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Cliarlotte ^odt
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2006
4D REAL ESTATE
m
Rcmj^nd
Hawkins
Get to
know
your
mold
Hie issue of mold in liomes
is a hot tc^c with the Envi*
ronmental Protection Agency,
but how much do you know
about this hazard*^
Mold is part of the fungus
kingdom dike mushrooms,
yeast and puflnbaUs) or divi
sion of sponge with common
characteris
tics like a
multiplying
plant Molds
reproduce by
means of tiny
spores. These
tiny spores
are invisible
to the naked
eye and float
through the
air Mold generates indoors
when mold spores land on
moist surfaces
How mold j*n)ws
Mold growth does not
require the presence of mois
ture; mold can grow when the
relative humidity of the air is
liigh Hie ability of air to hold
water vapor decreases as the
temperature falls. Maintain
ing the relative humidity
between 30-60 percent will
help control mold.
WliUe most spores lie dor
mant for years, given die
right ciramistances (exces
sive moisture) spores germi
nate and causes mold to grow.
Mold is everywhere liidden or
visible, depending on the
presence of moisture. These
fungi can be seen on trees out
side your home or in your
refrigerator on old food.
Molds are part of our natur
al environment Outdoors,
mold impact nature by break
ing down dead organic howev
er. indoors mold growth
should be avoided
Molds have the potential to
cause health problems Indoor
molds produce allei^ns, irri
tants, and in some cases,
potentially toxic substances
that can cause alletgiic reac
tions
Some people are very sensi
tive to mold. For these people,
exposure to mold can cause
symptoms such as nasal
stuffiness, eye irritation,
wheezing, or skin irritation
People with serious allergies
however, may have more
severe reactions which may
include fever and shortness of
breath
You may suspect hidden
mold if your home smells
musky of moldy, even thou^
you cannot see the source and
you know there has been
water damage Undetected
mold can be hidden in places
such as the back side of dr>'
walls, wallpaper, or paneling.
Most hidden mold problems
can frequently be found in
ductwcak, damp crawl spaces,
the underside of carpets and
pads
Moisture = mold
If you discover a mcJd {irob-
lem, then you have a mcasture
(Hoblem Hiere is no (X'actical
way to eliminate all molds
and mold spores in the indoor
enNironment However; the
way to contrd indoor mold
groN%th is to control mmsture.
Hierefore, fix tl» source of
water problems and leaks to
prevent mold growth before
mold growth starts
Hie first thing ycu need to
do is eliminate the water
source creating the problem.
Next, you must evaluate the
severity of the affected area
prior to a(:^>ing solution.
If >'ou respond promptly
(within 24-48 hours) to a
moasture (xoblem. you have a
good chance of contrc^ling a
potential mold problem.
Promptly clean mold off hard
Please see LEARN;50
PHOTO DECKORATORS
Deck out your home with enhanced hving space
.\RnCU: RESOURCE ASSOdMlOS
Home improvement has become
one of the nation’s favorite pas
times. Every day millions tune in to
watch TV gurus work their magic -
sometimes to extremes.
But when it comes to real life,
most Americans operate within a
budget and evaluate their home
improvements based on cost-effec
tiveness, One growing trend is an
emphasis on outdoor living spaces,
where families find usable space
and a new venue for decorating and
design.
“A nice deck or patio doesn't cost
nearly as much as adding indoor
space and yet it’s a great addition to
a home,” says Chelsea Gardner, a
landscape designer who writes
about outdoor decorating and enter
taining.
“I’m seeing more homeowners
who want improvements that
enhance their lifestyle, and decks
give you great options for entertain
ing, relaxing, and spreading out.
With today’s wide range of deck and
patio products you can add on a sig
nature environment using creative
design and interesting accessories,”
says Dave Bielicki, owner of Decks
Atlanta.
Bielicki notes that today’s decks
have become much more than wood
en platforms attached to the back of
a house. Hiey are designer-inspired
living spaces, where comfortable
furniture, functional lifting, and
decorative balusters make them an
attractive, multi-purpose area for
families.
Kelly Jones, founder of Deckora-
tors, a leader in deck rail options
and accessories, says their newest
items appeal to the homeowner who
wants more than just place to plop
the charcoal grill and lawn chedrs.
Included on his list of best sellers
are stylized baroque balusters of
maintenance-free aluminum and
view expanding options Inade of
glass. The company’s “Scenic
Series” of glass balusters comes in
two stjdes - the Frontier, a simple
rectangular design with beveled
edges, and the Contour, a curva
ceous figure-eight design. Both are
available in clear or tinted versions.
“When you sit on your deck, you’re
actually at eye level with the rails,
so it makes sense to make the balus
ters a focal point,” Jones says.
Evcti if a new “designer” deck is
not in the budget, adding balusters,
postcaps, or centerpieces can give a
tired deck a brand new look. New
balusters are so easy to install that
do-it-yourselfers can make dramatic
uj^ades in their existii^ decks
over a weekend. Jones says virtual
design tools, like the one on the
Deckorators Web site (www.decko-
rators.com), make it pg^sible to see
just how different a deck can look
with some dramatic updating.
Sometimes even the “perfect
home” with lots of interior space
feels different when the weather
Please see DECK/5D
Looking for luxury
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ri t A:
o A
ARTKLERESOdtCEASSOCiATIOS
Maybe it is the televisicxi shows focusing on
celebrity lifestyies, or maybe its a sign of a
healthy econcony WTiatever the reason, there
is a noticeaUe trend toward “trading up” in the
American consumer market that's haNing a big
impact on a wide range of products - not to
mention on home decor around the country
Hie trend ranges from trading to sit-down
restaurants and cafes instead of fast food eaten
PHOTCVARA CXJNTENT
in the car fca* lunch to upscale kitchen and bath
{arxhicts at hcxne. Ccsisumers want to pamper
themselves with luxuries likp 300-thread count
sheets and professicaial grade coc^cware - even
if they ne\’er coc^ PuMcati(ms Hkp Dwell and
even O, OjsTih’s magazine, have introduced
ccnsumers to a range of hi^-end consumer
goods that were fixmeriy availaUe only to the
rich and famous.
Rease see LOOKING/5D
PHOTO/ARA CONTENT
Peerless offers consumers an eas^ stylish
upgrade to the kitchen and bath.
Upgrade your
kitchen or bath
with easy faucet
installation tips
.ARTICLE RESOURCE ASSOCI.ATIOS
Changing a faucet is one of the best ways to update
a kitchen or bath without the time, expense and
inconvenience of a full-scale renovation. Faucets
serve as a focal point in the kitchen and bath, and
stjdish new fixtures with matching accessories can
give these important rooms a refreshing new appear
ance.
Many people who recognize the benefits of uj^ad-
ing their faucets are intimidated by the thought cf
tackling the task on their own. But they don’t need to
be, says Christine Rasche, associate product market
ing manager for Peerless. “With a little forethou^t
and preparation, installing a stjiish new faucet can
be relatively simple.”
While many consumers want to infuse their
kitchens and baths with more stjie, they don’t want
to break the bank doing so. Manufacturers sudi as
Peeriess now offer a fiill line cf styiish products at an
affordable {nice point. Hiese products are easy to
maintain, and offer ccxisumers the style and depend
ability they want out of their kitriien or bathroom
makeover.
Rease see UPGRADE/SD