The Challenge of Finding the Right Remodeling Contractor

The hardest part about doing a home remodel is not actually the remodeling work itself. Most homeowners would agree that the biggest challenge is getting a contractor who is reliable, competent, and who has a good reputation to do the job. Putting in new cabinets, removing a wall, or changing the tile in a bathroom, is child’s play when compared to finding a good contractor who can do the job well from the beginning to the end.

Unfortunately, there are enough stories out there about contractor disasters to fill up a library. Many of these revolve around contractors who started the job, but never finished it. These contractors may say that they need up to three times the amount of money they originally bid for the job in order to complete it properly.

Of course, even with the best contractor, doing a home renovation will involve stress, expense, and unwanted surprises. Yet, the right contractor can minimize the challenges involved, and increase the success of any job.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Installing Pre-hung Doors

If you’re building or renovating a home, installing your own doors is a great way to save a little money. Many builders and homeowners prefer pre-hung doors because they are convenient and fairly easy to install. Unlike a slab door, a pre-hung door is already attached to the frame. All you need is a rough opening to install it in, a few tools, and a little bit of know-how. Although slab doors are a little less expensive to purchase up-front, pre-hung doors can save you time and effort during the installation process. Following these steps will help ensure that you install your pre-hung doors correctly:

1. Gather Your Tools

Pre-hung doors can be quite heavy, so you should recruit at least one other person to help you install them. Before you begin, gather up the following tools: tape measure, finish nails, shims, hammer, nail punch, utility knife, circular saw (or jigsaw), level, and screwdrivers. You may not need the circular saw, but it will come in handy if you need to trim your doorjambs. Wood putty is important to have on-hand when you are ready to hide the nail holes in your installed doors.

Autumn is Here, Time to Turn On The Heater

The pellets oven  at home.

Hey folks! How are things going on out there in your part? I hope you are having a good start of the second BER months.  So far, so good for me and I am thankful about it.  How's the weather in your area right now? It is getting so cold in this part of the globe.  Now wonder October is here and this is the time of the year when fall or autumn starts, which also means  that the temperature is dropping from day to day.  This is also the time of the year when heaters are starting to be used. Indeed, winter season is inevitable and it is coming so soon.

This morning when I went outside to pick up some mint leaves (to mix for my green tea)  in the garden, I did not went out right away because it was really freezing cold.  I picked up and wore my jacket first, afraid of getting sick due to cold weather.

Since winter is almost approaching,  our heater is also slowly running. It is not so cold yet inside the house because since two weeks ago,  our heater is already turn-on during the night.  During day time, we turn it off to save heater bills. Besides nobody is home, unless I am free from work.

We are actually using two kinds of heaters during high winter season. One is an electric heater made of marble stones and the other one is a pellets oven.  There are actually electric heaters installed  in every room, from the dining room to the bedrooms, toilets, living room, working room  and the hallway.   The pellet over is located almost in the middle of the house and it is the only one that is running 24-hours a day during high winter season. For now, since it is not too cold inside the house, we only turn it on  during night  time.

The pellets oven  is really a good heating equipment since we started using it in 2009.  In fact, we already save some bucks every year since we use it. On the other hand, the electric heaters are only turn-on  when it is  really so cold inside the house.

I wish, I can  find  more time in sharing how we are trying to save for our heaters during winter season. That is all for now peeps. I wish everyone a wonderful and blessed month of October. Take care everyone!

A Dust-Free Home

Cleaning the home and keeping it clean doesn’t have to be difficult. However, one of the most troublesome aspects of housecleaning is the dust that collects and clings everywhere. Nothing else is as troublesome as dust. Virtually everything else can be kept clean with minimal effort. Smooth surfaces stay virtually streak-free and other surfaces don’t become dirty unless they’re directly contaminated in some way. However, dust collects constantly as it is perpetually floating through the air. This is especially true for people who live in the desert. There are some ways to keep the home more dust-free and make cleaning easier to manage.

Knick-knacks and collectible items can attract a lot of dust. Instead of displaying them out in the open, it’s wise to place them inside of a collectible display case. Dust has a way of getting into all of the nooks and crannies. When people are cleaning off their items, they can miss this dust that has collected. This can potentially ruin collectible items. Placing them in a display case is an excellent way to keep them dust-free, but it also helps to showcase the brilliance of each item. Items that are kept in a display case have a way of reflecting light.

While screens cant indefinitely keep out dust, they can greatly prohibit a lot of it from entering the home. Place screens over the windows, and it’s wise to install screen doors on the outside of the home’s doors. It helps to wet each of the screens before the windows and doors are open. The dust is more likely to cling to the screens than enter the home.

Keeping a lush garden may be difficult, and it can take time to grow several plants. However, an outdoor garden helps to keep dust at a minimum. The roots of a plant helps to hold down the soil. There is dust in the air, but it can spring up from the ground when the wind catches it. Waiting for the grass and other vegetation to grow takes time. Ground covering takes very little time to grow, and it grows like weeds, which means that maintenance is minimal. This will help keep dust out of the home.

There are other ways to keep dust out of the home. Invest in a strong vacuum cleaner, and use water where possible to clean up items. Enjoy a more dust-free home.

Home Project Continues this March

slowly building a second home.

Goodbye February!  Hello March! I was not so feeling good when I woke-up this morning. I was having a headache and  good to know I am feeling very better now. I am not really a coffee drinker but I decided to drink a very strong coffee to ease the  pain in my head. I believed, caffeine really helps in getting rid of headache. I already tried it a lot of times and it works.

Just an hour ago, I was chatting with my family back home. The chat was especially about the home project that is going on in my home country. I guess, I am already slowly getting ready for my come back. Not really now, but in the years to come..when things get better and I already have the resources I need to be backed home for good.

The home project started last year in November. This is quite a big project. The construction of  another house was put into reality. Last year in summer, already I started working. I told myself, I want to build another  home near the city and with the salary I get, I want to see something from it.   This home project is not in a hurry. Hopefully in 3-5 years,  the house will be finished.

Thanks to the decision of buying a lot near Cebu City.   During that time, the price of the land was still  affordable. As of now, the location of the property is  getting more expensive because there are already a lot of houses, apartments and subdivision in the area.

Thanks to the trusted brother who is managing the construction. Without him, this will never be possible. Thanks also to the siblings from the USA, who are also helping especially with the finances.

Hopefully in the next vacation in the Philippines, we don't need anymore  to stay in a hotel in Cebu City.  This home project  might be partially finished. I hope, it  is  done when we go there for another holiday.

This time, I have to avoid shopping to invest more for this realty project. By doing it, I can have something for the future especially when I go home for good.

Cheers and I wish everyone a fruitful and wonderful month of March. God bless us all!

Keep Intruders at Bay: 5 Ways to Enhance Home Safety

Burglars are always on the prowl in search of new victims. In order for homeowners to avoid the wrath of an unwanted guest, they must take the necessary precautions. Here are five ways for residents to make their home safer.

Do not create hiding spots

In an effort to enhance their privacy, some homeowners opt to install a tall fence around the perimeter of their property. Unfortunately, dense trees and tall fences can create a potential hiding spot for sneaky criminals. When looking outside, the residents should be able to clearly see every section of the yard.

Install kick-proof doors
All of the exterior doors should be strong enough to withstand a powerful kick. Contrary to popular belief, wooden doors can be just as sturdy as steel doors. If the cost of a brand new door is a concern, homeowners can also install a reinforced metal strike plate on their existing door. This will help the door to resist a forceful impact.

Keep the exterior well-lit
Studies show that well-lit homes are less likely to be targeted by burglars. The bright lights will certainly help to enhance the effectiveness of a surveillance camera. Ideally, the lights should be installed near the roof of the home. Instead of leaving the exterior lights turned on for the entire night, consider using motion-activated light fixtures.

Monitor the security system
Security system monitoring services such as Alarm Relay offer around-the-clock surveillance. In the event that a burglar trips the security system, the alarm monitoring service will immediately contact the police. This helps families to rest at night with an extra degree of security. If desired, the monitoring service can also keep an eye on the home’s smoke detectors.

Never leave the windows or doors unlocked
Although locking the doors may seem like a simple concept, it is actually one of the best ways for residents to remain safe. Installing a security screen over the windows will provide even more protection.

These five strategies will definitely help to improve the safety of a home. A person's dwelling should be their personal sanctuary.

Finally Did Some Organizing at Home

Hello November! I know I am very  late with my greetings but as the saying goes, "Better late than never",  that is why I am still  expressing  my greetings to all of you.  I know most of you,  or I would many of us are getting very busy at the moment. The holiday season is fast approaching and this is for sure one of the reasons why everyone has so many things to do and prepare with.

In fact, I have a lot of things to do both online and offline. Sad to say, my time is quite  limited now.
The days are getting busier so here I am trying to do some things when time allows me to do so. I am happy that today, I  started to organize some things at home again.   I started doing  some organizing starting in my work room or I would say my computer room. It is like my little office and at the same time, also my little library. Some things are still scattering around but it is very better compared to yesterday and the past 3 months.

I am planning to buy a shelf especially for my books so that I can save space. I will see  if I can visit the  nearest furniture store next week.

I also organized  some things in  the guest room. It looked very better now compared to its previous  situation. yay! I  will try my best to organize more stuffs inside  our home this week. Before Christmas comes, I hope I am already done with it!

Cheers and have a lovely week to all of you!

The beach is a timeless trend in real estate

The real estate market seems to be on the rise in some of the more coveted regions, and this certainly includes Delray real estate. West Palm Beach real estate has always been desirable among buyers, despite slumps in the market or economic recessions.

Delray real estate is an area worth investing in. The yield on buyers' money can be found with home values that climb, in an area that anyone would be delighted to live in. 

Taking Up Space

If you need extra storage space, then a self storage Calgary unit might be an option. It's an idea to use if you have old furniture with no where to put it or you need space to store items while you are moving from one location to another. A storage facility can be used if you have large belongings like a boat or car that you don't have room for at your home.

Some Plumbing Problems Need Professional Resolution

Slow or clogged drains are more than a nuisance. They can be indicators of much larger issues such as blocked ventilation pipes or cracked main drain pipes. This is beyond the scope of a DIY project; professional help is required to identify, locate and repair the problem. For houses with septic tanks, it is imperative that drain problems be repaired as quickly as possible.

Calgary drain cleaning companies have technicians who are skilled in investigating the problem and making repairs. They understand problems drains and pipes face in all types of weather conditions. The technician will ask questions about the problem such as the number of drains affected, substances poured into the drain and what DIY efforts have been made to correct the problem, if any.

Getting the Right Window for Your Home

A good window can provide comfort to those who live in a house, make it more attractive to potential tenants or make it more attractive to potential buyers. Modern windows tip out to make cleaning easier and may be more energy efficient. This can help regulate the temperature in a room and keep the amount of heating and cooling systems to a minimum.

Energy-efficient windows may qualify for a tax break for those who purchase them. If a discount is available, it may be possible to recoup the entire cost of the window through a combination of that tax break as well as a monthly reduction in energy usage. Over a period of several years, you may be able to profit from the transaction.

Five Tools to Keep in Hand in the Workplace

You never know when you'll need to hang something in the office, but few people think of keeping a hammer in their supply closet. The good news is that it's easy to rectify this mistake. If you're serious about being prepared for all kinds of projects and minor emergencies, here are just five tools to keep on hand in the workplace.

1: Latches

Latches are what keep your doors closed. Without them, the doors won't stay attached to their frames and give you the privacy and insulation you need for a comfortable office. Make sure you always have a draw latch or two tucked away in case of breakage or wear.

Planning for Home Improvement This Year

Living in a little cozy home simply and happily, what else can you ask for? It might not be the dream home of everybody but we are glad that we have a home that we can call our home. The greatest things is, we are no longer paying for home mortgage and we are really grateful for it. It is our dream to be debt-free when we retire in the future.

This is quite an old home,  where we are currently living. This is the reason why we are trying to renovate and improve it from time to time, especially when finances are available.  During the past years, we already did some renovations and improvements and like what I mentioned, that is when money is available.

This year, we are planning to do a finishing outside of the house. After that, we will also paint it all around.  Since it will be a DIY or  "Do It Yourself"  project, I believed this will help us save some money especially for the labor cost.  We are already scouting for the color of the paint and hopefully,  we will finally decide for it soon.

We are planning to start this project this coming summer season, when the weather gets  better and friendlier.Good luck to us!

The Durability and Convenience of Aluminum Hand Rail

Designing rooms in your home can be a fun adventure. If your room contains stairs, you will have to choose what type of stairs you want to install, whether you want to have carpet on them and what type of hand rail you would like running parallel to the stairs. When you want quality and durability, you will want to choose aluminum.

A hand rail made from aluminum will give you a lightweight product that has the durability to stand the test of time. You can find aluminum options in all sizes and shapes to meet your design needs. If you are decorating an outdoor space, you can still use an aluminum option because it is a material that can resist damage from excessive heat, cold and other weather elements that may be a normal part of your particular climate. Aluminum hand rails also work great when you are designing commercial spaces. It can save contractors a few dollars and provide the designer with an interesting option to design around.

DIY With Our Clogged Sink

After

This week seems to be a very busy week. There are a lot of offline chores that I need to do including organizing many stuffs at home.  Top on the list  is to organize my computer or working room. I also need to pack the box that I will be sending home next week. I already started packing it and hopefully I can finish it before weekend. This coming Monday the logistic company will pick it up.

Before

Tonight, there was one thing that made me proud of myself. After eating our dinner, I always wash our dirty dishes because I want it all to be cleaned the next day. While letting the water  drain in the sink, I noticed that it is not  draining.

Please click the title for the  whole article.

The Making of Our Retirement Home

I believed we are already secured when we will retire in the future. We already built our retirement home along the beach. We are happy that when we laid the foundation last 2004 and slowly take the time to build  it. I guess, it is 99% finish now. I say 99% because there are still a lot of little things that needs to be done. We are  happy because it is a debt-free home. The little money we loaned from the bank was already fully paid  last 2010. I can't imagine when we build  our home this time,  because all of the materials for building now are  doubled or even tripled the price already. It was indeed a good plan and decision building  our retirement home 9 years ago.

missing home much.

Building your own home requires a lot of planning and money.You also need professionals who will do the job like engineers, electrician,plumber and other experts who can do the job in helping you during the process. You also need to choose the right place and location which is safe for building your home. There are construction companies like waterproofing ottawa who can help you with the laying of your home foundation. If you live in Ottawa, you are welcome to ask for their professional advice with regards to home building and repairs.

A house which is laid in good foundation simply means a durable home. If the foundation is not good,  time will come that you need to do a lot of repairs in the future and this will surely costs a lot of money. If ever you need services like this, you can always contact ottawa foundation repair  and they can surely provide you with your home repair needs.

I am so happy that our soon to-be retirement home was built at the right time and in the right place. It is located in a warm country where we cannot experience cold winter season like in Canada or Europe. When the right time comes, we will surely go back to the country which I always consider my home.

DIY with Our Furnace Maintenance

What furnace do you use during winter time? Do you often do some maintenance and cleaning to your furnace? Don't you know that cleaning and maintaining of  your heating system  is very necessary from time to time?

Whether you are using an electric heater, gas heater, wood pellets stove or using a fireplace in heating your homes  during winter time, all these furnaces must be cleaned and maintained regularly. Whether you do it yourself or hire the experts from heating montreal, all these maintenance must be done.

I am glad that there is someone at home who is an expert with regards to home maintenance  and repairs such as plumbing, car maintenance, heating maintenance and the like. With our "do it ourselves" motto, believe me, we already save a lot of money when any problems or repairs are needed to be done at home. Thanks to DH who is an expert with all of these stuffs.

To all my friends who are living in Montreal, Canada,  who needs assistance in terms of heating repairs and maintenance, you are always welcome to contact the experts from climatisation montréal. Don't wait too long until your heating system breaks down. The earlier you contact them, the better it is for your heating system to be diagnosed and repaired. Let them do the action to solve your problem.

Keep warm during this cold winter season!

Furnace Maintenance Especially During Winter

I just look at our window and found out that snow flakes are currently falling from the sky. This is the sign that winter is finally here! If you are having winter season in your area, for sure your heaters or furnaces are currently turned-on now  or else you will be freezing due to cold temperature inside your home.

Winter is the time of the year when the temperature gets really very cold. This is also the time of the year when our heaters are on. Whether you are using a fireplace, wood pellets stove, oil  heater, gas heater or electric heater, all of these furnaces require maintenance from time to time.

View from  one of our windows during winter.

 In countries like Canada and the United States, there are companies who offers services like furnace cleaning and maintaining. For example if you are living in Calgary, furnace cleaners calgary are willing to offer their help and services in order for your furnaces to work the whole winter season.

We have to admit that we need their services especially in this cold winter season. Another thing is, air duct and furnace cleaning is very important for our health and safety and in maintaining the air quality in our homes.

Now, I understand why the chimney man who wears black clothes comes to our home from now and then, to clean and maintain the air duct and the  furnace. Don't miss to call furnace cleaning calgary if you need their help. For sure, they can always assist you in many aspects of cleaning especially for your furnaces.

I am loving the warm inside our home. For me, 18 degrees Celsius is already a perfect temperature!  Our wood pellet stove is truly a wealth during winter time. Sometimes, when the temperature gets really very cold, we are also turning our electric heaters on.

Keep warm and healthy during cold winter season!

Hey, I looked again outside and found out that everything is white now! Hello winter!

The Importance of the Proper Maintenance of our Home Furnaces

Winter is almost coming! In continents and countries that experiences cold weather  including Europe, Canada,  United States of America, Australia and more, furnaces of all kinds are already turn-on starting autumn season to give comfort and convenience to the whole family. Maintaining a warm home is one the main focuses of homeowners during these cold seasons.

We have to know that maintenance of our furnaces is very important. Why? One reason is to protect our investment thru proper maintenance. Furnaces can be very expensive to repair if it is not maintain well periodically. Whether you are using a fireplace, wood pellet stove, oil heater, gas heater or electric heater, all of these heating devices must have proper maintenance in order to work properly everytime it is  needed.

If it happens to be out of order or not functioning well,  because proper maintenance was not done, there are companies like furnace repair niagara who can help you put it back into service. Of course, they will provide you with the services you need to make the best decision for your family. Their highly trained technicians can perform regular scheduled maintenance that will spend time to make it sure that they have inspected, cleaned and tested all the necessary parts and functions of your furnace.

If you are also planning to replace your old furnaces and want  new luxurious line of fireplaces, you can also check the fireplace st catharines Second. I believed, you are in the place to shop for one. Check their site and you might be able to avail of their current discounts and promotions.

Furnaces simply bring us warm and comfort during cold winter season!

Wood Pellet Oven is in Full Blast Now

The weather is truly getting very cold the past days and weeks. I can no longer wear shirt and short outside. lolz! Autumn signals that the cold winter season is coming soon! Are you ready for winter?

Our wood pellet oven which serve as our main heater at home.

I can say, yes, we are ready for winter now. Winter tires are already on in our cars. The shovel for snow is ready for cleaning and shoveling snow anytime it drops on our driveway and pathway.

More on that,  our pellet oven is in full blast at the moment. We don't use anymore our fireplace since two years ago. We are very happy with our wood pellet oven now as the main heating furnace in our home. I was only curious about this fireplace mantel shelves at agee woodworks. I visited their site and found very nice mantels for fireplaces. I wish we can use our fireplace again.

Another heater that we are using at home are electric heaters. Every room has one of this. We are turning it on  when the weather really gets freezing cold or below sub-zero  temperature.