Tip of the Day - Energy Saving

Someone who lives in Richmond, VA has probably noticed a big difference in temperature in the past few days. As the climate changes and you need to ensure that you are being as energy efficient as possible, for more than one reason: first you could be saving money and second it's just better for the environment. It's really just a win win for everyone. So where should you start?

Windows

This should be your first line of defense when it comes to energy deficiency. Most homes will lose a lot of their energy because of faulty or old windows. This is why it is important to consider windows that have double panes, which tend to be a bit more expensive but are able to contain both cold or hot air a lot better. Also, there could be drafts coming from faulty seals around the windows. These can deteriorate with time so it's a good idea to check these periodically.

An article found in curiosity.com estimates that someone who switches windows to energy efficient ones can save between 5-10% but probably won't save anymore than 25%.

Window frames to expand and contract as temperatures drop and rise, and eventually that change creates permanent creases and gaps. Metal ones tend to have much better resistance but still encounter problems over time. These small changes, if not addressed quickly can do some serious damage to your electric bill.

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Featuring Pella

New Earth is always looking for quality durable products to feature in its lineup of services. We're really excited to tell our customers that we are currently offering Pella products as part of our offerings. Pella is a company that we really like because they have been around for many years and they offer quality construction in all of their windows and doors, so you know that you will be getting a product that not only lasts but also looks nice. 

They have an extensive product catalogue so our customers can find different home solutions that fit their budget and are also energy efficient. They've made it a point to specialize in doors and windows and not over extend themselves so they can get it right, every time. We are strong believers of the Pella guarantee and want our customers to join us in that belief. 

Give us a call today so you can get more information about how New Earth can incorporate Pella products in your home, your satisfaction is very important to us. (804) 955-0257

Four Budget Fall Gardening Ideas

Gardening doesn't stop after Spring or Summer, in fact the only season you may be able to take a break is Winter in Virginia. This is why it is important to keep some basic maintenance tips in mind to keep things in order. Our friends at HouseLogic.com offer some really great tips if you don't know where to start!

Spread Mulch

“Fall mulching is better for the plants than spring mulching,” says Dan Taft, owner of The Cutting Edge in Chantilly, Va. “It helps protect roots from frost and helps retain moisture during a cold and dry winter.”

Spread 2 to 3 inches of fresh mulch around shrubs and trees. Taft warns home owners to avoid using free mulch from municipal piles, which often contain disease spores; instead, buy hardwood shredded mulch from home and garden centers, he says.

“Cheap, dump mulch mainly is made from trees that have died from disease,” Taft says. “Many diseases will linger in the mulch, like leaf spot and pine bark borers. You don’t want ground-up diseased plants around your landscaping.”

Remove the Dead and Dying

Fall isn’t the time to prune, because that encourages growth when healthy plants should remain dormant. But don’t shelve your shears and loppers yet. Fall is the time to neaten your landscaping before putting it to bed for the winter.

“If you remove dead landscaping in fall, you don’t have to look at it all winter,” Taft says.

• Remove dead annuals.
• Deadhead spent blooms, and cut back dead and desiccated ornamental grasses and perennials.
• Lightly prune dead and dying branches from shrubs and trees. Carefully remove dried blossoms from hydrangea, but don’t remove dead-looking stalks, where new buds will form in spring.
• After the first frost, cut back tea roses to about a third of their height.

Wrap Delicate Shrubs

Heavy snow, ice, and high winds can dry and split your delicate and pricey shrubs. To protect your landscaping from the winter elements:

• Hide small plants under overturned plastic pots or buckets.
• Wrap shrubs, such as boxwoods, in burlap.
• Surround vulnerable trees with shredded leaves.

Take Advantage of Fall Sales

Early fall until the ground freezes is a good time to plant trees and shrubs. Not only do cooler weather and autumn rain put less stress on young landscaping plants, nurseries often have sales to empty their shelves before winter.

“They need to sell every plant by Dec. 1,” Taft says. “Nurseries generally pay a third of the price that you’re paying. So don’t be afraid to offer less than the asking price. If you’re buying several things, the manager may give you a break.”

For more tips and tricks for all your home needs visit:
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Get Your Mind In The Gutter!

Autumn is here, and temperatures are about to drop to weather that is a little bit nicer and cooler. As the seasons start to change here in Virginia, specifically in the Central Virginia and Richmond areas, we will see the leaves colors change. It is truly a beautiful sight to see, however with each season there are somethings that we should all look for when we are a home owner or renter. 

Check the Gutters
We've talked about it in the past, but this is reminder that all those pretty leaves that will cover the ground this autumn will also be clogging your gutters. This can cause a number of problems including but not limited to: 

-Creating puddles of water in your roof, which can lead to leakage and both internal and external damage to your home
-A concentration of dry leaves is prone to fires, this can be of catastrophic proportions
-Creating nests for animals, pests are never a good thing
-It just doesn't look good. No further explanation needed on that one. 

Structural Damage
Before you know it, it will be winter. Checking and fixing structural damage when it is raining or snowing is a pain in the butt and in some cases impossible. Take care of that stuff now, it is just proper home maintenance and it can help you prevent some other serious issues in the future. This includes: wall cracks, faulty roofs, damaged floors. 

Fireplace and HVAC
Not everyone has these but anyone who does knows how expensive it can be to repair a chimney flute or their HVAC system, so instead of having to pay an expensive repair have someone come and check these out so they can be properly maintained and so that you can have a care free winter and fall. 

For more tips and tricks for all your home needs visit:
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New iPhone, Old Apps

The big day on which a new iPhone is being announced is upon us, but with so much attention to this little gadget that has transformed the way we interact with technology, what are some of the most useful apps out there? We at New Earth are always looking for innovative ways to conduct our business. Let's review some of our favorite apps in honor of a new iPhone being revealed.

1. PlanGrid

One of the best iPhone and iPad apps for the construction industry, it lets contractors and architects collaborate with all their project plans, specs and photos. You can upload PDF drawings to plangrid.com and they will automatically sync to all your teams in real time.

Download the App Here

2. Construction Master Pro

The app offers a range of calculators for Android smartphones and iPads, including feet-inch-fraction math calculators, and a version that can be used to estimate materials needed for stair railing and fence projects.

Download the App Here

3. iBlueprint

iBlueprint for Apple devices has a new user interface that lets users create and export custom floor plans and lets contractors access blueprints on job sites.

Download the App Here

4. BuildCalc

Voted one of the best construction calculators for iPhone and Android, BuildCalc allows for complete layout of railing and staircase balusters with less guesswork and easily adjusts to the flexibility you need for a custom job.

Download the App Here

5. Architect’s Formulator

The Apple app features more than 400 formulas for electrical, carpentry and plumbing calculations. It also includes concrete and excavation formulas for estimating the concrete and bricks required for a job.

Download the App Here

For more tips and tricks for all your home needs visit:
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5 Home Improvements To Do Now

Before you know the holiday season will be here, we're already starting to see all the Halloween decorations at some of our favorite stores and soon after it will be Thanks Giving and Christmas. Home improvement projects may not be feasible as the the holiday season approaches, so it may be smart to get those projects out of the way before it is too late to get them done.

Kitchen Remodel
Have you been thinking about redoing your kitchen? Well, it does take a little bit of time especially if you're thinking of expanding it and getting new appliances. The average kitchen remodel can take anywhere between eight to twelve weeks if you are doing an overall makeover which means you are already running late.

Bathroom Remodel
Want to impress your visiting relatives with a shiny new guest bathroom? This too can take sometime to get done, primarily because you need a contractor, a plumber and possibly an electrician to get this home improvement done. You can start doing all the shopping in advance and keep everything in storage until you have all the right contractors lined up to get this task done.

Carpentry (Doors, Crown Moulding, Casings)
Even though this isn't a project that is terribly time consuming or hard to do, it still needs to be coordinated throughout the house and requires proper planning. Some stores may not have everything that you need in store so you may have to special order some items adding to the projected timeline. You'd be surprised what a shiny new door can do for your home and how it can change the look of a whole space.

Roof Repairs
We've covered in the past how crucial it is to repair your roof is, but there is no better time to take care of this than now. If your roof does need repairing, waiting until there is a rain storm or even worse, a snow storm, is a bad idea. Repairs are much harder to do in damp weather and if there is structural damage it may even be impossible to do. So take care of that now before it ends up costing you more.

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5 Back to School Home Improvement Ideas

Kids or no kids, this is the time period that is typically reserved for parents and Back To School. Take this as an opportunity to get organized and see what kind of home improvements can be done around the house. This should also serve as a reminder that fall is almost here and it is time to unpack all those fall and winter clothes that you have in storage.

New Earth gives you five great things to take off this Back To School season.

Like we said before, this doesn't really apply to only families with kids but instead use this opportunity to take care of some of these things that we can all do!

Clean, Clean, Clean! 
Whether you have been putting off cleaning your backyard from kids toys, old bbqs, unfinished projects or even if you just have a cluttered home office space there is no time like the present! It is time to clean house, it will open the space and also be a lot more inviting for yourself and guests. Another thing that could be good to clean other than the standard kitchen, bathroom, living and bedroom spaces; would be to clean out old electronics. Have old computers, cellphones or appliances laying around? Get rid of them, but be responsible and take them to a place like Best Buy which recycles them for free.

Create Effective Use of Space
This is a great opportunity to add more closet space by adding shelves or storage containers. There are many options that are already made that can be hung inside closets that require minimal assembly. This will help you be more organized and give things that need their own space.

Do A Little Carpentry
Give new life to some of those old chairs, cabinets and tables by sanding them down and giving them a fresh coat of paint or varnish. Also if you have any old furniture that needs to be repaired this may be a good time, most repairs are typically small and only require basic tools and a minimal amount of materials to get them up and running again. This is New Earth's favorite type of projects

Switch Up Lighting 
Check to make sure all your light bulbs are in order and working properly, in addition to that you might want to consider more efficient lighting by switching to LED lights which tend to last longer and consume less electricity. Also if you have been contemplating getting track lighting or a have a fan installed, this might by the best time to do it.

Rearrange Furniture
Sometimes moving furniture around to use a space more effectively can breathe life into a stale room.   Also adding and subtracting furnishings can really improve a room, especially if you decide to use colors that pop and compliment the existing colors in the room.

For more fun recipes, please visit this link

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