Home and Garden - 2012 Fall Home Guide

Fall

2012

Home Guide

Building and Remodeling Ideas • See what our local builders are working on to make Kitsap living enjoyable year-round.

• Aging-in-place ideas: Remodel adds life to your home and changing physical needs.

Tips Get your home and property ready for the cold, wet season.

• Enrich your soil by composting.

• Behold the wonders of the garden worm.

• Stumped? Get help at these learning gardens.

• Window improvements can save you money.

• What to look for in a new roof.

• A few steps to a fresh interior.

This publication is sponsored by A section of the Bainbridge Island Review | Bremerton Patriot | Central Kitsap Reporter | North Kitsap Herald | Port Orchard Independent

Page 2

Fall Home Guide

• 2012

KITSAP KITCHEN & BATH CO.

Remodeling Specialists

Visit Our Showroom 360•697•5616

www.KitsapKitchenandBath.com 1016 Forest Rock Lane Poulsbo, WA 98370 COLLIHI173Q8

Find us on

Fall Home Guide

• 2012

Page 3

The joy of remodeling

Kitsap Kitchen & Bath Co. is a one-stop shop for home construction, improvements rate,” Doug and Mary of Bainbridge Island wrote.

“His construction staff is without exception highly qualified and pleasant to deal with. Jim’s personal competence and knowledge are incredible. This enables him to propose solutions that were outside the competence of the other remodeling firms we had contacted earlier.

“As a businessman, Jim is honest and fair. He worked with us to keep costs under control, and he provided us with options for various aspects of the design and construction. Even during the actual construction with the workers on the job, Jim worked with us identifying changes that resulted in cost savings. The materials and fixtures chosen are combined pleasantly into an integrated final product that has a 10-point wow factor. We do not hesitate to recommend this firm.”

The Kitsap Kitchen & Bath Co. team produces exquisite results, customer satisfaction and lasting relationships. They are proud members of the National Kitchen and Bath Association, the National Association of Homebuilders, and they have a Certified Aging in Place specialist on staff.

AT A GLANCE Kitsap Kitchen & Bath Co. 1016 NE Forest Rock Lane, Suite 110, Poulsbo (across from Central Market) 360-697-5616 www.kitsapkitchenandbath. com

A

re you longing for a new kitchen or bath remodel, but are apprehensive because you are not sure where to start?

Here’s some good news: The design-and-build team at Kitsap Kitchen & Bath Co. will guide you from start to finish. Their streamlined approach makes remodeling a stress-free process.

“They were always on time, on budget, and overdelivering quality and performance,” Albert and Pam from Bainbridge Island said.

“We most appreciated that their advice and ideas for improving value and getting a return on our remodeling were right on the mark.”

Kitsap Kitchen & Bath’s professional staff and well-appointed showroom, located just north of Central Market, offer clients a practical and friendly setting to experience unique, cuttingedge products and services.

Their central location is accessible to Bainbridge Island, Kitsap Peninsula communities, Port Ludlow and surrounding areas.

President and founder Jim Collins explains his business this way: “As a builder and general contractor — Collins Homes, Inc. — in the Bainbridge and North Kitsap area since 1983, I always wished there was a nice place in Kitsap County where I could take my clients to select countertops, tile, flooring, custom cabinets, plumbing fixtures, etc., instead of having to take a ferry to Seattle and visit various locations.”

Now, there is.

Kitsap Kitchen & Bath Co. can guide you through the remodel process, and there’s a Certified Aging in Place specialist on staff.

Photo: Frank Portello

Fall Home Guide 2012 is a publication of the Kitsap News Group, a division of Sound Publishing Co., total circulation 65,000.

PUBLISHERS

Kitsap Kitchen & Bath's Poulsbo showroom has it all, and as an independent business is not limited to representing certain products.

If you want it, the Kitsap Kitchen & Bath team can get it. They provide a one-stop shop for all your design, remodeling and construction needs.

The Kitsap Kitchen & Bath team’s goal is to assist and guide clients through the process of transforming their new or existing home into the home of their dreams, all while being efficient, budget conscious, and environmentally responsible.

“Jim Collins and his design staff are first

Bainbridge Island Review: Donna Etchey Bremerton Patriot: Sean McDonald

“As a builder and general contractor, I always wished there was a nice place in Kitsap County where I could take my clients to select countertops, tile, flooring, custom cabinets, plumbing fixtures, instead of having to take a ferry to Seattle.”

— Jim Collins, on why he founded Kitsap Kitchen & Bath

Home FALL

Central Kitsap Reporter: Sean McDonald North Kitsap Herald: Donna Etchey Port Orchard Independent: Sean McDonald HOME GUIDE STAFF Home Guide publisher: Donna Etchey Home Guide editor: Richard Walker Writers: Kipp Robertson, Megan Stephenson, Richard Walker

Cover design: Annie LaValle

2012

Sales representatives: Marleen Martinez, Victoria McDonald, Wayne Nelson, Rita Nicholson, Chris Olsen, Frank Portello, Mike Schiro

Page 4

Fall Home Guide

• 2012

Feed your garden the good stuff Enrich your soil by composting coffee grounds, garden clippings and yard waste

S

ome of the best, most nutritious food for your garden is already produced by your home, garden and yard.

Many organic materials — from coffee grounds to garden clippings — can be mulched into compost, which can enrich the soil in your yard and garden.

Composting is easy and keeps compostable materials from going into the landfill.

Here’s a guide to home composting, courtesy of the Kitsap County WSU Cooperative Extension.

Equipment required

The only required equipment is a shovel or pitchfork to turn or move the contents of the compost pile.

Equipment you may also want to use: n Compost bin(s).

Garden gloves.

Mower or chipper. n Water hose. n Wheelbarrow. n n

Build a compost pile

Find a location for the pile. Your pile can be built anywhere except up against a structure such as a house or fence. Bacteria and fungus will assist you in the composting process. You want them in the pile, not in the house. Locate your pile at least 2 feet from any structure.

How to compost

Cold composting: Simply throw in organic materials as they become available. This results in a slow composting process that may take up to 2 years to complete.

Hot composting: If you want faster decomposition

Amber Lippert, product review coordinator for the Organic Materials Review Institute, carries a flat of starts to a cold frame in preparation for fall planting in this file photo. At the time, she was working on a Kitsap farm that was sustained by composting, mulching and harvesting seeds from prior crops.

(six weeks to six months), follow these steps: n Mix 3 parts carbon/1 part nitrogen by volume. n Add water regularly. The pile should feel damp, like a wrung-out sponge. n Turn the pile frequently to add air.

Covering the pile retains moisture in the summer and guards against rain the rest of the year.

File photo / 2007

Do compost these

Annual weeds.

Brown leaves. n Coffee grounds. n Flowers. n Fresh grass. n Garden clippings. n Herbivore manures. n Shredded paper. n Straw. n Teabags. n Vegetable scraps. n Wood chips. Shred n n

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Stop in NOW for your heating needs!”

branches so the chips are no more than 1-2 inches in size.

Do not compost

Cooking oils.

Dairy, fish, meat. n Diseased plants. n Invasive weeds: — buttercup — horsetail — morning glory — quack grass n Weeds with seeds. n n

Monitor the pile

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n Moisture content: Keep the pile damp, like a wrung out sponge. n Temperature: If you are hot composting, the pile will become hot within a few days. Turn the pile after it cools down and it should reheat one more time. Overing the pile retains moisture in the summer and guards against rain the rest of the year. n Mix the pile thoroughly with a pitchfork. Mixing adds air. Mix once a week to once a month.

When is your compost finished?

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The finished compost will take up only 25 to 40 percent of the space occupied by the

original pile. When the individual materials can no longer be identified and the pile resembles dark rich humus, the compost is completed.

It will smell sweet, woodsy, and earthy. It will crumble through your fingers.

If you add materials as you get them, instead of building batches of compost, you will find that after six months to two years, the inside and bottom of the pile — the stuff you added first — has become compost. You may remove this from the bottom of the pile and use it. Return the rest of the materials to the pile location and continue decomposing.

Amending soil with finished compost

n Lawn: On established lawns, apply compost once a year in layers 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. Water well.

To prepare soil for a new lawn, till 4 inches of compost into 6 inches of soil. n Trees and shrubs: Lay one inch of compost around trees from one foot away from trunk out past the drip line. A 2-inch layer should be used for shrubs. Apply once

per year.

To prepare soil for new shrubs, till the soil to a depth of 8 - 10 inches. The depth should be at least twice the width of the root ball. Apply a 4 inch layer of compost and mix thoroughly into soil. If soil is very poor use 6 inches of compost instead. n Garden: Lay 1/2 to 1 inch of compost on top of soil. If possible, till 2 - 4 inches into the top 10 inches of soil.

To establish a new garden or prepare garden for planting, till the soil to a depth of 8 - 10 inches.

Apply a layer of 4 inches of compost and mix thoroughly into soil. If soil is very poor use 6 inches of compost instead. Mix the additional compost into the top 4 inches of soil. n Potted plants: Do not plant in pure compost. To root properly, plants must have the texture provided by soil. Your potting mix may be 1/4 to 1/3 compost.

The remainder may be good potting soil. Many organic gardening books have “recipes” for potting soil and recommend a combination of compost, worm castings, potting soil, and other organic materials.

Building a compost bin

Visit www.kitsapgov.com/ sw/compost.htm for a variety of plans for building compost bins. If you don’t have access to the Internet, call Kitsap 1 at (360) 337-5777 and ask for the publication, “Down To Earth.”

Fall Home Guide

• 2012

Page 5

Behold the wonders of the worm

Consider using a worm bin or can to increase the worm population in your garden and yard. WSU Cooperative Extension explains how in this story.

File photo

These critters aerate and fertilize your soil.

And you can put them to work for you

W

riter Melissa Howard of ehow. com wrote succinctly about the importance of the worm: Worms are good for your garden. They break down organic material and leave behind their waste in the form of castings.

“The benefit of worm castings in your soil is immense since worm castings provide your plants with an easily absorbed source of nutrientrich food,” she wrote in an online article.

“In addition to providing nutrients for your soil, worms aerate the soil so that there is oxygen at the plant’s roots. If you improve the quality of your soil, you will increase the number of worms in your soil because worms multiply rapidly to meet the available food source.”

(Howard doesn’t mention the result an abundant worm population will have on visits to your garden by songbirds.

But we can imagine.)

Do you need to increase the number of worms in your soil? Here’s how, courtesy of the Kitsap County WSU Cooperative Extension.

Choose a container You get great results with either a worm bin or a worm can. n Worm bin: Buy or build one. The bin should be 10-16 inches deep with a snug-fitting lid. Drill halfinch holes in the bottom for ventilation and drainage. The rule of thumb for bin sizes is to have 2 square foot per person in your household.

An average two-person home requires a 4 square foot bin. n Worm can: Buy a 32-gallon trash can or use a wornout one. Cut the bottom out and drill holes in the sides.

Bury it to its rim. Having two that are side by side works best.

Pick a place

Locate your container

where it will not freeze or overheat.

Worm bin: The garage, patio, deck, or garden near the kitchen door are the best choices.

Worm can: In a garden spot near the kitchen door is most convenient. Worm cans must have well drained soils.

In clay and poorly draining soils, the can fills with water and turns foul.

Make a worm bed Worms like to live under lots of moist paper. This helps keep them cool and moist, gives them fiber to eat, and prevents fruit flies from getting to the food.

To make your worm bed, tear black-and-white newspaper into 1 inch strips, fluff them up, and moisten them so they are as damp as a wrung-out sponge. Do not use glossy paper or magazines. Fill your worm container with about 10 inches See WORMS, Page 6

John Davies

Home Loan Director, Member Advocate, Sports Car Enthusiast

Home Loans Financing your home is more than a transaction.

At Kitsap Credit Union it is a step in building a real relationship with you, our neighbor. As your member-owned credit union we're fully committed to providing a solution that is best for you. Stop by or give us a call at (360) 662-2266.

kitsapcu.org

Page 6

Fall Home Guide

• 2012

Worms

Continued from page 5 of moist bedding. Shredded white office paper or corrugated cardboard, leaves, and straw can also be added as bedding. Sprinkle it with a few handfuls of soil.

Adopt some worms Compost worms are called red worms, red wigglers or manure worms. They are different from the earthworms and nightcrawlers that live underground. You can find red worms in an old compost pile, get them from a friend’s worm bin, or call the WSU Cooperative Extension Office at (360) 337-7157 for sources. Start with about 1 pound, or two big handfuls.

Feed the worms their first meal

Here’s an example of an easy to build worm composting bin.

This story includes some other ideas.

Contributed photo

Start off your worms with the first can. bedding as needed. about a quart of food, then n Keep bedding moist like Using worm compost leave them alone for a couple a wrung-out sponge.

Worm compost will help of weeks while they get used n Do not stir or mix the your plants thrive by adding to their new home. bedding. Worms like their nutrients and humus to the Do feed worms: coffee privacy and tend to crawl out soil. grounds and filters, eggif disturbed.

Sprinkle a 1-inch layer at shells, fruit and vegetable Harvesting worm compost the base of indoor plants, trimmings, tea bags, used or blend no more than 20 n Worm bin: Harvest paper towels, and soft, green percent worm compost into worm compost at least once plant trimmings. potting mix or garden soil. each year to keep your You can add small quantiWorm compost is rich in soil worms healthy. ties of grains, beans and bacteria, calcium, iron, magMove the contents of the bread. nesium, and sulfur and 60 bin to one side, place fresh Do not feed worms: citother trace recommended minerals. N-P-K bedding in the empty space, Fill yourrus kitchen the rinds; dairywith products or appliances most frequently is about 10.10.1. and bury food there for a grease; meat, bones or fish; by a leading consumer publication. month or two. Harvest the dog, cat or bird feces; sawBuilding a worm compost dust from plywood or treated other side after the worms bin have migrated to the new wood; or woody prunings.

“Down To Earth,” a publiPORT TOWNSEND SEQUIM food and bedding. cation of the Kitsap County Maintain your worm n Worm can: When the 315 Decatur Street 154 W. Washington WSU Cooperative Extension, container first can is full, move the top has plans for building a PORT 360.379-8025 TOWNSEND SEQUIM 360.681-3905 layer that is full of worms n Feed Receive a rebate of upyour to worms reguworm bin suitable to comand uncomposted food to 315 Decatur Street W. TOWNSEND Washington larly. Avoid fruit flies and BAINBRIDGE ISLAND 154 PORT post the food scraps from a the second can.

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Fall Home Guide

• 2012

Page 7

An investment in energy and safety

Another Generation Moving Up

What you need to know about your windows

M

aking improvements to your home’s windows could save you money and make you safer.

“Modern replacement windows can really increase your window’s energy efficiency and heat loss,” said Ed Lofgren, owner of Olympic Glass on Bainbridge Island. “With modern low-E (high performance coating), energy preference is greatly enhanced.”

Low-E windows keep houses cooler in summer and warmer in winter by “basically bend[ing] light rays and heat rays,” Lofgren said.

Ken Kubus of manufacturer Simonton Windows advises, “Homeowners should do extensive research when selecting windows for their homes. The right windows can defend against severe weather and potential intruders while increasing your home’s energy efficiency, so explore your options.”

Kubus offers these tips to anyone building a new home, or replacing windows in a cherished older home.

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Household windows are available in tempered safety glass. If a stray baseball hits the window, broken pieces remain adhered to an inner layer, preventing glass fallout inside your home.

Photo: Statepoint

Protect your investment Build for the future by giving your home an invisible security system. If you live in an area prone to

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a durable plastic interlayer, much like a car windshield.

So, if a stray baseball hits See WINDOWS, Page 8

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Page 8

Fall Home Guide

Feel Right At Home

Learn by doing: Get gardening help at these learning gardens

S

tumped by a garden problem? Need some garden advice? Kitsap County Master Gardeners are available at the following learning gardens and sites. n Anna Smith Learning Garden (Fairgrounds and Tracyton Boulevard). Master Gardeners working at Anna Smith on Wednesdays also answer clinic questions, but do not “officially” schedule people for this clinic. Volunteers are needed Wednesdays, 9 a.m. to noon, and as assigned by the garden chair for maintaining different demonstration gardens. n Blueberry Park Community Garden P-Patch (737 Sylvan Way near Pine, Bremerton).

There’s a work part every Thursday, 9 a.m. to noon.

Volunteers are needed to help with demonstration garden and growing food for

Windows

Continued from page 7

Whether you’re new to the area, or are a life-long resident, with our personalized service and custom financing solutions, you’ll feel right at home.

• Refinancing • Mortgage Loans • Home Equity Loans and Lines of Credit • Jumbo Loans

a window, the glass will shatter, but broken pieces remain adhered to the interlayer, preventing glass fallout inside. The plastic interlayer is also puncture-resistant, frustrating potential intruders.

Lofgren said many modern windows come with automatic locks when closed, protecting against burglary, and “providing for greater safety for your family.”

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• 2012

Are your windows doing enough to protect your family from inclement weather?

Weather patterns in North America are in flux, so even if your windows seemed durable a few decades ago, that same glass may not do the job today.

No matter where you live, opt for products that have been tested and can tolerate repeated blows by a heavy object. For example, Simonton StormBreaker Plus vinyl windows feature double-strength glass that’s

Visit a learning garden, work alongside Master Gardeners, and learn by doing. Statepoint Bremerton Foodline. n Kitsap Fairgrounds Heritage Garden (behind

laminated and a frame that’s reinforced with steel, so they are able to withstand high winds and flying debris without the need for plywood or shutters. And houses constructed with Simonton ProFinish Brickmould 600 windows and doors with the SafePoint impact-resistant glass package don’t need to be boarded up before storms, ideal for any homeowner wishing to avoid this stressful task.

Beyond protecting your home and loved ones, there’s an added financial incentive to using impact-resistant glass — some insurance companies will even give homeowners a discount for choosing this option.

Tamper sound Avoid sleepless nights no matter how heavily trafficked your street is or how loud your neighbor’s dog barks, with laminated glass in your windows. Laminated glass, such as the SafePoint glass package, can lower sound transmission by 50 percent over standard windows.

Check the product’s Sound Transmission Classification

President’s Hall, next to the Historic Log Cabin).

Demonstration of organic gardening practices with a spotlight on crop varieties and gardening techniques especially valuable to home gardeners. Tuesday, 10 a.m. to noon, from March to the end of September, with adjustments to accommodate fairground functions.

Additional hours throughout the summer for watering. n Raab Park Youth Garden (far south end of Caldart Street, Poulsbo).

Volunteers needed March through September, alternate Thursdays from 9 a.m. to noon, and alternate Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon. Call to confirm.

Youth and family activities on Mondays, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Info: (360) 337-7158 or kcmastergardener@hotmail. com.

rating, which measures the ability of sound waves to penetrate walls.

Energy efficiency If you’re building a new home, do your research up front and select the best vinyl windows you can for long-term, low maintenance enjoyment. Energy efficient windows can significantly lower your bills throughout the year while keeping your interior comfortable. Opt for windows made of vinyl, which is an excellent insulator and request an ENERGY STAR qualified glass package for your area.

By investigating your options, you can find windows that add value to your home and give you peace of mind.

Lofgren suggests if window replacement isn’t in your immediate future, check all your windows before colder weather sets in to ensure they close and seal properly. If not, companies like Olympic Glass can help adjust the windows to ensure they are working properly.

Fall Home Guide

• 2012

Page 9

What you should look for in a roof

Durability and beauty are important. And technology makes it easier to get both

I

n the Northwest, fall means it’s time to check your roof, as well as the area around your roof.

Contractor Scott Kelly recommends thinning surrounding trees of branches to minimize the risk of roof damage from limbs and other debris that could come down in a windstorm. And clean your roof of debris and moss, to avoid accumulation.

“Definitely now is the time to tend to your roof rather than the middle of December,” said Kelly, owner of Scott’s Home and Roof Service in Kingston.

If your roof needs to be replaced, considering durability and beauty will affect the longevity of your investment and its contribution to the value of your home.

Technology makes it easier for homeowners to make the roofing choice that best

New roofing products can simulate the appearance of a real slate or natural roughhewn wood shake roof with slanted sawn edges and staggered lengths.

Photo: Statepoint meets their needs. New roofing products can simulate the appearance of a real slate or natural roughhewn wood

shake roof with slanted sawn edges and staggered lengths. And homeowners and contractors now can con-

sult with online tools to find colors that match the rest of their home’s exteriors.

“Everyone is cost-con-

scious these days, but a roof is a long-term investment,” said Ray Rosewall of DaVinci Roofscapes, manufacturer of long-lasting polymer slate and shake roofing products.

“Those who understand the importance of durability will get more long-term value from a quality roof versus a lower cost bargainbasement priced roof.”

Severe weather and everyday conditions can take a toll on your roof over time, so be sure to choose roofing products that are designed to: n Resist curling, cracking and fading. n Resist algae, fungus, mold, insects and water absorption. n Eliminates freeze-thaw issues. n Allows for installation in all weather conditions. n Is low-maintenance. n Has been subjected to

third-party tests and certifications.

“If you’re in the market for a new, durable roof, look for a product that has achieved the highest standards for wind, fire and impact, including the highest ratings for straight line wind testing,” Rosewall said.

DaVinci Roofscapes offers a variety of cost-effective roofing products that meets high standards by utilizing a proven proprietary engineered polymer with UV stabilizers. The 12-inch wide shake and slate tiles each feature snap-fit tabs for easy installation and selfalignment, and are backed by a 50-year warranty.

For details on highperforming polymer roofing tiles and maintenance, consult a local roofing contractor or visit www.davinciroofscapes.com.

Improve your interior look in a few easy steps Changes in color, lighting can transform your home

O

nce upon a time, you loved the look of your living space, but now it feels so last-century.

If this sounds like you, consider injecting new energy into your home by making a few high-impact changes without a highroller budget.

Clever use of colors in combination with smart lighting can enliven rooms so they give off a more compelling, modern vibe without the need for costly remodeling projects or expensive furniture.

Color transformations Color soothes and stirs the senses. Accent walls are a great way to introduce bold color and contrast, infusing a

room with a sense of adventure, playfulness or drama.

Bring vitality to any room by painting one wall a vivid shade to frame a focal point such as a dramatic piece of artwork.

Accent walls are usually solid with no doors or windows, unless there is something special about these features you want to highlight, such as a spectacular view or interesting architecture.

If you find yourself intimidated by vibrant colors, use neutral tones on your primary walls with a darker, more intense shade on your accent wall. Popular paint colors this year include fiery, orange-infused reds, watery blues, lush greens and earthy neutrals.

Modernize your lighting to give your rooms an easy makeover.

interest to the bath and even make daily tasks like shaving and make-up application easier,” Dross says.

For bedrooms, living rooms and family rooms choose strong bold shapes for your table and floor lamps.

Pillow power Photo: Statepoint

Lighting at its best Lighting is one of the most dramatic areas where things are changing in home decor.

Not only are new bulbs such as CFLs and LEDs offering greater energy efficiency, light fixture styles and lamp styles are also changing.

Remember those recessed lights so popular years ago?

Depending on how they are

used today, they may make a home look outdated. Jeff Dross, director of trends and training of Kichler Lighting, a lighting manufacturer, suggests replacing this older style with contemporary semi-flush fixtures. He also recommends swapping outdated chandeliers, especially of the old brass variety, with a series of modern pendant

lights.

“Nothing makes a tasteful statement of modern simplicity better than a row of pendant lights over a kitchen island or above a dining room table,” Dross says.

For the bathroom, use wall sconces placed on each side of the mirror for evenly lighting the face.

“Wall sconces add visual

Match decorative accessories like pillows and lamps to your accent wall color, incorporating the color -- or shades of it -- into a variety of textures. Framed photos, an interesting vase or impressive plant will stand out well against an accent wall, making the perfect focal point.

A buffet lamp (a smaller version of a table lamp) adds ambience and makes an ideal accent.

For more information on modern home design, consult a local store specializing in hardware, lighting, paint and interior design.

Page 10

Fall Home Guide

• 2012

Helping people get more from their homes One example of a Sentinel Construction remodel: Before and after photos showing an attic remodeled into a hobby/ quilting room with dormer.

This project won an award from the Home Builders Association of Kitsap County Remodelers Council.

Sentinel Construction

Sentinel Construction likes doing projects that make a difference D ing homes systems. and doing In new remodels construction, that last, are Sentinel Construction Sentinel uses energy-effiadvanced 26119 Calvary Lane, Suite cient, and are framing tech700, Kingston good to the niques that 360-297-0080 environment. require 20 www.sentinelconstruction.

Sentinel is percent less com a Certified lumber. This Green Home allows room Builder, a for more Certified Aging-In-Place insulation between walls.

Specialist, and is working “This not only conserves toward being accredited as a wood resources, it lowers Salmon-Safe company. your initial construction cost, High-performance homes reduces your energy costs, solves mildew-in-wall probGodbolt uses the term lems, and adds years to your “high-performance homes” home,” he said. to describe homes that Sentinel determines the have optimum insulation, proper size of cooling and advanced ventilation sysheating system that will keep tems, and correct-size air the home comfortable under conditioning and heating any extreme.

“Sentinel High Performance Homes have a lower peak load, and thus are able to utilize smaller heating and cooling systems to meet that peak load and still keep the house comfort& HARDWARE able,” Sentinel’s Web site states. “This improves the overall energy efficiency of the house ...”

Sentinel can make older homes perform better too, • PAINT • GARDEN resulting in more comfort • PLUMBING • HOUSEWARES and lower energy costs. It • ELECTRICAL • FIREPLACES starts with an energy audit.

• TOOLS Sentinel conducts a blower 450 NATIONAL AVE., BREMERTON • 360-479-4414 • MON-FRI 7AM-5:30PM • SAT 8:30AM-5PM door test and uses infrared Visit us at www.kitsaplumber.com or our facebook page www.facebook.com/kitsaplumber photography to identify air

ave Godbolt and Sentinel Construction seem to enjoy challenges.

Like making improvements that enable older residents to stay in their homes.

And improving a home’s cooling and heating systems so the house is more energy efficient and healthier to live in. And minimizing pollution and waste in a home’s construction. And achieving site-management practices that result in zero sediment runoff.

Photos of Sentinel’s homes have graced glossy magazine covers. But lately, Godbolt is particularly proud of work his company did to protect a salmon stream at Barnabee Farm, a 17-acre horse boarding and training

facility on Bainbridge Island.

Sentinel restructured the farm’s stormwater system and parking areas, created rain gardens, replaced openpit manure storage with an efficient, environmentally friendly storage facility, and improved a bioswale with a mycofiltration system using mushrooms and vegetation.

For the work, Sentinel was honored by the Building Industry Association of Washington and the farm was certified as Salmon-Safe by the organization of the same name.

“It’s the biggest thing that’s happened to us,” Godbolt said.

The project fits Sentinel’s mission to do good work and work to do good. What matters most to Sentinel is build-

KITSAP LUMBER

AT A GLANCE

leaks. Sometimes, homeowners can do the repairs themselves with caulking, sealants and insulation.

On a 1950s house in Tracyton, Sentinel did some minor structural repairs, some venting repairs, and insulated the ceiling. The result: A 20-30 percent improvement in energy efficiency.

A house built in the 1990s required $4,529 worth of work — the largest cost was replacing a refrigerator and insulating the floor. But the homeowner will save an estimated $351 a year in energy costs and see an annual reduction of greenhouse gases equivalent to not driving a car for two months.

Another house required more work. It was built in 1998 — a “nice spec house,” Godbolt said — but a deeper look revealed some issues: There was no plywood sheeting under the siding, the house wasn’t fully insulated, holes drilled during construction were unplugged.

“What we did was build a good building envelope. We removed the siding, sheeted it, used a building membrane, re-sided and trimmed the house, replaced windows that needed to be replaced, and installed a high-efficiency furnace — an on-demand gas unit. The owner replaced the aging dryer and refrig-

erator.

“To make the house healthier, we pulled out all the carpet and installed white-oak strip flooring throughout the house. It’s beautiful.”

Remodels

Godbolt believes homeowners should be able to live in their homes for as long as confidently and comfortably possible, a concept called “aging in place.” To accomplish this, Sentinel can make improvements incorporating modifications, telecare and assistive technologies.

Because of the effect of the recession and economic recovery on home values, more homeowners regardless of age are choosing to improve their homes rather than build new or move. In 2010, 40 percent of Sentinel’s business was new construction, 60 percent was remodeling. In 2012, “it’s almost all remodel this year,” Godbolt said.

In remodeling, “Home efficiency is always the big one in my book,” he said. “By updating mechanical systems and insulation, you can have a higher performance home and improve indoor air quality. And you can reduce your cost of staying in that home.”

Sentinel Construction offers free consultation.

Fall Home Guide

• 2012

Page 11

N O R T H

K I T S A P

HOME

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Page 12

Fall Home Guide

• 2012

“The quality of craftsmanship, attention to detail, and commitment to our project was exceptional.”

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