Professional Advice on Home Building

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.

Stair Tread Carpet Stain

Prevention of the Credit Repair Process

As one finds oneself in a dilemma due to financial implications that are brought about due to one losing their job, or losing an amount of income due to reduced hours of working, a question arises as to whether or not we may well get into trouble with our debt repayments. This in turn, if it happens, will affect our credit history and score negatively, which may require credit repair after the so called storm has passed.

The very well known saying of prevention is better than cure really comes to the fore in terms of the financial difficulties that we may encounter. In terms of this saying, should we find ourselves in a position of financial difficulty the best possible route to follow, in order to possibly avoid a credit repair process later on, is to be open and honest with all your creditors.

This does not involve walking into the office of your creditors with something of a could not care less attitude, but rather a process of contacting the creditor and advising of the current situation and requesting as to what your options are. This will open the channel of communication and the creditor will most likely make a note about your current position and perhaps a rescheduled payment plan or contribution holiday can be considered. This is not the case with all creditors, but it really would not hurt to at least ask and then consider your next option, if they are not helpful in this plight.

By approaching your creditors, instead of ignoring a situation where you may get into an amount of trouble in terms of repayments, might help you in not having to conduct credit repair processes which are more difficult than merely communicating with your creditors early on. The credit repair process may even include the possibility of a large amount of administration in order to try and get your credit score back to where it should be. And therefore one is urged to rather communicate than ignore the problem, thus allowing it to get out of hand.

Other options that exist, although not totally recommended are those of debt consolidation or filing for bankruptcy, if it has got to such a bad point that one does not have any other options. The bankruptcy issue will not prevent a credit repair situation but may actually amplify your credit woes, hence this should be an absolute last resort.

Debt consolidation can serve in your favor if done correctly, and in a timely fashion. You should however consult a professional or conduct a good amount of research prior to opting for the debt consolidation process, in order to avoid any potential credit repair situation, as this option can possibly cost you more money if not structured and applied correctly.

For more resources about Credit Repair or even fixing yourCredit Report about please review this web link http://creditrepairme.com

Subfloor Joist Reinforcing

Kitchen Remodeling Safety Tips

If you plan on remodeling your kitchen, you may be considering hiring a contractor for the project. On the other hand, you may plan on taking on the job yourself. That's fine, many people choose to remodel their kitchens themselves. You'll have more control over the remodeling project, and will most likely save yourself some money. One thing you should keep in mind though when you remodel your kitchen is the chance of accidents and/or injuries. It can happen, but by following certain safety tips, the chance of injury to yourself or others is minimized.

One of the primary dangers of a remodeling project is tools. Whatever project you're working on, whether replacing the kitchen lights, kitchen cabinets, or the flooring, you will most likely be using tools which could possibly cause injuries if used improperly. Because of the risk of injury, it's important that you know the tools that you'll be using, and that you know how to use them properly. Chances are, you've used most of your tools before, and you know their proper use. But there's a chance you may be using something unfamiliar. Take some time to familiarize yourself with the tools that you do not know how to use. This will not only help you to finish your project more quickly and efficiently, but it will also reduce the risk of injury.

You also need to know your physical limits. Know how much you can lift safely. If you try to lift something too heavy, you run the risk of back injury. If you need assistance in lifting something, don't hesitate to ask someone for some help. You also need to keep in mind your ability to work. You'll probably want to finish your remodeling project as soon as you can, but you shouldn't try to push yourself. If you get tired, then you should take a break. If you try to work when you're too tired, you risk making mistakes on your project, and also your safety. So, don't be afraid to take a break for a while, your project will still be there when you get back.

Be aware of your surroundings while you're remodeling. Know who else is in the kitchen. If you're remodeling with the help of a friend or relative, you should know where they are at all times. You don't want to be tripping over them, or injuring them because of carelessness. You should also keep an eye on anyone who may enter the kitchen. If you have young children, it is a good idea to block the entrance to the kitchen, to keep them from entering, and possibly getting injured. Speaking of young children, you never want to leave your tools laying around unattended. Children may pick them up, and possibly injure themselves.

The best tip, as far as safety, is to use your common sense when you take on a remodeling project. Listen to your body. If you feel that you're tired, or need a break, then take one. Not only will it keep you and anyone working with you safe, it will help to ensure quality work on the project.

Visit Kitchen Remodeling & Decorating for more kitchen remodeling tips, ideas, and resources.

Fascia Damage From Metal Flashin

A Look at Kitchen Cabinet Designs - From the Boring to the Interesting!

Kitchen cabinet designs can really influence the concept of your kitchen. It can make your kitchen a boring and dull place or it can give it a cool and interesting look. The final look of your kitchen has to be decided by you. Each one of us normally has a concept or theme based on which we decide on all fittings in the kitchen. Your kitchen cabinet designs have to gel with your theme for you to get the right feel in the kitchen.

If you are planning on a particular color as the theme of your kitchen, then the kitchen cabinets should be made with a wood that has a color that will gel with your theme color. If your theme color is a light shade then some people like to go for light colored wood so that the kitchen cabinets and the wall colors are all light. Some go for dark colored wood so that the kitchen has a warmer and cozier feel.

A lot of ladies like to go for the classic or contemporary look. Here the wood color is then kept dark for the classic look and is kept light for the contemporary look. Kitchen cabinet designs have a lot to do with shades and the types of wood.

You can design your own cabinets or you can get it designed too. There are experts on the net and in the market. Give them the dimensions of your cabinet space and tell them what you need. They will design a custom made cabinet for you. If you are someone who is creative and feel that you can do a good job then kitchen cabinet designs can be designed by you.

Some points to remember before designing your kitchen cabinets: -

1. Keep the theme in mind.

2. Keep the color of the walls in mind.

3. Always go for good wood which is termite resistant.

4. Keep the water type in mind.

5. Keep the wood and finishes away from any contact with water. If it is coming in contact then try and find a water resistant finish.

6. Keep the dimensions in mind always.

7. The dimensions should be written down and the cabinet should be of the correct size.

8. The kitchen cabinet designs should be user friendly.

9. If you clumsy with handling bottles etc it is nice to put a small rod in front of your jars or bottles. This has to be done on the inside and has to be done in the production stages itself.

10. If you are short on space, then you must have enough cabinets and the cabinets should be inside the wall and not sticking out.

11. If you have a very big kitchen then you can go for bulky kitchen furniture and cabinets.

12. Use each nook and cranny while making your kitchen cabinet designs. The corners these days can be used by having foldable drawers and adjustable drawers. If nothing else is feasible the corners can be used as a place to display some of you kitchen curios.

13. Ensure that you have separate compartments for all your kitchen ware. The bottle and vessels should be completely different places etc.

A little bit of careful planning and the correct kitchen cabinet designs can give you kitchen a marvelous look and feel.

Visit DIY Home Improvement Ideas for more excellent ideas on how to paint kitchen cabinet plus DIY guides from fireplace remodeling to decorating a childs' room plus more.

Discolored Roof Shingles

What Can I Expect When Purchasing a Handcraft Kitchen?

If you have chosen to look at having a handcrafted kitchen for your home then you won't be disappointed with the range of choice that is available to you. Creating the design you want and having a kitchen handcrafted to your tastes is an experience that you don't get with a ready-made kitchen. You can be part of the design process, choose the materials and colours yourself so you can ensure it matches the rest of your home. However, if you have never previously looked into having a beautiful handcrafted kitchen from a Northampton company, then it is understandable if you are unsure of what to expect.

The kitchens Northampton companies have to offer are of the highest quality and can be uniquely moulded to suit all the requirements you may want from a kitchen. Handcrafted kitchens are made to measure so the space available in your kitchen will be worked with to maximise the utility of that space. Choosing a quality company means that you can expect work to be completed to the highest standard so the installation of units and appliances will be done so effectively and concisely.

However, any good outlet will inform you of anything that may look out of place or not work in the design. As such, the actual process of designing, ordering and fitting of your kitchen should be a smooth process in which you and the team work together to create the ideal kitchen for your home.

When you finally have your handmade kitchen from a Northampton outlet then you will undoubtedly have a quality kitchen designed to be unique to your home. Knowing you have been part of the process of the design makes your kitchen that little more special.

You can take that one step closer to having your dream kitchen today by looking into a handcraft kitchen company in the Northampton area that can offer you a quality kitchen alongside a quality service.

Written by Jenny Pilley on behalf of Handcraft Kitchen Company, Kitchens Northampton specialists.

Building a New House!

Building a house is a once in a life time project to most. The right choice in design can make a house durable and maintenance free. The choice of materials used and professional services employed in constructing the house determines the cost and quality of construction. Same day payday loans help you with draw short term small cash and build a new house or revamp an old one..

The following factors need a careful consideration while building a new house as they determine the cost of the project- type of foundation, type of super structure, and kind of wood used.

Foundation: The building foundation varies with the soil condition. An ideal soil condition needs minimum investment at this stage. The soil needs to be hard so that it takes the weight of the structure with minimal structure below the floor.

Each soil type behaves differently when structures are built on it. In some places, the soil is loose and cannot take the load for several feet until a hard soil or rock is hit. One of the cost effective foundation is pile foundation. Some plots need soil treatment like soil compression to make them strong.

Appropriate foundation type is chosen to suit soil of different types.

Load bearing walls with red bricks or table bricks is the most popular when the soil is hard. The surface could be soft but as it is dug deeper soil is found to be hard. The house built on this type of soil does not require any concrete structure to support it from below the surface. The wall is broad at bottom of the foundation and becomes thinner as it grows up. Typically building structures have ground plus two floors.

Sized stone masonry foundation suits hard soil like red soil that can carry a load of ground and two floors. The obvious disadvantage is that the structure cannot be altered as every wall bears the load above it. When the soil is loose for considerable depth before the hard soil is hit, the load being walls is not the right solution. A super structure with concrete and beams are built first and walls are filled in subsequently.

Concrete column with footing is the solution when room sizes need to be altered without damage to the structure as a whole. These columns have footings which are again concrete structure extensions to the column. These footings distribute the total weight of the building to the earth.

Pile foundation is used in surfaces which have loose soil with very less load bearing capacity. Like other foundation types, pile foundations are used for load bearing and load transferring systems. Components of the foundations are the pile cap and the piles. Materials used for piles are typically steel and concrete. Piles made from these materials are driven, drilled or jacked into the ground and connected to pile caps. Avail same day loans and get an instant cash for your short term needs.

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Modular Homes - Total Cost of Construction

So you are looking at property and have decided to build a modular home. You may have even decided to act as your own general contractor. You are now putting together a budget. It is fairly easy to get the prices for the land and the modular home, but it is not as cut and dry to piece together everything else that will be needed at your job site.

I built a modular home about two years ago and went through the same process. I had a difficult time finding ballpark figures for many things when trying to budget my project. Below is a list of things to keep in mind when putting together your budget:

1. Utility hooks ups and your distance from existing utilities (electric, natural gas, propane, water)
2. Excavation for foundation/basement
3. Foundation and basement
4. Driveway costs
5. Electrician to wire up basement
6. Plumber to do rough plumbing under basement floor prior to setting house
7. Concrete flatwork (basement floor)
8. Plumber to do finish plumbing (hook home to rough plumbing)
9. Electrician to hook house to utilities
10. Plumber and electrician for a septic tank (if needed)
11. Carpenters for a deck
12. Contractor for a patio

It is important to get multiple bids when costing your project. Another thing to keep in mind is that you should not necessarily choose your contractors because they are the cheapest. You must check with references, view previous work they have done, verify that they are insured and licensed to work in your city. I met with my foundation contractor at a job site he was working on and was so impressed that I chose him even though he was the highest of my three bidders. I could have saved a couple of thousand dollars with someone else but I doubt it would have been worth it.

If you do not feel that you have the time or expertise to manage the contractors involved, many modular home builders will act as your general contractor for a fee. This may be the route to choose if you do not have time to meet with all of your contractors at the job site.

Tim Montey is a modular home enthusiast who built his first modular home two years ago and detailed that experience, lessons learned and costs at http://www.modularhomechoice.com

Find more detailed information on the total cost of a modular home at the above link on the Financing page.

Shake Shingle Roof

Deck Stair Building Video

Stair building tips for installing lights and decking, handrail tips and some deck advice.

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

Stair Building Tips

Home Electrical Books
Energy Saving Books

How to Build a Carport

There are several reasons that a carport could be an excellent addition to your home: a carport can protect your vehicles from the elements, keeping them looking much newer for much longer; carports are a great and inexpensive way to add value to your home if you are planning on selling in the near future and carports can give you a protected area in which to conduct projects like fixing your automobile, working on your lawn mower, working on your bicycle or acting as the checkout for your yard sale.

Though undertaking the construction of a new carport can be a bit difficult, if you're reasonably handy and know your way around some basic tools you should be able to complete the project without hiring a professional contractor to assist you.

There are a few different types of carports that you can choose from - and different levels of quality of each. Some freestanding carports are made from aluminum framing and are super light-weight, easy to assemble and are able to be moved form one location to another; sturdier freestanding units are available in which you'll need to dig holes and set concrete posts for more hearty supports - these carports provide much more protection than the aforementioned units but are a bit more difficult to build and can't be moved once they are built.

Braced carports, as a whole are viewed as more heavy duty than freestanding carports, because they are attached to your house on one side. It's true that pretty much all braced carports are of a heavy grade and more resilient than the tent-like aluminum pipe freestanding carports, but some of the heavier duty freestanding carports will provide just as much protection as any braced unit.

What do you need?

This is the first question you need to ask yourself before any carport building takes place. You need to research all of the varieties available to see which will best suit your purpose. Important things to consider are: what exactly your carport will be used for, if it needs to be portable or should it be a more permanent construction and what the weather is like in the area in which you live - the more severe weather conditions you experience, the more sturdy your carport should be.

You'll also want to check for any local ordinances before commencing any construction. Even a very simple carport may require you to get permits with your township before you begin the project. You'll also want to check with the local utilities to ensure that there is no gas, water or power lines present in the area in which you'll be building. It's of the utmost importance that you adhere to all local codes and ordinances to ensure that you and everyone around you remain safe.

How to Do It

Regardless of what type of carport you decide is best for you, you'll likely be able to find a pre-packaged kit with all of the raw materials you'll need for construction and a detailed plan to follow in order to get you through the process.

If you do find a kit for the type of carport you're looking to build, you'll still need the tools to put it all together. The plans should give you a list of the tools that will be required, but common ones used in this type of project are: a circular saw, a hammer, a plumb level and chalk line, an electric drill, a screwdriver and nut driver (or bits that fit into your drill), and a tape measure.

Depending on the type of carport that you are building, the project as a whole could be very simple or reasonably advanced. It's very important that you follow the plans that come with your carport to the letter - read over the entire instruction packet from beginning to end to make sure that you understand it before you even unpack the building materials. Even a simple mistake could lead to a hole in the side of your house or a concrete pad where they isn't supposed to be. Measure everything twice and double check that everything is level and in it's appropriate location before making any cuts, pouring any concrete or attaching any brackets. Careful understanding of this project is crucial for any permanent structure and it's also very necessary for any portable structure. Starting this project blindly could lead to an error that renders your carport unusable.

This project isn't easy when compared to some other home improvement projects, but it's far from impossible if you've got some knowledge and can carefully follow instructions.

Prefabricated metal buildings direct from the manufacturer. Offers a wide selection of steel buildings, metal carports, steel garage buildings and more.

Exterior Balcony Handrail Proble

What is Fan Coil?

Fan coil is an air conditioning unit. Its main components are coil and fin heat exchanger, fan, drain pan. If you pump chilling water into the heat exchanger, then the fan will send out cool air, If you pump hot water into the heat exchanger, the fan will send out warm air.

Big buildings are suitable to install fan coil units, such as: Air port, hospital, office building, hotel, department store, school, factory...

There are ceiling concealed type fan coils, floor cabinet type fan coils, cassette type fan coils, and ductable type fan coils. The ceiling concealed type fan coil is installed above the ceiling, it is also needed to install supply air outlet, return air inlet and air duct connecting to these inlet and outlet. The floor cabinet type fan coil is usually installed along the window, so that its supply air can warm the window in Winter, then the window can get rid of the condensing water problem. The cassette type fan coil is installed on the ceiling of the big hall where there are a lot of people coming in and out. The ductable fan coil is somewhat like the ceiling concealed type fan coil, but its air volume is bigger and its static pressure is higher.

Fan coil is also needed to install inlet and outlet cooling/heating water pipes and a condensate pipe. And it also needs to install a solenoid valve on the water pipe, this valve is controlled by a thermostat, then the air conditioning room's temperature can be set to a desired temperature.

Before ordering fan coil please make sure the following items:

1) Cooling / Heating capacity,
2) External static pressure for ducting,
3) Hand side of water connection,
4) Power source.

For more information, please check: http://www.fan-coil.cn

A HAVC engineer having been producing all kinds of fan coil units and air handling units for dozens of years.

Which Roof Do I Choose

Home Improvement is Easier With a Contractor

Many people are so focused on saving money that hiring a contractor to do kitchen remodeling job is something they would never consider. However, when you think about it, hiring a contractor may just be the smartest move you can make. Let's look at the facts and see why hiring a contractor can be such a good idea.

Without a contractor you have to be sure that you understand how to handle all of the necessary tasks in the remodeling process. You need to know how to do electrical work, plumbing work, sanding, painting, flooring and installation of cabinets, countertops and whatever else you want done. If done improperly the cost of repairing mistakes may just make doing it yourself more costly than hiring a contractor. Now when you hire a contractor you will know the work will be done correctly. You will not have to worry about mistakes and you will be able trust that when the project is complete everything will be useable and functional. Having the peace of mind may just be the best pay off. The only time it may not make sense to go with a contractor over doing it yourself is if you have experience with remodeling and know you can do the job as well as a contractor. However, if you have no clue what you are doing then you should leave it up to the professionals. This will help to ensure that the job does not end in disaster.

Besides saving you money, hiring a contractor could also save you time. If you do it yourself and have to then go back and correct mistakes, it will take more time then just having it done correctly the first time. Additionally, your contractor will often have crew that will be able to get multiple things done at one time. You may have people to help you, but this still will not be as efficient as having a contractor with a crew doing the job.

Hiring a contractor to do your kitchen cabinets remodeling project can be the perfect choice if you are on a budget and concerned about time. Additionally, it will help to ensure that the work is done right and the kitchen ends up just the way you want it. All you will need to do is design a plan and communicate your plan to your contractor. He will take care of making sure it gets done the way you want.

Ray Walberg's web pages can be discovered on different online publications linked to unfinished kitchen cabinet doors and finishing kitchens. Through his publications like http://www.kitchen-cabinets-tips.com/unfinished.html the writer expressed his expertise on subjects dealing with unfinished kitchen cabinets.

Solar Energy Use In Home Design

Why Construction Employee Leasing Works!

Business owners in the construction and trades industries enjoy the benefits employee leasing/ PEO services have to offer for three main reasons.

Better access to workers' compensation

In virtually every state except Texas, workers' compensation insurance is mandatory. Employers are required to carry workers' compensation insurance on their employees. The problem is the insurance industry makes it almost impossible for a small contractor to obtain a workers' compensation policy. Traditional work compensation insurance carriers can require a minimum of five employees or $80,000 in annual wages to secure a policy. Many employee leasing companies, on the other hand, can access coverage for even the smallest contractor.

Savings on workers' compensation insurance costs

Construction employers can expect to save 10-40% with employee leasing/ PEO services compared to standard market work comp rates. One of the greatest benefits of using an employee leasing company is the pay-as-you-go workers' compensation insurance coverage, eliminating the big deposits and up-front costs to get coverage. Traditional work comp policies will require a significant down payment (often 3 months of premium costs) to get a policy in place. Employee leasing companies do not require any up front payments for workers' compensation coverage.

Outsourcing the administrative headaches

Imagine the time savings and freedom to complete payroll with a five minute phone call in the office or on the jobsite. An employee leasing company/ PEO service provides payroll processing, workers' compensation administration, claims management and HR assistance. For today's employers, the frustrating tasks of dealing with these issues along with nearly sixty other federally mandated laws can make it almost impossible to work on profitable business ideas. One payment to the employee leasing company covers all your costs for payroll, work comp and payroll taxes.

When you're ready to explore the benefits a employee leasing/ PEO service can provide for your business, give us a call. Employee Leasing Quotes.com works with a network of construction employee leasing providers. Finding the one that will benefit your business the most is how we save our clients time and money. Contact us at 1-888-582-8388.

http://www.EmployeeLeasingQuotes.com

Mike Burgelin

Mike@EmployeeLeasingQuotes.com
http://www.EmployeeLeasingQuotes.com

1-888-582-8388

How in the World Do You Decorate Your Bathroom?

If you're bored with the cold winter months and want to do something to put a little spice in your life, you might consider doing some remodeling in your home or apartment. Nothing will perk you up like having bright, fresh rooms to come home to. As the two most important and used rooms in any home, the needs of your bathroom and kitchen are the first ones you should look into.

As we said, these rooms see more use than most of the other rooms do; however, they are often the most neglected and rundown, too. Think about how long its been since you made any attempt to make over one of these rooms. When you think about it, you're probably going to realize that its been a long time since you even considered it.

Even if you have noticed things around the bath that you thought looked kind of bad, you probably shrugged and went about your business saying you didn't have time to undertake a room overhaul. And back whenever you thought this, the room probably didn't look nearly as bad as it does now. Things like this tend to creep up on you. Even if you've been keeping your rooms white-glove clean, there are still things that get worn and outdated.

I dare you to go into your bathroom and take a really close look. So what do you see? Maybe the curtains look limp and worn, and the bathroom rugs are getting a bit threadbare. Are those soap dishes you're still using those two-piece plastic models that were popular back in the '70s? As I'm sure you've heard before, they don't make things the way they used to, and if you look at your outdated items, you'll probably see why.

Start by getting rid of all the unnecessary junk, and buy yourself some new, updated accessories. There is an amazing selection to choose from these days. You may have even been eying a gorgeous bathroom set in a store. By getting rid of the old junk, you'll have a reason to go out and treat yourself to it.

Make sure that whatever you buy is sturdy and water resistant. After all, these items are going to get a lot of use, and they're going to be exposed to water, soap, and other spills. You'll want your rugs to be machine washable so that when they get dirty you can just pop them into the wash and have them come out looking like new.

If you'd like to find some new, innovative ways to decorate your bathroom, there are numerous places you can draw inspiration from. For instance, there are mail-order catalogs with everything you could possibly want. It's possible that the catalogs will give you ideas you can use in order to substitute a less-costly item for the one they have pictured.

All it will take to get you going is some catalogs or websites where you can start getting ideas. Then your own ingenuity and creativity will start coming into play as you begin designing the ideal spaces for your kitchen and bath. What started as a small change could end up snowballing on you, and, if it does, you're going to love your gorgeous new rooms.

Have you considered any bathroom decor ideas lately? How about a Lladro Bathroom? It doesn't have to be expensive. Find out more at http://www.bathroomstyleguide.com

Home Skylight Books

Home Solar Power - The No Fail Secrets of Saving Money by Generating Your Own Power

With the rise in fuel prices, the need for home solar has given rise to increased dependency in terms of a suitable alternative source of energy. While home solar is often considered as a suitable option to cover your basic energy requirements, you need to fully understand that home solar is an energy source that needs to be procured and installed with utmost care. Taking cue from the above statement, let us discuss some secrets which are sure to succeed in terms of power saving.

Choose A Well Known Product

Even before you start to indulge in electricity generation, you need to ensure that the solar energy source which you have sought is from the best possible place. At the same time, you need to also make sure that your place of procurement has been acclaimed and assured by various other customers as well. It is best to go with tried and tested techniques.

Make Sure It Is Cost Effective

The second method to ensuring that your natural source of energy is picture perfect is to use it in accordance to your requirements. At the same time, you need to also ensure that your energy source is cost effective in nature. If in case it is expensive, you may need to choose a different product.

Kindly Cross check The Quality

The third step to ensuring that your solar powered electric grid is feasible is by checking its quality. If it is ideal in terms of quality, you can be rest assured that the purchase is ideal and vice verse.

Hi, I am Mark Morris and I am an energy conservationist. I have a secret to share.

The Recommendation: To adopt a widely approved Solar Energy Program, which allows you to permanently get rid of your recurring electric bills. It has helped COUNTLESS people worldwide-it is now your turn.

Who Is It For: Folks who are tired of polluting power programs and have lost thousands of dollars on wasted power bills. It is for any and everyone who wishes to see instant results and save money.

How To Get There: Simply click http://purelyfitness.com/earth4energy-review and join the successful campaign to save our environment from further pollution.

Roof Dormer With Diagonal Siding

The Best Type of Replacement Windows

If you are looking for the best type of replacement windows then you have come to the right place. I will provide you with very useful information that you can use to make the right decision as you start your window replacement project.

There are many ways of approaching this question of the best type of replacement windows. I will try and cover all the important aspects of it. That is, the best brands, best type in terms of make and functionality. Read it before you get scammed by an unscrupulous sales rep.

Energy efficient windows

If you are looking for the windows that will save you thousands on bills then your best type should be one that does a good job at energy saving. There are many brands like Amerimax but the best way to find one that will work for you is to use ratings. The best rating methods that are available today are the NFCR and the Energy star rating.

Durability

If you are planning to stay in that house for a long time then you probably are thinking about finding the best type of replacement windows that are durable. Well there are many brands that feature here - a few that comes to mind include Pella, Andersons, milgard to name a few. In previous articles I have written about top brands in terms if durability.

Storm Windows

To find the best type of windows that resist wind you need to find AAMA air infiltration rating or NFRC, which I highlighted earlier on. So if you are looking for the best type of storm replacement windows then think along wooden windows because they can easily be repaired.

Vinyl storm windows tend to get messed up pretty quickly. They then start leaking and get an ugly look that cheapens the house. Of course there are other options to explore here. Brands to consider here include Hurd, Marvin or Amerimax to name just a few.

Part of the house

Different windows work are good for different parts of the house. For example when talking about the best type of kitchen replacement windows then you need to think along casement windows. This is because kitchen windows must be airy. For the lounge you may need to consider bay windows and you can get yourself Milgard Vinyl for the back areas of the house

You also need to consider the best type of replacement windows that work well when cleaning e.g. tilt-in, double hung and if you want to take out the sashes and frames then your best type may be a full frame replacement window.

My point here is that "best" is different from one person to the next. As an expert I would recommend that you get in touch with a consultant to help you find the one suitable for you. It is easy to find help online without being charged anything.

Click here - the best type of replacement windows for instant access

Or find a list of pre-screened replacement companies located within your area. These can send a consultant over to your home for an obligation free consultation. Visit:

http://www.findreplacementwindowcompanies.com

If this article has helped you in any way then I hope you can believe me when I say this site will help you as well. Just follow the links from there to access more localized assistance.

How to Remove Pet Stains

You can find all kinds of products that will help you to remove nearly all types of stains. The perfect solution in completely removing stains is by cleaning the spills and dirt the second they appear.

There are a number of ways to clean up stains by using products in your home which you use frequently, such as detergents, rubbing alcohol, vinegar, lemon juice, etc. You just need to know how to use these regular household products.

Your first option is to use 1 teaspoon of clear, household type ammonia and a half cup of cold water. You can apply this solution to the carpet directly or use it in a spray bottle. It is crucial not to wet the carpets backing when you use the solution. Once you have applied the solution, you can use paper towels to blot; allow it to dry from top to bottom.

Your second option is to use detergent solution made of dish soap or hand soap. The ideal combination is one quart of water and one quarter of a teaspoon detergent. You need to make sure the soap does not contain lanolin or bleach.

Your third option is to use water. It will re-hydrate the stain to help with removal. The majority of pet stains can be cleaned up by using a steam cleaner. Once you are done, be sure to dry the area as completely as possible.

Ink stains

1. Buy isopropyl rubbing alcohol.

2. Apply it by pouring some onto a clean white towel or cloth. You can use paper towels if they are white.

3. Blot the stain as much as possible until it is cleaned.

4. Be careful, because if the stain is small, you should blot in one direction only so you do not spread the stain.

Beer and wine stains

1. Mix a solution with 1 part water and 1 part white vinegar.

2. Apply the mixture to the stain. You can use a spray bottle to saturate.

3. Allow the stain to sit around 10 to 15 minutes.

4. Use a sponge and clean in a rubbing motion.

5. Rinse the area with warm water.

6. Brush the carpet pile back into the natural direction it has.

7. Use layers of white paper towels; place them on top of the area; put something heavy on the paper towels. Wait until the area has dried.

Protect your carpet against paint drips, snow, mud, dirt, stains, and heavy traffic conditions. Read about plastic carpet protections as well as temporary carpet protections.

Home Remodeling Trends - Stainless Steel Cabinet Handles

Many homeowners are constantly looking to improve the look and feel of their home. One major way to accomplish this is by paying attention to home remodeling trends. Regardless of whether or not you're considering undergoing a home remodel in the near future, taking these trends into consideration could give you some great do it yourself project ideas that will help give your home an updated look. One major trend right now is focusing in on the small elements of your home. Even after undergoing a large remodeling project, your home still can greatly benefit from a little attention to detail.

Often times, home remodeling trends do not focus on the large elements of the home like many people think. When looking to remodel their home, most homeowners immediately start concentrating on large furniture pieces. Whether it's new living room furniture or new appliances for the kitchen, many people completely forget that their home has tons of small details that affect the overall look of their home. One major home remodeling trend right now is the installation of stainless cabinet handles. Not only do they compliment just about any style of kitchen, they add a sleek and clean feel to the space. Stainless steel has always been associated with being clean and fresh. Adding an element like this into your kitchen automatically gives your space a new vibe. Whether you have a traditional kitchen with strong oak cabinets, or a more modern room with colorful storage space, stainless cabinet handles are the perfect accent.

There is a common misconception that installing home hardware, like cabinet pulls in the kitchen, is a long and tedious process. Although the outcome is very rewarding, this doesn't mean that the installation process has to be hard. Installing stainless cabinet handles can be accomplished by just about anyone. Regardless of how many do it yourself projects you have tackled, installation of new cabinet handles is simple because it requires very few tools. You'll be able to prepare your workspace and clean up after the job is done in just a few minutes. Not only will you be saving money by completing this home hardware installation yourself, you'll be personally making an impact on your newly designed space.

If you are considering undergoing a large scale remodeling project, don't leave home hardware out of your overall plan. When considering completely redoing a space, it's very easy to let your plans be distracted by replacing the largest elements of a room. For example, in your kitchen - you may be considering installing brand new cabinets. Although these will be a great addition to your home, you can't leave them blank. Just as you wouldn't place a lampshade on a new lamp or place flowers in a new vase, new cabinet pulls are the finishing touch for new cabinets. By adding stainless cabinet handles, you'll be cashing in on a sleek home remodeling trend and at the same time, pulling your overall dcor together for a finished and polished look. With the addition of these new cabinet pulls, your new cabinets are automatically upgraded from "good" to "great".

So if you're thinking about incorporating some exciting new home remodeling trends into your space, don't forget about the details of your home. Rooms don't just consist of large furniture pieces. Without the details there to pull the room together, your entire design idea could be giving off the wrong vibe. Adding stainless cabinet handles is the perfect way to improve the look and feel of your space. Whether you're planning to tackle the whole room, or you're just looking for a quick and easy do it yourself project, turning to home hardware can take care of all of your home improvement needs.

Amanda works for Your Home Supply (YHS) the definitive website for home improvement tools, and gardening supplies. Your Home Supply offers a wide range of stainless cabinet handles and cabinet knobs to help you with new home remodeling trends.

Fence Building Ideas

What if I told you where to get the ultimate fence building Encyclopedia? Better yet, what if I told you, you could get it for under $20? If you're building a standard 1 x 6 dogeared fence, that's 6 foot tall and made from wood, with 4x4 post cemented into the ground, this book might not interest you, but if you're thinking about building a fence, that will make all your neighbors jealous, you might be interested in the "Fence Building Bible."

If you're interested in using your imagination, along with some of the information in this fence building Encyclopedia, if you're interested in creating a masterpiece, instead of just another barrier that divides the property, you had better think seriously about, either running down to your local library and checking the book out, or purchasing the book, so that you have it on hand when needed.

Here's a quote from the product description that could be helpful, "Beneke suggests the appropriate types of fence to keep the swimming pool secure, con fine the livestock, keep deer away from the garden, or create outdoor living spaces. He then discusses the essentials of proper fence design and provides step-by-step illustrated instructions for planning, building, maintaining, and repairing any style of fence."

If you're planning on building a fence to keep livestock, it would be extremely helpful to know what kind of fence will be necessary to keep pigs or cows separated from the other animals, including you. There's nothing worse than building a new fence, putting some large cattle inside of it and having them tear it apart and escape.

The fence building Bible as simple instructions, with lots of illustrations, to give you plenty of ideas. There's a good chance that you will see a fence in this book that you have never seen before. If you're thinking about building something out of the ordinary, I would suggest strongly, that find this book.

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.

Hiring Contractors Books

Home Safety - Is Your Home Safe? Take This Simple Quiz

Home Safety is easy to overlook. Is your home safe? I'll bet you've never looked at home safety through the eyes of an insurance adjuster. But it will benefit you to think about all of the ways you could have an insured loss at your home.

Here's a simple quiz. If you have done all of the tips after the question, you can answer "Yes!" If not, you've got some work to do.

1. Is your home secure?

-Install deadbolt locks on all exterior doors.

-Install outdoor lights next to all exterior doors, and make sure the bulbs are working. Connect the outdoor lights at doors to motion detectors that go off when someone approaches.

-Install a monitored security system that has sensors at every opening, including second story windows.

-Install curtains or blinds on windows so people outside cannot easily see what's inside.

2. Is your home safe?

-Install one smoke detector on each level of the home.

-Install a radon gas detector in the basement.

-Keep the areas in front of doors, and sidewalks cleared of leaves and snow.

-Make sure there is a fence around any outdoor pool.

-Place a home fire extinguisher in the kitchen, one in the garage, and one in another room.

-Clean out the lint filter on your dryer every time you use it.

-Get your fireplace chimney cleaned once a year.

-Get your furnace checked once a year.

3. Are you living safely?

-When you have guests in your home, monitor their alcohol consumption, and don't allow them to drive if they've had too much to drink.

-Be extremely careful when working outside on ladders. A fall can seriously injure or kill you.

-Insist that any workers on your property provide you with their certificate of insurance. No exceptions.

-Be extremely careful when working inside. Use a safe small ladder or solid stool, don't jump up on a chair to reach overhead.

-Keep your staircases clear. Don't stack stuff on stairs and then try walking around it.

-Don't start to cook on the stove and then walk away. Cooking fires are number one for home damage.

-Don't plug a bunch of electrical devices into a cheap extension cord.

-Don't cover extension cords with rugs or run them under carpet.

If you were able to answer "Yes" on all three questions....CONGRATULATIONS! You will likely never have to have an insurance adjuster visiting your home!

If you have experienced a property loss, whether fire, wind, flood or other, you need to know winning insurance claim strategies. The insurance company will not tell you the claims process, but I will. I will show you how to take control of your insurance claim, and add hundreds or even thousands more dollars to your claim settlement. For more information, go to the website listed below.

Now, I'd like to offer you two special reports at no cost. One is "5 Things To Do When Shopping For Car Insurance," and the other is "5 Things To Avoid When Shopping For Car Insurance." Each one is a $9.95 value, but free to you when you sign up for my newsletter at the website address below.

P.S. WARNING!! Do Not Buy Insurance, or Submit an Insurance Claim Without Visiting This Website!

check out: http://www.insurance-claim-secrets.com

My Book is NUMBER ONE at Amazon.com in its category! Buy it Today!

Nominated for Georgia Author of the Year Award 2008

Finalist, USA Book News "Best Book Awards 2008"

My blog is at: http://insurance-claim-secrets.blogspot.com

Wood Floor Repair - Carlsbad Home Construction

Wood floors can look beautiful in your home, but when they are in need of repair they can make your home look awful. Many people think that maintaining and repairing wood floors that have seen better days is an overwhelming task that is just too much to take on. Luckily, it doesn't have to be. Wood floor repair can be a fairly simple process as long as you proceed with a well thought out plan.

You might be looking at your scratched and dull floor and thinking of all the work involved with moving out all the furniture and then trying to work one of those sanders. The dust all over the house. Thinking that your inexperience with the sander could cause you to ruin the floor altogether. The stress of keeping kids and pets out of the room.

Unless your floor is too far gone, with proper care, your wood floor repair does not have to turn into a major job. In most cases, you can simply fill in the minor scratches or shallow gouges without getting into a major refinishing job. You will need a few tools and supplies to get started, however.

If your floor has a polyurethane finish, but doesnt look so great because it is all scratched up, you may be able to bring it back to its former luster with some polyurethane finish that matches (or as near as you can match) what is on your floor. Use a small paint brush and dab the polyurethane onto the areas that are scratched and any areas where the finish has worn off. Use a clean cloth to buff out the polyurethane before it dries. This can help with small, scratched areas and can make them blend in with the floor.

In your wood floor repair, if your floor has a stain on it, you need to match the color of the stain in order to repair scratches. You should probably test out the stain a bit at a time to be sure. Use a small brush and apply the stain to the scratched area. Let the stain dry overnight or as long as it says on the can which can be up to twenty-four hours. Once the stain is dry, take the brush and lightly apply some polyurethane - buff this out before it dries to match it into the existing floor..

Deeper gouges need a bit more in the wood floor repair department. You will have to fill in the gouge and we recommend you use wood putt that is latex based and stainable to do that. Youll need a putty knife to spread the putty and a rag for wiping it off other areas it might spill onto. Simply pack the putty into the gouge and smooth it over until it is level with the floor. Wipe any excess off around the area and let it dry thoroughly. Take some sandpaper and lightly buff it out. Stain the putty to match the floor using a small brush and light strokes. Let the stain dry overnight and then apply the polyurethane on top once it is dried.

These wood floor repair tips work on floors where the damage is isolated to a few spots. If you floor is covered in scratches and has hardly any finish left then you may be facing the daunting task of refinishing the floor. Sure, its hard work and inconvenient, but once its done youll have glorious wood floors that you can enjoy for years to come.

Lee Dobbins is a contributing writer for Home DIY 101 where you can find more do it yourself home repair tips.

Rear Hot Mop Of Shower Pan

Advantages and Disadvantages of Washing Machine and Dryer Combination

The combination of a washing machine and a dryer is the latest development in the laundry machine field for the past years. The combination of a washer and a dryer is basically designed to save space than having a washing machine and a dryer separately.

Disadvantages:

It can only handle small laundry loads.
Value of time. It will take about 4 hours to finish a laundry load that weighs about five pounds. The dryer could only dry of a full load of wash at a time when the laundry is done. This means that you have to remove the other half from the washer-dryer and replace it with the other half.

Advantages:

One of the advantages of having a washer-dryer is it's price. It's like purchasing two machines with the price of one.
Another is the machines expenses. It will actually save you more money with your utilities and it is energy-saving.
And, it is advantageous because the combination of the washer and dryer utilizes the space in your home.

Do a little research or canvassing when you are planning to purchase a washing machine and dryer combo. You can visit online or stores to know the price and the different kinds of the machines. You will be grateful if you take your time before you go ahead to buy a washing machine.

If you don't have enough space in your house or living apartment or small home for the machines, you should find a stackable washing machine and dryer combination because it can save up a lot of space, money, and time.

Do you need a new washing machine? Visit http://www.washingmachineadvisor.com for more tips, washing machine reviews and advice on various washing machines brands.

Building a Wood Fence - Poway Home Remodeling

What if I told you where to get the ultimate fence building Encyclopedia? Better yet, what if I told you, you could get it for under $20? If you're building a standard 1 x 6 dogeared fence, that's 6 foot tall and made from wood, with 4x4 post cemented into the ground, this book might not interest you, but if you're thinking about building a fence, that will make all your neighbors jealous, you might be interested in the "Fence Building Bible."

If you're interested in using your imagination, along with some of the information in this fence building Encyclopedia, if you're interested in creating a masterpiece, instead of just another barrier that divides the property, you had better think seriously about, either running down to your local library and checking the book out, or purchasing the book, so that you have it on hand when needed.

Here's a quote from the product description that could be helpful, "Beneke suggests the appropriate types of fence to keep the swimming pool secure, con fine the livestock, keep deer away from the garden, or create outdoor living spaces. He then discusses the essentials of proper fence design and provides step-by-step illustrated instructions for planning, building, maintaining, and repairing any style of fence."

If you're planning on building a fence to keep livestock, it would be extremely helpful to know what kind of fence will be necessary to keep pigs or cows separated from the other animals, including you. There's nothing worse than building a new fence, putting some large cattle inside of it and having them tear it apart and escape.

The fence building Bible as simple instructions, with lots of illustrations, to give you plenty of ideas. There's a good chance that you will see a fence in this book that you have never seen before. If you're thinking about building something out of the ordinary, I would suggest strongly, that find this book.

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.

When I Grow Up

Many times I receive telephone calls from individuals or hear clients express the fact that they would like to become a psychologist and are interested in knowing what that involves. They are often horrified to hear that I have the equivalent of 11 years of university education as well as 2 years of Provisional internship.

In Canada, licensure and discipline are provincial matters and in the United States are state matters. Most jurisdictions require that individuals have an approved graduate degree in psychology or the equivalent (6 years of university study) before applying for Provisional status. Then a supervision plan is developed which focuses on the branch of psychology for specialization and a suitable supervisor and placement arranged. Some areas of study include:

Educational/School Psychology Clinical/Counselling Neuropsychology Forensic Psychology Industrial/Organizational Psychology Health Psychology Rehabilitation Psychology

The candidate then experiences supervised practise for a minimum of 1600 hours (approximately 10 months). or the amount determined by the state/provincial body.

The EPPP examination which is used throughout North America requires a passing grade of 70 percent. An oral examination is conducted and, if the individual passes all the requirements s/he can apply to become a Registered Psychologist. The word "psychologist" is a protected title in most areas and only those who have registered able to use it.

Frequently individuals tell me that they think they would like to have my "job" but when they hear about the requirements to Register, immediately state that they have changed their minds.

Although the process is long and demanding, the results are rewarding and a sense of competency, confidence and accomplishment are experienced.

If you require further information you can contact the psychology organization in your state or province.

And now I would like to invite you to claim your Free Instant Access to a complimentary list of 10 Steps to Making Your Life an Adventure when you visit http://www.lindahancockspeaks.com

From Dr. Linda Hancock, Registered Psychologist and Registered Social Worker

Fixing Your Leaking Toilet

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

Insulation Damage

How Annual Rainfall Affects Basement Waterproofing

With recent advances in materials and construction technology, basement waterproofing techniques are quickly gaining popularity. When it comes to new residential construction, basement waterproofing techniques such as the installation of footer drains or french drains is a given if a home is being built in a wet area of the country. If you own an older home, however, the technology used when your residence was constructed might not currently protect you from all flooding and water damage problems. And depending on the area of the country where you live and its annual rainfall, your basement could be an unexpected disaster waiting to happen.

Annual rainfall affects basement waterproofing for the simple fact that the more saturated the ground is with water, the more stresses that are present on your home's foundations. There's really no effective way to make a cinder block wall completely waterproof, since moisture can slowly push through the material's porous surface and into your home over the decades. Believe it or not, cinder blocks have a lot in common with a sponge, and effectively soak up water in the ground around them. Higher rainfall means more moisture in the ground, and in that kind of environment, your basement walls will inevitably suffer damage if you don't the proper drain waterproofing in place.

Properly waterproofing your basement to protect against saturated ground means installing footer drains that draw the groundwater away from your home and deposit it elsewhere. Footer drains are plastic pipes with small holes in them that allow water to enter and flow away from your home. The best basement waterproofing procedure calls for installing footer drains all around your home, then securing them with the proper back fill methods. As the years progress, you may need to occasionally clean the drains if they become obstructed with dirt or other refuse, but with a proper clean out installation this is a very simple procedure. Properly installed footer drains, however, rarely need to have major service performed on them.

Fewer homes in dry western regions of the country need complete basement waterproofing procedures that include footer drains, and the reason why is pretty obvious: they have less precipitation, and fewer flooding problems. Living in greener areas of the country or near large bodies of water can make for beautiful views, but the increase in groundwater saturation levels is an unfortunate side effect. Keeping your basement properly waterproofed doesn't have to be a huge burden, though, as long as you a diligent in performing annual maintenance and proactive in heading off any potential problems.

Lorain County Sewer and Drain makes Cuyahoga County basement waterproofing easy and affordable. Visit our site today to learn more about basement waterproofing.

Bathroom Remodeling - Poway Home Remodeling

Bathroom remodeling, no doubt, is among the most rewarding home improvement project that you could ever take. Aside from making every waking day and just every personal minute in your bathroom more luxurious, the job would greatly add up to the value of your New York home. And the fact that an average bathroom remodeling project could yield up to 80-90% on return on investment, homeowners are not as much bothered with how much it squeezes out from their budget.

As with any other home improvement project that could be undertaken, a good plan is crucial in the success of your bathroom remodeling. And if you are not a handyman yourself, nothing beats having to work with a qualified NYC contractor as a top priority. With the expertise and skills of one, going through the steps in achieving your dream bath could be made much easier, giving the most value for your money and with the least risk of remodeling problems.

If you do not have any idea yet on the design you want to take on, you can find inspirations through scouring through bathroom design websites, magazines and even showrooms in your nearest home improvement store. With a design at hand, you can discuss with your contractor estimates on budget and time. The extent of your bathroom remodeling depends on how much you are willing to spend on the project and how long you could put up with the remodeling works.

Your bathroom remodeling can be done as a surface-level project, change in layout or a total renovation which involves both. If everything seems to be in great condition and the existing layout is fine with you, a facelift can be best. A change in layout or a total bathroom renovation should be considered carefully. This involves so much more like the underlying electrical and plumbing systems. But whichever is your choice, make sure to apply for necessary permits early.

The essential keys to the success of your bathroom remodeling project are excellent workmanship as well as product selection. When choosing for materials to integrate into your project, do not stop at the cost alone. If you really need to save up, then shop for discounts but never sacrifice the quality of the products. Your aim should be set for long-term benefits. Find products and materials that offer the style of your choice, durability and less maintenance.

Clutter can easily make a disaster zone out of your bathroom no matter how good looking it is. Depending on its total area, you can implement clever storage solutions. For bigger bathrooms, you can have as elaborate cabinetry and shelving as the space can accommodate. But if space is an issue, there are also lots of innovative products you can choose from that are designed to be compact but functional.

If you can afford it, maximize every single element to make the most stylish, functional and comfortable bathroom remodeling result. If you are doing the master bathroom, a great idea is to have a his and her sink to cutback on the early morning chaos. You can even create a personal, everyday spa.

Eugene Makeev helps New York home owners avoid the common pitfalls in home improvements by matching their needs with the right, prescreened Bathroom Contractor NYC. Feel free to use our Bathroom Calculator.

Homeowner Checklists

What to Look For in a Plumber

Plumbing is amongst those issues which you are bound to face, at least a couple times in your lives. For small jobs, you can do with some good how-to guides, especially as you can find many of them online for free. But sometimes, the job is just too big or dirty to try it out on your own. And some guys take the challenge and start the job, only to leave to leave it in the middle when they can't understand how it caused a bigger problem. So this article will shed some light on what you need to look for when hiring a plumber.

The best way to find one would be through referrals. Ask you relatives, friends, and neighbors if they know of any expert plumber. If they have come across one and received a satisfactory service, then you can pick the same one. If you cannot get a plumbing contractor via a reference from someone else, then you could simply find one in a directory - an online plumbing directory for instance - and go through some precautionary steps to ensure a smooth job.

Also keep your needs in mind while making the selection. Most plumbers have got more experience of the daily routine jobs like repairing a toilet cistern or fixing a clogged drain. These are perfect for those tiny emergencies, but they are not best if you require a full renovation. For that, you must seek a plumber who is a specialist in remodeling bathrooms and kitchens. And you may also find some difference in plumbers specializing in commercial vs. residential work.

Once you've gathered the contact details of a few seemingly qualified plumbers in your area, do some background research about them. Most states require plumbing contractors to have a license. So you can call the relevant local body and confirm it the license is valid or not. In addition, ask them whether their record lists any grievances filed against them. Additionally, you could contact the BBB to find out if any grievances have been filed against your chosen plumbing contractor.

In the case that you do need a remodeling job, then it is best to select a few plumbing contractors and ask them to look around your house to see what will be needed. They can then give you a quote for the cost of the work plus materials. It might also be a good idea to ask them how much would be their charges if you yourself buy the needed materials and provide them. Plumbers normally obtain their products cheaply, so that they can make some money as the middle-man by supplying these goods. However, it isn't often very different for you because it won't be possible for you to get those products at the same price. If rudimentary research reveals the chosen people are cheating you by requesting a greater sum than they should for the goods, then you should definitely find a different plumber. Chances are that if he's ripping you on one end, he may be doing the same on the other ends too. Also make sure that the materials used are of high quality, as low quality materials can become a problem soon.

While calling a plumber is sometimes necessary, you can still try out a few small repairs on your own. And even if you do arrange a plumber, one easy way to save money is to do some preliminary jobs yourself so that the plumber's chargeable time reduces.

As a retired plumber himself, Scott Rodgers knows all about choosing the best plumbing contractor. Get even more information from http://eLocalPlumbers.com

Damaged Stucco Corner

Attic Odors - Home Repair Tips

If you've ever opened up your attic access hole, only to find one of the worst odors you have ever smelled in your whole life, I've been there too. What causes these horrible smells and what can you do about them?

Let's start with the cause of these smells, moisture, dirt, mold, mildew, dead animals, animals that make their home in your attic and the biggest problem of all is normally poor ventilation.

Poor ventilation is the biggest problem with musty smells in the attic. These smells are often caused from moisture accumulating in the building materials over time. If there is enough moisture in the attic, the wood will start to rot but this wouldn't be a normal situation, unless there was a roof or water leak.

Roof leaks can cause a constant supply of water to one part of the attic. This constant supply of water will eventually rot the wood and damage the ceiling. Water leaks from pipes can provide a steady supply of water and the situation can attracts termites and mold. Not a good thing.

One of the worst possible smells or odors in your attic would be a dead animal. Don't under estimate the size of some of these animals, they have found dead raccoons, cats, snakes, large birds, squirrels, rats and mice in some attics. These animals usually enter through damaged access holes or vent blocks, roof vents, large gaps, holes and even fireplace chimneys.

Once these animals die, their bodies start to decompose and produce one horrible odor. Once the body is completely decomposed, the smell usually goes away if the attic is ventilated properly. These smells can seep into the homes living area, often creating a room that no one wants to enter.

Home peststhat make their home in your attics, often create smells from urinating and defecating in the areas around their nest. Large birds like owls can become a problem over time.

Now that we've figured out some of the causes for attic odors and strange smells, what can we do to prevent this from happening and if it's already happened, how can we get rid of the smell.

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 having problems in your attic, find out more at pest control books and home building ideas

Acoustic Ceiling Water Damage

Remote Light Switches

Remote light switches - switches which allow you to turn lights (or other appliances) off or on without having to manually toggle the switch - are getting pretty commonplace these days. From internet searches to infomercials to the shelves of your local home improvement stores, these devices are everywhere.

Wireless television remotes were first developed in the 1950's. By today's standard these mechanical devices were primitive. When you pushed a button it would hit a metal bar with an audible "click" (hence the term "clicker"). The television circuits would respond to the resultant frequency and the television would turn on, turn off, change channels, etc. Unfortunately, anything that resulted in the same frequency would have the same result as my family found out when we discovered we could manipulate the television while eating simply by the sounds of our knives and forks hitting each other or the plate (my brother was especially adept at this).

Technology improved and the number of practical applications for remote controls increased. Remote light switches typically send signals to receivers either wired to the device to be controlled itself or receivers which have been plugged into an outlet with the device then plugged into the receiver. The receiver is programmed to respond to certain remote control transmitters. When you push a button on the remote, the device responds to the transmitters as programmed. This technology is sometimes employed during remodeling of rooms and in the construction of log homes, when accessing the electrical wiring to the house directly can be difficult.

When was the last time you were in the basement and absent-mindedly turned off one light before you turned on another and you were literally feeling your way along the walls to turn on a light so you could see? Or the last time you hit your shin on something in the living room stumbling around in the dark? How about the last time you stayed out later than you planned and came home to a dark house?

Just think of how handy it would be to have remote light switches for these and all of the other applications you can think of! These devices are a must for every household!

To read more visit Remote Light Switches

Problems Walking on an Old Roof

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Temporary Ceiling Repair

Problems With New Houses - Home Building

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

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

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

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

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

Building tract homes is hard on you mentally and physically.

Happy Home building.

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

Home Organization Books
Stucco Repair Around Window

How Essential is Fire Safety Awareness

Thousands of fire incidents happen every year, especially in the workplace. Lives, money and businesses are lost; with lack of knowledge about preventive measures, it's the same thing as letting a thief inside. People always assume it can't happen to them, but there's a saying that it's better to be safe than sorry right? Why risk everything when you can prevent it to happen.

Here are few important safety and prevention tips everyone needs to know:

1. Proper training- Before we can use an extinguisher, we must have a proper training on how to distinguish and operate a fire extinguisher. First aid training is also a must.

2. Proper storage- Some chemicals are flammable, we must place it in a proper storage away from areas vulnerable to fire.

3. Proper garbage disposal- We never thought garbage can start a fire, but yes it can. We should be very cautious in throwing anything in our garbage can, such as used batteries or cigarettes, because it can start a fire. Garbage must be cleaned and disposed regularly and properly.

4. Malfunctioned electrical wiring- Instead of buying a substandard wiring, we must buy those that are highly recommended. We always think of buying the things where we can save money. This is very understandable. However, we shouldn't take the risk when it comes to things like this because if fire occurs due to faulty wirings then you will lose everything and all you could do is regret.

5. Fire exit- Every workplace must have a fire exit that every employee should know.

6. Fire alarm and fire hose must be properly installed.

7. Fire department's telephone numbers must always be posted near the telephone to easily contact them while the fire is just starting. This will help them respond on time before the fire gets bigger.

8. Inspection of wirings on regular basis is also important. By doing this we would be able to identify which wirings could possibly cause fire in the future.

9. Conduct safety measures- Discuss to everyone important safety measures that should be done when a particular situation arises; this is to prevent possible injuries or death to workers. Daily safety tool box talk can be also done by the workers to discuss and share solutions to a possible problem that might happen in their workplace.

10. Putting of signboards can also be done, like the signs that indicate escape routes and exits.

11. There should be a smoke detector in every workplace. Make sure you change the battery every six months. Install one battery operated and one powered by electricity so that when battery operated fails to work properly, there wouldn't be a problem since you have installed one that is powered by electricity, and vice versa. Test each installed smoke detector every month. Remember smoke detectors have saved lives!

12. Rechargeable lights are safer to use than candles during power outages. But if you don't have one, you can use candle with precautions. Candles shouldn't be left unattended and it should be kept away from anything that can easily start a fire such as curtains, papers, gas stoves, among others.

13. Never try to repair any electrical appliances if you don't have the right training, just so to save money for the repairs. Let the service technician do the job instead.

14. Always unplug any electrical appliances that are not in use. Not only does it consume electricity, but it can also be a cause of fire. Use extensions temporarily and not permanently. Make sure it is working properly and carries its proper load.

Near-miss incidents should always be recounted to the persons involved for them to acquire fire safety awareness and also to prevent those incidents from happening again.

Jo is a writer for 'Phoenix Safety Services Ltd' (http://www.phoenixsafety.co.uk), a well-known consultant in personalized Health and Safety Training that are given to various customers throughout UK and Europe. If your company requires you to attend a Fire Safety Awareness Training or would like to train you and your co-workers with the basic useful information and skills in knowing the fundamental dangers of fire and fire deterrence measures then have a look at Phoenix Safety Services Ltd.

Wall Spacing For Home Building

Remodeling and building homes over the years I have seen all sorts of stud spacing measurements in bearing and non-bearing walls.

How far should we space a framing stud in a bearing wall?

Most plans will give you this information. If you have a structural shear wall the plans will tell you what size of lumber to use at the plywood breaks. The normal spacing on a bearing wall will be 16 inches on center unless otherwise noted on the building plans. This is the most common spacing for studs in a wall.

How far can we space framing studs in a nonbearing wall?

I have seen studs spaced as far as 24 inches on center in a nonbearing wall. Over the years looking at the building code books I have found this to be acceptable for most framing applications. Do not confuse a nonbearing walls with a structural shear walls because there is no weight sitting on the shear wall.

Interior structural shear walls will require 16 inch on center spacing or less depending on the structural engineer and your local building department.

What are the disadvantages of spacing the studs 24 inches on center?

Using half-inch drywall with 24 inch on center stud spacing can give the wall a week or spongy feel. I have been in houses that have 24 inch on center's stud spacing and can actually push the wall and see it move. Using 5/8 drywall will solve this problem in your walls.

What are the advantages of spacing the studs 24 inches on center?

The only advantage in spacing the studs farther apart is the fact you will be able to save a few dollars on the overall cost of building or remodeling your house. I personally do not recommend this process because the savings is miniscule compared to the overall cost of building the entire house.

If you look on a measuring tape between 19 and 20 inches you will usually find a little diamond. This little diamond is another measurement for laying out eight-foot walls or floors. So instead of using 16 inch on center layout you can use 19 1/4 for stud spacing. This will save you an additional stud in your wall or floor joist every 8 feet.

I have been writing more articles on home construction problems trying to help contractors and homeowners build safer stronger houses.

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 in San Marcos Home Building

Composition Shingles Loaded On R

Bathroom Fans and Attic Ventilation

Attic ventilation is a critical component to maintaining even temperatures in your attic all year long. In the summer it saves on the life of your shingles by keeping the boards cooler and decreases your cooling costs in the winter weather by diminishing the temperature difference which in turn prevents moisture build up in the form of condensation. Did you know that having a proper amount of attic ventilation is even required to enforce the warranty of most shingle manufacturers?? When it comes to mold the most import ventilation concerns occur in the winter. In the winter during the coldest months as we run our furnaces, hot air escapes into the cold unheated attic space. When the escaping hot air emerges into the cold attic it rises as heat always does. It seeks out the highest portions of the attic where it then coalesces against the cold boards of the roof. This hot- air-mass-meets-cold-surface phenomena results in a condition known as dew point, which creates moisture in the form of water droplets and ice crystals. The nails themselves also will contribute to this moisture problem as iron is a good conductor of temperature and will readily convey the biting chill of cold winter air directly inside the attic. The evidence of this, can be seen in the form of drips and of drip spots underneath the nails themselves.

Bathroom fans vented directly into the attic or Soffet areas rather than straight through the roof are also to blame for exacerbated moisture problems which lead to mold, wood- rot and health problems. The more adults showering in the house and the longer the showers the more moisture will enter an attic. In fact in some families the bathroom fans alone are the sole culprit responsible for major mold infestations!

If you want to eliminate attic mold permanently you NEED to get EQUAL amounts of Intake Air and Exhaust or Out-take Air into your Attic!

Building scientists have proven that using a balanced ventilation system that utilizes equal amounts incoming and out going air. Incoming air comes in from under the eves through vents cut in the underside of the roof overhangs which are called soffets. Proper soffet ventilation is essential to large amounts of incoming air needed for intake. Many attics were originally vented properly but have become packed with insulation along the way by an over-zealous insulation contractor or homeowner, in an attempt to actually stop air from coming in, sadly a common mistake. This mistake was very common in the 80's and 90's. There are two basic types of Soffet vents: either a contiguous vent or a individual vents which come in round and square varieties. I generally prefer to use 6 inch by 12 inch square vents because of the ease of installation and the low material cost. They work surprisingly well and offer a lot of surface area. They can be purchased easily in brown white and silver to match virtually any siding.

Out-take air, exhaust air ventilation can take 4 basic forms: Gable end vents, ridge vents, box vents or power vents. Of the four the ridge vent is to be preferred, due to its location at the highest point of the attic, namely the ridge. Because heat always rises it is passively efficient at exhausting large amounts of heated air without the use of electricity. Be sure to select a ridge vent without a complicated filter which can become clogged; I prefer the simple metal designs for their simplistic efficient design and operation. Box vents while older and more dated can be efficient if there is a sufficient number of them located across the surface. If your attic already has square, can, or box type vents but not enough of them, it can be a less expensive solution to an inadequate exhaust air problem. The reason is simple they are cheap and easy to install and like the square intake vents can be easily purchased in several colors to match any shingle. If you have a hip roof there may be insufficient ridge length to allow for sufficient out-take; box vents can be an ideal solution for this problem. Powered vents work well, but are dependent upon electricity for operation. This both costs money and is subject to wear and tear of moving parts. Additionally in the event of power outages can leave the attic over heated, for these reasons the author does not recommend them.

Beware of mixing two different kinds of ventilation!!!

By far one of the most common, and the most troubling ventilation mistakes is the mixed use of two completely different ventilation systems. For example mixing a ridge vent with a box vent or a previously installed power vent or gable end vents. What goes wrong is this: air always follows the path of least resistance and looks for the nearest opening , often the ridge will draft air from the box vents and short circuit the entire exhaust air systems, eliminating any chance of correcting the water/moisture issues. It can also bring unwanted weather snow debris etc into the attic because box vents and gable end vents were not meant to be intake vents, which can cause tremendous damage! So remember don't mix two ventilation systems pick one and stick with it ensuring there is enough of whatever vent system you choose.

Is correcting my ventilation a cure for a mold problem in my attic?

Sadly NO, it is not a cure for mold but just for ventilation problems which create moisture issues. No matter who installs your ventilation system in the winter if you are running supplemental heat in your home your attic will be subject to some moisture from time to time during the coldest days. For this reason and several others it is a must to actually treat the mold with a system designed to remove it completely without leaving behind mold or poisonous heavy metals paints and chemicals that can make your family sick. Even dead mold can still affect your health and make your family sick. It is also a good idea to hire a mold contractor with a ventilation expert on staff, because hiring a roofing contractor and a mold contractor is always more expensive!

Did you know most contractors use toxic chemicals to kill mold which may contains carcinogens which are cancer causing agents?

In fact ,sadly, I have seen many many attic projects fail after so-called "professional treatments" :( ! That's why we train other contractors from around the world in the efficient removal of mold using family-safe all natural products that are absolutely lethal to mold. For detailed diagrams and photos of ventilation projects feel free to visit us or call us directly!

Charles Boday CMI, CMRC, CMLCC

http://www.safemoldsolutions.com

http://www.superdrybasement.com

Call Direct 1-800-948-4947

Charles Boday is a Certified Mold Inspector and a Certified Mold Contractor, and he is a graduate of the Certified Mold Inspector & Contractors Institute. He is also a member of the National Association of Mold Professionals He is also a certified Environmental Inspector. He is also a Certified Crystal Meth Lab Clean Up Contractor. He has extensive experience reviewing and investigating toxic type cases for law offices prior to the attorneys taking on cases for litigation. He has worked with some of the countries top scientists seeking alternative poison-free mold remediation techniques. He is state certified to teach the realtors' continuing education course" Toxic Mold! What every realtor should know!" and is the author of the same. He is also a Certified Crystal Meth Lab Clean up contractor. He routinely works for Fanny Mae as well as many other top lenders like HSBC Household First Merit etc. repairing extreme mold damaged foreclosed properties

He is also an experienced foundation waterproofer and structural repair analyst. He has developed multiple proprietary waterproofing techniques for both interior as well as exterior foundation systems. He has testified as an expert foundation witness and is the Author of the books: The Ultra Dry Basement: understanding and correcting foundation water problems and Ultra Bond Construction Techniques