NDN-SS-9-22-2016

Moorman Construction: Building custom homes Fall Landscaping: Still plenty of gardening to do

Autumn decorating adding a touch of fall

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Fall Home and Garden, Fall 2016 –Page 2

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Fall Home and Garden, Fall 2016 –Page 3

CONTENTS YARD

Bringing fall colors into your garden, and prep for next spring 3 DECOR

Adding autumn accents to your fall home decor

5

Homes by Moorman Construction built just for you 6 ROOF

WOODWORK

Falls is still a good time to do gardening

By Mike Mendenhall Newton Daily News

HOME

Getting your roof Inspected before winter weather hits

Autumn Flowers & Winter Prep

7

Woodstyles opening a bigger location to make room for more 11

Just because the leaves are turning and the nights are cooling doesn’t mean it’s time to hang up your garden gloves for the year. There are plenty of things backyard green thumbs can do — and many things they should do — to keep a garden looking colorful throughout the fall and be ready for next spring.

Newton’s Earl May Nursery & Garden Center Manager Tony Pherigo shared a few tips for the gardener who wants to keep things looking crisp as the leaves start to turn.

Fall Flowers September is the perfect time to add color to your garden, keeping a fresh look into the Autumn months. Mums are one of the most popular fall flowers, but Pherigo said asters, pansies and flowering kale also can add to a fall garden and are readily available and Iowa garden centers in September.

Fall Planting and Maintenance October is the time to plant your spring flowering bulbs such as daffodils, tulips and hyacinth.

These plants will bloom in early

Home & Garden is a product of the Newton Daily News 200 First Ave. E., Newton, IA, 50208

Publisher Dan Goetz

Mike Mendenhall/Daily News Newton’s Earl May Nursery & Garden Center Manager Tony Pherigo, pictured, says that fall is a great time to be in the garden — whether tending autumn flowers or getting the garden for winter and next spring. Fall is a good time to plant trees, apply fertilizer your yard and, of course, don’t forget fall mums.

to mid-spring, Pherigo says, and will bring color to a garden early in the growing season.

On the flip side, summer and fall flowering bulbs like gladiolus, canna, begonia and dahlia should be dug up and stored after several frosts. Vermiculite should be stored in a cool, dry area during the winter.

Editor Abigail Pelzer

September and October are also the months to plant most trees, shrubs and perennials.

According to Earl May staff, planting in the early fall allows some flora to set their roots easier. Planting in October makes spring and summer plants more

Advertising Director Jeff Holschuh

LANDSCAPE | 13

Niche Editor Kate Malott

Fall Home and Garden, Fall 2016 –Page 4

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Autumn Accents

Add a few touches of fall to your home interior

By Kate Malott Newton Daily News

It’s time to put away and clear out your summer home decor items for autumn’s calm.

Keep your decorating simple, using organic foliage, plants, flowers and vegetables, and cozy using warm orange, red, gold and brown and white materials.

Rustic Mantle Create a simple and rustic arrangement by using a variety of votive holders and colorful fall leaves. To construct different heights, top the votives with varying numbers of small white pumpkins. Gather an assortment of colorful fall leaves, and use wire to fasten them to a length of rope to form a

beautiful seasonal garland. Using temporary adhesive hooks, attach the garland to your mantel.

Line Your Steps Mums light up any room with their full and colorful bloom making any stairway inviting. Once buds begin to open, you’re guaranteed blooms whether your display is in sun or shade. To prolong the show, water when dry and remove spent flowers. Pair with Mexican sage and boxwoods for this stunning display.

Painted Pumpkins Paint any size pump-

Metro Creative Welcome people into your home by lining you entry steps with the shades of autumn. Mums, pumpkin and more give the right amount of color to your doorstep.

Metro Creative Line your mantle with an arrangement of pumpkins that are sure to give your home a beautiful autumn look.

kins with a gold strip or polka dot pattern. Transform mini pumpkins into luminaries by cut-

ting a 1-inch-wide circle into each pumpkin, scooping out the centers with a tablespoon, and

Metro Creative Change to look of the dinning room table with an array of seasonal gourds to help bring the beautiful fall colors indoors.

inserting votive candles.

Group painted pumpkins in rooms without much decor such as bathrooms, bedrooms or a reading nook for added shimmer.

Set the Table Bring fall into your foyer with a simple tablescape or centerpiece.

Pick a few branches of colorful fall leaves and arrange simply in a tall glass vase filled with water. Gather an array of seasonal gourds in a mix of colors, sizes, and textures for variety and top with a large glass cloche. Fill bowls with pine cones or flatter pumpkins. Add a potted plant, something green, to the arrangement for texture.

Fall Home and Garden, Fall 2016 –Page 6

On the Job Site

Moorman Construction specializes in building custom homes

By Alex Olp Newton Daily News

There’s no better way to improve your living space than to have a completely custom home built for you and your family — and get to witness the entire progression of the sixmonth project from start to finish.

Moorman Construc-

tion, a family-owned company out of Baxter, offers exactly that as it is the creator of more than 250 custom homes — mostly in Jasper County.

What makes is uniquely different from other larger construction businesses is that a co-owner of this company, Kendall Moorman, is typically working on job sites just as much as the employees and contractors.

Moorman said having the owner present helps build relationships with customers, and puts future homeowners at ease when helping them visualize the outcome. It

also allows customers to make decisions on the job site, like selecting colors or certain products.

“Sometimes customers have a hard time visualizing what they’re getting and what’s happening, so we like to walk them through what to expect and why it is the way it is,” Moorman said. “My goal is to give customers more than what they expect for the money they’re spending.

I think that’s a key to success in anyone’s business. They have to be happy with what they’re getting because they’re

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spending a very large amount of money and making a very large investment.”

Kendall runs the business, which has been in full swing for 35 years, with his wife Natalie Moorman. The only other employees are their son, Ben, and Kendall’s brother, Kent.

Natalie said she manages back of the house duties such as finances, while the rest focus on

current projects.

In a single year, the foursome typically completes six to eight homes with the help of some very loyal subcontractors — some of whom have been working with the Moorman’s for 20 years.

Homeowners have also been loyal. Kendall said a handful of former customers have returned for a second or even third custom home.

There are even a couple of families that have each member living in a different Moorman Construction house.

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Fall Home and Garden, Fall 2016 –Page 7

Roof inspections should be done before winter hits

By Jason W. Brooks Newton Daily News

Metro Creative Autumn is a great time to inspect patios that might have endured some wear and tear during the heavy usage seasons of spring and summer. Patios are one of several weekend projects that can be done in the fall before severe winter weather comes around.

Homeowners say different things about the best time of year for certain home-improvement projects, knowing that maintaining a home is really a year-round job.

No Jasper County homes are immune to wear and tear, and homeowners who want to protect their real-estate investments can stay ahead of problems to ensure their homes are not victims of Iowa’s winter elements or become outdated and unappealing to prospective buyers.

According to the National Roofing Contractors Association, a roof should be

inspected twice per year — during the late spring, and again in the fall before major winter weather takes place.

Dan Leavens of Leavens Construction in Newton also provided some words of wisdom to help homeowners go into winter knowing their roofs are as sturdy as possible.

“One rule of thumb about looking at a dry roof is that if it looks good, it probably is,” Leavens said. “The key is to try to see as much of the roof as is safe. There’s usually no one spot to be where you can see everything, and some spots you might hardly get to see at all.”

Less precipitation tends to fall during the warmer months than during the

late fall and winter. This lull might prevent homeowners from being aware of leaky areas until autumn has come and gone.

Waiting until winter to inspect the roof can prove hazardous, as weather conditions will not be conducive to inspection and increased precipitation may result in potentially costly damage.

Leaky roofs can be easily identified by looking for water stains on interior ceilings.

Once you see a stain, you can climb onto the roof to identify the location of the leak and fix it before winter rains and snowfall turn the problem into something much larger.

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Woodstyles opening new, bigger location

By Jamee A. Pierson Newton Daily News

Jamee A. Pierson/Daily News Almost 10 years after opening, Woodstyles owner Jeff Guthrie is making a big move from the shop at his home to a new, larger location in Newton. The new location at 1714 N. Fourth Ave. E. will have many news features including a show room for clients to see his cabinetry work up close while finalizing their custom orders.

Woodstyles owner Jeff Guthrie has been hard at work for nine years making custom cabinets for residents of Jasper County and central Iowa.

Now, Guthrie is taking a big step in the coming months and moving to a new, bigger location in Newton at 1714 N. Fourth Ave. E. “We are pretty much maxed out on any growth, so I decided to purchase the former Cline Tool building in town,” Guthrie said. “It is about 11,000 square foot building. We will only be using about half of that and the rest is rented out.”

Guthrie started his business in a shop in Newton by himself in 2007. About five years later, he purchased a

house south of Newton and moved his business to a 1,400 square foot shop located on the property.

Not long after, he hired his first employee and added 500 square feet to the shop. Currently, Guthrie has two employees and no more space.

“The neat thing is we will have a lot bigger shop, more room for production,” Guthrie said. “I will have a designated paint booth so we can be painting and building cabinets at the same time, which we can’t do now. I will also have a showroom. I have never had one before and that is what I am probably most excited about.”

With the showroom, Guthrie will have a place for displays and an area to meet with clients. He also plans to start carry-

ing a line of doors and millwork to compliment his custom lines that he has never had before.

Woodstyles specializes in building custom cabinets. Each piece is designed, built from scratch and finished specifically for the individual customer.

“They aren’t coming to us to just buy some kitchen cabinets, they are looking to design a space that they are going to raise their kids in and entertain friends,” Guthrie said. “We try to really design what will work best for them and showcase their personality.”

For more information about Woodstyles, contact Guthrie at 641417-0029 or at his new location.

Contact Jamee A. Pierson at 641-92-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com

A few creative uses for fallen leaves to try this autumn Metro Creative Millions of leaves fall from tree boughs each fall. Homeowners and landscaping professionals will spend countless hours removing leaves from lawns and driveways so they can be collected and ultimately added to compost piles or removed by local governments.

But leaves do not necessarily have to meet with the same fate each year. In fact, there are many creative ways to use leaves gathered from lawns and gardens.

Scarecrow Gather a decent pile of leaves and the makings of a scarecrow, which include hay, old clothing, string, and canvas. Use the leaves to help stuff the body of the scarecrow and make him a bit more plump.

Vases Fill an empty flower vase with different leaves that you have gathered. This makes for an engaging centerpiece when entertaining.

Pressings Press leaves between two pieces of paper to make a leaf silhouette. Some of the pigment will transfer to the paper, and these natural pieces of artwork can be displayed or shared.

Laminate Laminate leaves so they can be used as place cards when hosting guests for holiday feasts.

Put these ideas to the test to make fallen leaves part of your unique home decor.

Fall Home and Garden, Fall 2016 –Page 12

Moorman Continued from Page 6 warm feeling,” he said.

“When I drive by they’d wave to me and it makes me feel like we’re almost friends or even family.”

The construction business has been a passion for Kendall since he was 14 and he is now passing that

Jeff Guthrie, Owner Newton, IA (641) 417-0029 www.woodstylesllc.com

down to his family. Even though it’s been nearly 40 years of working in carpentry and construction, the feeling of building a home from nothing still drives him to this day.

“I refer to some properties as a diamond in the rough. In other words it doesn’t look like much, but we can shape the property and create a

building site and end up with a home that meets people’s dreams. For us as a builder we can admire something that gets created,” Kendall said. “We begin to build something, watch it grow and finally see a new product that satisfies customers.”

Contact Alex olp at aolp@newtondailynews.com.

Submitted Photo The family-owned Moorman Construction has built more than 250 custom homes in 35 years of existence.

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Landscape Continued from Page 3 established and easier to maintain through the summer.

Mulch should be reapplied in October if it was washed away during the year. It will help protest plants from the coming frosts and cold temperatures and maintain some soil moisture for evergreens.

Pherigo also recommends doing a soil sample in the fall before any further planting.

This allows home gardeners to see if any additional nutrients or topsoil should be added. He said fall is a great time to check soil content because spring and summer flowers will have used some of the nutrients. All it takes is a small

Inspections Continued from Page 7 Inspect your ceilings for signs of leaking after a strong rainfall, and then address any leaks immediately.

Dry rot also can be detected during a roof inspection. Use a harness, if at all possible — and always work with a buddy.

Leavens said one truth about the condition of shingled roofs is that if any shingles are pulled up, that’s a sign of trouble underneath. All of the shingles laying flat is a positive sign. However, it’s still helpful to inspect as much of the roof as possible to make sure there is no granulation or dematerializing of the shingles.

The popularity of

baggy or container-sized sample, and it can be submitted to Iowa State University Extension or Earl May Nursery.

Vine residue from any edible plants should be removed during October to disease from infecting plants in the

single-story and ranchstyle homes has led to more horizontal, shallow-pitched roofs in modern designing, Leavens said. While older homes might have structural decay, old roofing or other issues, the more steep-pitched design is part of what allowed the houses to live so long despite Iowa winters and summer rainstorms.

“Ice, snow and rain are going to roll off of steeper pitched roofs,” Leavens said. “The ranch-style ones won’t do that. A flatter roof is easier to work on, and inspections and a re-roofing can be done quicker, but the steep ones fight moisture better.”

Contact Jason W. Brooks at 641-792-3121 ext. 6532 or jbrooks@newtondailynews.com

spring and summer. You can turn over garden soil and add a layer of organic matter.

Winterizing your garden November is the month to really put winterizing into high gear.

Roses should be protected during the winter months so the cold temperatures don’t harm the plants. Earl May recommends mounding soil over the base of each plant, but shrub roses don’t need mounded soil.

All young trees without true bark should be wrapped in the winter.

And for some color in the cold, white and Brown months of January and February, November is the month to try forcing some spring bulbs indoors. Pherigo said paperwhites, daffodils, hyacinth, tulips and crocus are good bulbs to force into pots for indoor winter flowers.

They’ll need six to 10 weeks of chilling, according to Earl May staff, at 40 degrees or below to mimic their natural

dormancy period. Fencing and animal repellents may be used to protect trees from deer and rabbits.

Although evergreens are hardy, Wilt-Stop can be applied in November to protect the trees from winter burn.

According to Earl May, Boxwood, Yew, Rhododendron and Holly are more susceptible to winter burn and should be treated. Water your evergreens before the grown freezes and applying mulch will also help.

If you have a pond, de-icers can keep a small space open in the water during the winter. The allows natural toxic gasses to escape and avoid the potential killing of pond fish.

Contact Mike Mendenhall at mmendenhall@newtondailynews.com

Here are a few tasks Jasper County homeowners can complete in the fall: Gutter cleaning While some homeowners prefer to delay their gutter cleaning projects until late fall, those whose homes are surrounded by trees may need to schedule two such projects.

Gutters clogged with leaves and other debris can cause serious roof damage, and that damage can extend all the way inside a home.

Clogged gutters make great nesting areas for insects or critters. Try to avoid sticking your hand directly into a clogged area.

Always stand on a ladder when cleaning gutters, wearing gloves to remove items by hand and dropping leaves and debris into a trash can below. Standing on the roof and leaning over gutters greatly increases your risk of injury.

If the gutters are clear when you first examine them in early fall, you can wait until later in the season to give them a complete and thorough cleaning. Once you have finished clearing the gutters, you can use a hose to run water through them and the downspouts to confirm everything is functioning properly.

Window and doorway inspection Before temperatures start dropping once again, homeowners will want to inspect their windows and doorways for leaks.

Over time, cracks can develop around windows and doorways, and while such cracks are rarely noticeable when the weather outside is warm, these can be quite obvious and very costly if they remain unsealed come the start of winter.

Cold air can enter a home through cracks around windows and doorways, and many homeowners who don’t suspect leaks may respond by turning up the thermostats in their homes. That can prove quite expensive over a full winter.

On a windy autumn day to place a hand by windows and external doorways in your home to see if you can feel drafts. If you can, seal these cracks as soon as possible.

Patio cleanup Patios are popular hangouts during spring and summer, and that can result in a lot of wear and tear. Once you store patio furniture for the winter, inspect your entire patio to determine if it needs any refurbishing. While certain patio projects may be best left for spring, you can still clean any stained areas around the grill and look for cracks in the sidewalk that need to be addressed.

Fall Home and Garden, Fall 2016 –Page 14

5 Tips to make an older home more energy efficient

Metro Creative Homeowners choose to erect fences on their properties for various reasons. Parents may find fences provide peace of mind during those times when their youngsters are playing in the yard, while other homeowners prefer fences for the privacy they can provide.

Whatever compels homeowners to consider fencing for their properties, those that have decided to install fencing will soon realize they have numerous options. Finding the right fencing material for your property requires considering a host of factors, including budget and personal style.

Metro Creative While new homes are being built to be more energy efficient than ever before, thanks to a growing green building movement and increasingly strict building codes, the age of existing dwellings continues to present challenges.

More than 40 percent of the housing stock in the United States was built before 1969 and simply wouldn’t stand up to today’s standards.

Yet, much can be done to help homeowners improve their building envelope to reduce energy use and increase efficiency.

Improving your home’s energy efficiency can help save money, keep you more comfortable, reduce pollution, and prevent global warming. Try these five simple measures to maximize the energy efficiency of your home: 1. Seal cracks and gaps around your home’s windows, doors, and vents. These can be a considerable source of energy loss, allowing conditioned air to escape and unconditioned air to infiltrate your home, placing stress on your furnace and air conditioner in the process. An easy DIY solution is to caulk around windows, doors, and vents, and

Finding the right fencing fit

Aluminum Aluminum fencing is ideal for those looking for something that’s both ornamental and functional. Aluminum fencing may not appeal to those homeowners whose biggest priority is privacy, as aluminum fences are not solid walls. But aluminum fences are typically low maintenance, and they can be effective at keeping both kids and pets in the yard. Aluminum fences painted with a rust-inhibiting primer may require even less maintenance than aluminum fences painted without primer. install or replace worn weatherstripping.

An average home loses up to 30 percent of its energy through air leaks, so sealing your home is a worthwhile exercise.

2. Top up or replace old insulation in your attic. A poorly insulated attic is a primary source of energy loss. Also, over time, some types of insulation can settle and compact, allowing heat to escape through gaps.

Experts recommend installing a dimensionally stable batt insulation like a Roxul product called Comfortbatt.

Aim for an r-value of at least R-50, or a depth of

roughly 16 inches.

3. Insulate basement headers.

Uninsulated basement headers are common, especially in older homes. They can act as a gateway for heated air to escape. Fixing the problem is fast and easy. Simply cut Comfortbatt stone wool insulation to fit the cavity and compress into place.

Doing this throughout your basement will prevent heat loss and can potentially save hundreds of dollars each year.

4. Switch to LED light bulbs. Some LED light bulbs have a lifespan of up to 10 years, and are 80

to 90 percent more efficient than incandescent bulbs. They are generally more environmentally friendly than CFLs and safer, too, since they produce less heat. The return on investment is excellent, as LED bulbs often pay for themselves through energy savings within the first year.

5. Consider a home energy audit. This will help you identify and target specific problematic areas of energy loss.

A professional home energy audit will also provide a list of recommended solutions to help you maximize your energy-efficiency strategy.

Bamboo Bamboo is a less traditional fencing option that may appeal to homeowners who want to do something that’s both different and eco-friendly.

Bamboo grows naturally, which should appeal to homeowners who want their homes to have as little negative impact on the environment as possible. Bamboo provides ample privacy and comes in various styles. Homeowners should consult with a fencing specialist before choosing a style so they can be certain they choose the most climate-appropriate option.

Chain-link Chain-link fences may not add the aesthetic appeal homeowners are looking for, but they are relatively inexpensive, durable and functional.

Chain-link fences are low maintenance, though homeowners looking for fences to provide some privacy may need to get creative if they install chain-link fencing. Planting flowers, shrubbery or trees near chain-link fences can add some aesthetic appeal and a little privacy.

Fall Home and Garden, Fall 2016 –Page 15

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Moorman Construction 7181 Hwy. F17 W., Baxter

General Contractor for Residential Homes Kendall Moorman, Owner 641-227-3650

Fall Home and Garden, Fall 2016 –Page 16

Cut your energy bills. ClimateMaster geothermal systems tap the constant temperature of the earth to provide heating, cooling, and hot water. Your home stays comfortable year-round while trimming your energy use by up to 80%. And now with new federal tax credits, you will save an additional 30% on the total installation. Best of all, ClimateMaster systems are not only a good investment, they are a cleaner choice for the environment. To learn more about how the geothermal technology leader can help you cut your energy bills.

www.baxtercs.biz 102 E Watson Ave, Baxter, IA 50028

641-227-3105

SM-NE3940780-0922

CUT YOUR HEATING AND COOLING COSTS UP TO 80%.