Inspiration for a contemporary two-story mixed siding house exterior remodel in Omaha with a hip roof, a mixed material roof and a black roof

From the large living room window, lush, leafy, lovely foliage is the view. From the street, that same foliage protects the home's ample curb appeal. Hidden from view, the 5-feet of ember resistant space around the home protects the large front window from radiant heat, direct flame, and embers that could break it to gain entry to the home. It also speeds home maintenance.

Food garden installation, including installation of raised beds, drip irrigation, seeds/plant starts, and pest and critter defense cover.
Photo of a small farmhouse partial sun backyard landscaping in San Francisco for spring.

Steward Oak – The Courtier Waterproof Collection combines the beauty of real hardwood with the durability and functionality of rigid flooring. This innovative type of flooring perfectly replicates both reclaimed and contemporary hardwood floors, while being completely waterproof, durable and easy to clean. Nancontrol® Anti-Microbial Defense works to inhibit the growth and reproduction of microorganisms & bacteria – For healthy, clean floors for you & your family.

Paul Burk Photography
Example of a minimalist home design design in DC Metro

Steward Oak – The Courtier Waterproof Collection combines the beauty of real hardwood with the durability and functionality of rigid flooring. This innovative type of flooring perfectly replicates both reclaimed and contemporary hardwood floors, while being completely waterproof, durable and easy to clean. Nancontrol® Anti-Microbial Defense works to inhibit the growth and reproduction of microorganisms & bacteria – For healthy, clean floors for you & your family.

Nestled in the heart of Boulder, this 1950s ranch home was thoughtfully transformed to embrace modern living while honoring the charm and character of the neighborhood. The client wished for their home to become a place of gathering and community. This design embraces the open-concept floor plan by dissolving boundaries and encouraging organic interactions between the spaces within the home and with the surrounding landscape. At the heart of this transformation stands a strategically positioned wood-burning stove, which can be enjoyed from the dining or living areas, perfect for cozy winter nights. The kitchen dining space emerges as the vibrant epicenter of this family-friendly home with a fluid transition to the patio and garden. Vaulted ceilings accentuated with skylights illuminate the space with natural light, creating an airy, expansive feel; while the French oak flooring introduces a touch of grounding warmth and nature. The bedroom wing, intentionally secluded, offers an intimate sanctuary. En-suite bathrooms feature hints of luxury, including a steam shower and a soaking tub, elevating the space for an indulgent spa experience. Beyond the aesthetics, the fire-wise design includes non-combustible exterior materials, defensible space, and closed soffits. This fully electric home also prioritizes sustainability with features such as electric vehicle and solar power readiness, water-conserving landscaping, and an aging-in-place layout. Collaboration was key in transforming this house into the “forever home“ the couple envisioned and can now enjoy for many years to come - Photography by Dane Cronin

We understand the property's tree canopy to be one of its greatest defenses from flying embers, a primary source of home ignitions. While canopy no longer touches the roof or eves, it does still shade them. The rooftop sprinklers are a home-hardening measure. In the aftermath of the January 2025 fires, we see fire-defensive behaviors as equally important to the garden's structure and home hardening. Understanding how explosive trash bins and cars can be, we now park further from the structure on red flag days.

Paul Burk Photography
Minimalist home design photo in DC Metro

Driving under the influence (DUI), also known as driving while intoxicated (DWI) in some states, is the criminal offense of operating a motor vehicle while impaired by drugs or alcohol. A DUI charge is based on a person’s ability to operate a vehicle. Depending on the type of DUI charge, you may face serious penalties including fines, the loss of your driver’s license, probation, jail time and court-ordered community service and alcohol treatment programs. When you have been charged with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, you must act at once and contact a Phoenix DUI attorney to review your case. At Davidson Criminal Defense & DUI Law Firm, our experienced Phoenix DUI lawyer provides aggressive legal representation to help you fight to avoid penalties. In the state of Arizona, the penalties for a DUI conviction depend on the type of DUI that was charged and the defendant’s criminal record. For details visit: https://jdavidsonlaw.com/

Paul Burk Photography
Inspiration for a modern home design remodel in DC Metro

Paul Burk Photography
Inspiration for a modern home design remodel in DC Metro

Winter has arrived and this means many months of snow and ice are ahead. When trees shed their leaves and go dormant for the winter, this is like how bears hibernate; they are both sleeping through the cold and waiting until the warm spring weather comes back. But unlike hibernating bears, who are safe and snuggled up in a warm cave somewhere, trees are left to withstand the harsh, cold elements throughout the entire winter. This means that they are more impacted than you might believe. It is easier for mature trees to be able to handle the long winter months due to their extensive root system and thick bark. But saplings and other newly planted trees are not yet fully equipped with these natural defenses to handle the cold. No matter if you have new or older trees, following our tips will help them prosper during the cold Canadian winter ahead. Our team at Five Star Tree Services has come up with some winter maintenance essentials for your trees that will give them an extra hand over the winter. One Last Water Getting one last good watering in before the ground freezes is helpful to newly planted and young trees. Always make sure to water your tree slowly and gently. This allows the water to seep down into the root system as opposed to it running off the top and freezing. Apply Mulch When you use mulch, it acts like a barrier between the tree roots and the cold snow, it helps to insulate it. When you are applying mulch, make sure you spread it around the base of the tree so that it is no more than 3 inches deep. You also need to make sure to spread the mulch all the way to the drip line surrounding the tree. Make sure to not exceed 3 inches around your entire tree and keep the mulch away from the trunk of the tree. Wrap Tree Trunks There is a condition called sunscalding that can occur during the winter months. This happens when there is a temperature change that happens quickly. You might notice it when the sun warms the trees, which thaws the bark but during the night, when it gets cold again, it causes the melted water in the bark to rupture, causing cracks in the tree’s trunk. Young trees are especially susceptible to this happening. To help stop this from happening, it is best to wrap your trees with tree wraps or a plastic guard. It is advisable to wrap the trunk from the ground up and stop just below the first branch. Shelter Your Trees Young or newly planted trees are fairly defenseless for the first handful of years. Older and more mature trees have had time to develop a strong root system and hardy bark that help to protect them against things like animals and the freezing cold. If you want to help your little sapling along this winter, you can build a shelter that can handle having snow piled on it. You can also periodically use a broom to brush off the snow that accumulates on a tree’s branches. But try to avoid breaking off any ice that has formed on the branches, as this can actually end up hurting the tree if you accidentally break one of its branches instead. Keep Road Salt Away It’s no big secret that the use of road salt is detrimental to trees. When it gets on them, the end result come springtime is a dead tree, or at least, a severely damaged one. As much as you can, protect your trees and limit their exposure to salt over the winter. Protect Your Trees Winter is not only limiting for trees, but for a lot of other animals as well. This includes rabbits, mice, moles, squirrels, and other furry little creatures, who like to use trees as a food source during the summer months. During the winter, this food is now cut off when the trees go dormant. This only leaves the tree’s bark as an alternative food source for these critters. They seem to especially like young tree bark to chew on over the winter. In order to stop this from happening, you need to protect the bark with things like a fence surrounding your tree, wrapping the trunk with a plastic guard or hardware cloth. Winter Pruning The best time to prune any tree is during the winter months when the tree is dormant. Pruning allows you to rid the tree of any excess branches and control disease. Winter pruning is highly beneficial and lets your tree improve branch development in the spring. Don’t Use Always make sure to avoid products that are known to hurt trees, especially ones containing sodium chloride. Products like that cause negative reactions in trees or any plants, as it hinders their water intake. Instead, look for products that have potassium, calcium, and magnesium chloride. How Five Star Tree Services Can Help For newly planted and young trees, it is especially important to help them through the winter as best you can. We here at Five Star Tree Services are here to help you get your trees through the winter. If you require Toronto Tree Care, make sure to give us a call at (416) 990-3355.

In today’s society, people are used to things happening instantaneously, and they expect everything to happen at a fairly fast pace. However, when dealing with things like trees, there is no rushing mother nature and the natural growth process. If you are wanting your yard to instantly look the exact way you want it; lush and full, you might not be willing to wait and make your decisions based on what can grow the fastest in order to get your desired look of the end result. If you do this, you can potentially be selling yourself short on all the beautiful trees that are slower-growing. There are both pros and cons to slow-growing and fast-growing trees. We here at Five Star Tree Services would like to offer to take a look at the different growth rates of trees and help you understand what is best for your yard. Tree Growth Rate Calculation Tree growth rate can generally be calculated in a few different ways. Continuously measure the stem diameter, crown spread, and height over time. Measure the elongation of shoots annually. You can do this by finding the bud scars on the branch tips and measuring between them. Average growth rate can be calculated by taking the change in size and dividing it by the elapsed time to date. Fast Growing VS Moderate and Slow Growing- How to Choose? There are different factors that go into why people choose certain trees, this could be due to wanting a quick privacy fence, or because of the colours, or their flowers, or the amount of shade they offer. There are advantages and disadvantages you need to think about before you go and only plant fast-growing trees. Slow Growing Trees Slow Tree Growth Rate- 12 inches or less every year. These trees end up being stronger than other trees for overall structure and strength. Since they are slow growing, these trees can end up living for more than 100 years, given the right growing conditions. You will also find that they can resist/have better defenses against things like disease and insects, as well as having stronger wood. Some examples are White Oak and Rocky Mountain Douglas Fir. Moderate Growing Trees Moderate Tree Growth Rate-13 – 24 inches every year. These trees usually have very similar traits to slow growing trees. Some examples are Sugar Maple, Coast Douglas Fir, and American Sweetgum. Fast Growing Trees Fast Tree Growth Rate- 25 inches or more every year. These trees do not typically live as long as the other trees due to them being weaker from growing so fast. An example is the Arborvitae “Green Giant”. Reasons To Avoid Fast-Growing Trees The unfortunate truth about these kinds of trees is that they tend to get more diseases and root rot than the other trees. Which brings us back to the point where you shouldn’t only buy a tree because it grows fast, especially since they have shorter life spans. It is always a good idea to have a balance of plant life in your yard. Too much of one thing will throw off the balance, you don’t want all fast-growing trees simply because you wish to fill out your yard. This will only set you up for failure down the road. Not to mention you will need to spend more money on replacing them when they die sooner, as opposed to long living trees. How Five Star Tree Service Can Help Picking the right trees for your yard can take time. Balance is always good and even if you want everything to look perfect right away, you can’t sustain this if all you use are fast-growing trees. Let our team at Five Star Tree Service help you pick the best trees for your property! Our experts can offer you all the Toronto Tree Care you will need. Give us a call today at (416) 990-3355!

Stains? Cracks? Our stucco painting service has got your home covered. Our Liqua-Wrap paint for stucco delivers all the things that you would want from brand-new stucco: no more cracks or stains, protection against water and the elements and of course, an amazing new look. Oh, and without the price tag. Hairline cracks don’t just make your stucco look old, they can leave your home vulnerable to water infiltration that can lead to mold and rot behind your stucco walls. Plan your defence with a coating that bridges hairline cracks and wraps your home in waterproofing colour coat. Give us a call to book your free in-home consultation! (604) 260-4525

Paul Burk Photography
Minimalist home design photo in DC Metro

Paul Burk Photography
Home design - modern home design idea in DC Metro

Paul Burk Photography
Home design - modern home design idea in DC Metro

Designer: Bronwyn Poole Photographer: Matt Craig
Example of a mid-sized trendy freestanding desk carpeted and beige floor study room design in Los Angeles with white walls