As nighttime temperatures dip and furnaces are fired up, it’s time to face facts: winter will soon be upon us. Now is the time it’s essential to prepare your home for coming cold. Ice, snow, wind and freezing temperatures can cause a host of problems in homes that are ill-prepared for them.
So here are some ideas for getting your home in it’s best possible shape for what’s certain to be another unpredictable Chicago winter.
Gutters, Gutters, Gutters
Remember, if your gutters are not clean before the leaves fall, you may be headed for some water trouble as fall storms roll in. Now is the time to get your gutters, downspouts and external watershed system analyzed before fall thunderstorms lead to sudden water events that can cause serious problems.
In the past, Get Dwell was hesitant to recommend any gutter guards, which are designed to keep leaves and other natural debris out of gutters, primarily because our clients have had mixed results. The most significant drawback is that during a large rain, water can glide or shed over some guards. This can lead to flooded window wells, basement flooding and water against the foundation, among other things. But for the last three years we have been analyzing a product called Gutter Stuff, which has been installed in some of our clients gutters. During this time we have received no client complaints and a few accolades from folks who have used other products in the past. Gutter Stuff is easy and quick to install and comes with a five-year warranty. It is available locally at Millens Hardware in Wilmette.
Ladder Safety
222,000 people end up in the emergency room every year due to ladder-related injuries.
“The number of emergency room visits from ladder-related injuries totals more than those for lawn mowers and home workshop saws combined,” warns John Drengenberg, Manager of Consumer Affairs at Underwriters Laboratories Inc., Northbrook, Ill., a not-for-profit product safety testing organization.
At Get Dwell, we see this kind of injury firsthand every year. The fact is, once you reach the age of 35-40 you increase your chances of a ladder injury or fatality. As we age, our core strength diminishes, our sense of balance is not what it used to be, our reaction times slow and a sense of vertigo is more likely. It can be a deadly combination. Please be careful out there and if you have any doubts of your capabilities, please leave the gutter cleaning or other outside ladder work to professionals.
Storm Windows – a Realization!
Finally — you don’t have to take storm windows on and off every year — thanks to an ingenious product from Spencerworks. It provides the look of traditional storms but has a hidden screen, which is opened in the warmer weather. This product is perfect for homeowners who don’t like the look of triple-track windows on their exterior. Call us or contact Spencerworks for more information on this beautiful, functional and money-saving storm window.
Keep Your Basement Dry
Some basements need a professional waterproofing company, like Permaseal, to stay dry. Their patented technologies, specialized tools and professionalism make them a great choice for our clients with basements that need that kind of protection.
For others, you need to understand the basics of how and why a basement floods and what you can do about it. In order to keep your basement dry this fall it’s important to do the following:
Check all areas where the foundation wall has been compromised — window well, stairs below grade are excellent areas to start. Make sure those areas and drains are clear and protected. We recommend specialized domed drain covers on these drains because we have been called to more than one flooded basement where an errant grocery bag has covered the drain, only to cause catastrophic flooding.- Make sure there is an adequate back-up system for your home. That may involve a back-up sump pump or in-home generator.
- Make sure the grading is appropriate and water will not flow over the foundation wall or window well.
- Check that gutters are pitched correctly, that gutter seams have not failed and that downspouts are not clogged.
If your watershed system drains run underground, they will need to be maintained periodically. It’s not a question of if they will fail, it’s a question of when.
October/ November Specials:
$30 off gutter cleaning
$75 basement flooding assessment
$25 off Gutter Stuff installation
$100 off design projects
$100 off storm window replacement projects
Recommend a friend and Get Dwell will donate $50 to Habitat for Humanity (on projects of over $200).
“One of the current trends is the continued focus on green design. Using natural materials such as wood, bamboo and cork, as well as recycled and reclaimed materials can not only improve the atmosphere at home, but can also conserve natural resources. Homeowners are looking for appliances and faucets that conserve both electricity and water. Our clients depend upon us to recommend the products that will bring them the right balance of design, function and energy efficiency.
“A strong design trend is a greater focus on lighting. The ability to create several different functional and aesthetic moods is very appealing to homeowners. Since the kitchen is the focus of so many living areas, Change Design Group is well-qualified to help their clients choose fixtures and locations to transition from bright, functional lighting to a softer lighting scheme more suitable for entertaining. Energy efficient lighting such as LED lamps bring warmth to a space without creating the heat like other types of lighting. The LED bulbs will also last for years without changing, bringing long-term value to the home.”
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Judy Ruddy of Glenview is ecstatic with the changes she made at her home. 
Paint Where Necessary
Washing the house before winter sets has become a “must do” for many homeowners looking to get their houses looking their best before the first freeze.
Exterior Watershed
If water pools appears near your foundation during or after a rain, this is the time to address this potentially costly issue before the ground freezes and your foundation experiences cracking.
This year’s National Remodeling Show was held in September on the harbor in downtown Baltimore. The weather was beautiful and the blue crabs were plentiful. We have compiled what we think was the best of the show to keep you up to date on the latest and greatest products and innovations in remodeling.
First of all – bathrooms. The emphasis is on planning; change orders are out. Have the all potential issues been thought out? And should anything extra, like a towel warmer or a mirror defogger, be considered consider before determining final design? Upfront planning saves money and time.
Accessibility has now become an integral part of the design process. Today the focus is on a design that can eliminate curbs and other barriers, leaving the bathroom more open and accessible. That adds to a sense of well-being and to a measure of safety for an aging in place population. Companies like AKW (
As always, the complete bath systems by Schluter Systems are impressive, and this year was no exception. With Schluter products, there is no need for caulk and grout at the seams, eliminating the most costly and aggravating bathroom maintenance issue for homeowners. This year, Schulter introduced a new substrate system called Kerdi-board, which further reinforces their high-quality and complete water management system. More information about Schluter’s elegant, maintenance-free bathroom systems is at 
How’s your basement air quality? Particularly in older homes, the basement air quality can effect the entire home. Beyond any health issues this may cause, a “basement smell” is simply unpleasant both for you and your vistors. The smart EZ Breathe system solves the problem by removing the stale air in the basement (
Marvin Windows and Doors is once again on the cutting edge of what we think a window can be. Some of the latest advancements include a casement window that looks like a double-hung window with a revolutionary wash mode that lets you easily clean both sides of windows from inside. It can come with a retractable screen for wide-open views. And don’t miss the tax credits you deserve if you purchase a qualifying energy-efficient product from Marvin before the end of the year (
Another tax-credit-qualifying product is one that helps homeowners keep their attics cool in the summer. Radiant barriers by Enerflex can reflect up to 96% of the radiant energy back toward the roof and they are easy to install. Find out more at 
A typical replacement window cost can average $300–$700 per window, for a tax credit earned of $100–$230 or more per window. Energy efficient doors average $125–$600 per door for a savings of $38–$200. If you are not installing them yourselves, the tax credit can certainly help pay for the labor involved. If you are replacing them yourself, make sure the products you purchase qualify for the tax credit.
Insulation
Because of the tax credit — and the time of year — now is the ideal time to check your attic and see if it’s fully insulated and ventilated.
Heat. Humidity. If there are two words that sum up the summer of 2010, it’s those. After a relatively mild 2009, all of Chicagoland is being reminded that, through much of the summertime, the Windy City’s wind blows hot and sticky.
If you don’t have ceiling fans but have an outlet available, it only take about two hours to install a new fan.
Install a Porch Swing or Hammock
Emily Dana wanted something a little special for her Bat Mitzvah this year – she wanted her and her friends to help someone who needed it. So she talked to her parents, David Dana and Julie Schrager, about a service project that would be both beneficial for the community and fun for the two dozen 12- and 13-year-olds who would be her guests.
David approached Get Dwell’s Darryl Rose about donating services that would lay the groundwork for the painting – patching, sanding and prepainting – and Rose gladly volunteered the services of the company’s Project Managers. Get Dwell also commissioned a color analyst who chose a light yellow color to replace the faded lime green that had covered the walls for years.
