Torch Down Roofing - A Cautionary Tale

Don't spend a dime on torch down roofing until you've read this cautionary tale. While the names and places change, this tragedy is a common occurrence. It goes something like this...

Two roofers are installing a small flat roof over a lanai while the homeowner is at work. The tear off goes well. Perhaps there's a little rotted wood to fix but that, too, is no problem.

Then they start installing the new roof system. It is a type commonly referred to as "torch down roofing". The official name is "modified bitumen" (pronounced buy-TOO-men). It is a rolled roofing product that consists of a tough membrane embedded in a thick layer of asphalt. Rubbery additives in the asphalt allow the roofing to expand and contract, where other roofing systems just crack. The roofing can bond tightly to metal flashings and move with them, while maintaining the bond. This flexibility is the main benefit of modified bitumen and is a big factor in its success.

Some types are applied with an adhesive, some types are self-adhering and some types are hot mopped as the cap sheet in built-up roofing systems. But it is the type applied with a propane torch that is referred to as "torch down roofing". It is also one the most dangerous of all roofing products...

One of the roofers gets a little careless with the torch and starts something smoldering in the attic. And they don't notice the small wisp of smoke coming out of the soffit vents. Just after the roofers go to lunch, the smoldering turns into a fire that spreads quickly in the dry, dusty attic.

With nobody home, the fire is going pretty good before the mailman notices the black smoke billowing up from the back of the house. He dials 911 and the fire trucks are there in a matter of minutes. But they have trouble putting the fire out because it is mostly contained within the attic. Finally they chop a big hole in the roof so they can put lots of water on the raging inferno. They get the fire out, but not before the home suffers extensive smoke and water damage, in addition to the actual fire damage.

One of the neighbors calls the homeowner, who rushes to the scene to find that the lovely home she had a few hours before, is now pretty much destroyed. About that time, the roofers come back from lunch... and wish they had taken up plumbing instead of roofing!

Fortunately, this scenario is completely preventable. For a good discussion of the alternatives to torch down roofing, check out: "Roofing Secrets: How to Avoid Leaks and Save Thousands of Dollars!" by John C Bishop. It will make the job easier and help you avoid big mistakes.

For details, go to: http://www.roofingsecrets.com

Bathtub Refinishing - Do It Yourself

Bathtub refinishing is a popular choice when it comes to renovating or remodeling a bathroom. Instead of taking the time and expense of removing an existing bathtub, old bathtubs are looking new once again by refinishing the tub.

The concept of making an old tub look new has caught on for homeowners who like the idea of saving money on a bathroom makeover project. Bathtub refinishing allows people the option of applying different substances on an existing tub to bring back the shine of a new tub.

The cost of replacing a bathtub can be a huge expense and the demolition that is sometimes required for removing an old tub can be very time consuming. The process of refinishing a bathtub can take as little as two days for completion without the added cost and time.

When considering restoring an existing bathtub, there are several products to choose from. Bathtub refinishing products range from less expensive do it yourself kits available at the local home goods store to the more expensive materials that a bathtub restoration professional uses. Although the entire process can be done by most people, hiring a professional may be worth the extra expense.

When a professional refinishes a bathtub, the supplies used are usually a superior quality and the result often shows. The professional uses a spray on type application that gives a nice smooth even coat on the entire bathtub. Most do it yourself refinishing kits have roll on applicators, which do a good job for most bathtubs, but may lack the superior quality of a professional application.

Consider bathtub refinishing if you are planning a bathroom renovation. It is less costly than replacing a bathtub and the final results have proven to make homeowners very satisfied with their old but new bathtub.

Be sure to read more about bathtub refinishing where we show you the benefits of refinishing a bathtub. Also learn more about bathroom renovations including installation of luxury bathtubs such as clawfoot bathtubs, walk in bathtubs, steam showers, and more by clicking on the link today at: http://www.bathtub-depot.com/bathroom_renovations.html

What Does A Gfi Do

4 Reasons You Need a Pet Door and Which Kind to Get

If you have been toying with the idea of getting a pet door installed in your house, it's time to stop toying. There are a number of reasons why it is wise to have a pet door installed for your furry friend. Here's a look at four of them:

Fewer Accidents

Just like sometimes you have to go and can't hold it any longer, the same thing can happen to your pet. If you happen to not be home when this urge comes, you are going to come home to an accident. This is especially a problem in younger dogs in training and older dogs that can no longer control their bladder as well as they used to. If you had a pet door installed, it would not be a problem.

Pet Independence

Want to teach your pet to think for itself and not be a puppy, get a pet door. This allows your pet to make decisions on when he or she needs to go out to the bathroom. This is also healthier for your pet. While many pets will wait until you get home to be let out when they have to go, if they wait too long, it could lead to longer-term health problems.

Fewer Interruptions

Have you ever had one of those nights when you have just been able to finally sit down after a long day and the dog then lets you know he needs out? Maybe you're right at the most dramatic point in the movie when this happens. Either way, it's inconvenient. With a dog door your pet can let himself in and out and you don't have to worry about it.

Less Home Damage

Many pets do whatever they can to get out when they need to go. They may start by barking then turn it into scratching and even biting on things trying to get a door to open. If you're not home to hear their cries to go out, you won't be there to stop the damage that a pet door could have prevented.

Selecting a Pet Door

Once you know you need a pet door you may wonder which is the best for you to get.

First, you need a door that is just going to fit your dog through it. Remember, this is a door that will have to go to the outside, so there may be some hot or cold air getting in. You want to make it as small as possible of an open space. If your dog is young, make sure the door will be large enough for him when he is full grown.

Second, many people worry about safety when they install a pet door. They don't want a door that is open to the outside where an intruder can get in. Thankfully, you can look for a pet door that thought about this. Look for a door that is electronic that can only be opened when your pet gets close to it. You will have to put a signal collar on your pet so the dog knows it is your pet at the pet door and not an intruder.

Author Jennifer Akre is an owner of a wide variety of online specialty shops including that offer both items and information on pets. Whether it is dog supplies for your dog, or even your cat supplies for your cat, there are many tips you can use to help you make your home a better place for your pet.

Brick Crack From Tree

Introduction to Tropical Green Building

Introduction to Tropical Green Building Green building is the revolutionary development practice centered upon the mission of creating buildings which apply an increased efficiency of resources such as energy, water, and materials. In turn, green building reduces building impacts on human health and the environment by implementing improved site location, design, construction, operation, maintenance, and removal - encompassing the complete life cycle of building.

Natural building is a similar concept, which usually operates on a smaller scale and tends to focus on the use of locally available natural materials.

The related concepts of sustainable development and sustainability are integral to green building. Some of the primary outcomes of effective green building include 1) reduced operating costs promoted by increasing productivity and using less energy and water, 2) improved public and occupant health as a result of improved indoor air quality, and 3) reduced environmental impacts by means of, for example, lessening storm water runoff and the heat island effect. Practitioners of green building often seek to achieve not only ecological but aesthetic harmony between a structure and its surrounding natural and built environment, although the appearance and style of sustainable buildings is not necessarily distinguishable from their less sustainable counterparts.

A fundamental principle of sustainable development concentrates on keeping our planet in a condition which will indefinitely support future generations. This is an enormous challenge due to the state of stress and overuse our global ecosystem is experiencing. Unfortunately, finite sources of energy and materials are being depleted, and much of our environment is being polluted or spoiled. Green building aims to repair the damage that less sustainable building methods have had on our environment and promote a system of building that enables us to live in a state of equilibrium with our surroundings.

The construction industry plays a major role here as a primary consumer of materials and energy. At the building scale, sustainable construction aims to provide long-lasting, health-minded, useful buildings. This goal can be accomplished by conserving limited material and energy resources by using durable, recyclable, and renewable materials through energy-efficient design, and by using environmentally neutral energy sources such as wind, sun, geothermal, and mechanisms including shading, simple evaporation and cooling.

At the urban and regional scales, sustainable construction involves planning that preserves environmental quality, conserves energy through efficient design, reduces waste and consumption through sensible design, and reduces pollution by establishing efficient transportation networks. At all scales, sustainable construction aims to support ecosystems through design with nature by establishing and improving habitats for wildlife, supporting biodiversity, replenishing groundwater instead of channeling rainwater into storm sewers and more.

Get a FREE Energy Efficient Green Home Design and learn more about Sustainable Homes at http://www.SustainableCommunities.com

Buying Blinds For Roof Windows

ICF - Insulated Concrete Forms - Method of Building Walls

There are several different methods used to build walls. This article will discuss the ICF method. We will look at the materials used in this method and then list the conclusions reached based on these materials. If you are standing inside the house, we will talk about the materials from the inside of the house to the outside of the house.

Gypsum Wall Board - this material absorbs water. The moist Gypsum wallboard can contribute to mold and mildew.

EPS foam - very good insulation properties. It is 'continuous and touching' which provides excellent energy savings.

Concrete - this material is poured in what is known as a 'continuous pour'. Even if the concrete is poured in lifts, the adhesive properties of concrete to itself allow the pour to be considered continuous. This material that goes from free flowing to rock solid is what provides the best-sealed envelope of a home.

EPS foam - very good insulation properties. It is 'continuous and touching' which provides excellent energy savings.

Cementious Finish - typically a fiber mesh wrap is applied to the walls and synthetic stucco materials are installed in two applications to get the requested look by the homebuyer.

Windows and Door openings - typically the openings are formed with 2x12's cut down to the width of the foam blocks and braced to accept the concrete pour. The 2x's are fastened with J-bolts that are placed prior to the concrete pour. An issue with the openings is that they have wood in the exterior walls in the areas where water has the highest possibility to enter the house. This creates the possibility, and likelihood, of water entering at these locations (the same as a wood framed house.) Remember, when the air is flowing thru the return air it is pressurizing the air which means 'additional air' has to come in the house. The window and door areas are where this air will come from, which allows water to get further into the wall, into the wood 2x bucks and farther away from the edges. This makes it take longer for the moisture to get out. When this occurs this will lead to the formation of mold and mildew.

Ease of construction - the trained skill level to build the walls of a custom home are similar to the skill level needed to build a concrete block home, or for a skilled carpenter to build a wood framed home.

Issues during construction - typical issues are proper bracing to minimize/eliminate concrete spills (blowouts) and bracing to keep the walls plumb (vertically aligned) and straight along the top of the forms.

The ORNL (Oak Ridge National Laboratory, contracted by the United States Department of Energy) after testing all 16 methods of construction proves the method of construction that Insulated Concrete Forms (ICF) utilizes is the second best method of building a home (by approximately 9% less savings) in regards to energy savings. To confirm please view: http://www.ornl.gov/roofs+walls/research/detailed_papers/thermal/index.html

The ICF method exceeds all building codes for high wind resistance due to the use of poured-in-place concrete in the forms.

This article has discussed the ICF method of building walls. It has described the various materials that are used. This article has also shown the problems and benefits that each of these materials can cause when building a house. The use of the ICF method of building walls only fails in 2 areas of building a home to prevent mold and mildew issues, which is the use of wood around openings and the use of a gypsum product (drywall) on the interior of the exterior wall. The 2 inches of foam and the drywall board on the interior is what accounts for the 9% higher use of energy than a wall with concrete in direct contact with the interior, such as the most energy efficient wall that utilizes the method referenced by the ORNL as concrete- insulation - concrete (CIC).

Are you getting ready to build a new home? Are you trying to build an energy efficient home? To get more information about building your next energy efficient home, visit http://www.allwallsystem.com, a "CIC" method of building.

Why Basement Remodeling?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Why Bathroom Remodeling Will Add Life to Your Home

There are many ways to remodel a bathroom and depending on how extensive of a remodel project you want, you could spend three or four times the normal amount if you are doing a lot of tile work, granite counters, new cabinetry, etc. Usually the older the bathroom the more extensive and expensive the remodel project will be.

There are so many things to consider when renovating your bathroom. Replacing the current window with a larger one will add light and also give you an opportunity to add a more energy efficient window. Maybe you can add a skylight, this is an excellent way to bring in more light and increase the feeling of spaciousness. Replacing fixtures with modern designs can make a bathroom more decorative and style that not only looks good, but is functional. There is a wide price range for light fixtures, so you can easily pick one that fits your budget. Replacing a toilet can be a simple thing if you avoid the most common mistakes made by many homeowners.

Remember, the door fixtures will be the first thing you see when you enter any room so you might want to start here! Remember, if you don't fell 100% comfortable with or confident in the possible outcome, stop and meet with your contractor immediately and discuss an alternative route. Piece of mind is priceless especially with a project of this importance. After all, it is your sanctuary.

A shower remodel is also a perfect time to experiment with shower heads. There are many types, styles and brands you can choose from. The type of concrete used for shower walls and floors is highly engineered and a must if your looking for the perfect job. Tiles are generally durable, and you won't have to worry about replacing them if you choose the right material.

Tile is also an area where you have a wide range of choices. From sheet linoleum to ceramic tile the choices are numerous. Tile mosaics are especially popular in Mediterranean style bathrooms. Tile can also be used as decorative design pieces (glazed, glass mosaic or quarry styles).

Bathroom flooring, more than anything else, can have a stunning effect on the overall look of a bathroom; choose bathroom flooring wisely and you will achieve the bathroom of your dreams? Many homeowners like to install below floor heating, which is recommended with a stone or concrete floor.

You can install hardwood floors on the floor of your Bathroom, provided that they are coated with a water-proof finish. Many people will opt for this type of flooring in this part of the house because it provides warmth and has the effect of creating a soft relaxing atmosphere.

Neutral colors are probably your best bet and will last for many years to come. Some contractors will recommend using self leveling cement but good old poured concrete screened floors is the only way to get that perfect job. Selecting a contractor by referrals is also the best way to choose the right company for the job.

DiCicco Building Company has been doing Home Additions Macomb for over 20 years. We are also leaders in Macomb Remodeling along with being an award winning custom residential home builder. We also specialize in Finished Basements and home additions.