Moisture Against Gravity - Destroying Walls

Well I'm going to start this article with a little information on a job I did once.

I had been repairing a rental house for one particular homeowner for about three years when all of a sudden I got a phone call from him telling me the rental house was destroyed and he had never seen nothing like this. He sounded so upset over the phone I told him I would meet with him immediately.

On my way to the house I was trying to get an idea in my head what the house was going to actually look like. Since I have been repairing rental properties for over 20 years at this point of my career, nothing really shocked me. I had pretty much seen everything that could possibly be done to rental property by the tenants that lived there. There is a lot to be said about taking care of it as if it were your own.

He was waiting for me at the front door and he looked thoroughly disgusted. As I approached him he was shaking his head and yelling at the same time can you believe these people, can you believe what they did to my house. I was expecting to see the front door ripped off and all the windows broken out of the house but this wasn't the case.

As he led me through the home and I could see the usual clothing on the floor, broken cabinets, a few holes in the walls and of course that awful smell of mold and mildew. All of this stuff was nothing new to me because I'm the guy they call to fix it when a renter moves out of the property.

As I entered one of the bedrooms I got my first glimpse of something I had never seen before but heard stories about and could not believe my eyes. Looking at the walls in the bedroom about 3 feet from the floor all the way around the room, the plaster was soft. It actually looks like someone shoved popcorn into the wall somehow.

The homeowner wasn't even looking at this because of the rest of the damage in the home. I started to explain to him I'd never seen nothing like this but I could guess it was water damage somehow since the plaster was soft. I could actually stick my finger into the wall, that's how soft the plaster was.

My first thought was to examine the carpeting a little closer to see if it was wet. Well it was damp but it wasn't as wet as I would've expected it to be with the amount of water in the walls. With a little more home inspecting I had found the culprit, it was a broken water bed. The water bed was now in the backyard looking innocent.

I couldn't believe a broken water bed could do this much damage so I looked around for broken or leaking water pipes and could not find any. The other bad news I had to inform the homeowner was that the water had damage the bathroom and closet walls also. These walls of course were on the other side of the bathroom walls that were damaged.

Well the point of this story is that water will actually wick its way up or worked its way up into a wall. I had to remove 4 feet of drywall all the way around the room. The plaster or drywall actually acts like a sponge pulling the water into the walls. Hard to imagine that gravity in this case seems to reverse. I would've never thought that water would've traveled so far up the walls creating that much damage.

To repair the rental property I had to remove the damaged drywall, remove the carpeting, dry the wood framing out and put the whole thing back together.

I'm still amazed and will remember that project for as long as I live.

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.

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Door Hardware Helps Pull "Home Remodeling Projects" Together

So you have decided to undertake a home remodeling project, and you think you've thought of everything. Fresh paint for the walls, perhaps some new carpeting...if you are redoing the kitchen, new cabinetry, maybe the same if you are redoing the bath. The big things like these, as well as decorative touches like window treatments, rugs, throw pillows on the sofas and chairs, and pictures for the walls, are always the things we think about first when we give a room in our home a makeover, regardless of what room that might be.

But if you have not considered also updating your door hardware in the course of your home improvements, you are missing out on a change you can make that will really give the new dcor of the room a finished, pulled together look. In that way, it will have a big impact on the overall look and feel of the room, even though it might sound like a small detail to worry over at first blush. In the home dcor business, plain and stodgy door knobs are a thing of the past - though, of course, you can still use those if they are what floats your boat - and decorative hardware has become increasingly popular. With decorative door hardware, you can dress up your door in the same way you dress up a window with a new set of drapes or add a pretty vase to an end table or mantelpiece. They are a way to add one more touch of style to the room.

Decorative door hardware is available in an amazing array of shapes, colors, styles and finishes, so you can't help but find some pieces that fit in with the room's color scheme and style perfectly. For nature lovers, you can find door knobs in the shape of flowers or made from natural materials like wood and stone. You can even find door levers shaped like small branches. For elegant and Victorian style rooms, choose glass door knobs with beveled edges that catch the light.

From ornate wrought iron to smooth antique brass to stainless steel and everything in between, choosing beautiful decorative hardware will add that perfect finishing touch to your room, and since adding new hardware to a door is an easy do it yourself project and the pieces themselves are relatively inexpensive, you can complete the project in a few hours and have a new room accent you can be proud of without breaking the bank or having to call in a professional.

Jonathan works for Your Home Supply (YHS) the definitive website for home improvement tools, and gardening supplies. Your Home Supply offers a wide range of door hardware to help customers pull their home remodeling projects together.
Visit them now at http://www.YourHomeSupply.com

Design a Really Great Kitchen

If you are a bit stuck in the small kitchen design stakes, then you need to remember about strategy, so that you know what can be fitted, and where. If you are to consider something important, then consider remodeling in a fashion that affords sufficient storage space, as well as what type of appliances can be included, as well as good lighting.

If you want to know what the best solution is for your storage crisis, then it is the fitting of an island. This is going to provide you with that extra bit of space that you were looking for. But what if you ain't even got no room for that, eh? What you gonna do? Well what about a gallery style kitchen? This is where all of the cabinets are lined up either side of the kitchen aisle, as well as on the walls. This allows you to take advantage of the limited amount of space. It affords you the luxury of your cabinets not becoming some sort of obstacle every time you go in the kitchen to do something. What a good idea it is, to take advantage of the ceiling and hang pots and pans from it. Like they do in proper kitchens in restraints. Why not do this? All your friends are going to think its 'Oh so kitsch,' with your kitchen having more character than Disney.

Should you be completely serious about making the most of the room in your little kitchen, then you will want to be adding a pantry cabinet, that goes right the way up to the ceiling. Although the top part is largely inaccessible, it can still be used for storing things that you hardly use. You should use light colors, definitely. These aid in making things look bigger. As do having a couple of cabinet doors that are glass, and therefore see-through. Another option is to attach things like spike racks to the inside of doors. This makes plenty of space.

It is logical to fit cabinets that are really deep, because this is going to add storage for the cupboards, as well as more storage for the work surfaces. It is a must in any small kitchen to purchase modern appliances that are compact. It is only really the sink that you want to be thinking big with, as it will be practical for cleaning all your pots and pans.

Something else of significance is the manner in which lighting is utilized. Under-counter, as well as under-cabinet lighting is really good. It will serve to impress dinner guests, as well making the place look a little bit bigger.

Get a fantastically designed kitchen

Black Kitchen Cabinets

If you want your kitchen cabinet to stand out over the rest, you can try repainting them to the color of your choice. You can even paint your kitchen cabinet black to create a sophisticated look.

Prior to painting cabinets, they should be properly prepared. Some mild sanding techniques are necessary when the wood finish or old paint is glossy and smooth. The surface should be rough so that the new paint will easily adhere to it. After sanding the cabinet surface, clean them with soap and water. After drying, painting tape should be applied to the edges of the cabinets, on the floor, counter tops, walls and other surfaces to prevent paint from getting into places where you don't want it to go.

Next, brush on the bonding primer a single brush. Two coats of primer are recommended, and allow at least four hours for the primer to dry.

After the primer has dried on both sides of the cabinet doors, you can start painting Paint using easy and steady strokes. You may apply two to three coats of paint with four hours drying time in between.

If you have lots of windows and your kitchen is large, black cabinets should work very well and will not darken the room at all. The look will be even more enhancing if your appliances and counter tops are a lighter color, and your floors are a light colored oak. Many cabinet manufacturers offer dozens of specialty finishes in black for maple cabinets. Some have websites where you can design your cabinets online to see what they will look like.

Kitchen Cabinets provides detailed information on Custom Kitchen Cabinets, Discount Kitchen Cabinets, Kitchen Cabinet Doors, Kitchen Cabinet Hardware and more. Kitchen Cabinets is affiliated with Copper Kitchen Sinks .

Including the Outdoors in Home Remodeling

A backyard isnt the same as it used to be a place to grill, where kids play ball, or just an extra spot to mow. Now the trend is to make the backyard an outdoor retreat or an extension to the house.

As reported in the May 2006 Consumer Reports, designing and furnishing an outdoor room is the second most likely home-remodeling project to do. Specifically, approximately 1.2 million U.S. households will install a fully functional outdoor kitchen, according to a study by the industry research company inquiry.
In 2004, Better Homes and Gardens magazine received survey responses from nearly 60,000 Americans describing home improvement projects and future home-building aspirations. Better Homes and Gardens found that people want indoor/outdoor livability, technological innovations, flexibility for family needs and a kitchen-centric focus. (REMODELING Magazine, September 1, 2005)

Homeowners are seeking ways to make the outdoors a functional part of the living area. To accomplish that, the barriers between outdoors and indoors, such as walls and solid doors, are going away. As cited in A Simple Way to Increase Outdoor Living Space at HGPgal.com, for homeowners looking to add to their living space, improve their lifestyle and increase the resale value of their home, the perfect solution is to extend living areas outdoors through the addition of decks, patios, outdoor kitchens and entertainment areas.

"The line between the house and the outdoor space continues to disintegrate," says Julie D. Taylor, author of Outdoor Rooms. "Many designers are using the same, or similar, materials both on the interior and exterior to extend the house to the outdoors. It breaks down the barrier and gives a feeling of a larger house."

Alternatively, instead of thinking of the barriers disintegrating, another solution is effective indoor-outdoor connections. These connections can include French doors opening up onto a porch, or the addition of a window to expose a lovely view. Indoor-outdoor connections can be as simple as adding a mudroom between the garage and the home, or more complex, such as an outdoor entertainment area placed just outside the doors of a home's main gathering space. Adding visual connections to the outdoors, such as through the addition of glass doors or enlarging a window, adds value to your home by making its interior space appear larger than it actually is. (Connect Inside of Your House with the Beauty Outdoors, Ann Robinson, Deseret News, April 2005)

To create the outdoor living space that you want, start by determining your budget and your desires.
Consumer Reports provides some tips about what to consider for building room extensions or outdoor entertainment areas:

* Determine how you will use your space
* Consider location
* Be sure to weatherproof
* Incorporate lighting and heat
* Consider safety

No matter what extension you decide to make, it will undoubtedly add value to your home. As cited by Ann Robinson in Deseret News, Exterior living space adds usable square footage to your home without costing you the $120-plus per square foot you'd spend for the construction of an addition.

For more information visit:http://www.homeremodelersgroup.com/"> http://www.homeremodelersgroup.com/

Plywood Floor Repair

Kitchen Decorating Trends - Home Tips

The kitchen is the heart of the home and who hasn't spent hours in there sipping coffee with friends and family? So it should come as no surprise that one of the hot kitchen decorating trends of today is using coffee kitchen dcor to perk up the look of this much used room.

When decorating with this theme you will find that your kitchen takes on a trendy but also comfortable appeal. Giving your kitchen the look of a popular caf is one twist on this decorating method but you could also go with a vintage appeal and give it more of a diner look. Either way, this style of dcor is sure to please.

The great thing about this style is that you can use basically any color scheme. This allows the homeowner to easily give their kitchen the aura of a coffee house without having to spend a lot of time and money on painting and refitting it with new appliances. However, if you do want to give your kitchen a fresh coat of paint, you might consider the color of caf au lait - it's very popular and will go with any dcor if you should tire of the coffee theme.

Finding coffee kitchen dcor can be fun and today there are many options. First of all, you can find coffee themed items in most stores and online. Today, this trend is rather popular and you can find pot holders, kitchen towels and even curtains adorned with steaming mugs of coffee.

While all these items are great, I like to add a little unique flair to my decorating projects and what better way then to scour flea markets and antique shops for vintage coffee themed items. Here are some fun items that you can keep an eye out for that will add charm to your coffee themed kitchen:

- Vintage coffee house signs
- signs from coffee houses that show the menu or types of coffee
- Vintage sings for different brands of coffee
- Vintage coffee canisters
- Old coffee mills
- Plain white utilitarian coffee mugs and saucers just like you see in the old diners

You might also want to look for old tables from diners for your kitchen table or go with a more trendy caf look by using a wrought iron table with a glass top or even one of the modern style tables at the furniture store which actually resemble the tables and chairs you see in trendy coffee houses today.

So, you see, using coffee kitchen dcor in your home can be fun and you can even add unique appeal by finding one of a kind items that are reminiscent of the great coffee house days. With a little attention to detail, you're sure to put together a kitchen that reflects one of today's modern trends as well as a little bit of yesterday.

Your house doesn't have to be boring and you don't have to spend a lot to jazz it up either! To find out how to decorate your house on a budget, please visit http://www.perfecthomedecor.com where you can learn about all different decorating styles including more on coffee kitchen decor.

Filling In Outside Bay Window

The Beauty of a Construction Site

Something that architects and contractors take for granted but that homeowners rarely experience, is the construction site. When it is your house being built or added onto, I recommend that you spend as much time as possible with the "insides" of the place where you will be living.

It is a bit like viewing the inside a person during an operation. Yes, it may be messy and confusing unless you know how everything works, but it is always fascinating and sometimes beautiful. Not to take the metaphor too far, but a home has structure like we have bones, wiring and controls as we have nerves, and mechanical systems like we have...maybe I've gone too far, but you can see where I'm going.

The most universal observation is that during the building process, the scale of rooms and the overall building changes dramatically depending on the phase of construction. When the foundation is poured the space may look too small, with the framing up, the building may look too large. Trim, siding, windows and roofing bring the massive structure back into proportion. Inside finishes and trim as well as cabinetry and paint make a room that felt too large or small, feel comfortable.

The craftsmanship that goes into the framing and rough plumbing and electrical work pays off as the home is being finished. Straight, plumb, and square walls and floors make the trim carpenter's work easier and faster. You can tell a lot about a contractor by the way the early stages of the building are completed. If they care about the way the house is framed, chances are they will take the same care in finishing the job. A friend and talented photographer, Michele Muir was at one of our job sites photographing everyone in our office, and took some time to record the beauty of the job site.

http://www.crisparchitects.com/

James M. Crisp, AIA is an architect working in New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts.

Structural Post At Window Framing