Homeowners have different ways of making the exterior look of their house appealing. Some take advantage of the beautiful sceneries where their homes are nestled; some leverage their home’s beautiful landscape/garden, some request their contractor to use precious and expensive construction materials, particularly on exterior walls, while others focus more on the overall structure of their home. All these ways could make one’s home exterior fabulous, but if you want to explore and try new things, adding transom and sidelights to your home’s front door is a must-try if you haven’t. 

Transom and sidelights are the windows that can be installed around your home’s front door. Transom refers to the window above the door, while sidelights refer to the windows that can be placed on your front door’s left and right sides. 

Transom and sidelights with the right design can make your home’s exterior look classic, modern, or sophisticated. When your home builder or contractor can leverage them with your overall home exterior, your front entry can be transformed into the focal point for your home.

Transom and sidelights can also make your front entrance taller and broader visually. 

See the photos below for some examples of transom and sidelights that you can use for inspiration. 

The home's beauty is primarily represented by your front entrance. It is the first thing your guests will notice. Therefore, carefully planning its visual appeal is something that you should consider. If you’re thinking about employing transom and sidelights in your home, here are some tips:

1. Ensure that the entranceway, particularly the clearance above and around your front door, is ready for transom and sidelights installation.

"Is it wide enough for it?" or "Will the renovation be needed?" If it is, will you be able to bear the cost of renovation at the moment? 

Installing transom and sidelights requires the specialty of structural engineers. Their service is needed because the design of the framing, including the load-bearing beams, needs to be taken into account, as well as your home’s electrical setup. 

The service fee for these professionals, including the cost of transom and sidelights, will definitely cost you a lot of money. So, before adding them, you must keep all these costs in mind. 

2. The design of your front door must be appropriate to the design of the transom and sidelights you choose. Think about the type of design that you want–

Will you go for decorative windows or plain ones?

Photo: Cotswood Door Specialist/Pinterest

Aside from the design, the type of window and frame that will be installed as transom and sidelights should be taken into account as well because this may impact the home’s energy efficiency. Vinyl, wood, aluminum, and wood-clad; all these types of frames have different capacities to conserve energy. The same goes for the type of glass that will be used–single, double-paned, or tripled-paned window. Which of these types of frame and glass should you use to ensure that energy efficiency is not compromised? Based on an HGTV article, in terms of insulative value, frames made out of wood offer the highest, and double-paned glass is often chosen because of its capability to balance energy efficiency and design. Since transom and sidelights are types of windows, one must consider not only the design but the type of materials that will also be used.  

3. Transom and sidelights are like little window walls that could provide transparency to whatever lies after it. Since it exposes some parts of your home, it invites thieves to see what's inside and seek possible ways to get inside your home. Ensure that your front door’s lock feature and other home entries are secured enough to prevent unwanted guests from entering your home. 

If you think that your household’s privacy and security are compromised, go for decorative windows–block glass, stained glass, or smoky glass; having these types of windows could ease your mind and, at the same time, helps you achieve your goal of making your front home visually appealing using sophisticated transom and sidelights. 

Photo: Cotswood Door Specialists/Pinterest

Adding transom and sidelights can definitely enhance your front entrance and create a visually appealing impression to your guest and even households, but always remember that there are certain risks to these benefits. However, if you still feel excited even after knowing the things that you need to consider, then you may find adding transom and sidelights to your front door good and satisfying. On the other hand, if you find the risks mentioned earlier as very costly than gratifying,  may find adding transom and sidelights an unworthy undertaking. 

If you’re on the side of those willing to add transom and sidelights despite the costs, here’s one thing we want you to take away: 

Hire the right home builder in Tampa Bay area. Doing so can ensure optimal satisfaction that could go beyond your incurred costs.

All these ways could make one’s home exterior fabulous, but if you want to explore and try new things, adding transom and sidelights to your home’s front door is a must-try if you haven’t. 

Adding transom and sidelights is forecasted to be trending this year but should homeowners try this home feature just because everyone in their Tampa Bay area neighborhood has it?

Should I add transoms or sidelights to my front door?

The primary reason we put up fences is to keep our property secured. Whether the property is livable or not, we want to ensure that no one can freely access it whenever they wish. By protecting our property from intruders, we cover not just the property but everything else inside it–our family members, cars, pets, and farm animals. But how sure are we that they are protected? What if storms and strong winds started to pass over it? Will they still be secured? 

The answer may depend on the quality of fence materials we will use. Two of the most popular fence materials that you could use are wood and vinyl. These materials vary in different ways but provide the protection you need. The only question, however, is, which one is better in terms of security and durability? Let us help you find out as we share the strength and weaknesses of wooden and vinyl fences over the next section. 

Wood fences are probably one of the most popular among the four. As a matter of fact, it is the first thing that comes to our mind when we talk about fences. Remember, when we draw homes during our younger days, we often draw white wooden fences (a.k.a. Picket fences) surrounding them. If I had to imagine the finished version of it, there would be rows of lavender, blue hydrangeas, or climbing roses right at the back of it. 

Photo: Artinsur Blogspot.com/Pinterest; Stocksy United/Pinterest

It looks lovely. But for sure, the fences in my imagination are just for aesthetics. If we consider the security it could provide, it will surely fail. Trespassers may find their way in and do whatever they want. And not only them. Wild animals like bears may also get in and find themselves comfortable while eating their favorite honey dip. 

Those are some possibilities if one has decided to put up those white wooden fences and live nearby forests where wild animals live. Well, if that’s the case, there are still many forms of wooden fences that you can put up over your backyard.

Lattice - features diagonal slats that cross one another and are mainly used for gardening. This type of fence is perfect for training climbing plants. 

Louve - consists of horizontal BUT narrow slats that are slanted like the old look of curtain blinds. 

Photo: Takasho Global/IG(left); Nicolas Morel/Pinterest(right)

Post and Rail - consists of horizontal posts usually placed 6 feet apart and 5 feet tall. These wooden fences are commonly seen on ranches and farms. It helps prevents livestock (except sheep and goats :D) from getting out. 

Photo: Crispin Jones on Unsplash(left); Molly/Pinterest(right)

Vertical boards - consist of vertical slats that could be as high as six feet or more. 

Photo: Andrej Lišakov on Unsplash(left); Pinterest(right)

Solid Panels - consists of vertical and horizontal slabs above and beneath them. It provides privacy and security. 

Photo: Home for the Harvest/Pinterest(left); Love Home Designs/Pinterest

Woven Panels - decorative fences that look like the usual rattan furniture. This type of panel is aesthetically pleasing, but heavy maintenance is needed, making it very pricey to sustain.  

Photo: House of Art/Pinterest(Left); The Enduring Gardener / Pinterest (right)

If you’re taking wood as fence materials, here are some reminders; Some of them especially if not constructed properly could not withstand strong winds. Wooden fences are also prone to warping and cracking, mainly the low-grade lumbers. To prolong their fence life, they need to be maintained. Staining and sealing them every 3-5 years is a must. 

Now let’s move on with the second on our list, vinyl.

Vinyl fences are new compared to woods, but they were for quite some time. While not everyone took risks in using them, those who did benefitted greatly from doing so. Those who put up vinyl fences within the past twenty years witnessed how good this material was, and it was testified by their sons, daughters, and even neighbors. 

“I am glad that after 3 years, it is still holding up great.” - Jim B. 

“They do well in UV light. My parent's neighbor had this installed 15+ years ago, and they look brand new still. We’ve had ours for a few years and no issues” - Millenial Living/YT.

Aside from being durable, vinyl fences require low maintenance as well. It doesn’t get dirty quickly, and homeowners who have them under pine trees don’t find any problem with sap. If ever it does, simply use a power wash to clear stains. 

In terms of its capacity to withstand a strong storm, the damage could occur only if the vinyl fences are too rigid and probably if they weren’t built correctly. 

Which among the two popular fence options do you think will be the most promising for your home? 

Each of these fence materials has its own strengths and weaknesses. To mitigate the chance of encountering its flaws, build a strong foundation for your fences, install them properly (do not force them to fit if they don’t), and maintain them regularly.   

And before putting up your fences, don’t forget to consult with a licensed land surveyor first to be sure of your property boundaries and be knowledgeable about the location of your underground utilities to avoid deadly explosions like the one below. 

According to the news source, the man said that the edge of the property is his, but the field where a gas main was situated belongs to a farmer and probably, the gas main probably overlaps with the man’s property below the ground. 

The same thing may happen in areas where gas main are very common. In one of our sister company’s projects, the construction team discovered a gas main in the site. The previous owner of the property probably didn’t know about it, so he didn’t tell them but the thankfully, it was discovered, and no one was hurt when their construction project started. We were able to avoid it by simply following the rules and regulations set by the local government and performing procedures that ensure everyone’s safety. 

The answer may depend on the quality of fence materials we will use. Two of the most popular fence materials that you could use are wood and vinyl. 

Fences are meant to protect whatever they wrap around, but what if they can’t protect themselves from strong winds and possible damage?

During construction, homeowners often focus on the details of their primary and secondary rooms, living room, kitchen, and comfort room--which is totally unquestionable because these are areas where they spend most of their time. However, notice that there are areas of the house that weren't mentioned. Those sections are the basement, attic, and utility/laundry room. Some homeowners tend to neglect the designs of these areas, particularly the basement and attic, because they rarely visit those places, and that's totally understandable. The laundry room, on the other hand, is different. For sure, every household spends a couple of time in this place. It might not be longer than the time spent in the living room or bedroom, but a significant amount of time is still spent there. Therefore, to make that time worthwhile, the laundry room must be installed with exciting pieces of art or decorated with creativity aside from just installing washing machines and open cabinets. Laundry rooms must not only be functional, but they must also be sleek and interesting at the same time. 

We understand that it might be pretty arbitrary, so we prepared eleven laundry room makeover inspirations for different types of spaces. Have a look at the designs before this year ends and see which one fits your space and taste perfectly. 

Chic and elegant. Any laundry area with this type of style brings out the kind of beauty will definitely be loved and appreciated. To get started with this type of style, go all out with white and glossy materials. 

Any high-gloss material makes the laundry room easy to clean and imbibe a bigger room feel that lightens up the laundry burden so easily.

Get inspired by Toni Robert’s white laundry room below. 

Her fresh laundry space is completed with white cabinetries, a kitchen island, a pendant lamp, and a glossy chequered flooring that produces a bright and inviting atmosphere. 

When you have limited space for your laundry, the best way to keep it interesting is to make it a little cozy. Bring in earth-toned furnishings and lighting that cast a classy hotel-like vibe. When you do this, you will not mind staying in your small laundry space all day. 

The two small laundry rooms above were outfitted with earth-toned cabinets and biophilic furnishings such as woven baskets and interior plants that contribute greatly to making the space feel soft and soothing. 

Doing the laundry is sometimes unthinkable because it's tiring and could really be boring, even when you have the latest type of home appliance installed, such as the washer-dryer-type washing machine. Don't add any more loads to this burden by keeping things in your laundry room organized and pleasing to the eye. You can achieve it by installing lots of storage space that helps you keep your laundry supplies arranged accordingly, making it easier for you to move around and be stress-free during your laundry days. When things flow smoothly, less time is spent doing the laundry, and more time is spent on other things that make you feel happy. 

Earth-toned and white cabinets complement a cool stone floor in this laundry area by Audus St. Albans & Wokingham. 

If you have extra space, keep your laundry area and pressing station altogether. It saves a lot of time and energy, especially when you’ve washed heavy blankets and curtains, because you can keep them directly to their rightful place without going to and fro around your home. 

Another earth-toned inspired laundry room with lots of space for pressed curtains, blankets and other applicable textiles.  

Add variation to your laundry room’s look by including a mix of exposed and closed cabinetry where you can keep all your laundry essentials. Think about how you’ll use the space so that they are not just visually interesting but functional and efficient as well. 

This laundry room from  Audus St Albans & Wokingham features a mix of paseo verde closed cabinets and earth-toned open shelving and a deluxe sink.

In this laundry room from Interior Design of your dreams, the variation of open and close shelvings made from gorgeous natural woods and hanging racks don’t just make the space organized and efficient, it also creates a soft, calming atmosphere everyone would love.

Transition your laundry room seamlessly into a mud room, music room, office room, or whatever else you want it to be when you’re doing the laundry. Decorating it with proper furniture that fits your desired transition doesn’t just make you creative–it also makes you productive, especially when you’re getting a lot of non-laundry tasks done in between loads. 

This laundry room’s white and gray geometric wallcoverings and black hexagonal tile floorings matched perfectly with the white cabinetries and washing machine–making it a perfect multifunctional laundry room inspiration, especially for those who wanna go with a modern farmhouse design.  

With this large and comfortable laundry space, anyone can switch and accomplish any two non-related, non-food tasks smoothly. 

Prevent the utility room from being secluded and totally closed. If you have the option, nestle your laundry space by a window or door to make your laundry room feel more fresh and bright. You can also take advantage of the natural light that passes through in case you prefer to handwash particular clothes so you can easily spot small stains and brush them away from your favorite outfit pieces. 

Designed by Atlanta Interior Designer, this laundry room imbues a strong statement of mixed modernism and country style. The open door and window bring tons of natural light in, revealing the beauty of the sage green cabinetry combination, dark copper faucet, and herringbone flooring. 

Photo: Atlanta Interior Designer (@houseliftdesign)/IG

Don’t limit your self-expression to your living room and master bedroom decoration. Bring them anywhere, especially in places you’ll find totally uninteresting, such as your laundry room. 

Experiment with the wall color, wall prints, furnishings, and floorings. Aim it to be one of the best rooms at home where you can freely stay without staring at the clock and minding the real reason why you’re there. 

This eclectic mix of blue wall covering and blue-and-white patterned floor tile feels posh in this fun and unique laundry space from Jessica Margot Design Official. 

The colors of the sky and ocean are also a good way to keep your laundry room from being gloomy and uninteresting. The palette of teal, in particular, is one of the best options if you want to give it a go. 

The laundry room above from Arquitetura & Design is completed with teal cabinets with a very smart arrangement.  Some of these cabinets are filled with laundry baskets specifically placed for each family member to help keep track of their own laundry. 

Often, we want sleek and strong designs for office or bedroom spaces only, leaving the utility/laundry rooms with a much simpler look. What if.. we go beyond the norm and incorporate creativity in utility rooms as well? Doing so might help us get the same motivation we have whenever we stay at our home office or bedroom, even when we’re there doing the laundry.    

In this laundry room, ElevenFour used sextant patterned floorings to craft a sleek and strong style that is totally compelling.

Here’s another laundry room makeover inspiration you may want to see for yourself –an aesthetically pleasing laundry room that incorporates furnishings you usually find at glamorous stores and exclusive brands. 

Created by HomewarDesign, this classic and sophisticated laundry room setup includes mirrored cabinets with woven baskets beneath, white-tiled wall coverings on one side, chequered black and white tiles for its floorings, and a classic floral arrangement. 

One of the best ways to make your laundry day less tiresome is to allow yourself to be entertained by your pets. However, you need to keep in mind that it should be two-way, and your laundry space must be friendly and safe for them as well. If you’re considering this laundry room makeover inspiration, you may want to include custom dog housing, built-in feeding bowls, and pet-inspired wall decors. Don’t forget to make sure you’ll keep all your laundry supplies inside cabinetries that are out of reach to keep your pet (and your laundry supplies) safe and secured. 😁

This laundry room from Natasha Sawkins of @redcliffhouse_renovation featured a shower  for her dog. 

Photo: The Times & Sunday Times/Pinterest

The owner of this laundry room keeps the design minimal but what makes it different and unique is the inclusion of the pet’s litter box.   

After seeing the 11 laundry room makeover inspiration, have you seen the laundry room design that fits your preference best? Will you go for a space that has a lot of storage? One with mixed cabinetry? A room that’s multifunctional or a white and glossy laundry room? Maybe you’re considering the other laundry room inspirations–the one with outdoor access, the small but cozy type, the eclectic, the one which is inspired by water, the sleek and strong, the classy and sophisticated, or the pet-friendly laundry space? Whichever design you choose, ensure that it won’t get mixed up with the functionalities of the other areas of your home. If you go with the one with outdoor access or the multifunctional laundry room, have your contractor assess the overall structure first for safety and security purposes. 

And lastly, as much as possible, get the service of home builders around Tampa Bay area who can help you realize the laundry room design you’ve always wanted with your safety, security, and utmost satisfaction in mind.  

the laundry room must be installed with interesting pieces of art or decorated with creativity aside from just installing washing machines and open cabinets–it must not only be functional but also sleek and interesting at the same time. 

Here are eleven laundry room makeover inspirations you must see before this year ends to get you started. 

Your laundry room might no longer be your “most-hated” home space before this year ends.

11 laundry room makeover inspirations to see before 2022 ends

We’re halfway through the year. Have you or your family experienced some life-changing event(s) that prompted you to change your plans or lifestyle? 

From being a working mom to being a full-time mom because you have to sacrifice work for the sake of your kids, or from being indifferent towards your health to being a health-conscious person, or from working in a nearby place to being permanently assigned to an area far and outside Clearwater. 

Most of these changes seem good. How about complementing them with a home upgrade or renovation? 

When you change the design of your home based on the changes you want to happen in your life, you will be able to maximize the benefit of adopting these changes. For example, enhancing your utility room may help you become more efficient with the household chores and save you more time for your kids. Converting your entertainment room to a gym might help you with your health goals. Incorporating the latest home trend features may help you increase the value of your home before selling it for good and leaving Clearwater. 

Aside from these home upgrade ideas, we have prepared more renovation ideas that you can explore to help you save time. These ideas came from some of the trends forecasted this year, so incorporating them into your renovation goals might help you adapt to the changes thoroughly and help your home keep up with the trend. Here they are

One of the easiest ways to upgrade your home is by incorporating accent walls. If you become an environmental advocate, you can just put up any wallpaper prints that imbues your advocacy–fine print leaves, flowers, trees, plants, etc. If you want to go the extra mile, you can also have your wall decorated with open cabinets or dividers where you can display your interior plants. With accent walls, you’re not obligated to spend much, but if you want to go the extra mile, you can always have the choice.

Fireplace is often located in your home’s living room where family members gather together. If you’re someone who adopted a significant change this year, the best way to remain optimistic about that change is to deal through it with the help of your family or household members. Make that moment more memorable by spending it in a well-organized, clean-living room with attractive fireplace surrounds that can help draw your family’s attention. 

Photo: Town and Country Luxury Fireplaces/IG

The color of kitchen cabinets is no longer limited to neutral colors. If you have become health conscious this year, you can repaint your kitchen cabinets blue. Blue is known to increase focus. If you paint your kitchen cabinets or accent your whole kitchen blue, your determination to achieve your new goals will be easier. 

If you have decided to become more environmentally friendly, accent your kitchen with any shades of brown. Then put on some biophilic elements like plants or furnishings made out of rattan and the like. 

4. Consider adding an oversized kitchen island. 

If your kitchen space is broad enough, install oversized kitchen islands. If you want to maximize your potential as a mom, having this will be helpful, especially if you have it customized. With an oversized kitchen island that perfectly fits your cooking, baking, and washing needs, doing those house chores will be easier and faster, saving more time for your kids. 

Photo: Nick Sorensen via THELIFESTYLEDCO/IG

5. Converting one of your rooms into a room that fits your NEW set of priorities or goals

That room might be your stock room, game room, or entertainment room.

If your goals and priorities changed in the middle of this year, transforming that room into a space that helps you achieve them could be helpful. What room could it be? Probably, a more expansive utility room or a mini-library/playground for your kids if you decide to become a full-time mom. A gym or a garden, if you have decided to live healthily, or a home office in case you choose to work full-time at home. 

6. Enhancing your home’s front entrance

Being assigned to a workplace that requires you to leave your hometown permanently is probably one of the saddest yet exciting changes you may encounter this year. Sad because Clearwater has a lot of lovely beaches but exciting because new opportunities await. 

To temporarily ease the sadness, think of ways you can turn that loss into something like maybe, earning a substantial amount of unplanned money by selling your home. Of course, the money you will make cannot be compared to the memories created, but it could help. 

How do you increase your home’s market value?

There are many ways to upgrade your home’s front entrance; Add high-end transom and sidelights to your home’s front door, incorporate imported stone slabs to level up your home’s foyer, or heighten your ceiling. These are just some of your options to help you develop a grand front entrance that could “wow” prospective home buyers. When more people find your home interesting, there’s a high possibility of increasing the demand for your home and resulting in a higher market price. 

7. Converting your flooring to blonde wood

This renovation idea is another way to increase your home’s value because blonde wood flooring is trending, and design experts believe they are here to stay. If you have undergone other changes, such as a shift in lifestyle or change in priorities, having blonde wood flooring might help too. It could help you clear your mind and motivate you to achieve your goal because of the bright and clean vibe it gives.

Among all types of renovation, changing floors was quite the most popular. If you want a brand-new ambiance for your home without an overhaul, changing your flooring is one of the best options. 

There are many ways to achieve the renovation of your dreams, but before proceeding to the first step, knowing which one of those renovation ideas paves the way for you to keep up with the change you’ve undergone this year is vital. So, which among the renovation ideas do you think is the most appropriate and attainable? 

Incorporating accent walls, reinventing fireplace surround, repainting your kitchen cabinet, installing an oversized kitchen cabinet, converting one of your rooms, or enhancing your front entrance? 

Consulting high-end renovation experts from Clearwater might help. 

Most of these changes seem good. How about complementing them with a home upgrade or renovation? 

The kids are back at school, so if you’re planning to have some renovation, hesitate no more. The best season for a home renovation is NOW. 

Renovation ideas to explore if you’re from Clearwater and nearby areas

Photo: Uniquely Yours Interiors of Tampa/Pinterest

Known for being one of Florida’s states with the longest coastline, the presence of homes with coastal contemporary styles in Tampa Bay cannot be questioned anymore. These homes feature large, floor-to-ceiling windows which most single family dwellers love as these window walls provide unobstructed views of sunrise and sunset from beautiful Gulf coast beaches. In nearby areas which do not have access to the view of beaches, custom homes with window walls, on the other hand, bring in loads of natural light and provide a greater connection with nature without compromising indoor comfort. Because of these benefits, the number of home buyers who preferred window walls for their custom homes has grown significantly over the past years. Considering these changes, we at Parasol Properties prepared 3 tips that homeowners can review in order to choose the right window wall for their custom home in Tampa Bay. 

1. Determine the best material to use based on your climate. 

Since Tampa has a humid subtropical climate, the kind of material for window walls does not require some specialty, unlike those areas that experience extreme weather conditions. However, if you want to make sure you get the best for your custom home, the brand, WindowWall (Tampa) offers different types of windows based on your preferences–Specialty window, Hurricane Impact Window, and Energy Efficient Window to name just a few. They even offer a window that can weather the storm.  

2. Inspect the features of the glass wall

Once you were able to know the type of glass window to install, the next step is to inspect its accessories–the threshold, as well as the hardware and finishes. 

A flush threshold is usually the most recommended threshold when it comes to wall systems that utilize glass because it is known for its seamless transitions from indoor to outdoor, or from room to room. It cannot only provide a smooth indoor-outdoor experience, but most importantly it could protect your custom home from external and uncontrollable particles that may enter.  

In cases where flush thresholds are not available, simply make sure to choose a weather-resistant threshold for protection, especially during unprecedented typhoons. Get the advice of your contractor or your most trusted glass wall supplier for more tips. 

Aside from the threshold, another feature that should be considered is the hardware and finishes that will be installed on your window wall. Take note that aesthetics are not the only thing to consider but the long-term functionality of every feature that makes up your window wall. 

Always test the durability of the hardware and finishes, and the availability of it in the market in case it was destroyed unexpectedly. 

3. Review how you want your custom home to be set up

Once you identify the material that you think will be best for your window wall and inspect its features, the last thing you need to do is review the room layout. 

Will there be furniture or appliances beside the window wall?

These are very important so you can avoid unnecessary home setup revision especially when you’re planning to put a glass door beside your window wall, particularly the folding doors because it may require you to completely take out any furniture near it as they may obstruct or get in the way of the folding door. To prevent this problem in the future, review your setup now, or else, you may want to adjust the type of door you’ll buy so the home setup you have in mind will not be compromised. 

Known for being one of Florida’s states with the longest coastline, the presence of 

In a place where you can access the beautiful sunlight, know what type of window can be best paired with your home to maximize the view. 

3 Tips in Choosing the Right Window Wall for Your Custom Home

Concrete is one of the most durable materials used in construction. However, its strength might deteriorate over time, depending on how the concrete was processed. If too much water is mixed with concrete, if it dried too fast, or if the amount of concrete used compared to its purpose is not balanced, the concrete may deteriorate a little quicker than expected. The deterioration starts with defects, and they may appear in the following forms: 

Flaking (otherwise known as Spalling) - This defect is exhibited by the concrete when small particles of cement paste peel away from the finished portion of its slab. 

Cracking (otherwise known as shrinking) - Cracking will always occur with concrete. This defect can be categorized into two, major and minor cracking. Minor cracking is normal; it is the result of aging. As concrete ages, it develops stronger bonds and hardens. During this process, minor cracks are expected.  The lines (or valleys in concrete) are where planned cracks are intended to form. 

However, cracks due to certain conditions could lead to major issues, which could be dangerous.

The defects mentioned could lead to the deterioration of the concrete beyond the acceptable level. The usual causes of these defects are the following: 

Weather
The weather plays a significant role in the concrete's properties, just like how it impacts stone and soil. The rain heavily influences the consistency of the concrete, making it prone to cracking or flaking. The consistency of the concrete will not change immediately, but the results may manifest over time. 


Temperature
Hot and cold temperatures impact the concrete as well. When it is hot, the concrete tends to contract, and the contraction will result in cracking or shrinkage. The concrete tends to expand when it is cold, mainly below the freezing point. Additives could be mixed into the concrete to prevent freezing, but they come with their own set of issues. Settling could happen due to the moisture under the concrete that freezes when it is cold. If this occurs frequently, it could create internal pressure, and the surface layer of the concrete will be stressed, leading to uneven settling.  


The Concrete Mix 
The amount of water poured at the job site. There are cases when workers put more water in the concrete mix than what is required because it makes the concrete easier and faster to pour and spread. However, along the process of hardening and drying the concrete, water evaporates, resulting in shrinkage. If there more water evaporates, the shrinkage will also be worse. This shrinkage is not good because the pressure it creates pulls the slabs apart, resulting in cracking.

Weather and temperature impact the concrete negatively, leading to defects and, later on, deterioration. Since these factors are inevitable, it is only necessary to check the concrete slab in your place on a regular basis and assess concrete whether it's up for replacement or repair. Crack measurements that are more than 3 mm (1/8") in width are deemed unacceptable and therefore need to be attended to. However, how will you determine if the concrete needs to be repaired or replaced?  

Repairing is usually done by refinishing, adding layers over the top such as epoxy to fill the cracks, or resurfacing, a method that scraping the top layer of concrete adds a thin layer overtop. We don't recommend any of these ways, as they will still have underlying issues. If there are cracks on your concrete, here's what you need to do or your homebuilder needs to do: 

Inspect the concrete area for the possible existence of utility lines. 

Once cleared of utility lines, jackhammer and remove

Reuse road crush, OR Lay the ground with new rock (if the existing road crush is unusable)

We hope these tips help you know whether you will replace or repair your concrete. Employing the right process to address the cracking or flaking of your concrete is vital in ensuring its durability and, simultaneously, securing everyone from possible danger. It is also important to be appropriately executed so the work will not be repeated, thus, preventing you from paying extra costs. 

It is deemed unacceptable and therefore needs to be attended to. However, how will you determine if the concrete needs to be repaired or replaced?  

Making the right decision saves you from a lot of trouble, including making your homebuilder go back and forth to fix your concrete repeatedly, resulting in more bucks coming out than having them in. 

The open floor plan concept has been trending for some time. If you’re one of those homeowners who have this type of style with ample kitchen and dining space, you may want to consider adding an oversized kitchen island. Doing so can help you contain the kitchen space a bit and create a very distinct atmosphere from the rest of your custom home’s section. Aside from helping you with your open floor plan, obtaining an oversized kitchen island can provide more benefits. These benefits will help you determine how having an oversized kitchen island is really worth it. If you’re interested, let’s proceed with the benefits. Here they are 

Your oversized kitchen island can help express your personality. Simply choose the design that emphasizes the particular style you prefer. Do you want your kitchen to be stylish and colorful? An oversized kitchen island is definitely a great way to complement it–especially now that vibrant kitchen cabinets are trending. 

Those who live in beachfront custom homes, particularly those who live near beautiful beaches, can also leverage their oversized kitchen island to create an illusion of eating in a floating restaurant. They can achieve this by installing the oversized kitchen island near the window walls. 

If you want to be minimalist with your kitchen design, an oversized kitchen island will definitely be a great addition too. You’ll discover why in a bit. 

2. Great tool to keep the kitchen organized

An oversized kitchen island is a great tool to minimize kitchen furnishings. Aside from being a cooktop, an oversized kitchen could serve as a dining table and kitchen sink at the same time. Oversized kitchen islands can be an all-in-one kitchen furnishing that minimalists want. Simply customize it by integrating the functional features you need. List all the features you could think of--more expansive space for preparing the ingredients, cooking or baking space, dishwashing space, or even more cabinetries for your food stocks. An oversized kitchen island can even include a large kitchen hood, stacked warming drawers, and refrigerator. 

Once an oversized kitchen island is customized, it can allow every skilled household to help and move around the kitchen freely. They can help in cutting meat, vegetables, and food seasonings, washing dishes, and preparing other necessary tasks. With this oversized kitchen island, any cooking task will be lighter and more efficient, saving more time for the host to rest or socialize. 

3. Provides more seating spaces for family and friends

The last thing that an oversized kitchen island can provide is, of course, the chance to entertain more people since there are more seating spaces. A regular kitchen island can provide seating space but fewer. An oversized kitchen island is different because it can provide enough seats for your friends and family. Well, the type of kitchen island that has this kind of feature is quite different than the previous style we’ve discussed since this time, the focus is more on entertaining rather than food preparation. Nonetheless, both types have more reasons for you to get an oversized kitchen island for your custom home. 

An oversized kitchen island can be very much helpful when the right style is chosen. Therefore, custom homeowners should ensure that the functions of their kitchen island are tailored to how they envisioned their goals and home living. If you’re one of those who consider purchasing or customizing an oversized kitchen island for your custom home, please don’t forget to review why you want to incorporate it. Do you want an oversized kitchen island to personalize your kitchen? Use it as a tool to keep your kitchen organized? Provide more seating spaces for your friends and family? or, all of them? By reviewing these benefits, you will be able to incorporate the oversized kitchen island for your custom home, which will help you know that obtaining one is definitely worth it. 

If you’re one of those homeowners who have this type of style with ample kitchen and dining space, you may want to consider adding an oversized kitchen island. Doing so can help you contain the kitchen space a bit and create a very distinct atmosphere from the rest of your custom home’s section. 

An ample kitchen space is best paired with furnishing that provides custom homeowners with the most benefit. 

Is obtaining an oversized kitchen island worth it? 

Source: Town and Country Luxury Fireplaces/IG

The fireplace has been considered to be a vital part of one’s home. Historically, they were used for cooking and heating the water for laundry, but nowadays, the function of the fireplace is often limited to heating one’s home. 

Long before smartphones existed, the charm of a fireplace used to draw a lot of people closer to each other as they gathered around it to feel the heat it emitted. As soon as they sit all together around it, whatever happens during the day will not be left unsaid. While stories were shared, everyone who stayed will feel relaxed and mesmerized not only by the memories they shared but by the pleasant crackling sound of the burning logs that soothed the atmosphere. Upon looking back, families can’t help but relive how it became a safe haven for most of them.  Fireplaces used to be the heart of one’s home, and they can still be everyone’s favorite place today. See how you can make everyone at home gather again by redesigning your fireplace using the 9 modern industrial fireplace surrounds below. 

Furniture made of wood always looks classic in one’s custom home but is it okay to incorporate them even in fireplaces? The answer is, 

As long as the model follows the provisions required by International Residential Code (IRC) which mainly talks about the space required between the fireplace and the combustibles. 

Having this wooden modern industrial fireplace surround by Town and Country Luxury Fireplaces paired with a wooden hearth and decorative pieces of rustic-themed furnishings can definitely draw every household member’s attention. Set a schedule and invite them over a cup of tea, coffee, or a glass of wine with your favorite charticurie set, and have each one share a particular story or thought they would like to share with everyone else in the family. It could be thoughts about life, friendship, hobbies, school, work, or even business matters. Sharing such things could work out each one’s relationship making it deeper and ties, stronger.

Incorporating cabinets on your modern industrial fireplace cladding can give it a stunning look no one would expect. 

The fireplace surround and cladding by Joseph Kasbar reveal how carefully planned open shelvings can provide essence and substance to plain living room structures like the one above. 

Wallpaper is another great option to level up your modern industrial fireplace’s surround and cladding. You’ll have a lot of designs to choose from, and they can be replaced easily without spending a lot. Upon applying the wallpaper, just make sure to overlap them by at least 1/8" of the expected size because the wall may expand or contract over time, causing the wallpaper to shrink a little.

The geometric wallpaper pattern design for the fireplace cladding above is definitely a great addition to the cozy living room. 

If you think the first three options don’t fit your preference because of safety reasons, you may always go with fire-resistant modern industrial fireplace surround and cladding such as bricks, stones, and the like. These types of wall surround tend to be long-lasting and can be preserved over long periods of time. An example of this would be the d’Artagnan’s chimney from the castle of Castelmore, the home of the famous musketeer, Charles d’Artagnan. Those who have read Alexander Dumas’ novel, “The Three Musketeers” must have been familiar with d’Artagnan because his story is the inspiration behind the novel. Have a quick look at this real-life musketeer’s fireplace below. 

A trip back in time: The traditional fireplaces of south-western France

Even after centuries, bricks and stones still have their beauty that could add more charm even to a modern industrial fireplace. 

Even with brick cladding, this design by Urban concepts brought a touch of modernity that suit well with the modern industrial fireplace making the room look stylish and archaic at the same time.  

Source: Urban Concepts (Safety Harbor) /Pinterest

Whether it be a countertop, flooring, or walls, premium stones such as marble and granite always bring these home features to a higher level of luxury. Incorporating them into your fireplace surround could result in the same thing. If you feel like gathering your household together with a more hotel-like feel, having them on your fireplace spot may help you achieve that vibe. 

A white marble fireplace on the left made the baseball play watching look expensive and comfortable to the eyes. 

Whether you opt for a plain fireplace surround or a decorative one, tiles are definitely a great choice. They have a wide range of color options, designs, shapes, and materials that could help you maximize the design of your fireplace so it could bring that ultimate comfort your family member craves every time they go home. 

The tiled fireplace surround has bold geometric patterns that are carried down to the hearth creating a striking statement everyone would not doubt to take a 2nd glance at as it helps them warm themselves during the extremely cold winter season. 

Tampa Bay area homes a lot of tile suppliers that can help you get the best pieces of tile for your modern industrial fireplace surrounds. Shaw floors from Clearwater offer a wide variety of tiles, so they can definitely help you get the best if you decide to cover your fireplace wall with decorative tiles. 

The development of the Modern Industrial Fireplace paved the way for concrete to be an excellent addition to this list. With the right paint color and setup, simple concrete can make your fireplace surround look awesome. 

Designed by Urban Fireplaces, the white(left) and gray(right) concrete cladding of the modern industrial fireplaces above made the home even sleeker and inviting, making it a perfect spot for family gatherings. 

Log compartments attached to a modern industrial fireplace cladding are eccentric. I’ve never two with the same version. Each has its feature, even if all logs look the same. Having that kind of unique feeling could definitely keep everyone looking for that vibe making every family member gather together every once in a while. 

The neat, round, and decorative logs filled the log compartments of the modern industrial fireplace cladding above by Brick Bond Solutions. If logs are unavailable in your area, firewoods will do. If you’re from the Tampa Bay area, you can source them from Acorn Tree Service. They are located in Largo but also serve in the following areas: Clearwater, Seminole, Indians Rock Beach, Pinellas Park, and Belleair, Florida.  

TIP: If you aim to use this style as inspiration, always ensure that the logs are fully dry, clean, insect, and mold-free. 

Shiplap is a type of wooden board in the form of horizontal planks commonly seen as the exterior siding of the construction residences, barns, sheds, and outbuildings. It can also be seen in home interiors–as walls, flooring, ceiling, and fireplace claddings. 

The modern industrial fireplace above by Madison Alcaz is painted white, while the mantel seems to have retained its original color creating a totally different and interesting fireplace look. 

Began reliving the memories by making your fireplace space everyone’s favorite spot again. Renovate it to incorporate your desire to bring your family together every once in a while. Desire it to be a beautiful place where you can continue creating memories and building stronger family ties no one could ever break. 

Fireplaces used to be the heart of one’s home, and they can still be everyone’s favorite place today. 

Good fireplace surround can protect someone but the best ones can make one’s fireplace’ stay lovelier and more memorable. 

9 Modern Industrial Fireplace Surrounds and Cladding

Some minutes have passed since midnight. I was scrolling through my Facebook feed when I saw a post that hit me hard–the video of a man’s encounter with his younger self who used to dream about his college graduation four years ago. The man in his black toga smiled at his 2018 self while One Direction’s “just how fast the night changes” was played in the background. 

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