Sustainable construction projects have become more and more common. In fact, a study found that about 73% of commercial contractors have previously retrofitted a property, plan to retrofit a property, or are in the midst of retrofitting a property. There are several reasons why a developer would choose to go the “greener” route when renovating an office building. Some benefits include construction savings, LEED points earned, and savings on utility bills.…
Windows are some of the most visible parts of your home. Updating them can be a fast, cost-effective way to give your house a facelift. Although you may want to update your old windows because you don’t like the way they look, there are several money-saving reasons to have new windows installed.
Lower Utility Costs
If you install energy efficient windows, you should save money on your monthly utility bill. This is especially true if your current windows are more than 25 years old.…
If you are working at building a structure, and you are going to be laying a large concrete slab as the foundation of your building, the water you use to construct it can make a huge difference in its sturdiness. Using too much water or adding water of inadequate quality can affect the way your concrete thickens and hardens, making an impact on your finished project. Here are some ways water alters the consistency of concrete.…
Do you have an apple tree in your yard that is not setting fruit? It’s important to figure out the reason for this lack of fruit, so you can address it and enjoy a delicious harvest of apples. Here’s a look at three common reasons why apple trees don’t produce apples – and what you can do about them.
Reason 1: Your apple tree is not old enough.
If your apple tree is young, you might just have to wait another year or two before it starts bearing fruit.…
In North America many people subscribe to the notion that bigger is better when it comes to the size of a home, but in reality a small living space can force you to prevent clutter and find unique ways to increase storage and organization. The small home movement is becoming increasingly popular, and a number of people are opting to buy carriage homes or laneway homes that may not boast ample square footage, but do have a garage for extra storage space.…
Many homes, especially the ones in rural areas, are not supported by city sewer systems. These homes are instead equipped with septic systems that contain and treat household water waste. Septic tanks are costly to install, but once installed, if the tank is maintained properly, the homeowner should have no problems with it.
There are some signs that a septic system isn’t running at top capacity and needs to be serviced right away.…
When you think about getting asphalt pavement for your driveway or patio, you might assume that the only option is to have your driveway looking like a parking lot. This is not the case. Here are three asphalt paving ideas that can affect the cost of your asphalt pavement, as well as how your pavement looks.
1. Pavement Using Recycled Asphalt
One option that is becoming increasingly popular as more people take interest in reducing their carbon footprint is to use recycled asphalt, rather than new asphalt.…
When it comes to your construction, drilling and renovation efforts, it pays to think of tools and techniques that will assist you in the work that you conduct. One such process revolves around using a crusher or other mechanism to greatly compact your materials or excess in order to turn it into fine dust. Handling this process allows you to enjoy a number of benefits for your construction business, regardless of the industry you work in.…
A poorly insulated attic can lose you energy year-round. It is much easier to tell that you are losing energy in the winter (those ice dams that form along the edge of your roof are a sure sign), but it can happen just as much in the summer. Blown-in insulation helps to minimize the loss of energy by preventing heated air and air-conditioned, cool air from drifting out of your house.…
When it comes to concrete, many people are surprised to find that it isn’t as invincible as you might think. In fact, concrete is vulnerable to damage and failed repairs for many reasons. Understanding the threats to your concrete and what you can expect of damage repairs may help you to ensure repairs that will last. Here’s a look at some of the most common questions homeowners ask about concrete vulnerability and damage.…
