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http//WWW thechaj1ottepost.com '(S^t Cliarlotte $oKt THURSDAY, JANUARY 19. 2006 4D REAL ESTATE Sweat energy costs Many of us are already cranking up our heat to keep homes warm this winter Some higher tlian average heating expenses may be attributed to having less than adequate energy efficient windows. For many people, rising energy costs have caused more than a little concern these days. Home heat ing costs this winter has put an addi tional strain Roitvnd Hawkins on many budgets , espedaliy as a result of rising energy rate. One way to help ease this rising expense during the chilly winter months is to replace old inefficient win dows with new thermal, ener gy-efficient windows. Installing high perfor mance energy efficient win dows is one of the best ways to reduce your monthly expense Tb better under stand how windows affect your heating and cooling costs, you need to understand how energy flows through tliem Tliere are several ways heat is transferred throu^ windows Sunlight is an important source of heat. Solar heat is transferred inside the home through the window during the daytime. Objects warmed by sunlight become strong sources of radiant heat. If however, you fail to close your drapery* or blinds at night that same radiant heat will escape out of your windows. And in the summer the oppo site happens during the day Hot air is let in therefore con stantly warming our homes and causing your air condi tioning system to work haid- One of the biggest causes of home energy loss is air infll- tration This is process by which hot and cool air passes between a window sash and frame. In older windows energy is lost through cracks and gaps around window frames. Window efficiency is mea sured in terms of cubic feet or air per minute, per square foot of area. The lower the number, the less air the win dow lets pass throu^ the better. Infiltration can carry cold air into a house and warm air out in the winter months. The opposite hap pens in the summer where cold air travels out and hot air travels in. High performance, energy efficient vinyl windows are a great investment because they save money over time. Since vinyl doesn't ccaiduct heat and ctdd, they are aHe to keep a home comfortable year-round. Also unlike wood products, vinyl windows never need to be painted or stained and rarely require replacentent There are 9e\*a*al popular choices in windows. Single hung and douUe hung win dows are the most common choices In a single hung win dow, only the bottcHU sashes slides vertically However,' both sashes slide \’ertically in douUe hung windows Casement windows are hinged at the sides. Hinged windows such as casements generally have lower air leak age rates than sliding win dows Casement window's also dose tighter by pressing against the frame when dosed. The ^ass selecticn is just as impcrtant as your choice of Please see SWEAT5D Faux techniques add to bed and bathroom PHOTO/ARA CONTENT .ARnCU: RESOCRCE .ASi>(X'IAm)S With the hectic lives we all lead, many of us are looking to add some relaxation time to our schedules. We spend money on resorts and exdusive spas, but what about adding a little more relaxation into your home? According to Donna Schroeder, color sp)edalist with Dutch Boy p)aints. using the latest faux techniques and colors such as watery blues and pale greens will help turn your own bathroom and bedroom into a haven of relaxation. “Faux techniques are easy to accomplish and will give your room a whole new feel,” says Schroeder. “Plus, faux brings a rich, vibrancy to the rooms in which you spend so much time.” The following are examples of some of these faux techniques: • Cloud technique Not many experiences compare to a beautiful spring day when white pufiy douds seem to just float across a crisp blue sky It has the ability to make you feel refi'eshed. With the Cloud tech nique faux finish, that same feel ing can be obtained every time you step into the bathroom. The first two steps are as easy as trac- Ple^se see FAUX/5D Finding faucet that suits your fancy .ARVCLt RESOC RCE .ASSOC'IATIOS Looking for a quick remodel project? Switch out your faucet f(^ an updated look at your bath- nxHU sink. With numerous styles to choose fiom — such as wall moimt or deck-mount, widespread or cen- terset and sin^e handle or cross lever faucets - the cations are endless for personalizing your bath. “Tbdays faucets can dictate the look of a bathrocmi.” said Lin Pannell. showroom consultant for Welker McKee Siq^piy Company, a divisicai of H^oca Ccrporaticai, in Cleveland. Ohio. “Hcaneown- ers are starting to lode at them as the centerpiece of their bathroom and want designs that reflect their unique decco'ating style.” But. with 90 many faucets to choose fiDm. it can be over whelming to know where to begin. Here are some d Pannell s tips to help you whittle down your options and make the best choice for your bath. On Deck According to Pannell, “Deck- mounted faucets, or faucets that are installed at the same level as the sink, are still the most popu lar stjie today” Typically deck-mount faucets are available in a centerset fwhere the spout and hot and cold handles are combined on a sin^e base unit) or widespread model (where the spout and hot and cold handles are all mounted sepa rately ) Both models are designed to fit most three-hole sinks and they ccHue in an endless array o^ styles. Dedc mounted faucets with a higher arching, elongated spout have made a splash in the bath in recent years. “The hi^ arc faucets give you mcae room to wash your hands, get a drink of water, ot even wash your hair,” said Pannell. “Hi^ arc stjdes, with their strong visual appeal, can really update the look of a bath.” An example of a higji arc faucet is the new Eva (T^ollection from Moen. With flowing curves, tapered handles and a hi^-arc spout, the two-handle centerset and widespread faucets have ele gant, transitional st>ding and are available in brushed nickel and oil rubbed bronze finishes. Plus there are complementary Eva accessories including a towel bar, towel ring, paper holder and tank lever for a coordinated look. Up Against the wall “Gaining in popularity are the newer wall-moimted faucets,” said Pannell. These faucets require special installations b^iind the wall and cannot easily re^dace an existing deck-mount faucet. ‘Taired with Rease see FINDING/5D A&E1D PHOTO/ARA CONTENT Remodeling is en vogue as Ameri ca’s homes get older. Remodeling project? Think return of classics ARTICLE RESOURCE ASSOCIATIOS America’s housing inventory* is aging. According to to the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard Uni versity the average age of houses in the United States is 32 years and ris ing. So it should come as no surprise that the remodeling industry is boom ing. Home owners spend more than $230 billion each year on remodeling, and when they shop for new fixtures, they want to add lasting stjde that unifies the look of their homes, not trendy products that will soon appear dated. This has prompted a return to dassic architectural stjdes like Victori an, Craftsman, Old World and Colo nial. “Homeowners have their eyes fixed on fiiture returns, so when it comes to selecting products for a renovation, they are behaving like smart investors,” says Steve Brant, product marketing manager for JELD-WEN windows. “Homeowners demand well- established architectural stjies and hi^-performance materials that will look great, save money and last for years to come.” Please see PLANNING/5D Outdoor painting prep made a lot easier .ARTICLE RESOURCE.ASSOCIATIOS' Painting a home’s exterior is a big project, but one that pays off in curb appeal as well as protection for your home. Having the right tools can make the job easier, faster and pro duce more professional-looking results. The first and most tedious step in painting your home is to get rid of loose or flaking paint and prepare a smooth surface for the fi'esh paint. A new innovative tool fix>m Wagner Spray Tbdi and abrasive partaker 3M helps make quick work of this process. The one-step patent pending PaintEater system eliminates tradi tional time consuming and labor intensive steps of ©cterior paint prep. The PaintEater removes chipped, peeling paint, feathers rou^ edges and smoothes the surface in one easy process. The PaintEater lets you begin paint ing more quickly A bett«* prepped surface means that the new paint goes on smooths, adheres better and lasts Icmger. Before sanding and painting outdoor surfaces, start by protecting outdoor furniture as well as landscap ing plants with drop cloths. And don’t forget to tape around any surfaces where you don’t want paint, such as windows Now you’re ready to prep. The PaintEater is perfect for do-it- yoiu'selfers. It’s lightweight and maneuverable, yet tou^. The hi^- powered machine combines with the tough 3M spun-fiber disc with opti mum speed and powa* Iot superior poTormance and control without wor rying about damaging surfaces. The Rease see OUTDOOR/5D
The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, N.C.)
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