Home Improvement
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Inside Spike Mendelsohn's Home KitchenMay 05, 2012 5:00 am - Should he ever build it, Spike Mendelsohn has elaborate plans for his dream kitchen. "It's in Maui, overlooking the ocean," he says. "It has a huge marble island, gas a...
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Backyard makeover Week 2: Smith’s backyardMay 05, 2012 1:00 am - My husband, Stan, and I have lived in our house for the last 14 years. One of the reasons we bought the home was to enjoy the view of the water during the spring, summer...
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Home inspector: Solar panels, radiant floors need additional evaluationMay 04, 2012 5:41 am - Q. I want to buy a 4-year-old house with solar panels and radiant floor heat. The home inspectors I’ve called say they don’t evaluate “nonstandard” things like solar pan...
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Safer ground: Parents have several options for play surfacesMay 04, 2012 5:00 am - Joshua Barry knows that wipeouts are inevitable when children are climbing and sliding on outdoor play sets. So he placed shredded rubber under and around the climbing t...
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Rare plant monitoring program:May 03, 2012 5:49 pm - Susanne Masi, nationally known plant expert, will present “Plants of Concern” at 7:30 p.m. Monday, May 7 at the Libertyville village hall, 118 W. Cook Ave. The program i...
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Ask the plumber: Going upscale with a laundry sinkApr 29, 2012 5:00 am - Q. My husband is building me a special room exclusively for laundry. This may sound crazy, but I always wanted a laundry area that looks like a showplace! I’m planning o...
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Home fix: Condensation on glass doors of a fireplaceApr 28, 2012 5:00 am - Q. My fireplace is located in the basement and the chimney is located on the wall between the house and attached garage. In the summer when it is very humid outside, the...
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Deck construction requires proper planningApr 28, 2012 5:00 am - Statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau Housing Survey indicate homeowners annually spend billions of dollars improving outdoor living areas. One of the most popular ways...
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Home inspector: Drainage problem was not disclosedApr 27, 2012 5:17 am - Q. Our home is listed for sale, and we’re concerned about whether to disclose a former drainage problem. The property is in a 100-year flood zone. We used to have floodi...
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Lake Zurich turns its focus to eco-friendly awareness, effortsApr 22, 2012 8:00 am - For many people, Earth Day provides a good reason to step back and consider ways to make a positive impact on the environment. A new group in Lake Zurich is working to ...