SPECIAL SECTION HOME IMPROVEMENT
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.
Both PVC and composite decks will run an average of $8
to $9 per square foot. They will require power-washing for
Continued on next page >
PENN HILLS
❘
SPRING 2019
21