Residents know that most tornadoes are not the monsters that ravaged Oklahoma recently, often families face weaker EF-0, 1, or 2 varieties. APA engineer Bryan Readling says there are ways to help people survive those tornadoes with their walls and roofs intact. Using data collected after the largest-ever recorded tornado system hit southern states in […]
Five Easy Ways to Reduce Yard Work
Escape constant mowing, trimming, and fertilizing to free up time for enjoying your yard. A manicured lot can still be had with half the labor. Do you really have to spend an extra hour trimming around every step, stair, and length of garden edging? Not if you let the landscape be your guide. Create paths […]
Family Friendly Flooring Options — 3 Things to Consider
The three most important considerations for a new floor are 1) Durability and Longevity, 2) Ease of Cleaning and Maintenance, and 3) Health, Safety, and Comfort: not necessarily in that order. This article will compare and contrast some of the most common flooring currently used; hardwood, tile/stone, and carpet; with a focus on these considerations. […]
Bridging the Gap Between Fire Safety and Sustainable Design
As people have shifted toward sustainable building design, they may have unwittingly also shifted to potentially more dangerous designs when it comes to the threat of fire. According to the US National Association of State Fire Marshals, many green developments tend to favor large walkways over pedestrian traffic, which makes it harder for firefighters to […]
Eco-Friendly Lifestyle: Reasons to Make a Steel Building Your Home
As contractors are forced to look for more eco-friendly ways to reduce carbon dioxide, steel framed buildings have been growing in popularity as an alternative building method. About 500,000 steel-framed houses have been built in the last decade. Steel frames may not be the first thing that comes to mind when we think of eco-friendly, […]
How to Increase Home Energy Efficiency with Interior Sliding Glass Doors
While glass doors are an obviously striking addition to a home’s interior, it may not be known that they actually add energy efficiency as well. Glass doors can add points in the United States Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) ratings by offering reduction in lighting power density. They pass natural […]
Landscaping Design for Urban Container Gardening
With many people facing the gardening problems of limited space, unmanageable maintenance necessities, and fund limitations, it isn’t hard to see why container gardening has begun to see a more broad appeal. Not only do they offer the potential for city gardening where it otherwise might not have existed, but container gardening also offers gardening […]
Does Your Air Barrier Work in Both Directions?
A good air barrier for a house is something that all home owners ought to want. The desire is for airtight houses that can bring in fresh air through mechanical ventilation. The job of the air barrier is to prevent the amount of air that crosses between conditioned interior spaces and unconditioned exterior space. Not […]
Three Simple Household Repairs That’ll Save You Hundreds
The author of this DIY article states that over the course of just the past year, he’s done several home repairs that are simple and cheap to fix, but would have cost hundreds of dollars if he had to call in a repair service. Those savings can hopefully be passed on with this advice. The […]
A Good Time for Energy Audits and Weatherization
Early spring may not seem like the best time to start performing energy audits, but it can actually be a very good time for both builders and their clients. Spring is a time when few homeowners are thinking about their heating or cooling bills or how to lower them, so those services are less in […]