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3 Simple DIY Basement Updates – and When to Call an Expert

May 13, 2021 by admin

Basement updates don’t have to require all sorts of expertise. As a matter of fact, even if you don’t have a lot of skill in home renovations, you can probably do a few things that can help you with a basement update. However, there are also moments where you might need to call an expert. If you’re interested in getting the best possible experience with your basement and truly making it your own, here are three simple DIY basement updates, as well as a suggestion of when you may need to call an expert.

Adding Basement Storage

Basement storage is a great way to make it easier for you to put things down in your basement. After all, which would you rather have: a basement where you just put boxes and boxes of unmarked items, or a basement where everything is put in the appropriate place? Consider getting items like basement shelves, plastic bins, and even closets.

When to Call an Expert: You can only add basement storage effectively if you can be reasonably sure that your basement isn’t going to flood. If you haven’t had someone install a basement sump pump, call an expert to add it to your basement.

Improving Your Home’s Air Quality

Air quality oftentimes starts in the basement. You need to make sure that your basement’s air quality is as high as possible if you want to make the rest of your house have higher air quality. Add a basement dehumidifier to your basement so you can get a lot of the humidity out of the air for a better feeling.

When to Call an Expert: Although a basement dehumidifier can be immensely helpful for your basement, you also need to make sure you’re combatting any real problems at the source. That may mean getting an expert in to waterproof your basement before you add a dehumidifier.

Installing Window Well Covers

Window wells allow you to have windows in your basement, which can totally open up the area and make it feel much larger than it is. However, they can also end up getting clogged with debris over time. Your best option will always be to install clear window well covers so you can see out, but debris can’t get in.

When to Call an Expert: If you’re worried that your window isn’t waterproof, you might want to request help from an expert before you install a window well cover. Windows that don’t have the appropriate basement waterproofing can be a great way for water to get in your basement.

Conclusion

There are many DIY basement updates that you can do to have a better basement; these are only a few of the options that you might want to consider. Remember, although you can do many of these on your own, there’s nothing wrong with requesting help from an expert. Many of the more difficult basement updates can absolutely benefit from an expert giving you a little bit of assistance.

5 Privacy Trees for Your Backyard

May 4, 2021 by admin

Trees are a beautiful asset to any yard. They increase the aesthetic of your property, attract local wildlife, and provide shade and coolness during the hot summer months. However, one thing they also can provide, which people don’t always think of, is privacy. Privacy is important to many people. You want your yard to be a safe space. You want you and your family to be able to enjoy your yard as you please. This is why many opt to plant privacy trees for backyard areas.

One other thing to consider is the type of privacy you desire in your yard. Is it from neighbors or bystanders or noise? Or is it primarily for protection from the weather? If it’s to lessen the noise in your yard, you’ll want to choose trees with dense branches and long needles. If you just want help in covering the view, you can choose skinnier trees.

Not sure what you’re looking for yet? Here are five privacy trees for your backyard to give you some ideas.

1. Emerald Arborvitae

Emerald arborvitae, also known by many as the emerald green thuja, is one of the most popular choices for privacy trees for backyard areas. These are evergreen trees. They’re extremely thick and grow in a pyramid shape. At full maturity, they can reach about 15 feet tall and 4 feet wide. They can survive in various soil conditions and are very resistant to both ice and frost.

For best results, these trees should be planted about two to three feet apart. They should be in an area of full to partial sunlight. Emerald arborvitae trees are great for yards that are medium in size, especially as they only grow six to nine inches per year.

2. Eastern Redcedar

If your property is large, consider planting eastern redcedar trees, as they provide a lot of protection and privacy. This is because they can reach heights of 60 feet and up to 20 feet in width. They are conifer trees, which means that they provide year-round protection for your backyard. In the winter, they block out the cold, strong wind. In the summer, they provide you and your family with shade from the hot sun. Additionally, they have a nice scent throughout the year, an earthly fragrance that adds to your yard’s beauty and comfort. They also attract local wildlife such as birds and smaller animals.

For ultimate privacy, be sure to plant these trees about 20 feet apart. They should also be planted away from any neighboring homes or power lines.

3. Flowering Dogwood Trees

At Mr. Tree, we have already shared with you what our favorite varieties of dogwood trees are. But when it comes to privacy, flowering dogwood trees should be the dogwood of choice. These trees will not only provide privacy for your yard but will give your yard lots of dazzling color too. The flowers come in red, pink, white, and more. These are smaller trees, only reaching a maximum height of about 25 feet. However, they also reach widths of 25 feet, which is why they’re great at keeping neighbors or onlookers from being able to see into your backyard. Plus, flowering dogwood trees attract insects and birds with the berries they grow.

For maximum quality, flowering dogwood trees should be planted 20 feet apart in an area that receives full to partial sunlight and in well-drained soil. A lot of people who plant flowering dogwoods as privacy trees for backyard areas strategically place these trees for spot coverage.

4. Spartan Juniper

If your backyard is on the smaller side, the spartan juniper is a great choice of privacy tree for you. They grow to only a height of 15 feet tall and a width of 5 feet. They provide thick branch cover, which is why they’re great choices to create a privacy fence and a great way to block harsh weather conditions.

For best results, these trees should be planted about five feet apart in an area that gets full sunlight more than six hours per day. They need to be planted in dry soil. It’s important not to overwater them, as that can cause root rot and other diseases. Spartan juniper trees should also not be pruned heavily, which is important to consider before choosing a location to plant them.

5. Leyland Cypress

Are you looking for privacy trees that will provide a lot of coverage in one large area? The Leyland cypress is an option for you. These trees reach heights of about 60 feet tall, meaning if you have a large backyard or a large house you’re looking to block, they’re perfect. They are also very fast-growing trees—many can reach heights of 50 feet in just 15 years.

Leyland cypress trees are a very popular choice for homes near the coast, as they have a strong tolerance for salt. They require full sunlight but don’t do well in climates that are too hot. This is because they have a shallow root system. This means they need to be planted in large, well-drained yards. However, when they’re planted in a row, they’re an impenetrable mass of branches. This means that they’re great protection from harsh weather conditions such as wind and rain, as well as from the view of others and noise.

As you can see, if you’re looking for privacy trees for backyard areas, there are many great choices out there for you. The above five are all wonderful options, but you need to figure out which one will work best in your yard and for your family. Considering the size of your yard and the size the trees can grow to is important. It’s also important to make sure the soil in your yard is appropriate for the tree. Otherwise, you run the risk of your tree not growing to its healthiest.

If you need help in choosing the privacy tree that’s right for you, give the arborists at Mr. Tree a call today. We are happy to help.

Steps to Hiring an Interior Decorator to Transform Your Living Space

September 11, 2020 by admin

You have an idea of what you want your living space to look like, but bringing it together is more challenging than you realized. From coming up with ideas and concepts to pairing the right pieces and remaining on budget, there’s a lot more to interior design than meets the eye. Property owners who don’t have the time, patience, or resources to decorate a room or house decide to hire an interior decorator.

What’s An Interior Decorator?

Commonly confused with an interior designer who is skilled in structural and aesthetic design, an interior decorator is an expert in enhancing the aesthetics, functionality, and comfort of residential or commercial space. Whether you need help with an entire design idea or you need someone with the creative eye to bring your ideas to life, these are the interior decoration experts you want to call.

How Do You Know Which One To Hire?

If you were to do a Google search for interior decorators near you, chances are you’d be routed to several service providers. Since you’ll have to pay for and live with the result, it is vital that you take a few precautions before signing a contract. Below are some steps to make hiring an interior decorator easier.

Define Your Personal Style

Your personal style must be incorporated into your home’s interior design. When coordinating with your decorator, you want to have some ideas of what you’d like to see. Even the smallest plan provides them with the inspiration they need to create a space you’ll be pleased with.

If you’re having a hard time thinking of themes, colors, or concepts for your living space, you can also get ideas from the internet. From social media platforms like Pinterest to online magazines like Better Homes & Gardenshttps://www.bhg.com/rooms/living-room/, there are several sources to draw insights from. As you find things you like, be sure to bookmark the site for future use.

Decide on a Budget

Before getting carried away with home decor ideas, create a budget, determine how much you can afford to pay for an interior decorator. While each service provider is different, you will likely have to pay an hourly or flat rate for the services and the cost of materials. Of course, the best way to pay would be with cash that you have saved up for this particular project. If you’d prefer to pay with a credit card or loan, be sure that you can afford the monthly payments without neglecting other financial obligations.

Education, Professional Credentials, and Experience Check

Now you’re ready to begin narrowing down the interior decorators servicing your area. Don’t overlook the importance of doing your due diligence. Check company websites or social media profiles to learn more about their background. What kind of education did they have? Do they have the necessary credentials to be an interior decorator in your jurisdiction? More importantly, how much experience do they have with home decorating?

Portfolio and Client Reviews

As the saying goes, the proof is in the pudding. You should never hire an interior decorator blindly. Find out what skills and capabilities have and the quality of their service by checking out portfolios and client reviews. An experienced home decorator is going to have several photos for you to look at and draw inspiration from. They’ll also have a list of clients you can contact to find out more about their satisfaction with the services they received.

Get An Estimate

By now, you’ve likely narrowed your list of options down significantly. A critical factor to remember is the expense. While you may like a particular decorator, if they aren’t willing to give you want at a price you can afford, you’ll need to move on to another expert. To get a general idea of how much it’s going to cost, the interior decorator may ask to schedule an in-house visit to get specific details.

Based on the information you gathered from the above steps, you can now make an informed decision on which interior decorator you’re going to hire. After making your selection, the only thing left to do is schedule an appointment and prepare to see the magic happen as they create a living space you’ll love.

Riding Mower vs Residential Mower

April 21, 2020 by admin

When the weather warms up and the grass starts growing you may find yourself working on your yard several times a week. Choosing the right lawn mower for your yard will help you mow your grass with ease as well as make the experience more pleasurable. If you are in the market for a new lawn mower there are many things to consider before selecting one. One of the first decisions to make is deciding whether you need a riding lawn mower or a residential walk-behind mower. Below are some of the benefits of both to help make the decision process a bit easier.

Benefits of a Riding lawn Mower

If you have ever owned a residential walk-behind mower you know that a riding lawn mower is a huge upgrade. The first obvious benefit is that you get to relax and go for a ride while cutting your grass rather than having to walk and push a mower. Not only are they convenient and comfortable, they are efficient in helping you get the job down quickly. A large yard may take hours to complete with a residential walk-behind mower while with a riding lawn mower you will get the job done in half the amount of time. Riding mowers offer many different features. Some have more horsepower than others making them faster while others have a better turn radius which helps with efficiency. Most durable zero turn lawn mowers have the option of different attachments and accessories for year-round needs. These attachments can assist with spreading grass seed and fertilizer, tilling soil, and even blowing leaves or snow. There is also the option of an electric powered riding mower versus a gas operated mower. The electric mower will be less noisy and eliminate the added expense of having to purchase gas. If your age, health, or mobility is a factor then a riding mower is the best option as you do not have to exert much energy to operate it. It’s much like driving a car.

Benefits of a Walk-Behind Mower

There are several benefits of a walk-behind mower. If you are in good health, have a manageable sized yard, and don’t want to spend a small fortune than a walk-behind residential mower is perfect for you! One of the main draws of a residential walk-behind mower verses a riding mower is the price. It’s much more cost efficient than a riding mower. As with a riding mower there are many different types of walk-behind residential mowers. A self-propelled mower will basically pull itself forward as you walk behind it as you hold the handle down. So essentially you are just walking behind it and guiding it, as it cuts your grass. This helps get the job down at a faster pace than a standard walk-behind mower and with much less effort on your part. A standard walk-behind mower will require you to push it and guide it as you walk behind it. Gas mowers, electric mowers, or cordless electric mowers are some of the many options offered. Rear tire size is also important as larger tires tend to help with navigating through uneven ground more easily. Other beneficial features of walk-behind residential mowers are attached grass bags, collapsible handles for easier storage, wide area walk-behind mowers for larger yards that allow you to mow up to 2 acres.

Choosing the right lawn mower can make a world of difference. Riding mowers and residential mowers each have their own benefits, it’s important to find the one that suits you and your yard best.

Making the Most Out of Your Trash: Re-purposing Old Junk

November 21, 2019 by admin

We will inevitably produce waste living our everyday lives. But we can do something that will help us reduce the waste that we put in landfills. One of the ways that we can reduce our waste is by recycling. It is a process where waste materials such as wood, metal, plastic, and fabric become new items that are new and useful. Let’s say you are renovating your house and there are several items that you no longer need, so you call a junk removal Orlando company to pick them up from your house. Before you do that, take another look through your junk, and see what else you can salvage and take to a recycling center.

We get to conserve our natural resources

There is a reduced need for natural resources to produce things because the recycled materials become the raw ingredients. This leaves the natural resources for future generations to enjoy. Humans are not the only ones benefiting from these resources, but animals and plants as well. Some of the natural resources are homes to many animals and plants, so preserving them means that these living creatures enjoy their homes for a long time.

We conserve energy

Manufacturing products using raw materials requires a lot of energy. Using recycled materials requires considerably less energy. Energy is another resource that we must conserve for future generations, as it uses mainly fossil fuels. If fossil fuels run out, there will be a significant impact on how we use energy.

We help protect the environment

Recycled materials will not end up in landfills, but rather in recycling centers and eventually in factories, where they will become new useful items. A lot of garbage doesn’t even end up in landfills; it ends up in oceans and other places where it does not belong, polluting the environment. If we can take a few plastic bottles to a recycling center, we are reducing the possibility of them ending up in oceans.

We help reduce greenhouse gas emissions

Garbage in landfills emits methane, a very powerful and harmful greenhouse gas. If there is less waste that ends up in landfills, there will also be less methane emitted into the atmosphere.

It leads to job creation

If more and more people make recycling a habit, there will be a need for more recycling centers. Creating more recycling centers will mean more jobs for the community.

The future will be more sustainable

The earth does not have unlimited resources. Everything will eventually run out if we are reckless. Recycling will ensure that the future generations will have what they need from the planet.

Teaching children the importance of recycling and upcycling is a crucial part of their growing up. They must know that it is imperative that they reduce the waste that they put out into the environment. Training them while young to care for the environment will undoubtedly make them grow up appreciating the planet they live on, and they will do things that will reduce their carbon footprint.