Newspapers / The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, … / Feb. 23, 2006, edition 1 / Page 29
Part of The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
mm 5D REAL ESTATEATSe CdarUitte $ot Thursday, February 23, 2006 Leam about dangers of mold Continued from page4D surfaces with water and detergent and dry completely The key to mold control is moisture control It is essen tial to clean up the mold and get rid of excess water or moisture. Absorbent material such as ceiling tile, that are moldy, may need to be replaced. Although it is impossible to eliminate all mold spores, with the ri^t measures we can control hazardous mold and its hamiful affects. ROL\.\D K. HAWKIXS is a real esiale agem wlh Caldwell Banker United Realtors. He can he reached al (704) 840-5762 or via the internet at \^^^'WJvland• hawkinsjcom Deck home with enhanced living space Continued from page 4D warms up. Cheryl and Richard Basanti of Naperville, Ill. moved into their house in the winter, and when spring arrived they realized they lacked outdoor space to entertain and keep an eye on the children play ing outside. “Our house had a small deck, but it was not very flmc- tional. It sat up hi^ on our * house and offered no privacy from our neighbors,” Cherji says. The Basantis liired a con tractor and conveiied their* old deck into a multi-level entertaiimient space, taking advantage of the slope of their* land to create privacy and square footage. Tbday, Cheryl says her deck, which includes attractive designer baluster*s and matcliing post caps, gets as much use - and compliments - as their inside space. “Remodeling yoiu* home for financial reasons has actually become more of a gamble than an investment,” says financial planning expert Viktor Szucs, a certified financial planner* with Quest Capital Management in Dal las. “It’s always best to invest in enhancements for yDur*self rather than for resale pur*{X)S- Althou^ expensive media rooms and gymnasium-sized master suites may be popular items for wealthy homeown ers, a new deck or r*enovation of an existing one makes sense for a broader range of people. “Remodeling Maga zine” says decks are expected to remain a top project for homeowners interested in adding value, space and return on investment. Upgrade your kitchen or bath with easy faucet installation tips lA#! AAA A /I ^ 0.1 1 _1 A -ll.. _ _ . i \7_. —JX— 1 1 Continued from page4D Follow these simple steps for faucet installation, and you can have a new look in your kitchen and/or bath in no time; * Allow plenty of time to install your new faucet. Don’t rush yourself * Before you begin, assem ble the appropriate tools list ed on the installation sheet included in your faucet box. * Keep in mind that remov ing your old faucet may be the toughest part of the job. Spraying a little penetrating oil on the old tailpiece mount ing nuts and supply-tube cou pling nuts 24 hours in advance can make that task much easier. * Lay a towel in tlie sink during your installation to avoid scratches and to avoid dropping anything down the sink. * Shut off the water sup plies 6*0111 the valves located under yom* sink, then tm-n on the faucet to release pres- * Disconnect the tubes attached to the water supply valves. You may need to use a tube cutter if the water sup ply pipes were soldered. * Loosen and remove the old faucet and all faucet pai*ts fi*om the sink. You will likely need to use a basin wrench plus a little extra muscle power. * Thoroughly clean the sink and counter ai*ea where the existing faucet was removed before inserting yom* new faucet. * Follow the step-by-step instructions provided with your new faucet to properly install the product. * After the faucet is installed, don’t forget to remove the aerator, and turn on the hot and cold water supplies for one minute to flush die water lines. This will remove debris that could cause damage to internal parts. For more help while installing your new faucet, call Peerless at (800) 345- 3358. And be on the lookout for Peerless’ new Web site, WWW.faucetcoach.com, launching in February 2006. Looking for luxury Continued from page 4D The luxury trend in the bathroom includes huge mas ter bath suites that feature everything fi*om marble vani ties to Jacuzzi baths to Em*o- pean-influenced amenities like bidets and towd warm ers. Some of these additions, like towel warmers, are func tional as well as fashionable. ‘There’s nothing more pam pering than stepping out of the bath or shower and wrap- pii^ yourself in a fluffy, warm towel,” says Paula Bush of Zehnder, a company known for its towel radiatoi's. “But towel warmei's ai*e practical as well - they add energy effi ciency and temperatme com fort to the room.” Tbwel radi ators have been a pai*t of the heating system in Em*ope for years, and are a pait of ener gy efficient design. By heat ing the bathi’oom indepen dently fi*om the central heat ing system, homeowners can avoid heating the whole house for the sake of a warm bathroom. The progi’ammable infrared controller allows for operation only when needed, adding to energy savings. Simply program the towel radiator to turn on in the morning before you wake up, and you’ll be greeted with a warm bathroom and a warm towel to stai*t your day In humid climates, the radiators help prevent mold and mildew by drying damp tow els quickly Zehnder towel radiators are electric, self-contained units. They are easy to install and run on standard electricity They fit anywhere that you would put up a regular towel bar. Tbwel radiators come in a large variety of stjdes and fin ishes to match the furnish ings of any bathroom. See them at www. zehnderameri- ca.com or contact Zehnder America Inc., 540 Portsmouth Ave., Greenland, N.H. Their toll-fi'ee number is (888) 778-6701. Modular deck tiles will go anywhere, cut costs in half PHOTO/ARA CONSENT .ARTICLERESOLRCEASSOCIATJOS Do you dream of a new wcxxi deck, but are daunted by the cost of having one built or the difficulty of doing it yourself? Don’t despair Modular deck tiles can make a beautiful do-it-yourself deck possible for even home improvement neophytes. Decks are the fourth most popular home improvement pro ject, according to a survey conducted by LivingHome.com. Adding a deck enhances your home’s value by increasing warm- weather living space, and it’s much cheaper than building an actual rocan additicaL Modular deck tiles - wooden tiles that snap together to create an attractive, sturdy surface - are the next thing in decks for do-it-yourselfers. Each 1-square-foot wooden tile is mounted on a sturdy plastic grid backing. The grid allows the tiles to snap together like chil dren’s plastic building blocks. “They are so easy to put together, you can reasonably ®cpect to invest 60 minutes or less installing a 100 square foot deck,” says Tfed Petron, production manager of Sisal Rugs Direct. The inch-thick tiles are made of beautiful, durable teak and other Brazilian hardwood such as Ipe (ironwood). Three styles are available - Ipe Smooth, Tbak and Ipe Non-Slick (grooved for slip protection around poob and spas). The tiles are imported fi*om Italy Besides easy installation, modular deck tiles have several advantages over traditional decks: • No concrete footings or complicated support systems are necessary Modular deck tiles can be placed over any reasonably flat surface - fix)m an existing concrete patio or weathered tra ditional decking, to lawn or even bare ground. When placing them over grass or ground, however, consider using plastic shielding material (available at any hardware or home improvement store) to discxmrage weed growth through the tiles. • The average cost per square foot of a traditional deck ranges around $35 to over $50 per square foot depending on the wood choice. Modular deck tiles cost approximately $17 to $25 per square foot. • Once assembled, modular deck tiles are as sturdy as a tra ditional deck But they can easily be disassembled should you decide to relocate your deck, or take it with you when you move. • Because they snap together, modular tile decks never have any exposed screws or nails, making them child and pet fiiend- ly • Cleanup and maintenance are easy Simply hose off your modular deck tiles as needed for regular cleaning. Once a year, treat them with a wood sealer and ultraviolet li^t protector. • Modular deck tiles can also be used to easily create patios, paths and posh pool areas outdoors, and as flooring in hcnue spas or on apartment or condo balconies. Deck tiles can also be laid in three different designs: traditional, offset ot parquet to create a truly unique look. Tb leam more about modular deck tiles, visit www.sisal- rugs.com, ca* call (888) 613-1335. At home and in the neighborhood. Cibarlotte $0{it Lar^e Alfordalile Apartments THE PARK ATOAKLAWN 1 Mile* from clownlowii-Grcat sl^yliiio views l^'scrveil for low and iiKHlerak* incoine families 2MK$53()-$555* 3IJKS59()-$(ri5 I)i sliwdslicrs, intrusion alarms,cvilin^fans, w d Iik)I^-u|)s, c'liiyiolise, |KK>I, playground, rcsuL‘nl luisincsscvnlcr So slop liy and cIkvI us out!!! 1215 Risin^OaU Drive, (0 Cliarlotle, NC 2820(^ • 704.3 34.8884 Crosland WORID OF Real Estate Realtors, Mortgage Funding, Investors, Contractors, and More! To join this page of ADVERTISERS Please call Your Personal Executive: Pat McNair ext. 106 • Jeri Thompson ext. 104 Sheryl Bradford ext 107 Fran Farrer-Nash ext. 113 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 tx)rrow 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 intere.st rate, you can pay down your debt more quickly and own more of your house. Watch You Wealth The wealth you accumulate in a house 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 again.st your home equity. Remember, refinancing isn’t always a gfxxl 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 Ux) gcxxl to be true, it probably is. For more information, call I (8(K)) 569^287 or go to www.owningyourfuture.gov and select "Buying a Home."
The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Feb. 23, 2006, edition 1
29
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75