Tips to consider before you remodel

Choose the Best Options for Your Remodeling Project

When you are considering a home remodeling project, it is very important to plan appropriately. This ensures that you end up choosing the right materials and getting everything done within your budget. Once you have done the initial checklist, there are a few more things that you should consider before you start tearing down walls. Here are some lesser known tips to consider before beginning your remodeling project.

1. Don’t Under Design: It is no fun to check out your neighbor’s house and end up seeing the exact same interior design as you have in your home. Everyone likes to have a customized home experience. However, it is important that your design does not stray too far from the designs of the neighborhood. The value of your home can drastically affected. If you under-remodel, then you may end up lagging behind the design curve.
2. Don’t Over Design: It can be just as bad to go the other direction. If you end up overdoing it and vastly out-designing everyone in a ten mile radius, then you may certainly procure bragging rights. The issues is that your home value will be pulled down since your home is surrounded by those with a lower value. Try to stay within a reasonable distance of your neighborhood when it comes to remodeling.
3. Triple Check Who Is Doing the Work: The best remodeling professionals will have certifications and an extensive portfolio to show you when you consider working with them. Make sure to evaluate your options for getting the project done multiple times before signing a contract. It can save you money, and get you a better end result for your remodeling project.
4. Stay With the Times: Some remodeling trends are nothing more than a fad. Make sure that you are not jumping on a remodeling bandwagon when choosing your design. If your remodeling becomes dated, it can end up becoming wasted money down the road. Choose timeless remodeling designs so you will not need to do the job again the next year.

There are so many aspects to consider for your remodeling project, use the steps in this checklist to ensure that you have made the best design decisions for your home. Good luck and thanks or reading!

5 Tips for Environmentally Friendly Landscape Design

A great yard can add a lot of value to your home but what kind of effect does it have on the environment? Everything that you alter and all of the chemicals you use for landscaping are going to have an impact on the land they are exposed to. Here are 5 things that will keep your yard looking great and the environment healthy.

1. Conserve Energy

If you plan on having using landscape lighting, look into products that are solar powered. There are other ways of conserving energy in your home while landscaping. For instance, if you are planning on putting new trees in your yard consider their placement. If you have trouble cooling your home, place the tree so it blocks sunlight. If you have trouble keeping your home warm consider putting trees so they block winds. Having proper exhaust from your home heating source can help with landscaping as well. That way home heat is not wasted, and it will not potentially damage your plants.

1. Choose Native Plants

Plants native to where you live will require a lot less maintenance from you. This means they are resistant to the pests and weather in your area, and do not require any special chemicals that can be harmful to the environment to survive. Native plants attract native wild life, which includes beneficial insects.

1. Consider using Synthetic Turf

Bringing in non-native turf can be costly. This is because it’s difficult to maintain grass in a place it doesn’t grow naturally. This will not only conserve water, but it will be must less costly.

1. Consider Xeriscaping

This refers to a type of landscaping that involves choosing and designing based on what will have the least need for watering. While this requires a lot of planning, the benefits will be worth the effort.

1. Add Mulch

Adding mulch where you are growing plants will deter weeds and eliminate the maintenance that comes along with removing weeds. Not to mention the possible use of weed killing products. Most types of mulch will eventually decompose and enrich the soil.

5 Fireplace Safety Tips

Fireplace safety ensures that you have a great fireplace experience.

Lighting a fire in your fireplace is one of the most relaxing things you can do, especially during the cold Midwest winter months. It adds a warmth and atmosphere to a room that you can’t get any other way. While it provides a great gathering place for your family, it can also be a risk if you do not take proper precautions. If you haven’t lit many fires in your life, then you may not be aware of what it takes to maintain your fireplace so it’s safe to use. Here are 5 fireplace safety tips.

Keep Children Away From the Fire

This goes for pets as well, but never leave a fire unattended when there are children around. Depending on the age of your child, be sure to teach them about fire safety as well so they understand the risks involved. While it seems fairly intuitive to keep children away from a fire, make sure that they do not play around the fire or with tools around the fireplace. Even if the fireplace is covered with a glass plate, these can still become hot enough to cause injuries.

Make Sure the Damper is Open

If you have used a fireplace before you most likely know this. A good way to check if your damper is open or not is to light a match in your fireplace with the window open and blow the flame out. If the smoke goes up then it is open, if it goes out of the fireplace then it is closed. If the smoke rises, it is vital to make sure that the opening of the chimney is not blocked by debris or an ice dam.

Don’t Put Anything in the Fireplace that Shouldn’t be there

Don’t try and dispose of any extra paper or trash in your fireplace and certainly don’t try and cook anything in it. In this case I think the most common mistake people make is that they overload their fireplace. Don’t put too much wood in your fireplace, if anything put less and you can add more if needed. Don’t put anything near the fire that’s combustible.

Have your fireplace Cleaned at Least Once a Year

If you are building fires in your home it is essential that you have the chimney cleaned professionally at least once a year. If you just moved into the house and have yet to use the fireplace be sure to have it checked. Flammable material can build up in your chimney and become a fire hazard.

Have the Proper Set up

You don’t want to have a burning log that needs moving and realize you don’t have the tools to do it. Having the correct tools for a fire. Setting up a metal screen on your fireplace can prevent burning embers from falling and catch shifting logs.