Ice Dams on Your Roof: How to Prevent Them

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Ice dams cause some of nature’s most beautiful sights — icicles — but they also wreak havoc on your home. (DepositPhotos)

If you’re fortunate enough to live in the Sunbelt or some other balmy region, chances are you’ve never heard of — or at least experienced — ice dams.

I, on the other hand, live in New England, so every winter, ice dams are as common — and as welcoming — as frostbite and sub-zero temperatures.

That’s because ice dams can be problematic, destructive, and virtually impossible to remove once fully formed.

Ice dams on house in winter
Ice dams lead to icicles. (DepositPhotos)

Ice Dams: Beautiful, But Problematic

Ironically, ice dams are often responsible for one of the most beautiful and iconoclastic of all winter images: glistening crystal-clear icicles hanging from gutters and eaves.

Heck, even I marvel at the delicate beauty of icicles — but only when they’re hanging off someone else’s house.

So, what causes ice dams?

It all starts with a roof blanketed in snow. The snow layer sitting directly on the roof begins to melt, and water runs down the roof under the blanket of snow.

When the water hits the overhanging eave of the house, it begins to freeze. Some

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Home Decorating: Kitchen on a Budget

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Decorating a home can be a trying thing to do with the best of budgets. The fact that you do not happen to have large lots of money lying around however should not prevent you from having a lovely kitchen to call your own. The kitchen is after all, the heart of any home and you want this room to be one that invites everyone to come, congregate, and pitch in (one can always dream right?). This is the reason that you want your kitchen to shine above all other rooms in your home though. The kitchen should radiate warmth and home to all who enter.

Truthfully faucet trend speaking there are many things you can do in your kitchen that will greatly impact the overall look of your kitchen without changing anything structurally within your kitchen. If you have wallpaper, remove it and try paint. There are all kinds of great things you can do in the kitchen from plaster, which goes amazingly well in a kitchen, to faux finishes and textures, and glazes for added impact. The walls in the kitchen are your canvas and the world is at your disposal. Just remember to try to tie the …

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Natural Stone Cladding For your Exterior Ideas

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WHAT IS NATURAL STONE CLADDING?

Stone Cladding may be a thin layer of stone that’s applied to a building (or other structure) that’s not made up of stone. As such, stone cladding are often adhered to a concrete wall, bricks and other buildings. What makes this process easier is that the rear of every piece of stone is sawn to a flat mesh which will be easily installed onto the acceptable substrates.

Stone wall cladding brisbane is formed of thin slices of quarried natural stones from all round the world. After they’re taken out of the land, the stones are sliced into blocks and boulders. These are then manufactured and processed to become the products you buy .

Natural stone cladding and siding panels offers tons of versatility in design. Contemporary or formal, stone can assist in giving your home the added detail and interest you’re trying to find . Natural stone can add depth and interest without adding texture, as well. For more contemporary properties, a honed panel like this one can add architectural detail and interest that enhances the remainder of the lines on the property without contrast. Using natural stone doesn’t need to mean adding tons of …

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Re-roofing vs. Roof Replacement: How to Save Energy and Money

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Installing quality metal roofing now is a recession-proof investment that could last 50-plus years.

Thinking twice about renovating your home? It’s a common dilemma. You know your home needs updating and your roof needs replacement, but economic uncertainty freezes you from moving forward.

Unfortunately, homes don’t wait for recessions to end. Roofing wears out and severe weather strikes. So, there’s no time like the present to make smart improvements.

Consider these points before planning a major renovation.

Workers install new metal roofing over asphalt shingles
Re-roofing — installing a new roof over an existing one — is a cost-efficient alternative to roof replacement.

1. Know Your Options

Want to save money on utility bills? Re-roofing — that is, installing a new roof over an existing one — is a surefire way to do that.

Re-roofing with quality metal materials — those that are coated to increase energy efficiency — can save you up to 40 percent on annual heating and cooling costs.

Even basic, unpainted metal roofs reflect more solar radiation than asphalt roofs. But low-glare metal roofs with certain colors and coatings reflect mostly non-visible, infrared and ultraviolet rays. These produce the most heat and cause the most damage.

A common question is, “How much does

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How to Clean Brass That Has Tarnished

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You can remove years of tarnish from brass knobs with simple ingredients.

Some people can revive just about anything in their home, but feel stumped when they encounter one particular material. Want to learn how to clean brass? Then read on!

Have you ever wondered, “Does brass tarnish?” If so, you probably haven’t owned anything that’s brass!

This building material, which is made from copper and zinc, may be beautiful, durable and resist corrosion, but it eventually tarnishes, according to Popular Mechanics.

Fortunately, when that happens, there is a solution.

Here’s how to clean brass: Place 3/4 cup of lemon juice in a bowl, add 1/2 cup of baking soda, mix well and submerge the brass pieces.

After about 30 minutes, scrub each piece with a scouring sponge until it’s shiny. 

And that’s it!

You can file this under “We practice what we preach.” I used this recipe to clean tarnished brass cabinet knobs, and it worked beautifully.

Let us know how it goes for you in the comments below!  

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Roasted Pumpkin Seeds: How to Make This Delicious Treat

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Want a tasty fireside treat? Roast some pumpkin seeds — it’s easy! (DepositPhotos)

Whether you’re carving pumpkins or removing your fall decor, don’t forget that pumpkins are useful for more than their exterior. Roasted pumpkin seeds are a delicious — and healthy — fall treat!

“Pumpkin seeds … are rich in magnesium, which can aid in heart and bone health, lower blood pressure and even prevent migraines,” the American Heart Association’s website states.

Here’s the recipe for roasted pumpkin seeds:

  1. Scoop out the pumpkin’s seeds and place them in a bowl.
  2. Rinse the seeds to remove all the stringy goo. On that note, many people ask, “Should pumpkin seeds be soaked before roasting?” Not necessary! Just a little rinsing will do, but you can soak them for a few hours to refine the texture. Then spread them out on a towel to dry overnight.
  3. Toss the seeds in a bowl with a little melted butter and salt.
  4. Spread them in a single layer on a cookie sheet and bake at 300 degrees Fahrenheit, stirring occasionally, until they’re a nice golden brown. (This takes about 20 to 30 minutes, but keep an eye on them.)
  5. For variety, you can spice them
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