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Easy Outdoor DIY Projects to Tackle this Fall

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Fall is near. The summer heat has let up, and our thoughts are turning to cozying up inside for the long winter months. Wait! Not so fast. Fall is the perfect time for DIY projects. So before you curl up on the couch to hibernate all winter long, here are some easy DIY Projects to tackle this fall. Create a Patio for Entertaining Fall is time for football. That gives you the perfect opportunity to invite your friends over for one last cookout. Host a “tailgate” party on your grilling patio. Serve tailgate favorites like sausage, hot dogs, and burgers as you cheer on your team. Wait. What? You don’t have a patio. The great news, is all the masonry blocks you need to create a patio are all on sale right now! You need only leveling sand, blocks to cover the size you desire, a shovel and wheelbarrow, and a broom. Use the shovel to clear the area of grass, debris, and rocks and level out the space. Drop in your masonry blocks, leaving a small, even gap in between each one. Pour the sand over the blocks and sweep it in between to keep them from shifting. Depending […]

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4 Home Emergency Repairs To Be Prepared For

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There’s a time for a nonchalant, do-it-yourself approach to home improvements, and there’s also a time for reaching out and pressing the “HELP” button without delay. Every homeowner needs to know how to recognize a “home emergency repair” and should prepare ahead of time to quickly call in the professionals when it matters most. Here are 4 key emergency home services to keep on your emergency contacts list: Mold Removal & Remediation After a flood or fire, or anytime parts of your home are continually too warm and damp, aggressive molds may take root and flourish. Considering that black mold and other mold spores can exacerbate respiratory conditions, cause allergic reactions, and even lead to a lung infection, 24/7 response mold removal and remediation services like Restoration Elite should be contacted without delay. You may be able to kill off some molds with bleach-water, but many will stubbornly return after being removed. Professional remediation services will not only thoroughly de-mold your home but also address underlying problems to prevent a resurgence. Ice Dam Removal If you live in a northern climate where snowfall is heavy and temperatures consistently low all winter long, ice dams are a real threat to your […]

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What to know in the event of property damage

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Everybody hopes that their home will be safe from serious damage. Like death, it’s a subject that we prefer not to think about, and this means that we can find ourselves hopelessly unprepared if it happens. However, knowing what to do in the event of damage happening can stop it from getting worse, and it could save you a lot of money. It’s also much less stressful dealing with a situation like this when you know that you can take immediate, useful action. What do you need to know to get it right? Water Water causes more damage to more properties than any other single factor. This is because it’s very hard to defend against, and it can also be very hard to spot. Dramatic floods such as those caused by recent hurricanes are an obvious danger, as are serious floods from adjacent properties, but slowly developing problems caused by rising groundwater or leaking pipes can actually cause worse damage because they can cause mold and rot to develop over months or even years before it’s detected. This is why it’s important to pay immediate attention to things such as discolored patches on your walls or floors that are becoming […]

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Looking After a Laminate Floor

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When you lay your laminate floor, you’ll be thinking about how to keep it looking as good as it does on that first day. Thankfully, there’s a host of things you can do to achieve this end, including using a laminate underlay from Discount Flooring Depot. Laminate is pretty low-maintenance, but there are also some things you should avoid in order to keep your floor looking clean and new. Your products You’ll receive all the manufacturer’s recommendations for cleaning products, as well as advice on the equipment you should use. You need doormats outside and just inside the door to clean shoes before the dirt and water gets tracked into the house. When you do see dirt, you need a damp cloth or a mop, as well as a soft brush to remove dry dirt first. Using furniture pads under the legs of tables and chairs is also a good way to prolong the life of the floor. Cleaning the floor Laminate floors aren’t waterproof, so you should clean up spills as soon as you notice them and you should also avoid using excessively wet cloths for cleaning. If you leave any water behind after cleaning, use a clean towel […]

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The Steps to Take to Get Your House Winter Ready

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It’s the most famous line in the Game of Thrones series – “winter is coming” – spoken in an ominous tone over and over. Here in real life we can actually start using the exact same line because truth be told, winter is indeed well on its way. With that said, now is the perfect time to do a check of your home and look for ways you can make it ready for winter. By doing this, you’ll be ensuring the house stays comfortable even on the coldest and wettest days. Plus, you’ll be protecting it from incurring possible damage that you’ll need to fix next spring. Here’s a look at some of the steps you can take right now. Are Your Windows in Good Shape? Just like everything else in the house, windows have a lifespan. Now with that said it’s really hard to throw a number out there that says how often you should replace them. Instead, it’s best to do a visual inspection of them on a regular basis. Some signs that your windows may need replacing are cracks in the glass, a noticeable draft, the seal between the window and the frame breaking down, and the […]

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How Roofing Contractors save your Time and Money?

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Every business has their own best practices, tips, and tricks when it comes to responsibly saving money on the job. It can be easy to brush these aside when you’re in a rush, but when you factor in making small, but meaningful changes to the way you manage your materials, labor, and technology, you can eventually see those changes reflected in savings for your business by the end of the year. You can easily see the working style and strategies followed by Roofing Contractors Michigan for your guidance. Buying Materials in Bulk If you have space, and the overhead, buying pallets of items that you use on every job site, such as nails, flashing, etc. can improve your purchase rate. Rather than purchasing these materials job-by-job, having a stockpile of items you use all the time makes a lot of sense for your crews and your wallet. Refine your Waste Factors and Material Calculations When you are trying to get an estimate or order put together quickly, it can be tempting to use the blanket numbers we all know, like 10% waste for a gable roof, or 15% for a hip one. Instead, many roofers have discovered that looking at […]

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How to downsize when moving house

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Do you dream of owning a smaller home but are unsure where to start? Perhaps the idea of throwing away years of possessions, your kids’ old baby toys and even pictures and postcards fills you with dread? As more and more homeowners are looking to relocate to smaller sized properties, do you feel like your outdated tastes are making you lag behind? What if you could make those dreams a reality, and even sooner than you think? Sure, it can be tough visiting and viewing smaller properties, but owning fewer possessions and having a good clear out should be seen as a positive, rather than a step back. In fact, as furniture designers and architects begin to create designs to meet with this small property trend, chances are you will be amazed by the range of stylish petite options open to you. Don’t be overwhelmed if you are trying to downsize, and read on to find out which factors you should keep in mind before making any concrete decisions. Why are you downsizing? Have your kids all flown the nest and you don’t need the space? Perhaps you are thinking of retiring and want to explore smaller, simpler options that […]

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The Benefits Of Using A Professional Painting Service

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Painting your home is an excellent way to spruce it up and bring it back to life, and you may want to consider doing both inside and out at the same time. A lick of paint can transform your home in a short space of time, and make it look warm and inviting once more. You will have to decide whether it is something that you are going to do yourself, or you will hire a professional to do the job for you. There are benefits to both options, and some of these are as follows; The Benefits To Painting Your Home Yourself No matter whether you paint the outside or inside of your home, doing it yourself gives you a sense of satisfaction and fulfilment once the task is complete. You will also be able to do things how you want to and create a colour scheme that is truly personal to you and your family. You also have the benefit of being able to change your mind half way through and not costing a fortune in the process to get things just as you want them. One of the most significant benefits to doing the job yourself though, […]

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How To Guide For Couples Modernizing Their Bathroom

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It does not take a major renovation to modernize your bathroom. Sometimes simple changes make a dramatic difference in the appearance of a room. This is especially true for the bathroom. Below you will find a few suggestions that will allow you the look you both love, without major renovation. Especially if you are planning your wedding, you could use the opportunity to plan your wedding registry accordingly, using a service like this one here to stock up on some great pieces from Bed Bath and Beyond. Let’s discover some ways a few changes can bring life back into your bathroom and bring it to the style of today. Modern Bathroom Faucets We begin with the bathroom faucets because they are a major focal point in the bath. A shiny, new, and up-to-date bathroom faucet is one area where you can give any decor a look of elegance. Consider waterfall faucets and rain-style shower heads. Whether you prefer ultra modern, or the vintage look, the faucet is a major contributor. Storage, Cabinets, Shelves Modern bathrooms are all about organization. You will not see clutter all over the vanity, blow dryer cords, or dozens of bottles in the modern home. Vanity […]

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Top Four Tips that Will Help Sell Your Minneapolis-Based Home Faster

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The real estate market in Minneapolis is both exciting and fickle to enter. Buyers and sellers are constantly trying to do their best to make sure they get the best deal, and ensure they are in the home of their dreams. If you’re in the process of getting your home ready to list, and you want to make absolute certain it not only sells fast but also for top dollar, then there are some steps you can take to help ensure that happens. Royalty Free Photo Here are four simple tips that can make the process of selling your home smooth and lucrative. Contact a Real Estate Agent Far in Advance All too often people either assume they can sell their home on their own, through a private sale, or they wait until the last minute to bring in a real estate listing agent. By doing this you won’t have the full advantage of their expertise and experience in the industry. The moment you start to think about listing your house for sale is the moment you will want to contact an agent. They can come out to your house, assess it, provide you with a value, and offer you […]

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How to Clean Gutters Without a Ladder

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Gutters are a part of your house and shop. During rain, it conveys water and diverts it to fall into a pipe to a safe place like drains. To keep clean, your gutter is important so it can continue to save your house from the rain. Cleaning gutter is a disturbing work. It’s also dangerous too. Because of the position gutter is over high from the ground. So you need to stand on a ladder. It can be injurious to you if you fall from there. You have to think first about your safety. You can hire a worker to clean the gutter, but it’s a matter of extra charge. I think you would prefer to avoid extra charges and dangers of injuries. You have many options that make your work easy and comfortable without any injury. In the markets, many cleaning gadgets are available to clean gutters. Before purchasing any tools think about your requirements: Safe in cleaning the ground. Comfortable to hold, during cleaning. Saves your valuable time and patience. Not expensive (within budget) Provide long-lasting service Gutter Cleaning Applicator You can clean your gutters of your house with this tool without any ladder. It attaches to an […]

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8 DIY Projects That Add Value to Your Home

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When you own a house, there is always something to do. If you want your house to maintain its value, you must invest time and money into its maintenance. This includes simple things like cleaning windows and cutting the grass to bigger expenses like replacing the roof or changing the septic system. Regardless, these projects do not add value to your house, they simply make it appealing to future buyers. Here are some projects that will add value to your house: Remove carpets. Although comfortable under your feet, carpet have the nasty habit of collecting dust, hair and other allergens that make life miserable to so many people. Removing those from your house will increase its value, especially if you replace them with nice flooring. A new coat of paint. Inexpensive and easy to complete, this project will help your house look clean and up-to-date; two qualities home buyers look for. This simple project might help sell your house more rapidly than others on the market. Improve the insulation in your house. This can be done by replacing the windows, insulating the attic or simply replacing the weather strip around the doors. An easy step to take for home owners […]

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Changing roof guttering

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When the roof scaffolding is up and it is being repaired it makes sense to consider replacing or repairing the guttering as well. How much does gutter replacing cost? Well that depends on: Kind of guttering Material the guttering is made of Ease of access for working on the guttering Size of house. Guttering Materials UPVC: common as easy to install and low cost. However also has briefest life span Cast iron: traditionally used but can be heavy and expensive to handle Aluminum: slightly lesser cost than cast iron but lower weight and with powder coated color choices. Widespread for commercial buildings Steel: lower cost than aluminum and cast iron and offered in galvanized and black finishes Usually cast iron was used for downpipes and gutters but uPVC is popular now due to the reduced maintenance and cost. As an example, uPVC guttering is about $2 per meter while cast iron guttering can be $20 plus per meter. Cast iron is sold in 1.83m lengths as something longer would be too hefty to handle, whereas uPVC is offered in 4m lengths. Cast iron can look extremely striking but it requires painting occasionally to ensure that it does not disintegrate. Steel […]

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4 Ways To Decide Between Horizontal And Vertical Blinds

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Vertical blinds or horizontal blinds, which should you choose? If you’ve decided to outfit the rooms in your home with all-new blinds, you might get a little stuck trying to decide between vertical blinds and horizontal blinds. Both of these options have their own advantages. In this article, we are going to look at a few factors that you can keep in mind while you make your decision. Considering the Windows Many experts suggest that you should first start by considering the kind of window you will be outfitting in order to figure out the best kind of blinds. Usually, sliding doors feature vertical, longer blinds, particularly since they are easier to push back out of the way compared to their horizontal counterparts. However, narrow and taller windows work much better with horizontal blinds, since the thinner slats tend to be sturdier and easier to open and close in smaller window frames. Made to Measure Blinds offer made to measure blind fit for your home so make sure to check their selection of blinds. The Direction of the Sun You need to consider the direction of the sun when deciding whether to get horizontal or vertical blinds. On average, vertical […]

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High-End Look On A Low-End Budget

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Image source Humankind has been plagued by tricky questions since history began. What is the meaning of life? How do we leave the world in a better place than we inherited it? Why is there something instead of nothing? How do you make a home look high-end with a low-end budget? Now, we aren’t in a position to answer all of these because, well, we aren’t anything as wise as Socrates or Plato. However, we can help answer the biggest and most crucial of them all and that is the latter: how can one make their home look more elegant despite limited funds? So, without further ado, here are some of the simplest – and cheapest – ways you can add a touch of sophistication and class to your home, the kind that will see jaws drop any time a guest pops round for coffee or whatever. Wear The Crown If life is in the details then adding some crown moldings to your home a surefire way to subtly lift your space from so-so to utterly high-end. It is a way of making a room look that much more finished, adding that little hint of elegance you always find in […]

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Effectively Freshening Up Your Bathroom On A Budget

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A bathroom is a place in the house like no other, unless you have multiple bathrooms of course. It is the place where you go to freshen up in the mornings and evenings, as well as times of need, being the place where you are often left alone. During those few times you are left with your own thoughts, why not make it a bit more pleasant? Not that your bathroom is in terrible shape right now, but chances are you’ve been seeing it several times a day for the past few years, and it might just be time for a quick revamp. Let’s look at a few ways in which you could breathe some new air into your bathroom, without splashing out on an interior decorator. Image source: Pexels The mirror If your bathroom is like the very overwhelming majority of bathrooms, chances are it has a mirror or two within it. The mirror is not only one of the focal points of the bathroom, both functionally and visually when you enter the room, it is also something which can last you for a long, long time. Unless they are broken or dropped, mirrors do not magically stop working, […]

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Banish Craft Room Chaos With These Genius Tactics

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Image here Any dedicated crafter knows that the one thing that is bound to stand in their way from getting creative, more than anything else, is having a room full of supplies that are in chaos! After all, it just strips the joy from the task if you have to wade through piles and pile of miscellaneous stuff before you can find the items that you actually want to use. Of course, the way to ensure that you keep up with your crafting hobby regularly is to have a space for crafting that not only looks tidy but is easy to keep that way. Read on to find out how you can achieve this, and banish craft room chaos for good. Picture link Investing or hoarding? For many of us craftaholics there’s a fine line between investing in supplies and hoarding. Yes, I know that there is a joy and a thrill to finding a new product and buying it for your stash, all ready to be used for your next project. However, as the market is so flooded with items, it is very easy to collect way more than you need or will ever use. That is why you […]

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Problems with Vinyl Sidings

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Many proprietors are frequently on the lookout for low upkeep materials to use on homes. This is predominantly true of regions like siding, which incline to require a lot of labor over the years to keep the region looking great and clean. For most homeowners, vinyl siding can therefore appear like a low maintenance and attractive substitute to wood siding. Vinyl does not chip or peel and it won’t need painting and scraping every few years. Unluckily there are numerous issues regarding vinyl Sidings too. Before you live your home, make certain that you comprehend the drawbacks of vinyl to aid in making the correct decision for your home. Though it is better to take help from professionals such as siding contractors Downriver Michigan. Appearance Although it’s true that vinyl siding has arisen a long way from when it was first presented, coming in a range of different styles and colors, the fact rests that it is still a plastic creation, and looks it. Vinyl does not have the equivalent texture and look of real wood, even from a distance. As it’s precast, you can typically see the areas where it overlaps or bends to the next board pretty evidently, […]

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How You Could Be Damaging Your Home Without Knowing It

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Most people don’t realize that they could be damaging their homes by going about their usual daily tasks. If a proper maintenance plan isn’t put in place and these things are ignored, you may find that all of the problems in your home pile up at once, and that you’re left with a huge maintenance bill at the end of it all. Here’s an idea of how you could be damaging your home without even knowing it: Using Toxic Cleaning Products Many cleaning products actually contain toxic ingredients, that are not only damaging to the home, but to you and your health. They can pollute the air in your home, which is no good for pets, children, or elderly people especially. Even products labeled green and eco friendly can be dangerous, so in some cases, making your own cleaning products is advised. picture Litter In Your Plumbing Your plumbing isn’t a bin, and yet it’s so easy to throw things into it that people do it anyway with scant regard for the consequences. It could be something as simple as rinsing your plate without getting rid of any food debris first. In more serious cases, you could be throwing foreign […]

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6 Ideas to Make Your Home Both More Functional and Beautiful

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By Aurora M. When you own your own home, you have the opportunity to make every single room of that home look and function exactly as you want it to. With all of this freedom, though, the options may seem a little bit overwhelming. It can also be hard to choose whether you should focus on letting a room be more functional, or focus on making it more beautiful. Here are a few tips to do both at the same time. Take advantage of vertical space If you have really tall ceilings, you can really take advantage of the extra feet of wall space by installing some tall bookcases, cabinets, or shelves. You can use these shelves for almost anything, so they don’t entirely have to be functional to store things. Store unsightly things behind cabinet doors, but use open shelving for books, small plants, and picture frames. Create a nook If you have an empty corner in one of the rooms of your home, turn that space into a nook. You can use this nook as a work space, in lieu of an actual office in a dedicated room. Add a desk, a comfy chair, and adequate lighting to […]

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