1. How old is your sprinkler system? Older sprinkler systems risk cracked or broken pipes both above and below ground. If the ground gets too saturated, it may flow into your basement.

2. Check out your roof. It’s easy to forget about the roof as its difficult to see without climbing up. But a missing shingle, hail or wind damage, or an improperly installed vent, flue or chimney can result in a leaky roof.

3. Trim away branches and overgrown landscaping. Constant friction between a branch and your siding or roof can lead to cracks and holes, which could result in a slow leak.

4. Clean and inspect outside windows and doors. Water and moisture can seep in if they aren’t regularly maintained. Repair or replace caulking, weather stripping or seals as appropriate.

5. Check around crawl spaces and the foundation for any signs of a leak. Poor or compacted insulation may be a sign of water damage, and should be replaced.

6. Check for moisture in areas where you haven’t watered. A puddle either inside or outside could indicate a leak, drip or crack. This can be a sign of a potentially bigger problem, including flooding and mold.

7. Check new additions or repairs. Have you had a new addition added to your home, or replaced or repaired a chimney, air conditioner, attic fan or cooling system over the past year? After the long hard winter, check around the new addition to make sure everything is intact.

The Lead, Renovation, Repair and Paining rule requires all contractors working on home and child occupied facilities built before 1978 to be trained and certified in lead free work practices. In addition to having the training in place with all contractors, you must also keep records that demonstrate compliance with this rule, and provide the results of any testing that occurred. A copy of these results must be given to the home owner or resident within 30 days of invoice or completion of the project.

If you are considering a home remodel, ask your potential contractors for evidence they are certified to handle lead paint removal, and are aware of the new guidelines. Failure to comply can bring problems for both you and the contractor that handled your remodel.

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Meth labs have the potential of affecting people in any area of town, of any social class. Police estimate that 1 in 3 meth labs are found in homes where children live, posing serious threats to all ages of the population. Meth production contaminates all areas exposed during the production process, including surface areas, drains, ventilation systems, furnishings, and the environment both inside and out where materials are dumped and discarded.

Meth is believed to be on the rise because of its ease of production. With a few hundred dollars in supplies and a recipe from the Internet, production can be set up anywhere, including a barn, garage, extra room in the house, business, apartment, hotel, storage facility, or vacant building. Each pound of meth produced can leave as much as six pounds of toxic waste behind.

Because most “meth cooks” pour leftover chemicals and byproducts down the drain, it’s not just the building affected, it moves into the plumbing system, storm drains and directly into the ground, which can affect neighbor homes and community centers as well. These toxins can pose long-term hazards because they can exist in soil and groundwater for years. And the costs of cleanup can be exorbitant because soil usually must be incinerated to rid it of contaminants.

Because the process of meth lab cleanup is regulated, it’s mandatory to seek the services of someone who is trained in meth lab cleanup.

1. Use renewable resources. Bamboo is a fast growing tree that can give your home a warm look and feel, without relying on its hard wood counterparts that can take double or triple the time for growth and output.

2. Conserve water. There are many ways to conserve water, both inside and outside of your home. Landscaping can be altered to provide xeriscaping, or earth friendly plants native to the Colorado area. Also consider installing water conserving irrigation systems that allow you to control water when we receive rain or move through cold spells. Inside, install water efficient appliances and water heaters.

3. Think efficiency, not size. The days of the expanding home is gone. Instead, people today want efficiency in their lives. If you’re not familiar with the term universal design, you soon will be. Universal design makes every area in your home efficient today, and usable as your lifestyle changes from year to year.

4. Conserve energy. While its still important to turn off lights when you’re not in a room, there are many things you can do to conserve energy. Change out old light bulbs. Upgrade your dryer to increase energy efficiency. Increase the insulation to make your house warmer.

5. Using new forms of energy. How about using wind for your home’s energy source? Or using solar to build up supplies of energy? While many forms of new renewable energy may seem expensive now, they will become a standard way to heat our homes in the near future.

The key to restoration is timing. The quicker you act, the better you chance you have of being able to restore. Wet carpet can mildew, mold, and produce other bacteria that can have serious implications on your family’s health.

But before any restoration is started, it’s important to first find out how the water damage occurred. Is the problem still in existence? Or has it been fixed? The last thing you want is to dry and restore your carpets only to face the same problem within a few short days.

If carpeting is soaked with clean water, the water must be extracted immediately, and dried thoroughly within 12 hours. The carpeting should also be treated with a disinfectant to prevent molds and other bacteria from forming.

If carpeting is soaked with dirty or unsanitary water from flooding, toilets or sewer damage, or other appliances that may have left food or other undesirables within your carpets, the damage carpet may need to be discarded.

In any type of water damage, the potential doesn’t stop with the carpeting. It also spreads to floorboards, wallboards, and may also impact other rooms within the area, especially if the water has sat for any length of time.

Be sure to find the source, and fix the entire problem the first time to prevent any further spreading of damage.

1. Universal Design. Universal design is synonymous with making a house livable through the many stages of life. They have the beauty and uniqueness of a custom home, yet are much easier to use as the residents’ physical abilities change. A universally designed home will come with one story living, wider hallways and doorways, ample lighting, flexible storage spaces, and non-slip surfaces.

2. Technology Driven. Love your iPhone and iPad? We’re seeing the future of technology change every day. Homes will be wired to make everything easy to use, and have applications that connect you within the home, and with family members and health services throughout the world.

3. Green technology. Why not make your home more efficient and energy conscious? From appliances that save water and energy, to windows and solar panels that help heat or cool a home, the newest designs will offer you many ways to stay at the top of being green.

4. Flexibility and customization. Instead of redesigning a home or room for one purpose, its now possible to remodel for flexibility. Companies are coming up with great options that work within your life today, yet have the ability to be altered in the future. Remember the cribs that converted to toddler beds? Almost anything is possible today. From rooms, to storage options, to appliances, there are many ways to satisfy your needs throughout the years.

5. At Home Services. More people are choosing to stay in their home for as long as possible. A good design looks at the possibility of aging gracefully, and providing enough room for adequate help along the way. 24 hour care may mean providing living quarters for in home help – why not incorporate that into your current design plans? A separate studio area is great today for a teenager, and will be flexible for a variety of options along the way.

Bathtubs are one of the most dangerous fixtures because of their design. You have to keep your balance as you climb over the high walls of the tub. You have to use the sides to lower yourself into a tub full of water. Then under wet and slippery conditions, you must raise yourself back out, and step back over the sides, sometimes onto a slippery wet floor. What could be more dangerous?

Add in additional complications is you are trying this with a disability, are elderly living with mobility issues, or even handling a small slippery child. All is a recipe for disaster.

That’s why when you are considering a bathroom remodel, you may want to consider options when installing a new bathtub. There are many options today that can assist you and bring back the fun and enjoyment of taking a bath.

Some tubs are now coming built with a ledge or transfer bench built right into the side. To get in the bath, you simply sit on this ledge, and swing your legs into the tub. From a sitting position, you can use rails to lower yourself into the tub.

Still have trouble with sitting and twisting? You may consider a walk in tub. A walk in bathtub allows you to just that – walk in. An accessible bathtub uses a door in the tub wall to allow you to walk in. When the door closes, it seals the opening so you can fill up the tub. It is designed to not allow water to be put into the tub unless it is sealed. It also means you’ll be safely seated in the tub before you fill it.

Other design choices include non-slip surfaces, and tubs with soft foam surfaces. These tubs are covered with special polyurethane foam that makes it soft to the touch, and gentler if you do happen to fall. The flexible surfaced also reduces slippage, and makes it easier for you to clean.

Storage

• I can reach things in my closets, even from a sitting position.

• My clothing rods are all located between 20 to 44 inches from the floor.

• I have a closet organization system to make things more accessible.

• I clean my closet regularly to keep the most used items in easy reach.

• My lower drawers are deep and open all the way. Upper drawers are shallow.

• I have adequate light in my closets.

• Light switches are easy to reach.

• The door to the closet is at least 32 inches wide.

Electrical

• Electrical outlets are at least 27 inches from the floor.

• All rooms can be adequately lit by using a switch as you enter a room.

• All rooms have an ample number of outlets, and I rarely need to use extension cords.

• I have enough light in each room, either through natural or electric light, to live normally.

• Hallways, walkways and pathways are all well lit.

• I have automatic lights to welcome me as I come home, and to allow me to get safely into my home.

Safety

• I have a smoke detector on each floor.

• I have a smoke detector in each bedroom.

• I have at least one battery-operated detector that isn’t dependent on electricity.

• All smoke detectors are located on the ceiling.

• I test my smoke detector regularly, and replace the batteries on a regular schedule.

• I have a carbon monoxide detector on each floor.

• I test my carbon monoxide detector on a regular basis.

• I keep a fire extinguisher on each floor of my home, and make them easy to access.

The more yeses, the safer your current living arrangements are. Even a few no’s leave room for improvement. When you are ready for a home redesign, don’t just plan on the comforts of home, plan for safety too.

The average hardware costs of a home fire sprinkler system runs anywhere from $2 to $10 per square foot, or about the same cost as hardwood or carpeting for your floors. Yet because laws do not require the use of residential sprinkler systems, very few homes have it installed. Even though most fatalities occur in single family residences.

Also, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) continually shows that average loss is considerably less in buildings with sprinkler systems – almost 5 times less as a national average. A sprinkler system can begin putting out the fire almost as soon as it starts, which helps contain the damage to one location. Compare that to waiting minutes for a call to be placed to the fire station, and fire personnel to respond to the fire and begin procedures.

So, if you’re planning a remodel, what are your thoughts? Is a home fire sprinkler system worth the price to help you protect your investment?

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So how do you protect your home from wind damage?

Start at the top. The more open and exposed an item is, the more at risk it is. Your roof is one of the most vulnerable parts, and must be strong and in top shape to avoid damage. If you have an older roof, have it inspected regularly for loose shingles or tiles.

A leak in your roof, no matter how small, can allow water into your attic or rafters, and begin even more extensive damage. While your roof may appear find from the outside, if a small leak allows rain and water to accumulate in your attic, you could soon find yourself with mildew, mold and rotting issues.

Your windows, doors, and foundation are also at risk. Seal all cracks, and make sure you have insulated and caulked the surrounding edges.

Take a look around your yard as well. The spring is a great time of year to bring out your tables, chairs and other lawn items. Make sure all items are secure and heavy enough to stay put under normal conditions. Never leave an umbrella up when not in use as it can easily be picked up and turned into a missile.

Also clean up your landscaping. Remove dead bushes, tree limbs and other debris from around your yard. Not only do these items become dangerous as they break lose and fly during heavy winds, but they can also become a fire hazard when they accumulate near your home.

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