Category: Basement Remodeling

Basement Remodeling

Green Products

Laura

As more and more environmentally friendly products are coming to market, it seems only fair to mention the role of a few construction material products that are doing their part in helping to clean up the environment. Known as green construction or sustainable building methods, some of these innovations are quite interesting if not amazing. Goals of green building include being health conscious by decreasing pollution and toxins thereby limiting the impact on our environment. Also designed to conserve energy and valuable natural resources, many of these materials are quickly renewable such as fast growing bamboo used to manufacture flooring and paneling. Some products indirectly offer environmental benefits by conserving the water that would normally be an ingredient used to complete the final product such as cement used to mud-float showers and bath tubs in preparation for the installation of ceramic tile.
Although many building contractors and tradesmen are very negative when it comes to new products and techniques, these are usually old school veterans who are very set in their ways. You know the ones who live by the motto: You can’t teach an old dog new tricks. But in keeping an open mind, one will understand and soon admit that there may very well be superior products and techniques available today that were not available yesterday.
One product that comes to mind is a waterproof backer board designed to be applied directly to a tub or shower wall prior to the installation of ceramic tile. While there are several different manufacturers, the benefits are primarily the same and include:
A� Lightweight and easy to install over existing drywall or open studs.
A� Water conservation. Minimal water usage required.
A� No need to for a sand/cement mixture which can release toxins as bags are opened and mixed.
A� Minimal gray water or cement debris generated thereby making clean up easier both in the staging area as well as in the work area.
A� Installation options include flush surface or simulated mud-float.
A� Designs and specifications allow for soap and shampoo niches, shelves and seats, and even tub decks and bases.
If you are considering the installation of a new shower or tub ceramic tile surround and based on the benefits mentioned above, I think it would be prudent to at least investigate using a new product such as this. Not only will you be environmentally conscious and socially responsible but it just might save time and money.…

Basement Remodeling

Great Ways to Shop at a Kitchen Store

Laura

If you love your kitchen, you could probably wander through a kitchen store for days. In your mind, you’ll be trying out tile, countertops, and cabinets in your own kitchen, preparing for yet another remodel. This isn’t always a healthy or smart way to shop, though, especially if you ever want to actually get that remodel done. Before you head to the kitchen store the next time around, try one of these shopping methods to help you complete your trip more quickly and get to the remodeling part even faster.
On some trips, you really do just need to look around. This is true if you’re getting ready to do a kitchen remodel but aren’t quite sure what you want to do. In this case, take a notebook. If the store manager will let you, take a camera to snap some pictures, as well. If you’re going to paint your kitchen, grab some paint chips from the hardware store to take along, as well. On this trip, all you’re doing is gathering ideas and taking notes on the colors, textures, and particular items that you like best. Make sure you’re descriptive enough that you can actually remember what you were looking at when you wrote down your notes!
Once you know what you need, it’s time to start making lists before your next trip to the kitchen store. If you’re like a lot of people, your remodel will go in stages. You’ll probably head to the store more than a couple of times during a full remodeling session. Think through all the things you need to do and the order in which you need to do them. If, for instance, you’re painting your cabinets and replacing countertops, you’ll probably need to rip out the old countertops and then paint the cabinets before replacing the countertops again.
Either way, at this point, you should be going into the kitchen store armed with a detailed list of everything you need. Write down measurements, quantities, and as much other information as you can. This way, you get just what you need, and you don’t have to come back to the store when you aren’t ready to be back there quite yet. This will make the remodeling process work more quickly so that you can get your kitchen function and beautiful before you know it.…

Basement Remodeling

How To Have A Remarkable Home Improvement Project With These Simple Tips

Laura

Are you the person everyone consults when it is time to do a home improvement project? What kind of jobs can you accomplish? Reading this article is the first step toward becoming an efficient do-it-yourselfer.

Hire a professional to do a inspection of your new home. This way, you do not have to figure out on your own or rely on a seller let you know about things that must be repaired or replaced if you purchase the home. Enlisting a professional inspector who does not have a stake in the sale is a smart method of keeping things honest.

You have to replace filters when necessary. Not only does it make your home’s inside air healthier, but it also keeps the air and heating unit working properly. Most of the time, a unit stops functioning properly because the filter is dirty.

Use a sponge to do your drywall. Instead of sanding seams in drywall, use a sponge. With practice, a wet sponge is just as effective in smoothing out the seams of a drywall job as is careful sanding. One great thing is that sponging isn’t as dusty as sanding.

Buy metal fixtures that complement your bathrooms; that is a cheap and quick way to modernize. Attractive curtain rods, toilet paper holders, towel racks and cabinet knobs are available in various matching finishes and shapes. There are sometimes packages available that can be put up in one day.

You need PVC cement and PVC primer to attach a pair of PVC pipes. You must use these specific items, since others won’t work. Make sure the surface of the pipes is dry when you begin.

If you are updating or improving your kitchen and will be working in the vicinity of a fireplace or gas line, it is extremely important that you shut off the gas before starting your project. Be extremely careful if you are going to work near any gas installation. Getting injured or starting a fire is not something that you want to happen as a result of your work.

Smart homeowners invest their home improvement money in solid improvements to the home itself rather than decorative items and furniture. The reason is simple, decor and furnishings are taken when you move. Fixtures, on the other hand, are durable and stay in the home, adding to its value and commanding a greater sale price.

One fairly easy way to spruce up a basement is to stain the floor. Using stain on concrete is less expensive than ripping it out, and it looks great. By staining the floor, you improve its durability and cut the time needed to keep it clean. Choose one that will add a shiny finish. This will allow your floors to look great, like they cost more than they really do.

Some people may have some skills with home improvement, but true knowledge takes years of work and experience to gain. You can always learn more as new projects arise. If you have gotten …

Basement Remodeling

Helpful Tips For Successful Home Improvement Projects

Laura

As with anything else in life, knowledge is your best tool. This is definitely true when dealing with home improvement. You do not need a roof leak or a step in the basement that may break. Read over these home improvement tips prior to starting any project.

You might have to repaint your porch. The paint you use should be high-quality and formulated for exterior use. Make sure that you use similarly based paints together, such as putting a new oil-based paint over an old one. Likewise, match water-based or latex paints together when putting a new coat over an old one. Oil-based paint should be used for trim, but not on walking surfaces. It does last longer but can get slippery.

When it’s finally crunch time and you need to replace the shingles, find a good, light color to prevent high levels of heat. Lighter colors reflect sunshine rather than absorbing it, lowering the temperature in the attic. This will make your cooling and heating bills less expensive.

Use common sense when deciding what home improvement projects are right for you. For example, it is not a wise invest to install a sun room with no insulation in the colder climates. Stick to what is liked, and don’t reach outside of what local climate allows.

Installing a second bathroom in your residence will significantly enhance the value of the home. It is easy to understand that an additional bathroom is handy, particularly when each bathroom is on a different floor of the home. When you have a large family or a houseful of guests, you can never have too many bathrooms!

Making pillows more decorative in a teen’s room is pretty easy. Take some old clothes such as band shirts, shirts with cool designs or an old pair of jeans; cut them to size to fit your decorative pillows and sew them together. This can make a great personal addition to any teenager’s room, and give their room a bit of personality.

Use old baby food jars to add organization to your workspace. Screw the jar lids into the bottom of a shelf. Insert small items into the jars, such as: beads, jewelry parts, screws or nails. You can then put the jars under your shelf. You can now take advantage of wall shelf space and the jars you thought you couldn’t use.

Neighbors should always be aware of what sort of improvement jobs you are doing. It’s no fun to hear someone else’s construction going on! Your neighbors will be significantly less annoyed if they know what to expect and for how long.

Replacing an old, worn doorknob is a great way to update the appearance of your home, and the safety level as well. It should be a fairly quick project, too. The hardest part is going to be when you use the screwdriver. You can buy handles and knobs at your home improvement store.

One of the best things with regards to home improvement is that …

Basement Remodeling

Tips For Beginners For Any Home Improvement Project

Laura

Home improvement offers something for everyone, whether you’re a novice or a seasoned contractor. Television is meant to be entertaining and the same is true for home improvement programs. Home improvement is more than those really big jobs. The following tips will teach you how to improve your home while having fun at the same time.

The amount of money that you are going to get as a return of the investment must be compared to how much you value the personal touches you are considering adding to your home. By nature, a design feature that is personal to you is less likely to feel personal for someone else, and therefore, it may deter interested parties from buying your home.

Look at what you want to accomplish, this is a great tip to assist you on your journey towards home improvement. Add your own unique style for your home improvement ideas, giving your personal touch can go a long way.

A good way to save on money and heating costs in the winter is to insulate your attic. Heat naturally rises, which means tons of heat will escape from a poorly-insulated attic, especially during the colder months. You can purchase this insulation at a hardware shop and you will be able to install it yourself.

If you have a handyman working for you, get your contract in writing. A written contract keeps both sides honest and protects you, the homeowner, from exploitation. You’re in a dangerous position if you don’t have a contract.

Make a point of installing motion detectors on your porch or entrance to your house. You can save some money on electric bills if your exterior lights switch off automatically. They are also a great tool to scare of any potential thieves, as the lights turn on as they approach the house.

When you are thinking about tackling a paint job project in your house, it is crucial that you know how much paint will be needed to get everything done. Do not guess how much the job is going to cost as you could be way off. You should always carefully measure and know how much paint you will need.

The wall-to-wall carpeting found in some older homes can be stained and outdated. You get a classic look with wooden floors, they’ll last longer then most plush carpets, as well.

When considering a bathroom upgrade, think about making the room handicap-accessible. This is a good tip to use in case you plan to grow old and live in your house. Even if you eventually sell the property, the improvements you make will enhance the value of the home.

If possible, you should perform renovations immediately whenever a problem arises. Sometimes it seems much easier to turn a blind eye to the issue. You need to resist the urge to ignore it. Because all of your home’s systems are connected closely, it can take no time for damage to spread. A tiny problem can eventually become a …

Basement Remodeling

Quick Tips For Being Your Own Handyman

Laura

If you improve your home it can change how you are feeling about it. You can incorporate simple ideas into your daily remodeling and decorating. There is great advice here of you are looking to improve your house without spending a lot of money.

Keep your air conditioning filters clean. A dirty AC filter causes your air conditioner to work inefficiently and consume more energy. It also means that the unit runs longer than it really needs to. To prevent a buildup of dust and debris, change the AC or furnace filter monthly.

A beginner’s tip for home improvement is to think about what you personally want to accomplish. Add your own tastes to any improvement project.

Stained baseboards offer an excellent alternative to traditionally painted ones. On top of their classic appeal, they also give an aura of warmth. Stained backboards also serve the benefit of defending against stains and marks, which can increase its longevity. You can choose from many different colors of wood stain to match any decor.

Pour bleach into the toilet bowl to keep it clean. Bleach has a strong smell, but it is terribly effective at killing germs. Scented bleach can also help keep the odor at bay.

If you have sharp furniture, you should put down some padding, which will keep children safe and make your home look nicer. You can protect sharp furniture edges by using foam tape or buying specific child safety corner protectors. Make sure, too, that you remove a potential tripping and strangling hazard for your children by taping down all loose wires.

Keep any small jars (like baby food jars) for use in organizing your space. Secure the lids to the undersides of wall shelves with screws or glue. You should put small items inside the jars like screws, beads nails and more. The jars can be twisted into place in the lids secured under the shelf. This is a very innovative way to store small items.

When choosing a contractor for home improvement, be sure you’re assessing estimates that are based on comparable specifications. Make a list that you give to each of the contractors of the things you want done. If your project keeps changing, none of the estimates you get will be comparable, so you will not know who is offering the best price.

When you are going to remodel your bathroom, go small at first. Little budgets may still create a big impact that can look pricier than it is. Get new toilet paper holders, light fixtures, mirrors, and towel bars. Painting is an instant refresher. These are cheap and easy ways to update your bathroom.

Before you hang blinds, you’ll need to take careful measurements rather than approximating your window size. Without measuring properly, you may have trouble installing the blinds correctly. There are many different sizes for blinds and some are made to be installed on the interior frame of the window and some on the outside of the frame.

As stated …

Basement Remodeling

Advice And Tips For Successful Home Improvement

Laura

You have finally decided to take the big step. You have decided to take the plunge into home improvement projects. This is the absolute perfect time to start making improvements to your home. You, no doubt, have many questions, and this article will cover them. The following tips can show you how to start improving your home today.

If you are renovating your home, consider whether the cost of adding your personal touch will be recouped when you sell it. If your renovation is done to your uniquely personal taste, you may find that nobody is interested in buying the home at the price you think it is worth.

Whenever your roof needs redoing, you should insert white tile. If not white, then ensure it is light colored. This lighter color deflects the sun’s rays rather than absorbing them, and this reduces heat in your attic. This alone can make a big difference in your bills.

Regular dusting of your home accessories should occur weekly. Just a few days could allow for quite a bit of dust to build up and cause allergy issues in the home. Not only does cleaning eliminate dirt and dust, but it reduces the possibility that spiders, fleas, ants or other insects will settle into your home.

Pop the bubbles in an old vinyl covering on your floor if you can. The air in a vinyl floor bubble can be released by slicing it. This gets the floor flat again. You’ll have to put glue in place to hold it flat, though. Syringe glue is a great choice for this task.

If you are switching out your floor tiles, look to purchase radiant heat tiles. These tiles provide heat through your electricity and are a real show stopper. These can even be a do-it-yourself project, providing you are able to read and follow directions. The end result is a project that you can continually add upon in the future or inform the next tenants so that they may achieve some of the work themselves. You will be happy you did when you go into your bathroom on that first day of winter.

Install exhaust fans in all of your bathrooms, your laundry room and above any cooking surfaces. You can reduce the occurance of mildew and mold in your house by keeping moist air out. Venting the humid air can also help prevent condensation from building up inside the walls of your home, which could potentially cause the walls to rot.

Dramatically increase the odds of your family staying safe in emergencies by having a family meeting to discuss your home’s escape routes. When there is a tragic accident or something beyond your control, people can tend to panic. To help lessen the chance of a fatality or injury, come up with escape plans for home intrusions, fire or dangerous weather. Have a catch up and think of the best way to get out in case this happens.

Now that you’ve reached the end of …