Home Blue Print Plans

Shower Curtains - Do We Actually Need Them?

2009-10-05T14:05:00.001-07:00

Shower Curtains are either a necessary item for our bathrooms or just another added piece of decoration, but do we actually need them ? The answer simply put is Yes, shower curtains provide a no nonsense approach to keeping our bathrooms and other wet areas typically clean and dry. They can be used as a decorative piece or alternatively we can use them purely and simply as a functional curtain.

The current trend towards shower curtains is now to basically use either a polyester or nylon curtain, this type of material will endure high temperature moisture and will handle as much washing in a machine as is necessary. A little eucalyptus oil in the wash will do wonders. Many new shower curtains come in a vast array of designs including plain voile or to the more dramatic contemporary designs.

Themed shower curtains are also very popular as this enables you to create a specific feel within the bathroom for a short period of time, for example Christmas or Easter, Thanksgiving day, they are relatively inexpensive for what they are and are usually packaged as a ready made item. When purchasing new shower curtains always ensure that you have allowed extra on the drop of the curtain to make sure that it is covering the area completely, there is nothing worse than a half masted shower curtains.

These shower curtains can either be installed on a rod using rod and rings, or alternatively they can be installed a specialized curtain rod using either pinch pleat or pencil pleat curtains, for my information read our "how to make curtains - includes secret fabric formula" tutorial. I have seen many shower curtains in my clients homes that have basically transformed a tired bathroom into a place of brightness and atmosphere.

One major factor you should consider when purchasing new shower curtains is to ask the salesperson for advice, there are many new fabrics that are now being used and some of these are mildew resistant, this type of material has been chemically treated in the manufacturing process to reduce the growth of mould. If you are looking a natural shower curtain than hemp is what you should choose, this is now becoming more and more available in many different styles and shapes. Hemp shower curtains do require more washing but the overall softer look is well worth it.

So remember when choosing your next shower curtains always consider what material you will use, the color or theme and most importantly the size of the area it needs to cover.

Latest Shower curtains info

How to Find a Excellent New Home Builder

2009-10-05T06:03:00.001-07:00

Looking for a good home builder or contractor, isn't an exact science, but hopefully, by the time you're done reading this article, you will at least have a better idea, what you will be looking for. Let's get started.

As a general contractor, the most important thing that I would be looking for any new home builder, would be experience. You can't sacrifice price for experience. If you're looking for the cheapest contractor, there's a good chance that this person will be lacking experience in home building knowledge.

How long has this person been in business? Just because you're new home builder has only been in business for five years, doesn't mean that he isn't capable of building your home. The same holds true for someone who has been in business for 30 years. Just make sure that these people have actually built homes in the past.

What is their attitude like? This is the second most important thing and I tend to focus on this more than experience, sometimes. If you don't get along with the person, you're not going to have a pleasant home building experience. If you think that there lying to you, scammers or generally don't feel comfortable with them, but they seem to have the most experience and build more homes in your area than anyone else. I wouldn't think twice about getting rid of them and finding someone else.

Last but not least, you should contact some of the people that they have worked for in the past. Talking to past clients, is going to play an important role in making your final decision. You need to find out, if these home builders, treated their clients fairly and were they generally happy with the overall outcome and performance, not only of the homebuilder, but each one of his subcontractors.

I would recommend writing out a list of questions and offering your new home builders past clients a free meal. Offer to take them out to dinner, lunch or breakfast, this way you will have their undivided attention and get the low down on your potential future home builder, it could be the best money that you ever spent.

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

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

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What to Consider Before Remodeling Your Bathroom

2009-10-04T22:52:00.001-07:00

One of the most important rooms in the home is undoubtedly the bathroom. Although it is one of the smallest, it is used very frequently, usually by all members of the home. This is especially so if it is the only bathroom in the house. A nice bathroom can raise the value of a home greatly if remodeled properly.

There are some useful tips to adhere to if you are going to be remodeling your bathroom. Firstly, if you do not have a lot of space in the first place, perhaps you should consider replacing your bathtub with a shower stall. There are many beautiful shower stalls that you can source and purchase. If your bathroom is very small, but you would like to have a bath and shower facility, you could consider installing a shower head attachment onto your bath.

Your choice of bathroom sinks must be taken into careful consideration. Although some metals like dark copper are appealing in the showroom, they will make soap and water marks stand out. Your best bet is to go with a clean white porcelain sink, perhaps in an interesting bowl shape. The objective is to create a bathroom that looks neat and clean even when it is being used often. There is nothing neater than white porcelain.

Sink tops in your bathroom could be made with granite or marble. These surfaces can be kept clean, and attain a nice shiny finish. You may want to install a small cupboard under the sink to keep bathroom necessities in, or perhaps a small set of drawers strategically placed can attractively house toiletries. It is important to keep a neutral and matching color and style theme throughout the bathroom. Ensure that the tiles match the shower and sink and any drawers you may add.

As mentioned previously, a nice bathroom can add great value to your home. Some popular and admired bathroom fixtures are skylights, walk in showers for couples and his and hers sinks. Skylights will make your bathroom look very attractive, all the while adding beautiful natural light. Ensure that you do not add his and hers sinks for high resale return, when there is hardly enough space for one sink in the first place! This also applies to a couples shower.

Smaller bathrooms can be given a makeover to add the illusion of space. Consider placing a large picture mirror on one side of the bathroom, preferably above the sink and bath. A large mirror placed correctly will open the room up, and is also useful, because everyone needs a mirror in the bathroom! If you are lucky enough to be remodeling a larger bathroom, you could even consider installing a bidet. A bidet will enhance your hygiene as well as adding further value to your home.

Some more things to keep in mind are the finishing touches and fittings. The toilet roll holder must be placed at a comfortable height for use whilst on the toilet. An attractive hook or rail should be fixed next to the sink for a hand towel to be hung on. Bath towel rails must be installed near the bath tub and shower stall to ensure easy access without dripping too much water on the floor.

Hopefully these tips will assist you in creating the perfect bathroom, at an affordable price. Don't forget to arrange an alternative bathroom to use whilst yours is being remodeled!

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Fixing Ceiling Cracks - Home Repair Advice

2009-10-04T14:31:00.001-07:00

It's not uncommon to find cracks in your plaster or drywall ceilings. It's not uncommon to find cracks in your wood ceilings either, but this article is about plaster or drywall ceilings that have small or large cracks in them and what actually causes the cracks and how you can repair them.

Believe it or not, most cracks in your ceilings and in your walls, on any drywall or plaster home interiors, are going to be the direct result of structural movement within the house. This could be from a small earthquake, the framing components are starting to shrink, as the lumber starts to dry it out or it could even be from your house settling. Larger cracks might signify problems with your foundation or even your soil.

If you have a large crack in your ceiling, and this would be something that you could stick a quarter into, you could have a structural problem and I would recommend contacting a home repair contractor in your area to evaluate your situation.

You realize that you have cracks in your ceilings and they're not very big, how do you repair them. The easiest way would be to apply a paintable caulking into the cracks and repaint the area. This could save you some frustration in the future, especially if the crack starts to become larger.

The best way to fix the crack, would be to apply some fiberglass drywall tape and then apply a standard drywall joint compound to finish the ceiling correctly. If your ceiling has acoustic or wall texture, you will need to reapply to finish over these areas to match your existing ceiling correctly.

If you have hairline cracks, I wouldn't even worry about them, unless they become larger. However, you could always apply a little bit of caulking and repaint them.

I would like to remind you something that I already said before in this article, if the cracks are larger than the width of a quarter, you might want to contact a building professional. You could have some serious structural damage occurring in your foundation or framing.

Ceiling Repair Advice and Tips

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

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

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Ideas For Decorating Your Bathroom

2009-10-04T07:21:00.001-07:00

Decorating your bathroom is an easy way to brighten up your mornings - and it doesn't have to take a lot of your time or money! Bathrooms are one of the easiest and least expensive rooms to decorate in a home. They are, however, often one of the most neglected. A clean, well organized bathroom can make family comfortable and help guests feel.If you have a plain bathroom and do not have a lot of money to spend on decorating, a great way to give your bathroom a makeover is by using fun and creative accessories to spruce it up.

Add wall accents that blend your major theme. If you have a beach, ocean, or country pattern, choose accessories to match.."A collection of small mirrors finished in decorative frames adds glamour to your bathroom. Accessories like toothbrush holders, tissue holders, and a soap dispenser can be the icing on the cake, so don't be too frugal when you select the style. Basket of decorative soaps and lotions - If you have an extra basket around the house, consider putting it to good use by filling it with decorative soaps and lotions.

Get matching bath towel, washcloth, and hand towel sets for special occasions or guests. Drawer pull for hanging towels - Instead of hanging a plain towel ring on your wall, hang up an old or antique drawer pull. These decorative drawer pulls can often be found at flea markets or garage sales for a nominal price.

Look for decorator items to go with the design. Bathroom accessories should not only be decorative, but should also be functional. Special design soaps, soap dishes and dispensers, toothbrush holders, towel or tissue bars, and other miscellaneous items can spruce up the overall effect. Candles on the vanity, on the bathtub corners, or above the toilet also add a designer touch to the decor. Everyone has miscellaneous bathroom items such as hairbrushes, hairspray, and shaving cream that they use on a daily basis.

Find some unique way to personalize the bathroom. Adding a thrift shop dresser as a storage solution or a sink vanity can really look classy. A bathroom sends an important message to guests about the degree to which you value them and look to their comfort. Turn your master bath into an inviting oasis by including amenities that are only found in the best hotel and resort suites.

What If My Contractor Does Not Return My Call

2009-10-03T23:27:00.001-07:00

This is one of the biggest problems in business today. You have some work done on your home in good faith that the contractor knows what he is doing. When all is said and done you have a problem that needs to be resolved as soon as possible. I really don't care how long it has been since the work was done. If you have a problem the least that your contractor can do is answer the telephone.

Some companies go out of business and others get to busy to respond to your problem. You will hear the old excuse "That's not my problem" or the ever popular " I didn't do that". I have been in business for over twenty years and had very few problems. Of course I built things to last as long as possible.

Keep in mind that some contractors are a one man operation and they might be on vacation. Some contractors do not answer their phones over the week ends or after business hours. So don't sink the ship to fast.

Do not call the Contractors Licensing Board or the Better Business Bureau unless it has been at least a few working days. I would give it at least a week or so. Oh yeah don't assume that the contractor got your message. Call a few times at the least.

It has always made me mad when I have to fix someone else's problems. I get the call when the other contractors won't respond. I listen to the home owner with regret for being in a business where I am considered a crook. This is one of the reasons why contractors in my business get out of it.

If you have the contractors address and they aren't responding by phone you can always send them a letter by certified mail. Request a return receipt. That's your proof that the company received your letter. Keep a copy for your files.

The good news for a home owner when a contractor will not respond to your calling them is the Department of Consumer Affairs. Most states have a complaint department of some sort that will listen to your complaints. Does this mean it will get resolved? NO there are no guarantees here.

If your state has a licensing board for contractors, this will be your next step.

This will get your contractors attention and there is a great chance they will respond now. If there are enough complaints against the contractor and they do nothing about them the contractors board will take their license away.

If your contractor does not respond after all of this. There is very little you can do about it. Hire someone to fix the problem and look at it as a very important lesson learned.

If your state doesn't have a contractors licensing board contact the Better Business Bureau or your local government for their recommendation. Ask some of your friends if they have had any problems like this and how they handled them.

For some more tips about hiring contractors go to
http://gregvan.com/library/homeowner_checklists.htm

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

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

Remodeling a Laundry Room - An Easy Five Step Plan

2009-10-03T16:03:00.001-07:00

Remodeling a laundry room is fairly easy. This room is often the most overlooked room in the house but in a few simple steps, you can turn it into a functional, organized masterpiece you will be proud to show off.

Here are the five steps to an easy Laundry Room Remodel:

1. Flooring - If you are doing a full remodeling project, you might as well start from the floor up! Tile or vinyl are the best options although laminate or wood floors can be used as well.

2. Cabinets - If you don't already have cabinets in your laundry room, you may want to consider adding them if you have room. Not only will they add storage to your home, but they should increase your home's value.

3. Walls and Dcor - Cute laundry themed art work, whimsical sayings stenciled on the walls, vintage prints, black and whites of your favorite family photographs...just about anything works well as laundry room dcor!

As for paint colors, for smaller rooms you may want to go with soft, light, or neutral colors. Darker colors can make an already small room seem smaller. If you have a large laundry room that is well lit, you could go with a bolder color if you want.

4. Storage/Organization - Make the most of your space and plan your laundry room for optimal storage and organization. If you don't have room for cabinets, at least install a shelf over the washing machine and dryer. A slide out cart that fits between the two appliances is another way to squeeze every bit of available storage space out of the room.

5. Finishing Touches - Window treatments and a nice laundry room rug will help to put the finishing touches on the room.

Remember to look at the overall picture when remodeling your laundry room. All the items you choose for the room should compliment each other.

Visit Laundry-Room-Decor.com for more ideas and tips for remodeling a laundry room including information about great laundry room organizers, cabinets, flooring, dcor ideas, and much more!

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

2009-10-03T08:28:00.001-07:00

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hiring a Contractor For Bathroom Remodeling - Remodeling Contractors

2009-10-03T00:59:00.001-07:00

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.

Important Do-It-Yourself Home Remodeling Advice

2009-10-02T18:01:00.001-07:00

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

1. Working on Electrical Service Boxes

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

2. Plumbing Water Supply Lines

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

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

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

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

Thanks For Reading My Articles

Lighting Up Your Bathroom Mirror

2009-10-02T09:24:00.001-07:00

When you are in a bathroom, you would want to feel comfortable with it. Thus, you should make sure that the design of this room is according to the kind that you want. There are many things that you can put in your bathroom so that it will look more inviting. Of course you should not forget to keep it clean and keep organized but you should also remember that you can make the aura of your bathroom better through adding different fixtures in it. It would also help if you have a theme followed or a color coordination so that your bathroom will look more organized and unified.

One of the things that you can put is a bathroom mirror. You should know that there are many kinds of mirrors that you can use and there are more kinds available in the market. Thus, you can easily look for the kind that you would need. If you have a theme followed in your bathroom, then you can make your choice of bathroom mirror suitable for the theme. Also, there are different sizes and shapes available, so no matter how big or small your bathroom is you can make choose the kind of mirror that would suit the space. Added to this, a bathroom would not be complete if you do not put a mirror.

The bathroom mirrors that you should buy will not only be used for decorative purposes. However, there are many kinds of mirrors that can play that part well because of their designs. The mirrors are also useful and it can reflect you and help you check your look.

However, you should remember that even if the bathroom mirror can be a big help, you can always augment its look through decorating it properly or by making sure that you put proper lighting in your bathroom. You should also check the position of the mirror relative to the height of the people who are going to use it and also based from the area where the lighting would be located. You should remember that light is important if you want to have properly reflected images in the mirror so you should be very careful in choosing the lighting material that you will use.

You should check the positioning of the materials like the bulbs and the mirror so that you will be able to get the proper lighting. The mirror is not only used as an accessory in the bathroom so you should make sure that it is properly used. This can be done if you are able to get rid of the unnecessary shadows reflected in your bathroom mirror With this importance, you should allot enough time searching for the kind of mirror that you will use and the lighting that would come with it.

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How Hot is Your Kitchen

2009-10-01T18:32:00.001-07:00

The kitchen is a feisty place, a place of sizzling, burning, searing, and grilling, with the whistle of steam and the crackle of oil all combining to create a symphony that's so good you can taste it.

But how hot is your kitchen in actuality? I'm not talking about temperature I am referring to excitement, to inspiration, to passion. Are the walls coated in bare and lonely wall paper, screaming for an accent? Or do they have style, and character, born from a thousand tiny details each expressing the inner you?

The energy in your kitchen may come from the cook, but the cook's energy has to come from inspiration. A kitchen devoid of character will not ignite new ideas, and it won't excite the imagination.

On the other hand however, it is quite possible to get too hot. You don't want to be sweating in the salsa. Over stimulation can lead to mistakes, and mistakes usually taste terrible.

So the kitchen ends up being a compromise. You balance hot against cold, energy against calculation, to form the perfect space for creation. And you judge this balance with the best scale available, your own body.

Everyone has an internal temperature, and a psychological temperament. Some people are always excited, always energetic, while others are calmer, and more calculating.

When you are the cook, it is your job to mold the kitchen to suit the emotional needs of your personality. This can be done by balancing your own heat, and energy, against the stimulus in the room. In this way you can invigorate your calm serenity with some exciting colors, or cool off a fiery temperament with some soothing art pieces.

Conclusion: How hot do you want your kitchen to be? Cool as a cucumber or hot as a tamale? The answer is simple, balance the space against your own personal flame.

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

2009-09-30T05:06:00.001-07:00