It should go without saying that bad weather can be far more destructive than practically any other force on the planet. This is especially true about the damage that springtime storms can cause to your home. Every year, storms cause millions of dollars worth of damage to homes worldwide. While the incidents of storm damage that garner the most attention involve catastrophic damage due to hurricanes, tornadoes, lightning, or even straight winds that all but destroy homes, most of the damage that occurs after particularly nasty spring storms comes in the form of hail or water damage to siding and roofs. This may seem insignificant for many people compared to having the roof of a house torn away by a tornado, but this damage can become troublesome over time and requires repairs as soon as possible.

One of the more common home repair jobs that are routinely performed after a storm is siding repair. This makes sense, since the siding of a home is always exposed to the elements. Vinyl siding has proven to be quite popular in recent years since it's usually pliable enough to not be dented by hail storms, yet even vinyl will become cracked and damaged if it is hammered hard enough continuously during a storm. Metal siding can be dented quite easily by hail, as can wood siding. Of course, wood siding is also more vulnerable to water damage and can warp and be more easily cracked over time. If you want siding that can really hold up to hail damage, you might want to consider something like fiber cement siding. It's five times thicker than vinyl siding and can withstand winds up to 150 MPH.

If you have had a particularly severe hail storm and want to check for siding damage, look for cracks or dents closer to the bottom of a wall rather than the top. The eave of a house offers more protection higher up on the wall. It's important to find any damaged or weak spots early; it's not uncommon for hailstones to punch a hole right through damaged siding.

Roof repairs are also frequently performed after severe storms. It's easy to tell if a roof has suffered hail damage, as the roofs of most modern homes are covered with asphalt shingles. The granules of these shingles can be easily stripped away by hail damage, giving the shingles a scoured appearance. While it is always a good idea to have a professional inspect your roof at least once a year, it is especially important to inspect your roof after a severe storm. If your house has a rain gutter, check it after a storm for asphalt granules. This is often a surefire way to know if your roof has suffered damage. As with siding damage, it's important to note any roof damage as quickly as possible and call a professional repair company to deal with the issue.


Related Resources:

• Roofing Contractors in Tallahassee
  
• Reston Roofing
• Roof Repair in Iowa
  

Everywhere you look, environmentally concerned consumers are making the switch to “green” living. This shift in consciousness influences where and how we shop, what kind of vehicles we drive and what we do with our recyclable material. The desire to make smart choices for the environment and ourselves even extends to our kitchen remodeling projects.

The kitchen is the most energy-intensive room in the house. It uses water for the sink and dishwasher, it sucks up electricity for the refrigerator and it uses natural gas and electricity to power the stove. Naturally, most areas of the kitchen are excellent candidates for a green makeover. Here are a few ideas.

Countertops made from recycled beer bottles have surprisingly become a staple in kitchen remodeling. These recycled glass surfaces are durable, smooth to the touch and don’t require synthetic finishes which can be toxic.

Cabinets can be refurbished or made new using straw-based or wheat-based products. Salvaged wood or wood that is harvested in compliance with the Forest Stewardship Council is also an excellent choice.

Floors made from sustainable materials like the rapidly maturing bamboo, cork and eucalyptus are more eco-friendly than their traditional hardwood counterparts. Typically these materials are harvested in an environmentally-friendly manner and replenish themselves quickly.

Kitchen remodeling allows you to take full advantage of natural daylight and save electricity by installing skylights, solar tubes or opening up more window space. Replace single-paned windows with double-paned windows to keep warmth in and cold air out. Remember to switch out the bulbs in all of your kitchen’s light fixtures with the longer-lasting, energy-efficient compact fluorescent lights.

Refrigerators eat up more electricity than any other kitchen appliance. If yours is older than 10 years, replace it with one that is labeled “Energy Star” as they use up to 50 percent less energy.

Another green kitchen remodel option is replacing your gas or electric stove with an induction cooktop. These innovative appliances are 90 percent energy-efficient and provide faster heating times with more efficient cooking.

When it comes to fixing up the house in a green way, homeowners can do more than just switch out incandescent bulbs or set up separate bins for recycling. A kitchen remodeling project opens up a world of environmentally-sound options. It is perhaps the best time to make the eco-friendly changes to your home that you have been considering.

When considering selling your home, there are many aspects to consider. At what price do you want to sell the house? By when do you want to sell the home? How are you going to sell the home, with a realtor or by yourself? What should you do to get the home ready to sell?

The underlying objective is to make the home as appealing as possible for potential buyers. In order to showcase your home, here are a few things to consider.

1. Reduce the clutter inside your home.
A clean home that does not appear too crowded with furniture or personal items will appeal to potential buyers. If it looks like you don't have enough space for your personal items, then how would they? When getting ready to show your home, make sure that you do some last minute cleaning. Dirty dishes in the sink or clothes thrown on the floor in the bedroom do not leave much of an impression.

If you have already moved out, you may want to "stage" the home and hire a company to place a few pieces of furniture in each room. It helps people to imagine living there and helps them to conceptualize the layout of each room. A blank room does not leave much of an impression either.

2. Maintain the exterior of the home.
A well cared for lawn and landscaping adds plenty of curb appeal. Little things like a fresh layer of mulch in your landscaping beds will go a long way! A freshly cut lawn looks much better than an overgrown one that shows no one cares.

The outside of the home is the first thing buyers will see. If they don't like the outside, they may not even go inside! If the exterior structure of the home appears worn and old, consider the idea of vinyl siding. Vinyl siding installation is fast and quick and will give your house a whole new, fresh look.

3. Take photos of the house, inside and out.
Create a brochure, or have your real estate agent create a brochure, for potential buyers to take with them. Colorful, clear photos in the brochure will help the buyer remember your home at a later date.

A little effort on your part before you sell the home can go a long way towards getting you the best possible price.

Although simplicity has characterized siding for the home in the past, new technology, materials and styles have transformed the array of options consumers have to choose from. Instead of choosing from siding materials based on needs, advancement within the industry has made it possible for buyers to seek materials that resemble different looks and products, such as wood, with additional durability and longevity. Achieving a beautiful, unique and lasting look for the home has become increasingly popular, with a variety of materials used to replicate more expensive materials yet still providing the quality desired.

Types and Materials

Vinyl siding in particular has gained great strides, giving homeowners additional style options in addition to providing higher insulating factors than traditional vinyl options used to in the past. Vinyl siding now ranges in thickness, with some insulating additions made to the material that do not compromise the durability and low maintenance appeal of vinyl.

Style and Aesthetic Appeal

Limited style and the static appearance of horizontal vinyl boards used on homes in the past have made way for thousands of styles that can mimic the appearance of materials from brick to shake. Additionally, the way vinyl siding has made strides can also be contributed to expert methods of installation. Siding can be installed vertically as well as horizontally on particular portions of a home, creating a look that accents the current architecture and style. Though beautiful, wood siding is an option that exceeds the financial budget of most homeowners. Transformations in vinyl siding have made it possible for consumers to choose a siding that mimics the appearance of cedar, shake and even log siding without the hefty price tag that often accompanies real wood.

As a reflection of personal style and personality, homeowners are finding increasing color and style choices that can display who they are and what their tastes are. From muted and classy greens, blues and neutrals, to eye-catching and exciting color choices, consumers have gained a repertoire of options to suit each desire. Vinyl siding colors are available in a wide array, allowing consumers to tailor their home improvement projects while achieving a maintenance free and durable home exterior. Vinyl siding colors also provide a way to customize the look of a home with various shades and tones that are becoming increasingly available.

Maintenance

Increased options that consumers have when considering vinyl siding is also accompanied by the low maintenance and hassle that homeowners will endure following their purchase. An array of weather and climates are no match for the durability that continues to characterize vinyl siding as home improvement options advance and change. From the harsh rays of the sun to salty ocean breezes to icy layers of snow and sleet, the new vinyl siding can stand up to much more, provoked by technological, installation and material advancements.

Despite the changes that have made vinyl siding a more aesthetically pleasing choice for homeowners, siding has also gained strength and durability with extra insulation, less seams, noise reduction and energy efficiency. The growing number of features and increasing reliability accompanying the cost effectiveness of vinyl as a siding choice has altered the previous plain vanilla reputation held by old vinyl siding.

Between the economy and the environment, people are looking around their homes for ways that they can both conserve energy and save money. Fortunately, the two ideas are not mutually exclusive. Many articles have been written that show when you conserve energy at home, you save money. So, what are some of the biggest energy and money wasters for homeowners?

Poor Insulation

The number one energy waster in the home is lack of insulation. The most important room to have insulated is the attic. If you are looking for an environmentally friendly way to insulate your attic, blow-in cellulose insulation is your best bet. Not only is it insect and fire resistant, but it is made of recycled phone books and newspapers. The best part is that it is sold at Home Depot and Lowes, so you don’t need to spend a fortune at specialty home improvement stores to purchase it.

Old, Outdated or Leaky Windows

Whether your windows are single pane or double pane, if they are old, cracked or leaking, you’re losing energy and wasting money. In the winter, leaky windows let in cold air which causes your heating bill to go up; during the summer, leaky windows let the air conditioning out, causing your air conditioner to work overtime. The best way to save energy and money is to install replacement windows. The window-making industry has really worked hard in the past few years to develop new styles of windows that are both functional and affordable. So, homeowners are able to install replacement windows that are eco-friendly, aesthetically pleasing, and won’t cost them a fortune.

Things That Get Plugged In

You thought I was going to discuss light bulbs, didn’t you? Well, changing the type of light bulbs you use can save you money and help the environment, but not as much as those things that constantly demand electricity. Old air conditioning units, refrigerators or freezers, and other appliances use a lot of energy, especially if it is over 10-15 years old. Home electronics are also a huge energy waster. Your computer may be in “sleep mode," but it is still drawing energy into it. Turning off your computer saves much more energy. And, while it is convenient to leave your phone or iPod charger plugged into the circuit, unplugging it when you are done charging saves energy. These simple energy-saving things can drastically reduce your electric bill.

There you have it: ways to save energy and save money that will last years. By simply insulating properly, installing replacement windows, and unplugging unnecessary items around the house, you can save the environment and save your pocketbook!

When you are considering remodeling your kitchen, choosing the best kitchen cabinets is perhaps one of the most important decisions that you can make. The cabinets in the kitchen are both functional as well as the centerpiece of the space. Therefore, homeowners often think carefully regarding their choice of cabinet so as to make sure that they make the right choice, one that will satisfy them for years to come.

In order to simplifyy the process of choosing kitchen cabinets, the following are a series of five steps which you can follow in order to determine which cabinets would be best suited to your kitchen space.

Set a Budget

Before you begin any remodeling project, you should first make a project budget. It is normally recommended that you allocate between 30% and 50% of the total kitchen remodeling budget to the cabinets.

Select Construction

There are three primary forms of cabinet construction: custom, semi-custom and stock. The budget will have a large impact on the type of cabinet construction which is selected for installation. Stock cabinets are already pre-made in specific sizes, finishes and styles, and they are the least expensive option. The semi-custom cabinets are somewhat more expensive than the stock kitchen cabinets, and the owners of the home are able to change specific aspects of the pieces. Custom cabinets come at the highest price and are custom-made for the kitchen and customers that they are meant for.

Choose the Style of Cabinet

The design of the doors on the cabinet has an essential impact on the style of the kitchen space. In a contemporary space, clean lines will probably look the best, while a more traditional space would do best with detailed and ornate details.

Choose the Material for the Cabinet

The cabinet’s material also has a large impact on the kitchen’s overall style. The three primary materials are laminate, metal and wood. Metal has become quite popular in recent years for contemporary and modern kitchen spaces. Despite this, wood still continues to be the most common material used in kitchens.

Choose the Finish for the Cabinets

Wood cabinets are able to be painted and stained to the color which is desired and fits well into the kitchen space. They are also able to remain the natural color so as to highlight the natural color of the wood. Laminate and metal cabinets are also available in several different colors.

Like all other aspects of aesthetic design, there are certain kitchen remodeling trends that come and go with the ages. However, the fads that are currently sweeping homes across the nation are more sophisticated and attractive than ever before. Because the kitchen is such a vital selling point of any residence, homeowners can boost both the style and the resale value of their abodes by remodeling their kitchens with some of the latest home makeover trends. The following fads are sure to transform your kitchen from an average room to a truly spectacular feature.

Modern Cabinetry

Your kitchen does not have to be modeled around a purely new-age design in order to take advantage of modern-style cabinetry. Modern cabinetry is renowned both for its sleek, minimalist style and its convenient functionality. Furthermore, with the right touches, this type of cabinetry can be implemented into even the most traditional-style kitchen.

Modern cabinets are defined as those that rely on geometric shapes and innovative functions. For instance, many modern cabinets feature pull-out shelves to optimize storage space and organization. Most cabinets of this style are made of steel or painted wood, although more classic colors are oftentimes used in order to smoothly incorporate the cabinets into a traditional design. These cabinets feature little to no extra adornment; their attractiveness lies in their utter simplicity.

Custom Countertops

For many years, typical homeowners felt somewhat restricted in terms of the shape and flow of their kitchen counters. Custom-made countertops used to cost an enormous amount of money, and it was simply more practical for homeowners to purchase pre-made factory counters. However, as custom countertops have become more popular, they have also become considerably more affordable for people of all budgets. Custom counters are now very common in kitchens of all calibers.

The designers of a factory-made countertop can only design pieces for the average American kitchen. Although these counters would likely fit into your kitchen with some ingenuity, you can achieve a far smoother effect by molding your counters to the shape of your kitchen, not by trying to design your kitchen around your counters.

Retro Appliances

Brightly colored, retro-style appliances add a refreshing pop to an otherwise average kitchen. Many people are incorporating retro-designed ovens, refrigerators, and accessories into their kitchens in order to bestow a sense of individuality. These appliances are fun additions that can brighten the spirit of your entire kitchen.