Posts

Posted on

How New Cabinets can Increase the Value of Your Home

When it comes to home renovations, many homeowners tend to focus on updating their kitchens and bathrooms. This makes sense, as these are two of the most important rooms in a home and can have a huge impact on its overall value. One of the key elements in a kitchen or bathroom renovation is the installation of new cabinets.

cabinets Lakewood CO

But why are cabinets so important, and how can they increase the value of your home? According to cabinets Lakewood CO showroom designers recommend, here are 4 key ways that new cabinets can make your home more appealing to potential buyers and increase its value:

  1. Improved storage and organization. One of the biggest benefits of new cabinets is that they can provide much-needed storage and organization for your kitchen or bathroom. With more and better-designed storage solutions, you can keep your counters and surfaces clutter-free, which can make your home feel more spacious and inviting. Not only that, but this can make it easier for buyers to visualize how they would use the space, and can help them see the true potential of your home.
  1. Enhanced aesthetics. New cabinets can also significantly improve the look and feel of your home. Whether you choose sleek and modern cabinets with clean lines and a minimalist aesthetic, or traditional and elegant ones with intricate details and ornate hardware, the right cabinets can add visual interest and appeal to your kitchen or bathroom. They can transform the look and feel of your space, and can make it more appealing to potential buyers.
  1. Increased functionality. In addition to providing more storage and organization, new cabinets can also make your kitchen or bathroom more functional. For example, you can choose cabinets with pull-out shelves or drawers, or with built-in organizers for pots and pans or spices (in the kitchen), or for your toiletries and cosmetics (in the bathroom). These features can make your kitchen or bathroom more user-friendly and practical, which can be a major selling point for potential buyers.
  2. Improved durability and longevity. New cabinets are typically made with high-quality materials and construction techniques, which make them more durable and long-lasting than older ones. This means that, with proper maintenance, your new cabinets can withstand daily wear and tear and last for many years, providing a long-term investment that can increase the value of your home.

On choosing new cabinets

When choosing new cabinets for your kitchen or bathroom, there are a few key factors to consider. First, think about the overall style and aesthetic of your home. You want to choose cabinets that complement the design and decor of your home. Second, consider the type and size of your space. If you have a small kitchen or bathroom, you may want to choose cabinets that are space-saving and compact, while larger spaces can accommodate more elaborate and expansive cabinets.

Bottom line

Overall, investing in new cabinets can be a smart and cost-effective way to increase the value of your home. By improving the storage, functionality, and aesthetics of your kitchen or bathroom, you can make your home more appealing to potential buyers and boost its resale value.

Posted on

What Qualifications You Should Look for before Hiring a Blinds Company

Denver custom blinds

Energy-efficient design and innovative construction are only a few of the benefits that a good Denver custom blinds company can offer its customers. A large selection of fabrics and a variety of textures, sizes and colors are also important features that can add to the comfort and aesthetics of a customer’s lifestyle.

The Basics of What to Look for

Moreover, when hiring a blinds company, you should look for precise control and voice activation systems. Reducing the intensity of sound coming from outside can also be a plus if you are looking to create a quiet environment.

It is also worthwhile hiring a company that can offer blinds which operate independently based on a pre-established schedule. Such blinds can be integrated with smart-home systems that work with Google, Amazon Alexa, Apple devices or even Siri. Bluetooth technology and smart home systems can also be a bonus.

Multi-layered fabrics and coating to protect from solar damage may also prove to be very important factors when choosing a company. Furthermore, it is advisable to inquire about UV protection and low maintenance. Blinds should not be prone to peeling, warping, chipping, fading or cracking.

Valued Aesthetics

An elegant or soft look of fabric folds along with a relaxed style and an enduring appeal can also be enticing to many customers who value aesthetics more than functionality. Having no exposed cords and high-quality materials as well as unique finishes may win the hearts of customers who look for companies that can meet their standards of beauty. It is no wonder why many prefer such standards. After all, elevated craftsmanship can create great ambiance that impacts and improves mental health.

It is also worth asking about natural color schemes such as natural browns for wood coverings. Companies that work in close partnership with interior design experts have a lot to offer when it comes to appearance. Moreover, you should also make sure that the company you settle for has a multitude of product lines to choose from as well as multiple collections to offer.

Experience, Varied Accreditations and Mandatory Industry Requirements

Another important qualification is experience in the industry that can only be topped by free design consultations and great online reviews. Furthermore, the accreditations the company holds should be varied. It should also adhere to a code of practice and meet mandatory requirements in the industry. One such requirement is having Health & Safety certificates.

Verified Qualifications for Staff Members

Finally, the hired staff should receive continuous training on new products and should hold verified qualifications as well as insurance and professional memberships. Having helpful staff is not enough if they are not qualified to do their jobs. For instance, engineers and technicians are required to be qualified to design and operate sophisticated software that can schedule scenes with advanced apps.

Conclusions

All in all, it makes sense to look for a blinds company that provides a large selection of products and smart features. Moreover, as a customer, you should make sure that the company you choose has a multitude of product lines and collections to offer. Quality certifications are a must if you do not want your blinds to be easily damaged, but you should also not skip inquiring about Health & Safety certificates.

 

 

Posted on

How Can You Save Money with A Gas Fireplace Insert?

gas fireplace inserts Denver

Possessing a classic fireplace in your home is a wonderful thing – nothing is more atmospheric, nothing confers your room more inviting coziness and comfort than a large, masonry fireplace. However, operating a classic fireplace is more than expensive, that is why many people, including homeowners who have or who do not have masonry fireplaces in their home, opt for fireplace inserts.

A fireplace insert is practically a box made from a fireproof material and insulation and that comes in varieties that can run on a variety of energy sources, depending on the fuel type it has been designed for. The most common type of units used today are gas fireplace inserts – Denver homeowners consider these inserts to be the best option for a number of reasons, one of them being the energy efficiency that translates into money savings. Here is how you can save money with your gas fireplace insert.

The Process of Burning Gas

Gas burning fireplace inserts are very efficient and able to transform around 80% of the energy used into heating your room. The heat delivered by fireplaces can be measured in the several different standard units, one of the most common units of measurement being BTUs (British Thermal Units). Average gas-burning fireplace inserts deliver 25,000-40,000 BTUs – calculating with 20 GTUs needed for heating 1 square foot, an insert able to deliver average capacity is able to efficiently heat 1,250-2,000 square feet of space, quite a lot and certainly more than a traditional log-burning fireplace would be able to put out.

When you buy your gas insert, talk to local gas fireplace inserts Denver retailers and obtain information about the unit’s energy needs. If you check the figures and do multiply the unit’s consumption figures by the price of gas in your area, you will see that your insert is an excellent partner in your energy saving efforts.

Durability

Another feature that makes the fireplaces that run on gas so great for your budget is the fact that they are very durable and long lived. A good, sturdy insert is composed of very few components that could sustain damage, so you will be able to enjoy the cozy warmth delivered by your fireplace for a long, long time. The unit’s durability and resilience also means that you will probably not need to spend too much money on getting your unit repaired for the entire lifespan of the appliance.

Low Maintenance

The fact that your gas fireplace insert is made up from very few components that could go wrong also means that the appliance will require very little maintenance. One of the components that we all need some of your attention occasionally is the set of gas nozzles that may become clogged with the impurities that inevitably make their way into the appliance. The other thing that you need to pay attention to is the gas sensor that signals if something is wrong with the appliance and gas is leaking. These sensors are usually battery-operated, which means that the battery needs to be checked regularly and replaced if necessary. To make sure that everything is in perfect order with your gas insert it is a good idea to call a local specialist for checking the appliance each year before you start using it, but these services are very affordable and gas inserts being such resilient appliances, your specialist isn’t likely to find any fault to fix.

 

Posted on

Why Use a Professional to Remove Squirrels from Your Property

 

squirrel removal Denver

Anyone who tried to catch a squirrel can say that the practice is a challenging one. Humane traps are available for purchase of course, and there are lots of online videos and tutorials to show you various tips and tricks on how to do it. However, at the end of the day, the best method is still to call on a professional Denver wildlife removal service like Wildlife Inc.

The Difficulties of Squirrel Removal

When it comes to squirrel removal, Denver residents who have been living in the area for a long time can tell you that it’s never as easy as it looks. Catching squirrels can be hard because of how nimble and quick they are and because of how easily they can evade makeshift traps.

Also, it’s worth mentioning the fact that squirrels can not only infiltrate your home, but also make themselves a home in your attic, mess with your bird feeders and ravage your vegetable garden. They are quite a menace in some places, and if the outdoor population gets out control, you’ll really have a situation on your hand.

For catching squirrels outdoor, you’d have to invest in a large metal box or a quality cage. You’d have to bait the animals with nuts, pieces of apple or other fruit, and you’d have to be patient and check the trap at least twice a day. Also there’s a lot of hassle involved with the relocation of the squirrels and you’ll have a legal nightmare on your hands if word goes out that you used an illegal trap to capture squirrels on your business property.

These are just some of the reasons why it’s a good idea to rely on a professional to remove squirrels from your property. But let’s take a closer look to some other issues as well.

Concerns Regarding Laws and Policies

Legal issues can ensue if you catch squirrels through unlawful means, even if you weren’t aware that the method in question was unlawful. Of course, killing squirrels is illegal, but as the policies involving the protection of animals continue to evolve, even some methods that were considered humane and gentle are no longer approved. These days people are urged to only use the gentlest methods to capture animals, because more and more awareness is raised as to how a lot of traps can cause severe stress when the animal in question is caught.

Add that to the fact that some policies and laws change quite frequently, and you’ll find yourself becoming quickly confused as to what you can actually do about the problem, other than hiring a professional squirrel removal Denver service.

Preventing Squirrels from Returning

Another issue that a professional wildlife removal service can help you with is figuring out how to prevent squirrels from returning to your property. One of the main criticisms that wildlife removal gets is that animals once relocated will likely be replaced by other animals, so the whole effort isn’t worth it.

Experts like those from Wildlife Inc. will help you not just by catching squirrels humanely, but also by making sure all entry and access points are accounted for, food and smells that might attract squirrels to your property are isolated, and deterrents such as invisible fences and plants that squirrels do not like to be around will be in place to ensure they don’t have a reason to come back.

Posted on

How Do Excavation Companies Go About Grading for A Home Patio?

 

excavation companies Fort Collins

Grading is the process of creating a certain surface on your property with the purpose of erecting a structure or a building on the graded surface or to create a landscape. How the process is done practically depends on the characteristics of the area and of the soil where the grading is needed, but it typically involves the process of dirt and soil being moved from higher laying areas to lower laying ones in order to create a level surface.

There are several types of contractors that you can turn to for your levelling and grading needs, one of them being excavation companies. Here is how these digging experts will go about grading your plot of land in order to allow you to create a patio.

Hiring a Partner

Before the first practical task is started on your land, you first need an excavation partner to help you with the grading work. For the best results, your excavation partner will need to have solid digging procedures in place and they also need the expertise and the machines to perform the work safely as well as with maximum efficiency.

The Processes Involved

Grading work usually means moving soil from an area where there is too much of it to the areas that need more with the purpose of preparing the ground for further building or landscaping work. Sometimes the processes involve not only transporting the soil over a certain distance, but also creating a hole where there used to be a mound before.

Trusted excavation companies Fort Collins area professionals say that, in many cases, the grading process also needs to be accompanied by the creation of trenches to serve the purpose of installing a drainage system if the patio to be created involves a complex design. If the patio is a complex structure that has one or more built walls, the process of erecting that structure might require the excavation of a foundation for the building, not only a grading procedure.

The grading process does not stop when the high-capacity machines create a fairly even surface in the future building area. Grading jobs are complete when the surface is completely smooth and ready to receive the patio floor and maybe even a layer of fertile soil that allows for transforming the patio into a welcoming and friendly place with the help of plants. The work of the excavation company usually ends when the smooth layer of soil is created and when the processes needed for completing the patio are specialized ones that require different types of contractors, such as landscapists and designers.

The Equipment Needed

Excavation companies perform grading jobs with the help of a variety of machines, from small Bobcats to larger excavators. The choice of equipment depends on the amount of soil that needs to be moved, the types of the soil, the other terrain features, and the size of the hole that needs to be created. Very often, manual labor is also required to create pause or level surface is to be built on.

Posted on

The Advantages of Using an Organic Fertilizer?

organic lawn fertilizer

With synthetic fertilizers so efficient, so readily available and so affordable, many gardeners wonder why they should even bother looking for a suitable source of organic fertilizer. Well, organic fertilizers do bring some unique benefits that distinguish them from synthetic products – here are some.

Slow-Release Nourishment for Your Plants

Organic fertilizers need to be broken down by the soil before their components become available to your plants. This feature means two things: your plants will get exactly the amount of nutrients they need, not more, not less and you will be able to prolong the period between two fertilization sessions. By contrast, most synthetic fertilizers offer quick fixes, giving your plants an almost instant boost of energy, but requiring you to reapply your product more frequently.

Better, More Fertile Soil

The texture and the quality of the soil are features that are just as important for having strong, thriving plants as the type and variety of the plants you choose and the attention you offer your cultures. Organic lawn fertilizer can be used to enhance the soil by adding fibers that improve the soil’s ability to retain water and by increasing the activity of the healthy bacteria and fungi so important for having fertile soil. Unlike synthetic fertilizers that deplete the soil of nutrients, organic fertilizers can be used to restore the fertility of the soil by adding the right nutrients to it.

Friendly on the Environment

Organic fertilizers also contain chemical substances, therefore they might not be safe for kids and pets and spills and runoffs must be stopped before they reach waterways or ponds, but their long-term usage is safe for the soil as well as for the plants, including the ones that we consume, such as vegetables.

Another aspect that makes the application of organic fertilizers safer for the environment than the usage of synthetic products is their ability to enhance the soil’s capacity to hold water inside. Soil that does not dry that easily is also soil that requires less water to stay fertile and to provide the plants in it with the right amount of moisture without using up excessive amounts of water.

Easy Application

Easy application is an important feature with any fertilizer. Organic fertilizers are pretty much the same as synthetic products in this respect, both types being equally easy to apply to your soil.

More Resistant Plants

The plants that you can grow with the help of organic fertilizers not only look great and taste great (if the fertilizer is used on produce). Organic nourishment also improves the health of the plants as well as their resistance to diseases and pests.

Price Point

Most organic products are easier and less energy-intensive to manufacture than synthetic fertilizers, which makes organic varieties cheaper as well. If you are looking for an even more economical way to obtain good quality organic nourishment for your plants, you can decide to produce your own compost, collecting organic household waste and grass clippings. If this is what you want, you will need some patience – good compost takes about a year to be ready for use and during that year, you will need to water and turn over the contents of your bin several times.

Posted on

What Is Involved in Having My Home Air Conditioner Repaired?

AC repair near me

The air conditioner is a very important appliance, especially in hot climate regions or in regions that get very hot summers. While the best way to ensure the long-term energy-efficient, fault-free performance of the system is through regular maintenance, even the best-kept air conditioner can break down and require repair. Here is what to expect of the repair process.

The Initial Visit

The first phase to getting your AC unit repaired is to find a licensed repair company that specializes in the brand that you have, then to contact that company. When you talk to the HVAC company of choice, you will probably be asked questions about the age, make and model of your appliance as well as about the symptoms that have made you call the company. The information that you provide during the conversation are important for giving the service technician a broad idea about what the repair will involve, but the technician will need to perform a detailed assessment of your unit to know exactly what caused the breakdown. The service company will make a schedule with you for an initial visit by the service technician during which the specialist will examine all the components of the appliance and will make measurements to identify the faulty components. If the breakdown is caused by a minor issue, such as a disconnected wire, the technician will probably fix the issue on the spot and charge a flat rate.

The Cost Estimate

If the breakdown is caused by the breakdown of a major component that needs to be repaired or replaced, the service technician will leave without performing any repair and will get back to you with a written cost estimate that includes the price of the repair or of the replacement part as well as the labor rates and the warranty conditions. Any further process will be carried out only after you accept the cost estimate.

The Repair or the Replacement

After your approval, the repair will continue in the way agreed, with the repair of the faulty part if that is an option or the ordering of the replacement part. In the next phase, you will get another visit from the service technician during which the new or repaired component will be installed and the air conditioner will be tested to ensure proper operation. This phase usually includes measurements again. Most companies offering AC repair near me charge their clients only when the repair is complete and the air conditioner system is up and running again.

Aspects Related to the Warranty

Any respectable air conditioner repair company provides warranty on the part replaced or repaired as well as on their workmanship. This means that if the unit breaks down again with the same fault during the warranty period, you will get the service visit as well as the repair for free. If your appliance breaks down again during the warranty period, but with a different fault, you can discuss it with your repair company whether the new fault can be related to the previous repair – if it is, the company might accept to repair your unit for free or for a smaller fee again.

Posted on

What Is Defensible Space Around the Outside of My Home?

Tree Fire Mitigation Mountain Property

Defensible space is the term used for the space created between your home and the great area in your landscape with the purpose of providing more solid protection to your home in case of wildfires. The creation of such space has become increasingly important in recent years, since wildfires have been becoming more and more frequent and more and more severe, even in geographical areas that used to be safe from fires in the past. Here are some things that you should know about defensible spaces.

What Is, Exactly, a Defensible Space in the Context of Fire Protection and Prevention?

The term is used to denote the 100 feet wide area around a residential building that should be arranged based on certain principles developed to mitigate wildfire hazards. The area does not have to be completely free from vegetation, but it has to be free from combustible materials, clean and regularly maintained. Defensible space is usually divided in three zones:

  • Zone 0 – this term refers to the strip of land immediately around your building and stretching to the distance of 5 feet from the construction. Being so close to the building, the area needs extra attention and it should be kept free from any flammable materials, including door mats and garbage bins. The entire stretch should be cleaned regularly to remove any debris, dried tree leaves and twigs that could catch fire;
  • Zone 1 – this circle is located between 5-30 feet from the building and it usually includes the line where vegetation around the house starts. The zone needs to be kept well-maintained, free from combustible materials and vegetation properly cared for. It is very important to prune and trim the trees and shrubs in the zone and dead leaves, plant stems and dried flowers also need to be removed. Regularly mowing and watering the lawn is also important to make the turf resistant to fire;
  • Zone 2 – this circle is located between 30-100 feet from your building. Ideally, any structure in this area is built from fire-resistant materials and the vegetation in the zone also needs to be properly maintained. The trees and shrubs in this area should also be planted and trimmed with fire prevention mind, with the distance between the ground and the lowermost part of the vegetation being of at least 6 feet and the distance between a tree and a shrub should also be large enough to prevent the spreading of fires.

Other Prevention Measures to Maintain the Efficiency of Defensible Space

The careful selection of the plant varieties to be used in defensible zones and the installation of proper irrigation systems can significantly improve the level of safety provided by defensible zones. Some plant varieties are more resistant to fire than others, therefore they should be preferred in fire-prone zones, while the right type of irrigation method can insure that no part of the landscape is desiccated, therefore it will make the entire garden or yard stronger in front of wildfires.

To further enhance the efficiency of fire prevention methods, driveways and access roads should also be kept clean and free from obstacles to permit the access of firefighters if a wildfire cannot be stopped using other methods.

Posted on

What Are the Top 5 Signs of a Reputable Roofing Contractor?

Any time you hire an Aurora roofing contractor, you’ll want to be able to rely on them. From coming up with the best plan of action to repair your roof to deciding on how much to spend on a brand new roofing system, there are countless issues that most homeowners are not able to make an informed decision on without the help and support of a dependable roofer. So before you even start thinking about making those choices, you have to make sure the roofer you hire can actually be depended on.

A Roofer with a License

A license is a very important requirement for any Aurora roofing contractor. There are places in the country where contractors and roofers are not even allowed to do their work without being licensed. In most cases, when you find a licensed roofer, the fact that they can provide you with their license number without any reservations is a clear sign of trust, and it also enables you to look them up, see if their license is valid for the type of work they do in your area, and also do a quick background check on the business itself. The license shows that the roofer in question actually had some education and training before going out to perform roofing jobs, and that they can be held accountable for any mistakes they make.

The Importance of Experience

There is no substitute for long term experience in any field of work. Roofing is no different, and when you look at the experience of a roofer who has been in the industry for more than 5-10 years, compared to someone who’s just starting out, you’ll notice clear differences. An experienced roofer will be able to tell you about issues and risks that you won’t normally notice right away, since they have had to tackle them before in the past.

Aurora roofing contractor

Good Reviews

There’s no better way to see how a Aurora roofing contractor operates than by taking a look at the opinions of past clients. Sites like Yelp and Angie’s List will provide you with accurate listings and real life opinions and reviews that clients who have worked with the roofers in question have written. You can check them out and see precisely what you can expect from one roofer or another.

Written Estimates

The estimate or quote that you get from a roofer will tell you a lot about how much the work will cost, how long it will take to finish it, and what special notes or details you’ll have to take into account. A lot of roofers will not give you a written estimate, since they consider it a matter of trust and honor to complete the project properly. However, this is also a recipe for many issues later on. Without a written estimate, your roofer can later ask for more money, and you won’t be able to hold them accountable for the initial promise they made to complete your project within an established budget.

Trust and Long Term Commitment

Finally, a dependable and trustworthy Aurora roofing contractor will commit long term. While many roofing contractors only provide you with a quick repair service and then they’re gone, others will go the extra mile, offering discounted maintenance services, long term labor warranties and a friendly emergency roofing service, should your roof start leaking again after a bad storm. These are typically the experts that you should hire right away.

Posted on

Best Roof Styles for Modern Homes

Littleton roofing contractors

A modern home style can be obtained with both sloped and flat roofs. Modern approaches to the new constructions and materials for the creation of roofs make it possible now to successfully implement spectacular and unusual projects, including in the case of residential buildings with different styles.

Flat roofs today are no longer associated only with commercial buildings, but also with the ultra-modern geometric design of new residential buildings.

More and more owners appreciate the fact that they can enjoy the luxury of functional fashion, while remaining ecological, by opting for green roofs. These roofs can be easily installed on flat roofs and there are many benefits of such an eco-renovation: the creation of mini-ecosystems in urban areas, reducing pollution and the effect of urban heat island, increasing energy efficiency, providing protection against noise and water infiltrations etc.

In the past, the main goal of green roof projects was the integration of water management efficiency and of some elements that help achieve increased energy efficiency. Nowadays, the trend is to design green roofs suitable also for leisure activities.

In the case of sloped roofs, Littleton roofing contractors substantiate that the variety of materials existing nowadays on the market offer many solutions for creating roof designs for modern homes. In addition to the wide range of colors, there is also a rich palette of textures and coatings, which provides stability and style. Available in various shapes and 100% accessorized with matching accessories, premium roof systems have a superior design.

The color chosen for the roof of a modern home must also be in trend, so it can go both in strong shades and in grays appropriate to the industrial style used by avant-garde designers.

Solar tiles represent a category of very new roofing materials that will be developed and improved in the future. They are expected to revolutionize the roofing industry, being the latest option for modern homes. A solar tile is actually a photovoltaic module, embedded in a tile shape, made of classic materials and standard sizes. Solar tiles can replace not just traditional roofing materials, but also the photovoltaic panels.

Types of sloped roofs suitable for modern homes:

  • Single-slope roofs

A single-slope roof can be used to create an ultra-modern look of the house. You can imagine this type of roof as half of a gabled roof or as a flat roof that was slightly sloped. It allows an opening of the facade to the sunny areas and reduces the exposure on the opposite facade.

It is good to remember that such roofing requires additional thermal insulation and is not very suitable for areas prone to strong winds.

A popular option at the moment is to use single-slope roofs for houses built on several levels, in order to obtain more interesting and unique designs.

  • Roofs with complex shapes

The complex-shaped roof is a combination of two or more roofs. They are usually created to complete constructions with a unique shape. So, if you appreciate diversity and complexity, this type of roof can be another great choice for a modern home.