On the Wire - Curb Appeal Matters
It’s officially a record. According to a new study, homeowners spent $44.7 billion to hire professional lawn and landscape services in 2006. That’s more than ever before and almost DOUBLE the amount spent just five years ago. Services include lawn care and maintenance, landscaping, tree care services, and landscape design services.
Nearly a third of all households nationwide currently hire at least one type of lawn and landscape service. It’s a good indicator that homeowners want nice looking lawns and landscaping, but don’t always have the time or inclination to do the work themselves.
A well-maintained lawn is important especially if you are planning on selling your home anytime soon. Experts agree that the best way to improve your home's first impression - and increase your asking price - is to invest in a landscaping upgrade. In fact, studies show spending just $500 on your lawn, plants and flowers can add as much as $5,000 to the final sale price. Even a good cleaning of dead plants and brush, overgrowth and dead tree limbs can make a huge difference. The moral of this story: keep up the curb appeal to keep up the value on your home.
Source: The Residential Lawn and Landscape Services and the Value of Landscaping survey was conducted in June 2007, for the National Gardening Assocation by Harris Interactive Inc., with a representative sample of 2,663 households nationwide.
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Ask Tom & Leslie - Moisture Problem
I have a major moisture problem with a home that is one block from Lake Michigan in South Haven, MI. I have a working sump pump below ground level and am still having rotting problems with the floor joists. A local contractor wants to staple plastic to the joists or lay it on the ground. Would you recommend either of these as a solution?
Moisture management typically involves several solutions working together. Adding plastic sheathing over the soil as a crawlspace vapor barrier is a good start. Also check your outside drainage conditions. Gutters must be clean, free-flowing and discharging 4 to 6 feet from the foundation. Grading has to also slope away. See more wet basement and crawlspace tips here.
If the moisture problem is severe, another step might be to install a crawlspace foundation vent fan, wired into a humidistat. The fan can be set to kick on whenever humidity gets high enough and pull drier outside air through the space to minimize condensation on the floor hoists and potential rot/mold/insect problems that could ensue.
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Got A Question About Your Money Pit?
You can do-it-yourself but you don't have to do-it-alone. Getting in touch with us is as easy as 1 - 2 or 3!
- The toll-free studio hot line is 1-888-MONEY PIT. Find out when we broadcast in your area by checking out our website at www.moneypit.com. Each week we take dozens of calls, give great advice and offer callers a chance to win a terrific prize awarded to one random caller to every show.
- Call when it's convenient for you, 24 hours a day, same number: 1-888-MONEY PIT. A live person takes your call 24/7! So -- WHENEVER you have a home improvement question -- phone it in. Simply tell our phone screener your first name, and where you're calling from...and ask your question. We’ll get back to you with the answer – or even call you back during the show!
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On the Air - All Hype?
Kitchens can make or break a house – and homeowners are spending tons of money making their kitchens spectacular. But do you really need a four thousand dollar professional chef range to cool your family dinner? The top 10 hyped kitchen products and why you probably don’t need them – on the next Money Pit radio show. To find out where to tune us in near you, or download our popular Podcast, visit www.moneypit.com.
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Dot Common Sense - Calling All Pros
The Money Pit wants you! Are you a home improvement pro? Do you nail, plumb, wire, pipe, vent, brick, cut or nail your way through homes for a living? We are looking for a few of the proud and the brave to share some insight with us. Tell us what you wish your clients knew BEFORE they hired you. Tom and Leslie are writing a new book that could feature you! We'll pick three pros to interview on our national radio show this fall and select many more to include in our upcoming book! So, here's your chance. Help us help you by telling us what you wish consumers knew before hiring you for a home improvement project. If you could "train" your customers, what would you tell them? Include tips or advice that might make them a more knowledge consumer of your products or services. And feel free to include any humorous "war stories" from customers who, perhaps could have used a bit of training! Click here for details.
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Fun Fact - Nail Pops
We get a lot of questions about a very common phenomenon called a “nail pop”. It happens when framing lumber dries out and pushes a nail right out of the wall. The good news is nail pops are harmless and pretty easy to fix. The best way to take care of it is to drive a new nail right next to the loose one. Make sure the head of the new nail overlaps the loose nail head and brings it flush. Another option is to replace the nail with a drywall screw. Cover with spackle, sand, repaint, and you’re done!
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Short Cuts - In the Dog House
A great doghouse can keep you pet cool in the summer and warm in the winter months. If you’re thinking about building one for your pooch, don’t use pressure treated wood on any parts the dog may chew. The doghouse should be raised from the ground to keep out moisture and help insulate the dog from the cold. It should be large enough for the dog to comfortably turn around but small enough to retain the dog's body heat.
Use exterior grade plywood, which has special glues that prevent the layers from coming apart when they get wet. Make sure the roof of the house is designed to be removable. This will allow for easy cleaning. Choose a shady spot to set up your dog’s new abode. You can even outfit his new digs with AC or heat. As a member of your family, why wouldn’t your dog deserve a home as sweet as yours?
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Copyright 2006 Squeaky Door Productions, Inc.
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