Shedding Light

Exterior lighting not only provides an added layer of safety and security, it also creates a visually interesting aesthetic for your home. If you are just beginning to think about exterior lighting, start by asking yourself a few questions…What are you trying to accomplish? What environment are you trying to create? What is the right type of light to do the job?

Safe, Secure, and Spectacular

Keeping you and your house safe and secure, while making a spectacular statement with lighting, is achievable with a solid design plan. For example, motion-detecting security lighting mounted near the garage provides illumination when you get out of your car at night; the same function deters intruders while enhancing the architectural detail of your home. Motion detecting switches can also be applied to landscape lighting to illumine shadowy areas should anyone walk nearby while highlighting landscape features that greet guest.

As you start to plan your exterior lighting design, consider the following:

 

A well-lit front entrance enables you to greet guests and identify visitors. Wall lanterns on each side of the door will give your home a warm, welcoming look, while assuring the safety of those who enter. Under a porch or other overhang, you can use recessed, chain-hung or close-to-ceiling fixtures. A separate rear or side entrance can be lighted with a single wall lantern installed on the keyhole side of the door.

Landscaping and trees make stunning features whether illumined from below or given presence by a light mounted in the tree itself.

Highlight architecture through the use of uplighting. Uplighting is dramatic because we expect light to shine downward. Used in moderation, it’s a great way and landscaping features. If using on architecture, aim the fixtures so that the light is captured by your eaves to lessen light pollution.
 

 

Steps, paths, and driveways should be illuminated to make sure family members and guests are able to move about easily and safely after dark. You can install path lights or post lanterns or attach lights to the side of the house.

 

Create inviting spaces by turning decks and patios into evening retreats by concealing low-voltage mini-lights under steps, railing or benches. Another idea is to install a spotlight in the branches of a nearby tree.

To help improve any element of your home, contact Westenhaver Construction at 573-302-0040 or contact us here.

 

 

Fall Back into Good Home Maintenance

Leaves are dropping, temperatures are dipping, and that means just one thing…your to-do list is doubling.  With fall arriving and winter knocking, the proverb, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” is certainly true for home maintenance. 

 

 

Where there is a will, there is a way

Water has more will than anything.  Be sure to clean gutters and downspouts frequently throughout fall to prevent buildup of leaves and other debris. Neglected gutters can lead to wood rot problems, pest infestations, wet basements, foundation damage and many other expensive complications. Be sure water is not coming down behind gutters and that all support brackets are securely in place. Check to ensure water drains properly and doesn't pool, which can cause damage to foundations, driveways, and walkways.

 

 

A penny saved

The biggest energy loss occurs through windows and doors.  Inspect and repair any loose or damaged window or door frames. Install weather stripping or caulking around windows and doors to prevent drafts and lower heating bills. Clean and lubricate garage door hinges, rollers, and tracks and be sure screws are tight.

 

 

A good beginning makes a good ending

Nothing is worse than having a heating emergency when temperatures have fallen to single digits, so begin now to ensure that doesn’t happen.  Replace the filter in your furnace. Consider having a heating professional check your heating system to ensure optimal performance and discover minor problems before they turn into costly major repairs. Clean your ducts to better your heating system's efficiency as well as to reduce household dust and to provide relief to those with respiratory problems. Also check for air leakage especially around joints. Clean your thermostat's heat sensor, contact points, and contacts. Check accuracy and replace if necessary.  The number one factor that affects a person's bill is the heat they use in their house. Heating accounts for approximately 70% of a person's energy bill. Turning down your thermostat at night or while you are gone during the day will go a long way to reducing your energy bills. It is recommended keeping your thermostat at 68-72 degrees for heating purposes and dropping it lower at night. By turning your thermostat down at night, you reap the savings of a lower winter utility bill. If you have trouble remembering to turn the temperature down, consider installing a programmable thermostat to do the work for you.

 

 

Forewarned is forearmed

A little work on the front side can eliminate a potential problem in the future. To prevent pipes from freezing and bursting, ensure that the pipes, as well as the wall cavities where they reside, are well insulated. Be sure that you know how to locate and turn off the water shut-off valve in case pipes do freeze. Garden hoses should be drained of water and stored indoors. Make sure your outside water spigots are completely turned off and capped to prevent freezing.

 

 

Strike while the iron is hot

In this case, strike before you heat up the iron.  Call a professional in to inspect and clean your chimney. Fireplaces that are regularly used during the season should have an annual cleaning to prevent dangerous chimney fires. Test your fireplace flue for a tight seal when closed. Consider installing a carbon monoxide alarm near the fireplace and furnace.

 

 

 

There’s no time like the present

Grab the ladder, or pull down the access, and crawl into the attic. Be sure attic insulation doesn't cover ventilation vents in the eaves to prevent winter ice dams on the roof. Then head to the roof. Be sure ridge vents and vents at eaves are free of plants and debris .Check bird and rodent screens for attic vents to prevent any unwanted guests.

 

Seize the moment

Now is the time.  Although grass appears to stop growing in the fall, the roots are actually growing deeper to prepare for winter. Now is the best time to fertilize and reseed your lawn. Prune your trees and shrubs after the leaves turn to encourage healthy growth in the spring. Trim any tree limbs that are dangerously close to power lines or the roof of your house. Heavy snow and ice can cause damage in the winter.

 

 

 

To help improve any element of your home, contact Westenhaver Construction
at 573-302-0040 or contact us here.