There are lots of good uses for pressure washing but the important questions we’ll answer here are whether it makes sense to do the pressure washing yourself? and if you’ll be doing it, should you buy or rent a pressure washer.

WHEN to Use a Pressure Washer

Pressure washing, also called power washing, is most often used to clean surfaces prior to painting a house with wood siding or to clean large exterior surfaces like the vinyl siding. It’s important to make sure that surfaces you plan to clean will not be damaged by the pressure, i.e. the power of a pressure washer will strip off loose paint so unless you’re planning to paint your home, you don’t want to pressure wash it. Here are the common ways a pressure washer is used for home maintenance: READ MORE

Home ownership is rewarding and stressful. Home owners are always weighing the pros and cons of pursuing their dreams versus the family budget and affordability. Sometimes home owners will stretch their budget by doing some of their own home maintenance although replacing the siding on a house is large enough that most home owners will hire professionals.

Maintaining your home’s exterior is a challenge for any home owner so don’t think you’re alone. You can learn from one home owner’s experience as she considers residing her Victorian home with vinyl, all the way down to the Gingerbread details. READ MORE

Earth Day reminds us we can protect our earth and our environment by making smart choices in our everyday lives.  The first Earth Day occurred 40 years ago. Today’s world has more challenges but at the same time, the go green movement is making everyone more aware of the actions we can each take to live green.

Manufacturers are creating more green products by using renewable resources like bamboo. Building codes are requiring more energy efficient products. Builders are working with home owners to select the right mix of green, energy efficient products and materials to build green homes. Each of us has the opportunity to help create a healthier, cleaner and more prosperous future for ourselves and generations to come. READ MORE

Landscaping starts up in the springtime. The weather is warm but not too hot, so the time is right to get outdoors and enjoy the work you like doing in the yard.  The snow and winter storms may be over but there’s lots of debris around the yard, and nothing looks as good as it did last summer. Don’t despair … it’s the same every year and with a little work, your lawn and gardens will return.

There are added bonuses to gardening – getting more exercise, enjoying the outdoors and some fresh air. If you’re not wild about gardening, you might want to hire someone else to take care of your garden or lawn maintenance which can be challenging to keep up week after week. When you get outdoors, you’re also likely to notice storm damage from the winter and maybe you’ll need a handyman to help with repairs. READ MORE

Are front doors really sexy? Maybe. Front doors reflect the style of a home. Front doors also reflect the occupants and in some cases, you might consider a front door sexy, or modern, elegant, country … any type of adjective you could use to describe a house.

Now that I’ve got your attention, it’s true that reading (or writing) about doors isn’t a very sexy topic but it’s an important one. Doors provide protection to you and your family. Given that we seldom use our front doors in the US, we forget the front door of your home makes a statement about your home and your family.

Our homes provide shelter, and doors play a key role. Doors not only protect your home’s interior from the weather, they provide access to your home’s interior. Doors used to provide security, i.e. think back to Robin Hood and feudal times. In some ways we still use our doors to decide who to let into our homes, and our lives. Consider … READ MORE

Curbside appeal is key to making the right first impression. When it comes to selling your home, this first impression is critical. Today most buyers are searching for  homes online. This means the photos your realtor includes in your listing need to be perfect, highlighting your home’s best features inside and out and the view from the road, commonly referred to as curb appeal, is key.

Jennifer Myers, a professional home stager, also explained that it’s important to update exterior photos to reflect the current season when a home is listed for an extended period of time. READ MORE

Roofing materials don’t change much but now we have new, energy efficient roofing shingles (Certainteel’s Landmark Solaris shingles shown on left). Roofs vary depending on where you live, from asphalt shingles in the northeast US to ceramic tile in the south. There are also green roof technologies, especially in cities where residents benefit from park like roofs, and opportunities to garden among the towering buildings.

Manufacturers today are bringing more energy efficient products to market as the EPA estimates about $40 billion is spent annually in the US on air-condition buildings, or one-sixth of all electricity generated! READ MORE

Playspaces for children offer an environment for healthy growth, physically, emotionally and mentally. When the sun is shining and kids don’t have to wear boots to play outside, they can run around and pretend they’re almost anywhere.  Before you rush out to buy a swing set, which seems to be a spring tradition, consider alternatives that encourage and support healthy, active outdoor play. Our American suburbs don’t foster the community playgrounds and parks that many of us grew up with but that’s what our children need, some space and friends more than a fancy swing set.

Before you rush out the door, take some time to think through what your child really needs for outdoor play. Don’t buy what you want! Children’s wants and needs are much simpler that adults, often less expensive than you might imagine. Remember the toddler during the holidays. They spend more time playing with the gift boxes than whatever came inside because there’s no structure to the play and they can use their imagination. Sit back and try to recall your favorite childhood memories. Where were those memories? What were you doing? What did you use to have enough fun that you still remember? READ MORE