Month: August 2018

Ready to take on the task of landscaping your pool space? You generally don’t realize the importance in the types of trees you use until it’s too late. Let’s go over a few rules the trees around your pool should follow that will provide minimal upkeep and provide the best aesthetics.

• The trees you choose should have minimal leaf drop and are not overly messy. You want to avoid cleaning seeds, fruits, flowers, and dead leaves as much as possible. This task can get tedious.
• Choose trees that have shallow root systems. Some tree roots can cause cracks in the concrete and cause problems with the plumbing.
• Choose trees that can be preferably moved around in large growing containers.
• Go with a tree that matches the theme of your decor, weather that’s tropical, Japanese, Mediterranean, desert oasis, etc.
• Pick a tree that doesn’t block a view you may want to keep when it’s fully grown.

Below, we’ll list top 9 of our favorite trees to use throughout your pool landscaping. We recommend these trees based on their root system and the minimal amount of shedding in their leaves and fruits. Choose from one below that will match the theme of your decor:

1. Palm Trees

2. Citrus Trees

3. Banana Trees

4. Japanese Maples

5. False Cyprus

6. Floss Silk Tree

7. Fruitless Olive Trees

8. Ironwood

9. Palo Verde

Have questions? Call me and I can get you some recommendations on awesome Landscapers to help with your yard! Pool or Not!

Jennifer Cote

REALTOR®

512-967-5748

Jennifer.Cote@5elementsrealtyteam.com

5elementsrealtyteam.com

Kitchen floors get put through quite a lot! Between all of the dropped utensils, the spills and drips; being one of the most used rooms in a home, your floors need to handle kitchen hazards and look good doing it. A large variety of floor materials won’t be an ideal fit for the kitchen because of this. Below, I’m listing my favorite kitchen floors that help with maintaining low maintenance, and keeping a balance between style and functionality.

CERAMIC TILES

Ceramic tiles can be a great fit for the kitchen because they are resilient, hard, and impervious to stains and water. It also helps that they are resilient to heat and breakage, under normal conditions, that is. They came in a variety of colors and even faux finishes to add a beautiful, yet smart, addition to your kitchen.

DURABLE CONCRETE

Concrete is a great option for ground level kitchens and are a long lasting option for homeowners. Sometimes, concrete slabs may have already been placed beneath your existing flooring. The surface of it can then be polished or stained to provide a stylish look for your kitchen.

NATURAL STONE

Natural stone is a hard rock that allows it to remain durable and long lasting. The only drawback to stone is that it is porous, which makes it susceptible to water and liquid stains. This can be avoided with an annual application of chemical stone sealer, which simply provides an invisible coat of protection.

HARDWOOD

Hardwood can be tough to work within a kitchen because the material is porous and relatively soft. However, if you like the look of hardwood in a kitchen, you’ll just want to have it treated with a quality polyurethane-based finish. Keep in mind, it will, overtime, take on a more aged look. If you find character and personality in imperfections, then hardwood will work great for you.

BAMBOO

Bamboo has a similar look and feel to hardwood, and can be a great alternative. It is a harder and more durable material that helps it become more resistant towards moisture and water damage. The only drawback? It’s tough to refinish them because there is no direction to the natural grain.

LINOLEUM

Made popular about 50 years ago, linoleum seems to be making a comeback. Linoleum is made from all natural linseed oil, which makes it pretty environmentally friendly. They’re also pretty easy to clean and maintain. If it is properly cared for, it can generally have a lifespan for upwards of 40 or so years. However, if it is immersed in water, it is highly susceptible to damage. Be sure to avoid basement quality linoleum in your kitchen or they will begin to curl when faced with humidity.

VINYL

Vinyl is a great and affordable kitchen flooring option. Their lifespan generally tens to run around 7 to 10 years before they start showing significant signs of wear and fade. Vinyl is man-made and is nearly impervious to water issues, stains, and other damage. It is also very easy to clean.

Don’t want to replace your flooring? You can always give me a call and we’ll find you a house with the type of kitchen flooring that you love!

Jennifer Cote

REALTOR®

512-967-5748

Jennifer.Cote@5elementsrealtyteam.com

5elementsrealtyteam.com