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As the cold weather approaches and your furnace begins its annual duties, we often think of ways to make our homes more energy efficient. One thing that can make a big impact on energy savings at a reasonable cost is inspecting your insulation and weatherstripping. Over time, weatherstripping can become worn out and damaged which then creates drafts. Insulation can settle over time, thus reducing its R-value and becoming less effective. Below, we’ll discuss some effective ways to check your insulation and weatherstripping to see if any action is needed. Weatherstripping First, do a visual inspection around your doors and...

While it’s an arduous task that needs to be done in the heat of the summer, sealing your asphalt driveway is a necessary task in maintaining its integrity. Here are the five steps you need to take to prepare your driveway to look like new again: 1) Pick a good span of daysThe first step in this process is scouting out the weather reports and seeing where there is a good three or four-day span of hot temperatures without any rain. 2) MeasureYou will want to measure the dimensions of your driveway and keep that information when you plan on...

If your home’s paint is beginning to peel and crack, it may be getting difficult to avoid the age old question: Should I hire a painter or do it myself?That answer depends on a few things. First, do you know how? Painting your home is a job that is relatively easy enough for most homeowners to tackle. However, a homeowner must also have the available time, be in good enough shape, and must not be bothered by working on a ladder and/or scaffolding. If you think the architectural features of your home will require equipment, expertise and intestinal fortitude that...

Sitting around the fire. It’s a tradition that goes back further than recorded history and is one that has endured for many reasons. The simplest of which is that it’s just plain relaxing. What better way to spend a summer evening than being gathered around a fire with family and friends? More and more, people aren’t waiting to go camping to enjoy an evening fire. Outdoor fireplaces and fire pits are gaining in popularity. Building your own backyard fire pit is a relatively simple and inexpensive project that you’ll enjoy all season long -- perhaps well into autumn. Like most...

If you’re thinking of going into business as a contractor, it’s important to note that all states require contractors to be licensed. In addition, licensing laws are not universal across all 50 states. So, just because you’ve obtained a license in one state, doesn’t mean it would be legal to work as a contractor in another. Some states only require a license to work in specific fields such as plumbing, electrical, HVAC, or refrigeration. In these states, to be a general contractor doesn’t require a license. But, bear in mind that working in those above-mentioned fields without a license could...