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Stephen Alberts

8 Ways Upgrade Your Backyard For Summer

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Warm weather has arrived and that means spending more time outdoors. Whether you’re hosting a party, relaxing on your back patio, or grilling out, it’s time to upgrade your backyard. Here are 8 ways to take your outdoor space to the next level.

Touch Up Your Fence.

Make time to touch up your fence. Hopefully, your fence just needs a simple cleaning, but if your fence is coming loose, missing rails, or has chipped pain, then you may want to get to work. If you don’t have the time, call a professional to take care of it for you.

Mood Lighting.

Lighting can transform a house into a home. When upgrading your backyard, lighting is an important factor to keep in mind. When you get the lighting just right, you will have a calm and comforting area. Incorporating a mixture of lighting types is the best way to create ambiance in your outdoor space. You need ambient lighting, task lighting, and accent lighting. Ambient lighting can be as simple as string lights or posts lights. Task lighting includes any pathway lights that are needed as well as security lights. Accent lighting can be achieved with small lights shining up onto the walls of your home. There are plenty of ways to upgrade your outdoor space using lights.

Declutter.

We understand how easy it can be for your backyard to become your secret storage unit. Take some time to go through the pile of bikes, toys, and gardening tools lingering in the corners of your backyard. Instead of relocating the junk, consider selling it or giving away what you no longer use. Neatly organize the rest in an appropriate place.

Care for Your Plants.

Time for some maintenance! Get rid of dead bushes, trim hanging limbs and overgrown shrubs, and pull up any weeds. We also recommend trimming your vines. Although vines can be pretty, they give insects and rodents easier access to your home. Remember to trim them regularly. Also, consider adding some liveliness to your backyard with a new flower bed. You could even add a vegetable or herb garden for some fresh, homegrown produce.

Install a Pathway.

Adding a pathway can be an attractive touch to your outdoor space. When done well, pathways can take an ordinary space and completely transform it. They also allow your guests to have a clear path through your backyard. Careful attention to detail at each turn is vital to creating wonderful landscaping for all to enjoy.

Clean up the Deck.

You can’t properly host guests without a clean deck. If you want to create an inviting space, then doing some deck maintenance is a must. Start by getting rid of any debris that has gathered over the last few months. Next, replace any rotten wood and sand your deck to help your guests avoid splinters. This also helps with the overall appearance. Finally, get rid of unwanted dirt by pressure washing the entire area. Cleaning up your desk may be one of the more time-consuming tasks, but it is also one of the most important. For more information on deck maintenance, cilck here.

Invest in Outdoor Furniture.

Is your outdoor furniture a little run down or outdated? Because furniture is important for optimal relaxation, consider upgrading! If you are looking to spend a minimal amount of money, there are always ways to revamp old furniture. Some options include white-washing, restaining, and reupholstering.

Add Water.

If you really want to make your backyard feel like a tropical getaway, incorporate water! Install a pond, add a fountain, or build a small waterfall. This will help your backyard space feel tranquil and welcoming.

Now’s the time to upgrade your backyard in time for summer! Don’t have the time? Give One Man & A Toolbox a call today. Whether it’s as quick as draping your string lights or more time consuming like cleaning up your deck, we’re ready to help. Contact us today for a quote or fill out the form below to request a service online.

10 Painting Tips You Need To Know

Although painting can be a completely daunting task, a fresh coat of paint can really transform your home. For a professional-looking paint job, you need to do exactly what the experts do. In order to simplify the process, check out these 10 painting tips.

Smooth Your Surface.

In order to end up with perfectly painted walls, you need to start with a smooth surface. The first step in your painting process is to sand your surface. Sanding levels spackle or patches, flattens out ridges around nail holes, and removes rough spots in your wall’s trim.

 Sand your walls from the baseboard all the way to the ceiling. We recommend using a fine-grit sanding paper on a sanding pole. Next sand horizontally along the baseboard and ceiling. Try to avoid putting a lot of pressure on the sanding pole. The sanding pole can flip and harm the wall.

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Purchase Quality Supplies.

When it comes to a quality paint job, don’t buy cheap brushes. The inexpensive plastic brush is not going to create a seamless look. Plus, the bristles will fall out. One of our favorite brushes to use is a 2 ½ inch angled brush. As far as paint, don’t cheap out there either. You want your paint to apply easily and be long lasting. When you purchase a quality paint, you’ll be able to wash away grubby stains without repainting. With quality paint brushes and paint, your entire job will be much simpler. If you need any recommendations, give a professional a call.

Protect Your Furniture.

This may seem obvious, but be sure to protect your furniture. If the furniture can’t be removed from the room, cover it! Move your furniture to the center of the room and cover it with plastic sheets. Tape the sheets around the bottom to keep them in place. This will keep your furniture free of paint splatters and dust from sanding.

Use A Primer.

You’ve filled your holes and patched your cracks, but if you paint directly over them you may run into some trouble. The compound will absorb the moisture out of the paint giving your wall a dull look. The spots will look different than the rest of the wall. This is why we recommend priming your wall before painting. Instead of white primes, try using a colored primer that is similar to the paint color you’ve chosen. Tinted primer helps cover existing color. Sometimes multiple layers of primer are necessary.

Tape Off Woodwork.

To avoid scraping paint off your woodwork at the end of your project, tape it off! Spend some time adhering tape to your woodwork before getting started. This will protect your woodwork from any paint bleeds. We recommend using the blue painter’s tape instead of masking tape. Masking tape can leave a sticky residue and a messy cleanup. Painter’s tape can be left for days and still easily peel off.

Get a Drop Cloth.

A bed sheet isn’t going to cut it. A thin sheet won’t protect your floor from splatters and spills seeding through to your floors. Plastic isn’t a good option either. The paint will stay wet for a long time and can easily end up on your shoes and get tracked through your home. The best option is canvas drop cloths. They aren’t slippery and they absorb paint splatters.

Paint One Wall At a Time.

You may be tempted to do all the corners and trim in a room first then go back to complete the rest of the wall. We do not recommend this method. If you take it one wall at a time you will create a more seamless look. This allows the brushed edges and rolled paint to blend together. When switching between brushing and rolling, make sure your paint and tools don’t dry out.

Scrape Your Windows.

It’s more than likely that you may end up with some paint on your windows. Once the paint dries, carefully scrape it off with a razor blade. The paint will easily peel off.

Wash Your Rollers.

No matter what kind of rollers you buy, you need to wash them before their first use. This will remove any fuzz that comes off as you’re painting. Wash them with water and a small amount of liquid soap. Run your hands along the rollers to pull off any loose fibers. You don’t need to wait for the rollers to dry before using them.

Wrap Your Rollers.

When you’re done painting for the day, soak your roller in paint and then tightly wrap it in a plastic bag. If you plan to paint again the next day, this will work. If it is going to be a while before you get back to the job, use the plastic bag to remove the roller so you avoid covering yourself in paint. You’ll want to use a new roller next time.

We know finding the time to tackles home projects is hard. We also know just how challenging it is to make your paint job look professionally done. Contact One Man & A Toolbox today for a quote or fill out the form below to request a service online.

Spring Cleaning – Home Maintenance Tips

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You’re ready for spring to arrive, but are you ready to refresh your house from top-to-bottom? It’s officially the time of the year to get started on some preventative home maintenance. Avoid the high bills later and start with this list of chores to get your home in tip-top shape.

Clean Your Gutters.

Have your gutters accumulated a concerning amount of debris? Or maybe you’ve noticed loose or leaky gutters? It’s typically recommended to clean out your gutter system at least twice a year. Your gutters play a vital role in directing rain away from your roof, walls, foundation, and landscape. It only makes sense to give your gutters some attention before the rainy spring season. Otherwise, you risk facing an expensive repair. Make sure downspouts drain away from the foundation of your home and are clear and free of debris. Don’t let your gutters go unnoticed!

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Inspect Your Roof.

Your roof is your home’s main protector from water damage, so don’t delay repairing spots that need fixing. The longer you wait to delay the repair, the higher the chance of water damage inside your home the next time a storm hits. Plus, the scorching summer sun can be damaging to your roof, so any shingles that are cracked, loose, or missing should be replaced.

Replace Air Filters.

We recommend replacing your home air filters once every 3 months. Besides the benefit of clean, fresh air, you can save your heat, ventilation and air-conditioning system some work. This will result in saving money as well.

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Clean Your Deck.

Now that spring is just around the corner, keeping your deck polished is key. Whether your deck serves as a place to relax or a place to host friends, you want it to be crisp and clean. Throughout winter, your deck may have started to appear worn out. Keep your deck looking good as new by giving it some care this spring. Learn more about deck maintenance here.

Check Your Driveway.

Has the winter weather been rough on your driveway? Put aside some time to take care of cracks in asphalt and concrete or to pressure wash any stains.

Touch Up Paint.

Check around your home for any peeling or cracked paint. A good paint job not only keeps your home looking nice, but will provide a protective layer to your wood. Keep your painted surfaces in good shape by scarping off any chipped or peeling paint and spot treating exposed surfaces.

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Seal Your Windows.

This is a great way to reduce your electric bill this spring and summer. Air leaking through small cracks can waste large amounts of energy and let hot air to creep in.

We recommend purchasing a high quality, clear caulking material and placing it on your window seals. For more information on how to conserve energy this summer, click here.

Stay on top of your home maintenance! Think you need some assistance taking care of your home repairs before spring? Don’t stress. Call One Man & A Toolbox today at 205-823-2111 or fill out the form below!