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It’s spring and it’s warming up fast. Now it’s time to warm up the grill, break out the lawn furniture, and begin moving outdoors to spend more time on the deck. I’m sure many of you have already begun doing this and to make sure you get the most out of your deck this summer, here are a few tips to keeping it looking good and remaining part of your outdoor living space.
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We got lucky this year. It was a very mild winter. Not too much snow shoveling, and flowers are already starting to bloom. With the change in seasons come some other priorities that we need to address. We need to get our homes ready for spring. Let me give you a short list of home projects that you should consider this spring.
Image Source: House & Garden DIY
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Some homeowners don’t realize it, but there are some gaping holes in your house. How do I know? If your monthly heating bill is over $200 a month, and if there are drafts, and cold spots that make your home uncomfortable in winter than you most likely have holes. The good news is that you can “fill” those holes, and make your home more comfortable. Let’s review how to do this:
Here are the areas that your home “leaks:”
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Image Source: starenergyaudits.com
There are some interesting statistics in regards to the country’s housing stock relating to home energy efficiency. This information comes from the Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS):
Of 113 million homes in the United States
Wow, did you have any idea? Over half of the homes in this country were constructed prior to 1980. With low energy costs prior to that time, energy efficiency was not much of a consideration in home construction. What this means is over half of the homes in this country are under-insulated. This translates to high heating and cooling bills. It also translates to homes that are uncomfortable in winter due to drafts, and cold spots.
If you have one of these homes (you pay high heating bills and you’re still cold), there is a potential solution. You can call your local public utility and ask if they are providing any kind of home energy audit. You can also do a Google search under Home Energy Audits. A home energy audit allows a “home energy auditor” to measure the energy efficiency of your home, and make recommendations on how to increase your home’s energy efficiency, and how you can make your home more comfortable.
There are a number of recommendations that are made, but the most cost-effective is adding additional insulation to your attic, and then following specific “air-sealing” procedures around your home. In this way, you can increase the “thermal envelope” of your home, stopping the excessive leakage of warm air to the outdoors and making it more energy efficient. At the same time, you can eliminate drafts and cold spots, making your home a more comfortable place to live.
Want to find out more? Hire a professional to conduct a Home Energy Audit.
David Lupberger, author of the book Managing the Emotional Homeowner, draws on more than two decades of experience in the residential remodeling field, working with remodelers to develop proven business systems. Through his work in the remodeling industry, he hopes to redefine the way the remodeling industry operates so that the trust between quality remodelers, their customers, suppliers, and trade contractors can be leveraged and improved. Visit David’s website at: www.DavidLupberger.com
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Winter is on its way. With the eventual snow that comes with winter, comes snow-shoveling. It has already snowed twice where I live (outside of Denver, CO). I don’t like to shovel snow and where I live, we have 24 hours to clear any walkways or the city can issue a ticket to homeowners who don’t get this done. So here is the deal – I have 24 hours to get my walks and driveway cleared, or I could be looking at a parking ticket-like fine if I don’t get it done. Your area may have some similar laws or neighborhood requirements. Look, I’m in pretty good shape – I go to the gym 2 or 3 times a week, and do some running to help keep my lungs healthy. In spite of this, I hate shoveling snow. It’s hard, especially the driveway. We have a 2-car garage, so there is a fair amount of concrete that needs to be cleared.
Instead of providing best practices on shoveling snow, here’s my best tip. Hire the kid down the street! Middle or high-school kids are perfect for this kind of work. Tell him/her to come do it every time it snows. In my younger years I shoveled snow, and loved the “easy” money that came with every storm. Want to save your back? Hire the kid down the street! Do you want to enjoy that early snowfall instead of stressing about removing it? Hire the kid down the street. This is effective delegation at its finest. It helps “fund” the local economy, and rewards some enterprising teenagers for their initiative. This is a win-win scenario.
If you don’t have a teenager down the street to hire, there are plenty of snow removal services that you can hire.
Soon you will be watching your local television station doing a news program on shoveling snow, and how to do it safely. I’ve gotten smarter as I’ve gotten older. I can’t think of any safer way to shovel snow than having a neighborhood teenager do it for me.
David Lupberger, author of the book Managing the Emotional Homeowner, draws on more than two decades of experience in the residential remodeling field, working with remodelers to develop proven business systems. Through his work in the remodeling industry, he hopes to redefine the way the remodeling industry operates so that the trust between quality remodelers, their customers, suppliers, and trade contractors can be leveraged and improved. Visit David’s website at: www.DavidLupberger.com
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With winter coming, fireplace users are starting to get excited about the warm glow that will soon be emanating from their fireplace hearth. There is nothing like the warm glow of a fire on a cold night. Like everything else in your home, however, your fireplace and chimney need periodic maintenance.
First, have you had your fireplace cleaned recently? Creosote is a flammable material that can build up on chimney walls, and left undisturbed can start a chimney fire. Check with a chimney cleaner if your fireplace has not been cleaned in the last 3 years. This is important – don’t put this off.
Secondly, make sure your fireplace flue is working properly. The chimney sweep can check is for you, but you want to make sure that you can close the flue at the times you are not using your fireplace. Also, look into installing some kind of fireplace doors or enclosure around an open fireplace. Why do I suggest this? Would you keep a window open during the winter, letting heat flow out the open window? Of course not. Heating fuel is too expensive, and the house would be cold.
Not having some kind of fireplace doors that you can close when not using your fireplace is like leaving a window open when it’s cold. Heat rises, and if you have an open fireplace, heat will be drawn right into your fireplace and up your chimney. A good fireplace flue will slow this down, but installing a fireplace enclosure with glass doors that you can open when using the fireplace is even better. When not is use, close the flue, close the fireplace doors, and keep your heat in the house. You will save money, and your house will feel warmer.
With all that said, enjoy your fireplace and the warmth of a good fire.
David Lupberger, author of the book Managing the Emotional Homeowner, draws on more than two decades of experience in the residential remodeling field, working with remodelers to develop proven business systems. Through his work in the remodeling industry, he hopes to redefine the way the remodeling industry operates so that the trust between quality remodelers, their customers, suppliers, and trade contractors can be leveraged and improved. Visit David’s website at: www.DavidLupberger.com
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You are going to start seeing a number of articles about preparing your home for winter. There is a reason. As the saying goes “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!”
There are a few simple things you can do to protect yourself and your home this winter. First, due to the added rain and snowfall that comes with winter, you want to make sure that your home is protected from water intrusion. Protect yourself so that water doesn’t seep into your basement:
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