After kitchens, bathrooms are the second most common remodeling job. This is easy to believe when you consider how much time we actually spend in the bathroom each day! Since bathrooms are designed to make us look and feel our best, it makes sense that we would spend the most time here and it would be one of our top priorities when it comes time to renovate. When asked why they decided to renovate their bathrooms, homeowners gave the following top reasons:
A surprising 90 percent of owners who started master bathroom renovations last year or will start renovations this year hired or will hire a professional to help. That's a whole 12 percent more than the year before! This is because taking on a project like this alone can be extremely overwhelming. When you enlist the help of a trusted professional, you can rest assured that the entire process will be as easy and enjoyable as possible. At the end of the day you'll have a beautiful new bathroom without the stress of having done it yourself. Take the first step in your renovation and contact us today to get a free estimate! 'Event Triggering Master Bathroom Renovations' graph and statistics from study were pulled from Houzz.com's informational article How People Upgrade Their Main Bathrooms And How Much They Spend.
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When considering the mountain of housework that's waiting to be finished for your spring cleaning this year, it's easy to get overwhelmed! Instead of trying to do everything all in one shot, skip the headaches and drudgery by categorizing cleaning chores into different categories, and then simply tackling each category on a different day. Whether doing one category a week or one a month, just choose the approach that works best for you! Your spring cleaning will be much more manageable and painless when you focus on one area at a time. Your home will be fresh, clean, sparkling, and airy when you've finished, and best of all, you won't feel exhausted and ready to drop when you're done! Category: Go Green Sift through all of your detergents, soaps, and cleaners and try to replace them with ecofriendly, healthier options. Cut up old T-shirts for rags, and use in place of paper towels. Use these new greener options while doing the rest of your spring cleaning. It'll be the freshest your house has ever been! See how many disposable items you can replace with reusable. Some ideas are glass water bottles, steel straws, cloth shopping bags, and cloth napkins. Open up windows if the weather is nice so your house can air out and refresh. Bring in an air purifier, and keep plenty of healthy houseplants to help maintain fresh, clean air. Category: Destroy Dust & Eliminate Clutter This category is perhaps the most satisfying one, as the results are easy to see when it's finished. It might be a good idea to enlist the help of your family. Have each family member declutter their own possessions if possible. This will leave you free to focus on the dusting and general decluttering. Try to call and schedule a pickup with a local charitable organization. The scheduled pickup will be a big help with keeping you on track. Tip: Don't cross "declutter" off of your list until the clutter has actually left the house. Use these steps when decluttering/dusting: 1.) Take everything out of the targeted area 2.) Vacuum/mop/dust space until it's absolutely sparkling and 3.) Only put back items that you want to keep. 15 Reasons To Get Rid Of Clutter Category: Kitchen For those who spend a lot of time in the kitchen, this is an important one. Once finished, your kitchen will feel refreshed and just like new! Start by going through spice racks and your food pantry. Remove foods/spices that haven't been used in a long time or that are expired. Wipe everything down. Clean those areas that are often missed - Inside the microwave, oven, and refrigerator. Wipe down kitchen walls, windows, and window sills. Grease can build up on cabinets, so use a "cabinet cream" to cut through dirt and leave the wood clean and moisturized. Clean stainless steel appliances with special cleaner to leave it smudge-free and shining. If you have time, you could also give your breakfast nook and dining area a once-over. This involves chairs and table legs, putting pads on the bottom of chairs to protect the floor, and dusting every corner of that room. You could also add an eye-catching centerpiece to the kitchen counters or dining room table like fresh blooms or succulents. Category: Deep Clean Put one day aside to really dive into the deep cleaning and send all dirt and germs packing! Some starters for your deep clean list are: 1.) Vacuum/wipe down hard-to-reach places 2.) Clean out dryer hose and vacuum inside lint trap 3.) Scrub grout in the kitchen and bath 4.) Scrub inside of garbage can/recycling bins 5.) Dust off light fixtures and 6.) Clean blinds. Category: Textiles For this category, focus on rugs, curtains, upholstery, shower curtains, washable slipcovers, and all other textiles you don't wash on a regular basis. When washing slipcovers, put them back on while they're still a little damp and they'll fit to the furniture better. Large room rugs and removable pillow covers should be taken in to get professionally cleaned. Rent a carpet cleaner or professional to clean wall-to-wall carpeting. Obtain a steam-cleaner that's safe for textiles to clean items like drapery and upholstery. Always spot-test first before diving in with the steam cleaner. Category: Exterior Scrub-Down As the weather starts warming up, take advantage of one of those warm days to really scrub down and spruce up the exterior of your house. Some ideas to get you started are 1.) Clean gutters and downspouts 2.) Wash windows (inside AND out) 3.) Hose down siding 4.) Retouch paint 5.) Stain the deck, and 6.) Deep clean patio furniture and cushions. You can also get a start on your gardening by sharpening and organizing garden tools, edging the lawn, mulching the flowerbeds, and starting some seeds indoors. So there you have it! Make your spring cleaning a little more manageable this year so that you emerge from it all feeling as fresh and vibrant as your newly-cleaned home. All it takes is a little bit of categorizing and a slightly spread-out cleaning schedule to make this the breeziest spring cleaning yet. In a perfect world, we’d be able to stay in our own homes as we reach our mature years. It’s usually quite a melancholy event when someone has to move out of their own home and into assisted living or with another family member because there are just too many obstacles and inconveniences in the way. What if I told you it’s entirely possible to stay in your own home as you age? What if I told you that you don’t have to move out of the place you built your life around and that you don't have to sacrifice your quality of life? Most people can stay in their own home, no matter their age or ability, as long as proper modifications have been made to meet their particular needs. The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) established the Certified Aging-In-Place Specialist (CAPS) program to address the growing number of consumers who will require these special home modifications. Certified Aging-in-Place Specialists have been extensively trained in market demographics, communication techniques, common remodeling projects, solutions to common barriers, aging-in-place home modifications, and the unique needs of the older adult population. CAPS program graduates are also required to maintain their designation by attending continuing education programs and/or participating in community service projects. At Michael's Homes, we now have specially trained Certified Aging-in-Place Specialists on staff to better meet your remodeling needs. “With this training and knowledge, we are able to help people to live safely, independently, and comfortably in their own home as they age. The changes we make enable them to live in their homes for a long time, and this brings peace of mind to the homeowner and their entire family. As a company, it’s exciting and rewarding for us to be able to do this.”
Here are some innovative improvements a CAPS graduate is able to offer:
Certified Aging-in-Place Specialists can alter any inconvenience or difficult obstacle until your home has been perfectly customized to fit your particular needs. Changes like added ramps, lowered counters, and stair lifts make a world of a difference when it comes to your quality of life. You’ve made it this far - you should be able to fully enjoy the golden years of life within the comfort, safety, and familiarity of your own home. Whether you are aging and wish to continue living independently in your own home, you require immediate life changes, or have ongoing predictable living needs, a CAPS professional will find a solution to every problem. Contact Michaels Homes today to get in touch with a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist and see what positive changes they can help you make in your life. When it comes to removing clutter from your home, the first step is always the hardest. It seems that it's easy to find almost anything else to do, and it's hard to find the "time" to dive into de-cluttering. All that's needed to get you going is a spark of motivation. That's where we come in. Here you'll find 15 excellent reasons that will get you started AND keep you motivated to maintain a lovely, serene, clutter-free home.
Well, what are you waiting for? Quit procrastinating and take steps today to make your life cleaner, simpler, and easier. You'll be so glad you took that first step to rid your home - and life - of clutter! So you're building or remodeling your home, but can't decide whether to go with painted or stained cabinets. Allow us to help! We've laid out a few pros and cons so that you can make a confident decision when it comes to your cabinets. Stained Cabinets Pro: Allow the natural beauty of the wood to show. A stain will beautifully enhance and add contrast to the whorls and grain that make your cabinets unique. Pro: Stained cabinets look very rustic, and will meld perfectly with that style of home. Pro: Touch-ups on stained cabinets tend to blend well into the wood, especially if it has a lot of grain. Finding a touch-up marker that closely matches your stain is typically pretty easy. Pro: Stained cabinets lend a warm, rich, luxurious feel to a room. Con: Medium density fiberboard cabinets don't take stain as well as they do paint. They are less-expensive cabinets, but staining them won't look as authentic as stained walnut cabinets, for example. Con: All of the wood's flaws (some call it character) are easily visible when you use a stain. While paint covers that up, a stain will enhance it. Painted Cabinets Pro: Painted cabinets give a rather crisp, clean, contemporary feel to a room. Pro: Paint sticks better to medium density fiberboard. You can cut cost on the actual cabinet. Pro: You're not limited to the color of the wood. With paint, you can customize your cabinets to whatever color you'd like. Pro: If painting your cabinets white, it'll really open up the area and make the room appear spacious, well-lit, and airy. Con: Paint tends to be more expensive. You'll have to decide if the added expense will work with your budget. Of course, you can always go with medium density fiberboard to combat the added cost. Con: Paint can be pretty tricky to touch-up. If your cabinets are bought pre-fabricated, it might be impossible to find an exact match in color. Also, if the manufacturer applied the paint by spraying, it'll be hard to perfectly blend the touch-up with the smooth finish. Brushed paint finishes are easier to touch up. So there you have it! Hopefully this article will help shed light on which direction you want to go with your cabinets. Contact the helpful staff at Michael's Homes if you have any further questions, or if you'd like to schedule a remodel today! Although mundane household tasks like laundry and cleaning can sometimes be put off for another day, an issue like household mold should always be taken seriously. Not only does mold cause considerable damage to your home, but it can cause serious health problems for your entire family! In this article, we’ll guide you through some of the basics of mold prevention and maintenance so you’ll never have to worry about it again. So how does mold form in the first place? Mold spores float through the air and eventually will come to rest on a damp surface. Over time the mold grows and eats away at the damp surface, causing substantial damage to your home. The damage doesn’t stop there though. Exposure to mold can also cause health symptoms like allergic reactions, asthma, and other respiratory complaints. So how do you know when to call a professional? The EPA recommends calling a Mold Remediation Expert when affected area is larger than 10 square feet (roughly 3x3 feet). If you’re extra sensitive to the spores though, even 1 square foot of mold might be too much for you to handle alone.
When mold buildup occurs on porous surfaces like ceiling tiles or carpets, you need to completely replace the affected area. It's impossible otherwise to entirely remove the mold, and you'll just end up with the same problem again. If an area like this has been affected, contact Michael's Homes today to schedule plans for a renovation. You'll be on your way to a mold-free home in no time at all! The key to control future mold growth is to control moisture. Do you have a leak or water problem? Find the source of moisture and fix it. Make sure your indoor humidity is at somewhere around 30-60% to decrease mold growth. Check bathrooms, laundry rooms, and other sources of moisture to ensure that they ventilate properly to the outside. Increase ventilation. Use air conditioners and de-humidifiers. Use exhaust fans when cooking, dishwashing, and cleaning. Prevent condensation on cold surfaces by adding insulation. These are a few proactive steps you can take to prevent future mold growth in your home. You've now got all the keys to permanently rid your home of mold. Use one of the DIY options mentioned above, contact Michael's Homes to schedule a renovation, or look up Mold Remediation Experts in your area. Don't risk your health and home by waiting too long. Get started today! NOTE: The Environmental Protection Agency advises wearing rubber gloves, goggles, and possibly an N-95 respirator to avoid breathing in mold spores while cleaning. The EPA also advises caution when using bleach or biocides since they can cause severe reactions in some people. The photo above was taken by Infrogmation and used under the terms of Creative Commons License 2.5. Do you have a roof leak that keeps coming back to haunt you no matter how many times you have had your roof repaired? If, during the winter months, you have icicles hanging from your roof, then those leaks are likely to be caused by ice dams. Those icicles hanging from the eaves may look beautiful, but they can be an indicator of serious damage being done to your home! Torn gutters, loose shingles, and persistent leaks are only the start. Peeling paint, warped floors, sagging ceilings, and mold & mildew infested insulation are sure to follow. Luckily, there's a fix that can solve your problem completely so you never have to deal with it again.
To understand what an ice dam is, you first need to understand how and why they form. Due to improper ventilation and insulation, heat collects in your attic and warms the roof everywhere except the eaves. The warmed roof melts snow which trickles down and freezes on the cold eaves. Ice continues to accumulate on the eaves, which eventually forms a dam. Melted water backs up behind the ice dam, flowing under the shingles and into your home. And thus, your resulting leak has been created. Now you know how the leak is happening, but how do you fix it? Getting up on your roof to hack away at the ice dam with a shovel, pick or chisel is one way, however this is dangerous for both you and your roof! Besides the obvious danger of slipping and falling, you're also likely to damage your roofing. Salting your roof is also a terrible idea. These are both short-term fixes anyway. The best long-term way to solve any problem is to fix the root cause. Ice dams are caused by improper ventilation and insulation, so that's where you need to start. By properly fixing the problem, you'll live worry-free for decades. Plus, you'll also have a more tightly insulated home, and that means lower home energy costs. Contact Michael's Homes today at 906-401-0575. Our qualified staff will be happy to asses your home and provide a no-obligation quote. Get started today! As immigrants arrived in the U.S. during the 1600s, they brought along their country's traditions. The Scandinavians who originally settled along the Delaware River around this time were no different. They brought a great tradition of their own: the sauna. Sauna is the only Finnish word in the English dictionary and it means bath, or bathhouse. It is pronounced SOW-NA (not SAW-NA). Today, the sauna culture is very prevalent in the Lake Superior region. This is especially true in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan with a concentration of sauna-goers in the Keweenaw Peninsula. Surprisingly, in the Great Lakes “Sauna Country”, cultural geographer, Matti Kaups, discovered that in some regions up to 90% of the people had saunas. Parts of Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa - home to large populations of Swedish and particularly Finnish Americans - have a large sauna culture as well. So where and when did this incredible tradition originate? The Sauna was invented in Finland, and has been a way of life there for over 2000 years. The first saunas were dug into embankments in the ground. A fire was kindled in a stone stove, and it was heated until the rocks were extremely hot. There were no chimneys in the earliest saunas. There was only a small air vent in the back wall. Smoke would fill the room as it was heating. It typically took half the day to heat the room to the desired temperature. Once the sauna was hot enough and the smoke cleared, bathers would enter, and sauna time would begin. Over time, the sauna’s walls would become black from smoke. That is where the name “savu” sauna comes from. "Savu" is the Finnish word for "smoke". The name sauna is actually thought to be a derivative of the word savuna, which means “in-smoke”. The original saunas evolved from smoky black dug-outs to the wide variety of sauna options that are available today. Wood, electricity, gas, and solar power can be used as heat sources. There are wet saunas, dry saunas, smoke saunas, steam saunas, and even those that work with infrared waves. Now viewed mainly as a recreational activity, there are a many old beliefs connected with the sauna. The Finnish word löyly can be translated as “sauna steam” and refers to the hot water vapor caused by throwing water on the hot rocks. In many languages related to Finnish, there is a word corresponding to löyly. The same approximate meaning is used across the Finnic languages including the Estonian word leil. This word meant “spirit” or “life” and it refers to the sauna’s old, spiritual essence. There is an old Finnish saying “saunassa ollaan ruin kirkossa,” which means, “one should behave in the sauna as in church.” Another old belief was that of the Saunatonttu. The Saunatonttu, which translates to English as “sauna elf”, is a little gnome or elf that was believed to live in the sauna. He was treated with much respect, or he would cause trouble otherwise. It was custom to occasionally warm up the sauna for the tonttu (Elf) or to leave food outside for him. It was believed that he would warn the people when fire threatened the sauna, or he would punish those who behaved improperly in it. Sleeping, playing games, arguing, and being generally noisy were considered immoral behavior in the sauna. The sauna was (and still is) an important part of daily life for Finns. 99% of Finns take at least one sauna a week, and the number goes up even higher when they visit their summer cottage in the countryside. Summers at the cottage tend to revolve around the sauna, and bathers use a nearby lake to jump in and cool off. Sauna temperatures usually range between 158 and 212 °F. This temperature range causes relaxation and promotes sweating, which cleanses impurities and toxins from the body. The Finns take a bundle of birch twigs with fresh leaves and gently slap the skin while in the sauna. This causes blood to rush to the surface of the skin and creates further stimulation of the pores and cells.
With all of these incredible benefits it comes as no surprise that after 360 years in America, the sauna has become an established tradition for many other Americans besides the Finns. And for obvious reasons! It's incredibly good for you, and it leaves you both feeling and looking better. All you have to do is occasionally lift your hand to splash some more water on the rocks. If you don't already have a sauna in your home, contact the staff at Michael's Homes today to add luxury, relaxation, and value to your life and home. Get started today and get in on one of the greatest Finnish traditions of all time!
Each year, Pantone, the world's official color authority, chooses a 'Color of the Year' that is symbolic of the current year's mood and culture. Conjuring up thoughts of fresh change, vibrancy, and lightheartedness, this year's color - Greenery - is a reminder for all of us to take a deep breath, relax, and rejuvenate.
If the thought of painting an entire room or wall seems like too much, try adding it as an accent color. A dresser, a side chair, pillows, curtains, or decorations are excellent choices. Even a simple plant can make a world of a difference by transforming a bland room into something vibrant and energized!
Similar hues such as Valspar's 'Mardi Gras Green' and Sherwin-Williams' 'Overt Green' are shown below as well. If you'd like to give new life to your home with a fresh coat of paint, a new backsplash, or a home addition; contact the helpful staff at Michael's Homes today by calling 906-401-0575. January is an excellent time for new beginnings. Start the year off right by protecting your home from cold weather, clearing out clutter, and planning out projects for the year ahead. Check out our essential winter project list below. By implementing a few of these ideas, you'll be far ahead by the time spring cleaning comes around. Hopefully, you'll be so far ahead that you'll be able to get outside and enjoy the nice weather that spring is sure to bring! 1. Protect your pipes from freezing. Why is this so important? Because frozen pipes will likely burst, and that can lead to painful headaches and very expensive repairs. Make sure all exposed outdoor pipes are securely insulated. If you're planning on being away from home, have a friend or neighbor check in from time to time, and make sure they run the water for a bit. Also, if you haven't already done so, be sure that you know where your home's water shut-off valve is so that if a pipe does burst, you can quickly shut it off. 2. Check all smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. With the risk that additional heater use and wood fires bring, now is a good time to go through and check all of your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Carefully test each device and replace the batteries immediately if needed. 3. Take preventative measures against ice dams. Ice dams are spots of accumulated ice that build up around your roof line, and can cause leaks when the backed up snow and ice behind begins to melt. You can avoid this by using a roof rake to periodically remove all snow. If you notice an ice dam beginning to form, be sure to break it up to avoid any damage. Ice dams are an indication of heat loss through your roof from either improper ventilation, inadequate insulation, or a combination of both. If excessive ice dams are an issue in your home, feel free to contact Michael's Homes for a no-cost assessment of the causes of your home's heat loss. 4. Clean out your pantry, refrigerator, & pantry. Who says you have to wait until the spring for a good cleaning? The post-holiday time is actually an ideal time to clean out food areas. Remove everything, wipe down and disinfect the shelves, throw out stale or expired foods, and revive your food supply. This is a great time of the year to do this, especially if you've made any health resolutions for the new year! 5. Clear clutter in your wardrobe and elsewhere around your home. Give your home and wardrobe a fresh start for the new year. Donate old clothes and items around the house that you no longer use. Get rid of "dust collectors" that no longer serve a useful purpose in your life. If the thought of decluttering your entire home at once is a bit overwhelming, start with one area at a time. Little steps will get you far. 6. Revitalize playrooms. If you have children, then this step is for you. Since so much of the winter is spent indoors, by the time January rolls around, your kids are starting to get bored with their daily routine. This is a great time to revitalize the playroom. Instead of television programs and electronic games, why not give them some new options for hands-on and creative play? There are so many simple, and inexpensive ways to liven up the playroom. Some options they might love are a chalkboard, tumbling mat, or a craft area. Simply painting one wall with chalkboard paint can turn a boring room into a kid's dream room. 7. Plan your next big home project. Whether you're thinking of remodeling the bathroom or kitchen, painting the exterior, or adding a new addition; take the next step on your upcoming home project. Figure out what exciting changes are in store for this year, and get in touch with the staff at Michael's Homes today to turn this dream into a reality. You'll be amazed at how simple and easy the process is!
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