Home Maintenance Tips You Can't Afford to Ignore

Without a doubt, buying a home can be the largest investment youll ever make. With the average home costing approximately $190,000, many homeowners take great pains to ensure that all cosmetic and structural repairs are attended to. However, the truth is that many expensive repairs could be avoided by simply sticking to a routine maintenance schedule. Routinely checking your home for emerging problems will prevent larger, more expensive problems that leave homeowners scrambling for a quick repairrather than a cost-effective one. Clearly, regular home maintenance is something you cant afford to ignore.

When to Inspect

Spring is a good time to begin assessing your home for any damage or repairs that need attending to. A good rule of thumb is to check your home at the same time you change your fire alarm batteriesat the beginning (spring) and end (fall) of daylight savings time. Doing so will ensure that minor repairs dont turn into major expenses. Some components of your home may require less-frequent monitoring (foundation), and some may require more (changing the furnace filter). However, taking a walkthrough of your home twice yearly is a good rule of thumb to begin with.

Who Should Inspect

If you feel unqualified to asses every crack and unidentified water leak in your home, feel free to hire a handy man. Not only will he be able to spot any problems, but he can also advise on repairs and costs right on the spot. Do you want a thorough evaluation? Hire a home inspector. Do keep in mind, however, that home inspectors cost much more (around $300) and may not necessarily find every problem.

In most instances, though, simply paying attention to your home is all it takes to spot any emerging problems. For example, if your toilet runs all the time, chances are it needs to be repaired. Have you noticed that your doors dont shut properly anymore? That could be a sign of foundation settling or warping. Simply making a list of things around your home that seem off can make your inspection process much easier. No matter what your plans, the following items are a good place to start when evaluating the condition of your home:

Exterior Items

Chimneys:
Check chimneys for loose or deteriorating bricks or mortar. Make sure that metal chimneys are rust-free. A white, salty buildup on the chimney (efflorescence), indicates moisture build-up, and should be checked out by a professional. Its a good idea to have your chimneys professionally cleaned and inspected on an annual basis, in addition to you own visual assessments.

Roofs:
Have a leak inside the house? Chances are its your roof. Beyond that, look for chipped or missing shingles, or shingles that may be rubbed away by hanging tree limbs. Take this chance to trim trees up away from the shingles. Also make sure to check flashings, soffits, fascia, and any wood trim that comes in contact with the roof for rotting or peeling paint. Touch up and repair as needed.

Gutters and Downspouts:
Clean out your gutters and downspouts twice a year to ensure that no leakage or damage occurs. In addition, you may want to place screens over your gutters (available at home improvement stores) to prevent leaves and debris from entering the gutter system. Check for any places that they may be pulling away from the house or leaking. If paint is deteriorating, now is a good time to touch up.

Exterior Walls and Foundation:
Check for any cracks, deterioration, or peeling paint. If foundation cracking is excessive, call for a professional assessment. Otherwise, you can patch it yourself with mortar patch (which can be piped in with a caulk gun).

Soil Grading:
Does water seem to settle around the houserather than drain away? Check to make sure that the soil slopes away from the house (1 inch per 6 feet is recommended). If it doesnt, simply backfill with some topsoil until you reach the desired effect.

Doors and Windows:
Look for peeling or cracked caulk and weather stripping. These can easily be purchased at any home improvement store and repaired in a small amount of time. Clean out window wells and check that windows and doors open, shut, and lock properly.

Porches, Decks, and Patios:
Sealing your wooden porches and decks on an annual basis will help prevent against rotting and deterioration. Secure any wobbly rails or steps, and replace or treat any rotting or deteriorating wood. Check patios for cracks or settling, and repair as necessary.

Driveways and Sidewalks:
Check for cracking, and fill with concrete-patch as needed. Taking this time to seal your concrete areas will help prevent any further cracking and deterioration.

Attics and Crawlspaces:
Inspect attics and crawlspaces for any signs of water leakage, and repair as necessary. In addition, look for mildew, rot, and fungus growth. Repair any loose or damaged insulation, and check that attic vents are functioning properly. Look for any signs of vermin, and treat as necessary by placing bait or trapsor hiring a professional exterminator.

Electrical

Do you have outlets that are loose? Now is the time to have them replacedeither by an electrician or yourself. Check your main breaker panel for any signs of deterioration. Turn breakers on and off to make sure all are functioning properly, and check all fuses. Do you smell something burning? Call a professional. Also, take this time to check the ground fault circuit interrupters (usually around sinks and other water elements) to ensure they function properly.

Heating and Air Conditioning

Does your heating and air conditioning run non-stop? Now is the time to have it checked out. Having your air ducts cleaned by a professional will help your unit run more efficiently. Check the coils on the air conditioning unit for any bent or misshapen areas. Clear debris out of the fan blades before using.

Plumbing

Check outdoor faucets and supply lines for any signs of leakage. If you have a septic tank, take notice of any foul odors or signs of seepage in the yard. If you havent had your tank emptied yet, do so now.

Take time to repair leaky faucets and caulk bathroom fixtures. Check toilets for any signs of leakageeither from the tank or around the base. Check sump pumps to ensure proper function, and test the pressure relief valve on your water heater to ensure that it hasnt seized up.

Interior Items

Walls:
Look for any signs of mildew or water damage (yellow stains are usually a sign of water damage). Patch holes and cracks in the drywall, and touch up paint as necessary. Monitor any significant cracks, as these could be a sign of foundation problems.

Ceilings:
As with walls, take note of any mildew or water stains, and repair as needed. Look for drooping ceilings, and locate the cause to ensure proper repairs. Monitor and repair cracks.

Doors and Windows:
Open, close, and lock (where applicable) all doors and windows to ensure proper functioning. Replace weathered caulk around windows and check for any signs of moisture infiltration (particularly in storm windows). Broken or loose knobs, latches, or handles should be repaired now.

While no homeowner can possible catch every problem before it develops into an expensive repair, simply taking note of minor fix-itsand repairing themcan help avoid many costly repair bills in the future. Without a doubt, regular home maintenance is something no homeowner can afford to ignore.

Copyright 2006, Ian White

Author Ian White is founder of housecarers.com House Sitting Registry Find retired House Sitters and Travellers, to mind your home and pets while you are away. Secure confidential matching. Exchange house and pet care for free accommodation.

http://www.housecarers.com

Fireplace Drywall Ceiling Damage

Several Items to Think About When Building a Home

What type of Personality do I want my home to have?

When you consider building a new home, the first thing you should think about is your own personality and interests. There are many questions you should ask yourself. For instance, how often do I entertain? Do I like large gatherings, or just of few close friends? Am I the type of person who likes lots of daylight and therefore plenty of windows? Do I want to climb stairs every day, and will I still want to in ten years or so if I still own this home? Am I a craftsman-type who wants extra garage space for tools and equipment? Will I need space for an RV, quads, yard equipment, etc? Next I would want to consider the yard. For instance, if you have kids you may want a flat lot with a large grassy area for them to play.If not, a terraced garden or even a pool with lots of concrete around would be more your style. It would also be advisable to pick up one of the software programs readily available to the consumer today. There are also various magazines available to peruse for ideas. Another good idea is to drive around and take several pictures of homes that you like.

Check out the neighborhood:

One suggestion I would have is to take a drive around the area you are planning to build in several different times of day on different days of the week. This way you would get a good feel of what the neighborhood is really like. It would also be wise to check out the local school that your children would be attending. Notice the type of houses that are already there. Will your style and size fit in nicely to the existing surroundings? This may be your dream house, but you need to always think of eventual resale.

How are you going to get your new home built?

Just as there are several different ways to design your home there are also several different ways of getting it built:

1. Do it yourself. This method would likely cost less, but would definitely be more time consuming. This is not a good choice for someone with no construction knowledge or skills.
2. Act as your own general contractor. This is a great choice for those people who can do some of the work themselves. You can pick and choose what you want to do, and hire sub-contractors for those jobs that require more skill, such as electrical work. Get several bids, and remember that the cheapest is not always the best when it comes to contractors. Check all references for anyone you consider hiring!!!
3. Hire a semi custom builder. This is a builder that usually builds several houses per year, and has a set of plans that you can choose from.This would be a fairly quick method of raising the house as they are accustomed to building the same plans and they already have all their sub contractors lined up and ready to work. They often will allow some alterations to the existing plans.
4. Hire a custom builder:These folks normally build a small number of homes a year. Custom builders would work off of a set of plans presumably supplied by you. They would be much more willing and able to deviate from the original plan if you wanted changes made. They would also be likely to take pride in their work and stand behind their workmanship.

Several alternatives:

There are other options to building a home. You could choose to purchase a home that had the basic floor plan that you desired, and do a quick remodel on the inside. Or, purchase a total fixer upper and "go to town" on it, changing whatever you desired inside and out. If you already own a piece of land, you could choose a modular home, or prefab. These homes have come a long way from the "trailers" of the past. Many of them look just like a traditionally built house.

I hope this has given you plenty of "food for thought" before beginning your journey.

John writes articles on Home projects, Do it yourself, Tools and other general interest subjects you can learn more by visiting one of my recent blogs. Building your own home? http://youcanbuildit.blogspot.com/ or Products for men http://manlymans.blogspot.com/

Mortar Repair - 4 Common Crack Problems on Your Home

It's a sunny morning and you're up early. You decide to grab your coffee and take a quick stroll around your homes' exterior to look for signs of wear. You find nothing and are pleased until you turn the last corner of your home and stop abruptly in disbelief!

There before you in the beautiful brick masonry of your home is a huge crack! How did it get there? What do you do? You wonder. Whom do you call?

Well take a deep breath and relax. You're not alone. Millions of homeowners have experienced this gut wrenching feeling as well. So don't grab the For Sale sign just yet! Read these handy tips to understand what may be happening to your home.

1.) Settlement Cracks - These common cracks usually manifest as a 'stair step crack' or a crack that steps up as it moves horizontally across the wall. Found at or close to the corners of the home, wing walls and quoin corners they are common and easily repaired. Just watch and expect additional movement if the settlement has not stopped.

Solution: Contact your local masonry crack repair pro to have these cracks repaired to keep water, bugs and reptiles from entering the home.

2.) Thermal Expansion Cracks - A vertical or stair step crack usually located in the upper portions of the masonry can be caused by thermal expansion. Bricks walls expand when heated by the sun and if expansion joints are not present, can cause cracks. These cracks appear anywhere within the surface of the sunny wall or in close proximity to abutting walls

Solution: Contact your local masonry repair pro and/or a structural engineer for an evaluation. Some cracks are simple for a repair pro to evaluate and others may require an engineers analysis and testing to determine the cause and recommend the type of repair needed.

3.) Steel Expansion Cracks - Another common crack occurs at the upper corners of doorways, garage doors, windows or any opening. The usual culprit is the steel that supports the masonry above these openings. This is due to the daily and seasonal differential movement between the steel and the brick materials which expand at different rates.

Solution: Contact your local masonry repair pro to have these cracks repaired or caulked. Caulking will move with the materials and help minimize future cracking.

4.) Bulging or Bowed Wall Cracks - Cracks can appear throughout an entire wall or the wall is bulged, bowed in or out or has sunken. This is a serious issue and is usually the symptom of age related failure or structural failure due to improper reinforcement of the masonry.

Solution: Contact a structural engineer immediately for an evaluation and recommended repairs.

It is a good idea to check your home annually for signs of cracking or structural damage in the bricks on your home.

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

Residential Metal Roofing - A Better Option?

If someone where to say to say the words "metal roofing" I bet most people would be thinking of the old and ugly, and often rusting, corrugated metal roof. But metal roofing materials have come a long way and have become much more popular in recent years. They are attractive, light weight, durable and fire resistant. There are many types of options for metal roofing but the main two are aluminum and steel. Each has their own benefits depending on its application.

Aluminum is strong, durable and light weight. These are the same properties that makes aluminum a popular choice in the aerospace industry. And if its good enough for NASA then its excellent as a roofing material. Due to its being very light weight roofing with aluminum does not require the structure's roof to be reinforced which can be a problem when using other heavier materials such as tile or slate. Another major benefit to using aluminum is its resistance to rust and corrosion. This can be a very important advantage for those building is coastal areas that will be subjected to salt spray. And lastly because aluminum is more malleable than steel it can more easily be formed into various designs and shapes.

Steel is another option for a metal roof. But steel itself is not known for its corrosion resistance and will start to rust quite quickly. Therefore the steel that is used as a roofing material is galvanized. This means that the steel is given a protective coated of either zinc or zinc/aluminum to give it the rust and corrosion protection needed for use in roofing. For use in areas of high winds steel can be a better option than other metal roofing materials because of its higher resistance to wind uplift. Galvanized steel roofing is also available in a variety of finishings. It can be painted, aggregate-coated, or with a mill or bare finish. It will also never crack or peel when exposed to sun and weather making a long lasting material.

For home owners looking to save on cooling costs in the summer metal roofs can do just that. With a tradition asphalt shingle heat from the sun can be absorbed into the home heating it up throughout the day. A metal roof will tend to reflect the radiant heat away that would normally collect in the home's attic. Depending on where you live you could save about 40% on your cooling costs.

The biggest stumbling block most home owners have with metal roofing is the cost as it is more expensive than other available roofing options and yes, if you plan on moving in a few years than a metal roof may not be cost effective. But if you are planning on living in your home for a long period of time a metal roof can actually be cheaper. That's because a metal roof can last as long as fifty years or more and requires very little maintenance. In the same time period an asphalt roof may need replacement 2-4 times.

A properly and professionally installed metal roofing, whichever type you choose, will give you decades of protection and beauty to your home. Add to it the energy cost savings and you have a winning combination.

Specializing in Brampton Real Estate Harry Saggu is a professional agent with Century 21 Peoples Choice Realty Inc. and has a background in economics. Please feel free to visit the website for information on the Brampton Ontario Real Estate market.

Shed Blueprints - 5 Tips For a Successful Building - Using Shed Blueprints!

Using Shed Blueprints for building a shed...Do you need a place to store your lawn mower, rakes, tools etc...As well as providing shelter for your outdoor items, it adds to the value of your home and can be pleasing to look at creating a rustic setting in your back yard. With the many Shed Blueprints available on line, you can choose the one that best suits your needs!

If you want your investment to last for years to come, you'll need to follow these 5 tips for successfully building an outdoor structure. I'm a Journeyman Carpenter and have built many structures using Shed Blueprints and helped many friends build there's. As you know there are 1000's of different sizes and designs to choose from, which ever one you select these 5 Tips will keep you on the right track.

The 5 tips for a successful building are:

1) Solid Foundation:
Any outdoor structure no matter how good it's constructed will not last if the foundation sinks or rots. Ideally a concrete slab on grade will last the longest and provide a flat surface that won't rot and insects can't harm. You can use pressure treated lumber for you base and is the second best choice.

2) Solid floor:
If you've chosen to use the concrete foundation you can skip this. If you're using wood use pressure treated 4X4's or 6X6's depending on the size of your building. It's important that all lumber that comes into contact with the ground be treated! Using treated floor joists and box joists are recommended.

3) Have proper air circulation:
Moisture will destroy wood so will mildew caused by no air circulation. Make sure that you leave an air space's to allow for good ventilation, if you're concerned about birds and other larger insects getting in, use screen to keep them out... but will allow air flow.

4) Select and locate door and windows:
You'll want to be sure that the door size you use will be big enough for your lawnmower, lawn tractor and other larger tools to fit through it. A little bigger is better, ever whacked your knuckles when carrying in something through a doorway? Locate the windows on walls were your not storing big and long items usually away from the door.

5) Build with low-Maintenance Materials:
In today's fast paced world any spare time you have you want to do things you enjoy and not having to scrape and repaint every 2 to 3 years. Use Metal trims and vinyl siding which may cost a little more but will not need any maintenance other than hosing down.

Using these tips and having good Shed Blueprints to follow will ensure you many years of trouble free enjoyment from any outdoor structure you decide to build.

If you've found this information useful and want to find out the easiest way to build sheds and save yourself 100's even 1000's of dollars on your shed construction, Do it yourself! Take a quick look at http://hubpages.com/hub/ShedBlueprints See the sample sheds you can build as well as some of the other fun things you can build!

Of all the resources I've seen on line I've found one that is the most comprehensive and complete home project resource on the Internet. The Detailed diagrams...Complete material lists...and very explicit step-by-step instructions! And it's your lucky day you can get a FREE complete shed to download at Shed Blueprints Grab your copy before there all gone!

Log Home Preservation Methods - Borate Wood Preservatives

Log Home BorateTreatments - the options and how and when to use!

One of the most important ways to protect your investment, your home, is to use a wood preservative on your logs. There are only two times that you can effectively use these products on your logs. When the home is built, before it is stained, or after cob blasting a finish off of your logs, before you re-stain. The wood preservative must be applied to raw wood, so it can soak in and dry underneath the stain.

All wood faces the possibility of rot and insect infestation, even in dry climates. Fungi and insects actually consume the cells of dead wood, often causing severe structural damage that often requires log replacement-a costly repair. We use Penetreat to help protect your home from costly damage of rot and insect infestation. Penetreat is a borate based wood preservative. Borates are well known across the world for their protective qualities. Penetreat provides a protective "shell" coating which helps defend your home against dry, wet, and brown rot, as well as termites, house borers, powder post beetles, and carpenter ants, (to name a few).

Borate is not toxic to people and animals. It will not harm you or your pets. Borates do not affect the natural color or strength of wood. They are completely odorless, and are not corrosive to metal fasteners, nails or screws. When a "Penetreat" home is properly sealed against moisture, the borates can provide many years of effective protective.

Impel Rods are a highly concentrated solid form, water diffusible borate rod. They are ideal for both preventative treatments of high risk areas and remedial treatments in areas with existing decay. Because Impel Rods stop decay when properly used, there is no need to replace decay damaged, yet structurally sound logs! Decay prone and rot hot spot areas at greatest risk include: base logs, corner construction, exposed rafters or overhangs, and below windows, doors, and dormers.

Impel Rods depend on moisture to work. When moisture contents of wood reach levels suitable for decay attack, i.e. (around 25 percent) Impel Rods slowly dissolve and begin to diffuse throughout the moisture saturated wood. The preservative will migrate into the areas of highest moisture, which are at the highest risk from fungal decay. The diffused Impel Rod will adequately and effectively prevent the wood from rotting and decaying because it will not allow the fungus that causes rot to grow. When moisture levels drop below 25 percent, the preservative becomes dormant and provides a reserve, ready to reactivate should decay conducive conditions reoccur. We feel that Impel Rods are an essential part of the protection of your log home, and include them as part of our prevention and restoration system.

We hope this article has been helpful and look forward to giving you much more information in future articles to help you preserve your log home dream!

Jamie Fonder

Top-Coat Log Home Restoration LLC

http://topcoatloghomerestoration.com/

Choosing Exterior Paint Colors

There are many reasons why you may be considering repainting the exterior of your home. Perhaps you are trying to sell your house, your original exterior paint is fading or damaged, or you may just be in the mood for a new look for your home.

New paint can add curb appeal to your house, and if selling, a new coat of paint on the exterior will have a tremendous effect on the value of your home. Remember that, in addition to increased house value, the value of your entire neighborhood will rise with a new exterior paint job.

Choosing the correct paint colors will be critical in determining the final outcome of your decision. In other words, taking the time to consider the effects of your color choices can be the difference between a stunning home and a tacky house.

Color Popularity and Rankings

According to a recent survey conducted by the Rohm & Hass Paint Quality Institute, the most popular color choice of homes across America is white or off-white. Second is beige, tan, or brown with 28% of people claiming those colors as their homes colors. Next is gray, followed by blue, then green and yellow. Coming in last on the list is red and pink.

A similar study conducted by Realty Time Magazine offers slightly different results, with white again having the majority of votes, but followed by gray, then blue, tan/brown, cream, beige, green, yellow, and red in last again. It may be obvious that white is the most common color, because white is actually the color with the most shades (even though white is not actually a color, but a neutral).

Choosing Your Homes Exterior Colors

Prominent Colors of Your Home
There are many factors to take into account when deciding on new colors for the exterior of your home. Firstly, consider the colors that will be remaining on your home, such as the roof color, decks, or any brick or stone walls or structures. Narrow your options first by finding out which colors will go well with these prominent, fixed features.

Surrounding Neighborhood

Next, be sure to take into consideration the rest of the neighborhood. It is typically a good idea to stay within the same relevant context of colors as your neighbors. Remember that your homes color scheme will have a direct effect on the value of your neighborhood.

In fact, some restricted communities, homeowners associations, and historical neighborhoods may have restrictions on what colors you may paint your home, so be sure to research any constraints your community may have.

Mr. Oliver is a marketing agent for N. Chasen and Son. The interior and exterior painting specialists concentrate on painting jobs throughout the Richmond Virginia area. For more information on a painting contractor in Richmond Virginia please visit their website.

5 Things You Should Not Do and 10 Things You Should Do Before Hiring a Building Contractor

Over the years I have worked with hundreds of clients. No matter if it was a new home, room addition or a remodeling project, I tried very hard to do the job right. With the reputation that contractors can have now days, it is very important for the homeowner to make the right decisions when hiring a contractor. With so many contractors out there all telling you that they will do the best job for you, it takes more then just having a good feeling about a contractor or even a good referral from a friend or relative.

So, after over 40 years of dealing with people, working with sub contractors and just knowing what are the right things to do to make the building experience the best it could possibly be for my clients, I have come up with two lists that the homeowner can use as a guideline in helping them to make the right choice when hiring a building contractor.

5 Things You Should Not Do Before Hiring a Contractor

1. Lowest Price - Don't choose your contractor just because he is the lowest priced. A legitimate contractor has many expenses to keep his company going. Contractor's need to carry liability insurance, worker's comp. insurance and health insurance for employees. They have several operating expenses and pay city, state and federal taxes. With all these expenses it will become apparent that they will have to charge enough to help cover their costs. Even though the contractor you hire may not be the lowest priced, you can rest assured you are getting a contractor that is doing things the right way and that is what you can expect out of the job they do for you.

2. Down Payment - Never give a contractor a large down payment! In most cases a down payment of 5% to 20% down, is all that is needed for a contractor to get the job started. If someone is asking for a third or half down, you better be cautious. Unless the contractor has ordered something special that you requested and the company require a large amount down, there should be no reason for you to have to give a down payment that large. If the contractor does ask for that much, make sure you get it in writing as to where the money is going.

3. Credit - Don't give a contractor all the money up front for the materials needed for the entire job. If a contractor does not have accounts set up with suppliers, there is usually a reason. One reason could be that he or she is just starting out and has not established credit yet, or another might be that the contractor has some credit problems and if he or she does, that could spell trouble for you.

4. Get It In Writing - Never hire a contractor unless you get a legible cost break down or estimate and a signed contract. I can not stress this enough. Make sure everything you want is spelled out exactly the way you agreed. A verbal agreement is not satisfactory. This will protect you and it will also protect the contractor. It is the only way you should do business with a contractor.

5. Recommendations - Don't hire a contractor just because the company was recommended by a friend or neighbor. Although this could be a good thing that someone you know has used the contractor and had good results, make sure you check with others who have used the company as well. Follow the guidelines in the last post, "Ten Things You Should Do Before Hiring a Contractor."

10 Things You Should Do Before Hiring A Contractor

1. Licensing - Find out if the contractor is licensed and or bonded in the cities, counties or states in which it is required.

2. Insurance - Make sure the contractor carries liability insurance and make sure you see a copy of it.

3. Workers Comp. - Make sure your contractor carries Worker's Comp. Insurance and ask to see the certificate

4. Complaints - Check with the Better Business Bureau for unresolved complaints with the contractor

5.Client References - Ask for at least 5 or more current and past client references. Make sure you call them and ask questions.

6. Professional References - Ask for at least 5 or more material suppliers and sub contractor references. Again, make sure you call them and ask questions. If the contractor is not paying his bills in a timely matter, you need to be aware of that because chances are this could be a big problem for you down the road.

7. Permits - Make sure the contractor takes out the necessary building and zoning permits whenever it is required. Having your project inspected insures you that the job will get done in accordance with the city, county and state requirements.

8. Professional Organizations - If your Contractor is a member of The Home Builders Association - The National Association of the Remodeling Industry - The Better Business Bureau or any other professional organization, it means that time, effort and money went into joining and he or she is serious about their business. These types of organizations don't just let anyone join them. They do a thorough check up of each contractor that applies for membership before they accept them.

9. Sub-Contractors - Ask your contractor for the names of the sub contractors he or she is going to use and don't be afraid to check them out as well. As a rule, if a company is incorporated then that is a plus but this does not mean that you still should not check them out. You can make inquiries with your local building department and the Better Business Bureau.

10. Get Everything In Writing! - Get as much detail as possible. This should include an itemized signed and dated estimate or cost breakdown. Once you decided on who you are going to hire; "Make Sure You Sign A Contract!" The contract should specify the cost of the project, the down payment and payment schedule, the approximate completion time, the name and address of the contractor's liability insurance company, the companies guarantee or warranty, information as to the contractor and or sub contractor's being licensed and insured, and an acceptance clause and places for you and the contractor to sign and date. Do not be afraid to ask your contractor a copy of the company's contract to have your attorney look over before you sign. You can check with the BBB, NARI and the Home Builder's Association for information on contracts.

These two lists set the ideal standard. It may not be possible for the contractor you want to hire, to come up to this standard completely on every point, but if you follow these guidelines, hopefully you will feel better about the choice you make. Remember, depending on your project, you will have to deal with the person you hire for the entire length of your project, so why not try to make that as pleasant an experience as possible.

Rick Maselli, has been in the building business for more then 40 years. Over the years he has gathered and enormous amount information regarding home improvement products, ideas and information and has decided to share this with homeowners.

In 2007, he 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

Showroo411.com 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.

You can also read his reviews on many new and innovative building and high tech products in his blog, http://www.leveladvice.com

What To Consider When Remodeling

When you say you want to start remodeling your home sometime soon, that is a rather broad way of describing what you want done. You have to be more specific about your remodeling plans so that the contractor knows exactly what you want to achieve in this home makeover project.

The sub-project of bathroom remodeling includes new vanity, new sink, new faucet, new bath tub, new shower walls, new shower doors, new vinyl flooring at the very least, that is. You may also need to have a new toilet, new water closet, new mirror, and new medicine cabinet integrated into your bathroom layout as well. Whew! And thats just the bathroom for starters.

In kitchen remodeling, you may need new countertops (like granite countertops which stand up very well under wear and tear due to its sturdiness) or perhaps new kitchen cabinets. A new kitchen sink may also be warranted if your old one has stains that wont come out even with the toughest detergents and regular scrubbing on your behalf, or if it has rusty parts that may prove dangerous if young hands get too close.

Acoustic ceiling removal may prove necessary before you have recessed lighting installed in your living room and dining room. Recessed lighting is great for showcasing the interior details of your house, including the new carpeting you may have had installed. New dual paned windows or retrofit windows might look good here as well.

Regardless of how you want to conduct remodeling of your home, you will probably need the professional services of an experienced and knowledgeable contractor (unless you have extensive experience in home makeovers yourself and want to make the home remodeling a DIY project instead.)

The rule of thumb when hiring any contractor is: make sure everything you ask the contractor to do for you is stipulated in a written agreement that both parties have signed. This also protects the contractor so that he gets paid for everything that he does for you .

When you ask the contractor to purchase the materials for the home makeover, you should list down what sizes, colors, models and/or brands should be bought. This cuts down on any misunderstandings and assures you that you get what you asked for.

The labor aspect is another sticking point. You should come to a definite agreement with the contractor as to how many people he should have in his team, how long they should work on the project, and what happens if the team doesnt finish the project on schedule (meaning, do you wind up paying for the additional days or not?)

A good contractor will provide a warranty for the work that he and his team finished for you. This way, if evidence of shoddy work shows up later on, you can hold him to the warranty and get the mistakes redone (without you having to pay extra money to him.)

By the way, who will handle disposal of trash and any debris that is produced by the home makeover project? There are contractors who include that in the service though there may be projects where you have to find a hauler who will cart away your debris and trash for you instead. Clarify this beforehand as well.

It is also helpful if there is a stipulation in your contract permitting you a grace period before the project starts so that if you change your mind, you can always bow out gracefully without spending a cent or incurring the ire of the contractor.

Extreme Makeover Pros is your affordable contractor serving Orange County, Ca. for nearly 25 years. Specializing in Home Improvement and Renovation. For more details visit http://www.extrememakeoverpros.com

Design Your Own Dream House

In the past, designing your own dream house meant grabbing a pen and pad of paper and spending hours meticulously drawing plans only to scrap them once you made a mistake. It was frustrating work. But, times have changed. Today, there are several house design software programs that can do the same work. Even better, it takes less time and allows for easy adjustments for mistakes along the way. Once a frustrating task, planning your dream house can be exciting again.

Using Software To Visualize Your Dream House

One of the most common problems people have when planning their dream home is trying to visualize how everything looks. House design software resolves this issue. It can provide a 3D interface through which you to view floor plans, walking areas, structural placements and more. But, some software programs are better than others.

Use a house design program that comes with preset floor plans and templates to get you started. Often, even if you have an idea of how your dream house should ultimately look, preset floor plans can get the creative juices flowing. The software you use should also be robust enough to allow you to modify the templates in any way you wish as you're designing the home.

Also, the software should allow you to plan the plumbing within your home as well as the electrical system. Some programs will even let you plan custom trims for your windows throughout your home. The more robust your software, the more flexibility you'll enjoy in designing your dream home to your preferences.

Designing Your Dream Home

If you're planning to design your dream house, using house design software can save time and make the process fun. Software shouldn't replace the skills and advice of a trained architect, but will allow you to create your home without the limitations of pen and paper. If you make a measurement error, adjusting your plans is easy and fast. When you're using software to design your home, the scope of your plans are limited only be your creativity (and physics).

Source: http://www.homedesignsoftwareinc.com

Get our free house design software guide for information about kitchen & bathroom remodeling, deck and garden design, floor plan drawing software.

Hole Drilled Through Footing

Do it Yourself Garage Remodels

With the current credit crunch, households around the world are coming up with an unexpected source of additional income: they simply convert their garage into an apartment and lease it out. Garages are no longer repositories for the family car.

Thinking of it, that's not a bad idea, is it. Even if the idea of leasing out your garage does not sound very good to you, there are still ways of taking advantage of the garage extra space and put it to some productive use.

An apartment garage plan is pretty easy to design, and with a bit of know-how, to build.

What is it for?

Obviously the first question to be asked is what will the garage future use be. Traditionally, garages have doubled as storage space for anything from gardening tools to old books. It is also being used as workshop, office or even as an additional room for the boys. With a bit of imagination, there is no limit to the good uses one can put his garage to.

Once you have made up your mind about the intended use, you are in a better position to design the garage layout.

Here are a few design tips:

• If you plan to use the place as storage space, a good idea is to place wall shelves to accommodate gardening tools like the lawnmower, brooms, hoses, shoes etc. Try also to group these in categories, based on their respective frequency of use: normally the most used items should be of easy reach.
• Place hooks. These will allow you to gain as much space as possible on the the wall and even on the ceiling.
• Remember accessibility. If the intended garage apartment is located next to your house, try to create a direct communicating door between them.
• Create autonomous units. If you intend leasing out the space, integrate a small kitchen, a bathroom and a maybe couple of additional rooms.

Can you do it yourself?

If the idea sounds interesting, you may choose to hire the service of a prefab contractor to build an apartment garage for you. While their technical expertise is valuable, designing your own garage plan is easy, provided you apply some basic design factors.

In general an apartment garage plan should provide for one or two doors, and depending on the number of rooms, a few windows too.

How about the budget ?

The cost of building home additions depends largely on the region where you live.
Once you know exactly what suits you best, you are in better position to work out the financial side of the project.

The building materials

The building materials to use will also influence the overall cost as well as the durability of the construction. I have found that prefabricated kits that come with an instruction manual often cost less.

Finally, remember too to take into account aesthetic considerations. A good apartment garage plan should not only look nice on paper, but it should also be practical and usable once build.

Additional Apartment Garage tips can be found at Homes By Olga.

What Does A Gfi Do

How to Fix a Leaking Showerhead Faucet

A leaky showerhead can be both annoying and costly. After a few hours, the constant dripping noise is as brutal on the eardrums as nails on a chalkboard. And, even though a singular drip is only a few milliliters of water, it doesnt take long before that leaky showerhead wastes hundreds of gallons adding an extra zero to the end of the water bill.

Most homeowners dont realize that a leaking showerhead is pretty simple to fix. Theres no need to buy a new one or, worse yet, hire a plumber. You can finish the job yourself in just a few short minutes with nothing more than a screwdriver, an adjustable wrench, and a washer that you can buy for a nickel at any hardware store.

Now that youve decided to take on the job yourself, you need to understand the two most common things that go wrong with showerheads. Either they start leaking at the point where the pipe screws into the actual showerhead, or the holes in the showerhead become clogged, causing water backups and creating a leak.

First, youll need to unscrew the showerhead from the outlet pipe. To protect the showerhead from damage, wrap a towel around the point where the head screws onto the outlet piping. Take the pliers and remove the head from the outlet. Youll see the washer. Pull it off and replace it with the new one. If you think you need a tighter seal, use plumbers tape across the threads before screwing the showerhead back in.

Also, if you have a rotating or swiveling showerhead, you might as well take an extra step while you have it taken apart. To increase the swivel range and flexibility, take some lubricant, preferably silicone, and lube up the interior swivel ball before you screw the head back in.

If the holes in the showerhead are clogged, take off the faceplate by removing the screws attaching it to the head. If you cant remove the faceplate, thats okay, just keep the entire unit unscrewed. The reason showerheads get clogged is the lime deposits that are formed and get stuck in the holes over time. To get rid of the lime deposits, take either the faceplate or the whole showerhead, and soak it in a bowl of white vinegar for at least eight hours. This will dissolve the deposits, and make them easy to remove by sticking a toothpick or small nail through the holes in the showerhead. After that, scrub the faceplate with a stiff plastic brush and screw the unit back into the wall.

Nancy Dean is a freelance author who contributes to several websites, including All Faucets . Coming from a family full of carpenters, she enjoys both doing and writing about home improvement projects.

Mold Behind Shear Wall

Dog Creates Remodeling Nightmare

How many homeowners normally leave their dog in the backyard or they have full time access to the backyard through a doggie door. You're probably wondering how can a little dog create a remodeling nightmare for any contractor.

This wasn't the case this dog was a large Labrador retriever and tore up everything in the backyard constantly. The house remodel we were working on was a two story room addition over a single story house. This job lasted around six months and the dog was a daily reminder of how much attention a large dog actually needs.

Let's start with the first item of value the dog actually destroyed. It was my favorite tool bags of course that I have taken care of for over five years and deeply appreciated the fact that they were broke in just the way I wanted them to be. Kind of like a baseball mitt that doesn't quite fit right because of how stiff it is until you break it in.

While the homeowner of course apologized and never even offered to replace them. Oh but after that he did mention never to leave anything lying around in the backyard. Lesson learned of course and never forgotten. Well to make a long story short this large dog could chew up tools, lumber, plumbing pipes, electrical wire and was even able to destroyed the plywood fencing we would use to keep him away.

I'm going to stop right there with the remodeling nightmare created from this dog in hopes that other contractors can learn from my valuable lesson. As a contractor you should never assume that a homeowner will replace any damaged or broken tools and materials.

As a homeowner with a dog reading this article, think about having a place to enclose the dog if necessary while remodeling work is done on your home.

I love being around dogs and other animals but sometimes a problem like this can make life extremely miserable for both parties.

Greg Vanden Berge has been building and remodeling for over 30 years and his information has proven valuable to most contractors and homeowners all over the world. He usually tries to write at least two articles a day on home improvement or remodeling problems.

Greg is in the process right now of working on a home inspection website that will revolutionize the home inspection business. He is also working on a book to help homeowners and contractors as well as other home related professions in dealing with the home inspection process.

You can visit the home inspection website currently under construction at Home Inspection Help

Drywall Repair For Damaged Walls

Professional Advice on Home Building

If you're a do it yourself or or a homeowner who every once in a while, once to tackle a small or large project but doesn't know where to begin, can gather useful information from home building books. I have been using these books for years and may have been worth their weight in gold.

I started my career working for my father and my father worked for his father as a Carpenter. Our job was to frame the house and we built a Lotta homes. I learned how to frame and developed some great carpentry skills from my father and working with other skilled carpenters. Over the years, if you're paying attention, even a monkey can figure out, how to assemble almost anything.

The only problem that I faced, was learning how to build the rest of the home. I would often ask questions to other building trades like plumbers, electricians, roofers and construction superintendents. Some of these people were helpful and others were not. When I was in my early 30s, I purchased my first book on home building. This book lead to other books and soon I found myself with more home building knowledge that my father.

I had about 50 books on home building and soon found myself doing large home remodels, with no formal education. I would attribute almost everything that I learned outside of house framing to books. These books have proven invaluable to me over the years and with a relatively small investment. I couldn't have spent over $200 purchasing these books but have used the knowledge from them to save myself thousands of dollars.

One $20 home building books or home repairs, can save you lots of money, if you're willing to do a little research and the labor to complete almost any home building project.

By the way, if you're interested in learning how to repair a roof, build your own house, interior decorating, structural engineering, building a deck, gathering some more information about home painting or even remodeling your bathroom. An online home building bookstore can save you money if you're willing to do the work.

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 has just finished a Home Buyers Guide to take some of the frustration out of home shopping.

If your looking for some more home inspection or home building ideas.

Damaged Composition Roof Shingle

Stair Lighting Problems

Walking up and down the stairs in the dark could become a safety issue. If the stairs in the house are not that old, there should be a light switch at the top and a light switch at the bottom of the stairway. This is a three way switch and is designed to allow you to turn the stair lighting on as you walk up the stairs and then turn the stair lighting off, once you've safely reached the top of the stairway. And vice versa as she walked down the stairs.

If you don't have a light switch, there are motion sensor lights that are battery operated and can be installed easily in the stairway. These lights can provide you with peace of mind, while protecting your family from accidents.

Stairway accidents are nothing to joke about, I lived in a two-story house with four other people and was the last one to fall down the stairway. None of us got seriously injured and the stairway was built to meet local building codes and was inspected by a building and safety inspector. The stairs were built correctly and the stair lighting was no problem, but people still fell down the stairway and it always happens in the evening.

During the day time there were two windows that let plenty of light into the stairway and in the evening the stairway became quite dark, rarely was the stair lightning ever turned on. This could have been outright laziness but nevertheless, it was rarely used and eventually became a safety issue.

Lighting your stairway might not end all of your problems but it can and some of your problems. There are plenty of stair lighting systems available on the market today and some of the battery operated stair lighting systems can be installed by most homeowners.

Think safety always and do your best to solve your stair lighting problems as soon as possible to prevent injuries or accidents.

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 has just finished a Home Buyers Guide to take some of the frustration out of home shopping.

If your looking for some more building stairs or home building ideas.

Discovering Spirit And Sound

Italian Kitchen Design Tips You Need

Italian kitchen design is incredibly popular all over the world and for good reason. The sleek designs and bespoke features mean you get a kitchen that looks fantastic but also functions efficiently.

When designing an Italian style kitchen, remember to think about how you're going to introduce a good amount of light into the space. After all, Italian kitchens aren't often dark and dingy.

An Italian kitchen design will be very easy on the eye, but your primary concern should be the layout and getting everything exactly how you need it. This will ensure you're finished kitchen functions how you need it to, which is the most important thing.

Storage is always a concern, but especially when you're going for a sharp finish. But remember, it's imperative to give yourself ample room to store all of those pots and pans.

After you've finished your layout, you can then being to think about how you're going to add the sophisticated touches and sharp lines that will give your kitchen design an Italian finish.

To successfully create an Italian kitchen design getting the right fittings and fixtures is imperative. Make sure you shop around and get the perfect products, as the small touches will determine how successful your final design is.

If you're getting professional to do the work for you, make sure you get at least three quotes to ensure you're not only getting the best deal, but also the people who understand the look you're going for.

If you manage to follow all of these tips then you'll put yourself in a great position to get the Italian kitchen you pictured in your initial plans.

Thomas Baugh writes articles to advise people on how to create the perfect kitchen design.

Interior Window Framing

Window Header Framing Problems

As a building contractor it is my job to assemble the house to meet the specifications from the architect and the structural engineer. I do this by looking at the building plans and installing the specified lumber sizes. I can take it upon myself to install a larger size wood beam or window header adding an additional cost to the job of course. I don't think so.

It's not uncommon for a framing contractor that has an additional 5 foot scrap piece of 4 x 8 left over that he now has no use for. He can then choose to use the 4 x 8 instead of a 4 x 6 for the window header. This type of building is common and acceptable.

If the structural engineer calls out for 4 x 6 window and door headers do not take it upon yourself to replace the 4 x 6 with a 4 x 4. I have seen too many framing contractors or carpenters make an on-the-job judgment like this.

A good example would be a single story house with 2 foot wide windows that require a 4 x 6 window header. As the carpenter builds homes over the years he can come to his own conclusion that a 4x4 will work fine for this application. Again keep this in mind as a framing contractor and a carpenter you are assembling the home not designing it.

Do not change the sizes of any headers or beams.

A long time ago carpenters used a standard rule of thumb, you could go up two sizes larger than the window opening for your header. Let me give you an example of what I'm trying to explain.

A 4 foot wide window opening would require a 4 x 6 window header. A 6 foot window opening would require a 4 x 8 window header. This should give you an idea of what I mean by going up two sizes larger than the window opening to figure out the lumber necessary to use for your window header.

This rule of thumb does not necessarily apply in today's building industry. The reason for this is structural changes from earthquake damage. The structural requirements that are required for building a home require a lot more metal bracing and strapping. Therefore some of the lumber requirements for beam sizes and window headers will be different.

This message is for general contractors, framing contractors and carpenters. When installing a window header and you take it upon yourself to change the size you also assume the responsibility if the building fails. This type of mistake is common and you guys know what I'm talking about.

It's not worth it. Keep in mind you are the assembler and not the designer of the building you are working on.

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 and House Framing Structural Repairs

Articles

Credit Repair - Recovering From a Fraud Attack

Have you ever been in the middle of a Fraud Attack? I have and it's no fun. It's not only a hassle to repair the damage done to your credit files but that personal feeling of being violated. After all your hard work to maintain a good credit score, paying your bills on time and just being a conscientious consumer, it all disappears in a matter of hours.

With technology comes the birth of the professional credit fraud rings. In most cases they won't attack your personal assets but they will open new charge accounts or charge fraudulently against one of your existing accounts. You are covered against loss under most credit card plans but to clean up this mess is time consuming.

By the time you sense something is wrong or you get a call from a creditor the fraud ring is packed up and gone. Swift and efficient if only our government could work in such a way. If there is any comfort in numbers realize your not alone. Millions of cases are overloading the fraud divisions and credit companies are losing billions per year to these thieves.

If you are a fraud victim repairing your credit is a little different than if you were behind or something of that nature. Take the following steps to rectify the fraud:

1. Get a free copy of your credit report
2. Identify the fraudulent accounts
3. Contact those companies and explain the situation
4. You will be sent a fraud affidavit - keep copies of everything
5. Contact the credit reporting agencies (3) - they will put a fraud alert on your credit files
6. You may be required to file a police report

This is very fixable, it may take a few weeks to fill out all the forms and contact the companies involved. Remember keep copies of everything.

This experience will certainly cause you to be more skeptical in the future about credit purchases. Could it have been the department store clerk or a on line purchase whom leaked you credit number. Use this experience to learn how the criminal worked and better yet how the credit system works.

Now if you are over extended and your credit is suffering because of that, this is another story. Credit repair has to take a different course. There are techniques and solutions to solve these situations. If you Click Here you will get more details on how to handle credit repair in this area.

RB

Electrical Wire In Living Room

Bankruptcy Credit Repair Advice

Nearly everyone, at some point in life, has had an occasional late payment on a credit card or a hospital bill that has ended up with a collection agency. Those kinds of credit issues affect you; late payments on credit cards often result in higher interest rates and late fees; collection agencies are not nearly as understanding as hospital financial service staff about payment arrangements. Nothing, however, affects your credit as negatively as bankruptcy, which is why the minute your bankruptcy is discharged, your first thought should turn to bankruptcy credit repair.

Bankruptcy credit repair is not an overnight solution to repairing your credit report. In fact, bankruptcy will remain on your credit report for up to ten years, so it will continue to affect you as you move through life. However, many things you can do to make the bankruptcy credit repair process go more smoothly.

Once of the first things you should do after filing bankruptcy is to obtain a "secured" credit card. They work like a regular credit card, in that it reports to your credit report, however, it is secured by a deposit. You are basically charging against your own prepaid money in order to rebuild your rating.

Department stores like Sears and Wal-Mart have less stringent credit requirements, so a good second step in the bankruptcy repair process is to apply for a credit card from a department store or retail outlet. The idea is not to max out another credit card and get yourself in more credit debt trouble, but to use the card regularly, wait for the charge to be billed to you, then pay the debt. It is critical that you pay more than the minimum amount and make the payment before the due date. Paying more than the minimum and building a track record of on-time payments will provide the best bankruptcy credit repair possible.

Do not be fooled by companies who offer to repair your credit. Bankruptcy credit repair takes time; if an offer sounds too good to be true it most likely is too good to be true. Don't be fooled into committing to a long-term payment plan for something you can do for yourself. If you do need credit repair help, seek the counsel of a reputable company such as Lexington Law Firm. They help people to repair their credit after bankruptcy all the time. They even raised my credit scores 180 points in two months!

Crawl Space Repairs

Self-Help to Repair Your Credit Report - Tips That Can Help Clean & Raise Your Credit Score

If you want self-help to repair your credit report then this article can help. Repairing your credit report is a two step process. The first step is to work on reducing your outstanding credit card debt. The second step is one that led you to this article and that is to work towards repairing your credit score.

We as a society are carrying more and more credit card debt. This puts a both a financial and a mental strain on us, so taking care of your financial health should be a top priority. The fact that you are reading this article shows that you are serious about your credit debt and your credit score. Now here are a few tips that can help.

The first thing you need to do is determine which credit card has the lowest balance on it and start paying that card off by applying a bit extra on each payment. Once, this card is paid off, pick the credit card with the next lowest balance and apply the amount you were paying on the first card to this card. Repeat this step for the other cards and you will be amazed at how the snowball effect can quickly reduce your debt.

I recommend cutting up your cards but not canceling them. The big credit reporting firms use the amount of available credit you have as part of a formula that determines your credit score. Cut them up and don't use them, but don't worry about canceling unless there is an annual fee.

Make sure you order your free credit score report and check it carefully. You may be surprised by the inaccuracies on there. You are going to have to write the credit reporting firms to get this problem off of your record.

Click here now to discover the best way to clear your credit history quickly.

The Credit Secrets Bible Course

Toilet Seat Damage

Safe Stair Construction - Stair Building Tips

As a general rule of thumb in stair building the sum of the tread and riser should equal around 17 1/2 inches. This is a general rule of thumb for a comfortable, easy to walk up and down set of stairs.

For example if your stair tread is 10 inches and the stair riser is 7 1/2 inches you have a comfortable stairway. Walking up and down a stairway using this formula creates a comfortable set of stairs. The next time you walk down any uncomfortable set of stairs measure the stair tread and riser. You will be amazed at what you'll find.

For public stairs or heavily used stairs this method will become one of your best friends. On public stairs you have liability issues and of course lawyer issues if you are the owner of the building. If you are not building a safe set of stairs that meets your local building codes standards you could be in for a whopping financial nightmare.

Building safe stairs as a contractor is your obligation to society. I don't know how many times I come across a loose stair tread or a broken hand rail. One of the biggest problems I find is in the poorer neighborhoods you come across some major construction problems and safety hazards. I never have been able to figure out why a building owner would not want to protect himself financially and the people that occupy and use his buildings safety.

Here's something you need to avoid when using the stair building general rule of thumb. This rule of thumb does not apply to good to an 8 inch tread with a 9 1/2 inch stair rise. You don't want to be building a latter you want to be building a safe set up stairs.

The maximum stair rise you can use for most building codes is 8 inches. You will not find the stairway to comfortable with a 9 1/2 inch stair tread and an 8 inch riser. If you have no choice and are cramped for space and you can't redesign this stairway to fit in the house or building then at least make sure you have a nice sturdy grip able stair hand rail.

This formula works great when you are working with exterior landscaping and you have a long run of stairs with a small rise. For example: if you have a 14 inch stair tread and you use a 4 inch riser this will lead to a comfortable step.

Look for stairs in your neighborhood or around some apartment complexes that don't follow these rules and have 16 inch stair treads with 7 inch risers. You will find yourself taking two steps on the stair tread on every other step and it is not a real comfortable stairway.

Happy stair building and keep this formula in mind for a nice comfortable set of stairs in your building future.

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 stairs books and adding useful content to help solve problems created by the lack of construction knowledge in the building industry.

Please Help Us with Your Remodeling Advice

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.

Techniques For Framing Partition
Framing A Hip Roof

Options For Decorating Your Windows

Everyone has a dream of owning a beautiful house. A house is a warm place that holds moments of happiness of your family. Windows connect us virtually to the outside. Doors, windows, and ceilings are some of the elements that define your dream home. You can either choose to have wooden door or window door. There are few shutters and boxes which are available to decorate your house. Window boxes are one type of decorative product which can be used in windows. There are a wide variety of designs to choose from.

There are many websites which assist people in selecting the right type of window boxes for your house. If you are interested in gardening then the product which you should have in your house is window boxes. There are many outdoor planters which can be hanged outside your house. These outdoor planters can add beauty to your house and these outdoor flower pots come in different size and material. If you are a person who is interested in plants then this is one product which you should have in your house. Plants are generally considered as a decorative product and there are many people who like to have plants which produce beautiful flowers. The pots in which you place these plants are very important and hence make sure you have the right type of product. As everyone knows windows are placed to allow air to come in to your house. As protection you can have window shutters placed for windows.

These can be of different type, you can either place an exterior window shutters or an interior window shutter. These exterior window shutters can be placed for both security purpose and also to add beauty to house. There are many types of window shutters available. You can choose to have wood, glass or aluminum as your exterior window shutter. Earlier people used to have wooden exterior window shutter, now-a-days people prefer to have glass exterior window shutter with many design on it. There are many websites which help people in selecting the right type of window shutter. Make use of these websites and choose the right product.

Caitlina Fuller is a freelance writer. Window boxes are one type of decorative product which can be used in windows. There are a wide variety of designs to choose from. There are many outdoor planters which can be hanged outside your house.

Water Stains On Shingles