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Month: December 2020

Countertop, Tips For Redesigning Your Kitchen Countertops

If you’re renovating your kitchen, you’ll need to choose your countertops with care. There are many materials to consider, from marble to quartz to concrete. Should you be talking to granite installers san antonio, or should you be looking at other options? Keep these tips in mind as you work to redesign your kitchen.

Find Counters That Will Complement Your Kitchen

Whether you’re completely remodeling your kitchen or are simply installing new countertops, you’ll want to make sure you choose counters that fit in with the rest of your kitchen. Some materials are available in a wide range of finishes and colors. With other materials, your options will be more limited.

When you’re considering your options, you’ll want to look at the materials under different light conditions. Don’t just pay attention to how the counters look under the bright lights in a showroom. If possible, you’ll want to have a sample so that you can see how the counters will look under natural light.

Set A Budget

The options that are available to you will vary depending on how much you’re willing to spend. Granite is a popular options because it’s fairly affordable. Other materials, like marble, can be more costly.

Come up with a budget and explore the options that fall within that budget. While some materials might be out of your price range, it’s likely that there are other materials that will work for you. Take future costs, like the cost of resealing your counters, into account as well.

Learn More About the Upkeep Your Counters Will Need

Some countertop materials need more maintenance than others. You’ll want to make sure that you’re fully aware of the care your counters will need before you make an investment. You won’t want to invest in high-maintenance countertops if you won’t be able to provide your counters with the maintenance that they require.

Doing some research will allow you to find counters that are a good fit for your kitchen. It will also allow you to keep your counters looking great after they’re installed. New counters can be a big investment, which is why you’ll want to make sure you protect that investment.

Consider All Your Options

There’s no reason to limit yourself when you’re looking at kitchen counter materials. There’s a good reason that granite is one of the most popular materials on the market, but there are other excellent options as well.

Tile counters are a cost-effective option that’s seen a surge in popularity in recent years. Butcher block counters can look stunning in a farmhouse kitchen. If you look at many different materials, you’ll feel more confident about the choice you eventually make.

Decide On Your Counters Early On

If you’re renovating your kitchen, you won’t want to wait to choose your countertops. In fact, this should be one of the first decisions that you make. Once you’ve selected your counters, it will be easier for you to choose cabinets, a backsplash, and other elements.

Another reason to choose your countertops early on is that it’s likely to be one of your largest expenses. The cost per square foot will vary based on the material you choose, but you’ll still want to know how much you’re going to be spending. Selecting your counters right away can keep you from going over budget.

If you’re giving your kitchen a fresh new look, you’ll want to make sure you keep this advice in mind. Learn more about materials like quartz and granite and make the best decision for your kitchen. If you do choose granite countertops, make sure you work with some of the best granite installers in San Antonio.

Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, What is the most efficient way to run air conditioning?

Running the air conditioner during the hot summer months can cause the energy bills for your home to sky rocket. But it seems that the only alternative will be sweating profusely in the heat of summer. Fortunately, there are some ways that you can lower your expenses and save cash on your air conditioner or hvac.

Here are some of the things you can do to keep your bills low when using your air conditioner and enjoy an efficient summer.

Quit cooling the entire neighborhood

If your home is not built recently, it may have older insulation features that are not quite as effective. This can mean that the cold air from inside your home is getting outside through worn doors and window seals, poorly insulated attics, and other holes in the home.

To see how efficient the insulation in your home is you may consider signing up for an audit with a utility provider. A top-notch home energy rater can help you locate all the leaks in the home and show you how to improve the efficiency of your home.

If you would rather not go through the audit yourself, check the doors and windows yourself. When your air conditioner is running, check the outside of doors and windows. If you feel cool air is escaping this is where some insulation needs to be applied.

Make sure your thermostat is on the right wall

One of the most important things to check is that your thermostat is on the right wall. If your thermostat is on the wall across from a large window or right next to a window it may see a lot of heat and this will mean your air conditioner is flicking on very few minutes. This will greatly increase the costs of your energy bills spent on cooling your home.

Close the blinds

A window letting in the heat up the interior of your home. This can add increased strain on your air conditioner. For best results, consider dropping the blinds and closing the curtains to ward off some solar heat during the heat of the day. This can also keep the cool air inside from being lost.

Use a fan

Sometimes the best way to cool the home will be with a properly situated fan. You don’t always have to drop the thermostat way down to feel cooler, setting up a fan will help to keep the air circulating and this is often just as good. A good fan will make the room feel 10 degrees cooler and only use about 10% of the energy used by an air conditioner.

Don’t be afraid to start the cooling over

Some people think that it will be cheaper to just let the air conditioner run all day so that it will not have to cool the house again when you get back. But this is erroneous thinking. The best option is to shut the air conditioner off when you leave the house and turn it back on when you get back.

Setting low is a no-go

You will want to set your thermostat to the highest setting with which you will be comfortable if you hope to save money. Just the smallest reduction temperature can cost you a small fortune.

You can save a full 10% of your annual energy costs by adjusting your thermostat temperature by 10 to 15 degrees for a mere hours a day. Furthermore, the temperature 78°F is a pretty balmy climate by any one’s standards and according to the US Department of Energy this is the highest recommended indoor temperature for energy efficiency.