Saturday, April 4, 2020
Spring Home and Garden, PAGE 7
Home repairs
that can sink
budgets fast
A home is the most substan-
tial investment many people
will ever make. Once down
payments have been made and
closing costs have been paid,
homeowners may still be star-
ing down sizable expenses as
they begin to tackle any repairs
that need to be made.
Home maintenance and
renovations involve a certain
measure of trepidation. Even
after vetting contractors and
establishing budgets, homeown-
ers may worry that repairs will
unearth problems that snowball
into expensive fixes. Planning
ahead for such projects and
learning to recognize issues that
tend to be costly can help home-
owners weather any storms that
may arise.
• Foundation issues: A strong
foundation is key to any home.
If there is a problem with the
foundation, it can be unsafe to
live in the house. The founda-
tion repair company Foundation
Experts advises that foundation
fixes can range from $4,000 to
upward of $100,000 depending
on the scale of the job. Clogged
gutters and water pooling
around the foundation can
contribute to damage, so water
issues must be remedied first.
• Roof damage: A roof is a key
barrier between the indoors and
outdoors. Roofs must remain in
tip-top shape. The home im-
provement resource HomeAd-
visor says that a roof repair or
replacement can cost between
$3,000 and $12,000. But home-
owners also must budget for the
cost of removing the old roofing
materials and fixing any dam-
age to the interior of the home.
Inspecting the roof and mak-
ing repairs as you go is key to
avoiding a big headache.
• Siding replacement: Anoth-
er costly project can be replac-
ing the siding. Siding may need
to be replaced if there is water/
wind damage or penetration
from insects. Spot repairs may
be relatively inexpensive. How-
ever, the home improvement
resource Modernize says the
average siding installation proj-
ect can cost between $5,500 and
$15,000 depending on the mate-
rials homeowners choose.
• HVAC update: Keeping a
home at a comfortable tempera-
ture is also a matter of safety. If
a system gives out, homeowners
may be scrambling for a solu-
tion. Yearly inspections and
upkeep, which includes chang-
ing system filters regularly, can
help identify potential prob-
lems. Neglect is one of the main
contributors to the failure of
heating and cooling equipment.
Based on national averages,
a whole-house HVAC system
can cost between $4,000 and
$12,000.
These are some of the more
costly repairs homeowners can
expect. Keeping on top of the
home will help mitigate dam-
age and could extend the life of
major home components.
8 garden
tools for
beginners
The right tool for the job is
essential to working safely and
efficiently. This is as true in the
workplace as it is in the garden.
Novice gardeners may not
know where to begin in regards
to which tools they need. The
following are eight items that
can serve as a solid foundation
for beginning gardeners.
1. Gloves: Your hands will be
working hard, so it pays to pro-
tect them from calluses, blisters,
splinters, insects, and dirt. Look
for water-resistant gloves that
are also breathable.
2. Hand pruners: Hand prun-
ers are essential for cutting
branches, cleaning up shrubs,
dead-heading flowers, and
various other tasks. Choose
ergonomic, no-slip handles that
will make work easier. Rust-re-
sistant, nonstick blades also are
handy.
3. Wheelbarrow: A wheel-
barrow can transport gear to
garden beds or tote dirt, leaves,
rocks, and other materials
around the landscape. A good
wheelbarrow is strong but light
enough to maneuver when full.
4. Loppers: Long-handled
loppers will fit the bill for thick
branches. The long handles
provide leverage to cut through
branches an inch or more in
diameter.
5. Hand trowel: A hand trowel
is a handy tool that lets you dig
holes or unearth weeds. While
shopping for a trowel, consider
getting a hand-held garden fork,
which can aerate soil and cut
through roots.
6. Hose/watering can: Keeping
gardens hydrated is part of en-
suring their health. That makes
a hose and a watering can two
invaluable tools to have around.
Invest in a lightweight, expand-
able hose if storage space is at a
premium. An adjustable nozzle
will enable you to customize the
water flow as needed. A water-
ing can is an easy way to tote
water to hard-to-reach pots and
containers.
7. Garden kneeler: Garden-
ers often bend and kneel while
working in the soil. That puts
pressure on the back and knees.
A comfortable garden kneeler
with memory foam or one made
from shock-absorbing material
can reduce aches and pains.
8. Garden hoe: Garden hoes
till soil, remove weeds and per-
form many other tasks. A gar-
den hoe can be used along with
a full-sized shovel, trowel and
garden rake.
This list is just the tip of
the garden tool iceberg. Visit a
garden center and speak with
a professional about other tools
that can be added to the mix.