House Improvements | Yakima Furniture

Four Cost-Saving Green Ideas For Homeowners

July 30, 2022 Comments Off

There is much discussion today on going “green” and saving the environment. Many businesses, both commercial and industrial, are adopting systems and policies in order to comply with the demands of the government and the overall world community to create “green” buildings and environmentally friendly processes. Many of the things that are being done in the business world can also be adopted very easily to residential properties as well. I am always watching for ways to apply these technologies simply and cost effectively as a means of not only helping our environment, but also as a way to save some money. Here are a few ideas of simple ways that we can do our part:

If you live in an area with modest rainfall, devise a means for collecting the rainwater that normally comes off the roof and down the gutter by installing a water storage tank. This water can be used for cleaning around the outside of the home and also for watering the lawn, flowers and garden.

Install solar panels for collecting the sun’s energy and use it to power your home. This can be done very efficiently and relatively easily with the right tools and does not have to cost a lot of money. This can be a huge money saver.

Insulate your hot water heater. There are insulating jackets on the market which will allow you to “wrap” the hot water heater and prevent heat loss thereby saving the energy needed to maintain the hot water temperature.

If you have plans to do any kind of bathroom remodeling that involves getting into the walls and/or floor as well as piping changes, consider a heat exchanger for collecting wasted heat from the shower. There are simple heat exchangers designed exclusively for this purpose in residential bathrooms. The heat collected can be used to return heat to the hot water heater and reduce the energy needed to provide hot water in the home.

These are just four ways that you can do your part to help the environment and at the same time reduce your household utility costs. With the right research, you can easily come up with many other ways as well. Follow the lead of big business and find out the ways that they are accomplishing these goals and then scale it down to see if it makes sense both economically as well as efficiently. I will do my part to share techniques as I am able to uncover them.

Kitchen Cabinets for You

July 23, 2022 Comments Off

There are many that think about changing the kitchen cabinets. They look towards improving the look of their home and giving their kitchen a facelift. If you are one of them, you should remember that doing this is no easy task. Changing your kitchen cabinet can cost you heavy and also sometimes it might even take days to complete the process. You should therefore make adequate alternatives till your kitchen is completely redone. There are many factors that go into redoing your kitchen cabinet. You should consider all these factors well before you start to work on your kitchen.
First question in your mind would be if this is a good time to reface your kitchen. If your kitchen has grown dull after years of use, it would be a good time. You can give your kitchen a much fresher look. You might not want to remove the original construction materials that the kitchen was made up of. This is because they cost a lot in the market. Therefore re-facing your kitchen in this situation would be a good idea. You can always go for remodeling your kitchen, but doing so will again cost you thousands of dollars. Therefore to give it the same effect and sometimes even better and to getting it done cheap, re-facing would be a good option. Also re facing your kitchen cabinet is good if you are looking to sell your home. If your house has an old kitchen then it can easily pull down the value of your home. Hence giving your kitchen a little facelift with minimal spending will help to increase the value of your house..
If you are however planning to do more work on your kitchen in the future then it would be more expensive to reface your cabinets now and rework them again later. Hence it is always better not to reface your kitchen cabinets alone. You should do it together with the rest of your kitchen. This will create a synergy with your kitchen which will help you save money and also look better.
If you want to add extra room to your kitchen cabinets for specialty items, you should go towards re facing your kitchen cabinet. Re facing your cabinets will generally be a cheaper option that renovating your entire kitchen. It would be fresher clean and up to dated. When a home owner comes to buy your home, he or she would get more attracted by the re faced kitchen cabinets. Also if your kitchen cabinet is causing traffic you can go for the smart ones that move away to create space. These also have a lot of space inside. With a modern kitchen in your house, you will have an easier time as these are lighter and easy to maintain.

Home Renovation – An Affordable Transformation Kitchen Remodel

May 21, 2022 Comments Off

If you are looking to transform your kitchen on a budget there are several areas you can concentrate on that will bring a modern look to your kitchen. Focus on a few key areas of your kitchen and stay away from too many kitchen projects at once.
Countertops are the area in the kitchen that most eyes are drawn to. Installing a top quality countertop will update a kitchen by decades. Granite is one of the most durable materials on the market and the end results are stunning. The benefits of granite include: natural beauty, increased home value, variety of colors to choose from, and the simple maintenance. Granite can also be very affordable too. Here are a few parameters to work within when selecting granite and installation prices.
Most importantly, go with a top quality company that is licensed and bonded and don’t be afraid to ask for references. Ask to see before and after remodel pictures from former clients. Also, the more color patters that are within the color of granite the more expensive it becomes square footage wise. So, stick with a simple color as that can offer significant savings.
Everything is a negotiation and even though you are given a quote, you can always bring down the price by $100 to $200 if you’re willing to negotiate. It is strongly advised to get three quotes too. This will assure you are paying fair market value for your granite and installation. Also, make sure to ask about seams when the granite is cut. Some companies try to cut corners and add unnecessary seams to your granite, and this is something that can be avoided by asking the simple question when receiving quotes.
Other affordable updates you can make to your kitchen includes; modernizing your sink with an under-mount sink and replacing the sink faucet. After your new granite is installed, updating the hardware on your cabinets is great way to bring your new remodel to a complete finish.

Home Remodeling With Limestone Tiles

April 7, 2022 Comments Off

Limestone is a sedimentary stone and is a famous building material. Limestone tiles are softer than all other tiles. They come in different designs and colours. The popular ones are like blue, green, grey, dark browns, beige and cream. They are more suitable for kitchens and bathroom as they are available in various patterns. They attract the home owners by their hardness, long-lasting and they have low porosity. The oil resistance property of the tiles makes them suitable for all the areas in the home. If you prefer a natural look then, they are the best choice. They are available for both the walls and floors. They suit the formal, traditional or modern look. They offer a new appearance to the room by its remarkable patterns and textures.
The tiles look great due to their earthy colours and venation. They are versatile and the French classical pattern offers an elegant look. They look good when they are laid in patio, balconies, laundry and hallways. Limestone tiles are flexible and they need sealant coating when used in moist areas. If you do not seal the tiles properly then, surface will fade easily. They serve well for more than a life time. The special feature of the stones is that, their prettiness enhances with age. The climatic conditions and the moisture will not discolor the surface. Based on the tiles’ maintenance, the beauty and shine remains forever.
They are resistant to allergens and germs. This nature of the stone makes them suitable for both bathrooms and kitchens. This is the best option for people who are prone to allergies. Limestone tiles are popular among the homeowners and you can buy them from online retailers. Before ordering the tiles, you must make sure that they are of high quality. You can choose the shape and pattern based on your theme. Exterior decoration looks great with matte or unfilled textures. Tumbled or brushed finishes look superior in pathways or landscaped gardens. Honed finish gives an excellent appeal to the kitchens. This also has non slippery surface and is the perfect finish for this most used floor. Polished finish also looks good for kitchens and bathrooms. Make sure that the polishing does not make the surface slippery.
You can order the tiles from the online stone suppliers and you can get some samples before placing the order. Make sure that the delivered ones are same as the samples. Check the edges properly and make sure that there are no damages while transportation. You can go for a professional installation for laying them and the sealant depends on the tiles’ porosity. You can use a contrasting colour of grout to enhance the surface appearance. Regular maintenance of the surface will make them live forever. Select the best pattern and create wonders in the room.

How to Choose a House Framing Company

December 7, 2021 Comments Off

Selecting a house framing company to build the skeleton of your new home is a task full of pitfalls for consumers who are not experts in the industry. It requires diligent research and thorough checking of facts and references. Start with a list of local companies, and narrow it down to a few potential choices by doing the following:
Visit the house framing companies’ websites and determine whether the companies seem to be professional and to have good reputations. Read customer reviews and the “About Us” pages to find out how long each company has been in business and what its qualifications and areas of expertise are. Determine each company’s area of specialization and make sure it is competent in drywall framing, if that is the type of work you want.
Select a shortlist of between five and 10 house framing companies to investigate further. Check each company with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) for your state to see if there is any record of the company and feedback on its performance. Confirm legalities such as business registration, and find out whether the companies are licensed to operate in your state. For example, in Florida you can use the resources at sunbiz to check if companies are active and filing taxes.
By now, your shortlist should be down to around three to five house framing companies, by eliminating those whose credentials may not be impressive and those who have negative BBB reports. Contact these companies and ask each one for a list of at least 10 contactable references, as well as addresses where they have done other work. Don’t accept written testimonials, which are easy to fake, or comments on their website from “former clients’ who are not identifiable.
Contact each telephone reference personally, asking a variety of questions about the house framing contractor’s expertise, reliability, honesty, adherence to completion dates and any other points. Visit the sites for which you have addresses and inspect the drywall framing work done by the contractor as closely as you can, and speak with the homeowner if he or she is not on your list of telephone references.
Contact each of the house framing companies and ask for detailed, written quotations for the work you want done, with breakdowns of all costs including labor. The contractors should meet with you individually on site to survey the land available, discuss the home you want to build and identify any areas of concern. Ask each to explain what the job will involve, the equipment that will be used and whether they carry insurance for accidents or failure to perform.
Once you know which house framing company you want to use based on your research and reference checks, obtain the contractor’s draft agreement and get a lawyer to take a look at it before you sign. Make sure you know what is expected from you and when, and what the implications are for breach of contract by either party.