Metal Siding Painting Advice

Painting metal and aluminum siding can become a nightmare if not done right. Over the years I have worked on and repaired many homes with metal siding. Metal siding is real common in mobile homes. Most older mobile homes use aluminum paneling for their exterior siding.

Most painted metal siding seems to last at least 20 years. The reason for this is the paint is baked on in a factory giving it a high quality and nice looking surface. This baked on method is used for painting aluminum and most metals siding that gives the product a long life.

I lived in a mobile home park for a few years and my next door neighbor's mobile home had never been painted and was over 45 years old. He would go out and washed the mobile home once a year with some TSP soap while using a brush on the end of an extension pole to clean the home.

His mobile home might not have looked brand new but it was definitely in great shape. Over the years he had developed a few scratches and some dirt that was hard to wash off but that was about the extent of the damage to the painted metal siding.

Well we painted our mobile home and used an expensive metal primer along with some expensive paint from Dunn Edwards & Co... This paint worked great. We lived there for around four years and never had any problems once the home was painted. Having been in the construction business I knew we had to use a good metal paint primer in order for the paint to stick to the baked on paint process for the metal siding to look good.

Here's my advice to you when painting metal siding.

1. Make sure the metal siding is clean. Use TSP soap along with a scrub brush and scrub that baby clean. The cleaner the metal surface the better the new paint primer will stick or adhere to the old paint.
2. Follow the instructions carefully on the paint primer can when applying the primer. Do not paint below or above the recommended paint temperatures.
3. Make sure you explain to the paint salesman at whatever store you're in that you are going to be painting metal siding. Get the right paint primer.
4. I would love to recommend a paint primer but cannot because I don't want to get a phone call from anyone a few years from now telling me the paint is peeling off of their home. Let that responsibility become the paint manufacturers.
5. Let the paint primer dry for the recommended time as per the directions on the paint primer can. I prefer letting the paint dry at least one week. The reason for this is some paint primer's stay soft for a while and if you paint over them immediately they doesn't seem to bond as good and sometimes will stay soft for a long period of time.
6. Apply your final coats of paint following the manufacturer's instructions on the paint can.

There you have it painting metal siding is all in the preparation of the surface you are painting.

Have fun painting and always read and follow the manufacturer's recommended instructions for the products you are using. These people test their products constantly and know the best way to apply them to any surface.

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 and Remodeling Library and adding useful content to help solve problems created by the lack of construction knowledge in the building industry.

Visit us and get more information on different Types Of House Siding

Windows
Leaning Stair Handrail

A Guide To Handyman - Home Repair Ideas

A handyman is a person who has a lot of skills that you may not even imagine. Most people cannot do all the jobs required for maintaining a house. We always look for some people who will do these little chores for us. For example, we look for a person to fix the shower or repair a broken cabinet. Little tasks like these will be on the list that we have on the door of the refrigerator. You may not have the time to do such small work or you may not know how to fix them. In such circumstances, the handyman is the right person to just do that.

A handyman is competent and proficient enough to do those odd small jobs for you. Without him, you will find it difficult to maintain your house or your garden. Nowadays you hire a handyman through organized services that are available throughout the country. All you have to do is to contact a company offering such a service and request a handyman to do the task you want. When you approach a professional service you get a lot of benefits. The handyman who arrives at your home would be in proper uniform and arrives on time to do the task. Since they are company employees it is easy to track them and you get satisfactory service from them.

Some of the areas in which a handyman can work are maintenance of doors and fences, cleaning of gutters, maintenance of tubs and showers, and locks & deadlocks. Repairing the walls, decks, siding, grout and tiles can also be done. Odd jobs like pressure washing, weatherproofing, tile work, and some carpentry works can also be done through these professional handyman services. All you have to do is to call the company and tell the task that you want to be done. They would give you an estimate and you can request for the service. Payment can be made through cash, check or credit card after the work is completed.

Handyman provides detailed information on Handyman, Handyman Services, Starting A Handyman Business, Handyman Tips and more. Handyman is affiliated with Home Remodeling.

The Beauty of Interior Sliding Doors

In terms of modern interior design, the use of interior sliding doors is not only stylish and modern, but an excellent way of saving space and utilising available room to the best effect.

Any door opening can be converted given adjacent available wall space that can be used when the door is opened. Using rails affixed to the door frame, the sliding door is easy to use for those who may find a conventionally opening door difficult in certain circumstances, and also gives an impression of modernity and attention to style and substance.

Many different types of door can be accommodated, with a popular version being a glass panelled door. This gives the added advantage of extra light in the room - particularly when used as an entrance between two rooms in the centre of the house.

Wooden doors in the traditional style can also be found, these keeping the regular look of a room while incorporating the added advantages of the sliding door method. An attractive panelled door style is popular with many buyers, although plain doors without the panels can give a more effective look in a room that is designed to be modern in style.

Doing away with the traditional arc that is rendered as dead space by the opening of a standard door can be a very effective way of creating extra space in a room that needs such attention.

Smaller rooms can gain a few extra square metres of available space simply by removing the necessary opening area that a standard door requires. In that space can go a table, a chair, a sideboard or other furniture, or even the television and audio systems that take up space in an otherwise useful corner of the room.

The use of this type of door is further enhanced by the simplicity of the opening and closing mechanism, which operates via a system of bearings that ensure a smooth and stylish action with no sticking or difficulty endured.

Apart from use in homes and dwellings, the sliding door can be of great use in commercial premises. The sliding door can be left permanently open for ease of access between offices, for instance, yet closed when privacy is needed thus taking away the open plan aspect in an instant.

In factory premises this opening and closing method can be of even greater use, as it is possible to mechanise the action for use remotely thus allowing transportation between areas yet keeping them segregated for health and safety purposes.

Modern and stylish yet purposeful and innovative, the sliding door is a way of creating space and adding style, and of including a chic and innovative design feature into any home. It is of particular use to those who have limited space, giving access to those vital few extra square metres, and can be utilised to create extra light in potentially dark areas. An innovation that promises to take interior design to greater heights, the interior sliding door is here to stay.

To learn more about sliding doors, visit http://www.slidingdoors101.com

Understanding Wood Shrinkage in Finish Carpentry

These days trim wood shrinkage in finish carpentry does cause some problems and has tested the reputation of even the most seasoned finish carpenters. This can be controlled some what if it is properly addressed however the shear speed at which houses get built and the use of new growth lumber these days poses a lot of the problems that are unfortunately some times unavoidable.

Trim wood should be acclimated to the inside environment of the house where it will be installed. This does also apply to the wood of a new wood floor to be installed. What this means exactly is the wood needs time to adjust to the temperature and humidity levels of the house where it will be installed. This in turn reduces the shrinkage of the wood and that helps to keep miters tight and doors working properly. There is much discussion on how long this acclimation period should be and a few variables do come into play here especially with a newly built home. A very minimum of an acclimation period would be 48 hrs. if the environment change of the storage place of the trim wood or the store to the house environment is not a huge difference. Another factor is after the acclimation period it is best to get the wood finished and sealed whether you do it before or after installation.

Ultimately wood is going to shrink and swell according to the seasons. Some places more than others due to the climate differences. The best way to reduce this is to try and keep the environment in the house relatively even with just the temperature although I have seen a new house with new trim work sitting empty with no activity like cooking or showering for a long period of time have major shrinkage in the trim wood due to no humidity. I had trimmed this house and was just sick when I went back for the final; fortunately the builder that I had done the work for understood this problem and took full responsibility. I had been in the finish carpentry business for a long time and had a good reputation of doing good work but some times that reputation doesn't mean anything to the people that don't understand these problems.

For the do it yourselfers doing trim work, there are a few things to consider. If you are remodeling or doing renovations to an existing home just simply taking the precautionary measure of acclimating the wood will eliminate the major shrinkage problem in most cases. On new homes it is however nice to know the humidity levels in the house as well as the wood. One easy way to check the wood is with a moisture meter tester. This little meter is relatively cheap or can be borrowed from a contractor that does building or remodeling. The use of a dehumidifier is recommended in a new house or new construction and doing a little research for the moisture content that is recommended for the area that you live in is also advisable. This is due to the different climates in the country and various temperature changes for the different areas. As a finish carpenter it is important for people to understand some of these issues concerned with wood shrinkage whether you are doing the work yourself or hiring a professional to do the work for you ultimately to protect yourself.

Pat Fisher is a professional carpenter and woodworking craftsman. For more information on finish carpentry and household carpentry projects, visit http://www.finishcarpentryhelp.com and pick up your free eBook.

Missing Metal Flashing

Carlsbad Home Repairs - Upgrade Your Older Home

With housing prices being as low as they are, it's a great time to buy a home, but not to sell one. If you are living in an older home, there are ways to make it feel like new again, so that you can keep on enjoying your home without moving to an upgraded house. Here are a few ideas for you that will make your home nicer but not cost you a small fortune.

The two most popular rooms for remodeling are the kitchen and bathroom, and rightfully so because we all spend a lot of time in these rooms. If you would like to upgrade your kitchen, there are a few things you can do that don't cost a lot but will make a big impact. Why not try adding a kitchen island or butcher block to your culinary area? You will love the extra counter space and food preparation area, which can also double as a handy snack table if you add a couple counter stools to it. Kitchen islands are a great way to upgrade your kitchen without spending a lot of money, and you can get a tile or stone countertop that matches what you currently have on your other fixtures, or you can go for a natural butcher block top that matches any dcor. Another way to spruce up your kitchen without spending a lot is to replace your old kitchen faucet with a newer one, perhaps one that does more than your old faucet head.

Now to tackle that old bathroom! You may have the bathroom that time forgot, or maybe you just don't like what was installed, but the quickest way to change the whole appearance of your bathroom is to get a new bathroom vanity. The vanity is the centerpiece of your bathroom, and if you don't like the current one or it's a looking a little run down, then it can bring the whole bathroom down. If you shop for discount bathroom vanities then you can save money and give yourself a whole new space. You can shop the sales at local home improvement stores, or you can shop online, which is where the best deals are really found. Make sure to measure your space accurately, so that you can find just the right size vanity for your needs, and not find yourself with a vanity that's too big or too small for your bathroom.

No matter what you decide works when upgrading your older home, we hope that you will find these tips helpful and love your old home like it's new again.

If you would like more information on the variety of discount bathroom vanities available or where to find a great price on a bathroom vanity, please visit the Premiere Vanities website.

Plaster Crack In Brick Wall

Tract Houses Framing Problems

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

Home Plumbing Books

Repairing a Leaking Toilet - Home Repairs

Let me explain how a toilet works. First when you go to flush the toilet a little arm pulls a rubber flapper up and lets the water drain into the toilet bowl. The water draining into the toilet bowl forces the old water out along with the number two or number one waste and extremities.

If the toilet sounds like it is running there is a good chance that the seal between the rubber flapper and the plastic rain at the bottom of the toilet is broken somehow. The sound you are hearing is water running around this ring and in to the toilet bowl.

This leak is actually causing no damage to the toilet itself but is wasting water. Hence the water bill will be a little higher if you don't fix the leaking toilet. The best way to find out if this is actually your problem is to take the toilet tank lid off. Then stick your hand down into the toilet bowl and press gently on the rubber flap.

If the water stops leaking or starts running faster this is your problem. Turn the water off to the toilet. There will be a shut off valve on the wall under your toilet bowl in the bathroom. After you turn the water off removed the plastic flap and examine it.

You will be looking for a warped toilet flap or of some sort or grooves on the flapper itself. Take the toilet flapper down to your local home improvement store and buy a new one. Go home and replace the new toilet flapper and this should solve 90% of your leaking toilet problems.

There is one more thing it could be. With the toilet tank lid off, check to see if water is overflowing into the little round plastic pipe. This plastic pipe should have a small hose running from the float valve assembly into it.

If the water is over flowing from the toilet tank into this little plastic pipe you will need to adjust the float.

First thing you will need to do is while the toilet is running lift up on the float lever arm. If the water stops you can simply bend the metal arm of the float lever. The purpose of bending the arm will force the float deeper into the water there for stopping the water from rising over the small tube in the center of your toilet.

There are few parts to a toilet and most parts can be purchased at your local hardware or home improvement centers. Toilet repairs like this can be made simple and the parts used to replace are inexpensive.

Happy Toilet Repairing.

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 House Building and Remodeling Library and adding useful content to help solve problems created by the lack of construction knowledge in the building industry.

Visit us and get more information on building and remodeling your homes and Some Great Plumbing Ideas

Bird Nest In Tile Roofing

Designing a Custom Closet - House Remodeling Ideas

An increasing number of reality TV shows feature high-priced "experts" helping ordinary people transform their homes. Undoubtedly there are plenty of people who could benefit from this expertise. But when it comes to closet organization, most of us will have to take the "do it yourself" approach. Do it yourself closet organizers don't have to suffer in quality, and in fact-with today's modern products-it's simple to create your own professional-looking custom closet without breaking the bank.

Personal consultants and organizers have invaluable advice, but many retail and custom closet organizers have incorporated some of the best tidbits into their designs, making the DIY approach all the more easy.

But before beginning to put together a set of do it yourself closet organizers, be sure to ask yourself the following three essential questions:

Clothing or multi-purpose?

What are you going to use your closet for, after all?

Clothing-only closets might offer more freedom for anybody working with do-it-yourself closet organizers, but with that freedom come additional choices. Closet towers and drawer units are nice features, but it's important to consider what will make the best use of available space.

Multi-purpose closets, for example, may not be the ideal location for a revolving tie rack (although with creativity it could probably work!). On the other hand, working with less space can streamline your decision making process-and lead to some inspiring outcomes. Ensuring that clothes are accessible in a closet that also holds a vacuum cleaner and boxes of decorations can be vexing-but with the right shelving solutions, it is a problem that can be overcome.

How many users?

Style doesn't have to be sacrificed to function. Singles and couples alike can create do it yourself closet organizers that reflect their personal taste while maintaining function.

That said, it's important to make sure that his and her closets have features and accessories that cater to both. Also, remember that two closet users will likely call for two separate drawers when it comes socks, t-shirts and other clothing items.

Walk-in closet, or reach-in closet?

Making this decision will establish your fundamental approach to organizing your closet space. A walk-in closet generally allows for deeper shelves, or in some cases a three-walled approach. Reach-in closets allow for easy access of clothes and shoes, and take up less overall space in the room.

Closets come in all shapes and sizes, so thinking about how you want to visualize and utilize your room space will help you choose products and materials that can meet your precise needs.

If you are interested in creating your own custom closet we invite you to visit us online at http://www.buildityourselfclosets.com

Stair Landing Support

How You Can Remodel Your Porch Yourself

There are many benefits your home can gain when you remodel your porch. This great example provided by DoItYourself provides great tips to enhance your outdoors with fresh ideas that employ the usage of carpentry skills, paint and stain to bring in life into a regular backyard. Plenty of mosquitoes along with the need to enjoy summer,spring and fall by lazing around outside, made the homeowners of a residence in Atlanta in Georgia to alter their backside porch from a plain looking slab of concrete to a showcase that was screened in, including insulated drapes. While taking the decision took no time, the actual solution was tedious.

The owners realized that screening the back patio was absolutely needed. It was just a squarish piece of concrete which was placed under an overhanging roof. This made the situation far more complicated. They needed to blend the porch along with the house while also providing a shield from local insects, summer heat and humidity levels. The slab of concrete even had a slope to provide for rain water to go away and so this needed to be trimmed from the frame's inside to fit into the slope.

Here's a stepwise guide of what these people did:

1. Cutting the paneling: Sheets of paneling of the beadboard ceiling variety were cut into 4x8 feet dimensions. These were primed beforehand.

2. Installation of ceiling fans and panels: With the help of a nail gun the owners were able to quickly install the ceiling panels. It was so much easier that hammer swinging and holding on to the panel! Before the panel was installed fan and light wiring was performed on the ceiling. The fan made it possible to make the porch around 8-10 degrees colder as compared to outdoor temperatures. The light made it possible for the usage of the porch during night time. So while one person would hold the fan another person would connect the wiring and then screw the fan in place. The finish trim on the ceiling served to camouflage the panel seams.

3. Framing of the porch: Based on the standard sized screens that were installed, the porch frame which measured 2x4 feet was fitted to size. Crosspieces could be directly nailed on to the vertically placed braces or just toenailed into the area.

4. Interior panel attachment: With the help of a staple gun the beadboard paneling comprising pine along with plywood, was secured into the interior. Although level on the topside, the panels needed trimming on the bottom portion in order to fit into the unevenly surfaced concrete flooring. This used to have a slope to provide rain runoff.

5. Levelling and attaching the exterior panel: All the hardboard panels of the exterior were put into place one by one, right from the bottom to the top. The first panel was customized and cut as per the uneven base line of the ground. The usage of a weather resistant type of paint made it possible to maintain exteriors by just using water and soap for color maintenance.

6. Finishing with the screen: All the vinyl grids were directly screwed upon the wood frame. The screens were placed on the channels present on these grids, thus facilitating a stapleless installation of aluminum and fibreglass screens. Upon rolling these screens with a spline on the grid channels, the extra screen was just trimmed off.

Greg Hansward's papers are published on several online publications linked to insulated draperies and insulated curtain fabric. From his detailed writings, he proofed his knowledge on issues dealing with insulated drapes and insulated draperies.

House Flipping - House Ideas

You usually don't hear people talking about "hidden" costs when flipping houses, rather, you hear about how much money they made.

"And we really didn't have to do much either!", you'll hear them say.

While there are flipping jewels that do indeed fall into people's laps, the reality is that those flips are few and far between. If you're considering flipping, you certainly want to go into it with a lot of enthusiasm, but with a healthy dose of caution as well. Learning to "read" houses when inspecting them before buying will help you see more clearly what possible repairs might be needed to make the house ready for the market. Not paying attention to certain warning signs of structural problems could mean the difference of making, or losing money altogether.

If you're relatively inexperienced at flipping, or considering your first flip, pay attention to what the house is "telling you". You could go into it thinking you will make some great money, only to spend any profits on major repairs. Remember, in many flips, you are buying foreclosure property, property with tax liens against them, etc. So, understand that you are buying the property as is, warts and all.

Some major repair signs to be on the lookout for, are the following:

Leaky basement walls. It could get very expensive to waterproof a basement and make it completely dry.

Evidence of mold anywhere in the house, particularly in bathroom, kitchen, basement, and crawl spaces. This means water is coming into the house from somewhere.

A wavy roof. If you notice the roofline has a slight wave to it, it might be due to deteriorating structural support and underlayment. Also, the condition of the shingles and flashing could mean stripping away the old roof and installing a new one.

Sagging floor. Does the floor have noticeable sag to it? If so, there might be serious problems with not only deteriorating floor joists, but deeper foundation and structural support problems as well.

Strong smell of pet odor in the flooring. Not a huge expense if hardwood floors don't exist. But if there is hardwood flooring and you want it utilized, you should definitely have the floors sanded and refinished.

Weak and/or deteriorating wall structural support due to termite infestation or rotted wood framing. You can't see what's behind drywall or plaster, so the best you can do is look for water stains, bowed walls, and sagging ceilings with cracked walls as evidence.

Look for evidence of asbestos. You'll see it in the form of shingle-style exterior siding, insulating wrap for plumbing and ducts, tile flooring, and attic insulation. You will know it because of it's old, yellow-coloring and flaky, fibrous texture. Asbestos removal can be an expensive, and because of environmental concerns, you should use only experienced removal companies.

Just like asbestos, be on the lookout for lead paint as well. Removal can be potentially expensive to tackle because of the extent with which you would have to safeguard people from exposure, and the cost to replace/treat any contaminated areas.

Having this particular increased-awareness mindset makes good business sense when evaluating any piece of property. Consult with a professional such as a general contractor or realtor and have them help you assess any possible repairs and related costs. When you have all of the facts and figures in front of you, can you then make an informed decision. When you do, in fact, submit a bid, you're price will reflect any necessary repair expense.

If you're relatively new or considering entering the house flipping business for the first time, please visit http://www.House-Flipping-Helper.com for more information regarding all things house flipping and remodeling.

House Flipping - House Ideas

You usually don't hear people talking about "hidden" costs when flipping houses, rather, you hear about how much money they made.

"And we really didn't have to do much either!", you'll hear them say.

While there are flipping jewels that do indeed fall into people's laps, the reality is that those flips are few and far between. If you're considering flipping, you certainly want to go into it with a lot of enthusiasm, but with a healthy dose of caution as well. Learning to "read" houses when inspecting them before buying will help you see more clearly what possible repairs might be needed to make the house ready for the market. Not paying attention to certain warning signs of structural problems could mean the difference of making, or losing money altogether.

If you're relatively inexperienced at flipping, or considering your first flip, pay attention to what the house is "telling you". You could go into it thinking you will make some great money, only to spend any profits on major repairs. Remember, in many flips, you are buying foreclosure property, property with tax liens against them, etc. So, understand that you are buying the property as is, warts and all.

Some major repair signs to be on the lookout for, are the following:

Leaky basement walls. It could get very expensive to waterproof a basement and make it completely dry.

Evidence of mold anywhere in the house, particularly in bathroom, kitchen, basement, and crawl spaces. This means water is coming into the house from somewhere.

A wavy roof. If you notice the roofline has a slight wave to it, it might be due to deteriorating structural support and underlayment. Also, the condition of the shingles and flashing could mean stripping away the old roof and installing a new one.

Sagging floor. Does the floor have noticeable sag to it? If so, there might be serious problems with not only deteriorating floor joists, but deeper foundation and structural support problems as well.

Strong smell of pet odor in the flooring. Not a huge expense if hardwood floors don't exist. But if there is hardwood flooring and you want it utilized, you should definitely have the floors sanded and refinished.

Weak and/or deteriorating wall structural support due to termite infestation or rotted wood framing. You can't see what's behind drywall or plaster, so the best you can do is look for water stains, bowed walls, and sagging ceilings with cracked walls as evidence.

Look for evidence of asbestos. You'll see it in the form of shingle-style exterior siding, insulating wrap for plumbing and ducts, tile flooring, and attic insulation. You will know it because of it's old, yellow-coloring and flaky, fibrous texture. Asbestos removal can be an expensive, and because of environmental concerns, you should use only experienced removal companies.

Just like asbestos, be on the lookout for lead paint as well. Removal can be potentially expensive to tackle because of the extent with which you would have to safeguard people from exposure, and the cost to replace/treat any contaminated areas.

Having this particular increased-awareness mindset makes good business sense when evaluating any piece of property. Consult with a professional such as a general contractor or realtor and have them help you assess any possible repairs and related costs. When you have all of the facts and figures in front of you, can you then make an informed decision. When you do, in fact, submit a bid, you're price will reflect any necessary repair expense.

If you're relatively new or considering entering the house flipping business for the first time, please visit http://www.House-Flipping-Helper.com for more information regarding all things house flipping and remodeling.

Eco Friendly Insulating Paint Additive

Eco friendly paint additives are the buzzwords of modern day society. Fueled by constant demands for energy saving products coupled with a psychological desire to limit the damage being caused to our environment through our actions and daily lifestyles. These products promise to be the future answer to some of these problems.

Products of text book marketing theory referred to as "social marketing" for those in the industry. These products are the result of socio-economic demands as an essential component in the complete insulation of homes, building and other premises. Combining the other buzzword of modern day society - convenience, the product ranges are on the whole efficient, effective and very simple to use. Typically applied by adding to paint and away you go, is the claim made by leading manufacturer and distributor Thermilate, based in the UK.

In using such products society will benefit with a win-win situation. Benefits to consumers of such products are the energy saving they promise, which can be as high as 25%. This in turn impacts on costs and provides users with greater control over the temperature in their homes and other buildings where used. The gains for the environment are the resultant reduction in the usage of damaging carbon fuels, one only has to imagine the millions of homes and buildings out there to visualise what the impact on the environment of the absence of such products has been thus far.

These products work by reducing the amount of heat escaping through walls, which many people have yet to realise are a major form of heat loss in their homes or buildings. Social marketing messages to inform consumers across the world about heat loss through windows proved very successful in the 1970's and 1980's backed by multi million pound marketing campaigns. However, in time it has transpired that the messages were incomplete and failed to inform consumers about the heat loss through their walls, which ironically can be far greater than that which takes place through their windows.

How do they work?

Although technologically advanced and safe to use, these paint additives are amazingly simple in their application. Leading eco-friendly additives company Thermilate stated, "they work by reducing the amount of heat escaping through walls via their insulation and reflection properties. The technology has taken years to develop and the resulting product is highly effective."

Heat loss is a fairly simple process - the walls, roofs and flooring are not impenetrable and they allow significant heat loss. These additives are featured in a multitude of journals. Products such as those mentioned above can slow down this process and inhibit this heat loss permanently.

The technology is based on simple micro-spheres, which create an invisible vacuum effect and thus reflect the heat back into the house, creating a double glazing effect for walls. The brand leader in the industry says its products have proved to reduce significant energy losses and energy consumption when these products were utilized. He is very excited about the future of this technology, particularly in its contribution to the global effort on climate change.

Off course the reverse is also true, these products also prevent heat entering a building in hot climates therefore keeping buildings much cooler, which anybody from such a climate will appreciate is a major problem and in doing so saving on air conditioning costs and creating a far more comfortable living environment.

It is recommended that as your first port of call you Google Thermilate. Its many applications are already assisting in the global effort for climate change. The success or failure of the global climate change strategy is hinged upon the cumulative success of individual efforts which will impact on our collaborative environment in the years to come.

Easy Bathroom Remodeling Solutions

Here's a list of problems that contractors run into when designing, planning, and remodeling bathrooms. These bathroom remodeling solutions listed below, often create problems for homeowners as well as contractors. Some of these problems have created contract disputes and could have been solved if the contractor or a homeowner was informed properly.

1. Problems with Old Galvanized Water Pipes: This is one of the biggest problems with older homes. Metal rusts and water running through these metal pipes will speed this process up, considerably. The problem arises when the galvanized water supply pipes cannot be taken apart or unthreaded, to add new plumbing fixtures or pipes, during the bathroom remodel.

Solution to the Problem: Experience contractors should inform their clients, about problems like this and what they propose to do, if they run into a situation where the galvanized water pipes are badly damaged. There will usually be extra work, which leads to extra money and this could create a problem between the contractor and a homeowner.

2. Problems with cast-iron drainpipes: these pipes often rust or become separated at the joints, creating water leaks and even areas for tree roots to enter the drainage system. These tree roots of course will cause the drainpipes to clog and eventually will have to be cleared in order for the drainage system to work properly.

Solution to the problem: informed the home owner of problems with cast-iron plumbing. If the contractor explains to the homeowner, any problems that could arise and a solution, you will find the process of bathroom remodeling a little less stressful. This stress can be eliminated or the contractor and a homeowner with a little preparation.

If you're a remodeling contractor, it wouldn't be a bad idea to make out a list of potential problems for the homeowner. List as many of the problems as you can think of, that you have ran into in the past or have heard other contractors and homeowners talking about. These lists can be given to your clients when you sign the contract.

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 really interested in learning more about remodeling, new home construction, home maintenance, home repairs and really want to get the nuts and bolts of home improvement. Visit our web site and select from the best-selling home building books on the Internet

Wood Stoves Books

Bathroom Moisture Problems - Home Remodeling

Right above my bathtub in my master bathroom the paint is peeling off the wall. The area is peeling above the tile in my bathtub and shower combination. I tried to glue the peeling paint back and only made the situation worst.

First things first. The paint is peeling because there is to much moisture in the bathroom while you are using it. Do you have any windows you can open or a ventilating bathroom fan. If you have a window crack it open part way while you are showering.

The water droplets will accumulate on the walls and drip into any cracks. Right above the tile grout is a great place for moisture to accumulate. Oh yeah moisture loves grout and drywall. If you have any unpainted areas or an area that has cracked. Guess what you have now.

Your paint is peeling because the bathroom gets hot and cold. Moist and dry. If you have the door and windows shut. You just created a moisture trap. Most people prefer their privacy and will closes the door when using the shower. Well then open the window and let some cold air in while you are taking a nice warn shower. I don't think so. Most showering fools don't like that idea either.

Ok one more idea keep the windows shut so you don't let the cold air in. Then lock the door so no on barges in on you. If you have a ventilation fan turn it on. This will at least pull fresh air in from under the door and send the moist air out of the house.

But the fan is so noisy and I can't enjoy my nice warm vapor producing shower that will eventually cause me to get sick from mold particles floating around in the air while I am using my bathroom.
Does this about sum it up for you and don't we all do this from time to time. We want to enjoy our shower time, so we close up everything and when we are in our bath sauna environment relaxing our house is getting some damaging moisture that could cause mold and mildew.

Open a window or door a little when you shower. Get some air circulating through the bathroom and prevent damage to your nice house.

Put up with a little inconvenience for you homes sake and your pocket book.

Greg Vanden Berge has been in the home building and remodeling business in California 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 provides all kinds of answers to remodeling and new house building in North San Diego Home Remodeling Carlsbad Home Remodeling

Visit us now for Bathroom Ideas

Patio Covers

Remodel Instead of Selling Your Home - Home Tips

Why sell your home when you can remodel and create the home of your dreams

After living in your home for a long time, you may end up getting bored looking at the fixtures and decor of your home. The options you have for a change are to either sell the house and buy a new one, or a better option which is to remodel and create your dream home.

Buying a new home does not always prove to be a practical choice as you may have to shift the kids' school, spend more time commuting to your workplace, need more time getting accustomed to the stores and markets near you and of course, get your old home sold for the right price.

Keep your budget in mind

When remodeling your home, you will first have to keep your budget into consideration, if you have any additions or requirements to be added to your home and any particular style that you intend to implement in the house. The rooms that need most attention when remodeling are bathrooms and kitchens as these are the most used rooms, and have new accessories coming up that will make your rooms look much better than they were before.

Like if you lack a room for your kids or a guest room, consider adding this by perhaps adding an extra room to your home. You could consider transforming a basement to a game room or your garage into an apartment to give that extra space to your family.

If you like outdoor entertaining, you could consider adding a patio or deck to facilitate this. And if you are suddenly involved in becoming environmentally conscious, you could consider using environmentally friendly products in the remodeling of your home.

You get better rates by meeting neighborhood standards

Instead of just renovating and remodeling your home to your ideas and budget, with some research, you will be able to find out what changes will bring the best rate to your home in the future.

If you find out that your home is the only home that has only one bathroom, you could consider adding a bathroom to your home when remodeling. This is because if you can meet the neighborhood standard, you will be able to get a better rate for your home when selling it.

If you plan any additions to your home, make sure it is in proportion to the house. It should be an accent to the house, and not end up as a focal point. Your remodeling should always work to your benefit as it is not always that home buyers will like the house the way you have remodeled it.

Remodeling your home gets a better resale price

Remember that though you may be selling it in the future, you have to remodel it so that you are all comfortable in it till you sell it. It is not necessary to spend a fortune on remodeling; you can make quite an impact with a restricted budget.

Not only do you get a new home by remodeling your home, you also get extra years of pleasure, which may in turn increase the value of the home. This will fetch you a better price, if you intend to sell the house in the future.

James Tyler is the owner of Ace Builders, a residential remodeling company serving the Raleigh, North Carolina area. Tyler writes about issues relating to all types of remodeling and home improvement projects.

For more information, tips and advice visit http://www.acebuilders.net

Choosing Exterior Paint Colors

There are many reasons why you may be considering repainting the exterior of your home. Perhaps you are trying to sell your house, your original exterior paint is fading or damaged, or you may just be in the mood for a new look for your home.

New paint can add curb appeal to your house, and if selling, a new coat of paint on the exterior will have a tremendous effect on the value of your home. Remember that, in addition to increased house value, the value of your entire neighborhood will rise with a new exterior paint job.

Choosing the correct paint colors will be critical in determining the final outcome of your decision. In other words, taking the time to consider the effects of your color choices can be the difference between a stunning home and a tacky house.

Color Popularity and Rankings

According to a recent survey conducted by the Rohm & Hass Paint Quality Institute, the most popular color choice of homes across America is white or off-white. Second is beige, tan, or brown with 28% of people claiming those colors as their homes colors. Next is gray, followed by blue, then green and yellow. Coming in last on the list is red and pink.

A similar study conducted by Realty Time Magazine offers slightly different results, with white again having the majority of votes, but followed by gray, then blue, tan/brown, cream, beige, green, yellow, and red in last again. It may be obvious that white is the most common color, because white is actually the color with the most shades (even though white is not actually a color, but a neutral).

Choosing Your Homes Exterior Colors

Prominent Colors of Your Home
There are many factors to take into account when deciding on new colors for the exterior of your home. Firstly, consider the colors that will be remaining on your home, such as the roof color, decks, or any brick or stone walls or structures. Narrow your options first by finding out which colors will go well with these prominent, fixed features.

Surrounding Neighborhood

Next, be sure to take into consideration the rest of the neighborhood. It is typically a good idea to stay within the same relevant context of colors as your neighbors. Remember that your homes color scheme will have a direct effect on the value of your neighborhood.

In fact, some restricted communities, homeowners associations, and historical neighborhoods may have restrictions on what colors you may paint your home, so be sure to research any constraints your community may have.

Mr. Oliver is a marketing agent for N. Chasen and Son. The interior and exterior painting specialists concentrate on painting jobs throughout the Richmond Virginia area. For more information on a painting contractor in Richmond Virginia please visit their website.

Home Siding Books

Glass Knobs - Home Tips

Complete your kitchen or set of drawers with the glittery elegance of glass knobs and reflect times past. Whether your home is Victorian or not you can easily inject a bit of nostalgia by changing a few small details like your kitchen cabinet hardware.

Believe it or not there was once a time when multi-faceted glass knobs were standard in new homes. Today people use sleek metal handles to reflect their modern style, but some savvy decorators look for authentic glass hardware to give a home a truly unique look.

Originally gaining popularity when World War 1 forced the mass production of glass things due to the fact that metal such as brass, bronze and iron was needed for planes and ammunition, these handles were soon made to suit different house styles, budgets and tastes.

You could choose from clear ones with six, eight or 12 facets, colored ones in various shades from cobalt blues and emeralds to violet, amber and even milk. You could also choose from various shapes from ovals and globes to squares and octagons. Another popular style had tiny bubbles inside which works well with contemporary spaces today. Any of these were once readily available, but now it can be tough to find a set that will sparkle with the elegance of the past and the promise of the future.

Start simply. You may not find a huge variety of glass knobs at your local hardware or home store today, but it is a good place to begin. I f you don't find the ones you have your heart set on keep looking. Try garage sales and flea markets. Ask to see what a local salvage yard has on hand. You never know the treasures that you may find.

But while you are looking you have to keep in mind the right size you need and how many you need. If you want authentic antique glass knobs it may be difficult to obtain a full set. Once you know how many, what size and what style you are looking for you can begin your search.

It is these small details that truly define the look of a room. Whether you choose a specific color or style the hardware you choose reflects your personal style. Create a vintage look with shabby chic milk glass or give your space a modern vibe with sleek crystal pulls. Try blue ones, or yellow ones and more to create a space that is truly you.

You will surely love the beauty the right hardware can bring. No matter if you replace it in the kitchen, in the bath or on a set of drawers these small details can have a big impact. From an eye catching sparkle to a glittery shimmer it is glass knobs that fill your space with light and vintage style. Who would have thought that this simple symbol of elegance still holds true today? Finish your home with distinctive details and you will always love returning to it every day.

Author Jennifer Akre is an owner of a wide variety of online specialty shops including that offer both items and information on how you can easily furnish and decorate your space. Whether it is cabinet hardware for your bathroom or handles for your kitchen there are many tips you can use to make those spots both functional and beautiful. Click today http://www.ekitchenhardware.com and indulge your senses.

Wood Stair Cleats Problems - Stairway Remodeling

I would imagine most people don't even know what it wood stair cleat is, in construction we have so many words that describe the same thing. A stair cleat is another word for a thread bracket. In other words it's the part of the stairway that connects the stair stringer to the stair step. These have been used for years and over time, most of them will develop the same problem.

Most wood stair cleats loosened up and create a safety hazard. If the stairs are located outside in extreme weather conditions, for example, if it rains or snows a lot, extremely humid humid weather, or extremely hot and dry temperatures, your staircase might not last that long, if it is or isn't maintained properly. It's not a bad idea to use steel or concrete for stairways in these climates.

If you're ever walking up a set of stairs with wood cleats and the stair steps feel a little loose or wiggly, make sure you examined the stair cleats for safety. It's not uncommon for someone to be walking up or down a set of wood stairs and having the stair step or tread giveaway because the wood cleats has loosened.

If the wood stair cleats are nailed to the stair stringer, the nails can loosen up, causing it to become loose, as you walk up and down the stairs applying pressure to the stair cleat, this will create movement in between the stair step and the stair stringer. This could cause the cleat to crack, break and separate the connection between the stair step in the stair stringer.

I would suggest using metal brackets instead of wood cleats. The metal brackets will not crack or disintegrate like some wood cleats. Stair building brackets of course can loosen up and should be maintained regularly.

If you decide to use wood stair cleats, I would suggest using screws instead of nails and drilling holes in the wood stair cleats, most of the time this will prevent cracking the cleat. Try to use a thicker material for the stair cleat, for example using a 2 x 4 with lag screws and washers would be better than using a 1 x 4 with nails.

If you're walking up a set of stairs and a stair step feels loose, contact the owner of the property and let them know, they have a problem with their staircase.

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 stair building books and adding useful content to help solve problems created by the lack of construction knowledge in the building industry.

Insufficient Tub Surround Adhesive

How to Install a Bathroom Faucet

It is important to know how to install a bathroom faucet. If ever your faucet gets broken in the middle of the night, you do not need to call for a repair person or ask on how to install a bathroom faucet. The job is quite easy and all you need is a wrench, elbow grease and these instructions on how to install a bathroom faucet.

First, you have to get rid of the old faucet. Check if the sink has the right number of holes and that they are in the right places. Do not forget to shut off the valve below the sink. Use a wrench in turning the nuts to be able to remove the supply tubes and drain the water. Take away the nuts and the washers and remove the faucet. Do not forget to clean every hole carefully. Read the instructions if you need to do other pre-installation steps.

After removing the old faucet, you are now ready to install the new one. Make sure that you read and understand the instructions included in the faucet. It is necessary to know if you need to do some preliminary set up. Between the faceplate and the gasket, place in the plastic gasket. Make a seal using a plumber's putty if the kit has no gasket included. Do not forget to apply nut and washer below every supply tube and then put together the supply tubes and the shut-off valves.

Follow the instructions in the kit in installing the pop-up device. Many types of pop-up device are available so make sure that you check the instructions. Place in the lift rod and then connect it to the pop-up device. Check for leaks after turning on the water. If there is any leak, take out the part and put a seal around it.

To find more tips about Bathroom Faucet, Bathroom Vanity Design, please visit bathroomdesigntip.com

Books on Home Building - Professional Advice

If you're a do it yourself or or a homeowner who every once in a while, once to tackle a small or large project but doesn't know where to begin, can gather useful information from home building books. I have been using these books for years and may have been worth their weight in gold.

I started my career working for my father and my father worked for his father as a Carpenter. Our job was to frame the house and we built a Lotta homes. I learned how to frame and developed some great carpentry skills from my father and working with other skilled carpenters. Over the years, if you're paying attention, even a monkey can figure out, how to assemble almost anything.

The only problem that I faced, was learning how to build the rest of the home. I would often ask questions to other building trades like plumbers, electricians, roofers and construction superintendents. Some of these people were helpful and others were not. When I was in my early 30s, I purchased my first book on home building. This book lead to other books and soon I found myself with more home building knowledge that my father.

I had about 50 books on home building and soon found myself doing large home remodels, with no formal education. I would attribute almost everything that I learned outside of house framing to books. These books have proven invaluable to me over the years and with a relatively small investment. I couldn't have spent over $200 purchasing these books but have used the knowledge from them to save myself thousands of dollars.

One $20 home building books or home repairs, can save you lots of money, if you're willing to do a little research and the labor to complete almost any home building project.

By the way, if you're interested in learning how to repair a roof, build your own house, interior decorating, structural engineering, building a deck, gathering some more information about home painting or even remodeling your bathroom. An online home building bookstore can save you money if you're willing to do the work.

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 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

Cheap Roller Shades

Cheap roller shades are most preferred for the exterior decoration of your house or business premises. Use of modern fabrics and minimalism in cheap roller shades makes them popular. Classic simplicity and low cost also add to their effective consumer reach.

These shades are mostly available in standard yet with an overturn roll causing the fabric hides the spin of the shade. If placed with a cassette head rail system the cheap roller shades look more poignant. Ornamental hems, ring pulls and tassels can add to the decoration of your window at home.

These shades with light filtering fabrics and space darkening materials look more attractive. Most of the houses and business apartments in developing countries prefer these types of shades not only for their cost effectiveness, but also for the inherent simplicity. Selected roller shades with trendy fabrics, streamlined roller system, novel hems and ritual accents look more poignant. Limited life time warranty adds to the consumer satisfaction.

The typical elastic cord, now replaced with a chain within the rail workings makes it doable to raise and lower the blinds to a definite position. With the increasing use of newer roller shades materials, energy efficiency and sound absorbing capability have increased considerably. Those nostalgic about the exterior dcor of the bygone era, you can use decorative tassels to add charm and convenience to your roller shades.

These shades are available in three varieties depending on size - inside mount, outside mount and cloth measurement. Incase of inside mount the over all width is 49 7/8" with fabric of 48 ". In outside mount the width of fabric is 48 7/8 and the clutch width is around 50". Fabric wide of 50" against overall width of 51 1/8" the category falls in to cloth measurement.

These products are well appreciated for their least expensive nature. They are quite durable when used with superior rollers like the one with cellular waves. They come in numerous sizes like 3/8", 1/2", 3/4", 2" variations. Generally, the larger the plate, the more expensive is the shade. Blackout featuring pleats are even more costly. Beware of cheaper varieties as they lose their pleat shape effortlessly. Shades with "D cell" design. And with arches, angle-tops and bottom originated are quite decorative. Those with exquisite bamboo shades from Asia are very distinctive, though expensive.

Cheap roller shades include beautiful varieties like Vignettes and Cascades. These are less costly compared to Roman shades. Silhouettes roller shades are the most versatile and unique and command greater demand. Build your home of your own style with these shades is sure to give it a distinctive look.

Dave Clark has many years experience writing articles, he has also written many books, and is well known in the industry. Dave currently has many projects he is working on, he is also on the board of directors for Cushy Sofa a manufacturer and online retailer of Divans, Memory Foam Sofas, Memory Foam Pillows, Memory Foam Mattresses, Buy your Memory Foam Toppers, direct from the manufacturer

Easy Eco-Friendly Ways To Light Your Home

With so many options now available, going green in your home is not only easy these days, but also easier on your pocketbook. With green lighting options galore, there's no reason anymore to not take advantage of the latest green advancements.

Go Fluorescent

One of the easiest, cheapest, most efficient and cost saving ways to green up your home is to switch your lighting to a green friendly lighting option. #1 of these options is to replace your current incandescent light bulbs with new compact fluorescent light bulbs. By doing this in all lamps and lighting in every room of your home, you'll save a substantial amount of money every year on electricity cost alone. You'll also have to replace your lightbulbs much less often since compact fluorescent light bulbs last much longer than incandescent bulbs, thereby saving you some work and maybe even some pain along the way.

Consider LED's

The main strength in choosing LED lights instead of traditional incandescent light bulbs is that LED lights use much less power, therefore they last much longer. Due to their length of reliability, LED's don't need to be changed as often. In some cases, this factor in itself can be result in substantial cost savings. For example, on a highway barricade, you need some lights on top of barricades to let drivers see the barricade at night. In this case, using LED's for those lights would save alot of money, since workers would not need to go out and replace the bulb very often, if at all. In fact, in many cases the LED barricade light would last for as long as it is needed or even longer at the site and never need to be replaced. The cost savings in man hours and labor driving to the site and replacing the bulb is significant, especially if the application is in a remote or rural area.

Go Solar

For many lighting uses, solar is a great option. Nowadays, solar outdoor lights are commonplace, where driveway, pathway. patio, fountain or garden lights have solar panels on their tops which store solar energy during the day and then when it gets dark, the lights automatically turn on, using only the stored energy from the sun. Using these types of outdoor lights can save money and virtually eliminate the need for maintenance. There are even solar powered outdoor Christmas lights, great for use especially in southern climates where you still get plenty of winter sun.

Take Better Advantage Of Natural Light

In some rooms of your home, it's sometimes more efficient to simply open your drapes wider or choose drapes, curtains or blinds that let more light in. In addition, you can choose to install skylights in areas of your home that get alot of daytime traffic but get little light. Just installing one skylight in a staircase or a dark hall can save you money by causing you to turn on the lights in the day less often but also make your home safer.

Lydia Quinn writes for Brandon Safety Lights, a leading provider of solar barricade lights, barricade light accessories and traffic safety supplies. Visit us at: http://www.brandonsafetylights.com

How to Start a Successful Handyman Business

If you enjoy fixing and repairing things around the house, consider starting a handyman business. Each time something in the household breaks, a homeowner is forced to call in a professional plumber, electrician or carpenter. The fees these professionals charge for something as inconsequential as replacing a bulb or fixing a switch may cause your eyeballs to pop. If you start a home handyman business you can carry out all these little repairs for people at a much more reasonable rate.

These days there is a lot of scope for a home handyman business. Some of the simpler things you can do include replacing light fixtures, installing windows, fixing leaking faucets, painting, replacing doors, doing bathroom repairs, constructing fences, installing mailboxes, and even doing a run to the dump. If you're good with your hands, the sky is the limit. As you gain experience and confidence you can take on more advanced tasks.

Planning

The key to a good business strategy is proper planning. Start with a good business plan. List the things you know you can do. Once this is done, decide how much you'll charge. Handymen charge either per job or per hour. Unless you've done a job before and are confident you can get it finished fast, always try to get paid by the hour.

Your fee should recover your material costs, gas and labor charges. Inflate it a bit to include a margin for profit, and be sure to leave enough profit to pay your own self-employment taxes. Don't price your services too low. This will make it difficult to increase them later as customers will get accustomed to your rates. Your business plan should also include your initial finance requirements, expenses and expected earnings.

Investment

For a handyman business startup you'll have to invest in some tools. At the onset, only get those which are absolutely necessary and then add on as your business expands. Some essential tools all handymen must have include a hammer, a level, gloves, goggles, screwdrivers, wrenches, adhesive tape, a measuring tape, a ladder, drills, a flashlight, and a breathing mask. You will probably want to get a few power tools as well. Start with a drill and a sander.

Know Your Market

Generally the elderly and single working people are more in need of handymen than others. The elderly cannot go about fixing stuff on account of their deteriorating health. Working men and women just don't have the time. So figure out where these people are located and advertise extensively. Take every opportunity to distribute your business card. You can also advertise through bulk mailers, newspapers and brochures. Another viable market is rental agents. They require handymen when things need fixing in their leased homes. More often than not they send the wrong person for the wrong job. A plumber may be sent to fix a light bulb and so on and so forth. So visit a few rental agents and tell them about your services.

Seek Guidance

If you don't know how to perform a particular task, don't be afraid to admit it. Refer to instruction guides and manuals. These should give you a fair idea. If you're still in doubt about your abilities, just refer your client to someone who can be of help.

Licenses and Hiring

Make arrangements to get a handyman business license before you open for business. Along with this, find out whether you're subject to sales tax and other tax laws of the state you live in. Maintain good records. You may need to invest in a van or some other form of transport. Include this in your investment analysis. If you need extra helpers, it's better to hire someone and pay him per project instead of paying a fixed wage per week/month.

It doesn't take much to begin a handyman business. All it requires is a bit of skill with tools and the right attitude. Always keep your word when it comes to customers. Don't promise what you can't deliver. Return phone calls and show up when you say you will and your business will grow faster than you think.

Pamella Neely writes about how to start a handyman business for http://www.StartAHandymanBusiness.com

Toilet Paper Backing In Wall

Home Maintenance Tips You Can't Afford to Ignore

Without a doubt, buying a home can be the largest investment youll ever make. With the average home costing approximately $190,000, many homeowners take great pains to ensure that all cosmetic and structural repairs are attended to. However, the truth is that many expensive repairs could be avoided by simply sticking to a routine maintenance schedule. Routinely checking your home for emerging problems will prevent larger, more expensive problems that leave homeowners scrambling for a quick repairrather than a cost-effective one. Clearly, regular home maintenance is something you cant afford to ignore.

When to Inspect

Spring is a good time to begin assessing your home for any damage or repairs that need attending to. A good rule of thumb is to check your home at the same time you change your fire alarm batteriesat the beginning (spring) and end (fall) of daylight savings time. Doing so will ensure that minor repairs dont turn into major expenses. Some components of your home may require less-frequent monitoring (foundation), and some may require more (changing the furnace filter). However, taking a walkthrough of your home twice yearly is a good rule of thumb to begin with.

Who Should Inspect

If you feel unqualified to asses every crack and unidentified water leak in your home, feel free to hire a handy man. Not only will he be able to spot any problems, but he can also advise on repairs and costs right on the spot. Do you want a thorough evaluation? Hire a home inspector. Do keep in mind, however, that home inspectors cost much more (around $300) and may not necessarily find every problem.

In most instances, though, simply paying attention to your home is all it takes to spot any emerging problems. For example, if your toilet runs all the time, chances are it needs to be repaired. Have you noticed that your doors dont shut properly anymore? That could be a sign of foundation settling or warping. Simply making a list of things around your home that seem off can make your inspection process much easier. No matter what your plans, the following items are a good place to start when evaluating the condition of your home:

Exterior Items

Chimneys:
Check chimneys for loose or deteriorating bricks or mortar. Make sure that metal chimneys are rust-free. A white, salty buildup on the chimney (efflorescence), indicates moisture build-up, and should be checked out by a professional. Its a good idea to have your chimneys professionally cleaned and inspected on an annual basis, in addition to you own visual assessments.

Roofs:
Have a leak inside the house? Chances are its your roof. Beyond that, look for chipped or missing shingles, or shingles that may be rubbed away by hanging tree limbs. Take this chance to trim trees up away from the shingles. Also make sure to check flashings, soffits, fascia, and any wood trim that comes in contact with the roof for rotting or peeling paint. Touch up and repair as needed.

Gutters and Downspouts:
Clean out your gutters and downspouts twice a year to ensure that no leakage or damage occurs. In addition, you may want to place screens over your gutters (available at home improvement stores) to prevent leaves and debris from entering the gutter system. Check for any places that they may be pulling away from the house or leaking. If paint is deteriorating, now is a good time to touch up.

Exterior Walls and Foundation:
Check for any cracks, deterioration, or peeling paint. If foundation cracking is excessive, call for a professional assessment. Otherwise, you can patch it yourself with mortar patch (which can be piped in with a caulk gun).

Soil Grading:
Does water seem to settle around the houserather than drain away? Check to make sure that the soil slopes away from the house (1 inch per 6 feet is recommended). If it doesnt, simply backfill with some topsoil until you reach the desired effect.

Doors and Windows:
Look for peeling or cracked caulk and weather stripping. These can easily be purchased at any home improvement store and repaired in a small amount of time. Clean out window wells and check that windows and doors open, shut, and lock properly.

Porches, Decks, and Patios:
Sealing your wooden porches and decks on an annual basis will help prevent against rotting and deterioration. Secure any wobbly rails or steps, and replace or treat any rotting or deteriorating wood. Check patios for cracks or settling, and repair as necessary.

Driveways and Sidewalks:
Check for cracking, and fill with concrete-patch as needed. Taking this time to seal your concrete areas will help prevent any further cracking and deterioration.

Attics and Crawlspaces:
Inspect attics and crawlspaces for any signs of water leakage, and repair as necessary. In addition, look for mildew, rot, and fungus growth. Repair any loose or damaged insulation, and check that attic vents are functioning properly. Look for any signs of vermin, and treat as necessary by placing bait or trapsor hiring a professional exterminator.

Electrical

Do you have outlets that are loose? Now is the time to have them replacedeither by an electrician or yourself. Check your main breaker panel for any signs of deterioration. Turn breakers on and off to make sure all are functioning properly, and check all fuses. Do you smell something burning? Call a professional. Also, take this time to check the ground fault circuit interrupters (usually around sinks and other water elements) to ensure they function properly.

Heating and Air Conditioning

Does your heating and air conditioning run non-stop? Now is the time to have it checked out. Having your air ducts cleaned by a professional will help your unit run more efficiently. Check the coils on the air conditioning unit for any bent or misshapen areas. Clear debris out of the fan blades before using.

Plumbing

Check outdoor faucets and supply lines for any signs of leakage. If you have a septic tank, take notice of any foul odors or signs of seepage in the yard. If you havent had your tank emptied yet, do so now.

Take time to repair leaky faucets and caulk bathroom fixtures. Check toilets for any signs of leakageeither from the tank or around the base. Check sump pumps to ensure proper function, and test the pressure relief valve on your water heater to ensure that it hasnt seized up.

Interior Items

Walls:
Look for any signs of mildew or water damage (yellow stains are usually a sign of water damage). Patch holes and cracks in the drywall, and touch up paint as necessary. Monitor any significant cracks, as these could be a sign of foundation problems.

Ceilings:
As with walls, take note of any mildew or water stains, and repair as needed. Look for drooping ceilings, and locate the cause to ensure proper repairs. Monitor and repair cracks.

Doors and Windows:
Open, close, and lock (where applicable) all doors and windows to ensure proper functioning. Replace weathered caulk around windows and check for any signs of moisture infiltration (particularly in storm windows). Broken or loose knobs, latches, or handles should be repaired now.

While no homeowner can possible catch every problem before it develops into an expensive repair, simply taking note of minor fix-itsand repairing themcan help avoid many costly repair bills in the future. Without a doubt, regular home maintenance is something no homeowner can afford to ignore.

Copyright 2006, Ian White

Author Ian White is founder of housecarers.com House Sitting Registry Find retired House Sitters and Travellers, to mind your home and pets while you are away. Secure confidential matching. Exchange house and pet care for free accommodation.

http://www.housecarers.com

Home Design

Mosaic Pool Tiles - Important Tips Before Installation!

Mosaic Pool Tiles - Why do they get so popular in recent years? One of the best advantages of using these nature-made tiles is the fact that anyone can use them: from home-makers to professional interior designers. Learn about the latest tiling techniques and how they are about to change the way you decorate and remodel your home's interior and exterior.

Basic introduction

Mosaic Pool Tiles are actually a collection of similar looking small flat stones that are selected by hand and then fixed onto a sq/ft mesh backing seamless tile. It is probably about the unique natural conditions that made the Indonesian beach pebbles the leading source of these nature-made tiles. This is an excellent solution if you plan or redecorating in the following areas: 1) Kitchens 2) Bathrooms 3) Floors and Walls 4) Patio flooring 5) Countertops etc.

What is in it for us?

Finally, when looking at the bottom line, there are several important advantages:

+ Easily installed over existing surfaces such as old ceramics or plain concrete.

+ Installation process is quick and takes only a few hours.

+ Easy to be cleaned and maintained.

Tips!

+ Epoxy based grouts are considered stronger than conventional grout, however take in mind that they are less forgiving to the ignorant installer.

+ Using grout should be handled carefully so it is recommended to grout a small area at a time.

+ Use a tile saw in order to cut stones to fit edges or corners.

Summary

Mosaic Pool Tiles remodeling offers countless options as these nature-made panels come in many shapes and colors to easily match the decor of any home or office setting. We could list many other important benefits provided by this quick redecoration option, simply because it provides numerous opportunities whether for the average or professional home-makers. It is recommended to bear in mind the above tips just as you decide on using these natural panels.

Get creative! - Learn more about how you can easily decorate with Mosaic Pool Tiles

Skylights

The "Seven Deadly Sins" Home Buyers Commit

Buying a Home can sometimes seem to be a daunting task, filled with details and pitfalls. It's hard to remember everything as you are going through the process, but if you can avoid the following seven common mistakes you will come out way ahead.

1) Not Getting Pre-Qualified

This is the step you take before you even start looking at homes, and it will make your life so much easier. Start your home search by visiting a lender. They will ask specific questions about your income, bank accounts, debt, etc. and will help you determine how much home you can afford to buy. Stick within the limits they set for you and you will be much happier in future years. Their guidance is an important first step on the path to home ownership.

2) Thinking There is Only One Perfect Home For You

Buying a home is usually a process of elimination. You have a list of "must haves" and "want to haves", and "definitely don't wants". There are a limited number of homes currently for sale in the area you have chosen. Often times you can't get everything you want in one home, so you must trade-off and balance some of these "haves", "wants", and "don't wants".

New properties come on the market every day, so try to be flexible and open to new possibilities. By eliminating the homes that don't work, you get down to picking the best of the "possibles". Don't worry, you often end up finding a house that is just right for you, and you'll know it the minute you walk in.

3) Not Knowing the Total Costs Involved

When you find homes you like, ask your lender for an estimate of closing costs. This should include Title Company fees, Pre-paid expenses like taxes, insurance and pro-rated mortgage interest. Attorney fees and Homeowners Association dues may also need to be taken into account. Examine this Estimate closely and make sure you understand where each cost is coming from and whether it will be an ongoing cost after you own the home, or a one-time fee. Check the actual Closing cost statement at settlement to make sure there are no surprises.

4) Not Having a Home Inspection

Some buyers try to save a few bucks by not having a whole house inspection or by doing it themselves. Saving money today this way could end up costing you thousands in the future.

Get a qualified Home Inspector to go over the entire house, inside and out, basement and attic. His report will call out all deficiencies and suggest repairs and further action. The findings in the report may also give you leverage you can use in the negotiations with the seller.

5) Not Considering Long Term Needs

It is important to think ahead. Is your family growing? You may need more home 3-5 years from now. That "cute breakfast nook" of today will not be so cute when six people are bumping knees trying to squeeze into it. Will this home suit you in the future, or will you grow out of it.

6) Not Following Through on Due Diligence

Make a list of non-house related issues - Schools, crime rates, neighbors, traffic, power lines, new development in the area, environmental issues, etc. Ask these questions before you make any offer on a home. By getting these answers now, you'll have more confidence in your home purchase.

7) Not Buying a Home Protection Plan

This is an inexpensive short term insurance policy on the home, usually covering appliances and basic repairs for one year. It can be purchased for a small fee and will give you peace of mind about that dishwasher or water heater going bad just three weeks after you move in - every home buyers nightmare. Talk to your Realtor, they can recommend a good plan.

If you can avoid the seven common mistakes above, you'll be miles ahead, and can have peace of mind that you are making a solid, well thought out decision about the purchase of your next home. What's the old saying....."An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure"? Never has it been so true as in the home buying process.

Vicki Walker is a Realtor with Coldwell Banker in Davis, California. Her clients buy and sell Davis CA Real Estate and Homes She has been a Yolo County Realtor for over 12 years and enjoys writing articles about the business of Real Estate.

Toilet Paper Under The Bathroom

A Guide to Tap Water Filtration Systems

Ever wondered what type of home water filter is best? When it comes to tap water filtration systems, there are many models and methods to choose from. It's important to realize that most products out there are mediocre so you can shop wisely and carefully. Here are some important factors to consider when you shop around for a home water filter.

When doing your shopping, you are going to come across three types of tap water filtration systems: distillation, reverse osmosis, and carbon filtration. It's important to compare all of these methods while taking cost, effectiveness, efficiency, and convenience into consideration.

When it comes to cost, carbon filtration comes out on top. Carbon filtration costs less than 10 cents per gallon. Comparatively, reverse osmosis costs 18 to 24 cents per gallon and distillation costs 20 to 26 cents per gallon.

As for effectiveness, reverse osmosis and distillation take the backseat because they are not effective in removing both organic and synthetic chemicals and must be used in conjunction with a carbon filter. Of all tap water filtration systems, carbon filters are the most effective because used alone they can remove all types of contaminants.

Carbon tap water filtration systems are also very fast and efficient. They can produce up to 30 gallons per hour and don't waste any water in the process. On the other hand, distillation and reverse osmosis are very slow and produce less than a gallon per hour. Reverse osmosis is also very wasteful; it wastes 2 to 3 gallons of water for every gallon of clean water it produces.

Carbon tap water filtration systems are very convenient. They can be installed easily in a matter of minutes and you can choose from whole house filters, shower head filters, countertop filters, and under-the-sink filters. You can even get a sports water bottle that has a carbon filter built in so you can have clean water anytime, anywhere.

Unlike carbon filtration systems, reverse osmosis and distillation systems are very complicated. They have to be installed by a plumber and are high-maintenance. For example, reverse osmosis systems require a diaphragmed storage tank and adequate water pressure in order to function properly.

Another reason why carbon tap water filtration systems are the best is the fact that they don't remove the beneficial trace minerals from tap water. Trace minerals in tap water such as calcium, magnesium, and potassium are essential to maintaining good health. Reverse osmosis and distillation produce de-mineralized water. Drinking de-mineralized water can lead to multiple mineral deficiencies and even cancer in the long run.

Make no mistake about it. When it comes to tap water filtration systems, carbon block or granular filters are far superior to any other method out there. Carbon filters are affordable, effective, fast, and efficient, and produce healthy water rich in essential minerals. So get out there and get a carbon tap water filter if you want 24/7 access to fresh, clean water, the foundation to good health.

John Lim Cher Sern who is an avid proponent of natural health. To get more information and recommendations on tap water filtration systems visit our website at http://www.cleanhomewaterfilters.com

Architects And Home Design

Stair Building Books

Where do we go to buy stair building books? Do we go to the major retailers like Amazon or Barnes & Noble? I have found over the years the information in most of these books I have purchased from these stores has a lot of fluff with very little common sense stair building application.

I bought one stair building book that had information on handrails. The front cover looked great and I thought this was going to be a great book reading the reviews from Amazon. When I finally got the book in the mail, I would say about one third of it was math tables for building elaborate wooden hand railing's. These tables were not easy to understand along with the rest of the book.

Back when I bought the book on building stair handrails it dawned on me that most of the construction workers I have met during my 30 years of working in the field were not very good outside of basic math. Now I knew a lot of carpenters that could read a measuring tape and use a framing square pretty good. But when it came to advanced geometrical construction projects like a stair hand railing system this was out of our league.

Reading this book or should I say parts of it gave me an idea to write a book of my own, starting with basic stair building I took all the fluff or the hard to understand advanced stair building applications out of my book, How to Build a Straight Set of Stairs.

I put a lot of time into creating an illustration for every possible part of building a simple set of stairs. I have probably built over 2000 sets of stairs during my lifetime and have explained and taught basic and advanced stair building to other carpenters. Understanding what parts of the stair construction process they understood, I was able to improve my skills as a stair building teacher.

Most people do not need advanced stair building skills to construct a simple straight set of stairs. If you are building a straight set of stairs and would like a stair building book with lots of easy to understand illustrations along with simplified directions you have found it.

We're building more stair building books to help contractors, carpenters, handymen and homeowners understand the stair building process.

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.

Moisture Against Gravity - Destroying Walls

Well I'm going to start this article with a little information on a job I did once.

I had been repairing a rental house for one particular homeowner for about three years when all of a sudden I got a phone call from him telling me the rental house was destroyed and he had never seen nothing like this. He sounded so upset over the phone I told him I would meet with him immediately.

On my way to the house I was trying to get an idea in my head what the house was going to actually look like. Since I have been repairing rental properties for over 20 years at this point of my career, nothing really shocked me. I had pretty much seen everything that could possibly be done to rental property by the tenants that lived there. There is a lot to be said about taking care of it as if it were your own.

He was waiting for me at the front door and he looked thoroughly disgusted. As I approached him he was shaking his head and yelling at the same time can you believe these people, can you believe what they did to my house. I was expecting to see the front door ripped off and all the windows broken out of the house but this wasn't the case.

As he led me through the home and I could see the usual clothing on the floor, broken cabinets, a few holes in the walls and of course that awful smell of mold and mildew. All of this stuff was nothing new to me because I'm the guy they call to fix it when a renter moves out of the property.

As I entered one of the bedrooms I got my first glimpse of something I had never seen before but heard stories about and could not believe my eyes. Looking at the walls in the bedroom about 3 feet from the floor all the way around the room, the plaster was soft. It actually looks like someone shoved popcorn into the wall somehow.

The homeowner wasn't even looking at this because of the rest of the damage in the home. I started to explain to him I'd never seen nothing like this but I could guess it was water damage somehow since the plaster was soft. I could actually stick my finger into the wall, that's how soft the plaster was.

My first thought was to examine the carpeting a little closer to see if it was wet. Well it was damp but it wasn't as wet as I would've expected it to be with the amount of water in the walls. With a little more home inspecting I had found the culprit, it was a broken water bed. The water bed was now in the backyard looking innocent.

I couldn't believe a broken water bed could do this much damage so I looked around for broken or leaking water pipes and could not find any. The other bad news I had to inform the homeowner was that the water had damage the bathroom and closet walls also. These walls of course were on the other side of the bathroom walls that were damaged.

Well the point of this story is that water will actually wick its way up or worked its way up into a wall. I had to remove 4 feet of drywall all the way around the room. The plaster or drywall actually acts like a sponge pulling the water into the walls. Hard to imagine that gravity in this case seems to reverse. I would've never thought that water would've traveled so far up the walls creating that much damage.

To repair the rental property I had to remove the damaged drywall, remove the carpeting, dry the wood framing out and put the whole thing back together.

I'm still amazed and will remember that project for as long as I live.

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 and Remodeling Library and adding useful content to help solve problems created by the lack of construction knowledge in the building industry.

Visit us and get more information on House Water Damage

Window Shim Used For Adjustment

New Versus Old Lumber - Structural Failure

During my 30 years of remodeling and building new homes. I have ran across quite a bit of structural framing failures. I find myself answering this question a lot when explaining to a homeowner about the structural failure I am repairing on their home, "Why Didn't They Use Better Lumber" or " Why Didn't They Use Larger Lumber." I really have a hard time answering these questions because I honestly don't know the answer.

However I can try to use some logic and reason to give these people an answer that seems to make sense to both of us. Why didn't they use better lumber, quite simply because, with most older homes that were built before the 1970s they actually do have better lumber. Now you're probably thinking how can these homes have better lumber when the lumber is old versus the new lumber used in a brand new house.

Most of the structural repairs I have made over the years has nothing to do with the lumber and whether it was new or old. A large number of these repairs were caused by neglect and poor maintenance.

The lumber in most older houses are from older growth trees. Some of these trees were extremely large and only the premium parts of the trees were used. The premium lumber is cut farthest away from the center of the tree. Now the larger the tree it makes sense that there will be more premium lumber.

A large majority of the newer lumber used in home construction comes from trees about 6 inches in diameter. Now you're probably wondering how can they cut a 2 x 8 piece of lumber out of a 6 inch tree. Of course they cannot, the larger lumber comes from larger trees.

Most 2 x 4's that are less than 8 foot long can be cut from these trees. This scrap or waste that comes from cutting these two by fours will now go into engineered building materials like particleboard, oriented strand board and engineered beams. Another name for an engineered been would be a paralam.

I hope you're starting to get the picture now when it comes to using new or old lumber. There are companies that are going into old logging rivers and retrieving old growth lumber. These were logs that sank to the bottom of the river's and were never retrieved because it was too costly.

The old growth lumber is quite expensive. Who's to say what problems we will happen in the future from the newer products created with modern day technology. When it comes to building houses it is not an exact science and as contractors we have been repairing the damage from poor engineering for years.

When I use the word poor engineering I am not pointing fingers at engineers. We now have more knowledge about home construction then we had years ago.

New versus old lumber, who wins the battle. Only time will tell.

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 and Remodeling Library and adding useful content to help solve problems created by the lack of construction knowledge in the building industry.

Visit us and get more information on building and remodeling your homes and Structural Repairs.

Plywood Framing Around Toilet