PAGE 2, KEIZERTIMES, HOME & GARDEN, SPRING 2018SPRING 2018, HOME & GARDEN, KEIZERTIMES, PAGE 3The 2018 Spring Home & Garden Section was produced byLori BeyelerEric A. Howald Andrew JacksonPaula Moseley Derek WileyLyndon ZaitzFor advertising or subscription information contact the Keizertimes at 503-390-1051www.keizertimes.comAfter a long win-ter cooped up indoors, spring is the perfect time to start re-imagining your home and making upgrades that create a fresh, welcoming vibe. These project ideas - some big, some small - can help breathe new life into your home so you’re ready to enjoy your favorite rooms to the fullest.AIR IT OUTMonths of closed windows and doors can make any room feel dusty and stale. As soon as temperatures allow, throw open the windows and skylights to let the fresh air chase away the Fresh homeupgrades for springremnants of winter. It’s a perfect time to laun-der window treatments and clean area rugs. After a few passes with a carpet cleaner, allow rugs to air-dry outdoors. If you’re considering an update to the overall decor, changing out these textiles is an easy and affordable way to create a new look. Just donate the used drapes and rugs after cleaning instead of bringing them back into the room.SHIFT YOUR OUTLOOKWhen contemplating changes to a room’s aesthetic, most people focus on the floor, walls and elements like furniture and accessories. As some homeowners are discovering, there’s a whole other space waiting to be discovered. The ceiling, a fifth wall of sorts, opens up end-less creative design opportunities.Whether you’re seeking more natural light, access to fresh air, a sense of spaciousness or a way to bring sophistication to a room, a sky-light may be just the solution. For example, Velux room-darkening and light-filtering blinds can add a splash of color just where you least expect it, and they’re efficient in shielding your space from the sun, meaning the blinds and installation are eligible for a 30 percent tax credit. Learn more at whyskylights.com.PAINT TO PERFECTIONOver time, once cheerful walls can grow dull. Create a livelier ambiance with a fresh 1 Start with a smooth canvas. This means eliminating any details like popcorn ceilings or other textur-ing that may appear dated and dingy.2 Add some color. Bring character to the room by adding color to the ceiling that complements the traditional walls for a cohesive look. If you have eaves, dormers or other architectural elements, consider paint-ing some and leaving others white for variety and added dimension.3 Introduce natural light. When it comes from above, natural light brightens a room in a whole new way. An option like a Velux skylight is a sensible solution because it of-fers plenty of ways to customize the skylight to your specific space and functional needs.4 Enhance with accessories. Both practical and attractive, blinds are a good idea for a skylight. They let you control the light, such as blocking out harsh rays during the heat of the day but letting the gentle evening light illuminate the room. In addition to choosing a style and color that complements the room decor, also look for features such as remote-control operation and room-darkening textiles.5 Get creative. Treating your ceil-ing like a wall opens virtually endless possibilities. Especially if you have some unique architectural features, you can highlight them by adding special touches such as built-in shelves for extra storage or in new place to nurture lush house plants. (Family Features)ways to make the most of your 5th wallcoat of paint, either in the same shade or something complete-ly new. If you’re not sure exactly where to start, tackle the proj-ect room by room. To choose the right hue, select a favorite item in the room, such as an heirloom throw blanket or a piece of wall art, and consider color shades that complement the item well. MAKE WHAT’S OLD NEW AGAINSometimes a fresh perspective is as simple as rearranging a room to better fit your needs. Over time, the furnishings can become almost an afterthought because they’ve been in place so long. Try moving things around to create new conversation groupings or to highlight a piece that has been tucked away in the shad-ows. An updated arrangement may inspire to you add and embellish with some simple new accessories or accent pieces for a room that only looks brand new.GET EARTH SMARTWith all of the new growth and hues of green that abound during spring, it’s natu-ral to be more mindful of the environment. Earth-friendly upgrades like switching out in-efficient lighting or installing low-flow toilets and shower heads can make a sizable differ-ence. Another option for energy conservation: Look for ways to maximize natural light for heat and to brighten rooms. Well-placed win-dows and skylights can harness energy natu-rally, so you can minimize your reliance on electricity for comfort and convenience.(Family Features)5PAGE 4, KEIZERTIMES, HOME & GARDEN, SPRING 2018In today’s increasingly digital world, it’s no surprise that more employees are opting to work from home. While there may be a shift of physical loca-tions - from the offi ce building to the home - productivity is still paramount, making the need for quiet home workspaces more important than ever.“As urbanization continues, build-ers and developers are focused on op-timizing available land, which results in more homes, apartments and con-dos built near highways and airports,” says Mark Montgomery, vice presi-dent of marketing for leading win-dow manufacturer Ply Gem Windows. “The convergence of telecommuting and higher noise levels means there’s a growing need to enhance homeowner comfort with noise reduction tech-nology.”If your workspace needs a sound makeover, consider the following tips. For even more information on home improvement solutions, check out websites like www.plygem.com.Everyday sounds like traffi c, trains, leaf blowers, music, barking dogs or car alarms may go unnoticed on the weekends, but can easily interrupt conference calls and concentration during the busy workweek.To cut down on outside noise, look for windows with a Sound Transmis-sion Class (STC) rating. A typical sin-gle hung window unit without sound control glass has an average STC rat-ing of 27. Sound control glass pack-ages, on window lines like Ply Gem’s 1500 Brickmould Vinyl Collection, have ratings of up to STC 35. This re-duces outside noise by approximately 40 percent when compared to single hung window units with no protec-tion.As an added bonus, according to the Department of Energy, new win-dows will boost curb appeal, reduce maintenance and can signifi cantly im-prove your home’s energy effi ciency.If your home offi ce space shares a paper-thin wall with, for instance, a loud family room television, adding batt wall insulation for new homes, or blown-in insulation for existing homes, will help blanket sounds and temper vibrations.For homes that face busy roadways, insulated vinyl siding is another solu-tion. Look for options made with a premium, recycled-content vinyl sid-ing panel permanently bonded with polystyrene (EPS) foam insulation. This wraps the home with continuous insulation to cover the entire exterior envelope - including wall studs where air and sound can penetrate.Another quick fi x for insulating the home offi ce is to install a solid core wood or molded interior door. Many standard interior doors are hollow, which means that sounds pass through more easily. Solid core doors, which are thicker than hollow doors, act as a noise blocker. Once installed, make sure to surround the door with weath-er-stripping to fi ll any holes or gaps.(Brandpoint)HOW TO DESIGN a quiet home officeEach month the OSU Extension Service provides reminders of key garden chores, such as fertilizing, pest control, planting, and maintenance. Visit their site each month at extension.oregonstate.edu.Sustainable gardening The Oregon State University Extension Service encourages sustainable gardening practices.Preventive pest management is emphasized over reactive pest control. Identify and monitor problems before acting and opt for the least toxic approach that will remedy the problem. The conservation of biological control agents (predators, parasitoids) should be favored over chemical controls.Use chemical controls only when necessary and only after thoroughly reading the pesticide label. First consider cultural, then physical and biological controls. Choose the least-toxic options (insecticidal soaps, horticultural oils, botanical insecticides, and organic and synthetic pesticides — when used judiciously).PlanningWrite in your garden journal throughout the growing season. Prepare garden soil for spring planting. Incorporate generous amounts of organic materials and other amendments, using the results of a soil analysis as a guide. Prepare raised beds in areas where cold soils and poor drainage are a continuing problem. Incorporate generous amounts (at least 2 inches) of organic materials. Use a soil thermometer to help you know when to plant vegetables. When the soil is consistently above 60 degrees Farenheit, some warm season vegetables (beans, sweet corn) can be planted. Maintenance and clean upAllow foliage of spring-fl owering bulbs to brown and die down before removing. Apply commercial fertilizers, manure, or compost to cane, bush (gooseberries, currants, and blueberries), and trailing berries. Place compost or well decomposed manure around perennial vegetables, such as asparagus and rhubarb. Cut back ornamental grasses to a few inches above the ground, in early spring. Cover transplants to protect against late spring frosts. Optimum time to fertilize lawns. Apply 1 pound nitrogen per 1,000 square feet of lawn. Reduce risks of run-off into local waterways by not fertilizing just prior to rain, and not over-irrigating so that water runs off of lawn and onto sidewalk or street. Optimum time of year to dethatch and renovate lawns. If moss was a problem, scratch surface prior to seeding with perennial ryegrass. Prune and shape or thin spring-blooming shrubs and trees after blossoms fade. Planting/PropagationPlant gladioli, hardy transplants of alyssum, phlox, and marigolds, if weather and soil conditions permit. It’s a great time to start a vegetable garden. Among the vegetables you can plant, consider:April chores in the garden Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, caulifl ower, chard, chives, endive, leeks, lettuce, peas, radishes, rhubarb, rutabagas, spinach, and turnips.Pest monitoring and managementClean up hiding places for slugs, sowbugs and millipedes. Least toxic management options for slugs include barriers and traps. Baits are also available for slug control; use caution around pets. Read and follow all label directions prior to using baits or any other chemical control. Monitor strawberries for spittlebugs and aphids; if present, wash off with water or use insecticidal soap as a contact spray. Follow label directions. Cut and remove weeds near the garden to remove potential sources of plant disease. Use fl oating row covers to keep insects such as beet leaf miners, cabbage maggot adult fl ies, and carrot rust fl ies away from susceptible crops. Help prevent damping off of seedlings by providing adequate ventilation. Manage weeds while they are small and actively growing with light cultivation or herbicides. Once the weed has gone to bud, herbicides are less effective. Spray stone fruits, such as cherries, plums, peaches, and apricots for brown rot blossom blight, if necessary. To create a quiet home offi ce retreat, consider features like sound control window glass, insulated vinyl siding or interior wall insulation. SPRING 2018, HOME & GARDEN, KEIZERTIMES, PAGE 5NOW SCHEDULINGSeasonal Air Conditioner Maintenance and Indoor Air Quality EvaluationsCALL USTODAY503-304 -13203816 River Rd. N - Keizer - CCB#193064Technicians were very polite, professional and on time. They had the right meters, tools and experience, and explained in detail what they were doing, and why.I am very pleased and satisfied with the work. I highly recommend this service.— Angie’s List ReviewerAir Quality EvaluationsWhether you’re considering the resale value of your home or are simply resigned to doing maintenance projects to keep your house in good condition, your lawn and gar-den could certainly benefi t from some TLC of the home improvement variety.The exterior of your house commands most fi rst impressions, and even mild winters infl ict seasonal damage. If you don’t know where to start, a home improvement proj-ect checklist may help. Consider the follow-ing lawn and garden maintenance tips from home and garden experts at HGTV and MarthaStewart.com:• Start gently, remove piles of dead leaves from the lawn. Not only will your grass grow greener, a clean lawn helps maximize fertil-izers and pesticides. Don’t fertilize your grass too early though. April is the general bench-mark; any sooner might result in yellow spots.• Check gutters for leaks and debris.Loose gutters cause improper drainage, so water can collect in basements and crawl spaces. Down-spouts should point away from the foundation of the house and must be clear of all debris.• Start a roof fund. It’s a good rule of thumb to check your roof for rotted, buckled, loose or missing shingles after winter because summer sun will only worsen the damage. Since roof maintenance is so expensive, it’s also smart to start a fund before you need it.• Remove piles of wood or debris stacked near the home. It should be kept far away from the foundation and stacked 18 inches off the ground. These preventative measures help keep insect pests from exploring your home.• Don’t strain yourself, and stay hydrat-ed. This might be the fi rst time you’ve done any heavy lifting or spent hours in the sun for months. Remember to drink plenty of fl u-ids, take breaks and stretch your muscles. If you suffer from backaches and muscle strains, keep some relief like Absorbine Jr. (www.ab-sorbinejr.com) on hand. Its herbal ingredients and uncanny ability to ease muscle and back pain make it a must-have for yard work.• Call a professional to clean your AC unit. Heating and cooling experts recom-mend an annual servicing since clean coils work more effi ciently. When the summer’s blazing heat drives you indoors, your fam-ily will appreciate having an AC operating at peak levels. (News USA)TLC tips for lawn andgarden maintenancePAGE 6, KEIZERTIMES, HOME & GARDEN, SPRING 2018Specializing In AllYour Indoor & OutdoorGardening NeedsWith over 20 years experience, we are the gardening experts! we are the gardening experts!Keizer Nursery& HydroGardening Center4570 River Rd N, Keizer • (503) 393-8111KeizerNursery.comTransforming the unremarkable into the extraordinary need not be an impossible task. More and more homeowners are fi nding that lavish looks are both attainable and affordable. Their imaginative design professionals are making it happen, using cypress to create their clients’ dream homes.“Wood is a classic and timeless building material,” says Stephen Logue of the Southern Cypress Manufacturers Association. “And many people are discovering that the inherent beauty of cypress, a species so often chosen for outdoor applications, adds a luxurious look to indoor living spaces, for anything from walls and ceilings, to exposed beams and so much more.”When a coat of paint just won’t do, think paneling. For Christopher Rose, an architect based in Johns Island, South Carolina, solid wood paneling provides a sense of warmth and richness to a room. But not just any wood.“I particularly like working with cypress,” says Rose. “It has a wonderful grain pattern that offers a relaxed, yet elegant look. Vertical beadboard or tongue-and-groove patterns are popular options that add perceived height to a room. And more recently, horizontal shiplap paneling and accent walls have been requested by many clients.”Looking to add dimension and visual interest to otherwise fl at, dull ceilings? Architect Geoff Chick of Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, says it’s not enough to simply add crown molding. Too basic!“Owners today are looking to celebrate their ceilings with more creative design solutions and materials,” Chick says. “In large rooms where I have tall ceilings to work with, I typically use a coffered ceiling. Filling in the coffers with wood helps to warm up a room and add another layer of detail. Cypress with a square groove is my favorite wood to use for ceiling treatments. I just love how it looks, especially when combined with cypress beams.”When selecting a fi nish for his interior cypress woodwork, Chick prefers stains. “It’s a shame to cover cypress with paint,” Chick says. “To help bring out its grain pattern, I like fi nishing it with a matte stain or pickled fi nish. Some rooms require a lighter fi nish than others, and it can be a challenge to coordinate with fl ooring. But from my experience with cypress, it’s all worth it when it comes together.”And remember, much like wood cabinets and fl oors, solid cypress paneling and ceilings can be refi nished. If you’re envisioning a fresh look down the road, swap neutral tones for bold colors, or sand the wood and apply a transparent stain to let cypress’s natural beauty speak for itself.(Brandpoint)Creating a dream home with cypressDesign professionals are creating stunning living spaces with cypress woodwork.SPRING 2018, HOME & GARDEN, KEIZERTIMES, PAGE 7Visit our showroom to see howyou can SAVE UP TO $250 OFF ona new Direct-Vent Gas Fireplace!1695 Market St NE, Salem • homefi restove.com(503) 894 - 6075 • CCB#48630GasWoodPelletGrillsOutdoorFireplacesFire BowlsPergolasFreestandingStovesFireplacesInsertsWith spring having offi cially begun, many eager homeowners and landscape professionals across the country will roll up their sleeves and reach for their shovels to start projects that require digging this season.During the transition into “digging season,” Common Ground Alliance (CGA), the organization dedicated to protecting underground utility lines, people who dig near them, and their communities, reminds homeowners and professional diggers that calling 811 is the fi rst step toward protecting you and your community from the risk of unintentionally damaging an underground line.Every digging project, no matter how large or small, warrants a free call to 811. Installing a mailbox or fence, building a deck and landscaping are all examples of digging projects that should only begin a few days after making a call to 811. Calling this number connects you to your local one-call utility notifi cation center.According to data collected by CGA in a phone survey in February, millions of American homeowners will likely do DIY projects involving digging this year, but 36 percent of them do not plan to make a free call to 811 before digging. Extrapolated to the full population of U.S. homeowners, approximately 48.3 million people will dig this year without fi rst calling 811.A utility line is damaged every nine minutes in America because someone decided to dig without making a call to 811 to learn the approximate location of buried utilities in their area. Unintentionally striking one of these lines can result in inconvenient outages for entire neighborhoods, serious harm to yourself or your neighbors, and signifi cant repair costs.As a result, CGA offers the following tips to make sure you complete your project safely and without any utility service interruptions, so you don’t become a statistic.Here’s how the 811 process works:1. One free, simple phone call to 811 makes it easy for your local one-call center to notify appropriate utility companies of your intent to dig. Call a few days prior to digging to ensure enough time for the approximate location of utility lines to be marked with fl ags or paint.2. When you call 811, a representative from your local one-call center will ask for the location and description of your digging project.3. Your local one-call center will notify affected utility companies, which will then send professional locators to the proposed dig site to mark the approximate location of your lines.4. Only once all lines have been accurately marked, carefully dig around the marked areas.There are nearly 20 million miles of underground utility lines in the United States, which equates to more than a football fi eld’s length of utilities for every person in the U.S. Your family depends on this buried infrastructure for your everyday needs including electric, natural gas, water and sewer, cable TV, high-speed Internet and landline telephone. With that much critical infrastructure underground, it’s important to know what’s below and call 811 before digging.To fi nd out more information about 811 or the one-call utility notifi cation center in your area, visit www.call811.com. (Brandpoint)CALL 811Before digging in your yardPAGE 8, KEIZERTIMES, HOME & GARDEN, SPRING 2018With spring offi cially arriving, home improvement season is swinging into full gear. Fair warning to homeowners looking to hire a professional, 2018 is predicted to be a record-breaker.A recent study by the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University projects home improvement spending will approach $340 billion this year—the strongest gain for remodeling in more than a decade. Among the costliest of projects is roofi ng, a large expense with serious implications if put off or improperly done.When you add 2018’s remodeling demand with the much-talked-about skilled labor shortage, on top of the recovery from last year’s hurricane season, homeowners could be tempted to jump right into major home work, all without doing their homework fi rst. As this could prove costly, consider the following before anyone sets foot on your roof:1. CHECK CONTRACTOR QUALIFICATIONSChoose a local, reputable contractor. These contractors should have the best knowledge of local building codes, state codes and required certifi cations and licenses. Ask the contractor to see their certifi cate of insurance before stepping onto the roof. Consider going the extra mile and choosing a contractor certifi ed by the manufacturer of the shingle the contractor installs. Improper installation is considered one of the major reasons roofs fail prematurely, so fi nding a contractor with knowledge and experience in the correct application of a particular product is of the utmost importance.2. DETERMINE LAYOVER OR TEAR OFFMany times, contractors will push for a removal of all existing shingles, or a tear off, over adding another layer of shingles on top of an existing roof, a layover. Although a complete tear off is more expensive due to increased labor costs, there are some advantages.“When you tear off, you get a chance to look at the roof deck and repair any deteriorating wood or substrate,” said Rick Taylor, longtime roofi ng contractor and a trainer for shingle manufacturer TAMKO Building Products Inc.Typically, doing a layover is more economical, although homeowners need to discuss relevant factors with their contractor, including local building code requirements and implications for the manufacturer’s warranty.3. RESEARCH THE WARRANTYIt is important to understand the warranty specifi c to the roof product you have installed. Educate yourself on requirements for installation, including whether a shingle layover is applicable (as mentioned above).“Some shingle manufacturers won’t warranty the roof unless it is a complete tear off,” Taylor said. “TAMKO is one that actually does have the option to warranty a laminated shingle applied over one other layer of 3-tab shingles.”Other warranty concerns to consider include proper installation, the required steps to register your roof after installation and the time period allowed for transferring that warranty to future owners of the home.4. ASSESS VENTILATION NEEDSInadequate roof ventilation is another major culprit behind premature roof aging. There are a variety of options for roof ventilation; however, it is generally recommended to incorporate proper ventilation into the original re-roof, rather than add it later. The recommended ventilation depends on the size and architecture of the home, but when done correctly, the air inside the attic should be near the same temperature as the ambient temperature of the air outside it.5. CHECK THE WEATHERIt may seem obvious, but a simple check of the weather before starting a roofi ng project could prevent a big headache later. Avoid starting a project with wet plywood or underlayment, or when the forecast indicates a strong chance of rain. Also, many manufacturers of asphalt shingles, the most popular form of roofi ng in the U.S., do not recommend installation in below-freezing temperatures or in excessively high temperatures.Careful consideration of these steps during your next home exterior project could save you from costly and lengthy rework years later.(Brandpoint)Don’t re-roofuntil you do these5 thingsSunday, April 22 is Earth Day, an annual opportunity to celebrate the natural world and get involved in short- and long-term efforts to protect the environment. Here are fi ve ways to celebrate.1. VOLUNTEER. Many neighborhoods and communities around the country host volunteer clean-ups to honor Earth Day. Find one in your area or organize your own: gather some friends, some sturdy garbage bags and pairs of work gloves, and head out to a park or the shore of a local waterway for a clean-up.(Locally, Earth Day will be celebrated at Oregon Garden in Silverton from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.)2. ENJOY NATURE. Get outside and enjoy nature. Even if you aren’t an experienced hiker, there are plenty of tools to make getting outdoors easy, such as wearable tech, which can support your adventure. One option is Casio’s ProTrek PRW3510Y-8, which has triple sensor technology, including a compass, thermometer, altimeter and barometer, allowing you to track your surroundings as you explore them. Featuring Tough Solar Power, it can be charged by sunlight or fl orescent light, making it an eco-friendly choice.3. PLANT A TREE. Trees provide shade and food for people and a habitat for birds and other wildlife. What’s more, they produce oxygen for people to inhale, as well as sequester CO2. Trees also reduce polluting runoff by intercepting water. In short, we need trees! Celebrate Earth Day by planting one. Each year, you can watch it mature and grow.4. REDUCE WASTE. The land and ocean have become saturated with plastics and other trash. Get into the habit of reducing waste by recycling and reusing items as much as possible. Take a look at the footprint you create with your plastic consumption and fi nd ways to improve your habits. Bring a reusable bag to the grocery store. Buying a drink? Don’t use a straw. Getting takeout? Ask the restaurant to hold the plastic silverware.5. UPDATE YOUR TECHNOLOGIES.Outdated tech often contains harmful elements that can hurt the environment, such as lead paint or mercury. Check out newer models that meet international standards like The Minamata Convention on Mercury. For example, Casio Lampfree Projectors combine a laser, a fl uorescent element and LED light to deliver a hybrid light source that lasts up to 20,000 hours while sustaining a high brightness. Because these projectors are mercury-free, it removes the need to replace hazardous and expensive bulbs.This Earth Day, celebrate a healthy planet with environmental stewardship at-home and in your community.(StatePoint)CelebrateEarth DaySPRING 2018, HOME & GARDEN, KEIZERTIMES, PAGE 9BETTER THAN NEWwith a Classic TouchBeforeAfter503.393.2875remodelkeizer.comCCB#155626FREE ESTIMATESCome visit our On-Site Design Studio. See our selection of flooring, cabinets, countertops, tile, carpet and more.4195 River Rd N, Keizer Full Service Remodeling of Kitchens, Baths, Additions, & More!WE’RE LOOKING FOR A FEW GREAT PEOPLE - EMAIL RESUMES TO info@remodelkeizer.comNext >