Home Improvement

How To Match Your Deck Aesthetics to Your Interior Décor

Priscilla King Home Improvement

We are all looking for harmony in our home and the best way to achieve that harmony is by ensuring that each part of the home is matching all the others. This also means that the harmony that you are looking for can only be achieved by matching the style of your building interiors with the exterior environment, especially with the property component that is the closest to your interior space: the deck. If you are currently looking for ways to create a harmonious, integrated design that works across your interior spaces as well as with your decking, here are some tips about how to achieve that.

Deck Contractors

Take Your Time to Figure Out the Best Decking Design

Playing with various decking design solutions is important if you have a barren, unused piece of land behind your home as well as if you already have a deck, the design of which does not make you happy. Your task is probably easier in the first situation, when you can start everything from zero and build exactly the deck that you want, but redesigning an existing deck is not that difficult either. For best results, consider the style and the atmosphere that you want with your deck – if you have a classic home, you should have a deck that features classic elements of wood or of cast iron, while a modern interior can be matched elegantly with a sleek, metal and glass deck.

Playing with features and components is the easiest way to create a really harmonious design for your deck and the easiest way to do that is with the help of a visualization tool. Deck contractors suggest that you find online applications, available either for free or for a small subscription fee, that you can use for creating designs and for figuring out the best combination of features. For starters, you should try designs that use the same decor elements as your interior space, but as you become more experienced in using your application of choice, you can also try unusual solutions.

Pay Attention to Accessories

Whatever the design of your deck, you can quickly change it with some accessories, such as with colorful throw pillows or blankets. You can also add a fresh touch of design with the help of illumination – a string of LED lights, some Edison bulbs or some candles can really add a special atmosphere to your outdoor space.

Don’t Forget About Functionality

When thinking about the aesthetics of your deck, do not forget about practicality and safety either. The best deck is not only one the appearance of which is in harmony with the rest of your property, but also one that can be used safely and that fulfills the practical roles that you expect your space to fulfill. For example, if you are planning to serve food to your guests sitting on the deck, you should choose a non-slip material that is also easy to clean. If you are planning to add a fire pit to your deck, it is a good idea to pick a material that is resistant to heat and that is also easy to clean, in case some soot or a spark falls on the deck surface.

 

Why Consider Replacing Your Old Windows with Vinyl Windows?

Priscilla King Home Improvement

Things To Consider Window Replacement

If you have made up your mind to replace your windows and you are currently browsing your options, you have surely come across many offers for vinyl windows. Here are some things to know about vinyl and some of the benefits that make the material so widespread and so appreciated.

What is Vinyl?

Also known as PVC or polyvinyl chloride, vinyl is synthetic polymer made from raw materials derived from salt and oil, a plastic material that is used for manufacturing a huge variety of products. When it comes to its use in construction, vinyl plays an important role in almost all building processes and is often used in the form of whole building components, such as doors and window frames.

The Benefits of Using Vinyl Replacement Windows

Vinyl windows enjoy great popularity these days – here is why:

  • Durability – on the average, vinyl windows last for 20-40 years, making the investment into vinyl replacement windows worthwhile;
  • Resistance to the elements – vinyl stands up to harsh weather conditions, including heat and cold, sunshine and rain, snow, wind, hail as well as changing temperatures. The material is also impervious to rot and insect attacks;
  • Energy-efficiency – vinyl efficiently prevents the exchange of energy between interior and exterior spaces. Through its ability to form an efficient thermal barrier, the material can help building owners lower their building’s energy needs as well as their energy bills;
  • A great choice for noisy environments – vinyl is not only an excellent thermal insulator – it is also a great window replacement Broomfield option for applications that need soundproofing as well. Vinyl can make your building quieter even when there is a lot of traffic and action outside and will make sure that your parties will not disturb your neighbors;
  • Easy maintenance – vinyl frames do not require any special upkeep, other than occasional cleaning with water and some mild detergent. Vinyl does not get scratched, it does not warp or fade and it does not need any painting or refinishing;
  • Affordability – vinyl is the cheapest material used for manufacturing window frames, making even large or unusually shaped, custom vinyl windows affordable;
  • A wide range of design options – vinyl frames come in many soft, natural colors as well as in bold hues for making stronger statements. They are varied in terms of the types and styles available as well, allowing every homeowner to pick the window that works best for a specific building;
  • Easy installation – vinyl windows are lightweight and very easy to work with, making it the preferred material of window installation teams;
  • Recyclability – vinyl ranks high in terms of eco-friendliness as well. The material is fully recyclable, which means that replacing your vinyl windows when they reached the end of their lifespan will not burden the natural environment;
  • Increased home value – most people looking for a property to buy pay increased attention to the windows and the condition of the windows is also among the most important aspects described in home inspection reports. New vinyl windows will make your property more attractive for prospective buyers and it will also make it possible for you to increase your asking price.

How To Price Your New Fence

Priscilla King Home Improvement

Having a strong, new fence installed is a great investment into the value of your property by improving its curb appeal as well as its level of security. One of the most important aspects of getting the perfect new fence is budgeting for the fence – and staying within that budget, too. Here are a few tips to make the calculation easier and more accurate.

Consider Material Prices

One of the principle factors that will determine the money that you will need to put into your new Denver fence is the material that you choose. You will need to pick the material considering many factors, including functionality, aesthetics, durability and ownership costs that comprise maintenance and repair costs. If you need a fence that fulfills mainly an aesthetic role, you will need to invest into materials that can offer the desired visual appeal, such as iron, wood, masonry, aluminum or composite or you can opt for a green fence created using shrubs. All these materials are very durable, but make relatively high-priced solutions.

If your fence needs to fulfill only a role of protecting the security of your perimeters, you can use a less expensive, yet very durable material, such as barbed wire or chicken wire.

How much you will need to pay on your fencing materials also depends on the size of the area that needs to be fenced around and the supplier from which you source the materials. Obviously, the larger the area to be surrounded with your new fence, the larger the total amount to be paid, but most suppliers are willing to offer discounts on large orders and not all suppliers practice the same prices, so it is worth shopping around.

Denver fence

Consider Labor Fees

Some fencing materials can be installed even by people who don’t have previous fencing experience, while others need to be installed by professionals. The materials that come in ready-made panels and need only the installation of posts, such as chain-link, composite panels and vinyl fencing belong to the first category, while wood, masonry, stone veneer, aluminum and cast iron belong to the latter.

If you need the services of professional Denver fence installers, it is a good idea to contact several contractors and to request cost estimates for the job to be able to pick the most suitable company. Many contractors can also help you with great material prices (fencing material manufacturers usually offer discounted prices to their preferred contractors and the majority of these contractors are willing to offer their clients discounts, too) and the cost estimates will also include a detailed list of the various tasks involved as well as the associated fees.

Consider Long-Term Costs

The calculation of your overall costs of your fence will need to include long-term maintenance and repair costs. While the simple materials, such as chain-link, require hardly any maintenance, wood, iron, masonry and stone veneer will need regular cleaning, inspections to detect any damage, repairs and the regular application of protective coatings that improve the fence’s resistance to the elements.