Different Types of Underfloor Heating

Most of us aren’t fans of waking up to a cold room during the winter months. Nothing is more unpleasant that setting your bare feet down on a cold floor when all you want to do is snuggle up and stay warm. If you have been looking for new and better ways to heat your home, underfloor heating is a cost-effective and energy efficient solution to consider.

Underfloor heating comes in four different options that heat your home differently:

1. Electrical underfloor heating – This system is the most popular because its installation is relatively simpler and cheaper than other options. This type of system is increasingly being used in bathrooms and kitchens. It uses a continuous wire heating cable laid out under the main floor boards and onto the sub-flooring. The insulation board under the main floor surface heats up and spreads heat evenly around the room. Electrical underfloor heating can be controlled by thermostats, so you can adjust the heat to your desired level.
2. Undercarpet heating – This system utilizes heating pads placed under your carpet, which come in a variety of shapes and sizes. They can be positioned under wall-to-wall carpet and even under loose rugs. Undercarpet heating can quickly warm up an alread- insulated area.
3. Forced air underfloor heating – This type of system utilizes a series of ducts that are installed under the flooring, which are connected to a boiler and powered by natural gas. This method heats up the air and delivers heat faster; however, it is not as energy efficient.
4. Wet underfloor heating – This is also known as hydronic heating, which uses a continuous loop of pipes that are embedded in the floor and allow for a circular, nonstop flow of hot water. A central heating boiler provides hot water to the system. This is a very popular method due to its energy efficiency and comfort.

Jennifer Fields
Oklahoma City & Edmond Real Estate Agent
405.330.0031

Curb Appeal 101: Front Porch Decoration

Having a superbly decorated front porch is like a huge welcome sign. It gives your guests a preview of what’s inside and a window into the character of your home. Whether you have a large or small porch, how you decorate it can make a strong statement about your home.

With just a little investment and effort as well as some creativity, your front porch can be the envy of the neighborhood. If you are planning to decorate your porch, you can simply treat your porch as an outdoor room. Analyze the size, proportions, and layout of your porch. Postulate on the average number of people you’ll be able to comfortably entertain.

If you expect to have a large number of people and you have the appropriate size porch to accommodate them, you may opt to install a various array of seating options. For instance, one set of Victorian Wicker furniture could be combined with dark wood, outdoor side-tables to create a pleasant lounge area. Whatever you decide, make sure that the furniture you’re placing on the porch complements the design and theme of the house.

When choosing outdoor furniture, consider closely the weather proofing qualities of the material it is composed of. Wicker and bentwood furniture are the perennial favorites, but the modern advances in man-made materials have given way to impressive lines of synthetic furnishings. Use your budget to gauge the material and design that would be perfect for your home.

Have you ever noticed the difference a boldly painted front doorhas on the overall vibe a house emits? Try painting your front door, porch flooring and railings with a high quality exterior paint that extenuates your home’s natural charm. Opt for rich colors that complement your home.

You may also add plants to bring life and color to your front porch. Flowers make any ambiance lighter, more relaxing and refreshing. Choose plants that represent your style as well as the atmosphere you want to propagate.

Jennifer Fields
Oklahoma City & Edmond Real Estate Agent
405.330.0031

Bingo For Roses to Benefit the Oklahoma Rose Society

A rose garden blooms with vibrant colors and blesses those who walk by with its pleasant fragrances. Various hues and sizes of roses make them a unique and special kind of garden ideal for homes, commercial green areas and even public parks.

In Oklahoma City, one of the most beautiful rose gardens is the Charles E. Sparks Rose Garden. It is a 2-acre rose garden with more than 90 kinds of roses and over 800 colorful rose bushes. The garden was planted by the Oklahoma Rose Society in 1938 and until this day, the group continues to advocate the garden’s beauty and preservation.

This coming Saturday, February 7th, the Oklahoma Rose Society will be hosting a special bingo event that will serve as a fundraiser for the group’s advocacy. Bingo For Roses will be a fun family-centered event, with bingo cards available at the price of $5 each.

As prizes for the winners of the Bingo games, the Oklahoma Rose Society will be handing out rose bushes. A bake sale will also be held to those who love pastries and sweets! Plus, members of the Oklahoma Rose Society will be available to answer any questions about the garden and the roses.

Bingo For Roses will be held on February 7^th, from 1 pm to 4pm at the Will Rogers Garden Center.

Jennifer Fields
Oklahoma City & Edmond Real Estate Agent
405.330.0031

Illuminate Your Bathroom with Glass Shelves

Bathrooms are usually the smallest rooms in the house, which is why they often present the biggest challenge when it comes to storage. Since floor space is often limited, it can be difficult to fit in additional furniture and storage units, which is why it is best to go vertical.

Shelving is the most practical way to increase your storage and maximize wall space. The bathroom is where most of your daily rituals occur, and you must have a place to store all of your countless toiletries, medicine, towels and wash cloths, extra rolls of toilet paper, etc.

Once you’ve decided to install shelving, the question then becomes, “What kind?” Glass is a great option to use instead of wood. Wooden shelves tend to swell, peel, and become home to mold, bacteria, and fungi due to the moist and humid bathroom environment. Glass, on the other hand, is non-porous and comes in many different styles.

Glass comes in a variety of looks, ranging from transparent and reflective to translucent and matte. If you want to help reflect limited artificial lighting throughout your bathroom, reflective surfaces are a smart option. If you have a window that provides nice natural light, but not a lot of privacy, opt for glass that allows light in, but not transparency. Glass blocks are a popular choice for achieving the latter.

Another thing to consider is the weight bearing capacity of your shelving. You can determine this by  the thickness of the glass, whether it is tempered or not, and the method of installation. You can screw long, vertical, metal strips down the wall, insert metal brackets at the desired heights, and then lay your glass across the brackets. You can use two parallel strips or, for heavier glass, three for added support. Make sure your strips have been placed on studs in the wall, so they are secure and won’t rip out of the wall.

Jennifer Fields
Oklahoma City & Edmond Real Estate Agent
405.330.0031

Choosing the Right Interior Paint Color for Your Home

The style of your home interior sets the tone for your living environment and how you and your guests feel when you are inside your home. One of the biggest factors to consider when decorating your home is paint color. Different colors better complement different types of architecture, and different colors create different energies and feelings within your home.

So, how do you determine which paint colors to use?  Here are a few tips:

• Decide what theme or mood you want for your home. This will help you narrow down which color schemes to focus on. Do you want your home to be more dramatic? Do you want it to be brighter? Do you want it to be more colorful and fun? Do you prefer monochromatic ambiance?
• Consider your existing furniture, art, and flooring. Select a color that will blend well with the current color of your furniture, so it does not seem out of place.
• Compare different color combinations. Do some research on color combinations to learn more about traditional color palettes, those that are most trendy, etc. This will give you an organized starting point, so you can have some guidance when picking out colors.
• Test your colors. Oftentimes, what you see on the screen or on paper does not necessarily look the same when it is applied to your walls. The look of paint depends on a lot of factors, including the type of lighting in your home and the sheen you choose. Test your colors prior to purchasing all of your paint, so you can be sure you have picked the right color, and you don’t waste money on paint that isn’t right.
• Consult experts. If you are at a loss of how to paint your home, hire an interior designer to help you identify the perfect colors. You can also ask a professional home painter for advice, as they will have a lot of experience with viewing which shades look best in different environments.

Jennifer Fields
Oklahoma City & Edmond Real Estate Agent
405.330.0031

New OKC Housing Center to Provide Shelter to the Homeless

In this time of economic unrest, many people have found themselves without a roof over their head, or even a bed to sleep in. In some worst cases, these unfortunates suffer from mental, physical, or emotional sickness with absolutely no access to treatment.

The Homeless Alliance is hoping to provide for medically vulnerable homeless people through a housing development set to open this year. The complex will be able to offer shelter to the homeless and care to those who are suffering from untreated medical conditions.

The proposed facility for the homeless will be located within the organization’s WestTown Resource Center. It will have 20 dormitory-style rooms and will help keep residents near social services and medical care.

According to the organization, the new facility is built with a goal of providing the utmost care to homeless people who are medically vulnerable. There will be various benefits available including medical care, case management and legal assistance.

The new homeless center is said to cost around $1.35 million. $670,000 of the $1.35 million comes from a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development grant.

Jennifer Fields
Oklahoma City & Edmond Real Estate Agent
405.330.0031

Choosing the Right Interior Paint Color for Your Home

The style of your home interior sets the tone for your living environment and how you and your guests feel when you are inside your home. One of the biggest factors to consider when decorating your home is paint color. Different colors better complement different types of architecture, and different colors create different energies and feelings within your home.

So, how do you determine which paint colors to use?  Here are a few tips:

• Decide what theme or mood you want for your home. This will help you narrow down which color schemes to focus on. Do you want your home to be more dramatic? Do you want it to be brighter? Do you want it to be more colorful and fun? Do you prefer monochromatic ambiance?
• Consider your existing furniture, art, and flooring. Select a color that will blend well with the current color of your furniture, so it does not seem out of place.
• Compare different color combinations. Do some research on color combinations to learn more about traditional color palettes, those that are most trendy, etc. This will give you an organized starting point, so you can have some guidance when picking out colors.
• Test your colors. Oftentimes, what you see on the screen or on paper does not necessarily look the same when it is applied to your walls. The look of paint depends on a lot of factors, including the type of lighting in your home and the sheen you choose. Test your colors prior to purchasing all of your paint, so you can be sure you have picked the right color, and you don’t waste money on paint that isn’t right.
• Consult experts. If you are at a loss of how to paint your home, hire an interior designer to help you identify the perfect colors. You can also ask a professional home painter for advice, as they will have a lot of experience with viewing which shades look best in different environments.

Jennifer Fields
Oklahoma City & Edmond Real Estate Agent
405.330.0031

Choosing the Best Ceiling Fan for Your Home

No matter the season, a ceiling fan always has a relevant use in your home. Whether you’re cooling off your house during the warm months of summer, or circulating hot air to keep your home temperate during winter, there’s always a benefit to having a quality ceiling fan. Another advantage of purchasing a fan is that it saves money on your utility bills. Ceiling fans cut down a great deal on heating and cooling costs year round.

There are a variety of different choices available to you when it comes to ceiling fans.  Let’s talk about the most practical choices for your lifestyle.

First of all, you will want to consider the size of the room when you are trying to find the best fans for your home. Ceiling fans come in a wide range of different sizes, and the size of the room should be the basis for deciding the size of your ceiling fan. You will want to opt for a smaller fan if you are buying fans for a smaller room.

Low ceilings require a different type of fan compared to high ceilings. High ceilings need a fan with down-rods, as these will circulate the air across the living space. Low ceilings should be fitted with a flush-mount or hugger fan.

Your fan’s motor type is a vital aspect in its performance ability. There are two basic varieties of motor for fan; these are friction drive and direct drive motors. Direct drive motors are the simplest selection as they require fewer elements to operate. Direct drive motors are quite costly, but will be worth the additional expense if you are looking for a long term venting solution.

One final thing to look for in a ceiling fan is reviews from other customers. Make sure you can see what has worked and what hasn’t worked for other customers in order to save time and the hassle of having to return a dysfunctional unite.

Jennifer Fields
Oklahoma City & Edmond Real Estate Agent
405.330.0031

New CNG Minibuses for OKC Public Schools

Compressed natural gas transportation options are not only an economically-friendly alternative to traditional travel, but they are also more efficient. Natural gas is cheaper than most petroleum products and contains far less pollutants. Additionally, it is among one of the cleanest burning fuels with incredibly low levels of toxic emissions.

In Oklahoma City, three new minibuses will be added to the fleet serving students in Oklahoma City Public Schools. The three minibuses are CNG powered and will be a massive asset to the city considering their benefits to the overall cost of transportation.

According to district officials, the three new CNG buses will be serving 10,000 students every day. It is expected to travel 100 miles a day and will be able to seat up to 29 students in each bus. The new buses will be serving a 136 mile area of the city. Each bus cost a lease of $785 per month. Midwest Bus Sales will be providing the CNG bus and have offered a discount to the district for a three-year lease on the three buses. Midwest Bus Sales representatives present a savings of $10,000 per bus during the lease contract to the city.

Jennifer Fields
Oklahoma City & Edmond Real Estate Agent
405.330.0031

Choosing the Right Front Entry Doors to Add Value to Your Home

If you are interested in updating the look of your home, a simple thing you can do to create a big impact is to install new front entry doors. Updating your entryway provides an instant facelift and can actually increase your home’s resale value. In fact, a recent study found that an improved entryway increased the perceived value of a home by nearly $8,000. Not a bad return on investment.

Security and weather resistance are two main factors to consider when looking for a new front door. You want a door that will keep out unwanted intruders and the natural elements, yet still have style to make it an aesthetically pleasing addition to your home.

Front entry doors can be made of almost any material, ranging from  wood and wood composite to steel, fibreglass, and aluminium. If you want to go for a more traditional look, wood is the best material to use in order to achieve that. Wood doors are often the most expensive, but they are also highly resistant to dents and wear and tear. That makes them a more economical choice in the long run because they can last for years as long as they are properly maintained.

If you want a sturdier option while still retaining the natural feel of a wood door, then you should consider fibreglass. It does not rust, shrink, or swell and is incredibly weather-resistant. It isn’t prone to scratches or dents and is less expensive than solid wood.

Steel doors can withstand extreme weather and are great for security purposes. They are also cheaper than the wood and fibreglass doors. Nowadays, you can even purchase steel doors that are laminated with a wood veneer to give them a more natural feel at a fraction of the cost.

Jennifer Fields
Oklahoma City & Edmond Real Estate Agent
405.330.0031