5D
REAL ESTATEACit Ctiarlgtte $at
Thursday, January 19, 2006
Sweat the details to lower home energy expenses
Continued from page 4D
frame. Double-pane glass is
typically better than single
pane since multiple layers of
glass increase a window’s
ability to control hot and cool
air flow.
Clear g^ass is the most com
mon type installed in homes.
Thda/s clear windows let
heat and cool air pass
throu^ easily
Ib control your eneigy costs,
ccaiduct an annual check up
of your system to ensure that
it is operating at its optimum
efficiency Regularly chang
ing the air filters will also
increase your system’s effi
ciency and save you money
The harder your system
works, the more money it cost
to run it.
It has been estimated that
ovei* 40 percent of the aver
age household annual budget
is consumed by heating and
cooling.
As you may have guessed, a
lot of your hard earn money
“goes right out the window.”
ROIAND K. HAWKINS js a
Real Estate Agent wtth Caldwell
Banker United Realtors in Char
lotte. He can be reached at (7()4)
840-5762 or \7d the internet:
http.'Ww’H’wrolandhawhfVixvm
Faux techniques add to bed and bathroom
Continued from page 4D
ing cloud-like shapes on a
wall in irregular patterns and
applying a li^t blue color to
the wall outside the pattern.
Then blend in a second dark
er blue with a sea sponge.
AftCT the initial colors dry, the
final step entails applying a
small amount of white glaze
to the edges of the clouds to
act as an accent. The Cloud
technique is wonderful for
bathrooms but can also add a
great effect to any ceiling or
child’s room.
• Frottage Sponging
Another sponging tech
nique to make a wall really
stand out is Frottage Spong-
ii^. Perfect for the bedroom,
this technique yields a very
modem, new vogue appeal.
Apply three different colors in
two-inch by two-inch areas on
the wall. Then take an ordi
nary sponge and li^tly blend
the colors together. After
blending, take different
shapes of tom newspaper
and smooth them onto the
wall. When you peel off the
newspaper you are left with a
beautiful, new faux finish. Tb
add a real sparkle to this fin
ish, try Dimensions Metallics
firom Dutch Boy When dry,
these finishes are translucent
and therefore add an amaz
ing shimmer to whatever
base coat is beneath.
• TVavertine Maihle
The Ti'avertine Marble
technique adds a soft feel to a
room and is a great faux tech
nique for a bedroom. The look
is sophisticated and elegant.
Tb create the TVavertine Mar
ble finish, apply three diffei*-
ent paint colors in two-inch
by two-inch areas, blend
them with a sponge, and then
finish it off" with a white glaze
to add dimension and
sparkle.
• Diagonal Blend
Take any room to a whole
new level with the Diagonal
Blend technique. With
Dimensions designer colors
Satin Keoki Coffee, Polenta,
and' Indian Tile you can
warm up a bedroom with
shades of orange, yellow, and
brown to give it a cozy feel for
when you curl up with your
favorite book. Using a rag
roller, take each color and
apply it to the wall in a short
diagonal pattern. Then use a
color washing brush to blend
the colors with large sweep
ing strokes.
Repeat these steps over the
entire surface of the wall and
the finished product will add
so much flare that it will look
like a giant paint brush
swept ri^t across the entire
room.
• Granite Stone Wall
Create a classic look in your
home with the new Granite
Stone Wall technique. With a
standard paintbrush apply
Old World Plaster finish and
the Granite Wall finish to a
taped oflfUock pattern on the
wall.
Next, use the sea sponge to
blend the plaster and granite
finishes. Finally, remove the
tape from the wall and paint
in grout lines where the tape
had been. Voila, a granite
stone wall. For more informa-
Planning remodeling project?
Think about return of classics
Continued from page 4D
Before undertaking a reno
vation project, experts advise
homeowners to consider
these factors:
• What are the current
architectural features of the
home?
• What materials need to
match, such as wood species
on cabinetry millwork, win
dows and doors?
• What weather conditions
or building code require
ments must be met?
• What is the budget?
• What is the expected
return on investment? High-
Tfech Materials with Tradi
tional Stjie Tbdays building
products benefit fiom high-
teck improvements to time-
honored materials. Wood is a
must for the classic architec
tural st5ies that are popular
today, but many homeowners
have avoided wood due to
concerns about rot, termites
and high maintenance
requirements. Building prod
uct manufacturers have
answered with a new genera
tion of treated wood that
avoids these risks.
An example is JELD-WEN
AuraLast wood, which is
guaranteed to resist decay
and termites for 20 years. At
this level of protection, home-
owners don’t have to sacrifice
the warmth that solid wood
windows and doors biing to
traditional architectural
styles that favor rich, natiu’al
tones.
For homeowners who want
the look of wood but live in
regions with extreme climate
conditions, fiberglass entry
doors have masteied the look
of genuine wood. For exam
ple, IWP Aiuora Custom
Fibeig^ass exterior doors are >
cast fiom solid wood doors
and match the look and feel of
wood so closely that even
experts cannot tell the differ
ence.
• Keys to Classic Architec
tural St>ies
For homeowners who want
to unite the classic looks of
their homes, here are a few
tips on what architectural
details to highlight:
• Decorative ^ass is the
key to carrying off Victorian
architectural stjde at the
fiont entryway Beveled and
textured glass bri^tens the
entry and reinforces the
strong geometric shapes of a
‘\Tctorian home’s facade.
The same patterning can be
carried throughout the home
with custom divided Htes for
windows. Depending on win
dow type, exterior colors and
grille patterns, homeowners
can find windows in wood,
clad wood or vinjd to match
this architectural stjde.
• The keys to the Crafts
man look are symmetry and
simple details that empha
size balanced proportions.
While glass inserts are still
Important in Craftsman
dcx)rs, the fanciful radius and
oval shapes of the \fictorian
stjde are replaced with sym
metrical, squared-off* forms
and designs abstracted fix)m
nature.
Wood windows in pine,
made of reliable treated wood
like AuraLast, complement
this architectural stjde,
which favors rich, natural
wood finishes.
• Tb carry off* an Old World
look at the fiont entry, the
key is decorative hardware.
An otherwise ordinary pan
eled door takes on a whole
new dimension of stjde with
the addition of a speakeasy
grille or decorative straps.
Choosing options such as
antiquing, hand-hewn finish
es and hammered-look hard
ware can add to the Old
World appearance. Shaped
casement windows with
arched or peaked tops and
Gothic divided lite patterns
can help carry this design
theme throu^out the home.
• A hallmark of the Colonial
architectural sLjde is a grand
fix>nt entrance — often a pro
jecting central pavilion or a
portico with columns.
For a Colonial entrance, a
broad, paneled door with
classical proportions and
symmetrical sideUghts fits
the bill. Wood and fiberglass
doors offer a variety of cus
tom options within the estab
lished set of Colonial-stjde
doors. Double-hung windows
in white or ivory with sym
metrical divided lite patterns
are the perfect match for
Colonial stjde.
For more remodeling
resources, visit www.jeld-
wen.com or call (800) 877-
9482.
Finding faucet that suits your fancy
Continued from page4D
a beautifully designed vessel
sink, the wall-mount faucet
can make a dramatic decorat
ing statement in the bath,”
added Pannell. These stjdes
also fi:ee-up needed counter
space and ease cleaning
around the sink.
‘They’re ideal for the dis
criminating consumer who
has a granite or tile counter-
top and doesn’t want to clut
ter the surface with a faucet.”
Make mine a single
But, there’s more to a faucet
than just a spout. Don’t forget
to (»nsider the types of han
dles you prefer. ‘The choice
between a single handle and
a two handle faucet is best
made by considering your
needs,” said Pannell. “Sin^e
handle faucets can be easier
to use and more convenient,
particularly for children or
individuals who may have
difficulty turning a lever. This
can be especially important
when hands are wet and
soapy or if someone in the
family has arthritis or other
physical limitations.”
Two handle faucets offer a
broader variety of design
options.
“This stjde is more poeva-
lent in powder rooms or mas
ter baths, where homeowners
are looking for a specific stjde
to match a certain dtor,”
said Pannell. “With two han
dle faucets, you will also have
more choices of handle style.
which include lever, cross, or
knob.”
If you like the look of a two
handle faucet, but are con
cerned about ease of use,
choose a lever stjde handle
which is easier to manipulate
and provides precise temper
ature adjustment Finishing
Tbuches Forget the days of
the plain chrome faucet.
Tbday’s faucets add personal
ity to any bath not only with
their sleek designs, but also
through a broad array of
designer finish options.
“CTirome will always be a
classic finish,” said Pannell.
“But new finish options can
really create an eye-catdiing
look at the sink. Surpassing
chrome in popularity are
bmshed finishes and oil
nabbed bronze,” added Pan
nell. “These designer finishes
cost a bit more, but they cre
ate a coordinated look and
can tie into the whole d^cor of
a home.”
With so many stjdes and
options to choose from,
there’s sure to be a faucet
that’s rigjit for you.
Pannell says, “Keep in
mind what will best suit your
needs, your budget and your
personal stjde, and you can’t
go wrong.”
For more information about
the Eva Collection fiom Moen
or other bathroom faucet
designs, visit www.moencom
orcaU 1-800-BUY-MOEN.
Outdoor painting prep made a lot easier
Continued from page 4D
innovative flex disc system
allows the disc to conform to
the surface for optimal
results around flat trim and '
siding. It can be operated on
its edge to remove stubborn
paint chips or flat to smooth
or feather paint edges to cre
ate a perfect surface for
repainting. The disc’s op^n-
web design keeps paint and
dust build-up to a minimum
and allows the disc to ^de
over surface imperfections,
including nail heads or sharp
edges, without damage.
The PaintEater is ergonom
ically designed to allow for
multiple hand positions, eas
ing hand fatigue and provid
ing safety on ladders. It can
be used on wood, masonite
and cement. (Dnce you have a
perfectly propped smTace,
choose fiom one of Wagner’s
power paint sprayers to com
plete the job. For a profes
sional finish, and for making
quick work of painting an
entire house, nothing beats a
power sprayer for helping
homeowners paint like pros.
Wagner’s industry-leading
knowledge of paint removal,
paint application and power
tools creates a paint removal
system that is easy to use.
For more infcmuaticsi, visit
WWW.wagnerspraytech.com.
You can also find Wagner
products at home improve
ment stores nationwide.
tion on these and otliei' faux www.dutchboy.com, or call
finishes, or to locate a Dutch (800) 828-5669.
Boy retailer, log onto
At home
and in the
neighborhood.
tKJe Cl^arlottc
UGLY ROOF
/
Stains Removed!
New look, NOT New Roof
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^ **1* » B JsB
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OF
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Realtors, Mortgage Funding, Investors,
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To join this page of ADVERTISERS
Please call
Yonr Personal Execntive:
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OWNING YOUR FUTURE
Homeownership is a national priority. HUD is the
nation’s housing agency committed to increasing
homeownership and dedicated to helping first-time
buyers and minority families become homeowners.
Each year, HUD programs and services help tens of
thousands of families accomplish the dream of a life
time: owning a home.
Most likely, you’ll need to borrow money to buy a
house. Getting a fair deal will help you to keep your
home and boost your home equity wealth. Home
equity is the part of the value of your home that
belongs to you—the value of your house minus what
you owe on the mortgage. Your goal is to get a loan
that doesn’t include high fees or a high interest rate.
With low fees and a low interest rate, you can pay
down your debt more quickly and own more of your
hou.se.
Watch You Wealth
The wealth you accumulate in a hou.se is no different
than money in a checking or savings account. Be as
careful and attentive to your home equity as you
would be to your bank account. Be cautious about
refinancing or borrowing against your home equity.
Remember, refinancing isn’t always a gotxJ idea.
Don’t let someone sell you a loan you don’t need or
can’t afford. Be wary of pitches like "NO CREDIT,
NO PROBLEM" or random mail promising favor
able mortgage rates. If it .sounds too good to be true,
it probably is.
For more information, call 1 (8fX)) 569-4287 or go to
www.owningyourfuture.gov and .select "Buying a
Home."