Fall Home Improvements Guide

Page 2

October 29, 2015

5 simple ways to increase energy

efficiency and savings
Fall and winter can be tough on your home
and your wallet. As temperatures drop,
chances are your furnace will be working
overtime. This results in two things
greater energy consumption
and
higher heating bills. In fact,
costs
associated with heating and
cooling a home year-round
typically comprise two-thirds of
the average energy bill.
Try these easy DIY projects to help
cut down on energy loss and expenses:
1. Replace worn weather-stripping around
doors and windows. Worn weather-stripping
can create drafts and let heated air out, stressing
your
furnace and compromising your comfort. Replacing it
takes little time and is a low-cost, high-impact solution.
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
topping up or replacing attic insulation with a dimensionally stable batt insulation like
Roxul Comfortbatt. Aim for an R-value of at least R-50 or a depth of roughly 16 inches.
3. Insulate basement headers and walls. 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 mineral 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. Caulk around windows. Cracks and crevices are a source of heat loss. They can
also be an entry point for water/moisture, as well as for unwelcome insects. Preventative
maintenance, such as caulking, can improve energy efficiency and prevent costly repairs.
5. Change your furnace filter. Make it a point to check your furnace filter monthly,
always changing it when its dirty. This will improve the performance and efficiency of
your furnace, saving you money.

Get your home fall- and winter-ready

with 5 simple projects
If boots, a warm hat and
a tuned-up snow blower are
the only items on your winter
preparation list, your home
maintenance plan may need
a makeover. These simple
home maintenance projects
can help lower your energy
bills, prevent more costly
repairs and/or increase the
lifespan of your home.
1. Heating & Ventilation
Examine your fireplace and
chimney system to ensure
that no soot or creosote has
collected. Any cracks or voids
could potentially cause a fire.
Before you turn the furnace
or boiler on, replace the air
filter and hire a professional
to inspect the unit more
thoroughly. These steps
will improve the efficiency
and life of your furnace and
will ensure stable indoor air
quality.
2. Seal Windows and
Doors If not properly
sealed, windows and doors
can be a major culprit for heat
loss. To keep the warm air
inside, inspect the weatherstripping around your homes
windows and doors for leaks,
rot or decay. Repair or replace
structural framing, and caulk
inside and out, if necessary.
3. Insulate well One of
the easiest and most effective
defenses against heat loss is
proper insulation. Prevent
cold drafts from entering and
the loss of heated air through
basement headers, which,
when left exposed, can make
your furnace work harder.
Look for a moisture-resistant
product offering high thermal
performance, such as Roxul
Comfortbatt insulation.

This type of mineral wool

insulation makes installation
simple. All thats needed is a
serrated blade or bread knife.
Cut the batt to fit the cavity
and press into place. The
insulation will help improve
energy efficiency as soon
as its in place and provide
savings over the lifetime
of your home. Comfortbatt
can also be used to top or
replace old attic insulation.
Aim for an R-50 or a depth
of 16 inches.
4. Backyard Care
Save your property from
potential damage by trimming
overgrown trees and shrubs
to prevent ice-laden branches
from thrashing against
electrical wires and your
homes exterior. Drain/shut
off any exterior faucets and
sprinkler systems to prevent
freezing. Ensure rain or snow
drains away from the house
to avoid foundation problems.
5. Roof and Gutters
Inspect your roof for
shingles that are warped,
damaged or even missing
to prevent a future leak.
Use roofing cement and a
caulking gun to seal joints
where water could penetrate,
such as around the chimney,
skylights or vent pipes. Make
sure that your gutters and
downspouts are securely
fastened. Downspouts should
extend at least five feet away
from the home to prevent
flooding.
When it comes to
preventative maintenance,
a little time and effort can
save thousands in energy
costs and repair bills over the
lifetime of your home.

Did you know?

Many
ho me
improvement projects
involve hanging decorative
items, such as photo frames
or shelving. Homeowners
frequently wrestle with
nails, screws and hanging
hardware, perhaps creating
more holes in their walls
than is necessary to get
items level and in the right
spots. Instead of playing a
guessing game of figuring
out where the hanging
holes or hooks are located
on the back of items, use
your office equipment to
make life easier. Make a
copy of the back of the
item you're trying to hang
with a printer/scanner or
a copy machine, making
sure to copy the item to
full scale. Print the copy at
full size and use it to drill
the hanging holes. If you
don't have access to a copy
machine or scanner, use a
piece of tape to measure
the distance between the
hanging holes on the back
of the frame. Stick the
tape to the wall and then
put your nails or screws
at the ends of the tape.

Converting garages into

livable spaces
Manypeopledecidetoupgradefrom
their apartments or condominiums
out of a need for more space. But
even after moving into a new home,
homeowners may soon begin to
outgrow the room they have.
Rather than looking for a new
home, some homeowners consider
expansion. Expanding a living
space can be expensive, and a more
affordable option may be converting
existing basement or garage space
into something more livable. Garages
already are built on a foundation,
have four walls and a roof overhead,
so a garage-conversion project is
merely a matter of turning this
utilitarian area into a living space.
Before beginning the renovation,
homeowners should consider the
benefits versus the cost of converting
the garage. For those who are
planning to grow old in a house, a
garage conversion can be a worthy
investment. But those who intend
to sell their homes rather than retire
in them may learn that a converted
garage can affect home value and
make it less desireable at resale.
Compare your home to others in the
area and see what your neighbors
have done. If converted garages are
the norm where you live, your own
renovation may fit in with others.
Always apply for the proper
permits and learn the zoning laws
to see if a garage conversion is
acceptable in your town or city. Its
best to go by the book so that work
can be done in a proper manner and
be inspected for safety.
Many homeowners hope their
garage-conversion projects will make

their garages seem like a seamless part

of the rest of the house. To do so, you will
need to remove evidence the space was
once a garage. Slab floor will need to be
raised and insulated. Walls also will need
to be insulated and finished to improve
comfort and soundproofing. Many garages
do not have windows, so for the garage to
function as a renovated space, windows
may need to be added.
One of the biggest transformations
will come by way of modifying the garage
door entry. Some homeowners prefer to
leave the existing door so that the home
still has the appearance of a garage from
the curb, while others remove the garage
door and rebuild the exterior wall so that
it has a window or another architectural
element. An architect can help suggest
design elements that will camouflage the
original garage look and make the space
seem like it was always part of the main
living area of the home.
Landscaping work also can minimize
the appearance of an old garage. Rather
than having the driveway end at the
wall of a home, shrubbery, pavers and
other techniques can blend the garage
renovation into the rest of the yard design.
Transforming a garage into a living
space can add several hundred square
feet to a home. Hire a reputable contractor
and follow the municipal guidelines for
modifying the space to ensure the job is
done right.

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Are You Considering

A Home Improvement Project?

SERVING ATCHISON, NODAWAY & HOLT COUNTIES

With todays low interest rates, theres no better time

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Paint / siding Replacement windows

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