Spring In To Action | 2021 Home Improvement Guide

SPRINGsmart INTO change ACTION INSIDE Bad weather outside —redecorate inside 10 ways to squeeze more space out of your closet Fix your dull outside light fixtures Store winter clothes safely AND MORE

PLUS: 8 SIMPLE CHANGES THAT CAN ADD PIZZAZZ TO YOUR BACK YARD THIS SPRING

2 | Sunday, February 28, 2021

HOME IMPROVEMENT

SMART CHANGE | SPRING INTO ACTION

Spotlight on curb appeal Give faded outdoor light fixtures a makeover KATHRYN WEBER

‌A

Tribune News Service‌

lot of homes have a common problem: Their exterior light fixtures are worn and faded. Faded fixtures, lamp posts and pendants look bad and kill a home’s curb appeal. Here are some tips on ways to restore outdoor lights, and what to look for in new fixtures.

The culprits

Outdoor fixtures suffer a constant beating from sunlight, cold, heat, ice, snow, wind and rain. The biggest cause of fading is ultraviolet (UV) sunlight, says Jeffrey Dross, corporate director of education and industry trends for Kichler Lighting.

“It’s hard to put something outdoors and not have an effect on the finish,” Dross says, “but choosing a finish that’s UV stable or resistant is helpful.”

Dross explains that there are three basic types of lighting fixtures, those with painted finishes, those with powder-coated finishes and those made of solid material, such as brass or copper.

“Solid material fixtures are the most durable and will last longest,” Dross explains. “Of course, their finishes will change but they don’t fade; they develop an aesthetically appealing patina, like verdigris in copper and a burnished patina for brass.”

Fast fixes

But what can you do if you have a perfectly good fixture that’s simply lost its color? Giving your lighting fixtures a new lease on life can be as simple as adding a new coat of paint. If fixtures are easy to remove, they can be disassembled and revived with a shot of spray paint. As always, follow good painting rules: sand the surface thoroughly, wipe off excess dust, and spray lightly with the best quality spray paint you can find.

For another measure of protection, add a UV-protective coating, such as Krylon’s UV-Resistant clear spray coat. This is the easiest way to squeeze another two to three years out of your lighting fixtures.

Powder coating can also brighten things up. There are powder coating companies that will take rusty lawn furniture or faded light fixtures, blast away the old finish and apply a new one. Search for these online under “powder coating.”

Powder coating involves electrifying the fixture, then spraying on the new finish — a type of coating that’s electrostatically applied to the surface. Make sure you inquire about whether the powder coating used is UV stable. Even if it’s not, this process will give you a fixture that looks new and will wear longer than paint.

Buy new

Of course, there’s always the option to buy new fixtures. If it’s in your budget, look for units made from solid brass, copper or even wrought iron. These typically run about twice the cost of off-the-shelf fixtures, but they last much longer. If these are too costly, look for powder-coated fixtures labeled “UV stable” says Dross.

“Powder-coated finishes are usually, though not always, UV stable, so they’ll stand up against the elements and look better longer,” he notes.

For more information, contact Kathryn Weber at www.redlotusletter.com.

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Attractive lighting in good condition adds significant curb appeal.

Sunday, February 28, 2021 | 3

HOME IMPROVEMENT

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| SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2021

HOME IMPROVEMENT

SMART CHANGE | SPRING INTO ACTION

8 SIMPLE CHANGES CAN ADD

PIZZAZZ

TO YOUR BACK YARD THIS SPRING KATHRYN WEBER

4

Tribune News Service

W

ith all those seed catalogs piled on the coffee table and local home centers crammed to the gills with trays of blooming plants, it’s hard to resist the urge to start working outside. But first, take a quick tour around your yard with an eye toward improvements that will make your outdoor living space more enjoyable in the months ahead. Here are some tips:

1

Dine al fresco

Eating outdoors is a lovely way to experience nature and a meal at the same time. Consider adding a deck or arbor in the yard for dining outdoors in al fresco fashion — and don’t be afraid to place it in the middle of the yard.

5

Create your own dog

park If you’ve thought about a dog kennel, but those chain link kennels look more like prisons than places for your furry family members, why not create your own dog park? Fence off a corner of the yard, build a structure to keep your pet out of the elements, then fill with gravel or mulch.

Your yard will be free of dog bombs, the dog will have room to roam, and pet cleanup will be easier.

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6

7

Go locavore

Add water

Without a doubt, adding water is one of the most pleasurable ways to create movement, sound and cool enjoyment in your yard. Whether it’s a fountain, water fall or small koi pond, water adds a natural element that creates a natural feel to your yard.

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Add structure

A back yard is much more inviting with a few places to sit and relax in the shade. A gazebo or an arbor with seating is ideal.

Home centers offer arbor kits, or if you’re crafty, you can build one yourself. It makes a great spot for dining and entertaining — and adds visual punch to the yard.

Take in a view

Once you create a view, you open up the opportunity for a seating element, such as a swing or stone or concrete bench.

Carve out a niche in the garden, add mulch or gravel and you have a quiet spot that invites conversation and lingering over a glass of wine.

The local food movement is popular and growing, but you can’t get much more local than your own vegetable and herb patch. If space is lacking, try an African keyhole garden. They’re productive, take up little space and water, and use compost from the kitchen. Learn more about keyhole gardens at tinyurl.com/74f6ruj.

3

Create a view.

Whether it’s an arbor draped in climbing roses or a blooming vine, or a simple urn on a pedestal, creating a view elevates your back yard from a dull grass patch to an outdoor room. Visual appeal creates overall enjoyment and more interest in your yard.

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A gazebo adds visual interest, shade and extra seating — not to mention a touch of romance.

Light things up

One of the best investments you can make in your yard is to add lighting. But think in layers. Use pathway lights, tree lighting or lights on the exterior walls of the house for the base. Follow up with additional layers, such as a chandelier in an arbor or gazebo, string lights in a tree or candles along an outdoor fireplace. Each layer adds another layer of romance.

Sunday, February 28, 2021 | 5

HOME IMPROVEMENT

SMART CHANGE | SPRING INTO ACTION

Spread

out

your spring cleaning

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pring cleaning is one of those seasonal chores you feel great about once it’s done. The problem is, it takes time to do a thorough job.

With family activities and a host of obligations outside the home, it’s hard to devote a large chunk of time to get cleaning the entire house all at once. In reality, you don’t have to do everything in one weekend, and some chores should actually wait — making a prolonged spring cleaning program efficient both in time spent and energy expended.

March chores

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Now the weather should be warm enough A pressure washer is a handy tool for cleaning everything from your deck to those stinkin’ to tackle some bigger projects, especially garbage cans. outside. Hire a professional to steam clean your dingy carpets. Have floor tile grout cleaned, too, if it’s showing some grime.

If you have a pressure washer, hose off S TO O S High Country Renovations LLC BI sidewalks, the siding, porch or deck, and wash your indoor and outdoor garbage cans.

Check the gutters. Spend a sunny afternoon detailing your car and cleaning out the gaAFTER rage. You’ll love parking your sparkling veRO hicle in a clean and organized space!

C 3 2 93 1 8 Lastly, take a look at your entrance. Dust the door and light fixtures, repainting where Serving Happy Jack & necessary, and give your entryway a thorE R Surrounding Areas O F E ough cleaning. Add color and interest with B (928) 978-8288 new plants around the door.

Warmer weather starts to show up in earnest now, so you can move outside. In prepa- For more information, contact Kathryn Weber at ration for cleaning the garage in May, haul www.redlotusletter.com.

ALL

April duties

May tasks

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Because it’s still cool, set the oven selfcleaner one morning early. Then start decluttering and emptying closets and drawers of unused, unwanted items. Scrub marred walls, either with a mild cleaner or try an eraser type sponge to remove scuffs and nicks. Touch up with paint if necessary.

Follow up with intensive vacuuming.

Sweep under beds and over upholstery and lampshades using a soft brush attachment.

Clean mattresses, window sills, the tops of doors, under appliances, the coils on your refrigerator and baseboards with a long-handled brush attachment.

Give the corners in each room a once over for cobwebs. Finally, clean all light fixtures and dust light bulbs and ceiling fans.

hazardous waste to your approved landfill or waste site. This can include anything from old computers to batteries, cleaning chemicals and paint.

This is an ideal time to clean windows. Using a squeegee and microfiber cloth, clean your windows inside and out with a diluted cleaning solution and polish with a microfiber cloth. Indoors, organize the pantry, freezer, refrigerator, closets and drawers that you decluttered in March.

Install organizers, label jars and storage containers in the pantry and garage.

Take comforters and coats to the cleaners, and when they come back, slip them in a space-saving bag for easier storage.

JO

Tribune News Service‌

NO

KATHRYN WEBER

JBLAck@HIgHcOuNTRyRENOvATION.cOM

REMODELS-REPAIRS-ADDITIONS-NEW CONSTRUCTION

6 | Sunday, February 28, 2021

HOME IMPROVEMENT

SMART CHANGE | SPRING INTO ACTION

Bad weather have you stuck indoors?

REDECORATE! KATHRYN WEBER

Tribune News Service‌

‌“On the next rainy day, I’ll...”

We all say it. But when those showers actually arrive, we often forget our promises. If Mother Nature leaves you trapped indoors, use the time to do some redecorating. During good weather, purchase needed supplies so you’ll be ready to beautify your home when the rain begins.

A fixture fix

One of the fastest ways to perk up your decorating is by changing fixtures, including everything from chandeliers to plumbing fixtures. If you’re handy, you can easily switch out dated lighting fixtures. Changing plumbing fixtures goes fast, too, if you have the tools.

Replacing old fixtures can really freshen up a bathroom, and possibly even save you money on water.

Switch out your shower head for a low-flow option.

If this is too complicated, other decorating changes that don’t require as much DIY experience include replacing cabinet pulls and door knobs. Door knobs are a fast update and can be replaced quickly with a simple electric screwdriver. Try replacing old-fashioned round knobs with contemporary lever style models that are easier to open.

Pick a wall, any wall

Too often, we push furniture against them but don’t use walls for the great backdrops that they are. Select a wall to make a statement on with paint, wallpaper, artwork or photos. Try wallpapering or painting the wall behind a sofa, a bed, the wall of the powder room that you first see when you enter the room, or the key

wall in your dining room. Or, instead, add a wall of maps or prints that are similar. The unity will create drama and make the wall an instant focal point.

Make it mosaic

Tiling is one of the easiest DIY jobs around the house, and mosaic tile is easy to work with. Because the tiles are often as small as half an inch square, it’s easy to make them fit into a given spot. Typically attached to a webbed backing, they’re a cinch to put up and trim. Try tiling the backsplash in the kitchen, a wall in the bathroom, behind the sink in a powder room, or cover the top of a small side table. Use premixed adhesive and grout and you’ll be amazed at how much punch you can get in a small amount of time.

No-cost decorating

For only the cost of elbow grease, try moving a bed on an angle, re-arranging your living or family room furniture by swapping chairs and sofas to the opposite spots. Remove the art from all your rooms and replace with new pieces. Go through the house and pull furniture out from the wall.

And don’t forget your home office. If the desk faces a wall, turn it around executive style. Color-coordinate your rooms by finding items with a similar color scheme and create a red-themed or yellow-themed room. The change will really give your home a bright, beautiful new face when the weather is ugly outdoors.

For more information, contact Kathryn Weber at www.redlotusletter.com.

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We can discuss what home improvements might give you more bang for your buck.

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Sunday, February 28, 2021 | 7

HOME IMPROVEMENT

Bring value and beauty to your home with a new tree MISTI-WARNER ANDERSEN

Warner’s Nursery‌

‌ hile trees can be a big-ticket landscapW ing item, they are sure to add value to your life—and your property.

There’s the obvious aesthetic pleasure of watching a new tree grow in your garden, but studies also show that having more greenery in your life reduces stress. And if you are interested in value that’s measured in cold, hard cash—well, it turns out money does grow on trees.

A mature tree can raise the value of your home, sometimes by thousands of dollars.

Strategic planting of trees can lower your energy costs by as much as 30%, providing shade in the summer and protecting your home from windy northern Arizona days in the early spring.

Warner’s Nursery specializes in the selection, care and growth of trees suited for northern Arizona and our friendly staff can help you find the best tree for your property.

Once you select your tree, follow these tips on how to plant it.

The first step is to dig a saucer shaped hole that is twice the width of the root ball and equally as deep.

Next, prepare the soil. The rule of

thumb is to mix equal amounts of the original soil with enriched soil.

Before removing the tree from its container, water it thoroughly. Then gently remove it from its container by supporting the stem in one hand and turning the pot upside down with the other.

It’s important to loosen the roots to avoid girdling. Remove any wire or twine near the trunk and gently fold back any burlap before planting.

Place the tree into your hole, add fertilizer tablets and start backfilling with your previously mixed soil.

To prevent transplant shock and promote vigorous root growth, water thoroughly, adding a root stimulator mixture.

Finally, add three to four inches of garden mulch and then cover with bark chips as the final layer. This prevents weeds and also keeps soil temperature optimal.

Once your tree is planted, water once a day for the first two weeks. Thereafter, proper watering is essential to ensure longterm growth. Drip irrigation is best but if that’s not possible, a slow trickle out of your garden hose for 30 minutes is a fair imitation.

Place the hose at the edge of the canopy.

Following these tips, you’ll be able to enjoy your new tree for years to come.

Warner’s Nursery specializes in the selection, care and growth of trees suited for northern Arizona.

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| SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2021

HOME IMPROVEMENT

SMART CHANGE | SPRING INTO ACTION

Give that jumbled medicine cabinet a

Separate everything in the medicine cabinet by category to make finding what you need quicker and easier.

makeover

DREAMSTIME, VIA TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY

KATHRYN WEBER

Tribune News Service

M

any medicine cabinets are so jumbled with medications, bug spray, cast-off cosmetics, combs, nail clippers, toothpaste, suntan lotion and loose cotton swabs that it can be tough to find what you need when you need it.

A few organizing strategies can help you give your medicine cabinet a much-needed makeover.

Location, location

Typically, the medicine cabinet becomes the repository for all manner of medicines, but the heat and humidity of the bathroom make this a poor choice for storing medication. Instead, select a cabinet in a cool, dry location, such as the laundry room, pantry, or a kitchen cabinet.

Next, sort through all drugs in the medicine cabinet and remove any items past their expiration date. If you’re not sure about how to dispose of unused medications, the FDA website (fda.gov) has details on how to do so safely and effectively.

Illness or injury

A key step in making your medicine cabinet more organized and efficient is to separate the shelves by illness and injury categories.

A small tackle box designated and labeled for first aid items offers an easy, portable way to store items your might need in case of injury.

Best of all, you can take the box along on outings, giving you exactly what you need right where you need it. Having these items separated from everything else in the medicine cabinet also means you can find a bandage or burn cream quickly without poking around the entire cabinet.

To corral your medications, use inexpensive baskets and organizers from a dollar store. This way, you can pull out the entire basket and see everything at once rather than going through the medicine cabinet bottle by bottle.

Use a labeler to mark each basket by category, such as “stomach,” “cough and cold,” “allergy,” “itching,” “prescriptions” and “pain relievers.”

Medical history

Once you’ve organized your pills, bandages, ointments and tweezers, it’s helpful to include a spot to hold important medical details and information. Attach a piece of corkboard or galvanized metal using construction adhesive to the back of your medicine cabinet door. This is the perfect spot to post poison hotline numbers, nurse helplines and the phone numbers for your physician(s) and the local pharmacy. Add reminders about allergies to certain medications, such as penicillin or sulfa drugs.

The simple act of organizing your medicine cabinet will make life easier and could even improve the health of your family.

For more information, contact Kathryn Weber at www.redlotusletter.com.

DISPOSING OF UNUSED MEDICATIONS The U.S. Food & Drug administration has these four tips and advice to dispose of unused medications:

1

Drug take back programs: The Drug Enforcement Administration sponsors National Prescription Drug Take Back Day and many communities also have their own programs.

Some pharmacies offer drop boxes and mail-back programs.

2

How to dispose of medicines at home: When a take back option is not easily available, there are two ways to dispose of medicines at home, depending on the drug.

3

Flushing medicines: Because some medicines could be especially harmful, they have directions to immediately flush them down the sink or toilet when they are no longer needed. Check the label or instructions with your medicine for more information.

Disposing medicines in household trash: Most prescriptions and over-the-counter drugs can be thrown into your household trash.

The FDA suggests to do the following:  Remove the drugs from their original containers and mix them with used coffee grounds, dirt or cat litter.  Put the mixture in a re-sealable storage bag, empty can or some other container to prevent the drug from leaking or spilling.  Throw the container in the garbage.  Remove all personal information on the empty medicine packaging.

For more information, contact your doctor or pharmacist, and read more at www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm101653.htm.

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HOME IMPROVEMENT

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2021 |

9

SMART CHANGE | SPRING INTO ACTION

HOW-TO STORE

WINTER

CLOTHES

SAFELY KATHRYN WEBER

W

Tribune News Service

ith cold weather giving way to spring temperatures, it’s almost time to rotate the clothes in your closet.

In fact, cramming all your clothes in the closet all the time makes it harder to find what you want. Also, leaving your wool, cashmere and specialty fabric clothing out during the summer — when bugs are more prevalent — could leave you with moth holes when you pull those garments out later in the year.

The clothing ‘bug’

Many fabrics are edible and can attract bugs. Wool, linen, rayon, cotton and cashmere are all favorites. And it’s not just moths that will chew on your clothes; they’re just the most common culprits.

Beetles, silverfish, termites and cockroaches may all find your wardrobe tasty.

Putting away seasonal clothes keeps these pests away.

Store it right

To deter bugs, make sure clothing is clean prior to storage.

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age, with all stains are removed. This will deter bugs and keep stains from becoming set in. Drawers are an option for storage, but they need cedar liners and should close tight. Store cashmere and other expensive fabrics in clear plastic locking tubs, which give the fabrics room to breathe.

To keep garments fresh, use cedar blocks or lavender sachets. Avoid unnatural products like moth balls or dryer sheets. If you live in a humid area and worry that stored sweaters might mold, drop silica crystal packets like those that come in so many products today into your storage boxes.

Avoid storing sweaters and other hanging garments right after they come from the dry cleaners. The wire hangers can damage delicate fabrics and the plastic covering isn’t effective enough at keeping insects from working their way inside and eating your garments. If you have an extensive collection of cashmere items, it’s best to wrap each item in acid-free tissue to keep it dry and protected, and then store in a plastic container with a tight-fitting lid.

Avoid moving your cold-weather clothing out of the closet, though. Storing clothes under the bed, in the basement, attic or garage is unwise, because these are places where bugs are more likely to be found and where temperature variations can damage your clothes.

But out of sight shouldn’t mean out of mind. As tempting as it is to put plastic dry cleaning bags over your clothes and call it a day, or stuff them all into a space-saving bag, hold off. The best place to start is your closet. Start with a thorough cleaning. Begin by removing old clothes you no longer For more information, contact wear. Then vacuum the closet thoroughly. Kathryn Weber through her website, Make sure clothing is clean prior to stor- www.redlotusletter.com.

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10 | Sunday, February 28, 2021

HOME IMPROVEMENT

SMART CHANGE | SPRING INTO ACTION KATHRYN WEBER

Tribune Content Agency‌

‌I

t’s true that you can never have too much storage. Homes with generous closet and drawer space are a dream.

But what if your closet is shy on space? With some clever changes you can carve out more storage in your closets.

1 Use the back of the door The back of your closet door can hold a variety of items. Add an over the door hanger with multiple hooks, and you can hang robes, exercise wear, belts or hats. Look for specialty hangers specifically made for the back of your closet door.

2 Ditch the plastic hangers It’s true; tubular plastic hangers do take up more space. Recycle those mismatched plastic hangers with velvet thin hangers in a single color. You can get 100 for about $40 on AmazonBasics (www.amazon.com).

3 Add a shelf on lower rods If you have a double rod closet, be sure to add a shelf over the lower rod. This is the perfect place to add thin jewelry boxes like Colleen’s Prestige sunglass and jewelry storage boxes (www.hsn.com).

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10 WAYS TO

6 Place shelves and drawers under clothes

SQUEEZE more space out of your closet

Make the most of space by adding a dresser or drawer unit under hanging shirts. Look for easy to configure units like the Nordli (www.ikea. com) that can be adapted to multiple sizes and shapes.

7 Reduce your pant space Jeans and pants eat up a lot of closet real estate because they’re bulky and they’re doubled up. Reclaim some of that space with specialty hangers for pants that let you hang four or five pairs of pants on one hanger.

8 Group clothing lengths Place all long garments on one end of the closet. This will enable you to create more space under the shorter garments for additional storage.

9 Put tanks and camisoles on a multihanger A tank top hanger (www.target.com) is a great way to group like items and reduce the number of hangers needed by hanging up to eight garments per hanger.

Get wired

Affix wire baskets to odd corners and small spaces to hold odds and ends. Wire shelves can be added above regular shelves to add more space, and they enable you to see what’s on the shelf at the top.

5 Install hooks on shelves Adding hooks on either side of closet shelf boxes makes a handy spot to hang belts, handbags and scarves.

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Add a shelf unit

It may seem like you’re taking away valuable hanging space, but a shelf unit can be outfitted with baskets that can work like drawers, storing folded T-shirts, corralling flip-flops, housing shoes or containing other odds and ends that clutter closet floors.

For more information, contact Kathryn Weber through her website, redlotusletter.com.

Sunday, February 28, 2021 | 11

HOME IMPROVEMENT

SMART CHANGE | SPRING INTO ACTION

Tips to help you find a great plumber ‌A good plumber can save you a lot of stress and money, while an underqualified plumber can be a headache.

So how do you find a quality local plumber to trust with your project needs?

The answer is in how much homework you’re willing to do to make sure the job goes right.

Here are three tips to finding a great local plumber:

choices with the contractors they are using in their homes. Pay attention to ratings and read as many customer comments or posts as possible.

If there are no red flags — such as customer stories ripping the plumber for leaving a job half done or overcharging for their services — then you can add that plumber to your list of contractors to call about getting a quote.

Trust word of mouth

Make a decision

As with most home services contractors, word of mouth is the most trustworthy way to find a reputable plumber. Ask your neighbors, family and friends who they have used in the past. Make sure your project is comparable to the ones they have contracted out to make sure the plumber in question has direct experience with what you’re seeking.

For example, a local handyman who specializes in fixing leaks may not be the best option for re-plumbing an entire bathroom as part of an extensive remodeling project.

Once you have a list of three to five reputable plumbing companies, it’s time to get the project started. Call each plumber and ask if they are available to give you a quote for your project. Some plumbers are now offering video consultations where you can show them digitally what problems you are experiencing, and they can come up with a quote over the internet for you.

Other companies will send a technician out to check on your specific project. Make sure to ask if there is a charge for the estimate or if they offer free quotes.

Check online reviews and ratings Once you have a plan put forward that Check out the review and rating sites like meets your budget and timeline needs, sign Angie’s List or Yelp. These organizations are the contract and let your plumber get to focused on helping consumers make wise work.

Be sure to get details from those who are referring plumbers to you. Here are some questions to ask:

Did the plumber routinely show up on time?

Did the plumber respect your home and clean up any messes?

Was the plumber’s proposed cost close to what they ended up charging?

Would you recommend the plumber for my specific project?

Did they offer a free quote?

Were they responsive with any issues that came up after their work was done?

Were they licensed in our area?

If you are confident in your friends’ and family members’ answers, then it’s time to dig a little deeper.

Quick tips to stay safe working on home projects GREEN SHOOT MEDIA

‌C

heck out the following findings regarding the most common homeowner injuries from Porch.com, a home services company connecting homeowners with high-quality home improvement professionals: Ladder accidents result in nearly 200,000 emergency room visits every year. Ladders also kill about 300 people annually.

All in all, using a ladder means a 1 in 1,680 chance of an ER visit, according to the report.

Hardware like nails and screws cause 124,000 ER visits annually and a 1 in 2,615 chance at injury.

Lawn mowers cause nearly 90,000 trips to the ER. Homeowners’ fingers, arms, eyes, face, feet and the upper torso are most at risk.

About 70 percent of all home repair-related ER visits happen to males, with men 50 to 59 most at risk.

Home repair injuries occur most often on Saturdays and Mondays and in the summer months of June, July and September.

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Research is key

Each project requires unique skills and knowledge, so experts recommend spending some time doing a little research before you start. You can find helpful videos online or even pick the brain of some of your handier friends before getting started. Visit your local hardware store to chat with associates about your project.

Safety gear

Even for homeowners experienced in working on their own projects, safety gear is key to preventing injuries.

No DIYer should be without: protective gloves with reinforced palms, safety glasses, ear protection, a hard hat, a dust mask, nonslip and closed-toe shoes, flame-resistant coveralls, and a harness and safety rope.

Also, make sure your home is equipped with a full first aid kit as well as fire extinguishers or blankets. Have a list of emergency numbers ready. This list should include professional tradespeople, your local fire department and the poison help line.

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