Why Basement Remodeling?

With the long-running housing crunch in New York caused by the influx of people wanting to be a part of it; smaller living units have become the more popular choice posing as the more affordable option. Naturally, one thing that New York homeowners would have in mind when thinking of undertaking a home improvement project would be more living space. Instead of gaining a home addition that requires tearing down walls and extending the area of your homes, the best possible solution is exhausting the possibilities that any unused area in your home has to offer. This makes basement remodeling an ideal project.

Now you are thinking, 'Why would I want to use my dungeon-like basement when I could extend and create another floor above my roof or enlarge an existing room?' To answer this and lay out more benefits, here are several points explaining why basement remodeling is the best way to go:

- Basement remodeling is a lot cheaper to work on to add square footage to your current living area than a full home addition. Even with most or with every same feature and design, it would only end up costing just a chunk of the whole budget that a full-scale home addition amounts to. With the latter, there would still be a need to not only demolish any existing wall or roof, you would also have to rebuild another to surround the additional expanse. But with remodeling your basement all the crucial structural foundations are already built like the walls, flooring and ceiling.

- Unlike other home improvement projects, basement remodeling involves an area which is not much frequented and is quite isolated. So even when the project is undergoing, you and your family will not be required to put up with so much of the hassles such as the noise caused by the ongoing construction as well as the traffic of contractors and other workers going about their works.

- Being literally surrounded by earth, the basement is typically cooler even if the sun is sizzling hot on summers and warmer during chilly winter months. So no matter what finish you plan and come up with, it will surely be enjoyed with the added benefit of its energy-efficiency.

- The ready availability and easy access to plumbing makes adding another bathroom or a kitchenette ideal. You can do your basement remodeling to result to a luxuriant personal spa, turning every inch of your basement into a haven of utter comfort. But even if you have other plans, the new room could still make good use of the added bathroom or kitchenette. This idea would not only considerably boost the quality of living in your home but add real value to it as well.

- When thinking of the best finish for your basement remodeling project, you can take advantage of the compact nature of the structures making up the basement and its intentional remoteness from the rest of your home. These characteristics make up for utmost privacy as well as great sound proofing. You could opt to have a playpen, home office, music room, and home theatre out of the project finish.

These enumerated, excellently answers why basement remodeling. Another consideration to include in your home improvement project is a qualified basement remodeling contractor. With this, you are just some steps away from project success.

Eugene Makeev has been in the home improvement industry for a while. His skills and expertise, which have been polished through time, are now used to help New York home owners avoid the common pitfalls in home improvements by matching their needs with the right, prescreened Basement Contractor New York. Feel free to use our Basement Remodeling Calculator.

Country Bathroom Remodeling - Ideas and Tips

Are you prepared for total relaxation and tranquility? Then switch to country bathrooms. They are simple, fresh and inviting.

When you say "country bathroom remodeling project", fresh, simple, antique, airy, pedestal sink, vintage, French, English cottage are the images that we invoke in our mind. This idea can be lot different from what an interior designer has in mind.

You can include elements from other rooms of the house, to give the bathroom an authentic country feeling. For example, chandeliers are generally placed in the dining room. You can incorporate small chandeliers with a vintage appearance in your bathroom. This will look great when it is hung just above a claw foot tub.

You can use items like checked curtains or mirrored cabinets to the country bathroom remodeling. You can also use bookshelf from the living room or .a dull cupboard from the bedroom for storage. Armchairs or bamboo chairs make great corner pieces in a bathroom. Wire baskets used in kitchen make perfect storage containers for towels or toiletries. These small changes make a country bathroom luxurious and relaxing. You can enjoy a long soak in the tub now.

Rustic accessories like wooden pegs and antique furnishers are great if you have a historic home. You can also use painted wooden shutters and wooden frames for bathroom remodeling. If you do not have antique furnishings, use look-alike knobs in existing furnishings and give them an impression of antique.

You can contact a contractor or an interior designer to put your thoughts into action. If you are hiring an interior designer or a contractor, make sure that they understand your plans on country bathroom remodeling. Country means different things for different people, as this is just an art of being creative, and creativity varies from person to person. Make sure your contractor understands your requirements, and put your plans on paper. Communication is vital in country bathroom remodeling and time will be wasted if communication is not effective.

If you're looking for more information about bathroom renovation or are looking for bathroom remodeling ideas come visit me at my bathroom remodeling blog.

You will find lots of information about bathroom tile design, shower and tub installation, bathroom remodeling tools, bathroom renovation ideas, bathroom remodeling pictures and even specific information about the topic of this article: country bathroom remodeling.

Home Elevators - A Practical Solution For the Elderly

Home elevators are a practical solution for the elderly, who desire to lead an independent life even with their mobility challenges. These are convenient, quiet and easy-to-operate equipment which assist in easy movement up and down the floors of your home.

Home Elevators with Outstanding Safety Features

Home elevators, being a practical solution for the elderly, are available in a variety of models. Many of them are custom-made so as to meet the unique requirements of individual users. Well-known brands are built with gearless motors which enable the user to have a smooth ride. The safety measures incorporated in the different models include:

Slack chain
Emergency light
Emergency alarm
Interlocks for door and hoistway
Cable safety devices
Telephone system
Battery backups
Emergency stop buttons
Automatic controls

It is possible to customize the panels, lighting and other elements, so as to match with the interior decorations of your residence.

Select the Right Home Elevator that Best Suits Your Requirements

ThyssenKrupp Access, Federal Elevator, and Savaria Concord are the leading names in the manufacturing industry. They offer an exclusive range of residential elevators based on the requirements of the elderly and the physically challenged. Before buying an elevator, necessary planning will help you to choose the best one for your residence. Try to acquire as much details about the various models of home elevators including the features integrated in each model. It is also important to have a good assessment about the speed, loading capacity, and cost factor as these may vary according to the models and technology used.

Home elevators assist the elderly or physically challenged individuals and infuse in them a remarkable spirit of self confidence. In addition, home elevators can enhance the value of your residence.

By offering aesthetically appealing home elevators, DAY Elevator & Lift offers a new level of freedom for people with limited mobility. In addition to residential elevators, we offer home stair lift systems and wheelchair lifts.

Facts About Why You Should Use Chlorine Shower Filters

Why should you use a chlorine shower filter when you are bathing? Apart from the health issues, some of which we will cover later, it is almost luxurious to bathe in clean and healthy water.

Your skin will become softer and your hair shinier quite often after only a couple of showers. The body and hair loses natural oils when showering with water that contains chlorine. Chlorine is added to our water supplies by municipal authorities as a way of treating the water. Chlorine has, in many clinical studies, been linked to various cancers.

It can enter the body either by ingestion or absorption. We can also inhale the gasses produced by chlorine. Remember the World Wars when gas warfare was used. Quite often chlorine was used in the manufacture of these gasses. The airborne form of chlorine is called chloroform.

The chlorine shower filters can remove up to 99% of the harmful substances in our water supply. It is also important to remember when purchasing a chlorine shower filter to purchase one for each shower in the home. If you are constantly feeling tired one of the causes of this fatigue may be bathing in chlorinated water.

With all the different chemicals present in our water supplies it is now more necessary than ever before to make use of these chlorine shower filters. Shower filters may also remove chemicals that are the cause of things like nausea and brain damage.

The airborne particles of the chlorine after it is heated in the shower or bath situation will aggravate conditions such as asthma and other respiratory diseases. Just imagine, as the steam spreads throughout areas outside the bathroom other family members, who suffer with respiratory conditions,may be affected also.

I think that you are now aware that you need to protect your family and loved ones by installing a chlorine shower filter in all the bathrooms in your home. Please remember to change the filters regularly in line with the manufacturer's guidelines.

Please Click Here to obtain much more information than it was possible to include in this article. Thank you for reading our article...

Drywall Needs Finishing Touches

Wainscoting has been in high demand for so many years. It s something that many people are looking for in their homes.

Wainscoting is a type of paneling. It is usually used on the lower parts of walls inside homes and offices. It can be formed from wood or plastic. The actual definition of wainscoting is any type of paneling that you put up. Most of the styles are still very in demand today.

You can find wainscoting that is great for decorating your home. you will find different types and looks that will match your home dcor. The materials that you want for this are going to vary and you will want to think about the look that you are trying to achieve.

Wainscoting can be different heights. It is usually going to be found on the bottom of walls and will run around the entire size for any room. some people like to use chair rail or border to accent their chair rail so that it is not so plain looking.

Having the more traditional wainscoting is going to be a little bit higher up. This will usually go from forty eight to fifty four inches. It can protect and decorate the entire area. The taller type of wainscoting came from the mid nineteenth century. The style was tongue and groove and it went vertical on the wall. It is usually nailed on. This is something that was and still is very popular in many homes around the world.

There is an higher level of wainscot and this will be mostly found in dining areas. It is about sixty to seventy two inches. They are going to be kept separate by three inch molding. This is not the choice if you have a lower bay window in the room.

There is a great history behind wainscot. There were good features and bad features with it. it does look good and matches many different home's styles of what the homeowner wants. Some will have great elegance and can be a little on the costly side.

Many people like wainscot because it is durable. Kids can hit the walls and parents do not have to worry because the wainscot is very strong and you will not have marks on the walls. You will also not have to worry about handprints all over your walls. It will clean up easily with a wet cloth. It is easy to install and maintain as well.

This brand of material for your home is one that is very popular and a lot of people love the way it looks in their home. With the way it seems now, wainscot will be around for many more years to come.

Robert Carlton's long articles are published on several online sites associated with adding a bay window. You can discover his writings on bay window installation at various other sources for bay window installation information.

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

Bathroom Installation Pointers

Plumbing

Ok you have everything ready for your bathroom, and ready to install the items you have bought but not sure whether to plumb the items in first or afterwards. Well if your vanity units have totally open backs then this will allow you to slide the unit alongside the wall without coming into contact with any pipes. This allows you to do the plumbing legwork first then fix in the vanity units afterwards.

One thing worth noting however is that you should leave the affection of the doors until the very end of this entire fitting process since it will make accessing the plumbing easier. Once the vanity cabinet is put together, positioned and set to the wall or floor you can begin the countertop installation process. If you are performing a "recessed mount" fixing, you will need a faultless circle equal to a percentage of the diameter of the sink, to allow it to sit comfortably in the hole. Ensure beads of silicone adhesive run around the perimeter of the top of the vanity, and then lower countertop into place.

Installing a couple of water supply lines for a faucet and a drain is something pretty much anyone can achieve if they take their time, have the right tools and have the willingness to learn. When plumbing drain trimmings ensure extra strength silicone and plumbing adhesive is used.

Installation of Ceiling Fans and Lighting

If this is a fresh installation and would like an extractor fan in your bathroom you will normally need to install the fan in a location where it can be attached to a ceiling support, which you can position using a stud antenna or any other method you prefer. Prepare the new fan for installation by verifying the exhaust duct is the same size as the exhaust on the cover. If you plan to have spot light lighting please be aware that a new installation can be quite complex and might be best undertaken by a pro. Prepare it for installation by installing the appropriate cable clamp in the electrical housing knockout s for the cable that was run to the lighting units.

For more information regarding bathroom furniture ranges please visit bathrooms cheaper

Lee Tyrrell of Bathrooms Cheaper

Wood Sub Floors are a Rotten Choice

For many homeowners, the idea of a basement finishing is to remodel the area the same what the rest of the house has been designed. This means they'll want their ceiling to be made of drywall to look like the rest of their house. The furniture should be the same decor, and their floors- the wood sub floors and beautiful, thick carpet laid on top- should be placed downstairs as well.

Unfortunately, this is not going to work. A drywall ceiling is going to give little or no access to pipes running along your basement ceiling, and a single plumbing leak will cause enormous damage to it. The basement walls have fewer windows than the rest of the house, and if you lay wood on a concrete basement floor, it's going to lead to a home improvement disaster.

The problem is this: concrete is porous like a sponge. If you have moisture in the earth around your basement floor, the concrete floor will soak that moisture up from the ground and release it into the basement air in the form of water vapor. The dirt around your foundation was backfilled in when the foundation was built. Because of this, it will always be looser and more porous than the virgin earth around it, and water will always collect against your home's foundation more than anywhere else.

As this moisture soaks through to the basement and is released, it will collect on anything lying on your basement floor. If you've laid a wood sub floor and carpet on the floor, then you can count on that to soak up this moisture and grow mold, mildew, and rot. Your basement will fill with mold spores, dust mite feces, and unpleasant odors as your wood sub floors and beautiful carpet decays. In a few years, the damage will be more than you can stand, and the whole finished basement floor will need to be ripped up and replaced. The solution to this comes in two easy rules:

Rule 1: Never install wood floors in a basement.
Whether it's in the form of moisture coming through the concrete, a foundation leak, or a plumbing leak from within the house itself, water will reach the basement floor sooner or later. It only takes about 48 hours for mold to start growing, and there's no easy way to dry wood sub floors out. Installing wood sub floors in a basement is a risk at best and a disaster at worst.

Rule 2: Add a reliable plastic vapor barrier to your floor, then lay your carpeting on top.
A thick pile carpet will add warmth to the room and will absorb sounds, making the finished basement quieter than ever. It'll be softer under foot and will make the room as comfortable as possible for children to play in.

Once you've done a basement waterproofing, Basement Systems recommends and installs ThermalDry floor matting on your concrete basement floors. It creates a waterproof vapor barrier on your floor that will protect your carpet from basement moisture while insulating the floor to make the surface as much as ten degrees warmer than the concrete floor beneath. Our floor matting last twice as long and take only 3/8" of head room from the basement floor as opposed to the 4" that wood sub floors can use. Our sub floors outlast several generations of carpet, come with a written warranty, and will not support the growth of mold and rot. What more could you want?

Jacques Bouchard
Basement Systems
Total Basement Finishing
60 Silvermine Road
Seymour, CT 06483
800-541-0487 x9335

Importance of Bathroom Furniture

Building a new home always has some kind of excitement attached to it, as it is considered to be a status symbol. After the home has been renovated or your new home has been constructed it is obvious that many people visit the place. An integral part of your home is the bathroom and it is also called as rest room probably because you we do spend a lot of time there. It is good feeling when it has been well built. Although a good bathroom comes at a price and it is worthed to invest however there are many ways with which you can reduce the cost of building. These days' people are paying a lot of attention over the dcor and the furniture and fittings of the rest room so that it becomes a part of their lifestyle. Great care has to be taken while choosing the furniture and fittings of your bathroom; otherwise it can act as a pinch on your pocket. One of the hardest places to design is bathroom because there are many areas involved like the ceiling the taps, showers and many other things.

Firstly the main thing is the size and shape of your bathroom. Shape of your bathroom is important because that decides what kind of furniture is going to be used. Be careful while choosing your vanity and cabinets; ensure that you don't crowd the room. Overcrowding will ruin the feel of relaxation. When you're buying your furniture you should not look only for beauty but also its safety and finishes. Designer furniture gives complete new looks to your bathroom. Today people want there bathroom to be unique. A neat and tidy bathroom reflects the person's living style.

Before buying accessories think of your design and theme of your bathroom then list out the main things like: sinks, cabinets, showers, toilet, hutches and tubs. Modern accessories provide a dual benefit that is looks as well as good storage facilities. Bathroom designers are very keen on innovating new looks, new styles, new designs to give unique look. The material used in bathroom accessories are wood, glass, stone, porcelain and concrete. Wooden furniture is an apt choice and it suits both modern and traditional theme. All the materials are different in quality and design and cost depend upon quality of material.

The furniture should match your bathroom; lack of unity will spoil the whole concept of your bathroom, even if the material looks fancy but it needs to match the color of your restroom otherwise it would spoilt the coherence of the restroom and it would look messy. Good lighting, new style of windows give new looks to your bathroom. But one of the important things is that you should not overlook your budget. But it is essential that you should not compromise on the quality aspect, renovation is an one time investment and it would be incurred at the maximum once in five to six years so ensure that you buy good quality stuff , frequent changes may pose a pinch to your pocket.

Sharon Samraj is an expert author, who is presently working on the site Bathroom Vanities, Bathroom Furniture, Discount Bathroom Vanities. He has written many articles in various topics like Bathroom Cabinet, Wood Bathroom Vanities. For more information contact http://www.istockvanities.com.

Contractors Read This - Construction Morals

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

General Contractor For Your Project - Remodels

Admit it-you may do the home remodeling or the room addition on your own, but if you want to have perfect home renovations, you'd certainly look for a general contractor. He doesn't only have the skills, but he also possesses the experience to make sure that the project is going to be successful. But how do you exactly look for one, especially online?

1. Check out different general contractor websites. There are a variety of general contractor sites that you can find in the World Wide Web. Members are usually professionals who have experience in home renovations and home construction.

2. Sign up for membership. There are some sites that may require your membership first before you can fully make use of their list of general contractors. Normally, they don't require any upfront fee, so you can definitely sign up. Make sure that every mandatory field is filled out and that the information are all true. They will be used to communicate with your prospective general contractors.

3. Post your project. Whether it's a kitchen remodel or a bath remodel, post your projects. This way, you will be able to attract the attention of the right general contractor. Now, it's very important that you will screen every applicant. They may all have the experience and the technical skills, but there will always be one or two will qualify or satisfy your preference and your need.

4. Ask for portfolio, if they have any. When you're looking for credentials, make sure that you can include their portfolio, as well as references. You need them to confirm the information they have included in their profile.

When you have chosen the right general contractor for your home remodeling, make sure that you can keep all communication lines open. As a matter of fact, make it a habit to personally meet them and tour them to your home.

Do you want to save a lot of money on your general contractor for your home remodeling? You can look for the best handyman, home builder, or other professional for a home construction, or just a kitchen remodel or a room addition right at http://www.contractorjoint.com/

You don't need to pay for anything when posting your project. Furthermore, you can specify the job site and the category of your project, making it also easier for professionals to search for the right project for them.

http://freelancernetwork.org/ is another construction resource that has construction, home remodeling and bathroom categories. It is more concentrated in Programming, Web Design and SEO.

Tips To Select New Shower Door

If somebody is planning a new bathroom then he should know that a new bathroom cannot do without a stylish shower door. Shower doors are available in different colors, styles and finishes. The most common door style which are opted by people is a bypass door that has two doors that slide in a frame which is mounted over the wall of the tub. While buying shower doors for your washroom you should never forget about glass styles and shower finishes.

The bathroom accessories have gone under tremendous change in the past several years. With the help of a right accessory you can provide a finishing touch for every type of bathroom. If you are selecting shower doors then it is a good idea to shop for some additional accessories. You can start with towel bars. They are one of the basic accessories which a person needs in the bathroom. Nowadays you can find some doors which come with integrated towel bars. Always remember that towel bars are not the substitutes for grab bars. Towel bars are designed for a different purpose.

Modern accessories are easy to install and can give new look to your bathroom. Your job is to select the best model of doors which suits the interior of your bathroom. Two most common models available in the market are sliding and hinged models. If you are having a small bathroom then it is a good idea to opt for a sliding model. You should never forget that modern bathroom accessories not only enhance the beauty of your bathroom but also increases the functionality.

If you want to know more about Shower Doors then feel free to visit Bella Bathrooms.

How to Estimate the Cost to Replace Windows

The question on how to estimate the cost to replace windows can be best answered by mentioning a list of considerations that affect the final price. I have recently written an article about the cost of different replacement widows and I am not going to make this article a duplicate of that one.

Instead I will provide some guidelines that will help you make the right estimates. Just read the article right to the end if you want a comprehensive answer to your question.

How many windows you need

First you need to know the number of windows that you need to replace. You will probably need an expert to come over for a house inspection lest you leave out some that also need urgent attention.

The installation costs

In most cases the installation costs will be quoted per window. I have seen a number of people trying to save costs by attempting to install the windows by themselves and after a while having to live with leaking windows due to poor installation.

The Cost per replacement window

Once you have ascertained the number of windows you need. You will then have to get think about the cost per window. You can these really vary a lot. I mean you can get one for about $180 and even way less. It depends on some of the factors that I mention below as I list some guidelines on how to estimate the cost to replace windows.

The labour - who you will hire

Like I said earlier some people prefer to try and DIY. I usually say - wrong move. Why risk it unless you know what you are doing. You have an option to get a contractor do the job for you or find a friend or neighbour who has experience in window replacement. It will be cheaper to do the latter than the former but riskier.

Window Accessories

Different types of windows come with different type of accessories that you may need to buy in order to complete the whole replacement job.

Type of windows to Use

There are typically 3 type of windows i.e. wood, vinyl and fibreglass. Wood is more expensive, vinyl is the most popular and fibreglass is newer but also effective. You also need to figure out the type in terms of the windows themselves i.e. will they be double or single pane.

The window brands to buy

As you may know brands like Pella and Andersons are more expensive than the rest. But then they are also good quality windows. You have an option to choose a less popular brand if you want to reduce your short-term costs. I say short-term on purpose.

Proximity of supplier or contractor

This is my last point on how to estimate the cost to replace windows. The closer the supplier or contractor the cheaper it will be for you.

Click here > find window replacement quotations from companies near where you live.

Click here > best replacement window companies that are pre-screened by experts.

Granite Floor Tiles - Sturdy Yet Stylish

Granite is a kind of igneous rock that is formed below the surface of the Earth, under tremendous heat and pressure. The rock is granular in texture, and is thus called granite. It is the origin that makes granite highly resistant to heat, moisture, and regular wear and tear. Granite floor tiles thus make the ideal choice for kitchen floors, and bathroom floors. This is because these floors have to withstand a lot of punishment from falling utensils, lots of moisture, spilled liquids of various kinds and at various temperatures, scratches from sharp utensils and metal buckets, and so on. Kitchen and bathroom floors also require frequent cleaning, so the material used in the floor must be able to withstand it.

The granite tiles are cut, shaped, and polished on one side. Being very hard in nature, the slabs of granite cannot be cut easily. Special types of abrasive cutters or sandblasters are required to cut the granite slabs to size. These tiles may be hard, but the polished surfaces are smooth and cold to touch. Granite is not only preferred for its hardiness, but also for its aesthetic appearance. The tiles are available in various colors, such as grey, green, yellow, black, red, white, brown, silver, etc. Differently colored granite tiles can spice up almost any kind of kitchen or bathroom set up. The polished surfaces also provide little or no room for bacteria to thrive in, thus making granite tiles the safest option for floors.

The best choice would be to use medium sized, square-shaped granite tiles with 1/8 inch close grout lines. This would ensure cost-effective usage of filler material and will also bind the tiles strongly enough to give a long lasting end result. The medium sized floor tiles will make the room look more spacious. The polished granite tiles tend to reflect some light, thereby improving the lighting in the room.

Granite floor tiles, in spite of their hardiness, do require some care and frequent cleaning. Stone soaps (highly concentrated water based cleaning solutions) are formulated especially for cleaning granite floors. These do not leave any residues on the tiles and do not make them slippery either. Stone soaps can clean granite floors all the way down to the pores, removing dirt, dust, grime, and grease. Frequent cleaning and responsible usage will keep the granite floor looking brand new for years.

Whether you're building your dream home, designing a commercial master- piece, or creating a garden paradise, Surfaces USA provides the essential qualities that give your vision the look and feel you desire. We carry a wide selection of the Finest Granite Wall Tiles, Tumbled Mosaic, Glass, Slate & Travertine.

Framing Exterior House Walls - Home Building

Framing the exterior walls with 2 x 6 studs instead of 2 x 4 can definitely add to the price of the home. In addition to the cost of the lumber, you also have an increase in the labor, insulation, window and door trimming.

The advantages for using 2 x 6 in the exterior walls would be the additional structural strength to the building and the ability to use thicker insulation in the walls.

One of the only reasons I can think of for using 2 x 6 on your exterior wall would be the installation of thicker insulation. 2 x 4 walls will insulate with R-13, which is about 4 inches thick and 2 x 6 will insulate with R-19, which is about 6 inches thick.

The additional 2 inches will be a 50% increase over the 2 x 4 wall. 50% is a lot, dealing with anything. Imagine if you got a 50% increase in your annual pay this year. This wouldn't be anything to complain about, would it.

2 x 6 also has advantages when you are drilling holes for plumbing pipes, electrical wires or heating ducts. Often plumbers and electricians drill large holes in 2 x 4 walls, taking a little bit more away from the structural strength of the home. Some plumbing pipes for example are 2 inches in diameter, drilling this whole through a 3 1/2 inch 2 x 4, only leaves you three quarters of an inch on each side if the whole is drilled exactly in the center.

Drilling a 2 inch hole in a 2 x 6 will leave you an inch and three quarters on each side. In other words if you subtract 2 inches from 5 - 1/2 inches, the thickness of a 2 x 6, you still have a 2 x 4 left over. 2 x 6 framing also gives you 50% more lumber and structural strength in the home. Again this might not sound like much but it is a lot.

If you live near a busy road or highway, you could use the 2 x 6 framing, only on the exterior walls that separate your living area from the noisy road. The thicker the wall, the tougher it is for the sound to travel through it.

The biggest problem with most home builders is the additional cost and this is coming right out of their profit. Most homebuilders, especially the larger ones, depend on every penny they can to survive in the long run. It's an extremely tough business to be in.

If you're building your own home, give some consideration to using 2 x 6 if you live in areas where the temperatures are extremely cold or hot. One of the only reasons to frame the exterior walls with 2 x 6 is the ability to use more insulation and this would cut down utility costs. If you live in a moderate climate, where utility bills aren't astronomical, it would not be cost effective, for you to use 2 x 6.

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.

Customizing Your Home Exterior With Moldings After an EIFS Or Stucco Renovation

Deciding to renovate your home's exterior with EIFS (Exterior Insulation Finish Systems, or "synthetic stucco") raises a lot of unforeseen questions and possibly expensive extras, which you may or may not be able to defer. Home owners are often hit with expenses they weren't expecting, including replacing sheathing, deciding whether or not to replace windows to properly tie them in, removing and reinstalling soffits, and cleanup. Among the seemingly limitless decisions you're pressed for time to make, is that of choosing the exterior decor that will represent you, your house and your style.

The true benefit of EIFS (besides the "small" one of saving hundreds of dollars on bills and reducing the risk of moisture problems in your walls) is the beauty of what you can do with it. Sometimes referred to as "stucco moldings", these details are made of the same materials as the synthetic stucco itself and add a touch of your personal style and character to the exterior of your home. It has never been easier to customize your home to make it stand apart from all the others that look exactly the same in a subdivision. Although having it planned out in advance in the best case scenario, decorative elements such as pre-coated architectural moldings, columns, keystones, quoins and pilasters are some of the items which may be deferred to save some money.

Deferring the addition of decorative elements also gives you time to really take a what is available to you. It always amazes people how much you begin to notice other EIFS-clad homes after you have yours done -- and what elements you'd like to incorporate into your home. Taking the time to pick and plan what style of quoins (be it squared-vs-rectangular sides, square-vs-beveled corners, joined-vs-spaced-apart) or whether you want your decorative elements lighter or darker than your wall color, and by how much -- is a luxury not afforded to home owners who hastily make these decisions among the hundreds of others during a renovation. Although this means having an applicator come again to install them later on, the same contractor will likely be glad to do it, and you have the ability to defer the additional cost to a later date.

The moral of the story is this. Try to have as much as possible planned out and decided on in advance. Realize that without professional help, you're going to have time and cost overruns which will put you at wit's end, and critical decisions won't get as much attention as they should. In the end though, all is not lost. You now know that one of the most rewarding aspects of renovating (customizing YOUR home) can be put off to give you more time to decide what you truly want.

And if you already have a stucco-clad home, start deciding what you would like!

Jim Schwarznoff has taken courses in classical and modern architecture as a part of his Bachelor of Applied Technology in Construction Science and Management, and supervised countless home stucco renovations. For more information on pre-coated styrofoam decorative products, visit http://www.decoramould.com.
If you have an existing home which you'd like to renovate with EIFS or have moldings added to, visit http://www.TorontoStuccoContractor.com.

Enameled Lava Stone Counter Tops For Kitchens and Bathrooms

Enameled lava stone is a highly luxurious product extracted from volcanic lava stone and glazed with enamel. This product is fired in a kiln at 1300 degrees to create a beautiful, smooth crackled finish. It is a relatively new product to market and is quite durable; it is highly resistant to stains and scratching.

Cost

Enameled lava stone is mostly produced in France by a limited amount of suppliers and due to the lack of manufacturers involved in glazing this stone, it is a very expensive product, well over $200 a sq. ft installed. If you can afford it, consider this option because it can be opulent.

Color/ Design

As this stone is enameled, it can be available in a range of colors. Some draw backs are its glossy finish. If you are not looking for that shiny, glossy look, enameled lava stone is available in matte finishes however they are limited. Because it can look very similar to glass, it will reflect light beautifully over large surface areas. Many wash basins, bathroom counter tops and sinks are being designed from an enameled lava stone perspective.

Durability

Enameled lava stone is a highly durable and low maintenance product. It is extremely stain and heat resistant and does not require a sealant. It has also been known to be used in outdoor areas because of its resistance to extremely cold temperatures. Its glossy finish can lead to some scratching on the surface, but, with proper use and some diligence on your part, you can enjoy enameled lava stone for a life time.

Construction/Installation

We always recommend that installation be done by professionals especially when working with stone. This particular product is pre-fabricated and shipped pre-cut by a laser saw. Manufacturers can work with your personal bathroom designs to custom make any enameled lava stone counter top you desire. Visit a sanctioned installer to get the best results. One of the primary manufacturers of enameled lava stone is Pyrolave, a company out of France that specializes in this beautiful product.

Environment/Health

Enameled stone is obviously created using enamels and therefore does have an impact on the environment due to waste by products. It is not particularly recyclable, but pre-fabricated pieces or designs can be re-used in other homes, kitchens or bathrooms if you have a good salvage source and are not restricted by color.

Since this product is enameled it becomes a wonderfully hygienic material rejecting mold and mildew easily.

The Oops Factor

Outstanding!! Enameled lava is very durable, shiny and stain repellent. a great choice if hygiene is a concern in your home

In Conclusion, Lava stone is sexy to look at, wicked to the touch and a beauty to use in any sexy room. It works great as a bar top, sink, kitchen counter top and of course as a bathroom counter top. Since it resembles glass with its glossy finish, it reflects light beautifully naturally bringing your kitchen and Bathroom to life! If you can afford it, do it!!

Michael Kyle is Co-founder of The Sexy Bathroom.Com and The Sexy Kitchen.com Two great web sites dedicated to Kitchen & Bathroom Design, Planning and Materials as well as a great resource for design photo's and entertaining.

How to Estimate a Paint Job - San Diego Home Tips

How to estimate a paint job. Or It's not guess work.

You can do all things correctly; but, if you mess up here, you can get hurt. It's not rocket science to estimate a paint job. It's actually fairly easy. I have seen everything in the way of paint job estimates, from something scribbled on a torn off sheet of scrap paper to ones like mine which are broken down into each room, and within each room, the individual elements.

The one thing that I don't think a painting estimate is, a guess. For some reason, some painters think that it impresses their potential clients, to walk through a job, and just throughout a number, based solely on that walk through. I imagine somewhere along the way, somebody saw the painter do that, and said, "Wow, you are good you can do that in your head!". Most of the time the owners of the homes that we paint, did not get impressed with that little of that trick. They all seemed to say the painter didn't really care enough to take the time to measure and really look at the job. People are too sophisticated to feel confident in what the contractor is trying to pull off as some secret mysterious intelligence used only by them.

We lose a really powerful tool, if all we do is measure. It is much better that we spend time asking questions. Asking things like, How long have you been planning this job?. Are you painting to sell?
What is the reason that you are painting? I am usually amused by their reaction to some of my questions. It's as though they couldn't even imagine a painting contractor asking those questions, or they can't imagine why a painting contractor would ask those questions. If you are good you ask these questions as you measure and walk around the house, and pet Scooby Doo at the same time.

When I walk into a client's home, I will ask them if I should take my shoes off. I always wear good socks.

More and more people are leaving their shoes at the door. It does make the home much cleaner. It seems to give them the feeling that I am being respectful of their property. It also is a direct result of walking into someone's house on their white rug, and leaving muddy footprints.
Some painting contractors are working with their laptops, and printing their estimates from the printer in the truck. They are doing what is the "one" call estimate. I have tried it, and I prefer a two step. That is the measure call and then a sit down with all deciding people. The advantages of the one stop are obvious.The estimator gains a big time savings. If the contractor has many estimates to do, then it is a real time saver.

Personally I have tried it, I prefer the two step measure call and then sales call. The reason is that I get a chance to sit down and go over the Proposal with the decision makers. I firmly believe that more sales are made this way than just leaving the estimate.

Patrick Cavanaugh has 30 years+ running a successful painting business, and helping others improve their business, and raising the standards of painters everywhere.

Feng Shui Bathroom Tips

Many people feel that because a bathroom is the smallest room in the house it's not necessary to apply the principles of Feng Shui, but this is not so. The bathroom is important too. Every room in your home affects you. Bathrooms are places for daily cleansing, so a clean bathroom supports positive chi (energy).

Here are some Feng Shui Bathroom tips.

1. Keep your bathroom door closed and put the toilet seat down. Since it's a place where energy is disposed it can have a draining effect on your home. It's also important when a bathroom is in a bedroom to keep the door closed. The active bathroom water energy shouldn't interfere with the restful energy in the bedroom. Did you know that the Chinese prefer to keep the bathroom doors closed as a matter of good etiquette?

2. Besides keeping this room well lit, make sure that the plumbing is functioning properly. Drippy faucets and faulty plumbing represent "a leaky wallet," plus noisy plumbing is disturbing on a subliminal level. The plumbing of the bathroom can affect the "internal plumbing" of the people living in the home. For example, my client Silvia, could not get pregnant. Her master bath was under construction and the plumbing was not functioning in the shower. I advised her to get the water "flowing' in that shower and repair the plumbing as soon as possible. Once she did this, she got pregnant immediately! After all, our homes mirror what's going on inside of us.

3. Choose colors associated with the earth element to balance out the water energy in the bathroom. Natural earth colors from pale sand to burnt orange, including terracotta and yellows are good choices.

4. Wood elements help balance the excess water energy in the bathroom. Since plants represent the wood element you can introduce soft-leaved green plants or lucky bamboo. Wood decorative finishes for vanities in the bathroom are also good. Your bathroom should be a place where you enjoy spending time. After all, it's where you begin and end each day, so the more attractive you make it the better!

If you enjoyed this article, you'll love "Feng Shui Made Simple: Room By Room" ebook. Since your home mirrors your life it's important to create an environment that supports your goals and dreams. You have the power to create your best life yet and this book will give you the tools. Click this link to read more about this book: http://tinyurl.com/98rtkb

DIY Bathroom Remodeling - Home Remodels

The first question you need to ask yourself when remodeling a bathroom is can you actually do the work yourself or do you have someone that can help you with the remodeling. If you don't know anyone and can't do the work yourself, I would suggest hiring a contractor with experience remodeling bathrooms.

If you can do the work yourself or think you could do the work yourself, why not give it a shot. Any experience you have in construction or home remodeling, is going to be beneficial to your bathroom remodeling project. There is plenty of information on the internet or in your local libraries on bathroom remodeling and these often prove to be great resources for do it yourselfers.

As an experienced contractor I have gathered a great deal of information through books, at work and watching local home improvement shows. The biggest problem with the show's and quite a few of these books, is they don't provide enough information. Most of the time they provide you with the basics of bathroom remodeling and you could soon find yourself in trouble or seeking the advice from a home improvement professional.

The largest benefit for doing the bathroom remodeling project yourself, could be the money you save, along with the satisfaction of completing the project. It makes homeowners feel good when they've completed a large home remodeling project, like a bathroom remodel.

If you don't have the time, lack the experience or a combination of both, I would suggest hiring a contractor to relieve you from the stress and frustration of your bath remodeling project. The more complex your bathroom remodeling project is, the greater the degree of difficulty, the longer it will take to complete the project. Some of these projects can take up a lot of your time.

If you're working on galvanized water supply pipes or old cast iron waste pipes, you could find yourself hiring a plumber to install your bathtub and fixtures. These old pipes create problems for most do it yourselfers and I would suggest hiring a professional, whenever you run into a problem you don't feel comfortable with.

Choosing to tackle some of these difficult problems yourself, could lead to water leaks and more damage to the home eventually costing you even more money than the original cost of hiring an experienced plumber in the first place. When it comes to water, structural framing and electricity, think twice, especially if you're not experienced in these areas.

My advice to do it yourselfers is to hire a professional if you're not comfortable or seek the advice from a contractor or someone with considerable experience bathroom remodeling.

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.

Designing the Ultimate Bathroom Retreat

When you walk into your bathroom, you want to feel as though you have stepped into another world, a world where you can truly relax and enjoy a sense of calm. But in truth, more contemporary bathroom designs are created with one purpose in mind, practical uses. While this is all well and good, more contemporary bathroom remodeling project ideas are focusing on the luxuries that make a bathroom a guilty pleasure. Here are some ideas to create the ultimate bathroom retreat.

Soaking in the tub

If you are looking to create the perfect bathroom, you should consider installing a larger bath tub or Jacuzzi. While this might seem a bit unnecessary for your contemporary bathroom remodeling project, you want to increase the space in the tub to make this the ultimate tub and not just an ordinary bath. You want to have plenty of room to sit and enjoy that bubble bath when you finally have a free moment. These contemporary bathroom designs can be costly, but you are worth it! Look around your bathroom right now to see if there is unnecessary space where your bigger, better bathtub can reside.

Why not catch the game too?

When you want to relax in your ultimate bathroom, you should be able to relax and enjoy the space. Why not install a high definition television as well as sophisticated stereo system into the room as well? For this contemporary bathroom remodeling project, you will want to hire the professionals in order to ensure that your equipment will be safe from the water that you are splashing around as well as include a safe system of turning it on and off or adjusting the channels. For these contemporary bathroom designs, you may want to keep the system out of sight until you want to use it, as this will add to the luxurious feeling of the room. Perhaps the television can drop down when you want to watch something or the stereo speakers can be disguised. In any case, this project should be a blissful addition to your bathroom, though you might have people fighting over who gets to go next.

Other fun luxury accessories

When you are soaking in the tub of luxury and listening to your favorite CD, you can also add these accessories to complete the ultimate bathroom setting:

• Heated towel racks. These electric racks will help keep your towels warm and dry when you get out of the tub, that is, if you ever do.
• Ceramic tiling. Though this does not offer any additional comfort to this particular contemporary bathroom remodeling project, it certainly looks much better than traditional surfaces.
• Decorations. By keeping your dcor simple, you will immediately cause it to look richer. Try adding candles, flowers, and statues to the room as accents.

When you want to create the ultimate bathroom, you need to understand what makes your bathroom stand out from the rest. It is not the contemporary bathroom design; but the special touches that make this into a luxury spa everyday.

Dave Robert is a VP at Discount Bathroom Vanities Publishing, and an avid fixer-upper who's been restoring old houses for more than twenty years. Readers can tap into Dave's knowledge about home remodeling, and kitchen and bathroom design, at: http://www.DiscountBathroomVanities.com

Steam Cleaning Vs. Dry Cleaning

There has always been a huge debate over which cleaning method is best for your carpet, steam cleaning or dry cleaning? In my 13 years in the carpet cleaning industry, I have been exposed to both sides of the fence, having worked for dry and steam cleaning companies.

"Shaw Industries" is the largest carpet manufacturer in the world, if you go to there site, they will suggest having your carpet steam cleaned. As far as I'm concerned, this settles the debate. Since they have to honor warrantees, they want the consumer to abide by there guidelines to keep losses down to a minimum.

Do you think they would recommend steam cleaning if they thought that dry cleaning would reduce the amount of claims? Steam cleaning has received bad press, which really started back in the 70's when steam cleaning was just evolving into a popular cleaning method.

Carpet machines back then weren't very efficient, leaving the carpet wet for 24 hours or more. Dry cleaning companies used this as a selling point for their services. Times have changed drastically, steam cleaning machines that are mounted in vans produce very hot water and are extremely efficient in water recovery, leaving the carpet dry in 4 hours or so.

If carpet cleaners use an extra dry stroke while cleaning, dry times can easily be less than two hours and with new extraction devices, the dry time can get even lower. So how do dry cleaning companies sell their services now? The same way they did back in the 70's, through customer fear of having soggy carpet the next day.

This is simply not true! The fact of the matter is, sometimes steam cleaning can be dry before dry cleaning! Dry cleaning is inferior to steam cleaning in every aspect. It does a poor job of removing soil and it leaves chemicals in the carpet which can cause yellowing from the high ph.

I think more consumers should be aware of the facts and not let hype control their decision making when it comes to carpet cleaning. If more dry cleaning customers had their carpet steam cleaned, chances are, they would never go back.

Bobby Walker
13 year carpet cleaning veteran
Owner/Carpet Cleaning of Dallas
http://www.dfwcarpetcleaning.com

Fixing a Speaker Cabinet by Replacing a Home Theater Speaker

When it comes to great audio sound, there is no part of a home theater that is more overlooked that the speaker cabinet. It is the very last link in the sound chain and controls the final way you hear everything. The speaker cabinet reproduces the tone as sound waves in the air which creates the subtle differences in sound. What happens when you have a blown speaker in one of your cabinets? Do you fix it or just buy a new one?

Usually the answer to this question is a wholehearted yes, simply for the reason that those cabinets were built with your speakers in mind. That is what they designed for. Think about the amount of math and engineering that was involved in building the cabinets with a certain amount of air space in mind. These cabinets were tuned specifically for those old speakers. Installing other speakers in there will not sound the same as your old speakers.

Here is a simple step by step process how you can remove the bad speaker from the cabinet and repair it.

• Take the speaker cabinet you'll be working on and set it on its back to remove the speaker grille. Some grilles are different than others. Some simply pop into place, while others are secured in with screws visible from the side or front of the cabinet.
• Now that you have the grill removed, you'll next unscrew the first screw from the bad speaker, and then the screw opposite the first one. All of the screws need to be removed in an opposite pairs order.
• Now, carefully list the speaker out of the cabinet. It will still be connected by wires to the other speakers and the head unit. Some are attached by two wires while others by four. There should never come a time when you remove a speaker and there is only one wire. If this you see this is the case then you may be lucky and the speaker is just disconnected and not blown out.
• Now take those wires hanging out the back and pull them out of the speaker tabs using the plastic connectors. Never pull on the wire itself. You'll end up damaging it. Those tabs should be color coded to help you distinguish between the positive (red) and the negative (black) wires. If they aren't, then simply label them with a marker before you remove them. Be careful not to let the wires fall back inside the cabinet once they are removed by taping them to the sides.
• Double check that the removed speaker is in fact blown and dead by determining the resistance between the two positive and negative connection tabs. If you get a read out on the meter of less than an ohm or more than twice the impedance rating, you have yourself a bad speaker. If you get a reading between the two good zones, then there shouldn't be anything wrong with the speaker. One other way is to lightly press on the center of the speaker cone. The speaker is blown if it makes a scratchy sound or does not spring back to its original shape.
• Now that you have your new speaker ready to go, you'll need to reconnect the wires by pushing the connectors onto the matching tab. Set the speaker into the mounting hole and replace the screws in that same opposing pair fashion as used earlier.
• Lastly, you are going to tighten all those screws, replace the grille and return the speaker cabinet back to its upright position.

Electra Warehouse does not only offer mobile electronics, it also carries brand named pro DJ equipment and home audio equipment. Electra Warehouse strives to give each customer a great one stop shop for the best bargain mobile, home and pro dj electronics. Visit them at http://www.electrawarehouse.com.

Hotels, Motels Green Bathroom Remodeling Nationwide

Hotels/motels that remodel their bathrooms by going green are following the hotel industry's move towards environmental sustainability. Hotels/Motels therefore, have understood that going green means replacing fixtures with water or energy saving appliances. What many hotels and motels owners are beginning to learn is that going green in their bathroom remodeling project, includes refinishing, recycling and the use of recycled materials.

Hotels/Motels green remodeling has other benefits or advantages apart from saving money. Investors that are looking to buy a chain of hotels or motels or even those looking to buy a single hotel or motel are definitely looking to buy ones that have efficient fixtures and appliances installed in their bathrooms.

Hotels and Motels use of resources

Hotels and motels are in general bigger than average buildings and the use a lot of resources. It takes a lot of resources to build hotels and an equally bigger and constant resources to maintain - heating and cooling, use of lots of water. No hotels can function without water. Hotels need water for laundry, for showering in the bathrooms, flushing the toilets, washing your hands, and then dishwashing. That is why any hotel that considers bathroom remodeling, thinks about green bathroom remodeling and it's advantage of saving water.

Additionally, the hotel industry use a lot of energy. The annual energy bill for the hospitality industry is $3.7 billion a year on energy. Energy savings alone is driving a lot of hotels to green bathroom remodeling. They see the benefits and embrace the advantages of water and energy savings they get from when their bathrooms are remodeled for green living.

Hotels see green in green bathroom remodeling. Whether the owners of hotels or motels believe that the civilities of their hotels have an impact on the environment or not, they see "green" the money savings in water and energy resources.

Green bathroom remodeling save hotels and motels money:

Replace showerheads to save water bills:
During a tight economy, those hotels that are remodeling in order to sell their hotels or add value to their property are discovering that a very inexpensive way to save water in their hotels bathrooms is to replace their shower heads with water saving ones. The performance of a good water head should be the same as a normal shower head. Cheap one dribble water which defeats the whole purpose of water savings.

Replace older toilets with water saving toilets:
There have been a lot of advancement in the choice of toilets that save water. You can choose a pressurized toilet which fits well over where your old toilet sits. Pressurized toilets cost more than their standard counterpart and some people claim that they give some problems. On the other hand, dual flush toilets which are popular in Europe are showing up in more and more hotels bathrooms that are using green remodeling to water in their total bathroom remodeling project. It estimated that in one year, a dual flush toilet will save a family where four people are using the bathroom about 15000 gallons of water.

Hotels bathtub refinishing/tub re-glazing and sink refinishing saves money and the environment:

There are plenty of hotels, retirement homes, nursing homes or bed and breakfast inns that have antique claw foot bathtubs in their bathrooms. Refinishing these antique claw foot bathtubs preserve their beauty, saves hotels plenty of money and benefit's the environment. Sink refinishing saves the landfills and puts some "green" in the pockets of hotel owners. Bathtub refinishing saves bathtubs from going into the landfills while saving hotels over 80% over the cost of replacement. And when hotels add our volume discount, the savings are even bigger. Green bathtub refinishing is green in your bank account.

Hotels green bathroom remodeling uses recycled materials

Just like you find recycled materials that can be used when you remodel other rooms in other parts of the hotel, there are also building materials that are made of recycled materials tile; vanities and flooring. Hotels that use recycled fixtures save money and conserve natural resources.

Not every bathtub refinishing company or even every green bathroom remodeling company or business understands the import of our activities on our environment.

Not many know the fixtures, processes, and proper installation procedures that will save you money, time and the environment.

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

Showerheads - 6 Things You Should Know Before You Buy

1: STYLE IS KEY.

The color or finish of your showerhead should match the faucet and tub filler. Additionally, the style should have a similar look, but doesn't necessarily have to match. The showerheads of today not only offer massage, but up to 25 different spray patterns from a drenching rain to a fine mist.

2: SPRAY ME.

There are numerous showerheads available on the market. Choose a handheld version with a controlled spray to bathe children, wash a pet or help those who need to shower sitting down. Some mount on a vertical slide for versatility and allow for height differences. The wall-mounted shower is most common with an overhead shower placed on the ceiling. This may require more water to operate. Body spray showerheads are small showerheads installed in series of two or three along opposite walls. The ultimate is body mist shower with a series of jets in a single bar to gently wash the body and have adjustable force and spray patterns.

3: THE SELF CLEAN TEST.

A self-cleaning showerhead is extremely important if you live where there is hard water. Additionally, if you live near salt water, ask about a special protective coating for chrome and brass fixtures. The coating will allow you to maintain the look without discoloration, tarnishing or pitting.

4: FLOW.

Low-flow showerheads conserve water by restricting flow through smaller openings. The federally mandated effort to save water has reduced the flow of showerheads to no more than 2.5 gallons per minute. Some showerhead manufacturers offer flow restriction mechanisms that reduce levels even lower. While they save water at this lower level, the water temperature may be lower than desired.

5: PRICE CHECK.

You will find a wide price range of showerheads, from $20 to $500 and up. Generally you will get what you pay for with the lower priced models offering less features and less warranty, if any. If you are replacing a wall mounted showerhead, you will most likely want to select another one. Changing to an overhead showerhead may mean expensive plumbing renovations.

6: SCALD GUARD.

Will your shower be used by small children or older adults? If so, select antiscald protection. If you replace old mixer valve with an antiscald one, this is an expensive plumbing expense. Think about an antiscald fitting which install in between the shower arm and your new showerhead.

Steven M. Fisher is a well known expert in the Home Improvement, Building and Decorating Fields. Before you make any big purchases for your home, go to the Home Remodeling Portal where you can find information on thousands of products and manufacturers at the click of a mouse, as well as, several informative "6 Things To Know Before You Buy..." articles. For more information go to the http://www.HomeRemodelingPortal.com

Steps to Installing Walk-In Tubs and Baths

The comfort of relaxing in a hot bath tub cannot be underestimated especially after a long and stressful day. Millions of dollars are spent each year in tub, bath and spa treatments not to mention their complimentary services such as massages and aroma therapies. Then there are the different products such as soaps, lotions, perfumes and aroma therapy bubble bat solutions that cater to spa fans. There is also a section of the populace that does not necessarily enjoy the tub the way others do and this is because of their disabilities which prevent them from getting in.

There are many in society who have physical limitations such as paralysis, arthritis, sickness and other issues that cause them to be under the care of someone else or where they find it a challenge to lift themselves and get into the bath tub. It therefore become necessary to carried in and out of the bath tub.

Walk-in tubs and baths may resemble ordinary tubs but they are also specially designed to allow a door on the side. This opens much in the same way a car door opens. One then gets into the car and closes the door. Newer tubs also spot a seat where one can ease and sit down. Once inside the person can close the door and proceed to turn on the water. An interesting aspect of about walk-in tubs and baths is that they completely airtight and when the tub is full, it does not leak through the door hinges. The walk-in tubs and baths also come with special tub handles where the person using the tub can easily lift themselves out of the tub before stepping out. This is both convenient and adds to safety.

In the past, someone had to lift the invalid in and out of the tub. Not only was this very strenuous but it can result in back injury for the caregiver who is carrying them.

So how can you make the transition from a regular bath tub to the walk-in tub? In the US there are many stores which sell bath products and fixtures. Room stores and giant retail stores such as LOWES and Home Depot outfit bath tubs with excellent do-it-yourself installation guides. There are also excellent and friendly staff on standby and for an additional fee they can help you with installation if you do not want to mess around with the installation process.

In order to efficiently install a walk-in tub, you may want to contact the services of a handyman. These are home improvement experts who do any installations and modification jobs around the house. In the US you can find competent handymen through the yellow pages or simply contacting your local homeowners association. Handymen are very "handy" because they save you time and money all for a very minimal fee. We recommend that you seek the services of a professional handyman if you want a perfect installation of your tub.

Looking for information about walk-in tubs and showers? Theodor Cartman recommends different types of walk-in tubs and showers as the best option when buying.

Holiday Rentals - How to Boost Your Bookings

If you own a holiday accommodation property as an investment then your main goal is to get as many bookings as possible to keep your occupancy rate high. While the returns on these investments can be higher than standard long term rentals it is no good if your property is sitting empty for much of the time. The good news is there are a few simple tips to boost your occupancy rates and ensure your property stands out from the crowd.

At the top of your priorities should be making your property look inviting and attractive to potential renters. A major barrier for many is that the vacation rentals by owner market is perceived to be complicated. It can be hard to know what the place will actually look like, inconvenient to wait for owners to respond to inquiries, and insulting to hit a wall of silence after your stay. To overcome these barriers to full occupancy, here are a few things you can do now to boost your future bookings.

Make the place look good: You can't judge a book by its cover, but holiday accommodation hunters frequently judge a rental by its photos. Look critically at the photos you are using to promote your rental and ask yourself:

* When were these photos taken? A common listing error is using date stamped photos that are several years old to advertise the property. This sends off alarm bells to many potential renters who may think the property is now run down or not cared for. Ensure you use up to date photos that show an accurate portrayal of your property.

* What do these photos say about my property? Many of the vacation rentals by owner listings use low quality photographs that don't show the whole home. This communicates a lack of care, low pride of place, and indifference to potential customers. Set your property apart by using clear, high resolution photographs that flatter the big three: Bathroom, Bedroom, and View. Listings that avoid showing these key areas of a property may suggest there is something you don't want them to see. One the other hand, crisp and professional photography will grab attention and convert into more bookings.

Respond promptly to inquiries: Reply promptly to each and every inquiry you receive. Promptly does not mean you reply back within a week promptly in America is 24 - 48 hours, tops. Most clients in the vacation rentals by owner market are going to be contacting multiple owners when hunting for holiday accommodation arrangements. They will be comparing response times and are more likely to book with providers who respond promptly to inquiries.

Follow up with thank you notes and encourage repeat business. The vacation rentals by owner market is competitive, and service is as much of a differentiator as price and location. Complete the positive experience for your clients by following up with them. Thank them for their stay and ensure they were happy with your property.

The thank you letter or email is also the perfect chance for you to encourage repeat visits. You can offer repeat booking discounts, or simply thank clients for their custom. Expressing appreciation to clients is rare in the modern age, and this rarity will give your clients a positive lasting impression and something to tell their friends about as they talk about their trip. The thank you will also make clients more likely to consider your property when making future holiday accommodation arrangements.

Article by Richard Greenwood of holiday accommodation rentals website http://www.makemystay.com.au

MakeMyStay allows owners of holiday homes, apartments and cottages in Australia to advertise accommodation online.

Booking Amsterdam Hotels

When it comes to booking your hotel stay in Amsterdam, take the time necessary to select the right amenities and to look at where the hotel is located. But, do not take too much time looking at these features or you may find your hotel choices rather limited. As tourism is one of the strong suits in the city, you will find many hotels that could be the perfect choice for you. Yet, waiting until the last minute can cause you to miss out on the best choices and the most affordable choices in these hotels. In other words, look but make a decision.

To help you to get the booking process done correctly, there are several key things that you will want to take into consideration when it comes to your hotel choice. First, consider the location. Is it near to the things that you need? Second, determine if the hotel offers the necessary and desirable amenities that you are looking for? Third, determine the cost. This can be a bit tricky though. Many times you will not learn the cost of the stay at the hotel until you get through the booking process. Yet, to avoid this, try looking for the right hotel on the web instead.

It is advisable to try and book your Amsterdam hotel as soon as you know that you will be traveling. If you wait too long, you may find yourself without the room or the choice locations to choose from. Nevertheless, it does pay off to do a bit of shopping around to learn about the right location with the most affordable choice. All in all, your trip to Amsterdam can be an amazing one but only if your choice of hotels is just that. Take the time to book ahead of time and save money and time.

http://www.amsterdam-hotels-information.info Click here now to find more observations from Simon.

Ceramic Tile Shower Pan Damage
Plant Growing Under Roof

Vessel Sinks - Perfect For Your Bathroom Remodel

Vessel sinks are elegant, sophisticated, artsy, functional and versatile. If you're building a brand new home or you're thinking about remodeling your bathroom, then a round vessel sink would be the right choice. You're guest will openly envy you, plus you'll never want to leave your own bathroom.

There are hundreds of vessel sinks in all types of materials and colors. Of course, you can choose round, square,oval and odd shaped vessel sinks. It's strictly up to you. You have plenty of incredible choices: glass, ceramic, copper, marble, porcelain, stainless steel, stone, concrete, and more. Glass vessel sinks happen to be my favorite. You can easily make an incredible statement by using light underneath the sink to highlight its beauty. Jaw-dropping colors make visual statements about you and your taste. These "above counter" mounted sinks can make your bathroom distinctive.

Shopping for the perfect Vessel Sink for Your Bathroom can be fun. The only drawback to whole process...so many beautiful sinks to choose from.

Here a just a few types of vessel sinks on the market:

Glass: Happens to be my favorite and the most popular. The only drawback to glass vessel sinks is making sure you rinse the sink well after using shaving gels, toothpaste or other toiletries.

Granite, Marble or Concrete: If you're not constrained by a budget, then stone vessel sinks are another fantastic choice. They are a little pricey, but very durable and beautiful.

Ceramic: Looking for a vessel sink that's easy to clean, then a ceramic vessel sink is the way to go.

Copper: Copper is also a beautiful choice. If you're concerned about minimizing germs in your bathroom, then a copper vessel sink is a good choice. Did you know that copper is a great disinfectant for germs?

As you decide on the type of vessel sink to buy, don't forget to shop for and purchase your faucet to go along with your new beautiful sink. To find out more information about vessel sinks and purchasing the right sink and faucet for your bathroom remodel, take a look below.

The variety and choices of vessel sinks are endless. However, there's one just right for you and your budget. You'll find exactly what you're looking for when you shop at Round Vessel Sinks

New Wall Under Roof Rafters
Home Mold Repairs

All About Bathroom Renovations

Bathroom renovations may look as if they are simple to do. To be able to finish your bathroom renovations you must have a solid plan. To achieve this, begin by knowing how detailed your bathroom renovations ought to be.

What modifications you want to make?

If you want a simple project, just make some surface modifications to the bathroom. Bigger changes, like the alteration of the way the bathroom is originally designed and made will apparently needs a lot of time and work. If you want a small change with the layout, you can simply rearrange some parts of the bathroom. On the other hand, if you prefer big changes, then a complete remodeling of the bathroom may just be what you want. This means redoing everything with the bathroom.

The cost of remodeling

Bathroom renovations can be quite pricey. Much of the job may require the services of the sub-contractor and just that already makes for a costly home renovation project, even if this could be the smallest room in your home. There are a few things that you can do, however, in order to save money. You could plan to do the renovation by yourself and that would mean saving some cash. But, you must be cautious, if you need the assistance of a professional contractor, go get one.

It is crucial to think everything over, if you will carry out the project by yourself or get somebody to do it. When you have decided to hire a professional, make sure they are a licensed contractor. Furthermore, you will require some permits for any job that is deemed risky like electrical works.

For more information on bathroom renovations, bathroom makeovers and bathroom decorating tips visit SmallBathroomMakeovers.com

Ceramic Tile Shower Corner Damag
Porch Rafter Beam Damage

Planning Guide to Building a Sunroom

A homeowners planning guide to building a Sunroom

Size: Is a very important part of your Sunroom planning process. Build a room that is too big and you spent more money than you need too. Build a room that is too small and you regret it for years to come. Most homeowners have a very difficult time trying to decide what is the right size room for them. If you try to figure a size looking at things from your yard or by just putting it on your existing deck the size could be all wrong for the planned function of the room. The best way to size a room is to pick a room in your home that is comfortable and put a tape measure on it and voila you have the size room that will fit your needs.

Height: How tall should my room be? Typically the higher the ceiling is in a Sunroom the better. The Sunroom feels more open; the trapezoid glass on the sides or the front is bigger with a very dramatic look inside as well as aesthetically pleasing from the outside. You also have the ability to hang a ceiling fan as some states have minimum height requirements. If your current conditions look like they don't allow for a high ceiling ask your Sunroom contractor about adding a cricket to your existing roof to provide additional height.

Style roof: There are two basic roof styles that are available, a cathedral roof Marquee or shed roof. Note that with the cathedral roof the trapezoid glass is on the front wall of the sunroom and with the Marquee the trapezoid glass is on both of the projection walls.

Type of Glass: How many days of the year you plan on using your Sunroom will play a significant role in your glass selection. If you live in an area of the country that has a cold winter climate you should at the very minimum have a double pane window with Low -E and argon gas. Typically a window of this type will have an R-value of about 4. If your looking for a very easy to heat year round room you should consider a triple pane window with double Low E with krypton gas. Typically a window of this type will have an R-value of about 9. Remember unlike your home which is about 85% walls and 15% windows a Sunroom is about 85% windows and 15% walls, glass selection plays a very important roll as to how comfortable your Sunroom will be. If you live in the south where the heat of the sun can make a room uncomfortable look for a window that has Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SGHC) of less than 0.55. For the sake of your furniture, flooring and window treatments make sure your windows block at least 75% of the UV rays that are transmitted from the sun, there are windows available that block as much as 95%.

Sunrooms in General: There are numerous options and upgrades available and will vary based on the manufacturer. In your planning process make sure you are aware of all of the options that are available from the companies that you will be getting estimates from. Some companies will only offer sliding windows while another will offer every type of window made. Are you going to shingle the roof to match your home? If you do not it will be a white aluminum roof. (Not very attractive) Make sure that option is available; there are some companies that will not offer that.

What about electric? If your Sunroom is off the ground and there is access from underneath you can wire the room from underneath using surface mounted plugs.
If there is not enough room then be sure you order an electric ready room with electric mullions and conduits. The disadvantage of the mullions is they take up glass space.

Another consideration is what to do with your house wall; you certainly don't want to sit in your beautiful new Sunroom and look back at the siding on your house. Your Sunroom contractor can remove the siding and sheetrock or pine board it, something to give it a finished look.

Lastly you should check out the contractor or Sunroom Company on the BBB as well as getting a referral list to call previous customers. Then check the warranty that comes with the Sunroom, what it covers, for how long and is it prorated. Your best bet is a non-prorated warranty

About the author: Thomas Bloch is part owner of Morgan Exteriors LLC and has been involved in designing well over a thousand Sunrooms. If you have a question or comment you can visit their website at http://www.morganexteriorsnh.com

Good Looking Contractor

The Shape of Steel Buildings is Changing

Yes, the shape of steel and metal buildings is changing. Not so much in size and fundamental shape, but in more dramatic ways, such as design functionality and innovative technology , technology which makes them more user friendly ergonomic and energy efficient..

Today's metal building designs are such one might be inclined to say, that what ever the imagination can conceive in building design, can be accomplished in metal or steel buildings. These new designs are readily available from a multitude of manufacturers.

From simple outbuildings on a farm, to elaborate commercial complexes, steel and metal buildings are the new frontier of modern building construction. These new designs and manufacturing techniques are stepping up to meet and exceed the need of almost every type of building construction imaginable.

Even single family homes which were once almost exclusively built from wood construction methods have found favor in metal. With many new innovations in steel production, metal and steel beam construction is proving to be stronger and more cost effective then ever before. New home construction ideas have literally flooded the steel building industry.

With the technology to make exterior walls resemble those of more traditionally constructed homes by offering even more color choices and design configurations metal homes are ever increasing in popularity. Some companies such as Morton Buildings have their home designs listed on their website. One look at these designs will certainly convince you that the types of construction and design are almost limitless in the home metal building industry.

Because of steel's strength in span and load carrying ability, more and more open expanses in a home setting are possible. The idea that a metal home would be cold, hard and impersonal couldn't be farther from the truth. Although the overall construction is metal and beam construction, the interior fit and finish is in possibly more ways then ever before left up to the imagination of the owner. It can be done in traditional drywall, wood or any other home interior finishing materials.

Many types of metal home construction have concrete floor barriers between upper and lower floors, with traditional subflooring as well. This practice has benefits which can cut sound transfer up to 90% or more. Adding these kinds of innovations, opens up a large variety of choices in the types of heating and air-conditioning a home owner has to pick from , from in floor heating and cooling which is very efferent to more traditional forced air type systems.

Metal and steel construction for homes makes available more types of fit and finish options than conventional construction methods by their ability to be designed into the structure more efficiently then those same options might be in conventional construction.

Recently a metal home construction company took 20 people on a tour of 15 homes. The tour included homes of which half were of metal or steel construction and half were of more traditional wood construction. The homes were of comparable fit finish and size. All tours started on the interior of the home, where all participants were led in blind folded, to obscure which type of home they were in.

After touring the interior of the homes, by an overwhelming margin, those who took part found the fit and finish of the metal homes more pleasing and efficient then those of conventional construction. This is not to mention they usually commented on how sturdy the homes felt. Also, many times they were unable to tell from the inside which type of home they were touring, metal or conventional. You can find full details of this study at metalbuildings-r-us.com

At the end of this experiment, they were all questioned as to which home they would purchase if they had the option to do so. Seventeen out of 20 picked a metal home as the home of choice, especially once they found that, in most instances, the overall cost of constructing metal homes was less on a per square foot basis when compared to conventional construction.

Scott Best is a freelance Author in association with http://metalbuildings-r-us.com Scott Writes for many websites. With his unique perspective on many issues and topics Scott lends a high level of professionalism to the topics he writes about. Learn more about Scott at his site. http://scottbestarticles.com

Framed Door Opening Ready For Door

Bathroom Vanities, Fixtures & Faucets - Tips to Find the Best Prices

Before you begin any remodel project, you want to develop a budget and then price shop for the materials needed. With the access of information through the World Wide Web, this task has become increasingly easier than ever before, while offering more choices to the consumer.

Consider the following alternatives when looking for the best prices:

Newspapers
Most newspapers have a classified section for building supplies or materials. This can be a great opportunity to pick up left over materials from a job. If you see an ad for any material that appears to be bathroom related, call the seller to see if they have any of the items that you need. Even if they do not have what you are looking for, they may be able to offer some additional resources from their circle of professionals.

Seconds and Surplus Stores - Large Supply House
If you live in a larger metroplex, this may be an option. In Dallas, there is the Habitat for Humanity Home Improvement Outlet Store where people donate extra building material and the store sells the items and redirects the profits to building homes for deserving families. Another resource in the Dallas area is Seconds & Surplus where you can purchase discounted building materials.

Large supply houses may offer discounts on discontinued items, floor models or open box returns. This can be a great resource especially for bigger ticket items. And always ask for their best price - no matter how much the item has already been discounted.

Just be sure to compare prices against a reputable source, as discounted doesn't always imply the best price available. Also, take your drive time and fuel into consideration. Spending an entire day driving around the city can be more expensive than shopping online and having a bathroom vanity delivered to your front door.

Internet
Once you find the item(s) that you are most interested in, compare prices across multiple sites for the same or similar product. Be sure to take shipping costs into consideration when comparing prices from website to website. If you find a site that you would like to purchase from, ask their customer service if they will price match on like items. If you are working with any professional on your remodel project (general contractor, designer, etc) ask the web based company if they offer trade discounts.

Be sure you are buying from a reputable company. Buying large ticket items online has become very simple, but freight damage can occur from time to time. You want to be sure the company you are buying from will be there if you have any problems. This is the best alternative though for those that have limited resources within reasonable driving distance.

Julia Ritzenthaler is Owner of online furniture stores, http://www.UniqueVanities.com & joint owner of R Squared Renovations, Inc - a Custom Cabinetry & General Contracting Company in Dallas, TX, & can speak as an expert on the design & manufacturing of furniture.

http://www.UniqueMirrorsOnline.com