Three Ways You Can Tell if Your Home Needs New Insulation

Is your home hot in the summer and cold in the winter?It may be time to take a look at your insulation. Here are 3 ways you can tell if the insulation in your home needs to be replaced.

1.    Take a Look in the Attic

Take a peek at the insulation in your attic.As a rule of thumb, if you can see the wood joists on the floor of the attic, you need more insulation.In order to perform properly, insulation must be in good condition. Visually inspect any existing insulation to see if it is:

·         Compacted

·         Moldy

·         Water-stained

·         Degraded

2.    Watch for Ice

Heat loss from the attic melts the snow high on your roof.Water then runs down and re-freezes as it meets colder temperatures, causing ice dams or large icicles to form on the roof and gutters.

3.    Know Your Home’s Age

If your home is more than 10 years old, it probably has inadequate insulation. Homes more than 40 years old may have no insulation at all, or may have been insulated with ineffective materials that are prone to decay, such as newspaper.

A properly insulated home is more comfortable and can save you a significant amount of money on heating and cooling bills. Visit this website for more information about insulation material in Santa Cruz.

How to Plant a Small Tree

The hardest part about planting any tree is moving it. A 6- to 8-footer with its root ball could easily weigh 200 pounds or more. If you plan on planting it yourself… read more

Finding Your Perfect Stone

A backyard waterfall adds to the ambiance of any yard. However, you have many choices for the stones you decide to put in.With dozens of varieties in different shapes, sizes and colors, it’s important to think about what you want your waterfall to look like when it’s finished and the feel you want it to have. These two factors will influence the type of stone you pick.

No matter what look and feel you’re aiming for, you need two different types of stone for your waterfall, foundation and complimentary. The foundation stones serve as the perimeter and are usually the largest pieces used. Limestone tends to be a good choice. Your complimentary stones complete your vision; flagstone or sandstone typically pair with just about any foundation.

Your foundation and complimentary stones also determine your waterfall’s appearance. When you shop for stones, look for something that fits your vision. If you want a sleek waterfall, consider wall rocks. These include granite, limestone and ledge stone and are typically sanded and stacked so that your waterfall has a polished appearance. If you want a natural yet professional look, you might like tumbled stone—this is usually polished but comes in multiple colors.

If you want your waterfall to have a more rugged look, consider using textured stones. The rougher the texture, the more natural a stone typically looks. Additionally, use stones of varying sizes—this will increase its resemblance to a real waterfall. Granite, moss rock and field stone offer a rough, natural look and come in different patterns as well.Whenever possible, use rock varieties from your area. Because these stones will already fit in with your backyard, they’ll help your waterfall blend naturally and keep a rustic feel.

When choosing your stones, you should also take the design into account. Both flagstone and field stone help you create a dramatic waterfall while maintaining a natural look. If you want a small waterfall, consider utilizing pebbles for a gentle flow or slate for a staircase. Consider also how you make your waterfall accessible. Cobblestones may create an inviting path while a pebbled walkway becomes an extension of your waterfall. You may want to bring in granite boulders as well so that you have built-in seating to enjoy the new addition to your yard.

These are only a few of the possible varieties of stone to consider for your backyard waterfall. To learn about all of your options for stone products in Santa Cruz, visit this website.

Working With Your Pavers

Repaving your patio or paving it with cobblestones adds greatly to the character of your house. However, these projects take a number of days to complete. There are a few things you should expect when hiring pavers to make the process go as smoothly as possible for both you and your workers.

1. Paving is a Process

Pavers don’t lay your new patio in a day. Instead, they prepare the foundation first so that your patio will stay firmly in place. They also identify what kind of soil you have and compact it so that it will be as strong as possible.

2. It Tends To Be Messy

Your pavers will use different kinds of saws as they work on your patio. Professionals typically are careful about where all that dust goes but you should expect some mess anyway. These cutting tools also tend to be loud.

3. Pavers Also Design

You don’t have to give up your dream patio because of the company you work with. Ideally, a paving company will ask want you want and then help come up with a plan that will work for your patio, recommending stone types and design features if you’d like.

These are just a few of the things to keep in mind when you work with pavers. For more information about pavers in Scotts Valley, visit this website.

Add Mulch For Beautiful Plants

Re-energize your garden with new mulch. Your plants will thank you for all the nutrients making them look better than ever and your backyard will gain the earthy scent of a garden well-tended. 

Consider Texture and Color When Choosing Concrete for an Entrance

There are a myriad of concrete products and treatments to choose from when planning your entrance.Selecting the right type for your home depends on style as well as practical factors, such as weather.Consider the following ideas for a stunning concrete entry way:

Textured Concrete

There are many innovative finishes and colorings that can make your walkway inviting and unique.Stamps and stencils are a popular way of texturizing the concrete surface and adding an element of style.They also have the supplementary benefit of increasing traction during wet or slippery weather conditions.

Another option is an exposed-aggregate finish.In this application, the small stones and particles that make up the cement mix are visible on the surface, rather than being concealed below a smooth, top layer.This particular finish is most comparable to the look of natural stone.

Color for Any Scheme

There are a multitude of color options available to coordinate with the scheme of your home.Matching your siding color, an accent color or the tone of your roof are good ideas when searching for the right concrete color.There are even two-toned applications that, when used on a textured surface, give natural-stone beauty to concrete surfaces. To find out more about concrete products in Scotts Valley, visit this website.