Finally spring is here. Time to start working on getting your Columbia SC yard ready for the coming summer weather. It's always great to see green grass again when all you've been looking at all winter is dormant grass (unless you planted winter rye and have been seeing green all winter.)
With spring comes a greening of your Columbia SC yard and the hope and promise that there will be plenty of yard work for months to come.
Tips for Getting Your Columbia SC Yard Back in Shape
Stay off the grass. Wait for the ground to dry before walking on it to pick up branches and other debris. When it's wet, footprints can damage turf and give weeds a chance to take hold.
Keep an eye on that tree. Feeling a little iffy about that big old oak tree that's next to your house? A tree with a pronounced lean to one side signals a problem and so do unhealthy or off-color leaves, a branch without leaves in summer, or little bark. Most roots are within a foot from the surface, so any activities that affect the soil, such as a new driveway, often affect the roots. To learn whether your trees are at risk of failing, find a certified arborist at the site of the International Society of Arboriculture.
Sharpen those blades. Dull mower or tractor blades stress the grass, making it more prone to disease. Sharpen them and they'll cut cleaner and faster. Experts suggest having the blades sharpened and balanced three times during the growing season.
Test your soil. Why guess what your soil needs when you can spend as little as $10 for the experts at your local cooperative extension to test it and provide solutions. Some even come to your house. You'll find out if limestone is needed to raise the pH of acidic soil or sulphur for lowering the pH of alkaline soil. A complete test analyzes nutrients and offers a fix. You'll find your local extension here.
Find out which weeds are trouble. While you have your co-op extension expert on the phone, ask which weeds and pests your Columbia SC yard can tolerate. Dandelions may improve the soil structure, but if you're not wild about them, you might want to cut off their heads before they go to seed or use a special fork-like tool to pull them out, removing the entire root. Clover takes nitrogen from the air and nourishes the soil.
Just these 5 Columbia SC yard tips for spring can mean a big difference in the look of your lawn during the summer months.
These are just a few of the many ways to get your Columbia SC yard ready for summer. For more home improvement tips, visit our Columbia SC Home Improvements section under Columbia SC Real Estate Categories to your right for more articles and information.
It used to be that exterior Columbia SC home maintenance involved painting some form of wood siding, or installing vinyl siding over your wood (if you didn't have brick or stone siding.) That meant supposedly never having to paint again, but you sacrifice the architectural beauty of wood.
New Products Save on Columbia SC Home Maintenance
Now, a new breed of manufactured products looks realistic enough to preserve or even boost your home's appearance. Many of these new products are pricier than the natural versions, but in the long run, will save you money and effort.
One of the most dramatic new products to hit the market that will help cut the cost of your Columbia SC home maintenance is Fiber-Cement Siding.
These clapboards and shingles are cut from sheets of special, slightly flexible cement mixed with wood fibers. This siding won't rot, warp, or cup. The pieces are typically factory painted, then nailed one by one onto your house, just like the real thing. That creates an authentic, handcrafted look.
Factory paint will last 15 years. Then repaint every seven to 10 years, compared with five to seven years for wood.
Columbia SC Home Maintenance Includes Trim
Now there is a new, Cellular PVC trim. This natural-looking trim is made from the plastic used for plumbing drains, with air added while the material is molten for woodlike density. Your contractor can cut, shape, and install the boards just like lumber.
PVC doesn't need painting, though a couple of coats will add realism. If you do, repaint every 25 years, vs. five to seven years for wood. Hiring a pro to paint only your trim might cost $1,500 or more. Figure that in, times at least 4, for painting wood trim versus PVC that won't need it all, or at most, ever 25 years.
Figure about $75 to trim a window (including installation), or $3,500 for an entire house, both about 10% more than pine, but you'll save that in the cost of not painting your pine trim every few years.
Columbia SC Home Maintenance – Don't Forget The Doors
And finally, for your exterior Columbia SC home maintenance, consider fiberglass entry doors.
Fiberglass doors are made of thin, waterproof fiberglass skins embossed to look as if they have traditional panels, moldings, and even woodgrain. Inside is an insulating foam that's three times as energy-efficient as wood.
As with wood, you'll need to touch up the paint or apply a fresh coat of varnish every five years or so (about $100, assuming you already have a painter or handyman coming to tackle other projects). Yet these doors will never warp, crack, or split.
Most fiberglass doors come with a lifetime warranty, whereas most wood door warranties are generally only five years.
So as you can see, Columbia SC home maintenance doesn't have to be an ongoing thing if you consider moving up to some of the more modern manufactured products that have come on the market in recent years.
To get more tips on Columbia SC home maintenance and ways to save money by doing-it-yourself, check out our other articles by clicking on the Columbia SC Home Improvements link to your right under Columbia SC Real Estate Categories.
The general consensus among real estate experts is, when doing any Columbia SC home remodeling, curb appeal is crucial.
Deciding what Columbia SC home remodeling projects to undertake can be a difficult decision for homeowners.
Most Cost Effective Columbia SC Home Remodeling Projects
Eight of the top 10 most cost-effective projects nationally, in terms of value recouped, are exterior projects. A wood deck addition came in second with an estimated 87.4 percent of costs recouped upon resale. Two different siding replacement projects also landed in the top 10, including fiber-cement siding, expected to return 87 percent of costs, and vinyl siding, expected to return 78.2 percent of costs.
Out of the top 10 projects, the fiber-cement siding replacement project improved the most since last year, with costs recouped increasing by more than 15 percent. Two garage door replacements were also in the top 10; a mid-range garage door replacement is expected to return 83.7 percent while an upscale garage door replacement follows closely at 82.9 percent of costs recouped.
Rounding out the top exterior Columbia SC home remodeling projects were two window replacements; a wood window replacement is estimated to recoup 79.3 percent of costs and a vinyl window replacement is estimated to recoup 78.7 percent of costs.
Every neighborhood is different and the desirability and resale value of a particular remodeling project varies by region and metro area. Before undertaking a remodeling project, homeowners should consult a Realtor as they are the best resource when deciding what projects will provide the most return upon resale. Real estate professionals have a unique understanding of local markets, home features and buyer preferences and know that there are a variety of factors that affect a home's value, such as location, condition of surrounding properties and regional economic climate.
Here is a list of Columbia SC home remodeling projects that continually deliver value for dollars invested:
Infrastructure. Functional upgrades, such as heating systems, plumbing, and sewage disposal, are crucial if you want to attract buyers.
Exterior Improvements. Things like siding, windows, and garage doors can add tremendous value.
Adding a Bedroom. If you have unfinished space in your attic or basement, you can create another bedroom with relative ease.
Upgrade The Kitchen. Kitchens are truly the heart of the modern home. If you are planning on an entire kitchen remodel, work with a kitchen designer who can help you maximize your space. Homeowners on a tight budget can still boost their home's value by investing in upgraded flooring, paint, and new light fixtures.
Create an Extra Bathroom. If you simply don't have the space to squeeze an additional bath into your existing space, put your renovation dollars to work in your existing bathrooms. Change out tired, outdated fixtures for more modern finishes. Replace old toilets and shower doors. Even fresh paint and updated flooring can make an old bathroom look brand new.
Extra Storage. Most people want a lot of storage. If your home is short on storage space, consider a professional closet system or organization solution. This is especially true if you have a garage.
Adding Square Footage. Although an addition is out of reach for many people considering Columbia SC home remodeling, it is one that provides a large return on your investment. If your home is very small, adding more square feet might be the only way to appeal to certain demographics of buyers.
Curb Appeal. Curb appeal is just as important as the stuff inside. Keep your lawn trimmed, neat, and green. If you can afford it, add some decorative items, such as privacy trees, shrubs, and flowers.
To get more tips on Columbia SC home remodeling and improvements and ways to save money by doing-it-yourself, check out our other articles by clicking on the Columbia SC Home Improvements link to your right under Columbia SC Real Estate Categories.
When it comes to Columbia SC home security, you have three options. Hire an outside company and pay for a monthly monitoring fee, do it yourself, or don't have any home security at all.
We don't think the third option is a very good one, and the first option can get expensive.
Here are some ways to have Columbia SC home security, do it yourself and save a lot of money in the process…
Having some sort of home security in place is not only smart, but in some cases, it might save you a few dollars a year on your homeowner's insurance. Check with your agent to see which home security system qualifies for a discount in your particular case.
To get more tips on home improvements and ways to save money by doing-it-yourself, check out our other articles by clicking on the Columbia SC Home Improvements link to your right under Columbia SC Real Estate Categories.
During the winter months, people tend to spend more and more time indoors. It's important to pay attention to the air in your home, and know whether you have a healthy Columbia SC home, or one that could be responsible for making you sick.
There are several things that could be responsible for you not having a healthy home. Mold, lead, a tainted water supply, or hazardous household products can all lead to a less than healthy Columbia SC home.
Steps To Ensure a Safe, Healthy Columbia SC Home
Protect Against Mold
Mold, sometimes known as mildew, grows where there are wet or damp surfaces.
To protect against mold, be sure your gutters are clean and not leaking, and that downspouts direct rainwater away from the house. Your yard should slope away from the building.
Repair leaking roofs, walls, doors and windows right away. Water is insidious, and can cause problems if left to stand. That means anywhere, even in refrigerator drip pans. Mold is one of the most difficult things to get rid of from all the things on the list responsible for you not having a safe and healthy Columbia SC home.
Carbon Monoxide
Unlike mold, you can't see, smell or feel carbon monoxide, a deadly gas that can make you sick or even kill you. Signs of low-level carbon monoxide poisoning include headaches, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, sleepiness, tightness in the chest and difficulty breathing. Many people confuse it with the flu.
Install carbon monoxide alarms near each sleeping area and on each floor. But to make sure they never go off, do not use the kitchen stove or oven to heat your house.
Never use charcoal grills or run car engines inside your house, garage or basement — even for a short time. They produce so much carbon monoxide that even opening the windows and doors will not give you enough fresh air. Never warm a vehicle while it sits inside the garage, even with the garage doors open. Start lawnmowers, leaf-blowers and other yard equipment outside, never inside.
Check for Lead
Lead poisoning poses a serious health risk for children. Lead is not used as much in paint, pipes and other materials as it once was — lead paint was banned in 1978 — so houses built prior to 1950 are the most problematic.
Also check for lead pipes, which are a dull gray in color and scratch easily with a key or penny, or pipes which are joined with lead solder. Water that flows through them can contain lead which can make for a very unhealthy Columbia SC home. This leads us to our next item on the list of things to watch for to ensure a safe, healthy Columbia SC home…
Contaminated Water
Public drinking water is safe, but if you have a well or other private water supply, it's up to you to protect yourself. And since you can't see, smell or taste potentially dangerous microbes, you should have your water tested about every two years for bacteria, nitrates and perhaps pesticides at a laboratory. Nothing can make an otherwise healthy Columbia SC home unhealthy quicker than contaminated water.
Household Products
When it comes to hazardous household products, buy only what you need, and read and follow the directions. Properly dispose of what you don't use, or give the leftovers to someone who can use it. Never burn or dump leftover containers.
Most of these tips for having a healthy Columbia SC home come from the Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (nifa.usda.gov). You can find a whole list of other websites that specialize in making sure you have a healthy Columbia SC home by searching "healthy Columbia SC homes" on Google.