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If a kitchen renovation is on your list of home projects this season, consider looking beyond traditional appliances and think about adding specialty tools that may save on space and upgrade room efficiency. Not every kitchen is equipped with a trash compactor or wine cooler, but many homeowners are seeing the benefits of rethinking what appliances are included in their kitchen layouts and looking beyond the range or dishwasher.

Trash CompactorA trash compactor is a device

that can be built into cabinetry or used as a stand-alone appliance wherever there is an available elec-trical outlet. Compactors have advantages over traditional garbage pails and bags in the kitchen. They can hold a week or two of garbage in compressed form, reducing the need to take out the trash. Plus, they will not become as odiferous as a regular pail. Compactors also take up less space than a garbage pail and can look more aesthetically pleasing in the kitchen.

Many compactors have filters and deodorizing holders inside the compactor. This will eliminate the smell that often results from decom-

posing foods and other debris.Trash compactors can be espe-

cially handy for individuals who live in an apartment or where space is at a premium in the kitchen. The compactor will flatten the garbage when a button or lever is pressed, reducing the volume of the trash. It may also be used with plastic and aluminum recylables.

Wine CoolerChances are a wine cellar will

not fit in the average house. But a wine refrigerator can keep wine at the right temperature and humidity for optimal enjoyment.

Wine coolers are growing in popularity as more wine afficiona-dos understand how the flavor of wine can benefit from proper stor-age. A refrigerator will hold wine bottles and insulate them from out-side temperature fluctuations. They will also be handy and ready for use when the time comes.

Drawer DishwashersMost households are already

equipped with a dishwasher, but the majority are a single wash area models. It is well known that for a dishwasher to operate efficiently, the entire washer should be filled

before running the cycle. For many people this can take days of dishes sitting soiled in the dishwasher.

Drawer dishwashers split the cleaning area into two unique zones. This enables a smaller load to be washed. However, this isn't the only advantage. Drawer dishwash-ers can be more ergonomic, reduc-ing the need for bending over to

load the washer. Furthermore, because the two drawers work independently of one another, one drawer can be used on a light cycle for minimally soiled dishes, while the other runs for heavily dirtied dishes – all simultaneously.

Their unique look also makes drawer dishwashers coveted simply from a design perspective.

Kitchen makeoverBonus appliances add appeal

So you're in the market for a new premium countertop surface and granite seems like the obvi-ous choice, think again. After all of your research you'll probably end up selecting the highest rated and most popular option available – quartz.

Quartz countertops are the new worry-free, ele-gant alternative to high-maintenance granite. They are stronger than granite, require no resealing, are highly resistant to scratches and stains, and come in a huge variety of colors.

In fact, Consumer Reports Magazine rated quartz as the top performer among countertop mate-rials such as granite, ceramic tile, stainless steel, lami-nate, marble, limestone and concrete when it came to resisting prime kitchen hazards such as stains, heat and scratches.

According to the recent Freedonia Group Report on countertop industry trends, there has been a definite shift in the marketplace over the last few years as quartz has become the fastest growing mar-ket segment in the industry with 13 percent growth compared to granite's five percent.

Quartz surfaces are growing in popularity because they have the appearance of natural stone, but unlike granite, these surfaces never need to be sealed. Quartz is a nonporous materi-al, which means it will not promote the growth of mold, mildew or bacteria.

In your research, you will most probably stumble upon a popular brand called HanStone. “Quartz countertops have an aesthetic that can emulate the look of granite, but are also avail-able in unique colors and surface effects not found in natural stone,” explained Mark Hanna, President of Leeza Distribution Inc., distributor of HanStone Fine Quartz Surfaces. “The benefit of quartz is that it doesn't have any of the draw-backs associated with materials such as granite.”

Also of great importance, HanStone is accredited with Greenguard environmental certification.

What is quartz?Quartz is silicon dioxide and it occurs as

individual crystals and fine-grained masses in a large variety of forms, patterns, and colors. It is naturally hard and scratch resistant. Quartz actually ranks a 7.0 on Moh's Hardness Scale, which is used to measure the scratch-resistance of a material. Only diamonds, ranking 10, topaz, and sapphire are harder than quartz.

Most quartz countertops are manufactured with up to 93 percent quartz and seven percent pigments and resins. This prescribed mixture results in a product that is non-porous, exceed-ingly durable, and more than twice as strong as granite.

HanStone is highly rated by designers, archi-tects and developers because it contains a high-er quartz content than the norm and includes clear and multiple quartz colors, bringing greater depth, dimension and style to its surfaces.

“HanStone's superior quality is clearly evi-dent,” added Hanna. “It begins with the natural elegance of quartz, and then uses advanced tech-nology to create a product with dramatic colors, vibrant patterns and a luxurious sheen.” Available in 32 colors and patterns, HanStone offers unlimited design flexibility and a beautiful addition to any setting.

QUARTZ is becoming a popular countertop surface, which many people are considering as alternative to granite.

New look for countertops

Move over granite, quartz is now the hot

countertop rock

APPLIANCES SUCH AS WINE REFRIGERATORS are growing in popularity among homeowners planning to update their kitchens.

April 7, 2011 — HERALD COMM

UNITY NEWSPAPERS — HOUSE & GARDEN

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By CHANDRA ORR

Realistically, it should take just a few hours to clean a typical family home. The key to speeding up the process? It’s all in the preparation. With the right game plan, you – and your family – can get the job done in a short amount of time. Follow these four steps for a shipshape home in less time: 1. Conquer Clutter First: It may seem coun-terintuitive to clean before you clean, but a quick sweep through the house to return stray items to their rightful places makes for quick and easy work. “Cleaning consists of two separate tasks: orga-nizing and cleaning. Before you can really clean,

you have to get the clutter under control,” says Christine Shuck, author of “Get Organized, Stay Organized.” Instead of stopping the vacuum every few min-utes to put the kids’ shoes away or trying to dust around that stack of unread magazines on the cof-fee table, tidy up before you buckle down. Put away the clean laundry; toss the newspapers in the recycle bin; and get the toiletries back in the medi-cine cabinet. “It’s amazing how much clutter a few people can generate. The day before cleaning, have the kids put away their toys, gather their dirty clothes and strip their beds,” Shuck says. “Call it the pre-clean stage. After the clutter is under control, then the cleaning can begin.”

2. Work Systematically: Map out a cleaning route before you begin. Whether you clean room-by-room or task-by-task, be consistent and stick to the plan. Work top to bottom, left to right, and don’t retrace your steps. To speed up the process, take all of the neces-sary cleaning supplies with you as you move from room to room. “You can save a lot of time when you assemble all the cleaning products and tote them around with you from room to room as you go. This way, they’re all right there when you need them. Sounds simple, but it’s a huge timesaver,” says Tess Whitehurst, author of “Magical Housekeeping: Simple Charms and Practical Tips for Creating a Harmonious Home.”

Take an empty laundry basket with you, as well. Anything that needs to be returned to anoth-er room goes in the basket. When the whole house is clean, spend an extra five minutes putting those errant items away. 3. Limit Distractions: You stop to wash the dishes, and suddenly you just spent two hours on the phone with your mom. It’s easy to let time slip away when tending to housework, so set some parameters. “An average-size house should take about two hours from top to bottom for one person to clean,” Shuck says. “It takes longer because of dis-tractions – the computer, the kids, the phone, paperwork, the need to eat. Eliminate the distrac-tions; focus on the task at hand and it will get done quickly.” Vow to work free of interruptions. Set a timer, and pop in your favorite CD. Commit to cleaning nonstop for just one hour. Have the kids pitch in with the understanding that the video games, tele-vision and texting will have to wait – and hold yourself to the same standard. Don’t stop to answer the phone. Don’t check your e-mail. Don’t make unnecessary trips back and forth between rooms. Just focus on the task at hand. 4. Do Your Daily Chores: Once you have a “clean slate,” keep it that way. “You have to keep on top of the daily mess. Every day bust some clutter and some dirt. If you have a clean field to vacuum, dust and wipe down each week, it isn’t so overwhelming,” says Marni Jameson, author of “House of Havoc: How to Make – and Keep – a Beautiful Home Despite Cheap Spouses, Messy Kids, and Other Difficult Roommates.” Spend 10-20 minutes each evening doing a sweep through the house. Toss out the junk mail and newspapers; tend to the dirty dishes; wipe the kitch-en counters; clear off the family desk; and return the television remote control to its rightful place. Ask the kids to put their toys and backpacks away, and be sure everyone puts dirty clothes in a hamper. Designate an area for recyclables, and use it. Collect unwanted items in a central location, and donate them to the thrift shop each month. “Make sure your whole family gets on board with the plan for household order,” Jameson says. “If you’re the only one committed, it won’t work.”

THE KEY TO CLEANING your house efficiently is having a plan and working systematically.

Clean Clean house 101house 101Make it shine, and get it done quickly

With the spring season finally upon us, the annual rite of pas-sage that is spring cleaning has arrived as well. For homeowners that means it’s time to stop resting on their laurels and start clean-ing house.

But cleaning house doesn’t only involve throwing away a sea-son’s worth of magazines and donating clothing that no longer fits. Spring cleaning also involves improving a home’s overall envi-ronment. That’s especially true for the health – and environmental-ly – conscious homeowner.

One way to clean a home while making it healthier and bene-fitting the environment is to rid the home of chemical contami-nants that can be harmful to both your personal health and the air you’re breathing. Many of these contaminants are not associated with traditional spring cleaning but can have as big an impact as anything you do around the house this season.

Don’t allow smoking indoors. Nearly everyone knows of the potentially harmful physical side effects of smoking cigarettes. Cig-arette smoke contains more than 4,000 chemicals, including sever-al dozen that are known carcinogens, including formaldehyde, ammonia, hydrogen cyanide, and arsenic, among others.

While it’s ideal to avoid smoking entirely, a good place to start is to stop allowing both guests of the home and residents to smoke indoors. This will also make a home more enjoyable for those who don’t smoke, as they likely have an aversion to the smell of cigarettes

and will welcome that smell’s banishment to the home’s exterior.Stop burning candles inside the home. While aromatic

candles have grown in popularity thanks in large part to the benefits they provide to a home’s ambience, it’s also impor-tant to remember the harmful byproducts of combustion, advise health professionas. Those include carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, soot, and VOCs (volatile organic compounds), which can be toxic. So the next time you consider the aesthetic appeal of a candle, don’t forget its potential to release harmful emissions every time you light it up.

Pay closer attention to what you’re doing in the home. Oftentimes, our homes are our havens. What we do in our homes is certainly our business, but it can also be problematic. Something as innocent as wearing slippers or going shoeless when tak-ing out the trash can track dust and other contaminants into a home. When attempting to clear a home of potentially harmful chemi-cal contaminants, something as sim-ple as what’s on your feet can have a meaningful impact.

Avoid overdoing it with household supplies. While buying in bulk can help

save money, it can also be harmful depending on what you’re buy-ing. For instance, storing excess paint, solvents and other haz-

ardous chemicals can lead to harmful emissions if not sealed properly or if they leak. To avoid such risks, simply purchase what you need when you need it and avoid storing too many chemical products in the home, be it inside or in the garage.

Keep the windows open when cleaning. There likely is not a single person who enjoys the smell of household clean-

ing products. However, many people often forget to open the windows or turn fans on when using chemically-based

household cleaners. While these products no doubt do a fantastic job cleaning a home, they might also be emitting harmful toxins into the air. If you must use chemically-based cleaners, open the windows and use fans when cleaning to avoid that familiar odor from overtaking the home and potentially emitting harmful chemicals into the air.

WHILE CANDLES DO ADD SOME AESTHETIC APPEAL to a home’s interior, combustion also produces several poten-tially harmful side effects.

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Simple means to making the home healthier

Refresh and renew your living space

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By KAREN BLOOM

Shopping for carpeting? It’s not simply a matter of going into the store and just choosing “carpet.” There are many different varieties of carpeting from which to select, each with its own unique characteristics. Depending on the room’s use and the homeowner’s needs, you can find a carpet that fits with what’s desired.

“Broadloom remains at the forefront,” said Robin Nacht, who owns Dee-Jay Carpet in Cedar-hurst, with her husband Michael Nacht and son David. “It offers the most choices at the best value. Popular trends compliment the wide use of woods and the other hard surfaces in the home. Natural fibers and neutral colors in large and small patterns and textures are key, with geometrics becoming more important.”

Homeowners looking to revamp their rooms can turn to the versatility of carpeting for many of their needs. The varied types of carpeting on the market offer something to suit every style and bud-get.

■ Cut pile: This is one of the most popular types of carpeting. When most people think of car-pet, this is what they envision. This carpeting is formed by cutting looped carpet fibers at the top with yarn bundles standing up vertically.

■ Berber: Berber has thick, durable loops that are good in high-traffic areas. This carpeting limits footprints and vacuum marks. The downside is that loops can be snagged and unravel. Also, ber-ber carpeting may trap in dirt.

■ Level-loop: Similar to Berber but looser in weave is level-loop. It is also good in high-traffic areas and will not trap dirt as easily as berber.

■ Cut and loop pile: This carpeting has a varia-tion of secured loops and cut fibers for added tex-ture. This will be a medium-durability carpet.

■ Textured: Textured carpet has a soft feel and is one of the carpeting styles growing in popularity. These carpets may have embossed patterns and come in solid colors.

■ Saxony: This soft carpet is medium-durability and will show footprints and vacuum marks. Saxo-nies are tightly twisted cut piles that are heatset straight. Saxonies consist of two or more fibers twisted together in a yarn.

■ Frieze: A highly twisted cut-pile carpet that is good in high-traffic areas. The short fibers curl in different directions to hide footprints.

■ Plush: These carpets are lightly twisted, uni-form-colored fibers that are soft and usually found in formal rooms. They will hold footprints and show vacuum marks.

Nacht also recommends vinyl and fiberglass flooring for those looking for a flooring alternative. “Vinyl and fiberglass flooring offer a range of colors and textures with high tech metallics and authentic wood and stone looks,” she said. “Organic patterns and modern designs can be used with both classic and contemporary furniture. A consumer can easily purchase transitional looks to coordinate with an existing decor. For those just starting to decorate, these products offer a neutral slate to build on.”

Room appealCarpet options abound for floor-focused homeowners

GIVE A ROOM a new look with carpet. The many types of carpeting on the market offer style and versatility that can easily transform your liv-ing space. Natural fibers and neutral colors in large and small patterns are among the season's top trends.

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April 7, 2011 — HERALD COMM

UNITY NEWSPAPERS — HOUSE & GARDEN

Home improvement projects seem to drum up images of shyster contractors or bumbling do-it-yourselfers. However, home repairs don't have to turn into an unorganized mess. By avoiding some common mis-takes and taking common sense precautions, you can end up with ren-ovations that wow. 1. Accepting the lowest bid. Smart homeowners shop around for everything – including work done on their home. But accepting the lowest bid right off the bat to save money may cost you more in the long run. A low bid certainly may be a great deal. But generally it could be a sign of an inexperienced con-tractor, or one who plans to use subpar materials or skimp on the job. Contractors will have similar prices. Shop based on experience and recommendations, not price alone. 2. Choosing friends and family. There certainly are skilled professionals that also may be a close friend or family member. But mixing business and pleasure could be a recipe for trouble, especially when workmanship and an exchange of money are involved. “We had a friend replace our home's fur-nace,” says Beth in Merrick. “While we got a great price, we found out later on when there was a glitch in the system that cer-tain things weren't done up to code. We had to spend more money to have it repaired, and the friendship has since suffered.” Some relatives are adamant about doing repairs – but they may not be skilled or know the correct laws governing remodel-ing. Stick with a third party contractor with whom you’ll feel com-fortable talking if you feel repairs need to be done a certain way. 3. Thinking you can handle it. Many do-it-yourselfers (gen-erally in an attempt to save money) believe they can learn every DIY task from a book or magazine. There are some jobs, however, that should be left to the professionals, including major plumbing

work or electrical repairs. There’s no need to risk a fire, injury or death by doing inexperienced electrical modifications. 4. Letting maintenance slide. Many homeowners think once the repair is made that they're all set – failing to keep up with rou-tine maintenance. But complications can arise by not maintaining a new appliance or keeping up with an improvement.

“Our homeowner’s association required proof that the dryer venting for our clothes dryer was replaced on an annual basis,” recalls Martin, who recently relocated to the area from Illinois. “I’d sim-ply go out and buy a new box of the venting mate-rial and submit the receipt as ‘proof’ so I could save the money on a professional installation. But one day the lint trapped in the venting, which I hadn't bothered to change, caught on fire. It not only damaged the venting, it damaged the entire dryer – resulting in the purchase of a new dryer. Luckily no one was hurt. I've since learned my lesson.” 5. Following every trend. Anyone who has a harvest gold or avocado green appliance collecting dust in the garage or basement knows how interior style choices come and go. Instead of jumping on

every trend, think about what will work for your home and be time-less. Otherwise you may end up having to update every few years. 6. Asking questions later. Make a list of every question you can think of and ask it before the work gets started. This way you're left with few surprises and can do changes without costing yourself time and money. Don’t wait for the finished product before you start to question the hows and whys. 7. Expecting things to be perfect. If you go into a project with the idea that there will be no mishaps, even minor ones, you may end up stressed out when one arises. Everyone makes mis-takes – even professionals. If you think something is not being done correctly, speak up or get a second opinion.

Sprucing up for the seasonTop home repair blunders to avoid

SMART HOMEOWNERS will shop around and take common sense precautions to avoid home repair blunders, and choose DIY projects carefully.

‘ If you go into a project with the idea that there will be no mishaps, you may end up stressed out when one arises.’

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April 7, 2011 — HERALD COMM

UNITY NEWSPAPERS — HOUSE & GARDEN

By MARK J. DONOVAN

Exterior house painting is one of the most diffi-cult projects to schedule and complete from a weather perspective. To complete the job, you must have an ambient air temperature of between 50 F and 90 F and low humidity, and there should be little to no wind while you’re painting. If you decide to tackle an exterior house painting project outside of these weather conditions, chances are the paint will not hold up well.

Give yourself the best chance of having Mother Nature smile down on your painting project by not starting in an unsuitable climate. In general, July and August are two of the worst months of the year to paint a house; the house siding is simply too hot to paint. Cold weather causes paint quality issues, and the spring is often too rainy and humid. Therefore, the early summer months, before it gets too hot, and autumn are often your only opportunities to paint.

For the best exterior house painting results, it is generally wise to hire a contractor who has a team that can paint a home quickly. Although they, too, are at the whim of Mother Nature, they at least have the ability to paint the house rapidly. In addition, they won’t paint your car or themselves in the process.

The do-it-yourself homeowner who chooses to do his own exterior house painting often finds him-

self tackling it in a guerilla warfare-type approach – painting portions of the home over an extended peri-od of time as weather conditions permit.

If you are building a new home, you could make your life easier by using pre-primed or paint-ed house siding, which widens the weather win-dow for applying a final coat of exterior paint. Or you could use vinyl or brick for the house siding, which would eliminate the need for any significant exterior house painting.

When it’s time to paintIt’s all about the weather

If you are tackling the painting job yourself and want professional-looking results (which of course you do) approach the project as if you were a profes-sional painting contractor. That means following four simple rules that come second nature to experienced painters, says Debbie Zimmer, spokesperson for the Paint Quality Institute.

For the uninitiated, here are the four rules that great painters swear by.

1. Take time to prepare the surface properly.According to Zimmer, this is where a lot of inex-

perienced painters go wrong. “It’s important to fight the urge to start painting

as soon as possible,” says Zimmer. “Even the best paints can fail if they’re applied to a poorly prepared surface.”

Before beginning to paint, clean the surface thor-oughly. This can be done with rented power-washing

equipment or by scrubbing with a long-handled brush using plain soap and water.

Afterward, remove any remaining loose, flaking, or peeling paint by scraping or wire-brushing. Next, sand down rough edges on the old paint, as well as areas where the paint is glossy.

Finally, brush off the dust and particles left from the sanding and scraping. Then sand and prime any areas where the wood is bare.2. Buy top quality paint.

“To get the best-looking and longest-lasting paint job, it’s important to use the highest grade of paint,” advises Zimmer. “On wood and many other exterior surfaces, top quality 100 percent acrylic latex paint is the best choice.”

Because these paints contain more solids than run-of-the-mill paints, they form a thicker, more durable paint

Rules for a perfect exterior

TOP QUALITY PAINTS, brushes and equipment, coupled with a little professional advice, are all it takes to successfully paint a home’s exterior.

Continued on page 9

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Welcoming neighborhood birds to the backyard can be a reward-ing pastime. Homeowners can enjoy the color and the spectacle of nearby birds while learning about which birds call Long Island home.

There’s no need to purchase an expensive bird feeder to entice feathered friends to stop by. Homeowners can easily make a feeder from a host of common household supplies. This is a great craft proj-ect for children of any age under the supervision of an adult. Consid-er these ideas for getting started.

■ Rinse out an empty soda bottle, preferably a liter or two-liter size. Punch holes on either side of the bottle and thread a twig all the way through. Make sure enough of the twig extends outward to serve as perches. Poke more holes for the birds to access seeds. Tie a string around the neck of the bottle and hang.

■ Use an empty aluminum pie tin to hold seeds. Punch holes in the perimeter to attach string. Punch very small drainage holes in the center of the pie tin. Hang the feeder from a tree limb.

■ Find a large pinecone. Coat it with peanut butter and roll it in birdseed. Hang the pine cone for birds to enjoy.

Hummingbirds are amazing creatures to welcome to the neigh-borhood. They drink nectar as their primary source of nutrition. A hummingbird feeder can be made by boiling sugar with water to cre-ate a sugary syrup. Once cool, pour the syrup into an empty baby food jar or a small plastic bottle with a hole cut in the middle.

Glue red faux flowers around to camouflage the container (hummingbirds prefer red flowers). Hang and

watch the small aviators arrive.

Some birds prefer suet, a mix of seeds and fats solidified into ablock. Create a suet holder by using an old piece of wire mesh.Bend to form a pocket to hold the suet. Be sure to use gloves andneedle-nose pliers to bend down any sharp edges of the wire sonot to cut yourself or the birds. Use a string or wire hanger tohang the suet holder on a tree or fence.

Create bird “cookies” you can suspend in tree limbs by mixing2 cups of biscuit mix with a few tablespoons of water to make asoft dough. Roll out the dough and use cookie cutters to cutcookies into desired shapes. Use a straw to punch a hole in eachcookie. Melt 2 tablespoons of margarine and brush over the cook-ies. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and sunflower seeds. Bake at

425 F for 15 to 20 minutes, or until golden brown. Once cool, thread brightly colored ribbon through the cook-

ies and hang for birds to enjoy.

Create homemade bird feeders to care for our feathered friends

Bird talkfilm. What’s more, they hide better, so they’ll often conceal the old paint color in fewer coats, saving a lot of extra work , and saving money, too.

“Top quality 100 percent acrylic latex paints also have better adhesion, so they get a better grip on a properly prepared surface,” says Zimmer. “And they remain flexible, so they can expand and contract with changing temperatures. These attributes help top quality paints resist peeling and flaking, which adds to the life expectancy of the paint job.”

Top quality 100 percent acrylic latex paints typically last 10 years or more, compared to three or four years for lower quality coatings, according to Zimmer. So, they are a much better value in terms of cost per year of ser-vice – no small consideration in these trying economic times.

3. Use quality brushes and equipment.For the best results when applying top quality paint, use quality

brushes and accessories, says Zimmer. “Better quality equipment makes the work easier and helps apply the paint in a thicker, more uni-form coat for a better-looking paint job.”

She advises homeowners to choose brushes that are well-bal-anced and springy, with multiple lengths of split bristles packed tightly in a 3/4- to 1-inch thickness on a standard 4-inch brush.

When working with latex paints, it’s important to use brushes with synthetic bristles – ideally, polyester. According to Zimmer, polyester bristles will hold their shape and maintain the proper stiffness regard-less of the amount of water they encounter.

4. Paint in the right weather conditions.After you have your quality paint and tools in hand, choose the

right type of day to apply the paint. Doing so will enable the paint to form a tough, durable, protective film.

Zimmer says it’s best to do exterior painting in mild weather, ideal-ly when temperatures are above 50 degrees F, and when the wind isn’t strong. On very hot days, try to avoid painting in direct sunshine, since surfaces sitting in direct sun can be 10 to 20 degrees hotter than the air temperature. One way to cope with this and still keep the job mov-ing is to paint on the shady side of the house.

Rules for a perfect exterior Continued from page 8

CREATE A HOMEMADE BIRD FEEDER and your home will become a haven for nearby birds.

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April 7, 2011 — HERALD COMM

UNITY NEWSPAPERS — HOUSE & GARDEN

By SAMANTHA A. BIDERMANN

Have winter blues got you down? Put some spring in your step and get down and dirty in the garden! Eager as you may be to begin plant-ing right away, follow this checklist to prepare your garden to look its best this season!

✓ Loosen up: Turning the beds means loosen-ing and fluffing up the soil. Compaction causes soil to loose pore space, which makes it hard for important elements like air, water and nutrients to get to the roots.

✓ Clean up: rake away any debris like leaves and emerging weeds. Add the organic debris to compost piles.

✓ Freshen up: work decomposed mulch from last year into the soil then dress new beds with 2-3” of fresh mulch. Mulch helps maintain mois-ture, prevent weeds for germinating and give your beds a fresh clean appearance. Be careful not to build up mulch around the trunk of plants.

✓ Lighten up: thin out old and dead wood, lightening branch density of an existing shrub will promote new growth to occur. Cut back any perennials that were not cut back during the fall. Trees and shrubs that are primarily grown for foliage should be pruned before new growth begins, this includes plants like barberry, euony-mus, purple-leaf sand cherry and smoke bush. Do NOT prune spring flowering trees and shrubs such as lilacs, azaleas, forsythia, and flowering cherries and plums. These flowering trees and shrubs should be pruned immediately after they are fin-

ished flowering.✓ Fatten up: existing plants and lawns will be

hungry when they wake up from a long winter. Feed lawns with a granular, nitrogen based fertiliz-er, crabgrass pre-emergent is optional. Existing trees and shrubs will feast on a general all-purpose garden good.

✓ Move up, out or over; now is great time to move plants up into more sunlight, out of one bed and into a new one or over just a bit to have more room to grow. Cool temperatures are optimal for new roots to grow and the soil does not dry out as quickly so new transplants do not need to be watered as frequently.

Although, spring is here, freezing temperatures may still be lingering. Gene Judd, owner of Island Greenery Nursery in Bellmore, advises gardeners to resist the urge to plant summer flowers and warm weather vegetables."If the drab and barren appearance of winter has you down, add color to the garden with flowers that are more tolerant of these cold temperatures such as pansies, vio-las, ranunculus, primrose and spring flowering bulbs,” he says.

Island Greenery has two locations in Bellmore. For more information, contact 516-785-0349 or visit www.islandgreenery.net.

Get garden ready

Spring is a season for rebirth, and for home-owners, that means bringing their property back to life. Once the winter weather has sub-sided, it's time to head outside and take inven-tory of the landscape and see how the yard, trees, bushes, and shrubs fared after another long winter.

One of the best and most eco-friendly ways to bring your yard back to life is to plant around the property. Planting can be a soothing and enjoyable way to spend some time outdoors in the spring air, and it's not as difficult as it may seem.

Be aware of depth when planting. It's common for those who aren't used to garden-ing to plant too deeply. The idea of planting deeply seems to be correct, as homeowners want to be certain their plants or trees will take root and it seems like common sense that the deeper the plant is planted, the more likely it is to take root. However, planting depth should mirror the depth the plant was grown in at the nursery.

Stake new trees if necessary. While it's great to imagine spring as a season of warm sun and extended daylight, in reality, most regions still get some wind and cold through-out spring. This can make planting trees a dif-ficult proposition, as new trees might rock back and forth and struggle to establish new roots. To mitigate any strong winds, stake new trees when planting around the proper-ty. Not all new trees need to be staked, but

for the ones that do, the stakes will act as a stabilizing force during strong winds, enabling the tree to establish healthy roots for years to come.

Consider container-grown plants. Nov-ice green-thumbers might find it best to go with container-grown plants. Container-grown plants are easy to plant around the property, and it's also easy to change the look of the property by simply moving the plants around. Also, as the seasons change, it's easy to reposition the plants so they're still getting the sun exposure they need to thrive.

Get a second opinion. Planting trees around the property can be akin to hanging a painting on the wall. It's always best to get a second opinion to make sure the painting is straight, and the same goes with planting trees. Before backfilling the hole, ask some-one to look at the tree from several angles to ensure that it is straight. Once the tree has been backfilled, it's awfully difficult to reposi-tion the tree.

Give the trees or plants their best chance to grow. It's important to survey the property ahead of planting to be certain the plants will be in the best place to thrive. Be sure to avoid utility lines. Also, a tree's roots spread far beyond its branches, so be sure to plant the tree in a location that allows for that root growth without jeopardizing the property (i.e., roots spreading beneath the home's foundation).

Spring aheadSuccessfully plant around your property

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UNITY NEWSPAPERS — HOUSE & GARDEN

By MARK J. DONOVAN

Over time, lawns can begin to look a little long in the tooth. Insect damage, weed infestation and drought can play havoc on a lawn. Many home-owners think the only solution to restoring a lawn is to spread new and expensive topsoil over the yard and then reseed it. The effort and cost required often is viewed as so prohibitive by homeowners that they just say the heck with it and continue to let the lawn go. That’s unfortunate because a beautiful lawn can

really dress up the curb appeal and value of a home. In addition, restoring a lawn to its original beauty is much easier and cheaper to do than many home-owners realize. In many cases, restoring a lawn does not require new topsoil. With a few basic lawn mainte-nance techniques and the use of fertilizer materials that are more inexpensive, a lawn usually can be restored to its original luster.

Restoring A Lawn Start by raking and dethatching the lawn. Rak-ing and dethatching the lawn lifts up the dead and matted-down lawn clippings that have worked their way down to the soil level. By raking and dethatching the lawn, sunlight, water, oxygen and fertilizer nutrients can work their way into the soil more easily. All of these ingredients are critical for growing a green and healthy lawn. After dethatching the lawn, apply a weedkiller to the lawn, and let it sit on the lawn for one to two weeks. After the weedkiller has had a couple of weeks to work, mow the lawn down to about a 1-inch level. Next, aerate the lawn using a coring aerator. You can rent core aerators at any tool rental facility. A core aerator has small, hollow and circular tines that remove small plugs, or cores, from the soil that are approximately a half-inch in diameter and several inches in length. Aerating the lawn helps to loosen the lawn soil and again enables sunlight, fertilizer nutrients, oxygen and water to penetrate the soil better.

After aerating the lawn, spread a light layer of compost material over the lawn. Usually a half-inch layer is all that is required. Compost material is rich in nutrients and helps to stimulate the soil to improve grass seed germination and lawn growth. In addition to the compost material, apply an application of starter fertilizer on top of the soil. Finally, apply a grass seed over the restored lawn area, and then gently rake the grass seed into the compost and fertilized soil top coat. The raking action helps to cover the grass seed a little and works the compost, fertilizer and grass seed into the core plugs. After raking in the grass seed, water the lawn

thoroughly to complete the lawn restoration pro-cess. Follow up daily with a quarter-inch of addi-tional watering until the new grass seed is fully germinated and is up a couple of inches. Restoring a lawn using this method is much less expensive and much easier on the body. With-in two to three weeks, your lawn should be on its way to looking beautiful again. Once your lawn has been fully re-established, make sure to fertilize it several times a year. Also, apply at least once a year a fertilizer with a pre-emergent to control crab grass growth. In addition, apply a grub killer once a year to prevent insect lawn damage.

A new lawnHow to restore a lawn without breaking your budget or back

WITH A FEW BASIC LAWN MAINTENANCE TECHNIQUES, a lawn often can be restored to its original luster.

Revitalizing a yard after a long winter is a springtime rite of passage. Harsh winds and heavy snow can take their toll on even the most beautiful landscape.

Spring is a homeowner’s first chance to sur-vey the damage and begin restoring the yard to where it was before all those strong winds and snowstorms. To get started on your yard this spring, consider the following tips.

Don't begin too early. The early bird might get the worm, but the early homeowner might get a damaged lawn. If temperatures for an upcoming free weekend are unseasonably warm, it’s best to avoid doing spring yard clean-up until there have been several warm week-ends to thaw the ground. Unless the ground has completely thawed, footsteps on the yard will damage the grass, compacting the soil and preventing the air and moisture that soil needs from doing its job and penetrating the soil. What's more, if the yard is raked before the ground has thawed, the rake might just be pull-ing the grass out by its roots.

Survey the property. A close survey of the property will give homeowners an idea of just how big or small their restoration project will be. A thorough survey will reveal any problem areas and may also reveal some unexpected guests. Rabbits and squirrels often nest in yards during the winter. Rabbits will nest in the ground, while squirrels typically build nests made of leaves in the trees. Unless it’s entirely necessary, avoid removing any nests, and be

sure to carefully inspect the yard before the sea-son's first mow.

Out with the old. When the cleanup pro-cess is ready to begin, it’s time to remove rem-nants from last season. This includes removing any dead plants as well as last year’s mulch. If new mulch is simply thrown on top of old, plants could suffocate.

Dead leaves also tend to gather during the winter, often up against fences or a home’s exterior walls. Rake up these dead leaves and add them to the season’s compost.

Get rid of thatch. Thatch can be soil’s worst enemy, preventing its access to the sun-light, air and moisture it needs to make the lawn look beautiful and healthy. Thatch removal can be tiresome, but visit the local hardware store and pick up a dethatching rake to make the job a little easier. Thatch removal isn’t always necessary every spring. Many home-owners have found removing thatch every other year is effective enough.

Address those ugly bald spots. Bare spots in a yard can result from any number of things, be it a dog urinating in the yard or even disease. Early spring, when temperatures are a little cooler and promote grass growth, is a great time to address the yard’s bald spots. Do so by clearing away the spots and sprinkling the freshly exposed soil with some grass seed. Then add some fertilizer and be sure the newly seed-ed areas get some water until the new, healthy grass begins to grow in.

COMPOST MATERIAL is rich in nutrients and helps to stimulate the soil to improve grass seed germination and lawn growth.

Step outsideRescue your property once winter weather is gone

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Adopting an eco-friendly lifestyle is some-thing many people do selflessly in an effort to protect the environment and ensure that the generations to come have a healthy planet at their disposal. But that same lifestyle can also pay instant dividends, helping homeowners save money and creating a healthier atmosphere in which to live.

As spring cleaning season gets set to hit full swing, what better time to do some “spring greening”? Homeowners can make the most of spring cleaning by making several manageable changes around the house that can protect the environment without disrupting one’s current lifestyle.

■ Clean green. Instead of using harmful chemical cleaners when cleaning around the house this spring, choose green cleaning sup-plies that don’t release harmful chemicals or tox-ins into the air.

■ Paint with the planet in mind. Spring is a popular time to repaint rooms in the house. Homeowners with painting on their to-do list this spring cleaning season should choose no- or low-VOC (volatile organic compound) paints.

■ Fix those drafts. Chances are, after a long winter homeowners are well aware of which

rooms were warm and which might have had drafts. Visit those colder rooms and plug any air leaks around the house. This will result in a lower heating bill next winter and could save substantial amounts of energy. For homeowners with attics, checking the attic for air infiltration should be done each and every year.

■ Explore alternative landscaping methods. Xeriscaping, a style of landscape design that requires little or no irrigation, can save significant amounts of water. However, homeowners should consult a landscaping professional to determine if xeriscaping is a viable alternative to more traditional landscaping in their region. If xeriscaping can be done, then homeowners will save water while also reducing the use of poten-tially harmful pesticides and chemicals common-ly used to keep lawns looking lush.

■ Go low-flow. Spring cleaning isn’t just for clearing out the winter clutter. It's also a time when many homeowners fix up the house. If replacing showerheads, faucets or even toilets is on the to-do list, replace existing fixtures with low-flow models to save water and money.

■ Shop for sustainable materials. Sustainable flooring is growing in popularity now that going green has truly taken off. Search for wood that

has been harvested in an environmentally friend-ly ways. Sustainable flooring materials include bamboo and cork, which many homeowners find as aesthetically appealing as it is eco-friendly.

■ Double it up. Single-pane windows not only allow lots of external noise into the house, but they also contribute to heat loss in the win-ter, forcing residents to turn up the thermostat and waste more energy as a result. Installing double-pane windows will keep more external noise at bay, and allow homeowners to minimize

heat loss in the winter.■ Unplug the appliances. Perhaps nothing

around the house silently uses energy as much as a plugged-in appliance that’s not being used. Certain estimates suggest as much as 40 percent of a monthly utility bill is going toward power-ing home appliances that are turned off. While every home is different, it’s a safe bet that most homes can save energy by simply unplugging appliances that aren’t in use.

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UNITY NEWSPAPERS — HOUSE & GARDEN

By MARK J. DONOVAN

Your deck takes a lot of abuse from the ele-ments. Rain, snow and the sun can work together to destroy your outside living space if left unchecked. It is extremely important to address wood decking problems as soon as they are observed. Wood decking problems left unchecked can lead to higher maintenance and home repair costs down the road.

Wood Deck Water Sealing After building a new wood deck, it is important to seal it quickly with a stain, paint or water sealer. Even the hardest woods can quickly begin to expe-rience the effects of nature’s elements, such as rot, mildew and bleaching. By applying a protective layer to your wood decking, you can lock in its ini-tial beauty and prolong the life of it. Unfortunately, a wood deck needs constant maintenance, and even though you may have applied a water sealant over the decking when you initially built it, you will need to apply additional coats every year or two. Before applying a new coat of paint, stain or deck water sealant, it is imperative that the deck be thoroughly washed and dried. Also make sure you have checked the weather forecast. The forecast should be free of rain for a couple of days, and the temperature should be at least 50 F when you apply a new coat of deck water sealant or paint.

Flaking Decks With water sealants and paint, your deck could experience flaking. Before you apply a new coat of paint or decking water sealant, it is important that you remove all of the flaking paint or sealant first. Pressure washers can help make the job go quickly, but unfortunately, they can damage the grain of the wood decking. Consequently, it is best to use a scraper and elbow grease to remove the flaking paint. Once you have scraped off the flaking paint, lightly sand the decking prior to applying a new coat of paint or water sealant.

Fading Or Bleached Wood Decking If your mahogany decking is looking faded or bleached out, try using a wood cleaner to restore it to its original color. After restoring its original color, seal it with a clear water decking sealant. Again, you will need to reseal it every year or two. Alter-natively, you can apply a stain that matches the original color of the wood.

Rotting Decking Rotting decking is associated with water prob-lems. Either the water sealant, paint or stain has failed prematurely or you have a water source, such as a gutter, that is spilling and causing water to stand regularly on the deck. Frequent standing water on the deck can lead to rot and the infesta-tion of carpenter ants and termites. If there is deck rot, it is important to replace it to prevent a dangerous safety hazard. While replacing the rotted deck pieces, check the deck framing underneath it to make sure it is still struc-turally sound.

Deck Mold And Mildew You also may need to wash your deck regularly with a fungicide solution that can prevent and eliminate mold and mildew. Decks located on the northern side of a home are frequently susceptible to mold and mildew. Likewise, decks that have gutters or roofs constantly spilling onto them are susceptible to mold and mildew. Make sure that your gutters drain either through the deck down to the ground below or away from it, to cut down on moisture. If water is running directly off the roof, you might consider installing gutters. With these few basic deck maintenance tips, you should be able to preserve the beauty and life of your wood decking for years to come. The most important thing to remember is that when a deck problem is observed, it should be addressed quick-ly. The effects of water damage can occur rapidly and can lead to higher maintenance costs later if left unchecked. Finally, keep in mind that a deck is an important asset to your home’s valuation, so it is important to keep it up.

Sprucing up your deck

A PEELING DECK should be sanded down and re-stained or painted. A sanded and re-stained and sealed deck can look as good as new.

Common wood decking problems and solutions

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If a kitchen renovation is on your list of home projects this season, consider looking beyond traditional appliances and think about adding specialty tools that may save on space and upgrade room efficiency. Not every kitchen is equipped with a trash compactor or wine cooler, but many homeowners are seeing the benefits of rethinking what appliances are included in their kitchen layouts and looking beyond the range or dishwasher.

Trash CompactorA trash compactor is a device

that can be built into cabinetry or used as a stand-alone appliance wherever there is an available elec-trical outlet. Compactors have advantages over traditional garbage pails and bags in the kitchen. They can hold a week or two of garbage in compressed form, reducing the need to take out the trash. Plus, they will not become as odiferous as a regular pail. Compactors also take up less space than a garbage pail and can look more aesthetically pleasing in the kitchen.

Many compactors have filters and deodorizing holders inside the compactor. This will eliminate the smell that often results from decom-

posing foods and other debris.Trash compactors can be espe-

cially handy for individuals who live in an apartment or where space is at a premium in the kitchen. The compactor will flatten the garbage when a button or lever is pressed, reducing the volume of the trash. It may also be used with plastic and aluminum recylables.

Wine CoolerChances are a wine cellar will

not fit in the average house. But a wine refrigerator can keep wine at the right temperature and humidity for optimal enjoyment.

Wine coolers are growing in popularity as more wine afficiona-dos understand how the flavor of wine can benefit from proper stor-age. A refrigerator will hold wine bottles and insulate them from out-side temperature fluctuations. They will also be handy and ready for use when the time comes.

Drawer DishwashersMost households are already

equipped with a dishwasher, but the majority are a single wash area models. It is well known that for a dishwasher to operate efficiently, the entire washer should be filled

before running the cycle. For many people this can take days of dishes sitting soiled in the dishwasher.

Drawer dishwashers split the cleaning area into two unique zones. This enables a smaller load to be washed. However, this isn't the only advantage. Drawer dishwash-ers can be more ergonomic, reduc-ing the need for bending over to

load the washer. Furthermore, because the two drawers work independently of one another, one drawer can be used on a light cycle for minimally soiled dishes, while the other runs for heavily dirtied dishes – all simultaneously.

Their unique look also makes drawer dishwashers coveted simply from a design perspective.

Kitchen makeoverBonus appliances add appeal

So you're in the market for a new premium countertop surface and granite seems like the obvi-ous choice, think again. After all of your research you'll probably end up selecting the highest rated and most popular option available – quartz.

Quartz countertops are the new worry-free, ele-gant alternative to high-maintenance granite. They are stronger than granite, require no resealing, are highly resistant to scratches and stains, and come in a huge variety of colors.

In fact, Consumer Reports Magazine rated quartz as the top performer among countertop mate-rials such as granite, ceramic tile, stainless steel, lami-nate, marble, limestone and concrete when it came to resisting prime kitchen hazards such as stains, heat and scratches.

According to the recent Freedonia Group Report on countertop industry trends, there has been a definite shift in the marketplace over the last few years as quartz has become the fastest growing mar-ket segment in the industry with 13 percent growth compared to granite's five percent.

Quartz surfaces are growing in popularity because they have the appearance of natural stone, but unlike granite, these surfaces never need to be sealed. Quartz is a nonporous materi-al, which means it will not promote the growth of mold, mildew or bacteria.

In your research, you will most probably stumble upon a popular brand called HanStone. “Quartz countertops have an aesthetic that can emulate the look of granite, but are also avail-able in unique colors and surface effects not found in natural stone,” explained Mark Hanna, President of Leeza Distribution Inc., distributor of HanStone Fine Quartz Surfaces. “The benefit of quartz is that it doesn't have any of the draw-backs associated with materials such as granite.”

Also of great importance, HanStone is accredited with Greenguard environmental certification.

What is quartz?Quartz is silicon dioxide and it occurs as

individual crystals and fine-grained masses in a large variety of forms, patterns, and colors. It is naturally hard and scratch resistant. Quartz actually ranks a 7.0 on Moh's Hardness Scale, which is used to measure the scratch-resistance of a material. Only diamonds, ranking 10, topaz, and sapphire are harder than quartz.

Most quartz countertops are manufactured with up to 93 percent quartz and seven percent pigments and resins. This prescribed mixture results in a product that is non-porous, exceed-ingly durable, and more than twice as strong as granite.

HanStone is highly rated by designers, archi-tects and developers because it contains a high-er quartz content than the norm and includes clear and multiple quartz colors, bringing greater depth, dimension and style to its surfaces.

“HanStone's superior quality is clearly evi-dent,” added Hanna. “It begins with the natural elegance of quartz, and then uses advanced tech-nology to create a product with dramatic colors, vibrant patterns and a luxurious sheen.” Available in 32 colors and patterns, HanStone offers unlimited design flexibility and a beautiful addition to any setting.

QUARTZ is becoming a popular countertop surface, which many people are considering as alternative to granite.

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APPLIANCES SUCH AS WINE REFRIGERATORS are growing in popularity among homeowners planning to update their kitchens.

April 7, 2011 — HERALD COMM

UNITY NEWSPAPERS — HOUSE & GARDEN

By KAREN BLOOM

Shopping for carpeting? It’s not simply a matter of going into the store and just choosing “carpet.” There are many different varieties of carpeting from which to select, each with its own unique characteristics. Depending on the room’s use and the homeowner’s needs, you can find a carpet that fits with what’s desired.

“Broadloom remains at the forefront,” said Robin Nacht, who owns Dee-Jay Carpet in Cedar-hurst, with her husband Michael Nacht and son David. “It offers the most choices at the best value. Popular trends compliment the wide use of woods and the other hard surfaces in the home. Natural fibers and neutral colors in large and small patterns and textures are key, with geometrics becoming more important.”

Homeowners looking to revamp their rooms can turn to the versatility of carpeting for many of their needs. The varied types of carpeting on the market offer something to suit every style and bud-get.

■ Cut pile: This is one of the most popular types of carpeting. When most people think of car-pet, this is what they envision. This carpeting is formed by cutting looped carpet fibers at the top with yarn bundles standing up vertically.

■ Berber: Berber has thick, durable loops that are good in high-traffic areas. This carpeting limits footprints and vacuum marks. The downside is that loops can be snagged and unravel. Also, ber-ber carpeting may trap in dirt.

■ Level-loop: Similar to Berber but looser in weave is level-loop. It is also good in high-traffic areas and will not trap dirt as easily as berber.

■ Cut and loop pile: This carpeting has a varia-tion of secured loops and cut fibers for added tex-ture. This will be a medium-durability carpet.

■ Textured: Textured carpet has a soft feel and is one of the carpeting styles growing in popularity. These carpets may have embossed patterns and come in solid colors.

■ Saxony: This soft carpet is medium-durability and will show footprints and vacuum marks. Saxo-nies are tightly twisted cut piles that are heatset straight. Saxonies consist of two or more fibers twisted together in a yarn.

■ Frieze: A highly twisted cut-pile carpet that is good in high-traffic areas. The short fibers curl in different directions to hide footprints.

■ Plush: These carpets are lightly twisted, uni-form-colored fibers that are soft and usually found in formal rooms. They will hold footprints and show vacuum marks.

Nacht also recommends vinyl and fiberglass flooring for those looking for a flooring alternative. “Vinyl and fiberglass flooring offer a range of colors and textures with high tech metallics and authentic wood and stone looks,” she said. “Organic patterns and modern designs can be used with both classic and contemporary furniture. A consumer can easily purchase transitional looks to coordinate with an existing decor. For those just starting to decorate, these products offer a neutral slate to build on.”

Room appealCarpet options abound for floor-focused homeowners

GIVE A ROOM a new look with carpet. The many types of carpeting on the market offer style and versatility that can easily transform your liv-ing space. Natural fibers and neutral colors in large and small patterns are among the season's top trends.

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By MARK J. DONOVAN

Exterior house painting is one of the most diffi-cult projects to schedule and complete from a weather perspective. To complete the job, you must have an ambient air temperature of between 50 F and 90 F and low humidity, and there should be little to no wind while you’re painting. If you decide to tackle an exterior house painting project outside of these weather conditions, chances are the paint will not hold up well.

Give yourself the best chance of having Mother Nature smile down on your painting project by not starting in an unsuitable climate. In general, July and August are two of the worst months of the year to paint a house; the house siding is simply too hot to paint. Cold weather causes paint quality issues, and the spring is often too rainy and humid. Therefore, the early summer months, before it gets too hot, and autumn are often your only opportunities to paint.

For the best exterior house painting results, it is generally wise to hire a contractor who has a team that can paint a home quickly. Although they, too, are at the whim of Mother Nature, they at least have the ability to paint the house rapidly. In addition, they won’t paint your car or themselves in the process.

The do-it-yourself homeowner who chooses to do his own exterior house painting often finds him-

self tackling it in a guerilla warfare-type approach – painting portions of the home over an extended peri-od of time as weather conditions permit.

If you are building a new home, you could make your life easier by using pre-primed or paint-ed house siding, which widens the weather win-dow for applying a final coat of exterior paint. Or you could use vinyl or brick for the house siding, which would eliminate the need for any significant exterior house painting.

When it’s time to paintIt’s all about the weather

If you are tackling the painting job yourself and want professional-looking results (which of course you do) approach the project as if you were a profes-sional painting contractor. That means following four simple rules that come second nature to experienced painters, says Debbie Zimmer, spokesperson for the Paint Quality Institute.

For the uninitiated, here are the four rules that great painters swear by.

1. Take time to prepare the surface properly.According to Zimmer, this is where a lot of inex-

perienced painters go wrong. “It’s important to fight the urge to start painting

as soon as possible,” says Zimmer. “Even the best paints can fail if they’re applied to a poorly prepared surface.”

Before beginning to paint, clean the surface thor-oughly. This can be done with rented power-washing

equipment or by scrubbing with a long-handled brush using plain soap and water.

Afterward, remove any remaining loose, flaking, or peeling paint by scraping or wire-brushing. Next, sand down rough edges on the old paint, as well as areas where the paint is glossy.

Finally, brush off the dust and particles left from the sanding and scraping. Then sand and prime any areas where the wood is bare.2. Buy top quality paint.

“To get the best-looking and longest-lasting paint job, it’s important to use the highest grade of paint,” advises Zimmer. “On wood and many other exterior surfaces, top quality 100 percent acrylic latex paint is the best choice.”

Because these paints contain more solids than run-of-the-mill paints, they form a thicker, more durable paint

Rules for a perfect exterior

TOP QUALITY PAINTS, brushes and equipment, coupled with a little professional advice, are all it takes to successfully paint a home’s exterior.

Continued on page 9

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Home improvement projects seem to drum up images of shyster contractors or bumbling do-it-yourselfers. However, home repairs don't have to turn into an unorganized mess. By avoiding some common mis-takes and taking common sense precautions, you can end up with ren-ovations that wow. 1. Accepting the lowest bid. Smart homeowners shop around for everything – including work done on their home. But accepting the lowest bid right off the bat to save money may cost you more in the long run. A low bid certainly may be a great deal. But generally it could be a sign of an inexperienced con-tractor, or one who plans to use subpar materials or skimp on the job. Contractors will have similar prices. Shop based on experience and recommendations, not price alone. 2. Choosing friends and family. There certainly are skilled professionals that also may be a close friend or family member. But mixing business and pleasure could be a recipe for trouble, especially when workmanship and an exchange of money are involved. “We had a friend replace our home's fur-nace,” says Beth in Merrick. “While we got a great price, we found out later on when there was a glitch in the system that cer-tain things weren't done up to code. We had to spend more money to have it repaired, and the friendship has since suffered.” Some relatives are adamant about doing repairs – but they may not be skilled or know the correct laws governing remodel-ing. Stick with a third party contractor with whom you’ll feel com-fortable talking if you feel repairs need to be done a certain way. 3. Thinking you can handle it. Many do-it-yourselfers (gen-erally in an attempt to save money) believe they can learn every DIY task from a book or magazine. There are some jobs, however, that should be left to the professionals, including major plumbing

work or electrical repairs. There’s no need to risk a fire, injury or death by doing inexperienced electrical modifications. 4. Letting maintenance slide. Many homeowners think once the repair is made that they're all set – failing to keep up with rou-tine maintenance. But complications can arise by not maintaining a new appliance or keeping up with an improvement.

“Our homeowner’s association required proof that the dryer venting for our clothes dryer was replaced on an annual basis,” recalls Martin, who recently relocated to the area from Illinois. “I’d sim-ply go out and buy a new box of the venting mate-rial and submit the receipt as ‘proof’ so I could save the money on a professional installation. But one day the lint trapped in the venting, which I hadn't bothered to change, caught on fire. It not only damaged the venting, it damaged the entire dryer – resulting in the purchase of a new dryer. Luckily no one was hurt. I've since learned my lesson.” 5. Following every trend. Anyone who has a harvest gold or avocado green appliance collecting dust in the garage or basement knows how interior style choices come and go. Instead of jumping on

every trend, think about what will work for your home and be time-less. Otherwise you may end up having to update every few years. 6. Asking questions later. Make a list of every question you can think of and ask it before the work gets started. This way you're left with few surprises and can do changes without costing yourself time and money. Don’t wait for the finished product before you start to question the hows and whys. 7. Expecting things to be perfect. If you go into a project with the idea that there will be no mishaps, even minor ones, you may end up stressed out when one arises. Everyone makes mis-takes – even professionals. If you think something is not being done correctly, speak up or get a second opinion.

Sprucing up for the seasonTop home repair blunders to avoid

SMART HOMEOWNERS will shop around and take common sense precautions to avoid home repair blunders, and choose DIY projects carefully.

‘ If you go into a project with the idea that there will be no mishaps, you may end up stressed out when one arises.’

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UNITY NEWSPAPERS — HOUSE & GARDEN

With the spring season finally upon us, the annual rite of passage that is spring cleaning has arrived as well. For homeowners that means it’s time to stop resting on their laurels and start cleaning house.

But cleaning house doesn’t only involve throw-ing away a season’s worth of magazines and donating clothing that no longer fits. Spring clean-ing also involves improving a home’s overall envi-ronment. That’s especially true for the health – and environmentally – conscious homeowner.

One way to clean a home while making it healthier and benefitting the environment is to rid the home of chemical contaminants that can be harmful to both your personal health and the air you’re breathing. Many of these contaminants are not associated with traditional spring cleaning but can have as big an impact as anything you do around the house this season.

Stop burning candles inside the home. While aromatic candles have grown in popularity thanks in large part to the benefits they provide to a home’s ambience, it’s also important to remember the harmful byproducts of combustion, advise health professionas. Those include carbon monoxide, hydro-carbons, soot, and VOCs (volatile organic com-pounds), which can be toxic. So the next time you consider the aesthetic appeal of a candle, don’t forget its potential to release harmful emissions every time you light it up.

Pay closer attention to what you’re doing in the home. Oftentimes, our homes are our havens. What we do in our homes is certainly our business, but it can also be problematic. Something as innocent as wearing slippers or going shoeless when taking out the trash can track dust and other contaminants

into a home. When attempting to clear a home of potentially harmful chemical contaminants, some-thing as simple as what’s on your feet can have a meaningful impact.

Avoid overdoing it with household supplies. While buying in bulk can help save money, it can also be harmful depending on what you’re buying. For instance, storing excess paint, solvents and other haz-ardous chemicals can lead to harmful emissions if not sealed properly or if they leak. To avoid such risks, simply purchase what you need when you need it and avoid storing too many chemical products in the home, be it inside or in the garage.

Keep the windows open when cleaning. There likely is not a single person who enjoys the smell of household cleaning products. However, many people often forget to open the windows or turn fans on when using chemically-based household cleaners. While these products no doubt do a fantas-tic job cleaning a home, they might also be emitting harmful toxins into the air. If you must use chemically-based cleaners, open the windows and use fans when cleaning to avoid that familiar odor from over-taking the home and potentially emitting harmful chemicals into the air.

Refresh and renew your living space

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Welcoming neighborhood birds to the backyard can be a reward-ing pastime. Homeowners can enjoy the color and the spectacle of nearby birds while learning about which birds call Long Island home.

There’s no need to purchase an expensive bird feeder to entice feathered friends to stop by. Homeowners can easily make a feeder from a host of common household supplies. This is a great craft proj-ect for children of any age under the supervision of an adult. Consid-er these ideas for getting started.

■ Rinse out an empty soda bottle, preferably a liter or two-liter size. Punch holes on either side of the bottle and thread a twig all the way through. Make sure enough of the twig extends outward to serve as perches. Poke more holes for the birds to access seeds. Tie a string around the neck of the bottle and hang.

■ Use an empty aluminum pie tin to hold seeds. Punch holes in the perimeter to attach string. Punch very small drainage holes in the center of the pie tin. Hang the feeder from a tree limb.

■ Find a large pinecone. Coat it with peanut butter and roll it in birdseed. Hang the pine cone for birds to enjoy.

Hummingbirds are amazing creatures to welcome to the neigh-borhood. They drink nectar as their primary source of nutrition. A hummingbird feeder can be made by boiling sugar with water to cre-ate a sugary syrup. Once cool, pour the syrup into an empty baby food jar or a small plastic bottle with a hole cut in the middle.

Glue red faux flowers around to camouflage the container (hummingbirds prefer red flowers). Hang and

watch the small aviators arrive.

Some birds prefer suet, a mix of seeds and fats solidified into ablock. Create a suet holder by using an old piece of wire mesh.Bend to form a pocket to hold the suet. Be sure to use gloves andneedle-nose pliers to bend down any sharp edges of the wire sonot to cut yourself or the birds. Use a string or wire hanger tohang the suet holder on a tree or fence.

Create bird “cookies” you can suspend in tree limbs by mixing2 cups of biscuit mix with a few tablespoons of water to make asoft dough. Roll out the dough and use cookie cutters to cutcookies into desired shapes. Use a straw to punch a hole in eachcookie. Melt 2 tablespoons of margarine and brush over the cook-ies. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and sunflower seeds. Bake at

425 F for 15 to 20 minutes, or until golden brown. Once cool, thread brightly colored ribbon through the cook-

ies and hang for birds to enjoy.

Create homemade bird feeders to care for our feathered friends

Bird talkfilm. What’s more, they hide better, so they’ll often conceal the old paint color in fewer coats, saving a lot of extra work , and saving money, too.

“Top quality 100 percent acrylic latex paints also have better adhesion, so they get a better grip on a properly prepared surface,” says Zimmer. “And they remain flexible, so they can expand and contract with changing temperatures. These attributes help top quality paints resist peeling and flaking, which adds to the life expectancy of the paint job.”

Top quality 100 percent acrylic latex paints typically last 10 years or more, compared to three or four years for lower quality coatings, according to Zimmer. So, they are a much better value in terms of cost per year of ser-vice – no small consideration in these trying economic times.

3. Use quality brushes and equipment.For the best results when applying top quality paint, use quality

brushes and accessories, says Zimmer. “Better quality equipment makes the work easier and helps apply the paint in a thicker, more uni-form coat for a better-looking paint job.”

She advises homeowners to choose brushes that are well-bal-anced and springy, with multiple lengths of split bristles packed tightly in a 3/4- to 1-inch thickness on a standard 4-inch brush.

When working with latex paints, it’s important to use brushes with synthetic bristles – ideally, polyester. According to Zimmer, polyester bristles will hold their shape and maintain the proper stiffness regard-less of the amount of water they encounter.

4. Paint in the right weather conditions.After you have your quality paint and tools in hand, choose the

right type of day to apply the paint. Doing so will enable the paint to form a tough, durable, protective film.

Zimmer says it’s best to do exterior painting in mild weather, ideal-ly when temperatures are above 50 degrees F, and when the wind isn’t strong. On very hot days, try to avoid painting in direct sunshine, since surfaces sitting in direct sun can be 10 to 20 degrees hotter than the air temperature. One way to cope with this and still keep the job mov-ing is to paint on the shady side of the house.

Rules for a perfect exterior Continued from page 5

CREATE A HOMEMADE BIRD FEEDER and your home will become a haven for nearby birds.

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Adopting an eco-friendly lifestyle is some-thing many people do selflessly in an effort to protect the environment and ensure that the generations to come have a healthy planet at their disposal. But that same lifestyle can also pay instant dividends, helping homeowners save money and creating a healthier atmosphere in which to live.

As spring cleaning season gets set to hit full swing, what better time to do some “spring greening”? Homeowners can make the most of spring cleaning by making several manageable changes around the house that can protect the environment without disrupting one’s current lifestyle.

■ Clean green. Instead of using harmful chemical cleaners when cleaning around the house this spring, choose green cleaning sup-plies that don’t release harmful chemicals or tox-ins into the air.

■ Paint with the planet in mind. Spring is a popular time to repaint rooms in the house. Homeowners with painting on their to-do list this spring cleaning season should choose no- or low-VOC (volatile organic compound) paints.

■ Fix those drafts. Chances are, after a long winter homeowners are well aware of which

rooms were warm and which might have had drafts. Visit those colder rooms and plug any air leaks around the house. This will result in a lower heating bill next winter and could save substantial amounts of energy. For homeowners with attics, checking the attic for air infiltration should be done each and every year.

■ Explore alternative landscaping methods. Xeriscaping, a style of landscape design that requires little or no irrigation, can save significant amounts of water. However, homeowners should consult a landscaping professional to determine if xeriscaping is a viable alternative to more traditional landscaping in their region. If xeriscaping can be done, then homeowners will save water while also reducing the use of poten-tially harmful pesticides and chemicals common-ly used to keep lawns looking lush.

■ Go low-flow. Spring cleaning isn’t just for clearing out the winter clutter. It's also a time when many homeowners fix up the house. If replacing showerheads, faucets or even toilets is on the to-do list, replace existing fixtures with low-flow models to save water and money.

■ Shop for sustainable materials. Sustainable

Spring greening

Manageable means to going green around the house

Continued on page 12

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flooring is growing in popularity now that going green has truly taken off. Search for wood that has been harvested in an environmentally friendly ways. Sustainable flooring materials include bam-boo and cork, which many homeowners find as aesthetically appealing as it is eco-friendly.

■ Double it up. Single-pane windows not only allow lots of external noise into the house, but they also contribute to heat loss in the winter, forcing residents to turn up the thermostat and waste more energy as a result. Installing double-

pane windows will keep more external noise at bay, and allow homeowners to minimize heat loss in the winter.

■ Unplug the appliances. Perhaps nothing around the house silently uses energy as much as a plugged-in appliance that’s not being used. Certain estimates suggest as much as 40 percent of a monthly utility bill is going toward powering home appliances that are turned off. While every home is different, it’s a safe bet that most homes can save energy by simply unplugging appliances that aren’t in use.

UNPLUGGING APPLIANCES when they’re not in use is one of many ways home-owners can protect the planet

Spring greeningContinued from page 10

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April 7, 2011 — HERALD COMM

UNITY NEWSPAPERS — HOUSE & GARDEN

By SAMANTHA A. BIDERMANN

Have winter blues got you down? Put some spring in your step and get down and dirty in the garden! Eager as you may be to begin plant-ing right away, follow this checklist to prepare your garden to look its best this season!

✓ Loosen up: Turning the beds means loosen-ing and fluffing up the soil. Compaction causes soil to loose pore space, which makes it hard for important elements like air, water and nutrients to get to the roots.

✓ Clean up: rake away any debris like leaves and emerging weeds. Add the organic debris to compost piles.

✓ Freshen up: work decomposed mulch from last year into the soil then dress new beds with 2-3” of fresh mulch. Mulch helps maintain mois-ture, prevent weeds for germinating and give your beds a fresh clean appearance. Be careful not to build up mulch around the trunk of plants.

✓ Lighten up: thin out old and dead wood, lightening branch density of an existing shrub will promote new growth to occur. Cut back any perennials that were not cut back during the fall. Trees and shrubs that are primarily grown for foliage should be pruned before new growth begins, this includes plants like barberry, euony-mus, purple-leaf sand cherry and smoke bush. Do NOT prune spring flowering trees and shrubs such as lilacs, azaleas, forsythia, and flowering cherries and plums. These flowering trees and shrubs should be pruned immediately after they are fin-

ished flowering.✓ Fatten up: existing plants and lawns will be

hungry when they wake up from a long winter. Feed lawns with a granular, nitrogen based fertiliz-er, crabgrass pre-emergent is optional. Existing trees and shrubs will feast on a general all-purpose garden good.

✓ Move up, out or over; now is great time to move plants up into more sunlight, out of one bed and into a new one or over just a bit to have more room to grow. Cool temperatures are optimal for new roots to grow and the soil does not dry out as quickly so new transplants do not need to be watered as frequently.

Although, spring is here, freezing temperatures may still be lingering. Gene Judd, owner of Island Greenery Nursery in Bellmore, advises gardeners to resist the urge to plant summer flowers and warm weather vegetables."If the drab and barren appearance of winter has you down, add color to the garden with flowers that are more tolerant of these cold temperatures such as pansies, vio-las, ranunculus, primrose and spring flowering bulbs,” he says.

Island Greenery has two locations in Bellmore. For more information, contact 516-785-0349 or visit www.islandgreenery.net.

Get garden ready

Spring is a season for rebirth, and for home-owners, that means bringing their property back to life. Once the winter weather has sub-sided, it's time to head outside and take inven-tory of the landscape and see how the yard, trees, bushes, and shrubs fared after another long winter.

One of the best and most eco-friendly ways to bring your yard back to life is to plant around the property. Planting can be a soothing and enjoyable way to spend some time outdoors in the spring air, and it's not as difficult as it may seem.

Be aware of depth when planting. It's common for those who aren't used to garden-ing to plant too deeply. The idea of planting deeply seems to be correct, as homeowners want to be certain their plants or trees will take root and it seems like common sense that the deeper the plant is planted, the more likely it is to take root. However, planting depth should mirror the depth the plant was grown in at the nursery.

Stake new trees if necessary. While it's great to imagine spring as a season of warm sun and extended daylight, in reality, most regions still get some wind and cold through-out spring. This can make planting trees a dif-ficult proposition, as new trees might rock back and forth and struggle to establish new roots. To mitigate any strong winds, stake new trees when planting around the proper-ty. Not all new trees need to be staked, but

for the ones that do, the stakes will act as a stabilizing force during strong winds, enabling the tree to establish healthy roots for years to come.

Consider container-grown plants. Nov-ice green-thumbers might find it best to go with container-grown plants. Container-grown plants are easy to plant around the property, and it's also easy to change the look of the property by simply moving the plants around. Also, as the seasons change, it's easy to reposition the plants so they're still getting the sun exposure they need to thrive.

Get a second opinion. Planting trees around the property can be akin to hanging a painting on the wall. It's always best to get a second opinion to make sure the painting is straight, and the same goes with planting trees. Before backfilling the hole, ask some-one to look at the tree from several angles to ensure that it is straight. Once the tree has been backfilled, it's awfully difficult to reposi-tion the tree.

Give the trees or plants their best chance to grow. It's important to survey the property ahead of planting to be certain the plants will be in the best place to thrive. Be sure to avoid utility lines. Also, a tree's roots spread far beyond its branches, so be sure to plant the tree in a location that allows for that root growth without jeopardizing the property (i.e., roots spreading beneath the home's foundation).

Spring aheadSuccessfully plant around your property

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