Thompson Tips | 12.18.15

10 Kitchen Safety Tips

The holiday season seems like the perfect time to post a little reminder blog on kitchen safety tips. With the kids being home from school and family and friends visiting, your kitchen will be getting more traffic than usual for the next couple of weeks. It’s always better to be safe than sorry and take steps to prevent accidents in the kitchen, so we’ve compiled a list of safety tips you can easily implement in your home.

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Love Where You Live | 10.31.15

Does your home’s curb appeal measure up?

Thompson Remodeling's Tips for Increasing Curb Appeal Ah yes, we all know what they say about first impressions and when it comes to your home, that first impression can be summed up in two words -- curb appeal. Improving your home’s exterior appearance has two great benefits: improving your pride of ownership and increasing your home’s value. Seasonally, it’s a good idea to take a look at the outside of your home to see how your curb appeal measures up.

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Thompson Times | 09.12.15

The 80-Minute Fall Home Maintenance Checklist

Limited free time and too long a list? We can help! 1. Buy a case of furnace filters (12) and replace it each month. 2. Deep clean the the inside of the house to reduce allergies. Hire a pro if needed. 3. Be sure gutters and downspouts are clear of leaves and other debris.

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Thompson Tips | 03.21.15

Thompson Remodeling's Spring Home Maintenance Tips

Well, it's officially Spring! Finally, warmer weather is on the horizon. During the winter our homes take a beating. The freezing temperatures, ice and snow can cause damage so it’s important to perform seasonal maintenance to keep your home in tip-top shape. To help you prepare, we’ve put together this list of spring home maintenance tips.

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Thompson Tips | 11.21.14

Bundle Up Grand Rapids! Here's Your Winter Weather Forecast & Cold Weather Tips.

This winter is expected to be colder than normal and according to the Farmers’ Almanac, snowfall will be above normal in most of the region, with the snowiest periods in mid-December, early and mid-January, and early February. An El Nino track can also bring heavy rain this winter. So how can we prepare for the winter? Grab a mug of hot cocoa and read through our cold weather tips!

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Love Where You Live | 11.6.14

Thompson's Interior Painting Guide

Recently we blogged about why paint is a great and inexpensive way to make a big impact on a room. Now that you’ve picked out your colors let’s talk about how to make it all happen. With our step by step interior painting guide, you'll have beautiful walls in no time.

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Care & Maintenance | 10.23.14

Interior Painting - A Small Investment with Big Impact

Ready for a change? Interior painting is one of the most simple and low-risk ways to make a big difference in any room. Whether you hire someone to paint your home or you choose to go the DIY route, here are a few ways to make the most out of painting your interior walls.

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Love Where You Live | 10.3.14

Thompson's Tips for Exterior Painting

A fresh coat of paint is much more than just a change of color. The paint covering the exterior of your home is a protective layer, and over time the natural elements wear it away. Most homes will need a fresh coat every 5-10 years, or when you start to notice cracking or peeling paint. Painting the exterior of your home is a big job and one that is important to do accurately.

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Love Where You Live | 08.30.14

Cool Apps for the Home

Not long ago smart home technology was out of reach for the average consumer. Fortunately for tech lovers, home automation trends continue to evolve and deliver more affordable options bringing homeowners convenient, money saving apps we can run by the touch of a button. We’ve scoured the internet to look for some of the latest apps for the home and here’s what we found.

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Kitchens | 05.9.14

Cleaning Stainless Steel Appliances is as easy as 1,2,3!

Stainless steel appliances are still the number one selection for kitchen remodels. It's easy to see why. They look great, blend well with all varieties of cabinets and most countertops, and can be used in both traditional and contemporary spaces. But, anyone who owns stainless steel appliances know that they have a tendency to show fingerprints, which means the need frequent cleaning. Stainless is more sensitive than other finishes so you must use the right materials and cleansers to avoid damage to the surface.

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Love Where You Live | 03.21.14

The Two Best Low Maintenance Siding Options

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Care & Maintenance | 10.11.13

Thompson's Fall Home Maintenance Checklist

Get Your Home Ready for Winter It’s officially fall, which means we have just a few months to get ready for winter. Prepping your home for cold weather not only helps you lower your utility bills, but can also prevent an unexpected disaster or costly repair. We’ve put together a list of fall maintenance tasks that you can get started on this weekend.

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Care & Maintenance | 05.31.13

How To Increase The Value Of Your Home!

Don't plan on selling your home anytime soon? That's OK because savvy homeowners are always looking for ways to increase their home's value. There are dozens of simple and easy home maintenance tasks you can perform that will greatly increase the value of your home. But before we begin, let me share with you a few home improvements that may actually end up decreasing the value of our home. One example is the backyard pool. Many home shoppers do not want the responsibility of maintaining a pool or hot tub. In fact, those in the market for buying a home often cite a swimming pool as a major stumbling block. From a resale point of view, you'd be much better off investing your money in a snazzy new kitchen or bathroom. These two improvements top the list of value-added renovations, often recouping 70 to 90 percent or more of their investment cost upon resale. New kitchens and baths have been shown to lead to easier, faster sales. Other value-wise renovations include the replacement of old windows and doors with new, energy efficient models. Landscaping features such as decks also add value. Keep in mind that the quality of work can greatly impact resale value. It's worth the time and expense of having it done right! Large-scale renovations aren't the only way to build up your home's value. A quality interior paint job just before our home goes on the market will usually pay for itself many times over. Here's a quick checklist of easy ways you can bolster your home's resale value: Exterior: Well maintained gutters and downspouts Good roof Lights working Fencing in good condition Well maintained driveway Mowed lawn and well kept plantings Interior: No cracks in walls or ceilings Fresh paintwork All electrical switches working No signs of leaks Easy opening doors and windows Floors in good condition Kitchen & Bathrooms: No leaking faucets Clean, newer grouting Cracked tiles replaced Attractive, clean cabinets and counters Caulking in good condition No stained sinks All appliances and fixtures operating

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Love Where You Live | 12.21.12

Holiday Home Safety

1. Protect family and guests from falls. Clear the driveway and sidewalks of snow and ice and use salt or sand to prevent slippery surfaces. Maintain clear pathways through high traffic areas of your home, it is easy for them to become cluttered with the arrival of guests and gifts. Relocate any electrical cords or wires that may become a tripping hazard also avoid placing them under rugs.

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Care & Maintenance | 09.14.12

Add Curb Appeal by Painting an Exterior Door

The front door is the focal point of your homes exterior. It is also a great location if you are looking to add a dash of bold color and boost your home's value. Just last week our friends at Premier Painters came by and added some color to the front door here at Thompson Remodeling. If you are looking for a simple way to give your home curb appeal; painting an exterior door is one way to get the most bang for your buck.

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Care & Maintenance | 08.27.12

Quick Fixes For Less Than $10

Keeping your home in great shape doesn't have to break the bank. Use these inexpensive helpers to improve your home.

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Care & Maintenance | 04.9.12

Q&A How To Maintain Ipe Decking

Q: How to Maintain Ipe Decking?

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Care & Maintenance | 02.9.12

How To Maintain Your Hardwood Flooring

Maintaining Your Hardwood Flooring If you have purchased raw flooring that has been sanded and finished, you have had one of the finest polyurethane finishes available applied. This finish provides a protective layer for your floor. If you have purchased a prefinished floor, it has had several UV coatings applied in the factory giving it a very hard finish surface. The key to maintaining your floors natural beauty is through both preventive and regular maintenance. To assist you, we have listed several maintenance tips. Preventive Maintenance Tips: • Use protective walk‐off mats at the exterior doors to help prevent sand and grit from being tracked onto the floor. Sand and gritty dirt are any floor's worst enemy. • If your hardwood floor is located in the kitchen, you may want to place a throw rug in front of the kitchen sink to catch spills and splashes. The polyurethane finish is not a waterproofing agent. • Install proper floor protectors on the legs of all furniture in the rooms where you have hardwood. Protectors allow chairs to move easily over the floor without scuffing. Protectors must be cleaned on a regular basis to remove any grit that may have become embedded. Felt floor protectors are available at Rivershores Building Products, Inc. • Vacuum regularly. When vacuuming your household carpets, it is a good idea to also vacuum the hardwood floor. A soft brush attachment works beautifully. • Do not use household dusting sprays or treatments as they may cause your floor to become slick, or dull the finish. The best treatment is to sweep the floors frequently. • NEVER wet mop a hardwood floor. Excessive water will cause the wood to expand, possibly damaging your floor. The finish put on your floor is to protect the stain and the wood surface. It is not a bonding or waterproofing substance. • Keep high heeled shoes in good repair. Heels that have lost their protective cap, exposing the fastening nail, exert over 8,000 lbs per square inch of pressure on the floor. This kind of pressure will damage any floor covering. Regular Maintenance Tips: • Food spills should be cleaned up in a timely manner using a damp rag. Poly Care, available at Rivershores, is an excellent product. It is a waterborne neutral cleaner which leaves no residue. We do not recommend the use of furniture dusting products, oil soaps (Murphy's oil soap, etc.) or other harsh cleaning products. • Shoe marks can be removed using a spot application of Scuff Remover, available at Rivershores Building Products, Inc. and a non‐abrasive scrubbing pad. Marks that are especially difficult to remove are best treated with a "white" grade maintenance pad and cleaner. • Waxing is not necessary, nor is it recommended. Once you wax a urethane floor, it is difficult to re‐coat the floor, as the finish does not bond to the wax. In addition, once wax is used, you must maintain the wax AND the floor. Preventive cleaning is the key to maintaining your floor. • Re‐coating should be done when the floor BEGINS to show wear. Do not wait until the finish is worn off and dirt and spills have penetrated the wood, or the floor will have to be sanded to the bare wood and completely refinished. Moisture & Humidity Issues causing Cracking: All the wood in your home will contract or expand according to the moisture in the air. Doors and windows may swell and stick during rainy seasons. In dry, cold weather, cracks and fine lines of separation may appear in wall cabinets and furniture. This is characteristic of wood because wood is a product of nature, and its natural quality is what makes it desirable. The same reaction to humidity or the lack of it is happening constantly in your wood floors. Tiny cracks between edges of boards may appear when unusually dry conditions are produced by your heating system. Normal cracks, if truly normal, close up in summer months and no repairs are needed. This can usually be corrected simply by installing a humidifier. With a more proper balance of moisture content in the house (40 to 50%), both family and floors benefit from a healthier environment.

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Love Where You Live | 03.24.11

Beat the Heat

5 Tips to beat the heat in a poorly performing house:

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Thompson Times | 03.22.11

5 Steps to Cleaning Your A/C Condenser

1. Turn off the power at the electrical panel or remove the "key" fuse on the gray box outside.

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Thompson Times | 03.22.11

The Dreaded Ice Dam

In the last month I have spoken with a handful of clients about ice dams and it felt like every other call to the Home Improvement Show on Newsradio WOOD 1300 has been on the same subject. West MI Morning News even had me on last week for an interview regarding Ice Dams. Click here to listen to the podcast of that interview. In brief written-form here are the essentials you need to know about Ice Dams:

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Care & Maintenance | 10.25.10

How to Care for Carpet

Care: The best way to prolong your carpet’s life is to vacuum regularly, as it prevents dirt from being embedded. Use scissors to clip snags do not pull at them. Professional cleaning is recommended every 18 to 24 months. Always pre-test a hidden area before using a cleaner to remove a stain. Never saturate carpet with liquid.

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Care & Maintenance | 10.25.10

How to Care for Natural Stone Tile

Natural Tile (slate, marble, travertine, etc.)

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Care & Maintenance | 10.25.10

How to Care for Wood Flooring

Care: Due to the fact that wood is a natural, soft material, a wood floor will eventually scratch-there is no way around this! However preventative care can minimize this. Use throw and area rugs. Remove shoes before entering the area. Avoid wearing high heels, which can leave divets. Use furniture pads. Daily sweeping to remove dirt is one of the best ways to keep your floor looking its best. A humidifier in the winter can help prevent shrinkage.

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Care & Maintenance | 10.25.10

How to Care for Granite Counter Tops

Care: While heat resistant and scratch resistant, always use a cutting board with knives. Be cautious with hot objects-trivets are not necessary but recommended.

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