Georgia Mountain Home Tips Category
How To Keep Your Granite Countertops From Getting “Cloudy”
Granite is a popular “finishing choice” for homeowners in Blairsville and Blue Ridge because of its good-looks and its strength. A well-maintained granite counter-top boasts natural beauty and outlasts most other finishes.
But granite is also natural rock, mined from the earth. It’s porous and highly absorbent.
Therefore, if your home features granite in its kitchen, its bathrooms, or other living spaces, you’ll want to make sure the counter-tops are cared for to prevent staining and/or clouding over time.
The first step is to seal your counter-tops every 12 months — 6 months in areas of heavy use.
Sealing a counter-top is akin to applying polyurethane to hardwood flooring; it protects the material’s natural traits, while keeping out “the elements”. Specifically, sealing granite creates a non-porous layer on the surface that is impenetrable to juice and grease, as examples.
Sealant can be purchased at a local hardware store, or on Amazon.com. Prices start around $10. Just make sure you’re following the manufacturer’s application instructions. Sealant won’t work if applied improperly.
Then, once sealed, avoid harsh cleansers. Instead, opt for a warm sponge and mild detergent. Cleaning with soap will help leave a reflective finish on the surface that will not strip the seal. Using soap also prevents the “cloudy counterspy” condition that’s so common with granite.
And, lastly, every day, take preventative measures to keep your granite shining. Just because a countertop is sealed, that doesn’t mean it’s immune to damage. Use coasters under beverages, put hot plates under dishes, and clean up spills as they happen.
A granite counter-top will last years will proper care.
Is This Home Renovation Going To Be Worth It?
Home remodeling projects can add function to a home, but don’t always add value. Consider the latest report from Remodeling Magazine.
In it, the average cost of 35 projects are evaluated for the value they retain at the time of resale. Function beats flash, it seems, in today’s housing market.
Expansive kitchens and custom vanities are returning less value to homeowners in Blue Ridge and Blairsville on a percentage basis than energy-efficient doors and windows, for example.
A sampling of Remodeling Magazine’s Cost vs Resale report shows the following cost recovery, by project:
- Attic Bedroom Remodel : 79.90 percent cost recovery
- Bathroom Addition : 74.90 percent cost recovery
- Bathroom Addition (Upscale) : 72.80 percent cost recovery
- Home Office Remodel : 63.40 percent cost recovery
- Minor Kitchen Remodel : 85.20 percent cost recovery
- Major Kitchen Remodel : 75.90 percent cost recovery
- Roofing Replacement : 73.90 percent cost recovery
- Window Replacement (Wood) : 85.30 percent cost recovery
Overall, “green” projects are returning a high percentage of costs to remodeling homeowners — especially for respect to homes that are “over-improved” with respect to the neighbors.
CNNMoney.com hosts a “Will This Renovation Pay Off?” calculator on its website, based on the data from Remodeling Magazine’s annual report. It may be a helpful guide for you. That said, before starting a home improvement project, regardless of whether your goal is increase your home’s resale value or to improve its function, be sure to talk with a local Real Estate Agent that knows your neighborhood well.
At worst, you’ll gain insight to what’s “typical” for your area to work into your plan, and, at best, you’ll keep yourself from over-improving your home.
How To Repair A Scratched CD, DVD, Or Game Disc
When your CDs, DVDs and game discs are “skipping”, most times, a simple cleaning will set them right.
Make sure you clean your discs properly, though. Clean them the wrong way and you could damage your discs forever. You might also cause your electronic devices permanent damage.
There’s lots of remedies for skipping CDs, DVDs, and game discs, but the following method is known to be reliable for all but the toughest scratches and dings. First, you’ll need some tools:
- A flat surface
- A soft, lint-free cloth
- Specialized cleaning solution, or plain rubbing alcohol
Take the cloth and, holding the disc between your thumb and forefinger, wipe from the center to the edge in a straight line. Repeat this step until you’ve removed all of the surface dust from the disc. Next, apply the cleaning solution (or rubbing alcohol) to the cloth directly and wipe the disc in the same manner — from center to edge.
Lastly, lay the disc flat and allow it to dry.
If the above method does not repair your disc(s), consider an off-the-shelf, disc repair system for more heavy-duty scratches. Disc repair products can look expensive with prices tags as high as $60, but as compared to the cost of buying new music, movies, or games, the investment could make sense. Just make sure to read product labels for their limitations before purchasing.
Introducing WaysHome By Fannie Mae
Interactive Options to Avoid Foreclosure.
Today, January 6, Fannie Mae launched WaysHomeTM, a new interactive video to educate homeowners about their options to avoid foreclosure, motivate them to make the right decisions, and encourage them to seek help. WaysHome is part of Fannie Mae’s Know Your OptionsTM consumer initiative to help today’s struggling homeowners and is available on KnowYourOptions.com.
Explore WaysHome™, an interactive video simulation to help you learn about the options to avoid foreclosure.
You’ll play the part of a homeowner—in real-life, everyday situations—who is struggling to make their payments and avoid foreclosure. Make decisions about what you should do, and experience the positive outcomes or negative consequences of the choices you make. Helpful tips and advice are also included along the way.
Foods That Don’t Belong In A Garbage Disposal
When a garbage disposal clogs, a plumber’s service call in the North Georgia Mountains can cost as much as $100 just for showing up. A “fix” could add even more to that bill.
To minimize the likelihood of costly repairs, therefore, be mindful of how your disposal works, and where its limitations lie.
Most clogs are the result of how certain food waste reacts with water and there’s some items you should never flush down your sink. This is because everything sent through the disposal eventually must make its way down the waste line and that can include a trap.
Over time, the trap can get blocked.
With that in mind, here’s a short list of food waste that’s better suited for the garbage can than the kitchen sink:
- Rice and pasta : Small particles can never be completely pulverized, and will swell in the presence of water. This can clog pipes and traps.
- Egg shells : Tiny, granular waste can get “bound” with pipe sludge, creating a thick clog.
- Coffee grounds : Same as for egg shells. As a clog thickens, it’s harder for water to pass through.
- Grease : Liquid fats turn to solid when in contact with cold water. Over time, this creates a clog like plaque on an artery.
- Potato peels : Once ground, peels turn starchy like mashed potatoes. This can clog a drain pipe instantly.
With kitchen garbage disposals, the general rule for flushing food should be “when in doubt, leave it out”. Use your disposal for convenience, not for a trash chute substitute.
