Enjoy a Beach House Landscape No Matter Where You Live
Living near the Atlantic Ocean presents unique landscape design challenges. Plants must tolerate forceful storm winds and hot summer temperatures. Salt from sea spray, that mist you feel when near a crashing wave, can affect plants close to the shoreline. Salty ocean water carried by hurricane winds can travel inland for miles according to the North Carolina Nursery and Landscape Association. A careful selection of trees, flowers and shrubs will help ensure plant survival in a seashore landscape. Most plant selections suitable for houses at the beach will capture the allure of a seashore landscape at any home within the recommended USDA planting zones. I used to live at the beach. When my Christmas list included an inflatable raft to soothe nervousness about storms that flood (those nor’easters are wicked!), it was time to move inland. Now, I live, away from the salty air and the fear of ocean water reaching my front door. However, a part of the beach came with me since the landscaping plants I enjoyed at the beach are now a part of my cottage landscape away from the beach.
Annual Flowers
Sun loving annuals such as marigold, petunia, geranium, sunflower, vinca, coleus, cornflower and sweet alyssum are suitable for a beach house landscape. As annuals, they should grow in most USDA zones. Grow the plants in pots, if desired, to relocate the flowers to a protected area during a storm.
Perennial flowers
Daylily (USDA zones 3 to 10) has varieties that can reach 4 feet tall. Common yarrow (USDA all zones) reaches about 3 feet tall. Candytuft (USDA 3a to 9b) grows about 6 inches tall can be used for a border or to fill gaps between plants. All these flowers (and more) comprise my cottage garden.
Ornamental grass
Tall grasses are a common sight near the beach. Ornamental grasses can bear the heat and salt, and still keep coming back year after year. Options include salt tolerate grasses like pampas grass (USDA zones 7b to 10) that grows up to 10 feet tall, maiden grass (USDA zones 5 to 9) that grows up to 8 feet tall, and fountain grass (USDA zones 5 to 9) that grows to about 4 feet tall.
Deciduous trees
Deciduous trees add spectacular fall color before the tree’s leaves drop. During the heat of summer, trees offer shade to the house or patio. Trees hardy in USDA zones 4a to 9b include: red maple that grows 60 to 75 feet tall, sycamore that grows up to 100 feet tall, and river birch that grows 50 to 70 feet tall.
Evergreen trees
Leafy evergreen trees include American holly (USDA zones 5a to 9b) that grows up to 40 feet tall and southern magnolia (USDA zones 6a to 10b) that grows up to 80 feet tall. The leaves of magnolia can become a nuisance on the ground because their size and rubbery nature makes them difficult to rake. And American holly easily self-seeds, creating a forest of sprouts requiring removal. Still, I have grown both trees and enjoy their evergreen qualities for the landscape plus clippings for Christmas holiday decorations. For needle evergreens, try Japanese red pine (USDA zones 3 to 7) that grows up to 60 feet tall or eastern red cedar (USDA zone 2 to 9) that grows up to 40 feet tall.
Evergreen shrubs
Creeping juniper (USDA zones 6 to 8) reaches about 6 inches tall as it spreads to cover the ground. Southern waxmyrtle (USDA zones 7b to 11) is a fast growing evergreen shrub that grows to 15 feet tall.
Flowering deciduous shrubs
Bigleaf hydrangea (USDA zones 6 to 9) grows to about 4 feet tall and rose of Sharon (USDA zones 5 to 8), can reach about 10 feet tall depending on variety. The shrubs provide weeks of continuous blooms. The hydrangea is my favorite shrub, with large blooms suitable for cutting to enjoy indoors or dried to use in crafts.
Enjoy a Beach House Landscape No Matter Where You Live
Saving Money on a Bathroom Remodel
Remodeling a bathroom can seem overwhelming and expensive to many homeowners and the widespread advertising of luxury materials convinces many that a remodeled bathroom is financially out of reach. According to the National Association of Realtors, the average cost of a bathroom remodel is $15,889, but by employing a little smart planning and savvy shopping it is possible for your remodel to come in well under average. Understanding a few basic money saving strategies can help you achieve the bathroom remodel of your dreams, whether you are a dedicated bargain hunter or simply a penny-wise homeowner.
Keep Your Existing Floor Plan
If the current location of plumbed fixtures (bathtubs, showers, sinks and toilets) is functional you can save literally thousands of dollars over a reconfiguration. Moving plumbing involves tearing open walls and floors in the bathroom and surrounding rooms, adding the cost of new plumbing, sheetrock, and potentially sub-flooring as well. If a non-functioning layout forces you to move fixtures be sure to consult a licensed plumber who can suggest the most cost effective method to satisfy your needs. Never remove a shower or tub to gain more floor space, as this reduces the number of full bathrooms in your home and has a dramatic negative impact on your resale value and rate of return.
Salvage Fixtures
If your bathtub is in good condition but looking a little worn in the finish consider refacing as a cost effective alternative to purchasing a new tub. Do-it-yourself refacing kits are available for the handier homeowner, and many companies specialize in affordable refacing options. Porcelain tile can also be refaced, but may not save you much over the cost of replacement. Vanity cabinets in good condition can be painted or stripped and stained, and laminate countertops can be re-laminated for significantly less than the cost of completely replacing them. There is also nothing to say that everything must be overhauled when remodeling a bathroom. Toilets and pedestal sinks often outlast the designs around them, and salvaging these expensive fixtures will help keep your bathroom remodeling budget in check.
Be a Smart Shopper
Knowing how to locate deals on pricey remodeling materials will help you remodel your bathroom on a budget. The relatively small space of a bathroom allows you to take advantage of bargains on discontinued or small quantity materials. Tile is often steeply discounted when a line has been discontinued; you need to only ask your local tile warehouse. Granite remnants can be purchased for well below the average cost per square foot, and the small run of a bathroom countertop makes it an ideal spot for a remnant. If you fall in love with a particular material be sure to research inexpensive alternatives. Ceramic and porcelain tile can both mimic the look of natural stone for a fraction of the price.
The key to an affordable bathroom remodel is to create a budget and stick with it. With a little research, some patience and the money saving tips outlined above you can make your budget renovation a reality.
I just got married about a year ago and my husband and I are in the process of getting movers and moving into our new home. As a wedding present, my parents gave us the old motel that they own and that hasn’t been running in almost a decade. The motel sits on a gorgeous piece of property in the heart of the Adirondacks. Unfortunately, it’s also a motel and not a house. Renovating it into one has had its ups and downs but I’m confident that we will have a wonderful place to live sometime in the near future. There are have been three things that I keep in mind throughout this entire renovation project.
The first is that you should never put too many windows into one wall. We found this out the hard way because my husband had put two large windows into the back wall for sunlight along with a sliding glass door. Thankfully, the building didn’t fall down but it would have if a helpful neighbor didn’t come lecturing us one day as we were both out there working. His kind words really hit home and we removed the windows and reinforced the walls again. I can’t even imagine what it would have been like if we had kept the windows there and the wall collapsed one day while sitting in our living room.
The second thing to remember when renovating a house is to keep it energy efficient. The first few months that we were living here, we had to stay in one of the motel rooms and use the old electric heater that was in there. The heating worked fine, despite the fact that we had a lot of drafts in the room. We were happy as pie until the electric bill came in. I never knew that it was possible to use that much electricity with just one heater. I also can’t believe how much money we lost those first few months on electricity alone. We are now in the process of insulating each room and using draft-resistant windows. We have even insulated the ceiling and basement of the motel. The building had absolutely no draft protection because it was mainly used as a summer business when I was a little girl.
Lastly, it’s important to make use of raw and used materials when you can. I know of several couples who are in the same boat as I am and who paid a fortune for brand new kitchen cabinets, sink pedestals, and bathtubs. My husband and I have been scouring online ads and newspaper articles to find used materials to put into our future home. You wouldn’t believe that we recently bought gorgeous cherry wood cabinets from a large chain construction company who was selling them. What’s more, we paid practically nothing for a large kitchen set of cabinets.
There are many different things to keep in mind when renovating. One of the best things you can do is to just have fun with it and try to create a home that you will absolutely love living in. It also might help to keep yourself on a budget so that you do not go into debt over a renovated home.
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Tips and Tricks to Remodeling Your Home
Bathroom Remodeling- How to Install a Toilet, Do it Yourself
Since the housing boom has slowed down and home appraisals have declined, many homeowners are investing in home improvements instead of buying a new house. A large portion of the baby boomer generation have accumulated a good amount of equity in their home and can afford to pay for home improvements either with cash, an equity loan or simply spend their income tax refund on items they want for their home. Kitchen and bathroom remodeling is the most popular type of home improvement and there are ways to stretch your dollar without completely renovating these areas. Some handy homeowners simply paint or wallpaper a bathroom to freshen the look of the room. Experienced do it yourselfers may tackle larger projects like replacing the vanity base, sink, faucet and toilet to give the room a new look without having to disturb the existing walls or tile finishes.
If the rest of the room is in good shape there may be no need to replace the shower area, bathtub and flooring. If you do want to replace the bathtub or shower, you will most likely have to replace the wall tile around the tub or wall surround, floor tile, shower diverter and tub faucet and this may be more work than a do it yourselfer can do. Doing a complete bathroom remodeling project will cost more, require more planning and will take longer than just replacing the vanity and toilet.
Replacing a toilet or sink is a job many do it yourselfers can do and is relatively easy to do if you have some mechanical ability and know a little bit about plumbing. Depending on the age and condition of the existing bathroom will determine how much work will be involved in replacing your toilet. In newer homes installing a new toilet is relatively easy and will require very little prep work.
In older homes you may have a leaking toilet or discover floor damage to the floor tile or ceramic tile and beneath the flooring you may find the sub floor is water damaged or deteriorating. It may be hard to determine the extent of the damage beyond this and only when you remove the old toilet will you be able to tell. There may also be signs of leaks in the rooms below the toilet or shower area. If you suspect beforehand that there is subfloor damage you may want to include in your budget the replacement cost of the subflooring before starting this project.
If your bathroom will be out of service for duration of the remodeling, plan how your family will share another bathroom while the work is being done. If there is only one bathroom in your house, leave the old toilet in place as long as possible and do the surrounding work first. When it is time to do the flooring of repair the plumbing then take out the toilet but keep in mind that you may have to repeatedly temporarily connect and disconnect the toilet during the phases of the remodeling. I would suggest using the old toilet while under construction and wait until the new flooring is completed to install the new toilet only once permanently.
Before purchasing a new toilet check all measurements of the existing space and the center of toilet drain from the back wall which should be 12″. Most toilets have a 12″ rough-in center. To find the center of the drain while the old toilet is in place, remove the bolt down covers at the base of the toilet and measure from the back wall to the center of bolt, this can vary up to ½” more or less than 12″.
Tools Needed– 2 pair of disposable latex gloves, old rags, channel lock pliers, adjustable wrench, utility knife, wide putty knife or scraper, screwdriver, small pry bar, caulking gun, and hacksaw.
Materials– toilet mounting bolts (brass), 2 toilet wax rings with extender- 1 regular and 1 extra thick in case needed, new flexible water supply line, 1 tube of caulking to match toilet color, toilet and toilet seat.
Preparation – the first thing to do is unpack and check the new toilet for chips, cracks or damage. Check inside the tank for any missing parts. Clean the bottom of the new toilet. Clear the bathroom area of any floor mats or items in the room and lay down a drop cloth to protect the existing flooring. Have some rags handy to cleanup any dripping water.
Turn Off Water-supply valve to the toilet and exercise the valve a couple of times to remove any deposit build up inside of the valve seat. Next remove the tank lid then flush the toilet until the tank reservoir is empty.
Disconnect Toilet– Now disconnect the water supply tubing between the wall valve and the toilet tank.
Remove the Tank– if it is a 2 piece toilet look in the bottom of the tank and find 2 or 4 bolts at the bottom that go thru the tank and connect to the toilet base. Remove these bolts and lift the water tank off and discard.
Remove Toilet Hold Down Bolts– Cut out the old caulking around the base of the toilet where it meets the floor, using a utility or putty knife. The bolts are on the bottom exterior sides of the toilet on the left and right side. Remove the bolt covers and unscrew the nuts. If they are corroded, cut the bolt off below the nut with a hacksaw.
Remove Toilet- tip the toilet from side to side slightly to break seal or loosen with a pry bar for ease of lifting. Straddle the toilet and lift directly upwards above the bolts and move to the side, get a firm grip on the toilet and carry upright to discard. Avoid tipping as there is still water in the trap and it will spill out if tilted.
Stuff a rag in the drain pipe flange to keep debris from falling in the pipe and to stop sewer gases from entering the room.
Remove old wax seal around the drain flange and clean surface of flange with a putty knife or scraper and completely remove old caulking on the flooring. *If you are going to paint the bathroom now is a good time to paint behind the toilet before the new one is installed.
If the old water supply valve is leaking around the stem, tighten the valve retainer nut. If this doesn’t work then replace it now with either a solder on or compression fitting shut off valve. Check the toilet mounting flange for damage and if needed change it now also.
Install the hold down bolts in the slots of the flange and set to 12″ center from back wall. To help hold the bolts in place, put some wax from the old ring between the bolts and flange so the bolts stand up straight while you lower the toilet in place. Install the new wax ring centered on the pipe flange. Carry the new toilet near where it will be installed, clean the bottom of the fixture to remove any dirt and clean the floor area that will be under the toilet.
Install the New Toilet Base– Pick up the bowl of the toilet and straddle the drain pipe and line up the hold down bolts with the hole in the toilet base. Slowly lower the toilet keeping bolts centered as you lay it down on the wax ring and check that it is parallel to the back wall. Put some down pressure on the bowl until the base is flat on the finished floor. Install the washer and retaining ring for bolt covers and hand tighten the nuts snug to the toilet base. Now, with a wrench slowly tighten the nuts alternating from one side to the other, to keep the equal amount of pressure on each side until the toilet is secured. Check that the toilet is solid and doesn’t rock from side to side, if it is secure don’t tighten any further as the toilet base can easily crack from too much tightening.
Installing Tank– For two piece toilets prepare to install the tank now. Install the large rubber ring gasket in the toilet fill hole, install the tank bolt down rubber gasket and install the two brass bolts through the holes as the manufacturer’s instructions from inside the toilet tank thru toilet base toilet tank to toilet base. Tighten slowly until tank is fully seated. The toilet is now installed.
Hook Up Water the supply to the inlet at the bottom of the toilet tank and install the other end to the water supply valve. Inside the water tank check the rubber flapper for proper seal and connect flush arm with chain.
Turn on Water– as the tank is filling check for any leaks around bolts and around the valve. Let tank fill up to required level which is a little below the overflow tube. If there are any leaks, slowly tighten connections until there are no drips. Check the toilet hold down bolts and tighten ¼ turn if possible.
Install trim caps and caulk the toilet bowl base to the finished floor, test toilet by flushing a few times checking for leaks. Lastly install the toilet seat, this usually has nylon bolts and nuts and fastens to the toilet base. Lay a newspaper on the floor under the water supply valve and leave it there overnight to see if there are any leaks.
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Bathroom Remodeling- How to Install a Toilet, Do it Yourself
Cleaning Services
It is so hard to get good help these days!
Well, you would not be saying this if you are lucky enough to find reliable cleaning service professionals or contractors to get the cleaning job done for you!
Compared to the days when only a few had access to the Internet and only a number of businesses were utilizing the World Wide Web to promote their products and expertise, it is actually easier to find good help these days!
All you have to do is sit in front of your computer, connect to the Internet and let your fingers get to work, on the keyboard, that is.
Type in “Cleaning Services” on a search engine like Google Search, for instance. You may want to add the name of your country, city or locality so as to narrow down the search. Actually, you may even want to search for “Good Cleaning Services” just to be exact.
Of course, a thousand or more websites or pages enlisted in online directories will probably claim that they are the best cleaning service professionals in your area and you would most definitely be hard up at choosing which provider to hire. So how would you know if they are really what they claim to be?
Thank the heavens for forums! Because there is no limit to what you can post online, some disgruntled customers would most certainly give their feedback regarding unsatisfactory service of a certain provider or contractor at one point or another. Again, use the search engine to find this. Or if it is the other way around, then you could easily search for another site which is dedicated to customer satisfaction regarding the provider or contractor in any search engine as well.
A good cleaning service provider or contractor will also be honest to its customers when asked to cite at least a few of its handled customers in the past. Reputation is a key term in keeping all businesses, including that of cleaning services, alive and kicking.
Ever heard of the term, by word-of-mouth? You get to know about a certain business by word-of-mouth which is equivalent to its reputation. The truth is, it does not really matter if it has a good or a bad reputation because either way, it will be well-talked about.
Of course, will you hire the cleaning service provider if you have heard bad things about it? Actually, if they are indeed professionals and are confident and efficient in performing their services, they will not even wait for you to ask them to cite references. They will promote their business by sharing their experiences with former customers who were satisfied with their service!
Just remember to do at least a little research regarding the cleaning service provider or contractor and the cleaning services that they provide before hiring them to do all the dirty work for you. It will save you money as well as help spare you from regret and dissatisfaction in the long run.
