Massachusetts Gay and Lesbian Political Caucus

Building a Garage is Not a Weekend DIY Project

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Building a garage on your property may sound fairly easy, it is simply four walls, a roof and a door, but it is far more complicated than it looks from the outside. Unless you have years of experience in the construction industry building a garage is definitely not a weekend DIY project. That being said, you have probably also seen garage building kits that are supposed to make the project easy enough for anyone to do. They aren’t, you will still need to install trusses for the roof and pour the concrete slab for the foundation. You are much better off working with a contractor.

Designing Your Garage

As was said a garage can be a simple structure or it can be as elaborate as you like. The first thing you want to do is to put some plans together that has all of the amenities that you want in your garage. The style and roofing on the garage should blend with your home, along with all of the building materials. How many vehicles do you plan on storing there? Do you want to add in space for workbenches? What about windows or a regular sized door? All of these need to be considered in the design plans. Once you have that sorted out it is time to secure the right building permits from the municipality.

Building Your Garage

Plans are drawn up, building permits have been issued now it is time to start building. At this point your Phoenix garage builder will start cleaning the area and start excavating to lay the foundation. Once the area is excavated they will fill it with gravel and then compact it down, now it is time to set the form for the concrete and footings. Once the concrete is poured and dried it is time to start framing in the building and adding the roof. After all of that is set up then comes the plumbing, if need be and electricity. If you want windows installed they would be added now along with the garage doors. Lastly your contractor will fix up the interior of the garage, putting up all the interior walls and adding a coat of paint.

The purpose of your garage maybe to keep your car safe and secure but it can also add a great deal of value to your home. Garages have a plethora of uses from simply parking your car or creating a workshop.

December 20, 2020 0 comment

Home Improvement

3 Things You Should Know Before Building Your Custom Outdoor Kitchen

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One of the best ways to enjoy the summer months in your home is by having friends and family over for great food that comes from an outdoor kitchen. We’re not talking about a couple of hot dogs on the barbecue but a complete custom kitchen including an outdoor dining space. Outdoor kitchens run the gamut from a simple grill and dining area to an elaborate setup with a pizza oven, the sky really is the limit. Before you start designing all the hardscaping that will go into your outdoor kitchen there are 3 things you should know before building your custom outdoor kitchen.

The Grill is the Center of Everything

The grill is the center of everything, it is where you do your cooking and you want to get the best grill you can for your budget. You can get grills that use charcoal or that use gas, while charcoal may taste better gas is easier in the long run. Gas grills have less maintenance and you can connect them directly to your home connection. Here is a quick look at some of the grills and appliances you may want to add to your outdoor kitchen.

You Need Some Shade

The Florida sun gets HOT in the summertime and sitting out in the backyard in direct sunlight is just too much for most people. You want to work with the natural shade in your yard. Does your backyard get direct sunlight all day? Do you have trees in the yard that can offer shade? If not then you may want to consider some type of covered patio to block out the sun so that you can enjoy the space to the fullest.

Make Your Life Easier

The third thing you need to consider is how much maintenance are you going to have to put into your kitchen. Things like charcoal grills are more complicated to clean than a gas grill. Fabric furniture will need to be covered or brought inside when it rains…it rains in Florida A LOT. The landscaping will need to be maintained regularly and wooden decks will need to be pressure washed, stripped and refinished every couple of years. Those big elaborate outdoor kitchens you see on home improvement shows look absolutely stunning but what they don’t show is the amount of work that needs to be done to maintain them when the cameras aren’t rolling.

The residents of Florida are lucky enough to live somewhere that they can enjoy their yards all year round. You can see some of the nicest outdoor kitchens in Cape Coral. Contact a local designer to see what they can do with your space.

December 19, 2020 0 comment

Home Improvement

How the Value of a Home Increases with a Finished Basement

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Your home is the largest investment that you will ever make and it stands to reason that you want to maintain and even maximize the value of this investment. If you want your home to increase in value then making improvements will get the job done. Let’s look at how the value of a home increases with a finished basement.

Increase the Amount of Living Space

Even homeowners who aren’t looking at selling their home or maximum returns opt to finish their basements because it increases the amount of living space they have. If you have an average 2,500 square foot home then finishing the basement can add up to 2,000 square feet of usable space. Finishing all or even half of your basement increases the living space and thus the value of your home.

Increase the Number of Beds and Baths

The more bedrooms and bathrooms you have the more your home is worth, 3 bedroom homes are worth more than 2 and so on. More beds and baths can accommodate larger families and bedrooms can always be converted to office space. If you have enough space and you have to budget to do so then at the very least add a bathroom. If you can add a bedroom too that is even better, make sure the bedroom has a closet, otherwise it is just a room.

Add Some Rental Property

If you have enough space then you can convert your basement into a rental property. Having a 1,000 square feet is more than enough to build a one or even two bedroom apartment. Separate entrances make it a viable rental unit, otherwise it is just an in-law suite. While an in-law suite adds value it isn’t the same as a separate unit. This not only increases the value of the property but it adds cash flow every month.

Even if you don’t plan on selling your home in the near future it is still in your best interest to do what you can to increase the value of your home. It makes things like renegotiating your mortgage or getting home equity loans that much easier. Finishing the basement offers you one of the best returns for your renovation dollars. Not only does it improve your home you have additional space to accommodate your family. Imagine having an extra bathroom, no more fighting over who gets in the shower first in the morning. Speak with an Altanta Basement Contractor at basement finishing Atlanta to see what your options are.

December 18, 2020 0 comment

Dental

Managing Your Dental Emergency

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If you have a dental emergency the first call you make should be to your dentist’s office. Most dentist keep time in their schedules to deal with patient emergencies some even make arrangements to see patient after hours. For situations like broken teeth getting to the dentist right away can mean the difference between saving your tooth and losing it. What constitutes an emergency? What needs to be seen by a dentist right away and what can wait? Here are some tips on managing your dental emergency.

Toothaches

This is the most common reason patients head to the dentist, it is generally caused by an infection. If you try and ignore it it will only get worse until it becomes abscessed. You want to make an appointment with your dentist right away to get some antibiotics and you can follow up later in a few days and have the right procedure done. In the meantime you can manage the pain with some over the counter pain relief.

Broken or Chipped Teeth

Broken or chipped teeth happen fairly often to athletes who should have been wearing a mouth guard. Call your dentist right away, especially if you’re in pain or the tooth is sensitive to air or liquids. If you have to wait a day or two to see your dentist, keep an eye out for swelling in the gums around the tooth or the tooth itself getting darker. These symptoms can indicate that you have some nerve damage and you should call the dentist for an immediate appointment.

Teeth that Have Been Knocked Out

If you have had one of your permanent teeth knocked out you need to get to the nearest dentist right away, it is your best chance of saving your tooth. When searching for a dentist to assist you, it is best to search for an emergency dentist such as emergency dentist Tucson. These dentists or dental centers are specialized in providing an examination and determining the extent of the injury as well as what procedures are the best fit. If the dentist can get the tooth re-inserted within an hour it may be saved. In the meantime you want to put gauze in your mouth to stop the bleeding. If you have the tooth pick it up without touching the roots or you risk damaging it. Rinse the tooth with water to remove any dirt and try and put it back into the socket. If the tooth won’t stay in the socket you will need to keep it from drying out. Either hold it in your mouth until you get to the dentist or place it in milk until you reach the dentist.

Breaking Your Jaw

There is a good chance that if you break your jaw then you will damage your teeth but in this case your dentist is not your first call. Get yourself to the emergency room first. From there, depending on how serious the break is you will be referred to an oral surgeon who will stabilize your jaw and make recommendations for your dentist.

When it comes to dental emergencies the first thing you need to establish is whether it is an emergency and how it should be treated. From there you want to call Emergency Dentist Tucson and let them know you have an emergency so they can get you in as soon as possible.

December 16, 2020 0 comment