2015

Winter and spring break are some of the most popular times of year for vacations, but with any vacation comes the risk of a break in, especially if your home clearly looks like it's not occupied. In order to mitigate this danger, it is best to give your home the appearance of being occupied even when you aren't there, since thieves are less likely to target a home they think is being lived in.

If you are looking for trees to shade your home, you will realize during your search that there are many types of shade trees, both slow growing and fast growing.  There are a few things to consider if you want fast growing shade trees.  Because of their rapid growth, some tend to be weak and others may host various insects and other pests.  In addition, if planted in the wrong location, the rapidly growing root system may be damaging to some of your other property.

As a homeowner, having outdoor space is probably really important for you. It provides a space for you to relax outdoors while still being around the comfort of your own home and it provides space for friends and family to spend time outdoors for meals, which can be more relaxing, especially on summer nights. In order to increase the appeal of your outdoor environment, you may consider including certain outdoor features, such as an outdoor water fountain.

Summer's gone now, which means it's time to evaluate the health of the trees on your property. Trees that show signs of illness or approaching death can be a danger during the cold days of fall and winter, when wind, ice and snow are common problems. Unhealthy trees can come down easily in winter storms, and when this happens, property can be damaged and people can be injured. The following signs are what you may see if any trees on your property are dying.

If a candle tipped over and wax spilled onto the shag carpeting in your living room, the following steps will instruct you on how to remove it. After the wax has been eliminated and you have brushed and vacuumed the carpeting, it will look as good as it did before the accident occurred. Materials ice pack plastic scraper large, paper bag hand towel iron rubbing alcohol soft-bristled scrub brush damp sponge carpet powder vacuum with brush attachment Freeze The Wax And Loosen It

You sprinkle wildflower seed mixes throughout your flowerbed and most of the flowers grow as you anticipated. You are beginning to really love how your garden is coming along, but life gets in the way and your garden begins to become overgrown with weeds that compete with your chosen wildflowers for nutrients. You will need to pull out the weeds without damaging the wildflowers. Remove Weeds Before Planting Weeds have a tendency to sprout more quickly than wildflowers.

If you're a homeowner and you're searching for ideas for decorating your backyard, then you're probably aware of the abundance of choices available. From various landscaping ideas to numerous types of furniture, the many choices may make it difficult to pinpoint the exact design to suit your needs. Here are some tips to help you create the ultimate backyard that will make you and everyone else who spends time in it very happy:

Now that you have these big, beautiful driveway gates, you need to find a way to open and close them easily. If you did not enjoy getting out of your car repeatedly to open and close your garage door, that is nothing in comparison to the weight of driveway gates and the frequency with which you have to open and close them. Here are three solutions for your gates that will keep you in your car and keep you safe and dry.

If you've taken the plunge into the exciting world of becoming a writer, you probably dream of having your very own space to write. If you're like most new writers, you probably don't have a lot of extra cash to spend on a home improvement project. You may think writing studios are only for well-known writers, and you may push your dream aside until the future. However, having your own writing studio is easier than you think.

If you have a smaller yard or patio that you are landscaping, finding space-saving pieces for your look is a must. Incorporating foliage and decor into a small space can be a challenge, but can be done. Achieving a great outdoor look while still saving space can be done with metal plant stands, found at stores like Audge's Magic Moments. Here are four ways to bring to life a small outdoor space by incorporating metal plant stands into your landscape.

Having an aluminum storefront designed and installed on your commercial property can be an excellent way to set yourself apart from nearby storefronts and draw more attention to your business as a whole. Plus, using aluminum provides a number of advantages, including the fact that aluminum is durable, relatively inexpensive, and lightweight (making it ideal for construction). Before you commit to having an aluminum storefront installed, however, there are some important questions you'll want to ask the designer.

If you have considered having a vacation home, but can never decide where you would want it, having a park model recreational vehicle can solve your problem. These mini homes on wheels have more to them than the typical motor home, more familiar than staying in a hotel and much less expensive than buying a vacation home. They are comfortable, and can be set up to give each member of your family a bit of privacy.

When is the last time that you've truly taken note of the moisture accumulation in your basement? Even though your basement might not be the most pleasurable room in your home, it's actually one of the most important. That's because the basement is built right on top of your home's foundation, and if there's moisture seeping into the basement, then this is a good indicator that your home's foundation has cracks.

Having a home full of pests can be the most irritating thing in the world and enough to make your skin crawl. If you happen to encounter these kinds of problems, you should make sure that you get the help from a pest control expert who can look after your needs. However, if you have never had to call a pest control expert before, you might not know how to go about it or what to expect.

Installing a pool at your home is a great way to get the most out of your space and enjoy exciting recreation on your own schedule. A pool, however, requires a great deal of maintenance and upkeep, and keeping yourself informed about all of your options is the first step in making sure you're completing that maintenance successfully. Below, you'll find a guide to using calcium hypochlorite to help clean and maintain your pool.

If you work for a business, you most likely have to present some form of ID or swipe a card in order to get inside the building. This security measure has long been the choice for companies to ensure that only authorized personnel are able to get in. For the homeowner, this technology can be utilized to help maintain the safety and security of their home. Instead of a traditional key, a thin card about the size of a credit card is swiped or tapped onto an electronic reader, unlocking the door.

Dead and decaying matter attract slime mold in your yard. If you notice it, do not worry too much because the mold will not harm your vegetation. However, you may not like how the slime mold looks and may wish to remove it. Shovel Away the Mold The moist, damp and dark parts of your lawn can be susceptible to slime mold. Given that slime mold depends so much on moisture, drying the area out can be the best and most environmentally-friendly way to eliminate the mold.

With spring arising and the cold weather drifting away, it's likely that your attention has begun to turn to your outdoor space. If you enjoy using your patio, but are unsure of how to keep your furniture in great shape year after year, it's important to look into how you can reduce the wear and tear that the elements can do. Spring showers can be especially damaging to some types of furniture, making the following ideas for patio covers a great investment to look into.

A fresh, new floor covering can transform your home from drab to fab practically overnight. Even if you don't have a lot of money spend, there are plenty of low-cost flooring options on the market to spruce up your home's outdated interior. Consider these three affordable flooring options if your current floor needs a makeover: Nylon Carpeting When replacing an old carpet with a new one, consider choosing nylon carpeting. Nylon makes up about 65 percent of all carpet sales in the U.

Now that it's time to replace your cracked granite countertops, you may not have thought of doing anything with the old stuff aside from throwing it in the trash or taking it to the local junkyard. But because there are so many nifty things you can do to recycle those cracked countertops at home, it's worth considering taking on a small side project or two when time permits. Here are five fun ideas that might pique your hobbyist interests:

You're making the move out to the city. You're told that it's great—you're also told that it's expensive. Getting yourself and your stuff out there is part of the money-sucking deal. Read on for some tips to make one of the most stressful events in life—moving—a little more manageable. Throw stuff out If you're poor, you likely are counting pennies at every step so that you can have enough left to eat when you finally arrive.

You take the time to install security features to keep your home and family safe from intruders. However, what most homeowners do not realize is that common maintenance issues that get put off are often standing in the way of a truly secure home. Just by taking a walk around the property, a trained security professional can often point out simple things that are blindly disregarded by the untrained eye. Here are three common security issues that could be putting your home at risk.

When you are looking for new patio furniture, it is a good idea to find ones that have more than one purpose. Even though having a table and chairs adds a place for people to spend time, you may need or want other features such as storage. For this reason, you should look through all of your outdoor furniture options so you find the right ones for your patio. Seats With Ottomans

If you have small children, you know the sensory overload that can come with the end of the holiday season. With so many gifts and special events, they can become easily overwhelmed, and all of the giving and doing can leave your house looking like a tornado came through. Here are some tips for making sure that your holiday gift giving, with gifts from places like Eve & Nico Crafts Home Decor, doesn't leave your family singing the blues in January.