Renovations Archives - Page 6 of 11

July 19, 2019

What are the Ways in Which Moisture Gets to The Crawl Space?

Not every homeowner takes good care of their crawl space! There are times when water seeps into the crawl space, leading to cracks and foul smells. It is essential to address these issues. Also, you need to know the way moisture makes its way to the crawl space. When you join hands with a professional waterproofing service provider, you can get resolve a damp crawl space. The companies also inform you about how water enters the crawl space, such as:

The plumbing leaks

Today, several plumbing pipes supply the drain and supply lines. These pipes can run through the crawl spaces and leak as well. Not every homeowner visits the crawl space weekly. That is the reason why crawl spaces can leak and remain unnoticed. If that happens, it can lead to other issues as well. To know more about this, you can get in touch with Foundation Repair Kansas City.

The foundation vents inside the crawl space walls

The crawl space walls can also result in excess moisture. The reason to invest in these vents is to keep the crawl space dry. Sometimes, water vapor is responsible for the presence of moisture. The moment the outdoor air enters through the crawl space vents, it can maximize the humidity, and that can lead to crawl space problems that need to get remedied at the earliest.

Soil can also create result in crawl space problems

The other moisture source in crawl space is the uncovered soil. A part of the earth remains dry and uncovered for a long time. Homeowners think that this doesn’t place excess moisture in the crawl space air. But that isn’t true. Sometimes, a section of the soil gets covered with the plastic vapor barrier and can become wet. The main reason for uncovered soil to look dry is because it is always soaking in water inside the crawl space air.

Foundation walls

It might seem rather strange, but the foundation walls can also contribute to the moisture levels. The moisture can seep in from the outside ground, entering through the foundation walls. The crawl space that has vents doesn’t have a perimeter drain or a damp-proofing drain on the surface. Hence, the damp soil available out of the crawl space area can make its way inside.

There are several ways in which the crawl space gains moisture. In some homes, the backyard can slope down from the house and place an increasing amount of hydrostatic pressure against the empty concrete wall. It at times can make the crawl space accumulate water up to an inch or two. When it rains, the situation becomes more aggravating.

These are some of the ways that make the crawl space damp! Since not every homeowner examines this frequently, there are chances of crawl space dampness getting ignored until it becomes a severe issue. It is best not to be that careless about your crawl space. You can inspect this region frequently to have a clear understanding of the way it works. For this, you can deploy a house inspector as well. And as the moisture issues get detected, you can join hands with an ace service provider and resolve the water leaks and accumulation.
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June 30, 2019

Make Taking A Shower A Most Enjoyable Experience

Taking that morning shower or showering after a workout can be a very mundane activity, looked upon as a task that just needs to be done. Get in, get out, and get it out of the way. This activity, though, can be made much more pleasant if you’re stepping into your own custom steam shower. Make taking a shower a most enjoyable experience.

If you’re not too familiar with steam showers that you can personalize in a number of different areas, check out what some dynamic, leading manufacturers in the industry, like Thermasol, have to offer. People checking these showers out for the first time are surprised, and often amazed at how they can put their own shower together to get exactly what they’d most enjoy having in the shower area.

Thermasol, again, is a fine example of a company that really turns out superior products, giving the customer a world of options in which to select from. Their procedure is a step-by-step process to building your own custom shower, ultimately resulting in a fabulous system you can be happy to say you put together yourself. In this order, your selections on their particular site are as follows:

Generator

Control & Steamhead: the many options here include:

MicroTouch Control
Signature Control:
SignaTouch 5″ LCD Control
ThermaTouch 7″ LCD Control
ThermaTouch 10″ LCD Control
Total Wellness Package
Wellness Shower Package
Wellness Steam Package

Exterior Control: Modern (15 choices) or Traditional

Fog-Free Mirrors: choose from Avant, Cupola, Eclipse, or Rhombus

Shower Speakers

Shower Light: a wide variety of housing colors surrounding the round light

Shower Seats: Folding or Corner Install

Why steam showers?

There are many great reasons why homeowners opt for steam showers when newly building or doing a bathroom remodel. A couple of them relate directly to physical benefits. Steam helps you relax, improves circulation, and helps reduce muscle pain. Steam opens up the body’s pores and helps to release toxins through the sweating process. And steam has been known to help people get better quality sleep.

You can easily envision this. Instead of just getting up, stumbling into the boring old shower to get that part of the day done, you head to your new custom steam shower for that experience. Your digital shower’s design helps to create an environment of perfect water temperature (that you control), sound (through your waterproof speakers), steam and light. Who needs an expensive spa membership when you’ve got all this right in your own home? And this isn’t just some random special occasion. It can be every day, at any time, even more than once daily if you feel so inclined!

One other attractive feature to perhaps consider. Steam showers increase the home’s value by 31%. So that would be a wise investment, that would, in theory, pay for the new steam shower many times over.
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May 8, 2019

When Should You Downsize Your Home?

…It’s hard for anyone to move at any time; picking up all your belongings and relocating them to a new living space is both mentally and physically grueling. However, when you have settled down in one spot for decades, raised children there and enjoyed many, many milestones, it can be difficult to identify when you need to move on.

Empty-nesters everywhere often grapple with the idea of downsizing — when is the right time, if ever, to move to a smaller place, and should one do it economically and efficiently? Here’s a guide to downsizing your home, so you can decide what’s best for you.

Understand the Advantages

The advantages of staying put are obvious: You avoid moving. However, there are advantages to downsizing, too. Here are some of the big ones:

More time. When you have less space, you don’t have to devote quite as much time to home cleaning and maintenance. That means you could have more time to enjoy other things, like spending time with your friends or your adult kids.

Increased cash flow. If you are already paying a mortgage, selling your home and buying a smaller one with a smaller mortgage will free up some money that might be better devoted to other things, like hobbies, travel or medical expenses. Additionally, utility bills tend to be lower in smaller homes, which adds to the extra cash you might enjoy.

Fewer things. Studies show that people who own less stuff tend to be happier. This is because they expend less energy worrying about their belongings and instead invest energy in experiences or relationships, which tend to provide a greater return. Not only will you own fewer things, but you’ll have decreased the temptation to acquire new things because you won’t have space to store it.

Generally, when you start feeling stressed about managing your current household due to it size or scope, you should start planning your shift to a smaller space.

Have a Downsizing Plan and Schedule

Any time you move, you need a plan. Moving is always hectic, so having the ability to turn to a predetermined schedule is a good way to stay on task. Here is an example of a downsizing schedule that you might use during your move:

Start looking for a new living space. If you are transitioning to a senior living facility, you should tour your options — ideally those close to your family and friends — and compare prices. If you are investing in a new property, you can start looking at available options with the help of a real estate agent.

Make improvements to your current home. If you have lived in your current residence for some time, it’s likely that you need to make some updates to attract modern homebuyers. You can talk to your real estate agent to understand what buyers in your area are looking for.

Begin sorting through your belongings. There are dozens of ways to downsize your belongings. You might use this post from Oprah for some creative decluttering methods, or you can use the tried-and-true three-pile style. It’s a good idea to pace yourself, perhaps going room by room over the course of several months.

Organize the move. Once you have a move-in date for your new place, you can start arranging the details of your move. I used the web to compare Jersey moving companies, and you can do the same for your region. Decide what moving services you require and keep lines of communication open.

Change your address. You should contact your energy provider, your cable provider, credit card and insurance providers and everyone else to let them know of your move. It’s a good idea to submit a forwarding request with the USPS, and you might need to cancel some services and acquire new ones at your new home.

Your plan should be a bit more detailed than this one because it will incorporate details about your life. For instance, you should include must-haves at your new home, contingencies for pets, a floorplan of your furniture and more. Only after you have a plan in place should you launch your downsizing journey.

Appreciate the Emotion

Downsizing isn’t easy. Especially if you’ve devoted years and years to your current home, you will be loath to leave those memories behind. However, the benefits of downsizing are clear, and a smaller space usually leads to a happier life. If you allow yourself to experience the emotion of leaving your home behind, you will be readier to move into your new home.

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April 20, 2019

Forget Hobby Lobby: Home Projects You Can Do Yourself

DIY activities, projects, and home improvements are rapidly becoming a craze throughout the United States, which is great news for creative homeowners but also big box craft stores that stock and sell the desired materials to complete a project. Unfortunately, many DIY projects seem to rely too much on making items that aren’t really necessary. After all, how many mason jar candles can a person truly have? And if you want something truly different, it often feels like the only option is to go to Hobby Lobby.

Sometimes it feels like Hobby Lobby has a monopoly on individuals because it sells all sorts of decorations and craft projects for easy decoration. What are you supposed to do if you want to make a major creative change but don’t need more stuff? Well, forget Hobby Lobby because here are some home DIY projects you can actually do yourself that take up little space, spruce up an entire home, and can even improve the value and attractiveness of a house.

Install Wall Hooks

An easy DIY project that spruces up a home and creates more space is to install wall hooks or a wall-hanging coat rack to keep clothes, hats, and other items off the floor. Hooks and hangers can be bought from any regular store or made yourself through a little bit of creative metal or woodworking.

All you need to do to hang a wall hook is to find a good place and make sure there are no joists behind the desired spot on the wall. Then, installation is as easy as screwy the hook into the wall. These simple devices will reduce clutter and ensure you have more floor or closet space for other items like shoes, carpets, and maybe even a bookshelf.

Faux Flooring

Faux flooring is a major hit in modern interior decorating because it can be placed in a day, is easy to clean, and can then be removed without tearing up a room. Some of the most popular flooring types are laminate, fake tile, and floating wood. Laminate is easy to place like stickers since all you have to do is remove the paper on the back and lay down boards or tiles with the sticky side facing down. Fake tile, meanwhile, can come in one long sheet that you cut to accommodate a room and then place. Floating wood, meanwhile, is a series of boards that interlock with one another like a puzzle, forming an attractive floor with little work.

These DIY projects can take as little as a day and can be removed as easily as they were placed if you want to redecorate once again.

Sand and Smooth Wood

If you unfinished or untreated wooden furniture, door frames, or cabinets, then you know splinters and breakage can be a problem. As a DIY project, consider investing in a planer to smooth out edges and prevent further damage. Furniture and frames can then be sealed, painted, and decorated in a new style to match your creative whims. This is a beneficial DIY project because it improves safety, the appearance of the home, and can also raise the house’s value since it is more modern.

Splash the Paint

One final, popular DIY project is to bring out the paint. You don’t need more mass-produced decorations to make your home warm and inviting. Add splashes and pops of color throughout your home by painting the splash guard behind sinks and stoves, recoloring the door and window frames, or even just adding a new color to a well-used room.

You can even make your own art to hang instead of buying something from the store, which adds an individual touch to any room. If you have children, consider having them make a unique painting using their hands and feet, or just allow them to go creative. Over time, it can become a treasured or prized family heirloom.

Conclusion

DIY doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive, and it doesn’t mean you need to fill your home with unnecessary physical decorations. If you want to make a major change but have little time, space, or money, consider doing one of these four projects without needing a visit to Hobby Lobby for unnecessary decorations!
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