This Home’s Rendition of “Help” was Worthy of a Renovation
01 day ago
From Kate Smith, Chief Color Maven at Sensational Color
John Lennon and Paul McCartney might not agree, but I thought this home’s rendition of “Help” was worthy of a renovation.
Here is what I heard this home singing loud and clear in its best off-key voice,
“When I was younger, so much younger than today, I never needed anybody’s help in any way. But now those days are gone, I’m not so self-assured. Now, I find it’s time to change my windows and need to open up the doors.
Help me if you can, I’m feeling down and I do appreciate you being round. Help me, get my millwork all around. Won’t you please, please help me, help me, help me … and our house!”
It wasn’t the age of this home that had it feeling down, it was a case of the wrong style covering up the authentic beauty of the arts-and-crafts exterior. Time to strip this home of those mismatched pieces and give it a look that was true to the home’s style. I wanted to give this home a reason to change its tune.
I started by removing the “over-wrought” white front door. In its place I chose a Therma-TruClassic-Craft American Style Collection fiberglass entry door stained in cedar with a doorlite and sidelites in the Villager decorative glass style.
Then off came the shutters and it was as if the home breathed a sigh of relief because it would no longer have to try to be something it wasn’t. I smiled as I saw the life coming back into this home.
Decorum by Simonton vinyl replacement windows with Chocolate exterior frames along with new urethane timber square pot shelves beneath each window from Fypon had the look of what would have been used originally on this home. Urethane Timber Stained Brackets above the door and near the dormer window added another arts-and-crafts accent to the home.
The columns on the front and side porch were a detail I wanted to highlight so I gave them a new look with Fypon’s popular Column Wraps. I also replaced the privacy lattice on the side porch with a stained grid work that complimented the other elements of this home.
The DaVinci Multi-Width Shake roof in New Cedar that includes a combination of five shades of cedar colors was the perfect choice to connect the colors in the door, windows, brick and trim. The “top down” color added to the home by the roof made it the ideal selection for this structure.
I thought about keeping the overall scheme tonal because it has a simplicity that was becoming but I thought that after wearing the wrong “wardrobe” for so long it needed some color. The muted teal accents over the door and window areas was all that was needed to complete the exterior and get this home belting out its own pitch-perfect version of, “Love, love me do!”
Before & After Home Makeover: Holly Ludwig Roark Of Owensboro, Ky “Shake it Up” Exterior Color Contest Finalist
04 days ago
From Kate Smith, Chief Color Maven at Sensational Color
It was love at first sight and this homeowner didn’t hesitate to take the plunge with her Old Kentucky home. The first blush of admiration unfortunately wore off as the realities of living with an older home set in. Time for renovation to step in and rescue this relationship!
The homeowner dreamed of a classic slate roof, windows that didn’t let the cold winter wind in and a front door that would warmly welcome her home. I knew just how to bring the spark back and give her the classic look she desired. Here’s how I turned this relationship from high maintenance to one of pure joy.
I began by replacing the roof with a Bellaforte Slate polymer roof by DaVinci Roofscapes in Slate Black. The size of the tiles are the right proportion for the scale of her home and the 50-year warranty means she won’t have roof problems plaguing her relationship ever again. I bet she is going to love knowing she has a secure roof over her head.
Then to keep the cold from getting between them I replaced the windows with energy-efficient Simonton replacement windows. I chose the white exterior frames and white colonial grids. Designed to let in the maximum amount of light while keeping the cold air out, these premium vinyl windows are a much-needed improvement to this home.
A Therma-Tru Classic-Craft Canvas Collection front door with sidelights and transom with Longford glass style is what I chose to replace the existing front door. There is no need for the storm door with this energy efficient fiberglass door so the full, eye-catching color of the front door invites you inside.
At this point the Old Kentucky home was already regaining its charm but I wanted to make sure that the “wow factor” never wore off again. Adding Fypon urethane Louvered Shutters with Center Rails added just the contrast this facade needed to give it a more stately appearance.
To woo this homeowner back completely the pièce de résistance was the portico. I knew it would capture her eye and warm her heart every time she looked at her home. It was created with PVC sheet and board products from Fypon, which resist rot, moisture and insects, so it will look as good years from now as it does today.
Who wouldn’t fall in love all over again with a home that promises to keep you comfortable every day and looks this good?
Shown with Valspar Paint Colors:
Black Tie-J100-4D
Rich White 30022A
Cocktail Dress ar126 Signature
Public online voting is now available for the DaVinci Roofscapes® “Shake it Up” Exterior Color Contest. From May 13 – 26, 2013 people are encouraged to visit the DaVinci Facebook page at http://on.fb.me/10LLET8 to select from one of five finalists in the contest. The winner, which will be announced on June 2, 2013, will receive a $5,000 cash grand prize to help add color to the exterior of his or her home.
Before & After Home Makeover: Philip Atkins of Lima, Ohio “Shake it Up” Exterior Color Contest Finalist
06 days ago
From Kate Smith, Chief Color Maven at Sensational Color
Even a good idea can sometimes go wrong. Matching your roof color to your brick is certainly a good idea. Trying to match the color too closely is a good idea gone wrong. While the roofing color might have seemed like the right choice, it overwhelms this home and is keeping the homeowners from showing their true colors. Time to get the red out!
These homeowners wanted to create a storybook cottage starting from the top down with a DaVinci Roofscapes Multi-Width Slate in the standard color blend Aberdeen. They liked the variety of subtle colors and could begin to imagine the look of a home in the English countryside with all of the technological improvements of American-made products.
Their essay pulled me into the dream and I knew that I could make it come true. First I crowned this cute home with the DaVinci Roofscapes slate tiles they desired … and that was just the beginning.
Next I added an updated front door. I chose a Therma-Tru Classic-Craft Canvas Collection door with Lucerna glass doorlite. A full doorlite or solid door could also be nice choices. For the color on this smooth, paintable fiberglass door I picked out a color from the roof tiles and turned up the intensity just enough to stand out but not fight with the color of the brick.
The windows on each side of the door were the same but not symmetrical on the facade. Rather than seeing this as a problem I considered this an opportunity to add a bay window on the left to balance the front of the home and add an element that I thought would fit with the homeowners vision of their remodeled home. Both picture windows were replaced with Simonton vinyl windows with white frames and colonial grids added to the double hung windows on each side.
I replaced the windows on the dormers with similar Simonton casement windows that also had the colonial grids. To give the dormers more presence I added the Fypon dormer kit to each of the dormer windows. Around the entry door, Fypon pilasters enhance the appeal of the entryway to the home.
The colors I chose for this home need to be subtle and blend with both the brick and roof tiles. A neutral color is the perfect background when you want to have other features take center stage as I did with this home. A neutral color can also downplay a feature you don’t want to have stand out as much, like the chimney. In white it drew too much attention away from the facade of the home. In a neutral hue that blends with the darker tones in the roof it adds to the look rather than distracting from it.
This was the same reasoning behind painting the garage door neutral to match the body of the home rather than the trim. The bright white big door was competing for attention from the front entrance. Plus, to continue the storybook look I added a Fypon Smooth White Trellis System over garage and this stands out much more now that the garage door isn’t white.
Another finishing touch was to place a white garden trellis against the left side of the home. I can already imagine it covered with beautiful, colorful blossoms.
I’m enjoying the results of this renovation. Isn’t it the perfect happy ending to the homeowner’s dream for a storybook cottage?
Paint colors from Sherwin-Willaims:
SW6973-Perfect Greige
SW6070-Heron Plume
SW6027-Cordovan
SW6005-Folkstone
Public online voting is now available for the DaVinci Roofscapes® “Shake it Up” Exterior Color Contest. From May 13 – 26, 2013 people are encouraged to visit the DaVinci Facebook page at http://on.fb.me/10LLET8 to select from one of five finalists in the contest. The winner, which will be announced on June 2, 2013, will receive a $5,000 cash grand prize to help add color to the exterior of his or her home.
Fypon Introduces 26 New Polyurethane Products
01 week ago
MAUMEE, OHIO – Fypon, LLC, the industry leader in synthetic millwork products, has published two new product catalogs showcasing the versatility of the company’s synthetic product lines. The Fypon® 2013 Polyurethane Catalog includes 26 new polyurethane products, including an assortment of brackets, plinth blocks, decorative panels, rafter tails and corbels.
The 220-page Fypon® 2013 Polyurethane Catalog includes more than 2,400 synthetic pieces in the categories of Window & Door Trim, Mouldings, E-Vent™ Systems, Decorative Millwork, Louvers & Gable Vents, Balustrade Systems, and Porch Posts, Columns & Post Wraps. The new products include plinth blocks and decorative panels, brackets, corbels and rafter tails. Some products are available in a smooth, paintable version, while others come in woodgrain versions ready for staining. A new smooth, paintable louvered shutter with center rail is also available along with a new 8-inch crosshead for topping off windows and doors. 
Detailed product descriptions and measurements of each product make the catalog a valuable tool for both building industry professionals enhancing commercial and residential products along with homeowners working on do-it-yourself projects. Each section of the catalog offers details on how to order products, explanations of accessory items and advice on ordering both pre-fabricated and custom products.
The new 40-page Fypon PVC Catalog features almost 400 PVC products in the categories of Column Wraps, QuickRail® Systems, and PVC Trim. Products in this catalog include PVC boards and sheets, trellis systems, trim profiles, rail kits, post kits, porch posts and grab rails. The durable PVC pieces, like all Fypon products, resist moisture, insect infestations, warping, cracking and splitting.
A new QuickRail Straight Rail Kit (with rails made of PVC) includes deluxe straight rails with a glass spindle style has been introduced in 2013. Additionally, a new Colonial Post Kit is now available that adds a sense of Old-World elegance and class to the QuickRail system. And, to add variety to the Post Sleeves and Accessories, Fypon has introduced a new Recessed Panel Post Sleeve to serve as an attractive accent for any existing support post.
“The diversity of products offered in these two new catalogs reflect how valuable Fypon products are for both interior and exterior applications,” says Niki Decker with Fypon. “Each item in the catalogs is made of high-performance synthetics — either polyurethane or PVC — that can weather the elements effortlessly while providing years of long-lasting beauty. Because they install quickly, these products help save both time and money on many projects.”
Free copies of both catalogs are available for viewing and downloading at www.fypon.com or by calling 1-800-446-3040.
Fypon offers thousands of decorative millwork elements in a variety of architectural styles to enhance the interior and exterior of homes. Each piece is crafted from tough, weather-resistant, high-performance materials that are resistant to decay, insect infestation and water damage for long-lasting beauty and low maintenance. Part of consumer products company Fortune Brands Home & Security (NYSE: FBHS), Fypon, LLC is owned by Therma-Tru Corp. For additional information, call 800-446-3040 or visit www.fypon.com.
Special Note: Media members may request free Fypon catalogs by contacting Kathy Ziprik at kziprik@aol.com or by calling 828-890-8065.
PHOTOGRAPHY: Download a variety of high-resolution images of Fypon products from the Fypon Media Room available at www.fypon.com.
National Home Improvement Month Tips for Homeowners
03 weeks ago
AMBLER, PA – While springtime was slow to arrive this year, the warmer weather is now here just in time for May’s National Home Improvement Month. With so many home projects to tackle, where do you start? According to Mark Clement, a professional contractor and host of MyFixitUpLife home improvement radio show, begin by selecting those projects that give your home a curb appeal “pick-me-up” while also enhancing the functionality of your house.
“National Home Improvement Month in May is the ideal time to shine the spotlight on projects that can make a big difference to both the aesthetic appeal and functionality of your home’s exterior,” says Clement. “Start by looking ‘from the top down’ on your home to determine what projects need to be tackled first. It may be time to add a new roof, replace your windows or door, or even spruce up your home’s exterior with new shutters or trim. All of these projects can add to the curb appeal and overall value of your home.”
Clement, who is currently renovating his own 100-year-old home in Pennsylvania, reminds homeowners that eventually all building products in a home need to be replaced. “Our doors, windows and roof were really shot after decades of continual exposure to the elements,” says Clement. “When I decided to replace these important features of our home, I went with the most advanced products available on the marketplace — vinyl windows, a fiberglass door, PVC trim and a polymer slate roof. Now I won’t have to worry about replacing these products for many more decades to come!”
According to Clement, there is a “must do” list of six exterior home features that homeowners should review every year during National Home Improvement Month. “If you get in the practice of evaluating these six items each May, then you’ll always make sure you’re staying on top of your home’s needs and keeping it looking great.”
The “top down” list recommended by Clement includes:
Item #1 – Check the roof. Using either a ladder or binoculars from across the street, look for problem areas, such as missing or broken shingles, along with roofing tiles that may be “flapping” in the wind. These are all indications that a new roof may be in your future. If that’s the case, research the newer products on the market, such as polymer shake and slate roofing tiles. These impact-resistant tiles are man-made in a wide variety of colors. Some roofing tiles, like those from DaVinci Roofscapes® that Clement chose for his home, are fire- and hail-resistant. They also have a 50-year limited warranty.
Item #2 – Clean and assess the home’s siding. Environmentally-friendly detergents, scrubbing and/or pressure-washing all work well for many homes to remove dirt and algae that can grow on siding. Remember never to pressure-wash trim pieces, windows or their screens. The extreme high pressure could crack or destroy the caulking around the units. While cleaning the siding, make sure to check for changes in the exterior from the previous year and be alert to buckling, warping, peeling paint or insect damage that may need to be fixed.
Item #3 – Check on the gutters. Don’t underestimate the importance of the gutter system on the home. Each year homeowners should check to make sure their gutters are clean, unclogged, securely attached to the home and remain sloped for proper drainage. Plus, make sure the water running off the roof doesn’t cause damage to the building structure, landscaping or property below the roof.
Item #4 – Evaluate the windows. If you find that the windows in your home don’t operate easily, there’s air leaking in or out of the units, or there’s condensation between the glass panes, it may be time to seriously consider replacement windows.
Vinyl framed windows have the highest growth rate in the country due to their energy-efficiency, aesthetic appeal and durability. Some of the best have fusion-welded corners and multi-chambered construction. Plus, maintenance hassles are so low you’ll forget the horrors of rotting frames, scraping and repainting that come with wood windows. For his renovation project, Clement selected vinyl home windows from Simonton Windows. The award-winning company impressed him with its strong product warranty, 65+ year history, selection of exterior frame color options and return-on-investment with their ENERGY STAR® qualified windows.
Item #5 – Spend time with your doors. If you can see light around a door from the inside, your door is hard to close or lock, or the door itself is warped, it’s time to consider a new door. Even if you can’t see light, air may be moving through gaps in the weather stripping at a surprising rate.
Think about the weather conditions that your home’s doors face along with your energy bills. If either run to the extreme, consider replacing an inefficient entryway with a high-performance fiberglass door (which can have up to four times more insulation value than wood doors). Clement added a Therma-Tru fiberglass door to his home with a decorative glass doorlite to update the look of his home while gaining energy-efficiency savings.
Item #6 – Look at your home’s accessory features. Spend time with your shutters, trim and louvers to see if they’re rotting or deteriorating. Check the bottoms and tops of columns and near the joints in crown and other mouldings for water spots, decay or peeling paint to see if they’re deteriorating in any way. They may also be suffering from termites, insect infestations or warping. When it’s time to replace these items, select low-maintenance urethane or PVC products from Fypon. The lightweight pieces are easy to install, add instant curb appeal to your home and extremely durable with their weather-resistant features.
For more home improvement tips, visit www.myfixituplife.com.
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Photography:
A wide variety of images exist for all products mentioned in this story. Contact Kathy Ziprik at kziprik@aol.com or 828-890-8065 for images to be sent to you.
ENERGY STAR is a government program that helps consumers protect the environment through superior energy efficiency and is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Simonton Windows and Therma-Tru are sponsors of the MyFixitUpLife radio show.