Inexpensive Romantic Getaways at Hotels

If you are looking for a romantic getaway in western New York state, you need look no further than Buffalo, New York hotels that cater to the romantic couple. As Buffalo is close to Niagara Falls, you can take a long weekend to see the Falls, get away from it all and spend some romantic time together as a couple. And if you think that you have to spend a lot of money and cannot afford a weekend getaway, think again.

It does not have to cost you a lot of money to stay at a Buffalo, NY hotel or an Amherst hotel. You can find one that will not offer you all of the comforts of home, but even a package designed for the romantic couple. This includes accommodations and a gift card to a nearby restaurant, all included in the package.

If you stay in Buffalo, New York hotels that offer a free, continental breakfast, you can end up spending very little money during your long weekend getaway. These breakfasts offer muffins, pastries, cereal and even do it yourself waffles. Also included are juices, coffee and tea. If you time this right, you can have a brunch and then use the gift card for dinner, saving yourself a lot of money.

In addition to seeing Niagara Falls, you can also spend some time enjoying the amenities of the Buffalo, NY hotel. These include fitness rooms as well as indoor swimming pools. You can choose from king sized to queen sized rooms and have free internet access as well as cable TV, including HBO channels, right in your room. The lobby will often offer tea and other free beverages throughout the day so you can relax with one another and not end up spending a lot of money.

Many couples think that they have to spend a lot of money if they want to get away for a long weekend. This is not true. When you choose a Buffalo, NY hotel or Amherst hotel that offers these amenities, especially one that will give you a romantic weekend package, you can actually enjoy such a getaway on a shoestring budget.

In addition to Niagara Falls, there is much to see and do in Buffalo, NY. There is a huge shopping district and nearby university. Western New York state is one of the most picturesque areas of the state so you will not run out of romantic scenery when you visit this area of the country. This is true no matter what time of the year you are traveling to this part of the state.

If you think that Niagara Falls is just for newlyweds, think again. This area is one of the most romantic spots on Earth and visiting a Buffalo, NY hotel can really put the romance back into your relationship for a lot less money than you think. Instead of thinking that you cannot afford to get away together for a few days, consider a romantic getaway at one of the Buffalo, New York hotels that offer romantic packages.

Michelle Subs is an author and a consultant. For more information visit http://www.comfortinnuniversity.com

Do I Need a Home Inspection? - Real Estate Advice

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Greg Vandenberge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He has just finished a home buyers guide to take some of the frustration out of home shopping.

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

DIY Bathroom Remodeling Or Hiring a Contractor

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.

What is a Three Way Home Electrical Light Switch?

A three way home electrical light switch is a special light switch that can be used in your hallways, large rooms and stairways. These light switches are specially made to operate one light or a group of lights from two different locations.

They are most commonly found in hallways and provide a homeowner with the option of turning the light on at one end of the hallway and turning it off, when they are finished walking through the hallway and are about to enter into another room.

Before three way home electrical light switches were made, people would turn the hallway light on and leave it on or they wouldn't turn the hall light on at all, because they knew that after they walked down the dark hallway, they wouldn't be able to turn the light off at the other end.

Three-way light switches are also used in stairways. It makes a lot of sense, to be able to turn your stairway light on, at the bottom of the stairs and then after you have walked up the stairway safely, you can simply turn the stair lights system off.

As homes become larger, it's not going to be uncommon to find three way light switches being used at either end of large rooms. If your living room or family room was located within the center of your home and had an entrance at each end, it wouldn't be a bad idea to install a light switch at each end, for travelers who are simply walking through these room.

Remember that three-way light switches, are used to operate lights from two different locations.

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

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

Greg Vandenberge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He has just finished a Home Buyers Guide to take some of the frustration out of home shopping.

Thanks For Reading My Articles

Should I Update My Bathroom With a Medicine Cabinet, Or Do the Full Enchilada?

It's the last major room in our house that needs an update. The main upstairs bathroom, the primary for the entire house. It's not really a master bath since it's down the hall from the main bedroom, but it does have the only bathtub and is definitely the biggest bathroom we have. When we bought the house it was reasonably well decorated except for the striped wallpaper that played with your eyes. I think I made it worse when I added mirrored closet doors to a wall opposite a mirror already in place so now the stripes are truly everywhere and seem to disappear into infinity through the mirrors.

Regardless, it may be time to redo that room completely. We won't sell the house for another 10-15 years, but as it is perhaps it isn't meeting our needs anymore. I'd love to have a large whirlpool tub with a separate shower, something opulent like you'd see in a posh hotel. I'd want to keep my three way medicine cabinet and vanity mirror, and I'd want to enlarge the sink area so I have more room for my beauty supplies. As the children get older they'll be taking over more space than now and I don't think this bathroom accounts for that.

I could just replace the medicine cabinet and gain mirror space as well as storage space for hair products. It seems that I never have enough room for those. It would be nice to have room to put real medicine in there so we don't have it scattered all over the house in places impossible to uncover when you really need it.

I could just upgrade the bathroom vanity and the medicine cabinet together, but then I think to myself, "why stop there? If you're going to do that then replace the floor, the falling ceiling, the older tub and shower and put that toilet somewhere other than the middle of the room." As you can see I have big dreams and lots of options, but I just don't know how to start small without turning it into a major project.

Perhaps I'll just stick with the medicine cabinet.

For more information on various bathroom remodeling projects you can do please visit our sites on bathroom medicine cabinets and bathroom vanities.

Attic Handrail Safety - Do it Yourself Home Repair

Some stairways that lead up to your attic will have a safety or guardrail to prevent people from falling down the stairs or off of them. Attic handrail safety can provide homeowners with a little peace of mind if they just follow the few simple steps. Make sure that the handrail is at least 42 inches in height. 42 inches is the minimum height for guard rails and can be found in the uniform building code.

The uniform building code is the Bible to the building industry and sets the standard for new construction and remodeling.

The 42 inches will be measured from the floor to the top of the handrail. Some older homes will have handrails that are 36 inches and some of them will be even 30 inches in height. A 30 inch handrail provides limited protection for anyone who is over five foot tall. 30 inches becomes the center point for any one over 60 inches and these people could easily fall over the short handrail.

Now for the homes that don't have any attic handrail safety systems. Some homes that were built before the 1960s won't have a handrail system at all in the stairway. Keep something in mind here, when these people were building these houses, some of them were trying to save money, some of them figured that it wasn't going to be a big deal and other builders simply forgot to install them.

It's not hard to install a working attic handrail for safety but keep in mind, that if the handrail isn't the right height, it will provide you with limited protection. Attic handrails that are lower than 30 inches can provide young children or others who are shorter than five feet with very little protection but can be a safety hazard to anyone over 5 feet tall.

If your attic doesn't have a safety handrail, use caution and be careful in these areas of your home. It wouldn't be a bad idea to install a locking doorknob if your attic access has a door that can be secured to prevent small children or other people from entering these unsafe areas.

Home Attic Repairs

Greg Vandenberge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He has just finished a Home Buyers Guide to take some of the frustration out of home shopping.

If your looking for some more Home Remodeling Pictures or home building ideas.

Modern Stylish Shower Doors

Are you searching of a modern and stylish shower for your new bathroom? If yes then you are using the right article. Modern showers are not only attractive but also safe. Nowadays you can find a big variety of shower doors in the market and your job is to choose the one which suits the interior of your bathroom. Nowadays lots of people are opting for frameless shower doors. Frameless shower doors are getting more and more popular.

A frameless shower door can be installed with every unit which you are planning to install in your washroom. If you are renovating your washroom or constructing a new one then it is a good idea to start from shower doors. Before purchasing anything for your new washroom you should know all the measurements.

It is a good idea to decide the design of your bathroom before you buy anything new for your bathroom. You ask for the help of a professional. A bathroom expert can help you in designing your bathroom in a modern way. You should always spend some time on the internet before you decide anything new. You should try to find all the reputed websites which give essential information about bathroom design and accessories. You can easily find some websites and blogs which provide useful information on this topic.Have you ever heard about online bathroom stores? Online bathroom stores offer high quality accessories and furniture at reasonable prices. You can also find some stores which offer discount on bulk orders.

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

How to Find a Excellent New Home Builder

Looking for a good home builder or contractor, isn't an exact science, but hopefully, by the time you're done reading this article, you will at least have a better idea, what you will be looking for. Let's get started.

As a general contractor, the most important thing that I would be looking for any new home builder, would be experience. You can't sacrifice price for experience. If you're looking for the cheapest contractor, there's a good chance that this person will be lacking experience in home building knowledge.

How long has this person been in business? Just because you're new home builder has only been in business for five years, doesn't mean that he isn't capable of building your home. The same holds true for someone who has been in business for 30 years. Just make sure that these people have actually built homes in the past.

What is their attitude like? This is the second most important thing and I tend to focus on this more than experience, sometimes. If you don't get along with the person, you're not going to have a pleasant home building experience. If you think that there lying to you, scammers or generally don't feel comfortable with them, but they seem to have the most experience and build more homes in your area than anyone else. I wouldn't think twice about getting rid of them and finding someone else.

Last but not least, you should contact some of the people that they have worked for in the past. Talking to past clients, is going to play an important role in making your final decision. You need to find out, if these home builders, treated their clients fairly and were they generally happy with the overall outcome and performance, not only of the homebuilder, but each one of his subcontractors.

I would recommend writing out a list of questions and offering your new home builders past clients a free meal. Offer to take them out to dinner, lunch or breakfast, this way you will have their undivided attention and get the low down on your potential future home builder, it could be the best money that you ever spent.

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

You are free to copy this article to your site as long as you include the following resource information with an active link to my site:

Greg Vandenberge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He has just finished a home inspection checklist to take some of the frustration out of home shopping.

Thanks For Reading My Articles

Ten Places to Stay in Washington DC For President-Elect Barack Obama's Historical Inauguration

January 20, 2009 will be a date that will be indelibly written in American history and the memories of everyone alive today. It is the day America gets its first non-white president. As a result of the historic nature of this inauguration, there is already a flood of people who are planning on being in Washington DC to witness the event personally.

Hotels, motels, and bed and breakfasts are filling up very quickly so if you want to be an eyewitness to history, it's time to start looking for somewhere to stay. Here is a list of places, some of which are reasonably priced, where you can stay while you're in Washington D.C.

1) Hotel Harrington
11th St. NW & E. St. NW
Washington, D.C. 20004
Phone: (202)-628-8140

Rates: $95 and up
Location: Downtown Washington D.C. near the U.S. Capitol

2) Renaissance-Washington D.C.
999 Ninth St. NW
Washington, D.C. 20001
Phone: (202)-898-9000

Rates: $159 and up.
Location: Only a 10-minute drive from the White House

3) Red Roof Inn-Washington D.C.
500 H. St. NW
Washington D.C. 20001
Phone: (202)-289-5959

Rates: $200 and up
Location: Downtown, close the White House and the U.S. Capitol

4) Marriott Hotels Resorts & Suites
2660 Woodley Road
Washington, D.C. 20008
(202)-328-2000

Rates: $170 and up
Location: A 16-minute drive from the White House

5) Lombardy Hotel
2019 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, D.C. 20006
Phone: (202)-828-2600

Rates: $119 and up
Location: Four blocks from the White House

6) State Plaza Hotel
2117 E. St. NW
Washington, D.C. 20037
Phone: (202)-861-8200

Rates: $116 and up
Location: Close to the State Dept and the downtown business district

7) The Melrose Hotel, Washington
2430 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, D.C. 20037
Phone: (202)-955-6400

Rates: $109 and up
Location: Between the White House and Georgetown

8) Best Western Georgetown Hotel & Suites
1121 New Hampshire Avenue NW
Washington, D.C. 20037
Phone: (202)-457-3777

Rates: $109 and up
Location: Within 5 miles of the U.S. Capitol and Washington Monument

9) The Embassy Inn
1627 16th Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20009
Phone: (202)-234-3309

Rates: $99 and up
Location: Thirteen blocks from the White House

10) Comfort Inn & Suites
1600 New York Avenue, NE
Washington, D.C. 20002
Phone: (202)-832-3200

Rates: $99 and up
Location: Within 5 miles of the White House

There is not much time left to book your reservation for this historic occasion; but you have a headstart with this list. Use it well.

If you weren't thinking of going and would rather watch the event on TV from the comfort of your living room, you can do that as well; but I should tell you that there is absolutely no substitute to witnessing such an historical event in person. Go, be a part of history and don't forget to take a lot of pictures!

Zander Smith

Business Rankings Rep, grayboxx.com

http://www.grayboxx.com - Businesses ordered by Popularity

Fixing Ceiling Cracks - Home Repair Advice

It's not uncommon to find cracks in your plaster or drywall ceilings. It's not uncommon to find cracks in your wood ceilings either, but this article is about plaster or drywall ceilings that have small or large cracks in them and what actually causes the cracks and how you can repair them.

Believe it or not, most cracks in your ceilings and in your walls, on any drywall or plaster home interiors, are going to be the direct result of structural movement within the house. This could be from a small earthquake, the framing components are starting to shrink, as the lumber starts to dry it out or it could even be from your house settling. Larger cracks might signify problems with your foundation or even your soil.

If you have a large crack in your ceiling, and this would be something that you could stick a quarter into, you could have a structural problem and I would recommend contacting a home repair contractor in your area to evaluate your situation.

You realize that you have cracks in your ceilings and they're not very big, how do you repair them. The easiest way would be to apply a paintable caulking into the cracks and repaint the area. This could save you some frustration in the future, especially if the crack starts to become larger.

The best way to fix the crack, would be to apply some fiberglass drywall tape and then apply a standard drywall joint compound to finish the ceiling correctly. If your ceiling has acoustic or wall texture, you will need to reapply to finish over these areas to match your existing ceiling correctly.

If you have hairline cracks, I wouldn't even worry about them, unless they become larger. However, you could always apply a little bit of caulking and repaint them.

I would like to remind you something that I already said before in this article, if the cracks are larger than the width of a quarter, you might want to contact a building professional. You could have some serious structural damage occurring in your foundation or framing.

Ceiling Repair Advice and Tips

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

Greg Vandenberge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He has just finished a Home Buyers Guide to take some of the frustration out of home shopping.

Thanks For Reading My Articles

How To Find A Cheap Hotel In Las Vegas

How easy is it to find a cheap hotel in Las Vegas? The thing is that you don't need to spend a fortune planning a Las Vegas vacation. Over 35 million travellers visit Las Vegas every year. Around 7 million of those people are visiting Las Vegas for the first time. I hate to think how many millions of people are paying way too much for their Las Vegas vacation. Once you know where to look it is not difficult to find a cheap hotel in Las Vegas.

Here are a few best kept travel secrets for finding a cheap hotel in Las Vegas.

How To Find A Cheap Hotel In Las Vegas Tip Number 1

Plan your Las Vegas trip during the week rather than weekends - this could halve your accommodation costs. Decide how long you want to stay in Las Vegas for. Many of the Las Vegas Downtown casinos and hotels are cheaper than accommodation on the Strip. So be sure to check them out but make sure they are in a safe area. Look into hotels that are not on Las Vegas Boulevard. They have bargain room rates and are keen for your business. It is very easy to find a cheap hotel in Las Vegas once you know where to look.

How To Find A Cheap Hotel In Las Vegas Tip Number 2

If you are staying for a week in Las Vegas then ask what the weekly room rate is. Chances are the weekly room rate divided by seven will ensure you get a cheap hotel in Las Vegas. Plan your Las Vegas trip well ahead to get the best rates for a cheap hotel in Las Vegas. An amazing 63 percent of Las Vegas visitors book at least two weeks in advance. For this reason it is advisable that you pre-plan your Las Vegas vacation to ensure you get a cheap hotel in Las Vegas. Any delays and your hip pocket could well and truly be sorry. Be sure to look out for Las Vegas hotels offering a free night if you stay for 2 or 3 nights. Book your hotel on an airline website but be sure to read all the conditions that apply.

How To Find A Cheap Hotel In Las Vegas Tip Number 3

Download Travel Axe where you can search around 20 websites at once to help you find a cheap hotel in Las Vegas. It is free for download and highly recommened to help you find a cheap hotel in Las Vegas.

How To Find A Cheap Hotel In Las Vegas Tip Number 4

If you call the Las Vegas hotel with your Travel Axe deal they will usually try and beat the Travel Axe offer and you will get a very cheap hotel in Las Vegas as a result.

How To Find A Cheap Hotel In Las Vegas Tip Number 5

It's difficult if not impossible to find a cheap hotel in Las Vegas when there's a huge convention coming into town. If a Las Vegas convention is on at the same time it could be impossible to find a room in Las Vegas, let alone a cheap hotel in Las Vegas. Some conventions have attendees of more than 50,000. It's a good idea to contact the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority to find out who or what will be in town at the time you're planning to visit. Otherwise you can guarantee you will not find a cheap hotel in Las Vegas when you are competing with 50,000 other Las Vegas visitors.

A vacation in Las Vegas does not have to cost a fortune. In fact, it is very easy to find a cheap hotel in Las Vegas that will cost you next to nothing once you know where to look. I believe that Las Vegas is truly the bargain capital of the world with everything from cheap hotels, cheap airfares, cheap car rental. By spending a little time improving your knowledge about your Las Vegas vacation destination you can end up saving hundreds on your trip and having more money to burn.

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What If My Contractor Does Not Return My Call

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Understanding Wood Shrinkage in Finish Carpentry

These days trim wood shrinkage in finish carpentry does cause some problems and has tested the reputation of even the most seasoned finish carpenters. This can be controlled some what if it is properly addressed however the shear speed at which houses get built and the use of new growth lumber these days poses a lot of the problems that are unfortunately some times unavoidable.

Trim wood should be acclimated to the inside environment of the house where it will be installed. This does also apply to the wood of a new wood floor to be installed. What this means exactly is the wood needs time to adjust to the temperature and humidity levels of the house where it will be installed. This in turn reduces the shrinkage of the wood and that helps to keep miters tight and doors working properly. There is much discussion on how long this acclimation period should be and a few variables do come into play here especially with a newly built home. A very minimum of an acclimation period would be 48 hrs. if the environment change of the storage place of the trim wood or the store to the house environment is not a huge difference. Another factor is after the acclimation period it is best to get the wood finished and sealed whether you do it before or after installation.

Ultimately wood is going to shrink and swell according to the seasons. Some places more than others due to the climate differences. The best way to reduce this is to try and keep the environment in the house relatively even with just the temperature although I have seen a new house with new trim work sitting empty with no activity like cooking or showering for a long period of time have major shrinkage in the trim wood due to no humidity. I had trimmed this house and was just sick when I went back for the final; fortunately the builder that I had done the work for understood this problem and took full responsibility. I had been in the finish carpentry business for a long time and had a good reputation of doing good work but some times that reputation doesn't mean anything to the people that don't understand these problems.

For the do it yourselfers doing trim work, there are a few things to consider. If you are remodeling or doing renovations to an existing home just simply taking the precautionary measure of acclimating the wood will eliminate the major shrinkage problem in most cases. On new homes it is however nice to know the humidity levels in the house as well as the wood. One easy way to check the wood is with a moisture meter tester. This little meter is relatively cheap or can be borrowed from a contractor that does building or remodeling. The use of a dehumidifier is recommended in a new house or new construction and doing a little research for the moisture content that is recommended for the area that you live in is also advisable. This is due to the different climates in the country and various temperature changes for the different areas. As a finish carpenter it is important for people to understand some of these issues concerned with wood shrinkage whether you are doing the work yourself or hiring a professional to do the work for you ultimately to protect yourself.

Pat Fisher is a professional carpenter and woodworking craftsman. For more information on finish carpentry and household carpentry projects, visit http://www.finishcarpentryhelp.com and pick up your free eBook.

Stair Building Codes - Home Building

The stair building code was created for building safety. Before the building code and local city enforcement (Building Inspectors), anyone could build a house. This meant Uncle Earl who had just watched a couple of his friends build a house down the street construct some sort of a dwelling. The next step for Earl would be to help these guys for a day and now he is a professional home builder. You get the point.

Stair Building Codes create the safety needed for one of the most hazardous areas of your home. You might know someone who has fallen down a stairway?

I lived in a house I built for 15 years and I redesigned the stairs from a winder design to a T shaped set of stairs. Both sets of stairs were built using the local stair building code for my city.

Wow I could not believe how many times my family members fell down the stairs. I even fell down once. I was amazed. When I switched from the winder to the T shaped stairway there were less accidents. My point is that even using the stair building codes this is a dangerous part of your house.

Having a professional stair builder install your stairs is great advice. Take it. For example this happened to me on quite a few jobs. I get a set of plans from a architect who has been designing houses for over 40 years. I looked at the stairway to find out that he has designed a stairway that is too small for the length of this part of the home. If I build the stairs using the plans that by the way were approved from the local building department, I could have a problem.

You are probably asking yourself how does this happen. Aren't these people experienced professionals. Of course they are. They probably have the U.B.C. (Uniform Building Code) in their office somewhere. Everyone makes mistakes here and there but this is one area of the home where safety is a big concern.

Just look at it like this. The stair building code was designed to improve the safety and reduce the number of accidents while using the stairs. Over the years I have seen stairs poorly designed and constructed. These stairs create problems for the owners of the buildings not just the people that use them. Did I mention lawsuits. This is one area where a lawyer will have a field day.

As a building professional I advise you to use the stair building code first for safety and second to avoid lawsuits. Get an idea from some of the pictures I have taken over the years on problems with stair building.

Use common sense while building or remodeling your home. It goes a long way.

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

Retaining Walls Suffer From Moisture Problems

Whether you're driving down the road or through a neighborhood and you notice a retaining wall that has large cracks in it, or is severely discolored, or one that has white calcium deposits from moisture covering the entire wall, you've got problems with moisture.

The retaining wall is designed to hold the dirt back, that's it's sole purpose. It's not going to hold any moisture back unless someone has installed a waterproofing membrane to separate the soil from the concrete block wall. If the soil isn't ever going to get wet, then you probably don't need to waterproof the retaining wall.

However that's normally not going to be the case. So we need to waterproof the interior of our retaining walls to eliminate future moisture problems that could eventually, deteriorate as moisture starts to accumulate, inside of our block wall for a longer periods of time.

If you don't know anything about waterproofing, I would suggest that you hire a waterproofing expert. Waterproofing looks easier than it actually is, and might be out of your scope of work.

I'm not going to suggest that you use waterproofing paints, because I haven't seen great results with these products. However, if you're not that concerned about your retaining wall and are looking for a cheaper way to apply any waterproofing materials, these paints might not be a bad idea. Sometimes, Something is better than nothing.

If you live in a relatively dry climate, it might not be necessary to waterproof your retaining walls. But if you live in a damp or moist area, especially an area where the ground is moist all year round or more than six months out of the year, I would suggest that you waterproof the back of your retaining walls.

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

Dryer Vent In Basement Window.

Greg Vandenberge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He has just finished a Home Buyers Guide to take some of the frustration out of home shopping.

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Don't Let This Happen to You - Home Computer Electrical Damage

If you've read any of my other articles, you know that I am always coming up with great ideas, tips and even a couple of stories that can save homeowners lots of money. Here's another one of those stories, that involves a friend of mine who asked me if I could fix his outdoor electrical outlet.

I was over at his house one day, and told him that I could probably fix the electrical outlet and if we needed any parts, we could run down to the lumber yard and pick them up and his problem would be solved within a few hours. This two hour repair was about to cost him the hard drive on his computer, but neither one of us had any idea what was about to happen.

We each agreed to give it a shot, I told him to go over to the electrical panel and turn off the breaker that went to his outdoor shed. He proceeded to turn off the breaker and yelled out," It's off, try it." I plugged in an electric drill and it was still working, as he was walking around the corner, towards me, I showed him that the drill was still on and he hadn't turned off the right electrical breaker.

He went back and turned off a couple of more electrical breakers and the drill was still running. Now he frantically started to turn off one electrical breaker at a time, until I yelled out," It's off, the electrical power is, off you can stop."

I repaired the electrical outlet and he went back to turn every electrical breaker back on that he had turned off. We were proud of ourselves and he now had electrical power, back to his shed and he was happy.

Now for the bad news, his computer was running and when he turned the electricity off and on, it must've done something to his computer hard drive and it now needed to be replaced.

The moral to the story, isn't that you shouldn't help your friends. It's that you should, make sure that your computers are safely off, before you attempt to do any electrical work to your home.

It wouldn't be a bad idea, to have a battery backup, for your computer, if you use it often, just in case there is an electrical failure or something happens like the story above.

If your really interested in saving money on your home electrical bills - Energy Saving Books

Greg Vandenberge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He has just finished a Home Buyers Guide to take some of the frustration out of home shopping.

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

10 Things a Homeowner Won't Tell a Contractor - Common Courtesy

I've been a contractor in the state of California for over 20 years and there are some things that a homeowner won't tell a contractor. These are a few things that a contractor might want to hear, but a reluctant homeowner, might have second thoughts telling their contractors how they really feel.

1. We are happy with all of the work that you did in a timely manner and we appreciate your services.

2. We are happy with the way you performed your construction tasks, efficiently and we appreciate your services.

3. The work was done by a true professional and we would recommend you to any one of our friends.

4. The payment plan that you created in the contract worked out perfectly and never made us feel uncomfortable. It never seemed like you had too much of our money or we were putting you in a bad spot financially.

5. Thanks for keeping the job clean, it meant a lot to us, because we have seen other construction jobs that look like a tornado ran through them.

6. Thanks for helping us with our design. Working with your contractor on a daily, weekly or monthly basis can be frustrating or joyful. Let the contractor know either way how you are really feeling.

7. You and your crew are extremely hard-working and we appreciate the simple fact that you didn't come to work late or leave early.

8. Thanks for the reasonable priced estimate on our project. You helped us say a lot of money and we appreciate that sincerely.

9. Thanks for doing the extra work at a reasonable price. You could have gouged us at certain times, but you chose to be fair and work things out, in a way that would benefit both of us.

10. This one is the most important and often overlooked by homeowners and it's simple and easy to do. Thanks for doing what you said you were going to do and actually doing it.

Just a simple thank you and paying them on time, for a service well done is enough for most contractors. However, a little common courtesy can go a long way, even in the construction industry.

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

Greg Vandenberge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He has just finished a Home Buyers Guide to take some of the frustration out of home shopping.

Click here if you're looking for additional Homeowner Contractor Advice. If you're interested in gathering more information on how to hire a good contractor, make sure that you visit our website.

Take Pictures of Your Growing Foundation Damage Or Cracks

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

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

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

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

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

Click Here for Some More Great Foundation Repair Solutions.

Greg Vandenberge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He has just finished a Home Buyers Guide to take some of the frustration out of home shopping.

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

Do I Need a Home Inspection? - Real Estate Advice

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Greg Vandenberge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He has just finished a home buyers guide to take some of the frustration out of home shopping.

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

Plywood Roof Sheeting - Roof Framing Trade Secrets

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Greg Vandenberge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He has just finished a excellent home inspection checklist to take some of the frustration out of home shopping.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Find More Facts On Home Water Damage.

Greg Vandenberge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He has just finished a Home Buyers Guide to take some of the frustration out of home shopping.

Check out These Amazing Home Damage Videos.

Five Things That a Termite Inspection Company Might Not Ever Say

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Greg Vandenberge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He has just finished a Home Buyers Guide to take some of the frustration out of home shopping.

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Common Mistakes With Faux Finishes - House Remodeling Ideas

The elements of faux painting aren't difficult but there's always room for error here and there. Keep these important tips in mind and you're half way there.

1. Your end result is only going to be as good as your materials. That applies to paint and brush quality but above all to your surface. Think of it as your canvas. You're about as likely to achieve your aims on a surface coated with flat paint as you would be painting on tissue paper.

Eggshell or satin base paint is the best undercoat. Faux finishes don't work as well on flat paint surfaces. Paint also needs to dry slowly and flat finishes tend to dry quickly and the scope for fixing mistakes is limited. Finally, underlying flat paint just seems to dull finishes.

2. A few cents of commonsense is worth dollars of equipment. Don't bother with unnecessary gimmicks. Spend your money on quality paints and brushes instead. You don't need a special sponge applicator - almost any soft sponge will do. You don't need an artist's palette. Ice cube trays are cheap and actually hold more paint.

Don't waste that paint! You can always stick it in the freezer rather than letting it harden. Another money-saving tip is to use dishwashing liquid for cleaning brushes. You can buy fancy cleaners but a grease-cutting dishwashing liquid works just fine with water-based paints and with stencil creams, which are partially oil-based.

3. If your surface is pitted or cracked, it will need filling, and sanding when dry. A common error is to assume that that once your faux finish is completed your job is done. Wrong! You MUST seal with water-based sealer before painting, or your wall will look blotchy and diseased. Seal with a color that blends in with the rest of the wall or patches will show through. If you don't have that original paint, mix the sealer with suitably colored acrylic paint to minimize the contrast.

4. You know the saying: oil and water don't mix. Remember that when painting or suffer the consequences. The resulting curdled slush is not pretty. In short, know your paints and read your labels. Latex paint may sound like it's oil-based but it's part-water.

5. Not only is it true that mess is stress, but lack of cleanliness will foul up your finish. You need to clean brushes really well if you don't want previously used colors contaminating your handiwork. Running water and finger massage won't clean properly. That doesn't mean you need expensive professional cleaning pads. Check the kids' department: you can find cleaning pads there at a fraction of the price.

You need to maintain a clean working environment, especially when working for others. Small splashes on carpets can be handled without chemicals. Try nail scissors. Wait until the paint is dry. Adding water just spreads it. Then snip the soiled ends, strand by strand. This won't work on larger patches, so make sure you use drop cloths as a preventative measure. For disasters that can't be trimmed out, try product called Goof Off.

6. When using glazes, wet is the watchword! You need to finish in one seamless session. That means no bathroom breaks (so go before you start!) or refreshment interludes. Wet and dry edges won't mix, the dry glaze won't spread and it will show. Work fast, especially in hot dry climates.

7. You may not recognize your painting style, but everyone has their own unique technique. That's why collaborative efforts don't work. People can work together as long as they work on different layers or walls, not different sections of the same layer/wall. Your style can even change during a day: pre- and post-lunch. Plan your sessions and breaks to maximize uniformity in technique.

Ready to start your faux finish painting project? Get the designer walls that would make even "Martha" jealous! Claim your free "Insider's Guide to Faux Painting" and avoid all the common mistakes, get success tips, find the right products for the job and more.

Window Header Framing Problems

Building an Integrated Home Security System - Alarms, Sensors, and Security Doors and Windows

If you really take the time to sit down and think about your home security measures, chances are you will realize that there are many access points. Those weak points put you, your family and your possessions at risk.

An integrated security system is a system designed to slow any potential threat down enough to give you time to contact your security company or the police. Like any security system, they are not infallible, and can be beaten, but they will buy you time in the event of a break in!

Here are the key elements of a good integrated home security system:

Home Security Sensors - Perimeter

Installing some kind of security on the perimeter of your property can mean valuable minutes added to your reaction time in the event of a break in.

Traditional perimeter security, such as electric fencing is certainly effective, but can affect the aesthetics of your property. New infrared home security sensors can be installed outside your house, unobtrusively, and linked to your alarm system. That way, your alarm triggers before anyone even accesses your house!

Home Security Window Protection

A physical barrier to entry, certainly on lower level windows in a multi story house is always a good idea. They act as a deterrent and a very effective barrier to entry. Newer types of burglar proofing are also more attractive, and can be installed with minimum impact on aesthetics.

Home Security Door Protection

Make sure that all of your external doors have locks that work, as well as deadbolts. Peepholes and security chains on front doors are always a good idea, and it may be worthwhile to consider adding a security gate to entryways.

These gates can be either conventional swing type gates, or newer concertina type, that fold away to be virtually undetectable. Gates fitted with "slam" locks are a good idea too, as it means no fumbling with keys when you need to close them in a hurry!

Home Security Burglar Alarms

Burglar alarms, linked to an armed response service, which monitors home security remotely, are a great idea. Combined with indoor sensors, and magnetic switches on windows and doors, they can ensure that any intruder is caught before they can do any serious damage!

Make sure to choose a burglar alarm that communicates with your armed response service via radio though - that way, cut telephone lines will not affect its operation.

Integrating

Creating an integrated system means linking all of the electronic monitoring equipment you have to your alarm system. Electric fencing, infrared sensors and other security accessories can all be linked to your home security burglar alarm. This means that any breach of that security will alert your armed response company, and reduce their response time, keeping you safer.

Remember that a home security system is an investment in your family's safety, plus, many insurance companies offer reduced premiums to homeowners with better security, so make sure your system is the best you can afford!

Click these links to learn more about Infrared Security Sensors and Home Security Systems

What Causes Attic Odors And Stra

Tub and Tile Reglazing Advice

With the current strain on the economy and the housing market , it is becoming more and more common to "make do with what we have" which means instead of remodeling we are restoring.

The question lies here, is it cost effective? Is it going to last? What is the maintenance involved? Why are you going to charge me $450 to re-glaze my tub when I can buy a new one for $200? These are all quality questions which deserve quality answers.

Let's start with cost. First of all, the average cost of a tub install is anywhere between $1,400 and $2,500 and that does not factor in the tub surround. When your old tub is removed the tile at the base of the tub must be demolished. It is possible that a "good" installer can demo in such a way that you only have to repair the first row or two of tile. The reality is if it is older than 10 years finding a match for the tile will probably be impossible and will lead to a complete re-tile. Now, you are looking at about $4,000 to $8,000 just to replace the tub and is this cost effective for you? Be prepared from the moment you decide to dress up that tub to make this decision.

Now, a good re-glaze can last better than 10 years if done properly and there is a process which will ensure this. Preparation, product and technique are the key to a long lasting finish. If this technique is not followed your re-glaze will last anywhere from 1 day to 2 years. Two years may sound like a lot but when another company has to go in and strip the old finish off add another $500 to the re-glaze for a total of $950 to have it re-glazed again. This is not cost effective. If you're going to do it, do it right the first time and you will pat yourself on the back 5 years later when your tub still has a shine and is not peeling. Now let's get down to process.

The re-glazing process can be six to seven steps.

1. Removal of any caulking materials. Silicone is a contaminant and will cause the finish to fish eye. It is important to remove all traces of this by means of a silicone digester
2. Next, the old porcelain needs to be etched by means of an acid paste. This process will prepare the surface for the primer
3. When the acid etch is complete the surface must be wiped down with a solvent de-greaser to ensure that there are no more contaminants left behind
4. Primer - The surface must be primed with an epoxy primer to ensure proper cross hatching of compounds (i.e.-porcelain to primer, primer to finish, finish to clear coat)
5. Finish - The surface is then sprayed with an acrylic-urethane resin which can be tinted to any color you desire. It comes in two types, 24hr cure and 72hr cure. The 72hr cure is best if you don't mind waiting the extra time but the 24hr cure is good too.
6. Clear coat - The surface is then sprayed with an acrylic urethane clear coat which will kick up the gloss a bit and provide protection from common household chemicals
7. If you are refinishing from a previous re-glaze, the finish must be stripped. If this is the case, add this step before the first.

When these steps are followed, you can be sure your re-glaze is going to last for years. A good refinisher will give you at least a 10 year warranty "in writing", now that is cost effective! You will be happy and have just saved at least 70% of the cost of replacement.

MAINTENANCE

With the process you have just done, maintenance will be a breeze. You may also use rubber mats which many re-glazers will not recommend simply because they know it will peel. You will be able to use soft scrub and a white 3M cleaning pad without harming the surface. You will also be able to safely dye your hair without the fear of staining your finish providing the clear coat was used. With this in mind, re-glazing is not only practical but a very cost effective solution to replacement.

Your project when complete will look as though it was installed yesterday saving you $1000s on an install.

My name is George Piccot and I am the owner of Southern California based AB Ceramic Tile Regrout and Reglaze Systems (http://www.regroutpros.com). I have been in the restoration industry since 1989 and have seen every possible scenario and I hope this article serves you well in your endeavor.

AB Ceramic Tile Regrout and Reglaze Systems

Buying A Functional House

Roman Shades Add Style, Privacy and Lower Energy Bills!

Roman Shades made with an insulated or blackout lining will lower your energy bills. In these days of trying to cut costs do not forget the obvious in any room, your windows if not covered are costing you more money than you realize.

In the winter they can block out unwanted cold air drafts lowering your energy bill. In the summertime they can block out the heat of the sun which lowers your energy bill. Having trouble viewing your television on that sunny day? Roman Shades will get rid of the glare on the screen. Blackout linings combine fashion with function.

Windows are the single most area of your home where energy escapes or enters your home. Windows are also the most focal point of a room that should be dressed to add warmth and style to the room. Roman Shades add that designers touch to any room where there are numerous styles to achieve your goals of style, privacy and decor. By using a thermal backed lining you can achieve up to a R-9 rating for insulation depending on the face fabric you use. 100% Cotton Duck fabric with a thermal insulated lining has been used for years in the design industry for exceptional window coverings that are energy efficient.

Roman Shades were at one time only available through a designer or design center but are now available through many different resources including the Internet. Bandings or trim can also be added to any style to give a personal touch to any style.

M-C Roman Shades can fabricate your shades in a variety of seventeen styles with a 100% cotton duck fabric and thermal lining. We have been a fabricator of Roman and Balloon Shades for 26 years and can be found at http://www.mcromanshades.com You may supply your own fabric if desired. Toll free 800-261-8755

Painting Metal Siding

Drywall Repair - Home Repair Tips

Drywalls are common finishes used in the interior of homes whether in New York, or other cities in the U.S. No modern home could ever have been built without it. Though the building material has been manufactured to be tough, it is still not totally safe from any damage. Different levels of finishing, thickness and treatments that come with it offer various levels of soundproofing, fire resistance as well as impact tolerance. The extent of the drywall repair will be dependent on the degree of damage.

Also known as gypsum board, any damage to it is commonly remedied through homeowners doing the drywall repair themselves or hiring a pro. Though both options do have their benefits, they also have drawbacks. So when faced with any damage, it pays to carefully consider which alternative is best for your circumstance.

DIY Drywall Repair

Other than saving on the overall cost of the project, what drives many homeowners to do things themselves is the feeling of satisfaction upon finishing off the task successfully. Resources on the topic are abundant and you can easily look up helpful articles ad instructional videos about it in the World Wide Web, and even offline through magazines and books. The task is fairly easy if you are dealing with minor drywall repair involving slight dents, or small holes.

Just like other home improvement and maintenance project, the problem you would have to face if you try to handle the drywall repair on your own is the risk. Without any experience and skill, the risk of committing any mistake and thus sacrificing the quality of the result is huge, especially in cases where the damage is extensive. So if you think you are not up to the job, then better let the pros handle the work.

Drywall Repair Specialist

The factor that makes many homeowners cringe at the thought of acquiring professional help is the cost of labor, making up for the considerable difference when you think about how much the materials would cost. A hired drywall repair specialist, though, would save you time which you could choose to spend doing more important things. Equipped with the right tools and quality materials, you would not have to bother rummaging through the shed to look for tools.

In areas where guests are entertained like the living area or the kitchen, it pays to maintain their attractiveness. The smallest flaw could really take a toll in the area's appearance, and what more if there is a gaping hole on the wall? With a drywall repair specialist to do the job for you, the project results would be seamless and noticeably better; and a lot faster letting you enjoy the results in the shortest wait.

Drywall repair takes some practice and ample skills to produce results wherein the damage would seem to not even have existed. So when faced with any drywall damage, you have to weight your options carefully. The thing that you think might save you more could even cost you more.

Eugene Makeev of Craftsmen Network helps New York home owners avoid the common pitfalls with Brooklyn, NY drywall installers by matching their needs with prescreened drywall contractors NYC.

Please feel free to use our drywall estimator.

Older Homes With No Dryer Hookup

Overcoming Internal Barriers to Your Goals

If you're like I am, you don't see yourself as having any fear of success. In fact, it's likely that you actively strive for success.

So despite this confidence, why do you find yourself plagued with self-doubt sometimes? Or, occasionally, you just don't feel motivated to work on your goal. Worse yet, sometimes you do things that actually impede the achievement of your goal. Are these signs that you'll never achieve that goal or is something else going on?

One way to solve this puzzle is to ask yourself some key questions:

Are you taking on too big a goal?
Sometimes when there's too much to do to attain a goal, we can't focus on what needs to be done and we become overwhelmed. Rather than focusing on the big goal, focus on the smaller steps that need to be accomplished one at a time in order to accomplish the big goal.

Are there signs that you are progressing toward your goal?
It can be discouraging to feel as though you're not getting closer to your goal. It's easy to lose the initial enthusiasm and motivation once the work gets going. It's especially easy to lose the initial excitement and anticipation if you don't see any results from your efforts. If the steps toward your goal don't provide rewards, build your own. Treat yourself to a special dinner, a night out, or whatever you want, after making a significant step toward your goal.

Are you having to make too many sacrifices to achieve your goal?
If you're a single parent holding down a full-time job, you may be sacrificing sleep or time with your children to get that Ph. D. Most goals demand some kind of investment of scarce resources (i.e. time, energy, money). For some, these resources are a small investment and for others they are major investments. Make sure your investment is worth your goal.

Now that you've started working on your goal, is this something you can accomplish?
Some self-doubts are realistic and some aren't. Make an assessment of the skills and resources needed to accomplish this goal. Next, assess your skills and resources. It may be helpful to ask a friend who can be objective and honest with you to help you with these assessments. If your skills and resources are less than what is needed and will never be enough to reach your goals, then your self-doubt is an inner sign of reality (like wanting to be the next "American Idol" despite being only an adequate singer). However, if your skills and resources match or will match the skills and resources needed to accomplish your goal, this exercise should help eliminate some of your self-doubt.

Is accomplishing your goal too far out in the future?
When goals take a long time to accomplish, we can find ourselves working on things that have nothing to do with our goals, and in effect, wasting our time and making the achievement of our goals take that much longer. In this case, it may be helpful to make the halfway point to your goal the new goal instead. For example, if your goal is to lose 40 pounds in 40 weeks, make a new goal of 20 pounds in 20 weeks. At the end of 20 weeks, when you've lost 20 pounds, create a new goal of 20 pounds in 20 weeks. Break up your goal whichever way works best for you and keeps you focused on the end result.

You may not always be able to handle external obstacles toward your goals, but you do have control over your internal obstacles!

I have been helping people reach their personal and professional goals for the past 14 years. There's nothing more satisfying than helping someone reach their potential for success. I would like the opportunity to help you reach your goals. I am a Professional Coach with a Ph.D. in Psychology and a specialty in Goal Achievement and Transitions. Check out my website: http://www.ParamountTransitions.com then call me for a free consultation.

Problems With Black Mold

Garage Conversions - Safety and Value Issues for Real Estate

Occasionally a garage conversion will be carefully done so that the exterior of the conversion closely matches and harmonizes with the rest of the home. The only giveaway is the presence of the driveway leading right up to the home. The quality conversion interior will be on par with the rest of the home, be adequately insulated, heated and cooled and will feature adequate windows and an exterior door to allow natural light, access and ventilation. By contrast, the cheap conversion will have few or none of these amenities.

Safety is a prime concern due to the possibility of fire. A garage conversion with no windows or exterior doors is a fire hazard since anyone caught in that area when a fire blocks their way into the rest of the home can be killed. And since garages are very often adjacent to the kitchen where most fires begin, the potential for disaster is very real and every second counts. Each room in a home must have a way to escape a fire. At a minimum, there must be a window that can be easily opened and is large enough for an adult to slip through in a hurry. A door opening to the exterior is a prudent addition.

An additional consideration is the quality of wiring and the type of heating in the garage conversion. Faulty wiring and/or unsafe use of appliances can start a fire. Free-standing unvented "space" heaters pose a threat from carbon monoxide poisoning.

A garage conversion creates a lack of covered parking space and usually results in decreased storage space. Only when the site is large enough, and building setback lines do not interfere, can additional covered parking be physically and legally provided.

Value Considerations Stemming from the Above

It stands to reason that a good quality garage conversion will bring more value to a home than a cheap one will. The very cheap conversion where the overhead doors have been blocked off and some inexpensive floor coverings added is probably best converted back to garage space, since the cost should be minimal to once again offer a garage. This minimal restoration cost can be offered as a price concession if the owner is unwilling to make the restoration prior to closing. But even the good quality conversion poses the problem of a lack of covered parking if a separate garage structure or at least a carport is not present. The owner and agent should anticipate a reduction in value for this factor. How much reduction to expect is a matter of patient research.

A garage conversion should always be inspected carefully by a qualified real estate inspector, and this will normally be included as part of the whole-house inspection process. In Texas, such inspectors are required to be state licensed. Such an inspection should reveal health, safety or structural problems and the cost to do the repairs can also be offered as a price concession unless they become a lender requirement as a condition of making the loan.

Harry E. Davis is a Texas state certified residential real estate appraiser in Texas and is webmaster of the FHA Appraiser Directory Appraiser and appraisals are available at Austin TexasAppraiser

Moisture Against Gravity Destroy

Earth4Energy Review

Earth4Energy: Are Power Bills Adding up to your Financial woes?

Earth4Energy provides you a complete platform to understand and implement different systems as an alternative to generate electricity, reduce and even eliminate power bills completely.Building power generating systems at home is not only easy but also fun when you have Earth4Energy Manual with you. It helps you save a lot of money as well as contributes towards conserving the planet.

The Purpose:
With the Growing World Energy crisis day by day, there is a need for all of us to start finding alternatives to conventional energy sources. In Early 2008 Central Asia experienced an energy crisis, caused by abnormally cold temperatures and low water levels in an area dependent on hydroelectric power.In response to the petroleum crisis, the principles of green energy and sustainable living movements gain popularity. This has led to increasing interest in alternate power/fuel research such as fuel cell technology, hydrogen fuel, biomethanol, biodiesel, solar energy, wind electricity or Wind energy, and fusion power.

The Solution:
Keeping in view the above mentioned Points Author, Mr.Michael has written the Earth4Energy guide to help individuals and small businesses to coupe up with the deficits caused. This Guide is all About generating electricity from Wind Power and Solar energies. It Also Guide's you to use Ethanol as an alternative source of energy. Installing Wind turbines and Solar Panels to generate electricity would have cost you more than $3000 previously without this guide.

The Advantage:
The Advantage of Earth4Energy Manual is simply the ease of use it can offer. Anyone with very basic skills can make use of this product to generate electricity from home using Wind turbines and Solar Panels. It Offers great techniques to successfully build and install your own power generating systems for less than $200. Once you have setup your own electricity generating system using this guide, you are on your way to save anywhere between 80%-100% on your monthly Power Bill's. If you have generated more power than you use, you can simply sell it to your nearest power company.

The Summary:
With keeping in mind the rising inflation and world energy crisis day by day, Earth4Energy offers a lucrative money saving solution to your energy needs and also helps you in Conserving the planet at the same time. You will be able to install and generate electricity from wind energy and solar energy. Although it could have been written in a bit more simple English, I had no problems to understand and implement it.

The Verdict:
Earth4Energy is written in a simple and Easy-to-understand method, and Simple Step by Step illustrations are given at every stage of the Book. Although it could have been written in a bit more simple English, I had no problems to understand and implement it. It's worth every penny of the money spent. And one time installation cost of less than $200 is not much when you compare it to a single month's electricity bill. So, my verdict certainly goes in favour of this book. This book is definitely worth a try.

Visit Earth4Energy For More Info.

Construction Estimating - In Southern California

Many contractors use a blank sheet of paper (or worse yet, the back of an envelope), or construction estimating forms, or just a word processor to estimate their jobs. There are also cost books that have thousands of prices in them that are used by many contractors to create estimates for their jobs. If this is you, you're probably losing thousands of dollars every year.

After talking with thousands of contractors over the years it's clear to me that this type of estimating is not the best way of doing it. The challenge is that it's difficult to spot duplications and missing items in your estimate, if it's more that a couple of dozen items.

I believe that the best way to create your estimates, no matter how you do them, it to do them by, what I call, sections. Many people have different names for section, like tasks, classes, categories and so on. Simply put, sections are a way of organizing your estimates in a way that reduces the probability that you'll make an error. Sections are, for example, Site Preparation, Foundations, Framing, Roofing, Electrical, Landscaping, and so on.

The reason this reduces you likelihood of making an error is that every item you add to the estimate is put into a section. Digging and pouring the foundation and items associated with that go into the Foundation Section. All the framing items (labor and materials) go into the Framing section, Roofing items go into the Roofing section, and so on.

So, let's take a look at how this works. As preparing the estimate you put each of the items into the appropriate section. It's also a good idea to total your costs for each section as well.

When you've finished the estimate, you now go back and review each section. Looking at the total for each section gives you an idea if you're in the right ball park to begin with. Then you review each of the items in each section to make sure you don't have any duplicate items. As you're reviewing each section you finally review that everything you need to complete, for example, the foundation is in the Foundation section. You go through each of the sections to confirm that you've got everything you need in the estimate you're going to give to your prospect.

You'll find lists of sections at:
http://www.construction-estimating.com/Sections
which you're free to use and modify to fit your specific needs.

By the way, if you're not at least using a spreadsheet to prepare your estimates, you should do that as well because a spreadsheet will automatically do your calculations eliminating errors in mathematics in your estimates. For the small cost of a spreadsheet and the time to learn how to use it, you can save yourself hours of frustration and errors in your construction estimating.

Christopher Carpenter is the developer of LiteningFast Estimating. LiteningFast is an estimating program that helps you estimate faster, easier and more accurately. It's integrated with QuickBooks to provide job cost.

It was introduced to the market in 1994 and currently has over 3,500 users in the US, Canada, and around the world.

You can find more information at contractor construction estimating. You'll be glad you did.

Information about construction estimating software for contractors is available.

Lower Utility Bills and Improve Your Heating Efficiency

Energy Saving Tips to Reduce Heating Bills

With UK energy costs having risen by over 30% in the last year, many people are looking for ways to lower utility bills. Even without changing energy suppliers - which these days offers fewer advantages, there are many simple steps a home owner can take to reduce gas and electricity bills and to avoid energy wastage. These include:

• Turning appliances completely off at the power socket when not in use. TV's, digital set top boxes (including Sky boxes), DVD players, video recorders, mobile phone chargers, radios and stereo equipment can all consume power when left plugged in, on standby. Collectively, these appliances can cost up to 100 a year to run if left on 24 hours a day!
• Installing low energy fluorescent lighting in all rooms. Low energy lighting uses around 20% of the energy of conventional filament lamps.
• Lower your utility bills by regularly defrosting your freezer to improve its energy efficiency. A build up of ice in your freezer will result in the compressor running for longer periods, greatly increasing electricity consumption.
• Install cavity wall insulation in your home. Up to 30% of the heat loss from any property is through the walls. Foam or Rockwool cavity wall insulation will reduce heat loss, keeping your home warmer in winter and cooler during the summer months.
• Get your boiler serviced regularly to improve its efficiency. Dirt and dust can build up in your boiler's heat exchanger and flue, increasing gas consumption.
• Ensure that loft insulation is topped up to a depth of 300mm. Many older houses were built before the new UK building regulations and may have 150mm of loft insulation or less. Avoid insulating under water tanks to reduce the risk of frozen pipes.
• Install sealed-unit double glazing to reduce heat loss through your windows. The latest types of heat reflective double glazing can lower utility bills by 15% compared to traditional single glazed windows. There are security benefits too.
• Turn off lights when leaving a room. Make it a habit!
• Consider replacing old appliances with new energy efficient versions. For example an A+ energy rated freezer with a high efficiency compressor can use up to 50% less electricity than a 10 year old freezer.
• Lower your room thermostat setting. Reducing your room thermostat by one or two degrees can save you 10 - 20% on your utility bills. Some more modern UK homes have separate heating zones allowing independent temperature adjustment. A comfortable room temperature is 20 - 21 degrees centigrade.
• Fit draught strips on doors and windows to reduce draughts. Ill-fitting windows with significant draughts can account for 15% of a property's total heat loss.
• Consider installing a boiler economiser. These high-tech boxes help lower your utility bills on gas or oil fired central heating systems by making use of the latent heat in the system to reduce the amount of time the boiler is operating - maintaining a more even temperature in your home.
• Install radiator foil on radiators which are positioned on solid external walls. Radiator foil reflects heat back into the room, reducing heat loss through solid walls and improving the efficiency of your heating system - consequently making your home warmer. The author recommends using extra thick tin foil from your local supermarket, cutting it to size and using double sided adhesive pads to fix the foil to the wall behind your radiators. A cheap way to lower utility bills and reduce your carbon footprint!

Steve Larkins works as a marketing consultant for Gas-Elec, whose hi-tech G-save boiler economiser product helps lower utility bills by up to 30% on gas or oil fired central heating systems.

Sink Water Filter - Discover the Dangers You Face Without One

Have you ever sat down to consider the many health benefits that you and your family could enjoy through the purchase and installation of a sink water filter? Many people still don't realize the dangers that they face every time that they pour themselves a glass of unfiltered tap water.

Do you realize that here we use around 80,000 industrial chemicals? Most, if not all of these harmful chemicals, have found their way by some method or another into our ground water supply. This means that traces of any or all of these chemicals may be present in your drinking water at home.

A high quality sink water filter is a necessity for your family due to the fact that there is no protection from these chemical contaminants that your local water treatment center can offer you. Their equipment is simply not designed to allow the blocking of these chemicals to be possible.

Of course they are also not able to stop the flow of certain parasites and cysts that are in our water supply either. You see, not every microbe is killed by the chlorine disinfection process that our drinking water receives. These parasites can cause serious harm to you if they are ingested.

A good sink water filter can protect your family from the harmful effects of all of these parasitic and chemical threats through the use of a four pronged system of filters. They are each designed to take care of a different problem area.

Let me explain to you exactly what is necessary in order for you to be fully protected.

What you need in order to rid yourself of all of the hazardous chemicals that are part of your drinking water supply are a multi block filter, and an activated granular carbon filter. These two are both necessary because of the vast array of the chemicals that are in our water.

Your sink water filter also needs to be armed with a sub micron filter in order to be able to rid you of the threat that is posed to you and your family by microscopic parasites and cysts. Your family can rest easy knowing that the threat that these microbes cause has been effectively abated.

Your system is not complete without the inclusion of a filter that will remove toxic heavy metals such as lead and copper from your drinking. An ion exchange filter is necessary in order to achieve this goal by trapping the traces of metal and replacing them with healthy electrolytes.

If you have a reasonably priced filter that employs all of the elements that I have mentioned in this article, then you and your family will be fully taken care of. But don't settle for anything less or there will still be contaminants present. You want your family to be as protected as possible.
Hopefully you now see what an integral role a sink water filter can play in your lives. There is no time like the present for starting your search for just the right model for you.

For free information on how to protect yourself from water contaminated with carcinogens, traces of drugs, hormones, parasites and other toxins click here Lauren Leddy is a consumer advocate and a dedicated researcher of health related issues. Visit her website now at http://www.safe-water-purifier.com and discover what she has learned that will help you select the very best water filtration system for your home or office.