The Forest Stewardship Council

Today I was looking for eco-friendly landscaping and gardening tools. With a bit on online research, I came across the The Forest Stewardship Council (www.fscus.org). If you are not familiar with the FSC, it is an international non-profit to promote responsible management of the world’s forests. Its main tools for achieving this are standard setting, independent certification and labeling of forest products. FSC offers customers the ability to choose products from socially and environmentally responsible forestry.

The FSC offers a product search on their website to help you find retailers that stock a wide range of FSC-certified products such as paper, furniture, building materials (lumber, plywood, flooring, doors and windows), and other items like guitars, wood toys, even cosmetics and kitchenware. By choosing FSC-certified products, you are rewarding responsible forest management, benefiting people and nature, around the world.

Roof Problems

Roof leaks are not always caused by damaged or missing shingles. Roof problems may actually be due to broken or improper roof flashing. Repairing the flashing or providing new flashing may be all that is needed to make the roof watertight again. What is flashing? Flashing refers to thin continuous pieces of sheet metal or other impervious materials, offering extra protection at prone points of the roof. The function of flashing is to provide a watertight junction between roofing materials and roof projections or other parts of the structure, and between roof sections. The most common locations for roof flashing are at valleys,chimneys, roof penetrations, eaves, rakes, skylights, ridges, and at roof-to-wall intersections.

Many flashing problems can be reduced or eliminated by regularly scheduled inspection and maintenance. Save yourself the chore of repairing and painting ceilings and walls that were stained by water leaks and add 'check flashing' to your honey-do list.

Laying Sod

After many unsuccessful attempts at grass seed, I finally gave in and bought a few rolls of sod to patch the dead areas in the backyard. An afternoon of work and presto...lawn! Instant gratification! If you remember these four steps, sod is an easy fix for troublesome yard areas.

1. Soil Prep: Till the soil to four to six inches, rake it to remove sticks and stones and roots, then smooth the surface to make it even. Water the bare soil a day or two before you lay the sod to see if you have any low spots where water puddles up. Add top soil or re-grade to eliminate low spots.
2. Sod Install: Once the sod is delivered, lay it as soon as possible. You do not want your sod to dry out. Stagger the pieces you lay (make sure the corners of the sod aren’t in the same exact place for each row). Butt and push edges and ends against each other tightly, and stretch lightly. Avoid gaps as sod shrinks when it dries. Use a pocket knife or box cutter to cut any odd shaped pieces you need. When you've laid all the sod, you need to tamp down the grass so it makes solid contact with the soil underneath.
3. Watering: After 30 minutes of installation, give the lawn a good watering. Water it at least every day for two weeks to keep the soil moist but not soaked. After about two weeks, the sod should be firmly rooted in. After that, water every three days for the next two weeks. Water deep enough to wet the soil underneath the sod and to encourage the roots to plunge deeper into the soil.
4. Mowing: Wait about two to three weeks before mowing. Once the blades are about three inches high, cut just a little off the top. Every time after that, gradually reduce the height till the grass is an inch and a half tall.

Smoke Alarms + Your Safety

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) estimates more than 94% of homes have at least one smoke alarm. Sadly, here are more homes with smoke alarms that do not work, than homes without alarms. These poorly maintained units create a false sense of security for residents. Almost two-thirds of home fire deaths resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.

Safety tips provided by the National Fire Protection Association:

• Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each separate sleeping area and on every level of the home, including the basement. Interconnect all smoke alarms throughout the home. When one sounds, they all sound.
• An ionization smoke alarm is generally more responsive to flaming fires, and a photoelectric smoke alarm is generally more responsive to smoldering fires. For the best protection, both types of alarms or a combination alarm (photoelectric and ionization) should be installed in homes.
• Test alarms at least monthly by pushing the test button.
• Smoke rises; install smoke alarms following manufacturer's instructions high on a wall or on a ceiling. Save manufacturer's instructions for testing and maintenance.
• Replace batteries in all smoke alarms at least once a year. If an alarm “chirps”, warning the battery is low, replace the battery right away.
• Replace all smoke alarms, including alarms that use 10-year batteries and hard-wired alarms, when they are 10 year old or sooner if they do not respond properly.
• Be sure the smoke alarm has the label of a recognized testing laboratory.
• Alarms that are hard-wired (and include battery backup) must be installed by a qualified electrician.
• If cooking fumes or steam sets off nuisance alarms, replace the alarm with an alarm that has a "hush" button. A "hush" button will reduce the alarm’s sensitivity for a short period of time.
• An ionization alarm with a hush button or a photoelectric alarm should be used if the alarm is within 20 feet of a cooking appliance.
• Smoke alarms that include a recordable voice announcement in addition to the usual alarm sound, may be helpful in waking children through the use of a familiar voice.
• Smoke alarms are available for people who are deaf or hard of hearing . These devices use strobe lights. Vibration devices can be added to these alarms
• Smoke alarms are an important part of a home fire escape plan.

Wood Siding Maintenance

Nothing really compares to the richness and character of natural, stained wood siding. Wood siding is an excellent choice for its visual appeal, but one must be aware of the maintenance required. If properly maintained, wood siding will last for decades. Also, some types of wood, such as redwood, cedar, and cypress, withstand the elements better than others and will last longer, but they still require some maintenance.

The recommended maintenance schedule for wood siding is to repaint at least every five years, and treat or stain every three years, depending on your climate. For example, in the mountain states where the sun and snow can be rather harsh, you might need to have your wood siding treated more often.

Repair methods vary depending on the type of siding you have, but the majority are fairly easy to fix. Renailing loose sheathing, replacing rotted elements and patching any holes or gaps on the underlying surface will help in maintaining your siding after it is repaired. Always identify and remedy the underlying problem before you repair the siding, or you will be back repairing the same problem again next summer.

Celebrate the Fourth

"You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness. You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism". ~Erma Bombeck

Graham Custom Homes wishes everyone a very safe and happy Fourth of July!

Fireworks Safety + Children

It's an American tradition...the annual lighting of fireworks. Unfortunately, injuries from fireworks are another tradition that often seems to follow when kids are allowed to play with fireworks.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reports that:

• there were 7 fireworks-related deaths in 2008 and 11 in 2007
• about 7,000 people were treated in emergency rooms for injuries associated with fireworks in 2008
• most injuries from fireworks occur in the few weeks around July 4th
• almost half of the injuries were to children under age 15
• firecrackers caused the most injuries, followed by rockets and sparklers
• burns are the most common injuries from fireworks

The best way to protect your family is not to use any fireworks at home. Attend public fireworks displays, and leave the lighting to the professionals. Lighting fireworks at home isn't even legal in many areas, so if you still want to use them, be sure to check with your local police department first. If they're legal where you live, keep these safety tips in mind:

• Kids should never play with fireworks. Things like firecrackers, rockets, and sparklers are just too dangerous. If you give kids sparklers, make sure they keep them outside and away from the face, clothing, and hair. Sparklers can reach 1,800° Fahrenheit (982° Celsius) — hot enough to melt gold.
• Buy only legal fireworks (legal fireworks have a label with the manufacturer's name and directions; illegal ones are unlabeled), and store them in a cool, dry place. Illegal fireworks usually go by the names M-80, M100, blockbuster, or quarterpounder. These explosives were banned in 1966, but still account for many fireworks injuries.
• Never try to make your own fireworks.
• Always use fireworks outside and have a bucket of water and a hose nearby in case of accidents.
• Steer clear of others — fireworks have been known to backfire or shoot off in the wrong direction. Never throw or point fireworks at someone, even in jest.
• Don't hold fireworks in your hand or have any part of your body over them while lighting. Wear some sort of eye protection, and avoid carrying fireworks in your pocket — the friction could set them off.
• Point fireworks away from homes, and keep away from brush and leaves and flammable substances. The National Fire Protection Association estimates that local fire departments respond to more 50,000 fires caused by fireworks each year.
• Light one firework at a time (not in glass or metal containers), and never relight a dud.
• Don't allow kids to pick up pieces of fireworks after an event. Some may still be ignited and can explode at any time.
• Soak all fireworks in a bucket of water before throwing them in the trash can.
• Think about your pet. Animals have sensitive ears and can be extremely frightened or stressed on the Fourth of July. Keep pets indoors to reduce the risk that they'll run loose or get injured.

If a child is injured by fireworks, immediately go to a doctor or hospital. If an eye injury occurs, don't allow your child to touch or rub it, as this may cause even more damage. Also, don't flush the eye out with water or attempt to put any ointment on it. Instead, cut out the bottom of a paper cup, place it around the eye, and immediately seek medical attention — your child's eyesight may depend on it. If it's a burn, remove clothing from the burned area and run cool, not cold, water over the burn (do not use ice). Call your doctor immediately.

Fireworks are meant to be enjoyed, but you'll enjoy them much more knowing your family is safe. Take extra precautions this Fourth of July and your holiday will be a blast!