The Top 4 Reasons To Install a Fence on Your Property

The Top 4 Reasons To Install a Fence on Your Property

Security gadgets are great and all, but real home security starts with your fencing.

A fence is essential when you own any kind of property. It’s even part of the classic American Dream. Though this concept has changed throughout the years, the importance of safeguarding a piece of land stayed the same.

Some homeowners are comfortable living fence-free. If you fall into the category of those unsure about fencing their yards, these four top reasons to install a fence on your property might convince you.

Safety

Homeowners frequently use fences as a measure of security. Without fences, your home has no boundary. An unwanted visitor could walk right up to your front door. Even if it’s not total protection against intruders or package thieves, it’s your first line of defense.

In addition to securing you against criminals, your fence can also protect you from car crashes. A barrier can keep you safe from an out-of-control vehicle if your property is near a busy road. If you have kids, fencing is also an excellent way to keep them from running into the street.

Privacy

Many people are naturally extroverted and enjoy a spontaneous conversation with a neighbor. You, however, may not be as outgoing. Perhaps you’d like to garden or read a book alone without dealing with small talk. If that’s the case, get a fence.

You can enjoy maximum privacy with a tall vinyl fence. You won’t have to worry about nosy neighbors watching your every move and you can do whatever you want in your yard.

Aesthetics

One of the top reasons to install a fence on your property is, of course, the aesthetics. You can’t have a visually pleasing home without an elegant structure surrounding it.

If you want your fence to complement the overall appeal of your property, you can choose from a variety of fence types from hardware stores. Gorgeous fences don’t have to be natural; a metal fence can be just as attractive. It’s just a matter of personal taste.

Boundary

When you first move in, one of the most important things you can do for yourself is to label your property line. Knowing where your land starts and ends is advantageous in the long haul, as it can assist in the resolution of possible neighbor conflicts, especially if the issue turns ugly and winds up in court. Although this is unlikely to happen, it’s always a smart idea to prepare.

There are many reasons why you might want to get a fence. Think long and hard about the investment before you decide but know that you’ll reap many benefits from having a good fence installed on your property.

Tips for Preparing Your Home for a Winter Storm

Tips for Preparing Your Home for a Winter Storm

An approaching winter storm can incite chaos for many people, whether they rush to the store for supplies or keep their snowblowers on standby. Preparing yourself for what’s to come is essential. Fortunately, you can take extra steps to prepare your home for harsh winter weather—check out these tips for preparing your home for a winter storm.

Stock Up on Food and Water

Winter storms can make travel challenging, and in some cases, road closures and excess snow can make leaving your home impossible. Therefore, it’s critical to stock up on food and water before a winter storm hits. Make sure you have nonperishable foods as well as a case of water on hand. If you’re wondering what nonperishables to purchase, check out this list:

  • Rice
  • Instant soup mix
  • Canned vegetables and meat
  • Peanut butter and jelly
  • Breakfast cereal
  • Granola bars
  • Tea, coffee, or hot chocolate

Winterize Your Home

One of the best ways to protect your home from a storm is to winterize it. You can start this process in the fall or early winter. Check the windows and doors for drafts, and use weather-stripping to keep out the cold air. In addition, you can wrap exposed water pipes and trim any tree branches that hang over your home or car. Doing the latter will prevent the branches from falling under the weight of snow and damaging your roof or vehicle.

Consider Installing a Metal Roof

A preventative step you can take for winter storms is installing a metal roof. Metal roofing material can withstand harsh weather conditions and keep your house warm, and it won’t suffer damage from falling tree branches or excess snow. Winter roof installation is possible if you decide to seek out a metal roof now. Talk to roofing contractors and create a plan.

Have Access to Portable Power

The power can go out during winter storms or extremely cold weather. Therefore, it’s essential to have access to portable power. You can purchase a power station or portable generator as a temporary power solution. You can also purchase a camp stove, since if you have an electric stove, you won’t have access to it during a power outage. A camp stove uses butane fuel for power.

Winter storms can create chaos for many people. Whether you’re scrambling to buy supplies or preparing to undergo deep shoveling, preparing yourself for what’s to come is essential. We hope our tips for preparing your home for a winter storm were helpful to you.

How to make your home bug free – Some home care tips

bug free home ideasNow that the warm weather is in, the bugs in your area will be coming out of their winter hiding. It is a time of the year for them to look for sustenance. To them, your home looks like a cornucopia filled with delectable delights. It is no wonder that many of them will be headed your way.

So, you’ll need some effective tips if you want to make your home a bug free zone. We have gathered some for you:

Keeping your eyes open

Sure, if we ever face the apocalypse, cockroaches are the living creatures most likely to survive it. But the supposed otherworldly abilities of the creepy crawlies aside, they don’t just materialize into your home out of the ether.

Thus, staying sharp can clue you into the indications that they are about to set foot inside. For instance, ants will send out scouting members to scope your home. They are there to test how ant-friendly your house is. Therefore, as soon as you spot even a few ants, get to insect-proofing.

Moreover, you can also step outside and go right to the source. If there is firewood stacked next to your house, it could be where the ants and termites are staying temporarily. Keep the stack at least 20 feet from your house. Similarly, drain any catch basins or keep the water in them fresh if there are any in your yard. They are breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

Moreover, chop them off! Not that we want to scare you, however, you’ll want to know what the Entomological Society of America says about bugs. The ratio stands at a billion bugs to every human on the planet! A veritable insect army is waiting to declare war on your home! Overhanging branches close to your windows or overgrown shrubs can be the access points bugs will use to get into your home.

Repel houseflies and mosquitoes with Basil

Basil makes pasta sauces shine, but it is also a great natural remedy for insects like houseflies and mosquitoes. Since the plant is easy to grow and container-friendly, place a few of them in your kitchen. For families who don’t eat in the kitchen, you’ll want to get those containers into your entertaining spaces too.

You’ll also benefit from a basil-based insect repellent spray. Boil water (4 ounces) and throw in the same amount of fresh basil leaves. Let the basil leaves steep in the water for a few hours before straining them. Splash in as much of supercheap vodka, and you’ll have your spray. You can even store the spray in the fridge.

Essential oils may do the trick

Essential oils aren’t just great for helping you relax. They can also be used to make a bug free home.

You’ll find the following essential oils useful for this purpose:

  1. Neem oil has natural pesticide properties. That’s why it makes a useful non-toxic bug repellent. Mix it with coconut oil (carrier oil) and apply it on your skin. It will keep biting insects like mosquitoes away!
  2. The strong scent of peppermint oil is effective against many different types of bugs. Moreover, it is excellent for both the creepy crawly and flying varieties. For the former, adding a few drops on a cotton ball will be good enough. Place peppermint-scented balls wherever you will find spiders, ticks, and ants congregating. For the latter, you will need a spray. Just 4-5 drops of peppermint oil added to a quarter cup of water, and you have your mixture. Spritz it near entry points.

Seal the entry points into your home

Do you realize that the common cockroach increases the chances of asthma attacks and allergies in children? Leaving gaps in your entrance ways can give the pesky bugs a chance to get in. Don’t think there are many such spaces around your home? Look closely, and you’ll be unpleasantly surprised!

Start by sealing the space under all the doors leading to the outside. An aluminum or steel threshold can keep the insects from crawling under your door. To fortify, you can also purchase a cheap door sweep. Most hardware stores have door sweeps. But be sure to get nylon ones instead of vinyl or neoprene for maximum bug protection.

After the base is taken care of, you can shift to sealing the door frame’s perimeter. Insects can crawl in along the sides or the top without this protection. Do it with clear caulk. Follow the frame in the direction that the door meets the wall.

Finally, get the most use of your door sealing techniques by remembering to keep the door closed! Kids can be forgetful, and the door sweep won’t be effective if the door stays open all the time.

A hydraulic device known as the door closer can be really handy. Adjust the power and the closing speed on it when you install it. If someone leaves it ajar, the door will automatically close and latch because of the door closer. You can get a door closer at your local home improvement store. It is also easy to install, so you can do it yourself too.

Monthly deep cleaning is a must

Places like the kitchen see a lot of use and traffic. We cook there and often consume food in the kitchen too. Therefore, keeping it clean can be hard.

Moreover, if you work most days, you may not be able to do deep cleaning often. But you should have one done every month to clear away any accumulating food particles, etc. That is also true for other parts of the house. Any room where food makes a regular appearance needs regular deep cleaning. Also, grab a Bug Killer or any insect repellent spray for a cleaner, bug-free home!

Remove overripe fruits and veggies from the counter

Fruit flies, ants, and other bugs are attracted to overripe fruits and vegetables, especially if the organic treats are left sliced open or cut up. Keep them off the counter and move them to the fridge. Sure, fruit flies may not be as harmful, but pests like cockroaches may find their way to ripe fruits too. Once they get in, you’ll find it difficult to get them out of your home!

Parting thoughts

Bugs are creatures who cannot be allowed in your personal space for any reason. Want to make your home bug free? Our suggestions will help you do just that. Do you have other effective remedies? Share them with us!

4 Expenses to Remember When Building a Cabin

If you love the great outdoors, there is a little better way to enjoy it than building your very own cabin. You will find that such a place can become a holiday destination or possibly even a seasonal home if you want it to be. However, building a cabin is unlike a traditional home. There are several nuances that you must take into consideration.  Especially if you want at a finished cabin that will last for generations. Here are four expenses that you will want to keep in mind as you begin to build the cabin of your dreams.

Wood Treatment and Protection

If your cabin is going to be like most, it will be largely constructed out of wood. This gives it a beautiful exterior and adds to that outdoor ambiance that you have grown to love. At the same time, you will need to ensure that the wood is properly treated to last for decades. You must also keep the termites at bay, so remember to plan on annual expenses to get a professional pest control company out to keep your cabin safe at all times.

Sewage Disposal

When are out in the middle of nowhere, you have to account for sewage in one way or another. In the city, this is often taken care of for you. However, building your cabin will necessitate that you take matters into your own hands so to speak. Remember to plan on incorporating a septic tank system into the design of your cabin.

Energy Source

One of the great parts about building a cabin is that you are largely in control of how energy is provided to the residence. Depending on where you build, you will probably have many different options available to you. This might be the time to consider incorporating alternative energy sources, such as solar, into the design of the home.

Driveway Maintenance

You will also need to plan on how to get your vehicles up to your cabin. This will also mean incorporating driveway maintenance into your budget, particularly during the winter months. This will help make your experience much more desirable in the end.

These are just four of the many expenses you will want to keep in mind as you begin to build your cabin. These are all manageable if you will take the time to find the right professionals to take care of them for you. Remember to get the job done right the first time so that you can enjoy years of comfortable living in your new home.

5 Cost-Effective Updates That Will Transform Your Tired Kitchen

Kitchens are one of, if not the, hardest working rooms in the house so it is unsurprising that they can quickly become tired and dated. New research has found that over a quarter of us are looking to update our kitchens in 2019, but investing in a brand new kitchen can be costly. Thankfully, there are some updates you can make whilst sticking to a budget.

If you look to avoid anything that is too extreme, then you can easily make your kitchen feel brand new with just a few small changes. Here are 5 top-tips for updating your tired kitchen on a budget.

Walls and Splashbacks

New and fresh wall tiles can instantly update the look of your kitchen, whilst also making a statement. Subway, or metro, tiles are a classic shape, but instead of laying them lengthways why not try them in a herringbone or vertical pattern for a more contemporary look?

Tiles now come in a wide range of finishes, shapes and materials, so make sure to have a look at a number of different examples to find one that you like. Patterned tiles are also a great way of adding a splash of character into your kitchen, which traditionally is usually full of hard edges and straight lines. Mix and match the colours to create random designs or stripes for a truly bespoke look.

Open Shelving

Open shelving is a great way to show off collections of pretty glasses and plates or even to bring in the addition of greenery with herbs and spices. Before you start, be sure to work out what you want to have on display so that you can consider the height of the shelves and the weight which they can withstand. A lot of kitchens have sleek, glossy cabinets, so think about adding open shelves that are made from natural wood to soften your kitchen and add warmth to the room.

Freshen Up Sinks And Worktops

Updating your worktops will have a huge impact on the feel and look of your kitchen, so this can be done as a standalone project for a fraction of the price of a full renovation.

These days, there is a huge choice available and you can now mix materials to create the look you want. Even the most ordinary fixtures in your kitchen can be updated, so let 2019 be the year that you let your sink shine. From multi-functional taps to double sinks and different finishes to funky materials, there is something for every style.

Clear Away The Clutter

Perhaps the biggest way to make a difference to your kitchen, getting rid of clutter with have a lasting effect on both your mind and your wallet. Before you start, you need to make your mind as to whether you are going to be ruthless and throw things out, or recycle or donate items which you no longer need. To make it easier, be sure to break the job into smaller parts and tackle it one cupboard at a time.

Keeping surfaces clutter free will make the whole room appear sleeker and bigger whilst also maximising the potential workspace. Things such as pan lid organisers and over-the-door spice racks will really help you stay organised, so think about how you are going to use the space and organise it accordingly.

Liven Up Your Scheme With Accessories

Accessories and fresh pieces of furniture will instantly brighten up your kitchen and you can choose a theme which can bring the whole look together. Display some selected items on open shelves and think about re-organising your worktops so that you only have your favourite things on show. If you have a dresser, then this is the perfect opportunity to show off neat stacks of cups, tea sets and glassware.

When it comes to furniture, choosing contemporary and stylish pieces will add a much bigger statement to your kitchen. Kitchen dining sets are the perfect way to add a piece of your personality to the room whilst also being extremely stylish. You could also look at adding a mirrored splashback behind your cooker or using fabrics to add splashes of colour.