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22nd Century Media<br />
Improvement<br />
The Frankfort Station • The Mokena Messenger • The New Lenox Patriot<br />
22centurymedia.com
2 | August 29, 2019 | 22nd Century Media home improvement<br />
22ndcenturymedia.com<br />
Melka a one-stop shop for seasonal<br />
gardening and landscaping needs<br />
Melka Landscaping & Garden Center<br />
has been serving the community for over<br />
30 years. Melka Landscaping & Garden<br />
Center offers a wide range of products<br />
and services, including a full-service garden<br />
center, tree/shrub nursery, colorful<br />
greenhouses, a Weber grill showroom,<br />
landscape design services, plant installation<br />
and lawn maintenance, brick paver<br />
patios and much more. If one is tackling<br />
a DIY project or in-need of professional<br />
landscape services, Melka’s is the local<br />
business to contact.<br />
Grilling season is year-round. Melka’s<br />
is the one-stop shop for all one’s Weber<br />
Grill needs and accessories. Shop their indoor<br />
showroom for cookbooks, brushes,<br />
cleaners and more. Make sure to join their<br />
“frequent filler program” for propane tank<br />
refills. Melka Garden Center fills propane<br />
tanks year-round.<br />
Melka Garden Center is located at<br />
11606 179th St. in Mokena, located four<br />
blocks west of Wolf Road and just East<br />
of the Metra station. Open seven days a<br />
week from April through December. Visit<br />
their website at jimmelkalandscaping.<br />
com for store hours, new plant arrivals,<br />
landscape design photos and more. Melka<br />
Landscaping & Garden Center is the onestop<br />
shop for all one’s seasonal gardening<br />
and landscaping needs.<br />
Submitted by Melka Landscaping & Garden<br />
Center, 11606 179th St. in Mokena. For more<br />
information, call (708) 349-6989 or visit jim<br />
melkalandscaping.com.<br />
River Road Tops brings decades of<br />
experience to Lockport<br />
River Road Tops first<br />
opened its doors in Lemont<br />
in 1994.<br />
Since then, it has expanded<br />
its space and business<br />
and moved to Lockport.<br />
It is a family-owned<br />
and -operated business that<br />
has been open for 18 years,<br />
with more than 37 years of<br />
experience.<br />
Its expanding showroom<br />
is designed to showcase<br />
several different materials,<br />
colors and designs that are<br />
available. It extends quality<br />
service to its customers,<br />
as well as offers custom<br />
and personal advice on<br />
home design that cannot be<br />
matched elsewhere.<br />
No other fabricator can<br />
match our experience or<br />
impeccable craftsmanship.<br />
River Road Tops specializes<br />
in custom cabinets<br />
and countertops for any<br />
residential or commercial<br />
space. Offering custom<br />
cabinets and countertops<br />
means having a lot more<br />
space, as well as several<br />
different options. River<br />
Road Tops presents its<br />
customers with a wide variety<br />
of products.<br />
In addition to cabinets<br />
and countertops, River<br />
Road Tops also specializes<br />
in custom kitchens and<br />
baths, entertainment centers,<br />
fireplaces and wall<br />
units. It is proud to present<br />
its customers with quality<br />
materials such as granite,<br />
marble, quartz, limestone,<br />
solid surface and laminate.<br />
River Road Tops thinks<br />
that its business is only<br />
as good as its satisfied<br />
customers. Most of the<br />
work that has been done is<br />
through referrals from all<br />
of our satisfied clients.<br />
The owner helps customers<br />
throughout this<br />
entire process. Whether it<br />
may be picking out a material,<br />
style, or even color,<br />
he thinks that working<br />
with the customer from<br />
start to finish leads to the<br />
right design. Every detail<br />
is handcrafted to make it<br />
personal.<br />
Submitted by River Road<br />
Tops, 3341 S. State St., Lockport.<br />
For more information,<br />
visit riverroadtops.com or<br />
call (815) 723-8700.<br />
LABOR DAY WEEKEND SPECIAL!<br />
Expiration Date 9/8/19
22ndcenturymedia.com Home Improvement<br />
22nd Century Media | August 29, 2019 | 3<br />
Our customers<br />
have voted<br />
us #1!<br />
Custom Kitchens,<br />
Bathrooms,<br />
Flooring &More<br />
Before<br />
17050 S. Oak Park Ave, Tinley Park, IL60477<br />
tpkitchenandbath.com<br />
Open 7Days aWeek•708.429.6601
4 | August 29, 2019 | 22nd Century Media home improvement<br />
22ndcenturymedia.com<br />
Tinley Park Kitchen & Bath Shoppe<br />
recognized as ‘Best in the Southland’<br />
If you head into the Tinley Park Kitchen<br />
& Bath Shoppe in the downtown historic<br />
district, you will see a showroom<br />
that welcomes you with gorgeous home<br />
designs. What you will also see is three<br />
People’s Choice Awards and nine Best<br />
of the Southland awards hanging on the<br />
walls, a testament to the company’s commitment<br />
to quality.<br />
John Cancialosi, president of Tinley<br />
Park Kitchen & Bath Shoppe, said receiving<br />
the awards never gets old or routine.<br />
“It’s a great feeling, true validation that<br />
we are doing things right here,” he said.<br />
Established success<br />
At a time when the marketplace is as<br />
competitive as ever, Tinley Park Kitchen<br />
& Bath Shoppe enjoys a level of success<br />
and recognition that has provided renewed<br />
opportunities and longevity. The<br />
company will celebrate its 15th anniversary<br />
next year.<br />
After 15 years of applying his skills in<br />
the cabinet industry, Cancialosi opened<br />
Tinley Park Kitchen & Bath Shoppe to<br />
help customers achieve their dreams in<br />
rooms throughout their homes. The process<br />
of designing a project and working<br />
with people throughout the region has<br />
never gotten old for him and he still finds<br />
it very satisfying.<br />
Cancialosi said he has seen generations<br />
of customers over the years, with<br />
children of his original customers coming<br />
in for remodeling projects.<br />
“The best thing is the repeat customers<br />
we have seen over the years,” he said.<br />
“They call us back when they move to a<br />
new home, or when they want to remodel<br />
another bathroom or kitchen in their existing<br />
home.”<br />
Difference maker<br />
According to Cancialosi, when it<br />
comes to getting things right and making<br />
every project an individual source of<br />
pride, it’s his team that is the real difference<br />
maker for more than a decade.<br />
“I truly believe the team we have assembled<br />
here it what sets us apart from<br />
all the rest, from the designers to the<br />
craftsman out in the field. Everybody<br />
realizes we work as one large team. I<br />
have had the same people here for 12-14<br />
years,” Cancialosi said.<br />
Proven process<br />
When you come into the showroom,<br />
you will see many examples of the cabinets,<br />
counters, tile, hardware, flooring<br />
and other accessories offered by Tinley<br />
Park Kitchen & Bath Shoppe. Cancialosi<br />
said his team handles everything in the<br />
process from soup to nuts, a true design<br />
build company.<br />
“We do everything from the moment<br />
a client come into our showroom and<br />
sit down with us to talk about what they<br />
would like to see,” he said. “We put a<br />
plan of action together, layout a design,<br />
go through the proposal and contract<br />
stage, and get them on the calendar. Our<br />
craftsman in the field take over from<br />
there.”<br />
According to Cancialosi, projects<br />
typically get scheduled between 30 to<br />
45 days in advance. He says he is in the<br />
showroom six days a week and he still<br />
enjoys the creative part of the job.<br />
“I think the best part of my job is the<br />
creative process and seeing the customer<br />
satisfaction at the end of the job,” Cancialosi<br />
said.<br />
Submitted by Tinley Park Kitchen & Bath,<br />
17050 South Oak Park Ave. in Tinley Park.<br />
For more information, call (708) 429-6601<br />
or visit tpkitchenandbath.com or Tinley Park<br />
Kitchen & Bath on Facebook.
22ndcenturymedia.com Home Improvement<br />
22nd Century Media | August 29, 2019 | 5<br />
Home Improvement Time?<br />
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6 | August 29, 2019 | 22nd Century Media home improvement<br />
22ndcenturymedia.com<br />
Imagine landscape possibilities and start the<br />
project with AreA Landscape Supply<br />
Outdoor living spaces<br />
still rank high on lists for<br />
important home trends<br />
across the country. Gorgeous,<br />
spacious, versatile,<br />
show-stopping statements<br />
are desired for the once<br />
mundane backyard. With<br />
fall approaching, the importance<br />
is even bigger to<br />
steal the last bit of enjoyable<br />
weather on your patio.<br />
Consider a few upgrades,<br />
imagine the possibilities<br />
and let’s start the project<br />
together.<br />
You might imagine gathering<br />
family and friends<br />
around a gas fire pit with<br />
sparkling fire glass that<br />
allows more fall evenings<br />
outdoors; Cooking meals<br />
on a built-in grill and eating<br />
on a durable brick paver<br />
patio; Illuminating more<br />
possibilities with landscape<br />
lighting that repels<br />
mosquitos and calms down<br />
with the soothing ambience<br />
of a color-changing<br />
waterfall. AreA Landscape<br />
Supply has all of these<br />
products and more.<br />
Someone else might<br />
imagine curb appeal that<br />
invites family and friends<br />
with a brick paver walkway<br />
leading visitors to the<br />
front door; A fresh, rich<br />
layer of premium mulch<br />
combined with the decorative<br />
stone that makes the<br />
color of the house pop is<br />
a bold statement to visitors<br />
and neighbors; The<br />
addition of landscape<br />
pathway lights, accent<br />
lights and wall wash lights<br />
transforms this home into<br />
a showpiece with added<br />
safety for early fall nights,<br />
too. Find these products,<br />
and more, at AreA Landscape<br />
Supply.<br />
At AreA Landscape Supply,<br />
you can find the South<br />
Suburbs’ largest selection<br />
of Unilock brick pavers<br />
& retaining wall block,<br />
plus boulders, flagstone,<br />
premium mulches, gravel<br />
and decorative stone, pool<br />
sand, drain tile and drainage<br />
accessories, pond and<br />
waterfall supplies, low<br />
voltage landscape lighting,<br />
outdoor fireplaces, fire pits<br />
& accessories (including<br />
fireglass pebbles, round<br />
wood grates, and dome<br />
mesh safety screens), fertilizers,<br />
grass seed mixtures,<br />
sod and more.<br />
Top fall projects typically<br />
include products<br />
such as: Fertilizers and<br />
grass seed, mulches, outcropping<br />
and decorative<br />
stone. Most products are<br />
available in bulk for large<br />
applications, or bagged in<br />
small quantities. The experienced<br />
sales staff can<br />
answer questions, help calculate<br />
materials and recommend<br />
the best product<br />
for your project. Our team<br />
of delivery drivers takes<br />
pride in offering courteous<br />
service, safety, and respect<br />
for your property while out<br />
on deliveries.<br />
Orders can be placed<br />
quickly and easily over the<br />
phone. Request either the<br />
highly popular same day<br />
delivery, or place your order<br />
on will-call for a future<br />
delivery. You can also stop<br />
in, see the selection, and<br />
take your in-stock choice<br />
home immediately.<br />
Submitted by AreA Landscape<br />
Supply, 18851 South<br />
Wolf Road in Mokena. For<br />
more information, call (708)<br />
479-8400 or visit www.AreaLandscapeSupply.com<br />
or<br />
www.facebook.com/Are<br />
ALandscapeSupply.<br />
DECORATOR'S SUPPLY<br />
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19811 S. La Grange Road, Mokena, IL 60448<br />
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www.decoratorssupply.benmoorepaints.com
22ndcenturymedia.com Home Improvement<br />
22nd Century Media | August 29, 2019 | 7<br />
Window World of Joliet promises superior<br />
products at lowest price in the area<br />
Window World of Joliet increases curb<br />
appeal, improves energy efficiency and<br />
enhances the quality of life, one home at<br />
a time.<br />
Window World of Joliet is an ENER-<br />
GY STAR® partner and offers Americanmade,<br />
energy-efficient custom replacement<br />
vinyl windows, Therma-Tru entry<br />
doors, Larson storm doors, patio doors<br />
and vinyl siding.<br />
“According to ENERGY STAR®, replacing<br />
old windows with ENERGY<br />
STAR® certified windows lowers household<br />
energy bills by an average of 12 percent<br />
nationwide,” said Window World of<br />
Joliet owner, Brian Hopkins.<br />
Window World of Joliet offers hundreds<br />
of custom options for windows,<br />
siding and doors to fit any budget. A zero<br />
percent financing option is available to<br />
qualified applicants as well as many additional<br />
options.<br />
All of Window World of Joliet’s products<br />
have earned the Good Housekeeping<br />
Seal of Approval, backed by the industry’s<br />
strongest lifetime warranty (including<br />
labor).<br />
Window World of Joliet takes pride not<br />
only in the quality of their products, but<br />
in the manner in which they deliver them.<br />
From start to finish and after, their knowledgeable<br />
and friendly staff serves exceptional<br />
attention to detail and customer<br />
care. In fact, Window World Ranks No.<br />
1 by J.D. Power for “Highest in Customer<br />
Satisfaction with Window and Patio Door<br />
Retailers”.<br />
One of the most popular and bestselling<br />
products is the Window World of<br />
Joliet 4000 series double-hung window.<br />
It can be opened from the top or bottom<br />
sash, allowing fresh air to circulate<br />
throughout your home. The tilt-in sashes<br />
make cleaning very easy.<br />
“Window World of Joliet’s best-selling<br />
double-hung replacement window is an<br />
impeccable combination of sophisticated<br />
engineering, high-tech craftsmanship,<br />
careful installation and a lifetime of backing,”<br />
said Hopkins. “Moreover, Window<br />
World of Joliet’s double-hung windows<br />
are characterized by easy maintenance<br />
and classic aesthetic styling. Not only are<br />
these vinyl windows an easy choice for<br />
improving curb appeal, energy efficiency<br />
and home value but also ideal for your<br />
wallet.”<br />
Despite the ever-changing landscape<br />
of home improvement, Window World of<br />
Joliet promises to deliver superior products,<br />
professionally installed at the lowest<br />
price. Guaranteed.<br />
Window World of Joliet is a locallyowned<br />
and operated business serving<br />
Cook, Grundy, Kankakee, Lake, LaSalle<br />
and Will counties.<br />
Submitted by Window World of Joliet, 2363<br />
Copper Court. in Crest Hill. For more information,<br />
call (815) 729-3100 to schedule your<br />
free in-home demo or visit windowworldjoliet.<br />
com.
8 | August 29, 2019 | 22nd Century Media home improvement<br />
22ndcenturymedia.com<br />
When should one see a financial professional?<br />
It can be challenging to achieve one’s<br />
financial objectives. Fortunately, one does<br />
not have to go it alone — but when should<br />
one seek help?<br />
Here are some of the key life events in<br />
which one might be able to benefit from<br />
the services of a financial professional:<br />
First professional job — Eventually,<br />
one will land that first job, which will offer<br />
benefits and a 401(k) or similar employer-sponsored<br />
retirement plan. Since<br />
one may not have any experience with a<br />
401(k), one may have several questions:<br />
How much should they contribute? What<br />
sorts of investments should they choose?<br />
When should they change their investment<br />
selections? A financial professional<br />
can help them review their plan and explain<br />
the aspects that may affect one’s investment<br />
choices.<br />
Marriage — When one gets married,<br />
they and their spouse may decide to merge<br />
their finances, including one’s investments.<br />
But if each of them brings similar<br />
investments to the table, they might create<br />
some redundancies. A financial professional<br />
can look at their respective portfolios<br />
and recommend ways to diversify.<br />
Generally, the more diversified one is, the<br />
greater one’s protection against market<br />
downturns that primarily hit one type of<br />
asset class. (However, while diversification<br />
can help reduce the impact of market<br />
volatility, it can’t guarantee profits or protect<br />
against all losses.)<br />
Children — Once one has children, they<br />
will have new responsibilities — and they<br />
will have some new financial issues that<br />
should be addressed. If something happened<br />
to them, could their children still<br />
have the same lifestyle and educational<br />
opportunities? Would they even be able<br />
to stay in the same home? To help ensure<br />
one’s children’s security, one may need to<br />
add more life and disability insurance.<br />
While life insurance could help pay<br />
for one’s children’s education, one also<br />
should prepare for education costs as if<br />
they will be around. So, one may want to<br />
consider an education savings investment<br />
such as a 529 plan. A financial professional<br />
can help one with their insurance and<br />
education-funding needs.<br />
Retirement — Once one retires, they<br />
will face a variety of financial decisions,<br />
but here is one of the most important<br />
ones: How much money should they<br />
withdraw each year from their retirement<br />
accounts? To choose an annual withdrawal<br />
rate that’s appropriate for one’s needs,<br />
they should consider several factors: how<br />
much they have in their retirement accounts,<br />
how much Social Security they<br />
will receive, what other sources of income<br />
(such as part-time work or consulting)<br />
they might have, their age at retirement,<br />
their spouse’s projected retirement<br />
assets, their retirement lifestyle and so on.<br />
It might not be easy for them to consider<br />
all these elements and then arrive at a suitable<br />
withdrawal rate, but a financial professional<br />
has the experience, training and<br />
technology to help determine a figure that<br />
could work for them.<br />
These are not all the life events that may<br />
lead one to contact a financial professional,<br />
but they should give a pretty good idea<br />
of the type of assistance one could expect<br />
over time. So, consider reaching out for<br />
the help one needs when one needs it. Doing<br />
so could help make one’s life easier<br />
as they move toward their financial goals.<br />
Submitted by Edward Jones - David Sesterhenn,<br />
20238 S. LaGrange Road in Frankfort.<br />
For more information, call (815) 469-6315 or<br />
visit edwardjones.com/dave-sesterhenn.<br />
Dave Sesterhenn<br />
Financial Advisor<br />
20238 S La Grange Rd.<br />
Frankfort, IL 60423<br />
815-469-6315<br />
david.sesterhenn@edwardjones.com<br />
www.edwardjones.com<br />
Member SIPC
22ndcenturymedia.com Home Improvement<br />
22nd Century Media | August 29, 2019 | 9<br />
Impressive luxury townhomes are closing fast at Brookside Meadows<br />
This is it. One of the best values<br />
in a new home will soon be<br />
gone forever. Brookside Meadows,<br />
Crana Homes’ community<br />
of award-winning luxury<br />
townhomes in Tinley Park, is<br />
nearly complete. These attractive<br />
luxury townhomes range<br />
from the upper-$200s – including<br />
site - so demand is high and<br />
buyers are advised to act now<br />
while some choice sites are still<br />
available.<br />
It’s an ideal location with<br />
beautiful designs, quality construction<br />
and great value. When<br />
shoppers review their new home<br />
“wish list” it’s clear that Brookside<br />
Meadows is perfect for first<br />
time buyers, last time buyers or<br />
those who want a great place to<br />
raise a family. These energyefficient<br />
luxury townhomes are<br />
impressively designed and set<br />
apart in a quiet section of Tinley<br />
Park. But Brookside Meadows<br />
is over 75 percent sold out<br />
so now is the time to select a<br />
site and create a home from the<br />
award-winning floorplans of the<br />
Fahan II, the Lennan II and the<br />
latest design, the Dunree II.<br />
Need to stretch out? The Fahan<br />
II is a beautiful 3,303 total<br />
square foot luxury townhome<br />
(including a 1,216 sq.’ basement)<br />
with an attached two-car,<br />
dry-walled garage and cement<br />
driveway. The two-story stately<br />
entrance foyer opens up to<br />
a split level floor plan that has<br />
three bedrooms (fourth bedroom<br />
optional) and two-and-ahalf<br />
baths. A large open kitchen<br />
design with stunning granite<br />
countertops is surrounded by<br />
generous custom maple cabinets<br />
and a ceramic tile floor. The<br />
first floor master bedroom offers<br />
an optional coffered ceiling and<br />
the optional master bath plan includes<br />
a soothing soaker tub.<br />
An elegant loft overlooks a<br />
great room adjacent to the kitchen.<br />
Beautiful oak is selected for<br />
doors, railings and trim. Ceramic<br />
tile covers the floors in the<br />
foyer as well as the bathrooms,<br />
which also feature granite vanity<br />
tops. A full lookout basement<br />
and a patio are included in the<br />
Fahan II.<br />
The Lennan II is a comfortable<br />
two/three bedroom split<br />
level home with two-and-a-half<br />
baths, and includes most of the<br />
outstanding features and options<br />
of the Fahan II with the<br />
spacious master suite relocated<br />
to the upper level and the addition<br />
of an impressive dining/<br />
family room.<br />
With 3,167 square feet of<br />
total space (including a 1,049<br />
sq.’ basement), there is plenty<br />
of room to entertain family and<br />
friends in comfort and style.<br />
The Dunree II is a sharp three<br />
bedroom, two-and-a-half bath<br />
home with 3,194 total square<br />
feet (including a large 1,226 sq.’<br />
basement) with a master suite on<br />
the first floor. The foyer, powder<br />
room, kitchen and living room<br />
all have stunning hardwood oak<br />
floors. Attached is a two-car,<br />
dry- walled garage with a cement<br />
driveway. The home also<br />
includes a 12’ x 12’ deck.<br />
All homes have deluxe landscaping,<br />
underground utilities<br />
and a first floor laundry room.<br />
Where available, buyers can select<br />
options like an impressive<br />
fireplace, walkout basement,<br />
coffered ceilings, skylights and<br />
a soaker tub in the master bath.<br />
Brookside Meadows includes<br />
sprinkler systems, smoke detectors<br />
and Lake Michigan water<br />
in all homes. Energy-saving<br />
features like a high-efficiency<br />
furnace and Lo-E glass, Energy<br />
Miser hot water heater, vented<br />
soffits, 1.75” insulated entrance<br />
doors, energy efficient appliances<br />
and Tuff-R insulated wall<br />
sheathing are all standard.<br />
Brookside Meadows is close<br />
to everything: retail, dining,<br />
transportation routes, Metra rail<br />
station and airports. The school<br />
system is among the best in the<br />
state and Tinley Park, named<br />
“The Best Place In America<br />
to Raise a Family” by Bloomberg’s<br />
BusinessWeek, maintains<br />
40 parks and the huge Bettenhausen<br />
indoor recreational center.<br />
It’s easy to see why this community<br />
is nearly sold out. The<br />
sales center, with fully furnished<br />
and beautifully decorated<br />
models, is open 10 a.m.-4<br />
p.m. Monday through Thursday<br />
and noon-4 p.m. Saturday and<br />
Sunday and open Friday by appointment.<br />
Submitted by Crana Homes, 19839<br />
Mulroy Circle in Tinley Park. For<br />
more information, call (708) 479-<br />
5111 or visit cranahomes.com.<br />
1 st Floor Master SuiteWith Walk-in Closet and Large Bathroom<br />
3Bedrooms Plus Loft,2½Baths<br />
Ideal Location with QuiteOpen Space-Chicago Water<br />
ExcellectSchool District<br />
Beautiful Open Concept Floorplan<br />
LowMonthly MaintenanceFees (Lawn Care &SnowRemoval)<br />
QualityConstruction -Great Value<br />
Homes Readyfor Immediate Occupancy<br />
DunreeII<br />
Contactthe Sales Center fordetails at 708.479.511 and visit online anytime at www.cranahomes.com<br />
Decorated Models areOpen<br />
Mon-Thu10am-4pm Sat/Sun Noon-4pm FridaybyAppt.<br />
Exit I-80 at La Grange Road south for just under twomiles to La PorteRoad<br />
andturn east for one-half mile to Brookside Meadows.<br />
Since 1970<br />
OPPORTUNITY
10 | August 29, 2019 | 22nd Century Media home improvement<br />
22ndcenturymedia.com<br />
Koreman creates unique landscapes for its clients<br />
Koreman Landscape<br />
Company, of Frankfort,<br />
has installed landscapes<br />
and outdoor living spaces<br />
since 2000. The company<br />
specializes in large, unique<br />
outdoor living spaces like<br />
pool decks, kitchens, fireplaces,<br />
retaining walls and<br />
patios. Koreman Landscape<br />
also designs and installs<br />
unique plantings.<br />
Everything starts with a<br />
good design, says owner<br />
Paul Koreman. The design<br />
process begins with paying<br />
close attention to what<br />
the client is asking for. The<br />
large variety of available<br />
materials and plants can be<br />
overwhelming. Koreman<br />
uses his experience to offer<br />
the best choice of layout<br />
and materials that will<br />
work for the client and the<br />
property. All details are<br />
considered, even outdoor<br />
lighting.<br />
After the client chooses<br />
the final design, Koreman<br />
sources all materials and<br />
equipment before the job<br />
begins<br />
to ensure a quick and<br />
easy installation. The expert<br />
craftsmen at Koreman<br />
Landscape have all the<br />
skills needed to create an<br />
outdoor living space that<br />
provides years of carefree<br />
enjoyment. If the client<br />
requests a change during<br />
construction, all employees<br />
are empowered to stop<br />
and listen to the client. The<br />
goal during construction is<br />
to make sure the client gets<br />
what they expect.<br />
The relationship continues<br />
after Koreman Landscape<br />
finishes the job. Clients<br />
are given a personal<br />
tutorial on how to water<br />
and care for their plantings<br />
or hardscapes. All<br />
hardscape installations<br />
and plantings are guaranteed.<br />
Weekly or seasonal<br />
landscape maintenance is<br />
available from a dedicated<br />
crew who specialize in the<br />
care and upkeep of landscapes.<br />
The company offers<br />
cleaning and sealing<br />
of pavers to keep the new<br />
outdoor living space looking<br />
great.<br />
Submitted by Koreman<br />
Landscape Company, 21032<br />
S. 80th Ave. in Frankfort. For<br />
more information, call (815)<br />
464-5643 or visit koreman<br />
landscape.net.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
21032 80th Ave. • Frankfort, IL •koremanlandscape.net • we accept all credit cards
22ndcenturymedia.com Home Improvement<br />
22nd Century Media | August 29, 2019 | 11<br />
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12 | August 29, 2019 | 22nd Century Media home improvement<br />
22ndcenturymedia.com<br />
Fox’s Restaurant still about family after 50 years<br />
Three generations later,<br />
Fox’s Restaurant and Pub<br />
is still providing quality<br />
food and service to residents<br />
all over Chicago’s<br />
south side and the surrounding<br />
suburbs.<br />
Thomas and Therese<br />
Fox started their restaurant<br />
with a simple desire<br />
to serve good food to other<br />
families. The rich history<br />
of the restaurant is kept<br />
alive today by Thomas<br />
Fox’s descendents, and<br />
Fox’s is now a beloved<br />
spot by residents not only<br />
at its original location in<br />
Chicago’s Beverly neighborhood,<br />
9956 Western<br />
Ave., but also in Oak Lawn<br />
and Plainfield. The restaurant<br />
also has a strong tie<br />
to a key part of Chicago’s<br />
rich history.<br />
“In 1963 my grandpa<br />
bought his first carry-out<br />
store front on Walden<br />
Parkway in Beverly,” said<br />
Ryan Fox, general manager<br />
of the Oak Lawn location.<br />
“From there, he<br />
expanded from two storefronts<br />
to three, and then<br />
in 1967 May Capone, Al<br />
Capone’s sister, had a delicatessen<br />
on Western [Avenue].<br />
“Her and my grandpa<br />
used to trade meats and<br />
pizzas. Eventually, she<br />
said that she wanted to<br />
get out of the business<br />
and sold the building to<br />
my grandpa, which is now<br />
Fox’s Beverly.”<br />
Fifty years later, Fox’s<br />
Restaurant and Pub still<br />
serves up everything from<br />
tasty pizza, to classic Italian<br />
fare and more at a fair<br />
price.<br />
The Foxes expanded<br />
their family of restaurants<br />
to include an Oak Lawn<br />
location, 9240 S. Cicero<br />
Ave., as well as a Plainfield<br />
location, 14206 S.<br />
Lincoln Highway.<br />
Fox’s prides itself on offering<br />
customers a familylike<br />
atmosphere that serves<br />
fresh, in-house-made<br />
meals daily.<br />
That quality is endorsed<br />
by the regulars who return<br />
FOX’S<br />
GAME DAY DINE-IN SPECIALS<br />
69 ¢ Wings (INCREMENTS OF 5) • $ 12<br />
$<br />
1.50 12 oz. Domestic Drafts • $ 3<br />
year after year.<br />
“I think one of the biggest<br />
things that makes us<br />
unique is we’re really big<br />
on family,” said Ryan Fox,<br />
who added, “Everything is<br />
made fresh in house, we<br />
make our own pizza sausage,<br />
our own dough and<br />
we grind our own cheese.”<br />
Live entertainment for<br />
families on the weekends<br />
also makes Fox’s Restaurant<br />
and Pub a go-to spot<br />
to bring the family.<br />
For those who want to<br />
bring a quality meal home,<br />
Fox’s also has an extensive<br />
catering menu to help take<br />
the work out of special occasions.<br />
Its catering menu offers<br />
Italian food with an American<br />
influence and includes<br />
everything from salads and<br />
pasta to hamburgers.<br />
“I’m proud of what my<br />
family has accomplished,”<br />
Ryan Fox said of the family<br />
business. “I like making<br />
people happy when they<br />
come in.”<br />
Submitted by Fox’s Restaurant<br />
and Pub, which<br />
has three locations: 9956<br />
Western Ave. in Chicago’s<br />
Beverly neighborhood; 9240<br />
S. Cicero Ave. in Oak Lawn;<br />
and 14206 S. Lincoln Highway<br />
in Plainfield. For more<br />
information, including hours<br />
and menus, visit foxsrestau<br />
rant.com.<br />
Written by 22CM Boost, the<br />
content-writing division of<br />
22nd Century Media, publisher<br />
of this special section<br />
and newspaper.<br />
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1/2 Pan Pasta with Meat<br />
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16 Piece Chicken with<br />
3 Sides $23.99<br />
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during the game. Other restrictions may apply.<br />
Carryout & Delivery Only • Expires 12/30/19<br />
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Steak, Seafood & Sandwiches<br />
9655 W. 143rd St.<br />
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708-478-2111<br />
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Mokena<br />
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$12 Large Cheese Pizza<br />
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Carryout & Delivery Only • Expires 12/30/19<br />
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during the game. Other restrictions may apply.<br />
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3 Sides $18.99<br />
Not valid with any other offers. Valid on Game Day only<br />
during the game. Other restrictions may apply.<br />
Carryout & Delivery Only • Expires 12/30/19
22ndcenturymedia.com Home Improvement<br />
22nd Century Media | August 29, 2019 | 13<br />
It’s Illinois Spine & Scoliosis Center’s<br />
10 Year Anniversary !<br />
Dr. Anthony Rinella, Dr. Kris Siemionow, Dr. Amir El Shami, and the<br />
entire ISSC team would like to thank – YOU – our patients and their<br />
families for allowing us to be part of your care for the past 10 years!<br />
We look forward to continuing to serve you for many more years to come!<br />
Illinois Spine & Scoliosis Center<br />
Personalized Comprehensive Spine Care for ALL ages!<br />
(877) 694-7722<br />
12701 West 143rd Street #200 | Homer Glen, Illinois 60491<br />
Multiple Locations<br />
Se Habla Español | Mówimy Po Polsku
14 | August 29, 2019 | 22nd Century Media home improvement<br />
22ndcenturymedia.com<br />
Home improvements that offer the most value<br />
A fresh coat of paint can improve<br />
the look of one’s home, but<br />
beyond the paint, which home<br />
improvements are worth the effort<br />
and expense? If one considers<br />
the cost of the improvement<br />
versus the resale value, they can<br />
measure the actual percent return<br />
on your investment.<br />
Here are the Top 5 remodeling<br />
projects with the highest<br />
return on investment. Remember<br />
to evaluate these against necessity<br />
based on one’s personal<br />
situation. For instance: if one’s<br />
windows are really old and no<br />
longer keeping out the cold, then<br />
new windows may actually hold<br />
more value for your home —<br />
savings realized on one’s utility<br />
bill and in resale.<br />
Top 5 (for most homes)<br />
• Attic insulation (up to 117 percent<br />
return) — involves sealing<br />
off any air leaks and using<br />
fiberglass loose fill insulation.<br />
•<br />
Manufactured Stone Veneer<br />
(up to 92.9 percent return) —<br />
replacing the bottom one-third<br />
of the exterior vinyl siding.<br />
• Garage Door Replacement<br />
(up to 91.5 percent return) —<br />
based on a new four-section<br />
door on steel tracks.<br />
• Entry Door Replacement (up<br />
to 91.1 percent return) — steel<br />
door with half glass panel<br />
(steel has a higher return than<br />
fiberglass).<br />
• Minor Kitchen Remodel (up to<br />
83.1 percent return) — assuming<br />
the cabinet boxes stay in<br />
place with new fronts, drawers,<br />
hardware, countertop,<br />
oven and faucet (approximate<br />
cost of $20,000).<br />
Other thoughts on improvements<br />
An easy place to increase the<br />
value and curb appeal of one’s<br />
home is your landscaping. First<br />
impressions are often lasting<br />
ones. Make sure trees are neat<br />
and shrubs are trimmed — one<br />
does not need to spend a ton of<br />
money to create a welcoming<br />
look. If one does not have a lot<br />
of time for flowers, look for lowmaintenance<br />
options with a little<br />
color. Hanging baskets or planters<br />
are great alternatives to standard<br />
flower beds.<br />
Kitchens are especially important<br />
when assessing one’s home’s<br />
overall value. One can make improvements<br />
to their kitchen without<br />
spending $20,000. Painting<br />
the cabinets and installing new<br />
hardware are relatively easy options.<br />
With a reasonable budget<br />
($5,000) one can also update<br />
their appliances (stainless steel<br />
is still the first choice) and their<br />
countertop (quartz is durable and<br />
attractive).<br />
If one is considering a home<br />
improvement project, talk to a<br />
home financing specialist from<br />
Marquette Bank. Recent rate reductions<br />
have made home equity<br />
lines of credit a more attractive<br />
option for home improvement<br />
financing.<br />
Submitted by Marquette Bank, 9533<br />
W. 143rd St. in Orland Park. For<br />
more information, call (888) 254-<br />
9500 or visit emarquette<br />
bank.com/welcomehome.<br />
201<br />
WINNER<br />
10% OFF With Ad!<br />
ADDITIONAL 5% OFF FOR ALL FIRST RESPONDERS & SENIOR CITIZENS *<br />
• Flat & Shingle Roofs<br />
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815.774.0900 • 708.479.2002<br />
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*Excludes Repairs
22ndcenturymedia.com Home Improvement<br />
22nd Century Media | August 29, 2019 | 15<br />
DON’T LET YOUR DRYER<br />
START A<br />
FIRE!<br />
WARNING!<br />
APEK Inc. is more than<br />
just another roofer<br />
Before<br />
If your dryer takes longer than one cycle<br />
to dry your clothes, then you may have a<br />
fire hazard in your vent.<br />
After<br />
We are honored to be receiving the<br />
Southwest Choice Award for “Best Roofing<br />
in Southwest Suburbs” for the second<br />
year in a row. Winning this award only inspires<br />
us more as a company to keep improving<br />
on our motto when we started to<br />
“give quality service at budget conscious<br />
pricing.”<br />
It has always been our goal as a team to<br />
give the homeowner in need of an exterior<br />
upgrade (Roofing, Siding, Soffit, Fascia<br />
and Gutters) to give a product and service<br />
that they can afford and also be proud of<br />
the look of their home.<br />
When we opened in 2008, we only<br />
had a few employees but big dreams of<br />
helping homeowners in need reach their<br />
home exterior goals. The owners Jim and<br />
Becky have put in the time and effort every<br />
day since in order for this company to<br />
become what it is now. The level of care<br />
and expertise found in APEK Inc. cannot<br />
be beat.<br />
Since then APEK has gained knowledge<br />
and experience in the industry and<br />
every year grow stronger and more efficient<br />
with their workmanship. As a<br />
family-run business, we understand what<br />
you want in a home exterior company. We<br />
know what you crave the most is knowledgeable<br />
salesmen, excellent customer<br />
service and genuine people who guide<br />
you in the right direction, especially when<br />
making big decisions about your home.<br />
This is one of the major aspects that sets<br />
us apart from the rest.<br />
APEK is excited to offer financing with<br />
the hope that this alleviates some of the<br />
stress and worries that come with big decisions<br />
for your home exterior projects.<br />
APEK does our best to make sure we can<br />
help in any way possible to make this an<br />
easy and unforgettable experience for<br />
you. We are familiar with the hardships<br />
life can throw at you and that’s why we<br />
want to make a point of going the extra<br />
mile for all of our customers.<br />
If you’re looking for work to be done<br />
on your home’s exterior, then call and<br />
make an appointment today for your free<br />
estimate with an APEK salesman. They<br />
will have all of the information you need<br />
and be able to answer any questions you<br />
may have about the entire process from<br />
start to finish. Make sure to check us out<br />
on Angie’s List and BBB.<br />
APEK Inc. knows that updating your<br />
homes exterior is a big project and we are<br />
here to make sure the whole process goes<br />
smoothly for you.<br />
Submitted by APEK Inc. 1005 Industry Road<br />
in New Lenox. For more information, call<br />
(815) 774-0900 or visit apekinc.com.<br />
Dryer Vent Cleaning<br />
Installation<br />
Alteration<br />
Repair<br />
WE ACCEPT<br />
SAVE $ 10<br />
ANY SERVICE!<br />
815-215-2090<br />
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Call Today!<br />
815-215-2090<br />
www.dryerventwizard.com
16 | August 29, 2019 | 22nd Century Media home improvement<br />
22ndcenturymedia.com<br />
Dryer Vent Wizard works to make clothes dryers safer<br />
Hidden buildup in<br />
clothes dryer vent<br />
is fire hazard<br />
Most people know they<br />
need to clean out their<br />
dryer lint tray between<br />
each cycle, but what lurks<br />
behind the wall is just as<br />
important for safety and<br />
avoiding fire traps, as well<br />
as fully efficient dryer performance.<br />
Joe Enzenberger,<br />
owner of Dryer Vent<br />
Wizard, opened his New<br />
Lenox-based business in<br />
2009.<br />
Lint is the villain —<br />
lint that has been allowed<br />
to build up and linger too<br />
long in the dryer exhaust<br />
vent.<br />
It is estimated by the<br />
U.S. Consumer Product<br />
Safety Commission and<br />
the U.S. Fire Administration<br />
that 15,500 fires associated<br />
with clothes dryers<br />
occur annually. These fires<br />
account for an average of<br />
20 deaths, 370 injuries and<br />
more than $88 million in<br />
property damage. “Failure<br />
to clean the dryer vent”<br />
was the leading factor cited<br />
in U.S. Fire Administration<br />
reports.<br />
“It is something very<br />
few people know about or<br />
think about,” said Enzenberger,<br />
whose company<br />
specializes in dryer vent<br />
cleaning, repair, alteration<br />
and installation. “It is<br />
the leading cause of dryer<br />
fires.”<br />
Lint accumulation also<br />
can cause dryers to stop<br />
working or to work inefficiently.<br />
A dryer vent<br />
clogged with lint can add<br />
as much as $18 to $24 per<br />
month to energy costs.<br />
“Improper venting<br />
causes problems, as well,”<br />
he said. “The dryer exhaust<br />
duct and connections<br />
should be made of rigid<br />
metal or semi-rigid metal<br />
and secured with metal<br />
heat-resistant tape rather<br />
than duct tape. I often find<br />
plastic or foil accordiontype<br />
material, which can<br />
easily trap lint and is more<br />
susceptible to kinks and<br />
crushing.”<br />
Warning signs include<br />
• Clothes are taking more<br />
than one cycle to dry, especially<br />
jeans and towels;<br />
• No lint visible on lint<br />
screen;<br />
• Dryer repeatedly stops<br />
during a cycle;<br />
• Clothes have moldy<br />
smell after dry cycle;<br />
• Clothes are very hot after<br />
a dry cycle;<br />
• The top of your dryer is<br />
hot to the touch while<br />
running;<br />
• There’s excess lint left on<br />
your clothing;<br />
“This has been a consumer<br />
education process,<br />
but it’s hard to get the<br />
word out,” said Enzenberger.<br />
“Most don’t call<br />
until they have a serious<br />
problem with their dryer.”<br />
He suggests people<br />
treat clothes dryers as a<br />
household item in need of<br />
regular maintenance. Consumers<br />
can protect dryer<br />
performance and promote<br />
safety by cleaning the lint<br />
screen between each use,<br />
ensuring the connection<br />
between the dryer and<br />
wall is made of compliant<br />
material and remains<br />
un-kinked and having the<br />
dryer exhaust duct cleaned<br />
regularly. Dryer manufacturers<br />
recommend inspection<br />
and cleaning at least<br />
annually.<br />
Now is the perfect time<br />
to have an inspection and<br />
cleaning of clothes dryers<br />
and dryer vent systems.<br />
Another important tip:<br />
never let your clothes dryer<br />
run when you are out of<br />
the house or asleep.<br />
Submitted by Dryer Vent Wizard.<br />
For more information,<br />
call (815) 215-2090 or visit<br />
dryerventwizard.com.<br />
SHOREWOOD<br />
1002 West Jefferson Street<br />
Shorewood, IL 60404<br />
Phone: (815) 741-2941<br />
Fax: (815) 741-2875<br />
CRETE<br />
3445 Eagle Nest Drive<br />
Crete, IL 60417<br />
Phone: (708) 672-7511<br />
Fax: (708) 672-7508<br />
NEW<br />
LOCATION<br />
HOMER GLEN<br />
12608 W 159th St<br />
Homer Glen, IL 60491<br />
Phone: (708) 301-0222<br />
Fax: (708) 301-0230<br />
WWW.SHOREWOODHOMEANDAUTO.COM
22ndcenturymedia.com Home Improvement<br />
22nd Century Media | August 29, 2019 | 17<br />
Tri-Star Cabinet and Top Co. builds customized cabinetry<br />
Tri-Star Cabinet and Top Co.,<br />
was founded in 1966. They<br />
spent their first several years at<br />
a small factory in Joliet, before<br />
moving to its current location in<br />
New Lenox in 1970. After experiencing<br />
significant growth,<br />
Tri-Star expanded the location<br />
to an 85,000 square foot factory<br />
and warehouse also including a<br />
two-story showroom. Over the<br />
years, they have added on and<br />
updated the showroom which<br />
now features full kitchen displays,<br />
islands, bars, vanities,<br />
boot benches and a living room<br />
set up which houses a fire place<br />
surround, bookcases and a desk<br />
area.<br />
All of the cabinetry is manufactured<br />
on site in their factory<br />
at 1000 S. Cedar Road in New<br />
Lenox and shipped directly to<br />
your home by Tri-Star Cabinets<br />
own delivery trucks. Tri-<br />
Star has spent the last 53 years<br />
successfully serving the Chicagoland,<br />
Northern Indiana, and<br />
Southern Wisconsin areas and<br />
continues to be one of the largest<br />
and most well-recognized<br />
brands in custom cabinetry.<br />
With the combination of their<br />
employees’ vast experience in<br />
woodworking, integrity and<br />
trust, Tri-Star comes together to<br />
create some of the finest custom<br />
cabinetry in the marketplace<br />
today. For more than two generations,<br />
the talented and skilled<br />
craftsmen at Tri-Star have been<br />
building beautiful cabinets<br />
for some of the most selective<br />
homeowners, homebuilders and<br />
interior designers.<br />
Tri-Star’s talented design<br />
team works closely with homeowners<br />
to understand and accommodate<br />
each client’s needs<br />
and desires. Whether you prefer<br />
modern or traditional, elegant<br />
or contemporary, Tri-Star will<br />
build a product that is suited<br />
to your style and space so that<br />
you enjoy your new cabinets<br />
for years to come. Each cabinet<br />
that is designed and produced is<br />
the result of years of experience<br />
and product research that allows<br />
them to guide their clients<br />
through an extensive customization<br />
process, including the<br />
selection of wood species, color<br />
choices and specialty finishes.<br />
Tri-Star offers solutions for<br />
more than just your kitchen and<br />
bathroom. Whether you’re looking<br />
to update your living room<br />
with organizational cabinets<br />
or add some cabinets to your<br />
garage, Tri-Star can fulfill all<br />
your custom cabinet needs. Tri-<br />
Star Cabinets has been a great<br />
source of cabinets for schools,<br />
churches, doctor’s offices, dental<br />
facilities, hair salons, dug<br />
outs, outside bar areas and so<br />
much more.<br />
Estimates are free of charge<br />
and in-home design consultations<br />
are also available at no<br />
charge. A sales designer will<br />
come to your home to measure<br />
the space, give ideas and guidance<br />
to help create custom cabinetry<br />
for any room in your home<br />
and help create useful space for<br />
those relatively unused spaces<br />
in your home.<br />
Tri-Star’s showroom is open<br />
to the public seven days a week.<br />
Stop in anytime to view their<br />
samples and displays and speak<br />
with an experienced designer to<br />
answer any of your questions.<br />
Submitted by Tri-Star Custom Cabinet<br />
& Top Co., 1000 S. Cedar Road<br />
in New Lenox. For more information,<br />
call (815) 485-2564 or visit<br />
tristarcabinets.com.<br />
Quality You Can Trust<br />
~SINCE 1966~<br />
Free Estimates &<br />
In-Home Consultations<br />
1000 S. Cedar Road • New Lenox, IL<br />
815-485-2564<br />
Showroom Open 7 Days a Week to the Public!<br />
www.tristarcabinets.com
18 | August 29, 2019 | 22nd Century Media home improvement<br />
22ndcenturymedia.com<br />
Prusak Roofing helps homeowners get<br />
ready for seasonal elements<br />
Is your roof ready for fall and<br />
winter weather? You may think it<br />
is, but have you looked at your<br />
roof recently? Your roof is your<br />
home’s first defense against<br />
wind, rain and snow. A good,<br />
solid roof — free of defects —<br />
will protect a home from the ravages<br />
of fall and winter weather<br />
for many years. Your roof must<br />
be able to withstand the extreme<br />
challenges that weather brings.<br />
Cold, windy days, heavy gusty<br />
downpours and snow and ice<br />
storms all play havoc with your<br />
roof. For<br />
peace of mind and protection<br />
of your home, your roof must<br />
be prepared to handle whatever<br />
weather nature brings.<br />
Don’t let the outside conditions<br />
impact the inside of your<br />
home. A small roof leak today<br />
can lead to a major water problem<br />
tomorrow. Missing or damaged<br />
shingles provide pathways<br />
for rain and melting snow to<br />
make their way into your home.<br />
Your roof must be water tight.<br />
If you have any concerns about<br />
your roof, gutters or siding, you<br />
should contact a professional to<br />
have them addressed immediately<br />
before extensive damage can<br />
happen to your home.<br />
If you suspect you may have<br />
a roof, siding or gutter problem,<br />
contact Prusak Roofing for a free<br />
estimate. We will complete a full<br />
inspection of your roof, gutters,<br />
fascia and soffit systems, explain<br />
any problems you may have and<br />
provide recommendations on<br />
how to fix them. Minor roof issues<br />
can generally be repaired at<br />
a reasonable cost and can extend<br />
the life of most roofs. If your<br />
problem is more complex, you<br />
will be able to address it before<br />
it causes additional damage to<br />
your home.<br />
You can trust Prusak Roofing<br />
with your roof. We are the contractor<br />
of choice for thousands<br />
of new and repeat customers<br />
throughout Chicago and the suburbs.<br />
We are family owned and<br />
operated since 1963. A company<br />
owner will come to your home,<br />
assess the situation and discuss<br />
options with you. We are extremely<br />
proud of our A+ rating<br />
with the Better Business Bureau.<br />
You can also find us on Facebook<br />
and check us out on Angie’s List.<br />
If you think you have storm<br />
damage from the heavy wind<br />
and rains this past spring or damage<br />
is discovered during the roof<br />
inspection, Prusak Roofing will<br />
work with your insurance company<br />
to assist you in the claims<br />
process. If damage is detected<br />
due to storms in the area, you<br />
may qualify for a new roof. Prusak<br />
Roofing is your best choice<br />
for roofing, siding and gutter<br />
projects. We are committed to<br />
customer satisfaction, quality<br />
workmanship and honest business<br />
practices. Our goal is to<br />
provide our customers with a<br />
positive experience from beginning<br />
to end. Look at our reviews<br />
online.<br />
Prusak Roofing offers roofing<br />
and siding services, including<br />
new roofs, tear-offs, re-roofs,<br />
new siding/gutters and downspouts,<br />
roofing and siding repairs<br />
and blown-in insulation<br />
service. We also offer an annual<br />
maintenance program that can<br />
add years to your roof, siding<br />
and gutters. Don’t delay, contact<br />
Prusak Roofing today for a free<br />
estimate.<br />
Submitted by Prusak Roofing, 8907<br />
Odell Ave. in Bridgeview. For more<br />
information, call (708) 422-2624 or<br />
visit prusakroofing.com.<br />
Shorewood Home and Auto offering highest customer satisfaction for 45 years<br />
This year will mark 45 years<br />
in business for Shorewood Home<br />
and Auto. The beginning of this<br />
year we purchased Circle Tractor,<br />
a John Deere dealership located<br />
in Homer Glen. With the addition<br />
of Homer Glen we will have three<br />
locations located in Will County,<br />
including our original location in<br />
Shorewood and our Crete location<br />
which was acquired in 2008.<br />
Three locations gives our customers<br />
a vast amount of inventory to<br />
choose from.<br />
A lot of companies say they<br />
give high levels of customer<br />
service. Our high levels of customer<br />
satisfaction are achieved<br />
through utilizing over 100 yearsplus<br />
of power equipment experience.<br />
We offer our customers<br />
one-on-one demonstrations of<br />
their new equipment purchase to<br />
make sure that they are comfortable<br />
when they get their machine<br />
home, have minimal wait times<br />
for warranty repairs and give our<br />
commercial customers loaner<br />
machines when we cannot repair<br />
a machine within 24-48 hours.<br />
Here at Shorewood Home and<br />
Auto we strive to give every customer<br />
that walks into our stores<br />
the highest level of customer satisfaction<br />
no matter the situation.<br />
We offer to our customers<br />
products from leading manufacturers<br />
in the power equipment<br />
industry. We carry the full line<br />
of John Deere Turf and Utility<br />
products, including riding<br />
tractors starting at $1,499 all<br />
the way up to 125HP luxurious<br />
utility tractors. If a tractor is not<br />
your style, we offer a full line<br />
of time saving John Deere zero<br />
turn mowers. You can get around<br />
your property in the comfort of a<br />
John Deere Gator available with<br />
heat and air conditioned cabs.<br />
On the construction end, we offer<br />
the expanded line of commercial<br />
compact equipment. We<br />
offer multiple sizes of skid steers<br />
and compact track loaders, zero<br />
tail swing mini excavators and<br />
five different size compact wheel<br />
loaders. As with everything we<br />
sell, we offer parts and service at<br />
each location.<br />
We carry leading handheld<br />
brands Stihl and Echo. Both<br />
manufacturers offer gas trimmers,<br />
blowers, chainsaws and<br />
hedge trimmers among accessories<br />
for all. If you don’t prefer<br />
dealing with gas-powered items,<br />
check out the latest in Lithium<br />
Battery technology. Stihl and<br />
Echo offer trimmers, blowers,<br />
chainsaws and mowers all with<br />
industry leading run times.<br />
For our commercial landscape<br />
customers we offer a full line of<br />
John Deere commercial mowing<br />
equipment, full line of Exmark<br />
equipment and the full line from<br />
Wright Stander.<br />
We offer parts for everything<br />
we sell and even some items that<br />
we don’t sell. Our service technicians<br />
are all factory trained. We<br />
have service departments at each<br />
of our locations. Everything we<br />
sell is backed by a highly-trained<br />
parts and service department. We<br />
separate ourselves from other<br />
dealers and big box retailers with<br />
our focus on service after the<br />
sale. We want to see our customers<br />
coming back year after year,<br />
whether it is the do it yourselfer<br />
or you would like our service department<br />
to keep your equipment<br />
in tip top running condition.<br />
We appreciate all of the business<br />
from our past customers<br />
and look forward to our new opportunities<br />
in Homer Glen.<br />
Submitted by Shorewood Home and<br />
Auto, 12608 W, 159th St. in Homer<br />
Glen. For more information, call<br />
(708) 301-0222 or visit shorewood<br />
homeandauto.com.
22ndcenturymedia.com Home Improvement<br />
22nd Century Media | August 29, 2019 | 19<br />
RESIDENTIAL • COMMERCIAL • INDUSTRIAL • LICENSED • BONDED • INSURED<br />
• S<strong>HI</strong>NGLES<br />
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20 | August 29, 2019 | 22nd Century Media home improvement<br />
22ndcenturymedia.com<br />
First impressions matter, even for homes<br />
Has your home lost its<br />
curb appeal?<br />
A neighbor across the<br />
street has been trying to sell<br />
her home for nearly three<br />
years now. Inside it is beautiful;<br />
granite countertops,<br />
hardwood floors, multiple<br />
fireplaces, updated bathrooms<br />
with the latest fixtures<br />
and the list goes on.<br />
People who do the virtual<br />
tour, or eventually see<br />
the home’s interior, are<br />
duly impressed, and yet no<br />
reasonable offers. Why?<br />
Even though she’s in the<br />
real estate business, she<br />
broke a cardinal rule: Just<br />
like people, your home<br />
makes a first impression,<br />
and it’s the exterior that<br />
does it. It happens when<br />
others pull up a picture online,<br />
or get a real time look<br />
from one’s driveway.<br />
In her case, maybe the<br />
peeling paint on the siding,<br />
or missing and curling<br />
shingles have something<br />
to do with it. Or perhaps<br />
it’s the porch that looks<br />
more like a deck. Not to<br />
overlook the chimney that<br />
needs rebuilding, the 90-<br />
foot asphalt driveway with<br />
a half dozen potholes, or<br />
the missing overhead garage<br />
door.<br />
Let’s face it, improving<br />
or maintaining the exterior<br />
of your home is not a priority<br />
for many of us. It’s<br />
not “sexy”’ or very bragworthy<br />
to mention the<br />
‘’beautiful” new roof you<br />
just got, especially when<br />
your friends keep going<br />
on and on about their new<br />
bathrooms or kitchens.<br />
The choices of different<br />
exterior materials for the<br />
middle-class homeowner<br />
are much more limited<br />
when compared to selections<br />
for inside projects.<br />
For many people, there’s<br />
just not much fun in picking<br />
out siding, and certainly<br />
little exercising or<br />
flexing of one’s creative<br />
muscles.<br />
And then there may be<br />
a few other trials. I’m sure<br />
you’ve heard horror stories<br />
of the window salesman<br />
who wouldn’t leave.<br />
Or perhaps you were the<br />
victim of one whose aftershave<br />
or cologne lingered<br />
in your kitchen for days.<br />
Or you may have had the<br />
experience of hearing<br />
these words from the foreman,<br />
“It’s no problem, I<br />
will fix.”<br />
Taking care of the outside<br />
of one’s home is more<br />
a need or a necessity than<br />
a want or desire. It’s very<br />
utilitarian to make sure<br />
your gutters drain properly,<br />
the roof doesn’t leak or<br />
your windows aren’t wasting<br />
your heating dollars.<br />
And yet, there is a certain<br />
majesty in the simplicity<br />
of an exterior project<br />
well done. You can feel it<br />
when you pull into your<br />
driveway that first week or<br />
two after its completion.<br />
Whether it’s your pride as<br />
a conscientious homeowner,<br />
or just the relief of having<br />
handled a long-standing<br />
problem, it’s a good<br />
feeling. And, if you’re new<br />
to choosing a contractor<br />
or completing a project<br />
of this sort, don’t worry:<br />
You’re in good hands.<br />
At Lindholm Roofing,<br />
it is our desire to give you<br />
this feeling and to make<br />
your exterior remodeling<br />
or replacement project<br />
go right. The project coordinators<br />
who come out<br />
to visit and assist you are<br />
courteous and knowledgeable<br />
professionals with an<br />
average of nearly 20 years<br />
experience in exterior<br />
home improvement.<br />
Our company has been<br />
in business and owned<br />
by the same family for<br />
70 years. Because of this<br />
longevity, our record of<br />
craftsmanship and attention<br />
to detail, as well as<br />
our steadfast agreement to<br />
honor our warranties, we<br />
have earned the respect of<br />
many village building departments,<br />
leading insurance<br />
companies and, most<br />
importantly, tens of thousands<br />
of homeowners.<br />
Let us be the one to help<br />
with any of these projects<br />
and we’ll be sure your<br />
home makes a good first<br />
impression.<br />
Submitted by Lindholm Roofing,<br />
3588 N. Milwaukee Ave.<br />
in Chicago. For more information,<br />
call (773) 283-7675<br />
or visit lindholmroofing.com.<br />
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22ndcenturymedia.com Home Improvement<br />
22nd Century Media | August 29, 2019 | 21<br />
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22 | August 29, 2019 | 22nd Century Media home improvement<br />
22ndcenturymedia.com<br />
See pristine, state-of-art homes<br />
on third annual Tour of Homes<br />
Builders from across the southwest<br />
suburbs will showcase their<br />
new construction as the SouthWest<br />
Suburban Home Builders Association’s<br />
2019 Tour of Homes makes<br />
its third annual return for two weekends:<br />
Sept. 14-15 and Sept. 21-22.<br />
The free, information-rich tour<br />
aims to introduce potential homebuyers<br />
to their move-in-ready homes<br />
by showcasing diverse structures<br />
crafted by talented area builders.<br />
In the past two years, the event has<br />
successfully fostered a rare, one-onone<br />
connection between builders and<br />
consumers, making the event a mustattend<br />
for anyone who is looking to<br />
call the bustling southwest suburbs<br />
home.<br />
“We’re just really trying to promote<br />
the Tour of Homes name and<br />
keep growing the event to have it be<br />
a name people know and an event<br />
people look forward to each year,”<br />
said Shannon Rocha, the executive<br />
director of the association. “We really<br />
want the public to be able to see<br />
what our SSHBA members do.”<br />
Nineteen homes — including<br />
townhomes, single-family homes<br />
and duplexes — are highlighted in<br />
this year’s tour.<br />
The tour of homes stretches across<br />
Lemont, Orland Park, New Lenox,<br />
Channahon, Lockport and Frankfort.<br />
Maps of the featured homes will be<br />
made available as the event nears, allowing<br />
attendees to plan their routes.<br />
Many of the builders’ names will<br />
be familiar to repeat attendees, and<br />
those who have yet to attend will<br />
surely recognize the names as being<br />
some of the best in the business.<br />
“Most of the builders that are in<br />
it, this will be their third year that<br />
they’re continuing to put their homes<br />
in,” Rocha added.<br />
For those who have not previously<br />
attended the tour but are looking for<br />
a new home, Rocha said don’t be intimidated<br />
by the prospect of buying<br />
a new home; it is just as easy as purchasing<br />
a preexisting home, she said.<br />
Further, those in the market for a<br />
new house can rest assured that all<br />
SSHBA builders represent the best<br />
of the best in the industry, as the association<br />
vets the builders and ensures<br />
that they are up to date on industry<br />
trends and rules, among other<br />
expertise.<br />
SSHBA’s membership comprises<br />
roughly 180 members and 50 builders<br />
in the southwest suburbs, with<br />
members of the Orland Park-based<br />
association hailing from as far as<br />
Channahon, Morris and Coal City.<br />
The highly anticipated Tour of<br />
Homes enables SSHBA to connect<br />
its members with the broader public<br />
in an intimate, hassle-free setting as<br />
individuals and families are able to<br />
come and go at their leisure.<br />
The SSHBA Tour of Homes has<br />
three premier sponsors: James Hardie,<br />
Lakeside Bank and Hines Supply.<br />
This year, the SSHBA also will<br />
have a kick-off party for the tour<br />
where builders will be presented<br />
with various awards.<br />
For more details on the upcoming<br />
tour and to learn more about this<br />
year’s featured builders, visit www.<br />
sshbatourofhomes.com.<br />
SouthWest Suburban Home Builders<br />
promotes high standards, professionalism<br />
and service within the<br />
building industry and supports the<br />
American dream of home ownership.<br />
Submitted by SouthWest Suburban<br />
Home Builders. For more information,<br />
visit sshba.com.<br />
Written by 22CM Boost, the contentwriting<br />
division of 22nd Century Media,<br />
publisher of this special section and<br />
newspaper.<br />
Illinois Spine & Scoliosis<br />
Center gets patients back<br />
into tip-top shape<br />
Home Improvements<br />
can be a time of heavy lifting,<br />
whether it’s moving<br />
boxes or rearranging furniture<br />
putting you at risk of<br />
sustaining back and neck<br />
injuries.<br />
“The easiest way to<br />
cause an injury is not<br />
keeping the core muscles<br />
in shape,” said Dr. Kris<br />
Siemionow, chief of spine<br />
Surgery and assistant professor<br />
of orthopedics and<br />
neurosurgery at the University<br />
of Illinois in Chicago.<br />
“The most common<br />
cause for a spinal injury is<br />
overuse,” he said. “Often,<br />
when you overexert yourself,<br />
your muscles fatigue,<br />
which left unrested, can<br />
lead to worse injuries such<br />
as strains, pinched nerves,<br />
or even breaks”.<br />
One common ailment<br />
is a disk herniation. This<br />
painful condition is caused<br />
by problems with the rubbery<br />
disks between the individual<br />
vertebrae of the<br />
spine.<br />
“A herniated disk is extremely<br />
common,” said Dr.<br />
Anthony Rinella, founder<br />
of the Illinois Spine &<br />
Scoliosis Center. “It’s often<br />
caused by repetitive<br />
motions that involve looking<br />
up. Disk herniations<br />
in the neck area common<br />
cause of pain radiating<br />
toward the shoulder and<br />
down the arm.”<br />
Fortunately, there are<br />
treatment options available.<br />
Patients are often<br />
successfully treated with<br />
conservative management<br />
options, such as pain<br />
medication, therapy, and<br />
injections. But a small percentage<br />
of people with this<br />
condition will eventually<br />
need surgery. Traditionally,<br />
this procedure involved<br />
taking out the problematic<br />
disk and fusing the<br />
remaining disks together<br />
with metal hardware.<br />
While this fusion process<br />
provides spinal stability,<br />
it can also limit the<br />
patient’s range of motion.<br />
A newer procedure, called<br />
cervical disk replacement,<br />
has solved this problem.<br />
Like the standard cervical<br />
fusion, this surgery<br />
involves removing the<br />
disk to relieve pressure<br />
on the nerves. But instead<br />
of a metal plate, surgeons<br />
insert a flexible piece of<br />
plastic.<br />
“The biggest benefit is<br />
that this maintains motion<br />
of the neck in that area<br />
where normally a fusion<br />
procedure would weld the<br />
two bones together,” said<br />
Siemionow. “The cervical<br />
disk replacement basically<br />
Please see spine, 24
22ndcenturymedia.com Home Improvement<br />
22nd Century Media | August 29, 2019 | 23<br />
SEE THE NEW HOME OF<br />
YOUR DREAMS<br />
Visit the SSHBA Tour Of Homes!<br />
To map a route to all 19 homes<br />
on the Tour Of Homes, visit<br />
www.SSHBATourOfHomes.com<br />
More information on each home and<br />
builder can also be found online.<br />
TOUR<br />
BUILDER<br />
MODEL<br />
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19<br />
IMAGINATIVE<br />
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STYLES<br />
DISCOVER<br />
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Sept. 14-15<br />
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24 | August 29, 2019 | 22nd Century Media home improvement<br />
22ndcenturymedia.com<br />
Amber Heating & Air Conditioning<br />
has long tradition of quality service<br />
Amber Heating & Air Conditioning<br />
has a long tradition of<br />
quality service families and businesses<br />
in the Chicago south suburbs<br />
trust. They are known for<br />
being comfort craftsmen since<br />
1959. Amber Heating & Air Conditioning<br />
is celebrating its 60th<br />
year of doing things right and<br />
staying ahead with technology.<br />
Done. Right. Guaranteed. Amber<br />
Heating & Air Conditioning<br />
prides itself in being one of<br />
the best choices for heating and<br />
cooling services in the south<br />
suburbs. The difference is their<br />
trusted expert service, commitment<br />
to doing things right,<br />
customer service, technician to<br />
homeowner communication and<br />
100 percent comfort guarantee.<br />
Their team of professionals<br />
work to inform and educate one<br />
on how to improve their home’s<br />
comfort, safety and efficiency.<br />
They are able to provide clients<br />
with expert advice, service and<br />
value because they keep up with<br />
the latest technology training<br />
and certifications, making sure<br />
their professional technicians<br />
are highly trained to get one<br />
back to being comfortable.<br />
Clients have been trusting<br />
Amber Heating & Air Conditioning<br />
with their home and<br />
businesses comfort for over 60<br />
years. When one turns to the expert<br />
at Amber, they put you first.<br />
As a Carrier Factory Authorized<br />
Dealer and Carrier President’s<br />
Award Recipient, it is one’s<br />
satisfaction — not just a sale —<br />
that counts.<br />
That is why Amber strives<br />
to provide personal follow-up<br />
and quick, knowledgeable solutions<br />
to one’s home comfort<br />
problems. One deserves quality<br />
service and value. Amber Heating<br />
& Air Conditioning professionals<br />
know the importance of<br />
keeping one’s heating and cooling<br />
system operating at peak<br />
performance. High utility bills<br />
and costly breakdown repairs<br />
are the last thing one wants to<br />
be spending their valuable time<br />
and money on. Scheduling a<br />
system tune up and cleaning<br />
can keep one comfortable and<br />
save during the heating season<br />
ahead.<br />
Amber Heating & Air Conditioning<br />
stays ahead of the industry<br />
with specialized training and<br />
technology. Factory and HVAC<br />
industry training provides the<br />
skills needed to combat comfort<br />
issues Amber’s clients face dayto-day<br />
and during the most extreme<br />
weather conditions. Many<br />
homeowners call with similar<br />
concerns with hot and cold<br />
spots with uneven temperatures,<br />
high energy bills or concerns<br />
about air quality. The latest<br />
technology with Aeroseal duct<br />
sealing has equipped Amber’s<br />
team with solutions to improve<br />
one’s home comfort, reduce energy<br />
bills and breathe healthier<br />
indoor air.<br />
Did one know duct work<br />
throughout their home’s walls,<br />
ceilings and basement leak? According<br />
to the Department of<br />
Energy, “95 percent of homes in<br />
the U.S. have leaky ductwork.”<br />
Aeroseal shares, ”In houses<br />
with forced-air heating and<br />
cooling systems, ducts are<br />
used to distribute conditioned<br />
air throughout the house. But<br />
in typical houses, about 25-40<br />
percent of the air that moves<br />
through the duct system is lost<br />
due to leaks, holes and poorly<br />
connected ducts. The result is<br />
higher utility bills and difficulty<br />
keeping the house comfortable,<br />
no matter how the thermostat is<br />
set.”<br />
The experts at Amber can<br />
help one take back their home<br />
with the innovative duct sealing<br />
solution that makes it easy.<br />
All of this is important to one’s<br />
home comfort. It makes a big<br />
difference when one has to<br />
make a big decision about their<br />
home comfort.<br />
Comfort is our Business, and<br />
one’s home should be the comfiest<br />
place of all. Take a look<br />
at what clients have been saying<br />
about working with Amber<br />
Heating & Air Conditioning:<br />
-“The team is very professional.<br />
They are professional<br />
from start to finish they are<br />
clean and knowledgeable.” 100<br />
percent rating by homeowner<br />
M.D. from Tinley Park, Verified<br />
Purchaser.<br />
-“My son recommended your<br />
company as an honest and professional<br />
company.” 100 percent<br />
rating homeowner M.H.<br />
Frankfort, Verified Purchaser.<br />
-“Been with Amber Heating<br />
& Air Conditioning for 24<br />
years and have maintained a<br />
service contract with them all<br />
this time.” 100 percent rating<br />
customer review by homeowner<br />
D.F. from Orland Park, Verified<br />
Purchaser.<br />
At Amber, their customerfirst<br />
philosophy is paramount<br />
in everything they do, ensuring<br />
quality service every time. The<br />
team at Amber will stop at nothing<br />
to ensure one is more than<br />
satisfied. If one is looking for an<br />
honest and professional company<br />
for all their heating, cooling,<br />
installation, service/repair and<br />
air quality needs, call Amber<br />
Heating & Air Conditioning at<br />
(708) 377-5316 or via the website<br />
amberheatingandair.com.<br />
A 24-hour emergency service<br />
is available. Amber Heating &<br />
Air Conditioning is there when<br />
one needs them, and they take<br />
pride in providing the right<br />
comfort solutions for one’s<br />
needs.<br />
Submitted by Amber Heating & Air<br />
Conditioning, 11950 S. Central Ave.<br />
in Alsip. For more information, call<br />
(708) 377-5316 or visit amberheatingandair.com.<br />
spine<br />
From Page 22<br />
functions similar to a joint replacement<br />
that maintains motion.”<br />
While the procedure has been around<br />
for some time, it is relatively new in the<br />
United States.<br />
“It took time for there to be adequate<br />
research and for insurance companies<br />
to support the new technology,” Rinella<br />
said. “Current studies suggest this is a<br />
major step forward for cervical spine surgery,<br />
perhaps the biggest step in the past<br />
30 years.”<br />
Along with preserving range of motion,<br />
there are other benefits to the procedure.<br />
Cervical disk replacements typically have<br />
a shorter recovery time than a fusion procedure.<br />
Patients often go home the same<br />
day and are completely healed in four to<br />
six weeks. There are also less follow-up<br />
appointments needed.<br />
This recovery time is also more comfortable<br />
for the patients, because no immobilization<br />
devices, such as neck collars,<br />
are required. Compared to metal,<br />
the plastic device used in cervical disk<br />
replacement puts less pressure on the<br />
disks above and below it, which helps<br />
prevent arthritis or degeneration. Perhaps<br />
most importantly, the procedure quickly<br />
improves the patient’s quality of life by<br />
reducing their symptoms.<br />
“Patients usually see immediate improvement<br />
in their radiating pain symptoms.<br />
There’s a very high rate of success<br />
compared to other surgeries,” Rinella<br />
said. “In patients that do need surgery,<br />
we find that this new technology is very<br />
promising. And we are one of the few<br />
spine surgeons using this advanced technology.”<br />
Submitted by Illinois Spine & Scoliosis Center,<br />
12701 W. 143rd St., Suite 200 in Homer<br />
Glen. For more information, call (877) 694-<br />
7722 or visit myissc.com.
22ndcenturymedia.com Home Improvement<br />
22nd Century Media | August 29, 2019 | 25<br />
Lorenz Appliances named Dealer of the Year<br />
Integrity and reliability have<br />
been pillars of Lorenz Appliances<br />
since Don Lorenz Sr. opened<br />
the family business in the 1960s.<br />
Now, his sons, Don Jr. and<br />
Brett, continue serving suburban<br />
residents with that same level of<br />
customer service amid growth<br />
that includes a new builders<br />
showroom in Mokena.<br />
The efforts of Lorenz has not<br />
gone unnoticed — by customers<br />
or in the industry. On Aug.<br />
24, Don Jr. and Brett accepted<br />
Lorenz’s award as Dealer of the<br />
Year in its chapter (of nearly<br />
1,000 stores). The honor was<br />
given by Brandsource, a buying<br />
agency associated with about<br />
4,500 companies nationwide.<br />
Don Jr. said Lorenz utilizes<br />
Brandsource’s resources, which<br />
has helped with its constant<br />
growth and success (up 25 percent<br />
from 2018, he said).<br />
The success stems from an allegiance<br />
to customer service and<br />
competitive pricing.<br />
“I’m not out to gouge anyone<br />
or get rich out of a deal,” Brett<br />
said. “My father always said<br />
treat a customer fairly and they<br />
will come back to you.”<br />
And the service extends until<br />
the end of the process: to the delivery.<br />
Many appliance giants outsource<br />
delivery services. The<br />
disconnect in the process leads<br />
to a lack of accountability. But<br />
with Lorenz, the customer will<br />
know and can trust who is delivering<br />
their product, emphasizing<br />
the company’s motto: Not the<br />
biggest. Just the best.<br />
“Being an independent dealer,<br />
we’re able to take care of customers,”<br />
Don Jr. said. “We keep<br />
a high level of customer service<br />
unti our products get delivered.<br />
And we stand buy those products.<br />
“Good customer service and<br />
competitive pricing has us winning<br />
over box stores.”<br />
Lorenz Appliances carries the<br />
top brands and latest models in<br />
a full catalogue of appliances,<br />
from a variety of refrigerators,<br />
ovens, and washers and dryers to<br />
air conditioners, humidifiers and<br />
outdoor cooking equipment.<br />
Visitors to Lorenzappliance.<br />
com can find the latest addition<br />
to Lorenz’s inventory, as<br />
well as information on current<br />
sales, promotions and upcoming<br />
events. Already with a flagship<br />
store in Homewood (18320 Governors<br />
Highway), Lorenz’s added<br />
a modern showroom at 19081<br />
Old LaGrange Road in Mokena<br />
in 2018, allowing Lorenz Appliances<br />
to better serve its friends<br />
across the southwest suburbs.<br />
Lorenz Appliances was the<br />
winner of a 22nd Century Media<br />
SouthWest Choice Award for the<br />
Best Appliance Store in the area,<br />
according to residents’ votes.<br />
Submitted by Lorenz Appliances,<br />
18320 Governors Highway, Homewood,<br />
and 19081 Old LaGrange<br />
Road, Mokena. For more information,<br />
call (708) 206-0896, email<br />
sales@lorezappoliance.com or visit<br />
lorenzappliance.com.<br />
Written by 22CM Boost, the<br />
content-writing division of 22nd<br />
Century Media, publisher of this<br />
special section and newspaper.<br />
Sale Price: $ 699<br />
Model: MEDB835DW<br />
8.8 cu. ft. Extra-Large Capacity Dryer<br />
with Advanced Moisture Sensing<br />
Sale Price: $ 699<br />
Model: MVWB835DW<br />
Extra-Large Capacity Washer with<br />
Deep Clean Option- 5.3 Cu. Ft.<br />
Sale Price: $ 449<br />
Model: WED4850HW<br />
7.0 cu. ft. Top Load Electric Dryer<br />
with AutoDry Drying System<br />
Sale Price: $ 449<br />
Model: WTW4855HW<br />
3.8 cu. ft. Top Load Washer with<br />
Soaking Cycles, 12 Cycles<br />
Come visit our Mokena Showroom!<br />
19081 Old Lagrange Road<br />
708-206-0896<br />
www.lorenzappliance.com<br />
Store Hours:<br />
Mon. Tues. Thur. 9am-7pm | Wed. 9am-5pm<br />
Fri. 10am-5pm | Sat. 10am-5pm<br />
Closed Sunday
26 | August 29, 2019 | 22nd Century Media home improvement<br />
22ndcenturymedia.com<br />
Pro tips for taking the perfect photos of your home<br />
StatePoint Media<br />
Whether you’ve completed<br />
an amazing renovation,<br />
or you are selling<br />
your house, you’ll want<br />
to take perfect pictures of<br />
your home to share.<br />
Acclaimed photographer,<br />
Jeffrey Davis, the<br />
photographer of choice<br />
for The New American<br />
Home and Progress Lighting,<br />
is sharing some tips<br />
to elevate your residential<br />
photography game to a social<br />
media-worthy or even<br />
magazine-worthy level.<br />
Lighting fixtures are<br />
a critical focal point in<br />
homes, yet photographing<br />
lighting in a room is challenging.<br />
“Lights always<br />
look better when turned<br />
on,” says Davis. “Try to<br />
pick a time of day when<br />
lights can be on, but you<br />
can still get outside views<br />
that won’t be burned out.”<br />
Jennifer Kis, director<br />
of marketing communications<br />
for Progress Lighting<br />
and a veteran of many<br />
residential photoshoots,<br />
agrees. “Lighting is often<br />
the statement piece of a<br />
room. Having the chandelier<br />
turned on in the great<br />
room, for example, adds<br />
to the general light of the<br />
room and creates a warm<br />
and cozy feeling.”<br />
Another important tip<br />
is to focus on the lighting<br />
fixture itself. “Since lighting<br />
fixtures are hung high<br />
in a room, angle the camera<br />
that way. Shooting at<br />
eye level is rarely the right<br />
angle,” says Davis.<br />
Whether or not lighting<br />
fixtures are the focus,<br />
having the right light at<br />
the right time is an essential<br />
piece of taking perfect<br />
pictures. Spend extra time<br />
scouting shoot locations<br />
and the design layout of<br />
the home. Take notes<br />
when planning the shoot to<br />
ensure that natural light is<br />
shining in the right space<br />
at the right time of day.<br />
Next, focus on the composition<br />
of the shot. The<br />
proper balance elevates the<br />
image and makes the design<br />
elements of the room<br />
stand out. When aiming<br />
for a picture of the whole<br />
room, try shooting right<br />
down its center. Using<br />
the room’s architectural<br />
framework as a guide, pick<br />
angles that feel natural to<br />
the space and that casually<br />
direct the eye to the<br />
subject matter being showcased.<br />
The viewer’s eye<br />
should wander around the<br />
image, finally landing on<br />
the intended focal point.<br />
Colorful accessories and<br />
the right room angles create<br />
a visual path through<br />
the room, engaging the<br />
eye naturally to add depth<br />
and interest to the image<br />
and taking the ordinary to<br />
extraordinary. Clear out<br />
the clutter in the room and<br />
style the space, remembering<br />
that less is more. Try<br />
focusing on details and vignettes<br />
that create a story<br />
of the area and give the<br />
room personality.<br />
For an ideal finished image,<br />
Davis recommends a<br />
print file size of 4,000 pixels,<br />
14-inches x 14-inches<br />
at 300 dots per inch in tiff<br />
or jpeg format. For online<br />
use, he recommends images<br />
sized 1,800 pixels,<br />
12-inches x 12-inches at<br />
150 dots per inch, in jpeg<br />
format. For residential<br />
photography inspiration,<br />
check out progressltg.com/<br />
ExperienceProgress.<br />
By adopting the key<br />
principles of professionals,<br />
you can capture the beauty<br />
of your home interiors to<br />
create amazing photos of<br />
your home.<br />
Get more bang for your buck with these home improvements<br />
StatePoint Media<br />
The warmer weather means<br />
it’s time to think about home<br />
improvement projects. Whether<br />
you’re getting your home in tiptop<br />
shape for your own enjoyment,<br />
or getting it ready to put<br />
on the market, not all home improvement<br />
projects are created<br />
equal when it comes to return on<br />
investment (ROI). Here are top<br />
areas on which to focus:<br />
Interiors<br />
The kitchen is the heart of the<br />
home and it’s one of the best areas<br />
to renovate in terms of ROI,<br />
according to Remodeling magazine’s<br />
annual Cost vs. Value<br />
Report, which puts the price tag<br />
of the average minor kitchen remodel<br />
at $22,507, with 80.5 percent<br />
of the cost recouped upon<br />
resale.<br />
To give the kitchen an updated<br />
appearance, replace the flooring,<br />
countertops, sink and faucet. A<br />
fresh coat of paint in a trendy<br />
shade, such as Living Coral,<br />
Pantone’s Color of the Year, can<br />
add a vibrant pop of color to<br />
energize any kitchen. Not looking<br />
to go that bold? Consider an<br />
accent wall, or stick to a classic<br />
palate of gray and white in terms<br />
of cabinets and countertops.<br />
White on white is also a popular<br />
new style for kitchens and bathrooms.<br />
Other features home buyers<br />
are paying close attention to are<br />
laundry rooms and such energysaving<br />
elements as Energy Star<br />
appliances and windows, according<br />
to the survey “What<br />
Home Buyers Want in 2019”<br />
by the National Association of<br />
Home Builders.<br />
Curb Appeal<br />
The popularity of outdoor<br />
projects remains strong and it’s<br />
for a good reason. According to<br />
the Cost vs. Value Report, the<br />
biggest bang for your buck in<br />
2019 will come from replacing a<br />
garage door. The report says the<br />
average price is $3,611, and 97.5<br />
percent of it is recouped when<br />
the house is sold.<br />
Other outdoor projects with<br />
high ROI include adding manufactured<br />
stone veneer to the exterior<br />
(94.9 percent), adding a<br />
wood deck (75.6 percent) and<br />
replacing siding (75.6 percent).<br />
Looking for a simpler way to<br />
make an impact? Sprucing up<br />
the landscape by planting flowers<br />
or bushes or even just clearing<br />
the yard of debris will make<br />
a big statement.<br />
No matter what updates you<br />
end up making, it’s always a<br />
good idea to notify your insurance<br />
agent. “Certain upgrades<br />
may change the value of a house,<br />
so homeowners need to make<br />
sure they’re properly covered,”<br />
says Bob Buckel, vice president<br />
of product management, Erie Insurance.<br />
“There are a few things<br />
to look for. Ask your agent about<br />
guaranteed replacement cost<br />
policies that can cover the cost to<br />
rebuild a home in today’s dollars<br />
following a covered loss.”<br />
Some upgrades may also make<br />
you eligible for discounts, Buckel<br />
adds, especially if they make<br />
the home more secure. “For<br />
example, Erie Insurance offers<br />
certain safety discounts such as<br />
for installing smoke alarms or an<br />
automatic sprinkler system.”<br />
Now you have a checklist of<br />
DIY projects. But before you<br />
start, take a moment to assess<br />
which ones are worth your time<br />
and money.
22ndcenturymedia.com Home Improvement<br />
22nd Century Media | August 29, 2019 | 27<br />
To trend or not to trend<br />
Superior Cabinet Supply answers timeless question<br />
When it comes to kitchen remodeling,<br />
many homeowners wrestle with the question<br />
of whether or not their cabinet selection<br />
– both color and style – will still be<br />
popular in 10 to 20 years for resale value<br />
and appeal. Certainly, this is a valid concern<br />
with any investment in your home.<br />
Do you want the latest trend in navy blue<br />
or bright teal or the play-it-safe many<br />
shades of white or gray? What will stand<br />
the test of time?<br />
Recently, Houzz (the online design,<br />
home improvement and idea-gathering<br />
go-to website) surveyed 1,300 of their<br />
website users who had completed a kitchen<br />
remodel in the past 12 months or plan<br />
on starting one in the next three months.<br />
According to the 2019 U.S. Houzz Kitchen<br />
Trends Study results, the most popular<br />
cabinet style is Transitional (that’s a blend<br />
of traditional and contemporary), Shaker<br />
or Shaker-like cabinets and the winning<br />
color pick is (drumroll) …white (43 percent)<br />
then stained wood (25 percent) and<br />
lastly, gray (11 percent).<br />
A Kitchen and Bath Industry expert,<br />
Mary Jo Peterson (certified kitchen and<br />
bath designer) and columnist for Kitchen<br />
and Bath Design News had this to say:<br />
“Your best bet is to choose a wood stain<br />
finish somewhere between blond and brunette.<br />
Well-built cabinetry will last much<br />
longer than the finish will stay in style.<br />
Pick a simple door style and a medium<br />
finish, and if you want a new look just<br />
change out the hardware every 5 years.”<br />
Paul Dybdahl (another CKD) suggests,<br />
“if you are considering the purchase of<br />
painted cabinets a shade of white is always<br />
classic”.<br />
There are and always will be many<br />
opinions out there. So how do you make<br />
a decision based on all these opinions?<br />
Thoroughly peruse several kitchen and<br />
bath trade magazines and a variety of online<br />
sources such as HGTV, Coastal Living,<br />
Country Living and professional design<br />
experts on Houzz.com. Narrow your<br />
choices to two favorites and bring your<br />
ideas to Superior Cabinet.<br />
“Ultimately, your cabinet purchase decision<br />
is a subjective one” said Frank and<br />
Sandy Klauck, owners of Superior Cabinet<br />
Supply in Frankfort. With 34 years<br />
of experience as a kitchen and bath dealer<br />
and designers, Superior Cabinet has seen<br />
what was trending in 1985 come full circle.<br />
“White or gray cabinets were in then<br />
and they are in now,” Frank said. Sandy<br />
goes on to say, “When Frank designed<br />
and built our current home 18 years ago,<br />
we decided on a simple Shaker-like door<br />
style in natural maple by Mid Continent<br />
Cabinetry. Eighteen years later, I still love<br />
my cabinets and the Shaker door style is<br />
definitely a top choice amongst our customers.<br />
The pictures seen here were submitted<br />
by our customers and I would not<br />
hesitate to say they have a timeless appeal.”<br />
Submitted by Superior Cabinet Sup-ply,<br />
19800 S. Harlem Ave. in Frankfort. Visit the<br />
showroom and website today at superiorcabinetsupply.com<br />
or call (815) 464-2700 for<br />
more information.
28 | August 29, 2019 | 22nd Century Media home improvement<br />
22ndcenturymedia.com<br />
Expert tips for lighting your home’s outdoor spaces<br />
StatePoint Media<br />
Many homeowners<br />
spend time and money<br />
perfecting curb appeal, but<br />
forget to make it shine at<br />
night. Experts say a welllit<br />
home exterior and surrounding<br />
landscape is both<br />
beautiful and functional.<br />
“The addition of outdoor<br />
lighting is transformative,<br />
making it possible<br />
to see beauty that would<br />
ordinarily be hidden at<br />
night, while also extending<br />
your living space to<br />
the outdoors at all hours<br />
of the day,” said Linkoln<br />
Dixon, product manager at<br />
Progress Lighting. “Additionally,<br />
lighting provides<br />
safety and security, creating<br />
visibility and eliminating<br />
hiding spots.”<br />
To help you tailor lighting<br />
for enhanced beauty,<br />
visibility, security and ambiance,<br />
consider these tips<br />
from the experts at Progress<br />
Lighting:<br />
Just like inside the<br />
home, layering light outside<br />
is essential to create<br />
a welcoming atmosphere.<br />
Light layering uses three<br />
layers of light: ambient,<br />
task and accent lighting.<br />
Begin by selecting ambient<br />
lighting that provides<br />
a comfortable level<br />
of brightness. Wash the<br />
home’s exterior with light,<br />
using a combination of<br />
downlights and uplights to<br />
cast a warm, gentle glow<br />
on outdoor living spaces<br />
while providing indirect<br />
lighting to entryways.<br />
Next, select task lighting<br />
to add focused illumination<br />
that makes entrances<br />
and pathways visible and<br />
shadow-free. A rule of<br />
thumb for lighting doorways<br />
is to size lighting<br />
in proportion to the door<br />
itself. Select wall sconces<br />
and lanterns that measure<br />
anywhere from 1/4 to 1/3<br />
the size of the door. Mount<br />
outdoor sconces and lanterns<br />
at eye level, with the<br />
center of the light source<br />
between 5 1/2 to 6 feet off<br />
the ground and 8 to 10 feet<br />
apart.<br />
Install soft, non-glaring<br />
path fixtures about 14<br />
inches high that direct<br />
most of the light downward.<br />
Define the edges of<br />
the path by placing lights<br />
about one foot from one or<br />
both sides of the walkway,<br />
staggering the placement<br />
slightly to create a natural<br />
flow.<br />
For steps, install lights<br />
directly into the risers.<br />
This soft light provides<br />
just enough brightness to<br />
mark each tread and prevent<br />
glare.<br />
Finally, add accent and<br />
decorative lighting that<br />
accentuates your home’s<br />
architectural features. For<br />
entertaining areas, select<br />
wall-mounted fixtures<br />
such as sconces or lanterns,<br />
or overhead lighting<br />
that focuses task light<br />
on work surfaces. Outdoor<br />
chandeliers and pendants<br />
are a stylish way to bring<br />
the design appeal of indoor<br />
lighting outside. For a professional,<br />
pulled-together<br />
look, choose light fixtures<br />
with the same finish as<br />
door pulls, fencing and<br />
outdoor furniture.<br />
Other accent lighting<br />
choices that add flair include<br />
post lights, spotlights,<br />
strip lights and water-feature<br />
lighting.<br />
As a finishing touch, use<br />
timers, dimmers or motion<br />
sensors to control lights,<br />
turning them on or down<br />
as desired.<br />
Remember, outdoor<br />
lighting must be rated for<br />
outdoor use to ensures it’s<br />
waterproof and that dust<br />
and rain won’t interfere<br />
with the bulb or circuitry.<br />
For more outdoor lighting<br />
tips, trends and inspiration,<br />
visit Progress<br />
Lighting at bit.ly/Lighting<br />
Outdoors.<br />
In short, if you’re going<br />
to spend energy on your<br />
home exterior, make sure<br />
people can see it. The right<br />
outdoor lighting will add<br />
beauty to your home and<br />
make it safer.<br />
What to know before replacing home windows<br />
StatePoint Media<br />
As with any home upgrade, a<br />
little research can help ensure a<br />
top-quality installation with the<br />
best materials on the market.<br />
Here are the most important factors<br />
to consider before purchasing<br />
replacement windows:<br />
• Energy Efficiency: Energyefficient<br />
windows can keep utility<br />
bills in-check while helping<br />
manage climate control. Seek<br />
out the ENERGY STAR label,<br />
which indicates a product is energy<br />
efficient according to standards<br />
from the U.S. Environmental<br />
Protection Agency and<br />
the Department of Energy.<br />
Numbers don’t lie so be sure<br />
to also check the National Fenestration<br />
Rating Council Label<br />
to compare performance between<br />
energy-efficient windows<br />
in the following categories: U-<br />
Factor (how well the window<br />
retains heat), Solar Heat Gain<br />
Coefficient (how well it resists<br />
unwanted heat gain), Visible<br />
Transmittance (how well it lets<br />
in natural light), Air Infiltration<br />
(how drafty the window is), and<br />
Condensation Resistance (how<br />
well it resists inside surface condensation).<br />
• Test Specifications: All windows<br />
on the market are tested for<br />
their structural integrity, as well<br />
as their resistance to air and water.<br />
Investigating these ratings is<br />
important, particularly in regions<br />
that see wicked weather.<br />
• Insulation: For maximum<br />
energy efficiency and comfort,<br />
look for new technologies such<br />
as Neopor insulation and INN-<br />
ERGY thermal reinforcements<br />
that deliver high-performance<br />
and meet ENERGY STAR certification<br />
standards. Windows<br />
offered by ProVia, for example,<br />
include these features and are<br />
tested against the most stringent<br />
requirements for air and water<br />
infiltration, wind load resistance,<br />
ease of operation, forced entry<br />
and more.<br />
• Material: Windows are available<br />
in such materials as vinyl,<br />
wood, aluminum and fiberglass.<br />
Understanding the benefits of<br />
each can help you arrive at the<br />
right decision for your home,<br />
priorities and budget, and new<br />
options even mix materials,<br />
combining different advantages<br />
into one product.<br />
• Warranty Availability: Replacement<br />
Windows can cost<br />
thousands of dollars and should<br />
last a long time, so consider<br />
protecting your investment by<br />
opting for windows that come<br />
with a comprehensive lifetime<br />
warranty that’s transferrable to<br />
the next homeowner. This can<br />
potentially increase your home’s<br />
value should you put it on the<br />
market.<br />
• Style: The style of your new<br />
windows can complement the<br />
architectural features of your<br />
home, provide visual interest<br />
and boost curb appeal. Using online<br />
design resources and visualizer<br />
tools can help you see how<br />
particular hardware finishes,<br />
colors, add-ons, finishing options<br />
and accessories will look<br />
on your home.<br />
• Recognition: Third-party<br />
recognition for a particular brand<br />
or product is a strong indicator<br />
that you’re investing in a quality<br />
product. A recent “Remodeling”<br />
magazine survey of remodeling<br />
contractors ranked ProVia vinyl<br />
windows as number one in window<br />
quality, citing its unique<br />
ability to customize as needed,<br />
its personalized customer service,<br />
strong warranties and mix<br />
of state-of-the-art manufacturing<br />
equipment and human craftsmanship.<br />
Lastly, the brand was<br />
recognized for strong attention<br />
to detail, as it follows an 80-plus<br />
item checklist for quality control.<br />
More information can be<br />
found at provia.com/windows.<br />
Before upgrading, get savvy.<br />
Doing so can help you make a<br />
decision that will improve your<br />
home’s beauty, keep your family<br />
comfortable and safe and save<br />
you money.
22ndcenturymedia.com Home Improvement<br />
22nd Century Media | August 29, 2019 | 29<br />
Schedule fall furnace cleaning through<br />
Dykstra Home Services before winter<br />
We all know fall is on its<br />
way, unfortunately, winter<br />
isn’t that far behind.<br />
That means it’s time to<br />
contact a professional to<br />
ensure your furnace is up<br />
to the task of keeping you<br />
and your family warm this<br />
winter. Schedule your fall<br />
clean and check now.<br />
The Dykstra Family has<br />
been in this business for<br />
over 90 years. You can<br />
trust everyone at Dykstra<br />
Home Services to make<br />
sure you’re comfortable<br />
this winter.<br />
All Dykstra technicians<br />
are factory trained, drug<br />
tested, licensed, bonded<br />
and insured.<br />
“It’s very important to<br />
have someone highly-qualified<br />
when they are in your<br />
home working on equipment<br />
that use natural gas<br />
and electricity,” said Jennifer<br />
Milazzo, president of<br />
Dykstra Home Services.<br />
Dykstra technicians are<br />
trained to check all parts of<br />
the furnace to ensure they<br />
are working properly.<br />
One example is the heat<br />
exchangers, which are the<br />
core of any furnace. Milazzo<br />
said their technicians<br />
have found problems with<br />
aging heat exchangers a<br />
number of times over the<br />
years.<br />
Dykstra offers the latest<br />
in high tech, efficient<br />
Carrier furnaces, said Rich<br />
Dykstra Sr.<br />
Carriers’ line of furnaces<br />
are all designed to work at<br />
top efficiency, according<br />
to Dykstra Sr. “The Carrier<br />
Infinity model, for example,<br />
is 98 percent efficient<br />
and can save a customer an<br />
average of $300 a year in<br />
both electric and gas utility<br />
savings,” he said. “It’s also<br />
designed to give the home<br />
the most comfort. The unit<br />
is essentially on cruise<br />
control and delivers the<br />
most even, consistent temperature<br />
while using the<br />
least amount of energy.”<br />
Milazzo encourages people<br />
to schedule a Dykstra<br />
technician early before the<br />
cold temperatures set in.<br />
A certified womanowned<br />
business, Dykstra<br />
Home Services is a third<br />
generation residential and<br />
commercial heating ventilation<br />
and air conditioning<br />
company. Dykstra has<br />
been in business for more<br />
than 93 years. Servicing<br />
all makes and models.<br />
We also offer solutions to<br />
rooms that are too cold in<br />
the winter, or too warm<br />
in the summer as well as<br />
backup Generators.<br />
Submitted by Dykstra Home<br />
Services, 13450 S. Cicero<br />
Ave., in Crestwood. For more<br />
information, call (800) 421-<br />
3220 or visit dykstrahome<br />
services.com.<br />
Women Owned Business<br />
SERVING C<strong>HI</strong>CAGOLAND SINCE 1926<br />
• Air Conditioning<br />
• Heating<br />
• Plumbing<br />
#IL12960<br />
800-421-3220<br />
dykstrahomeservices.com<br />
“Piecing together your home comfort!”<br />
For qualified buyers. -See store for details.<br />
CLEAN AND<br />
CHECK SPECIAL!<br />
Residential Furnace<br />
clean & check<br />
ONLY $ 98<br />
(Reg. $125)<br />
Includes 30 point<br />
inspection and cleaning<br />
as well as water heater<br />
safety inspection.<br />
CALL NOW!!
30 | August 29, 2019 | 22nd Century Media home improvement<br />
22ndcenturymedia.com<br />
Get a great lawn in less time this season<br />
StatePoint Media<br />
It’s no secret that your home’s<br />
exterior gets the spotlight during<br />
the summer. Once the weather<br />
warms up, neighborhoods fill<br />
with the sounds of yardwork.<br />
Expertly manicured grass and<br />
enviable curb appeal require<br />
maintenance and the right equipment.<br />
If “old reliable” isn’t cutting<br />
the lawn as well as it used to<br />
and you’re searching for a new<br />
mower, there are many makes<br />
and models to consider. One type<br />
you may be less familiar with is<br />
the zero-turn mower, which offers<br />
superior maneuverability<br />
and can get yard work done faster<br />
than a standard walk-behind<br />
mower.<br />
“A high-quality zero-turn<br />
mower means getting back to relaxing<br />
in your free time faster,”<br />
says Adam Mullet, vice president<br />
of sales and new products<br />
at Hustler Turf Equipment, a<br />
leading brand of outdoor power<br />
equipment, and the originator of<br />
the zero-turn mower.<br />
When shopping around, consider<br />
the following tips and insights:<br />
Don’t Shop With Your Wallet<br />
As with any home appliance<br />
purchase, this is a big decision.<br />
You’ll want something that can<br />
withstand the test of time and<br />
is backed by warranty. Keep in<br />
mind engine size and horsepower.<br />
Powerful engines cut grass<br />
faster and last longer, but also<br />
cost more. Financing options offered<br />
by manufacturers can help<br />
you avoid compromising.<br />
Size Matters<br />
The size of the area you’ll be<br />
cutting matters most.<br />
• A larger deck speeds up<br />
mowing and is ideal for big<br />
properties with wide open areas<br />
of grass.<br />
• The wider the cutting deck,<br />
the more grass cut with each<br />
pass. If you need to maneuver<br />
through tight spaces or have a<br />
small yard, consider a machine<br />
with a condensed, more easilycontrolled<br />
mowing deck.<br />
• Zero-turn mowers made for<br />
residential use are typically much<br />
smaller than the average ride-on<br />
mower. For a compact option<br />
at a great value, consider the<br />
DASH by Hustler Turf. Built to<br />
the brand’s high standards, it has<br />
a patented automatic park brake,<br />
foot-operated deck lift and the<br />
ability to fit through most gates,<br />
making it a good choice for front<br />
and backyard mowing. Available<br />
in two welded, fabricated steel<br />
deck sizes – 34-inch or 42-inch<br />
– with a heavy-duty 1x2 fully<br />
tubular frame, it’s small enough<br />
for easy garage storage.<br />
• For bigger yards and tougher<br />
terrains, consider options<br />
like Hustler Turf’s residential<br />
FasTrak. Boasting speeds up<br />
to 8 MPH, it features a removable<br />
floor plan for easy maintenance,<br />
a fully welded, tubular<br />
frame available in sizes up to 60<br />
inches, and 22-inch large drive<br />
tires. A 20-inch high-back seat<br />
with full mechanical suspension<br />
shields riders from bumps, and<br />
cushioning takes pressure off the<br />
tailbone and lower back.<br />
Mow in Comfort<br />
You’ll use this machine regularly<br />
for years to come, so prioritize<br />
comfort. Remember, the<br />
open-concept of a zero-turn allows<br />
you to get on and off easily.<br />
Be sure to sit on each mower and<br />
look at the seats and support offered.<br />
Shop Local<br />
Consider visiting locallyowned<br />
and operated lawn care<br />
centers, where dealers are deeply<br />
familiar with product lines,<br />
region-specific lawn care needs<br />
and ready to answer questions<br />
about mower performance and<br />
maintenance.<br />
More information on zero-turn<br />
mowers can be found at hustlerturf.com.<br />
When buying a mower, prioritize<br />
makes and models offering<br />
efficiency and comfort that meet<br />
your lawn care needs.<br />
On-trend ideas for updating your home exterior<br />
StatePoint Media<br />
If it’s time to upgrade your home exterior,<br />
you may need some guidance, particularly<br />
if you want to make on-trend choices<br />
that will instantly boost your curb appeal.<br />
Bear in mind that many younger, trendsetting<br />
homeowners are gravitating toward<br />
the natural, earthy look, and they are<br />
achieving this with manufactured stone.<br />
As you make your own upgrade, consider<br />
the following<br />
Prioritize Authenticity<br />
Not all manufactured stone is of equal<br />
quality. Do a close inspection to ensure<br />
the products you select are molded and<br />
colored to look and feel like natural stone.<br />
Select Your Cut<br />
Choices abound when it comes to the<br />
cut of manufactured stone veneer. However,<br />
linear shapes that provide a sense<br />
of calm and order are very popular right<br />
now, making profiles such as the Chisel<br />
Cut offered by ProVia a smart move for<br />
staying on-trend. The natural texture<br />
complements the chiseled form, and looks<br />
great grouted or dry stacked.<br />
Be Serene [hed]<br />
Gray is in right now, and this is likely<br />
due to its low-key aesthetic. Likewise,<br />
any color on the gray-scale will add instant<br />
appeal, including black and white.<br />
Choose Your Grout<br />
You can add a lot of design drama with<br />
the right choice of grout color. Here’s a<br />
simple guide to help you choose:<br />
• For an understated, elegant look,<br />
match the grout color with the dominant<br />
color shadings in the manufactured stone.<br />
This is a subtle-but-sophisticated choice.<br />
• To bring bold drama to the home,<br />
choose a grout color that’s the exact opposite<br />
of the stone color. With light stone,<br />
use dark grout, and with dark stone use<br />
light grout. The effect is eye-popping, and<br />
shows off the shapes and textures of the<br />
manufactured stone.<br />
• Blend both approaches above to reflect<br />
an array of earthy colors. Choose a<br />
grout color that matches one of the shades<br />
found in the stone. It will naturally contrast<br />
with the other shades.<br />
• For a pulled-together look, weave<br />
a matching color choice throughout the<br />
various home exterior elements -- siding,<br />
garage door, front entry door, roofing, etc.<br />
-- to reflect a designer aesthetic and provide<br />
instant curb appeal. Just like a wellcoordinated<br />
suit, shirt and tie, this look<br />
projects confidence.<br />
Visualize<br />
The decisions you make regarding your<br />
home exterior are important, so do a bit of<br />
homework first before committing. Free<br />
online tools and resources can help you<br />
pick colors, cuts and other important features,<br />
by allowing you to get a better sense<br />
of how they will look on your home. Visit<br />
provia.com/grout-visualizer to access<br />
ProVia’s Grout Visualizer, a handy tool<br />
that allows you to mix and match stone<br />
and styles with grout options.<br />
The exterior of your home makes a<br />
statement. Make sure it’s making the right<br />
one. Select elements that suit your personality<br />
while also staying on-trend.
22ndcenturymedia.com Home Improvement<br />
22nd Century Media | August 29, 2019 | 31<br />
Schaaf celebrates 60 years in Chicagoland<br />
Sixty years, seven locations,<br />
hundreds of different products,<br />
thousands of cherished customers<br />
and one owner, Schaaf Window<br />
has had a long and storied<br />
history in this area. The familyowned<br />
business celebrates its<br />
60th anniversary this June, a<br />
testament to its success and long<br />
history of having the best customer<br />
service in town.<br />
Schaaf Window was founded<br />
in 1959 as Schaaf Glass Company<br />
by George Schaaf Sr. and<br />
his father, Fred. They began the<br />
company by re-glazing windows<br />
out of three garages behind his<br />
father’s home in Englewood and<br />
ran the business out of his home.<br />
About a year into their business,<br />
they were big enough<br />
DreamMaker of Orland Park wins top national<br />
award for customer satisfaction since 2018<br />
to move into a real office and<br />
warehouse, so they made a deal<br />
with a local car dealer to use his<br />
building while he used the parking<br />
lot. At this time, they added<br />
glass storefronts to their product<br />
offerings.<br />
Just two years later, they had<br />
already grown out of the building<br />
and George decided that this<br />
time he would build his own,<br />
against his father’s advice. He<br />
built a brand new building in<br />
Evergreen Park and even outgrew<br />
that one so fast that he<br />
was forced to convince the lady<br />
next door to sell him her house<br />
in order to construct another<br />
new building. In these years, the<br />
company began offering patio<br />
doors and framed mirrors.<br />
For the second year in<br />
a row, DreamMaker Bath<br />
& Kitchen of Orland Park<br />
has been named one of the<br />
Top 60 home remodelers<br />
in the nation and awarded<br />
one of the highest customer<br />
satisfaction and trust<br />
scores by GuildQuality<br />
(GQ), an independent customer<br />
satisfaction surveying<br />
company for the building<br />
industry.<br />
GuildQuality’s (GQ) annual<br />
awards are given so<br />
that consumers can read<br />
unbiased, detailed reviews<br />
from previous customers<br />
to verify the quality of the<br />
company they are considering<br />
hiring for a project.<br />
Each year, Qualified Remodeler<br />
magazine lists the<br />
winners in its July “Customer<br />
Satisfaction Leaders”<br />
issue.<br />
DreamMaker Bath &<br />
Kitchen, which has been<br />
serving the area since<br />
1991, has a GQ “All-Time<br />
Recommendation” rating<br />
of over 98 percent. They<br />
also won the award in<br />
2018 and have been given<br />
a “Guildmaster with Highest<br />
Distinction” Award every<br />
year since 2015.<br />
“As GQ explains in the<br />
awards issue, ‘trust’ is a<br />
paramount concern among<br />
today’s home remodeling<br />
consumers,” said Glen<br />
Borkowski, who owns and<br />
operates DreamMaker of<br />
Orland Park together with<br />
his wife Denise. “We attribute<br />
our ongoing success<br />
to our exceptional<br />
Even with the addition, the<br />
company grew too large, and<br />
George again had to build a new<br />
location, this time in Bridgeview.<br />
They moved into this building<br />
in 1972 and immediately began<br />
expanding their product lines. In<br />
1974 the business really took off<br />
when Schaaf began assembling<br />
their own windows. The success<br />
of the window business led to<br />
the separation of the glass and<br />
the window departments, and the<br />
official incorporation of Schaaf<br />
Window Company.<br />
In 1980, George turned an old<br />
stadium in Bridgeview into offices<br />
and a shop. He had helped<br />
build the stadium when it was<br />
going to be used for a local<br />
semi-pro baseball team, but he<br />
communication skills and<br />
the convenience of being<br />
a ‘one-stop shop.’ From<br />
the first meeting, we work<br />
with our customers on<br />
budget, design and product<br />
selection, which leads to a<br />
hassle-free remodeling experience.<br />
And, we let our<br />
customers know exactly<br />
what to expect from start<br />
to finish – there are no surprises.”<br />
According to Denise,<br />
was never paid by the builder.<br />
He bought the land and decided<br />
to turn it in to a new location<br />
for Schaaf Glass; however,<br />
five years later Schaaf Window<br />
moved into this location and<br />
Schaaf Glass moved back to its<br />
old building. Again, the company<br />
grew so that additions had to<br />
be made and eventually an entire<br />
adjacent building was constructed<br />
to add capacity. While at this<br />
location, Schaaf Window added<br />
millwork and interior doors to its<br />
product lines.<br />
In 2003 Schaaf Window<br />
moved to its current location in<br />
Tinley Park. It has since become<br />
the largest independent window<br />
company in Illinois, and added<br />
shower doors and installation to<br />
who has been involved<br />
in the kitchen and bath<br />
remodeling industry for<br />
over 25 years, nothing<br />
says more about a home<br />
remodeling company than<br />
how pleased its customers<br />
have been with the entire<br />
remodeling experience.<br />
“Their experience clearly<br />
influences whether they<br />
would recommend us or<br />
not,” she said. “We mention<br />
our GQ rating to prospective<br />
clients, explain<br />
the services we provide<br />
and ask if they have visited<br />
our website and clicked on<br />
the “GuildQuality” link. If<br />
not, we email them the direct<br />
link to our account and<br />
explain that all remodeling<br />
companies are not created<br />
equal and they can use the<br />
its mix of products. It is also now<br />
co-owned by two of George’s<br />
children, Bob and Barb, along<br />
with George himself. Today,<br />
Schaaf continues its commitment<br />
to superior customer service<br />
and offering high quality<br />
products.<br />
As summer rolls around and<br />
you start your home improvement<br />
projects, keep Schaaf in<br />
mind and see what 60 years in<br />
the industry can do for you.<br />
Submitted by Schaaf Window Co.<br />
Inc, 18445 Thompson Court in<br />
Tinley Park. For more information,<br />
call (708) 342-0900, or visit schaaf<br />
window.com.<br />
rating system to find the<br />
best fit for their remodeling<br />
project.”<br />
Glen has both a Certified<br />
Graduate Remodeler<br />
(CGR) and Certified Aging-in-Place<br />
(CAP) designations<br />
from the National<br />
Association of Home<br />
Builders (NAHB), as well<br />
as an A+ rating from the<br />
Better Business Bureau.<br />
He is very active in the<br />
Orland Park Chamber of<br />
Commerce.<br />
Submitted by DreamMaker<br />
Bath & Kitchen of Orland<br />
Park, 15645 71st Court in<br />
Orland Park. For more information,<br />
call (708) 429-6670<br />
or visit dreambkop.com.
32 | August 29, 2019 | 22nd Century Media home improvement<br />
22ndcenturymedia.com<br />
Celebrating our 60th Anniversary<br />
Serving<br />
Chicagoland for<br />
60 years!<br />
2019 WINNER<br />
Visit our 4,000 square foot showroom to<br />
view our wide selection of products<br />
CALL US TODAY FOR A FREE ESTIMATE<br />
ON WINDOW REPLACEMENTS!<br />
Windows<br />
Interior & Exterior Doors<br />
Mirrors & Glass<br />
Professional Installation & Service<br />
Reglazing • Shower Doors<br />
Celebrating our 60th Anniversary<br />
18445 Thompson Ct. Tinley Park, IL<br />
708.342.0900 | www.schaafwindow.com<br />
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