There are many reasons that termites have gained the nickname "silent destroyers." Five billion reasons, in fact. Termites cause more than $5 billion in property damage in the U.S. each year. If left unchecked, they can silently chew through the structural stability of a home, eating away at wood, flooring and even wallpaper. To make matters worse, the damage they leave behind is not typically covered by most homeowners’ insurance policies. How to spot termites (Termite Continue Reading ...
Home water leaks waste 1 trillion gallons of water per year, and 10 percent of American homes have leaks that waste 90 gallons of water a day, according to the EPA. Fixing easily detectable leaks like dripping faucets and malfunctioning toilets can reduce water bills and water waste. But what do you do about the leaks you can’t see? Hidden leaks can be dangerous. Leaking pipes within walls can cause mold. Dripping faucets behind appliances can be a fire hazard. Leaking irrigation can Continue Reading ...
A strong housing market is giving homeowners the confidence to invest in remodeling. In fact, homeowner spending on improvements and repairs will approach $340 billion in 2018, an increase of 7.5 percent from estimated 2017 spending, according to the Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity (LIRA) from the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University. Remodeling can add value to your home while also making it more livable, but not all remodeling projects are created equal. While Continue Reading ...
While newly constructed homes are bigger than ever, most Americans still live in modestly sized or even small houses — and many of these owners are choosing to remodel rather than move into a bigger home. More than half of all American houses were built before 1980, according to the National Association of Home Builders. At that time, the average new home size was slightly more than 1,700 square feet, U.S. Census Bureau data shows. Meanwhile, interest in remodeling is at an all-time Continue Reading ...
If you’re thinking about remodeling your small bathroom, you may know that studies show updating a bathroom of any size can increase the value of a home. However, there’s a statistic from a Houzz survey you might not know: 75 percent of people who renovate a master bathroom don’t make it bigger. Enlarging a small master bathroom is often impractical; you may need to take space from another room, or extend an exterior wall to accomplish an expansion. Both options have disadvantages Continue Reading ...
(BPT) - Whether you’re looking to lower heating and cooling costs, or have a passion for protecting the environment, maximizing the energy efficiency of your heating, ventilation and air conditioning system is a smart move. The more energy efficient your system, the less you’ll spend running it every year, and the smaller your home’s environmental footprint will be. Efficiency ratings are intended to help you decide which products are best for your home, so it’s important to Continue Reading ...
(BPT) - Move over mini — the new trend in decking is anything but small. When it comes to the size of their decks, the majority of Americans feel bigger is better — as multiple surveys indicate decks are getting larger and more luxurious, RealtorMag reports. Today’s decks dwarf the outdoor spaces of decades ago, and blur the lines between indoor and outdoor spaces with features like full kitchens, dining and entertainment areas, says Kim Katwijk, owner of Deck Builders Inc. in Continue Reading ...
Thinking About Home Improvements? Out-of-the-Ordinary Upgrades Can Add to Livability And Selling Price Perchance your house is in pretty good shape - newish roof, well-maintained furnace and air-conditioning, as well as fresh paint all over. Or maybe you've bought a brand-new house that is move-in ready. Even if you don't really need to do a thing to the house, you'll probably still have the urge to update. However what can you do when all things are already almost perfect? Thinking Continue Reading ...
Weathering the Storm: 9 Essential Advices For Using A Chainsaw In Order To Clear Debris It's storm season, so that as soon as a tornado or hurricane strikes, clean-up gets started. Commonly, storm clean-up needs engagement from volunteers who supplement the work of experts in eliminating miles of debris. Many are weekend warriors who have never tackled this kind of massive task - and may never have used a chainsaw in such rigorous state of affairs. Those brave volunteers require some Continue Reading ...
See Solar Power In A New Light This Summer With sunny summer month’s right around the corner and energy bills continuing to rise, more and more Americans are making the switch to solar powering their homes. In 2014, the U.S. added more than 186,000 individual residential solar installations, according to GTM Research. As a result, more homeowners are enjoying the cost savings and benefits of the sun year-round. With this rising home trend, make sure you know fact from fiction by Continue Reading ...
