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 I had never heard the words granite and bacteria in the same sentence until the solid-surface manufacturers started using it to sell their products. They claim granite counters are not safe and harbor bacteria, while their composite counters (Corian, Silestone and the like) are safe. Really? Haven't we been using granite counters for decades, even centuries? Where's the outbreak of food-borne illness? And what about tile and grout? Why aren't we all dead?
Over at Garden Web's remodeling forum, homeowners are discussing the merits of Stonemark, a granite product carried by Home Depot that is soaked in some kind of super-duper sealer to make it more impervious.
With granite fabricators and sellers saying granite is safe, and with solid-surface manufacturers and sellers saying it isn't, whom do you believe?
For an impartial view, I asked Susan Serra, a certified kitchen designer who writes a robust blog called the Kitchen Designer. Here's what Susan had to say: Is harboring bacteria a concern? Oh, tricky question here! How could I say no? Of course it's a concern. And the kitchen is a wonderful place to harbor all sorts of exotic bacterial living organisms. You're never really alone in the kitchen. . . !
I think there are several ways to look at this issue. The first is universal. Clean your hands and your countertops properly before and after working with food. Cleanliness goes nearly all the way in preventing food-borne illnesses, originating in the kitchen.
Probably, the most perfect of countertop surfaces to keep bacteria to a minimum would be stainless steel or solid surfaces. These countertops would have to have a curved (cove) turn at the rear of the countertop, to avoid a seam where bacteria could congregate and grow. The countertops would also have to have integral sinks of the same material, again, to avoid a seam. Then, you're as protected as you can be.
I don't know about you, but I'm not interested in going back to the '70s with a short, coved backsplash, and I don't necessarily want an integral sink of the same material.
My advice is NOT to be afraid of granite. Tests have shown that a mix of 10% vinegar, with water, will kill 99.9% of bacteria. Use it in a spray bottle.
Me, I see bacteria and granite as a nonissue, providing one uses appropriate cleaning methods. I might add, as an anecdotal note, that I have had three tile countertops in my life (supposedly the worst for bacteria) totaling approximately 22 years. My family is never sick, certainly never with gastro-intestinal illnesses. Hot, soapy water works for us!
Will you get these (more sanitary) countertops so that you can clean off your last bit of bacteria and settle for a different aesthetic than you would have chosen otherwise?
Just be aware that when you go to answer the phone, a pesky ant or fly may track raw chicken juice across the "better" countertop surface and then crawl or fly away before you return. A kitchen is not a confined laboratory. There will be some bacteria in the best of circumstances.
How about you? Do you have granite counters? Have bacteria taken over your home? Are we taking this bacteria thing too far so the corporations can sell us more chemicals?
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 You might think I'm making this up, but I actually saw the words to your right on a Los Angeles contractor's website. And it is an actual licensed contractor, with a freshly minted license number.
But when I saw this website, with the misspelled words, red flags went up.
Is it just because I'm a writer that I care about spelling, grammar and punctuation? Or do infractions like "licens & insurd" on a contractor's website or brochure indicate a deeper reality? Or are these things irrelevant in the world of remodeling?
What do you think? Does spelling matter? Would these words on a website cause you alarm?
Or would you figure this is an unsophisticated contractor from whom you could get a good deal, and who needs a contractor with a master's degree anyway?
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 Even on Halloween, a house shouldn't be so scary that your circuit breaker fails to trip when it's supposed to (because it's counterfeit!) and your patio chair collapses beneath you.
And so that's why these products, both made in China (are you shocked?), have been recalled, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
The counterfeit circuit breakers are black and labeled "Square D." Sixty-four thousand of these were sold in hardware stores nationwide between February 2005 and August 2006, distributed by Connecticut Electric of Puyallup, Wash.
You can check out the product model numbers here.
For more information, call Connecticut Electric at (866) 264-3702, or visit the company’s website at www.connecticut-electric.com.
Out on the patio, your chair may collapse if it was one of 40,000 sets sold by Target. The chair can collapse when weight is applied to the front end of the arm rests, which is pretty much where you'd apply pressure if you were getting in or out of the chair, so those sitting stock still would be fine. For those daring souls who did put pressure on the front of the armrests, Target reports 35 collapses resulting in 18 injuries such as bruising to the back, hips, shoulders, arms and finger lacerations.
The set, which sold for $130, consists of a table, an umbrella and four chairs. The chairs and the umbrella have a black aluminum frame covered with beige fabric. They were sold between November 2006 through July 2007.
For more information, contact Target at (800) 440-0680, or visit the firm’s website at www.target.com
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 From a recent press release:
The Contractors State License Board (CSLB) is warning consumers about the dangers of hiring unlicensed contractors following a disaster, whether it is earthquake, fire, flood or mudslide. Unscrupulous, unlicensed contractors often prey on victims of natural disasters.
It is a felony to contract without a license in a declared disaster area. Consumers can protect themselves by using CSLB's resources to check a contractor's license status and history.
“Don't let a natural disaster result in a man-made one by hiring the first contractor who comes along,” said CSLB Registrar Steve Sands. “Take your time and protect yourself against con artists who will take your money and run –- or incompetent contractors who will perform shoddy work. Hire only licensed contractors and check their qualifications with the Board.”
Consumers can verify a contractor's license status and order publications, free of charge, on this Website. You can also call CSLB, toll-free: (800) 321-CSLB (2752).
Contractors working on a job –- from debris removal to rebuilding –- totaling $500 or more for labor and materials must be licensed by the CSLB. To become licensed, a contractor must pass a licensing examination, verify at least four years of journey-level experience and carry a license bond. As of July 1, 2005, all new licensed contractors have also had to pass a criminal background check.
The CSLB urges consumers to follow these tips when dealing with a building contractor:
• Hire only licensed contractors and ask to see the license.
• Verify the contractor's license by checking online at www.cslb.ca.gov.
• Don't rush into decisions and don't hire the first contractor who comes along.
• Don't pay more than 10 percent down or $1,000 — whichever is less.
• Don't pay cash, and don't let the payments get ahead of the work.
• Get three bids, check references, and get a written contract.
• Contact the CSLB if you have a complaint against a contractor.
The Contractors State License Board operates under the umbrella of the California Department of Consumer Affairs. The CSLB licenses and regulates California's 312,000 contractors, and investigates more than 20,000 complaints against contractors, annually. In Fiscal Year 2006-2007, the CSLB obtained nearly $45 million on ordered restitution for consumers.
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 So I'm walking along Las Vegas Boulevard, past the construction site for a new casino that looks to be about the size of Whittier, and I've got that smug, incredulous attitude one can have about Las Vegas, about the excess, the exorbitance, the waste, the sheer, mind-boggling stupidity of it all and . . . suddenly . . . I stop in my tracks. Solar panels! The bus stop has solar panels on it? Who would've thought?
And then a few steps later . . . stopped again. Plywood panels stamped with the FSC logo used for the barrier wall. FSC? In Las Vegas?
Not too long ago, I walked all around my local Home Depot in liberal, enlightened, environmentally ahead-of-the-pack Southern California looking for plywood, any wood, certified by the Forest Stewardship Council and all I found that was green was pressure-treated wood with a spooky green tint.
FSC plywood in Vegas? So I do a Google search on the code stamped on the sheets — FSC SW-COC-376 — and I find out the wood was manufactured by Roseburg Forest Products in Roseburg, Ore., which is one of the most environmentally responsible lumber companies in the country.
And I think, if a massive casino site in Las Vegas can manage to go a little green, why not me in my remodel?
Later, back at the Luxor Hotel with its monumental pyramid structure (see the beast here), I think: Would it kill you to put some solar panels on that thing?
UPDATE: I see from the always-illuminating Jetson Green blog that the development I walked by is the future CityCenter and will include 18 million square feet of new construction on 76 acres. And if everything is done according to plan (and not all green intentions are carried out), it will be the largest LEED-certified green project in the world.
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 You know how everyone likes to sit up high on bar stools? But without having to be in a bar?
Steve and Marygrace Carpenter like that feeling so much they got rid of their lowly kitchen table during a recent remodel at their Westchester home and replaced it with this tall table. It's almost like an island in the kitchen, but it's for sittin' at.
This also illustrates the beauty of getting your cabinets custom made, which, strangely enough, often costs about the same or less than buying cabinets "off the shelf." In this case, Steve told the cabinetmaker what he needed to create this bar-height table, then got the granite fabricator to make a nice rectangular piece with rounded edges, and voila! It's where everyone wants to sit, including me during a visit. I mean, I could hardly pull myself away from it.
Read the whole story below.
Continue reading "A bar-height table works for me" »
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Photos courtesy of BloggersBliss
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 When you first pick up "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Simple Home Repair," you may not be overly excited; it may not give you that "gotta-have-it" feeling. But don't set it aside too quickly.
With some quiet consideration, you may find, as I did, that home-improvement author Judy Ostrow's new book has some sound and savvy nuggets of knowledge. Did you know, for instance, that because window screens are made of woven wire, you can repair a hole by weaving the loose edges of a patch over the edges of the hole? I didn't.
And this: "If you're going to take apart a faucet, clear an area where you can line up the pieces in the order you remove them." Then, "if you need to take parts to the store to find replacements, make a list of the parts and the order, so you can put things back the way you took them out."
If you're handy already, you're probably thinking: Only an idiot needs to be told that -- hence the title of the book, which is one of more than 450 Idiot Guides.
Add this to the "Dummies" series of books, and it's obvious publishers are hoping for a lot of dim bulbs. But when it comes to simple home repairs, I think the audience is big enough, starting with me. I'm supposed to know about houses, but, sad to say, I've always found it easier to commission the help of a handy boyfriend or husband than to learn how to fix a squeaky floor board. With a book like this, though, I could start acting like the feminist I claim to be.
Continue reading "Book Report: 'The Complete Idiot's Guide to Simple Home Repair'" »
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 Question: I'm curious what the effect of a native plant landscape would be versus a conventional turf grass and shrub landscape. Imagine that the native-centric landscape uses low-growing perennials such as sedge and yarrow as well as pavers in place of turf grass and that both yards have similar amounts of functional outdoor space. — BAM
Answer: From Los Angeles Realtor David Kean:
In my experience, it does not matter either way. A well-landscaped yard is just that. Some buyers may prefer native grasses and some may prefer rose bushes and a lawn. I've never had a buyer say: "I don't want this house because I hate the plant choices."
But I like the question because many homeowners fail to recognize the value of landscaping, which has a major impact on creating curb appeal and a good first impression. In terms of native grasses versus turf, buyers do like the idea of low-maintenance landscaping. The trick is to make it beautiful and interesting, as well as functional and eco-friendly.
Popular features can include a fountain or pond, an arch or arbor, garden furniture such as a bench to relax on or a dining area. You may want to consult a landscape designer or architect. Or look through design magazines and find an overall look that appeals to you and try to replicate it.
But for greatest value, keep in mind that the hardscape should reflect the architecture of your house. You need to create a cohesive look. For instance, Mexican tile pavers would clash with an English-style cottage. In that case, you would go for brick pavers, slate, stone or gravel to tie in better.
Also, varying the heights of plants creates a layered look that is visually captivating. It can also help enhance privacy, which buyers will value. You will want to make sure that your irrigation system is right for the plantings, and that there is adequate drainage to minimize any water intrusion into your home.
Finally, I do think that the cost of most custom landscaping, as long as you do not overspend, will be reflected in the value of your home.
Got a question for David on the value of a home improvement? Click here.
Photo courtesy of Flower to the People
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 An article in today's L.A. Times describes how some well-to-do homeowners got concierge-level protection during the recent wildfires.
As subscribers to AIG insurance company's Private Client Group protection, some of these homeowners were the happy recipients of fire-retardant foam sprayed over their multimillion-dollar homes and properties. But these folks didn't have to worry about shortages in municipal fire trucks, personnel or planes. This was a private company's Wildfire Protection Unit serving select private clients. Hey, I want it.
AIG's wildfire protection service is available only in certain "response zones" in California and Colorado. To see if your house is in a lucky location, click here.
Or, you can opt for an on-site portable retardant-dispensing unit from Wildfire Protection Systems. The company lists the local distributor as Extreme Fire Protection Inc. in Simi Valley.
You can get a stationary canister of fire retardant attached to nozzles on your roof or eaves, and the system can be designed to react to the presence of smoke. Or a portable 25-gallon system could be mounted onto a pickup, ATV, wagon or just placed in an easily accessible area so you could spray your property's perimeter. It is powered by 110V AC or 12V DC, and the latter would be important should the power lines go down. Each system comes with a 5-gallon container of a concentrated form of Phos-Chek retardant, which, when mixed with water, gives you 25 gallons of wildfire retardant. And 25 gallons of Phos-Chek will cover more than 800 square feet, or a line of treatment 10 feet wide by 80 feet long. According to the article in The Times, systems like this cost thousands of dollars, or the retardant alone can be had for about $1,000.
And by the way, Phos-Chek, the fire retardant mentioned above (the same stuff you see shooting out of fire-fighting airplanes), is manufactured right here in Ontario.
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I had never heard the words granite and bacteria in the same sentence until the solid-surface manufacturers started using it to sell their products. They claim granite counters are not safe and harbor bacteria, while their composite counters (Corian, Silestone and the like) are safe. Really? Haven't we been using granite counters for decades, even centuries? Where's the outbreak of food-borne illness? And what about tile and grout? Why aren't we all dead?
