Making use of our side yard space

Guest post written by Beth Lowell

We really love to entertain out in our backyard during the summer and into the fall too. There's nothing like a great, crisp fall afternoon spent reading a book or grilling out in our backyard. It's one of my favorite entertaining spaces. But someone recently pointed out to me that I'm missing a great opportunity by doing nothing with our side yard. I realized she was right and became set on making it another entertainment space.

While I was looking online for some easy DIY ideas for it, I ran across some info on Sears Siding Replacement . After I looked through it some I decided to go through them to get the siding on our house fixed. For all hte work we put into our yard, it isn't worth it unless our house looks really nice too!

I'm pretty excited about our side yard makeover though, I planted some really nice looking plants and even put a bench right there. I think that will be my new favorite reading area to replace my back yard.

Renovating? Test for Asbestos First

If you purchased a mid-century bungalow or Victorian manor, the sellers most likely signed a lead paint disclosure, or at least your agent educated you on the possible presence of lead paint. While the paint is dangerous to children if it flakes off and is ingested, it is relatively benign under a solid paint job. On the contrary, asbestos that was used in tile indeed poses a hazard if disturbed in any way. Home flippers frequently like to tear out old walls themselves and that is when they are most likely to come into contact with asbestos.

Mesothelioma, which is a type of cancer, comes directly from inhaling the substance. Tiny glass-like shards cling to the lining of the lungs. While some people do survive, the recovery is far from 100%.

In the United Kingdom, places of business are required to have an asbestos survey to locate possible risks. In fact, one theater that I had worked in years ago was shut down for awhile to mitigate the risk from falling and deteriorating tile. Home owners do not have to carry the burden of getting their house tested as it is not mandatory, but it is so important to elect an asbestos survey. If your home was built before 1990, it may contain toilet cisterns, weather proofing material, or asbestos plaster board. A home improvement project could have also incorporated leftover materials. Sometimes bans and code changes take awhile to trickle down. Perhaps a diligent contractor disposed of suspect materials, but if you used leftovers to patch a wall yourself later on, you could have used asbestos material.

An asbestos survey entails a specially trained individual visually inspecting the premises. Sometimes a visual inspection is all that is needed. However, if the visual inspection is inconclusive or damaged tile is present, a laboratory test may be necessary. While this may seem like a hassle, your family's health is of prime importance. While documented asbestos-related illnesses have been recorded as early as the 1920s, it is shocking to think that this material was only outlawed in the 90s and after the turn of the 21st century in some countries. If you are in the UK, the test is pretty standard. If you are in the United States or other international points, check with your local jurisdiction to find an asbestos tester.

A Beadboard Backsplash is a Classic Look

Kurt Duble is the author of the great guest post.

When renovating our kitchen, the backsplash posed a challenge. Our old bungalow home had plaster walls, and the backsplash consisted of old, thick tiles mortared directly into the plaster. As we chipped away the old, cracked tiles, chunks of plaster wall fell to the ground. We were left with a pitted wall that crumbled to the touch. Our plan of replacing with new tile did not sound like the best solution.

We studied our options, and talked to many employees at our local home improvement stores click here. The search was on for a material that would hide the pits, stop the crumbling and give us a clean look. We finally decided on tongue-and-groove beadboard. The style was classic and blended well with our home's cozy style. We could not nail the wooden beadboard to the plaster wall because it would crumble and break more. We used permanent adhesive to glue the beadboard to the plaster. We then nailed wooden trim to the beadboard to finish the edges, and painted it a clean white.

The result was perfect. The semi-gloss paint is easy to clean, and the look blended well with the home. No one can tell that the wall was once pitted and ugly.

Feeling Down About Your Down Spouts?

From time to time, we have talked about unique elements to restore a very historical home. Whether it be a bungalow or a Victorian, there are ways to take it back in time. What if you rather not have every accessory lend to a time capsule atmosphere, but wanted something that is unique, creative, yet timeless.

White, square gutters are a big improvement over other solutions over the years. They avoid many problems of strain on the roof. Did you know that many folks are using rain chains instead?

What is a rain chain, you ask? It is a series of connected cups, funnels, and spouts that carry the rain from the rooftop to the ground. Many are made of copper and they create an interesting patina over time. The attach or rest right to the gutter hole, so it doesn't involve any alteration to the home.

Rain chains come in many elegant and whimsical designs. In fact, they are nothing new. They have had them in Japan for hundreds of years. They have not caught on in a widespread way in the United States, but slowly you see unique homes adding them. They are also great for garden vignettes. If you have an arbor, overhang, or gazebo. If you are looking for something that not every one of your neighbors have, this could well be the answer.

Warm Heart, Warm Feet

In home renovations, one thing people don't always consider is the option of Radiant heat coming through the floor. Most people consider it a luxury item only. There are high end homes where the bathroom has a heated floor, but that is considered luxurious and excessive.

Did you know that in years past, that kind of heating was considered practical and it was a little more common. It was seen at just above entry level price points in most cases. A relative of mine bought a small house in Florida. It is about 1400 square feet. It has radiant heat in the ceiling, rather than the floor. You just felt so much warmer with your feet toasty or the heat coming through the walls. It is very efficient. There are no hot and cold parts of the house. There is also no loud rattle that a radiator would give off.

The other nice thing with having it in an older home or retrofitting it is that there is no "blow back" from the furnace. That was an adventure one day at Grandma's house when we all came home to dust everywhere. I am too young to remember how it happened, but it definitely happened.

Would you consider radiant heat knowing how efficient is?

An Address Plaque Says You're Here to Stay

When fixing up around the house, there are some small touches that can turn your shop or residence into a jewel box versus a little hole in the wall, and a country estate instead of a big old house. Just like mailboxes are important, address plaques and signs are even more so. After all, how is someone supposed to find your house without them?

An address plaque with an upscale look, instead of stick on numbers, can make your home look more finished. It also says "welcome" versus "enter at your own risk". You can add a wall address plaques, or your number and surname on a stake that mounts in the ground. A sign that mounts in the dirt may be a better choice if your front door is down a windy path. This way, people know they came to the right place, before an embarrassing knock at the door. In some subdivisions, homes look so similar. Every third house is the same floor plan just flipped, it seems.

When you buy address plaques and numbers for your business, it gives your place an air of permanency. Unless you have a seasonal business, having a paper sign up for weeks makes customers feel like you don't have the interest in staying around awhile. Even if the business is your life's love, people don't think you planned far enough in advance or carefully enough. Proper signage can mean a lot subconsciously. An "I just discovered you," versus an "Are you closing?" is usually better, I would say!