Author: Modern Living

Whether you need simply need a cleaning, or need new ductwork installation Gainesville taking care of your duct work and making sure that it is clean and functions well can be important. Not only can it have an impact on the cleanliness of your home, but on your family’s health, as well. If it has been a while since you have thought about the ducts in your home, here are a few reasons to get them cleaned today.

It Can Prevent Allergies

One of the top reasons to get your air ducts cleaned is that it can help prevent a variety of allergies. What many don’t realize is that in addition to visible particles like dust, there are many irritants in the air that cannot be seen with the naked eye, like mold, bacteria and viruses. Not only can these kinds of irritants lead to more sicknesses and colds in your household, but they can also worsen conditions like asthma. By having your ducts cleaned you can help reduce your family’s exposure to these things and maintain better health.

It Can Keep Your Home Cleaner

Another benefit of getting your air ducts cleaned regularly is that it can help you keep your home cleaner more easily. When your air ducts are dirty, they can spread dirt and dust throughout your home. This can mean more debris in your home, and more frequent dusting. When you get your air ducts cleaned, you can make it easier to keep the rest of your house tidy and well maintained.

When you’re a homeowner, there are often many things to think about on a daily basis to keep your household running well. Because of this, your air ducts may not always be the first thing on your mind. The reality is, though, that there can be many benefits to getting them regularly cleaned, from preventing allergies to having less dust in your home.

If you’re like most homeowners, you likely spend a good deal of time in your kitchen. Kitchens often serve as the central hub of many households where people gather to cook, eat, and enjoy one another’s company. If you find that you’re not enjoying your time as much as you could because your kitchen is old, dated, or cramped, then it may be time to upgrade your space with a kitchen remodel. Here are some of the latest in kitchen remodeling trends to keep in mind as you begin the process.

Open Concepts

Open concept homes have been a popular trend for many years in homes, and the kitchen is no different. Open up your space by choosing cabinets and shelving without doors, which can make your room feel bigger than it is. This also allows you to treat your dishes like artwork by displaying these pieces where people can easily see and appreciate them. When you work with your kitchen remodeling contractor company service Bohemia NY, ask about the different cabinetry available.

Smart Tech

If you want to impress your loved ones, incorporating technology throughout your kitchen is a sure way to turn some heads. Kitchen appliances have advanced to include smart technology which allows you to control things with an app or touch of a button, taking the hard work out of cooking. Some smart tech appliances also carry the Energy Star label, which means they’re better for the environment as well.

Use Natural Touches

To get in touch with the outdoors, incorporate natural touches throughout your kitchen. This can include sourcing local wood pieces to use as beams on your ceiling or as floorboards. Some natural, locally-sourced pieces around your kitchen can give it a stunning, natural feel that will make you feel like you’re in the great outdoors.

As you being your kitchen remodel, keep these fun trends in mind and you’ll be sure to have a stunning end result that you and your loved ones will enjoy.

There are some home projects that suit themselves to a particular season. Fall reseeding comes to mind. However, there are some projects that are integral to the proper functioning of your home and that can be done just about any time of year. If you have a spare afternoon and are looking to check something off the “to-do” list, consider tackling one of these basic home maintenance tasks.

1. Check the Dryer Vent

Did you know that clothes dryers are the source of nearly 3,000 home fires each year? What may be worse is that many of them were preventable with a little maintenance. Dryer lint is incredibly flammable, yet many households never stop to think about the hose leading out of the back of the dryer. Cleaning it annually can reduce the risk of fire and will also result in clothes drying faster. Check out these tips on dryer safety from the U.S. Fire Administration for more information.

2. Perform Fireplace Maintenance

If you have a fireplace or stove in the home, you will want to have an annual inspection done. Check the flue for any blockages or damage. If the chimney isn’t capped, go ahead and install once after it has been cleaned. it will keep small animals from venturing in. If you have a wood fireplace, be sure to inspect the lining for any signs of damage. Gas fireplace maintenance Denver is best left to a professional to ensure safety.

3. Clean Faucet Aerators

This is a simple task that can be done quickly. Chances are you won’t even need to visit the toolbox. Simply unscrew the aerators from faucets and clean out the filters. Your water pressure will improve and you’ll reduce contaminants in the water that comes out.

Keeping up with routine maintenance like cleaning vents and filters and maintaining the fireplace helps the systems run more efficiently and can extend their useful life. Take the time to schedule or perform these basic tasks to keep your house running more smoothly.

When your home’s foundation is strong, so is the rest of the building. Over the course of the years, a foundation can become damaged, and the usual culprit is moisture. Dampness finds its way in through cracks causing dangerous mold, bowed walls and compromising the integrity of the structure. To prevent this from happening, here are three ways to keep moisture as far away from your foundation as possible.

Install a Rain Gutter

One of the most effective ways to keep water away is to install a rain gutter and a downspout. By investing in rain gutters Shoreline, runoff from storms won’t accumulate around the home’s foundation. Instead, it’s diverted along the roof’s edge and through the downspout, which should empty several feet from the house. Always remember to clean out rain gutters every fall and spring to keep them working efficiently.

Create a Gravel Bed

Another option to control water around the foundation is to lay a gravel bed around the perimeter of the building. Moisture drains quickly through the gravel and prevents water from pooling up. This attractive barrier also keeps both weeds and insects away. Whenever possible, the area around your home should slope downhill and away from the foundation.

Leave Room When Landscaping

Everyone loves beautiful landscaping, but when crafting a design for your shrubs and plants, leave some room near the house. You need this space for adequate ventilation so that dampness won’t set in. Using mulch can also help absorb water so that it stays around your plants and away from the house.

Take Action Now

Whether you’ve just purchased a new home or have lived in it for years, inspect your foundation for cracks and evidence of moisture. Taking action now, such as installing rain gutters, putting in a gravel bed or creative landscaping, will keep your basement dry and prevent costly damage.

When fall weather rolls around, it is natural to feel the need to make your home warmer, cozier and more inviting. There are many ways to change or update your space to make it autumn-ready, but there are a few key elements that really have the ability to transform your living areas for the new season! With these tips, you too can make your home into a snug, comfortable place you’ll never want to leave.

Setting the Fireplace

What better way to prepare for fall and winter than by utilizing your indoor or outdoor fireplace? In today’s day and age, you can even order firewood delivery Virginia so that you do not have to leave the comfort of your own home to get a cozy fire roaring. The convenience of delivery will save you both time and a trip to the store, so it’s a great option during this time of the year. Having an indoor fireplace or an outdoor firepit can improve your autumnal experience tenfold by providing warmth and a space to enjoy in or outside of your house.

Swapping Out Your Decorations

Sometimes, swapping out a common household decoration for something a little more festive can really bring your fall vibes to life. You can get crafty with some popular do-it-yourself ideas, or hit your favorite shops in search of some colorful pieces. Whether you are looking to get something simple, like a new wreath or some pumpkins, you can find both DIY and pre-made options to suit your needs.

When it comes to decorating your home, you do not always have to go big. Simply ordering some firewood to keep you and your family warm and adding a few touches of fall colors here and there really make your space feel more on-trend with the season.

Arriving home after a busy day or on the way out in the morning, a garage door that will not open can ruin your day. Getting that big, heavy overhead garage door to respond when the button is pressed becomes a top priority.

Checking “fix garage door” off the list should start with a few simple tasks most people can do themselves. However, because that big, heavy door operates with heavy-duty springs, precision rollers and guides, and electronic motors, many repairs require professional service by qualified technicians.

Here are five things to check to see if the fix is a do-it-yourself or if it is better handled by a repair service, including in the Austin area, Pflugerville garage door repair.

1.) Power Up

Sometimes, the most basic issue is the solution. Is there power in the garage? The opener motor may be on a different circuit so check the breaker box. Look at the cord from the motor; vibration in the frame may allow the plug to wiggle out of the socket.

2.) Locked Down or Disconnected

Most garage doors can be locked from the inside. Check the position of the lock handle and the throws that slide into the door guides. Up above, look at the disconnect safety handle on the drive trolley. If it is disconnected, roll the door up and tug the handle to reconnect it to the drive.

3.) Beam Blocked

Garage doors are equipped with an electronic photo sensor that will stop the door from moving if the light beam is blocked. Most photo eyes are located on either side of the roller guide tracks, a few inches above the floor. If something is blocking the light beam, move it. Otherwise, use a soft cloth to gently wipe dirt from the lens.

4.) Remote Reset

If the door works with the wall button but not with the remote, try resetting the remote. Check the reset steps in the owner’s manual or look online for that make and model.

5.) Worn Tracks and Snapped Springs

If the door still will not open, look for rollers that have slipped the guide tracks. Get a helper and try lifting the door to see if the rollers can be returned to the track. Otherwise, a repair service, such as Austin’s Greater Garage Doors should be called in.

The other critical mechanism is the torsion spring. Worn out or broken springs should only be serviced by a professional.

 

For most potential home buyers that purchase will be the biggest investment they ever make. As a buyer, if you forego doing inspection due diligence before signing your closing documents, you may be committing to a money pit instead of a dream house. A good home inspector should know what to look for; however, you should consider going past the basic inspection to consider the following extra items be put under the microscope (some of which may also be required in specific regions).

Environmental Health

A home can have many features that add sustaining value. Other features that you may discover will not be assets and can in fact make you ill: uninhibited mold on the walls or within sink cabinets; lead in painted window sills and walls; or asbestos wrapped around boilers or in tiles. You will need inspection services from air contaminants Wilmington NC to uncover these issues before deciding whether the cost of any remediation is worth the price of the house.

Vermin Habitation

Your home should be a shelter for your family and pets, period, with no other creatures scurrying about. First, you need to determine if the house you want has attracted mice or rats, which are not only unappealing guests, but also bring disease and eat your food. On the other hand, termites can be even more unsettling; they can cause structural damage to wood that can be very costly to repair.

Structural Soundness

While many inspectors will look at roofs and systems within a house such as heating and electrical, you would have to rely on a structural engineer to evaluate the soundness of your foundation. Neglecting this analysis, especially where subsidence is common, can lead to an increasing number of cracks in your walls and listing door frames.

The more questions you can ask of a house you want to buy, the better off you will be in the long run. To ensure a happy home for years to come, consider hiring specialized inspectors to scope out issues where your general investigator leaves off.

If you own a business, the type of flooring that you choose for the building matters. If you are considering concrete flooring, there are four main benefits to the choice.

Affordability

While quality is the main concern for business owners when it comes to flooring and other components of the building, you also have to consider the budget. Concrete flooring provides durable and lasting flooring without the higher price point of other materials.

Cleanliness

Your floor’s cleanliness matters. Spills and other accidents are common in any business, particularly if you have an industrial business. If oil or chemical spills are a regular occurrence, then you need a floor that is going to stand up to those chemicals. When you have an epoxy coating over the concrete, the floor becomes stain and chemical resistant. The cleaner your floors are, the safer they are.

Easy Maintenance

Concrete is naturally durable. In businesses where the floor is subject to traffic from heavy equipment, concrete is less likely to suffer damages. Furniture, animal claws and heeled shoes are also less damaging to the surface. While you can damage a concrete floor, it isn’t easy to do it. In addition to being difficult to damage, it is also easy to maintain a clean, polished look. You only wax or seal it once every three to nine months. Between professional maintenance, you can clean the floor with a neutral cleaner.

Visually Appealing

A business needs to care about how its interior looks. The better your building looks, the more likely you are to attract clients or customers. Likewise, when your building is clean and tidy, your staff is more likely to be productive. The work environment can shape how an employee works. It can be difficult to work in an environment that is not well-maintained.

If you aren’t as interested in the standard gray concrete flooring, there are other options. Concrete comes in several shade options. You can color coordinate your floors to match the rest of the business. Also investing in concrete polishing Manhattan NY business owners choose for their floors can make the floors look even better.

When it comes to concrete flooring, you receive an affordable and durable option. Concrete can last for years and it takes minimal maintenance to keep up with. You can have visually appealing floors that stand out but also stand up to heavy machinery, chemical spills and more.

Starting a do-it-yourself home building project can be an exciting time for any new amateur builder. DIY home building plans are often the biggest and most extensive processes that many people take on and because of their complexity require additional measures, plans and precautions. Even for skilled amateur builders, there are certain portions of this project that you should leave to the professionals. Here are a few tasks that you should call the pros in for.

Electrical Wiring

When there poses a significant risk to your health and safety, this is the perfect time to call in professionals. Residential wiring Philadelphia fits that bill. Even if you have taken on minor wiring tasks before, you may want to call the pros in to avoid accidentally electrocuting yourself or potentially building a home that is untenable and unsafe to live in.

Roof Repair or Work

If your roof needs to be repaired or it requires some work, you may want to consider enlisting some additional help. Stepping out onto the roof without expertise in this area can put you at significant risk of injury. The last thing you want is to fall through the ceiling or to fall off the roof.

Plumbing

Running plumbing throughout your home is often much more complex than it looks. You will want to bring the professionals in to ensure that you avoid extensive damage to your home. Because of the way that pipes run throughout your home and their constant use, you will want to ensure that they are prepared and installed for the long-term. Keep in mind that even minor mistakes can lead to expensive and extensive damage that can ruin any home.

Home Inspection

Even if you decide to DIY everything else, make sure that you hire a professional for a home inspection. Not only can this help you avoid putting your family in potentially dangerous, risky and untenable living arrangements, but this can affect your future in other ways. If you miss key problems early on, this will surely come back to hurt your ability to sell the home down the line.

If you enjoy DIY projects, you may feel like you are ready for the ultimate project, building a home. While you may be skilled in certain areas, there are still some things that you should leave to the professionals. Don’t let your sense of craftsmanship and adventure get in the way of the home you have always dreamed of.

Wondering how you can turn your home into a relaxing staycation destination? Many homeowners are realizing that you don’t need to go far to experience relaxing and fun vacation vibes. Here are three great home renovations that will make you feel as if you’re on vacation every day.

1. Create an Indoor-Outdoor Room

One of the best ways to feel as if you’re on vacation without ever leaving the house is to create a four-season room. These rooms often feature large windows that can be adjusted according to your climate, letting in cool breezes in good weather. The experts in vinyl enclosures North Port FL will assist you in the design and construction of this relaxing feature. Add some cozy furniture and enjoy the soothing sights and sounds of the great outdoors in total comfort.

2. Build a Pool

Give your backyard a resort-style makeover by installing a custom swimming pool. The model you choose to install largely will depend upon your budget and the available space in your backyard. Luckily, plenty of attractive above-ground models give you the customization options that you’d see in a more expensive in-ground pool. Add unique features like an infinity edge or even a waterfall – it’s relaxing to hear the sounds of crashing water and it recirculates your pool, too.

3. Add a Spa

You can include a spa as part of your pool project to complete your home staycation transformation. Choose a self-contained spa unit – they’re easier to install than a built-in spa and they’re portable. To maximize your uses for the spa, select a swim spa model that uses the jets to create resistance that you can swim against, giving you a low-impact workout.

Turning your home into a staycation destination will transform your lifestyle. Follow these tips and you’ll turn your home into your favorite place to get away from everyday cares.