People HATE grout lines! More and more, the clean cut lines of porcelain tile are being used with 1/2th + 1/16th grout widths, instead of the old Kitchen Countertop 4×4 white tile with grout lines of 3/4″. Selecting grout for a tile project is a fine art, unless you go with the every popular “Classic Bone” from Mapei, which works with almost everything. But danger awaits the inexperienced grout selector – what should look like beautiful lines can wind up looking like mud if the grout color isn’t right. One experience HB Building + Design had was with setting stone tile on the shower floor - the color was greenish pebbles. The tile setter used a dark green grout, and yes, the floor looked exactly like mud on the ocean floor. But, removing the tile and using Classic Bone made the stones pop, and we got Beachy, not Nitsche – a beautiful shower floor.

Shluter is a company that not only loves tile, but wants to help you keep your tile intact for as long as possible with special, invisible caps that watertight the edges between the tile and a bathtub or shower floor. That’s just for starters. I found them because I needed a stainless steel finish piece for a back splash. They have that, and more. One other item I found that will help improve our finished product is an edge band that can be used with countertops made from tile. I often use large format tile (24×24) for bathroom countertops. You usually only need a couple of pieces, and your tilesetter can fabricate it, instead of having to outsource to a countertop vendor/installer.

http://www.schluter.com/  is the link. Schluter countertop/backsplash transitions use a ®-KERDI-BAND waterproofing strip is to seal seams and countertop/backsplash transitions. They also provide the edge banding for countertops.

Enjoy perusing, it is a site chock full of ideas and products. And now you and I both know, what Schluter’s all about.

Lauren said as she knew I worked on Aging in Place, I should make their brochure available to you. I will, in our next newsletter! In the meantime, I’ll just say that they are working on the warmth of the bather issue that I contend is not the best for anyone to have to sit in cooling air, wet, while the tub empties!  They DO have amazing barrier free design shower bases, and beautiful glass doors. Following are some examples of their new hardware and design samples.                                                                   

Prior to the last few years, if you desired a premium-looking shower enclosure, you would have to go to a “custom glass house” for the design, fabrication and installation of your enclosure. Very upscale, and also very pricey. MTI offers a great alternative with its line of enclosures, making it easy for you to have the beauty and fit of custom-made enclosures, without the custom price.  

Shower enclosures from MTI are the perfect complement to MTI’s fine line of high-quality showerbases and tubs. MTI shower enclosures are designed specifically to fit MTI shower bases in the various sizes and configurations. Two Series are available: the Nordic Series and the Teutonic Serie The Nordic Series of shower enclosures features true frameless design, with no old-fashioned headers. Glass doors and panels are constructed of substantial 10mm-thick tempered safety glass, whose corners have finely beveled edges for upscale appearance. Hinges and handles are made of cast brass, and hinges are attached through the glass to ensure security and long-term proper alignment. Incorporating magnetic door closures and the newest plastics technology in co-extruded seals, these shower enclosures are designed for years of trouble-free, watertight performance.

Installation is made easy with adjustable mounting extrusions that allow for +/- ¾” adjustment in the width of the enclosures for both sides. This flexibility compensates for variances in tile thickness and walls that are out of plumb. The Nordic Series provides the beauty and fit of custom-made enclosures, without the custom price, saving thousands of dollars. The Nordic Series also offers tub enclosures for tub / shower combination applications, such as the Tub Shield shown to the left.

The second series of frameless shower enclosures from MTI is the Teutonic Series, which suggests motion even while stationary. Rugged, industrial-looking rollers glide along a rock-solid stainless steel track, allowing the 12mm (1/2″) -thick, 200-pound sheet of tempered safety glass to effortlessly slide. Available in two finishes, natural and high-polished, all hardware is constructed of premium, solid stainless steel. This formidable combination of design and construction makes a definite statement and helps create a spa experience like no other. The Teutonic Series also includes enclosures for tubs.

Shower enclosures from MTI are characterized by clean designs, unsurpassed quality, extreme durability, smart engineering and value. Whether the bath construction is a new-build or a remodel, these enclosures are the perfect complement to MTI’s wide range of shower bases and tubs in acrylic or Engineered Solid-Surface materials

So before you commit to a custom glass house, look at MTI’s selection of Tub and Shower Enclosures and see how you can have the beauty and fit of custom-made enclosures, without the custom price. Cool!

(some parts taken from the article “Open Confinement” from MTI Whirlpools web 7-22-10)

How easy is that? Well, the Federal Government has made loans available to people based on (1) the size of the family; and (2) the gross income of the family. Finally, middle to lower income people will be able to get a low interest loan to fix up their homes! In the middle of this financial crisis hitting the entire world, we have work! People are able to get new, safe, clean, custom kitchens and baths, kitchens, laundry room remdels, all financed through a loan from their own home town. Click here for more info.

About the SSF Housing Rehabilitation Loan Program

This Program assists low- and moderate-income homeowners with housing repairs to bring their unit up to current building code. The maximum loan amount is $25,000. Eligible repairs include new roofs, dry-rot repairs, plumbing and electrical repairs, and other types of code violation repairs.

Income Eligibility

In your community, go to the town website and search for “Loans.” It should lead you to a page that looks like one you can find on the South San Francisco web site. This Document lists all the cities on the Peninsula and who to contact in your area. In San Mateo County, you can contact their FHA Loan programs at: (650) 366-6597

In San Francisco, you can start here to find out more info about what type of personal, home and business loans are available.

How big is Aging in Place?

• 89% of people 50+ wish to remain in their own homes indefinitely (AARP).
• 75% of remodelers have seen an increase in requests for aging in place work (NAHB).
• 60% of remodelers already perform aging in place work (NAHB).
• Over half of all 55+ households rate their current home a 9 or 10 out of 10 (American Housing Survey).
• The aging population is the number two issue to affect the remodeling industry over the next five years, only behind the availability of skilled labor (NAHB).

 What is NAHB doing to help the aging population?

NAHB, in partnership with AARP and the NAHB Research Center, developed the Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) program – the leading national educational designation designed to teach professionals how to modify homes for aging in place. Since 2002 more than 2,200 have completed CAPS, making it one of the fastest-growing education programs at NAHB. NAHB Remodelers provides more information for consumers online at: www.nahb.org/aginginplace.

 What should my home contain if I want to age in place?

• A master bedroom and bath on the first floor.
• A low or no-threshold entrance to the home with an overhang.
• Lever-style door handles.
• No change in levels on the main floor.
• Bright lighting in all areas, especially places like stairways.
• A low-maintenance exterior.
• Non-slip flooring at the main entryway.
• An open floor plan, especially in the kitchen/dining area.
• Handrails at all steps.

What are some techniques CAPS-trained professionals use?

• Lighting from multiple directions – reduces glare and shadows.
• Light sockets with more than one bulb – redundancy in case one bulb burns out.
• Stacking closets for a future elevator shaft.
• Contrasting colors for depth perception – use a different color counter (or edging around the counter) than the floor, staining the edge of the stairs a darker color than the rest of the steps.
• Convenience shelf at an entry way to place your grocery bag while getting your keys.

HB Building and Design specializes in Design/Build for people planning to Age In Place. Give us a call if you have any questions about what to do and how to proceed. 650-728-5878

Don’t let a little rain or fog prevent you from doing a small task that will save you a lot of money in the long run. Professionals will advise you to clean your gutters twice a year. This year we are suggesting you clean them NOW!  If your home has trees that leave near your gutters, it’s even more important to clear them now. You can call a handy man to do this job for you, and it should be an inexpensive undertaking, $2-300.

If you decide you want  to do this yourself, first, make sure you have the right tools. That includes heavy jeans, sturdy shoes, and work gloves. If your house is low enough, a step ladder might give you the access to the roof line; if not, a larger folding ladder is good. If you have to use an extension ladder and lean it  against the roof, make sure to insert a 2×4 in the gutter to keep it from collapsing.

One method handymen use to clear the gutter is to use a leaf blower. This works fine, as long as you are also wearing safety goggles and a mouth mask.  You want to make sure to clear all the leaves completely from the gutter, especially in the area where a leaf guard (grill) is installed.  These grills usually can be removed to be completely cleaned. 

Another method is to scoop the debris out into a bag, then use a hose to clear out any remaning dirt. Spray the nozzele down the spout and/or use a snake to get up inside a gutter to clear really heavy buildup.

First, let’s just look at the health reasons!  Twenty minutes in an airbath activates the lymphatic systems, increases blood flow, stimulates endorphins and relieves sore muscles and other painful ailments. The secret of this type of hydrotherapy that  the tiny air bubbles have relaxed your every muscle using passive resistance, while you just sat and soaked. It is the equivalent of a full body massage.

For Seniors and others planning on Aging In Place, especially those who are recovering from a fall or other injury, this type of tub will even help you recover faster. The height of the tub can be built into your tub space, and with a flat undermount tub, you can place a grab bar on the wall to help steady youself as you sit, swing your legs over into the tub, and gently slide or sit down. If your legs don’t work, you can invest in a Tub Lift to enjoy this treatment

You will have a calmer water surface, rather than a roar of jets. Instead of  the pulsing, hard massage of the jets, that recycle water, which cools as it is pumped through the whirlpool system; an Air Bath treats you with the relaxing calm of a heated air massage caused by the release of warm air bubbles into the water. As warm air is being put into the water, no ‘cooling’ takes place. As opposed to a 4-10 jet system, an airbath has 30-80 small ‘bubble jets’ that propel warm air into the system. Pressure is evenly distrubuted throughout the bath, so your entire body is encompassed in a gentle, total sensation.

Many air baths include a heated back option, raised seat in the tub, armrests, and an enitre  air blower technology that is much, much quieter than a jetted tub motor.  Most come with grab bars as a standard feature, and are usually higher than the standard 13″  tub, at 23-26″ high, you choose what is most comfortable. And, they are manufactured with anti-microbial materials

An air bath can be found to fit any size and shape bath – but most can fit exactly where your tub is now, with little modification. Like any jetted tub, it will require access to electricity, usually a standard 120 v. line. If you share the air bath with a shower, one nice thing is that the tub has a “purge and dry cycle’ which helps keep the tub clean and prevents the jets from ever clogging.  List prices start at around $1,000.00

If you are thinking about getting a new tub, and would like more information on all brands of Air Baths, Soaking Tubs and Whirlpools, HB Building and Design will help you choose the right tub for the right price, and get it installed too. We sell Aquatic, Kohler, Zuma, Toto and Jason tubs, and many more, at really great discounted prices. Just contact us at 650-728-5878! We will get the job done.

Music is a unifying experience, it lifts the spirits, and most seniors together know quite a few songs from the same era. What June does is teach rhythm, scales, key signatures, ’the circle of fifths’ and other basic information that helps you start out on the right note when singing new or unfamiliar music. She has held workshops at lots of Senior Centers in the SF Bay Area.

What she’s learned is that the over-50 gang really enjoy making music together! She has a plethora of instruments, from many different cultures, including a tamborine, triangle, wood block, castanets, etc. We had a tremendous amount of fun just practicing tempo and beat using the little cymbal and some simple music annotation.

We learned it is NEVER too late to learn an instrument, be it guitar, piano, bass, violin. And I support that. Our class was 5 ladies, from 44-75.  We all came away from our 4 week session smarter and more secure in our singing. But the point of this post is that musical practice, learning a new instrument, or just singing along with friends, is one of the best ways to maintain flexibility and mental acuity as we age.  From Angie’s List contributor Jim Rupp, owner of Columbus Percussion in Ohio, is his reinforcement: “Music can excercise your mind, no matter what your age. Playing an instrument links the logical and creative sides of your brain…and helps keep seniors minds sharp!”

We are auditioning singers tonight and next Monday night at our weekly practice: 7:00 at the Unitarian Universalist Church at Geary + Franklin, if you’re ready to sharpen your mind!

Our other challenge in this home was to be able to get in and out of the garage. With the chair at the bottom of the stairs, that wouldn’t work. So, we built a bigger landing for turning around, and the client uses the remote to send the chair up the stairs and out of the way of the garage door! We also had to remove half the grab bars and handrails we had just installed 3 months ago once the chair took over the space. Plus rewire some very challenging electrical work. We selected a Stannah stair chair, as their reputation seemed quite good overall. There are many other companies that sell chairlifts, but the best thing is to find the company in your area that sells, reconditions, installs and warrantees the work. And DO get the insurance and annual maintenance. It is worth it for this type of investment.

But the reward is the freedom it give our lovely lady so she can finally do her own laundry, carrying it on her lap as she glides downstairs to her lower level, which houses the laundry room. That step forward is huge, as it means another step toward independence, and a move toward freedom from having a 24 hour caregiver living with her. 

We have done a lot of small jobs here, we’ll be putting up some hooks and working on getting the client to put in a better bathroom. We have also seen progress with the client, as she becomes more active and social. You have to really believe in what you do if you work in the field of Aging. Seniors, or people with mobility issues. It did take two visits and standing over the installer asking a lot of questions to get things perfect!

The Senior Coastsiders of Half Moon Bay are a special group of caregivers. A non profit that has been in existance since 1977, Senior Coastsiders has become the focal point for senior services on the coastside. They strive to create an atmosphere that acknowledges and affirms the value, dignity and self worth of seniors and adults with disabilities.

The agency also serves as a resource for the entire community for information on aging, support of caregivers, and development of innovative approaches to address issues of aging. They also do fundraising, and a special Home Repair day where the community’s handy men & women get out and build ramps, stairs, install new doors, windows, locks, fix bathrooms, you name it!

Last night’s Senior’s Night Out was a dressy affair, with community members donating money for the dinner, acting as escorts for seniors with mobility issues, and those who don’t get to go out much at night. Dinner was served by community volunteers, and I especially liked being served by my Financial Advisor, Howard Hayes! This is just one of the many, many services our active Coastside Seniors are part of each week. From Case Management to Thrift Store Management, and everything in between, our Coastside Seniors have a wealth of opportunities.  Their participation led to the room being full of happy, motivated people in spite of their mobility problems, age related illnesses, hearing problems – none of it mattered, it was just socializing with members of the community. And it extends their life…we had 10 people over 90 years and 25 over 80 participating!

Brian, Bob and I attended with our dates, “New York” Mary, and John & Marja Gullmes. We all made plans to meet again, Marja & John, both from Finland, are very interested in hearing the SF Lyric Chorus this month.  And NY Mary was very pleased with her handsome date, who promised to stop by and check out anything she needs doing around the apartment.

We decked our partners out in roses, and the Black + White ball theme was a real hit. But the best part was the lively conversation at our table and the wonderful interaction between young & old, and such divergent interests that combined to make our Aging In Place community center the brightest spot on the coastside this week.

The purpose is to protect people from lead poisoning, and, most importantly, to not allow children and expectant mothers to breath in unhealthy, lead filled dust from the job.

EPA Requirements

Common renovation activities like sanding, cutting, and demolition can create hazardous lead dust and chips by disturbing lead-based paint, which can be harmful to adults and children.

To protect against this risk, on April 22, 2008, EPA issued a rule requiring the use of lead-safe practices and other actions aimed at preventing lead poisoning. Under the rule, beginning in April 2010, contractors performing renovation, repair and painting projects that disturb lead-based paint in homes, child care facilities, and schools built before 1978 must be certified and must follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination.

Until that time, EPA recommends that anyone performing renovation, repair, and painting projects that disturb lead-based paint in pre-1978 homes, child care facilities and schools follow lead-safe work practices.

• All contractors should follow these three simple procedures:
  • Contain the work area.
  • Minimize dust.
  • Clean up thoroughly.

Homeowners will now receive a “Renovate Rights” pamphlet on commencement of the work. The abatement procedures are standard dust mitigation, cleanliness, and building a containment barrier with plastic sheeting around the doorways into any room being worked on, and posting warning signs.  A homeowner may choose to “Opt Out’ of the abatement if they live in the home, and there are no children under 6 years old or pregnant women on the premises.

HBI is set up for training and certification on April 21. We encourage you to only use contractors that display the lead safe certification icon on their web sites and other materials after April 22, 2010.  In the mean time, stay safe and have your remodeling done by HB Building + Design, the team than keeps your safety top of mind, and will stay with you until your job is complete!