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Our October issue of Spaces is the fourth issue of the publication for this year, geared towards readers moving indoors with the onset of cooler weather. As a supplement to the Spinal Column Newsweekly, Spaces is being delivered to 50,000 homes in the lakes area of west Oakland County, brought to you by the SCN Communications Group. In addition to the weekly newspaper and Spaces, we also publish Oakland Lakefront magazine, Preferred Oakland Homes, Oakland Homes, the MonthlyAdvertiser and the West Oakland Directory. Inside this issue of Spaces readers will find news stories on several home topics of concern at this time of the year, including heating your home, insider tips on installing fireplaces and roofing your residence. As in past issues of Spaces, we have relied when possible on local businesses to give us their views on these topics. Readers will also find the latest column from home inspector Jeff LaPorte of White Lake and our popular feature entitled For What It’s Worth, where we provide a snapshot of houses available in the market in a specific price range.

SPACES Publisher

Associate Publisher Administrative Assistant

CAROL BARR TIMOTHY S. DMOCH

Staff Writers

BROOKE MEIER, LESLEY SHEPARD-OWSLEY, ANDREW SAWMILLER, MICHAEL SHELTON

Staff Photographer Contributors Advertising Sales Representatives

Sales Assistants Inside Sales Manager Inside Sales Representatives

AMY K. LOCKARD MIKE SCOTT, MARK H. STOWERS DAN NEUMAIER, JULES PICKARD, LINDA STICKNEY, RON WARWICK, STEPHEN WARWICK SANDY ASHLOCK, ERIN CHAPMAN, KATEY MEISNER LORI SNYDER RHONDA LIBKUMAN, CINDY STAWICK, LESLIE TIMKO

Graphics Manager

LESLIE M. MORYS

Assistant Manager

CHRIS GRAMMER

Graphics Assistants

Systems Manager

DENISE JUNGJOHAN, KAREN POLATKA, MARCIA REIMER, CHRIS URQUHART CHRIS GRAMMER DENNIS BOGGS

Circulation Assistant

DAN GRIFFIN

Accounts Receivable Manager

CAROL BARR

Accounts Receivable Supervisor Accounts Receivable Phone Address/Street Address/Mail

We are looking forward to the coming year for Spaces.

DAVID P. HOHENDORF

News Editor

Circulation Manager

Now that we have reached the end of the publishing year for Spaces, we now turn our attention to 2009. Spaces will be published again next year four times, in the months of April, May, September and October. Our mission and approach for the coming year with Spaces will be the same as this past inaugural year—bring readers with each issue a magazine-format publication with editorial and advertising information directed at home design and improvement subjects.

JAMES W. FANCY

CAROLYN PETHERBRIDGE MABLE McCULLOUGH, JAN MORRIS 248.360.6397 / 248.360.7355 7196 Cooley Lake Road Waterford, Michigan, 48327-4113 P.O. Box 14 Union Lake, MI, 48387-0014

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here’s just something about a fireplace that’s magic. The crackling logs, glowing embers, soft yellow flames flowing above the hardwood and the distinct smell of wood burning brings out the “back to nature” wonder in all of us. The inviting warmth of the blaze transforms acquaintances into friends and palatable relatives into close family. And with winter on its way to Michigan, this is the perfect time to consider adding a fireplace to your domicile or taking the time to get yours ready for the burning season. Local area experts who sell and install fireplaces, woodstoves and gas log inserts are ready and waiting to help homeowners better understand all the options and issues that need to be considered. The Basics if You Have a Fireplace Don’t pile those logs up just yet. If you have a home with a fireplace, experts say the first thing to do each summer or fall is to have a chimney inspected and cleaned. Valerie Dixon, co-owner of The Grate Fireplace Shoppe in Walled Lake for 25 years, advises homeowners to check the basics before lighting up. ❯❯❯❯

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“The main thing is to have your chimney cleaned before using your fireplace,” she said. “Regular maintenance is very important. You’ll want to have your wood-burning chimney inspected annually.” After the chimney has had its annual due diligence, it’s time to focus on the rest of the fireplace structure. “Check the grate,” Dixon said. “Is it in good condition? Is it rusty? If you have a woodstove, check the brick for any cracks or damage and check the gaskets.” In order to check the gaskets, simply place a piece of paper in the seal and close the door. If the paper pulls out easily, “then you need new gaskets,” Dixon said. After the visual and physical inspection of the fireplace or wood stove, it’s time to consider the main ingredient for your fire — hardwood. Don’t just pick up any kind of wood or you may be calling a special cleaning company to assist you with smoke damage. “Burn good, hard seasoned wood, like oak or maple,” Dixon said. “You can also burn ash (wood).” Rick Bray of Emmett’s Energy in Waterford Township said there’s more to quality hardwood than the kind of wood that’s burned. “Well-seasoned wood is wood that has been split, stacked and stored with a cover over it for at least one year,” he said. “It should only have a moisture content of 15 to 20 percent. The wetter the wood, the more smoke.” If you’re burning wood that has a higher moisture content, the chimney will need to be cleaned more frequently. “If you’re using your fireplace much more frequently to actually heat your home, then you should have your fireplace cleaned and inspected,” Bray said. “One inspection a year would be the minimum.” If you’ve got a new home and are using a fireplace for the first time, you need to learn the basics of building a fire, according to Bray. “New homes are ‘tighter’ and have less air coming in,” he said. “Its harder to establish a draft in a wood-burning fireplace because of the pressure difference. To get the proper fire, you need to make sure the chimney flue has a draft. You create one by rolling up a newspaper and lighting it. When it starts to burn the flame and smoke should create a draft up the chimney. Listen for a little quiet rumble sound. Now you’re ready to light your fire.” Gas Units — All the Fun Without the Fuss If you’re looking for a simpler way to a warm and cozy home, consider a gas log insert. Just as there are plenty of models of cars with amenities galore, gas log inserts run the gamut from simple to complex. If you have a gas log insert in your home, maintenance is still key to keeping that warm feeling flowing through the winter months. “Be sure to clean and maintain your gas unit

before the change of seasons,” Dixon said. “You can replace the glowing ember, clean the pilot light area and re-light it and check the damper to make sure that it’s fully open when the fireplace is in use. You don’t want carbon monoxide to build up in your home.” Bray said cleaning the gas log insert fireplace is similar to having your furnace cleaned and should be done annually. “Normally, that would involve cleaning the glass doors, insuring the logs are in the proper position, making sure the thermocoupler on the valve is tight and making sure there aren’t any obstructions in the venting,” he said. To insure your safety, both Dixon and Bray recommend the purchase of a carbon monoxide detector. “Put a detector in the room where the fireplace is,” Dixon said. Bray advises homeowners to pay particular attention to the pilot light area if you’ve turned yours off for the season. “The fireplace should have a tab or tag with instructions on how to light the pilot light,” he says. “If you’ve turned off your pilot light in the warmer months to save on gas expenses, then pay special attention when re-lighting it.” Bray explained that when unlit, spiders or other

bugs can nest or put an egg sack in your pilot light and create a dam or blockage that you’ll have to clean out in order to re-light the pilot light. “The other thing that can happen is that gas can migrate out of the supply to the pilot,” he said. “There’s only the slightest chance that this can happen but if it does, air will have to be bled out of the line before the pilot can be re-lit. This can take up to five minutes to complete depending on the circumstance.” Who’s Got the Advantage? First let’s look at a gas log insert fireplace. Bray said these units have several advantages over wood-burning fireplaces. “With a vented, gas log set, the primary advantage is convenience,” he said. “You can close the damper as soon as you shut the fire off. It has a great looking flame, and with a ventless gas log set, you are able to close your damper and capture most of the heat.” However, a ventless gas log set has some distinct disadvantages. There are by products of combustion that “can be offensive in some cases,” Bray said. “In some cases there is an odor associated with it and in some cases there may be excessive moisture.” Direct vent units exhaust all of the combustion products produced and have other advantages, as well. “They are very convenient and aren’t affected by the pressure level in the house relative to the pressure level outside,” he said. “And they are efficient in a way that compares to most furnaces.” Among the advantages to wood fireplaces is nothing can fully substitute for a real wood fire — the smell, the feel, the earthy-back-to-nature goodness that rolls off each flickering flame. “The atmosphere can’t be replaced but they aren’t very efficient,” Bray said. “But fortunately there are ways to make them more efficient.” A fire back can be placed in the fireplace to absorb and radiate heat out of the fireplace and into the room. You can incorporate a blower into the grate area to circulated room air into the fireplace and return super-heated air back into the room. “And then there’s the more high-tech woodburning inserts and stoves that return more than 70 percent and up to 80 percent of potential heat energy back into the house,” he said. “You have great efficiency and a great amount of control over the rate of burn. You have a lot of control over the heat output. There are various convenience aspects to the unit such as blowers, ash pans, side and top load options — and they all provide for secondary combustion.” That means the smoke that’s generated in the initial burning process is mixed with air and then re-burned and vented to provide even more heat. The disadvantages to each kind of unit are somewhat obvious. With a real wood-burning fireplace or woodstove, you have to clean out the

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ashes and dump them somewhere. And you have to find, purchase, haul and stack firewood somewhere outside and inside of your home for fuel, all so you can experience “a real fire.” With a gas log insert you may have the ease of “flipping a switch” but you don’t get the satisfaction of poking or playing with your fire creation to make it bigger, better, brighter and hotter. A New Option in the Mix Along with the wood-burning stoves and fireplaces are the pellet-burning stoves that generate heat. “There are also pellet appliances that have become very popular this year because they have a more user-friendly way of loading the fuel,” Bray said. The fuel is small pellets made of compressed sawdust that’s burned to create an efficient heat source. Look for other types of bio-fuels to be created in this form for this kind of unit. According to Bray, some units can also come with high-tech features like a sophisticated digital thermostat. “You can operate it much the same way as you would a furnace,” he said. “You can set it at a higher rate of burn for more heat or turn it back to a lower rate of burn for less heat.” These units appeal mostly to those who are burning propane or fuel oil, as the costs of these fuels have greatly increased and owners are looking

for something more fuel-efficient. I Don’t Have Either, How Do I Add One? If you’ve got the fever to burn wood, gas or compressed sawdust in your home, it’s not hard or expensive to add a simple version of any one of the three to your home. But it’s the finishing costs that can add up. “You simply place it in the room and wall around it,” Dixon said. “Then you add the marble or stone and a mantel. You can add a fireplace from around $1,500 to $2,000. But the major expense is the facing you decide on.” According to Dixon, a ceramic tile facing would be less expensive, or you could go with granite, which would expand the costs. “And when you add amenities, much like a car, such as blower fans and the optional accessories, the cost begins to climb,” she said. Bray said if you have a one-story home, then you’re in good shape to add a fireplace. “It’s not particularly difficult to add a fireplace to a one-story home,” he said. “The chimney does have to vent above the roofline. It has to go 3 feet through the roof and then be 2 feet higher than the closest part of the roof or building that’s within 10 feet.” Gas units are even easier to install, according to Bray. “Particularly, a direct vent is easy to install,” he said. “It’s essentially just picking the style you are

looking for and in our business we can give you a good estimate of how much it would take to install.” According to Bray, a wood-burning fireplace can start at around $1,000, assuming the homeowner can do a lot of the prep work himself. And you can easily get into the $8,000 to $10,000 range. “Gas units start a little higher, around $1,500 due to installation of the gas line,” he said. “But be sure to have a licensed contractor pull the proper permits for the work.” Add Ons With any choice you make, there are plenty of additions you can make to a unit. With either you can order decorative doors, blower fans, and even accent lights. Firebrick liners and glass trim add a pleasing touch to the unit, also. So whether you’re looking for the true outdoorsy smell and feel and like to make your own s’mores inside, or are just looking for the heat and look of a nice gas flame, you can’t go wrong with adding a fireplace or adapting an existing fireplace in your home. ❏

— By Mark H. Stowers

RESOURCES • Valerie Dixon, The Grate Fireplace Shoppe 248-624-6655. • Rick Bray, Emmett’s Energy 248-674-3828

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Jeff LaPorte

I

t’s the end of a long season of tilling, planting, weeding, watering, weeding, harvesting, picking Colorado potato beetles and tomato hornworms, and weeding. The garden is cleaned up, tools are cleaned and put away, the hose is emptied and coiled up in the shed, and you’ve put your garden records and leftover seeds where you’ll be able to find them when it’s time to plan next year’s garden. The fruits of your summer’s labor are preserved or stored for enjoyment through the winter. So now it’s time to relax, right? Not quite. There’s one more chore to do before the ground freezes: have your soil tested. “Fall is an excellent time to collect a soil sample and have it tested,” said Darryl Warncke, Extension soil scientist at Michigan State University (MSU). “The things that a soil test tells you about your soil — such as its pH — will change very little, if any, between now and next spring. Testing now means you won’t be waiting for results from a lab swamped with the spring rush of soil tests.” One of the things a soil test tells you is the pH of your soil — where it falls in the continuum between very acid and very alkaline. The nutrients that plants take from the soil are most available when the soil pH is in a fairly narrow part of that range — from neutral to slightly acidic, Warncke said. Soil pH changes slowly, so if your soil needs amendments to alter the pH, it makes sense to apply them in the fall so they can have some effect before it’s time to plant again. Soil test results also include fertilizer recommendations to provide nutrients for the types of plants you intend to grow. Having these recommendations on hand next spring will enable you to buy fertilizer on the basis of what plants need and apply it at appropriate rates. This not only saves money but reduces the chance that excess nutrients will end up in groundwater or nearby lakes and streams. Soil sample boxes and instructions for taking a soil sample are available at your county MSU Extension office. Gardeners can also get help in interpreting and using the results and recommendations, according to Warncke. The local Extension office is listed in the telephone book under county government. Recipes for improving your garden soil usually assume that you know something about the soil type you’re dealing with — whether it’s sandy (think “beach”), clay (slow to dry when it’s wet, slow to take up water when it’s dry

and easily compacted) or something else. Likewise, advice on choosing a planting site might say, “The best soil for gardening is a good loam.” Which may leave you wondering what exactly is a loam and whether the soil where you are is a loam. All soils are made up of the same components in various proportions, according to Warncke. Inorganic materials — sand, silt and clay — are weathered from rocks. Organic matter is primarily decomposed plant materials. That elusive ideal loam? It’s a mixture of about 40 percent sand, 40 percent silt and 20 percent clay and a small percentage of organic matter. The result is a soil that drains well yet has enough clay and organic matter to hold moisture and plant nutrients. To get an idea of the proportions of sand, silt, clay and organic matter in your soil, fill a quart jar one-third full of topsoil and add water to almost fill it. Then screw on the lid and shake the mixture vigorously until all soil clumps have dissolved. Then set the jar down where you can observe it. “The larger sand particles will settle out first,” Warncke said, “followed in a few hours by the silt and, eventually, the clay. The last layer to settle out will be the organic matter.” The relative thicknesses of the layers indicate the proportions of each component in your soil. Once you know that, then what? Knowing that your soil has a high percentage of clay tells you to be especially careful to avoid working the soil or even walking on it when it’s wet because of the risk of compaction, which will make it essentially impervious to water and plant roots. If your soil is highly sandy, water will drain through it quickly, taking with it any fertilizer and pesticides you may have applied. Therefore, rather than apply enough fertilizer to meet your garden’s needs for the whole growing season, you’ll want to make several small applications when plants are actively growing so plant roots can take up nutrients before they can leach away to pollute groundwater. Making large-scale changes in your soil’s basic makeup — by adding sand and organic matter to clay soils to improve drainage, for example — would be a laborious and expensive undertaking, Warncke said. Instead, he advises repeatedly incorporating organic matter — from green manure crops, crop residue, compost and/or organic mulches. ❏ — MSU Extension

MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE

B

uying a house requires a lot of different steps to complete the process. More and more questions get asked about what information the consumer needs to assist them in making decisions to protect their family’s health as well as their investments. Having a home inspection definitely plays an important role in achieving this. There is a trend to take additional steps to protect health and investment issues, by having additional inspections performed. Some of the most common health questions include questions about mold, radon, lead and water testing. The following are some of the most commonly asked questions: Why should I have the water tested of the house I am buying has a private well? The health of you and your family is at risk from drinking or bathing in contaminated water with e-coli bacteria, coli-form bacteria, nitrates, nitrites or arsenic. Sometimes a well becomes contaminated because it is defective. The EPA and The American Groundwater Trust recommend annual testing of a private well. Is lead based paint in my home a problem? Not unless it is disturbed during remodeling or maintenance or the property was not properly cared for and was deteriorating. Exposure to lead dust can cause permanent damage to the nervous system, especially in children and pets. Why should I ask for a radon test? There is scientific proof that radon gas is a known human lung carcinogen. Prolonged exposure to high levels of radon gas can cause lung cancer. If you do not have a test prior to closing it could cost up to two thousand dollars to have a radon mitigation system installed. Why is mold a problem? Mold can cause health problems and not be visible. If left untreated it can continue to grow and spread, eating building materials like wood and drywall. Mold spores can cause many health problems including: asthma and allergic reactions, respiratory problems, nasal and sinus congestion, sore throat, dry cough and water eyes. Finding out what additional testing you should have done on your home is very important to you and your family’s health. You will find that most testing is not expensive, but can sure save you money in the future. Jeff LaPorte is certified by the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) with over 10 years experience and is the owner of “The Home Team Inspection Service”. He can be contacted via e-mail at [email protected].

ROOFING HOME’S PROTECTIVE BARRIER NEEDS ATTENTION AND MAINTENANCE

R

oofing is one of the most important defenses your house has against the elements. But it can also be one of the most expensive home improvement projects if problems are left unresolved and damage is allowed to occur.

A roof expands as it heats up during the day and shrinks at night when the sun is off it. It can take rain and wind as a multi-layered system, but a roof is much more than a simple layer of shingles. Your roof forms a protective water barrier. It has an outer core, often comprised of shingles, and is combined with an underlying waterproofing layer. A well-built and maintained roof is a water-tight barrier, but it’s only as strong as its weakest points, or where pipes penetrate the roofing. Local experts say the key to getting ahead of any roofing issues with your home is to make repairs before any significant damage has been done. Routine roof maintenance can help, such as cleaning gutters. Roofing material, like anything else, is subject to wear and tear, and is your first line of defense from the elements. A roof that is neglected can cost much more than what it normally would in terms of damaged roof boards, studs, and even interior ceilings and walls. Repairs can be made when a leak occurs or if one or more shingles or roof accessories have been damaged. But homeowners need to decide when they can best afford and want to have a complete re-roofing done once their roof gets to be 15-years-old, according to David Spencer, owner of Spencer Roofing in Walled Lake. “You might spend $350 to $800 on a repair and that may get you another two to five years before you’ll need to replace the entire roof to prevent serious damage,” he said. According to the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association, a wide variety of shingles can be found to provide unique performance and architectural features. Spencer said three-tab shingles are the basic type available and generally have a lifespan of 15 to 25 years. Laminate shingles often come with a cedar look and are longer-lasting but also more expensive. Laminate shingles are given that name because one shingle is laminated on top of another, and the shingles themselves are thicker, allowing them to be sealed more completely. “It offers a much more solid seal and isn’t as impacted by the wind,” Spencer said. For that reason the life span for laminate shingles is 25 to 35 years. “They can handle more use and abuse,” he said. Vince Pipitone, owner of Pro Built Custom Building Corp. in Commerce Township,

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agrees with Spencer that the most popular specialized asphalt shingle today is the laminated shingle, which is manufactured with one or more layers of “tabs” or cutouts, to create additional thickness to the shingle. “Combined with special shadowing effects, laminated shingles give visual depth and a custom look to a roof,” Pipitone said. “Many new laminated shingles have the dramatic appearance of slate, tile or wood shakes or shingles without the higher cost associated with those products.” Asphalt shingles have long been certified for fireresistance with Class A, B or C fire ratings. These ratings are established through nationallyrecognized standards and testing by independent laboratories or agencies. Certified wind-resistant shingles carry a package label showing that they have been tested for wind resistance, although they are generally used in areas where hurricanes or tornadoes are common. Before purchasing any roofing product, consumers should fully understand the product’s performance characteristics and limitations, as well as the guarantees, terms and conditions of both the shingle manufacturer and roofing contractor, according to Pipitone. It’s a good idea to check your roof after a bad wind storm or an unusually harsh winter storm, if possible. Spencer said in lieu of that, licensed professionals can be called upon to check your roof to help anticipate and address any issues before they cause more cost and damage. It also can be beneficial to check your attic because potential problems can often be discovered from the inside, as well as the outside of the house. Proper ventilation is key to maintaining a roof and avoiding damage. Ensuring adequate ventilation can be easier in an unfinished attic, but trickier with a finished attic space. The real trick with any attic renovation is preserving the internal roof ventilation that exists in open attics, while at the same time turning the space into a heatable, finished space. Ventilation is important because it keeps the roof cool during winter (thereby preventing ice dam formation due to melting-freezing cycles) and lets household moisture escape harmlessly as it drifts up from below. Instead of the whole attic area being open to outside air for these purposes, as it is in an unfinished attic, you’ll have to preserve ventilation pathways between roof rafters, and from eaves to the peak, to do the same job after attic renovations. Simply stuffing fiberglass insulation between rafters and covering it over with a plastic vapor barrier and drywall is going to invite trouble. Shingle vents are very effective and often come in 4-foot sections. Vents made of a heavy fiberglass are extremely durable, much more so than either aluminum or older, low-weight fiberglass vents that were popular several years ago. “The new (fiberglass) shingle vents will require a hurricane to rip the shingles off your roof,” Spencer said.

These vents come with a second coat of chemicals that retard any type of weather, allowing the shingles to remain flat and straight. Ridge vents are also important features that are nailed down by hand rather than by a nail gun. They’re both aesthetically pleasing and allow for air to flow through an attic, which is the ultimate goal, according to Spencer. “You want your roof to really breathe well and ridge vents help a lot,” he said. “But it’s also important to ensure your roof accessories, such as ridge vents and skylights, are of a high enough quality that they will last as long as your shingles. You need to do a background check of the accessories and ensure you are buying quality so you don’t need to replace the roof before the shingles go.” High winds can damage shingles, which can lead to damage to the interior infrastructure; and large ice buildups can damage flashing and the roof membrane. Ice buildup in gutters can push up under the edge of the roof, leading to infrastructure damage. Simply conducting a concentrated visual inspection around your attic on a frequent basis is a sound way to thwart water damage and the price of restoration repairs that come with it. Homeowners should decide on a time to check their attic for leaks in the roof. That’s a task that’s best done when it’s raining, according to Pipitone. That way, you can notice the water dripping in and therefore find the exact origin of the leak. The leaking ordinarily begins with tiles that have shaken loose or have been swept off from either bad climate or imperfect installation. If you come upon a leaky area soon enough, any actual water damage may be averted. The solution could be as trouble-free as sticking down a few tiles, or if the tar paper under the shingles is in bad shape, a section of this could need replacing, as well. If the job needs more than this, removing a sizeable piece of the roof may be required. This would involve replacing not merely the tar paper and tiles, but also the wooden components, if the wood has gotten wet many times and has begun to decay. As winter quickly approaches, Pipitone said one of the biggest issues that consumers need to be aware of is the formation of ice dams and the damage they can cause. “Damage occurs because melting snow pools behind dams of ice at the roof’s edge and leaks into the house,” he said. “The good news is that ice dams can be avoided.” Ice dams form when melted snow refreezes at roof edges. Three things are required for an ice dam to form: snow, heat to melt the snow and cold to refreeze the melted snow into solid ice. Ice dams can form when as little as 1 inch of snow accumulates on a roof if the snowfall is followed by several days of sub-freezing temperatures. Deeper snow and colder temperatures increase the likelihood and size of ice dams. Every inch of snow that accumulates on the roof’s surface

insulates the roof deck a little more, trapping more indoor heat beneath the roof deck. Frigid outdoor temperatures assure a fast and deep freeze at the eaves. So the worst ice dams usually occur when a deep snow is followed by very cold weather. Ice dams usually develop along roof eaves, above the plate line of exterior walls. Heat lost from homes at this point aggravates snow melting and ice-dam development. Roof leaks wet attic insulation. In the short term, wet insulation doesn’t work well. Over the long term, water-soaked insulation is compressed so that even after it dries, the insulation isn’t as thick. Thinner insulation means a lower R-value, the unit of measurement for the rate of heat flow through a given thickness of material. It’s a vicious cycle: The more heat lost, the more ice dams form; the more a roof leaks, the more the insulation gets damaged, and so on. Homeowners can look at the underside of the roof sheathing and roof trim to make sure they haven’t gotten wet. Insulation should be checked for damage and roof leaks need more than a basic patching. The damage caused by ice dams can be controlled in two ways: Maintain the entire roof surface at ambient outdoor temperatures or building a roof so that it can’t leak into sensitive building materials if an ice dam forms. Proper insulation, ventilation and reducing air leakage can be used to prevent ongoing ice damage to your roof. Here’s some more advice from roofing experts: • Check flashings on the roof. Flashings are the metal pieces in a roof that cover interruptions in the roof plane, such as around dormers, chimneys, and vent pipes. If it appears there’s damage around flashing, these problems should be fixed immediately and hiring a roofing contractor should be considered. Inadequate or faulty flashing will allow melted snow to enter the interior of the roof, causing not only infrastructure rot, but possible damage to interior walls. • Look for shingle granules in your gutters, which is often a sign of roof aging. Asphalt roofing materials have a granular surface, much like fine gravel. As the asphalt ages, it becomes brittle, and these granules will come out over time. • Homeowners should look for bare spots in asphalt shingles, and inspect them closely for signs of tearing. If you notice shingles curling up, they should be replaced immediately. • Consumers should look for signs of pitting, rusting and corrosion on metal roofs that can be the natural results of aging. In particular, they should be aware of loose or open seams and joints that can lead to leaking. ❏

— By Mike Scott

RESOURCES • Dave Spencer, Spencer Roofing 248-926-5800 • Vince Pipitone, Pro Built 248-360-9904 FALL/WINTER 2008 | SPACES 17

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here’s no way around it. Cold weather is on its way and there’s no better place to hide than in your humble abode — provided you’ve prepared yourself and the furnace is ready to handle the load. If you haven’t, it’s still early enough to get things ready for the rush of winter so you’ll be warm and cozy. Furnace systems still have one main job — to heat your home to your preferred level of comfort. But now there are many different technologies designed to put less of a dent in your wallet each month when your electric and gas bills come in the mail. If it’s been 10, 20 or even 30 years since you’ve installed a furnace, then it’s time to check out what’s new in the wide world of heating. There are three types of heat pumps for your home that use either water, air or the ground to heat your home. Hybrid Isn’t Just for Vehicles That’s right. You’ve seen the hybrid technology that’s emerged in the automotive world and is running everything from small cars to SUVs. Now it can be used in running your furnace. Michael Matheson of Matheson Heating in Commerce Township, a Carrier factory-authorized dealer, said hybrids are among the many great technologies now on the market. “It’s an air conditioner that reverses itself in the winter,” he said. “In the summertime it will remove the heat from inside the home. In the winter it brings heat from outside the home to inside.” The system absorbs heat down to 30 degrees and then the furnace will take over so you have the switch of running between electric and natural gas or propane. “For a forced air system, the hybrid heat is the most efficient system,” he

said. “The technology isn’t so much new as it’s been out for 30 years, but it’s been refined and made more efficient.” Other technologies on the market are just as exciting and efficient. “Variable air flow is a furnace where the blower runs continuously, 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” Matheson said. “It’s very efficient and helps create an even temperature throughout the home. And by having the blower running continuously, it’s constantly cleaning the air in your home.” Geothermal systems actually absorb heat energy from the ground or can pull heat from a water source. “The system can be set up either from a water well where it absorbs heat from the water or by putting a loop in the ground that runs a solution through and absorbs the heat from the ground,” Matheson said. The geothermal unit that uses a ground heat source is twice as expensive as the hybrid system, but if you use water, it’s only 25 percent more expensive. But with the money you’ll be saving, the unit will eventually pay for itself. ❯❯❯❯

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“On a hybrid heat system, you’ll get your return on investment in about 8 to 10 years, and it’s about 10 to 15 years on a geothermal unit,” Matheson said. “My recommendation for people who are thinking of a new furnace is to simply get the most efficient system that your budget will allow.” Ryan Bierl of First Heating and Cooling in White Lake Township said modulating furnaces are a popular technology. “It’s a challenge to match some of the furnaces to a home,” he said. “Different manufacturers size out differently. But a modulating furnace will only use what it needs. It actually tunes itself to the home. The benefit is that it gives you the maximum comfort in your home with very slight temperature changes. “Thirty years ago furnaces were set to be within 6 degrees, so if you set your furnace at 68, it might shut off at 74,” he said. “Modulating furnaces keep your home within a degree of what you’re looking for.” That helps with efficiency and that means saving money. If a heating unit is rated at 97 percent efficient, that means that out of every dollar you spend heating your home, only three cents is lost. How Much Furnace Do I Need? You’ll need to figure out how big of a furnace to purchase, but how do you do that? You want it big enough so that during the coldest weather, you’ll be comfortable. And if you go with too big of a unit, your energy costs will probably increase (defeating the efficiency you wanted) and you will have paid too much. Determining the proper size for the heating system requires estimating heat loss through the roof, walls, windows, basement, and other home components under severe outside conditions. This is the design heat load for the home. The system size is then matched to the design heat load. For many combustion appliances, the size of the unit selected is from 10 to 30 percent above the design heat load. This oversizing allows the unit to recover quickly from night setback. The contractor bidding the new heating system should determine the correct size using techniques that evaluate the insulating value and area of each home component. Using “rule-of-thumb” for sizing heating equipment often results in a unit that’s grossly over or undersized. If the unit is a replacement, using the same size as the existing unit is strongly discouraged. The old unit may not have been sized properly and energy-conserving improvements may have been made to the home since its installation, reducing the need for heating. You may want to take a look at your insulation during the process to determine if it’s in need of replacement or addition. Maintain, Maintain, Maintain As with any mechanical device, proper maintenance will enhance its life span and help it run more efficiently. The same goes for any sort of heating unit. “An annual cleaning and safety inspection is the first priority,” Matheson said. “We take the furnace

apart and clean it, check the safety connections, check the gas pressures, check the heat exchangers for carbon monoxide leaks and then we simulate different situations to make sure the safeties work and that the furnace is safe to operate.” Bierl said annual maintenance can help keep money in your pocket. “Regular maintenance is a big thing,” he said. “You can easily save at least 12 percent on your heating costs by maintaining your heating unit. And you can easily push that to 20 to 22 percent.” And to go one step further, you should think about having your duct work cleaned to further maximize the efficiency of your heating system. “You should have your ducts cleaned, on average, every three years and do it before the winter,” Matheson said. “We get in there and do a top-to-bottom duct cleaning in the house where we remove the registers from the floor and run brushes down through the system. Then the vacuum truck vacuums out those items as we dislodge them.” Depending on the size of your home, the costs run from $325 up to $825, and your dryer vents are cleaned, as well, during the duct cleaning. Make sure anyone who cleans your ducts is National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA) certified. You can go to the association’s website, www.NADCA.com, to research certified duct cleaners. Matheson suggests you make sure a contractor is certified by the National Association for Technician Experts (NATEX) before you let anyone in your home to service your furnace. The association’s website is www.NATEX.org. You Really Don’t Want to Breathe That Just as air and oil filters help your automobile run more efficiently, the air filter in your furnace is vital in providing efficiency. If you have a standard 1-inch filter and run your furnace quite a bit, you should get into the habit of checking your filter to see how much dirt and dust and gunk is building up on it. If you wait for the standard three-month interval to change or check the filter, you could be causing your furnace irreparable damage. “A dirty filter will make your furnace run harder because it just can’t breathe. It’s like putting a hand over your mouth,” Matheson said. “Depending on the filter you may have to change it every one to three months, every six months, or once a year. The key is to make sure that you are on top of changing that filter.” Matheson said a thicker filter helps your furnace breathe easier and helps make it more energy efficient by not working as hard. “A lot of people like to use the one-inch filter but you’ve got to be careful because it’s trying to do a lot of filtration in a very short space, so it’s very restrictive and they clog up quickly,” he said. “We can custom fit filters for customers that will allow good air cleaning but without a lot of restriction.” Carrier offers filters that clean the air with ionization that kills germs and spores that collect in the filter.

According to Bierl, “when checking your air filter, look at both sides and see if they are the same color. If they are, it’s still good. If one side is darker than the other, it’s time for a change.” It’s Not the Heat, It’s the Humidity With all of that hot, dry air blowing through your home, you need to pay attention to the humidity level. Too much humidity causes problems, as does too little humidity. So where’s the line? “In Michigan, humidifiers are critical because the air gets so dry,” Matheson said. “You want to keep your home in the 40 to 60 percent range. Within that range dust mites, molds and allergies are all greatly reduced.” According to Matheson, focus on keeping the humidity within that range, then look to filter the air to keep it clean. But what should you look for in a humidifier? “The size you want is based on the square footage of your home,” he said. “You want to look for a flow-through humidifier. The water comes in the top and is distributed evenly down through the pad in a waterfall form. And while the warm air is pushed across the pad, the water is evaporated into the air. You want the excess water to drain into the floor drain and there’s no standing water so you don’t have to worry about any mold or growths.” A humidifier will help keep your energy costs down. Bierl said to think about summer humidity. “When its 80 outside and low humidity, it’s comfortable,” he said. “But when it’s 80 and high humidity, it feels hotter.” The same is true for the humidity level in your home. If you feel comfortable and warm, you’re not going to turn up the heat. The moisture in the home makes the home feel warmer. On average you can find a humidifier and have it installed for around $400. Other To Dos Bierl advises having more than one carbon monoxide detector in your home to keep everyone safe. “Get at least two or three,” he said. “They run about $30 but not having one is not worth betting your life on.” One more safety tip offered by Bierl is act fast if you smell gas. “If you smell gas, call Consumer’s immediately,” he said. “They’ll come over and usually point out the problem and shut off your gas for you.” And if you’re thinking about having a new heating unit installed, Bierl advises that you acquire at least two to three quotes. “Each company should be within a couple hundred dollars of each other,” he said. “Go with the one you feel the most comfortable with.” ❏

— By Mark H. Stowers

RESOURCES • Michael Matheson, Matheson Heating 248-363-4868 • Ryan Bierl, First Heating and Cooling 248-887-3636 FALL/WINTER 2008 | SPACES 21

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imple, budget-friendly trims like crown molding, chair rails and decorative beams can add style and increase the value of your home. Just don’t over do it. That’s the advice from Natalie Weinstein, a veteran interior designer, lecturer and author who frequently uses architectural details such as molding and trim to make ordinary rooms extraordinary. She says with a little skill, you can install them yourself, but you need a master plan before you start, she says. “A lot of people underestimate what they can do, lack the right tools or the ability to visualize the overall effect,” Weinstein said, adding that can translate into poor workmanship or visual overload. “You don’t want your home to look like a McMansion,” she says, alluding to the unattractive jumble of architectural styles ingrained in the design of many mega-sized development homes. Unless you have the time, talent and energy to handle the job yourself, you’re better off hiring someone with experience to design and install trims and other architectural details, according to Weinstein. Most mid-priced homes built in recent decades are devoid of detailrich architectural touches standard in older homes like crown molding or wainscoting, a decorative treatment for the lower half of a wall. Commonly made of oak, cherry, or even composite beadboard, it’s topped with a rail and at the bottom, a wide baseboard. Many newer homes have open floor plans in which rooms flow from one area to another. Architectural add-ons like columns can help define that space, according to Weinstein. Other details that add character to a room include: • Coffered ceilings, a grid of framed recessed panels; • Decorative beams; and • Ornate ceiling moldings and domes that make a room more formal. Weinstein recommends that before you purchase that first piece of trim, study photos gleaned from magazines

Color code scheme ideas ith cooler weather bringing W people indoors and the holidays just around the corner, many folks are ready to spruce up their home’s interior. However, when it comes to picking a new color scheme, some homeowners just don’t know where to begin. After 15 years in the design business, paint expert and designer Dana Pfeiffer has explaining color down to a science. She speaks of a color wheel and says color comes in a variety of schemes — like monochromatic, complementary, analogous and triadic. Pfeiffer, who co-owns a design business, explains the monochromatic color scheme is any one color on the color wheel used on most every room surface. “This color can be different shades in a room to offer variance,” she said. Complementary color is a pair of colors that are opposite one another on the color wheel, such as blue and yellow, red and green, salmon and teal, violet and apple green. Some decorators prefer a split complementary color scheme, which is one main color and two opposite colors, such as using blue as the main color and adding yellow and orange. Analogous colors are adjacent to each other, such as green, yellow and orange or blue, purple and red. Finally, the triadic color scheme uses three colors that are equally spaced on a color wheel, such as purple, teal and orange. According to Pfeiffer, the monochromatic color scheme is the easiest to work with. “A monochromatic color offers you different shades or tints of a basic color you choose, such as green — apple green, dark green and light green,” she said. “This is where you can get more technical in your color and venture into the and books. “Emulating is good,” she said, adding that you can do that best by

Contemporary shades of violet, blue and green reflect an analogous color palette, with color families that are next to each other on the color wheel. Although these hues are striking alone, when combined they provide balance and create a more sophisticated style. Analogous colors tend to go well together because they are closely related. complementary, triadic and analogous color options,” she said. “All this starts with one color that could be your favorite.” Sometimes a person’s house dictates it’s decorating. “Modern homes tend to have contrasting colors that are bold, such as complementary or triadic color. Simple bold colors are red, black and white,” Pfeiffer said. The split complimentary colors for a modern home may be blue, orange and yellow. The triadic colors may be purple, orange and dark teal. “Most people get overwhelmed with color after the monochromatic scheme,” Pfeiffer said. “This is where a professional color consultant can just spend an hour and have your whole scheme available to you.” That’s why homeowners who begin to feel overwhelmed with a project really should consider asking for a little assistance. ❏ — Copley News Service keeping a scrapbook of ideas you’ve seen elsewhere. You can also get tips on how to use and install molding,

trim, ornaments and other similar products online at www.cumberlandwoodcraft.com and www.blumerandstanton.com, which provide a comprehensive guide to materials and prices. Other useful resources include Philip Schmidt’s “Decorating with Architectural Details” (Creative Homeowner, $19.95) and a newly updated “Decorating with Architectural Trimwork” by Jay Silber (Creative Homeowner, $19.95), both available at online booksellers, bookstores and home-improvement centers. Schmidt covers virtually every aspect of adding architectural details to your home, including how to select the materials and where to buy them. Silber provides step-bystep photos that demonstrate how to do the installation, the tools you’ll need, plus lots of professional tips. Another way to preview your room before you invest in trims and more is to buy a peel and press design system used by many professionals. Available to homeowners for $250 (and in a more comprehensive — and at $1,275 — pricier version for decorators, architects, designers, and remodelers), the basic E-Z Decorator system contains a wide assortment of architectural elements, more than enough to meet the needs of the typical homeowner, according to its creator, interior designer Cheryl Howard. An alternative to mastering the often complicated interior design software programs now on the market, the decidedly low-tech product can give a homeowner a professional rendering in a matter of minutes, Howard said. The E-Z Decorator system includes a binder filled with hand-drawn images on reusable static cling “stickies.” Drawn to the same scale and perspective, the images can be peeled off and placed on a template grid that can be photo copied and colored. Changes can be made by peeling off one image and replacing it with another. ❏ — Copley News Service FALL/WINTER 2008 | SPACES 23

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ne strategy to lower your hot water bill might be to sing shorter songs in the shower. But a more far-reaching method is to install a tankless water heater. Units are variously known as tankless, instantaneous or on-demand water heaters and those names sum up what they do — provide immediate hot water without a storage vat. Conventional storage tank heaters keep large amounts of water heated, even if it is not about to be used. Since the units constantly reheat their reservoirs of 40 to 50 or more gallons, they are continually expending energy. Tankless units’ heating devices are triggered when a hot water tap is opened. Turning on the water triggers powerful heating elements that heat water A tankless water heater provides rapidly as it passes through the unit. all the hot water you need when While the units are relatively new to you need it. Instead of storing America, according to www.tanklesswaterwater and keeping it hot heaters.com, they have been fixtures for 75 throughout the day, the tankless years in Europe, Asia and South America system uses heating elements where energy costs are much higher. that are triggered by a hot The startup for a tankless water heater is water tap being opened. fairly high. Units cost 2 to 2-1/2 the price of conventional units (online direct prices range from $500 to $1,100 for gas, $200 to $775 for electric). A homeowner should shop for one if energy bills are high; the current unit regularly fails to provide enough hot water; or if it’s broken and can’t be repaired. Before choosing a unit, you need to determine the size, typically linked to the number of bathrooms you have. As the makers of tankless units love to point out, the heaters can provide an endless supply of hot water. But there are limits as to how much can be produced at any given time. For a house with one bathroom, a heater supplying 3 to four 4 per minute will do; for two bathrooms, a 4- to 5.5gallon per minute is recommended; for two to three bathrooms, a 5.5- to 7.4gallon per minute unit is indicated. Also consider if a dishwasher or washing machine will be running at the same time or when someone is showering. You also need to select your power source. Tankless units can be heated with electricity, natural gas or liquefied petroleum gas. If you have sufficient power (120 or 240 volts and 50 to 200 amps, depending on the unit), electrical models are much easier to install than their LP and natural gas counterparts which require venting and combustion air. But electricity tends to cost significantly more than gas in the long run and gas heaters have a higher hot water output than electric models — a must if you’re using a lot of hot water at one time. A demand water heater can be installed centrally or at the point of use. Large gas units, which supply an entire house, are installed centrally. An electric configuration can use a small booster unit for a remote bathroom or laundry. Tankless water heaters — even the largest whole-house models — take up little space and can be placed in a closet. There’s an eventual payback in energy savings. Hot water bills can be trimmed up to 69 percent. A U.S. Department of Energy study estimated water heating counts for 20 percent or more of an average household’s energy costs. ❏ — Copley News Service

for what it’s worth A look at what homes are listed in lakes area communities in the $400,000-$450,000 price range

Community: Commerce Street Address: 3700 Loch Bend Price: $450,000 Sq. Ft.: 2,849 Bedrooms: 4 Baths: 3 full; 1 half Garage: 3 car Foundation: Finished basement Heating: Forced Air Cooling: Central Air Exterior Features: Deck, sprinkler system Description: Main floor master suite and guest suite. Great room with fireplace. Fabulous 3-season room. Grand style kitchen. Agent: Christine Atkinson Real Estate Firm: Century Town & Country, Commerce Phone: 248.363.1200

Community: Clarkston Street Address: 91 N. Main Street Price: $450,000 Sq. Ft.: 3,051 Bedrooms: 5 Baths: 2 full Garage: N/A Foundation: Basement Heating: Forced Air Cooling: N/A Exterior Features: Porch Description: Historic waterfront home built in 1877. Extensive original trim. Leaded glass, dual staircases. First floor master with sitting room. Agent: Kathy Adams Real Estate Firm: Max Broock, Clarkston Phone: 248.625-9300

Community: Ortonville Street Address: 1001 Oakwood Price: $405,900 Sq. Ft.: 2,260 Bedrooms: 4 Baths: 3 full; 1 half Garage: 3 car Foundation: Finished walkout Heating: Forced Air Cooling: Central Air Exterior Features: 50’ x 56’ pole barn Description: Resort living at home. Full wall stone fireplace. Indoor heated pool and hot tub. Granite kitchen. All on 5 acres. Horses allowed. Agent: Jane Cerne-Murphy Real Estate Firm: Prudential Great Lakes, Grand Blanc Phone: 810.606.8516

Community: Highland Street Address: 661 Nairn Circle Price: $429,900 Sq. Ft.: 3,427 Bedrooms: 4 Baths: 4 full; 1 half Garage: 3 car Foundation: Finished basement Heating: Forced Air Cooling: Central Air Exterior Features: Patio, sprinkler system Description: Golf course front in Prestwick! Professionally decorated. Open floor plan. First floor master suite. Golf membership included. Agent: Steve/Janet Stockton Real Estate Firm: Re/Max 100 Phone: 248.366.7200

Community: West Bloomfield Street Address: 6177 Pickwood Price: $439,900 Sq. Ft.: 3,507 Bedrooms: 4 Baths: 2 full; 2 half Garage: 3 car Foundation: Finished basement Heating: Forced Air Cooling: Central Air Exterior Features: Sprinkler system, BBQ grill Description: Newer high-end stainless appliances and granite kitchen. Master suite with 2 huge walk-in closets. Library with wall of built-ins. Agent: Mitch Wolf Real Estate Firm: Prudential Cranbrook Franklin Phone: 248.626.8700

Community: Waterford Street Address: 3112 Pine Tree Court Price: $439,900 Sq. Ft.: 4,291 Bedrooms: 4 Baths: 3 full; 1 half Garage: 2 car Foundation: Finished walkout Heating: Forced Air Cooling: Central Air Exterior Features: Deck, sprinklers Description: All-sports Lake Oakland. Open floor plan. All bedrooms have walk-in closets. Two-story great room and foyer. Agent: Dannette Hansen Real Estate Firm: Coldwell Banker Schweitzer, Commerce Phone: 248.360.1425

Community: Holly Street Address: 175 Coyote Run Price: $429,000 Sq. Ft.: 2,850 Bedrooms: 3 Baths: 2 full; 1 half Garage: 3 car Foundation: Walkout basement Heating: Forced Air Cooling: Central Air Exterior Features: Porch Description: New construction on 3.33 acres. First floor master suite. Gourmet kitchen includes Jenn-Air appliances. Library with French doors. Agent: Deby Gannes/Lynn Baker Real Estate Firm: Hall and Hunter, Birmingham Phone: 248.644.3500

Community: White Lake Street Address: 3654 Jackson Boulevard Price: $449,900 Sq. Ft.: 2,365 Bedrooms: 3 Baths: 2 full; 1 half Garage: 2 car Foundation: Basement Heating: Forced Air Cooling: Central Air Exterior Features: Deck, sprinkler system Description: 80 ft. of sandy beach on fabulous White Lake! Starlit fiber optic ceiling in media room with surround sound. No steep steps to lake. Agent: Cyndi Robinson Real Estate Firm: Real Estate One, Milford Phone: 248.431.4571

FALL/WINTER 2008 | SPACES 25

On the sunny side Solar power may be bright idea whose time has come

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hinking about going solar so you can save money and save the planet at the same time? The option is available to have a home powered by solar energy, but the choice is an expensive one. If you are willing to make the investment, solar energy can be the first step toward energy savings and less reliance on fossil fuels. “Solar power allows ordinary homeowners the opportunity to use the world’s most abundant energy source,” said Brian Crowe, program manager for Solar Power in the Midwest, maintained by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. According to the Solar Power in the Midwest website, solar modules are comprised of multiple solar cells. The solar cells (also called photovoltaic or “PV” cells) capture energy from sunlight and convert it into electricity. This conversion process occurs because of the special properties of the semiconducting materials (silicon) from which the solar cells are made. The silicon that makes up solar cells is a semiconductor material having properties of both a metal and an insulator. When the sun shines on the solar modules they produce direct current (DC) electricity. This electricity is transmitted from the modules to an electronic inverter, which converts the DC electricity to alternating current (AC). The AC electricity is then transmitted to the home or building’s distribution system to supply electric power as needed throughout daylight hours. The excess electricity is diverted out to the power grid causing the electric meter to spin backward and produce credits toward the electric utility bill. During non-sun hours, utility power provides the electricity needed. The cost of systems vary, but on average the purchase and installation of a home solar system can cost in excess of $20,000 or more.

26 SPACES | SCN COMMUNICATIONS GROUP

Eco-friendly accents

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hether framing a seating area or accenting the master suite at the foot of the bed, area rugs are a natural choice for pulling together the look of a room — and natural and eco-friendly fibers offer plenty of inspiration. From bamboo and seagrass to sisal and coir, natural fibers are durable, stylish, sustainable and environmentally friendly — and they’re an affordable way to makeover any decor in an instant. “Area rugs, like jewelry, are accessories that can be continuously updated and interchanged with little investment,” said Emily Morrow, director of color, style and design for a leading carpet and rug manufacturer. “They offer variety and flexibility. They allow personality and individuality to prevail without a commitment.” Like a bracelet that makes a basic black dress pop, area rugs add a well-needed dose of color, pattern and texture to break up bland wall-to-wall carpeting and define a room — and the natural hues, organic textures and classic weaves found in natural rugs perfectly compliment virtually any decor. “From a design perspective area rugs are necessary, and they do one thing well — they define a space,” said interior designer Scott Thomas. “They let the eye know that a particular space is there for a specific purpose.” Natural materials are nothing new, but they are seeing a new surge in popularity thanks to the growing green movement. Before you buy, consider the following eco-friendly options: • Bamboo is a natural choice for sustainability. It grows an astonishing 8 to 12 feet per year and thanks to its robust root system, it’s abundant, as well. Bamboo is naturally resistant to water, mold, mildew and insects. Although there are many

With accent rugs, there are several environmentally conscious choices that feature natural fibers such as sisal, seagrass and bamboo. But there is also recycled nylon, which wears well and is stain resistant. It’s also naturally antibacterial and antimicrobial. • Seagrass is derived from tropical salt marsh grasses indigenous to China. It’s one of the most stain-resistant and durable natural fibers available. • Sisal, prized for its strength and durability, is derived from the Agave sisalana cactus plant. It stands up to abrasion and performs well in high-traffic areas. It’s also resistant to dust and static. • Organic wool, grown without pesticides or fertilizers, is stronger than cotton and more insulating than plant-based fibers. The natural lanolin in wool acts as a waterproofing agent, making it resistant to moisture and stains. • Coir, a fiber extracted from the outer shell of coconuts, offers unsurpassed durability. Brown coir from ripened coconuts offers high abrasion resistance and has been a staple in welcome mats and outdoor rugs. White coir from immature coconuts is smoother and finer and spun into yarn for woven mats. Natural oils in coir make it insect- and water-resistant. • Recycled nylon may not come straight from Mother Nature, but the latest nylon rugs are surprisingly eco-friendly. It’s strong, durable, resilient to matting and wear and generally stain-resistant. It’s also versatile. ❏ — Copley News Service programs that try to provide financial

incentives to switch to solar power, tax credits and rebates differ from state to state, and even city to city. To find out what rebates governments and utilities are offering visit www.dsireusa.org, a website set up by the North Carolina Solar Center and the Interstate Renewable Energy Council. In addition, there are questions of safety and adequacy that you need to consider before getting a system. The U.S. Department of Energy recommends that consumers use the services of a qualified and licensed contractor when going solar. According to the DOE, you should ask the following: • Has the company installed gridconnected PV systems? If not, has it installed grid-independent (or standalone) PV systems? Experience in installing grid-connected systems is valuable because some elements of the installation — particularly interconnection with the local utility — are unique to these systems. • How many years of experience does the company have installing PV systems? A contractor who has been in business a long time probably understands how to work with customers and to compete effectively with other firms. Additionally, the contractor will probably be aware of the latest code and permitting issues surrounding the installation of PV systems. • Is the company properly licensed or certified? PV systems should be installed by an appropriately licensed contractor. This usually means that either the installer or a subcontractor has an electrical contractor’s license. Your state electrical board can tell you whether a contractor has a valid electrician’s license. Local building departments might also require that the installer have a general contractor’s license. Call the city or county where you live for additional information on licensing. ❏ — Copley News Service

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