Home & Yard Handbook

Just as your home’s decor is a statement of your taste and personality, so is your backyard. As the trend for enjoying customized decks and outdoor living space grows, personalized outdoor living areas are the latest in home improvement upgrades.

Building or updating an existing deck isn’t simply a great investment: It provides opportunities to personalize your backyard and customize the look to your taste. And with many families staying home this summer thanks to the economy, why not create your perfect location for entertaining?

“By designing your deck with accents, lights and unique accessories, you can transform your backyard into an outdoor retreat you’ll never want to leave, whether you’re catching up with friends over a grilled dinner in the evening or are curled up with a book in a lounge chair on a sunny afternoon,” says Chris Fox, marketing manager at Universal Forest Products.

With a new emphasis on value, durability and ultra-low maintenance, many homeowners seek deck materials that resist fading and staining. New Latitudes Capricorn Tropical composite decking, sold through dealers nationwide, is a good choice. Low-maintenance, eco-friendly composite decking material is made from a mixture of recycled wood fiber and postindustrial high-density polyethylene, which looks natural and feels great on bare feet.

Add unique touches to really make the deck your personal haven. Change your deck’s look with interesting balusters to match other decorative accents on your house or in your yard. You’ll find traditional bronze balusters, classic rounded rails or even scenic glass balusters, which give your outdoor room a clear view.

Then consider breaking up the wooden look of your deck with faux stone post covers, to help match the look of your deck to a stone house, to a backyard with stone pavers or to a stone wall. Easily installed over a wooden post, faux stone post covers come in several colors.

Finish off your railing system with post caps. Deckorators post caps, by Maine Ornamental, are functionally and artistically decorative. Maybe you’re interested in the more traditional black, stainless or pewter colors, topping a solar LED light to illuminate your deck for evening use. Or try a creative look with stained glass post caps, bringing a colorful flair to each deck post.

With so many new products and options available, you can transform your deck into a new outdoor living area. And because you designed it, it will perfectly fit your lifestyle. 

Courtesy of ARAcontent�

Does your bathroom resemble the bathroom of your childhood? Does it have the same unappealing colors, cold tile floors and dated decor as the day you bought the house?

If your bathroom is stuck in the ‘60s, ‘70s and even ‘80s, then it’s time to upgrade. But don’t worry, you can transform it into a modern day showplace on a budget. Here are some tips to get you started:

Apply a fresh coat of paint

Nothing cleans up damaged and dingy walls better than a new color. Because the bathroom is a high-humidity area that is also enclosed, look for paints that are mildew-resistant but don’t contain harsh chemicals. Be a little artistic with your painting as well. Find textured paints to create barely-there patterns on the walls, or use two different paint tints to create shading or bold contrasting wall colors.

Update your hardware

Bathroom faucets and accessories have evolved over the decades, and style is the new design. Today’s products are able to match tastes ranging from exquisite vintage to ultra modern so you can transform your out-dated style into something perfect for a guest bath, master bath or children’s fun bathroom. Visit Faucet.com to find the right style for you.

Change your lighting

A single light fixture or a worn-out overhead lamp just doesn’t give a bathroom the illumination or style you need. A properly-lit bathroom provides comfort, charm, fashion and function. You may need lights above the sink or wall sconces to illuminate any dark shadows. Find all the latest lighting styles at LightingShowplace.com.

Bring comfort into the shower

A new massaging shower head is vital to making your shower inviting. Accompany the new fixture with a beautiful curtain and curved shower rod to match the rest of the room’s decor. Look for curtains that do not contain vinyl or PVC materials, because a 2008 study found vinyl curtains contain many toxic chemicals which can be released into the air when opened and hung. But don’t block out all that new light you just installed. Use a shower curtain that allows light into the tub area.

Warm up the floor

Don’t forget the cringe you feel every time you step onto your cold bathroom floor. If the tile is in good shape, or you don’t have the finances to install radiant heat throughout the bathroom, try a decorative rug instead to keep your feet warm. You can forget about the old shag carpets with rubber backing. The styles, shapes and colors available are endless, in materials ranging from cotton to wool. Find a theme carpet for your children’s bathroom, or a beautiful bouquet of flowers to spice up your guest bathroom. To find your style, visit RugShowplace.com.

“You will be better able to enjoy your bathroom once you get it brought into the 21st century,” says Daniel Auer from Faucet.com, a leading online retailer of decorative plumbing products. “And you can find the necessary items for your remodel quickly by shopping online while saving money at the same time.”

While new home construction has come to a grinding halt in most of the country, smaller home-renovation projects are still a viable option for homeowners. In fact, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) recently reported a “slight increase” in minor remodeling projects in its third-quarter 2008 Remodeling Market Index.

What does all this mean for homeowners? It spells opportunity. And for those who want to invest in their homes, it’s tough to beat bathroom additions and remodels, which rank high on NAHB’s list of the most prevalent remodeling jobs. 

Bathroom upgrades still provide a solid investment return, even in the present tightening economy, according to Remodeling Magazine’s 2008-2009 “Cost vs. Value” report. The magazine estimates that a midrange bathroom redo will recoup nearly 75 percent of its cost; a bathroom addition recoups just under 65 percent.

Get the most for your money

Thinking about a new or improved bath? If so, avoid the high cost and hassle of creating under-floor plumbing connections — one of the most expensive and time-consuming aspects of any bath project. Instead, use macerating technology, an above-floor plumbing system that can be installed right on top of an existing floor in any part of the house in only half a day. 

With this type of installation, waste and water are pumped away and up from the plumbing fixtures through small-diameter piping into the sewer or septic tank. No more digging to set plumbing drainage lines. “This technology is easier, more convenient and less invasive,” says plumber Mike Sikorski of East Taunton, Mass., who installs Saniflo brand plumbing products. “It saves my customers an average of $1,000, and that’s on the low side.” 

Mike Coletto, another Saniflo installer and an independent plumbing, HVAC and electrical contractor in Illinois, agrees. “If a bathroom is on your project list, consider above-floor plumbing — especially if you’re planning a basement remodel,” he says. “Saniflo makes installing a basement bath a snap.” 

Here are some additional ways to keep your home bathroom remodel low-cost:

• Fix up vs. Replace: Instead of buying new cabinets, resurface or paint them; update handles and drawer pulls. Repair damaged walls and redo the caulking around sinks. Tile only halfway up the wall.
•  Improve vs. Expand: Instead of knocking down walls, gain space by replacing a hinged door with a pocket door. Put in a recessed medicine cabinet. Install a bowed shower curtain to increase the interior shower space.
• Lighten and Brighten: Repaint, using neutral colors. Repair damaged flooring, or install tile right over the floor. Place task lighting over the vanity, instead of installing a window.
• Think Green: Replace old windows with energy-efficient models and you may qualify for a federal tax rebate. Replace leaky faucets with low-flow models. 

To learn more about low-cost above-floor bathroom systems by visiting www.saniflo.com or calling toll-free: (800) 571-8191.

Courtesy of ARAcontent