Simple Household Changes That Keep Children Safe

As a parent, it’s your job to keep your little ones safe. Since there are numerous seemingly safe items around your home that can harm your child, protection is a full-time job.

Even if you’re busy, there are some minor techniques you can use to keep your children safe. These include:

Supervising Bath Time

Small children have an easier time drowning than you may think. In fact, it only takes an inch of water can be fatal to younger children. When your child bathes, give them your undivided attention and never move within an arm’s reach.

Even if they’re too big to drown, smaller children are still at risk. Your child may slip and hurt themselves if they try to get up. Getting a mat for your tub can help improve traction in order to make your bathroom safer. Make sure you’re always present while they’re bathing.

Fix Your Garage Door

Do you have a pesky garage door that constantly sticks or falls? This is serious for you and your children, especially if they enjoy playing outside. If the door falls while they are nearby, they could suffer from fatal injuries.

To protect them from accidents like these, get your faulty garage door fixed as soon as possible. Businesses like Raynor Door Company suggest that you inspect your garage door every 12 months for signs of deterioration. Professionals can do maintenance or replace your door completely to ensure your little ones can play safely outdoors. Take some time to check your springs to see if they have started to wear out.

Hide Your Cleaning Products

Cleaning products should always be put away where your children can’t reach them. Topically, they become a hazard when they come in contact with the skin. They’re also highly toxic when swallowed.

Laundry detergent, as well as everyday household cleaning supplies, can make your child very sick. Make sure that you have a dedicated storage space in your home for toxic supplies in order to keep them away from your children. Only bring them out when you plan to clean. If possible, also invest in some detergent that is environmentally friendly, or create your own cleaners that aren’t as dangerous for your children.

Consider Opting out of Walkers

Sure, walkers help infants and toddlers learn to walk. However, sometimes walkers can lead to serious injuries. If you have stairs in your home, leaving your baby in their walker can lead to a serious fall. They also have an easier time reaching and burning themselves on hot surfaces. Consider getting some baby gates to prevent your children from accessing the stairs in your home. Alternatively, you can invest in stationary equipment that helps them balance their body weight.

Kids can be injured within a small window of time. Do your best to prevent accidents by making small household changes. Taking a few precautions can make your home a safer place for your entire family.

How to Know if Life in a Big City is For You

Small town living has plenty of upsides, but many people living in rural or suburban areas dream of starting a new life in a big city. At the same time, there are far more people moving outward than in, with most moving from cities to the suburbs rather than vice versa. 

Whether you're thinking about buying one of the houses for sale in Toronto, moving into an apartment in New York City, or a place in any large metropolitan area, there are questions you should ask yourself in order to make the best decision possible. After all, it's going to be very different from what you're used to, with life moving at a much faster pace.

Can You Handle the Noise?

Living in the city can be noisy, with everything from loud voices to construction and garbage trucks. Some people actually thrive on it, but of others, it can be difficult to tolerate, leaving them longing for peace and quiet. Downtown areas in large cities like New York are noisy 24/7. If you have difficulty sleeping without silence, it could be a concern. 

Can You Afford It?

Major cities are always more expensive to live in than the suburbs, with places like New York and San Francisco ranking high when it comes to the cost of living. In Manhattan, you'd be lucky to find a one-bedroom for less than $3,000 a month. Utilities are usually higher and so are other basic necessities like food and drink. Of course, there are usually more job opportunities and higher salaries in major cities too, though it might be tough to find one that pays the elevated rent or high purchase price. 
The bottom line is, you'll ideally want to have a job lined up before moving to ensure you can afford the higher cost of living. 

Do You Treasure Your Personal Space?

If you don't relish crowds and treasure your personal space, it might be difficult to adjust. Whether you're walking down the street or riding a subway, you're probably going to get bumped into frequently, breathed on, and occasionally coughed or sneezed on. Sometimes people do enjoy the hustle and bustle, but you'll want to figure out if that's something you can get used to, perhaps by spending some time in the city you're thinking about moving to first.

Do You Like Getting to Know New People?

Big cities bring many opportunities to meet new people and potentially make new friends or even start a romantic relationship. There are usually people from all corners of the globe, which means you might meet someone you never would have had you not moved from your small town. This is usually a big plus for most, but perhaps for the very introverted it can be perceived as negative.

Do You Have Street Smarts?

If you've always lived in a small town, moving to a big city can be a culture shock in more ways than one. You're bound to come across those who are looking to take advantage of someone new, without a lot in the way of street smarts. While it's something that can be developed, it will be important to have a constant awareness of your surroundings along with a healthy dose of skepticism. You don't want to  always assume the worst about others, but you should be able to think on your feet and recognize red flags.

Of course there are many positives that come with living in a big city - as mentioned, better career opportunities and the chance to make friends from all walks of life, endless restaurants to choose from, cultural activities, and much more. 

Commercial Roofing Materials & Average Life Expectancy

How long does a commercial roof last? That depends greatly on the materials you select. In this infographic from Skywalker Roofing, we survey 13 roofing material options with their respective lifespans.

Commercial Roofing Materials & Life Expectancy

Choosing the right material for your commercial roof is very important. Here are just a few that we cover in the infographic:

1. Modified Bitumen 

Modified bitumen roofing starts with build-up roofing and then adds some polymer-reinforced layers. It takes some specialized labor to install, but provides reliable results. The average life expectancy is around 20 years.

2. Asphalt Shingles 

Shingle won’t work on a large flat roof, but they can work on other commercial roof styles. Shingles are popular for residential roofing, but they’re also viable for some commercial applications. The average life expectancy is around 20 years.

3. EPDM Roofing 

Also known as rubber roofs, EPDM is a popular choice for commercial flat roofs. One drawback is that sometimes it tends to absorb heat easily. The average life expectancy is around 25 years.

4. Green Roofs 

What if there were a way to cover and protect your roofing membrane with something attractive and sustainable? Planting roof vegetation can improve insulation and also extend your roof life. Green roofs can last upwards of 50 years.

5. Wood Shakes 

Wood shakes aren’t for every commercial roof, but they can work if your roof has enough slope. Wood shake roofing are eco-friendly, naturally beautiful, and can deliver a life expectancy of around 30 years.

6. Concrete Tiles 

If your commercial roof is sloped, then concrete is also worth a look. Concrete tile performs like slate, but weighs less and puts less stress on your roof’s infrastructure. The average lifespan for concrete tile is 50 years!

Check out the complete infographic from Skywalker Roofing to learn more!

How to Landscape Without Grass

Perhaps you don’t want to use lots of water and time to maintain a lush lawn, or your yard soil is poor or too shaded. Whatever is the cause for your landscaping troubles, be assured that your yard can look beautiful without grass. You only need a little creativity and some great landscaping ideas.

How to Landscape a Shaded Yard

Grass usually needs lots of sunshine to grow and thrive. If your yard is mostly shaded, consider sticking with shade-loving plants to achieve the best results. It’d be best not to pick flowers but instead use plants with attractive foliage. Here are a few of them.

Groundcover

These grasses spread low, and the height is usually around 12 to 18 inches. Consider growing them between taller patches or alone to cover up spots in your lawn.

Taller Plants

European ginger, Japanese painted fern, and astilbe are a few tall plants that can complement the groundcover in your shaded lawn.

Native Plants

Visit your local nursery and find the best forest-dwelling plants. These plants grow well in shaded areas and don’t frequently require maintenance, such as fertilizing.

Paths and Sitting Areas

You can create an outdoor haven for relaxation using brick pathways or stone pavers, furniture, hammocks, or benches. Consider adding trellises, garden art, or bird fountains for additional beautification. 

How to Landscape a Yard With Poor Soil

If your lawn finds it challenging to grow or has a nutrient-poor or heavy soil, you might have been planting the wrong things. The following are some ideas for using perennials that thrive in poor soils to landscape your front yard without grass.

Periwinkle

This one-foot tall groundcover plant produces star-shaped blossoms. It suppresses weed growth in areas it spreads to and prefers part shade.

Lenten Roses

These plants are very tough and can withstand heat, humidity, poor soil, and drought. They’re usually two feet tall and thrive in full shade areas.

Bleeding Heart

This plant has heart-shaped blossoms that add a cottage-garden look to your landscape. It prefers part shade.

How to Landscape a Drought-Tolerant Yard

Landscaping without grass is recommended for people living in drought-prone areas to enable them to save on water. Consider implementing xeriscaping techniques. The following are low-maintenance plants known for thriving in drought conditions.

Ornamental grasses

There are different varieties of ornamental grass. You can get the splayed or upright ones or the short or tall plants and use it to create a focal point on your lawn.

Cacti

Plants with spikes or thorns like cacti usually work well in drought-prone areas.

Inorganic Mulch

Fill your lawn with stones and pebbles which doesn’t require watering.

Get Help Landscaping Your Yard

Conditions like poor lawn soil, heavy clay soil, or living in drought areas might necessitate the need to landscape your yard without grass. The ideas we mentioned here will help you have that beautiful yard even without green lawn grass. If you’re eager to start implementing it, contact Eden, a professional landscape design service, so our experts can bring your idea to life.