Home Spring and Garden 2

RIcORllStANDMARKMooresville Tribune

2• March 29, 2015 ~Home&GarJen Stat8svill8 • Moor8svill8

You shouldn't judge abook by its cover,

but you can judge ahome by its exterior.

Making your home the envy of theneighborhood starts with boostingits curb appeal. From generalmaintenance to home upgrades,here are three ideas to refresh yourhome's look:

Update WindowsReplacing your windows withbeautifully designed productswill give your home a great first

impression, not to mention reduceyour energy bills and increaseyour home's value.

After a window replacement,taking care of your new window isjust as important. Wash windowsevery few months so they alwayslook as good as the day they wereinstalled.

Avoid scratching the surface ofthe glass, or frame, by utilizingnon-abrasive agents. Water and asoft cloth is usually all you need toclean windows thoroughly, but amild cleaner may also be helpful.

Choose Sleek SidingIf you are looking to boost yourhome's energy efficiency andattain a new look for your exterior,replacing your siding is a greatinvestment that can achieve bothof these goals. Just be sure youget a superior product to avoidmaintenance down the line. Forexample, vinyl siding is an idealproduct because of its low

maintenance and longevity. Nomatter what color siding you optfor, you can make your entirehome's exterior pop by choosinga distinct trim color.

AGrand EntryIt is said that the front door is thefocal point of your home's curbappeal. When creating yourentryway, customize a new frontdoor with smaller side windowpanels or glass panels within thedoor itself. Look for an exteriorremodeler that can custom designand install entry doors to matchyour exterior decor. If it's not timefor a door replacement, consideradding a splash of color to yourexterior by painting or stainingyour existing door.

To love your home, you mustgive it some love. Making thenecessary home upgrades andmaintaining your home's exterioris a surefire way to turn heads.

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March 29. 2015 • 3~Home&GarJenStat8svil18 • Moor8svil18

4 • March 29, 2015 ~Home&GarJen Stat8svill8 • Moor8svill8

services can provide. While theimpact professional landscaperscan have on a property'saesthetic appeal is considerable,homeowners also benefit fromworking with professionallandscapers in various other ways.

Time savings:One of the biggest benefits ofleaving lawn care to theprofessionals is the amount oftime it will save for the averagehomeowner. Lawns generallyneed to be mowed once per weekduring the spring and summerseasons and, depending on thesize of the property, that can takean hour or more. Add the time ittakes to clean up clippings, mulchlandscaping beds and edge theproperty, and homeowners canexpect to devote a significantchunk of their weekends to caringfor their lawns. Lawn servicesemploy a few workers who makefast work of the job, leavinghomeowners time to enjoy their

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The flowers are blooming, and thegrass has begun to grow anew,making spring a great time forhomeowners to once again turntheir attention to landscaping.Those who aren't looking forwardto dusting off their lawn mowersand rethreading their stringtrimmers may want to hireprofessional landscapers to tendto their lawns and gardens.

A recent joint study by theNational Gardening Association,Residential Lawn and LandscapeServices and the Value ofLandscaping found thathomeowners spend roughly $45billion per year on professionallawn and landscape services,as nearly 30 percent of allhouseholds across the UnitedStates use at least one type oflawn or landscape service. Therising use of lawn care services isindicative of homeowners'appreciation of the convenienceand craftsmanship professional

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~Home&GarJenOne-stop shopping:Certain landscaping servicesprovide many different options forprospective customers. Basiclawn cuts may be one package,but there also may be services forseasonal seeding, weeding, leafclean-up, and winterizing.

Consistent maintenance:Homeowners who frequentlytravel or spend much of theirsummers away from home oftenfind that lawn care companies area wise investment. Establishedweekly schedules ensure thelandscape always will look its bestwhether homeowners are homeor out of town. Spring is a greattime for homeowners to decideif hiring professional landscapingservices is in their best interests.The time and money saved, aswell as impact professionallandscapers can have on aproperty, makes landscapingservices a great investment formany homeowners.

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weekends however they see fit.

Reduced risk for injury:Maintaining a landscape is hardwork, and those unaccustomed tothis type of activity may findthemselves winded or at riskof injury. Improper use of lawnequipment also is a safety hazard.Leaving the work to professionalscan help homecwners avoidstrained backs, lacerations, pulledmuscles, sunburns, and any otherdangers that can result whentackling landscaping projects.

Financial savings:On the surface, hiring alandscaping service may seemlike a costly venture. However,after crunching some numbers,many homeowners realize thatdoing the work themselves maycost more in the long run thanhiring a professional landscapingservice. Homeowners whodecide to go it alone mustpurchase expensive equipment,and those lawn tools will requireroutine maintenance, which costsadditional money. Inexperiencedhomeowners may incur extra feesto "fix" mistakes that occur duringthe learning process. Each year,new seed, fertilizer, mulch,pesticides, and other suppliesalso must be purchased. Butprofessional lawn care servicestypically charge a set fee permonth, and that fee covers themaintenance of both yourproperty and the equipmentneeded to keep that propertylooking great.

Know-how:Many professional landscapersknow how to address lawn careissues that may arise throughoutthe year. They will know how todeal with dry patches of lawn orpoorly draining areas, and theyalso can make recommendationson plants that will thrive undercertain conditions.

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6 • March 29, 2015 ~Home&GarJen Statesville· Mooresville

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Homeowners going it alonemay find things do not alwaysgo as planned. In fact, a HarrisInteractive study found that 85percent of homeowners sayremodeling is a more stressfulundertaking than buying a home.But homeowners about to embarkon home improvement projectscan make the process go moresmoothly by avoiding thesecommon pitfalls.

Failing to Understand theScope of the ProjectSome homeowners don't realizejust how big a commitment theyhave made until they get theirhands dirty. But understandingthe scope of the project, includinghow much demolition andreconstruction is involved and howmuch time a project will take canhelp homeowners avoid some ofthe stress that comes withrenovation projects. For example,a bathroom renovation mayrequire the removal of drywall,

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Home improvements can bestressful, but homeowners canlessen that stress by avoidingcommon renovation mistakes.


improvements can be expensive.If your ultimate goal is to sell yourhome, opt for renovations that willlook beautiful through the agesand avoid bold choices that mayonly appeal to a select fewbuyers.

Forgetting to Properly Vet allWorkersIt is important to vet yourcontractor, but don't forget to vetpotential subcontractors as well.Failing to do so can prove a costlymistake. Contractors often look tosubcontractors to perform certainparts of a job, and it is theresponsibility of homeowners tovet these workers.

EXp'ecting Everything to goas PlannedOptimism is great, but you alsoshould be a realist. Knowing whatpotentially could go wrong putsyou in a better position to handleany problems should they arise.The project might go off without ahitch, but plan for a few hiccupsalong the way.

Overestimating DIY AbilitiesOverzealous homeowners maysee a renovation project in amagazine or on television andimmediately think they can do thework themselves. Unless you havethe tools and the skills necessaryto do the work, tackling too muchcan be problematic. In the longrun, leaving the work to a

reinforcement of flooring toaccommodate a new bathtub orshower enclosure and theinstallation of new plumbing andwiring behind walls. So such arenovation is far more detailedthan simply replacing faucets.

Not Establishing aBudgetHomeowners must develop aproject budget to ensure theirprojects do not drain theirfinances. If your budget is soinflexible that you can't afford thematerials you prefer, you maywant to postpone the project andsave more money so you caneventually afford to do it right.

Without a budget in place, it iseasy to overspend, and that canput you in financial peril down theline. Worrying about coming upwith money to pay for materialsand labor also can induce stress.Avoid the anxiety by setting a firmbudget.

Making Trendy orOverpersonallmprovementsHomeowners who plan to stay intheir homes for the long run havemore free reign when it comesto renovating their homes. Suchhomeowners can create a billiardsroom or paint a room hot pink ifthey so prefer. However, if the goalis to make improvements in orderto sell a property, overly personaltouches may make a propertyless appealing to prospectivebuyers. Trends come and go, and

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on your property, storing it for along period of time increases thechances that the transplant will beunsuccessful. Ideally, you want toplant the tree in its new locationas soon as possible. If you muststore it, make sure you don'tsuffocate the root ball, as rootsmust be kept damp or they willdie and potentially cost you thetree.

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Protect the Root BallWhen transplanting a tree, makesure the root ball does not dryout. If it does, the tree likely won'tthrive in its new location and allyour hard work will have been fornaught. Cover the root ball withdamp burlap or canvas so it canretain more of the moisture it willneed to adapt to its new location.

Plant the Tree Sooner Ratherthan LaterWhile you can store a transplantedtree before you plant it elsewhere

the transplanted roots time todevelop. In addition, transplantingthe day after you have wateredthe soil around the tree reducesthe stress on the tree's roots,making it easier to keep the rootball intact.

Prune the Tree RootsTiny roots that extend beyond thetree absorb water and nutrients,and such roots need to be prunedbefore transplanting a tree.Landscaping professionals notethat root pruning stimulates thegrowth of new small roots nearerto the tree's trunk, and thesenewer roots will be dug up whenthe time comes to transplant thetree. Root pruning must be donewell in advance of transplantingthe tree. For example, if you hopeto transplant the tree in the fall,then do your root pruning in thespring before new buds appearon the tree. Speak with yourlandscaper or a nearby gardencenter to determine the best wayto prune your tree's roots.

Time Your TransplantCorrectlyAvoid transplanting trees whentemperatures are colder and theground is frozen. Transplantingbefore or after a thaw allows

save you the trouble oftransplanting that won't benefitfrom the move. If a tree isnot getting adequate sunlightin its present location, thentransplanting it to a differentlocation on your property withmore exposure to sunlight mightreinvigorate the tree. If soil is theproblem, than transplanting thetree might prove ineffective unlessyou also test the soil where youplan to move the tree and adjustit so the tree can thrive.

An alluring landscape can make ahome that much more enjoyable.Many homeowners devoteconsiderable time to their lawnsand gardens, and that devotioncan pay both instant andlong-term dividends. Awell-groomed landscape canmake it more enjoyable to relax inthe yard, and such a property willbe more attractive to prospectivebuyers when homeowners wantto sell their homes.

But even the most well-designedlandscapes sometimes needsome rearranging, and thosechanges may involve transplantingtrees. Homeowners maytransplant trees for variousreasons. Some homeownersmight be moving to a new homeand want to take a favorite treealong with them, while sometrees simply outgrow their existingspace and need to be movedelsewhere on the property.Regardless of why trees need tobe transplanted, homeownerscan take several steps to ensurethe process goes as smoothly aspossible.

Determine Why the TreeNeeds to be MovedSome trees that are notthriving in their existing locationmay not benefit from atransplant. For example, a treewith a pest infestation might needto be replaced rather thantransplanted. Determining thereason behind a transplant can

Stat8svil18 • Moor8svil18 ~Home&GarJen March 29. 2015 • 9

ID • March 29. 2015 ~Home&GarJen Stat8svill8 • Moor8svill8

TREAT THOSEWARM WEA'BER

Homeowners know that the arrivalof spring also marks there-emergence of insects. Whilenot every insect is harmful, if aninfestation grows considerably orif insects begin to move from theoutdoors into a home, it may betime for homeowners to call in aprofessional.

The Entomological Society ofAmerica points out thathomeowners cannot count onbitterly cold winters to help controlthe numbers of insects in theiryards. Insect ecology is affectedby various factors and is not solelydependent on temperature.Furthermore, what occurredone year certainly may not berepeated the next, as homeownerswho have had various insectinfestations in their yards canattest. One year a yard may beovercome with ants, while thenext year it may suffer through anearwig infestation.

The first step homeowners lookingto curtail insects in their yards cantake is to determine if the insectsthey see are genuine threats totheir lawns. Some bugs emergeand swarm early in the season,but then gradually disappear asspring turns into summer. Otherinsects may come out of hiding if ahomeowner is doing a lot of yardwork or construction around ahouse. Practice a wait-and-seeapproach to determine if you reallyhave an insect problem or just

have stirred up activity.

Homeowners also must decide if itis bearable living with the insects.If insects are not doing anydamage or if they can becontrolled relatively easily, thenyou might be able to avoid callingin the professionals. However, ifcritters like termites and certainspecies of wood-eating insects areinvasive and damaging your yard,you may need to take action.

Anyone concerned with the sideeffects of pesticides andinsecticides can first try to remedythe problem naturally. Sometimesit's just a matter of making a yardless hospitable to insects. Removeleaves and clean up debris closeto the house, as these can bothencourage infestations. Piles ofrotting wood or leftover firewoodcan be a food or shelter source fora number of insects. Inspect waterspigots for leaks and improvesuspect drainage on your property,as these things can be welcomingto bugs that like moistsurroundings. Remove standingwater whenever possible toeliminate spots for mosquitoes toincubate larvae.

Natural remedies also may dothe trick. Mint, bay leaves, catnip,and garlic can repel insects likeroaches and ants. Citrus can be anatural flea deterrent. Somehomeowners have had successplanting marigolds around theiryards to serve as a natural bug

repellent because the flowersproduce a scent that many insectsfind repulsive. Thai lemon grassplants also can be used to keepmosquitoes at bay.

Remember, natural predators,such as birds, bats, spiders, andlarger insects, feed on nuisancebugs. Keeping these helpfulpredators around may be aneffective and natural way forhomeowners to control annoyingpests.

If an insect problem seemsout of control or if you need aprofessional opinion about thedamage being done to your homeor landscape, consult with anexterminator. Licensedexterminators have the trainingand expertise to assess insectconcerns and create a plan ofaction that will minimize the riskto inhabitants of your home andnearby wildlife. An exterminatorwill know what it takes to treatinsects and maximize the chancesof removing the problem promptlyand effectively.

Warm weather is synonymous withmany things, including the returnof insects. Homeowners may beable to treat unruly bugs on theirown, but especially problematicinfestations may require the helpof experienced exterminators.


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Neem oil is a naturally occurring pesticide that can be used to combata host of landscaping pests and diseases. Azadirachtin is an activecomponent in neem oil that can be extracted to repel and kill pests.Studies have shown that neem oil is nearly nontoxic to bees, birds,fish, and wildlife. In addition, neem oil has no link to cancer or otherdiseases, making it a safe insecticide when applied correctly. Whenconsumed by insects, including grubs, insecticides made from neem oilcan make those insects cease feeding or reduce their feeding, helpingto prevent the spread of lawn problems associated with certain insectinfestations. In addition, neem oil can hinder the maturation process oflarvae by interfering with insect hormone systems, which can preventthem from breeding. As is the case when applying any pesticides,parents should be mindful of their children after applying neem oil.Though studies have not found children are mere sensitive to neem oilthan adults, parents may want to err on the side of caution andprevent their children from playing in areas of the yard where neem oilwas recently applied.


Restoring lawns and gardensback to their pre-winter glory ishigh on many a homecwner'slandscaping to-do list. In muchof the country, the best times totackle lawn projects are whentemperatures are moderate, likein spring and fall. These seasonsalso mark the best time to seedand fertilize.

Planting and fertilizing new grassseed should be done when frostis no longer a concern and beforefrost arrives if you are plantingin autumn. According to RogerCook, a landscape contractorand contributor to This Old Housemagazine, sowing lawn seedshould be done when the soil iswarm, the daytime temperaturesare moderate and you can keepthe new seeds quite moist at alltimes.

While grass seed can be applied

in the summer, it is morechallenging to get the seedsto take root and thrive at thistime, as water is more likely toevaporate under the hot sun.Also, many weeds germinate inthe heat of summer. As a result,the weeds can infiltrate areas ofthe lawn where you planted,compromising the look of yourlawn.

The process of reseeding andfertilizing your lawn is relativelysimilar if you decide to do so inlate spring or early fall.

• Rake the parts of the lawn youplan to seed and remove anydebris or rocks.

• Apply fertilizer to the clearedplanting area. Use a rake or tillerto break up the soil and distributethe fertilizer to a depth of roughlytwo to four inches. Speak with alandscaper about which type of

fertilizer you will need dependingon where you live. Many fertilizerscontain extra phosphorous tostimulate root growth in the lawn.

• Moisten the prepared area andlet the soil settle. You want thesoil damp but not so wet that itcauses the newly applied fertilizerto run off.

• Begin to sow the grass seedaccording to the rate indicated onthe seed bag for the type of grassyou will be growing. Choose agrass seed that will thrive in yourclimate. Certain seeds are moretolerant of drought and sunlight,while other species are better forshady areas or damper climates.Again, if you have any questions,consult with a lawn and gardencenter.

• Spread the seed with abroadcast spreader. Some lawnexperts recommend spreadingthe seed in parallel rows and thenrepeating the process again inrows set at a right angle to thefirst series of rows for the bestchances of seed coverage. Theseeds then can be raked into thesoil, covered with a little more soiland patted down.

• Water to keep the seeds damp.This may require watering twiceor more per day until the seedsbegin to germinate. Coveringthe seeds with about 1/4 inchof straw also can help keep theseeds moist, deter seed

scavengers and prevent soilerosion. Remove the straw oncethe grass begins to grow.

• Roughly four weeks after theseeds have started to grow,apply another round of fertilizer toreplenish the top layer of soil withnutrients that may have washedaway from the constant watering.

Homeowners can employ a similarprocess to overseed a lawn inthe hopes of producing a thicker,more attractive landscape. Anythatch and debris should beraked away, and the top layer ofthe lawn surface can be gentlyaerated. Top dress the lawn witha very thin layer of new soil andcompost.

Broadcast the seed over theprepared lawn and lightly rake thenew seeds to help them settle intothe soil. Apply fertilizer and waterthe lawn frequently to keep thenew seeds moist.

Once the seed has establisheditself, you can water the lawn forlonger periods and less frequentlyto help develop strong roots. Waitfor the lawn to reach a height ofthree to four inches before the firstcut of the season.

Many homeowners like to takeon the challenge of seeding andpreparing their lawns. But somemay find the task is best left to theprofessionals.


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with weeds. Mulch is perhapsbest known for helping flower andplant beds retain moisture, butmulch also prevents the growth ofweeds. Preventing weed growthmeans your water is going to theplants and flowers you intendedit for and not to greedy andunsightly weeds. Preventing weedgrowth also reduces your use ofpotentially harmful pesticides tocurtail the growth of weeds.

3. Develop a compost pile.Compost is made up of decayedorganic material, and it can beused as a fertilizer. Gardeners canmake their own compost piles athome, providing valuableminerals and nutrients for theirlawns, withOLrt having to rely onstore-bought amendments thatneed to be produced, packagedand transported before they canmake it onto the shelves in yourlocal lawn and garden center.

4. Choose native plants. Agarden filled with exotic plantsand flowers may be stunning, butunless those plants are nativeto where you live, that beauty iscoming at a steep price. Whenchoosing plants for your garden,choose native plants that are fullycapable of thriving in your localclimate. Non-native plants arelikely to need excessive wateringand other less sustainable

Sustainability is a concept thatcan be applied to many facets oflife, and gardening is noexception. Sustainable gardeninginvolves preserving and protectingresources, which can benefit usboth in the present and in thefuture. Sustainability is especiallyapplicable to gardening, and thefollowing are a handful of waysgreen thumbers can embracesustainability in their gardens.

1. Choose to water moreeffectively. Oscillating sprinklersmay harken today's gardenersback to the carefree days of theirchildhoods when they would runthrough the sprinklers in theirparents' yards. But suchsprinklers can lose substantialamounts of water to evaporation.When designing an irrigation planfor your lawn and garden, usedrip irrigation or soaker hoses toconserve water. If you must usesprinklers, make sure they are notshooting water too high, as windcan blow the water away fromthe yard where it belongs, and besure to position them so no wateris landing on sidewalks, thedriveway or the street.

2. Add mulch to flower and plantbeds. Many a gardener has goneto bed with a beautiful garden onlyto return in the ensuing days andsee flower and plant beds littered


Setting a thermostat to adjustthe air conditioning systemautomatically means homeownerscan keep the temperature raisedwhen they're not home and thenhave it lowered shortly before theyarrive home. The thermostat alsocan adjust temperatures for dayand night use.

Keep Doors Closed.Do not cool rooms that areunused. Maximize the cool air inlived-in spaces by blocking offrooms that do not need to becooler.

Invest in More Insulation.Insulation does not just keephomes warmer in the coldweather. Insulation also preventshot air from infiltrating livingspaces while keeping cooler airwhere it's needed. Sealant aroundwindows and doors also willprevent unnecessary airexchange.


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Switch to LED or CFL Bulbs.Ninety percent of the energy usedfor incandescent bulbs is emittedas heat. This not only wasteselectricity but also can makeconditions hotter inside a home.Switch to cooler, more efficientlight bulbs.

Reduce Humidity Levels.Humidity makes hottemperatures feel even hotter.Clean laundry, take showers andrun the dishwasher at night orearly in the morning before theday heats up. Don't forget to ventbathrooms and kitchens byturning on exhaust fans whenwater is in use.

may be less costly than turning onair conditioners. Also, set ceilingfans to rotate counter-clockwise.This will pull cooler air up from thefloor and create a wind-chill effect.

coolness. Shades and curtainscan save you up to 7 percent onyour bills and lower indoortemperatures by up to 20degrees. Homeowners also maywant to think about installing aretractable awning on areas of thehouse that get a lot of sun.Planting shade trees is anotherway to naturally cool down hotsides of the house.

Draw More Air into the Attic.Hot air rises, and in thesummertime hot air can gettrapped beneath the roof inthe attic and eaves of a home.While an attic should have vents,homeowners can speed up theexchange of hot air with a simpletrick. Open up a window on ashady side of the home, and thenopen the attic door or take out theaccess panel and place a box faninside to blow air up into the attic.This will disperse the hot air andhelp force it out through the vents.

Use Fans Productively.Using box fans to suck cool nightair in from east - andnorth-facing windows and topush out hot air from west-andsouth-facing windows is anotherway to increase circulationthrough a home. Running fans

Mother Nature is consistentlyinconsistent these days, when30-degree Mondays might befollowed by 50-degree Tuesdays.Fickle weather is oftenaccompanied by large fluctuationsin temperature, strong stormsand unseasonable conditions,making it difficult for homeownersto maintain comfort levels in theirhomes.

As a result of fluctuatingtemperatures, home heating andcooling systems have beenheavily taxed. Growing reliance onHVAC systems has also driven upenergy bills, as moderate weathersynonymous with spring has givenway to more days of extremeheat or extreme cold. As summerapproaches once again, reducingcooling costs is a priority for manyhomeowners. The following area few ways to cool your home'sinterior without causing a spike inyour energy bill.

Reduce Sun Exposure.Much of the hot air inside of ahome can be attributed to sunlightexposure throughout the day.Walls and windows on the southand west sides of a home willbear the brunt of the sun's rays,so close shades and drapes onthis side of the house to maximize

COOLINGYOUR BOMEWITHOUT BREAKINGTHE BANK!

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CostThere is a lot to take intoconsideration whendetermining the cost of stampedconcrete versus the cost ofpavers. In most cases, it reallydepends on the complexity of thejob. However, in general, theoverall process involved withpavers is typically more expensive.More elaborate stamped concreteinstallations will cost more, butconcrete is the less expensiveoption when you take into accountmaterial and labor cost.

Stamping concrete may take moreskilled expertise, but layingpavers can take approximatelytwice as long as pouring andstamping the same concretesurface, which therefore incursmore labor cost. With concrete,you can achieve the same look aspavers at less expense.

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March 29. 2015 • 15

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days or less. Stamped concretecan be poured or pumped intoplace while pavers have to beindividually placed. Because ofthis, installing pavers is a lengthierprocess, and installation canaverage 10 to 12 days.

MaintenanceStamped concrete and paversrequire some degree ofmaintenance. Both pavingmaterials will require the removalof dirt or stains when necessaryby scrubbing or power washing.Stamped concrete should beresealed every few years or so toprotect the surface from stainsand to maintain its color vibrancy.

Pavers will require the removal ofweeds and moss that grow in thejoints. You will need to refill thejoints with sand as needed.Unfortunately, you will also needto be conscious of the possibilityof ants building their homes in thesand.

While neither stamped concretenor pavers carry any significantsafety risks, you should alwaysbe aware of potential accidents.Stamped concrete can becomeslippery when it gets wet.

However, you can apply ananti-skid agent to prevent anypossible accidents. On thecontrary, pavers provide anon-skid surface (unless sealed)but can, however, cause trippinghazards.

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variation in color in the product. Ifyou are looking for a unique andextraordinary style, stampedconcrete is your best bet.

LongevityStamped concrete can last fordecades when properly installedand maintained. It is usually sealedto protect it from elements such aspool chemicals and harsh winterweather. Although concrete hasthe possibility of cracking,adding steel reinforcement or wirewill enhance the strength and helpto control cracking.

Pavers can also last for a longtime. Because they are smalland individually placed, you donot have to worry about cracks.However, there's a possibility thatthey will settle and move over timeif not installed correctly.

Speed of InstallationWhile neither stamped concretenor pavers have an extremelyquick installation, a stampedconcrete driveway or patio canusually be completed in about five

Stat8svil18 • Moor8svil18

Every aspect of your home is aninvestment, including exteriorfeatures. Driveways, patios, andwalkways should all work togetherto enhance the overall style andappearance of your home. Withthat being said, there are manyfactors you have to consider whenchoosing the best material for yourexterior surroundings. You wantyour patio, for example, to bemaintenance friendly and weatherresistant, but you also want it tolook beautiful as well. Trying todecide which material is best canbe a challenge, but we are here tohelp you out l

Below, we have laid out howstamped concrete and paversstack up against one another interms of style, longevity, speed ofinstallation, maintenance, safety,and cost.

StyleIBoth pavers and stampedconcrete come in a wide varietyof styles. However, the optionsfor a stamped concrete patio areunlimited I There are countlesscolor combinations and hundredsof patterns available that can besuited to fit your wants and needs.For example, stamped concretecan mimic brick, stone, flagstone,or travertine. A stamped concretepatio can even be made to looklike a patio made with pavers.Furthermore, stamped concreteallows for customizations such asimprinting logos.

On the other hand, your optionsare more limited with pavers. Youalso run the risk of unwanted

~Home&GarJenStamped Concrete vs. PaversW~Iy~~~c~?

16 • March 29. 2015 ~Home&GarJen Stat8svill8 • Moor8svill8

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Home Spring and Garden 2

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