Remodel Your Kitchen Without Breaking the Bank

There could be a number of reasons why you might be considering remodeling your kitchen. Maybe you're a new home owner looking to get started on the "fixer-upper" house you just bought. Maybe you've been in the same house for twenty years and are simply looking to add a little variety and spice to your current dwelling. Whatever the reason, you probably don't want to blow your life savings making sure your cabinets match your stove. Luckily, it is possible to get the look and feel you want without breaking the bank. Proper research, innovative design techniques and, most importantly, simple do-it-yourself projects can help turn your kitchen area from dishware disaster into flat-wear fabulous.

In order to rediscover your kitchen's inherent style and beauty and stay within your budget, it is important to start with a cost effective, proven remodeling plan. Do your research -what types of remodeling plans can you find online or in specialty magazines? How much work will you do yourself? How much will you hire a contractor to work on? Are you hiring a designer? A finishing carpenter? A plumber? Electrician? Getting involved in a remodeling project without answers 21CEto these and similar questions can leave you frustrated and up to your eyeballs in unexpected side projects and expenses.

One of the best (and most fun) ways to cut remodeling costs is to choose a few smaller projects that you feel comfortable handling yourself. Cabinets, lighting fixtures and accessories are fairly simple, fun projects that don't require a background in carpentry or construction. Do you really need to buy brand new cabinets? Perhaps all your current cabinets need is a good sanding and refinishing. Painting or staining freshly sanded cabinets can take years off their look, especially if you add new handles or other accessories. If your cabinets are too old or too damaged to be salvaged, look for replacement cabinets that will fit with your planned design scheme. New cabinets do not have to be a large expense. Look for wholesalers that can get you the latest cabinet styles at a lower cost or join a manufacturer buying group like Direct Buy to get direct access to products at the manufacturer's price.

Another do-it-yourself, money saving project is painting. Before you pick a color scheme, consider how your kitchen relates to the rest of your home. Does the paint need to match what's on your living room walls, or would it look better as a stark contrast? Would the kitchen look and feel better with warm, cozy reds and yellows or cool, sophisticated blues? Do you need to paint the whole kitchen or simply add a few fresh accents here and there? A few coats of a new color can dramatically change the newly remodeled kitchen area, and being creative with color combinations is an easy way to personalize your project. But be careful -like any aspect of your remodeling project, a hastily made decision can come around to bite you once the project is finished.

Lighting installation should be saved for qualified professionals, but that doesn't mean you can't design your lighting scheme yourself. Choose a lighting design that will match your kitchen's layout and color scheme. Under-cabinet fluorescents and rope lights can add a romantic, ambient glow, but they might not offer enough light if you've chosen a dark blue, black or green color scheme. On the other hand, powerful overhead or spotlights might be overkill if you've chosen bright yellows or whites. Creating your own lighting scheme and buying your lighting fixtures and lamps directly from a local lighting wholesaler can save you money on a designer as well as make you feel even that much more involved in your remodeling process.

Of course, you probably won't be able to handle every part of the remodeling process yourself. A good contractor can help you decide which parts of your kitchen should definitely be repaired or replaced and which can be simply touched up. Get bids from a number of contractors, remembering that while price is an important factor it shouldn't be the only thing you consider. Make sure your contractor has a current license, proof of insurance, verifiable references and a list of suppliers. You should also pick someone that you feel comfortable working with. You'll be spending a good deal of time with this person; choosing someone you don't get along with will make your entire remodeling process a miserable one.

Remodeling your kitchen is a big endeavor. It can be frustrating and expensive, and the end product might not be what you had imagined in the beginning of the process. However, with just a little planning, patience and do-it-yourself know-how, it can be an exciting and cost-effective adventure.

~ Ben Anton, 2008

Remodeling Your Home?
Save money on your next home improvement project by visiting your local Direct Buy in Los Angeles.

Finishing Baseboard Trim

Installing trim means you've already gotten through the toughest parts of remodeling a room. Installation of baseboard trim is something akin to icing on a cake and should be taken on as an enjoyable project that signals the end of what may have been a long, hard job. Along with wall and window trim, it's the finishing touch, the accent, the piece de resistance - and knowing this should help propel you easily toward its completion. But don't get in such a hurry that you don't take care to do it right!

Finger-Joint or Continuous-Grain

Before purchasing, decide whether or not you'll be painting or staining after the installation of baseboard trim. This can make a difference in the price of your trim. For baseboard that's going to be painted, you can buy the less-expensive finger-joint trim, which is molding created by joining and machining shorter pieces together to form one continuous length of trim. The seams are visible, but very effectively covered by paint. If you decide on staining the trim, however, you need to go with continuous-grained baseboard. This higher-priced baseboard trim costs more but results in an attractive continuity accentuated by the seamless grain of the wood brought ouA37t by stain. Do all painting and/or staining of the molding before installation.

Begin installation of baseboard trim at an outside corner, if one is present, in the room. Otherwise, start at the wall on the opposite side of where the door going into the room is located. Because this is the first wall people see when they walk into a room, you want this one to have the best-looking baseboard possible. If you run short for some reason or the other on the other walls and need to splice pieces, it won't be nearly so evident.

Angled and Square Ends

Use a power miter saw for installation of baseboard trim at inside and outside corners. A T-bevel can measure odd angles that don't measure what should be neat, 90-degree angles (but rarely are!) and when walls aren't square to floors, baseboard trim can be coped to fit with a coping saw. For the first section of baseboard trim, the cut is simple: Make both ends square, no angle cutting is necessary. It's the subsequent, connecting pieces of baseboard that need to be fitted at either corner of this piece. Those two pieces also are angled only at those corners with their opposites ends being square. The remaining pieces of baseboard are cut with angled ends meeting square ends until the room is finished.

Finishing Up

Use six-penny finishing nails to fasten the baseboard to the studs, which are usually about 16 inches apart along the wall. If you do not have a stud finder, tap along the wall and listen for the hollow versus solid sound that differentiates between a stud being there or not. To hide the nail heads or obvious indentations made by the nails, fill with wood putty to match the stain or touch up with paint, as needed.

Visit OnlineTips.Org for more on finishing trim, including wainscoting and how to use coping saws.

Pressure Treated Lumber

If you are building a deck, retaining wall or a swing set for the kids it is highly likely that your material of choice is pressure treated lumber.

Pressure treated lumber, if installed properly, should provide a 40 year useable life. However, there are some things about pressure treated lumber that you have to know, in order to obtain that life and not have your project fall apart in a few years.

To create pressure treated lumber, raw lumber is impregnated with two waterborne compounds that are copper based chemicals. The amount of copper basically determines the usage and all pressure treated lumber, sold in the US, is supposed to have a tag stapled to the end of the board signifying its pounds of preservative per cubic foot of wood product:

0.25 Above Ground

0.40 Ground Contact

0.60 Permanent Wood Foundation

2.50 Salt Water

Because the lumber is impregnatedAA8 with copper, the choice of fasteners becomes very important. When two dissimilar metals come in contact with one another a galvanic reaction is created, the outcome is that the materials corrode and disintegrate. The higher the levels of copper in the lumber the faster that the corrosion will occur.

Although most people realize that they must use corrosion resistant fasteners and connectors many do not consider items such as flashings and light poles that are also in contact with the pressure treated lumber. Of course the best metals to use for fasteners, flashings and anything else that comes in contact with the deck is stainless steel or copper whenever possible. Stainless steel is expensive and copper is not conveniently available at your local lumber supply so the next best material is steel that has been galvanized.

Galvanized fasteners come in different grades (the thickness of the coating), better manufactures mark the box with a G rating. The higher the G rating, the more zinc used. You shouldnt use less than a G-90 rating and engineers are now suggesting the use of G-185. If the box is not marked it is probably a G-60 or less and this will not provide enough zinc coating to prevent galvanization from occurring. Cadmium plated nuts, bolts and screws do not provide any protection from corrosion whatsoever.

Some manufactures have created composite coatings for use with pressure treated lumber. Read the label on the box and make sure that what you are buying is suitable for the job.

Do not use aluminum flashing, deck flashing must be stainless steel, galvanized or copper. Aluminum corrodes very quickly when in contact with copper. This also means that metals items that come in contact with the pressure treated lumber must also be protected, items such as outdoor furniture, and barbeques should have rubber or vinyl feet or wheels.

For additional information on pressure treated lumber for your home or other renovation projects, visit Renovation Headquarters.

Pebble Stone

With the immense popularity gained by several natural materials inside kitchens and baths, pebble stones have become the number one choice for several people across the globe when it comes to enhancing the interiors.

When it comes to surfacing material, pebble stone is the most preferred stone. Varieties such as earth toned river rock and polished black quartz are extremely famous among pebble stone lovers. The pebble stones are measured for thickness and thereafter assembled on to mesh blacked 12"x12" sections. These sections are specially prepared to be interlocked so that they possess a natural random look when installed. You can also find a 'standing stone' version of these pebble tiles. The tiles have the pebbles standing on end and also attached to mesh backing. These standing stones are available in 4"x12" bricks usually applied to vertical surfaces with the help of mortar.

Pebbles do not require grout for installation. Hence, they provide the appearance of standing stone. These stones make great pieces of dcor for interiors as well as exteriors of homes and offices.

If you want to collect natural pebblE60es, you can find these in Indonesia in abundance. Here, they are hard sorted for flatness, thickness and thereafter joined together individually and bonded on to a mesh backing.

You can easily utilize hand crafted natural pebble stone tile flooring for pools, waterfalls and bathrooms. These are easy to install and you don't require any professional help. These pebbles are hand sanded individually and put into place. Thereafter, these are shipped from overseas. Several stones are attached to tiles and provided a strong mesh backing. After this process these tiles are smoothed down to create an even surface. This makes the stone ideal to walk on.

There are several reasons to consider pebbles stone as an ideal choice for your interiors. Given below are the features of pebble stone that makes it perfect choice for interior dcor.

a) Attractive:
Pebble stone is known to create an amazing area with a variety of colors, designs and borders available under this category on the market.
b) Inexpensive:
Pebble stones are cheaper than other surfaces available in the market such as tile, brick, flagstone or pavers.
c) Porous:
These stones are known to remove puddling and low/high areas.
d) Easy to clean:
Pebble stones are very easy to clean. You can wash these with a hose.
e) Seamless:
You would not find any seams or joints on these stones. The stone are installed over expansion joints or even cracks due to its elasticity that allows for expansion.
f) Wide usage:
Pebble stones can be easily installed on hard surfaces including concrete, asphalt, tile, flagstone, brick or wood decks. You can turn your pool decks, patios, driveways, walks or planters in an area of elegance, style and class. These stones can be easily used for residential, commercial and industrial installations.

Pebble stones look attractive and provide an ultimate choice for installation for interior dcor.

We, at BBM Impex are dedicated to represent the nations treasure of natural stone. visit Pebble supplier & exporter.

I am freelance writer, I have written on many fields that are under the sun. I have passion to play with words. Accuracy, clarity and impact are the hallmarks of my work.

I am not a "Shakespeare", and don't have ability to convert imagination and thoughts into words, If I have to define myself in a few words, I would say I am a copywriter, I have good command over research, expertise to explore extensively and ability to prove that. I can write on any subject, from beauty to intellect, food to travel, paradise to Hades, flowers to nuclear bombs, rainbow to Tsunami, pen to sword, Britney sphere to Halen Keller, Tumors to Health and fitness, celibacy to Seduction. You can also find some of my articles at Freelance SEO Copywriter and Article Ghost Writer

Home Renovation Software

If the time is right and you are in the market to begin home renovations, you probably have some ideas as far as what you would like to get done. Even so, what you are dreaming up in your mind's eye or sketch out on a loose sheet of paper is probably not going to come together in reality. Before you commit yourself to anything with a contractor, it is a good idea to figure out an accurate budget of what it will take to make your dreams a reality. Many companies now offer home renovation software that allows you to educate yourself about the cost commitment of your dream renovation.

Even though there are several free programs to get you familiar with the basics including ones on tools and hardware, spending a little money on comprehensive home renovation software will get you much better look at what it will take to get the project completed. If you are serious about a home renovation, it might be particularly useful if you plan to be your own contractor and carry out most of the project on your own.

If your ideas include paying a professional to work out the details of the project, provide an estimate and complete the work, then you have no reason to invest in home renovation software. A majority of renovation companies will already have the necessary computer programs, as well as a few enticing options when it comes to how you could update your home.

Sure, completing the project on your own might be a rewarding experience and, if all goes as planned, it is definitely the cheaper route. However, your renovation is going to require a lot of planning if you are going to get it right the first time. Choosing the perfect program can put you on the right path before you even pick up a hammer. As you use the program, you can design the desired result on your screen and then tell the program to find the proper m598aterials. It can even help you budget.

After the total budget projected by the program knocks you out, the program is there for you as you scale back your ambitions a bit. You can go back to the plans and adjust the desired result in order to reign in the final cost. Downloading a program free of cost will do the same, and that way you can have a price in mind before you bother to call a contractor. Each home renovation will test the fortitude of the homeowner. Kinks in your plan are inevitable. But, if you find the right home renovation software, you at least have an idea of what to expect.

The copywriter Rob Carlton is specifically passionate about ideas associated to huskytools. You can have a look at his publications on best tools from husky and husky tools and hardware over at http://www.insidewoodworking.com

Accessorize Your Bathroom For an Inviting Experience

For most people the critical aspect of a bathroom is really just does it have a toilet? While we agree this is important, theres more to it when youre talking about that private sanctuary in your home. Women are typically more interested in the look and feel of a bathroom than are men. This is proven in my household where my husbands bathroom can be buried in dirty clothes and dust and he doesnt care as long as theres a good stack of magazines. My bathroom, of course, must be more inviting, less scary.

Accessories can add that perfect inviting touch to any room in your home, including the bathroom. I love walking into bathrooms that have a warm glow, gentle lighting, and they must smell great. This is often difficult to overcome by its very nature, but there are so many good smelling accessories on the market today. Candles, scented oils, room sprays, various soaps; the list really is endless.

More physical accessories are also important. Tower racks, towel warmers, pretty baskets to hold your big fluffy colorful towels, magazine racks with an interesting variety of reading material (critical for those long visits), and of course PLENTY of toilet paper within easy reach.

How about eye appeal? Your bathroom needs to look clean and fresh. Sweep the floor, have a shower curtain or door that is free from stains and mildew, clean the tile grout and cracks. Is your ceiling falling in? Patch it up. Is the floor warping from water damage? Repair it. Are the walls boring and blah? Dress it up with family photos, wall art, cute bathroom decorations (found at any Hobby Lobby or decorator store), even think about repainting or re-wallpapering to give it a fresh look.

For your own personal needs the absolute basics are really all you require, but think of your guests entering the bathroom. This is the scariest thought for me. What will they find? Hair? Dirtiness? Will they think Im a slob? Prepare an inviting space for them and youll naturally benefit.

Kristen Easton is a versatile writer on a variety of consumer topics including the bathroom vanity and hot tubs.

Kitchen Compactor

The kitchen compactor is starting to appear in a large number of new kitchens and for good reason. If you don't know what a kitchen compactor is, it's a device that crushes your rubbish into a significantly smaller amount, making it easier to dispose of. Here are 3 good reasons you should make the investment.

First and foremost, they're incredibly convenient. How many of us have to push the bin down at the end of every week to cram it all in there? A compactor will reduce your waste by a third and take away the hassle of having to do it yourself. It also works tremendously quickly meaning you can do multiple loads very quickly.

Secondly, the compactor is remarkably small meaning it can be hidden away with ease. It also makes very little noise when in operation so there's no danger of it interrupting you when you're trying to have a quiet meal.

Finally, the kitchen compactor is incredibly easy to use. All you have to do is empty the rubbish you want to shrink down into a draw and push a button. It's equally easy to clean as the draws detach for wiping down and disinfecting.

You don't have to46B be working in a commercial kitchen in order to need a kitchen compactor. Large families and student homes tend to produce large amounts of rubbish and have to deal with overflowing bins. Equally, if you have a modern kitchen that's flawlessly clean, a compactor will ensure it stays that way and your bin doesn't get filled to the brim.

There's more information on kitchen appliances at the Kitchen Design Site.

Get The Most For Your Money With Home Remodeling

Every homeowner has a laundry list of improvements they'd like to make on their home. The problem most homeowners run into is that they aren't thinking ahead to the improvements that will provide the best return on their investment. Whether you plan to stay in your home a few short years or you're in it for the long haul, it's still a good idea to recognize the issues - positive or negative - that affect your home's resale value. A recent "Cost vs. Value Report" completed by Remodeling Online divides homes into two major categories (mid-range and upscale) to help homeowners determine where best to spend their money. This article focuses on those mid-range improvements that will bring you the best return on investment (ROI) in the Rolla/St. James, Missouri area.

Replace your Siding

With an 80.9% average rate of return, a phenomenal return for the Midwest, siding replacement was the overall winner for this region. This should be your first indication that buyers really do focus on curb appeal. As with any business, first impressions in real estate are important. You'd be surprised how many people rule out a home just by driving by. I have been on my way to show countless homes, only to find that once the buyer sees the outside of the home, they don't even bother looking inside. They may never see the remodeled bathrooms or new carpet you just invested all your time and energy in, so be sure that your first impression is positive and sticks with them.

Add a Deck

Wooden deck additions came in a close second with a 78.4% ROI. The great rate of return on decks stems in part from the fact that a wooden deck addition is extremely cost-effective. If your home is lacking a deck or similar outdoor space, consider adding a simple wooden deck to spice up the entertaining aspect of your back yard.

Replace Outdate or Inefficient Windows

Exhibiting a 73.7% ROI, vinyl window replacement came in strong as well, with wooden windows not far behind at 70.2%ROI. Window replacement continues to support the importance of curb appeal, and it also shows that bD58uyers are interested in lower energy bills. So, not only do windows increase a home's external appearance, they also help cut down on rising energy costs.

Spruce up the Kitchen & Bath

Any Realtor will tell you that new updates in the kitchen and bath sell a home extremely quickly. Kitchen remodels were categorized as major or minor, with minor remodels edging out major remodels 71.5% to 70.9%. Close behind were bathroom remodels with 68.8%, and bathroom additions came in at 61.8% ROI. Overall, these numbers are fairly strong, which proves that there is truth to the idea that buyers will walk away from a potential home that is lacking a quality kitchen and/or baths.

The Bottom of the Barrel

Roof replacement and office remodels finished at the bottom of the pack. Roof replacements are something that people address when they need to, but not usually because they want to, which brought this remodel in with 59.3% ROI. Few buyers are likely to replace a functional roof for aesthetic reasons, which factors in to its low ROI. However, the office remodel finished even lower, with 53% ROI, probably because most people don't view a home office space as necessary. Buyers are more likely to value rooms important in their everyday living, like kitchens, bathrooms, and family rooms, and see an office space as more of a bonus than a necessity.

This list is by no means a cut-and-dry order of areas you should remodel, but it does give you a general guideline of the remodels that might have greater benefit when it comes time to sell your home. Remember, though, that the location of your home, construction costs, and time frame are constantly changing and uncontrollable variables that can greatly affect these percentages.

Special thanks to: 2007 Hanley Wood, LLC for most of the statistics. Reproduced by permission. Complete city data from Remodeling Online 2007. Cost vs. Value Report can be downloaded for free at www.costvsvalue.com.

Justin Renaud is a REALTOR working in the Rolla Missouri Real Estate market. He has been working with buyers and sellers full-time for the last three years. His website http://www.justinrenaud.com is a resource for buyers, sellers, and homeowners to find helpful advice as well as resources discussing the areas of Rolla, MO and St. James, MO.

The information for this article uses statistics for the St. Louis, MO region according to http://www.costvsvalue.com

Keep the Spark of Your Marble Tiles

Most people want to have attractive homes so they search for materials that can best absolutely give a beautiful and elegant home. Marble is a material which is known for long period of time in making famous work of arts and in building homes.

More and more people are using marble tiles for home applications, but since marbles are considered soft stone, you need to take good care of it to maintain its spark and shine. It can be damaged by dirt and some acidic materials such as fruit juice, colas, wines, coffees and so on, but it doesn't made people to unused these materials for their homes.

One can install marble tiles over the existing floor provided that it is level, smooth and cleaned properly, if not, you have to remove the existing floor. Marble tiles should be cut properly to fit before you glue it to the floor. If you think you can't make this work done, you can hire a professional to do the work for you.

There are plenty of people who are using these materials for their bathrooms, kitchens, entry room and living room. With proper cleaning and maintenance, it is not hard to keep the shine and spark of your marble tiles.

Take good care of your marble tiles in order to maintain its beauty. Sweep it daily or use vacuum machine to free it from dust and dirt. If you cannot do it daily, you can at least do it twice to thrice a week. Do not let dirt and dust sway long in your marble tiles, so you need to clean and remove it right away.

Since there are plenty of people using marble tiles, the demand of products in cleaning it is increasing. It is best to keep a marble tile cleaner at hand so in case of accidental spillage of acidic materials or dirt, you can easily clean up right away. There are cases that your family and friends will walk around your home with dirt or sand in their shoes, so your marble tiles can gain dirt and scratches, so you have to clean them.

Vinegar is helpful in cleaning lots of materials at home but not marble tiles. Vinegar can damage these types of tiles, so you have to put vinegar away from it. Do not use any type of detergents or soaps, it would be better to use warm water if you do not have cleaner.

If you going to use cleaner with your marble tiles, you have to follow directions, so read and understand the label carefully. In cleaning, use clean, soft cloth, lukewarm water and cleaner.

Marble tiles can make a beautiful and elegant home but to keep its shine, you have to take good care of it. So it is best to polish these types of tiles every month or f4AEew months. In polishing your floor, you can make it look shiny and can protect it from dirt and dust. It can even make it easy for you to clean your marble ties regularly.

Eliza Maledevic Ayson

http://marble-tile.xon.us/

Eliza Maledevic writes for http://Jump2Top.com - SEO Company

Contractor Horror Stories

Horror stories. Everyone's heard one, and they're a major reason why many people are reluctant to enter into a remodeling or new home project. Building is a complicated, expensive, emotional undertaking and for some people the risk of encountering a problem is too high.

But for others, the challenge and excitement of creating something completely new and unique is irresistible. Designing and building a new home or reworking the one you're in can be a very fulfilling experience - if you've done your homework and you've prepared yourself for the possibility that everything may not always go exactly as planned...as in these two true stories:

Carved In Stone (Not)

Chuck and Jim opened the rear doors to Chuck's van and carefully lifted out the new polished granite countertop. They'd parked the van in the driveway at the back of their client's house, aligned with the kitchen door so that the countertop could be carried straight in. Large stone countertops are fragile, but this one was especially so because of the holes that had been precut in it to allow for the sink and cooktop to be dropped in later. Inside, Chuck and Jim positioned themselves next to the cabinets where the countertop was to be installed and began to slowly rotate it into place.

Jim heard it first - a soft "pop", just before the countertop cracked on either side of the sink opening. The heavy stone pieces slipped from their hands and landed with a double thud on the kitchen floor.

The client was watching when the disaster struck, and the sound she made was nothing like a pop, a crack or a thud; it was more like stifled scream. This was just too much to bear. It was the third time Chuck and Jim had broken the kitchen countertop.

Too Good to Be True

Jim and Tracy desperately wanted to build their new home in Cherrington Woods and couldn't believe their luck when they found that the very last lot in the subdivision was still for sale. Lot 43 was on a cul-de-sac, and backed up to a ravine. The price was reasonable, even cheap for the area, and since the rest of the lots on the street had already been built on, Jim and Tracy wouldn't have to put up with any one else's construction mess once they had moved in.

After the closing, Jim called the Architect that their real estate agent had recommended and set up a first meeting. Among the topics discussed was the need to conduct a subsurface investigation of the site, to try to discover any conditions that might require special Foundation engineering. But since it was the last lot in the subdivision, and no soil problems had been found on the adjacent lots, the likelihood of bad soil or rock was low. Jim decided against spending the money on the soils tests.

Which was unfortunate, because a soils test wouldn't have found bad soil; it would have found very little soil at all. What it would have found is tree stumps, old fence posts, lumber scraps, and other construction trash to a depth that exceeded the planned depth of Jim and Tracy's Foundation. When Cherrington Woods was being developed, the excavator had used the lot for a trash pit. A lot of what had been cleared off of the top the subdivision during the grading had been pushed onto the area later known as lot 43 and then buried under five feet of dirt.

Ultimately, the Foundation had to be dug six feet deeper than planned to get to stable soil. Jim and Tracy ended up with a big hole in their checking account and a very nice racquetball court in their basement.

Hang In To The End

When something goes wrong on a construction project, it might be the fault of one of the parties involved in the project, or it might be one of the those things that no one seems to be able to predict. Either way, the goal is the get the project back on track and moving as soon as possible.

Some problems have to be taken in stride. In the vast majority of cases, the joy and satisfaction of fresh new living space soon fades the memory of any problems during construction.

Richard L. Taylor, AIA is a published author and recognized expert in Residential Architecture. He is President of Richard Taylor Architects, a 5-person firm in Historic Dublin, Ohio. Residential Architect Luxury Home Plans

Bathroom Vanity Cabinets - Selecting The Best Vanity Cabinet For Your Bathroom

Bathroom Vanity Cabinets should be a top priority for anyone considering a new or remodeled bathroom. They are the center piece that sets the tone and style of probably the most used and abused room in any home. Not only will you and your family use and view your bathroom so will guests in many cases.

The great thing about bathroom vanity cabinets is there are so many different types and styles that you can definitely find one to fit your design ideas. With this said here are a few choices you must consider besides just the cabinetry for your vanity:

One of your first considerations will be the size of your bathroom. This will directly determine some of your vanity cabinet choices. If your bathroom is small a double sink bathroom vanity cabinet or long one, though useful, may not be able to fit.

Your choices for vanity bathroom vanity cabinet styles are numerous because you can choose a traditional vanity style, typically in wood, like Queen Anne, French Provincial, Oriental or similar. These are ornate with decorative carvings. Contemporary and modern bathroom vanities come in an array of colors and different materials they are popular and allow creativity and uniqueness. Less ornate but no less beautiful these offer clean straight lines for expressing your style. One modern vanity style, the vessel or vessel sink bathroom vanity is really popular. This style has the sink, resembling a bowl on top of the countertop surface.

Your bathroom vanity counter tops choice will be one that also defines your style. Ceramic tile is a traditional favorite in the bathroom but unlike in the past you have a wealth of other choices available. Another old favorite is laminate which offers a kaleidoscope of colors. Man made or solid surface materials are very durable this synthetic made of acrylic or polyester is easily maintained. It comes in varied colors and textures. A natural stone such as granite, marble, and slate can add durable elegance but will probably be the most expensive choice for your bathroom counter top.

Again, this is a good time to add your personal style, you can really express yourself with bathroom vanity cabinet hardware. You can choose vanity cabinet hardware colors that complement a theme in your home or go with something unique to the bathroom. Traditionally gold has been a favorite but pewter or silver lend a more modern contemporary look of coolness.

Think of your current bathroom's layout and the things that you don't have that you would really like to have. This is where choosing bathroom vanity cabinet doors, drawers and storage needs to take place. For example many people would like extra storage in their bathroom so you can add a drawer base or perhaps you need more storage for linens, you can have a linen cabinet added. You will find a that your storage needs can be met by the large selection of bathroom vanity cabinet doors, drawers or a combination of both to meet your storage requirements.

Your vanity lights can be can be used to not only enhance light around the vanity but also to illuminate the entire bathroom. Whether you should choose a large or small light over the vanity will be a personal choice determined by your design ideas and how much illumination you want. The choice of mirrors for your bathroom vanity cabinets can include framed and frame-less mirrors that are beveled or not. You can also select lighting built into the mirror, around your mirror from several styles to light up and help your new bathroom reflect your personality.

The choices seem almost endless when deciding how to design your new bathroom, remember that the bathroom vanity cabinets are going to be one of the most visible features of the bathroom. You can try to order bathroom vanity cabinets online but for more hands-on help, stop by your local cabinet shop or home improvement store. Have fun designing and enjoy your new look bathroom.

Get more in depth vanity and bathrooom countertop ideas and information go to Bathroom Vanity Cabinets and Counter Tops.

Also go to http://Countertops-And-Cabinets.Com which is dedicated to providing quality information on bathroom, vanity and kitchen countertops and cabinets.

Cabinet Door Hinges - You Can Always Count on Them

Cabinet door hinges are one of the biggest afterthoughts in home design but they often get the biggest workout in the home. Nary an hour goes by that someone isn't opening a cabinet somewhere in the home, whether it's in the kitchen, pantry, bathroom or hallway.

Most simply make do with the hinges that came with the cabinet. Only when they begin to squeak and sway in complaint about their endless exercise do we give thought to changing them. And only then do we only change the offending hinge that has failed to do its duty tightly and quietly. But changing out hinges can yield some exciting results in the home, particularly when they are visible hinges.

Because visible cabinet door hinges are, well, always visible, they become expected and common place over time. Eventually, you don't even notice them anymore. At least until they become unhinged as noted above.

With just a few twists of a screw, you can replace all your visible hinges with new ones that can breathe fresh life into your once boring cabinet doors. For example, many hinges come in silver or brass. Why not change it up with deep black, hammered copper or cast wax molded versions of antique hinges. If you have a rustic feel in 16A0your kitchen, you can decorate H or HL hinges that make your cooking space look like a turn of the century country kitchen.

For something a little more European, consider adding Antique English Hinges. These H shaped steel cabinet door hinges have a very ornate finish to them that will add old world charm to your kitchen, bathroom or pantry area.

Ornamental hinges are another good choice for visible, or surface mounted cabinet door hinges. These come in a wide range of styles, including butterfly and Art Deco.

When selecting new hinges, you want to keep a few things in mind. First, what's the style of your kitchen? Is it modern, traditional, country or retro? What kind do you have now and what hinges would not only look good, but also properly support the door so it doesn't sag or even fail over the time. Too weak of hinges and you'll always be straightening the door. This can become maddening very quickly.

If you have concealed hinges and want to move to surface mounted cabinet hinges, chances are good that you'll want to go with either semi-concealed hinges where only the frame wing is visible (the door part goes on the back side of the cabinet door), overlay hinges, or inset hinges. It just depends on the type cabinet doors you have.

One good hint: Before you redo all your hinges buy several different styles and finishes and put them on them in various parts of the kitchen. You can then get a sense of which works best for you from the standpoint of design and dcor before going through the effort of replacing all the cabinet door hinges in the home.

Jennifer Akre, owner of numerous online specialty shops, shares her insight on how to create a more beautiful home by using decorative cabinet hinges, stylish door hinges and sleek hinges.

How Garage Remodeling Will Fix Your Storage Problems

Garage remodeling is probably the quickest way to add much needed space to your home. If youre considering any sort of home repair this may just be the one that should be first on your list. If youre not using your garage for an area to park your car, then expanding the living space of your home can be quite easily achieved by making this change. As well, youll feel like your home and life are much more organized when you stop storing everything in this area.

If youre thinking of adding a studio, a home office, or a workshop to your home, then of course you need to look no further than the garage. You can even use this area as a home gym, or as an extra living room designated for special events or entertainment purposes. But, dont think that this means that you cannot still store things in this area, or even that you have to sacrifice your parking area. It all really depends on how you go about with your remodeling plans and what your household wants and needs might be.

Since a lot of garages are attached to the house, they can benefit from the exact comfort as the home, which include heating and cooling, phone wiring, as well as plumbing. Youll just need a little imagination, a set budget and a plan.

If you worry that by remodeling your garage, youre losing too much precious storage area, have no fear because you can always build a small storage space behind your garage which can be used to house your tools, sporting equipment, and other items.

Furthermore, when you remodel your garage you should think about adding an addition above your garage. You can add a room for work space and even for living space above the existing garage, which will give you more space as well as increase the your homes value without making major changes to your floor plan.

Do you feel the need to remodel your garage but dont know exactly what you need or want? Then you should consider the following ideas.

How about transforming your garage into a laundry room if youve been performing your laundry duties in the basement. By building a laundry in your garage youll do away with the need to go trounce up and down the stairs a million times a day.

Are you a musician, or just want to be one? A music studio can be a superb choice for your remodeling plans if you or your kids show some talent in this direction. After all, where do you think all of those garage bands got their start? Youll want to consider soundproofing your garage walls so as to avoid your neighbors complaints.

Heres an idea! Change it into a gym. If youve got equipment but you dont have enough space to use it in the house, simply move it into the garage where youll have plenty of space for your daily workouts and. An added benefit is that you wont be bothered by anyone. However you choose to use your new space, hopefully youll enjoy it.

The columnist Leroy Calstard is very excited about issues related to woodworking workbench. His observations on garage workbench can be discovered on http://www.insidewoodworking.com in addition to other websites.

Kitchen Remodeling Ideas for Your Home

A very easy way to improve your home is to remodel your kitchen and bathroom. Upgrading your bathroom will not only improve your house but it will also add value to your house. Kitchen and bathroom remodeling can be very expensive due to the specialist plumbing and electrical wiring skills required.

There are ways to update your kitchen and bathroom without lots of expense. You can simply replace the cabinets in your bathroom and kitchen. Cabinets are the main part of your kitchen and bathroom, by replacing or even updating the cabinets in your room you will be able to breathe extra life into this room.

Any bathroom or kitchen project can be complicated and take a lot of time to finish. You should carefully look at the cabinets that you want to install. You want to make sure you replace your cabinets with great looking cabinets so you don't have to change them for a very long time!

IT is possible to do really easy and simple bath remodeling projects. Even something as simple as painting the room can change how it looks and feels. You need to make sure that the time that you spend on your bathroom and kitchen are time well spent. Take a careful look at your existing cabinets so that you can check no problems already exist.

If there are any gaps between the cabinets and the wall then these need to be filled. Also check that doors are hung properly, and all drawers open properly. Any of these problems could mean that you require a much more extensive remodel rather than just repainting. If your cabinet is too old then even repainting probably wouldn't be enough. If you have decided that your cabinets are suitable for a quick remodeling project then you should start looking at the different options that are available.

Different Refinishing Techniques

There are a number of different ways that you can remodel a bath room or kitchen by redoing your cabinets. However not all are as simple as just slapping some paint on your units.

If your cabinets are greasy or dirty then you will need to bleach them in order to clean them down. This is particularly important for kitchen cabinets as they can get very greasy. After this you should clean them down by mixing up a solution of linseed oil, boiling water and bleach.

If they still need cleaning then you can strip the old paint or finish off your existing cabinets. After you have prepared your surfaces 582you then need to apply the new finish. If you have natural solid wood units then you can stain the wood after stripping. Otherwise you can paint the wood.

If you want a much newer fresher look then you can paint the units. Choose a color that goes well with the rest of the bathroom color schemes. You can use specialist techniques such as sponging or rag rolling to apply the paint to give them a much more unique look.

Redoing your kitchen and bathroom cabinets can be a great way to change the look of your kitchen very cheaply. It's great value for money, why not give it a go?

The magazine writer Leroy Calstard is especially interested in ideas associated to kitchen sinks and home repair. Through his documents on wall mount sinks the reviewer confirmed his experience on the topic.

Small Bathroom Design Simplified

You will find that majority of the modern homes have a limited bathroom space. Homeowners in such a scenB68ario usually accommodate within that limited space, as they do not have any other option. Thus, it is a fact that the small bathroom designs, which make the best use of the space that is available, are now most in demand by the homeowners.

The following guidelines on small bathroom designs are conveniently applicable in case you are designing a bathroom for your new apartment or renovating your old bathroom.

- The small bathrooms look best with the small and deep bathtubs.

- The wall-mounted or pedestal sinks, basins and the small sized baths are simply made for each other, as they hardly occupy much floor space.

- In case, you prefer a shower stall, it is best to use clear shower screens for the enclosure. The best part of this is you will be able to save enough space and make way for enough light, which is unlike the framed opaque shower walls.

- You can have recessed and floating cabinets in your bathroom; this should make ample space.

- The small bathroom designs usually come with enough storage space for you to be able to stash away lots of clutter. Therefore, ensure that your bathroom has enough storage shelves and cabinets.

- Place the windows near the ceiling; this way, there will be enough wall space for you to include some storage cabinets beneath it.

- You would be clever enough to position the toilet in an alcove, by making use of the wall-space above for fix opening the shelves.

- When it comes to doors, most of the people are going for the sliding doors, which can be easily slid into the in-wall cavities. If you are opting for the hinged door, you can get the towel-rack installed on the door itself.

The homeowners need to abide by certain design - as well as dimension-parameters when planning the small bathroom designs, which depend on the area/zone. You can also try out a few optical illusion tricks for creating a space illusion.

Making use of light and mirrors

When you want the space inside your bathroom to look large, you can take the help of lights and mirrors. Try to make use of natural lights, which would surely make your bathroom look more bright and large, generating a sense of comfy. You can also try adding skylights and windows. This is indeed a great idea. However, when thinking to make use of electric lighting, you can arrange for the source of the light just below where the shelves have been installed.

When you place a mirror inside the bathroom, it helps in proper distribution of light and this seems to extend the overall dimension of the space. Such a strategy makes your small bathroom look effectively illuminated and it gives way to visual expansiveness.

Make use of tricky designs

Introduce vertical lines on the upper edges of the walls of your bathroom. This helps in creating height7B2 illusion. You can also have tiles installed on the walls of your bathroom and edge the top lining with designed border tiles to make things look more magical and impressive.

This is the way you should make use of the floor area of your bathroom and the type of tiles you choose to use for your bathroom should well compliment all sorts of small bathroom designs. No matter what you are going for - floor tiles or wall tiles they should be having identical shapes and light colored shades.

Making use of color to create illusions

Color is the best way of creating space illusions. Choose softer, lighter tones like pastel shades, neutrals or whites - these colors are sure to make your bathroom look as if having enough space and dimension.  Such colors also help in proper light distribution. Again, if you are planning to cover the walls of your bathroom with wallpapers then make sure to select plain and simple designs.

Read our Home Improvement newsletter with new fresh articles every week, Kitchen, Basement, Bathroom improvements and many other subjects at Do It Yourself Tips

Building Inspections - Permits and Problems

Things to Know

1. The General Contractor or the person that the Building Permit was issued to must make all inspection requests.
2. Building Permit Cards must be posted and building plans must be available at the jobsite or the inspection will not be performed and a penalty can be charged.
3. Permit Fees are based on the valuation of project defined as labor, materials, plus profit
4. If the project is large enough a plan review will have to be completed by the building inspector

Who are They

The BDI inspects approves and issues all permits required by code for new construction and for repairs and additions to all public and private buildings. They assure safe building standards for the general safety and welfare of us all. When Do I Need a Building Permit Building permits are required when any structural change or major alteration is made or for new construction. Normal maintenance doesnt need a building permit.

Here are some common examples, although this list is not complete:
1. New structures
2. Enlargement of existing rooms
3. Porches, decks, and retaining walls
4. Anything involving structural beams, joist replacement or bearing support
5. Foundations and footing repair, underpinning or shoring up of a structure
6. The conversion of basement or attic space to living quarters
7. All new fences except the replacement of existing fences
8. An entire new roof, when roof work is not replacement of like material

When Don't I need a Building Permit

Here are some common examples, although this list is not complete:
1. Ordinary repairs to residential buildings and structures, there could be height restriction here.
2. Plaster patching, exterior and interior painting, floor sanding and refinishing, floor tile, carpeting, replacement of flooring
3. Repair or replacement of gutters and downspouts
4. Replacement or repair of exterior doors and non-fire rated interior doors whenever no modification is made to the opening
5. Wall paneling applied directly to wall surfaces; acoustical ceiling tile applied directly to ceiling surfaces;
6. Installation of battery-operated smoke detectors
7. Replacement of existing fencing, same height, material and location in the rear or side yards
8. Non-dish radio or television antennae

The BDI will focus on all common areas unless there is a specific complaint. In that case they can go anywheres in a building. They do not need an owners permission to enter a unit, but they do need the tenants permission to enter an apartment. They will look at all common areas to sleuth out dangerous or hazardous code violations or egress issues. They are essentially interested in safety issues and will look especially for fire extinguishers, doors, lighting, stairs, doors and smoke detectors. If there are any violations of code they will issue a "notice of violation" or NOV.

What They Do: They will inspect a property for three reasons:

1. Law requires general inspections to uncover and correct safety issues and code requirements. These inspections are mandated periodically.
2. Someone has complained
3. To review new construction work for safety and code violations.

The Dreaded "Task Force Inspection"

If a building is a nuisance and gets repeated complaints then the city can call in many or all the agencies and create a task force to inspect the building. The agencies involved can include fire, health, police, and the D.A. The task force is only formed for the worst offenders, generally drug dens or health hazards.

Construction Inspections

The inspector is looking to see that the work is up to code and does not exceed the scope of the permit. Very often, construction will take place and other issues come up. If they exceed the parameters of the work approved they can deny approval of the work. Now you have to come into compliance and that can mean a bureaucratic snafu or worse. A citation or NOV (Notice of Violation) is issued and you will need to apply for another permit to fix the problem to come up to code. When the work is completed according to the demands of the BDI, you will need another inspection to get cleared. If you still have problems with getting the work approved you have a few alternatives

Fighting the BDI

1. Know the code: You will need to prove the condition cited is legal
2. Get all the permit plans the DBI has and try to make a case that the condition is historical
3. If its an older building it may be grandfathered
4. Talk to the senior inspector and make an informed case
5. Talk to a real estate attorney or engineer

The Hearing

This is your last effort to right a wrong. You can have your attorney or property manager or possibly a structural engineer make your case. This is your last ditch effort to allow a condition to remain in place. Obviously, you dont get to this unless there is a lot of money at stake.

Howard Bell
yourpropertypath.com

http://www.yourpropertypath.com
We believe that knowledge should be free and freely shared.

Paying Contractors And Subs

If you decide to use a contractor or subcontractor, often referred to as a sub, then you will want to understand how to pay them. Your leverage on them to get the job done and done right is payment and their good name. If they don't have a good name then payment for their work is your only leverage. Hence, you will want to determine before you hire them how you will compensate them for their work.

You must understand the basics of how the laws are written to understand the dynamics of paying a contractor. If a contractor does work on your home and you don't pay them, they can file a lien against the house in order to get payment. They can even foreclose on the house if you refuse to pay them. A lien will also keep you from refinancing or selling the home. Hence, you will want to make sure you cover yourself when you pay your subs and contractors.

If you are using a general contractor to do a remodel, he may bring in specialists to do portions of the work. If you are paying him a set rate for the remodel, he is using your funds to pay the subcontractors. However, it is possible for him to take payment from you and then not pay for the work done by the subcontractor. The subcontractor could then in turn put a lien against your house even though you have already paid for the work done.

You can avoid this issue by paying each subcontractor directly. When you make the contract with the general contractor, you can demand to pay off each sub that works on the house. Then when you make payments to the sub, require that they write a release for the work done before giving them the money. This gives you an opportunity to inspect the work first to make sure the work is up to standard. Now that you have the release, they should not be able to file a lien.

Also, when paying the general contractor, you may want to pay for all of the materials directly too. This prevents the suppliers from filing liens for non-payment. Additionally, you should never pay the entire amount to the contractor up front. What is to keep him from skipping out on you and not completing the work? You should pay him in segments as the work is completed. This will motivate him to keep working and if something does go wrong and he leaves, you are only out a portion of your money and you still have enough funds to hire a new person to finish the remodel.

You will want to screen your contractors and subcontractors before you hire them. If they have a history of poor payment activities then you want to avoid working with them. You will want to ask for references and then check them. Also, inspect the work they have done. If you do your research properly, you shouldn't have to deal with shoddy work and mechanics liens.

Even though you may hire a general contractor to handle all of the day to day worries, you will want to pay close attention to the remodel. Inspect the work periodically and make sure that the work is being performed correctly. If you don't, you may be surprised by a few errors before the work is completed and after the work is completed.

In summary, you will want to work out the details of payments before hiring any work done on your house. When you do pay for the work, you will want to have letters of release signed so that contractors will not be able to enforce liens on the house.

HomeBuildingRemodeling.com is your source for top quality home building, remodeling and home decorating information.

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How To Fix That Leaky Bathtub Faucet - Fast!

Fixing a leaky bathtub faucet - or any other leaky faucet for that matter - can be an expensive job - UNLESS you can do it yourself!

In this article we want to look at the most common reason for a leaky faucet and show you how to fix it quickly and cheaply.

Preparation

It almost goes without saying that you should turn the water off first! Where to find the handle that does that? Just look under your sink and see where the pipes run. Somewhere along their length you will see either a handle or a wheel you can use to shut the mains supply off. In nearl16CBy every case you will need to turn it clockwise to shut.

One other preparation is to block the sink drain - just to prevent a nasty accident with something loose (like a screw or a small nut) disappearing down the drain never to be seen again. Use the plug you normally use, or put some cloth into the aperture. No good being wise after the event!

And - even though it goes without saying - make sure you have bought a replacement washer (or two) from the local hardware store - you don't want to be looking for that when you have the faucet in pieces do you!

Action

Locate the screw that is holding the handle of the faucet in place (it may be hidden behind a small plate or cover and that cover needs to be prised off using a small screwdriver or similar). Then undo the screw.

The next job is to get the handles off. Use a screwdriver to do this - you might need to use a little bit of force to prise it but it will come.

Now you will see the old washer (don't worry if not, we will put one in place anyway). Take off the old washer and replace with the new. Notice that the hole in the washer should just be a touch bigger than the central post that the handle turns.

Now retighten the handle, but only hand tight i.e. only until it stops turning without extra force needing to be applied.

Next, turn on the water again and see what happens! If there's no leak you're home and dry (excuse the pun!). If it still leaks, try tightening the handle a little more.

If it still leaks after that- then the problem is elsewhere and you'll need to get a plumber after all. But al least it was worth a try!

(And by the way - if you notice a big build up of lime around the handle - clean that off with a special removal product from your hardware store - it will pay you in the long run).

Things needed

A screwdriver or two - maybe one flathead and one Phillips or cross-screw. Also two washers (maybe take the old one off ahead of your visit to the store to be sure of getting the right one, or just buy a pack of mixed washers - not an expensive buy).

David Woodford is a freelance writer and owns info4u-services which helps people with free advice to help solve everyday problems. To find out more about fixing your faucet and other DIY jobs around your home, visit http:/http://www.fixleakyfaucet.com it will REALLY help you.

The Correct Shower Accessories Will Complete Your Shower And Purify Your Water -This Guide Can Help

Many people are not aware that everyday they are exposing themselves to dangerous chemicals right in the shower. Chlorine is used to eliminate bacteria and is used to purify water nationwide, but what you might not know is that this chlorine is actually harmful to your health in the long term. Chlorine has been linked to bladder, colon, liver, and stomach cancers, as well as heart disease, high blood pressure, and allergies. This chlorine heats up when your shower water gets hot. The chlorine evaporates along with the steam in the shower and is inhaled as you breathe. As well, chlorine is absorbed through your skin and into your bloodstream, leaving two easy ways for chlorine and chloramines to enter your body, while you are simply rinsing off in the shower. Correct showerhead products include filtering, either using Chlorgon (a patented chlorine filtration media) or a copper/zinc filtration media which functions in exactly the same way. Both of these technologies eliminate the impurities from the water before they reach your body or the surrounding air you will be breathing.

Not only are you preserving your health by using a filtering showerhead product, but you are also ensured important beauty and comfort benefits. When the filtration media softens the water, the harsh and drying chemicals that may later affect your health are also affecting your physical appearance. With pure water hair will improve. You will notice a change in hair's fullness, silkiness, and shine, not to mention preserving the richness of color-treated hair. Skin quality will also improve. Your skin will actually feel softer and more naturally moisturized. Previous problems such as dandruff and itching will no longer be a concern. As for one final benefit to filtered water, without chemical-ridden water, tiles and glass on and around your shower or bath will no longer need to be scrubbed! Chlorgon-treated water is softer, and does not result in the calcified build-up of the past.

Remember, all of the showering products discussed come with the benefits of thorough chlorine filtration; the choices are in the style, type, and color of your choice. Filters are offered by themselves (if you would like to keep your existing showerhead), filters with showerheads, shower handles (which are the same as removable showerheads with filters), filtering extension arms, and even a few specialized bath products bringing this same water purification concept to your baths and hot tubs! Every product has a refillable cartridge assigned to it, which can be easily replaced and purchased either with your showerhead or by itself later. As a last note, none of these products require a plumber or tools. From the showerheads to the cartridges, everything snaps right into place in seconds.

Clean, pure, rejuvenating, and refreshing showers are waiting for you!

Audrey Peterson is a Product Specialist with knowledge in the design and applications of a variety of bath and shower products http://www.air-n-water.com/shower-head-filters.htm She recommends several producrs http://www.air-n-water.com/FAQ-ShowerHeadRecommendations.htm and helps to make decision-making process easier by answering your questions and pointing you in the right direction for chlorine removal and purer water! 287http://www.air-n-water.com/product/fxd-snp6.html

Contractor For Home Improvements

Embarking on a home renovation project helps to add up to the value of your home or property. When in the process of hiring a contractor, homeowners are encouraged to check requirements such as the validity of insurance, Workman's Compensation or other, bonding, licenses and other credentials from a prospective renovation contractor.

You also need to check out the references provided, and ask about recently completed projects similar to your own. Verifying out a home improvement contractor's credentials and references before making a decision is important to helping to ensure the contractor you hire would truly be the right one for you. It also helps to protect your investment by making sure a contractor's credentials are updated,to ensure that the home renovation project would be successful.

Never Hire A Contractor Unless You First Read The Contract

Contract requirements with home renovation contractors may vary from state to state. One aspect that is uniform regardless of where you live, is that verbal agreements are worthless should a dispute break out. Therefore, although a contract might not be required by law, do not hire a contractor without first obtaining a contract that outlines the project in specific detail.

The home improvement project contract should be signed by both parties, that is, the project owner and the contractor, or all parties involved if some aspects of the work will be sub-contracted, or services of another service provider professional should be required. A project contract should protect the interests of both the homeowner and the service provider. It should include the following:

- A clear, concise, and complete description of the project, from starting and completion dates.

- The project owner and contractor's name, physical address, mailing address, and phone, as well as the physical address of the project site, the insurance service provider information and the license number of the contractor, if required.

- Terms of payment schedule for the contractor, subcontractor, and suppliers.

- The project quote or estimate.

A Contractor Should Have Adequate Insurance And Other Credentials

A major requirement that every home improvement contractor with employees should have, is the provision of Workers' Compensation, which is a type medical insurance also known as "workers' comp." A sub-contractor hired by the contractor also need to be covered. If the contractor is verified to be uninsured and/or has uninsured employees, then please don't even consider hiring them, or else you could be sued and held monetarily responsible for worker's injuries sustained while on your property.

Also, you need to ensure that the contractor has a sales tax ID number, as this would be a better way to verify a business' existence and see if it is legitimate Take note, however, that a one-man or part-time operations with annual sales below a specific amount may be exempt. Also, make sure the contractor has a valid license or permit if any are required for the type project planned, whether at state or local level, as some counties require that a contractor have a pre-paid contractor's license if they request money prior to completion of work.

Home renovation contractors with employees should also be registered with Workers Compensation. Avoid hiring companies with workers who are not registered with Workers Compensation, or those who are otherwise uninsured. You could be held liable for any accidents and injuries acquired by contractors and workers that happen on your property.

http://realestatepress.org - Real Estate Press

Vanessa A. Doctor from Jump2Top - SEO Company

Tile Bathroom Counter Top

Tile bathroom counter tops will upgrade your bathroom. Few projects can improve the bathroom of your home more than tile bathroom counter top installation. Tile counter tops are not only beautiful, they are very practical too. You can spend much money to have a ceramic tile bathroom counter top installed or you can do it yourself. In this article see the steps to install a ceramic tile bathroom counter top.

First choose your tile. This is tough, since there are many choices of ceramic tile for bathroom counters. You must choose between an endless variety of sizes, colors, textures, grades, finishes.

Decide how you will trim the tile too. If the edges will be exposed, choose tile with finished glazed edges. Some floor tiles have glazed edges and look great as counter top tiles. Porcelain tile is used often in bathrooms. Since porcelain tile has a slick glass-like finish it's easy to clean and great for a bathroom. Also many porcelain tile models come with all kinds of trim pieces for edges and accessories. Accessories include soap dishes, towel racks and related fixtures.

Part of the art to installing ceramic tile counter tops is deciding how to arrange tiles. How do you start? Where should cuts be made? Which layout looks most attractive? After your base is installed, try laying some tiles, without adhesive, on the counter and see what looks best. Try different arrangements to see what you like. Move the dry tile around and save yourself a lot of time ripping out tile and starting over.

The base for the tile is important. Your tile bathroom counter top can be installed over many materials. Formica is a good base. Just check with your dealer to choose an adhesive suited for the surface. A favorite base is cement board. With cement board you can use ready mixed latex glue as an adhesive for ceramic tile counter tops.

When you're ready to start laying your ceramic tile, it's much like laying a floor. Spread the adhesive over an area with your tile trowel. Spread the adhesive with the notched side of your trowel to get the right amount of adhesive. The size of the trowel notches and the angle of the trowel determines how much adhesive you apply.

Lay your tiles following your plan you made with the dry tile. Use spacers to get the gaps between tiles consistent.

You cut tile at edges or around fixtures using a cutter board or a wet saw. Finish trim using tile nippers. After the tile adhesive is set, prepare to grout. Choose sanded grout if the joints are 1/8 inch or larger. An excellent alternative for a tile bathroom counter top is epoxy grout, which is excellent on any tile surface in a bathroom. Epoxy grout doesn't stain and is completely waterproof.

Those are the basic steps to completely update your bathroom with a tile counter top. This beautiful, practical surface can last for decades with minimum maintenance!

Have other questions about a tile bathroom counter top? I know laying ceramic tile can be puzzling.

Visit InstallingCeramicTile.Net to get answers to your questions and get some great resources to speed you to success with your project.

Al Bullington admires the beauty of ceramic tile from his home in the country.

Learn How to Make Improvements to Your Bathroom

It doesn't matter what size of home you live in, you have at least one bathroom and sometimes two or three. Oftentimes, the bathroom gets overlooked when remodeling or decorating. It is too easy to simply hang up a new shower curtain or bring in some new towels. Many people feel that making improvements on the bathroom is too time consuming or too expensive. That does not have to be the case. Here is some advice for making your bathroom the best it can be.

Before you make any plans to re-do your bathroom, you will want to look at your current bathroom and determine why you feel it needs some work. Perhaps your bathroom is functional, but it looks out of date. Old tile, or odd colored toilets or bathtubs can also add to your outdated look. Maybe your bathroom looks modern, but it is not functional. Perhaps you find that you need more cabinet space or more storage. If you have a very small bathroom, then making it seem bigger and more spacious may be important to you. You will want to use every inch wisely. When you pinpoint exactly what you need out of your bathroom, it will make your job easier.

The next thing you will want to do is to go shopping for ideas. Visit your local home improvement store and check out the latest styles. Find out what you like and begin looking at prices. You might even look through home decorating ideas and clip pictures that you like. Put them in a notebook for easy reference. Save those and then when you shop, it will be easier to find what you want for your own bathroom.

Many people are do-it-yourselfers and if this sounds like you, then you can potentially save hundreds of dollars. If you are handy with tools, then may very well be able to install a new sink or countertops. If you are not good with tools, then hiring a contractor may be the only way to go. In that case, find one that comes highly recommended and check up on references. Before you hire a contractor, make sure the company knows what is expected of them and knows exactly what you want. Communicate your ideas in the very beginning. Also, get the prices in writing so that you won't be surprised in the end.

Remodeling your existing bathroom does not have to turn into a major home improvement chore. Take some time to shop around for new plumbing, counters, windows and even cabinets. Know what you want and need before you start and you will find that this job is much easier. You are well on your way to the new bathroom of your dreams.

Ken Morris usually pens detailed reports on themes related to home repair and locks. With his detailed writings, he showed his experience on themes corresponding to replace storm windows and home repair.

How To Install Ceramic Tile

How to install ceramic tile is simple if you have good instructions. There are so many applications that are great for tile. Some are trickier than others. But whether you're installing ceramic tile on a backsplash or a shower floor in a tile shower, many of the processes are the same. The basic steps of ceramic tile installation could be described as: layout, cutting the tile, applying thinset, laying tile and grouting. The same steps apply for installing marble tile or granite tile also.

Layout

After measuring your tile project area and gathering the materials, you are ready to start. Make sure you have a solid surface as a foundation for your tile. Pros often use Hardibaker cement board. Cement board is rigid and not damaged by water. After your base is ready, get your measure, chalk line, square and level and construct your guide lines. Based on the type of job, decide where the cut tiles will look best. If the room is out-of-square by quite a bit, make sure any odd angles of the tile to existing surfaces are in less noticeable areas. Sometimes you may choose to run tile at a 45 degree angle to adjoining surfaces to eliminate mismatching joints. Make plenty of guide lines.

Cutting Ceramic Tile

Tile is cut with a cutter board, with nippers or with a wet saw. The cutter board scores the tile and then the tile can be easily broken. This is for straight cuts. A poor score will equal a ruined tile. Nippers are like pliers that score the tile and let you break the tile in small pieces. Nippers are used for smaller areas. The wet saw is a table saw with a table that moves to the blade. The saw is for straight cuts. Also the saw is used for cuts that must be finished with the nippers, such as in large curves.

Thinset

Thinset is the adhesive used to stick tile in place. There are actually several types of popular adhesives including various latex blends, both ready-mixed and dry powder to be mixed with water. For larger jobs, the wettable powder is the way to go. Thinset is mixed to the consistency of peanut butter using a drill driven mixer. Thinset is applied with a tile trowel having notched edges. The notches determine how much thinset is on the surface...bigger notches equal more adhesive. You want just enough thinset to cover the surface, but not so much that the adhesive oozes up out of the spacing between tiles.

Laying Tile

Laying tile is an art. Tile size varies and the more variation the harder it is to keep the tile in an eye-pleasing manner. The edges should be aligned in each direction as much as possible. Also the edges of the tile shou10EFld not be higher or lower than adjoining tile. Unevenness up and down is lippage. It takes time and practice to set tile evenly. Regular plastic tile spacers can help less experienced tile setters make good looking, evenly spaced joints.

Grout

Apply grout after the thinset is dry. Grout can be colored and comes sanded or unsanded depending on the width of the joint. Grout is a masonry product but also can include epoxy. Epoxy grout is waterproof and stainproof but is tough to apply because of the smell. Apply grout with a rubber faced trowel. Clean the grout from the tile surfaces before it dries using a regular tile sponge.

Let your grout dry and then apply a regular grout sealer to help resist water and staining.

Those are the basics for installing ceramic tile but the details are what get you, right?

Puzzled about how to complete a tile project? Need more information? Visit our site for help with how to install ceramic tile.

We invite you to visit http://www.installingceramictile.net for resources to answer all your ceramic tile installation questions.

Bathroom Faucets - Facts To Consider Before Shopping II

Selecting bathroom faucets requires some thought, and the mechanics and installation types of bathroom faucets was covered in my previous article. If you missed it, you should take a minute to read the first article.

Once you have decided whether you need a centerset, widespread, or single hole faucet, and have chosen between compression, cartridge, or a disc type bathroom faucet, there are still some things to consider.

Style Preference in Bathroom Faucets

This is bound to be an easy choice. Most of us seem wired from birth to a preference for one style or another. You know what you are comfortable with whether it is Country, Victorian, French Provincial, Tuscan, or Contemporary. This to some degree will impact the finish you choose, but many of the finishes cross style lines.

Bathroom Faucets-Fit and Finish

There are so many style options in bathroom faucets these days, that it is important to see how they will coordinate and fit with other elements in your bath.

* Consider spout height. Many bathroom faucets are available with longer spouts these days, and the height and reach should be considered. For instance, the height of the spout may make a slight difference in how high you mount your mirror or medicine cabinet above it. Consider splash and make sure you have adequate clearance.

* When thinking about the splash effect, consider the depth of the sink and whether it is up to absorbing the water from the spout without splashing out or up. This is an important consideration especially in a household with children.

Bathroom Faucets and Finishes

* Bathroom faucets are available in shiny finishes. Chrome has long been the overwhelmingly popular choice, but there is polished chrome, polished brass, and French gold, just to name a few. These finishes do require more ongoing care to keep them polished and shiny. They are more likely to show water spots and finger smudges, so just realize that before making a choice.

* Many of today's homeowners prefer the brushed or satin finishes in bathroom faucets. Although stylish and attractive baths are what homeowners want, they prefer to spend more time enjoying them and less time with intensive care and maintenance.

* Satin nickel, matte chrome. brushed bronze, brazen bronze and other of the less shiny bathroom faucet finishes are becoming increasingly popular due to the ease of care they require.

* And of course, many more finishes such as oil rubbed bronze, Venetian bronze, black iron and weathered copper are being made available for great diversity in bathroom faucet finishes. Some of these are considered living finishes, and will change with time and use. They are designed to change, and if you purchase a faucet with a living finish you just need to recognize this as a natural process and be able to live with your choice in later years.

When selecting the style and finish of your bathroom faucet, keep other bathroom elements in mind. Consider how it will look with your countertop, backsplash, lighting etc. By planning and coordinating all the elements in your bathroom carefully, you should be proud of your choice in bathroom faucets for years into the future.

More tips on shopping for bathroom faucets, as well as purchase tips for 320medicine cabinets.

Kitchen Remodeling Ideas for Your Home

A very easy way to improve your home is to remodel your kitchen and bathroom. Upgrading your bathroom will not only improve your house but it will also add value to your house. Kitchen and bathroom remodeling can be very expensive due to the specialist plumbing and electrical wiring skills required.

There are ways to update your kitchen and bathroom without lots of expense. You can simply replace the cabinets in your bathroom and kitchen. Cabinets are the main part of your kitchen and bathroom, by replacing or even updating the cabinets in your room5B4 you will be able to breathe extra life into this room.

Any bathroom or kitchen project can be complicated and take a lot of time to finish. You should carefully look at the cabinets that you want to install. You want to make sure you replace your cabinets with great looking cabinets so you don't have to change them for a very long time!

IT is possible to do really easy and simple bath remodeling projects. Even something as simple as painting the room can change how it looks and feels. You need to make sure that the time that you spend on your bathroom and kitchen are time well spent. Take a careful look at your existing cabinets so that you can check no problems already exist.

If there are any gaps between the cabinets and the wall then these need to be filled. Also check that doors are hung properly, and all drawers open properly. Any of these problems could mean that you require a much more extensive remodel rather than just repainting. If your cabinet is too old then even repainting probably wouldn't be enough. If you have decided that your cabinets are suitable for a quick remodeling project then you should start looking at the different options that are available.

Different Refinishing Techniques

There are a number of different ways that you can remodel a bath room or kitchen by redoing your cabinets. However not all are as simple as just slapping some paint on your units.

If your cabinets are g5B4reasy or dirty then you will need to bleach them in order to clean them down. This is particularly important for kitchen cabinets as they can get very greasy. After this you should clean them down by mixing up a solution of linseed oil, boiling water and bleach.

If they still need cleaning then you can strip the old paint or finish off your existing cabinets. After you have prepared your surfaces you then need to apply the new finish. If you have natural solid wood units then you can stain the wood after stripping. Otherwise you can paint the wood.

If you want a much newer fresher look then you can paint the units. Choose a color that goes well with the rest of the bathroom color schemes. You can use specialist techniques such as sponging or rag rolling to apply the paint to give them a much more unique look.

Redoing your kitchen and bathroom cabinets can be a great way to change the look of your kitchen very cheaply. It's great value for money, why not give it a go?

The magazine writer Leroy Calstard is especially interested in ideas associated to kitchen sinks and home repair. Through his documents on wall mount sinks the reviewer confirmed his experience 21Bon the topic.

Your Basement Bar Idea

Designing a basement bar idea is one of the most desirable things you, as a house owner, can do for your den. Especially when you got lots of friends who like to party on weekends, you can have your basement as an alternative venue. Even for just the simple joy of hanging out, the basement is a perfect spot.

What makes a basement more enjoyable to hangout with is when you know people like it too. Having an idea and turning it into a reality is one thing that gives you that sense of fulfillment. The conversation doesn't seem to end. Here are some things you need to set it up.

1. Sink. Install your sink in a corner near your plumbing system. This is will make it 5B4easier to install. Since all ends of the plumbing system in your house leads to the basement, might as well set up your mini bar there. Your wet bar is where you wash stuff or drain all excessive spills into the sink.

2. Liquor shelves. Having a liquor shelf in your basement bar is essential since you'll be serving drinks in the room. Place your liquor shelf in an area where the temperature is consistent. This will help as most of the wine and other liquor types are temperature regulated. A basement bar idea can never be complete without this.

3. Keg, cooler, and a refrigerator. Consider installing a beer keg shelf under your bar if you're thinking about serving beer. It's safe and it's easy to manage. Some bar units have a built-in keg cabinet. An alternative to the beer keg is a cooler to put your beer bottles in. However, coolers can also be messy after the party. If you don't like coolers or keg, put a mini ref in your basement bar. But these are also must haves for a basement bar.

4. The bar. Obviously, a basement bar can't be without the bar! You have a choice of building your own. Some carpentry skills and a little time in your weekend schedule is what you basically need. This is most practical when your budget is tight. However, if cash is not a concern, buy one. There are a lot of different types of bars that suits your basement bar idea to choose from.

5. A bartender. Add an experien5ABced bartender to your basement bar. However, this can add to your overhead cost. If you have a friend who knows how to mix concoctions, send him in. But if you don't, the next best option is to study this art of mixing drinks. The fun part is when the party begins. Having this is your plan completes your basement bar idea.

Some basement bars can be quite a well-designed that they don't even look like basement at all. The designs are so good you might think it's a bar in a hotel restaurant. The point is that all you need is a good and clear vision of how your bar should look like. Your basement bar idea is your key to make it happen. When it's done you'll be the envy of your friends and neighborhood.

Hunting for a basement bar idea? Discover the best tips on basement remodeling ideas from the best sources on the web.

Three Types of Lighting for Room Remodeling

When remodeling a room, choosing the correct lighting is one of the most important considerations. Proper lighting sets the atmosphere of the room, creates a particular mood, or provides accent to an architectural style. Lighting also accentuates the good aspects of a room or disguises a rooms shortcomings.

There are three main types of lighting, general, task, and accent. Each has its own specific uses, depending on a rooms needs.

General Lighting

General lighting is sometimes called ambient lighting, and is the foundation of any rooms lighting scheme. It is what provides the overall illumination of a room, enabling the occupants to be able to walk around the room easily and safely.

There are many types of general lighting, such as chandeliers, wall or ceiling fixtures, and recessed or track lighting.

Task Lighting

Task lighting allows a rooms occupants to perform specific activities such as writing, reading, dressing, or cooking, depending upon the room being addressed. There are a number of possibilities when it comes to task lighting, such as pendant lights, portable lamps, as well as recessed or track lighting.

The important consideration for task lighting is that it must be bright enough to prevent eyestrain without causing glare or distracting shadows.

Accent Lighting

Accent lighting is designed to add drama to a room through the creation of visual interest. It can be used to spotlight paintings, plants, sculptures, or to highlight an unusual wall texture or drapery. Accent lighting generally focuses at least three times as much light on the focal point as the general light in the room, and is usually provided by recessed, track, or wall mounted lighting.

Using the three types of light dramatically improves the overall look and feel of a room, and should be one of the most carefully considered parts of any remodeling plan.

(c) Copyright 2004, Jeanette J. Fisher. All rights reserved.

Professor Jeanette Fisher, author of Doghouse to Dollhouse for Dollars, Joy to the Home, and other books teaches Real Estate Investing and Design Psychology. For more articles, tips, reports, newsletters, and sales flyer template, see http://www.doghousetodollhousefordollars.com/pages/5/index.htm

The Different Choices And Exterior Siding

Exterior siding, or cladding as it is sometimes referred to as the outermost material on the side of a home or structure. There are many different choices available in exterior siding, and the homeowner is often guided by their budget and the environmental conditions in the area where they live. The two main roles in exterior siding players is that first it must protect the house against the elements, and secondly it adds aesthetic value to the structure.

Exterior siding acts as an insulating barrier to the structure of the home. It provides protection from water, sun, rain, wind, and moisture. The proper choice in exterior siding as both durability and longevity to your home. When you choose a high-quality exterior siding you'll find that maintenance is easier, the siding lasts longer and its long lifespan will mean you probably will not have to replace it anytime soon. Proper maintenance and care is also required to ensure the longevity of your exterior siding.

The choices in exterior siding are limitless, and can provide the homeowner with a plethora of looks for their house. From the simple elegance of stone, to the bright and colorful stucco the homeowner's options are indeed limitless. If the homeowner can dream it, it can probably be accomplished through use of exterior siding.

Exterior siding comes in a wide variety of prices as well as styles. Natural stones and would are more costly than a cheaper artificial alternatives. Engineered wood, vinyl, fiber cement, and cultured stone offer an inexpensive alternative to what was once a prohibitively expensive elegant look.

A cheaper alternative to wood siding is vinyl siding. Vinyl siding is durable and requires much less maintenance than wood. Another alternative is engineered wood. Engineered wood is composed of wood chips and fibers suspended in wax and resins then baked under pressure to form a hard endurable substance. When used as an exterior siding engineered wood provides a low-cost alternative to traditional would cladding while maintaining a high degree of durability.

Another cheap alternative is fiber cement siding. Fibers and siding are as popular 5B4as an exterior siding because of its ease of installation, low cost, anti-durability. It is often made to mimic both vinyl siding and wood siding.

When looking for an inexpensive replacement for stone one can consider cultured stone for their exterior siding. Cultured stone is a lightweight stone veneer that is molded from natural stones to give it excellent texture characteristics.

Whatever you choose for your exterior siding it is important that you are happy with the decision, as it will be with you for a very long time to come. As always shop around to try to find the best deals, and if possible use the Internet as a tool to compare prices.

Exterior siding, or cladding as it is sometimes referred to as the outermost material on the side of a home or structure. There are many different choices available in exterior siding, and the homeowner is often guided by their budget and the environmental conditions in the area where they live. The two main roles in exterior siding players is that first it must protect the house against the elements, and secondly it adds aesthetic value to the structure.

Exterior siding acts as an insulating barrier to the structure of the home. It provides protection from water, sun, rain, wind, and moisture. The proper choice in exterior siding as both durability and longev3B9ity to your home. When you choose a high-quality exterior siding you'll find that maintenance is easier, the siding lasts longer and its long lifespan will mean you probably will not have to replace it anytime soon. Proper maintenance and care is also required to ensure the longevity of your exterior siding.

The choices in exterior siding are limitless, and can provide the homeowner with a plethora of looks for their house.