Archive for February, 2010


Reasons to Hire a Basement Contractor

Filed Under: New Construction
Feb.28, 2010

Looking for a professional basement contractor to help you improve and revamp your basement is one of the most money saving and rewarding investments you can make. Basement finishing projects are the rage right now. More and more homeowners are working on their basements, as they are some of the most unnoticed and neglected parts of the home.

So what can a basement contractor do for you? A reliable, qualified and financially secure basement contractor can be advantageous if you choose to remodel your basement. He or she will offer essential and expert tips on any specific requirements you may have. For instance, the contractor can give you recommendations on added amenities such as a kitchenette or bathroom.

Just remember that the more features you choose to employ into the basement, the more costly the project will be. Thus, it is important that you plan a budget, and a contractor can help you with this. There are actually quite a number of experienced basement contractors that provide their clients with financing plans to assist with the payments.

When it comes down to the actual basement remodeling tasks, a contractor can assist in moisture control, which is considered essential for basements in general. Moisture needs to be dealt with, and a contractor can ascertain that your basement is well insulated and vented. If you want what’s good for your basement, inquire about what materials or fixtures need to be employed to handle moisture problems. Professional contractors would happily offer you with good quality ceiling, floor and walls to make your basement safe, clean and dry.

Basement remodeling or construction can be a hard task and that is way many individuals turn to basement contractors. The basement presents a tricky situation, where it has to deal with moisture, flooding, lack of light and poor ventilation. Once you have confirmed a plan for your basement, the basement contractor can reestablish what you put on a piece of paper. The contractor’s staff will tear out old parts, enhance the plumbing and electrical system, relocate pipes and ductwork, and so on.

Before beginning on most tasks, the basement contractor will offer a set price and alterations will be approximated and paid along the way. If you want to design as you go, you have the choice to have a running tab of materials and labor fees. Even if you’re hiring a basement contractor to do most of the job, you still need to have a good plan on what you want to achieve. This will give the project a good sense of direction.

The contractor needs to comprehend what you are envisioning for your basement, so don’t hesitate to inform them of all the things you want for it. Everything should be clear to and comprehended by the contractor, otherwise, you’ll be unsatisfied with the overall results and face expenses higher than you expected since the contractor carried out a lot of unnecessary work.

Keep in mind some important factors when deciding on whether to hire a basement contractor or not. How familiar are you in accomplishing some of the tasks? Have you ever hammered a nail? How about working with wired electrical outlets? If most of the tasks are difficult, then it’s a good time to hire a contractor.

Are you spending beyond your means for your basement remodeling ideas? Save thousands of dollars by hiring the right basement contractor.

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Redecorating Tips For Your Kitchen – Make it Stylish and Clutter Free

Filed Under: Uncategorized
Feb.27, 2010

Redecorating your kitchen, Make it clutter free.

If you are getting ready to redecorate your kitchen or even just to give it a good old spring cleaning one thing that you want to do is make sure that your kitchen is clutter free. Having a ton of clutter in the kitchen is not a good idea for a variety of reasons. One of the biggest reasons why you need a clutter free kitchen is because of safety, if there is a lot of stuff in the kitchen and there is a grease fire things can quickly get out of hand. Health reasons are another big reason to keep your kitchen clutter free, the more cluttered your kitchen is the harder it is to clean.

Here are some tips that you can follow to help keep your kitchen clutter free.

Tip one:
If you are going to be using cookbooks in the kitchen, you want to keep them away from the stove because of the possibility of them burning. One of the best places to keep them is up on top of the refrigerator, which should be kept clear of everything but the cookbooks. When placing the cookbooks on top of the refrigerator you want to use bookends to keep the books standing upright, place it makes them appear neater.

Tip two:
If you have any kind of space between your cabinets and your counters you can install some type of rack that will allow you to hang your wineglasses. Not only will this add some style to your kitchen, but it can also help free up valuable cabinet space.

Tip three:
If you have glass cabinets, you want to pay attention to how you have things organized. Place your nicer glasses or plates on the higher shelves, so that when looking into the cabinets you are faced with something pleasing to look at. Keep your everyday glasses that are most likely mismatched and plastic, on the bottom shelf.

Tip four:
To help keep your kitchen looking new you can change your decorations based n the season or even based on the holiday. You can add some decorations during certain holidays to make your kitchen more festive, such as red and green candles in the windowsill at Christmas or miniature pumpkins during Halloween. If you change your decorations for the season or holidays, you will want to change out your potholders, hand towels, and aprons too.

Tip five:
Everybody has their own opinions on the counter-tops; some think nothing should be left on them, while others think every appliance you own should be on them. Your best bet is to do something in between. A good rule of thumb to follow is if you use the appliance on a regular basis, you want to leave it out on the counter, if it is something that you only use during the holidays or for Sunday dinners put it away. To make the counter appear less cluttered you want to group appliances by outlets. For example, if you drink coffee and eat toast every morning place the coffee maker and toaster together by an outlet.

Ray Hanley is a freelance writer and the author of the information about Swag Lamps. The site http://accentlamp.org/ is useful for choosing lighting to use in your home improvement projects!

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Solar Patio Lights – The Most Economic Way to Illuminate Your Deck Or Patio

Filed Under: Home Lighting
Feb.27, 2010

Most of the outdoor lighting needs are met with the help of solar patio lights these days. Most of the households use them now for lighting the backyards. Their eco-friendly and economic natures are the main factors why they are extremely popular among the people who are looking for the options to light up the patio areas of their houses. They are easy to install too. This enables the homeowners to install them without the help of anyone else.


The idea of illuminating the pathway with the help of solar power lights has come up in the minds of people recently. Lighting up the pathway will make the backyard look more beautiful. The areas can be then used for special occasions like late night meetings, birthday parties etc. They can be of great help in the regular days too. They can assist you when you are trying to park your car or walking through the pathway. Anther main benefit of installing these lights is that most of the thieves have the tendency to avoid well-lighted houses.


There are certain things that should be kept in mind when you are trying to install the solar patio lights. You should focus on positioning these lights in the strategic places of the yard so that you can maximize the lighting effect. You should also make it a point to choose the spots that will receive the maximum exposure to sunlight. This can also help you in achieving better illumination. You should avoid placing them in the lower areas as this will prevent them from getting more energy from the sun. After spotting the positions for installing the lights, you should make the decision regarding which designs or varieties to purchase.


There are many different varieties of solar powered lights offered in the market. The most common among these varieties are solar deck lights and solar step lights. These lights will help you in lighting up the deck and steps without disturbing the neighbors. They have been extremely popular as they can offer numerous benefits by not spending too much. The fact that they will not affect the power bill is a major reason why people are motivated towards buying these lights. You should have a clear understanding about the benefits and availability of solar lights so that you can make the maximum out of them.


The availability of these lights in your area should be evaluated before you start planning for the installation. In short, solar patio lights are great for illuminating the backyard of your house.

Carol Roth is a multi-talented mother, hobbyist and writer covering topics such as – including health, family, work, pets, decorating and home improvement. For more information about patio string lights go to http://patiolightsplace.com

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Great Kitchen Island Ideas – 3 Things to Include 3 Things to Avoid

Filed Under: Uncategorized
Feb.26, 2010

There is a lot of truth that the way to a mans heart is through his stomach and that begins in your kitchen.If you are building a new house or redoing an old house take care to give special attention to your kitchen. For me I believe that the heart of my house is the kitchen. I love top cook and I like the fact that my kitchen is designed to be open to my living area so that even when we have quests everyone can join into the conversation and no one gets left out because they are the cook. That is usually me. I want to share my ideas on what I think a beautiful kitchen should have and one that will be used a lot. Lets talk about the kitchen island today and things you will want to be sure it has.

1. SIZE Make your kitchen island big enough Size does matter. Make you island big enough to allow you a big enough work area for more that one project at a time.

2. LIGHTING Be sure to add the proper amount of lighting directly above the island The last thing you want is an island without enough lighting to be able to read your cook books or see what wonderful dish that you are preparing.

3. ELECTRICAL OUTLETS Have your electrician add and electrical outlet into your island. What a wonderful buffet you will have if you can load all that food on your island and KEEP it warm. If you do not have any outlets in your island how are you gonna plug up those crock pots and slow cookers.

I am sure you may come up with more ideas of things you will want to add but this is my list of my kitchen island ideas. I enjoy my kitchen more than any room in the house because we love to have company over and especially our kids and grand kids. To me a kitchen island is a wonderful addition if your kitchen is used a lot and maybe if you just plan to sale soon. The kitchen is one off the biggest selling points of any house and one of the hardest to change the structure of so you better do it right the first time. Below are some kitchen island ideas of things you do not want to do.

1. Avoid making walkways around your island to small Be sure that you have enough walking room around your kitchen island. Kitchen designs with center islands usually allow for walking but a good way that I have found to be sure is this..

Side Note When your kitchen is still in the building process and the floor is bare take a black magic marker and a tape measure and lay your cabinets out on the floor.Once you can see where your cabinets will be you will have a better idea of how much room you will have to move around.

2. Avoid leaving wasted space beneath the island Remember to make use of all space below you island.

Believe it or not their is a lot of storage space to be make underneath the island. Use the space below your island to add storage, a wine cooler, your microwave or a number of other things you can come up with but use the space.

3. Avoid not adding plumbing Adding a small sink to your island will be something you will always be grateful for. It is amazing how big of a mess you will not make if you have a sink at your disposal.

I hope you enjoy your new house and your new kitchen. As you are building Please come join me at Dime decorating for unique ceiling ideas for your new kitchen and cheap home decorating ideas for your whole family.

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Kitchen Countertops

Filed Under: Uncategorized
Feb.25, 2010

The kitchen is easily one of the most important rooms in the house. The gathering of family and friends for the holidays, special occasions, or just daily conversation at the dinner table provides the memories that make a house a home. However, not all kitchens instantly provide the ambience for which homeowners seek.

Renovations and updates in the kitchen have the highest return on invest for a home’s resale value. Changes such as changing out countertops, installing new floors, or changing cabinets all fall under types of renovations. Some estimates state that a well done renovation would add up to 92.9% of the cost to the resale value of the home.

Very common changes that have a big impact are kitchen countertops. Choosing countertops often are based on function, durability, and appearance. The most popular types of counter tops are: laminate, stone, and ceramic tiles.

Laminate countertops are priced the lowest, and can come in a variety of colors and patterns. However, since laminate is often comprised of mainly bonded paper & particle board, it is prone to chips or scratches. Maintenance on laminate is relatively easy, however there are things owners should avoid. Avoid cutting directly on the countertop since the soft laminate could be easily cut, do not stand or sit on the countertop because weight could separate the piece from the wall, also be careful not to burn cigarette butts on the countertop as they are nearly impossible to erase, and be careful not to let water sit or stand for extended periods of time.

Stone countertops include the most popular countertop in recent years, granite. Not only does granite offer beautiful coloration that is attractive, it is also incredibly durable. Marble, and other types of countertops are included in this grouping, however granite tends to be the most popular. Maintenance for stone is also easy, be sure to avoid using abrasive cleaning pads since they could dull the polished finish. Cleaning the countertops can be achieved with a cleaner comprised of one part water to one part bleach. Also a licensed contractor can polish countertops to remove some stains, scratches and burns.

Another form of countertops is ceramic tile, which is priced somewhere in between stone and laminate. However, many complaints come from the fact that tile chips easily. Many homeowners also complain that cleaning the grout between the tile is very difficult.

If you wish to change the counter tops in your kitchen, look into professional companies. The licensed contractors can more easily handle any problems that arise, and some companies also offer limited warranties on their products. Also, researching companies and their practices could help make your decision.

For a picture gallery of ideas for your own home, you can visit http://www.northstargranitetops.com. Northstar Granite Tops specializes in working with all types of natural stone.

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Why Buy an Electric Fireplace – Two Reasons to Buy Electric Fireplaces

Filed Under: Heating & Air Conditioning
Feb.24, 2010

Would winter be the right time to buy electric fireplaces? How about summer, when prices go down? Maybe the right time is when you actually need one?

To explain the title, I will tell you up front that the two reasons to buy an electric fireplace are for the functionality, namely the heat, and to improve your decor. As far as when is the right time, there is a story behind these questions.

We moved to Georgia from Florida a few years ago. We had been long time Florida residents. I’m talking 50 years long. That is enough time to get used to a climate.

We moved in July, so it was still pretty hot.. no, very hot. But being from Florida, we were used to it.

When November came around it started to get cooler. This was not unexpected. But when the temperature hit below twenty degrees, we were surprised at how cold that actually is. Fortunately, we had gas heat and a real fireplace.

I had been wanting an excuse to get some natural heat going like the early settlers, so I was excited. Put some logs in the pit and started the combustion. A few minutes later I heard my wife screaming something about the house burning down. I ran in to find the room full of smoke. Brilliant me had forgotten to open the flue. Once I did that, everything was fine… for a short time.

I took the dog out for a walk and when I looked up, I saw flames at the top of the chimney. I quickly doused the flames and called my neighbor to find out what my problem was. He told me that the flue had never been cleaned since he lived there.

A quick call to the chimney sweep solved that problem. But I was already thinking that I may buy an electric fireplace insert instead of the natural thing.

I did end up having to make a purchase, but it wasn’t for that problem. If you have ever moved after being at the same place for most of your life, you will know that there is a constant flow of friends and neighbors who come to visit you in your first and second years of residence. Sometimes they came in packs. I had to put up some of them in the basement.

It turns out that the basement is not on the heating system. It’s kind of chilly down there. That’s when I had to buy an electric fireplace. Ordered it online.

It took only a short time to put the thing together. What a nice surprise we got. Not only does it heat the basement quickly and cheaply, but it also has this realistic electronic flame. One of the cool features is that you can even turn it on without the heat just for the ambiance that it creates.

If you are at all thinking that you may buy an electric fireplace, do it. You won’t be disappointed. Buy yours online at at http://www.buyanelectricfireplace.com.

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How to Choose the Right Electric Space Heater

Filed Under: Heating & Air Conditioning
Feb.23, 2010

Electric space heaters are very effective tools that keep you and your family warm inside your home. Aside from it being functional, it is also efficient as it avoids consuming too much electricity by heating only a specific area of your home. Central heat consumes a larger amount of energy then space heaters do because they are heating a much larger area. This strategy help you save money and be greener at the same time.

There are several types of electric space heaters available in the market. You can choose between a radiant and a convection type. Radiant electric space heaters warm up a specific area, and it can also focus on a specific person. Convection heaters, on the other hand, are intended to warm up whole rooms. It is also ideal to use this type when people are always moving around. The latter type has sub types, oil and water filled units being the most efficient.

Now, if you are deciding whether you are going to buy an electric space heater or not, you need to know all their pros and cons. The pros of choosing them are as follows:

  • These are practically priced. You can buy quality electric space heaters without really breaking the bank.
  • They are uncomplicated to install. You just have to follow the simple instruction included in the manual and you will be ready to use them in no time.
  • There are a variety of models in different sizes you can choose from. Having more choices will let your decide what really suits your need. For example, if you want to heat your spacious garage, you can opt to buy a larger model.
  • Unlike other space heaters, electric space heaters do not produce fumes such as carbon monoxide which can be harmful to your health.

The limited cons against electric space heaters are:

  • Some people claim that instructions included in larger models are a little vague.
  • Warranty for these products are short compared to the others.

So, are electric space heaters safe? Of course they are, especially if you install and use them properly. Many of them only cause problems do to not being used correctly. Here are a few of the many tips to ensure your safety:

  • Look for models that have been approved by Underwriters Laboratories. This will ensure you that they safety standards have been met. Insurance companies have a vested interest in making sure products do not set fire to the homes their clients have home owners polices on.
  • Place your heater away from any combustible materials, preferably 3 feet away.
  • Do not place your heaters on areas with water unless it was specified that your model can be used in such areas. This present the possibility of electrocution.
  • Keep your heater away from the reach of small kids. Children are usually curious and this may lead to them to touch or adjust parts of the heater.
  • Plug your heaters directly into an outlet. Do not use extension cords.
  • When not in use, turn off and unplug your heater.

Following these guidelines will surely make you warm during the bitter cold of winter. Just make sure that what you buy suits your needs and that you are keep everyone safe! They are definitely worth the investment if they save you over your long term energy costs. Just bare in mind that if you set your house on fire or burn yourself you are working against what you originally meant to accomplish when you set out to purchase one.

Hoby B. is an advocate for helping consumers find deals online and make informed purchasing decisions like finding the best information on great products like a Delonghi space heater and great info on Honeywell space heaters as well.

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Boiler Replacement

Filed Under: Heating & Air Conditioning
Feb.22, 2010

If your boiler is more than fifteen years old you may want to consider a boiler replacement as a home improvement project. With the increasing cost of fuel oil and gas you may be able to save a lot of money and have a more reliable boiler. There are government tax incentives available for installing an energy efficient heating system and a credit “cash for junkers” program is in the making to help you out. Replacing a boiler that is operating on old technology can also contribute to reducing greenhouse emissions. In addition to the federal government incentives for upgrading your heating system there are many states that offer incentives for green remodeling and improvement projects.

Increasing energy efficiency is the most important consideration when considering a boiler replacement. New boilers such as a System 2000, runs at 86% efficiency and is relatively maintenance free. That means that 86% of the fuel entering the boilers combustion chamber is converted into heat. Most 15- 20 year old boilers operate at roughly 60 percent efficiency, at best. This 21% difference adds up to a lot of fuel cost savings for you in a year. Putting it in dollars, if you are burning 800 gallons of fuel oil a year to heat your home and provide domestic hot water, you can save approximately 168 gallons of fuel oil a year. That comes to about $504 a year if you are paying $3.00 a gallon for your fuel oil.

For residential heating systems, boilers essentially heat hot water that is circulated to baseboard heating units or air handlers that convert the hot water heat to forced hot air heat. Many homes use a combination of both baseboard heating units and air handlers for forced hot air for heating. In addition, the boiler heats the domestic hot water by circulating the hot water from the boiler to a heating coil in a hot water tank to heat water. There are several very efficient boilers available on the market. However, I am partial to the System 2000 boiler because it is a very reliable system that incorporates the latest in digital technology control. It has a state of the art digital energy manager (computer) that controls the unit. The boiler uses less than 0.75 of a gallon of fuel oil per hour to heat a 2000 square foot home that is well insulated. The System 2000 comes in two different sizes depending upon your heating needs. The boiler can also operate on natural or LP gas.

Like all heating systems a boiler requires periodic maintenance to insure it is operating at peek proficiency and prolong its life. A system 200 only requires cleaning every two years as compared to other boilers that require cleaning every year. Such periodic maintenance and adjustments should be performed by a licensed boiler professional. A System 2000 boiler replacement or new installation cost approximately $4,500. This may seem expensive but the pay back can take as little as nine years in addition to giving you the assurance that you will have a reliable heating system and is certainly greener than any 15-20 year old boiler. If you’re heating system is due for a boiler replacement, consult with a heating professional to insure that you get the latest in boiler technology and what the state and federal incentives are for updating your heating system. Your home heating system upgrade will save you money.

Home Addition Plus Perks provides extensive suggestions on home improvements and decorating ideas to enhance your home and quality of life. Your home is a major financial investment and like all investments, it requires frequent attention to maintain its value as well as providing a comfortable place for your living enjoyment. Given the cost of home improvements by someone else, a contractor, it can be more cost effective to do things for yourself and by yourself. We will help you in that effort by providing suggestions and recommendation with detailed instruction as necessary. We also offer home decorating and gardening suggestions for enhancing the interior and exterior of your home. To help you stay healthy we offer suggestions on diet and exercise too. You can find us at http://www.homeimprovementplusperks.com

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Slate Flooring – What an Excellent Flooring Choice!

Filed Under: Flooring
Feb.21, 2010

A natural, extremely durable stone, slate can be cut into many shapes, sizes, thickness and texture to create floor designs easy to maintain. Smaller sections can be installed in a way similar to ceramic tile while larger sections create a more interesting rough-looking floor pattern. You also have the option of having slate tiles cut to your own specifications if there not available in the open-market.

A wide range of natural colors are created from the minerals and impurities in the silt and clay that make up slate. Slate flooring distributors will have many color choices available n rust reds, greens, grays, maroons, browns, charcoal blacks and mottled mixtures of these colors incorporated into each slate tile.

An important advantage of slate flooring over other natural stones is its ability to resist stains. A unique mixture of fossils, sand grains, crystals and bonding of the elements is how slate is formed. This combined structure prevents liquids from permeating the surface of the stone, thus the floors surface as well, and makes slate flooring an excellent choice for areas where all kinds and types of liquids are a constant factor.

Slates durable, toughness will easily withstand heavy trafficked areas, plus its stain-resistance and waterproof abilities definitely make it a wise flooring choice for inside a home, business or outside patio and driveway. This is one stone that is built to withstand nearly everything handed to it… short of demolitions and earthquakes…

Another benefit of slate flooring is the natural properties that create a texture that is slip-resistant without being treated. It is smooth enough to walk barefoot on, but minimizes the potential for slipping if your feet, or soles of your foot wear, are wet. The texture can be lightly sanded for a smoother surface, but that is usually not necessary.

Although hard and cold to the touch, installing radiant heat underneath the tile will eliminate the coldness and provide another source of heat that is not seen or heard.

Maintaining the natural stone look of slate tiles requires very little work. Regular cleaning with a soft bristled broom or dust mop and an occasional mopping of the surface, with the proper cleaning agent, is all that it requires. No need for waxes or finishes to keep slate flooring looking like new.

For the serious do-it-yourself handy person, installing a slate tile floor is not impossible. It fact it is very similar to installing any ceramic flooring. Just take your time, follow expertise directions and you will have a terrific looking floor!

Learn more about Slate Flooring and other types of flooring materials at Flooring Specialty.

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How to Install Your Hardwood Floor Without a Hitch

Filed Under: Flooring
Feb.20, 2010

No matter what type of flooring you want to have installed in your home, be it hardwood or engineered flooring, real wood flooring, laminate flooring or something else, you need to know something about installing hard wood floors as you will need them for installing practically each of these flooring types. One of the best ways to have your floor looking great is by using hardwood. There are so many different types of flooring nowadays that not using hardwood is almost impossible to imagine.

When using regular hardwood flooring, your first task is to place a sub-floor which will secure your hard-wood flooring in place. This will make sure that you can have your wood floor installation over concrete slabs or over already existing floors. It also gives an additional layer of insulation that keeps moisture away.

If the area has too much moisture anyway, you should avoid using hardwood material. For places with less moisture using engineered flooring will help because it usually holds up low levels of moisture without being adversely affected by it.

Also bathrooms are not a very good place to use hard wood as flooring option because of the spills of water which can ruin the material quite easily. A better option would be laminate flooring which is able to keep getting wet without major problems. Laminate wood is not the real deal, however it has an appearance of wood, so for a cheaper alternative this material also should do in relatively hidden places.

When laying down the hardwood flooring, there are a few things that you need to do, such as sanding down the floor so it loses those rough spots that are covering the nails and also becomes smoothed out. Next you need to stain and finish the floor. While a tedious and tiring task that can take a while, it has to be done. Just make sure that you don’t have children or pets walking all over the area while doing this, as it cannot be trampled over.

You can do the hard-wood floor installation by yourself if you have the know-how, materials and the tools, however if you have never done it before, just learning from the web or from a DYI 101 book will not suffice. This is when you need to enlist the help of a professional who has done it countless times before. There are many professional flooring installation services available that for a price will do a great job on flooring your kitchen or designated area. The most important is to find a nice, appealing style of hardwood material that will match that of the room it will be put in.

Engineered wood floor is very popular nowadays without being as expensive as the real wood floor, while still being the real deal. To read more about it visit my website at http://www.engineeredwoodfloor.org/

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