Choosing the Right Stone For Your Bar Top

Building a bar, whether it is for the home or office, is a wonderful addition for entertaining guests or just as a super cool hangout with friends. A bar can create the right atmosphere for relaxing, socializing, and adds to the overall appeal of any environment. There are several steps necessary to designing the right bar from deciding on a wine fridge, installing a carbonation system for a kegerator, or to just having a mirrored, well-lit display for those high-end liquors. But one decision that will add the most value to a bar is a stone countertop.

Bar tops come in an amazing variety of stones and finishes to just a simple granite top to highly sought-after semi-precious slabs. Choosing the right top usually comes down to two factors: budget and aesthetics. One place to look at a variety of countertops is on the internet. One website that offers an amazing selection of bar tops is StoneMart.com.

A Variety of Stones

When it comes to choosing the right stone top for your bar, things to consider before making a purchase are pattern, color, tone and stone type. Each stone type has its own characteristics that set it apart from its brothers. Granite is a natural durable stone that no two slabs look alike. Onyx is has a stunning beauty that because of its translucency can be easily be backlit to make the bar the focal point of any room.

Another bar top that offers dependability and low maintenance is quartz. Marble offers a classic look that adds value to a home but must be properly sealed to avoid stains. Slate is very resilient and works well in high-end traffic environments. Slate is typically used in roofing because of its low water absorption rate and comes in other shades besides grey.

But for a truly spectacular countertop, one that everyone will be in awe, and a little envious, is a bar top made of semi-precious stone. These tops can be a little pricy but they do make up for their cost in overall aesthetic appeal. From the creamy colors of mother of pearl to exotic earthiness of red petrified wood, semi-precious slabs should be on the top of the list for any serious bar enthusiasts.

Is It Really Easier and Cheaper to Live Alone?

Should you live alone, or should you live with roommates? That’s the typical question of anyone who wants to live independently in an apartment for the first time.

There are many benefits to living alone, though there are several downsides too. However, any of the factors involved in living alone or living with a roommate can easily be balanced through careful planning and calculation. You just have to keep a realistic view of what to expect.

Living Alone versus Living with Roommates

Here’s a breakdown comparison of living alone versus with roommates.

●     Living alone is generally more expensive than sharing an apartment.

When it comes down to the core expenses of having an apartment, like paying rent, furnishing the place and even paying for electricity, sharing an apartment usually turns out to be the much cheaper option.

For example, if you will be moving into an apartment that hasn’t been furnished yet, you’ll have to pay the full cost of all furniture, kitchen and bathroom necessities, and cleaning supplies. Having to buy everything on your own can be a big strain on your budget.

In terms of rental rates, living in a small one-bedroom apartment can end up being more expensive than sharing a two-bedroom place with a roommate in most cities. Regardless of the neighborhood or proximity to expensive areas, most two-bedroom apartments rarely cost twice as much as a studio does. Depending on your options, living alone can cost you a couple hundred bucks more per month in rental.

Another aspect of living alone that can rack up the bills is utilities. Cable, Internet use, and electricity are usually cheaper when shared between people, though the amount you’ll save can end up being negligible.

●     Living alone gives you more control over your expenses.

Of course, there are financial upsides to living alone as well. Without other people making use of your water supply and pantry stock, you’ll be able to better control how much you spend in a month.

You can easily cancel out cable subscriptions or other services that you don’t need, without having to consult with a roommate. You also don’t have to worry about a roommate who excessively makes use of water or electricity.

●     Living alone is better for privacy.

Money issues aren’t everything. For some people, paying a bit more for privacy and greater control is a perfectly valid trade off.

If you like having time alone, living alone would make it easier for you to relax and recharge after a workday. Most apartment sharing setups are geared towards saving money can end up being pretty cramped physically, which will just stress you out more.

How much you are willing to share is also a consideration. Whether it is your appliances in the kitchen or your time socializing, having a roommate would mean that you’d have to be a bit more open and less private about your belongings. Having privacy and independence is much easier when living alone.

●     Living alone reduces potential for conflicts

Conflicts are inevitable when living with roommates. They can also be pretty horrific. Having to live with the same person you are fighting with, even if it’s over something petty, is troublesome to deal with.

Fights between roommates can arise over anything from the level of noise to financial issues. Even if you screen your potential roommates, living with other people will get difficult at some point or another.

If you are comfortable with the idea of being part of a conflict, or mediating one, in the future, then living with others would be okay for you. But the easiest way to get out of this potential trouble is to live alone and not have roommates altogether.

Overall, it is cheaper to live alone. However, if you’re truly committed to a solo lifestyle, don’t get discouraged. Being realistic about what’s within your budget and planning out your apartment can allow you to live in relative ease without any roommates.

The Lofts of Columbia offers upscale apartments in Columbia, MO.

The Importance of Plywood on Your Roof

As an effective load support and water-resistant mechanism, roof sheathing has become an indispensable part of roof layers. Roof sheathing materials include plywood, oriented strand board, lumber, hemlock, fir, redwood, or spruce. The sheathing layers protect your roof against sagging, leakage, and other forms of damage caused by water penetration and extreme weather elements.

3 Reasons Why Plywood is Still the Top Choice for Roof Sheathing

With the numerous benefits plywood delivers, it is still the most common choice for roof sheathing.

●     It is durable and strong.

Plywood remains to be the top sheathing material because of the durability and strength it possesses. It is the best choice for broader and stronger roof support that evenly disperses the weight or increases load tolerance. Its thickness can hold up heavy roof coverings and other equipment placed on the roof such as solar panels and air-conditioning units to prevent roof collapse. In addition, its stable and movement-resistant properties against swelling, shrinking, or warping protects your roof from leakage and failure.

●     It has quick dry mechanism and excellent moisture resistance.

As plywood gets wet due to inevitable exposure to weather elements like rain, ice and snow, it consistently swells but returns to its original dimension when it dries out. Its quick dry mechanism also reduces the risk of degrading the plywood’s quality as it is exposed to moisture for a longer period of time. This means that no ridges will be visible and your roof will not sag, rot or breakdown, which may cause severe leakage.

●     It has good insulation property.

Plywood has a good insulation property that gives extra thermal protection to your home. Plywood could reduce the heat brought about by hot weather conditions or the extreme warming of the roof due to overexposure to the sun’s heat. Through this effective cooling system, the thermal heat from the sun are being ward off. You don’t only get to enjoy reduced household electricity bills; you also get to contribute to environment protection.

The good reputation and excellent performance of plywood help maintain the trust of construction companies and homeowners. Today, plywood continuously dominates the market due to its vital advantages as a perfect underlayment in the roof construction.

Are you looking for the right roofing materials for sheath layers? Make sure to hire professional roofing services to help you properly install your roof sheathing and make the most of the plywood’s benefits in reinforcing your roof.

Written by True Son Exteriors, the best contractor for roofing in Columbia, MO.