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Types of Roofing: Which Is Best for You?

Types of Roofing: Which Is Best for You?

Unless you need a new roof, it’s likely that you don’t spend a lot of time thinking about the different types of roofs and roofing materials out there. Roofing companies work with different types of roofs every day and they can give you information on the different options and materials available to homes and businesses everywhere. We also want to share with you some of the roofing materials out there to help you decide what roof would be right for you. Consider some of the following materials: 

  • Asphalt Shingles – This is a very popular choice for roofing materials, and for good reason! Asphalt shingles are affordable and can last anywhere from 10-20 years, depending on your maintenance schedule, the quality of your shingles and the efficacy of the roofing contractor who does the installation. If one area becomes damaged, then it is possible to repair rather than replace in some cases.
  • Metal Roofing – Made from aluminum or steel in most cases, metal roofing is a long-lasting material that is great for your forever home. While more expensive up front, metal roofs have a lifespan of 50-75 years and are great for areas that experience severe weather. 
  • Flat Roofing – Flat roofing is a type of roof that is primarily seen atop commercial properties. This specialized roofing is able to be tough and durable in many different types of weather, despite its no-frills appearance. 

These are some of the most popular types of roofing available. Talk to your local roofing company if you are in need of a new roof for your home or business. They can discuss with you the different options available and which is best for your needs and budget.

5 Main Causes of Foreclosed Homes

5 Main Causes of Foreclosed Homes

Foreclosed homes are a huge difficulty for many. No one wants to foreclose on their home, but foreclosed homes are a common occurrence. While some can take advantage of foreclosed homes, it is important to remember where they come from. Here are 5 main causes for homes foreclosing in no order.

  1. Unemployment: Losing one’s job quickly becomes a massive financial burden when income is reduced so rapidly. Things like unemployment insurance and benefits can help, but sometimes it is not enough, and the mortgage may default, leading to a foreclosure.
  2. Medical Debt: Medical bills can come on quickly and hard. A sudden illness or injury can lead to a massive amount of debt, which can later lead to losing your home to foreclosure.
  3. Divorce: Splitting up with a partner can be a huge financial burden. Two people living separately usually costs less than living together, so a single person paying for the mortgage can be difficult. This can later lead to foreclosure on a home.
  4. Loan Rates: If the loan rates of a home are adjustable then rates have the potential to grow in the future. If they grow very quickly then the cost of the mortgage can become too great a burden to bear, leading to foreclosure.
  5. Credit Cards: Credit card debt can be a serious problem for some, even becoming so serious that it leads to bankruptcy or foreclosure.

There are many things that can lead someone to foreclose on their house, and rarely is it a positive thing. Foreclosed homes do not exist in a vacuum, and it is worth knowing where they come from.

Thinking of Putting a Pond in Your Property? Here Are 4 Benefits of Hiring a Professional Pond Contractor

Thinking of Putting a Pond in Your Property? Here Are 4 Benefits of Hiring a Professional Pond Contractor

When you want a pond installed onto your property it can be a lot of work. Building a pond is not an easy task but hiring a skilled pond contractor can make it a lot easier. Here are 4 benefits of hiring a professional pond contractor to build a pond for you.

  1. Less Experimentation: If you are not familiar with pond building it can be quite a bit of work to figure out how to do it. Anyone can do it; it just may involve a lot of experimentation because what you want and where you want it will be different from every other pond. A pond contractor will know how to install the pond and will need much less experimentation to install the pond.
  2. Guaranteed Results: While anyone can install their pond, the results are not guaranteed to look professional quality. Hiring a professional will guarantee you a certain level of quality. This can remove a level of stress, and let you enjoy the quality results.
  3. Tools: A pond contractor will have the proper tools for the job on hand before they start the job. Were you to do it yourself you may find it difficult to attain the proper tools, and might try using the improper tools for the job out of necessity?
  4. Aesthetics: A contractor who has experience designing and building ponds will have a sense for what looks good and what does not. This will mean they will know how to decorate the pond appropriately and can make it look high quality and natural.

The important thing to be aware of is that anyone can build their own pond, but a pond contractor will ensure high quality and timely results. Make sure to hire a professional pond contractor if you want a great pond on your property. 

How a Real Estate Lawyer Can Make Buying a Home Simple

Buying a house is no simple task, and there is a lot of paperwork that is involved with it. All these forms and documents can be difficult for an average person to read and process, but a real estate lawyer can help you understand the legal documents involved with buying a house. Here are a few instances in which a real estate lawyer can help make buying a home easier.

How a Real Estate Lawyer Can Make Buying a Home Simple

Zoning Laws: Whenever building is concerned, it is always necessary to look at the zoning laws surrounding where you want to build. Understanding or dealing with zoning laws can be complex, but a real estate lawyer can help you navigate through them.

Transfer of Deeds and Titles: The transference of deeds and titles is not something to be taken lightly, and the legal system has laws in place to make sure of that. A real estate lawyer should help process the transference of deeds and the documents involved in that. In fact, in some states it is required to have an attorney present when signing off on home sales. In Alabama, only attorneys are allowed to handle deeds and similar documents. While not every part of the home buying process requires a real estate lawyer, is may be necessary, if not required for this step.

Review Purchase Agreements: As mentioned earlier, there is a lot of legal paperwork involved in purchasing a house. When making an agreement between seller and buyer, the legal documents involved can be written in language that is difficult for an unpracticed individual to understand. However, a real estate lawyer will be able to make sense of the purchasing agreement and can effectively communicate between buyer and seller to make sure that they are both happy with their transaction and that everything is carried out legally.

While some things may be done without a real estate lawyer, some things are incredibly difficult, and in some states not possible without a lawyer. When buying a home, it is recommended that you call a real estate lawyer because they can make the process of buying a home a lot easier.

Finding a Quality Auto Body Shop

It’s undeniable that cars play a vital role in our everyday life. In most areas, even if public transportation is available, cars are still the main mode of transportation for the majority of people. Whether you have the misfortune to suffer a car accident or whether you just want to practice good maintenance habits for your vehicle, it’s important to find a reliable auto body shop in your area. To help guide you in your search, check out this list of ways to find a quality auto body shop.

Finding a Quality Auto Body Shop

  • Ask family and friends. When searching for an auto body shop, your network of friends, family, coworkers, and neighbors is a great place to start asking around. Ask about their cars and their experiences with the mechanics that they’ve been to in the past. Pay particular attention to recommendations from people who drive vehicles that are similar to yours, as those service companies will likely be better equipped to work on your vehicle.
  • Consult the Internet. The Internet is another great place to search for auto body shops. To make sure that you are getting the most accurate and trustworthy information, stick to sites that specialize in helping you find these services, such as Angie’s List and Consumer Reports. These sites allow you to browse a catalog of mechanics in your area rather than trying to look them all up individually, which will save you time.
  • Check the Better Business Bureau. When it comes to car repair, you want to know as much as possible before you commit to a provider. It’s also helpful to weed out unsuitable candidates early on. Check out potential candidates in the Better Business Bureau records to see if they have any complaints lodged against them.

After you’ve chosen an auto body shop, don’t be afraid to ask for a free quote. It’s best if they can explain to you what needs to be done on your car and present their plan of action in a clear and understandable way. You can also try to ask if they have any ongoing special offers that might apply to you. Hopefully you will find a great auto body shop that you can trust not just for now but also for future repairs as well.

Why You Should Maintain Your Septic System

Septic tanks are large chambers made of fiberglass, metal, plastic or precast concrete that are located beneath a household. Their core function is to collect solid waste, decompose it using bacterial activity, then drain it through soak away means. The following are a couple of reasons why septic tanks should be diligently cleaned on a regular basis:

  • To get your tank pumped every 2-3 years, the cost and effort required are very minimal. Maintaining your septic tank can prevent extremely expensive expenditures ranging from $3,000.00 – $10,000.00. This may go even higher, especially when a replacement of the leaching system needs to be done.
  • Overall hygiene. When wastewater is treated inadequately, it could pose considerable human health risks by contaminating wells, surface water, and groundwater sources. You wouldn’t want to put your family/community’s life at risk; would you? As a homeowner, it is your job to understand the inner workings of your system and do what must be done to maintain it.
  • Decline in property value. A poorly maintained septic tank results in a gradual decline in your property’s value. If ever you decide to put your property up for sale, it is crucial for you to ensure that your septic tank is working as it should at all times.

On average, it’s advisable to clean septic tanks within the first two to three years of their use. Anything after that will lead to overflow of solid waste from the tank and could be detrimental, not only to you but to everyone around you.

Top 4 Reasons Plumbing Companies Recommend Water Treatment Systems

Plumbing companies often offer many different solutions for homeowners, one of which is finding the perfect water treatment system for your needs and budget. Are you wondering if you even need a water treatment system? Here are our top four reasons plumbing companies recommend adding a water treatment system in your home:

  1. Your water has a funny taste or smell. If you will not drink your water because of a funny taste, chances are you are buying packaged or bottled water. This can end up costing a lot of money and is bad for the environment. A water treatment system can remove the buildup and minerals that are causing your water to taste bad.  You can feel confident drinking tap water in your home again!
  2. Your dishes and clothes are not getting very clean. Hard water does not help soap lather very well. This means that you might need to use more soap to get your clothes and dishes clean. Hard water can also prevent soap from rinsing off well, which can leave a film on your clothes that attracts dirt. It also leaves a hard film on your dishes and can even cause them to rust. A water treatment system will help your clothes and dishes look bright and clean again while using less detergent.
  3. Your appliances are not lasting very long or are not functioning properly. Hard water causes sediment and mineral buildup in your appliances. This can shorten their life and cause them to not work very well. This is especially problematic for your washing machine, dishwasher, water heater, and ice maker.  Having a plumbing company install a water treatment system can help your appliances last longer and work better.
  4. Your skin feels dry and itchy all the time. Dry and itchy skin is a common side effect of hard water. Soap and shampoo residue stays on your skin and scalp, causing it to dry out and itch.  A water treatment system can prevent this from happening, so your skin feels soft and clean!

With many different water treatment systems available, you’ll want to ask your plumber which type will work best. Many plumbing companies have their trusted brands, and they will help you find the perfect water treatment system for your home.

Three Reasons You Should Call an Exterminator Right Away

While most of us keep some pesticides on-hand when we have a bug to kill in our home, it can be an entirely different scenario to have an infestation. If you’ve noticed you have a problem but aren’t sure if it’s time to call an exterminator, you might be able to get away with waiting in some cases. There are three instances, however, that always require a call to a professional:

 

  1. Roaches – There are lots of different types of roaches, but you never want to have them in your home. The lowliest of bugs, roaches can live virtually anywhere and eat anything, making them equipped for survival. Calling an exterminator is the best way to prevent roaches from taking over your home.
  2. Bed Bugs – Bed bugs always warrant a professional because they can easily be spread from one place to another. Bed bugs usually present in the form of bites found on your skin when you wake up in the morning, and black spots on the sheets indicating their presence. An exterminator will need to fumigate your entire home if you have bed bugs.
  3. Spiders – Spiders are usually harmless in a home but can be bothersome if they get out of hand. Some spiders, like the brown recluse, don’t want any trouble, but can make you very sick if they bite. You’ll want an exterminator to apply the proper treatments if you believe you have a spider infestation.

The One Perk of Residential Carpet Cleaning You Didn’t Expect

The One Perk of Residential Carpet Cleaning You Didn’t Expect

When you need to have the carpeting in your home cleaned, you already know that it’s going to look and feel better in general. Those tough stains will finally be gone for good, the carpet fibers will feel fresh and new under foot, and the color will be improved, too!

It’s no secret the residential carpet cleaning is great for your carpet and should be done at least once a year to preserve the life of your flooring. But did you know that there is a bonus perk to having your flooring materials cleaned that isn’t as obvious?

The hidden benefit is that your indoor air quality improves! Over time, your carpet absorbs everything that is tracked in underfoot, as well as dust, pet dander, allergens, and other airborne items. You may not know it, but over time these things can add up to less-than-healthy indoor air quality, leaving you wondering why your house smells different or has an odd feel. Residential carpet cleaning not only refreshes the carpet itself, but also refreshes your indoor air so you breathe better and have a healthier indoor living space.

 

Haven’t scheduled residential carpet cleaning in a while? Make your call for an appointment today!

The Flexibility of Electric Window Screens Makes Your Patio Far More Useful

 

The Flexibility of Electric Window Screens Makes Your Patio Far More Useful

Everyone who has an outdoor living space knows when being in a screened area is absolutely necessary, especially if you want to enjoy your outdoor time without being on the menu for mosquitoes. There may also be times, however, when you want to enjoy an unencumbered view, such as a glorious sunrise or sunset, or take that photograph of your children playing, for which the screen is really in the way. The solution is to replace permanent screening with electric window screens. Sometimes you don’t want anything between you and the pure air and sunshine!

There are several benefits of electric window screens, including that you can retract them when there are high winds that cause flying debris that could cause damage to the screens themselves. They can be costly to replace, especially since insurance carriers may be selective about their coverage of screened patio structures.

Using electric window screens is also a great way to provide openings when you want them. A permanent screen means you cannot go through when you want to step into your yard. The flexibility of electric window screens makes your patio far more useful, which makes entertaining easier.

If you would like more information about how electric window screens could make your home more functional and beautiful, as well as improve your enjoyment of your outdoor living space, get in touch with your local porch, patio, and screen company. They’ll be glad to answer your questions and provide you with the outdoor living solutions that make sense for you.

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