Archive for March, 2010
Posted by Laura Nelson on March 14, 2010
Believe it or not, Spring is just a couple short weeks away! Time to get the lawn mower tuned up at Carlson’s True Value, now that temperatures are inching past thirty degrees. There are plenty of things to address once the snow is gone for good–contact Lawn Doctor to set up a fertilizing program, get your deck restored by Dave’s Premier Decks, and be ready for summer with Jet Fan.
While waiting for the big thaw, make progress on renovating your home to keep it updated. Our local contractors have great suggestions for giving you the best return on money invested in your home. Kitchens and baths take the prize for best investments. Basements are making a strong showing too.
Sign up now for camps and classes. Spring break and Summer activities are educational, inspirational and fun. Kids will have fun at the Spring Fling Wing Ding at It’s Our Earth, where they’ll learn about repurposing.
We’re pleased to introduce some new Health & Fitness concepts this month, with an expanded section and new advertisers. Drs. Francis and Anderson in Wheaton offer high-tech same day tooth restoration. No temporaries needed. Dr. Rasper can diagnose the source of your pain, and correct your misalignment. If your elderly folks need assistance to remain in their home, BrightStar Health Care can help. And, to clean out your personal plumbing, call Shellie Carter for a colonic at Alder Healing Center.
Contest Winners for February include: Jenny Chang, Winfiled; Ellen Hampson and Ann Miller, Glen Ellyn; Marilyn Himmel, Carol Stream; Heri Peterlin, Naperville. They’ll be enjoying performances at the MAC Performing Arts Center at College of DuPage and Drury Lane Oakbrook Terrace.
We’re taking the month of March off for our contest, as we’ll be moving our office. We’ll resume it once we get settled.
Remember to let our advertisers know where you saw their ad, please! And continue to Shop Locally, Think Globally!
Sherry Nelson, Publisher
Posted by Laura Nelson on March 14, 2010
Bev Rous, Wall Products, Inc.
If you travel, or work outside the home, your valuables are at risk. According to the Chicago Crime Commission, a burglar is in a home for an average of only six minutes. That’s long enough to pick up loose, but expensive valuables, toss them in a bag, and leave.
“Most women have thousands of dollars worth of jewelry sitting in their jewelry box on their dresser,” says Bev Rous, of Wall Products, Inc. in West Chicago. It makes sense, she says, to secure valuables in your home, while on vacation, or when service people are working in the home. A wall safe can give peace of mind.
Storing valuables in a wall safe secures them out of sight and saves a trip to a safe deposit box. In addition, wall safes are used frequently for the storage of handguns and/or ammunition.
“Safes can be completely concealed because they’re flush with the wall,” says Rous. Designed and manufactured in the U.S.A., safes fit between the studs of the wall in the home, basement or garage. “A thief would have to bring power tools,” says Rous, as safes are secured with four bolts attaching it from inside the safe, and four more on the outside, fastened with one-way screws. Safe costs begin at about $170. Installation is available, and runs around $75.
To learn more about securing your valuables or important papers in a wall safe, call Bev Rous, Wall Products, Inc. at (630) 562-9255.
Posted by Laura Nelson on March 14, 2010
Sean Jordan, USA Insulation
Since 1985, USA Insulation has saved homeowners millions of dollars on heating and air conditioning bills by creating energy-efficient homes. Environmentally friendly, the foam-in-place insulation can save as much as 50% on utility bills.
“Older homes especially benefit,” says Sean Jordan, one of the local USA Insulation owners. “Insulation was not required prior to 1975, and this insulation is the most versatile retrofit solution available.” It works in all building materials: brick, stucco, shingle and vinyl or aluminum-sided homes.
Homeowner Diana Saunders’ 57-year-old Cape Cod home was partially insulated–some areas had fiberglass insulation, but temperatures were uneven. “They installed an environmentally friendly product,” she says, that has cut the utility bills in half, and “there’s an evenness of temperature throughout the house. It’s also much quieter.”
USA Premium Foam is more effective than fiberglass because it fills more of the wall cavity and has a higher density. It flows into hard to reach cavities and hardens within 10-60 seconds, creating a 4-inch shell of insulation around the home. Small cavities around window units, pipe chases, air ducts and conduits are easily filled. The process takes just one day. Increased fire safety and sound-deadening properties are also benefits.
Currently, homeowners can benefit with a tax credit equal to 30% of the cost of insulation, up to $1,500.
Call Sean Jordan for a free in-home energy consultation at (630) 628-6800. Check www.USAinsulation.net for details.
Posted by Laura Nelson on March 14, 2010
Keith Druek, Seabreeze West Construction
As a successful remodeler of many beautiful Naperville area homes since 1991, Seabreeze West Remodeling often hears discouraging stories like the one below, where earlier selection of contractors did not work out. Owner Keith Druek says “I want to educate consumers about selecting remodelers right from the beginning, because then the project will leave the client happy and content for years to come…”
CASE STUDY
A Naperville area couple we will call Mary and Bob Smith obtained several bids for a basement remodel, and selected “neighborhood remodeler Adam” who submitted the cheapest bid. They signed a generic basic contract, and submitted a deposit check. Because they knew of Adam and he was reasonably priced, Mary and Bob did not think about a certificate of insurance, list of project references, plans and blueprints, and a detailed scope of work for their project.
Problems quickly surfaced. Their check was immediately cashed, there were frequent project changes and requests for more money, and the project dragged. Subcontractors also began to bother the homeowners directly, requesting payment. Adam didn’t return Mary and Bob’s phone calls about timeframes and other questions. He appeared less at the work site, because he probably did not have the cash flow necessary to pay the subs. When they thought their project was finally (thankfully!) completed, Mechanics’ Liens began to arrive in the mail. The Smiths had to hire a lawyer to sort things out.
This is certainly not the remodeling journey a homeowner has in mind!
Keith reminds readers to always keep the following in mind:
– The cheapest bid is not always the best. Obtain 3 bids from reputable companies that have been in business at least 10 years, and are willing to provide project references. Very cheap remodelers usually bring cash flow and project completion issues.
– Educate yourself and communicate! Ask questions! Learn about every step of the process, from initial design to final inspections. Your contract should clearly show what this project does and does not include. You will be working with your remodeler a long time. Build a relationship with your remodeler and be sure both sides communicate well.
– Be sure you have essential project paperwork in order:
1) Detailed contract;
2) A complete set of building plans and thorough set of specifications and materials;
3) Certificate of Insurance;
4) Information on building codes, practices and permits.
Remember, you are investing in your home–invest wisely and use a professional! For more information and a free estimate, call Seabreeze West Remodeling, (630) 585-0123. www.seabreezewest.com
Posted by Laura Nelson on March 14, 2010
If you have a lamp with a frayed cord, touchy socket, or missing part, take it to Dave Harms, the Lamp Wizard at Carlson’s True Value in downtown Wheaton. Harms, a retired Bell Labs inventor, has invented and built a diagnostic tool that pinpoints the problem for why a lamp is not working.
“You’d be surprised at the misconnections in a lamp that can cause shocks, fires, or blown fuses,” says Harms. In addition to an obvious defect, this new piece of test equipment quickly verifies that all connections from the plug to the light bulb contacts have been correctly made, that polarities are correct, and that there are no points that could be touched that would result in electrical shocks to people or pets.
Harms’ invention uses diode logic to indicate possible faults within seconds. It’s a tool that performs an eight-point test to isolate any problem. When repaired, the lamp owner can be assured that there will be no fuses blown, no potential for electrical shock or fire hazard, and the lamp will function properly.
To get your lamp working properly, take it to Carlson True Value at 125 E. Front St., Wheaton. (630) 668-1111
Posted by Laura Nelson on March 14, 2010
By Cherri Zboril, Alternating Currents
Double tapped breakers, improper wired receptacles, and use of extension cords are just a handful of items seen daily in homes that can cause a fire. More than 28,300 residential electrical fires occur annually, causing nearly 350 deaths, 1,000 injuries and more than $995 million in damage, according to the US Fire Administration. And many of these electrical fires could have been easily corrected with proper installation by a licensed electrician.
Double tapped breakers occur when the electrical circuit is overloaded. This overload will cause the breaker to pop or trip and turn off. After time, the breaker may fail to pop, thus resulting in a fire hazard. By upgrading the breaker or distributing the electrical circuit, it corrects the fire potential.
Receptacles and switches are another source of fire potential. If these electrical devices are not properly wired, a fire can result. Three-way and four-way switches are frequently seen without proper number of wires. Many times homeowners do these repairs on their own, but without proper knowledge, these repairs result in potential fire hazards.
The most frequently seen fire hazards in homes are extension cords. Homeowners may not be aware of the danger of using extension cords to operate garage door openers, sump pumps, freezers, and refrigerators. All of these devices need to be connected to a properly installed receptacle.
In addition to correcting fire hazards in homes, homeowners must have properly operating smoke detectors. Most villages require houses to have interconnected smoke detectors in each bedroom, 1 on each level of a house, and 1 near a furnace as well a 1 carbon monoxide detector located within a house.
If homeowners are unsure of their home’s electrical fire hazards, contact Alternating Currents Corporation, an electrical contracting company servicing the Chicagoland suburbs. This 16-year old company offers free evaluations of a home’s electrical condition. Call (630) 545-9343 or visit www.altcur.com for more information.
« Older Entries
