Home Improvement New Year’s Resolutions

Welcome to 2022! When it comes to resolutions about getting in shape or starting a new diet, it’s pretty common for people to abandon their goals for the new year within three months. If you’re looking to make a resolution to take better care of your home, here is all the information you’ll need to make sure you start the year off right (and how to make sure you keep the new lifestyle going through 2022 and beyond)! Keep reading to learn some achievable, easy things you can do to stay motivated to improve your home in the new year.

Renew Your Relaxation Space

Bedrooms can become a retreat of and for your dreams, so long as you have a clear vision of how you want to feel while in this space. Do you tend to get distracted and scroll endlessly online, losing precious hours of sleep? Make the change in 2022, and begin creating a relaxing, no-screens atmosphere. You can create better bedtime habits by setting your phone to “Do Not Disturb” after dinner and turning off overhead lighting until morning time. You’ll notice a lack of screen time before bed can lead to better sleep! Reward yourself for these new habits by investing in a comfier bed set!

Upgrade your Bathroom

The bathroom is one of the most commonly used rooms in any home, so it’s important to personalize this space now if you haven’t done so beforehand. Use the new year as an excuse to upgrade your bathroom space! Whether it be a tub-to-shower conversion or transitioning to a walk in tub, make sure your bathroom space reflects your personality and unique needs. If you need inspiration, you can check out some of our past projects here. People spend an average of 416 days in a lifetime in their bathroom, so you may as well make it a pleasant experience!

Stay Safe

The beginning of a New Year is a great time to replace the batteries in your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. The National Fire Protection Association put together this handy guide so you know the optimal places for your smoke detectors. We all are prone to forget, so the best reminder is the first day of the year! This is a great time to change more than batteries – you should also check your in-home fire extinguisher, and get your roof and electrical system inspected.

Save Energy

The best time to minimize your carbon footprint is now! If you’re looking to be more environmentally friendly or lower your energy costs, here are a few tips.

Upgrade to energy-efficient windows
Replace your A/C filter regularly to help your unit run more efficiently
Replace old, high-flow showerheads with water-efficient showerheads
Plant trees – not only will it add value and curb appeal to your home, but this is as earth-friendly as you can get in a pinch!
Unplug devices when not in use
Replace outdated, high-flow showerheads with a water-efficient showerhead (we can do this for you during a bath renovation)!

Do you have any other ideas for home improvement or upkeep, or want to share your New Year’s resolutions with us? Reach out to us on social media!

If you’re looking for a home improvement company, we hope you will consider FHIA. We offer a variety of options, competitive pricing, and high-quality installation services offered by skillful and courteous experts!

Childproofing Your Bathroom

A bathroom is a place of carefree play for your young tot(s), but having children be in such a wet space (often with tile) can be incredibly anxiety-producing for adults trying to ensure the safety of their children! Luckily, there are a few tried and true ways to make your bathroom a safe space for your child. You just need to put the effort in!

Follow the steps below to be sure that your bathroom is safe for the little ones in your life!

Install a lock on the door. If your bathroom doesn’t already have a lock that locks from the outside, it might be time to start thinking about investing in one. Children love to wander, and minimizing the risk that your child might run into the bathroom unattended is a great way to start.
Get a toilet paper holder. We all know that kids love to unravel toilet paper and make a big mess, much to the annoyance of their parents. Ensure that your toilet paper stays in its proper place, nice and tucked away from any potential slipping hazards, by getting a toilet paper holder!
Place a non-slip mat on your tub floor. To ensure that your child doesn’t slip and hurt themselves while they’re in the tub, be sure to purchase a non-slip mat! You will want to make sure regularly that your non-slip mat hasn’t developed mold or mildew spots, however.
Protect your child’s head with a spout cover. Kids can easily hurt themselves by bumping their hands against the bathroom faucet. Ensure their safety by placing a spout cover over the bathroom faucet!
Never leave hair styling equipment turned on and unattended. If you often style your hair with heated appliances, make sure to never leave them unattended. These can be a serious burn hazard for your little one!

Of course, when it comes to anything bathroom-related, always feel free to call the experts at FHIA or contact us via our website here!

How to Deal with Bathroom Condensation

Whether you just redesigned your bathroom or it has been the same for years, it’s impossible to avoid condensation after a hot shower. To avoid any moisture buildup or mold, follow these tips from FHIA to manage your condensation!

What is condensation?

Condensation is the process of vapor turning into a liquid. The steam from a hot shower will turn into water droplets when it reaches a colder surface, such as your mirror or walls of your bathroom. With the humidity coming from a shower, condensation on the surfaces of your bathroom is unavoidable.

How to deal with it:

Let out the air!

Does your bathroom have a window? Opening a window to let some of the humidity outside will greatly help lessen the condensation. If you don’t have an exterior window, an extractor fan is the next best thing. Turning on the air vent that will pull that air outside will help keep the air moving in your bathroom.

Wipe it down

Taking an extra minute or two after your shower and wiping down the surfaces with condensation can help you eliminate any mildew that would form. Using a towel to wipe off your counters or mirror can ensure no liquid is left sitting on your surfaces.

Dehumidify

If you have a running problem with excessive condensation in your bathroom, a dehumidifier can be a great investment! This handy appliance can help extract the excess moisture from the air and collect it as water. This is a great option, because you can reuse your collected water for your plants, filling your clothes iron, or even for cleaning your car!

Why it matters

When you finish your shower and see a foggy mirror, you may not think twice about it. Condensation on your walls and surfaces can lead to mildew or bacteria buildup. The moisture left on your surfaces could seep in. Oftentimes, bathroom walls will begin to show discoloration hinting at mildew in the walls. Pay attention to any signs of mold or mildew in your bathroom and treat it immediately to keep it a healthy space.

Have questions or need help planning your next home remodel? Contact FHIA for a free project quote today! Follow us on Facebook to get inspired by our recent projects and join in on the conversation.

FHIA Design Tips: How To Pick Bathroom Tiles

When you’re picking out tiles for your bathroom spaces, you need to consider both style and functionality. The right tiles can complete your bathroom space and accomplish the look you were hoping for. Here is a guide to questions to consider when you’re picking out tiles for your space!

Different Tiles-Different Spaces

There will be multiple locations in your bathroom space that you could choose to add tile to. The shower floor, wall or ceiling, a backsplash, or the bathroom floor. Choosing your must-have tile material can be a great way to design the rest of your bathroom to flatter your favorite tile! If your choice is something colorful, patterned, or large in size, it would be best to choose more minimal decor or hardware to really help your favorite tile pop and add visual interest. A great rule of thumb is to choose no more than three different tiles for your bathroom space – anything more can look a bit busy.

Shower Tile

The tile that goes along to your shower needs to be both durable and safe. For the best protection, it’s best to opt-out of tiles within your shower in favor of a mold- and mildew-resistant surround. For the floor tile, you want to ensure that it will not be slippery when wet. For the walls and ceiling, it’s always good to consider water resistant materials to avoid mold. The ceiling and walls of your shower are a great place to add color or design as there will be more options to choose from. When choosing your shower tile, take maintenance into consideration – porcelain or ceramic tile is practically maintenance-free and easy to clean, so you can spend less time cleaning your tiles and more time enjoying them!

Backsplash

Backsplashes are a space for you to get creative! Backsplashes are always a great space to add a pop of color to your bathroom. Getting creative with your material choice is also common here; porcelain, glass, and ceramic can all make for a beautiful backsplash. If you have dark cabinetry or hardware, lighter tiles on your backsplash can help the space from feeling to dark or cramped. Additionally, lighter tiles can reflect light and make the space feel bigger, especially if under a window or mirror!

Bathroom Floor

Your floor needs to be both durable and non-slip. Water on your bathroom floor is not avoidable, but making sure it is safe to walk on is a must! Adding texture to your bathroom tile flooring can add some texture, durability, and accessibility. If you opt for smooth tile on your bathroom floor, make sure to keep the tile away from wet areas that are prone to be slick.

Color Choices

The colors you choose for your bathroom tile can have big effects on your space.For a smaller space, light colors can help make the space feel larger. For a larger space, darker colors could also work well. Adding an accent wall in your bathroom can also help bring the space together.

Did you find these tips helpful? Let us know on our social media pages if you learned something new about tile or have an idea on how to decorate your bathroom!

For more information about FHIA and our comprehensive menu of home remodeling solutions, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team now. Pick up the phone to speak with one of our agents or fill out our online form to request a free, no-obligation, in-home pricing estimate, and consultation.

How To Winterize Your Home

Winter is here! This time of year can be especially busy with the holidays, but your home still needs to be a priority. We have compiled some helpful tips to make sure your home looks great and keeps you safe this season!

Break Out Festive Decorations

Now’s the time to dust off your Christmas decorations and get your holiday displays set up. Whether you prefer a traditional look or something more creative, there are so many ways to decorate your home this time of year.

Of course a classic Christmas tree setup will make your living room look inviting. Consider adding soft furnishings in deep greens, reds, or blues to give your spaces a cheerful winter atmosphere. Decorative curtains, throw pillows, and blankets themed for the season can give a special touch to your living room, den, or bedrooms.

Make your front door welcoming with a wreath! Over-the-door wreath hooks make hanging them up simple. Consider putting out a doormat with a Christmas design or phrase on it. Poinsettias are a beautiful plant to decorate your doorstep with this time of year.

Don’t forget about your bathrooms while setting up your Christmas decorations. Set out seasonal hand towels with festive designs. Really impress your guests by providing seasonally scented hand soap in your bathrooms. There are so many recognizable scents this time of year from pine to cinnamon that you could select. If you are looking to stand out as an incredible host, consider leaving out hand lotion in a matching scent that your guests can use. The colder weather (yes, even in Florida) could be making everyone’s skin drier.

Your kitchen is the heart of your home, so it is likely to see a lot of activity during the holiday season! A great way to set the mood is by setting up a stovetop potpourri to make your kitchen smell incredible.

When it comes to setting up Christmas lights, there are a lot of creative options! In the next section we will cover how to safely set up exterior Christmas decorations.

Stay Safe While Sprucing Up

If you want to get the outside of your home ready for Santa’s arrival, it’s important to do so safely! The twinkles of Christmas lights are always some of the most beautiful sights this time of year. The last thing you want to damper that beauty with is a hazard or injury.

Before climbing up to hang Christmas lights, ensure that your ladder is secured. If it is possible, have a friend or family member with you for additional safety. While you are up there, clean out your gutters! Don’t let leaves or debris become a fire hazard.

Check your strands of lights for burned out bulbs or frayed wires before you start hanging them up. Use surge protectors to reduce the risk of electrical fire.

To avoid damage to your roof, only use Christmas light hooks to hang up your lights. Nails or staples c

Remodeling Projects to Complete in a Florida “Winter”

Florida isn’t known to have cold winters – famously, Florida hosts some of the warmest weather in the U.S. during this season. Most people save remodeling projects for nicer weather, but there are several advantages to remodeling in cooler seasons, especially in Florida!

Remodeling contractors are generally less busy and have much more flexibility during the offseason. They can plan your project with you from start to finish, paying close attention to all the little details that make a project great. Second, some materials are less expensive. You’d be surprised at the amount of money you can save on items like doors, tile, flooring and even lumber! This means your winter project is likely to be quick and budget-conscious.

Bathroom & Kitchens

Generally, any inside remodeling project can be completed in the winter. The bonus here is that with readily available contractors and materials, you’re less likely to see delays and you’ll be able to regain use of your space more quickly. For projects like kitchens, where it’s difficult to cook, this could mean savings on other expenses, like take-out meals.

If you’re laying hardwood flooring or tile in the bathroom, the dry winter air will help prevent gaps in the newly laid boards and tile, while decreased humidity means there’s less of a chance for water damage. The cooler air also means quicker drying times for any adhesive involved, like new tiling in your bathrooms.

Windows

This may seem surprising, but changing out your old windows for new, energy-efficient windows in the winter will reduce your energy bill and you’ll see savings immediately. Completing the project in the winter also increases your chances of a quick installation and no shortage of supplies. Our award-winning windows come in a wide variety of colors and styles and are extremely energy-efficient, durable, and have virtually no maintenance and upkeep.

With a little planning and foresight, completing your winter renovation project is likely to go smoothly and stay on budget! Our FHIA team would love to help you with your winter projects – get started by requesting a free quote!

Remodeling Projects to Complete in a Florida Winter

Bathroom & Kitchens

Windows

Why Your Windows are Making Popping Sounds

Sometimes it’s late at night and you hear a gentle pop at the window. While this sound can be startling, the root cause is usually chalked up to a tree branch tapping against the glass or some bugs looking for a way inside. However, one of the main culprits of that irritating popping sound may not be what you’d expect; something else within the home like siding or the windows that were not installed perfectly. Here is a list of a few things that may account for that sound and a few solutions so you can find peace and quiet.

Poorly installed vinyl siding

Usually, the main cause of the infamous popping noise doesn’t come from the windows themselves. In many cases, the sound is coming from the vinyl siding installed on the exterior of the home. If the popping is coming from your vinyl siding, it’s because the siding was nailed too tightly — when it expands in certain weather conditions, especially in the summer, it contracts and the nails “pop” out of their place. Luckily, the solution is simple: Remove the siding and have a professional reinstall it or replace it. Now, your siding will be in perfect place and the popping sound has stopped!

Aluminum Cladding on Your Windows

Aluminum, like most metals, is a material that heats up quickly in the sun, and aluminum-clad windows are no exception. Aluminum-clad windows after basking in the sun usually expand and contract faster than windows made from alternate materials. Since aluminum heats and cools so quickly, these rapid expansions and contractions are what cause the popping sound. Considering that the aluminum is integral to the window, the only sustainable solution that will keep the popping sound at bay is to replace these windows with something more heat and weather resistant, such as impact windows.

Low-E Glass Windows

If the mysterious popping noise started after replacing windows or moving into a newly updated home, Low-E glass may be the cause. This razor-thin, colorless, and non-toxic coated glass may improve your home’s energy efficiency, but is not a nice pairing for homes with aluminum siding. Since Low-E glass reflects heat away from your home to keep the interior home temperature consistent, this deflected energy can be absorbed by the surrounding siding. This absorbed heat can release itself quickly, and the dropping temperature can account for the popping sound you’re hearing. The most permanent solution is to replace your aluminum siding with vinyl siding or concrete fiber siding. A more budget-friendly solution is to shade your affected windows, but this will not make your Low-E windows as effective in regulating your home’s interior temperature.

Inadequate Window Installation

If you are sure none of these other problems are the cause of the popping sound, the noise may be really coming from your windows. Pressure can release on the jamb of windows that were inaccurately installed out of square, plumb, or plane. The jamb bends inwards and puts pressure on the window sashes which can cause that popping or cracking sound you’re hearing. If you discover that the windows are the cause of the popping sound, the windows will most likely need to be removed and reinstalled correctly.

The last thing anyone should worry about is window troubles. Luckily, the experts at FHIA and our reputation for great service have you covered. New windows will help you save on energy costs, protect your home, and in this case, get rid of pesky popping noises! Give us a call to set up a no-obligation consultation orfill out our online form to speak with a representative about a free quote.

Should You Replace All Your Windows At Once?

Installing new windows can help you lower energy costs, take the hassle out of repairs, and improve the curb appeal of your home. Depending on how many windows you’re trying to install, you may be asking yourself whether or not to replace them all simultaneously or pace out the project. Once you’ve asked yourself these questions, you’ll have a better idea of how to tackle your window replacement project. While there is no right or wrong answer to whether or not to install your windows all at once, we’ve collected some things to consider before moving forward on your window-installation project.

How many windows are you installing?

If you’re looking to change out one or two squeaky windows, go ahead and check all of your windows to see if any others need to be replaced. We forget how quickly time flies, so you may need to update more windows than you originally planned! If just one or two windows are leaking air, go ahead and replace it so you can stay energy-efficient (your utility bills will thank you later). If multiple windows need replacing, it’s probably better to save up and replace them all at once to get a bulk discount and save the hassle of multiple installations.

What is your budget for the project?

If you’re looking to replace all of your windows, you need to be prepared for the upfront cost. While the total cost of replacing your windows will be less expensive if you install more at once, paying in bulk upfront may not be your preference. If your budget is a bit tighter, opt to split up your installations over a period of time, so go ahead and replace that worn-out window. If you’re not sure what option is best for you and your budget, give one of our experts a call for a free consultation.

Does the installation timeline matter to you?

Luckily, window projects are completed faster than renovating a kitchen or a bathroom and less disruptive on your daily schedule. Depending on how desperately you need a new window, this can change the timeline of when to replace all of your windows. Much like money, some choose to install their windows all at once to cut down on the price by buying in bulk and to keep the installation timeline short and sweet. By splitting up installations, this is basically repeating the process multiple times over the course of a few weeks or months. If you have a busy lifestyle, it may be worthwhile to set aside a chunk of time to dedicate to your window project.

If you’re ready to get started on your window installation project, our experts are ready to help. Get in contact with FHIA at (813) 544-1418 or fill out our online form now to get a free quote!

How To Invest In Your Home

When it comes to investing in your home, sometimes big projects aren’t always the wisest investment. Every home could use some extra TLC every now and then, but it can be difficult to know where to begin or how big of a project you want to take on. Investing in your home can be a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to break the bank. We’ve compiled a list of simple improvements that can turn a small investment now into a big payoff later.

Boost the Bathroom

Add a window: Include a window in the shower to fight off humidity and save on energy costs. We recommend an awning window so you can let steam escape as you shower while keeping your privacy. Windows also help open up space and make the room feel bigger, no matter which room they’re in.

Recaulking: Re-caulk your bathroom to prevent mildew and leaks — this simple (and cheap) investment seems subtle, but small changes can make a big difference. Not only will it make your bathroom look nicely maintained, but a fresh coat of caulk can prevent water damage for years if done correctly.

Tub Liner: If you’re looking for an affordable investment that will upgrade the look and function of your bathroom, tub liners are a great option. Tub liners are a great investment if you are looking for a simple cosmetic upgrade to your bathroom. Durable, easy to clean, and quick to install, tub liners are a fantastic and affordable way to give your bathroom a facelift without starting from scratch.

Earn Extra Dough By Updating the Kitchen

Cabinets: Investing in your kitchen doesn’t have to mean a total re-do. An easy and affordable kitchen renovation is to upgrade the cabinets. Refacing the cabinets can update the style, maintain durability, and avoid a long-term installation which gets expensive quickly.

Countertops: To quickly add value to your kitchen, investing in a sturdy countertop can bring new personality into your space, but also will add tremendous value to your home right after installation.

Exterior Improvements

While a lush front lawn can show that you know how to invest in the look of your home, it’s important to remember to invest in the function of these exterior items as well. The first impression of a house includes the doors, siding, and windows, so remember that a little curb appeal past the front lawn goes a long way.

New Windows: Replacing the outdated, inefficient, and drafty windows in your home is one of the smartest investments you can make. New windows make your home more energy-efficient while cutting down on heating and cooling bills. To make your home stand out from the crowd, consider investing in a bay or bow window to add space and visual appeal.

Upgrade Your Doors: The look of a door can set an expectation of what you’ll feel in the room. When walking through a door, you want to feel welcomed into the space. The color of a door can inspire certain moods, and so can the sound! Flimsy or creaky doors make a bad first impression and feel unsettling, so it’s important to invest in secure, efficient doors that glide open and feel stable on the hinges.

When you invest in your home, you’re also investing in your quality of life and comfort for years to come. Plus, when you’re ready to sell your home, these small investments will pay off in the long run. To explore more ideas on how to invest in your home, check out some options on our site here.