Blog (Page 30)
5 Trees That Provide Shade and Cut Home Energy Bills
Believe it or not, simply planting shade-giving trees around your house could deliver energy savings of as much as 25-30% by the time they’ve grown to full height (provided they’re big enough to shade your home). While you certainly can (and should) find other ways to conserve if you’ve adopted an eco-friendly attitude, there are few options greener than planting trees, which also contribute life-giving oxygen to the environment and pull toxins from the... ❯❯❯
Does an AC System Increase Your Home’s Value?
If you happen to live in an area that features frequent high temperatures or sweltering summers, then many homes are likely equipped with central AC already. However, you may have an older home with an outdated system or no AC at all. And while you certainly see the personal value in the prospect of adding cool air to your home, you might wonder if you’ll see any kind of return on investment when it comes time to sell. After all, outfitting your home with... ❯❯❯
Top 5 Seasonal Home Energy Saving Tips
When it comes to doing your part for the environment, you may be looking for ways to make a difference in your everyday life, which is to say, the way you run your household. Sure you can use mass transit, buy a low- or no-emission car, or ride your bike to work. But it may not be enough to offset the damage you do when you’re lounging at home, enjoying your many electronic devices and lights and luxuriating in the perfect interior temperature afforded by... ❯❯❯
The Most Common Causes of Water Leaks in Homes
The worst nightmare for many homeowners is hearing water dripping behind the walls, seeing bubbling, blistering, or water stains on drywall, or even finding mold growth that signals the presence of excess moisture. All are bad news that can mean costly repairs thanks to a leak. Of course, even worse would be unseen and unheard moisture that leads to some kind of collapse, but chances are good that you’ll see evidence of a leak appear long before it gets... ❯❯❯
5 Home Renovation Scams to Avoid
Is your contractor asking for his fees in cash? Is he asking for a wire transfer right away? Is he avoiding signing a contract? These are some preliminary signs to look for if you are concerned about being taken advantage of when trying to renovate your home. In fact, home renovation scams happen all the time. When it comes to home renovation, there seems to be scammers just around every corner. However, if you know exactly what to look out for, you... ❯❯❯
5 Benefits of Reflective Roof Coating
No one likes a leaky roof. This is why reflective roof coatings, which are usually made from a combination of industrial white paint and aluminum compounds, are so important and beneficial. The sun’s constant rays can wreak havoc on our roof and eventually the structure of our roof can become weak and you will start to notice more and more leaks and other problems, like decreased energy efficiency. Painting your roof with a reflective coating is a... ❯❯❯
Three Ways to Safeguard Against Garden Flooding
Last year in 2012, the UK experienced some of its wettest weather in a century, with over 8000 homes affected and £400 million worth of damage accumulated. If you live in an area which is prone to flooding, is there anything you can do to limit the damage potential of the flood water on your land? In the UK, floods don’t usually tend to be powerful enough to knock down houses, but they can ruin gardens and cause thousands in damages. With this being the... ❯❯❯
5 Tips for Preventing Cracks in Your Walls
No matter what type of walls you enjoy on your property, both inside and out, a number of problems can cause you to experience unsightly and potentially dangerous cracks. They could come from settling as your structure ages, the ravages of the elements, encroaching plant life, and of course, pests. And cracks can appear in all types of surfaces, including sheetrock and drywall, wooden beams or panels, or even brick and concrete. But most homeowners never... ❯❯❯
The Pros and Cons of Buying Waterfront Property
Waterfront property: the creme de la creme of the real estate market and a dream for homebuyers. If you are a real estate agent with a waterfront property – either on a lake, ocean or some other body of water – you can be sure that you have an easy sell on your hands. Just open the blinds for the grand reveal of the amazing waterfront view and you’ll have curious homebuyers chomping at the bit to make an offer. But is waterfront property all that it lives... ❯❯❯
5 Tips for Restoring Your Home After a Fire
Although the modern world is packed with conveniences, there’s also an awful lot to worry about. The economy is stagnant, and most Americans continue to fear for their job security. The regular costs of living are on the rise, so even the gainfully employed must budget carefully in order to raise a family. There’s the shaky situation in global politics, the fallout from climate change, the spread of disease and the increase in extreme weather. It’s a lot... ❯❯❯
Top 10 Tips to Maintain Your Tile Roof
There are several advantages tile roofing has over other types of roofing material. It comes in many different styles with Old World charm, and with proper tile roof maintenance, according to the National Parks Service, it will last for over a century. Tiles can withstand harsh weather and are fire and pest resistant. They are made from natural clay and are environmentally friendly by reducing the ambient temperature on the roof deck. The top six tips for... ❯❯❯
5 Garage Door Storm-Proofing Tips
Often when we think about storm proofing, we think about preserving and protecting our indoor living spaces first. Too often the garage is forgotten, however the garage is extremely susceptible to the impacts of a storm and the damage can potentially be severe if you are not well prepared. Here are 5 garage door storm-proofing tips to help reduce damage to your home during a storm. It is quite common that storms with high winds can actually pull a... ❯❯❯
5 Tips for Finding a Quality Residential Painting Contractor
Painting is an excellent way to transform your home by adding a fresh, new style to any space. While a new coat of paint can make a huge difference, sometimes painting your house can become a hassle that you don’t want to get involved with. Instead of painting your home yourself, you may want to hire a residential painter to relieve you of the responsibility and provide you with the piece of mind you need to know the project will be done properly. Here... ❯❯❯
The Best Type of Flooring to Install over a Radiant Heating System
For those that live in temperate climes, the implementation of a radiant heating system in the home may be a relative rarity. In fact, most people probably never even consider it as an option. But anyone who lives a fair distance from the equator and has to deal with harsh winter weather is no doubt familiar with the concept of radiant heat in the floors, and if they don’t have it already, they’re probably keen to install it. Many high-end homes in... ❯❯❯
Building a Solar Powered Home: 5 Things to Consider
If you’ve been thinking about building the home, in the midst of selecting a layout plan, the amount of rooms that you want and the kind of roofing and flooring that you’d like, have you stopped to think about how great it would be if it was solar-powered? Aside from the fact that solar power gets its energy from the sun (which means that it provides free and renewable energy to its users), it also significantly reduces the amount of greenhouse gases that... ❯❯❯
Should You Repair or Replace Historic Windows in Your Home?
For a home, or any part of a home, to become “historical,” it must be deemed so by the city council that represents a particular community. Perhaps simply the age of a home – usually before 1900 – will make it historical. Also, if any historic event took place at your home, it can be deemed historical. With every historical home, there are many historical “period” pieces, like lampshades, fixtures and windows. When it comes to renovating historical homes,... ❯❯❯
How Much Insulation Does Your New Home Need?
When it comes to insulating or reinsulating your home, you need have as much insulation that is required based on the region you live – amongst other factors. Usually, the type of insulation is determined by your geographic location. Also, many people believe that just because you live in a warm or tropical region you don’t need as much insulation, but this is a fallacy that will get you in a lot trouble. All regions – hot and cold – need insulation.... ❯❯❯
5 Major Benefits of Seasonal Home Maintenance
When you purchase a home you are probably aware of the fact that you’re going to have to engage in all kinds of seasonal maintenance in order to keep your property in ship shape. But you might not really know why it’s so important. The next time you find yourself grumbling, though, you may want to take a moment to consider all of the benefits that this seasonal work can provide. Here are just a few good reasons to grab your wrench or rake and get going on... ❯❯❯
HVAC Terminology Every Homeowner Should Be Familiar With
Aside from the roof and the utility lines that run into your home, the most important piece of a house is the HVAC system. You can easily paint the walls, redecorate, switch out the fixtures or install new carpeting, and though all of them are fantastic options they won’t make a huge difference practically speaking. The HVAC, or heating, ventilation and air conditioning system is basically the arteries of livability in your house. It’s what keeps you cool... ❯❯❯
5 Benefits of Having a Brick-Exterior Home
If you’re planning on building your next home from scratch, chances are you’re getting recommendations from almost everywhere. Even the proudest of homeowners has a couple of gripes about his property, which he’ll be happy to share once he discovers your plans. And you probably wouldn’t be going down this path if you didn’t have particular tastes concerning your living situation. But regardless of the choices you make, you would do well to follow the... ❯❯❯
