Category: House & Home

Sometimes, life throws some unexpected changes your way. When those curveballs come out of left field, you need to know how to deal with them. Sometimes those changes mean that you need to find a new place to live. When that happens, you might realize that you need to rely on short term housing until you can find something more permanent. Here are some reasons you could need to use short term lodging. 

Going Through a Bad Breakup

When you’re going through a breakup, you probably hope to keep things amicable, but sometimes things don’t work out like that. Perhaps you and your ex fight too much, or you’re involved in a domestic violence situation. When you feel unsafe in your living situation with your ex, you should consider moving into furnished short term lodging. You won’t have to worry about buying furniture or kitchen supplies because the apartment will already have everything. Then, you can use your money to find a new place to live and not have to worry about staying in an undesirable situation for any longer than necessary. 

Moving To a New City

If you’re moving to a new city, the idea of finding a place to live without seeing it is likely very unnerving. You could move into a terrible neighborhood and find out that your home has a rat infestation that your landlord didn’t disclose. You can avoid horrors like that by relying on short term housing when you move to a new city. The housing gives you a safe place to live and the time you need to find the right home. Plus, you can get a storage unit and keep everything but your daily necessities in it because you’ll have everything else that you need to get by. 

Home Sells Too Quickly

There is no controlling the real estate market, and you might find that your current home sells before you can find a new one to buy. You could try to put in a contingency clause asking to stay in the house until you find another one, but most buyers want to move into the new house they just bought. If this happens to you, rely on short term lodging. This type of housing is beneficial because you don’t have to worry about unpacking all of your things in the short term housing, only to pack them up again to move into your new home. 

A foundation is the part of the house that is laid first. It gives stability and structure to the rest of the house on top of it. Generally, when a person thinks of a foundation, they think of a cement one. Did you know that foundation can actually be made from a variety of materials depending on preference and environmental conditions? Here are three alternative foundation materials as well as pros and cons associated with using them:

1. Concrete

Concrete is the standard and most common material to use in foundation work because it is durable, strong, and inflexible. Concrete is also easy to make waterproof. The main disadvantage to other materials is that it is generally the more expensive choice. The types of concrete used can be divided into two categories: poured concrete and block concrete. Poured concrete is essentially poured into a foundation-shaped mold in the ground, whereas blocks are stacked and sealed. 

Concrete, not unlike other materials mentioned here, can be prone to issues such as cracks, bulging, and leaning over time or when done improperly. When these issues arise in a house foundation, it is important to get them fixed in a timely matter. If you don’t, the structural integrity of your home may be compromised, making your home dangerous to live in.

2. Stone or Brick

House foundations built using masonry skills (such as ones made from brick and stone) tend to be ideal for drier climates because of their inability to withstand water and be waterproofed efficiently. Stones can be relatively inexpensive but have more waterproofing issues. Bricks are more expensive and have the potential to absorb water, making them a poor choice outside of the aesthetic appeal.

3. Earth

People without the necessary economic resources or knowledge to use the materials outlined above may opt to use earth instead. An earth foundation also only works in dry climates and is prone to issues such as water damage and bugs. Sometimes it is best to use a combination of stones and earth to build a foundation in a place with more rainfall.

To conclude, a variety of materials can be used to build a house foundation. The best material to choose depends on a variety of factors, including price, climate, and lifespan. A professional may be able to help you decide. It is important to be cognizant of the pros and cons of your material of choice before committing to it.

Selling your home can be exciting, but it can cause a lot of stress, as well. This may be especially true if you feel you need to prepare your home for sale, but aren’t sure where to start. While it may feel like a lot to deal with, the good news is that getting your home ready for sale can be a simple process. 

Take Care of Major Damage

One of the first things you need to do when getting your home ready for sale is address any major damage that it has. Whether that means getting hail damage repair Denver CO or replacing old windows, making sure that noticeable damage is taken care of should be one of your top priorities. Obvious signs of damage can be a big turn off for potential buyers, even if they would be relatively easy or cheap to take care of. By dealing with these issues, you can help ensure that you are making the right first impression. 

Look After Your Landscaping

Even though looking after your home should be your primary concern, making sure that your landscaping looks put together can also have a big impact on how easy it is for you to sell your home. Having landscaping that looks newly done and polished can help your home stand out.

If you aren’t sure where to start when it comes to landscaping, the good news is that simple fixes can often go a long way. If you don’t have any landscaping, then just making sure that your lawn is well maintained and has a manicured appearance can help contribute to the overall appeal of your home in a big way.

Try New Colors

Something else that is important to consider when you are getting your home ready for sale is your paint colors. This can be true in particular if your home features lots of colors that are particularly bright or bold. While these colors may appeal to you, they could potentially be a turn off to potential buyers. By opting for more neutral toned colors like beige, gray, and cream you can help ensure that your home has a more universal appeal.

Selling your home can bring with it a lot of excitement. However, it can bring a lot of stress with it as well. This can be especially true if you aren’t sure where to start. The good news is that by taking care of things like damage, landscaping and paint color you can help make sure your home is appealing to the right people. 

Ponds are much more than aesthetically enhancing water features to be enjoyed by the community. They are also freshwater habitats for a variety of creatures that spend part or all of their lives in the water. These creatures are primarily oxygen breathing and need adequately oxygenated water to survive. A healthy pond receives oxygen primarily from the air above the water surface and allows it to enter the pond and support its living organisms. A variety of circumstances can change the health of a pond, causing stratification and impacting turnover.

Stratification

Under normal pond conditions, without influence from outside human activities such as people feeding ducks, and runoff from lawns containing fertilizer and pet waste, enough oxygen is able to mix with the surface water, diffuse into the pond water, and provide the life-sustaining gas for aquatic organisms. However, largely due to the influence of human activities, an overabundance of nutrients can enter the pond and cause an overgrowth of aquatic creatures. This, in turn, drives up the demand for oxygen in the water, and when there is no longer enough, the pond can become stagnant and cause fish kills. 

Mechanical aeration systems can help prevent stratification by mixing the water, which can prevent it from forming layers. Stratification happens when the surface water is heated by the sun while the deeper water is not and remains cool. Because of the temperature difference, the two layers of water do not mix, and that keeps much of the oxygen from reaching the bottom of the pond. Eventually, towards the middle to end of summer, the bottom layer of water can be severely depleted of oxygen which is a risk factor for turnover.

Turnover

Turnover can be a natural event if it occurs in Autumn due to the seasonal drop in temperature. Because the temperature decreases gradually as the season changes, the water layers in the pond also mix gradually, and this type of turnover is little threat to aquatic life. However, a rapid turnover or mixing of the water layers in the summer can happen due to storm events, windy conditions, and cold rains leading to a fish kill. Of course, a pond with undue influence from humans that is experiencing stratification can be unnaturally susceptible to turnover events and fish kills.

Pond health is important because a healthy pond is more likely to be aesthetically pleasing than one that is unhealthy. Also, a healthy pond is better for those creatures who call it home.

If you’re looking to give your home a little more, but don’t want to do an all-out renovation, there are several different things you could do. One of the easiest ways to remedy this feeling is to do some things outside though. Here are some things you can build or do to make your house look like something new.  

Pool

Putting a pool in your backyard can really change things up. There’s an endless amount of styles, designs, and types you could have to make it perfect for you. It will require some work to make sure it stays clean and functional, but you can always hire some professionals if you’re worried that you don’t know what you’re doing. These benefit both adults and children, as pools can make all ages happy. 

Deck

Building a deck or wrap around a porch is an awesome addition to your home. It gives you a personalized space where you can go and enjoy the outdoors. They’re great for hanging out together and chatting as a family, or a safe haven where kids can go play and still get some fresh air. You can screen it in if you’re looking to escape bugs, or you could put enclose it with large screen windows that allow you to enjoy it all year long. 

Landscape

You can really change up your home by taking care of its landscaping. An un-kept yard could cause you to be the talk of the neighborhood. While there are those who are meticulous with the way they take care of their lawn, it doesn’t take much to keep yours clean and clutter-free. Hire someone who does tree trimming Cincinnati to take care of those overgrown branches. You can also add some color around your place by putting in some flower beds and gardens. 

Shed

If you need some more space, you could always put a shed outback. You could turn it into a storage room, giving you a central location for all your boxes and extra things. Or a more popular thing to do is have the shed act as a man-cave or she-shed. You can build these yourself, or you could buy a predesigned one from any number of hardware stores. It’s easy to turn it into whatever you need to. 

Outside the house is often forgotten and underrated when it comes to changing up the way things are. However, you can really make your home feel like a new place by incorporating some of these ideas. 

Many homeowners take potable water for granted, but faults in your home’s waterline can contaminate your water supply and put your health at risk. One notable example is backflow, and while many modern homes’ plumbing systems feature devices designed to prevent it, those devices can fail. It’s important to understand what’s at work here and how to recognize backflow issues so a Fox Valley plumbing company can help.

The Risks of Backflow

Plumbing systems sometimes contain cross-connections where potable and nonpotable water can come into contact. These can occur at, for example, garden hoses, toilets, fire sprinklers and washing machines. Backflow refers to when the latter flows in the wrong direction back towards the main water supply through a cross-connection. Left unchecked, backflow can expose you and others to various health hazards associated with contaminated water as fertilizers, cleaning products, human waste and more enter the water supply.

What Causes Backflow?

Water flow is directed by pressure differentials and paths of least resistance—it’s common knowledge that low water pressure results in a weak flow. Backflow typically occurs in one of two scenarios:

• Back-siphonage is the reversal of flow in a system because of negative pressure upstream, generally caused by water being drawn out at a high rate. If this occurs where cross-connections exist, nonpotable water can flow back into the water supply. Possible causes include water main breaks, use of a fire hydrant or sudden spikes in demand.
• Back pressure is an increase in downstream pressure that causes nonpotable water to flow back away from the end use point and into the rest of the water supply. Systems using water pumps, such as power washers and most heat transfer systems, can present a risk of back pressure occurring.

How is Backflow Prevented?

Several preventative devices exist that impede water and contaminants from flowing backwards in these events. The simplest is the air gap, a space between an outlet and the fixture’s flood level like a sink faucet—these are commonly used in installing dishwashers to prevent backflow from the sink. Mechanical devices often use a combination of check valves that close when the differential pressure drops to where backflow is possible—these include atmospheric vacuum breakers, which rely on atmospheric pressure, and reduced pressure zone devices (RPZDs) that include a pressure-controlled chamber as a buffer.

While plumbing codes, including in Illinois, often mandate backflow prevention measures in residential plumbing, older homes may not already have one installed or an existing device could fail. If you suspect there are backflow issues in your system, hire a certified plumber for an inspection.

Has your family been on the fence lately about whether or not you should get a dog? Whether you’re thinking of adopting from the local shelter or getting German shepherd puppies imported from Germany, a dog can make a wonderful addition to any family. Dogs bring more to the table than just their adorable demeanor – they can actually help boost your overall quality of life, contribute to better mental and physical health for family members, help teach your children responsibility, act as long-term, loving companions and much more. If you’re still debating whether a dog would be beneficial for your family, here are some great reasons to take into consideration.

They Could Improve Your Mental and Even Physical Health

You may already perk up whenever an adorable dog crosses your path, but you might not have realized that dogs can actually have a measurable positive impact on mental health and even on physical health as well. Dogs require regular exercise and can help their owners get more active, too, even if that just means going for everyday walks. Additionally, their generally happy demeanor can act as a serious mood booster.

They’re Ideal for Families With Children and Make Loving Companions

It’s no secret that cute dogs are popular with children, but recent studies have shown that they may even be beneficial for kids. Owning a dog teaches children the responsibility of caring for another being, and can impart many helpful life skills. Additionally, dogs tend to be very attached and loving, and can make wonderful companions for families with little kids. Just be sure to do your research ahead of time to make sure your dog’s breed is usually good with young kids!

Your Quality of Life Could Improve Every Day

Dog owners as a group tend to report a high quality of life as a result of spending time with their furry friends. Getting to share your life with a loving dog could mean that your quality of life gets better and better every day! In short, having a dog could mean:

• Having a built-in friend
• Having a pet that reflects your personality
• Having an opportunity for pet play dates that allow you – and your dog! – to enjoy more social interactions

From providing your family with a loving companion to teaching kids responsibility to improving your overall quality of life and more, having a family dog can bring multiple surprising benefits. If your family is still debating whether getting a dog would be beneficial, make sure to consider these great reasons as you decide.

The family dog is a highly valued family member. As a consequence, you do everything in your power to care for your faithful companion day-to-day. When a big event looms, you know you need to take extra mindful measures. A family move to a new house may be the most disruptive and stressful moment in a dog’s life. However, you can take several pet-focused steps to prepare for the move and to support your dog in the transition. Here are some ways to smooth that journey.

Work With Your Movers

When you do your research to locate professional movers near me, try to determine the company’s dependability and efficiency. The faster the team can take care of loading the truck, the less intrusive their presence will be on your furry friend. Ask if your moving team can outline its philosophy for working with families (and their pets) so you know how thoughtful and respectful its movers will act toward everyone in your home. Even then, keep the dog away from whichever rooms the movers are emptying throughout the process.

Scope Out Your New Territory

If you have not done so already, drive through your new neighborhood to locate dog-friendly places you can visit with your pet, both near your house and within a short drive: dog runs, trails, sidewalks, public parks and other secure areas. At the same time, take note of any challenges that may make your excursions difficult to manage. Do the neighbors seem friendly? Do dogs lunge aggressively at their homes’ fences when you pass? Are dogs off-leash and out-of-control in parks? You want to avoid introducing your dog to trauma-inducing situations.

Familiarize Yourself With the New House

If possible, visit your house before introducing your dog to the space and take stock of any risky features. For example, are there fence openings through which the dog can escape? Are storage areas where you might leave chemicals accidentally unsecured? Look at the new home with an eye to potential dangers so you can eliminate risks.

Create a Comforting Space

Have a special room set up for your pet right away in which the dog can soon feel safe. Fill this area with familiar toys, blankets and bedding. If at all possible, plan to have one family member spend the first night in that room as well.

Moving to an unfamiliar house is a challenge for anyone. Imagine how unsettling relocation would be for a creature unable to understand the change. Don’t leave the transition to chance; by planning carefully to help your dog adjust to the move, your companion will settle before you know it.