First Seen on: 10 Home Improvement Projects to Tackle This Summer via Blogger 10 Home Improvement Projects to Tackle This Summer
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While remodeling a kitchen is well worth the investment, being mindful of a budget is necessary for almost all projects. Knowing which aspects of your remodel will be worth the extra time and money is an important step in getting the most out of any remodeling project. Consult your local Kansas construction and remodel company to better understand the details of your upcoming kitchen remodel.
Article Source here: Where to Save and Splurge in Kitchen Remodels via Blogger Where to Save and Splurge in Kitchen Remodels 4/15/2018 0 Comments TestThe most important way to help yourself avoid costly roof repairs is to regularly inspect it for damages. A lot of homeowners let their roof damages sit for months or years before getting them repaired, and this can end up costing them tons more money in the long run. Your family-run Wichita roofing company can help with inspections and repairs, so that you don’t have to worry. Here is a guide to help you inspect your roof and prevent further issues: Inspecting Your Roof to Get Ahead of Problems Your roof takes care of you — return the favor with a yearly inspection that’ll stop moisture damage and head off expensive repairs. A roof inspection is one of those preventative maintenance jobs that’s easy to overlook. Don’t. Add a once-a-year reminder on your calendar to go out on a warm day and fix any problems you find. If you’re squeamish about heights, don’t worry. You can do a thorough inspection from the ground using a pair of binoculars. Or, you can get up close and personal with your roof using a ladder. However, there’s no need to get up on your roof just yet. The less you walk around up there, the better for your roofing— and the safer for you. Work your way around your house, noting any potential problems. Here’s what to look for:
If you find piles of colored grit from asphalt roof tiles in the gutters, that’s a bad sign — those sand-like granules cover the surface of roof shingles and shield them from the sun’s damaging ultraviolet rays. Check the age of your roofing and see if it’s nearing the end of its life cycle. Easy Fixes for Roofing Problems Any loose, damaged, or missing shingles should be replaced immediately. Check for popped nails that need to be hammered back in place. Metal and vinyl flashing around chimneys, skylights, and attic vents that has separated needs to be resealed with caulk. However, flashing and vent boots that are beginning to rust or deteriorate should be replaced. Clearing Your Roof of Moss Moss eradication begins in the fall. Apply a moss killer intended for roofs (granules for lawn-use contain iron which will stain a roof). In the spring, use a broom to remove remaining dead moss. Spread moss killer along the ridge of the roof and on any remaining green patches. Cost: $20 for moss killer to treat 3,000 square feet of roof. Allow about three hours to sweep the roof, clear the gutters, and apply the granules. Be Alert to Early Signs of a Roof Leak A yearly roof checkup is great, but problems can occur at any time. Early signs of trouble include:
If you find worrisome signs, especially if the roof is old or there’s been a storm with heavy wind or hail, get a professional assessment. Some roofing companies do this for free; specialized roof inspectors, like those who work through the National Roof Certification and Inspection Association, charge about $175. Replacing Your Roof If your asphalt roof is 15 years old or more, it may be due for replacement. You’ll recover a healthy 105% of that investment if you should decide to sell your home, making a roofing replacement job the only project in the “Report” that repays more than the initial investment. Not only that, but you’re bound to be glad you replaced your roofing. Homeowners polled for the “2015 Remodeling Impact Report” gave their new roofing a Joy Score of 9.7 — a rating based on those who said they were happy or satisfied with their remodeling project, with 10 being the highest rating and 1 the lowest. Find out more at houselogic.com Article Source right here: How to Regularly Inspect Your Roof to Prevent More Expensive Repairs via Blogger How to Regularly Inspect Your Roof to Prevent More Expensive Repairs Living in the heart of tornado alley isn’t always easy. We experience a lot of severe weather here in Kansas all year round, and it’s important to know what you can do to help protect your family and your home from storm damage. Reliable Wichita roofers can always help you with roof repairs or replacements, but here’s some ways you can help weatherproof your roof before disaster strikes: Tips on How to Weatherproof a Roof No matter where you live in the United States, there will be times when you are going to endure harsh natural conditions, which is why waterproofing your home is important. This process begins with the roofing system. There's probably nothing more important about a home's construction than the roof. When you get into the Midwest and the Northeast, where there's lots of snow and severe temperatures, the concern for the roof is that it will perform well under a wide range of temperatures. There are a couple of things you can do to prevent leaking and damage from ice dams:
Note: The attic is a particularly important place in most houses because it's the barrier between the outside and the ceilings of your home. This is why it's vital that there are NO leaks in the attic or the roof that can come into the interior of your home. The roof system is also instrumental in fire protection. A significant number of homes are saved because they are made with fireproof materials. If you can, put a roof on that consists of non-flammable materials -- steel metal roof, tiles or asphalt shingles, for example. Did You Know? Approximately 80 percent of homes that are roofed today in the new construction area are done with fiberglass shingles. Fiberglass shingles are made from a thin layer of fiberglass surrounded and coated in weathering grade asphalt. Specially designed granules are then applied to the surface of fiberglass shingles, providing fire protection and color. Read the full article at diynetwork.com Article Source right here: How to Weatherproof your Wichita Roof via Blogger How to Weatherproof your Wichita Roof 4/13/2018 0 Comments Spring Cleaning and Maintenance Things You Absolutely Have to Do Before SpringtimeSpring cleaning doesn’t have to be hard. While some homeowners struggle with it and they have a lot of problems dealing with scheduling all their tasks properly, there are many important organizational tasks you can consider that will make cleaning your home a lot easier.
The main theme is to stay organized. Your house won’t be so hard to manage as long as you have this aspect taken care of. Determine which areas of your home to clean first, which ones are less important, and how long you estimate each task to take. Also, make sure you have a detailed checklist of all the cleaning agents and materials that you will require.
Don’t settle for less when it comes to the quality of the equipment and tools you’ll need for home cleaning during the spring. Get the best vacuum cleaners, deep carpet cleaning tools and microfiber cloths to make sure everything goes smoothly.
Finally, don’t forget to take some time off from work. Instead of struggling for days on end with spring cleaning tasks, ask your boss to grant you an additional 1-2 days of time to spare – for example on a Thursday and Friday – so that, together with the weekend, you’ll have a total of at least four days left to take care of the entire home cleaning process. If you are thinking of a bigger job, like a remodel contact http://penneyroofing.com to get the job done professionally. Originally Posted right here: Spring Cleaning and Maintenance – Things You Absolutely Have to Do Before Springtime via Blogger Spring Cleaning and Maintenance – Things You Absolutely Have to Do Before Springtime If you’re moving to Kansas, first consider which neighborhood and then consider which school would be best for your little ones. There are many great neighborhoods to choose from, a good thing to look at is the exterior of the homes in the area. You can always tell a good neighbor by how they take care of their home, updated Wichita roofing is always a good indicator. There are a lot of great options to choose from so be picky. Most of the best schools in the state are found in Kansas City, and you’ll find some of them are at a competitive level when compared to the national average:
Original Post over here: Where Are the Best Neighborhoods in Kansas and Which Ones Should You Consider? via Blogger Where Are the Best Neighborhoods in Kansas and Which Ones Should You Consider? Being weather-ready is important no matter where you live. But when it comes to Kansas, you can never be too sure of when the next storm or tornado might hit. So making sure you, your family and your house are always prepared for what could come should be one of your first priorities.
Kansas storm damage can be severe. However, survival and insurance experts can give you an important checklist of what to do before a storm hits:
First Seen right here: Preparing for Storm Damage Season in Kansas – Important Things You Need to Know via Blogger Preparing for Storm Damage Season in Kansas – Important Things You Need to Know Concrete siding is a more expensive material to choose for your home. However, according to many experts, this added expense is well worth it, since you’ll not only be gaining access to a high quality, durable siding material that was built to be virtually maintenance-free, but also to a beautiful and highly customizable type of siding that can even be adjusted to mimic stylish wooden siding with its design. One of the greatest advantages that sets concrete siding above other types of siding materials is its durability and resilience. It’s well-known that wood starts to fade after a few decades, and vinyl can be damaged much sooner than that. In contrast, concrete siding can last for well over half a century, and it will withstand high winds, storms, hail, snow and even fire without any extensive or irreparable damage.
Although it’s not indestructible, concrete siding can easily be replaced or repaired. Also, there are many expert contractors like Penney Construction who specialize in concrete work, and would be more than happy to provide you with an affordable quote.
Finally, the stylish appearance of concrete siding will make your home stand out even in the richest of neighborhoods. You can impress your friends and relatives with unique, modern designs, or opt for a more traditional, pleasant look that will help take away your worries each time you return home from work. Original Post over here: Should You Get Concrete Siding or Opt for Something Else? via Blogger Should You Get Concrete Siding or Opt for Something Else? There are all sorts of home renovations and upgrades out there, and it can be hard to sort through the options and choose what's best for your home and family. Whether it's insurance claims, kitchen remodels or roof repairs, your expert Wichita roofers and contractors can help with whatever you may need for your home or business. Here are some energy-efficient and value-increasing projects for inspiration: 7 Projects That Add Value to Your HomeMany projects do add value to your home, and improve your family’s quality of life. By working on these projects now, you can enjoy the benefits and updates. If you make green upgrades, then you can also start recouping your investment in these green energy technologies once you complete the projects. Some home improvement projects that add value to a home include: 1. Remodeling the KitchenMost people consider the kitchen to be the heart of the home, and because of this, updates in this room pay off. According to HGTV, you can expect to recoup 60%-120% of your investment on a kitchen remodel, as long as you don’t go overboard. You should never make your kitchen fancier than the rest of the house, or the neighborhood. A Little Paint Goes a Long Way You might want to consider using low-VOC paint; this makes your kitchen more eco-friendly, and helps your family avoid breathing in dangerous chemicals, like benzene, that off-gas from regular fresh paint. 2. Bathroom AdditionIf your home only has one bathroom, you can recoup a large chunk of your investment by adding another one. HGTV estimates that you can recoup 80%-130% of whatever you spend adding a bathroom. When it comes to finding room in your house for an extra bathroom, take a look at any extra rooms or underutilized spaces. Consider other spaces, such as closets or areas under the stairs, too. If you want a half-bath you need at least 18 square feet. If you want a full bath, including a stand-up shower, you need at least 30 square feet. If you want a bathtub, make sure you have at least 35 square feet to work with for a bathroom addition. 3. Reinventing a RoomAdding more square footage to your home with a new room can be an incredibly expensive project. Although you can recoup some of your investment, anywhere from 50%-83%, this project’s costs can quickly spin wildly out of control. Just turn on any of those home remodeling TV shows; projects that start off with a $15,000 budget quickly turn into $30,000 or more when homeowners and contractors run into unexpected problems. Reinvent the existing space in your home to save money. Finish a basement, or convert the attic to a bedroom. Before you demolish walls and rafters, try to think about the ways that you, and potential buyers, can use the space:
4. Adding Energy-Efficient WindowsThese days, buyers shop for homes with energy efficiency in mind. Old, drafty single-pane windows are a major turn off. Energy Star claims that adding Energy Star-rated windows can save you up to $500 a year in heating and cooling costs by making your home more energy efficient. According to HGTV, you can expect to recoup 60%-90% of your costs when you invest in energy-efficient windows. You can also receive a green energy tax credit of 10% for this upgrade, as long as you install Energy Star-rated windows. You might also qualify for additional credits from your state, or even your utility company. 5. Deck AdditionAdding a deck increases the value of your home. Outdoor living spaces have become more desirable, especially since more people stay home for vacation (i.e. referred to as a staycation). If you make your deck and your backyard more appealing, your house will be more appealing to prospective buyers when you decide to sell. HGTV claims that homeowners recoup 65%-90% of their investment by adding a deck. The cost of adding a deck to your home varies widely. Everything depends on its size, and how many bells and whistles you want added, like built-in seating, multiple stairs, built-in flower pots, and the size of the deck. Decks can cost anywhere from $1,200 to $10,000, or more. Again, it all depends on the design and materials used. 6. Energy-Efficient InsulationIf your home lacks basic insulation, and has old doors that let in plenty of hot and cold air, home inspectors working with potential buyers will include this in their reports. Homes that haven’t been modified with energy efficiency in mind cost more to live in and maintain. Updating your home to save energy doesn’t have to cost a lot of money and can make your home more appealing to potential buyers. You can save $2,500 or more each year just by making some changes. For example, you can add extra insulation to your attic for $200 or less, and this small change can save you hundreds each year on your utility bill. Seal cracks around the house to save even more money on energy costs, and to make your home more appealing to buyers. The U.S. Department of Energy (USDE) estimates that the average house has enough leaks to equal a 3×3 foot hole in the wall. You can find leaks in your home during the winter. Anytime you feel a draft or cold spot, you’re in an area that leaks air. You can often discover leaks, and areas that need more insulation, in these areas:
7. Basic UpdatesBasic updates add the most value to your home. Keep the paint fresh, fix the roof when it leaks, replace wood that rots, and get rid of any mold that you find. These types of chores keep your home from deteriorating over time. Buyers want a healthy, solid, safe home, and they look carefully for signs of routine maintenance. I’ve replaced the electric wiring in my home, repainted the outside, replaced the plumbing, and repainted the interior. These projects keep my home in tip-top shape so that when I do decide to try and sell again, buyers will see a well-cared-for home. — Read more at moneycrashers.com First Seen on: 7 Renovation Projects That Add Value to Your Home via Blogger 7 Renovation Projects That Add Value to Your Home |
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