Remove Snow and Ice Without Hurting the Planet

Snow and ice can be beautiful, but can also be treacherous and hazardous. That is why areas budget thousands of dollars every year for plowing and salting the roadways. Individual homeowners also maintain their properties through shoveling and salting -- but at what cost to the environment?

It's estimated that more than 20 million tons of sodium chloride are dumped on roadways across the country every year in an attempt to keep roads safe. Drivers know what salt can do to the appearance and performance of their vehicles. As it turns out, snow-melting products can have environmental implications as well.

Concerns about salt and chemical snow-melting products involve runoff that can contaminate nearby water supplies. Sodium chloride alone can affect the pH of water, changing the environment in which marine life lives, potentially causing certain species to die off and creating dead zones. It can also affect the sodium content of well water, which can be dangerous to individuals on sodium-restrictive diets.

In terms of vegetation alongside roadways, splashing from salty puddles can cause plants and trees to wither and soil to erode. Plus, salt accumulation at the edge of roads can be enticing to animals who will go there to feed. This can increase the risk of accidents with motorists.

There are alternatives to salt for roadway cleaning, but chemicals can be just as harmful or more so. Furthermore, municipalities are often reticent to change snow removal operations because it could require investing in new and costly equipment.

One of the greener methods of snow and ice removal is simply some elbow grease. Using a shovel or ice chipper reduces the need for salt application. If salt must be used, individuals should use it sparingly.

Other alternatives will not melt snow but can increase traction. Consider applying sand or birdseed to improve footing on icy surfaces. Special boots with improved treads can also provide traction.

Homeowners who are considering replacing a driveway this season may want to spend a little more money on one with snow-melting capabilities. Electric wires beneath the concrete will heat the surface and radiate the warmth upward.

There's no ideal way to protect the planet from snow-removal products, and the argument will remain about what is more important: public safety or environmental safety? However, reducing reliance on salts and other chemical de-icers can do a part in protecting water supplies, animals and vegetation.

If your are interested in a geothermal driveway don't hesitate to call Kangas Home Improvemnts today.

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Make the Most of Your Home Restoration

Since the turn of the century, few industries have experienced the success of the home improvement industry. As people take more and more pride in their homes, home improvement contractors have grown more integral to furnishing a home with a new or refurbished look.

While some projects can be handled by a capable do-it-yourselfer, others are best left to the professionals. Such is the case when restoring a home, particularly an older one. Older homes are often in need of the most work, and that work typically requires the skill of a trained professional. But that doesn't mean homeowners should trust everything to the contractor. In fact, knowing about a successful home restoration can help ensure the vision of the home that's in your mind is the same vision you'll see once the restoration is completed.

* Avoid mixing and matching. Many contractors find older homes are the most fun to work on because they present the greatest challenge. That challenge, however, lies in completing the project and not overhauling the entire home. That's because a complete or even partial overhaul disregards an older home's period and style, depriving it of its uniqueness in the process. While it might seem like a great idea to add today's most modern trend, in 10 years that trend might not be as popular, and the home's unique and original architectural elements will very likely be unavailable. When restoring an older home, embrace its history and the period it represents.

* Emphasize more effective and efficient insulation. The majority of older homes in need of restoration are also in dire need of better insulation. To put this into perspective, today's homeowners should recall childhood trips to Grandma's or Grandpa's. Such trips, if taken during the winter months, no doubt required packing an extra sweater or two to survive a house that always seemed cold.

Chances are, that cold house was not because Grandma and Grandpa were averse to heat. Instead, they likely just lived in a home with outdated and inefficient insulation. Today, a restoration project should employ a solution such as Comfort Foam(R) from BASF Polyurethane Foam Enterprises when addressing and replacing outdated insulation. Comfort Foam allows homeowners to maintain their home's unique interior style while adding structural strength, insulation and air barrier material in one convenient step. An easy-to-use spray-installed product, Comfort Foam fills voids that are hard to seal with traditional insulation.

* Save your home and some money. When fixing up or restoring a home, it's best to look for ways in which you can save both the home as well as some money. This doesn't mean fixing a home on the cheap, but instead looking for products that can help save money long term. 

To learn  about BASF products, visit www.basf-pfe.com. 

Kangas Home Improvements Specializes in historic restorations and renovations