Fall 2011 Home Improvement

Supplement to The Freeborn County Shopper/Tuesday, September 20, 2011/Page 8

Total Home

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www.freebornlumber.com

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Supplement to The Freeborn Co. Shopper September 2011

Supplement to The Freeborn County Shopper/Tuesday, September 20, 2011/Page 2

Supplement to The Freeborn County Shopper/Tuesday, September 20, 2011/Page 7

The Sky's The Limit

You can also incorporate a number of treatments into your ceilings.

Some of these include: • Beams. This type of ceiling is created by installing long pieces of lumber across the width of the room. The beams may be left as is or painted. • Coffered. This type of ceiling is created by installing solid or hardwood beams and molding into a grid and paneling or painting the surface beneath. The recessed, grid-like panels add height, space and elegance to any room. • Faux finishes. This type of ceiling is created by applying any number of faux finishes to the surface.

Colorwashing, ragging and stippling are just some of the faux finishes that can be used. • Tin. This type of ceiling is created by attaching tin panels to the surface. The panels may be left as is or painted. • Tray. This type of ceiling is created during construction with the sides angling or curving to another flat ceiling in one or more steps. It resembles an inverted tray and may include decorative molding for a dramatic flourish.

Whatever your situation, don't overlook the ceiling in your dĂŠcor. There are a number of ways you can *,)1 1ma Lm G> :nlmbg

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â&#x20AC;˘ Vaulted, arched or domed. These types of ceilings are created during the construction phase. They add drama and interest to a room.

These are some of the number of treatments that can be applied to ceilings. Some are more applicable than others. Homeowners interested in new construction or major renovation may be able to have a vaulted ceiling, whereas homeown-

draw the eye upward from using wallpaper to suspending grillwork to installing intricate molding around the perimeter of the room. The sky's the limit. Use your imagination and be creative!

System Check!

1308 8th St. NE â&#x20AC;˘ Austin

â&#x20AC;˘ Trompe l'oeil. This type of ceiling is created by handpainting the surface. Various designs may be used.

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As darkness falls, do not let your yard lose utility. For the security and functionality of your outdoor space after dark, consider improving your outdoor lighting.

While most homes have at least a single light outside of the main entrance, more lighting around a home can increase its warmth and illuminate any potential threats.

The first area of concern should be around doorways. In many cases, there is a place near the door where a light can be mounted. With the help of an electrician, mount a light outside of each of your entryways and install a motion detector light in front of your garage.

This will help light the way for any visi-

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tors that may arrive after dark as well as guard your home against forced entries.

It will also help you find your keys and the keyhole after dark, limiting the amount of time you spend exposed outside. In addition to entryway lights, you may want to consider small runway lights to place along walkways from driveways or streets. There are many decorative designs out now, a number of which operate on solar power. These lights can help your guests avoid any obstructions on walkways as well as give your yard a warm glow after dark.

After entrances and walkways, you may want to consider a streetlight. Usually set on sturdy poles placed near the end of

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Carpet | Ceramic | Wood | Laminate

507 383-9865

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ers who are just looking to update a room inexpensively may not.

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Building a new home or thinking about remodeling your current home? Considering using different treatments on the walls? Stucco, wallpaper and other treatments are great for adding interest to walls, but you don't have to stop with them there. You can continue your use of treatments up onto the ceilings.

Night Lights

Albert Lea, MN

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Pre-Sale Ticket Special One Week Only Sept. 20-27

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With 2 or More Non-Perishable Food Items* To be Donated to And with the purchase of 1 Ticket you Get a 2nd for Half Off This is an additional savings off the usual pre sale price **2 Adults Tickets Now only $12.00 & 2 Childrens Tickets Now only $7.50

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the driveway or near a mailbox, these lights help drivers and late-night walkers anticipate curves in the road. They also illuminate numbers on mailboxes to make houses more easily identifiable from the street. Most streetlights are designed with light sensors to automatically turn on at night or in dark storms. These can be used as guidelines for children, too, to know when to come inside.

Now, aside from the traditional holiday strings of lights, there may be other occasions when you need extra lighting. If you are throwing a party or having a relaxing night in the backyard, you have several lighting options. If you have a deck that commonly serves as an entertainment area after dark, you may want to con-

sider strands of lights around the railings or several well-placed lights that will illuminate the deck. If you have a gazebo or additional structure in the backyard like a pool, you will want to put sufficient lighting around it as well. These lights should be able to be controlled from the structures themselves and from inside the house.

With proper lighting, sunset will no longer restrict you to your home. When lighting is used effectively, it can create a warm, inviting environment for friends and a hostile minefield for potential burglars.

Keep these needs in mind as you debate between lights with motion or darkness sensors and lights that come on at the flip of a switch.

Supplement to The Freeborn County Shopper/Tuesday, September 20, 2011/Page 6

Supplement to The Freeborn County Shopper/Tuesday, September 20, 2011/Page 3

Wrapped In Beadboard You love your house, but boy, oh boy, could the powder room use some work. The fixtures are nice...the walls, not so much. There are tons of nicks and scrapes on the lower half, probably due to the removal of layers upon layers of wallpaper long ago. You could install new drywall, but you'd rather not. Why not cover it instead with beadboard?

Installing beadboard is a rather simple process. First you need to do some shopping and select the right beadboard for your needs. Beadboard comes in a variety of styles from tongue-and-groove boards to plywood sheets to faux beadboard. You can buy it finished or unfinished and stain or paint it yourself. Once you have bought the beadboard, you will need to bring it inside and give it a few days to get acclimated. This will ensure it goes up smoothly.

When you are ready to install the beadboard, remove the baseboards and paint

Bright Once Again

the top half of the walls if needed. Then pencil in a level line across the wall and measure for the first piece. You may cut the beadboard to size with a circular saw. To install it, apply some construction adhesive to the back, put it into place on the wall and secure it in the corners and along the edges with nails. Continue with the process around the room, making sure you leave 1/16th gap between sections for expansion. For areas around pipes, you may use a drill with a hole-saw attachment to cut the beadboard.

After you have finished, you will need to cap off the beadboard and replace the baseboards. To cap it off, you may install a chair railing. When you are done with that, use some caulk to fill in all of the holes. Then stain or paint the beadboard, baseboards and chair railing, and voila, your bathroom is as good as new.

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Got some old tile in your home?

Chances are some of the grout has become stained and dirty over time, especially if it is white.

White grout tends to yellow with age and become stained. Many homeowners choose to replace their old discolored grout, but before you go that route, you might want to try the following to see if you can make that grout gleam again.

Surface stains on grout can often

be removed with a simple piece of sandpaper. Fold it in half and rub along the stain. If that doesn't do the trick, try using a pencil eraser.

If sandpaper and a pencil eraser don't work, you may want to use good old bleach and water. Mix one part bleach to two parts water in a spray bottle and apply to the stained grout. Let it set for a minute or two and then don a pair of rubber gloves and scrub the

We’ve Got Glass...

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$

724 West Clark Albert Lea, MN 56007

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00

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1” Pleated Furnace Filter Within 5 mile radius. Expires 10/30/11.

Call 507-373-6161 today for your FREE in-home estimate!

If the bleach solution doesn't work, you may have to go shopping for grout cleaner. Make sure you open all of the doors and windows for good ventilation and read and follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully.

If, after trying all of these methods, the grout still looks discolored, you may have to resort to covering up the stains with grout paint. Keep

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in mind, however, that this will not fix the problem permanently. Over time, the paint will wear off and you will have to reapply it.

For a permanent fix, remove the grout and install new. Make sure you seal the new grout every couple of years to prevent stains from setting into it.

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Supplement to The Freeborn County Shopper/Tuesday, September 20, 2011/Page 4

Supplement to The Freeborn County Shopper/Tuesday, September 20, 2011/Page 5

Give Your Kitchen A Facelift Take a walk through your home.

How's your kitchen holding up? Is it starting to look a bit outdated and worn? Perhaps it's time you changed that. Don't have a lot of money to spend? No problem. You don't have to spend big bucks on a kitchen remodel to make the room look good. With a few inexpensive fixes, you give your kitchen a whole new look.

Paint is one of the easiest and most inexpensive ways to transform the appearance of a room. Almost any surface in the kitchen can be painted from wooden cabinets to laminate countertops to paneled walls to faded linoleum. Go ahead, be brave and paint your kitchen walls that bold color you've always wanted.

Brighten your dark cabinets and woodwork with a fresh coat of white paint. Transform those old laminate countertops and linoleum floors with a faux finish resembling stone.

Want to make your freshly painted cabinets sing? Give them new pulls.

Switching out old hardware for new will do wonders to revive tired cabinets and update a kitchen. Even if you decided to stick with your cabi-

nets as is, don't neglect replacing the hardware. You will be surprised what an effect such a small change will have.

How's the lighting in your kitchen?

Not so great? Replace it. Take down that brass chandelier from the 1970s and paint or replace it. Switch out that tarnished brass overhead light for a sleek chrome one and that mustard-colored globe in the light above the sink for a frosted white one. Lighting fine, but need more of it? You don't have to hire an electrician to install more lighting in your kitchen. You can find a variety of battery-operated fixtures that you can install yourself. If those won't work, consider adding a lamp somewhere in the room.

Got an old ceiling fan in your kitchen that could use an update but not in your budget to replace it? No big deal. Turn off the breaker, grab a ladder and give your fan a good cleaning. Remove the fan blades and paint or replace them. Add a new pull chain, and your fan will look good as new.

Traffic flow in your kitchen a little tight? Take a good, hard look at

Troy Thompson Offers All Kinds of Insurance One Kind of Service

E-Mail: troy.thompsonagency@gmail.com

Mirror, Mirror On The Wall what's in your kitchen and eliminate all of the pieces of furniture that you can do without. Get rid of that baker's rack and store your cookbooks in a cabinet or drawer. Trade out your large kitchen table for a smaller one and move the plants to the bay window in the living room. Clear the way for better traffic flow in your kitchen.

Clutter taken hold of your kitchen?

Put a stop to it. Take a day to sort through drawers and cabinets and clear away all of the clutter. Donate items you never or rarely use. Bring in

trays, lazy Susans and other items to organize the stuff remaining. Move small appliances off the countertops and into a cabinet. Get rid of the clutter and see how spacious your kitchen becomes.

Once you have given your kitchen a facelift, don't forget to clean it.

Nothing brightens up a room like a thorough cleaning. Wash those cabinets inside and out, scrub that backsplash and floor, and scour those appliances. Make your new kitchen sparkle.

Is Your Money Flying Out the Window?

For personal, professional service and competitive rates, call me today.

1330 W. Main, Albert Lea, MN 507-377-2852 Toll Free 877-974-9597 Fax: 507-377-3301

Designers employ all kinds of techniques with mirrors. Sometimes, they angle mirrors toward each to break up the reflection and allow for a unique mosaic affect. Other times, they arrange them in a specific order for a comforting rep-

etitious effect.

The size and shape of mirrors might dictate their use. An assortment of round mirrors in various sizes on a wall might make for quite an impressive display, whereas a series of long, narrow mirrors on a wall might elongate it. When turned horizontally, those same long, narrow mirrors might make the wall appear wider.

Mirrors can be used to disguise flaws and highlight objects as well. Dresser top scratched? No problem. Have a piece of mirror cut to fit it, and voila,

WINDOW FASHIONS

Mirrors do not have to be new or in perfect condition to create an interesting effect. Distressed mirrors work great in many design styles from Old World to country cottage, while convex mir-

rors can add interest to more modern rooms.

Mirrors can do wonders for any decor.

Just make sure you use them appropriately. Remember, mirrors reflect, so be careful of their placement. Don't hang one across from something you'd rather people not notice, like the litter box or coat closet. Watch out for glare as well.

While a mirror placed across from your picture window might bounce back a lot of light, it might also create glare on the TV screen.

Your Partner in Quality Mortgage Products & Services • First Time Home Buyer Loans • Home Equity Loans Call today and let us draw up a responsible home mortgage that meets your needs without straining your budget.

Winter

• Repair - Replace Windows Dramatically Reduce Your Homes Energy • Garage Doors Consumption and Reduce • Weather Stripping Your Energy Bills!

• Doors & Screens

FLOORCOVERINGS

1-800-323-1863 or 507-377-1863 www.tradesandlabor.com

Installation Available

Visit Us On Facebook at facebook.com/southernlock

• CARPETS • CARPET REMNANTS • VINYL FLOORING • WINDOW TREATMENTS • CUSTOM DRAPERIES • WALLCOVERINGS • LAMINATE FLOORING 60 YEARS OF SERVING YOU!

Owners: Keith & Angie Flatness

24 HOUR EMERGENCY LOCK & GLASS SERVICE 507-402-1618

610 South Broadway Ave., Albert Lea, MN On the Right Track with Your Financial Needs

717 Marshall St. • Albert Lea • 507-373-9446 “We represent over 50 companies."

you've got a great place to store all of those crystal perfume bottles. The mirrored top will reflect light onto the crystal, creating a dazzling effect.

Bookshelves seem a little drab? Not with mirrored backs. Hang or glue some mirrors to the backs of your bookshelves for depth and whatever you have tucked inside will come alive.

Get Ready for

Troy Thompson LUTCF • Auto • Home • Life • Business • Personal Umbrella • Health

Most people familiar with interior design know the value of mirrors. When placed right, they can make a room appear larger and lighter than it really is. A mirror placed across from a window in a small, narrow room, for example, can open it up. Mirrors can be used in other ways to play up the features of a room.

2014 East Main, Albert Lea, MN • Phone 373-8231

Locally Owned & Owner Operated Means Personal & Timely Service RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL ROUTE SERVICE • 1-8 yd. Dumpsters • 10 yd. - 30 yd.

Rolloff Containers Serving Albert Lea, Ellendale, Geneva, Clarks Grove, Hollandale, Alden, Freeborn & Hartland

Thompson Sanitation OFFICE

256-4370

108 W. MAIN PO BOX 154 • CLARKS GROVE, MN

Licensed & Insured #20573223

“For All Your Construction Needs”

• Roofing • Concrete • Decks • Siding • Additions • Garages Call Mark at

507-383-0339

Supplement to The Freeborn County Shopper/Tuesday, September 20, 2011/Page 4

Supplement to The Freeborn County Shopper/Tuesday, September 20, 2011/Page 5

Give Your Kitchen A Facelift Take a walk through your home.

How's your kitchen holding up? Is it starting to look a bit outdated and worn? Perhaps it's time you changed that. Don't have a lot of money to spend? No problem. You don't have to spend big bucks on a kitchen remodel to make the room look good. With a few inexpensive fixes, you give your kitchen a whole new look.

Paint is one of the easiest and most inexpensive ways to transform the appearance of a room. Almost any surface in the kitchen can be painted from wooden cabinets to laminate countertops to paneled walls to faded linoleum. Go ahead, be brave and paint your kitchen walls that bold color you've always wanted.

Brighten your dark cabinets and woodwork with a fresh coat of white paint. Transform those old laminate countertops and linoleum floors with a faux finish resembling stone.

Want to make your freshly painted cabinets sing? Give them new pulls.

Switching out old hardware for new will do wonders to revive tired cabinets and update a kitchen. Even if you decided to stick with your cabi-

nets as is, don't neglect replacing the hardware. You will be surprised what an effect such a small change will have.

How's the lighting in your kitchen?

Not so great? Replace it. Take down that brass chandelier from the 1970s and paint or replace it. Switch out that tarnished brass overhead light for a sleek chrome one and that mustard-colored globe in the light above the sink for a frosted white one. Lighting fine, but need more of it? You don't have to hire an electrician to install more lighting in your kitchen. You can find a variety of battery-operated fixtures that you can install yourself. If those won't work, consider adding a lamp somewhere in the room.

Got an old ceiling fan in your kitchen that could use an update but not in your budget to replace it? No big deal. Turn off the breaker, grab a ladder and give your fan a good cleaning. Remove the fan blades and paint or replace them. Add a new pull chain, and your fan will look good as new.

Traffic flow in your kitchen a little tight? Take a good, hard look at

Troy Thompson Offers All Kinds of Insurance One Kind of Service

E-Mail: troy.thompsonagency@gmail.com

Mirror, Mirror On The Wall what's in your kitchen and eliminate all of the pieces of furniture that you can do without. Get rid of that baker's rack and store your cookbooks in a cabinet or drawer. Trade out your large kitchen table for a smaller one and move the plants to the bay window in the living room. Clear the way for better traffic flow in your kitchen.

Clutter taken hold of your kitchen?

Put a stop to it. Take a day to sort through drawers and cabinets and clear away all of the clutter. Donate items you never or rarely use. Bring in

trays, lazy Susans and other items to organize the stuff remaining. Move small appliances off the countertops and into a cabinet. Get rid of the clutter and see how spacious your kitchen becomes.

Once you have given your kitchen a facelift, don't forget to clean it.

Nothing brightens up a room like a thorough cleaning. Wash those cabinets inside and out, scrub that backsplash and floor, and scour those appliances. Make your new kitchen sparkle.

Is Your Money Flying Out the Window?

For personal, professional service and competitive rates, call me today.

1330 W. Main, Albert Lea, MN 507-377-2852 Toll Free 877-974-9597 Fax: 507-377-3301

Designers employ all kinds of techniques with mirrors. Sometimes, they angle mirrors toward each to break up the reflection and allow for a unique mosaic affect. Other times, they arrange them in a specific order for a comforting rep-

etitious effect.

The size and shape of mirrors might dictate their use. An assortment of round mirrors in various sizes on a wall might make for quite an impressive display, whereas a series of long, narrow mirrors on a wall might elongate it. When turned horizontally, those same long, narrow mirrors might make the wall appear wider.

Mirrors can be used to disguise flaws and highlight objects as well. Dresser top scratched? No problem. Have a piece of mirror cut to fit it, and voila,

WINDOW FASHIONS

Mirrors do not have to be new or in perfect condition to create an interesting effect. Distressed mirrors work great in many design styles from Old World to country cottage, while convex mir-

rors can add interest to more modern rooms.

Mirrors can do wonders for any decor.

Just make sure you use them appropriately. Remember, mirrors reflect, so be careful of their placement. Don't hang one across from something you'd rather people not notice, like the litter box or coat closet. Watch out for glare as well.

While a mirror placed across from your picture window might bounce back a lot of light, it might also create glare on the TV screen.

Your Partner in Quality Mortgage Products & Services • First Time Home Buyer Loans • Home Equity Loans Call today and let us draw up a responsible home mortgage that meets your needs without straining your budget.

Winter

• Repair - Replace Windows Dramatically Reduce Your Homes Energy • Garage Doors Consumption and Reduce • Weather Stripping Your Energy Bills!

• Doors & Screens

FLOORCOVERINGS

1-800-323-1863 or 507-377-1863 www.tradesandlabor.com

Installation Available

Visit Us On Facebook at facebook.com/southernlock

• CARPETS • CARPET REMNANTS • VINYL FLOORING • WINDOW TREATMENTS • CUSTOM DRAPERIES • WALLCOVERINGS • LAMINATE FLOORING 60 YEARS OF SERVING YOU!

Owners: Keith & Angie Flatness

24 HOUR EMERGENCY LOCK & GLASS SERVICE 507-402-1618

610 South Broadway Ave., Albert Lea, MN On the Right Track with Your Financial Needs

717 Marshall St. • Albert Lea • 507-373-9446 “We represent over 50 companies."

you've got a great place to store all of those crystal perfume bottles. The mirrored top will reflect light onto the crystal, creating a dazzling effect.

Bookshelves seem a little drab? Not with mirrored backs. Hang or glue some mirrors to the backs of your bookshelves for depth and whatever you have tucked inside will come alive.

Get Ready for

Troy Thompson LUTCF • Auto • Home • Life • Business • Personal Umbrella • Health

Most people familiar with interior design know the value of mirrors. When placed right, they can make a room appear larger and lighter than it really is. A mirror placed across from a window in a small, narrow room, for example, can open it up. Mirrors can be used in other ways to play up the features of a room.

2014 East Main, Albert Lea, MN • Phone 373-8231

Locally Owned & Owner Operated Means Personal & Timely Service RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL ROUTE SERVICE • 1-8 yd. Dumpsters • 10 yd. - 30 yd.

Rolloff Containers Serving Albert Lea, Ellendale, Geneva, Clarks Grove, Hollandale, Alden, Freeborn & Hartland

Thompson Sanitation OFFICE

256-4370

108 W. MAIN PO BOX 154 • CLARKS GROVE, MN

Licensed & Insured #20573223

“For All Your Construction Needs”

• Roofing • Concrete • Decks • Siding • Additions • Garages Call Mark at

507-383-0339

Supplement to The Freeborn County Shopper/Tuesday, September 20, 2011/Page 6

Supplement to The Freeborn County Shopper/Tuesday, September 20, 2011/Page 3

Wrapped In Beadboard You love your house, but boy, oh boy, could the powder room use some work. The fixtures are nice...the walls, not so much. There are tons of nicks and scrapes on the lower half, probably due to the removal of layers upon layers of wallpaper long ago. You could install new drywall, but you'd rather not. Why not cover it instead with beadboard?

Installing beadboard is a rather simple process. First you need to do some shopping and select the right beadboard for your needs. Beadboard comes in a variety of styles from tongue-and-groove boards to plywood sheets to faux beadboard. You can buy it finished or unfinished and stain or paint it yourself. Once you have bought the beadboard, you will need to bring it inside and give it a few days to get acclimated. This will ensure it goes up smoothly.

When you are ready to install the beadboard, remove the baseboards and paint

Bright Once Again

the top half of the walls if needed. Then pencil in a level line across the wall and measure for the first piece. You may cut the beadboard to size with a circular saw. To install it, apply some construction adhesive to the back, put it into place on the wall and secure it in the corners and along the edges with nails. Continue with the process around the room, making sure you leave 1/16th gap between sections for expansion. For areas around pipes, you may use a drill with a hole-saw attachment to cut the beadboard.

After you have finished, you will need to cap off the beadboard and replace the baseboards. To cap it off, you may install a chair railing. When you are done with that, use some caulk to fill in all of the holes. Then stain or paint the beadboard, baseboards and chair railing, and voila, your bathroom is as good as new.

We Are Not Comfortable Unitl You Are!

/PNO ,MÄJPLUJ`

$

Starting at

1,950

00

Helping To Make Your Outdoors Beautiful

Fall Tulip Bulbs Are Here!

Check Out Our Clearance Items

Shrubs, Pottery & More 1414 W. Main (Across from Nelson’s) Albert Lea 377-2372 Open Mon.-Fri. 8 to 5, Sat. 8 to 4

Got some old tile in your home?

Chances are some of the grout has become stained and dirty over time, especially if it is white.

White grout tends to yellow with age and become stained. Many homeowners choose to replace their old discolored grout, but before you go that route, you might want to try the following to see if you can make that grout gleam again.

Surface stains on grout can often

be removed with a simple piece of sandpaper. Fold it in half and rub along the stain. If that doesn't do the trick, try using a pencil eraser.

If sandpaper and a pencil eraser don't work, you may want to use good old bleach and water. Mix one part bleach to two parts water in a spray bottle and apply to the stained grout. Let it set for a minute or two and then don a pair of rubber gloves and scrub the

We’ve Got Glass...

Service Available 24/7 Fall Furnace Precision Tune-Up

79

$

724 West Clark Albert Lea, MN 56007

507-373-6161

www.jimanddudes.com

00

Plus Parts (if necessary)

Includes FREE

1” Pleated Furnace Filter Within 5 mile radius. Expires 10/30/11.

Call 507-373-6161 today for your FREE in-home estimate!

If the bleach solution doesn't work, you may have to go shopping for grout cleaner. Make sure you open all of the doors and windows for good ventilation and read and follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully.

If, after trying all of these methods, the grout still looks discolored, you may have to resort to covering up the stains with grout paint. Keep

Your Full Service Builder/Remodeler

HOME • COMMERCIAL • AUTO

• All Auto & Truck Glass • Windshield Chip Repair • Mobile Glass & Door Repair • Emergency Board Up • Tractor & Fleet Service • Heavy Equipment Glass

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in mind, however, that this will not fix the problem permanently. Over time, the paint will wear off and you will have to reapply it.

For a permanent fix, remove the grout and install new. Make sure you seal the new grout every couple of years to prevent stains from setting into it.

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Supplement to The Freeborn County Shopper/Tuesday, September 20, 2011/Page 2

Supplement to The Freeborn County Shopper/Tuesday, September 20, 2011/Page 7

The Sky's The Limit

You can also incorporate a number of treatments into your ceilings.

Some of these include: â&#x20AC;˘ Beams. This type of ceiling is created by installing long pieces of lumber across the width of the room. The beams may be left as is or painted. â&#x20AC;˘ Coffered. This type of ceiling is created by installing solid or hardwood beams and molding into a grid and paneling or painting the surface beneath. The recessed, grid-like panels add height, space and elegance to any room. â&#x20AC;˘ Faux finishes. This type of ceiling is created by applying any number of faux finishes to the surface.

Colorwashing, ragging and stippling are just some of the faux finishes that can be used. â&#x20AC;˘ Tin. This type of ceiling is created by attaching tin panels to the surface. The panels may be left as is or painted. â&#x20AC;˘ Tray. This type of ceiling is created during construction with the sides angling or curving to another flat ceiling in one or more steps. It resembles an inverted tray and may include decorative molding for a dramatic flourish.

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â&#x20AC;˘ Vaulted, arched or domed. These types of ceilings are created during the construction phase. They add drama and interest to a room.

These are some of the number of treatments that can be applied to ceilings. Some are more applicable than others. Homeowners interested in new construction or major renovation may be able to have a vaulted ceiling, whereas homeown-

draw the eye upward from using wallpaper to suspending grillwork to installing intricate molding around the perimeter of the room. The sky's the limit. Use your imagination and be creative!

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â&#x20AC;˘ Trompe l'oeil. This type of ceiling is created by handpainting the surface. Various designs may be used.

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As darkness falls, do not let your yard lose utility. For the security and functionality of your outdoor space after dark, consider improving your outdoor lighting.

While most homes have at least a single light outside of the main entrance, more lighting around a home can increase its warmth and illuminate any potential threats.

The first area of concern should be around doorways. In many cases, there is a place near the door where a light can be mounted. With the help of an electrician, mount a light outside of each of your entryways and install a motion detector light in front of your garage.

This will help light the way for any visi-

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tors that may arrive after dark as well as guard your home against forced entries.

It will also help you find your keys and the keyhole after dark, limiting the amount of time you spend exposed outside. In addition to entryway lights, you may want to consider small runway lights to place along walkways from driveways or streets. There are many decorative designs out now, a number of which operate on solar power. These lights can help your guests avoid any obstructions on walkways as well as give your yard a warm glow after dark.

After entrances and walkways, you may want to consider a streetlight. Usually set on sturdy poles placed near the end of

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Building a new home or thinking about remodeling your current home? Considering using different treatments on the walls? Stucco, wallpaper and other treatments are great for adding interest to walls, but you don't have to stop with them there. You can continue your use of treatments up onto the ceilings.

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the driveway or near a mailbox, these lights help drivers and late-night walkers anticipate curves in the road. They also illuminate numbers on mailboxes to make houses more easily identifiable from the street. Most streetlights are designed with light sensors to automatically turn on at night or in dark storms. These can be used as guidelines for children, too, to know when to come inside.

Now, aside from the traditional holiday strings of lights, there may be other occasions when you need extra lighting. If you are throwing a party or having a relaxing night in the backyard, you have several lighting options. If you have a deck that commonly serves as an entertainment area after dark, you may want to con-

sider strands of lights around the railings or several well-placed lights that will illuminate the deck. If you have a gazebo or additional structure in the backyard like a pool, you will want to put sufficient lighting around it as well. These lights should be able to be controlled from the structures themselves and from inside the house.

With proper lighting, sunset will no longer restrict you to your home. When lighting is used effectively, it can create a warm, inviting environment for friends and a hostile minefield for potential burglars.

Keep these needs in mind as you debate between lights with motion or darkness sensors and lights that come on at the flip of a switch.

Supplement to The Freeborn County Shopper/Tuesday, September 20, 2011/Page 8

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Supplement to The Freeborn Co. Shopper September 2011