Volume 108
Houses: Building Them Better Than They Used ToThe phrase, "they don't build them like they used to," has been applied to nearly everything from cars to footwear, but most often it seems people say it about houses. In fact, this sentiment has become so common, that many believe the homes today aren't built to the standards they were 60 or 70 years ago.
People tend to believe this because there is an undeniable charm to older homes - yet, the ones they're often thinking of were built for millionaires. It's hardly fair to compare the mansions and manor homes owned by the 1 percent a century ago to today's middle-class subdivisions. The truth is, there were plenty of poorly constructed houses built back then. We just don't see them, because they're no longer standing.
Building materials, techniques and technologies have changed. Most often, these changes have translated into better, more affordable houses. Still skeptical? A quick look at a few examples will show that this urban myth is not too hard to dispel.
A Variety of Exterior Choices
For a time, vinyl siding dominated neighborhoods. It was the choice for new construction and remodels alike. Sure it was maintenance free and far less of a headache than wood siding, and cheaper than stone or stucco, but few called it an inspired look.
A new generation of synthetic wood siding promises to add not only quality, but authenticity to home siding options. Available in a variety of styles and colors, Cedar Impressions Shakes mimic the texture and rustic beauty so many prize in cedar, without the maintenance issues that turn so many away from natural wood siding.
Another important advancement in materials is in roofing, where more homeowners are choosing synthetic slate shingles. Slate, which has decorated cathedrals and mansions around the world, is as beautiful as it is difficult to maintain and afford. Its synthetic counterpart, made from recycled rubber and plastic, creates the appearance of a stone roof, while being stronger, more flexible and easier to install. It also lasts much longer than asphalt shingles - up to 50 years.
Interior Walls
Along with engineering advancements that have improved the structural integrity and resilience of new homes, interior walls have greatly improved as well. While many people have nostalgia for plaster walls, the new drywall technology used in Habito by CertainTeed Gypsum brings the strength and durability of plaster into a modern drywall.
Incredibly strong, Habito drywall is not only able to stand up to extreme abuse, but it's also able hold an incredible amount of weight, up to 30 pounds on a single wood screw. This new drywall eliminates the need to find a stud or install a wall anchor, and makes decorating and redecorating incredibly easy. It's particularly handy for today's modern lifestyle where televisions, speakers, pictures and shelves are mounted on the wall.
Of course, these more refined and stronger building technologies are only part of the story of why homes are now built better than ever. If you want to learn more and get inspired for your next construction or remodeling project, visit HanginWithHabito.com for more information on their revolutionary drywall product.
And the next time someone says "they just don't build them like they used to," you'll say that's a good thing.
Tips for a Bug-Free Backyard Barbecue
What fun would a backyard barbecue be without special people to share it with? Your guests are as important to the fun as great food and good weather. However, there's one type of "guest" everyone can do without this summer - bugs. Stinging and biting insects can wreck even the best backyard gathering, unless you take steps to keep them away.
With increasing concern regarding Zika virus in the U.S., everyone's least-favorite summer pest can be more than just an annoyance; mosquitoes may post a serious health risk, especially to pregnant women. What's more, while no one wants to get a mosquito bite, stings from wasps, hornets or yellowjackets may be more concerning for people with insect allergies as a sting can be life-threatening. Keeping insects away from your outdoor gathering is an important way to ensure everyone stays healthy and enjoys the party.
The National Pest Management Association (NPMA) offers some tips for how you can keep pests like mosquitoes, ants, flies, hornets, wasps and other stinging and biting insects away from your party and guests this summer:
Prep for the Party
- Guests will be coming in and out of the house throughout the barbecue, so be sure doors close securely. Check screens for holes and repair any you find; small holes in screens can allow insects to get inside.
- If possible, plan to serve food and beverages indoors. Food left sitting outside on a patio or picnic table is more likely to attract insects, so reserve outdoor space for eating, entertaining and fun.
- Check around your backyard to ensure there's no standing water. Birdbaths, wading pools, tire swings, children's toys, garden ponds and even puddles that collect in low spots in the yard can all serve as breeding locations for mosquitoes.
- If you'll be entertaining outdoors at dusk and after dark, have plenty of insect repellent on hand for guests. Choose one with an EPA-registered active ingredient like DEET or Picaridin. While mosquitoes that carry Zika virus are active throughout the day, most mosquitoes are active at dusk and dawn, so consider using fans to keep insects away from outdoor seating areas.
- Strong fragrances from shampoo, perfume and candles can attract stinging insects like yellowjackets and wasps. They're also attracted to the aroma of food and drink. Suggest guests avoid using scented items before the backyard party. Serve beverages in clear plastic cups; aluminum cans and plastic bottles provide hiding spots for stinging insects.
- Use sealed coolers and containers to protect all food and beverages. The containers will not only keep bugs out of your food, they'll reduce the aroma that can attract insects.
- If spills occur, wipe them up immediately from tables and other surfaces to reduce the chance they'll attract ants or other insects.
- Clear trash away from your entertaining area immediately, and store it in sealed receptacles away from the entertaining area. Rinse all beverage bottles and cans before sealing them in the closed recycling or trash container.
- After a good meal, and surrounded by friends, you may be tempted to let the dishware and utensils sit for a while as you chat with guests. Resist the temptation. Take utensils and dishware indoors right away to reduce the chance the smell of leftover food will attract unwanted insects.
Creative Ways to Take Your Raised Bed and Planter Gardening to New Heights
Generations of space-challenged gardeners have relied on raised beds and planting boxes to grow a harvest of vegetables, fruits and herbs - even in the tightest spaces. Vertical gardening gave us a whole new way to garden in tight spots, by encouraging plants to grow up, rather than spread out. Now, by marrying the two techniques, you can create a visually stunning, artistic display of gardening prowess that will keep your table full of fresh produce throughout the summer.
Building the Foundation
A well-built, durable planting foundation, such as a raised bed or planting box made from Western Red Cedar, is an essential starting point. Decide where yours will go and start building. You can find free project plans online to help you build the frame for a raised bed or a planting box.
Whatever style of planter you build, it's important to choose a quality construction material. Western Red Cedar is often the choice of savvy gardeners because it's naturally rot resistant as well as durable and easy to work with. It needs no chemical finishes or paints to preserve or beautify it, and is harvested from sustainably managed forests. Learn more and find free project plans at Realcedar.com.
Simple Steps Onward and Upward
With a good foundation in place, it's time to consider all the ways you can turn your raised bed or planter into a vertical masterpiece.
Adding a simple trellis to your raised bed or planting box is an easy way to maximize your growing space. For example, you can plant shrub-type plants like peppers in a row in the front portion of the planter, then add a trellis in the back portion and encourage vining veggies like beans, peas and cucumbers to grow up the structure.
For larger raised beds, you can build a vineyard style pergola above the bed. A sturdy pergola made from Western Red Cedar can support a variety of substantial plants such as squash, but you don't have to be limited to fruits and veggies that grow on vines. Affix small boxes or even burlap bags to allow for greater variety in your vertical garden.
Loftier Ambitions
Is your raised bed nestled against a wall? Or perhaps your planting box perches on one side of your backyard deck. You can add a free-standing wall by building a cedar frame and stretching hex wire across the frame. Vines will readily climb the wire, but you can also attach terra cotta pots to the wire to hold herbs, small vegetables and even flowers.
In a variation on the trellis concept, you can build a framework with multiple rows of narrow cedar troughs above your raised bed or planting box; the troughs make a great growing spot for herbs. You can also create a stepped planter by building a series of boxes in graduated sizes and then stacking them atop each other widest to narrowest. Or, for a more modern look, build a contemporary ladder-style vertical garden with box-shaped removable planters.
Veteran gardeners who are also seasoned do-it-yourselfers can go all out by building a pergola. Western Red Cedar pergolas can go anywhere, take up far less ground space than a traditional garden and are wonderful vertical gardening pieces. Just plant your favorite vining fruit or vegetable at the base of each post and train the vines upward as they grow.
One out of every three American households gardens - 36 million households - according to the National Gardening Association. With 9 million households in urban area participating in gardening, it's a great time to explore creative ways to bring vertical gardening and raised beds or planter boxes together.
The Tip List for Pets – Keeping Your Dog Fit and Healthy
For pet owners and their four-legged friends, interacting with other dogs provides great opportunities for exercise and socialization. Whether it's playing at the dog park, hiking through the woods, strolling around town or making new friends at doggy daycare, these activities can improve your dog's mental and physical well-being. They can also put your dog at risk for exposure to health threats.
An Ounce of Prevention...
"We all love getting out of the house with our furry friends but it's important to remember that serious danger lurks in the grass, community water bowl or, if you travel with your dog, in another city," advises Julia Szabo, pet lifestyle expert. "With the right knowledge, advice from your trusted veterinarian and some simple preventive measures, it's easy to keep your dog happy and healthy."
What pet owners need to know to protect their dogs
- Ensure your dog's vaccinations are up to date.
- Always discuss your pet's lifestyle with your veterinarian to identify potential health risks and preventive measures.
- Remember to mention travel if your dog goes on the road with you, as other areas of the country may represent different health threats than what you face at home.
- Keep your pet away from wild animals, as they often carry disease, and don't allow your dog to drink from unclean water sources given that certain diseases can be spread there.
- Check regularly for ticks, which will help reduce the risk of disease transmission. Lyme disease, for example, can impact your pet's health, as well as your own.
- Fleas don't just live on your pet; they also live in your home. Vacuuming thoroughly can kill fleas and remove their eggs, helping you stop infestations. After vacuuming, seal the vacuum bag in a garbage bag and discard it in an outdoor trash container.
"Fleas and ticks are year-round hazards in many areas of the country, so it's critical to talk to your veterinarian about choosing the right product to protect your pets from these parasites and keep them out of homes," recommends Szabo. "BRAVECTO (fluralaner) is the only oral chew to deliver flea and tick protection to dogs for up to 12 full weeks. Bravecto kills fleas, prevents flea infestations, and kills ticks (black-legged tick, American dog tick, and brown dog tick) for 12 weeks. It also kills lone star ticks for 8 weeks."
You can get the flu but did you know your dog can as well? It's called canine influenza (CIV) - or dog flu - and cases of it have been popping up all over the country. In fact, canine influenza has impacted dogs in more than half the country - just since March 2015 - and new cases are being diagnosed every week.
There are two strains of canine influenza present in the dog population - H3N8 and H3N2, the latter is an Asian strain of CIV and is brand new in the United States. Because CIV is so contagious, infection can spread quickly among social dogs.
Vaccinating for both strains of CIV and minimizing exposure to potential risk factors are critical to protecting your pet.
Know your dog's risk. Does your dog:
- Play at dog parks?
- Visit doggie day care?
- Board or stay at a pet hotel?
- Visit a groomer?
- Attend dog shows or other social events with dogs?
- Greet other dogs during walks?
If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, talk with your veterinarian to determine whether CIV vaccination is appropriate for your dog.
To learn more about protection against CIV, fleas and ticks, and other pet wellness topics, please visit MyPet.com.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION: The most common adverse reactions recorded in clinical trials were vomiting, decreased appetite, diarrhea, lethargy, polydipsia, and flatulence. Bravecto has not been shown to be effective for 12-weeks' duration in puppies less than 6 months of age. Bravecto is not effective against lone star ticks beyond 8 weeks after dosing. /
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Inside This Issue
- Houses: Building Them Better Than They Used To
- Tips for a Bug-Free Backyard Barbecue
- Creative Ways to Take Your Raised Bed and Planter Gardening to New Heights
- The Tip List for Pets – Keeping Your Dog Fit and Healthy
-William Morris