The traditional summer house is making a comeback, with stylish and elegant units that come in a wide range of shapes and sizes, and what’s more, they are of modular construction. There are many online suppliers of timber outbuildings, and it is not a good idea to make a rushed decision on which company to buy from, and with that in mind, here are a few factors to consider before making a decision on which summer house is right for your home.

• The Right Timber – Timber is timber, right? Actually, while there are many species of tree -about 60,000 at the last count – not all are suitable for a log cabin. Ideally, you want a timber that originates from Scandinavia, as the trees grow very slowly, and this ensures a very dense wood, making it ideal for a summer house. Nordic timber is a popular choice, but there are other types that are much cheaper, so beware of any online company that offers summer houses at very low prices, as they would likely use sub-standard timber, and you wouldn’t be aware until a few months have passed.
• Think About your Reasons for Buying – This is important, as it will help to determine which is the right design. It could be that you are launching a new business and there simply isn’t a suitable room in the house for an office, or you might want a place for the family to enjoy the long summer days, or perhaps a cosy room for overnight guests. By defining your intended use, you are in a much better position to make an informed decision, and with 40 or more designs available, it is essential to look for one that fulfils your needs.
• Use an Established Supplier – While it is a good idea to search online for potential suppliers, sooner or later you should actually visit their showroom area, where they would have many units already erected in an outdoor environment. When you think about it, you would not buy a car before having a test drive, and neither should you purchase a summer house if you haven’t inspected a fully erected example. Besides, there are online traders who have wonderful websites, with high resolution images and even video, but at the end of the day, how do you know that the delivered unit is the same as the one advertised on their website? Refer to an informative guide online on how to identify fake suppliers on the Internet, which could help you immensely by avoiding a costly mistake.
• Long Product Warranty – Any summer house will look great when first erected, but what about after a few years of being exposed to the harsh winter? Ideally, you want a 10-year unconditional warranty, which automatically gives you peace of mind. Only an established company could make such a bold claim, and this is very much a quality benchmark for a potential buyer.

Once you have found an established supplier online, spend a little time browsing their catalogue, noting the names of units you are interested in, and then a visit to their outdoor show facility will help you to make the right choice.

Does your home showcase a great first impression to your family, friends, and visitors? Do you smile proudly when you arrive home? If not, discover five ways you can increase your home’s street appeal.

Dress Up Your Home’s Exterior

A fresh coat of paint or repairs to siding gives your home a renewed appeal. Don’t forget to paint the trim, too. Adding a small amount of stone veneer gives a luxurious touch.

Shutters can lend a finished appearance while window boxes give texture, color, and interest. Fill them with easy-to-care-for flowers or herbs for natural beauty.

Check your gutters and downspouts, too. Keeping them clean and replacing any broken pieces will lengthen their lifespans. Often these elements need minor repairs to keep them looking new and functioning well.

Create a Grand Entry

Your front door should be a focal point of your home’s entry. Dress it up with a fresh coat of paint. You could choose to highlight your entryway with a contrasting color on the door. Alternatively, replace it with a designer door, perhaps wood with trim.

Replace the hardware and decor at your entryway. Doorknobs, door knockers, and house numbers in matching designs and colors are more attractive than missing or mismatched ones.

Entryway lighting should welcome your visitors. Adding light fixtures not only offers safety when approaching the door, but it also creates a warm welcome. 

Work on Landscaping and Outdoor Decor

A well-kept lawn with trimmed shrubs creates a delightful ambiance for an entire home. A flower garden, however small, adds color and texture, but keep up with the weeding. Using mulch around shrubs and plants adds contrast and keeps areas neat.

Natural-appearing elements — such as an arbor, garden gates, or perhaps small fence panels — add interest and design to your home’s street appeal. To make your front yard appear larger, add a low fence at the front.

You may also want to add a birdbath, wind chimes, or a statue. A water fountain or a small backyard pond can give a rich feel with a natural touch.

Maintain Driveway Appeal

Often the first object visitors see as they approach your home is your driveway. Cracked pavement with grass tufts shooting through gives an unkempt appearance.

Adding will create a luxury impression from the moment your visitors arrive. In addition to the beauty itself, a paved driveway offers a lasting surface with great street appeal.

Create a Paved Walkway

Like your driveway, your walkway needs to be a strong character reference for your home. Create a smooth walk of gravel, stepping-stones, custom-designed interlocking pavers, or cement. Low lighting along the sides provides safety lights that double as decor enhancement.

Achieve a creative look by tying the driveway pavement to that of the walkway. Continue the look at the front door with a paved or painted step.

Complete the Total Picture

You can greatly improve your home’s appearance with a few enhancements. A great street appeal offers a good impression your family and friends will enjoy. Moreover, it adds to the value of your home.

When you’re trying to beat the heat in your own home, there’s nothing better than an air conditioning system that blasts cool, refreshing air over you and your family whenever you need it. And if you live in a warmer climate, a reliable air conditioning system is a must.

But did you know that there are several different varieties of air conditioning systems? That means that you can find one that’s right for your home and your budget. Each system has it’s own unique pros and cons that can make deciding on the right one difficult. Here’s a quick guide to the four types of HVAC systems that may be available for your home.

Central Air

A central air conditioning system is the ultimate cooling option for your home. It is also the most common system for new homes, which is also referred to as a “split system,” meaning that there are two main components to central air: the outdoor unit that you can see beside many homes and an inside unit that is usually found with your furnace unit or your air handler.

Central air works so well because it can move the largest amount of cool air throughout your house, cooling each room that has a vent in it. The air is moved through your house through ducts, which are a series of metal tubes that run from your air conditioning unit to the vents. This is a very energy-efficient way to cool your home, allowing you to maintain a constant temperature throughout your house.

The biggest drawback for central air is that your electricity bill will be larger. Central air uses a lot of power to regulate the air temperature, especially if you like your home to be lower than 72 or 73 degrees. But for many people, the consistency of temperature is worth the trade off.

Window Units

One of the other very popular ways to cool your home is to purchase window air conditioning units for the rooms you want to cool. These are installed — as the name suggests — in a window, where the unit can blow the hot air out of the home easily and water can drain without damage to the interior of your home.

These units are popular because they are very easy to install and they can provide cool air for fairly large rooms. Even the smaller units can easily cool a 300 square foot room without trouble. You can also find a wide selection of units at different prices: because these units are so popular, competition can really drive the price down to make it a good choice for nearly anyone.

There are a few disadvantages for window units. Some people think they look unsightly and while the unit is in use, the window it’s installed in is blocked. Finally, a window unit may make your house a little less secure, as it can give burglars a potential entry point.

Ductless Air Conditioning

If you want the convenience of a window unit but either don’t want the security risks or the unsightly presence, you can opt for a ductless air conditioning unit.

Like window units, you install these units in rooms that you want to keep cool. But unlike window units, ductless air conditioners mount onto a wall of your choosing, with just a tiny hole needed for installation. These units are very energy efficient and you can install as many as you need to keep your house cool all summer long.

But is ductless AC better than central air? As with any air conditioning choice, it depends on your needs and wants. Ductless units are cheaper and easy to install, but they require regular maintenance and you may not like the looks of a unit on your wall.

Portable Air Conditioning

The final choice in home air conditioning is a portable unit. The biggest benefit of this type of unit is that you can move it from room to room as you need it, or you can buy a couple and easily install them in the main rooms of your home.

The biggest con for this type of unit is that they are very inefficient and you could see the difference in your monthly power bill. Condensation is another problem: you need the water to drip into a pan that needs to be monitored so it doesn’t overflow.

These are the four choices in home air condition. Which one seems right for you?

Bethany Mistry is a home project manager. She loves to help people improve their living conditions and enjoys sharing her experiences on many family and finance websites.

According to the Cancer Alliance, asbestos is present in around 80 percent of homes built before 1980. It is frequently found in floor and ceiling tiles, roof shingles and flashing, siding, insulation, pipe cement, and joint compound.

Asbestos refers to six microscopic fibrous minerals which are very durable and fire resistant. These naturally occurring minerals are:

• actinolite
• amosite
• anthophyllite
• chrysotile
• crocidolite
• tremolite

The most common forms of asbestos are amosite and chrysotile. Prior to 1980, asbestos was used in the manufacture of a variety of products including floor and ceiling tiles, textile products, cement compounds and auto parts. These days its use is strictly regulated because exposure to this material is dangerous.

Dangers of Asbestos Exposure

It is now known that exposure to asbestos can result in a fatal form of cancer known as pleural mesothelioma. This disease affects the lining of the lungs. Asbestos may also cause other forms of cancer and lung-related disease.

Who is vulnerable to asbestos exposure?

• People who have come into contact with asbestos at work. This is the most common cause of pleural mesothelioma. Prior to 1980 it frequently happened to blue collar workers in industries such as shipbuilding, power plants, and construction.
• Family members of people in asbestos occupations. This is the second most common cause of pleural mesothelioma. Asbestos workers frequently brought home fibers on their clothes each night. When their family members shook out the clothes to get rid of the dust, they unwittingly exposed themselves and others to the toxic substance.
• Environmental exposure to asbestos. This can be caused by exposure to asbestos in the home or exposure to naturally occurring asbestos deposits such as those found in Montana and California.

Asbestos Regulations

Although the use of asbestos is not prohibited in the united States, it is strictly regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It can only be used in the manufacture of products which have historically contained the mineral and only then if these products cannot be made without an adequate substitute. No new uses for asbestos are permitted. The small amount of asbestos that is used today goes to the manufacture of products that need to be heat resistant or fireproof, such as protective clothing, brake linings, and pipe insulation.

How to Remove Asbestos Safely From Your Home

Although there are not Federal regulations preventing you from doing it yourself, if you have asbestos materials in your home and you wish them to be removed, it is highly recommended that you use a licensed asbestos removal company. Here is some advice for getting rid of asbestos safely.

DIY Asbestos Removal

If you’re going to perform DIY asbestos removal yourself, you must take extreme precautions. Asbestos removal is a complicated procedure and can be very dangerous. It is much better to get a professional to do it because they will also dispose of it safely in accordance with EPA regulations.  If you must do it yourself, follow these safety instructions.

• Clear the area completely: To avoid contamination, remove all furnishings and textiles. If there are things in the room that you absolutely can’t remove, cover them with plastic sheeting and make sure it’s taped down. Cover walls and floors with plastic sheeting. Set up an air lock between the removal area and the living area.
• Protect yourself: Wear a disposable coverall and a respirator that is specifically designed for asbestos removal. Wear goggles and disposable rubber gloves the whole time you are in the contaminated area. Remove all gear within the airlock to prevent the spread of asbestos.
• Practice safe removal: Remove asbestos materials whole whenever possible do not tear or break sheets. Have plenty of asbestos disposal bags on hand. Never handle asbestos with your bare hands. Keep the floor damp to prevent dust from rising.
• Cleanup process: Place each piece of asbestos material in a separate bag. Double bag and seal all asbestos debris. Wash down all surfaces with a damp rag, don’t sweep or vacuum. Dispose of each rag separately after use. Do not reuse rags. After cleanup, bag disposal clothes. Wash your hands and face and shower thoroughly.

When it comes to safely disposing of your asbestos materials, you must follow Federal regulations. Asbestos waste may only be disposed of at EPA approved sites which are licensed to handle it. To find out where the closest one to you is, you can call your state EPA office for a list.

Jayden Welch is a building inspector who likes to keep people safer in their homes and workplaces. She also enjoys posting her insights on many business and homeowner websites.