How Gray Slate Can Enhance the Outer Look of a House

Slate is a beautiful type of stone that is natural in its make. It may consist of a variety of different minerals and compositions, which will affect how it looks in terms of its colour. The purpose of the slate will also determine what size it will end up being. 

Slate tends to be more expensive than other materials that are used for roofing. The size and type of the material will also have an impact on its final price. Here, our focus will be on how gray slate can enhance the outer look of your house.

Design and Color Variation of Slate

The texture of the slate will determine its style. Mixed slate is very commonly used for roofing purposes. The random width style and the standard pattern style are the most common of all of the roofing patterns. 

Black and gray slates are most common for roofing. However, you can choose from a wide array of other color variations if you wish. Light gray, medium, and dark are just some of the color variations that you can choose from for your roofing needs.

Different types of slate may also be combined in order to create a unique look. For example, brick color, cold siding color, and cold stone slate may be combined in order to form roofing material to build homes. 

Features of Slate Roof

Slate is part of the homogeneous metaphoric family or genus. The lifespan of slate is quite remarkable, making it a superb choice for your roofing needs. In fact, properly maintained slate can last for over a century. There is also no additional paintwork to worry about when using slate.

Safe and durable, slate is considered a “forever roof” material. In most cases, the contractor will install the roof once, and then you will never have to worry about it again for as long as you live.

Usage of Gray Slate to Enhance the Outer Look

Those looking for a rustic and cozy feel should look no further than gray slate. Gray slate has the ability to add an air of history to any home. It can also help soften things up if needed. You can use it as your whole house color if you want.

It is considered a timeless color by many design experts. It can also be used as an accent if you wish. As well, if you are working with other shades of gray, then gray slate can be blended with the other shades if needed.

Easy, rustic, soft, and timeless, gray slate can add a touch of class to your home. Many homes that are built today have a cold and metallic design that can make a house feel more like a compound than a place for peace and tranquility.

You can make a real impact by using gray slate. It can help your house stand out among a deluge of derivatives. Increase the curb appeal of your home and increase its real estate value in order to maximize your return on investment.

Gray slate is very versatile, which is another reason to choose it for your home. It can be used for exterior walls as well as interior walls. Gray slate is also quite dark in color. It can absorb heat during the winter, which will help keep your rooms warm during the cold winter months.

You will also save more money on your heating bill thanks to the added insulation that gray slate provides. As mentioned, there are a myriad of different color variations to choose from as well, so you should be able to find a color that speaks to your needs and preferences.

Why Slate Roofing Has Benefits Over Other Roofing Materials

As we have previously mentioned, slate roofs are considered forever roofs. The durability and natural beauty that slate roofing provides is unrivalled. It is a very elegant roofing material that will greatly increase the value of your home in a few years.

It is also mold resistant, which is very important, as mold can make you and your loved ones very sick. Another benefit is that unlike other roofing materials, there are no maintenance costs to worry about. 

Slate is resistant to rain and the harsh winds. The roofer simply needs to install the slate roof properly and then call it a day. The water absorption capability of slate is also quite low, which will help prevent frost damage during the winter.

Why Slate Roofing Differs from Other Roofing Materials

Standard shingle roofs have a lower upfront cost than slate roofs. However, slate roofs should be seen as a long-term investment. While the initial cost may be higher, the overall value that slate roofing provides is unrivalled.

Slate tile has a very high value on the market. Your home will greatly appreciate in value after you have installed slate tile. Your home will also look better thanks to the touch of elegance that slate provides. As well, your home will be more durable thanks to slate, which will reduce the maintenance and repair costs that are incurred in the future.

What to Look for in a Roofer

If you are thinking of adding a slate roof to your home, then please have an open and candid conversation with a roofer in your area. Ensure that they are licensed and bonded for peace of mind. 

Check online reviews, or ask trusted friends, family, and coworkers if they can recommend a roofing company in the area. Slate is a beautiful, durable, and versatile material, but it also has to be installed properly in order to maximize its benefits.

Once the slate roof has been installed, you will need to ensure that it remains in the best condition possible going forward. Speak to your roofing company in order to obtain tips that can help your home maintain its rustic elegance for decades to come. Fortunately, slate roofs require minimal maintenance, and will usually last upwards of 100 years.

Ways To Make Your Front Porch Look Nice

With everything that’s happened this year, we tend to distract ourselves more often than before with projects that transform our homes. The best part of the home is the front porch; enclosed or not, it’s a paradise of pure relaxation during those early morning coffees or even to watch and listen to the rain beat against the side of your home. Here are ways to make your front porch look nice.

Add Some Seating

Take a seat outside with your freshly brewed morning coffee in one hand and a book in the other—or a newspaper, if you prefer. To enjoy those spaces, we must have some seating to encourage us to use the area that we never knew we could enjoy so much.

By adding some furniture, you now have a purpose of sitting outside with guests or by yourself. Whether it’s old wicker furniture, a rustic rocking chair, or a comfy sofa that converts into a bed, you won’t want to sit in any other room of your house again. If your porch doesn’t have an encloser, think about getting outdoor-friendly fabric furniture that doesn’t fade quickly.

Do You Want Privacy? Add Some Blinds or Curtains

Yes, you can have curtains for your outdoor porch if there is no enclosure. However, we recommend getting a type of fabric that is not too heavy, and you can change with the seasons. Get a tension rod to help hold the curtains in place. This will help your home feel more like a vacation. Also, add some lattice plants, as they grow fast and can provide additional coverage.

Use Some Plants To Give Your Home Balance

Do you enjoy plants? So do we! By adding some plants to your front porch, you’re allowing your home to feel warm and inviting. Use some succulents in the front window to add a more natural, eco-friendly space. During the summer, add hanging baskets and put some flower boxes on your steps.

Add Some Fun Accessories

There are many accessories to pick from but have a minimalistic hand when purchasing decoration pieces. Use some throw pillows to accentuate your furniture, add some artwork to hang, or find a water feature that you can place on your wall—that’ll help improve your curb appeal.

Decorate Your Front Door

It’s a necessary step to make your front door look pretty. To help add to your front porch’s theme and make it come alive, add a fresh coat of paint or place a wreath on it to help make your front porch come together.

Decorating the front of your home and finding new ways of how to make your front porch look nice can prove a challenge. But with our help, you’ll have all the knowledge and equipment you need to create the front porch of your dreams.

Ways To Add Elegance and Luxury to Your Home

Instead of remodeling and rebuilding an entire house, there are plenty of ways you can add luxury to your current home. Small details, such as curtains and mirrors, are one of the keys to creating an elegant home. If you want to surround yourself with opulence, then here are the ways to add elegance and luxury to your home.

Add Some Curtains

Curtains add style to any window—the key is to purchase long drapes. Short curtains are not very attractive and can look cheap. To prevent this, use long, flowy curtains that match the rest of the surrounding décor.

Hang Up the Mirrors and Artwork

Mirrors, especially large antique mirrors, are great items to add to a house. They provide a sense of grandeur to the home and can be placed in any bedroom, hallway, living room, bathroom, and more. Also, mirrors make any room look more spacious, so they are great for helping small areas appear larger. Another wonderful addition to your home is artwork. Paintings, fountains, sculptures, drawings, and more are all fantastic and beautiful additions to your home. Instead of hanging many small pieces of art on the wall, try to add only one large statement piece. This creates a simple elegance that is hard to achieve with too many decorations.

Use Neutral Tones

Another one of the ways to add elegance and luxury to your home is to decorate and paint with neutral colors. Bright colors are not the best choices for a luxurious home. Since human moods respond to color, neutral tones are the best options for a relaxing environment. You can use shades like white, grey, cream, and more with small pops of color as accents.

Create Open Spaces

Of course, it is important to furnish your home with the pieces of furniture every home should have, such as couches, tables, desks, and others. However, you want to avoid crowding your living rooms, bedrooms, and bathrooms as much as possible. A cluttered room is not attractive or elegant, so you want to avoid filling your rooms with excess furniture and decorations.

Guest Post - Practical Ways to Organize Your Finances

Dealing with finances may sound like a daunting task, but like anything else, once you get organized, it’s a lot less intimidating. The question is, where do you get started?

Here are some tips to organize your finances and help you feel more comfortable with handling them.

Gather your statements

The first step to creating a budget is to pull together all your financial statements, whether you receive them in hard copy or digital form.

Your list should include:

• Utility bills — Electricity, water, gas, garbage collection, sewage

• Bank statements — Where you’ll find things like grocery receipts and gasoline purchases, along with other retail purchases

• W-2 forms and pay stubs

• Credit card and loan statements

• 1099 forms detailing miscellaneous revenue

It’s a good idea to have both a neatly organized filing cabinet with all your files and duplicates stored digitally on an external hard drive or in the cloud, so they’re protected. If you store your financial data online, be sure to use a secure password to guard against identity theft.

Track your income and expenses

Once you’ve got copies of all your statements, divide them into two categories: income and expenses. 

Add up all your regular income to get a total for the year. Don’t use windfalls like bonuses and tax refunds as a pretext to increase your monthly expenses. Since they’re one-time payments, put them toward one-time expenses or, better yet, toward savings or investments. 

Once you’ve added up your income, make a list of your expenses. If your expenses are more than your income, see what you can cut. Look to discretionary items like streaming services, subscriptions, clothing, evenings out (sporting events, movies, concerts), books, games, and electronics. If you add to your income by getting a raise or side income, you can add some of those items to your budget again.

Once you’ve got your budget in place, You’ll want to include:

• Monthly expenses

  • Necessities like utilities, rent/mortgage, car payment, internet access, and insurance payments

  • Any extras you pay for regularly, such as cable TV, streaming services, subscriptions, and so forth

• Regular but less frequent payments — Include things like property taxes (if you pay them), back-to-school items, regular medical and dental checkups, vehicle maintenance, estimated taxes, birthday presents, and holiday gifts. These would include any payments you make quarterly, semiannually, or annually.

• One-time or occasional expenses — Entertainment like movies, eating out, going to concerts, or weekend trips

• Things to save up for — Vacations, retirement, children’s college expenses, investments

You can use an old-fashioned spreadsheet to organize your finances, or you can find a wealth of digital resources you can download. PC Mag has compiled a list of the best digital options.

Create a regular budget

Once you’ve got everything mapped out, you’re ready to set up a regular budget. You can do this with a spreadsheet program or with the help of a budgeting app. Several are available, depending on your specific situation and needs. 

Among other options, you can choose budget apps that are:

• Free to use

• Designed to help you invest and build wealth

• Meant to guard against overspending

• Intended for couples working together

• Built for small businesses

• Intended to encourage savings

If you prefer to do your budgeting with pen and ink, you can also print out PDF templates. Keep past months’ budgets, your current month’s budget, and blanks for future months in a handy three-ring binder for easy access. 

If you work on commission, and your income varies from month to month or season to season, use times when you’re doing well to set aside a cushion for the lean times and work to balance things out.

Set up automatic payments

In addition to budget apps. look for other electronic methods to simplify the budgeting process. Set up automatic bill pay with your bank for any monthly expenses that cost roughly the same amount from month to month.

Sign up for withdrawal or payment alerts to confirm any debits to your account. This can help you monitor any potential fraud or identity theft before it gets out of hand. If you see any withdrawals or charges you don’t recognize, you can dispute them with your bank right away. 

Low-balance alerts, meanwhile, can let you know if your account is in danger of being overdrawn. But don’t rely on them as a substitute for tracking your expenses. 

Check your account balance daily, and look over your monthly balance report for any trends that show you’re overspending (and on what), or putting more money away than you thought. If these trends persist for more than a month, you can adjust your budget to reflect them.

Of course, there’s nothing wrong with the old-fashioned method of keeping track of checks with duplicates, receipts, and a ledger. Monthly statements can come to you via mail or electronically too.

Stay on top of your credit

Any credit card purchases should be part of your regular budget, not a way to spend “outside the lines.” That doesn’t mean you should shy away from using credit, however. 

Building good credit can give you a way to qualify for a mortgage, car loan, or home-repair loan down the line, and you can incorporate that into your financial plan then. In the meantime, check your credit report (you can do so for free once a year) and see where you stand.

If your credit is damaged or you need to start from scratch, one option is a secured credit card, which will give you access to a line of credit that’s tied to an initial deposit of a few hundred dollars. You build your credit as you use the card and make on-time, regular monthly payments.

If you use credit, try paying off all your balances at the end of each month to avoid interest charges.

Getting your finances organized isn’t rocket science, but it does require a comprehensive approach that incorporates attention to detail. Once you understand how to balance these approaches, you’ll be one step closer to financial stability and in a position to improve your standing.
By Ann Lloyd, Student Savings Guide