HANGING CURTAINS 101

Hanging curtains seems like a no-brainer, right? Install the curtain rods, pop on the window treatments, and you’re done.

While it really can be that easy, there are some tricks and tips to keep in mind if you want your curtains to go from average to amazing. Keep reading to find out what you need to know.

Determine their purpose

Are the curtains going to be decorative or more functional? If you just want to add a little pizzazz to the room without worrying about filtering the light or maintaining privacy, then lightweight, unlined curtains will do the trick. However, if you want to block out the light or create privacy, you’ll need heavier or lined curtains.

Measure, measure, measure

Before you rush out and buy your new curtains, be sure to measure the windows, taking into account how you want the curtains to hang. There’s nothing more frustrating than having your project stalled by having to return curtains and rods that are the wrong size.

Speaking of size…

A great trick if you want your windows to appear larger than they really are is to hang the rod higher and wider than the window. Hang the rod at least four inches from the frame, but consider hanging it as close to the ceiling as possible. Just make sure the curtains reach the floor or even puddle a little. If you’re hanging cafe curtains they should skim the sill.

Go for fullness

Curtains should be hung so that they extend between 8 – 12 inches wider than the window. Choose panels that give you the most fullness, especially when completely closed. A good rule of thumb is to buy panels that are 2.5 times the width of the window.

Consider the hardware

The curtains are the main attraction, but don’t forget about the supporting players – the hardware. If you’re buying heavy curtains, make sure to purchase a rod that can handle the weight. Also think about the style of the room and choose finials and tiebacks that complement.

Get creative

Don’t feel you have to limit yourself to the selection of curtains you find in the store. There are many items you have around your home that make excellent curtains when repurposed. Vintage tea towels, silk scarves and even sheets can all take on a second life as curtains. You can even skip the sewing machine by purchasing curtain hooks that clip onto the fabric.

Don’t forget the iron

Now that you’ve put all this time and effort into making sure your curtains do your room justice, don’t diminish the effect by hanging them wrinkled or dirty. Wrinkled curtains look like an afterthought and can take away from an otherwise beautiful window treatment. Before you hang them, be sure to bust out the iron and give them a good once over. Also be sure to iron anytime you take them down to have them cleaned.

While hanging curtains may seem a little daunting, by following these tips you’ll turn otherwise boring window treatments into brilliant additions to your room!

Top 10 Preventive Maintenance Tips for Garage Door Owners

Your garage door is the largest moving part in your entire home, and is used multiple times per day at any hour and in all seasons. To keep your garage door operating smoothly for decades to come, it’s very important that you take the time to perform regular preventive care and maintenance. Here are 10 things that all homeowners can do:

1. Look and Listen

The most important preventive step you can take is to observe your garage door in action every time you use it. Is it moving smoothly or is it jerky in places? Does it operate silently or does it make grinding or scraping noises? Do both sides of the system (springs, pulleys and cables) look symmetrical?

2. Tighten up the Hardware

The average garage door moves up and down more than a thousand times a year. That’s a lot of movement and vibration, which can loosen the hardware. Examine and tighten all roller brackets and bolts with a socket wrench.

3. Test the Garage Door Balance

If your garage door is not properly balanced, the garage door opener will have to work harder, and it won’t last as long.

After you disconnect the opener by pulling the release handle (usually a red cord), manually move the door about halfway up. If it doesn’t stay put, the counterweight system (springs) are improperly balanced. Garage door spring adjustment is best left to the professionals.

4. Inspect and Replace the Rollers

The rollers, whether steel or nylon, need to be inspected twice a year and replaced every seven years or so, and even more if you use your garage door many times a day.

Worn, chipped or cracked rollers should be replaced as soon as possible. You do this by removing and reinstalling any roller brackets that are not directly attached to the cable system.

5. Replace the Weatherstripping

If the rubber weather seal strip on the bottom of your door is brittle or cracked, replace it right away to keep the elements out of your house. Weatherstripping is sold by the foot at hardware and home improvement stores. Just cut to size and insert into the grooves with the wide angle of the flange inside the door.

6. Lubricate the Moving Parts

Keeping your garage door parts greased up will add years of seamless operation to your system – and it takes just 10 minutes a year! Use white lithium grease on the opener’s chain or screw, and a spray lubricant, available from your garage door specialist, to coat the overhead springs.

7. Check the Cables

You should never tinker with the high-tension cables that lift your door because they have enough force to maim and kill. But you can check their condition so you know when to hire a pro. Check for broken strands and damage near the bottom roller bracket.

8. Test the Auto-Reverse Safety Features

There are two mechanisms: mechanical and photocell. In order to test the mechanical feature, place a piece of wood or a brick on the ground in the path of the door. When the door coming down touches that object, it should reverse direction and go back up again. To test the second, the photoelectric system with beams at each side, close your door and just pass your leg in the door’s path. Your door should reverse.

If your opener is more than 20 years old, it may lack this basic safety features – and so it’s time to buy a new garage door opener.

9. Clear the Tracks

Make sure the tracks on either side of the door are free from debris and, if you are so inclined, you can use a level to check the plumb. Any major adjustments to tracks must be done by a professional garage door technician.

10. Groom Your Garage Door

Don’t forget to examine the door itself. Wood doors will need to be checked for water damage and warp, as well as chipped and peeling paint. Steel doors may have rust spots that need to be sanded, primed and painted. Wash your garage door regularly with a mild all-purpose cleaner at the same time you do your car.

What to Know about Fall Leaves and Your Home

This time of year, leaves turn beautiful shades of red, vermilion, orange and yellow. We enjoy their beauty. We take photographs. We collect them. Our children play in them. For a homeowner, however, leaves pose the possibility of damage to their landscaping, their home and their relationships.

Leaves and lawn-care

If you’re new to homeownership, you may not know that while allowing leaves to lay a thick carpet over your lawn is beautiful, a solid mat of large wet leaves, such as those from oak, maple or sycamore trees, can damage your lawn. They promote mold growth, cause moisture to run off rather than seep into the ground, and hide the grass from the winter sun.

Experts suggest keeping your lawn clear of leaves. Here are some options to consider:

• Raking. This historic method of dealing with leaves is still the preferred method for some lawns. If you have specialty turf, lightly raking and removing leaves protects your lawn from damage. Bag leaves or ad them to your compost pile. Remember that paper bags will decompose much more quickly than plastic ones. If your city offers leave removal, be sure to utilize the appropriate process required.
• Mulching. Many mowers have mulch settings that chop the leaves into smaller bits that you can leave on the lawn to decompose naturally, and add nutrients to the soil.
• Blowing. Many gardening professionals prefer blowing leaves out of flowerbeds and lawns with power blowers into large piles to then “vacuum” them up with large machinery and haul them away. Typically, you would hire a professional to do this since purchasing the equipment for yourself might be cost prohibitive.

Leaves and gutter-care

Blowing and falling leaves create problems for your gutters. Once most of the leaves have fallen, you should have your gutters inspected for clogs. A clogged gutter is more than just an inconvenience. It can cause water and ice to back up under your roof creating leaks and other damage. When rainwater overflows a clogged gutter or plugged downspout, your fascia and soffits are endangered, too. Water backing up a downspout may dislodge or warp gutters, pulling them away from your house. When water spills down the sides of your home, it damages windows, walls and even your foundation.

Consider a professional gutter-cleaning service, especially if your home has more than one story. You might investigate gutter guards if your property is particularly prone to leaf buildup. Your local gutter professional can help you determine what works best in your situation.

Leaves and relationships

Most municipalities consider leaves to be a natural product, so while a homeowner might be responsible for damage to a neighbor’s home from a falling branch, that is not the case with falling leaves. So, when the leaves from your yard blow into your neighbor’s yard, he may not have a legal claim, but it will strain your neighborly relationships. Make sure to talk to your new neighbors about the leaf situation. The best neighbors come up with a solution together.