Want to Improve Energy Efficiency? Don’t Forget Your Attic!

When you think of the rooms of your house you spend the most time in, odds are that your attic isn’t at the top of that list. Attics are often a very overlooked part of the home and unless you’ve converted your attic into a living area, you probably only go into to your attic if you need a place to store something or if you need to check for signs of roof damage. But if you’re trying to make your home more energy efficient, your attic is one of the most important places to check.

Attics are often full of opportunities to boost your home’s energy efficiency. It’s believed that as much 85% of a home’s heat is lost through the attic, so your attic should be at the top of your list of places to look when you’re trying to make your home more comfortable and lower your energy bills. So, what sorts of things should you do to improve your attic?

Check for Drafts

Just like how you routinely check your doors and vinyl replacement windows for drafts, you’ll want to check your attic for drafts, too. Drafts most commonly occur in places where openings have been cut to create space for something else, like pipes, air ducts, or electrical wiring. If you find any drafts, seal them up ASAP. Caulk works well for sealing smaller gaps while a low-expansion foam tends to work well for larger openings. If you’ve found a draft around your chimney, use a piece of aluminum flashing and a silicone caulk designed to withstand high temperatures to fix it.

Add Insulation

The vast majority of American homes do not meet the current minimum standards for insulation. In many cases, homes were built to meet or exceed the standards for wall insulation at the time the house was built, but attics didn’t receive as much attention. Adequate attic insulation will do a lot to help keep your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer, so adding attic insulation is an excellent investment in your home. If you look in your attic and are able to see your floor joists, you could benefit from more insulation.

In addition to helping lower your energy bills, adding insulation can help your roof last longer. Ice dams commonly form on roofs when the attic gets warm enough to cause snow and ice on the roof to melt, but the temperature outside is cold enough for the water to refreeze. Ice dams can be very damaging to roofs, so anything that will help prevent that is beneficial.

Don’t Forget Weatherstripping

If you’ve been replacing the weatherstripping on your windows and doors, don’t forget to use some on the entrance to your attic. This will help keep the heat from your furnace from leaving the main part of your house so it will stay where it will do the most good.

5 Home Decorating Trends to Watch for in 2017

With the new year just around the corner, many homeowners are planning ahead for projects they’d like to do around the house in 2017. Whether you’re planning a major project like renovating your kitchen or something a little simpler like painting some rooms and getting new furniture, nobody wants to go through all that work only to find out their home already looks out of date. So if you’re planning to make some updates to your home in the coming year, here are a few of the biggest trends designers are expecting to see in 2017.

Jewel Tones

Pantone’s colors of the year for 2016 were both pastels and now many people are longing for some deeper, richer colors. Bold, vibrant jewel tones like emerald green, amethyst purple, and sapphire blue add a bit of drama and a luxurious feel to your home.

Cork

Thanks to the durable and environmentally friendly nature of cork, cork floors have become increasingly popular over the past few years. Cork floors aren’t going anywhere, but more and more homeowners are now looking for other ways to use cork around the house. One idea that’s been gaining some momentum lately is cork walls. Not only can cork be a very attractive wall covering, it helps keep noise levels under control. And if it’s used in an area like a home office, you’ll have a very convenient place to pin all your important notes and messages.

Earthy Pastels

Although jewel toned colors are definitely shaping up to be one of the hottest home decor trends in the new year, pastels will absolutely still be on the radar. In 2017, the most popular pastel shades will be pastel shades of very natural colors like blue and green.

Metallics

Copper and rose gold have been hugely popular over the past couple of years, but it looks like gold and brass finishes are well on their way to becoming the next big things. Speaking of metallic finishes, don’t be afraid to mix metals. Mixed metals are expected to be a very on-trend look in 2017.

If you’re planning to look for new appliances in the upcoming year, you may be seeing a lot of black and matte finish appliances in stores. Stainless steel appliances and brushed metal finishes have been around for a while, but a lot of people are starting to crave something a little different.

Marble

Marble was a very popular choice for home decor in 2016 and many designers expect it will continue to be in demand in 2017. Whether you’re looking for new countertops, flooring, or tabletops on accent tables, marble is a great way to add a touch of luxury to a home.

Get Prepared for Winter Storms

It’s no secret that Michigan winters can be rough. Temperatures can get bitterly cold and we often get hit with some pretty strong winter storms. When a winter storm moves through the area, homeowners are often left with several inches of snow and a thick layer of ice to remove from their sidewalks and driveways. Stay ahead of the game by preparing for winter storms now.

Inspect Your Home

If you didn’t give your home’s exterior a good general inspection during the fall, it’s a very good idea to do one before the first major winter storm of the season hits. Look for things like signs of roof damage, tree branches that come close to your windows or roof, and sections of gutters and siding that have come loose. Loose roof shingles and pieces of loose siding or gutters can easily be torn off by strong winds, making your home more vulnerable to damage. Tree branches that come too close to your home can damage your roof or vinyl replacement windows if they break off during a storm.

Be Ready for Snow Removal

Don’t wait until the first signs of a major winter storm to go out and stock up on snow removal tools. Make sure your snow shovels are in good shape and that you have plenty of ice remover on hand. There tends to be a rush on these sorts of things right before a big storm, so you might have a hard time finding them in stores if you wait until the last minute.

If you have a snow blower, make sure it has plenty of fuel in it and still starts up properly. The last thing you want to discover after a major snowfall is that your snow blower isn’t working and you’ll have to shovel all that snow by hand.

Don’t Forget Your Car!

Whether you park your car in a garage or leave it parked outside, it’s best to keep your car’s gas tank above a quarter of a tank full. This will help prevent your car’s fuel line from freezing.

Stock Up On Supplies

Depending on how bad a storm is and how fast cities are about clearing roadways, you might have a hard time getting anywhere for a little while after a storm. Make sure you have enough food and water on hand to last you through a few days. More specifically, you should have a good supply of non-perishable food in case your power goes out. If you have pets or babies, don’t forget about things they’ll need!

Also, don’t forget to make sure you have lots of batteries, flashlights, blankets, and warm clothing at home so you can have light and stay warm if the power goes out. If you have a fireplace or backup power generator, keep plenty of firewood or fuel on hand. Just make sure generators are kept outside the house, at least 20 feet away from doors, windows, and vents that lead into your home.

The Best Reasons to Make Home Improvements

It’s no secret that home improvement projects can be expensive. Depending on the type of project and the size of the job, it can take a long time for a homeowners to save up the money they need to be able to have the work done. So, how do you know when a project is really worth all the money and all the energy it takes to have the work done?

It Would Make Your Home More Functional

Ideally, your home was built and designed to make it easy to live your day-to-day life. However, many homeowners have areas in their homes that simply aren’t very functional. Whether it’s an awkwardly-placed sink or an aisle that isn’t wide enough for cupboard doors to fully open, these are things the sorts of things that make everyday life more difficult than it needs to be. Fixing those sorts of problems will make your life much easier and when the time comes for you to sell your home, you’ll have an easier time finding a buyer because these sorts of problems no longer exist in your home.

It Would Improve Your Energy Efficiency

Improvements made with the intention of making your home more efficient are absolutely worth pursuing. Anything that will make your home more energy efficient, like adding insulation, getting vinyl replacement windows, or new exterior doors, will benefit your home and lifestyle in many ways. Not only will you be doing something good for the environment, you’ll also be able to see a reduction in your energy bills. Plus, your home will become a lot more comfortable. No more having to spend winters wrapping yourself up in blankets when you’re trying to spend time at home!

It Would Add Value to Your Home

Regardless if you’re planning to sell your home soon or want to stay put for a while longer, looking for ways to add value to your home isn’t a bad idea. Nobody ever buys a home with the intention of letting it depreciate in value over time. Buying a home is the most significant purchase the average person makes during their lifetime, so why not make the most of it?

It Would Make You Happy

Not all home improvement projects have a high average return on investment, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you shouldn’t do them. If you’re planning to stay in your home for a long time, you should be comfortable and happy there. So if there’s something you’ve always dreamed of having in your home, like adding a swimming pool or a master suite, the fact that it would bring you years of happiness and enjoyment is still worth something.

Spotting the Signs of Roof Damage

Roofs really go through a lot. There is never any point in time where they’re protected from the elements. After years of being exposed to things like drastic temperature changes, ice, snow, hail, tree limbs, and high winds, even the most well-made roof can sustain some damage. This is why routinely inspecting your roof for signs of damage is one of the most important things you can do to keep your home in good shape. If signs of roof damage go unnoticed and unrepaired, it can lead to very costly water damage. Well-made roofs can last for as long as 20-25 years, but that can ultimately vary. Here are the signs you need to watch out for so you can keep your roof in good shape for as long as possible.

A great way to start your inspection is by taking a look at the condition of your shingles. To do this, you’ll either need to get a ladder so you can get a closer look or get a good pair of binoculars. Missing shingles are definitely something you’ll want to address right away since it means the underlying structure of your roof is being exposed to the elements. A few missing shingles can also pose a risk to your remaining shingles since they aren’t as well protected anymore.

Be sure to look for other types of shingle damage like cracks, tears, and curled edges. Cracked and curled shingles are very strong indicators of roof damage. Depending on the extent of the damage, you may be able to just repair part of your roof or you may need to have the whole roof replaced.

Bald shingles are also a bad sign. If you look at your roof’s shingles and see spots where the granules have worn off or see a lot of granules in your gutters or on the ground around your home, it’s a sign your roof needs attention. The granules on roofing shingles help protect them from sun damage, so if those have worn off, your shingles are much more susceptible to damage caused by the sun.

While you’re outside, take a look at the condition of your home’s fascia, which is the board that runs underneath your roofline and supports your gutters. Since the fascia helps shield the roof from water damage, signs of damage here mean your roof is at risk for even greater damage. Look for things like cracks and discoloration.

In some cases, signs of roofing damage can be seen from inside your home, too. Things like dark spots on ceilings or peeling paint on walls can all indicate there may be a leak in the roof. If you have an attic, take a look in there for signs of water damage.

Ideally, you should be inspecting your roof for signs of damage twice a year. If you’ve recently been through something like a severe storm or a stretch of exceptionally harsh weather, it’s always a good idea to inspect your roof again to make sure it hasn’t been damaged.