New Furnace Cost Structures Energy Efficiency (AFUE) A key indicator of a furnace’s efficiency is Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE). AFUE is expressed in terms of a percentage. Higher percentages mean a more energy-efficient furnace. The U.S. federal government mandates that new furnaces should meet or exceed 80-percent AFUE. The AFUE percentage will drive the cost of the furnace up or down. Expect furnaces in the high, 97.3-percent AFUE ratings to cost between 50- and 60-percent more than those in the 80-percent AFUE level....

Seasoned contractor Larry Mock, owner of Portland Oregon’s Cascade Custom Remodel & Construction, offers advice on building a room addition. Mock has four decades of experience in the construction industry. Even Contractors Want You to Get Other Bids Though it seems preposterous, most contractors do not want you to hire them for a big job if you are not 100 percent certain. If you jump on the first contractor that comes your way, you may get cold feet later on....

You may be picturing an uncomfortable metal frame with a thin mattress when you hear the word “futon,” but futons have come a long way in recent years, with stylish and high-quality versions available at every price point. They vary in design, come in different sizes, are made from materials such as wood or metal and can accommodate many mattress types. This shopping guide outlines everything you need to know about buying a futon so that you can make an informed decision and enjoy this piece for years to come....

Taxonomy and Botany The taxonomy of this plant is Lagerstroemia x Natchez. As with many of the widely-grown crepe myrtle trees used in landscaping, it is a hybrid derived from crossing L. indica with L. fauriei. Although originally from Asia, Lagerstroemia is naturalized in the Southeastern U.S. Natchez is the cultivar name. Natchez crepe myrtles are deciduous shrubs or small trees. Origin of Common Names The leaves resemble those of true myrtles, Myrtus communis, thus the origin of the second half of the common name....

To guide you through the process of selecting art for every space in your home—from the dining room to the bathroom—we turned to pro designers, who weigh in below with tips and tricks. You’ll have a home for everything from that large abstract piece to those small landscapes in no time! Bedroom Your bedroom is your sanctuary and therefore is the place to get personal with art selections, designer Kendra Nash says....

Paint contractors may tell you to skip Home Depot altogether and instead purchase from a standalone store like Sherwin-Williams or Benjamin Moore. But if you’re on a budget, or working on a smaller project like a kid’s room or a guest bathroom, Home Depot paints are perfectly acceptable. Plus, any tools you may need to get the job done, such as ladders or sprayers, are right there at your fingertips....

When you get paint on the glass, it’s easy to fix. Just use a razor blade. But when you get paint on the vinyl window frame, this is much tougher and sometimes the fix is imperfect. The reason is that vinyl is softer than glass, so it’s more difficult to scrape or sand the paint off of vinyl without removing too much of the vinyl. But with a few simple tools, you should be able to return the windows to like-new condition....

What Is Chickweed? Common chickweed (Stellaria media) is a cool-season annual plant native to Europe but found just about everywhere in the world, including the American lawn. It has small succulent leaves, small white flowers, and grows low to the ground in dense mats. Mouse-ear Chickweed is very similar to common chickweed in appearance and growth habit; however, this species is densely covered with hairs. Chickweed is adaptable to all conditions and soil types with a preference for moist, well-watered soil....

An Earthworm’s Job Most of the time, worms are entirely unseen, conditioning the soil and living their lives deep in the root zone. During the spring, fall, or other periods of extreme moisture, however, earthworms tend to migrate to the surface and leave their castings on the lawn. Worm castings are small mounds or bumps on the lawn that are basically worm excrement—but highly nutritious excrement. These excretions are nutrient-packed remains of digested plant matter and soil that have passed through the worms—a material that is extremely beneficial to the lawn....

The appearance of leaf galls is a jarring sight. The bumps can be hard or just hollow protrusions. Your first thought might be that it is a disease or insects have laid eggs or burrowed into the leaf, the way leafminers do. The good news is that the bumps are generally not caused by a disease. They are usually insect damage. However, by the time you see those bumps, the insect has long since moved on....

Maybe you can’t decide whether your favorite type of decor is farmhouse rustic or mid-century modern. Or you can’t stand things that are too “matchy-matchy” or pristine. Eclectic style is a great way to define your home decor when it’s a bit of, well, everything. History Though the word “eclectic” has been around for a long time, it has only recently become associated with an approach to decorating. Eclectic-style decor got its start in the late 19th or early 20th century when architectural pioneers prided themselves on the fact that they didn’t adhere to any particular style, then set about doing their own thing....

When food supplies are scarce, squirrels may even gnaw on the bark of trees and shrubs, vying with rabbits to see who can kill the plant first. Homesteaders who tap maple trees to make syrup may find that squirrels quickly learn how to chew through the tubing to consume the sweet sap. Other species of squirrels, such as the red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) can be voracious and brutal hunters of baby birds in the nest....