Hickory Living Sept 20 by Oasis Publishing, Inc.

Complimentary September 2020 On the Cover

We Want to be Your Nursery page 10

Fix It Up for FALL pages 25–33

HICKORY LIVING • SEPTEMBER 2020

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contents

MacAdam Smith

SEPTEMBER 2020

Publisher mac@oasisluxuryhomes.com (484) 769-7445

FEATURES 10 • COVER STORY Settlemyre Nursery We Want to be Your Nursery

Kathy Wheeler Design & Advertising Sales kathylivingmagazine@gmail.com (828) 238-3224

16 • BUSINESS SPOTLIGHTS Helton, Cody & Associates, PLLC Attorneys Who Are Here For You

20 • Prime Surgical Suites Orthopaedic Surgery Simplified

FIX IT UP FOR FALL

Sharon Simpson Advertising Director sharon@lncurrents.com (704) 677-9159

25 • Celebrate Fall With Fire! Backyard Fire Features For Every Budget 28 • DIY Repairs For Stained Doors 30 • Fall To-Do-List 31 • How To Make A Monogrammed Fall Wreath

Linda B. Wilson Advertising Sales lindalivingmagazine@gmail.com (704) 657-0237

IN THIS ISSUE

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

Hickory

LIVING 10225 Hickorywood Hill Ave., Unit A Huntersville, NC 28078 (484) 769-7445 HickoryLiving@gmail.com

www.HickoryLivingMagazine.com 4

HICKORY LIVING • SEPTEMBER 2020

8 • Welcome To The September Issue 37 • What’s Cooking Shrimp Scampi & Chocolate Cream Cheese Dessert

Hickory Living reserves the right to deny any advertisement or listing. Submissions are welcome, but unsolicited materials are not guaranteed to be returned. Hickory Living assumes no responsibility or liability for the information, services, products, claims, statements, accuracy, or intended or unintended results of any advertiser, editorial contributors, company, professional corporation, business or service provider herein this publication. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher is prohibited.

Don Forrest Advertising Sales donlivingmagazine@gmail.com (828) 244-6538

contributors

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Kristie Darling • Kathy Wheeler

COVER PHOTOGRAPHY Shane Greene Photography

HICKORY LIVING â&#x20AC;¢ SEPTEMBER 2020

The Law Office of Lyndon R. Helton and The Law Office of

Helton, Cody

Blair E. Cody, III have Merged.

& Associates, PLLC

AREAS OF PRACTICE: • Divorce • Personal Injury • Workers Compensation • Criminal Defense • Traffic Violations • Social Security Disability • DWIs • Wills & Estates • Child Custody and Support • Immigration

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Pictured: Blair E. Cody, III (left) Lyndon R. Helton (right)

828-328-9966 827 Highland Ave. NE Hickory, NC (located near Lenoir-Rhyne University)

www.HeltonCody.com HICKORY LIVING • SEPTEMBER 2020

Welcome to the

September Issue By Kathy Wheeler

©iStockphoto.com | bernardbodo

September 22nd is the first day of fall–my favorite season! I’m so excited and can’t wait for cooler weather. We all need a break from the heat and humidity of summer. It won’t be long, soon North Carolina will show its seasonal beauty in orange, red, and yellow. Hello Fall! Since we are staying at home more, fall is the perfect time to be productive and tackle some DIY projects. Our theme this month in Hickory Living is Fix it up for Fall so, we have articles to help you with projects that may be on your to-do-list. Oh, we have a fall to-do-list as well! If you have stained doors that need repairing, there is a DIY article on refreshing a wooden door and refinishing a fiberglass door. My husband and I just completed this project a few weeks ago, so I have shared what worked as well as what didn’t! To go along with all the work, we have a how-to on making 8

HICKORY LIVING • SEPTEMBER 2020

a fall wreath and an article on fire pits. Who doesn’t like to cozy up to a fire in the fall?! We are continuing the voting for Best of the Foothills, Hickory Living’s Reader’s Choice Awards. Thank you to those who have voted so far! We have had a tremendous response. Let our local businesses know of your support by voting for your favorites, and when you can, shop local. We have several features on local businesses in this issue. Brandon Settlemyre and his wife Michelle own Settlemyre Nursery and are featured on the cover this month. If you haven’t shopped at their nursery, I recommend you treat yourself and visit them in Valdese––just a short drive from Hickory. They have a service that helps you design your landscape. And, of course, they have beautiful seasonal plants, trees, and shrubs. You will love it!

If you are in need of an attorney, check out our business spotlight about Helton, Cody and Associates, PLLC on page 16. These attorneys care about their clients and want the best possible results for them. Are you needing orthopaedic surgery? Prime Surgical Suites is the region’s first orthopaedic ambulatory surgical care center. You can read their business spotlight on page 20. Don’t forget to do something fun on Labor Day. Set work aside. Maybe take a long weekend and go out of town, or spend some time outdoors either at the lake or hiking in the mountains. How ever you decide to reward yourself for all of your labor, take time to relax and enjoy yourself. The work will still be there when the holiday is over. Thank you for reading Hickory Living magazine!

HICKORY LIVING â&#x20AC;¢ SEPTEMBER 2020

on the cover

We Want to be Your Nursery By Kristie Darling | Photos by Shane Greene Photography

“My grandfather Loyd was born in 1915. He and his wife, Elizabeth, along with my father Robert started this nursery when Loyd was 58 and my father was 18. It was just a little hobby business,” Brandon Settlemyre said as he gave me the tour. “It was fairly small, and my grandmother liked to pull the weeds and keep the place tidy. They worked this nursery until he passed away at age 97. I’m proud to say, our family heritage of growing quality plants goes back a long way.” Indeed, three generations of Settlemyres have been growing, selling, and offering professional advice in landscape and garden since 1973. Their beautiful nursery is a fixture in Valdese and known for miles around. 10

HICKORY LIVING • SEPTEMBER 2020

“We have loyal customers who’ve been getting all their plants here since the 70s,” Brandon explained. Many make the trip from Salisbury, Lincolnton, Lake Lure, and more. They remember getting advice from my grandfather and father, and their trust in our plants, our friendly service, and our quality has done nothing but grow over the years. Just talking with my grandfather, you knew he knew his stuff. Brandon’s dad, Robert, was a grower. Since the early 1980s, he cultivated plants on about eight acres. “Dad worked 16-hour days. He was a stickler for getting things right. I started here when I was six-year-old. I really liked playing in the dirt; they made me do all the

Photo:

On the cover Michelle, Brandon, Schyler and Henry Settlemyre– Schyler is definitely learning to become the Boss at Settlemyre Nursery. Opposite page The Settlemyre family Left–Settlemyre Nursery carries a wide selection of plants for all situations. Below–Michelle discusses options with her client during a Sketch and Go design

non-fun stuff like weeding, dumping and cleaning pots, you name it.” When Brandon and Michelle took over in 2014, they brought new ideas and renewed focus, but they have continued the family-run, home-grown quality standards established in the early years. They purchased more land for growing and are now expanding across Drexel Road. They have added e-commerce, curbside pickup, and deliveries. “Our new retail space will make everything more convenient and easier for our customers,” Michelle said. “We built 16,000 square feet of shaded display area with plenty of office space for meeting with folks to talk about what they’re looking to create with their plants.” On over 12 acres of growing fields, the nursery raises flowering, privacy, ornamental, evergreen, and fruit trees, as well as shrubs, azaleas, hydrangeas, perennials and annuals, edibles, grasses, ground covers, hanging baskets, and house plants. Perfect gifts—you can buy gift certificates to share the love!

SKETCH & GO DESIGN I was very impressed with the nursery’s Sketch and Go service. You take photos and measurements then supply them with specifics like amount of sun or shade, what you want your plant scape to look like, whether or not you need low-maintenance plantings. Then, they will create full-view, color pictures with

recommended plants for your space. Very helpful for foundation plantings or beds around patios and decks—actually, any place you want your plants to look perfect and thrive for years to come. The process is fast and friendly, and the design is created from their plant material to ensure a happy and healthy landscape. You’ll walk away

HICKORY LIVING • SEPTEMBER 2020

Photos, left, top to bottom: • A portion of the growing area at Settlemyre Nursery (Aerial Photo by Brandon Settlemyre)

• Details like planting and caring for your new plants are explained at the end of the purchase. • Brandon and Michelle, along with staff, load many orders each day.

with excellent advice on how to get your project done right. Sketch and Go makes visualizing simple. “First, we listen to discover what customers are after,” she explained. “Since we are the growers, we know a lot about our plants: growing habits, suitability to our region, what they will look like seasonally, later this year, and five, ten years down the road. We recommend proper placement and planting instructions to ensure your plants will look right and complement each other. And, you can come in to tell us what you’re thinking about or we can do it on the phone or email.” PLANTING TIME IS COMING UP “Fall is a big season for us, as many know,” Brandon said, “so I recommend people get in touch with us now. That gives us time to plan before you plant…our mantra. Make an appointment to consult with us—it’s best if we get your measurements and specifics beforehand. We’ll be ready to get started. And you’ll have plenty of time to get it all done.” Brandon researches the trees, shrubs, and plants they grow. “We trial test them, too, so we know for sure what works in our Southern climate; what to expect. If it isn’t suitable or doesn’t grow well, we eliminate it from our inventory,” he said. “Over the last ten years or so the market for branded plants has exploded. Now we have international breeders, scientists and R&D labs that create new plants. Some take 10 years or more to develop.” These new plants offer increased variety and options. They may have improved color, 12

HICKORY LIVING • SEPTEMBER 2020

rte Cou

You can contact the Settlemyres to ask about availability, pricing, sales, and more. The new website, https://settlemyrenursery.com/ is full of products, details, ideas, and inspiring photos.

rs.c om

flowering, and re-blooming; dwarf plants are popular, and many new breeds are geared toward low maintenance. “We really enjoy growing the Proven Winner line of plants, like beautiful Limelight hydrangeas with their amazing big blossoms that are quick to emerge.” sy o nne f Pr oven nwi Winners - www.prove

WE WANT TO BE YOUR NURSERY Settlemyres Nursery is not a one-and-done shop, as their many long-time customers will tell you. “We believe that our customers probably know what they want, they just don’t know how to get there,” Michelle told me. “We want homeowners to participate in the design and planting process, so they become experts in taking care of everything. We’re the grower, not a big box store that buys truckloads of plants from Florida, so we feel it’s important to share all we know with buyers—to educate before, during, and after you select and take your plants home.” The nursery also carries top-quality gardening supplies like Daddy Pete’s Plant Pleaser products with advice to go with. IT’S ALL IN THE FAMILY “When our children take over,” Brandon said with a smile, “I want to pass on the same level of respect and appreciation we have for our customers and our plants, those values my dad and grandparents built almost 50 years ago. These plants are our babies; we’re a seven-day operation taking care of living organisms that we want to share with you.” Michelle and Brandon have two boys. Schyler is four, and “He’s a mile a minute. He loves coming to work with us, being outdoors, getting into the sprinklers, and he’s not scared of bugs,” Michelle shared. “Henry is ten months old, and he loves his brother! He tries his hardest to do everything Schyler does…he’s very sweet—looks just like his dad.”

Above: Michelle and Brandon are shown pulling a Proven Winners Fire Light hydrangea tree. • Each plant is handled with care and love. Brandon left me with one last thought, “Gardening is becoming a thing again with young people, especially things like growing native plants and edibles like blueberries. This new generation inspires me,” he said. “Digging in the dirt is my outlet, my labor of love, and I’m seeing this in others more and more. It’s the perfect way to relax.” I took one more look around at all the amazing plants. Michelle put my

two dwarf spruces, a big aloe plant, and Daddy Pete’s organic soil in my Jeep, and I told her I’d be back before long—no question about it!”

Settlemyre Nursery 1460 Drexel Road • Valdese, NC sales@settlemyrenursery.com 828-874-0679 Monday - Friday 8AM - 5:30PM Saturday 8AM-2PM, Sunday closed www.SettlemyreNursery.com HICKORY LIVING •SEPTEMBER 2020

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business spotlight Photos:

Left–Helton, Cody & Associates is located at 827 Highland Ave NE in Hickory. Below–Attorneys and partners Lyndon R. Helton and Blair E. Cody, III Opposite page–Lyndon meets with a personal injury client.

Helton, Cody & Associates, PLLC

Attorneys Who Are Here for You By Kristie Darling | Photos by Shane Greene Photography

The firm represents clients from many walks of life. They’ll take just about any case with poten16

HICKORY LIVING • SEPTEMBER 2020

tial to go to court. “Lyndon’s expertise are cases involving personal injury, injuries on other people’s property, workers’ compensation, auto accidents, nursing home abuse, and premises liability,” Blair explained, “and he will fight for you like you were family. It’s who he is.” Blair’s work is primarily criminal defense and family law, including divorce, alimony, paternity, child abuse, division of property (including high asset properties), same-sex family law, custody and visitation, pre- and post-nuptial agreements, and other family-related areas. In criminal defense, he works extensively with DWIs. “Blair is diligent in his commitment to clients and fearless in the courtroom,” Lyndon said. “If you’re ever charged with DWI, always hire an experienced DWI attorney immediately—the next day if possible. Blair is definitely the attorney I’d hire…he has all the qualities I’d want defending me.”

Lyndon R. Helton

Photo by Liza White

Have you needed an attorney, or wondered if you did, and not known what to expect? At Helton, Cody & Associates that question will be answered. The firm’s partners, Lyndon Helton and Blair Cody, believe in open communication, answering questions honestly, and offering clients every chance to dispose of their case without a trial. “I believe we’re pretty good at that,” Lyndon said. “Before we established this law practice, we each were successful in our own right. We’ve been attorneys collectively for 48 years. We aim to be the go-to broad service law firm in our local community. We offer quality representation and have a solid track record. We’re confident we provide comprehensive legal representation as good or better than you can get in Charlotte, Raleigh… anywhere around.”

Blair E. Cody, III

Blair said. “It’s fulfilling when I get my client results they had hoped for but didn’t expect.”

DWI “I represented a recently separated client. She drives in her job and unfortunately received a DWI. After her day in court, her case was dismissed for errors made during the investigation. The result? Her license wasn’t suspended, she kept her job, and could get her children to and from school—all critical to her livelihood,” Blair shared. “Our big advantage is we do our own investigations, often visiting the scene, getting bodycam and in-jail videos, hiring investigators/experts, and starting work the day we’re retained. We’re pro-active, aggressive, and use every legal means to get the best possible outcome.”

Injuries I asked Lyndon why he does this work: “Tragedy comes in many forms. If I can help right a wrong or ease someone’s emotional or financial pain, I’ll take that challenge. I don’t like bullies! Everybody deserves a fair fight—most can’t do it themselves. Clients come to me for injuries ranging from car accidents, dog bites, work accidents—injuries caused by someone else.”

Family Law Divorce, domestic issues, and all that entails can be daunting. “When it’s all done, I want clients in the best possible position,”

With a commitment to resolving your case fairly and quickly, Lyndon Helton and Blair Cody are well prepared to represent you. Visit their website, www.heltoncody.com—lots more information there!

Contact Helton & Cody Associates at 828-848-8776 or 888-321-0494 or request a consultation at www.heltoncody.com/contact

HICKORY LIVING • SEPTEMBER 2020

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business spotlight

Photos:

Left–Spine specialist and boardcertified surgeon, Dr. Ralph Maxy, performing an ambulatory spinal surgery at Prime Surgical Suites Below–Dr. Maxy explaining procedures to his patient in the pre-op area. Opposite page– • Dr. Zach Kimball, anesthesiologist, checking a patient’s vitals prior to surgery. • Sharon Nelson, RN, postoperatively monitoring a patient. • Tammy Massey, checking in a patient for their outpatient surgery.

Orthopaedic Surgery Simplified By Kristie Darling | Photos by Shane Greene Photography

“I can’t emphasize enough how well my knee replacement went,” Jimmy Richard shared. “Within four days I was walking unassisted, and at my two-week checkup, my range of motion was very close to goal. Jason is pleasant, precise, and his work is excellent—highly recommended.” As the region’s first orthopaedic ambulatory surgical care center (ASC), Prime Surgical Suites stands apart as the state of the art, go-to medical facility for people needing same-day, outpatient surgery. Specializing in surgeries of the muscles and joints, the surgeons’ expertise is in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disorders of the bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, and muscles. These conditions can include disorders of the hips and 20

HICKORY LIVING • SEPTEMBER 2020

knees, feet and ankles, hands, shoulders, and spine. Knee and hip replacements are possibly the most well-known orthopaedic procedures. “Patients of all ages, from children with scoliosis to patients with traumatic injuries, dramatically benefit from these surgeries,” Dr. Jason Norcross explained. Dr. Norcross is chair of the surgery center’s board, a leader in the evolving field of robotic-assisted surgery, and trains surgeons nationwide. His specialty is hip and knee replacements. “My satisfaction comes in helping people lead happier, productive lives.” Prime Surgical is unique in offering outpatient robotic assisted surgeries. “We offer exceptional, cost effective, safer care,” Dr. Al Geissele shared. “Our center was created to offer lower cost options

for procedures often performed in a hospital—a more convenient alternative. We have a strong track record of quality, compassionate care and positive outcomes.” Dr. Geissele’s specialties are pediatric and adult spinal disorders, including back and neck pain, ruptured discs, fractures in the aging spine, spondylolisthesis, sacroiliac joint disorders, and scoliosis. We aim to restore patients’ capacity to regain movement and return to a comfortable life.” Dr. Ralph Maxy also specializes in adult and pediatric spinal disorders utilizing advanced techniques like minimally invasive lumbar laminectomy and fusion procedures. Prime Surgical’s modern facility design is focused on efficiency, advanced technology, comfort, and convenience for their

staff of nine surgeons and the patients they care for. Dr. James Stanislaw is dedicated to bringing the latest proven advances and highest possible success rates in joint replacements, hand surgery, and sports medicine/arthroscopic surgery. “We’re here to ensure that advanced surgery enables people to return to activities they love,” he said. “Orthopaedic surgery is all we do.” Basic orthopaedic surgeries to complex reconstruction are offered. They strive to correct ailments so you can return to

work quickly. Utilizing advanced operating rooms, paired with cutting-edge technology, surgeons provide the highest standards in medical care. Dr. Ross Jenkins and Dr. Robert Duggan specialize in foot and ankle conditions, such as painful bunions, hammertoes, diabetic foot management, and reconstruction. Dr. Jeffrey Keverline’s specialties include sports medicine, hip, knee, and shoulder replacement, and hand surgery, like carpal tunnel. Sports medicine, such as rotator cuff and ACL repairs, is Dr.

Christopher Houdek’s specialty, and Dr. John Smith specializes in hand surgery. To learn more, check out their blog, https://www.primesurgicalsuites.com/ blog. Your questions will be answered thoroughly by contacting Prime Surgical Suites. The convenience of out-patient surgery may easily resolve your condition…it can change your life. Contact Administrative Director Teresa Burwell at 828-394-6702 www.primesurgicalsuites.com

HICKORY LIVING • SEPTEMBER 2020

HICKORY LIVING â&#x20AC;¢ SEPTEMBER 2020

Fix It Up

For FALL

s we roll into the fall season, we start preparing our homes for the winter season ahead and finishing any projects we didn’t complete this summer. When creating your fall to-dolist, prioritize any projects that include painting, staining, or caulking. These products and others have temperature and humidity requirements to work properly. They shouldn’t be used in cold weather. So read the labels and check the weather. To help us with our project timelines, The Old Farmer’s Almanac predicts the first frost in our area will be October 28th. On the following pages, you will find articles and vendors to help with your fall list. Killians can assist you with your hardware and lawn supplies. They also offer great advice to the DIYers. Outdoor fire pits are a popular feature to enjoy in the fall. We have an article about the different options you can purchase, but if you are looking for something more permanent, Kevin Sipe with Scenic View Landscapes is the person to call. He designs outdoor spaces that customers enjoy year round!

HICKORY LIVING • SEPTEMBER 2020

HICKORY LIVING â&#x20AC;¢ SEPTEMBER 2020

Celebrate Fall with Fire! Backyard fire features for every budget By Kathy Wheeler

Fall is the perfect time to be outdoors—the days get shorter and the temperatures milder. After completing your fall to-do-list, you will need a place to gather and relax. I can’t think of a better way to do that than lounging in comfortable chairs around a fire. Additionally, a fire is a must for backyard camping with the kids. I mean, how else will they make s’mores or roast marshmallows!

Building a fire in your backyard can be as simple as a campfire or as complex as a permanent stone fireplace built by a professional. Some people love the smell, spark, and pop of wood, while others like the clean burn of gas or propane. Depending on what you prefer and how elaborate you want to go, your backyard fire feature can vary dramatically in cost.

Let’s talk about gas or propane versus wood. If you already cook with gas, then you may consider a fire feature that is hooked up to your gas line. This is a project for a professional. Gas is a better choice for those who have allergies and are sensitive to smoke from burning wood. Gas is also the best option on a wooden deck. The fire is very contained. Even without other gas appliances, small fire boxes and tables can be purchased that hook up to propane tanks like those used with a gas grill. HICKORY LIVING • SEPTEMBER 2020

•

Another benefit is gas and propane pits provide fire on demand. As long as you have fuel, you have a fire without the chore of hauling, storing, or splitting wood. The cost for these fire features begins around $200 and goes up from there depending on size and design. You will still need to purchase the tank and fuel. On the other hand, those who prefer wood usually enjoy the smell, the ambiance it creates, and the work that goes along with it. They wouldn’t consider using anything else. If wood is your fuel of choice, you have a lot of options. You can buy in-ground kits for around $400. These kits include a steel ring and curved concrete, decorative pavers. You will also need outdoor adhesive, gravel, and a paver base or stone dust. If you are building this yourself, the project requires a bit of digging, so be ready for some work. Many times, these pits are surrounded 26

HICKORY LIVING • SEPTEMBER 2020

• 3

• 6

by stone paver patios, so you may want to hire a landscape designer to help if your project grows. For something less permanent, a campfire can work just fine. Select a spot in your backyard away from trees and brush, then clean the area of grass, leaves, and anything that might burn. Put a layer of gravel down and surround it with brick, stones, or a steel fire ring. Some believe the bigger the fire the better, but a small fire can be more intimate, allowing people to sit closer and makes conversation easier. Using material you already have, this option can cost you virtually nothing. A steel ring can be purchased for around $30 to $40. Steel or copper fire pits are self-contained and are typically bowl shaped with built-in circulation and come with a spark screen. Also, clay chimineas, iron or steel Pagodas are other good

Photos:

Entry level pricing: 1 Propane gas fire tables start at $200 2 Pagoda fireplace $200 3 Chimineas $100 and up 4 Stone fire pits start at $400 5 Steel bowls $100 • Copper bowls $200 6 Steel fire rings $35

options. These ready made pits cost from $100 and up. They are best placed on the ground or a concrete patio but can be used on a wooden deck. I would recommend putting down a fire pit pad that protects the wood surface from temperatures up to 1400 degrees F, or you can create a pad with bricks or pavers. The pad should extend two feet around the fire pit in all directions, and the pit should be kept a safe distance from anything flammable, like deck railings. The setup is easy and a good choice for those who don’t want another fall project!

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HICKORY LIVING â&#x20AC;¢ SEPTEMBER 2020

DIY Repairs for Stained Doors By Kathy Wheeler

The summer heat can make some outdoor projects and repairs unbearable. If said home repairs take more than a few hours, then the milder temperatures of spring or fall may be more suitable. Refinishing my wooden front door and fiberglass French doors were those projects for me this year. I had cleaned and painted the porch railings in the spring, but those needy doors were a project I wasn’t prepared to tackle. The doors were long overdue for repair. I tried several times to hire professionals to refinish them, but not every painter is confident in finish work, and getting the right stain color is trickier than you may think. Plus, it isn’t a quick job—it’s difficult for a professional to charge what their time is worth for this particular task. There are so many steps with waiting times in between, and you can’t leave the door off the hinges to finish it the next day. This isn’t a new build! It became apparent that whatever we did to our current doors, we would have to tackle it ourselves. 28

HICKORY LIVING • SEPTEMBER 2020

I’m not a professional by any means, but I don’t mind getting my hands dirty. You can figure out most things with a few good YouTube videos, some sweat equity, and trial and error.

Wooden Door Repair After twenty years exposed to the elements, we didn’t have a lot to lose on our wooden front door. The finish was shot. It’s quicker and less prep work to paint or stain a new door than to refinish an existing one, but then you have to install it. My husband and I decided the best solution was to replace it, but in the meantime, we found a quick fix that would make it look better. We took the door off its hinges and placed it on two sawhorses, then removed all the hardware. Since the inside of the door still looked good, we only needed to repair the outside. Using denatured alcohol on fine steel wool, we cleaned the door and removed all the loose finish. We used a brush and

shop vac to remove the dust and wiped the surface with a tack cloth. Using a rag and working with the grain of the wood, we applied a product called Restor-A-Finish that evened out the color. This product comes in different colors, so match the stain on your door. Within a few hours, we were able to put the door back on its hinges. ReStor-A-Finish works better on a door that hasn’t lost most of the polyurethane finish like ours had, so ours still looked pretty dull. Keep in mind that you can’t put polyurethane over this solvent. I found a UV protectant that has a beeswax base called SunShield and applied two coats with a cloth. It went on easily and only took about 20 minutes for each coat with drying time in between. A new doorknob and kick plate made a huge difference, and I was pretty happy with the finished result. The cost was less than $100.

Pictured is our front door, and below, our French doors after they were completed. It was a long process to complete this project but our hard work paid off!

Refinishing Fiberglass Doors The fiberglass French doors were definitely a different animal! There was no easy fix for them and each step in the process had its challenges.

and bottom panels and lastly, the long side panels. You brush with the grain of the wood, and anywhere the stain overlaps, you have to blend it in. Once we got to the long side panels, we realized the stain was drying too quickly to blend properly. It looked dark and was a gunked-up mess! You get just one shot with gel stain and you have to work quickly. If you aren’t happy with the results, you have to strip it and start over, which we did. A professional used to working with gel stain on fiberglass would have probably foreseen our dilemma, but hey, we were newbies. At this point we were frustrated, but that first door was good practice. We learned a few things. First the stain needed to be a thinner consistency and lighter in color. We added a ½ pint of golden oak stain (not gel stain), which lightened the color but more importantly, thinned out the gel stain to give us more time to blend it before it became tacky. The fixes in the stain did the trick! It worked out beautifully. Note: You can also thin out oil based gel stain with mineral spirits, but do it incrementally. We let the stain dry for about 24 hours. After it was dry, we touched up a few light spots using an artist’s brush and only a hint of stain. Drying times will vary depending on the humidity. Since we weren’t getting paid, we took our time, and didn’t rush any part of the job. The final step brush on three coats of spar polyurethane. After the first coat dried, we ran some fine steel wool over the finish and wiped down with a tack cloth before applying the second coat and repeated that step before applying the third and final coat. It was a long process, but it was worth it! Try tackling your own fall projects. With a warm day, a good YouTube video, and a little elbow grease you can do anything!

First, we stripped them using CitriStrip. This step took two rounds, using plastic scrappers and brushes to remove all the old finish and a garden hose to wash off the excess. I liked using this product because it didn’t have an odor. Then came the taping. Make sure the doors are dry before taping. We have 15-lite double doors with sidelites. Try taping off 40 windows just to start! After stripping and taping, we thought we had reached the fun part –– the staining. Wrong! We used Minwax oil based gel stain and mixed a few colors to get it just right –– one quart of aged oak and 1/2 quart of mahogany. This was way too much stain, but it was difficult to find in pint sizes. Using a good stain brush, we worked in sections, doing the grid for the windows first, then the top HICKORY LIVING • SEPTEMBER 2020

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Fall To-Do-List Home  Clean gutters  Check roof for repairs  Caulk around windows  Check weather stripping and replace if needed  Clean chimney  Service heating and air system  Drain garden hoses and store away  Shut off valve to outdoor faucets and drain or insulate them  Check smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, and fire extinguishers  Replace furnace filters  Clean humidifiers  Switch the direction of ceiling fans–clockwise  Launder all bedding and clean curtains  Clean carpets  Declutter

Lawn  Trim trees  Rake leaves  Sow grass seed between mid-September and end of October depending on the weather.  Aerate your lawn  Apply pre-emergent if you aren’t sowing grass  Drain your irrigation system  Sharpen your yard tools and store them for winter ©iStockphoto.com | photomaru

HICKORY LIVING • SEPTEMBER 2020

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How To Make A

Monogrammed Fall Wreath Supplies

Tools

• 24” grapevine wreath • A bush of flowers • 3 yards of 2½” wide wired ribbon • Florist wire • A large wooden letter • Craft paint • Jute covered wire

• Staple gun • Staples shorter than the thickness of letter • Wire cutters • Glue gun with several sticks of glue • Scissors Cut the flowers with wire cutters, leaving about two inches of stem. Pull off the leaves from the bush and set aside. Position the flowers the way you want them on the grapevine wreath, leaving room for the bow. One by one, remove the flowers. Apply hot glue to the underneath side and put the flower back in place gluing it to the grapevine wreath. Fill in any open gaps by gluing and tucking the leaves under the flowers. Paint your wooden letter on both sides with craft paint in the color you want and let it dry. Cut three, 12-inch lengths of jute-covered wire. The lengths will vary depending on which letter you use. Using the staple gun, attach the wire to the back side of the letter and wire it to the center of your wreath. If you prefer, you can offset the letter so it is wired around one side of the wreath. Cut a piece of florist wire about 18” long. To make the bow, start with a 12” streamer and twist the ribbon once, holding it between your thumb and forefinger. This will be the center of your bow. Make a 4” loop bringing it to the center and grasping it, twist the ribbon and do a 4” loop on the other side of the bow. Do this until you have four loops per side, twisting the ribbon each time. Take your florist wire and wrap it around the center of the bow where you are holding the ribbon and twist the wire at the back to secure it. Spread out the loops of the bow and position them, then wire the bow to the wreath. Trim the streamers and you are ready to hang your wreath! HICKORY LIVING • SEPTEMBER 2020

2020

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