Home & Garden

Since the new EPA rule this year regarding Lead in homes built prior to 1978, all work must be performed by a Certified Lead Contractor.  This new law yields expensive burdens on certified contractors in the handling of homes that all have lead paint and lead soider on the plumbing pipes.  There is a new rising fear that the value of these homes will create depreciation in value due to this new legal burden.  And who wants to live in a home where their kids could come in contact with lead poisoning?  Additionally, would you hire a contractor who is not qualified to handle these materials?  

With summer coming to a close and our kids returning to school, many homeowners are picking up where they left off at the beginning of summer, taking care of our homes.  Other than our children, our homes are our greatest investment and both can be full-time jobs.
With the unique properties of our water in The SCV, Stevenson Ranch and Castaic, an appropriate water treatment is far more important here than other regions in southern California.  The level of water hardness, sediment and chloramines in our water are playing havoc with our water fixtures and appliances.  Many of us are experiencing premature failure of water heaters and dishwashers.

The Castaic Lake Water Agency (CLWA) has upped the ante for high school science departments whose students compete in CLWA’s “Water Challenge” scholarship program, offering a $5,000 prize to the science department of the high school that produces the most completed projects in the service learning scholarship competition, designed to promote water use efficiency.

Anyone who considers themselves a good shopper will tell you that what makes them successful is their ability to find both value and savings.  They pride themselves in being able to find the best brands at the lowest prices.  The same principals hold true when shopping to improve your home, with one additional talent, finding quality workmanship.  In most cases, buying something that improves your home requires labor and talent.  Finding the best professional to do the work is probably the biggest part in home improvement shopping.  A good home improvement shopper not only finds savings in brands they buy but also the workmanship they use.  They will not sacrifice quality in design or work.  They demand quality first and savings second.

We want to take this time to share with you one of our most popular services here at A.Allbright Painting.  It’s called A.Allbright’s Painter-For-A-DayTM program.  This is a service where we help you with the smaller (or taller) painting projects for a low, flat rate.  Most people are really surprised by the amount of work we can complete in a day using our uniformed, trained and fully equipped paint technicians. 

My name is Roland Rojas, and I’m the owner of Pacific View Remodeling.  In 1965, when I was five, my family moved to the Santa Clarita Valley.  My wife, Carolyn, is a local as well, moving to this area at the same time.  Can you believe that there were only three grocery stores in all of SCV as well as a couple of restaurants, Tips being the most popular?  The Mustang Drive-in Theater was where we went for entertainment, and the closest mall was located in Northridge. 

What do you see when you look at your backyard?  Could it be a tranquil tropical paradise?  Would it be elegant and soothing?  How about a great place to entertain family and friends?  Do you see your kids laughing and playing?  Or maybe it is a place you can go to get in shape.
A pool can be designed to create all of these aspects for you. 

Soon it will be fire season; it’s getting hotter and hotter as the months go by so knowing a few things in advance that you can do to help your plants will protect them.  Wind can adversely affect your plants in many ways and wind damage can take many forms.  Broken branches and toppled trees are the most noteworthy effects and are often the topic of news broadcasts during windy spells.  Other less noticeable types of damage include dried out soil, sprinkler overspray, and the loss of young plants.  We in Southern California have a very special type of wind called the Santa Ana’s and as anyone who has lived here for a while knows they can be very detrimental.

In the fall everyone starts to consider what their home requires to be in top shape for the cooler seasons and holidays that lie ahead.  Even if you have limited finances to splurge on home improvements, you can take steps to make your home more enjoyable for the winter months and holiday visitors.  My tidbits this month provide a few ideas, which you may want to consider for your own home.

Major crimes or Part 1 crimes decreased by 5.75 percent in the City for the first six months of 2010, according to the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Department.
The City experienced a decrease in all Part 1 crime categories except for forcible rape which increased from 13 to 18 incidents.  Criminal homicide is down 64 percent; arson has dropped 51 percent, while aggravated assault dropped eight percent; larceny theft dropped 3.3 percent; robbery is down 2.5 percent and grand theft auto is down 1.1 percent.

September is National Preparedness Month and the fires have already begun.  It is imperative we plan and organize before the emergency occurs!  If you want all information possible, you can Google “Emergency Preparedness” and scan the websites.  But, there is so much information it can be overwhelming.  So here is a simple way to start. Before the disaster hits make lists of your must haves, should haves and could haves.  Designate one to three areas in your home for these items so you don’t waste time searching for things.
Here is a “basic” checklist to start with in case you need to evacuate with 30 minutes notice.  Gather the data/items suggested below as soon as possible (like, yesterday!) so you can easily grab and run if necessary!

There are lots of very simple tricks that you can do to add life to your environment.  Here is my favorite ten:
1. Art—Have you ever walked into a room that has no art or pictures on the walls whatsoever, and noticed a feeling of emptiness?  Framed posters, prints, photographs and paintings give a room depth and dimension.  They also add color, style and underscore the mood or theme of a room.

Just like people, no two granites are exactly alike.  With the enormous variety of color combinations and veining patterns available, choosing the right granite for your home can be a bit overwhelming.  So how do you decide which color, pattern, or finish will best suit your unique personality, theme, or style?  Keep on reading!
A sophisticated person desiring a theme that is modern with a contemporary feel might be drawn to granites in black.  Black Galaxy is an extremely upscale material with its reflective nature and staggered specs of gold, it creates an aura of formality and even a hint of mystery.

It is a well known fact that life cannot be sustained without water.  It is also widely accepted that water is a universal solvent.  Food crops cannot grow without water.  Water is used for both heating and cooling.  Water based liquids are involved in almost all engine technologies that sustain current standards of living.  Wars have been fought over water issues and in fact are the subject of a current California political battle over how to deliver water to more arid regions of the State.  Development can’t take place without water to support the infrastructure.  

Join us at Green Thumb Garden Center on Labor Day Weekend between barbeques and beach trips for one of the most fun weekends we have to offer.
Blue ribbons, red-checkered tablecloths, grand openings, friendly competitions, and exceptional deals will abound.
Friday, September 3, 2010 – Annual Patio Clearance Sale.  Our annual patio furniture floor sample clearance sale begins at 9 a.m. 

Voluntary No Cost Program Creates Opportunities to Invest in Practices that Save Water and Money. It’s a checkup that also offers you a return on your investment: Castaic Lake Water Agency (CLWA) is inviting businesses and institutions to get a free water use checkup that can yield tremendous opportunities to help improve the community’s water use efficiency, and have a positive impact on the financial bottom line.

Come to the number one company for custom frameless shower enclosures.  As a member of the California Glass Associations task force on heavy shower safety codes, Preferred Glass has been a pioneer in the design, installation, and safety regulations of frameless glass enclosures that combine luxury, beauty and strength.  At Preferred Glass & Windows, we can install new and replacement units from standard to custom enclosures.  Designs come in framed and frameless, with L shaped stay-clean tracks for easy maintenance.  A wide variety of tempered glass from clear, smoked, obscured to etched, painted or carved safety glass.

Whether it is a dusty, windy day, or an afternoon drizzle, weather in Santa Clarita can take a toll on the look of your patio furniture.  To keep your outdoor living space looking its best, cover your furniture when you are not using it.  Premium protective covers will shelter your investment from the harshest conditions.