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Taking Advantage of the Sun in Your Texas Mountain Home

admin — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0000

There are not many tests quite as challenging as living in the mountains of Texas and powering your mountain home can prove to be one of the greatest challenges of all. Unless you get green mountain energy in Texas, you may have to rely on forms of renewable energy and certain modifications to your mountain home in order to take advantage of the natural world. One of the best ways you can power your mountain home is by taking advantage of the sun – specifically, solar energy.

The first thing you need to be aware of is that there are two types of solar energy – passive and active. Passive solar energy relies on passive methods to harness and channel the sun’s light. This includes greenhouse glass and trombe walls, all built into the south side of your mountain home. When the light hits the south side the greenhouse glass will focus the suns light into heat to be circulated through the home and the trombe walls will both trap and store heat. Active solar energy relies on solar cells and panels to trap and harness solar radiation for immediate application like heating water and air.

If you aren’t too handy with tools you may want to look into hiring some professional help to go to work on your mountain home. And remember, modifications like these may seem expensive but they can save you thousands in the long run, especially when you’re up in the unpredictable mountains.

Traditional Roof Shingles Or The New Metal Roofing

admin — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Many homeowners are not sure whether to choose the traditional roof shingle or the new metal roofing. It helps to examine the pros and cons of each.
Today’s metal roofing technology has far surpassed what was done traditionally which was basically to roll out the metal in sheets. Today’s new metal roofing is treated with UV protection, will not corrode, and comes in an assortment of treatments and colors to give it an aged look or whatever is needed to fit the style of the building. The new metal roofing also has superior insulating qualities and a higher tolerance to wind damage than the traditional roof shingles.I was looking for more information and found it here.
Traditional roof shingles have a wind resistance of 60 mph whereas the metal roof has double the tolerance as has been seen in the more recent hurricanes in Florida. Unlike shingles metal roofs have a vertical seam that is one continuous piece that will extend from the lowest to the highest part of the roof. There is less of a chance for wind, rain etc to reach beneath the roof.
Metal roofs have the highest weight ratio and are screwed to the roof deck making it difficult for it to be blown off.

Choosing The Right Installation For Winter Conditions

admin — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Whether you’re building a new house. or improving your current home, choosing the correct insulation for your project will not only benefit you in the winter, but it’ll help keep your house cooler in the summer. Not to mention the bonus of saving you money on your electric bill.

There are a few areas you’ll want to concentrate on. One of them being the loft. Without loft insulation you could lose as much as 15 of your heat through the roof. The most simple and effective way to trap in the heat in the winter is to use a glasswool installation; it requires no maintenance and will last a lifetime.

Another thing to keep in mind is external wall insulation. Bead board or expanded polystyrene is very effective in protecting against the loss of energy through uninsulated, exterior walls. This product should be installed by an expert, but the end result will save you enough money that it’ll pay for itself in the long run.

And don’t forget the loss of energy that escapes through older single-pane windows. Look into energy efficient double-pane windows to help you in the fight of winter chills.

There’s a hand full of things you can do that will make all the difference.

Do You Want To Live In Town Or In the Country

admin — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0000

There are many differences when choosing the right location to settle down. In town you may be closer to everyday needs such as groceries, friends, schools, hospitals, and in some cases this is all within walking distance. In town you may have the advantage of city water, sewer, and garbage pickup. Of course that service comes with a nominal cost every month.
Some areas require you to keep up your yard to a certain standard. Neighbors can be very nearby and every once in a while you may find yourself with a neighbor who you may wish was just a bit further away. If you have pets they normally require a city license and kept in your yard.
Living out of town brings many advantages. Privacy can be a very important to allot of people, and sometimes the out of town setting can give you just that. Neighbors are at a more comfortable distance. Not to close and not too far away to keep an eye out. Being out of town can require you to have your own well, which can drastically cut costs. Garbage can is yours to dispose of, and errands tend to take a bit more time.

Choosing A Mountain Home On Acreage

www.mtnhmweb.com — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0000

If you are shopping and are currently on the search for a house, it can often be frustrating because you are not able to find the dream home right away. However, it does help if you have narrowed down what you are looking for. If you know that you are wanting a mountain home on a few acres, this fact definitely helps to weed through the countless houses for sale on the market. One way to help find your perfect house is to look online and use the advanced search options often available on every website that is displaying houses on the market. Want more? Click here. Another way to go house hunting is to ride through your favorite neighborhood and see if any houses are for sale. Hiring a realtor can often also be useful because they can do the dirty work for you. All in all, it is really up to what you and your family prefer. If you want to take a more active role in the process then consider doing research online. If you prefer sitting back and relaxing, perhaps hiring a realtor would be the ideal way to go. Remember, house hunting does not have to be a stressful process!