Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Remodeling Bathrooms: How Hard Can It Really Be?

Its well known that remodeling the bathroom in your home is an easy way to increase its value. Much like the kitchen, the bathroom is one of the most used, and most appreciated parts of your house. So spending money in either of these areas provides a very high return on investment when it comes time to sell. But just how difficult is it to remodel a home bathroom? Is it as expensive as everyone says? Can you do it on a tight budget?

Heres what this expert says.

Depending on how detailed you want to get, remodeling a home bathroom doesnt have to be expensive or difficult. If your happy with the current location of your plumbing fixtures, you can most likely do everything yourself (with a little patience and guidance). All you really need is some basic tools, some creativity and the time and determination to do it.

There are dozens of options when planning your remodel. Heres a few of the simple ones most do-it-yourselfers can handle:

Open up a bathroom by increasing its space.

One of the fastest ways to improve your bathroom is to add some space to it. Adding just a few square feet can transform your bathroom from cramped and crowded to luxurious. If its possible, break a wall in any direction possible to add that extra depth. Just keep in mind that any room you take the space from will now be a little smaller. So its a bit of a balancing act. Often times though, just a few inches from a bedroom will never be noticed. Yet it makes a huge difference in a traditionally small area like a bathroom.

Let in more natural light if you can.

To add to the effect created by the extra space, try to let in as much natural light as possible. If you can add a skylight or bigger window, youll be impressed at the difference. On a recent remodel of my own, I installed an entire glass block wall in my shower. No its one of the brightest spots in the house!

Remodeling a home bathroom by adding extra storage places.

Extra storage can work wonders for your bathroom (and the rest of the house too). Adding some shelves, drawers and cabinets will increase the functionality of your bathroom like you never imagined. You just cant have enough storage space!

Cosmetic changes are quick, cheap and make a dramatic difference.

A quick trip to the local kitchen and bath remodeling center can do more for your bathroom then just about anything else. Try changing knobs, door and drawer fronts, paint colors or countertops. The difference that these changes will bring to your bathroom will astonish you. But best of all, it can be done in an afternoon (or at worst a weekend), and its relatively inexpensive.

Change that dated flooring.

Adding character and class to a bathroom is often achieved with a new ceramic floor. Nothing says luxurious better then a nice new ceramic tile installation. Although this is a little more involved then paint and knobs, a little patience and average skills will result in a fantastic looking job. If youre worried about that ceramic being cold underfoot, look into some under floor heating pads for those cold mornings. They are easy to install (although you will probably need an electrician for this one) and very nice on those cold mornings.

If your serious about sprucing up your bathroom with a professional looking remodel, go to Amazon or your local Barnes and Nobles and pick up a book on bathroom remodeling. Youll find many do it yourself projects laid out step by step for you, making the process virtually foolproof.

If you try using one or more of the above suggestions youll wind up pleasantly surprised with the results. These simple and highly cost-effective ways to improve your home are within the reach of just about anyone. As an added bonus, theyll increase your homes value too.

Trevor McKay is a professional contractor, real estate investor and part time writer with over twenty years of experience. You can read more about his home remodeling suggestions here. Check out some of his mortgage financing tips and techniques here. Youll get the latest information from the world of mortgage lending.

Steel Stringer Floor Connection

Sunday, April 27, 2008

A Better Living Sunroom Can Come In Many Styles

It is because of its style and design that sunrooms look so attractive. Generally speaking there are four style types of sunrooms; Conservatory, Cathedral, Curved and Straight. Sunrooms should be designed with durable and strong substances. The designs of the sunroom vary from person to person depending upon how you want to use your sunroom. If you use lighter color while designing sunrooms, it would be more energy efficient. To make the room look bright, lovely, refreshing, put organic and aquatic objects in t5B4he room.

All sunrooms do not resemble each other. The design and the style can be different for different sunrooms. There are four fundamental styles according to which sunrooms can be designed. Used mainly as a patio enclosure, the Straight style sunroom usually comes with aluminum exteriors and interiors and the beams are usually carved from wood. You can take your pick from a variety of aluminum and wood frames, aluminum sunrooms, and block foundation sunroom with glass or solid roof. Vinyl can also be used in the room.

Those with Curved eaves have lines that run symmetrically giving your house a polished appearance. One side of the wall curves upwards to become the roof of the sunroom. They come with multi coated glasses that takes care of maximum longevity and energy efficiency. They can be provided with aluminum interiors and exteriors with roofs insulated and thermally divided panels with interlocked sashes for windows. You can select anything from single or double sliding screened windows with double locking system and handles that are childproof.

The doors can either be Sliding doors or the French ones with multi locking facility. You can opt for any color from a wide array to complement the total appearance of your house. The Conservatories have a few pieces of glass on the roof that come together at the central beam letting light to pour in from all sides. They are designed in several styles such as the Edwa5B2rdian, the Gregorian, the Mediterranean, the Victorian and the Pavilion. All these are created in a manner that they become energy efficient with thermally divided panels and insulated roof. You can also put finials, cresting, moldings, and windows fixed permanently.

Important things to look for in Sunroom design

Try to come to a balance between what you need for your better living sunroom and the budget that you can allocate for making it happen. You need to take care that the sunroom design is of a fine quality and economically viable. There are some designs that can fulfill all that you need. Do it in such a way that it is easily accomplished. Choose those substances that are long lasting, strong yet also lightweight and can be placed easily. Put up the windows in such a manner that they permit maximum ventilation to keep the sunroom well ventilated and airy. The exciting thing to do would be to place sunlight reflecting panels to control the temperature of the sunroom. You can also construct winter blankets on the roof to prevent the room from becoming chilled.

Andrew Caxton is a freelance writer for http://www.allsunrooms.com. For additional information on DIY or better living sunroom22B subjects have a look at his web.

Broken Hip Roof Tile
Brown 2 X 2 Stair Handrail

Step Ladders

Stepladders are ladders with wide steps that are specifically designed to provide foot comfort while climbing or standing. Stepladders are mostly used for painting, repairs, industrial work and household jobs. They come in an A-shape model with either one side having steps or both sides having steps. They are made from steel, wood, aluminum or fiberglass. The steps are lined with corrugated rubber or have slip-resistant texture. Generally, the depth of steps ranges from 3 inches to 10 inches. If the steps fold up, it becomes compact to store the ladder. The foot of the ladder should have slip-resistant molded footpads or rubber cups for better grip. Usually step ladders5B2 range from 18 inches to 20 feet height. Stepladders can carry up to 375 lbs of weight, depending on the model.

Some stepladders have a high railing for support at the top and wheels for rolling at the bottom. A few have an adjustable height of about one foot that can be incremented or reduced per requirements. A platform on the stepladder provides an ideal working place to keep tools and materials. Most stepladders can accommodate accessories that can be used while working. The assortment of accessories consists of paint can/bucket hanger, conduit holder, tool holder and ladder caddy. A special type of stepladder that can fold up to the length of a step is known as the Telescopic stepladder. It uses a patented lock and release mechanism for opening and closing the ladder.

Even though stepladders provide a better standing space, they must be used carefully. There should not be any extra loading on the side, since they can easily overturn. Stepladders can be purchased at a hardware store or over the Internet.

Ladders provides detailed information about ladders, pool ladders, boat ladders, step ladders and more. Ladders is the sister site of School Playground Equipment.

Library
Remodeling Directory

Saturday, April 26, 2008

A Stair Lift Guide

There are three ways of providing access between floors for the handicapped or disabled; residential elevators, stair lifts and platform lifts. By far the most popular method of residential lift is the home chair stair lift.

The reasons why they are preferred by the majority is because of ease of installation and price. Residential elevators and platform lifts start at around 10k to 16k. The price of a home stair lift will depend on its type. A straight type will range in price from 2.5k - 4k, whereas a curved model is custom made and will cost anything between 5k to 20k. The complexity of the installation ultimately dictates the cost of installing a curved lift. The cost is impossible to know before the supplier carries out an onsite inspection.

Drive Type

There are four types of drive types. However, the vast majority of new stair lifts use the rack and pinion system.

Most cable drive systems use a strong steel cable - aircraft cable is the norm. The main disadvantage of this type of drive system is that the ride can be less than perfectly smooth. However, technology has moved on and those companies that still use this drive system say that the ride is as smooth as any other type. Summit and Ameriglide stair lifts both use this drive type.

Chain drive systems are used only for heavy duty models. They are loud and not really used in residential stair lifts.

The screw drive uses a lifting mechanism with a screw driven actuator. This is powered by a rechargeable battery. Again, this type is not used in home models.

The rack and pinion drive system is by far the most popular type for residential stair lifts. Rack and pinion systems - meaning gear and teeth - used to have to require regular cleaning and replacement of gear oil. However today's home units have sealed drive systems that require no maintenance at all.

The Track or Rail

This is the base along which the carriage travels. The track is always fitted to the stairs and never to the wall. This means that a track can be fitted to either side of the stairs. Tracks used in straight stair lifts are made of extruded aluminum whereas curved ones usually use a mixture of both steel and aluminum.

Power

With early designs the power source was AC mains. But today, most stair chair lifts are powered by DC 12 volt rechargeable batteries. Batteries are preferred because a trailing cable is used with AC mains powered stairlifts. The cable is reeled5B4 out and reeled back in each and every time the chair travels up and down the stairway, which causes wear and tear. Also, battery powered units can still be used during power outages. Some states prohibit the installation of any appliance unless it is installed by a qualified technician.

Swivel Seats

All makes of stair chair lifts offer this option. There are two types; 90 degree and 180 degree swivel seats. A 90 degree swivel seat is mounted on the upstairs side of the chassis and fold in one direction. A 180 degree swivel seat folds in both directions. One manufacturer, Stannah, makes a motorized swivel seat.

Self Diagnosing

Many brands like the Acorn Superglide and the Stannah stair lift have integrated circuit boards that can help diagnose problems with your lift and decrease maintenance costs.

Accessories

All manufacturers offer a mixture of accessories either as standard or optional. What you choose will affect the cost of the stair lift.

Perch stair lifts allow the passenger to remain standing. This is excellent for those who have problems bending at the knee. The Acorn Superglide Perch is one such example.

Just about all home units come with safety belts. Some brands come with retractable lap inertia belts, while others offer 3-point fixed shoulder belts.

Installation

Installation of today's straight models is quite easy. Many manufacturers and dealers encourage custome53Ars to self-install. However, a customer should never self install and the Accessibility Equipment Manufacturer's Association strongly advises against it.

The installation of a residential lift really can allow someone to regain their home and independence. The chair stair lift that is best for a customer will depend on their requirements and budget.

Follow the links for more information on a stair chair lift, wheelchair stair lift and the handicap stair lift.

Fallbrook Contractors

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Build Your Décor Around the Furniture You LoveBy


: Chris Robertson


When it comes to home decorating, it's difficult to know where to begin. Like an artist with a blank canvas, you look at the room you've chosen to decorate and try to envision the finished masterpiece. However, with a plethora of home decorating styles from which to choose, that vision can be fuzzy. You may even feel overwhelmed by the possibilities and paralyzed by the thought that you'll make choices you won't be able to live with. When that's the case, it's time to go back to the drawing board.


The first step in home decorating is to define your personal taste and style. Invest your time in looking through magazines and cutting out pictures of home decorating styles, furniture, and accessories that appeal to you. Once you have a collection of several dozen pictures, lay them out in front of you. You'll begin to notice a pattern of the style that appeals to you. Are you attracted to the dark wood of antique furniture, or to the minimalist lines of modern furniture? Do you imagine yourself surrounded by the muted colors and furniture that remind you of a beach house, or by rich colors and the ornate elegance of the Victorian era?
Once you've defined your personal taste and home decorating style, choose a room in your home to redecorate. Although you may want to tackle every room in your house, choosing only one will keep you from becoming overwhelmed.


Once you've selected a room, it's time to choose the one item upon which you'll build the remainder of the design. This may be a single piece of furniture that already own and love, an antique reproduction that you treasure, or something as simple as a handcrafted piece that you purchased while on vacation. The item you choose may not be the centerpiece of the finished room, but it will serve as your inspiration for the room's décor.


Next, you'll need to select the wall color. Since it's next to impossible to have a sense of what the entire room will look like from a paint chip, buy a quart of paint in the color you like. Then, cut several pieces of cardboard into 18-inch squares, paint the cardboard, and hang one on each wall. Live with those paint swatches for a few days, noticing how the feel of the room changes with morning light, afternoon light, and artificial lighting. Once you've decided that's a color you love, you should go ahead and paint the room. Remember that there are a variety of wall texturing and patterning techniques you can use to bring more vibrancy and life to the color of the paint.
When selecting furniture for your room, keep your inspirational piece in mind. An antique reproduction of a Chippendale chair may be the perfect accompaniment to your treasured area rug, but an antique reproduction of a French armoire won't fit if your room is inspired by a 1950s Havana cigar box. Likewise, you should select furniture that fits your lifestyle. A white sofa isn't a good solution if your dark-haired pooches will be sleeping on it.
Home decorating is both fun and rewarding. Best of all, your finished room will be a reflection of your personality and lifestyle - and will make coming home a sweet experience.
About The Author


Chris Robertson is a published author of Majon International. Majon International is one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing and internet advertising companies on the web. Visit their main business resource web site at: http://www.majon.com/
To learn more about subjects like furniture please visit the web site at: http://www.elkainter.com/
For more information and informative related articles and links about this subject matter and content, please visit Majon's Home Furnishings directory: http://www.majon.com/directory/Home_Furnishings

Sunday, April 13, 2008

Find Out The Most Common Ceiling Fan Problems

Ceiling Fan Repair -

If your home is mostly cooled using ceiling fans, you know exactly how useful and pleasant they can be during the summer. You also know how stifling and suffocating the warm air can get when they fail! What you may not be aware of is the fact that most ceiling fan repair is actually a breeze, and, for the most part, there is no need to call in a specialist. Take a look at three of the most common ceiling fan problems below and their surprisingly simple fixes!

Problem 1: The fan doesn't work
Make sure that power is present by checking the switch and the fuse box. You can do this fairly easily by turning off the power to the fan circuit and unscrewing the screws that hold the switch the electrical box. You'll need a voltage tester (available from a hardware store or home centE25er) to check the screw terminals to make sure that they are not charged and then you can pull the switch from the box itself.

After you unscrew the wires from the terminals, straighten the ends of the wire with needle-nosed pliers before you twist the two ends together and screw a wire nut over the twisted wires. Turn the circuit back on and see if the fan works. If it does, the switch is bad and you need to replace it. If there is still no activity, you will need a specialist to check the wiring and the fixture.

Problem 2: The fan hums
If you notice that the fan hums whenever it runs, there is a chance that this can be fixed by working with the speed control. A fan with a cheaply made motor might just be predisposed to make noise, but you'll often get fans where anti-hum features can be easily installed. First, turn off the power at the circuit breaker and test it by turning the fan off and on and off again.

As before, use a voltage tester after you remove the faceplate and switch to make sure that the wires are safe to touch and disconnect the wires from the switch. Per the directions on the anti-hum fan control, twist the wires present together and after adding the wire nuts, replace the control and faceplate before restoring the power.

Problem 3: The fan wobbles
Check to make sure that your fan has been installed into a specially designed ceiling electric box that is made for fans, as a regular one that is meant only for lights will be unable to support the fan's constant movement and weight. If the fan installed into the wrong kind of electric box, you will need a specialist or an electrician.

You can check by unscrewing and lowering the fan's housing the ceiling; you'll be able to see a label that will designate it as being fan-rated. U-bolts or lag screws should connect the box to a bracket or a solid wood block for stability.

Before unscrewing the whole fixture, however, tighten all screws by hand. If you have a droprod involved in supporting your fan, make sure that the ball joint at the top of the drop rod is well-settled with the support bracket.

Similarly, make sure that the blade tips hang an equal distance from the ceiling; if the blades are warped, a wobble could result. If this is the case, you can call the manufacturer for blade replacements or head to your local home center.

Copyright 2008 Ceiling-fan-wizard.com, all rights reserved.

Mark is the editor Ceiling-fan-wizard.com which Provides you with the best ceiling fan reviews and ratings. To Find More Ceiling Fan Repair ratings and reviews for your home visit http://www.ceiling-fan-wizard.com

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Friday, April 11, 2008

Cabinet Installation

- It's Easier Than You Think!

You've just moved into a wonderful new home and you cannot wait to start making it your own. One of the easiest home improvements the first time home owner may encounter is installing new cabinets. While the thought of such a major addition to a room may at first seem daunting to all of us who have never consider ourselves carpenters, installing a brand new set of cabinets is easy enough for almost anyone with a few tools to accomplish in a very short amount of time.

You want to start out by making sure that you have all the tools you will need to complete this project. To install a basic set of cabinets all you need is a good level, a pencil, a tape measure, a stud finder and a drill. Depending on how high you are planning to install the cabinets, you may also want a small step ladder to reach higher places.

The first tool you will need is your stud finder. Work your way along the wall until you find the studs that you will use to support the weight of your cabinets. For each stud you will want to mark both the left and right edge. Using your tape measure, make a mark on the center point of each stud. This will allow you to mount your cabinets on the sturdiest portion of your wall. Now that you have located the studs, you should decide exactly where you want the cabinets to be placed. Using your tape measure, determine the exact dimensions of your cabinets. You may find it helpful to lightly draw the outline of your cabinets directly onto the wall. You should also draw vertical lines through the center of your studs that extend at least six inches above and below where your cabinets will hang. This will allow you to find the studs once the cabinet is on the wall.

Now you will want to attach a short term 1 x 3 support rail to the wall. The top of the support rail should be level and flush with the bottom of where you want your cabinets to sit. Using your drill, attach the support rail to the wall. This short term rail will aid in holding the weight and location of your cabinets while you get them in place.

You are now ready to install your cabinets. With the help of a friend, lift the cabinets into place. Drill pilot holes through the cabinet back and into the wall studs. You should screw the cabinet into the wall using screws that are long enough to go at least 1 ½ inches into the studs. After setting your first set off screws, use your level to check that the cabinets are properly aligned. Make your way down the studs adding several more sets of studs to make sure that your cabinets are safe and secure.

You are almost finished. After making sure that your cabinets are secure in the location that you want them, you can go ahead and remove the support rail from the wall. You should also erase any pencil marks that you have made that still show once the cabinets are in place. Now you can sit back, relax, and enjoy your new cabinets. Installing new cabinets is a super easy and inexpensive way to start improving your new space and making it into a home.

Escapeso helps clients interested in research Austin real estate. They provide information on their website about Austin neighborhoods along with providing a free Austin MLS search.

Thursday, April 3, 2008

10 Tips to Protect Your Basement from Mold Growth


By: Chad Kimball




Does your basement ever flood? Is your basement ever damp? If so, you may need to inspect your basement for mold, and possibly remodel it to remove the mold.

You may suspect hidden mold if your basement smells moldy, but you cannot see the source. You may know there has been water damage, but not think there is mold. Mold may be hidden in places such as the back side of drywall, behind wallpaper, or paneling, the top side of ceiling tiles, underneath carpets and pads, etc.

Mold could also be hidden around leaking pipes, or pipes that are constantly covered with condensation. Heat and air conditioning ducts also can hide mold that can affect your family.

You may want to hire an experienced professional when investigating in your basement for mold, because sometimes when looking for mold, spores can be released that are dangerous for your health. You would be amazed at how many mold spores can be released when pulling off basement wallpaper.

Conventional construction materials used in basement remodeling and basement construction in the past are perfect for mold growth. Since they frequently contain wood and paper based products, they provide a great food source for mold, as well as soaking and holding water for long periods of time.

Here are some tips for preventing mold growth in your basement:

1. Control mold growth by acting quickly when water leaks or spills in your basement. Make it a goal to have any basement leaks or spills to be completely dry in 24-48 hours.

2. Make sure the ground outside your home slopes away from the building, so water is directed away from the house instead of collecting and leaking into the basement.

3. Purchase a humidity meter at the hardware store, and keep basement humidity below 60 percent.

4. If you see a lot of condensation on your basement pipes or basement windows, work fast to reduce humidity and dry those surfaces. Lots of condensation can be a sign of high humidity in your basement.

5. Run a dehumidifier in your basement. It will do wonders to pull moisture out of the air, preventing mold growth.

6. Make sure clothes dryers are vented outside of the basement, not inside. The moisture from drying clothes stays in the air and can encourage basement mold growth.

7. If you have a shower in your basement bathroom, install an exhaust fan to pull moist air out of the bathroom while the shower is running.

8. Cover cold surfaces like cold basement water pipes with insulation to prevent basement condensation.

9. Increase the temperature of your basement. Hot air can hold more moisture without causing condensation on basement surfaces.

10. Use fans to keep the air moving. A well ventilated basement will be less likely to become moldy.


About The Author

Chad Kimball

If you are considering basement remodeling or basement finishing, did you know you can create your new basement out of mold resistant materials? Breakthrough technology has created mold resistant basement finishing systems so you never have to worry about mold again. Visit http://www.impressivebasementsystems.com/ for details.