Category: Service

Do-It-Yourself Home Improvement Tips And Tricks

February 11, 2020 kelvinaurelians Roofing Leave a comment

Home improvement is a popular concept now, especially with a poor economy. Most people can only afford to make updates in their home if they do some or all of the work themselves. When the home owner has some experience in the basics, a do-it-yourself project can be a wise choice. This article will help guide you to make your home improvement project a success.

Putting in another bathroom will add a great deal of value to your home. In practical terms, having another bathroom is very useful, especially if it is on a different floor than an existing bathroom. It is common for more than one person to need in the bathroom at one time.

If you are hiring someone to perform your home improvement work, never pay more than 10% down or $1000, whichever sum is less. Legally, a contractor is not able to accept more than this figure. If he asks for additional funds, it is a sign that the person you hired may not be very reputable.

Replacing the light switch covers in your home is an easy and quick way to brighten up a room. For about $20, you can replace all of the switch covers in an average-sized home with nice clean white ones. They will match just about any decor style. Since most people look for a switch when they enter a room, a clean switchplate appears to clean up the whole room.

Making sure that your basement is weatherproof is the first step to creating a living space in there. If your basement is dry and never leaks or floods, it is a great way to save money on your renovation. However, if your basement is perennially flooded or damp, it not only makes way for mold, but also makes the space uninhabitable. Make sure to weatherproof your basement before beginning your remodeling project.

Bold prints will certainly liven up any space. Leopard or zebra are good choices, but keep the design small to avoid overwhelming your space. Use it on some throw pillows, a decorative vase, or your wall art for instance.

Spice up your mantelpiece by decorating it with similarly grouped items. Collect objects that are similar in nature such as wood items, only items with letters on them, items that are old fashioned or different sized decorative paper boxes. They create an interesting focal point near your fireplace and can prove to be conversation pieces.

Few things brighten up a house like a well-maintained flower bed. Before you undertake a major makeover, however, do your homework. Find out which flowers are best suited to your home’s climate, soil type, and shaded areas. This will ensure that you do not waste your time or money by planting blooms that are not compatible.

There are times when a home owner will take on a project which is beyond their ability. In this case do-it-yourself home improvement can end up costing more than a contractor would have charged in the first place. As this article helped you see it is always wise to do some research and get professional advice before taking on a home improvement project.…

Be Safer With These Great Home Security Tips

November 5, 2019 kelvinaurelians Roofing Leave a comment

Home security systems have been around for many years, but there are still a lot of people who don’t have them. Some simply find it difficult to get home security. You can easily get home security and keep your self and your loved ones secure, as you’ll see in this article.

Be wary of salespeople that come to your door. Make sure to ask for their credentials if they ask to come into your home. Ask them to slide their identification under your door. There are many professional burglars that will use this tactic for checking out a home. If You’re feeling doubtful about them, Try checking with their office before allowing them in.

Protect your valuables. Some common ways to do this are by storing them inside a safe-deposit box or storing them in a heavy home safe that’s nearly impossible to move. Make sure the safe is fireproof. You can use a chiseled-out space in the very top of your door for smaller valuables. You can even create a hiding place in a acoustical ceiling by removing a tile and restoring it with something like magnetic fasteners. Make sure to avoid leaving fingerprints with this method.

Do not list your full name in the phone book or on your mail box. This can give possible intruders a lot of information about you and allow them break into your home a lot easier. Instead, only list your last name and possibly your first initial, this is much safer.

Moving into an apartment or home that you’ve lived in should involve changing the locks first to maker them safer. Previous tenants may have given the keys back to the landlord, but it is always possible to make copies of keys. For maximum security, buy your own locks and install them yourself. This way you can be certain nobody else has a key.

If you work from home or have your own business, do not put your address or phone number on your website. Disgruntled customers or thieves could come to your home and try to get inside. Instead, get a post office box and have customers or associates send you mail to this address.

Look online for a reputable home security business. Check out different websites, and read through package details and customer testimonials. Put together a list of the different home security companies you want to know more about and give them a call.

If you would like a home security system, but cannot afford the expensive installation and monthly fees, you have another option. You can purchase a wireless DIY home alarm that has most of the features you desire for less than $200.00. In addition, there are no monthly fees and the system is portable.

After reading this article, there is no excuse for not having home security. There might have been difficulty in the past, but now, the only difficulty allies with you. You have to get over your limitations and do what you can to make your home secure. This article can aid you when you need further help.…

Eat Healthier: Tips For Organic Gardening

October 15, 2019 kelvinaurelians HVAC Service Leave a comment

Organic gardening requires a green thumb and a lot of patience. It is a good way to grow healthy fresh foods in an environmentally friendly, chemical-free way. This seems to be easier said than done, though, right? Read on for suggestions on what you will need to start gardening like a pro.

Aspirin water has disease-prevention properties that can protect plants. One and a half aspirin, dissolved in two gallons of water, can be a great addition to your plants. The solution can then be used to spray the entire plant, and will offer protection naturally. Use this solution once in every three-week period.

One way to help your organic garden thrive is to leave an undeveloped area that is conducive to the wildlife around your area. The kind of birds and insects needed for pollination will be naturally present on your property and help with your organic garden.

Once your seeds have germinated they will not need to be kept as warm as before. As they begin growing you can move them farther away from heat sources. Take any plastic film off of your containers because they hold in heat and humidity. Watching your plants as they grow will give you the insight on when to employ these tactics.

The optimal amount of organic mulch to use in your flower beds is 2-3 inches. Mulching is the perfect way to lock in moisture, nourish soil, and to keep away weeds. It will also increase the visual appeal of the flower beds.

To avoid tracking the mud and dirt that will get on your gardening shoes, use plastic bags. This helps you stay in the zone so that you can continue gardening when you have completed your tasks in the house.

Pine needles make a great organic mulch. Some plants are more acidic, and prefer soil that contains higher acidic levels. If you are growing these types of plants, simply gather up fallen pine needles for use in your garden. Cover the surface of the ground with a two-inch layer of the pine needles; as the needles break down, they will release acid into the soil and nourish your plants.

Do you want to kill weeds without using commercial chemicals? Use several layers of newspapers for weed control. Without light, there can be no weeds. With layers of newspaper on them, the weeds are not going to have light, and therefore will not grow. Newspapers also decompose fairly quickly, and mix with your garden soil. Covering the newspaper with mulch will help your garden to be more pleasing to the eye.

If you have recently planted seeds in your organic garden, you should regularly aerate the soil by using your hands to gently sift it. This will sound a bit strange. However, it has been proven to cause plants to grow larger.

Organic gardening can be described as a healthy hobby that incorporates the beauty of nature, lots of hard work along with lots of patience. This is a great hobby that uses your land to grow food. To transform yourself into a successful organic gardener, simply follow our tips and put in a bit of effort!…

Be Prepared: Pest Control Tips And Tricks

October 6, 2019 kelvinaurelians Renovation Leave a comment

Getting rid of pests inside your home can be pretty daunting. While it may seem like they will never go away, there are several methods that you should consider. The following article is full of tips that will help you take your home back from all of the pests that have been living there.

If your home has a problem with brown recluse spiders, use sticky traps to catch them. They can hide very well and they are hard to kill with pesticides. At night they search for food. Put these traps along your walls as well as behind your furniture so you can trap them.

Use an outside perimeter spray to prevent indoor insects. Windows, doors, foundations and steps should all be treated with the product. Always spray the pesticides in the cracks that you see. Use caulk or another type of filler to seal the open areas.

You can prevent most pest infestations by keeping your home clean. Do not leave any food scrapes on your table or in the kitchen sink and make sure you tightly seal garbage bags. Get rid of your garbage on a regular basis and do not hesitate to store garbage bags in your garage until you can get rid of them.

Borax powder is known as a natural pest control. It can be used to rid your home and yard of many different kinds of insects, including roaches and ants. Avoid using borax around children and pets. Instead, place borax along baseboards and under cabinets to quickly rid your home of these pests.

If you live in an apartment complex or multi-unit condo complex, unite with your neighbors. Anything you try to do to control pests in your own unit will be unsuccessful if all the other units in your building are infested. Get together with the residents of your building and schedule pest control for the entire building to deal with the problem.

When you put bushes around your house, put them about 12 inches away from your home at minimum. Bushes make a great home for many different insects and rodents. If bushes are near your windows or any other point of entrance, bugs will come off the bushes into your house.

If you have children, explain to them the rules around the house for eating. Make sure that you designate only one area of the home for eating to help reduce any infestations that you may have. If all members of the house are responsible for what they do, you will have less of a pest problem.

Do a little research on the rodents or insects that have made your house their home. Determine why they are there based on the things they are attracted to. A plan designed for your specific pest program is the best approach.

While you may have been living with pests in your home for quite some time, there are ways that you can get rid of them. It may take a little trial and error to finally get rid of them, but it can work. The tips here will help you take your home back.…

Confused By Pest Control? These Tips Can Help!

September 15, 2019 kelvinaurelians Plumbing Leave a comment

You could spend every weekend fixing up your home, shopping for nice accents and new furnishings, but if you’ve got a pest problem, nothing can cover it up. Although your efforts at great housekeeping aren’t totally wasted, you know you need to address the pests. Keep reading for helpful advice on how to get rid of them for good.

If you are concerned that you have bed bugs, do not try to remove your mattress from your home. Dragging it through the house is likely to spread the infestation. Instead, keep everything stored in that one location. You can add a “bed bug cover” to the mattress to try and contain the problem, although you will need to be seen by a pest control specialist.

One way that you are able to kill bees, wasps or hornets that live around you is to spray them with hairspray. Hairsprays contain chemicals that can quickly kill a variety of pests, and the scents help to keep future pests away.

Make a simple fruit fly trap using a 2-liter bottle and some cider vinegar or wine. Cut the bottle in half, and invert the top inside the bottom half, like a funnel. Add an inch or so of your chosen liquid, leaving a bit of space between it and the opening of the bottle. The flies can enter, but they cannot fly out and will drown.

If you believe that you have a bat in the house, leave a window open overnight. Try to pick one that is located close to where you think the bat might be. These pests follow the air current, so they should go right back outside if they have a way to exit the premises.

If you are having a pest control problem at your home, take a look at your garbage for clues to why this is happening. Garbage needs to be in air tight bags and disposed of on a regular basis. Keep your trash outside your home and not inside your kitchen to reduce the chances of having a pest problem.

Stink bugs are persistent pests, so focus on your outdoor area to help eradicate the problem. Keep your bushes trimmed and make sure that firewood is stored well away from your home. Thirty feet from the dwelling is appropriate, if you have the space. In addition, the firewood needs to be kept just off the ground (about six inches).

Go through the foundation and roof of your house to ensure that there’re no cracks or holes that pests can get into. If you find any, make sure you seal them up as soon as possible. Try to avoid using typical caulk as they usually can chew through this. Your best bet is to use something made with copper or mesh.

Most people love to putter around the house, making improvements and adding personal touches. Unfortunately for people with a pest problem, you can never really feel good about your home until you get rid of them. Hopefully this article has provided you with solutions you can use to get the pest problem under control, permanently!…

Confused About Home Security? Get Some Clarity Here

September 5, 2019 kelvinaurelians HVAC Service Leave a comment

If you live alone, you know what it’s like to question how safe you are. There’s always the thought lingering in the back of your mind that someone is waiting to break into your home. That’s why you need home security. Keep reading for some home security tips that can protect you.

Did you know that many cable companies offer home security systems now? This is a great way to get a quality system installed and monitored in your home by someone you can trust. They usually offer very competitive rates with other home security companies as well. You may even get a discount if you have cable service with the same company.

Make sure all exterior wiring is well protected or covered. Copper wiring is a favorite object for theft as it is often accessible from outside the home and can be sold for a great deal of money. Air conditioners are a prime target for copper thieves. Also make sure exterior power and phone lines are protected and not easily cut.

If your home has glass doors, you need to install a sensor in order to be safe. In many areas, burglars seek out houses with glass doors since they are easy to break. Installing shatterproof glass is a very expensive option, so you should consider having a sensor put in.

If you have every been the victim of a robbery, you are likely to see the value of a home security system. Your peace of mind can take precedence over the expense of installing the system. Shop carefully to be sure you are getting the best system available at the best price.

Don’t put spare keys inside plant boxes or beneath the welcome mat. These seem like great places for you when you misplace your key. Thieves are aware of all these spots. Rather, give your spare key to a neighbor or friend that you trust.

If you will be away from your home in the winter months, pay someone to shovel your driveway. This will show that you are still home, as a driveway that is not taken care of indicates there is no one there to do it. A simple 20 dollar payment to a local shoveling company can save your house from a burglary.

Install metal security bars on all sliding doors and widows. Sliding doors and windows are vulnerable to being forced open by a determined intruder. A simple metal bar, set into the track, adds considerable security for a small price. Make sure that the bar is long enough that the door or window cannot be opened far enough to fit through.

Do not keep your spare key in a place easy to find for intruders. Many people put the key in a mailbox, or under a plant. This is much too easy for a criminal to find. Think of an area a burglar would not look. One good way to hide a key is by burying it somewhere in your yard.

Just because you live alone, that doesn’t mean that you have to feel unsafe. There are home security methods that you can use to protect yourself and take the fear out of your life. You shouldn’t have to waste your time worrying about when the next burglar will strike. Use these tips and be at your safest.…

An Easy-to-understand Guide To All Your HVAC Questions

August 23, 2019 kelvinaurelians Roofing Leave a comment

Has the time come to replace your aging HVAC system? Do you want to upgrade the efficiency of your current set-up? Are you having issues with rooms which are uncomfortable to live in? Regardless of why you are here, this article has the tips and tricks you need to succeed.

Although most people are thinking of their heating systems during the winter months, air conditioning is also important. When installing a new furnace or heating system, make sure the air ducts are also set up to work with your air condition system. Using the ducts for both heating and cooling is the most economical choice.

When purchasing a new HVAC system for your home, be sure it is energy efficient. These days, most new HVAC systems are energy efficient; there is a energy star label on the equipment. However, to be sure your utility costs do not go through the roof, choose equipment that is energy efficient.

When the spring comes and the days begin to warm up, call in a pro to give your HVAC a once over. This will ensure that your air conditioner works as expected all summer long, stopping you from sweating it out when you least expect the system to fail.

Have the HVAC system checked twice a year at the least. The normally recommended time for HVAC system inspections is once before the peak cooling season when it gets hot and you’ll be using your AC, and once before the peak heating season, during the cold months when you’re likely to be using your heat. A quick check is worth it to avoid problems down the road.

Consider all of your alternatives before installing a central air conditioner. You can only cool certain rooms, use whole-house fans, or even make use of a geothermal system. The more efficient the system you set up, the less you’ll spend on utility bills over time as you use it.

Research what size air conditioner you should purchase for the size of your home by using online calculators they have for this purpose. If the unit is too large, it won’t cool more than a smaller unit, just less efficiently. Check the manual it comes with for the information you need.

Use plants to increase your air conditioner’s effectiveness. An AC unit fully shaded by trees and shrubbery can operate up to 10 percent more efficiently. However, do keep spacing in mind. Air flow must not be constricted, and technicians need room to work when they come out to service your unit.

Consider an annual service agreement for technicians to regularly inspect your AC unit. Schedule brief inspections for the winter to make sure nothing is obviously wrong. The most important time for an inspection and service is just before it starts getting warm. You don’t want to discover an AC breakdown when you need it working most.

With all of these great ideas fresh in your mind, go out and find the HVAC help you need. Whether you have to hire a contractor or do the work yourself, your knowledge will get you a long way. All you have to do today is get started on your project!…