2009 Building and Home Improvement

Friday, April 3, 2009

The voice of Interior Alaska since 1903

The penny-pincher’s guide to

BUILDING AND

HOME IMPROVEMENT Inside find: • Great money-saving tips on home projects • Advice on improving energy efficiency • Home refinancing, gardening, the latest trends and more

2

Building and Home Improvement

Index

2 ........... Interest rates spark refinancing boom 3 ........... Switch on energy-efficient lights 5 ........... Six tools every homeowner needs 6 ........... Routine repairs can save energy 7 ........... Passiv Haus movement in Alaska 8 ........... Home gardens healthy, efficient 10 ......... Antiques add character to homes 12 ......... Home restoration a green concept 13 ......... Habitat's Restore offers deals 14 ......... Right storage options improve decor 15 ......... Simple ways to cut water use 16 ......... Less is more with spring decor 17 ......... Refurbish decor without going broke 19 ......... Find your bathroom's inner spa 20 ......... Kids can help with home projects 22 ......... Liven up a monochromatic room 23 ......... Make the most of a small space

Cover design by DeeDee Hammond

Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

Low interest rates may make refinancing an attractive option

By AMANDA BOHMAN abohman@newsminer.com When homemaker Sandra Ledford and her computer analyst husband looked into refinancing their North Pole home, there was a pleasant surprise.

If the Ledfords agreed to a $100 hike in their monthly payment, coupled with an interest rate reduction, they could shave more than a decade off of the loan’s term. “It felt kind of like making 12 years of payments all at once,�

Ledford said. “It was almost like buying the house again but cheaper.�

The Ledfords are among hundreds of people in Fairbanks taking advantage of the lowest interest rates in years and refinancing their home loans.

Mortgage rates on Friday were in the range of 4.5 percent, according to bank and credit union Web sites.

Some banks and credit unions are in overdrive trying to handle all of the business. “We had the biggest mortgage month ever in January in our history,� said Mike Danhauser,

John Wagner/News-Miner

Jason, left, Patrice, center, and Madison Case, 9, pose in front of their home off Fairbanks Street on Thursday afternoon, March 19, 2009. The Cases recently refinanced their mortgage, saving more than $400 per month. chief credit administrator at Mt. McKinley Bank. “Normally, January and February are very slow.�

The bank pulled employees from other departments to help deal with the jump in business, Danhauser said.

Alaska USA Federal Credit

also has been busy. “All of the mortgage loan originators are swamped,� credit union spokeswoman Nancy Bear Usera said. “Even people who refinanced from 8 percent to 6 percent are looking at it again.�

Please see REFINANCE, Page 4

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Friday, April 3, 2009

Building and Home Improvement

Efficient bulbs can help Alaskans see the light

By STEFAN MILKOWSKI For the News-Miner By now, you’ve probably heard about the benefits of energyefficient light bulbs — cheaper to operate, longer-lasting — but you might not have switched over just yet.

Here’s some information on how to make the switch and why it’s a good idea, as well as some creative ideas for the more adventurous homeowners out there.

The basic idea is to get rid of your old incandescent bulbs and replace them with compact fluorescent bulbs.

Incandescents are the kind that look like normal light bulbs and sell four for a dollar.

Thomas Edison came up with the basic design more than 100 years ago, but the bulbs are inef-

3

ficient — almost all the energy goes into heat, not light.

Compact fluorescent bulbs have a spiraling glass coil. Ones that are Energy Star-qualified by the U.S. government use about 75 percent less energy than incandescent bulbs and last up to 10 times longer. They cost more, but each bulb ends up saving $30 or more in energy during the course of its life, according to government figures.

Lighting can make up 10 to 15 percent of a home’s total electric costs, and replacing bulbs in a home’s most-used fixtures can cut those lighting costs in half.

For a typical home, that’s about $50 a year.

Fifty bucks may not sound like much, but the work involved isn’t much, either.

The federal Energy Star program recommends starting with

Eric Engman/News-Miner

A “New For 2009” item on display at the Holm Town Nursery booth, a Procyon 100 LED Grow Light, which uses 125 watts of power and boasts a 50,000 hour LED life and a 75percent power savings over an equivalent 400watt high pressure sodium light with a ballast while producing a fraction of the heat, during the 2009 Interior Alaska Building Association Home Show on Saturday, March 28, 2009 at the Carlson Center.

the lights you use most — kitchen ceiling lights, lamps in the living room and outdoor lights.

Compact fluorescents are good for all those.

For basements and garages, newer, high-efficiency fluorescent tubes with electronic ballasts can cut energy consumption by nearly a third over standard fluorescent bulbs and magnetic ballasts.

Outside, motion sensors are a good way to reduce energy costs by leaving lights off until they’re needed.

Ultrasonic and infrared (sound and motion) sensors work well inside, too, for things like kids’ bedrooms and bathrooms.

Concerns have been raised Please see LIGHT, Page 4

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Building and Home Improvement

REFINANCE Continued from Page 2

While some people are opting for a speedier repayment schedule, others are shaving hundreds of dollars off their monthly payments.

Jason Case and his wife refinanced their home, freeing up more than $400 a month.

They are using the money to purchase the land where they plan to build their next home.

“Rates came down and I was, you know, just kind of watching them,” said Case, who works at Florcraft Inc. When the rate dropped to 4.7 percent, the couple decided to refinance. The rate on their original home loan was 6.5 percent, Case said.

“We’re still making the same payment but have land now also,” Case said. “It definitely gives you a little money to do something with. A lot of people have gone and done it. For everybody I know, it’s worked out for them.”

Mortgage refinancing is a lot like purchasing a new home.

There is an application process,

While some people are opting for a speedier repayment schedule, others are shaving hundreds of dollars off their monthly payments. a credit check, and in some cases a new appraisal must be carried out. There is a “closing date” when a hand-numbing number of documents must be signed.

For people planning to remain with the same financial institution, the process often is streamlined. Often the fees, usually thousands of dollars, are rolled into the principal of the loan.

But qualifying for a loan isn’t as simple as it was a year ago.

After seeing much of the banking industry collapse — largely because of high-risk loans — lenders are much more careful about giving out money.

Dwight Deely, the president of Evergreen Mortgage, a local mortgage broker, said he has as many loan applicants as ever.

But because of more conservative lending practices, only those with good credit and stable jobs

are likely to be approved.

“These days the underwriters don’t want to take any risks,” Deely said.

The best candidates for mortgage refinancing are people planning to remain in their home for a number of years.

“The biggest variable in the evaluation is how long you are going to be staying in your house,” Usera said. “It’s a question of how long does it take you to recover the cost of refinancing.”

Many financial institutions have loan calculators on their Web sites to help people gauge whether refinancing is right for them.

“If your rate is at 6 percent or higher, you should be looking at refinancing,” Danhauser said.

Contact staff writer Amanda Bohman at 459-7544.

Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

LIGHTS: Reduce energy Continued from Page 3

about the mercury contained in compact fluorescent bulbs.

Each bulb has about one onehundredth of the metal as much as an old mercury thermometer, but still enough that you should take care when cleaning up a broken bulb.

For the more adventurous, light-emitting diodes are even more efficient than fluorescents.

LEDs are commonly used in household electronics but are working their way into other markets.

The Cold Climate Housing Research Center in Fairbanks uses LEDs for all its outside lighting, and all the LEDs put together use less energy than just one of the outside lights at the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus.

The Municipality of Anchorage is planning to replace its 16,000 streetlights with LEDs or another “white light” called induction lighting to reduce glare and save money.

The lights are expected to reduce energy and maintenance costs and save the city up to $2

million a year.

LEDs are just starting to become available for home lighting.

If that convinced you to make the switch — to compact fluorescents, that is — here are some things to consider.

Compact fluorescents come in lots of shapes and sizes to fit most fixtures, and they come in different intensities and shades of white.

The intensity of the bulb is often described in terms of an equivalent incandescent bulb, like 60 or 75 watt replacement.

Look for warm shades of white for indoors and cooler shades for outdoors or in a home office.

Buy Energy Star-rated bulbs to make sure you’re getting the most efficient option.

Check out these sites for more information: • Visit the Energy Star Web site at www.energystar.gov and look for lighting.

• California Energy Commission — www.energy.ca.gov/efficiency/ lighting • California Lighting Technology Center — www.cltc.ucdavis.edu

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Friday, April 3, 2009

5

Building and Home Improvement

Six essential items every homeowner needs

By LINDA PESCATOR Creators News Service The economy may be at a standstill, but your house won’t stop creaking, squeaking and leaking just because you have less money for hiring contractors and handymen.

Whether you find the prospect of maintaining or remodeling your home appealing or appalling, acquiring a few basic tools will save you time, money and drudgery.

If you wait until you need them, you might not find the best deal — and without the right tool, you might put off doing a job until it’s too late.

“So many simple things need just a little tightening, a little adjustment or a little loving care to avoid the frustration that often comes with owning a home,” said Danny Lipford, host of the nationally syndicated Emmy-nominated television show “Today’s Homeowner.” He

Courtesy of “Today's Homeowner with Danny Lipford”

Danny Lipford, pictured here, recommends that every homeowner have a hammer to assist them in easy do-it-yourself projects. also is featured on the Weather Channel as a home improvement contributor and on CBS’ “The Early Show.”

Even the least skilled hom-

eowners can feel empowered by owning a few affordable, easyto-use tools. In addition, being self-sufficient has advantages.

“It’s so frustrating to try to get

anybody over to do some of the small things,” he said.

After two years of declining sales of home improvement products to consumers, the Home Improvement Research Institute projects that such sales will increase slightly in 2009. As manufacturers chase your dollars, that may mean you’ll pay lower prices.

You can also save by looking for package deals, which are offered by quite a few tool manufacturers. “Over the last few years, the combination kits that they’ve put together are so unbelievably reasonable compared to buying the individual components,” Lipford said.

For example, some companies might bundle a drill and saw that use the same type of rechargeable battery with a charger that both can share.

“Then you’re set up,” Lipford said.

But don’t judge products on price alone. Shop for tools in

the middle price ranges, Lipford advised. High-priced, professional-grade tools are pricier and heftier than the average homeowner needs, but go too cheap and you’ll end up replacing broken tools, not to mention risking injury.

Here are the six power and hand tools that, according to Lipford, every homeowner needs.

Remember to take the time to read your manuals and always observe recommended safety precautions:

Power screwdriver Look for a good quality piece with interchangeable bits. Having just four — a large and small Phillips head and a large and small slotted bit — would “take care of 99 percent of anything you would ever encounter around the home,” Lipford said.

You’ll spend about $12 to $25.

Please see TOOLS, Page 6

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Building and Home Improvement

Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

TOOLS

Take care of routine repairs this spring Staff Report An exterior door that doesn’t fit well in its frame can add dollars to a homeowner’s heating bill.

A few tweaks during the summer — when the door can be left open without much heat loss — might extend the exterior door’s useful life for a couple of years.

A few common things might be wrong, some of which can be fixed with a handful of tools such as a hammer, a small prybar, a level, wood shims, a screwdriver or small drill and finishing nails: • The door stop, a strip of wood attached to the frame, may have begun to pull away

from the frame. They can be remarried with a few nails and caulking or other sealant.

The stop could also be missing weather stripping, which otherwise blocks air from working its way around the door and into or out of the home.

• The door could be missing a sweep, which when screwed on keeps air from escaping the door from underneath. Sweeps are usually attached directly to the door with a few screws and can be cut to fit.

• Doors hang on “jambs,” or three- or four-sided frames that fit inside the openings. If a jamb isn’t square, more room exists for air to sneak around the door. You can see if the jamb is square by holding a level up

against it.

• If the jamb has curves or isn’t vertical, it’s worth getting a better look by removing the pieces of trim, the thin strips of wood used to hide the space between the jamb and the rest of the wall.

Then the various sides of the jamb can be worked in and out until they’re straight. Spray foam insulation into the space to help insulate the house.

Garage floors Homeowners can also take the next step in their springtime garage cleanup with a thorough scrub of the concrete floor.

Major retailers carry acidbased solvents capable of cut-

Continued from Page 5

ting through the more industrial-type spots in concrete garage flooring, and after a cleaning, the same floor can be coated with an enamel or other heavyduty paint or covering to make it easier to clean the next time.

Hammer This trusty old standby is indispensable for pounding, whacking and striking nails, and a claw will also help pry nails out, too. A wooden-handled model weighing 14 to 16 ounces should be comfortable enough for both sexes yet still get the job done, according to Lipford.

You’ll spend about $15.

Outside lights New exterior lights, complete with motion detectors, can add to a better look for a home’s exterior.

Motion detectors click on only if triggered by someone walking by or a car entering or exiting the driveway.

“So basically you’re saving electricity,” electrician and contractor Paul Bauer said. “Do you need to have lights on eight to 10 hours a night?”

Pliers Adjustability is key here, since you’ll use these to grip and pull a wide variety of items as well as handling various nuts and bolts. Look for one with a slotted adjustment that goes from tiny to an inch or more.

You’ll probably spend around $15.

Utility knife

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Circular saw This handheld tool comes corded or cordless in a variety of sizes. “It’s one of the most versatile tools that does so many things around the house,” Lipford said, citing tasks like trimming small boards or plywood or even cutting holes in your floor.

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It’s “one of the truly most useful things,” Lipford said.

A quality set with a variety of attachments will allow you to complete a wide range of tasks beyond just drilling holes. Use a steel brush accessory, for example, to repair a rusty piece of outdoor furniture. You can even stir paint with a special attachment. And while most sets will allow you to attach bits just like a screwdriver, Lipford doesn’t think a drill should replace a screwdriver.

“With a drill, you’re not going to be able to get in some of the real tight spots that you need to — inside a drawer, hanging blinds or inside a closet,” he said. A small 12-volt drill might cost $30, with more powerful 18volt models going for about $10 more.

Friday, April 3, 2009

7

Building and Home Improvement

Molding the ‘Passiv Haus’ concept for Alaska

By THORSTEN CHLUPP

What is a Passive House?

International comparisons In the United States, a house built to the Passive House standard results in a building that requires space heating energy of 1 BTU per square foot per heating degree day, compared with about 5 to 15 BTUs per square foot per heating degree day for a similar building built to meet the 2003 Model Energy Efficiency Code.

This is between 75 and 95 percent less energy for space heating and cooling than current new buildings that meet many of today’s Please see PASSIVE, Page 9

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A passive house is a building in which a comfortable interior climate can be maintained with minimum active heating and cooling systems. The house heats and cools itself, hence “passive.”

Following are the basic features that distinguish passive house construction: Compact form and good insulation: All components of the exterior shell of the house are super insulated to achieve a Ufactor that does not exceed 0.15 W/(m?K) (0.026 Btu/h/ft?/ degrees F).

Southern orientation and shade considerations: Passive use of solar energy is a significant factor in passive house design.

Energy-efficient window glazing and frames: Windows (glazing and frames, combined) should have U-factors not exceeding 0.80 W/(m?K) (0.14 Btu/h/ft?/ degrees F), with solar heat-gain coefficients around 50 percent.

Building envelope airtightness: Air leakage through unsealed joints must be less than 0.6 times the house volume per hour.

Passive preheating of fresh

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Europe has been faced with high energy prices for a long time and the industry has been focusing on developing energy-efficient designs.

Over the last few years there has been a huge push toward developing buildings that require little to no energy to heat and operate but are nevertheless still feasible to build.

Based on many years of research, a concept of a Passive Haus was developed in Germany which sets a new standard in ultra efficient construction.

Over the last 10 years more than 6,000 buildings in Europe — from single and multifamily residences, to schools, factories and office buildings — have been designed and built or remodeled to the passive house standard. A great many of these have been extensively monitored by the Passiv Haus Institut in Darmstadt which founded the standard in 1991, analyzing and verifying their performance. Even governmental agencies have adopted passive house standards in their policymaking throughout Europe.

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Building and Home Improvement

Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

Growing your own vegetables makes good economic sense

By ASHLEY BRIGGS For the News Miner The average Fairbanks family with two children between the ages of 6-11 will spend on average $127.59 on food per week, while the average couple between the ages of 19-50 will spend on average $76.36 on food per week, according to the

Alaska Cooperative Extension Service of the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Residents can reduce their food budget by planting and maintaining a home garden.

The amount of savings per family will depend on how much a person plants and if they eat what they plant.

Cyndie Warbelow-Tack of the Plant Kingdom Greenhouse says that “families must select the food they eat most.” By selecting foods that families

will consume more of their chances of increasing their savings goes up.

In combination with selecting the foods they want to eat, a gardener must also select what grows well in the area.

Cold-weather foods as well foods like lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage all grow well in Alaska.

“They are easy to plant and don’t require much soil,” Warbelow-Tack said.

According to Happy Creek

Farm Greenhouse, other vegetables that grow well in Alaska are root crops such as carrots, beets and turnips.

If access to an outside garden is not readily accessible, gardeners have other options for growing produce.

“Tomatoes can be grown outside in small containers,” Warbelow-Tack said.

Things to consider when starting to plant is the amount of space allotted for a garden.

Potatoes grow well in Alaska

and give more return per plot of ground than most root crops.

However, potatoes only produce one harvest per year. Other perishable crops and root crops give more than one harvest per growing season.

Consuming food grown in a home garden is a good way to try to reduce the amount of money spent on food each year.

Even small gardens can reduce spending and there is “hardly anything that isn’t worth growing,” Warbelow-Tack said.

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Friday, April 3, 2009

Building and Home Improvement

9

PASSIVE: Alaska builders take on challenge Continued from Page 7

U.S. energy efficiency codes.

The Passivhaus in Waldsee, Minn., uses 85 percent less energy than a house built to current Minnesota building codes.

In the United Kingdom, an average new house built to the Passive House standard would use 77 percent less energy for space heating, compared to the building regulations.

In Ireland, it is calculated that a typical house built to the Passive House standard instead of the 2002 Building Regulations would consume 85 percent less energy for space heating and cut spaceheating related carbon emissions by 94 percent.

Comparison with zero energy buildings A Passive House has a very low energy demand for maintaining interior comfort in the heating season. The heating demand is so low that the environmental

impact is negligible even if fossil fuels such as oil, gas, or coal are the heating sources. There are also no problems with primary energy resources. If higher energy efficiencies are sought, the project costs escalate beyond affordability, and the likelihood is that the project will not be replicated.

Passive Houses in Alaska The challenge to build nearly energy self-sufficient homes, i.e.

Passive Housing, is well defined throughout the European building industry. The physical equations to build a Passive Home remain the same – only the construction conditions vary. The methodology of the Passive House solution can be soundly applied independent of the geographic and climatic circumstances.

Looking at design requirement in Europe for a Passiv Haus brings up interesting questions in regard to some of our current building practices.

One example is Insulation ratios between the overall building envelope: wall insulation, roof insulation and under slab or floor insulation. In Germany about 12 inches of foam is placed under the slab foundation whereas we currently are required to place 2 inches of insulation under slabs.

Are we using the right ratios for our building envelopes or do we underestimate the under slab/ floor insulation value?

Another question we are looking into closely is if we underestimate the true heat loss with the use of a conventional HRV system and can we utilize the Passive House concepts to help minimize this heat loss?

We are calculating and designing a Alaskan Passive House concept and plan to build a Home this summer to this stringent standard. It is our goal to proof that it is possible and also feasible to build a new home with such efficiency and minimal energy requirement here in Fairbanks in our extreme climate.

In April we will attend the 13th annual Passiv Haus conference in Frankfurt, Germany, followed by the second annual Nordic Passiv Haus conference in Goteborg, Sweden, to learn about the newest research and technology and also establish relationships with the European science building community.

A global challenge: This world is facing enormous challenges with climate, energy and our environment that will require us all to work together in finding solutions to these problems. More than ever networking, sharing information and knowledge is important and together we can all make a difference in deal-

ing with the challenges ahead of us. We need to think global and start a dialogue on sharing ideas on this common goal to establish very high energy efficient building concepts which are economical sound to build today. With today’s existing technologies and applied building science we can dramatically improve energy efficiency.

And urgent action is needed to reduce buildings energy use for our future tomorrow.

Thorsten Chlupp, REINA, LLC a custom home builder currently on a “Passive Home Quest.”

10

Building and Home Improvement

Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

Antiques can bring great character to your living space

By DIANE SCHLINDWEIN Creators News Service If you want to give your house special warmth that makes it more inviting, adding antiques can help you say “welcome” to family and friends.

These days important interior designers like Chicago-based Nate Berkus are singing the praises of antiques. Berkus, the author of “Home Rules: Transform the Place You Live Into a Place You’ll Love” ($28, Hyperion), believes that old objects bring character to a room.

Berkus discovered that people today are more willing to take risks in d?©cor. In other words,

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thing was new and contemporary, but they were just missing something,” said Glenda Tate, the owner and operator of The Antique Wood, a shop in the historic district of downtown Wichita Falls, Texas. “Antiques make a house feel like a home. Just the right piece here or there can make all the difference.”

As in all investments, when collecting antiques it is important to spend your money wisely. A true antique is a piece of furniture or an item that is over 100 years old. Furniture, art and glassware that are decades old but haven’t been around for at least a century are called vintage pieces.

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about its history, that isn’t usually the case.

“The people running those sales and auctions really don’t want family members around.

But I do like to find pieces that people can tell me about. That way I can share information with the customers who are buying it,” she added.

Dealers who sell antiques generally look for merchandise in the same places as the everyday collector. “Flea markets are fun places to go because you don’t know what you’ll find,”

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Tate said there are plenty of places to look for affordable antiques and vintage furniture.

“For sure, antique stores are a good place to go,” she said, adding that antique dealers generally have thoroughly researched their most important merchandise. “Sometimes I sell things for not a lot of money, but if I have a treasure, I mark it that way.”

Tate enjoys going looking for her pieces. “I also like estate sales and auctions,” she said.

Although some people attend estate sales thinking they’ll purchase a piece and be able to ask

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they are mixing pieces that probably wouldn’t have been placed together years ago.

In his book, he asked readers to picture a modern living room with stone floors, a white sofa and shiny painted tables.

Then he advises adding a pair of old candlesticks and a recovered chair. “The room looked good without the old pieces, but with them it gains depth and contrast,” wrote Berkus, who appears regularly on The Oprah Winfrey Show. In fact, he promotes living in a home that feels “collected over time.”

Antique dealers agree with that concept. “I’ve been in some beautiful homes where every-

Friday, April 3, 2009

11

Building and Home Improvement

ANTIQUES: Vintage items can be found at auctions, thrift stores Continued from Page 10

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Tate said. “I also like thrift stores. You can sometimes find something wonderful that someone donated. Either they didn’t realize its value or they just didn’t want something. I leave those thrift stores so excited.”

No matter where you get them, antiques can work with any decor. Unless you have rooms to fill, buy just a few special pieces -- and be sure they are pieces you can use. “What good are lovely things if you can’t leave them out to enjoy?”

Tate asked. “However, I admit that I do get a little nervous when our grandchildren are bouncing a basketball or throwing a ball around.”

There is such a thing as having too many antiques, she added. “I remember being in a house where everything was antique. It was like a mausoleum and even smelled musty.

So you don’t want to go overboard.”

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You can sometimes find something wonderful that someone donated. Either they didn’t realize its value or they just didn’t want something. I leave those thrift stores so excited.

— Glenda Tate

If you hope to add particular pieces to your home, get to know the local antique dealer and show them your “wish list.”

Or you can follow Berkus’ lead

and make it a practice to check out antique, thrift, resale and consignment shops when you’re visiting a new town. “Whenever I travel, I break open the Yellow

Pages to locate these kinds of stores,” he wrote.

Berkus suggested being creative with antiques. For example, an old chest can be used for

a coffee table. He is a big fan of making over bargain finds with paint or by adding an expensive shade to a lamp.

Antiques not only look nice, but they are a good investment, Tate said. The values of antiques keep rising — and if they are in fairly good shape, then the older the better.

She said the Internet is best place to research the true value of a piece and recommends goantiques.com and rubylane. com for sites to either buy antiques or compare prices.

12

Building and Home Improvement

Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

Home restoration can be fun, smart and even green

By GLENDA WINDERS Creators News Service Whether your home is a classic architectural gem from another era or an older house with good bones, restoring it to its earlier grandeur can be both a great adventure and a practical investment.

“It’s the most green way of living,” said Stanley Poe, a cultural heritage commissioner and past president of Long Beach Heritage in Long Beach, Calif.

“You’re recycling everything, using old-growth wood and not taking anything away from the environment.”

Poe said restoration also makes economic sense since fewer new materials need to be purchased and the resale value is improved.

The project begins with a search of documents to help you

“Peek behind the molding around windows and doors since these were probably installed after the original paint or wallpaper was applied. Chip the paint on woodwork in an unobtrusive place to find the original finish.”

— Paul Porter

discover your home’s history.

“Check with the local historical society for photographs of streetscapes and newspaper clippings that may include your house,” suggested Paul Porter, whose A History of Color (ahistoryofcolor.com) in Madison,

Wis., conducts restorations of historic buildings. He also suggested looking for Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps, which track alterations to the footprint of the house to determine if additions or changes have been made that possibly obscured the origi-

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these were probably installed after the original paint or wallpaper was applied,” he said.

“Chip the paint on woodwork in an unobtrusive place to find the original finish. Pull up carpeting to discover the flooring.”

The real fun begins when you have a plan and can start looking for the architectural elements and interior details that will help it come together. Most cities have architectural salvage companies that rescue bathtubs, lighting fixtures, crown moldings and mantelpieces when old homes are torn down. Web searches will also turn up everything from antique doors and windows to period metalwork, roofing and reclaimed wood. If the pieces aren’t in perfect condition, look for services such as those that restore porcelain or brass to their earlier beauty.

In your quest for historical accuracy, however, make sure

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Determine the period of your home. Is it Victorian, Craftsman or mid-century modern? Knowing this will help in your pursuit of information and resources.

Search libraries, bookstores and the Internet for information and photos about the period in which you are interested. Specialized magazines offer articles and online archives on just about any challenge you’ll encounter.

If you need a contractor, make sure the one you hire specializes in restorations. Meet with candidates in person to see if they are as excited about the stained glass windows and 1930s bathroom tiles as you are. Ask them if they are familiar with the techniques for cleaning and preserving the wood and masonry that are still intact.

Porter had several ideas for finding clues to your home’s past decor.

“Peek behind the molding around windows and doors since

Friday, April 3, 2009

Building and Home Improvement

RESTORATION Continued from Page 12

that your home is also functional.

“Look for reproduction pieces to create a modern interpretation of kitchens and bathrooms that give the idea of the original character of the house but serve modern functions,” Porter advised.

Colors in home design change with the decades just as it does in fashion, so finding both the interior and exterior shades that are appropriate to the period of your house will be important.

“You can work the historic color scheme to suit your taste and reflect your personality as well as the character of the house,” Porter said.

Most major paint companies offer palettes that are historically accurate to specific eras.

They can also make suggestions about how to combine colors for maximum dramatic effect, such as adding jewel tones to the

13

Nonprofit ‘restore’ offers bargains

gingerbread ornamentation on a Victorian or forest green shutters against a crisp white Colonial facade.

Pay attention to finishing details. If you decide to use wallpaper, look for real antique papers or good reproductions.

Period finials, window pulls and strike plates complete the look you want to achieve.

If your home is a Colonial, the floors will be bare. If it is a Victorian, they will be swathed in richly patterned Asian carpets.

Furniture in an art deco home will be highly stylized while the interior of a Craftsman house will have little ornamentation.

“The payoff for all this work is that you get to recreate something that was majestic and beautiful at one time,” Porter said.

It’s not the only benefit, either. “You’re giving back to society when you restore an old house. You’re creating pride in the community,” Poe added.

By CHRIS FREIBERG cfreiberg@newsminer.com If you’re looking for inexpensive supplies to do home maintenance projects, you might want to consider the Habitat for Humanity Restore.

The nonprofit, which has built affordable housing for the needy for more than three decades now, has expanded in recent years to open “restores” which offer the cheap supplies and fund administrative fees and the construction of even more homes for the needy.

The building materials are donated by local individuals and businesses, and sold for as much as half off what they would retail at a building supply store.

The donations are usually tax deductible.

The Fairbanks restore, located at 1223 Pioneer Road, opened last summer, and is expected to reopen up this year around May 16.

As the national economy began to deteriorate last year, the restore saw a surge in

demand.

“Every weekend we had 500 or more people there,” said Toni Ladd, the office manager for the local chapter of Habitat. “It was very busy.”

The restore is run entirely by volunteers, so it’s only open on weekends during the summer.

Usually the restore, located in a warehouse that goes unheated during the winter, is filled to the brim with plumbing supplies, pipes, sinks, doors, windows, tiles and light bulbs.

Sometimes there are een appliances such as stoves available.

“But mainly we try keep it to just building materials,” Ladd said.

For more information about donating or shopping at the restore, contact Habitat for Humanity at 452-1685.

Contact staff writer Chris Freiberg at 459-7545.

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14

Building and Home Improvement

Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

The right place for everything can improve your decor

By ISABELLE LIPKIN Creators News Service “A place for everything and everything in its place” is an old adage. But what place — and where exactly — are two contemporary rejoinders that are only fair to ask, given the influx of papers, mail, magazines and just plain stuff that flows through the door for most people.

Creating effective storage space in a home can be a challenge, but it’s also entirely possible if the savvy declutterer follows a few basic tips.

Mona Williams, vice president of buying for the Dallas-based Container Store, suggested picking a small space to start with and not being overly ambitious.

“The biggest reason why people don’t get organized is that they don’t take that first step,” Wil-

liams said. “Start with something little. You don’t have to start with a room or a closet, but rather pick a drawer or a shelf.”

Then weed through it, keeping one basket or bin nearby marked for giveaway and one marked for garbage. “You can’t organize until you see the inventory of what’s there,” said Williams, stressing that organizing clutter isn’t the point, but rather figuring out and then keeping only what things are important for your life where it is now.

“If something has sentimental value” she said, “figure out how to keep it carefully.”

But otherwise, after purging and pruning, you’re ready to store. Once you get one area organized, work from that momentum and excitement and use it as inspiration to propel you onward to the next area.

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Learning the right way to store your items can help organize your home and make it a more attractive space.

Another key point, stressed Williams, is to consider what type of person you are before purchasing storage systems. Are you more likely to want to kick off your shoes and toss them into a bin by the front door? Or would you really place them on a shelf next to other shoes of the same

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Utilizing every square inch is essential, especially when creating storage in smaller spaces.

Williams suggested using spaces above doorways or under beds, even customizing shelves to fit between a doorway and the corner. Scan walls “from the bottom up and then the top down,” she said, looking for areas to use by installing shelving through which to maximize the space.

If a cabinet’s shelves are wide, consider a stacking divider to then subdivide the shelf to store yet more. Derek Fagerstrom, projects editor of ReadyMade magazine, also reiterated the necessity of finding built-in spaces wherever possible.

“Consider a TV stand with extra shelving, or a nightstand that also has drawers,” he suggested. Also, think creatively about multipurposing objects.

A decorative trunk in the living room can be a chic place to store out of season clothing’s or old papers.

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Consider what your habits are and what system you’re likely to maintain before purchasing storage products. “You will not maintain the organization if it’s totally opposite to your lifestyle,” said Williams, and that it’s OK to say you know you won’t maintain a certain system and to choose a different type that works for you.

Three watchwords to keep in mind, said Williams, are “visibility, accessibility, and flexibility.”

“Everything has to be visible,” she said. “If it’s out of sight, it’s lost and gone.” Likewise, “no matter how organized something is, if you can’t get to it, you’ll be frustrated,” she added, so store things in a way that they can be reached — not piled so high a stepladder is necessary or so deep back on a shelf that they’ll never be seen.

And, finally, to keep costs at bay, find products that will be flexible — that can be used one way in the present and again in a different use in the future. Akro storage bins are one answer Williams offered. It is a commercial crate that folds flat when not in use and can be used for kids’ toy storage, then later might be a grocery cart that can be kept in a car’s trunk, and then also used by a catch-all bin for a college student later on.

“We can’t control things outside our home,” said Williams, “but we can control what’s inside.”

Putting things out of sight — carefully and usefully — to ease the mind and to create an ease and enjoyment of living space is the whole point of good storage.

Friday, April 3, 2009

Building and Home Improvement

15

Simple ways to cut water use

By ASHLEY BRIGGS For the News Miner Cutting down on water use can result in significant saving for homeowners. Residents can cut down on the amount they spend on water by using water-saving appliances and implementing good water-use practices.

Local water from the Water Wagon in Fairbanks costs 1.5 cents per gallon if customers pick up the water, and 8 cents per gallon for the water to be delivered to a household.

According to Erin ParcherWartes of the Water Wagon, the average person with a water holding tank uses 30 gallons of a day.

A couple receiving water from either Golden Heart Utilities of Fairbanks or College Utilities Corporation, using a total of 60 gallons a day, can pay between $48.56 to $55.71 a month.

According to the Cooperative Extension Service, 75 percent of water used indoors occurs in the bathroom. About 19 gallons are used per day in toilets, 13.2 gallons in showers and 11.4 gal-

Eric Engman/News-Miner

The inner workings of a Separett AB Waterless Toilet are displayed at the Lifewater Engineering Co. booth during the 2009 Interior Alaska Building Association Home Show at the Carlson Center.

lons from faucets.

Fred Sorensen, water quality program coordinator for Cooperative Extension, said there are many ways to save water with different appliances.

Installing a low-flush toilet, with a capacity of 1.6 gallons, can save the average household as much as 9.3 gallons a day, while installing water-wise shower heads can save 2.1 gallons per day.

If buying a new toilet is outside a household budget, water conservation is still possible.

Sorensen explains that placing a brick or large rock in the tank of a toilet takes up volume and reduces the amount of water per flush. Older, conventional toilets can use up to 5 gallons of water per flush and displacing some of that water with a brick can save as much as 15 gallons a day, he said.

Another appliance that can be changed to conserve water is the washing machine. “Front-

end washers use less water than top-end washers.” Sorensen said. Switching from a top-end to a front-end can save the average household about 5 gallons a day.

Water can also be conserved by being conscious of when and how it is used. Reducing the amount of garbage disposal use as well as hand-washing dishes can save as much as 15 gallons per meal.

Other water conservation methods that can be implemented are as simple as changing a washer on a pipe.

“The major thing most underestimated is dripping and leaking,” Sorensen said.

According to Cooperative Extension, faucet leaks can use as much as 9.4 gallons a day.

Outdoor tips for conserving water include checking hoses, watering the lawn at cooler temperatures and washing vehicles with a bucket. The most common leak in an outdoor hose

Eric Engman/News-Miner

Winston Newby of Wasilla, right, demonstrates a BonAire Original Ultimate Hose Nozzle at his booth during the 2009 Interior Alaska Building Association Home Show at the Carlson Center. happens when water is left on with a pressure sprayer. Less water is used when watering in the early morning or evening and not on windy days, while washing a car with a bucket reduces the amount of time water is running.

Water can also be conserved by using graywater.

Graywater is the largest portion of wastewater in a home.

It can amount to up to 40 gallons a day, according to the Sorensen. Graywater is wastewater from bathtubs, showers, sinks, washing machines and dishwashers, and can be collected and then reused to water trees or flowers.

16

Building and Home Improvement

Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

Spice up your rooms to get ready for spring

By VALERIE LEMKE Creators News Service The long, cold winter is nearly over. Spring is in the air, and with it comes the urge to spruce up your living quarters.

Kim Myles, host of HGTV’s “Myles of Style,” is full of ideas on how you can accomplish this

creatively without breaking the bank.

“When you want to freshen up for spring, the key is to edit,” she said. “Instead of adding and layering as we do for winter, I pull out candles, throws, pillows and my little fluffy accent rugs.

The idea is to leave behind only the things you love, and it costs you nothing.”

Take a look at your window treatment, too. Switching window coverings can have a huge visual impact, Myles said. “Replace heavy drapes with sheer curtains in white or cream. They’re not expensive, and if you’re a seamstress you can whip them up yourself.”

What remains is a light, spare space. “When I achieve that spareness, I’m ready for spring.”

Her canvas prepared, this designer then looks to the upcoming summer. “Summer is when you add fullness to your living space,” she said. Again, achieving an impact need not cost a fortune.

“I love to have fun with color -- what about four pillows in celadon green and canary yellow? It’s wow!” she said. “You

can’t ignore it!

She also loves searching through older items. “I love garage sales,” she said. “One man’s trash is another’s treasure. What about that little beatup end table? Hit it with saffron or lime-colored paint.”

As a fan of art in the house and a devotee of luscious fabrics, another of Myles’ design tricks is large, easy-to-make custom wall “paintings.”

“Buy four canvas stretcher bars -- found at artist supply stores. Pop them together. A three-foot-by-three-foot frame costs about $8,” she said.

While artists stretch white canvas, you can stretch a yard of beautiful fabric and hang a work of art that infuses a space with color and texture, she said. An

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This is especially welcome if you’re renting a home where you can’t paint or hang heavy things, Myles said. “Imagine the impact over a couch, particularly in a tiny apartment.”

Then there’s the fireplace.

Crackling and cozy during the winter, “it becomes a big black hole of nothing in the spring,” Myles said. But it’s also an opportunity for an elegant design statement.

“Fill the fireplace with fresh flowers or potted plants,” she said. “If you’re having a special party, stems of orchids in multiple vases will last three weeks and the cost is about $25 from a wholesale flower dealer.

“When they fade, switch them out with ferns, succulents or house plants. Each can make a dazzling display.”

But whether you want a total new look, or just some simple, fresh touches, it’s important to maintain your individuality and adapt design elements that inspire you, Myles said. “Design is fun. It should be joyful. Our homes are not museums. They are places we love and live in. If there’s something you don’t like, just change it.”

Leigh Oshirak, director of public relations and marketing communications for Pottery Barn, the nationwide home furnishings store, is in full accord with keeping the spring spruceup simple.

“Spring is an opportunity to clean up clutter, to introduce patterns, to bring the outdoors in,” Oshirak said. “One thing Pottery Barn is doing for spring this year is organic, bold-colored bedding. We’ve also freshened up floor treatments and have introduced a new trunk collection-trunks that can conceal at lot of stuff while serving as a table, too.”

While the handsome Pottery Barn catalogs have long been used by Americans wanting ideas on how to put style into their rooms, the chain also offers other free vehicles for design information, according to Oshirak.

“Our website, potterybarn. com, has tons of practical ideas from how to develop your family’s style to creating outdoor living spaces. Take what you see and adapt what you like for your home."

Friday, April 3, 2009

17

Building and Home Improvement

You don’t have to spend a fortune to have great decor

By CINDY CAFFERTY Creators News Service When it comes to home improvement trends, cheap is the new chic. From bargain hunting to making small updates that net big results, there are a host of ways to cash in on the trend and bring home big savings on your home improvements.

“The quickest way, and a cheap way, to update and change your home is with paint,” said Genevieve Gorder, designer and host of HGTV’s “Dear Genevieve.” “For about $40, you can change the vibe of any room, and if you can use painter’s tape, it’s simple.”

For those not comfortable with tackling the actual walls on their own, painting furniture is quick, easy and nearly foolproof.

Painting outdated brass chandeliers or mismatched picture frames makes for quick and affordable solutions taking home decor from blah to beautiful. It’s

Photo courtesy of HGTV

Genevieve Gorder, host of HGTV’s “Dear Genevieve,” said one of the best and most inexpensive ways to brighten your house is a fresh coat of paint. also an alternative for renters who may not have the luxury of tackling actual structural changes.

Using accessories is a great option to update or change your decor. They improve the look of any room, can help establish a

theme that other improvements can build upon and offer instant results for the cash-strapped and chic oriented.

“Accessories help your home reflect who you are and can be changed out all the time,” said Gorder. “Soft goods like throws or pillows are affordable, allow you to incorporate color and add depth, creating a room and a look that feels finished.”

Incorporate five or six colors in a room that accentuate one another for variance and include both deep and subtle tones. You can even bring pattern in on small items to create texture and depth, and don’t forget the floor -- an area rug, either over carpet or bare floors, is another affordable way to bring in color, and create a more well rounded and elegant feel to a room.

A simple touch like adding crown molding to a room, either over a mantle or on a wall that separates rooms, is an easy update that beautifies any home.

Lighting is another key ele-

ment for improving a home or simply updating a room.

“Put dimmers in. For about $30 [per room] you can change the atmosphere on any given day and at any given time,” said Gorder. “And don’t forget the ambience ... decorating isn’t just about what a home looks like, but what it feels like as well.

Decorating should encompass all five of the senses,” adding that scented candles can bring in that new dimension you’re looking for.

Jami Zimmerman, designer and co-founder of cheapthrillsdecor.com, agreed that the devil is in the details when it comes to saving money on home improvements, and those details lay in accessorizing a home as well as getting creative with what you already own.

She said there are some common mistakes that can turn a cash saving venture into a true cash cow. “There are some areas Please see CHEAP CHIC, Page 18

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Building and Home Improvement

Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

CHEAP CHIC: Don’t skimp on the big stuff

“And don’t forget the ambience ... decorating isn’t just about what a home looks like, but what it feels like as well. Decorating should encompass all five of the senses.”

Continued from Page 17

that you just don’t skimp on. It can cost you in the long run.”

Things you don’t want to skimp on, according to Zimmerman, primarily lie in structural changes such as plumbing, electricity and big painting jobs — particularly when trimming is involved.

“You want a reputable contractor, plumber or electrician involved in big projects. Contractors need to be licensed and should be able to offer you refer-

— Genevieve Gorder

ences so you can inquire about their work,” she said.

Zimmerman suggested checking with friends who have work done for recommendations and meeting with a designer. “Even a brief meeting can give you access to reputable sources as well as where to find the good deals on decor,” she said.

Patience goes a long way to avoiding the pitfalls of snap decisions.

“Be practical. Expect to spend one to three years if you’re redoing your whole house,” she said.

“Start small with one room or bring in small changes to several rooms — and enjoy the process.”

Enjoying the process includes getting creative. Invite friends over for sanding soirees or furniture painting parties. Bring your personality to your project and enjoy the changes you are able to make.

With a little research for big changes, and a little creativity for decor updates you can beautify you can cash in on the cheap and make your home the ultimate in chic.

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Friday, April 3, 2009

19

Building and Home Improvement

Find your home’s inner spa in a small bathroom

By CHRISTINE BRUN Creators News Service

Photo courtesy of Hunter Douglas

Your bathroom may be small, but it’s the little things that can make this room into your own private spa. making the bathing experience comfortable and serene.

Another idea might be to

another room. If you have mold or dry rot, be prepared to properly fix all the damage.

Obviously, the cost to replace old bathroom fixtures with modest new ones will depend on the size of your room and how much of the work you are able to perform. If you cannot do the work and need to employ a handyman or contractor, prices can range between $5,000 and $10,000.

If you wish to revamp a standard bathroom into a totally different configuration and use high-end finishes, the cost can escalate to between $35,000 to $50,000. So much depends upon the individual elements you select and the complexity of your individual project.

One bright spot, according to many realtors, is that you can recoup 80 to 85 percent of your investment when you sell your home.

Remember that there is much you can improve with affordable elements: A costly candle

marked $35 might seem silly right now, but all it takes is an exotic aroma to transport you mentally to a relaxing destination.

Other relatively inexpensive changes can bring new life to an old bathroom. Consider a new area rug to cover cracked or marred flooring, new light fixtures to replace outdated lighting, or a new faucet and towel bars. Sometimes just new soft towels make you feel comforted and pampered.

In these difficult times don’t despair if you cannot afford the bathroom of your dreams. Pick a wonderful paint color and get to work!

Christine Brun, ASID, is a San Diego-based interior designer and the author of “Big Ideas for Small Spaces.”

Send questions and comments to her by e-mail at christinebrun@sbcglobal. net. To find out more about Christine Brun and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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Last summer I joined millions of Americans who, because of escalating fuel costs and a weak dollar, took a “staycation.”

One thing I learned from my stay at home is that when you have time to look around, home improvement ideas just spring to mind.

It turns out I’m not alone.

Millions of Americans have turned a critical eye toward their homes and many see their bathrooms as the No. 1 candidate for a remodel. So said Sally Morse, director of creative services for Hunter Douglas custom window fashions.

The reason for a focus on bathrooms could very well be how much baby boomers -- and their Generation X and Generation Y offspring -- have come to enjoy visits to the spa. Familiarity with super-soft robes, luscious fluffy towels and divine aromatherapy is rather addicting.

Morse suggests turning your master bath into a spa with the addition of piles of white towels, scented candles and a fresh coat of paint. After all, paint is still one of the most economical tools for achieving a new look.

When putting a new coat on our bathrooms, Morse reminds us not to forget the “fifth” wall: the ceiling. If your walls are white, then try sky blue for the ceiling. Or you might select some other serene hue and paint the entire bathroom, including the ceiling, in that color.

Subtle tones like khaki, soft wheat or a warm gray can work as a neutral with attitude. Gentle blues, blue-greens or aquamarines can be dreamy when paired with pure white fixtures.

New window treatments are another affordable way to introduce a feeling of freshness into your bathroom. In the photo shown here, we see a device that allows maximum light to shine into a bathroom while still providing privacy.

This shade, by Duette Architella, comes in what is known as a top-down/bottom-up design. It offers flexibility when bathroom windows reveal too much yet admits plenty of highly sought-after natural light.

Unfortunately, not every bathroom window is placed in a way that provides the critical feeling of privacy essential to

commission a leaded glass window for your bathroom.

Depending upon the design and selection of window glass, you can achieve privacy without any window treatment at all. You will want to test out the glass before having the window made.

It is possible to get samples of the different options.

If having a window made is out of your price range, consider some sort of texture. There are dozens of woven Roman shades on the market that filter light in a way reminiscent of the Pacific Rim. Think Bali, Thailand and Hawaii.

If you have more serious issues, such as a leaking shower pan or shower enclosure, it can dictate a more in-depth overhaul of your bathroom. If so, be prepared to spend substantially more money.

Every remodel project tends to grow into something larger.

For instance, a slow leak hidden in the walls might have damaged

20

Building and Home Improvement

Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

Even kids can help with projects around the house

By CINDY CAFFERTY Creators News Service Think do-it-yourself projects mean doing it all by yourself?

Think again.

With a few tips, some simple strategy and a little creativity, those projects you’ve been postponing can instantly be transformed into a family affair. It can be a way to get things done, get the kids off the couch and turn an ordinary house into a true home.

“These days nobody takes time to sit down and have a family meal or work on projects,” said Eric Stromer, carpenter and host of HGTV’s “Over Your Head.”

“Kids communicate by doing a project or task ... it’s about getting back to honoring your home, saving some money and honoring your family as well.”

Stromer, who also authored “Do-it-Yourself Family: Fun and Useful Home Projects the Whole Family Can Make Together”

($20, Bantam), explained that including kids in home improvement projects not only lends helpful hands to a host of projects, but provides a good dose of self-esteem, structure and creativity to the kids as well. It also gives parents tools in bringing their family closer together while making their home more beautiful and the household more efficient.

"The most common end result of do-it-yourself family projects is destination and storage,” said Stromer.

Before you get started, consider how you have dealt with you kids in the past. “Are the kids part of the process, or are they just told to go away?” he asked.

So what does Stromer, who happens to have three kids of his own, suggest to get your children involved?

First, according to Stromer and HGTV.com, is assessing safety levels and age-appropriate tasks when planning a project, and having a plan before the

work begins.

“When you’re working with tools and children, they need to be taught with adult supervision and the proper attire and attitude,” he said. “Wear safety glasses, honor objects with sharp blades and furniture with sharp corners. Knowing how something works demystifies tools and teaches kids to respect them.”

Once safety training has been met, parents can then assign tasks.

Stromer and HGTV.com suggests the following guidelines for assigning age-appropriate tasks: * Children six and under can be assigned as parent’s helpers. Picking up screws and nails dropped by the parents during a project is a great way to keep the younger ones close by and make them feel productive. * Children six and above can be trusted, with adult supervision, with cordless tools and simple woodworking projects. * Children eight and above can be handed a hammer and

can safely get involved in minor demolition projects.

“Kids love demolition,” Stromer said. “It’s fun and the point is to break things.”

So now you know what kids can work with, the trick now is getting them to do it and be successful in the process.

Step one is to get kids involved. Assigning tasks helps.

The real trick is choosing the project, preparing for the project and keeping the kids on board.

“Give kids suggestions,” he said. “Suggestions with an ability to choose a project usually works well.”

The suggestions could incorporate anything from updating d?©cor to meeting storage solutions; making a headboard for a bed, creating under bed storage and building a bunk bed or a family office center are all great ideas.

Be sure to be prepared. Know what tools and materials are needed before work begins and allot about 30 percent more time

than you think a project might take.

Choose small projects that can be done over a weekend or two and build on that: A bunk bed one weekend, a family work space another, etc.

Keeping the kids on board, advised Stromer, means keeping their sugar levels on an even keel. Have lots of snacks on hand and be sure to take meal breaks.

As for sibling rivalry and jealousy, there are plenty of solutions to keep the problems at bay.

“Let the youngest kid pick a task first as soon as an older kid picks something [to work on] - that will be the coveted task,” Stromer said. Also, “allow kids a little space or a personal item to try their hand at.”

For instance, smaller children can be allowed to paint on a confined wall space that can easily be worked over by a parent or on a project like a stepstool that is all their own, allowing the little ones some creative input and reducing sibling rivalry as well.

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21 Paid Advertising Content

Insuring Buildings Under Construction

By Kristina Johnson with Ken Murray Insurance

70 years in Business.

The most common misconception is that insurance isn’t needed until there’s a substantial amount of materials put into a building project. Why would you insure a piece of land that has nothing on it yet?

This couldn’t be more wrong. Insurance companies prefer to see that no construction has begun yet and that they’re starting with a clean slate. This means that before anyone decides to lay a finger on a shovel, they had better think about placing insurance on the property first.

Placing insurance on your soon-to-be property is easier than most people may think. All that’s really needed is an idea of how much the owner plans on putting into the project and some basic information about themselves. The sooner a person insures the property, the better the coverage, and premium, could be. In some cases, premiums are as low as $375.00 per year.

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If you have already started construction on the property—that’s okay too. This phase of construction would qualify for a Course of Construction or Dwelling Fire policy. These policies require the same basic information that would be needed at the pre-construction phase. One should note that these policies run the risk of having higher premiums and usually do not include coverage for liability, medical, theft of building materials, freezing of pipes, etc. So if these coverage’s are of big concern, make sure to place a policy before construction.

Coverage can be purchased on residential, commercial or model homes.

Some policies include coverage for building materials, trees, shrubs, lawns and even property owned by subcontractors. Most of these policies also cover theft of materials, materials in transit, fire, vandalism, and debris

removal. The only coverage not available on any building under construction is liability—so please be careful!

No matter where the project lies there is usually a market that the building can be placed in. The best thing a property owner should do is first place insurance during the course of construction phase to keep premiums low and then again after construction is complete. One of the first things insurance companies ask on applications is “where is the premises currently insured?”. Having current insurance in place continuously proves to be more cost efficient than waiting until something comes up and placing insurance later. Insuring your home during the construction phase will help you secure a homeowners insurance policy when the time comes. Some insurance companies prefer not taking on the risk of a prior uninsured building and will only offer a Dwelling Fire policy, if offering any policy at all, thus possibly resulting in inadequate coverage for the building owner.

It doesn’t take much to get these policies in force so that you can soon be on your way to building your dreams. If anything, insuring a building from the getgo can be more cost efficient and less of a headache in the long run. In the end, you’ll be glad you did—because we all know how fun construction can be all on its own!

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This will allow the builder to refer to the benchmark and build above the base flood elevation (BFE). Additionally, it will help you determine how much fill material is needed to raise your structure above the

BFE which will result in lower Flood Insurance costs. Remember: building above the BFE results in lower Flood Insurance premiums; building below the BFE results in higher premiums.

Lower Flood Insurance premiums are available to property owners who build above the base flood elevation and do not have a basement or crawlspace. Most Personal Property such as clothing, electronic equipment, kitchens supplies, and furniture are not covered in stored in areas below the lowest elevated floor.

Buildings that have a basement or crawlspace require flood openings in the foundation. These are openings on all sides of the basement or crawlspace walls that allow flood waters to flow freely through the space without building up hydrostatic pressure.

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Applying for Flood Insurance is easy!

Flood Insurance is available through about 90 Insurance companies in more than 20,300 participating communities nationwide.

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Flood Elevation certificates can be turn into Doug Sims at the Fairbanks Northstar Borough office for safe keeping.

All information provided in this article was obtained from the following websites: www.fema.gov or www.floodsmart.gov. For more information call Micheline Patterson at 907-456-6646 micheline@kenmurray.com or Doug Sims at the Fairbanks Nortstar Borough 907-459-1260 or Taunnie Boothby with the Alaska State Division of Community and Regional Affairs 907-269-4583.

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Many people in Fairbanks choose, and possibly enjoy, building their dream homes, rental units or businesses from the ground up. And why not? In most cases it proves to be easier on the pocket book and they get from it what they put into it.

The biggest mistake most people make is not considering insurance to protect what they’re about to put into the building or, in most cases, what they’ve already put into it.

22

Building and Home Improvement FLOORED AT THE HOME SHOW Eric Engman/ News-Miner

Florcraft CarpetOne flooring specialist Wayne Miller, right, taps together laminant flooring boards while giving a demonstration for Steve Ledford of North Pole, left, during the 2009 Interior Alaska Building Association Home Show on March 28.

Color, texture liven a monochromatic room

By ROSE BENNETT GILBERT Creators News Service Q: We try to live an “ecosavvy” life, including the things we use in our home — for decorating as well as everyday items, such as cleaning materials. Now our bend toward natural possessions has resulted in a collection of natural colors: all neutrals, like beiges and wood tones.

As much as we wanted this to be our look, the end result is almost boring.

A: Remember the monochromatic rooms that first emerged back in the 1970s?

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Technically, monochromatic means one color, but it quickly became synonymous with neutrals — beiges, browns, creams and grays. Just as quickly, professional designers figured out how to take the dullness out of monochromatic decorating: They used many different textures, juxtaposed to give the eye something to focus on in the midst of all that same color.

Think slick and shine. For example, a gray glass coffeetable top against the rough-andtumble texture of a wheat-colored shag rug. Consider a cream silk pillow on a brown velvet sofa, or vice versa. Although the colors themselves are all subtle, a contrast in textures is what attracts our attention.

Clodagh, the award-winning New York designer who uses but one name, is widely celebrated for her harmonious, even holistic interiors; however, occasionally she spikes the neutral brew with a sudden jolt of color.

So there’s another answer to your blah color scheme — hang a dazzlingly colorful work of art to set the rest of the room to thrumming.

Q: On information overload about living green?

A: Take a deep breath and get ready for more facts. But step outside before you dare breathe in. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the level of dust, pet dander and mold in today’s home can be a lot worse than allergens in the air outdoors — up to five times worse, they warn.

What should you do? Dust daily, ventilate regularly by opening your windows to the outdoor air, and vacuum often with a HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filter. One place to learn more about HEPA is filtrete.com.

More advice on living green: Remember what your mother always told you about turning out the lights. Off saves energy, even if you’re just leaving the room for a few seconds, said lighting expert Ashton Harrison, president of Shades of Light (shadesoflight.com). That method applies to incandescent lights.

She said you can leave standard fluorescent lights on without attracting the eco-police if you’ll be gone 15 minutes or less.

Friday, April 3, 2009

23

Building and Home Improvement

Making the most of your small space is simple

By ISABELLE LIPKIN Creators News Service “Cozy,” “intimate” and “snug” are all euphemisms real estate brokers often dredge up to convince buyers or renters about the upside of living in a small space.

Yet downsizing your things into less square feet doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice comfort or style. Getting more creative with storage, decorating and creating multiuse areas are the keys to fitting functionally within a smaller abode.

Rule No. 1 is to pare down your belongings to essentials.

When there’s not a square foot to waste, it’s not the time to be pack rat. Take stock of your belongings and recycle items that no longer fit your lifestyle or into your space.

“With any small space the first challenge is the amount of stuff that people have,” said

Derek Fagerstrom, projects editor of ReadyMade magazine.

“Be smart about purchases and smart about purging.” He suggested creative editing practices, such as keeping a “treasure box” near your front door for friends to riffle through before leaving.

Another basic tenet is to use multifunctional furniture and create multiuse spaces. Since most people do some home computing, turn a dining room table into a makeshift desk — with portable caddies for stationery, bill paying and envelopes — that can be easily picked up and stored.

“Creative people often work at home,” said Fagerstrom, “but if you don’t have room for an office, consider turning a second closet into one.” He said that a closet’s shelving can often be used as office storage and a sturdily mounted shelf can sometimes function as a desk-

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Other quick tricks to open up a small space include wallpapering or painting one wall in a room and using sheer curtains to let in more natural light.

Vertical stripes will also make a space appear bigger.

And while some furniture is always essential, finding pieces that “disappear” when not in use is another easy tactic. Fagerstrom said ReadyMade has done articles on how to make your own Murphy bed and bar.

If they’re not needed, both can sweep up out of sight.

Consider ways to maximize storage space in furniture, such as finding a couch or headboard with built-in storage or a bedside table with built-in drawers or shelves. Storable furniture that can be put away when not in use, such as collapsible folding chairs, wine racks and even a kitchen rack that can be tucked out of sight when the chef has left the kitchen, are

also smart ideas.

“If you don’t need eight chairs around your dining room table, create a way of putting them all away,” says Fagerstrom.

Or, take another route and use “invisible” furniture.

Philippe Starck’s “Ghost Chair” is a clear chair that isn’t easily seen, which allows it to recede into the background.

Or, going another route, keep things together by color. For bookworms who are often loath to part with even one volume, Fagerstrom suggested grouping books together by jacket or spine color. “It doesn’t get rid of anything,” he said, “but it does make them look better.”

Likewise, since a small space often demands the occupant’s belongings are visible, create careful assemblages of objects in harmonious color palettes to tie design and style into display.

Another trick is to put curtains up over any additional shelves

needed to add decor and privacy to necessary storage space.

“When you live in a small space, you have to use every inch,” said Mona Williams, vice president of buying for the Dallas-based Container Store.

She suggested customizing to specific dimensions. People who have smaller spaces can even think about “using the few inches above a doorframe and down the doorway’s side to the wall [even if only inches wide] for more storage space.”

The challenge of a small living space can be a great way to work creatively with materials through reuse that not only helps the planet, but also allow individuals to customize their style. Site such as ikeahacker. blogspot.com/ show how to take basic Ikea staples and reassemble them to tailor to individual needs. “It’s all about living a creative and customized lifestyle,” said Fagerstrom — no matter the size of your space.

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Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

Inspiring ideas for your home.

Our experienced sta can help will all the details to make your house a home. Fresh paint, new appliances and energyeďŹƒcient windows are only the beginning to the huge selection of quality products available at Spenard Builders Supply.

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