Building an Eco-Friendly House 101: From Hiring a Contractor to Decor Styles

Building an Eco-Friendly House 101: From Hiring a Contractor to Decor Styles

Great architecture and clever design has always been on high demand, but what if now we can take the best practices of residential design and apply them with sustainability principles? Many local governments are supporting eco house designs and floor plans that allow homebuilders to use advanced construction technology and create sustainable and low-impact homes. Eco-friendly practices can be applied in a variety of ways – through reducing waste during the construction, choosing sustainable and locally sourced materials, or even orienting your home to make the most out of passive cooling and heating. If you want to make your new home more sustainable, here are some ideas to consider.

Designs that Reduce Energy Use

A well-designed home has many ways of reducing its dependence on coal-powered electricity. This may include increasing the natural light with skylights or highlight windows, using energy-efficient LED fixtures, as well as WELS rated water fixtures and hot water-saving systems. Also, no matter how sustainable your building materials, a larger home will always have a worse energy footprint. This doesn't mean you have to restrict yourself at all costs, just be more thoughtful about the space that is available and that you need. Planning your eco house design with your lifestyle in mind is probably the best way when shopping for the design.

Make Your Roof Cooler

The materials you use for the roof can make a huge difference in your homes energy dependence. You should choose a product that reflects the suns energy from the roof, cools faster at night, and holds less heat for less time. Slate, terra cotta, white tiles, and special reflecting membranes, as well as metal roofing, are often cited as popular eco-friendly options. They are typically more expensive upfront, but you’ll recoup those costs through energy savings. A living roof allows you to hold plants that grow on the roof to catch and filter rainwater while providing excellent insulation to your home. While these green roofs are nowadays mostly used in commercial buildings, they are suitable for residential roofs as well.

Choose an Optimum Insurance Package

Although sustainable homes are in many ways different from regular ones, they are still liable to more-less the same insurance obligations. Some argue that finding the right home insurance is even more important in passive homes, as the value of advanced products such as smart home technology, and even rooftop solar panels need to be covered. Much of the sustainable materials you’ll use inside are naturally-sourced, which are often neither fire-proof nor watertight. When shopping for the right insurance package for your passive home, choose a provider that allows you to tailor your policy to your needs and budget.

Apply Passive Design Principles

Passive design refers to a set of sustainable building measures that rely on local climate and site conditions to maintain a comfortable temperature at home. While in traditional homes about 40% of the household’s entire energy usage is dedicated to heating and cooling, with passive design principles, this amount can be reduced to almost zero. This means that first and foremost, careful attention is given to the home’s position and orientation. In the southern hemisphere, eco houses designs and floorplans make most of the north aspect, harnessing the power of the sun. While in the summer this can be moderated with various shadings and overhangs, in winter this orientation allows deep sun penetration. To keep inside temperatures more stable, homeowners might use elements of higher thermal insulation, such as double- or triple-glazed windows, or natural cross-ventilation.

Use Sustainable Materials

To build and furnish a more sustainable home, you should consider materials that are recyclable, reconstituted, or sustainably harvested/produced. Aluminum takes a lot of energy to produce but can be recycled over and over again. It’s important to extend the sustainable theme beyond the construction and make sure that every part of your house including cabinets, counters, insulation, floor covering, and even furniture is environmentally friendly. Some eco-conscious furniture manufacturers use reclaimed or recycled wood, glass, and iron. Wood is a popular reclaimed material as it retains its durability over the years even if mishandled. Other sustainable materials include bamboo, cork, and linoleum, all of which are natural, highly-renewable materials.

By their very nature, homes aren’t very environmentally friendly – a lot of energy is wasted in hauling the materials to the site, not to mention the construction waste, and all the industrial-grade materials that go into an average home. However, each of us can make an impact and minimize our footprint by using design, products, and practices that are sustainable, and created with water and energy saving in mind while reducing wastage and pollution.

Guest Contributor, Tracy Clayton

Make Plumbing More Eco-Friendly With These New Technologies

Make Plumbing More Eco-Friendly With These New Technologies

As all of the world’s industries tend to shift to a more eco-friendly approach, it is logical to expect that plumbing jumps on the “green train” too.

Besides the obvious benefits for the environment, greener technologies are in high demand. So if you’re a plumber, working with them will give you a competitive edge over companies who don’t.

On the other hand, if you’re a homeowner who wants to reduce their energy costs and carbon footprint, you too will like what you’re about to read.

Today, I’m going to discuss how you can make plumbing greener and why you should do it. If this is something that you might be interested in, please, read on.

The Benefits of Greener Plumbing

In this section, I’m going to try to explain just how exactly can optimized plumbing be good for the environment.

You see, new technologies in this field focus on two interconnected things: energy efficiency and reduced water consumption. What many folks don’t realize is that using less water also means using less electricity or gas, which is a great way to cut one’s energy bills. However, there is another, more significant impact of green plumbing. As fossil fuels are required for water processing and delivery, reducing the amount of water we use will automatically lower the usage of the fuels that we extract from the Earth. To sum up, eco-friendly plumbing means less energy use, which results in lower bills and reduced fossil fuel expenditure. It is a win-win situation for you and the planet.

The Leading Green Plumbing Technologies of 2019

Now that you’ve realized the value that greener plumbing could provide you with it’s time to check out some of the latest technologies that plumbers use to achieve this goal. Let’s put those wrenches to good use!

Optimized Sprinklers

It is impossible to imagine having a green and enjoyable yard without a sprinkler system, so you know just how important these things are. However, sprinklers use up a lot of water, and the new technologies aim to change that. The new systems are all about efficiency, and they manage to use less water due to their optimized water delivery methods designed in a way that’ll spread water more evenly across your lawn. As I’ve mentioned earlier, this decreases your water and energy bills and has a positive impact on the environment.

Solar-powered Water Heaters

This is a big one, as all of us need large amounts of hot water every single day. In case you haven’t known, standard water heaters use up quite a lot of electricity, and solar- powered heaters are the polar opposite. The latter presents one of the most energy-efficient technologies utilized by plumbers today. To be frank, some parts of the world do not get a lot of sun, except maybe in the summer, so they might not experience great benefits from these systems. However, those who live in warm and sunny places should not think twice about using solar energy to heat up their water.

Water Heating Without a Tank

The usual water heaters with a storage tank require a lot more energy than their tankless counterparts. As a matter of fact, some estimates have shown that, in the long run, tankless heaters could lower energy use for more than 30%. This is a huge number, and although installing these systems is more expensive than going for a traditional tank, it pays off. If you want to know how they work, these systems use a device called a heat exchanger to provide your home with hot running water, thus removing the need for water storage.

Recycling of Greywater

Take a moment to think about how much greywater you produce every day. Now imagine if all that water could be recycled and repurposed, instead of just going down the drain. Well, this can be done with some of the latest plumbing technologies. Water from our showers, sinks, and appliances doesn’t contain as many dangerous bacteria as the water from the toilet, so it doesn’t require a lot of treatment to be suitable for reuse. Sounds great, right? It sure is, and the only problem with these systems is pinpointing the exact cost, as it depends on a lot of factors.

Conclusion

As you can see, you have a lot of options on how to use up less water in your household and become more responsible towards our planet. Having all four systems installed right away might be too much of a financial hit for some, but I’m sure that most of the readers could start with at least one. Like I mentioned earlier, these might seem like big investments in the beginning, but be absolutely certain that they will all pay off in the long run.

About Ethan: Ethan Johnson is a mechanical engineer with a passion for all things DIY. He is the mastermind behind Manoffamily.com, a blog that’s going to teach you anything you want to know about home renovation, woodworking, gardening and more.

Guest Contributor, Ethan Johnson

Life-Changing Upgrades for Your Old Home

Life-Changing Upgrades for Your Old Home

There’s no denying that older homes have their own charm and character that makes them attractive to a wide range of buyers. However, they often come with a number of issues that need to be tackled in order to be kept practical, functional, and more importantly, safe. Some problems may pose minor inconveniences or slightly affect the cost of your monthly utilities. On the other hand, serious issues such as aging pipes, leaking roofs, bad repairs, or outdated wiring are just accidents waiting to happen. While tackling both major and minor issues is a must, it’s important to prioritize. Here’s a list of four life-changing upgrades that will make your home look and feel as good as new while also saving you money in the long run.

Updating the old and dated plumbing

The thing about old homes is that they were built using materials that aren’t used nowadays or the pipe system isn’t configured in the most optimal way. Some materials that were used in the past may even cause harm (e.g. lead pipes that were used to carry waste from the house) which calls for modern and safe replacements. Also, to be able to meet modern-day building codes, vents need to be installed near drains, which usually isn’t the case with old homes. To prevent any plumbing disaster from causing damage to your household (and making a dent in your wallet), be sure to update the old, out-of-date plumbing as soon as possible. Rely on experienced, licensed professionals to do the work properly and ensure your plumbing is modernized and brought up to date.

Having your roof repaired

Having a roof over your head is a necessity, but what’s even more important is keeping that roof functional. There is no point in upgrading your interiors if the old, worn-out roof fails and destroys all the items you’ve invested your hard-earned money into. Roofs, like all things, have their lifespan, and it’s important to keep them up-to-date in order to get the most out of them. Extreme weather changes that are more apparent in countries like Australia have many homeowners updating their roofs to ensure durability and resilience, with many turning to experts for roof repairs in Sydney as a way of providing a safe structure for themselves. With the help of these roof specialists, they manage to preserve the existing structure for years to come.

Bringing your insulation up to date

Another important aspect of functional home is proper insulation. Heat loss during colder months translates to higher utility bills, which is why you need to bring insulation of your old home up to date and into the 21st century. Old houses often have unfinished or unconditioned attics, so consider laying insulation batts and combine them with blown-in cellulose insulation for maximum effectiveness. If there is a basement, you can use the same method to insulate the floors above. By applying the same insulating technique on the stud bays of the floor joists, you’ll ensure your floors feel more comfortable throughout the year.

Upgrading old windows and doors with energy-efficient ones

In addition to insulating the attic and the floors, some other areas that may require insulation are doors and windows. Old ones often leak air and the result is cold air sweeping through the house, thus increasing your heating bill. Not only will you have to pay more, but you will also be letting in moisture as well as uninvited guests and critters through these uninsulated spaces. Upgrading your old windows and doors with energy-efficient ones will help save some money during heating and cooling seasons, but you can also try weatherstripping, re-caulking, or applying window film to draught-proof your existing doors and windows.

Charming, quirky period details and attractive, rich architecture – there are many reasons why many people fall in love with pre-war homes and decide to move into one. However, there are a couple of nuisances that come with moving into an old house, but if you manage to resolve these issues effectively, not only will you be able to trim the costs of living in an old home, but you’ll also help bring it up to standards needed for a modern lifestyle while still preserving a piece of history, which is in itself priceless.

 Guest Contributor, Chloe Taylor

Building Your First Home: The Essentials

Building Your First Home: The Essentials

Since the real estate market is currently not quite blossoming, many people actually decide to build their first home rather than buy it. Aside from the fact that this enables them to flat out create a house of their dreams it also allows them to choose the materials their new house is going to be built from, among other things.

That being said, building your first home is no easy job. Aside from making sure that you have the necessary budget for the project you also need to ensure that you’ve picked the right area, contractors and materials. With that in mind, let’s see what the essentials of building your first house are.

The budget

As mentioned earlier, you need to ensure that you have enough resources to see your project through before you actually get down to organizing it. This will require you to do some thorough research and try to find out the estimated prices of things your budget will need to cover. Chances are that you probably won’t have that amount of money stacked and ready to go, which means that you will most likely need to find some alternative budgeting options. This will probably require you to apply for a loan which means that you’ll also need to ensure that your credit history and credit score are healthy and optimal.

The location

Aside from securing the funds, you will also need to find the perfect location. First, you should check out all the available pieces of land and see which location suits you best. Here, you should assess how far away you’d be living from your job/your kids’ school if you were to build your home at a particular location. This will help you significantly with the elimination process. Another thing that can help you when choosing a piece of land is how much work will it require in order to connect your home on the water and electricity grid. The more work the piece of land requires pre-building, the more expensive the project will be, so keep that in mind as well.

The contractors

The contractors you choose for the job also play a huge role in this type of projects. By ensuring that you’ve found the best possible fit for the task at hand, not only will you guarantee quicker and more seamless completion but you’ll also ensure that everything’s done the way it was originally intended. With that in mind, in some countries, such as Australia, hiring different contractors for different parts of the project is actually quite a common practice. That’s why so many Aussies chose to hire professionals in Sydney Commercial Carpentry when building their homes to ensure that all their desires are being met – and sometimes even exceeded – and all the right materials are being used.

The materials

Finally, when it comes to choosing the right materials, the majority of homeowners want to ensure that they’ve gone green and sustainable as much as possible. It’s important to mention here that if green and sustainable is your goal as well, aside from looking at the material’s stats and traits, you should also see where it is from. What this means is that while bamboo, for instance, is a very sustainable material, the place it originates from is Asia. So, when you account for the distance it needs to travel to get to you, it will actually lose quite a bit of sustainability. That’s why it would be best to focus on finding salvaged and locally-sourced materials for your building project.

These were just the essentials of a house building project you should keep in mind when building your first home.  Aside from them, make sure you think ahead of time when deciding on particular features, layout and similar things because who knows? The fact that you’re building your first house doesn’t have to mean that you’re also building your forever home. So, consider including some popular elements in your house design that will boost your property’s value and make it more appealing to potential buyers if you ever decide to sell it.

 Guest Contributor, Diana Smith

Modern Decor That Will Bring Life to Your Traditional Home

Modern Decor That Will Bring Life to Your Traditional Home

Living in a traditional home can be a very comforting experience to a degree. Just think about it: everything seems old like a relic from a bygone era and for those who are nostalgic that can be a very calming and relaxing experience. Yet, in order to make life more comfortable, sometimes traditional homes need to be upgraded. If you’re currently living in a traditional home and you’re looking to make it more modern, here are some tips that will show you how to do it:

Add some bold colors

Traditional homes aren't known for having boldly colored decor pieces or furniture. Instead, homeowners tend to prefer neutral colors that are easy to match with the rest of the home. If they do experiment with colors, they usually like to incorporate them into textiles and fabrics used for sofas and bed covers, mostly. Therefore, if you’re looking to revamp your old home, make sure to add furniture pieces that are yellow, bright green, purple or even turquoise, as that will be a great way to add some life to your traditionally-designed space. In case you don’t like vibrant colors that much, you can still stick to pastel tones as the main design theme, while bold colors can be used to make your place more exuberant. Painting a room white or beige can look very classy, but remember that adding colorful paintings or modern plants in minimalist pots will transform your home for the better.

Have some clean areas

A lot of modern home design is about minimalism, so if you have too many antique furniture pieces or other decor items at your home, make sure to declutter the space to make it more breathable. Now, that doesn’t mean you have to get rid of all the valuable items and family heirlooms, but always make sure to have at least one clean area in each room, so your house will feel more like a home, and not like a museum or an antique store. Besides, decluttering the place will give you more room to experiment with modern design options. Having too many furniture pieces or decor items will make the home look too crowded and dark which is something you should definitely stay away from.

Details are important

Having a silver vase or a nicely framed painting from your local artist will surely make your home feel more contemporary. Similarly, you can also hang your favourite movie posters or even frame record covers instead of more traditional wall art. This will add a modern vibe to your place even if you decide to keep everything else traditional. Besides, having a vibrant tribal rug will make your home look more boho-chic without losing its original charm. Additionally, you can also incorporate old decor items such as candle holders with something more up-to-date, like silver or glass cube vases.

Update what’s old

The best way to blend traditional and contemporary is to make your home more eclectic and colorful. For example, replacing the old fireplace with the modern one will ensure you a similar vibe and happy moments in front of the fire, but without struggling to get the firewood to keep yourself warm. Also, keeping your old elegant sofa is fine, as long as you opt for modern pillows or even decide to change the fabrics of the furniture into something more current. When it comes to kitchen and bathroom, you can keep the old styles, but make sure to fix everything that’s old and run down, and replace all the appliances and furniture with something that is easy to use. A lot of brands sell modern kitchen appliances that look vintage, so if you prefer traditional kitchen design, there’s no need to compromise anymore.

Living in a traditional home can bring a lot of joy to you and your family. Just keep in mind that, in order to make it work, you need to replace or at least fix everything that’s not functioning anymore. Additionally, playing with various decor styles and contrasting old and new will surely infuse your home with a unique and eclectic atmosphere.

Guest Contributor, Tracey Clayton

Common Home Emergencies and How to Deal with Them

Common Home Emergencies and How to Deal with Them

Every homeowner faces a few home emergencies that end up in expenses and repairs. This happens regardless of how well maintained your home is. Therefore, it’s best to be prepared for them as much as you can be prepared for an unexpected repair.

There are two main components of such preparations. Firstly, you need to have some money put aside to be sure you could purchase spare parts or hire a professional to make the repairs for you. Secondly, every homeowner should know how to do a few basic repairs quickly and have the proper tools to do so.

A power blackout

There’s not that much that you can do to prevent a blackout since it’s usually a problem with the power grid. That’s why it’s best to prepare for a blackout by preparing the supplies that you’ll use while the power is out.

If this happens every once in a while, you might want to invest in a generator that will keep your home powered through the blackout. The emergency kit for a blackout should artificial lights, some water and food, a supply of medication, and a way to communicate with emergency services.

A blocked toilet

A blocked toilet is one of those unpleasant emergencies that you need to react quickly upon without waiting for the professional to come and to make actual repairs. The first step to fixing a blocked toilet is to shut down the water supply coming to it. That will prevent the toilet from overflowing and give you time to make actual repairs.

This is where it’s best to call the plumber to help you out since it might require you to take out a pipe to remove the clog within it.

Small fires

It’s crucial to be prepared for small fires, especially if you live in a large city such as Sydney. That often means that you need to alert the authorities right away since it might be difficult to evacuate quickly.  It’s best to hire an electrician from Northern Beaches to install a small smoke detector. This is useful in the most sensitive parts of the home such as the kitchen.

It’s also useful for a home to have a small fire extinguisher and for you to learn how to use it before it’s ever needed.

Damaged roof

A damaged roof is probably the most serious emergency on our list and it will require a rather costly repair. Things are made even more difficult if the leak happens during the winter when you need to close it right away.

The best way to go is to inspect the roof on a regular basis. You may need to rent scaffolding and inspect the roof for damage or leaks at the start of every season. It’s easier if you catch the problem before it starts damaging your ceiling or requires the whole roof to be replaced.

Water leaks

Water leaks aren’t that big of a problem to fix, but they can be rather complicated to find or even notice. It’s usually noticed only when you figure out that your water bills are getting higher or that you’re losing water pressure somewhere in the house. 

When you notice the problem in the first place, it’s best to cut off the water for the whole home to avoid the waste. That’s where you need to hire a plumber to replace the busted pipe and install a new one.

Small home emergencies happen regardless of how well maintained your home is. That means you need to take the time to prepare for them, to avoid unnecessary expenses.

Guest Contributor, Diana Smith

Bathroom Design: How to Make It Warm and Welcoming

Bathroom Design: How to Make It Warm and Welcoming

Even though it’s probably the tiniest room in your home, the bathroom still deserves a ton of attention. Every bathroom needs to be as warm and welcoming as possible, and if that’s the atmosphere you’d like to create as well, here are a few design tips you should follow.

Use stone tile

Even though most people prefer ceramic tile when redoing their bathroom, you can always explore different ideas as well. Stone tile is one of these ideas, and it could easily turn into one of the best ideas you’ve ever had.

Incorporating stone tile into your bathroom might seem a bit strange at first, but if you do it right, this is a project that will make your bathroom the nicest and cosiest space in your home. Still, don’t forget that stone has its pros and cons, so check out all these features before you start incorporating stone tile into your bathroom.

Explore wood

This is a controversial decision not all homeowners are going to support, but the reason is still unknown. We’re all afraid that wood won’t work well in wet and moist environments, but the truth is quite the opposite. If properly protected, wooden furniture and décor pieces can be easily incorporated into your bathroom and stay there for years and even decades.

You can add a wooden vanity and mix it with the aforementioned stone tile, contrasting the colours and textures of these two materials. You can even add a tiny stool or a table, especially if you’re lucky enough to have a massive bathroom. Finally, you can add small decorating pieces made of wood, taking the entire design of your bathroom to a whole new level in just a few easy steps.

Add a rug

Speaking of unusual solutions that actually work better than you’d think, here’s another idea you need to look into. Yes, adding a rug to your bathroom may seem strange at first, but if you give this idea a thought, you’ll realise that’s actually an amazing way to introduce a new dose of cosiness to this space.

Still, not just any rug will do, and you need to make sure the rugs you choose are comfortable, warm, and visually appealing. You might look into some comfy rugs, as those offered by Miss Amara NZ, as these are made from high-quality natural materials, feature amazing designs, and are great for your bathroom. Keep in mind that having a rug in your bathroom will help you feel better all year long, especially during those freezing winter nights.

Try out new materials

No matter where you live and what kind of a bathroom you have, the chances are it will be packed with the same materials as every other bathroom in the world. Ceramic, metal, steel, and chrome are so common nowadays that you can rarely see a bathroom without all of these. But, what if you used other materials instead?

Copper, golden, and brass details could make your bathroom special, while still remaining as practical and functional as those old school choices. What’s even better is that these elements will help you turn different parts of your bathroom into focal points, which is something all bathrooms deserve. With local rent reports like this showing us that the prices are on a slight decline, landlords can also implement such solutions to make their properties more attractive to potential tenants.   

Install in-floor heating

If you want to make your bathroom warmer than before, this is the right way to do it – literally! Installing an in-floor heating system is something all homeowners should consider, no matter where they live, how old their home is, and how big their bathrooms are.

These systems come with a number of benefits – from practicality to easy maintenance, and everything in between – and the best thing is that you can install them on your own. It may take some time, energy, and patience, but it’s definitely worth the investment you’ll make, particularly in the winter and fall.

Just because your bathroom is not large, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take care of it. This is particularly important if you’re one of those people who spend considerable time in the bathroom, getting ready for their day and relaxing before going to sleep. So, show this space all the love and attention in the world, turning it into a warm and welcoming area where you can relax and take your mind off everyday problems.

Guest Contributor, Lillian Connors

How to Make Your Bathroom Look Expensive

How to Make Your Bathroom Look Expensive

Your decorating budget doesn't have to be big to create a luxurious bathroom. If you know how to match and contrast colours, if you are the master of accessories and you know how lighting can bring the best out of existing features, you can spice things up without breaking the bank. Here are the most effective ideas.

Inexpensive luxuries

Although not many bathrooms feature specialised seating, having one is indispensable for larger families. Instead of perching on the side of the bath, bring in a classy stool that you and your partner can both use, while a pair of upcycled garden chairs can prevent kids from fighting at the sink when the toothbrush time comes. Swapping boring bath mats with Persian rugs, or custom linoleum patchwork doesn’t cost much, especially since it saves you from having to replace the old tile floor.

Nature indoors

If you couldn’t make those luscious ferns and philodendrons take root in the dry, air-conditioned environment of your home, keep in mind that they will thrive in the bathroom. Tropical plants trailing down from windowsills can spruce up the element of luxury in any bathroom, while bundles of eucalyptus branches, exposed to shower steam, release the plant's natural therapeutic oils. If you're aiming for a clean and classic hotel finish, consider potted orchids, which also thrive in humid, low-light conditions. Even a few well-placed succulents like aloe can bring a sense of vitality to your bath space.

Mirrors and lights

Have you ever wondered why everyone looks better in hotel bathroom mirrors? It all boils down to lighting. If you illuminate mirrors evenly on both sides, you can eliminate shadows. You can use rather rectangular wall lamps or hanging brass bulbs. If you have a penchant for glowy, low-lit, spaces swap simple bulbs for recessed LED lights hidden in alcoves or behind opaque bath panels. Although at the end of a stressful day nothing really beats a relaxing bath under candle lights but instead of a modern mood lighting considers soft, dimmable floor spotlights.

Black and white

Reinvent your bathroom with a classical and striking noir palette by choosing black and white elements, accessories and fixtures. Classy black soap dispensers, tumblers, and dishes are a great inexpensive way to accent your décor. Even bathroom appliances can help you with this décor idea since manufacturers of best washing machines today offer their front and top loaders in black or white colour schemes. If you don’t know where to start, chose a remarkable black or white centrepiece such as a freestanding stone bath with a contemporary curving design.

Neutral wainscoting

Even a simple change like painting the wainscoting a neutral colour other than white can change the mood of your bathroom completely, from nursing white to luxurious. Nowhere does it say that wainscoting and beadboard must be white. For such a painting project, first, you'll want to sample the new colours. Use a piece of wainscoting or trim to try out the colours, so you can move it around the bathroom to get a look at different lighting angles.

Scents and essences

Use essential oils, scented soaps, and multi-layered shampoos to replicate the feeling of being pampered and relaxed while staying in a luxury hotel spa. Transform the boring shower routine into a multi-sensory experience. Give your hair a full spa treatment using products made of natural ingredients, like rosemary, cucumber or green tea. This way, every shower will have the additional benefit of improving your mood.

The bathroom is often cited as the most expensive room in the house to renovate, second perhaps only to the kitchen. However, you don't have to gut everything to make your baths space feel expensive. Most of the ideas listed here are budget-friendly and easy to restore, which makes them ideal for homeowners who are renting.

Guest Contributor, Diana Smith

A Plumber's Guide: What Your Address Says About Your Business

 A Plumber's Guide: What Your Address Says About Your Business

The plumbing industry is booming. Some reports have found that in the United States, the number of working plumbers has increased by 1.7% over the past five years, which has resulted in $110 billion in revenue. Even greater news is that the plumbing industry is expected to continue to perform well through 2026, with an expected 16% potential growth. 

But, as with any booming and growing industry, competition is fierce and reports estimate that no individual plumbing company accounts for more than 1% of the entire industry’s revenue. In order to stand out from the competition, you need to make sure that you have a strong business strategy in place. 

This strategy should include elements such as knowing your niche, specializing in certain types of properties, marketing your services correctly, having a logo, having a business card, actively engage on social media, and have a clear lead generation and sales process in place. For the purpose of this guide, we will focus on what your address says about your plumbing business and how the right address can significantly improve your marketing and sales efforts. 

The Importance of a Business Address

In business, as in life, first impressions matter. In today’s digitally connected world, your first impression is your online presence, which should provide potential clients with all the relevant information about your business.

If your business address is not listed, it’s listed in a residential area, or it’s somewhere people aren’t familiar with,  potential clients might question the legitimacy of your company. Potential clients could think that your plumbing services are a side gig, therefore that you’re not a professional, or they might be skeptical about sharing their private information (such as home address and phone number) if all they find is a name and an address in a neighborhood they’re unfamiliar with. 

This is why having a professional business address is key to plumbing business success. 

But a Business Address is Expensive…

Yes. But it doesn’t have to be. A virtual office for plumbers could enable you to have access to a renowned business address, as well as a place to meet with clients, workspace, access to business tools and resources (printing, faxing, copying, secretarial support, customer service support, etc.). The great news? Virtual offices come at a fraction of the cost, which means you can significantly reduce your overhead costs and instead use the funds to buy equipment, invest in marketing, create your website, etc. 

Not only can a virtual office help you with the above, but it can also come in handy when you’re applying for a plumbing license, contractor license, and plumbing permit. Keep in mind that oftentimes, these certifications require specific documentation, including a business address. While some organizations accept residential addresses or P.O. Box addresses, some don’t.

Your Business Address and Marketing + Sales

To be successful today, it’s imperative that you have an online presence. This doesn’t just mean having active social media profiles, but making sure that your plumbing business shows up at the top of the page when people search for plumbing services in Google. 

One way to improve your chances of being ranked higher is by registering your business in Google My Business. What Google My Business does is that it puts your company on Google Maps, and it’s especially useful for local searches. If someone in your town or city searches for a plumber, by including good SEO you will be the top of the list and most likely to be called.

Ranking higher on search engine searches means that more people are likely to visit your website, which can translate into more leads and, therefore, more sales.

More than that, a renowned business address can go a long way in establishing trust and a sense of legitimacy with potential and existing clients. It also adds some privacy to your life, as you won’t be receiving any business mail in your home address, but rather through a virtual office. 

Conclusion

There’s a lot of potential and opportunities for growth in the plumbing industry. As you’re setting up or growing your plumbing business, try to take advantage of the available tools and resources you can leverage to reduce expenses, increase your exposure, and make a good impression. 

Plumbers need to have a professional and positive image if they want to attract new clients. Keep in mind that clients are inviting you into their homes or offices, and they want to make sure that whomever they’re hiring is legitimate and trustworthy. 

If you want to make a good impression from the get go, have a professional business address in an area people are familiar with. So, what can your address say about your plumbing business? It can say that you’re running a  legitimate and trustworthy operation, or it can say the exact opposite. 

Guest Contributor, Mat Calica

4 Factors That Make All the Difference in Your Bathroom Remodel

4 Factors That Make All the Difference in Your Bathroom Remodel

Usually, when talking about bathroom remodels, people tend to think that it simply can’t be done without a lot of patience and a huge budget in place. However, this is not always the case. The fact is that you can completely change the look of your bathroom on a budget if that is the only change you wish to make.

On the other hand, if you are looking to conduct a more elaborate remodeling project you will need to set aside a hefty sum. So, depending on what you wish to achieve with your bathroom you will need to calculate the budget accordingly. With that in mind, here are some factors you should consider beforehand to make the remodel go as smoothly and as stress-free as possible.

Know what you want

Before you actually start hiring contractors left and right and start browsing various stores in search of the items you wish to incorporate into your new bathroom, you should first decide what you want to achieve with your bathroom remodel. If it is only a new look, you are going for the entire remodeling project shouldn’t last too long or require too big of a budget. However, if you are planning on completely relocating your existing plumbing and drains, do know that it will cost you much more and it will require appropriate funds. So, make sure you determine exactly what you want to achieve before you move on to the next step.

Determine the budget accordingly

As mentioned, in order to determine the budget, you need to first define the scope of the project. If you are just changing a few things up in order to bring in a breath of fresh air to your bathroom you can easily focus solely on the cost of a new paint job, some new fixtures and a couple of new décor pieces. However, if you are looking for more elaborate plumbing upgrades, make sure you account not only for the estimated price of the project but the contingency as well. With projects like these, things can easily go wrong or you may even come across an issue you didn’t even know was there so you need to make sure that you are financially ready to cover anything that might come your way.

Know how you want to achieve it

Once you have clearly defined your project, decide how you want to proceed further. If upping the style of your bathroom is the only thing you are interested in, turn to ever-so-fashionable Aussies for some inspiration. To up the style in their personal oases, many Aussies choose to incorporate a custom made vanity from Sydney in their bathrooms. Introducing such stunning yet simple pieces in any bathroom can easily elevate the style and pizzazz of the room to an entirely new level. On the other hand, if you are after bigger projects, you will have to clearly determine the order in which you want things to be done as well as the final goal you want to achieve in the space.

Come up with a plan and stick to it

Finally, once you have all the answers and you know how you want to approach the matter, it would be wise to come up with a game plan and stick to it as much as possible. While it is easy to change your mind mid-way about the new wall paint you wish to have in your bathroom, doing so when relocating plumbing and drains can not only be extremely expensive, but it can also significantly set back the entire project. Additionally, keep in mind that the contractors you have hired are usually working on a tight schedule, so making any bigger changes mid-project can even result in them not having enough time to finish the work in one go because they need to move on to their next client and the next project they are hired for. There are numerous mistakes you can easily make when remodeling your bathroom, so it would be wise to get familiar with them so that you can avoid making any of them.

Bathroom remodels are usually stressful for people because more often than not, they don’t really know what they want to achieve with the space. However, if you have a clear idea in mind, based on which you can estimate the necessary time and the average budget you will need to set aside, successfully finishing this project should be as easy as one, two, three. 

Guest Contributor, Chloe Taylor