You’re a do-it-yourself type who’s always looked forward to homesteading – and now you’re ready to start building your new house. You’ve bought hillside property so you can have a walkout basement for extra living space. You may be trying to decide whether to do the basement excavation and construction yourself or to hire a professional. It’s smart to think about hiring an excavating contractor, since walkout basements have particular issues that can lead to wall failure if not constructed properly.…
Most homeowners are aware that plumbing leaks and other problems should be taken care of as soon as possible to prevent water damage and high water bills, but they do not look forward to spending the time and money to call a plumber. However, there are many plumbing problems that any homeowner can fix on their own without hiring a plumber. Here are a few basic home plumbing problems that you can fix without calling a professional.…
Did you know that your garage door makes up 30% of your home’s overall aesthetic appeal, and improperly insulated garage doors also contribute to the overall heat loss of the homes? Needless to say, the type of garage doors that you choose have a huge overall impact in the appearance, durability and energy efficiency of your home, so it is crucial that you make a choice carefully. Among all of the designs and styles on the market, most professionals would recommend shelling out the extra money to get a triple-layer garage door.…
Whether you’re aware of it or not, home windows have been evolving and improving for years now. Gone are the days of rooms that never seem to warm up because of a drafty window. Today’s windows are thicker, double and sometimes triple glazed, with insulating gas between layers, all the better to keep the cold out and the heat in. But window technology doesn’t stop there. Before too long, you may have windows that are able to do a lot more than just keep the weather outside at bay.…
So you feel like your house is a bit drab and looking a little shabby, but you don’t have the cash to spend on a huge remodeling project. In Canada the average homeowner will shell out $23,300 on remodeling projects, but that doesn’t have to be the case. There are a number of small remodeling projects that can give your home new life that you can do yourself, or hire a contractor to do it for a price that won’t overwhelm your bank account.…
As a new homeowner, one of the first priorities should be making sure that your new investment is secure. The best way to do that is through purchasing high quality, durable locks for all of your exterior doors. There are many different styles of locks that you can choose from, and understanding the function and advantage of each one will help you to choose the best fit for your situation.…
Piping in your home can last anywhere between 20 years to over 100 years depending on the type of materials that have been chosen and the quality of the installation. Years of wear will eventually have a toll on the condition of the plumbing, and it is not uncommon for cracks to begin to emerge. A single crack can leak gallons of water out on a daily basis. If your pipes have cracked, you may believe that your only option is to get it replaced.…
Investing in a new home heating system is a big decision. You’ll be living with your new furnace for up to 20 years, and the decisions you make now will impact how much money you spend on heating costs and how comfortable your home is during that time. In this article you’ll learn how to determine if now is the time to buy a new furnace, how to select the right furnace and how to ensure that your new home heating system will fit your needs.…
If you notice black stains or streaks on the shingles of your roof, you are most likely dealing with gloecapsa magma, or blue-green algae. This algae commonly forms on asphalt and wood shingles when it is warm and humid out. If you notice it forming on your roof, you may have many questions about it. Here are some frequently asked questions about algae on a roof.
Is Algae Harmful to the Roof?…
Sometimes it seems like no matter how hard you try to clean your windows, there is always a streak, mark, or smudge left behind. Although many people clean their windows 2 times a year, most use cheap spray cleaner and paper towels which moves the dirt around and adds more static charge to the glass (resulting in the attraction of even more dirt and dust). Three methods that you can use to more effectively clean your windows like a pro are:…
