ALL AROUND THE HOUSE

ALL AROUND COUNTERTOPS

GRANITE

Best for homes without messy family members and those who want an upscale, distinctive look.
Price: $40-$75 per square foot installed.
Pros: Natural beauty in multiple finishes and exotic colors can pick own slab, resists heat, durable, waterproof, can be honed to produce a matte finish.
Cons: Porous and stains if not properly sealed, can scratch, bacterial concerns.
Maintenance: Needs sealing once or twice a year by homeowner.

SOAPSTONE

Best for: Trophy kitchens or those that don't get a lot of use.
Price: $60-$125 per square foot installed.
Pros: Earthy appeal that oxidizes over time to produce a dark color with light veining, nonporous, scratches can be repaired with sandpaper. Resists germs and bacteria.
Cons: It's soft and can chip, especially on corners, limited color choice.
Maintenance: Leave alone or rub with mineral oil every 4 to 6 weeks.

QUARTZ (Silestone, Cambria, Zodiaq)

Best for: Those who cook a lot and have messy family members.
Price: $40-$90 per square foot installed.
Pros: Durable, nonporous, resistant to scratches and stains, doesn't chip, more uniform appearance, no bacterial issues, many choices, some have ten-year warranty.
Cons: Not as natural looking, undermount sink has to be cut carefully to match.
Maintenance: Needs no sealing or refinishing. Easy to clean.

WOOD

Best for: Country-look kitchen or kitchen with mixed styles of counter-tops.
Price: $40-$65 per square foot installed.
Pros: Provides a warm and homey look, available in a wide range of colors and finishes, easy to clean, can be sanded and resealed, some are waterproof and scratch resistant, suited to imaginative shapes.
Cons: Can be damaged by oil and stains over time, but spills wipe up easily. Sanitize with 20 percent white vinegar and water, wipe with oil periodically.

MARBLE

Best for: Ideal for pastry prep or trophy kitchens not used for much cooking.
Price: $40-$115 per square foot installed.
Pros: Beautiful and natural looking, waterproof, heat resistant, wide range of colors.
Cons: More porous than granite so it is prone to etching and stains, bacterial issues, chips, not strong enough for heavy-use kitchens.
Maintenance: Needs annual sealing. Use mild cleaners without vinegar or citric acid.

STAINLESS STEEL

Best for: Good choice for those who want a contemporary, industrial look and for second homes.
Price: $80-$110 per square foot installed.
Pros: Nonporous, resists bacterial growth, variety of finishes, heat resistant, will not fade or chip, can be made with and integral sink for a seamless look.
Cons: More expensive than granite or quartz, may scratch or dent, fabrication is expensive, can't cut on it directly.
Maintenance: Like stainless appliances, can fingerprint and is time consuming to keep it looking clean. Towel dry after use. Clean with mild cleanser only.

SOLID SURFACE (Corian, Swanstone, Avonite)

Best for: High-traffic kitchens where a lot of cooking is done.
Price $49-63 per square foot installed.
Pros: Durable, long lasting, heat and stain resistant, nonporous, inconspicuous seams, resists bacterial growth, can be repaired easily, some offer ten-year warranty.
Cons: Falling out of fashion, not heat or scratch resistant.
Maintenance: Soapy water or ammonia-based cleaners will remove most dirt and stains. Minor blemishes can be sanded out or removed with mild household abrasive.

LAMINATE (Formica, Nevamar and Wilsonart)

Best for: Budget-minded homeowners.
Price: $30-$40 per square foot installed.
Pros: Easy to install, resists stains and heat, durability has improved, choices are varied, including those that resemble granite.
Cons: Doesn't add as much value for resale, scratches and chips almost impossible to repair, most have visible seams although some post-formed seamless versions are available.
Maintenance: Cleans easily

Going Green

Tips That Will Reduce the Red in Your Energy Bill and Help You and Your Family Live a Healthier Lifestyle.

General Tips to Make Your Home A Better Place for You and Your Family to Live.

1) Lower Your Bill and Heighten The Life of Your Lighting

Replace incandescent lights with compact fluorescents (CFLs), which use three-quarters less electricity and last years longer. The latest CFLs don’t flicker and give an excellent quality of light, and they also generate less heat, which should be well appreciated living in Southwest Florida.

2) Insulating Outlets

Install foam gaskets over switch and receptacle plates. Caulk the sides first, then place the gasket in place. Insert child protective covers into outlet holes to stop air leaks.

3) Tight Windows Sink Bills

If air seems to be coming around your windows, it may be time to boost their efficiency with caulking, weather-stripping and storm windows. Better yet, replace them with ENERGY- STAR-approved, double-glazed low E windows.

4) Down with dust

Vacuum air vents, baseboard heaters and radiators regularly to remove dust that can reduce heating efficiency.

5) Decorating

You don’t think of your sofa as being toxic, but the products used to assemble it could be. Look for companies that offer chemical-free furnishings. There are a number of durable paints, and other wall coverings from which you can choose.

7) Healthy Hues

Look for paints that are formaldehyde-free or marked a low-VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds). There are a number of durable paints, and other wall coverings, from which you can choose.

8) Remodel

If you need more living space, remodeling is the greatest choice you can make. Reusing an existing house rather than building a new one (no matter how energy efficient it is) is a much greener thing to do. However, if you do want to build, why not look in to going green when you do have your dream home constructed. This is our future!

Kitchen Wise

1) Materials That Don’t Harm

Choose countertop and flooring materials that are eco-friendly, such as recycled glass or quartz, or durable materials such as cork or bamboo.

2) Clean Cabinetry

many cabinets contain urea-formaldehyde, which gives off gases. Avoid this substance by purchasing cabinets made of solid wood or materials like wheatboard. Also, ask about the cabinet’s finish and choose a nontoxic option if it’s available.

3) Look for the Stars

Look for the ENERGY STAR label on appliances like dishwashers and refrigerators. For example, qualifying refrigerators require about half as much energy as models manufactured before 1993. You can also review the EngeryGuide label to choose the most energy-efficient appliances.

4) Cooking Smart

When you boil water, put a lid on the pot. The water will boil faster and use less energy. Also, make sure the burner pans are clean and shiny, so they’ll reflect more heat and save energy. Using the right size pot or pan to match your stove’s burner size can also prevent wasting energy. You might try using a double -boiler to boil your potatoes and steam your vegetables on top.

5) Coil Cleanliness

Keeping the refrigerator coils clean can make a difference

Don’t overload the refrigerator; it makes the compressor work harder. Also, vacuum the coils in back every six months to improve the heat transfer. Consider unplugging to getting rid of that extra refrigerator in the garage or basement.

6) Recycle it

Incorporate a recycle station into your kitchen. You can add it to cabinetry, purchase attractive secondary cabinets or go straight to the bins your local waste removal authority has provided you with. And use it!

7) Keeping your cleaners clean

Look for cleaners without harsh chemicals. There are a growing number of options on the market from Mrs. Meyers to Seventh Generation to get everything from your dishes to your countertops clean.

Bestow Your Bathroom with Eco-Friendly Betterments

1) Install low-flow aerator and showerheads. They are inexpensive and can save up to 2.5 gallons of water per minute.

2) Flush Smart

Replace your standard toilet with an environmentally friendly option. There are units on the market that use as little as 1.28 gallons of water per flush, saving more than 7,000 gallons of water a year for the average family.