Navigating the Allegheny County Real Estate Market Allegheny County, home to Pittsburgh, offers a diverse…
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3 mins read
Home Decorating Choices – Your Home is a Blank Slate
Let’s face facts here. Even though your home may not look exactly how you’d planned it might look it’s still your home. So if your sitting room is a bright shade of green or you have pink carpet in your bathroom you have nobody to blame for this but yourself. Not really when it comes down to you’re honest with yourself. But hey it’s OK we all make interior decorating mistakes (nightmares perhaps?) The good news is that you can take action to turn these bloopers into blessings; with just a little effort.
Firstly, any feature of your space no matter how distressing, often focuses heavily on the color, right? Instead of cursing it, why not work around that color? Make it work for your theme, not against it. For instance, having a blood red floor doesn’t have to look like a murder scene exposé. To complement this striking floor color, invest on accessories in black and white to capture that modern vibe. A black leather couch with striking ivory colored pieces will lend instant class to your living it’s also because of that red floor you so dreaded! Now nobody will notice that it was a decorating disaster, they might even praise your decorating courage for choosing that bold color.
Now about that moss green bathroom, well there’s a solution for that too! Instead of hating bath times altogether, why not involve this tile color in your overall theme? Think about natural and calming combination. Get a shower curtain that doesn’t clash with the tiles when it comes to color. You can add accessories in beige or tan and even some pale blue colors to depict scenes from nature. When you’re done, this tile color will be the star of your bathroom design instead of a total embarrassment.
If you’re still ranting about your pathetic pink carpet, then here’s reason for you to give that rant a rest. It wouldn’t look half that bad if you added accessories in colors that complement rather than contrast with your carpet. How about adding a touch of yellow or a hint of green in the items you use? This way you would be able to balance out the solid pink color of the carpet with similarly calming colors in the furniture or the appliances. No one can ever tell that your pink carpet was actually a big mistake!
Now when you’re trying to work a new feature into a room you don’t need to color match exactly but you should be aiming for a color that is in the shame color palette. Having any single room one color can be overpowering where as mixing other colors in can give a room more depth.
Patterns can also be used to add the extra color you need to a room. Each color that you decide to use in a room should be used 3 times. You could have red roses in a jar or vase, a dash of red in your curtains and maybe …
3 mins read
Know A Lot More About The Different Kinds Of Septic Tanks
The tanks are in charge of storing the wastes gathered from the lavatories, washing stations, bathrooms, as well as kitchen. Septic tanks have a self-contained built-in system. Inside, the solids and liquids are split up as wastewater enters in the tanks. The lighter solids float on top of the tanks which make up the scum layer. The heavier solids settle at the bottom of the tanks which make up the sludge layer. The liquid which stays in the middle forms the effluent layer.
The natural anaerobic bacteria that’s inside the septic system will be responsible in breaking down the solids as well as converts them into liquid or gaseous form. These microbes are known as coli-form that are present in the human waste. The tanks are buried underground and has an inlet opening as well as an outlet opening. The wastes which are discharged in the tanks would go through the inlet opening as well as be broken down by the anaerobic bacteria. The partially treated liquid will go through the outlet opening as well as would go to the drainfield. Before the installation of the tanks, one must be aware of types of septic tanks available which will be suited for one’s necessities. There are two kinds of tanks in general, the conventional and alternative. The kind of system which must be set up will depend on the site and soil conditions of the area.
In the conventional gravity system, it is is made up of network of drainfields that lie in gravity. Underneath the tanks, these trenches are fixed in the soil. The liquid passes in the drainfields by gravitational pressure. In this set-up, the drainfields must be underneath the outlet of the tanks. The measurement of the drainfields will depend on the volume of the inflow of sewage base on the use of water, the number of individuals and the soil condition.
The pressure distribution drainfields system is normally installed if the condition of the location doesn’t enable the drainfield to be set up underneath the tanks outlet. The tanks system design will be almost comparable to gravity drainfield, the only distinction is the usage of mechanical effluent pump. This pump is needed to pump the effluent from the pumping compartment to the drainfields.
The professional company could set up any type of septic tanks system depending on the location of the house, the available space and the kind of soil in the area. You must find a dependable company to install the right septic tanks in your location. You can locate many expert service provider firms that could set up the proper septic tanks system depending on the area and the type of soil. These companies can be found on the internet and you can select the right company that could set up the septic tanks system at a reasonable cost. You could ask the service providers all of your questions about the system and they could provide tips on the type of system that’s right …
2 mins read
How to Negotiate With Home Warranty Companies
After you have purchased a home warranty, at some point in the future, there is no doubt that you will file a claim with the company in question. Negotiating with the different companies can be a hassle, but most of the reputable ones will deal with you professionally, but the outcome concerning your claim may not make you happy. What I am talking about here is claim denial and this is where I am going to give you a few pointers.
One thing that you should remember is that any type of insurance company has to deal with a great deal of fraud, so they have many protections put in place to roadblock fraudulent claims or frivolous complaints. But these policies sometimes frustrate homeowners with legitimate claims.
Here is the first thing that you should remember.
When you call in to report your claim, you must remember that the person that you are talking to is just doing their job. You should make sure not to exaggerate your situation or have an unnecessary attitude with the representative. You will catch more flies with honey. Always remember that.
After you have calmly reported your claim, you need to consider the fine print on your policy. If your problem is due to neglect or improper installation, you may just be out of luck, but if you feel like your claim is legitimate and you feel like you are being dealt with unfairly or in an unprofessional manner, then you have another option that many people don’t think about.
If you purchased your home warranty at the closing of your new home, then you probably bought it from your real estate agent. And chances are, he or she has made a commission off of its sale. And that means that the real estate agent has a relationship with the company and you can use this to your advantage. Call them up and see if they can offer you some assistance. Mostly likely they will be a little reluctant but willing.…
3 mins read
Saving Energy – It’s All About the Heat
First, some basic science:
A. Heat naturally flows from warmer areas to cooler areas. Its speed of movement depends upon how much a difference there is between these two temperatures. The greater the difference, the faster the flow.
B. Heat flow can be reduced by insulation.
C. Heat can be artificially made to travel in the opposite direction – from cold to hot. This is done by any device that “pumps” heat. Air conditioners pump heat out of the home. Pumping heat costs about one third the cost to create heat.
D. When heat enters your home, during the summertime, it must be removed by the air conditioning system.
E. Radiative heat, from the sun, can easily flow through glass. It heats up whatever it lands upon. Because of certain physical characteristics (called “black-body” radiation) that heat can’t pass back through glass. It is effectively trapped. This is called the “greenhouse” effect.
F. When you install or provide something which operates without need for additional energy, this is called a passive operation.
Okay – so based upon these simple rules, here are 10 basic actions that will improve a home’s energy efficiency which will save you money. I’ll mention the rule and then what you can do:
1. Rule B – Insulation is likely one of the best investments you can make. There are few actions that can give you a better cost to benefit ratio. This is passive in that it takes no energy to operate (rule F).
2. Rules D and E – Increasing the size of your eaves and other overhangs will reduce sunlight entering your home which just has to be removed by your air conditioner (costing money). This is also passive (rule F).
3. Rules D and E – Windows on the west side tend to bring in the most heat from the sun. It is best to limit western exposure either by design or by blocking the windows with shrubbery. This is a passive action (rule F)
4. Rule E – Using reflective glass can be extremely helpful. Curtains and shades do not work because by the time the sun light hits them it has already entered the home (remember greenhouse). Any time something heats up in your home your air conditioner will have to remove that heat. Sunlight must be stopped before it goes through the glass. This is a also a passive method and will save both energy and money during the summer.
5. Rule A – Place foil on the bottom of the plywood roof sheathing of your home. This is easiest to do while building a new home. If your home exists, then consider a radiation barrier in the attic. This will keep the attic cooler. This is also passive (rule F)
6. Rule A – Ventilate the attic. This can be passive or active. It reduces the attic temperature which slows the flow of heat into your home. The active, but effective, way is with a powered fan system …
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.…
3 mins read
Karndean Flooring – For a Unique Feel
The decision regarding the flooring of any construction, whether residential or commercial, is one of the most critical. The decoration of the home, like the colour of the walls, the colour of the furniture, the materials used, home decor items, and so on all depends only on the kind of flooring that you have installed. In addition, the job plays a vital role in determining the overall look and style of the room. A floor, which has too many scratches, or which reacts too easily to the claws of pets and to high heels is certainly not one of the ideal ones. Yet, wooden floors, which come in this category, are often loved for their beauty and earthiness.
About Karndean
Karndean flooring is one of the most important brands that are available today. Every flooring contractor recommends this brand to people who love natural materials, but cannot use them in all rooms for various reasons. With the help of this company, you can have some of the most beautiful looking floors and some of the most unconventional too. So if you love timber, you can have it anywhere – in your bathroom, or even in your conservatory. These floors are able to provide you with the authenticity of natural materials, and yet are made of a material which is completely different from what they look like. The materials used for this kind of flooring are very resistant to various kinds of conditions and are much easy to maintain.
Amtico floors
Amtico flooring is yet another choice for flooring contractors who have been given the task of decorating commercial buildings. This kind of flooring is very famous for its superb design and its splendid stylishness that makes it a very popular choice for all kinds of commercial complexes. These flooring companies specialise in the use of vinyl as the chief material for raw materials. The overall look is very stylish, and gives the onlookers a distinct feeling of luxury. The main advantage of using this kind of work is that you can save an enormous amount on maintenance costs. These floors are extremely easy to maintain on a daily basis.
Need for safety
When you contact floor contractors for your commercial complex, make sure that you mention the need for safety flooring. This is a form of flooring which includes introducing special materials as laminates on the surface of the floor, so that people do not slip and fall easily. Rubber is usually one of the main choices, although these days, there is a wide variety of materials available. You can go for materials which provide a good amount of friction between the highly polished heel and the floor, and at the same time, is quite easy to clean and maintain. Your floor company must be made to understand the need for a safety floor very clearly, since not providing one can lead to unnecessary lawsuits in the future.…
2 mins read
Australian Cypress Flooring Is A Great Choice For Your Home!
These days as people are trying to make their home a very valuable investment, many people are thinking about updating their flooring and making the switch to hardwood flooring! My husband and I purchased our first home a few years ago, and the number one requirement on our list was hardwood flooring. You may have purchased a home without this type of flooring, but installation is a snap, and today we will discuss a popular flooring choice that is a great investment – Australian Cypress Flooring!
Australian Cypress flooring is a unique looking wood that many people adore. This type of flooring will add a lot of value to a home is quite durable! Australian Cypress flooring is composed of stunning wood that has a variety of tones to it. This makes it very unique and in a category that is a bit above the rest. This is the type of flooring that will get noticed and you will find your friends and family will probably be quite envious of. This is also a great investment if you are planning on selling your home and you want to up the value of it.
The interesting thing about Australian Cypress flooring is the unique tones of which it is made up from. This is a very stunning wood with a variety of shades and hues, ranging from cream to honey brown. I have seen a few homes with this type of flooring and really love how the tones range from a rich creamy shade to the glorious honey brown that so many people love and adore. This makes for interesting contrast in colors and shades of the flooring.
The details of this type of wood flooring are mind-blowing. The intricate grain and beautiful dark knots make it a great choice when you want to create a homey and rustic feeling to your home or office. This is perfect if you are looking for a touch of cabin-class to your everyday home. It adds a warmth and dimension to the flooring that is truly an interesting feature to a home.
Finally another great feature to this type of flooring is its durability and hardness! This is the perfect choice for high-volume areas such as a living room or anywhere you get a lot of foot traffic. This is the type of wood that can stand up to the kids, the dogs, and whatever life throws at you!…
2 mins read
Great Advice For Your House Designs
Home designs development could be pricey if this is your first time, however you can find less pricey if you know where to find a good and reliable house builder and designer. Every individual and family wants to have a beautiful house design, yet even this might be expensive and this could also turn to be useless if you and your family are not much satisfied on the house design and all of sudden you want a new one. One perfect thing if you want to stay away from facing this kind of difficulty is why don’t you check through online for some home builder and design sites that offer astounding new home designs and house styles listings for you to discover and acquire the ideal home design of your dreams.
However if you’re thinking of designing your new home, here are some tips that you might consider:
Shower should made more wider, as you don’t know how much weight a person might have, well if your shower will going to use by your friends or boyfriend/girlfriend.
Install some radiant heat that will actually add some value and classy idea for your new home.
If you don’t want to carry dirty clothes throughout your house because your laundry room is in your dirty kitchen or in the garage, make sure you build your laundry area near or rather at the same floor of your bedroom. It is also a great idea to install a laundry chute.
Houses should have a high ceiling because this will make your room feel much larger and as much as possible, this should always be done. Also, make sure that you know how big your driveway and garage before building it. You don’t know that maybe someday you are going to buy a much bigger car that you’re using right now. Keep in mind also to install new CAT5 wiring throughout your house for your computers. This is for your security and it should come also with all the new houses out there.
For you to get more ideas or better options for your house designs, you can also check some home design magazines to make it easy for you to decide what kind of design you want to have for you new house.
Good luck!…
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.…
2 mins read
Building an Eco Friendly Home
You may be thinking of building your first dream home and might be considering going down the Eco Friendly route. Then the questions emerge, like where do you start? What is an Eco Friendly home design? Is using the majority of building materials that are renewable enough to call your new home Eco Friendly? Are the building codes in my area open enough to build the way I’m wanting to?
These are all valid questions! The best place to start is to consider how you use your home. Do you spend most of your time in a living area, a dining area, or an office area? Are you entering and exiting the home a lot i.e. kids running inside and out to a garden. Doors being opened create the biggest loss of heating or cooling which could be reduced with the use of an enclosed patio area at the entrance that is most used. Does your family sleep in or are they early rises? These factors will impact the direction you face your home, as you may prefer bedroom light in the morning and living area light in the evening. What is your local climate like? Can you utilise the sun for heating in winter and make adjustments like using directions shutters for protection from the suns heat in summer.
With these things in mind it’s now time to talk to an architect. Finding an architect that specialises in eco friendly home designs is a great idea as they often have some unique ideas specific to your location. If you cant, you will need to give your architect clear criteria. Here are some important considerations you may wish to discuss:
Water Conservation: Capture and use and reuse of water
Energy Efficiency: insulation, natural heating/cooling, and Solar energy
Building materials: Recycled, recyclable, renewable and toxicity
Appliances: Energy efficient and conservative with water
Remember, The most important factor for your design is how it fits you, your family and your activities. Your home must fit your families’ physical and emotional needs to ensure you live happily in your new environment.
Being Eco Friendly should not just be a home design choice, but a lifestyle choice. Use Eco friendly soaps and detergents; if you’re recycling your grey wastewater, your garden will thank you. Minimise your use of plastic bags when shopping, reusable bags can be obtained from most grocery outlets. Eat healthy, minimise consumption on foods with non-natural additives and flavourings. Keep active and enjoy your new home.…