All Things Homes - July 2011

2 All Things Home Magazine

FurnitureFurniture Center 15

Glass/MirrorsAnderson Glass 16 Bullseye Glass 10

Grout Staining/SealingGrout Works of Central Texas 12

Handicap ModificationsAccess Mobility 18

Home BuildersKevin Bearden Custom Homes 7

Home TheaterCustom Integrators 11Matt Panter Home Theater 15

House PlansGreat House Plans 11

HVAC ContractorsLochridge Priest 3Oasis Heating and Cooling 16

InsulationDEK Insulation 13E6 Insealation 6 Think Home Insulation 18

Index July 2011

Featured ArticlesComparing Flooring Materials 8

How to lower your electricity bill 14 in less than 5 minutes Your custom home building tips 17

Featured BusinessesBlinds and ShuttersPeg’s Blinds and Shutters 19

Building MaterialsRedwood Inc. 19

CarpentersRingo’s Construction 16

CountertopsGary Beam Formica Countertops 16Goldstone 19Italian Granite 13Red’s Quality Marble 6Unique Kitchen & Bath 12

ElectricianMr. Electric 13Zawadzki Electric 18

FlooringBrazos Valley Carpet One 20Custom Stain and Scoring 6Lake Air Interiors 12Texas Art Tile 18

PUBLISHERAll Things Home™

ART DIRECTION & DESIGNJose Gonzales

TO ADVERTISE PLEASE CALL254.709.6045

Insurance AgencyTerry Strickland State Farm 10

IrrigationStein Lawn and Landscape 18

Metal Roof SuppliesPioneer Steel and Pipe 15

Paint/SuppliesWigley’s Paint Inc. 6

Plumbing FixturesWaco Winnelson 19

Portable BuildingsCook Portable Warehouses 2

RoofersTalbert Construction 2Wehrmann Metal Roofs 6

Real Estate LoansLoan Source 6

RemodelingKevin Bearden Custom Homes 11Talbert Construction 2

Septic SystemsBlount’s Septic 16

To advertise in next month’s issue of All Things Home, please contact

254.709.6045 or email us at: [email protected]

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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.

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Tile or stone is arguably one of the most durable floor surfaces available. Several varieties of materials, colors, and patterns provide countless installation combinations. A “rectified” tile offers a crisp edge for smaller grout joints, while a tumbled stone requires larger grout lines for the decorative chipped edges. Just like wood, stones have different hardness. Depending on the hardness or pitting of the stone, initial maintenance and long-term care should also factor into your selection.

Maybe a hardwood would better suit your needs? A quality hardwood floor will be a lasting, durable surface that is cleanable and simple to maintain. It’s warmer on bare feet than tile and area rugs can add color and cushion in living areas, corridors, and bedrooms. As a hardwood ages and wears, it can also be reinvigorated by refinishing it to look new several times throughout its lifespan.

Carpet is usually a more cost-effective solution to updating your flooring, or maybe it just better defines your sense of “home.” Consider upgrading to a stain-resistant fiber. It’s a big selling-point for family home buyers and might give you some peace of mind when creating the guest list for your next holiday meal. A solid urethane pad provides a luxuriously cushioned step and can extend the life of your carpet.

Even vinyl flooring has made several advancements in recent years. If you like the durability of vinyl, but detest your outdated peel-and-stick, there are several grains, stains, and plank sizes that mimic wood. These “luxury vinyl tiles” ,or LVT, can resemble nearly any kind of flooring to achieve a much more appealing style without sacrificing ease of care. Consistent material thickness makes combining several looks together for borders, accent strips, and insets simple for installers and dramatically reduces labor costs compared to similar designs with natural materials.

Your best resource is to seek advice from a flooring professional in your area. Be sure to find someone knowledgeable and understanding, who addresses each of your concerns. If you find yourself being pushed by an impatient salesman- leave! Locally owned businesses count on customers to survive, so it’s in their best interest to make sure you’re satisfied. Also, do your homework. Research on-line, talk to friends, and visit a few showrooms to see where you feel most comfortable spending your hard earned money.

How do you know which type of flooring is right for your home? There are so many options it can be a daunting decision to take the plunge into updating your floors. Therefore, I’ve made an overview of some of the most popular flooring types to assist you when tackling this task.

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The cost you pay for electricity-or really anything else for that matter-is a function of a very simple equation: Usage times Rate. The most obvious, and unfortunately underused, method of reducing your electricity bill is to simply lower your rate. Without unplugging your appliances or putting your thermostat under lock and key you can reduce your electricity bill by 30% next month and every month after that. One of the benefits of living in the great state of Texas is the power to choose your electricity provider. That’s because electricity in most parts of Texas has been deregulated for a number of years.

In this case, however, the term “provider” can be misleading. When you choose a different electricity provider in Texas, the electricity still comes down the same lines into your house. If there is an outage, you still call the same number for repairs. For all practical purposes, the only thing that changes for the consumer is the name on the electricity bill, and more importantly, the RATE! In fact, the whole process can be done online in just a few minutes. Vault Energy Solutions helps Texas businesses and homes lower their electricity rate. We work with dozens of the top electric companies in Texas to obtain the lowest rates for our clients. To see how you can save on your home or commercial electric bill visit vaultelectricity.com or call 1-877-91-ELECTRIC

Many customers who are interested in building a custom home assume that they must have their plans “in hand” before meeting with a potential builder. This step is not only unnecessary, but could also end up costing the buyer

additional fees.

It can be very easy to get caught up in the design phase. Customers can end up adding more square footage than they are able to afford. Meeting with a builder after you have your plans drawn creates an extra step as many buyers need plans redrawn after finding out

square footage costs.

To prevent this from happening to you, make an appointment to meet with

a builder before you have any plans drawn. During the

meeting, the

builder can give you an estimate on the cost per square foot for the type of house you would like to build. Some builders have a fixed price per square foot. Others, like myself, give a separate “per job” bid based on the types of materials and features you want to

include in your house.

Most builders will meet with youat not cost to determine how much square footage will comfortably fit your budget. It’s just one part of our job. I encourage you to obtain several bids. Find that builder that clicks with you and understands your needs. Once you have found your ideal builder, he or she can

assist you in getting your plans drawn

(often at a discounted price).

Building a home is a huge investment. You should have the home of your dreams at a price you can afford!

Brazos Valley Carpet One Floor and Home has been locally owned and operated for over 30 years. We are a leader in the flooring industry because of the quality of product, customer service, warranty, and unbeatable knowledge that only 30 plus years in the business can give.

We would like to introduce ourselves, Harlan King and Beverly Culp, owners of Brazos Valley Carpet One Floor & Home. Our personal goal is to provide people with quality products and service that will make your home complete and enjoyable. Our staff is trained and ready to assist with all of your needs and we are always available to answer questions. Together with our sales staff, we have the expertise to create the most enjoyable buying experience.

If you haven’t visited our store, we want to personally extend an invitation to come see what we are about. Whether you are looking for expert advice, design consultation, or a “pain-free” flooring installation, we are the store for you!

All Things Homes - July 2011

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