Home Maintenence Tip~Weatherstripping your doors

Stopping those drafts

 

 

 

Especially for those of you who are now thinking Green !!!

I am in no way a handyman or handywoman, but I visit so many homes in the cooler winter climates that just have tons of warm heat going right out the door, and that for just a simple trip to your area Home Depot or Lowes or hardware store could save lots of dollars and heat efficiency this winter.

Air Infiltration, heat loss, exterior doors-choose good weatherstripping for your exterior doors.  You have heard this before, just do it.

In my research, I have read the following-quick summary-you can research at the store and get a complete weatherstripping kit for do-it-yourself !! ”

 

~Foam weatherstripping that comes in rolls-easiest to install and least expensive but not your best option

~compression weatherstripping-better option-most new doors have this-easy to adjust and more durable

~vinyl bulb weatherstripping-easiest to install and almost as effective as compression-hollow strip of vinyl set in a rigid piece of aluminum-comes as a complete weatherstripping kit

Don’t forget to insulate the bottom of the door where it meets the wood or metal sill-Easiest way is to use a door sweep-piece of metal strip with a vinyl stripping edge.

The most effective insulation/stripping to the threshhold area is to insert a door bottom-an aluminum L or U-shaped with curved vinyl inset on the bottom.

Let’s conserve our energy this winter by using a little diligence as we begin to think and go green.

 

Thanks to Mary Anne Simmons of Premier Real Estate and Home services out of Lexington, KY.  Mary Anne serves 6 states.  If you’d like some more tips on going green or real estate advice for 2009 contact us at kjpremier@atproperties.com, or Mary Anne at maryannesimmons@gmail.com.

Green Machine

The Green craze is a growing phenomenon in the Real estate industry.  More and more developers are striving to incorporate green technology and many are even going so far as to be become certified by the NAHB (National Association of Home Builders) as a Certified Green Professional.  By constructing homes that are qualified energy efficient, home builders are even receiving Tax credits.  From bringing your canvas tote to the grocery store, to driving in your hybrid car, or shopping the local farmers market for organic produce, there are ways that you too can become green.  While many of us live in older homes, from earlier in the decade or ancient ones like my home, which was built in 1906, there are ways to live green, and make your home more appealing for that future green buyer.  Here are just a few to consider implementing in your daily life.

~Paint the Town Red!~When painting in your home, use low or zero volatile organic compounds (VOC) paint.  The higher the VOC-the more toxic.

~Floor me~When remodeling a kitchen or bath, look into a more earth friendly flooring option.  Bamboo, cork, recycled rubber floors, and reclaimed hardwood are all great green options.

~Landscape Love~Looking to freshen up the outdoor area around your home?  Take a few extra minutes and research local plants and vegetation to the area, that will live through your changing climate and require less water.

~Light the way~And of course, the easiest way to start being Green is changing out the light bulbs in your home.  Compact Fluorescent light bulbs save energy!  If every American home replaced just one light bulb with an Energy Star qualified bulb, we would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes for a year, more than $600 million in annual energy costs, and prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions of more than 800,000 cars.
For more helpful green tips, feel free to contact us at: kjpremier@atproperties.com.