Every year many homeowners plan to spruce up their outdoor space, whether it’s a porch or patio, but get frustrated when it starts looking dull and boring. Well, master gardeners say don’t get frustrated. It’s all in how you utilize the unconventional and downright unusual to make striking container plantings. Everything doesn’t have to be new, instead think shabby chic.

• Get creative and make use of your unused fire pit. It makes the perfect home for a combination of plants including tropical ferns. The lid keeps the planted area shady.
• Another idea. Why not make use of old watering cans. Just drill drainage holes in the bottom, fill it with soil and add plants!
• Tom tom plants planted with ferns and placed in iron stands, add height and interest.
• Master gardeners recommend placing container plantings at various heights to add interest.
• Container plants don’t have to be confined to just the porch or patio. They add texture and visual interest almost anywhere in the landscape.
• Make new terra cotta pots look old and weathered by dipping them regularly in your water garden.

Good luck, and remember there are no rules in gardening. Just have fun!

It’s easy to diagnose a leaky roof when stains appear on your ceiling or walls, but it’s much more difficult to find the source. Unless shingles are missing or obviously damaged, the origination of the leak could be hidden as water might enter at one part of the roof and travel before finally soaking in. Even if you do locate the point of entry, deciding whether to replace the shingles or the roofing cement — or both — can often require the expertise of a contractor.

This time of year, as more rain sets in, leaks often appear. Even if you’ve undertaken the dangerous endeavor of using a roof rake or shoveling snow off your roof in mid-winter, melting snow and ice can still cause issues. Most commonly, leaks occur around vents and chimneys or some other area in the roof’s armor.

Making sure that all joints around vents and chimneys are completely sealed is essential. Finding a competent contractor to weather seal your roof can keep it free from further leaks for years to come. Find a certified, licensed roofer to start your project now. You don’t want to wait until a bad leak causes damage to your walls.

Home improvement experts say there are two ways to add instant value to your home. New siding and a new roof. First up, siding is responsible for protecting your home from the elements. It’s a tough job to say the least, and the appearance of many homes can easily be improved by replacing existing siding that has begun to show its age. Vinyl is very cost effective and will give your home an instant boost in curb appeal.

When it comes to outdoor remodeling projects, putting on a new roof is probably the most daunting. As the most important part of your home’s weatherproofing and insulation system, a good roof can save on heating and cooling bills; a bad roof installation, on the other hand, can lead to all kinds of headaches and repair bills down the road. Always check references when hiring a roofing company, and never pay the full cost of a roofing job up front.

Typically, your new roof’s durability is directly related with its cost. Asphalt is the most affordable and the quickest to wear out; tile and slate are the most durable and by far the most expensive. Metal falls somewhere in the middle; its quick installation, moderate price, and 40+ year life expectancy are making it a popular choice among homeowners who want a good balance of value and durability.

Summer is almost here, and believe it or not, now is a great time to insulate. An adequate amount of insulation will keep your home cool in the summer and warm in the winter.

Figuring out which type of insulation to use is so much easier when you have an idea of what the different types are, how effective they are, and where they are used. A high R-value is a good thing. It is a measure of thermal resistance used in the building and construction industry. The higher the R-value the less heat and cold air will escape your home.

One of the slightly more expensive options out there is residential foam insulation. However, you will recoup your costs over time with the additional savings in energy costs that you will get through using expanding foam. Because it expands to fill any spaces where air and moisture might enter the home, it is one of the best types available.

For something more affordable, you could get one of the forms of blow in insulation. Commonly used types include fiberglass (the most effective), mineral wool, and cellulose. You will need a thicker layer than you would if you used fiberglass or mineral wool batts, but this will save you some money and make it easier to insulate hard to reach areas.

One of the places you should be sure to insulate is your attic. Attic ceiling insulation is especially important since heat rises and you don’t want all your heat in the winter to go right out through your roof. You want it to be trapped in the house, keeping you warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

In the past few years, metal roofing has definitely been gaining in popularity. Not only on commercial buildings but also in residential areas. Metal roofs are a premium product and cost somewhat more than a 20 year warranty asphalt/fiberglass shingle roof; however a metal roof can cost substantially less than many of the high-end architectural shingles now being sold.

What homeowners need to know about a metal roof is that it has many advantages and benefits over a traditional asphalt/fiberglass shingle roof. Metal roofs are not noisy when it rains. According to one study, the noise levels of a metal roof are about the same as other roofing products such as asphalt or wood shingles or clay tiles.

If you want a roof that can withstand bad weather, a metal roof is definitely the way to go. Metal roofs are very tough and highly resistant to hail damage, much more so than asphalt/fiberglass shingles. In fact, many metal roofing products have the highest impact resistance and hail rating granted by the insurance commissions in the hail belt regions of the U.S. Some insurance companies even provide a reduced rate for metal roofs.

All metal roofing products are very wind resistant. Many styles have been tested to withstand hurricane force winds; and wind warranties can be as high as 120mph. Another great benefit is that a metal roof is the most fire safe roof. It is classified as a noncombustible roofing material with a Class “A” rating – the highest rating given. So before you start getting estimates for a traditional roof, consider a metal roof. Over time, you’ll save money, because it’s the last roof you’ll ever need!