If the interior of your home needs a deep clean, it’s hard to miss. Between the clutter, the piles of unwashed laundry, and the dirty dishes left in the sink, messy interiors are impossible to ignore. Many homeowners don’t pay much attention to the exterior of their home, however, and this is a mistake. Not only does exterior cleaning improve the appearance of your home, it can prevent outdoor surfaces from becoming damaged due to accumulated dirt. Ahead, learn more about the exterior features you need to clean on a regular basis.

Siding

Over time, siding accumulates everything from dirt and debris to algae and mildew. To clean traditional vinyl siding, you can use a garden hose, laundry detergent, and oxygen bleach cleaner. The laundry detergent should suffice for areas of siding that are simply dirty; break out the oxygen bleach cleaner for areas riddled with mildew. You can also use a pressure washer, which is a time-effective way to clean your siding. Make sure to calibrate the pressure to your siding; high settings may be too harsh for certain types of siding.

Gutters

There’s no special trick for cleaning gutters. Whether you’re a professional or a home maintenance novice, you have to climb up a ladder and remove any blockage obstructing your gutters. Homeowners who have a fear of heights should consider hiring a handyman for this task.

Concrete and Asphalt

Whether your driveway is made of concrete or asphalt, chances are it could also use a deep clean. To remove stains from asphalt, opt for a petroleum-based solvent. Remember to use a sealant on asphalt driveways after you clean them. For concrete driveways, try scrubbing away grease with grease-removing laundry soap. Commercial degreasers are also effective.

Windows

To clean the exterior of windows, you can use the same window cleaner you use to clean your interior glass surfaces. Spray on the cleaner and wipe until your exterior windows are spotless.

If you don’t have time in your schedule for a marathon cleaning schedule, leave it to the professionals. With the assistance of a handyman Hinsdale Il, your house will look like new in no time.…

Maine is the perfect place for a beautiful English garden filled with colorful flowers, winding vines, and fragrant scents. There’s nothing more peaceful than stepping into an outdoor environment where you can spend quality time with family, friends, and beautiful birds and butterflies.

Original English gardens that were designed at the turn of the century, were designed for large English estates and country homes. They were large in scale, took up hundred of acres, and incorporated elaborate landscapes with well-manicured trees, shrubs and flowers. They often incorporated small lakes filled with bass and trout or hidden ponds surrounded by beautiful trees and places to sit and relax. Many gardens had massive tree groves filled with fruit trees that provided fresh fruit for meals or afternoon snacks. Some had man-made grottos that resembled dark caves. They provided a perfect escape for romantic hide outs and quiet meditation areas.

Although it’s impossible to duplicate these large, elaborate English gardens in today’s landscapes, you can still create a beautiful, backyard English garden for your home on a smaller scale. By incorporating a few characteristic landscape features and lots of colorful flowers, you can create an English garden that’s fit for royalty.

When designing your garden, look for landscape features like outdoor wooden or stone benches, colorful English pots, brick or cobblestone pavers for garden walkways, and an English shed from garden storage ma that provides a potting station for planting and storage for your gardening tools. Outdoor patio furniture in wicker, wrought iron, bent willow, and teak will add a touch of English charm to your garden. Find a good spot in the yard where you can install a wooden or metal arbor draped with ivy or flowering vines. Arbors are great landscape features that add visual interest, highlight special areas, and welcome visitors to your English garden.

When choosing flowers, look for color and fragrance. Typical English gardens are filled with roses, mums, iris, lavender, climbing roses, and flowering vines on perimeter walls and fences. If you want to attract butterflies and hummingbirds, make sure you plant some marigolds, zinnias, geraniums, lilies, and sweet William.…

Everyone grows older, and with advances in both medicine and the higher standards of living in general, the number of elderly individuals is increasing. Many older people are choosing to stay independent and in their own homes, refusing to move in with younger relatives, opting for more privacy and quietness over constant companionship.

New homes and renovations of existing ones often take the needs of this growing population into serious consideration during the planning stages. The kitchen and the bathroom are the two most common locations of accidents in the home. Taking care of one’s self requires daily tasks, such as bathing. However, as people age, getting in and out of the tub poses an increase in more significant risks. A slippery tub that once provided relaxation and a way to maintain proper hygiene can quickly become a dangerous spot.

Walk in tubs are designed to let people step into them instead of climbing over the side. Closing with a watertight door, they also contain at least one built-in seat. Railings, too, increase the level of safety older adults experience so they can bathe themselves safely, helping maintain their independence and ability to stay in their own home.

Installing a new walk in tub can make it possible for someone to stay in their home instead of moving into a relative’s house. Choosing one of the best rated walk in tubs can help ensure that the choice made is the right one. Installing a new bathtub in an existing home or choosing one for a new house being built means a long-lasting decision is made that you can happily live with for years to come.

The styles and colors available make it possible to look modern while always providing security and safety while bathing. The materials used to manufacture these tubs are easily cleaned. The door also helps in maintaining the tub, as there is no need to bend over the edge to clean anything.…

When it comes to home improvement, the majority of upgrades may be beautiful, and many offer comfort and serenity for homeowners, but they don’t increase the value of the home. According to reps at a top real estate company in Texas, the most important approach to increasing a home’s value is keeping in good shape.

Nothing will decrease a home’s value quicker than dust, grime, and clutter. Practical tips like vacuuming, dusting, and cleaning all surfaces help beautify a home and translates to visitors all the effort you’ve put into the upkeep.

Which Home Improvement Projects Boosts Value

Not all the investments made to a home increase the value of your property. Some we could even say are more “sentimental investments”, because their value is more significant to you than to the market.

It’s important to understand that property improvements are not a dollar-for-dollar investment. For example, if you fixed the roof and it cost you $ 10,000, that does not mean that your property is worth $ 10,000 more in the market. Of course, there are certain upgrades that always boost value. Even minimal investments, like landscaping and painting will offer a three percent return.

So where do you make the most money in home improvement projects? Real estate agents say when it comes to upgrading, start with the kitchen.

If you plan to move within the next 3-5 years, and you want to remodel your kitchen, invest in quality, upscale appliances that attract a lot of buyers. In general, the excess of personalization in a home distances buyers. For example, you may love your $ 10,000 commercial stove, and Tuscany’s top-of-the-line kitchen tiles, but it will not translate into $10,000 added to the sales price. You can recover a good amount of money on a kitchen remodeling, but expensive, luxury gourmet kitchens will not attract a buyer willing to pay more than competitive homes in your neighborhood.

Room Expansions Bring More Value

Adding a room to your home may cost you a few thousand dollars but adding a new master suite to the home can net you almost 66 percent return on your investment. Experts say if you add a family room, you can expect about 62 percent.

Real estate agents also point out how energy efficiency yields a good return on investment, yet when it comes to home improvement, it’s still being neglected.

The consumption of energy in the home has become a bigger conversation in the last decade. It’s become easier and cheaper to make a home energy efficient these days, yet many homeowners don’t look at this as a way to boost resale value. Solar panels, energy efficient windows and appliances, and even turning your property into a “smart home” can translate into huge savings and have become a big selling point when buying a home.

It’s perfectly fine to upgrade your home with state of the art improvements, but there’s no guarantee you’ll get a return on your investment. Unless you live …

Septic systems are responsible for carrying waste away from the home and into a tank, where the waste rests until it is returned to the earth through a series of pipes in a drainage field. Caring for the septic system is very important, as it will help to prevent damage and costly repairs.

Monitor What Enters the Drains

Only biodegradable, environmentally friendly waste should be disposed of through the septic system. Feminine hygiene products, plastic trash, and noxious chemicals such as bleach should never be flushed or poured down the drain. If it isn’t biodegradable, it will build up in the septic tank without breaking down. Bleach and other antibacterial cleaners will kill the natural flora within the tank, which is responsible for breaking down organic waste. Avoid using bleach when possible.

Keep Stress Off of the Drain Field

All homeowners should have a clear map of where the drain field is located. Never allow vehicles to drive over this field or allow large livestock to compact the ground. This could damage the pipes within the drain field, reducing the system’s ability to drain. Drain field replacement Orlando might be necessary if a drain field is subjected to continuous compaction.

Using the Right Toilet Tissue

All toilet paper is not created equal. Some tissues break down far more quickly than others. These brands of toilet paper are far more septic friendly, and will be less likely to cause a clog. Toilet papers that are known as “super strong” or “super soft” may be less likely to break during use, but they will also be more likely to cause problems. Some homeowners may never notice a problem; however, a home with a large family that flushes far more toilet paper may notice a difference in the health of the septic system.

With the proper care, a septic system will give a family many problem-free years. Septic systems cannot handle the same treatment that city sewers can; therefore, each member of the family should be well aware of what they can or cannot place in the home’s drains.…

There’s so much that you can do with your home lighting that it’s almost a crime to leave it looking dull and drab. Roll up your sleeves! Break out the catalogues! There are endless ways to do something exciting with your lights, and here are just four ideas.

1. Fun Lamps

Lamps come in all shapes and sizes, so there’s really no excuse to be using boring oval shades on top of plain, unadorned stands. Think outside of the box with funky lamps that have been picked up from thrift stores, auction sites and antique shops. If you’re the creative type, you can even build a lamp out of everyday household items for a truly one-of-a-kind piece!

2. Decorative Chandeliers

Chandeliers have become so commonplace that a “regular” model isn’t really noteworthy anymore. However, a futuristic chandelier made of gleaming chrome parts might be an exception to this rule. You might also enjoy a chandelier with iron-wrought floral patterns or geometric shapes. Try plugging something like “fun chandeliers” into your favorite search engine.

3. Light Bars and Strips

These are immediately noticeable when you walk into a room because most people are conditioned to expect bulbs instead of bars. Even if they’re the exact same luminosity, they’ll look brighter and more fashionable thanks to their newness. It’s not a bad way to give your home a little pick-me-up without completely changing your lighting scheme.

4. Industrial Lighting

Industrial lighting uses metal pipes and bare bulbs to create a stark look for the home. If you’re really dedicated to the theme, you can also invest in fluorescent sockets replacement. It’s sure to get your guests talking, but even more importantly, it’ll be as functional as it is fashionable.

These are just a few ideas for unique home lighting. There are hundreds more, so don’t take this list as gospel. Instead, consider it a starting point for your own brainstorming session, and use its suggestions to build a home lighting system from scratch. You can create something truly remarkable if you’re willing to have fun and try something new!…

One of the most exciting things about the upcoming spring is the changes you see happening around your home. The grass starts to come back to life, the flowers are blooming, and the weather is perfect. Unfortunately for many homeowners, the grass might only be green in certain places, the flowers might not look as great as they should, and the sudden reminder you need to care for your dayton lawn care services even though you haven’t much free time is a harsh reality. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do this spring to improve your landscape and make your curb appeal more beautiful than ever.

Plant New Flowers

If your flower beds have seen better days, it’s time to add a new set of flowers to the mix. Do your homework to find out what grows best in your area. You must figure out what grows best in your climate, whether your landscape is full sun, partial sun, or shade, and you must go from there. Hearty plants and flowers that primarily take care of themselves are always a good idea, but you can be as creative or as simple as you wish.

Invest in an Irrigation System

If you don’t have irrigation and a sprinkler system at home, get one. It’s one of the best investments you’ll make in your landscaping, and it will pay off for years to come. You can’t get back the time you spend watering your lawn and garden, but you can buy that time with a sprinkler system. If you have one already installed and it’s not working well, call for the sprinkler system repair Eau Claire landscapers offer. It’s a small investment in the overall appearance of your home.

Clean it Up

If you’re looking to improve the landscape and the curb appeal at home this spring, adding a sprinkler system and a new set of flowers in the flower beds is a beautiful start. However, you will see an immediate difference when you clean it all up. Pick the weeds, add new mulch or stone to your flower beds, and do yourself the favor of pressure washing your driveway, walkway, and house. These are small details, but they make a significant difference in the appearance of your home. You can also add a fresh coat of paint to your front door or porch rails to make them pop.

Your home is your sanctuary, but not many homeowners have the time to spend focusing on the landscaping they have. You might want a beautiful garden and lawn, but it’s not easy to maintain either without frequent watering and care. A sprinkler system and hearty plants can help you achieve the lawn of your dreams. Adding a pressure wash and spring cleaning checklist to your year to-do list for the lawn also helps tremendously. Don’t let your lawn look sad when there are simple solutions that perk it right up to turn it into your dream lawn.

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