April 12, 2016 • Page 14 shop online at www.missourivalleyshopper.com Let there be light! Reclaimed wood adds instant appeal to home projects Repurposing salvaged wood is a popular trend in the home improvement industry. Not only can using salvaged wood give a home a one-of-a-kind look, but it’s a handy way to incorporate the three Rs of green living into your lifestyle: reduce, reuse and recycle. Reclaimed wood is often used in flooring, beams, wall treatments, and doors, but it also can be turned into furniture or home accent items. Reclaimed wood adds warmth and historical interest to a home’s decor that newer materials may lack. Although finding wood that can be salvaged takes time and some legwork, such efforts can quickly pay off. Many businesses are now devoted to reclaimed timber, which can help make the process of finding and using salvaged wood even easier. Homeowners considering reclaimed wood may be interested to learn that such wood can serve various functions aside from benefitting the planet. • Match old-growth wood. New regulations may prevent RON’S AUTO GLASS certain species of trees from being cut down. That means it can be challenging to match old wood in a home, particularly if you’re looking to maintain historical value and authenticity. Relying on salvaged wood items can alleviate this concern, ensuring that you can find rare woods that are no longer available brand new. • Salvaged wood has character. It’s difficult to mimic the natural age marks and character that older wood may have. Instead of being raised on farms, •ALL GLASS •ALL GLASS • COMMERCIAL • HOME CUSTOM SHOWERS ••CUSTOM SHOWERS 605-665-9841 • AUTOMOTIVE 605-665-9841 1915 Broadway Street Yankton, SD 1915 Broadway Street • • Yankton, SD t You Covered!! We’ve Go We can make your home warm and cozy today! • Carpet • Vinyl • Tile • Wood • Laminate wood harvested decades ago probably grew in natural environments, making the wood both durable and strong. The color and grain of salvaged wood may also be unique. • Look at objects in a new way. Doors are versatile pieces of reclaimed lumber because they’re already flat and rather large. Doors can be turned into headboards, tables or benches. Staircase or porch posts can be turned into candlestick holders, and wood shutters can dress up walls and provide a place to hang artwork and other wall items. • Reclaimed wood can be found everywhere. Most people do not have to look too far to find wood they can salvage. Check salvage yards, landfills, dumpsters in front of older homes being renovated, or older, unused barns in rural settings. You also can collect driftwood or discarded shipping crates. While some reclaimed wood can be used as-is, some pieces may require millwork, including sanding, cutting, shaping, and finishing. If you do not have these skills, you probably will have to hire someone who does. The Internet is awash with ideas for putting salvaged wood to use. Get inspired and then find the pieces that will fit your project. With the exception of certain luxury and sports car manufacturers, many of today’s automakers equip their vehicles with standard halogen headlights. While such headlights are effective in the short-term, within two or three years the bulbs used in halogen headlights start to break down due to aging, exposure to the elements and everyday usage. Such a breakdown can compromise their light output by as much as 40 percent, dramatically reducing visibility as a result. The reduced visibility associated with older halogen headlights is a legitimate safety concern, especially for the multitude of motorists who are already uncomfortable driving at night, when the visual acuity of the human eye is reduced by up to 70 percent. While drivers might not be able to do much about the makeup of their eyes, they can take steps to enhance their nighttime visibility. • Don’t wait for nightfall. According to the National Safety Council¨, traffic death rates are three times greater at night than during the day, despite the fact that roads tend to be less congested after sundown than they are in broad daylight. Many drivers feel their vision is most compromised during the twilight hours, when the sun is gradually setting and day is transitioning into night. To combat such difficulties, make a conscious effort to turn your headlights on earlier. Make it a rule to turn lights on when leaving the office at the end of a workday or set a daily alarm on your smartphone so you’re reminded to turn your headlights on at the time you feel your vision typically starts to suffer. • Upgrade your headlights. A recent study from the AAA motor club found that the halogen headlights used in more than 80 percent of the vehicles on the road today fail to safely illuminate unlit roadways, even when vehicles are traveling at speeds as low as 40 miles per hour. But drivers and their passengers need not be at the mercy of their manufacturer-issued headlights. Philips Upgrade Headlight Bulbs, such as the X-tremeVision Bulbs, employ advanced technology that can deliver up to 100 percent more light on the road than standard halogen bulbs. Compatible with various makes and models, each Upgrade Headlight Bulb produces a longer beam pattern than standard halogen headlights, vastly improving nighttime visibility on even the darkest roadways. • Take care of your lights. Drivers know to heed ‘check engine’ warnings and schedule regular tuneups and oil changes, but vehicle maintenance entails more than just taking care of whatÕs under the hood. Properly maintained headlights can go a long way toward helping motorists feel safer when driving at night. When headlights are ignored, the resultant clouding can reduce their light output, thus compromising drivers’ visibility. And thanks to sunlight, ozone, pollution and other factors, the plastic headlamp lenses found on many vehicles can become hazy and yellow over time, making it more difficult for drivers to see. Utilizing a protective UV coating to produce longer lens clarity and prevent clouding for up to two years, the Philips Headlight Restoration Kit quickly and effectively combats clouding on headlights as well as taillights, turn signals and reflective lens covers, making it easier for drivers to see the road and for others drivers to see them. Driving at night makes many motorists uncomfortable, but drivers can employ various strategies to enhance their visibility when behind the wheel at night. More information is available at www.philips.com/automotive. Save up to 2600 $ HURRY! 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