Expensive Hazards Around Your Home and What You Can Do About Them

All homeowners have maintenance that they need to take care of on occasion. However, some of these problems can actually become safety hazards, so they need to be taken care of right away. Here are some expensive hazards that can occur in your home as well as some ways that you can fix them.

Loose Flooring

Your flooring isn't meant to last forever. After a certain amount of time, you may notice that it no longer adheres to the floor as it once did. This can lead to you and your family members tripping or falling over loose floorboards, torn carpeting, or curling linoleum. If you do notice that your flooring is loose, try not to walk on it until you are able to get it replaced. Some homeowners try to tackle this project themselves, but it's best to leave it up to the professionals in order to make sure that it's done properly.

Dying Trees

Trees can start to die and rot because of things like harsh weather conditions or pests eating away at them. The tree's branches can become an expensive hazard as they can fall on your home if not taken care of. If you notice that you have a tree that's starting to rot, contact a tree removal service, like Pete & Ron's Tree Service, Inc., so that they can remove this tree from your yard for you.

Water Leaks

Many homeowners may have a water leak behind one of their walls that they aren't even aware of. Fortunately, there are some signs you can keep an eye out for that tell you this is occurring. If you notice that there's a water spot or peeling paint on one part of the wall, or if the wall is wet or feels soft, you may have a water leak. You can fix this by having a plumber come out to repair it for you. Don't put off having this fixed as it can turn into a catastrophic situation fairly quickly.

Broken Windows

A window can break for a variety of different reasons from kids playing in the yard to a burglar seeking entrance or a storm with high winds. Once a window is broken, though, it can put you and your family at risk. Fortunately, windows usually aren't that expensive, and a professional may be able to replace it in as little as a few hours.

While expensive hazards aren't something that any homeowner wants to deal with, they tend to be unavoidable. As you can see, you may encounter all sorts of expensive hazards in your home, but they can all be fixed. In order to keep the damage and costs to a minimum, you do need to take care of them quickly. This will ensure that you don't inadvertently put your family in harm's way. 

Ways To Update Your Outdated Kitchen

Due to the pandemic, the kitchen has now become a place to entertain guests as well as prepare food. Whether it’s two people getting together for a date or a larger gathering of friends, a kitchen’s seating area can easily become crowded, which is why it should always look its best. Here are a few ways to update your outdated kitchen that will give you a fresh look and a welcoming and spacious feel.

Appliances

Look at your appliances. What message do they convey? Stainless steel is a classic, ever-popular look that makes a kitchen feel modern. Consider the condition and appearances of your current appliances and determine if any of them need an upgrade.

Flooring

When it comes to flooring, you have lots of options. A lot of older kitchens have linoleum or tiling. When exploring options, look at laminate and vinyl planking. These flooring materials have come a long way. Both are water-resistant.

You can get them in patterns that look like hardwood, which is always a classic look. They come in an array of colors and are easy to clean and maintain. Changing the flooring to laminate can be done in a day and can significantly alter your kitchen’s look.

Cabinetry

Many older kitchens are filled with cabinetry both on the walls and below the counters. The issue with abundant storage space is that we continue to fill it with things we don’t need or rarely use.

If you remove the cabinets and install open shelving instead, you’ll have more storage space. Additionally, if you paint the walls a fresh, light color, your kitchen will look and feel much larger.

Seating

When selecting seating, match your choice with the rest of your kitchen’s theme. Link your kitchen’s theme to the seating by using matching colors or patterns. Additionally, you want your guests to feel cozy and comfortable, so make sure your seating is comfortable, as well.

Countertops

A fresh countertop is another change that can update your kitchen. You have lots of options. If you’re willing to spend to get new and quality materials that fit your overall look, great. If you have a smaller budget but love the look of quartz, there are DIY options where you put epoxy over your existing countertops to create a whole new look.

Lighting

Consider if you’d like soft light, fluorescent, or something else. Many bulbs and fixtures work to save energy, which is great. You can also install dimmers to give you more illumination while cooking and less when you’re visiting with your guests.

There are many individual and useful ways to update your outdated kitchen. Each will get you closer to an overall look that will enhance your space the way you want. Start with your desired theme and go from there.

Guest Post - Important Questions When Choosing Flooring for Your Dream Home

To transform your house into the dream home you have always been searching for, you need to sort out its decor. You may have already chosen the paint that perfectly match for those lovely kitchen cupboards and the woodwork in the hall. But now you are going to have to face up to the most difficult choice of all - picking your home's flooring, you might think the decision's nothing more than saying yes. But it is a decision that you will need to consider before rushing in.

Just think, are you getting tired of staring at the same colors on the walls? It's so easy to change them. But what about changing your floor? Well, there is a predicament you don’t want to have to confront for a long time. It is not just the disruption of moving all your furniture, it is the expense of replacing the flooring itself.

But how do you know what you will like in the future? How can you be sure that you have chosen the right materials and designs for every room in your house? While you are thinking over this big decision, you need to keep the following questions in mind.

Is that Gorgeous Hardwood Flooring going to Please Me Long-Term?

There is an incredible choice of flooring materials that are ideal for every room in your home. You can pick linoleum, engineered wood, laminate or tiles. Hardwood flooring is a popular choice that looks amazing. However, it does have a few drawbacks. It is not only more expensive for every square foot than any other flooring, but the surface can be a bit delicate.

A popular alternative is engineered wood. It has the same classic elegance and earthy tones as hardwood. It's also really durable and perfect for busy homes where you can easily end up with spillages and a heavy footfall. Laminate is a more affordable option, but it lacks the top layer of real timber that engineered wood has. When you are trying to decide on your flooring, it's best to think how you'll be using each room.

Do You want the same Flooring throughout Your Home?

Many new build homeowners have chosen the popular mixed flooring option. They will put the same flooring throughout the lower floor, then choose carpet for upstairs. They often feel it improves the flow of the house while making it appear larger. However, you might think it's a bit too much the same, especially as some rooms can suit different styles more than others.

If you go for this option, think about how you will use each room. In a busy hallway or kitchen, you will need the flooring to be far more durable than in a less used space such as a home office or guest bedroom.

What do You Think about Colors?

The color of your flooring can make such a difference to your home. One of today's most popular tones is grey. It complements all the woody, earthy shades of your furniture without overwhelming a room with too much brown. But sometimes grey can look a bit cold. It's best to stick with all the walnut and oak colors if you love to make your rooms cozy and warm. For a classic look, you could even choose the dark, slightly reddish tones of mahogany.

A good idea is to identify how the sun streams into each room. If a room has lots of sunshine each day, it will already have a warm, bright appearance. But any room without much sun is going to start off cool and dull.

Conclusion

After that, you will have to think about the type of design you'd like to see every day. How about floorboards that are long with a good width? Or what do you think about a chevron design that has got narrow points that look great? Can a regular herringbone style stand up well to the passing years?

It is best to remember that fashion trends, even in flooring, tend to have their day, then they are gone. Whatever styles you keep seeing on Pinterest or Instagram, it is always best to choose a flooring design that you feel you will still like in five years.

Author Bio: This article was written by Martin O’Callaghan of Wood Flooring Ireland. Martin is an expert in timber flooring with over two decades experience.

Guest Post - Essential Care Tips for a Metal Roof

Homeowners across the United States are quickly realizing the benefits of investing in a metal roof. This is especially popular for those within hotter climates as roofs made with metal materials such as steel absorb much less heat than the typical asphalt option. However, homeowners who may have never had a metal roof in their life may not have the right information in terms of its required maintenance. Thus the following includes a few of the most essential care tips for a metal roof. 

Yearly Corrosion Inspection 

It is well known that metal is susceptible to corrosion if enough water interacts with it. That is why it is so important to have a yearly inspection of your metal roof to see if any water has been pooling up. Pooling is caused by a variety of things, such as a strong thunderstorm or heavy rain season. However, they are also caused due to poor drainage system installation or a lack of maintenance on them. Your gutters are essential for a long-lasting rooftop and need to be regularly cleaned to prevent water from trying to find a way through your roof instead of just off of it. Corrosion is extremely damaging and often the reason why there's a need for total metal roof replacements. 

Cutting Long Tree Branches 

It is often not the lack of maintenance on the roof that causes damage to it but rather the tree branches around it. During violent wind or thunderstorms, branches can snap and slam hard onto your roof. If the branch is heavy enough and thrown with enough power, it can penetrate the material and, due the natural durability of metal roofs, is the one of the more common reasons you can incur damage. This is why it is imperative that either you or a professional take the time to trim these branches each year. 

Keep It Clean

Although it is certainly important to take steps to diminish potentially dangerous and costly repairs, it is also important to concentrate on maintaining your roof's aesthetics. After all, your roof is one of the most noticeable things on your home and a big factor in your overall curb appeal. You can keep your metal roof looking great year-round by simply ensuring that you take the time every few months to clean off any dirt, mud, and other debris that has accumulated. In addition, you may take this time to inspect your metal roof and apply the tips listed above. 

Metal roofs are a great addition to any home; however, it is important to understand the maintenance requirements that they come with. Utilize the tips listed above to ensure that your metal roof will last you for years to come.

Author Bio

Meghan Belnap is a freelance writer who enjoys spending time with her family. She loves being in the outdoors and exploring new opportunities whenever they arise. Meghan finds happiness in researching new topics that help to expand her horizons. You can often find her buried in a good book or out looking for an adventure. You can connect with her on Facebook right here and Twitter right here.