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If you long to give your home that sought-after "curb appeal," consider starting with your front entrance. Your front entrance is so important when making that "first impression," because it's really the 'face' of your home. So try following these 10 easy improvements to help give your home a facelift.

1. Repair the Walkway:

Patch cracks and replace loose bricks and pavers. Rent a power washer or purchase a chemical treatment to clean up embedded stains in concrete, stone or asphalt.

2. Illuminate the Path:

Lighting helps ensure guests arrive safely and also acts as a theft deterrent. Clean light fixtures and replace burnt-out bulbs with energy-saving CFL bulbs, replace outdated fixtures and add landscape lighting to brighten walkways and shrubbery.

3. Use Foliage and Shrubbery:

Strategically-placed plants can conceal any unattractive aspects of your house or surroundings. Place large pots or hanging baskets around the stoop or porch. Bushes or hedges hide air conditioning units or propane tanks, and flower beds and window boxes will stylize a stark facade.

4. Prune and Mulch:

Prune dead branches, trim back overgrown shrubbery or remove obstructive plantings. Spread mulch or bark around trees, shrubs and flowers for a weed-free, well-kept look.

5. Decorate Your Door:

Restore the luster of your door by polishing the hinges and knobs. Paint or stain the door with a color that stands out, yet complements, the trim and siding. Hang a pretty wreath to finish the look. If your front door is weak or unattractive, invest in a replacement door or storm door for security and energy efficiency.

6. Focus on Windows:

Fix broken windows and torn screens and paint sashes, trim and shutters in a neutral color. Add window treatments and keep the glass crystal clear.

7. Accessorize:

Choose a few lawn and garden ornaments. Match a decorative handle, door knocker or kickplate with shiny new house numbers and a mailbox.

8. Feature Furniture:

Spray a fresh coat of paint on furniture and replace the cushions. Fill an empty spot on the porch or stoop with a quaint bench or porch swing.

9. Keep it Clean:

Sweep the sidewalk and stoop, clear away cobwebs, tighten wobbly railings and repaint posts and supports.

10. The Finishing Touch:

Put out a clean, new welcome mat and make sure the doorbell works because you're sure to attract more visitors now!

By following these 10 simple steps, your front entrance will be beautiful, well-maintained, and most of all, welcoming.

Credit:  Lou Manfredini's Tips From the Tool Box, Ace Hardware

You will have to look at your transformer to determine what its maximum wattage is. Most bulbs are 4 watts, but they come in different wattages. You will have to add up what you are currently using.

Before installing the new lights, be sure that you follow the correct process. If you find that you are unable to install new lights, you may want to consider solar lights. Solar lights require no wiring and come in various designs.

Check your state and local codes before starting any project. Follow all safety precautions. Information in this document has been furnished by the North American Retail Hardware Association (NRHA) and associated contributors. Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy and safety. Neither NRHA, any contributor nor the retailer can be held responsible for damages or injuries resulting from the use of the information in this document.

First find the sensor and see if it is being obscured by something. If not, you can probably just replace this sensor.

Check your state and local codes before starting any project. Follow all safety precautions. Information in this document has been furnished by the North American Retail Hardware Association (NRHA) and associated contributors. Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy and safety. Neither NRHA, any contributor nor the retailer can be held responsible for damages or injuries resulting from the use of the information in this document.

• The installation is much easier than lighting that requires a transformer and cable.
• Because there are no cables, you can be flexible in the number of lights you place in your yard, as well as where you want to place them. You can place them in areas of your yard where cabled lights would be impractical or impossible. These include areas far away from your house, which is typically where you’d mount a transformer. (The further out a cable goes into a yard from the transformer, the weaker the current. This isn’t an issue with solar landscape lighting.)
• They’re energy efficient and environmentally friendly.

While most solar lights are single-piece lamps, some are available with the solar panel separate from the lamp itself. This configuration is so similar in wiring requirements to that of low voltage sets, it should be viewed as low voltage lighting with the same advantages and restrictions.

The key to solar lighting is the use of high-efficiency LED light sources. LEDs (with expected lifetimes of 10+ years) give a bright, cool light. The power requirements of incandescent bulbs used in the low voltage systems will deplete the charge of a solar battery too quickly to give all-night illumination. With current technology, if you wish to use solar lighting, you have to use LED light. There are many advantages to using LED lighting.

Check your state and local codes before starting any project. Follow all safety precautions. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and safety of this information. Neither Westlake nor any contributor can be held responsible for damages or injuries resulting from the use of the information in this document.

Outdoor lighting - whether it's soft and subtle or colorful and dramatic - adds beauty and safety to a variety of lawn and garden features. And solar lights make it easier than ever to illuminate even the most out-of-the way areas.

Because there's no need for electrical wiring, solar lights can be placed anywhere they're needed to light a walkway, define a driveway, show off a fountain, accent plants and trees or brighten a patio, pool or grill area. Possible uses are limited only by a homeowner's imagination.

Solar lights can set a mood that evokes elegance and sophistication or comfort and relaxation. They're also not limited to providing just white light. Some models come in different hues, providing splashes of color for holiday or party outdoor decorating.

Advantages of using solar lighting include the versatility of styles, the ability to be installed almost anywhere and the ease of maintenance. Just clean the solar panels when necessary to ensure they stay charged. Solar lights also are safe because they don't generate heat or require wiring. Plus, there's no need to set timers or remember to turn on a switch since solar lights come on automatically. Some types also come equipped with a switch to allow you to go dark if you want.

Check your state and local codes before starting any project. Follow all safety precautions. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and safety of this information. Neither Westlake nor any contributor can be held responsible for damages or injuries resulting from the use of the information in this document.

Maybe it's toasted marshmallows you crave or a place to warm your hands on a chilly night. Or perhaps you want to create a central gathering place for guests. Whatever your desire, a backyard fire pit adds a special touch to your outdoor entertaining.

Fire pits can be useful year round. They extend your outdoor entertaining season by giving friends a cozy place to visit in cool weather. Even in warmer months, a fire pit can ward off a nighttime chill.

Fire pits come in a variety of styles including freestanding fire bowls and bowls mounted in the center of low tables that are convenient for guests to sit around. Another style, the chimenea, is an upright fireplace that stands on legs and has a chimney on top. Wood is inserted through a door on the front.

Backyard fireplaces come in wood-burning as well as gas models. You can choose from elegant metal and stone versions or the more rustic clay chimeneas.

Smaller fireplaces have the advantage of portability, meaning you can have a party for a handful of guests on a patio or move the celebration to a larger, open area of the yard and still offer the pleasant atmosphere of a fireplace.

Check your state and local codes before starting any project. Follow all safety precautions. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and safety of this information. Neither Westlake nor any contributor can be held responsible for damages or injuries resulting from the use of the information in this document.