Home Contractors

Stone Countertops Honed

November 29, 2021 Comments Off

Granite and marble countertops have become the classic choice for the kitchen and bathrooms. For an updated, fresh twist on stone countertops, select a honed finish.
Granite
Since there are so many color options with granite countertops, only the most popular or better looking colors are available in a honed finish. A highly popular granite color for the last two decades has been black. It is available in a wide range of options from the solid-looking Absolute Black granite to the glitzy variety Black Galaxy with gold flecks. Other more exotic black granite options are the largely veined Eclipse that looks like zebra stripes or even Magma Extra with its swirling contrast of black and gold. Any of these stones take on a whole new look with a honed finish. Highly polished Absolute Black, for example, has a modern appearance when installed in a sleek kitchen with stainless steel appliances and maple cabinetry. The same Absolute Black granite with a honed finish in the same kitchen gives the space a more organic or natural feel. By simply using a countertop stone with a honed finish the entire space will feel more casual and comfortable. Countertops have a large impact on any space, whether it’s in the kitchen, bathroom, or media room.
Travertine
Travertine and limestone countertops are more commonly available with a honed finish instead of a polished finish since it is a more popular selection. These stones are often the countertop of choice for bathroom vanities and utility rooms since they naturally appear more casual than granite or marble. However, a honed marble can have the same relaxed feeling as travertine when done in the right color. There are fewer color options with travertine and limestone than with granite or marble. The color range is light neutrals including beige, tan, and gray, but the patterning in the stone can range much more. Travertine is a type of limestone, which is found in the earth with natural pits or holes that can vary from dime to greater than fist sizes. When the stone is quarried and cut into slabs, these pits are filled to make a suitable countertop. These fills vary greatly in size and shape that determines the overall style of the stone. The large fills have a more rustic appearance, especially with a honed finish.
Soapstone
Soapstone and slate are almost exclusively available in honed finishes. Another popular finish with these stones is a subtle texture called leathered or flamed. These textures have the same eggshell sheen as a flat honed finish, making them suitable for casual and nature-inspired spaces. Soapstone is typically a solid charcoal or gray with little movement or patterning. Although this stone is solid, it has a great deal of character with a honed finish. Slate has more movement and color variation, but has a similar feel as soapstone. These stones are softer to the touch than other natural stone countertops and have an ease about them that greatly compliments other natural materials like wood and metal. Honed natural stone countertops have a softer and more casual feel in today’s homes than the classic polished surfaces.…

Log Home Maintenance Tips

September 29, 2021 Comments Off

Maintaining a log home may feel like a huge project. The longer you put it off, the more work it requires. However, with a little effort each year, you can keep your home looking beautiful for years to come. Here are a few tips.
1) Start with good quality products. Log home stains and sealers are NOT all the same. As a general rule, you will get what you pay for. Most of the economy grade stains are designed to be reapplied every year. While it may seem like its saving a little money up front, it ends up costing more in the long run. On the other hand, most of your high quality stains are made to be durable and last for many years when properly maintained. These cost a little more up front, but save money over the long run. I recommend Sikkens stains if you like oil based, or Perma Chink if you prefer a water base, but there are other quality stains available as well.
2) Cleaning your log home is a must. Most stain manufacturers recommend washing your home at least once and preferably twice each year. This may sound daunting, but it really isn’t that difficult. Begin by applying log wash with a pump up sprayer. Use a soft bristle brush on an extension pole to gently scrub away dirt/dust build up and finally rinse away with a garden hose, or low power pressure washer. (If you know that you will never do this yourself, consider purchasing a maintenance contract with your local stain applicator.)
3) Inspect. While you are cleaning, take a good look and make note of any areas where the stain looks like it might need to be freshened up. If you wait until the stain starts cracking and peeling, it is too late. However, when you first start to notice areas appearing weathered, or dull, apply a light coat on that area. It may be necessary to apply a fresh coat to that entire side of the house to avoid looking splotchy.
4) Finally, if you find that you’ve already let things go too long and the stain has already begun failing, you’re not out of options. If it’s gotten to this point, you will have to remove the failing stain. For years, the only option was chemical strippers and high powered pressure washers. However, today there is a better option. Have a professional cob blasting company come out and remove the stain. Cob blasting safely removes failing stain and brings your log home back down to bare wood so you can have a fresh start. Then, go back to step number one. If steps one through three are followed, step four should not be necessary for many, many years.…

The Importance of Regular Home Maintenance

November 28, 2020 Comments Off

One of the key responsibilities of owning a home is keeping it well maintained. From regularly cleaning the property to ensuring that the structure is sound and that everything works as it should, maintenance can be somewhat time consuming, but offers pleasant rewards for those who take it seriously. Enjoying a greater peace of mind and feeling proud about a home are prominent benefits obtained through the practice of regular maintenance, and homeowners can also avoid potentially costly repairs for issues allowed to worsen over time when proper maintenance is observed. Though these advantages are certainly enough to warrant a serious effort in caring for one’s home, there is still another more important result: greater security. Home security often involves the use of specialized security systems and devices including alarms and cameras, but some of the most effective security measures are actually delivered by a homeowner that takes the time to keep their property well maintained. By understanding how crucial this element is to a safe dwelling, homeowners can prioritize their maintenance tasks and keep themselves, their loved ones, and their belongings safe.
A large part of the positive consequences of keeping a home maintained is the depth of knowledge it lends to the homeowner. Despite their regular use of a home, many people are not precisely aware of how their dwelling is constructed or of how various home elements have been installed. When a homeowner performs their own maintenance, it’s easy to gain a thorough understanding of the most important aspects of the property and to gain insight on various parts of the home. In particular, those who perform maintenance themselves are likely to notice irregularities and potential problems that may lead to making a home more vulnerable to damage or break-ins. From doors that have been improperly fitted or installed to windows that require different kinds of locks or paneling in order to deliver a reasonable level of security, there are many possible problems lurking in and around buildings that may go unnoticed if owners do not regularly practice maintenance. Problems with a property that occur over time can also be easily spotted by homeowners who perform their own maintenance. Those who contract the work out to professionals or allow others to take care of their maintenance needs may never realize that a certain home element has begun to show weaknesses, and thieves and other criminals may take advantage of this.
While security breaches are less likely in homes that are regularly and thoroughly maintained by owners, they can still sometimes occur. During such an event, it’s important to be able to rely on any security features a home may possess, and when a home is properly maintained, achieving this reliability is a simple feat. From specially-installed doors with advanced safety mechanisms to safety features surrounding special entrances for basements or sheds, there are many objects typically used to keep properties safe from intrusion that may fail unexpectedly if they aren’t cared for and deliberately inspected from time to time. When in-depth knowledge of a home is combined with the certainty that security measures are operating as intended, homeowners can better protect their property while also feeling far more secure.
A further important benefit of regular home maintenance is the appearance that such an activity is likely to yield. Well-maintained homes typically look neater, cleaner, and better able to withstand any difficulties that may come their way. While this certainly has benefits for homeowners in terms of providing a sense of comfort, it’s also a great way to warn potential criminals that a home is being watched and that owners have likely taken measures to prevent theft and damage. More traditional security tactics such as employing specialty equipment or purchasing home alarm monitoring service may be of greater help when crimes are actually carried out, but the prevention that quality maintenance can deliver may be responsible for fending off break-ins and trespassing in the first place. Fortifying this move with complementary actions such as keeping lawns and gardens neat, parking cars in front of the house, regularly disposing of garbage, and otherwise giving a home the obvious appearance of being occupied and well-used is a step in the right direction for anyone concerned about the security of their home.
The satisfaction of a job well done is often the handyman’s greatest reward, but when working on their own home, a maintainer has the power to create high-quality security measures that may both prevent crimes and help homeowners effectively respond if such events do take place. Whether maintenance is scheduled as a weekly or monthly activity or homeowners make a point of performing maintenance tasks whenever the mood seems right, taking the initiative and following through on necessary maintenance tasks is absolutely essential for responsible home ownership.…

How To Make Your Garden Grow With Minimal Effort

May 18, 2020 Comments Off

To be successful in organic gardening, you need patience and persistence. A green thumb also helps considerably. This pastime should yield amazing and healthy foods, free of pesticides and other chemicals found in store bought produce. You might think this sounds complicated or expensive. Enjoy the following article that will help you become an expert organic gardener.

A great gardening tip to use is to always select types of plants that are more likely to produce a high yield. Frequently, a hybrid plant will produce a higher yield because of its disease-resistant properties.

Transplanting plants and bringing them indoors can protect them from harsh winters. You might want to transplant your most valuable varieties. Carefully dig around the rootball and replant in an appropriate pot.

When gardening, beware of stink bugs and other insects, particularly in the autumn. They like to feast on all kinds of fruits, as well as peppers, tomatoes, and beans. If they go unnoticed, they can cause large amounts of harm to your garden, so remember to take protective measures to reduce the population of stink bugs there.

Make sure you remove the weeds from your garden! A vibrant garden will be overrun with weeds if they are left alone. To aid in this venture, you might want to use white vinegar. You can use white vinegar to eliminate weeds! Keep a solution of vinegar diluted with water on hand to spray on weeds.

Do not cut your grass too short. If you let your grass keep some height after mowing, it will be able to absorb more sun and moisture resulting in a lusher, greener lawn. When you cut the grass too short, the roots are often not deep enough, which causes your lawn to have dry patches of brown, discolored grass.

When you grow veggies in a garden, you need to ensure they get at least six hours of good sunlight each day. Most vegetables need at least that much sun exposure to grow properly. Some flowers also require direct sunlight for a portion of each day.

Start peas inside in a container, rather than planting the seeds outdoors. Seeds are more likely to sprout when started indoors. They will also be stronger, and better equipped to resist disease and insects. After the seedlings have grown strong indoors, it will be time for you to transplant them to outdoor beds.

If you are a first time gardener, it is important that you follow all of the instructions on all of your tools and chemicals. If you don’t do this, you could cause unnecessary skin irritations, which are very painful. Keep your body safe and follow directions.

The hobby of organic gardening requires patience and effort, with a little help from Mother Nature. When you enjoy this hobby, you can find new opportunities to grow healthy and nutritious foods. It takes a combination of knowledge, skill and experience to become a good organic gardener. The tips you’ve read above will help you towards that goal.…

Pest Control Tips To Help You Regain Control Of Your Home

December 29, 2019 Comments Off

Nobody is a fan of pests in the house. Whether it’s rodents, bugs or something bigger, they ought to be eliminated right away. The article below has tips from experts who have been where you are now.

Try using pesticides around the foundation of your home. Apply this spray on the foundation, the porch, steps and on doors and windows as well. As you spray, watch for cracks that can provide entry for pests. Seal up these areas using caulk.

Bedbugs are a pain to rid your home of, as they are proficient at hiding. Seal off any holes in the bed frame and around the bed before you begin exterminating. This will help you to be sure that the bugs won’t pop out of the holes after you try and exterminate them.

Crevices and cracks inside your home are perfect places for bugs. Insects, and even small rodents, will use these cracks to get into your home, no matter how small these cracks are. Sealing these things up gives them no place to hide.

If you have a problem with mice and rats, make sure any new trees you plant are sufficiently far from your house. If you do, rodents will climb up them and get on your roof to enter your attic. Put the trees around 15 feet from the house.

Mint can help in the battle against mice in the home. Plan mint around the perimeter of your house. The smell will bother mice and other small animals. Put mint leaves in the areas where you have seen mice in your home. Mice will be repelled as long as you use fresh leaves.

Outdoor lighting makes it easy for people to find your home at night and deters thieves, but it is also a beacon for pests. Outdoor lighting consisting of orange, yellow and/or pink bulbs will not attract so many pests.

Quickly remove fallen trees from your yard. You can even cut up the trunk or branches and use it for firewood. It can be used by you or given away. But don’t forget to remember the stump as well. Stumps are large pieces of dead wood that may attract termites.

Try using hairspray to kill any flying insects. Hairspray doesn’t harm you or any pets you have, but it kills the insects. Hairspray will stick onto the insects, which will prevent them from reaching food or water in your home. This works on bees that make it into your home.

If you wish to keep away pests from the food you have, keep it stored properly. It is best to put any foods that have been opened into containers that seal closed very tightly. Paper bags and cardboard are the worst options, as pests can eat through them easily.

Properly using these tips will eliminate pests permanently. Find what works and say good-bye to pests. When you are pest-free, you will be glad you did. It will take some effort but it is worth it.…

Be Prepared: Pest Control Tips And Tricks

August 25, 2019 Comments Off

Not every pest control method works every time. You must learn all you can about dealing with pests to see what works best for your issues. This article can help you get on the right track.

You can put steel wool in the holes to keep rodents away. Even if the pests manage to chew through it, the steel wool will end up killing them. All openings bigger than a quarter inch need to be stuffed. Mice and rats can squeeze through some tiny openings.

One effective approach to control your pest problem is to vacuum every rug in the house. Any bugs you have in your home will be picked up. Change the bag of your vacuum cleaner on a regular basis.

Attack a pest problem at its source. If pests have emerged, determine how they are getting food. Things such as food, water and available shelter all make your home tempting to pests. Get rid of anything the might be attracting the pests.

If you want to know for sure that termites are infesting your home, get a trained dog to sniff them out, not just a human. A termite inspector can just confirm that one-third of your house is safe. Trained termite sniffing dogs can check your home out completely. The reason that dogs can do this is because they can smell methane gas which occurs when termites destroy wood.

People who have problems with flying pests need to repair all of the screens in their home. In addition to preventing flying insects from entering, they can also deter those who crawl. If you find holes in the screens, make repairs to keep the bugs out.

Do an inventory of your home, looking specifically for areas of stagnant water. Pests are drawn to standing water. Inspect your home carefully for leaky pipes and remember to empty all of the trays that are underneath your indoor plants. They have to have water; if they don’t have any, they can’t live.

When placing bushes around your home, be sure to place them no closer than one foot out from the home’s perimeter. A lot of insects might live there, no matter what. By placing the brush within close proximity of the home, you run the risk of these insects invading through windows or doors.

One pest that is known for being hard to eliminate is fleas. Thankfully, you can use several methods for eliminating fleas and their eggs. You need to vacuum daily, and use a flea spray. Keep in mind that your vacuum bag should be disposed of immediately upon finishing vacuuming.

Mint can be useful in dealing with mice. Go around the whole foundation of your house and plant mint. This will keep mice from wanting to live there. Try sprinkling some leaves where the mice live. This usually repels them, but the leaves used must be fresh.

You are equipped to beat your pest problem now that you have educated yourself. Simply try some of these ideas, and you can get rid of your pests easily. You should be very happy once all the pests are gone.…

Top Notch Organic Gardening Ideas To Increase Your Crops!

January 14, 2018 Comments Off

A variety of exceptional gardening resources exist. You can spend days researching websites and searching for information that may be beneficial to your garden. You’ll find that these tips are all you need to get started! Read the tips below.

Hold the Tool Properly

The handle of your tool can be duplicated as a measuring rod. Tools with long handles, such as rakes, hoes, and shovels can be converted into practical measuring rods. Put your handle on the floor, and place the tape measure right next to it. Request a marker, and mark the distance with it. Now, whenever you work in your garden, you will have a powerful ruler with the touch of your fingertips.

Bad Odor

When gardening, be aware of foul smells and other insects, especially in autumn. Stinkbugs are mostly found in tomatoes, nuts and chili. If you do not treat them, they can do a lot of damage in your garden.

Planting Cassava and Vegetables

Plant tubers in your garden if you want flowers through spring and summer. Tubers are generally very simple to grow and warm, too; they will continue to grow for years. You can choose bulbs that bloom over many different times, so with a little work, you can have flowers that spring from early spring until late summer.

If growing vegetables, make sure they are in a location in your garden where they will be exposed daily until at least six hours from the sun. Many vegetables need this amount to grow quickly at a faster pace. This also applies to some flowers.

Keeping up properly

Keep your fragile shrubs protected from winter weather. Shrubs are very sensitive to cold weather, especially those planted in pots. Tie the top tightly, and cover the wigwam with a sheet or blanket draped over it. This method works better than covering your bushes in plastic, allowing air to circulate and prevent decay.

Using Fertilizer

Always fertilize your garden. Dirt helps your plants grow. Make sure you use products made with commercial compost so you do not risk adding pathogens to your garden. You have many different fertilizer options; choose which one is best suited for your plant but definitely use one.

Start your peas in a protected indoor environment rather than outside. Seeds are more likely to grow when indoors. You will also have strong seeds that will be able to fight off diseases and pests much better. You will be able to transfer the seeds outside once they become more established.

Plant with autumn colors in mind. That need not happen! When it comes to brightly colored foliage, autumn is an amazing time of year. Maple, beech, and dogwood display colors ranging from dark red to light yellow. Add more color to your garden by planting bushes like hydrangea, barberry or cotonaster.

Gardening is a very relaxing and rewarding hobby. The better your skills, the better your garden! Absorb all the helpful advice you can find. Start by using the tips you learned in this article and you can have a garden that is better than you ever dreamed of.…

CASTLEMANAGER

Because Care begins at Home