With winter upon us, our homes are much colder and our electricity bills are skyrocketing. Turning up the heater is the first thing we do as soon as we feel the cold, but there are other alternatives. If you invest in the appropriate window coverings, you won’t have to run the heater as often and will save a bunch of money. Although, purchasing blinds can require a large upfront payment, you are making an investment in your home and it will pay off.
Of course it does! Windows are the greatest source of cold into and warmth out of your house. It has been said that windows account for 40% of heat loss in homes. You spend all this money on a heater, just to lose almost half of it to the outside. Installing blinds wouldn’t allow this loss to occur. If you are able to trap a layer of air in between blinds and the window, the heat won’t be able to escape and cold won’t be able to enter.
Making the most of the newest addition to your home is actually quite simple. The best way to control the temperature in your home without touching the thermostat is to time the opening and closing of your blinds. During the day, you are going to want to open the blinds to let in all the sunlight and warmth. However, when dusk falls, close the blinds to keep the natural heat inside and the cold out.
Because every home and customer is different, there is not a one-size-fits-all window covering. The perfect window covering for you depends on the style you are looking for, the size of your windows, and the cold protection you desire. Louie’s Ace Hardware offers a wide variety of mini-blinds and basic rollers to fit any need. In addition, at Louie’s, you are able to special order products from Hunter Douglas. Whatever your style, we have you covered!
For other home projects, we also offer ACE hardware rentals if needed. Contact us today!
Are you bored with your kitchen? Is your kitchen in need of a change? When it comes to refreshing your kitchen, the possibilities are endless! And kitchen cabinets are a great place to start. Depending on your budget, there are many options to refresh your kitchen cabinets. From simply polishing your cabinets to replacing them all together, Louie’s Ace Hardware has tips and supplies to help you along the way.
If you aren’t looking to spend a lot of money or invest a lot of time, simply cleaning your kitchen cabinets can make a noticeable difference. Removing the dirt and grease that builds up over time and restoring the shine will make your kitchen cabinets look and feel like new.
Contrary to popular belief, kitchen cabinets are actually one of the dirtiest areas in your home. There are few others that are more exposed to grease, dirt, and bacteria than your cabinets. With some of them being at children and pet level, germs can collect quickly. And with food being prepared above them, spills are not uncommon and the food can leave a residue even after wiping it up. Properly cleaning your kitchen cabinets will give them an improved look and keep your family protected from bacteria and disease.
Here at Louie’s Ace Home Center, we offer two great cleaning products for your kitchen cabinets: Magic’s Cabinet & Wood Cleaner & Polish Spray and Murphy’s Oil Soap.
Magic’s cleaner works to get dirt, dust, food stains, grease, and water marks off your cabinets. After removing the unwanted stains and dirt, your cabinets are left with a protective coating to resist more stains. Magic’s is recommended for all wood surfaces and can be used on painted and laminate cabinets and cabinets with a lacquer finish.
Murphy’s Original oil soap works great on wooden cabinets, floors, and furniture.
Over the past several years, painted cabinets have become extremely popular. This new trend gained its popularity because it is modern, simple, and low cost. When painting your cabinets, there is a set of steps that can be followed to ensure the best results.
Once the paint has dried, you can re-attach your cabinet doors and enjoy your beautiful, new kitchen cabinets!
Looking for a cheap and easy way to change up your kitchen? Simply add new knobs and pulls to your kitchen cabinets and notice the difference. I know this trick almost sounds too good to be true, but it really works!
Cabinets are a significant part of homes because they take up so much space. If they are plain, they can make the whole room feel dull. Kitchen cabinets are no exception to this, as cabinets usually take up the majority of the space. People usually think to change the lighting or the cabinet color or appliances, but the simple fix is usually forgotten. Because knobs and pulls are a small, inexpensive part of your kitchen, they are often overlooked.
If you take advantage of this minor change, you won’t regret it. Stop by Louie’s Ace Hardware to check out our selection of knobs and pulls and thank us later. Once the new accessories are installed, your kitchen will be given a whole new look.
Out with the old and in with the new. Sometimes, the best way to go when it comes to your old kitchen cabinets, is to simply replace them. Although painting them or changing the hardware will make a significant difference, replacing them might be necessary. You can change the color and knobs, but you can’t change the cut of the wood, the size, or the design.
If you are looking to completely replace your current kitchen cabinets, Louie’s Ace Hardware can help! We carry products of the leading cabinet manufacturer for over 50 years, Wellborn Cabinets. Wellborn offers a wide variety of options to choose from with 6 individual product lines. We provide their products because Wellborn has high quality, durable cabinets.
Whatever you decide to do, Louie’s Ace Hardware wants to help! We have the best cleaning materials and paints, a wide variety of knobs and pulls, and the highest quality cabinets to choose from. We also offer a variety of ACE hardware rentals. If you have any questions about the products we sell, please contact us!
A beautiful, verdant lawn is the focal point for many gardens. Images of lush expanses of cool grass often feature in gardening magazines. However, maintaining a lawn to be proud of is significantly harder to do in northern Nevada’s desert climate.
Never fear though, it is possible! We’ve put together a list of handy hints about how to keep your lawn looking lovely throughout the summer months. Louie's Home Center offers ace hardware rentals such as batchers, aerators, high-weed mowers, and weed whackers for lawn care.
Know The Best Time To Water
This handy leaflet recommends watering at night or during the cool morning hours to minimize evaporation. It’s best to avoid the peak water consumption hours of 4 - 9 p.m.
But how often should you water? This depends on the weather, the soil and the turf type. However, a good rule of thumb is not to water more than once every three days during the summer. This will encourage your lawn to develop a deep root system. A long soak two to three times a week is definitely better than a short, daily soak- that will just create a shallow root system.
To figure out how much to water, you can check out www.wateruseitwisely.com for a helpful guide.
2. Make Your Water Count
Water is a precious resource, and too often around Reno we see people’s sprinklers watering everything but their lawn! Invest in a decent adjustable sprinkler that suits your lawn shape and size. This will save you money and ensure that the water is being directed where it's needed.
3. Let Your Lawn Breathe
Did you know that lawns need oxygen as well as water? It’s important to keep them aerated, which lets air circulate and prevents roots from getting compacted. It also makes your lawn much more efficient at absorbing that precious water!
It’s best to aerate the day after you’ve watered, so the ground is a little softer. This page recommends pushing a garden fork into the ground at about six inch intervals. However if you’re lucky enough to have a large lawn, it’s probably best to hire an aeration machine.
4. Feed Your Hungry Lawn
Regular feeding with a good fertilizer is essential for proper growth and a good green color. However be careful- an over-fertilized lawn will require more water and more frequent mowing. More is not necessarily better, so be sure to carefully follow the packet instructions!
The Desert Lawn Care Guide recommends using slow release fertilizers, as they release nutrients more efficiently and can be applied less frequently. It’s best to fertilize in the early morning or evening, then water thoroughly.
5. Mow At The Right Height
Proper mowing is crucial to maintain a healthy lawn, but don’t overdo it! A lawn cut too short requires more water. We recommend raising the cutting height of your lawnmower during summer to keep your lawn looking its best. That way, the grass won’t dry out as quickly in the hot sun and the longer blades of grass will better protect the roots.
Of course, a top quality mower is really important too. The Craftsman 6.75 Torque Rear Bag Push Mower is a real deal at $239.99 instore. With five point height adjusters with 1.1″-3.4″ range, it’s the perfect option to ensure you’re mowing at the right height.
6. Accessorise Your Lawn
After you’ve gone to all that trouble of ensuring your lawn is healthy and beautiful, you’re going to want to show it off! The Catalina six piece resin wicker bar garden furniture set with umbrella will look beautiful in your garden, and will provide a lovely shady spot from where to admire all your hard work. What’s more, it’s currently on special at $299.99- that’s $100 off!
You could also create some beautifully ambient evening lighting for summer nights in the garden, by placing tea lights in Mason Jars. We have them available in packs of twelve for just $12.99.
So there you have it: our top tips for keeping your lawn looking lovely through the Nevada summer. Why not try taking before and after pictures of your lawn so you can compare the difference? And if you have any lawn tips of your own, we’d love to hear them. Be sure to check out Louie's Home Center for all of our lawn care ACE hardware rentals. Happy gardening!
Spring has definitely sprung, and for those of you who are desperate to get out into the garden and get started, here are some top tips to help you make the most of the longer days and prepare a garden to be proud of all year round.
It doesn’t matter if you’re a green-fingered expert or a complete beginner, all gardens need a thorough tidying up after the winter. Mulch your borders with compost or manure and stop any young weeds in their tracks. All your hard work will pay off when it’s time to sow seeds and start the most fun part of gardening- planting!
Definitely most people’s favorite part of gardening! After all, that hard work tidying up and removing unwanted plants, it’s time to get planting. If you didn’t manage to plant trees and shrubs during the fall, the ground should now be free from frost and therefore soft enough for you to get planting now. That way, your new plants will be fully established by the time winter hits again.
Ground frost can cause roots to lift out of the ground during cold weather. It’s important to pack them back down again during spring. This will give your plants a fighting chance of survival!
If you have any deciduous trees (those that shed their leaves in winter), make your own leaf mold by putting the fallen leaves in trash bags with a little water. Tie the tops of the bags and make a few small aeration holes in the side before storing them in a sheltered part of your garden. By summer, you’ll have nutritious leaf mold ready to pamper your plants with. It can be added to soil and potted plants. Plus it actually reduces the need for watering: no bad thing here in the desert!
Sow summer bedding plants indoors in early spring. They can then be moved outdoors in late spring/early summer, once the weather warms up and there’s little chance of frost damage.
If you planted vegetables last year, remove any old crops completely before sowing new seeds. Prepare seedbeds and fertilize your soil ready for this year’s crops, then look forward to all those delicious homegrown dinners! We hope this post has inspired you to get out in the garden and get busy. At Louie’s ACE Home Center, we have everything you need to fully embrace the joys of spring gardening, so pay us a visit today! We offer lawn care equipment from our ACE hardware rentals.
When it comes to lawn mowers, there are a surprisingly large number of options available. Mowing the lawn can be a pain, so when it comes to choosing your tool it is important to choose the one that can help you tackle your yard the best.
Electric and gas mowers each have their own benefits that largely depend upon the type of yard you have, your personal choices, costs, and the level of maintenance you’re willing to take on.
When you think of lawn mowers, it’s likely that a gas mower is what first comes to mind. These mowers provide the power needed to easily tackle tough grass and mow larger areas without troublesome cords or having to re-charge a battery. A little gas can go a long way! Gas mowers also can be more durable and long lasting in comparison to some electric models.
If you’re looking to be environmentally friendly, a gas powered mower is not the top option as it emits carbon monoxide and dioxide into the atmosphere. They also tend to be much noisier than electric mowers. Due to the additional mechanisms and pieces, gas mowers tend to be heavier as well.
A popular alternative to gas lawn mowers, electric mowers a great option for those looking to avoid some of the downsides to using a gas powered tool. Not only are electric mowers quieter, you also avoid the frustrating pull-to-start process of turning on a gas mower. Electric mowers also don’t require sparkplugs or fuel filters eliminating the additional accessories needed with gas powered mowers. While they can be pricey up-front, electric mowers also can become cost effective over time.
Despite these benefits, electric mowers are not the best option if you have a large area to cover because they either come with cords or rechargeable batteries that last for only about an hour. They also can be dangerous when used in wet conditions as the electrical components can cause electrocution if they come into contact with water. An electric lawnmower isn’t the best choice for lawns with tough grasses or for someone who may wait for their lawn to look like a jungle before taking out the mower.
Looking to upgrade your mower? Keep an eye out for Louie’s ACE Home Center’s “cash for clunkers” program this September! If you need other lawn care equipment for a short period of time, check out our ACE hardware rentals.
