Small Basement Remodeling

Space is a common housing issue especially in big city living. As the song popularized by Frank Sinatra goes, I want to be a part of it... New York, New York. Most everybody still wants to experience and live through the action of the never-sleeping city. So if you do live in New York, there is still another option to consider other than just learning to live with how things are. The answer to your space crunch lies through looking into the possibilities unused areas has to offer. This makes small basement remodeling one of the best home improvement projects to undertake.

Why small basement remodeling?

- When thinking of adding square footage to your home's living area, this is a more cost-effective alternative than having a home addition where you would need to extend. This would cost you only a fraction of what you will be spending on the later with most or all of the same features. One of the reasons for the great savings is that the structural necessities are already there like the ceiling, flooring, and walls.

- Another benefit for undertaking a small basement remodeling is the ideal location of the area that promotes fewer hassles posed by home improvement works to the family's daily living.

- Since the nature of the space is underground; it is typically warm during colder months and cooler on summer. This factor helps you enjoy the small basement remodeling project results with less energy costs.

There are many ways that you could come up with a finish your small basement remodeling and this depends on your personal needs and preferences. The isolation and originally compact masonry of the place makes it ideal to be turned into a home office, playroom for the younger children, game or recreational room, home theatre or an exercise area. Because plumbing is readily available and easily accessible, the area can also excellently make up for a sauna, additional bathroom, or large custom shower. Other popular small basement remodeling ideas include: a wet bar, kitchenette, and additional room for guests.

When we think about our small basements, the most natural thing to come into out minds is their dungeon-like features. To bring out the most in our remodeling project, you can play with certain elements to make the space as inviting, comfortable and more spacious to look at.

- This area would naturally require heavy lighting compared to most areas in the house. You can provide fixtures promoting intense light as well as maximize the use of windows to let in more natural light.

- Carpets have been a popular choice but are you aware that tiles could do better as flooring? Aside from the durability that it offers, it is also low maintenance. As your small basement is prone to moisture and water problems, this would serve as the better alternative. To make up for the hardness and help with the over-all room design, you can also put beautiful area rugs.

- Light paint colors, horizontal designs and diagonal patterns are great in making the small basement remodeling finish seem much wider.

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. For more, visit New York Contractors

Helpful Information on Bathroom Decor

The perception of people about the bathroom is changing. The place is no longer seen as a place to have your bath in the morning to get ready for the day's activities and in the night to get rid of all the sweats that have accumulated during the day. It is now regarded by many as a safe haven that demands a lot of attention. Lots of people are now seeing it as part of the home. So, they are making effort to infuse their personality and style into it. There are so many things you can do to make this sacred place beautiful. One of the things you can do is to place lights in strategic positions in your bathroom.

Before the modern way of using light, bathroom light fixtures were merely regarded as functional. In other words, the lights were merely used as a tool to help you move around in the room. Back then, a single light is placed over the bathroom sink or cabinet to illuminate the whole room. But these days, bathroom lighting has taken a new dimension. It is now both aesthetic and functional in nature. The light can be placed in a way that the whole room becomes a reflection of your personality.

There are many bathroom fixtures out there in the market for you. You can get one for the ceiling, wall and also the shower. You can buy flush and semi-flush ceiling mounts and add a wonderful aura to your bathroom. The lights also come in various shades and sizes; there is red, green, blue and the traditional yellow bulb lights. The proper placement of lights in your bathroom cannot be stressed enough.

Apart from using lights aesthetically, you can decide to use it for activities such as shaving or applying make up. Bathroom lighting is highly necessary for you in order to locate stuff in the cabinets or around the bathroom. Also, the lights can function as mood enhancers. So, with the right set of lights in your bathroom, you can experience an uplifting of drooping spirits each time you step in to have your bath.

Ras Reed provides you with more interesting and useful bathroom decor information such as Contemporary Bathroom Vanity as well as Corner Bathroom Sink on his resourceful website.

Working With a Contracted Painter - Homeowner Tips

Help with home improvement work should always be welcome with open arms by homeowners with no real experience in the matter. Going at it alone is usually not a wise decision for homeowners when it comes to the more complicated tasks such as painting the house or other complex projects. With a professional approach and help from contractors, homeowners can rest assured that their projects will turn out looking magnificent and the process will go much more smoothly than if the homeowner had hired an amateur or done the work themselves.

A contracted painter is a valuable addition to any remodeling project. With a very important aspect of the project taken care of, homeowners should rest easy knowing that they can now focus their attention on other areas of the remodel. Knowing exactly what they are doing, a contracted painter will take on a project efficiently and with little problems. Knowing how to deal with problems when they arise and hopefully avoid them before they even come up, these professionals prove their worth each time they are hired by homeowners looking for a good paint job. With a well-painted house, homeowners are usually happy they went with a professional.

The value a contracted painter holds often goes beyond physically painting the house. Helping with the planning aspect of the project is widely accepted as a big plus if the contractor is able to do so. With their experience and training, contractors are usually able to offer advice and lend a hand when planning these expansive remodeling projects. This often proves to be one of the most valuable resources a homeowner can hope for when taking on large remodeling projects.

More information on College Works Painting is just a click away.

Log Cabin Vinyl Siding

This article talks in grat depths about the advantages of vinyl over normal wood. It talks about the fact that it looks just as good, but is cheap, has low maintenance and is eco-fiendly.If thought of building a log cabin siding but never took it seriously because of heavy work load and cost then you no longer have any excuses.

Making a log cabin from actual wood will not only prove to be very costly, but it will also have an adverse effect on the environment. Today the world has reached an advanced stage of deforestation. Therefore, we must do our bit to save the planet. Understandably, log wood houses have a very rustic look. With the advent of log cabin vinyl siding, this rustic look can be maintained while the installation and maintenance of the log cabin vinyl siding is cheap and it is artificially made out of vinyl (a chemical), therefore it is eco-friendly since it doesnt involve cutting down tree.

Advantage Log Cabin Vinyl Siding

Besides simply looking authentic, there are a lot benefits that come with log cabin vinyl siding. It also provides many saving opportunities, both fiscally and physically. Vinyl siding is practically maintenance free and does not require insect preventing, staining, and sealing as well as any type of refinishing.

Vinyl log siding is one of the best methods of weatherproofing your structure as it provides complete protection from all types of climates.

Vinyl log siding is 100% man-made but still retains the look of natural wood. Log cabin vinyl siding is certainly cheaper than using full-logs because it's mass-produced. AS it can be easily installed Cost of labor is cheaper.

Parkers Midwest Distributing at www.vinyllogsiding.com offers a wide variety of log cabin vinyl sidings. They come in many different shades, and look almost natural. Whats more is that it doesnt need much maintenance. There will be no holes caused by pests. There will be no termite infestations or beds of fungi on this artificial replica of the real world wood.

An Eco-Friendly Way of Siding

Resource Materials Corp at www.resourcematerialscorp.com offers yet another wide range of log cabin vinyl siding products. They specialize in heat treatment technologies. Once you install their log cabin vinyl siding, you will realize that the amount of heat dissipated into the atmosphere reduces in winter and increases in summer. In short, winters will be warm and summers will be cool

Sisson Log Homes at www.sissonloghomes.com

Sisson Log Homes is renowned for bringing excellently crafted log cabin vinyl sidings complete with the accompanying accessories and fitting should you choose.

In summary, log cabin vinyl sidings are cheaper than their wooden counterparts, are more resistant to moth attacks, are available in all shades, fit perfectly into one another, are eco friendly and require way less maintenance.

You can also find more info on harsh weather conditions and siding products. Homesidingreview.com is a comprehensive resource to know more about home siding review.

Home Staging Tips - Number 1 - Bathrooms

The Bathroom has to be one of the least glamorous rooms of a house; but, the potential impact it can have on a prospective Buyers' decision to buy can be huge.

In response to a recent study where Buyers were asked what conveys cleanliness to them when looking at a potential new home, their response: "The Kitchen Sink, the Laundry Room and the Bathrooms."

You will notice a recurring theme throughout these tips: CLEAN! And, I'm not talking your once-a-week surface cleaning...I'm talking DETAILED CLEANING.

So, arm yourself with the following list of supplies and products and follow me to the bathroom:

- Gloves
- Sponges (I use three different ones: one for the sinks and surfaces; one for the toilets; and one for the tub/shower
- Scrub brush
- an old Toothbrush (great for corners, along baseboards, around the toilet base, and grout)
- Paper Towels
- Bathroom Cleanser (preferably one with bleach; a disinfectant - I like Soft Scrub)
- Glass Cleaner (e.g., Windex)
- Clorox Bleach Pen (great for cleaning grout)
- Zap Restorer and Cleaner (removes rust, iron stains, calcium deposits, hard water stains, lime scale, soap scum, mold and mildew, and ground-in dirt on porcelain, fiberglass, tile and grout)
- Easy Off - BAM (for shower doors). Use Mr. Clean Magic Eraser to assist with tough spots.
- Gonzo Odor Eliminator (Absorbs smoke odors, eliminates musty odors caused by mold and mildew, and, helps with pet odors, too! All-natural, odorless, non-toxic volcanic crystals are environmentally safe for pets.)

CLEAN:

- Floors
- Walls
- Ceilings (knock down any cob webs)
- Door (both sides) Exhaust Vents
- Tub (make sure to run the jets in the tub to make sure there are no surprises)
- Shower (clean the grout)
- Shower Doors
- Sinks
- Faucets
- Toilets
- Vanity Drawers and Cabinets (inside and out)
- Mirrors
- Windows (inside and out)
- Screens
- Window Treatments (consider removing them altogether; or washing and ironing before putting them back up)
- Shelves/Built-ins
- Linen Closets (inside and out)

THE BATHROOM:

Complete any outstanding projects (improvement projects).

Wallpaper? Remove it! Why? Wallpaper is considered a custom decor choice; and, will rarely be the choice of the Buyer.

Patch all holes and cracks in the walls.

Paint walls a neutral color. Avoid white for the walls. Instead, choose a soft (universal) color.

Touch up any wood trim. Trim, ceilings and doors should be white. Using the same trim color throughout the home is preferable.

Wash all windows (inside and out, as applicable).

Replace outdated light fixtures.

Replace pitted or tarnished faucets.

Consider replacing the hardware on the cabinets for an inexpensive (but, effective) way to update the look of a bathroom.

Re-caulk, as necessary.

Remove all cleaning supplies from sight. If the next-best-place for them is under the Vanity (arrange them NEATLY in a container).

Vanity Cabinets should be neat and organized: Clutter-free.

Linen Closets should be tidy: Make sure the contents are appropriate to what should be in a linen closet. APPROPRIATE: Bath Linens (towels, washcloths); Bed Linens (sheets, pillow cases); Bar soap. INAPPROPRIATE: Clothes; Food; Craft supplies.

Tuck all wastebaskets away (place under the Vanity, if possible). When the house is shown, the wastebaskets should be emptied of all debris and lined with waste liners that "fit" the size of the wastebasket.

Remove family or personal photos.

Put away all toilet brushes and plungers.

Remove all toilet and tank covers and take up all rugs.

Remove items typically found on the floor (e.g., scales, hampers).

No personal items should be in plain view. These items should be collected and placed in a basket that fits easily under the sink (inside the Vanity).

If you have a "Kid's Bathroom" - I strongly recommend you change it into an "Adult Bathroom." Themed-rooms are a turn-off for Buyers.

Shower curtains should be fabric (preferably, white). No "busy" patterns. I've seen some striped patterns actually work nicely.

Place a full roll of toilet paper on the holder.

If candles are in the bathroom, then, they should be new candles (not ones that have been previously burned).

Place a fresh soap pump at each sink.

Place clean, fresh towels in on every towel bar. Rule of thumb: If the walls are white, the towels should be a color. If the walls have color or a pattern the towels should always be white. My preference: white ones.

Add a touch of green to the room (e.g., potted ivy).

Place all toilet seats in the "down" position.

PROPS FOR STAGING A BATHROOM:

- Plush, thirsty towels
- Greenery (Bamboo, ivy and palm frawns are a few to consider)
- Grasses/Reeds
- Art/Framed prints
- Soap pumps
- Fresh pillar candles (varying in height)
- Fabric shower curtains
- Roll of toilet papers
- Polished river stones
- Sea shells
- Wicker baskets (for functionality, as well as, staging purposes)

EXAMPLE: A clean, tidy, staged bathroom will create a "spa-like" experience for the Buyer.

Jenn Klarman, SRES, REALTOR
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc., Annapolis Sales
240-832-2486 cell
410-266-5505 office
410-956-8502 fax
jklarman@lnf.com
http://www.RealEstateAndBeyond.net

Six Ways to Save Energy

There are many areas where you can experience significant energy savings when you are building a green home.By working with an architect in the early design stages, many of these areas can be addressed in the design of your energy efficient home, helping you to save money in the future and enjoy a healthier home:

1)Footprint:Reduce the size of your home.Your home design should be limited to only as much space as your family needs.This will keep your energy usage to a minimum right from the start.

2) Windows:Windows are a break in the thermal insulating barrier of your home.The higher quality window you choose the better performance the entire home will achieve.

3)Insulation:Even if you do nothing else, by choosing a superior building envelope for your home like structural insulated panels (SIPs panels) and/or an insulated concrete form foundation system (ICF), you will enjoy huge savings in heating and cooling your home (up to 50%-60% over a home without SIPs).

4) Passive solar design:By incorporating sunlight for lighting and heat and natural ventilation into the basic home design, you can reduce the size of mechanical systems and lighting in the home.

5) Heating system:Consider a renewable energy system to heat and cool the space and tap water in your home (solar, wind, geothermal).

6) Ventilation:Incorporate an air-to-air exchanger, or heat recovery ventilator (HRV) system into your home. This will replace stale air with fresh outdoor air while maintaining the temperature inside the home and conserving energy.

There are many other areas of the home that can be addressed to increase energy efficiency and save money over the life of your home. In the beginning stages of the home design, your green architect will discuss your opportunities to save money while providing a healthy environment for your family.

About the Author: Jeremy Bonin, a principal partner of Bonin Architects & Associates http://www.boninarchitects.com, is an award-winning green architect and the author of TIMBER FRAMES: Designing Your Custom Home. With a special interest in sustainable design and green homes, structural insulated panels (SIPs), as well as timber frame construction, Jeremy incorporates renewable energy practices where possible, including geo-thermal, solar, radiant heat, and energy-efficient foundation systems.

Bathroom Shower Options in New Home Plans

Just when you think you have one simple choice to make to outfit your new home, think again. Today's showers are available in a variety of shapes and sizes, and can be outfitted with amazing features to provide the most luxurious shower imaginable.

Showers can be stand-alone bathroom fixtures or be a part of a tub combo. The two main factors determining the type is you available size and budget. If space is tight, all you may be able to fit is a stand-alone shower stall. With a little extra space, and the need for somewhere to soak your stresses away, the shower/tub combo is the right choice. For those new homes equipped with plush master suites and the ranch house plans with two master bedrooms that are becoming more common, a separate stand-alone shower is ideal because there is plenty of room for a soaking tub on its own.

Showers are either found as prefabricated units or completely custom built to fit your space and style. Prefabs are best suited for standard stalls that are either square or circular units. Custom built units sometimes become necessary when those country style house plans you have been working on need something more tailored to fit any nook and cranny available in your bathroom.

No matter what style you are looking for, showers are available in a multitude of materials. The most important thing to ensure is that the material chosen is waterproof and durable. Prefabricated units are typically made of fiberglass-reinforced acrylic, plastic laminate or synthetic marble. Custom shower stalls can be created using any number of materials, including ceramic tiles, stone, marble and granite. Using these materials takes a step further in aesthetics and offers the most flexibility in size and shape. Whatever type of shower you are building, it is important to take in the entire bathroom environment to ensure a relaxing and stress-free atmosphere.

General shower stalls come equipped with grab bars and soap dishes, while upgrades can include benches and multiple showerheads. Showerheads come in a dizzying array, and can take the shower experience from standard to pure luxury. Choose from multiple pressure options, handheld (also with various pressure options), and even full body showerheads that act similar to a car wash. And, growing in popularity is the waterfall showerhead that has the feeling of a gentle rain. Additional extras that can be incorporated into your shower experience include programmable preferred temperatures, natural light, steam rooms and units and smart home technology.

It's not hard to become overwhelmed with all the decisions involved in building your new home. Do you go with a traditional ranch house plan or indulge your post modern side? But with careful consideration and proper research, your dream home - right down to every bathroom - will be a pure joy for you and your family.

Be sure to visit House Plans and More for more house plan and bathroom resources. The planning stages of that traditional ranch house plan or more updated ranch house plans with two master bedrooms can seem daunting at times. But arm yourself with information and even country style house plans will be a breeze to tackle.