Smaller bathrooms can find you standing by the sink with no place to set a razor or hair dryer, or to restock the weekly vitamin holder. Improve the situation with three replacement items that, as a bonus, will also refresh the room’s appearance. A bit of shopping and a day or two of work from an experienced remodeling contractor can achieve wonders. Here’s the magic formula:

• No storage doesn’t have to be a problem. Replace your mirror with a surface-mounted medicine cabinet as wide as your sink’s countertop. Depending on width, the cabinet can have one to three mirrored doors that hide shelves. Some even have built-in lights above the mirrors. Bonus: 3-door models provide side and rear views for styling your hair.
• Be careful with vanities. Pedestal sinks work best in bathrooms with plentiful storage. In small bathrooms, however, they steal storage space. Have your contractor build you a vanity if the space is odd-shaped; otherwise, ready-made ones come in many styles, widths, and prices. Some have countertops and built-in sinks. Some are footed cabinets, and others have recessed toe-kicks.
• Shelves are your friends. Add a lipped shelf on brackets over the toilet and one or two above the towel rack for open or bin storage of folded towels, bath toys, and bathroom hand appliances.

Is it time for a total roof overhaul?

Choose a durable, long-lasting option. Most asphalt shingle roofs have a lifespan of 15 to 20 years. Even if you aren’t currently experiencing problems with leaking or discoloration, houses in the same community are often built around the same time, so that if your neighbors’ roofs are reaching the end of their lifespan, yours could follow soon.

Slate, aluminum, steel, and clay roofs all have lifespans of 50-plus years, some lasting up to 200! Upfront cost never tells the whole story. Even though another asphalt shingle roof may seem like a steal per-square foot, when you account for energy inefficiency and the replacement costs in another 15 years, going with a more durable, longer-lasting roof can be a better financial decision as well as more environmentally sound.

As with any larger roofing project, finding a licensed, bonded, and insured contractor for the job is essential. Because of the heaviness of clay and slate, your roof may require additional reinforcement. The right contractor can help you with that decision and others. Find a pre-screened, certified roofer today. Because you come home to live under your roof every day, be sure to choose a material that looks great, is kind to the environment, keeps bills low, and lasts.

We all know that owning a home is a huge responsibility. As soon as one thing is fixed, something else breaks. There are also “the jobs” you can’t afford to put off.

Now that it’s summertime, you need to get started sealing up your home.

• Air seal the trim. The first step is air sealing the finish trim and enclosure around the attic hatch. Carefully pull down the finish trim. (Pray that the installer used finish nails and not, say, ring-shank nails.) Set aside the trim and, using caulk for smaller gaps (less than 1/4″) or foam sealant for larger ones, seal the gap between the attic hatch framing and the rough cut drywall.
• Apply a bead of caulk on the inside and outside edges of the trim, and then reattach it.
• Air seal the hatch perimeter. The plywood hatch rests on a small wood strip lip. The standard air sealing recommendation is to install a compression bulb weather-strip. This can also be beefed up to a sealing gasket like the one on your refrigerator door. Gaskets are generally more durable and produce a tighter seal.
• Insulate the hatch. Cut foam board to 1/2″ less than the size of the hatch on each side.
• Foil-faced polyiso is the greenest and best-performing of the rigid foam options. Apply a bead of foam-compatible glue to it and attach it to the plywood hatch. Wash, rinse and repeat until you have added at least 4 inches of foam (but preferably 8 inches + of foam).
• Fasteners. Add a handle and several hook-and-eye fasteners situated so that when the hatch is forcefully pulled down, it tightly compresses the gasket.

Just so you know, attic hatches are the start of house efficiency problems. They’re in plain sight but rarely addressed adequately. Insulate and air seal your attic hatch to save money and improve your house’s comfort.

Climbing a ladder is single-handedly one of the most dangerous things you can do. The Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that more than 500,000 people are rushed to emergency rooms for ladder accidents every year.

According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, of these 500,000 injuries, approximately 300 people die each year. Safety experts say ladders are one of the most dangerous tools in your shed. The number of injuries may be lowered however if homeowners would follow a few safety tips. For starters, always let someone know you will be working on a ladder. Also, make sure you always come down a ladder facing it. Never with your back to it. Next, inspect the ladder before stepping on the first rung, and make sure it has been well maintained. Lastly, when planting the base of any ladder, place your feet on a firm, level surface, not on rocks or boards.

Unfortunately, even after following these ladder safety tips, doctors say, homeowners are going to get injured. In fact, the number of emergency room visits from ladder injuries totals more than those for lawn mowers and home workshop saws combined. Bottom line, ladder accidents are serious, so the best advice is is to hire a pro for any job that requires a ladder. You’ll be glad you did!

Metal roofs are definitely gaining in popularity. Not only for businesses, but for homeowners as well. Here are a few reasons why many are ditching the traditional roof and going metal.

1. Metal roofs are lightweight.

2. Fireproof. Because it’s made of steel, metal roofs are incombustible and safe from exposure to airborne burning cinders. The patented interlocking fastening system prevents the panels from lifting and allowing blowing embers to ignite the roof deck.

3. Hail resistant. Metal roofs provide weatherproof performance with a hail stone warranty. In some states insurance carriers even offer a discount for installing a steel roof.

4. Extremely durable. Metal roofs do not absorb moisture and therefore have excellent compatibility with snow and ice. The strong, stone-coated steel panels have been tested in excess of 224 lbs per sq. before panel deformation occurs.

5. Green. Steel is 100% recyclable. There is little waste and it can be recycled an infinite number of times without degradation.

6. Good for resale. You can expect to save 10 to 20% on your homeowner’s insurance. Real estate professionals say metal roofs add value to houses listed for sale. The appearance, long life, fire resistance and transferable warranty are definite selling points.