Livingston Reporting - page 345

Creating a Landscaping Design Especially for Your Family

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Coming up with a creative landscaping design for your yard is a dilemma for many home owners.  There are several different options when thinking about the design of your space.  The first thing to consider is what the space is going to be used for.  You will need to come up with a budget.  This will help in determine what goes into the space.  It is also wise to think about the existing environment.  Things such as the amount of light that is currently available or if the soil is really dry all play a part in what can be installed in your landscaping design.  This is all a key part in making sure the design coordinates with the space.

Pleasure/Relaxation Area: This space usually begins with a deck or patio area.  It is important that the area be kept neat and free of sources that would draw flying bugs.  Mosquitoes will surely ruin any area meant for relaxation.  Landscaping designs that play into ones desire for quiet often include privacy fencing and elements such as hammocks and comfortable outdoor furniture.  Another luxury that could be included in a landscaping design meant for relaxation is an outdoor patio fire pit, hot tub or a pergola.

Recreational Area:  A space to be used for recreation and playtime should start with a good base of grass.  Often recreation landscaping designs include a play space and swings.  My neighbor built a raise space off to the side of his lawn for a tournament style horse shoe pit.  It is not a typical pit.  It is a stylish space that has amenities such as cup holders, horse shoe holders and a score board.  Other forms of recreation spaces that are popular are swimming pools and spaces for volley ball, croquet and bocce ball.  In the ground fire pits are also popular where they are large enough for a group of people to sit and enjoy s’mores.

Special Garden Area: These areas are becoming ever popular for landscape designs specifically for a purpose.  Fairy gardens are popular as well as butterfly/hummingbird landscape designs.  It is also really fun to turn your backyard living space into a sustainable garden. You could include herbs and vegetables that you could then swap with neighbors.  My neighbor has a special space in her yard that is set aside just for her to grow flowers that are able to be cut and placed into vases throughout the spring, summer and fall seasons.  She calls it her cutting garden.  Visitors to her home call it a sanctuary.

Miscellaneous Area: This includes all areas that are built out of randomness and have developed into a landscape design in your backyard environment.  Spaces such as dirt bike paths and spaces your children carve out especially for them.  My daughter built a gnome area and my son has added dirt piles to his paths through the woods.

Your backyard landscaping design is something only you have total control over.  Make your yard somewhere that you enjoy spending time in.  Make it a special “vacation” area that your family and friends can enjoy with you and spend time doing the things that make you happy.  Landscape designs are meant to be something uniquely you.

Bladerunners Landscape

Landscape Services: Proper Care Required When Installing Weed Barrier

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Installing weed control in your home’s gardens is a hassle in landscaping that is already established.  Homeowners may choose to employ landscape service companies to come in and handle the challenges that go along with the installation of weed barrier.  It is not a difficult job however choosing the correct materials, prepping the land and securing the weed control are all areas that are equally important when doing this type of job in your landscaping.

Landscaping services are provided by most companies who also are employed to mow lawns and trim hedges.  You will want to check with them to see if adding weed barrier is part of the services they provide.  If so there are certain things to check before they begin the installation of weed barrier to your landscaping.

Make sure that the company is installing weed barrier for weed control that is made from a thick fabric.  Some companies use plastic sheeting.  This is not appropriate for gardens in which plants will live.  It will not allow the oxygen or water to get through to the plants roots.  It also creates an environment that does not allow for breathing which in turn creates mold and fungus.  You need to look for a fabric that does not easily tear with your bare hands.  Thinner weed fabric barriers will break down sooner allowing weeds to pop up in your landscape design.

The next thing you will want to ensure your landscape services company does is overlap the weed barrier by at least 3 inches of overlap.  This ensures that weeds don’t find their way through these potential portholes of freedom.

Another area of concerns is the outside corners.  It is important for pins to be used to hold the weed protection in place as you work.  Corners are often neglected because the initial cut was made before checking to make sure the weed barrier had not shifted and the corners were still covered.  It is also important to secure the points of intersection to keep them from shifting when applying ground cover.

Once your initial landscape weed barrier is installed it is important that your landscape services company installs a thick groundcover.  Ground covering should be applied thick enough that the groundcover is not peeking through. Sunlight will cause the weed protection to break down over time.  You will want a thick base coat of mulch or rock to be laid down initially and will then want to keep the area fresh by reapplying ground cover each spring to keep the covering thick and the weed barrier covered.

It is important that your landscape services company install the barrier leaving an opening that allows the plants to breath.   The last thing you want is for the weed barrier to choke the plants.  In order to do this correctly the company will use a technique that involves cutting an x pattern in the spot on the weed barrier where the plant will sit.  They will then take the access and fold it back and cover the spot with ground cover.

It is important when dealing with landscaping that you don’t just jump in.  Research the proper way to handle situations in your landscape and then execute.  If you do it the other way around you will tend to throw a lot of money away in plants and materials that are of little use.

Bladerunners Landscape

Land Surveyors: Solving the Mystery of Land Boundaries

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Exactly what do land surveyors do?  I see land surveyors on the side of the road all of the time.  I know that they have to do more than just stand out there behind a transit waving their arms at invisible people.  There sole purpose can’t be to set up the orange cones and road blockades that make it so we have to merge into one land while traveling at seventy miles per hour.  I know the simple definition but understanding why what they do is important is not.

Land surveyors by definition are the men and women who plot boundaries to land; generate maps and documents with official depictions of property.  They also help manage the improvement of raw land.   Looking into the history of our nation you will see that land ownership is one of the core values people in America.  Not only is the ownership of the property important but also the idea of personal space.  This was particularly important in the development of farming.

Land surveying has become much more precise and calculated in modern times.  Tools are used such as computers, accurate gauges and tools, mapping techniques to collect and evaluate information when in the field.   When they have appraised the situation and evaluated the land they will use markers to mark off the appropriate boundaries.  These are not just opinions based on how they feel that day however are facts that take into account knowledge of the law, evidence that had been gathered, local, state and federal laws and prevailing practices to establish land markers.   Many people classify land surveying as an art form that involves science and data interpretation.

It is also important for land surveyors to decode what is meant by other people.  The phrases authors of deeds often use have to be deciphered and turned in to language that is not as confusing as the legal lingo that is often used in land descriptions.  Land surveyors are detectives who look at the clues laid out in front of them and the ones they have discovered and solve the mystery of land boundaries.

Despite all of the modern day advances in technology we still need land surveyors to use their expertise to map out boundary lines.  Whether you are purchasing a new piece of property and need to mark off the lot or installing a fence to your current home it is important to have the correct boundary lines.    You might be best friends with your neighbor but it is guaranteed if you put your fence on his land that friendship won’t ever be the same.  People value each morsel of land like they value each member of their family.

SRCMI

Fire Restoration: Fixing Your Home After a Fire

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People will offer you all kinds of unwanted advice throughout your life. Getting married they give you all kinds of marital advice mostly unwarranted.  When you are pregnant they give you all types of advice about parenting.  Most of the time the advice is unwelcomed and far off base however people are more than happy to give it.

The same happens when you have a disaster with your home.  Whether water, fire or storms damage your home the experience will be met with all types of people giving you advice on how to go about restoring your home.   Really the only advice you should turn to is that of a professional in the business.  Here are some tips I took from my personal experience when our home was damaged by fire.  The fire restoration process was not as awful as it could have been because of a bit of fore sight and a lot of luck.

1)      As soon as the fire trucks arrived on the scene the fire chief reminded me to call my insurance agent.  This is an important first step as he was able to come out and immediately start assessing damages and getting us set up in a hotel for the weeks to come.  It is nice to have a helping hand that is on your side with you at the fire.  In my opinion it is always best to hire an insurance agent who is local that can actually be on hand when you need them to be.

2)      Thankfully I had a metal lock box in the garage with all of our papers with information pertaining to our home, insurance policies, birth certificates, social security cards, marriage license and whatever is important for your family.

3)      You will need to hire a professional fire restoration firm. Don’t go with the first person suggested to you through your agent.  Ask for a few referrals meet with them and continue working with the company that best fits with your family.

4)      Once you are allowed back in the dwelling it is important to circulate the air flow.  Make sure windows and doors are kept open at all times when you are in the home after the fire and after the home has been given clearance to be in.

5)      Before a fire hits make sure you have a picture diary of your home on file with your insurance company.  We did not have this.  We literally had to piece together our belongings room to room after the fire hit.  It was an incredibly difficult process that made us lives through the fire over again.

6)      It is important to remove belongings from your home or cover them with plastic.  All clothing should be laundered.  All food should be removed and thrown out.  Never eat anything that has been involved in a fire.  It is essential to remove all items that are damaged and throw them out.  It is important to keep items you wish to restore and hand them off to the fire restoration firm.

Be patient with the fire restoration that will take place in your home.  You want a thorough job done and life back to normal as soon as you can I know however patience and perseverance are needed for the job to be done correctly.  It is never an enjoyable process to go through but is necessary in fire restoration.

TCI Restoration

Blinds Between The Glass: Benefits In Replacement Windows

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How can a homeowner address the need for curb appeal, preserve energy and add value to their home with one investment?  I know many of you think this is a trick question.  That can’t possibly be done.  However, replacement windows can do this for them.  The fact is that the investment in replacement windows can easily be seen with the savings in heating and cooling bills within just a few years.

There are several reasons homeowners should look into replacement windows for their homes.  The following will have you thinking about replacement windows for your home.

The most important reason for purchasing replacement windows is to preserve energy.  If you have drafty windows this leads to the loss of resources.  It is basically cutting up dollar bills and watching the float out the window.  If you are stuck in this situation know that replacing the windows will eventually even out cost wise with decreased energy bills.  The savings is noticeable.  It is also worth investing in double pane windows if you live in a climate that is known for hot summers or cold winters or both.  Another nice feature that is helpful in reducing energy costs is windows with blinds between the glass.

Replacement windows are also nice to look at.  They add a curb appeal that allows your home to appear younger than it is.  Many homes appear older than they are because of aging windows.  Not only do they add beauty but also block out noise and increase natural light into your home.  If you are looking into selling your home new windows can greatly increase the resale value of your home.

Replacement windows offer safety from climate situations.  New windows can prevent leaks and protect your home from damage caused from extreme weather conditions.  Windows with blinds between the glass are nice to protect the interior of your home form damage caused from the sun.  No one wants faded carpet and furniture from the sun.  They can also help decrease noise pollution from outside.  Windows with blinds between the glass coupled with interior curtains would basically sound proof your living environment.  This situation would be helpful in combating excessive noise if you love close to a free way or train track.

It is easier than ever to order replacement windows for your home.  Companies have become more efficient and are offering services that range from measuring, sales, installation and follow up care.  In purchasing new windows for your home research window replacement companies and the deals they offer.  Free installation isn’t free if the price is wrapped into the cost of the window.  Also, if you can get double hung windows with blinds between the glass for the same price as single hung windows why wouldn’t you look into that company further for your replacement window needs.

Don’t allow yourself to fall prey to gimmicks when researching out the best deals for windows.  Replacement window companies are known to use scare tactics in up selling windows in climates that might not need the upgrade.  Make sure you are a knowledgeable consumer and get the best deal the company is willing to offer.

Heatkeeper

Water Restoration Professionals Saved Our Home

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The morning started out as any other.  We got up. Got ready for work, the kids ready for school and we left the house.  When we left everything was calm and dry.  That would all change when we came home that evening.  I got a phone call from my daughter at 3:50.  She was hysterical all I could get from what she was telling me is water everywhere.  That of course is not what you want to hear while you are still miles away from being home.  I hung up with her after telling her to go outside and called the neighbor.  He was able to come over and turn off the water and calm our daughter down.

When my husband and I arrived home we began my assessing the damage and immediately knew we needed to call the insurance company.  Our agent came over immediately and we were able to determine that a pipe had “burst”.  It really had not completely burst but you would have never known that looking at all the water in our home.  The seal had actually ruptured causing the pipe to split apart.

With the water shut off we were able to purchase the materials needed to make the repair.  That was a simple, inexpensive fix however the water cleanup was a whole different story.  Our insurance agent was on the ball and immediately called in a water restoration firm that was well known for helping clients in this exact situation.  They came in and we basically decided we should relocate for the better part of the week.  This was personal choice not something we were told we needed to do.

They began the repair with the removal of the carpet and padding that had gotten soaked.  They then added fans and dehumidifiers into the house to allow the base of the floors to dry before installation of the new carpet. We decided it was best to also have the ceramic tile floor removed to prevent mold from setting in underneath the surface. They used a chemical solution on the sub floor and then were able to start the drying process.

They inspected all of the electrical appliances and found that everything was in good working order.  Most of our furniture had not been affected by the flooded area.  The pieces that were fabric we had cleaned by professional furniture cleaners and removed the wooden furniture and allowed it to dry in the garage.

With the dehumidifiers they brought in, most of the wood moldings and drywall was saved.  There was an issue with one patch of drywall in the corner that needed to be replaced. The water restoration company was able to replace that.  We did hire a professional painter to come in after the area was dry and our belongings were out of the way drying to paint.

It took a little less than a full week and our home was back to normal.  We learned a lot through this process of water restoration.  We now keep the door to the room with the majority of pipes closed during the day when we are gone.  We have started to turn off the water when we go away for more than a night.  Thankfully this happened when we were just gone for the day.  Imagine how bad the damage would have been if it would have been allowed to sit for a week.   Water restoration professionals know what they are doing and should be called in no matter how small or large the flood in your home.  It will save you time and money in the long run preventing mold from being able to grow in your home.

TCI Restoration

Automatic Gates: Improving the Safety of your Home

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It is common in our community to come upon a community where there is a gated entrance.  They are becoming more and more common.  Another place that automatic gates have become common place is among owners of homes on long secluded driveways.  Why you ask?  There are many reasons for this.  First automatic gates give a sense of safety, protection and style to your home or neighborhood.

In an environment where crime is rising due to the down economy, it is nice to know that an added step of protection and an extra detour to crime can be added in a weekend.  Automatic gate suppliers can install a fully operational automatic gate in less than a weekend.  New materials are making them a more affordable option than ever before.  Insurance providers are also now offering a discount to those who choose to install electric gates.

Safety: Automatic gates give their owners an extra sense of safety and security to their homes. They provide the safety of knowing your children and pets are able to run freely and not escape through the driveway.  With automatic gates you are able to close the gate and secure the yard so that they can run free without worry of running into the road or having someone enter into the space that should not be there.

Protection: Automatic gates offer a great degree of protection.  You are able to determine who is allowed in.  Many communities offer residents a card to swipe or a code.  You then are able as residents of this community to enter at your own free will.  The nice part of this is that you are able to control the gate access to outsiders.  Many subdivisions will have a call box where visitors can call the resident they wish to visit and the resident can let them in through the gate.  This offers protection from outsiders who do not belong in the area from entering.

Style: Automatic gates add style and give a luxurious feel to a home or subdivision.  This notion adds value to your home and property.  Gates are becoming more a part of landscaping design than the eye sore they used to be.  Materials such as wrought iron and aluminum make the automatic gates more beautiful than ever before.  Swing gates are grand and elegant and appeal to the masses.  You can choose designs that are styled after picket fences, modern fences, gothic style fences and so many more.   Whatever feeling you want for your property the style of the gate can be designed to match.

Even though gates look expensive, ad style, safety and protection they are still very affordable for consumers.  Automatic gates are now more convenient than ever.  They can be controlled through keypads, remote controls and some even with scanning devices.  How nice would it be every night when you get home from a long day at work to drive up has the gates open for you and enter into your kingdom that has been protected from outsiders all day?

SAC Fence

Mold Removal: Taking Action to Prevent the Spread of Mold

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Do you have mold lurking in your home?  How would you know if you couldn’t see it?  Have you checked out your attic lately?  My friends had just moved into their beautiful new home that was built especially for them when they went to check out the attic because they noticed a dark spot on the ceiling that felt moist.  Sure enough he gets in the attic to find that the company that vented the bathroom fans did not vent them out of the house but only up into the attic.  You can imagine the mess they now had on their hands.

An environment that is dim with moisture is like a Grand Hotel for mold.  It will move right in and spread like wild flowers.  Mold removal and remediation is needed once an infestation, such as my friends, has set in.  Attics with improper ventilation, bathrooms with poor air circulation and basements are key areas for mold.  Another area that can be known for issues is the garage.

Where we live on the Huron River the moisture lurks around.  To avoid problems with the corners of the garage we have a small fan that constantly is moved throughout the garage circulating the air.  On days with high moisture we turn on two box fans to help alleviate the high humidity in the garage and turn the air on in the house.  These techniques help us to prevent a situation that would harbor mold.

If is never too late to take action against mold growth in your home.  Even after an infestation has been removed you can take action to prevent further mold growth.  It is important for air circulation to be prevalent in your home.  This could come in the form of windows being opened, ceiling fans on or heat and air conditioning systems going.  Homes that are most often left closed up are at a higher risk for mold growth.  In winter months it is important to also keep air circulating.  We turn our fans so that they spin in a matter that allows the air to be sucked up into the ceiling but the air to circulate.

It is also recommended that dehumidifiers are included on your heating and cooling systems.  Basements should have a separate humidifier going at all times.  It is important in the prevention of mold.  The water that is extracted into the dehumidifier needs to be emptied daily. I often use it to keep the hanging plants on my porch hydrated.

I am a habitual cleaner of the areas in the house that collect water such bathrooms and kitchen surfaces.  In the corners of the counters I am especially cautious in keeping the drive.   I know after what our friends went through it is takes a great deal of energy and time to go through the mold removal process.  It is also a situation that is not healthy for the health of the members in the family.  We are thankful our friends caught their infestation when they did because their daughter who was born months later is severely allergic to everything.  She could have had a severe reaction to the mold growth and pollutants that were in the air because of it.

TCI Restoration

Personalized Kids Toys and Gifts

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I love my friend’s kids.  They range in age from two up to ten.  They have every toy imaginable.  It is not that they are spoiled it is that there are four of them.  Gifts at Christmas and birthdays are getting more and more challenging each year.  Because they are so important to me I often go out of my way to let them know I took my time finding something they would enjoy.  One way I do this is by purchasing personalized gifts for them.

Personalized toys are so fun to buy especially for children who you love and don’t get to see as often as you want to.  It is nice to give them something that is tangible that will make them think of you every time they see it.  I want them to see that they are important enough in my life that I don’t just run and grab a gift card on the way to their party.  It is always fun to see their faces light up when something is so over the top cool and just for them.

One year my “niece”, I hope I am not the only one who calls my good friends kids niece and nephew, was really into glam.  She loved having her hair done, getting manicures and pedicures, the whole nine yards.  I went into the local craft store and bought a storage container and constructed a themed top just for her.  I used paper, glue, glitter and stickers to create a design that I knew she would love and that would match her room so that when it was stored it still looked pretty.

I went to the store and purchased all things glamorous.  We bought lip gloss, nail polish, polish remover, brushes and combs, hair ties, colored gel, bubbles, crayons for the tub and a big loofah.  This was going to be a little girls dream kit of all the things glam.

I took some paint pens I already had on hand and personalized her brush.  This was done by simply turning the brush to the flat side and putting her name on it in glitter pens.  For each of the bottles of nail polish and lip gloss I took plain stickers and cut them to the size needed to wrap around the bottles and then came up with jazzy names to call them such as purple popsicle and pink lollipop.  All things this little girl adores.  The red was my favorite lip gloss luxurious licorice.

I then decided the best way to wrap the gift was in cellophane so that all the colors could show through and I could adorn a huge curly ribbon on top for her to use in her hair at a later date.   Then I took some glitter glue and added all kinds of polka dots all over to match the colors inside.  When she opened her gift, a favorite among the personalized kid’s toys I have given she started to jump up and down.  She loved it!   Once again I had pulled it off.  I think the better of maybe an hour was taking up of time to pull it all together and it is a gift she will cherish and remember for ever because it was a personalized gift just for her.

My Favorite Kids Toys

Aging in Place: Preparing For Life with an Elderly Parent

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My parents are aging.  We are aware that since we are the closest family to them that as they age they will want to age in place with us.  With that is mind we are starting to take care in remodeling the house.  There are many contractors that offer age in place remodeling for this purpose alone.  I contacted a local contractor who put me in touch with a specialty contractor for aging in place remodeling and we were on our way.

One of the first changes we did before the contractor was hired was simple.  We needed a new refrigerator so when we were shopping for one we decided it would be best to find a model with the freezer on bottom.  We also went ahead and started to stock up on plastic plates and cups to avoid glass breakage should anything be dropped.  I know it would be too hard for one of them to clean it up and if we weren’t home it would leave room for injury.

We hired the contractor to come in when the bathroom age in place remodeling needed to be done.  It was decided that the safest bathing method would be a roomy walk in shower with a seating area.   The contractor showed us several designs and we agreed on one that would provide everything that was needed and alleviate any need to bend.  The toilet we decided to install a high rise style.  This would alleviate the need for a removable toilet seat.  I felt it would offer a bit more dignity to the area for them also.

The contractor was able to give us some advice after spending time in our home doing the age in place bathroom remodel.  He mentioned that we needed to eliminate all of the random throw rugs we had scattered throughout the house.  He told us if there were ones that we wanted to keep down it wasn’t the safest option but we could use double sided tape to tack the rugs down.

The one thing I wanted to keep in mind with this transition is our family’s needs for space and my parents need for autonomy.  They found ways to do the things that they could still do and were able to ask for solutions to do the things that were hard.  My parents needed me to wash their clothes but wanted me to let them fold and put them away.  The washer and dryer live in the basement and the stairs pose to big of a risk for them.  I still let the kids live life and have friends over, as did my spouse and I.  Instead of excluding them though we invited them in to our social circle and welcomed them.  Making them feel a part of our lives instead of an unwelcomed addition made life easier for all of us.

I hired the contractor to come back out when my mom started to use her walker more frequently.  It was a must to have a wheelchair ramp installed.  The handicap ramp was also helpful to my father as his knees were starting to ache on the decent from the house.

It is important that as our parent’s age and want to age in place instead of moving into assisted living that we create an environment as safe as possible for them.  We need to make the time they have here mean something.  It is necessary to make the little changes that help their bodies keep up with the spirit that still lives inside.  My parent’s bodies may be aging but they are both sharp and still wanting to be a part of life.  My goal as they age in our home is to facilitate that.

Glen Miller The Home Doctor