-ings in the long run.

“It’s best to do small, inexpensive things now as opposedto big, expensive things down the road,” Courtier said.“Additionally, cold temperatures often make problemsworse with vehicles.”

Courtier and Petersen both recommended getting an oilchange, which will make the engine start easier during coldweather. It’s also not a bad idea, they added, to have theengine coolant freezing point and levels checked.

“You don’t want to be without heat when it’s cold,”Courtier said.

“And you don’t want to find out you don’t have heatwhen the temperature drops,” added Petersen.

Replacing old, worn out tires, or making sure the tirepressure is where it needs to be are other recommendationsfrom Courtier and Petersen.

“I’d also say windshield wipers are rather critical to win-ter driving,” said Courtier.

“Make sure the summer washer fluid is replaced withwinter washer fluid that won’t freeze,” Petersen said.

On top of that, Courtier and Petersen said if the washerjets don't spray properly, clean and adjust them becausebeing able to see out the windshield is important.

One more thing the two mechanics suggested was havingthe battery tested.

“There’s no way to tell when the battery will die – some-times it happens with no prior signs.” Courtier remarked.“I’d also say to check to see the battery terminals are tightand not corroded.”

“A dead battery is the most common cause for vehiclesnot starting in the winter,” Petersen remarked.

Both Courtier and Petersen’s businesses are located inShenandoah.

Preparing vehicles for winter is a smart idea

Blain Petersen, owner of Petersen Auto Mark Courtier, owner of Mark’s Shenandoah Tire & Auto

Page 6: Trends September 14th 2012

TRENDS6 September 2012 The Valley News/Herald-Journal

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Often times, buying a home opens up abottomless pit of opportunities for projectsand improvements. While some homeown-ers engage in different repairs and fix-upsout of necessity, many others like to fresh-en-up their spaces out of personal prefer-ence instead of need. But even the mostwell-intentioned projects can be waylaid ifbudgets are tight.

What many homeowners may not realizeis that there are many ways to make updatesand changes to a home that do not require amajor overhaul or a large price tag. The fol-lowing are seven projects that won't breakthe bank.

1. Move around furniture. You may beable to change the look of a room without

spending any money. Interior designersknow how to arrange furniture for maxi-mum appeal, but the average homeownercan do it, too. Find a focal point in the roomand angle the furniture toward it. Don'tmake the focal point the television, howev-er. Try changing the placement of chairsand sofas. Simply moving a curio cabinetfrom one corner to another may also make

a difference.

2. Add lighting. Lighting at different lev-els in the room can create a vibrant impact.Many homeowners mistakenly put in a cou-ple of table lamps and think that will beadequate. However, properly illuminating a

Seven inexpensive ways to update a home now

see UPDATE, Page 7

Page 7: Trends September 14th 2012

TRENDS September 2012 7The Valley News/Herald-Journal

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UPDATEContinued from Page 6

room means varying the lightingto create different moods at differ-ent times. Plus, more light canmake a room feel more welcom-ing.

3. Add new pillows or drapes.Changing a few aspects of a roomcan give it an entirely new look. Ifyou want to add a splash of colorbut don't know what to do, thinkabout incorporating some newthrow pillows or change the cur-tains. An accessory here and therein a bright color also can incorpo-rate a new hue without it beingoverwhelming.

4. Change knobs or smallaccents. Give a room a new lookby focusing on the small details.Switch out cabinet knobs for

something updated and modern.Take inventory of wall outlets andlight switches and think aboutselecting new ones that coordinatewith your home decor.

5. Use plants. Empty corners orspots you're not certain how to fillmay benefit from a plant. Plantsare inexpensive ways to addinstant color and visual appeal to aroom. Plus, having live plants canhelp improve indoor air by filter-ing out contaminants. A homewith plants also feels more cozy.

6. Hang new wall art. It maybe time to look at your photos andartwork and make a few adjust-ments. Finding new prints to hangcould instantly change a room'sambience. And you needn't spenda lot of money on professionalphotography, either. Grab yourcamera and take a few close-upshots of flowers or take in a land-

scape scenery. Many of today'shome printers can produce profes-sional-quality prints in minutes.

7. Try a new coat of paint.After you've exhausted otheravenues, choosing a new paintcolor may be the new look youdesire. Painting is one of the leastexpensive yet most dramaticmethods of changing a home'sinterior. With dozens of hues tochoose from, and new apps thatenable you to take snapshots ofthings in nature or in your life andmatch them up to a paint color,you will have scores of opportuni-ties to explore fresh new colors foryour home.

When you get inspired to makeimprovements to the home butfear how much it may take out ofyour wallet, consider inexpensivetricks that can induce a big "wow"factor.SPLASH OF COLOR... Throw pillows are accessories that can easily

and inexpensively change the look of a space.

Page 8: Trends September 14th 2012

TRENDS8 September 2012 The Valley News/Herald-Journal

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According to the "Remodeling" maga-zine's 2011-12 "Cost vs. Value Report,"which compares the average cost for 35popular remodeling projects with the valuethose projects retain at resale, homeownerscan expect to spend upward of $52,000 onan upscale bathroom remodel. That makes abathroom remodel one of the more expen-sive home improvement projects a home-owner can undertake.

For many homeowners, that costly pricetag is simply too much money to commit,especially in an economy where money isstill hard to come by. Fortunately, there areseveral simple ways homeowners can givetheir bathrooms a new look and feel withoutbreaking the bank.

■ Install a new shower. One of the bestways to give a bathroom a new look is toreplace the traditional tub and showerheadwith a bigger, more airy shower. Suchshowers are typically found in modernhotels that boast luxury amenities. Insteadof the tub and slide glass, choose a hingeddoor with heavier glass, replacing the bath-tub entirely.

■ Add windows and a skylight. Manybathrooms, particularly those in olderhomes, sorely lack adequate lighting.Adding some extra windows and a skylightcan give a bathroom an entirely new look,even if you don't replace any of the existingfeatures or fixtures. Sunlight can make abathroom more inviting, giving the roomthe feeling of a sanctuary that many oftoday's homeowners prefer.

■ Add some entertainment. Just likethey offer larger showers with more room to

breathe, many luxury hotels now ensureguests can be entertained even while they'rein the bathroom. Such hotels often featuresmall flatscreen televisions that sit behindthe bathroom's mirror. Guests don't even seethe television until it's turned on.Homeowners can bring this lap of luxuryinto their own homes. This is especiallyvaluable to homeowners whose bathroomscurrently feature soaking tubs where theycan escape the daily grind with a hot bathand now even watch a little television whilethey soak.

■ Replace old tiles. Many homeownerscite their bathroom's tiles as the feature theywould most like to change. Old linoleumtiles give many bathrooms a dated look thatfew of today's homeowners find appealing.Glass tiles are growing in popularity, butthose old linoleum or glazed tiles can beswapped out with porcelain or stone tiles togive the room an entirely new look withoutspending excessively.

■ Replace the toilet. Another easy wayto give a bathroom a new look is to replacethe toilet. Older toilets may be eyesores andmany are not very eco-friendly, either. Anew toilet can give the bathroom a sleek,modern look, and since many of today'sluxury models are low-flow, you'll also savemoney on your monthly water bill whiledoing something good for the environment.

Renovating a bathroom is a top priorityfor many homeowners. But if a full-scaleremodel is not within your budget, there arestill plenty of inexpensive ways to give yourbathroom a new look and feel.

Simple ways to give yourbathroom a new look

NEW LOOK... Replacing old bathroom tiles with newer ones is an easy and inexpensiveway to give a bathroom a new look and feel.