The Citizen, 2019-10-24, Page 24PAGE 24. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2019.
Exterior lights add value, remedy dangerous spaces
MS – Homeowners are
increasingly realizing the benefits of
improving the exteriors of their
home, which can be just as valuable
as improving the interior spaces. As
individuals design picturesque
garden beds and cultivate lavish
lawns or revamp exteriors with
architectural features, they probably
want to spotlight these
improvements. This is where exterior
lighting can be put to great use.
Exterior illumination can cast a
glow on various features, but there
are many other reasons to increase
lighting around the exterior of a
home.
• Safety: Trips and falls can occur
at night when trying to traverse
walkways and landscapes in the
dark, as it can be difficult to see
rocks, stairs and uneven pavement.
Outdoor lighting can illuminate
pathways, entryways and other areas
for safer access for homeowners and
their guests.
• Extend outdoor entertaining:
Ample lighting can increase the
amount of time one can use outdoor
spaces and make them the perfect
gathering spot. As autumn arrives,
days become shorter. However,
patios, porches and more can get
extended use with lighting.
• Safeguard security: A well-lit
home may be less likely to be
targeted by burglars than one
swathed in darkness and shadows.
Lights can remain on all evening or
be motion-triggered. Setting lights
on timers also ensures that the home
is illuminated whether residents are
home or not.
• Create drama: Landscape
lighting designers can establish focal
points around the landscape and
highlight the best features of a
property. Uplighting in trees,
silhouetting techniques to showcase
plants and spotlights to show off
architectural features are all options
for homeowners to consider.
• Add value: The experts at Parker
Homescape, a landscape design
service, say that exterior lighting can
add roughly 30 per cent to the value
of a home. They also indicate that 50
per cent of all home buyers say that
outdoor lighting is important when
buying a home. If current residents
are thinking about selling, now may
be the time to invest in exterior
lighting.
Improving a home’s exterior may
be as simple as adding more lighting
to improve functionality and beauty.
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A panacea
Outdoor lights can cure whatever problems an outdoor space has. Installing sufficient lights
can provide safety benefits, allow for outdoor entertaining, add value to a home and create
more secure outdoor spaces. (MS photo)
Ice dams an avoidable danger
MS – Cold, snowy weather can
present various issues for
homeowners to contend with. One
such problem, ice dams, can cause
damage to walls, ceilings and other
areas.
The University of Minnesota
Extension says that an ice dam is a
ridge of ice that forms at the edge of
the roof and prevents melting snow
from draining properly. A complex
combination of heat loss from a
home, snow cover and outside
temperatures can lead the formation
of ice dams. An ice dam will be fed
by melting snow above it and cause
a backup at the edge of the roof.
Dams can cause gutters to tear off
and loosen shingles and may lead to
water backing up and pouring into
the home, advises This Old House.
Ice dams also can contribute to
soggy insulation, making the
insulation lose its protective R-value
and becoming a magnet for mold
and mildew.
Homeowners can do a number of
things to temporarily prevent the
formation of ice dams. Heated
cables clipped to the roof's edge in a
zigzag pattern can help prevent dams
that lift shingles. Pushing snow off
the roof can help. Laying an ice melt
product in gutters to help melt the
ice that forms also can prevent ice
dams.
More permanent solutions involve
keeping the entire roof the same
temperature as the eaves by
increasing ventilation, adding
insulation and properly sealing air
leaks that can warm the underside of
the roof. This may involve calling in
a professional contractor. Such an
investment is well worth it, as it can
prevent much more costly damage
down the line.
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