Tag Archives: Home

How To Decorate A ‘new ‘ Home

November 19, 2024   Matt

How To Decorate A ‘new ‘ Home

Buying a new home is a climax in most people’s homes. There are few experiences as enthralling as moving into a brand new home. The excitement can be marred when it comes time to decorate the home.

Few first-time home buyers are able to turn the sterile, off white shell of a house into a comfortable home that is both an expression of your personality and a ‘safe place’ to retire every evening.

“Don’t Panic. I am Here to Help.”

You do not need to pay thousands of dollars to turn a house into a comfortable home. The first thing you need to do is ‘not’ grab a half dozen home decorating magazines and hit the home decorating stores.

The first thing you need to do is to look through your closet, walk around your living area, and make a list of the colors that are comfortable. At this point, don’t worry about image, design, trends, or style. Start by finding out what makes you feel comfortable.

Then head to the paint store and collect color samples based on what you like. Once you have samples, it is time to discuss decorating schemes. Before selecting a decorating scheme, it is important to determine what your lifestyle is:

1. Will you have children?
2. How many hours a week can you realistically spend cleaning?
3. How many hours a year do you currently entertain?
4. How much can you realistically spend monthly on dry cleaning expensive fabrics?
5. How many hours a week do you spend in the kitchen, living room, and bedrooms?
6. Will you own pets?
7. How often will you replace window treatments, bedding, flooring, and furniture?

The answers to these questions will determine what decorating style you choose. If you cannot afford to replace items like sheets and window treatments every three to five years, then you do not want to invest a lot of money on the current home decorating trend. You’ll want to focus on a tried-but-true classic.

A family that is only in the kitchen for thirty minutes in the morning, and while cooking or washing dishes, do not need to invest 000 in decorating the kitchen. Along the same line, a family who spends most of their time in the living room need to spend most of their money buying ‘long wear’ and sturdy furniture, flooring, and window treatments for that room.

One mistake that most first-time new home decorators make is attacking one room at a time. Many homeowners work on one room at a time, running out of money before the house is finished. This is why you walk into many new homes with a beautiful living room and kitchen area, but the bedrooms are sparse and may remain undecorated for a few years while the homeowner saves enough money to finish decorating.

Another consideration is children. A child’s room needs to grow with them. The child’s room may need to be redecorated five times between birth and 18 years old. A little foresight on furniture selection and floor treatments can save thousands of dollars over the next twenty years.

New home decorating does not need to be a frightening project. It just takes a little common sense. Budget well. Create something you can live with, as apposed to creating something based on a theme. And, make sure that your new home fits your ‘real’ lifestyle, not your fantasy lifestyle.

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Building a New Home? Don’t Take Plumbing for Granted

November 06, 2024   Matt

Building a New Home? Don’t Take Plumbing for Granted

Today there are alternatives to metallic systems
(ARA) – Building a new home means having choices and making decisions. So if you’re planning to build a new home, be prepared to spend an endless number of hours looking at options and making final selections.
When it comes to cabinets, faucets, light fixtures and floor coverings, everyone expects a lot of choices — different styles, colors, finishes, price ranges, etc. Even windows come in different shapes, sizes and energy efficiencies.
Yet, when it comes to something as important as the home’s plumbing, most people don’t ask any questions. They assume they don’t have a choice. For many generations, metal (in the form of galvanized steel or copper) was the only material available. Look in the basement of any home built before the Kennedy era and it’s unlikely you’ll see anything but metallic pipes.
Today is a different story as a host of alternative materials — many of which are plastic — now garner significant market shares.
Why has plastic gained such popularity? Metal has demonstrated a number of pitfalls through the years that have been documented by numerous studies and lawsuits. Pinhole leaks and premature system failures, caused by metal’s natural tendency to pit, corrode and scale, have opened the door for more reliable, virtually maintenance-free systems.
Of these, CPVC (post-chlorinated polyvinyl chloride) plumbing systems, which have 40 years of proven experience, are the most popular. CPVC pipe and fittings, such as those used in FlowGuard Gold CPVC plumbing systems, offer a number of benefits over metallic systems. Primarily, they never pit, scale or corrode, which eliminates the risk of premature failures and costly re-piping, in addition to possible property damage.
FlowGuard Gold CPVC systems are also highly energy efficient with natural insulating properties that keep hot water hotter and cold water colder than metallic systems. In addition, condensation, which is a common problem with metallic pipes that can cause drip damage to walls and foundation, is virtually eliminated.
As water quality becomes a significant concern in this country, CPVC piping has gained high marks for its ability to maintain water quality. There is no leaching or metal contamination into the water supply, so there are no related health concerns. And without pitting or corrosion, CPVC systems are able to maintain full water carrying capacity throughout their entire life. If you’ve ever looked inside a piece of old copper pipe, you’ve probably seen a thick layer of hard minerals. These minerals can dramatically reduce the diameter of the pipe, which reduces water flow and water pressure, and can inhibit the efficiency of many water-using appliances. Eventually, homeowners with corroded pipes must completely re-pipe their home at an average cost of ,000.
Through the years, many homeowners have come to accept water hammer (or banging pipes) in their homes, which is typical of metallic systems. CPVC systems, on the other hand, resist water hammer. They also minimize water flow noise, which has been proven by independent testing laboratories to be four times louder in copper pipes.
Although CPVC systems are most often used in new construction, they are also compatible with other plumbing systems used in remodeling projects, the addition of a guest bathroom, or the replacement of a failed copper system.
For more information on the benefits of CPVC plumbing systems, visit www.flowguardgold.com or call (888)234-2436 (Ext. 7393) to locate a FlowGuard Gold professional near you.

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Home Garage Flooring

November 04, 2024   Matt

Home Garage Flooring

Summary:

Home garage floorings are a picky lot, especially if garages are becoming the main entries of your abode. Meaning they need to be aesthetic, yet damage, wear, abrasion, and stain resistant as most heavy duty activities also occur on this area. Home garage floorings do need to be visually pleasant yet highly durable.

Probably the first issue of home garage flooring is its huge liability of grease, motor oil, and petroleum messes. And these materials could make up an amount of stain. That’s why rubber floorings aren’t so much of a wonder when used as home garage flooring. They are a chore to clean, even with claims of brush and heavy detergent. But normal house floorings just wouldn’t do. Aside from cleaning difficulties, house flooring aren’t capable of resisting damage and chips due to heavy equipment and its constant exposure to this area can really wear down a fine floor.

One highly recommended option is the Sani-Tred Home Garage Flooring. It is a floor coating that offers a durable and glossy surface over any home garage flooring that forms a lasting bond with the original floor surface. It is highly waterproof as one should expect with any chemical applications but it is never toxic. Sani-Tred Home Garage Flooring is also slip resistant, having a cushiony rubbery texture but also very hardy, making it a secure workspace. Here’s the product id.

Sani-Tred Home Garage Flooring
www.sanitred.com.
Call toll free: 866-784-3308

Recommended home garage flooring is from Muscle Gloss, the leader of performance epoxy gloss. The Muscle Seal Home Garage Flooring is applied through spraying. It dries 20 minutes after then it gives durable showroom quality finish. This 100% solid epoxy technology gives an outstanding gloss you’ll hardly believe. And it is industrial quality, this resin is so tough and durable it remains the same for a couple of years. It comes in colors of red, blue, dark gray, light gray, and indigo though Muscle Gloss can provide custom colors for any clients. Here’s the product id.

Muscle Seal Home Garage Flooring
www.musclegloss.com
Call: 866-456-7766

While most floor matting are so inept at resisting stains, JNK Products Coin Grade Garage Flooring does fairly well in resisting stains. It can be easily washed with soap and water, for those garages to constantly need substantial amounts of cleaning. It is PVC material, making it is an excellent insulator; perfect for those garage-workspace-prisons that deals with large amounts of electricity. JNK Products Coin Grade Garage Flooring is a heavy-duty flooring material designed to protect floors, avoid slips by having a rubber texture that can also cushion hard falls.

JNK Products Coin Grade Garage Flooring
www.jnkproducts.com
Call toll free: 877-873-37836.

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Steps To Follow To Get Your Home Sold

October 29, 2024   Matt

Steps To Follow To Get Your Home Sold

The whole real estate market is a complex one, including the home selling process. Even if you have been through the experience before, things are always changing. That is why it is helpful for you to be given important home selling tips, which is what the following article is going to offer.

When you’re selling your home, and you are working on your curb appeal, try renting or buying a power washer. They can make your driveway or porch look almost brand new. Also, if you have a wood porch or deck think about staining it so that it looks nice, clean and new.

If you have found someone who really wants to own your real estate, but the buyer is having a very hard time getting financial support, see if you can assist him or her. One such way could be a lease-to-own option. Important options such as paying for closing fees can be the difference between your house selling or not.

Make sure that you do something to distinguish your house from all of the houses on the block. You want to have something unique that will attract more people so the chances of you selling would be higher. A new roof, high quality windows, and great landscaping are all great ideas.

Work on the curb appeal of your home when deciding to sell. The landscaping and appeal of the look of your home from the outside, is one of the first things a prospective buyer will see. Spend some time to add some visual appeal to your landscaping, such as flowers and decorative accessories. Consider a fresh coat of paint for the outside of your house.

Make sure your “for sale” sign has all the important information. Have the listing agent’s phone number and name on the sign so potential buyers know who to call. Also, make sure the phone number on the sign will connect them with a live person who can can give them details about your home.

You’re putting your house on the market. Great!! First piece of advice is to listen to your Realtor, who knows all about the local Real Estate market. If you don’t have one, or want to do it yourself, then the first thing you need to do is to clean up!! Get rid of junk and clutter. Rent a storage unit if you need to. You have to pretend that it’s not yours anymore. Good luck!

Clean out your basement and garage to make it appear more roomy. You should do the same with your closets. At the very least, make sure that your storage space is organized. Cluttered areas are unappealing and appear smaller than they really are, plus, if your house does sell you will have to move it all anyways.

All aspects of the real estate market, including home selling, encompass a complex process. However, gaining knowledge about home selling can help your process go quicker and smoother. Take the information given to you in this article, and use it help you efficiently sell your home.

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Things You Can Do Around The Home To Maintain Your Plumbing (2)

October 17, 2024   Matt

Things You Can Do Around The Home To Maintain Your Plumbing

If you’re a homeowner and have had to call a plumber to fix a problem, you know how expensive and annoying it can be. Wouldn’t it be great if you could fix your plumbing yourself? Well, it might be easier than you think! Read on to find out how.

If you are the kind of person who travels a great deal, then remember that different countries may have very different kinds of plumbing systems available. If you are not sure of how things work in the region where you experience problems, then you should either do research or avoid fixing the problem yourself.

Always keep a trash bin in the bathroom so that you can dispose of cotton swabs, facial pads, and hair. Do not put these materials in the toilet as they can cause clogs over time and disrupt your water flow. These items will not dissolve or break down when submerged in water.

If your pipes are making banging noises, you may need to add additional anchor straps to prevent the pipes from making contact with the walls when water is traveling through them. Typically, pipes are anchored at regular intervals. If banging noises are occurring, you may need to add additional straps or cushion the pipes with a rubber blanket.

To avoid wasting water and having a potentially high water bill, check your home for leaky faucets periodically. Fix any leaks that you find right away. You may be able to do the repair yourself, but if not, you may have to seek the services of a plumber to make the repairs.

The truth to DIY plumbing is that you’re taking your life on the line when you start a project. You may drive yourself nuts, cost yourself an arm and a leg, and end up having to call in a professional to fix the mess you made – at double the price. Consider a professional first unless you really know what you’re doing.

If you hear loud, vibrating noises coming from your pipes, you may want to consider adding air chambers to the end of the pipes and tightening them. Usually, these noises are caused from opening and closing faucets too quickly and tightening the pipes and adding air chambers can fix this problem.

Check for standing water in your yard which can be a direct result of leaking pipes. Standing water can cause an increased level of damage to your lawn and will attract bacteria and insects. Reduce your level of standing water to put your family and home in the most secure position.

Is your shower pressure weak due to clogging of the openings in your shower head? Here is a simple and cost-effective tip to take care of that problem. Pour a cup of vinegar into a plastic bag, place it over the shower head, and twist tie it into place so it can soak overnight. In the morning, remove the plastic bag and use an old toothbrush to scrub off the mineral deposits which are clogging the openings. This will help to restore water flow and increase shower pressure.

As you can see, solving your plumbing problems yourself can be a satisfying way to save money and take care of your house independently. Next time you have a plumbing problem, you’ll be ready to tackle the issue yourself with the tips you’ve taken from this article.

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Got Home Improvement Plans? Read This Advice! (2)

October 15, 2024   Matt

Got Home Improvement Plans? Read This Advice!

Home improvement can be looked at as a weekend hobby or an endless obsession. It can also be a valuable investment in your house. Sometimes, it can be a home disaster as well. This article can help you to make good decisions when it comes to planning new projects and to ensure that you don’t make critical errors.

If you need more room due to a growing family, don’t sell your home. Instead, remodel it. Add on rooms or remodel the ones that you already have to make them bigger. This has some great benefits, it will save you a significant amount of money and the hassle of having to move.

Think you need to re-tile your bathroom? Try cleaning the tile and re-grouting first. Using this method can save you time and money over a complete re-tile project. It’s also easier to achieve by yourself. A toothbrush is a wonderful tool to use when cleaning grout. A quality steam mop can make a huge difference as well.

Clean kitchen counters can help to sell a house. Remove everything except your coffee pot, a nice set of knives, and perhaps a bowl of fruit. The cleaner your counter tops are, the more organized your kitchen will appear. Your kitchen will also feel larger and more user friendly.

One of the quickest, easiest and cheapest ways to improve your home is paint. Whether it is the outside or the inside, both areas will look new and transformed. Pick neutral shades and brighter trim colors. Plain white walls tend to make your home look like a rental and not owner occupied.

To see a return on your home improvement project, consider converting existing space into a new living environment for your family. Making an attic into a bedroom or finishing off your basement will earn you extra money when reselling your home because you are utilizing something that is already available to create a desirable feature.

One thing that a lot of homes seem to be missing is plants. Adding some plants to your living environment can spruce up your home infusing it with some life. Plants are not only a great design element, but make your home decorations seem complete and add a touch of nature to your rooms.

A great home improvement tip is to ask your partners in a home renovation project where their expertise lie and let them do that particular thing in the project. This is more efficient than simply delegating the duties to the partners because all the partners will be doing something they are good at doing.

A great home improvement tip is to always communicate to your partners what your plans are in the very beginning. You should make sure that all partners know what is expected of them beforehand so that there is no confusion and misunderstanding of their roles in this project. This will save you time, stress, and money.

As revealed in the article, home improvement can be a good thing, but it can also have a downside. Some home improvements do not pay off and may even make your house harder to sell. By applying these simple rules of home improvement do’s and do-not’s, you can keep from making a disaster that you will be forced to live with.

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