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Home Week in Review: April 7 – 13

This week, our collection of articles is listed by subject matter. We hope you find something you can use or something that makes you smile:

Building, Changing, or Adding to a Home

Should You Hire an Architect?

When you are considering a remodel of a room or an addition to your home, it might be a good idea to hire an architect. After all, unless you have experience, you wouldn’t consider designing your own car or even your own formal dress…

Don’t miss part two.

Other Structures

More Tips for Updating a Garage

Mary Ann says: “Spring cleaning can also mean spring cleaning out. And there is probably no better space in most people’s homes than the garage for an overhaul. I already shared some ideas for simple updates to the garage space that will make a big impact. Now, I have some more tips for you.”

Is your Shed ready for Spring?

If you have a garden shed, tool shed, workshop, out building, or basically any structure smaller than a garage that roughly fits the description “shed,” it is likely to be last on your list of spring cleaning chores. After all, sheds are not the most beautiful spaces, and we don’t get quite the sense of accomplishment from getting rid of spider webs and dust in the shed that we get from making spaces inside our homes look like new…

Your Yard

Smart Grass Seed

The makers of Pennington Smart Seed claim that their grass will grow full and lush on 30 percent less water and uses fertilizer much more efficiently when compared to traditional grass seed…

Picking Perennials

Spring is here and as the birds flock to our yards, we homeowners tend to flock to the garden centers and home improvement stores to pick up our colorful plants. Perennials are a great choice. Instead of going through the process of buying flats of flowers that die off at the end of the season, such as begonias, impatiens, geraniums and petunias, why not pick some perennials. These plants will come back year after year. This saves both time and money…

Here are some options:

Favorite Perennials: Daylilies

Favorite Perennials: Lambs’ Ear

Your Community

Caution: Severe Weather Impending from Texas to Chicago

…if you don’t already have one, it’s a good idea to pick up a weather radio, one that will alert you if dangerous weather is heading your way. Many dangerous storms occur at night while people are sleeping, and such a warning system can and does save lives. The Weather Channel has a system called Notify that will inform you of impending severe weather, by phone, cell phone (voice or text), or email. There is a free trial version available… (with links and more information).

The Pros and Cons of Gated Communities

Is a gated community right for you? According to recent US Census data, gated communities are one of the fastest- growing forms of housing in the US. Take a look at the pros and cons of living in a gated community before you decide…

Annual Bulk Trash

What can go into bulk trash? Rules vary by town or region, but basically bulk trash consists of anything [non-hazardous] that won’t fit into a normal garbage can…

Practical Tips

This is the Way We Wash our Clothes

Laundry piling up? It seems like a never ending battle. Maybe these tips will help… from removing mud to what you can do about bleach spots.

Shutters Can Be More than Window Dressing

Shutters can provide an energy-efficient solution, as well as weather protection. And the best part, is that shutters, even when functional, can add beauty and value to a home.

See part two.

Pass the Salt

A 26-ounce canister of table salt generally costs less than a dollar. I recently found the store brand for 33 cents, so I grabbed more than one. I have heard salt mentioned many times as a replacement for more expensive products, so I began to investigate.

Here’s part two.

Extending the Life of Your Carpet

If you want to get the most out of your carpet purchase, you need to take good care of it. Cheaper carpets can be expected to last three to five years, while more expensive carpets can last ten or even twenty years! You can extend the life of your carpet in the following ways.

Don’t forget part two.

Pest Control

Of Mice and Men

The scratching started up again. “Is it a mouse?” I asked and he shushed me. I complained under my breath about our less than stellar extermination company; the one that failed to show up for the last two appointments… check back for Mary Ann’s continuing story.

Hope you had a great week!