Unfortunately, over time, leaks can develop in gutters. These leaks can be caused by rust, corrosion, or even excess weight as the result of debris or tree limbs. Like leaks in a pipe or faucet, gutter leaks should not be ignored. Moisture can accumulate behind the leaks and cause rotting in the fascia or eaves of your house. And even a small amount of water can drip or drain onto the ground near your home and eventually allow puddles, pits, or channels to form — which can direct the water toward your foundation and cause more expensive problems.

Let’s examine the three basic types of gutter leaks and learn how to fix them.

Clogs. Debris can build up in your gutters, causing runoff water to overflow the gutter lips and spill onto the ground. These are the simplest type of leaks to fix; simply clean out your gutters.

There are gutter sprayers and vacuums with pole extenders to let you do this from the ground, or you can grab a ladder and a small spade and do it by hand the old fashioned-way. (To prevent this in the future, consider investing in a gutter guard or gutter protection system of some kind).

Joints. These are the areas in your guttering system where two sections of gutters are connected, or where a gutter attaches to an elbow or downspout. Rust and corrosion can develop on the joints after years of dirt, soil, and grime accumulation.

The first step to fixing a joint leak is to clean both the interior and the exterior area thoroughly. Use soapy water and a steel wool pad or rugged brush to scrape away dirt buildup. Then buy either some silicone caulk or a roll of waterproof tape. When caulking, apply a liberal amount of the substance on top of and around the joint area — both inside and outside the gutter — and then allow it to dry. Place strips of waterproof tape on the leaky patch of the joint until it is completely covered inside and out.

Sagging. This occurs when excess weight or wear and tear causes gutter sections to bend and sag toward the ground. The result? Gaps between the gutters and your house, which can allow water to seep out and collect near your roof or in your yard.

The best way to fix sagging leaks is with brackets that secure the gutters to the structure. There are several different types of brackets, including those that slip under the gutter grooves and screw into the roof, spikes that are driven directly through the gutter and into the roof, and spikes which are screwed through metal sleeves into the roof.

After the next rainstorm, check your entire gutter system to see if there is any evidence of water leakage. Then you can use the next sunny day to fix the leaks before the rains return!

How High?
The first thing you need to figure out is how high of a ladder you need. Fortunately, this is fairly easy: you just need a ladder about two to four feet taller than the lowest point of the roof in your house.

You want your ladder to be a little taller because if you need to climb on the roof, your full extension will give you a handhold to brace yourself and secure a roof harness or other safety equipment.

To Fold Or Not To Fold?
Folding ladders have a few advantages: they have more support that your traditional straight extension ladder, can be used in more areas, and are a bit sturdier. Straight ladders, on the other hand, are lighter, cheaper and easier to store. They can also be a bit taller depending on the design. If you’re only going to use a ladder around the house, consider a straight ladder, but if you’re going to be using it in a lot of locations, a folding ladder may be a better option.

Storage
Once you know the height of your ladder, and what kind of ladder you’re getting, there’s one more important thing you need to figure out: where you’re putting it! Ladders are huge and they can be hard to store, especially since you’ll probably have to lay them out lengthwise instead of standing them up. Find a location to store your ladder and measure it out before you buy.

Construction and Features
So, you’re looking at the ladders in the hardware store, and find yourself faced with an enormous selection in a variety of materials. What to get?

Aluminum ladders are light and easier to carry, and are in fact the most common type of extension ladder. Wood ladders are heavier, but some prefer them to aluminum because the weight gives them a sturdier feel when you’re on the ladder itself. Keep in mind how often you’ll be transporting this ladder while considering what type to get.

Either way, look for ruggedized rubber feet on the bottom of the ladder, so it can get a good grip and stay rooted wherever you may push it down. Also look at the locking mechanism that keeps the extension in place: you want something that will push out the ladder smoothly and lock into place, and won’t come loose.

Safety
When using your ladder, the best safety device is the one sitting between your ears. If a ladder feels less than sturdy, don’t climb on it. Test to make sure the feet are firmly seated on the ground, and consider bracing them with sandbags. Make sure your ladder is resting straight, not at a tilt or angle. Never rest the top of your ladder against a slippery surface.

And, of course, have a spotter handy to brace the ladder, and to get help if something goes wrong. There’s no protection like a friend.

Safe climbing!

Generally, there are three ways a home improvement might benefit you financially come tax time. You may be eligible for some sort of income tax relief if:

• Your home improvements are being performed for medical reasons
• Your home improvements include certain energy-efficient upgrades to your home
• You are going to be using a home equity loan or home equity line of credit to actually pay for your home improvements

Before we get into those three scenarios, let’s discuss the basics of how home improvements work with taxes in the United States.

Home Repair vs. Home Improvement

First, it’s important to remember that there is a difference between home repair and home improvements, especially from an income tax perspective. Simply fixing things that are broken or worn out around your home are generally considered “home repairs” and generally do not count towards any sort of tax deduction or tax credit. However, if you replace something that is worn or broken with something new (such as more energy efficient windows or doors), then that may be seen as a home upgrade or home improvement and contribute to your tax refund.

The good news is that if you need to perform a home repair at the same time or in the same area of your home as the home improvement, then you may be able deduction the cost of the home repair on your taxes. The difference between a repair and an improvement on your home is not always cut and dry so your specific situation may dictate exactly how you can count certain home projects on your taxes.

Home Improvement Tax Deduction vs. Home Improvement Tax Credit

It’s also important to remember that there are different ways to increase your income tax refund with home improvement projects. In some cases you may be eligible for a tax deduction and in other cases you may be eligible for a tax credit. The difference could be substantial.

A tax deduction lowers your “taxable income” amount while a tax credit takes a set amount right off the taxes you owe. So If you make $30,000 per year and you get a $1,000 tax deduction then the government is really only taxing you on $29,000. The amount you get back from a tax deduction depends on your income tax bracket. If you’re in the 30% income tax bracket then a $1,000 tax deduction means you’d “get back” about 30% of that money in a tax refund. In this case it would be about $300.

If you get a $1,000 tax credit then are are still being taxed on $30,000 but you get to take $1,000 off the amount you owe the government (if you are getting a tax refund then you might get an extra $1,000 back!).

If you have an account or use any sort of income tax software to do your taxes, you shouldn’t have to worry too much. They can take care of the math and some of the tax software programs will even look at a couple different scenarios and pick out the one that is most beneficial to you.

Home Improvements for Medical Reasons

If you or someone living in your home has a medical condition that warrants a home remodelling or home improvement, then the cost of that project may be able to count towards a tax deduction. You will most likely need a doctor to write a letter stating what improvements are needed to your home for medical conditions and why, you will need to itemize the your deductions and keep track of the work being done with a breakdown of costs and the project will have to be 7.5% or more than your annual adjusted gross earnings for that year.

Here are some of the medical conditions that often require home improvements or upgrades to a home that could be tax deductible:

Home Improvements for Wheelchairs: People suddenly needing a wheelchair must often perform extensive work on their home to make it more livable. Some home improvement projects that could qualify for tax deductions in this case are adding elevators, widening doorways, adding wheelchair ramps, lowering kitchen cabinets, installing bathroom handrails and even lowering light switches.

Home Improvements for Allergies or Breathing Problems: People with breathing issues are often told by doctors to improve their home’s air filtration system, install central air-conditioning and remove and replace any drywall that may be damp and moldy.

Home Improvements for Other Physical Ailments: Other ailments or injuries requiring physical rehabilitation could also warrant specific tax deductible home improvements such as hot water spas, therapeutic swimming pools or other additions to a home to accommodate special medical equipment.

IRS Publication 502 has more detailed information about exactly what may and may not qualify for a medical home improvement tax deduction.

Home Improvements to Increase Energy Efficiency

Home improvements and upgrades to increase your home’s energy efficiency are numerous and constantly changing. It’s actually difficult to keep track of all the rebates and tax incentives you may be eligible for because there are federal regulations, state regulations and even separate utility rebates available in some cases.

In 2008 there were a number of energy efficient upgrades that were no longer eligible for tax credits or deductions (they were part of the 2005 Energy Policy Act), but many of those items are once again eligible for tax credits in 2009 and 2010 due to the new American Recovery and Reinvestment Tax Act of 2009. There are lots of different options, but now tax credits are available for 30% of the cost of certain energy efficient upgrades, up to $1,500! That means that if you spend $3,000 in qualified energy efficient home improvements, you get a tax credit of about $1,000 (30% of $3,000). This is a big improvement over the previous energy efficient home improvement tax credits available in the past.

Some examples of energy efficient home improvements for existing homes that could impact your 2009 and 2010 income taxes:

• New energy-efficient windows and doors
• Adding new insulation
• Upgrading to a metal or asphalt roof (Metal and Asphalt)
• Upgrading to a more energy efficient air conditioning or heating system
• Newer non-solar water heaters
• Purchasing a biomass stove

Other home improvements that are eligible for tax credits for new and existing homes that extend into 2016 are:

• Geothermal heat pumps
• Installing solar water heaters
• Installing solar panels
• Installing wind energy systems or fuel cells

Roanoke Festival

Come join us for food, fun, and entertainment
Thursday, Friday, and Saturday!

Central Illinois Senior Celebration

Wednesday May 19th, 2010
Admission: Free
9:00 am - 2:00 pm !

Just What is Vinyl Siding?
Simply put, vinyl siding is a material that covers the outside of your home. It is ostensibly a plastic material composed of 57% chlorine and 43% common salts and ethylene. Because vinyl siding installation is a rather inexpensive and painless process, it has become one of the most popular choices for covering the outside of a home, both among homeowners and builders. As of 2007, as many as 30 – 40% of new homes were being built with vinyl siding as the material of choice, and when one looks at all the advantages offered by this exciting new material, it’s easy to see why.

Why Should You Use Vinyl Siding?
Of course, just because something is new and exciting doesn’t mean it’s the best option. Why exactly should you choose a vinyl siding installation over another material?

Well, according to the experts at the Vinyl Siding Institute in Washington, DC, you should use vinyl siding because it essentially offers the best of all worlds as a building material. PVC is malleable enough to be sculpted and shaped with the kind of beautiful detail seen on wooden homes of old. These kinds of small architectural details tended to be overlooked in modern homes due to cost and time constraints until vinyl siding came along. In short, those who love an elegant, classical look to their homes need not worry. In fact, many users of vinyl siding claim that, from a few feet away, you can’t tell the difference between their siding and the wooden siding of their neighbors!

At the same time, however, PVC is a plastic – this means that it’s resistant to impact and is relatively non-porous, making it as sturdy and weather-resistant as a solid brick house would be. This also means that it’s easier to care for than a wooden or brick home. Accumulated dirt or debris can be easily washed off without worrying about wearing away the paint job.

The reason for that, of course, is that vinyl siding doesn’t have a paint job! Unlike wood or brick, where the outside of the material is covered in a thin layer of paint, vinyl siding is dyed during the mixing phase. This means that if it’s red, it’s not just painted red, it IS red, through and through. No more chipping, cracking, or peeling!

And if that doesn’t convince you, Remodeling Magazine reports that vinyl siding is said to have the lowest cost of installation of any construction material on the market!

Vinyl Siding Contractors – What to Look For
If you’ve decided that rather than deal with a vinyl siding installation yourself, you’re going to go with a siding contractor, you still need to make sure that you find the right person for the job. While there might be any number of qualified siding contractors out there, one way that you can be totally certain is by checking out the Better Business Bureau.

Long story short – vinyl siding is one of the best possible choices you can make when it comes to improving the look and value of your home. Easy to care for, inexpensive, and durable, vinyl siding combines all the value of other building materials in a single package that you just can’t go wrong with.

-Over time water can create mold, mildew, and stains sometimes in places you can’t see. Most molds are usually an easy thing to take care of; however it can cause people with allergies and asthma some complications.

-A gutter leak that finds its way into your home can damage wood, drywall, and even carpeting which can be costly for your family.

-A larger leak can inhibit rainwater from saturating your lawn and eventually causing a leak into your basement. This can cause foundation problems.

The important thing to remember is that as soon as you notice a leaky gutter, you should take the time to fix or replace it as soon as you can. If you need your gutters replaced, call Prairie Home Alliance at 800-209-9220 for a free consultation.

2. Check for Referrals-Ask your family and friends for recommendations. Word-of-mouth is very powerful, if a company has a history of ripping off consumers; chances are you’ll hear about it. If you know someone who has had a positive experience, most likely you’ll have the same experience.

3. Verify licenses & insurance-Licenses and insurance are a big deal in the home improvement industry. Companies who are legit will have no problem showing you their credentials. Be skeptical if a company refuses to show you. If one of their employees gets hurt at your house and they don’t have insurance, you could be responsible for their medical bills.

4. Ask for references-Quality home improvement contractors will be able to provide a list of references relatively quickly. Make sure to call these references and ask not only about the quality of work, but also the experience working with the company. For large purchases like roofing or siding stop by a home that they have completed the project to check on the quality of work.

5. Look for reviews online-Although online reviews can be manipulated by contractors, take the time to look for red flags. If multiple sites have negative reviews about a company, be very skeptical.

We are proud to announce…..

The Rick Burns Outstanding Service Award Recipient of 2010…

Ed White, Production Manager