Tips and Tools That Can Make Your Routine Home Maintenance Tasks Easier

The work never seems to be done around the house. As soon as you finish taking care of one part of the house, there is always something else that needs to be fixed or cleaned. Fortunately, there are a few tools and tricks that you can use to free up more time to do what you like.

Get a Riding Lawnmower

Mowing the lawn is not only time-consuming, but it's also tiresome. Make the job a lot more fun with a riding lawnmower. It's like having your very own mini tractor. It will help you mow and mulch your lawn, and you can also get a trailer or dump cart to pull behind it. This can help you mow your lawn in record time while also relieving you of having to haul bags of grass clippings and leaves around your property.

Install a Sprinkler System

Rather than spending the day moving a sprinkler around your yard, you can install an automatic sprinkler system to do it for you. Simply set the timer, and your yard and garden will be watered without you needing to lift a finger. You can even set it for late at night or early in the morning while you're sleeping. Your lawn will never turn brown again because you didn't have the time to water it. Before you know it, your yard will be the envy of the neighborhood.

Put in Gutter Guards

Cleaning out the gutters is a necessary task most often done in spring and fall. This helps protect your roof and your home’s foundation from water damage and associated problems. However, installing a gutter guard, such as a Gator Gutter Guard, on your rain gutters can help prevent leaves from falling into your gutters and clogging them, which means you can save time cleaning the gutters. You'll no longer need to get your hands dirty digging rotting leaves out of your gutters. Rather, you can simply sweep them off of the top of the gutter guards and call it a day.

Set Up Shoe Trays

Adopting the Asian custom of removing your shoes before you enter the house is quite practical. Doing so can prevent friends and family from tracking dirt onto the carpet when they visit. Place a shoe tray by your front door as a signal that guests should remove their shoes. Also make sure that you have a stout and sturdy doormat to get the grime off the bottom of shoes. Keeping dirt off the floors in the first place will save time and energy in vacuuming, sweeping, mopping, and carpet cleaning.

Lay Down Drip Pans

Likewise, placing drip pans under where you park your car in the garage will keep the floor clean. Rather than scrubbing grease-stained cement, the grease in the pan can be drained back into a bottle for proper disposal. Most auto parts stores can accept used oil for recycling. This way, you're keeping the environment cleaner as well as your garage. This can also help you spot car problems early on.

These are just a few ideas to lighten the load and make life easier around your home. With a few simple preventative steps, you can reduce the amount of time you spend cleaning and maintaining your home.

Services to Think About Hiring if Your Home Is Getting Old

As a homeowner, it is imperative to take proper care of your home for sustainability and ensure it’s in top-notch condition. However, sometimes you may lose track of time and before you know it, your house is dilapidated. How you maintain your home speaks depths about your sense of responsibility.

It is essential to keep an eye out, especially if your home is about that old money. Fixtures may start falling off, or your paint may begin flaking, making your home look unattractive. Taking proper care of your old house means an intensive and thorough makeover.

That said, it would be best to hire some services to help you keep your old home in proper condition. Here are some essential services that you may consider.

Roofing Services

Your roof is one of the most integral parts of your house as it protects you from harsh external elements. Your roof may start caving in, or you may realize that some shingles are missing. You may also notice some water stains on your ceiling, which indicates a leaking roof.

The roof’s paint may also wear out after some time which is a call for necessary action. Consider hiring roofing services to examine your roof and determine whether you need a few repairs or roof replacement. Go through some roofing companies and check out their portfolios to know what to expect from them.

The roofing company will tell you what your roof needs and help execute the required actions. They may also recommend a new roof design that offers sustainability and durability to keep you and your property safe.

Electrical Services

Your home may also have an outdated electrical system which may cause frequent power interruptions or, even worse, a fire outbreak. Consider hiring an electrical company to update your electrical system and replace any obsolete electrical components. This way, you can reduce your energy bills and comply with various safety measures.

Gutter and Drain Cleaning

Your gutter or drains may get clogged with debris making it hard to drain stormwater. Consequently, your roof may be damaged, and the compound may flood. Call for gutter or drain cleaning services to reduce water damage and prolong the lifespan of your roof or home in general.

Home Remodeling Services

You may feel that renovation can’t solve all the problems with your house. Thus, you may decide on a complete makeover and tear down your walls to give your home a new look. Home remodeling services will come in handy when you need to change your entire configuration leaving your home looking and feeling new.

Know what your home needs before hiring any services. This way, you can know which services to prioritize and help in planning your budget. Consult various professionals and heed their advice for a viable and durable home.

How to Clean up the Exterior of Your Home in 4 Simple Steps

The cleanliness of your home is the first impression that people have about you. You need a clean exterior that consists of the siding, windows and roof. You can do the cleaning yourself by following these four simple steps.

Choose the Right Pressure Washer

A pressure washer varies by the level of speed and water pressure. Choose the right features based on the strength and intensity of the cleaning. A low pressure is needed to clean small items like a car or furniture. Increase the pressure to 2,400 psi or more to clean a large area like a patio or driveway or to remove tough stains on siding.

Choose the Soap

There are detergents that are designed for power washing all surfaces from vehicles to buildings. Lather combined with water helps to remove the toughest stains and leave the area disinfected. You have numerous choices, such as multipurpose cleaners, concentrate solutions, house and deck cleaners and vehicle detergents. Some people claim that mixing bleach with dishwasher soap is equally effective. It's recommended that you use oxygen bleach that is weaker than chlorine bleach, which is damaging to colors and destructive to plants.

Determine the Extent of Coverage to Clean

Every homeowner has different areas of coverage to worry about. You may want to clean one side of the house, both sides or the patio only. Consider the different areas that you need cleaned in the front and back yards. There is the siding, roof, windows and patio along with the driveway and walkways.

Clean the Worst Stains First

Every home exterior has openings where dirt and debris settle in without coming back out. Start by power washing the siding, and continue to the windows where stains are most visible. Then, look for other parts of the exterior where stains are seen from afar or up close. An effective method is to rinse the area first, scrub the stains off with a brush and then rinse again.

Like many people, you're tired of looking at the dull, filthy covering of your home when you approach the driveway. Taking one look at a clean exterior is a relief from seeing the typical buildup of dirt, mildew and debris. When you set out to clean the home yourself, know there are proper tools and techniques that all professional house cleaners use.

Insulating Your Crawl Space: Everything You Need To Know

The crawl space often doesn’t receive much attention when it comes to home improvement. One crawl space upgrade that you should consider, however, is updated insulation. To learn about why insulation is important, what insulation materials to use, and more, here’s everything you need to know about insulating your crawl space.

The Importance of Insulating Your Crawl Space

• Reduces energy costs: You can lose a significant amount of hot and cold air through the crawl space in one’s home. As a result, your HVAC system will have to work harder to regulate the temperature, ultimately resulting in higher monthly energy bills. By improving the insulation in your crawl space, you can reduce these costs.

• Enhances comfort: By improving the insulation in your crawl space, you can prevent uncomfortable drafts and temperature fluctuations in your home.

• Prevents pests: Depending on the material you choose, upgrading the insulation in your crawl space can help seal off small crevices and keep out pests.

Best Insulation Materials for Crawl Spaces

Now that you understand the importance of insulating your crawl space, it’s time to choose the best insulation materials for your area. Ideally, the insulation material you choose should have a high R-value to block the transfer of heat. It should also be long-lasting so that you don’t have to worry about replacing it often. In addition, the material should have moisture-resistant properties to prevent mold and mildew growth in notoriously damp and leaky crawl spaces. Insulation materials with these qualities include polystyrene and closed-cell spray foam insulation.

How To Prepare a Crawl Space for Insulation

Upon choosing your insulation material, all you have to do is prepare your crawl space for the installation process. Doing so is relatively simple and primarily involves clearing out the space as much as possible. This will make it easier for the installation contractors to move around and cover every nook and cranny. It is also important to waterproof your crawl space, as water accumulation can damage the insulation material over time.