Renovation Costs

Get Helpful Tips About Hvac That Are Simple To Understand

An HVAC system helps keep you comfortable all year. A lot of homes have these systems already in place, but you have to maintain and repair it overtime. Understanding what you should look for in a system will help ensure you buy the best product. Following is some advice.

Think about what improvements you want made before picking an HVAC contractor. This will make the quote process much easier. They also won’t be able to offer you a quote if they don’t have a detailed idea of what you want done. Thus, it is worthwhile to have this knowledge ahead of time.

Clean your condenser’s fan blades and coils come spring. If you are doing more than a light surface cleaning, make sure that the power is shut off to the HVAC unit. Clean the outdoor condenser as well.

Be sure to clean the fan blades and coils of the condenser fan. First, turn off the power so that nothing will move as you are working on it. After you have turned the power off, you simply remove the grill and the blades to perform a gentle cleansing.

A big mistake that people make is cutting the grass next to the outdoor condenser unit and allowing all of the clippings to blow inside the fan and coil. Turn your lawnmower in the opposite direction. This also applies to blowing leaves or moving debris. Just be careful with that exterior HVAC unit.

When the trees are losing their leaves, your HVAC unit can suffer. Be sure to clean your fan grill frequently when trees nearby are shedding. The fan should have a clear path for air to come in. If it is blocked, your system will suffer.

When selecting the spot to put the outdoor compressor for your unit, choose somewhere that gets plenty of shade. In this way, it will be cooling air that is already somewhat cooled. This saves energy.

Be sure to place your outdoor unit in a shady spot to maximize efficiency. When your unit sucks in cooler air, then much less is required to cool it further, which saves you money on energy bills.

Have your heating and cooling system inspected twice a year. Generally, you want it done in the fall and the spring. Even if everything seems okay, it doesn’t hurt to check things out.

When colder weather arrives, switch off all outdoor condenser units. Once the temperature drops into the 50s, the unit should no longer be on. This can keep your system working for years and save you a lot on repairs.

Save energy use and money by turning off the air conditioner if there is nobody home. When it’s off the house will get hot, but only by a certain amount. Obviously, if you leave your air conditioning set at a low temperature all day long even if you’re not home, you’ll be paying to maintain that low temperature.

A good HVAC system is worth its weight in gold. When it …

House Improvements

Unhappy With An Aspect Of Your Home? Do Something About It!

Many people assume that professionals are always needed when it comes to home improvement, but that’s not always true. The tips from this article will allow you to make any home improvements you desire. You’ll find that handling the work yourself can be a lot easier if you heed the following advice.

Go with real floors over laminate if you have the money. Although laminate might look real and be easy to clean, you cannot refinish it. Having real wood floors means that in a decade or two, you or the new home owner will have the option of refinishing instead of replacing the floor.

Lampshades all look the same. Get cheap stencils at the crafts store, an ink pad or acrylic paint, and try dabbing the designs around the shade. This will add a little personality to any room, and give your lighting source an interesting effect.

If you door still squeaks despite your best efforts to remedy the situation, it may just need a new hinge. It’s easy to buy door hinges at any home improvement center. Removing the old hinge and installing the new one is an easy project. Line up all the parts and put in new pins.

Think about installing insulation. Put in weather stripping around your windows and doors. Your heating and cooling systems will be more efficient if you can reduce the amount of outside air entering your home. That is going to mean savings on your utility bills.

Shut off your house’s water supply when your home improvement work takes you into the kitchen or the bathroom. Find the shutoff for water in your home before you begin any kind of work on rooms that use water. This will ensure a flood does not happen.

Use light colors to create a soothing atmosphere: purple, green or blue often work well. When choosing fabrics, use airy materials such as linen or cotton. A bit potpourri and a scented candle can go a long way to maintaining the peaceful aura.

If an older person lives with you, you should plan your house in a way so that it’s safe for them to live in. Showers that are easily stepped in are safer and easier for them to use and will reduce the chances of slip and fall injuries. Other things that can be incorporated include 36-inch doors and grab bars in the bathroom.

Apply a glaze to your bathroom to improve its looks. A fresh coat of glaze will help your bathroom look new. While replacing your bathroom floors or fixtures is costly, a bathroom can typically be glazed for only a few hundred dollars. This is a good way to increase your home’s value without spending very much money.

With any luck, the information you’ve just read will help you in your future projects. The fact that you have chosen this article tells us that you have big plans for your home! You can get the work done yourself and achieve your goals …

Bathroom Renovations

Roofing Tips That Everyone Needs To Know About

Your roof shelters you from the elements, and keeps your home from getting damaged. Obviously you have to take care of your roof if you want to have a home that lasts a long time. Proper roof care is just as important. Keep reading to find out some great advice on maintaining your roof.

Ensure you thoroughly inspect your roof at least yearly. Spring and winter are times when damage is prevalent. Therefore, make sure you pay attention to your roof at these times.

Don’t procrastinate replacing worn or broken shingles. While you may believe it is okay to put off a roof repair, you will only further the damage by prolonging it. Taking care of shingles right away can save you a lot of money and stress. Your roof will last longer if it is maintained well.

When fixing a leak, it’s important to do the job right the first time around. The first spot may not be all there is in need of repair. Check over the whole roof so that you can see if there are more problems that you’re going to have to take care of.

Do not make changes to your roof that are not long-term. Although you may think you can save some money, this will likely cause further damage to your roof, causing you to spend even more money. Fix any issues promptly and properly to ensure that the problem does not worsen down the line.

When hiring a contractor, be sure they they are experts in their field. Friends and neighbors who have recently had work done on their roofs may have recommendations for you. Referrals can help you avoid getting an inferior roof installed, along with the cost and frustration of correcting the mistakes.

Sometimes a contractor with his own workers can be more cost effective than a contractor who has no workers. Several roofers can get things done faster, which may also lower the cost. If you have one doing it alone, be sure they’re not overcharging for labor.

Your roof’s age can indicate if it needs replacing. Most roofs need to be replaced about every 20 years. When your current roof is a second layer on top of your old roof, it has to be replaced after 20 years.

If you’re wondering if your roof is leaking, try spraying it with a garden hose. You will then be able to see any leaks that exist and assess the damaged areas. It is simple and much cheaper than hiring someone to check for you.

Never skimp in terms of roofing materials. Although it is possible to obtain cheap materials, they are often lower quality. As a result, they will likely wear out sooner, which means you will have to replace them more often. This can cost you even more money than simply purchasing more expensive, but higher quality, materials.

When your roof is in good shape, you’re a good homeowner. The repairs to the roof are not able to be …

Renovation Contractor

Great Ideas And Tips About Home Improvement

When you lack the proper knowledge, even the simplest home improvement project can seems like an insurmountable challenge. If you are unclear about how to get started planning your project, take a look at these ideas for getting things off the ground properly.

You may need to repaint a porch. Use exterior paint that is good quality. But be sure to use a paint with the same base as the old paint, i.e. oil over oil-based, and water (latex) over water-based paint. Oil-based paint is good for trim, as it lasts longer, but it should not be used on a deck or floor outdoors, as it becomes very slippery with snow.

Sprucing up your kitchen cabinets is a great way to update your kitchen without a complete remodel. You can use some paint on the base and add new finishing knobs to really update the look. This will modernize your kitchen without you having to spend a small fortune.

Buy some clear plastic storage boxes to help you organize the clutter in your garage. Placing labels on each box will make it easy to find the category you seek when boxes are stacked. This will keep vermin out of your things, and will let you have a tidy garage without spending much money.

When doing any home improvement project, it is important to use the correct tools. This will help make sure the job is done right. You need to also know how to go about using the tool the correct way.

Making a replacement window screen is a home improvement job you can easily handle yourself if finding a properly-sized one off the shelf isn’t possible. A simple frame kit can be customized to fit any sized window, and all you have to do is attach a screen to it. Although some windows may use special screens, they can still use an external screen thanks to adapters.

A house that is well groomed and has a pleasant view may have more market value than other homes. Do not consider a nice view as an investment since a view can change over the years, or different buyers might not enjoy it as much as you. Potential buyers may not be as attracted to the view as you are, and might now want to shell out extra bucks because of it.

Do not leave out the landscaping when you are considering home improvements. Your front yard is the first glimpse visitors get of your home, making a well landscaped lawn sure to impress. With neat and tidy grass and landscaping, your home will be a showplace.

Natural building materials are strongly preferred for interior home renovation projects. The benefits of authentic ceramic, stone or wood are well worth the extra cost. They are much more attractive and durable to use. Although you may not want to spend the extra money to purchase natural materials, it can actually save you money over time because you’ll have to replace synthetic materials more often.…

Home Remodeling

All You Need To Know About Wet Room Screens

Once you buy wet room flooring equipment, you will need to complement the same with good wet wall screens if you are to have a dry bathroom. These screens are popular and you will be able to find them easily in the local bathroom store. If you need more variety, you can always buy them online as this will expose you to more than the store will have in stock. You will need to have some basic information on the screens and this article comes to give you just that.

They are easy to install

These screens are a type of shower enclosure and you will not have any trouble installing them. In as much as most people love to install them, the best option is to have a professional install them for you, as you will get the best of results that way. This is because the professional will install them in such a way that all leaks will be prevented, and this will enable you to enjoy a very dry bathroom floor.

As you buy the screens form the store, you can always ask the store owner if he or she knows any good contractor, and once you get the recommendation, your screen can be installed in a matter of hours.

They are easy to maintain

This is one of the best things about the screens. It is actually an understatement to say they are easy to clean. In the case of screens made by glass, cleaning takes less than ten minutes. Because they will get wet as you shower, all that is required of you is to wipe them once you are done with the shower. This does not even take ten minutes. It becomes very easy for you when you cultivate this habit, as the screens will not accumulate any dirt, which maintains them in a clean state.

They are available in many types

If you love variety, then you will be able to get these screens in many types. There are those that are made of glass, others of plastic and still those that are like curtains for you to choose. Each of the type has its own good and bad side and once you test them, you will make the best choice. The wide variety aspect is an advantage in that you will get to buy a screen that will fit in with your decor hence giving your bathroom a more complete look.…

Room Additions

What You Need To Know About Selecting The Right Moisture Absorbent

While water is very important to us, there are many situations where we simply do not want to see anymore of it. Even though our bodies are composed mostly of water, there is such a thing as too much of a good thing. Water can be significant problem for us if we are not careful and we should always make sure that we have the right number of moisture absorbent products around for different circumstances.
One of the best moisture absorbent materials anywhere is calcium chloride. It’s often found as an ingredient in the composite that they spray onto snow and ice with rock salt. You will also find it in medication bottles and other places as an ingredient, where unwanted moisture must be eliminated.
Calcium chloride can be good at getting rid of moisture from the air, cutting down on humidity and discouraging the formation of mold and mildew. Sometimes we need something with a little bit more ability to help us get rid of the physical presence of water. For example, we might find water leaking and seeping through the walls or floor of our basement. This we must stop at all counts.
If leaking floors and walls are not bad enough, from time to time bad weather can cause rain water or surface water to leak beneath doors. Sometimes there is not much we can do about extreme weather events other than to react and this is where we should have a moisture absorber product that is purpose made to come to our defense.
No amount of calcium chloride is going to be able to absorb the amount of water that could come into our homes during heavy weather events. This is when you need something stronger like polypropylene. If you include this super absorbent within a flexible and durable material, you have what is known in the south of the country as a hurricane sock.
You can defend yourself against extreme events with a hurricane sock and also guard against a one-off or accidental occurrence. What if your water heater springs a leak suddenly and you have to wait for a plumber to get there? In this case you need to absorb the moisture in a hurry and a typical hurricane sock made of polypropylene can take up to a gallon of water at any one time.
You might have a leak from a pipe or a water heater and don’t want to spend time mopping up with a bucket while you could be summoning somebody to help you. This is when the hurricane sock could be left in place as you head for the phone and call that emergency number.
Remember that different products are suitable for different situations. In certain instances you might turn to calcium chloride to deal with moisture, but for major leaks and accidents and weather events, polypropylene is the product of choice for your moisture absorber.…

Home Repair

Laminated Wood Flooring 101 – Facts You Need to Understand About Them

There are a lot of floor coverings that you can choose from. You can opt for stones, vinyl and even wood. On the other hand, if you want to breathe new life into your floors, then you can do so by installing laminated wood flooring. However, this type of floor covering is entirely different from the ones that you are used to. Laminated wood floorings are more durable than the usual wood materials since it underwent the process of lamination. If you want to know more about them, then read on. Here are the things that you need to understand about laminated wood floorings.
The Materials That They Are Made From
Unlike the conventional wooden materials, the laminates are made from fiber board materials and melamine resins that are bonded together and undergo the process of lamination. Since the materials are made from scrap wood, they cost less than if you would buy slabs of hardwood. This particular floor covering also answers environmental concerns since they are made from recycled materials.
They Are Sensitive To Moisture
This type of floor covering is very sensitive to moisture and water. What happens if there is a presence of too much moisture is that the floors buckle or bends since the fibers absorb the moisture leaving a trail of an unsmooth surface on the floors. On the other hand, since it retains moisture, it is often attacked by molds and mildew. To remedy this problem, you need to make sure that you install this laminate tile flooring in places that are not subjected to high moisture such as the kitchen or the bathroom.
They Are Sensitive To High Heat
Although this rarely happens, low temperature on the floors would often result to shrinking of the floors therefore you can see gaps in between the boards.…

Room Additions

The Four Greatest Myths About Eco-Friendly Timber and Bamboo Flooring!

Myth 1
“All timber is environmentally friendly”
Not true! Tradition hardwood flooring taken from oak, bluegum, brushbox and other varieties, takes between 40 to 80 years to reach harvest maturity yet most will happily live-on for hundreds of years. Because these trees take so long to grow, animals, insects and plant life all have plenty of time to use the trees for homes and shelter and become well established. This means that harvesting of these trees is very destructive to the established life in, on and around the trees.
This destruction is also a lot worse than it could be due to traditional timber being from such large and heavy trees. This means that powerful, heavy and polluting machinery and equipment are needed to harvest the trees, compounding the damage and destruction.
Myth 2
“Bamboo is not as eco-friendly as traditional hardwood timber”
Again not true! Bamboo timber (technically from the grass family), is often described as an inferior flooring product by those who don’t understand it yet it has all the properties of hardwood and takes just five years to reach harvest maturity. It is also more than double the hardness of most hardwood timbers. Due to its light weight and prolific growth it is easily harvested with far less damage done to the ecosystem and environment.
It also doesn’t require re-planting as bamboo shoots will happily sprout again, fully replacing the harvest. This means that bamboo produces about 25 times more wood per acre per year than hardwood forests and it absorbs up to four times the amount of carbon as hardwood timber (Cooperative Research Centre for Greenhouse Accounting).
Myth 3
“If timber or bamboo is certified as eco-friendly then it must be”
Not true! Because of the lack of enforced and other standards in many large timber and bamboo producing nations, this means that quality systems are not in place to ensure that only the best or most “eco-friendly” products are shipped. Much of the time it’s nearly impossible to assess just how eco-friendly timber and bamboo flooring is without the company selling the product clearly spelling-out the international standards their products comply with.
Myth 4
Environmentally friendly finishes are much better than traditional finishes
Not true! Many of the “environmentally friendly” finishes used on timber products such as stains and oils are great for their small environmental benefits but often are not practical when used on timber and bamboo floors. This is particularly true when they are used in high-traffic areas where they won’t tend to last more than two years. This means that they will need to be reapplied multiple times which just isn’t practical in most homes when you have to shift all your furniture out of each room that’s being treated. They are also quite a bit more expensive, costing between 30 and 40% more on average over standard finishes, so it’s another catch that you need to be aware of.…

Remodeling

Historic Facts About Tiles

Tiles can be defined as the decor elements that have really faced up all the challenges of time. Their history is indeed impressive, and the ultimate evidence in this sense is any piece of art decorated by tiles. Unlike other pieces of decor, the tiles are considered an international value. As a matter of fact each culture has explored the aesthetic benefits of tiles in so many ways. The evolution of these items can be taken for the reflection of the cultural transformation throughout the entire world, to a certain extent.
The earthenware pottery has witnessed the medieval events. Later on, the tiles have undergone the major transformation of the industrial era. Irrespective of the historical stage, the earthenware pottery is uniquely adjusting. For the time being, the never-ending spectrum of designs, colors and surfaces seems to successfully serve the requirements of the modern technology-oriented era. Considering this undeniable adjustability, we may say that tiles have been standing for a fundamental stage in the decor art ever since the medieval stage.
However, we need to highlight the fact that each historical stage had its favorite. One or few types of tiles have been the shining stars over a certain stage in time. For instance, the applestone limestone is particularly adored by the latest trends in interior decorating.
This exquisite kind of tile is widely appreciated for the natural-looking appearance. Since simple and non-lavish domestic settings are now very popular, the applestone limestone is gaining more and more ground.
Even though the past centuries were dominated by opulence and the tiles of that era are a replica of that particular taste in fashion, now, things are on a different track, in terms of home decor. Along with the decor-oriented advantages both indoors and outdoors, the tiles have kept their value unaltered over the centuries due to various benefits that usually come along with their installation. The primary role of the tile is beyond any shadow of a doubt, the coverage. Thereof, insulation and protection are some of the best reasons people still prefer the tiles to other options launched by the modern technologies.…

Home Renovation

It’s Easy To Learn About Home Improvements

So, now is the time. You’re ready to get into home improvement, right? There’s no better time than now to do this. You might have a variety of questions, but you do not need to worry because this article is going to be your guide. The following article will illustrate techniques to aid in your home improvement project.

Keep your AC unit running great by cleaning your filter. If the filter is clogged, it will make it hard for the unit to cool your home. This could lead to longer than necessary running time and costs. Change your filter on a regular basis; monthly is ideal.

You can take a big bite out of the cost of a kitchen remodeling project by opting to give your existing cabinets a new finish, instead of buying all-new cabinetry. You can use some paint on the base and add new finishing knobs to really update the look. It will bring your kitchen into a much more modern look without the high ticket price.

Instead of laminate floors, consider real wood. Laminate might look passable as real wood, but it can’t be refinished. In about 10 or 20 years time, the floor will need replacing rather than just getting it refinished.

Consider your home and your neighborhood’s character when deciding on updates and improvements. A house that has a style completely different from those surrounding it may be problematic. Your remodeling plans should compliment your house and the neighborhood and not clash.

To remedy squeaks in your floor, utilize construction adhesive. And it takes quite a bit of sweaty work in the crawl space or the basement; however, the end result justifies the means. Use a caulk gun and apply glue on both sides of each floor joist.

Painting is a simple project you can do. A fresh coat of paint can make a house feel brand new and requires minimal output in both cash and time. A fresh coat of paint will also make your home more appealing to buyers if you have any interest in selling your home.

Keep your garage organized by getting yourself some boxes that are plastic to arrange the items by type, size, and how often they’re used. Then, label each box, and stack them at the front of your garage. This is an inexpensive way to make the garage look better, find things when you need them and keep your important items safe from any creatures that find their way into your garage.

Things like the downspouts, gutters and chimneys are often forgotten around the home. Inspecting these areas of your house is important to ascertain they are in proper working order and also to make any needed repairs. If not regularly cleaned, your chimney could catch fire, and clogged gutters could lead to severe water damage.

You should now feel better prepared for tackling those home improvement projects. You may have felt ready, but now you are. It is our sincere hope that these tips have …