Roofing

Exploring Different Architectural Styles and Their Characteristics

Architecture is a reflection of human creativity, cultural identity, and the evolution of societies throughout history. Over time, diverse architectural styles have emerged, each characterized by unique elements, principles, and purposes. From ancient civilizations to modern metropolises, these styles have left an indelible mark on the world’s landscape, showcasing the ingenuity and artistic expressions of various cultures. In this exploration, we delve into some of the most prominent architectural styles and their defining characteristics.

  1. Classical Architecture: Classical architecture traces its roots back to ancient Greece and Rome. This style is known for its harmonious proportions, symmetry, and the use of columns and entablatures. The three main orders of columns, Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian, are quintessential features of classical buildings. A prime example is the Parthenon in Athens, Greece, exhibiting the Doric order.
  2. Gothic Architecture: Gothic architecture emerged during the Middle Ages and is renowned for its awe-inspiring cathedrals and churches. Characterized by pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and flying buttresses, Gothic structures aimed to reach the heavens and evoke a sense of divinity. The Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris epitomizes the grandeur of Gothic architecture.
  3. Renaissance Architecture: The Renaissance period brought a revival of classical elements and a focus on mathematical precision. Architects emphasized proportion, domes, and pilasters to create a sense of balance and elegance. Italy’s Florence Cathedral, designed by Filippo Brunelleschi, exemplifies the Renaissance style.
  4. Baroque Architecture: Baroque architecture, prevalent in the 17th and 18th centuries, is characterized by its flamboyant and ornate designs. Elaborate facades, dramatic shapes, and intricate detailing are hallmarks of this style. The Palace of Versailles in France is a prime example of Baroque opulence.
  5. Neoclassical Architecture: As a reaction against the excesses of the Baroque and Rococo periods, Neoclassical architecture emerged in the 18th century. Inspired by classical forms, it focused on clean lines and simplicity. The U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., showcases Neoclassical principles.
  6. Art Nouveau: Art Nouveau, popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, celebrated natural forms and curvilinear designs. It incorporated decorative motifs inspired by plants and flowers, characterized by a sense of fluidity and grace. The Victor Horta Museum in Brussels, Belgium, epitomizes the Art Nouveau style.
  7. Modernist Architecture: The 20th century witnessed the rise of Modernist architecture, emphasizing simplicity, functionality, and the use of new materials like steel and glass. Pioneered by architects like Le Corbusier and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, iconic buildings such as the Villa Savoye and the Farnsworth House exemplify Modernist principles.
  8. Postmodern Architecture: In contrast to Modernism, Postmodern architecture embraced eclecticism and playfulness. It combined historical references with contemporary elements, resulting in buildings that challenged traditional norms. The Dancing House in Prague, designed by Frank Gehry and Vlado Milunić, is a notable example of Postmodern architecture.
  9. Contemporary Architecture: Contemporary architecture is a fluid and diverse style that encompasses a wide range of designs and ideas. Sustainability, innovative use of materials, and a focus on human-centric spaces are key features of contemporary buildings. The works of architects like Zaha Hadid and Norman Foster push the boundaries of architectural expression.
  10. Sustainable Architecture: With a growing awareness of environmental issues, sustainable architecture has gained prominence. This style prioritizes energy efficiency, renewable materials, and integration with the natural environment. Buildings like the California Academy of Sciences and the Beddington Zero Energy Development in the UK showcase sustainable design practices.

In conclusion, architectural styles have evolved over centuries, each leaving a lasting impact on the built environment. From the grandeur of Gothic cathedrals to the sleek lines of Modernist skyscrapers, these styles embody the aspirations, values, and technological achievements of their respective eras. As we continue to design and construct spaces for the future, it is essential to draw inspiration from these diverse architectural styles, incorporating their best qualities to create functional, beautiful, and culturally significant structures that stand the test of time.…

Importance of Repainting Your Home

When it comes to home maintenance and improvement, many homeowners often overlook one crucial aspect: the roof. The roof is not only an essential component of a house’s structure, but it also plays a significant role in protecting the entire property from the elements. One effective way to maintain and enhance the durability and appearance of your roof is through repainting. Repainting the roof of your home can bring several important benefits that should not be underestimated.

First and foremost, repainting the roof helps to protect it from weather damage. Over time, the roof is exposed to harsh elements such as rain, wind, UV rays, and temperature fluctuations. These factors can cause the roof’s surface to deteriorate, leading to issues like leaks, cracks, and mold growth. By applying a fresh coat of paint, you create an additional protective layer that shields the roof from these damaging elements, extending its lifespan and reducing the risk of costly repairs or replacements.

Moreover, repainting the roof improves energy efficiency. A dark or faded roof tends to absorb more heat, resulting in increased indoor temperatures during hot summer months. This puts a strain on your cooling systems, leading to higher energy consumption and elevated utility bills. By choosing a lighter color for your roof paint, you can significantly reduce heat absorption, keeping your home cooler and decreasing the reliance on air conditioning. This, in turn, helps you save money on energy costs and contributes to a more sustainable living environment.

Another benefit of repainting the roof is enhancing the curb appeal of your home. The roof is one of the most prominent features of any house, and its appearance greatly impacts the overall aesthetic appeal. A faded or worn-out roof can make your entire property look tired and unattractive. However, a fresh coat of paint in a modern color can transform the entire look of your home, giving it a renewed sense of beauty and increasing its market value. Whether you plan to sell your property or simply want to take pride in your home’s appearance, repainting the roof can make a significant difference.

Lastly, repainting the roof provides an opportunity to address minor issues and perform routine maintenance. During the painting process, any existing damage or weak spots on the roof can be identified and repaired. This preventive measure ensures that potential problems are tackled before they escalate, saving you from more extensive and expensive repairs down the line. Additionally, repainting provides a chance to clean the roof thoroughly, removing dirt, debris, and organic growth, which can affect its performance and longevity.

Repainting the roof of your home is a task that should not be overlooked. By doing so, you protect your roof from weather damage, improve energy efficiency, enhance curb appeal, and address maintenance issues. So, whether you want to preserve the integrity of your roof, save on energy costs, or enhance the overall aesthetics of your property, repainting the roof is a worthwhile investment that brings long-lasting benefits to homeowners.

Advantage of Hiring an Interior Designer for Your Home

1. Architects Are Experts

As verified above, appropriate inside creators are exceptionally prepared experts, not simply individuals with a decent eye for shading and a skill for picking furniture. Affirmed proficient originators are instructed, exceptionally experienced, and take an interest in continuous schooling projects to keep their abilities sharp.

Since inside plan is a multidisciplinary workmanship, creators are particularly situated to give arrangements that basically can’t emerge out of some other piece of the structure business. Therefore, they integrate wide-running mastery with a tasteful sense that numerous different experts need.

2. Fashioners Save You Time And Money

On the off chance that you’re considering the administrations of an inside fashioner a questionable extravagance thing, it very well might be ideal to reconsider. An originator went with assemble is frequently remembered for the cost of a home. Your experience will be top notch when a creator is essential for the center group associated with the interaction.

Consider them the wedding organizers of the home structure industry. Fashioners give an administrative job to large numbers of different callings and exchanges associated with making your fantasy home a reality – similar as a wedding organizer’s responsibility is to direct the photographic artists, cooks and performers at your wedding.

Likewise, similar to organizers, creators can help with keeping your venture on time and under spending plan. The best planners convey savvy esteem at whatever point they assist with building a home.

3. Creators are Well Connected

A decent inside creator will have a broad contact rundown of solid and dependable organizations, from curtain organizations to furniture and embellishment providers, and will actually want to arrange them to take care of business as proficiently as could be expected. While this is the kind of thing you can do yourself, looking at the best costs on many things and administrations all simultaneously can turn out to be exceptionally tedious and baffling. An inside planner can deal with this for you.

4. Creators Tie The Entire Project Together

To develop the creator’s expansive point of view in the home-building process, think about this: your fashioner can turn into a solid promoter for your vision.

Bedroom Remodeling For Beginners

Rebuilding a room is never one-size-fits-all. Certain individuals need a tranquil retreat from the day, while others lean toward a vigorous spot to prepare for evenings out.

Proclamation Bedroom Light Fixture

Most rooms accompany a straightforward roof fan or flush-mount light installation. Many don’t have any roof lights whatsoever.

Assuming that you as of now have a roof light installation, supplanting it with an assertion piece is a speedy and simple room rebuild thought.

Room Wall Ideas

Painting is one of the most promptly observable room redesign thoughts. It very well may be done in an end of the week, and the outcomes keep going for quite a long time. You can likewise make an exceptional painting or highlight divider.

Room Sitting Area

One of the top suggestions for better rest is assigning the bed as a rest just space. That implies no bills or schoolwork in bed.

Room Flooring Ideas

Wood floors with region mats overflow extravagance in the room. Supplant or restore wood deck and add a delicate carpet underneath the bed to shield feet from cold mornings.

Revive Bedroom Décor and Furniture

Assuming that you’re content with the size, shading and usefulness of your room however it actually needs somewhat tidy, consider new room style and furniture. The absolute best room redesign thoughts don’t need apparatuses or a development license.

Signs That you Need to Replace Your Roof

Once in a while a rooftop can normally arrive at the finish of its helpful existence without encountering a rooftop disappointment. It simply looks old and worn, and you are doing preventive upkeep on your home. 

On the off chance that supplanting an old rooftop is postponed, notwithstanding, it could bring about more serious issues as it were. So watch for the notice signs to make certain to give yourself a lot of time to add the task to your daily agenda. 

1. Dim streaks. Airborne green growth cause dull streaks on rooftop decks. While this may not really hurt the rooftop shingles, it may not look great. 

2. Greenery can develop on rooftop surfaces that don’t get a lot of daylight, particularly in cool, clammy environments. Greenery development can be in excess of a restorative issue. Greenery holds dampness against the rooftop surface and after some time in freezing environments can make harm the granules on the highest point of the shingles. Greenery can be dismissed however it will not keep it from developing once more; take care not to harm the shingle surface. You may have to contact an expert material project worker. 

3. Neighbors are getting new rooftops. Homes worked around a similar time-frame can be encountering similar sorts of climate conditions can imply that your rooftop is approaching its valuable life. 

4.The Shingles are Damaged 

With regards to shingled rooftops, search for shingles that are twisted or clasped. This is a certain sign that it is the ideal opportunity for another material establishment. Additionally, check for shingle granules in your drains. This shows that your shingles are excessively old. 

5. The Chimney Flashing is Worn Down 

Concrete and tar blazing wears out over the long haul. Ensure you investigate the blazing around your fireplace. Metal glimmering is normally a superior alternative as it by and large stays watertight. 

6. You Can see Light 

Gaze toward the rooftop sheets in your storage room. On the off chance that you can see sunlight looking through, you certainly have an issue. A normal family spends about 33% of its yearly warming and cooling financial plan on air that breaks into or out of the house through accidental holes and breaks. To set aside cash and forestall rooftop spills, you will positively need to employ a rooftop administration to do some genuine material fix and upkeep.

5 reasons why you should hire an interior designer

Contrary to popular belief, interior designing isn’t just about embellishing the home. Indeed, interior design is significantly more – think about deciding on the right materials and the things you need to add in it. Also, it will require a ton of time and innovativeness to set up an incredible plan.

1.    Do you have time?

The very first question that you should ask yourself is if you have enough time to manage everything. If you’re too busy at work or with your business, it is a sign that you should hire an interior designer who can devote his time to work on your interior design at least eight hours a day.

2.    Can you put together a good team?

Decorating or building your interior requires a good team to be successful. If you don’t have the correct contacts, assembling a decent group of laborers can be very troublesome. You may have different specialists like craftsmen, painters, and tile laborers to take care of business well.

3.    Do you have good ergonomics?

Ergonomics is defined as the applied study of arranging space to make a utilitarian plan which is pragmatic and tries not to make unsettling influences in the stream. Ideas like evenness and congruity in configuration likewise become an integral factor here. Here are more inside plan photographs by the right interior designers.

4.    Do you know where to source the right materials from?

Knowing the TYPES OF MATERIAL and AVAILABILITY of them is again a critical factor in giving your space an exceptional look. There are huge loads of assortment of materials that are accessible today on the lookout and furthermore introduction to worldwide business sectors is getting an ocean of changes in this field.

5.    Do you have what it takes to be a boss?

Do you have the initiative characteristics to be firm and push laborers and providers to fulfill your needs? Okay comprehend their language and phrasing? Whenever left all alone, a significant number of the laborers will likely take the alternate route and it would be a messy work.

Benefits of installing LED lights in your home

Using LED lighting has finally come of age. Almost every house in the neighborhood uses LED lighting to save energy. Even refrigerators use LED lighting. What you don’t know is that there are many other benefits of converting into LED and we are going to discuss it with you in this article.  

LED lights have a long life span.  

Without a doubt, LED lights last longer than other lighting options.  According to experts, the diodes of LED lightings can last up to 100,000 hours. This means that if you turn on your LED lights for 8 hours a day they can still last for 20 years. That is a lot of money and electricity you save down the road.

They are very energy efficient.

Have you ever wondered why your electric bill is not going down even if you have reduced your lights usage and appliances? The truth is old and obsolete lights and appliances have reduced energy efficiency. Converting to LED light will save you a lot of cash down the road because of its energy efficiency. It is estimated that LED lighting has an energy efficiency rating of 80 percent.

LED lights are eco-friendly.

Nowadays, installing LED lightings is not only a wise move to reduce energy consumption but a clever way to help the environment. LED lights are 100 percent recyclable. They help reduce the carbon footprint and heat wave that cause global warming. Imagine if your whole neighborhood would start using LED lightings. If there are 20 houses in your neighbourhood and every home can save as much as 20 percent of energy every month, it translates to at least 200 percent of energy savings for the entire neighborhood.

LED lights are very durable.

LED lightings do not easily wear out. Even after five to eight years, their radiance would remain the same as they were first bought. Since they are designed and built with strong components, they are built to last for years. They can withstand vibrations, shock, and other external impact. This makes LED lighting also a great option for your garage or porch, or any other external areas that need to be illuminated. Since LED lights are resistant to any kind of weather, you don’t have to worry about your lights getting busted whenever a strong storm comes by.


Tips for Bathroom Remodeling

A bathroom is an essential part of the house. We don’t just do private things here but most people find comfort in the bathroom. To ensure utmost convenience, it is important that our bathrooms are designed according to our desires. Here are some smart bathroom remodeling ideas that you can follow if you are thinking of making modifications for your bathroom.

Recess for Extra Room

If you have a small bathroom, you can add more cupboards and drawers to put your things in place. You can add recessed soap dishes, medicine cabinets, and toilet rolls to ensure that your bathroom is very organized. You can also convert to recessed light to flatten your ceiling. This will make your bathroom look more spacious despite having a small space.

Add Ventilation for your Bathroom

You don’t want to sweat when you are in the bathroom. If this is the case, you need some type of ventilation in a form of properly sized window or exhaust fan. Find the right exhaust fan for your bathroom considering the size and capacity.

Change the Tiles

If you think your bathroom tiles are too old, you can replace them with something modern and trendy. You can browse a lot of inspirations on the internet from modern, asymmetrical, to minimalist bathroom type. In any case, make sure your bathroom remodeling will pay your effort. The outcome should be something you will love in the years to come.

Add to your bathroom

Adding plants is an important consideration for any bathroom remodeling. Plants can add the much needed color to your bathroom. There are so many indoor plants you can consider like succulents. You can try to put a shelf near the window where you can place your plants.

Pick the right tiles

If you plan on tiling your bathroom, it is essential that you pick the right color and size. If your bathroom is small, you can consider placing light-colored tiles to make it look spacious.  Nevertheless, using dark colored tiles will save you time

Add some mirrors

Adding more mirrors to your bathroom can expand the space visually. A lot of homeowners like to add additional mirrors aside from the mirror located above the sink. Making sure your additional mirror is placed creatively you can have an extraordinary bathroom.

There you go. We hope that these tips will help you for more bathroom remodeling efforts. Always remember, a bathroom can often reflect the personality of its owner. Keep it clean and neat.



Installing Crown Molding – DIY

Would you like to know about how to install crown molding? Also, do you want to add it yourself to your home? Installing crown molding is not as hard as most people think. It just takes knowledge about how to correctly install it and then anyone will be able to do it right. One of the hardest parts about installing the crown molding corners which can be a little tricky.

Let’s have a look at the most important steps that need to follow:

1. Most people skip this step, but this is not good thinking because this can make a huge difference between a quick and efficient installation. You should take the time to plan for the following things.

You have to choose the type and size of molding that you need

You also should make your decision that how much molding will be needed to complete the job correctly

And, you also need to know about how much adhesive and fasteners would be needed

2. Once the first step is done properly, it is time to get the supplies that will be needed to complete the job in the right way. Make sure you get the adhesive, fasteners, caulk and any other supplies and equipment that you may need. Before starting the installation job, you will be able to save yourself a lot of time and headaches.

3. Put all of your materials and tools in the same room so that everything is handy. If you find that there is something missing that will be needed then go and get it before the start installing.

4. You need to draw a solid wall all the way around the room to show the bottom edge of the molding. Make a second line on the ceiling for the projection of the molding onto it. Also, mark the wall studs and ceiling joists. Just be sure that all of the marks you have made will be visible when the molding is put up.

6. Start with the corner that will be the least noticed on because it is not always possible to get a good match on the pattern with the last piece. It is always a good idea to research this part of the process before attempting it because the more knowledge you have about installing it the easier it will be for you.

7. Once the adhesive has been drying for 24 hours, it is time to fill in the holes made by fasteners, caulk the top and bottom and then do a touch up with paint or paint it completely. 

When it’s all done, be sure to give it a good coat or two of glossy paint to really accentuate the trim. If you don’t want to DIY the paint, we recommend you call the cool guys over at BGB Painting.

Installing New Closet Shelves, DIY Tips

Today we are going to describe exactly how to install shelves in a closet. Actually, it’s pretty simple but there are lots of steps. In the beginning, you need to find out how many shelves you want and what size they need to be.

We settled on 4 new shelves, plus the original one already in the closet. We choose to leave the original shelf and the clothes rod hardware in the closet, just in case we ever want to convert it back to a clothing closet. We wanted two additional shelves that were the same depth as the original shelf, and then two lower shelves that were deeper.

So we needed 4 shelves, all the same width; two of them 11″ deep, two of them 18″ deep. We also needed a bunch of 1x2s to support the shelves, and 4 metal “L” brackets to support the center of each shelf because the shelves were so long we were afraid of bowing.

Sheets of MDF are significantly cheaper than pre-cut sheets of MDF or wood, so we choose to purchase two sheets of MDF and have our local hardware store cut it for us.

Once we got home with our pre-cut MDF and all our 1x2s, we laid them out in the garage so we could prime them. We learned the hard way while doing K’s board and batten that it’s easier to prime MDF before you install it.

We primed each board with two coats. Make sure you prime the front edge of your shelves as well. When the primer was dry, it was time to begin the install process. Sound strange? Well, you MUST insert all your boards into your closet BEFORE you start adding all your 1×2 supports.

If you add all your 1x2s first, it will be impossible to get the shelves into the closet because the opening of the closet is smaller than the actual closet.

Once your shelves are inside the closet, start adding your 1×2 supports. We added them all equal distance apart, so a little math was involved. We used our nail gun to attach all the supports, but you might want to consider adding a few screws into the studs for additional support.

Now we know you are itching to put those shelves up now, but you still have to get your center bracket into place. First, you should add a board a little wider and longer than your “L” bracket. The “L” bracket will screw into this board.

We added mine slightly off-center so they would line up perfectly with the bracket from the original shelf. Now it’s time to add the “L” brackets. Use some heavy duty screws when you attach the bracket to the support board.

And now, finally, you can pull the shelves up one at a time and plop them into place. We added several nails into the top of each shelf, down into the 1×2 supports below. You don’t want your shelf to budge, so adding nails to secure it is a good idea.

If you noticed, there are lots of nail holes and ugliness with your shelves. We filled all the nail holes with spackle and then we used caulk around all the exposed edges of the wood, just to give it a more polished look.

Once everything was puttied up and dry, we used a small foam roller to add two coats of semi-gloss white paint to the tops and fronts of each board. We also used a small angled brush to paint all the 1×2 supports. We really weren’t concerned about getting paint and caulk all over the walls because once the white shelf paint dried, we planned to paint the walls.

Hopefully, this will help you to realize that you can do stuff like this. Don’t get overwhelmed with the entire project, just take it one step at a time.