Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Wood Does Rot - Home Repairs and Advice

Let me give you some advice right now," All Wood Rots Eventually". I have heard it all when it comes to this wood or that wood lasting this long or that long........ Hello....... All wood is going to rot at some period of it's life.

With that out of the way we can focus on some wood seems to last a little longer under certain conditions.

Teak is a wood that has a lot of natural oil in it. But you won't frame a house with it. Teak is used on boats and expensive outdoor furniture. It is a excellent wood to use when building a ship. The woods natural oils seem to create a protective barrier around it allowing it to last a long time even at sea. Great wood for the outdoors...

Oak is a excellent choice for almost every wood finish inside your home. It is used for kitchen cabinets, entertainment centers, flooring, trim and furniture. Oak is a hard wood and can take a lot of abuse from almost anything except water. I have seen a nice piece of furniture get stained from just setting one glass on it for ten minutes. Great Wood For Inside Your Home.

Poplar is also a great choice for inside your house. This wood is used by many finish carpenters for making cabinets and other built ins for your house. It is also popular not poplar for wood trim . Most of the poplar that is used inside of your home will eventually get painted. So that makes poplar a inexpensive choice of wood for homeowners that want a nice painted finish on their interior wood projects. Great Wood For Inside Your Home.

Douglas Fir is the most common source of lumber used on the west coast of the United States. This is a extremely durable wood product. On the East Coast they use southern pine and the nominal thickness is usually two inches by four inches for a 2 x 4 . With Douglas Fir a 2 x 4 is one inch and a half by three and one half inches to support the same weight structurally. In my opinion one of the best home framing materials.

Douglas Fir can and has been for a long time now. A great source for clear finish materials used inside of the house. You will see a nice orange or brown looking piece of wood stained naturally in some older home. This is Douglas Fir. It can be a bit pricy but really gives a log cabin look to your home.

Redwood is a great choice for inside or outside your home. I love Redwood it has a nice look to it stained naturally. Redwood is used for a lot of siding, fences, decks and out door furniture. The main problem with Redwood is that is is soft and will get scratched easily. Now for the facts about Redwood. It does rot and termites will eat it.

Wood myth number one eliminated. I have heard stories about wood that termites won't eat. Well Redwood is not one of them. I have seen termites tearing this stuff up. Don't get caught up in the hype that this or that wood will last for 5 years or 50 years. Under the right conditions almost all woods will rot at a accelerated rate.

For more information on wood damage, check out wood repair at http://gregvan.com/wood_repair.htm

Copyright 2008 Greg Vanden Berge All Rights Reserved

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

Spanish Tile Roofing Damage
Stained Stucco Block Wall

Monday, March 30, 2009

Wood Sub Floors are a Rotten Choice

For many homeowners, the idea of a basement finishing is to remodel the area the same what the rest of the house has been designed. This means they'll want their ceiling to be made of drywall to look like the rest of their house. The furniture should be the same decor, and their floors- the wood sub floors and beautiful, thick carpet laid on top- should be placed downstairs as well.

Unfortunately, this is not going to work. A drywall ceiling is going to give little or no access to pipes running along your basement ceiling, and a single plumbing leak will cause enormous damage to it. The basement walls have fewer windows than the rest of the house, and if you lay wood on a concrete basement floor, it's going to lead to a home improvement disaster.

The problem is this: concrete is porous like a sponge. If you have moisture in the earth around your basement floor, the concrete floor will soak that moisture up from the ground and release it into the basement air in the form of water vapor. The dirt around your foundation was backfilled in when the foundation was built. Because of this, it will always be looser and more porous than the virgin earth around it, and water will always collect against your home's foundation more than anywhere else.

As this moisture soaks through to the basement and is released, it will collect on anything lying on your basement floor. If you've laid a wood sub floor and carpet on the floor, then you can count on that to soak up this moisture and grow mold, mildew, and rot. Your basement will fill with mold spores, dust mite feces, and unpleasant odors as your wood sub floors and beautiful carpet decays. In a few years, the damage will be more than you can stand, and the whole finished basement floor will need to be ripped up and replaced. The solution to this comes in two easy rules:

Rule 1: Never install wood floors in a basement.
Whether it's in the form of moisture coming through the concrete, a foundation leak, or a plumbing leak from within the house itself, water will reach the basement floor sooner or later. It only takes about 48 hours for mold to start growing, and there's no easy way to dry wood sub floors out. Installing wood sub floors in a basement is a risk at best and a disaster at worst.

Rule 2: Add a reliable plastic vapor barrier to your floor, then lay your carpeting on top.
A thick pile carpet will add warmth to the room and will absorb sounds, making the finished basement quieter than ever. It'll be softer under foot and will make the room as comfortable as possible for children to play in.

Once you've done a basement waterproofing, Basement Systems recommends and installs ThermalDry floor matting on your concrete basement floors. It creates a waterproof vapor barrier on your floor that will protect your carpet from basement moisture while insulating the floor to make the surface as much as ten degrees warmer than the concrete floor beneath. Our floor matting last twice as long and take only 3/8" of head room from the basement floor as opposed to the 4" that wood sub floors can use. Our sub floors outlast several generations of carpet, come with a written warranty, and will not support the growth of mold and rot. What more could you want?

Jacques Bouchard
Basement Systems
Total Basement Finishing
60 Silvermine Road
Seymour, CT 06483
800-541-0487 x9335

Sunday, March 29, 2009

Patio Roof Designs - Find a Unique Look to Fit With Your House

No ideal home is complete without a beautifully designed patio. This is a paved area outside the house, commonly for relaxation, dining, and good conversation, listening to music, drinks and other recreational activity. A patio is best covered, so as to be suitable for all seasons. Besides, roofing adds much beauty to the patio. Patio roof come in many shapes and designs. Here are some great ideas for your patio roof designs.

Patio umbrellas are wonderful roofing patio styles. With a good swimming pool nearby, an umbrella patio gives a natural resort feel to the patio that increases relaxation. While they are made of wood, the umbrellas usually come in different colors. One very good thing about this patio design is that it can easily be closed down or adjusted to taste.

Canopies and gazebos are made out of iron or wood. They also come in various shapes and sizes. The covers are moveable. The fabric and draping come in many designs and colors. Some are even water proof. Trellis and vines can be added up to the sides of the vines to climb up and add a more natural feel Using simple wood pergola Patio roof designs will make the whole terrain a site to behold, especially when properly maintained. A very innovative touch to the entire property can be enhanced by the color of paint and designs applied on the patio. Planting ornamental plants will add up to the artistic feel of the patio.

A good patio cover design that is used mostly on summer is the vinyl Awnings. They come in many colors, designs and sizes. They also make good poolside beauty and comfort additions.

If you want a more permanent fixture for your patio roof designs, a metal patio roof should be one of the styles to consider. Made of corrugated metal sheets, it is very suitable for rainy seasons and last quite long. When attached to your home, maximum shade from excessive sunlight and rain is guaranteed.

A clear glass patio can be tinted, depending on choice. It is beautiful and labels your property and elegant. With a glass patio, sunshine can be let in, as well as a good protection from the elements. They are also strong.

Another affordable patio roof design to use is the Aluminum Pan roof. Besides durability and affordability, it can also be maintained with minimum costs. A cool shade in summer, a shield from the rain and a good protection from the elements is what this roof style offers.

In choosing a roof design for your patio, it is advised you choose the designs that will so complement your house design that it will be seen as part of your house that it really is. Most importantly, uniqueness is what makes the patio roof a site to behold.

Wendy Pan is an accomplished niche website developer and author. To learn more about patio roof designs, please visit My Room Additions for current articles and discussions.

Saturday, March 28, 2009

Remodeling Books Save Time and Money

The other day, I was surfing the Internet and came upon an online home building bookstore that put together a website with the best-selling home building books on the market today. These books range from basic carpentry to advanced structural engineering and everything else you could possibly think of that could be related to the home building, selling, remodeling and construction process.

I couldn't believe the simple and easy to use. Here's a list of some of their books selections.

Photo Guide to Home Repair - The most up-to-date, complete, and useful guide to home repair a homeowner can have. With more than 350 projects and 2300 photos, virtually every home repair challenge.

Exterior Siding, Trim & Finishes - This first ever compilation by Fine Homebuilding on the popular subject provides builders with ideas for choosing the correct finishes for home exteriors, plus solid how-to information.

Flipping Houses - This book is designed for realty investors who want to profit from buying below market, making cosmetic improvements to add value, and then quickly reselling.

Bathroom Remodeling - Remodeling a bathroom is a challenge - it's action-oriented and requires extra energy and stamina. But you, undoubtedly, realize it's a challenge you want to take on.

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

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

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

If your looking for some more Home Remodeling Pictures or home building ideas

Brick Design With Oozing Grout

Repairing a Leaking Toilet - Home Repairs

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Happy Toilet Repairing.

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

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

Bead Board Ceiling

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Ice Dams - House Remodeling Ideas

There is nothing like winter in Michigan when 12 or 14 inches of snow pile up overnight and its Saturday morning with nowhere to go. But soon there looks like an ice flow from an Antarctic glacier hanging over the edge of your house. Now you start to worry about the gutters you didn't clean last fall because the freezing temperatures came even before the leaves fell. Well good news: Full gutters do not cause ice dams!

Ice dams are caused for two reasons: Heavy snowfall and poor design, insulation and ventilation of the roof and attic of the home. When snow stacks up on the roof and temperatures remain well below freezing, the snow melts from the bottom next to your roof. The heat lost from the house through the roof causes the snow to melt and run down under the snow pack to the eves where it refreezes and starts to stack up and hang over the edge. Water will pool behind this wall of ice and eventually work its way under the shingles and leak into your attic, through your ceilings and even down the walls into the basement! During the winter your gutters are filled with snow and ice and do not drain at all. Many people experience water in the basement when we have a sudden rain in the winter before their gutters have a chance to thaw. The water runs right off the roof, over the gutters and drains down the basement walls.

Many houses were built over the years with short eves, or that portion of the roof that overhangs the wall. Some houses have no eves at all! This type of design does not allow for much soffit ventilation. Look under the eves to see if you have grates or vents installed. Generally the more you have the better. These vents let cold air get sucked into the attic by the warm air heated because of poor insulation in your attic. This air is then vented through roof can or ridge vents. Now look at the roof of your house. How many can vents do you see? A ridge vent instead looks like very thick shingles along the peak of the roof. "Can" style vents are now being thought as better than ridge vents that have been popular recently.

So here are two things you can do to lessen the impact of ice dams: First, check your attic insulation. This is not complex work but very demanding physically. You'll have to be able to crawl and scoot your way around the attic without putting your foot through the ceiling. Lay the rolled, bat or loose insulation carefully but do not block the soffit vents from the inside! Go into the attic and turn off the lights and you should be able to locate the vents by the light coming up through the grates. Wear protective clothing and a breathing mask. Second, increase the number of soffit vents under the eves. This may be a job for a contractor and is not that expensive considering the utility costs you'll save.

So OK, you'll get to that insulation and venting thing ASAP but you have water dripping trough the ceilings now. You need to act right away: First, drill or push a sharp tool through the ceiling where ever you see water stains. This will drain water into a bucket and decrease the amount of damage to the ceiling. The small hole can be patched latter and touched up with paint. Next get some calcium chloride to put on the roof. (Calcium chloride is a salt that will not damage your shingles and be easier on the plants below) Spread the calcium along the top of the ice dam concentrating it in several places to melt a "trough" to drain the water away. You can also pack panty hose with the calcium chloride and lay them across the ice dam (and no, this is not the time to make jokes about your wife's skinny legs! She's mad enough about the ceilings already)

Never go on the roof or allow anyone else to go up there; this is lunacy! Roofs are dangerous, even deadly on a warm dry day, don't take the risk! It will be a mess but throw the salt up from the ground or step ladder if necessary. Never use an ax, hammer or hatchet; this will damage the roof for sure. And never, ever use a torch! (Beyond lunacy!)

Because ice dams are caused by certain weather patterns everybody and his dog is buying snow or roof rakes after a heavy snowfall. If you are lucky enough to find one of these light-weight tools at the hardware you can rake the soft snow from the roof too. This is also a good preventive measure if it can be done soon after a snowfall.

Mother Nature will have the last word but taking action now and being prepared to deal with ice dams quickly and safely will reduce much of the damage and danger to you and your home.

Frank Kalinski is a licensed builder in the State of Michigan and has run a gutter repair service for five years. Now doing home residential rental inspection for property owners he has seen many homes and how people live in them. He sees many products and designs years after construction; some things work well and some not. Simple, basic, tried and true generally last the longest and are most economical. Please visit my new web site at http://frg-s.com/

Ice Dams - House Remodeling Ideas

There is nothing like winter in Michigan when 12 or 14 inches of snow pile up overnight and its Saturday morning with nowhere to go. But soon there looks like an ice flow from an Antarctic glacier hanging over the edge of your house. Now you start to worry about the gutters you didn't clean last fall because the freezing temperatures came even before the leaves fell. Well good news: Full gutters do not cause ice dams!

Ice dams are caused for two reasons: Heavy snowfall and poor design, insulation and ventilation of the roof and attic of the home. When snow stacks up on the roof and temperatures remain well below freezing, the snow melts from the bottom next to your roof. The heat lost from the house through the roof causes the snow to melt and run down under the snow pack to the eves where it refreezes and starts to stack up and hang over the edge. Water will pool behind this wall of ice and eventually work its way under the shingles and leak into your attic, through your ceilings and even down the walls into the basement! During the winter your gutters are filled with snow and ice and do not drain at all. Many people experience water in the basement when we have a sudden rain in the winter before their gutters have a chance to thaw. The water runs right off the roof, over the gutters and drains down the basement walls.

Many houses were built over the years with short eves, or that portion of the roof that overhangs the wall. Some houses have no eves at all! This type of design does not allow for much soffit ventilation. Look under the eves to see if you have grates or vents installed. Generally the more you have the better. These vents let cold air get sucked into the attic by the warm air heated because of poor insulation in your attic. This air is then vented through roof can or ridge vents. Now look at the roof of your house. How many can vents do you see? A ridge vent instead looks like very thick shingles along the peak of the roof. "Can" style vents are now being thought as better than ridge vents that have been popular recently.

So here are two things you can do to lessen the impact of ice dams: First, check your attic insulation. This is not complex work but very demanding physically. You'll have to be able to crawl and scoot your way around the attic without putting your foot through the ceiling. Lay the rolled, bat or loose insulation carefully but do not block the soffit vents from the inside! Go into the attic and turn off the lights and you should be able to locate the vents by the light coming up through the grates. Wear protective clothing and a breathing mask. Second, increase the number of soffit vents under the eves. This may be a job for a contractor and is not that expensive considering the utility costs you'll save.

So OK, you'll get to that insulation and venting thing ASAP but you have water dripping trough the ceilings now. You need to act right away: First, drill or push a sharp tool through the ceiling where ever you see water stains. This will drain water into a bucket and decrease the amount of damage to the ceiling. The small hole can be patched latter and touched up with paint. Next get some calcium chloride to put on the roof. (Calcium chloride is a salt that will not damage your shingles and be easier on the plants below) Spread the calcium along the top of the ice dam concentrating it in several places to melt a "trough" to drain the water away. You can also pack panty hose with the calcium chloride and lay them across the ice dam (and no, this is not the time to make jokes about your wife's skinny legs! She's mad enough about the ceilings already)

Never go on the roof or allow anyone else to go up there; this is lunacy! Roofs are dangerous, even deadly on a warm dry day, don't take the risk! It will be a mess but throw the salt up from the ground or step ladder if necessary. Never use an ax, hammer or hatchet; this will damage the roof for sure. And never, ever use a torch! (Beyond lunacy!)

Because ice dams are caused by certain weather patterns everybody and his dog is buying snow or roof rakes after a heavy snowfall. If you are lucky enough to find one of these light-weight tools at the hardware you can rake the soft snow from the roof too. This is also a good preventive measure if it can be done soon after a snowfall.

Mother Nature will have the last word but taking action now and being prepared to deal with ice dams quickly and safely will reduce much of the damage and danger to you and your home.

Frank Kalinski is a licensed builder in the State of Michigan and has run a gutter repair service for five years. Now doing home residential rental inspection for property owners he has seen many homes and how people live in them. He sees many products and designs years after construction; some things work well and some not. Simple, basic, tried and true generally last the longest and are most economical. Please visit my new web site at http://frg-s.com/

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Saving Money on Your Energy Bills

Believe it or not, it is entirely possibly to start saving tonight on your energy bills - no matter where you live, or the type of house you live in. The real secret to saving money is knowing where to start. So, let's get started!

It's a very important step - yet it is one that nearly everyone falls all over. In fact, it is the first step for a reason. Knowing where to start looking for energy problems is half the battle. Once you find the problem areas of your home, you can find solutions that will fix or remedy those areas.

In this article, we'll focus on your kitchen's energy usage.

Every home or apartment has a kitchen. And in this kitchen there are numerous appliances you have to keep your eye on. Do you know what the biggest energy waster is in 95% of kitchens? It's the refrigerator. That modern marvel is terrific for keeping foods from spoiling, but if it is more than 10 years old, it is "obsolete" and a waster of energy. Today's refrigerator units use on average 25% less energy than their predecessors just 10 years ago.

So what can go wrong with a refrigerator? Usually the first sign of wear on an old fridge is the seals and hinges of the door. It isn't surprising when you consider that the doors are opened and closed repeatedly at least 10 times a day in over 50% of homes. Think about how often you open and close the doors on a daily basis. Twice at breakfast, four times or more at dinner, and a few more times to reach for a cold beverage.

All the strain on the hinges adds up, especially on older units. Now granted, they are built to withstand the constant opening and closing, but eventually problems will crop up. And when they do, either the door refuses to close all the way or it gives way to small areas around the door that aren't insulating as well as they should.

And the seal...well it doesn't take long for the seal to crack or lose its tight "grip". Once this happens, refrigerated air will leak out (or more to the point, warmer air will seep in) causing your fridge to work harder. The additional strain on the compressor, fan, and other parts means they run longer, on average, than usual. And this directly translates to high energy bills.

So, whats the solution? Well, hinges should be replaced if they are going bad, and the seals should be checked - especially on older units. You can also improve the efficiency of your fridge by ensuring it is not placed in direct sunlight or near a heat register. Minimize the amount of times the doors are opened and closed. Every time you open or close the door, you are exchanging cooled air for warm air. Finally, vacuum the exchanger coils once per year to allow better air circulation and more efficient operation.

The fridge is not the only place energy is used or potentially wasted. Your stove/oven also uses energy. And like refrigerators, the older they are the less efficient they become.

Whether you have an electric range or gas range, be aware that advances in appliance technology again means that units 10 years old or more are less efficient than current models. Keep in mind too if you have a natural gas range that there is inherent inefficiency with burning fuel for heat. Every gas appliance has an efficiency rating which tells you how efficient the unit is at converting the gas input to heat. As a practical example, if a range has a 10,000 BTU burner and operates at 80% efficiency, the most heat it will out put is 8,000 BTU. As the unit gets older, the efficiency rating goes down, so the fuel is burned less efficiently. This means that the range will need to run longer to achieve the desired result. Again, the direct result is higher gas bills.

Electric ranges are no different, except, as with all electronics, they are near 100% efficient in converting the "power". In other words, there isn't a built in efficiency problem as with natural gas appliances. The wattage the unit is rated at will be what it takes as input, and the heat output is consistent. There is no need to convert to an "efficiency output" as with natural gas. However, like their gas counterparts, the heating elements and electronics inside the unit certainly become outdated or can break over time. Consider that if an electric range burner "burns out" or breaks, it is useless. It must be replaced. Gas appliances usually don't have these electrical problems. Newer units use less power and heat better because of better convective cooking surfaces, better heating elements, and better, more energy friendly electronics inside the unit.

Ovens, whether they are electric or gas, typically have the same faults. Over time, the seals wear out and heat is wasted through the doors, Their heating elements as well can become old and outdated. Additionally, the insulation that surrounds the oven may crumble or being to show signs of wear. All these elements contribute to the oven's inefficiency.

So, how do you combat these problems? Sometimes, it isn't an option to use them less. But ideally, that is the best course of action. When using the oven, try to cook foods during the last 5 minutes of the cooking cycle with the heat "off". Avoid peeking into the oven - use the window. Opening the oven too often allows vital heat to escape, and thus the oven as to turn on for a period of time to compensate for the lost heat. You can use a similar trick with electric ranges. The element will remain warm for a couple minutes after it is turned off. Use covers when cooking on the range as they trap more heat than open pots and pans. Lastly, once boiling temperature is reached, turn down the burner to maintain the boil. It saves energy, while still boiling the liquid.

Last, let's touch briefly on microwaves. Another modern marvel that makes cooking fast and simple. There is a direct correlation between the power of the microwave and the power consumption. The power, measured in watts, is the power input. At 100% power, the microwave converts most of the power input to radiation, which heats the food/liquid in the microwave. Simply put, the more powerful the microwave, the more energy it takes. There is no such thing as a powerful microwave that is "energy efficient". Powerful microwaves are inherently energy hogs.

So, where's the opportunity for savings here? Well, using the microwave in "short" periods helps. The less you use the unit, the better off you are. And like most other appliances, older units become inefficient over time. The electronics and more importantly the radiation (microwave) source becomes outdated and produces less radiation. The 10 year rule applies here - if it is older than 10 years old, look into replacing it. Also, watch the hinges and door latch. These have a tendency to come loose with constant usage, even if the unit is only a few years old!

I hope you've enjoyed the energy journey through the kitchen. Next article, We'll walk through your living room and look for opportunities for energy savings there. See you then!

Dave Andersen regularly writes about home energy savings tips, energy efficiency, and saving money on home energy bills. He is not only an avid proponent of alternative energy and energy conservation, but of homeowner education about their home energy usage. He is a regular contributor to Utility Bill Busters, a free blog updated often with cutting edge energy saving tips for homes and businesses. It can be found at http://www.utilitybillbusters.com

Contractor In Southern California

So you want to make big money making a living as a contractor in the state of California. Well now I bet you have seen contractors on TV or maybe you know someone who is a contractor. You see these men and women playing the part as Mr. or Mrs. Money bags. If you have the slightest thought that becoming a contractor will provide you with a life of riches think again.

Most contractors that I know and have worked with over the years don't think of there jobs as easy. They have to work everyday and a lot into the night doing estimates or meeting with potential clients because they are to busy during the day. The life of most contractors in the beginning will be difficult to say the least. But if successful you will make a great living for yourself and your family.

Now that we got the false illusion of the contractor answering his cell phone all day at some nice golf course having lunch talking about the money that he just made selling his oil stocks. We can start on reality. If being a contractor was that easy everyone would be a contractor. Right..... Well maybe not everyone.

I have been a contractor for over 22 years and in construction for 30 year. I have seen a lot of changes over the years. I remember when a few contractors that I worked for made a lot of money during the late 1970's. These guys had Ferraris and money to burn with one exception they had no idea how to save any of it. These guys went on vacations and bought extravagant toys for them selves. Out of most of the big framing contractors I worked for about 10 percent are still in business or actually saved their money during the good times so that they could make it through the bad times.

These contractors never thought it was going to end. Life on easy street that is. But it did and most went by the way side. I guess that is the nature of business. Especially the current economic business cycles that we seem to go through over the years. If you don't have the money to advertise or carry a payroll. Your business is going to suffer during the bad times. Sure there is credit and bank loans but you still have to pay that money back. IF you can't save your money stash some away for advertising.

Some of the best advice I can give a contractor anywhere especially in the state of California is " Don't Think The Great Times Of Easy Money Will Last Forever". Save some of the money you make just in case you need to get through the bad times. You will thank me for this latter, Some time down the road. Take this advice and put it into action starting right now.

Greg Vanden Berge has over 30 years of experience in residential home building and remodeling. This provides you with the comfort of knowing that you have a professional with the knowledge and skills to complete your construction projects in a timely manner.

Our low overhead along with our new online estimating system will provide you with the most competitive construction pricing in the area. We continue to educate ourselves about the new home improvement books and building systems in the construction industry. If we have any doubt that something might not work we don't use it. We have found some of these products to be the root of some major home building problems.

Click on the Home Remodeling Ideas to get more information and a possible online estimate for your home improvement project.

Half Round Dormer Vents

Monday, March 23, 2009

Bathroom Moisture Problems - Home Remodeling

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

His website provides all kinds of answers to remodeling and new house building in North San Diego Home Remodeling Carlsbad Home Remodeling

Visit us now for Bathroom Ideas

Rancho Santa Fe Remodeling

The Ideal Shower Tray - Home Tips

Choose the ideal shower tray

Keep your bathroom floor splash free with a shower tray

Start with these frequently asked questions

Which material should I choose?

Acrylic is warm and cheap. Go for a reinforced model that's 5-8mm thick to avoid flexing, which can lead to leaks where the tray meets the wall.
Enamelled steel is tough, but can be cold underfoot and more pricey than acrylic.
Fire clay or ceramic is rigid, long lasting and easy to clean, but can be heavy and the floor may need to be reinforced to support the weight.
Stone resin or composite is stable, durable and comes in lots of shapes and colours.

What size should I go for?

Shower trays range from 80cm x 80cm to 170cm x 90cm.
Flush-to-the-floor models create a wet-room feel. Brands to look for are Kaldewei, Bette and Roman. If you don't want a screen, you'll need to 'tank' the room by applying a waterproof membrane under the floor.
Low-level trays (under 4cm high) mimic a wet-room look without the need for tanking.

Which is the best colour?

White is popular as it's clean, fresh and goes with other fittings, but you'll also find black, anthracite and acid brights. The widest colour choice is in composite trays. Corian comes in over 70 shades, and ceramic ore fire clay is great for high-gloss colour.

Where can I put it?

This depends on the position of any waste pipes and water supplies. A solid floor makes it harder to move pipes (although one solution is to build a false floor on top). Corners and alcoves are useful because the walls form a natural enclosure. If you have room, consider fitting a large tray against a long wall to make a striking focal point.

Can I fit one myself?

If you're replacing like for like, it's fine to fit a tray yourself. Choose a tray with adjustable feet to make levelling simple. If you need to relocate drains and pipework, it might be wise to call a plumber.

Tray shapes to look for:

Square
A great choice for an alcove as it can slot neatly into the space.
Quadrant
A quarter circle shape that's good for corner installations.
Pentagonal
A corner model with five sides is just the thing for smaller spaces because it won't protrude into the room as much as a standard square tray.
Rectangular
Ideal for twin showering, with more space for showering than a square tray would offer.
Walk-in
Has a drying area by the entrance, which keeps bathroom floors drip and slip free.

Good to know

Shower trays need to be totally level to ensure a watertight seal and perfect drainage - check with a good-quality spirit level.

You can find more information on interior design and interior design ideas at idealhome

Sunday, March 22, 2009

Damp Basement Solutions - Home Tips

A leaky basement can be a nightmare: the pervasive damp can cause mold growth and musty smells, items stored down there can be ruined, and the foundation can even be damaged by persistent water! If you have moisture, drips, seepage, or other water related issues in your basement, you need to get it sealed and dried out fast, before major problems develop. A wet basement isn't the end of the world, though: there are a number of solutions to get your basement dry, and keep it that way.

The first step to eliminating your basement moisture problem is identifying the source of the water. Once you have located where the water is entering the building, you can more accurately resolve the issue. The following basement drying strategies are grouped by the source of the water to help you easily connect the appropriate solution to your particular problem.

Drainage Problems

Exterior drainage issues can be a major source of water in your basement; if water is not properly diverted away from your foundation, it can frequently work its way inside. If you notice water flowing toward your house on rainy days, have blocked or malfunctioning gutters, or observe signs of erosion around your house, you likely have drainage problems. Some drainage issues are simple to resolve: if your gutters aren't working, clean and repair them. Pay special attention to downspouts, and be sure that they are directing water away from your house, not toward it! Other drainage issues can be more difficult to resolve; if your gutters aren't the source of your drainage issue, you'll want to consult a professional basement waterproofing company. They will be able to identify problematic water patterns and correct them with exterior diversion methods, which frequently require grading and installing bubblers and other water redirection systems.

Basement Leaks

Water can also work its way into your basement through cracks or crevices in your foundation. This type of problem usually manifests itself as a visible break or fracture, a trickle of water, or a damp spot. Keep in mind that basement leaks can also be caused by a porous foundation: there doesn't necessarily have to be a split for water to be seeping in. If you've located an actual crack, you can use one of several basement sealing compounds to fill it in. However, if you determine that water is leaking in through the walls of the basement itself, you'll need to take more thorough measures. You have a number of options for waterproofing your basement: vinyl wall sheeting, epoxy wall/floor paint, and exterior membranes are among the most popular. If you're uncomfortable tackling the job yourself, a waterproofing specialist can provide professional basement sealing results.

Flooding

Sometimes, no matter how good your yard drainage or how carefully your basement has been sealed, water gets in. Whether the result of a burst pipe, torrential rains, or a creek breaching its banks, floods happen. If you live in a flood-prone area, or just want to be prepared in case of disaster, you can mitigate the severity of basement floods. While most basement moisture issues are addressed after-the-fact, you'll get the best results if you're proactive with regard to basement floods. For small amounts of water, interior drain tiles will usually do the job: consider this method if you have a toilet that frequently overflows, or a washing machine that leaks. For larger volumes of water, you'll need a sump pump. This small pump will make a huge difference in how fast water is drained from your basement, and since it kicks in as soon as the water arrives, a sump pump can make the difference between a little standing water and a whole lot of standing water. Contact your local foundation repair contractor to have a sump pump installed. If basement flooding is a frequent problem, you may also want to consider a battery-powered back up pump for power outages.

Make sure you address water problems in your basement promptly; instead of going away on their own, foundation moisture issues frequently snowball into moisture and mold crises. Take the time to identify and resolve the source of the moisture-you certainly won't regret it.

And if you're not the DIY type, there are always basement waterproofing and foundation repair companies willing to help!

Matt Gallo is a home improvement hobbyist and the Internet marketing manager for Prospect Genius, a leading provider of online local advertising

Home Remodeling Books

Blinds - A Luxury

The word home brings with itself a sense of comfort and privacy. And the idea of privacy sounds complete unless all the beautifully decorative windows round the house are not covered with curtains or blinds. They are majority used to block sunlight along with providing a sense of security. Another trendy choice these days are the vertical blinds & the Panel track blinds

Many people do not choose the vertical blinds as they are a hassle and also a part of the history. They now want panel track blinds that are easy to use and can be fitted easily into you rooms and are very much affordable. These can decorate your house. These types of blinds tend to work in different ways. They improve the entire look of the room, and thus bring about the modern look which you desire. They can darken the room which might make it a bit more romantic. They are a much easier option to use as compared to the vertical blind.

There are several things that a track panel blind can do for you room. Think about windows that have huge width. These are really hard to cover, and also can be costly to put drapes. With the panel tracks, it is easy and they tend to work in a simple manner even though many windows are to be used.

There are many types of blinds available. Woven woods are of one kind. These come in yarn, bamboo and other forms of wood. They bring an exotic look to the room and come in 16 different laces. You can even consider solar sheets. There is a different type of track panels that are fiberglass, PVC and poly. These are available in different colors. There are many, which give an industrial looking steep. They come in a vinyl coating over a woven fiberglass. There are said to be luxurious options. There are several other options that can be considered.

There are many benefits offered by the track blinds first and foremost is that they are easy to use. They also can be a design characteristic in the room. It is important to select the right color and size to match the room when you are purchasing it. Match them with the wood that is placed on your windows. A bit of time needs to be invested in finding a good quality product which can turn your room into an excellent one and thus will make your investment in your home a worthy.

Interested on panel blinds?? Adam Peters is a syndicated writer of http://www.home-decorating-reviews.com Read additional info on shades or exterior shutters.

Framing Wood Shower Pans - Bathroom Remodeling

Whether you live in a home that has a bathtub or a shower, there is a good chance that structural framing could be damaged if there was any water leaking around the plumbing fixtures. The damage should be repaired before framing your pan.

If you're replacing a bathtub and installing a new shower this is going to require constructing a wood shower pan. Now building a wood pan will require a level floor surface, shower damn and blocking.

Now let's start with building the shower damn. You're probably wondering what is a shower damn and what does it have to do with the wood shower pan. The shower damn is actually the area you climb over when entering into the shower. This part of the shower pan enables the water to flow off a shower curtain or door into the shower pan and down the drain.

The shower damn needs to be at the least 6 inches tall and would be best if it was at least 8 inches. You can use a 4 x 6 or a 4 x 8 for the wood shower damn.

Next we need to block the perimeter of the pan area in the wall framing that we will use for our shower walls also. These blocks should be at least 12 inches high. This would require using 2 x 12 lumber for blocking.

After you block the perimeter of the shower pan and installed the shower damn you are ready to have to shower water proffed with a process known as hot mopping the shower pan or using a vinyl liner.

Well I hope this gives you a better idea of what's involved when framing shower pans during the house framing process.

Greg Vanden Berge has been building and remodeling for over 30 years and his information has proven valuable to most contractors and homeowners all over the world. He usually tries to write at least two articles a day on home improvement or remodeling problems.

Greg is in the process right now of working on a home inspection website that will revolutionize the home inspection business. He is also working on a book to help homeowners and contractors as well as other home related professions in dealing with the home inspection process.

You can visit the home inspection website currently under construction at Home Inspection Help

Wood Shingle Moisture Problem

Friday, March 20, 2009

How to Substantially Cut Your Energy Bills

Look In The Attic: Attic insulation is taken for granted many homeowners think they're covered when they're not. A well insulated attic will afford you a substantial savings on your heating costs. Make a trip to your attic with a ruler/yard stick in hand, check the thickness of your insulation if the insulation under the rafters is six inches thick or less, you need to adjust your R-value. R-value is a rating of resistance to heat flow; higher numbers signal a better ability to protect against heat transfer. Most attics need an R-value of 38 or more, which typically translates into at least a foot of insulation, (check with a local insulation retailer for the proper coverage in your area). Because colder climes need more protection, recommended R-values vary across the country, so find out how much insulation you need (or log onto simplyinsulate.com). New insulation isn't cheap, but compare to what you loose in heating cost each year, it will pay for itself in no time, and it can lower heating and cooling costs by 25 percent in a single year. And don't forget, that starting in 2006, you can get up to $500 in federal tax credits for insulating your home (for more information, go to energy.gov and click on The Energy Bill and You).

Where Is That Air Coming From: Replacing old windows with airtight ones may also qualify you for that tax break and can cut heat loss from your home in half. But, if you can't afford to buy new windows this year there are some cheaper alternatives that can still save you up to 10 percent annually. Check for leaks around windows and doors by holding a lit candle (you can also buy power/smoke tester at your local retailer) in front of your window if the flame flickers, you need to find the leak and seal it. For an easy fix, apply peel-and stick weather stripping, available at any hardware store. If you have some really leaky windows consider buying a plastic insulation kit (they sell anywhere from $3 to $8) now your window will not will the Better Home & Gardens Award, but it'll block the cold and reduce your heating costs. Easy solution...

Fill Those Gaps: Getting rid of leaks can save you $$ on your annual heating bill. You should do a whole house inspection not just windows and doors. Holes, gaps around pipes, cracks, dryer vents, fixtures, and outside outlets can be a substantial source of heat loss, take a look around the house fill in any cracks with silicone or acrylic caulks. For larger cracks/ spaces (more than a half inch) use a spray-type sealant-a can of latex foam filler it will do the job nicely. (Don't forget that the foam will expand as it dries, so don't go over board filling the gaps).

Duct Those Joints: It's funny how most of us use duct tape for everything, but its intended purpose. You know the heating/cooling ducts that run through the basement, attics and crawl spaces. Well grab that duct tape by tapping off all those seams and leaks you can find will keep your heated/cooled air from escaping in turn your heating/cooling system will not have to work as hard. The results you can shave several degrees off your thermostat setting and still feel just as warm. The Department of Energy estimates that leaky ducts can increase heating and cooling costs by hundreds of dollars a year. (Lots of money to be saved here)

Get Your Degree: Lowering your water heater's setting from a very HOT 140 degree Fahrenheit to a just HOT enough 120 degrees can save you nearly $50 a year. You can save another 10 percent by wrapping your hot water tank in a $15/$20 insulating blanket. To be on the safe side, check with the heater's manufacturer to see if your unit can be wrapped (A word of caution, insulating blankets are not recommended for gas heater.)

My Feet Are Cold: Do you sit in your favorite room reading or watching TV and your feet get cold you can feel that cold air. "Well Let's Stop It". Rooms can lose heat through electrical outlets and light switches on outside walls, because the spaces behind them are usually un-insulated. To solve the problem, make a trip down to the local hardware supplier and pick up some precut outlet gaskets, they cost only a few dollars per eight-pack. They are fairly easy to install, (Do read the direction before starting.). Simply remove the screw from the outlet plate, fit the insulating foam gaskets on the back of the outlet cover, and replace it. Repeat for the switch covers as well. Pretty Easy...

Know Watt's - Watt: One easy cost savings is to replace your light bulbs with new compact fluorescents (CFLs) they use almost 75 percent less energy than conventional incandescent bulb providing 100 watts of illumination for only 32 watts of power. They will vary depending on what watt bulb you purchase. Replacing just five of your most frequently used bulbs with fluorescents can lower your electric bill by more than $50 annually.

Up-Grade Those Appliances: New model washers, refrigerators, and other home appliances that sport the Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star insignia are major energy savers. Next time you're at Lowe's, Home Depot or your favorite appliance store, take a look. I know we have all seen them one time or the other, but we probably never really bothered to read them, take a look. The average Energy Star appliance uses up to 50 percent less energy than one made a decade ago. That translates into substantial savings on your electric bill about $20 in annual operating costs for a dishwasher, $55 for a fridge, and a whopping $110 for a washing machine.

Damper it Down: Ah!! Sitting down in front of a nice fire is a great way to relax and get warm, but in the long run it usually will not save you any money on heating dollars. In fact, they could go up in smoke if you fail to close the damper once the fire has gone out. If you feel a chill in front of your fireplace when it's not in use check to make sure the damper is fully closed. If it is, and you still feel a draft your damper may not seal properly, get your damper checked by a professional in the office season. Consider installing a set of glass doors they help save on energy and look great too.

Where's Honey: Lowering your thermostat by roughly 10 percent (for instance, from 73 to 68 degrees Fahrenheit) for eight hours a day can save approximately 10 percent off your heating bill. There is another very inexpensive way to stay warm merely adding a sweater or additional article of clothing, but for most this is not appealing at all. This one can even perk up your marriage or relationship, before going to bed turn down the thermostat and cuddle under a down comforter or an electric blanket.

Flip The Fan: Here's another great heat saver, did you know that by reversing your ceiling fan in the winter can actually keep you warm for less. It will re-circulate warm air which rises to the ceiling, recycling heat back into the room (try the lowest setting). The fan costs only pennies a day to operate-and for every degree it allows you to turn down the thermostat you should save and estimated 5 percent on your total heating bill. And you though that fan was just for those hot muggy nights!

Energy Audits Are Good: Try the Home Energy Saver program at http://hes.lbl.gov it lets you plug in information about your home's age, square footage, and other details to gauge its energy efficiency. Or you can check with your local energy supplier and ask them to conduct heat-loss checks via infrared cameras and blower door testing. (Check on the cost as they will vary from state to state) Usually, an energy audit costs from $25 to $400, and some energy companies offer free audits for low-income households.

Hope this will help you to save, on your Heating and A/C costs in the future.

Author

Mike Pulli

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Mike Pulli is the owner of Foolish Times and Invites you to look at the services, and download Free helpful information e-books, articles, information and resources to maximize your internet experience. Sign up for the Free newsletter.

Other sites by Mike can be found at http://www.foolishtimes.com
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PERMISSION TO REPUBLISH: This article may be republished in newsletters and on web sites provided attribution is provided to the author as it appears and for the resource box and live web site link. E-mail notice of intent to publish is appreciated, but not required.

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Books on Home Building - Professional Advice

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Fixing Up Your Home And How To Finance It

Undertaking a home improvement project can be really expensive and thus, financing is essential. There are many financial products that can help you finance home improvements. Some are more suitable for the task than others but all of them have advantages and disadvantages.

When home improvements are necessary, the following financial solutions can provide you with the needed funds for the project depending on the amount you want: Credit cards, unsecured personal loans, mortgage loans and home equity loans. All of them (except for the credit cards) can be called home improvement loans because what defines a home improvement loan is the use that you give to the money. However, home improvement loans are usually either mortgage loans or home equity loans.

Credit Cards For Financing Home Improvements

Credit cards are undoubtedly great financial tools due to their flexibility. However, they are not particularly useful in terms of scrimping and saving. The interest rates charged by credit card issuers are significantly higher than the rates charged by lenders and thus, a $3000 home improvement project can end up costing $600 more per year. However, used in combination with other financial products like home equity loans, credit cards can provide the funds necessary for covering unexpected expenses in the project or additional improvements that may rise while the original project is on course.

Unsecured Personal Loans For Home Improvements

Unsecured personal loans are perfect for home improvements but can provide the funds for small projects only. If your home improvement plans will not be that costly, then an unsecured personal loan for home improvements may be the solution. Besides, personal loans have an advantage over secured loans: there is little to no paperwork and they are processed considerably faster due to the lack of collateral.

Mortgage Loans For Home Improvements

If your property is not securing any debt, then, you can request a home improvement mortgage loan. These loans come with the lowest rates on the market. Since you already own the property, however, the interest rate will not be as low as home loans for first time home buyers which feature subsidized rates. But the interest rate will still be significantly lower than that of any other financial product.

Home Improvement Loans Based On Equity

Last, but not means least, home equity loans are the most common form of home improvement loans. These loans are based on the equity left on your property. Thus, it does not matter if you have a mortgage balance on your property, you can still get finance for your home improvements as long as the value of the property is higher than the amount of money you owe that is secured by it.

The amount of money you can obtain will depend on your available equity. However, for home improvements, there are loan options offering up to 125% financing if you have a good credit score and history. Thus, even if you have only $10,000 left on a $100,000 property, you will be able to obtain up to $35,000 on a home improvement loan based on equity.

---

Jessica Peterson writes finance articles for Yourloanservices.com where she shares her knowledge about how to get money for a starting-up business, consolidating any kind of debt, repairing a home even with a bad credit history and more.

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Cement Rendering And Building Plastering

The purpose of rendering is two-fold, namely to weatherproof the building wall and to provide pleasing finishes of various textures. Plastering is a skilled trade and an expert plasterer should be employed wherever possible, as there are many points that can only be learnt by experience. However, if skilled help is not available, it is necessary to know the elementary principles involved, that is, how to prepare the surface, choose the mix, proportion the materials and apply the plaster.

The proportions of cement, lime and sand to use depend upon the purpose of the plaster and the nature of the building surface to which it is to be applied. A pure lime plaster is comparatively soft and weak and is slow setting, so it is usually gauged with cement to increase its strength and hardness and to shorten the period of hardening. The strength increases and the period of hardening decreases as the amount of cement increases in proportion to the amount of lime, until with a pure cement plaster with no lime, the strength is a maximum and the hardening period the least. However, as the proportion of cement is increased the plaster becomes less workable and more difficult to apply. The proportion of sand should not exceed three times the combined proportions of lime and cement. A stronger plaster should not be applied to weak porous backing or a strong finish coat to a weak first coat.

For external building plastering or 'rendering' on a dense material such as concrete, dense concrete blocks and hard clay bricks of low porosity, the best proportions to use are 1 part cement, 1 part hydrated lime and 6 parts sand by volume. On exposed building walls subject to driving rains the proportion of lime may be decreased and the cement increased to say 1 :: 6 mix or a 1:4 cement plaster to which up to 10% of lime by weight of the cement is added to make it workable.

On external building walls of low strength and high porosity such as low quality breeze concrete blocks the external rendering should not be stronger than a 1:1:6 mix as above and a strong cement mix with little or no lime should not be used.

For internal plastering the best proportions are 1 cement, 1 lime and 6 sand; or 1 cement, 2 lime and 9 sand; or a lime mix only of 1:3 or 4 may be used, remembering that the cement increases the strength and hardness and reduces the period of hardening. For water containers such as fishponds only cement plasters should be used.

The weather during plastering and rendering may have considerable influence on the finished work. External rendering should be started on the shady side of the building to keep it unexposed to the sun as long as possible. No plastering should be done in frosty weather. In cold weather plaster hardens slowly and a longer period of time between coats should be allowed. In very hot weather the successive coats must be kept damp and protected from drying out for at least two days after application. Draughts and local sources of heat may cause too rapid drying out. Gentle heat and moderate ventilation are the best conditions for plastering.

Michael Russell Your Independent Building guide.

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Do it Yourself Home Security Systems Comparisons - Research the Products and Options

The modern world for all its fascinating advances still can be less than safe. There are lots of dangers out there that may present themselves to our lives at some time. This is why many people install a security system for their homes and their possessions. There are many different systems available to consumers today, so it is important that you learn how to do 'do it yourself home security systems comparisons'. Renters as well as homeowners can benefit from the safety offered.

It's obvious to anyone who looks that home security systems vary widely. For example, do it yourself home security systems comparisons might search for the best wireless home security systems or a wired alternative. It's always best to make sure you know what's available before looking for the best of those systems. You can do so by conducting your own research.

Lots of firms provide installation at no extra charge on a high proportion of their security systems. One can economize by buying diy wireless home security systems too. They are not as expensive as the ones from services which include installation with no fee added. This is their best feature of all. They may come with cameras, alarms, motion sensors, and fire detectors. Some of them can be turned on and off by remote control or telephone. In addition, there are models which automatically notify the homeowner if something bad happens.

Do it yourself home security systems comparisons are available online. The topic is addressed on various websites through reviews and articles. It is helpful to read what others have to say so that you can learn from their experiences and hardships. Learning by following the advice of others is crucial to your success in any area of interest.

You are not able to put a price on the safety of you and your family. That is why home security systems are so important to you and your loved ones. Purchasing a security system is like purchasing peace of mind. Such peace of mind will allow you to worry less about someone breaking into your home or perhaps harming your family!

Plenty of reliable security systems are out there, you'll find - the most important thing is to find one that meets the needs of your unique situation. For example, if you have the ability to complete the installation yourself, then your needs will be different from someone who is searching to hire an installation or monitoring company. In either case, plenty of worry can be averted through do it yourself home security systems comparisons.

Nowadays, shoppers can choose from all sorts of security systems, so you should learn how to perform do it yourself home security systems comparisons and contrasts. Even rental tenants derive advantages from the extra safety these systems provide. As you research the various models, be sure to check out the outstanding wired ones as well as the best wireless home security systems while you're at it. You can also save some money by purchasing a system known as diy wireless home security systems. You will see that these systems really cost less than those from companies that offer free installation.

Wood Block With Abs Pipe

Monday, March 16, 2009

Hiring Home Contractor Painters For Your Home

Hiring somebody to work on the exterior painting can be a big decision for homeowners looking to make improvements to their homes. While they may think they can handle such large, complicated projects themselves, they often find that they are in over their heads. Having a professional come do the work for them is often their best bet at getting the work done properly and in a timely manner.

Finding a good home contractor painting the house will put a smile on any homeowner's face. Many painters will provide their clients with the very best in home painting and will strive to give the homeowner exactly what they are looking for. Such professionalism goes a long way in ensuring that the project turns out looking its very best. This is welcome news to homeowners worried about the effectiveness of many contractors and their painters.

In reality, contractors are good, reliable individuals with the proper training and skill to provide their clients with the very best in exterior painting. Knowing exactly how to handle problems when they arise and how to come up with viable solutions when necessary make having home contractor painting a special treat for homeowners remodeling their house. The paint job is often one of the most important aspects of a remodel. If the paint job is done in the proper way, then the rest of the remodel will come together nicely. If it is done poorly, then the remodel will not quite look right. This may even be noticeable to the neighbors and nobody likes having the ugly house on the block.

Hiring professionals is a good way to ensure that the house gets the best paint job possible. This will make the homeowner happy, as they can rest easy knowing that the services of the contractor will ensure that their house looks its very best. They can then focus their attention on other areas of the remodel that may not require the professional attention of a contractor. With home contractor painting, homeowners know they are getting their money's worth. Not only this, but having the extra help will alleviate a good deal of the frustration and headaches that a homeowner may experience while going through such a large project.

The value of home contractor painting often exceeds the cost. Such a great value will put homeowners at ease when considering if they are making the right choice. Many choose to do the project themselves, often leading to many mistakes or mishaps that can prove costly to the project. Some hire amateurs with no formal training and no real experience in exterior painting. This often leads to an unsatisfied homeowner wishing they had opted for the professionalism of a contractor.

When considering hiring a homeowner, it is important to realize how important the job really is to the overall appearance of the house. If the painting is done right, the rest of the house will come together nicely to create a beautiful house the homeowner will be proud of.

More information on College Works Painting home repair for your home is just a click away.

What Is Mold

Your Patio Statuary Doesn't Have to Be Large to Make a Statement

When you think of statuary, the large statues that grace gardens are usually the first ones that come to mind. If you do not have a large space outdoor, you can grace the exterior of your home with patio statuary. Such statues are small, designed to fit in a corner, on a table or in the flowerbed around the edges of the patio.

Fountain statues are very popular where you can combine the visual appeal with the soothing sounds of falling water. There are so many designs available in small statues suitable for a patio that you may have a hard time deciding which one you want to purchase.

Floor against wall patio statuary are fountains designed to sit on the floor of the patio and rest against the wall. There are numerous styles and materials to choose from to suit your outside decor. You can choose an indoor wall fountain, a small size statue, such as one that weighs about 200 pounds and measures three feet high and less than two feet wide, or if you have plenty of room, you can choose one that is a lot larger. One thing you do have to make sure of is that the floor of your patio is designed to withstand the weight of large statuary, if this is what you want.

Patio statuary runs the gamut of classical statues reminiscent of Ancient Greece and Rome, those that look like animals, or those that take on the human form. You can give your patio an Oriental look by choosing Japanese style statuary, such as Buddha statue or a temple urn.

Small statues placed on a table top will add to the ambiance of the patio and provide a conversation piece for your visitors. These can be made of stone, precast concrete, copper, bronze and even fiberglass as well as other materials. You have to choose the material that will work best with the exterior of your home and the material used in the construction of the patio and any wall fountains already in place.

You may want to choose something completely out of the ordinary in the line of patio statuary. In most regions, people spend time on the patio in the summer months when the weather is quite warm. You will truly spark interest by adding a statue of a penguin or another animal associated with colder climates when you place one of these on your patio. This will surely bring a smile to the faces of your friends and it is small enough to suit even the smallest patio.

How about freestanding large outdoor wall fountain that holds a lantern? This type of fountain will enable you to have the lighting you need on the patio that you can enjoy the outdoors and nature after dark. You can place it against a table or in the middle of the floor, as long as it is close to an electrical outlet.

There are also such statues that use tealight candles and provide a romantic ambiance for your patio. Solar lighting is also available in this range of statuary for the patio, which makes it truly portable and safe to use. Simply place a solar panel within range of the statue and the daylight will charge the lighting so that it will automatically come on when the sun goes down.

Allison Ryan is a freelance marketing writer specializing in landscaping and home improvement. For the ideal large outdoor wall fountain or indoor wall fountain for your home or garden, please visit http://www.garden-fountains.com/.

Valley Center Remodeling

Saturday, March 14, 2009

Six Steps to a Dry Basement

A dry basement might be its own reward. If your basement is free of leaks, condensation and cracks, it'll be more amenable to a major basement remodeling effort (and you know you've always wanted a foosball table down there). It's a safer place to store old records and clothes (your kids need something to make fun of during your old age, right?). And a dry basement is inhospitable to toxic black mold, which can eat away at porous surfaces like wood and concrete, and cause serious health problems for you and your family.

While most of us might think of the underground sections of our homes as dark, dank places suitable for the third-act climax of a bad horror movie, avoiding a wet basement is probably easier than you think. Here are a few relatively simple steps to keeping your basement dry.

Make sure your rain gutters are completely free of debris. Rain gutters that can't carry rain away from the house tend to spill rain right out near the foundation, creating puddles that can eat away at the porous concrete over time. And if gutters empty themselves from a great distance in one spot, the falling water can create a depression in the ground that speeds wear and tear on the foundation. A good basement waterproofing contractor can install a French drain - a type of drainage system that draws water away from the house. A good French drain can't guarantee a dry basement, but it'll help eliminate one of the primary causes of leaks.

Keep the ground around your foundation sloped away from it. Obviously, this isn't the simplest thing to do; if you live on a hill, you're going to have to deal with water rolling downhill toward your home. But it's easy to find depressions near the foundation and fill them, so they don't fill with water when it rains.

Keep an eye on window and door seals. If these are caulked, go around at least once every six months with a caulk gun to reinforce them. Ideally, however, they should have a more secure sealant.

Keep a dehumidifier handy. If you hang clothes to dry in the basement, humidity might be a problem - and humidity in such an enclosed space can cause condensation. Keeping a dehumidifier isn't a magic bullet, but it can help if your basement moisture is coming from condensation and not seepage. But how can you tell the difference? It's fairly easy: If you have wet basement walls, find a spot that's particularly wet. Tape a section of aluminum foil to the wall, with tape around all the edges so it's airtight. Check in on it after a day or two: If the side on the inside is dry, you've got seepage. If the outside is dry, condensation is the more likely culprit.

If your house has an outdoor spigot, make sure it doesn't leak. A dripping spigot can create a concrete-eroding puddle with hardly any effort at all. If necessary, call a plumber to fix the leak - it'll be less expensive than repairing your foundation if the problem goes on too long.

Fix leaks the minute you discover them. You'll never have a dry basement if there's a constant leak. Basement moisture can come from a variety of sources; a leak has the benefit of being relatively easy to spot. A good basement waterproofing company can examine your basement to determine the type of leak you have, and recommend the best way to fix it. Look for a basement waterproofing contractor who gives a free estimate, and don't fall for any hard-sell tactics; a quality contractor will be completely honest, and give you time to make the best decision.

Kevin Ott writes on a variety of home improvement topics, including (but not limited to) mold removal and remediation. One of his clients is Right Way Waterproofing, one of the finest basement waterproofing contractors around.

Visit Right Way here:

http://www.rightwaywaterproofing.com

Moisture Against Gravity Destroy

South Western Shower Curtains

Having a bath is very important. It allows you to feel clean and refreshed. It is therefore important that the bathing area is made as beautiful as possible. South Western shower curtains are based on a theme that involves warm earthly colors. This theme can be used to decorate the whole house. However, you can mix different themes.

These curtains come in charming colors. Some of the colors include: rust colors, colors of oak leaves, silver, brown and golden sand. Your bathroom will look stylish and elegant. South Western shower curtains are available in different designs. The Mexican type of curtains have spicy designs and colors. If you love excitement, this is a choice you should consider taking.

Other types of curtains include the Spring Creek Run type and the Oak leaves type. It is advisable to add matching accessories that will ensure complete transformation of your bathroom. The earthly themes are sure to liven up your bathing experience. Besides, your bathroom will be a place to relax and unwind after a long sweaty day.

South Western shower curtains can be found in shopping malls or a local departmental store. If however you do not feel like going to these places, you can use the Internet. It will allow you to view various designs and compare prices accordingly. You can also order online for the curtains. Some companies can allow you to customize the curtains to whichever design you want. You simply need to contact them. Most companies offer discount especially during the festive seasons. At least your pocket will not have to strain much.

Peter Gitundu Researches and Reports on Shower Curtain. For More Information on South Western Shower Curtains, Visit His Site at SOUTH WESTERN SHOWER CURTAINS

You Can Also Add Your Views About South Western Shower Curtains At My Blog here SOUTH WESTERN SHOWER CURTAINS

Building Safe Stairs

New Versus Old Lumber - Structural Failure

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Friday, March 13, 2009

Hiring a Contractor For Bathroom Remodeling - Remodeling Contractors

Well here's the age old question, how do we go about finding a decent bathroom remodeling contractor.

Here's some things you will be looking for in a contractor.

1. Is Your Contractor Fair and Honest?

2. Does Your Contractor Have Experience Remodeling and Designing Bathrooms?

3. Can You Actually Find a Contractor Who Will Complete the Job in a Timely Manner?

4. Do You Think the Workers Will Be Able to Clean the Job up Daily?

5. Will the Contractor Show up on Time?

6. Is the Contractor Going to Work At Least Eight Hours a Day?

7. Does the Contractor's Crew Have Experience?

8. Is Your Contractor and His Crew Courteous?

If you find a contractor for your bathroom remodeling project that has answered yes to all questions above, hire that person immediately. Most contractors can sincerely answer yes to half of the questions above. If you're looking for the ultimate bathroom remodeling contractor, you could be searching for quite a while, you're looking for some one that is competent and you feel comfortable with.

When hiring a contractor, look for someone who has your interest in mind first and not theirs. Find someone who is willing to help with the designed process of your bathroom and the remodeling. If you find a contractor to be arrogant or controlling, there is a good chance, your bathroom might not turn out the way you envision it.

When hiring a contractor for your bathroom remodeling project or any home improvement project, the most important thing to keep in mind is, whether or not you feel comfortable with this person or not. Never hire a contractor you're not comfortable with.

If a contractor is referred to you by someone you trust, this does not guarantee you will be happy with the bathroom remodel. Most referrals that I have gotten over the years are like rolling the dice, I believe I would have done just as good picking a name out of a hat.

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

Hold Down Screwed To 3 X 6

Stair Building Books

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2 X 6 Wood Framed Ceiling

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Natural Stone Fireplaces - Discover the Advantages and Disadvantages of Natural Stone For Fireplaces

Natural stone fireplaces are extremely popular among many home owners. If you are looking to add beauty to your home, without the use of heavy types of stones and materials, natural stone is a wonderful choice. This particular type of rock is also referred to as "thinstone". This is a type of veneer that is cut to ensure quality, yet is extremely lightweight. Many fireplaces have been created using this particular type of material. This is mainly due to the fact that the stone is highly versatile when it comes to color and texture and that it can hold up to a large amount of various conditions as it is so durable. Here, you will be introduced to this building material, as well as some advantages and disadvantages associated with using it.

Advantages of Natural Stone

Many advantages have been associated with stone that is natural. One of the first advantages is that is it suitable to any budget. Being that it is cut relatively thin, this makes an affordable choice for those that have a specific budget outlined for their home improvement and home repair endeavors. The next advantage is that it is lightweight, so it is quite easy to install the pieces with little to no effort. As mentioned previously, there are many different colors and textures available when it comes to selecting thinstone for the home. This product gives the overall appearance of real stone, yet the flexibility of manufactured stone. This is why many homeowners elect to use this for their home improvement projects.

Disadvantages of Natural Stone

When researching any type of building material for the home, it is always a good idea to ensure that you not only research the advantages of using the product, but the disadvantages as well. There are a few points that may be identified as a disadvantage to using natural stone in and around the home. These are as follows:

1. This is a natural manufactured stone. Many individuals prefer to stay away from stone types that are created. If you are looking for a product that is created from rocks obtained naturally, this may not be an ideal choice for you.

2. There is a possibility that the product may experience chipping and scratching. While this is basically a disadvantage, there is a positive side. If chipping or scratching occurs, the stone is created in such a manner that the under surface is the same as the outer surface. This means that it will blend in appropriately.

3. Individuals who use this type of stone may feel that it is not as durable as stones obtained naturally. However, it does have a high tolerance for extreme conditions.

Where to Find Other Natural Stone Fireplace Ideas

If you want to find more natural stone fireplace ideas, there are many different places where you can do so. The internet is loaded with unique designs and ideas for the home. Furthermore, home improvement stores such as Lowe's and Home Depot often carry a large assortment of books on the subject. If you want to get started on integrating a fireplace into your home, a natural stone fireplace may be the best choice for you!

Looking for a supplier of natural stones for stone fireplaces? View the many different styles of Natural Thin Stone for stone fireplaces that Halquist Stone has to offer. For more information, call (262) 246-9000 or visit halquiststone.com to request a free brochure.

House Attic Books