Renew My Home - A Home Improvement Blog

Photo by: eyesogreen

In the last couple of weeks, the employees of Renewal by Andersen of Central PA have had the opportunity to participate in a “Biggest Loser” competition. Although it is similar to the one many of you are familiar with on television, there is one BIG difference. This competition is focused on becoming healthy so you are able to transfer that health to other areas of your life, including your home.

Joe Green, certified fitness expert, is the man behind the idea, “Your Healthy House, Health & Fitness Program.” This program is designed to help all of us and you become healthy from the inside out. He has been able to collect money saving guidelines and motivational tips through his years of experience and hundreds of satisfied clients.

This competition is between two teams of employees, but is different from what you see on television because he measures success by:

• Percentage of body fat loss – Getting healthy from the inside out, taking care of the heart
• Percentage of inches lost – Reducing obesity related health risks
• Percentage of weight lost – Increasing the quality and quantity of the life you live
• Teaching how to adopt changes permanently and helping you understand how to maintain results

How this is connected to the house you live in:

• Healthy habits lead to a healthier, cleaner and more productive home environment
• Your body is your “Healthy House” and must be strong to survive
• Studies show healthier individuals save money by their eating habits alone
• Use of less energy from utilities and equipment, including vehicles

Joe’s Motivating and Money Saving Tips:

1. Give Your Space a Face: The most critical tip! Designate an area in your home to work out and make sure it is a place you enjoy being. A temperature controlled area that is well lit and/or exposed to natural sunlight and decorated nicely will have an amazing impact on you and your motivation
2. “GO GREEN”: Great energy saving and money making tip. Get on that old treadmill and start walking without turning on the power. It gives you the benefit of getting your cardio exercise in and resistance training for your legs and buns because you’re moving the belt instead of the motor. No electricity needed, money saved and the only energy spent were the calories you burned.
3. Insulate Your Workouts: Create and designate a space where you’ll workout and be able to pump up the volume on your iPod and get a good sweat

Make sure you keep these tips in mind:

• Keep your space private and separate from other distractions in the home
• Sound proof as much as possible so you do not disturb others
• Make sure it is temperature controlled to avoid sprains/strains

With these tips and a little self motivation, you will be able to say that you and your home are as healthy as can be! RBA of Central PA is committed to it and in just three short weeks under Joe’s guidance and motivation, we have lost 5% of our combined body weight.

For more information, including healthy recipes, tips, exercise and equipment information:

Joe Green, CPFT, CNC, CES

Fit For You – Fitness Pros.

3301 Schoolhouse Lane

Harrisburg, PA 17109

(717) 579-8257

joe@phyt4u.com

www.phyt4u.com

Photo by hans s

Spring, one word that brings up feelings of hope, warmth and visions of tulips and sunshine. Spring cleaning can also bring a feeling of new beginnings. It’s the time of year to clean all the dust that collected during a cold winter, put away warm clothes, and plan out your new projects.

In order to make spring cleaning efficient, effective and maybe even something you enjoy, there has to be a game plan. Make a list and map out your plan of attack: where you are starting, what is most important, and what can wait if you run out of time. Make sure you give yourself enough time and take a few days to do it all.

When in Doubt, Throw It Out!

Walk around your house and take inventory of all the clutter that has accumulated. Before you can clean, you need to get rid of it all. Go through old clothes and shoes and donate unwanted things, buy organizational bins and folders to get rid of the piles of papers and mail, and go through all cabinets and drawers and throw out anything you haven’t used or are past an expiration date. Organize! Organize! Organize!

Scrub a Dub Dub

Now, the cleaning begins! Hopefully, you will have a little less to clean and dust after the previous step. Either way, the best advice is to start from the top and work your way down. Take down all window treatments and other linens to have laundered or soak so they won’t collect extra dust and won’t spread dirt taking them out later. Make sure to dust the ceiling fans, shelves, any art or pictures on the walls, and furniture before you vacuum or sweep the floor.

This step can sometimes be seen as tedious because everything you do can be repeated in other rooms with some variations, such as scrubbing the toilet and shower in the bathroom and running an empty dishwasher with a little baking soda and defrosting the freezer in the kitchen. When asked for tips and tricks on spring cleaning, one of the best responses was, “baking soda, water, vinegar…can clean just about everything!” (Thank you, Nancy!).

It’s the Little Things

Last but not least, there are many small chores people wouldn’t think of doing during spring cleaning. Two of the most important ones have to do with your family’s safety and well being. Make sure to change the batteries in the smoke detectors, dust the units and teach everyone in the house how to use a fire extinguisher. Also, update your 1^st Aid Kit. Make sure everyone in the house knows where it is, that it has the most current emergency numbers and is stocked full of supplies.

Hope you are able to get some enjoyment out of getting rid of Old Man Winter and welcoming spring but if not, throw on some old clothes, blast some of your favorite music, sing into whatever cleaning supply you have handy and get ready for some hard work. Trust me; you will be happy when it’s done.

Photo by CubaGallery

Has your grandmother ever been more than willing to give you advice about your home? Most of us, in our young age, let the advice go in one ear and out the other. As an adult, I wish I would have listened much more closely to the wise words of the women in my family.

My grandparents were raised in an era where they had to work for everything and their needs and wants were far less than they are today. But their household responsibilities were greater than modern families could imagine. In a world where 90% of people in their 30’s are in debt and most 20 year olds wouldn’t know how to make a home cooked meal let alone how to get a rust stain out of clothing, it wouldn’t hurt to look at advice from a past generation.

Here is the best advice I could find taken from Household Science and Arts and talking to others who have had advice given to them:

General Advice:

• Iron rust stains may be removed by wetting the material with cold water, applying lemon juice and salt and placing in the sunshine
• Keep moth balls in the attic of your home
• Never let the air become stale in a sick person’s bedroom, it should be as fresh as outside

Kitchen and Cleaning Advice:

• Do not leave food or garbage cans uncovered because it will attract flies, which carry germs
• Sweep floors in short strokes, keeping the broom close to the floor to prevent spreading dust
• Order of washing dishes: Glasses, Silver, China and change water whenever it becomes greasy or cool

Dinner Advice:

• Arrange a place for the father at the head of the table and for mother at the foot of the table and one should be opposite from each other
• Include a soup spoon when setting the table for dinner in addition to the knives, forks, spoons, tumbler and napkin that you would use for breakfast
• Do not talk about disagreeable things during a meal. No politics or religion, especially with relatives

Household advice:

• No matter your income, spend carefully. Decide on your standard of living and stick to it. Decide what is a necessity and a luxury
• Wall papers and floor coverings should be quiet backgrounds for people, pictures and furnishings. Startling patterns and colors are out of place
• The living room should be warm, inviting, and quiet, sleeping rooms should be light and cool with the simplest furniture, kitchen should be light and convenient with as good an equipment as a workman would demand in a modern shop
• Avoid accumulating unnecessary articles that require constant dusting

A house that is turned into a home is one of the greatest accomplishments in any family, today and especially in past generations. The above advice should be able to give you an appreciation for how your grandparents were raised and realize their advice can still apply today. One of my favorite quotes from, Household Science and Arts is something I think any person with a home can appreciate:

“Such a place may be called a home. It is not the result of a hurried purchase of a load of furniture, but comes only with years of planning and thoughtful experience. It is worth a lifetime of loving study, for the results may not be only a work of art but a liberal education.”

To read more on the subject, check out this book from 1912.

Photo by: Geraldbrazell

During the winter months in Central Pennsylvania, heat is a necessity. Depending on the style and age of your home, there are many different options for heating your home. From baseboards to central heat, floor heating and wood burning stoves, this blog will discuss many options in the mid-state and even some new ones for you to consider.

Forced Air System

This is most commonly referred to as the furnace or central heat. It is the most common type of heat in newer houses in the mid-state. The air in your house is heated through the furnace and then distributed through the rest of the house through vents and ductwork. Furnaces may also use many types of fuel sources. They are able to use gas, propane, oil or electricity depending on the house.

Advantages: This method of distributing heat is also the only one that can be used for cooling.

The air can be filtered, humidified, or dehumidified.

It is inexpensive and can attain highest efficiency ratings

Disadvantages: Ductwork can take space in the walls

Some furnaces can be loud and heard throughout house

Allergens are distributed by air flow through ductwork.

Radiant Heat

Provides the most natural and comfortable heat in a home. Radiant heat can be different in many houses, from pot belly stoves to the less common in-floor hot water tubing.  It radiates or transfers heat from a hot surface to a cold surface. This type of heat is most commonly provided by hot water in tubing under the floor, electricity, radiant panels in the ceilings or heating stoves. The in floor tubing is water heated by a boiler which can be fueled by natural gas, propane, oil or electricity. The heating stoves may use wood or coal.

When the tubing was first made, it was modeled to fix cold bathroom floors. It then grew to conservatories and extensions, like stone-floored kitchen-diners, which were popular especially if you could have the tubing installed while building. However, now, the electric systems are becoming more varied and can match most flooring types including hardwood, laminate and even carpet.

Advantages: Even supply of heat

Boilers can be energy efficient

Heats from the floor up

Frees up more space from walls and floors without radiators/baseboards

Wet or water systems are 30% more energy efficient than radiators

Disadvantages: Slow to heat up

Expensive to install

Difficult access to piping if maintenance is required

Air Conditioning requires separate work.

Electric systems can be 30 to 40% more expensive to run

Hot Water Baseboard System

This type of heat also uses hot water heated by a boiler.  The hot water is piped into a “fin-tube” baseboard units mounted along the bottom of the walls.  Then the air is distributed by convection and as the air rises it is heated by the baseboard unit. The boiler may be fueled by natural gas, propane, oil or electricity.

Advantages: Energy Efficient

Quiet

Accurate temperature control

Disadvantages:                No furniture can be placed directly in front of baseboards

Slow to heat up, all heat rises to ceiling first

Air conditioning requires separate system

Wood Burning Stoves

This is probably the most controversial type of heating because of accidents and mishaps in the home. However, those in favor of wood burning stoves agree that with education and personal responsibility, wood heating is environmentally appropriate and economically beneficial. Gathering the wood yourself is physically healthy and experiencing the wood stove is comforting.  There are several ways to heat your home with wood and they include wood stoves, fireplaces, advanced technology stoves and outdoor boilers.

Advantages: Heating with wood, partially or totally, is environmentally appropriate and    economically beneficial

Burning wood the correct way can reduce net greenhouse gas emissions responsible for global warming

Homeowner is using a renewable energy source to heat home

Disadvantages: Wood must be collected by homeowner and should not be stacked next to a home for fear of termites

Wood has limitations on how often it can be burnt and when but most can be managed

Wood must be treated and burnt correctly or heat is wasted and harmful.

Click here to learn more about heat systems

Photo by UGGBoy UGGGirl

Twas the week before Christmas, when all through the house
All the windows were rattling, and even my spouse
The stockings swayed by the chimney from air
We hoped that RBA soon would be there

The children were bundled all snug in their beds,
While visions of new windows danced in their heads
And mamma in her scarf and the dog in my lap
Had just realized it’s too drafty to nap

When out on the driveway, there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the couch to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash
But I couldn’t open the shutters or throw up the sash

Air coming in was our biggest woe
We loved our old house but not the window
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a Jason Beigh and his Renewal gear

With a little old salesman, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment, we would just click
More rapid than eagles, he reached where we aimed
And he measured, and figured, and followed through what he claimed

“Now Joe! Now, Jane! Now Tommy and Sue!
On Honor! On Trust! Our product is for you!
To the top of the porch! To the top of the wall!
We Guarantee! Guarantee! Guarantee all!

So impressed with RBA, we couldn’t help but to buy
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky
So up to the housetop, the installers they flew,
With a truck full of windows, and many thanks too!

Photo by: Caribb

With the holidays the most popular time for house guests, here are a few tips on how to make your guests feel more at-home in your home with room set up, other room choices and special touches.

Guest Room Set Up:

Budget is the number one thing to consider when setting up a guest room. Use the existing furniture to fit the theme of the room by re-arranging or even painting it. The suggested furniture for a guest room is 2 twin beds, chair, mirror, dresser, lamp for reading, alarm clock and spot for the guest’s luggage.  A TV, DVD player and CD player can also be added for entertainment at night.

Decorations for the guest room should be simple and almost sparse. Make sure to remove all of the extra stuff that was placed in there when used as a storage room. It can be decorated by theme or to go along with the rest of your house, but should be set up like a hotel room with a little bit more personal touches. Paint the walls, add plants, decorations, shelving and picture frames.

Other Room Choices:

A guest bedroom is a luxury many people do not have in their house. If you are one of the lucky ones, it is the perfect space for your out of town guests. However if you don’t have the extra space, you should choose a large room that can be easily turned into a private area.

The office and family room are the most popular rooms converted into a guest area. In the office, you can place a blow up mattress or a pull out couch with fresh linens, pillows and blankets. It is also helpful if the room is located near a guest bathroom. The living room can easily be turned into a private area by purchasing a folding screen or temporary curtain rod and curtain.

Special Touches:

If budget and time permits, add extra pillows and blankets in the closet so they are easily accessible. Wash the sheets and make the bed just before the guest arrives so they are fresh and add a piece of chocolate on the pillow for an extra touch.

Place a basket in the bathroom they will be using with extra towels and most commonly forgotten toiletries, such as hair spray, extra unopened tooth brush, soap, poof, body wash, hairdryer, other hair tools, razors, shaving cream, shampoo, conditioner, etc.

Clear out part of the closet that you will be giving them and add shelves and shoe racks so they are able to unpack. Also, clear out a few dresser drawers for the remainder of their clothes.

No matter what your house or budget permits, the most important thing to remember is to always make the guests feel like they are welcome and your home is their home. Whether it is for the holidays or just a short visit throughout the year, they should be made to feel that they are allowed anywhere in the house, that includes opening up your movie collection and refrigerator to them.

Photo by: Greg Nissen

Holiday season is upon us and one of the most important events to a family is picking out the Christmas tree. This can start as early as the weekend after Thanksgiving. Not many people know all of the options of trees that are available to them in Central Pennsylvania. Here is a list of the most popular trees sold here and a little information about each one:

Colorado Blue Spruce

The official tree of Colorado and Utah, it is gaining popularity for the Christmas tree because of its general shape and blue coloring. This tree requires very little maintenance and is the best among other spruces for holding its needles.

The needles are usually 1 to 1.5 inches on lower branches and shorter as you move up the tree. They are generally a dull bluish gray to silver gray and will give off a scent if the needles are smashed.

Fraser Fir

Commonly referred to as the Southern Balsam or Southern Balsam Fir, it has a pyramid shape with branches that curve upward but are sturdy. This gives the appearance that the tree is more compact than most, which is one of the reasons it is one of the most popular choices for Christmas trees. This fir also has a dark green-blue color, maintains needles well, and produces a pleasant scent when needles are crushed. This tree is most commonly produced in North Carolina but is easily shipped to any state.

The needles are ½ to 1 inch long with a dark green color on the upper side and a lighter color on the bottom.

Douglas Fir

Although not considered a true “fir”, it has been used as a Christmas tree in the Pacific Northwest since the 1920’s, where at that time, they were cut down from nature. Starting in the 1950’s until today, trees stopped coming from forests and are harvested from plantations.

It is arguably the most popular tree to use during the holidays and has since been shipped to all states, including Hawaii, Guam and some Asian countries. The branches have a slight sagging effect and the needles are sharply pointed. They are a dark green to blue color and 1 to 1 ½ inchest long. They are very soft to the touch and have a sweet scent when crushed.

White spruce

The state tree of South Dakota, the White Spruce has a triangular shape with branches that are spread out. The coloring of this tree is green to blue-green. When used as a Christmas tree, it has better needle retention than other spruces with stiff needles which are good for hanging ornaments, a great shape, and color. However, the common nickname for the White Spruce is also the “skunk spruce” because of the bad odor the needles give off when crushed.

There is a higher volume of needles in the upper half branches and are ½ to ¾ inches long.

Concolor Fir

This is also commonly referred to as the white fir. There is a bluish green tint to the tree but as it ages, the color turns greener. Its needle retention is fair, has a pleasing shape and scent.

The needles on the Concolor fir are usually ½ to 1 ½ inches and are pointed at the tip. They also tend to be thicker and more curved on the lower branches.

Norway Spruce

This has only recently become an option for Christmas once tree plantations were formed because it has been imported and primarily found in Europe. Although it has excellent color and triangular shape, it does not retain its needles unless freshly cut from a farm and placed in the home immediately.

The needles are 4 sided and ½ to 1 inch long and sharp with blunt tips.

Although the top three most commonly bought trees are firs, hopefully you will pick whichever tree fits into your house and needs. But, no matter what tree a shopper chooses, decorating it is a tradition that is most looked forward to during the holiday season.

For additional information on Christmas Trees