Category: General Article

Unusual Uses For Spray Foam

The can of spray foam in your garage would typically be used to provide insulation in tight spaces within your house. However, there are many more uses for this product that can expand your creativity and fix other areas of your home. Here are a few things you can do with spray foam.

Get Crafty

You can use large chunks of spray foam insulation maryland to make art projects to display yourself or to design with your family. You can sculpt from a mass of it or use it to add texture to a household item you want to give a different look to. If you like to make miniature scenes, you can mold the foam into rocks then spray paint them. You can also add the foam to decorations and artificial floral arrangements to keep the items in place especially if there is a chance they might fall out.

Seal Up Your Home

You can use spray foam in areas other than your attic. If you have a pest problem, you can spray the foam into the cracks of your foundation and in other spots where bugs and other vermin come in. You can also seal up the cracks in your home to keep drafts from getting in and the heat out. This will help your utility costs in the end. If you have plumbing pipes that rattle, you can quiet them by spraying this around them to keep them from shaking as much. There are some forms of foam that you can shoot under your collapsing sidewalk to lift the concrete back into place. If you are moving, you can add the foam to a plastic bag, seal the bag, then press it against the fragile items in your box so that they are transported securely. The foam will mold against the items to protect them.…

Wood VS Composite Decking

Wood and composite are some of the most popular decking options. If you are thinking of adding a deck to your space, you are probably wondering what your best option is. Keep reading to learn more about composite and wood decking.

Expenses

With wood decking, there are cheap and expensive options. The cost depends on whether you use softwood or hardwood. Softwood is chosen based on color and affordability. There is no need for pre-drilling. If you choose an expensive hardwood for your deck, you enjoy certain benefits. Ipe, for example, is naturally resistant to rot. It is more durable than other hardwoods. However, wood decking is generally cheaper than composite decking. If, however, you are trying to save money in the long run, composite decking may be a better choice. It pays for itself in about three years.

Maintenance

Both wood and composite decks require some degree of maintenance. However, the maintenance cost of composite decking is a lot more affordable. You don’t need to invest much effort into it. Natural wood decks, on the other hand, require constant maintenance. They require sanding, regular refinishing, and removing stains can be a lot more difficult. With composite decks, there is no need for refinishing. You only need to clean your deck every two to four years.

General Appearance

Both composite and wood decks can be aesthetically pleasing. If you prefer a natural look, wood is an appropriate choice. Composite decks, on the other hand, are not natural. However, they give you the chance to have a deck of any color you want. If you want to get a natural look, your deck can be made into a natural-looking color. With the right installation, a composite deck can look and feel natural. In the end, it is only a matter of preference. Both wood and composite decks can look good.

Moisture Absorption

One of the biggest challenges with wood decks is that wood absorbs moisture readily. You need to invest in the application of sealers and stains to minimize warping. Composite decking is much more resistant to moisture. Certain composite decking brands are completely moisture-resistant. If you are worried about decaying, composite decking may be a better choice than wood decking.

Surface Temperature

In the past, composite decks were known for getting uncomfortably hot in the summer months. However, things have changed significantly. Newer composite decking brands can minimize heat absorption and remain comfortable. Wood decking is also known to remain comfortable regardless of weather conditions.

Splinter and Wood Damage

Composite decking is resistant to both insect damage and splinters. However, wood decking is likely to be damaged by insects. It splinters after some time. If you are concerned about the possibility of getting hurt when you walk barefoot, composite decking is a good option.

In the end, composite decking may be a better option than wood decking. Even though they are both great options, composite decking has more benefits. Consider working with Deckorum if you are seeking help with your composite decking. You can enjoy high-quality eco-friendly services.

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How To Avoid Getting Locked Out of Your Home Ever Again

Getting locked out of your home is always a frustrating process that can find you losing hours of your day unnecessarily. There are many preemptive measures you can implement to help avoid getting trapped outside of your house. Use some of the ideas listed below to ensure you will always have a way to get into your place.

Make Spare Keys for Loved Ones

Go out of your way to have several spare keys made for trusted friends and family. Aim for loved ones that live close by and are easily accessible by phone. When it comes to where to make keys Orlando and other large cities offer plenty of options. Maintain a list of all of the individuals you have given spare keys to so that you can keep track of who can help you access your home. Always be prepared to request for keys to be returned if you become concerned about an individual’s access for any reason.

Check for Keys Often

Make it a habit to do the 3 Tap Touch before you leave your home. The 3 Tap Touch refers to confirming that you have your keys, your wallet and your phone on you.

Keep Keys in the Same Spot

Always keep your keys in the same location. By keeping your keys in the same place, it will be easy to develop a habit of always grabbing them from that spot when you’re on your way out. Consider always keeping them on a key hook or in a decorative bowl near your door.

Consider Keyless Locks

There are several keyless locks that focus on a keypad entry to gain access rather than the use of a key. Research the various types of electronic locks available if you would rather not worry about leaving your keys behind ever again.

By preparing beforehand, you can help avoid the inconvenience of locking yourself out of your home.…

Looking To Increase Your Crops? Try These Organic Gardening Tips!

There are all types of new and useful gardening gadgets on the market, developed by people who love to garden. The following are some tips on the latest gardening equipment on the market, and how it can make your gardening experience easier and more enjoyable. Gardening style can always be perfected.

Make use of rain buckets and barrels around your home. You can later use this collected rainwater on your garden to grow healthier plants, while saving the planet. This method also reduces your water bill, as you can’t be charged for using the water that runs off your roof!

Flush your plants with water if the rim of the pot or top of the soil has white salt deposits. Flush using twice the amount water as the size of the pot. Salt accumulates when using liquid fertilizer and can cause a PH imbalance. Once you have flushed the plant, do not water the plant again until the soil is dry.

When gardening, it is wise to rotate your crops, especially if you are growing more than one crop of fruits or vegetables in your garden each year. This helps to conserve the nutrients in the soil. It also helps to avoid diseases in the soil. Even with crop rotation, nutrients needed to be added back into the soil after each planting season.

Draw your fingernails across a bar of soap, to seal the undersides of your nails off. Doing this will prevent dirt from becoming trapped underneath them while you are gardening. When you are finished in the garden, you can clean your nails with a nailbrush to remove the soap.

You can use small clay pots or milk jugs to protect your plants from a late season frost. A bed sheet is also an effective cover on shrubs or large areas. Typically, young sprouts are the most vulnerable. If you forget or your efforts fail, you may be forced to replant the crop.

Plastic garden labels can be used over and over again, by following this easy way to remove names written with permanent marker. Just dampen a small piece of cloth with rubbing alcohol and wipe firmly over the name to remove it. This way you won’t have to buy a brand new bag of garden labels when you only need one or two.

Use scale, color and texture in your garden to improve interest. Use plants of different heights, putting small ones in front and tall ones in the back. Add a few plants that have deep maroon leaves, which looks great next to greenery. Plant a tree or shrub that changes to oranges and golds in autumn, and mix small-leafed plants with larger-leafed or spiky plants, such as agave.

If you are an experienced gardener, but tend to use only your same trusted tools, you may be surprised to find some new innovations that you will soon, not be able to live without. Seasoned gardeners will be unable to deny the attraction of some of these latest gadgets.…

Tips About Pest Control That You Need To Learn

Pest control comes in many forms, but how do you know which is right for you? Where can you turn to for expert information on the topic? This article has been written to provide you with all you need to know about dealing with pests and solving your problems for good.

If you want to get rid of the ants around your house, sprinkle some borax powder near your home. This will help to poison the ants so that they are stopped in their tracks and cannot come back. This will help to temporarily eliminate the ant problem during certain seasons of the year.

If you are having a pest control problem at your home, take a look at your garbage for clues to why this is happening. Garbage needs to be in air tight bags and disposed of on a regular basis. Keep your trash outside your home and not inside your kitchen to reduce the chances of having a pest problem.

Check to see if your windows or screens are cracked or ripped as insects can easily penetrate any inconsistencies in your infrastructure. If you see that a seal has been broken, make sure that you fix this or get it replaced immediately so that it does not become an issue in the future.

Make sure that every single night, you do the dishes in a dishwater or at least wash the food off of the dishes in the sink. The last thing that you will want to do is leave food in the sink, which can be a breeding ground for insects to come in your home.

If you live in an apartment complex or multi-unit condo complex, unite with your neighbors. Anything you try to do to control pests in your own unit will be unsuccessful if all the other units in your building are infested. Get together with the residents of your building and schedule pest control for the entire building to deal with the problem.

Make sure your home’s roof and water sills are draining properly. Standing water can lead to pests. If you’ve got puddles forming that just won’t go away, look to the root cause and fix it. Sometimes it’s as easy as cleaning out a gutter. Otherwise, you may get more unwanted visitors than you bargained for.

Are you having a slug problem in your garden or yard? An easy fix for this issue is to simply place a pie plate of stale beer around the garden. The slugs love this and will crawl in and drown in the stale beer. This is an easy and cheap fix to a pesky slug problem.

When battling mice and rats, bear in mind that they usually eat pretty much anything. You should put food of all kinds in the trap. Spoiled food will also draw their interest and can serve as a good trap to catch these pests.

Now you should know how to solve your pest control problems. You should also know where to look for more information. With this knowledge, you should have no problems getting everything back on track towards a pest-free life, as long as you use what you’ve learned and put it into practice.…

Look Here For Great Advice About Hvac

The system you use to heat or cool your home is probably the largest influences on how much energy you use, and how much it costs. If your HVAC system needs updating, make sure the technician you hire is knowledgeable. The following article provides the information you need to hire the right professional.

Although most people are thinking of their heating systems during the winter months, air conditioning is also important. When installing a new furnace or heating system, make sure the air ducts are also set up to work with your air condition system. Using the ducts for both heating and cooling is the most economical choice.

Make sure you ask for an estimate in writing before choosing a specific HVAC vendor. There are a lot of moving pieces when it comes to purchasing these big items. You’ll want to compare not only the cost of the equipment, but also the set up and the overall energy costs.

If you do have a good experience with a HVAC product or contractor, let others know. Go online and post a review so that people can easily find out who and what brands to trust. At the same time, you can check reviews online to learn more yourself about what’s available.

When the spring comes and the days begin to warm up, call in a pro to give your HVAC a once over. This will ensure that your air conditioner works as expected all summer long, stopping you from sweating it out when you least expect the system to fail.

Clean your permanent air filters or replace disposable ones every single month. If you have the choice, an electrostatic is the best option on the market today. Be sure to turn off your unit before you change the filter as it should never be run without a filter in place.

HVAC units may suffer when leaves are falling off the trees. During this time of year, check and clear off the fan grill on your unit on a regular basis. An obstruction, such as a leaf, prevents the maximum amount of cool air from entering the system.

Be sure to check your evaporator coil drains frequently when your air conditioner is running. If this tube backs up, you can find water damage to your walls, ceilings and floors. If you end up with mold just use a solution of bleach and water to clean out the tube.

If you currently have a manual thermostat, consider installing a programmable one. You can set your system for different temperatures depending on time of day and if anyone is home. Also, you can set upper and lower temperature settings to allow for a comfortable range of temperatures so that heating and cooling don’t kick in when not needed.

Now that you are aware of the importance of having the correct HVAC system installed in your home, get referrals about HVAC companies in your area. Use this tips in the article to guide you in your choice. Make sure you choose wisely and the cost of your energy usage will show the difference.…

Learn How To Get HVAC Issues Taken Care Of

You might thing that HVAC is a subject you really cannot master. However, it’s really quite simple if you read the information below. The tips that follow will help you with most aspects of HVAC care, maintenance and shopping.

If you want to keep your air conditioning unit running efficiently, make sure you replace or clean the air filter once a month. Check the owner’s manual on the a/c for instructions on how to clean the filter. Never run the unit when the filter is removed and let the filter dry before reinstallling it.

When a contractor gives you a list of references, be sure to make use of it. Call the people on the list and ask about the quality of the work, how closely they came to their quote and whether or not the work was completed according to the promised timeline.

Look for deals and rebates on the HVAC system you are having installed. Many ENERGY STAR units come with huge rebates either from your local utility company or the government itself. Investigate your options as it could save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars on the installation costs.

If you want to save money once a new HVAC system is put in place, be sure to pick ENERGY STAR rated products to use. They are very energy efficient so your new system won’t cost you a ton when it comes to your utility bills every month, recouping some of your installation costs.

Look for discounts wherever possible. HVAC systems can be rather costly, so you’ll want to seek out whatever discounts and deals that may be out there. When shopping around, ask about any current specials running, and look for discounts that are related to ENERGY STAR compliance. Both can save you a lot of cash.

Clean your permanent air filters or replace disposable ones every single month. If you have the choice, an electrostatic is the best option on the market today. Be sure to turn off your unit before you change the filter as it should never be run without a filter in place.

An HVAC system is a really expensive investment. This is why you should do some browsing before purchasing your system. Try to find a good sale so you can get your system at a discount. Check out a couple of sites before making a decision. A great site to begin is www.energystar.gov.

You should be sure to change the air filter of your HVAC system once every six months. Neglecting to do so can cause dust particles to clog the air ducts. In turn, your system will not work properly and you will find your bills going up. It’s worth spending the time to clean the filters.

When you are looking for a service provider to perform service on your HVAC system, look for a company that stands behind their work. This is especially important if your compressor or condenser is being repaired. Repairs to these two things are extremely expensive, so you want to ensure that the service provider warranties their work.

This article has given you the knowledge necessary to get into HVAC. Things can work out perfectly if you follow this great advice. If you use them wisely, you may find you have learned enough to make money doing it.…