[New Post] 5 Reasons To Improve Your Outdoor Living Space In Scottsdale published on

Living in Arizona comes with many perks. And although the summer season can and often is associated with extreme heat, the truth is that the majority of the year, the weather is very livable. In fact, the temperate weather we see from October till early May is often a critical element as to why people choose to move here – especially as they plan to retire. With that being said, here are five practical reasons why making improvements to your outdoor living space can be very beneficial for you and your family.

Benefits Of Sprucing Up Your Outdoor Living Space

Reason #1 – Spring is the Season for Outdoor Living

When the calendar hits March and April the outdoors is the place you want to spend the majority of your time in Scottsdale. With temperatures hovering in the mid 70′s from sunrise to sunset, and nighttime temperatures not too extreme, the Spring season is often the best time to entertain friends and family members in your back yard. It’s also a popular time during the year for people to host BBQ’s after work or on weekends as the weather is perfect for this type of relaxing activity.

Reason #2 – You Can Create a Fire Pit for Social Events

Another popular outdoor activity is to enjoy a warm and cozy evening in the backyard with friends that have a fire pit. But did you know that installing one is actually rather simple? In fact, it’s said that one of the quickest and most cost-effective ways to improve your outdoor living space is to install a quality-built fire pit. And whether you’re looking to install a pre-fabricated, gas powered fire pit, or simply create one for natural fire wood burning, spending an evening with friends and family in your back yard next to a warm fire is very popular these days.

Reason #3 – Improving Landscaping Can Reduce Indoor Energy Costs

Did you know that by simply adding a few shade trees, strategically placed in your front or back yard, can save a ton of money during the summertime on electricity? It’s true. Natures ‘shade’ often can keep a home much cooler during the hot summer months due to foliage that block the hot sun rays from entering east or west facing windows. A great way to keep your energy bills lower in the summer is to consider upgrading your outdoor landscaping by adding more trees or foliage that will block the sun from entering windows. Not only will this help save you money, but adding additional trees can also improve your overall home’s value.

Reason #4 – Adding Pools & Custom BBQ’s Increase Home Value

The weather doesn’t need to be ‘temperate’ to enjoy the outdoors. In fact, many smart Scottsdale residents make the decision to install an in-ground pool so that they can enjoy the outdoors during the hot summer months. Along with the addition of a pool, many home owners in Scottsdale are seeing the value of installing custom gazebos or outdoor cooking areas that include custom BBQ’s, small refrigerators and even food preparation areas. When the sun dips into the west, entertaining friends and family at night in the summertime is a lot more fun when you have a great tool like an outdoor kitchen to enjoy in your back yard.

Reason #5 – Outdoor Entertaining is good for your Health

Finally, they say that a breath of fresh air is good for you – but do you know why? The truth is that many homes in Arizona are often dusty due to the fact we live in a desert. But, if the home is not properly maintained by replacing HVAC filters every month, the indoor air inside a home can be contaminated with bacteria and other harmful particles that can lead to common colds, spread flu and even lead to certain COPD flair-ups. Spending a few hours outdoors in a relaxing back yard or front patio can significantly improve your lung function and help those who live with COPD live a higher quality of life.

Truth be told, there are thousands of reasons why you should consider making improvements to your outdoor living space. But just like any home improvement project, the best way to make changes is to decide on a few ideas, plan and research on what it would take (both economically and physically) to accomplish that goal, and set a budget to ensure you can get your project accomplished on time and safely.

 

Read the full story at: http://peakonebuilders.com/improve-outdoor-living-space-in-scottsdale/

[New Post] 4 Common Mold Types In Residential Homes In AZ And Beyond published on

Many home repair specialists often regard it as a ‘silent killer of homes’. And although mold is not a huge issue inside residential homes in Arizona (thanks to our dry weather) the fact remains that it is possible for molds to form especially during the monsoon season in late summer. As they say, ‘knowing is half the battle’; so, here are four of the most common mold types that are found in residential homes in Arizona and across the US.

Common Mold Types To Be Aware Of

Common Mold #1 – CLADOSPORIUM

Cladosporium is often found outdoors however it can and often is found in dark and damp environments inside a home, like a basement for example. It’s not a toxic mold but it can and often does cause significant reactions for people who live with COPD or have sensitive immune systems. It’s classified as an airborne mold, meaning that the damage done when it is breathed in as opposed to rotting out wood or home materials. It’s suggested that if you encounter Cladosporium mold that it should be removed by a professional mold remediation company as it can cause additional health risks if not properly eliminated from a home.

Common Mold #2 – PENICILLIUM

The second most common mold type found in the United States is Penicillium. It’s often found growing on dead-organic matter (such as rotting trees) in outdoor applications. It’s commonly recognized by its ‘fuzzy white, green or blue’ color that grows on food inside your refrigerator when it is spoiling as well. When you eat food that contains penicillium it can cause severe gastric pain and irritation – and the airborne version of Pennicillium can increase COPD flair-ups, cause allergic reactions, watery eyes and severe coughing. Like the above mold, it’s recommended that a professional mold removal company be contacted if you see this type of mold growing inside your home.

Common Mold #3 – ASPERGILLUS

This mold is one of the most dangerous ones due to the fact that it’s very fast growing. Commonly found in basements or after flooding occurs inside a home, Aspergillus mold can also form anywhere there is high humidity or organic materials for the mold to use as food to rapidly grow. Just like many other molds, the Aspergillus mold tends to metabolize mycotoxins, which are extreme allergens that can cause severe respiratory damage. As like most molds, it’s highly suggested that a professional be contacted to remove this type of mold from any home.

Common Mold #4 – ALTERNARIA

Even though this final common mold type is regularly found outdoors, Alternaria can and often does enter a home, especially homes in the mountains. Alternaria will often be found in carpets, flat surfaces and clothing, and unlike most molds does not require copious amounts of water or moister to grow. It is a fact that Alternaria tends to show up in dry areas like Arizona more frequently. Most of the time, this type of mold will begin to grow rapidly when there is a water leak or water damage done to a home.

The key thing to remember is that common mold types growing inside your home can lead to significant medical problems and should never be handled lightly. Although mold is not common in Arizona, it’s always recommended, especially if you’ve recently had a water leak or flooding inside the home, to contact a mold removal and detection expert – just to be on the safe side.

 

Read the full story at: http://peakonebuilders.com/4-common-mold-types-in-residential-homes-in-az/

[New Post] Arizona Leading the Way in Helping Homeless Veterans in 2014 published on

According the City of Phoenix, in 2011 there were 222 chronically homeless veterans living in the Valley of the Sun – all of whom were battling some type of mental or physical conditions that often led to some sort of substance abuse. That simply was not acceptable to many Phoenix-metro area residents including Peak One Builders founder, Michael Christensen; a retired Army veteran who considers ‘giving back’ as a mission, not a luxury.

Thanks to the collaborative efforts of City and State Officials, private business owners and several non-profit organizations, the State of Arizona seems to be leading the path in truly helping homeless veterans not only find affordable housing, but also to gain the medical, psychological and substance abuse assistance in order to live a quality life they fought to preserve.

A Realistic Solution in Helping Homeless Veterans

As stated above, in 2011 more than 200 homeless veterans in Phoenix had no place to find shelter, no safe environment to stay warm at night and no place to gain the therapy or medical assistance they need in order to live a proactive and engaging lifestyle. Most of these homeless veterans served in the Vietnam War or Operation Desert Storm only to return home with physical or mental handicaps that often led to substance abuse issues.

However, in 2009, the State of Arizona stumbled upon a realistic solution to this growing problem. According to local and national surveys, it is more expensive to cover the costs of emergency room visits or nights in jail for homeless people than it is to give them homes. A 2009 analysis commissioned by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, found that the monthly cost of housing and supportive services for one person was $605, while the public costs of a person living on the streets were roughly $2,900 a month.

This led the State of Arizona to take proactive measures to find ways to create affordable yet highly effective methods to provide homeless veterans with the housing and services they needed. And the program seems to be working. As late as December 2013, it was estimated that less than 45 of Phoenix’s homeless were veterans – and all of them found temporary housing before the New Year came. It is suggested that every homeless veteran will find permanent housing by Feb. 14 2014.

Now several non-profit organizations are also taking this problem by storm including The Arizona StandDown – an organization supported by Peak One Builders team. The Arizona StandDown is an alliance of community-based organizations that come together to provide annual, one to three day events that bring together the State’s homeless and at-risk military veterans, connecting them with services ranging from: VA HealthCare, mental health services, clothing, meals, emergency shelter, transitional and permanent housing, ID/drivers license’s, court services and legal aide, showers, haircuts and a myriad of other services and resources.

Arizona StandDowns are held at various locations throughout the State with the largest, serving approximately 1,500 veterans, at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum at the Arizona State Fairgrounds in Maricopa County.  The next event is a Motorcycle Rally to be held on February 8^th, 2014. The event starts at 9:00am with registration and a full pancake breakfast kicking off at Harley Davidson of Scottsdale. You can learn more about this event, and find out ways you can help contribute to a positive solution of helping homeless veterans by visiting their website at http://www.arizonastanddown.org.

Read the full story at: http://peakonebuilders.com/arizona-leading-the-way-in-helping-homeless-veterans-in-2014/

[New Post] Home Improvement Trends Reflects Changing Dynamics published on

It’s no secret that the demographics of the United States are rapidly changing. Gone are the days of 2.5 kids, a white picket fence and one dog. Today’s collective country is aging – and with more large family homes quickly evolving to fewer full-time occupants, several homeowners are taking proactive measures to remodel a home to suit their current needs. It is for this reason and many more that many of today’s popular home improvement trends are focused on comfort as opposed to expansion.

Home Improvement Trends Focused On American Current Needs

Here are a few growing home improvement trends based on the evolving landscape of the United States:

Increase in Energy Efficiency

One of the most popular attributes that homeowners seek in any home improvement project is to increase the energy efficiency of their older homes. They can accomplish this through several different home improvement projects including:

• Replacing older major appliances with new, Energy Star® rated units


• Installing new windows or window seals in order to reduce the amount of lost air inside the house


• Upgrading the homes ductwork, sealing the ductwork or repairing it to keep cold and warm air from escaping the house

Each of these individual steps has been shown to significantly improve the overall energy efficiency of virtually any home. The bottom line is that when the kids are leaving home, parents are looking for ways to reduce their monthly expenses in order to save up for retirement or permit them to have more disposable income, especially in times of economic uncertainty.

Remodeling To Suit Medical Needs

Another reality of life is that our baby boomer generation is getting older. And as we age, our bodies tend to wear down or we become more prone to injuries that can and often do impact our daily lives. It’s due to this fact that another growing trend in home remodeling is making improvements to a home that allow us to live safer lifestyles or accommodate injuries or medical conditions. Some of these improvements include:

• Adding hand rails or upgrading bathrooms to non-slip flooring to ensure safety


• Installing wheel chair access ramps inside homes


• Upgrading kitchens with easier to access and operate appliances, cabinets and safer flooring

Converting Bedrooms to Entertainment or Storage Rooms

As our children leave home for college or to start their own lives, another growing home improvement trend is to convert their bedrooms into entertainment, guest or storage rooms. This type of home remodeling project is rather simple to complete as the majority of the time it requires very little construction – just addition or subtraction of certain furniture products. As current home ownership average age increases in the next few years, we will see more of these types of home improvement projects.

On the flip side, some homeowners are looking to increase livable space inside their current homes. This is why another popular home improvement trends for existing homeowners is adding a new bedroom or bathroom for guests (especially grandchildren). This type of home improvement project tends to add value to a home, which is another reason why several homeowners in Arizona are choosing to expand their homes as they get older.

The key to making any home improvement is to consider the needs of you and your family for the long term. Adding safer home additions, upgrading or adding storage or livable space and increasing the energy efficiency of any property are smart ways to provide more equity to your home, reduce your monthly costs and save more money each month.

 

Read the full story at: http://peakonebuilders.com/home-improvement-trends-reflects-changing-dynamics/