Month: January 2021

Home Improvement Contractors

Organized Kitchen Unveiled – The Top Secret to a High Standard Organized Kitchen Renovation Project

Laura

So, this is the time of the year that you will do your kitchen renovation projects. However, did you already plan out how to effectively organize your cabinets? Generally, organizing a kitchen optimizes all available spaces. For high standard renovation projects, first choose the correct cabinet type for your kitchen.
Base Cabinets
These cabinets rest directly on the floor. They help to support the counter top. Typically, the sizes of the base cabinets are 34 1/2 inches to 36 inches tall and 24 inches to 30 inches deep. They also typically consist of one drawer with doors and shelves. Today, there are already specialized base kitchen cabinets. These include sinks and corner bases. The sink base has false drawer fronts. It has an open area below for storage and to accommodate sink plumbing. On the other hand, the corner base fits in a corner. For ease of access, it may include kitchen shelves.
Wall Cabinets
A typically organized kitchen has wall kitchen cabinets. These hang on the wall and are installed with or without wall soffit. The standard sizes for these cabinets are 12 inches to 18 inches deep and 12 inches to 42 inches high. When installing, these cabinets are typically placed 18 inches above the counter tops and 54 inches above the floor. However, the height will depend on your tallness and ceiling height.
Tall Cabinets
When your kitchen has limited room space, the tall cabinets are the most ideal. These are popular options for kitchen pantry storage cabinets. The typical sizes of these cabinets are 84 inches to 94 inches tall. Their standard base and wall depth is between 12 inches to 18 inches. This type of cabinets offers storage space for dry goods, and also cleaning appliances such as brooms and mops.…

Kitchen Remodel

Be Ready for the Emergency Home Repair

Laura

A little bit of knowledge can save you big money with repair bills, whether you plan on doing the repair yourself or if a professional contractor will have to be called in. With proper advance planning and preparation, you can keep a malfunction from becoming a major and costly damage crisis.
Electrical
Know the location of the shutoffs for the home electricity. Make sure the circuit breakers or fuses are all appropriately marked and that the identifiers can easily be read by the light of even a dim flashlight.
Just because you have shut off the electricity to a room or appliance, don’t assume that there is no voltage to the appliance or outlet. Check and double check to make sure that there is no electricity running through to avoid property damage or injury. Use a voltage tester to make sure you won’t get an unexpected shock.
Gas
Locate the main shut off valve for the gas line into your home. Make sure every family member knows the location. Make sure you are familiar with how the valve works. In an emergency like a leak, shut off the outside main valve first to keep leakage to a minimum. Once the main line has been closed, you will have the time to access the shutoff valve for the appliance without being overcome by fumes.
Water
A broken water line can quickly cause a lot of damage. Most sinks and toilets, as well as electrical appliances that use water have a shutoff valve in the vicinity of the fixture. But it’s always important to know where the main shut off valve is located in case the damaged water line or pipe is spewing water before it gets to the shutoff valve.…

Home Contractors

L Shaped Kitchen Designs

Laura

Today’s home decorating and designing ideas have definitely pushed the boundaries on what can be possible. Some of today’s modern designs were probably not easy to pull off during previous eras. One of the layouts that have been popular today are L shaped kitchen designs. For most people, they want to have a kitchen design that is pleasing to look at but has all the functions needed from a regular kitchen.
In order to create a kitchen that gives the user ease, you need to be able to create a good flow of traffic through the entire room. Some L shaped kitchen designs can provide you with a decent traffic flow through the entire kitchen. In designing a kitchen for your home, you always need to put practicalities and function first but make sure not to sacrifice the overall outlook. Otherwise you would be left with a design that you will eventually regret.
L shaped designs for kitchens are usually made in consideration with the space allotted for that area. There are certain floor plans that do not work well with an L shaped kitchen renovation simply because there is a lack in space. In these cases, you may want to try a different approach that fits your kitchen.
When you are planning to use an L shaped design plan in building your own kitchen, you first need to consider how much floor space you have. This type of kitchen design usually demands for a bigger central area in comparison to other types.
The good thing about L shaped kitchen renovation ideas is the fact that you can place a breakfast nook or a butchers table in the centre to make room or for additional workspace. This can also be a great area for a mini bar in case you do not want to put another simple counter top in the middle.
Whether you plan to add more counter top space or just a regular breakfast booth, an L shaped design is the best one to go with since you have more freedom with this design. Other designs have more restrictions especially when it comes to the amount of space you are working with.
One way to give more emphasis to L shaped kitchen designs is by adding on several accents and accessories. Proper lighting fixtures such as pin lights and cupboard lighting accents can really bring out the best out of kitchen area.…

Renovation House

How To Find A Good Plumber

Laura

Finding a good plumber to help with your renovations or new construction isn’t just about finding the best price available within your area. In fact, there are many different things that one should consider before taking any contractor on, but by sticking to a few tips and using common sense, you can protect both your property investment and your wallet in the end.
As with any type of contractor that you take on, it’s important to make sure that you do plenty of research on the contractor or company that you’re considering hiring. However, it’s also a good idea to also check out a little information on the task itself that you’re looking to have work done on, so that you know what you can expect in regards to time, effort, and pricing.
If you’re not sure as to what company you’d like to take on, or even to look at, it’s generally a good idea to get referrals. Referrals can be obtained by several methods, but the most successful approach is to get them from the people you know and trust, and who have had positive experiences in the past with certain outfits.
Should you happen to not have any reliable personal resources when it comes down to gaining good plumbing referrals, then you can try to contact your local plumbing hardware, local hardware, or home improvement stores in order to get them. Often times these places will have a rough idea of what companies or contractors are best to go with and who you should avoid. You can also find listings within the phone book or online, but it’s key to make sure that you research them properly.
When it comes to researching a company, it’s generally wise to make sure that you check with your local licensing board for construction contractors, providing one is within your area. In most places, it’s required by law for a contractor to hold and maintain an up-to-date plumbing license as well as insurance. If you find that this is required by law in your area, it’s best to avoid those who aren’t qualified to do the job, as they may not be knowledgeable enough to handle the task.
While it may be tempting to go with your local handyman or woman, it’s important to make sure that you cover yourself and your investment should anything go wrong. A qualified plumbing contractor or service will be aware of any codes for homes or remodels, and you can often avoid any future problems from a job being done incorrectly.
Although the cost of services is something that many do and should take into consideration, it’s not always in your best interest to compensate quality work in order to save as much money as you can; otherwise, you may find yourself forking out more money in order to fix a bad job done on your property. Therefore, try to compare prices or biddings for the job by various companies in order to get a …

House Improvements

The Different Types Of Basement Flooring

Laura

There are many reasons why you may be looking into replacing or upgrading your current basement flooring. You may wish to convert your existing basement space from a storage area to a recreational room for your family to spend time together. You may want to install a working wet bar and a big screened television to football parties on the weekend. Or perhaps you would like to have a guest room available for when company drops by. Whatever the particular plans for your cellar happens to be, there is a plethora of flooring choices available for purchase on the market today.
Before shopping for or installing basement flooring, it is always a good idea to bring a professional in to examine your cellar for moisture. The most common sub flooring used today is concrete, which comes in direct connection with the earth. This is why getting your basement checked for moisture accumulation is imperative to the proper functioning of the new flooring you wish to have installed. Once you have determined whether or not your current concrete flooring is properly sealed and ready for a new layer, you can move forward.
The most general flooring choices being used in a basement setting are often installed throughout the rest of the home. Hardwood and laminate flooring, carpet and tiles made from porcelain or ceramic are all popular choices for basement flooring. Depending upon your specific aesthetic goals and design aspirations, which flooring you choose to utilize really comes down to taste. Again, as long as your concrete sub flooring is sealed and you do not live in an area that is exposed to continual flooding, you have a pretty wide selection of flooring. However, if your region is prone to excessive rain, perhaps finishing your current basement concrete floors is the best option for you. For many who find themselves in this situation, painting lends an affordable and easy solution. For those seeking a fancier method of sprucing up their basement floors, stenciling or painting on a faux finish are two other options.
An economical basement flooring option is vinyl or linoleum. These two types of cheaper flooring come in one of two ways: on a roll or in pieces. When found on the roll, a special adhesive is used to attach the cut piece of flooring directly onto the cellar concrete. This same type of adhesive can be used on tiles that do not already have a sticky back. Tiles with sticky backs come pre-measured and once the piece of paper is removed from the underside, they can be applied to a clean surface. A benefit to using the pre-measured sticky back tiles is they oftentimes can be adjusted once or twice before permanent placement, which gives some room for error.
More expensive options that include hardwood and tiling are not suitable for every home. However, the aesthetic value added by these types of flooring is almost unmatchable by other contenders. Hardwood floors must be installed in extremely dry basements …

Basement Renovations

Save Money on Your Kitchen Remodeling Project

Laura

Any household owner who has ever discussed a kitchen renovation jobs understands how rapidly the cost of the project can go out of control. For you to realize the kitchen of your dreams and not break the bank, it would be crucial to plan ahead of time and watch for things that have the potential to quickly drain your hard earned finances. The typical cost of a kitchen renovation project can be broken down into several areas such as lighting, countertops and cabinetry. Here are easy money saving tips that will help you reduce the cost of kitchen renovation without comprising your property’s resale value.
Cabinetry. Choose the right cabinets that will make your kitchen more functional and beautiful at the same time.
A� Try to look at your existing and present kitchen. Determine whether you can reduce the cabinetry in the area. It can be more cost effective if you have smaller number of big cabinets compared to many small ones.
A� Keep stock cabinet modifications to a minimum. These modifications can involve molding, adding many decorative materials and other changes are really budget busters.
A� Make sure you go for quality first. Do not leave yourself dazzled by a certain cabinet that looks beautiful aesthetically but poorly manufactured underneath. Picking high quality cabinetry will make your kitchen remodeling project more cost effective in the long run.
A� Make sure you consider a cabinet’s functionality aside from its form. The cabinets you select should be functional and should be something that matches your kitchen design concept.
Countertops. Another costly aspect of kitchen renovation projects is the installation of countertops. It would be vital to look into these money saving advices when selecting and installing brand new counters for your kitchen.
A� Carefully look at any countertop material you will be choosing since this will no doubt consume the largest portion of your budget. There are several affordable and efficient materials available today that will still look and perform like that of the most expensive ones. Know your options and make sure you canvass the prices of countertop materials that you can find.
A� When selecting a color pattern, make sure you take note of the price differences among styles and try to shop accordingly.
A� Before even selecting your final decision, make sure you have looked around and did competitive shopping. The prices of countertop materials may vary from one store to another.
Lighting is another aspect that will take a lot of chunk from this home remodeling project. And there are still ways for you to cut costs even without sacrificing quality.
A� Think closely on the total number of fixtures that you really need and cut back when you can.
A� Look at many lighting model and choices. Consider each one’s quality, price and total value.
A� Try to install energy saving lighting fixtures. These can be less expensive to purchase and install as well.
There are still so many ways for you to save on a …

Home Improvement Contractors

Hand Sculptured Wooden Flooring – Information

Laura

In case you are thinking to set up fresh flooring in the house or at your work place then wooden floor is probably the best and very famous option available in the market. There are different kinds of wooden floors that you can select from such as the likes of laminate flooring and solid floors etc. Many of the customers are interested in buying the hand sculptured wooden flooring because of its many qualities like the antique and beautiful appearance of these floors is very famous all over the world.
In case you are thinking to buy hand sculptured wooden flooring, you can decide accurately how distressed the flooring should be. In this way you can give your own customized appearance to the wood flooring. In case you are looking to have a floor for the home that appears to be very ancient and old then that is absolutely not a problem at all as hand sculptured flooring can be customized whichever way the consumers want to. You have got all the choices available and you may design the flooring as such that it will look exclusive and match the furniture and design of your house as well.
When you have bought this kind of flooring for the house then do not worry at all as this floor is absolutely strong and would not break even if a dining plate falls on its surface. These floors are durable and last for years and years.
Coming to the purchasing part of the hand sculptured wooden floors; First of all you are required to analyze the environment and climate of the place where you reside before deciding the kind of flooring you want to buy. Some of the flooring providers offer both natural wood and laminate wooden hand sculptured flooring. You need to do proper research and examination before making the final buying decision; otherwise you may end up buying the wrong wooden floor for your house. As it is handmade, so it takes a little more time and cost to make such kind of wooden floors. That is the reason why their price per square foot is a little higher as compared to the machine sculptured wooden floors. However the beautiful appearance of these floors and the customized look that they bring to the house makes you think that it is worth spending extra cash on the hand sculptured wooden floors.…

Home Maintenance

Cement Countertops – Why Would You Want a Sidewalk for a Countertop?

Laura

If you have never heard of a cement countertop you are probably wondering why you would what to put a sidewalk on your kitchen counter. Well the truth is cement countertops can look as good as or better than granite if they are done properly. The best part is you can completely customize the countertop to meet your exact specifications. You can choose any color, shape, or thickness you want. You can even add a built in sink and drying rack. Items embedded in the countertop can also be exposed during the finishing process adding character to the counter.
The process involved in making a cement countertop starts with the template. Thin strips of wood or any light material is used to make a mock up of the final countertop shape. Then a mold is made around the template the desired thickness of the finished product. Re-bar is added inside the mold and then cement can be mixed up in the mixer with all the necessary ingredients included color pigment. The concrete is then poured into the molds and vibrated to help remove any air bubbles. The countertop is removed from the mold after approximately three days and then the finishing process can begin. Since the countertop was poured upside down it is first flipped over so the top is now facing up. This way the exposed surface of the counter is already completely smooth and the rougher troweled surface becomes the underside of the counter. The top is then polished using a variable speed wet polisher and diamond coated pads of various grits until the desired amount of aggregate is exposed and a mirror finish is produced.
Once the polishing is done the cement countertop is left to fully cure which can take a few weeks depending on the temperature and then it can be sealed and installed in the kitchen. The finished product looks absolutely amazing if done by skilled craftsmen and is a great option for a countertop instead of granite.…

Basement Remodeling

Prepare Your Home For Resale By Replacing Outdated Flooring

Laura

When preparing a house for a sale, many homeowners choose to take on some remodeling projects to make their home more appealing to buyers and increase its resale value. If you are preparing your home for resale, you want to be sure you are choosing improvement projects that will give you the best return on investment. One of the first improvements you should consider is replacing your old or out-dated flooring. This will make your home much more attractive to potential buyers, and has the second-highest ROI, after repainting.
Just like clothes, hairstyles, or any other aesthetic statement, flooring styles can go in and out of fashion. Chartreuse linoleum and deep shag carpet are no longer in style, and potential buyers will be unimpressed by outdated flooring. These days, natural looks are in. Hardwood flooring and tile are very popular, and high-quality vinyl flooring realistically imitating these looks at a fraction of the cost is also in vogue. Even if your flooring is not out of fashion, if it is old and no longer in good condition, you should replace it before attempting to sell your home.
If you floors are covered in carpet, find out what is underneath. If the carpet is covering hardwood flooring, pull up the carpet and have the hardwood refinished for an entirely new look. Hardwood flooring is easier to clean and maintain than carpet, and is very stylish. If cement or plywood lie under your carpet, however, it will probably not be cost effective to replace all of the carpet with hardwood flooring unless you are planning to stay in your home long enough to enjoy the new floors.
If you cannot afford to replace the flooring in your entire house, there are still some steps you can take to prepare your home for resale. If you have hardwood floors, have them refinished or stained to give them new life. If you have carpet, have it professionally cleaned. Another option is to replace the flooring in just one or two rooms, such as the kitchen and living room. No matter what your budget, there are many flooring improvement options to help you prepare your home to be sold.…

Remodeling Contractors

The Advantages and Disadvantages of Vinyl Plank Flooring

Laura

For a number of different reasons, wood flooring is probably the most popular type of flooring amongst homeowners today. While it can be quite expensive, hardwood flooring adds a certain level of comfort and warmth to practically any room. Some of the negative aspects of hardwood flooring include its vulnerability to damage including stains, scratches, and more. Overall, it can be a pain to maintain and clean on a regular basis.
Vinyl plank flooring is a newer type of flooring that offers many of the advantages of hardwood floors, but at significantly reduced prices. There are also some other key advantages that vinyl plank floors have over hardwood floors that make it an attractive option for anyone who wants that classic wood floor look without the hassles and high price tags.
You can find vinyl plank flooring in a wide variety of wood grain sizes. This gives you the ability to pick out a grain size that closely matches your preferred choice of wood. In addition, it is available in an array of shades resembling cherry, oak, mahogany, maple, or any other wood of your fancy. In fact, it does such a good job mimicking these natural woods that oftentimes you would not be able to see the difference between vinyl and wood flooring.
Probably the biggest advantage of vinyl flooring is how cheap it is. The cost for this type of flooring will generally fall within the range of 1 to 4 US dollars per square foot. Another great advantage of these floors is that it is extremely durable and water resistant. Its ability to effectively repel water allows you to use it in your home’s kitchen or bathrooms. It is also resistant to the cracking and scratching that you will often find with natural hardwood floors.
There are a few disadvantages to vinyl flooring that you should consider as well. Since your average vinyl plank is not nearly as thick as natural wood planks, oftentimes you will need to install an additional sub-flooring before installation. You also have to be quite careful when it comes to cleaning vinyl plank flooring. Certain types of solvents and cleaners can actually damage these floors so you need to find cleaners that are specifically designed to clean vinyl floors without damaging them.
Flooring is one of the most noticeable and important aspects of any home. Therefore, choosing the right flooring is a very big decision that you want to get right. Before you decide to install vinyl plank flooring, you will want to learn about its advantages and disadvantages so you can make the right purchasing choice.…