58 The Queens Courier • at home • february 19, 2015 for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com 5 SIMPLE TIPS TO PREPARE FOR FLOOD SEASON home improvement The No. 1 natural disaster in the U.S. is floods: Is your home ready? After a winter of frigid temperatures and record snowfalls, the nation now faces the spring thaw and long, rainy months. Flood season is officially here - is your home ready for it? Floods are the most common natural disaster in the United States. Over the past five years, the average flood insurance claim was more than $35,000, according to FEMA.gov. The best defense against flooding is a proactive approach. Consider these flood tips to prepare your home and family for flood season: 1. Get a shop vac Every home that is susceptible to water and moisture should have a reliable shop vac. This type of vacuum sucks up water quickly and efficiently. Keep in mind, flood cleanup must be done quickly within the first 48 hours to avoid mold growth and extensive property damage. 2. Test your sump pump Take the time now to test your sump pump. Simply lift the float on the side of the pump and listen for the pump to turn on; that noise indicates your pump is working correctly. Next, install a water alarm that will let you know if water is accumulating in your basement. An alarm like AdvanTEXT from WAYNE Pumps sends text messages to up to three people in the event of power outages or high water levels. If you are away from home or even out of town, you can take immediate action to protect your property, rather than unknowingly coming home to a flooded basement. Visit www.waynepumps.com/ preventflooding for more information. 3. Seal cracks Seal the cracks in the basement floor and foundation to prevent water seepage when the water table gets too high. Similarly, if you have concrete walls, be sure to seal those cracks as well. 4. Prepare and protect Irreplaceable items and heirlooms should always be kept on high shelving. Additionally, keep important documents in a safe place like a waterproof container. If you live in a flood-prone area, consider raising electrical sockets, fuse boxes and wiring 12 inches or more above the flood elevation. Finally, make sure gutters and downspouts are clear of debris so water can flow freely away from your home. 5. Update insurance Homeowners and renters insurance typically do not cover losses due to flooding. You must purchase additional insurance or riders specific to flood coverage, if available to you, in order to protect your property from this type of water damage. Call your insurance agent today to discuss options, and keep in mind it typically takes 30 days after the purchase of flood insurance before it goes into effect. In addition to preparing your home against floods, it’s smart to prepare your family as well. Make sure all members know how to react to water within the house. For homes with the AdvanTEXT alarm system, make sure those who receive text warnings communicate with each other and have a plan for checking the home and cleaning up excess water, if necessary, before it damages the property. Courtesy BPT HOW TO TRICK THE EYES WITH THE MAGIC OF HOME IMPROVEMENT From disappearing acts to mind games and sensory illusions, the art of magic is all about making your audience believe what they are seeing, taking a seemingly impossible task and making it possible. This timeless art can inspire you to perform some magic of your own using simple home improvement tips to fool the eyes and transform small, drab spaces into ones that will surely astound and amaze. Seeing is believing Paint color is an easy and inexpensive way to create an optical illusion. When used properly, certain paint colors can actually make a room look larger. Take white, for instance. Using very light colors or whites, like Ultra White from Dutch Boy, can help reflect natural or artificial light, making the walls seem to disappear and creating a space that looks bigger. Picking the perfect neutral can give the illusion that your walls are receding. This subtle DIY secret keeps eyes focused on the colors and patterns of the furnishings and accessories in the room, rather than on the size of the room itself. Embracing your dark side Most people believe dark colors shouldn’t or can’t be used in small spaces, but that’s not the case. If you use the color on everything - the moldings, cabinets and walls - the unified, seamless look makes the room appear larger. Paint the room with a dark color, like Dutch Boy’s Mosaic Tiles or Chanson Bleu in a semigloss finish, and light will bounce off the shiny surface, creating the appearance of a brighter, larger room. Conversely, if you have a room that is overwhelmingly large, the opposite principals can be applied to make it look smaller. Use dark colors, but this time in a flat finish, to minimize the appearance of the room. An alternative way to trick the eye with paint - and add a level of sophistication and luxury to your home - is by using a faux finishing technique, replicating the appearance of materials such as brushed suede, granite or old world plaster. With just a little bit of practice and a few home improvement tricks up your sleeve, you too can be an interior illusionist. Courtesy BPT
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