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Best Reasons To Rent a Storage Unit

Have you ever been so overwhelmed by clutter you just wish you could stash it somewhere until you knew what to do with it? That’s where storage units come in. Securing outside space for your important belongings is becoming increasingly popular and these are the best reasons to rent a storage unit.

To Make More Room at Home

Just because you have an excess of possessions doesn’t mean it’s all junk. Sometimes people end up in a house or apartment that’s simply too small or lacks adequate closet space. Until you move into a larger home, convenient storage units Kansas City MO are the answer to more space.

As a Go-Between When Moving

The most common reason to rent a storage unit is for a go-between when moving. Relocating isn’t always as easy as simply moving your belongings from one place to another. Sometimes there are delays on house closings or other holdups. Until you’re situated, a storage unit is an excellent option.

To Store Inherited Possessions

Having a close relative pass away is hard enough, but what happens if you inherit their possessions? Many times people are left with houses that need to be cleaned out quickly for a sale, and a storage unit is a terrific option for storing the contents. Later on, you can go through these items with a clear head.

For Cars and Boats

Many storage units have compartments that are large enough to store cars and boats. This can be incredibly helpful for someone that has a summer vehicle, motorcycle or jet ski and nowhere to store it off-season. It also eliminates the worry of parking a vehicle outside where it can become damaged.

If you’ve got too much stuff at home, rent a storage unit! It’s an excellent solution if you’re moving or need more room inside your home or garage.

4 Problems That Can Cause Water Damage

There are a lot of ways that water damage can occur in a home. Know how to identify and address these four common water-related problems to keep your home safe and sound.

1. Broken Pipes

One of the most common reasons you have water damage in a home is that a pipe leaks or bursts. If the leak happens slowly over time, you may not know there is a problem until extensive damage has already happened. Rotten floors, mold growth, and ruined carpets are just a few things that can result from a slow leak.

On the other hand, burst pipes often happen after a freeing event, so it is important to keep any exposed pipes protected from extreme cold.

2. House Fires

You may not automatically think of water damage when you picture a house fire, but it takes a huge amount of water to put out a large fire. That water is sprayed over the entire home, leading to water seeping through everything, regardless of whether it was directly affected by the fire. If you experience a house fire, you will probably need to arrange for water mitigation Denver CO afterward.

3. Foundation Problems

A foundation problem can easily cause water to enter a basement or crawlspace. Additionally, older foundations may not be properly sealed against water so that moisture can seep in. This can lead to water damage, especially if it occurs in a finished basement.

4. Leaking Roof

A leak in your roof can cause water damage throughout every floor of the house. Even a small leak can cause the roof sheathing to become rotted, leading to the need for a whole new roof. Also, if the leak is severe enough, water can come through ceilings, damaging drywall, paint, and any furniture underneath. An annual roof inspection is a good way to prevent this problem.

Water can lead to major damage and mold growth when it gets where it isn’t supposed to be. Identifying problems early and fixing them right away will minimize that damage.

3 Ways To Update Your Home

Undergoing a home remodel or redesign is a big project, but it can pay off in ways such as having a more attractive living space and increasing the resale value of your house. There are numerous ways to refresh your living space, with some options being more expensive and time-consuming than others. Some can be done yourself, while others should be handled by a professional. Here are three ways to update your home.

1. Replace the Bathroom Sink

Bathroom vanities Brookfield WI consist of the sink, counter space, and mirror above the sink in most bathrooms. Replacing this is a good way to give the bathrooms in your house a new look. When considering which sink to get, think about factors such as:

• How much counter space and storage you need for your belongings
• What style would fit in with the rest of the rooms in your house
• What your budget is for the remodel
• Whether the apparatus is able to fit easily around your plumbing

Most bathroom vanities can be replaced in a short amount of time, which is important because you may temporarily lose access to your toilet and shower while the new vanity is being installed.

2. Paint the Walls

Painting the walls a different color can change the look of a room in a huge way. When you choose a paint color, consider how you want the room to feel. For example, warm tones of white paint can make a room feel cozy, while cooler tones of white tend to make a room feel more formal. Colors such as yellow are invigorating, while shades of blue and green are more calming. For these reasons, someone might use more yellows in the kitchen and save the blue paint for the bedrooms.

Prior to having your walls painted, take some time to repair any holes that might be in your walls, and make sure that the walls are clean and free of particles such as dust and hair. Using tape is a good idea for ensuring that you paint clean lines around windows and door frames.

3. Install New Floors

Putting in new bathroom or kitchen tile, or replacing the carpet in the living room or bedrooms, is another way to update the look of your home. All floors eventually need to be replaced due to normal wear and tear or stains caused by spills.

Consider one of these three ways to update the look of your home.

Tips for Decorating Your Toddler’s Room

There are so many fun ideas you can incorporate into your toddler’s room as they transition out of their nursery and into their own bedroom.

Toddler Bedding

Update the room to include a statement bed that fits the theme of the room. Purchase fun, trendy bedding that reflects your child’s personality. Let your toddler pick out a few decorative pillows or stuffed animals to match the bed. A toddler bed Schaumburg should be low to the ground so your child can safely climb in and out of the bed. The smaller cot mattress can help your toddler feel comfortable as they adjust to their new room. If you decide to move directly to a regular bed, make sure your child does not need any help getting in or out of the bed. Add guardrails for additional security while sleeping.

Reading Corner

Dedicate one corner of the room to a reading nook to encourage learning and cognitive development. Set up a tent or comfortable bean bag chairs for you and your child to sit and read together. Tents not only feel cozy and quiet but can inspire imaginative play. Add fairy lights to create a magical, starry effect and help with lighting. Keep a reading light nearby to avoid eye strain or headaches while you read. Decide how you want to store the books using bins or shelves. If you use a freestanding bookshelf, be sure to safely anchor it to the wall to prevent it from falling over. Include an assortment of picture books, board books, and puzzle books for your toddler to choose from.

Arts and Crafts

If you have the space, set aside an area for your child to explore their creative side through arts and crafts. Purchase a toddler-size table and a small easel for painting. Use chalkboard paint to turn any surface into an interactive canvas. Paint the top of a table or cover an entire wall with chalkboard paint for your child to enjoy. Keep all art supplies in another room and safely locked away, in case of any choking hazards.

Use these creative ideas to help transition your toddler from their nursery into their own bedroom.

3 Simple Ways To Give Your Deck A Makeover

Whether you’re having a gathering with friends, catching some rays, or kicking back with a good book, your deck is the ultimate space to appreciate the outdoors without ever leaving your home. If your deck needs a little TLC, try out one (or all!) of these tips to transform your deck into your own personal oasis.

1. Seek Some Shade

Your deck is a great space to soak in some sunlight and get your daily dose of Vitamin D. However if your deck is in a very sunny spot, you may be getting too much of a good thing. Fortunately, you can easily add retractable canopies and system to your existing structure. You can turn your space into a paradise that you control – sun when you want it, and shade when you need it.

2. Add Colorful Accents

If your deck furniture is looking plain and drab, you don’t have to spend money on a fancy new set, all you need to do is add some pops of color! Throw pillows are an easy and relatively inexpensive way to add personality and flair to your space. Want to take it to the next level? Try a throw rug that compliments your color scheme, or even some new matching dishware to enhance your new look.

3. Light It Up

Some strategically placed lighting can brighten up your space both literally and figuratively. If your deck is primarily in the sun, solar lights are an option that looks great and saves on energy too. Add some to your deck railings, steps, and – if your space allows – from above. Your guests will thank you for the added light to guide them and you can bask in the glow of your new illuminated space.

With just a few simple tweaks, you can transform a plain unassuming deck into the outdoor space of your dreams.

Automated Monitoring to Improve Facilities Maintenance

Large buildings take a lot of maintenance, but your maintenance department is probably kept as small as practical to save money. This reality creates a demand for electronic and digital tools to help you keep track of your building’s status and needs. Automated monitoring systems make a facility manager’s job easier in a number of ways.

Working When Humans Don’t

Your flesh-and-blood maintenance workforce is only available part of the time, even if you and some of your staff are always on-call for maintenance emergencies. These days, that emergency call is likely to be initiated not by a person but by a computer. The 24-hour fire and security monitoring we have come to rely on are just two familiar examples. Automated maintenance systems of all kinds are able to have “eyes” on every part of your building while your human staff are getting some well-earned sleep.

Staying in Places Humans Can’t

You and your maintenance workforce are responsible for the whole facility, but some parts of the building are far less accessible for maintenance than others. A good example of an essential building element that you aren’t able to see every day is the roof. Although you can periodically walk over your facility’s roof to check its condition, you can’t keep a team continually patrolling the roof night and day. What is happening on your roof when you’re not looking can have costly results. Automated roof alarm systems with predictive monitoring can notify you 24/7 about current problems, and even warn you ahead of time about potential issues that could become a problem. This is especially valuable in cold climates where a rapid accumulation of snow can undermine a roof’s integrity faster than you might think.

Seeing Things Humans Don’t

Even when you and your maintenance staff are present and productive, there are some things you won’t notice simply because of the limitations of human senses. Automated sensors that “see” in the infrared spectrum can detect cold spots that could alert you to energy leaks or even hidden mold. Moisture monitors can detect dampness and warn you of the potential for water damage before a human would ever notice any leaks or condensation. Air quality monitors can “sniff” out carbon monoxide or other hazardous gases and airborne contaminants that humans couldn’t detect until it was far too late.

As a facilities manager, you’ve probably felt the need to be in multiple places at once in order to monitor everything going on with your building. Automated asset management and monitoring systems can’t clone you, but they can give you a remote “presence” to make your job more manageable.

How to Protect Your Home Against Fires

Your home is one of your most precious assets. Even if you don’t own a home and are renting, the place where you sleep at night, cook your meals, and relax with your family is one of the most important things you have. So can you imagine what would happen if your home were to catch on fire?

It’s a scary thought for anyone, but luckily there are plenty of things you can do to prevent fires in your home or yard.

Know the Risks

The first step to keeping your home and family safe is to educate yourself on what causes house fires and how to stay safe. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), some of the top causes of house fires are related to cooking, smoking, heating, candles, and electrical problems. Just being aware of these and their proper uses can go a long way in preventing fires.

Develop Safe Habits

Working to create good habits associated with cooking, candles, heating, smoking and electricity is essential. For example, when cooking, make it a practice never to leave food unattended on the stove or in the oven. If you’re always there to keep an eye on it, you will be able to put out any fires while they are small and prevent their spread to the rest of the house.

Keep heat sources clear. Keep material, blankets, pillows, or furniture from blocking or touching heat sources. These include vents, space heaters, electric and gas stoves, pellet stoves, fireplaces, and more.

Make a habit of completely putting out cigarette butts when you finish smoking. This can be placing them in sand or an ashtray or dousing them with water before throwing them in the trash. Don’t smoke in bed or on the couch, where hot ashes can fall and catch fire.  

Don’t overload electrical outlets with multiple plugs. They can only handle a certain amount of energy surging through them. If you need to use some sort of extension, purchase one with surge protection. 

Keep Up With Preventative Measures

Not only are education and creating good habits important, but there are other measures you can take to protect your family and home. For example, some companies offer fire safety services NYC that can inspect your home and ensure that your smoke alarms are correctly installed. They can also help you develop safety plans in case of fire and install fire extinguishers and fire suppression systems.

It may seem like a lot of time or money, but anything you invest in preventing house fires is well worth it. You’ll rest more easily at night knowing that you and your family are sleeping safely.

How to Decrease Manual Labor at Home

When you get home from a hard day of work, what you want to do most is finally rest and relax for the day. Unfortunately, a household requires a lot of manual labor to maintain. Thankfully, here are a few things you can do to reduce the work you need to do when you get home tired.

Treat Yourself to a Dishwasher

Washing the dishes isn’t only time-consuming, it’s also unnecessary, extra work that you can avoid thanks to a great, modern invention. If you do yourself the favor of scheduling a dishwasher installation Washington DC, you can treat yourself to more relaxation time after work. Plus, you’ll also save yourself from the negative consequences of having to do your own dishes. For example, this is an activity that can cause dry, cracked skin or back pain over time from having to lean over a sink for extended periods of time.

Don’t Allow Shoes Inside Your Home

Another chore that requires a lot of manual labor and can cause you a lot of back pain over time is mopping your floor. This is because you typically lean over while holding your mop, which can cause stress to your lower back over extended periods of time. Therefore, reducing the need to clean your floor is one way in which you can easily reduce the manual labor you do at home and save yourself some pain as well. This is actually quite easy to accomplish. All you have to do is not allow shoes inside your home, which will reduce the amount of dust and dirt that people carry inside, thus reducing how often you need to clean!

Your house doesn’t have to be another source of physical strain on your body. You can relax a little more at home by getting a dishwasher and disallowing shoes inside.

Floor Care for 3 Different Materials

The floor in your home sets the mood for the rest of the house. However, your floors take a beating every day. If you neglect their upkeep, you might notice your home does not feel quite right.

If you want to take better care of your floors, continue reading this article. Whether you have hardwood, tile or linoleum, these tips will improve your flooring.

1. Hardwood Care

Hardwood floors require some of the most maintenance compared to other floor types. It would be best to sweep your floors once per week. Once per month, you should use a safe cleaning solution for your wooden floors. However, do not mop in the traditional sense. This will soak your floors with more water than an accidental spill. If you notice warping or cracks in your wood, contact a professional about floor refinishing service Ramsey NJ.

2. Tile Care

Tile, on the other, can and should be mopped with a mild detergent. If you have unglazed tiles, use a mixture of vinegar and water. Avoid sponge mops because they spread around dirt and push debris into the grout. To clean your grout, use baking soda and make a paste with water. Apply the paste and let it sit overnight, then scrub it with a nylon brush.

3. Vinyl Care

Vinyl needs to be cleaned every day if you can. Sweep your floors every day to keep your floors in good shape. Do not let spills sit on vinyl. Even though it is waterproof, it might stain if you allow things to fester. Put protective mats in high-traffic areas to help reduce dirt and grime and minimize your need to clean. Find a good vinyl cleaning solution and use it once a month.

Your floors require work. They can take a pounding, but if you want to avoid costly repairs in the future, spend some time every day and clean your floors.

Tips to Maximize Your Small Kitchen

Many people have small kitchens, but that does not mean you cannot make it into an attractive and efficient space in your home. Using color, accessories and space will transform your small kitchen into the centerpiece of your house.

For kitchen decorating tips, continue reading this article. Cooking is a beautiful pastime that brings together friends and family and creates memories. Do not let your kitchen become an unused part of your home.

Install New Cabinets

Small kitchens do not have to lack storage. Look into professional cabinet services California in your area to get some quotes. One benefit of a small kitchen is that it will not cost you a fortune to install new cabinetry. It would be best to opt for units that give a more open and spacious appearance. Talk to a professional about the best option for your space.

Use Wallpaper

If you have blank walls between your cabinets and counters, consider adding a fun pattern that brings color to your kitchen. Wallpaper is relatively inexpensive and gives you nearly infinite possibilities to experiment with designs. Get several samples and hang them up in your kitchen to see what fits your style.

Create More Space

Even tiny kitchens have more space than you realize. Many people neglect open wall space and the area by their feet. Consider installing shelving or pegboards to hang up pots and pans that you use the most. Put away appliances and utensils you need but do not use very often. Also, consider taking an inventory of your kitchen supplies and donating the things you no longer need.

Kitchens are one of the most fun rooms to redecorate. You might be amazed home some simple redesigns can transform the form and functionality of your cooking zone. Search online for some color and organization inspiration, and consider hiring a professional to install new fixtures.