Wednesday, September 30, 2009

What is a Three Way Home Electrical Light Switch?

A three way home electrical light switch is a special light switch that can be used in your hallways, large rooms and stairways. These light switches are specially made to operate one light or a group of lights from two different locations.

They are most commonly found in hallways and provide a homeowner with the option of turning the light on at one end of the hallway and turning it off, when they are finished walking through the hallway and are about to enter into another room.

Before three way home electrical light switches were made, people would turn the hallway light on and leave it on or they wouldn't turn the hall light on at all, because they knew that after they walked down the dark hallway, they wouldn't be able to turn the light off at the other end.

Three-way light switches are also used in stairways. It makes a lot of sense, to be able to turn your stairway light on, at the bottom of the stairs and then after you have walked up the stairway safely, you can simply turn the stair lights system off.

As homes become larger, it's not going to be uncommon to find three way light switches being used at either end of large rooms. If your living room or family room was located within the center of your home and had an entrance at each end, it wouldn't be a bad idea to install a light switch at each end, for travelers who are simply walking through these room.

Remember that three-way light switches, are used to operate lights from two different locations.

If you're really interested in basement remodeling and repairs, you should click on this link Great Home Repair Advice. Get some great home repair advice that can make a big difference on any of your home remodeling projects.

If You Live in Northern San Diego County or South Orange County, and You're Looking for a Great Contractor, Click on This Link Encinitas Home Remodeling Contractors

Greg Vandenberge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He has just finished a Home Buyers Guide to take some of the frustration out of home shopping.

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Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Building Codes - Stairway Construction

The stair building code was created for building safety. Before the building code and local city enforcement (Building Inspectors), anyone could build a house. This meant Uncle Earl who had just watched a couple of his friends build a house down the street construct some sort of a dwelling. The next step for Earl would be to help these guys for a day and now he is a professional home builder. You get the point.

Stair Building Codes create the safety needed for one of the most hazardous areas of your home. You might know someone who has fallen down a stairway?

I lived in a house I built for 15 years and I redesigned the stairs from a winder design to a T shaped set of stairs. Both sets of stairs were built using the local stair building code for my city.

Wow I could not believe how many times my family members fell down the stairs. I even fell down once. I was amazed. When I switched from the winder to the T shaped stairway there were less accidents. My point is that even using the stair building codes this is a dangerous part of your house.

Having a professional stair builder install your stairs is great advice. Take it. For example this happened to me on quite a few jobs. I get a set of plans from a architect who has been designing houses for over 40 years. I looked at the stairway to find out that he has designed a stairway that is too small for the length of this part of the home. If I build the stairs using the plans that by the way were approved from the local building department, I could have a problem.

You are probably asking yourself how does this happen. Aren't these people experienced professionals. Of course they are. They probably have the U.B.C. (Uniform Building Code) in their office somewhere. Everyone makes mistakes here and there but this is one area of the home where safety is a big concern.

Just look at it like this. The stair building code was designed to improve the safety and reduce the number of accidents while using the stairs. Over the years I have seen stairs poorly designed and constructed. These stairs create problems for the owners of the buildings not just the people that use them. Did I mention lawsuits. This is one area where a lawyer will have a field day.

As a building professional I advise you to use the stair building code first for safety and second to avoid lawsuits. Get an idea from some of the pictures I have taken over the years on problems with stair building.

Use common sense while building or remodeling your home. It goes a long way.

Greg Vandenberge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He is currently working on more building stairs books and adding useful content to help solve problems created by the lack of construction knowledge in the building industry. Stair Building Articles

Retaining Walls Suffer From Moisture Problems

Whether you're driving down the road or through a neighborhood and you notice a retaining wall that has large cracks in it, or is severely discolored, or one that has white calcium deposits from moisture covering the entire wall, you've got problems with moisture.

The retaining wall is designed to hold the dirt back, that's it's sole purpose. It's not going to hold any moisture back unless someone has installed a waterproofing membrane to separate the soil from the concrete block wall. If the soil isn't ever going to get wet, then you probably don't need to waterproof the retaining wall.

However that's normally not going to be the case. So we need to waterproof the interior of our retaining walls to eliminate future moisture problems that could eventually, deteriorate as moisture starts to accumulate, inside of our block wall for a longer periods of time.

If you don't know anything about waterproofing, I would suggest that you hire a waterproofing expert. Waterproofing looks easier than it actually is, and might be out of your scope of work.

I'm not going to suggest that you use waterproofing paints, because I haven't seen great results with these products. However, if you're not that concerned about your retaining wall and are looking for a cheaper way to apply any waterproofing materials, these paints might not be a bad idea. Sometimes, Something is better than nothing.

If you live in a relatively dry climate, it might not be necessary to waterproof your retaining walls. But if you live in a damp or moist area, especially an area where the ground is moist all year round or more than six months out of the year, I would suggest that you waterproof the back of your retaining walls.

If you're really interested in basement remodeling and repairs, you should click on this link House Basement Repair Ideas. Get some great home repair advice that can make a big difference on any of your home remodeling projects.

Dryer Vent In Basement Window.

Greg Vandenberge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He has just finished a Home Buyers Guide to take some of the frustration out of home shopping.

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Don't Let This Happen to You - Home Computer Electrical Damage

If you've read any of my other articles, you know that I am always coming up with great ideas, tips and even a couple of stories that can save homeowners lots of money. Here's another one of those stories, that involves a friend of mine who asked me if I could fix his outdoor electrical outlet.

I was over at his house one day, and told him that I could probably fix the electrical outlet and if we needed any parts, we could run down to the lumber yard and pick them up and his problem would be solved within a few hours. This two hour repair was about to cost him the hard drive on his computer, but neither one of us had any idea what was about to happen.

We each agreed to give it a shot, I told him to go over to the electrical panel and turn off the breaker that went to his outdoor shed. He proceeded to turn off the breaker and yelled out," It's off, try it." I plugged in an electric drill and it was still working, as he was walking around the corner, towards me, I showed him that the drill was still on and he hadn't turned off the right electrical breaker.

He went back and turned off a couple of more electrical breakers and the drill was still running. Now he frantically started to turn off one electrical breaker at a time, until I yelled out," It's off, the electrical power is, off you can stop."

I repaired the electrical outlet and he went back to turn every electrical breaker back on that he had turned off. We were proud of ourselves and he now had electrical power, back to his shed and he was happy.

Now for the bad news, his computer was running and when he turned the electricity off and on, it must've done something to his computer hard drive and it now needed to be replaced.

The moral to the story, isn't that you shouldn't help your friends. It's that you should, make sure that your computers are safely off, before you attempt to do any electrical work to your home.

It wouldn't be a bad idea, to have a battery backup, for your computer, if you use it often, just in case there is an electrical failure or something happens like the story above.

If your really interested in saving money on your home electrical bills - Energy Saving Books

Greg Vandenberge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He has just finished a Home Buyers Guide to take some of the frustration out of home shopping.

If you're really interested in basement remodeling and repairs, you should click on this link Home Repair Advice. Get some great home repair advice that can make a big difference on any of your home remodeling projects.

10 Things a Homeowner Won't Tell a Contractor - Common Courtesy

I've been a contractor in the state of California for over 20 years and there are some things that a homeowner won't tell a contractor. These are a few things that a contractor might want to hear, but a reluctant homeowner, might have second thoughts telling their contractors how they really feel.

1. We are happy with all of the work that you did in a timely manner and we appreciate your services.

2. We are happy with the way you performed your construction tasks, efficiently and we appreciate your services.

3. The work was done by a true professional and we would recommend you to any one of our friends.

4. The payment plan that you created in the contract worked out perfectly and never made us feel uncomfortable. It never seemed like you had too much of our money or we were putting you in a bad spot financially.

5. Thanks for keeping the job clean, it meant a lot to us, because we have seen other construction jobs that look like a tornado ran through them.

6. Thanks for helping us with our design. Working with your contractor on a daily, weekly or monthly basis can be frustrating or joyful. Let the contractor know either way how you are really feeling.

7. You and your crew are extremely hard-working and we appreciate the simple fact that you didn't come to work late or leave early.

8. Thanks for the reasonable priced estimate on our project. You helped us say a lot of money and we appreciate that sincerely.

9. Thanks for doing the extra work at a reasonable price. You could have gouged us at certain times, but you chose to be fair and work things out, in a way that would benefit both of us.

10. This one is the most important and often overlooked by homeowners and it's simple and easy to do. Thanks for doing what you said you were going to do and actually doing it.

Just a simple thank you and paying them on time, for a service well done is enough for most contractors. However, a little common courtesy can go a long way, even in the construction industry.

If You Live in Northern San Diego County or South Orange County, and You're Looking for a Great Contractor, Click on This Link Home Remodeling Contractor

Greg Vandenberge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He has just finished a Home Buyers Guide to take some of the frustration out of home shopping.

Click here if you're looking for additional Homeowner Contractor Advice. If you're interested in gathering more information on how to hire a good contractor, make sure that you visit our website.

Monday, September 28, 2009

Take Pictures of Your Growing Foundation Damage Or Cracks

I champion people and try to get them to look at their house, at least once a year. One of the easiest ways to inspect your home is to use a home inspection checklist and if you really want a good home inspection checklist, there's a good chance that you are going to need to purchase one. You get what you pay for and don't ever forget that.

Foundation repairs usually start with a small crack and that's no joke. If you notice a crack, take a picture of it and save it somewhere. If you think, that the crack is actually getting a little bigger or starting to separate, you can simply take another picture and compare the two photos.

I would like to give you an example of what I'm talking about. Sometimes we look at something and we think that it's getting larger, but we don't have anything to compare it to. As time goes on, we think that the crack is still getting larger, but our mind is creating an optical illusion. This happens to a lot of people.

If you had a picture, from a few years ago, you could refresh your memory and this could be very helpful in reducing your anxiety or jumping to conclusions about foundation damage. Trust me, sometimes, I'm like a medical emergency crew, going to visit a homeowner to relieve their foundations stress. People panic over foundation cracks and I'm the doctor they call for any one of their home emergencies.

I would also advise you to take pictures of the rest of your home. How hard would it be to take about 300 pictures of your home each year and store them on your computer or on a disk, for easy access later? A picture is worth a thousand words and don't ever forget that.

Click Here for Some More Great Foundation Repair Solutions.

Greg Vandenberge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He has just finished a Home Buyers Guide to take some of the frustration out of home shopping.

If you're really interested in basement remodeling and repairs, you should click on this link Home Repair Problems. Get some great home repair advice that can make a big difference on any of your home remodeling projects.

Do I Need a Home Inspection? - Real Estate Advice

Most home inspections today run between $300 to over $1000 and sometimes you don't really get your moneys worth. There are home inspection companies that guarantee, any problems that they miss will be repaired at their expense over a desired period of time, usually a year. It seems like, most home inspection companies are just inspecting the property and have no guarantees or liability from their inspection.

It's not a good idea to buy or sell a home without getting a home inspection from a licensed home inspector. This is like having a second opinion from someone who is usually skilled in the process. I would like to point something out to unsuspecting, potential home buyers and sellers. Sometimes a home inspection company will get a little behind in their work and need to hire other home inspectors if these home inspectors don't have any experience in the construction business or have never inspected a home before. In other words there fresh out of home inspector school. You might not get a good home inspection.

You can always ask the question, how long have you been in business?... How long have you been a home inspector?... have you ever worked in the construction business or have any skills in home building and remodeling. If the answers to these questions are satisfactory, it doesn't mean, that they're telling the truth and being sincere and could lead to problems later if they are lying to you.

Let me rephrase the question now, "Do I Need a Home Inspection" from an unqualified home inspector? Absolutely not. But how can you really tell the difference and is the report going to be worth the money that you paid for it.

What would you say, if I had the solution to your problem. How about a pre-home inspection, using a home buyers checklist? What if I could give you a check list with questions, that you could ask your home inspector? Some of these questions are not going to be part a regular inspection but should always be asked and make sure you get the answers to them, before purchasing the property.

Would you be interested now? What if I told you, for under $20, you could purchase a home buyers checklist, now for the tough question, this checklist could save you thousands of dollars and prevent you from purchasing a home with major construction problems or defects, and can be used on every house you look at.

Don't buy a home without purchasing a professional home inspection checklist. These lists of questions can save you some serious headaches and stress in the future.

Greg Vandenberge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He has just finished a home buyers guide to take some of the frustration out of home shopping.

If your looking for some more home inspection or home building ideas.

Friday, September 18, 2009

Plywood Roof Sheeting - Roof Framing Trade Secrets

Most framing contractor's look at the building plans and order all of the material, according to those that are specified on the plans. This works out fine, and can often save you money, but rarely produces the best home that you could possibly frame.

As a professional framing contractor, I would like to share one of my house framing tips with you. Most plans require half-inch plywood or oriented strand board as their roof sheeting. This product is fine and if you're building a lot of homes, you're not going to have the choice. Ordering larger sized plywood could cost you thousands of dollars, especially if you're building a lot of homes.

However, if your framing or building a home for someone or even yourself, you might want to take my advice and think twice about it, before ordering the roof sheeting. Half-inch plywood, works okay for 16 inch on center roof rafters or engineered truss roofing systems. It doesn't work well on 24 inch on center roof rafters spacing.

It is usually flimsy and weak at the center point, directly in between the 24 inch roof rafter bays. If you're going to use the half-inch plywood, I would recommend using plywood clips that are relatively inexpensive and can be placed in the direct center of each roof rafter bay on each sheet of plywood. These can be purchased at most home improvement centers or lumber yards.

The other alternative, and this is what I recommend, would be to use 5/8 inch plywood. This plywood works great for 24 inch on center roof rafters and you will have a nice sturdy roof to walk on, while roofing your home.

I have actually seen people step through the flimsy plywood, while lifting heavy roof tiles and bundles of composition roof shingles. Experienced roofers try to walk directly on top of the roof rafters, when loading their roof shingles or even carrying them on the roof.

If you're a home builder and your concern is about making a profit, you will need to use the half-inch plywood. If you want to build a superior roof, use the 5/8 of an inch plywood.

If You Live in Northern San Diego County or South Orange County, and You're Looking for a Great Contractor, Click on This Link House Framing Contractors.

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Greg Vandenberge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He has just finished a excellent home inspection checklist to take some of the frustration out of home shopping.

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Tile Grouting Tips For Your Bathrooms, Kitchens and Floors

Isn't tile grouting supposed to be simple, if you read the directions and watch a couple of videos? What could make tile grouting so difficult? Grouting your tile isn't that difficult, by the time you're done reading this article, you should have a pretty good idea how to grout your floors, bathrooms, kitchens and anything else that requires tile.

I used to have problems grouting tile, but after I read the directions, I became a grouting wizard. This sounds hard to believe, but after reading the directions on the tile grout bag, I became a grout master. I know, you the type of person who never read the directions, you simply add water, mix and start grouting.

It's time to change your thinking about, whether or not the directions will be helpful. Whether it's about grouting your bathroom floor or putting together your home barbecued. I read one thing on the grout bag and it changed my entire grouting career.

The grout should slake. After you're done mixing the grout, you should wait between five and 10 minutes to let the moisture soak into the grout mix. Do this once, and you will never go back to mixing your grout and applying it, as quickly as possible after it has been mixed.

For more information on grouting, remodeling or home repairs, I would recommend reading books on home improvement and home repairs. Some of these books can make a big difference in your home improvement abilities as a handyman. I would also recommend reading more articles, there's plenty of information about tile and grouting, all over the Internet.

Click here if you are looking for some more Bathroom Remodeling Ideas

If you're really interested in basement remodeling and repairs, you should click on this link Home Repair Tips. Get some great home repair advice that can make a big difference on any of your home remodeling projects.

Greg Vandenberge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He has just finished a Home Buyers Guide to take some of the frustration out of home shopping.

Thanks for reading the article

Important Do-It-Yourself Home Remodeling Advice

Often I'm asked by homeowners, if they think that they can build something on their own. Often I end up explaining the process to them and it's pretty confusing. I would like to give some homeowners and construction handyman some do-it-yourself home remodeling advice, about projects that I think they should avoid and the reason why.

1. Working on Electrical Service Boxes

I really don't recommend, anyone who lacks experience working with electrical, to be working on it at all. When it comes to the electrical service box repairs, if you don't have any experience working in this specific area, I am suggesting this to all homeowners and do-it-yourselfers, stay away from electrical service power boxes. Electricity can be extremely hazardous to your health, so take my advice, this is coming from an expert on the subject.

2. Plumbing Water Supply Lines

I don't recommend, anyone who doesn't have any experience working with plumbing water supply lines, because if they break, or if your repair, doesn't hold properly, you could destroy a large portion of your home. Picture this, you just got through putting a new faucet in, everything looks great, but it's time for you to go to your baseball game. You come home about four hours later and the entire house is flooded with water.

This kind of stuff does happen and you need to take the advice of an expert here. It has even happened to me and I understand the process, pretty good. If you plan on fixing any plumbing water supply lines, make sure that you can spend the time, keeping an eye on your new home repair. If you're going to have any problems with them, they will usually happen within the first few hours of use.

I hope this helps, sometimes it's better to pay a professional, but I can understand, every intelligent person, is interested in saving a few dollars and learning new skills.

If you're really interested in basement remodeling and repairs, you should click on this link Home Repair Pictures and Advice. Get some great home repair advice that can make a big difference on any of your home remodeling projects.

If You Live in Northern San Diego County or South Orange County, and You're Looking for a Great Contractor, Click on This Link Vista Home Repair Contractors

Greg Vandenberge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He has just finished a Home Buyers Guide to take some of the frustration out of home shopping.

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Five Things That a Termite Inspection Company Might Not Ever Say

I don't think that I've ever heard of a termite inspector, ever go to a home and not find any termites. Even if the home doesn't have any damage that is visible from the termites, it seems like it's always a good idea, to tent the home, just in case, for protection. Anyway, here's five things that you might not ever hear a termite inspector ever say.

1. Your house is free of termites. This means that there isn't, one termite on your property and the termite inspector isn't going to make any money. Let's face it, termite damage, whether it's visible or invisible, keeps these guys working.

2. Your house isn't going to fall down, if I don't do anything to stop the termites. I have seen homes, where termites have been working on them for quite some time and they still seem to stand up and function properly.

3. Termites don't eat much and I wouldn't worry about the damage. Most termite inspectors will tell you how much a termite in Hawaii or Africa will eat in a day, but doesn't seem to have an honest idea, how much damage they are doing to your home, if they can't actually see it.

4. Every one that works for our company, has at least 30 years experience, repairing any termite damage. Don't even get me started with this one.

5. We will replace all of the termite damage wood, back to its original condition. What they might say, is that they will replace the wood that is damaged by termites, that you can actually see.

There are plenty of great termite companies out there and this article was meant just to have fun with most of them. Termite damage can be a serious problem with some homes and I would suggest that you contact at least three termite inspectors, before proceeding ahead with any home repairs or use of chemicals.

Try not to forget, the only way that a termite inspection company will make any money, looking at your house, will be to find something wrong with it.

If you're really interested in basement remodeling and repairs, you should click on this link Easy Home Repair Tips . Get some great home repair advice that can make a big difference on any of your home remodeling projects.

If You Live in Northern San Diego County or South Orange County, and You're Looking for a Great Contractor, Click on This Link San Diego Remodeling Contractors

Greg Vandenberge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He has just finished a Home Buyers Guide to take some of the frustration out of home shopping.

Thanks For Reading My Articles

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Dangers of Walking on a House Roof

Here's some things to think about before walking on the roof of a house. If you slip and fall off the roof you could get hurt seriously. For your own safety if you have no experience walking on a roof use extreme caution. I would even suggest using a ladder and moving the latter around the perimeter of the house if you are inspecting the roof for damage.

Here's some things to keep in mind before walking on a house roof.

1. If the building is above two stories hire a contractor especially if you think the roof has building damage.

2. If the roof is too steep stay off. This could be extremely hazardous to your health.

3. If the roof is severely damaged and has loose shingles or tiles, this could create a safety hazard as you slip on one of these loose shingles and possibly fall off the roof.

4. You should stay off the roof at all costs if there is snow or ice. Ice obviously is extremely slippery and would be difficult to walk on. The difficulty would be increased if the roof has a steep slope.

5. Now last but not least if the roof is wet you should avoid walking on it until it is dry. I have been on wet roofs before and personally slipped myself losing my balance but not falling off of the roof.

Climbing up on a roof and walking around is not child's play and should be left to an experienced professional . If you feel comfortable walking around on any roof please use caution. If you slip in the middle of the roof there is a good chance you will be able to regain your balance or have time to stop yourself before falling off.

I would suggest using caution near the edges of the roof. If the roof is too steep or you don't feel comfortable, why risk serious injury. Use common sense along with the proper ladders to ensure your safety and "Think before walking on a house roof."

Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He is currently working on more building stairs books and adding useful content to help solve problems created by the lack of construction knowledge in the building industry.

Building Safe Stairs

Not Every Deck is Created Equal

Every homeowner appreciates quality construction and seldom thinks about it on a daily basis, unless the homeowner experiences sub standard quality every day in their own residence. What about the landscaping and decking outside the home? Just like the home interior, every deck should be able to be enjoyed all year round and can be provided that it has been well designed and expertly crafted. How does a homeowner determine quality when deciding to add a new deck or sun room to the home?

Unless the homeowner is in the residential construction business themselves, they are very likely unaware of the differing qualities of construction techniques, materials, and designs used in deck construction today. It is not as simple as assembling a platform and laying planks across the top over a weekend or two. Building codes need to be adhered to and inspections need to take place just like the home needed before it was able to be enjoyed by the owner. One must take into consideration the type of drainage the ground beneath has, type of weather the new construction will need to endure, and how much weight the new deck will need to support.

The best way to receive this quality craftsmanship and design is to examine past projects of the decking companies which are being considered for the job. If meticulous work has been taken in the actual design of the deck, then the homeowner can expect and should receive outstanding construction results. Looking through past projects in the companies portfolio is a good sound start, but questions need to be asked.

Some basic questions that should be asked are "What type of woods or synthetic boards are available for the construction of my new deck?" and "What types of fasteners are used or recommended in the assembly of my new deck?" From here the questions should be "Why?" Even though the prospective company will be designing and building the new deck, they should "want" to educate the customer regarding every aspect of their project and include them in every aspect of the decking adventure. If that desire to include and teach the customer about their new deck is not present, then a different company may want to be sought out. The final question a customer should ask is "What do I need to do in order to maintain my new deck?" There are just a few materials that require almost no maintenance at all unlike traditional woods. By maintaining the deck a customer can be assured of years of future outdoor enjoyment and entertaining barbecues.

The only word of caution to be aware of is if the price sounds too good to be true, it will be. Even the simplest design has detailed elements under the surface that require a great deal of time and planning not openly apparent to the customer. These elements are taken into account by the decking company when they provide the price estimate. When a deck design starts to incorporate detailed moldings, angles, and levels the price can climb to surprising heights. What the homeowner dreams and envisions may not be a realistic achievement. This is why it is important to discuss budgetary constraints early on so as not to waste your time as well as the decking company's time. This will ensure a minimum of stress and allow both parties to enjoy the whole project.

For more information and guidance about decks, sun rooms, room additions, and more, visit http://www.paradisedecking.com . Paradise Decking specializes in high quality, upscale decks, porches, sun rooms, and room additions, and the pictures in their gallery can provide you with fantastic ideas for your own home.

Daniel Elliott is an independent contractor who authors articles and media on a variety of topics for diverse audiences. WebDrafter.com, Inc. (http://www.webdrafter.com) produces Website design, hosting, and search engine marketing services for many of the clients, industries and markets related to the articles and media authored by Dan Elliott. If you would like Dan Elliott to ghost write or pen an article for you or your company, please contact him with your specifications.

Electric Dryer Gas Conversion Ki

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Problems With New Houses - Home Building

The house you live in was probably a mass produced home built as part of a housing track. The track home is a rapidly built house in phases. These phases if possible will over lap the other home building trades. If possible you will have the plumbers working on the same house as the electricians and the framers. This is called fast tracking.

Fast tracking a house is building a home as fast as humanly possible. So you can imagine the pressures put on all of the people involved in building a track home.
The pace is so fast sometimes that I have seen job superintendents and foremen look like they were actually going to blow up. I mean explode from the pressure they where under.

Framing the stairs on the job was the same experience for me most of the time. Sometimes I had three jobs going at once. Think about it. At the most, I could only go to each of the jobs twice each week. That involved working on Saturday of course. This made a lot of framing foremen extremely upset. They had full time crews on their jobs always working five days a week. If I missed one day of work. I was behind for the rest of the job.

Now it rarely happened but if I did miss a day of work I had to make it up some how. The only way to make it up was by working late or on Sunday. Well most of the time I worked six days a week from 7:00 in the mourning until 5:00 at night. So working late meant sunrise to sunset. Oh did I mention that I did have a family. This wasn't easy for them either.

One time I got so far behind on a job that I was putting stairs in while they were roofing the houses. Talk about one unhappy foreman. I think you get the idea about the pressure I was under to install these stairs on time. My experience building stairs on track built homes taught me to build homes extremely fast while being proficient.
I'm not interested in working like that anymore. My life is simple now and I want to keep it that way. The next time you see a construction worker working late on a Saturday show some compassion. Maybe by reading this article you will understand some of the pressure he is under.

Building tract homes is hard on you mentally and physically.

Happy Home building.

Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He is currently working on more building stairs books and adding useful content to help solve problems created by the lack of construction knowledge in the building industry. Stairway Safety

Moisture Against Gravity Destroy

Resolving Home Remodeling Problems - Remodeling Contractors

Your thinking about remodeling your home. You have asked everyone you know if they have a good contractor they trust or do they know anyone who does. You might have read a few articles like this or visited a couple of web sites to get as much information as you can about dealing with contractors during a house remodel.

Now the time has come for you to take the first step and call one of the contractors. You have spent some time looking through books and magazines to find just what you want done to your house. You have a idea of how much money you are going to spend if the job can be done exactly how you envision it.

You have called the city or county building department in your area to find out what is required from them in the way of building permits. If you have done some of these things you are ahead of most homeowners. There are a few of you that do know what can be done with a rough idea of how much the project will cost. A ball park figure lets say.

Most of the home remodeling Anxiety is caused from the miscommunication or no communication. The biggest problems I have had are from some sort of communication misunderstanding. I have been very lucky with having less than a handful of what I would consider a major home remodeling problem.

Do your best to explain what it is that you want done to your home. This also means understanding what it is exactly in writing what you are going to have done to your house. If you or the contractor do not understand this could lead to a possible anxiety attack and a problem.

Once you hire a home remodeling contractor the next step is to let them do their job. This doesn't mean. If you are watching them tear into a wall and the picture on the other side is about to fall off. Don't bother them. Of course stop them and remove the picture. We all make mistakes. If you see something isn't working out, talk to your contractor about it.

Don't be afraid of your contractor. If you see that what you had in mind isn't working out to your satisfaction. Explain the problem calmly and be to the point. I don't like it when someone beats around the bush and I never get to the problem. I would rather have them yelling at me, telling me what a jerk I am than taking two hours to make a point I have to drag out of them anyway.

If you do come to a problem that neither one of you can solve or you think the other one is at fault for whatever reason. You can contact the Department of Consumer Affairs and explain your situation to them. There is a good chance if you need a arbitrator they will set up a time and day for you and your contractor to meet. The arbitrator will come to a final decision for the both of you and that will be final. Of course their is always the Supreme Court... Well we don't want to go that far do we.

Most of the time if you have everything in writing in the form of a contract you shouldn't have any problems. If you do there is a great chance they will be able to be resolved quickly.
Doing major remodeling to your home can be extremely stressful at some points. Listen to your contractor when he is giving you advice on how to deal with the stress. He is a good source of wisdom especially if he had been doing it for years.

Resolving home remodeling anxiety will be a little more difficult during the construction process. It is very important to think the remodeling project through all the way to the end if you can. Try to think about worst case scenarios and figure out the best possible solutions before they happen.

Flying off the handle sometimes causes hammers and humans to lose their heads, as well as their effectiveness. William Arthur Ward

For more helpful home improvement information visit: http://www.gregvan.com

Greg Vanden Berge has been in the home building and remodeling business for over 30 years. With this knowledge he has created a few websites that provide useful information for home owners as well as contractors. His main goal is to educate professionals in the home related businesses, dealing with problems that can easily be avoided with just a little bit of information.

His website http://gregvan.com provides all kinds of answers to remodeling and new house building issues that could create major damage as well as possible damage to your pocket book.

Visit us now for Home Improvement Tips

Painting A French Door

Monday, September 14, 2009

How to Shingle Your Roof

If you want to know how to shingle, you've come to the right place. But first... a Bear Story.

It was easy to see how "The Bear" got his nickname. He was a big burly guy, covered with thick brown hair. Back when I started roofing in Cape Coral, Florida, The Bear was well known as the fastest shingler in town. He didn't tear off or run metal... all he did was shingle. Typically he would shingle an entire house by himself in one day.

I wasn't very fast back then. Occasionally my boss wondered out loud why I couldn't learn how to shingle like The Bear. At that point I didn't know how he was so fast, but one day I found out...

My Boss had hired The Bear to shingle a house and asked me to stop by to deliver some supplies. I was pretty excited to see what I could learn.

As I pulled up to the job, I could hear him shingling on the back side of the house. His roofing nailer sounded like a machine gun. I climbed the ladder and quickly discovered The Bear's Secret:

He was installing the nails way above the nail line. The nails don't go through as many shingle layers up there, so they go in fast and you never have to stop and fix a shiner.

Back then, few people paid much attention to where the nails went. But then Hurricane Andrew tore up South Florida, with billions of dollars in damages. Lawsuits flew in the aftermath and a bunch of roofing inspectors lost their jobs.

Turns out that shingles aren't very wind resistant when they're nailed in the wrong place. After that, the entire state started to sweat the details.

That's also about the time I lost track of The Bear. Perhaps he had a hard time adjusting to doing things right. Old habits die hard, you know.

Occasionally, I still come across a speed demon like The Bear. They're lightning fast alright, but I have no use for them. Speed alone is not enough.

As you're learning how to shingle, focus on getting the details right... such as proper nail placement. Speed will come in due time.

Of course there's a lot more involved in learning how to shingle. To make the job easier and help you avoid big mistakes, go to: http://www.roofingsecrets.com

John C Bishop is the author of "Roofing Secrets: How to Avoid Leaks and Save Thousands of Dollars!"

Moisture Against Gravity Destroy

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Budget Kitchen Remodeling All by Yourself

Everyone wants the best for their homes and one of the most important areas one's house is the kitchen, which is probably the most favorite place of bonding for families and friends alike. We only want what is best for our homes, which is why we fill them with beautiful interior decoration pieces and possibly, with the most modern equipments available in the market today.

Those of you wondering on how to remodel your kitchen on a budget, there are a lot of options available which can enhance the look and functionality of your home. Most home stores can help those who are on the lookout for remodeling their kitchen on a budget.

Do It Yourself

The best way to save money when while trying to remodel your kitchen on a low budget, is to try and do it by yourself. You could try to involve help from the members of the family or friends who you know might have similar interests and would enjoy the process. Involving yourself, friends and family in the whole thing, would give your kitchen the look you want, besides being a great opportunity to re-bond with those who are involved in the entire process

Once you have decided to remodel your kitchen on a budget, you should at first sit down and in details write down all the ideas and changes that you have in your mind for your new kitchen. You should be able to conceptualize the look and feel of the kitchen after completion. By doing this, you can decide on the appliances that would complement the ambience that you want. By this time you have to decide if you want to totally change your old kitchen cabinets or just upgrade them with a new color scheme and freshness more suitable to the new look of your kitchen.

Yet another great tip for remodeling your kitchen on a budget is that you can retain your old plumbing which means that you don't need professional services. In doing this, you will be saving on the cost of labor and new materials, apart from that it would save you a lot of time, energy and hassles for everyone.

Moreover, try to browse through the nearest Lowe's or Home Depot home store in your vicinity because they can help you and suggest ideas about the best options when you are trying to remodel your kitchen on a budget. For detailed information and to make a list of the materials that you might want, try visiting their website at www.homedepot.com and www.lowes.com.

The free-lance writer Carl Esonhouse is very passionate about topics related to saeco espresso maker. You might discover his observations on saeco coffee machines and saeco coffee maker over at http://www.coffee-espresso-maker-tips.com.

Concrete Patio Gofer Damage

Saturday, September 12, 2009

Finding the Best Garage Doors

If you are one of the millions of people who are in the process of replacing their existing garage door or building a home and garage then garage doors prices are very important. However one should be aware that buying a cheap garage door may not be the bargain you think it is. In terms of garage doors pricing you do get what you pay for. A quality garage door will not only accent your house beautifully but also save you money.

Depending where you live you may need to find a garage door that has high energy efficiency. If you have or are planning to have a workshop in your garage then installing a high R-value door will mean that you can utilize it year around. Obviously if you are planning on heating or cooling your garage a high efficiency door will save you a lot of money. Insulated garage doors prices will be higher but will be amortized by the money saved with lower energy costs. The best garage doors for your home will depend on where you live and your lifestyle.

If you live along the ocean or Gulf of Mexico then more than likely you are also living in a high wind risk area. If you live on the water then you are also at high risk from salt corrosion damage as well. High wind rated doors especially those that meet the Miami-Dade wind code will have higher garage doors prices. They may not be as expensive as you may think so it is worth your while to shop around for the best door at the best prices. Installing an ordinary door could put your family or home at extreme risk in case you are hit with a tropical storm or hurricane. Engineering studies done after hurricane Andrew showed that the greatest risk to your home comes from losing your garage door. Once you lose your garage door to wind it is only minutes before you lose the roof of your home and possibly your life.

Prices range for as little as $450 to as much as $5000 for custom wooden garage doors. An 8x16 good quality steel garage door that has panels constructed of two steel panels that sandwich 2 inches of polyurethane foam with a prepainted low maintenance exterior will average about $1200 dollars installed. A high wind rated garage doors cost will be about $1300 installed in Florida. In some cases building code permits will increase the cost as much as $150. Remember these are country wide average garage door prices.

Remember it is just not smart to cut corners when it comes to garage doors. A quality garage doors pricing can be an indicator of quality. However it is wise to visit your local home improvement store and ask the staff about garage door prices and quality. If you are handy with tools you may be able to install your own garage door and save money. Home improvement stores like Home Depot will be able to assist you with your installation plans. Of course the Internet is a great place to conduct research, but a poor place to find information on prices.

James Kesel, MS, is the publisher of the Garage Doors Pricing Website located at http://www.garagedoorspricing.com Providing information on Garage Doors Prices and the purchasing, installing and operation of a garage door

Building Safe Stairs

How To Clean Marble - Home Repair Tips

Marble differs from most other stones because it is extremely porous. In other words, it allows dirt and stains to set in and be retained far more easily than denser stone. Also for this reason, it cannot withstand most conventional cleaning mediums especially harsh detergents and acids.

Remember that marble has a slightly unstable chemistry and is quite delicate. Calcium carbonate (which is what marble basically consists of) will immediately and dramatically react with any kind of acid, resulting in pitting and scarring.

The best way of maintaining marbles overall cleanliness is with lukewarm water, a soft cloth and an occasional wipe down with a mild, non-abrasive detergent. The marble should be thoroughly wiped dry after such cleaning. If you like, a light coat of wax can be applied for further protection, but this is entirely optional, since marble will not gain additional luster from wax the way wood does.

The only safe way of tackling stains (blood, tea, coffee etc.) on marble is by gently soaking them off. To do this, any kind of absorbent material such as blotting paper or facial tissue can be lightly soaked in water and 20% hydrogen peroxide, placed over the stain and left there for several hours. The stain should wipe off easily after this treatment. Rust stains are best removed with regular rust removers; however, marble should not be exposed to them longer than strictly necessary.

Marble does tend to fade with the passage of time. This does not necessarily detract from its innate beauty. However, the luster of faded marble especially on domestic home floors can be effectively rejuvenated. There are specialty cleaning agents such as tin dioxide available at most leading housekeeping stores. Used as manual polish or in combination with an electric floor polisher, these work wonders in freshening up the lost shine of marble.

Keeping your marble in top condition is easy with a little care: it may be maintained with soft, conventional cleaning products; stains can be removed with hydrogen peroxide and it may even be polished to keep it looking new.

Wood Flooring provides detailed information about wood flooring, laminate wood flooring, hard wood flooring, engineered wood flooring and more. Wood Flooring is the sister site of How To Clean Marble.

Pocket Door Problems

Friday, September 11, 2009

Tub and Tile Reglazing Advice

With the current strain on the economy and the housing market , it is becoming more and more common to "make do with what we have" which means instead of remodeling we are restoring.

The question lies here, is it cost effective? Is it going to last? What is the maintenance involved? Why are you going to charge me $450 to re-glaze my tub when I can buy a new one for $200? These are all quality questions which deserve quality answers.

Let's start with cost. First of all, the average cost of a tub install is anywhere between $1,400 and $2,500 and that does not factor in the tub surround. When your old tub is removed the tile at the base of the tub must be demolished. It is possible that a "good" installer can demo in such a way that you only have to repair the first row or two of tile. The reality is if it is older than 10 years finding a match for the tile will probably be impossible and will lead to a complete re-tile. Now, you are looking at about $4,000 to $8,000 just to replace the tub and is this cost effective for you? Be prepared from the moment you decide to dress up that tub to make this decision.

Now, a good re-glaze can last better than 10 years if done properly and there is a process which will ensure this. Preparation, product and technique are the key to a long lasting finish. If this technique is not followed your re-glaze will last anywhere from 1 day to 2 years. Two years may sound like a lot but when another company has to go in and strip the old finish off add another $500 to the re-glaze for a total of $950 to have it re-glazed again. This is not cost effective. If you're going to do it, do it right the first time and you will pat yourself on the back 5 years later when your tub still has a shine and is not peeling. Now let's get down to process.

The re-glazing process can be six to seven steps.

  1. Removal of any caulking materials. Silicone is a contaminant and will cause the finish to fish eye. It is important to remove all traces of this by means of a silicone digester
  2. Next, the old porcelain needs to be etched by means of an acid paste. This process will prepare the surface for the primer
  3. When the acid etch is complete the surface must be wiped down with a solvent de-greaser to ensure that there are no more contaminants left behind
  4. Primer - The surface must be primed with an epoxy primer to ensure proper cross hatching of compounds (i.e.-porcelain to primer, primer to finish, finish to clear coat)
  5. Finish - The surface is then sprayed with an acrylic-urethane resin which can be tinted to any color you desire. It comes in two types, 24hr cure and 72hr cure. The 72hr cure is best if you don't mind waiting the extra time but the 24hr cure is good too.
  6. Clear coat - The surface is then sprayed with an acrylic urethane clear coat which will kick up the gloss a bit and provide protection from common household chemicals
  7. If you are refinishing from a previous re-glaze, the finish must be stripped. If this is the case, add this step before the first.

When these steps are followed, you can be sure your re-glaze is going to last for years. A good refinisher will give you at least a 10 year warranty "in writing", now that is cost effective! You will be happy and have just saved at least 70% of the cost of replacement.

MAINTENANCE

With the process you have just done, maintenance will be a breeze. You may also use rubber mats which many re-glazers will not recommend simply because they know it will peel. You will be able to use soft scrub and a white 3M cleaning pad without harming the surface. You will also be able to safely dye your hair without the fear of staining your finish providing the clear coat was used. With this in mind, re-glazing is not only practical but a very cost effective solution to replacement.

Your project when complete will look as though it was installed yesterday saving you $1000s on an install.

My name is George Piccot and I am the owner of Southern California based AB Ceramic Tile Regrout and Reglaze Systems (http://www.regroutpros.com). I have been in the restoration industry since 1989 and have seen every possible scenario and I hope this article serves you well in your endeavor.

AB Ceramic Tile Regrout and Reglaze Systems

Building Safe Stairs

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Residential Metal Roofing - A Better Option?

If someone where to say to say the words "metal roofing" I bet most people would be thinking of the old and ugly, and often rusting, corrugated metal roof. But metal roofing materials have come a long way and have become much more popular in recent years. They are attractive, light weight, durable and fire resistant. There are many types of options for metal roofing but the main two are aluminum and steel. Each has their own benefits depending on its application.

Aluminum is strong, durable and light weight. These are the same properties that makes aluminum a popular choice in the aerospace industry. And if its good enough for NASA then its excellent as a roofing material. Due to its being very light weight roofing with aluminum does not require the structure's roof to be reinforced which can be a problem when using other heavier materials such as tile or slate. Another major benefit to using aluminum is its resistance to rust and corrosion. This can be a very important advantage for those building is coastal areas that will be subjected to salt spray. And lastly because aluminum is more malleable than steel it can more easily be formed into various designs and shapes.

Steel is another option for a metal roof. But steel itself is not known for its corrosion resistance and will start to rust quite quickly. Therefore the steel that is used as a roofing material is galvanized. This means that the steel is given a protective coated of either zinc or zinc/aluminum to give it the rust and corrosion protection needed for use in roofing. For use in areas of high winds steel can be a better option than other metal roofing materials because of its higher resistance to wind uplift. Galvanized steel roofing is also available in a variety of finishings. It can be painted, aggregate-coated, or with a mill or bare finish. It will also never crack or peel when exposed to sun and weather making a long lasting material.

For home owners looking to save on cooling costs in the summer metal roofs can do just that. With a tradition asphalt shingle heat from the sun can be absorbed into the home heating it up throughout the day. A metal roof will tend to reflect the radiant heat away that would normally collect in the home's attic. Depending on where you live you could save about 40% on your cooling costs.

The biggest stumbling block most home owners have with metal roofing is the cost as it is more expensive than other available roofing options and yes, if you plan on moving in a few years than a metal roof may not be cost effective. But if you are planning on living in your home for a long period of time a metal roof can actually be cheaper. That's because a metal roof can last as long as fifty years or more and requires very little maintenance. In the same time period an asphalt roof may need replacement 2-4 times.

A properly and professionally installed metal roofing, whichever type you choose, will give you decades of protection and beauty to your home. Add to it the energy cost savings and you have a winning combination.

Specializing in Brampton Real Estate Harry Saggu is a professional agent with Century 21 Peoples Choice Realty Inc. and has a background in economics. Please feel free to visit the website for information on the Brampton Ontario Real Estate market.

Painting A French Door

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

The Advantages of Building Green

If you are considering building a new house, consider the savings that you'll gain from building a green house. Once you've purchased the Baton Rouge real estate on which you've chose to build your home, ask your builder about what he or she can do to make your home more energy efficient and green. Not only does it help the environment, it will help your pocket book as well!

Insulation is your number one easiest change that has the largest impact in reducing the energy your home takes to run it. A well insulated home will pay for itself over and over again through the hot summer and cold winter months. You'll see a huge reduction in your energy bills.

The size of your house makes a difference as well. Consider your plans for a home carefully, and decide how much space you really need. Obviously, the larger the home, the more energy it will take to keep it running. You can reduce your costs by building a slightly smaller home.

Windows let plenty of energy escape the home. When it comes to choosing windows for your new home, choose energy efficient windows that not only keep the elements out, but actually work to keep your home protected as well. Low-emission glass actually reflects heat and cold away from the house respectively, which means lower energy costs for you.

A green home is a great way to save money. You won't just be doing your part for the earth, but you'll be saving money every month.

RE/MAX of Louisiana (http://www.remax-louisiana.com) is a real estate brokerage that specializes in Baton Rouge real estate. Billings Farnsworth is a freelance writer.

Home Improvement Contractors Vary So Only Choose the Well Qualified

By being very careful about whom you hire as a home improvement contractor you can ensure that at the end of the project you will have a comfortable home in which you can relax and enjoy spending quality time with your family and guests. It is their ability that will eventually govern how much success you get out of the home improvement project and so you need to choose wisely.

There are certain things that you must consider before hiring a home improvement contractor. For one, you need to be sure that the builder will be able to properly schedule and coordinate as well as plan and implement the home improvement plans you present to them and in addition you also need to be sure that you get the project finished in time and in the most efficient manner as well. It cannot be overemphasized enough that the final outcome of a home improvement project will depend on the expertise and honesty of the contractor that you hire to accomplish the task on hand.

You can start your search by checking a number of online sites and by also checking with home improvement centers as too by asking your neighbors. In fact, before you decide on a particular home contractor it makes sense to have more than a few prospective people in mind and to then scrutinize each one's resume till you find the most reasonable and best qualified one.

Also, you need to provide each of the prospective home improvement contractors with an identical set of plans to see how they respond. You can compare their offers before deciding which one seems to be best suited for the job.

Another important aspect to hiring a builder is checking that they hold a license is in order because this license helps to ensure that the person you hire is qualified to do the job on hand. In addition, you should ask for and check references and also check with the Better Business Bureau and compare the timeline they give to complete the work. Finally, you can also assess a home improvement contractor's qualifications from the type of quote they present to you and also by the amount they are charging.

Percy Troughton runs his own garden center as well as running several home improvement based websites. Check out these great Living Rooms ideas articles and guides for decorating, interior design ideas for the most lived in room. http://www.123-living-rooms.com

Monday, September 7, 2009

Get the Info on Trane Gas Furnace Reviews

When it comes to purchasing a new heating unit, there are a few basic things to take into consideration. The two primary sources of information that a customer should consider are: Customer Reviews, and Efficiency Ratings. With the information gained from these sources, a customer with any level of experience or knowledge regarding residential gas heating, can become a customer armed with the most important of all things when looking to purchase the right heating unit for their home: real factual knowledge. In the following, you will discover why it is that Trane Gas Furnaces are the leaders in domestic gas heating, as well as seeing the impact of customer based Trane Gas Furnace Reviews.

With today's economic issues and the worlds demand for more energy efficient ways to heat our homes and businesses, it is no wonder that the Trane brand is a world leader on these fronts. By spending time and money in researching and developing the most efficient gas furnaces on the market, Trane has surpassed all others when it comes to their commitment to designing the greenest residential heating systems available today.

Let us take a look at exactly what it means to build the most environmentally friendly and efficient gas heating systems in the world. This is achieved by manufacturing gas furnaces that waste the least amount of fuel possible, in order to heat your home. For example, your old furnace most likely has an efficiency rating of 60%, meaning 40% of the fuel burned to heat your home is wasted in the process. But Trane now makes furnaces that have an efficiency rating of up to 97%!! Only a tiny fraction, 3%, of the fuel you pay for to heat your home is used in the process, while the vast majority of it goes to actually providing heat. Now that we've covered the facts of Trane's high efficiency gas heating, let us take a deeper look into why Trane Gas Furnace Reviews are so important.

If you've ever looked at a lot of customer reviews for products, you will notice that many reviews are rather negative in their view of a product. It seems that most often it is only when a customer has had a bad experience with a product that they feel it necessary to let the whole world know, while those that are happy with the product are a bit more content about it. However, while searching for Trane Gas Furnace Reviews, you will find almost no negative input from customers. This is no trick by Trane, but simply a testament to the quality and money saving effeciency of their gas furnaces.

Having now looked at the facts about Trane's world leading high efficiency gas furnaces, it is easy to understand why in 2007 they received the EPA's Best of the Best award. On top of that, with the knowledge that the vast majority of customers that own a Trane furnace are happy with them, as proven in their own words in Trane Gas Furnace Reviews, it is an easy choice to choose a Trane Gas Furnace for your home. As they say... Nobody Beats a Trane!

Carl Formby owns and operates furnacesmarket.com, a site with information about furnaces for small homes and Trane gas furnace reviews.

Ten Tips To Find And Hire The Best Contractor For Your Remodeling Project

One of the most frequently-asked questions on my forum is "How do I find the right contractor for my remodeling project?" There are many important steps and considerations in choosing and hiring a contractor for a remodeling project. There should be a lot of research and checking information before making a contractor choice.

Here are the top ten tips I offer to homeowners about finding and hiring the best contractor for a remodeling project.

1. Look for a contractor with a strong track record of success in your community. This person will have survived and thrived in the community. The business will be well established in the community, and people will know the contractor and his or her work.

2. Look for a contractor with knowledge and experience in the kind of work you want done. Experience is important. You need a contractor who has experience and knowledge of the specific kind of work you want done. For example, you don't want to hire a roofer to do an electrical job. When interviewing contractors for your project - ask them what projects they are working on now. They likely are doing several - if one or more is a project similar to yours, that's a good sign.

3. Check vital information on the contractor. Check with the state or local licensing board if contractors are required to be licensed in your area to ensure that the contractor is properly licensed to do the kind of work you need and that the license is current. Also check on the contractor's insurance. Ask contractors you are considering for the project to show you their insurance certification. Then call the insurance company and check to ensure the policy is current.

4. Check the contractor's record. Check with the Better Business Bureau, local courts, and search on the internet to find out if there have been any complaints or court cases involving the contractor. Also consider performing a background check. Many companies on the internet offer this service.

5. Develop a clear description of the project, including your workmanship expectations, materials and quality of materials before you discuss the project with a contractor. Your ability to be clear and specific allows the contractor to offer informed opinions and accurate estimates. It is also wise to be open about your budget from the outset, and if the cost is a major concern for you, ask the contractors you interview for their advice on how to minimize the cost.

6. Ask for and then check professional references. Ask for the contractor's standard references, and then ask for several references from projects that contractor is working on currently, as well as several references for projects the contractor completed recently that are very similar to yours. When you talk to the reference ask all the standard questions. Also ask what went wrong and how the contractor made it right.

7. Organize your project and the interview process. Make or buy an organizer to manage the business cards, literature, quotes, estimates and notes that you will accumulate during your search. A good organizer is The Complete Remodeling Workbook and Organizer. Use an interview script for both the contractor and references and a standard list of questions that you answer after the interview so you can compare contractors objectively.

8. Ask a lot of questions during the interview about the contractor, the project and the estimate. Not only do you need answers to specific questions, you need to evaluate your ability to communicate with the contractor. This is also an opportunity to decide whether you do or do not trust the contractor to be in your home and around your family.

9. Carefully compare and evaluate all estimates. I usually recommend that homeowners get at least 5 estimates. You will then need to compare the estimates, including all the details, in order to decide who to hire. Ensure that all of the estimates reflect the same workmanship, finished work, quality of materials, and schedule. If you are having difficulty comparing estimates, ask the contractor to help you make the comparison. If a contractor isn't helping you with this, then he/she probably is not the right one for you to work with.

10. Get a good contract. Get a contract that is based on the total final cost of the project (not an estimate). Be certain that everything is included in the contract. Sample contracts are available at http://www.remodelestimates.com If any changes from the details in the contract are made during the work process, ensure that all changes and costs are put in writing with a change order.

Dan Fritschen, the author of this article, is the founder of the websites http://www.remodelormove.com and http://www.remodelingorganizer.com He is the author of three books on home remodeling.

Stair Handrailing Or Guard Rail

Before the 1980s most stairways had a handrail and to this day, most stair handrails are not considered guard rails. Well things have changed and now most stairways require a guard rail and it gripable handrail.

What's the difference between a stair handrailing and a stair guard rail, quite frankly about 6 inches. Your stair guard rails have a minimum requirement of 42 inches where stair handrails built before the 1980s had a handrailing for protection with a minimum requirement of 36 inches.

This does not mean that older stair handrails that are 36 inches tall will need to be removed and replaced, because the new building codes have changed. If you were to rebuild the stair handrail or do any work on the stairway that required a building permit, they could have you change your stair handrailing to meet current building codes.

I was helping another guy frame a new house in 2005 and while I was on the job I would mention to the owner, certain concerns of mine with other parts of the job. After a while he realized, that I knew what I'll was talking about and started to pay attention when ever I mentioned anything related to home building.

He asked me if I would be interested in building the stair handrailing system and at the time I was too busy. I reminded him of the minimum requirements for the stair guard rail, it was no longer referred to as a stair handrail and would need to be at least 42 inches in height and include a gripable handrail.

Well as you guessed it, the next time I walked into the home, I noticed a 36 inch high stair handrail. I reminded him and he wasn't too concerned, because he hired someone that knew all about building stair handrails.

The building inspector made him remove and replace the stair handrail, before he would approve the home for final inspection. Don't make the same mistakes, learn a little more about stair handrail safety and don't become another statistic in the home building industry.

Always check with your local building department, whether you're reading articles like this or asking questions to experienced contractors. Everybody makes mistakes and sometimes their information is out of date, according to new home building practices or building codes.

Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors

If you're interested in building stairs, whether you're a professional or a do it yourself homeowner, you should make your stair building and other construction projects as simple as possible. Check out the latest stair building tools, some of these tools can make even the average homeowner look like a building professional

Homemade Solar Cells - DIY Plans to Build Your Own Home Solar Panels

One thing you've been told that's wrong is that you have to pay thousands of dollars to install solar cells in your home to harness the sun's energy. If you haven't already heard, you can easily build homemade solar cells right in your own backyard and start enjoying huge savings in your monthly energy bills. Game enough to learn? Read on then!

Just a couple of years ago, installing a solar cell system can make your poorer by a few thousand bucks at the onset. That's how much it would cost to engage a local contractor to hook up your home to use solar power. But the fact is, the technology behind the solar panel system is not exactly rocket science.

Why?

Many folks I know, even my neighbors, have followed specially-designed plans to build their own solar panel systems on the cheap. How cheap? Well, if you've 200 bucks to spare, you can start reaping the benefits of using the sun's energy. That's just a fraction of what it would cost if you choose to get it professionally installed.

Many do-it-yourself plans and guides are now available to the man in the street looking to slash his hefty electricity bills. But beware of free plans that claim to help you do so...many of these are plain difficult to follow and are often missing crucial details. The old adage "you get what you pay for" still rings true.

For a little less than 50 bucks, you can get a good instructional guide that provides you with instructions to build your own solar cells at home. The really good ones come with step-by-step video instructions that make the entire process easy for you.

You can get most of what you need from your local hardware store....stuff like plywood, copper wire, glass sheets. Chances are, you may even have them in your home or garage. For photovoltaic cells, you can get them rather cheaply over the internet or your local suppliers.

The best thing about building your own homemade solar cells is that you can start small...make enough energy to power up simple appliances such as your TV, computer, small lighting. You can later add on and build more panels that can even power your ENTIRE home. That's going completely off-grid for you!

And if you generate surplus energy, your power company will even buy that from you each month! That's extra money in your pocket that you could spend on more important things in your life!

Take a little time to choose a plan that suits your household needs, budget and your level of knowledge. Learning to build your own homemade solar cells will go a long way to reduce your hefty energy bills and go green at the same time!

Want to build your own homemade solar cells but don't know where to start?

Fret not! Many people just like you have successfully built these on their own to DRASTICALLY cut their monthly electricity consumption. They are already shaving $1000s off their energy bills every year. If you need STEP-BY-STEP guidance in installing one, I have reviewed the Best Online Guides on Homemade Solar Cells for your convenience. These highly recommended guides provide EASY-TO-FOLLOW instructions that will help you save money in no time.

Dave Keller is an Renewable Energy Specialist who takes pride in helping the average consumer save on their energy bills using simple DIY devices... and give power companies a run for their money! For a candid review of the best-selling guides, go to his website at http://www.HomeSolarPanels4u.com now.

Picking a Remodeling Contractor

If you live in the state of Minnesota and you plan on having some remodeling done, you may need a good home remodeling contractor to help you out with your needs. No doubt you'll find that there are many different contractors to choose from in the Twin Cities area, but you don't want just any contractor working on your home. There are many different considerations that should be kept in mind when it comes to choose from all the remodeling contractors out there. So, here's you simple checklist to keep in mind when you are trying to make sure that you get the best contractor possible for your remodeling needs.

Ask Family and Friends for Referrals
The first thing you'll want to do is to make sure that you ask family and friends for referrals when you are trying to come up with a contractor. Getting contractor references from your friends and family members is a wonderful way that you can make sure you end up with an excellent contractor. This way you actually know someone that has had a great experience with the contractor. It helps you to be sure that you'll get a great contractor.

Ensure They are Licensed by the State
When you are trying to pick out the best remodeling contractor, you'll find that it is important to make sure that they are licensed by the state. They should have a state of MN contractors license that they can show you. You definitely don't want to go with a contractor that has no license. Also, when you are looking at their license, you'll want to make sure that there have been no complaints filed against them or any type of disciplinary actions taken against them in the past. This insures you get the best possible contractor for your remodeling project.

Check for the Contractor's Insurance Certificates
Make sure that you check for insurance certificates when you are trying to find the best remodel contractor. They should have General Liability as well as Workman's Compensation. If they have no insurance, you'll definitely want to avoid going with their services, although just having General Liability is okay.

Find Out About Their Business Longevity
Take the time to find out about their business longevity before you decide that you want to go with a particular contractor. The best option is to go with a contractor who has been in the same business with the same name for over 10 years. Five years is excellent as well. However, if they have only been in business for a year, you may want to be a bit wary of going with a brand new business when you need help with contracting. Experience is a definitely bonus when choosing remodeling contractors.

Make Sure the Business is Stable
You should also take a look at the business that the contractor is running. Is the business one that is both permanent and stable? If there is no office at all and you only get a cell phone number, this is a Minnesota contractor to reject. The best option is to find someone that has an office as well as an address. A working phone number is very important as well when it comes to making sure that the business is a stable one.

Check Out Their References
Ask for a list of client references when you are trying to find the best home remodeling contractor. If they cannot offer you any references at all, you probably will want to choose someone else. The same applies for if you call references and get negative comments. It's best to make sure that you get at least several positive references from people who have used the same contractor in the past. This way you know what kind of a job that they are going to do.

Find Out About Their Experience
Experience is another important consideration when you are considering what type of contractor to go with. Going with a contractor that specializes in the work you need done is the best option. If the contractor doesn't have any type of experience in the type of work that you will need to have done. Having the experience necessary is very important. You really don't want a contractor with no experience at all working on your bathroom or kitchen. So, make sure that you choose carefully.

Take a Look at Their Bids on the Work You Need Done
Before you make your final decision on the best home remodeling contractor, you should take a look at their bids on the work you need done. Make sure that the bids have a good description of the work to be done and that they will guarantee the work that gets done. You'll also want a contractor that only asks for about a of the money up front and then final payment when the remodeling work is finally complete.

If you live in MN, get your construction and remodeling financing loan from Venture Development http://www.VentureLoanApp.com John Mazzara is involved with financial services in the Twin Cities, MN. Officing out of Edina, Minnesota-John is centrally located within the 7 county MN metropolitan area. John owns three separate businesses-a licensed real estate broker associate selling Minnesota real estate since 1986-affiliated with RE/MAX Associates Plus http://www.MinneapolisStPaulHomes.com, an independent CFP-certified financial planner since 1989 with an independent Minnesota financial planning firm-Financial Planning Associates and the owner of a Minnesota mortgage broker firm-Venture Development Inc-specializing ins residential, commercial and investment mortgages.

If you are looking for someone to help you in the areas of real estate sales/purchase, mortgages, or and/or financial planning and insurance you should call John for a free 1 hour consultation to see if he can meet your needs. 952-929-2577. RE/MAX Associates Plus and Venture Development are located at 7300 France Ave S, Suite 410, Edina, MN 55435

Green Living Design That You Can Adopt

Interior Design is the single best experience in my life that has allowed me to experience fantastic creative energy each and every day. I must admit, however, that the move towards "Green Living Design" sometimes has me pulling my hair out.

Don't get me wrong, I've written many an article about the coming boon in Green Living Design and how we, as Designers, must be at the forefront of the movement. With that being said, I find that many of my clients often look at me with that "Deer in the headlight" look when I even casually mention the Green aspect of a Design element for their new home or addition.

It is not that most folks don't care; They do. It is that most feel that they are being handed a bill of goods because something is trendy or fashionable at the moment and can not have any direct implications on their lives in the present. "Going Green" is something that the Hollywood crowd does, not the average consumer.

That used to be true and, yes, in some quarters of "Green Design, " it still is. However, I have found that there are common elements that, if mentioned correctly, everybody can get behind from a Green standpoint.

So, what are the basic elements of some solid Green Living Design that most can see using in their lives? I will touch on four that if you are remodeling or building, can be done in that part of the design; Heating/Air units, HVAC, Wall design, Insulation elements and, finally, Door and Window design elements.

There has been an emergence of systems that use a "Forced Air" feature known as radiant space heaters. Many builders like the aspect of forced heating in that it eliminates a huge chunk of the duct work that must be used in a home design. Some builders, and many fire departments, like the aspect of a lower amount of duct work as it sometimes can aid in the spread of fires in a home.

Wall design has become something of interest, as of late, with the rising cost in energy prices. A lot of builders are liking the idea of walls that are a bit thicker in an exterior build. Many are looking at 12-inch-thick exterior walls with a high R value, which is the rating given a substance's thermal resistance. That gives you better energy values, and combined with better Green materials that go inside the walls, this could save a homeowner substantial money in overall energy cost.

Insulation elements continue to increase in the "Green" factor with some great cellulose insulation options available to consumers. Some of these ratings are as high as R-60, in some cases, and can greatly reduce the cost of running your home when it comes to energy.

Finally, doors and windows. This category is the one that seems to get the lease resistance from homeowners looking at new design elements. It seems that the industry has really taken the lead in this category by just explaining to the consumer, in terms that make total sense, that these design features can and will save them money. It seems that most homeowners have had a face-to-face confrontation with the dastardly windows and doors in their homes and immediately "Get it" when it comes to dealing with them. Still, some of the better energy saving features come at a price and can make many a home owner grimace when handed the bill.

So, there you are. Four design elements that are loaded with "Green Value," as I like to call it. Excellent ways to be a little more conscious about the environment in any Interior Design elements that you are considering and will help you move towards that ever elusive Green Living Design.

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Sunday, September 6, 2009

Home Insurance - ABI Warns Against Flood Plain Development

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) believes government proposals to boost the country's housing stock significantly are inherently flawed. Where southern England is intersected by major rivers, the surrounding land is prone to flooding. However, because this is where demand for new housing is highest, current plans envisage major developments in precisely these areas.

The ABI believes that up to one third of the planned three million new homes to be built will be constructed on flood plains Consequently the ABI has suggested that its members may have to remove flood cover as a standard component of their policies, should these plans see the light of day. The position of the ABI has drawn criticism from Ian Wright, the Housing Minister, who maintains that current planning regulations are sufficiently stringent to guard against the risk of newly built houses rapidly becoming uninhabitable through flooding.

Wrights believes that because all local authorities have to consult with the Environment Agency before giving the seal of approval to new developments, home insurance providers have nothing to worry about.

The whole question of flooding and house insurance has registered more strongly on the national radar in recent times because of recent disastrous flooding, not to mention all the hullabaloo about global warming. News images of towns in Gloucestershire completely cut off by flood water linger a long time in peoples' memories.

All told, the 2007 floods cost three billion pounds. In view of this incredible sum it is inevitable that this issue will continue to figure prominently on the future policy agenda of home insurance providers. For the customer in an area that may be affected by flooding, this emphasises the importance of selecting the appropriate cover. The internet is an excellent resource in this regard and it is well worth undertaking a little research to identify the best product.

11.4.2008

source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2008/feb/14/homeinsurance.insurance

Mark Lauterwein is a UK based writer currently writing on home insurance and house insurance.

Are Resistance Piers Right For Your Home?

The resistance pier belongs to a family of foundation repair products that are sometimes referred to as micro piles, push piers, or steel piers. These foundation repair products are driven hydraulically into the soil using the structural weight of the building as a reaction force.

A friction reduction collar is attached to the lead section of pier pipe. The purpose of the collar is to create an opening in the soil that has a larger diameter than the pier pipe. This dramatically reduces the skin friction on the pier pipe as it is driven into the soil and allows the installer to load test and verify that the pier encountered firm bearing stratum or rock that is suitable to support the design load.

Resistance piers like other steel piers are an end-bearing pier that does not rely upon nor requires skin friction to produce support. Each pier is field load tested after it is installed. The piers are able to develop a factor of safety because the piers are installed and load tested individually using the maximum weight of the structure as the reaction force. The ability of the system to develop significant factors of safety comes from the different methods used between pier installation and load transfer during restoration.

The piers are driven individually and the entire structure works as the reaction; but during load transfer hydraulic cylinders are placed at multiple locations thus reducing the load on each pier to only the design working load. A building with substantial construction and rigidity can develop greater pier factors of safety than a weaker structure. A quality resistance pier system, incorporating a synchronized lifting system, is the first step towards fixing your structures failing foundation.

About the Author:

Jeff Tully invites you to view his website http://www.myfoundationrepairs.com if you are having any foundation issues including bowing walls, cracks in your foundation or any type of settlement issue. On this website you will find the truth about foundation repair methods and what you should expect. There are many misconceptions about foundation piers or tie backs, get the straight answers here

This site was designed and built with the homeowner in mind is the only true source for foundation repair and waterproofing information. From determining if you really have a structural issue to hiring an engineer or foundation expert, you will find the answers on my site

10 Simple Actions That Reduce Your Environmental Impact

There is a big difference between knowing how to live green and actually living green. Being green isn't always easy and it isn't always cheap but the world you live in becomes a better place for your efforts.

"Greening" your own life starts with a single step. If you are ready to take that first step then consider the following 10 simple actions that you can apply in your own life to reduce your impact on the environment.


  1. Support local green businesses. Do you have a local Co-op or Farmer's Market you could be shopping at?
  2. Install Energy Star products such as compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) or a Cool-N-Save(tm) Air Conditioning Pre-Cooling System. Doing this can provide a 30-75% energy savings.
  3. Always remember to check and maintain your tire pressure at least once a month. Doing this can save you about $840 a year on gas and reduce approximately 250 lbs of carbon dioxide.
  4. Add low-flow aerators to any sink you have that may have been manufactured before 1994. In 1994 the government mandated that sinks could have no more then 2.2 gallons per minute of flow, before 1994 sinks could use between 3-4 gallons of water per minute.
  5. Purchase green power from your electric company. This reduces demand for fossil fuel based power.
  6. Plant a tree. Tree's offer shade and reduce CO2 from the environment.
  7. Bring your own utensils into work - it's an easy way to avoid throwaway plastic ones.
  8. Bring your own coffee mug to coffee shops - it's an easy way to avoid disposable coffee cups.
  9. Reduce the amount of red meat you eat. Why? The production of animal-products has an expensive environmental cost, so the less you eat, the less the environment incurs.
  10. Unplug power adapters, like your cell phone charger and MP3 player charger, when not in use. These chargers use energy 24/7 even when your item is not charging.

While this is far from a comprehensive list I hope these tips help you become a bit more "green" in your own life. As the world keeps getting bigger it's more and more important we each do our part.

Sam Greyhawk is an energy efficiency evangelist who works for Cool-N-Save(tm), an Energy Star Partner, in Huntington Beach, California. When you want to reduce your impact on the environment remember Cool-N-Save(tm).