Prepare Your Home For Summer

Porch Setting

The hazy, hot, and humid summer will soon be upon us.  We need to change gears and be ready.  This is where storage space in your house is a premium feature.  If you don’t have the storage space in your home, there is usually a storage lease facility close to you.  They seem to have a huge client base.   You can design your storage so that your keep each seasons accessories in predetermined spots.  That is for the “ultra organizer”.

Avoid Home Remodeling Mistakes

Licenses & Permits

Homeowners attempt many home remodeling projects every year. Some of them are simple, do-it-yourself type projects others require (or should require) hiring a contractor to complete them. There can be any number of improvements homeowners want to make to their house from building a backyard deck, laying tile in the bathroom, or completely renovating the kitchen or laundry room. There are many common blunders that NJ homeowners make when they are remodeling their homes. Here are the main mistakes that are unfortunately happening all too often.

Not Hiring a Contractor for Bigger Projects

There are certain remodeling projects that should not be attempted by the homeowner unless they have adequate experience. Things like remodeling the kitchen or bathroom, or building a new deck or an addition are better contracted out with an experienced professional. Otherwise you may get halfway into the project, and make an irreversible mistake which can end up costing you double in the end because you’ll have to hire the contractor to fix what you broke, then hire him to do the job right.

Modern Living Room Design Ideas

Living room

Redecorating or remodeling a living room can seem like a very difficult task, but it’s not really such a hard job. Modern trends in living room design are turning toward a minimalist décor. This style uses a lot of geometric lines and shapes to create a visual flow. Modern interior design tends to lean toward keeping things clean and simple while remaining inviting and adding a few splashes of color. It will simply take the right balance of shape, texture, line and color to design a modern living room.

Shape and Texture in the Modern Living Room

Clean lines, right angles and nicely defined shapes are used in the contemporary living room. In order to achieve the modern design use armless chairs, a low back sofa and rimless glass tables that have round or square tops. Tables with X-cross legs add a little bit of visual interest to the design. To add in a little more color perhaps the use of stackable tables that are made of colored plastic would help bring in some color as would metal frame chairs that contain canvas sling seating. These types of furnishings will provide the perfect balance of color and texture. In the modern design there is not as many accessories used so each furnishing or piece that is used in the room can bring color, shape and texture.

Create Extra Space in Your Home

Bathroom design

In today’s economic climate it can be less expensive to add room to an existing structure rather than buying a larger dwelling. While the real estate market is continuing its slow climb out of its slump, it can still be difficult to sell a home and buy another without getting in a financial bind. More homeowners are choosing to add more space to their house rather than moving. Home renovations that add square footage to a home can be a major investment but it can also add value to the home that will be evident at the next appraisal. There are several ways to add more room to your home.

Building on a Room

Adding an entire room to your house can be the best way to create more space. It will actually add to the square footage of the home as it is not just redistributing the available space but giving you some additional space to work with. One of the biggest pros about building on another room is that no part of the house has to be vacated while it is being constructed. It is also not hindered by existing structures. This will require that you hire a professional contractor in Atlanta who has construction experience.

How to Get More Privacy in Your Home?

Window Drapes

One of the common problems in some areas such as Baltimore is that the houses are situated so close together that there doesn’t feel like there is any privacy at all. With neighbors so close, many feel like they want to duck past the windows in order to not be seen. There are many different types of window treatments to chose from that can offer a higher level of privacy.

Window Films

Window films adhere to the interior surfaces of the windows and can come in a wide variety of opacities. Frosted films can contain glass dust which will mimic real the look of real frosted glass. They are available in different colors and patterns as well and some are even designed to look like stained glass. There can be other benefits to using this type of window treatment as well. Along with added privacy, they can block UV rays as well as prevent energy loss and solar heat gain. When peel-and-stick varieties are properly applied to the window unit, they can last for years. But when the homeowner is ready for a change, the film is easy to remove. Window films which use adhesive are a permanent solution because they cannot be removed. They will last the length of the glass and will have even better energy saving properties. Some designers have made decorative adhesive window films which add beauty while providing additional privacy.

Summer Home Remodeling Projects

Composite deck & Vinyl Rail

The warmer months are just around the corner and NJ homeowners are beginning to plan their home remodeling projects for the summer months. For many homeowners it is about making their home more efficient, more usable or to give it more functional. Others want to maximize indoor or outdoor spaces or install a pool or backyard deck. Many are already planning exactly what type of remodeling they want to do this summer while others are still looking for some good ideas. Here are some useful summer home remodeling projects that will maximize your outdoor space.

When to Paint your Home

Painted interior

Exterior house painting needs to be done during a period of time when the weather is going to be dry enough for the wood to be dry before the project begins. After the surface is painted, it needs adequate time to dry as well.  Most people have the idea that summer is the best season to paint, but it is not always the best time to paint a home’s exterior. What time of year is the best to paint your house will depend largely on the region in which you live and the climate in the area. There are several factors to consider which can help a homeowner know what time of year is the best to complete exterior painting.

Temperatures

Most of the manufacturers of paint suggest temperature minimums and maximums which allow for the best paint job. These temperature limits have changed over the years as paints have progressed. As a general rule, the temperature needs to be no lower than about 40 degrees before paint is applied. However, there are some brands that say their paints can be applied to a surface when the temperature is as low as 35 degrees. In some regions, the temperature can be as high as 104 degrees during the afternoon and then drop down as low as 42 at night. Paint should not be applied during the seasons when the temperatures have this large of a fluctuation all in one day. Choose a season in your region that the temperature does not fluctuate too much in a day. In the New Jersey area the average low temperature in October is about 45 degrees and in November it is about 38. So in the northeast region November is probably the cut off for exterior painting.

Reduce the Risk of Mold

Bathroom Window Mildew

When mold grows in a home it can be very damaging to the property as well as cause a wide variety of health related problems. Exposure to mold can cause respiratory problems as well as allergic reactions and skin irritation. For the home it can mean unsightly stains and in many cases irreparable damage. The best option for homeowners is to prevent incidents of mold growth altogether so that there is no threat of health related problems or damage to the home. By being proactive a homeowner can many times prevent the growth of mold altogether. The primary contributors to mold growth are water leaks, condensation and high humidity. Here are some tips on how to reduce the risk of mold growth.

What is Modern Exterior Design?

Modern Exterior Design

The exterior portions of a home do not always get as much attention as the interior parts, but it is not any less important. There are many different design plans that can be used to develop the exterior of the NJ home. Modern exterior design is popular because of its space saving qualities. Modern design for the exterior of the home resembles modern interior design in that it uses geometric shapes and lines and takes the minimalist approach to developing the design. This type of home design will help bring in the right balance between aesthetic appearance and functionality. Exterior lighting and landscape designs will be complimentary of other design elements such as residential painting.

Exterior Siding Versus Exterior Painting

Siding on a Home

When a homeowner considers different exterior home remodeling projects there can be quite a few options to think about. Many times larger exterior remodeling projects will come down to either siding or painting. Either of these options can provide a brand new, fresh look for the NJ home’s exterior; and they both have the potential of increasing the resell value and the aesthetic value of the home. Some homeowners may find this a difficult decision to make since each method has its own set of advantages and disadvantages. It is very important for homeowners to carefully consider both options and determine which one best meets their needs as well as their budget.