PAGE 12 PRESS & DAKOTAN THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2013 FALL HOME...
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PAGE 12 PRESS & DAKOTAN ■ THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2013 FALL HOME IMPROVEMENT PAINTING From Page 11 around doorways and trim, use a damp cloth to wipe it away before adding any new paint. * Apply primer. Primer can serve many functions, not the least of which is its role as a bonding agent between the wall and the top coat of paint. Primer can also help conceal dark colors, prevent stains and increase the life expectancy of the paint job you are about to undertake. * Prepare your paint. Preparing the paint is a simple task, but one novice painters may not be aware of. When opening a new can of paint, stir the paint before using it. In addition, even if you don't plan to use a roller when painting, do not paint straight from the can, which can be heavier to hold than a small bowl, and a light bowl is less likely to be spilled than a potentially heavy can of paint. In addition, once paint has been removed from the can, replace the lid so dust and other impurities do not settle in the can. * Purchase painter's tape. Painter's tape can be espe- cially valuable to novice painters. Painter's tape makes it easier to paint smooth and clean paint lines, giving a room a more professional looking coat of paint without the cost of hiring a professional painter. Painting can be an inexpensive and fun way to upgrade a home's interior. But even though painting does not require the technical know-how of more large-scale home improvement projects, it still requires some prep work and attention to detail to ensure the job is done right. ■ Metro Creative Connection How to Make a Home Handicap Accessible Many homeowners have found themselves scrambling to make their homes handicap accessible after a sud- den injury or illness. In addition, some home- owners have found themselves looking to make adjustments to their homes in anticipa- tion of welcoming eld- erly, less mobile rela- tives into their homes. Converting a home into a handicap-acces- sible space can seem like a daunting task that requires adjust- ments to nearly every part of the house. While the extent of those adjustments depends on the individ- ual who needs to be accommodated, some of the areas homeown- ers must address when making their homes handicap accessible are universal regard- less of the individual's condition. Entryways A home's entryways often must be addressed when mak- ing the home more handicap accessible. Portable ramps can be an affordable option and are often an ideal for those who only need to make tempo- rary adjustments, such as when a resident suf- fers an injury that requires he or she spend some time in a wheelchair. When the adjustments will just be temporary, a folding wheelchair might be necessary, as the door- ways might not be able to fit a standard wheel- chair that doesn't fold. When adjustments figure to be permanent, homeowners might need to expand the doorways in their homes. Contractors typically recommend expanding doorways to at least 32 inches, which provides some maneuverability when wheelchairs, which are typically between 24 and 27 inches wide, are entering the home. Doorways at the most commonly used entryways, including front doors and doors to the bathrooms as well as the individual's bedroom, will likely need to be widened. Bathroom The bathroom might be the area of the home that needs the most attention. Slippery conditions common to bathrooms can make things espe- cially difficult for peo- ple in wheelchairs or with disabilities. Grab bars should be installed in bath tubs and shower stalls and next to toilets. But grab bars aren't the only adjustment homeowners should make in the bathroom as they attempt to make a home more handicap accessible. Safety treads, which can provide a secure, slip-free surface on the floors of showers and tubs, can be installed. Add a hand-held show- er head to the shower stall to make it easier for those with a disabil- ity to shower. Portable transfer seats, which enable wheel- chair-bound men and women to transition from their chairs to showers and bathtubs, can be purchased and kept in or near the bathroom. Water fixtures An often overlooked adjustment homeown- ers must make when transforming their homes into handicap- accessible spaces con- cerns the sinks throughout the home. Disabled persons may find it difficult to access faucets on sinks throughout the home, especially when there are vanity cabinets beneath the sinks. Replacing such sinks with pedestal sinks can improve maneuverabil- ity, but make sure such sinks are lower to the ground than standard pedestal sinks. A sink that's just a few inches lower than a standard sink is considerably more accessible to peo- ple in wheelchairs. Closets Closets are rarely handicap accessible. Homeowners can address this issue by creating multi-level closet spaces so indi- viduals can place their clothes at accessible heights. Closet shelves can be lowered and doors can be widened so disabled persons can easily manage their wardrobes. In addition, consid- er installing a light inside the closet and make sure the light switch can be easily reached from a wheel- chair. Making a home more handicap accessi- ble can be a significant undertaking, but many of the adjustments homeowners must make are small in scale and won't take long to complete. ■ Metro Creative Connection Yankton • Springfield • Parkston Federal Credit Union ...It’s Where You Belong! www.scfcu.net Get a lower rate or extra cash to make home improvements! Reap the benefits of refinancing! Call 665-4309 to meet with one of our loan specialists ervices enter 665-4309 Brunick Furniture & Floor Covering Monday 9-8 Tuesday-Friday 9-5:30 Saturday 9-5 207 W 3rd St Yankton, SD 57078 (605) 665-5625 1100 W Cherry St, Vermillion, SD 57069 (605) 624-8688 ENTIRE CARESS COLLECTION SALE PRICED NOW!! ( FOR A LIMITED TIME) 10% OFF OUR REGULAR PRICE The entire Caress Collection is made with soft Anso ® Nylon. 50 colors in a variety of styles in various weights and textures. Choose your color and style and ask for a take-home swatch. Local measuring and estimates at no charge, professional installation available. HVAC & Electrical Contractors Divisions of Electair, Inc. Chris Frick Doug Dykstra Power Source Electric Residential & Commercial Electrical Contractors 260.8683 Your Heating & Cooling Specialists 665.2895 DAVE STEVENS CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION ==========DS========== All your concrete needs: • Shop floors • Driveways, • Residential • Commercial Agricultural Contractor 605-661-9571 Easy Bathroom Renovations Bathroom renovations are second to kitchen renova- tions on the list of the top remodeling projects to increase home value. The popularity of bath- room renovations and their ability to transform a space has left many homeowners wondering if there are any easy and affordable ways to change the look of their bath- rooms. While "easy" is a relative term, there are ways home- owners willing to make cer- tain concessions can keep the work and cost of a bath- room renovation to a mini- mum. Resurface When possible, covering up what you have in the bath- room is much less expensive and less labor-intensive than tearing out existing fixtures and floors and replacing them anew. Resurfacing can extend to refinishing bathtubs to installing shower liners. Those who have unsightly walls or wallpaper that they're just not ready to remove may consider using wainscotting to cover a por- tion of the room or even tiling entire walls. It is important to note that resurfacing and covering up items in the bathroom should only be reserved for cosmetic fixes. If something needs to be replaced because it is damaged or mildew-covered, then cover- ing it up is only hiding the problem and asking for more work in the long run. Scale back on materials One way to save money on a bathroom renovation project is to choose less expensive materials. For example, you may not need to install travertine or marble flooring in a space where less expensive flooring like vinyl is adequate. Advancements in vinyl flooring have enabled this affordable material to mimic the look of more expensive materials at a frac- tion of the cost. When redoing tile on walls and shower enclosures, many domestically-produced tiles rival the looks of more expensive imported alterna- tives. You may be able to save more by buying tile in bulk and using the remainder in other applications around the house. Paint Do not underestimate the power of a fresh coat of paint on any room in the house, including the bath- BATHROOM, Page 15
Transcript of PAGE 12 PRESS & DAKOTAN THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2013 FALL HOME...
PAGE 12 PRESS & DAKOTAN ■ THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2013
FALL HOME IMPROVEMENTPAINTINGFrom Page 11around doorways and trim, use a damp cloth towipe it away before adding any new paint.* Apply primer. Primer can serve many functions,not the least of which is its role as a bonding agentbetween the wall and the top coat of paint. Primercan also help conceal dark colors, prevent stainsand increase the life expectancy of the paint job youare about to undertake. * Prepare your paint. Preparing the paint is a simpletask, but one novice painters may not be aware of.When opening a new can of paint, stir the paintbefore using it. In addition, even if you don't plan touse a roller when painting, do not paint straight fromthe can, which can be heavier to hold than a smallbowl, and a light bowl is less likely to be spilled thana potentially heavy can of paint. In addition, oncepaint has been removed from the can, replace the lidso dust and other impurities do not settle in the can.* Purchase painter's tape. Painter's tape can be espe-cially valuable to novice painters. Painter's tapemakes it easier to paint smooth and clean paint lines,giving a room a more professional looking coat ofpaint without the cost of hiring a professionalpainter.
Painting can be an inexpensive and fun way toupgrade a home's interior. But even though paintingdoes not require the technical know-how of morelarge-scale home improvement projects, it stillrequires some prep work and attention to detail toensure the job is done right. ■ Metro Creative Connection
How to Make a HomeHandicap Accessible
Many homeownershave found themselvesscrambling to maketheir homes handicapaccessible after a sud-den injury or illness. Inaddition, some home-owners have foundthemselves looking tomake adjustments totheir homes in anticipa-tion of welcoming eld-erly, less mobile rela-tives into their homes.
Converting a homeinto a handicap-acces-sible space can seemlike a daunting taskthat requires adjust-ments to nearly everypart of the house.While the extent ofthose adjustmentsdepends on the individ-ual who needs to beaccommodated, someof the areas homeown-ers must address whenmaking their homeshandicap accessibleare universal regard-less of the individual'scondition.
EntrywaysA home's entryways
often must beaddressed when mak-ing the home morehandicap accessible.Portable ramps can bean affordable optionand are often an idealfor those who onlyneed to make tempo-rary adjustments, suchas when a resident suf-
fers an injury thatrequires he or shespend some time in awheelchair. When theadjustments will justbe temporary, a foldingwheelchair might benecessary, as the door-ways might not be ableto fit a standard wheel-chair that doesn't fold.
When adjustmentsfigure to be permanent,homeowners mightneed to expand thedoorways in theirhomes. Contractorstypically recommendexpanding doorways toat least 32 inches,which provides somemaneuverability whenwheelchairs, which aretypically between 24and 27 inches wide, areentering the home.
Doorways at themost commonly usedentryways, includingfront doors and doorsto the bathrooms aswell as the individual'sbedroom, will likelyneed to be widened.
BathroomThe bathroom
might be the area of thehome that needs themost attention.Slippery conditionscommon to bathroomscan make things espe-cially difficult for peo-ple in wheelchairs orwith disabilities. Grabbars should beinstalled in bath tubsand shower stalls andnext to toilets.
But grab bars aren'tthe only adjustmenthomeowners shouldmake in the bathroomas they attempt tomake a home morehandicap accessible.Safety treads, whichcan provide a secure,slip-free surface on thefloors of showers andtubs, can be installed.Add a hand-held show-er head to the showerstall to make it easierfor those with a disabil-ity to shower. Portable transfer seats,which enable wheel-chair-bound men andwomen to transitionfrom their chairs toshowers and bathtubs,can be purchased andkept in or near thebathroom.
Water fixturesAn often overlooked
adjustment homeown-ers must make whentransforming theirhomes into handicap-accessible spaces con-cerns the sinksthroughout the home.Disabled persons mayfind it difficult toaccess faucets on sinksthroughout the home,especially when there
are vanity cabinetsbeneath the sinks.Replacing such sinkswith pedestal sinks canimprove maneuverabil-ity, but make sure suchsinks are lower to theground than standardpedestal sinks. A sinkthat's just a few incheslower than a standardsink is considerablymore accessible to peo-ple in wheelchairs.
ClosetsClosets are rarely
handicap accessible. Homeowners can
address this issue bycreating multi-levelcloset spaces so indi-viduals can place theirclothes at accessibleheights. Closet shelves can belowered and doors canbe widened so disabledpersons can easilymanage theirwardrobes.
In addition, consid-er installing a lightinside the closet andmake sure the lightswitch can be easilyreached from a wheel-chair.
Making a homemore handicap accessi-ble can be a significantundertaking, but manyof the adjustmentshomeowners mustmake are small in scaleand won't take long tocomplete.
■ Metro Creative Connection
Yankton • Springfield • Parkston
Federal Credit Union ...It’s Where You Belong!
www.scfcu.net
Get a lower rate or extra cash to make home improvements!
Reap the benefits of refinancing!
Call 665-4309 to meet with one
of our loan specialists
e r vices enter
665-4309
Brunick Furniture & Floor Covering
Monday 9-8 Tuesday-Friday 9-5:30
Saturday 9-5 207 W 3rd St
Yankton, SD 57078 (605) 665-5625
1100 W Cherry St, Vermillion, SD 57069
(605) 624-8688
ENTIRE CARESS
COLLECTION SALE PRICED
NOW!! ( FOR A LIMITED TIME)
10% OFF OUR REGULAR PRICE The entire Caress Collection is
made with soft Anso ® Nylon. 50 colors in a variety of styles in various weights and textures.
Choose your color and style and ask for a take-home swatch.
Local measuring and estimates at no charge, professional
installation available.
HVAC & Electrical Contractors
Divisions of Electair, Inc. Chris Frick Doug Dykstra
Power Source Electric
Residential & Commercial Electrical Contractors
260.8683
Your Heating & Cooling Specialists
665.2895
DAVE STEVENS CONCRETE
CONSTRUCTION ==========DS==========
All your concrete needs:
• Shop floors • Driveways, • Residential • Commercial
Agricultural Contractor
605-661-9571
Easy Bathroom Renovations
Bathroom renovationsare second to kitchen renova-tions on the list of the topremodeling projects toincrease home value.
The popularity of bath-room renovations and theirability to transform a spacehas left many homeownerswondering if there are anyeasy and affordable ways tochange the look of their bath-rooms.
While "easy" is a relativeterm, there are ways home-owners willing to make cer-tain concessions can keepthe work and cost of a bath-room renovation to a mini-mum.
ResurfaceWhen possible, covering
up what you have in the bath-room is much less expensiveand less labor-intensive thantearing out existing fixturesand floors and replacingthem anew. Resurfacing can extend torefinishing bathtubs toinstalling shower liners.Those who have unsightlywalls or wallpaper thatthey're just not ready toremove may consider usingwainscotting to cover a por-tion of the room or even tilingentire walls.
It is important to notethat resurfacing and coveringup items in the bathroom
should only be reserved forcosmetic fixes. If somethingneeds to be replacedbecause it is damaged ormildew-covered, then cover-ing it up is only hiding theproblem and asking for morework in the long run.
Scale back on materialsOne way to save money
on a bathroom renovationproject is to choose lessexpensive materials. Forexample, you may not needto install travertine or marbleflooring in a space where lessexpensive flooring like vinylis adequate. Advancementsin vinyl flooring have enabledthis affordable material tomimic the look of moreexpensive materials at a frac-tion of the cost.
When redoing tile onwalls and shower enclosures,many domestically-producedtiles rival the looks of moreexpensive imported alterna-tives. You may be able tosave more by buying tile inbulk and using the remainderin other applications aroundthe house.
PaintDo not underestimate
the power of a fresh coat ofpaint on any room in thehouse, including the bath-
BATHROOM, Page 15
