Jan
29
What do you think of when you hear the term mold? Do you think of the molds you find growing on foods left to long in your cupboard or refrigerator? Or do you think of the dangers that you hear of mold forming and growing in dark places in your home, causing harm to you and your family?
If you’re like many people, you’ve heard the stories of how mold quickly spread throughout a home, causing severe health problems for everyone living there. But if you’ve noticed changes in you or a family member’s health, here are a few steps to help you recognize if its mold related allergies.
1. Watch for signs of allergy symptoms. Most allergy symptoms start with coughing, sneezing, wheezing, and itchiness of the eyes. If you find them all of the sudden materializing, don’t discredit mold after a quick search of your home. Again, mold can hide in places not easy to see, such as behind walls and in crawlspaces.
2. Monitor how long the allergy symptoms last. Most allergies are seasonal, and will only last a few weeks, or be stronger at certain times of the year. Mold allergies will affect you in a similar manner all year long, and tend to get worse as the mold grows.
3. Do a detailed search. If you suspect mold allergies, start by making a thorough inspection of your home. Walk through every room carefully. Can you smell anything? Mold gives off a musty aroma that’s fairly easy to smell if the mold is spreading. Also check in places where water may accumulate – behind a washing machine, in a crawl space, in a rarely used bathroom. Mold can be a variety of colors – blue, green or black splotches – and even a tiny amount can be overpowering to a sensitive person.
4. Visit an allergist. If you can’t find mold in your home, visit with an allergist and have them run a series of tests. They will test all types of allergies and quickly be able to tell you if you are suffering from an allergic reaction.
5. Work with a mold expert. Mold isn’t something to tackle on your own. Because mold can hide and spread rapidly, its important to find it all and clean it right the first time. And here in Denver, we have the 9th highest rank for incidence of mold within our homes, so its important to find the right mold cleanup service the first time.
Go with Paul Davis Restoration & Remodeling to mitigate your mold problem. We guarantee our mold remediation for 5 Years!! I don’t know of another contractor who will provide this guarantee………….we will do it right the first time and we guarantee it.
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Jan
28
When certain things get soaked in a flood, there’s just no way to save them. Carpet padding is one of them. When carpet padding is soaked and sits in water even for just a few minutes, it becomes a perfect breeding ground for mold growth.
Carpet padding is used as both an insulator and a sound dampener, and comes in a variety of materials and thicknesses. Typically padding will be made out of natural or synthetic fibers, rubber or foam, and is made to retain moisture and odors that spill onto the carpet. While it’s made to handle small spills, floodwater is too much for it to handle.
It’s also necessary to remove any items from the flood area, and dry them thoroughly before placing them back into your home. Carpet padding is usually either nailed or glued to the flooring, and can’t be removed for drying without destroying it.
Although carpet padding can’t be saved, it is possible to save carpets if you act immediately. If possible, completely pull up the carpet, and move it to an area where it can completely dry. By bringing in a water damage expert, they can help you assess the overall damage, and provide the right cleaning process to save as much of your carpet as possible. Carpets need to be cleaned and dried completely, as well as disinfected before you place it back into your room.
While the carpet is up, remove and discard the padding. Also thoroughly clean and disinfect the flooring underneath before replacing the padding and the carpet.
The key to water damage cleanup is to make sure everything is thoroughly dry before you move on. Mold can start in the tiniest of places, and quickly turn into an overwhelming problem. It’s better to spend the extra time putting your room back in order, and making sure everything is clean and dry, then have to redo the entire area because of a mold buildup later.
Jan
23
Aging In Place Home Design
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Aging In Place is the newest buzzword within the home design industry. As baby boomers continue to age, and more people are faced with the decision of having help to maintain a daily lifestyle, aging in place will become synonymous with offer options when you need it the most.
As people age and are faced with difficult decisions surrounding poor health, they typically decide from several options.
Once their homes become the wrong environment to live in on a daily basis without help, many seek out assisted living as an alternative. While assisted living is an option for many, assisted living provides a core set of assistance, and you pay for the entire core set whether you use the services or not. Assisted living is also only available for certain types of assistance. Once you move beyond their core services, you must be moved to nursing care for full time help.
Instead, more and more people are discovering aging in place home design, and are creating an environment in the comforts of their home that allow them to live in their own environment for as long as possible, and in many cases through the end of their lives.
The key to a great design is to have the ability to make quick changes as your needs change. It’s having the infrastructure already in our homes that allow modification depending on our needs.
Aging in place home design, or universal design, doesn’t mean giving a home a cold, sterile look and feel. It doesn’t mean settling on an ugly house. It means having a home that works for you no matter if you are 30 and navigating your home with a broken leg, or 80 and navigating your home with a permanent disability.
Designing a home with universal design in place can include everything from basic features, to complex systems. Today we’re seeing things like:
- One story living – everything required for living on a daily basis is on one level of the home, including bathroom, bedroom, kitchen and living space.
- Stair-free living. No steps to enter the home through any of the doors, including access from the garage.
- Wide doorways and hallways to make it easy to move in a wheelchair, or with help from a caregiver.
- Flush flooring from room to room. Thresholds that change in grade can make it difficult to pass in a wheelchair – flush access means moving freely.
- Lighting throughout the home and at all levels of the room.
It can also mean making more of your home adjustable to move as you have different needs. Closet systems are designed to have low shelves and clothing rods for small children, and the ability to move them up higher as the child ages. They can also be adjusted back down to a level acceptable for someone in a wheelchair.
The key is building for what you need now, and what will be able to keep you in your home for the long run.
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Jan
23
It’s easy to get sucked in by a few impressive ideas. If you’ve ever attended a Parade of Homes, or watched one of the home improvement shows, there are many things that may catch your eye as a possible addition to your own home.
How do you know what’s the right renovation to take on? How do you know what adds value to your home – and what doesn’t?
While it is important to add and redesign things to suit your own taste, keep in mind that certain additions can actually reduce the overall value of your home.
1. A swimming pool.
In some areas that have year round warm weather, a swimming pool is a must have. But in Colorado, a pool can reduce your homes value substantially. The obvious reason is the limited swimming season we have here in Denver – 4 to 5 months at best, even when heated. People with small children or pets also have an immediate negative reaction due to the safety factors of having a pool in the yard. Insurance and liability can also add substantial cost to the home’s maintenance.
2. The hot tub.
Like the swimming pool, a hot tub brings on all kinds of fears in a potential homeowner. Upkeep, maintenance, safety, and increased insurance rates can all cause people to think twice about purchasing a home.
3. Trendy finishes and appliances.
You may love the color red, and use it throughout the kitchen on both the cabinets and appliances. But finding a buyer that has the same taste will be very hard to do. We all remember the gold appliances and the shag carpet of the 70’s. To walk in and see that day equates to a major remodel – something a new buyer may have little desire to do. Work with your designer to put in quality items like stainless steel appliances, and granite countertops. Things that equate with value, and will stay up-to-date for many years.
4. Additions.
Everyone loves more space. But what does it do to the overall look of your home? A comfortable sun room can be a welcome addition on the inside, but create an eyesore from the outside. Think proportions great layouts. The room should flow well on the inside, and look great on the outside.
Check out the top ten remodeling projects to add value to your home.
Jan
15
Thousands of Coloradoans are helping their parents deal with daily living with new and increasingly more difficult aging issues. From decreasing vision, to lower balance and flexibility issues, one of the most common reasons for moving into an assisted living facility is lack of proper tools within their own homes.
If you are making decisions about your own parents, or if you are facing issues yourself, there are ways to make your 
home more accessible. And the best place to start is with the bathroom where large portions of accidents occur.
Start with the bathroom door
Most family homes have a 24” door on the bathrooms. Wheelchairs need a minimum 32” door for a straight in approach, and a 36” door in a hallway where you’ll need to turn the wheelchair to get through the door.
Replace a standard toilet
Toilets come in many sizes and heights. By raising a toilet several inches higher, its easer to use, and is easier to access from a wheelchair.
Add grab bars in the toilet, shower and tub areas
Many falling accidents occur because of misjudging the distance while moving from a standing to sitting position. Grab bars are now available in a variety of styles and finishes, and can match your décor perfectly.
Adjust faucets and showerheads
Instead of knob style faucets, replace them with easier to use lever handles. Make sure temperatures are set correctly to avoid accidental scalding. And replace shower heads with hand held models, or with flexible models that slide up and down to varying heights.
Add sitting areas
Add a bench in the shower stall. People often avoid chores that are difficult; the easier it is, the more likely your loved ones will stick with the routine. Benches aren’t just easier for the elderly; they also make it easier for things like shaving legs in the shower.
Increase lighting
Installing brighter lights, and adding lighting to different areas of the bathroom can add safety features to the bathroom.
Jan
14
Tips To Avoid Water Damage
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Before the snow melts, or the heavy rains of spring and summer start, make sure your home 
is fully prepared to avoid water damage.
Test your sump pump
Most homes in Colorado have basements and/or crawl spaces. Anytime you have living or storage areas below ground level, you’re susceptible to water damage. If you’ve ever had water in your basement, now may be the time to install a sump pump. If you already have one in place, make sure you test it regularly. In heavy conditions, you may also choose to have a spare to handle heavy water drainage.
Plan and be prepared
If you are remodeling or designing basement living areas, work with a contractor who has the knowledge of restoration as well. They will be trained on prevention methods before problems occur, and can check out community plans for water tables and underground rivers. Understanding the layout of your home, and possible issues can help you plan and prepare as you upgrade your home.
Keep water away from the foundation
When planting and planning landscaping, keep plants that require a lot of water away from the foundation. Move snow away from the house. Keep water out of window wells, and contour the ground so water flows away from the house instead of standing and soaking into the ground. Put in rainspouts to move water away from the foundation.
Keep important materials away from areas where potential flooding is a problem
If you’ve had flooding or water standing in the basement, make sure you keep personal belongings out of the areas with the greatest potential. Keep family heirlooms like photographs and albums on higher levels of the home.
Jan
8
Independent Living Checklist
Filed Under Aging In Place | Leave a Comment
Over the holidays, did you notice a change in your parents? Now that 
you’re back home, do you worry how well they are managing on their own? Do they seem in need of a few changes, but still a ways away from moving to a care facility?
Use this independent living checklist to find ways to improve your parents’ current living arrangement, and making the space they are living in more functional and usable.
Kitchens and Bathrooms
· Are kitchen and bathroom countertops at a comfortable height and depth?
· Are faucets easy to use?
· Are there places to sit down while working?
· Is it easy to get in and out of the bathtub?
· Are frequently used items, appliances and utensils in a convenient and safe place?
· Are appliances such as the stove easy to use and clearly marked?
· Would convenience items, such as handheld showerheads, make daily life easier?
Closets and Storage
· Are closets and storage rooms easily accessible?
· Would shelves, cabinets, and other storage devices make it easier to get to important items?
· Is there enough storage space in the main living areas?
Safety
· Are doors and windows easy to open and close?
· Are door locks sturdy, yet still easy to use?
· Are peepholes at a comfortable height to use?
· Are handles and grab bars available at entrances/exists, and down hallways and other areas they may use regularly?
· Are steps placed in appropriate positions, and at the proper height/locations?
· Are light switches easy to turn off and on?
· Are electrical outlets properly grounded?
· Are doorbells, smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors located on every floor, and clearly audible?
Floors
· Are all major living areas located on one level? (i.e. bathroom, bedroom, kitchen, and living area)
· Are steps and changes in floor height clearly visible, and as smooth a transition as possible?
· Are floor surfaces safe and in good condition?
· Are rugs and doormats sturdy to prevent against slipping and tripping?
In many cases, even a few simple modifications can add years of independent living. We’ve been helping families all over the Denver Metro area transition to a more comfortable living environment; one that is perfectly suited for their needs and requirements.
Jan
7
Many people here in Denver are putting off buying a new home, and instead are looking into improving the space they already have. If you are on that track for 2010, where do you start? How do you 
find top basement remodel contractors here in Denver, especially when it’s easy to hear about the horror stories on television and through your friends?
Step One. Make a plan.
Start by gathering your ideas. Do you want a home theater, a game room, or maybe a wine cellar? Put your ideas together, and start finding sample ideas in books and magazines.
Step Two. Build your budget.
Chances are you probably have some idea of what you are willing to spend. Even so, create an outline of what you’re willing to spend, and how much you can go over that amount do to unexpected costs. Your true bottom line should be used as a ballpark when finalizing any plans with a contractor.
Step Three. Start The Interviews.
Look for experienced basement remodel contractors who have worked in the Denver area for years, and have completed projects similar to yours. Interview several to find a short list of those you are comfortable with and truly understand the job you are trying to accomplish.
Step Four. Head online.
Chances are you’ve found several of your companies by searching online, and have had the chance to browse through their websites. Also look at the amount of content they are willing to share with you, and how connected they are online. Can you find reviews?
Then select the basement remodel contractor who most fits your needs, and provides the comfort level you need. Taking the time upfront to select the right person means you’ll enjoy the process along the way – and have a great new basement too.
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