Monthly Archives: August 2011

How to Green your Electricity

Posted on by Bid Boomerang

The cost of electricity is going up, both in terms of money and environmental impact. As humans, there is no way around it, we HAVE to use electricity. Green initiatives seek to use less electricity, and find more efficient ways to use the electricity that cannot be spared.

Getting Started – Home Audit
If you are trying to green your electricity use, the first thing you’re going to want to do is audit yourself. A home energy audit is a way to inventory your home’s energy use and pinpoint where energy is lost and where it can be saved. You can hire a professional to do your energy audit, or you can do it yourself, but many utility companies offer home energy audits for free.

Simple Steps for Greener Electricity
We already know that electricity consumption is a must, but did you know that an estimated 15-40% of energy usage is behavior based? While there are many expensive and time-consuming ways to make your home greener, the first move you should make is to think about what you can control right now. Here are a few easy steps to less energy consumption:

1. Hang your clothes up to dry. This has the potential to cut down your home electric bill by 5% or up to $100 a year. It is a great way to reduce your personal impact, and set a good example for your neighbors.

2. Recharge small electronics with solar power. Your laptop, MP3 player, PDA, camera, cell phone, and handheld games can all be recharged with portable solar, which means that while your energy bill is going down, you will never find yourself looking for an outlet again.

3. Reduce Phantoms. Phantom power is the electricity your appliances use even then they aren’t turned on. Unfortunately, most appliances today are designed to run 24/7, even though they aren’t in use for the majority of that time. Because of this, you are using a lot more energy than you think. A great  way to fix this problem is to get a power strip that all of your appliances plug into so that you can easily shut off things like toasters, microwaves, DVD players, gaming consoles, etc. while they are not in use. Alternatively, you can simply unplug every electronic device that is not in use.

4. Buy CFL Light Bulbs.CFL bulbs produce the same amount of light as regular bulbs, but use a lot less energy. These bulbs may cost slightly more but they also last a lot longer and in the long run will save you a trip to the store, the time it takes to change your light bulb, and money.

5. Change your clothing seasonally. This may seem like a no-brainer, but many people don’t realize what an impact changing the clothing you wear in your home can have. In the winter time, wear a sweater and socks to stay warm instead of cranking up the heat. In the summer, wear fewer layers so that you don’t have to keep the air conditioner constantly running.

6. Turn off lights. Another no-brainer that people seem to forget, making it standard practice to turn off the lights as you leave a room and making sure all lights are off when you leave the house can really help with your energy bill.

Did You Know?
98% of US power comes from non-renewable sources
72% of US energy consumption is used indoors
51.7% of US power comes from coal

Get a bid from an electrician in Mesa AZ today to see how you can reduce energy costs.

The Right Interior Paint Colors for Your Home

Posted on by Bid Boomerang

Interior paint colors can be used to reflect your taste and showcase or downplay your home’s features. The color you choose can affect the mood of each room, so it’s really about what you want the room to feel like. But choosing a color doesn’t have to be overwhelming, here are a few tips on how to choose the best colors for your home.

Step 1 – Define your Home’s Color Palette.

paint palette

Buy a fan deck from your local paint store so that you can physically see all of the paint colors available. Using the fan deck, match up a paint color to each of the main objects in the room you are painting.  This could be furniture, paintings, accent pieces, or even curtains. If you’re feeling bold, you may want to take the predominant color from a favorite object in the room and base the palette on that. Use these colors to create a color palette that compliments your home.

Step 2 – Choose Colors that Work Together

matching colors

Use colors to join rooms together, always being careful to consider the sight lines in your home. The more connected your rooms are, the more alike each of their palettes should be to keep from creating discord. For example, you wouldn’t want to paint your master bedroom green and its adjoining bathroom purple. Instead, use colors that will work in harmony with one another.

Remember that while you may initially love a bold color on your walls, it’s likely that you will get tired of it before long. If there is a bold color that you really want to use, just use it as an accent. Using trendy colors can also date a room. To avoid this, try using neutral colors on the walls and reserving the bold colors for accents that can be more easily switched out (throw billows, artwork, and other decorations).

Step 3- Try Before you Buy

Buying paint samples and trying them out in each room can be time consuming and expensive. Before you buy anything, try using online software to help you visualize how your home will look. http://www.homestyler.com/ has design software that allows you to create floor plans, add furniture, and choose color options that compliment the overall look of your home.

Additionally, the ColorSmart software at http://www.behr.com/Behr/ allows you to choose colors and schemes, and even suggests complimentary colors to help you visualize what your home will look like.

Types of Landscaping Boarders

Posted on by Bid Boomerang

Landscape edging gives a finished look to your yard while keeping mulch and soil in and grass and gravel out.  It can also keep unwanted plants from invading your planting beds. But which type of edging is best? Deciding which type of landscape edging to use depends on your budget, time available, and your desired end result. You may also want to think about hiring a professional to do your landscaping in Mesa Arizona.

Wood Edging

wood edging landscap border
Wood is one of the most inexpensive types of edging, which also tends to make it one of the most popular. Because of its typical large size, it is best suited for large landscapes but it can also be cut to size or curved to shape. Wood edging is laid on top of the ground so it is suitable for keeping mulch in but because it doesn’t go below the surface, it doesn’t do much for preventing underground spreading of unwanted plants. Additionally, because wood is biodegradable, care must be taken to protect it from decomposition. However, it is important to use lumber that has not been treated around a garden bed because chemicals in treated wood can soak into the surrounding soil and affect your plants. Redwood, cypress, and cedar are all recommended for outdoor projects because they contain natural chemicals that make them resistant to rotting

Masonry Edging

masonry edging landscape border
Masonry edging includes brick, concrete, and rock, and is one of the most expensive types of edging. However, high durability and versatility justify the cost. Like wood, most types of masonry are designed to be lain on top of the ground, which may keep mulch in but it doesn’t keep underground-spreading plants out (if the purpose of the edging is to prevent such plants, edging must be at least 2 inches below the soil surface). Unwanted plants may also grow between the bricks. Fieldstone and flagstone are popular choices for garden paths, while natural stone is usually used for patios and walkways.

Metal Edging

metal edging landscaping border
Metal edging is relatively inexpensive but can be difficult to work with, which makes it best for projects where the land is flat and straight. It is preferred by professional landscapers because it is pliable, may be painted, and lasts forever. Because it is designed to be lain partially underground, metal edging is great for keeping mulch in and unwanted plants out. However, it is typically more utilitarian-looking than decorative and care must be taken not to bend or crease the metal because doing so will ruin it. Before installation take time to ensure the metal is free from sharp edges that may cause injury, especially to children and pets, and routinely check for sharp edges and signs of rust. Always replace as necessary.

Plastic Edging

plastic edging landscaping border
Plastic edging is available in hollow tubing, which is very similar visually to metal edging, and faux stone and brick styles. It is the most inexpensive type of edging and is easily bent and shaped, making it perfect for curved edges but a poor choice for designs with sharp edges. It is also relatively easy to install yourself and if it’s the type that’s dug into the ground, it does keep unwanted plants out. After installation, plastic edging must be securely anchored into the ground or it will slowly pop out of place and be difficult to reinstall.

Plants

landscaping plants
Plants can create a beautiful edging and allow landscapers to explore different color and style options. When choosing plants for edging keep cost in mind because it can add up quickly. If chosen correctly, a plant edging can create an inexpensive and beautiful edge, but it also requires a lot of upkeep and daily care. Plants will also occasionally need to be replaced.

Hardwood vs. Laminate Flooring

Posted on by Bid Boomerang

Choosing the right type of flooring for your home can be difficult. There are pros and cons to each that must be considered before making a final decision.

hardwood flooring Vs laminate flooring
Hardwood Laminate

Hardwood Pros

Repairs – While hardwood floors can be scratched, the scratches can be repaired easily by sanding out the imperfections and then refinishing the area. This means that hardwood has the potential to last much longer than laminate.

Maintenance – Hardwood floors are generally easy to maintain, as long as you remember that moisture causes them to warp and shift. The best way to avoid this is to only use cleaning products that are safe for wood floors, wipe up spills with a dry cloth and use a broom or vacuum, never a mop.

Go Green – Hardwood flooring is both renewable and recyclable so if you are someone who likes to help the environment, hardwood flooring might be the choice for you. While carpet and vinyl floors will eventually end up in a landfill, hardwood can be refinished and recycled.

Appearance – Hardwood is more natural-looking than laminate flooring because it is cut from natural wood, and each piece is different in appearance.

Increased value of home – it is estimated that hardwood flooring adds a 20-25% premium to your home.

Hardwood Cons

Price – Hardwood can cost twice as much as laminate flooring or more, depending on what type of tree it is harvested from.

Damage – Hardwood is more prone to water damage than laminate flooring, and is more susceptible to scratching, it is especially common for damage to occur in areas of the home with heavy traffic. However, the damage can be repaired (as opposed to laminate which must be replaced). Hardwood is also susceptible to sun damage and care should be taken to ensure direct sunlight is limited.

Laminate Pros

Price – Laminate flooring is made from composite wood pressed together at high temperatures. The image of hardwood covers the composite to form the laminate; this is why it is comparatively inexpensive.

Durability – Laminate wood flooring is more durable than hardwood because it is made from pressed wood. It is able to resist scratches, moisture, and wear and tear better than hardwood flooring. It is also much easier to clean and maintain because it doesn’t always have to be kept completely dry and doesn’t require wax or polish. However, when scratches and warping do occur, they are much more difficult to repair.

Coloring – Laminate flooring does not yellow or fade from sunlight or other elements.

Laminate cons

Appearance – Because laminate is made of paper printed with a high quality photographic image (usually of wood) each piece can end up looking exactly the same. In fact, probably the easiest way to tell whether a floor is made of hardwood or laminate is to take a close look at the grain.

Repair – laminate flooring does not repair easily. If your floor is made up of individual pieces that were snapped together during installation, you may be able to remove damaged pieces and replace them with new ones. However, depending on age, the new pieces may not match completely.

If you are considering repairing or replacing your wood or laminate floors, get competitive estimates from local flooring specialist in Mesa AZ. Fill out a bid request form and let the pros fight for your work.

Repair a Leaky Air Conditioning Duct in Just 4 Easy Steps

Posted on by Bid Boomerang

If the air duct in your air conditioner is leaking, your home will not be cooled as quickly. An air conditioner with a leaky air duct will force you to keep your ac unit running more than necessary which may leave you calling an ac repairman in the end. Also with temperatures this summer reaching record-highs, the cost of your electric bill will skyrocket. Additionally, dust particles and other contaminants can leak into the duct work and shorten the life of the air conditioning unit while causing allergies to flare up and possibly even illness. The good news is, if you can get to your ducts, you can fix them.

You will need: Spray adhesive, metal foil tape, a squeegee

Remember: Turn the unit off before you begin your work and be careful! This can be a
messy job.

1. Find the location of the damage

Solid ducts don’t usually get punctured in the middle, but instead come apart at the ends (where
they are joined to another section). If the duct is loose, push it into the connection.

2. Clean the Affected Area

Using a dry or damp cloth, wipe down the area where you will be working. It doesn’t have to be spotless, but your seal will be more durable if you get rid of dust and other particles.

3. Reattach the Duct

Apply a spray adhesive to the area where you are going to be placing the tape and give it a few minutes to get tacky. You should be able to use the duct’s existing tape by pressing it onto the spray adhesive.

4. Cover the Patch

Peel back the paper from the metal foil tape and use it to cover the area you have just glued. Use the squeegee to seal the metal foil tape onto the air duct, make sure there are no air pockets.

Wait a few hours for your work to dry and then turn the unit back on. Feel around the new patch and make sure air is no longer escaping.

Doing Electrical Work Yourself

Posted on by Bid Boomerang

If you think that changing the light bulb is “doing electrical work” then you may want to save installing a new garage door opener, and fitting the new chandelier for a professional electrician. The truth is that working with electricity can be very dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing.

It’s always good to step back and assess the situation before you hop in and start working on things. If it’s something you’ve never done before then it’s good to ask for help. If you have had experience with it in the past then there may not be anything wrong with you having a go at it this time around.

What if I’m Not Sure How Difficult the Project Will Be?

If you’re not sure about how difficult the project is going to be then its a good idea to seek professional opinion. Your first step may be to head to a hardware store and ask someone there who works in the electrical division. They will more than likely be able to give you a good idea of how much work your specific project will take.

If you’re the adventurous type then you’ll probably be satisfied with the 5 minute hardware shop tutorial, and head home to start tackling the project. Once in a while the short advice will suffice, but more often than not, you will end up making several trips to and from the store because something wasn’t the right size or perhaps you’ve come across a new obstacle.

I Don’t Have the Time To Do It Myself

If you are finding that you’re just too busy or you really don’t feel comfortable winging it through an electrical project then the best thing to do is hire an experienced electrician. With the help of Bid Boomerang you can submit the details of your project and have several electricians give you their bid. You can rest assured that the job will be done right the first time because all of our electrical contractors are prescreened for quality assurance.

Visit bidboomerang.com today to find an experienced electrician in Mesa AZ.

 

Choosing The Right House Paint

Posted on by Bid Boomerang

Finding the right color of paint for your home is only the first challenge. Once you’ve decided on a color then there are hundreds of brands to choose from. If you’re stuck trying to decide which color to go with then there are a few things you can do:

  • First you’ll want to do your best to narrow it down to 3-4 colors. If you have 30 potential colors you’re just going to make extra stress for yourself.
  • Next it’s smart to try painting a test strip. Put about one square foot of each color on the wall. By getting the colors up on the wall it can help you to better see the whole picture and get a feel for what you like the most.
  • Get as much light in the room as possible. It is important to see the room at its brightest when you are considering colors so that you don’t get something on the wall and have it look different unexpectedly.

What If I’m Not An Experienced Painter?

Everyone who has tried painting an entire room knows how time consuming it can be. The most time will be spent prepping the room. You’ll want to make sure that you tape everything off and cover any carpet areas with something like a tarp that you don’t mind getting dirty.

From there on out you will start to feel like you’re making more progress but keep in mind that painting takes years to get good at. The more you do it the easier it will get.

What If I Don’t Have Time to Paint?

If you’re schedule doesn’t allow much time for painting or if you just find it painfully tedious, then hiring a professional painter is the way to go. With their expertise you can rest assured that the job will be done right the first time so that you don’t have to waste money on extra paint or your personal time.

If you’re ready for some new house paint then Bid Boomerang can help you find a professional painter in Mesa AZ. We can get you several bids from prescreened quality painters. Let us do all the work so that you don’t have to.