There is nothing better than being cold and being able to curl up next to a fire with a good blanket and the company of loved ones. If you want to integrate a chimney into the decoration of your home, do not hesitate to do so because the warmth and the feeling of well-being that they bring will be unmatched.

In addition to these two advantages is a heat source allowing you to use natural heat in addition to the radiators in the room that you install. To ensure heat for a few hours or days, you will need a place to leave logs or coal next to the fireplace so you don’t have to go outside to find material to source the heat.

Enhancing a room with chimneys therefore has an endless number of advantages. A rustic type is a decorative option depending on the style of your house. In rural homes or those located in the mountains this choice is the perfect solution. In addition, you can make the chimney the size you want and with features to your liking.

You must install a protective glass to prevent the flames from going outside. This glass will be of a special type that does not allow the material to overheat avoiding contact burns. In addition, it allows to remove the heat in such a way to create a pleasant and well-heated room.

The real estate market offers a unique opportunity for buyers looking for their first home and have the means to do so. Prices have been reduced considerably, there are a large number of properties for sale to choose from and the negotiating ability of the parties involved is very high. However, it is worth taking into account some basic points when buying the first home.

An affordable budget

The budget is an essential element that should never be forgotten. Many buyers are not aware of how much money they have to buy a home. Falling surrender to the charms of a home that is not economically affordable is simple, but it could be a waste of time and illusion. In many cases, it can lose sight of the initial goal and budget.

Before shopping for a mortgage, make sure you have a thorough knowledge of the monthly expenses, as well as make a projection of income in the short and long term. All factors are important, whether the stability of the work that is available, the possibility of salary increases or reductions, and the mortgage index to be applied, etc. Ultimately it comes to analyzing the numbers and finding a comfortable mortgage payment.

Usually, unforeseen events always happen, so the goal is not to worry every night about having to choose between paying the mortgage or, for example, to undertake unexpected work or arrangements.

Realism first

Another virtue is to be realistic about the characteristics the future housing should bring. From your available budget, it is advisable to make a list of what would be desirable in the house you’re seeking.

Research is useful when developing this list. It is highly recommended to take a look at other houses in the same price bracket and see what features they have. For example, if the researched houses do not have a renovated kitchen or pantry, it may be logical to think that it will be difficult for the future house to have them.

In addition, the list can always be updated later, if you are lucky enough to find the house with everything you want.

Preview step to purchase

Have a professional perform a technical inspection of the property to be purchased. The objective is to determine the state of all elements of the property: mechanical systems, general layout and aesthetic-environmental conditions.

Certificates of Professional Housing Inspection can therefore be a decisive factor in closing on the property. For the first purchaser this certificate assumes the security that the property that you’re interested in is in perfect condition, or perhaps the possibility of raising a possible discount if there were any defective element.

The expenses come later

Understand the real economic cost of maintaining home ownership. At times, first-time homebuyers are so unaware of the purchase process that they forget what happens after signing the contract of sale. In reality, the most common expenses begin after the move. In addition to the mortgage payments, you must pay the corresponding taxes, homeowners insurance and possibly HOA fees. Not forgetting that maintenance problems arise from time to time. These expenses are one more reason not to invest until you’re 100% ready.

A home with good thermal insulation can save up to 30% of energy, which has direct effects both in the electric bill and in the CO2 emissions to the environment. What precautions should we take to improve the thermal performance of our home? Here are some tips:

The thermal insulation of a dwelling is the capacity that it has to retain heat (in winter) or cold (in summer), which we basically generate through heating and/or cooling systems. No matter how much we invest in a good air conditioner or a good heating system, it will do little good if the house is not well insulated.

But not only because of energy saving or environmental awareness, but also because, in less than a year – as of January 1, 2013 – the Royal Decree of Energy Efficiency of Existing Buildings announced that it will require all homes that are bought, sold or rented in Spain have a certificate that guarantees their energy performance.

In this way, the homes will have a distinctive efficiency similar to that already have the appliances, which will also affect the sale or rental price of the same. In fact, housing will be classified by a series of letters, ranging from ‘A’ (maximum efficiency) to ‘G’ (lowest energy efficiency).

Let’s see what are some aspects you can take into account to improve, without major investments, the thermal insulation of our home:

In a home, heat loss occurs through windows, doors, floors, walls and ceilings. In the case of windows and doors to the outside, it is very important to check that there are no leaks of energy and, if they do, take the appropriate measures. In floors, walls or ceilings it’s essential to have good installation with effective products and high thermal resistance. If the house is older, there is a wide variety of materials that allow thermal insulation of a wall, a floor or a roof to be reinforced.

The windows are one of the weaknesses of the house. To minimize their leaks of heat or cold it is advisable that they have double pains and, if possible, an air chamber. It will also improve their thermal insulation capacity if they have a quality carpentry (PVC, for example) which prevents the formation of thermal bridges, as well as having a specific glass to reduce heat losses.

In summer it is highly recommended to use awnings and blinds to minimize overheating your house.

In winter, however, we must take full advantage of the sunlight and let it in through the windows by leaving curtains open.

Finally, it is essential to ventilate the house well in the morning and at night. Ten minutes is enough to renew the air of a room.

If your roof has water damage, you will need to remove the drywall and let the inside of the roof dry out. If not, mold may grow inside your ceiling. Correct the initial cause of the leak to avoid future damage. If you are not sure where the leak is, ask a professional roofer or plumber to inspect your home. If you notice mold development anywhere in your home, hire a professional mold-removal contractor to get rid of it immediately.

Instructions

1. Push gently over the area to determine the magnitude of water damage. You have to remove and place sections of plasterboard that are soft or severely arched.
2. Use a knife to mark a line around the entire damaged area.
3. Break apart the area within the score lines with a hammer and remove all damaged plaster.
4. Reach inside the hole to find the wooden posts closest to the edges of the hole. Use the knife and hammer to remove the plaster up to the wooden posts, leaving a square or rectangular hole in the ceiling.
5. Remove some gypsum (drywall) panels in the middle along the uprights on each side of the hole (leaving half of the exposed beam showing to allow for installing screws to secure the new piece of gypsum).
6. Set fans and dehumidifiers up to dry the interior ceiling area. If the outside air is dry, open the windows and doors to let fresh air in. Depending on the magnitude of the water damage, it could take several days for everything to dry completely. The goal is to avoid the development of mold after closing to the ceiling. Do not proceed until the interior of the roof is dry.
7. Cut a new piece of plaster to fit the hole. Use drywall screws and a drill to attach to wood. Install screws every four to six inches along the outer edges of the hole where the wooden crossbars are. This will strengthen the connection between the existing roof and the new part.
8. For normal ceiling, use a 6-inch gypsum knife to compound on each joint. Place a section of drywall tape over the composite and wipe it flat. Fill in all heads from the screws. Wait for the joint compound to dry completely (usually 24 hours). Use a 12-inch gypsum knife to apply a second layer of compound over the entire area, this time leaving a thick, soft layer. Allow to dry and then sand the area with 150 grit sandpaper.

Prime and paint as normal. If you notice rusty or yellowish water stains showing through the composite joint, use a special concealed primer (available from hardware stores). Ask the staff or check the label to verify the primer is specifically designed to conceal water stains.

Several everyday situations can make your carpet become a smelly mess. Pets, children and even adults can leave unpleasant odors trapped in the fibers of a carpet. These odors can last for weeks and resist normal carpet cleaners. There are several ways to freshen smelly carpets using nontoxic and common household products.

Vinegar

Natural and cheap, vinegar does not mask odors, it removes them. Pour undiluted vinegar in a spray bottle. Start at one end of the carpet, and spray the bottle while moving forward and backward. Continue in this manner while moving across the carpet until you have saturated the fibers. As the vinegar dries, it eliminates the odors that are trapped.

Sodium bicarbonate (Baking Soda)

Used to clean and deodorize, sodium bicarbonate naturally eliminates pet odors, smoke and many other unpleasant odors from carpets. Cover the entire carpet with a thin layer of baking soda and wait several hours. If odors are strong, leave the baking soda overnight. Remove the powder with a vacuum cleaner. Repeat the process as often as needed to refresh carpets that smell bad.

Corn starch and herbs or spices

Instead of buying expensive carpet powders, create your own all-natural powder using common household items. Fill a plastic container with a lid with cornstarch. Add dried herbs or spices and mix with a spoon. Choose herbs and spices that are to your liking. Lavender, clove, cinnamon and rosemary are just some of the options available. Sprinkle the carpet with homemade dust and rub it between the fibers with a scrub brush. Wait a few hours and vacuum to remove dust from the carpet.

Borax and cornmeal

Borax is a versatile cleaning powder, when mixed with cornmeal, eliminates bad odors trapped in the carpet. You can find borax in the laundry sector in supermarkets. Pour 1 cup borax in a container and add 2 cups of cornmeal and mix with a spoon. Cover the carpet with this mixture and let stand for an hour before removing it with a vacuum cleaner.  Repeat the process as needed when the carpet begins to smell.

Considerations

Before removing odors from a carpet, pass the vacuum cleaner to remove lint, hair, dirt and other debris from the surface. Vacuum the carpet daily to keep it at its best and prolong its life. Use a sweeper equipped with a HEPA filter which helps reduce odors in the air during vacuuming.