Monday, October 5, 2009

How to Plan For a Simple Or Complete Renovation of Your Bathroom

A small thought on the renovation would give you a good nice image or of a partly assembled failure. A structured plan would not only help in completing the remodeling on time but also, give an excellent and attractive result. Initial step would be determining what kind of renovations you want to make for your bathroom.

Alterations on the surface would be the easiest choice which doesn't change the size and layout the bathroom. Changing the layout would be another option which is tougher since the layout has to be moved around different areas. Ultimately, a complete renovation is difficult. The entire structure including the support, should be broken and essentially a new bathroom has to be built from the ground up. Preparing for the bathroom remodeling costs would be the next.

Renovating a bathroom could be very costly. Though the size of the bathroom is small, the requirement to sub-contract and the cost element which is involved make this very expensive remodel project for home. People avail home loans to repay for the renovation done for the bathroom. Different ways for saving money on remodeling of the bathroom can also be considered. The one thing affecting the cost factor is deciding to the remodeling by you or by employing a contractor.

If you plan for simple alterations on the surface of the bathroom and have willingness to do, then this job can be done by you. However, tasks like putting tiles for the shower shall probably be done by the contractor employed. Plan in advance which projects of the bathroom renovation would be done by you and which other task you need to employ a contractor or professional. Ensure to employ a professional who has a correct license. Check if you have application for other permits like building, electrical and any others needed in your area.

Many a times we would end up to see that the renovation needs to be extended to other areas as the moisture is built up in your bathroom. The drywall if it has collected moisture needs to be replaced. Hopefully, nothing would be required to replace beyond the wallboard. Joists and wall stud need to be replaced if the case is so. And if the case is so, then reconsider your bathroom layout. If a complete renovation of the bathroom is needed, then plan to change the layout to the one you like. This would help you avoiding from doing another project in the future.

Adam Peters is the author of many resources on bathroom accessories related topics published at http://www.home-decorating-reviews.com Read additional info on home interiors or interiors of bathroom

How to Protect Foundation Plumbing Pipes?

If you install any underground plumbing pipes, in your concrete building foundation, you will need to protect them, from the concrete. You can use a variety of products and the most common of them will be a Styrofoam wrapping that can be purchased at most plumbing supply stores.

Let's start with the waste pipes, that are made out of plastic. The concrete could actually start to put pressure on the plastic pipes as the concrete starts to expand and this pressure could actually damage your new waste pipes.

You don't need to wrap all of the plastic waste pipes, only the parts of the waste pipes that will be exposed or in direct contact any concrete, but you do need to protect every copper water supply line that will be buried under the ground or exposed to the concrete, with a plastic sleeve. These products can be purchased again at most building supply or plumbing supply stores.

If these pipes aren't protected properly, you could find yourself within a short time, repairing the pipes that are either inside of your concrete foundation or buried underneath your concrete foundation. Either way, this isn't going to be a good thing.

You definitely need to wrap a plastic sleeve around the water supply pipes that are going to be buried or in direct contact with the concrete. This is a must and most building departments will require your plumbing pipes to be wrapped, before it they will sign off on your rough foundation plumbing inspection.

However, for the waste pipes, you can actually use cardboard to protect them. If you're short on funds, why not grab some cardboard boxes, dismantle them and start using cardboard to wrap the pipes, with a little duct tape.

There are plenty of ways to save money in the construction business, buy a few books, read a couple of articles, with a lot of pictures in this can provide you with lots of construction information, from experience building contractors.

Check out some of the best selling Home Building Plumbing Books all on one website

If you're really interested in basement remodeling and repairs, you should click on this link Home Repairs. Get some great home repair advice that can make a big difference on any of your home remodeling projects.

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 our articles

Sunday, October 4, 2009

Barcelona Hotels

Barcelona is home to various types of hotels ranging from simple rooms all the way up to five-star luxury suites. Barcelona also offers apartments for tourists to rent. No matter what kind of Barcelona hotel you choose to book, expect the best service. After all they want your tourism dollars and will go to great lengths to keep you coming back.

One of the most popular five-star luxury hotels in the city is Hotel Arts Barcelona, which is owned by the Palace Carlton group. It offers modern, high-quality accommodation right on the sea front.

The Meridien is based on the Ramblas, which is a very central location in Barcelona.

The Palace Hotel Barcelona is only a 10-minute walk to Placa Catalunya, which is an ideal location to explore the city.

The five-star Hotel Melia Barcelona is a little further out from the center than the other hotels. However, it has a metro stop only 10 minutes away, which will take one to anywhere in the city.

The Majestic Hotel is a deluxe 4-star hotel and offers fantastic facilities with high standards, but what adds to the overall excellence of the hotel are the location, tradition and gourmet cuisine it offers. It is located on the Paseo de Gracia, one of Barcelona's most beautiful avenues, and is close to some of the citys main tourist spots.

The Ambassador is a two-minute walk from the sights and sounds of the Ramblas, yet located within a quiet street.

The top three-star hotels in Barcelona are the Abba Sant, Hotel Fiira Palace Barcelona and the Prestige Paeo De Gracia.

Barcelona provides detailed information on Barcelona, Barcelona Hotels, Barcelona Soccer, Barcelona Weather and more. Barcelona is affiliated with Spain Golf.

The Damage One Small Water Leak Can Do

What I'm about to explain to you, cost the homeowner about $1200 and it could have been fixed, with a two dollar rubber washer. When I say two dollars, it could have been even less than that, but we'll stick with two dollars.

The story you are about to listen to, deals with the renters, the owner of the rental house and the water damage repair contractor. The water damage repair contractor makes the money, the owner of the home, loses the money, and the renters, really don't care, because it's not their home anyway.

If you own property, and rent it out, I would like to advise you to, do a walk-through on your properties at least every two months. If this homeowner, would've seen the water heater damage, he could have simply went down to his local home improvement center, or plumbing supply Center and purchased a new water heater connection pipe or the rubber washer, that was leaking and repaired it.

Instead of checking up on the property, regularly, I don't really believe that the homeowner, ever went back to check on the property, once it was rented. I always feel sorry for these guys, I have to repair, all of the water damage, replace all of damaged materials, and the homeowner needs to fork out the money. The water leak ruined the water heater and it also needed to be replaced.

This is the damage that one small leak can do. I often hear people joking about it, and I even seen it on a television show one time, when the entire house collapsed and at the end of the show, the plumbing repair contractor, held up a $.15 rubber washer and told the homeowner's, that this was the problem and if they would've replaced it, their house would still be standing today.

I understand that this is the movies, but things like this really happen. So pay attention, inspect your homes on a regular basis and save yourself hundreds if not thousands of dollars in the future.

If you're really interested in basement remodeling and repairs, you should click on this link Home Repair Advice. Get some great home repair advice that can make a big difference on any of your home remodeling projects.

Click Here To Learn More About Water Heater Damage and Repairs

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

Your Royal Stairway - How to Achieve One

More often than not, most items found in your home serve primarily the purpose of decoration. Take your vases, paintings, and carvings, among others, as examples. However, some items serve for particular functions but may also serve as a decoration. Take your crystal chandelier (it is primarily to give light to your home but also serves as dcor to your ceilings) and your antique mirror for instance.

One thing that is not actually furniture which can be both useful and decorative in function is the stairway. Oftentimes, they serve as pathways from one level of our house to the next. Obviously, this is really a great help in houses with two or more floors. There are also houses which opt to put a stairway's platform in direct vision of a person entering the house from a front door. It gives out this appealing impression. Given this, it is therefore necessary that a stairway is not only sturdy and secure (for purposes of safety) but also must demonstrate "grandiosity" in its own right. Usually, this is attributed to the entire design of the stairway, but can also be tracked down to the specific stair parts, too. You have to remember that even the smallest detail, in this case part, can affect the totality of a whole structure to function and serve its purpose. This goes the same for the stairway and its stair parts.

A stairway may be built in different fashions. It can be helical, straight, or sectioned with a balcony. These final structures usually depend more or less on the materials used for the stair parts. Colossal mansions and castles usually have marble staircases of regal grace and elegance. Suburban homes have staircases of wood. For high buildings and skyscrapers, they have cemented or stone-made staircases. There are also some which have more than two or more materials mixed.

Some stair parts may be made of wood, while the others with cement or steel or other materials. For example, the steps are made of cement, the balusters from steel and the handrail from wood. However, when a staircase is made of marble, it is almost always the only material used for its stair parts, too. Oftentimes, the color of these stairways is usually the same with the rest of the house. This is because a stairway is a part of the entirety of the structure of the house.

There are various designs and materials of stair parts which when combined properly may produce a great look for the stairways. The general consideration is on the structure of your home. Also, consideration is also given to your budget to achieve the one which you like and is fit for your home. Most construction stores and depots offer various stair parts with affordable and reasonable prices.

Stairways, just like any general structures, rely greatly on their stair parts to achieve the final look to be visually stimulating to your guests and visitors and also for its solidity. Be certain that you only get what is best for your stairway to produce the effect of a royal pathway, to the next floor that is.

Eliza Maledevic Ayson writes for Jump2top.com - SEO Company

Saturday, October 3, 2009

Pest Droppings in the Attic - Pest Problems

Sometimes I wonder how these large animals can get through such small holes in our homes and into our attics and crawlspace's. A few years ago, I was working on a home that had water damage to the siding that needed to be fixed. The homeowner of course didn't want anymore water damage and this required repairing roof, the original cause for the siding damage.

When I bid the job, I had no idea what I was about to run into. The first day on the job, went smoothly as I repaired some damage fascia board, but the next day I was in for a surprise, as I removed the damaged siding, I found what looked like dog poop in the attic.

I was looking around in the attic and trying to figure out how a dog could of got up there. I know that I shouldn't have, but I walked around the home inspecting it for a large hole, any holes, something that a small dog could have wiggled his way into. I got my latter off of the truck and then went on the roof, trying to find a place where a dog could have got into the attic.

I couldn't find any holes and after wasting about an hour, I decided it was time to get back to work and since the homeowner wasn't there, I couldn't show him my new findings or ask him any questions. I cleaned up the mess and repaired the water damaged siding, but in the back of my head I kept thinking about how in the heck a dog got up in the attic.

To make a short story even shorter, when the homeowner arrived home that day, I showed him my findings and he informed me that he didn't have a dog. He did however inform me that he has been hearing something walking around in his attic for about a year now. He had a pretty good idea that they were raccoons.

I told him, that I had inspected his home and only found one small hole on top of his roof underneath the roof eave, but there's no way that a small raccoon could fit through that hole. He told me that you would be surprised, what these animals were capable of squeezing into and out of.

Well that's about it, the mystery was solved, I repaired the small hole in the attic and have never heard from the homeowner again. Hopefully that meant I did my job well and not that he was embarrassed about the poop in the attic.

Pest Control Ideas, House Pest Pictures

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.

Find the Bathtub You Need With These Simple Tips

Your bathing experience should always be refreshing, relaxing, and comfortable. Here are some tips to assist you in finding the perfect bathtub to buy.

If you're getting a new bathtub for your personal use. Comfort is the number one most important thing to consider. Above all, you'll remember the comfort you experience while relaxing in your bathtub. Keeping your needs in mind, you should evaluate all the features offered to avoid regretting your decisions later.

Once you have found one that has the correct depth, the next thing to decide is what size and what shape you want your tub to be. Bathtubs come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. You need to be certain to purchase a bathtub of the size and shape that will fit your particular bathroom space, design and layout. The medium size tub is ideal for those who like to listen to music or read a book while having a bath. If you like soaking with someone, a two person tun will be a great choice.

Having a bath in a comfortable tub can offer many health benefits, including much needed relaxation. Take into consideration any therapeutic treatments the tub can offer, especially if you suffer from any medical issues. Hot baths refresh the body and soothes your mind. This process mimics weightlessness thus lowering the stress placed on the heart as well as reducing blood pressure.

As relaxing as a bath is supposed to be, taxing or stressful movement can lead to medical issues like back or lower limb pain. Your bathtub should be large enough for you to totally immerse yourself. If you have trouble with back pain, you may want to think about buying a tub with built-in lumbar back support.

If there are elderly members in your household consider a walk-in bathtub which will allow them to safely and comfortably enter the tub via a side door. One innovation in bathtubs is one which has a door allowing you to enter and exit in by walking through this side opening. This design is good for the physically challenged and elderly. Walk-in bathtubs are ideal for those who have difficulty getting in and out of a typical bathtub as it requires less effort to enter and exit through a side door than to navigate a high side.

Sally Ritter

Basic Home Electrical Wiring - For the Do it Yourself Home Electrician

The Green Bay Packers were one of the most successful football teams and Vince Lombardi said something to them that I will never forget," This is a football." All the football players laughed and he said that we're going to start with the basics and that's what I'm going to do, with this article.

Let's start with our electrical wire, the two most common electrical wire sizes, that will be used in most homes, will be 14 and 12 gauge electrical wire. Let's clear something up, right off the bat, the smaller the number, the larger the wire. In other words a 12 gauge electrical wire is a little bit larger and will carry more electricity, for longer distances than a 14 gauge wire.

What about electrical outlet plugs? These plugs are usually the same, except for the fact that they come in different colors. When I said that most electrical plugs are the same, I'm talking about your standard wall outlet plug. There are different electrical plugs that will be used for air conditioners and some kitchen appliances like 220 Volt electric stoves and ovens.

What about your home's light switches? Your standard two way light switch will usually turn a one light on or a group of lights on, from one location. A three way light switch will usually turn one light on or a group of lights on from two different locations. A four way light switch, will usually turn one light or a group of lights on from three different locations.

It doesn't get any more basic than that. I hope this gives you a better understanding about your home's electrical system.

If you're really interested in learning more about remodeling, new home construction, home maintenance, home repairs and really want to get the nuts and bolts of home improvement. Visit our web site and select from the best-selling home building books on the Internet.

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.

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

Thanks For Reading My Articles

Friday, October 2, 2009

Make Your Bathroom a Relaxing Retreat

When you think of a spa you think of beautification, relaxation and peace. Many women spend hundreds of dollars to go to a spa for massages, facials and overall beautification treatments. They may even travel long distances to find the perfect spa or to get a weekend away. However, with the right remodel, you can get the ideal spa right in your own bathroom. All it takes is a budget and some hard work to get the bathroom of your dreams.

The whole idea of a spa is to bring about a sense of relaxation. One way to bring about relaxation is to choose a color scheme that is pleasing to you. Everyone has their own preference when it comes to colors, but there are a few things to stay away from when you are trying to bring about relaxation. One tip is to stay away from bright colors. These colors may be bold and eye catching, but they can also be distracting. Another tip is to keep it simple. Make sure that all the colors blend with one another but do not over do it by bringing in too many colors.

One of the most important aspects of a bathroom is the shower. When you are in the bathroom you spend the majority of your time taking a shower or soaking in a bathtub. Because of this, the way you remodel the bathroom is very important. Shower heads are really what can make or break a shower. There are a lot of factors that go into picking the right shower head such as how many features it has and the water pressure. When the shower head is performing at the level you are happy with then it makes taking a shower a relaxing experience.

If you prefer a bathtub, however, there are a lot of options to get the spa feeling you are looking for. Bathtubs have evolved from a tub that you simply soak in to clean up. Now bathtubs feature jets and warming features to make the experience a relaxing one. There is nothing better then getting some time by yourself with soaking in a bubble bath. Many people who have a spa bathroom see it as a place to escape and release all of the stress from a hard day at work.

Accessorizing the bathroom is another remodeling element that is important for the overall look of the bathroom. You can get a sophisticated and modern look to the bathroom by using satin nickel cabinet knobs and handles. If you choose to go with satin nickel cabinet handles it is important to make sure that the other accessories in the bathroom match as well. These accessories include the shower head and faucet, the door knobs, the sink faucet and toilet handles.

Once you have the essentials chosen for the bathroom the next step is to decorate it. You want to make sure to choose towels and rugs that match the overall color scheme of the bathroom. If you bring in too many colors it can be distracting. You also want to make sure to utilize the space you have but do not over do it. If the bathroom is cluttered with knick knacks and decorations it will take away from the serene feeling you aim for. With all of these ideas you can get the spa bathroom you are looking for and the relaxation that you need.

Amanda works for Your Home Supply (YHS) the definitive website for home improvement tools, and gardening supplies. Your Home Supply offers a wide range of shower heads to help customers create their own bathroom retreat. Visit them now at http://www.YourHomeSupply.com

Do I Need a Home Inspection? - Real Estate Advice

Most home inspections today run between $300 to over $1000 and sometimes you don't really get your moneys worth. There are home inspection companies that guarantee, any problems that they miss will be repaired at their expense over a desired period of time, usually a year. It seems like, most home inspection companies are just inspecting the property and have no guarantees or liability from their inspection.

It's not a good idea to buy or sell a home without getting a home inspection from a licensed home inspector. This is like having a second opinion from someone who is usually skilled in the process. I would like to point something out to unsuspecting, potential home buyers and sellers. Sometimes a home inspection company will get a little behind in their work and need to hire other home inspectors if these home inspectors don't have any experience in the construction business or have never inspected a home before. In other words there fresh out of home inspector school. You might not get a good home inspection.

You can always ask the question, how long have you been in business?... How long have you been a home inspector?... have you ever worked in the construction business or have any skills in home building and remodeling. If the answers to these questions are satisfactory, it doesn't mean, that they're telling the truth and being sincere and could lead to problems later if they are lying to you.

Let me rephrase the question now, "Do I Need a Home Inspection" from an unqualified home inspector? Absolutely not. But how can you really tell the difference and is the report going to be worth the money that you paid for it.

What would you say, if I had the solution to your problem. How about a pre-home inspection, using a home buyers checklist? What if I could give you a check list with questions, that you could ask your home inspector? Some of these questions are not going to be part a regular inspection but should always be asked and make sure you get the answers to them, before purchasing the property.

Would you be interested now? What if I told you, for under $20, you could purchase a home buyers checklist, now for the tough question, this checklist could save you thousands of dollars and prevent you from purchasing a home with major construction problems or defects, and can be used on every house you look at.

Don't buy a home without purchasing a professional home inspection checklist. These lists of questions can save you some serious headaches and stress in the future.

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.

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

A Bathroom For the Country House

In this day and age the city can become stressful and aggravating for any bloke and sometimes we just need to get away to the country and relax at the cottage. We are looking for and need a slower pace and cannot keep up the pressures and needs that come along with city life. Anytime we take off for the country, we want to be in relaxing and enjoy the moments we do have, and sometimes that means we have to put in the effort to make our country flat feel like home.

One of the places in a cottage that is in need of the most fixing up is the toilet. Chances are, your cottage goes back a few centuries and the toilet hasn't exactly kept up with the times and the new advancements. There is no time like now to fix up the toilet and make it into your own. Whenever a bloke is fixing up the toilet it is important for them to understand the dcor for themselves and for the country lifestyle they are living.

Your country toilet will generally have a tub, a loo, and a sink, so it is important to build on that and bring the best out of what you have. Most country toilets do not have a shower and it is perfectly normal for you to want to put one in. You may want to feel the relaxation of a whirl pool in your tub, and with the right tools this can be easily done and give you bubbles and jets to relax those aching muscles. Whenever someone is in their country cottage, they want the relaxation that it provides, but they also want the modern convenience of their flat in the city.

While in the country, you may want to use some of the famous parts that used to be incorporated in the old toilets, like pedestal sinks. These are great and will fit right into any toilet sink. Guests will marvel at how you are reliving the ancient days and will enjoy the use of your pedestal sinks. If they are already in your toilet, then you can refurbish them; otherwise, you can install them and find out how handy and fun they can be to use.

When we think of a country setting, the first image that pops into our mind our trees and wood. It is well known that a wood floor and water do not go hand in hand. That means you should add wood into other areas of the toilet, such as the walls and cabinets. You can also include wooden pegs around the toilet to hand up towels and clothes while using the toilet's facilities; and many people don't think about it, but a wooden cover on the loo can make it good looking and more comfortable. This will give your toilet the country feel you desire, while avoiding all the pitfalls of having a hardwood floor.

Toilets are an intimate setting and adding candles and warm fragrances will make you want to sit in that bubble bath for a few extra minutes and forget about the stresses in the real world.

Written by James Chapman, a director of Bella Bathrooms Ltd.

Formed by two plumbers from the North East of England Bella Bathrooms has gone from strength to strength since it's creation in 2004. Having hands on experience of custom bathroom installation and products has enabled Bella Bathrooms Ltd to select only quality bathroom products for their online shop. They specialise in bathrooms, bathroom furniture, bathroom suites, showers and bath related products for consumers throughout the United Kingdom.

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Managing a Small Kitchen Design

Who doesn't want to have a lavishly designed kitchen? As you watch cooking shows and other programs featuring areas of the home, you will observe how most of the kitchens are greatly designed. But the problem is most of the people don't have enough budget to create a huge and stylish kitchen. But it is not impossible to recreate all this in a small kitchen design.

Being able to manage a kitchen design in a small area is a little hard thing to do. The things that you need to fit in and how you will fit every little detail is somewhat complicated. You can go and buy magazines that feature kitchen styles and get inspiration from the cabinet designs as well as the surface patterns that they utilized in creating the design of the kitchen.

To be able to produce an efficient kitchen style to a small area, you must remember about certain factors such as appliances, lighting and storage.

Designing a small kitchen could be a complex and challenging task. However, this doesn't mean that you won't be able to create a functional, stunning and efficient cooking area. Even if you only possess a minimal budget as well as building constraints, you will discover the numerous selections available in order to recreate your kitchen and turn it into an ideal cooking area that will suit your requirements.

To be able to make a roomy kitchen for a small area it is suggested that you incorporate exceptional storage solutions, combining natural as well as ambient lighting, utilizing space saving appliances and not to mention injecting some personal touches.

Small sized kitchen area necessitates creativity in order to produce unique storage solutions. You may try to set up a countertop in the middle of the kitchen to allow storage which is useful for any areas of the kitchen. These days, there are more and more appliances which are dedicated to fit small spaces and others that can be hung.

If you want to build a small dining area in your kitchen you can set up a table situated to the wall and place small chairs to it. Good choice of lighting can do the trick of making a small kitchen area appear more spacious.

Light hued cabinets accentuated with glass doors are appealing as well. You can also design additional counters in order to store more appliances and to add up more work area. You can hang up your cooking pots and pans as they look more stylish and space saving as well.

Create a pantry storage that has divisions which will reach up to the ceiling to provide you with more storage space and it is more convenient to organize food items. Large kitchen sink is far more sensible that having a small sized one especially when you are cleaning huge kitchen materials.

Not all people have the means to build huge kitchens. Small kitchen design is not a problem as you can maximize its capabilities of making your life easier when it comes to cooking. All you need is some creativity and practicality.

To learn more small kitchen designs, visit http://www.smallkitchenideas101.com.