Home Improvement & Garden TipsInterior and exterior decoration

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The more familiar you become with your home and the more home renovations/decorating you do, the better you’ll get at being able to decide if you need the services of handyman or a general contractor. Here are some things to consider, which will hopefully be helpful in providing some guidance in this area.

What to Consider Before Hiring a Contractor

The very first thing you should ask yourself before even considering hiring a contractor is, “Can I do this myself?” In other words, can you act as the general contractor and oversee the others doing the hands-on-work? The obvious benefit would be the money saved from not having to pay a professional. But there are other things to consider such as the many responsibilities entailed in taking charge of the role of the contractor. For instance, can you afford the time it will take away from your full time job? And if you’re fortunate enough to find subcontractors who are willing to work on evenings and weekends, it will eat into personal time and time that could be spent with loved ones.

Furthermore, to be a general contractor, you must have at least a rudimentary knowledge of construction or you won’t know if the people you’ve hired are doing a good job. Keeping all this in mind, let’s assume that you want to avoid a lot of hassle and save time by actually hiring a contractor.

Referrals are Essential

This is obvious but deserves repeating — referrals are essential. This is one obvious way to determine if the remodeling job that’s desired has a good chance to turn out the way you’d like it to. Don’t limit this to just getting a list of past satisfied customers. Make sure you visit the homes and personally see the work the contractor has done and be sure to chat with these satisfied clients. Ask if the work was done on time, on budget, and if they would hire this person again for a possible job in the future.

The General Contractor Is the Builder but Not the Creator

The general contractor and his team are skilled in building, but you have to have the vision of how you want your room to look! You must be the creator and be able to share that vision with your general contractor. There are at least two ways to go about doing this. If you have the money to spend on a designer, this person will draw up a detailed design (based on your desires and specifications of course) that will be the blueprint for the general contractor. If, however, you want to go a much simpler route, you can possibly avoid having to hire a designer by looking through magazines that specialize in featuring and contain photo spreads of renovated and decorated homes to find the layouts you want. Select the homes you like and tell your contractor you want it to look like this and if you want add some minor modifications like a different color for the cabinets. A qualified contractor should be able to emulate the photo and incorporate any or all of your changes to that picture. It’s a good idea to get final drawings of the overall design so that you know you’re both on the same page. Bear in mind that many magazines feature top of the line products in high-end homes, which may not be at your target budget.

Finances

Any properly prepared contract will include all the costs, not only for the general contractor but also for all his/her subcontractors as well. In terms of actual payment, prepare to pay in increments. You obviously wouldn’t pay all the money up front (just in case he/she absconds with the money without finishing or even beginning the job), and it’s not feasible to pay the fee all at the end, since he/she would need the money to pay the subs on a weekly basis.

Once you’ve gotten the referrals, chosen your contractor, secured the finances, and have finalized your vision, embark on a journey for a much happier home!

What Jobs Can a Handyman Do Instead of a General Contractor?

The easiest way to remember the distinction between what a contractor does and what a handyman does is “macro” and “micro”. Larger projects such as the renovation and makeover of an entire kitchen, bedroom, washroom, living room, etc. are considered macro jobs because they require a general contractor who works often times with subcontractors who specialize in different areas of renovation (examples: an electrician, a ventilation specialist, etc.) If however, you’d like a renovation done on just the door or window of one room, this would be a micro job that could be handled by one person. Smaller projects that don’t need a plumber or electrician can utilize the workmanship of a handyman, who, specializes in one or more of such micro renovation jobs.

What Kind of Prices Should I Expect to be Charged?

This really depends on many things: the scope of the job, the materials used, the time you want the job done by, and not to mention, the obvious quality of the handyman. One thing is almost certain, a general contractor will charge more than the handyman because the prior has greater expenses than the latter; namely paying the sub-contractors who work under them, whereas the handyman usually works alone. Now the best handymen, just like in any other field will probably charge more than others because better quality always requires a higher cost; most handymen charge by the hour. Keeping this in mind, it’s essential to get an idea of how long the project will take. Once you’ve both agreed on the time and budget, decide whether or not you’re willing to pay for a project if it goes over budget. Say this up front because if it’s up to the handyman, this person may assume budget is not an issue and bill you for the extra hours; a costly example of miscommunication indeed!

How Do I Find a Reputable Handyman?

The easiest way to find a handyman is to look in the Yellow pages, or do a Google search under, Home Repair, or Home Improvement. This however is not the most efficient way, unless you don’t care about the quality and cost of the work. In that case, just pick the first name on the list. But if you do care, the phone book and/or Google method can take you many hours phoning, getting cost estimates, and reference checks on all the handymen in the city. A more efficient way to go about finding a handyman is to talk to friends, family, and/or neighbors on your street, and ask them about the handymen they’ve hired for their home. If you like the work that was done, ask for the number and call to ask the handyman about other homes they’ve worked on. Just like a general contractor, a thorough check of a handyman’s past work is the best way to ensure present success in your home renovation.

Hire a Professional or DIY?

Depending on your budget, time constraints, and desired results, there are many factors when it comes to the options out. Many people aren’t even aware that a handyman can do much of the repair or upgrade work in the home. Celebrities like Ty Pennington may advocate DIY for most home improvement projects, but it’s good to know that when you’ve given up remodeling the bathroom yourself for an expert’s touch, there are plenty of hiring options. If you’re still unclear on what the difference is between a contractor and a handyman is, as an old colleague of mine put it, a handyman will assemble your IKEA furniture together – a contractor, won’t.
Home Renovation Guide provides free information and advice on all aspects of home renovation details from information on a variety of topics ranging from kitchen contractors, roofing and we have the information you need to get the job done right. Visit them today.

Very often, people just start calling companies or researching online, trying to decide what insulation to use and whether or not to do it themselves.  This leaves them at the mercy of conflicting information and sales pitches.  All this confusion leads to inaction, or to making the wrong choice.  Frequently the choice comes down to the lowest price, even though people are comparing apples to oranges and oranges to bananas.

The right choice is the right tool for what YOU want.  The various types of insulation have optimum uses, depending on how YOU answer steps 1, 2, and 3 below.    You can’t weigh through the various answers you’ll receive without deciding what you want to do first.

We typically want information first, and then to make the decision with the advantage of the information they’ve gleaned.  The problem is information, experts, and companies disagree on what’s most important.  You must decide on what YOU want before you enter the marketplace looking for solutions to a problem you haven’t defined.

Step 1: Get Real When You Budget

This first step is where many homeowners go wrong.  How?  Most homeowners want to keep it as cheap as possible.  They decide to keep the project inexpensive instead of deciding to get the best solution they can afford for the job at hand.  This mistake is even easier to make because some of the most common forms of insulation are relatively affordable.

Let’s think about real world examples and the choices we make.  If you’re building your dream home, you’d think nothing of spending $7,500 on granite countertops.  Why?  Because these granite countertops are seen everyday.  Plus they add to the resale value of the house.  Of course, statistics tell us is that in 7 years, you’ll likely modernize the kitchen and put in a different countertop.

On the other hand, far less thought often goes into planning the building envelope.   That’s odd because it’s somehow expected to last a lifetime.  Plus it’s hidden away, behind walls, tucked into ceilings.  Insulation isn’t on display everyday.  It’s not a conversation starter, and most people don’t know that people are willing to pay more for a green home, thereby adding to the resale value of the house.

So, you build your house, and every month pay 40-50% more for utilities than you could.  Perhaps you have to pay for mold remediation in 5 years.  Maybe you pay to add more of the same insulation to the house, without stopping to think if it’s the right solution.

The lesson is simple.  Be realistic about what you can and cannot afford.  Choosing the cheapest option is very often not the right way to solve the specific challenges in your home.  Choosing the wrong product will not solve your problems.  Now you’ve spent money on the so-called improvement and you’ll continue to spend the same on monthly utilities.  Worse still, you haven’t added to your home’s value and you may even be lowering it with mold or moisture problems.

Step 2: Decide What You’re Trying to Do

Once you’ve owned up to what you should spend on your home, you may need to prioritize your projects.  You want the most bang for your buck, so choosing what to do first matters.

There are several steps to take with improving your building envelope.  First, you should make sure you seal out air leaks that let your conditioned air out and let unconditioned air in.  These leaks are costing you up to 40% of your bills each and every month.

Most homeowners are aware that air leaks into and out of their houses. This happens through small openings around doors and window frames, and through fireplaces and chimneys. What many don’t realize is that air also enters the living space from other unheated parts of the house. Attics, basements, or crawlspaces often contribute significantly to high energy costs.

Most types of insulation cannot stop these leaks and you won’t save as much as you expect because of the air flowing through or around the insulation.

Once you’ve sealed out the air, you’ll need to decide on how much insulation you want.  Because you’ve stopped the air leaks, you can now get the most out of your insulation.  Until you stop the air leaks, the air dramatically reduces the effectiveness of common insulation materials like fiberglass batts.

Begin by finding the R-value required for your area, and then find the cost effective way to build up to that level.  Depending on the space you have, you may find you can use lower R-value per inch materials like fiberglass or cellulose.  On the other hand, if you have 4 inches to get to R-28, you’ll need a high R-value material like spray foam insulation.

Step 3: Decide on How to Get it Done

There are a lot of ways to get your project done.  Some people want to do it themselves, often for a multitude of reasons ranging from lower costs to more control and higher satisfaction.   Others prefer to hire someone to do the project for them. There are many companies that install fiberglass, cellulose, and spray foam.  Likewise there are many people who have done their own spray foam insulation or installed their own fiberglass batts.

Once you make the decision either to do it yourself or to trust a company to do it, then go look for the best resources to do the job.

Conclusion: Getting What You Want

Those who don’t answer the 3 steps above means will have to sort through lots of conflicting information and sales pitches.  The problem is the information, experts, and companies disagree on what’s most important. If you haven’t answered these 3 steps first, you’ll probably choose the lowest price, even though it’s very likely not the right choice for what YOU want and need.  Once you know your budget, what you want to do, and whether you’re going to do it yourself, you’re much better equipped to choose solutions wisely.  By deciding on some of the things YOU want before you enter the marketplace, you’ll find the real solutions to your problem and get real satisfaction from improving your insulation.

Spray Foam Direct features quick and easy do-it-yourself spray foam insulation which will save you money and energy. Guardian Energy Technologies Inc. offers the added benefits of reducing our carbon footprint by offering ‘foam it green®’ solutions and balancing their impact through carbon reproduction projects.

Home Renovations continue to be a popular area of investment for homeowners despite the current economic turmoil. It makes sense at a time when buying new doesn’t and building on what you have, does. Now that you’ve decided to renovate, there are still some things to consider before you go ahead. Yes, you believe that you’re adding value to your property, however, with some wise planning before the hammer hits the nail you can actually be saving money too.

Create a Detailed Plan

It is of the utmost importance to properly create a plan, budget, and time frame for your home renovation job. Such preparation is crucial to the enterprising DIYer and it’s also useful to those counting on professionals. Get a very clear picture of all estimated costs that will account for everything from materials to labour. Not only that, but it’s also important to figure in backup funds for situations which may arise as the project progresses. A safe estimate is 15% on top of the initial projected budget. If you have a realistic figure to work with that corresponds with very detailed drawings and plans, you are preparing a contingency for those unforeseen issues. Just being aware of this possibility can keep you from future migraines and possible bankruptcy.

Cut Down on Material Costs – Not Quality

Materials of course account for a large portion of the expenses in any renovation project. And although you may want to get the best price you can, you may not wish to sacrifice quality just to save a few bucks. This is your home after all, (where you might be living for 20 years to pay off a mortgage).

Companies that sell recycled material from demolition sites such as Happy Harry’s give you both a budget conscious and green option. “Found” wood is another trendy yet wonderful option – imagine creating a unique hardwood floor from an old wood cabin or antique ship. If however, you are more inclined towards higher-end materials but want to pay a fraction of the cost, consider Habitat ReStores. These affiliate stores found across Canada and the United States offer surplus and used building materials for much less than retail. ReStores get their supplies from donated goods provided by: building supply stores, local contractors, demolition crews, and others wanting to support the cause. Not only are you saving money, or being green, you are also helping to raise funds that let Habitat for Humanity build 10 or more additional homes a year.

Implement Green into Your Renovation

It’s shocking to consider that your home may be a toxic place. Do you know what went into the finishes of your hardwood flooring or kitchen cabinetry where you cook, or even the paint on the walls in every room in the house? Making green choices for your home renovation is not only important for your health and the health of our planet, it can actually save you money. Although the initial costs may be higher, using ethical and non-toxic materials that are longer lasting, as well as installing energy efficient components will save you money over time. From more complicated aspects like redesigning your home, to being conscientious about product selection, consider these options suggested by Rob Wright, owner of Citadel Renovations.

* ICF foundations
* Composite floor, roof, and wall framing
* Low e film, argon gas, and triple pane glass in windows
* Compact fluorescent and LED lights
* Lots of natural light
* Reduced and/or no formaldehyde cabinetry
* Low or no VOC paints and finishes
* Composite material exterior finishes
* Recycled material roofing: metal, rubber, cement
* Wood or linoleum floors
* Heat pumps: ground, water, and air

The money you’ve saved on heating, lighting, and water once you’ve made your home more energy efficient will over time actually pay for those improvements.

Decide If It’s a Worthy Investment

It may seem like a no-brainer to first figure out if the investment you plan to make in upgrading your home is one of value, but it may come as a surprise that some are less financially beneficial than others. CMCH, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, Canada’s federal housing agency, is a great resource for homeowners who are considering a renovation project. Their website offers a host of useful information, such as this break-down of renovation payback ranges:

Top four greatest payback potentials

* Bathroom renovation (75 – 100%)
* Kitchen renovation (75 – 100%)
* Interior painting (50 – 100%)
* Exterior painting (50 – 100%)

Versus:

Ten average payback potentials

* Roof shingle replacement (50 – 80%)
* Furnace/heating system (50 – 80%)
* Basement renovation (50 – 75%)
* Recreation room addition (50 – 75%)
* Installing a fireplace (50 – 75%)
* Flooring (50 – 75%)
* Constructing a garage (50 – 75%)
* Window/door replacement (50 – 75%)
* Building a deck (50 – 75%)
* Central air conditioning (25 – 75%)

Repairs or beautification are the most prevalent ideas that come to mind, however, safety improvements are another way to go that will your wallet happy. Check with your insurance company if they offer lower premiums when you add or upgrade a home security system, fire prevention measure, or improve the existing wiring.

We’ve all heard the renovation horror stories that look like something out of that 80’s movie The Money Pit. It’s not something we like to think about; the possibility of your hard earned $10,000 renovation budget ending up being but a drop in the bucket. Like any other investment, you wouldn’t blindly drop ducats on any random man in a suit with a smile – you do your homework first. Not only will you bring added value to your home with your new renovation, you will also save money with your carefully laid out plans.

Home Renovation Guide provides free information and advice on all aspects of home renovation details from information on a variety of topics ranging from kitchen contractors, roofing and – we have the information you need to get the job done right. Visit them today.

Paintwork is one of the most important parts in making our homes as beautiful, simple, elegant or colorful as we desire. Normally we hire talented or professional painters just to get the paintjob done. However, everyone has the chance to do a good paintjob. All they have to do is to secure a good beginner’s guide if ever it is going to be their first time, and that is what I am going to provide right now. Search for a guide no more, for you can have all the information that you need in here.
The first thing to do when painting your room is to have enough estimates of paints. In order to have the job finished in time without any worries of a paint shortage. After having a good estimate, it is now time for you to shop for good quality paint at a cheaper price. Try to visit as many store as you can in order to have enough basis for comparison. Next thing is the choices of colors. Every store is also offering various colors and some of them are carrying some unique color. There are also some paint stores do some mixing job and you will just have to add some bucks for the said service.
After doing all those preparations, it is now time to do the main job, which the painting. In order to do the job at the right manner, do not forget to prepare all the necessary tools needed for painting like the masking tape, drop cloth, wall brush, trim and sash brush, roller, painting paint and the cleaning supplies.
Before painting, always make sure that the wall or the area that you are going to paint is clean and free from moist. Remove previous paints by washing it with some solution to have your new paint adhere properly.
Concerning your painting material, when you are using a roller, moisten it first with water for latex paint and with thinner for some other type of paints. If you have moistened it too much, you can roll over the roller into a scrap material like some lumber or a plain paper to remove the excess moist. Avoid rolling it over into a newspaper, for the roller might pick up the ink. After that, fill in the pan with a right amount of paint and roll in the roller, but do not overload it, for it will give a tendency for the paint to slide and smudge.
Using a roller must be able for you to paint two or three square foot areas at a time. When painting, roll the roller on a zigzag pattern without lifting the roller from the painted area, then still without lifting it; fill in the blank with some horizontal or vertical zigzag strokes. Finish it with a light strokes and raise the roller slowly so that it will not leave a mark. Do the same method all over again.
It is professionally advised that a roller strokes should be started by moving the roller away from you. When painting on walls, the first stroke should be in an upward direction to avoid the paint from running down the wall.
Do not forget to cover areas you need not to paint with masking tape or some piece of paper.
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Do you ever look in your closets and wonder, “Where did all this stuff come from?” Luckily, most closets aren’t too big and you can clean one up in an hour if you put your mind to it. But what if looking at your garage has you wondering the same thing?

The garage, and the way we relate to it, is a peculiarly American institution, born of the great American Dream Era of the early 20th century that brought mass manufactured consumer goods to one and all. In short order, though, that two-car garage can turn into a dumping ground, and the longer it goes untended the harder it will be to clean it up. Here are some ways you can get rid of garage clutter once and for all.

The basics

The first thing you need to decide is what you want to use your garage for, and it certainly doesn’t have to be only for cars. If you do need to garage two cars in a two-car garage, because of the weather in your region or the newness of the autos, then you have to decide that very little else can go in there. If you have other places in the home to store odds and ends, you need to use them.

In fact, this is the first step for all garage cleaners – decide what the garage is for, then take out anything that doesn’t belong. If you have little room elsewhere, you must make some hard decisions about what to keep, what to sell and what to throw out entirely. It may not be easy, but it really is the only way. We will return to the “what your garage is for” step after a little cleaning.

The “three pile” method

As you decide what to keep, sell or throw away, start putting the similarly fated items together. It may make sense to leave the “to sell” items toward the front of the garage, even on the driveway (weather permitting) since you will have to hold a garage sale as one of the later steps in this process.

Do not get nostalgic over junk. Just because something is old doesn’t mean it’s an antique, or even that you need or want it. Make the hard decisions. Get rid of the spare tires for the car you sold years ago. Sell the sports equipment that is collecting dust. But those power tools lying in a heap? Show some respect and store them neatly.

Once you have divided your existing “stuff” into these piles or areas, take the next obvious steps: Hold a garage sale to get rid of the salable items, and take a trip to the dump (or call your waste management service for “large item pickup”). When you have gotten to this point, you are ready to plan for the future – you’ve handled the “Get Rid of Garage Clutter” part, and now it’s time for taking care of the “Once and For All,” and keeping the clutter from returning.

The plan

The manner in which you organize your garage is dependent on what you will use it for, as discussed above. Now that you can (hopefully) see around the space a bit and make some plans, you should slow down a bit and think things through.

Now, you can do this as a Do-It-Yourselfer all the way, or take advantage of any number of “organizer kits” available at the local builder supply or home supply store. These normally consist of some combination of the following:

• Work table or tables

• Pegboard sheets for the wall, for hanging tools

• Coordinated bins, baskets, containers, etc.

• Cabinets, chests of drawers, etc.

You should take a few minutes to at least explore the possibility of using one of these kits. If you find the cost prohibitive, you may be able to put together a similar system “à la carte,” saving a lot of money in the process. Even if you do not replicate “the leading garage organizer,” you can get some good ideas from looking at the relevant websites and checking out a few home supply stores.

Whether you are a “car guy” who wants to do some weekend wrenching, or a hobbyist who needs half the garage space for a single car and the other half for pottery, there will be multiple ways in which you can organize your space. Don’t be afraid to ask for advice from neighbors who have the kind of garage you like. And don’t forget to leave some flexibility in case you want to do something different in the future.

The upkeep

Once the old junk is gone, the challenge is to keep from collecting more of it. Some of this goes to personality. The fact is, some people are just “pack rats” and “collectors,” while others go through life with very little material baggage. If you are not honest with yourself about your own pack-rat-ism, you will simply buy a little time with this whole exercise – your garage will be back to looking like Dumpsville in no time.

If staying neat and tidy is not your normal modus operandi, then you either need to get some ongoing help (spouse, family member, neighbor) or set some hard and fast rules for yourself. Before you buy a set of drills at the flea market, you have to ask yourself if you really need them. And if you really need them, it means they should have a specific place to go when you take them home. To make sure you don’t just start piling things up again, perhaps your helper (whoever it is) can enforce some sort of “time-delay throwaway” – if something sits out in the open for more than, say, two days, it gets tossed.

There may be other ways to enforce your new clean garage regime, but the “time-delay throwaway” at least shows that you are serious. Like most diets, most “emergency cleanup campaigns” don’t last, either. So if you really are serious, you need to change the old habits that led to the junky garage in the first place. After all, the garage does not clutter itself, right?

Phoenix Doors is a leader in Toronto garage doors.  Visit us today for a full line of doors and garage door accessories to fit any style home.

Home renovation can be a stressful undertaking. Not only is a home most Americans’ biggest and most important asset, it is also a huge, ongoing emotional investment. Your home defines your world and your personality, and truly becomes the center of your existence.
It is wise to deliberate carefully about renovations. All disputes over the renovation plan must be settled before the work begins or you are just postponing an inevitable (and probably heated) argument. Everyone in the family should have a voice in this undertaking, as it truly is a family affair.
With those caveats in mind, you should look forward to your renovation with both excitement and a sense of purpose. The following list could have had three, eight or even 20 entries, but if you stick with the basics and exercise self-control, the following five keys can help guide you to, and through, a successful home renovation.
1. Good relationships mean good business – A home renovation will be a lot less stressful if you have a solid, trusting relationship with your contractor. Trust doesn’t arise between people instantly, but there are ways to speed the process, such as “third-party trust,” meaning referrals. If you don’t already know and respect a builder in your area, ask the people you trust about the contractors that they trust. Get referrals, and interview the prospects to get at least somewhat of a “feel” for them. The late President Reagan was famous for chiding former Soviet General Secretary Gorbachev during their negotiations with an old Russian saying, “Trust but verify.” In your case, it means getting referrals, checking credentials, trusting your instincts – and calling references. Nothing builds trust in a contractor like good, positive reports from previous customers.
2. Accurate budgets are crucial – You need to understand how to budget for the job, and what is really involved, financially, in your home renovation. The better understanding you have of your budget, and the more accurate the estimates you include, the less likely your job will exceed your expectations. Although your contractor can supply some good information here, you should maintain authority over the budget yourself and not give anyone – not your spouse, your family as a whole or the contractor – the “keys to your wallet.” Do your homework, and follow the budget.
3. Home renovation is messy – Prior to the start of actual construction, remove all valuables and breakables from the affected areas. Unless the garage is part of the plan, you might consider storing items there. If the whole house is involved, think about renting a storage unit. While this will cause some short-term dislocation and require some sweat from the family’s brows (or more paid help), renovations are inevitably messy and accidents will happen. Take whatever steps are necessary to ensure the safety of your valuables, fine furniture, Persian rugs and other possessions.
4. Stick to the payment plan – One easy way to ruin your relationship with your contractor, and slow down or terminate your renovation project, is to deviate from your payment plan. If you are developing a timetable for the contractor’s work, you should also prepare, and adhere to, a timetable for the payments. You should be proactive in this matter, and never allow communication to deteriorate to the point where the contractor has to ask for money. Plan out every detail and every dollar, and follow the plan.
5. Extras: There’s always something – When developing your renovation budget, leave some room for the unanticipated extras that inevitably come up in the course of a home renovation. In addition, once you start renovating, you may think of other improvements or changes you wish to make. This means building some flexibility into the financing, as well as the project plan and the timetable. Strike a balance between firmness and flexibility so that you don’t go off on a tangent and lose control of the cost or the schedule.
Like most big undertakings, a home renovation can be somewhat scary. Don’t hesitate to speak with friends, relatives, coworkers or neighbors who have been through the same thing. Listen carefully, take notes and don’t leave any question unanswered or concern uninvestigated before finalizing your plan and your budget.
This is “the center of your existence” that you are dealing with here. Show the home, the family, the contractor and the process itself the respect each is due. Don’t be in a hurry, don’t make assumptions and, above all, do not waver in your determination to see the project through to a successful conclusion. Along with these five keys, consider too the “five P’s” – proper planning prevents poor performance!

Home Renovation Guide provides free information and advice on all aspect of home renovations from garages and landscaping to windows and doors – we have the information you need to get the job done right.  Visit them today.

The choice of materials to use for your floor, whether you are renovating or building anew, is a very important one. Not only are there the usual considerations of quality and durability, you must also think about aesthetics such as color, texture and pattern.
In addition, the “feel” of different flooring materials will also influence your choice. Your lifestyle, as well as family size and composition, must come into the equation, too. With these factors in mind, you are ready to consider the top ten types of flooring to use inside your home.
1. Hardwood is a perennial favorite and very popular for living rooms, dining rooms and other areas that are low in moisture, wood’s primary enemy in home environments. Hardwood flooring comes in many attractive colors across a great range of wood species, with a variety of grains and possible surface treatments (wet look, dry look, etc.).
2. Cork is a choice that is gaining ground for kitchens and other areas where the residents are on their feet a lot. Cork offers soft, supple support and has the additional advantage of being environmentally friendly.
3. Ceramic tile is long lasting, tough and available in many colors and sizes. Often used in bathrooms and kitchens, some home styles (Southwestern, adobe, ranch) are also amenable to its broader use throughout the residence. Tile is one of the materials that can be used on walls, too, opening up additional design and construction possibilities.
4. Laminate floors give the look of hardwood, and various other flooring materials, without the cost. The latest technology essentially produces sheet material with a “picture” of hardwood on its surface, to create the appearance of the preferred (and much pricier) wood.
5. Linoleum has proven itself over the years to be a low-maintenance option for kitchens and other high-traffic rooms. Unlike its vinyl counterpart, linoleum uses all natural materials, and can be installed as tiles or large, rolled sheets.
6. Bamboo, yet another environmentally friendly wood option, results in floors that are known for being incredibly strong and durable. The warm, natural feel of bamboo can add a stylish finish to any room.
7. Wall-to-wall carpet remains an attractive, practical choice for bedrooms and playrooms, literally imparting a “soft landing” quality to floors. With an almost endless variety of choices in both material and color, carpeting can always be made to suit a home’s construction style or décor.
8. Area rugs are, technically speaking, a secondary type of flooring, adding color on top of hardwood or giving comfort in areas like the kitchen, where tougher materials may be hard to stand on for long periods. In addition, area rugs can be important decorative elements in a room, or even a hallway.
9. Marble is the height of luxury. Marble flooring is made from natural stone, which means that it is hypoallergenic and moisture resistant when properly sealed. It will not emit any toxic chemicals or volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into your home.
10. Artistic materials, like leather or brick, give an entirely different feel to a home. Some companies are even offering leather flooring for areas like media rooms, or brick for decorative walkways through the interior of the home.
The choices are broad enough to give the renovator or homebuilder a huge palette of colors and textures to work with. When seen as an integral part of the home (re)design, the choice of flooring material becomes more and more important.
Since it is among the more labor-intensive parts of a home construction or renovation plan, flooring should be decided on carefully. Repainting a room after a bad color choice is a whole lot easier than replacing a floor that not enough thought went into. Take your time, make a good decision and then be prepared to live with it. If you are careful and thorough in your decision, you will doubtless have many years of enjoyment from your new flooring.

Home Renovation Guide provides free information and advice on all aspects of home renovation details from information on a variety of topics ranging from roofing and landscaping to flooring and door installation – we have the information you need to get the job done right.  Visit them today.

With global warming and other environmental concerns increasingly on the minds of Americans, you want to green your home do your part to save the planet. Here are some easy and fun (and cost-effective!) ideas to make your home more environmentally sound.

Chuck the incandescent light bulbs wherever possible. These standard tear-drop shaped bulbs burn out relatively quickly and use up lots of electricity — creating garbage and using up resources at the same time. Compact florescent light bulbs (a.k.a. CFLs) last many times longer than incandescent bulbs and use a fraction of the energy. They cost more per bulb, but money you save in energy will outweigh the price difference.

Give up on the bottled water. Sure, your Aquafina may taste slightly better than standard tap water, but the cost of bottled water to the environment cannot be underestimated. Bottled water takes energy to procure, distil, transport and package. Instead, buy a top-of-the-line sink filter or just keep a filtered water pitcher in the fridge. Not only will you protect the environment by cutting back on your consumption of plastic, but you will also save a bundle over the long-term on drinking water costs.

Recycle or give away (or sell on the cheap) your old furniture. Instead of trucking your old sofa or 1999 Sony T.V. to the dump, find your used furnishings a second home. You can use online give-away sites like Craigslist to find people in your local area who might want your furniture. You can also sell stuff on e-bay or give it away/sell it at a garage sale. Barring that, you can find an eco-friendly recycling center near you to dispose of your furniture with minimal damage to the environment.

Stock up on natural, organic products. Instead of installing a vinyl shower curtain, for instance, hang up a hemp curtain — it’s equally anti-fungal and does not release small amounts of volatile organic compounds every time you take a shower. Get rid of your harsh kitchen and bathroom cleansers and replace those nasty chemicals (which have been linked to all sorts of ailments and pregnancy-disorders) with safe compounds that won’t hurt you, your children, your pets or your environment.

Reduce your dependence on heating and air-conditioning. You can keep a temperate house without paying your local energy company an arm and a leg. Turn off the heat and air-conditioning when you leave for work for the day (or go on vacation). Use your windows and shades to adjust to the weather outside. If it’s super hot out, for instance, throw open the windows and turn on some fans. If it’s incredibly cold, pull down your shades and keep windows tightly sealed to avoid heat-leakage. You can also invest in thermally efficient windows and sealants to boost your energy efficiency.

Get a professional energy audit. You can find top rated independent energy contractors out there to come to your home and point out precisely where and how you are wasting energy. By following their tips to reduce heat waste, you will not only reduce your consumption of fuel, but you will also pad your pocketbook in the long-term.

Make it a habit to turn off electrical devices when you are not using them. Before you go to sleep at night, go around and turn off the lights, the T.V., the computer, and other appliances, which can drain energy while you sleep. Also, many electronics like DVD players and video consoles stay ‘on’ even when turned ‘off’, so they continuously consume a small amount of energy – unplug them.

Landscape in an eco-friendly manner. Put out drums to catch rain water to hydrate your plants or garden (if you live in an area that’s relatively drought-prone). Landscape with plants that are native to your region and soil type. If you try to keep tropical plants alive in an arid environment, you’ll inevitably use up an unseemly amount of water and natural resources keeping the plants healthy. You might also want to use your garden to grow organic vegetables.

Look for products and services to boost your green mission. You can find expandable foam to seal up drafts in your insulation. You can get screens to put in your windows to block out some of the solar radiation in the summer and thus help you save on air-conditioning costs. You can purchase eco-friendly power strips to reduce your energy bill and general power consumption. You can buy hemp grocery bags to transport your food (and thus save the planet from having to countenance hundreds of plastic and/or paper bags a year).

Get your family and friends into the green act. You can’t do it alone. Teach your family about the value of the environment and establish “rules of the house” to conserve resources and treat your local habitat with respect. Remember that greening your home can be a fun and educational process. Keep up to speed on the latest greening technologies by contacting local environmentally concerned groups or government agencies.

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When you bring contractors, carpenters, plumbers and assorted workmen into your home, you are opening up your whole life to them. Not only do you need to confirm that they are competent professionals, you must assess their integrity, as well. You want to know that you can trust them to do the job right, as well as respect your home and its contents.
You can avoid most serious problems with a little planning and foresight. You want both capable and honest workers in your home, and can increase your chances of a successful and stress-free renovation by using this list of the top 10 questions to ask contractors before hiring them.
1. Insurance and bonding – Make sure your contractor is fully insured before you let him start your job. The company and/or the employees should be bonded, and you should ask for the particulars of the insurance coverage early in your negotiations.
2. Warranties – You will want to know what kind of home building warranties are provided, on both the work itself and on the materials used in the project. You should keep good records of any warranted work or materials so that you are prepared for any problems down the line.
3. References – Checking contractors’ references is crucial. Not only do you want to hear testimonials about their work, you will want to discover if they are they part of any homebuilder or tradesman associations. Checking references means speaking with other homeowners for whom the contractors have worked, as well as consulting the state licensing board and the Better Business Bureau about any complaints.
4. Portfolio – Take a good look at the contractors’ portfolios and make sure that you are satisfied with the level of their previous work. Drive by some of their current and finished projects to see how their work looks “up close and personal.”
5. Job supervisor – Make sure that you know who the onsite supervisor will be for your renovation. What is the person’s experience? Will they speak and make decisions for the contractor in his absence?
6. Project timeframe – A timetable is crucial for any big job, of any kind, so you need to ask specific questions about when the job will start, how long each phase will take and so forth. This information will be part of your project plan, so you need to get it early and get it “set in stone.” Of course, you need to be flexible (things happen, after all), but if you do not have a detailed timetable, flexibility will simply turn into delays.
7. Budget – You will want to calculate the cost for your home improvement as accurately as possible, naturally. Make sure your contractor has a plan, too, and breaks out the costs of materials and labor. Find out right away what type of payment plan is expected, as well as what sort of deposit is required. Needless to say, keep all receipts.
8. Subcontractors – If the contractor uses subcontractors, as most will for electrical and plumbing work (at the least), make sure to get the same kind of information about them as you did on the contractor. You also need to keep the communication flowing between and among all the different parties, or you risk deviating from the project plan.
9. Appliances and other hardware – It is your house and your money, so you do not need to cede the authority for buying materials and appliances entirely to the contractor. It is perfectly understandable that you would want to get the best prices for the components of the project. The way to avoid problems is to spell everything out in advance. If the contractor is too insistent on using particular suppliers or distributors, it may be because they have some kind of “arrangement” with them. Keep everything on the up and up by keeping everything out in the open.
10. Permits – You need to decide who will be responsible for getting the proper building permits and dealing with inspectors. The contractor’s expertise here is essential, although you may wish to be in the loop here.
Like any other sizable endeavor, a home renovation can be complicated and tricky. The best overall rule for managing this kind of project is clear, continuous communication. Nothing should be decided or done in the dark, and everything should be undertaken in accordance with the plan, the budget and the timetable.
It is mostly a matter of common sense and self-discipline. Make the plan and stick to it as closely as possible, while still allowing for some mid-stream changes if necessary. Remember that the goal is to enhance your family life by making the center of it, your home, as comfortable, welcoming and secure as you can. Stay positive, keep your wits about you and press on, deliberately and with a sense of purpose. Consider your home renovation another adventure in life, and make your mind up to enjoy it!

Home Renovation Guide provides free information and advice on all aspect of home renovations from information on a variety of topics to our contractor directory – we have the information you need to get the job done right.  Visit them today.  Baby Keepsake , Comfortex Blinds , Portable air conditioners , Locksmith Brooklyn , pool cleaning phoenix ,