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Tips for Dealing with Basement Floods

Basement Flood Out of any space in the house, the basement hands down stores the most belongings. So when it floods, it means a great deal of our valuables are at risk of incurring some serious damage. But before we get into cleaning up after a flood, let’s take a look at some of the leading causes of them.

Common Causes There could be any number of reasons for a basement to flood, but most of the time you can chalk it up to a set list of perpetrators. Sometimes, your home may be positioned in such a way that it predisposes it to a heavy amount of rainflow. For example, if your home is located at the bottom of a hill, it’s likely water will collect near its base (instead of away) which could in turn lead to leakage. Another frequent perpetrator is faulty sealing in the flooring and walls. The sealing is meant to serve as a defense against excessive buildup of water, but as time has proven, it doesn’t always work. Another reason could be something as simple as forgetting to close basement windows. To best avert basement flooding, speak with a professional to take maximum preventive measures.

Dangers A flooded basement can be an extremely dangerous threat to your home’s infrastructure and the safety of those living inside it. When you first spot a flood, you should not immediately rush down and inspect it. Why? There are dozens of reasons, most of which pertain to serious health dangers such as the possibility of electric shock, being infected by contaminants, damages from structure damages, and many other conceivable outcomes.

What to Do Without sufficient clean-up, a leaked basement could lead to a number of hazards. After exiting the basement upon recognizing it is flooded, call a professional who specializes in de-flooding them. If you can do so safely, turn off the electricity in your home before expert assistance heads over as a flooded basement runs increases the risk of potential electrocution. Find a service that will pump out the excess water that has collected beneath and above your floor, soaked into your walls, and any other damages incurred. After the water has been removed, take care of your belongings by washing and drying them in whatever ways you can.

Sources: http://www.utilitieskingston.com/wastewater/basementflooding/flooded

Simple Guide to a Spotless Bathroom

Cleaning Bathroom Sink If there’s one thing that everyone can agree on, it’s that nobody likes walking into an unkempt bathroom. A storm of scattered towels, open shampoo bottles everywhere, and a despicably foul-colored sink - we’ve all seen them before. Unfortunately we cannot control the cleanliness of others’ bathrooms, but we can decide ours. Maybe you already have a tidy bathroom, or perhaps yours is a full-blown pig sty; either way, we’ve compiled a list of some of the most important areas to touch upon when it comes to bathroom upkeep.

Wash Bathtub and Shower Grime, mildew, and other bacteria are prone to collecting between the cracks of shower tile. But before tackling this, clean out all shampoo and cleaning supplies so that you can fully scrub all surfaces of the tub and tile. To start, let hot water run from the shower for about thirty to sixty seconds. Next, apply a store-bought shower cleaning solution to fully cover the surface area. After letting this sit for a few minutes, cleanse the tiles, knobs, and shower head with a cleaning utensil such as a sponge or microfiber cloth. Lastly, dry with a paper towel.

Promote Ventilation Open windows to promote a healthy stream of air flow. Bathrooms aren’t exactly known to smell nice, plus their regularly moist environment increases the possibility of mold. Counter this by opening windows to promote a healthy stream of natural air flow. If you experience trouble opening or closing your windows - or considering new ones - contact Wallside to learn all about our factory-built replacement windows.

The Toilet Hey, someone’s gotta do it. Before cleaning your toilet, you’ll want to arm yourself with a few essentials: gloves, toilet bowl brush, toilet bowl cleaning solution, antibacterial wet wipes, paper towel. Now that you have the right equipment, it’s time to get started. First, (while wearing gloves) begin by adding the toilet bowl cleaning solution to the perimeter of the toilet. Wait around five to ten minutes to let the solution permeate. While waiting, scrub the contours of the outside of the toilet with wet wipes or a cleaning solution - make sure to cover the base, lid, handle, and top. Afterward, thoroughly scrub the inside the toilet bowl with the aforementioned brush until all stains and filth are wiped gone. Finally, let the brush dry until you’re able to transport it without dripping, flush the toilet, and wash your hands. You’re done!

Sink Station To give your bathroom sink a rigorous cleansing, begin by scrubbing away stains by using a combo of a sponge and all-purpose cleaning solution. Also, decontaminate counter top surfaces with a cleaning spray that is safely compatible with the type of material the counter top is constructed of; styles such as granite and wood will require different approaches, so make sure to do some research before breaking out any old solution.

If you’ve finished giving your bathroom a cleanse and are still up for more home improvement fun, try remodeling your bathroom.

Sources: http://www.marthastewart.com/275411/bathroom-cleaning-tips/@center/277000/homekeeping-solutions http://www.rd.com/home/cleaning-organizing/8-tips-for-cleaning-a-kitchen-or-bathroom-sink/

How to Create a Homey Guest Bedroom

Guest bedroom Have an extra room you’re not really sure what to do with? Turn it into a guest bedroom! Transforming a spare space into a welcoming rest zone will not only please your future guests, but can also be a fun weekend project. Listed below, we dive into the many ways this can be done.

Paint Walls or Add Wallpaper If you were to look at a house that didn’t have any grass, you’d be able to tell right away that something is off about it. Likewise, it’s nice to have walls dressed up in a coat of paint or a comforting wallpaper design. If you plan to paint, consider stylizing your room with a consistent color scheme. Earthy tones like beige, light green, or vanilla - these hues breed a welcoming sentiment and overall air of hospitality to any space.

Comfy Bed If you have company staying over night, there’s one thing they’ll need beyond anything else: a bed! To be safe, opt for a medium-to-large sized mattress. Stay consistent with the color scheme of your walls’ paint job or wallpaper by purchasing matching sheets.

Provide Accommodating Furnishings Outfit the room with the type of furniture you might find in your standard bedroom. By supplying essential home furniture - like a nightstand, clock, armorer, lamp, and set of magazines - your guests are bound to feel both entertained and right at home. Other furniture like a mini cabinet to store clothes (for longer stays) or a mirror can play a large role in attending to your guests’ level of comfort.

Control the Airflow If there’s no heat or air conditioning in your appointed guest room, you may want to consider adding an extra fan or heat generator depending on which season it is. Secondly, give the windows a checkup for any sign of a draft as this could be lead to discomfort for guests. If you’ve tried sealing gaps in your window frames and are still experiencing trouble, contact Wallside Windows to speak with an expert and learn how we can help replace your windows.

Spruce up the Place Outfit the walls with soothing pictures that you think your guests will enjoy - sort of like how a hotel does. If you really want to up the ante, add a television from across the bed. With such great hospitality, they’ll never want to leave!

Four Reasons Why People Love Our Custom-Built Windows

Wallside Window Factory As a leading manufacturer of vinyl replacement windows for over seventy years, Wallside knows the ins and outs of what makes quality windows. With their factory stationed in Taylor, MI, their expert team assembles hundreds of windows on a daily basis, which are then installed to Michigan and Ohio homes. We take a look below at three reasons Wallside’s factory-built windows are renowned as the area’s most preferred.

Customization Options At Wallside, there’s no stock-sized windows that is produced over and over again. Hand-crafted in our 72,000 square-foot factory, we employ precision care to your windows and pay meticulous attention to the small (but essential) details. Every home is different and requires a specific size and installation. Our builders keep this in mind during the construction process so that the window will be placed in a location that promotes the best views, opportunities for nice airflow in the summer, and the best openings for sunlight. But even before we even get started on windows, we’ll give a free estimate appointment to best understand and cater to your home window needs.

Diverse Styles Everyone has a unique taste when it comes to the style of windows they want to incorporate into their home. Our team of professionals craft dozens of different window designs each day. Ranging from double hung, bay and bow, to doorwalls, our variety of window styles is sure to meet the vision you have for your home.

Top-Rate Technology Wallside doesn’t take energy efficiency lightly, which is exactly why we implement warm-edge stainless steel spacers into each window. The spacers and sealant we use provide stalwart UV protection and defense against condensation and other causes of weathering. By lessening the effect of harmful ultraviolet light and containing inside-generated heat during the winter and blocking unwanted heat rays during the summer, proving Wallside’s Low-E glass coating to offer some of the industry’s most sophisticated insulation performance.

Factory Guarantee For 35 years, Wallside guarantees unwavering commitment to your windows. Whether it’s a gap, worn-out seal, damage from rust or problems with the frame’s pain, we have you covered. We understand the importance of maintaining your home’s re-sale value, which is why we are only a phone call away when your windows need assistance.

Five Upgrades that Raise Your Home’s Value

Increasing Home Value If you plan to own a home for more than five-to-ten years, it’s likely you will make a significant amount of changes to it along the way. These alterations will vary depending on the state of your house when you purchase it. There are some upgrades, though, that are universally beneficial for any homeowner. Listed below are five home upgrades that are valuable across the board.

Polished Landscaping Similarly to how the inside of a home is decorated to reflect a homeowner's tastes, the outside landscaping should do the same. Fill yours with variations of plants, trees, light fixtures, and other swanky garnishes such as a lamp post or a cobblestone walkway. The opportunities to experiment all rely on what your tastes are; some of which you may not even be aware of without the expert help of a professional landscape contractor.

Energy-Efficient Windows If your home windows are outdated or experiencing issues such as drafts or faulty weatherstripping, it may be time to replace yours. Greater home ventilation, insulation, and a lower energy bill are just a few of the many benefits to be had from installing new windows. However, if your windows are in decent shape, you could also add a picture window to provide an expansive view over a lake or a double-hung to breathe air into an otherwise stuffy room.

Swimming Pool or Hot Tub It’s no mystery that swimming pools and hot tubs cost a pretty penny. If it’s within your budget, adding one of these are sure to raise your home’s value. This said, it’s not the only reason to consider incorporating one of them in your backyard. Everyone, for the most part, loves swimming - it’s a luxury - and could also be the deal breaker that wins a prospective homeowner over to to finalizing a purchase deal.

Updated Technologies Old-fashioned technology can be fun to keep around for a while - such as a classic telephone with circular dials - but there comes a time when not getting up to speed with new equipment becomes a detriment to your livelihood and bank account. Incandescent light bulbs, for example, are inefficient compared to the more modern, energy-saving LED and CLF bulbs. Other technologies to update include air conditioning units, thermostats, security systems, light fixtures, in-wall microwaves, and thermostats.

Renovated Rooms In spaces such as the kitchen, bathroom, or living room, a well-executed design can go a long way. Features such as the paint job, flooring, storage capacity, backsplash, and other nuances in design all collectively influence a room’s ambiance. For instance, some people place high importance on the layout of a kitchen. If yours feels clunky or possibly needs more space, it may be in your best interest to remodel it into a more accommodating space.