Category: Home Improvement

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Ask Danny | Ep. 14: Answers to Your Homeowners Insurance Questions

9 months ago
Author
This week, Danny Lipford chats with Michelle Tennant from Erie Insurance to discuss how folks can find peace of mind with homeowners insurance. (3 Echoes Content Studio/Erie Insurance)

This week, I’m talking with Michelle Tennant, vice president of Product Management in the Erie Insurance Personal Lines division.

Michelle has been with Erie since 2001 and has helped to develop Erie Insurance’s Auto, Umbrella, and Renters insurance products, as well as its Homeowners insurance coverages.

Erie Insurance has been in business since 1925, and for nearly a century we’ve been providing home, auto, business and life insurance.

We are based in Erie, Penn., and we serve customers in about 12 states. We know insurance can be complicated so with every policy, we have a knowledgeable independent agent within your community that can guide you through the process to get the right coverage for your life.

Insurance policy, seen on a desk beside a pair of reading glasses.
Homeowners insurance provides financial protection in the event of a disaster. (Mohamad Fazil Bin Ramli/Getty Images)

Why You Need Homeowners Insurance

Every homeowner has homeowners insurance but many don’t know why — what is the purpose of homeowners insurance?

Michelle: Homeowners insurance provides financial protection in the event something crazy happens, like an accident or weather-related event that damages your home.

At Erie Insurance, we think about this in a few different ways.

First is the home itself — the structure. It would cover the exterior of your home if there is damage.

Next is your personal property. A policy will cover valuable items that are

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Today’s Homeowner Radio Podcast | October 8, 2022

11 months ago
Author
This week, hear how to insulate around recessed lighting, plus the best options for vinyl floor underlayment. (3 Echoes Content Studio/psahota, Getty Images)

Hour 1

Hear underlayment options for vinyl plank flooring, a tip for insulating around recessed lights, and more.

Underlayment for Vinyl Plank Flooring

vinyl plank flooring with a cork underlayment
The proper underlayment for vinyl plank flooring will block out moisture and serve as insulation. (psahota, Getty Images)

Paul in Illinois wants to replace the carpet on the lower level of his tri-level home with vinyl plank flooring. This level is on a concrete slab, and the floor gets very cold in the wintertime.

He wants to know if he can put a quarter-inch or half-inch high-density foam board under the flooring to act as insulation between the concrete floor and the flooring.

“Will that cause problems with trapping moisture under that?” he asks.

Having existing carpet there will be a pretty good test of moisture accumulation. If you pull the carpet up and don’t see signs of moisture damage, he should be fine.

In terms of putting anything dense over the slab, any layer will certainly help insulate it a little bit. A quarter-inch underlayment, glued and screwed down properly, will work well, and some would even say it’s overkill.

Check with the vinyl floor manufacturer first. Some are very specific about what types of underlayment to use. Some will allow a very thin underlayment, no more than an eighth of an inch, and others don’t recommend one.

Vinyl plank flooring doesn’t have

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Home Improvement Tips – Should You Renovate During a Recession?

1 year ago
Author

Right now the economy is going through a recession. Home prices are down and unemployment is up. People have cut back on their discretionary spending and are more cautious than ever about their spending.

This has caused a lot of people to put off renovation work on their homes. They are concerned about the economy and are stalling until things turn around.

But there are some really good reasons to do your project right now because of the effects on the economy.

Contractors Are Looking For Work:

This will mean you the buyer are in the drivers seat. It might even make it easier to get a better price for your work. More contractors than ever are looking for work. They want to keep themselves and their employees busy.

Better Deals On Materials:

Even the large box stores are hurting. Shop around and you’ll find better deals on the materials that you need for your project.

Better Scheduling And Faster Work:

With fewer people doing renovations it is more likely that you’ll be able to get your work scheduled quicker and it will be completed faster.

Upgrading Your Home Will Help Maintain It’s Value:

The real estate market is getting hard hit right now. If you need to sell your home right now, doing upgrades to make it stand out and help it sell faster.

Interest Rates Are Down:

The Fed has slashed interest rates to banks so they are in turn offering better rates as they try to recover … Read More