You may not think about it often, but your bathroom is the most important section in your house — unless you’re a foodie because that would be the kitchen. Anyway, the bathroom is where you start the day and finish your skincare before tucking in the night. It’s also where you handle personal matters. This…
Read More “6 Signs That You Need to Remodel Your Bathroom Soon” »
The average lifespan of a house is 50 years. That means for more or less half the time that it stands, you’ll be paying for upkeeps. This includes all the little things that go into maintaining a healthy home environment: repairing leaks, replacing shingles, cleaning gutters…the list goes on and on! Now imagine what would happen if you’ve installed poor-quality gutters. This will eventually lead to mold infestations and other problems caused by water. Fortunately, some kind soul decided to invent gutter guards. But are they worth it, especially in colder places? Read till the end to find out!
A gutter guard is exactly what it sounds to be. It’s a piece of metal or plastic designed to fit above the gutters of your house. Installing an entire network of gutter guards can help prevent leaves, dirt, twigs, and debris from entering your gutters. As a result, there’s a less likely chance of water overflowing or clogging the drainage system.
Good question. As homeowners, you don’t necessarily think about this type of stuff until something goes wrong. On top of blocking out debris, there are also several advantages of gutter guards. Days of heavy rains or storms are when you’ll be thankful to have invested in these things. See, guards:
Keep in mind that this is just to name a few. You’ve got plenty of things to benefit from gutter guards. Without these pieces in place, gutters are prone to issues resulting in rainwater damaging exterior portions of your home, including paint jobs and siding materials.
So you already know how vital gutter guards are. But the question of whether or not they hold up during the cold winter months is still up for debate. After all, gutter guards are still a hefty investment, and they won’t work if installed incorrectly.
That said, while gutter guards are unlikely to suffer damage in winter conditions, the effect of ice on them can be detrimental to your gutters. How? You see, water can just pass through them with no problem. But with lower temperatures, water solidifies and creates possible ice dams. Being solid, ice, snow, and sleet can build up on the guards’ surfaces, making them heavier and causing enough pressure to break the fascia or downspout. In the end, you’ll end up paying more for the repairs.
If you already have gutter guards installed, don’t fret! Just make sure to hire professional gutter cleaning services to perform maintenance during fall. After that, be diligent in shoveling your roofs when it begins to snow.
Although gutter guards might seem like a great idea, it’s not practical to say that they’re the perfect solution to water damage. Obviously, there are some disadvantages to how they work. Some of them include:
Cutting right through the chase, colder climates don’t necessarily benefit from gutter guards. In fact, they’re more detrimental because of the possibility of ice dams damaging the system. Since it’s not advisable to install them, just be responsible for maintaining your gutters during the winter months.
Imagine a knight with no armor or a door without a lock. You might ask, what’s the point, right? There’s no protection or anything. That’s also how it goes for a house with no gutter system in place. See, gutters are essential to improve your home’s longevity because they protect the foundation from water damage….
Read More “6 Signs That Your Gutters are Potentially Destroying Your Home and How to Fix Them” »
Nothing’s more satisfying than picking out new paint colors, redesigning a room from the studs out, and getting to enjoy all your hard work for years to come. Home renovation can be satisfying for many reasons. It’s always an adventure going into unknown territory and taking on a project you have never done before. But at the same time, it can be an expensive venture. Not to worry, though. You’re guaranteed to save some with these nine cost-effective renovation tips below!
Take note. Add up all of your expected renovation costs and write them down. This should include any unexpected fees you might encounter during the project. Once you’ve done that, Finally, refer back to this budget regularly to make sure that you are sticking to it. No excuses unless it’s an emergency.
Much like the budget, another vital thing to do is have an idea of how long the project will take. Why? Because the timeframe hugely determines labor costs since you’re probably paying the workers an hourly rate per day. At the same time, you don’t want them cutting corners and attempting to finish the project quickly. This will likely end up in haphazard work that will trouble you later on. Instead, talk with your contractors about a realistic time frame and deliverables that you can agree on.
The best thing about the internet is that you can find all kinds of information and services without even leaving your home. The price comparisons and quality of service for traditional jobs such as painting, electrical, carpentry will be easy to compare online. However, keep in mind that price shouldn’t just be the only factor in your decision. Some companies might offer cheap rates, but you’ll end up with substandard work.
Good things take time, and this applies to your renovation project. If you rush, you might have to spend more on repairs or changes to details you don’t like. Don’t get carried away with your renovation project so that it becomes a reason for financial problems. Spend time planning and organizing everything from budgeting to the materials you need before starting anything.
There are some cases where your limit should never be crossed but remember, no one wants to see their dream house ruined because they failed to say no. Don’t try to force an option that skewers dramatically from your budget. If you want to save money on a renovation project, learn how to force yourself to say no and be contented.
The advantage of owning a home is that you get to choose exactly what changes you want. However, if you’re like most people, you probably don’t have enough budget to splurge on any appliance or furniture on the get-go. So be patient enough and wait for some of these things to go on sale. It might take a while but try to wait patiently because this will save you extra spending. Anyway, your home isn’t going anywhere, right?
A common mistake that many homeowners make is to purchase materials as they go along. It’s not much of a problem when you’re performing only minor changes. However, when you’re doing large-scale projects, buying materials in larger quantities instead makes more sense because you can negotiate with the supplier for discounts.
You don’t need to spend a lot of money on building equipment. Instead, you can rent it for lower costs. Consider renting the equipment first if you’re doing minor changes first, especially when you’ll probably just use it once.
An excellent way to get back on your renovation expenses is by selling old stuff. If you plan to install new appliances, then consider selling the ones you have at home instead of just letting them rust away in your storage area. The bottom line here is, sell your old possessions to purchase fresh, new ones.
There’s no such thing as a free renovation. But there is a cost-effective way to do it. Remember the tips above, so you don’t have to shell out insane amounts just to increase your house’s value. Cheers!
