SPECIAL SECTION HOME IMPROVEMENT
thing prospects notice even before exiting their cars looks like
something out of the movie “Twister,” you’ve got a problem.
*Millennials: All-new appliances. Realtors will tell you that
major kitchen (and bath) upgrades aren’t generally worth their
high costs, in terms of return on investment, since prospective
buyers’ tastes can clash with yours. However, Millennials love,
love, love all-new stainless steel appliances. So much so that
what RealtyTimes.com called “an astonishing majority of 75
percent” of respondents in a recent survey chose to spend their
hypothetical home buying budgets on them.
DO-IT-YOURSELF LANDSCAPING THAT
DOESN’T LOOK IT
If you’ve ever attempted to transform your backyard into a
beautifully designed paradise, then you have probably planted,
trimmed and dug your way into a few minor frustrations along
the way. While good landscaping can vary by degrees including
budget, skills and climate, there are a few easy things you can
do in order to be proud of your landscaping without paying an
expert.
The following tips will guide you on the right path to do-it-
yourself landscaping:
*Always layer your planting beds. Layering in three
rows, begin with your tallest plants in the back row, next tallest
in the middle and your shortest plants in the front. And don’t
just plant one bed—put another elsewhere in your
yard to help provide a sense of harmony.
*Calm your yard with water
features. Providing focal points in
your landscaping work is a must, and
one great way is to incorporate water
features such as ponds and simple
waterfalls. They both look appealing
and add an attractive element to
your yard—the calming sounds of
moving water.
*Utilize retaining walls. If
you are planning on protecting the
fragile landscaping work around your
home, it’s imperative to construct a
strong retaining wall. Erosion-prone
areas in your yard will benefit greatly
by incorporating segmental retaining walls
constructed from concrete masonry. Using
concrete masonry not only provides the best value for
the investment, it also delivers superior design flexibility and
aesthetic appeal to any landscape idea.
*When planting flowers, go with annuals. To have a
continuous sense of color throughout your yard, plant annual
flowers alongside your favorite perennials. Research and lay out
creative flower combinations that make use of both kinds of
flowers for year-round beauty.
*Think year-round. One of the biggest mistakes one
can make is only providing one or two seasons’ worth of eye-
catching landscaping. Plan for having plentiful trees and shrubs
during the springtime, fall foliage during autumn months and
good, visually interesting plant life in the winter, such as holly
shrubs or bayberry bushes.
DECKED OUT
One of the most inexpensive ways to add living space to your
home is the addition of an outdoor deck or patio. Having a great
outdoor space is like adding an extra room to your house. It can
be enjoyed by the whole family, or experienced in quiet solitude
as a retreat to the Zen of outdoor living.
If you like to entertain, then an outdoor space is a must.
Guests can spill out onto the patio, extending your home to
allow more freedom for guests to mingle, both inside and out.
Though the words “patio”
and “deck” are often used
interchangeably, there
is a difference. A
patio is generally
constructed of
stone pavers,
tile or a simple
concrete
foundation that
sits squarely
on the ground.
Decks are usually
made of wood, PVC
(also called vinyl) or
composite, which has
wood content that has been
encapsulated in a PVC wrap. Decks
can either be ground level or elevated.
When considering which option is
best for you, you’ll want to look at
the costs and also which one works
well with the style of your home.
The good news is that regardless of
the option you choose, you’ll get a
positive return on your investment,
somewhere between 30% and 75%.
For a wood frame house, wooden,
composite or PVC decks can match the
trim of your existing home. Since wood
can be painted, a wooden deck offers the most
color options; however it will also require frequent
repainting. Both PVC and composite decks are available in a
wide range of earth tones to match your home’s style.
Vince Lorenzi, owner of Lorenzi Home Design Center,
explains that there are cost differences, but feels that PVC and
composite decks require less maintenance in the long run.
He says wooden decks will run about $2 to $3 per
square foot. These are attractive, but they do require more
maintenance and will have to be resealed every few years to
give them maximum life.
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