Archive for June, 2009

Energy Efficiency Through Nature

On a hot summer day, the cool shade of a tree is the perfect place to get away from the sun’s strong rays.  You may notice that areas full of thick, lush trees tend to feel much cooler than open, sun-parched land.  Planting trees in your yard is a great way to shade your home from the elements, as well as lower your energy bills when it comes to using air conditioning.

This Bob Vila article explains the ins and outs of tree landscaping. They write that carefully positioned trees can save up to 25% of a household’s energy consumption for heating and cooling. The U.S. Department of Energy also reported that the proper placement of just three trees will save an average household between $100 and $250 in energy costs annually! A well-planned landscape can reduce an unshaded home’s summer air-conditioning costs by 15% to 50%.  Trees help during the winter, too, by acting as windbreaks to protect your house from bitter, low-wind chill breezes.

This is also great for the environment.  Bob Vila writes, “Trees and vegetation control erosion, protect water supplies, provide food, create habitat for wildlife, and clean the air by absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen.”

Planting trees is a relatively affordable and easy way to gain long-term protection of your house.  Not only do trees provide privacy, but they can save you some money on your energy bills!

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Painting: An affordable and easy improvement

Quality painting contractors have the knowledge and skills to make any house look bright and new. If you think your home is bland and you want a colorful change, a new paint job is the perfect thing to do! It’s affordable, easy, and offers many options.

Painting is a quick and budget-friendly home improvement

Painting is a good way to spruce up a room without breaking your budget or taking up too much time. When it comes to painting, there’s nearly an endless array of types, colors, styles and techniques to use. There are paint types that work best for certain rooms in your home, and a professional painting contractor can help you figure out what options will work best for you.

Specialists will be able to tell you exactly which types of paint and painting techniques are right for your bathroom, bedroom, living room, kitchen or any other room in the house. Professionals know that rooms like bathrooms or kitchens typically get moisture buildup, so a mildew-resistant satin or semigloss paint is the best choice and makes walls easy to clean.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help

Painters can take care of the steps needed to prepare walls for painting. They can take on large or small, interior and exterior paint jobs, as well as helping you with color selection and using environmentally friendly coatings.

They also know certain painting techniques to add some style and sophistication to your walls. Whether you’d like to have a brightly colored accent wall in your living room or a checkerboard print in your kitchen, there’s a paint color or technique you help you do it.  Get creative!

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Siding: A good choice for your house

Siding is a very popular product to install on homes. There are many different kinds of siding to use but they’re all easy to maintain. The clean, just-painted look of good siding can make any home look newer, and you won’t have to scrape and sand wood. Premium vinyl siding won’t rot, warp, peel or ever need to be painted, either.

Expert siding contractors have the knowledge and skills to make your home look like new!  Let them increase the value of your house with the curb appeal and easy maintenance of siding.

Common types of siding include vinyl, wood, various composites and stucco.  Each of these requires specific preparation of the area between the siding and your house’s exterior sheathing, which is best left to the experts. Good siding contractors are highly trained professionals with knowledge of the proper installation techniques.

It’s been reported that over two billion square feet of vinyl siding is produced each year in the United States. Siding can give a home a natural woodgrain look, but you won’t have to paint it. It will continue to look bright and beautiful for many years to come. You can purchase siding in neutral white and beige colors, but more colors beginning to be manufactured now.

Wind can cause siding to rattle, and the sun and heat can cause vinyl siding to grow or expand so the siding must be secured properly by a professional. Contractors can also use vinyl siding to replace aluminum siding or cover up old wood siding already on your house.

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