2 All Things Home Magazine

AllThingsHomeOnline.com 3

If you have been searching for a custom home builder, remodeler, service provider, or just a tradesman to complete a small home project, then All Things Home is the only guide you will need. Inside you will also find helpful tips and suggestions for various home projects. Thanks for showing an interest in All Things Home.

Index April 2011Building MaterialsRedwood Inc. 10

CarpentersRingo’s Construction 12

CountertopsGary Beam Formica Countertops 14Goldstone 3Italian Granite 7Red’s Quality Marble 14

ElectricZawadzki Electric 12

FlooringCustom Stain and Scoring 10Lake Air Interiors 2

FurnitureFurniture Center 15

Glass/MirrorsAnderson Glass 10 Bullseye Glass 15

Grout Staining/SealingGrout Works of Central Texas 7

Handicap ModificationsAccess Mobility 3

Home BuildersKevin Bearden Custom Homes 5

Home TheaterCustom Integrators 3Matt Panter Home Theater 12

House PlansGreat House Plans 7

HVAC ContractorsOasis Heating and Cooling 10

InsulationE6 Insealation 7Think Home Insulation 12

IrrigationStein Lawn and Landscape 15

Metal Roof SuppliesPioneer Steel and Pipe 14

Plumbing FixturesWaco Winnelson 12

Portable BuildingsCook Portable Warehouses 2

RoofersWehrmann Metal Roofs 14 Talbert Construction 13

Real Estate LoansLoan Source 14

RemodelingTalbert Construction 13

Septic SystemsBlount’s Septic 10

PublisherAll Things Home™

ArT DireCTiON & DesiGNJose Gonzales

TO ADVerTise PleAse CAll254.709.6045

© 2011 All Things Home™. Reproduction without permission of editorial or graphic content in any manner is prohibited.

Summertime is on our doorstep, do you feel like your electric bill is too high? Unfortunately, it won’t get any lower unless you take action. Did you know 80% of a home’s heating and cooling loss is passed through the attic? Over time attic insulation begins to settle and may even be displaced by previous workers in the attic. If you have inadequate attic insulation you are just wasting money. The attic is the most cost effective place to save energy losses.

Think Home Insulation only uses the best quality Owens-Corning (Pink Panther) loose fill insulation. It is better because it will not shrink over the years and it willnot leave dust in your house as lesser products do. As a bonus, ThinkHome Insulation will do an energy audit to inspect for leaky air ductsand a general inspection for ways to make your homemore energy efficient at no extra cost.

So if you want to take action at lowering your utilitybills, call a professional like Larry Witt at Think Home Insulation for personal, courteous service and low cost insulation! (254)640-6370 or visit thinkhomeinsulation.com

Blowing more insulation in my attic was one of thebest things I ever did for my home. It saved me nearly $200 per month on my utility bill. - Roger, Bosqueville

AllThingsHomeOnline.com 7

Spending money on your home can be one of the best investments you will ever make. Putting money into your kitchen and bathroom upgrades has long been the ideology for adding the most value to your home. While this is a great general guideline, it fails to address other areas in the home in need of improvements.

A few considerations when makingthe decision to update should include: what is the average priced home in yourneighborhood; is your home one of the largest or smallest on the street; what is your budget; how long do you intend to stay in the home? For example, you might not want to have solid granite counter tops installed in a starter home that you only plan to stay in until you find a larger one to suit your needs. An alternative might be a granite tile top- investing less money and increasing the probability of a larger return on the investment.

When deciding where to invest your money, flooring can make the biggestvisual impact. You may want to seewhat neighboring homes have usedwhen updating for ideas of whatmaterials to use and the price range of flooring you are willing to invest in.Chartreuse shag is an obvious material to update, but no rule says you have to replace carpet with carpet. Flooringprofessionals can be fabulous assetswhen sifting through the countlessflooring options available. Don’t forgetthat flooring patterns are potentially as important as the material itself.

8 All Things Home Magazine

A couple of areas that may needattention, although sometimesoverlooked, are hardware and lighting. Polished brass is a constant visualreminder of the home’s age. Selecting popular finishes such as brushed nickel and oil-rubbed bronze showappreciation for details. Energy efficient lighting,sensors, timers, and dimmers help to lower electricity bills. Lighting for specific activities or daylight conditions versus overall general lighting can also drastically reduce wasted wattage.

Built-ins such as fireplaces, cabinets, bookcases, shower rooms, etc. are other areas where upgrades can makea significant impact. My best suggestion for these areas is to focus on functionality

while simultaneously addressingyour personal taste. A tiled showerwall functions just as well as a glass divider, but the wow factor of theglass is more memorable for buyers and might even make you feelmore pampered in your own home. If privacy becomes an issue try atextured, etched, or frosted glass.This detailed approach to built-inrenovations can be applied throughout the home to enhance its, overall value.

Finally, regular maintenance is agreat way to protect your financialinvestment. An elegant slate floor can quickly become a dusty mess without proper continual care. Ensure that allof your renovation budgets includeany weekly, monthly,or annual allotments to maintain the integrityof materials and finishes. Even minor upkeep can sustain your home’s worthfor years to come.

AllThingsHomeOnline.com 9

10 All Things Home Magazine

AllThingsHomeOnline.com 11

Do you remember how good that tile used to look in your home?Unfortunately, over the years that same tile has become dirty and stained. You’ve tried cleaning it, but let’s face it. It has never looked like it once did…until now! Now there is a company in Central Texas that specializes in bringing your grout back to life.

Grout Works of Central Texas has brought a new process to the area. With Color Sealing, both new and old grout can be professionally colored and sealed. Once the process is complete, you will never have to worry about your grout being sealed again. Color Sealing provides the highest degree of stain protection on the market. This will result in less tile maintenance and will increase the beauty and value of your tile.

What exactly is Color Sealing? The first step of the process is cleaning your existing grout. Next, the customized Color Sealer is applied.You can restore grout back to its original

color, or change it to a new color. The acrylic adheres

itself to the grout and creates a stain free

barrier.

Once Glen and his team Color Seal your grout, it will be

impenetrable and therefore stain proof!

This process is perfect whether you are wanting

to restore your grout back to its original color, or wanting to change the appearance of your grout. The bottom line is that you will have perfect stain free grout. Not just stain free for a while, but stain free forever.

12 All Things Home Magazine

AllThingsHomeOnline.com 13

14 All Things Home Magazine

AllThingsHomeOnline.com 15