2016 Fall Home Improvement

Fall Home Improvement C URB APPEAL

Enhance it by pressure washing.

Page 3.

BUDGET

Then remodel the kitchen. Page 5.

LIGHT IT UP And enjoy the outdoors this fall.

Page 18.

AND MUCH MORE ...

The Herald â– YO U R C O M M U N I T Y N E W S PA P E R S I N C E 1 8 9 5 DUBOISCOUNTYHERALD.COM

DUBOIS COUNTY, INDIANA

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2016 SECTION B

PAGE 2 ■ FALL HOME IMPROVEMENT

THE HERALD ■ FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2016

Make unique planters for elevated garden

By KRISTEN CASTILLO Creators.com Maureen Fitzgerald — founder and owner of WisconsinMommy. com — and her husband were tired of rabbits eating all of their leafy greens.

“We saw an elevated garden in our local store but decided we could make one ourselves for less,” she says.

Using cedar boards, a miter saw, screws, a drill and a drill bit, the couple designed and built a stylish and functional elevated garden.

Not only did Fitzgerald “outsmart” the rabbits but also she found it was “easier to weed as it is waist-high and no bending is required.”

Another bonus: She says the soil warms up a little faster in spring since it is above ground.

Do it yourself Whether you want to make your own planters for fun or simply to save money on store-bought designs, DIY planters are very doable.

“You can make your own planters from containers that have discarded, found or bought at resale shops, such as decorative trash cans, big popcorn cans, bowls, vases, old cooking pots, etc., says artist and designer Pablo Solomon, known for his environmentally friendly landscape designs. “They can be made of metal, ceramics, plastic, glass or wood — almost anything that will not decompose easily when wet.”

Solomon has created DIY planters out of a variety of different materials, including an old brass spittoon, a metal bean pot, a pitcher and a heavy plastic waste can.

All you need to do to turn a container into a planter is drill a drain hole in the bottom.

You’ll need a special diamondtipped drill bit to make a hole in ceramic, clay and glass containers. Solomon suggests getting a drill bit capable of drilling granite, which costs about $15 and will last a lifetime for an average user.

When making a hole in a metal vessel, use metal drill bits, which Solomon says are inexpensive.

“For softer materials like plastic and wood, regular drill bits work fine,” he says, cautioning all DIY gardeners to wear eye protection when using a power drill.

Creative designs “There is a somewhat gratifying feeling knowing that you can grow food and just about anything,” says Ed Roman, a Canadian singer-songwriter and gardener.

“The most important thing is creativity thinking outside the box,” he continues. “Excuse the pun.”

Roman loves the “reduce, reuse, recycle” concept because the only cost is building material.

“Wood pallets are an excellent way to build up the lettuce bed,” he says. “All you need is a little bit of screening and a staple gun and away you go.”

Roman lines his DIY planters with “old frost blankets,” which are porous and allow water to drain while still maintaining the soil.

He recently crafted planters out of old shipping crates he got from a monuments distributor.

He also suggests creating a planter by stacking old rubber tires three at a time, noting how old tires are often free since they’d otherwise be thrown out or recycled.

“They can be filled with earth and placed anywhere,” he says.

“I’ve seen some incredible tomatoes and peppers being grown with this method.”

Plan ahead Still, not every DIY design goes as planned.

“A little planning can save a lot of grief,” says Tony Smith, president at NurseryEnterprises.com, who warns some containers used for planting projects may not be easy to empty after use.

“If you will probably never empty the container to change the soil or re-pot the plant, then you’re probably OK,” he says.

“But if you foresee the day when you’ll want to empty the container and swap out the potting soil, then you might consider choosing containers that have shapes that are conducive to easily removing a firm and strong root-ball.”

Transform items — such as pots and pitchers, — from around your home to create do-it-yourself planters.

Size, substance, style Find style inspiration from around your home.

“Get planters that are bigger than you think you need, especially around the front door,” says Craig Jenkins-Sutton, co-founder of Topiarius, an urban gardening and landscape design company.

“A planter that is too small will un-impress.”

Jenkins-Sutton, who has created many custom planters, advises changing out the plants for each season and always making a statement too.

“Do up the display!” he says.

PABLO SOLOMON CREATORS.COM

“Don’t skimp on plants.”

When creating DIY planters, make sure the containers are sturdy.

“Pots made of certain materials might need to be taken inside during the winter,” explains Jenkins-Sutton, who recommends in-

vest in organic potting soil.

No matter what the vessel you’re designing or what you’re

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planting, be creative and resourceful, and of course, have some gardening fun.

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THE HERALD ■ FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2016

FALL HOME IMPROVEMENT ■ PAGE 3

Don’t overlook cleaning outside of house

By MICHAEL MAZUR Special Sections Writer IRELAND — Curb appeal adds value to your house. You have spent time and money on your landscaping, re-sided or re-painted your house, kept your lawn mowed and neatly edged, but you may have overlooked something.

As you go out to the mailbox to retrieve your daily mail, you notice that road grime keeps sticking to the vinyl siding on the street side of your house, adding layer to layer. You take a walk along the north side of your house, the side that gets little sunshine and green or blackish patches of moss, mildew or mold are growing on the siding and the walkway is slippery because of the greasy green slime that is carpeting the sidewalk.

Turning to the back of the house, your siding is infused and stained with hickory smoke from the summer barbecues. The patio is coated with charcoal dust, sun-dried ketchup and mustard splatters and spilled sticky beer and sugary pop that attracts those pesky flies that seem to come out of nowhere.

And finally to the south side, which is taking a beating from the intense afternoon sun causing oxidation on the vinyl siding. The whole house seems dirty because of all the rainy days bringing pollutants and then the super hot dry days flinging dust from the winds and from the spinning blade of the lawnmower.

You say to yourself, “The curb appeal is not very appealing. I have to do something about that. I need to clean.” Although you have one of those small home pressure washers, you realize that the job may be too big and time consuming. You let it go too long. But it is good to know that there are mobile pressure washing businesses that specialize in just that kind of cleanup.

Ryan Mathies, owner of ReNu Mobile Pressure Washing, LLC, two years ago saw a need, bought a truck with an attached 40-foot bucket lift and an enclosed trailer containing a permanently mounted pressure washer with a 535-gallon water tank that spews out water under low pressure at 1000 psi to high pressure at 3600 psi to clean large dirty things. He has seen his business grow 50 percent since he started. His cleaning time frame is dependent on when it gets cold, but it usually runs from March to November or December. Already, he is booked a month and a half out.

He not only cleans houses, but cleans just about anything and everything within reason from commercial buildings, large combines, tractors, semis, excavating equipment, concrete sidewalks, patios, metal and shingled roofs, vinyl and wood siding and fences. Mathies also cleans the black mold growing on inside basement walls.

If it is dirty, chances are he can clean it.

“A homeowner with a large driveway may take most of a day to clean it with a residential pressure washer, but I can clean that same driveway in about an hour,” Mathies said.

For an average-sized house with vinyl siding, soffit, fascia and gutters takes him between four and five hours to clean and costs approximately $250 to $300. Who knows how long it would take a homeowner.

The cost is dependent on the difficulty of the job and size of the structure or area, he said. Free estimates are available. Once the house is thoroughly cleaned, he said, it most likely will not need another intensive cleaning for another four to five years.

One tip he offers to the home-

PHOTOS COURTESY OF RYAN MATHIES

Pressure washing is the best way to get rid of the grime the accumulates on houses, roofs, sidewalks, driveways, patios and yard furniture owner who uses his own residential pressure washer to clean his siding, especially on the south side of the vinyl-clad house that gets oxidized from the sun, is to use a low-pressure approach because high pressure can leave streak marks on the siding.

On average, cleaning a vinyl privacy fence can cost between $150 to $225, again depending on length of the fence line. Because he has a self-contained water supply, he has driven to remote rural areas to clean pasture fencing.

Mathies uses a soft-cleaning technique using low pressure and biodegradable detergents to clean most surfaces to prevent damage that high pressure could cause.

High pressure is required to clean more substantial surfaces like brick, cement block walls, driveways, sidewalks and patios.

The most challenging jobs are shingled roofs. It is more time con-

suming and requires a more delicate approach as not to damage the shingles and a higher-pitched roof increases the difficulty, not to mention the square footage of the area that needs the algae cleaned off.

For the most part, the algaecovered area is usually on one side of the house, the north. According to Mathies, newer shingles contain limestone and if algae remains on the roof for an extended period of time it can deteriorate the limestone. So as preventive maintenance, it is a good idea to keep the roof clean. Also, moss that is growing on older homes should be removed because it holds water and sitting water has propensity to damage wood, he said.

To reach those high places on two-story homes he has a 40-foot reach with a lift bucket, a spray wand that extends to 27 feet and of course a ladder, which he uses the

most on single-story structures.

Whether it is a house, commercial building, manufacturing plant, farm outbuilding, apartment complex or institutional building, such as a school, all outside surfaces take a beating through the seasons and keeping dirt, mold and mildew off of

brick or cement block walls, siding (whether it is vinyl, wood or painted), patios, decks, walkways and roofs can prevent slips and falls, maintain the integrity of the structure and keep that curb appeal appealing.

Mathies can be reached at 812-631-1185.

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PAGE 4 ■ FALL HOME IMPROVEMENT

THE HERALD ■ FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2016

Preserve vegetables and fruits all winter long

By JULIA PRICE Creators.com Perhaps you’ve gone through the work of sharpening your green thumb and keeping your garden maintained in order to grow all of your favorite fruits and vegetables. Or maybe you like buying veggies and fruits in bulk when they’re ripe in season so you can freeze them and save them for later. Either way, there are many ways to preserve these nutritional staples to last much longer than their most commonly expected shelf life. The four most common options are canning, drying, freezing and pickling.

Whatever option you choose, keep in mind that the ideal time to start your preservation process is six to 18 hours after they’ve been harvested. While this is easier to manage if you’re picking from a home garden, you can also get freshly picked items from the local farmer’s market or nearby farms.

If you’ve never considered preservation on your own, you may be enticed by the potential these processes have to cut down your grocery bill by several hundred dollars. The methods of preservation are generally quite simple, relaxing and even fun — especially if you have children who are eager to help out in the kitchen.

Canning Canning is so much more than baked beans, tuna fish or Spam. In fact, it’s a great way to preserve fruits, fruit butters, salsa, vegetable soup, pickling options, jellies, jams and more. You want to make sure to find reusable jars that are made specifically for this process, and make sure to sterilize the lid in boiling hot water before closing.

First, prepare your fruits and vegetables, then add the sealed jars into a large pot of boiling water, filled just enough to cover the tops of the jars. Let it boil for several minutes before bringing the heat down to medium low so that the water continues to boil at a lower temperature. Cover the pot.

The amount of time you keep the jars on the stovetop will depend on your specific recipe. Once you’re finished boiling, carefully remove the canned fruits or veggies and let them cool on a towel for up to 24 hours before storing them.

Drying Drying is another solid option

for preserving your items; however, you can lose some of the nutritious value that canning helps maintain. You want to first purchase a food dehydrator, unless you live in an area that you can expect four consecutive days of over one hundred degree weather where you can leave your fruits and veggies on a rack to naturally dry out. The dehydrator method will come with instructions specific to that brand, but generally, you will lay out the fruits and vegetables on trays and dry for either several hours or several hours, depending on what you’re drying out. When the process is finalized, make sure to tightly seal the finished product.

Freezing Chances are, growing up, you always had frozen bananas in your freezer. It was just sort of something that the older generations did. You can keep that tradition alive and freeze your own blueberries, peas, blackberries, carrots and more. Quickly boil the fruits and vegetables, and slice them. Then, if you’d like to add a little extra caution with the preservation method, slice a lemon and spritz over the cut fruits and veggies to help maintain them longer and prevent them from going brown. Use a paper towel to pat dry the laid out slices, and then distribute onto a baking sheet and place in freezer for several hours. When the process is complete, remove the frozen fruits or vegetables from the freezer and put into plastic freezer bags or containers.

Preserving fruits and vegetables puts fresh food on the table throughout the year.

JULIA PRICE CREATORS.COM

Pickling Pickling can be done for so much more than cucumbers — aka “pickles.” Beets, cauliflower, peppers, cherries, ginger, grapes, squash, tomatoes — the list goes on. Boil apple cider vinegar, sugar, salt, peppercorn and water to a

boil. (You can find various recipes online. Pinterest is a great place to start.) Depending on your taste preference, you can add different spices to the liquid, as well. Once boiling, pour the liquid into your canned goods and let cool for several hours before sealing the jars.

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THE HERALD ■ FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2016

FALL HOME IMPROVEMENT ■ PAGE 5

How to plan a kitchen-remodeling project

By MARK J. DONOVAN Creators.com Kitchen makeovers continue to be a popular trend with homeowners, and are a very wise investment. The kitchen is the most important room in a home. It is where people prepare food, meet and eat daily. Consequently, it is the most used room in the house.

As a result, people want their kitchen to be functional and efficient, as well as warm and inviting. The cost of a remodeled kitchen varies with the level of the makeover. For example, a basic kitchen remodel that includes new countertops, refaced cabinets and hardware, and new kitchen appliances will set the average homeowner back around $20,000, and have a return on investment of around 70 percent. If the kitchen remodel includes the installation of new kitchen cabinets, the average cost can add up to $50,000 or higher and the average return on investment of around 60 percent.

Functionality vs. aesthetics When designing your kitchen makeover, keep in mind that you first and foremost want a functional design. Visit various home improvement and kitchen show rooms to see what the modern trends are today in floorplans and features. Keep in mind that kitchens typically require 200 to 350 square feet of space. Also, today’s trends in kitchen design typically include open floor plans and the use of energy efficient appliances and natural products. Again, check out show rooms to get ideas for your kitchen makeover. Also, make sure to look online for magazines and books on designing kitchens.

The triangle workspace One design idea to keep always in your mind as you design your kitchen remodel is the triangle layout. Make sure that you design it so that when you stand in the center of a work triangle you have the refrigerator on one side of you, the sink on the other, and the stove/oven on the other. This

When planning a kitchen makeover, pricing cabinets and appliances ahead of time helps when building a budget for the project.

MARK J. DONOVAN CREATORS.COM

type of layout ensures efficiency while preparing food. And to that point, make sure you have large enough counter space areas for doing food prep, baking, cooking and cleaning.

Also when designing your kitchen floor plan consider your family and how you plan to use the kitchen. If you play to use your kitchen for cooking and entertaining, then consider including lots of cabinet space and a peninsula or island with a bar-counter for people to eat at.

Reduce clutter Remember to think reduced clutter. Again, make sure your kitchen design plan includes plenty of cabinets, drawers and shelves to store all of your items so that your countertops are less cluttered.

Kitchen makeover budget Lastly, but most importantly,

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PAGE 6 ■ FALL HOME IMPROVEMENT

THE HERALD ■ FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2016

Lawn ornaments add flair to outdoor space

By SHARON NAYLOR Creators.com Fall lawn décor is evolving from standard store-bought decorations to items with unique twists for trendy and eye-catching looks. One big trend for this fall is skipping plastic decorations and using natural items — such as pumpkins, green garlands and branches — for attractive designs that are also eco-friendly.

Shauntina Lilly, public relations planner for Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores, says, “Many appreciate a good garden. They add curb appeal to the home, and kids can even help to jump-start their green thumb.” So there is a family togetherness aspect to today’s fall lawn and garden décor, with kids joining their parents and grandparents to create new and trendy pieces for any outdoor space.

Front terraces, back terraces, walkways and pool areas are now on the radar of do-it-yourselfers of all ages who want to create attractive views from the street, as well as fall-spruced outdoor entertainment areas.

Here are Lilly’s top picks for giving classic fall lawn ornaments trendy twists: Wreaths “Wreaths are a staple for entryways, and there are techniques to decorate them in a unique way.

One option is to use felt or paper flowers instead of the usual faux florals,” says Lilly. Other natural items to affix to the new class of fall wreaths include mini succulents, fresh flowers, cut fresh herbs, mini fruits and berry sprigs.

“Another way to switch up wreath styling is to incorporate wood pieces, which are very on trend for fall 2016. The wood adds an unexpected yet heightened rustic effect to the wreath,” says Lilly. Think cut wood circles with messages painted or wood-burned into the center circle that can be affixed to the wreath. One trendy design idea is to paint the centers of your cut wood plaques with chalkboard paint so that you can artistically script out your message in chalkboard pen or paint.

Your cut wood plaque can bear any monogram initial or saying you’d like, such as “Welcome” or “Hello, Fall.”

Or your wreath can be made entirely of cut wood rounds, such as birch circles easily found in the craft store or cut yourself from fallen or cut branches. Hotglue these small wood circles to a plastic foam wreath form and you’ll have a unique and trendy piece for your door, outdoor walls and light posts, or fence posts.

“Additional ideas include ribbon wreaths or yarn wreaths.

Wreaths are a décor item that can be tailored to any season or holiday,” says Lilly.

Scarecrows “Scarecrows are a signifier for the autumn season, as well as Hal-

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on wire — added to wreaths, pumpkins and florals provide perfect illumination in today’s trendy small lights style.

Pumpkins “This fall, white pumpkins are a huge trend,” says Lilly, who says you can find faux pumpkins in finished options. Or you can paint them with chalk paints for a weathered texture. Decorate fresh or faux pumpkins with color contrast, such as a trendy blackand-white paint motif. Decoupaged pumpkins are also on trend, with family photos cut and pasted onto the pumpkin for a fresh way to show off your favorite snapshots. Or style your pumpkin to fit the theme of a fall party on your terrace.

Texture is also a hot trend for fall décor, and pumpkin accenting gets a boost by hot-gluing lace trims in vertical patterns onto your pumpkins for a fresh look.

You can also decorate natural or painted pumpkins with trendy gold foil, studs and bling.

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Fairy gardens are a top trend in fall lawn décor. loween. Instead of simply buying a scarecrow to place in your front yard, add oomph by dressing up your scarecrow with sports team apparel (or) superhero costumes, or craft mini scarecrows using hay bales,” says Lilly.

Outdoor lights “Illumination can take things from boring to breathtaking. This is a great way to achieve a ‘wow’ effect in a simple way,” says Lil-

ly, who suggests using ball jars and LED lighting to create mini lanterns leading the way along a walkway. “Lanterns are a top trend for fall décor and look great filled with small pumpkins, pine cones and flameless candles inside for a nice spark.” Lanterns can also be filled with florals that overflow out the sides for a fresh look, and the addition of mini LEDs make this look pop. String lights and rice lights — tiny lights

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You’ll find DIY fall lawn accent video tutorials and project instructions free on your craft store’s website, as well as on crafting blogs, YouTube channels and Pinterest. And you might also consider signing up for craft classes at your craft store, where a knowledgeable crafting expert can help you fine-tune your crafting skills as you make a one-of-akind trendy fall garden accent to add extra autumn beauty to your home.

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THE HERALD ■ FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2016

FALL HOME IMPROVEMENT ■ PAGE 7

Winterize home, buy supplies for cold months

By CHELLE CORDERO Creators.com It’s hard to think about the grueling winter months while we’re enjoying a nice beach day during summer, but we do need to prepare. If this will be your first winter in a new home, you probably don’t have all the basic winter tools and supplies on hand.

But don’t wait for the first flakes to fall. Any number of environmental constraints could occur — snowstorms, sleet, power outages, etc. — and you’ll want to be prepared.

Here are a few essential items to purchase before the winter weather descends: ■■ Snow shovel. Keep one inside your front door (or perhaps in the front closet or mudroom).

■■ De-icer, such as salt or sand, for your walkway and driveway.

■■ Waterproof floor mats. These prevent slipping after walking in from outside. Plus, they’re a great place to leave snow-covered boots.

■■ Flashlights and/or batteryoperated lanterns. Keep one in a few different rooms around the house. Buy an extra pack of batteries replenish to keep for backup. Be sure to replenish the batteries yearly.

■■ Battery-operated AM/FM radio, weather-alert radio and battery-operated clock.

■■ Cellphone charger. Purchase an inexpensive, hand-crank charger in case of a power failure.

■■ Blankets and winter apparel, such as thermal underwear, vests, sweaters, heavy socks, gloves, etc.

■■ Hand warmers. Hand, feet and body warmers are sold at camping supply stores.

■■ Food supplies and cutlery.

Stock up on a manual can opener, paper plates, plastic flatware, paper towels/napkins and plastic cups.

■■ Nonperishable foods. Purchase foods that do not require refrigeration or cooking — canned

Prepare your home and your family for expected, or unexpected, winter weather.

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goods, dry cereals, energy bars, powdered milk, etc.

■■ Bottled water. Buy at least 1 gallon of water per person per day — enough for at least four days.

■■ Pet supplies, including food, water (four days’ worth for each animal), pet bed and/or blanket for each pet to snuggle in for warmth, and extra litter and/or wee-wee pads.

■■ Emergency first aid kit (adhesive bandages, gauze, sterile pads, adhesive tape, elastic bandages, antiseptic pads, scissors, tweezers, oral thermometer, instant cold and hot compresses, aspirin, antibiotic ointments, etc.).

■■ Prescription medications — at least four days’ worth.

After rounding up all these supplies, do some intel on typical

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wintertime procedures in your neighborhood. Check with your local town hall or police department for information on overnight parking, what walkways you are responsible for shoveling, how to clear your mailbox for delivery, how to handle trash pickup, etc.

If there are nearby fire hydrants, check with the fire department to find out who shovels those out in a heavy snowstorm. It’s also a good idea for parents to contact the local school district and ask how they will communicate weather-related school closings and transportation.

As always, safety first. Devise a communication plan for your family, in case a storm comes and not all family members can get home.

Make emergency plans with your

neighbors, too.

Winterize your home. Even if you don’t get much snowfall, it’s still a good idea to prepare your home to withstand blustery winds and freezing temperatures.

A few simple fixes will make a big difference. If the weather stripping around your windows and doorframes is cracked (or nonexistent), replacing it will reduce wind draft and save money on heating. Choose the proper stripping for your fixtures -- the most common is adhesive-backed foam. Also, insulate your windows using easy-to-use kits with vinyl shrink wrap, bubble wrap, cellular shades or lined drapes.

Don’t forget to insulate your attic or basement/crawlspace, too.

Lastly, protect your water pipes

from freezing and bursting with insulating pipe wrap, available at your local hardware store.

Now check for outdoor home improvements. Head outside your home, and look up. Do you see any missing roof shingles? If snow piles up on the roof, these could become weak spots, and eventually leaks, so get them replaced.

Check your sump pump to make sure it’s in good working condition and the drainage line is clear.

If the drainage line freezes during the winter months, do not keep the pump plugged in without supervision, as it will burn out. Don’t forget about your air conditioner, just because you won’t be using it; wrap foam around the pipes and cover the unit in plastic to help protect it from the cold.

PAGE 8 ■ FALL HOME IMPROVEMENT

THE HERALD ■ FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2016

Prepare, protect lawn for fall sports activities

By TERESA IQBAL Creators.com The arrival of fall often evokes images of fallen leaves, pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin carving and fall sports. Football, soccer and baseball are some of the most popular fall sports, which rely on more mild weather patterns — that crisp, cool air. These sports also require access to a suitable playing space, which is typically rolling green lawns. To prepare and maintain your lawn as a suitable practice space for your children, you’ll need a game plan of your own.

Preparing your lawn to grow into a lush landscape can help guarantee that your children will have a safe space to play this fall season. Plus, you have the added bonus of more family time while you help them practice their skills. Giving your lawn care and attention year-round will make things much easier when fall rolls around.

Some experts recommend beginning with a soil test. If you find difficulty achieving or maintaining a green lawn, it may be wise to get a better idea of which type of fertilizers work best for your soil.

Take a soil sample, and send it to a local testing facility, where experts can give you information on its pH level and recommendations for appropriate fertilizers.

Aerating your lawn is important year-round to keep your lawn healthy. Through this process, you allow nutrients, water and air to penetrate the soil and reach the grass roots more easily. This results in a stronger lawn that will

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Year-round care helps prepare your lawn for fall sports activities. be able to sustain the beating of cleats, slides and tackles.

Checking your lawn irrigation system to ensure that everything is working properly throughout the year will also help keep your lawn green well before fall. Make sure the lawn is being watered evenly.

You might think that you can or should hold off on maintaining your idyllic, green lawn once fall rolls around. Why would you if the kids are going to be tearing it up? But there are a few things to keep in mind.

Although we all would like to excuse ourselves from mowing the lawn, doing so only helps keep your lawn healthy throughout the

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fall season, for mowing encourages continued plant growth. And according to Jeffrey T. Fowler of ExpertBeacon, “it encourages recovery from the use and abuse fields take during football season.”

The last thing you want is for your children to drag their muddy feet into your clean house after

a long game. You might consider not watering your lawn once fall sports are in session to avoid muddy fields. Although those seem like innocent intentions, it’s better to instead be strategic about watering your lawn so you don’t finish the season with no lawn at all. Try to water in

the early morning hours or after sunset, which is typically recommended for the best water absorption anyway. This approach is a win-win for you, your kids and your lawn.

Touch-ups here and there are appropriate for your landscape.

If you notice patches or areas that are being affected by continued abuse, spread some seed after games and practices so new seedlings have the opportunity to fill in the area. Additionally, if you have the space, it can’t hurt to move the games over and corner off the spotty areas to give them a rest.

Although piles of fallen leaves can mean tons of fun, letting them pile up on your lawn can be terrible for its health. Not only are the leaves blocking sunlight but they are also creating moisture, which is a breeding ground for fungi.

Once fall is over, help your lawn recover so it can endure through the coming months. Fertilization is especially important, for the nutrients that are provided can better help your lawn sustain the harsher and colder months to come.

With these helpful lawn maintenance tips, you can be assured that you’ll have an all-star landscape through fall.

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THE HERALD ■ FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2016

FALL HOME IMPROVEMENT ■ PAGE 9

Why toilets flush slowly, often incompletely

By MARK J. DONOVAN Creators.com If you have one or more toilets flushing slowly or not completely you may very well have a systemic problem somewhere in your home’s waste-vent sewer pipes. It is important to understand that there are three key ingredients necessary for a toilet to flush properly: ■■ Sufficient water running through.

■■ Adequate air venting to allow the flushed material to keep moving during the flush.

■■ No blockages to hamper the movement of the water, waste and air through the toilet.

Fail to deliver on any one of these three ingredients and a toilet will not flush properly. If you have a toilet or multiple toilets flushing slowly and incompletely then you need to troubleshoot, diagnose and solve the problem by following the steps listed below.

Step one Use a plunger to remove any potential blockages in the waste line of the toilet. Make sure you use a plunger that can make an effective seal with the toilet bowl.

Also make sure the plunger is fully submerged in the toilet bowl water when plunging to ensure a strong enough plunge of air into the toilet bowl outlet. This process should loosen any blockage and allow the water and waste to begin moving freely again through the toilet and waste pipe.

cess. Insert and feed the auger line into the toilet bowl until you encounter resistance. Then crank the auger handle to work the au-

ger head through the blockage.

Step seven Lastly, run a sewer auger down

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Step two Turn off the water to the toilet tank, and then flush. Using rubber gloves feel for any obstructions in the toilet P-trap. Also check in the toilet inlet for any debris that could be clogging it. Then turn the water to the toilet tank back on.

Step three Remove the toilet tank cover and check the water level in the tank. The water line in the tank should be such that it is sitting about 1 inch or less from the top of the overflow tube. If it is lower than that, the toilet may not be getting enough water to fill the waste pipe and to create enough suction when you flush the toilet.

If necessary, adjust the screw on the float ball assembly so to adjust the standing water level in the tank.

Step four When flushing the toilet, listen for any gurgling sounds coming from other nearby drains, e.g., the bathroom sink as well as other nearby sinks. If you hear gurgling sounds, then this is an indication that the toilet vents are blocked. You will need to get up on your home’s roof and clear the vent stack pipe. There may be leaves, sticks or pine needles clogging it. Run a garden hose down the pipe and spray water down it. This should, hopefully, clear any clogs.

Step five Using a straightened paper clip, poke the water inlet holes around the inside rim of the toilet bowl to clear any mineral deposits that may be clogging them. Mineral deposits can impede water flow into the toilet when you flush, which ultimately prevents the formation of adequate suction required for proper flushing.

Step six Use a toilet auger to clear the waste lines if you’ve done all of the above and still not had suc-

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THE HERALD ■ FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2016

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FALL HOME IMPROVEMENT ■ PAGE 11

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THE HERALD ■ FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2016

THE HERALD ■ FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2016

FALL HOME IMPROVEMENT ■ PAGE 13

Creative options abound for unused fireplaces

By CHRISTINE BRUN Creators.com How can you fix a dysfunctional or ugly fireplace? This is often a predicament in very old homes where the fireplace was the heating system, or even more modern homes that feature an awkwardly placed or out-of-date fireplace.

Some are eyesores, cloaked in outof-date materials like slump stone; some are too rustic for taste. Let’s look at some creative ways to breathe new life into a room with a fireplace.

There may come a time when you realize you don’t have to keep a fireplace in your home just because it was originally built with the house. One of the best things about modern design is that we are allowed to break the rules of typical interior design without being judged. If a design or furniture piece looks friendly and feels good, consider putting it in your home.

In this case, there are clever ways to spruce up a fireplace beyond its traditional use and purpose.

I recently worked with a couple that owns a condo in a high-rise building right outside the outfield of our baseball stadium. They paid well over a million dollars for this penthouse, and it’s literally a part of the stadium - they can hear and see the game from their balcony. Unfortunately, the structure of this so-called luxury building does not measure up to the price tag. This condo had one of the ugliest fireplaces I’ve ever seen. In this situation, the owners covered up the fireplace opening and used the space for media equipment and a wall-mounted TV. There are often ventless fireplaces in high-rise buildings that look cheap and unrealistic.

They’re so unattractive that it’s better to get rid of them rather than pretend they are worthy of use. But, this is not to say that there aren’t very attractive designs out there. Pellet stoves are great options, with slim burners that use denatured alcohol and

may prefer to leave the firebox (the inside of the fireplace) intact and only change the material of the facade. For example, you can replace wood with natural stone. The size and type of materials range, from a full slab of marble or granite to 16-by-16 inch tiles of limestone, ceramic tile or porcelain.

If you desperately need more storage, consider treating the entire fireplace wall as a built-in unit. Design media storage, TV screen, bookshelves and storage cabinets or cubbies around and

over the existing firebox.

When remodeling, be certain to respect your local building or housing codes regarding noncombustible materials. In general, or if in doubt, make sure there are 12 inches of noncombustible material around the fireplace itself.

This also includes the distance the mantel protrudes from the wall. Zero-clearance firebox inserts have less stringent requirements in the manufacturer’s specifications.

Now it’s time to get creative and see what you can do to upgrade your fireplace.

CHRISTINE BRUN/CREATORS.COM

Create something new from something old by turning an unused fireplace in to a shelving unit. can also have other custom features. That being said, if you are stuck with something ugly from another era, why not cover it up instead of forcing the idea?

Here’s a case in point from Australia. Our example transforms the old fireplace into a backdrop for a seating area! It’s genius. By sealing and painting the fireplace opening, this homeowner turned the fireplace into a new architectural feature. The room is narrow, but this redesign allows for a completely new furniture arrangement that shifts the orientation of the room away from the fireplace and opens up the room. Anyone who walks into the space will feel it.

This example shows how our notions of furnishing a room have shifted over time. If you wish to create a more fresh seating arrangement in your home, know that you can install new drywall

right over just about any fireplace material to create a smooth, modern surface. If you want to get creative, you can also remove certain indentations and create a simpler shape if you wish.

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THE HERALD ■ FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2016

Clean sweep: Choose right tools for yard’s upkeep

By CATHERINE MCNULTY Creators.com Aah, the smell of autumn is in the air. It’s the time of year for hot apple cider, crisp days and giant piles of leaves. As much fun as crunching through fallen leaves can be, no one likes a messy, leafstrewn yard. A yard is only as good as its upkeep, and to properly keep up your yard you need the right tools. That means brooms and rakes, my friends.

You cannot willy-nilly go to the nearest convenience store and just purchase any old broom to do your dirty work. No, you need to consider what you need the broom to do and how it will benefit your lawn and garden.

Sound a bit dramatic? Maybe, but an unworthy rake or broom will just lead to frustration and wasted money. So, take the time to do a little investigation beforehand.

First, do you need a broom or a rake — or both? The heads of rakes have tines, which tend to be made of unyielding material (such as metal or hard plastic) and spaced far apart. The heads of brooms are generally made of softer, more flexible and natural materials and are more densely packed together. Rakes are better at gathering scattered materials, such as leaves, whereas brooms are better at general sweeping and clean up.

What you need depends on what you have. Someone with a large yard that has multiple trees shedding their leaves every fall has different needs than someone living in a desert environment with a yard full of succulents.

Let’s start with general yard care. If cleaning up fallen leaves is part of your lawn duties, look for a sturdy, easy-to-handle rake. Don’t feel self-conscious: Give it a whirl in the store! If something handles awkwardly there, you’re never go-

ing to use it at home. Consider the proportions, too. Someone who is 5 feet 2 inches tall probably doesn’t need a 6-foot rake, and vice versa.

How wide should the head of the rake be, and how long should the tines be? That’s a mixture of personal preference and needs. If you have a huge yard and you’re hand-raking leaves across great expanses of it, then you need something wider as to be more efficient. If you’re going to be doing a lot of edge work around flowerbeds or walkways, you’ll need a smaller, more careful and precise rake.

Rakes are also excellent at cleaning sand, for you Zen gardeners out there. The tines can catch and remove debris, all while leaving a harmonious pattern behind.

Brooms are better for walkways and paths. They can sweep off any dirt, grass or other lawn debris that might gather there.

Brooms are also handy for clearing a light snowfall from walkways and driveways.

Outdoor brooms and rakes can be purchased at any hardware or home supply store. Places such as Home Depot and Lowe’s will have the biggest selections, but even Target and Wal-Mart carry them.

Prices can run less than $10, but most sturdy brooms and rakes tend to be in the $25 to 35 range. If you need both and want to be more economical, see whether there are sets available. After all, they both use long, skinny handles; all you need to do is switch out the head.

The Original Garden Broom is a great compromise between a broom and a rake. Made from the dried spines of palm fronds that are held together with twine woven from coconut shell husks, it’s also environmentally friendly.

The palm leaf spines are supple enough to be flexible for sweeping. But they’re also stiff enough to gather like a rake. The Garrett Wade Heavy Duty Garden & Ga-

In small- or medium-size yards, a sturdy broom, such as the Original Garden Broom, can also function as a rake.

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THE HERALD ■ FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2016

FALL HOME IMPROVEMENT ■ PAGE 15

Turn your bath into a home spa

By JOSEPH PUBILLONES Creators.com As Americans hustle and bustle to make ends meet and the work hours extend well beyond 40 hours per week, stress is an alltime high. Stress is responsible for triggering incidents from panic attacks to illness and even cardiac arrest. This is why the spa business is booming at an alarming rate. While some business folks may get the occasional perks of downtime to book a day at a spa, most American families do not have the luxury of time. Bringing the concept of the spa to your home is becoming quite popular.

Creating an at-home getaway is the goal when transforming your bathroom into a spa. There are several factors to consider in such a home improvement project. To get your bathroom to capture the spa feeling, you will want to capture as much room as possible. You will need more room to accommodate a luxurious tub to soak in, a large shower with massaging jet sprays, or perhaps a steam unit to transform your shower into a steam bath, a bench inside the shower, and a place to sit down and relax.

Give good consideration to plumbing fixtures and hardware.

These valves and controls are important because they are tactile items, which affect the way you perceive your spa-bathroom.

They are also effective to express a sense of luxury and relaxation.

The colors that are used in spas are deliberately chosen to reduce stress. The colors that are most used as those inspired by the sky, ocean and earth. These colors are usually very light. While they may seem washed out, these colors that are dusty and seem to insinuate another are the best. Like a soft white with an aqua green shimmer, or a beige that reflects salmon paired. These pale colors work the best when paired with white, gray or espresso cabinetry and trim.

Today’s new spa-bathroom combinations also make a statement with tiles and stone treatments. The more exotic the marble, granite or quartz, the better.

Sometimes great slabs are bookmatched for an incredible organic pattern on walls and floors. Mosaics are historically tied to baths since pre-Roman times, and today with advances in technology, micro tiles can be laser cut and assembled to create the most incredible and fantastic patterns and designs.

Other items to be considered in the design of a spa-bathroom: ■■ Candles: For burning at specific times, can be soothing. I would suggest a subtle aromatherapeutic scent. Small votive around your bath area can be beautiful, but also give off a relaxing glow.

■■ The best linens: Accessoriz-

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Turn your batheroom into a five-star home spa. ing you bathroom with a nice bathrobe, thick absorbent towels, and bathmats are both useful and make your slippery surfaces safe.

■■ Flowers and plants: Are a great invigorating element of

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PAGE 16 ■ FALL HOME IMPROVEMENT

THE HERALD ■ FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2016

Weatherproofing patio furniture increases longevity

By CHELLE CORDERO Creators.com When your patio furniture looks and feels welcoming, you can have your own private oasis to relax, entertain and spend warm summer evenings. Unfortunately, the weather can make your furniture uncomfortably weathered and reduce its longevity. In reality, proper maintenance of your lawn furniture isn’t all that difficult, and the payoff can be huge.

Unless you live in a very mild climate with little seasonal change, your patio furniture is not meant to be outside all year long. Even if you are able to manage without storing the furniture for the winter, the sun, rain, wind and even small wildlife creatures can cause damage. Regular maintenance will help keep your furniture looking good. Clean the furniture every few weeks; use hot, soapy water on aluminum, vinyl and plastic; use plain water, no soap, on wooden furniture, and wipe it down and let it dry completely afterward; use upholstery cleaner on canvas following the manufacturer directions; and use any glass cleaner and crumpled newspaper or paper towels on glass tabletops.

Remove cushions when the patio furniture is not in use to help cut down on mildew from morning dew or rain, and put them away in a dry shed. You can also cover the furniture with vinyl tarps or custom patio furniture covers. Custom covers will usually fit better and stay on in mild winds; use tie downs or weights to hold tarps in place. Make sure that your cushions pass the sniff test periodically, even if they are allegedly rain-resistant.

If the cushions do get wet, either from the weather or from spilled drinks, rinse, wipe and allow to air-dry. If your cushions

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Teak patio furniture, when cared for properly, can remain outside all year. have removable covers, toss them in the gentle cycle and let them air dry completely. Canvas and rope hammocks can be laundered although you might need to use a commercial-size machine.

For covers that can’t be removed, or for furniture such as umbrellas, mix a mild solution of bleach and water (approximately 3/4 cup bleach to a gallon of water) and, using a spray bottle, test an inconspicuous corner for color fastness. If the color stays OK, then spray the fabric and wipe the solution off with a sponge and cold, fresh water.

Fixing any stains, rust spots or loose hardware as soon as you find them is the best way to prep for seasonally storing your furniture.

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niture into a dry shed or garage for the winter. Tighten all loose bolts and screws and test to make sure they are holding and there are no wobbly legs. If you find cracks in plastic or wooden furniture you might be able to make repairs with glue or putty, but don’t wait for them to get bigger.

Wash all surfaces of metal furniture, and check for oxidation or rust. Use steel wool and rub rust spots gently so that you don’t rub off paint from surrounding areas, and then spray with rustproofing paint (in the same or a similar color). Apply a thin coat of car wax,

and buff with a soft cloth. Using a brush and the mild bleach-water

solution, spray and scrub wicker furniture and rinse with the spray from a garden hose. Use a light coat of spray paint if needed to freshen the finish, and spray water repellant solution on the legs and feet. Store wicker furniture inside and off the floor during the winter.

Use a bleach solution on cedar and teak furniture and allow it to sit for 24 hours to lighten the wood.

Sand the surface with a fine sand paper, and apply China wood oil.

Treated cedar and teak furniture can be left outside year-round if the weather is not too severe. Use a firm sponge and the detergent, bleach and water solution on other wood furniture. Freshen painted finishes. If the furniture has a natural wood finish, coat it with a clear water repellent and paste wax. This wood furniture should be stored indoors and off the floor through the winter. Plastic resin furniture should be washed with a detergent, rinsed and stored where temperatures will remain above freezing for the winter.

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THE HERALD ■ FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2016

FALL HOME IMPROVEMENT ■ PAGE 17

Close up home before flying south for winter

By KRISTEN CASTILLO Creators.com When the temperatures dip and the forecast looks like snow, ice and a deep freeze, most people in cold climates start preparing for a long season.

But for snowbirds — those people who head south for the winter — getting ready for the season doesn’t include gloves, snow shovels or fire wood. Instead before they get head out for warm temps and sunny skies, they have to prep their home for their time away.

Winterize “I used to come down south for at least one month out of the year,” says former snowbird AJ Saleem, who now lives full time in Houston.

“The most important thing to

do is to winterize your house,” says Saleem, who previously lived in Vermont and Connecticut.

“This generally means insulating pipes that are susceptible to the cold air and ensuring that leaky seals are fixed. Of course, it’s never possible to be too careful, but there are some general precautions snowbirds should always take.”

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Regular check-ins will give you peace of mind, too.

“Have a friend, neighbor or maintenance company check on your property once a week to see if there are any water leaks, ice dams and hopefully no break-ins,” says Sheryl Simon, principal of Benoit Mizner Simon & Co. Real Estate, who recommends setting up a home monitoring security system that you can monitor via tablet or computer.

Discontinue your newspaper delivery. “Even having a weeks’ worth of papers on your front lawn is a sure sign to a prospective robber that you are on vacation,” says Simon.

Forward your mail to your seasonal address so you can stay current on bills.

General tips It seems simple but make sure you give keys to a neighbor or friend in case of emergency. Keep a set for yourself, too.

“You may need to get home in a hurry only to discover that the person at home who has your keys, has taken a weekend ski vacation,” says snowbird Sheridan Becker, who splits time between New York City and Fort

How to purge air from hot-water pipes

By MARK J. DONOVAN Creators.com My home uses a hot-water-tohot-air converter system for heat.

Recently, the heat upstairs stopped working. I called in an HVAC contractor, and within about 10 minutes he identified the problem and had my upstairs heating system working again.

What was the cause of the failure? Actually, there were two culprits.

First, air was in the hot-water pipe that fed the attic heat exchanger, causing the circulator pump not to circulate water through the closed-loop water heating system associated with the attic circuit. Second, the water feeder valve was not working properly in the fact that it did not automatically allow more water into the closed-loop heating circuit when it sensed a low pressure, e.g., below 15 psi.

The HVAC contractor explained to me that there was a leak somewhere in my heating system, which slowly bled off pressure into the attic-heating hot-water circuit. Due to the amount of air in the hot-water pipe, the circulator pump simply couldn’t pump water through the circuit. Thus, no hot water was making it up into the attic heat exchanger.

He also explained that the water feeder valve had not been working properly. If it had, it would have automatically pumped more water into the hot-water heating circuit to get the pressure up above 15 psi.

To confirm his explanation of the problems to me, he first went up into the attic and loosened a nipple screw on a valve that fed the hot water into the heat exchanger. As he loosened the nipple screw we could hear air blowing out of the loosened nipple seal. When water finally began to spew from the loosened nipple screw he tightened the nipple screw back up. Within seconds we could feel hot water circulating through the copper pipe. By purging air from the hot-water supply pipe, he had restored water circulation to the attic heat exchanger.

In the basement, the HVAC contractor showed me that the pressure in the hot-water heating system was only at around 10 psi. Upon slightly lifting the small metal arm on the water feeder valve, I instantly heard water swooshing into the pipe. When the pressure gauge read 18 psi he restored the metal arm on the water feeder valve to its normal position. Too much water in the heating system risks the pressure and

temperature relief valve going off.

After demonstrating how the water feeder valve operated we decided to have him replace the valve so that I wouldn’t have to worry about having too low water pressure in the heating system again in the event another small leak in the hot-water heating circuit occurred.

Lastly, in regards to the concern for a leak in the heating system, I explained to him that I

had noticed a small leak dripping from a nipple screw on the heat exchanger in the basement during the summer. I told him I believe the leak had persisted for a couple of months before I resolved the issue by simply tightening the nipple screw. Consequently, after the HVAC contractor installed the new water feeder valve, the pressure in the water-heating pipes remained constant and no water leaks were discovered.

Make sure your homeowners insurance is up to date. That way you’ll be covered if something goes awry while you’re away.

Pack up all of your pets to either travel with you to your warm destination or to stay with a friend. Never leave a pet at home while you’re at your snowbird destination.

Inside preps “Don’t shut your heating system off,” urges Saleem. Instead, snowbirds should set their thermostat to four degrees or less below normal settings.

Having enough heat will protect pipes from bursting in cold temps, which can be expensive to repair. Schedule automatic temperature settings to keep your place from getting too chilly.

Remember to close all windows. If not, “your heat will have to work harder,” says Saleem, recommending snowbirds seal up drafts to maximize energy efficiency.

Consider automatic time-controlled lighting, which can give the impression someone’s home,

a deterrent for burglars. Schedule the lights to turn on and off at fixed times such as on at 6 p.m. and off at 10 p.m.

Outside preps One of the major winter concerns is dealing with the weather, specifically ice and snow.

Before you leave, hire someone to plow or shovel snow. “Don’t let large amounts of snow build up on your roof, especially on flat roofs,” says Simon, since heavy snow can cause the roof to weaken or collapse.

Travel preps ■■ While your home is ready for you to fly south for the season, make sure you’re ready too.

■■ Let close friends and relatives know you’ll be away. They can keep tabs on your property if needed.

■■ “Leave valuables in a vault away from your property,” says Simon.

■■ Forward your calls to your cell phone or out-of-state landline.

■■ Keep a list of your doctors, doctors’ contact information and your medications.

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PAGE 18 ■ FALL HOME IMPROVEMENT

THE HERALD ■ FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2016

Lighting lets you get outdoor fix during fall

By JULIA PRICE Creators.com Lighting can make all the difference when it comes to interior design. It can turn a room into a warm, romantic haven or create a dark, brooding vibe. Outdoor lighting is just as powerful. A few simple do-it-yourself tricks will turn your lawn and garden into an elegant space and regular hangout spot — just like a dreamy setting from a movie. And don’t worry about your bank account. These DIY options are only a fraction of the cost you’d spend buying products from home-goods stores.

Rope lighting is a beautiful way to illuminate your outdoor pathways and patios. You can purchase a spool of rope lighting (LED is recommended because of its energy efficiency) in various colors, clear being the most popular. But before you purchase, make sure to measure the areas you wish to adorn with lights. Any leftover strands can be used for smaller areas, so it’s better to purchase more than you think you’ll need. Head to Home Depot or Ace Hardware, or order online on Amazon.com.

Once you have the rope lighting, walk along the path you want to light, leaving little to no slack as you lay the strand down. To fasten and secure the strands, simply purchase garden staples and pin them to the ground. Use your judgment to determine how many staples you need and how far apart you should place them.

You’ll likely need more any rounded areas of the pathway.

If you’d like to string rope lighting along a balcony, patio or deck, you will also want to purchase screw-in clips to hold the rope up.

These can be placed under the patio railings. This process will take a little more time, and possibly some experience with a drill, but if you are comfortable taking on the project the results will be breathless. To make things easier, YouTube has some great tutorials.

Simply search “how to install rope lighting.”

For you wine lovers or friends of wine lovers, there’s a clever wine fixture that I’m sure you’ve never thought of. Save empty wine bottles, rinse them out, peel off the labels, and transform them into lanterns. Fill the bottle halfway with torch fuel, water or oil (olive oil will also work). If you’re not sensitive to the smell of insect repellent, you may want to find torch fuel that doubles as a repellent, to help keep the bugs away from your outdoor space. You can also find some unscented brands, but those might be more difficult

Simple outdoor lighting fixtures can turn an outdoor space into an elegant hangout.

JULIA PRICE CREATORS.COM

to come across. Pouring liquid into the bottle is a messy job, so use a funnel to make the job easier.

Once you’ve filled the bottle halfway, wrap thread seal tape (aka plumber’s tape) around copper coupling, which can be purchased at Home Depot or Lowe’s.

Insert the copper coupling into the bottle. Make a homemade wick using some medical gauze. Cut it into three thin pieces about 6 to 8 inches long, and braid the pieces together. If you’re not completely comfortable making your own, you can also purchase Tiki torch wick replacements. They will be durable and dependable. Either way, slide the wick into the bottle, and let it absorb the liquid for at

least five minutes before lighting it. When you are finished burning it, cover it with the copper top to preserve the fuel.

A simpler outdoor lighting fix involves candles. You can purchase Mason jars individually or in packs of four, eight or more and make your own candle wax.

Again, you can purchase premade candlewicks, but those often come in a precut size. So if you want to make your own you can easily find braided wicks with the wick tab base sold separately. Now for the candle wax. Got five or six old, stubby candles lying around? Perfect. Use ‘em up. Heat the candle wax to about 180 degrees. Once the wax is melted, you are free to add

scents or drops of essential oils.

Once you’ve added flavor, let the wax cool, but don’t let it solidify.

While it is cool, but still in liquid form, carefully pour it into your Mason jars, and then drop in the wick with the tab until the tab hits the bottom. The wax will solidify

after several hours. Then you’ve got yourself some homemade candles!

With these clever, simple DIY decorations, there’s no reason to skimp out on beautiful fall evenings outdoors.

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THE HERALD ■ FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2016

FALL HOME IMPROVEMENT ■ PAGE 19

Install new skylight in room with attic

By JAMES DULLEY Creators.com Dear James: My house is fairly small and I want to add a skylight to the living room to open it up. The problem is that there is an attic above it. Is there a way to still add a skylight in the ceiling? — Steph J. Dear Steph: Adding a skylight to a room can have an amazing impact on its decor and make it seem much larger than it actually is. You will be surprised at how the bright, natural sunlight will draw your family members into that room.

Although it is a little trickier to install a skylight in a room with an attic above it compared to a vaulted or cathedral ceiling, more than half of all skylights are installed this way. The actual installation of the skylight in the roof is identical, but you will have to build a light well from your ceiling to the skylight in the roof.

Before you start cutting holes in the roof, first determine the type of skylight (flat or domed, glass or plastic, fixed or venting) that you want. A fixed, domed, plastic one is probably the easiest to install and is definitely the least expensive option.

If you prefer a skylight that opens for ventilation, consider how it opens. Since it is up in a light well, it may be difficult to reach with a manual rod. Installing a model with an electric motor is most convenient. Make sure you have a simple path to run an electric line to it.

PIXABAY/CREATORS.COM

Fill your home with warm, natural light with a skylight.

The size of the skylight is also critical for effective lighting and for aesthetic balance. If it is too small, it will look silly. If it is too big, it will create glare and result in too much energy loss. A rule of thumb is to multiply the square footage of the room by .045 to determine the proper square foot size of the skylight.

Go up on the roof and determine where you want the skylight to be located. Drill a hole through the roof at about the center of the

skylight. Go into the attic. Use the hole as a reference only because the skylight location should be adjusted to match up with the rafters for proper support. Drill four corner holes up through the roof to show the exact location.

There are two light well designs you can use. A straight-walled light well is the easiest to build, but not the most attractive or effective. With this light well design, the opening in your ceiling is the same size as the skylight and the

sides are straight for simplicity.

If you are somewhat handy with tools, a tapered light well is a much better design. The open area in your ceiling will be about twice that of the skylight area. It provides better distribution of the sunlight throughout your room and a better view of the sky.

No matter which design of light well you choose, it is extremely important to seal all the joints well with caulking. Silicone caulking is good to use because

the temperature inside an attic can get quite high. Go into the attic and glue or nail several inches of rigid foam insulation on the sides of the light well. Don’t leave any voids.

Once the light well is completed, the worst is over. Installing a skylight in the roof is straightforward procedure that is similar for most skylights. The key to a leakfree installation is generous use of caulking and careful fitting of the flashing and shingles.

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PAGE 20 ■ FALL HOME IMPROVEMENT

THE HERALD ■ FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2016

Keep garden alive in the dead of winter

By TAWNY MAYA MCCRAY Creators.com

Gardening can be done all year long, even in the dead of winter.

But gardening in the winter becomes tricky when a warm spell occurs and prompts plants to sprout early, leaving them vulnerable to the next frost. During these times, it’s important to take measures to protect your orchard or garden from blooming and ruining potential fruits and vegetables.

One such measure to protect the green tips from frost is to cover them with an inch or two of lightweight mulch, such as leaves.

If a deep freeze does strike the foliage of bulbs and other plants, it probably will only harm the leaves and not the flowers, which are not likely to have emerged yet.

Bulb plants should bloom on time, even if their leaves are discolored or shriveled.

It’s important not to walk on lawns and garden beds during these warm spells, much less start digging. Soil that is beginning to thaw is likely saturated with water and can’t drain well, because there is a layer of frozen soil underneath. Walking on wet soil can compact it, squeezing the soil particles together, so no air or water can flow between them.

That causes big problems for plant roots.

Brad Julian, director of merchandising at Lowe’s, said the range and variety of what you can grow in the winter is much narrower, so your winter garden should be about one-third the size of your summer garden. However, there are lots of cool-climateloving vegetables that have better flavor and texture when grown in winter than during the heat of spring or summer. They include such greens as arugula, spinach, collards, lettuce, Swiss chard, mustard and kale; such root crops as like carrots, beets, onions and radishes; brassicas, including broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage; and legumes, such as fava beans and peas. Which crops to grow and the timing of planting will vary by location, but Lowe’s has a website with garden plans, articles, videos and special tips for your region.

According to Julian, some tips on preparing a winter garden include preparing beds in early fall when the soil is easier to work with, watering your garden sparingly and covering them before the first frost. Sheets, blankets and floating row covers are the simplest ways to protect plants still growing in late fall. Simply toss covers over plants at night and remove them the next day, so the sun can warm the soil to carry plants through the next cold night.

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These covers work best when the fabric stays dry overnight.

Because air and soil temperature control growth of plants, temperature fluctuations in the winter can actually be more of a threat than the cold. Plants harden, meaning they develop winter hardiness and become dormant, and become able to tolerate cold weather as winter approaches.

However, if there is a cold snap before the plant has adapted or if it is not allowed to harden off, tender growth can be damaged. And just as a prolonged warm spell can initiate new growth in a plant and make it susceptible to damage when cold returns, if there is unseasonably cold weather after the plant has begun normal spring growth, new growth and expanding buds can be damaged.

Sunscald can be a problem on thin-barked or newly planted trees. Cells become active when heated by the sun and are then killed as temperatures drop be-

low freezing. Usually occurring on the south or southwest side of the trunk, sunscald can appear as sunken or discolored bark. Alternate periods of warming and freezing can also cause the bark to split. And warm temperatures along with wind can cause evergreen foliage to lose moisture.

The best way to go about building a winter garden is to choose plants that are winter hardy in your area. Careful plant placement is also important. Some plants require drier soil with excellent drainage in winter. Broadleaf evergreens do best in sheltered areas protected from winter wind.

Again, mulch is key. The goal is not to keep the soil warm but to keep it uniformly cold all winter.

This can help prevent frost heaving as well as unwanted growth during unseasonably warm winter weather. Along with shredded leaves, weed-free straw and evergreen boughs are good choices,

LOWE’S/CREATORS.COM

Some greens and root crops yield better results when grown during the winter. because they are light bulky materials that will not compact.

Mulch should not be applied until the plant is dormant, the ground has partially frozen and temperatures are consistently below freezing. This is usually

not until the end of November or later. But be sure to keep mulch away from the trunks of woody plants and stems or crowns of perennials. Mulch can hold unwanted moisture and provide cover for rodents.