Megan Taylor

Winter Home Maintenance Tips: How to Keep Your Home in Tip-Top Shape

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Winter is a time when many homeowners start to worry about the state of their home. Will the cold weather cause any damage? What can be done to prevent it? In this blog post, we will discuss some tips on how to keep your home in good condition during winter. Follow these tips and you can rest assured that your home will be in great shape all season long!

Tip #01: Protect Your Home from the Cold Weather

One of the most important things you can do to protect your home during winter is to make sure that it is properly insulated. If your home isn’t well-insulated, then the cold weather can cause a lot of damage, such as frozen pipes and cracks in the walls. Make sure to check the insulation in your home and add more if necessary.

Tip #02: Inspect Your Roof for Damage

The roof is one of the most important parts of a home, and it’s also one of the most vulnerable to damage during winter. Make sure to inspect your roof for any cracks or leaks, and repair them as soon as possible. Additionally, make sure to clear away any snow or ice from the roof so that it doesn’t cause any damage.

Tip #03: Keep Your Home Clean

It’s important to keep your home clean during winter, especially if you have allergies. The cold weather can cause an increase in dust and other allergens, so make sure to vacuum and mop your floors regularly. You should also keep your windows clean to prevent the build-up of any dirt or ice.

Tip #04: Check Your Heating System

The heating system is one of the most important parts of a home during winter. Make sure to check your heating system regularly and have it serviced if necessary. Additionally, make sure to use the correct amount of heat for your home. If you use too much heat, then you could end up damaging your furniture or flooring.

Tip #05: Protect Your Pipes from Freezing

One of the most common problems that occur during winter is frozen pipes. To prevent this, make sure to insulate your pipes properly and keep them warm. If you do end up with frozen pipes, thaw them out as quickly as possible.

Tip #06: Shovel Snow and Ice Away from Your Home

It’s important to shovel snow and ice away from your home, especially if you have a porch or deck. This will help to prevent any damage caused by the snow and ice. It’s also a good idea to shovel snow off of your roof so that it doesn’t cause any leaks.

Tip #07: Check Your Gutters for Clogs

The gutters are another important part of a home that can easily be clogged by snow and ice. Make sure to check your gutters regularly for any clogs, and clear them away as soon as possible. This will help to prevent any water damage caused by the melting snow.

Tip #08: Keep an Eye on Your Home while You’re Away

If you’re going to be away from home for an extended period of time, make sure to have someone check on your home periodically. This will help to ensure that there is no damage caused by the cold weather. Additionally, it’s a good idea to set your thermostat to a lower temperature so that your home doesn’t get too warm.

These are just some of the tips on how to maintain your home during winter. Follow these tips and you can rest assured that your home will be in great shape all season long!

Fermentation vessels

Arcade Brewery’s Three Different Approaches To Making Beer

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A brewery or homebrewing brewery is a small-scale business that produces and sells beer on a commercial scale. Typically the location where beer is commercially produced is called a beer house, or a brewery, where different sets of commercial brewing equipment are generally called in to service. It could be located indoors, or outdoors, depending on your preference. However, both methods have their advantages and disadvantages. Here are some things to consider when setting up a brewery, direct from the owners of Arcade Brewery.

Many beers are better kept at room temperature, so you would have to take that into consideration when considering temperature control for the brewery. For instance, Belgian strong brewed with adjunct yeast from the farm, is a good example of a beer best kept cold. That’s because the beer takes longer to ferment, and it is also made with high adjunct content yeast. The downside to this is that if the temperature drops below freezing, then the whole batch would have to be thawed out – which is not favorable for microbrews. The opposite is true for brewing with cold water, wherein the beer can be made as cold as -12 degrees C. If you’re using bottled water, make sure the tap water is chilled before you run the water through the brewing system.

beer in glass.

When you have a home brew brewery, you will need to boil the wort, or liquid left from the brewing process, before storing it. Before boiling, check the gravity reading for that day, and add a tablespoon of gypsum and 2 teaspoons of calcium sulfate. This aids in the bottling process, and prevents the formation of hard water. If the wort is stored for an extended period of time in a dark bottle, you’ll have a run-down tasting beer – however, since the bottling bucket has no way of removing the calcium sulfate, this will never happen.

If you have a restaurant attached to your brewery, be sure to keep the fermenting beer in separate containers from the other ingredients. There’s nothing more frustrating than a stale taste in your pub beer, as well as a messy one at the brewery. For restaurant owners, you should store the beer in kegs and do not brew additional batches of beer from the same keg.

beer taps.

At this point, you may feel that your home brewed beer is too limited in flavor or variety to compete with the microbreweries. However, as mentioned earlier, there are three primary differences between home brewers and nano breweries. First, micro breweries do not need to age their brew. Second, they can take shortcuts like applying RO to get the job done faster. And third, they use barrels for fermentation instead of bottling tanks.

Now that you know the differences between small breweries and big breweries, you must learn about how each method of production works. Next time you’re sitting in your living room enjoying a brewski, take some time to reflect on how the suds were made. Small breweries typically start with a traditional, German-style brewing system. Kegging and bottle conditioning allow brewers to make small batches without taking on the extra costs. They may, however, prefer to bottle condition all of their beers. Kegging brewers will generally choose a German style fermentation system, or an indirect fermentation system to allow their beer to “carbonate” while resting in the bottles.

When A Pellet Stove Is A Perfect Upgrade For Your Home

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Pellet stoves are very much in trend these days. They burn hotter, cleaner, and conserve green mass in comparison to conventional fireplaces. Having a pellet stove is a perfect upgrade for your home as it will increase the curb value of your home as well as reduce carbon footprint. These indoor stoves have evolved from wood burners becoming more efficient than conventional wood-based fireplaces. With time and new technologies, the pellet stoves have improved a lot in terms of convenience, design, and functions. A pellet

There are many reasons for you to consider the installation of a pellet stove at your home.

AFFORDABLE

Pellet stoves offer affordable and effective heating solutions for the entire home. We all like to save money while we keep our homes and warm during winter. While the price of the pellets is lower than electricity, oil, and gas. It also provides a similar amount of heat. Pellet stoves use the convection method for heating the room.

ENVIRONMENT-FRIENDLY

We all know fossil fuels are a big source of pollution. In this backdrop, indoor stoves are the best solution because of its low carbon footprints. The pellets are made with scrap wood, sawdust, wood shaving, and so on. These wood scraps, which would otherwise go waste, burn efficiently, and leave little ash. Woods are renewable sources of energy and leave little carbon footprint compared to fossil fuels. So, using pellet stoves are more environment-friendly.

EASY TO INSTALL & MAINTAIN

Pellet stoves are small and portable so it’s easier to install, use, and move around. These home heating stoves can be installed easily in a home with a flue or chimney system. These fireplaces require little maintenance. All you need to do is fill up the hopper with pellet, and remove the ashes every two days or so.

TEMPERATURE CONTROL SYSTEM

High-end pellet stoves come equipped with thermostats. This gives you control over the temperature you want in your home. They also have a display that shows how long the fuel will last and when removing the ash is due.

COMFORT & WARMTH

A big advantage with pellet stoves is that they can be small in size just enough to heat a single room while they can be very big also taking care of the entire home. They can also be integrated with a back boiler of the hot water system. The result is that you get hot water while the same ene3rgy is also heating your home.

SAFE & CONVENIENT

The best thing about pellet stoves is the safety and convenience with which they operate in your home. With pellets stoves, you are never exposed to fire or any such eventuality. It’s design and technology make it completely safe. You can place it just anywhere, even where kids are playing. These fireplaces emit little external heat, making it completely safe against burns by touching or coming in contact with them.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Pellet stoves are a much sought-after heating solution for most homes. These indoor stoves are easy to install, use, maintain. They are also very safe with little external heat. But most importantly, they are affordable and environmentally friendly. When you burn pellets, you leave less carbon footprint compared to when you use fossil fuels or electricity, which also uses fossil fuels for its production.

Why You Need An Air Compressor For Your Home Improvement Projects

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In our time and age, being wise about how to spend our money is almost a necessity. That is not just limited to the material things that we buy but also applies directly to our lifestyle. Instead of eating out all the time, you could have a home-cooked meal and bring one with you to work or have your own coffee instead of buying in coffee shops. You can also apply this to more concepts within your own home. One example would be turning off appliances that are not in use to help you save on your electricity bill. Another way is to have the skills and right tools for home improvement projects when they crop up. This way if you need something to fix or repair at your home, you will not need to call a contractor or a handyman.

Another wise thing to do is to make an investment. Investing is not just about business but also for those things that you will purchase and will be used for a long time. Let us cite the examples from earlier. Instead of buying coffee every day, you could have your own coffee maker. You could also search for appliances that will help saving energy, there are some that are available. As for home improvement, many tools that are handy to have. It could be for emergency repairs or for furniture or appliances that need assembling or if you are planning for a renovation. 

A machine that is convenient to have would be an air compressor. What is an air compressor? It’s simply a device that takes the air from the world around us and pressurizes it so that it can be used for other purposes around the home or on the job. Often it sends the now compressed air to a holding tank for later use. The air compressor is known to have three types and they are the reciprocating compressor, rotary screw compressor, and centrifugal compressor.

Where can it be used and how is it convenient? If you have some power tools, an air compressor is a great machine for powering them up. This way, it will be easier for you to install your TV and fixing up some of your cabinets. With an air compressor having powered up an impact wrench, it will be a lot easier to work with nuts and bolts even if they are rusty.

Additionally it can also be used as a pressure washer by attaching it into a spray gun that is connected to a hose. This means an air compressor will be also a great tool for cleaning. Another use for it is as an inflator. It can inflate the tires of your car, balls that you use for sports or by your kids, and floats that are for pools.

5 Ways To Save Space In Your Home

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There are times that having too little space can be quite frustrating. It seems like it’s always much much crowded that there’s never any room. But this does not always have to be the case. All you need to do is to learn to be creative, organized, and to know how to use every corner of your home. Here are some tips and ideas.

1. Shelves and Cupboards on Walls

Do you have a lot of stuff like dishes or books or any other utensils that should be put away? Having shelves and cupboards on the walls will be useful and helpful because it will save up a lot of space. Keep in mind, having space constraints means you’re going to be limited with the number of decorations you can hang such as framed arts or pictures. However, one way to combat this is to design these shelves and cupboards as though they were decorative pieces, so you can kind of kill two birds with one stone.

2. Folding Tables

Tables are a necessity in every household. They are used for eating, doing work, and even for entertainment. Having a folding table is a great idea for having extra table space when entertaining guests, but it can also be very useful for saving space every day by folding it up and putting it away when you are done. It can also be used as a crafting or working space that can be put away after use. 

3. Ottoman with Storage

One of the greatest ideas recently is having ottomans with storage. You can use them to store away some of your stuff and get the dual benefit of also using them as a seat or a leg rest. They are very versatile pieces of furniture and can be placed in whatever room you need, as long as you choose pieces with complementary colors and styles. You can put them in the bedroom or playroom with children’s toys, books, and even some clothes, or in the living room where you can keep your most recent magazines. Moreover, ottomans are not limited to use as a seat or a leg rest. They can also cross function as a table, and at times even as a bed for pets. 

4. Futon

In Japan, most of the homes are small and have little space, and that is why the culture tends to be minimal and is known for their use of futons. Futons are really versatile, and you can definitely use them instead of a bed. They can also be used for guests who want to stay over or for children and their sleepovers. All in all, a futon will be a great addition to your home and they are also a relatively cheap addition that won’t take away a lot of your space.

5. Shower Alcove or Niche

Living rooms and bedrooms are not the only places that need storage – there are also the bathrooms to keep in mind. A great way for achieving this is adding a shower alcove. With a shower alcove, there is no need for extra shelves for shampoos, conditioners, body wash, and any other items. They also save a lot of space since they are part of the wall. 

With our lives seeming so fast-paced and busy all the time, it is wise to be practical and be thoughtful of our basic needs. It is not bad to live comfortably or have luxuries from time to time, but always keep in mind how valuable it is to you. Remember that these things start with the right mindset: to declutter our lives and to be creative.

Spring Cleanup Essentials

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It’s that time of year again, and thank goodness! The warm weather is back, the sun is shining, and the days are getting longer. What a long, cold, and dark winter it was. Every year as spring comes around it seems like we’re instinctually awakened to the same routine – get outside and get the yard ready for the wonderful weather that is to come.

This article is mainly for the new homeowners among us. All of the veterans have been through this many times before and probably won’t need ay guidance. If you are a veteran, it may still be worth reading for entertainment, but I doubt you’ll get anything new here. For all you amateur homeowners though, it’s time to put on your listening ears and get educated. Here’s what you’re going to have to do:

Clean Up The Fall Debris

If you did your literal “home work” in the fall, you should have gotten rid of the bulk of the leaves from the end of the season and either composted them or had them hauled off with the yard waste. Usually though there are some stragglers to clean up in the spring, particularly around the bases of the trees and bushes and in the corner of the garden. It’s understandable – the main concern in the fall is to get the leaves up off the lawn. There is even potentially some benefit to leaving leaves around bushes and trees for the winter as a protective layer.

Now that we’re trying to get the yard looking nice, it’s time to do the final clean and get rid of all of those leaves. While you’re at it, you’ll notice that many of the plants that died off will leave behind yellow or brown leaves. Now is your opportunity to cut those back as well. Not only will it look cleaner, but it will make room for the foliage to grow back in full strength this season.

Lay Down Fresh Mulch

Once your garden beds are clean you’ll want to give them a face lift with a nice fresh helping of mulch. There are many types of mulch out there, and really what ends up being most important is the color of the mulch you choose. You want it to go well with the color scheme of your home, garden, and landscaping. Be wary of cheap knock-offs that use dyes to get their color. The dye will run off after the first heavy rain. Stick with mulch from trees like cedar, hemlock, or redwood (unless of course you find something a little less common that is suitable).

You’re going to need a lot of mulch in many cases, so it’s worth considering buying in bulk. You’ll want to put down layers 2-3″ thick at a minimum, and 4″ is preferred. Leave a little space where the trunks of your bushes meet the ground so that they can breath. Make sure you wear gloves when you’re spreading, as the mulch can really irritate your skin in some cases.

Refresh The Stonework

The finishing touch in terms of landscaping is to make sure your stonework is back in perfect order. The orientation and layout may have slipped over the winter, with all the snowfall and ice formation that happens. Not to mention any accidental movements caused by human fault when you’re trying to clear snow or move around a snowblower. Get the rocks in place so that they look just right in terms of orientation.

You’ll also notice that your rocks aren’t necessarily the cleanest after a serious snow melt. The surfaces can become dull and covered with a layer of dirt, this is quite commonplace in fact. The best way to take care of this is to give them a once-over with a pressure washer. You may already have one after reading our last post, but if you are still in need you can check out TBEPW’s guide. You don’t want to use any detergent for this step as it can be harmful to the plants in your garden, and it can be incredibly difficult to wash out of the soil if you do.

So, young Padwan, do you think you have what it takes? The time to get your yard sparkling clean is now. Will you rise to the occasion? Or will you fall to the wayside? Your yard’s fate is in your hands.

How To Clean Vinyl Siding With A Pressure Washer

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Although vinyl siding requires much less maintenance than other building material types, it still needs some attention to look its best. Over time, the siding can become discolored with dust, dirt from gardening beds, bird and insect waste, and even mildew and mold. A pressure washer is an obvious choice for cleaning it, as no one wants to get out a scrub brush and a bucket of water to clean their whole house.

Before you start spraying, however, take the time to learn the proper way to clean vinyl siding with a pressure washer safely and without damaging anything on your home or landscaping.

Inspect the Surfaces and Area First

Pressure washing cracked, indented, or loose siding or trim is a recipe for damage. The high pressure of the water coming out of the tube can knock off loose caulking around windows and force moisture through cracks into your home.

Also, take a close look at the plants and landscape accents in the area you want to pressure wash. Cover them with tarps so no damage occurs. Also cover electrical outlets, hose attachments, and lighting fixtures carefully.

Pick the Right Pressure Washer and Detergent

Both electric and gas-powered washers exist with varying strengths. The type you choose depends on the size and height of your house and what you feel comfortable using. The choice of detergent is important for the end result, too. Use only those soaps specifically formulated for use on vinyl siding and with the machine you select.

Apply the Soap to the Surfaces

Just as you wash anything else, the first step is getting the soap or detergent onto the surfaces. Use lower pressure and sweep the wand back and forth smoothly to cover all the vinyl siding with the soap. Then, wait a while for the soaps to work on the dirt and grime accumulated over the months or years.

The Optional Scrubbing Step

Some pressure washers come with a scrubbing brush attachment to help you remove tough grime or stains. Before rinsing off all the detergent, use this brush to loosen up stuck-on dirt. They push out soap in a foamy consistency as you use them for even greater cleaning power. There are even brushes that rotate for more power and less tiring arm-work.

Rinse Everything Under Pressure

After the soap works for up to 10 minutes, it is time to use the pressure washer to remove it and the accumulated dirt. This is usually done with higher pressure than the soaping step. Start with less, however, until you get used to how things work.

Do not spray straight at the surface. Instead, stand at an angle and keep the end about two or three feet away from the vinyl siding. Spray downward as much as possible instead of up under the vinyl planks. Not only will this help you clean the siding without a risk of damage, but it will also prevent spray back directly at you. Use a ladder for the upper floors so you do not spray water under the siding where it can cause mold or damage to the structure of the house.

Congratulations! You have now cleaned your vinyl siding with a pressure washer successfully. The siding will dry naturally on a sunny day. However, take a look around the house carefully to check for puddles or trapped water anywhere that can cause problems. Finally, put the tarps away and unwrap the outlets and light fixtures to enjoy your house looking almost as good as new.

How To Choose The Best Electric Fireplace For Your Newly Remodeled Living Room

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Many homes are constructed with a built-in fireplace, and this feature can easily add charm and personality to the space. A fireplace may also be used to generate warmth throughout the cold weather season, and it may be a focal point for décor in the room. If your home has not been constructed with a fireplace, you can still enjoy all of the spectacular benefits that this feature can provide. Rather than endure the expense and stress associated with adding this major component to your living room as a fixed feature during your remodeling project, you can choose an electric fireplace as an affordable alternative. These are plug-in features that have the look of a real fireplace. They may produce heat and have the realistic effect of flames. If you have decided to install an electric fireplace in your remodeled living room, these tips can help you to choose the right model to purchase.

Determine the Ideal Location

Before you can select a new electric fireplace to install in your living room, you need to choose the area where you intend to place it. This step is essential because the location may limit the size of the feature that you select. It may also limit the style that you choose. For example, if you have a smaller living room, you may discover that you need to purchase a combination feature that combines an electric fireplace with an entertainment center or bookshelf. If you have a larger space, you may purchase an elaborately decorative fireplace with a full mantel design.

Measure the Space

Electric fireplaces are available in a wide range of sizes, and they vary based on length, width and height. When you are measuring the available space in your living room, remember to leave ample space around the feature to accommodate flow of traffic through the room. In addition, because this feature may produce a substantial amount of heat, it is not advisable to place some items next to it. Ensure that you leave a reasonable perimeter around the electric fireplace on all sides.

Consider the Desired Style

Your remodeled living room likely has impressive style that is appealing to you and that is reflective of your personality in some way. An electric fireplace can become a major focal point in the room. Because of this, its style should perfectly accentuate the interior design elements in your space. Some electric fireplaces have a mantel façade that gives them the look of a real built-in fireplace. Others have a pedestal or box-like design that clearly makes them look like new additions to the space. Remember that some electric fireplaces also serve a functional purpose because of their dual purpose as furniture. For example, you may find an entertainment center that can hold your electronics and that also has an electric fireplace component. The style and finish of the fireplace should be reviewed carefully before you finalize your buying decision.

Look at the Flame

Some homeowners prefer that their electric fireplace looks exactly like a wood-burning or gas-powered fireplace. They want the logs to have a realistic look, including with red, glowing embers below it. If this is important to you, pay attention to the appearance of the logs and the flame. Most flames burn with blue, yellow and orange hues, so the most realistic electric fireplace will also have these colors in the flame. It may be difficult to accurately determine how realistic the flame appears to be through online images. Consider reading reviews to gather more information about this important factor.

Focus on Functional Controls

One additional feature to focus on when you are purchasing an electric fireplace is the controls. Many more affordable electric fireplaces have a push-button ignitor on the side of the unit, and they light up in the same way that a backyard grill may. More modern electric fireplaces may have a connection that allows you to flip them on and off via a light switch on the wall. Some even have a remote control feature, and this makes it truly easy to adjust the settings on the fire without having to get up out of your cozy spot on the couch.

Your remodeled living room would not be complete without a beautiful fireplace located in a central area of the space. Even if your home was not originally constructed with a built-in fireplace, other options are available. Use these tips to select a lovely electric fireplace that may be a cherished addition to your room.

Choosing the Right Headphones for Noisy Work Environments

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Once hearing is lost, it can never be restored. No matter what age you are, hearing loss has the potential to profoundly affect every area of your life. Most people associate losing their hearing with growing older. While this can and does occur, a 60-year old can easily have better hearing than a 25-year old.

You may wonder how this is possible. Many teens and those in their early twenties feel their physical attributes are endless and invincible. Thanks to ear buds and a penchant for loud music nearly one out of five teens has some hearing loss. Damage to your ears can occur with exposure to one loud event, although it commonly is a cumulative effect. Meaning months or years of exposure to loud noise builds up, gradually leading to hearing problems. If you’re going to be listening to music on the job – and for safety’s sake, even if you’re not – consider your options and go for closed-back headphones to reduce your risk of hearing loss.

Minimize Noise Exposure

Many people assume there is little they can do to avoid the cumulative effects a noisy environment has on the ears. Far more damaging than ear buds and loud music, industrial-related noise is the leading cause of hearing loss and impairment. Your job may damage your ears in ways that will not necessarily show itself immediately. Often, decades go by before the true extent of job-related hearing loss is noticed and measured.

Ear buds, open-backed headphones and other popular ear devices are discreet and appropriate for some situations. However, when you work around machinery, outdoor tools like jackhammers and leaf blowers, construction equipment and other tools that make varying degrees of noise, there is only one headphone that works to help you keep your hearing in good shape. Closed-back headphones are your best option to decrease to noise that causes hearing loss.

Sounds Known to Damage Ears as Opposed to Normal Sounds.

When your ears get exposed to over 85 decibels, you run the risk of damaging the fine hairs within your ear that regulate hearing. Wearing closed-back headphone when operating a chainsaw greatly lessens you risk of harming your ears. If you choose not to wear headphones while using a chainsaw, expect to experience hearing loss after about 15 minutes. Here is a list of noise-makers that lurk in the background, hoping to catch your ears without protection.

  • Tractors are least offensive as they emit just slightly over the 85-decibel cutoff.
  • Next, running a table saw or operating a combine both hit about 90 decibels.
  • A hand drill produces about 95 decibels of noise.
  • Working around a circular saw really starts to see loud sounds accruing over 105 decibels.
  • Rock bands average nearly 125 decibels and chain saws are just over that amount.
  • Gun fire registers at 150 decibels or above and can instantly cause noticeable, severe hearing loss in one or both ears. Firecrackers and explosions fall within the same range.

A refrigerator humming might produce 45 sound decibels and a normal conversation registers about 60 decibels. Heavy city noise runs around 85 decibels. Remember, 85 decibels begin the point hearing loss begins. Motorcycles emit 95 decibels, running your MP3 player at maximum sound throws 105 decibels directly into your ears. Sirens run at a decibel level of 120.

Time and Distance Matter with Noise Exposure

The length of time your exposure occurs as well as how close you are to the offending sound plays big factors in the extent of your hearing loss. Wearing closed-back headphones in situations where you know the decibel level will exceed 85 is your best, and often only, defense.

Unfortunately, unexpected loud bursts of noise cannot always be anticipated and thus, avoided. If you do to the gun range closed-back headphones are standard equipment. However, you may be within a few feet of someone deciding it would be clever to set a firecracker off right near you. When you are not at work or being in a social setting, naturally you are not prepared for exposure to loud noise.

The best you can do to protect your hearing is wearing closed-back headphones at work, while performing hobbies, doing landscaping or renovating your home.

How To Remodel A Master Bathroom

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If you are planning on remodeling your master bathroom, there are many variables to consider. Every bathroom project is different and every contractor works differently. However, there are some basic steps that will divide the entire project into small sequences to help you eventually reach the result. The below information will walk you through these steps that are spread over the course of 6 weeks.

Remodeling Bathroom – Week 1

In order to remodel a bathroom – whether it is the size of an apartment walk-in closet or a spacious living room – the first and foremost thing to do is make the decision to remodel. What are the problems that need to be handled in an existing bathroom space and what are the goals involved? Gather trends as much as possible and determine the one that suits your needs and budget. Obtain financing if you cannot afford to pay out of your pocket. Also, make sure to collect information about various contractors in your local area and if possible arrange an interview with each one of them. Select the best contractor available.

Remodeling Bathroom – Week 2

After you have completed the above mentioned tasks, it is time to make a complete walk-through of the existing space. Ask contractors as many questions as possible and get answers to all of them before laying the foundation for your project. Again, make sure that the project is feasible within the budget.

Remodeling Bathroom – Week 3

Here, you will discuss with the contractor about materials, equipment, tools, presentation of drawings and other project specifications. You will be discussing various options that are available and sign the design agreement as well. The week 2 and week 3 tasks can be combined if time permits. Additionally, this is the time to review complete drawings, notes and clarify any doubts about the intent of the project. You will be selecting products for the bathroom, signing the construction contract and making the first down-payment during this phase. Most contractors will make sure that your project has required permits to move forward with the remodeling.

Remodeling Bathroom – Week 4 and 5

After permits are obtained, it is time to finalize the project schedule and distribute it. Order products, discuss the impact of your project with other family members and keep them as well as pets safe, preferably out of the workplace. Remove any personal belongings that is blocking the pathway or remodeling site. Complete the demolition, framing, installing drywall, cabinetry, fixtures and much else during this and the following week.

Remodeling Bathroom – Week 6

This is the week where you give the final touch to the detail. Inspect the ongoing job and establish a list of tasks with ultimate details to ensure that the project is completed to your satisfaction. Always keep your eye on the goal and know that you are taking part in an adventure that will add value to your property. Finally, make a completion payment to the contractor. Keep in mind that the above time span is just an estimation. It may be longer or shorter depending on the size of your bathroom and the scope of your project.

Last but not least, a well-designed bathroom can go a long way in improving your health and lifestyle. In order to make your bathroom everything you want it to be, it is essential that you learn the process of remodeling in detail. Although you are not the one doing the job, knowledge of what goes in a typical remodeling project will not only save you time and money, but make you prepared for your future home projects.