Monthly Archives: December 2016

Four Surprising Facts About Amish-made Goods

Barns nj

Are you shopping for a custom Amish gazebo? There are few structures that are more striking in a landscape than a custom Amish gazebo, with some tastefully chosen foliage around it. But, no matter how much you love custom Amish gazebos, you might think they’re out of reach for you. Unless you live within driving distance of an Amish community, how will you get your hands on a custom Amish gazebo? Plus, they must cost an arm and a leg, right? Amish-made goods are created with quality by hand, they can’t possibly come with a price tag you’d find at a depot for discount sheds, right?


Fret not, deary. If you love Amish buildings as much as we do, stay tuned for our list of surprising facts about Amish made goods:


Four Surprising Facts About Amish Made Goods

  1. Your Grandma’s Amish Goods Aren’t What You’ll Find Today.

    Some people appreciate the superior craftsmanship of Amish goods, but feel like that “rustic barn-house” style that is representative of Amish goods is not the look they’re going for. This classic style is most frequently associated with Amish goods because the furniture and structures that were built in Amish workshops a century ago are most likely still around today. However, that does not mean that the Amish craftsmanship of the modern day still looks that of yester-year. In fact, you can get Amish-made furnishings that have the look and feel of modern styles, but with the care for detail and quality that will last you a few generations to come.


    In fact, since Amish craftsman are able to make your furnishings and structure to your exact specifications, you can have it made to meet any style or look that you desire. Your Amish goods can be created to meet your exact needs, much more so than you’ll ever find from a big-box store.

  2. Mother Nature Appreciates Amish Goods.

    One of the Amish community’s guiding principles is to maintain the beautiful world that God made for us. As such, Amish woodworkers are careful to use materials that are sourced responsibly from the local area they live in; your Amish pergola or garage is not going to contribute to the deforestation problem of the rain forest.


    Furthermore, Amish people believe that wasting goods is an insult to the Lord who blessed them with them to begin with. They strive to use every single part of every tree that is cut down to make your goods. Stretching raw materials as far as they will go helps keep costs lower for you.


  3. Geography Shouldn’t Stop You From Owning a Fine Piece of Amish Furniture.

    You might think that you can only get your hands on an Amish-made structure if you live within commuting distance to go get it yourself. While you might not find an Amish person on the interwebs themselves (but you might, we’ll get to that in a minute), there are dealers of Amish goods who are not Amish themselves, which makes placing an order for an Amish farm table, shed, or pool house as easy as ordering a pizza online. In fact, many such dealers of Amish-made items even offer delivery services, just like your local pizza eatery!


  4. Amish-made Goods Aren’t Made Like They Were in Medieval Times.
    Every Amish community has their own set of guidelines that they live by. For the most part, the Amish shun electricity, but that doesn’t mean your Amish-made goods are made without modern technology. If you were to walk in an Amish community, you might find homes with cold refrigerators and hot water heaters that are gas-powered. You might find a no-frills computer to help them conduct business. In fact, many Amish craftsmen use modern equipment with the help of hydraulic technology. This benefits you because when your quality Amish goods are made with modern technology, it requires less labor from the craftsman who build it, which costs you less money.

    One aspect of Amish-made goods that is unique is the quality of their products. The furniture you buy off the assembly line from a big box store might also use modern equipment, but it does not have the hand-made eye-on-detail and precision quality that is only found in an Amish workshop!

Do you have any questions or comments? Share below!

The 10 Benefits to Installing Metal Roofing

Metal roofs are known for their great benefits. Not only will you enjoy a 40-year metal roof lifespan, but also a significant improvement in your home’s energy efficiency. However, you must hire a reputable metal roofing company to realize these benefits.

Metal roofing installation is approached in a different way than other roofing systems. Most general roofers don’t have the expertise to complete the job capably and efficiently. That’s why you’re better off hiring a roofing contractor specializing in metal roofs.

If installed improperly, you may have to make expensive repairs which you can avoid in the first place. The only way to maximize the longevity of your metal roof is by hiring a seasoned professional to perform the installation.

Investing in a pro also helps in that it mitigates safety concerns. Roofing work is generally risky. It gets even more dangerous when working with metal. An expert will know how to safely handle flat steel roofing sheets to prevent accidents that cause physical injuries or damage to the home.

A roofer focusing on metal roofs will know everything about the job, including ‘Can you put metal on a flat roof’ and how to install corrugated roof support correctly.

Your roof is one of the most significant investments you can make in your home. Always hire a metal roofing company for your metal roofing needs.

UPDATED 1/28/21

When it comes to roofing your home, there are various factors to consider. For instance, what type of roofing material do you want? Where can you find it? How much will it cost you? The kind of roofing material chosen should be affordable, durable, good in appearance, and resistant to harsh weather conditions.

When comparing asphalt roof vs metal, there are pros and cons of using each. As compared to an asphalt roof, for instance, a metal roof is almost two or three times more expensive. In times of heavy rain, for example, occupants with metal roofs experience noisiness.

The metal roof expands and contract. Did you know that asphalt roof is sold in different colors? Unlike metal roofs, asphalt roofing gives you a wide range of colors to choose from.

Here are things to consider when looking for roofing supplies. Attaching metal roofing to your house requires expertise: go for a company that has been in business for long.

Are you looking for the average cost of aluminum roof? It is now possible to get a quotation form different roofing suppliers online at your comfort. What is the average price of metal roof per square foot? See to it that you for metal roofing services from a supplier with fair prices.

If you are looking to put on a new roof or replace your existing roof, there are a lot of reasons to talk to metal roofing contractors about putting one in. Here are a few reasons metal roofs are great.

  1. They last a long time. After you have your metal roofing contractors finish your job, you will not need another roof installed for a very long time. If you take proper care of your metal roofing, it should last at least 50 years. If you opt for a metal roof that has been coated with an aluminum zinc alloy, it can last you up to a century. By contrast, a traditional asphalt roof will only last 20 years.
  2. Metal roofing needs very little in the way of maintenance. When homeowners are dealing with traditional, asphalt shingles, the same cannot be said. Shingles will blow off in wind, rain or snow storms. They are also vulnerable to the UV rays of the sun. The typical American homeowner spends between 2 and 4% of their home’s value every year on roofing maintenance. That adds up. If you do have any problems, metal roofing contractors can usually deal with it quickly and efficiently.
  3. It will keep you and your family safe from fire. Steel does not combust. Moreover, it has a Class A fire rating. That is best fire rating possible for a roof. Most traditional asphalt roofs only get a rating of B or C. It is true that it is possible for a metal roof to catch fire but it is much, much less likely with steel roofing.
  4. Metal roofing can keep you and your family safe from wind. Whereas traditional asphalt roofs are often damaged by high winds, a metal roof can withstand winds of up to 140 miles per hour. If you live in part of the United States with severe weather, this can give you more peace of mind.
  5. It can also offer you and your family protection from rain and snow. You are much more likely to have problems from rain and snow with a traditional asphalt roof. The material is just more prone to damage and may have already been weakened by the sun or wind. These are not problems for metal roofs.
  6. It looks great. There are good things about all kinds of roofs but metal roofs look really great. Metal roofs are clean looking, modern and simple. They go well with just about any style of house.
  7. Metal roofs can be tailored to your style. When you talk to the metal roofing contractors, you may be surprised by the vast array of options they offer you for the look of your roof. There are a number of different styles they will offer you. You have more than 100 colors to choose from. There are nearly an endless combinations of colors and styles. You can make your metal roof match your exact style.
  8. They will cut your energy bills. Metal roofs are given an Energy Star rating and the government often offers inceptives for people to buy them to save energy. Asphalt roofs attract and trap the rays from the sun. These are reflected by the metal roof and the result is a home that can be up to 100 degrees cooler. That means you will spend a lot less on your bills to cool your home. Some estimate that a metal roof will cut as much a quarter of a home’s utility bills.
  9. Metal roofing is good for the environment. When metal roofing contractors put in your roof, it will contain anywhere between 30 and 60% recycled metal. Moreover, the entire thing can be recycled when the roof reaches the end of its lifespan. Asphalt roofing is sent to landfills when it needs to be replaced.
  10. Metal roofing is light. That means it can be installed without removing your current roof. The average meta roofing will weight somewhere between 50 and 150 pounds per square foot. Other forms of roofing weigh a lot more. You will find that your metal roofing does not need as many supports as your other roofing options.

Metal roofing is good for the planet, can protect you and your family from the elements, will save money and will last a long time.

7 Tips for a Modern Home Design with a Minimalist Look

Single family homes

Minimalist design is very popular. When your working on your modern home design, there are never things you can do to get a sleek and stylish look, which is ideal for contemporary homes. The real estate market for a new home is ever expanding. Modern home experts, recommend the following tips.

  1. Consider going to modern homebuilders. More and more families are finding new homes preferable to the existing ones. You can work with that homebuilder on your modern home and get exactly what you want from the process. For example, if your master chef you can design in the kitchen of your dreams. Similarly, if you have a big family you can make sure everyone gets their own room and build enough bathrooms. So design your home environmentally friendly to lower your energy bills and reduce your carbon footprint. When you are considering buying a new home, you can get the latest appliances an air conditioning unit that is the most Energy efficient possible. They’re even often rebates from the Internal Revenue Service and others to help you pay to get more energy efficient appliances and devices in your home.
  2. If your modern home design is more for smaller houses or spaces, the color palette you choose make a big difference. What often works this letter colors to brighten up your space and make it seems larger. The same can be said for adding mirrors. Which can add a lot of light let facing a lamp or window.
  3. Go for a color palette that is simple. A room or a space that has too many competing colors and patterns, even if it is not actually cluttered, Will give people the impression that it is. Another good rule of thumb when picking colors for your home is to keep them all in the same color family. This does not mean you have to avoid vibrant colors altogether just mixing some neutral to balance it out for your modern home design. Colors the complement each other make a world of difference in any home.
  4. Go with simple furnishings and a decor. You should strive for simple shapes and lines. Ornate and overly decorated furnishings, wall coverings and tchotchkes Will make your space look were busy. Just like with your color palette, simplicity should rule your decision making process. Simple furniture is best for modern home design.
  5. Decorate your home with plants and artwork. They will both give your modern home design your personality. Simple pieces work best in a minimalist home. Plants make a home feels more lively say thing could be said by the addition of pets. Do not go overboard feeling your home with too many plants. Second make them difficult to take care for and make a space.handnbsp;at is cluttered this is the opposite of what you want.
  6. Mix up your texture. While staying with in your color palette, it should be noted that was all of the services look exactly the same are home could look cold. Bring in wools, linens, this is clay and pottery. You should not go overboard with your decorations but that does not mean your home needs to be totally bare. Varying textures Bring in a warmth to a house that’s a turn that house into a home. You can find lots of fun items at the local flea market that will spruce up your home without making busy.
  7. Create a focal point for each room. This could be a sculpture, picture or painting or some other work of art. But that will set the tone for the entire room. Efforts in modern home design recommend one focal point each room so that they do not compete with each other for attention. This is one way to keep your home looking less cluttered. Your focal point does not need to be overly ornate, just a piece that you enjoy looking at.

Modern home design has a rich history. Modern furniture design goes back nearly 120 hundred years. It has undergone many changes. An approach that is simple and minimalist in nature works perfectly with modern home design and if you work with a designer or follow these tips, you will be happy with your new home.

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Discovering the Right Wedding Packages for Your Big Day

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When you are preparing for your big day, in fact for some the day that ends up being one of the most important days of their lives, there are many factors to take into consideration. Many individuals start dreaming about the details of their wedding from very young ages, so when that special day draws closer, those dreams must integrate into in-depth planning in order to become realities. The process of planning a wedding, while consuming a great deal of time and energy, does not necessarily have to be stressful, if planned properly.

Look into professional planners and wedding packages

One of the first things that you will likely want to do is find a good event planner. Perhaps you enjoy sorting out details and thrive on the planning process. But even if you expect to be doing the majority of the planning yourself, it will be helpful to have at least one trustworthy and reliable person to aid you in the process.

If planning is not your strong suite, ask a friend or relative who you know would be up to the task, or better yet, hire a professional. That way, you and your loved ones will not be bearing the weight of the event planning, but as you get to know the professional, you will be able to work hand in hand to ensure that your day will be everything that you want it to be. One thing that your wedding planner might be able to help you with is finding quality, even all-inclusive wedding packages and deals.

Finding the best venue for your ideal event

Part of sifting through the multiple options of wedding packages in order to discover your ideal setup for your perfect day is looking for the place that speaks to you the most. Your wedding plans will cover a great variety of elements, but one of the most important things to settle on is the location. Do you have the same vision for a venue as your will-be spouse? Do you have your heart set on getting married in a church, or a specific location that is significant to you as a couple? These days, about 35% of wedding ceremonies are taking place outdoors, whether on a beach, in a forest clearing, in a city park, or elsewhere.

Different approaches to the hunt

Almost half of all engaged couples, at 48%, conduct research online for potential reception venues, which makes sense as most businesses have an online presence these days, but do not rule out a bit of scouting on your own. Hopping in the car and driving around to potential sites could result in stumbling upon your ideal venue. Of course, if you are more interested in looking at places that feature ornate banquet halls or exquisite wedding ballrooms, you are going to want to get on this right away.

In fact it is recommended that as soon as you get engaged, you should book your reception venue right away to guarantee that you have the space you want, and from there you will be able to plan the decorations, seating, activities, and food and beverage around the space. For many engagements, this is about nine to twelve months before the scheduled date of the wedding.

Flowers, catering, your cake, the color theme, number of guests, seating charts. The list goes on and on when it comes to wedding planning. For some, it can be far too overwhelming to attempt to deal with, even starting a year in advance with the planning. For this reason, wedding packages could be the perfect solution, neatly tying together everything that you would otherwise be scrambling for.

5 Tips for Hiring an Interior Decorator for Your Home

Interior design sedona

If you are thinking about redesigning your home, then you are going to want a good interior decorator to take over the design process. There are many designers that are potentially very good that you can hire but there are several things that you should look out for when it comes to your interior designer. Here are just a few of the things that a designer should have when they are going to have their hands in the look of your home.

Creativity
A designer needs to be able to think outside the box. If you can come up with all the ideas that they are throwing at you, yourself, then there’s no reason to be paying someone to do that. The ideas that they come up with should be creative and innovative and ground breaking. You want something that you would never think of in a million years but absolutely love. That’s how you know that you have found a good designer. When you look through their portfolio, their designs should speak to you about the type of person that was being designed for.

Flexible Financing
Having some redecorate your home can be expensive. If you are willing to pay for it, it can be a very convenient and amazing service. However, not everyone can afford to pay for something like that up front. A good decorator wants to make sure that they are able to accommodate everyone and that each and every person has the ability to be able to redecorate and make their home into what they want it to be. This means that they should have some sort of financial planning and payment system available for people who can not pay up front. They might even have some sort of system worked out so that they work on a pro bono basis at times, however this is not a requirement to be a good decorator.

Honesty
This is the number one most important factor. They need to be able to be honest with you about everything from ideas that you have that aren’t any good to prices of certain materials. If you and your decorator can’t be honest with one another then there isn’t going to be able trust between the two of you and if you have nothing else, you have to have trust. Without trust, you won’t be able to have a good experience having someone else decorate your home.

Accessibility
This means that they need to be approachable as well as accessible. You should be able to call them at any time about your home and you should feel like you can. The problem with many decorators is that they make their clients feel like their ideas or requests are no good or unreasonable and that makes them feel unable to talk to their decorators about their likes and dislikes of certain things and then they don’t end up liking the finished product. Not only is this bad for the customer, themselves because they don’t like their home but it doesn’t do any good for the decorator because they won’t get good referrals.

Understanding
A good decorator understands that they are entering the most sacred and vulnerable area of a person’s house. They want their home to reflect their family, their values and their personalities. If they are going to have their home decorated for them, they know that it’s not going to be what they would do; that’s the whole point of it but they don’t want it to be so outside of the realm of preference that it looks like someone else lives there all together.

Having someone come in and redo your home takes a good amount of trust and understanding. You are literally inviting someone into your house and letting them do what they want. Of course, they should be consulting you throughout the process but for all intents and purposes, you are letting someone else have a free for all within the walls of your own home. That’s why you want to make sure that the designer has all of the above characteristics or abilities before you let them come into your home and do what they want to it.

5 Great Tips for First Time Home Buyers

Linn county homes oregon

Are you looking at houses listed for sale and just can’t decide where to start? If you are looking to buy a home it can be overwhelming. All of the choices in the real estate market today are just so seemingly wonderful then unless you are a professional, you may not know which ones are going to work for you. But, there is something that can help you look for houses listed for sale who knows what they are doing; a realtor! There are many benefits to using a real estate agent when you are trying to buy a home. Here are some of those advantages:

They’ve got the hook ups
One of the biggest advantages to using a realtor is that they actually have access to houses that are not yet on the market. You have a list in which you can see houses listed for sale, but they have other places that they can look and they often have access to homes for sale before they become open to the public market. This means that you will have first pick of the best houses before anyone else is able to even view them. If you like the place and put in an offer, you may never have to deal with the rest of the public if the owner accepts your offer.

They’ve got the knowledge
They know what they’re doing. Especially if you are a first time buyer, you don’t really know what you are getting yourself into. This means that you are prone to make a lot of mistakes and end up paying too much for too little. However, a realtor will be able to help you make the right decisions regarding what you want from a home. They’ll also know the proper channels to go through and the procedures that you’ll have to follow in order to make sure that the house you are looking at is a good buy.

They’ve got the persistence
Sometimes you have to be a little bit of a shark to be able to buy a home. Once you put in an offer, your realtor can be your advocate to the seller. They’ll know how and when to go about being persistent and when to sit back and wait. They’ll also know how to get you to the top of the list so that the seller notices your bid over others. Prices are always negotiable which always requires someone to be persistent in getting their offer through.

They’ve got good advice
If you get a real estate agent that has been in the business for a long time then you’ll be able to ask them pretty much anything regarding the process and they’ll know the answer. And if they don’t know the answer then they’ll know where to look for it. Your realtor isn’t just there to find you a house, they are there to give advice and make sure that you make your dreams a reality, however that can happen.

They’ve got connections
If you find a real estate agent that you like, then you will likely be able to talk to them and get referrals for an investor and inspectors that are also needed at different points int he process. They usually work with the same people because they have learned to trust them and their work. If you trust your realtor, then you can trust their connections.

Buying a house is a huge step in the right direction especially if you are first time home buyer, It really shows maturity and that you are growing up and going somewhere in life. The first time you buy a home, you will feel so accomplished with what you are getting yourself into. The feeling of knowing that you are paying into your future is so wonderful. That’s why you need to make sure that when you are looking at houses listed for sale that you find the right one for you. Now remember that the right one for you may not be the right one for someone else so trust your instincts and your real estate agent to help you make the right choices. This is not something that you want to regret doing.

Are You Looking for a Commercial Contractor?

Pole barns

You have decided to use nothing but commercial contractors from now on.
After the disaster that occurred with the small residential company that was supposed to be replacing your garage door, you have now decided that finding a way onto the schedule of commercial contractors in the area is the best decision.
The garage door project should have been pretty simple. Instead, the small business contractors that you hired for the job turned the simple task into a major ordeal. After a few months of dealing with the garage door that seemed to creak and squeal every time that you opened or closed it, the real problem became evident. Two small creases in the metal finally cracked open and you realized that a couple of small dents in the door had turned into a bigger problem.
Your husband got an estimate from two local construction teams and he simply selected the one with the lower bid. On the scheduled work day, a lone construction worker showed up at your door. You opened the garage door, helped him move a few things out of the way. You had, out of curiosity walked out into the garage a couple of times. On those occasions everything seemed to be going fine.
When you heard the garage door opening and closing you assumed the project was nearly complete. When a few minutes later the contractor knocked on the garage door you simply assumed you would be paying the bill and he would be on his way. Instead., after nearly three hours of work the contractor indicated that he needed to show you something. The garage door opener was smoking and the worker indicated that he would not be able to complete the project. He was not sure if the smoking and now broken garage door opener was the result of him testing the door, but now that it was not working he would have to send someone else out to give a bid on finishing the project.
Three days later, when the outside temperature dropped to the single digits, you called the original company and explained that the project needed to be completed. Because the garage door opener was not worker, the original installer had used a bolt lock to keep the door closed. When your husband tried to unbolt it he quickly found that the large spring was so tight the door flew out of his hand and up onto the rails. Unfortunately, when the garage door was bolted closed it was two inches shy of meeting the concrete floor. This allowed the cold winds to make their ways straight through the garage and was making the kitchen noticeably colder.
Is It Time to Upgrade the Garage Door at Your House?
After listening to excuses about how the needed garage door opener was back ordered, the contractor explained that you were the first on the list to get one when they arrived. As you demanded that this was an unacceptable answer, you reminded the contractor that two days ago you had a working garage door opener, and a garage door that you could both use and shut. It had two creases, but it worked. Now as the temperatures were falling you found yourself with a door that would not close completely or open safely open and you were forced to park your van outside. In complete frustration, you took matters into your own hands and called a commercial contractor, ordered an industrial quality opener and had that commercial contractor come install it.
Problem solved. Lesson learned.
Even if t a residential contractor is available, some times the decision to go with a commercial contractor is a better idea. Repairs and improvements to a home should be considered an investment in the house’s value. In fact, homeowners spend an average between 1% and 4% of a home?s value a year on maintenance and repairs. This means that for a $200,000 home a homeowner should budget at least $2,000 in repairs every year. This amount obviously increases as the house ages. A quality metal garage door is a perfect example of an investment that will help your home maintain its value. The best homeowners use quality contractors to fix problems, like garage doors and garage openers, as they occur.