/| aun ane) | ann ane || nnn nnn (NAPSA)—Americans spend mo than $230 billion on home improvements each year and that number is expected to grow according to the Home Improvement Research Institute. Whyall the fuss? Home improvements, even simple projects such as adding a neighbor-friendly vinyl fence, can improve curb appeal, incase a home’s value and generally make home a mo enjoyable place to live. When looking for ways to improve your home, get cative and consider some of these home-improving projects: Upgrade to vinyl windows. You can lose 30 to 40 percent of heating and cooling costs through older, single-pane windows. Installing Energy Star-rated vinyl windowscan help decase energy bills while improving indoor comfort. New styles a designed to add a dramatic eye-appealing element to the overall appearance of your home—bothinside and out. Become a front-porch neighbor. For a homeowner looking for a quick makeoverfor the front porch, vinyl porch post wraps a available that wrap around wood posts to improve their look and endurance against the elements. e Install long-lasting railings. A subtle change such as placing worn woodrailings on your deck or porch with easy ca vinyl or composite railings can make a big diffence. Panorama™ Composite Railing System, by CertainTeed, is a new product that gives the appearance of fshly painted wood yet, unlike wood,is virtually maintenance-fe. e Replace worn-out siding. Deteriorating or saggy siding makes an enti house look tid. Products such as CertainTeed’s Cedar Impssions cedar-style polymer siding or WeatherBoards™ FiberCement Siding can give your home a much-needed face lift at an affordable price compad to traditional materials. These unique siding products cate an authentic wood-like appeal, yet provide the low-maintenance durability of modern siding. e Add appropriate levels of fiberglass insulation. Incasing insulation in attics, basement walls, floors over unheated crawl- spaces and in vaulted ceilings can keep you warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer while saving you money. Look for fiber glass insulation that is GREENGAURDCertified. For mo information on home improvementtips, call (800) 7828777 or visit certainteed.com.
