It might not seem like a simple piece of decor could do much to make your home more livable, but a set of thermal curtains can do more than you might realize. By helping to regulate your indoor temperatures, these curtains keep you more comfortable and save you money. Not all thermal curtains work the […]
Tankless Toilets: Right for Your Residential Home?
Tankless toilets offer more than just aesthetic appeal. Their streamlined forms and relatively small sizes mean they save space in your bathroom and their advanced flushing method helps save water, too. These toilets aren’t a good fit for every home, though. They work differently from conventional toilets, so if you’re thinking about installing one, make […]
Sandless Floor Refinishing: Effective or a Scam?
A shiny, newly refinished floor can freshen up any room, but the process of getting a worn floor back into condition tends to involve mess most of us would rather avoid. Sandless refinishing seems to promise the best of both worlds: a beautifully clean floor without the messy sanding work. The reality, however, is somewhere […]
The Pros and Cons Geothermal Energy for Your Home
Geothermal energy has been gaining popularity as an eco-friendly way to heat and cool a home at a fraction of the cost of fuel-burning systems or even conventional air-source heat pumps. While this energy source does offer a lot of benefits, it’s not ideal for everyone. If you’re considering having a geothermal (ground-source) heat pump […]
The Pros and Cons of Garbage Disposals
A garbage disposal lets you scrape dirty dishes straight into the sink without having to worry about food debris clogging up your pipes. While it might seem hard to go wrong with choosing a convenience like this, these devices have their drawbacks, too. Before you splash out on a new garage disposal, make sure you’re […]
Do HVAC UV Lights Actually Work?
The idea of killing off the germs in your home just by shining a light into your air ducts admittedly sounds a little too good to be true, but HVAC UV lights really can improve your home’s air quality. In fact, these lights have been used for decades in hospitals and other facilities where sanitation […]
Identifying and Removing Asbestos Building Materials
If you’re considering renovating an older home, asbestos is one of the most insidious dangers you’ll need to look out for. Cheap, durable, fire-resistant, and an excellent insulator, asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral fiber that was commonly used in homes from the late 18th century all the way to the mid-1970s. As early as […]
The Pros and Cons of Maple Flooring
With its combination of strength and beauty, maple has become one of the most popular hardwood flooring options in the United States. It’s a tough wood that stands up to decades of wear and its light, neutral color suits almost any decor style. It’s also highly affordable. Despite its popularity, though, maple does have a […]
Can You Paint Roof Shingles?
The classic neutral tones of wood, metal, and asphalt roof shingles have their own unique beauty, but they don’t suit every home or every taste. If your shingles are a little too drab for your style, paint can liven them up. Some colors can even make your home a little more comfortable. That said, while […]
The Pros and Cons of Painted Wood Floors
Painted wood floors are something of a divisive issue among interior designers. Some see painting as a practical way to freshen up a heavily damaged floor, while others view it as virtual sacrilege against the natural beauty of wood. While there are times when painting a wood floor makes good sense, the potential downsides mean […]