Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Life

Tag: Carson Arthur

  • Ask a Pro Q&A – When It Rains, It Pours: Exploring title coverage for runoff

    When a challenge arises, insurance should be there to help. Learn the ins and outs of title insurance to deal with water runoff from outdoor pro Carson Arthur.

    Question: A house was built on the property behind me. The land had been raised so that the ground around the house is now higher than mine. Whenever it rains, the water from the property behind me washes into my yard and causes a river each time. Does title insurance cover this?

    Unfortunately, it does not. Title insurance only covers liens on a property from debtors to the former owners. The easiest solution is to create a raised planter along the shared property line. By raising the soil, the water should stop running into your yard!

    -Carson Arthur

  • Ask a Pro Q&A – To Stop a Leak: Learn how to investigate a metal roof properly

    Including damaging your home and threatening your family’s safety, roof leaks pose great dangers. Learn how to seek these hazards out with tips from outdoor pro Carson Arthur.

    Question: How can I identify a leak entry spot on a metal roof? My cabin has a 45 percent pitch.

    There is no easy answer here, especially with a metal roof. If I were to start hunting, I’d be looking at the joints and flashing around the edges. The trouble with roof leaks is water’s ability to travel: the hole may not be where the water is coming in. Best of luck to you!

    -Carson Arthur

  • Ask a Pro Q&A – Copy Thy Neighbor: Learn how to take inspiration from the Joneses for an ideal yard

    Neighbors can inspire exteriors and landscaping. They may also help decipher growing conditions that will make your yard thrive. Outdoor pro Carson Arthur shares how to seamlessly change outdoor plants with help from the Joneses.

    Question: We are about to change some of the plants in the front of our home. Fifteen were planted about 28 years ago, but are now dying. We have nine plants left that are grouped in threes.  We are planning an 8′ x 15′ stone patio in front of a bay window for morning coffee with neighbors. We currently have a mini-Japanese maple in the front corner and various bushes scattered around the yard.  We plan to take drawings to our local nursery for advice on filler pieces. Do you have any suggestions?

    Bringing drawings of your garden to a local garden center is an excellent plan. In addition, present pictures of plants you like that are growing in your neighbor’s yard. This will give workers an idea of growing conditions. Ideally, if the plants you like thrive in their yard, they should do the same in yours. Happy growing!

    -Carson Arthur

  • Ask a Pro Q&A – Plant a Stunning Yard: Explore options to halt soil erosion

    Soil erosion increases work for homeowners. Good ground cover helps your yard thrive.  Outdoor pro Carson Arthur shares how to preserve the integrity of your soil, in and out of shade.

    Question: What can I do with a hill that has a tree but zero grass? It’s too expensive to cut the tree, and the dirt is eroding.

    It sounds like you need to get a good ground cover in place that will survive living under a tree AND hold soil in place. I would check out a sweet woodruff or a periwinkle. Both thrive in dry shade and solve erosion with their roots.

    -Carson Arthur

  • Ask a Pro Q&A: Head Over Hills

    Navigating your outdoor space can bring many challenges, some not always easy to navigate. Dream Team member and Outdoor pro Carson Arthur explains how to solve for some of nature’s problems with ease.

     

    What can I do to a hill with a tree and no grass? It’s too expensive to cut the tree and the dirt is eroding away.

    -Janice K.

     

     

    Sounds like you will need to get a good ground cover in place that will survive living under a tree, as well as help hold the soil in place. I recommend looking into a Sweet Woodruff ground cover or maybe a periwinkle. Both do well in dry shade and will solve your erosion problem with their roots. Hope this helps, and good luck.

    -Carson Arthur

     

  • Ask a Pro Q&A: Create the Perfect Exterior Design for Your Home

    When making a first impression, every second counts. Exterior hues are a big part of curb appeal. Learn if an exterior can be enhanced by trends with Dream Team member and outdoor pro, Carson Arthur.

    Question: What are the hot new exterior trends for newly built homes?

    – Nicole G.

    I’m always careful when following trends, especially when it comes to the curb appeal for a home. We know that you only get one chance to make a first impression in life, and the same is true for the exterior of your house. Research shows that buyers make a judgment about the quality of our homes within 11 seconds of seeing them for the first time. The key to having a great exterior is more than just what is on trend. First, you need to look like you belong in your neighborhood… buyers are looking for homes in your area for a reason. Standing out positively is extremely difficult and risky for homeowners looking to make a statement with their curb appeal and their exteriors. Play on the best elements of other houses on your street. According to Remodelling Magazines’s 2018 Cost vs Value report, stone veneers have an ROI of almost 100 percent.

    – Carson Arthur

  • Ask a Pro Q&A: Are You Considering Pave Stones for Your Backyard?

    Hardscapes entice the senses and offer concrete accents to the natural world. Pave stones integrate a backbone into the design landscape. Dream Team member and Outdoor pro Carson Arthur explains how to incorporate structure into your slice of paradise by laying pave stones.

    Question: How do you lay pave stones for a backyard garden?

    – James S.

    Laying stones is more than a weekend project. If you live in an area that has snow, then it is crucial that you install a proper base of crushed gravel to allow for proper drainage that prevents ice from forming under the stone and heaving it. No one wants an unlevelled patio. Whether you have snowy winters or not, you also have to plan for drainage during heavy rains. Whatever you do… do it well and make sure to use a level. NEVER try to build a base by eyeballing it!

    – Carson Arthur

  • Ask a Pro Q&A: Harness the Power of Outdoor Seating

    Create an extension of your home in fresh air areas with advice from Dream Team member and outdoor pro, Carson Arthur. While landscaping and hardscaping may offer a balance between man’s world and nature, a great outdoor space will increase the value of your home. Get inspired now!

    Question: What’s the best backyard design to sell your home?

    – Manuel M.

    Buyers today want useable space in their backyards. Patios, decks, and even gazebos all have great returns for one specific reason: they give buyers more square footage that has purpose! (And who doesn’t want more living space?) I always ask homeowners, “What don’t you have in your house? Is your kitchen big enough? Do you have a dining room? What about a fireplace?” If you can offset the shortcomings from the inside of your home with something that you KNOW you are going to use outdoors, then you have an instant selling feature and also a way to meet the needs of any buyer who has specific things they are hunting for. Skip the plants and gardens in the backyard and focus on seating areas with great furniture!

    – Carson Arthur

  • Ask A Pro Q&A: The Importance of Roof Vents for Your Home

    Air vents improve airflow and circulation for a home. They are essential to removing warm air in the summer and must be placed on opposite sides to be most effective. What is the fix if both vents are on the same side? Outdoor design expert and Dream Team member Carson Arthur helps one reader with this situation.

    Q: I have roof vents installed on both sides of my open gable roof.  We bought our house a few years ago now, and I stumbled upon the banks inspection of our house. They made a note that the roof vents shouldn’t be installed across from each other because it normally doesn’t allow the attic to breathe properly. My question is, can I plug up one side of these vents with something to stop it from ventilating from one side of my roof? It gets very hot in my attic in the summers, to the point of it melting some weaker plastics. I guess I was wondering if plugging up one side of these vents would help fix that issue too.

    – Jared J

    A: I have a really easy answer for you ‘Never plug a vent, it will only cause you issues down the road’. The inspector was identifying that the optimal way to install roofing vents is across from each other to allow for more even airflow and circulation. Having two vents on the same side of your home isn’t perfect, but it is definitely better than having only one. I might consider hiring a reputable contractor to add one more on the other side of the roof to not only increase your airflow, but also to help with your hot attic.

    – Carson Arthur

  • Ask a Pro: How to Get Rid of Honeysuckle

    Can outdoor design expert and Dream Team member Carson Arthur help one reader whose garden has been taken over by teaching her how to get rid of honeysuckle? Find out in the latest edition of Ask a Pro!

    Ask a Pro: How to Get Rid of Honeysuckle - bhgrelife.com

    Q. Honeysuckle has taken over my yard and is killing my lilac bushes and azaleas. How can I get rid of it without hurting my plants?

    –Sophie R.

    A. I wish I had better news for you about honeysuckle. Unfortunately it’s very aggressive, as you already know.

    Without using chemicals, the only way to remove honeysuckle from your garden is to rip it out under the ground. I know some people that have had success using extra-strength vinegar, but that could actually hurt your existing plants. Best of luck!

    -Carson A.