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Most people don’t enjoy opening up their monthly electric bill to find a higher-than-normal surprise. That’s why the importance of energy efficiency is paramount to cutting costs on usage…and beneficial for the planet too!

Even though there’s been great progress in doing this with the use of energy-efficient appliances, lighting, and insulation, did you know that flooring can be an asset in creating a more energy-efficient home?

Here are five examples of flooring that can cut down energy costs:

Radiant Heat Floors

Radiant heat is made using electric coils or water-filled tubes. These systems allow floors to be heated from the inside out through infrared transfer. It’s more efficient than regular baseboard heating and usually forced-air heating. It’s also great for people with allergies because it doesn’t distribute allergens as typical HVAC systems do.

The possibilities for these floors are endless, allowing you to use many types of tile, laminate, vinyl, and even wood. You don’t have to sacrifice style for efficiency.

Natural Stone

Eco-friendly and sturdy, natural stone floors are great for energy costs. It absorbs heat during the daylight hours and slowly distributes it at night. During the summer months, these floors are wonderful at keeping your home cool without needing extra help from the A/C unit.

Tile

Much like stone, tile is eco-friendly, sturdy, and great for keeping your home cool during the summer. However, tile takes this a step further by being able to be used with radiant heat. These two things team up to keep your home cooler during the summer and warmer during the winter.

Wood Floors

Wood is a natural insulator. Its cellular structure means that it contains air pockets that absorb heat and prevent heat penetration into your home. This allows the home to stay warmer in the winter months and cooler in the summer months. However, to get the best benefit from this material, you should ask a professional about the right kinds of wood for your climate.

Carpet

The tried and true staple of many homes, this material has a low thermal conductivity, which means that it insulates heat and stores it. This keeps rooms warm and toasty. Carpeting is wonderful for downstairs areas where heat tends to escape during the winter. With today’s modern carpet cleaners, maintenance is a breeze! 

Though flooring may not be your first thought when it comes to energy efficiency, it is a crucial one. The perfect, energy-efficient floors can reduce energy costs, making that electric bill much lower and your wallet a lot fuller.

One of the most common issues that arises among neighboring landowners is determining where the property line falls. For years, people across the country have found themselves in disputes over a range of plots, from an acre of land to just a few feet of yard. But, depending on where you live, most of these disputes are, typically, settled quite easily, especially if both parties are in a cooperative mood. But if you find yourself in a situation where a neighbor is disputing your land’s property line, here are steps you should take.

 

Be polite and remain civil.

 

The fact that your neighbor is, essentially, saying that you might be encroaching on property, that indicates that he/she is already in a confrontational mood. Responding with anger or contempt will only escalate the situation, and a cool head will help to resolve the issue much more quickly.

Familiarize yourself with the laws.

 

Each state has different property line laws and certain cities will have their own specific legislation for property lines. Familiarizing yourself with the laws will allow you to better understand your specific situation and what you need to do to handle it.

Try reasoning with your neighbor.

 

Hiring surveyors and getting different authorities involved to solve this problem could take a long time and might exacerbate the situation. If at all possible, try reasoning with your neighbor to reach some sort of an agreement. After determining the details of the property line with your neighbor, you can work with an attorney to sign a deed to detail the specific perimeters of the land. This is the quickest way to settle the dispute and can help you save you time and possibly money.

Hire a surveyor.

 

Another relatively quick way to resolve the issue is to hire a surveyor. A surveyor’s primary job is to determine the boundaries of any property by making exact measurements. Hiring one, unfortunately, won’t be cheap, but it is one way to get documentation and establish the actual property lines between you and your neighbor’s land. For further information visit https://www.garlandlandsurveying.com/

Hire a mediator.

 

A less expensive method is to hire a mediator. You can hire a mediator from different places, such as the police station, local courthouse or local bar association. This will provide a third party that is neutral to help you and your neighbor find a middle ground in regards to the issue.

File a lawsuit.

 

One of the more confrontational responses you could have is to file a lawsuit. This is an extremely expensive and time-consuming method that should only be considered when all other options have been exhausted.

Five Tips for Preparing for the Upcoming Holiday Season

 

With the upcoming holiday season, you will want to prepare your home for any guests. In addition to having a clean home, you will want a house that is warm enough during the autumn and the winter. Here are some of the best tips for preparing your home for the holidays this year.

 

Holiday Home Preparation Tip 1: Get Rid of the Clutter

 

Autumn is a great time to get rid of the clutter in your home as you are putting away summer garments and finding your winter clothing. Take the time to sort through stacks of papers along with your children’s toys to get rid of the things that they no longer need. After the clutter is removed from your home, it is easier to proceed with the other household chores.

 

Holiday Home Preparation Tip 2: Cleaning the Kitchen for Holiday Cooking

 

Remove everything from the refrigerator to sanitize the shelves and drawers for food storage during the holiday season. You should also clean your kitchen’s oven and stovetop to have it ready for baking cookies and preparing meals for the holiday season. You must sort through the items in the kitchen’s cupboards so that you have enough space for extra canned and bottled foods.

 

Holiday Home Preparation Tip 3: Sanitize the Bathrooms

 

You will want to have bathrooms that are sanitized for the holidays, so you should remove everything from the cabinets to clean the items. You must wash the rugs and the shower curtains, or alternatively, you may want to replace these things to give bathrooms a new appearance. It is vital to scrub the floor and bathtub tiles to improve the bathroom’s cleanliness.

 

Holiday Home Preparation Tip 4: Maintaining a Home’s Heating Equipment

 

Turn on your home’s furnace to verify that it is working optimally. Turn the furnace off so that you can clean its components with a soft cloth, and also, make sure to change its filter. Walk through your home to make sure that the vents in each room are open and not covered with rugs, furniture or draperies. Use a broom or a vacuum cleaner to remove the debris from the vents to keep your home cleaner.

 

Holiday Home Preparation Tip 5: Vacuuming and Shampooing Carpets

 

Use your vacuum cleaner to suction the dirt from the carpets in your home before contacting a professional carpet-cleaning company. The technicians will look for pet stains or dirty areas that require special treatment to remove the deeply embedded dirt before shampooing all of the carpeting in your home. This type of cleaning process will also eliminate any foul odors that are in the carpet’s fibers.

To help decide if you should hire a professional, visit a Clearwater, FL carpet cleaning company website.

Your home should be your sanctuary. It should be a representation of your style. When you come home, relaxation should be a thing that is very easy to do. Without the right furniture in your home, this is going to be difficult to do. Finding the right furniture can be easy to do when you follow some pretty basic steps.

Find out what look you are going for

When looking at furniture for your home, there are going to be many different styles you can look at. You can choose a very rustic style by purchasing furniture that incorporates raw wood and leather. If you want a more modern look, try finding furniture that uses brushed steel and darker colors. Talking with an interior decorator can help you decide which type of furniture would be right for your unique look.

Assess your lifestyle

If you have a bunch of kids, you aren’t going to want to be investing in glass-top furniture. It is important to look at your lifestyle before you go out shopping for new furniture. If you have a large dog, you will need to take this into account. You should never buy furniture that you are afraid your animals might break.

Don’t rush when picking your furniture

One of the worst things that you can do when you are looking for new furniture is to rush the process. Furniture is a purchase that you will live with for many years to come. It would help if you took the time to find the right furniture for you. Even if it takes you much longer than you would originally think to pick the right furniture, it will be well worth the time.

Take advantage of free delivery and set-up services

Many furniture stores will offer free delivery and set-up services. This can help you relieve the stress of getting your furniture home. Many furniture stores will allow for a free pick up of your old furniture that you need to get rid of.

Make sure that you take your time when you are looking for new furniture. If you follow some basic steps, it will be easy for you to find the furniture you are looking for. If you are still stumped at the end of the day when it comes to choosing new furniture, hiring an interior designer can be a great way to get some more ideas and hopefully make a decision about what you need to buy.

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