Category: General Contracting


Would You Like to Expand Your Front Porch? It’s Time You Thought About That

Filed Under: General Contracting
Feb.10, 2010

Many of us plan to stay in our homes longer than we originally planned. So making our home as comfortable as it can be is an obvious next step. You can increase your home’s value, add additional living space and make it more fun! How? Start with your porch! Why the porch?

Porches are usually very cost effective to build or enlarge compared to adding a room addition. Turn your existing porch into a fabulous screen porch and you can enjoy it considerably more. In some locations you will be able to use it year round. If you have a large porch, then you have the option to partially screen one end and leave the other open.

What about small porches?

With a little effort you can expand your small porch into one that is more usable. It can totally redefine the look of your home and immediately add sensational curb appeal. Is your current roof line too steep to continue it over the porch area? You can easily link a shallow pitched roof to a steep one by using dimensional shingles. Extending the roof to shade the front windows will reduce your cooling bill in the summer and make your home more comfortable.

Some compelling suggestions to consider

  • Make It Match: Choose porch railings, porch columns, and trim to match the existing style of your home. If your home is square and boxy use straight-line balusters and square or rectangular columns. Make sure your columns don’t overpower your porch , but at the same time you do not want them to look too weak.
  • Multiple entries: If you elect to have a large wrap around porch for multiple entries into your home, then use your walkways and landscaping to direct people to the front door. Likewise, you can do the same for a homeowner’s private entry into a study or dining room
  • Trim: Aside from the normal porch columns and balusters, you have many options for brackets, corner beads, corbels, finials, and cornices. All of these can add tremendous personality and define your porch. Don’t forget to use these trim pieces around your door and windows on your porch to make a bold statement.

Adding or enlarging an existing porch can add real value to your home and be very aesthetically pleasing. It’s cost effective, a great DIY project in most cases, and will be the focal point for entertaining and relaxing. Your neighbors will be envious! Oh, and don’t forget to add the porch swing!

Dave R. Morris is a co-creator and co-founder of Front Porch Ideas and More, your portal for front porch ideas and designs. To learn much more about screen porches and how to build a porch, please visit Front Porch Ideas and More – Screen Porches

Dave is a retired Air Force officer, teacher, logistics analyst, woodworker, remodeler, and niche e-business developer. A grandfather and lover of the outdoors, Dave lives in Nashville, TN. Take a break and enjoy your porch!

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The Things You Learn When Your House Breaks Down

Filed Under: General Contracting
Feb.09, 2010

When I moved into our newly constructed house there was a naive side of me that expected everything to work perfectly for at least the first five years. In hindsight, it seems to me that the best house to move into is a four to six year old home, after all the kinks have been worked out.

In the last month we have had a burst water pipe, cracked marble counter tops, halogen pot lights that seem to burn out the minute you change the bulb and a stubbornly clogged toilet (okay, so this last one may not have anything to do with the actual house). Currently our hotwater heater is making a strange humming noise and I’m waiting for the repair man to come and take a look.

On the positive side, I’ve learned a lot about lighting, marble, and plumbing which I thought I’d share with you so you can avoid the problems we’ve had.

Halogen potlights:

Angelo Bossi from Brak-Glan Electrical Service paid me a visit last week to take a look at my pot lights. Here’s what he told me:

  • 130 volt lights are better than 120 volt lights. Power to your home is supplied at 120 volts, but sometimes you get a power surge and that can burst a bulb. The 130 volt bulbs are more expensive, but they last longer because they can absorb the surge.
  • If you’re looking to lower your electricity consumption, there is a 9 Watt compact fluorescent bulb on the market that replaces your 50 Watt halogen. We have 17 potlights on our main floor alone which all tend to be on from from 7-9 in the morning and 4 to 10 at night. I did the math:
  • 17 halogen pot lights at 50 Watts each burning for 8 hours a day uses 6.8 kilowatt hours of electricity.  At $0.05/kilowatt hour the total cost works out to $0.34 per day or $124 per year.  If you used the 9 Watt bulbs instead, you use 1.224 kilowatt hours of electricity per day which would cost $0.06 per day. The total annual cost per year is $22.34. You’d save about $100 per year, so switching to CFL bulbs would pay for itself in about two years, less time if your lights are on longer or if electricity prices rise.

There are some things to be aware of with these CFL bulbs:

  • They are not dimmable.
  • They are more expensive than halogen bulbs (approximately $9 to $13 per bulb).
  • They take a few minutes to warm up and provide their full Wattage.
  • They come in a variety of  “colour temperatures” (a softer, yellow light to more day – blue light).
  • They’re available at electrical supply stores.

Stone counter tops:Whenever I tell a contractor our kitchen counter is marble there’s usually the strangled sound of disbelief on the other end of the phone which roughly translates into  “Marble in the kitchen? What were you thinking?”

Although we didn’t have a choice in finishes, I have to be honest and say that I liked the marble counter top when we moved in and I still like it – despite its prima dona, high maintenance ways. Of course if you look at it the wrong way it chips and it does need to be sealed on a regular basis, but it’s got a nice European look to it.

However, I noticed a few months ago that there were a few hairline cracks emanating from various edges of the counter. A few on each side of the stove, and one out from the middle edge of the counter. The original installer came and epoxyed them right away, but they kept growing. Finally, the contractor sent in Peter Potopov from The Stone Doctor.

Peter has repaired the cracks so that they will not get any larger (but they’ll always be there).

While I had always thought that the cracks had been caused by improper installation or the stove vibrating against the counter he said  that the house, still being new, hasn’t finished settling yet. Apparently stone counter tops shouldn’t really be installed for a few years after a house has been built. To support that theory he showed me a 1/4 cm. gap between the backsplash and the counter top.

Now, I figure that the stress fractures occur when a counter is affixed to the wall on two sides because there is less ability for it to move. Our island, which is also marble, is perfectly fine.

Final stone tip: You know it’s time to reseal your counter top when a water spill leaves a dark mark after it’s been cleaned up.

Plumbing:

I heard a hissing noise one day when I opened the front closet to get my coat. I felt the back wall of the closet and it was soaking wet. After the water was turned off, the plumber came and took the drywall apart. One of the water pipes had been punctured by a too long nail. Jim Davidson of Davidson Home Services said, “If they’d done the job right, they never would have used nails this long. If you miss the stud, you can puncture the plumbing or electrical wiring” – which is exactly what happened.

While Jim was repairing the burst pipe and the drywall I asked him if he’d please figure out why the second floor toilet was so backed up. We’d tried everything and couldn’t get it unclogged. After he removed the toilet from the floor he found the culprit: Q-tips. Q-tips create a grate which is impossible to unblock with a plunger. Conclusion: don’t flush Q-tips down the toilet!

Cathy Rust writes a weekly column featuring new products from countertops to flooring, energy efficiency and green building products and services. See http://blog.homestars.com for more articles.

HomeStars.com is a free website where you can read and write reviews on home improvement companies in your neighbourhood.

http://www.homestars.com

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Tips When Considering Outdoor Ceiling Fans

Filed Under: General Contracting
Feb.08, 2010

While ceiling fans may all look similar, they are not all created the same. You need to consider many aspects of the product before making your selection. Outdoor ceiling fans are no different, as there are quite a few considerations to be made before you purchase this type as well, such as the amount of air that is circulated (efficiency), how much noise it makes, and the durability of the finish, the expected lifespan and whether the manufacturer will stand behind the warranty.

Some fans may look good but move very little air and obviously this would not be a very good choice for an outdoor ceiling fan. Check out the pitch on the ceiling fan blades. Blade pitch is the angle of the blades. Fans with a greater pitch means the air movement will be greater. This should also be in sync with the motor, as some manufacturers will attempt to cut corners on the materials used and sometimes the motors and other ceiling fan parts are not really powerful enough.

If a ceiling fan is making a humming noise, then it needs to be checked out as it can be a sign of a poorly manufactured product. The noise may be caused by improper metal fittings on the blades or motor, or inexpensive ball bearings that may have been used in order to cut corners. Since the outdoor ceiling fans effectiveness depends upon the amount of energy used and the volume of air it moves, motors with a low wattage use very little energy, which means less air is moved, resulting in very poor effectiveness.

Of course there are many parts on a poor quality indoor ceiling fan or outdoor fan that may break. One is the pull chain that gets pulled out of the housing incorrectly. As well, a mismatched motor size and blade pitch may also be signs of poor quality ceiling fan parts. If you do find one that is substandard, then you should bring it to the attention of the inspectors who allowed poor quality fans to be sold.

A few other things to be on the lookout for, especially in outdoor ceiling fans, are the finishes. Brass or bronze ceiling fan finishes may look alike but the less expensive units usually will tarnish quickly and that is not good for product that will be outside and subject to damp conditions. The finishes that are of high quality undergo a series of grinding and buffing between multiple plating processes. If the surface spots easily you may want to reconsider the purchase.

369 Niches Rolled Up Into 1 Product

Turn any hobby into a business. Discover 24 totally unique business models.

http://businessmodels.netbizint.com.au/index.php

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The Facts About Acoustic Ceiling Tiles

Filed Under: General Contracting
Nov.09, 2009

What should you know about acoustic ceiling tiles as far as what they are and why they are popular? I had heard of acoustic ceiling tiles, but had never bothered to ask what they were until I started looking at installing a ceiling in my basement. I didn’t know what they were, but with a little research I was able to find out a lot about acoustic ceiling tiles. Here is some of what I picked up. Take a look so that you will know what they are and whether or not they may be right for you and your ceiling situation.
Acoustic ceiling tiles were originally developed by interior designers who wanted to find a way to lower ceilings in a room while deadening the noise. With a acoustic ceiling tiles, a grid of metal strips is suspended from the room’s actual original ceiling. Each of the sound-absorbing acoustic ceiling tiles is dropped into the sections created by the grid. The ceilings, in addition to deadening sound, can also hide unsightly fixtures, wires, and pipes that may be along the ceiling of older buildings and basements.
The popularity of acoustic ceiling tiles reached its height in the ‘60’s up through the early part of the 1980’s. Since they originally contained asbestos, the ban on it greatly affected the production of acoustic ceiling tiles in 1978. Many people had to hire specialists to remove the asbestos acoustic ceiling tiles and replace them with alternate materials or restore rooms to their original bare ceilings.
The biggest advantage you will find with acoustic ceiling tiles is that they do damped noise between floors of your home or building. They can also be easily painted so that the ceiling can match the décor or palate of the room. However, there are drawbacks to acoustic ceiling tiles as well. If they get wet, they stain and the pooling water on top can cause them to fall unexpectedly. In addition, acoustic ceiling tiles look terrible when they stain and have to be bleached to get their original look back after water damage. If you do need to replace one of the acoustic ceiling tiles, though, it is pretty easy to do.
Acoustic ceiling tiles can be used to fix up a room fast. You can avoid doing a lot of construction by simply hanging a grid from a bad looking ceiling and hanging some acoustic ceiling tiles. The room will instantly look newer and at a fraction of what you would likely pay to actually have the old ceiling restored or updated in appearance.
For your ceiling needs, only you will be able to tell if you need acoustic ceiling tiles. Consider them, though, if you want to cut down on sound between floors of your home or business without spending a lot of money on the renovation. Acoustic ceiling tiles are easy to replace, cheap to maintain, and will allow you to paint the ceiling to match the rest of the room. When it comes time for your new ceiling, look into acoustic ceiling tiles and you may be surprised at how great your new look will be without spending a lot.

If you would like to view more of my articles on ceiling tiles, please feel free to visit my home improvement website!

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Water Purification Units – Every Home Needs One

Filed Under: General Contracting
Nov.08, 2009

If you had to take a sample of the water that we drink ever day then you would probably be absolutely horrified at the contaminants that we put into our bodies every day. This is over and above the unhealthy food and drinks that we consume at every opportunity. Water is supposed to be the way in which we flush those contaminants out of our bodies, but all the water we are drinking now is doing is adding to the pollutants in our bodies.

There is a remedy for this situation though; there are a variety of water filtration devices available these days. These devices perform a variety of different functions and there is enough of a variety for all needs and budgets to be catered for. You will need to do a little research in order to determine the optimal unit for you and your home. There are certain questions that you will need to answer in order to ensure that you obtain the best water filtration unit for your needs.

Some of these questions include: What type of water am I currently being supplied with? Where am I planning to use the water filtration unit? What sort of budget do I have for this unit? How much water do I and/or the household currently use? What types of contaminants are most prevalent in my water? What does the filtration unit do? These are only some queries that you may need to consider when evaluating water filtrations units.

These units are investments in your health and the health of your family so you will need to determine which factors have priority for you. Filtered water will provide with the water that will do the multiple jobs that water is supposed to do. The filtered water will hydrate you and help to regulate your internal functions. The filtered water will also help to flush out impurities that accumulate within the body.

Some units are designed to go outside the house, for instance Garden Water Filters that are intended to be used in the garden to help eliminate chlorine and the harmful effects that it has on your garden. The Ultraviolet sterilizer is also for use outside, in your pond. The sterilizer is intended to kill harmful bacteria that can harm the fish in your pond.

The majority of units are intended for use indoors, they are utilized to provide clean, healthy water for drinking and cooking with. There are different units that provide different levels of filtration, but all of them provide you with water that is far more beneficial and healthy than the water that you would normally get from a tap.

There is a countertop water filter that can be moved around from room to room depending on where you need it; it uses carbon to filter out the contaminants. The whole house filter provides filtered water throughout the house for cooking, drinking and cleaning. Water distillers eliminate biological contaminants and vastly diminish chemical contaminants from the water that you receive.

Water ionization units not only filter the water through carbon, they also put the water through an ionization process to produce healthy, alkaline water. Reverse Osmosis systems filter the water through a membrane that only allows water molecules through and no large compounds. The water magnets are used on the exterior of pipes and appliances to eliminate the scale buildup on the inside of the pipe or appliance and to prolong the life of the appliance.

All water purification information has been researched and written by Juliette Pickup
Water Purification

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Financial Incentives for Using Solar Power in Your Home

Filed Under: General Contracting
Nov.07, 2009

It is undeniable that energy prices are going through the roof. Just take a look at your utility bill. The good news is using solar power can save your bank account, particularly with new incentives.

Personal Tax Credit and Deductions

If anything is more aggravating than exploding energy costs, it’s your tax bill. New and established government programs let you attack both by going solar. The first method is by simply saving money on taxes. If you install a solar energy system on your home, the federal government is going to give you a tax credit of up to $2,000. Tax credits reduce your tax liability dollar for dollar unlike deductions which are subtracted from your gross income. A majority of states now also offer tax credits you can use when paying state taxes. Each state handles the matter differently, but you can expect to get a credit for a percentage of your installation cost or a fixed figure.

Net Metering

Net metering is a concept that has resulted in exploding sales in the solar energy industry. Net metering refers to state laws that require utilities to purchase power generated from your residential solar system at the same price the utilities would otherwise charge you for electricity. In effect, net metering lets you use the utility company as a battery. While you are at work during the day, your solar system sends energy to the utility and your power meter actually runs backwards. When you come home at night and use power, the power meter runs forward. All and all, net metering will either slash or completely eliminate your utility bill. With solar panel systems having a life of 40 years, think how much money you’ll save! While a majority of states have net metering laws, not all do. Make sure to check if yours does.

Property Tax Incentives

Property taxes. How we all hate paying property taxes. Well, many states now provide exemptions, exclusions or credits for homes with solar power. Each state handles this issue differently, so look into the potential savings in yours.

Rebate Programs

To promote solar energy, rebate programs are offered to homeowners by states and utilities. Again, the characteristics of such programs vary wildly, but typically come in the form of rebates ranging from a couple hundred bucks to $4,000 or more.

With your utility bills going through the roof, it is time to consider steps you can take to save money. The economic benefits of going solar have never been better, which makes now the time to convert.

Rick Chapo is with SolarCompanies.com, a directory of solar energy companies. Visit us to read more articles on solar power and renewable energy.

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Solar Boilers – Have the Sun Pay Your Energy Bill

Filed Under: General Contracting
Aug.17, 2009

Residential hot water is a significant energy consumer for most households. In fact, hot water is sometimes the largest single energy cost. Using solar energy to provide at least some of the hot water in your household can result in significant savings.

There are several ways that solar energy can be integrated into a hot water system. Although solar boilers can be used on their own, they are most often used in conjunction with traditional water heaters which are powered by gas or electricity. In this kind of system, the water heated with solar energy can be used on its own (if it is hot enough) or as preheated water for the traditional water heater. Pre heated water will also dramatically decrease your energy bill.

Solar boilers can be used in any type of climate but are most practical in areas which don’t have freezing weather during the wintertime. Solar hot water systems in colder climates can use indirect heating systems which do not expose the water to the freezing temperatures. Instead, a fluid that resists freezing circulates through the solar panels and is used to heat the water. Southern climates can use direct heating systems where the water itself passes through the solar panels installed on the roof.

There are two basic types of solar hot water systems — active and passive. Passive systems rely on gravity and the natural flow of water from hot to cold. They are simple systems and require very little maintenance. They are durable and long-lasting. You can easely build simple systems yourself all you will need are parts that you can find in any hardware store.

Active systems make use of pumps to circulate the water. In some systems, the pumps can be powered with solar energy; otherwise they must be connected to the household electrical supply. In both systems a storage tank is needed to hold the heated water.

On hot days with plenty of direct sunlight solar systems can heat water with surprising efficiency. During this kind of weather, there may be no need to use electricity or gas as a backup. When the weather is colder, the solar heaters can preheat the water which passes into the traditional water heater. This preheated water requires much less energy to bring to proper temperatures which can result in significant savings on your energy bills.

As with all alternative energy systems there is a lot of room for your own imagination if you like that. If you don’t you don’t and just use the technology, but for those who like to play around with technology like myself these systems offer a myriad of possibilities to think about.

For example, a stirling engine converts changes in temperature into mechanical motion, for example to generate electricity. Mmm, that’s a nice thought. A change in temperature is something this system will provide, but it will also heat your water. A double benefit?

Hans is an off grid enthusiast and author at

http://www.alternative-energy-guide.com/ Visit us for introductory and more advanced articles.

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Hardwood Floors 101

Filed Under: General Contracting
Aug.16, 2009

Nothing adds warmth and value to a home like wood floors. Over 90 percent of real estate agents in a national survey said that homes with wood floors sell more quickly and for higher prices than other homes without wood flooring.

Some people shy away from hardwood flooring because they believe that they’re high maintenance. Nothing could be further from the truth. Today’s specially formulated finishes are as tough as they are beautiful. Only occasionally will you want to do a thorough cleaning with a recommended wood floor cleaning solvent, and it’s well worth it to keep your wood floors in glowing good health.

Another concern many people have is that wood floors are somehow bad for the environment. Actually, wood floors are ecologically friendly. Recycled wood from old ships, barns and even old wood floors is highly prized for its “distressed” characteristics. Wood is also a good choice for allergy sufferers since its surface doesn’t collect dust, dander and other allergens.

There are many types and styles of wood floors and many types of wood can be used in them. The most common styles are:

· Strip – A floor made up of wood strips averaging 2″ in width. Strip flooring is ideal for small rooms as it makes the room seem larger than it actually is.

· Plank – Plank flooring uses larger wood boards ranging from 3″ to 6″ in width.

· Parquet – This popular style is made up of wooden pieces that combine to create an attractive pattern. The simplest parquet pattern is a 6″ x 6″ checkerboard design, but there is really no limit to how complex a parquet floor pattern can become.

Wood floors can be protected by a transparent varnish that lets the wood’s natural tint show through or they can be stained any color you like to complement any décor scheme. Over 50 different species of woods are used in wood flooring, including familiar domestic woods such as Pine, Oak, and Maple as well as more exotic woods like Bamboo, Mesquite and Teak. All of these woods vary in hardness and wear resistance, so consider the traffic patterns where they will be installed.

With all the flooring options available to the homeowner to consider, wood flooring remains a very popular choice. They’re more affordable than you might think, and they maintain their beauty and value as time goes by. As the expression goes, “It’s the wood that makes it good!”

Liz Smith writes about hardwood floors and other flooring for homedoctor.net
flooring

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Freshen Up Your Bedroom

Filed Under: General Contracting
Aug.15, 2009

Fresh air is good for you, but how much time do you spend outdoors?

Since many of us spend most of our lives indoors, we should be aware of what is called “sick-house” syndrome. This sick house syndrome is a byproduct of keeping your house closed up against outside elements. We all want to block out noise, pollution and cold or hot air but this also prevents toxic fumes from getting out of our house!

Harmful fumes can come from paints, cleaning products, air fresheners and even wood smoke if you have a fireplace. Believe it or not, even your furniture and carper can emit dangerous pollutants. Keeping your house “sealed up” to keep out the elements can also keep these fumes inside. Studies show that the air in our homes should be changed ten times per day – anything less causes build up of dangerous pollutants.

Since you spend most of your time in the bedroom, here’s where you should start to freshen up your air. You’ll be healthier and your bedroom will smell better too!

First, open the windows (just a crack is sufficient) when possible, and check to make sure that all vents are unblocked.

Another problem that lack of ventilation can cause is mold and mildew. This is found to be a danger not only to your health, but it can also damage the structure of your house. Especially in rooms such as the master and guest bathrooms, where humidity is likely to be high, proper ventilation is essential. The use of fans in these areas are helpful.

Also, check areas such as the attic, and underneath floors for proper air circulation. If you have a humidity problem upstairs, it probably means that the attic or roof space needs more ventilation. Be aware that some types of flooring can cause structural damage if there is not adequate ventilation beneath it.

Everyone wants a clean smelling bedroom but icky smells happen and you should not overdo it with room air fresheners. Aerosols should especially be avoided as they are not eco friendly and have chemical additives. You won’t be able to create a fresh smell in your bedroom by adding more scent to the air – instead open a window and let the real fresh air in!

A great way to make a safe air freshener and deodorizer for your bedroom is to sprinkle a few drops of vanilla or scented essential oil on a cotton ball. Put the ball in a pretty dresser tray or other open container that you will not mind if the oil touches it. Other ways to freshen up your bedroom naturally include using baking soda, white vinegar or dried herbs. Try putting a bouquet of fresh flowers on your dressing table for a great smell and a great look!

One other thing to be careful about in the bedroom is perfumes and hair sprays. You should keep the use of these to a minimum and try using only natural products if you can.

If you or your loved ones suffer from unexplained drowsiness, headaches or a general malaise, try getting fresher air through the house. Your family and your home will breath easier and avoid the “sick-house” syndrome.

Lee Dobbins writes for Bedroom Designs and Decorations where you can learn more about designing your dream bedroom.

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