E4 DO-IT-YOURSELF By Gene Austin
I want to insulate my attic, which now has almost no insulation. The choice appears to be between blown-in cellulose and fiberglass blankets. Which is best? — Fran Both are excellent options, and each has some unique characteristics that can help you make a choice. Cellulose has a higher R factor, or insulating value per inch, with a rating of about 3.7, compared with 3.14 for fiberglass. Cellulose is made from ground-up newspapers. It is a good choice for attics that have poor access, since it can be blown in through small openings such as an attic trapdoor or even small holes made in the ceiling. This feature makes it an ideal choice for attics with truss construction (generally 2-by-4s pre-assembled in factories instead of husky joists and rafters). Do-it-yourself equipment to blow in cellulose can be rented at some home centers, but it is best to have the work done by an experienced insulation contractor.
Fiberglass is spun glass that
is naturally fire-resistant and generally has a neater appearance than cellulose, especially if encapsulated fiberglass blankets are used (these have a perforated plastic cover that makes the insulation easier to handle and keeps bits of fiberglass from getting into the air. Fiberglass is available in various thicknesses and usually fits between the floor joists. In some installations where a thick layer of insulation is needed, additional fiberglass blankets can be laid on top of and at right angles to the joists. No matter what insulation is used, it is important not to block vents in the roof overhangs or soffits. These vents allow air to circulate in the attic and reduce moisture accumulation. Spray foam is another option for insulating attics but is best used in attics
that are to be finished for use as living space. Foam is generally sprayed on ceilings and walls instead of being spread on the floor. My kitchen cabinets were
very dirty, and I cleaned them with a household spray cleaner. There are a number of sticky areas remaining. What can I do? — Sally The sticky areas are probably caked-on grease, which is common in kitchens. You should be able to remove the grease with a soft cloth moistened with mineral spirits (paint thinner). Mineral spirits is flammable and has a rather strong odor, so there should be no flames or sparks in the kitchen and you should open windows and doors for ventilation. You also can buy degreaser-cleaners at most supermarkets and home centers. Look for the word “degreaser” on the label, and read the directions to make sure it is suitable for use on finished wood. I recently put a
cedar-shingle roof on my gazebo and would like to keep the new appearance of the shingles. What can I put on the roof to achieve this? — K. Berkowitz It is unlikely that you will be able to keep the shingles looking like new unless you do a great deal of cleaning and sealing. You will need to treat the roof as you would a cedar deck, but the gazebo is probably exposed to strong sun most of the time, which will make it even harder to keep the shingles from turning gray from the sun’s ultraviolet rays. Clear sealers for outdoor wood seldom lasts more than a year, and there might be some change in the wood’s appearance even in that time. If the wood darkens, you can restore much of the original color by using a deck cleaner, after which the wood will need to be sealed again.
Questions and comments should be e-mailed to Gene Austin at
gaus17@aol.com. Send regular mail for Gene Austin to 1730 Blue Bell Pike, Blue Bell, Pa. 19422.
KLMNO
DC MG PG
SATURDAY, AUGUST 28, 2010 Modifications do make a dent in foreclosures by Mark Jewell Homeowners who had mort-
gages modified recently are faring better than those who did so earli- er in the housing crisis, according to a report released Tuesday, pos- sibly debunking predictions of a huge wave of defaults to come. The State Foreclosure Preven-
tion Working Group warned of other troubling signs, however, on the same day that a separate industry report showed the most severe July sales drop-off for pre- viously occupied homes in 15 years. The group of 12 state attorneys
general and state banking reg- ulators said Tuesday that foreclo- sures still easily outpace the num- ber of loan modifications. Modifi- cations lower monthly payments and reduce the odds of losing a home. Nearly three years into the fore- closure crisis, the group of state officials also found that nearly 63 percent of homeowners who are at least 60 days behind on their mortgage payments aren’t taking part in either government or pri- vate foreclosure prevention pro- grams.
Banking officials warned that lenders must aggressively seek out homeowners who are teeter- ing on the edge, even if it means short-term pain for banks. “There is still a tremendous amount of work to be done to pre- vent unnecessary foreclosures,” said Neil Milner, president and CEO of the Conference of State Bank Supervisors, which is part of the working group. “Servicers must continue to perform mean- ingful outreach to those home- owners who are seriously delin- quent and to perform modifica- tions with significant principal reduction.” The working group compared delinquencies for mortgages modified last year with those revised in 2008 and wheth- er borrowers were keeping up with payments six months after terms were changed. Borrowers getting modifications in 2009 were nearly 50 percent less likely to end up at least 60 days behind than those with modifications in 2008. About 15 percent among the 2009 group ended up becoming seriously delinquent six months after modification, versus nearly
KEVORK DJANSEZIAN/GETTY IMAGES
Homeowners who modified mortgages recently are faring better than those who did so earlier in the crisis.
31 percent for the 2008 group. The reduction “suggests that dire predictions of high re-default rates may not come true,” the re- port said, noting some analysts have predicted re-default rates as high as 75 percent. The report said recent modifi-
cations that reduce principal bal- ances on loans have a lower de- fault rate than those that merely cut the interest component of monthly payments. But most banks don’t trim the
overall balance when they modify loans, according to the report. Only one in five modifications re- duced the loan amount, with 70 percent of those studied in this year’s first quarter actually in- creasing the total by adding serv- ice charges and late payments to the loan balance, the report said. However, through adjustments of interest rates, about 89 percent of first-quarter modifications in- volved some reduction in month- ly payments, the report said. Nearly 78 percent cut payments 10 percent or more.
But the absence of loan-balance reduction in most modifications
will hamper future foreclosure prevention efforts, the report said. The authors noted that home prices have declined more than 30 percent from their 2006 peak, and nearly one-quarter of homeowners owe more than their homes are worth. The group said it “anticipates hundreds of thousands of foreclo- sures will occur later this year ab- sent additional improvements in foreclosure prevention efforts.” Michael Fratantoni, vice presi- dent of research and economics with the Mortgage Bankers Asso- ciation, said modifications must strike a balance between helping borrowers stay in their homes and enabling lenders and inves- tors to avoid taking big losses. Reducing a loan amount in a
mortgage modification “can be the tool to get you there to that balance, but sometimes it isn’t,” Fratantoni said. He said a key reason many at- risk borrowers don’t take part in foreclosure prevention programs is they simply don’t pick up their phone or otherwise respond when lenders contact them about
mortgage modification. “It really is a bit of a two-way
street,” he said. The state officials’ report exam- ined mortgage modification trends at nine non-bank mort- gage companies servicing 4.6 mil- lion loans nationwide as of March. Since the group of state of- ficials began collecting data in Oc- tober 2007, those nine companies have completed more than 2.3 million foreclosures. That’s about three times the number of loan modifications they completed: 760,000. As of March 31, the nine serv- icers reported 778,000 borrowers were late at least 60 days on their payments. Last week, the Treasury De-
partment said nearly half of the 1.3 million homeowners who en- rolled in the Obama administra- tion’s flagship mortgage-relief program have fallen out. Econo- mists said the report suggests the $75 billion government effort is failing to slow the tide of foreclo- sures, which is expected to grow well into next year. —Associated Press
You are invited! A Very Metropolitan Grand Opening
Join Us For The Grand Opening Of Our Furnished Ashlawn Model Saturday and Sunday, September 11 & 12 from 11am - 6pm
Catered Food, Fun & Festivities PLUS 2 Free Passes to the Regal Cinema at Rockville Town Center just for visiting*
Rock Creek Overlook in Rockville A once in a lifetime opportunity • Luxury townhomes from the $490’s* • 2-car garages• 3 finished levels, 3 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths • Optional loft level • Free Energy Star Certification • Up to 4 levels with 4 bedrooms & 4 1/2 baths also available
•Minutes from I-270, Rte. 355, Metro Rail, all-new Rockville Town Center, Federal Plaza, Flagship Shopping Center, Mid-Pike Plaza, White Flint Mall & downtown Bethesda
To visit: Take I-270 N. to Exit 6A (Rte. 28 E.). Follow Rte. 28 for 2 mi. & cross over Rte. 355. Rte. 28 will become Viers Mill Rd. (Rte. 586). At 1st traffic light, turn left on 1st St. (Norbeck Rd.) to 1st traffic light & turn right on Baltimore Rd. 1.5 mi. to Rock Creek Overlook on left hand side.
Please RSVP to Lois at (301) 865-2396.
CraftstarHomes.com Open Daily 11am - 6pm. Brokers Welcome.**
Just Received QBW Builder of Integrity Award & 2010 Energy Star Leadership Award
Stylish villa homes in a private gated community at Grand Opening prices from just $
206,990
PEARMAN’S OVERLOOK… NEW DESIGNS PERFECT FOR ALL AGES.
Located in a beautiful gated community in Northern Anne Arundel County, the stylish attached villa homes of Pearman’s Overlook offer the convenience and peace of mind of a condo with the privacy and comfort of a townhome.
• First floor owner’s suite • Money-saving Energy Star®
and appliances • Maintenance-free lifestyle
• Community clubhouse, heated pool and walking trails
• Gated community
Open Friday to Monday 11AM–6PM &Tuesday 1PM–6PM
443-770-0591 BROKERS WELCOME
DIRECTIONS:Take I-95 to Rt. 100 East. Take Rt. 100 East to Rt. 2 North.Turn right onto Mountain Rd. (Rt. 177).Turn left into Pearman’s Overlook.
construction
www.graysonhomes.com
Beautiful new luxury townhomes starting from just $
264,990…just a few left!
TOWNS AT MT. AIRY… FINAL PHASE NOW SELLING.
Minutes from I-70 in the rolling hills of Carroll County, these luxury townhomes are the very definition of convenience and charm. Complete with spacious living areas, lush landscaping, and custom features,TheTowns at Mt. Airy offers everything you need to make your house a home.
• Low Carroll County taxes • Available garages
• Landscaped homesites back to open space
• Whirlpool appliances • Spacious country kitchen/family room • Energy Star®
certified • 2-10 Home BuyersWarranty
Open Friday to Monday 11AM–6PM &Tuesday 1PM–6PM
410-795-7902 BROKERS WELCOME
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*Prices, terms, lot availability, and features subject to change without notice. Must attend grand opening and register in order to receive movie tickets. One set of movie tickets per household. **Must register at site and comply with all policy terms. MHBR #453
www.graysonhomes.com MHBR 5735
DIRECTIONS:Take I-70 to Rt. 27 North (Exit 68). Proceed 1 mile to a right onto Twin Arch Road. Take the first left onto Century Drive. Proceed 1/4 mile to a right on Back Acre Road. Follow signs to model.
MHBR 4424
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