19 Mar, 2024
3 mins read

Design Your Dream House With a Purpose

There are well over a million new housing “starts” in the United States each year, but only a small fraction of those houses are custom designed. It’s a sad thing. Your house is the largest single investment most people make in their lifetime. Your house has a major impact on you and your family. It’s not just an object, it’s your home. It’s the environment you occupy and interact with during a larger portion of your life than anywhere else. And we are all shaped and influenced by our environment.
“But I can’t afford a custom house design,” you say. Well that may be so, but even if you are selecting from standard plans or picking out a plan from a book of house designs, you can make better choices and understand what your perfect house can be by learning a little about what constitutes good design. You need to raise your level of awareness.
As an architect I am often asked, what is the most important consideration when you design a house? In my opinion, the single most important quality is that there needs to be purposefulness to the plan. In order to achieve this, your home plan should have a main theme or concept as the core of the design plan. This should lend organization, as well as flow, to your house plan.
The most direct and simple methods of organizing a plan is often the best. One that I have used as a basis of many plans is the classic “four square plan.” The main shape of the house is a square, with an axis that acts as a connector. This is the idea used in the classic “Georgian Style” house. The main rooms of the home are in each of the corner squares, with a hallway and stairwell as the center acting as a connection between rooms on the same floor. The upper floor would also have a similar pattern with bedrooms in the corners, bathroom at the end of the hall. As you walk through a home like this, the spaces feel right since they are organized in a way that makes sense.
Take a look at a typical house plan. It will probably have some of this purposeful organization as the underlying concept. Perhaps the center hall is wider in one area, such as in the foyer. The stairwell may curve, or go off to the side of the center axis. You may find larger room in the rear that still fits in with the organized plan. Try to think about how you want your rooms to fit together and make the spaces flow in an orderly way.
Other organizing concepts are more complex, and may be the right one for you. Thoughtful planning will help you arrive at a meaningful, and purposeful floor plan. No matter what, your house design requires a plan that fulfills your needs. A house may be elaborate and expensive, but without a plan with integrity and unity, it …

3 mins read

Purchasing a Home Warranty – Important Things to Remember For Home Buyers

Purchasing a home is a very important investment especially for first-time home buyers who are new in the real estate industry. Making sure that you undergo legal and proper processes in buying your house is essentially important. One of the vital components you need to consider during home purchase is securing a home warranty. Home sellers and home buyers alike need to learn and understand the mechanics of home warranty in order to get the most out of it for their advantage.
What is home warranty?
It provides protection for new home owners against any maintenance or repair problems which may occur during the first year of occupancy. It is quite a nightmare for home owners to realize that even if they have just moved in, they are already dealing with various breaks or malfunctions in their new home. Repairs and fixtures certainly cover myriads of systems and items in the house, therefore to have a total peace of mind and worry-free living, it is a sound idea to invest on home warranty. This is an important notion to consider especially for first-time home buyers who basically do not have any home maintenance experience.
How much is it?
When purchasing home warranty, you need to prepare approximately $250 to $400 depending on your preferred coverage. Most companies offer home warranty with special discount rates and policies. The policy may expire or can be renewed since it is paid in advance for one year.
In buying a home warranty, make sure that you have substantial knowledge about it since most home warranties are mistaken with home insurance. Home warranty covers house repairs and replacements of appliances which are not functioning like refrigerator, stove and air conditioning among others. It also deals with roofing or plumbing issues inside the house. Home insurance on the other hand deals with protecting your house from fire or theft and is also liable for injuries incurred in your property or by a member of your family.
How does it work?
Here are some of the things you benefit from for purchasing one.
o Any home system or appliance that breaks or malfunctions are taken cared by the company.
o Home warranty company calls a qualified service provider to cater to the problem covered by the policy.
o The service provider fixes the problem of the policy owner and if an appliance seized to work or functions and is beyond repair, the company pays for the replacement and installation of the appliance. It is important to note that replacement of appliances depends on the policy bought by the home owner.
It is an indispensable tool you can always access especially during hassles inside the house. It is important to ensure that your home systems are functioning well in order to conveniently do your daily chores and activities in the house without worries and delay. With the right warranty company to provide you with your personal and distinct needs, you are sure that you are protected from the …

2 mins read

Secrets To Installing Laminate Flooring On Top Of Floor Tiling

There are many people who want to change the way their flooring looks, especially if they have old style tiling. This is when laminate flooring is the perfect way to go ahead. It is very simple to install one on top of the other one by simply laying the flooring over. Any person can do it as a weekend DIY project.
However there are some things you need to know before installing it, so you get the best job for your home flooring. Maybe the most important aspect is to adjust the actual temperature for your floors and the room level of humidity. The room temperature should be anywhere between 68 and 85 degrees. Also the best humidity level should be between 45-65%. Anything above or below that will warrant using a humidifier or dehumidifier for regulating it.
When it comes to actual installation, you need to take off the molding and then check that the tiles are all dry, clean and level without any extra bumps. If you feel any bumps on it, you can level it using leveling cement so that you have a smooth surface ahead of you. The next step is to rollout the floor underlayment avoiding the edges from overlapping. This should exactly match the size of the room.
The step on laying the laminate flooring is usually done from left to right and spacers can be used to keep the spaces, or gaps that are between the planks. The space for expansion should be around 1/4 inches. The firs plank should be laid by first placing the plank right against the wall. The second plank should be 1/3 of the size of the first to give your flooring a nice alternate plank look that is so popular nowadays. The third plank will easily be able to connect the first plank right at the end to be locked in place the right way. Then you add the next (fourth) plank that will connect to the end of the previous one to be locked in place as well. Basically this will be the base upon the rest of your flooring will be built further.
What you really need to pay attention to though is to ensure that the very last row is exactly the same with the initial one. Also create a 1/4 inch space between the plank and the wall for expansion. Once you replace the trim, your laminate flooring is readily installed upon the old tiles.…

3 mins read

Figuring Out The Size Of Septic Tanks

The wastewater are treated as well as cleared before it is released in the environment. The septic tanks have a vital contributing part in the protection of surrounding environment from pollution and groundwater contamination. Septic system is utilized to dispose the wastewater effectively so that it will not result in danger to the people as well as the environment. The wastes consist of bacteria that can cause diseases to people in case they’re not treated properly. In case the homeowners do not want to be impacted by all of these illnesses and pollution then one need to know how the tanks function.
The septic system is made of either concrete or plastic and fibreglass. They are put underground as well as have two openings. The inlet opening enables the movement of the wastewater from the house to go into the septic system. The outlet opening functions as the conveyor of liquid to the drainfield. Inside the septic system, the natural bacteria will work continuously as incoming waste items are delivered in the septic system. The bacteria digest and decompose the solid wastes and turn them into liquid or gaseous form. Since not all wastes are decomposed, they will be settled at the bottom of the tank and stay as sludge.
The measurement of the tanks is going to be determined by the total number of individuals who live in the house. To be able to estimate the measurement of the tanks base on the amount of waste materials discharged in the tanks, 2700 liters capacity of tanks should be installed for 720 liters of water each day. 2,900 liters capacity of tanks is needed for 900 liters of wastewater disposed for a day. A 3080 liters capacity of tanks should be constructed for 1080 liters of wastewater released per day and 3400 liters sizes of tanks is required for 1440 liters of wastewater released on a daily basis.
If you compute the size of tanks needed base on the total number of rooms in the house the least size of tanks for 2 bedroom house is 2700 liters capacity. For 3 bedroom home, the size of the tanks should be 2900 liters. The size required for a four bedroom house is 3080 liters as well as for the 5 bedroom house, the capacity of the tanks should be 3260 liters. This will be the perfect size of tanks that must be installed for every given requirements.
While choosing the measurement of septic tanks has been significant, one more thing which needs to be considered will be the maintenance of the septic tanks. No matter the size of the septic tanks, it must be emptied as well as pumped out once every 3 to 5 years in order to reduce the risk of major repairs or replacements. You must maintain the septic tanks so it is going to function effectively and could serve that purpose of exactly what it’s done for in a long time.…

2 mins read

4 Things to Do to Find the Best Plumbing Service

Everybody wants to maintain a home free from damages, right? But what will you do if you’ve found a leaking pipe inside your home, and you don’t know how to fix it? This article was written with the intention of helping you find the best plumbing service in case of emergencies. Of course, you don’t want to simply hire someone who does not have the capability to handle the problem, right? So I will be showing you the four ways that you can do to find the best plumbing service that can really give you the best results.

Yellow Pages Are Outdated

Long before the Internet was invented, finding professionals who can do the job for you can take a lot of time. You need to grab your Yellow Pages and start searching for the best plumbing service within the area. Today, we have the Internet, and with the help of it, you can easily find the best plumber and give them a call whenever you need help with a leaking pipe.

Referrals and Recommendations

Your friends more likely suffered from the same problem as the one you are experiencing right now. So, one of the best ways to find the best plumbing service in the area is to ask your friends for recommendations and referrals. This is probably the best, because your friends won’t be recommending a plumbing service if they are not satisfied with the service, right?

Check The Procedures That They Do

“Hire us and we will dig a hole in your house” Of course, you don’t want to hire these people, right? If you are looking for the best plumbing service, you need to check the procedures that they will be doing for you. Professional plumbing services know what to do whenever there are leaks in your house, so you need to contact them whenever you have problems.

They Should Have The Tools

If you are going to hire someone to fix the leaking pipes, you need to make sure that they have the tools that will help them fix the problem. Of course, you called them in, because you either don’t know how to fix leaking pipes or you don’t have the tools to fix the problem. When seeking for a plumbing service, the best thing that you need to do to is to check whether they have the skills and tools that you don’t, which will enable them to fix the leaking pipe inside your home.…

3 mins read

How to Plan and Save Your Budget for Your Floor

One of the most vibrant and wonderful dream of a person is to obtain his or her own house. A house is normally a place where you stay with or without your family. It is also termed as your comfort zone. It is exactly the place where a certain family lives together. However nowadays it is very much difficult to obtain your own house due to financial and economic problems.
Young children are often encouraged by their parents to study hard and earn a degree from college because it will help them in finding a job and earning for a living. A house for your own family is also considered as one of your biggest investment in your entire life. Since it is the place where your family are going to stay you must see to it that the house that you planning to obtain can accommodate your entire family.
There are several ways for you to have your own place to stay. Moreover one of the most important things that you need to consider is your budget. Your money or budget will immediately give you the ideas on what type of house are you going to have. However if you are still saving for your dream quarters you can eventually rent for a place for you to stay for the mean time. It will give you the comfort and convenience of saving your money for your future without spending too much of it.
On the other hand if you are already financially prepared when it comes to your future residence, it would be great if you have already planned for the materials that you are going to use for your house. You must see to it that the design or the materials that you are going to use will suit the needs of your family. You need to consider the preference and the needs of each of your family members to assure their safety and security.
The floor is the largest and widest portion of a house. It is the area where you put your things and the place where you move you entire body. It carries the weight of your entire house. Since the floor is the most prominent part of your home you must be very cautious and meticulous when it comes to its quality. Wood flooring is one of the most popular and traditional type of floors all over the world. Wood becomes the favorite of several people because of its classic quality.
Wood flooring is also recommended for those families with infants and small children. Wood flooring are proven to lessen minor forms of accidents. Nowadays you can obtain different forms of discounts in wood flooring. You can avail big discounts in different ways. Most of the construction industries nowadays are giving more discounts when it comes to wood flooring. The rate of the discounts that you may get from these companies will still depend on the area or portion of your house.…

3 mins read

Love Your Home And Show It Off

Renovating your home can be frightening, especially if this topic is new to you. Regardless, it’s an essential part of being a homeowner. Whether you are a new homeowner feeling overwhelmed by the prospect of handling your own improvements or a veteran of many projects who’s looking for a new challenge, you’ll find some useful information here.

Before you buy your home, have a licensed professional do a thorough home inspection. By doing this, you will know exactly what needs to be replaced or fixed. A third party who is objective provides a great way to keep relations between the invested parties civil, too.

If you’re trying to cut down on counter space within the kitchen, you may want to purchase an over-the-range microwave. An over-the-range microwave replaces the range hood. This type of microwave is available in many prices with a wide variety of options. Because most units have only a recirculating filter instead of a vent, they’re best suited for cooks who don’t require a strong venting solution.

Are you wanting to make a simple renovation to your home? If so, then simply go to the department store and purchase paint. Fresh coats of new color can add fresh energy to a home for little expense of money or time. A fresh coat of paint will also make your home more appealing to buyers if you have any interest in selling your home.

Make sure that you seal cracks in your home to eliminate infestation of bugs. Use caulk to seal up window frames, baseboards and any other areas where you see gaps. After caulking, your home will have an air tight seal which will prevent bugs from entering your home.

Purchase sealant strips and draft excluders in order to prevent your air from exiting out of the doors. Draft excluders are used under a door to stop warm air from escaping and prevent cold air from entering. Sealant strips that are fitted around door frames will work in the same way. You can easily find these things in most hardware stores.

Any time you hire an outside company to do home improvement jobs for you, it is imperative that you check the legitimacy of the company first. If that company doesn’t provide their physical address and just conducts business via phone, they may be small-time and may not be reputable. Always use a company with a good reputation.

If you hire a handyman, do not forget to write up a legal contract addressing your concerns and how he will help you to rectify them. By having a firm contract, you won’t have to worry about any extra charges or being exploited. Without that contract, you may lose lots of money.

There is no need to put off home improvements anymore, now that you have read this piece. Start today using the advice you found in this article. You can accomplish a lot if you start slowly and give yourself enough time to acquire more skills. When you …

3 mins read

Are You In Need Of Some Pest Control? Start Here!

Finding pests in your beloved home can be devastating. Many pests can get into your house in a few seconds. Cleaning your home is the best way to keep the pest away, but it will not entirely protect you. You will gain some great information from this article.

Plug holes that pests, like mice, can enter using steel wool. Even if the pests manage to chew through it, the steel wool will end up killing them. Use steel wool to clog any opening more than 1/2 inch in width. Mice can easily squeeze in the tiniest cracks.

To prevent insects from getting in your home, spray the outside of it with perimeter spray. Try spraying your foundation, porch, steps, doors, and windows. While you’re doing this, look for crevices and crack that could allow pests entry to your home. Use caulk or another type of filler to seal the open areas.

Are you having problems with ants around the house? Get rid of them by using a mixture of sugar and borax. Sugar attracts them and borax kills them. Make a trap by blending equal parts borax and sugar in a quart-sized jar. Poke holes in the top, and sprinkle it around baseboards and inside cabinets.

Place brushes a foot or more away from the home to keep pests from invading. A pile of brush is an inviting home for household pests. By placing the brush within close proximity of the home, you run the risk of these insects invading through windows or doors.

If you have a water leak, fix it promptly. All pests need a water source to survive. They are able to detect drips and leaks from a long way off. Don’t let this small problem lead to larger disasters involving pests within the home. Put some effort into it and avoid the need to deal with pests in your house.

Outdoor lighting is awesome for keeping away strangers, but it’s not so great at keeping away pests. If you really need outdoor lighting, choose the color of the light carefully. Pink, orange and yellow lights attract the fewest pests.

Do you have rodents inside your home? Search for small cracks that these small pests can squeeze through. If you notice cracks, then fill them with scouring pads or put poison in them. Mustard oil may also work as a repellent too.

Drains often attract pest. Clean and maintain the drains at least monthly. You can use liquid drain cleaners or run a snake down the drain. Debris in your drain causes mold, which gives the pests a reason.

In order to keep pests away from your edible items, make sure that you store them properly. Either plastic or glass works; just make sure whatever you get has a strong lid. Steer clear of paper or cardboard packaging, because pests can chew through them.

We hope the pest control tips presented here will help you chase off the pests in your life. You aren’t the only one …

3 mins read

Essential Tips And Tricks For Homeowners Insurance

There are many companies who want to give you insurance, but it is your job to determine which has the best deal for your family. Protection means having the best policy in place. These tips will help you understand what policies are above average and what options you should avoid.

You can do a couple of things to reduce your insurance premium costs. Start with installing a new security system inside the home. You will enjoy a reduction in your insurance premium of about 5% annually thanks to this. Be aware that you have to show your insurer a bill or contract as proof that a security system is working in your home. Also, put in smoke alarms. That will save you about 10% each year.

Pay out your mortgage if you want a discount on your home insurance. Paying off a mortgage takes time, but you should make this a priority. Insurance companies believe that those who own their own home will take better care of it.

Keeping low annual premiums on homeowner’s insurance is a great concern to homeowners. One thing you can do is raise your deductible. Large deductibles will always mean smaller premiums. All it takes is the initial cash for covering any small claims occurring after the transition. The overall savings are positive and recommended.

As changes in your household size happens, talk with your insurance agent to alter your policy accordingly. For example, you may need to increase or decrease personal property limits. If there are specific individual items that you would like to make sure get covered, you can request an individual rider to make sure those items are protected against theft.

Some of the things about your home are going to impact your insurance premium, regardless of how well your home is maintained. For example, a swimming pool will increase your insurance cost due to the increased liability. The house’s distance from any emergency services, like fire hydrants, is also considered for your coverage. You don’t need to be obsessive about choosing where your home is located to get lower rates, but these are things that you should simply keep in mind.

Get a decent alarm system to lower your homeowner’s insurance. You will have a lower risk of break-ins. The insurer will see your home as being far less risky to insure and will lower your policy price. Remember to send your company proof of your new security.

There are many risks to your home. Fire just happens to be one of them. You must have an insurance policy that covers fire, whether it’s from arson or even because of weather. You must ensure that you have coverage to protect against such damages.

Install additional smoke alarms in your house. Insurance companies will lower your insurance premiums if you have smoke alarms installed in your home. Adding more carbon monoxide and smoke detectors can convince your home owner’s insurance that your house is not as risky.

It may be tempting to …

2 mins read

Ideas For Home Decorating

Sophos Home protects up to 10 Mac and Home windows computers from malicious software program, inappropriate websites and nasty viruses. From the computer you need to add to your account, log into your dashboard and click on the + Add Units link in the higher right hand corner of the Dashboard. The one disadvantage right here is that should you’re not in the room with the Home system, you can’t management the opposite audio system with your voice.

Please word that the reason for the alert should remain recorded on the Gadget Occasions Checklist If the file is accessed at a later date the alert will likely be reported once more until an exception in made (see Setting Exceptions”). Amazon says the Join has voice-managed speakerphone and caller ID, and you’ll sync it to your cellular contacts.

A single Sonos One costs $200, the same value because the Play:1 that we now have lengthy really useful in our guide to multiroom wi-fi audio system The company additionally introduced that its older speakers now have Alexa assist by means of a connected Echo, Dot, or other Alexa system.

People: Get alerts for the accent if you or someone arrives or leaves your house. Women proceed to have decrease access to education, employment and companies. It performs the important thing operate of community address translation enabling a number of devices to share the home’s single WAN address.

Need to entry your scene from the Home tab, Control Heart, and your Apple Watch? Google plans so as to add multistep routines ” to its voice instructions as properly. three) With the ability to solid from the Google Home to any Chromecast is great – I can hearken to something on the Google Home itself (which has a greater speaker than Alexa), or with my voice ask to hearken to music on my Vizio soundbar.