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3 Fantastic Reasons to Replace Your Windows

When it comes to home improvements, it’s easy to overlook replacing your windows. After all, unless a pane is cracked or you notice an active leak by the windowsill after a rainstorm, you likely give little thought to the frames. However, replacing your windows is one of the best ways to make the house more comfortable and improve property value. As with all aspects of your home’s exterior, the windows will eventually need to be replaced. Here are a few great benefits of having new windows installed before the old ones are completely worn out.

3 Fantastic Reasons to Replace Your Windows

Less Noise Pollution

Old single-pane windows do very little to reduce noise contamination around the house. If you’re watching TV with the volume up, there’s a good chance your neighbors will be able to hear it. Similarly, if there’s a party down the block, you’ll likely hear the music and revelry well into the night even if the windows are closed. Upgrading to new double or even triple-pane windows will greatly reduce the amount of noise that seeps in or out of your house.

Better Insulation

Old windows have a way of growing draftier by the year, making the house incredibly warm during the summer and cold and humid during the winter. By installing new windows, you’ll be able to keep each room more comfortable year-round without putting additional strain on your heating and cooling system. Even better, the added insulation of new windows will help reduce your energy bill for many years to come.

Easier to Open and Close

Though Texas has some pretty volatile weather, we also see many beautiful and cool days during the spring and fall. Rather than running the air conditioner, many homeowners simply open the windows and enjoy the fresh air. However, old windows are notoriously difficult to open and close as dirt and age can damage the tracks and hinges. Upgrading to new windows will allow you to open and close the windows easily.

Replacement windows are one of the best investments you can make in your home. Contact us today for more information or to schedule an estimate.

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Drywall Repair & Sheetrock Repair – Why Hire a Pro

You’re probably thinking to yourself… “I can patch up that damaged Sheetrock in my bedroom”. You can purchase a drywall repair and Sheetrock repair kit at any home improvement store and do the job yourself, right? In theory, yes, but there are a number of reasons to rely on a professional instead.

The Appearance After Repair

This is the biggest issue with attempting to fix damaged Sheetrock yourself… it usually doesn’t look good! A lumpy appearance and shoddy workmanship are bound to be a problem if you don’t do the repair properly. Spacing, proper application, and the general knowledge of working with Sheetrock on a daily basis are all relevant factors to doing the repair work properly. And, as a homeowner who generally doesn’t work with these materials on a daily basis, you’re likely to do something wrong which will result in the work being done incorrectly.

What a Trained Professional Brings to the Table

Instead of attempting a drywall repair & Sheetrock repair DIY project yourself, you’re far better served hiring the professionals at Excellent American Painting & Handyman Service to do the work instead. Some reasons to do so include:

  • The company is fully licensed, bonded, and insured, guaranteeing the repair work done on your walls.
  • The experience of working with the equipment, drywall, and knowing how to repatch and repair the damage.
  • The use of the proper tools, equipment, and bonding materials, ensures a smooth, even finish, once repairs are complete.
  • A team which is fully equipped to perform major or minor repair services, and will guarantee your satisfaction with the services performed.

Ultimately, licensed and trained professionals are knowledgeable, know the proper tools to use, and how to properly approach the repair job. They also understand not all drywall repair is a “one size fits all” task, meaning a repair kit usually isn’t the best approach to repairing damaged drywall.

To learn more about services offered by Excellent American Painting & Handyman Service, or to schedule your consultation you can call 214-938-1088 or contact us online today to speak with a trained professional who can help you determine the best approach to tackling your service needs.

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Create Distinctive Looks in Your Home with Faux Finishes

Custom paint is an excellent, cost-effective way to add interest to the interior of your residence. When getting one or more rooms painted, consider adding faux finishes that will produce a distinctive appearance in your home.

Create Distinctive Looks in Your Home with Faux Finishes

To create a stylish look on walls and ceilings, one popular choice with homeowners is sponging. After applying a base coat of paint and letting it dry, a sponge is used to softly dab the surface to create a lovely design or texture utilizing a mixture of glaze and coordinating paint colors of your choice. This type of finish will add depth to any room. Because techniques vary, sponging creates a unique appearance that you’re sure to love.

Color washing is another excellent way to add a unique look to one or more walls in your home. Such a treatment looks quite stylish in a master bedroom or family area. Color washing will create a textured, Old World appearance on a wall. After a base coat is applied, a different color of paint mixed with glaze is applied. The base coat will still show through but with a softer look. Depending on your preferences, additional layers might be needed. This type of custom faux finish adds dimension to a room and makes a perfect accent in a home.

If you want a truly unique and exciting look in one of your bathrooms, consider getting a harlequin faux finish on the walls. The diamond-shaped pattern will create immediate interest in the room. Select gorgeous paint colors in two similar tones for a fabulous result. You can even outline each diamond in gold, silver, or some other shade of metallic paint for a chic appearance that you won’t see in many homes.

Multiple types of beautiful faux finishes exist for residential homes. For more information on the kinds of custom faux finishes you can get for your walls and ceilings, please contact us today.

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Popular Paint Color Choices for a Chic Interior

After several years time, all houses need a little touch-up to keep them looking in top shape. An excellent way to accomplish this is with paint. To give your home a fresh, new look, consider repainting the interior of each room. If you can’t decide on a specific paint color for the walls, the below suggestions can guide you. Several excellent choices exist that will give your rooms a chic appearance.

Popular Paint Color Choices for a Chic Interior

Creamy White — Still one of the most popular paint choices with homeowners, white brightens a room and allows you more freedom with your decorating since it goes with everything. Choose a white with light creamy undertones so that the color isn’t a blinding white, which can look too sterile.

Taupe — If white seems too ordinary, or you’re just ready for something different, try a gorgeous taupe color. This shade is a combination of gray and beige, so it looks fabulous with traditional as well as contemporary decor. It’s a great compromise when you can’t agree on one specific color since it’s a mixture of two commonly favorite shades blended into one.

Dusty Rose — For a color that’s simple, yet elegant, try dusty rose. This shade is a muted tone of pink. Don’t let the pink scare you away though, because this color also includes undertones of gray to balance it out. It looks chic with both light and dark wood stains, making it quite versatile and a favorite, regardless of your decor style.

Blue-Green — A paint color that is gaining popularity with homeowners is one that consists of a delicate blue-green. Both the blue and green tones, blended with only a touch of each, combine flawlessly to produce a soft, pale result.  This wall color goes exceptionally well with white cabinetry in your kitchen and bathrooms. Furniture and materials in gray or with gray accents will also genuinely highlight this distinctive color.

For more information about interior paint colors, or to set up an appointment to get the rooms in your home painted, please contact us today.

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When Your “To-Do” List Becomes Overwhelming

When you own a house, it always seems like a thousand different projects need doing. If your “to-do” list has become overwhelming, consider hiring a professional handyman to help you out. A good handyman will have experience in a variety of areas and can help to make your life a lot easier.

When Your “To-Do” List Becomes Overwhelming

Things a Handyman Can Do For You

* Install New Ceiling Fans – If you’ve purchased one or more ceiling fans for your home, and they’re still in the box, then you need help. Climbing up on a ladder, fiddling with the electrical wiring, and then trying to get everything installed correctly can seem like a daunting task. When you hire a handyman, you don’t have to go through that. A handyman, with ceiling fan experience, can do it faster, safer, and better.

* Paint the Baseboards – If your baseboards are dull and grimy, then they need repainting. New-looking baseboards will improve the appearance of your entire home. Instead of trying to match up the paint yourself and then spending your weekends or evenings on your knees painting, let a handyman do the job for you. With the expertise of a professional, the task will go quickly, and you won’t have to give up your own time.

* Put Up New Shelving – If you need storage shelves in your home office or garage, don’t fret over measuring everything to try to get them installed correctly, ultimately to realize that they’re still not straight. Hire a handyman who can put up those shelves like a professional. You’ll get the extra storage that you desperately need without the hassle or the anxiety of trying to hang the shelving yourself.

Just about any job on your “to-do” list, whether large or small, can be handled by a professional handyman for a reasonable cost. For information about hiring a handyman, please contact us today. We’ll help you get your home in order and ease your stress.

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Ceiling Fan Installations – 6 Reasons To Hire A Pro

Ceiling fans are a great way to keep the air moving to cool down in summer and push heat from the ceiling in winter.

If you are considering ceiling fans, here are six reasons why you need a pro to install that new ceiling fan.

Ceiling Fan Installations - 6 Reasons To Hire A Pro

1)Electricity is dangerous. Even household currents are strong enough to cause severe injury and death. Professional electricians deal with this every day. They have the tools and the experience to keep people from being hurt.

2) Pros have the tools. Sometimes installing a ceiling fan is as simple as mounting it to a bracket in the ceiling and connecting wires. What if a bracket needs to be placed? What if more wiring has to be run from a wall switch or even from the panel box? Saws and drills are just a few of the tools needed. Professionals already have everything they’ll need on the truck.

3) Done right. When you hire a professional, the work is done correctly. If there is a problem with the installation work, the professional comes back and makes it right at no charge to you.

4) Safety. Poor or bad wiring jobs are ranked in the top five reasons for house fires in the US. Professional electricians know how to get the wiring right. It will last a lifetime when they do it.

5) Older wiring. Some older houses were not built to today’s strict building codes. The available wires don’t match the color coding in the ceiling fan schematic. A professional knows which wires to connect where, no matter the color.

6) The right fan. How much fan do you need? How much is too much? Experts know exactly what you need for the space you want the fan to cover.

Need a ceiling fan installed? Contact us and we’ll get the job done right the first time.

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The Spring Cleaning Spots We Don’t Think to Check

Spring is already right around the corner on the calendar and many of us are starting to get the itch to begin cleaning and making repairs around our homes. We all know the typical spring cleaning “to-do’s” – wipe down baseboards, wash the walls, clean up and maintain our garden beds. The list can seem endless.The Spring Cleaning Spots We Don't Think to Check

But what about the things around your home that you don’t think to clean or repair? If left untouched for too long, the resulting damage can cause major problems.

Today we want to focus on an area of your home that may not get the attention it needs: your fixtures. For those of you wondering, fixtures are any items in your home that are in a “fixed” location, such as lighting fixtures, toilets, sinks, etc.

When is the last time you walked around your house and took a good look at the condition of each fixture you have? With spring cleaning in mind, now is a great time to assess if you have any fixtures that are in need of repair or replacement. Jot down any problem areas you notice on a notepad in order to help prioritize which items need fixed or replaced quickly and which can wait.

It is important to look for rust spots, worn materials, leaks, loose nuts/bolts, frayed wires or any chips or cracks. A small crack or leak can cause significant damage if it remains unnoticed for too long. As you are wiping baseboards, dusting, cleaning floors and removing excess clutter, take a few moments to make note of any fixtures that may need attention.

Most importantly, don’t try to tackle all of your chores in one day – either take your time or call in a team of professionals (like us!) to help you get the job done right!

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Why You Should Not Wait to Repair Damaged Drywall

Drywall is a low-cost, attractive way to make your home comfortable. Made from gypsum and crystalline water, this type of wall and ceiling has become the most popularly used material for homes in the US. But if not repaired properly when it is needed, damaged drywall can cause not only structural problems, but health risks as well.

There are several reasons drywall may need to be replaced:

Why You Should Not Wait to Repair Damaged Drywall

House Settling – as your home settles, the framework may shift and even a slight shift can cause strain to make your drywall crack.

Poor Installation – Sometimes drywall is not installed properly and this can lead to cracking and exposed seams.

Moisture – Any time drywall is penetrated – either with drywall screws or nails to hang things on – it will weaken and expose the insides of the drywall, making it vulnerable to dampness and moisture.

Additionally, if your drywall has been exposed to moisture, you risk mold building up in ways you may not even be able to see. The medical effects of mold range from slight – headache, cough, congestion – to deadly – neurotoxicity, cancer, pulmonary fibrosis.

In much the same way a windshield crack slowly spreads across the entire window, a simple crack or unstable seam can lead to increased cracks and crumbling walls.

Not making necessary repairs to your drywall can lead to more expenses in the future because the longer you wait, the worse the damage will become. This can cause a small job to become a much larger and more expensive undertaking.

Contact us today to arrange for a consultation so we can work together to ensure you and your family are safe from drywall damage.

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3 Reasons to Install a Wireless Video Security System

It can be difficult to find the right fit for your home when it comes to security systems. There are so many options out there that it’s hard to find out which brands are the best. Whether you’re looking to protect yourself or an entire family, home security is serious.  To make the search easier, we compiled a list of the top three reasons to have a wireless video security system installed in your home:

3 Reasons to Install a Wireless Video Security System

1. Home Protection

This is the main reason that people want security systems installed in their houses, and who can blame them? Everyone wants to feel the most secure in his or her own home. Intruders tend to steer clear of homes that are obviously equipped with cameras that could identify them. A video security system could potentially decide whether your house is robbed or left alone.

2. Video Identification

If a trespasser does attempt to break into a home that is equipped with a camera security system, then it is easier for police to potentially find and arrest that person. Without video footage, it is more difficult to identify the intruder; therefore, making it less likely to catch the criminal.

3. Remotely Monitor Your Home

Most video security systems allow the homeowner to view his or her house through the eyes of the cameras via a smartphone or another mobile device. This feature is important because it could be the difference between catching a trespasser and returning from a trip to a ransacked house. For example of how this feature works, if you were to go on vacation, you could view video footage in real time, and upon seeing suspicious activity, call the police to investigate.

Now that you have some information about wireless video systems, you can dig a little deeper to see which system is right for you and your family. We know that it is extremely important that your home be safe from intruders of any kind, and these systems can keep you and your family away from all types of danger.

If you have any questions regarding the installation of wireless video security systems, don’t hesitate to contact us.

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How To Deal With Your Gutters After A Storm

If you own a home, you work hard to keep it in good working order.  You maintain the plumbing and the electrical work so that they continue to work.  You paint the walls in every room to make the house more comfortable.  You take care of the lawn and make sure that it stays green.  You paint the outside of the house so that it looks good.  However, the most dreaded job that every homeowner hates is cleaning the gutters.

How To Deal With Your Gutters After A Storm

Why is cleaning the gutters the most dreaded job of every homeowner?  It involves you getting on a ladder while maintaining your balance and trying not to hurt yourself.  After that, all you have to do is to stick your hands into the nasty buildup in the gutters, which could take you all day.  Of course, you can just pay someone else to do it for you, but that cost money.  That is why you cannot wait for winter because you do not have to worry about your gutters.  However, that is where you are wrong.  There is one time where you will have to worry about your gutters during the winter.  That time is after a storm.

You will notice that a heavy layer of debris covers your roof after a storm.  You may think that this is a roof problem, not a gutter problem.  You are right, but it can become a gutter problem.

What can you do?  The best way to prevent this from happening is to make sure that you clear your roof after all post-storm debris.

However, if you do not get there in time and debris buildup begins to form in your gutters, you can attempt to get on a ladder and clear it out by hand or you can call a professional to come out and do the work for you.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you are interested in having your gutters tended to.