Most people don’t spend a ton of time in their attic space — believe it or not! It’s not a fun place to work. It’s not a fun place to go into. In Plano, Texas your attic could be 160 degrees! Who wants to go up there in that heat? But even so, it’s important to know your attic. Here are the types of things you can check out in your attic:
1. Insulation:
You should know how much insulation, and what type of insulation is in your attic. Is it settling? If so, you’re losing value there. Is it moving away from a certain part of the house, or being blown around?
2. Rodents:
If you go into your attic and look around, you will be able to see if you have any rodent activity. Feces from rodents can lead to unhealthy air quality.
3. Leaks:
Go up into your attic and take a look at the roof. Is it leaking anywhere? Catching a leak early can save thousands of dollars!
4. Fans:
Are your fans working? If any of them are stuck, you might have airflow problems.
As you can see, there are a ton of systems in your attic space! In addition to everything we just listed, you probably have your air conditioner and heating units up there, too. There’s a lot going on in your attic! We recommend going up there 3-4 times a year. If you need to go up into the attic to chance your A/C filter, that’s a great time to walk around and check on things. Be careful not to step through your ceiling, but walk around as far as you can and check: Does my insulation look different than it did a few months ago? Do I have fans that aren’t working right now that should be, or that were working last quarter? When you have us come out, we check your airflow, your insulation levels and your heat reduction opportunities using a radiant barrier. We check to see if your electric fans are working. We’ll check to see what type of insulation you have and whether it’s settling if it’s been moved around or tunneled through by rodents, all those types of things. So as you can see, your attic is important, and it’s filled with important systems and products! If you put a little effort into maintaining that space and making sure that everything is working properly, it can lower your bills and help with the overall performance level and comfort of your home.
So check your attic out today! If you don’t feel comfortable doing it, come to the Collin County Home & Garden Show and talk with the knowledgeable folks at Energy Attic!
Pro Roofing Tips for When Hail Nails You
TIPS FOR HOMEOWNERS WITH HAIL DAMAGE:
Don’t Delay:
If you suspect roof damage, it is important, for insurance reasons, to discover the extent of the damage as soon as possible. An extensive delay may result in your claim being rejected.
Safety First:
Rooftops are dangerous! It is best to call a professional to examine your roof for damage.
What Homeowners Should Look For:
Examine gutters, downspouts and siding, and look for water damage/leaks inside the home.
Call Your Insurance Company
Be sure you know where your current warranty stands and know what your deductible is. Make sure you understand the procedure for filing a claim. Reputable roofing companies will often send a representative to meet the insurance adjuster onsite while they examine damage.
Beware of Stormchaser Companies
Only use a local, reputable roofing contractor. Request workmanship warranties, credentials, proof of insurance, and references. You can also check with the Better Business Bureau.
Reputable Roofing Contractors
Professional roofers will do a thorough inspection, give you a detailed, written quote and explain warranties and timeline of the job. Thoroughly research ANY roofing company you are considering.
Triumph Roofing – We’ll Nail Your House, When Hail Nails You! Stop by and talk with them about hail damage or any other roofing needs you may have at the Collin County Home & Garden Show at the Allen Event Center, February 10-12, 2017.
www.allenhomeandgardenshow.com
4 Things Every Homeowner Should Check in Their Attic
Most people don’t spend a ton of time in their attic space — believe it or not! It’s not a fun place to work. It’s not a fun place to go into. In the south, in the summer your attic could be 160 degrees! Who wants to go up there in that heat? But even so, it’s important to know your attic. Here are the types of things you can check out in your attic:
1. Insulation:
You should know how much insulation, and what type of insulation is in your attic. Is it settling? If so, you’re losing value there. Is it moving away from a certain part of the house, or being blown around?
2. Rodents:
If you go into your attic and look around, you will be able to see if you have any rodent activity. Feces from rodents can lead to unhealthy air quality.
3. Leaks:
Go up into your attic and take a look at the roof. Is it leaking anywhere? Catching a leak early can save thousands of dollars!
4. Fans:
Are your fans working? If any of them are stuck, you might have airflow problems.
As you can see, there are a ton of systems in your attic space! In addition to everything we just listed, you probably have your air conditioner and heating units up there, too. There’s a lot going on in your attic! We recommend going up there 3-4 times a year. If you need to go up into the attic to chance your A/C filter, that’s a great time to walk around and check on things. Be careful not to step through your ceiling, but walk around as far as you can and check: Does my insulation look different than it did a few months ago? Do I have fans that aren’t working right now that should be, or that were working last quarter? When you have us come out, we check your airflow, your insulation levels and your heat reduction opportunities using a radiant barrier. We check to see if your electric fans are working. We’ll check to see what type of insulation you have and whether it’s settling if it’s been moved around or tunneled through by rodents, all those types of things. So as you can see, your attic is important, and it’s filled with important systems and products! If you put a little effort into maintaining that space and making sure that everything is working properly, it can lower your bills and help with the overall performance level and comfort of your home.
So check your attic out today!
If you would rather stay in the home, in the A/C and out of the attic, come to the Collin County Home & Garden Show in Allen, TX, Feb. 10-12 and talk with the folks at Energy Attic! They can give you more info, answer your questions and do the jobs you don’t want to!
Creating A User Friendly Home
Homes are designed and built by people who don’t usually live in them. Once you move into your dream home, you may begin to identify design elements that are cosmetically pleasing but really don’t serve sensible living. I see this in kitchens, bathrooms and pantry’s, where builders don’t consider full utilization of cabinet space. We find many cabinets have hidden areas, half shelves and space that is wasted. In these case we offer a great problem solving product call Glide-Out Shelves.
Glide out or pull outs, are a great way to get more use out of existing space without having to completely remodel your kitchen or bath. Using the latest technology, glide out shelves are custom fit to your existing shelf thus increasing the space, and adding full extension for optimal ease and organization. Plus glide out shelves make it easy to find pots, pans and can goods lost to the dark recesses of the cabinet, by allowing you to extend the entire shelf into the sunlight!
Now not all glide outs are made equal and this is where you, as the consumer, must be diligent. You can get cheaper quality glide outs, for a cheaper price, but believe me you will regret it. Aluminum rails and mounts just don’t hold the weight that steel ones will. Plus the construction and materials used in the box itself are vital to smooth glide and long term use. So consider these issues when choosing the glide out company for your self.
1. What material is used in the box or drawer itself? Our line uses top quality 1/4 inch, 9 ply Baltic birch, on all five sides. This means that all four sides and the bottom of the drawer or box are all made of the same material.
2. How is the box constructed? Top quality glide outs will be made with dove tail construction and pressurized. Cheaper products are nailed together or glued and can not stand the test of time in a well used kitchen.
3. What are the rails and mounts made of? Ours are made of American made steel not aluminum or cheap steel. The cheaper the rails and months the less they can hold and shorter life expectancy they have.
4. How much weight can the drawers hold full extended? Top of the live products like ours can hold 100 lbs and offer 100%, full extension glide out of the drawer. Lesser products will only glide out 3/4 of way and can’t hold the really heavy stuff.
5. Who is installing them and what is the guarantee? Our installers have been trained by the best and their work is top notch. We offer a life time guaranteed on product and installation. This means if for any reason they fail, any reason other than abuse, we fix them for free. Most cheaper brands offer 90 days.
6. Last but not least, where is your product made? We are a small family owned business and the boxes/drawers are made right here in Austin. We are not a chain or live out of state. When you talk you us, you are talking to the owners and our reputation depends upon your satisfaction.
Remember glide outs don’t have to be expensive we offer the highest quality product for 1/2 the cost of the other big name brands. There is no need to pay more when you can save money and get what you want.
It pays to be diligent and get referrals from clients as well. This is the only way you are assured that you are are dealing with reputable and reliable people. And we have many referrals from your friends and neighbors. Just ask!
Stop by and see the helpful folks of Custom Living of Austin to learn more about solving the problems in your home January 13-15 at the Austin Convention Center at the Austin Home & Garden Show!
Organic Fertilizer – Let's Get Dirty!
Do you want your garden to grow like never before? And be safe
and organic? Anything GREEN will flourish with our worm castings!
With Red Bud Farm’s worm castings, you don’t need any other additives!
Earthworms are some of the cleanest, most helpful creatures in the world! Their excreta (waste)
is formed in tiny, ball-shaped, black pellets called castings. Worm humus (manure) is the end-
product of the breakdown of organic matter by earthworms, also known as vermicasting.
Use both indoors and outdoors on EVERY plant!
Potted House Plants, Annual and Perennial Flowers,
Gardens, Fruits, Vegetables, Extra Growth Start for Seedlings
Yards, Lawn Grass, Landscaping, Shrubs, and Trees
Plants use castings to fight off fungal diseases. Their high concentration of beneficial bacteria and
microbes work with various elements of the soil to resist plant decay. They are also odor-free.
No chemicals, perfumes, or scents are added, nor removed. Castings can be used directly from the
bag on all plants, indoor/outdoor, house/garden. With castings, you can grow pesticide-free food.
This “black gold” (as it is claimed) is the very best, all-purpose, soil amendment anywhere!
Castings are a repellent to white flies, aphids, spider mites, and other pests that feed on plant juices.
They are non-toxic and safe for exposure to children and pets. Castings will not burn plants in any
concentration. Compost piles are greatly enhanced by earthworm castings.
• Non-Toxic • Will Not Burn Plants • Aerates • Odorless • Safe around Children and Pets
Worm castings provide the soil with essential enzymes, trace minerals, and helpful nutrients with
no alteration. They add an abundance of nutrients including nitrogen, calcium, magnesium, potash,
and phosphates to naturally improve soil quality like a sustained-release plant food.
“Doing what we can for the cause of growing green and being organic!”
Come to the Greater Roanoke Home & Garden Show Jan 13-15, 2017 to chat with the experts at Red Bud Farm about your plants!!
Solid Hardwood vs. Laminate
| By: Penny Keoppel of Floor Coverings International We often get asked by our customers whether they should install solid hardwood or laminate hardwood in their home. We know it can be a tough decision, so to help you out we’ve put together a few things you should consider in your decision making process. Price Solid hardwood will almost always be a higher price point than laminate hardwood. If budget is a concern for you, laminate might be the better choice. Plan out your budget ahead of time and stick to it to avoid buyer’s remorse down the road. Longevity While laminate hardwood is extremely durable, solid hardwoods will last for years and years if cared for properly. If you’re planning to stay in your home for a long time, it might be worth choosing solid hardwood over laminate hardwood. Look With today’s technology, laminate hardwood looks very similar to solid hardwood. However, most people can still tell the difference. Decide whether or not the look of solid hardwood is worth the extra cost to you. Environment One of the key differences between the functionality of solid hardwood and laminate hardwood is that laminate can withstand certain environments better than solid hardwood. In particular, laminate hardwood is better suited for high-humidity rooms like basements. Exposure to moisture can cause solid hardwoods to warp, so if you live in a humid area, laminate hardwood may be the better choice. While solid hardwoods are very popular in the kitchen, if you have a few messy cooks in the house and spills are an everyday occurrence, you may feel more at ease with laminate floors. Come to the Orlando Fall Home & Garden Show this weekend, Oct. 21-23 2016, and let us at Floor Coverings International of Winter Garden help you decide whether solid hardwood or laminate hardwood is right for you! Contact us today for a free in-home estimate.  |
Why Geothermal Energy IS Right For Your Home
The benefits of geothermal are lifelong. Geothermal systems provide you unlimited comfort inside your home, and you will also enjoy month-to-month savings on energy bills. Act quickly before December, and Obama’s tax incentives will help you purchase a brand new geothermal system along with installation services at little cost to you.
There are plenty of reasons to go geothermal. A geothermal system for the home is:
Economical
Sustainable
Reliable
Comfortable
Innovative
Affordable with Obama’s Tax Incentives
The Economical Benefits
Did you know you can use the ground next to your home to cool the inside? Well with a geothermal system you can, and you can use less energy doing so, saving you a lot of money on your monthly energy bills!
A geothermal system cools the inside of your home by using coils that are installed underground outside, using 30 percent to 60 percent less energy than traditional systems. You can potentially save up to 80 percent on your energy bill a year. Now that’s being economically savvy!
The Sustainable Benefits
Geothermal systems are the future of home cooling! About 70 percent of the energy that a geothermal system uses is completely renewable.The efficiency of a geothermal system has other HVAC systems beat!
The ground, even just two feet under, is drastically cooler than the temperatures above ground, even on the hottest days of summer! The refrigerant lines are buried underground to take advantage of the natural coolness of the earth. This method is so efficient that it has the same environmental impact as taking 13 cars off the road a year!
You’ll enjoy great refrigerated air, with an environmentally friendly twist!
Reliable
When you go geothermal, you don’t have to worry about the system breaking or glitching from usage. Geothermal systems are incredibly reliable, and all major parts are warranted for 10 years, just in case. When you choose One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating, you don’t have to worry about maintenance. You get two years of maintenance with us as part of your geothermal system package! Our installation professionals are licensed and backed by our U-WIN Guarantee! We guarantee punctual, professional services, and 100 percent satisfaction with your new AC.
Home Comfort
Let’s face it: refrigerated air is glorious when the extreme summer and spring seasons hit!
When the hottest days of summer hit and you need to crank up your AC just to survive. When you go geothermal, you can rest easy knowing your electric bill won’t be breaking the bank.
Along with bringing you the comfort of cool air in the summers, the geothermal cooling method is very stable with excellent indoor humidity control. This prevents the air in your home from becoming “over dried” in the summer. Refrigerated air will not fail you like traditional swamp coolers do.
Innovative Technology for the Home
Geothermal systems are multi-functional and can be expanded with plenty of additional components!
Did you forget to turn up your thermostat before leaving for work? One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating offers smart thermostats with installation. This provides our customers the ability to control their thermostat from their smart phones.
People often forget how important air quality is. Each geothermal system comes with an ultraviolet air purifier and a state-of-the-art electric air filter to keep your family safe from indoor toxins, such as mold and carbon monoxide.
This article was provided by:
Call One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Las Cruces, NM
(575) 449-3565 • OneHourAirLC.com/geothermal
They’ll give you a free quote and answer any questions you have.
Remodeling For The RIGHT Reasons!
There are many reasons to get a bathroom remodel, and one of the most common is having an outdated bathroom. But, how do you know if your bathroom is outdated or that it is time to remodel for the right reasons?
Unusual colors is one of the common signs of an outdated bathroom. What may once have been a warm gold, has faded to a rather murky yellow, leaving the floor and walls to blend together despite the different patterns.
There’s also a couple flaws that make a bathroom unsuitable for long term use. For example, Its important to measure a toilet properly before purchasing so that you get the right height and style to match with the plumbing in your home. Otherwise, eyesores will abound in most any outdated bathroom.
Additionally, some tubs have no shower option. And though deep tubs are a great way to soak, they can make it difficult for home owners to age in place with grace. If you’re having difficulty climbing in and out of your tub, or find that you no longer use your tub, then it’s time to upgrade to a bathroom feature you’ll adore, such as a bathtub to shower conversion.
Need some color in your life? Updated colors are soothing and refreshing. As a bonus, pale colors visually increase the space of this bathroom, making the ceiling feel taller, and the floor feel longer. Love it!
Another great idea? Using wainscoting adds a professional look, and will also help prevent walls from warping and molding, giving your bathroom a longer life, and making it easier to maintain. Additionally, wainscoting visually increase the height of the room, again making it feel larger and more welcoming.
As for that old bathtub, we can replace it with a low threshold shower that will allow homeowners to age gracefully. A built in shower bench ensures a place to sit back and relax while grab bars ensure the user’s safety.
Ready for a Remodel?
Come by the San Antonio Home & Garden Show, this weekend, Sept. 30-Oct. 2 and talk with ReBath about your needs & plans! Don’t hesitate to bring your pictures, blueprints and questions!
Landscaping Can Change Your Life & Health… No, Really… Here's How
There are many environmentally sound reasons to landscape.
Professionally designed and well-maintained landscapes protect water quality, reduce soil erosion, improve air quality and lower air temperatures in the summer, which is a huge perk here in Texas!
There are many personal health reasons to landscape.
What we hear most from prospective landscaping clients is that they want to create an outdoor friendly space for themselves, family and friends. Having access to a beautiful environment for relaxing and entertaining will improve your quality of life and decrease your stress level.
There are many economic reasons to landscape.
A professionally designed and installed landscape does more than just make your home look great and cause your neighbors to stare. It increases the value of your home. By a lot. Depending on factors such as starting value, neighborhood and season, study after study shows that landscaping is a much better return on your investment than other home remodeling projects such as kitchens and bathrooms.
“First impressions are as important for houses as they are for people.
If you are considering selling, good landscape design can add up to 20% of value to your home.” Bob Villa
“Forget wiring your new home for audio, video and data. Pass on the upgraded kitchen cabinets. Say no to thicker carpets. If you really want to add lasting value, opt for landscaping.”
LEW SICHELMAN, Herald Tribune
Landscaping. Worth every penny… and then some!
THIS WEEKEND! Come to the Collin County Home & Garden Show & talk with the folks at Flowers’ Garden & Landscapes to learn more!
Kitchen Trends – Clean White Kitchens Are In
Kitchen trends, by necessity, move a good deal slower than say gadgets, clothes or even cars. Even if you upgrade to the latest phone every year, follow the latest Paris runway styles and trade in your automobile every three years you probably don’t even consider remodeling your kitchen but once every 15 to 20 years.
Like all trends, those for kitchens tend to come back around in an updated, more modern way. This year, white kitchens are surging like never before, perhaps reflecting a desire for more light in our lives. Take a look at a few of our newest designs here or on our Portfolio page where you can filter specifically for White rooms!
The new white kitchen is a nostalgic reminder of the kitchens we grew up with; perhaps in a grandmother’s kitchen. Many times in that era a piece of furniture would be brought in as an additional work surface or storage area. Often it would have a different top, perhaps a piece of marble for rolling out dough and baking or wood butcher block for chopping.
Where there’s room, the new kitchens incorporate a similar island – the modern equivalent with better storage and seating areas to encourage interaction with the cook.
A kitchen remodel using the latest in appliances, surfaces, technology and design for work flow gives you every modern convenience. Sometimes, you really can’t get better than the original – note the large, deep farmhouse sinks in many of these remodels!
The new light and bright kitchens add to the desired sense of openness that is sought after in everything from open floor plans, natural light and an inviting space.
In every style, from Traditional to Contemporary and Transitional to Modern, the white kitchen is becoming a timeless classic for every family.
This article was provided by S&W Kitchens of Orlando. Stop by the Home & Garden Show this weekend at the Orange County Convention Center to talk with them face-to-face and see all things Home & Garden!