4 outdoor cleaning tips that could help you save thousands (BPT) – The sounds of birds chirping, longer daylight hours, and budding trees and flowers are early signs that warmer weather and spring are on the way. That means more time outside to enjoy nature, but it’s also a sign it might be time for a little spring cleaning. “Cold temperatures, snowfall and winter rains can have a big effect on houses and landscaping, so now’s the time to check for potential home repairs and maintenance,” said Christopher O’Rourke, Mercury Insurance vice president of property claims. “Spring cleaning isn’t just about getting rid of belongings you no longer want or need - it’s also a time to get your home in tip-top shape so you can enjoy it throughout the rest of the year.” Here are four tips O’Rourke recommends to welcome the new season and save some money down the road.
home or, in areas without much precipitation, can act as kindling in the event of a fire. Buildup also allows mildew and mold to develop, which can slowly decay a home’s exterior and roof. “Preventable damage like mold or mildew that develops and rots a home’s exterior isn’t covered by homeowners insurance,” said O’Rourke. “It’s important to routinely clean out gutters - even if you have gutter guards installed, they don’t completely protect against debris building up eventually. An hour or two spent cleaning or checking home, power lines or your gutters is time well possibly injuring someone spent compared to the on your property,” said alternative.” O’Rourke. “Also, in areas 2. Trim branches and that are prone to wildfires, trimmed trees create a remove dangerous buffer zone to help lower trees. Thunderstorm frequen- the chances of flames easily jumping onto your cy picks up in summer roof.” months, and high winds Consider having the can occur year round, so trees on your property it’s best to get a jump on inspected by an arborist 1. Clean your gutters. tree maintenance in early to determine their health spring. Regularly trimming Gutters collect debris and have diseased trees over time, especially when tree branches reduces removed before they their chance of breaking rain, snow and wind topple over unexpectcauses twigs, pine needles during a storm, which could cause power outag- edly. Removal costs vary and leaves to settle on depending on height and your roof and in your rain es or property damage. difficulty, but range from “Properly trimmed gutters. Accumulated debris can create blockages branches present a lower $100 to around $1,800. These preventative costs that direct water into the risk of falling onto your
the ground. Accidentally hitting one when digging can result in loss of service, expensive repairs or a serious injury. If a break to a service line happens on a homeowner’s property, special machinery may be needed to excavate pipes from beneath the ground, which may require digging under your home, garden or driveway. The homeowner is responsible for repair or replacement costs, and this damage can be inconvenient, expensive and isn’t covered by a standard homeowners insurance policy. “The average cost to are not covered by your repair a break to a service homeowners policy, but line is about $5,000 and can be a wise investment most Americans wouldn’t that saves you time, monwelcome such a large surey and anxiety. prise bill,” said O’Rourke. 3. Watch out for “Homeowners should definitely consider purservice lines. chasing an endorsement Homeowners who to their insurance policy want to plant gardens, to protect against losses trees or install additional landscape features to en- of this nature. Mercury hance their outdoor living offers this coverage as an addition to our home space should be aware of potential underground insurance policy and it costs as little as $8 a year, utility lines. Most service lines - a network of exte- depending on the home’s age.” rior, underground utility To be safe, homeownlines or pipes that supply ers should call 811 before a home with electricity, digging so the utility comgas, water and sewer functions - are only buried panies can send a locator a few inches beneath to mark the approximate
locations of underground service lines.
4. Service your air conditioning unit. Regular maintenance of heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems is essential to ensure the equipment is in proper working order, which can save money on energy bills, as well as protect against expensive repair and replacement costs. “No one wants to unexpectedly find themselves living in a sauna during the dog days of summer, so the start of spring is a great time to have your air conditioner inspected,” said O’Rourke. “You should also change your air filter to make sure it’s operating at its highest efficiency, so when that heat wave hits you’ll be nice and cool inside your home.” Have a professional inspect your HVAC unit to make sure its exterior condenser coil and compressor are clean and free from blockages - the average cost for an inspection is about $300. Your home will bring you security and joy for many years to come. Taking the time to maintain it is well worth the investment.
Top 5 hottest home building trends (MS) — These days, home trends are about more than good design and aesthetics — they’re about creating spaces that reflect our values and are more comfortable and enjoyable to live in. From net-zero and net-positive construction to tiny minimalist homes, trends are all about your family’s lifestyle. Whether you’re shopping for a new home, renovating your own or creating a new build from scratch, here are some of the biggest trends you need to know for inspiration. Sustainable design: This one has been popular for a long time, but green design has evolved to be about much more than energy-efficient appliances and LED light bulbs. Now, it’s all about making sure everything in your home reduces your carbon footprint and minimizes any impact on the environment. To try the trend yourself, think big and
get creative – install solar panels on your roof, choose building materials that don’t require deforestation and upcycle old furniture for decorative elements instead of buying new. Disaster resiliency: Climate change affects us in so many negative ways, and one of the top concerns is the increase in natural disasters. From wildfires that last for months to major floods that affect entire cities, we now need to prepare for the worst when building our homes. Switching to disaster-resilient materials is an important first step. Many builders now prefer to use stronger, more energy-efficient materials like insulated concrete forms (ICFs) instead of more traditional materials like wood. For example, Nudura ICFs can withstand winds of up to 250 miles per hour (equivalent to an F4 tornado) and offer a fire protection rating of up
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to four hours. Outdoor living: Many of us are now choosing to forgo getting a cottage or summer home and recreate the experience in our own backyards. This trend helps you make the most of your existing space and take full advantage of your yard or patio during the summer months. You can design a full living space outside, complete with an outdoor television and comfy couches, as well as a kitchen and refrigerator for entertaining. Consider adding a fireplace or firepit to keep warm during cool summer nights and enjoy the outdoors through spring, fall and even winter if you’re brave. Home automation: This is another longstanding trend that
shows no signs of slowing down. It has also evolved to encompass more of the home to make life even more comfortable and convenient. From an oven that can be turned on remotely to preheat, to skylights that can open and close automatically to create the perfect ambient temperature, there are more ways than ever to integrate smart home technology into your living space. You can start small with voice assistant and smart light bulbs and work your way up to a total smart home system that includes home security, temperature controls and all your electronic devices. Customization: You don’t have to settle for what mass manufacturers decide to build, or
what works for everyone else. Creating a home that’s as unique as you are is the latest trend, with custom-built storage and personalized architectural features to make your space stand out. You can even go as far as building a custom home that’s suited to
your family. Older home demolitions and purchasing land-only properties is becoming more common, allowing you to work with an architect to create exactly what you want with a new build. Find more information about the benefits of building a home with ICFs at nudura.com.
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Focus your bathroom remodel with a striking visual statement (BPT) – There is nothing more inviting than a luxurious, well-appointed bathroom, but no matter how ambitious the remodel, there are unique challenges that come with every project. Whether updating the guest powder room or redesigning the master bathroom of your dreams, from plumbing and lighting to budget and space
you - smooth and polished, or organic and irregular to the touch? Do you prefer classic design elements or those with a modern edge? Innovations in the bathroom have revolutionized what’s possible. Large bathrooms have the space to create inspired retreats, from scene-stealing freestanding bathtubs to spacious glass-enclosed,
Whether making a grand statement by pairing them or as a singular statement in a smaller space, a vessel sink is a beautiful addition to any bathroom. Most require the same standard footprint as a drop-in basin, and there are quite a selection of vessels to choose from, including designs handcrafted from glass, carved from stone or cast from bronze and other metals. One of the latest designs is the KALLISTA Myam Decorative Vessel. Crafted from solid bronze, the Myam Vessel has an interior of satin bronze, polished bronze or white satin bronze, contrasted by a textured eggshell exterior of matte black or matte white. With its classic lines and rich finishes, the Myam is just one example of how a vessel sink can visually impact your interior in a significant way.
room. Fixtures featuring hand-rubbed multi-layered finishes create warmth, highly-figured marble and stone add dimension and irregular patterning only nature can provide, while natural wood lends an organic component to the interior. Playing with textures and surface finishes has never been more interesting - and today’s choices are more varied than ever.
room, adding dimensional depth and glamorous sophistication. For rooms with high ceilings, a chandelier can center and balance a room while adding dramatic flair. Choose a traditional or modern chandelier that suits your style. If ceilings are lower, decorative flushmount ceiling lights
or wall-mounted sconces provide a beautiful addition to an otherwise unremarkable room. Switching out lightbulbs with vintage Edison-inspired bulbs can completely change the character of a light fixture, adding charm by giving the lighting design an acquired feel.
Know the limitations of the room
If you have a small room to work with, you Neutrals remain do not want to overa confident, versatile whelm the eye with too choice, allowing you to many elements. Keep lines layer varying shades to clean and simple, and let create depth and weave the one signature piece in pops of color to add command without compevisual excitement. If you tition from other design do select a vibrant color, elements. highly veined marble or If there’s limited elaborate detailed flooring natural lighting, consider allow it to play a larger adding mirrored effects walk-in showers equipped role within your interior limitations, there is a lot to enhance the lighting design. Mix in metals or with multiple showerto be considered. One other neutrals to comple- within the room. Antiqued way to approach a project heads and the very latest mirrored cabinet finishes ment and support those is by defining the space in technology. and wall tiles such as rekey design elements. through singular choices Another stylish alterTexture also adds char- cent innovative designs by that will move an everyday native is the vessel sink. acter and personality to a Robern and ANN SACKS interior into a space to rereflect light within the member: an extraordinary marble vanity, exquisite lighting fixture, classic vessel sink or deep soaking tub - pivotal pieces can set the stage upon which all else revolves. How you choose that signature piece to take your room to the next level can be intimidating. Here are some approaches to help make your dream space a reality.
Color and texture
Make a statement Once you’ve decided on that one stand-alone piece, it’s time to draw in all the secondary players to complete the interior and fit your particular style. What do you want to visually highlight or contrast to bring the design center stage? Is it a particular color or family of colors that are more welcoming than others? Are there certain textures that naturally appeal to
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