Spring Maintenance Tips for your Home & Garden

Here are some fantastic tips on maintaining your home from HGTV.com

OUTDOOR MAINTENANCE

Divert Water

Gutters do their job best when clean. Check yours for foliage build-up, particularly if trees hover over the roof. The rainy season is a prime time to ensure all drainage areas remain unblocked by leaves and/or debris. Trapped moisture can leave a house susceptible to moss and mildew and cause major damage to your roof and walls. While you’re at it, make sure the downspout is clean and pointing 2-2-1/2 feet away from foundation walls.

Retain the Roof

It’s easy to take for granted the one thing that shields you from the elements. But doing so could cost you unnecessary repair costs. Be diligent about roof maintenance. After the next rainy day, inspect your ceiling for wet spots. Ask a licensed professional to inspect your roof for wear and tear. "If the shingles are curling, buckling or crackling, it’s time to replace the roof," according to Dan Cornwell, president of CC&L Roofing in Portland, Ore.

Check Your Paint Job

Look for chipped, cracked paint along the exterior of your home. "The worse thing you can do is leave wood exposed, because that’s when it will begin to rot," says Brian Gummel, president of The Painting Company in Edgewater, Md. Scrape off any failing paint. Sand it down so there are no rough edges, prime the bare wood surface and paint it with a high quality paint product. Don’t wait until siding accumulates too much dirt. Brighten up the house with a good power washing.

Cut Shrubs and Trees

Trim overgrown trees and hedges away from your home to discourage the growth of mildew and moisture. Branches should be at least 7 feet away from the exterior of your house to prolong the life of your siding and roof. Get rid of out-of-control vines, as they can help crack siding and allow moisture and pests entry into your home.

Love Your Lawn

Rake up the excess leaves you didn’t get around to last fall. Too many can suffocate your grass and stop it from growing. "Pull up weeds, and remove foilage from the lawn, shrubs and any plants," says Neal Julien, landscaping expert with Neal Works Landscaping in Capitol Heights, Md. Pull up dead flowers and replace them with a low-maintenance variety such as pansies, begonias or mums.

INDOOR MAINTENANCE

Keep the Air Fresh

With warm, sticky days ahead, do yourself a favor and give your air conditioning unit a little TLC. Not only does it cool you down, but an efficient air conditioner removes moisture and humidity from your home, which in excess, can damage its foundation. So if you aren’t changing air filters monthly, start now. A unit free of dust and dirt runs more efficiently, saving you money on your energy bill. While you’re there, check hose connections for leaks. Make sure the drain pans are draining freely. If you suspect a problem, contact a certified technician.

Watch Windows and Doors

Investigate all doors and windows for leaks and drafts, particularly near the corners. Look for peeling and chipping paint, which can signal water intrusion. Seal any open areas between the frame and the wall to keep out water, which can deteriorate building materials. Neglecting these tasks can open up potential for environmental hazards like mold growth, experts say.

Control Pests

Keep garbage and debris under control around the exterior of your home. "Do what you would do inside, and get rid of junk," says Genma Holmes, owner of Holmes Pest Control in Hermitage, Tenn. Inside, check the house for entrances and gaps where mice and insects may be tempted to come through. Seal up cracks, even if you just did so in the winter. Mulching the yard this spring? Use a liner underneath. "It’s good to keep a barrier between your mulch and your home," she says.

Take a Peek at the Plumbing

Except for a coffee maker, anything dripping in your house is a bad sign. Check for leaking faucets or sweating pipes, clogged drains and faulty water drainage systems. On laundry day, look at the washing machine hoses for bulges, cracks or dampness. Check under the kitchen sink for leaks, and make note of wetness around the dishwasher. Inspect your water heater for leaks and corrosion.

Tackle the Tiles

While you’re in spring-cleaning mode, pay attention to worn grout between floor tiles in the bathroom or kitchen. A small crack in the grout or caulk can lead to an expensive repair later. If necessary, re-seal as soon as possible. For the bath, get into the habit of wiping down shower walls and tub after each use to eliminate soap and scum build-up.

McArthur Homes Receives 2010 ENERGY STAR Leadership in Housing Award

McArthur Homes earns award for building new homes that protect the environment through energy efficiency 

South Jordan, Utah – McArthur Homes is pleased to announce that it has been recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with a 2010 ENERGY STAR Leadership in Housing Award.  This award recognizes the important contribution McArthur Homes has made to energy-efficient construction and environmental protection by building more than 75 ENERGY STAR qualified homes last year.  Collectively, these homes will save our customers approximately $33,078 on utility bills each year.

The environmental benefits of these ENERGY STAR qualified homes are equal to the equivalent of:

• Eliminating the emissions from 36 vehicles;
• Saving 219,336  lbs of coal;
• Planting 60 acres of trees; or
• Saving the environment 430,162 pounds of CO2 per year.

To earn the ENERGY STAR, a home must meet strict guidelines for energy efficiency set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.  These homes are at least 15% more energy efficient than homes built to the 2004 International Residential Code (IRC), and include additional energy-saving features that typically make them 20–30% more efficient than standard homes.

ENERGY STAR qualified homes offer homebuyers all the features they want in a new home, plus energy-saving features like effective insulation systems, high performance windows, tight construction and ducts, properly-sized and installed efficient heating and cooling equipment, efficient products, and third-party verification of energy performance.

“Most homebuyers focus on what's outside the walls,” said Sam Rashkin, National Director for EPA's ENERGY STAR Homes Program, “but they also need to look behind the walls for the energy-efficient features found in ENERGY STAR qualified homes that help ensure comfort, quiet, improved indoor air quality, and low utility bills for years to come.”

More than one million ENERGY STAR homes have been built in the United States since the program first began labeling homes in 1995. Thanks to the dedication of our partners, families living in ENERGY STAR qualified homes will save more than $270 million this year on their utility bills, while avoiding greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from 370,000 vehicles.

About McArthur Homes

McArthur Homes is a local homebuilder that builds single family homes in Salt Lake and Utah counties.  Currently they are building in neighborhoods in West Jordan, Lehi and Eagle Mountain.  They will soon break ground at the new Herriman Town Center.  McArthur Homes offers brand new attached single family homes priced at the mid 100’s and detached single family homes starting in the high 100’s.  They have built over 1700 new homes since 1993 and were awarded Best of State 2009 for residential construction.  For more information on the company or currently available neighborhoods, visit their website at www.McArthurHomes.com

About ENERGY STAR

ENERGY STAR was introduced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1992 as a voluntary market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through increased energy efficiency. Today, ENERGY STAR offers businesses and consumers energy-efficient solutions to save energy, money and help protect the environment for future generations. More than 17,000 organizations are ENERGY STAR partners committed to improving the energy efficiency of products, homes, buildings and businesses. For more information about ENERGY STAR, visit www.energystar.gov or call toll-free 1-888-STAR-YES (1-888-782-7937).

A Sleek, Modern Transformation

These amazing before and after photos show how just changing the color of your cabinets can completely transform the look of your kitchen.

Before, this kitchen's basic knotted alder cabinets are nice, but too traditional for homeowners Ty & Kumari. Vinyl floors and laminate countertops blend into this brown & black color scheme.

After, sleek white cabinets now contrast with the existing countertops and floors. The black, white and stainless steel color combination is cool and modern. Ty & Kumari transformed the cabinets themselves with paint, a rented sprayer and lots & lots of hard work. I don't recommend this do-it-yourself project for everyone. Getting results like this take lots of skill and hard work. Consider hiring a professional, or even better, build a brand new home and choose cabinets that fit your style from the start.






For those of you who (like me) love Ty & Kumari's clean, modern style- here's a few more shots of their beautiful home. Notice how they took a basic background of neutral flooring and paint then made it pop with contemporary furnishings, lighting and cool accents like the wall paper treatment below.

For more information on how you can personalize your new home, click here to visit the McArthur Homes Design Studio on the web.

Thinking about loan modification?

Have you seen those loan modification billboards up all over the valley? They show examples of monthly loan payments lowered from something like $4500 to $1800. I always wonder two things. First of all, who has a $4500 monthly payment? (Holy cow!) Second, what's the catch with these loan modification programs?

From a recent article in the Salt Lake Tribune, I learned more about these financing programs, which are part of the Obama administration's "Making Homes Affordable" program. It sounds like the program can help to lower a homeowner's payment, but it comes with a price. These programs can dramatically lower your credit score, making it much more difficult to obtain financing in the future. However, for those facing foreclosure, loan modification may be a viable option.

Check out the article for more information, http://www.sltrib.com/business/ci_14711988.

Or to get financing and home loan advice from top local mortgage experts, check out McArthur Homes' preferred Utah lenders.

Golfing Deals at Thanksgiving Point

Today is a gorgeous day at Thanksgiving Point in Lehi! From our model home on the 11th green, we've seen golfers out enjoying the sunshine all day.

To make things even better, Thanksgiving Point Golf Course is offering a special promotion. You can golf 18 holes (including a cart) for the price of the previous day's lowest temperature. (Or golf 9 holes for half that!) So, today you could be out enjoying the springtime air on this award-winning course for just $32 for 18 holes. For more information, go to www.thanksgivingpoint.com 
or call 801.768.7400

Thanksgiving Point Golf Course

3300 W Clubhouse Dr.

Lehi, Utah 84043

Open:  8 am - Dusk


While you're out here, come by our beautiful model home on the 11th green of the golf course. We've got just one completed home and one home site available at our fantastic Thanksgiving Village community! Click here to find out more about the amazing new home community.

Housing- A Great Investment

One of McArthur Homes' preferred lenders, Dan Davidson, recently shared this chart with me. It clearly shows that despite a slower housing market over the last few years, purchasing a home is still a great long term investment. In fact, home values are up 46% since 2000! Add to that lower interest rates and a Federal tax credit and you can see that now is an incredible time to take a look at purchasing a new home! For more information, visit www.mcarthurhomes.com.

Building a New Home- Part 2, Construction

After completing all of the paperwork, design selections and deposits (see Building a New Home- Part 1), it's time for the really exciting part to start- the construction of your brand new home!

PACKAGE & PERMIT
First, your builder will be doing all of the "behind the scenes" work, like creating a construction package which includes purchase orders for everything that will go in your new home. A superintendent will be  in charge of coordinating with all of the trade partners such as concrete, flooring, cabinetry, framing etc. This is the person who will keep your home on track throughout the construction process. Your builder will also apply for a city building permit. Depending on the city and the builder, these preliminary steps can take several weeks to a month or more. Then its time for the real building to start.

FOUNDATION

Using the approved plot plan, your superintendent will stake out the corners of the home on the property and provide instruction to the excavator on the depth of the hole. The depth of the hole is approximately 60" below the top of the curb for homes with a 30' setback, more for homes closer to the curb. After excavation (digging), a concrete company will pour your footing and foundation. Damp proofing will be applied to the foundation and then dirt will be filled in around the foundation. The fill dirt should be well compacted either by a settle-soaking method or using compaction machinery. The concrete company will also pour your basement and garage slabs in preparation for framing.

FRAMING
Perhaps the most exciting time during construction is the framing stage, where the entire shape of the house takes form. It can seem like the house is built "overnight" but complete framing usually takes 7-10 business days.

4-WAY
Immediately following framing, the rough-in heating, plumbing and electrical work are completed. An important city inspection, known as the 4-way inspection, signals the end of this phase and the OK to proceed to insulation and drywall. Your builder may also do a 4-way or Pre-drywall inspection with you to review with you the progress of your home prior to the installation of the drywall. The inspection is a good opportunity to gain a better understanding of how your house is built.

DRYWALL & PAINT

Once 4-way Inspections are complete, insulation will be installed and the drywall is hung followed by several coats of taping, mudding and texturing. Following drywall, the interior doors are hung and finish carpentry is started. Certain areas of the floor will not have baseboards installed at this time. Areas where there will be vinyl or other hard surface flooring will have baseboards installed after the flooring to insure a tight fit.

Preliminary painting will be completed next. Depending on your builder, trim may be painted a different color than your walls for a two-tone effect. When painting is completed, there may still be areas that will require further touch-up. During the next phases of construction, walls will be bumped, scratched and marked as other contractors work on the home. Don't worry! The painter will return and touch-up all needed areas before closing.

EXTERIOR FINISHES
Completion of the exterior of your home will move forward independent of work being done on the inside and may be subject to weather conditions. Exterior work on your home will typically include brown coating and stucco, brick or stone installation, fascia/soffit/raingutter installation, site concrete such as sidewalks and driveways and decks or landings.

INTERIOR FINISHES

After the painting is completed, things seem to go rather quickly, and you know it's time to start packing your bags to get ready to move. Typically, you can expect a closing date within about 4-6 weeks of painting completion. This is an exciting time because you get to see all of your personal selections installed as your house really starts to look like a home! Depending on what you chose for your home, interior finishes will include; vinyl, tile, hardwood or other hard surface flooring, cabinet installation, countertop installation, plumbing fixtures set, fireplace mantle set, electrical wiring completed and lighting installed, mirrors and other bathroom hardware installed, door knobs installed and doors hung, carpet installation and a construction clean to get rid of debris.

FINAL INSPECTION
Your home will go through many final inspections including a city inspection, a company inspection by your builder and a New Home Orientation, which is your opportunity to walk through the home with the builder's representative. At your New Home Orientation you should have the opportunity to become familiar with the operation of many features and appliances in your home. Brief instructions for caring for your new home should be shared by the builder's expert representative. Also, any questions or concerns regarding construction of the home should be resolved.

Congratulations! Your new home is now complete! Look for our upcoming article on the final steps of Building a New Home, including preparing to move, closing, moving-in, and your new home warranty. For more questions on the building process, see McArthur Homes' home owner guide by clicking here.

Please feel free to share this article with anyone you know who may be building a new home now or in the future. Thanks!

Washing your hands in the toilet...

As I was unable to attend the St. George Parade of Homes this year, I asked Dave McArthur to bring me back a few photos of trends or new products. Dave likes innovations that are a little odd or quirky so I shouldn't have been surprised when he sent me pics of this-

It's a toilet and a sink, all in one. Although it might look slightly disturbing, rest assured that clean water goes through the sink first and is then recycled as water to flush the toilet, not vice versa.

I did a little research on the internet and found that you can retrofit any existing toilet by adding a special sink lid and doing a little plumbing work. The toilets are actually catching on for use in very small bathrooms because you don't need any extra room for a sink. Add to that the Green-Friendly element of using recycled water to flush the toilet and you've got one quirky yet practical toilet trend.