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PAGE 12
(MS) - Hectic schedules, long work hours and
business travel leave little time for homeowners to
keep up with the regular maintenance needed to
care for a home. During the past several decades
an abundance of products have been introduced
that are designed to reduce the hassles and time
consuming efforts needed to keep a home in top
shape.
"The evolution of low maintenance products is
one of the greatest achievements in the building
products industry," according to Don Zeman, host
of the home improvement radio show, Homefront
with Don Zeman.
"From the introduction of vinyl window frames
that never need painting to porch rail systems that
don't rot, decay or attract termites, everyone wins
with low maintenance products," says Zeman,
who was a contractor and builder for 25 years be
fore starting his nationally syndicated show. "Ho
meowners find that the labor and money saved
with low maintenance products allow them more
free time to enjoy their homes."
According to a survey of customer preferences
conducted by the National Association of Home
Builders, low maintenance figures prominently
into building product purchase decisions. In the
report What 21st Century Home Buyers Want, low
maintenance ranked as the second-highest reason for selecting wall materi
als for the front exterior of the home and the primary reason for choosing
wall materials for the other three sides of the home. In the survey, low main
tenance brick and vinyl sidings were the most requested choices for siding.
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stalls and cuts like wood, but resists rot and insects. There's no painting or
staining required and in many cases fasteners are hidden. The investment
in composite decking pays back during the resale of a home . and during all
those weekends you're not forced to strip and reseal a wood deck.
Project 3 - When it's time to reside your home, invest in vinyl siding with
insulator boards behind them to create the most energy efficient and low
maintenance exterior possible. According to the Vinyl Siding Institute, there
are a wide variety of vinyl siding textures and colors available, including
woodgrain replications. Visit www.vinylsiding.org to locate certified vinyl
siding products and for answers to your questions on vinyl siding.
Project 4 - Forget about hanging shades or blinds in areas of the home
where you desire privacy. Instead, install obscure acrylic block windows
that guarantee privacy. Both the blocks and vinyl frames are easy to main
tain with mild soap and water. Acrylic block windows from Hy-Lite Prod
ucts come in operable casement and awning styles along with large, fixed
picture windows - ideal for use in the bathroom.
Project 5 - When ordering windows for your home, make sure to request
the tilt-in sash option. This feature eliminates the need to clean the outside
of your windows by standing on a ladder because you can use the tilt-in
feature to quickly and easily clean the glass from the inside of the house.
Project 6 - Add decorative style and maintenance ease to your home with
fiberglass columns. Available in both round and square profiles, the columns
are insect, weather and decay resistant so they can be used both for interior
and exterior applications. Versatile and elegant, columns from Dixie-Pacific
are load-bearing and can be accented with decorative capitals and bases.
Project 7 - Install moisture resistant urethane mouldings and decorative
millwork in extremely humid areas of the home, such as bathrooms and
kitchens. No matter how much steam is produced from showers or cooking,
these products won't warp like wood mouldings.
Project 8 - Replace existing windows with low-maintenance vinyl framed
windows. Easy to clean with mild detergent and water, windows with vinyl
frames, such as those from Simonton Windows, never have peeling paint
that needs to be stripped and replaced. As a bonus, vinyl is an excellent in
sulator, so vinyl-framed windows are extremely energy efficient.
Project 9 - Invest in a solid-surface countertop for your kitchen. This man
made material can have the look and feel of stone or marble while offer
ing the advantage of needing only soap and water for cleanup. Most solid
surface countertops are seamless and resist stains, chemicals and scratches.
Color and style options are almost limitless and there are no veneers to chip,
crack, peel or wear out.
Project 10 - Save time and effort every time you shower by installing an
acrylic block shower surround. The easy-care blocks don't require you to
squeegee them after every shower to remain clean and attractive. As an add
ed benefit, the obscure blocks provide privacy in the shower while adding a
stylish look to the bathroom.
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"Two key things have occurred that make ho
meowners more conscious of low maintenance
materials," says Zeman, whose News from the
Homefront television segments are seen nation
wide. "First, the quality and variety of products in
this category continue to increase each year. Sec
ond, the free time homeowners have available to
spend on home maintenance continues to decrease
so they're constantly seeking out ways to create an
easy-care home."
From his vantage point of reviewing thousands
of products and projects each year, Zeman offers
10 ways homeowners can make their homes easier
to maintain.
Project 1 - Accessorize the exterior of your home
with durable urethane products. Easy-care shut
ters, window and door trim pieces, louvers and
balustrade systems resist warping, weather dam
age and insect infestations. Products from Fypon,
like their Cellular PVC bead boards that can be
used for porch ceilings, are longer-lasting than
wood products because they don't absorb mois
ture and are weather resistant.
Project 2 - Tired of termites feeding on your
deck? Try composite decking. Made from plastic
and wood fibers, this low maintenance product in-
2006 SPRIN6 HOME S GARDEN