Category: Home Exterior

Home plans expert, Eric Englund from HomeStyles, says “The good news is that often the exterior styling can be changed by the builder to suit your taste.” Though there are cases in which the styling of the interior is so tied to the exterior that it might be unattractive or disorienting to go to an extreme opposite in changing the outside, it is a fact that most people like you who purchase home plans and build from them make some modifications to suit their family’s lifestyle–and also, to add distinctive touches that make the house on paper a real-life special home.

“The top priority is to buy a home with an interior layout that works for you,” says Englund. “The blueprints may show a Tudor facade, but in many cases you can switch it to something else if you really want the inside layout but not the exterior. You can eliminate the Tudor half timbers and add stucco or wrought-iron details, for example.”

Shown here through the rendering and the photo is an example of exactly what Englund is talking about. Continue reading

Lakes are a part of the natural scenery but do require a bit of maintenance to stay in prime condition. A small amount of work on a regular basis will keep your lake in the best condition possible. You’ll be happy to spend more time lakeside.

Trash and Debris Control

A build-up of trash and debris in your lake waters can hinder the flow of water and cause certain areas to become stagnant. Stagnant water helps provide the calm waters mosquitoes look for to breed. Broken tree limbs can begin to affect the clarity of the water. Trash in the lake makes it look uncared for and can be a health hazard to people and animals.

Water Quality and Clarity

Water hardness, Ph levels, temperature, turbidity, and aeration can all affect the quality and clarity of your lake. Continue reading

Bringing gardens into schools has become the wave. Think Alice Waters, famed chef and proponent of eating fresh local foods, and the Edible Schoolyards program she started out of Berkley, CA.

Gardens open whole new vistas for school children. They can learn about biology through seeds and the way seeds turn into plants. They can learn about science through photosynthesis and the way the sun changes its position in the sky according to the seasons. Children can learn about nutrition by growing vegetables and learning how to prepare them in the kitchen.

And in an urban environment such as the District of Columbia, where many children may not have access to a garden or even a yard, these can be valuable, even life-altering lessons. Continue reading

The use of metal roofs in the residential or commercial places is not new ; and metal roofs have existed a long time ago since the 60s when metal roofing were considered as metallic coverings installed mostly in industrial and commercial buildings . These days, metal roofs are very stylish and are available in various styles and designs. Their functionality just like their design and style has a lot improved.

Nevertheless, many property owners wonder if they can get a return on this expensive investment. The major question is whether the lasting quality and energy savings of the metal roof may eventually pay for the upfront cost. To respond to this concern, the many has clarified some of the misunderstanding related to the installation of metal roofing and then clearly shows under which conditions the total advantages of metal roof are realized.

Exploring Numerous Advantages of Metal Roofs

No one will ever argue the advantages related to metal roofs, but they need to look at these positive aspects when compared with other forms of roofs and give some thought to the environment in which one lives along with the duration one plans to live in the same house. To be certain that metal roofs give many advantages such as durability, energy efficiency, and lightweight and various designs and styles. When I had a home renovation project two years ago, I hired one of the best metal roofing companies near me and I found another benefit with metal roofs that it can also be laid on the top of the existing without having to take away the existing roof which will reduce labor cost. Let’s check out some of these advantages in more detail.

Cost Benefits from Thermal Efficiency Is Not Similar for most Climates
Metal Roof coating can easily reflect the sun light and thus maintain the house cool throughout summer. This Thermal efficiency will help homeowners with reducing utility bill. In most warm regions this cost benefits alone can pay for the initial cost of the roof in about 10-15 years. But, it is actually worth saying that thermal efficiency features of metal roofs are perfectly made real in high-temperature regions.

The Design and style
today you will discover numerous types of roofs which are stylish. Although you know about design and style in roofing, it is crucial that you do not make your choice purely depending on style as the roof is not the most appealing part of your house. It is said that most of homeowners are amazed more with the style and design of the bathrooms, interior, flooring, kitchen, and exterior of the property than the design and style of the roof.

Lasting quality
Among all the amazing benefits mentioned earlier, the most essential is lasting quality. Metal roofs usually last 30 -80 years if good maintenance is performed. That is why many industrial and commercial building prefer using metal roof than other types of roof.

Conclusion
Metal roofs are great investments and it will depend on many different factors such as the local climate where your property is situated along with the duration you plan to live in your existing home.

Vinyl siding is quite affordable in Connecticut, particularly when homeowners think about other materials which are commonly used for siding. Typical options of aluminum and wood often cost almost twice as much every time they are used to completely finish the exterior of a home.

Homeowners with a minimum budget usually make this siding their ultimate decision for their house. Because of its sturdiness, homeowners will not be confronted with costly maintenance bills and are free to use their money for other renovations. Another benefit associated with the cost of vinyl is its elastic resistance to mold, mildew, or insects and it will not be affected by rotting like wooden siding.

You can find a wide selection of vinyl colors from which to select in Connecticut, or even more attractive is the wide selection of patterns. Through the advantages of vinyl sidings, houses can even have the look and style of stone walls, log cabin, or many different styles of siding made of vinyl.

Although such selections are a bit more expensive compared to the standard siding , vinyl siding price is more reasonable compared to the stone, wood, aluminum and shingles and requires less time for installation . The various styles and patterns of vinyl siding can also be integrated into many different architectural designs and styles.

The industry has manufactured quality standards for colors retention, thickness, and capabilities to stand up against elements of weather condition such as hot sun, high winds, and hard rains. Research is repeated over time to drive the product toward a higher quality to provide homeowners the finest product available for purchase and yet maintain a cheap siding price.

With today’s massive focus on going green, vinyl siding Connecticut is more cost effective; it is also environmentally friendly. Due to its light weight, relocating it from the factory to location needs less fuel. Sidings such as wood or metal need more than twice as much energy to spend both for manufacturing and transporting it to another location.