Home Improvement Blog

Getting Your Home Ready for the Winter Season

December 11, 20140

Protect your home for the winter with home improvement projects.

Certain home improvement projects protect your home for the winter.

When the weather gets cold, your home is put under additional stress that doesn’t exist with warmer temperatures. Before the temperatures really drop, it’s important to take the right home improvement steps to protect your home and decrease the amount of energy you need to use to heat your home. Here are some of the ways your Massachusetts home improvement contractor can help you prepare your home for winter.

Tune up Your Heating System

Your heating system stays dormant all summer long after working hard the previous winter. To ensure your furnace is operating at peak efficiency, make sure you schedule a tune up with your local heating and cooling technician. This will ensure your furnace is ready to keep your home warmer this winter.

Consider Your Windows

Older windows have a tendency to leak, allowing the warm air in your home to escape and the cold air to seep in. This causes you to spend more money on your heating bills. If you have older windows, it may be time to contact a Massachusetts home improvement contractor to go over the benefits of installing energy efficient windows instead. If you can’t afford new windows, use plastic or another sealant to plug up the leaks.

Keep your home cozy with home improvement projects.

Ask your home improvement contractor what you should do before winter hits.

Weatherproof Your Home

In addition to your windows, there are other ways your home could waste energy in the winter months. Doors are often a common culprit. If you can pass a dollar bill under your shut door, you may want to consider a replacement. In some situations, replacing the seal around the door can remedy the problem.

Clean out the Gutters

It may seem like cleaning out the gutters is unnecessary to protect your home this winter, but it’s never a good idea to allow dead leaves and debris to build up in your gutters. Cleaning them out will ensure melted snow can flow easily and will prevent the buildup of ice dams on the roof. Failure to prevent ice dams can result in serious damage that will require professional repair once warmer weather returns.

Pad Your Pipes

Another common energy drainer in your home is your pipes, especially those that are located close to outer walls. When hot water flows through cold pipes, the water will cool down as well, wasting the energy your water heater used to heat it up in the first place. Installing padding around your pipes will help hold the warmth in.

As the weather cools off, homeowners need to take the proper steps to ensure their home is ready for winter. Hiring a Massachusetts home improvement contractor to help you tackle some of these projects before winter sets in can help you reduce energy costs and the risk of needing repairs once spring arrives.

If you are looking for an experienced contractor to help you prepare for winter, contact us. Our Massachusetts home improvement company is ready to assist with all types of projects.

How to Prepare and Protect Your Basement from Flooding

December 4, 20140

Protect your basement with basement remodeling contractors.

Basement remodeling contractors can keep the water out of your basement.

There’s nothing worse than trying to walk into your basement, only to find your basement has flooded. Whether there is just enough water to make the floor wet or you are dealing with several inches of water, you could be facing high repair costs. Knowing how to protect your basement from flooding by working with experienced basement remodeling contractors will help you protect your home and your basement from costly damage.

Why Do Basements Flood?

Before you start your basement finishing project, it’s important to understand why basements flood so you can find ways to prevent the damage. In most cases, basement flooding occurs when rain water doesn’t divert away from the house and seeps through the foundation. Some of the biggest reasons this happens is if your downspouts are too close to the house, the land doesn’t slope away from your home or your gutters are clogged. Your basement remodeling contractors can evaluate the state of your foundation and basement walls to detect any possible problems so they can be fixed before moving forward with your basement remodeling project.

Keep your home dry with basement remodeling contractors.

Find out how your basement remodeling contractors can keep your home dry.

What Can You Do?

In addition to talking to your remodeling contractors about how to protect your basement from flooding, there are steps you can take to reduce your risks. Every spring and fall, it’s important to clean out your gutters so water can flow freely through the system instead of overflowing under your roofing material or directly next to your home. If your downspouts are too close to your home, you can purchase extensions to channel water further from your home. Check your yard during heavy storms to identify where water pools. If you have large puddles close to your home, you may need help from a professional to resolve the issue.

Another important element in any basement finishing project is a sump pump. If your home doesn’t already have one, talk to basement remodeling contractors about adding one. These pumps draw excess moisture out of the ground immediately surrounding your home and funnels it through a pipe, depositing it a safe distance from your home. Some homeowners feel more secure when installing a backup sump pump in case the main pump fails. It can also be helpful to install a generator large enough to operate the sump pump if you lose electricity.

When you undertake a basement finishing project, you need to know how to protect your basement from flooding to further protect your investment. Many basement remodeling contractors are aware of best ways to reduce the risks of flooding so you can enjoy your basement to its fullest without concern over whether the items you store there may be damaged due to flooding.

If you are concerned about basement flooding, contact us. Our experienced Massachusetts contractors can complete a basement finishing project that can protect you from flood damage.

Important Questions You Should Ask Before You Begin Your Second Story Addition

November 27, 20140

Be prepared before adding a second story addition.

Before considering a second story addition, ask these questions.

Sometimes you just don’t have the room to build an addition out from your home. Whether your home is too close to the property line or you don’t want to use up precious space in your yard, a second story addition can be the ideal alternative. Before you start making your addition plans, ask a contractor these questions to determine whether this is the best choice to expand the usable space in your home.

How Much Does It Cost?

One of the most important questions is how much this type of project will cost. A second story addition will lead to different costs than adding an expansion onto the first floor of your home. For instance, to build the addition, more demolition is required, such as the roof, and the systems in your home, including plumbing and electricity, need to be revised. Talking to your contractor will help you understand the costs so you can evaluate whether it is worth it to move forward.

Is It Possible?

As you create addition plans, you will realize not all homes are built with the structure to hold the weight of an entire second floor. Your contractor will be able to check the integrity of your home and determine the viability of this type of project. Sometimes adjustments can be made to allow for this type of addition. If it isn’t possible, your contractor can help you decide whether there are any better options.

Can your home accommodate a second story addition.

Are you ready for a second story addition?

Is a Full Addition Required?

You may not envision your home with a full second story addition. A remodeling contractor can create addition plans that only provide a partial addition to give you the space you need without adding a full floor to your home. Perhaps you only need an extra room or two. Your contractor can help you decide what type of addition you need to provide the amount of space you require.

Does the Contractor Have Experience?

Adding a second story can be a difficult process that requires specific skills and expertise. You don’t want to leave these addition plans in the hands of an inexperienced contractor. With the wrong technique, you could be putting your entire home at risk. A poor second story addition can cause undue stress on your foundation and could ultimately destroy your existing home, costing you more money in repairs.

When you want to expand your home, you basically have two choices: expand out or expand up. Addition plans can be complex, especially if you choose a second story addition over expanding outward from your existing home. This makes choosing the right contractor to ensure the job is done correctly without putting your entire home at risk.

If you are interested in discussing addition plans with a Massachusetts contractor, contact us. We can help you design and build your second story for a beautiful home.

What Are the Best Interior Paint Colors to Appeal to Potential Home Buyers?

November 25, 20140

Find the best interior paint to appeal to buyers.

The right interior paint can help your home sell faster.

When you plan to live in your home for a long period of time, only you need to be happy with the interior paint color you use; however, if you are planning to sell in the near future, it’s important to take a few things into consideration when making home plans. Choosing the right colors will increase the chances your home will appeal to your potential buyers so you can sell your home faster.

White or Off-White

The idea of staging your home is to help potential buyers see their own belongings inside your home, even when your furniture and other items are still present. If you choose colors that specifically match your décor, the buyer may have difficulty envisioning themselves living there and may be less likely to make an offer. When all else fails, choosing a version of white or off-white can provide the look you want without interfering with what prospective buyers may see.

Earth Tones

If you simply can’t live in a home without a little color on the walls, earth tones are an excellent option for interior paint. Home plans that include earth tones can portray a relaxing, calming feel to those who view your home. Shades of brown, blue, green, orange and even tans and reds will complement many rooms, especially those that feature a lot of wood, glass, stone or metal. These colors work best in the dining room or living room.

The right interior paint can sell your home faster.

Are your walls the right interior paint colors to attract buyers?

Gray

Another alternative to whites or off-whites is to choose a light gray color for your interior paint. When you choose these shades for various rooms in your home, you will provide a neutral platform that shows potential buyers what your home would look like once they are living there. Gray also offers a chic, modern look other colors can’t create. Unfortunately, this look isn’t right for everyone.

Soft Tones

Soft colors are the ideal option for any home you want to sell. You want buyers to focus on the home plans and design, including any special features, to help them decide whether your home is the best option for their needs. Dark, bold colors can make it difficult for prospective buyers to envision their furniture in your home. If they don’t like these colors, they are also more difficult to paint over. Soft colors allow for easy painting and are more likely to match most décor and furniture for buyers not interested in painting.

Before you sell your home, choosing the right interior paint is just the first step in the process. Staging your home will increase the chances prospective buyers will be interested in your home over the other options. Home plans may be a big part of the buying process, but the colors you choose for the interior of your home can also play a significant role.

If you need an experienced home painter to help you choose the right interior colors, contact us. Our Massachusetts contractors can help you create a home individuals want to buy.

What You Should Know before You Decide to Paint Your Vinyl Siding

November 20, 20140

Are you considering painting your vinyl siding?

If you aren’t happy with the color of your vinyl siding, consider painting it.

Vinyl siding is meant to last much longer than other siding options, which includes not having to paint it; however, some homeowners want to change the color of their vinyl siding and don’t want to purchase new siding. Instead, you may be able to paint it. Be sure to talk to an experienced siding contractor to determine whether your exterior siding options can be painted.

Proper Preparation

Any surface you intend to paint needs to be properly prepared to ensure it will accept the paint with a lower risk of peeling and other imperfections now and in the future. Vinyl siding is no different, although the preparation process is different than many other materials; however, this siding option requires less prep than other types of siding. A thorough cleaning is often the only step required to ensure the paint will adhere properly. Make sure you use a cleaner that removes mold, mildew and algae because leaving these items under the new coat of paint will cause problems in the future.

You aren't stuck with the color of your vinyl siding.

Do you want a different color for your vinyl siding?

Choose the Right Color

One of the biggest downfalls of painting vinyl siding is you are limited in the colors you can choose. Siding comes in a variety of colors, allowing homeowners to choose exactly what looks great with the rest of their exterior and landscaping options. When you decide to change the color, you will be limited in your choices to those colors that are the same shade or lighter than the current color. Using a color darker than the original shade will cause the vinyl siding to absorb heat from the sun, which can lead to warping and other damage. This isn’t often a concern with other exterior siding options.

Make Sure It Sticks

Before you take on the painting job, you need to make sure the paint you choose will adhere to the siding and won’t chip, crack or peel. Choose a few small areas and apply the paint there first, allowing it to dry so you can monitor how the paint will react to the siding. Use a utility knife or a razor knife to score the paint into a checkerboard pattern, including several X’s. Apply packing tape firmly over the scored areas and then peel away. If a small amount of paint sticks to the tape, you can continue painting your siding; however, if more than a small dot is removed, you may have to choose another type of paint.

There are many exterior siding options, though vinyl siding is one of the most popular. This siding comes in a variety of colors so homeowners can find one that best fits the way they want their home to look. If you are tired of the color of your home, however, you aren’t limited to keeping the same color or replacing the siding altogether. Instead, you can take the right steps to paint the siding and keep your home beautiful.

If you are looking for assistance painting your vinyl siding, contact us. Our Massachusetts contractors can help you choose the right colors and apply the paint to your home.