Home Improvement » Home Improvement Tips

Breathe easy with simple tips for improving indoor air quality

Author — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 13:47:24 +0000

(ARA) – Summer has slipped away, but that doesn’t mean seasonal allergies have gone with it. Millions of Americans suffer through fall as autumn winds stir up late summer pollen, fallen leaves, dust and debris. To make matters worse, indoor allergens are less likely to be vented out of homes closed up against fall’s chill.

More than half the American population – 55 percent – tests positive for at least one allergen, according to WebMD. More than 16 million adults and nearly 7 million children have asthma, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Keeping the air in your home as pollutant free as possible can help reduce asthma and allergy symptoms. Indoor pollutants can make the air inside your home more irritating than outdoor air. Indoor air quality is one of the top five most urgent environmental risks to public health, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

Protecting your family’s health from indoor irritants can be simple and cost-effective. “Improving indoor air quality is as simple as controlling moisture, reducing allergens and decreasing gases and fumes by updating old appliances, changing filters regularly and investing in economical, mechanical appliances to improve air quality,” says John Kasberger, a senior vice president at Lowe’s — the home improvement store.

Lowe’s offers a few simple tips to improve indoor air quality:

* Consider investing in a quality air purifier. You don’t have to go far or pay a lot to find a good one. Lowe’s new Idylis family of air purification products uses a HEPA filtration system to remove up to 99.97 percent of allergy-causing airborne particles like smoke, dust, pollen, gases and fumes. Select units offer UV-C technology to assist in killing germs which can cause cold and flu and are also ENERGY STAR rated, meaning they’ll consume less energy and money.

* Change the filters in your home’s heating, ventilation and air conditioning system regularly, as recommended by the system’s manufacturer. Keeping filters clean not only improves indoor air quality by more effectively removing irritants, it can also help extend the life of the mechanical system.

* Finally, control moisture in your home. Be sure to have properly working ventilation fans in moisture-prone areas like the kitchen and bathroom. Excess humidity can cause mold, bacteria and other irritants that trigger asthma and allergy symptoms. You easily can tell if your home is too humid – if water collects on the inside of your windows the moisture level in the home is too high. Remove excess moisture with a dehumidifier.

For more tips on how to keep your indoor air healthy for you and your family, visit idylishome.com or Lowes.com/HealthyHome.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Don’t Let Cold Weather Stall Home Improvement Projects

Author — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 00:53:28 +0000

(ARA) – Home improvement projects may not be at the top of your to-do list during the cold winter, but this is a surprisingly great time of year to consider potential exterior enhancements. Planning and preparing are important steps for any home improvement project, and what better time to start than now?

Potential Projects
* Driveway
If your driveway is in need of repair, it’s a good idea to fill any cracks before the winter weather creates more damage. Consider a product such as TAMKO’s Overdrive Rubberized Driveway Crack Filler, which can be used to repair cracks up to a half-inch wide and performs in all temperatures. If you delay filling the cracks in your driveway, you could end up with expensive repairs.

* Roof
Your roof represents nearly 50 percent of your home’s exterior protection, and it’s important to ensure your roof is ready for the rough winter. If you’re contemplating a roof repair or upgrade, it is important to research all options before making a choice.

A popular roofing choice is asphalt shingles, which cover nearly 85 percent of homes in America. You may want to consider a premium asphalt shingle, which typically comes with a longer warranty and additional advantages that could save you money in the future. For instance, TAMKO’s Heritage Vintage laminated asphalt shingles resemble wood shake and offer a 50-year limited warranty.

Develop a List
Before you begin making home improvements, it’s a good idea to develop a list of what you hope to accomplish. You should also keep your budget in mind because the cost of construction materials has risen more than 10 percent during the past year according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

“After determining your projects, it is time to prioritize and select how you’re going to tackle these home improvements,” says Stephen McNally, vice president of sales and marketing for TAMKO Building Products, Inc. “For some projects you should consider consulting a professional before taking any action.”

Schedule a Professional
This time of year, contractors and builders are anxious to schedule outdoor projects for the following spring. If you plan to work with a professional on your exterior home improvement projects, then consider contacting them now. You may have a better chance of being first in line once construction season begins.

No Better Time Than Now
Now that you have a list of home improvement projects, it’s important to put your plan in motion. “Don’t allow the weather to discourage you,” says McNally. “We typically have more idle time during the cold, winter months and this is a good time of year to begin planning those home improvement projects you’ve been delaying.”

Courtesy ARAcontent

Information Concerning the Best Home Improvement Projects

Author — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 08:18:06 +0000

Taking on the task of implementing the best home improvement projects for your home can become time consuming and expensive especially if multiple projects are planned. While the time and money involved in making the best home improvement projects can range from high to low, the additional increase in value to your home is well worth the effort.

Benefits of Best Home Improvement Projects

Whether you plan to live in the home or resell it, improving the value is a positive step for any homeowner. If reselling the home is an option, not only is the price a factor to potential buyers but also the condition of the home. A home that is in excellent condition and has been upgraded with new and improved materials and has had amenities added will make the home much more attractive to new buyers plus the cost of the best home improvement projects can be factored in when determining a sale price.

Implementing the Best Home Improvement Projects

Knowing what the best home improvement projects are for your home requires, in some situations, an expert opinion and contacting professionals in specific fields to help you find home improvement projects relevant to your needs will start you in the right direction. Check the yellow pages, online websites, local newspapers and community flyers for information. Many companies or individual contractors will give free estimates.
If you will be doing any of the improvements yourself, whether you’re experienced in making home improvements or a novice, having a good home improvement book to explain how to do the best home improvement projects is an asset.

Utilizing Experts

Some improvements are best left to licensed experts such as electricians, plumbers, contractors and landscapers/tree cutters. These types of projects would include such things as the need to replace fuse boxes and faulty wiring, rewiring work of any kind, replacing pipes, tearing off and replacing a roof, installing drywall, laying tile, installing a water heater or a central air conditioning system or having tall trees removed or trimmed. Not only do these experts have the knowledge and the tools necessary to complete the best home improvement projects, the work done comes with a warranty and a guarantee.

Additional Information

Check with your local zoning office to find out what permits are required before starting any home improvement project. In some cases, the contractors will get the necessary permit but for other projects, especially those you are doing yourself such as adding a room or replacing the roof requires the homeowner to purchase and post a permit.

Home Improvement Outlet Stores Offer Better Deals

Author — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 08:17:13 +0000

When you’re thinking about doing a home improvement project, you probably envision going to one of the big named stores, such as Lowes or Home Depot. However, those stores often have higher prices than many of the mom and pop shops or even home improvement outlet stores. These home improvement outlet stores can provide you with everything you need without breaking your wallet like any of the big named stores will. There are lots of home improvement outlet stores, just as there are many huge, big named stores that offer home improvement tools, supplies and more.

Shop Around

Don’t just stop into your local home improvement outlet store and start shopping. It would be better to compare prices, especially with food and gas prices the way they are today. Wouldn’t you like to get as many home improvement tools, supplies and everything else you need while also saving money? Of course you would. So whether you’re shopping at Lowes, Home Depot, one of the other big named stores, or a home improvement outlet store; compare prices so that you can save as much money as possible.

Bigger Is Not Always Better

You may be thinking that the big named stores are big because they’re better. That’s just not the case, however. Home improvement outlet stores are often staffed by people who are more helpful and more knowledgeable. These people truly care about you and your needs. Because they may not get as much business, or do as much advertising, as the other big names, they need and respect your business. So they’ll often go that extra mile in order to satisfy you. That’s just one of the many benefits of shopping at a home improvement outlet store.

Improving Your Home

When you stop into a home improvement outlet store, you should already have your project in mind. Are you building a new addition onto your home? Are you adding on or are you redoing a certain room? However, sometimes it’s fun to just come up with a project on the spot as you spy a certain item on the shelf at the home improvement outlet store. Your projects that you want to do are up to your know how, your budget and what the home improvement outlet stores have in stock. Have fun and congratulations on your motivation to improve your home. You’ll increase your property value and you’ll also feel as though you just moved into a brand new dream home.

Beautiful Yards with Home Decorating Products

Author — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 08:15:37 +0000

Everyone wants their home to be the envy of the neighborhood. However, you probably thought that you needed to spend thousands and thousands of dollars just to get your front lawn fixed up. This is not the case at all, and you’re in luck for getting some great deals on home decorating products for around the house and especially the lawn at your local home improvement store. Even if there aren’t any sales going on at the moment, there are a number of options available to you to save some big bucks over what you thought you’d need to purchase.

Manual Labor

Using elbow grease to get work done is met with sighs by people around the world, but it’s a necessary evil if you want to save money on some things, like your yard for example. Some cheaper options for home decorating products for your yard might include grass seed as opposed to sod grass. The first requires you to sprinkle it around then lay down straw or some other material on top of it. The latter is good to go from the minute you lay it onto the ground, but it also costs a great deal more.

Also, your neighbor’s grass is probably so green and vibrant because they use some type of fertilizer. This is another great home decorating product that increases the health of your lawn, making it more resistant to the harmful effects of drought and an excess of rain. For around your house, you can get some great border materials to give it greatly needed definition. Mulch works great with flowers, but weeds can run rampant if you don’t curb their spread, and it generally needs to be replaced every few years. An alternative home decorating product would be some type of stone around the edge of your house. Generally, white river stones tend to be the most popular.

Of course, you’ll want to get a deck for your house, and home decorating products can make it better than ever before. Stylish solar lamps can save you money while providing you with exterior lighting for a lifetime, relying solely on the sun each day to recharge and shine brightly at night. Flower pots along your house and a few trees in your front yard can make all the difference, and you’ll have a newfound sense of pride in your home once your dawn. Everything feels like more of an accomplishment if some hard work went into making it, so take the time, purchase some home decorating products, and give your home the makeover you’ve always wanted to.

Questions To Ask When You Find Home Improvement Professionals

Author — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 08:12:39 +0000

Some of the best home improvement information you will uncover will come when you find home improvement professionals to do your project. When you are in the process of hiring a home improvement contractor you should always have a series of questions you ask each contractor before you find home improvement professionals that you will actually hire.

To find home improvement professionals that can really do the job to your satisfaction you will need to ask a lot of questions to make sure that you are going to find home improvement professionals that meet your qualifications. Any good contractor is going to expect questions so you will not be insulting the good contractors with a series of well defined questions designed to help you find home improvement professionals that you can trust.

Experience is a big factor when you are trying to find home improvement professionals. To some people experience is not a deciding factor but everyone needs to be concerned with the level of experience their contractor has. Ask your contractors what their experience is and always ask for references to back up that experience. You can only find home improvement professionals that can do the job you want the way you want it if you take the time to check out the work they have done in the past. This process is especially important if your project will require some very specific skills. Always make sure your contractor is up to the task before giving them the job.

License And Insurance Please

When you are trying to find home improvement professionals you are looking for companies that play by the rules and that includes all the paperwork they need to file to be legal. Many states require contractors to be licensed before they can work so be sure to ask to see your contractor’s license. Any contractor should be fully insured before you allow them to work on your project. Always insist on checking out your contractor’s insurance situation before you agree to give them the contract to your project.

Another factor you can use when you are trying to find home improvement professionals is just talk to your contractor. Take notice of how they answer your questions and see if you like the answers you are getting and if the contractor displays a professional demeanor. All of this is extremely important as you are getting ready to pay your contractor a lot of money so you need to be certain that you like the way they do business.

Determining the Best Home Improvement Investments

Author — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 08:11:41 +0000

One of the best ways to increase the value of your home is to determine the best home improvement investments. Starting off with the best home improvement investments that will yield the biggest return in increased value, as well as comfort and appeal is a good place to start. These investments can entail major renovations, minor remodeling or be strictly cosmetic.

Selecting Projects

Selecting the best home improvement projects is a key factor once a decision is made regarding which best home improvement investments will be implemented. Older homes, especially frame houses, may require projects that will upgrade or modernize it versus a new home that might require only minor renovations or cosmetic improvements. The end result of any improvements made include increased value and improved functionality of the home.

Major Improvement Projects

Projects to consider when looking for the best home improvement investments fall into several categories with major improvements heading the list. This type of project can be interior or exterior with such projects as completely redoing the floors in ceramic tile, refinishing a basement or turning a carport into an enclosed garage.

Minor Improvement Projects

Just as important as major improvements minor improvement projects can be something as simple as remodeling the bathroom to include a tiled shower area. Another project can involve adding a security system including outdoor lighting. Along with the security system, have security doors and burglar bars installed.

Outside Improvement Projects

There are numerous outside projects that can be considered as best home improvement investments. These types of projects range from creating an ornamental pool and patio or building a deck and adding a spa to installing a swimming pool, building a sun room, screened porch or atrium. To be environmentally friendly installing a drip irrigation system to water plants and vegetables will save money as this type of system saves more water than traditional watering with a hose by 50 percent. Landscape the yard and create brick walkways throughout.

Environmental Improvement Projects

With the condition of the environment and how we interact and impact it being a major concern, any improvement that will make your home energy efficient and eco-friendly would also be on the list of best home improvement investments. These types of improvements could involve projects such as adding solar panels to the home to generate electricity or heat water, adding an additional full or half bathroom with water saving fixtures and replacing windows with dual glazed for better insulation.

Lowes Home Improvement Stores Have Everything You Need For Your New Dream Home

Author — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 08:10:26 +0000

Have you ever looked around your house and thought to yourself that it just needed something? When you first bought it, it was perfect. But after living in it for a number of years, you could use a change. You don’t want to move, you like the neighborhood, you do like the house, maybe your kids are in school and you want to stay in that school district; so what do you do? Well, you could go right on over to Lowes home improvement store and get to work on your new home improvement project. You’d be amazed at how one simple home improvement project can make your home seem like a brand new, different one. However, Lowes home improvement stores aren’t your only destination for all your home improvement needs.

Shop Around For Deals

The home improvement market is extremely competitive. It seems that around every corner a new home improvement store is popping up ready to help you out with your new do it yourself project. The big names like your Lowes home improvement stores and your Home Depots, are constantly trying to cut their prices so that they compete with each other and with other stores. Even some home improvement outlet stores may offer cheaper prices than the big named stores. So shop around until you find the best deals. However, Lowes not only offers great prices but their staff is friendly and helpful as well.

What Do You Want To Do?

Adding a room to your house, fixing up a baby’s room, redoing your bathroom, making your living room bigger, adding a sun room or a patio, building a deck or putting in a hot tub; these are all home improvement projects that require tools, materials and know how. If you’re a beginner and you’re not sure what to do, ask a Lowes home improvement store employee for assistance. The staff at Lowes home improvement stores are friendly and helpful and knowledgeable. They’ll be able to help you with all of your questions and they can even point you to a number of do it yourself books and manuals that Lowes home improvement stores also sell.

Once you’re finished with your home improvement project, you’ll love how your ‘new’ home looks. Lowes home improvement stores have helped people create their dream homes for a long time. So if you ever find yourself looking around, wishing you had a different surrounding, just do a little home improvement project courtesy of Lowes. Not only will it increase the value of your home, it will also increase your opinion of your home.

Beautiful Homes Use Home Decorating Accessories

Author — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 08:09:33 +0000

You don’t want to be just another house on the block, do you? You want your neighbors to want to look at your house each time they pass by. Of course, you can’t do that if your lawn’s in tatters and your paint is peeling. Well, they may still want to look at your house, just for the wrong reasons. If you want your house to turn heads and give your neighbors ideas about how they want their own house to look, you’ll need home decorating accessories.

To Paint, or Not to Paint…

Really isn’t the question. To get the most out of your house, you probably need a lot more from home decorating accessories than you realize. First off, laminates really are never preferred over tiles and real hard wood flooring. Of course, the latter two are much more expensive, and it’s about impossible to tell the difference at times, but there are low cost options available for both. You might also want to consider replacing any carpet you have if it’s old and dirty (at the very least, give it a thorough cleaning), and you might want to put in tiles or hard wood flooring if you have the money.

Some other suggestions for home decorating accessories include replacing your cabinet knobs and handles with newer, more stylish versions. Sometimes, they can make all the difference, and you won’t feel the need to entirely replace your cabinets which can be prohibitively expensive. Think about replacing or adding trim in places where there isn’t any, and also consider replacing your front door with one that lets in more light and looks fancier. The front door is, after all, perhaps the most important home decorating accessory you’ll ever need to purchase.

These home decorating products are often far more expensive than home improvement products which are deemed more necessary, such as insulation, paint, and drywall. That’s because they’re designer products, and they will be very visible unlike normal home improvement supplies which are generally more hidden. For example, plumbing for a tub or shower might cost one hundred dollars, but bathtub and shower fixtures can easily cost thousands of dollars for luxury brands.

Home decorating accessories are vital if you want your house to be as beautiful as can be, and they can be very helpful when you’re trying to sell your house. However, if you’re trying to make money on a house, you may want to try to balance the amount that you spend on home decorating accessories and what you expect to make off of them. Many add more value to a house than they cost, but unwise choices can make you lose money fast.

Getting the Interior Decorating Information You Need

Author — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 08:08:56 +0000

A big part of home improvement nowadays is interior decorating. Most homes today strive to “keep up with the Johnsons” by continuously improving their home with décor and other small projects. But even for those that intent to implement interior decorating just for improvement sake, the bottom line is that everyone could use interior decorating information to help successfully complete a project form beginning to end.

For those that haven’t done a home improvement project in years, even decades, the following interior decorating information can also help you to update your home and follow the path on being proud of your accomplishments.

Some Useful Interior Decorating Information

First and foremost, it’s important to know that when doing it yourself, you shouldn’t go too big. For bigger projects like putting in or taking out walls, or any other kind of project that involves the foundation of your home, it’s highly suggested that you hire professional contractors to help get the project done.

However, when it comes to putting in new curtains, furniture, paint or floors, doing it yourself can be totally possible with the additional help of some useful interior decorating information. You can find this information in the way of books, home improvement and interior decorating stores.

For some instant interior decorating information, read on:

Never forget to prepare for the project ahead of time. Spur of the moment projects unless they’re very small (like changing door locks) can result in damage or ineffective décor.

When choosing wall colors or curtains, consider choosing colors at the store and bringing home samples (whether carpet, paint or curtain samples) so you can actually put them up to the walls and windows, making it easy to choose the color you really want. Otherwise, you may end up choosing a color that doesn’t look the same at home as it did in the store, usually resulting in the need to do the entire project over again.

If you don’t own the tools to do an interior decorating project and you don’t use tools very often, consider renting them instead of purchasing the tools you need. The rental price may seem like a waste of money when you could invest in tools yourself, but if you won’t use them again, renting the tools you need could save you quite a bit of money. Better yet, try borrowing the tools you need from a friend!

These snippets of interior decorating information should get you on the right track to completing your home improvement projects.