FALL 08 pg 26 - 50

24 • Fall 2008 • Savannah’s Home Improvement Guide

s we all know, remodelingyour home or moving to anew location is an excitingexperience, but can havesome daunting tasks along

with it. Dealing with storing, mov-ing, and transporting your preciousvaluables can be the toughestheadache one has to battle through-out the entire process. Hiring a mov-ing van comes to mind when both ofthese occurrences pop up. However,is that the best solution?

Driving the moving truck or van isnot safe for those whom are not usedto operating large vehicles in the firstplace. Not to mention the calamity ofpicking up the vehicle, the loadingand unloading process, and then hav-ing to return the monster to itsowner. Luckily, there is an improvedsolution, which is drastically easier touse: the portable mini storage container delivered directly toyour home or office. You don’t have to deal with the hassle ofrenting a truck or carrying furniture up ramps as you onlyhave to step up eight inches into the container parked rightin front of your garage or home.

Our containers are great for local moving, temporary storage,remodeling a room, storing large items for the season, or anyother reason you may want to put something away for a littlewhile. There are many differences with our storage containersthat set us apart from the competition:

Translucent Roof - Lets in plenty of natural lightVented- Eliminates moisture and humidity buildup that con-tributes to mold and mildew.Mini’s Do Not Sweat - Exterior coated with heat and mois-ture resistant marine-grade paint.Locking Rollup Door - Easy to open and close.

Sturdy Horizontal Railings - For hanging clothes and secur-ing contents.Steel Construction - Welded frame with strong and securesteel siding.Elevated Floor - Moisture can’t seep in from the bottom.Moisture Resistant Door - Sealed surface, plastic undercoatedand rubber moisture barrier.Local Ownership

We also sell locks, moving cartons and supplies that willmake your remodel or move more convenient. Visit us on theweb at www.gominissavannah.com or call us today at912.658.6360. We look forward to making your experiencehassle free!

For more information, contact Bob Schmelzer of Go Mini’sSavannah at 912.658.6360. www.gominissavannah.com

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The Cost Of Comfort

THE SECOND LARGEST COST OF HOMEOWNERSHIP IS ENERGY. THE FIRST, OFCOURSE, IS THE MORTGAGE.

Ten years ago, would you have known howmuch a barrel of oil cost? Today, with theprice of gasoline fluctuating from hour tohour, we have all become much more awareof the cost of oil.

The same fluctuations affect the cost of yourhome energy. Fifty percent of the energy usedin a typical home is for heating and coolingand fifteen percent of the home’s energy use isdirectly related to how the energy is used. Arethe lights turned off when you leave a room?Is the dishwasher run during the cooler hoursof the day? Are ceiling fans installed in everyroom to help circulate air? Is the washingmachine set to use cold water to wash andrinse the clothes?

Ask yourself a few questions to determinewhether or not you should upgrade to moreenergy efficient systems in your home.

How old is your home?Homes built within the last five years were built to meet themost current energy standards. Homes that are six years or olderwill benefit from an energy audit, but homes that are fifteenyears or older present the most opportunities to save money.

How long will you live in your current home?

On average, homeowners live in their houses for 7-8 years.Money spent on improving energy efficiency should have aquick return and add to the investment value of the home forresale purposes.

How well is the air conditioning unit cooling your home? Isthe temperature uniform throughout the house?How much energy is that old refrigerator in the garage using?How old is the water heater?Which direction does your house face?Is there enough insulation in the attic?

Energy conservation is often associated with sacrifice. This isonly true in the most extreme cases. Opening windows ratherthan using the air conditioning isn’t feasible in Savannah,Georgia, where there might be one humidity-free week a year.As an alternative, install a programmable thermostat to maxi-mize energy efficiency.

The best way to determine your home’s energy efficiency is tohave a Home Tune-uP energy audit.

An energy audit is a blueprint of energy-saving opportunitiesin your home. The older the home, the more options youhave to save money. Why wait until the water heater stopsworking? Energy efficient upgrades are unique homeimprovements and many will pay for themselves in fewerthan five years.

A Home Tune-uP report will provide:• Relevant information, specific to your zip code, that

identifies solutions, not problems • The most cost-effective upgrades • The cost of those upgrades• Suggestions of low- and no-cost ways to save energy• Resources for further education• Federal tax credit information and options for financing

Information from a Home Tune-uP Energy Audit will makeyour home more comfortable, reduce your energy bills by20% to 30% (an average of $475 per year,) increase yourhome’s resale value and make your home more environmen-tally friendly.

Remember, it is all about comfort (in your home AND inyour wallet.)

Call Brad and Laura Sherman of Red Door Home Works,912.335.2663. We are Savannah’s only certified Home Tune-Up energy auditors.

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Before

After

Fall 2008 • Savannah’s Home Improvement Guide • 27


Whether you make custom furniture or just the occasionalbirdhouse, there is one common product in all home shops -dust. Wood dust is more than just a nuisance, however.Material safety data sheets (MSDS) list wood dust as a skin,eye and respiratory irritant. Airborne dust in sufficient quan-tities can also be an explosion hazard.

There are many affordable filtration systems available for thehome handyperson and small woodshop owner.

CENTRAL SYSTEM

If you are a serious woodworker and you have a number ofdust-making tools, a central dust-collection system is prefer-able. This type of system is powerful and flexible, and youcan connect several tools to one collection and bagging point.It is also surprisingly affordable, with prices starting at $275for a 1,250-cubic-feet-per-minute (CFM) 110-volt collector.

In a central system, individual tools are connected withmetal, plastic or PVC pipe. It can be designed to accommo-date any number of tools and any shop layout, and can berearranged as needed.

SINGLE-TOOLCOLLECTION

For your individualtools, there are anumber of dust-col-lection options. Thesimplest solution isto connect a tooldirectly to a standardshop vacuum.Adaptors allow youto connect tools andhoses of differentdiameters. Use a shop vacuum with an auto-on feature,

CONTROLYOUR HOME’S SHOP DUST

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which will activate the vacuum every time you turnthe tool on.

For more power and even less dust, you can use aportable dust collector, which accepts any standard4-inch flexible hose. It is mounted on wheels so youcan move it between work areas, and for even greaterremoval of airborne dust, both the central and theindividual dust collectors are available with bags thatwill trap dust down to one-half micron in size.

For tools that are inconvenient to connect to a dustcollector, consider a table-mounted or floor-mountedsuction head. The round opening connects to thedust collector with a flexible hose, and the other end,which is shaped like an enclosed dustpan, is placednear your work area where it can suck in dusty airbefore it has a chance to circulate through the shop.

AIR FILTERS AND MASKS

For direct inhalation protection, there are severaltypes of respirators and dust masks on the market.The least expensive is the disposable cloth mask,which filters outlarge dust particlesfrom the air. A stepup is the half-face orfull-face respirator,which has replaceablecartridges to capturedust and airbornevapors generated byspraying paints and finishes.

For even greater protection, consider a ceiling-mounted air cleaner. This type of cleaner hangsover your work space, and many models eveninclude a work light.


hether you own or rent, someone hasto pay the water bill. Usually the costof water and sewage facilities areincluded in one bill, but in some

instances you may be charged a flat rate for utilitiesas part of your lease. In either case, there are a fewthings you can do to dramatically cut your water bill.

• Install a new waterheater. A tankless(instantaneous) waterheater heats up the wateras you need it, so youdon’t have to let the waterrun until hot water reach-es the tap.

• Restrict the amount oftime you spend in theshower and replace theshower head with arestricted flow model.Older shower heads canuse up to 4 gallons ofwater per minute; newermodels use fewer than 2.5gallons.

• Only run the dishwasher when it is full. Skip thepre-rinse cycle and only run it in the cooler hours ofthe day.

• Make sure your toilets are functioning properly.Make your own “low flow” toilet by placing weighted

plastic bottles in your toilet tank to save water. Make surethat there are at least 3 gallons remaining in the tank so thatyour toilet will flush properly. If your flush handle sticks andlets water run, repair or replace it. Replacement handles can

be found in the hardware store for afew dollars, and are very easy toinstall. Check for toilet tank leaksby adding food coloring to the tank.If the toilet is leaking, color willappear in the toilet bowl within 30minutes.

• Check the faucets and showers tosee if water is running or dripping.If your faucet is dripping at a rate ofone drop per second, you can expectto waste 2,700 gallons per year. Thisadds to the cost of water and sewerutilities and adds to your water bill.

• Check your basement for leaks.Your water heater or washing

machine may be leaking or the drains in your utility tubscould be blocked.

• Water your trees and plants periodically but think aboutconservation. Watering in the early morning before the sunis intense helps reduce the water lost from evaporation.Installing rain gutters and collecting water from downspoutsalso helps reduce water use.

7 EASY WAYS TOSAVE MONEY ONYOUR WATER BILL

By Kevin Belvedere

W

Big “Little” Changes

Are you hooked onHGTV’s makeover shows?Are you tired of your sameold living space? You mightbe surprised how easy andaffordable it is to changeyour living space just byseeing your home throughsomeone else’s eyes.

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By re-arranging what you already have and perhaps adding afew accessories, you can bring sophistication and warmth toyour home. Terri and Paula, both experienced and profes-sionally trained designers, will meet with you for free, toidentify your needs, priorities and timeline. Should you thendecide to “enhance your space,”

Terri and Paula will cometo your home for up tothree hours to create big“little” changes, for a fee of$350.00.

Take advantage of this tal-ented team’s suggestions toresolve your decoratingchallenges. A game plandevised by professionals inadvance can save you a lotof money and frustration inthe long run. Very often

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By Richard Saunders


Guide To Going Green

THE BENEFITS OFGOING GREENIf you are thinking about remodeling your home, chances areit is not functioning the way you want it to. Maybe it woreout, maybe it never looked right, or maybe it is too expensiveto maintain.

A big part of living sustainably is making sure the job is donethe right way the first time and using durable products in theprocess. But sustainability is also about utilizing natural solu-tions that reduce costs both to you as a homeowner and tothe environment.

These principals are just as important during remodeling asthey are during the initial construction. If done right, it ispossible to have a positive impact on the environment andyour community through remodeling.

This is especially true in the areas around the house.Savannah is a coastal community that derives great pride andpleasure from the fresh and coastal waters. Unfortunately, ourhomes account for more than 35% of the pollution in ourwaterways. Chemicals from lawns and oils from drivewaysare washed into creeks and wetlands during every rain. Thepollution from sub-urban runoff can be enough to negativelyaffect marine species and human health.

Beach closures and reduced fish stock affect us all, but thereare several ways to reduce the amount of pollution andrunoff from our homes by installing sustainable products andsystems. A few of the most effective systems capture, clean,and even reuse rainwater on-site, such as: rain tanks; perme-able pavers; rain gardens; native landscaping; and roof gar-dens. By reducing the need to purchase city water or toreplace products with short life-cycles, many of these prod-ucts can also reduce our cost of living and increase resalevalue.

PERMEABLEPAVERS NO FLOODINGOR RUNOFF:90% of rainwaterpasses throughgaps; pavers are30% more perme-able than grass;course gravel baseholds even heavyrainstorm volumes. REDUCES POLLUTION: Healthy organisms in the gravelbreak down 100% of pollutants. LONGER PAVEMENT LIFE: Outlasts poured concrete by20 yrs and asphalt by 30 yrs, pavers are guaranteed to nevercrack. ATTRACTIVE: Multiple color, pattern, and finishes to com-pliment any surface or house. RECHARGES GROUNDWATER: Rainfall seeps back intothe soil and adds clean groundwater. SAVES MONEY: Less expensive than asphalt and concrete

in many applications, canreplace storm drains.

RAINWATER REUSE

CONSERVES WATER: 1 bil-lion gallons of water can besaved if only 15% of homesreused rainwater; other watersources can be incorporated ifneeded. REDUCES RUNOFF: Keepsrunoff from rooftops from caus-ing problems downstream.

HIDDEN: can be hidden under driveway or house. SAVES MONEY: Less expensive than city water when spreadover 10 years, approximate cost is only 1 cent per gallon.

ROOFTOPGARDENS

COOL: Summertemperatures onroof gardens are89 degreesinstead of 215degrees as foundon conventionalroofs, reducesheat outside and inside building. LONGER ROOF LIFE: Lasts twice as long as shingle roofs,fewer stresses. CREATES HABITAT: Attracts bird and butterflies, createshealthy “island”. REDUCES RUNOFF: Holds rainwater, cools it and releasesit slowly to plants, air, and downspout. REDUCES POLLUTION: Filters out pollution in the rain-water and in the air. SAVES MONEY: Reduces cooling bill by 75%, lasts twice aslong, can increase usable/enjoyable living and working space

RAINGARDENS

REDUCESRUNOFF: Capturesrainfall and chemicalrunoff.REDUCESPOLLUTION:Plants and micro-

organisms reduce pollutants by 100%Low Maintenance:native plants have strong defenses.

ATTRACTIVE: Multiple colors possible throughout seasons.CREATES HABITAT: Creates a living landscape with birds,butterflies, and wildlife.RECHARGES GROUND WATER: Allows water to seepback into groundwater

LOW WATER &MAINTENANCELANDSCAPING

LOW WATER:Extensive root systemssoak up and retainenough rainwater; nativeplants thrive in native conditions. LOW MAINTENANCE: Natural defenses against bugs,weeds, and harsh conditions. CREATES HABITAT: Attracts birds and butterflies. ATTRACTIVE: Multiple colors and fragrances dependingon the season. SAVES MONEY: Less expensive than conventional landscap-ing and irrigation.

Please feel free to call Hoffman Environmental Services with anyquestions or for more information. HES, Inc. specializes in theinstallation of sustainable products and services such as those list-ed above, as well as site work, retaining walls, and bank stabi-lization. The company was founded to minimize negativeimpacts on the environment and preserve the ecological and aes-thetic integrity of the low country, and green suggestions or esti-mates are always freely available. Call the office at (912) 3130990 or visit the website at www.hoffmanenvironmental.com toschedule a site visit and find out how your remodeling projectcan have a positive impact on the region.

Beginning in January 2009, the City of Savannah kicks-off curbside recycling. Starting in mid-November through theend of this year, the City’s Sanitation Bureau will be deliver-ing ninety-six gallon, black and yellow recycling carts to resi-dents within the city limits of Savannah.

All recyclables will be placed into one cart, as no sortingwill be necessary. Single stream recycling directions will bedistributed at the time of delivery. Newspapers, junk mail,magazines, catalogs, phone books, paper back books, officepaper, white and colored paper, aluminum cans, tin cans,steel cans, plastic bottles and jobs, cardboard boxes, paste-board, brown bags, and glass bottles all are acceptable toplace in the cart. If you would like more information on thisnew and exciting program, please contact the City ofSavannah’s Sanitation Bureau at 651.6579 or visit their web-site at www.savannahga.gov.

YARD WASTE PICK-UP CHANGES FOR 2009

As January 2009 embarks on us, your residential yardwaste collection within the city limits will be collected theday following your regular scheduled trash pick-up. In com-pliance with the city of Savannah’s refuse collection ordi-nance, no plastic-bagged yard waste will be accepted. Thebrown biodegradable bags must be used to store yard wasteprior to collection, or yard waste may be placed in a standardmetal or plastic refuse container with a capacity no largerthan thirty-two gallons and weight no more than fortypounds. The brown bags may be purchased from local gro-cery, retail, or home improvement stores.

*Information provided by Savannah Morning News

CURBSIDE RECYCLING EFFECTIVE JANUARY 2009



1. Rather than writing checks and stuffing envelopes eachmonth, switch to tree-free billing and pay everything fromyour credit card to your cell phone bills online. Forests notonly remove CO2 from the air but are richly complex ecosys-tems, providing habitat for mammals, birds, plants, insectsand mushrooms and other fungi to thrive. Approximatelyone billion trees worth of paper are thrown away every yearin the U.S. For the paper products you do have to use, liketissues and toilet paper, consult The Green Guide’s PaperProducts Smart Shopper’s Card www.thegreenguide.com.

2. Join a community supported agriculture (CSA) programat www.localharvest.org or www.biodynamics.com (which

also lists CSAs inCanada). By becom-ing a shareholder ofa community sup-ported organic farmor garden, you canback pesticide-freeagriculture and fundbusinesses in yourarea. In return, youand your family willenjoy weekly baskets

of whatever your grower provides—fresh produce, fruit, flow-ers, or herbs. Plus, eating local, seasonal foods preservesindigenous crops and agricultural methods beneficial to alarge variety of species.

3. Get involved at the local level. Find out the quality ofyour community’s rivers and streams at the EPA’s “Windowto My Environment,” www.epa.gov. If those in your areashow a high level of contaminants, go to a local governmentmeeting and encourage political leaders to clean them up.Because wastewater treatment plants don’t remove chemical

contaminants, aquatic biodiversity is threatened by chemicalsin pharmaceuticals and personal care products. A growingnumber of studies are finding hormone-disrupting phthalatescommon in pills and lotions are interfering with the repro-ductive abilities of fish.

4. Buy local honey at your farmer’s market or www.honeylo-cator.com. All around the country large and small beekeepingoperations are registeringstaggering losses of hon-eybees, with some farm-ers reporting populationdrops of 99 percent.While there is no obvi-ous single cause, pesti-cides, parasitic mites andloss of woodland habitatare all considered cul-prits. Vital to agriculture,honeybees are responsi-ble for pollinating $14billion dollars worth ofU.S. crops and, accord-ing to the AmericanBeekeeping Federation, athird of the foodAmericans eat.

5. Turn your backyard into a wildlife habitat. Visit theNational Wildlife Federation’s (NWF) “Garden ForWildlife,” and see what you can do to attract songbirds, but-terflies and native species. Then certify your habitat, alongwith 75,000 other NWF-certified yards, community gardens,school grounds and business sites across the U.S. and Canadaat www.nwf.org. Certification requirements include provid-ing shelter, water and food, using least-toxic pesticides andwater conservation.

6. Buy a native houseplant at yourfarmer’s market. Better yet, plant anative tree in a community park, byyour local river way or seaside.Native trees provide food and shel-ter for indigenous insects and ani-mal life and create niches forspecies pushed out by monoculturecommercial forests.

Ten Tips In PreservingBioDiversity


7. Help the butterflies by purchasing $16 worth of milk-weed seeds from monarchwatch.org. Monarch butterflies layeggs in milkweed, which is the only crop larvae eat from thetime they’re born to the time they form a chrysalis. The but-terflies are rapidly losing their patches of habitat across theU.S. and Mexico, where both eastern and western monarchsmigrate in the winter, due to climate change, agriculturalpesticides and population growth. Butterflies are bio-indica-tors that scientists look to for signs of landscape quality andhabitat loss.

8. Conserve anendangered orthreatened speciesindigenous to yourarea, whether it’sthe Ohio mussel,the Georgia sea tur-tle, or the PuertoRican Parrot, theonly parrot speciesnative to the U.S.

The Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies provides a list-ing of state department web sites, where you can learn moreabout the plants and animals in your area and how you cansave them www.fishwildlife.org.

9. Eat healthier fish. Not only do certain fish species containhigh levels of mercury but many of the world’s fisheries areeither farmed destructively, severely overfished or underthreat from invasive species. Over-extraction has lead todepleted water supplies and invasive species encroachment inthe Rio Grande, where 32 freshwater fish species have beendisplaced, according to the World Wildlife Fund. For a quickreference on which fish are best, see The Green Guide’s FishPicks Smart Shopper’s Card www.thegreenguide.com.

10. Join Frog Watch USA, apartnership of the NationalWildlife Federation and theU.S. Geological Survey.Volunteer—only 20 minutesa week to listen and observeat a nearby wetland—to helpscientists study the state ofthe declining frog and toadpopulations across thenation. Understandingamphibian populations iscrucial to finding out the affect of human activity on waterquality, habitat and ecological processes www.frogwatch.org.

*Information provided by www.thegreenguide.com

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If you have been wanting to make your home improvement projects“green” but you don’t know where to start, have no fear - going greencan be easier than you think. If you are not ready to commit to buyinga composting toilet or building a straw bale house, don’t worry. Thereare many small ways that you can make an environmental impact whenmaking home improvements in your home.

If you want to start by taking some baby steps, here are someeasy, low cost things you can do:

PAINT • Painting is one of the easiest and most inexpensiveways to spruce up your home. Many, if not all, of the majorbrands of paint have “eco” lines that have low or zero VOCs(volatile organic compounds). Why is this important? VOCs areemitted as gases and reduce the air quality in your home and ourenvironment (think of that nasty “wet paint” smell.) You caneasily avoid this by reading labels and purchasing paint that haslow or zero VOC. My personal favorites are Harmony (zero

VOC) and Duration (low VOC) from Sherwin Williams, butthere are many others on the market as well.

PURCHASE ENERGY STAR APPLIANCES • If you are plan-ning on replacing old appliances, choose new models that haveearned the Energy Star approval. They meet strict energy effi-ciency guidelines set by the EPA and US Department of Energy.(For more information, check out www.energystar.gov.)

INSTALL LOW FLOW FIXTURES • Think low flow is justfor toilets? Think again! Many faucets and shower heads offerlow flow technologies, including aerators that add oxygen intothe water and thus make the pressure seem higher than stan-dard low flow fixtures. There are also new shower heads onthe market that can save you as much as one gallon per minuteof water without sacrificing features such as massage or rainheads. By using a low flow shower head, you can decreaseyour water bill by over $100 a year!

It IS EasyBeing Green!

Kathleen Silver, Allied ASID Interior Designer, Silver Lining Design

INSULATE • Many homes are not insulated andsealed as well as they could be and almost allattached garages are not even insulated at all. Byadding insulation and sealing air leaks, you couldlower both your heating and cooling bills. Want todo it yourself? It’s very easy. Many home improve-ment stores offer free rental of cellulose insulationblowers with the purchase of the insulation. Notonly is this a very economical option, but it is alsovery green. Cocoon™ brand insulation (availableat Home Depot) is made from 85% recycledmaterials and is also produced in a virtually waste-free manufacturing process. Another green insula-tion option is insulation made from recycleddenim. Avoid traditional fiberglass batt insulation.It is manufactured with formaldehyde, it shouldnot come in contact with skin, and you should wear a mask whilehandling it. Its MSDS (material safety data sheet) lists carbon diox-ide and ammonia as some of its by-products.

PLANT DECIDUOUS TREES • Many homes are not “sited” inan optimal way. Ideally, the front of your house should either facenorth or south, which allows the more intense sun from the east andwest to pass over your home somewhat unobtrusively. If your homedoes face east or west, you can easily keep the sun from heating upyour house (and increasing your cooling bills) by planting deciduoustrees on the east and west sides of your home. Why deciduous trees?They lose their leaves in the winter, which will then allow the sun tohelp warm you home when the weather is cooler and also help withyour heating bill! Just be sure not to plant trees too closely to yourhome, as the roots can cause damage to the foundation.

FSC CERTIFIED LUMBER • The ForestStewardship Council is an independent, non-governmental, non-profit organization estab-lished to promote the responsible managementof the world’s forests. Products carrying the FSClabel are independently certified to assure con-sumers that they come from forests that are man-aged to meet the social, economic and ecologicalneeds of present and future generations. As aconsumer, you can support sustainable forestrypractices by purchasing FSC Certified lumberfor your project.

There are so many more ways to make yourhome improvement projects green and these sug-gestions only scratch the soft, eco-friendly sur-

face. I hope that when planning your next home improvementproject, you will choose sustainable options. They will not onlybenefit your environment, your health and the earth, but yourpocketbook as well!

Have design questions? Well, just “Ask the Designer”! Starting in thenext issue of Savannah Home Improvement Magazine, we will havea column featuring advice and tips from Kathleen Silver of SilverLining Design. Email your questions to: [email protected].

Kathleen Silver, Allied ASID, Interior Designer, Silver Lining Design,www.silverliningdesigninc.com, 912.660.9274


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Depletion of our natural resources and theincrease in global warming have madeus all more aware of how impor-tant it is to take care of ourplanet. Recycling is an easyand effective way toimprove our environ-ment and make a pos-itive impact on thequality of life inSavannah.

Man has alwaysmade use of ourplanet’s naturalresources, chop-ping down trees tobuild homes, miningcoal to heat our hous-es, diverting water tosupply our cities andtowns. However, since theIndustrial Revolution in theearly 19th century, man has beenproducing more products and usingmore resources without replenishing what hehas taken from the environment. By recycling, we can startreversing the effects and healing the damage that has beendone.

Whether you believe Al Gore’s prophecy or not, somethinghas been happening to our planet in the past fifty years.Scientists attribute the change in our climate to greenhousegases. These gases are good because they keep our planetfrom freezing, but in excess they can lead to a lethal increasein temperature. We can help reduce this greenhouse effect byrecycling, thereby reducing the amount of energy being usedby industries.

Recycling also spares valuable natural resources. The Amazonrainforest plays a significant role in our climate, coolingdown the world’s temperature by 1 to 2 degrees Celsius andhelping to balance the humidity and rain in several parts ofthe globe. Unfortunately, it has been under attack by defor-estation projects and the most common way to deforest the

area has been to set fire to it. Next to fossilfuels, forest fires are one of the greatest

emitters of carbon dioxide into ouratmosphere. By recycling paper,

more trees can be saved andless carbon dioxide released.

And finally, if you don’tenjoy the prospect ofdriving by dirty land-fills in Savannah, tryrecycling! Landfillsall over the countryare overflowing withmaterials that couldhave been recycled.As the landfills grow,

they take up moreand more of what lit-

tle open space is left onour planet.

Just about everything can berecycled. Here’s a list to get you

started in helping to save our planet– and our city!

Recycle: Just Do It!Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.

(New England proverb) By: John Moesch

• Aerosol cans (completely empty)

• Aluminum cans

• Aluminum foil, clean

• Beverage cans

• Brochures

• Cardboard Cereal boxes

(remove lining)

• Computer paper

• Coupons

• Cardboard Egg cartons

• Food cans

• Glass bottles and jars

• Glass cosmetic bottles

• Laundry bottles (remove caps and lids)

• Ledger paper

• Magazines

• Newspaper

• Paper

• Paper tubes

• Phone books

• Plastic bottles

• Tin cans

• Tissue boxes

• Used envelopes

• Wrapping paper

• Junk mail


As our lives become increasingly busy, many of us find we have lessand less spare time to spend working around the house. One of themost basic things you can do to enhance the appearance andincrease value of your home is painting, but if you don’t have thetime or inclination to tackle the job yourself, you might considerhiring a professional. There are a few simple guidelines to follow tomake sure you find the right contractor for the job.

Ask your friends and family if they have suggestions or recommen-dations. Keep in mind that everyone has their own standards ofquality and you should be sure to examine the work done on theirhouses to see if it meets your own expectations.

Ask for advice from the staff of your local paint store. Many profes-sional painters purchase their supplies locally because of the reason-able prices. Staff at the store can also let you know the type of paintthe professionals use and if it is of high quality.

Reliable and responsible contractors usually join the Better BusinessBureau. Call your local BBB office or visit their website(www.bbb.org.) to search for information on local painting contrac-

tors. Records are kept on file for 3 years so be sure to choosepainters who have had no judgments or bad comments filed againstthem. You can also ask your local Chamber of Commerce foradvice. Painting contractors who support this organization knowthe importance of being active in the local business community.

When you meet with a contractor, ask for at least three references,and if the project is significant in size, ask for as many as five.Although the quality of work is important, the way the contractortreats his customers is also important. The fact that you are hiring a

A Primer On Choosing a Painting ContractorBy Brian Baraniak, B & P Painting, LLC


person to do the job means that you want the experience to be asstress free as possible. You should choose a professional who ispleasant to work with and who patiently answer all of your ques-tions. Call the references provided to you and ask them if thepainters arrived on time each morning, if they cleaned up afterthemselves and if they were courteous.

Be sure to get a written proposal of what will be done during thejob, including what products and materials the contractor will beusing. The proposal should include the amount charged for thesurface preparation, priming and caulking, as well as a descriptionof the type of primer and the brand of paint that is being used.It should also list how many coats of paint will be applied in orderto finish the job. Ask the contractor if the paint is covered by awarranty and ask specifically what the warranty covers. Most paintmanufacturers guarantee that their products will perform to cer-tain specifications when applied according to the instructions. Aprofessional contractor will also have a description of the paintmanufacturer’s entire product line.

Remember it is not always wise to go with the lowest bidder.Usually a cheaper price means that the contractor will be cuttingcorners somewhere. He may be using cheaper materials and inferi-or products. He may not carry workers compensation and generalliability – something that you should insist on when hiring a con-tractor, or you could be held liable if he is injured while workingon your project. He may also be paying his employees “under thetable,” so you should question where else he might cutting cor-ners.

No matter who you choose, make sure that you are comfortableworking closely with your painting contractor. After all, a qualityjob can add value to your biggest investment. It can also preventdeterioration and prolong the life of your home.

To learn more about how painting can add value to your house,contact me for a free consultation at 912.313.3145 or email me [email protected].

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back yard swimming pool is more than justa place for family fun and recreation. It is asolid investment in your home.

There are many things to consider whenchoosing your pool. Most people don’t have the time neededto clean and maintain a pool, so your best bet is a fiberglasspool. These strong, yet flexible, lightweight pools provide alifetime of trouble-free performance with minimal upkeep.Choose a company that offers a line of fiberglass that includesquality raw materials, such as vinyl ester resin, multi-direction-al fiberglass, and carbon fiber to ensure that the pool will meetthe highest standards and exceed standards set by competitors.

Be sure to buy a pool with a lifetime warranty on the structureas well as on the surface.

Not all fiberglass pools are created equally. There are differ-ences in the surfaces, so look for a pool with a gel coat surface.This satin finish is inviting to the touch and allows water tocirculate more quickly so that electrical demand is reduced tojust a few hours a day. A gel coat surface is also easy to keepclean, so in addition to conserving electricity you save hourseach week in maintenance and cleaning.

Your pool equipment is another important factor to consider.Salt Chlorine Generators reduce the amount of chemicals

Make

Waves In Your BackyardBy Valerie Dixon, Shoreline Pools

A


needed, which saves on your monthly costs and allows you totake an important step toward being a good steward of ourearth’s precious resources. High performance pumps can alsoadd to your pool’s energy efficiency. The right pump is notonly energy efficient but quiet during operation as well. Allequipment on your new pool should carry the manufacturer’swarranty.

To add drama to your pool, consider fiber optic lighting,which allows you to create a nighttime wonderland in yourown backyard.Revel in a continually changing underwaterlight show or pause and bathe your pool in a single captivat-ing color. Brighter and more breathtaking, fiber optic light-ing lasts longer than underwater halogen bulbs, which willsave on your energy costs.

If you’d like to take it to the next level you may consideroptions like ceramic water line tiles, decorative water fea-tures, automation or pavers to add to the ambiance of yournew pool. Before you dive into pool construction, however,you must find the right pool contractor. As a homeowneryou have the right and the responsibility to diligently investi-gate the potential contractor. Do your homework, check ref-erences, and be certain the pool contractor you’ve chosen willmeet your standards for workmanship before you sign a con-tract. Look for a contractor that will handle your installa-tion from start to finish, including obtaining permits andARB approval (if required). Choose a pool company thatwill perform the electrical work, plumbing, concrete workand install all equipment.

Fiberglass pools are easy to install andcan be done much more quickly thanother types of in-ground pools. Whileother pools would be manufactured inyour backyard, a new fiberglass pool ismanufactured ahead of time in anenvironmentally controlled factory,ready to be installed quickly into yourbackyard. After all permits have beenobtained, your new pool can beinstalled in as little as two weeks.After the hole has been excavated, abed of sand is put down and the poolis set in the hole. This is followed bythe plumbing and electrical work. Thehole will then be backfilled while thepool is filled with water. The con-crete deck will then be poured andyou may choose options like a can-tilevered edge or unique deck treat-ments.

Be sure to find a pool company with knowledgeable salespeople who will discuss the design and layout of your pool.A good sales person will be able to discuss all of the details aswell as finance options with you. Never pay for a pool upfront. Do not make the final payment until the project hasbeen completed and the building permit has received it finalapproval. Do not pay cash. Copies of cancelled checks areproof that you fulfilled your contractual obligations. Makesure that everything is included in the contract before it issigned. Verbal agreements are difficult to enforce and areoften a source of problems later. Be sure that the financialand payment terms are clear and understandable. If youmake changes or additions, put them in writing on a changeorder, including the agreed price of the change, even if thereis no charge. Both you and the contractor should sign thechange order. A reputable pool company will offer and wel-come this attention to detail.

A swimming pool is a wonderful addition to your home. Welive in an over-stressed, over-worked and over-scheduledworld. A new pool can be a place that beckons your familyto play and make memories that will last generations. Whodoesn’t welcome that?

For more information, contact Shoreline Pools/Shoreline HomeImprovements 912.756.5584.

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Whitfield Woodworks, Inc.12 Interchange DriveSavannah, GA 31415

www.whitfieldwoodworks.com

912.238.3800

indows can account for up to 25% of the energyloss in your home. During the summer months,your air conditioner has to work harder to cool

the hot air coming in from sunny windows, and installingshades or blinds will reduce amount of light and heat cominginto your home. Blinds help retain the heat in your home inthe cold weather, provide protection from the sun in thesummer, and provide UV blockage and even some soundabsorption. They are an easy and often inexpensive way tocreate and maintain a comfortable and consistent tempera-ture in your home. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:

• Install white window shades or blinds to reflect heat awayfrom your house.

• If it’s hotter outside than it is inside your home, close yourblinds. This reduces the air movement that transfers heatinside your house.

• Consider putting reflective films on your windows. Theseeasy-to-install films have a metallic coating that reflects thesun’s heat. They are relatively inexpensive and are applieddirectly to the window panes inside your home.

• Layer sheers with a lined curtain that you can close duringthe heat of the day. The air gaps between the glass, thesheers, and the curtain provide insulation.

There are several types of shades and blinds on the mar-ket and they vary in design, energy efficiency and cost.

• Standard vinyl and aluminum mini-blinds provide little actual insulation,but they do give you complete lightcontrol. If you combine blinds withthermal-lined draperies, however, youcan dramatically increase the energyefficiency of your window.

• Roller shades come in a variety oftextures, and provide the completespectrum of light filtration, fromcomplete black-out to opaque.

• Roman shades are snug-fitting andelegant looking, and can often beordered with an insulated lining.

BLINDEDBY THELIGHT?HERE ARESOMESOLUTIONSBy George Heidacher,

Coastal Window Treatments

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• Wood shutters or blinds have excellent heat-blockingproperties.

• Vertical blinds are well-suited for patio doors and largewindows. Choose vinyl or fabric, which can be lined withvinyl, to keep out heat and light. New manufacturing tech-niques have produced vinyl vertical blinds that actually havethe look of fabric.

• Solar shades and blinds control the sun and light withoutblocking your view outside. Since other shades cover thewindow to provide insulation, consider solar coveringswhere you would like to be able to see outside or where youstill need some natural light. They reduce glare, block ultra-violet rays and improve energy efficiency.

• Cellular shades are the best choice to reduce your energycost. They provide different levels of light filtration, fromopaque to room darkening. Their honeycomb shape trapsair inside, which acts as insulation, and provides protectionfrom UV rays. They come in single, double and triple celldesigns, and more cells mean more insulation.

The right shades or blinds will complement your home’sdecor and save you money on your energy bills.

For more information contact George Heidacher of CoastalWindow Treatments at 912.663.5122 or visit us on line at www.coastalwindowtreatments.com.


n 2004, Cecile Bakerand her daughter VickiBurns, leased a 600 s.f.commercial space andopened One of a Kind

Design, Inc. in Rincon, Georgia.They offered used furniture,hand painted pieces, lamps, rugs,pictures and miscellaneous decoritems as well as interior design.In 2007 they moved to a largerspace and continued to do wellin sales and design.

They take a great deal of pride inthe products they offer and theassistance they render to customersdesiring design assistance. Cecilebelieves that one of the main rea-sons for the shops’ success is theirability to keep their prices reason-able. They have been fortunate tolocate great items at good pricesand, therefore, pass them along totheir customers and clients. Theyare blessed to have made manynew friends and repeat customers

Bring That “One of a Kind”

Look Into Your HomeBy Cecile Baker, One of a Kind

I


FALL 08 pg 26 - 50

Documents

Transcript of FALL 08 pg 26 - 50