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Energy Efficient Garage Doors

garage door(BPT) – There are seemingly endless options through which homeowners must navigate when buying a new garage door: the style, materials and accessories, just to name a few. But perhaps the most important feature that should top the garage door consumer’s list is energy efficiency.

Why? Because the garage door is generally the largest moving object in your home and offers the greatest exposure to the elements. An insulated garage door will maintain the temperature in your garage in the winter and in the summer and likely decrease your heating and cooling costs. Insulated garage doors not only make the garage itself more comfortable to be in, but also the rooms adjacent to or above the garage. A well-insulated garage also helps keep moisture out, and its sturdy construction offers a greater noise-reducing sound barrier.

What should consumers look for in an energy efficient garage door? For starters, check out the R-value. R-value is a measure of thermal resistance to heat flow and is how most manufacturers show the energy efficiency of their product. The higher the R-value of a door, the more insulation you’ll get. Second, look at the door’s construction. Well-insulated doors will have a “triple-layer” construction, consisting of environmentally safe polystyrene or polyurethane thermal insulation between two layers of heavy-duty steel. Some insulated garage doors also include a thermal break which is a nonconductive material within the door that keeps thermal energy from passing through, resulting in improved energy efficiency for the home.

Well-insulated garage doors should be able to stand up to the most extreme of conditions while simultaneously protecting your garage and the rest of your home. For example, the Heritage 3000 door by Amarr was installed at Mawson Station, a science facility in Antarctica, in 2007. The garage door continues to withstand years of exposure to 100 mph blasts of wind and snow. With protection like that, imagine what an energy efficient door like the Amarr Heritage 3000 can do for your home.

Whether your garage door withstands heat, wind, snow, rain, or all of the above, it’s the largest line of defense for your home. Make sure that it’s working hard for you by reducing your home’s energy consumption and providing strong, durable protection from the outside. Your utility bills – and the rest of your (climate-controlled) house will thank you.

 

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How to Clean Carpet Stains

stain(BPT) – Whether it’s the ghouls trick-or-treating on Halloween, the gobbles of great food on Thanksgiving, or the gatherings of loved ones over the holiday season, you will likely be hosting an event at your home in the upcoming months. Food and friends make the perfect pairing for celebrations – but that can mean spills and splashes on carpets. There’s no need to panic when you know the tricks the pros use to treat tough holiday carpet stains.

“It is important to treat spots and stains promptly and properly to avoid letting them do permanent damage to the fibers,” explains Barry Lichtenstein, a certified master textile cleaner and owner of Amcho Carpet Cleaning in Framingham, Mass. “This can cause damage to either the color or texture of the fibers.”

From splashes of punch and gravy to smears of caramel and cranberries, the holiday season can leave your carpet looking drab. Lichtenstein says many homeowners with good intentions are actually making stains worse by incorrectly treating the spots. He advises homeowners to avoid these common mistakes when treating carpet stains:

* Do not over-saturate the stain with cleaning products. This just makes a small spot larger.
* Do not rub the carpet. This can cause damage to the texture of the carpet.
* Do not put water on a dry soil. Rather, make sure to vacuum it first.

When fighting the inevitable drips and dribbles of entertaining at home, Lichtenstein says there are a few general best practices for treating carpet stains.

1. First, remove as much stain material as possible. If it is dry, vacuum up as much as you can. If it is semi-solid, scrape or scoop it up with a spoon or dull knife. If it is liquid, blot it up.

2. Next, blot the stain with cool water, and then blot dry.

3. Make foam using a mixture of 1/4 teaspoon clear liquid dishwashing soap in a cup of tepid water. Be sure to always test any cleaning agents in an inconspicuous area of the carpet first to ensure there is no adverse reaction with the flooring. If not, apply the foam with a sponge or soft brush to the stained area in a wiping motion going toward the center of the spot. If you start in the center with circular motions, the stain will spread.

4. Finally, blot with cool water, then blot dry.

From candy canes to fudge to Grandma’s famous yams, most stains can be cleaned using these techniques. For additional stain removal information, Lichtenstein recommends visiting the Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) Residential Spot Solver on carpet-rug.org, or choosing a spot remover from the CRI list of tested and certified products.

In addition to stains, parties mean more foot traffic in your home. As people come and go during your holidays, you’ll likely notice extra soil on carpets and other flooring. There’s no need to panic that your carpet investment is compromised. Simply vacuum regularly with a quality vacuum that has received the CRI Seal of Approval, which means it’s been tested thoroughly for soil removal,-soil containment and the ability to maintain the texture and appearance of carpet.

Frequent vacuuming is also a great way to keep the air in your home clean, especially during the long months of winter when we spend most of our time indoors. A high efficiency vacuum from the Seal of Approval list removes 80 percent or more of the soil in a carpet – making carpet a good option even for allergy sufferers.

“Carpets and upholstery fabrics should be cleaned on a regular basis before they show overall soiling or staining,” Lichtenstein says. “When a high level of overall soiling or staining has been reached, there is always some permanent damage that has occurred. For the best results, clean the fabrics before they reach that level of soiling.”

How often should you vacuum? The CRI recommends high-traffic or pet areas be vacuumed daily, medium-traffic areas be vacuumed about twice a week and light-traffic areas should be vacuumed weekly.-

For tough holiday stains or deep set-in soils, it may be time to call in the professionals for help. Working with an IICRC certified firm (a leading certifying body for the cleaning and restoration industries) that uses CRI Seal of Approval equipment and cleaning agents ensures your carpets and upholstery will be cleaned the right way by knowledgeable experts.

 

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Home Design with Reclaimed Wood Flooring

woodfloorReclaimed wood flooring: How to design with eclectic affordability

(BPT) – Breathing new life into your home with weathered touches, aged accents and historical character is holding true to the popular belief of “what’s old is new.” Sparked from the sustainable living trend, reclaimed, recycled and repurposed wood floors have become one of the hottest green design and remodeling trends.

The popularity of this trend has grown from the demand for the unexpected rustic touches, warmth and story that reclaimed wood adds to your home. “It’s easy to change up a room to create a dramatic new style with these unique floors,” says Erinn Valencich, Los Angeles-based interior designer, style expert and design partner for Quick-Step, a laminate flooring leader. “You can add an element of sophistication to a special room with one-of-a-kind visuals and textures.”

Tells a unique story

Reclaimed wood flooring constructed from old barns, factories, warehouses or even coal mines and boxcars has a distinct distressed and time-worn appearance. Each nick, scratch and ding adds a unique story to the living space that is highly desirable among homeowners. However, even though reclaimed wood floors are environmentally friendly, beautiful and eclectic, the roadblock for most consumers is the high price of reclaimed wood. Because there is a limited amount of vintage wood in existence to repurpose, the cost of adding a reclaimed hardwood floor to a home can be quite pricey.

Reclaimed look for less

For the look of distressed and time-worn wood without the high cost, Quick-Step offers the Reclaime Collection of laminate planks that look like real, vintage hardwood floors. There are nine reclaimed wood designs from which to choose, including the newest White Wash, Calico, Sunkissed and Cellar Oak Planks that mirror the wood grain pattern, color and texture of weathered wood boards.

“The time-worn visual of this floor won’t limit your style. In fact, it’s versatile enough to work for most any type of decor,” says Valencich. Whether you’re going for a modern, rustic or eclectic look, reclaimed wood-styled flooring suits almost any design style. Consider these flooring trends from Valencich when choosing your next floor:

Whitewash

Whitewashed floors have a light, weathered appearance. If you have a dark or smaller room, using wide plank whitewash flooring will lighten up the space, giving it a fresh, soft and clean look.

Mainstream vs. high-fashion colors

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Traditional Family Home Plan with Extras

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAChp-6048 | This traditional two-story home combines the perfect blend of brick and stucco to give this design unmatched curb appeal. Wrapping around to your left, the brick garage is inviting with arched doorways (on the original plans) and two dormer windows. Measuring 22′ by 43’4″, the garage has enough room for three vehicles plus a corner storage area. This would be a convenient place to install a rack to hold the push broom, rake and other commonly used gardening tools. What else can you imagine storing here- ATVs, kayaks, the family fleet of bicycles? You might even consider adding a pool table and bar. Why not, when you have so much space? From the garage entry, we have a coat closet to the left and the laundry room to the right.

Enjoy an open dining room with a butler’s pantry across the hall. Showcase your beautiful crystal and China with a guest-pleasing display. For further entertainment after dinner, move the party into the large formal living room which features a central fireplace and bowed windows that expand the rear view of your carefully manicured back yard. Just off the foyer is a large den with built-in cabinets- the perfect place to store board games to foster a little family competition and togetherness. After all, we all know that we should spend less time in front of those electronics.99118-P5

An impressive kitchen features an abundant pantry area, lots of work space and an arched pass through. For a lovely view at breakfast, eat in the bumped out nook which also boasts a vaulted ceiling. To gather around the fireplace in the large family room conjures up nostalgia for holiday traditions, and one can almost smell apple pie wafting from the kitchen. Built-in cabinetry is included for the family entertainment center. There is a second stairway leading from the kitchen up to the bedrooms and bonus area on the second floor- a great addition if you have a lot of traffic running through the house.

p3Upstairs through French doors, the master bedroom offers a large open space with sweeping views of the outdoors and two large walk-in closets. The master bath provides a private spot for relaxation with a spa/whirlpool tub decorated with fine columns, double vanities and a shower if you don’t have time to lounge. Outside the French doors, art niches provide a place to add your favorite matching statuettes or twin vases overflowing with flowers. Down the hall are two bedrooms sharing one bath and a fourth bedroom with private bath. If you need an office or playroom, there is a bonus room over the garage measuring 11’4″ by 33’8″.

Click here to see more interior photos and the floor plans.

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Home Updates for the Holidays

hardwoodfloor(BPT) – Holidays are when most people open their homes for friends and family. Sharing the season’s greetings is always the priority, but these gatherings are also an opportunity to show off improvements made during the year.

This is one of the reasons that autumn is a popular time for home improvements. Fifty-two percent of homeowners plan to make home improvements this fall, according to the leading real estate website Zillow. It is also a great time of year for deals as retailers unload inventory to make room for new styles.

Creating a warm and inviting atmosphere includes much more than just poinsettias and Santa Claus centerpieces. There are a number of affordable steps homeowners can take to add a real “wow factor” to their holiday entertaining.

Kitchen updates

The kitchen is commonly one of the busiest rooms during the holidays. Since guests often gather there, it makes sense to make the space the focus for a few improvements before the holidays. Simple and inexpensive updates, such as adding new knobs and handles to cabinets or installing a new backsplash, will make a big difference. Stylish new light fixtures can also give your kitchen a quick facelift that will impress your guests.

Install hardwood floors

The warmth and beauty of hardwood floors can transform the look and feel of your home to create a space that will stun your guests. And unlike carpet, hardwood floors do not stain or wear as easily from inevitable spills and foot traffic that the holidays bring.-Moreover, carpet traps dust, pollen and other particles that can cause allergies and respiratory issues.

Visually unique flooring options such as Lumber Liquidators’ Bellawood Bamboo bring together both the aesthetic and practical advantages of hardwood flooring. This flooring carries a 100-year transferable warranty that assures these benefits will be sustained for a lifetime of holiday gatherings.

De-clutter

It’s important to create inviting open space for guests to enjoy. De-cluttering bookshelves and removing miscellaneous furniture can help make a room feel larger and more open, and will allow room for festive seasonal decor. Spending time to organize the refrigerator will make space for any holiday dishes a guest brings.

Improve the entry

The front entry provides the first impression of a home, so it’s important to create a stylish, cared-for and welcoming look. Homeowners can complete small projects outside, such as updating house numbers, painting the front door and creating holiday-themed arrangements. Simple decor updates just inside the door – such as adding family photos and new rugs – will add a warm and personal feel.

 

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English Manor Tudor Home Plan

53713-P1House Plan chp-53713 is storybook beautiful in its English Manor Tudor style with hipped roof, hipped gables, decorative half-timbering, brick veneer, stucco and cedar shake siding. Looking at the front left exterior, you will notice a row of Gothic style windows with pointed arches that mimic the narrow brick entryway. Tudor Revival style became popular all over America in the late 19th century. These homes are loved by people who reject traditional architecture and opt for something with more character and old-world charm. Parking and lawn equipment storage are simple and easy thanks to the large garage with 3-car dimensions, and family members can enter the home this way for quick access to the rear hall and laundry room.

The open floor plan downstairs is highlighted by a spectacular vaulted great room with large fireplace surrounded by53713-1L built-in cabinets. Tall windows allow plenty of light inside and a beautiful view of the back yard. There’s plenty more room for entertaining with a gourmet kitchen. A generous island includes the cook top and plenty of space for meal preparation and casual family breakfasts before work and school. After a formal dinner, invite your guests to walk through the atrium and admire the perfumed wisteria growing from the trellis- details such as these really leave a lasting impression and add to the romantic appeal of your home.

53713-2LPrivacy for the master suite is designed with a short corner hallway off the foyer leading to the entrance. The bedroom measures 15’6″ x 19′ and enjoys a view of the back yard through a wall of windows. Double vanities, tub, shower and private toilet are all included as per modern demand. Interior light for the dressing room is supplemented by a small front window in the walk-in closet. Outside, one’s attention is caught by the planting box under this window which is spilling over with flowers. In total, the master suite stretches the length of the right side of the house.

Heading upstairs, an angled staircase is open to the foyer below, and the landing has an overlook into the great room at the back of the house and a balcony connecting all of the bedrooms. Bedrooms three and four share a bathroom with double sinks, but suite two includes a walk-in closet and full bathroom- the perfect guest room! Follow the balcony around to a spacious game room. If you continue to expand over the garage, you may opt to add an exercise room.

Click here to see plan chp-53713.