Harsh winds, snow, rain, sleet, and hail — don't you hate stormy weather? Well, how do you think your house feels? Our poor homes are battered by the elements year in and year out. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to stormproof your house. The first place to start is with your windows. Westfield, MA homeowners can perform a few simple modifications to maintain their windows and keep raging storms outside where they belong. First off, let's look at a few small, DIY weatherproofing improvements you can make to your trim, frames, and sashes. With some adhesive weatherstripping, you can seal your sash channels to insulate them from moisture and extreme temperatures. Foam weatherstripping is easy to install, and it’s usually available for a low cost at hardware stores. By the same token, you can caulk up the thin channel where the window trim meets the wall, which will keep that nasty weather from sneaking in through the cracks. Be sure to use waterproof, paintable caulk that you can color to match your walls. These small, cheap jobs will keep everything dry while saving you money on heating and cooling bills. To go the extra mile when storm-proofing the windows, Westfield, MA homeowners might consider buying a weatherproof film that can be applied to windowpanes. This product can be stuck in place with double-sided tape then zapped with a hair dryer so that it shrinks to fit the surface. This insulates the glass and prevents cracking. If you're willing to make more of an investment, you can even install wooden shutters over your windows to create a solid barrier against harsh winds, rain, and flying debris. We can't control the weather, but we can outfit our homes to withstand whatever Mother Nature has in store. With a few modifications to their windows, Westfield, MA locals can strengthen their homes against the Northeast's brutal winters and stormy summers. [...]

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No offense to bedrooms and bathrooms, but your kitchen is possibly the most practical and necessary room in your home. Remodeling it can be a major home improvement. Springfield, MA homeowners should consider a few basic things before diving into an extensive — or costly — remodeling project. Know What You Need If it's your first remodeling rodeo, it can be easy to get caught up in flashy, trendy features. But marble countertops and LED cabinet lighting aren't for everyone. Take some time to consider how you want use your kitchen. Do you need a state-of-the-art laboratory for culinary experimentation, or do you just need basic functionality? Think about what your current kitchen lacks and build a design scheme that will make your culinary life easier. Keep Your Current Layout Kitchens are more stuck in their ways than other rooms. Ovens, garbage disposals, and other big appliances don't like to move. When you plan a new kitchen, it's a good idea to keep your basic layout unless you're ready for a massive and stressful home improvement. Springfield, MA homeowners will want to design a space that incorporates new features and appliances into their current plumbing and electrical schemes. You can still transform your space with an island, bar seating, innovative cabinet solutions, or any number of sleek, creative redesigns. But messing with the basic skeleton is often backbreaking and expensive work. Get the Pros Involved Sure, it feels good to wield the sledgehammer yourself, but hiring a contractor can save you a lot of stress. The pros don't just have design and building experience — they can also recommend materials and brand names that suit your needs, and they know your local building and zoning codes inside and out. You might be able to handle smaller projects on your own, but a full-scale remodeling is full of stresses and demands that the untrained eye doesn’t always notice. A contractor will foresee your needs and your potential problems from the get-go, helping you to navigate them with ease. Kitchen remodeling is a fun home improvement. Springfield, MA homeowners can start toying with their culinary feng shui with these few basic concerns in mind. [...]

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You know what they say: a man needs a cave. Okay, maybe they don't say that, but isn't it kind of true? Man caves are all the rage these days. Decking out your basement with cool decor, relaxing furniture, entertainment and gaming set-ups, and, of course, a minibar, gives you a getaway that's just a flight of stairs away. It's a home improvement Springfield, MA men — and their spouses — are sure to love. What does every man cave need? Let's take a look. First things first: beer and liquor. Building a well-stocked bar or minibar might just transform your basement into the new local watering hole for you and your friends. You can also consider getting a kegerator - this is essentially a fridge that houses a keg and dispenses all the craft or domestic beer you'll need for big hangouts. Not a bad invention, huh? Now let's talk decor. Your cave should reflect your interests. Many men opt for a themed room with decor centered around a lifelong interest — the outdoors, rock 'n' roll, old westerns, classic cars, or anything else. Of course, a non-themed, eclectic room can also be great. When it comes to man-cave home improvement, Springfield, MA men can use their interior decorator's eye to craft a comfortable, relaxing environment. The cave will be your home's center of entertainment and fun. This, too, will depend on your taste. Are you and your friends big table-gamers? Insert pool, Ping-Pong, Foosball, or air hockey table here. Will your cave be the main spot to watch sporting events and movies or to play video games? Then you'll want a big, hi-def flat screen TV and a state-of-the-art sound system. If you and your friends are high rollers, add a felted poker table to the mix. Man caves are made for relaxation. When considering this major home improvement, Springfield, MA guys can let their imaginations run free: wraparound leather couches, luxurious recliners, and theatre seating for the TV. It'd be an understatement to call a man cave a simple home improvement. Springfield, MA homeowners are just a few steps away from making their basements a personal paradise. Your wife might even enjoy it, too. That is, if you allow her inside... [...]

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