Winter Water Leaks in Your Home and How to Deal With Them

Ice damming can cause havoc on so many home owners this year because of the large amount of snow that can accumulate on the roof. The problem is caused when the snow begins to melt as the temperature rises for a day or so, and then another blast of cold, snowy whether comes in and the snow that was melting, turns to ice.

Of course the new snow covers up the ice and the melted snow that was running into the gutters is now solid ice and those pesky old ice sickles are hanging down all around the ends of the overhangs. I especially like the ones that hang down right in front of our entryway. Talk about safety issues.

Now that you know what causes the ice damming, the question is what can you do to prevent it and stop from getting leaks once it occurs.

The real key to prevention is to take steps a few months before the weather hits to help keep the leaks from getting into your home. There is no way to avoid it, you will have to spend some money to take the necessary precautions.

One of the biggest problems is inadequate ventilation in the attic. Here is the reason why. In the winter when the snow is building up on your roof, if the temperature inside the attic is 15 degrees or warmer then the outside temperature, the heat from the attic will melt the snow on the roof. Then when the snow turns to ice and the outside temperature goes down again, the ice freezes.

New snow then piles up on top of the ice and if the attic is warm enough, it begins to melt the ice, but the snow acts as a buffer and the water from the melting ice has no where to go and eventually finds it's way into cracks and openings in your roof and then into your house.

So the first preventative step would be to add some type of ventilation to your roof to help the heat escape and keep the attic temperature always lower then the outside. Just take a drive around your neighborhood and you will see that some houses have the ice build up and other do not. That usually tells you which attics are properly ventilated and which ones are not.

You must also remember that for proper ventilation, the attic needs to breathe. That means air needs to circulate. That is why the soffits or overhangs on your home need to have vented panels installed so that air can enter into the attic through these panels and rise up and flow our through the attic and roof vents.

It is also a given that sufficient attic insulation plays a big part in making all this work correctly. Attic insulation acts as a buffer keeping the extreme heat of summer months and the extreme cold of winter months, in the attic and out of your living space. Making sure that you have properly installed insulation and an R value of about R-38, is critical when it comes to maintaining suitable heating and cooling in your home.

It is very important to note that improperly installed attic insulation that is blown or laid into the overhangs of the roof, will block the ventilated soffit panels and prevent the needed air circulation from taking place. So, whether you install the insulation yourself or have a professional install it, make sure it is installed correctly. For more information about attic ventilation, click on the following link.

Proper Roof Ventilation

Another thing that can really help prevent this problem is to install some sort of roof and gutter heating cables. These cables actually melt the snow and help keep the ice from forming and they also keep the gutters working to take the water away. They are readily available at most home improvement stores, roofing supply companies and online.

Other measures you can take that will help prevent leaking is to install ice and water shield in all the roof valleys and around the perimeter of your roof. This way if the ice starts to melt and water tries to run up your roof, it will have to run up at least 3' before it can get to the roof sheathing since the ice and water shield is 3' wide.

There are also roof rakes that will safely let you remove the snow from your roof. Plus there are products out there that will help you make channels in the snow that is on the roof that will help the water from the melting ice and snow flow off of the roof. There are actually things you can make up yourself to do this. You can check online find some of these products and check video sharing sites to find out how to make your own.

One last thing to keep in mind that sometimes even the best protection measures can be overcome by Mother Nature. When the whether is extremely bad, sometimes leaks can still get in. Hopefully by taking some or all of these measures, you can live leak free.

In 2007, Rick Maselli founded RTM Directories Inc. and as president of this company his goal is to help the do-it-yourself people out there to have a one stop home improvement resource and that resulted in his new website, http://www.showroom411.com

The website is Your Ultimate Home Improvement Resource which is free to the public and reflects all the hard work that Rick has put into to being a Building Pro.

Ice Dam Problems And Solutions

Metal Roof Repair

The roofing industry has been expanding and along with it the repair business. Do you have a leaky metal roof? If you would like to know how to fix it yourself, it takes basic tools and basic knowledge to get it done. Read on here in this short article about metal roof repair.

If youwant todo it yourself, there are few tools you will need to do the job. A fairly comprehensive list is; tin snips, pliers, soldering gun or iron, solder, flux, sandpaper, wire brushes, cleaners, cinder block, and last but not least the metal roofing cement. Once you have all the things you need, your job can begin.

Clean the area thoroughly that you know is leaking and then identify the type of metal that your roof is made of. If you know, get a piece of the same type and shape, but one that is big enough to be two inches larger than the area that needs repair. After the roof is completely dry from your cleaning, also use the wire brush to really get at any tough debris that soap may not be able to get rid of. You can start cleanly to make the whole process work together.

The next step is to cut the corners off the new metal piece you are using to repair the leaky area. Next, fold the outer edges of this new piece under with a half inch lip. Sand this lip until it is shinier or brighter than the rest of the new piece. Put some of the flux on the area you are patching and also on the the lip of the new patch. Now, put the new piece over the area you are repairing and weigh it down with the cinder block or brick or whatever is convenient. Your patch job is well on the way to being done.

Now get the solder and soldering gun you will be using. Melt the solder all the way around the new patch. If you leave an open spot, you may have to do this again sooner than needed. Once the new patch is held down and the solder has cooled, use some roofing cement to put over the new patch. Cover all the new patch with the roofing cement. You can double or triple the process above, if you think it needed or have a really large hole in your roof. After all this your roof repair should be successful.

One tip is to use noncorrosive flux on steel roofs. You should use the acid flux with copper roofing. For aluminum roofs, you will need fiberglass patch, as there is no solder for this type of roof. To make it easier to remember if there is a next time of metal roof repair, simply make sure you use the same types of metals for the solder to hold.

All of our articles are originals, if you liked this, check out Metal Roof Repair for similar information. Read more free roofing information here http://www.roofrepairhelp.com/.

Pocket Door Problems

The Importance of Visiting a Showroom Before Choosing Your Siding

Before purchasing anything for your home it is important to make sure that you know the product that you are purchasing. One of the best ways to do this is to visit a showroom. Most contracting companies, or at least the ones that are worth using, will have a showroom that has displays of the products that it offers to its customers.

A showroom is usually used for the purpose of letting customers find and view exactly what they are in the market for purchasing for their home. It also allows them to look at a variety of different options so that the one that appeals to them most can be purchased for their home.

A showroom can be defined as a space in which products are displayed that are for sale. When speaking it terms of a contracting company, the products that are usually on display are examples of construction options that can be performed on your home. Some of the contracting projects that would be on display are paint jobs, windows, decks and patios, sunrooms and porches, roofing, railings, and of course any type of siding that your home may need.

Many contracting companies that are top of the line will have the biggest selection that homeowners can find, just so that each of their individual needs is met. A showroom that has a large selection of siding will have an extensive collection of fiber cement siding, vinyl siding, wood siding, and any other variety that their customers may need.

The people that work in a contracting showroom will more than likely be contractors themselves, or at least those that have a vast knowledge of what goes into installing the products on a home.
It is a good idea to have an expert contractor in a showroom so that when homeowners/possible customers have questions, the answers to their questions can be answered appropriately.

Choosing the siding, or any other exterior part of your home, can be a tough decision. The more choices that you have and the more of an experienced contracting company that you use, the better chance you have for making a smart, lasting purchase. Using a company that has a showroom that can show you everything they have to offer is a great way to go when making this decision.

Kathleen Whitlow is a copywriter and marketing agent of Preferred Siding. The home siding contractor provides the installation of siding throughout the Northern Virginia area. For more information on their Fiber Cement Siding please visit their website.

Surviving As A Contractor

Three Tips to Help You Choose an Outdoor Hammock

Are you looking for a hammock for your backyard? Well, if so, you'll want to do some research before you invest the time and money it takes to finish this project. Read on to learn some valuable tips you should think about before investing in your outdoor hammock.

First, you need to consider how sturdy you need the hammock to be. You may want to think of the people that will be using it, as well as their size and how many people will be using it. This is very important when you start looking at various outdoor hammocks, because the sturdier it is the more it may cost. If you can get away with one that's not as sturdy, then you may be able to save quite a bit of money.

Second, you need to think about where you're going to place the outdoor hammock to aid you in getting just the right size. If you're thinking of placing it in the relaxing location between two shade trees, then you may want to measure the distance between those trees to make certain you get the right size. This is very important because if you don't get the size you need for the right location, then you could easily just be wasting your money.

Lastly, you may want to think about the color and design of the outdoor hammock. You most likely are getting hammock for the decor in your yard as well as your personal comfort, so this is a very important aspect as well. You should pick a color that is consistent with other colors in your backyard motif. You also should get a design that is pleasing to the eye. This can really make your work worthwhile.

Once you through out all of the above, you should be certain to take the time to sit back and relax so you can get the most out of your purchase and reap the benefits that it can provide for your comfort and the addition to your backyard decor as well. This truly a winning combination for you and your backyard combined.

Find out more tips and useful information about how to choose the perfect outdoor hammock for your backyard and patio.

Visit http://www.hammocksbuy.com - your favorite online hammocks store for outdoor hammocks, rope hammocks, hammock chairs stands and more...

Nailing Or Screwing Drywall

Please Contribute Helpful Information to Our Blog

How would you like to help other contractors, home improvement specialists, builders, real estate professionals and anyone else involved in home remodeling. If you have any tips or home improvement advice to you would like to share with our readers, it would greatly be appreciated. Leave all comments below.

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Changing Your Thinking

Types of Nail Guns

Nail guns are used to drive nails down on wood or other surfaces. It has replaced the hammers, making work more easy and accurate. There are many different types of nail guns. One of them is the cordless nail gun. This is a self contained tool with a small combustion engine. It is powered by disposable canister of flaming gas. This uses fuel cells filled with liquefied petroleum gas and spark plug connected to internal battery. It has internal piston that push the nail into the wood.

This type of nail gun is good for low volumes of job located in tight places. This is also use when you do not have much time to set up some things. Its power is dependent on the battery. This tool should be cleaned regularly to make it in tiptop condition always.

The battery nail guns can also be cordless, powered by a battery. These kinds are handy for large jobs. It has two types. The first is a stick nail gun that uses nails held with other materials to form a stick and fit the tool. The second type is a coil gun that uses nails joined with wires.

When buying a cordless nail gun, consider the speed of nail fire, the exhaust, how it efficiently clears a jam, depth-adjust, triggers, the accessory cases, air connectors, safety precautions of the tool, and nail sizes.

Another type of nail gun is the gas nail guns. These can be easily carried anywhere. In this kind of gun, there is a spark that ignites a small amount of gas coming from the disposable cartridge. This drives the nails to the material or wood. This is another self contained unit that has gas cylinder for power.

The electric nail guns are more dangerous than the cordless nail guns. Most of them are not easy to handle. They are not self-contained tools. You must be aware of its capacity especially the air compressor.

Air nail guns are the most common type. They work with air compressors. This nail gun is mostly heavy duty but does a job very efficiently. It handles the depth of the nail with this gun because they have quick dial depth adjustment settings.

Floor nail guns make the work of installing the floor easy and fast. They produce less or no damage at all. They give nicer look for the finish end. These tools are used for hard woods. There are many popular types of hardwood floor nail guns in the world. They can install solid woods up to three fourth inch floor boards. This gun can also be used for finishing.

Roofing nail guns make the job of attaching your roof to the body of your house easier. Whether you are a professional or an amateur, you can use the said roofing nail guns and have your job done in just a few minutes. This tool is specifically designed just for roofing.

For more information on Air Nail Guns and Arrow Floor Nail guns please visit our website.

Stud Spacing And Wall Framing

Repair Mortar - How To Mix It

Are you ready to start your mortar and stucco repair projects around your home or business? If so, let me show you how to minimize your problems when you begin to mix your repair mortar and how to 'temper' it (keep it workable) as you continue with your work. If you follow these tips your mortar repair chores will be much easier and can be an enjoyable and rewarding experience!

These tips are for use with the ready made repair mortars that are sold at your local building supply center. They are available under many name brands including Quikrete and Sackrete.

Product - Try to find a commercial grade mason's mix if you can. It is available in many parts of the country and is a premium product. Since it contains more cement as well as other additives, it is a little 'fatter' and easier to work with. If you cannot find the commercial grade mortar in stock then pick up a bag of regular masons mortar mix which can be used as well.

Mixing Tools - Since most of your repairs will be small to begin with, you will not need a large mixing container. In fact a large plastic bowl, of a gallon size or a small bucket, will work just fine. While you are at the store pick up a small 5" x 2" margin trowel for mixing and have a small bucket of water with a cup, available as well.

Mixing - Now open up your mortar bag and fill the bowl or bucket half way with the mortar mix. Pour some water into the bowl until you cover your mortar well and begin to mix.

As you mix, pull up and turn over the mortar. At first it will dry out quickly so just add little more water and continue to mix. Eventually you will notice the mix 'smoothing out' which means the clumps are separating you are close to finishing the mixing process. Here is where you need to pay the most attention.

What you are looking for is a stiff batter like consistency. The amount of water that you use will vary with the temperature and humidity. If it is hotter then more water will be needed... cooler, less. This whole process shouldn't take any more than about 5 minutes to complete.

As you get closer and closer to the final mix consistency be careful not to add too much water, as this will make the mix wet and runny. If that has already happened don't worry, just add a little more dry mix to stiffen it up.

Checking the Consistency of the Mix - After you have completely mixed the mortar in your container, take your trowel and insert your blade in the mortar approximately 11/2" deep and at about a 90 degree angle to the surface. Now drag the trowel across the surface of the mortar from one side of the container to the other.

If the consistency is right you should see a well defined and smooth furrow in the mortar. The furrow walls should not have 'slumped' down as you moved your blade through the mix. If the consistency is too wet then the furrow walls will slump back into the furrow and you possibly will see water in it as well.

If the mix is too dry it will tend to 'pull' and 'ball' the mortar along the furrow walls like it is being pulled away from the sides of the furrow. Temper the mix with water until you get the right consistency.

Let the Mix Set - Now I want you to step away and let the mortar 'set' for about 10 minutes. This will allow the initial hydration 'kick' to take place so you can quickly temper the mortar before you begin to work.

It better to wait a few minutes then to get to where you are working and find the mix beginning to harden as you are starting to work on your repair. In addition, this first 'temper' tends to increase the 'workability time' of the mortar which makes it a little easier on you especially when it is warm.

If it is chilly out the mortar probably won't change much, if at all in 10 minutes. If it is warm then you will notice that the mortar has stiffen somewhat. Add just a small bit of water to the mix again and 'temper' or mix again to the right consistency.

Check your mortar frequently and maintain its' workability but adding small amounts of water. With practice and practice you will come to know just how long your mortar will last and any given day depending on temperature and humidity. Have fun and good luck with your chores!

Michael Olding is tradesman and consultant in the field of restorations and repairs and currently operates a restoration and repair business in Cincinnati, Ohio. He is also a Master in the field of masonry construction, restorations and repairs.

In addition he is a writer and speaker as well as a marketing, training and business consultant for the contracting industry. If you interested in his services he may be contacted by visiting http://www.cincihomepro.com

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The Smart Way To Look At Home Improvements

What home improvements really pay off when the time comes to sell your house?

Thats an important question for any homeowner contemplating moving or remodeling. And the only possible answer is a somewhat complicated one.

That answer starts with the fact that really major improvements room additions, total replacements of kitchens and baths, etc., -- rarely pay off fully in the near term. It ends with the fact that small and relatively inexpensive changes can pay off in a big way in making your home attractive to buyers if your decision is to move now.

Its a simple fact, consistently confirmed across America over a very long period of time, that even the most appropriate major improvements are unlikely to return their full cost if a house is sold within two or three years.

Does that mean that major home improvements are always a bad idea? Absolutely not. It does mean, though, that if your present house falls seriously short of meeting your familys needs you need to think twice and think carefully before deciding to undertake a major renovation. Viewed strictly in investment terms, major improvements rarely make as much sense as selling your present home and buying one thats carefully selected to provide you with what you want.

Even if you have a special and strong attachment to the house youre in and feel certain that you could be happy in it for a long time if only it had more bedrooms and baths, for example, there are a few basic rules that you ought to keep in mind.

Probably the most basic rule of all, in this regard, is the one that says you should never unless you absolutely dont care at all about eventual resale value improve a house to the point where its desired sales price would be more than 20 percent higher than the most expensive of the other houses in the immediate neighborhood.

Try to raise the value of your house too high, that is, and surrounding properties will pull it down.

Here are some other rules worth remembering:

Never rearrange the interior of your house in a way that reduces the total number of bedrooms to less than three.

Never add a third bathroom to a two-bath house unless you dont care about ever recouping your investment.

Swimming pools rarely return what you spend to install them. Ditto for sun rooms and finished basements.

If you decide to do whats usually the smart thing and move rather than improve, its often the smaller, relatively inexpensive improvements that turn out to be most worth doing.

The cost of replacing a discolored toilet bow, making sure all the windows work or getting rid of dead trees and shrubs in trivial compared with adding a bathroom, but such things can have a big and very positive impact on prospective buyers. A good broker can help you decide which expenditures make sense and which dont, and can save you a lot of money in the process.

About The Author

W. Troy Swezey is the author of THE SMART WAY TO LOOK AT HOME IMPROVEMENTS." As a Realtor at Century 21 Paul & Associates, he has helped many individuals with their real estate needs. Visit his web site to download his free e-book, REAL ESTATE SECRETS EXPOSED. http://www.TroyIsMyRealtor.com or mail to: TroyC21@usa.net

Wall Damage Around Outlet

Square Bathtubs Make a Design Statement

There are so many different styles of bathtub on the market that it can sometimes seem impossible to make a choice. However, one style that is often forgotten about, or even barely considered at all, is the square bathtub. In this article we'll take a look at why a square bathtub can be a good choice and a few considerations that need to be borne in mind when choosing one.

One of the first things to understand is that a square bathtub can be a really good soaking tub. Many of these are very deep and therefore you can sit in hot water right up to the neck, something which is a really great thing to look forward to after a hard day at work. There is something very therapeutic about hot water, and using it for relaxation is one of the best things you can do.

If you do decide to choose a very deep bathtub you will usually find that this style is quite compact as well, which means it will also save space in your bathroom. The good thing about this is that it will give you more room to change the design in other areas, something which can only be a good thing. It will also give you more space to fit things such as shelves in order to store the bathroom essentials.

Combined with the compact style is the square bathtub that can fit in the corner, something which can also save you space, but which will also add a really nice design element to the bathroom. There is something great about having something with very clean lines since it really does make the whole room look clean and uncluttered. Square bathtubs really can help you in this aspect.

These considerations are just a few of the things you need to bear in mind when buying the square bathtub, but by taking them in mind when you do choose you really will not go far wrong.

Carl Formby owns and operates http://www.squarebathtubs.com, dedicated to Square Bath Tubs and Small Corner Tubs

RegSWEEP Review - It's a Good Registry Repair Utility

Don't spend countless hours searching the web for instructions on how to resolve PC errors or waste your money on computer repairs and calls overseas to help centers! Try RegSweep instead. RegSweep took only two minutes to scan my infected system. I had almost forgotten that I was scanning and was able to get some more coffee while I was waiting. RegSweep supports different languages (including English). RegSweep is designed to scan the registry, identify the problems and repair a majority of the errors.

RegSweep's interface is nice. It isn't difficult to use, but it isn't the easiest interface we have seen either. RegSweep seems to get it's share of mixed reviews. Some people say that it has done them wonders, while other say that it has not. RegSweep isn't just about fixing errors though. It works to boost your general PC performance by the tried and tested start-up management.

RegSweep worked well on my computer. It found 1,036 errors and I reran the scan and repair two times to fix the errors and come up clean. RegSweep is a fairly useful registry repair tool. It is able to do a fast scan of your file system and registry in less than 2 minutes, then automatically repair those infected items to improve your PC functions. I was amazed that RegSweep can do a complete scan of the entire file system and registry in under 2 minutes! All corrupt files, paths, and registry keys will be analyzed and automatically repaired so that your PC functions just as when you first purchased it.

Regsweep covers a bit more ground in what registry entrie it will scan compared to some of the other rgistry repair software I have reviewed. I selected all the options found on the scan screen and hit the start scan button and set my timer. RegSweep is basically a software program designed to cleanup the PC's system registry. I recently discovered that the system registry can also be the cause of slow computer performance as well as error messages. RegSWEEP is not hard to use. In fact, RegSWEEP is considered to be one of the most user-friendly computer diagnostic and repair solutions available.

Get a free download of RegSWEEP here.

Please Contribute Helpful Information to Our Blog

How would you like to help other contractors, home improvement specialists, builders, real estate professionals and anyone else involved in home remodeling. If you have any tips or home improvement advice to you would like to share with our readers, it would greatly be appreciated. Leave all comments below.

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Who Else Wants To Make Money With Adsense?

Its amazing to think that kids in high school are making thousands of dollars every month with Adsense.

Not just kids but housewives, retirees, mom and dads, who are just staying at home and have never made a dime on the internet have created full-time incomes by simply placing Adsense ads on their web site or blog.

These are just some of the super Adsense earners. You have possibly read their stories as they are among the few who are on their way to making millions just by using Adsense on their websites.

Anyone, any age and gender can become successful at earning an income using Adsense as long as they set it up right they can't go wrong. How does one go about this Internet advertising?

Writing articles for Adsense is a great way to do it. Using the right keywords in your articles and having Google ads on a certain site has become the most profitable way of marketing that anybody can get into. You don't need experience or some high education. If you are not using this strategy, there is a good chance you are losing thousands of potential adsense dollars.

This is one of the many reasons why writing original quality articles is now the latest in marketing buzz. Article writing is a really powerful tool to a successful web site and richer individuals. Many internet marketing professionals are already aware of the value of an original quality content and how using keywords can drive targeted traffic into their sites from the search engines.

So why dont all these web site owners write and submit their own articles if that is what is important?

The main reason is that it takes time. Time to write articles, submit them and get targeted traffic to their websites. That is why many website owners will outsource the article writing and have someone else write their good quality but unique work.

Did you enjoy writing when you were at school. If so then you already have an advantage over a lot of internet marketers that want to make money online and work from home.

With the boom in the Adsense market comes the need for sites to want fresh, quality and original keyword rich content. This way, web site owners can have a steady supply of articles with the proper keywords that they relate to their site contents. The result of this is seen in the sites page rank when indexed by the search engines. Which, in turn, gets more Adsense ads to show above, below or next to the article on their website with targeted traffic.

What do people have to do?

Write quality and original content, keyword or phrase rich articles with links to your website in the resource box. Then build a website or web page with targeted keyword or phrase rich original content for the targeted traffic that originates from the articles you wrote. Finally, you will have a Google Adsense ads that are targeted to your keyword or phrase rich original content site where visitors will get to visit when they come looking for information.

A win-win situation if you think more about it. A favor for persons looking for quality content and information. For the persons writing the original content articles. And the person with the quality original content rich website. Of course, the search engines and its advertisers are getting targeted traffic and sales but so what? As long as you are getting something in your favor, it does not really matter what the others are getting for themselves.

So who else wants to start earning money with Adsense. You. Everyone. Anybody. Internet marketing has many opportunities wide open for this people. Writing articles and using Adsense for your kind of internet marketing strategy is one sure way of getting a piece of that action and cash.

Better not be left behind the many making millions already.

Sheryl Polomka is the author of Income With Adsense. The ebook that reveals the real adsense secrets. The missing step that is vital to having a successful adsense website.

Visit Income With Adsense at http://www.incomewithadsense.com

Home Improvement Construction Dispute Resolution

In this report, we will be discussing ways on how to resolve a home improvement construction contract work disputes between an owner, contractor, supplier or an architect.

Most home improvement projects end completing the project with the owner and the contractors when the final payment is made.

Sadly, sometimes a small percentage of home improvement projects ends in a dispute regarding the performance of the contractors, the quality of work, contractor delays, some kind of breach in the contract agreement, owner not paying for the work as per the contract proposal agreement or the combination of the actions by one or both parties.

Disputes of this nature sometimes may end in litigation by the parties. The parties involved should attempt to resolve the problem before contemplating litigation. Litigation is expensive, time consuming and delays the completion of the project.

Many times a dispute can be resolved if the parties are cooperative, reasonable and willing to work together.

For starters, let's broadly discuss the above situation.

1. Cooperative:
Cooperative is understanding the situation and that the problem can be resolved by being fair, patient and professional to each parties concerns.

2. Reasonable:
Reasonable concerns are that many times the problem will require additional costs. The question is how much and who will pay for the additional costs.

3. Solution:
First, the parties must be respectful of each others concerns.
Second, an agreement as to what the problems are and a determination as how to best remedy the problem.
Third, a cost analysis estimate of the work required to rectify the problems.

Should all of the above fail, the next step prior to litigation would be to call for a third party impartial construction expert (agreed to by all parties) to attempt to arbitrate a solution. The costs of utilizing the expert would be shared by all parties as per an agreement.

This method is highly recommended and is the least expensive other then the parties agreeing to a settlement. The parties respectfully should try to use all means available prior to litigation if possible. Litigation should only be the last resort not the first.

In conclusion, consider that the construction industry is quite complex at times and that each project is different. Home owners when contemplating home improvement projects need to do their homework. The importance of selecting an experienced contractor, construction manager, supplier or architect can and will impact the failure or success of the project.

In closing article 1093a report, note some words of wisdom.
"A word to the wise will be sufficient","buyer beware", "you pay for what you get"

Wishing you all good luck, success and a happy ending.
Your author Jon Ewall

About the author
Jon Ewall is an independent construction consultant manager with 40 years experience in all phases of the construction industry. He has been active in the construction and development of commercial, industrial, medical, multi-family, office, municipal, hospital, institutional, and restaurant projects. Jon's expertise provides clients positive solutions to construction related activities.
Comments and inquiries on articles are welcomed.
Contact CONSULTJEAL4U@COX.NET

Simple Bathroom Remodeling Solutions For Contractors

Here's a list of problems that contractors run into when designing, planning, and remodeling bathrooms. These bathroom remodeling solutions listed below, often create problems for homeowners as well as contractors. Some of these problems have created contract disputes and could have been solved if the contractor or a homeowner was informed properly.

1. Problems with Old Galvanized Water Pipes: This is one of the biggest problems with older homes. Metal rusts and water running through these metal pipes will speed this process up, considerably. The problem arises when the galvanized water supply pipes cannot be taken apart or unthreaded, to add new plumbing fixtures or pipes, during the bathroom remodel.

Solution to the Problem: Experience contractors should inform their clients, about problems like this and what they propose to do, if they run into a situation where the galvanized water pipes are badly damaged. There will usually be extra work, which leads to extra money and this could create a problem between the contractor and a homeowner.

2. Problems with cast-iron drainpipes: these pipes often rust or become separated at the joints, creating water leaks and even areas for tree roots to enter the drainage system. These tree roots of course will cause the drainpipes to clog and eventually will have to be cleared in order for the drainage system to work properly.

Solution to the problem: informed the home owner of problems with cast-iron plumbing. If the contractor explains to the homeowner, any problems that could arise and a solution, you will find the process of bathroom remodeling a little less stressful. This stress can be eliminated or the contractor and a homeowner with a little preparation.

If you're a remodeling contractor, it wouldn't be a bad idea to make out a list of potential problems for the homeowner. List as many of the problems as you can think of, that you have ran into in the past or have heard other contractors and homeowners talking about. These lists can be given to your clients when you sign the contract.

Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors.

If you're really interested in learning more about remodeling, new home construction, home maintenance, home repairs and really want to get the nuts and bolts of home improvement. Visit our web site and select from the best-selling home building books on the Internet.

Materials For Stair Treads

Google Based Internet Marketing Strategies

Marketing effectively today on the net is a ever changing event. Appealing to the search engine spider of Google is something that every home based business opportunity owner should carefully consider. When approached correctly, this type of system will lead to success on the net.

The Google approach to marketing is based on one thing. Good information. If one gives good credible original information about the particular project, Google will reward them. Conversely, if irrelevant, copied and pasted information, misleading information, spamming tactics and tricks are used, Google will punish them. To be punished on Google simply means showing up on page 5 million. No one will ever see the information. Bottom line in internet marketing is this...NO TRAFFIC=NO SALES!

There are many areas that will need to be explored in gaining top positioning on Google. There is absolutely no need for a thinking individual to spend massive amounts of money to obtain these positions.

What is needed, is a system. A system that can be duplicated by anyone. A system that leads to great results. A system that is inexpensive and yet highly effective.

Online business success is an obtainable goal. With proper tools and training anyone can achieve mastery.

The primary thought here is the ability to open one's mind to the thought process of how the internet actually works, appealing to the search engine spiders, and simply giving better information than anyone else to gain top positioning.

Absolutely billions of articles have been written on the subject of successful internet marketing. Experts will tell about what to do...and what not to do to reach top positions. That is all well and good, but the bottom line is...simply go to work...put out the information...do the work consistently (because there are NO quick fixes on the internet, and follow up with excellent sales copy on the website.

Sales copy...good or bad...will make or break a program. Having the best information on the best product will lead to sales.

Butch Hamilton is an SEO|SEM Specialist. He also is a WebTrafficConnection and a Veretekk trainer. Living on the internet has become a way of life...a succesful way of life. His talents for obtaining top positions on the search engines have led him to the point in his life where he has always wanted to be.

Says Mr. Hamilton, "Writing has always been my passion. Gone are the days when I placed blatant ads on the internet for exposure. I have found my life's work in writing articles.

Reliable and credible information is what the internet is all about to Butch Hamilton. His experience as a self employed building contractor...steel fabrication...has led him on an incredible journey.

He now resides in his beautiful home in Texas with his wife. Writing is the passion behind his successful promoting ability on the net.

Butch Hamilton's Quote: "What we think-is what we become."

Mr. Hamilton is a Spiritualist as well. Knowing the answers to life has been an incredible journey. His plans to write his first book are quickly approaching.

"Life-What a Ride!"

Looking For a UPVC Windows Company?

It is essential for anyone thinking of replacing there windows to know which company will provide the best service. There are many quality UPVC specialists that can offer a professional service for persons looking for windows Cardiff, Newport and South Wales in general. However, it is still advised to research before you settle for a company for definite.

Many people are now choosing to have UPVC windows in their home because they are not only more resistant, they help reduce the loss of heat, easy to clean and long lasting. With doors available to match the windows to truly make your house look how you want it. Specialists in UPVC windows have the knowledge to be able to advise you on the type of windows and doors that would be best for your home. Knowing designs and colours that could suit your home, UPVC professionals are the best option to have to ensure you get what you pay for.

There are a wide variety of options open to anyone look to change to UPVC windows, but there are two distinct styles that are available form some UPVC specialists.

Ovolo - curved to the window frame edge

Chamfered - lines across the pane

These are two types of style and both give a different feel to a home but both as equally charming as each other. Choosing your windows is like choosing your dcor, you need the one which will reflect you and your home, but unlike the inside of your home, you windows will be admired by anyone that passes. Depending on what you have in mind, either of these will be suitable for any home and still give a classic, professional look from inside and out. However whatever the windows, a quality company will make sure this is the case.

Written by Jenny Pilley member of CReare Communications SEO specialists, on behalf of Peter Fennell of Windows Cardiff specialists

Installing Wood Doors In The Summer

Post Your Ideas Here On Deck Building

Do you have any ideas for building or repairing wood decks . We would love to hear from you in the comment area. Any useful comments that you can make on deck construction or deck building will help our blog readers.

Energy Saving Books

House Drywall Application - Home Building Tips

Let's start with the basic eight-foot sheet of drywall. Most drywall contractors apply drywall horizontally however I have seen some contractors working with metal stud framing install 10 foot sheets of drywall vertically.

The reasons for installing the 10 foot sheets of drywall up and down or vertically in this situation are quite simple. There is no structural strength required in these walls because they are simply partitions dividing rooms and usually the drywall only needs to be finished up to 9 feet. This is the only time I have seen drywall ran vertically.

In a wood framed house the drywall actually adds a little sheer value to the home itself.

The manufacturer suggests installing eight-foot sheets of drywall horizontally. The horizontal application of drywall means installing the 4 foot side of the drywall up and down and the eight-foot side of the drywall side to side.

What is the reason for installing the 4 x 8 sheets horizontally?

When it comes to finishing the drywall the 4 foot seams that run up and down or vertical will not be as noticeable as a seam running up and down the entire wall. If you haven't read one of my last articles on eye level window setting then let me give you a brief eye level education.

A person 5'8" in height will be more apt to notice things between 4'6" off the ground and 6'6" off the ground. If we ran the drywall vertical there is a good chance the eyes would be able to pick up any finishing flaws in the drywall. Running the drywall horizontally will just put us a little out of range from the lower eye level of 4 foot six with our finish.

Another reason for installing the drywall horizontally is there is a good chance your eyes would be able to pick up four foot lines in the wall going from floor to ceiling quite easily. On older homes you will see lines in the ceilings about every 24 inches. This is because the plaster or drywall ceilings is starting to sag in between the ceiling joist.

These lines are difficult to do anything about once the drywall is finished. The only alternative you would have is to remove the ceiling and re-drywall and finish it.

Drywall ran vertically will tend to crack easier than staggered drywall ran horizontally. The four foot section of drywall is stronger than the 8 foot section. If you stagger your drywall breaks every four feet this will increase the strength of your wall as well.

Try not to break the drywall at any door openings. The door openings seem to crack easily from the corners working their way towards the ceiling. Let the drywall run over the doorway and then cut the doorway out leaving the rough door opening during wallboard installation.

If you have ever seen a house that was drywalled by a professional crew the waste is unbelievable. The reason for this is simply that the drywall contractor does not want to come back and patch cracks in the walls three or four years after he is done. It can be quite labor intensive installing scrap pieces of drywall versus using larger sheets to cover the same area.

Don't forget and always remember that. Horizontal installation of drywall is recommended by the manufacturer.

Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He is currently working on more Building and Remodeling Library and adding useful content to help solve problems created by the lack of construction knowledge in the building industry.

Kitchen Renovation

Things To Consider Before Your Real Estate Closing

First, see an attorney before you sign an agreement. It is much easier to negotiate a deal or avoid a disaster before signing than it is after. Before signing an agreement for the purchase or sale of real estate, there are many things to consider. These are a few of them:

Easements

Generally, an easement is a right of way to cross or use someone's land. Easements can be for roads, utility lines, etc. Do you need an easement to get to your property? You do not want to find out after the sale that the only way to get to your property is via helicopter. Also, does someone have an easement across your property? A week after you buy your property, will the power company come in and cut down all your trees to put up high tension power lines? A search of public records can reveal this information or your attorney will look it up for you.

Boundary lines

Are all of the boundary lines well established and agreed upon on every side of the land? Did you ask your potential new neighbors where if they agree with the location of the property lines. If there is a disagreement, settle it before you sign so you can avoid a lawsuit later.

Survey

A survey is essential in determining the boundary lines. Once the stakes are in place, check with your neighbors to make certain they agree with the placement. Also, who pays for the survey has to be decided before you sign.

Zoning

Zoning ordinances are designed to restrict the use of the property. Is the property properly zoned for what you wish to use it for? If you want to open a store, you will have to make sure the property is zoned for business and if not, then the sale of the property should be contingent upon zoning changes.

Liens and Judgments

Sellers have a responsibility to pay off any liens or judgments prior to closing or at closing; they have to have enough funds to pay for any liens and judgments. As a buyer, you should have an attorney or title company perform a title search and if liens or judgments are discovered, you will want to make certain that they are paid either prior to or at closing.

Mortgages

The buyer should make certain that the agreements makes a provision that if you cannot get a loan to finance the property for any reason, then you will be able to get out of the agreement and have your down payment refunded. If you are the seller, you will have to get a release of any mortgage against the property unless the buyer is assuming the mortgage.

Utilities

Before signing a contract, the buyer should inquire about the cost, location and availability of utilities. If there is a building on the property already, ask about previous utility bills. If the property is undeveloped, are there any difficulties in obtaining utility services to the property?

Termites

If you are the seller, and you have termites, get rid of them and repair any damage. If you are the buyer, it is your right to demand a termite inspection and if termites are found, the seller needs to take care of them. If there is any damage, the seller needs to repair it before the sale of the property.

These are only a few of the things you will need to look into before you sign an agreement. For more information, call your attorney or visit the folks at Nancy Chandler Associates, REALTORS, licensed in Norfolk, Virginia and they can put you on the correct path to buying or selling your property.

Karen Vertigan Pope writes for Ciniva Systems, an award winning Virginia web design company. Ciniva specializes in web design and SEO. Ms. Vertigan Pope is an SEO Specialist with Ciniva. Ciniva Systems is in charge of SEO for Nancy Chandler Associates.

Good Orange County Contractors

I would love to hear your good contractor stories. I'm so tired of hearing about contractor nightmares, is there anyone out there that has a good contractor story. Place it in the comment area underneath this question.

Building Handrails Books

The Benefits of Owning an Outdoor Glider Bench

Have you ever sat in your stationary outdoor furniture for a relaxing cup of joe to sip in the peaceful surrounds of your backyard and felt that something was missing? You lean back in your seat, you place your feet on the ground, and lean back , rocking onto the rear legs of your chair. As you steady yourself and adjust your position, a beautiful hawk flies over head. The hawk lets out a loud and sudden call, distracting you from steadying yourself and down you go. You slowly open your eyes and find you are no longer upright, but are on your back staring at the sky between your now extended feet. Whoops! Should have invested in a glider!

Now, before something like this happens again, there are options to consider. One of those options is to nail down your outdoor furniture so that, even if tempted, you will be unable to put yourself in this position again. A more feasible and logical option is to invest in a piece of outdoor furniture that is designed to move and sway safely.

An outdoor glider bench is a perfect example of furniture that will provide sway and comfort. Glider benches have many benefits for the owner. Gliders use an internal swinging mechanism to create movement. They sway similarly to a swing, but to not require a hanging mechanism. This means that the bench does not need to be suspended which allows it to be placed in a variety of spaces. The bench can be placed under a covered porch or out in the yard or patio without a covered space. Glider benches also do not require a frame to be free standing. Frames can be unreliable and unsightly. Glider benches also come with higher weight limits because they stand firmly on the ground rather than being hung.

Another difference between glider benches and other non-stationary outdoor benches is that glider benches are less likely to promote opportunity for injury. It is very difficult to force a glider bench into a position that that it is not designed to be in. This limits the user to sit in the bench and use the bench in the intended way, reducing the likelihood of it tipping over.

Glider benches are also available in a variety of styles and materials. They can typically be found in wood and metal. The most common metal is cast or tubular aluminum construction. This material will not rust and is very sturdy and durable. Glider benches can usually be found in a variety of woods. They can be found in cedar, teak, shorea, acacia, and many others. Wooden glider benches create a rustic ambiance. Metal benches tend to be more decorative and ornate. This type of design lends itself to a Victorian or French Country feel. Most glider benches available will require the purchaser to assemble the bench. Be sure to follow the manufacturer's assembly instructions carefully.

The addition of a glider bench to your outdoor space will provide comfort and movement that so many seek from their furniture. Now we can all enjoy our yards, with our warm cup of coffee, enjoying the sunrise, and gently swaying to and fro without landing flat on our backs with a potential concussion. Decorate your space with comfort and style with a glider bench and discover the solace and peace one can provide your family.

Samuel Francis is an avid furniture collector who specifically enjoys outdoor furniture. For more of his articles on garden furniture, please visit Outdoor-Garden-Benches.com, supplier of high quality Outdoor Benches, including Outdoor Glider Benches.

Bathtub And Sink Rough Plumbing

Accessorizing Your Wood Doors For a Stylish Home

With the high needs for comfort and style, many house owners prefer the use of wood doors not just to promote security but style and fashion at the same time. How is this possible? For one, using PVC or installing some metallic hollow doors may promote security for your house. However, spicing up the entrance part of your home prompts householders to re-image their houses by accentuating the house's beauty through the use of wooden doors.

Doors made of wood are greatly valued especially in households where county or classic house themes are preferred. Pleasing visitors or your neighbors by re-imaging or putting more style to your wooden doors promote self-accomplishment for householders. While it's true that high maintenance is needed, maintaining the very entrance of your house invites comfort and accommodation for those who come frequently to your home.

Wooden doors may come in variety. There are the sliding doors, exterior folding or French double wood doors. Other choices include panel doors with stiles, rails or mullions. Depending on your choice and house style, you can actually reinstall new doors for your house if you think you wish to change the style of these doors. However, if you wish to maintain and accessorize your doors, you may want to check the following cool materials that are helpful not just for maintaining your wood doors but would promote the style of your entrance doors:

Doors handles can come up in various shapes and designs. You can purchase these accessories for less than $50 in home stores near you. Also, you can choose varieties of wood door handles online.
Flip lock for sliding doors can be purchased for less than $10.00. These are best for your safety and best for sliding doors even windows.
Door knockers are also cool stuffs for your wood door. When you purchase these, make sure to contact the home maintenance stuff for installation. You may want to check if you can purchase customized door knockers and if not, always check the best knocker for your door.
Wooden door chimes can add beauty and music to those who will open and close your doors.
Chain bolts for your door can enhance the security of your home. Seek for the home maintenance crew's assistance prior to installing these bolts to avoid damaging your wood door

These are just few of the items you could purchase to enhance your wood doors. The best part is that these items can be used for your interior or exterior wood doors. Professional help is needed when installing some of these devices so make sure to seek the assistance of a home maintenance crew during your purchases. Further, check for some other items available in the home store, for sure there are new items released for your doors.

Remember, customizing and adding some personal touch in establishing your home like choosing the best wooden doors for your home promotes not just the security but the establishing a good residence with style at the same time.

Always maintain your wood doors by maintaining these using non-abrasive cleaners. Check http://www.lenfex.com online for professional suggestions on which are the best commercial cleaners for wood doors. Alternatively, ask around if your friends or family could recommend their trusted cleaners for wood doors.

Framing For Heating Register

Remodeling Your Home In Carlsbad

What you are thinking about remodeling your house and you live in Carlsbad. Let me give you some advice about some local contractors and some of the people involved. I used a company called Service Magic to find a local heating and air conditioning contractor. All I had to do was go on the internet , type in some information about my self and what I wanted to have done to my home. This didn't seem that bad of a idea at the time. But look what I found out.

I went to their web site, filled in my information and with in minutes I had received the names of at least 4 contractors. Wow this is neat. I didn't even get to start calling any of them when my phone rang. It was one of the contractors secretaries. She introduced herself and asked what would be a good time for someone to come out to look at the work I wanted done.

I was surprised at the speed things were taking place but in a way glad that I had a reputable contractor from one of the largest construction referral services on the internet. I told her 10:00 would be fine. I got a call shortly after that from one of the other companies. He wanted to meet me that mourning at 8:00 if it was Ok with me. I told him of course, let's do this. Then the next one called and I thought great you can come at 1:00. Well you guessed it the next one was coming over at 2:30.

The first contractor showed up as scheduled at 8:00. We talked about what I wanted done and he whips out his note book and starts figuring out a price. This took place around 15 minutes into the meeting. This guys good I thought. Being a General Contractor in Carlsbad myself, for a job like this I would go back to my office and figure out a price and then double check my figures for a accurate estimate. It took this guy less than 5 minutes to create a proposal of around 10,700 dollars for every thing.

Well I was thinking to myself, the job should be around 7,000 dollars but what do I know about construction. I informed him that I would think about it and that I was going to meet with a couple of other contractors that day. He ask me who the other contractors were. I proceeded to tell him that I probably shouldn't tell him who they were. Well your not going to believe this. He put on his physic hat and told me who was coming over. The only thing he didn't know was what time they where coming over.

Oh I forgot to mention before he left he told me he would knock ten percent off the job if I signed the contract right now. I pretended like I was excited just to see his reaction. He looked at me like he had won the gold metal in sales. I told him thanks but I bet your new offer with the ten percent discount will be good for the next few day. Right I asked. He wasn't looking that excited any more as he replied with a Yes it will be good for a while. I thanked him and he went on his way.

My 10:00 never showed but his secretary gave me the old, " He had to go do a emergency job and could he reschedule tomorrow at the same time. I said that would be fine. As a contractor myself I have always put the work I had to do first and foremost.

About 12:30 I get a call from my next heating and air conditioning contractor. He is running late but will be there at 1:30. I appreciate the call and I will see you then. The only problem now is that I have another contractor coming at 2:30. That give the next contractor less than one hour before the next guy shows up. I never liked going over to someone's house and running into another remodeling contractor.

The next contractor was very informative and knew his stuff. I listened and learned. He told me he was going to have to go back to his office and would have a price back in the mourning. Great I told him as I hurried him out the door.

The last contractor of the day shows up and wants to know whose been over to the house, was it these guys or those guys. I told him I wasn't going to tell him who was over. Now this guy was a salesman. He did a little more probing before he let me in on the fact that his company doesn't do complete home installations. He made up some story that his company only replaces the forced air units. I could tell he didn't want to do the job once he found out I knew what I was talking about. So I said my good byes to Mr. Salesman.

The bad part about him was latter on that week his company sent us some mailers. The kind that doesn't have your name on it and everyone in the neighborhood get's one. I couldn't believe my eyes when I started to read this letter. It said we would be glad to give you an estimate on all your heating and air conditioning needs or services. " We Do Complete Installs". I told my wife we could have used this a few weeks ago. Then I recognized the name of the company and now knew that the salesman had lied to me for sure.

That night I started to think about what was going on here it seemed like I was being set up. Everyone knew what was going on but me. It seemed clear to me that these people knew each other.

Well as time went on we ended up hiring the first guy that came over. He seemed to have the best product at the most reasonable price. His company also did a great job. Keep one thing in mind here out of five contractors that I gave the opportunity to bid the job. Only three showed up and from them I only got two bids. Why didn't I get more bids? Quite frankly I was to busy working at the time and of course the other two guys were always going to show up and that kind of strung me along. My mistake.

Here's the kicker to all of this. Service Magic calls me up one day to tell me they would like to start sending me construction leads as a General Contractor.

I listened to what they had to say and was almost ready to sign up with them again. That's right, I was signed up with them when they first started until they changed the rules on me. The salesman that originally contacted me said if I paid them the 100 dollar sign up fee they would let me pick what jobs I wanted to do. That lasted about 5 months before I noticed that they were not sending me siding referrals to pick from. I called them up only to talk to someone who didn't understand the State Of California Contractors Licensing Board.

Well I wasn't about to reinvent the wheel. I simply told them that I should a least get my money back, right. They said they would look into it further as I never heard from them again about my 100 dollars. Well things have changed at Service Magic since I was with them when they started.
As a home owner you don't think you are paying Service Magic because all you do is fill out a simple form giving some information about yourself.

I found out that Service Magic sent all four of these contractors my original information. Each contractor then had to pay 55 dollars each to Service Magic for a total of 220 dollars. All I have to say is how are they getting away with charging this much money for sending a out a simple referral to these contractors.

The contractor unfortunately passes this expense on to his customers. You as the home owners end up paying these fees as a cost of doing business with them. Some contractors think this is a great way of doing business but you might think differently in the future if you start paying over 100 dollars for a simple construction referral.

Greg Vanden Berge has been in the home building and remodeling business for over 30 years. With this knowledge he has created a few websites that provide useful information for home owners as well as contractors. His main goal is to educate professionals in the home related businesses, dealing with problems that can easily be avoided with just a little bit of information.

His website http://gregvan.com provides all kinds of answers to remodeling and new house building issues that could create major damage as well as possible damage to your pocket book.

Visit us now for Home Improvement Tips

Architecture Books

Take the Job Then Do it Right

If you have an older home there's a good chance you have one by six diagonal floor sheeting and some of the knots have fallen out by now. Some of these large knots can create safety hazards for your home. Performing major remodels or whole house renovations on older homes you can run into quite a few problems with these kinds of wood floors.

One of the first things I do is remove the carpeting and padding. This exposes the floor sheeting for further examination. By the time I am done with all the plumbing and electrical repairs underneath the subfloor it seems that some of the 1 x 6 has been damaged. Your first thought of course is just to replace the 1 x 6 that is damaged and be done with it.

This is one way to approach the problem, another is to repair the 1 x 6 that was damaged and install half inch plywood over the existing floor sheeting. Please make sure the floor is level and has no humps or dips in it before you start installing the new plywood over the existing floor sheeting.

I ran into a problem like this on one job where the contractor was in a hurry to finish the flooring and chose to go right over the existing floor that was out of level. The bad part about this is when the homeowner chose to go with expensive wood flooring throughout his home. When you walked in to the front of his house you felt like you were going out to a small wheelchair ramp for about 10 feet and then of course it felt like you were going down for another 6 feet.

In order to repair this properly it would've taken the other contractor about 24 hours to repair the floor. In this case the homeowner would have been glad to pay for the repair after the fact. Sometimes when contractors mention a potential problem down the road and how much it will cost to repair that problem, most homeowners cannot see the value in the contractor's opinion at that time.

I felt sorry for the homeowner because this was not what he wanted and he was upset with the contractor but the job was done. This is my warning to any contractor, handyman or home repair specialists. When installing a new plywood floor over an existing floor to strengthen it up, use some common sense and repair the floor correctly or don't do the job at all.

Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He is currently working on more Building and Remodeling Library and adding useful content to help solve problems created by the lack of construction knowledge in the building industry.

Visit us and get more information on building and remodeling your homes in Home Remodeling

Need Help Remodeling In Carlsbad

Backsplashes For Kitchen Improvement

Back splashing your kitchen could be a simple decorating solution to an area that needs a little tlc. There are many different choices for backsplashes, from the acceptable materials such as tile to any unusual products that meets your wants and needs. A simple backsplash addition can make any kitchen look new. There are several different choices when it comes to backsplashes.

CERAMIC TILE
Ceramic tiles offer a huge variety of design possibilities. They come in a vast array of colors, textures and finishes. They give someone on a budget the opportunity to create a custom look and save on installation. The grout, however, must be cleaned and resealed regularly. But, even with that, it makes a beautiful backsplash.

Other Tile
You are not limit to ceramic tile for a backsplash anymore. There are many different types of tile such as vinyl tile, metal tile, mosaic tile, and glass tile. You can purchase a how to install tile books from any home improvement store or any large book store. The tools needed are not many, something to cut the tile with, a square, a trowel, something to measure with, a tile snip tool for small cuts, grout, tile, cement, a grout float, sponge.

GRANITE
The most durable natural stone for backsplashes is granite. However, it should be resealed twice a year to maintain protection from moisture. Granite is versatile just as tile since it comes in many different colors. Unfortunately granite is not a good do itself project. It takes skill and special saws to cut granite. If you still want granite and also want to do it yourself you can purchase granite tile.
On any tiling project you need to give yourself enough time to do it right, and hopefully find someone to help you that has done it before.

STAINLESS STEEL
Stainless steel is also another choice that many are using now. It gives any kitchen a professional look and easy to clean. Stainless steel comes in panels which you premeasured and have made. There are also stainless steel tiles which you can do yourself basically the same way you do ceramic tiles.
No matter which type of backsplash you choose , it should be something that you can take care of and compliments your kitchen dcor.

Sherry Street writes on different kitchen improvement projects. You can learn more by visiting my blog, Kitchen Improvements.
http://kitchenimprovements.blogspot.com

Drywall Joint Water Damage

Bathroom Remodeling - Bathroom Renovation Benefits

The main benefit of bathroom is that it adds value any property. Another home renovation advantage is its long term energy and water savings. Hotels, homeowners, apartments and realtors who are deciding whether to spend their money on bathroom remodeling or not, are re-assured that a bathtub remodeling job that is done correctly and with the right plan can help them recoup their investment. Irrespective of the sluggish housing market, kitchen and bathroom remodeling have consistently offered the highest percentage return on investment (80-100%).

Home improvement that includes bathroom renovation as part of the overall project increases the resale value of homes and gives a delightful ambiance for a private affair. According to Remodeling magazine, the average bathroom remodeling project costs $15,800 and results in an increase in home value of about $12,400. Source: November 2007, Remodeling Magazine, Cost versus Value Report.

Bathroom remodeling is expensive

The price for renovating a bathroom can go from $12, 000 to $16,000 just for a basic and functional bathroom . Even though the bathroom in many homes, is the smallest room, when it comes to renovation, it can be pretty expensive. Home improvement involves a lot of sub-contractions and bathroom remodel is no exception. Here are your sub-contractors:
Plumbers
Electricians
Tile contractors
Sheet rock contractor etc.

Remodeling ideas

Home improvement ideas vary from person to person. Some people may already have an idea of their remodel, while others are inspired from other sources.

Like from seeing how the neighbor's bathroom looks and looking forward to your looking just like that or even better. Others get their ideas from friends and magazines. Depending on the scope of work, some would need the services of an architect.

After the design idea is settled on, it is time to see the areas that need the renovation. In a bathroom remodel, like in any other renovation work, the structures have to be considered highly. Anything that would undermine the integrity of the structures should be pointed out to an an architect.

Flooring or vanities may need to be refinished and not replaced to achieve a bathroom remodeling dream.
Bathtub refinishing and bathroom renovation

Bathtub refinishing saves the expense of replacing a bathtub. It may costs about $300 to buy a new bathtub, but it may cost between $2500 to $3000 to replace an old bathtub. The reasons are obvious.

Home improvement tear outs account for about 47% of the junk that ends up in the landfills. Tearing makes a lot of mess and involves, walls, tiles, plumbers and their respective sub-contractors. All the tear out adds up to quite some money when compared to refinishing, re-using and recycling.

Bathtub refinishing costs between $450 -$650 compared to about $2500 to replace a bathtub. The savings is over 80% the cost of replacement. That is why many hotels, homeowners, apartments, retirement homes, and government agencies are choosing bathtub refinishing as a big part of their green bathroom remodeling.

When bathtub refinishing is incorporated as a big part of the bathroom remodeling process, less waste goes to the landfills. This is an environmental benefit to the environment. Additionally, when old but sturdy wood cabinets in your bathroom are refinished, instead of being replaced, trees are saved, that benefit us in so many ways. Bathtub refinishing, combined with green bathroom remodeling benefits are savings in money, time and environment.

Do your bathroom remodeling yourself or hire a contractor?

With the popularity of HGTV and other remodeling shows, a lot of people think that they can be the weekend warrior. Take a hard and careful look at your bathroom remodeling project. If all you are doing is cosmetics, you may be able to do the renovation yourself. Remember that all tasks are not created equal. It may be easy to install a new toilet, but installing new bathtub or tiled shower is for the professionals.

Wilson Ukah, owns Refinishing Stars, a bathtub refinishing company serving homeowners in Atlanta, Chattanooga, Nashville and Knoxville. Refinishing Stars, refinishes bathtubs, sinks, and countertops for hotels and motels nationwide. Wilson can be reached at http://www.refinishingstars.com or sales@refinishingstars.com.

Wood Post And Beam Connection

Why Ozone Use is a Must When Properly Treating a Mold Problem in a Home Or Building

Have You Been Told You Can Complete a Thorough Mold Remediation Project Without Using a High Level Ozone Shock Treatment?

Think Again!! Says Nations Top Mold Remediation Expert, Quoting a Military Report Issued By Scientists at Los Alamos National Laboratory Which Proves Its Practically Impossible

Did You Know That Anthrax Reproduces With Toxic Spores Just Like Toxic Mold?

I Discovered That The US Military Has Studied How to De-Con a Civilian Building Which Has Been Contaminated by a Spore Based Pathogen Like Mold. The Studies Were Conducted After the Anthrax Attacks on Congressmen Using the US Post Office. Their Discoveries Throw Conventional Mold Treatment Out the Window!

Ozone Myths Shattered!

Often I am asked about the effectiveness of Ozone treatments for mold remediation.This is a complex topic, which has many sides.
If you ask me is ozone effective for mold remediation I would honestly answer, that it depends...

On what you ask? Well on many, many, things I answer.

You see there are some contractors out there that are using powerful ozone generators as a substitute for the actual physical steps of mold remediation. I have heard claims like:

"Our ozone machines are so powerful they will turn mold to ash."

"They will literally vaporize mold."

"Leave the dry wall and the ozone cannons will destroy the mold which you can paint right over"

And Dozens of other lies.

The truth is the use of ozone alone is never a complete treatment for mold.

The roots of mold will penetrate deep within a substrate up to 3/16ths to .5 inch.

Additionally even dead mold is still poisonous. So removing physically all of the structures of the mold organism is necessary. Just using a gas-out alone, will never accomplish this objective.

Molds reproduce by making spores that cannot be seen without magnification. Mold spores waft through the indoor and outdoor air continually. When mold spores land on a damp spot indoors, they begin growing and multiplying, and soon the mold problem is out of control. Many types of molds exist. ALL MOLDS have the potential to cause health effects.

Ozone Kills Mold!

Ozone is a powerful gas and it will destroy mold spores and the mVOCs created by toxic bacterial or fungal organisms.

In fact according to a study conducted at Los Alamos National Laboratory (that's where they developed the atomic bomb) scientists discovered, that in order to truly complete the decontamination of a home school or commercial building that has been contaminated with a spore based pathogen, like mold it is absolutely vital to complete your decontamination process with the use of a gas-out that would flood the area with toxic levels of a reactive gas.

The reason given is that a building has so many nooks crannies crevices and cul- de-sacs; it has so many surfaces that interface between boards and in ducts and others inaccessible spaces where spore can hide and remain eluded by liquid based disinfectants. That's right no amount of HEPA vacuuming or air-scrubbing or manual clean up can ever achieve complete true de-con without a gas out due inaccessibility.

But a gas can over come this because at high levels the gas can penetrate right into all the nooks and crannies and even into carpets and fabrics and other porous materials.

While many gases were considered the winner was ozone hands down!

The reason is simple ozone is lethal to virtually all pathogens- yet it is made of O3 which is pure oxygen O2 %2B O a single free-radical oxygen molecule. The single oxygen can only last for a split second when it bonds with and adheres to other molecules. With viruses mold and bacteria it punches a hole directly into the cell wall and then begins to destroy the contents. A tremendous amount of ozone is required for serious remediation.

If a high parts per million concentration of ozone is not reached within a given area, all the bacteria will not be killed. Mold will then grow once again from any remaining live spores, and strong odors may return. That is why we use Bio3 Blaster commercial grade powerful industrial strength ozone air generators. They are chosen by only the best professionals for serious mold, mildew, odor and pollutant removals in homes, offices, motel rooms, clubs, pubs, basements, cars, boats, as well as for fire, flood and crime scene cleanup restorations.

What is then left behind is pure oxygen O2... Safe and healthy.

The only way for this process to be effective is to isolate an area and then to use powerful ozone generators known as cannons to generate ozone at very high levels to completely saturate the air in the isolated area.

The Way its Done is With an OZONE CANNON!

No people plants animals or fish can be present when this is done.
Each room of the house can be blasted with an Ozone Treatment to sterilize them of mold.

High powered ozone travels and kills mold and bacteria all through the room.

This process is known as High Ozone Shock Treatment.

It is not a substitute for mold remediation. If there is mold growing on sheet rock for instance ozone is not an answer. Mold will grow completely through sheet rock once the hyphal root penetrates the paper of the drywall it quickly permeates the gypsum as it is made of calcium carbonate a mineral rich food source for mold. The mold almost always penetrates the paper behind the wall too! If mold is growing in an attic, ozone alone is not an answer. For the same reasons the roots of the mold penetrate the boards to deeply for ozone alone to completely destroy the problem.

What ozone is great for is to get into the areas where the human or fogger or HEPA vac can't and to destroy the spores that were missed.
As humans, trained mold workers lack eyes good enough to see the mold they are combating once it goes airborne. You see ten thousand spores can fit onto the head of a pin.

They are that small!!!

In one square inch of flowering mold there can be anywhere from 1-5 million!!! What's worse is that when a mold worker begins to fog or spray the mold- the mold, has a built in survival mechanism called bursting or sporulation which allows it to send clouds of invisible spores into the air to escape the chemicals being sprayed onto them. This means that in a typical mold remediation job, millions and billions of spores are put into the air and are too tiny to see.
By saturating the area that the treatment has been performed in after the mold has been killed and treated only is one is assured of complete decontamination.

If you can stand to be in a room with an ozone machine it does NOT have the power to kill mold and bacteria. You can ONLY kill mold by the use of unoccupied room High Ozone Shock Treatments.Mold can ONLYbe killed by ozone levels much higher than meant for human occupation like our machines can produce.

This step should only be performed, after the gross removal of the porous building materials like drywall, after the stains have been removed and after the surfaces have been fogged and or vacuumed.

Ozone will also permanently destroy the mVOC's and musty odors.

Ozone oxidizes poisonous materials rapidly; sterilization ability is 600--3000 times stronger than Chlorine. Ozone kills E-coli 3125 times faster than chlorine. Some swimming pools/spas use ozone because it is a strong disinfectant, but it converts back into oxygen so it does not have harmful effects like chlorine. The proof of the efficacy of Ozone Shock therapy can be found in a study published in the Journal of the International ozone Association.

Many mold remediation companies use zero or no sporicidal products (things that kill spore or mold "seeds") to perform a mold remediation process. That means They always leave behind spore-contaminated structures.

Killing the spores is the most important part of a mold remediation process!!!!

Leaving the spores behind is like planting future mold problems which will inevitably develop or germinate later.

Safe Mold Solutions recommends no less than two sporicides (things that destroy spores) be used.

We have found the use of both Ozone and hydrogen peroxide to be ideal.

Both ozone and hydrogen peroxide work nearly identically. Both use free radical oxygen to destroy mold viruses bacteria and spores. Hydrogen peroxide leaves behind water, ozone leaves behind only pure oxygen.

No Residues... Safe and Effective!!!!!

What does all this mean?

If you have allergies to bacteria and mold or are suffering from contamination you can only sanitize, and truly destroy, these contaminants buy the use of an unoccupied room high Ozone Shock Treatment. Once you have shocked the unoccupied room or area you can then return an hour after the machine is turned off to breathe and sleep better in the room that has been sanitized. NO air purifier or chemical can do that for you!!!

We recommend the use of the machines that only Elite professionals use to kill mold spores in high humidity and flooding situations. The use of high powered ozone shock treatments is the ONLY way to reach hard to get to areas to kill mold spores.

If a competitor offers you a mold clean up protocol without Ozone Shock Treament- kick him out of your home!!! He obviously doesn't understand mold or its' complete and thorough clean up!

Charles Boday CMI, CMRC, CMLCC CALL 1-800-948-4947 NOW! http://www.safemoldsolutions.com

http://www.superdrybasement.com In the past we have worked for Ocwen , the Veterans Administration, Fannie Mae, HSBC/ Household, Countrywide, First Merit, Safeguard properties, American General, Westfield, Auto-owners, Nationwide, Allstate, Prudential and many others!!! Remember when mold is suspected or has been detected in a structure you owe to yourself to hire the very best .... FOR LESS!!!!

Get more for your money! You'll get immediate service turnaround - most inspections performed in 24-48 Hours.

You'll Get Complete Pre and Post Testing and Protocol Planning services available Now!You'll get the Best Mold Clean Up Contractors in the Midwest serving states east and west of the Mississippi. You'll get the best trained inspectors in the industry!

You'll get the most knowledgeable clean up experts!

You'll get immediate installation when you need it in a crunch to close a deal.

You'll get the best guarantees in the industry!

Call Now, 1-800-948-4947 To schedule an inspection and solve your problems permanently!

When to Hire a Contracted Painter

Professional help is something that all homeowners should look into when remodeling their home. The skill and training that these contractors possess can make a project go very smoothly and with relative ease, something that many projects are in desperate need of. When considering home improvement, it is important to remember how difficult and complicated the work can get.

Finding a contracted painter can be the saving grace that a home improvement project is screaming for. Many homeowners get in over their heads when it comes to remodeling their house and bite off way more than they can chew. Avoiding this scenario is obviously the best advice for homeowners, but when avoidance is no longer an option, calling a contracted painter can help to smooth things over and get the project back on track. Often times, this is what homeowners need to ensure that the project is completed in a timely manner and with the best quality possible.

Getting in way over their head is a practice that many homeowners unfortunately grow accustomed to. When things seem bleak and they do not know what to do, it is a good idea to call somebody who does. Usually this is a professional contractor with the experience necessary to get a project out of deep water and back on the right track. When things get too hairy for the homeowner to handle themselves, finding a professional that knows what they are doing and perhaps has dealt with similar situations before will get the homeowner out of trouble and can save the project before it goes down the drain.

Obviously, the best way to avoid situations like this is to be completely honest about the skills the homeowner possesses. If the project is out of their ballpark, they should consider hiring a contracted painter from the get go. Too often do homeowners think that they know what they are doing and that painting is something that anybody can pick up in no time. They quickly find out, however, that exterior painting is much more complex than many may think. It can get out of hand quickly, and for many can become a nightmare if they do not know what they are doing.

Planning the project may help to alleviate some of the stress many homeowners feel during the project. A well-laid plan often means a smooth project. Developing an idea to the point that both the homeowner and the contractor know where they want the project to go will help to move things along nicely. If all parties are on the same page, then everybody will be able to work towards a common goal. Knowing where things are headed is often the key in making the correct call when things get out of hand or problems present themselves.

Hiring a contracted painter is one of the smartest things homeowners do when dealing with home improvement and remodeling projects. Having a good contractor handling the painting, homeowners can focus on other areas of the project or can just sit back and relax knowing their remodel is in good hands.

More information on http://www.collegeworksestimates.com College Works Painting home repair for your home is just a click away.

Replacement Kitchen Doors - House Remodeling Ideas

For many people, the kitchen is the focal-point of their house. It is generally the first place their children stop when coming from school, and is a relaxing environment to use while entertaining company. A lot of us consider this room where we begin our mornings. The appearance of your kitchen from its flooring to the appliances and kitchen doors can drastically affect the mood of your house.

Changes like getting replacement kitchen doors can really add a lot to your decor without having to shell out a large amount of cash. There are many different choices in kitchen doors, and they can be found in materials such as glass, solid wood, faux wood, and laminate.

Make sure that your replacement kitchen doors match the specific type of cabinet structures that you currently have. If you happen to find a set of kitchen doors that you are fond of, but they don't go with your existing cabinets, you could always consider painting the cabinets so they go together. This whole process would still be much cheaper than replacing the entire structure. A renovation such as this, paired with a couple of special items to tie the new decor together can change the theme of your kitchen from top to bottom.

When you are choosing your brand new kitchen doors, be sure not to purchase a set that is so busy that it takes away from other design features in your kitchen area. The best replacement kitchen doors will make a bold statement while still tying together and accenting the rest of your kitchen.

Don't settle for the first price quote you receive for your kitchen renovation projects. There are many stores out there with great products and services, and you should take your time to find the best items and installation options to fit your needs.

Your kitchen doors should be installed by either a hired professional, or if you are really daring, you can educate yourself in how to complete this project by yourself. Installing replacement kitchen doors is one of those home improvement ventures that can be done more easily than things like plumbing and HVAC.

Make sure you do your research and are completely confident in your abilities before undergoing a feat such as this. You will benefit greatly from speaking with a trained professional home renovator. A lot of times, you can talk to someone experienced with kitchen doors right in your local home improvement store.

A handy money saving tip is to buy your replacement kitchen doors factory direct, as this will save you a great deal of money. This option will also save you the hassle of trying to navigate a crowded home improvement store just to end up paying their steep mark-ups.

Expert advice about recent styles of replacement kitchen doors. The information packed Best Kitchen Doors website will teach you everything you need to know about replacing your kitchen doors

Home Basement Books

Builders Using Green Building Techniques in New Homes

More and more NH builders are using energy saving building techniques in Southern New Hampshire., offering some of the latest technology in heating and cooling homes. The term green construction is becoming more common as energy costs soar across the nation.

There has been a lot of interest in Geothermal technology which takes advantage of the relatively stable temperature of the earth to help heat and cool your home. A series of pipes, called a loop, is installed underground. A water solution is circulated through this loop where it picks up heat from the earth. This heat is brought back to a heat pump in the home and from there it is circulated through duct work to heat your home. In the summer months this process is reversed so that heat is extracted from the home and deposited back into the earth. According to the PSNH website, actual operating costs average 48 cents per square foot per year for heat, hot water, and A/C. Even though the systems are costly, the advantages are obviously reduced operating costs, lower maintenance, its cleaner than burning oil, wood, gas or coal and you should look into Energystar and power company incentives.

Other energy savings and eco friendly techniques that are embraced in New Hampshire are solar and passive solar technologies. There are simple and subtle changes that can be made with new construction, without installing solar panels, such as orienting the house to be facing South and installing lots of insulated triple pane glass; we see sunrooms with tile floors that open up to main living spaces, separated by doors to cut down heat loss at night, but open them up and let the sunshine and warmth flood in during the day. Builders and property owners have not embraced wind technology in NH at this point.

With the high price of energy and New Hampshire's cold Winter climate, alternative energy sources are becoming more and more popular. This year we have seen a resurgence of "clean coal" that is marketed as washed and is not the messy dusty coal of the past. It is marketed with clean burning coal stoves.

Tax Credits are Still Available

The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 extended tax credits for energy efficient home improvements (windows, doors, roofs, insulation, HVAC, and non-solar water heaters). Tax credits for these residential products, which had expired at the end of 2007, will now be available for improvements made during 2009. However, improvements made during 2008 are not eligible for a tax credit. The bill also extended tax credits for solar energy systems, wind energy and fuel cells to 2016. New tax credits were established for small wind energy systems and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. Tax credits for builders of new energy efficient homes and tax deductions for owners and designers of energy efficient commercial buildings were also extended. We suggest you research these credits to be sure they apply to your project, prior to getting started.

If you are looking for a new home incorporating the latest energy saving construction techniques, NH new homes we have projects currently in Milford, Merrimack and Mont Vernon and expect to offer more in neighboring communities as well in the near future.

For more information on NH Green Building.

Rene Brin

Fixings Squeaking Stairs