People will find any excuse to get outside during the summer, and even though we get 14 hours of daylight, summer nights are an entirely different enjoyment. The feelings that are conjured up during summer nights must go back to childhood days of running around the neighborhood carefree at night with friends and not a bit of responsibility. As an adult I can still feel that sense of freedom and adventure that came along every summer and I think somehow we try to capture those emotions again. Perhaps this is why we choose to stay outdoors on summer nights whenever we can. With lighting these days though, your backyard can become a magical place to spend those endless summers.

Find an area in your yard where you enjoy spending relaxing time such as a porch or pergola and get to work. Consider the area as a whole when planning outdoor lighting. Add layers of light at the ground level, on tabletops, and with hanging lights and torches making your outdoor space shine all around you. Use a combination of uplighting, downlighting, and crosslighing to show off features of your space. Backlighting and downlighting create subtle silhouettes while crosslighting adds dimension. For example, you can draw attention to a tree or pot with uplighting. Another great tip is to line your walkway and illuminate your main traffic areas. Solar lights work great for this area. Make your outdoor space comfortable and vibrant, much like an indoor room, and I promise the feelings you will get will be as close to childhood as is possible.

There is nothing better then being on vacation and having that feeling of sand between your toes. Now you can have that feeling whenever you want in your very own backyard. The solution is easy; cover your existing concrete slab with pebbles. This is an easy to moderate project that will take a day, most of that is drying, and it will cost anywhere from $100-$250 to complete.

Step 1: Clean the Concrete

The concrete must be completely clean and dry for the epoxy to stick to it. Sweep the concrete and then power wash it and allow it time to dry.

Step 2: Mix Pebbles with Epoxy

Working in sections, spread some of the pebble mix on top of the patio, starting at a back corner where you will not have to walk over it. Mix the two-part epoxy in a five-gallon bucket, pouring both bottles out at the same time and hand stirring the mixture for five minutes.

Pour the epoxy mixture over the dry pebbles while someone else folds the epoxy into the pebbles with a shovel until it is thoroughly mixed and there are no dry portions left.

Step 3: Spread with a Trowel

Spread the pebble mixture with concrete trowels until it is smooth and level, about ¼” thick over the whole concrete area.

Apply one section at a time and use an edge trowel to create relief cracks in the epoxy where they were in the existing concrete.

Let the patio dry for 24 hours before walking on it and cover if rain is expected.

Hint: Use acetone to clean off the trowel and shovel when pebbles start drying and sticking to them.

Enjoy your new beach- pebble patio!

In honor of Earth Day, I figured what better way to celebrate then by planting a garden in the front of your home. Not only will you be a friend to the environment, but you will also add a little curb appeal. Many homebuyers take for granted the value of a little curb appeal, not only for you but the homes worth as well. The front yard is where visitors get their first impression of who you are and how you feel about your home. Let’s make that first impression great!

First you will need to mark out an area where you would like the garden to grow. You can choose to make your own fun shape or just follow the curve of your existing sidewalk. Use a hose to make your path and then place sand or flour to outline the garden. The next step is to cut the grass out of the area where your bed will be using a spade or sod cutter. Once the grass is gone it is time to till the dirt. To keep grass and weeds from creeping into your garden, it is a good idea to edge the new bed. A trench 8 inches deep and a couple inches wide should work. You could also use edging material here. Next place plants, still in containers, in the garden area to get an idea of how they will look. This is where you get to be the designer so have fun with it. Now let’s get planting! After all the plants are in the soil it is a good time to spread some mulch to make your garden low maintenance and to keep weeds from growing. Mulch will also keep soil moist during dry spells. Now we come to the most important thing: water! Give plants and mulch a good soak and continue to water daily at least for the first week. Now sit back and admire all your hard work. Stay tuned for more ideas on how to make your home all it can be.

This video shows the highlights of a “green” home transformation. This ranch home was turned into a modern eco-friendly home. The video highlights several green home remodeling tips that you can do to not only save you money but also help the environment. More information can be found at www.greenandsave.com

If you’re a home owner, you’re bound to try your hand at some sort of home remodeling job. Home remodeling does not necessarily mean installing new counter tops or putting in central air. It also applies to updating your decorating, such as a new coat of paint on the walls or a few new items of home decor. However, if a major project is in your immediate future take head of a few things before you begin.

First of all you will want to decide what sort of home remodeling job to take on. If your mother-in-law is going to move in, building an additional room or rooms makes sense. But if you’re just itching to update your home and want to get remodeling, some changes are more worthwhile than others.

Still unsure of how you want to change your home? The following five popular home remodeling projects will stir your imagination and increase the value of you home.

Adding Central Air and Heat

One of today’s big selling points for homes is the addition of central air and heat. Other air and heating options were widely used in the past, but if your home continues to operate on a swamp cooler, it’s time to update. You will find that your electric bill will be lower too!

Kitchen Changes

If you’re looking to update your home there is no better area to start than the kitchen. Update your appliances, replace the cabinets and add new counter tops and watch the value of your home skyrocket!

Insulation for Increased Energy Efficiency

When deciding on a home remodeling project adding insulation can be overlooked. But if you own an older home this is a must! Why let your hard earned dollars fly out the window because of poor insulation? It’s an easy fix and your wallet will thank you.

The Addition

One of the most classic home renovation projects is adding on a room. Now, this job sounds a bit intimidating and for good reason. Not only does adding an addition or extension take a great deal of time, it requires a great deal of money. Take time making good plans and an addition or extension will dramatically increase your home’s value.

Additions and Extensions

Adding another room or rooms to your home is one of the oldest forms of home remodeling. However, adding an extension can be costly as well as time consuming. Good planning and proper timing can make adding an extension to your home both practical and cost-effective.

Curb Appeal

Curb appeal is not only a quick way to add immediate beauty and interest, but simple and something most home owners can do on their own. Landscaping is a popular home renovation project because of its simplicity and immediate added home value.

Regardless of the remodeling project you decide upon, you need to first consider a few key questions that will determine if said project is a fit.

*How will this update increase the value of my home?
*Are these changes going attract or deter potential home buyers?
*Is the time and cost really worth the final outcome?

One of the biggest possible in the realm of home remodeling are mistakes. When beginning to remodel your home it’s tempting to bite off more than you can chew. Understand all details of your project before signing on. When in doubt, hire it out. The following projects may require a professional:

*Electrical work
*Plumbing
*Roofing or Chimney work
*Demolition

Did you know that proper timing of specific projects make an enormous difference? Timing is actually one of the most important factors when starting a home remodeling project. A few of the following tips can truly make or break your remodeling plans:

Do you want your kitchen torn up during Thanksgiving or Christmas? Keep holidays and any other important event in mind before beginning a project.

A more obvious issue is that of the weather. Even if your home remodeling job is indoors, the weather can still significantly affect it.

Are you financially prepared to commit to remodeling project? Much unnecessary anxiety and conflict could be avoided if a home remodeling project was just postponed. Your home is not going anywhere and the needed updating will still be there when you are ready financially.

Last, but not least is committing to a time line. If you are doing the work yourself it’s easy to get consumed by other life events and let your home remodeling sit. Not only does this make for a constant mess, but your chances of staying within budget decrease dramatically.

Summary:

If you’re a homeowner, you will most likely participate in some sort of home remodeling project. Home remodeling includes updating kitchen appliances, installing central air and heat or painting your dinning room a fresh color. Regardless of project taken on, keeping in mind your time line and budget will help you achieve your goal with the least amount of problems possible.