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Hardscaping or Landscaping: What is Best for You & Your Yard?

Hardscaping or Landscaping What is Best for You and Your Yard

There are several factors to consider when you’re trying to enhance the curb appeal of your home or you’re trying to get the most beneficial use of your exterior space. When you begin exploring outdoor living and curb appeal, the terms hardscaping and landscaping will pop up. There isn’t necessarily a right or wrong choice between these two outdoor design ideas, but there may be one that is more conducive to your lifestyle.

Outdoor Design and Entertaining

If you frequently entertain, hardscaping may be the best choice for you. Patios and outdoor kitchens are often considered as hardscaping features. Walkways that lead to your front door, the pool or other special areas are typical hardscaping design features. An outdoor fireplace is often the favorite gathering place for guests.

Gardening as a Hobby

If you enjoy planting flowers, trees, and shrubs, you would probably prefer landscaping over hardscaping. If gardening is a hobby that you find relaxing, pleasantly challenging and an outlet for your creative side, then designing a landscape that allows you to change the appearance of your landscape design each year would probably please you more than a more permanent exterior design that is created using stone, wood or concrete.

Consider the Maintenance

If you like spending your weekend working in the yard or don’t mind the frustration that comes with keeping lawn equipment in good working condition, a lush green lawn might be just the thing for you. If you have the physical ability and don’t mind planting, pruning, weeding and watering plants, then a living landscape design would probably please you. On the other hand, if you like a gorgeous landscape but aren’t crazy about spending all of your leisure time working to keep it beautiful, you can turn to professionals such as Bremerton Landscaping to do the maintenance for you.

Why Choose?

You don’t have to choose between hardscaping and landscaping. You can include elements of both in your exterior design. Hardscaping requires little maintenance and can increase the value of your home. You can add walkways, retaining walls, water features and other non-living elements to your yard to increase its beauty and functionality. Plants and flowers can be mingled in with the hardscape elements in your exterior design. Vines can be grown on a wooden trellis and stone containers or concrete planters can be placed on the patio and filled with flowers that bloom profusely throughout the summer or ornamental grasses that adds texture and movement to your outdoor living space. You could even get help from a professional, such as one from Nature’s Design Landscaping, who is experienced in both types that you can have both hardscaping and landscaping come together in a complimentary way.

When you figure in maintenance cost, labor expenses, replacement cost, such as replacing shrubs or trees that die, and how well a feature fits your lifestyle there’s a good chance that you’ll find that a including a few features from each option is the best way to go. If you enjoy the solitude of a private garden space, you might still appreciate having an attractive stone walkway leading to that garden area. If you decide an expansive patio entertaining area is a feature you want, you can add a few potted plants to the patio to add a bit of nature to your entertaining space.

Benefits of choosing solid timber for entrance doors

If you are building a new home or renovating the present one, then you’ve to take a major decision about entrance door. Your entrance door is the heart of any home and it is the first thing people notice when they visit your home. The type of material that you choose for a door will determine how effective they are. For instance, glass doors can be relatively expensive but allow more sunlight and provide insulation against noise. While hollow doors are cheap but poor insulators. Therefore, solid timber entrance doors are one of the best choices. They are perfect for both modern and traditional homes. One of the best things about solid timber is that they can be cut and fit into any frame size. Moreover, timber adds natural warmth to any home. It can be easily painted and matched with your home’s color scheme.

Solid timber entrance doors

Solid timber entrance doors are fantastic with natural effect and strength. The flexibility of the product design with timber is also unmatchable. Any design or trim details can be easily created at relatively low cost. Likewise, shape, style, and size can also be manipulated with ease. This is highly beneficial if you already have some creative ideas in your mind and want to enhance aesthetic value of your property.

Why Solid Timber?

There are so many reasons for choosing solid timber over other materials for your home’s entrance door, some of them are listed below:

  • Longevity: Timber is one of the nature’s amazing products, it can outlive many other building materials. Solid timber entrance doors have a life expectancy of over six decades, so it is a long-term investment. It can also be easily repaired for any structural damages. If materials like aluminum and glass gets damaged, they are likely to be replaced rather than repaired. Also, there is no rusting problem and timber doors don’t require any special maintenance.
  • Eco-Friendly: Timber is a sustainable resource. It is an eco-friendly natural product that stores huge amount of carbon and releases oxygen. It absorbs carbon and doesn’t produce any toxic. This is highly beneficial for the environment and for us too. So, solid timber entrance doors will have a positive impact for you, your family, your home, as well as for the environment. Timber can also be recycled and reused for lot of other purposes. Moreover, timber doesn’t need more energy or cause any impact on environment to turn into building product.
  • Varieties and High Performance: Timber is heavy, strong, renewable and a natural insulator. It offers high level of comfort for you, your family, and your home. It helps you to save on energy costs. It keeps your home warmer during winter and cooler in the summer. It provides both thermal and noise insulation. Due to fantastic insulation, it offers highest levels of performance and security. Timber doors also have more resistance to air and wind. All in all, solid timber entrance doors enhance the aesthetics of your home and add value to your property. Also, there is range of varieties in timber, so you can easily choose one that suits your exact needs.

Solid-timber-entrance-door

  • Safety: Timber is a bad conductor of heat and electricity. So, solid timber doors are less prone to condensation. Also, timber has higher values, so temperature will not affect it.

Solid timber entrance doors are most popular choice because of these advantages along with the ease of cutting, trimming, shaping, and joinery. Also, timber doesn’t require any complex tools for sizing. Overall, solid timber is an excellent choice for doors with natural strength and warmth.

 

Tips To Know Before You Buy Replacement Windows

There are lots of reasons to buy replacement windows for your home. Though whether you’re replacing your windows to fix a draft, save on your energy bills, or simply improve your home’s outward appearance, odds are you’ll need to replace them at some point — if you’re in your home long enough. That means, all homeowners will need to think about replacement windows at one point or another. Even if you’re not planning on staying in your current home for much longer, windows typically are one of the first things people notice about a home. With that in mind, you may want to consider replacing yours to boost the resale value. Replacing windows is recognized as one of the best investments you can make in a home to help its resale value.

Replacing the windows in your home is important, but it also can be a complicated and confusing process, given the sheer number of window products out there. In addition to different styles and materials, windows also can incorporate varying energy-efficiency features. Plus, depending on where you are, you may need something completely different than someone in another part of the country. You might also want to choose options that require little maintenance. You don’t want to find out after your new windows are installed that you’ll need to devote some time to them for regular maintenance.

If you’re in the market for replacement windows, consider the guide below. It provides you with some basics to keep in mind when looking for the right new windows for your home depending on your preferences, needs and location. No matter why you need to replace your windows, you want to be sure that the windows you choose will be the best possible choice for you and your home.

 

Infographic created by Erdmann Exterior Designs

Author bio: Kyle Erdmann is Vice President of Erdmann Exteriors. Being a second-generation Erdmann, he was brought up in a construction household. With over 10 years of experience, Kyle has done everything in the company from being a general laborer to the installation of the product, so he can answer any question you can possibly have. Also, experience has taught Kyle a lot about design; his designs have been considered for awards from James Hardie. With a degree in hospitality management, customer service is always top on Kyle’s list, and many customers have given positive reviews on their experience working with him. Passionate about baseball, he currently volunteers at his old high school’s program. 

DIY or Hire a Professional: Make a correct Choice – Infographic

Doing household work yourself will sometimes reflect the exact results you want. However, some work require professionals to make it up to the mark without compromising in quality like roofing or cleaning of gutters before the rainy season. Sometimes you may also notice that hiring a professional is less costly than doing it yourself only you need to understand is How? & Where?
So whenever you are in dilemma, preferring to hire a professional or doing it yourself, refer to the infographic created by Saxton Blades, “Do it yourself vs hire a Pro”. This infographic will detail you regarding 10 different jobs which seem easy but may be complicated and the cost for doing that task yourself versus hiring a professional.

 

The-cost-of-DIY-vs-Hiring-a-Pro-INFOGRAPHIC

Five Home Renovation Projects You Can Tackle This Weekend

home renovation project

Most major renovation projects cost a lot of money, require a professional or tie up the family’s routine for weeks. Fortunately, there are several short-term fixes that can give your home a new look and can also be undertaken by an average homeowner in one weekend.

  1. Brighten Up Walls with Color

A new paint job in one room can be a quick and easy fix. First get some ideas for new colors from decorating websites. Take the photos to your local home improvement store and match the color to samples. If you are uncertain, buy a few jars of sample paints to try out at home before re-painting a whole room. Choose your paint color and pick up paint and basic supplies: painter’s tape, a drop cloth, rollers, and brushes. Pick a warm sunny day so that windows can be opened and paint can dry quickly. Enlist the help of family members to tackle the job

  1. Change Outdated Light Fixtures

Although home furnishing styles do not change as often as clothing styles, there are new trends that can change the look of an outdated room. A simple change of a light fixture can produce dramatic results in a room. Change an outdated globe fixture to a trendy industrial style lamp for a now and today look. You will need electrical pliers and perhaps a screwdriver. Electrical tape may be needed. Be sure to turn off the power before working on the fixture.

  1. Give Floors a Facelift

Inexpensive peel and stick tiles can give a room a whole new look. They can be applied over cement, wood, tile, or linoleum floors. Just peel off the backing and press into place. Tiles can be trimmed with scissors or a utility knife. For a classier look, replace existing floor with wood plank flooring. Strips interlock and can be placed on bare floors or over a backing. Pieces can be trimmed as needed to fit the room measurements. A small room or hallway can easily be finished in one day.

  1. Brighten Your Windows

If your windows now have heavy draperies, remove the drapes for a dramatic difference. Lightweight curtains allow light to flow into the room and also allow a better view of the outside. If you have standard vinyl blinds, consider stainless steel or copper tone to modernize the décor. These only require simple hardware to install. Shutters require a bit more skill to install but add character to windows. You will need to drill holes for the hinges and use a level to get them perfectly straight. In a few hours, your windows can have a whole new look with little effort.

  1. Replace Cabinet Hardware

An easy project that creates an instant new look is replacing old cabinet knobs with new ones. New designs include stainless steel, pewter, copper, or other metals. White against dark cabinets creates a dramatic effect. The only tools needed are a screwdriver or maybe an Allen wrench. This is also one of the lowest cost improvements with a dramatic impact.

Guest Post By: 

Jessica kane is a writer for GoHardwood, a premier flooring company that sells first-rate, quality hardwood flooring products for less.

How To Choose Architects For Your House Extensions?

Are you planning for house extensions? If so, you have ample tasks to perform among which the key action will be to hire a competent and worthy architect. For a layman, the task of assessing the worthiness of an architect will never be an easy task. Hence, you need to approach this task, being wise and considerate. This article will discuss the key points of consideration in this regard.

House Extensions
House Extensions

Does the architect hold the necessary qualification to operate in the similar capacity?

The first and foremost point is to check whether the architect holds the necessary qualification to operate in the similar capacity. This is a high-end profession and hence, a professional in this regard should have the necessary qualifications. Approaching to a qualified professional for house extensions will ensure that you will be getting the most delightful outcome in the end.

The extent of experience that the provider holds

Remember, the best services can come from the experts hand only. With that said, you should always consider the extent of the experience that the provider holds. An experienced architect will have the expertise and solution to address your needs. Most importantly, an experienced architect can give you worthy suggestions that will enable you to complete the house extensions flawlessly with the perfection, without getting into troubles and hassles. An experienced architect will know the tricks and tips to complete the extension projects, within competitive expenses.

Does the architect accomplish similar projects like yours previously?

You should check whether previously, the architect has accomplished projects, similar to yours or not. This will ensure that the architect will have the expertise to deliver up to your expectations. In this regard, it will be a wise decision to approach the experienced architect that have executed innumerable projects for House Extensions. In his/her avid experience, he/she must have accomplished the type of the extension plan that you might hold. This will ensure that the architect can meet your expectations. You can even ask the architect to furnish portfolio of the works that he/she have already executed in the past.

House Extensions
House Extensions

What about the service fees payable to the architect?

When you are looking for an architect for house extensions, you should consider the service fees payable to the professional as well. Depending on the experience and reputation, the fees payable to the architect can go to a sky-high extent. Hence, before you hire a professional architect, you should check the fees payable to him/her. You should discuss with the professional in this regard and collaborate with the architect who charges reasonable service fees. However, don’t overemphasize the aspect of the payable service fees. You should look for architect that hold reputation in the market, yet, charges competitive professional fees. Fortunately, the best architect always adopt fair pricing strategies.

What about the reputation of the architect?

The Reputation of a professional grows only after he/she had served the customers consistently for a significant span of time. Hence, you should always approach the reputed professional. A reputed professional will know the tricks and tips to meet your expectations. Moreover, by availing the services of these professionals, you will certainly experience the best grade services. In this regard, it will be wise to refer to the reviews on the services of the architect that will enable you to make a realistic assessment of the worthiness of the professional. A reputed and reliable architect will always feature positive reviews and hence, you can definitely afford to rely on such professional.

Selecting an architect, considering the points stated above will fetch you the most competent expert to take care of your plan for house extensions.

 

 

 

 

 

6 Home Remodeling Tips for Busy Moms

Have a vision

The first thing that should be done when remodeling a house is to have a dream. Think of what you want your house would look like after the job is done. Recognize what is needed to be worked on and identify solutions to the problem. Look at your bank account. Know what you can afford. It is essential to share the same dream if you are living with a partner. This could avoid conflict and could make it easier in the budget department as both of you understand the sacrifice you both will make. Having a vision means planning ahead. Selecting the best products can prevent delays. Proper planning can also keep your budget on the right track. Keep in mind the big picture too. Know the long term maintenance. This includes repairs that could add up quickly.

Do some research

Go to the internet or library and look for articles devoted to home improvement. This would give you a good perspective about your new home improvement. Be focused on what part of the house you want to improve. If you need to work on your bathroom, stay away from bedroom or living room articles. The same goes otherwise. If you have no idea which part of your home to improve yet, then you can browse randomly on different parts of the house? You might be enlightened in your journey through the pages.

Additional skill. Read this infographic quick tips on how to setup and repair your garage door opener.

garage-door-opener-setup-and-repair-aclickawayremotes.com_
Infographic by http://www.aclickawayremotes.com

Start with the easy ones

You may start at the kitchen. When you have noticed that a lot of things on your kitchen are dated it is best to do something. You don’t want your food to come from a boring place. You can re-upholster your dining chairs, change your faucets, and update the lighting with something stylish yet functional, use colourful throw rug down. Then continue on the bathroom. You may install a large mirror in there and it would make your bathroom appear larger. Let us now go to the living room. By changing your chandelier, this could impact the look of your home. It could make you feel that your home is glamorous. There are a lot of easy do-it-yourself in the market today that would not cost a lot. Let us go to your basement; one might think that basements are dark. Let’s change that notion. Make it lively by adding up colourful paint to it. Change the lights to bright ones if you are using an old fashioned yellow incandescent bulb.

Ask for Help

Ask for help from the right people. You may hire remodeling contractors. These people know what they are doing better than you and they know where to get the cheapest yet good products, they will do the dirty job for you. You do not need your hands to get dirty. You may be wondering on how to look for a good remodeling contractor. I’ll give you a bit of idea on how to choose the best in your area. First, you need to ask for referrals, and then look at their credentials. Interview your candidates. Who could perform the job at the fastest and with the least costs?

Let us not forget the don’ts

Do not decide at a wrong time. Make every single decision properly before starting each job. This would ensure you that the remodeling project will go well. Do not be fickle minded. At most times, it is hard to prevent your mind from changing mid project. And every time things on your mind change. This would mean a delay. Don’t work when you have limited funds. You might underestimate the cost of the project. This could mean disaster as your project could be stopped and you would be leaving the project hanging and that portion of your house will be useless for a significant amount of time.

Design Decor: 3 Essentials For Your Living Room

living-room

The Layout of Your Living Room

When it comes to decorating your home, one of the most important rooms that you will have to decorate is the living room. The living room is the entrance to your home, which completes the overall layout. When you’re browsing for decorations for the living room, make sure that you choose high-quality designs. By doing this, you will be able to enhance the beauty and elegance that your home has to offer.

An Essential Adornment Includes the Lighting

One essential decoration that you need for your living room is proper lighting. By using the right lighting, you can accentuate the environment in your living room. Your main goal is to create a relaxing ambiance. However, you will also have to create lighting that will complement all of your decorations, such as table lamps. A collection of table lamps can accessorize your coffee tables or side tables. You can also think about floor lamps as well, which will go great in the corners of the living room.

Furniture Collections are Important

Whether you’re thinking about decorating your home with contemporary or traditional designs, you will be able to find furniture collections that will be able to complete your home’s decor. You can invest in sofas that can come in a variety of choices. These choices can include love seats, lounge chaises or arm chairs, just to mention a few. You can also invest in coffee tables and end tables to accessorize your sofas. Take a look at high quality furniture, like those at Visions In Contemporary Living, that will last and you can enjoy for many years to come.

Area Rugs With Great Designs

You can also think about decorating your living room with area rugs. The area rugs are essential to complete the layout of your living room. It is ideal that you choose colors that will be able to create a relaxing ambiance. You’ll be able to find an assortment of area rugs, such as different shapes and sizes. The shapes can revolve around oval, square or rectangle alternatives. You can also choose from a variety of large to small sizes.

Getting the Results That You Want

Remember that your main goal is to get the results that you want for your home’s interior design. When you’re shopping for these essential decorations for your living room, it’s recommended that you buy your furniture and decorations in sets. By doing this, you will be able to find more bargain prices. Rest assured that by investing in these three essential furniture collections, you’re sure to have the interior design that you want for your home.

Easy Springtime Fixups Homeowners Should Put on Their Checklist

Easy Springtime Fixups Homeowners Should Put on Their Checklist

With spring come warmer temperatures and more items on one’s to-do list. While homeowners may want to bask in the glow of a sunny spring day, there are a few easy projects that they should look into first. These should be quick and easy now and will ensure that homeowners are not hit with costly repairs later.

Garage Door Reinforcement

The spring is the perfect time to look into a home’s garage door mechanisms. For one, garage door springs can be weakened from winter’s cold temperatures. Replacing one or two springs now will keep undue pressure off the rest of the garage door system. In addition, homeowners may want to look into reinforcing their garage doors to protect from wind damage during spring and summer storms.

Roof Repair

Early in the spring before torrential summer downpours arrive, homeowners should scan their roofs themselves to see if the shingles and other materials are wearing down. Most roofs are designed to last approximately 15 to 20 years although steel roofs last longer. Even if it is not time for a full re-roofing, homeowners may still benefit from minor repairs and replacements of some shingles, which should only set them back $200 or less.

Gutter and Soffit Cleaning

If the gutters were not cleaned out in the fall, the spring is prime time for doing this to ensure that rain does not cause leaky gutters that pull away from the house. Some companies, like D.S. Bahr Construction Inc., realize how important it is to keep your soffit in good repair, especially when it comes to leaks in the roof. Cleaning out the soffits and vents will also provide circulation to the attic to cut down on cooling expenses in the summer.

Air Conditioner Maintenance

Homeowners should have a technician check out their air conditioning units before the start of the hot season. It is better to take care of problems now than to have the unit break down on the hottest day of summer. Homeowners can also clean off their units with a hose while it is off. This will take care of leaves, pollen and other items that have gotten stuck in the housing.

Once homeowners have taken care of these tasks, they can be sure that their homes will be cool and comfortable all summer long. Most of the time, these easy repairs can preclude major, costly repairs later in the year and can ensure that one’s home stays in prime condition should a family ever want to sell. Plus, a well-maintained home is the perfect place for summer relaxation and parties with friends and family.

Dingy Windows? 3 Ways To Spruce Up The Place

Dingy Windows 3 Ways To Spruce Up The Place

Have you looked at your home’s windows lately? If you notice a dusty or dingy appearance, it’s window washing time. However, getting windows completely clean can be challenging, depending on the type of windows you have and their age. You also may face challenges in washing both sides of the window glass and leaving no streaks. Some say that windows are the eyes of a home, so it is important to keep them clear and dirt-free. If you don’t want to try washing them yourself, which may require the purchase of special equipment and window cleaning products, consider the following options.

Hire Professional Window Washers

Experts like Central Glass Company can clean your windows professionally without streaks or soap residue. Inside and out, your window glass will be shiny and clear to restore the view from within. Eco-safe products and skilled workmanship ensure a smooth, efficient process that will have your home looking better than ever.

Replace Old Windows

If your windows are aging, perhaps they are also leaking to allow condensation to form inside the panes of glass, which is impossible to remove. If your windows have become loose in their frames or are leaking outdoor moisture inside, it may be time to get new windows that not only will brighten and improve the interior and exterior appearance of your home, but will also help to reduce heating costs due to poor insulation from the older windows.

Remodel With New Window Designs

If you plan to convert a mudroom into a sun room, you can expand the area and eliminate the current window in exchange for a new set of larger windows in the extended wall. Nooks and crannies in your home can be opened up as workspace or a children’s play area by adding new windows. Enhance your home security by replacing traditional basement or patio windows with glass block windows to discourage break-ins.

Glass windows play a vital role in every home or office space. Without them, a room can seem dull and lifeless. When windows become dirty, leaky, or cracked, they are functionally useless and may actually put your property at risk for serious, expensive damage. From cleaning a shower door with caked-on grunge to replacing aluminum frame windows and other outdated panes, contact a professional window company for a free estimate on how to upgrade the windows in your home. You will be amazed at the difference a new window view can make.

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