Any time you are thinking about upgrading your household, one fixture you can consider is the installation of a pool. Owning a pool gives you a great opportunity to increase the value of your house by as much as 7 percent. This also will make your home comfortable and a great place to entertain company. If you have never purchased a pool before and want to learn how to get just what you need, read on and learn more about the custom pool design and purchase process.

If you're concerned about lowering your energy bills this cold season, you may take steps to insulate your home against cold air leaks. But one of the places you might not think to secure against cold air leaks is your garage's door. If the door's threshold or bottom isn't sealed or insulated properly, cold air can enter the garage and displace the heat inside it, which may increase your expenses. Here's how cold air leaks affect your garage door in the winter and what you can do to stop it.

If you're the type of homeowner who has many enjoyable hobbies and doesn't include working in the yard among them, you'll likely want your yard to look good without taking up much of your time on the weekend. This can mean that you might wish to have a contractor tear up your lawn and replace it with a ground cover. The lack of grass will cut down on the amount of yard maintenance that you need to perform, while a ground cover of your choosing can be visually pleasing and won't require much effort to maintain.

Of all the major appliances in your home, chances are there is one that you barely notice it until something goes horribly wrong: your HVAC system. There are several, pretty obvious signs that there is something wrong with your heating and air conditioning unit, such as cold air coming from the furnace or if the system won't even turn on. However, what about some of the less clear signs that there is danger, including a strange odor coming from the registers.

It is becoming a common design practice to separate meeting rooms and offices in office buildings with fully glass walls. This adds some transparency to the office lifestyle and allows light to flow through the room, creating an open, airy feeling. Glass enclosures are also common at spas and salons. However, sometimes you or your clients want a bit more privacy than a fully glass enclosure can offer. Below are some ways that you can add privacy to your commercial glass solutions without sacrificing their modern, clean appearance.

Tree roots have a way of growing into sewer lines, especially when they're looking for water. Tree roots that puncture the sewer can cause clogs and backups, resulting in hundreds or thousands of dollars in damage. Luckily, there are ways that you can prevent tree roots from damaging the sewers on your property. The following tips will help you keep your property's tree roots under control. Water Your Trees Tree roots are more likely to grow out of their comfort zone and into your sewer line when the trees themselves are desperate for water.

There are several reasons that you may have started to notice an increase in your heating and cooling costs. While you may not be able to do anything about rate increases from your utility company, you can take steps to ensure that your home becomes energy efficient. One of the first things that you may want to consider is the condition of your windows. This is one of the main places you lose and gain a lot of air.

Fencing in a construction site is not just a good idea for safety reasons; it's required by local building permit codes in most parts of the country and is mandated by OSHA for worker safety in every state. While chain link fences may do just fine for keeping foot traffic out, that's about all they're designed to handle. Discover five ways to take your construction fencing to the next level by adding a simple woven fabric known as a wind or privacy screen.

If you are planning on buying a new home, or you have been in your current home for several years and just never got an inspection, having an electrician take a look at the wiring is a good idea. It will be easier to stick to your budget if there aren't any nasty surprises hiding within the walls. Potential Fire Hazards Probably your biggest concern when it comes to a home's electrical system is fire hazards.

Peach trees are stone fruit trees that are self-fertile. This makes them a great addition to backyards, because you only need one tree to actually produce fruit. Most peach trees live for about twelve years but don't produce fruit for the first couple of years while the tree matures. In order to get the best possible fruit production from your tree, you'll have to take proper care of it, which starts before you even plant it.