Before You Start a Home Improvement Project, Ask Yourself 'Does My Home Insurance Cover This?'

When you buy a home, you are investing in that property. Thus, it makes sense that you'd want to improve it in various ways so that it always looks nice and well-maintained. Without routine improvements, the house can fall into disarray and look unkempt, potentially earning the ire of your neighborhood's homeowner's association.

But before you begin those improvements, it could be prudent to verify that your homeowner's insurance policy covers that so you have a lower out-of-pocket cost. Learn more about some common home improvements that you must check to make sure your policy covers them.

Installing sod can get expensive quickly.

If your lawn is in disrepair and you are trying to figure out how to fix it, you may want to look into installing sod. There are a lot of options when it comes to lawn repair, but putting in sod is the quickest way to get a green, healthy lawn. While prices are $.14 to $.60 per square foot for the sod itself, the labor costs of installing it can cause the overall price to skyrocket.

The cost is likely something you will have to absorb, but it doesn't hurt to give your insurance company a call to determine your coverage options. Remember that once your sod is installed, you'll have to follow the lawn care guidelines that the company gives you. This will keep your lawn healthy and also gives you protection in the event something happens to the grass.

A new roof will cost thousands of dollars.

If your home needs roof repair or a new roof, the cost can be quite high. If your roof was damaged due to hail, wind, or other storm damage, then the cost will likely be covered by your insurance company — so long as you can show you've been maintaining the roof in a timely manner. If your roof is old and needs to be replaced entirely or needs new shingles, insurance typically does not take on those costs.

For the most part, insurance is there to cover you for unexpected costs, like when a hurricane sweeps through your area and creates the need for a total roof replacement. Speak with an Allison Park roofing contractor to learn more about how much this may cost you, and make sure to always work with a reputable, licensed roofing company.

Water damage may be covered depending on other factors.

If your bathroom or another area of the home develops a leak, then you may end up with extensive water damage throughout your home. You may not even know it's there until you see a visible stain on a ceiling or a wall. You'll need to have an inspection done to check for the presence of mold as well. Mold can create a health risk for you and your family, so it's important to have to removed safely by a trained mold remediation specialist.

Depending on how the water damage happened, your insurance company may cover it. They will not cover it if you have older pipes that should have been replaced or if you neglected to perform maintenance such as routinely cleaning out gutters to prevent water seeping in under the roof. If you're unsure about whether your insurance will provide coverage, reach out to an insurance agent such as TulsaInsuranceGroup so that they can help you determine the viability of your claim. You may also be able to get all of the damage covered and avoid paying anything except for the deductible on your policy.

No matter what happens with your home, make sure to always contact your insurance provider to learn about your options.

Home Services that Free Up Time to Spend with Your Pup

If you've just got a new puppy or have been a loving pup parent for years, you know that there's never enough time in the day to spend with your canine friend. You have a lot of responsibilities as a pet parent, including making enough money to support the two of you. Then, when you finally get home, there's still plenty to keep you busy that doesn't include one-on-one time with your furry friend.

It's easy to get weighed down by other household tasks even when you'd rather be snuggled up on the sofa with your pup. However, it doesn't have to be that way anymore. With these useful home services, you can free up your time at a relatively low cost, giving you more hours in the day to spend with your favorite pooch. Here are a few ideas for tasks you can delegate so that you get more snuggle time with your pup.

Create a fur free zone

As much as you love them, having a dog around the house can cause quite a mess on a regular basis. Even the best-behaved dogs shed and leave dander all over the place. If your pooch is hypoallergenic, you still might not be sure what they're tracking in on their little paws. If you have carpeting in your home, having a pup can feel like a losing battle, especially if you try to handle it on your own. In order to stay on top of the smell and fur, you may find yourself vacuuming your carpet every day — or even multiple times a day. Even then, you might not be seeing or smelling the results you want! If that's the case, it's time to call in the professional carpet cleaners.

The time you spend cleaning up after your furry friend could be spent playing catch or catching up with mutual puppy friends at the dog park. No matter how much you sweep and vacuum, your problem might literally be deeper than surface level.

When was the last time you had someone come and professionally clean your carpeting? Does your carpet look different than when you purchased it? Does the carpet always smell a little off even after you've treated it with animal odor spray? You don't have to keep fighting that battle anymore. Call in the best carpet cleaners Brisbane or wherever you're located, and give your carpet a deep cleaning. You can stop worrying if your home smells. These carpet cleaning professionals will have your place looking and smelling great in no time, and you won't even have to lift a finger, or paw, to make it happen.

To walk, or not to walk?

via GIPHY

This may sound counterintuitive, but as a dog owner, you can't escape the fact that there will be some things you need to do at home away from your dog. That might be taking work calls, straightening up, or getting the kids to soccer or dance. If you can't find the time to give your dog the long walks they want every day, find a dog walker or trainer that you trust to take care of your dog for a few hours. That will give you some uninterrupted time to get all these other tasks done. Then, once they're home, you're free to be completely focused on your puppy.

If you're handing your pup off to someone else, make sure you equip your walker with best harness for dogs. Joyride Harness is widely considered to be the best dog harness on the market. These harnesses adjust to the dog's body to make sure there's no discomfort, while still providing a secure fit. Joyride Harnesses have a front leash attachment chest piece which discourages pulling. They protect your dog and ensure that they're on their best behavior for the walker or trainer.

Provide yourself with an easy treat.

via GIPHY

You're probably always supplying your pup with treats. Why not spread that generosity to yourself? If you're just not feeling like cooking so you can pay more attention to your dog, it's okay to order out. Ordering out is a timesaving tactic. Have someone else make the food for once. Treat yourself!

Hire a babysitter

via GIPHY

If you had a dog before you introduced children into your home, your dog might be really jealous. Most dogs adapt quickly to having a new human around, but some dogs just aren't about kids. It might not even be that your dog doesn't like your baby — your dog's probably just feeling left out of the equation. It's pretty safe to say that your attention has definitely been more split since your new arrival. Call in a sitter, and give your dog some much-deserved attention, even if it's just for an hour. That undivided time will be great for both you and your dog.

Commercial Property Improvements That Attract New Tenants

Commercial property owners know that improvements to the structure are a great way to attract new tenants that will pay a premium for top notch quality. Building a great relationship with any new tenant starts with an attention to detail. The more they see that you care for the property, the more they will too.

Consider the façade

Starting with the façade is a great way to give your property a much-needed facelift in order to attract new clients. Whether you are considering an all glass front or a more gritty feel with an exposed brick layer, redoing the exterior of the building will spruce up its outer layer in order to attract more prospective tenants. Upgrades to the outside must be met with some care internally as well in order to really wow renters.

Roofing repairs attract long term business

via GIPHY

Rounding out the exterior, thinking about a roof replacement should be at the top of any owner’s list on an older building. No matter the type of roof you put on your building, it will need replacing at some point. Most Roofs last about 20 years, but metal or high-quality tile roof could last even longer if it’s well maintained. Finding commercial roofing support to replace an old covering or to do routine maintenance in order to extend the life of your current exterior covering is a great way to show prospective tenants that you care for their interests as well as your own. Any business would be wary of moving into a property with a decaying roof that could give in any day, potentially destroying the company’s hard work and expensive equipment in the process.

Think about storage needs

Storage inclusions are also a great addition to any commercial property. Every business will have storage needs, so consider adding some backroom storage. This is a great idea for an office park type property or large lockboxes behind a strip mall — it's a sure way to bring in lots of prospective clients to view the location. Thinking about your tenant’s needs before he or she does is a surefire way to win over new clients.

Adding foliage brings a fresh vibe

via GIPHY

Plant life is a fantastic addition to any office space. Whether you build plant boxes outside the front doors or add China Doll plant pots on every floor to "green up" the interior, dedication to bringing a little color and plant life to the otherwise drab fixtures of a corporate office space can really make a difference for a business looking for a new long-term commercial property to rent.

Central air upgrades show your dedication to the property

via GIPHY

Fixing any issues with air conditioning or heating sources is a must when looking to rent your commercial real estate. Every office needs a working central air conditioning system that is up to scratch. If your AC is aging or failing on you then taking proactive steps to repair or replace the faulty parts will show when you decide to list the property.

New heating and AC system can be leveraged as a high-quality selling point and many businesses that require strict cooling requirements for a central computing room will be looking for this particular upgrade — meaning you may even be able to charge a premium for a maintenance issue that you would be required to resolve eventually anyway.

Think about the needs of your clients when you consider relisting your commercial real estate space. Consider the upgrades you would want in your own office in order to make the property stand out on the market.

5 Tips When Planning and Fitting Your Kitchen Design

 

Photo by Adam Winger on Unsplash

The kitchen is often referred to as being the heart of the home and as such having a well designed kitchen that is both functional and in keeping with current trends is pretty important to most people. On average, we change our kitchens every 10 years so getting the design right is crucial unless you want to be stuck with a dysfunctional space for the next decade. 

With this in mind, we thought it might be useful to provide a few tips to ensure you get the design right first time so you can enjoy your dream space for years to come and ensure a stress free kitchen fitting experience.

1 - Consider How You Will Use The Space

Kitchens can be very different things depending on who is using them. For some it is an area that is simply used for cooking, for others it is a space for cooking and eating, for families it may be a space to be together or have more of a multi-functional use and for some people it might be a space purely for entertaining. 

The point is that you need to understand what your kitchen is to you and to plan it accordingly. If you have a separate dining space then perhaps a dining space in the kitchen isn’t needed and a  breakfast bar with stools will suffice. If you purely want to use it for cooking then how much space do you need for that and can you use left over space for better uses or even for creating a different room?

Planning at the beginning will save time and money in the long run and is probably where most of your time should be spent.

2 - Think Substance Over Style

Although style is important it is worth remembering that trends come and go. You should look for a kitchen that is functional above all else and that has space for storage rather than filling your kitchen units with fancy plate warmers or wine coolers. 

If you want uncluttered worktops then your storage space will be key so plan this into your design.

3 - Choose An Evergreen Colour Scheme

There are plenty of colour decisions to make when planning your kitchen and whether it is the worktops, the cupboard doors, the handles, the tiles, walls or floors, every colour choice you make will change the style and impact of your kitchen. 

We would suggest opting for neutral colours on units and worktops. Colours that are not simply seasonal trends and that will outlast the latest fashions. Of course, if you are happy to re-paint or replace doors and worktops regularly then you can ignore this advice but it could be costly to do so.

4 - Plan All Design Elements

When you are thinking about your use of space you should consider all aspects of the design. Think about the functional areas such as the sink, oven, hob and fridge and consider how close each of these are to one another. 

Creating a triangle of space between the oven, sink and fridge can be really helpful in terms of practicalities. 

Also think about how you plan to use the space. If you want the kids to be up there cooking with you then plan space for tall stools at your worktop and ensure there is space around it.

5 - Don’t Leave Interior Design To The Last Minute

Planning your interior design should not be left to the last minute. Your kitchen units and worktops will of course take centre stage but they will be complemented by a whole range of other design features such as lighting, flooring and decoration such as ornaments, pictures and furniture.

If possible, try and use 3d modellers so you can see your kitchen before you start the fitting. 

These tips should go some way to ensuring you have a smooth kitchen fitting experience and the more you plan in advance the less stressful the fitting should be.

All About Roof Flashing and Why It Is So Important

Flashing, which is a common thing to do on any construction of a house, is the thin pieces of sheet material, that are installed onto different areas of any house to prevent any water from getting through into the inside, or staying in puddles. They are mounted on the rooftops either onto a joint or at an angle created by a water barrier system, it helps to minimise or completely stop any water penetrating into aspects of the home such as the chimneys, doors, windows, skylights, and walls. 

It helps to reduce any of the problems, related to dampness, such as mold, bacteria, weakening of the internal structure due to the plaster getting wet, as a result of there being either no flashing or a worn out one. This website can tell you more about the advent of wet plaster. 

The materials that flashing is made out of is usually different types of metal, including copper, aluminium, zinc, alloy and stainless steel. When flashing was not an option back in the day, roof shingles were angled in a way as to keep any water away from the joints in roofs that would lead to the chimneys, and mortar flaunching was used. But now that we have this as a more desirable option, it has significantly decreased any water penetrating through openings and vulnerable parts of the top cover of buildings.

The Different Types of Flashing

There are numerous types available for any property, besides the roofing one, and these include specific ones for walls, used to prevent entry of water into the walls. The sill types, which are commonly placed under the windows of houses and are concealed, the channel ones shaped like a “U” which help to catch water almost like the gutters, and are installed on the edges of the tiles where the roof and walls meet. 

Then there is the drip edge, chimney flashing, kickout, through wall, more of which can be found here: https://carsaconstruction.com/replace-flashing-when-replacing-roof/ and are usually  also replaced alongside the replacement of any roofs or shingles. Especially if someone owns a very old house, and the roof has been around for decades, it is an important thing to upgrade these things before placing a new roof on top of it in case they begin to fail before the new roof does. 

In any construction site, there are local building regulations that can allow the re-use of the flashing if it is still in good condition, although this is not preferred. Because these are normally nailed into the coverings of the houses; re-using the same old ones may not be as stable when re-nailed into the same holes as before. 

The 4 Key Types of Designs

There are 4 key types of flashing designs, namely, Step, Counter, Continuous and Base. Which we will discuss briefly below. 

Counter-flashing. These are commonly placed above or opposite the base flashes to complete the application.

Base. This is the bottom piece of two parts. Chimneys, for instance, require a two-part flash. This ensures that the rain water is directed downwards away from the structure. In any case, because it is notoriously difficult to install this around something like a chimney, when done in two-parts it is guaranteed to be installed the right way.

The other reason for using two parts is due to the expanding and contraction of roofing materials as a result of weather changes. When the two pieces move with it, they can stay more secure, thereby keeping the whole system in place. 

Step. This one is designed into a rectangular piece that is bent to a 90-degree angle so it can be used between the roof and the wall. When they are installed, they are usually placed in multiple layers along side the shingles, so the water can flow away from the walls. 

Continuous or Apron flashing. This is named appropriately because it acts like an apron. This is the long piece of metal that is very visible on tops of houses or buildings, and they carry any rain water down to any shingles below. These are cleverly made with built-in expansion joints due to the house shifting, as mentioned above, because of weather conditions. If they did not have these joint in them, they would either break or warp and lose their ability to divert water away from the walls. 

The importance of these cannot be emphasized enough. If it weren’t for these utilities built on top of your homes, they would be susceptible to leaking and flooding from puddles of water being left on the tops, thereby weakening the structure and causing a lot on invisible internal damage to your property. These are a saving grace that every home must have.