Sunrooms: The Perfect Showcase for Your Holiday Decor!

The holidays are right around the corner. Have you begun to plan your decorations? Are you trying to decide which room will be your focal point? A holiday tree is often central to the festivities and deciding its placement usually determines which room will be most used during the holidays.

A sunroom is a great space to show off your decorating ideas. Because walls of glass let your creativity shine through, you help make the holidays more festive for the entire neighborhood! Sunrooms are a great place to entertain family and friends.  Many people say the sunroom is their favorite room in the house.

There are as many reasons why people add a sunroom to their home as there are uses for them. Sunrooms add extra living space, enable you to enjoy the outdoors from the comfort of inside and they are great places to relax and get away from the hustle and bustle of holiday preparations.  

“When I first got my sunroom, I only thought of it as a place for the summertime,” said Ruth Javiere, who purchased her sunroom two years ago. “I didn’t realize how much it would add to our holidays. The kids and I hung decorations in all of the windows, and changed the light bulbs to make the whole sunroom shine with a golden glow. Because of all the glass, our neighbors on both sides and behind us just love it.”

No matter how you celebrate the holidays, you'll find many other uses for your sunroom. It’s the perfect place for your tree and other holiday decor, your train set or game table, your gift-wrapping activities, plus a place for extra food, tables, and chairs that you need for holiday entertaining. The rest of the year, use your sunroom as a place to eat, do hobbies, exercise, celebrate birthday parties, or simply relax.

Sunrooms aren’t just for summer. And this time of year you can often find great end of season promotions that allow you to design and add a sunroom at a far lower cost than during the prime building season. Need more information? Contact us for our current end of year specials!

Fall Cleaning: Don't Forget Your Gutters!

The leaves have been beautiful this year, but the glorious colors of autumn do come with a price! Yes, you must clean your gutters at least once a year. Twice - in spring and fall - is better. Gutters play an important role in preserving the integrity and structure of your home. Gutters capture roof runoff and help direct it away from the foundation of your house. Water pooling around the foundation can cause soil erosion, rot the siding, create a breeding ground for mold and insects, and cause a host of other problems.

Most people know to remove obvious debris, like leaves, twigs and the occasional bird's nest. An old plastic spatula makes a great tool for cleaning debris from gutters. It doesn't scratch up the gutter, and you can cut it with snips to fit gutter contours. Grime wipes right off the spatula too, making cleanup a breeze. You should also scrub the interior of the gutters with a stiff-bristled brush. You can use the same detergent you use on your car to wash the gutters' exterior.

Next, check for rusted-out patches and other holes in the gutter. Then, flush out the downspout with a hose. Cleaning gutters may be a lot of work, but at least you won't suddenly get gutter overflows spilling onto your sidewalks, siding or driveways possibly leading to bigger, more costly problems. To avoid any further clogging, install leaf guards that prevent leaves and large debris from getting into the gutter. Investing in gutter guards eliminates both the work and the worry so you can truly enjoy nature's beauty!

Think all ornamental fencing is alike? Steel and aluminum fencing may look similar but the benefits of steel far outweigh aluminum. A strong, sturdy fence is necessary when you’re protecting precious possessions—namely your children and pets! Steel provides both strength and security and enhances your property, offering value that can’t be surpassed. The economical appeal of aluminum is often overshadowed by the flimsy nature of the product, leaving homeowners disappointed with their choice.

LONG® FENCE offers the Ambassador Series™ ornamental steel fencing, zinc-galvanized for corrosion protection with a powder-coat finish for beauty that lasts year after year. Industrial drive rivets secure the fence components and all brackets have permanent covers for additional security and aesthetic appeal. Discover the differences for yourself. A LONG® FENCE sales associate can show you samples and demonstrate the quality of our ornamental steel fencing, at no cost and no obligation. Contact us today and get an education!