A dining room chandelier provides light and ambiance for this often forgotten room (read: The Unused Dining Room Dilemma). Like a beautiful piece of jewelry, dining room chandeliers often act as the room’s focal point. With an open floor plan, your dining room needs something to define its’ space. Such was the dilemma in my … Read More
44 Homeowner Electrical Checklist Tips
Building a house involves lots of decisions. An electrical checklist will save you money by helping you identify where you want outlets and wall switches placed during construction. That’s because it’s much cheaper to move electrical boxes and wiring when the walls are open. Once the walls are covered with drywall, the cost to make … Read More
Condensate Line: What It Is & Why It’s Important
We rely on HVAC professionals to clean and tune-up our heating and air conditioning systems. Most homeowners know they have to periodically replace their HVAC filters. Very few owners know they have to flush condensate lines monthly during the summer. This is a surprise to new homeowners in Florida. Learn what a condensate line does. … Read More
Stainless Appliance Finishes & Color
Cabinets, countertops and appliances are the biggest expenses when remodeling a kitchen. That’s why most homeowners pick neutral colors that will look great for many years. A backsplash is the easiest way to add more color with paint, tile or stone. Manufacturers are now offering appliance finishes that can also add color. We’ll explore the … Read More
Cheap House Windows You Want to Avoid
The emphasis on low cost products drives lower quality products. Poor quality means products have to be replaced more often. When you have to replace building materials frequently, they cost more when you include installation costs. Walmart focuses on consumable products, ones that aren’t expected to last a long time. They don’t sell cheap house … Read More
How Electrical Outlets are Changing
Electrical outlets are becoming more critical in our connected world. Home fixtures like lights are getting smarter and everyone in the family has a smart phone. So why aren’t we getting smarter about where we put our outlets?
Attic Baffles & Why You Need Them
Attic baffles play an important role keeping your home comfortable and safe. They keep space clear so fresh air can flow from the soffits under your roof eaves to the vents at or near the top of your roof, illustrated by the red arrow above.
Why Call Professionals for an Appliance Repair
Growing up, I often remember my grandmother marveling at all the “newfangled appliances” that were available to make household chores easier. She would tell tales of using a ringer washing machine where she fed clothes through rollers one piece at a time. Appliance designs were simpler and many times a homeowner would handle their own … Read More
Ridge Vents on Top of Your Roof
You want your home to be well-insulated to reduce the cost of heating and air conditioning. Equally important is the need for proper ventilation to ensure that moisture and heat can escape from your attic to avoid problems with mold and/or ice dams. Ridge vents (also called roof vent systems), working in combination with soffit vents, are … Read More
What is a Fascia Board on a House
We all love watching birds and get excited when they visit us at home. One instance where homeowners would rather not have birds is when woodpeckers look for bugs in their fascia boards, leaving ugly holes in the wood. What I can’t tell you is whether bird houses will prevent this damage (but I love … Read More
