Take Pictures of Your Growing Foundation Damage Or Cracks

I champion people and try to get them to look at their house, at least once a year. One of the easiest ways to inspect your home is to use a home inspection checklist and if you really want a good home inspection checklist, there's a good chance that you are going to need to purchase one. You get what you pay for and don't ever forget that.

Foundation repairs usually start with a small crack and that's no joke. If you notice a crack, take a picture of it and save it somewhere. If you think, that the crack is actually getting a little bigger or starting to separate, you can simply take another picture and compare the two photos.

I would like to give you an example of what I'm talking about. Sometimes we look at something and we think that it's getting larger, but we don't have anything to compare it to. As time goes on, we think that the crack is still getting larger, but our mind is creating an optical illusion. This happens to a lot of people.

If you had a picture, from a few years ago, you could refresh your memory and this could be very helpful in reducing your anxiety or jumping to conclusions about foundation damage. Trust me, sometimes, I'm like a medical emergency crew, going to visit a homeowner to relieve their foundations stress. People panic over foundation cracks and I'm the doctor they call for any one of their home emergencies.

I would also advise you to take pictures of the rest of your home. How hard would it be to take about 300 pictures of your home each year and store them on your computer or on a disk, for easy access later? A picture is worth a thousand words and don't ever forget that.

Click Here for Some More Great Foundation Repair Solutions.

Greg Vandenberge 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 you're really interested in basement remodeling and repairs, you should click on this link Home Repair Problems. Get some great home repair advice that can make a big difference on any of your home remodeling projects.

Do I Need a Home Inspection? - Real Estate Advice

Most home inspections today run between $300 to over $1000 and sometimes you don't really get your moneys worth. There are home inspection companies that guarantee, any problems that they miss will be repaired at their expense over a desired period of time, usually a year. It seems like, most home inspection companies are just inspecting the property and have no guarantees or liability from their inspection.

It's not a good idea to buy or sell a home without getting a home inspection from a licensed home inspector. This is like having a second opinion from someone who is usually skilled in the process. I would like to point something out to unsuspecting, potential home buyers and sellers. Sometimes a home inspection company will get a little behind in their work and need to hire other home inspectors if these home inspectors don't have any experience in the construction business or have never inspected a home before. In other words there fresh out of home inspector school. You might not get a good home inspection.

You can always ask the question, how long have you been in business?... How long have you been a home inspector?... have you ever worked in the construction business or have any skills in home building and remodeling. If the answers to these questions are satisfactory, it doesn't mean, that they're telling the truth and being sincere and could lead to problems later if they are lying to you.

Let me rephrase the question now, "Do I Need a Home Inspection" from an unqualified home inspector? Absolutely not. But how can you really tell the difference and is the report going to be worth the money that you paid for it.

What would you say, if I had the solution to your problem. How about a pre-home inspection, using a home buyers checklist? What if I could give you a check list with questions, that you could ask your home inspector? Some of these questions are not going to be part a regular inspection but should always be asked and make sure you get the answers to them, before purchasing the property.

Would you be interested now? What if I told you, for under $20, you could purchase a home buyers checklist, now for the tough question, this checklist could save you thousands of dollars and prevent you from purchasing a home with major construction problems or defects, and can be used on every house you look at.

Don't buy a home without purchasing a professional home inspection checklist. These lists of questions can save you some serious headaches and stress in the future.

Greg Vandenberge 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.

Plywood Roof Sheeting - Roof Framing Trade Secrets

Most framing contractor's look at the building plans and order all of the material, according to those that are specified on the plans. This works out fine, and can often save you money, but rarely produces the best home that you could possibly frame.

As a professional framing contractor, I would like to share one of my house framing tips with you. Most plans require half-inch plywood or oriented strand board as their roof sheeting. This product is fine and if you're building a lot of homes, you're not going to have the choice. Ordering larger sized plywood could cost you thousands of dollars, especially if you're building a lot of homes.

However, if your framing or building a home for someone or even yourself, you might want to take my advice and think twice about it, before ordering the roof sheeting. Half-inch plywood, works okay for 16 inch on center roof rafters or engineered truss roofing systems. It doesn't work well on 24 inch on center roof rafters spacing.

It is usually flimsy and weak at the center point, directly in between the 24 inch roof rafter bays. If you're going to use the half-inch plywood, I would recommend using plywood clips that are relatively inexpensive and can be placed in the direct center of each roof rafter bay on each sheet of plywood. These can be purchased at most home improvement centers or lumber yards.

The other alternative, and this is what I recommend, would be to use 5/8 inch plywood. This plywood works great for 24 inch on center roof rafters and you will have a nice sturdy roof to walk on, while roofing your home.

I have actually seen people step through the flimsy plywood, while lifting heavy roof tiles and bundles of composition roof shingles. Experienced roofers try to walk directly on top of the roof rafters, when loading their roof shingles or even carrying them on the roof.

If you're a home builder and your concern is about making a profit, you will need to use the half-inch plywood. If you want to build a superior roof, use the 5/8 of an inch plywood.

If You Live in Northern San Diego County or South Orange County, and You're Looking for a Great Contractor, Click on This Link House Framing Contractors.

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Greg Vandenberge 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 excellent home inspection checklist to take some of the frustration out of home shopping.

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Subfloor Damage From Poor Bathtub Installation - Read Bath Tub Fixture Manuals

You should never under estimate the amount of damage that water can do to your wood subfloor. Especially if this wood is underneath your bathtub. If the bathtub is not installed properly, you could find yourself replacing the wood underneath, within a short period of time. This repair is not uncommon and as more homeowners and handyman seemed to be doing projects like these, without the proper experience, it's becoming even more common.

I wish I had a solution to the problem, however, I don't. The best advice I could give anyone who is going to be involved in any home remodeling project, would be to get some books on what ever task you are about to undertake and read all of the information that you possibly can about the products you are going to be installing. This is extremely helpful for anyone who has never installed a bathtub or any bathtub fixtures.

If the product fails and was installed properly, the manufacturer should be responsible for the water damage. I have been reading the manufacturer's installation manuals for quite some time now and every once in a while, I find something that is of great value to me and I get to pass it on to my readers. That's what I'm doing right now.

Whether you want to remodel your bathroom to save money or you want to accomplish a task that you haven't done yet. I would recommend, taking the time to understand, exactly how the water flows off of and on to another section of the bath tub or shower on its way to the drain. Understanding the basics of bathroom remodeling can save you big money in the future.

Save yourself some money and make sure that you install your bathtubs properly. Taking a little time before you start to read the bath tub fixture manuals, can save you some money and grief in the future.

Find More Facts On Home Water Damage.

Greg Vandenberge 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.

Check out These Amazing Home Damage Videos.

Five Things That a Termite Inspection Company Might Not Ever Say

I don't think that I've ever heard of a termite inspector, ever go to a home and not find any termites. Even if the home doesn't have any damage that is visible from the termites, it seems like it's always a good idea, to tent the home, just in case, for protection. Anyway, here's five things that you might not ever hear a termite inspector ever say.

1. Your house is free of termites. This means that there isn't, one termite on your property and the termite inspector isn't going to make any money. Let's face it, termite damage, whether it's visible or invisible, keeps these guys working.

2. Your house isn't going to fall down, if I don't do anything to stop the termites. I have seen homes, where termites have been working on them for quite some time and they still seem to stand up and function properly.

3. Termites don't eat much and I wouldn't worry about the damage. Most termite inspectors will tell you how much a termite in Hawaii or Africa will eat in a day, but doesn't seem to have an honest idea, how much damage they are doing to your home, if they can't actually see it.

4. Every one that works for our company, has at least 30 years experience, repairing any termite damage. Don't even get me started with this one.

5. We will replace all of the termite damage wood, back to its original condition. What they might say, is that they will replace the wood that is damaged by termites, that you can actually see.

There are plenty of great termite companies out there and this article was meant just to have fun with most of them. Termite damage can be a serious problem with some homes and I would suggest that you contact at least three termite inspectors, before proceeding ahead with any home repairs or use of chemicals.

Try not to forget, the only way that a termite inspection company will make any money, looking at your house, will be to find something wrong with it.

If you're really interested in basement remodeling and repairs, you should click on this link Easy Home Repair Tips . Get some great home repair advice that can make a big difference on any of your home remodeling projects.

If You Live in Northern San Diego County or South Orange County, and You're Looking for a Great Contractor, Click on This Link San Diego Remodeling Contractors

Greg Vandenberge 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.

Thanks For Reading My Articles

What If My Contractor Does Not Return My Call

This is one of the biggest problems in business today. You have some work done on your home in good faith that the contractor knows what he is doing. When all is said and done you have a problem that needs to be resolved as soon as possible. I really don't care how long it has been since the work was done. If you have a problem the least that your contractor can do is answer the telephone.

Some companies go out of business and others get to busy to respond to your problem. You will hear the old excuse "That's not my problem" or the ever popular " I didn't do that". I have been in business for over twenty years and had very few problems. Of course I built things to last as long as possible.

Keep in mind that some contractors are a one man operation and they might be on vacation. Some contractors do not answer their phones over the week ends or after business hours. So don't sink the ship to fast.

Do not call the Contractors Licensing Board or the Better Business Bureau unless it has been at least a few working days. I would give it at least a week or so. Oh yeah don't assume that the contractor got your message. Call a few times at the least.

It has always made me mad when I have to fix someone else's problems. I get the call when the other contractors won't respond. I listen to the home owner with regret for being in a business where I am considered a crook. This is one of the reasons why contractors in my business get out of it.

If you have the contractors address and they aren't responding by phone you can always send them a letter by certified mail. Request a return receipt. That's your proof that the company received your letter. Keep a copy for your files.

The good news for a home owner when a contractor will not respond to your calling them is the Department of Consumer Affairs. Most states have a complaint department of some sort that will listen to your complaints. Does this mean it will get resolved? NO there are no guarantees here.

If your state has a licensing board for contractors, this will be your next step.

This will get your contractors attention and there is a great chance they will respond now. If there are enough complaints against the contractor and they do nothing about them the contractors board will take their license away.

If your contractor does not respond after all of this. There is very little you can do about it. Hire someone to fix the problem and look at it as a very important lesson learned.

If your state doesn't have a contractors licensing board contact the Better Business Bureau or your local government for their recommendation. Ask some of your friends if they have had any problems like this and how they handled them.

For some more tips about hiring contractors go to
http://gregvan.com/library/homeowner_checklists.htm

Greg Vandenberge 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.

What If My Contractor Does Not Return My Call

This is one of the biggest problems in business today. You have some work done on your home in good faith that the contractor knows what he is doing. When all is said and done you have a problem that needs to be resolved as soon as possible. I really don't care how long it has been since the work was done. If you have a problem the least that your contractor can do is answer the telephone.

Some companies go out of business and others get to busy to respond to your problem. You will hear the old excuse "That's not my problem" or the ever popular " I didn't do that". I have been in business for over twenty years and had very few problems. Of course I built things to last as long as possible.

Keep in mind that some contractors are a one man operation and they might be on vacation. Some contractors do not answer their phones over the week ends or after business hours. So don't sink the ship to fast.

Do not call the Contractors Licensing Board or the Better Business Bureau unless it has been at least a few working days. I would give it at least a week or so. Oh yeah don't assume that the contractor got your message. Call a few times at the least.

It has always made me mad when I have to fix someone else's problems. I get the call when the other contractors won't respond. I listen to the home owner with regret for being in a business where I am considered a crook. This is one of the reasons why contractors in my business get out of it.

If you have the contractors address and they aren't responding by phone you can always send them a letter by certified mail. Request a return receipt. That's your proof that the company received your letter. Keep a copy for your files.

The good news for a home owner when a contractor will not respond to your calling them is the Department of Consumer Affairs. Most states have a complaint department of some sort that will listen to your complaints. Does this mean it will get resolved? NO there are no guarantees here.

If your state has a licensing board for contractors, this will be your next step.

This will get your contractors attention and there is a great chance they will respond now. If there are enough complaints against the contractor and they do nothing about them the contractors board will take their license away.

If your contractor does not respond after all of this. There is very little you can do about it. Hire someone to fix the problem and look at it as a very important lesson learned.

If your state doesn't have a contractors licensing board contact the Better Business Bureau or your local government for their recommendation. Ask some of your friends if they have had any problems like this and how they handled them.

For some more tips about hiring contractors go to
http://gregvan.com/library/homeowner_checklists.htm

Greg Vandenberge 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.

How to Remove Pet Stains

You can find all kinds of products that will help you to remove nearly all types of stains. The perfect solution in completely removing stains is by cleaning the spills and dirt the second they appear.

There are a number of ways to clean up stains by using products in your home which you use frequently, such as detergents, rubbing alcohol, vinegar, lemon juice, etc. You just need to know how to use these regular household products.

Your first option is to use 1 teaspoon of clear, household type ammonia and a half cup of cold water. You can apply this solution to the carpet directly or use it in a spray bottle. It is crucial not to wet the carpets backing when you use the solution. Once you have applied the solution, you can use paper towels to blot; allow it to dry from top to bottom.

Your second option is to use detergent solution made of dish soap or hand soap. The ideal combination is one quart of water and one quarter of a teaspoon detergent. You need to make sure the soap does not contain lanolin or bleach.

Your third option is to use water. It will re-hydrate the stain to help with removal. The majority of pet stains can be cleaned up by using a steam cleaner. Once you are done, be sure to dry the area as completely as possible.

Ink stains

1. Buy isopropyl rubbing alcohol.

2. Apply it by pouring some onto a clean white towel or cloth. You can use paper towels if they are white.

3. Blot the stain as much as possible until it is cleaned.

4. Be careful, because if the stain is small, you should blot in one direction only so you do not spread the stain.

Beer and wine stains

1. Mix a solution with 1 part water and 1 part white vinegar.

2. Apply the mixture to the stain. You can use a spray bottle to saturate.

3. Allow the stain to sit around 10 to 15 minutes.

4. Use a sponge and clean in a rubbing motion.

5. Rinse the area with warm water.

6. Brush the carpet pile back into the natural direction it has.

7. Use layers of white paper towels; place them on top of the area; put something heavy on the paper towels. Wait until the area has dried.

Protect your carpet against paint drips, snow, mud, dirt, stains, and heavy traffic conditions. Read about plastic carpet protections as well as temporary carpet protections.

Electrical Outlet Problems

Facts About Radon

Radon is a product of complex chemical processes that takes place in 14 stages. Facts about radon indicate that its presence in the atmosphere is harmless since the concentration level is quite low. However, if you're exposed in closed places radon can be harmful. Basically it results as a decay product of uranium into the soil.

If your basement have cracks or openings, you better think of repairing them fast. Facts about radon are quite shocking when it comes to how it can enter and accumulate in your house. The process is quite interesting. Actually what happens is that radon is present in the soil. Due to the difference in pressure between the soil and your house low areas such as basement, radon easily gets attracted by the basement's low pressure since it's under high pressure in the soil.

Interestingly, water from underground springs is also exposed to radon and thus can get in our houses through the water we use. However, it's in small amounts and actually harmless. So am I saying that radon is harmful? Well, facts about radon shows that it's particles remain attached to the lungs tissues and may trigger cancer. Basically what happens is that, it affects the DNA structure of lung cells causing cellular division impossible and thus the tissues die one by one.

Generally, it's advisable to make sure a radon test is done in any house that you might be thinking of buying. In addition, please make sure that the person who performs the test is qualified as per EPA Radon measurement proficiency program.

Peter Gitundu Researches and Reports on Radon. For More Information on Facts about Facts About Radon, Visit His Site at FACTS ABOUT RADON. You Can Also Add Your Views About Facts about radon At My Blog here FACTS ABOUT RADON

Simple Light Switch Replacement

Household Mold

Household mold is considered an environmental annoyance that can cause irritation while breathing. It can make the health of asthma patients worse and can cause allergic problems to sensitive persons. The mold may affect children with several problems such as irritation, allergies, and infections.

Household mold comes in a wide variety of species and forms. It differs in colors, including charcoal, grey, and black. There is variation in toxicity for different species. Among the species, six are common in which three can produce toxins. These six common molds are Stachybotris, Aspergillus, Penicillium, Alternaria, Mucor, and Cladosporium. Stachybotris is a toxic mold that can produce more than 200 poisonous substances. These toxins are autoimmune and can affect the nervous system. Aspergillus is an opportunistic fungus that can cause pathological problems to human beings.

Household mold is found everywhere in day to day households. It can grow anywhere, on tiles, grout, food, fabric, plaster, and wood. The mold grows well at room temperature with humidity. Other necessary items for mold growth are adequate moisture and nutrients. These items are obtained from the surface where the mold grows. The mold can destroy the material on which it grows.

There are certain ways to identify and control the presence of household mold. First, check whether there is any sign of moisture or mold at home. A musty smell in a room is an indication of mold growth. If there is any sign of mold, then find the particular surface of the mold growth and clean the surface. Additionally, remove the sources of moisture and keep the moisture content in the rooms at a desired level. Water should not be allowed to stand in drip pans of refrigerators and air conditioners.

Secondly, check whether there is any leakage problem, water stains or water discoloration from taps, especially in the bathrooms and kitchens. If these problems are found, rectify them immediately to prevent the mold growth. Even if the mold is removed, but the water problem is not solved, then the mold will appear again on the same surface.

Mold provides detailed information on Mold, Toxic Mold, Black Mold, Mold Inspection and Testing and more. Mold is affiliated with Toxic Mold Symptoms.

Problems With Black Mold

Motorized Shades - Primary Benefits

1. Convenience. Raising and lowering a manual shade is easy enough if it is not too big. But if the shade is very large or there are 2, 3, 4 or more shades then it becomes more difficult and more time consuming. The convenience factors of motorized shades are important for several other reasons listed below.

a. Maximizing Views. Having motorized shades mean the difference between seeing a beautiful sunrise/sunset or missing it. Stunning vistas are rarely missed when opening or closing shades is as simple as pressing a button.

b. Security. Motorized shades can easily be set on a timer so that when guests are away from home for an extended period of time, shades are raised and lowered at various preset times. This gives the impression that someone is living in the house which deters would be thieves.

c. Conserving Energy. The heat gain from sunlight through windows during summer months is a major burden on air conditioning. The convenience of motorized shades makes saving energy much simpler. Preset timers obviate the need to remember to raise or lower shades for energy saving purposes.

d. Protecting Furniture, artwork and flooring. The sun's rays can do damage to interior furnishings, causing fading, cracking or warping. The convenience of motorized shades makes protecting furniture, artwork and flooring much simpler. Preset timers are also useful in this regard.

e. Many Windows and/or Large Windows. As the number and size of windows increases, the case for motorization becomes increasingly compelling. Some walls of windows are 20, 30 or even 60 feet in length which makes motorization a practical necessity.

f. Hard to reach windows. These skylight windows, second story openings or windows blocked by furniture or other obstructions are why motorized shades were first conceived. Obviously, these factors are still relevant today.

2. Child Safety. A shocking number of injuries and deaths result each year due to cords from manual window shades. The window shade industry's "Child Safety Month" is intended to address these hazards with safety clips and consumer awareness. The best solution is no cords at all, which is possible with motorized shades.

3. Unsightly Cords. Aesthetically, cords detract from the clean look of a window opening. Multiple shades mean multiple cords, pooling on the floor when fully open. Motorized window shades means no more unsightly control cords and open, clear views through windows.

4. Less Wear and Tear. Tangling and unfamiliar 'user abuse' to shades are the most common causes of service calls. The control mechanisms on manual shades, if used frequently (see convenience factor above), will break and can be costly to repair or replace.

5. They are cool! Functionally, motorized shades make a lot of sense and aesthetically, they are definitely preferable to manual shades. Let's not forget that they also have an impressive WOW Factor!

The author, Gavin Sword, is an owner of Automated Shading - New York Motorized Shades The company offers Motorized Shades in New York, Florida, (Miami, Naples, Tampa, Orlando), New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Painting Metal Siding

Building Your Own House

Most of us only dream of building your own home and living in it for the rest of our lives, well maybe not for the rest of our lives. My grandfather built his home when my father was nine years old and lived in it until he died. As a Carpenter and general contractor, I have always wanted to build my own home but never got the chance.

For anyone interested in building the home of your dreams, I found a few books on home building that seemed to be pretty helpful. I have been remodeling, building room additions, worked on track house framing for years and have done more home repairs than you could possibly imagine. I have found some of these books to be very resourceful and helpful, when it comes to solving some of the problems I run into.

When it comes to building the foundation, it's not just about pouring a concrete slab or footings. You need to run electrical conduit, plumbing supply and waste pipes, make sure the building foundation is square and level, and if you forget one thing, just one thing, you could find yourself in a world of hurt. I have worked on homes where the builder forgot to install electrical conduit and plumbing for a kitchen island. The contractor needed to saw cut the foundation and repair at it, during the home construction. This cost the building contractor around $4600.

Sometimes a checklist makes sense but where you get a checklist for building homes. Well maybe one day, I will try to make one. These home building books have been valuable resources to me for many years and have saved me grief and agony over simple things that often get overlooked.

It's a little overwhelming to even think about building your own home, if you don't have some construction skills. Construction knowledge can be gained through on-the-job training and by reading construction manuals. The best of both worlds would be to have both of these skills.

Construction knowledge can be gained or improved, over time with experience, combined with a couple of great books.

Home Building Books

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 House Remodeling Pictures or home building ideas.

Problems With Black Mold

Basement Waterproofing For Mold and Mildew

Many homeowners don't think about basement waterproofing projects until they are faced with a significant flooding emergency involving large amounts of unwanted water entering their home after a large rainfall or other natural occurrence. While solving these immediate water damage emergencies are important, large cracks in your basement walls and potential flooding problems are not the only dangers that face homeowners due to moisture in the basement. In fact, most water damage caused in basements isn't due to large floods, but instead due to small amounts of moisture seeping through the block walls over long periods of time.

The soil surrounding your basement always has a certain amount of water in it, which can increase or decrease depending on the time of year, rainfall and other factors. If you live in a dry western state, you may not have much problems with soil saturated by groundwater, but residents of coastal communities, the northeast, or the Pacific northwest may have serious problems with it. Saturated soil causes hydrostatic pressure on your basement walls and floors, which over time can push water through the blocks and cause some substantial damage.

Block walls can actually act like a sponge, soaking up water over time and allowing it to bleed through into the interior of your basement. In many cases, you can see evidence of this creeping water damage from white streaks on your walls. This, in addition to moisture in the air inside of your basement, can lead to the growth of dangerous black mold and mildew. And while mold and mildew can be killed using bleach or other products, only through a proper basement waterproofing job can you ensure that it won't return in the future.

Basement waterproofing to stop mold and mildew can be done both on both the interior and the exterior of your home. While specialized sealants and polymer coatings on the inside of your walls may stop the water damage problems for a little while, the only real permanent fix is to make sure that the footer drains on the outside of your home are properly installed and serviced to move excess water away from the home. By installing modern footer drains, you can stop water from ever reaching your basement floor and walls in the first place, effectively ending the need for interior basement waterproofing.

Mold and mildew can pose serious health risks to you and your family, not to mention the fact that they are unsightly and ugly to look at. By using all the best modern techniques available to waterproof your basement, you can get rid of dangerous mold growth once and for all. While you may need to make a small initial investment of time and money to properly waterproof your basement, it will add a lot of value to your home and may help prevent big repair costs in the future, as well.

Lorain County Sewer and Drain makes Beachwood basement waterproofing easy and affordable. Visit our site today to learn more about basement waterproofing

Wood Flooring Problems In Bath

Remodeling Books Save Time and Money

The other day, I was surfing the Internet and came upon an online home building bookstore that put together a website with the best-selling home building books on the market today. These books range from basic carpentry to advanced structural engineering and everything else you could possibly think of that could be related to the home building, selling, remodeling and construction process.

I couldn't believe the simple and easy to use. Here's a list of some of their books selections.

Photo Guide to Home Repair - The most up-to-date, complete, and useful guide to home repair a homeowner can have. With more than 350 projects and 2300 photos, virtually every home repair challenge.

Exterior Siding, Trim & Finishes - This first ever compilation by Fine Homebuilding on the popular subject provides builders with ideas for choosing the correct finishes for home exteriors, plus solid how-to information.

Flipping Houses - This book is designed for realty investors who want to profit from buying below market, making cosmetic improvements to add value, and then quickly reselling.

Bathroom Remodeling - Remodeling a bathroom is a challenge - it's action-oriented and requires extra energy and stamina. But you, undoubtedly, realize it's a challenge you want to take on.

One $20 house building books or home repairs book, 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. Our 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 Remodeling Pictures or home building ideas

Pocket Door Problems

Bathroom Renovation Checklist

Planning a new bathroom can be a lot of fun, but not taking care of all the details properly can lead to disappointing results. Use this checklist to keep track of the decisions that need to be made as well as details that should be discussed with your designer, installer or carpenter.

BEFORE YOU START Asses how much storage you will need for the following items. Keep in mind how many people will be using this bathroom, and be sure to take their items into consideration. Knowing just how much "stuff" you actually use on a regular basis will help tremendously when planning your cabinetry space, number of drawers or size of medicine cabinets.( ) Makeup (if you keep it in the bathroom)( ) Facial cream / wash / toner( ) Lotion / body cream / sunblock( ) Sponges / scrub brushes( ) Shaving supplies (Razors, creams, etc.)( ) Hair products (Gel, Mousse, etc.)( ) Hairdryer / curling iron, etc.( ) Toilet paper / tissues( ) Bath supplies (salts, bubble bath, etc.)( ) Shower supplies (shampoo, conditioner, wash, etc.)( ) Medications (if you keep them in the bathroom)( ) Traveling Items (Little bottles, mending kits, small containers, etc.)( ) Toothbrushes / toothpaste( ) Overstocks (Extra creams, tissues, toilet paper, etc.)( ) Cleaning supplies (if you keep them in the bathroom)
STYLES AND FINISHESCheck these off as your decisions are being made. You'll feel like work is progressing as you take items off your To-Do list. You'll also have a good idea of all the decisions that still need to be made. Keep a separate list of all the model numbers, colors and details you've chosen, this way, when a delivery is made, you can easily double check that it is in fact what you've ordered.
CABINETRY( ) Style( ) Material( ) Color( ) Finish( ) Hardware( ) Special StorageESSENTIALS( ) Sink(s)( ) Bath / shower( ) Toilet( ) BidetACCESSORIES( ) Sink faucets( ) Bath / shower faucet( ) Shower head( ) Towel bars( ) Toilet paper holder( ) Magazine rackFLOORS ( ) Material( ) Color( ) Finish( ) ExtrasCOUNTERS ( ) Material( ) Color( ) Finish( ) Edge( ) Corners( ) BacksplashLIGHTING ( ) Task lights( ) Ambient lights( ) Bath / shower lightELECTRICAL ( ) Outlets( ) Light switchesOTHER DETAILS ( ) Mirrors( ) Windows( ) Window treatment( ) Moldings( ) Baseboards( ) Door( ) Doorknob( ) Medicine cabinet( ) Shower curtain / doorWALL TREATMENT - GENERAL( ) Material( ) Color( ) FinishWALL TREATMENT - IN BATH / SHOWER( ) Material( ) Color( ) FinishWALL TREATMENT - ABOVE SINK(S)( ) Material( ) Color( ) FinishOf course there are probably other things you will need to add to this list, but at least you've got something to start with. It's also a great tool for planning your budget. Happy renovating!

By Marijana Kuljis - Professional Organizer

organized! http://www.youareorganized.com

3 Home Solar Power Solutions

Many people are under the impression that installing home solar power solutions are difficult and best left to the professionals. You will be happy to know, despite misconception, these solutions are quite cheap and easy to install. In addition, you will drastically cut your power bill and be doing your part to save power and ensure a better future for the next generations.

In this article you will find a few options for home solar power solutions.

Solar Heating Systems: The installation of a solar heating system for your home will significantly reduce your power bill, along with saving the world's quickly-exhausting power resources. If you're worried about the price, rest assured that your wise investment will return you absolutely free service within 3-4 years.

Solar Lighting Systems: A solar lighting system stores converted solar energy in cells. The electrical energy taken from the solar cells is what powers the home lighting system. When you install a solar lighting system in your home, you can stop worrying about your electricity bills.

Cooking with Solar Energy: A solar cooker uses no fuel what so ever. The only drawback is the amount of time it takes to cook. You can cook food for up to 5 people in the small box, you will also be surprised to know that you can boil food items, roast and bake! This free energy source is a great way to reduce those high bills and save some power at the same time.

Make power at home with solar and wind energy to eliminate your power bill.

Get our complete guide at Modern-Trends.info/Energy.

Where to Buy Replacement Windows

I have been asked several times about where to buy replacement windows. This question has come from people located in different parts of the country. Well I normally provide a simply way to find the best within a few miles from where they live. Read this article right to the end and you will learn some of the tips I usually provide.

You can purchase them from a variety of manufacturers. These include Amerimax, Simonton, Milgard, Pella, Andersons to name a few. These have different window options that they sell through distributors and retailers located in various parts of the country.

Let me quickly walk you through some of these companies and their resellers.

Amerimax

This is a manufacturer of various building products, which includes our product of interest. You can also buy their products from their sister company called Berger and if you are in Canada you can buy their products from Euaramax, which is also a sister company. They basically are found in most hardware stores and home centers around the country.

Simonton

You can buy these from almost anywhere in the US. For example if your zip code is 10001 then you can purchase them Park Avenue Building Supply, 2074 Atlantic Avenue Brooklyn , NY 11233 or Richmond Aluminum Supply Inc. 26 Watchogue Road Staten Island , NY 10314

Milgard

This company has manufacturing facilities all over the country. These include service locations in Temecula and Dixon, California; Denver, Colorado; Salt Lake City, Utah; Phoenix, Arizona; Chicago, Illinois, Marysville, Washington; Portland, Oregon; Las Vegas, Nevada; Sacramento, Hollister, Simi Valley, and Fredericksburg, Virginia. If you can't find them anywhere you can call them and they can gladly direct you to a store near you.

Pella

Pella replacement windows are available at the The Pella Window & Door StoreSM, Lowe's Home Improvement Centers, or Lumberyards & Dealers - in your area.

The best solution on where to buy replacement windows:

Simply visit: http://www.findreplacementwindowcompanies.com and follow the easy step-by-step guide to help you find the best within your area

You can also click here - replacement windows for instant access to a list of pre-screened contractors that can recommend the most suitable window for your style of home, weather conditions in your area and based on other important factors that you may not be familiar with

3 Easy Energy Saving Tips For Home Landscaping

Every home landscaping garden requires energy in various forms to stay healthy and refreshing. The primary sources of energy that is required in any garden can be categorized as follows:

1) Electricity
2) Sunlight
3) Water
4) Wind energy (optional)

You can easily save the consumption of these by little creativity.

Energy saving tip #1 -

Instead of using standard electric bulbs in you garden, why not use "solar landscaping lights". As the name suggests these lights convert solar energy into electrical energy and store it into a battery for future use.

Solar landscaping lights are available in two types. In the first type the solar cell unit, which converts sunlight into electricity, is attached to the bulb or light source itself. However this can create some problems if the area where the light source is fixed is under a tree or in an area where there is shadow of the building etc.

That is why second type of solar landscaping lights have been developed where the solar cell can be fixed on the terrace of the building in clear sunshine so that shadows do jot obstruct the solar cells.

Energy saving tip #2 -

Areas where there is harsh sunlight and temperatures very high, a simple arrangement can help to retain water tables for a longer time. All you have to do is observe the direction and path of the Sun in the sky during daytime and plant a row of tall trees to obstruct the direct sunlight.

By planting the tall trees the sunlight gets screened by reducing its intensity. This will allow a cooler atmosphere formation in the garden resulting is les evaporation of water.

Energy saving tip #3 -

The third energy saving tip is called as "rain water harvesting". In this the rainwater is collected in a reservoir and recycled in the garden again and again. If the garden plot has a natural slope then you can make use of the natural gravity to simply circulate the water in the entire garden by creating channels through which the water can flow and percolate into the areas where green vegetation is present.

These were just a few ideas to save energy in a home landscaping garden. You can easily come up with lot more ideas using creativity.

Copyright Shrinivas Vaidya

Want more free tips of home landscaping? Visit my website http://www.HomeLandscapingTips.net to get the best free landscaping tips and ideas for growing a beautiful garden of your dreams.

Getting Your Electrical Needs Resolved - Home Contractor Advice

If you ever have any questions about how you are going to get things done it is very important that you start with a good electrical contractor but even the most advanced contractor simply cannot resolve all of your issues if you are not certain what needs to be done. You absolutely have to take some time and really look at all of your options. This means that most people are going to have to carefully analyze their needs and decide specifically what they would like completed.

If you are only wanting a few lights installed then obviously the scope of the project is quite simple. However, if you are looking to have a massive amount of electrical work done then obviously a much larger amount of time and effort into planning will be needed. The larger the job, the more thoroughly you need to determine expectations. While many electricians can help guide you in understanding what needs to be done, you need to know what your final result should be in order to actually get the results that you are truly after.

You might discover that your project is actually much simpler than you imagined as well. This is where thinking through your exact needs and talking carefully to the electrician that you are considering is important. To ensure that you really are getting the correct story on the scope you should always feel free to talk to several different electricians to make certain that your getting everything resolved quickly without missing any important details.

With all of the complications that can arise during electrical work it is always a good idea to leave yourself some extra time as well. Many people do not realize just how hectic and stressful things can really get. In order to ensure that you do not cut yourself short you should ask for estimates of time from the electricians that you speak with as well. This will help you to budget your time, and also schedule some additional time in the event of a problem.

Covering all of the small details that are necessary in an electrical project can be really easy to do, but it will require discussing your needs with an electrician that is smart, rather than one that is just simply ignoring your requests. A bit of time devoted to discussing your issues thoroughly is very important because it will ensure that the electrician is aware of what you need, and you are very much aware of what you will be receiving also.

Murphy Family Electrical Services has electricians serving Northern VA. electrician Alexandria, VA electrician Fairfax vaCentreville, Potomac Falls, Northern Virginia

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Solar Garden Lamps

Everyone seems to be in harmony these days when it comes to making your home environmentally friendly. Outdoor solar garden lamps light up your garden in the most eco-friendly way.

Solar power is the answer to landscape lighting that is free and earth friendly. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, outdoor solar lights use solar cells to convert sunlight to electricity, storing that electricity in batteries during the day for use at night. The department adds that outdoor solar lighting systems and solar-powered products will only perform well if they receive the manufacturer's recommended amount of daily sunlight. So as your garden lamps stand in the garden throughout the day, they receive the power they need to shine for you at night.

Products that power themselves from natural sunlight are becoming more popular and are moving beyond the basic.

Solar strings lights are a fun way to accent your patio lighting and are fun for entertaining as they come in the form of flowers, butterflies, and ladybugs.

The solar powered address stone offers an illuminated way to show off your street address with a natural looking stone finish.

The garden gnome has always been a popular garden accessory, and now you can get garden gnomes in the form of solar garden lamps.

Animal statues are becoming extremely popular. Add an animal statue holding a solar lantern and you have some very sweet lighting solutions. You can get these statues in the replica of your favorite dog. Other animals are also available such as turtles, bears, bunnies, and much more.

Solar lighting is also available in the watertight version. This is especially nice for floating lights on a pond or a swimming pool. This makes a great accent for a poolside dinner party.

The traditional solar garden lamps come in stainless steel, copper and also plastic. You will find that these lights are so easy to install. Basically, you just stick them in the ground and leave everything else up Mother Nature. Solar garden lamps usually come in sets of 2, 4 or 6, however because they are relatively inexpensive, purchasing a fair amount won't break the bank and the more you have the better the ambiance and the illumination.

You will find an endless variety in style and usage of solar outdoor lighting. You will also find it to be versatile. It is easy to pick up your solar garden lamp pieces and move them from place to place because they are light and portable and you will never have to worry about re-wiring them or needing an outlet close by.

The solar lighting that you find in the marketplace today is a much superior product to when they were first introduced to the consumer. In the past, they major complaint was that the illumination was weak. Well that is a thing of the past. So with brighter illumination, sleek and diversified styles, plus the added value of eco-friendly, powered by the sun capabilities, the solar garden lamps are the perfect choice for your landscape lighting need.

Robin Buckley is a nationally known wedding photographer who has photographed hundreds of weddings and whose work has been published in countless wedding magazines.

Robin brings her experience and advice to her own wedding magazine, The Brides Best Friend. A free copy can be obtained at http://www.TheBridesBestFriendMagazine.com

For Garden Lamps see http://www.gardenlampsplus.com

How Do You Save Money With Exit Signs? Let Me Count the Ways!

Like most every company in the world these days, there is a move afoot to cut costs and make the operation of our businesses far more efficient and cost-effective. If you're the person tasked with this daunting objective, then you would be wise to take a look at something very simple that could really make a large difference to your company's bottom line, as well as to its green initiative. That would be the use of environmentally friendly photoluminescent exit signs in your building. These self-luminous exit signs collect and store ambient light for use when there is an emergency event, such as a power outage, fire, earthquake or other catastrophe. Let's take a peek at all the advantages photoluminescent exit signs bring to the table.

Photoluminescent exit signs use no electricity, consume no batteries, and require no maintenance. There is no wiring to run and no backup systems are needed, as these exit signs shore up the ambient light in the building to use in the event of an emergency situation. There is then no question whether your emergency lights will operate when you need them, as there often is with other types of solutions. These will glow green up to a distance of 100 feet in smoky or dark conditions, and will stay illuminated for several days if the need were to arise.

The energy savings associated with the use of photoluminescent exit signs are significant. A typical building with 100 exit signs will realize a direct energy savings of more than $3,500 dollars yearly, as well as reduced costs for maintenance, replacement parts and more. What's more, this same building with these same exit signs will have its carbon footprint reduced by nearly half a million pounds of CO2 over the life of the product-which, by the way, is roughly 25 years! This will make you a hero in the green circles for sure!

When or if you ever need to move your photoluminescent exit signs-if, for instance, your emergency egress plan changes-the task is easily done. Simply move the mounting hardware to the new location and remount; no wiring to run or any other power issues. Should the time come to replace the units, it's good to know that they are 100% recyclable, and can be tossed into the nearest metal recycling bin with no other concerns. Try doing that with tritium exit signs, which contain a radioactive isotope and are tracked individually. You'll have the FBI and NRC on your doorstep issuing citations before you know it!

Photoluminescent exit signs are by far the greenest and most economical choice for emergency exit signs available today. There is but one manufacturer of this type of sign in the U.S., Jessop Manufacturing, located in McHenry IL. You can see their wide variety of exit signs and other emergency evacuation products at GloBriteSystem.com.

To learn more about how photoluminescent exit signs can help your company become more eco-friendly and save energy dollars in the process, visit us today at http://www.GloBriteSystem.com

Remodeling & You

New construction, as in newly built, and remodeling as in changing the old for the new, has come a long way. The new construction is far better than the old one. This is because of the modern materials, tested procedures and codes adopted, made the industry safer, more predictable and with a better quality product. Now, remodeling has taken a similar path, but when it comes to 'exchange' the old for the new, the 'New' becomes 'Old', and the 'Old' becomes 'New'. Confused?

Well let me give it to you. 'New' marble becomes 'Old' tumbled marble. Freshly milled stones like quartz and granite, are also purposely 'Aged' to appear 'Old', when in reality are 'New' stones! I am sure that you and I can bring about a few more examples; pointing out to a true sign that we both have been exposed to the same revolution.

What I am driving at is the fact that when following the old styles like Country, Old farm, Grammas, Colonial, Victorian or some old trend, the task ahead has more to do with culture and tradition rather than practicality and purpose.

All that, is fine and acceptable, provided that the 'illusion' of old is done with no traces of fake. Modernizing, maintaining the 'Old Charm Feeling' while we are strolling and stepping through the creaking floors and cramped quarters of some imaginary Tudor with a bit of faded yellow and thousand hands worn out railings, but in the comfort, ampleness and modern advancements as we can afford; crudely put: More like a Hollywood prop which deceives the eye.

Today, everything has become "Out of the Box" The craftsman with his strapped overall and tools on hand fabricating on site, is a thing of the past. In part, it is because of the prohibiting cost of building in place and more importantly by the constraining of time, among others. Let's give way to the PVC's tongue a groove wainscoting, drivit stucco and fenestration with make believe grids. But then along with all these 'replacements', "Ultra Energy Efficient" and "Low E", "High Performance" "Reduce Heating & Cooling Costs" became an house hold common names.

Of course, modern styles don't suffer of any of these retro-infused feelings. In this field, everything becomes, ascetic and essential, linear, logical and truly new, but also definitely, requiring as much creative capacity as in turning the 'Old' into the 'New' demands. Both environments styles are matched to the indwellers amalgamating own auras and projections. I myself am able to walk, but not actually with a freely flow through what I call Waterford taste into Picasso Cubism (Very traditional & very modern) without hearing whispered epithets like:"He or she's eclectic..." sounding more like a disdainful complement rather than defining someone's favorable quirks. Then again if there is such a thing.

Eclectic, to me means that you're either hiding behind been called 'eclectic' for lack of creativity, or you are so original that very few of us understand the real meaning of your creation (That latter word can be filled in by you, remember you are who will finally have the last deciding one)

The corollary of my rather undefined discourse is just to bring about, in a downright tongue and cheek way, a virtual sense of our acquired tastes, traditions and predilections which surrounds our humanity, and bring to light the invisible walls which separates the many styles, and dole out a bit of comfort to those who are in the mist of renovating their homes, by raising their awareness, to some degree, pointing out to things that they don't know that they know.

Finally my last saying into this subject is: Learn as much as you can, and then put it into practice by been bold, opened to changes, fluid, inspired, creative, happy and never overwhelmed or rushed, never tied up to preconceptions and in a gentle way been able to speak up your mind. Go for it and enjoy.

Hi, my name is Victor Castleton. Thank you for reading my article. I am some times a kitchens & bathroom remodeler. Right now I am a writer. I enjoy finding the far-fetched side of things out of mere curiosity. I am prepared to encounter the unexpected, which sometimes is just about you, but you are not aware of it. It is like looking at a person's face, and then suddenly the caricature of his more defining features just jumps at you. It is the same inherent sense within me, which helps me spot a different edge or corner, height or depth when I am working with a design of any kind. It is perhaps the unique route that the good Lord gave me as a conduit, to express myself not for the sake of self, but rather to touch someone's life. Greetings

http://www.castletonconstruction.com

info@castletonconstruction.com

Go Green RV is Not a Slogan - It's a Life Style

By its own design, you can go green RV quite easily! RV's are smaller in size, create less waste and are very adaptable to current green products and energy savers. Although they may drive father to a destination, RV enthusiasts are quite vocal in telling others that they are earth friendly and environmentally green in their operations. Once at a destination, RV campers are more likely to park the RV and use bicycles or hike to nearby destinations, thus saving gasoline.

For power, the RV can use solar energy, propane, or electric rather than gas. Newer environmentally friendly fuels are being used, including recycled vegetable oil, hybrid fuel, biofuels, and soon nitrogen fuels. There are small foldable solar energy producing panels that bring free solar energy to the wilderness. They can power up to 110 watts, enough to run cell phones, radios, GPS, fish finders and lighting. As a portable fuel source, they can go anywhere, even in kayaks or boats.

RV owners travel light, so using recycled paper products and using less water for dishwashing go hand in hand. They buy products with less packaging that are easier to store in the small spaces of an RV. To really go green RV, they go all the way, buying biodegradable products and green cleaners. For some, it is an entire lifestyle, and they communicate it to others to spread the lifestyle.

Onboard appliances are energy efficient and smaller, using less energy and water. Shower heads are water savers, and toilets don't use as much water because they are also smaller than home models. In the small space, fewer cleaners are used, and there are green cleaners readily available. Lights can be replaced with energy saving CFL bulbs.

RV campers can install Solatube lighting, a flexible tube light, for daylight use. At night, they use less energy than at home, and use blankets instead of running heaters on cool nights. The small RV interiors are quick to heat and cozy for occupants. RV campers follow the sun schedule more than those at home, retiring early and getting up at sunrise. This saves energy with lighting and appliance and television use.

Ask any RV camper if they are earth friendly and living an environmentally protective lifestyle and they will say yes, they are. They would probably be happy to give you a little tour and show you the energy efficient features of their RV. Smaller refrigerators, smaller or no freezers, fewer and less lighting fixtures with energy saving bulbs, compact efficient energy saving heaters, and smaller hot water heaters are items that work together to reduce the RV carbon footprint.

Go a step further and browse through and RV equipment store and you will find racks of new items that are green products, energy savers, and downsized just for the RV crowd. Go Green RV may even be posted on the wall, but it's no longer a slogan, it is a lifestyle!

Wendy Pan is an accomplished niche website developer and author. To learn more about go green rv, please visit New Green Living for current articles and discussions.

Wood Rot Problems In Your House

Let me give you some advice right now," All Wood Rots Eventually". I have heard it all when it comes to this wood or that wood lasting this long or that long........ Hello....... All wood is going to rot at some period of it's life.

With that out of the way we can focus on some wood seems to last a little longer under certain conditions.

Teak is a wood that has a lot of natural oil in it. But you won't frame a house with it. Teak is used on boats and expensive outdoor furniture. It is a excellent wood to use when building a ship. The woods natural oils seem to create a protective barrier around it allowing it to last a long time even at sea. Great wood for the outdoors...

Oak is a excellent choice for almost every wood finish inside your home. It is used for kitchen cabinets, entertainment centers, flooring, trim and furniture. Oak is a hard wood and can take a lot of abuse from almost anything except water. I have seen a nice piece of furniture get stained from just setting one glass on it for ten minutes. Great Wood For Inside Your Home.

Poplar is also a great choice for inside your house. This wood is used by many finish carpenters for making cabinets and other built ins for your house. It is also popular not poplar for wood trim . Most of the poplar that is used inside of your home will eventually get painted. So that makes poplar a inexpensive choice of wood for homeowners that want a nice painted finish on their interior wood projects. Great Wood For Inside Your Home.

Douglas Fir is the most common source of lumber used on the west coast of the United States. This is a extremely durable wood product. On the East Coast they use southern pine and the nominal thickness is usually two inches by four inches for a 2 x 4 . With Douglas Fir a 2 x 4 is one inch and a half by three and one half inches to support the same weight structurally. In my opinion one of the best home framing materials.

Douglas Fir can and has been for a long time now. A great source for clear finish materials used inside of the house. You will see a nice orange or brown looking piece of wood stained naturally in some older home. This is Douglas Fir. It can be a bit pricy but really gives a log cabin look to your home.

Redwood is a great choice for inside or outside your home. I love Redwood it has a nice look to it stained naturally. Redwood is used for a lot of siding, fences, decks and out door furniture. The main problem with Redwood is that is is soft and will get scratched easily. Now for the facts about Redwood. It does rot and termites will eat it.

Wood myth number one eliminated. I have heard stories about wood that termites won't eat. Well Redwood is not one of them. I have seen termites tearing this stuff up. Don't get caught up in the hype that this or that wood will last for 5 years or 50 years. Under the right conditions almost all woods will rot at a accelerated rate.

For more information on wood damage, check out wood repair at http://gregvan.com/wood_repair.htm

Copyright 2008 Greg Vanden Berge All Rights Reserved

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. Few Home Remodeling Rules

Tips For Dealing With a Manufactured Home Builder

If you are considering buying a prefabricated or manufactured home then you will be dealing with a manufactured home builder. They are much easier to deal with then your average building contractor is, but all the same you will want to get the best deal that you can get.

A Lot of Design and Decorating Choices to Make

One quandary that you will face is the astounding number of choices and options that you will encounter prior to your home being built. It's just not like it used to be, because todays manufactured home builders are all out to offer more then the next guy in design and decorating options.

Take Your Time and Study Your Options

The secret to making the right decisions is to first get yourself acquainted with the information. Also, do your absolute best to avoid any snap decisions that you may regret later.

Choices in Fireplaces

For instance, you will be offered any number of choices in custom fireplaces and mantels. If you have never owned a home with a fireplace then you must take into consideration whether you want a gas or wood fireplace, so give it some thought beforehand.

Take a Virtual Three Dimensional Tour

Another new marketing trend for todays manufactured home builder is three dimensional computer software that allows a prospective client to actually take a virtual tour of their home before it is even built. It's a great tool for helping a buyer to make the right choices when selecting out their options.

Study Up and Ask Questions

So study the process well and don't be afraid to ask some questions. Can they install speakers in each room of the home your are considering buying? Also, what types of security features can you get with the manufactured home that you are considering buying?

Written by Jayden Jefferson. Come visit my website for more info on modern modular homes as well as modular manufactured homes.

The Seven Building Blocks of Building Green

You picked the perfect site for your new home but now you're mired in indecision. Building "green" sounds noble (who doesn't want to help our planet and create a healthy environment for our kids?) but it also sounds expensive, difficult and confusing. If you're like most people, you probably assumed that a green home is a simple assemblage of eco-friendly products like recycled timbers, bamboo flooring, and oderless paint - but in fact, choosing products like these is only a small part, and perhaps the least important, of sustainable building. To demystify what it means to build green, we have to start with a primer of basic principles as outlined by Andy Engel in Tools of the Trade - what I like to think of as the Seven Green Building Blocks.
But first, a definition: What is a Green Home? A green or sustainable home is one that is built and functions with a reduced impact on the environment by using resources efficiently, and that provides a healthy, non-toxic environment.

Green Building Block #1- House Design
Here's a surprise - the size, siting (orientation to the sun) and shape of your house have the greatest impact on how energy-efficient it will ultimately be.

• The larger your house, the more materials it will take to build and the more energy to maintain. This is your most critical decision. Resist the urge to super-size.
• Solar orientation is the second most important factor in determining your home's energy needs. This is called passive solar design. Try to place the longest walls of the house on an east-west axis. This will give your south facing windows sun in winter and shade in summer. You can also place your garage on the west side of the house or use a porch, roof overhang or trees to shade your west walls.
• The simpler the shape of your house (think New England Salt-Box) the more energy-efficient. Protruding wings and bays increase the exterior skin of the house and let heat escape from the core, much like our own fingers and toes.

Green Building Block #2 - Durability
Like our bodies, houses age, sag and eventually collapse. Water and moisture are the two culprits responsible for the premature aging and final demise of our home, beginning with mold and ending in rot.

• Water can be kept away from the structure through proper drainage, gutter and downspout design, as well as use of special rain-screen walls.
• Moisture can be controlled through carefully installed window and door flashings and with thorough sealing. By minimizing air loss, you keep moisture out and heat in, reducing energy costs by as much as 20%. When moisture is no longer allowed to travel through the exterior walls, it eliminates the danger of condensation in the framing, thus extending the life of your home.
• Use paperless sheetrock to allow any moisture to wick out of damp drywall.

Green Building Block #3 - Energy Efficiency
Your home uses energy such as electricity and gas for light, heat or cooling. You can reduce your need for heat and cooling through passive solar design, which provides a kind of built-in thermal protection. But you also need to reduce thermal loss or leakage with insulation and air sealing. If possible, install your own energy supply.

• Use insulation and builder's felt in the walls, floor and ceiling to reduce heat loss. Close cavities such as areas behind showers and tubs, soffits and recessed lights with a moisture barrier to prevent heat loss.
• Seal all openings and cracks where air can pass in or out of the house.
• Don't run HVAC ducts in unconditioned crawl spaces or attics - 20% of the energy can be lost. Fully insulate areas around your ducts and thoroughly seal them.
• Lighting accounts for about 15% of a home's energy use, but you can reduce that percentage in several ways. Replace inefficient incandescent bulbs with cooler, longer lasting CFLs (compact florescent lights) or the new LEDs (light emitting diodes). LEDs use 1/3 the electricity of CFLs and are more directional for task lighting.
• Decrease energy waste by installing a home automation system with motion sensors to turn lights on and off as you enter or exit a room. A home automation system can also reduce your heating and cooling needs by automatically opening or closing your window shades depending on the outside temperature, and by turning down your thermostat at night and when you are away from home.
• Use energy efficient appliances.
• If possible, invest in solar panels to generate much of the energy your house consumes. Your power company will even buy back any excess electricity from you during times of low use (like when you are on vacation).

Green Building Block #4 - Reducing Waste
You can reduce excessive waste in 2 ways: by using materials more efficiently (and thus, needing fewer of them) and by reusing old materials. In either case you help the planet and your pocketbook at the same time.

• Size your house sensibly. Design your house in four foot multiples to conform to standard wallboard and plywood sheets. You will also dramatically reduce piles of scrap lumber.
• Recycle and reuse building materials such as old concrete and stone as a base for a parking lot.
• Be an avid recycler of glass, plastic and metals in your household. Set up a compost bin to turn your food scraps into rich mulch.

Green Building Block #5 - Water Conservation
The aim here is twofold: you need to both reduce the amount of water your family consumes, but also channel the rainwater that falls on your lot back into the soil.

• Use low-flow shower heads and toilets to reduce water usage.
• Use automatic sprinklers with moisture sensors to regulate water use and prevent over-watering.
• Use native and drought-tolerant plants.
• Use porous concrete pavers on driveways to allow rainwater to percolate down into the earth and recharge aquifers.

Green Building Block #6 - Indoor Air Quality
We've already mentioned how proper sealing and insulation can prevent moisture and mold in the home, but an air-tight home has its own problem - it traps all gases and fumes inside the home, thus polluting the air you breathe. Particle board and OSB off-gas formaldehyde; paints, finishes and car products contribute VOCs (volatile organic compounds); gas stoves and poorly vented gas appliances contribute carbon monoxide to the stew. There are two ways to clear the air and breathe easier: use products that are less toxic, and change your ventilation system.

• Use building materials like plywood in place of OSB to reduce formaldehyde buildup. Some carpets are not only made from recycled nylon, but also boast no VOCs. Natural floor adhesives, paints and finishes also offer zero emissions.
• Use a dedicated air supply for furnaces and water heaters to prevent gases from back-drafting into the house.
• Install a heat recovery ventilator (HRV) system to bring fresh outside air into living spaces while exhausting air from bathrooms, kitchens and laundry rooms.

Green Building Block #7 - Green Products
We've already shown how using green products can make a difference to the environment and your health. With more and more eco-friendly products to choose from, let's sort out the various types and shades of green on display.

• Products made from recycled materials: concrete made from fly ash (a waste product of coal power plants), carpet made from recycled nylon (and recyclable after its life), synthetic stone counter tops made from recycled paper, glass and cement.
• Reused building materials: salvaged timbers, lumber, brick and stone.
• Products from sustainable resources: cork flooring from the cork oak tree (also durable, sound and heat insulating and hypoallergenic); bamboo flooring from fast growing bamboo.
• Energy-efficient products: solar panels, Energy Star appliances, home automation systems, CFL and LED lights.
• Non-toxic products (both in their manufacture and use in the home): low odor paints and finishes, carpets and plywood.

With this primer in hand, you now know the difference between a CFL and a VOC. As you can see, the most critical choices for a green home are made when you first sit down at the drafting table. Your dream home will be energy efficient, durable and safe if you design it using all seven green building blocks. Your friends might turn green with envy.

For more information on Home Automation and Green Homes visit Mile High Automation.

Handyman Hardware - Home Repair Tips

Handyman can be described as a person who undertakes different types of jobs such as small construction works, electrical works, plumbing, painting, and garden maintenance. All these activities are completed with the help of tools and equipment, which are normally referred to as handyman hardware. Handyman hardware does not consist of specially designed tools and equipment; it is just a collection of tools and equipment used by electricians, plumbers, and construction workers.

Many handyman tools are coated with insulation material that provides insulation against electric shocks. Insulation material is made from specially formulated materials and is scientifically tested before being used to coat handyman tools. Insulated handyman tools are rated according to the level of voltage they can withstand which is usually in the range of 1000 volts to 1500 volts.

A number of manufacturers produce handyman hardware tools based on current national standards defined by American society for testing and materials (ASTM). Handyman hardware tools may include pliers, screwdrivers, knives, scissors, bolt cutters, cable cutters, and hammers. Bags that carry these accessories are made from a combination of cotton cloth, leather, and other strong material to make it long lasting. Household users should make sure that the handyman hardware tools they are buying are manufactured according to standard quality specifications.

Handyman hardware tools need to be replaced after one or two years as they are subjected to heavy wear and tear while rendering handyman services. The cost of replacing or maintaining such type of hardware can be unaffordable for many handymen. The best option for them is to work for an organization that provides all the necessary hardware needed for performing their services.

It is necessary to use handyman hardware tools in a technically correct way, as improper handling can damage the equipment being handled as well as the tool. People can take help from handyman guidebooks or magazines for learning the correct use of handyman hardware tools.

Handyman provides detailed information on Handyman, Handyman Services, Starting A Handyman Business, Handyman Tips and more. Handyman is affiliated with Home Remodeling.

How to Be Your Own Energy Provider and Save Money

Save a lot of money and be your own energy provider. Energy costs nowadays are so high that it is taking a toll on the monthly budget of most people. Maybe this is because of our reliance on modern appliances and equipment that we fall prey to the use of electricity, and we are now stuck with the dilemma of not wanting to compromise comfort with cost.

There are several alternative sources of energy that you can tap into that will help you save in terms of electrical costs, as well as be beneficial to the environment. Power sources, such as solar and wind, are the most commonly used in household applications, though you can use hydropower if you are situated near a strong river.

Using renewal sources of energy have several advantages. One is that they cannot be depleted; another is that they do not create a by-product that can damage the environment. Lastly, the equipment needed to harvest these energies requires very little maintenance.

Let us take a look at how solar powered devices work. To collect energy from the sun, you need solar panels or an array of solar cells. This energy is then stored in batteries for future use. If you have appliances that run on DC, you can easily plug these directly to the battery source. If you use the regular AC appliances, then you will need an inverter to convert the power in the battery for use with those appliances. The solar cells have not been known to break down that easily and seldom are they being replaced. The only regular maintenance would be in the battery cells, which require you to level it with distilled water to keep the cells active.

Wind power generators need initial construction for the tower and fan blades. Energy collected from the wind is also stored in batteries and tapped into the same way. You can also a similar device for pumping water. There is just a disengagement mechanism for it to separate itself from the water pump in case your water tank is already full.

Any of these systems can be connected to the main power grid of the electric company within your area. They will pay for this use of power. In times that you generate more power than what you require, the excess power is fed into the grid for other consumers to use. In case there is something wrong with your system and you experience a power outage, the grid will power you with electricity from the power company itself.

Why not help yourself as well as your community? Be your own energy provider, save money, as well as earn money by doing this.

Tired of high electric bills? Discover how thousands of families are using homemade solar power systems to power their homes!

Getting the Right Contractor For Constructing Your Deck

When planning to build a deck, most people find it difficult to select a reliable contractor, more so when they have no past experience in this area. To overcome this hurdle, what you can do is to look around at the decks that seem attractive to you and then find out who the contractor of these decks are. In this way, it will be possible to build a list of contractors about whom you can be confident as to their expertise in the deck building arena. Another way to select a good contractor is to apply to your local chamber of commerce for suggestions. Whichever way you obtain a list, make sure to interview the potential candidates personally before you arrive at a decision. During the interview process, give a correct idea to the contractor of all the things you want him to build on the deck so that he can provide you an accurate estimate of the cost that you will incur for constructing your deck.

Hiring an experienced person is always a wise course to pursue. You should look for a minimum of three years' experience in your contractor as this will have provided him all the skills needed to do a satisfactory job with your deck. Apart from this, it is essential that you work with a licensed contractor to avoid legal problems that may occur later. It is also crucial that the firm you hire has a good insurance coverage which can come in very handy in case of accidents caused to the workers during construction or any harm to your property. Taking precautionary measures like checking up with the insurance company after having taken a copy of the insurance policy of the firm will further help you avoid future complications.

Another thing that will help you choose the right contractor is to ask for references and personally ensure that other people who have hired your contractor have a good opinion of him. In this way, you can also verify whether the contractor has a reputation of meeting deadlines and staying within the prescribed budget. When formulating the contract, make sure that the contractor specifies every aspect of the deck like the materials that will be used, how the payment will be made etc.

After having finalized on the correct person for the job, you should arrange a place in your yard for storing the lumber required for the job. You should also see to it that utilitarian aspects of your house like the gas lines, water lines, electrical wiring, drains etc. do not come to any harm when constructing the deck. Obtaining all the necessary permits that are required for the job so that the work can be carried out smoothly without any hindrances is a must. Finally, you should take care to periodically inspect the progress of work so that you end up having the deck that you have always dreamt of.

Adam Peters is an online entrepreneur and writes for many consumer magazines. Gather more information and resources on starburst deck railing at http://www.deck-porch-railings.com/starburst.html

Solar Power Generator - Home Tips

The sun is by far the biggest energy resource that is known to man and available for use right now. The fact that we get most of our energy through the unsustainable mining and misuse of planetary fossil resources is unacceptable when you understand just how much energy is emitted by the sun and how easy it is to capture and turn into usable electrical energy for our homes. On an annual basis, enough solar energy reaches the surface of the earth to cover more than ten thousand times the annual global energy demand and reserves. It is more than time that we started to use this solar energy to its full potential and stopped the needless destruction of our planet.

There is a distinction that can be made between direct solar energy and indirect solar energy. If you are interested in building a solar generator for your home, then it is direct solar energy that can be converted into useful energy and used for electrical or heating purposes. Wind, rivers and plants are examples of indirect forms of solar energy and can be used to generate electrical energy as well, although that is another subject matter. These technologies all use direct solar energy in one way or another:

: solar thermal power plants.
: solar water heating systems.
: passive heating by solar.
: photovoltaics or solar cells that produce electricity.

All of these technologies are important in the overall scheme of renewable energy solutions for the planet, however, if you are interested in generating electricity for your home, it is the technologies relating to solar cells or photovoltaics that will be of interest to you. It is much easier to produce your own solar energy system than you would ever imagine, all it takes is a small initial investment and a little time and motivation.

Building a solar power generator is an interesting, fun and important project that can reduce your energy bills and help you to save the planet at the same time. There are some fantastic online guides out there that can provide step by step instructions to help you to become more energy efficient and carbon neutral than you probably thought was possible. By beginning to use the sun more for our electricity needs we can all benefit along with our planet - so get yourself a guide and start building your solar power generator today.

Greg Morgan is a professional writer and blogger who is passionate about green issues and DIY technology. Please visit this blog - Make Your Own Energy to learn how to get started on your path to generating your own electricity.

How to Build a Solar Air Heater - Building a Homemade DIY Solar Air Heater

Why build a homemade DIY solar air heater if you could instantly go to a store and buy it? You have the choice of buying over making one for your home. If buying an air heater wouldn't be a great loss to your account, go for it. But think twice, money does not account for everything in this world. Do you know that buying an air heater contributes to the increasing loss of our environment? You may refuse what I'm saying but you can't reject the obvious and harmful effects of global warming. Climate changes due to this effect are very visible throughout the globe.

Solar energy never fails to provide the world adequate amount of solar energy which could equate our energy needs. Electricity demands continuously add up to the global issues concerning energy needs. Human as we are needs electricity to live life in motion. Life is stagnant and insensible without electricity. For us to constantly enjoy its unlimited feature we should be concern with some energy saving measures necessary for its long term effect on humanity. We must not think of pure leisure but also of responsible tips and ways to save energy, one way is knowing on how to build a solar air heater.

The following are the benefits of solar air heater:

Crop drying

Water removal(surface) for veggies and fruits

Warmth providers for animals and plants

Research constantly proves that solar energy could solely supply us energy. If humanity allows the solar energy as the main sour of our electrical needs, we could live in a world of less worry. Each one of us must work triple times to prevent the world from collapsing. Do you think it is not possible? I'm telling you right now that it's not impossible yet truly possible. If man continues to exploit every resource that he have, in no time you'll get surprised you have nothing to use. All things have its limit.

Solar air heater is advantageous especially in the field of crops. In building a homemade diy solar air heater you must used available resources within the vicinity. Improvisation of things must not cost you too much. Savings is a plus since you could use it in several valuable things and materials. Materials does not call for new equipments rather you could make use of old or used supplies provided it is still functional.

For all we know, the world have different meridians and zones wherein we experience different climates in respect to our location. In some countries, the cold climate is intolerable. Thus, warmth is a need for them. Balance of temperature within the human body is necessary for optimum function. Solar air heater is of importance to these people who have cold climates. Aside from buying air heaters they could have do it on their own. There are several sites that provide a very simple procedural guide that will allow you to build a solar air heater that won't demand you competent skills. Many of which require minimal assembly. Knowing on how to build a homemade diy solar air heater is one way of saying that you're pro life and environment friendly.

Do you know that you only need the top guide to use everything solar in your home, rv, pool, boats, and many others?

http://www.FullEarth4EnergyReview.com will show you this to you.

The Importance of a Home Inspection

First off, for all of those whom do not know, a Home Inspection is where a person or persons hire a Professional Inspector to inspect a property in which they have interest in no matter if they are on the buying side or selling side of the transaction. The majority of the times Home Inspections are ordered by the Buyers of a property but over the last couple of years Sellers have been getting inspections to help market their property for a quick sale.

Buying a home is a decision which is probably the most expensive decision most people will make in their lifetime. Unless one is familiar with all of the different phases of what is involved in the entire construction process, that decision to buy a home could be a very costly mistake. We are talking thousands of dollars or even hundreds of thousands of dollars just because the home was bought on emotion. That is why the Home Inspection is so very important.

Lets briefly run through the entire real estate transaction of a young couple buying their first home and they don't get their new home inspected.

Young Couple meets Real Estate Agent and tells the agent the size and type of property they would like to purchase. They go out looking over the next couple of weekends and they look at a dozen properties and then they see the one, the home of their dreams. They can't wait to get back to the Agents office so they can write up an offer and get things moving. They get to the negotiation part of deal and they are overwhelmed because the sellers have trimmed $5000 from the original asking price. The young couple thinks they are getting the house of their dreams at a great price and accept the seller's final asking price. In most cases their completed contract starts a 10 day inspection period (although that is negotiable); however the couple has looked at the house and didn't see any problems of any kind so they decided to not pay the $250 for a Home Inspection although the Real Estate Agent explained to young couple of the importance and value of an Inspection. The Agent got them to sign a waiver on the Buyers Inspection Sellers Response and life was good for the young couple.

They moved in and after a couple of weeks they discovered a water stain on the living room ceiling. They run to the window and looked out and it was a beautiful sunny afternoon and their first thoughts were it was raining. The couple had no idea what to do so they started looking for and calling plumbers from the internet and yellow pages only to find out because it was a holiday they were hard to locate all the while the stain continued to grow and the drywall began to bulge. They located a plumber and summoned them on their way but he was a couple of hours away. The drywall ceiling continued to bulge until it just could not hold any more water. At last it burst and water fell from the ceiling, along with drywall and insulation, down into the living room onto their brand new LCD TV and caused several thousand dollars in water damage by the time the plumber got there to shut the water off. The poor couple was now faced with thousands of dollars in repairs because they did not know a few things that a Home Inspection would have found.
If the couple would have spent $250 on a Home Inspection they would have known a few things that could have saved them the thousands of dollars they now face with repairs and damages.
The first thing they would have known, is where the main shutoff valve was for the water so they could have limited their repair cost to the leak repair and the ceiling drywall repair which would have probably been a couple of hundred dollars.

The next and probably the most important part thing they would have know if they had an inspection, would have been that the house was plumbed with Polybutylene piping which is known for its many problems and there were thousands of lawsuits from homes that had the piping installed. There were rebates offered and assistance was given for people to re-pipe their homes because this piping had so many problems. The Home Inspector would have most likely caught that and informed the young couple of the piping and would have probably recommended that it be re-piped and they could have made a more informed decision on purchasing the house. If they still wanted the house, they could have renegotiated the price with the seller to have the re-piping done.

Now their $5000 off of the list price which the seller dropped during their negotiations is not looking so good because now they have the cost of the re-piping and repairs which far outweighs that.

That is just a small example of what would have been found in the Plumbing phase of the inspection and a full Home Inspection covers all phases of the construction process such as Electrical, Heating and Air Conditioning, Structural, Foundation, Roofing, Attic, Fireplaces, and so much more.

Please don't let this happen to you if you are buying a home, or to someone you know, and Real Estate Agents, please print this article out and let your clients read it if they are thinking of foregoing an Inspection.

Have your Home Inspection done by a Certified Home Inspector in your State.

Ricky Wells is a Certified Home Inspector in Arizona. He owns and operates Premier Dream Home Inspections in Mesa Arizona. He has been inspecting homes since 2004 after years of experience in the many areas of construction such as Construction, Electrical, Plumbing, and Heating and Air Conditioning.He specializes in Maricopa and Pinal County. Please visit his website at http://www.pdhiinspections.com or you may email him at rwells63@pdhiinspections.com.