Blog - Rosie on the House

This is the time of year when desert homeowners with grass lawns start worrying about getting rid of the Bermuda and trying to get the ryegrass to grow for Arizona’s cool season...Maybe like some of those homeowners, you’re wondering if artificial turf could be the answer for your yard instead. So, here's eight things you’d probably like to know about artificial grass and how it can perform in your yard...

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In much of Arizona, as the weather cools, we’re getting ready for our second spring – a time to plant, landscape and launch a new beginning for our yards. Before you start, we’d suggest visiting some inspiring garden spots and beautiful wild landscapes which can found all over the state. We’ve listed at least eight here, including some well-known & some that may be new to you...

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Water trapped under your house? It’s not a problem you’d expect to have in arid Arizona, but this water crisis is possible - sometimes due to a wetter than normal monsoon season... Luckily there is a solution...

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When you look at a U.S. Geological Survey map of where water is "hardest," most of Arizona is dark red...Thankfully, there are solutions to the issues hard water causes...

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It seems like we're always gearing up for the next solar deadline, even though we just passed some important ones...So, if you're still waiting to go solar in hopes of a marginal decrease in panel prices, don't forget these critical dates that are likely to have a much more immediate impact on your solar ROI...

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You’ve probably had daydreams about a luxury redo for your backyard swimming pool... Like many pool owners, you probably only need to give your current pool a “facelift” in order to improve its appearance and increase your enjoyment of your daily swim. By “facelift,” we mean that your pool is showing...

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It's monsoon season and the door-knockers are at it again. At Rosie on the House we've heard recent reports that salesmen for roofing companies ring their doorbells and use high-pressure tactics to get them to sign up for a reroofing job. Learn what to look for to spot a scam, how to research a company, and what steps to take if you do have damage...

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If you've had a swimming pool for quite a while, you may be using it less and less and spending more and more on maintenance and utility bills than you did in the beginning. Here are some suggestions on pool improvements you can make that might help you love your pool again:...

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Perhaps you’ve heard us talk about whole house energy audits in the past and have wondered what they are. Well, an energy or home performance audit is a series of tests that will look at...

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By this time of year, many Arizona homeowners are on the verge of a panic attack if they even have a passing thought that something is going wrong with their air conditioner. Give yourself peace of mind and not neglect to call an AC company when a simple check-up will...

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Maybe you moved to Arizona to get away from pollen in hopes that your allergies would calm down. But it didn’t work. Or maybe you’ve always lived here and have struggled with allergies many months of the year. Whatever the issue may be, your AC system can help as long as you analyze the situation and make adjustments. Here are suggestions for improving the air quality at your house: ...

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How long is an air conditioner supposed to last and what are the signs it really must go? Check out these five basic questions plus answers that might help you decide whether to replace that AC...

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For the past few years at Rosie on the House we’ve talked about ways to fix or remodel your home to make it more comfortable and safe for aging members of your family, including you. Successfully enjoying life while aging-in-place may also depend on other kinds of challenges that may not necessarily require remodel or handyman work. Here are some challenges you may not have considered:...

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The monsoon season has already arrived in Arizona, but you probably still have time to fix the most crucial weak spots on your roof. The dry weather has continued so long that many homeowners may have neglected inspection and repair of their roofs. Even a fairly new roof may need some checking. Check out where the nine most vulnerable areas on your Arizona roof may be. You might want to consider having it checked this year...

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We know you’re Rosie on the House fans; this lets us know you are on top of your general property maintenance. This article is about understanding the life stage of your roof. No one wants to consider that their roof has a limited life span; that being said, understanding and preparing for roof expense is prudent...

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You might think an uninsulated garage is the hottest part of your Arizona house in July and August, but actually the area where you are more likely to suffer heatstroke is in an unventilated attic where it can reach 160 degrees or more on a scorching summer day. How's a homeowner supposed to avoid that type of attic heat?...

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Most Arizona homeowners know what insulation is and how it helps protect houses from getting too hot in summer or too cold in winter. But when summer arrives and the cost of air conditioning soars, you probably start wondering about improvements that can make your home feel cooler in July and August...

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After living in Arizona for a while, you find out that only about a dozen types of roofing are frequently used in our state, However, the marketplace is changing and some new possibilities are on the horizon. If you’re thinking about installing a new roof, you might be interested in the all the possibilities as well as pros and cons for each...

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When you first moved into your house, the driveway looked great, but over the years, it's taken a real beating. Do you have to rip up all the concrete to fix a bad situation? Here are the pros and cons of various solutions:...

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Even if you can’t afford to insulate and air condition your garage, several basic things can be done to turn it into a more useful and attractive part of your home. If you’re like almost everyone, you need to clean up the clutter and throw out the junk. Here are major steps that can transform your garage into a great storage area, workshop or maybe even an office; something besides keeping it as the main storage place for your cars....

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