Rickstrange Home Improvement

Archive for the ‘Tips’ Category

With all the different choices in foam insulation today, how do you know which is best? This article reviews the different types of foam insulation and the benefits of each.

The Types of Insulation and the Benefits of Each

Insulation is undoubtedly one of the most effective ways to reduce energy waste and lower your monthly energy bills, but with all of the different types of foam on the market, how do you which option is best for you? There are four main types of insulation including spray foam, rigid foam and blown foam. In this article we will discuss each type and the benefits of each.

Spray insulation is a very popular type of insulation in the home improvement industry today. Its unique ability to expand and serve as a barrier as well as an insulator makes it a very popular option. Once sprayed into the desired cavity or crevice, the foam expands filling all holes and acting as an air tight seal. This type of industrial insulation helps keep cool air inside during the summer and cold air out during the winter thus lowering your energy use. Spray foam is also considered a “green” option because it is a permanent investment and many state and federal tax rebates are also available for this reason. Read the rest of this entry »

As we already know that playing outside is essential for children’s growth. Since playground equipment are made for the kids, there are some ways to keep them safe. Read through this article to expand your knowledge about play slides in playground which are offered in different structures.

Attired with different play-equipment, playgrounds are undoubtedly the prime source of fun and frolic for children. Here they get the chance to grow physically and socially, and to get involved into several activities like swinging, climbing and running. Today, there is a wide range of play-equipment like swings, climbers, see-saws, etc available in the market, based on materials, prices and designs. The most appealing and loved by kids are the slides where they usually have a great time playing in a group.

Generally, made up of plastic and metal, slide has a smooth surface with straight or wavy structure. Since it is designed in different shapes and sizes, it is fun for children of every age-group. It must have safe and convenient stairs and have sides to the slides to prevent kids from falling. As evident from its popularity, slide is much demanded in the market these days. Read the rest of this entry »

You know what homeowners can learn from the Boy Scouts? Their motto, which is to always be prepared. I’m going to help get you started. Below is a list of tips that can save you time and money when it comes to making repairs around your house or improving it. Keep them in a safe place and refer to them when needed.

- Go for flooring that installs quickly. There are a number of flooring finishes that can be very quick to install, including bamboo, wood, cork, wall-to-wall carpeting, and sheet vinyl and linoleum. These will allow the floor to be rapidly set into place within a small period of time. Especially when compared with slower installations such as ceramic tile.

- Don’t go cheap on your carpet underlay. A carpet is only as good as its underlay. Even if you have obtained the best quality carpet available on the market, if you don’t have it installed with a great under-padding, it will not feel as nice nor will it wear as well. Lengthen the life of your carpet and save money over time by picking out a great underlay product. Read the rest of this entry »

Deciding to look into drinking water storage tanks is easy. Whether it is to collect rain and make your house more ecologically friendly or as a part of an emergency preparedness plan, saving potable water makes a lot of sense. But deciding what kind of storage unit to get is a little more confusing.

Most rain cisterns are made out of galvanized or stainless steel. This is partially because the material is cheap and easily obtainable, and are usually either welded or bolted together. But when shopping for drinking water storage tanks it’s important to get material that was specifically created for that purpose, as metal containers are coated inside and out to prevent against leaks and corrosion and to make sure the liquid remains potable. Read the rest of this entry »

Ways to Become Organized

Very few people would say they prefer to not be organized. Most want an organized life and a home that reflects it. If you have looked around, shook your head and said this doesn’t fit my idea of the design for my home and life, there’s a good chance you could use a few tips on ways to become organized.

Here are 3 places to find help, 2 ideas about picking your battles where to start, 1 tested ruler for making decisions and more.

An organized home is a much more peaceful place to relax, refresh and recharge.You’ll feel better about yourself as a whole when you can defeat clutter and regain order and control. Read the rest of this entry »

The moon serves as your lamp in your bedroom tonight. You are in your soft bed, sleeping softly while enjoying the comfort of your pillows and blanket. You are in the middle of your slumber, when suddenly you are awakened by a distinct bite on your skin. Yes, they have attacked again, bed bugs! But worry no more; you can put an end to these nightmares through simple home remedies for bed bugs.

Before you can actually eradicate bed bugs, you have to know what they are first. These little oval insects that are brown in color are nocturnal animals. This means that these blood-sucking animals are awake at night until dawn, which explains why they attack when you’re at sleep. They eat quite fast, with an average feeding time of five minutes. After that, they go back to their hiding place. Now that you already know the basics about the ‘foe’, you are all set to learn the different home remedies for bugs. Read the rest of this entry »

You want to make every effort to ensure that the contractor you hire for your home renovation is not only one who will deal honestly with you but is also reliable as well. There are lots of contractors out there who are just great; the problem is you’ll have to do a little digging sometimes to find the right one. It doesn’t have to be a long and arduous process if you follow these simple steps.

Be certain the professional you choose has the proper licenses to build in your city and state. The requirements for licenses in different areas will vary; you will need to inquire as to what your contractor will need to be legal. Whoever you decide to hire needs to carry adequate insurance, regardless of whether or not it is a legal responsibility. The minimum requirement would be enough liability insurance to match the assessment of your house. Without it, you would be susceptible to liability issues when having your work done. Your contractor must be able to carry and present the evidence needed to verify their license and insurance coverage and you should never feel threatened to ask to see it. One of the best ways to determine if a contractor is right for you is to ask for a few references. This is a perfectly reasonable request, and anyone who refuses to provide references should be crossed off your list. You should check out these references, and ask permission to see what the contractor has done. You can also talk to some people on the list and ask some general questions about how satisfied they were with the contractor’s work, and if there were any problems. Asking them simply if they’d choose to use this contractor again is probably the most useful question of all. Read the rest of this entry »

Foundation creep is a common type of foundation damage found in houses built on sloping sites. With this kind of damage, a foundation element (wall, footing, slab or pier) can begin to move downhill in response to gravitational forces, soil pressure and other factors. Since foundation elements are usually tied together with a combination of steel reinforcement, continuous masonry or framing; multiple elements can be affected when one element shifts.

If not addressed, foundation creep is likely to worsen over time. Homeowners who occupy sloping sites are well-advised to contact a foundation repair specialist if they notice foundation damage. When proper repairs are done in a timely fashion, high repair costs and more perilous foundation damage can be avoided.

Sloping Sites Present Problems

Contractors prefer to build a house on a flat, open site, but they don’t always get their way. Sloping sites are often developed because flat sites are no longer available. They can also be chosen because of attractive views and other features like rock outcroppings to create special appeal. Regardless of the reason for developing a sloping site, property owners have reason to be concerned when soil creep causes foundation damage. Read the rest of this entry »

Marble has been in use since time immemorial. It is hard to say who first used marble but there is a history of kings and queens erecting beautiful edifices, palaces, churches and forts using this natural stone. Ancient buildings made their mark due to their design and use of marble. These ancient structures still amaze visitors with their beauty. Marble is still hot favorite of people today and those who can afford it buy this natural stone for their home floors. It is found in almost every country but the Italian marble is world famous. There is a huge group of homeowners who can’t afford marble. For them there are marble tiles.

Marble tiles are in no way inferior to genuine stone that is found in queries. Therefore one should have no hesitation in installing these slabs in his home or office. These slabs come in square and rectangular pieces and are made to set on any kind of sub surface. Easy installation and no maintenance is the prime cause behind the popularity of these slabs. You can find this product on retail stores and online shops. There are glazed pieces and non glazed slabs. You will be offered marble slabs of different colors stretching from majestic white to mosaic. There is no end to choice when it comes to marble product. Read the rest of this entry »

The current carbon tax debate is placing an immediate focus on housing design and energy saving products as prudent people considering purchasing a home or carrying out a renovation will increasingly begin to factor in the cost of running a home and using building products that are less energy intensive to produce, said Archicentre, the building advisory service of the Australian Institute of Architects.

Archicentre State Manager Victoria, David Hallett said considering the carbon tax is planned to be introduced in July 2012 it is prudent for people to consider its impact when planning a building project which can take up to twelve months to commence.

Mr Hallett said, “As carbon pricing will impact both on materials used and on the running costs of the home, the major area for home buyers and renovators to create a winner is at the design stage. Read the rest of this entry »