SPRING IMPROVEMENT
Kitchen Talk – Jim Lawrence
Kitchens: reface or replace?
Let’s face it, it’s time to reface or replace your kitchen. It makes sense that refacing would cost less.
One should give this decision careful thought, to make sure that refacing is the best choice.
To make refacing work, it is important that the kitchen layout remains the same.
Typically refacing and adding new counters will cost about half of the cost of all new cabinets.
The math is simple, if you relocate one appliance it adds about an additional 25 percent to the cost.
So you can see that in two moves you are at the cost of a whole new kitchen!
If your kitchen is a wood color, it is much easier to stay on budget if you move to a painted finish.
With painted cabinets they simply remove the doors , fill the hinge holes and paint the rails, trim and end panels with a high quality paint.
Once new factory finished doors with hidden hinges are applied along with a new kitchen counter and updated handles, you will have created a kitchen with a bright, open, airy feel.
If it is within your budget there are many advantages to new cabinets.
With new cabinets we can offer a whole new layout, and on the hidden side you get better drawers, adjustable shelves and maintenance free interiors.
On a really low budget along with a little sweat equity, in a week or weekend you and a friend (or hire a student to help) can pick up a couple of gallons of high quality paint and replacement handles.
In a short time you can transform that old kitchen significantly making some cosmetic changes to update your look.
Of course if you are thinking of a major refacing job, it is normally best to get a kitchen professional in to review your project and give you firm quotes.
Typically they can offer you an accurate budget for both refacing or for new cabinets, so you can make informed choices.
Along with this service they usually can offer some useful ideas that you may not have thought of to create the best kitchen for you.
This article is by Jim Lawrence of Avondale Kitchens. They are in your area almost every week doing professional at-home-no-charge kitchen designs.
Why acrylic coatings are the best options for decks
If your outdoor deck is looking tired, it may be high time to give it a “pick me up” in the form of a new deck coating. And there’s no better time to refinish a deck than spring, when you can enjoy the fruits of your labor all summer long.
In years past, many homeowners used oil-based or “alkyd” deck stains, but these products have some major shortcomings: for one, they soon become very brittle; and second, they absorb the sun’s harmful UV rays. As a result, oil-based coatings quickly degrade, wear away, and must often be re-applied as often as once a year.
Fortunately, technology has come to the rescue, and manufacturers now offer some far better options in the form of water-based 100 percent acrylic deck coatings. These products share none of the shortcomings of oil-based coatings, so they not only make a deck look great … but, thankfully, they also last much longer.
Debbie Zimmer is paint and color expert at the Paint Quality Institute, which does extensive testing on deck coatings. She explains why 100 percent acrylic coatings perform so much better than oil-based products:
“Unlike oil-based deck coatings, water-based 100 percent acrylic coatings form a very flexible protective film that is also highly resistant to UV rays. So, acrylics are really the perfect ‘antidote’ for what ails oil-based deck products,” she says.
“The proof is easy to see on the hundreds of wood test decks we have at our outdoor exposure locations,” she says. “Time after time, the acrylic coatings outperform oil-based coatings, and that’s true on every type of wood, from redwood, cedar and pine, to pressure-treated wood and wood composite deck materials.”
If you like the idea of stretching out the staining cycle on your outdoor deck, then a water-based 100 percent acrylic coating is the way to go. You can even choose from three popular options, each one offering some specific advantages:
Semi-transparent acrylic stains are lightly pigmented coatings that permit you to either maintain, or change, the color of your wood or composite without hiding its grain or texture. These coatings are water-repellant and contain special ingredients to keep mildew in check. Semi-transparent coatings typically last about 18 months.
Solid color acrylic stains — sometimes referred to as opaque stains — have more pigment than semi-transparent products, so their color tends to obscure the grain of the wood. At the same time, that added pigment provides extra UV protection and better durability, so solid color stains last longer, typically, three to five years.
Wood restoration acrylic coatings are the product of choice for severely weathered and some habitually neglected decks. These are basically super-thick acrylic coatings that actually fill in and conceal cracks and crevices up to 1/4-inch deep. Plus, these coatings create a slip-resistant finish that resists future cracking and peeling. As with the other acrylic products, these come in a wide range of attractive colors and offer some mildew protection, too.
“All of these acrylic coatings have excellent adhesion to wood decks and other surfaces, which is another reason they last so long,” says Zimmer. “And unlike oil-based or alkyd coatings, which require solvents for cleanup, you can clean up after applying water-based acrylics with plain soap and water.”
So, unless your idea of a good time is applying another coat of stain, think about using a longer-lasting 100 percent acrylic coating when your wood deck starts sending out distress signals. You’ll be doing your deck, and yourself, a big favor!
For more information, visit the Paint Quality Institute website at www.paintquality.com.
Enhancing your home’s exterior with bird feeders
By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
HOULTON — Feeding wild birds can be both therapeutic and relaxing for many individuals as the gentle sounds of a songbird chirping a melody is one of the finer sounds in nature.
People can enjoy the up close and personal sights and sounds of birds with minimal effort and cost. For some, simply throwing some sunflower seeds or tossing a few breadcrumbs on the lawn will suffice. For others, hanging a variety of bird feeders in a nearby tree or mounting them on a pole or attaching them to a window works.
Kathy Wiggins, an employee of Aroostook Milling in Houlton, offers the following advice for those looking to get started with feeding birds.
“You’ll have a better chance of attracting a wide variety of birds if you choose a quality bird feeder and fill it with the seeds loved by different species,” she said. “In this area, there are lots of chickadees, gold finches, redpolls, sparrows, blue jays and mourning doves. People have told me there are cardinals too, but I have not been lucky enough to see any.”
Although most birds aren’t picky, choosing a seed they are fond of helps guarantee a better turnout at your feeder. Putting a mixture of seeds into a feeder also increases the chances of getting a greater variety of birds, she said.
Black oil sunflower seed is the most common type of food and is popular with chickadees, grosbeaks, cardinals, but that is not the only choice. Thistle and nyjer seeds are also popular and are the favorite seed of finches. Peanuts are another popular choice.
Those who are looking to get a specialized mixture of food can do so at Aroostook Milling as the company not only sells the popular Blue Seal and Nature’s Choice varieties, but also sells mixed seed by the pound.
Hummingbird feeders typically can be placed starting May 15, Wiggins said. There are commercially made nectar products out there for these feeders. However, simply mixing a batch of sugar and water will suffice. It can also be tinted with food coloring to easily see how much has been depleted.
Location of feeders is not as tricky as one would think. Simply place the feeder where it can be viewed easily and is also easy to access for refilling. However, for the best success hang feeders by nearby trees or shrubbery so that the birds will have a quick place to retreat to if they feel threatened.
Feeders come in freestanding, pole-mounted and hanging varieties. In extremely windy areas, consider a sheltered location for your feeder.
Keep in mind that birds will not be the only animals attracted to the feeder. Squirrels are notorious pillagers, as are raccoons and even rats, especially if seed is knocked over onto the ground and not cleaned up promptly. Squirrels are particularly dexterous and can scale bird feeder poles and raid the easy loot. There are bird feeders available that feature a cone-shaped shield with an 18-inch radius on the post below the feeder (at least four feet above the ground), which are geared toward stopping pests in their tracks.
As your backyard expands, consider adding more feeders of different sizes and even nesting containers and birdbaths to attract even more winged companions.
Building a Backyard ‘Stress-Free Zone’
Stress. It’s all around us from the workplace to the world at large. This season, decrease your stress levels by creating a “stress-free zone” or (SFZ) in your own backyard. And don’t worry about not having a spacious backyard. No matter the space limitations, your SFZ can incorporate the sensation of island breezes gently rocking while your stress seems to slip away. It all can be created when your plans begin with a hammock.
SFZ Step 1: Find the perfect hammock for your Zone — Due to the large variety of hammock styles, creating your SFZ can be colorful as well as comfortable. Three general areas will need to be considered before buying a hammock: construction quality, general styling and accessories, and care. Construction is the most important factor because there are safety issues involved. But, don’t stress. Laurie Rudd, creative director for Hatteras Hammocks points out, “Items to look for in a body-hugging rope hammock are weight and amount of rope in the bed. The more rope, the stronger and the more comfortable the hammock will be.” Heavy-duty steel end hardware also should accompany your hammock for hanging safely. Most hammocks are made for two-person lounging with a weight capacity in excess of 400 lbs. In hanging the hammock, make sure the structure from which you are hanging the hammock will hold the weight you plan to place in the hammock. Most hammocks will come with hooks for hanging from a tree or post, while a large variety of stands are available for those who do not have those two perfectly positioned trees.
SFZ Step 2: Hammock Accessories to Increase Enjoyment and Reduce Stress — Are you stressing because you do not have two perfectly placed trees? Stress no more. Your SFZ can be located on your porch or next to a favorite flowering bush. This is done with the addition of a hammock stand. With the ability to be placed on any flat surface, a hammock stand opens up all kinds of opportunities for your “Zone” to move it anywhere that feels right. The most popular and safest stand available is made of steel and easily assembles without the need for any tools. A weight capacity of from 450 to 600 pounds is available on most hammock stands. The next most popular accessory is the hammock pillow. Weather-resistant fabrics are used to craft large, beautiful hammock pillows that accommodate two-person relaxing.
SFZ Step 3: Stress-less Hammock Care — Once your hammock in your SFZ is in use, maintaining it for years to come does not have to be stressful either. Quality hammocks are built for long life in the outdoors and easy clean up when they encounter the elements. The latest technology in outdoor performance ropes and fabrics for hammocks, swings and rugs, DuraCord offers stain resistance, fade resistance, and easy cleaning. A mild soap solution removes most outdoor dirt. A bleach-and-water solution also can be used for tougher spots.
SFZ Step 4: De-Stress — Everyone, after a day at the office or a day in the yard, deserves the comfort and beauty that his surroundings can provide. In no time, you’ll feel your cares escaping with each soothing sway of your hammock when you create your own Stress-Free Zone.