Interior Design, Design News and Architecture Trends

Author: ION

  • How to Take Care of Your HVAC System

    How to Take Care of Your HVAC System

    During a cold winter night or a hot summer day, you can rely on your HVAC system to keep you comfortable. However, it can break down in the middle of the night leaving you to deal with the freezing cold or sweltering heat.

    Here are some tips that will help you keep your HVAC system in top condition:

    What to Do Now

    Buy a high efficiency filter – the type of air filter that you purchase will determine the quality of air that you breathe in; it is a good idea to invest in a pleated air filter.

    Clean your AC unit – you should clean your AC to remove dirt, leaves, and other debris. You can clean it with soap and water or use a brush to remove sediment that has stuck to the unit.

    Create clearance around the outdoor unit – You also need to clear at least two feet of space around your unit. Doing so will make it easier for professionals to access it. You just have to trim the surrounding bushes and trees on all sides of the unit. Failure to provide clearance around your outdoor unit can result in clogged condensing units.

    What to Do Seasonally

    Replace the air filter – you need to replace your air filter once per month in the summer and after six weeks in the winter. Replacing your filter will keep your AC functioning properly and ensure that you breathe in fresh, clean air. If you have pets, you should check your air filter more often to prevent allergens. If you have a system for air purification, you should also replace its filters.

    Call in the experts – you need to call in HVAC professionals such as http://www.valleycomfortheatingandair.com/services/heating/ to inspect the system twice per year. This should happen before the cold weather starts and before hot weather comes. They will look for microbial contamination and obstructions that keep your HVAC system from functioning optimally. These inspections will reduce the burner soot buildup.

    Examine your AC ducts – you need to make sure that your AC ducts are not leaking because you can lose up to 25 percent of the heat in your home through small holes. When you spot holes, you should get in touch with HVAC professionals to fix them. If you have an emergency, some companies might offer 24hr repair for your AC unit.

    What to Do Annually

    Replace detector batteries – make sure that you replace the batteries in your carbon monoxide detector at least once a year. If you forget to replace the batteries, you will be putting your whole family in danger because carbon monoxide is a deadly gas. You should set a reminder on your phone or write it down in your journal.

    Clean the condensing unit – you should clean your condensing unit, which is usually outside with a fan on top of it. The fins in the fan get clogged up with dust, grime, and pollen. To remove this debris, you should spray the outside of the unit with a hose.

    However, you should not use a pressure washer because it will damage your unit.

    Check the drainpipe of the evaporator coil – if you do not know where it is, you should speak to a HVAC contractor. Check this drainpipe for blockages that tend to build up there. Use a wet-dry vacuum to suck out the clog or use bleach to clean it.

    Conclusion

    The above tips will keep your HVAC system in pristine condition all year round. If you do not know what you are doing, you should call in the professionals to avoid destroying your entire air conditioning system.

  • Roof Maintenance – Why?

    Roof Maintenance – Why?

    A roof is the most important part of a home. One can imagine how much problems a damaged roof can cause if not fixed in time, and if delayed, it may become dangerous to the residents of the house. Why and how a roof gets damaged? There are many reasons to that. A homeowner may look, inspect and examine the roof by himself, but it is always wise to call a professional Roofing contractors Dearborn heights Michigan to do the job professionally. An expert can identify the problem easily and can repair it expertly and get the job done as the way it should be.

    LEAKS and MOISTURE

    Talk about leaks, the major and most common issue almost all the roofs face. The reason for leaks may be due to harsh weather conditions or an improper installation. Moreover, the leaks are hard to detect sometimes, and when such an occasion arises, it is best to get it done by professionals. A minor leak is as dangerous as a big one and needs fixing ASAP, otherwise your home is going to face major problems soon. Normally, the leakages can be fixed, but if the fixing is not working and the cost of fixing is getting higher, then one might consider replacing the roof rather than fixing it. A professional roofing company can help you determine if you require a new roof or the old one with fixes can do.

    MAINTENANCE

    After roof installation, homeowner tend to forget about it and regular maintenance the roof required over the period. Homeowners need to know roof requires periodic maintenance. If you don’t have time to do it, hire a professional. Possessing the professional knowledge, they can examine the roof thoroughly and can fix the problems during the early stage of damage and can save you from spending a lot in the times to come.

    INSTALLATION

    Many roofs are inaccurately installed. Some roofs are not dried, cleaned and primed before the adhesion, while some are installed by non-professionals. Issues like these are not easily detectable, but a professional and expert contractor can sort them out by having a thorough examination of the roof and get them fixed.

    WATER

    A dead level roof always requires a slope, which can be done with the help tapered insulation or crickets. Make sure there is no water ponding on your roof, and if you find one, get it repaired as soon as possible as it may cause damage not only to the roof, but also to the warranty of the materials used.

    PROFESSIONALS

    The right kind of professional are a guarantee that your roof is installed properly, they materials used are right and the quality of the work is up to the mark. An improperly installed roof will only get things worse. Therefore, before getting the roof fixed or replaced, always contact a professional for an expert opinion to avoid any future loss.

     

  • Ten Deep Cleaning Tasks to Invigorate Your Home

    Ten Deep Cleaning Tasks to Invigorate Your Home

    Cleaning is often viewed as a burdensome task that gets put on the back burner– another place that you likely haven’t cleaned enough. However, there are studies that show that a clean home can help you feel less stress and more contentment when you finally put your feet up at the end of the day.

    Deep cleaning takes this theory to new heights and improves the hygienic quality of your living space. Here are ten deep cleaning tasks to add to your to-do list over the next ten weeks to invigorate your home.

    Steam Clean Carpets and Upholstery

    When was the last time you deep cleaned your couch? Never? These high traffic areas have a tendency to collect dust and grime, even in the cleanest of houses. Look at local companies that offer steam cleaning solutions for home environments and rent a steam cleaner or hire an expert to do it for you. Get your mattresses too!

    Scrub Your Walls

    You wouldn’t think of walls as a place that gets dirty. That is until you wash the walls to prepare for a fresh coat of paint and see how much grime comes off. Mix hot water with vinegar and a drop of dish soap to create a degreasing, powerful cleanser that won’t damage your paint. You’ll be shocked at how much your walls will shine.

    Purge and Clean your Cupboards

    Do you know what’s hanging out in the back of your cupboards? When was the last time you looked in there? Most people have an abundance of expired dry goods that they bought in bulk, as well as utensils that they never use. Take some time to empty your cupboards, get rid of expired food, and clean the surfaces inside. Take gently worn appliances to the local thrift store.

    Clean the Fridge and Stove

    The fridge tends to accumulate forgotten food the same way the stove does. Start going through everything and getting rid of old food, taking time to scrub the shelves and crispers. Give the outside of your fridge a wipe and vacuum the coils. For the stove, give the inside a good clean as well as the exterior.

    Window Screens and Curtains

    If you regularly wash your windows, congratulations! It’s time to take that a step further. Take out your screens and give them a good scrub. Take down your curtains and throw them in the laundry or take them to the dry cleaner. This will ensure that only fresh air comes in to greet you and your family.

    Light Fixtures

    If you have old-fashioned light fixtures that collect bugs, take them down and get them clean. For other light fixtures, dust then wipe with a damp cloth. While you’re up there, be sure to test your fire alarms; there’s no need to stand on a chair or ladder more than once in a while.

    Treat Your Wooden Furniture

    Take some time to show your wooden furniture some love. Dust it, wash it, and treat it with something that will help maintain the wood for years to come and revitalize its natural splendor.

    Baseboards and Vents

    Just in case you skipped the baseboards during your wall cleaning exercise, address those now. Give them a vacuum and a wipe down. While you’re low to the ground, take some time to vacuum out the vents and give the vent covers a wipe down to remove dust.

    Filters and Fans

    Clean the filter on your air exchanger every few months. Take it out, wash it with hot water and vinegar, let it dry, and return it to its location. Additionally, take some time to tear apart and clean any fans that are in your house.

    Under Heavy Appliances and Furniture

    Remember to pull out appliances and furniture every once in a while to clean underneath. You’d be shocked at how much dirt collects there.

    Put these ten items on a bi-weekly or monthly maintenance rotation, and your home will always seem fresh and new!

  • 5 Ways to Add Value to Your Home by Improving Your Garden

    5 Ways to Add Value to Your Home by Improving Your Garden

    When it comes to adding value to your home, you may be tempted to redecorate in a neutral colour scheme, declutter to showcase the available space, or renovate your bathroom. But what about the exterior?

    While these methods have the potential to increase your property’s price tag, a well-planned garden can boost value by up to 20%. So, whether you have cash to spare, are looking for budget-friendly solutions, or are planning to budget, it may be worth investing in these garden improvements.

    Add a Shed

    In any area of your home, having adequate storage is always important (especially when it comes to selling), and the garden is no exception. From tools and equipment, to somewhere to store outdoor furniture or children’s toys, consider adding a shed to boost value.

    If you can afford to make a larger investment, you could take it one step further with a summer house. This not only provides storage, but can offer additional entertainment space or be used as a home office.

    Update Fencing

    Encircling your garden, a fence is often a major component of any outdoor space. This means if it’s damaged or scruffy, it can draw the eye for all the wrong reasons, which could impact on the property’s price.

    Luckily, there are many ways to update your existing fence without having to splurge on new panels. This includes re-staining or repainting, utilising this vertical space with a hanging herb garden, or covering with materials like bamboo.

    Boost Lighting

    In your home, you may use different types of lighting to make the space feel warm and cosy. You can also do the same in your garden by installing lights to improve the ambience.

    From rope lighting or spot lights to highlight paths, to string lights that make a seating area feel more inviting, this is an easy and effective way to improve your garden and potentially, the value of your home.

    Improve Layout

    When planning the layout of your garden, it’s important to consider how you (or potential buyers) will use the space. This could help you create a well-designed and multi-functional garden, which may be appealing when you decide to sell.

    For example, you could include decking for family dining, a grassed area for children, a comfortable seating area, or perhaps raised plant beds or vegetable patches.

    Enhance Seating

    Any usable and enjoyable garden requires seating. Plus, whether you select a quality outdoor table and chairs set or a purpose-built seating area, making your garden useable could improve your home’s resale value.

    When planning garden seating, consider practicality. This includes how furniture will be covered or stored during winter, as well as choosing materials that are easy to maintain and will look stylish for years to come.

    A well-designed garden is not only a space for relaxing but could also add value to your home. To achieve both, consider these give ideas and make sure to perform regular maintenance, too.

     

  • What is PVC used for

    What is PVC used for

    The diversity of PVC applications challenges the imagination. In existence, they’re all around North America. PVC is utilized for everything from construction profiles to medical devices, from roofing membranes to credit cards, and from children’s toys to pipes for water and gas. Few different materials are as versatile or able to fulfill such hard to please specifications. PVC offers creativeness in product engineering and innovation, creating new potentialities on the market daily.

    Why is PVC that good?

    PVC is fantastic simply because PVC products build safer lives for everybody. In addition to that, they bring comfort and joy and facilitate conserve natural resources and combat global climate change. And because of a wonderful cost-performance magnitude relation, PVC permits individuals of all financial backgrounds to access to board the green life that supports healthy lifestyles!

    Why does PVC mean to promoting safer lifestyle?

    PVC plays a crucial part in making sure people are living in a safe environment.  It can be applied in many occasions, it’s even used for medical devices. Not only that, it can be easily sterilized and it doesn’t break easy. What more can you want?

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    Another superpower PVC has is its fireproofing abilities. Because of this, a lot of cables and wires are sheathed with PVC. All in all, PVC is a giant among materials.

    Does PVC fight climate change?

    Because PVC is as such a low-carbon material that consumes less primary energy than several different materials and is straightforward to recycle, it makes it such a powerful asset in fighting against the climate change and preserving our environment.

    Also, most PVC products are insanely long lasting and need a minimum of maintenance and repair. Let’s put it like this, the service lifetime of PVC water and waste product piping is over one hundred years. And most of cars today last a few years longer just because PVC protects the undersurface from water and corrosion.

    We know it’s strong. But, does PVC look good as it performs?

    Of course! PVC is used by a lot of artists out there. We can easily say that it plays a big role in the beauty department as well. Not only that, PVC is used for a lot of design projects for designing home accessories.

    PVC is being implemented by more and more professionals in a lot of sectors. With the pollution we are facing right now, we have to find eco-friendly alternatives. PVC is the perfect candidate for enabling people to have better and safer lives.

  • Making the Repairs: Who’s Responsible for Condo Damage?

    Making the Repairs: Who’s Responsible for Condo Damage?

    If you live in a condominium, the last thing you want to wake up to is a leak in your ceiling from a cracked pipe in the walls, or worse, parts of a tree in your living room after a thunderstorm. And for property owners, keeping property in good shape on a regular basis is a source of financial and safety-related stress.

    When it comes to repairing damage done to a condo, both associations and individual condo owners each have their own responsibilities, depending on the circumstances. Here’s what each should do in case of an accident.

    Collective responsibilities

    The condominium corporation or association (made up of all individual condo owners in the building) can help avoid damage to their building by placing certain preventative measures in place. That puts responsibility on their shoulders when it comes to maintaining anything which affects the entire building, under Section 90 of the Condominium Act of 1998. Repairs are expected from the association if property damage takes place that was not caused by an individual owner or tenant. Such examples include a tree falling onto the roof or floods occuring during a rainstorm.

    Having insurance is another requirement for companies in case of damage. Section 99 of the Condominium Act focuses on this, declaring that organizations need insurance to cover damage to individual units and other parts of the area. In addition to damage resulting from hail, rainstorms, snowstorms and other natural disasters, this pertains to damage done by vehicle and airplane accidents, as well as riots, vandalism and other acts of violence.

    Individual responsibilities

    Handling repairs is in the hands of residents when it comes to damage specifically done by them. The Condominium Act puts responsibility on the shoulders of individual condo owners in these situations, with an example being a resident accidentally knocking something over and creating a dent in their wall.

    Owners are also obligated to have insurance for any damage that can occur to their personal property. Whatever coverage they have, such as apartment building insurance in New Jersey, for example, it should include furnishings, fixtures, equipment, decorations, and any improvements and additions that they make to their unit. Whether or not the owner has insurance, they are obligated to pay for damage done to their personal property. As a result, insurance will only make the payment process easier.

    Having good credit can also come in handy for making the repair process a piece of cake. Some landlords run a tenant credit check so that they know the person who wants to rent their property is not only able to pay rent, but also has enough money to cover damages. These checks also show whether a tenant has a good history of taking care of their home, which allows for landlords to trust them enough to keep their units in good condition.

    Significance of communication

    Some landlords have different rules regarding who’s responsible for certain damage. This stresses the significance for current and potential tenants to read the documents that pertain to their specific unit, as the association could be stricter than their previous one as far as costs and penalties for damage done by the unit owner.

    But both the owner and association are required to have insurance, though it is the association’s job to ensure individuals are covered in order to prevent problems in the future. The better the understanding of rules is between tenants and landlords, the easier it will be for them to get through repairs. Landlords and tenants can keep this in mind, so they can take care of repairs easily and maintain a good relationship.

     

  • Ways to upgrade your garage

    Ways to upgrade your garage

    Garages can be messy but with a little help you can upgrade your garage and get it organized in no-time! Do you see your garage as a chore and cleaning it can be a nightmare? Well, it doesn’t have to be that way. Make your garage better by upgrading little things. Let’s get started.

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    1. Install cabinet systems.

    By adding cabins, you can sort your stuff in them and avoid hanging them on your wall or ceiling. Cabinets are fantastic to store things in bulk into smaller spaces. You can go for free-standing cabinets because they can be easily moved. So, if you ever want to reorganize your garage, you can just move them and you’ll get a whole new look!

    1. Get a new garage door.

    Doors are the souls of a room(and windows). They are the first thing people see and touch before they enter. You can get an upgrade your new garage door to give your garage a completely different look. There are so many options on the market right now, you just have to do a little research to see which model fits your house the best.

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    1. Get a new interior door.

    Now, that you have upgraded the outside door, it’s the interior door that needs to be upgraded. You don’t have to replace the entire door, you just need to apply a fresh coat of paint and it will be fresh as new!

    1. Upgrade the floor.

    You can make your floor upgraded by adding Rhino Lining polyaspartic for a cleaner looking surface. Make sure you scrub it well on a daily basis to keep your floor last long time. Also, another of the most resistant and economically convenient coatings are epoxies. Setting up an Epoxy Garage Floor you are not just thinking about resistant and durable materials but also about creating a unique and personal space.

    1. Add a lift to your garage.

    You add even more space to your garage if you install a lift. By adding a lift system, you can park two vehicles. It doesn’t have to be a car. You can store a boat, a motorcycle or anything really without having to park your car outside.

    1. Organize!

    Most of us are culprits of adding unnecessary junk into the garage. We oversee how much stuff we throw there and in the end, we get pilled up by tons of stuff we don’t need. Heck, we get overrun by stuff we do need but don’t want to keep it in the house. There are so many tutorials and professional services that offer organization. Either way, you can get your garage organized in a jiffy. Once you get that done, you’ll always know where everything.

    Note: Always return the stuff you take to their rightful place to avoid clutter. 

    1. Install insulation

    If you spend a lot of time in your garage, it’s better to install an insulation system. During the winter time, you’ll be warm and in the summer, you’ll be cool!

    Upgrading your garage can be fun and budget-friendly. Never leave out any of your rooms because each and every one of them wants attention and love. Your garage, too. That’s why with just a few steps, you’ll make your garage wanted and brand new.

  • Low maintenance garden design: What does it take?

    Low maintenance garden design: What does it take?

    As countless experts tell us, more and more buyers are seeking a low maintenance garden when they go on the lookout for a new home. This should hardly be surprising; while in an ideal world everyone would love to have that flamboyant garden, in reality they are time-consuming and many of us just can’t afford such luxuries.

     

    This is one of the reasons the likes of Japanese garden design has become so common over recent years. These have more of an emphasis on rocks, evergreen plants and ornaments – meaning that they can be tailored to require much less maintenance than the typical garden.

    There are other ways and means to achieve the low-maintenance look and through the course of this post we will take a look at some in-detail.

    Lawns are the biggest drain on your time

    Having that lush, Wimbledon-esque lawn might seem great for photos, but in reality it’s an absolute burden on your time. Sure, in some month’s lawn maintenance might not be excessive, but in others you’ll find yourself taking care of it every week.

    This is perhaps where the biggest movement in the low-maintenance field has become. Nowadays, more and more households are turning to surfaces such as paving, gravel or decking – and all of these can eliminate all of the maintenance which is associated with a lawn.

    Of course, you don’t have to go the full hog with this. You could instead just scale back your lawn, or at least keep it to a regular shape. You might be surprised at just how much work you can cut out by opting for the latter.

    Avoid the use of containers

    While containers can completely look the part in a lot of gardens, few would disagree that they require an awful lot of work. These plants very rarely tend to be evergreen, and usually need to be re-potted and regularly fed.

    If you do have your heart set on containers, at least opt for larger ones which contain plenty of compost, as there is less chance of them drying out.

    If you insist on wild plants…

    For some people, there’s nothing better than the sight of wild plants. Of course, this is hardly a best of both worlds’ solution, and this wild garden will need maintenance – and a lot of it.

    It will also cut down on the water usage, as you don’t need a lot of water or an elaborate watering system if you just have a small lawn. You can simply use a hose with a water nozzle by Gilmour attached to meet all of your lawns water needs.

    The solution? Designate a small space in your garden which contains this wild garden. One of the big problems is that a lot of these plants spread like there is no tomorrow, so make sure you fence it off accordingly. It will need looking after from time-to-time, but if it’s not taking over your garden there won’t be quite as much maintenance for you to take care of.

    Strip out the soil factor

    If you have opted to have beds, don’t top them with soil. This is one of the easiest materials for weeds to bypass, and nowadays it hardly looks the part either. Instead, opt for mulch or crushed stone. The former can actually help to fertilize plants, while stone is something that never has to be replaced and will survive the test of time.