Home Improvement Tip for Week of November 15

Old man Winter will soon be tapping at your window. Are you ready for the cold, winter months? See what's needed to weatherize and better insulate your home. Check our home insulation page.

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Home Remodeling Article

The Home Fireplace

Add Warmth, Style and Value to Your Home

There is something indescribably comforting about a fireplace. When considered alongside the dramatic advantages in heat efficiency and home resale value, installing a fireplace may be the ideal home renovation project. Although it used to be the case that fireplaces were only for appearance and occasional use, innovations in energy and cost efficiency have changed the role of the modern fireplace. In spite of these changes in design and construction, fireplaces continue to provide the same warmth and décor that they have for centuries.

What's Your Style

Today's fireplaces can be specifically designed to fit the style of any room, and they can use a variety of fuels. The three most common types of fireplaces are wood-burning, gas, and electric. Wood fireplaces are the classic option, with an aesthetic appeal that comes only with roaring flames leaping from real wood logs. Gas fireplaces can be made to look like real burning wood, but they run on either natural gas or propane. Gas systems burn cleanly and are much more convenient than wood-burning models. Finally, electric fireplaces have advanced to the point that they look real and produce levels of heat similar to natural fires. They can simply be plugged in and turned on with little hassle.

Making the Right Investment

When choosing between these three options, it is very important to consider the space limitations, desired heat output, and your own dedication to the fire-building process. For example, if you don't have a chimney, an electric unit is a good choice. If you don't want to have to buy and split wood, gas may be the way to go. With any of these options, a fireplace adds unparalleled comfort, style, and value to your home.

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• fireplace designs and ideas

Home Remodeling Article

The Beauty and Ease of Exterior Siding

Your home's exterior siding provides essential protection against the elements, extending the life of your home and keeping it safe and strong throughout all types of weather. But it does more than that.

A home's exterior siding is its skin, and it should give your home the best appearance possible. For homeowners in certain climates, siding can cover the majority of the exterior of a home. This exterior is the best chance a home has at looking beautiful, and there are many choices available.

Homeowners have many exterior siding options to choose from:

• Wood
• Vinyl
• Aluminum
• Stucco
• Steel

Maintaining Your Home's Exterior

Each of these exterior siding materials needs to be maintained in order to look its best. The good news is, most new siding options come with easy maintenance solutions that protect your budget as well as your home.

Some siding materials, like vinyl, are exceptionally easy to maintain, requiring almost no ongoing work at all. Vinyl siding should be cleaned regularly to protect against dirt and wear. Wood siding should be painted and sealed to protect against moisture.

Maintaining your home's siding means maintaining its beauty, and professional contractors are there to help. Hiring a contractor to install your home's siding is a good idea, to ensure the quality and longevity of your home's appearance. Contractors can help maintain siding, too, leaving you worry-free, and your home looking beautiful for years to come

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• doors and windows

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