Signs That You Need Basement Remodeling for your Home in Northern VA

Northern Virginia, also referred to as NoVA or NOVA, consists of several independent cities and counties in the US's Virginia state. This is the most populous area in the WC metropolitan area and Virginia. Most houses in Virginia do have basements, especially in the NOVA area. However, since they are exposed to a lot of moisture and neglect, they may wear down over time, and you may need to remodel them to retain their structure.

Here are a few signs that indicate that your house needs a basement remodeling Northern VA.

Signs of Waterproofing

Signs of waterproofing also indicate that your basement needs remodeling. Such signs include:

• Cracks on walls and floor: Flooring cracks result in hydrostatic pressure, allowing water to go through these spaces and cause further damage. Bigger cracks indicate a problem in the foundation.

• Water spots: These spots can lead to long-term damage to your property and indicate that there is a leakage somewhere in your basement. 

• Bowed walls: If you notice a bulge in the walls, usually curving inwards, it indicates structural damage and needs immediate repair.

• Chalky walls: Also known as efflorescence, walls become chalky because of mineral deposits resulting from water seepage.

• Presence of mildew: The basement with visible mildew is badly neglected and needs remodeling as soon as possible.

• Musty smell: Musty smell is not caused due to general cleaning flaws. There is something deep within that needs fixing.

Excessive Moisture

The summers are humid and warm, the winters are freezing, and the weather remains partly cloudy almost all year in Northern VA. Because of such climatic conditions, structures are exposed to a lot of moisture all the time.

The presence of mildew in your basement indicates high moisture content. Signs of mildew include a dull environment, fungus growth, and damp smell. If any of such signs show up in your basement, it indicates that your basement needs remodeling. Get it done professionally as soon as possible, as prolonged exposure to excessive moisture may destroy your basement's structure and harm the items you have kept there.

Structural Damage

Do not delay basement remodeling in Northern VA if you notice signs of structural damage in your home. You may see such signs almost anywhere, including the pillars, walls, ceiling, and flooring of your house. If not repaired soon, these structures may start bending and put your family at tremendous risk. Repairing them immediately ensures safety.

Plumbing Issues

Plumbing issues in your basement may also indicate the need for basement remodeling. Do not ignore any leaks on the water pipes. Call a plumber immediately and have it repaired.

Degradation of the Elements

Basement elements like poles, staircases, and doors begin to develop spots and holes, and sometimes they even start cracking. If left neglected, they may warp, split, or rot, which can be extremely dangerous for your entire building.

Since Northern VA is a highly populous area, many homeowners renovate their basement and rent it up. Basement apartments are also prevalent in NOVA. As soon as you notice any of the above signs in your basement, it's essential to take action immediately and seek assistance from professionals who offer basement remodeling services in Northern VA to stop further damage. Basement remodeling will not only ensure safety for your family but also increase the value of your property.

4 Home Decorating Ideas For The Brave

When decorating your home, your interior design should reflect the type of person you are or what you strive to become. There is so much inspiration available for us to let go of the ties and go for something different, so It takes a lot to raise an eyebrow these days, especially when it comes to interior design. Your home should be the only place where you can be truly yourself. If you want something more than ordinary, here are some brave ideas, to help you spice up your living space while staying true to your original inspiration.

1. Accent Wall

When accent walls started trending a couple of years ago, it looked like a passing trend, but it was proven wrong. Accent walls are an ideal way to fake space in crowded areas, especially when done in a deep shade, like navy blue or black. One wall painted with a rich, dark color in opposite to others painted with lighter shades,  creates visual depth in a room, making it feel larger. There are many ideas aside from simply painting one wall with the other color than the rest. 

For a living room that is used as a dining room as well, you may opt for the built-in mural, making it look both comfortable and dressy and unusual. If you want to make a statement, use wood panels over en entire wall in your bedroom, ideally behind the bed. You may even go for a natural stone (even though it’s a bit more expensive) or a large mirror covering the majority of a wall, thus additionally faking the space.

2. Effective Chandelier

Adding a chandelier to your home lighting design delivers a whole new level of personality and style. Whether grand, traditional, or modern, they will make a long-lasting impression. As it will be the center of attention, it is important to choose a chandelier that's styled and sized to suit the room. Multi-light linear chandeliers put above a central island workspace in the kitchen provide delightful illumination. 

Mini-chandeliers add style to bathrooms of any size, but you can also choose a large one for the master bath. The living room has many options, depending on the style you have to match. If you are more of a traditional person but still want a daring design for your home interior, you may go for a lavish crystal or even a rustic candle chandelier. On the other hand, modern sculptured chandeliers with nested geometric shapes, metallic swirls, and stepped bulbs will sure spark admiration and conversation.

Pairing your chandelier with luxury homeware items, such as elegant furnishings and high-end decor, can further elevate your space, creating a cohesive and sophisticated interior that blends both lighting and style seamlessly.

3. Neon Decorations

The lighting is an essential part of every space. Whether it’s the essential factor in setting the mood or just part of the decoration, it has the power of bringing out the best of a room. Aside from chandeliers and ordinary table lamps, you can use now use neon light as an element of daring decoration for anyone who loves an interior with a bit of edge. As experts from Neon Sign Depot explain neon light may come in different shapes and sizes,  including various signs, table lamps, wall decorations, and bar signs. 

It’s a great way to make your bedroom look unique and mystic when all the other lights are off, especially for children’s bedrooms where neon lights can be used as an extension of the headboard. A big, bright, pulsing neon sign can be a perfect choice as a focal pound in vast apartments. Stay original by highlighting your dining room or kitchen’s best features by lighting them up in colorful neon signs. It’s a great way to make your bedroom look unique and mystic when all the other lights are off, especially for children’s bedrooms where neon lights can be used as an extension of the headboard. A big, bright, pulsing neon sign can be a perfect choice as a focal pound in vast apartments. You can design your own neon sign and stay original by highlighting your dining room or kitchen’s best features by lighting them up in colorful neon signs.

4. Mirror Ceiling

The greatest benefit of a mirror in the room is that it makes small rooms look spacious and turn large rooms into breath-taking spaces. Ceiling mirrors are extraordinary modern trends in decorating mostly kitchens, bathrooms, dining rooms, or bedrooms. They can be designed to match any style, and whether you opt for framed mirrors or no-frame designs with mirrored tiles, it will complement any living space. Placing a mirror on the ceiling adds excitement to modern interior design, creating optical illusions, and highlighting fine architectural elements. 

Mirrors above your head make chic designs look even bolder and more glamorous, and original. Mirrored ceilings will surely fill the interiors with a contemporary vibe and bring artistic details to the design. If you get concerned over the safety of these elements, make sure to use contemporary, lighter-weight materials and mounting systems to make your room design safe, yet attractive. 

When planning your next home renovations, don’t forget to add a bit of excitement to the decorations. Hopefully, these tips will give you enough idea to make your living space unique and memorable, and inspire others to be brave when it comes to interior design too.

4 Things You Should Know Before Undergoing Gastric Bypass Surgery

Perhaps you have tried everything from dieting to working out and trying to cut off your weight with futility. Well, this scenario is common, and it affects many people, especially when fighting stubborn fat in areas such as the tummy, butt, thighs, and arms. Just when you are about to give up, someone suggests you try bariatric surgery!

Well, this option does work, and many people have found it quite beneficial. As long as it is conducted by an experienced cosmetic professional, the procedure is also safe despite a few possible mild side effects here and there. For instance, recovery after gastric bypass surgery may take some time. You might have to make some changes in your diet to observe permanent results. Well, are these caveats navigable? Is this procedure worth it for weight loss enthusiasts? If these sound like anything you might have wondered, here are four things you should know before undergoing gastric bypass surgery.  

1. What Is Gastric Bypass Surgery?

This procedure isn't necessarily meant to make you look good. It helps you lose weight while toning up your body into a better-looking shape. Many people opt for this kind of bariatric surgery after exhausting other weight loss options. It is often ideal for people whose weight is causing serious health risks and issues, including HBP, diabetes, heart disease, GRD, and sleep apnea.

In addition to gastric bypass, other types of bariatric surgery include sleeve gastrectomy and BPD. Gastric bypass specifically involves altering the digestive system in a way that helps you lose weight. During a gastric bypass procedure, a pouch is created from the upper portion of the stomach, directing part of the food you eat straight to the small intestines. This is where the name comes from. The food bypasses several stages of (gastric) digestion. This means that only a fraction of the calories you take in actually make their way into the body.

Traditionally, the procedure involved large or open incisions in your abdomen. Today, with technological advancements, there is the use of a laparoscope, a tubular instrument with a camera attached at the end. Laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery is minimally invasive, where the abdominal incisions made during the procedure are quite minimal.

2. Preparation for the Surgery 

When you have tried all your options and decided that this procedure is the only option you have, you need to convince other people as well. Be aware that once you have undergone the procedure, the heat won't be on you alone. Your family and relatives will be part of your recovery process and will have to deal with late-night calls that you may have. Doctors might have to deal with complications. Your medical insurance provider has to be ready to cover the treatment cost. Therefore, before you can get yourself to secure a time for the surgery you need to know that the doctors, your family, and insurance providers have to approve.

Most importantly, you will want to prepare yourself psychologically and physically. Your digestive system has to be prepared as well. On this note, the diet you take before surgery is quite important in getting the body ready and determining the results. The same case applies to the post-surgery diet. Your doctor may recommend a specific routine, which may include lifestyle changes, which may include physical activity, quitting tobacco, and cutting back on alcohol.

3. Physical and Emotional Issues 

Once you have decided to take this path. You need to be ready for the emotional and physical ups and downs. The gastric bypass procedure is one of the safest in the world; but then you need to be ready to deal with physical pain, medication, and even possible complications. This bariatric surgery procedure has a high success rate, but the possibility of other issues arising from the surgery shouldn’t go unmentioned. There will be also a ton of dietary restrictions to deal with, which could stretch for months until the doctors are sure your body can handle the ordinary stresses.

4. The Recovery Challenges 

The procedure itself isn't much of an issue. The challenge is in the recovery process. Some of the challenges associated with the procedure include weakness, which is caused by the high sugar foods you will be taking. Some people also experience constipation and dumping syndrome, which involves nausea and vomiting. There is also a risk of infection to the incision wounds, and leaks in the newly made connections could also occur. Mild effects such as dry skin, hair loss, sagging skin, colds, and pain are also possible, especially in the first six or so weeks of recovery. This is all the more reason to keep your doctor at an arm’s length during this period.

Gastric Bypass Surgery, like all other bariatric procedures, requires you to prepare well enough. You need to take time and dig deeper about what it really means to undergo the procedure and decide whether it is a good decision. The above information should give you an idea of what the procedure is all about, so you don’t go in blindly. All in all, it is an awesome procedure for those who really need to lose weight fast.

5 Great Ways To Help Your Parents Age In Place

No one is immune to time, not even your beloved parents. Therefore, sooner or later, they will get old, and you will have to take good care of them. Caring for your aging parents is a big responsibility. It can be pretty demanding, and it takes a lot of time. However, it is also a privilege. Unfortunately, a lot of people are not able to perform this duty, so they put their aging parents in a home. This is their right and a completely understandable option.

Now, we are not saying that old people’s homes are bad. Many of them offer wonderful living conditions for the elderly. However, it’s safe to say that every parent would feel much more comfortable being surrounded by his family members, rather than medical staff. Therefore, if you want your aging parents to feel good and safe, you should try to take care of them at your home. Here are the 6 great ways to help your parents age in place.

1. Make The House Safe For Them

As you probably know, aging parents are more prone to injuries than younger people. This is especially true if they already have medical conditions. If your parents are old and sick, you have to do everything in your power to make your home safe for them. The experts from experthomecare.com claim that this should be your first priority if you want your parents to age in place. Therefore, make every single room in your home safe for your parents. Install grab bars on the walls and remove the clutter. This will allow them to walk freely without risking a nasty injury.

However, sometimes a safe home isn't enough to meet the growing needs of aging parents. People from Miami's most dense neighborhood are often looking for senior care services in Brickell that can cater to specific health and mobility requirements, providing support beyond what family members can offer alone. These services ensure that seniors receive personalized care while allowing them to maintain independence and comfort, easing the responsibilities for loved ones.

2. Do Your Best To Make Them Feel At Home

Even when you're their closest family, your parents might still feel like they’re imposing when they need extra care. These feelings are completely natural, but it’s up to you to help ease that burden by making them feel seen, valued, and at home. A warm smile, a patient attitude, and small daily gestures can make a big difference in their comfort. When the demands of caregiving become too much to manage alone, turning to a trusted provider like CarePoint Home Care Agency in Philadelphia or similar others in your locality, can ensure they receive the compassionate support they deserve, while allowing you to focus on your responsibilities.

3. Prepare For Emergencies

No one likes to think about this, but if you are taking care of old and sick parents, you simply have to know the quickest way to a hospital. You also must keep their meds easily accessible and have a properly equipped first aid kit. This way, if something happens, you will be prepared for an emergency.

4. Allow Them To Have Their Own Routine

Moving from their home to yours is a big change for your parents. Even though they love you and have no one closer, they will still feel like a guest in your house. In order for them to feel more welcome, you have to allow them to have their own daily routines. If they have a favorite TV show they like to watch every day, let them. Being able to enjoy their daily routines will keep them calm. It will also make your job as a caregiver much easier.

5. Be A Good Companion

Taking good care of your aging parents is a wonderful thing, no question about it. The fact that you took on this responsibility shows how noble and loyal you are. However, you should know that it’s not just about providing medical care and a place to stay. It’s also about being a good companion to your lonely parents. As you probably know, their social life is not what it used to be. Therefore, every once in a while they can be rather lonely.

However, you have the power to make their life fun and interesting. All you have to do is spend time with them during the day. Take a walk with them outside or play board games together. It really doesn’t matter what you do, as long as you are together. Trust us, they will know how to appreciate this and your companionship will definitely mean a lot to them.

Nevertheless, if your busy work schedule leaves you with little time for such activities, it’s understandable that you might not be able to spend as much time with your parents as you would like to. In such cases, hiring an in-home caregiver from a reputable Philadelphia home care agency, or another location, can be a smart solution. A skilled caregiver can provide not only the necessary care and support but also companionship. They can engage your loved ones in various activities, ensuring they have meaningful interactions and remain active even in your absence. This way, you can be confident that your parents are well cared for and continue to enjoy their days.

Deciding to take care of your aging parents is a big responsibility. It requires a lot of hard work and compassion. If you think you are worthy of this challenge, by all means, you should take care of your beloved parents in your home. Considering that this is not a simple thing to do, you may feel a little bit overwhelmed and confused every once in a while. This is perfectly understandable, and you shouldn’t worry about it. However, if you feel lost, just look at the things we talked about today. It’s safe to say that these tips will help you to perform your duty properly.

Planning to Get a Hair Transplant? Here are the Countries to Choose From

A hair transplant is a surgical procedure that usually adds more hair to an area on your body that has suffered hair loss. The procedure moves hair follicles from one place, typically known as the ‘donor site’, to another, which is known as the ‘recipient site’. Although this procedure was once known to specifically treat male pattern baldness, nowadays it can be used by nearly anyone if they are suffering from hair loss.

Why a Hair Transplant?

Hair loss has been a problem since time memorial, with many strange alleged cures for baldness including, believe it or not, castration before the age of 25, and even compost for the head! In more recent history in the battle against hair loss, hair restoration is not only less painful but is thankfully less smelly. 

Less invasive and painful than a hair graft and providing more permanence than a wig, a hair transplant is often considered the most ideal method of permanent hair restoration. A hair graft will take a strip of skin from the donor site to transfer to the recipient site to encourage hair growth. In contrast, a hair transplant will use several smaller grafts. 

It is important to note that hair restoration can occur nearly anywhere on the human body, including eyebrows, eyelashes, beard, and chest. 

Where should I go for a Hair Transplant?

Hair transplants can be done all over the world, so if you feel like undergoing this surgery in conjunction with a holiday, choosing another country may be ideal. However, despite the potential enjoyment of being on holiday, you want to know that you’re in safe hands and under an experienced surgeon. Therefore, if you’re planning to have this surgical procedure done abroad, rather than somewhere local, here’s everything you need to know about getting a hair transplant in some other countries: 

Turkey

Considered one of the best places to get a hair transplant, Turkey is also renowned for a host of celebrities flocking it for various procedures, including hair and dental. Prices for hair transplants in Turkey are considerably lower than most of Europe, America, and some Asian countries. With its government’s injection of money into medicine, combined with competitive prices, perhaps this is unsurprising. 

Of the 800,000 people entering Turkey every year, 100,000 of them arrive specifically for hair transplants. This shows no sign of decreasing in the interim, especially with a 98% success rate in this field. Hair transplants and travel can be arranged within a few days. In addition to the latter, all-inclusive packages also include an interpreter, accommodation, and care products.

Thailand

Considered another ideal country to have a hair transplant, Thailand is also a popular tourist destination. Many Thai hair transplant surgeons go abroad to be taught how to perform this surgery before returning home to practice their profession. 

Hair transplants cost around the same as in most of Europe but are still considerably cheaper than in America and Australia. When you include the fact that Thailand is a popular holiday destination, it is understandable that the country is a popular choice for people wanting a hair transplant. With approximately 150,000 such operations performed per year, Thailand is undoubtedly a country worth considering.

Poland

Despite being less popular than Turkey and Thailand, Poland has affordable medical facilities that provide some of the best hair transplant procedures at affordable prices. The Artas Robot, a machine specifically designed to extract follicles from the donor site to the recipient site, without the need for surgery and whilst also being minimally invasive, is used at most medical facilities in Poland that specialize in this procedure. 

In comparison with Western European countries, Poland charges 20 - 40% less for this surgery. Furthermore, it is considered the easiest to reach a country in the world for hair transplants. Thanks to low-cost flights, it is also considered the cheapest to travel to. However, unlike Thailand and Turkey, there are no package holidays and expenditure can accrue when taking into consideration the separate costs for accommodation, an interpreter, and transfer.

It’s important you thoroughly do your research to be aware of:

• The procedure

• The recovery time

• Any follow up appointments

• Whether you will require an interpreter and

• Where you’re going to live

When researching possible countries to undergo a hair transplant. 

Affordability may not always equate to safety or provide things like an interpreter, which may prove to be vital if, in the unfortunate instance, you require urgent medical assistance after having surgery. It may be worth looking for independent patient reviews to gain a different perspective to further help you decide. 

4 Ways to Quickly Enhance Your Home Privacy

Your home is a private place where the outsiders are not allowed to see or access everything. You being friends with neighbors doesn’t mean you share everything. There are areas or things that are completely private. Unfortunately, most properties don’t guarantee full privacy to their occupants, making it necessary to find ways to enhance your privacy in your home. You will need privacy inside your house, the backyard, garage, and even the entire compound, and it’s you to determine what to show. There are many ways of enhancing your home privacy, including getting curtains, tints, fences, and much more. Here are the detailed methods you can consider.

1. Add Blinds, Shutters, and Curtains

Every home and even workplace has curtains, shutters, and even window blinds electric to control the amount of light inside the building or enhance privacy.  Having these items is regarded as the cheapest means of creating privacy in your house, and there are many ways of doing so. With the blinds, curtains, and shutters, you can control when and how to use them at different times of the day. Curtains and blinds are easily removable, and you can use different material densities to control the amount of light in your house. Most people do not love the look of curtains or blinds in their homes. 

In this case, they can use shutters for privacy and control the amount of light to your house. Shutters are best used when you even want to control the amount of airflow to your home. Next time you wonder how to control the light, privacy, and air amount into your house, consider incorporating blinds and curtains and even shutters for the latter.

2. Update Your Windows

You might be wondering how windows are updated. There are many ways you can update your home windows, for instance, you could look at replacing them altogether with a reputable brand such as Renewal by Andersen (more info can be found right here). Alternatively, you may consider changing their look by incorporating a few additions like tints. You can update your windows by replacing the normal glasses with tinted glass or applying films to the glass windows. According to tint experts from this website, there are many ways you can tint or film your windows to enhance privacy and also control the amount of light in your house. The tints keep excessive sun rays off from your home and maintains privacy. With these functions, you can stay without worrying about privacy, and you enjoy other benefits, including skin health and protection, energy efficiency, comfort, and added privacy.

The tints help regulate the inside temperatures; thus, you use less energy to warm and cool your home. You only need to get in touch with the tint professionals who will help in updating your windows.

3. Get a Privacy Fence

Besides helping you keep intruders at bay, fences play a great role in maintaining your home privacy. It is said that thieves target houses for things they have seen before. This situation means a burglar will only break your house if they have access to it and are sure there is something valuable. How can you stop all this? There are different types of privacy fences, including having concrete fences, having wire mesh reinforcement, or constructing one using iron sheets. The privacy fence will enable you to practice your indoor activities, including relaxing in the bathtub, swimming, basking in the sun, and keeping your assets safe out of reach of neighbors or passersby eyes. It’s good getting a fence expert like Illinois Fence Company who will measure the right height and get you the right materials that will give you better privacy for your home.

4. Install a Trellis

While you can get a secure fence or some shrubs to add some privacy in your home, such might not work for some compounds. Why is it so? It’s because they don’t have adequate space for fences and areas to plant trees and shrubs. With this inconvenience, trellis comes in handy to improve your home privacy. Trellis doesn’t take much space and adds more privacy, and improves your home’s beauty. With a trellis fence, you can plant some climbing plants to add more privacy layers and improve the look while getting some green vegetation in your compound, which improves air quality. Trellis helps keep off thieves, onlookers, and unwanted animals and pets out of your compound. If maintained well, they can boost value for your house.

Everyone loves being in a private place unless when doing things that concern the public. Using the above tips will help you improve your home’s privacy and help you enjoy private sessions like swimming, sun-basking, and protecting your assets and family members from onlookers and potential predators. You can also include CCTV cameras, providing more lighting at your compound at night, and other measures to boost this privacy.

5. Solar Window Film or Glass Tint Adds Stylish Privacy

Adding solar film or privacy tint to your home windows adds additional functionality and contemporary looks to your home. One of the primary advantages is improved privacy. Privacy or solar tint is a great option for homes with rooms facing the street, park, or other busy areas – especially if you want to maintain a contemporary look without shutters or curtains.

Window films contribute to a contemporary look, available in various finishes from mirrored to frosted effects. This modern appeal can boost your home’s exterior design while maintaining its interior charm. In terms of energy efficiency, solar films are particularly beneficial. They block significant portions of the sun's heat and harmful UV rays, reducing the reliance on air conditioning during hot months. This thermal insulation helps in maintaining a consistent indoor temperature, leading to lower energy bills. Your window tinting service provider can help you find the right film for your home’s look and function, and the installation process is fairly simple.

In addition to the extra privacy, you’ll also protect your home furnishings, leather, curtains, and more from fading in the sun. The UV rays do more damage than you’d think!