Tools Every Homeowner Should Have

 

When it comes to interior design and home maintenance, there are some undertakings that require just too much time and expertise to adequately fulfill on your own. You can hire an expert for pretty much anything these days, but can also save a hefty amount of cash if you tackle the work yourself. But to even attempt home upkeep, at least with any success, there is a quintessential set of tools everyone should keep around (and know how to use) at all times. For beginners and experienced vets alike, here is a list of stock tools for any homeowner.

Tape Measure When you’re a homeowner, you will inevitably need to measure some spaces in your home. Some tape measures provide general increments of inches and centimeters, while others can give more of an intricate scope of detail with even finer measurements. The tape measure is of great help for making sure furniture like a new dresser or piano will fit inside your home and of absolute importance for any home construction project.

Screwdriver Coming in a range of designs and styles, the use of screwdrivers stretches from installing toy batteries to building workbenches. Be mindful of the head and size of screw you are working with, as this will determine the type of screwdriver that you will need. Power drills are also extremely convenient, but can be a bit clumsy when working in tight, awkward corners.

Handsaws Though the most conventional and widely-applicable style being the carpenter saw, which is used for carving into basic woods, other forms such as the hacksaw and coping saw are designed to pierce heavy-duty textures. If anything, keep a carpenter saw around for the broad materials it can cleave. Stay aware of the type of materials you are working with and what saw is most appropriate to do the job best. Lastly, when handling the carpenter, remember to position the saw at a forty-five degree angle to ensure the cleanest incision possible.

Nails, Screws, Putty, and Glue What good is a screwdriver if you have nothing to screw? The same goes for a hammer; nails and screws are just as important to make sure you’re fully stocked with.

Another handy item that works wonders is putty. Putty is a great mini utility for a wide scope of circumstances, especially when refurbishing a room; there’s bound to be at least several ugly indents and nail holes to patch up, but after applying a little putty (while making sure it matches the walls!), the room will look good as new.

Hammer Whether it’s building a bench, bookshelf, table, or any other project that uses wood as a fundamental component, it almost goes without saying that somewhere along your home improvement misadventures, you will need a hammer.

3 Smartphone Apps that Simplify Home Maintenance

For interior design and home maintenance projects, it’s critical to stay organized. Without proper organization of the measurements, colors, and tools, it’s likely your project will face complications and suffer from financial pains -- which, for the most part, are avoidable. Solution? Download these smartphone apps to keep the data of your home projects all in one place, right at the reach of your fingertips.

Home Improvement Calcs Price: $1.99 Platform: Iphone & Ipad

Packed with nearly two hundred unit conversions and calculations, the Home Improvement Calcs app takes away the burden of juggling multiple measurements, fractions, and data processing by handling the messy mathematics so you don’t have to. Whether it’s assessing the amount of asphalt you’ll need, gauging the annual cost of an electrical output, or measuring the dimensions of your living room windows, the app is an affordable yet indispensable gadget to keep around for home improvement projects of any kind.

MagicPlan Price: free & premium versions available ($2.99 per property map, $9.99 for unlimited usage) Platform: Iphone & Android

Using state-of-the-art technology, the MagicPlan app configures an indoor map of your home just by snapping a pic with your smartphone. Curious to see how that couch you’ve been thinking about purchasing online would fit in your living room? Test it out by plugging in a product’s dimensions and viewing it in the digital floor plan that the app creates. For once you can leave the toolbox closed; MagicPlan gathers a room’s measurements itself - all through the phone’s camera lens.

myPANTONE Price: $9.99 Apple products, $7.99 for Android Platform: Iphone, Ipad, & Android

When designing a new home’s living room decor or just adding renovations, the color scheme is something you always want to be mindful of. With a seemingly limitless amount of shades and hues, the myPANTONE app is a pro-tool for managing the color palettes of your home furniture and decorations.

Three Reasons Wallside Windows Is Michigan’s Preferred Replacement Window Manufacturer

Windows are the cornerstone to a house’s character and comfort. Being a leading manufacturer of vinyl replacement windows for more than seventy years, Wallside knows the ins and outs of what makes quality, affordable windows. So what makes their products and services so widely trusted?

Superior Insulation Technology You don’t become an authority in window replacements by sticking to the same formula year after year. Wallside Windows pays constant attention to emerging advancements in insulation technologies, which they incorporate in their windows with for first-rate, energy-efficient results. Wallside applies a powerful combination of stainless steel spacers and dual pane, energy efficient low-e glass in order to maximize protection against undesirable external sound, heat, and light. Furthermore, it keeps the house properly regulated so you aren’t swamped in humidity during the summers or freezing in the winters.

By giving this type of meticulous attention to the design process, we are able to confidently assure our windows provide the premium protection from weather, external noises, and air leakages that our customers deserve.

Every Window is Built In-House One of the main reasons customers flock to Wallside over and over again is the unmatched quality service it provides. Every window is crafted in our factory in Taylor, MI, where our team of professionals ship an average of 800 measured and tested replacement windows each day. Each replacement window we make serves a unique purpose and function based off the client’s needs. We custom craft the following styles in our factory, all of which can be tailored with the proper dimensions and technology to fully satisfy your home’s needs:

• Double Hung
• Double Sliding
• Bay and Bow
• Sliding Doors
• Casement
• Garden
• Picture
• End-Vent & Center-Vent Sliding

We’ve Been Around the Block As a trusted manufacturer of all things replacement windows in Michigan and northern Ohio over the past seventy-one years, Wallside has finely tuned the science behind what makes quality, cost-effective windows and how to tailor the design of them specifically for your home. Our passionate and experienced staff takes care of all measurements, safely remove your old windows, and take care of any residual mold or air leakages. Wallside’s expertise is windows, so we open the floor to answer any questions you may have about your windows and get you up to speed with the benefits to be had from investing in our own custom-built ones.

Three Factors to Consider When Purchasing Vinyl Replacement Windows

 

When shopping for a new car, there's a general set of questions everyone asks to evaluate each prospective car’s quality: the gas mileage, engine, color, etc. With windows, there are a similarly high number of factors to consider when in the midst of the purchasing process. We have compiled a comprehensive list of three essential features to consider when deciding on the type of window specifications that best accommodate your needs.

1.) The Climate You Live In The climate you live in has a direct impact on the frequency that you run your heat and air conditioning - which, as a result, impacts your energy bill. If you live in a predominantly cold climate, you may want to consider Wallside's windows, which are designed with a warm-edge stainless steel spacer and dual-pane insulated glass to prevent heat from escaping your house. Those with harshly frigid weather conditions may want to consider three-pane glass windows, which offer even greater energy-saving benefits in addition to a reduction in external noise disturbances.

2.) Privacy & Surroundings There’s a cost and benefit to the size and placement of each window. It’s a luxury to feel the sunlight pour through a large open window in your living room, but is it worth the lack of privacy that comes with it? This is usually a quick fix with the add-on of curtains or blinds, but this might not be an option for very large windows. Thus, when installing new windows, you will want to take into account the size and placement of them in relation to the exposure they offer the outside public.

3.) Functionality & Style There is a vast number of window styles to choose from for your home. So, how to know which style to use? Many times, the decision is contingent on the way a design works with the environment surrounding your house. For instance, if there’s a room that overlooks a scenic landscape, you would probably want to go with a bay window, which offers a wider, grander panorama than the traditional single-hung window. Other features to analyze and look out for include:

• Airflow
• Quality of light filtering (the amount of light they let in)
• Energy performance ratings
• A soundproof feature

After assessing the weather you face year-round, the amount of privacy you prefer, and the design and features you ultimately wish your windows to have, you are bound to have greater satisfaction than you would have had by just going out on a limb.

Three Energy-Saving Household Appliances

 

Beyond practicing energy-efficient behaviors such as washing your clothes in cold water and curbing the time spent in the shower, there are upgrades you can make to worn out home devices that, in the long run, can trim substantial amount of financial fat from your energy bills. If your fuel bill has been rising and you’ve been meaning to take action against it, it may be high time to upgrade to some of these technologies listed below.

Alternatives to Incandescent Light Bulbs In addition to the duration of time you leave your lights on, the amount of energy your household expends is dependent on the light bulbs that you use. If you are currently stocked with incandescent bulbs, you may want to consider making a switch as they are reportedly known for wasteful energy consumption and leaving an adverse environmental imprint. In recent years, LED and CFL models have surfaced and served as successful substitutions with superior efficiency ratings while also meeting eco-friendly standards.

High Performance Replacement Windows According to EnergyStar, “as much as half of the energy used in your home goes to heating and cooling.” While also considering the major role Windows play in a home’s insulation, it’s clear how high of a priority it is to maintain proper upkeep of your windows. To do so, search for gaps in the frames, cracks, or models that are outdated; you find your windows are weathered or have reached an age they should probably be replaced (15-20 for vinyl), you will want to ensure your next set of replacement windows meets contemporary efficiency standards. Wallside Windows specializes in replacement windows that are designed with low e-glass, have dual panes, and are constructed with warm-edge stainless steel spacers that promote optimal insulation.

Programmable Thermostat The advent of programmable thermostats allows homeowners to control their heating and air conditioning while away at work or while running errands. Some models facilitate built-in alert systems that give you a heads up when it’s time to change your air filter and can also be calibrated with your smartphone. Additionally, some designs are capable of adjusting to fluctuations in humidity and other swings in weather so you can rest easy while your home’s climate is properly regulated.