By now your Fort Wayne area lawn isn’t needing mowed as often as it did in the spring, thank you, thank you, thank you. I guess that reveals how I feel about the job, maybe you like it, if so, more power to you!

Even I however like a nice looking lawn. If you do as well, the below tips will help you keep your lawn looking great. And when you’re tired of doing it yourself or just don’t have the time, give us a shout at Wismer Contractor Referrals and we’ll put you in touch with a lawn care pro!

Lawn Care Tips

The majority of home owners with lawns don’t mow their lawns correctly. It’s a simple fact and one recognized by most lawn specialists. The problem in most cases is that bad habits have been passed down from parent to child. Hopefully, the following pointers will help you improve the way you mow your lawn.

The one-third rule. Only ever take off one third of the grass’s height. If your lawn has been left uncut for any period of time, mow every three or four days, taking off one third at a time until you reach the preferred height.

Crowns. Always leave some grass – in other words, don’t cut down to the crown. Your lawn should be like a carpet, soft  underfoot; and to achieve this you need at least half an inch of grass blade in place. Mow down to the crown and you will most likely kill your lawn.

Maintenance. Keep your lawn mower well maintained. This means sharp blades, serviced and topped up with oil. Don’t forget to check the spark plugs regularly as well. Sharp blades provide a good clean cut.

Dampness. Don’t mow your lawn when it’s wet. You should also avoid mowing in the early evening (or early morning) if dew is starting to form. Wet grass does not cut cleanly; it gets thrashed and, like hair, develops split ends.

Mulch. If you mow your lawn regularly and stick to the one-third rule, leaving the clippings spread over the lawn thinly won’t hurt the lawn. In fact, it will act as a light mulch, keeping in warmth at night and providing some protection to new shoots as they appear.

Repair. Repair brown or bare patches as soon as they start to form. Prepare the area then over-sow with seed. If you strike as the patch is starting to form, you will prevent it from developing into a much larger patch.

If your lawn care routine includes these components, you will have a great looking lawn. Lawn care takes time, yet the better your lawn care habits are, the less time it will take.

Hello home theater people! If you’re into setting up a high end theater setting in your Fort Wayne home you wont want to scrimp on the sound system. Below is an interesting video about setting up a powerful surround sound system. It isn’t cheap but you’ll think you’re part of the movie.

Not many of us can afford to spend this kind of money for a theater room. The good news is, you can have a decent system for much less. Give us a call at Wismer Contractor Referrals and we can set you up with one of the premier A/V companies in the area. They’re a very good, honest, professional company who will set you up right!

If you are considering the construction of a new home in the Fort Wayne and surrounding area do you know who the best custom home building contractors are? I do!

Wismer Contractor Referrals represents more than plumbers, electricians, roofers, painters and the like. Our network of professional contractors includes the best home builders in Fort Wayne. Contact us for a referral and we’ll get you started.

Below are some tips for making the hire. Tip- read it to the bottom for a free resource!

Preparing to Build a New Home – The Value of Specifications

Detailed specifications for your new home should be included in the contract you sign with your builder. Having thorough home specifications in place helps give confidence that your builder will meet your unique requirements for your new home. You can add, say, 5-7 pages of detailed new home specifications to your contract to document your expectations for the desired features of your home and the quality of materials to be used.

Improved Comparability of Builders’ Bids

When soliciting bids from multiple builders, describe the project as thoroughly as you can. Provide them with detailed specifications to increase the likelihood that their bids will be more accurate and straightforwardly comparable to one another.

More Thorough Pre-Construction Planning

Discussing your specifications with the builder will likely cause other important issues to surface. Having those worthwhile conversations before construction gets underway will prove beneficial in unforeseeable ways.

Conversations with your builder about your specifications before signing a contract with him may prompt you to adjust some of the limits of the allowances in the contract. Otherwise, the cost difference, which almost certainly won’t be in your favor, will have to be settled at the end of the project. That means you’ll be making yet another, perhaps unanticipated, payment to your builder.

Aligning Owner Expectations with Builder Capabilities

A detailed set of new home specifications is a useful tool. Specifications explicitly document your expectations for the features and level of quality to be incorporated into your new home. Working with your builder to establish your new home specifications is an invaluable step in the process of building your new home. You propose the specifications to your builder, negotiate them, reach agreement on them, and then append them to the contract. You have aligned your expectations with your builder’s capabilities. You have also gone a long way toward minimizing misunderstandings between you and your builder while construction is underway. By including the specifications in your home building contract, the builder agrees to meet those expectations – and deliver on them.

Assurance of Quality

It’s the builder’s responsibility to meet the requirements of the applicable building code. Beyond code requirements, the builder uses construction methods and selects materials that meet his own quality standards. You may wish to make different choices than the builder – ones more or less costly to implement. Stating your choices in specifications appended to the contract commits the builder to honor them.

Getting Your Must-Haves

Cumulatively, choices you make that vary from your builder’s standard practice will dramatically affect the cost to build. Here are just a few examples of choices an owner might make that could differ substantially from a builder’s standard offering:

• Ceramic tile versus linoleum kitchen flooring
• Casement versus double hung windows
• A metal roof versus Spanish tile versus 30-year asphalt architectural shingles
• Fiber-cement versus vinyl siding
• An ICF (Insulated Concrete Forms) structure versus wood framing
• Sprayed-in, roof-adhering, polymer foam versus loose, blown-in cellulose as attic insulation
• Pressure treated wood versus composite lumber for a deck
• A wall-mounted, on-demand, gas-fired water heater versus a free-standing 40-gallon storage-type, electric hot water heater
• American-made versus foreign-made electrical wiring
• Low-VOC versus standard grade paint

Staying on Schedule

In the absence of detailed home specifications or other prior instructions from you, the builder reacts to your requests for changes and upgrades on the fly as construction proceeds. With specifications in place, the builder has planned for project needs and is more apt to have labor and materials on site when needed without hiccups in the construction schedule.

Improved Cost Predictability

How important is it to you that the builder’s contracted cost is as accurate as possible? The more detailed your new home specifications are, the more accurate your builder’s cost determination will be. Fewer instances of unplanned upgrades and changes mean there will be less cost creep over the life of the project.

When it come time for you to put new roof on your Fort Wayne area home, do you know who to call that is trustworthy and honest? I do. Contact me at Wismer Contractor Referrals and I will put you in touch with the contractor you want!.

A Look At Roofing Materials

Roofing materials have improved over the years, from the old days of thatch or sod, and technology has presented a couple of them which might be a nice surprise. Whether replacing the roof on a house, or a commercial facility, there are some details to consider when choosing the best type. Let’s take a look at some of the possibilities and other factors involved.

Asphalt is the most common choice for residential dwellings, which include apartment complexes and other large structures that have a similarly designed roof. Tar paper is usually laid under them to help provide a waterproof barrier. Asphalt roofing is available in an assortment of colors.

Wooden shingles and shakes are another popular material for those who want the rustic look. The difference between the two is that shakes are tapered much like a large shim, and give a more 3D look than the flat sawed wooden shingles. Both of them can last for 50 years, and as they age the color changes to give that old farm cottage look.

Clay tiles are commonly used in desert areas, but can be used anywhere to provide the overall Spanish look. Clay provides its own cooling system because the air under them is not heated by the sun as much as other types of materials. They shed water very well, and come in several choices of color tints.

Metal roofs are no longer restricted to the old galvanized look. They are available in many colors including dark maroon, festive blue, rustic gold, and forest green. They are also available in copper color which can resemble gold when the sunshine strikes them.

Slate is a very expensive material, and requires a stone mason to install it. However, for a roof that will last for many generations, this is the most durable of all. Due to the weight involved, they do not lend themselves well to certain types of architecture, but measures can be taken to reinforce the under structure to accommodate these most hansom roofs.

Electricity continues to be more costly as a means of heating and cooling homes, and offices, and technology has developed solar roof tiles which look much like the asphalt shingles. These solar tiles are interlocking, and available in an inconspicuous dark blue. They can greatly reduce electric bills, weigh only 2.5 pounds per square foot, withstand 60 mph winds, and come with a 25 year manufacturers warranty is in place.

Rubber roof material is used on RVs, but some people are using it to cover the tops of their homes. This material comes in large rolls and are adhered to the structure much the same as when installed on a recreational vehicle. Due to the sheet surface, they provide great resistance to winds, and are an almost perfect water seal against rain and snow.

Give it enough years, and any structure will need a new roof. When the time comes to replace it, there are many choices of materials from which to choose. Metal to asphalt, slate to solar power, some of them could be more affordable than others.

Wismer Contractor Referrals has the skilled contractors in our network to install a beautiful hardwood floor in your Fort Wayne home. Start here to receive your referral and free bid.

Why Choose Wood Floors?

Just about everyone wants a wood floor in their home, as this natural flooring has many wonderful qualities about it. It’s easy to maintain and only requires regular dusting and vacuuming, unlike other types of flooring that needs to be scrubbed, mopped or deep cleaned. Wood f. are also the preferred choice in terms of health, as this type of flooring doesn’t trap mold, dust mites or pesticides. Instead, hardwood flooring leads to a healthier environment and cleaner air, a real benefit for those that suffer from allergies or asthma.

Types of Wood Floors

There are two types of hardwood flooring: solid and engineered. Solid wood F. is made from solid constructed wood and measures at 1/4″ to 25/32″. Engineered wood on the other hand, is made from products constructed in layers. These layers have the grains alternating in different directions, giving the floor increased strength and stability. This type of wood is also measured in plys, with most being 3 to 5 ply. Engineered wood is generally used in areas where solid wood cannot be installed, such as in basements.

So how do you know which type of floor to install? Engineered flooring has an advantage because it can be installed in any room, with no difference between on-grade, above-grade or below-grade installations. It can be nailed down, glued down or stapled down, as well as floated over existing flooring, much like laminate. Solid wood can only be nailed or glued down and is not recommended for below-grade applications.

Styles of Wood Floors

In addition to the types, there are also different styles of hardwood flooring. The first is strip, which features a tongue-and-groove construction. These selections fit together using tongues and grooves and can be made in solid or engineered choices, as well as in prefinished or finished woods. Second is plank, which is similar to the strip style, except for the width. It starts at 3″ and goes up by 1″ increments. The last style of flooring is parquet, which is where various patterns and designs are fitted together to form the wood floor.

Where to Install Wood Floors

When determining where you’d like to install flooring, you’ll want to consider which rooms will benefit from it. Basically any room that doesn’t have a full bath can have wood floors installed, especially family rooms, bedrooms and kitchens. If you choose to install wood floors below-grade, such as in a basement, you’ll need to go with engineered wood. Otherwise, there are few limitations, giving you plenty of freedom to upgrade and remodel your home.

Furthermore, because most new wood floors have a urethane finish on them, they stand up well to regular use and can be placed in high-traffic areas, such as kitchens and foyers. If durability is your number one concern, look for finished wood selections that have coats of polyurethane or aluminum oxide applied. This coating makes the floor more tough and durable. To offer additional floor protection, use area rugs and floor mats.

Are Wood Floors Worth the Price?

Hardwood has a reputation for being expensive, but the value is well worth it. In fact, realtors agree that homes with hardwood floors sell better and get more money than homes that are carpeted. Wood F also retain their value and can be refinished; making them the only type of flooring that never has to be replaced. In order to keep the floors in their best condition, it’s important to use a wood cleaner on occasion and do regular sweeping and vacuuming. Of course, always check with the warranty, as some wood cleaners void this. Never wet mop your wood floors either, as water and wood don’t mix.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gina_H_Hopkins

Time to get your curb appeal up to date with an improvement of your Fort Wayne landscape design. Below are some wonderful ideas for doing so! Call us to get the flowers growing.

Great Ways To Improve Your Landscape Design

Transforming your yard with landscape design could be as simple as adding a few special flowering plants. If you want a dramatic change, you may just have to bust out the big tools and create a welcoming space for entertaining, cooking and dining. Each space, however small, has the opportunity to provide you with some sort of escape.

Before you get started, you need to determine a budget. The amount of money you spend, will help you determine what can actually be done in your space and what types of materials you can afford. Once you know the numbers, you should allot a certain amount to each category such as; building materials, plants and flowers.

Many people think a lawn is the easiest and cheapest way to go, however the fact is, you can have a personalized space on a practical budget with low maintenance. It may take some time and hard work to get that lawn up, but once you are done, plant drought tolerant plants, bushes, trees and flowers which will save you big bucks on your water bill.

A lawn-less front yard or back yard are equally as relaxing and beautiful. To save money on plants, purchase the smaller size of the variety you choose. It may take them an extra year to get to the size you want, but you will have saved a bundle. Fill in the empty spaces with annual flowers throughout the year or plant perennials which will come back again and again.

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It is nice to be able to have a special place where you may go to and relax. Adding some sort of patio space or deck with a seating area is a wonderful addition to any yard. Decomposed granite is a functional alternative to concrete and easy on the budget, plus it can be easily changed down the road.

If you only have a small balcony or patio space, find planters which hang from the walls and others which can be attached to the balcony railings. Plant hanging vines from them along with annual flowers. The vines will cascade down the sides and give the appearance of a lush garden retreat while the annuals will pop with color and can be changed for the seasons.

A patio awning is another great way to enjoy your yard throughout the year. Add a permanent structure off of your house or a portable one in the yard. String up some lights for ambiance and enjoy a lovely outdoor meal. Add a fire pit on chilly nights and have a marshmallow roast. Hook up some oscillating fans in the summer months and you have a year round hang out.

A yard with creative landscape design is not only an outdoor space, but an addition to the home. When properly designed, there will be a place for you to enjoy your morning coffee, or somewhere private to steal away to for an afternoon nap. Each person’s idea of a great space differs, so do what works for you and your home.

Looking for Landscaping Markham? Be sure to get a professional Landscaping Aurora services to handle all your needs.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Adriana_Noton

If you watch a lot of movies in your Fort Wayne area home or like to see sports programs “super-sized” then a home theater may be for you. Watch the below clip for some good tips on television sets and projector solutions and give us a call for a home theater expert to make it happen for you.

Are your window treatments up to date in your Fort Wayne home? The sun is beginning to shine again after a long hard winter and you will want to be ready to control the amount of light coming into your home. Below is a good article discussing how different window treatments can help.

We have the best window treatment company in Fort Wayne in the Wismer Contractor Referrals network. Let us know when you want to work with them.

Window treatment choices can address light, location and design issues

The direction that windows face and the proximity of streets to them are two of the factors homeowners should consider when choosing custom drapery or other window treatments.

According to IdeasForHomeDecorating.com, those who live in a dusty or high pollution area should stay away from light-colors fabrics for their windows because they will show dirt more easily.

“You’ll also be better off if you don’t have elaborate treatments such as swags and intricate folds which will trap the dirt,” the website advises.

The direction that the windows face will determine how much natural light will enter the room. Windows with a northern or eastern exposure generate less light, but south- and west-facing windows will allow in the most light. In the southern hemisphere, the opposite is true.

When windows face out on a street, homeowners may consider using a heavy fabric for drapes or noise reduction shades. They are particularly useful for bedroom windows that face a street or other area that may be get noisy when one is trying to get some sleep.

When too much light enters a bedroom, blackout window shades will solve the problem. Roller shades that fit a variety of decors come in blackout fabrics that provide the light control needed to create a darker room.

Privacy issues are another concern that can be solved with the correct selection of window treatments, which can provide privacy when it’s needed and allow an outside view at other times.

“If you don’t want to cut out too much light, then think about using a translucent fabric such as muslin, net, voile or lace, as curtain or shades to give you some privacy,” the website suggests.

Another option is to install a cafe curtain, which is hung from a rod or pole halfway up the window. This style of curtain protects privacy while allowing light into the room from the top half of the window.

If window blinds are preferred, homeowners may want to consider buying custom blinds online to get as wide a selection as possible to match their home décor.

Sometimes homeowners are faced with a specific design dilemma that will determine how they outfit their windows. A deep recessed window, for instance, should be styled with draperies hung outside the recessed area to allow as much light as possible to enter. If the recessed window is particularly large, the drape can be hung inside the recessed area.

http://www.blindschalet.com/bna-648-blackout-shades.html

Hey Fort Wayne… the birds are chirping and the temperature is rising. Must be springtime and that’s a great time to take care of some simple remodeling and cleaning up around the house. The below article will get you started with four areas to consider for your Fort Wayne home. Contact us when you are ready and will put you in touch with an honest, skilled contractor.

Springtime Tips to Spruce up your Home

Spring is just around the corner, and it can be the perfect time to spruce up your house — inside and out.

Whether you are looking to sell your house or just improve its appearance for your own living environment, here are four easy and cheap tips from home expert Danny Lipford, host of television’s “Today’s Homeowner.”

No. 1: Clean your deck. Many homes have wooden decks that take a brutal beating during long winters. Lipford said pressure washing decks is popular, but using a deck cleaner and water hose is just as efficient.

“It cleans as well, or better than a power wash,” Lipford said. “It helps to open up the pores and get debris out of the wood.” Buying a nylon brush and deck cleaner will run homeowners under $25, Lipford said.

No. 2: Paint. From a value standpoint, Lipford said any painting that can be done, especially on the front of the home, adds major value.

“Even if it’s just the door or shutters, to just introduce a bit of color on the house, it’s always a positive,” Lipford said. Painting a door and shutters can be done for under $25, and doing the entire front of a house would be under $100, he said.

No. 3: Minor landscaping. Trimming back anything that is overgrown or plants that have died in the winter helps to brighten up any yard.

“With nicer weather coming, it’s a good time to be introducing any new plants or flowers, and certainly remulching,” Lipford said. “Any new mulch will give it a fresher look.”

Upgrading your landscaping without completely renovating the yard should cost no more than $250, according to Lipford, and will go a long way.

No. 4: Get all moving parts working. Spring is the perfect time to take a walk around your home, inside and out, and make sure all moving parts are working properly. Garage door tracks, gate latches, attic steps can all be running more smoothly with the right lubricant, Lipford said.

“In under 30 minutes you can make what you have work a lot better,” he said. The lubricant should be less than $10 and can be found at hardware stores.

Hey Fort Wayne – we’re getting close to the time when we can throw open the doors and windows to let some fresh air in. That means it’s time to begin planning your interior painting projects. You’ll want to book the good painting contractors early on before they get super busy. Wismer Contractor Referrals has just the one you want in our network. Let us help you begin the planning!

Enjoy this article on how using certain colors can make a big difference in the rooms of your Fort Wayne home.