Posted on Wed, May 09, 2012
What would you do in case of an emergency? We have always been told to dial 9-1-1, which is correct, but would the emergency personnel be able to locate your residence?
We assume so. We purchased our home with house and mail box numbers. But over the years, numbers may have cracked, fallen off or faded with age. Perhaps after painting your home you used the same numbers that now blend in to your new color rather than stand out?
During an emergency is the time that you want to stand out! Choose numbers that contrast the color of your home, are framed or whatever you can do to make these numbers noticeable.
Numbers on your mailbox should stand out as well incase trees, snow, decorations or other things have blocked viewing the house numbers from the street. The numbers on this mailbox may be too small for emergency personnel to see especially in the dark so do your best to help. This bit of effort will definitely be appreciated by all in case of an emergency.
Take the time to check out yours today for safety's sake!
Posted on Sun, Apr 22, 2012
In the world of hustle and bustle we all can get overwhelmed with home projects. If we tackle things slow & steady like the tortoise, this should help rather than hurt when it comes to your home's "to-do list". Home Chat will be a place where you will get simple tips on what your home would like done (so to speak) and hopefully save you time in the long run so you still can get out & play. So listen and learn.
Whether your home is a spring chicken, or more mature, touch up painting is enviable. I know you are not a procrastinator but you just might "put things off a bit". The best solution is minor touch-ups and do it all at once. Just do it! Take a field trip through your home with a brush and a jar of touch up paint. If you do this once a month, you are always caught up. If you wait & do it once per year, then it's a real chore and you will become cranky ~ guaranteed!
Do not waste your time by doing a touch up though on nail holes or similar unless you have "properly" filled the hole. Once the hole is filled with spackle, then all you will need to paint these areas is use a cotton swab. No paint brush to clean. If you are going to do it, then do it right the first time. Now you can put your feet up or get out there and play!
Posted on Wed, Apr 11, 2012
Knowing how to shut off your water "to" your home, and "in" your home, is as important as getting water to run through those pipes to your faucet. The first time a pipe bursts from freezing and thawing, you will be grateful to know where the shut off valves are located. Your home has two types of shut off valves. Take the time to find out where they are sooner than later.
First, the main shut off valve (key box) is often located in your front/side yard. Many valves are sticking out of the ground in varied heights and often camouflaged by flowers and shrubs during the warm weather months. In some cases, this shut off valve is buried in one's driveway, such as ours. One thing you may like to add to your "Honey-Do List" is to contact your Utility Locate Service, to locate this on your property before you need it in an emergency. Then take the time to mark this area with spray paint or some other means. Inform your family, friends or neighbors where this may be for the "just in case moment".
The other shut off valve is located "inside" your home anywhere from your garage to your crawl space. Crawlspace accesses are at times just a hole in your floor, inside a closet. If this is true in your situation you may want to re-think storing items on top of this area. In an emergency, every minute will count if water is gushing in your home and out in to your street.
After this valve is located, mark it with a large tag and/or flagging tape to call attention to this area. Inform your family members, friends or house sitters of this location as well. Knowing the whereabouts of this valve and how to use it properly is your best protection against costly water damage. In addition, check this valve to assure it is in working order at least twice per year.
For more information, the Utility Locate Center's number in Anchorage is 278-3121.
Posted on Fri, Apr 06, 2012
Focus has quickly switched from dealing with ice and snow on the roof of our homes to "What is happening in our Crawlspaces?" As Murphy's Law has it ~ just when you are not watching <<bam>> and there's water in your crawlspace!
With very little storage in our homes so many look to their crawlspaces for seasonal storage. So be a dear, go into your crawlspace and give it a once over. Hopefully you had taken the time in the fall and prepared your home for the winter so you will not find any surprises during the spring thaw.
Looking with your special eyes...
- Are there any signs of moisture or standing water? (Hopefully, no).
- What is the condition of your foundation? Any new cracks? Should any cracks be on the outside of your home, these should be repaired to prevent water seepage in the future even if your crawlspace is currently dry.
- What is the condition of your foundation vent? Your vent is there to allow moisture to escape.
- Is that vent too close to any plumbing? If it is, you might experience freezing and/or breaking pipes.
- Is your crawlspace exposed dirt? If so, you will need to cover it with a vapor retarder (plastic). This is now required by code.
- Do you have evidence of mold? If so, call a professional. Mold in your home is very unhealthy!
- Do you have a sump pump? Is it in working order and doing its job?
A crawlspace is just a hole in the ground, under your home and water will be attracted to this area. With preventative maintenance, yours should be able to remain dry. Should you discover moisture or water damage in your home, do not pass go and immediately contact the professionals! Those every day heroes will save the day!
Posted on Sat, Mar 24, 2012
The Interior Alaska Building Association is hosting its Spring Home Show at the Carlson Center in Fairbanks, Alaska from March 23 through March 25th.
This year's theme is "It's a Jungle Out There!"
You will find Taylored Restoration at Booth # 172 ~ just down on Masonry Way ~ not far from the Door Prizes at the Fairbanks Home Show this weekend.
Saturday's hours are 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. and hours on Sunday are from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m.
Taylored is in business to serve you, our community, "Because We Care!" We have been caring for your homes and businesses for over 40 years.
If your house has an emergency Taylored can "SWING" into action!
Posted on Wed, Mar 21, 2012
Not keen on dealing with the crowds (or the kids) during the Anchorage Home Garden & Remodeling Show? Our customers have requested a more personal and private setting to make their design and remodeling wishes come true.
You've asked and Taylored Restoration is honoring those requests! This personal setting is our very own "Showroom".
After you had the chance to visit the Home Show this weekend, we would love to share quality time with you, at your convenience, and make those home remodeling dreams come true!
Whether your dream is a kitchen remodel or a bath remodel, Taylored is the place to begin! We can assist you with your design, product selection, wallpaper and paint, flooring and more. Our Showroom is a great source!
Call now for a personal appointment!
FLOORING: Hardwood, Laminate, Carpet & more.
COUNTERTOPS: Laminate, solid surfaces, etc.
CABINETRY: Huntwood Cabinets
WINDOW COVERINGS: Graeber & Hunter Douglas
Posted on Tue, Mar 13, 2012
Now that you have had a few days to adjust to Daylight Savings Time, did you remember to replace the batteries in your Smoke & Fire Alarms?
We had visited that idea back in October or November when we changed our clocks back. It was suggested that this task should be done "twice a year". You are welcomed to chase around a faint beep in the middle of the night or you can make it apart of your Daylight Savings Ritual.
For the safety of your home and your family, do not let time get away from you. Change those batteries, or the entire alarm, depending on the age of the devise now ~ for safety's sake!
Posted on Wed, Mar 07, 2012
A word that I feel has become quite "stylish" is Re-Purpose. How so? Well, with the world's population growing and more items are being manufactured to become a "sure in" to our landfills we need to go with the flow. Not much is made like "the good old days". So, what can we do about it? Repurpose.
A perfect example of repurposing items is the Habitat for Humanity's RESTORE STORE which is located on Cordova Street in Anchorage. This is a place that allows "Trash to become Treasures". Reminds me of the garbage man's logo on his trash truck long ago back in Minnesota stating "Your Trash is my Bread & Butter". (Thanks Jerry Telker!)
In my opinion, this place is awesome. Aisles of donated construction supplies, from cabinets to tiles to lighting to paint to appliances and even furniture from Hotels doing their sprucing up - out with the "Old" & in with the "New". But one of the best thing is that these items are staying out of our landfills!
You too can make a difference! Call or click but be sure to "donate" your items from your remodel project to the Restore Store. You may drop off or they will pick up. You may also find that "replacement something" that your big box stores no longer carry. A perfect shopping experience for that "do it yourself" person or unleashing "the crafty person" within!
Posted on Mon, Feb 20, 2012
Wake up your room with lighting! Some rooms may feel dull and uninviting until a little "sparkle" is added. By sparkle, we mean lighting. Even with the most simple architecture, lighting can make all the difference in transforming your boring living space into a stunning showpiece.
First, it is important to evaluate your space with its own natural light. Then, consider layering additional lighting for your desired look and feel of your home. In this case, by adding a lead glass door to this 1970's foyer certainly brought in more natural light but it called out for more. With the addition of an updated ceiling light, two sconces and a large mirror, which will also reflect the light, has made this area come to life!
OTHER TYPES OF LIGHTING:
Accent lighting is most commonly used to highlight your artwork or other treasures. They are usually more powerful than your general lighting. Having lighting on a dimmer switch will also add more drama to your room.
Task lighting has a specific duty to assist you when you are doing a 
particular task usually in the kitchen areas such as the sink or stove. These may include under cabinet strip lighting, as shown, hanging pendants or track lighting.
Recessed lights will help reduce glare and is a popular alternative to a central ceiling light in your room. It is suggested that you space these lights accordingly in order to have the light patterns overlap for best results.
Home buyers tend to respond more positively to a well lit home. Inside and out! A well-designed lighting scheme may give you a competitive advantage to make your home stand out in the market.
Check out lighting centers, or shop on-line, to see if switching out a fixture or two will give you back some "sparkle" in your life!
Posted on Tue, Feb 14, 2012
Whether you chose to design a mosaic tabletop, backsplash or a game tabletop such I am doing at the present time, the "how to's" are very similar.
Deciding to repurpose items, this project begins with a simple cabinet door in order to make a mosaic game table. This shaker style door will provide a space of 19x19 inches for tile work. Having a checkerboard design, will allow us to use mostly 2x2 inch square tiles with a decorative border with no cutting at all. (Both checkers & chess need a total of 64 squares for the game.)
- First lay out your "design" next to you on the work table making sure you are pleased with your design.
- Next, prepare your tabletop by sanding down the wood & cleaning its surface. In this case, a cabinet door, the raised edge was previously sanded, cleaned then painted.
- Begin setting the tile in the center & working your way to the edges. Attach the pieces one at a time using tile adhesive (mastic) which may be pre-mixed and comes in a bucket. Or smaller projects, a mosaic glue can be used - which can be found at a local craft store.
- Butter the back of your tiles with a notched trowel.
- Press tiles on to your top making sure they are level with those around them leaving an even space between your tiles for your grout.
- Allow your project to dry completely; usually overnight.
- Using an unsanded grout, which is formulated for small grout lines or projects with glass tiles, mix to a peanut butter type consistency.
- Spread your grout onto your project using a grout float; scraping off the excess by holding the float at a 45 degree angle. Drag it across the surface of the tile while wiping several times with a sponge & clean water until the excess grout has been removed.
- Once completely cured, apply grout sealer. This protects the grout lines and your tile against stains and keeps the color consistent.
For the base of this project, broken tile mosaic was used.
- The base is built of scraps of wood.
- Using similar tiles, place tiles in a cloth on your workspace and cover.
- While wearing "safety glasses" - use a hammer and break tiles one at a time. Not so hard that you damage the glaze of the tile.
Working with your tiles like a puzzle, place them one by one as we did in the top to a design of your liking, breaking tiles along the way. (I have also added decorative round pieces of glass to the base.)- Repeat the instructions above to finish your project.
- Assemble your top to the base and begin enjoying your game table or whatever your project may be!
Tools & supplies for this project: Tile, safety glasses, grout, grout float, grout sealant, sponge, notched trowel, hammer, tape measure, cloth to wrap tiles, sand paper, cleaning supplies & access to water, wood, screws, to attach top to the base.
