Month: May 2020

Easy Ways to Refresh Your Home’s Front Entry

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Wooden house with red door and nice front entry
Your home’s exterior can look as good as new after some concrete resurfacing, pressure washing and mulching. (DepositPhotos)

Refreshing your home’s front entry doesn’t require tons of work or expense. These three simple changes can make a big impact.

Try them and your home will be the best-looking one on the block!

Repaired front porch with Quikrete Re-Cap
Refreshing your front entry starts with cleaning and updating the stoop or front porch.

1. Resurface a Concrete Stoop

Home improvement doesn’t have to cost a lot. Resurfacing a worn-out stoop is a great start toward completely transforming your home’s front entry.

Damaged front porch
An unsightly stoop isn’t very welcoming. Fortunately, there’s an easy fix.

This stoop has two problems: the surface is unsightly and has seen much better days, and the steps have lots of bricks with gaps.

Both these things are hurting the home’s curb appeal, but the situation goes beyond looks.

Gaps aren’t just unattractive; they also make the bricks difficult to walk on. Worse, they collect water, which can undermine the home’s foundation.

Giving concrete resurfacer a broom finish
Quikrete Re-Cap Concrete Resurfacer is easy to apply and the impact is instant.

Fortunately, the solution is simple: First, clean the stoop with a 3,500-psi pressure washer. Next, apply Quikrete Re-Cap Concrete Resurfacer

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5 Durable, Affordable Roof Options for a Detached Garage

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Asphalt shingle roof on a hunter green two-car garage
Consider your home’s roofing style and material before choosing a roof for your detached garage. (DepositPhotos)

Whether you use your detached garage for parking your car or you use it for storage, the entire structure needs to be able to protect what’s inside. This means the exterior needs to be in good condition.

If your garage’s roof is starting to age, it may be time to consider a new one.

While roofing isn’t the most affordable house material on the market, there are several garage roofing options that are both durable and budget-friendly, so you don’t have to choose between your wallet and providing protection for your garage.

Metal roof
Metal roofing’s style has evolved from its industrial origins. Options are available to match just about any home’s architecture.

1. Metal

When it comes to durability, you won’t get much better than metal. Comparing metal roofing with other materials, metal tiles give the longest-lasting, most durable roof for the cost.

You can expect to pay around $300 per square for the least expensive metal tiles — more decorative versions get pricey, at around $1,000 per square.

A metal roof will last up to 50 years or more. Keep in mind that

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How to Create Colorful Concrete Stools

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Painted concrete layered stools
These colorful concrete stools will make a great conversation piece for your backyard.

Mixing concrete and making something special brings me so much joy! These stained concrete stools are inexpensive, take a few hours over two days to make, and look great in the backyard.  

If you see this DIY project in your near future, here are my tips to make these beauties.

materials used to make concrete stools, pictured posed on a white backdrop
Before we begin, let’s make sure we have everything we’ll need.

Materials

  • Quikrete Countertop Mix
  • Quik-Tubes
  • 5-Gallon Buckets (3)
  • Drill with Mixing Paddle
  • 2 Chemical-Resistant Gloves
  • Rubber Mallet
  • Safety Glasses
  • Small Masonry Trowel
  • 60- or 80-Grit Sandpaper
  • Utility Knife with Sharp Blade
  • Tape Measure
  • Painter’s Tape
  • Paintbrush
  • Wooden Dowels (5/16 Inch)
  • Drill Bit — (5/16 Inch or 3/8 Inch)
  • Stain or Paint

Note: Wear pants, a long-sleeve shirt, safety glasses and gloves while working with concrete mix.

Chelsea Lipford Wolf measures a Quik-Tube before cutting it
This tip has never failed me: measure twice and cut once.

1. Measure Quik-Tubes

Quik-Tube Building Forms are the real MVPs of this project. In the old days (I’m told), you had to build wood forms for concrete column projects like fence posts and footings.

Thankfully, those days are gone! Now, we can just purchase these single-use, ridged-fiber forms from

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Is Samsung’s Washer Warranty Enough?

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Samsung washing machines displayed in the showroom of a commercial store. Household items Samsung brand exhibited for sale.
See what’s in Samsung’s washer warranty and whether you should purchase additional Samsung coverage or a home warranty. | Photo Credit: Shutterstock © Gabriel Pahontu

As a homeowner, you have to think about protecting your investment — including the systems and appliances in your house. There are different kinds of warranties available, but they aren’t all created equal.

A manufacturer’s warranty protects you from unexpected repair and replacement costs on a newly purchased appliance. A home warranty, however, can be purchased at any time and covers multiple major appliances and systems, protecting you and your budget from breakdowns and failures caused by everyday wear and tear.

We’ve conducted extensive research to determine the best warranty options for owners of Samsung washers, looking into plans offered, cost and customer ratings. Ultimately, we think going with a traditional home warranty provider is a better option than choosing a Samsung washer warranty. 

American Home Shield, one of the best home warranty companies, has several plans that cover washers along with many other appliances. 

Call 844-529-9298 or fill out this quick online form to find out about American Home Shield plans and get a free quote.

In This Article: 

Today’s Homeowner

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First American Home Warranty: Reviews, Cost, Coverage (2020)

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Custom built luxury house with nicely trimmed and landscaped front yard, lawn in a residential neighborhood. Vancouver Canada.
Learn more about First American Home Warranty and its coverage, costs and plans in this comprehensive review. | Shutterstock © romakoma

For apartment renters, it’s easy to rely on the property manager when something breaks, but as a homeowner, you are the one responsible for finding a good technician and covering the full repair cost.

A home warranty contract offsets the cost of repairs and replacements for covered appliances and systems most prone to damage, such as the air conditioning, oven and plumbing. Having a home warranty gives you peace of mind knowing that if something breaks, your service provider will handle the task of finding a technician and paying them for repairs.

Our team has researched and reviewed the best home warranty providers, including First American Home Warranty. When shopping for a home warranty, we recommend comparing quotes between several providers. In addition to First American, which is rated “Most Comprehensive Claim Coverage” by the research team, we’ll share some of our top-ranked providers below.

To get a quote from First American Home Warranty, call 833-777-0049 or fill out this quick online form.

In This Article: 

Today’s Homeowner works with an independent reviews team to create evidence-based

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Landmark Home Warranty: Reviews, Cost, Coverage (2020)

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Bright exterior of a custom home near Portland, Oregon
Learn more about Landmark Home Warranty and its coverage, costs and plans in this comprehensive review. | Photo Credit: Shutterstock © Reinhardt and Co

The American dream of owning a home isn’t cheap. Based on an analysis by Zillow and Thumbtack, homeowners should expect to spend about $9,390 a year on owning and maintaining a home. 

We can’t predict leaky pipes, electrical issues or roof damage. But these repairs can easily cost you hundreds to thousands of dollars per event. A home warranty policy offsets these repair costs. It’s an annual contract that includes coverage for important components of critical home systems and appliances.

When researching the best home warranty companies, our team reviewed a popular provider, Landmark Home Warranty, and evaluated the effectiveness of its warranty based on its plans, pricing, exclusions, coverage caps and more. 

If you don’t own a home in one of the six states Landmark covers, we recommend you try American Home Shield — an established home warranty provider that offers comprehensive and customizable service.

To get a free quote, call 844-529-9298, or fill out this online form.

In This Article:

Today’s Homeowner works with an independent reviews team to create

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