2015

Three Ways You Can Repurpose Cuttings From Water Well Drilling

Drilling for a well means that your contractor has to drill and dig a great way down through the soil and rock to get to water. If you do not want all of that debris in your water, there are ways to remove the soil and rock bits that spin off of the drilling blade. There are also a few ways that you can repurpose the cuttings rather than leave them lying around.

Care For The Property Over A Septic System To Prevent Damage

If parts of a septic system become damaged or if foreign materials enter its tank, it will require professional maintenance and septic tank cleaning to correct the problem. Learn some ways that you can care for the property above the septic tank to prevent damage to the system and extend the amount of time in between routine maintenance appointments. Plant Carefully If you would like to cover the ground that is above the septic tank with grass or foliage, select items that possess shallow root systems.

Three Ways To Add Curb Appeal To Your Home

Whether you are planning on selling your home or you just want to update the exterior of your property, there are lots of different ways you can increase the curb appeal of your home. Here are just a few ideas to help you create a beautiful look for your property that is sure to make your neighbors just a bit jealous. Repave Your Driveway After numerous winters and the damage that snow, ice and rock salt can bring to your driveway, it might be time to repave.

Stay Safe While Welding With These 4 Tips

If you have a welding project to do and want to try your hand at it, it is important that you do so in a safe manner. Here are some welding safety tips to keep in mind during any project. Read the Manual When you start welding, whether you've bought equipment yourself or are only renting it, you need to know how to use it. In your eagerness to start your project you might not want to consult the manufacturer's manual, but you should.

4 Signs You Need To Repair Your Roof

Catching small repairs before they turn into big ones is the ideal situation when it comes to your roof. It may take a little detective work, but there are some signs to look for when deciding if you need roof repairs or not. Here are four situations that call for a professional roofer to come out and make some minor repairs. You Have Signs of a Leak You may not have a puddle of water in your living room after a rain, but that doesn't mean your roof isn't leaking.

Summer Home Improvement Jobs You Should Contract Out (And Ones You Can Do Yourself)

Summer is one of the best times of the year to do a little home improvement -- the longer days allow for brighter working hours, and the weather tends to be a bit more stable than spring rain or wintertime snowfalls. But how do you know which jobs on your to-do list can be accomplished by a couple afternoon's honest toil and which ones should be left to the professionals? If you're looking for some help deciding what tasks will boost your home improvement ego and which ones put the 'why' in DIY, then here's what you need to know.

Three Ways To Clean A Brick Fireplace

Brick fireplaces can become unsightly over time due to general wear and tear. Soot buildup can be extremely hard to clean with just soap and water, but thankfully there are methods that can be used to restore your masonry's unique aesthetic. Before You Begin It's a good idea to wear rubber gloves and goggles while cleaning, as some of the chemicals and mixtures used to clean brick can irritate your skin and eyes.

4 Plumbing Projects At Home To Always Use A Professional For

Getting the plumbing in your home taken care of is an important part of being a homeowner, not only because it will help ensure you're not using more water than necessary but also because of the value modern plumbing will give your home. In order for you to be confident in the plumbing in your home, it's a good idea to make plumbing projects a priority when doing any remodeling.

Use Metal Roofing To Keep Fire And Ice At Bay

Living on the edge of civilization has its advantages. If you are a fan of hiking, biking, backcountry skiing, and other outdoor sports, living on the fringes of a forest gives you all the access you could ask for. On the other hand, building a house right next to a forest creates certain dangers. Heavy snows can spell disaster for a roof, and with a forest comes the risk of forest fires.

The Do's And Don'ts Of Using A Septic System

If you just moved into a home with a septic system, you might not be accustomed to how it works and what is expected of you. Instead of all your sewage going to a nearby sewer drain, your waste water will end up in the septic tank on your property, then be sent to a nearby drain field. Here are some important things to think in mind when using a septic system.

3 Misconceptions about Kitchen Cabinetry

So, you're thinking about remodeling your kitchen, but you're not quite sure what to do with your cabinets. You've thought about simply having them re-surfaced, but you know that by having new cabinets installed, you can make better use of your new space. You're leaning towards having custom cabinets done as a way of adding value and unique cosmetic appeal to your new space, but you aren't completely sold just yet.

Two Of Your Pressing Concerns About Garage Doors Addressed

Automatic garage doors have become an extremely common addition to many modern homes. While these systems operate under fairly basic principles, it is still possible for these devices to encounter serious issues that can lead to problems. This is especially true or homeowners that have limited experience and knowledge with automatic garage door systems. By learning the answers to some questions about this common feature on modern homes, you should find yourself armed with some of the information you will need to consider when getting the most from your home's garage door system.

Pros And Cons Of Rolled Roofing

There are many types of roofing to choose from if you plan to upgrade your roof, with rolled roofing being a popular option. While there are many benefits to this types of roofing, there are also some drawbacks. It helps to know the pros and cons to help make your decision: Pro: It is affordable Asphalt rolled roofing is one of the least expensive types of roofing materials you can get.

What Types Of Floors Are Best For Certain Ailments?

As long as they're clean and in relatively good shape, you may not spend much time thinking about the floors in your home -- particularly as these floors relate to your health. However, the several hours (or more) per day you spend standing and walking in your home can take a toll on your body if you don't have the right type of supportive floor underneath. Read on to learn more about how certain ailments can be harmed (or improved) by the type of floor in your home.

4 Main Demolition Techniques For Concrete Structures

If you are looking to tear down a concrete building or other structure, you could be wondering about the best way to get the job done. Obviously, you are probably better off if you hire a professional to help you with this project, but you might still be curious about what technique a concrete demolition company will choose. There are a few different options, and your contractor will choose the best one for your structure, its location and the contractor's overall experience.

How To Break Up Concrete Without Heavy Equipment

If you have a large concrete slab that you need to break up, this can be a major job. This is sometimes necessary if you want to remodel your backyard and remove your patio or you want to remove a concrete driveway and lay down another type of driveway material. It can be labor-intensive if you don't have access to heavy equipment. If you can't get your hands on equipment for removing concrete, the following tips will help you break it up by hand.

The Four Main Types Of Central Heaters

Central heating systems provide your home with heat and warmth during the summer months. There are four main types of central heaters, each of which operates in a different way to provide the same function. Therefore, each type of central heating system has a set of benefits that is unique, and understanding the differences between the four types of central heaters allows you to choose the model that best fits your needs.

5 Things to Consider When Searching for Perfect Furnishings for Your Pediatric Doctor's Office

Doctors who work with children regularly should always have an office that is comfortable for people of all ages. The furnishing your choose are more than just chairs and tables, they provide a welcoming atmosphere to your patients and their parents. In order to make sure that you make the right choice in your selections, here are five things to look for in your furnishings. 1. Cost. Of course one of the first considerations everyone makes when purchasing their site furnishings is the cost of the items.

Five Home Renovation Mistakes To Avoid

If you are planning home renovations in the future, there are plenty of things that you can do, but there are also a handful of things that you shouldn't. Here is a list of five common mistakes when it comes to home renovations that you should try to avoid. 1. Picking the Most Common Trends Getting on the internet and going to home improvement stores can help you get a feel for what you like, but sometimes it is easy to fall for what is trendy right now.

How To Install Molding Around Your Windows

If you have a track home, there is a good chance that the windows are simply recessed. This means there is no decorative molding and casing along the edge of the window frame. However, most doors have decorative casing and molding around them. This add a little bit of style and class to the doors. Some people want to give their windows the same style. This is a great home remodel that can easily make your windows much more dynamic.

3 Reasons Professional Furnace Maintenance Helps Save You Money

For almost every single home, a furnace is simply a necessity. Unfortunately, heating and cooling costs make up almost 50% of the average energy bill. Not only is the cost of operating your furnace a costly one, it can also be costly if something goes wrong with your furnace. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to help with that cost. Here's a look at three ways having your furnace inspected annually by a professional ultimately saves you money.

Your Home's Foundation: Starting With A Strong Beginning

The foundation of a home is where all of the structural weight of the home is placed. If your foundation is damaged, the entire structure could suffer as a result, which is why a solid base is so important. The type of foundation your home has can vary depending on location, the ground it sits on, or simply the choice of material the builder has decided to use. Before you purchase a new home, it's always a good idea to look into the way it is built, particularly what kind of foundation it sits on.

Need A New Roof On A Tight Budget? Consider Reroofing

If you need a new roof, but want to spend as little as possible, you should look into reroofing your home rather than tearing off the roof and replacing it. This saves you quite a bit of money, because the job goes a lot quicker, and you won't have to pay fees to haul off a bunch of old shingles. While reroofing might be the solution you need, you have to talk to a roofer to see if your home is suitable.

Masonry Mosaics In The Exterior Elements Of Your Home

When you want to have a durable and high-end surface around your home, yard, and pool, you likely will hire masonry contractors for tile-work. When you want to set your home apart stylistically, you may want to consider mosaics. Mosaics are intriguing patterns and designs in the masonry, which complements the surroundings and makes the property cohesive. Some ways to implement mosaic masonry around your home include: Patios There are many ways to implement tiled mosaics in your patio, including the floor, borders, and accents in the space.

3 Steps To Get Your Deck Ready For Summer Fun

As winter comes to a close, it is time to think about getting your deck ready for summer fun. Winter can do a number on a deck, so it is important to take some time this spring to bring it back to life. Here are the steps to take when getting the deck ready for warm weather: Look for any Signs of Damage In the spring time, it is important to take some time to inspect all areas of the deck to make sure there is no damage anywhere.

Three Ways To Help Your Roof Last Longer

When you pay hard earned money to a roofing contractor, you want to make sure that the roof you have lasts as long as possible. Your contractor can help you with this by sealing the roofing, adding a waterproof membrane, and helping you with any issues that could lead to wood rot or other issues. Beyond what the contractor can do, there are also ways you can help your roof last longer.

Is Your Concrete Swimming Pool Rusty? Discover Why It Should Be Resurfaced

The concrete surface of a swimming pool can become rusty from normal wear and tear over the years, especially if you have never gotten it resurfaced. Rusty concrete is not only a bad look because it can make the water appear dirty, but it can be dangerous. Discover why it is necessary for a concrete swimming pool to be resurfaced when there are noticeable signs of rust. Why Should a Concrete Swimming Pool Be Resurfaced When Rust Develops?

Three Tools That Every Woodworking Hobbyist Should Have To Make Their Shop Safer

If you work with wood as a hobby, you want to make sure that your shop is safe as possible. Things like cleaning your shop can help to prevent injury. Equipment like table saws can be extremely dangerous, and tools like a push stick to keep your hands away from cutting edges can help to make your shop safer. You may also want to add things like dust collection systems to keep the air in your shop clean and safe.

Three Roofing Materials That You May Not Have Heard Of To Use As Roofing On Your Home

If it is time to install a new roof on your home, you may want to use roofing products that are a little different than conventional asphalt shingles. Materials like slates, tiles and shakes are products that you may be thinking of, but they are not the only alternatives. You can also use things like stone slabs, solar shingles or metal shingles for your new roof. If you want to use a different type of material as the roofing on your home, here are three roofing products that you may have not heard of as roofing products:

Making Your Dream Cottage A Reality

Have you ever dreamed of settling down in a little cottage on the side of a hill, and watching the sunset from your back porch? Maybe you have been planning for years, and have the spot picked out already, but what about the cottage? How will you build it? Here are a few interesting options for making your dream cottage a reality. Hire a contractor and start from scratch. The most traditional route to building your dream home is simply to hire a contractor, purchase or create blueprints and have a construction crew build your new home from the ground up.

Preparing Your Roof For Winter

With winter setting in, you need to make sure that your roof is prepared to handle whatever winter weather Mother Nature throws your way. From the trees that grow around the house to your roof's construction, it's a good time to check things over and make the necessary repairs before winter sets in. Here are some tips for you to follow, including what to look for when you need a roofing contractor to fix major issues.

Springtime Rooftop Maintenance: Getting Your Roof Rainfall Ready After A Long Winter

When the sunshine starts to stick around a bit longer and the first signs of spring start to emerge from the ground, you will know that it will not be long before you start to see springtime precipitation hanging around. After you and your home have weathered yet another long winter, there are always a few maintenance tasks you need to tackle as the weather changes. One of the biggest concerns is making sure your roof is ready for the change in climate.