Page 2Fall Home Improvements Guide

October 29, 2015

Fall Home Imp-page4

— 6 —

BANK NAME

Member FDIC © VJ

With today’s low interest rates, there’s no better timethan now. Add a room, do a kitchen or bathroom

makeover, landscape your yard or start thatspecial project you’ve been thinking about.

We’re your “Hometown Bank” and we’re here to help.Come see us about a Home Improvement Loan. We offer competitive rates and affordable payments

with fast, convenient, “hometown” service.

Are You ConsideringA Home Improvement Project?

Citizens Bank & Trust“Hometown Friendly - Locally Owned”

101 N. Main • Rock Port, MO • (660) 744-5333105 S. Main • Craig, MO • (660) 683-5333

702 State St. • Mound City, MO • (660) 442-3800

Fall Home Imp-page13

“Established in 1983”

801 Main St. | Tarkio, MO | (660) 736-4761

Specializing in everything from custom homes, drywall, siding, roofing and garages.

You name it-we do it!

Fall Home Imp-page18

Tarkio: (660) 736-5511Rock Port: (660) 744-6511

Heating and Air Conditioning

Call Me Today For A Great Deal.

Fall Home Imp-page15

Saturation Adpage33

July 18- Tarkio_____

Aug. 22- Fairfax_____

Sept. 26- Rock Port___

X2x4

XX

• Paint / siding • Replacement windows • Plumbing and electrical supplies • Kitchen cabinets

• Tools and hardware • Lumber • Doors and door equipment

Jeff & Amy Miller

1107 W. Ferguson RdShenandoah, Iowa

(712) 246-5555

**FREE ESTIMATES**

We carry brands such as:Valspar, Therma-Tru, DeWalt,

Pella, and Bertch Cabinets.

KLOSEK’S LLCTRASH SERVICE

411 N. 8th St. • Tarkio, MO 64491(660) 623-0188 • (660) 623-0149

or (660) 623-9444SERVING ATCHISON, NODAWAY & HOLT COUNTIES

• Commercial & Residential Trash Collection

• Larger Roll-Off Dumpsters for Yard, Basement, Garage or Construction Cleanups

(No Obligation Estimates).Sizes vary from a small pick-up to semi-truck capacity.

Fall Home Imp-page27

2605 South Main St. Maryville, MO

(660) 582-5055

Samsung Model # WA48J7700AW 4.8 cu. ft. High-Efficiency Top Load Washer with ActivewashTM in White, ENERGY STAR® - ratedSelf Clean and AquaJet® Deep Clean &

ACTIVEWASH™Get a head start on stains with a unique built-in sink, conveniently tucked under the washer lid.

AquaJet® Deep Clean Technology that cleans your clothes deeply, but gently.

Samsung Top Load Washer

Need it installed? Need it

repaired?WE SERVICE WHAT WE

SELL!

Samsung’s VRT™-Vibration Reduction Technology

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 it’s dirty. This will improve the performance and efficiency of your furnace, saving you money.

5 simple ways to increase energy efficiency and savings

Many people decide to upgrade from 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. It’s 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

Converting garages into livable spaces

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.

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 weather-stripping around your home’s 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.

Get your home fall- and winter-ready with 5 simple projects

This type of mineral wool insulation makes installation simple. All that’s 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 it’s 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 home’s 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 i t c omes t o preventative maintenance, a little time and effort can save thousands in energy costs and repair bills over the lifetime of your home.

M a n y h o m e 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.

Did you know?