For a home, or any part of a home, to become “historical,” it must be deemed so by the city council that represents a particular community. Perhaps simply the age of a home – usually before 1900 – will make it historical. Also, if any historic event took place at your home, it can be deemed historical. With every historical home, there are many historical “period” pieces, like lampshades, fixtures and windows. When it comes to renovating historical homes,... ❯❯❯
When it comes to insulating or reinsulating your home, you need have as much insulation that is required based on the region you live – amongst other factors. Usually, the type of insulation is determined by your geographic location. Also, many people believe that just because you live in a warm or tropical region you don’t need as much insulation, but this is a fallacy that will get you in a lot trouble. All regions – hot and cold – need insulation.... ❯❯❯
When you purchase a home you are probably aware of the fact that you’re going to have to engage in all kinds of seasonal maintenance in order to keep your property in ship shape. But you might not really know why it’s so important. The next time you find yourself grumbling, though, you may want to take a moment to consider all of the benefits that this seasonal work can provide. Here are just a few good reasons to grab your wrench or rake and get going on... ❯❯❯
Aside from the roof and the utility lines that run into your home, the most important piece of a house is the HVAC system. You can easily paint the walls, redecorate, switch out the fixtures or install new carpeting, and though all of them are fantastic options they won’t make a huge difference practically speaking. The HVAC, or heating, ventilation and air conditioning system is basically the arteries of livability in your house. It’s what keeps you cool... ❯❯❯
If you’re planning on building your next home from scratch, chances are you’re getting recommendations from almost everywhere. Even the proudest of homeowners has a couple of gripes about his property, which he’ll be happy to share once he discovers your plans. And you probably wouldn’t be going down this path if you didn’t have particular tastes concerning your living situation. But regardless of the choices you make, you would do well to follow the... ❯❯❯
If you’re considering selling your home in the near future it is worth it to plan some renovations that might put a little more money in your pocket. This is a buyer’s market, and there are no shortage of options for anyone with a mortgage and a down payment in hand. You’re going to have to put your house in the best possible light if you want to compete in this marketplace, especially if you’ve driven around and noticed that there are plenty of other... ❯❯❯
In the old days, people didn’t have air conditioning. Your only respite from the incendiary heat was to luxuriate in a cold pool or head to the closest park and sit under the shade of the trees. People also started to find other creative ways to beat the heat until the incredible invention of the modern air conditioning unit – as the old say goes: “necessity is the mother of all invention.” Yet, today many of the old methods of beating the heat have gone... ❯❯❯
If you’ve done your research on modular homes, you know there are a ton of options out there. A prefab house no longer has the ‘cheap’ stigma it once carried, and is a truly affordable and beautiful option for millions of Americans. But as with any home construction, you’ve got to choose the right partners to make sure the job is done properly the first time. Otherwise you could be in for years of costly repairs that basically counteract most of the... ❯❯❯
It’s always a good idea to keep looking for ways to improve your home. After all, a house is often the largest investment you will make in your lifetime. It’s not just the place you relax after a hard day at work and raise your family over the passing years. It’s also a reliable piece of capital that you will eventually call upon to help you afford important purchases, buy another, larger home or perhaps retire with a bit more comfort and security. Those... ❯❯❯
Whether you are heating or cooling your home, it is important to know how to properly manage and regulate your thermostat. Not knowing how to set and adjust your thermostat can result in wasted energy, which can be harmful to the environment. In addition, using extra, unnecessary energy to heat and cool your home can dramatically increase your monthly energy bills, costing you lots of extra money. Follow these 5 simple thermostat adjustment tips to help... ❯❯❯
As employees we’re often given a book or sheet containing a number of guidelines and regulations that encourage us to wear certain items of clothing when working in certain environments to help keep us safe. Many see these guidelines as “over the top” and “unnecessary”, while others follow them to the letter to keep themselves safe from harm. Those working in industries using lasers, flames, sparks and hazardous materials should all be wearing safety... ❯❯❯
Before constructing a new bathroom spend some time thinking about the layout. Time spent with design really does save you effort at a later date. Dream bathrooms should not be just about replacing your suite with a new one and keeping everything else pretty much the same. For a completely refreshed look you will need acomplete set of washroom essentials including mirrors, tiling, light fittings and new flooring. Bathroom accessories, such as a matching... ❯❯❯
The average homeowner never thinks twice about the quality of interior air. Unless you start to notice mysterious odors or you begin coughing, sneezing, wheezing, and exhibiting other symptoms of respiratory distress, chances are that you’ll have little reason to ponder the content of the air that you breathe in your home. And yet, even if you’re not yet experiencing problems, there are several reasons you might want to have your HVAC system checked... ❯❯❯
If you’ve been thinking about doing a bit of remodeling in your home but you’re on a tight budget, there is one thing that you can do that doesn’t cost a lot of money but can make a drastic difference: paint it. Whether you want to go with a neutral hue like white or tan in your living room or something a bit more vibrant like an orange or red in the master bedroom, you can definitely change the total decor of your home with a few coats of paint. If... ❯❯❯
There are some things that you should hire a professional to do. Building your house is one of them. However, these projects will keep houses looking and working great while saving you money. How to Install a Stone Paver Walkway Image via Flickr by AntonPree If you're as ambitious as a lot of other home owners, the Stephen Dent Construction team has barely started building your house before you start plotting out the next project: a quaint stone... ❯❯❯
If there’s one thing that a lot of us would probably admit that we take for granted, it would be the air conditioning unit within our homes. When we’re walking in from the sweltering heat, we don’t usually give a second thought to walking over to our thermostat (if it’s not already programmed) and adjusting the temperature to make us feel more comfortable. But what happens on the days when we try to turn it on and the air does not seem to be flowing... ❯❯❯
If you have an HVAC system in your home (and most houses do), one of the things that it is going to have are air conditioning ducts. They are basically the pathways for the warm or cool air to easily travel throughout the rooms in your house. Sometimes due to wear and tear, improper maintenance, dirt and debris or a leak inside of the one of the ducts, your HVAC unit will not work at its optimal level and you will need to do have it replaced, get it... ❯❯❯
With the end of summer now creeping up on us, it’s time to start thinking about our gardens and how important it is to make sure they’re in the best possible condition – not just for the end of summer barbecues and parties, but also so that the grass and plants are flourishing when we get to spring 2014. At this time of year, while the grass is relatively short because you’ve been mowing it so often to get it into peak condition to sit on and walk across... ❯❯❯
Building and designing your home can be an exciting but extensive project. Designing a home when you have kids is very different than the average home design project. Not only do you have to consider the typical design elements such as paint, lighting and furniture, but you also have to make your home accessible and comfortable for your kids as well. It is important to design spaces in your home that will cater to kids so they can all enjoy your home to... ❯❯❯
There’s no denying that climate change is shifting weather patterns across the world. Whether you believe this is a manmade problem or the simple evolution of the planet, the way extreme weather affects a region seems to be changing, and not for the better. Fire season is stretching to cover more and more of the year in the southwest, while floods have done enormous damage in places that never really had to deal with them before. Tornadoes have already... ❯❯❯