(BPT) – Fall is here, and with it, cooler temperatures. Home renovation experts suggest now is the ideal time for homeowners to prepare their home for winter and think about home improvement plans that they can complete during the fall months. When it…
(BPT) – If you’re like millions of Americans, you’re doing some sort of home improvement project within the next year. Have you thought about how you’ll select your remodeler? Don’t be wooed by beautiful before-and-after photos — they are created to grab your attention and impress you, but they don’t tell the whole story.
For example, when you review a restaurant, you don’t base your rating just on the food. You expect an excellent experience, including a welcoming atmosphere and attentive service during the meal. Similarly, the overall impression of your remodeling project will be based on how you and your family were treated by the remodeling firm and its subcontractors from start to finish.
You can take the first steps toward a livable remodeling experience by asking your potential remodeler about what will happen during the project. Your home, in essence, will become a construction zone for weeks, months or longer. During that time, you and your family could be mired in a dangerous dust bowl, weeks away from seeing your living area turn into the showplace you envisioned.
Here are four key questions to ask contractors about ensuring a livable remodeling experience:
1. What is the work schedule and projected timeline for this project? Agree on a working schedule that fits with your family’s lifestyle, but be willing to make modifications when necessary. Make sure the timeline includes project milestones as well as other important dates, such as when a utility will likely be disrupted or paint fumes could be bothersome.
2. What are the potential risks associated with this remodel? While no one can predict every obstacle that will arise on a job site, both remodelers and homeowners should take safety precautions and be prepared for setbacks. Find out what chemicals, materials, tools and other equipment will be used in your home and how they will be stored when not in use. Being aware of potential dangers is key in keeping your family safe.
3. What are your dust control practices? Exposure to small dust particles can cause serious health issues affecting both the lungs and the heart, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The threat is magnified when anyone in the home has breathing issues, allergies or other chronic conditions. Select a remodeler that follows dust control best practices, including isolating the work area, sealing vents and air ducts and establishing negative air pressure while maintaining proper ventilation. Ask if they use an air scrubber to collect and eliminate dust particles before they’re able to migrate throughout your home.
4. How can I help you? That’s right — you, the homeowner — can be a help or hindrance to the progress of the project. Find out what you can do to make it go as smoothly as possible. In addition to keeping children and pets away from the work area, try not to distract or hover over your remodeling team so that they can work safely and efficiently.
A quick search online can provide insight on which top remodelers are in your area. As a homeowner, you also need to ask the right questions and communicate your specific requirements to the contractor, ensuring a smoother, more comfortable experience for everyone involved.
See how you can work with your contractor to ensure livable remodeling by following these tips.
(BPT) – Think of what has changed forever in the span of a decade. How do you watch movies at home? You’ve replaced the DVDs with digital streaming. How do you send a picture of your kids to your parents? You skip the printing and post it on social media or send a quick text.
Another thing you can add to the list of next generation living is home security. If you install a new system in your home today, you’ll find it easier to secure and control your home, while burglars will find it harder to pull off a home heist.
Today’s best security systems come with smart home technology and a mobile app, which allows you to remotely control your system as well as other devices like locks, lights, video cameras and even your thermostat. Modern systems also offer enhanced protection from crime, with professional monitoring for emergencies and wireless communication that can’t be defeated by a semi-savvy burglar with wire cutters.
“A next-generation security system combines state-of-the-art protection with the convenience of smart home technology,” says Matt Zartman of Alarm.com, a
Here are few changes Zartman has seen:
Smart features: One of the biggest challenges with traditional security systems is forgetting to arm the system. Once you leave home, you have no way to control it. Thanks to smartphone apps, that’s all changed. You can arm a modern security system with a tap on the screen of your smartphone, whether you are upstairs in bed tucked in for the night or hundreds of miles away on vacation.
Real-time news: An older system would only alert you when an alarm was set off. Today’s systems can alert you to a range of events via your smartphone. For example, you can get an alert when your kids arrive home, when a trusted contractor opens your smart lock, or when a video camera detects motion. You can also get notifications when something inside your home is accessed, such as a safe or a locked cabinet.
Upgraded protection: Older phone and cable-based security systems are easy to defeat because a burglar can cut the wires outside the home. The best modern systems use a wireless cellular connection to communicate. Even if your power is disabled or WiFi signal goes out, your home security system keeps you safe and connected.
Other emergencies: Tied into modern security systems is the ability to detect other emergencies in your home, such as detecting smoke or a carbon monoxide leak. They are even capable of alerting you when a water pipe bursts, so you can take action to prevent costly water damage.
If you are interested in learning more about modern security systems and how they keep your family safer and more connected when you are away, check out Alarm.com’s Smarter Home Security systems at www.alarm.com/blog.
(BPT) – Whether you plan to live in your home for years to come, or have an upcoming listing on your mind, now could be a great time to create an outdoor living space.Today more than ever, homeowners are seeking ways to maximize the footprint of their …
(BPT) – As September closes the door on summer with falling temperatures and leaves, many homeowners mistakenly slip into hibernation from yard work. However, this timeframe is crucial for prepping your yard for the coming winter- and positioning it to…
(BPT) – Cooler seasonal temperatures can have an impact on not only your home, but also your wallet. Along with adjusting your thermostat as the cooler weather embraces much of the country, weatherizing your home also has a direct impact on the amount of energy required to maintain a comfortable temperature indoors. Follow these five easy DIY home weatherizing tips to increase your home’s energy efficiency and lower the utility bill each month.
Turn on the humidifier. Increasing the humidity in your home during the cooler months adds moisture to your living space. This raises the “heat index,” making 68 degrees feel more like 76 degrees. Be sure to maintain a relative humidity in the home between 20 to 40 percent. As the temperature outside drops, lower this percentage so condensation does not form on the windows.
Seal the gaps. Areas such as windows, doors, attic hatches, vents and other seasonally-used areas are prime sources for air leaks, which can cause energy bills to skyrocket. To help maintain a controlled climate inside the home and prevent air from leaking in or escaping, weatherize these areas of your home by using a temporary sealant.DAP Seal ‘N Peel is an all-season, removable weather-stripping sealant you can easily apply to seal holes, cracks and gaps where air can pass through. It’s also waterproof, low in odor and dries to a clear finish. And when spring comes and you want to remove it, it peels away easily and cleanly, leaving behind no residue.
Add extra insulation to all areas of your home. Adding insulation to your home reduces energy usage and increases comfort. If your home uses less than 12 inches of insulation, chances are heat is escaping. Add insulation in the attic to prevent warm air from escaping. Also consider adding insulation in crawl spaces, under floors and against basement walls to stop the transfer of cold through the house.
Run your fan in the proper direction. There are layers of air in every living space that vary in degree of temperature. Because the warmest air is closest to the ceiling, running your ceiling fan in a clockwise direction in the winter months pushes the warm air up against the ceiling and then down the walls. This recirculates warm air through the room without a cool breeze and offsets the workload of the HVAC, lowering heat costs by as much as 10 percent.
Get a home energy audit. If you’ve completed the four tasks above and your energy bill is still unusually high, it might be time to request a home energy audit to pinpoint problem areas in your home. This will help identify the problem areas and help you make the necessary improvements for an efficient home. In fact, you could save 5 to 30 percent on your energy bill by repairing issues found in a home energy audit, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
Bonus tip!
Invest in a programmable thermostat. Prevent working your heating equipment overtime by installing a programmable thermostat to automatically raise and lower the air temperature based on the time of day or if you’re away from home. By turning your thermostat back even eight degrees for eight hours a day, you can save as much as 10 percent on your annual heating costs.
Why make your heating and cooling systems work harder than they have to each year? By taking steps to properly weatherize your home and increase its efficiency, you’re able to maintain a comfortable interior more easily, and save money in the meantime. To find the DAP Seal ‘N Peel and more DAP products to use in home DIY projects, visit www.dap.com.
(BPT) – Bulk buying often gets a bum rap. If you buy into common bulk myths, you probably believe ‘buying in bulk’ means going to a warehouse store to purchase bucket-sized jars of jelly or paper towel packages so large they barely fit in an SUV – all …
(BPT) – The growing season isn’t over with the arrival of cool weather. Until the first hard frost hits, you have time to plant, pick and plate delicious homegrown cool-weather crops – and save yourself some money in the produce aisle.
Favorable fall conditions mean growing cool weather crops is comparatively easy, with less care needed for a successful garden. Cool crops will start out strong, growing quickly and then slow their growth as days become shorter and cooler. You’ll also need to work less to protect your garden from destructive pests, as both insect and animal populations will taper off in fall. And since weeds will germinate less frequently, growing slower, weeding won’t be a time-consuming task. Finally, more rain and less sun and heat reduce the risk of crops falling victim to drought or too much heat.
Perhaps the greatest advantage of fall gardening is that you’ll have fresh, healthy produce on hand well into the cooler season. Many autumn vegetables can endure the first few frosts if you provide them with proper protection, like row covers, cold frames or cloche. Some varieties — like spinach, collards and kale — actually taste better when nipped by frost.
Fall growing tips
The first step to success is to know your growing season. In warm climates, fall crops can actually thrive throughout winter. In colder areas, the growing season will be shorter. Not sure when frost will arrive in your area? Check out the USDA frost map on the Bonnie Plants website.
Next, you need to ensure your growing spot is in tip-top shape. Regardless of where you choose to plant your garden – in the sunniest spot in the yard or in containers – it’s important to get the soil in shape; test the soil and add amendments if needed. Clear the ground and containers of any left-over garden debris, then add a 2-inch layer of mulch or compost, plus a balanced, natural fertilizer like Bonnie Plant Food, for a strong, healthy start.
Since fall’s growing season can be unpredictable, it’s important to give your garden every possible advantage. Get a jump-start and use transplants, like those offered by Bonnie Plants, in biodegradable pots, available at most garden retailers. They’re already six weeks old, so you’ll start growing right way, skip the volatile seed starting process and you’ll harvest six weeks sooner than if you start from seed.
Fall variety favorites
The plant pros at Bonnie Plants recommend some top performers for fall:
* Artwork Stir-Fry Broccoli — Also called stem broccoli, produces multiple long, edible stems with tender, bite-size heads instead of a single large head. This means you can harvest the small heads —perfect for stir-fries and sautéing.
* Brussels sprouts — Brussels sprouts are high in protein and vitamin C. These hardy “mini cabbages” grow along a thick stem and can stand up to frost.
* Bonnie hybrid cabbage — Cabbage heads will be ready to harvest when they’re firm and solid to the touch. Although they can withstand temps below 28 degrees, cabbages that go through a hard freeze won’t store as well, so be sure to harvest before temperatures drop very low.
* Georgia collards — The sweet, cabbage-like flavor of collards make them a favorite in southern dishes. Frost sweetens their flavor further, making collards a nutritious and delicious fall favorite.
* Spinach — A chill-loving green, spinach can produce abundant leaves ready to go from garden to table. Spinach is a nutritional powerhouse, and is high in vitamins A, C, K and E, as well as iron, maganese, folate and calcium.
* Cauliflower — Rich in vitamin C, cauliflower can withstand light frost and Bonnie’s can resist colder temperatures. Cauliflower is naturally low in calories and high in fiber.
Plant herbs too, like parsley, rosemary, thyme and onion chives; they’re wonderful culinary additions and they’re ready to harvest right away.
If you put proper practices into place this fall, you’ll get your garden off to the right start and reap an extra inning of a healthful and productive harvest. For more information on fall varieties and planting tips, visit www.bonnieplants.com.
(BPT) – As cooler temperatures begin to sweep the nation, homeowners are turning on their heat for the first time in months. With every degree increase on the thermostat, utility bills follow suit.
A warm, comfortable home shouldn’t cost you a small fortune. Luckily, there are some simple strategies for combating the chill while lowering heating costs at the same time.
Change the filters
The summer and fall months are a prime time for airborne allergens and microbes, which can clog furnace filters and inhibit airflow. This makes your furnace work harder and in turn, costs you more. Change your filters monthly to help open airflow and save money.
Embrace the sun
Want to help heat your home for free during the winter? Pay attention to the sun. Try opening curtains on south-facing windows and the radiant heat from the sun will help naturally heat your home. Just remember to close them at night to keep out the evening chill.
Use a programmable thermostat
You can save up to 10 percent a year on heating and cooling by simply adjusting your thermostat 7-10 degrees Fahrenheit for 8 hours a day, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Use a programmable thermostat to change the temperature for time periods you are sleeping or away from home. Some air conditioning systems can be controlled remotely through a smartphone app like “Smart AC,” which works seamlessly with LG duct-free system
Consider installing a duct-free mini-split system to provide zoned heating
Instead of moving air through ductwork as central heating and air conditioning systems do, duct-free systems deliver warm conditioned air directly into a room. Duct-free systems like those from LG provide high-performance zone heating, allowing homeowners to keep their bedrooms toasty warm at night when it’s frigid outside, while turning the heat down (or off!) in the rest of the home to help save energy.
Clear heat registers
One common mistake homeowners make is covering heat registers with furniture, toys or other items that block the heat flow. To improve heating efficiency, inspect all heat registers in your home and remove anything that’s blocking them.
Seal leaks and lock windows
Phantom heat loss is a huge energy drain. Test for leaks by using a flashlight to see if light filters through cracks or try pulling a dollar bill through. Then, seal air leaks around utility cut-throughs, chimneys and recessed lights with spray foam. Use caulk and weather stripping to seal windows and doorway drafts. Don’t forget to close and lock windows and doors. Locking pulls the components tight against the weather-stripping to block cold air from entering the home.
Consider installing an Energy Star certified heating system
Energy Star certified energy-efficient products provide superior performance while saving energy to help lessen the impact on the world
Use your fireplace wisely
The warmth and ambiance of a wood-burning fireplace are hard to beat on a chilly day. But to ensure you don’t lose valuable heat when the fireplace is not in use, always remember to close the damper when the fire is completely out.
Fill attic insulation
When was the last time you checked your attic’s insulation? Heat rises — so if you don’t have proper insulation in your attic, you’re losing money. Start by checking to make sure insulation is evenly spread throughout your attic. Then, visit energy.gov/energysaver/insulation to learn recommended insulation amounts for your region.
Lower your water heater temperature
Water heating accounts for about 18 percent of the energy consumed in your home, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Consider setting your water heater to a lower setting of 120 Fahrenheit and you’ll still enjoy hot showers without a utility bill that will scald you.
(BPT) – Birthday parties are an exciting time for all, from the party games to the presents and delicious cake, birthdays are an occasion for family and friends to come together and celebrate. There are so many ways to make a birthday party special, bu…