Home Repair and Paint Guide

... In planning for a loose border, select shrubs that will attain the desired height and width. ... Make sure you leave enough setback from your property lines so the plants can grow without crossing over into your neighbor’s property. ... When planting loose borders for privacy, put your tallest plant selections in the back row and shortest in the front. ... Don’t crowd them, and also don’t leave too much space between each plant. ... Sunlight requirements for flowering bushes can be hard to meet if you have a lot of shade. ... Blackhaw Viburnum is a deciduous shrub that yields white flowers in May that turns to edible fruit. ... Dark green foliage changes to purple and bronze in the fall. ... Rose of Sharon is a flowering shrub that can reach a height of 8′-10′ and spread of 4′-6′. ... Rose of Sharon works well in shrub borders. ... Compact American Cranberrybush Viburnum has a dense, rounded growth. ... It starts out glossy and green, then turns reddish-purple in the fall. ... Emerald Arborvitae is a tall evergreen shrub. It has flat, long-lasting needles and dense growth. ... Irish Junipers are a favorite evergreen shrub for privacy bushes ...

... You can purchase a do-it-yourself system or go with a professional service that also provides 24/7 monitoring. ... The sensors can detect things like a door or window being opened, and there are motion and sound sensors for movement or unusual sounds like glass breaking. ... If a criminal breaks the glass and walks in, a door movement sensor would not trigger the alarm. ... Having a recording of the jerk wandering around inside your home is a great way to prosecute him/her. ... When supplemented with sound sensors as described above, you will have an advanced early warning system that gives you time to react the the threat. ... For this to work, you should consider having the system notify a monitoring service. ... The easiest way to install a system is to use one of the professional services advertised on the Internet and TV. ... The prices are very reasonable. ... How long is the contract period? Are there any penalties for canceling early? Can you terminate the contract if you have to move? How are false alarms handled? If police or fire personnel are dispatched and it’s a false alarm, will you have to pay a fine? Do your research and install the system that’s right for you ...

... Treated wood will last many years and has a classic look, but must be stained or painted to prevent deterioration. ... Some go as high as 8 feet. ... You need to know things like maximum height and setback from property lines. ... Remember that people living in two story houses can still see over the fence. ... This provides a high degree of privacy. ... Your zoning code may not allow a fence over 6 feet tall. ... Building a privacy fence is within the abilities of the average handyman. The pieces are not very heavy and construction techniques are pretty basic. ... Strong gusts will not only make construction difficult, but will also blow sections of the fence down if they are not installed to handle the force. ... If you use wood, select a type that has been chemically treated to resist rot and damage from insects. ... This allows the surfaces that will be attached to and hidden by the posts to be coated and preserved. ... Most people use a clear water seal to provide protection while allowing the natural wood to show ...