KC Spring-Home-And-Garden

Spring Home & Garden

Kane Cou

CHRONI CLE nty

Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com • Saturday, March 31, 2012

| SPRING HOME & GARDEN

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Performing an uplifting feat

Before Raise-Rite Concrete Lifting has been raising concrete since 1974. Slabjacking, or, mudjacking, as it is commonly called, is a cost effective alternative to replacing sunken concrete.

Mudjacking, or, slabjacking, is performed by drilling 1 5/8” holes through the top surface of a concrete slab, and pumping, under hydraulic pressure, flowable cement grout underneath the slab. As the mixture flows beneath the surface, voids and depressions are filled and the slab is raised to achieve the desired height.

This method of raising concrete can be used to raise sidewalks, stoops, driveways, pool decks, garage floors, patios, factory floors, office floors, streets, and runways. Void filling can also be performed for stabilization and to fill holes caused by animals or soil erosion.

Time, water and soil erosion can take their toll on a home. Concrete raising is the alternative to costly replacement. Raise-Rite Concrete Lifting has been raising sunken concrete in the suburban Chicagoland area for over 35 years. Call our office today to request your FREE estimate: 630-665-1345, or visit our website at www.raiserite.com.

After

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Patios • Garages Sidewalks • Porches Driveways • Stoops Interior Floors Void Filling

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New Comfortmaker® SoftSound® SXC 2600 Air Conditioners Offer Homeowners Reliability, Quiet Operation and Comfort

close the draperies on your south-facing windows in the daytime and open them at night.

This keeps the warming sunlight out of your home during the day.

5. Shut doors and windows. Trap in cool air by keeping doors and windows shut.

Open doors allow cool air out while bringing hot air inside. Locking your windows presses the weather stripping tightly together to give you a better seal and keep cool air inside your home.

6. Step up to a higher efficiency air conditioner. Air conditioner efficiency is measured by a number called “Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio,” or “SEER.” Purchasing a new and more energy-efficient system can cost less than keeping an older and less energy- efficient system. Ask us about the new energy-efficient Comfortmaker 16-plus SEER air conditioners.

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The new high-effi ciency Comfortmaker® SoftSound® SXC 2600 Air Conditioners are designed to communicate through the new Observer™ communicating wall control for installation and service ease and homeowner reliability.

From 1½ through 5 tons, there is a model of the new Comfortmaker SXC 2600 air conditioner in every size capable of achieving ENERGY STAR® ratings.

With efficiencies up to 16.5 SEER and 14.0 EER when paired with select indoor equipment, these new single stage air conditioners provide the following features and benefi ts for custom homes and homeowners who want the best: • Quiet Operation – All models of the SXC 2600 air conditioner include a Copeland Scroll® compressor, industry-respected for reliability, a compressor sound shield, and an isolation grommet compressor mounting system to further reduce operating sounds.

• Durability – All models feature a painted, galvanized steel cabinet with a powder-coat, baked-on fi nish and a coated inlet grille with 3/8-inch wire spacing for extra protection, proper airfl ow, and easy coil cleaning. Corner posts add strength and style to the air conditioner.

• Text-based diagnostics with the Observer communicating wall control – When the SXC 2600 air conditioner is installed with the Observer communicating wall control and a compatible indoor unit, it offers three constant-fan speed choices, better humidity control capability, and easier maintenance if the air conditioner requires service. The service technician can enter service contact information in the service screen of the Observer communicating wall control, which alerts the homeowner whenever it senses a problem or when it is time for routine maintenance.

• Maximum Strength Warranties – Comfortmaker SXC 2600 split-system air conditioners are covered by a 10-year limited warranty on parts, including compressors and coils*, and a 5-year No Hassle Replacement™ limited warranty. The No Hassle Replacement limited warranty provides a one-time new equivalent replacement outdoor unit should the compressor or covered coil fail during the No-Hassle period (with a labor allowance for the dealer). Restrictions apply. Contact your local Comfortmaker distributor for details. * Warranty period is 5 years for parts if not registered within 90 days of installation.

Jurisdictions where warranty benefi ts cannot be conditioned on registration will automatically receive a 10-year parts limited warranty.

Copeland Scroll is a registered trademark of Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.

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• Saturday, March 31, 2012

Keeping your home cool in the summer can become a balancing act between cost and comfort.

Learn how to tip the scales in your favor with these tips: 1. Turn off ceiling fans when you exit a room. Ceiling fans don’t actually decrease the temperature in a room. They make you feel cooler by blowing air across your skin. Save money by flipping off the fan whenever you leave a room.

2. Program your thermostat. A programmable thermostat can save energy and money by operating at a more cost-efficient temperature while you’re asleep or away from home, and lower the temperature to cool your home just before you wake up or return. Ask us about the new Comfortmaker® Observer™ touchscreen communicating wall control that offers so much more than a standard thermostat. It is fully programmable and user-friendly.

3. Reschedule laundry and cooking.

Your clothes dryer, oven and stove generate a lot of heat. Prolong the life of your air conditioner by scheduling laundry and cooking at night to prevent extra heat, which must be converted into cool air.

4. Close the drapes. In the summer,

SPRING HOME & GARDEN | Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com

How to balance your costs with comfort this summer

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Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com • Saturday, March 31, 2012

| SPRING HOME & GARDEN

4

Easy, affordable weekend spruce-up projects you can tackle this spring (ARA) - When it comes to home improvement, most of us have two “to-do” lists: the things we need to do, such as paint the shutters and clean out gutters, and the list of those we want to do, such as fun and easy projects that add visual interest or practical enhancements to the outdoors. Since our budgets for both lists are usually limited, it makes sense to seek out projects that are easy, affordable and that create the most impact in a short amount of time.

Spring outdoor projects often show up on both lists. Upgrades can provide a welcoming retreat for your family, or can improve your home’s marketability and appeal to potential buyers when it comes time to sell. Fortunately, it’s easy to find simple projects that take only a weekend and a modest budget to accomplish.

“Adding elements like planter boxes and raised garden beds is a great way of creating impact without a huge commitment of time,” says home improvement expert Mark Clement, co-host of “My Fix it Up Life” which airs nationally, on

iTunes, Blog Talk Radio and at MyFixitUpLife.com Clement offers some easy tips to help guide weekend projects that anyone can build: Raised bed gardens. Some of the most abundant vegetable, herb and cut-flower gardens grow exceptionally well in raised beds because there is less soil compaction and they allow for excellent drainage. While raised beds are extremely functional, they can also add style to your yard and garden. Their organized appearance lends a structural element, particularly if you construct them with quality materials like cedar.

“By carefully selecting the right materials, your garden bed will last longer and look better. Western Red Cedar is a good choice because it is easy to work with, rot-resistant, and it ages beautifully and maintains its shape and strength over the years, even when exposed to extreme weather,” Clement adds.

Window and planter boxes. An easy and fun green project, wood planter boxes can be built in an afternoon.

Whether arranged in a group or hung as window boxes, they instantly add a warm texture and welcoming touch to your front porch or backyard deck when filled with foliage. This project allows doit-yourselfers to inject some personality that transforms the look from simple to elaborate and tie into the character and style of your home.

“Even if you’ve never built a box, you can create a classic look by adding a bit of thin trim to the top and bottom of the box,” Clement says. “You can also buy wooden brackets to support the window box for a more traditional look.”

Simple structures. For those looking to tackle a bigger project, invite friends over and make it a do-it-yourself project party. From small decks to barbeque platforms, or front door arbors to backyard gazebos, gather friends to help assemble projects that create new spaces and places to entertain or dress up your outdoors. “I love to make things that give my yard and home a finished touch,” Clement says. “And making something as a project makes it truly

yours and a part of your home - something you can be proud of and really enjoy.”

Power washing your deck, play equipment and even your furniture is also an easy, low-commitment, low-cost way to spruce up your outdoor environment. You can buy or rent a powerwasher and accomplish the job in a day.

Clement does advise to carefully follow the manufacturers’ instructions when using a power-washer, as too much pressure can cause damage. “If used properly, it will brighten up the space like you wouldn’t believe,” he adds. “If you’re really ambitious, add a clear finish or dark-colored stain to your wood deck and the neighbors will think it’s brand new.”

Finally, Clement’s top tip this spring is simple: Have fun. Share your experience and project photo with friends and family via Real Cedar’s Facebook page.

For detailed steps on how to construct these projects, visit: http://www. youtube.com/user/WRCLA/featured.

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How does Concrete Leveling work?

A-1 Concrete Leveling is the Nation’s Largest Concrete Leveling Company. Using our patented piece of concrete leveling equipment and expert concrete leveling personnel, we assess the condition of the existing concrete structure, drill a series of 1” diameter holes into the slab, and with the use of the powerful injector, fill the void underneath the slab, lifting the entire slab back into the original position leveling the concrete slab.

Concrete Leveling is a process which hydraulically lifts your existing concrete walk, drive, steps, etc. to its original position. Through a small

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hole about the size of a quarter, our environmentally safe mixture is pumped, and floats your hazardous, unsightly area into place.

1. Small holes are drilled in the sunken concrete.

2. A-1 concrete leveling compound is pumped from our truck into each hole. The compound works hydraulically underneath the concrete, raising is back to its original position.

3. Once the desired concrete leveling result is obtained, the holes are sealed off using a durable cement mixture.

You can even use the repaired concrete the same day!

Please contact A-1 Concrete Leveling & Foundation Repair with questions at 630-557-0049, or visit our website at www.a1services.com.

Do you have a problem with...

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• Driveways, patios uneven or settled towards the house?

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RESIDENTIAL • COMMERCIAL • INDUSTRIAL

• Saturday, March 31, 2012

Concrete Leveling is the process of hydraulically lifting an existing slab of concrete back into its original position.

A high-content limestone/cement based concrete leveling mixture is pumped, designed to handle a greater load capacity than the average clay/sand concrete leveling mixture used by mudjacking companies.

SPRING HOME & GARDEN | Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com

What is Concrete Leveling?

Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com • Saturday, March 31, 2012

| SPRING HOME & GARDEN

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Five simple steps to help homeowners ease into spring projects (ARA) - Now, while the winter is still around, is the best time for homeowners to get a jump start on planning and prepping for their spring and summer home and garden projects; so when the weather really does warm up, it takes little effort to get the projects underway.

In addition to fine-tuning home improvement and gardening plans, it is also a good idea to make certain the required tools are in tip-top shape, so the projects are not delayed.

Here are some ways to prepare for the spring and summer seasons with just a few simple steps:

Plans Sketch out those garden plans, and pick the plants that can be purchased or grown from seed. Plans don’t need to be drawn to scale, but they’ll provide great background information for a shopping list. Research how early seedlings should be started, so they’ll be ready for transplant when the time arrives.

Also create plans for any home projects that need to be accomplished. The depth of those plans depends on how complicated the project is. Make certain all permits are in order, if required by the community; and if a contractor is needed, a formal agreement and timeline is in place prior to work commencing.

Lawn tools Check pruning shears for sharp blades - and either sharpen or replace them if they don’t easily cut through a small stem of plant material. Also, review lawn mower blades. Check the oil, gasoline and starters on all gardening machinery to ensure they’ll run correctly when needed.

House tools A review of all home tools helps to determine if any new purchases - or replacements are needed.

This is the perfect time to head to the store and purchase missing tools, add new blades to saws or replenish the sandpaper stash - eliminating wasted time running back and forth to the store.

Hand tools A little care can go a long way in keeping your hands and feet - the most valuable tools found in every household - in good shape after the long, dry winter months. These tools are vital to accomplishing everything on those garden and home project lists, and they are often forgotten. O’Keeffe’s Working Hands and O’Keeffe’s for Healthy

Feet are both guaranteed to effectively relieve dry, cracked skin in even the most extreme cases. And just a little bit of the highly concentrated, hypoallergenic and odorless creams is needed. Start every project off with healthy hands, and keep them that way throughout the entire season of projects. It’s the best cream for dry hands - especially after the long and dry winter months.

Materials As the project season gets closer, start purchasing the materials needed ahead of time. This helps to spread the cost out, and can give an idea of how much time and effort the project will take to be completed. Get started now

in matching colors, finding the perfect accessories and even price-comparing between different suppliers to help save money.

For homeowners who haven’t experienced the warm-weather-project itch quite yet, it’s still a good idea to start thinking about those items on to-do lists to help with being prepared and ready to go when the season arrives. It doesn’t take a lot of energy to have a successful spring and summer project season.

Don’t forget O’Keeffe’s Working Hands and O’Keeffe’s for Healthy Feet to keep hands and feet in healthy shape to tackle any job.

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April 21-29 – Nine Days of Daily Specials A different special every day. Check our website to see what is on sale each day. Take advantage of our Arbor Day and Earth Day specials.

41W130 Norris Road | Sugar Grove 630.466.4278 www.springbluffnursery.com

Beautiful, historic 1800’s farm located 15 minutes from the Fox River

Visit our website for information & details of coming events.

Garden Center Open Daily: Mon.-Thurs. 9-6, Fri. & Sat. 9-5, Sun. 10-4

Wow! What a spring so far! Buy Local! Come and check out our fresh dug trees and shrubs and see all our perennials, annuals, & veggies.

Now is a good time to schedule a yard clean up and get fresh mulch installed. Make sure your yard is ready for grad parties, weddings and BBQ season!

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heart of the healthy building trend is ceramic tile. In fact, the Healthy Building Network recommends ceramic tile as an alternative to widely used vinyl, one of the biggest generators of VOCs in home environments.

“Healthy design finds a natural partner in ceramic tile,” says Patti Fasan, Tile of Spain ceramic tile consultant. “It’s a hygienic, multi-use product that is eco-friendly, fireresistant, slip-resistant and one of the strongest finish materials available.”

The experts at Tile of Spain point to the healthful benefits of ceramic tile: Cleaner surfaces - Whether you use it on the bathroom floor or the wall of a master bedroom, ceramic tile is cleaner than other traditional surfaces. Because it’s an inert material, ceramic tile won’t harbor bacteria or other micro-organisms like mold or mildew. You can clean it with hot water; no chemicals or detergents are needed.

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VOC-free - Ceramic tile does not release any VOCs, the most prevalent type of indoor irritant.

Allergy-friendly - Carpet can harbor dust, pet dander and other allergens. Ceramic tile does not, making it a more healthful alternative for people who suffer from allergies.

Less places for dirt to hide New, larger format tiles like Keraben’s Transit Collection that are 33 inches by 97 inches, cover more surface area and require less mortar or grout, meaning there are fewer places for dirt and microbes to hide. You can also find grout with antimicrobial properties to help keep this area clean as well.

Eco-friendly - If your health concerns extend to the environment as well, ceramic tile is an environmentally responsible building material. Clay, water and fire are the basic natural resources needed to create ceramic tile.

And tile’s durability ensures a longer life cycle, meaning less construction debris in landfills.

Very versatile - It’s now possible to achieve virtually any look with ceramic tile - even the appearance of natural wood. For example, the Contempora Collection by Saloni offers a range of wood-plan looks that create effects ranging from rustic chic to sleek contemporary. This versatility means you can use ceramic tile throughout the home, not just on the bathroom floor or kitchen backsplash.

With demand continuing to grow for more healthful building material alternatives, homeowners are rediscovering ceramic tile, and incorporating it into their home improvement and building projects in new ways. To learn more about ceramic tile, visit www. tileofspainusa.com.

Above Photo: Grespania, a Tile of Spain branded manufacturer, offers large format tile which covers more surface area and require less mortar or grout, meaning there are fewer places for dirt and microbes to hide.

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• Saturday, March 31, 2012

(ARA) - If you’ve ever had new carpeting installed in your house and found yourself suffering from a nagging cough for days afterward, you’ve experienced the effect some home improvement materials can have on your health.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can be a significant health concern, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Concentrations of VOCs can be up to 10 times higher indoors than out, and building materials are among the sources of these noxious chemicals, the EPA says.

While VOCs and other home toxins can cause respiratory irritation in healthy people, they can be particularly troublesome to anyone who suffers from asthma or allergies. Many homeowners, striving to minimize the impact of their home improvement or new building projects on the environment and their health, are opting to use less toxic building materials.

One time-tested product at the

SPRING HOME & GARDEN | Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com

Demand for healthier building options drives the rediscovery of ceramic tile

Do You Need to Replace Your Ash Trees?

As the trees leaf out, you may be noticing that your Ash trees are not looking good and may have become victims of the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB). The EAB has been in this area now for about six years and its destruction of Ash is evident by the large number of dead and dying trees littering the local landscape.

There are thousands of Ash trees just in Kane County so this devastation is heartbreaking. Fortunately, if there is any sort of silver lining in this, there are many beautiful trees available to replace the Ash.

The following are some tough, beautiful trees that would make excellent replacements for the once beautiful Ash:

Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com • Saturday, March 31, 2012

| SPRING HOME & GARDEN

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Kentucky Coffee Tree – large, picturesque native tree with fans of compound green leaves, filtered shade, gold fall color Bur Oak – impressive native tree with a thick trunk, stout branches, and nice fall color (several other types of Oaks work well also) American Hornbeam – smaller tree (good for under utility lines) with outstanding fall color, also know as Musclewood or Ironwood ‘Autumn Blaze’ Maple – hybrid between Red & Silver Maples that grows fast and is drought tolerant, gorgeous red fall color Tulip Tree – a large, fast growing unique tree that blossoms in the spring, beautiful and unusual Katsura Tree – heart-shaped foliage, tolerates moist soils, gorgeous fall color, unusual Gingko – been around for millions of years so this tough guy is in for the long haul, beautiful fan shaped leaves turn brilliant gold in fall, tolerant of pollution and poor soils Hackberry – native tree that has attractive bark and thick, fuzzy leaves, very tough, gold fall color Hybrid Elms – resistant to Dutch Elm Disease, graceful shape, fast growing, dark reds and browns in fall Planetree – unusual peeling bark, tall and stately, HUGE leaves Swamp White Oak – attractive bark, dark green leaves with fuzzy undersides, great fall color, tough and tolerant of moist soils American Sentry Linden – luxurious thick green leaves, tall and tough, gold fall color, very tolerant of poor soils, good for parkways

Quality Plants & Expert Service...Since 1925 41W781 Route 64 • St. Charles

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We can arrange for removal of your old trees and replacement with new healthy trees – we have the largest inventory of locally grown trees in the area. Smaller Ash trees will be removed and stumps ground out by our experienced crews. Trees will be destroyed / disposed of according to Illinois Department of Agriculture / USDA regulations. The removal of larger Ash trees may be subcontracted to one of the professional arborculture firms that we regularly work with. If your Ash tree has not been affected by the Emerald Ash Borer and you would like to prevent EAB from attacking your tree there are several options. We sell three do-it-yourself products that are labeled for EAB – Acecap, Bonide Tree & Shrub Insect Control, and Optrol