House beds are such a fun way to dress up your child’s room. We want to share with you all of our favorite kids house bed frames to buy and a couple to build. Looking for more ideas for your child’s bedroom? Try these cute shared bedroom ideas, bedrooms for boys, and bedrooms for girls. […]
The post 55 Awesome Kids House Bed Frames to Buy appeared first on Remodelaholic.
Decorate for Valentine’s Day and every day with our favorite printable love wall art ideas, including personalized name art and custom date art. Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and instead of going all out lovey-dovey pink and red, I really like decor that is non-traditional Valentine’s Day. A printable love wall art idea […]
The post Forget Pink! 15 Printable Love Wall Art Ideas for Valentine’s Day and Year Round appeared first on Remodelaholic.
Many upgrades can be made to a home throughout the year, but not many can increase the value of your home and provide comfort like energy-efficient windows. Typically you have an option to either repair or replace your windows. Depending on the circumstances, both are an option. If you can afford to replace single-pane windows with double-pane, you can improve the energy efficiency of your home.
The dual pane windows that can replace old single-pane windows have value beyond energy efficiency. The safety of your home and belongings are even more critical to the interior temperature, which is why having upgraded windows in your home is something to consider. States that experience frigid winters should highly consider these energy-efficient upgrades. Keeping heating bills down should be a priority for any homeowner.
There are many options when considering window replacement. Size, frame color, glass style, and quality of the window and frame are essential things to consider when replacing windows. You may also find that you want a window installed in a part of the home that doesn’t currently have a cutout, this is why you should contact a window installation contractor before making any heartfelt commitments on replacement windows. There may be some affordable options for you to consider before replacing your existing windows. Knowing what questions to ask, how much they cost, and how long the replacement process takes are all things you will need to know before proceeding.
Plenty of coastal cities get hit with massive storms each year, hurricanes tear through the coastline and destroy homes and lives no matter how well they are built. Stormproof windows can be installed to help protect against hail and other smaller objects, but nothing will stop Mother Nature when she decides it’s time to storm through your neighborhood. A place like Oklahoma is notorious for tornadoes and hail storms that leave windows and rooftops damaged. Having dual-pane, storm proof windows can help protect against some of these elements. The heavy rains, winds, and hail in Oklahoma are enough to shatter single pane window systems. Finding quality window replacement options for your home before disaster strikes are highly suggested.
This is a great question, and one only you can your window contractor can answer. Although we may not be there to see your home, we do have some recommendations for you. First, consider replacing any window that is in a room where your children stay. This is beneficial for temperature control, but also for safety reasons. Another thing to consider is replacing any window that is near a large tree or wooded area where debris could break loose from a tree and crash through a window. Single pane windows will shatter immediately, but a dual-pane window might withstand damage to the interior pane.
Remember, you don’t need to replace every window in the house right away, you can replace one window at a time if needed. Windows are not cheap, so consider the best brand of window replacement for you, and make the purchase when you are ready. Finding a window replacement/repair contractor to help you identify which window is right for you will save you time and money in the long run. Do your research, contact a professional, and then take your time with the upgrades if needed. If you can replace all the windows at one time, then congratulations, you are better off than I am.
A good starting point to find an apartment fresh out of college or still in college would be to contact your school’s housing office. Most schools have them, and they are a great resource because they will help you connect with the nearby landlords who offer one-year leases.
You can also look for apartments online, but you might not get the best deal as you would through your school. Also, be aware of scams while using unofficial sites. There are tons of unofficial websites where you can find an apartment such as craigslist or Facebook. You can view the unit and ask questions before deciding to make sure that you feel good about applying to this apartment. If you are interested in an apartment, make sure you are ready to apply right away. Have your references available, and first and last months deposit in the bank and ready to pay. The sooner you apply, the better your chances are of landing the apartment.
Searching for an apartment can be very time consuming, and many don’t have free time in between long workdays to do so. You can set up alerts on your phone or computer to notify you when a new listing is posted.
Another option that may work for some is to work with a professional real estate agent. Although it costs money, you might find the perfect fit by doing this. They are trained and hired to help each person to find a living space that will make them comfortable.
Knowing the area somewhat well will help the resident feel more comfortable at any time of the day. Visiting the city during morning or night will give you an excellent idea of the vibe. Ideally, if it is close enough to campus, you will feel nice and safe. Knowing your neighbors is also a great thing to have after first moving in. Another thing to consider is, can you afford a luxury apartment, or will you be paying monthly dues to a slumlord?
It can be challenging finding an apartment that meets all of your standards, but if you are patient and prepared, you will land in the right spot. Also, if you have a realtor, they will ensure that you are in an excellent apartment. Even if it isn’t, the perfect fit, it is most likely only a 1-year lease, so you are not stuck there forever.
Granite is used for so many different things in today’s modern world. This is also because there are so many types of granite, although some are identified as rocks like gneiss or granite, so people may not recognize these types right away.
Granite can be used for backsplash in houses, kitchens, or bathrooms. They can also be used for slab counters with large colorful, and durable pieces. In kitchens, typically, the countertops are made from custom-cut slabs. There has been a substantial increase in demand for granite, so, contractors get the extra equipment to install them.
Many buildings are built with granite blocks. Some sides can be smoothed out of left for a rough look. Blocks of granite that are used in a windowsill and roof lines are always smoothed on all sides. Rough cut blocks are cheaper, but it depends on what look you want to have, so smoothed blocked may be the way to go.
Granite comes in so many different colors like pink, red, brown, green, black, and white. They all still look like granite but have tints in these colors. Sometimes colored granite is used in bathrooms with a specific color scheme, for example.
Crushed granite is also another form of how granite is used. It’s the most common use of granite as a subbase and base. When looking at houses from the outside, sometimes you’ll find the brick. Crushed granite can also be mixed throughout that because crushed granite is also commonly used in road construction. You may not be able to notice granite sometimes, but usually, it is there.
In homes, there is usually extra slabs leftover from your new granite countertops that suppliers do not need. You can choose to pay a little bit extra and use these additional granite slabs from things like a cutting board or shelf.
Another way is if you have a cute table but want to add some life to it, just slap on a piece of granite that is the correct dimensions, and it will look brand new. If you love the table and want a small decoration, you can use crushed granite in a bowl as a cute decoration or use crushed granite at the bottom of a vase with some flowers. Granite can also be used in gardens as garden edging. It adds a considerable amount of beauty. More than wood or stone would. Granite has a nice contrast with your flowers and plants.
Cobblestone driveways have been around for a long time. They are gorgeous and nice looking but very expensive. Concrete is more popular now because of the price, and it’s long-lasting. Cobblestone can also be used for walkways or patios.
Kitchen remodels have been consisting of granite sinks, and it is super trendy. It is a stain, scratch, and heat resistant, which makes a granite sink very durable.
Lastly, granite can be seen on a custom granite fireplace. If a fireplace is outdated or dull, a couple of slabs of granite can be installed over the existing front pieces or mantel. Granite has many more purposes and uses than many know, but it is a gorgeous eye-catching type of stone.
If you have had a recent remodel, or roof replacement, and have roofing defects you need to consult with a professional defect expert. So much goes into remodeling a home, and with so much happening under the surface you need to consult an expert defect witness for guidance when tragedy strikes.
In a world where technology is making things easier and helping industries to become more efficient, this hasn’t translated to some areas of construction. Sadly, the number of construction defect claims are still increasing as a result of defective materials, substances, parts, and more. As competition increases and companies are put under pressure to finish projects not only quickly but in a small budget, the consequences are potentially fatal.
Over the years, we’ve seen a number of construction defect claims whether it’s poor-quality materials, problematic parts, or even an ill-considered design. If we look at materials as an example, a company might choose a cheaper product in order to come in under budget. Even though they’re purchased in good faith, the quality is lacking, and this has the potential to cause injury or even death.
For example, a low-quality concrete mix could cause air pockets that aren’t removed during the mixing process. If an air pocket survives and then pops later, a worker or resident can get hit with debris. With a poor design, the whole building may crumble. In truth, there are a number of areas where problems can arise. In some cases, it may even be a mistake from one of the workers.
When any of the above situations arise, it may lead to a claim or even a court case, and this is where we find construction defect expert witnesses. With extensive experience in the field, they understand the building process and therefore, theoretically, what went wrong in a particular case. Depending on the individual, they may have had experience as a construction worker, a contractor, or even developing structures in a major city.
Normally, it’s best to work backwards from the incident itself to highlight when problems arose. For the expert witness, they have a role in recreating the scene of an accident in order to find a guilty party. If there’s somebody or a business that needs to be held accountable for injuries to a worker, an expert witness will help in this journey.
Of course, a construction defect expert witness will also focus on finding a resolution. With the opinion of somebody who knows the industry and what accounts for good practice, it may be possible to explain the cause of the incident, the reason why it occurred, and what solution is best. If the worker was injured due to an error from the company or a material that shouldn’t have been used, it might be that the expert witness suggests compensation.
Additionally, expert witnesses may also play a role in helping lawyers and other professionals when drafting reports. With their expertise, they can explain construction methods and defects properly. In some cases, the building company may have even bought materials with defects without even realizing. In this scenario, the supplier needs to take responsibility. Therefore, they generally help get to the bottom of cases and find out who is really to blame and why.
If required, the construction defect expert witness may then present information and details to a jury or judge; of course, this will depend on the case itself!
When it comes to home remodeling, there are big tasks and there are small tasks. While changing the table in the dining room might only alter the appearance of the home slightly, changing the color on the walls will make a big difference. Likewise, one of the best adjustments for those who want a new look is to replace the windows. There are things to consider before replacing the window like what type of siding is on your home. If you have brick then you will have different variables to consider than if you have wood or composite siding.
Not only will replacing windows dramatically alter the appearance and make the home feel new again, it offers an opportunity to review security and keep the cold outside in the winter. With this in mind, it’s an important decision (let’s not forget that changing windows will also adjust how the home looks from the outside too!). Windows add natural lighting to any room and can really open up a space. Glass skylights are also an option when remodeling the home and upgrading windows. With that however comes the possibility of damage from the natural elements like hail and tree branches. Roof damage is common in many areas of the country, so plan accordingly when installing glass skylights. If you have satellite dishes or solar panels installed, you may have issues finding the right location for your skylight. Ok, back to the windows! Here’s some advice!
Before making any decisions, you first need to think about what you and your home need. For those living in cold climates, you should consider insulation and keeping the heat inside the home with double glazing and other features. For those in warmer climates, most of your year will be spent trying to keep the house cool. Therefore, you might look at casement windows that open wider than most.
If you want more natural light inside, you might lean towards taller windows and even those that stretch from floor to ceiling. If you don’t want to worry about maintenance, vinyl is the answer. Whereas, wooden frames that require scraping and painting every so often are available for anybody who doesn’t mind the maintenance.
Ultimately, the choice in the market these days is huge. Rather than choosing a window and regretting it later, think about YOUR needs and find a window to match. Often the fears of remodeling prevent homeowners from making the tough decisions and they end up procrastinating. Here are some research tips to help you make the right decision when planning your remodeling project.
With window frames, there tends to be four main materials these days; vinyl, wood, clad, and aluminum.
When remodeling, your research phase also needs to include things like fire codes. Did you know that you need to be able to escape through windows in basements and bedrooms? During this stage, you can think about Window contractors and having the windows installed correctly too.
To finish this guide, we want to provide some tips and considerations when choosing windows as part of your home remodeling project. You can also search the web for current remodeling trends to help give you a better idea about what is trending and what is out of date.
A partner of ours has some rental properties in Oklahoma and during tornado season they were blasted with a heavy dose of hail that damaged the roof. Depending on the state you live in, roof damage is common after a storm. Debris can fall from trees, old shingles can rip out of place, and the plywood can become damaged as a result of this.
Post-Storm cleanup brings in a lot of businesses looking to profit on roof repairs and replacement. Dealing with these guys can be a pain in the neck if you aren’t expecting the knock at your door. Basically what happens is roofing companies will send a sales team out into the field to find damaged roofs and offer a free roof replacement by navigating discussions with your insurance company. It’s legit for the most part but just becomes annoying when they all show up from out of state to make a quick buck.
Now that we got that covered, you know where I am going with this. Our partners’ rental property was blasted by hail and heavily damaged, some out of state roofers came by offering to repair the roof for the cost of the insurance claim. Again, this is legitimate but they were dealing with the renter, not the homeowner. The renters deferred them to the homeowner and proceeded to hassle him until he responded. He opted out of working with them and went with a roofing contractor in Oklahoma City that had a good reputation locally and was able to do it for less than claim.
The lessons here is to be cautious, always ask questions, and don’t take the first bid that gets presented to you. From roof repairs, siding repair, to interior remodeling and solar upgrades, you need to get multiple quotes for your roof before agreeing to the terms of any contracts. Saving money while getting your roof repaired is an added bonus, pocketing some of the insurance money should be a priority for you when it’s time to repair the damaged roof.
Home automation is becoming the norm as more home owners buy into the convenience of smart phone controlled appliances and accessories. Stoves, ovens, refrigerators, washing machines, surveillance, solar technology, and other household items can all be controlled from the convenience of your smart phone. Now, while we are fans of technology, there are some things that we questions when automating our homes. Considering that just about any network device that is connected to the internet can be hacked and taken over, should you consider keeping the door locks on your home manual and stay away from smart locks? If you’re dealing with a savvy criminal, accessing your door locks may be easier than ever with network vulnerability. We reached out to Okey Locksmith in Oklahoma City to get some feedback on these new digital door locks and this is what we came away with.
Digital locks are convenient and offer luxuries like remote assistance. This would allow you to unlock the front door for the kids if they lost their house key, even if you were in another state. This is done over a secure WiFi network and allows a user to unlock the door of a property with smart locks via a smartphone application. While this is extremely convenient and can prevent all sorts of problems, it also introduces other potential threats to your home security. While you still need to worry about traditional criminals picking locks, breaking windows, or sneaking through an unlocked garage door, you now need to worry about cyber-crooks remotely accessing your door locks and opening them. These faceless criminals are just as dangerous as the ones lurking around your neighborhood. One they have hacked into a door lock, the possibility that they can access other network devices becomes critical. Cameras and other monitoring devices can be used by criminals to monitor the home and spy on you.
Keeping your home and family safe from criminals is a number one priority for most families, and yet we are becoming ore vulnerable as technology gives us more access to the automation featured of our homes. If you are considering digital locks for your home, consider buying a higher end digital lock that has good product reviews and offers multiple layers of security when authenticating door-unlocking requests from IP addresses other than those on your safe list.
Not all Realestate deals are turn-key solutions where you can buy and flip within the same month. Some properties require a lot of attention before they can be rented or occupied. There is money to be made in buying rundown homes, fixing them up, and wither flipping them or turning them into rental properties. With that in mind, some new to the process may want to know how that’s done exactly and here are a few basic steps to get you going in the right direction with real estate investments and property rentals.
First, make sure you have the capital to afford the property if you are paying cash, or the credit to acquire a loan that will get you into the property. Getting financed for a rundown property can be difficult if the lender wants to play hard-ball. Aside from the purchase, you will need cash to fix the property up. If you are a hands-on property owner, then you may be doing the labor yourself, if not, you will need to hire someone that can come in and fix the place up. Consider labor, supplies, and dumpster hauling as potential expenses. Again, these are basic steps, those costs can get far greater depending on the condition of the home.
Once the interior is cleaned up and the home is ready to be occupied, you should give some attention to the exterior of the home. Curb appeal will do wonders when trying to get the property rented out. Hire a landscaper to clean up the yard, refresh the paint if necessary, and trim any overgrown trees and shrubs. This will increase the appeal of the home, increase property value, and make your neighbors happy.
If you are a hands-on property owner and you don’t mind being Mr. fix it every time something goes out, then you can manage the properties yourself. However, if you don’t have time to fix a leak, replace a water heater, or update an outdated appliance, hiring a property management company to facilitate that for you is highly recommended. There are property management companies all over the country that specialize in managing commercial and residential properties for homeowners ad business owners looking to remove themselves from the tedious tasks involved with the management process.
1. Get qualified for a loan before you begin searching for a property.
2. Find an experienced realtor to help buy, sell, and rent the property.
3. Find a general contractor for any necessary renovations prior to rental.
4. Find a landscaping company to improve the curb appeal of the property.
5. Hire a property management company to manage the home and the tenants.
Real estate investments are very lucrative, having all your needs in order before diving into this will make your life so much easier. Another suggestion is to find online resources to help you figure this out. Try searching for advice in your local area for the purchase and sale of real estate. There may be a real estate guru in your local area that has the experience to help you make this an investment opportunity that will be lucrative for years to come.
