Posts Tagged Home & Garden
Posted by Laura Nelson on May 10, 2010
“We recommend that homes be powerwashed every two years,” says Kathy Kelly, owner of Kelly Powerwashing in Warrenville. “You’d be surprised at the debris a house picks up through the atmosphere.”
Most homeowners use powerwashing to clean off mold or mildew in damp spaces. That’s only one of many defects cleared up by powerwashing. Oxidation, black spot corrosion (those little black flecks), is also removed, along with jet fuel spots, bird droppings, fruit stains from nearby trees, and dirt.
“We clean aluminum, vinyl, brick, and concrete,” says Kelly. “We don’t do wood, as it takes the paint off,” she says. Most homes can be done in about three hours, says Kelly, with a crew of two men.
First, the siding is sprayed with a special siding soap. The siding is then scrubbed to remove debris, and, finally, sprayed again to rinse clean. The equipment used features a stream of 4,000 psi, which is about double the strength of a powerwashing unit purchased at a home center.
“Remember to have the front walk done too,” says Kelly. Dirt and leaves discolor concrete dramatically. “You won’t believe the difference it makes,” she reports.
Kelly Powerwashing, in business since 1987, services both residential and commercial clients.To learn more, call Kathy Kelly at (630) 393-1115. www.kellycleaning.com
Posted by Laura Nelson on May 10, 2010
Kitchens are the gathering places in homes, providing a spot for family memories. That’s why so much attention is focused on updating and renovating them. Year after year, studies show that money spent to update a kitchen is the best investment a homeowner can make to keep a home marketable. Investment aside, there are style trends that have become popular in the last few years that make kitchens more functional, comfortable, and visually appealing.
“Right now, the number one request is for roll-out shelves,” says Dennis Taylor of The Kitchen Taylor. “Homeowners love them for pots and pans as well as for food and canned goods,” he says. Taylor custom makes each unit in his local shop to ensure a perfect fit with maximum storage space available.
The Kitchen Taylor has been remodeling kitchens since 1976. All services are in-house, from concept to completion.
To learn more about updating your kitchen, call Dennis Taylor at (630) 653-5402. www.thekitchentaylor.com
Posted by Laura Nelson on May 10, 2010
Before
Sometimes it’s possible to make a huge difference in a room by changing just one element. A new paint color, for example, can change both the appearance of a room, as well as the mood of the space.
Similarly, a kitchen can be updated dramatically by changing one important element. New countertops can update a kitchen by decades. As shown, Marble Tech, Inc. changed dated formica countertops to elegant granite. Quality cabinetry takes on a completely new appearance when teamed with the rich natural deep-toned surface.
After
To transform your kitchen, call the experts at Marble Tech, Inc. at (800) 551-0885. Showrooms are in Naperville, Wheaton, Geneva, Crystal Lake, Schaumburg, Algonquin, Chicago, Lincolnwood, Barrington, and Highland Park. Learn more at www.marbletechinc.com
Posted by Laura Nelson on May 10, 2010
By Keith Druek, Owner,
Seabreeze West Remodeling
Francine and Marty have been living in their house for more than 10 years. With three children, a dog, and items accumulated through the years, they are running out of space. Their home has simply become too small for their family’s lifestyle.
They like their neighborhood with its proximity to shops, and they are reluctant to move and uproot their children from their friends and classmates. Francine and Marty realize that an addition to their existing home allows their family to stay in the neighborhood while solving their space needs.
Their home, like older homes, was built with a “boxed” look, and they’ve decided to “think outside the box”. They asked themselves two main questions: if we add on, how do we use the extra space? Though they have no plans to move or relocate, will they be able to recoup the cost of the addition when they sell it?
In conversations with colleagues, Marty learns that the cost of additions is generally recouped when a home is sold, especially when the remodel project is a finished basement, bedroom addition, kitchen expansion to provide more elbow room or extra cabinets, a pantry, and center island, or sunroom addition to provide a relaxing and cozy setting when entertaining, especially in the summertime.
With the second question answered, all that was left to decide was how to use the space.
Like Francine and Marty, each of us has aspects of our homes that we would like to change. Some of those changes may be necessitated by a leaking bathroom or worn flooring that needs to be replaced. Or perhaps the motivation is to eliminate cramping by adding storage via kitchen cabinets or adding a bedroom so that the kids have more space.
If that describes your situation, maybe now is the time for change while mortgage rates are still low and housing prices are starting to rise. So, don’t be afraid to venture into the remodeling world. Do your homework–start tearing out pictures from magazines, explore ideas and, most importantly, call a reputable builder to begin the process of creating the home for your family needs.
Remember, you are investing in your home–invest wisely and use a professional!
Seabreeze West Remodeling, Inc. is a design/build firm specializing in remodeling homes and businesses. If you are considering remodeling your home or adding an addition, call (630) 585-0123 for a complimentary consultation to learn how Seabreeze West Remodeling can design and build your home project within your budget.
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.
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