Category: Basement

Bathroom Remodel

Looking To Replace Your Kitchen Countertops? Go With Granite

Laura

There are a number of options for new countertops in the kitchen but the trend currently is definitely toward granite. The stone is extremely durable and will hold up well to the daily grind that comes with cooking. Granite will hold its luster for years with a minimal amount of maintenance and will add elegance to your home that will increase the value.
The number one drawback to granite is the cost. To have a slab of granite configured to fit your kitchen and installed will cost you at least $60 per square foot and can go up to over $90. A typical 3×12 granite countertop will cost you somewhere in the neighborhood of $3000. One of the most costly expenses related to granite is shipping it to your home. Granite slabs are very heavy and great care must be taken in moving them around because they can snap, especially if a sink hole was cut out at the factory. Because they can be difficult to handle, installation is best left to the experts.
Ten years ago, composite materials became very popular for use in the kitchen. Sold under name brands like Corian, Avonite and Swanstone, these one piece countertops provided a nice upgrade over conventional laminate which has been the industry standard for years. The materials though are not as durable as granite and cannot withstand high temperatures as well. A pot just removed from the stove can be placed on a granite countertop with no fear of it burning the surface. Granite when sealed properly is also much more stain resistant than the composites made from plastic resins.
There is also no substitute for the look of Granite. There is no material that is produced by man which can match the appearance of polished stone. Granite is made up of tiny crystals which are ground down using diamond studded pads to polish off the stone to a smooth finish. The surface is ground down to the point where it is completely flat and the shine comes from the way that the polished granite reflects the light.
There are enough color options available in granite to match any design or taste. While no two pieces are alike, slabs are classified into basic color groups of white, yellow, blue, green and brown. The White Granite tends to be more cream colored and often will have speckles of black or gray in it. The yellow granite is a brownish yellow while the brown granite tends to be a dark tan. The blue and green granites come in both dark and lighter shades of those colors. Each different color can be found with a wide variety of marbling. The most expensive cuts of stone are variegated granite pieces which have elaborate veins running through them. These pieces have been compared to pieces of art and give the illusion of movement throughout. Going with variegated granite will give your kitchen a look like no other and make it truly unique.…

Bathroom Remodel

Where to Find Kitchen Renovation Ideas

Laura

If you’re ready for a change in the look and feel of your home, your kitchen is a great place to start. Not only is it a place where functionality is important, but it’s also the gathering place for your friends and family members. Your kitchen should be a beautiful place where you are comfortable and where you can work on creating meals easily and efficiently.
One problem that many people have with remodeling any part of their homes is that they just don’t know what they want to do. When it comes to kitchen renovation, you might already know a little bit of what you want. You know that you need the stove closer to the fridge, another sink, a better faucet with a spray nozzle, or whatnot. You may not, though, know how best to lay all these things out or how to decorate your kitchen so that it looks different yet still blends with the rest of your home well. Luckily, there are lots of places to find kitchen renovation ideas.
A great place to start is with magazines and online before and after pictures. These will show you the latest ideas for kitchens, including efficient layouts and beautiful decorations. Many times, you can actually get kitchen blueprints from specialty magazines and websites that will help you decide how to lay your kitchen out.
Another great idea is to look at friends’ homes. Is there a kitchen where you feel particularly warm and comfortable? What is it that you like about this kitchen? Ask about where the materials came from, and see if you can take pictures of the parts of the kitchen that you love most.
Once you start finding ideas, keep track of them. Clip out magazine pictures and pictures of friends’ kitchens. Print off pictures online, or at least bookmark links. Make an envelope or folder where you can keep all your kitchen renovation ideas.
When you have lots of ideas stored up, take them to a professional kitchen designer. This person will be able to help you put your ideas together in a cohesive manner. Some of them might not go together, but taken as a whole, they’ll give a good idea of the type of kitchen you want. When you have all your ideas together, you’ll be able to get good advice on the most efficient and practical way to remodel your kitchen from a designer who has been working on kitchens for a while.…

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 Renovations

3 Types of Floors to Choose for Your House

Laura

There are several factors that you need to consider before you decide the type of floor you want for your home. Whether you are building a new house or redesigning your old house, remember that a well-designed place is usually a very pleasant house to stay in as it will have the decor you needed. Once you understand just what it means to have great flooring, you will have a much clearer picture of why it is important to design and select flooring carefully. So what exactly are the types of floors that are available and what are some of their advantages and disadvantages?
• Tiled Floors: Tiles are one of the most popular flooring materials throughout the world. Many people go for these because they are, first of all, some of the cheapest materials available for flooring these days. The tile industry over the years has made remarkable progress in terms of quality and designing of the tiles. Another thing that makes tiles so appealing is the fact that they are very easy to maintain with regards to cleaning and repair work. Tiles are also very popular because they have a way of blending in with almost any type of walls in the house, and they enhance the beauty of the house without much effort being put into the whole project.
• Hardwood: Hardwood flooring is another type of flooring method that is widely used by homeowners from all over the world. This is because of the multiple advantages that it has. The main advantage is that hardwood flooring looks beautiful and adds a certain charm to the house that no other flooring can, and not to mention the hike it gives to the real estate value of the house. However, hardwood flooring is not cheap and you will also need to hire skilled professionals to lay down the floor. Another point to be kept in mind about this type of flooring is that it is not easy to maintain. It requires careful cleaning, polishing and, of course, let’s not forget the dangers of termites. If you do not take care, you just might find your floor eaten right out from under your feet.
• Vinyl: If practicality is your thing when it comes to flooring, then vinyl is certainly the best material for you. Vinyl floorings are the cheapest of the lot and also the easiest to maintain. They are also available in various designs, so if you want that wooden flooring look and cannot afford real wood flooring then vinyl is certainly the way to go. The other thing that makes this a great option for flooring material is the fact that it is very durable. This material can also be used in almost any type of climatic condition that exists in a given area.
These are just a few and most basic of flooring techniques that you can use to make your house a great place to live. The choice however, is dependent on many factors …

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.…

Bathroom Remodel

Two Reasons to Buy Brazilian Hardwood Flooring – Beauty and Durability

Laura

Anyone who wants to install beautiful hardwood floors in their home needs to take a look at exotic Brazilian Cherry flooring materials. Not only does this wood have beautiful graining and natural color, but it also is one of the most durable woods available. It is especially desirable, because even though it doesn’t dent easily, if a time comes when you want or need to refinish it, it sands easily and takes stain well. These are all characteristics that make Brazilian cherry hardwood one of the most recommended solid wood floors on the market.
Everyone who installs hardwood floors wants them to be durable. You may have seen floors in some homes that are scratched and pitted and thought you’d never want to trade in your carpets for wood. Some woods using for flooring are soft, though, and become damaged much easier than others do. Brazilian cherry is the ideal material to use, because it is so hard. On the Janka Hardwood Hardness Scale, it has a rating of 2820 out of a possible 4000 which makes it one of the hardest woods around. In fact, you really wouldn’t want anything much harder, because even this hard cherry requires some extra effort in cutting and nailing.
Problems with cutting and nailing are obstacles that aren’t difficult to get around, though, so don’t worry. Special saw blades and pre-drilling of nail holes will help your cherry floors become a reality. Although this will create a bit more work in laying the floor, the beauty and durability of the finished product will make the extra effort well worth your while. After all, what’s the point of laying a floor that’s going to start looking tacky after a few months of family use?
Brazilian cherry flooring is available either pre-finished or unfinished. The wood itself can range from a dark orange to a reddish-brown in its natural state. When choosing a floor, you need to realize that the color will probably darken over time. In addition, exposure to direct sunlight can lighten it. Prefinished floors are finished with multiple coats of scratch resistant polyurethane varnish to increase the floor’s durability. After all, any floor will only be as tough as the top surface. Inferior varnishes will become badly scratched making your floor look dull, so make sure that your flooring has the best possible varnish, whether you purchase it prefinished or do the job yourself.…

Bathroom Renovations

One Simple Renovation Can Transform Your Kitchen

Laura

Are you growing tired of the appearance of your kitchen and just want a little change without spending a lot of money? Have you ever considered simply redoing the cabinets in your kitchen to help spice things up a bit? It may sound expensive, but depending on which method you choose it can be quick and extremely affordable. This is a great project for those husbands who want to show their wife how special she is.
There are several different ways to give your kitchen cabinets a makeover. If you don’t have any problems with the layout or design of your kitchen cabinets, you can make them a bit more modern by changing their surface appearance. Simply replace the cabinet doors and drawer fronts and cover the frames with a matching veneer.
Finishes
There are three types of finishes to pick from; plastic laminate, wood veneer and RTF. This will save you money because you can resurface kitchen cabinets for a third of what it costs to replace them. To make the room look better, replace a few of your cabinet doors with stained, etched or leaded glass. This will give your kitchen a fresh, modern look and take away the outdated appearance you may feel your kitchen has.
Paint and save a ton of money
If you don’t have the money to buy new kitchen cabinet doors, or you like the design but just want a small change, think paint. A little paint can dramatically change the look, not only of your cabinets, but your entire kitchen! Make sure you choose paint that can withstand the temperature fluctuations in the kitchen. Oil based paints are the best; they grip better, and they offer a longer lasting, more durable finish than acrylic paints.
Consider removing the cabinet doors completely
The most cost-effective way to renovate the look of your cabinets is to remove the doors altogether. If you are someone who loves order and has no clutter inside your cabinets, this is a perfect solution. Open-faced cabinets offer a country appeal as long as you keep your items well organized. Should you choose to go this route, just clean up the outside framework and add a fresh coat of paint to the framework as well as inside the cabinets. You may want to use a shade of paint that complements the rest of the decor in your kitchen.
Making the room look brand new is easily accomplished by simply changing the knobs, pulls and hinges on the cabinets. Pick from several different finishes, like wrought iron, nickel, brass, or even stainless steel. Whatever you choose for your cabinets, this is a very affordable way to renovate your kitchen without spending more than your budget allows.
Whichever ideas you try, little changes can make a huge difference. If you’re a little bored with the way your kitchen looks, give it a little “face-lift” using some of the tips above! Your kitchen will take on an entirely different feel, and you won’t …

Bathroom Renovations

Do Your Bit for the Environment With Timber Flooring

Laura

Are you planning to renovate your house and refurbish its floors? This is a good opportunity to do your bit for the environment. You must be surprised by the connection between the two. What can possibly be the connection between decorating your floors and making a positive difference to the environment? The answer lies in timber flooring. This is because in this form of flooring, recycled timbers are used that are sourced from forests thereby encouraging more and more tree growth. We all wish to contribute something to the cause of a greener world but our super busy lives hardly give us a chance to fulfill them. Here, we can easily achieve that just by opting for timber while going for a flooring renovation. There are many individuals who feel that if something is environment-friendly, it cannot be good looking. However, this is completely untrue in this case. Timber looks really classy and colorful so that you can increase the style quotient of your house to a considerable extent.
This is not the only reason why you should go for timber. There are other benefits too that it has to offer. Firstly, it is a cakewalk to clean floors made of timber. While renewing your floors, you have to think of the practical side too. You cannot concentrate on appearance alone. It is true that the look will play an important role in defining the overall appearance of the house. However, that does not mean you should sacrifice on the practical aspect. In fact, it is something that you have to take into account in the initial stages of choosing and selection itself. Timber floors are better equipped to battle dirt and dust. Since they have a soft covering, you can easily eradicate dust mites. This is definitely convenient since now-a-days, nobody has the time to spend hours on cleaning floors and tiles. Moreover, it is not possible to spend a significant part of your savings on flooring frequently. You do want it to be a long-term investment. This can be guaranteed in this flooring type.
If you are an Asthmatic patient, you have one more reason to go for timber flooring. The simple reason is that timber has anti-allergic properties. Owing to this feature, timber is also used by professionals in their workspace such as offices, showrooms etc. The eclectic variety of colors facilitates a more inspiring work environment.
However, if you find this option to be too costly, you can go for regular hardwood flooring. Though it has been there for decades, you have no reason to think that it is outdated. There are certain things that never go out of fashion and it is one of them. When it comes to class and culture, hardwood truly scores. Moreover, if you ever sell your house in the future, you can get a slightly higher price just on account of wooden flooring. The best thing about it is that in spite of offering so many benefits, it is highly …

Bathroom Renovations

Tips For The Do-it-yourself Home Improvement Project

Laura

There are so many projects that can be done around the house if you just have the right information to know how to do them. This article can help you complete that home improvement project you’ve been thinking about. Always do research before beginning any project.

Use fans as much as possible to keep your home cool and comfortable in the summer. A ceiling fan does an excellent job of circulating air, thereby making any room much cooler. It also lowers the need for your air conditioner, so you’ll save some money too!

Fun is essential to home improvement. You must be careful of course, but you should still enjoy your work as you go along. It is more likely that you will make mistakes if you don’t have fun with your project. If this happens to you, hire a professional for help.

In order to save money, get a drain snake. It will keep you from having to spend your money on expensive drain cleaners as often. Novices may not succeed at using drain snakes, and therefore it may be wise to ask a plumber for a lesson first. Snakes come in different sizes, so it’s important to know your drain size and buy the right one. Otherwise you may damage your drain.

When performing home improvements in areas with heavy plumbing, (e.g. kitchens and bathrooms) replace ordinary wall board with water-resistant wall board. This type of wall board is generally called “green board” by insiders. It also tolerates moisture better than ordinary wall board, and can also retard mold growth.

If you have no shower in your home, you might want to consider adding one. Showers are more accessible than tubs, and they also reduce water usage. Five minute showers use less than a quarter the water that it takes to soak in the bath.

It can be very expensive to replace your flooring, no matter what material you use. Have you considered concrete flooring? You can pull up the flooring you have and stain the concrete underneath. The stain makes the concrete have a new industrial look that can match any decor.

Get paints that are no-VOC. These paints help reduce indoor contaminants from the paint you’re using for your home improvement. In addition to labels indicating that paint is non-toxic, the no-VOC or low-VOC label is popular with those who are looking to go green because the reduction of specific chemical fumes is good for the environment as well as your health. They are just as effective as regular paints are, and are priced just a bit higher than traditional paints.

When taking on a big home improvement job, make sure your contractor is acting in your best interest. Many contractors will try to take advantage of home owners. Be sure to verify all the potential problems that a contractor mentions a home having.

These ideas and suggestions will allow you to make great improvements to your home. After you complete a project, no matter the …

Bathroom Renovations

Save Yourself A Hassle By Following This Home Improvement Advice

Laura

Home improvement plans can really increase your home’s value, both financially and in family comfort. A good way to make sure you do it the right way is to make sure you know what you are doing. Use these tips and advice to make your house your dream home.

If your old vinyl flooring has a bubble, give it a shot! The air in a vinyl floor bubble can be released by slicing it. However, this will only flatten the bubble temporarily. You need to inject it with some new glue though to keep the section held down to the ground. In order to properly do this, you should use glue that comes already loaded inside a syringe.

Good lighting makes an incredible difference in any room. The brighter the room the more welcoming. You can make a room brighter by simply installing more lights. By brightening a dark room one will make the over all feel of the house improved.

Keep a drain snake on hand to save yourself money. One of the biggest advantages is the lower frequency with which you need to purchase drain cleaners. Drain snakes shouldn’t be used unless you are experienced using them. Invest in a snake that’s the correct size or you may damage your pipes.

Add new handles and knobs to your cabinets in your kitchen. Many people focus on the doors without realizing that simply changing the hinges and handles on cabinets can do wonders. Take the time and clean out your cabinets as well when replacing the knobs. Simply screw the new knobs on and presto, you’re done!

No matter what size area you are painting in your home, you should figure out your paint needs before you begin. Do not guess how much the job is going to cost as you could be way off. Be sure you take some time to measure exactly how much of an area you need to paint.

If you feel you want to take on major landscaping projects, make sure to plan your style in accordance with what will best complement your home. Choosing complimentary designs will give a professional and coordinated look to the addition of a new patio or garden.

Hardware isn’t necessarily available from home builders on new home construction. You can get knobs or handles for a low cost online or at a store, such as Home Depot or Lowe’s. Knobs and pulls are easily found in a variety of styles suitable to any decor, and installation is quick.

Paint is the first thing to think about when you’re styling a room. You will have a much easier time painting your ceiling and walls before the flooring is installed. Even if you protect your flooring with the appropriate items you can still splash paint on it.

It can be very rewarding to spend your time doing home improvement. In order to achieve your desired results, it is crucial that you obtain all the knowledge you can on home renovations. …