Options For Sun Room Installation

Having an enclosed patio constructed is not an over-night process. Sun room installation takes careful planning, construction skills and an ability to stick with the job and get it done right. Fortunately, homeowners will discover they have several options available to them to make this dream become reality.

There are three main choices for getting a sun room installed. They are:

From-scratch, do-it-yourself building - Homeowners who are capable of reading blueprints and happen to be handy with tools can build sunrooms from the ground up on their own. Very simple designs, for example, can often be tackled by beginners. The process does require careful planning and a fair amount of work, but it can be done.

Using a kit - When handling some of the work, but not all of it appeals, kit construction can be a smart choice. While the homeowner (or a contractor) will handle the actual installation, much of the technical construction will already be taken care of when a kit is ordered. Companies that specialize in creating kits for sunrooms basically put these together so homeowners only have to assemble pre-sized and pre-cut pieces as they follow along with detailed instructions.

Relying on a contractor - There are construction companies that specialize in the design and installation of sunrooms. This is an excellent choice for homeowners who don't have the skills or inclination to handle installation personally. The option is also wise for the creation of particularly complicated designs. Going with a contractor might cost more, but it can be a very sound investment.

Sun room installation does present itself with several options. The best route to take will depend on personal preference, budget considerations and the complexity of the desired design. Sometimes homeowners can handle installation, but in other cases it's just smart to rely on a pro.

For more information on sunroom additions and other sunrooms and related topics, visit DIYSunroomsInfo.com.

Ice Damage From Broken Pipes

Key Points to Consider When Selecting an Architect

Are you in the process of planning for a house renovation? Do you want to make sure that your home will be remodeled according to your discriminating taste? Are you having a hard time looking for an architect to do the entire job for you? Worry no more - use this guide to learn the best characteristics to look for in an architect.

You might be wondering, why choose an architect at all? What's in such a title that makes him quite popular and so expensive to use on a residential remodeling job? Browse along so you may find out the answers to these questions. These are facts you ought to know about the best architects and why you should hire them.

When it comes to having a major change in your own home, it is always a must to look for the best architects in your area. By doing so, you are guaranteed to get the total pleasures of your investment. But, how to go about choosing an architect? Here are the important questions to determine which one is best for you:

Reputation. This is very significant in knowing who the best architects are. Proper educational background may also help set the credibility standards of the profession. With the right architect, you do not have to worry about looking elsewhere for the persons who will work on your project. You also get to feel the importance of your decisions. They have already established their names in the business and will do nothing to harm their hard earned reputation.

Willingness to serve. Architects can be key resources to providing all that you need to have your job done on time and on budget. Customer satisfaction is certainly part of their core objectives. As you raise your queries, these experts are more than determined to impart to you their knowledge on the field. You do not have to consult other people to get an idea on how your house will look like after renovation.

Perseverance. A residential architect is always determined to get the project done. They deliver results to you in the fastest times possible. They see to it that all your requirements are met before making changes in your timeline. They also suggest what's on their minds that will add to your project, making it a masterpiece. They look into the urgency of your needs as well.

Passion. As architects, they are qualified to perform the duties as one of the most hardworking persons in the field. They pour their hearts out in everything they do. Whether it is a small room that needs updating or a large residence which needs extensive change, these professionals look into details consistently and accurately. Check to see that your architect meets these criteria when you speak with references on past jobs.

Integrity. Honesty should always form part of people in any field of expertise. When you select your architect, ask for references who will vouch for their honesty. This is the person who give you all the proper estimation on the costs that you will spend from the planning stage up to the completion of the job. They actually let you know what to expect from the entire project and how to get it done in the fastest of times.

These traits of the best architects make them one of the most sought-after professionals in the field. When you hire the right one, they will truly put their mind and soul in everything that they do. Knowing the architect will allow you to rarely find a problem once you get to know them. The best architects will allow you to participate not only during the planning stage but in the entire process.

Chuck R Stewart recently remodeled his vacation home using a Seattle architect who is a specialized Seattle residential architect.

Contractor Manners For Customers to Give to Their Builder

Often custom home builders will have something written up or a prepared speech to give their clients at the start of the process that is designed to get everyone on the same page. It is an orientation intended to set up guidelines of etiquette such as when it is o.k. to call or it might include tips like not talking on and on with the workers. It probably includes a rough time line and perhaps a list of small problems that may occur but need not be made into big ones. This kind of reality meeting can go a long ways in eliminating future frustrations and bringing expectations down to earth. Simply put, it is a pound of prevention.

For the builder, it helps insure the freedom to run their business as they see fit. This is fair, since the builder is running a business. It is also beneficial to the customer, giving them a guide about how the builder expects them to interact.

While the customer is usually not experienced with the custom building process, they also have the right to present the builder with their own set of guidelines designed to orientate the builder with what they expect from them during the building process. My list is the product of 40 years involvement in the home building field starting out as a young laborer for my contractor parents, then as a sub contractor and finally as a home builder for nearly 20 years. I've never seen a customer present such a guideline but I have always thought both parties would do well starting out with one.

1) Do not talk derogatorily about us to people in your office, your subs, the lenders or anyone else. The truth is that many people are difficult to work with and so it follows that people having their home built are often such types. Additionally, the home building process involves a lot of money, emotions and expectations on the part of the customers which can make even polite and reasonable people not so polite and reasonable.The thing I have seen over and over is builders putting a difficult client into their mental "These Guys Are Idiots" file and commence an ongoing dialogue with the office staff, their subs and anyone who will listen about how hard these customers are to work with. The builder is really being unprofessional and seeking sympathy rather than doing the work to figure out how to make the customer happy. If they only want to work for really nice people they need to move to Mayberry.

Talking behind anyone's back at any time is unwise, but in the custom home process it is especially foolish because it creates negativity around a very important undertaking. The worst part is that builders, like every one, think they can get away with it when there is no way a customer will not pick up the negative attitude the builder has spread around concerning them during the long and socially intense
building process.

2) We need constant updating, reassurance and edification. This really is not too much to ask from the builder. While the customer has to be reasonable and not call five times a day, they need to have questions answered. Often it is in the best interest of all concerned, like when the home owner spots a mistake that might be easy to fix the next day but very difficult after a week's progress. Good builders understand the customer has a huge stake in the project and should not be left in the dark. One suggestion is to use emails. They lend themselves to none intrusive and thought out communication, and they leave a record as to what was actually said.

3) Answer your cell when we call or get back within 30 minutes. Everyone has caller I.D. and they know how to use it. Too often busy and somewhat rude people abuse it by using it to screen calls when they are not in the mood to talk to a particular person. It is fair to take a few minutes to listen to a message and then prepare for a conversation. The main thing is to be available and not evasive because this builds distrust and frustration.

It is a good idea to set up times when calls are welcome, and only go outside of those parameters for emergencies. It also fair to have the office staff sometimes return calls when only a simple answer is required.

4) View us like they do at Sears or anywhere else I spend my money. The building process is very involved and drawn out, but basically it is the same as patronizing your favorite convenience store or grocery store. You do business there because you chose to and you get what you want and are treated with respect.

If a builder is not professional, they often lose sight of the fact that they are in business to provide a service and that the customer chose them to provide it. This comes from the fact that building a home takes months and involves thousands of dollars and a million decisions. It is easy to lose sight of the simplicity of the relationship in such a complex undertaking.

5) Please don't roll your eyes when we ask dumb questions or want to make changes. The builder knows in advance the home owner is going hit him with lots of both. What you are asking for in advance is patience and forgiveness. In the first place, there really is no such thing as a dumb question and you certainly have as much right to ask whatever you want as anyone. In the second place, concerning changes, everyone has the right to change their mind about prior decisions. The key here is to understand they cost time and money, and are some times a pain in the rear. But as long as you are willing to pay for them, the builder should be politely accommodating.

6) I'll try to see your side if you try to see mine. This is really the key to working through the myriad of decisions and complications of the custom home building process. If you want to enjoy the experience and wind up with the home of your dreams then you have got to be mature and fair and pick a builder that will treat you the same.

As you probably have surmised, the above list is really just common sense and common courtesy. Most builders are professional enough and experienced enough to not need any such reminders. However, I am continually amazed at the number of custom home builders that either load their plates to full and forget their manners or never learned any in the first place. Edit this list or add to it , but present some version of it at the beginning. If they react with an open mind, then stick with them. If they react defensively, then you know you have a problem.

Craig Swanson is a second generation home builder in Spokane, Washington. to learn more about him or his company, Craig's Building Services, go to http://spokanevalleyscoop.com

A List Of Patio Window Coverings

Windows which are unpainted and which are not mounted with curtains or draperies appear boring and lifeless. You could also be seen by the people who just simply happen to pass by near your place.

Hence, you lose your privacy and you become more inclined to getting harassed. Then, the more that you are to be bugged by such concern when you talk about the patio window coverings.

Generally, the basic use of the window coverings are to provide a cover for the interior and then to basically boost the impression created by the decorations used inside.

However, do not misconstrue the fact that you could purchase any patio window covering that you spot at the department stores that you visit from time to time.

You need to think about many elements such as the size of the patio window, the color, design, pattern, and texture of the patio window covering to use, and a lot others. Your taste and preference matters when you choose the patio window coverings.

The following is a list of the most sought after and bestseller kinds of patio window coverings.

1. The blinds. There are generally four kinds of the blinds that you may use as patio window coverings. They are the aluminum, fabric, vinyl, and wood. The two basic constructions of the blinds are the vertical and the horizontal blinds.

The vertical blinds are perfectly utilized for the bay windows, patio doors, and for the corner windows. On the other hand, the horizontal blinds are nonetheless mounted on standard windows.

2. The curtains. These depend on the length that you desire and the color, design, and casement that would truly fit into the patio windows that need them.

3. The swags. These may be matched with the shades, shutters, blinds, and curtains.

4. The shutters. These are the louvers or solid panels that may be available for customization.

5. The shades. These are used for the purpose of blocking or filtering the light that comes into the room.

6. The draperies. They contribute to the formal touch that is endowed to the interior of the home.

7. The valances. These are the adornments that may be added to the layers of the patio window coverings.

These are just some of the choices that you may opt for when looking for the patio window coverings.

For tips on choosing window coverings, visit http://www.windowcoverings101.com

House Preservation and Renovation - - Home Repair Tips

Owning your own home comes with several advantages. Aside from having the wonderful feeling of living in your own property, there's no rent to worry about and you're free to do as you please with it. Homeowners have their share of headaches of course- property taxes, insurance, the normal problems of aging of building materials and everyday wear and tear.

Maintaining one's home in order to keep its original looks and value takes dedication and a bit of money. A lot of folks get caught up in the daily grind and overlook the responsibility of home maintenance. A lot of beautiful homes have been lost after incurring irreparable damage due to neglect.

The more common forms of time-related problems are issues with the roof, plumbing and cracks in the walls. Missing or damaged shingles should be checked every six months along with possible leaks in gutters and downspouts. Holes in the roof should be patched up right away to prevent them from getting bigger and avoid water damage to your furniture and appliances.

Walls, bricks and woodwork should also be checked for deterioration. Cracks in walls are pretty normal due to earthquakes or settling in old homes. To ensure historical integrity, the materials used in repairing old homes should be the same as the original. Plaster is usually used for walling in homes with some age. Aside from settling, plaster gets cracked because of deterioration due to poor quality and water damage also.

The first step in repairing cracks in walls of plaster is clearing them up and making sure dust and loose chunks of plaster are cleaned out. This can be done easily with a carpenter's 5-way scraping tool specially designed for this task. There are two steps to applying new plaster to cracks in old walls. Applying the base coat plaster to bind and fill-up the cracks, and the top coat finish for a smooth finish. In preparing the new plaster, make sure to follow instructions by the manufacturer to prevent back-jobs which can cause significant waste of time and money.

Another common and usually recurring problem in homes is the toilet bowl. Since these have a fair amount of moving parts, the necessity to do minor troubleshooting is quite expected. When the handle for the flush becomes tight or sticky, it's just a matter of cleaning the mounting nut (after accessing it by removing the tank cover, of course). A handle that is loose or one that doesn't flush means the chain is either too slack or has been broken. Remedy this by adjusting the chain, using different hole or replacing it in case of breakage.

When the toilet becomes clogged and a plunger won't help, it's time to call in the big guns. A "snake" otherwise known as an auger can reach inside the drainage deeper and unclog whatever is blocking the water and waste from being flushed.

A leaking toilet if left unchecked will inevitably flood your floor and cause expensive damage to your subfloor and woodwork. It could just be a problem with the bolts or couplings around and inside the tank. If after checking you can't find any problem with those, most likely the sealant around the base has to be replaced or worse, there's crack somewhere and you'd have to replace the whole thing.

If you encounter problems or remodeling issues that you think is way beyond anything you've experienced or read in those DIY manuals and videos, it might be a good move to look around for a good contractor. House and building contractors although more costly, can save you loads of time and effort as well as take care of issues with permits and such.

Jo is a writer for 'EBL Group Limited' (http://www.eblgroup.co.uk), a family managed, recognized and accepted house insurance repairs outworker stationed in Runcorn Cheshire. If you need home insurance repairs because of storm, flood, fire, malevolent or accidental damage or any other reasons or if you have house and commercial buildings upgrading needs then you should check out EBL Group.

Playing to the Crowd

When all is said and done playing to the crowd cannot be avoided. No matter what our personal beliefs or ambitions are people want to hear certain things.

1. They are ok.
2. They can do what they want and when they want to do it.
3. The rules are for other people.
4. There is always tomorrow.

This is one of those lists that can carry on indefinitely so long as it doesn't mean extra work or accountability. Being motivated and driven with a purpose is sadly lacking through many cross sections of society. These human traits are one of the biggest challenges for any marketer to deal with their products, and advertising.

So how then can we ethically fill the needs of people who are prone to failure and doubt? How do we supply products of value with accurate advertising copy for this type of client?

1. Realize people need a leader.
2. Be the leader you can face in the mirror.
3. Provide products of value and at a fair price.
4. Be honest about your products and services.
5. Provide excellent customer service.

Marketers can only try to repair the ills of society by providing great products, however a marketer must realize most people will take the greatest product and put it on a shelf. So we must be passionate about our product, the end user that will provide our income, and keep pushing our own limits.

In our quest for the perfect product, we will find and create many. That is the meaning of progress in the business world. Pushing a button and all of your work being done for you is as unrealistic as being able to fly like superman. Progress demands production, success demands production, so produce.

Not everyone will like or care about your product. Some may even take offense at what you create or sell. The important point or mantra is that someone will care, someone needs it, and most important of all they want to purchase it.

Play the music your market wants to hear and don't worry about the rest. The audience you will have will be far more responsive than if you try to please everyone

"In the cocoon of failure await the wings of opportunity."
William Muncrief 2007
http://www.williammuncrief.com

In Search of Vintage Bathroom Vanities

Do all things with a nostalgic echo stir up some wonderful memories in you? Do you earnestly believe that classic pieces are defined by unparalleled elegance and charm, and that one must celebrate their timeless intrigue?

Thankfully, you are not alone in your attempts in taking a trip down memory lane. And before you are convinced that your dreams of recreating that magic of yesteryears will remain nothing but a black hole, take time off to admire some simply breathtaking vintage bathroom vanities.

They manage to infuse life into bathrooms that seem to be floundering for breath with impeccable refinement and unmatched sophistication.

That Unmistakable Regal Touch

Antique looking classy bathroom vanities are crafted from solid antique wood, with a detailed china top. That's really the secret to their intriguing, almost bewitching beauty. Modern-day advances ensure that the magnificence of exquisite, intricate carvings and etchings are protected with the help of chemicals.

If there's even an iota of doubt about the quality of these vanities, here's a pronouncement that is sure to gladden many hearts. The quality of these antiques is exemplar par excellence, as they are carved from high density fiber board that is further enhanced with a superb stain finish. Antique water faucets and antique brass and ceramic hardware only add to the ethereal appeal.

And before you make snap judgments about the functionality, or rather the lack of it, these vanities surprise you with an enormous amount of storage space.

Selecting One Could Take You Ages

You may find it rather hard to resist the exceptionally beautiful appearance of these bathroom vanities, but there's something else that you are sure to find more arduous. Just try your hand at picking your favorite, and you'll be able to comprehend the enormity of this decision.

There's the Antique Oak Record Cabinet for bathroom vanity that takes your breath away with its sawn oak construction, smoldering bronze faucets and pristine white sink. It is a spectacle that promises pure, unrestrained happiness. For those that believe in uninhibited opulence, the Marble Top French Dresser is both unique and rare.

Whatever you choose, you are sure to have a bathroom that will become the cynosure of all eyes.

Here's exactly how you can generate 100's or even 1000's of positively brilliant Bathroom Remodeling Ideas... FAST ! And you could easily increase your home's value by several $1000s fast with these 25 street-smart tips for Dirt Cheap Home Improvement

Creating Your Own Home Electricity

Creating your own electricity and generating your own power has always been one of my dreams. Having a self sufficient home, not only a house that takes care of itself by generating its own electricity through windmills or solar panels but the satisfaction knowing that no matter what happens to the electrical companies you will always have electricity at your home.

What a wonderful feeling it would be to get a check back from the utility company instead of paying them every single month. I don't know about you but my utility bills are ridiculous and seemed to be going up in price constantly. I can't believe all the fees they have been charging for years to all of their customers. If you add all the fees for every person in the city or county this comes to a large, a very large number and it's getting worse not better.

Generating your own electricity with solar or wind power is definitely green thinking. This is going to be the wave of the future as fuel used to create electricity continues to rise in price. I really can't imagine what the price of electricity is going to be like in 10 years as the mass consumption continues to rise in developing countries.

We have got to start taking care of our own needs through solar or wind power. We have got to start creating our own electricity to become self reliant. The more self reliant we become as a nation the less dependent we will be on major corporations, especially large power conglomerates.

Creating our own electricity can also be used for electrical cars that can be purchased in the future. Think of the money you will say in fuel costs as the price of gasoline continues to increase as well as less pollution into our environment.

This is definitely the wave of the future and common sense tells us this. I suggest you read this article again if you haven't figured out some of the problems coming our way in the future.

Think green and together we can start saving the planet.

While searching for new alternatives and trying to get some advice on creating your own electricity I came across a book you can purchase in digital format. This book seems to have quite a bit of information on creating your own electricity for a totally self sufficient home.

This book has been created in digital format to reduce the consumption of trees and the waste involved in creating a regular book. What a wonderful idea for helping our environment in quite a few ways.

While searching for new alternatives and trying to get some advice on creating your own electricity I came across a book you can purchase in digital format. This book seems to have quite a bit of information on creating your own electricity for a totally self sufficient home.

This book has been created in digital format to reduce the consumption of trees and the waste involved in creating a regular book. What a wonderful idea for helping our environment in quite a few ways.

For more information visit http://www.gregvan.com and look for Get Earth4Energy Here Create your own electricity! Save 1000's with Earth4Energy

Toilet Seat Damage

Choosing a Contractor and Comparing Bids

Whether you are doing a remodeling project in St. Paul or Minneapolis-or somewhere else in the world-one thing remains the same: choosing a contractor is one of the most important things that you will do. Having a great contractor on your side is extremely important and will make the difference between a mediocre remodel or one that is excellent. Of course while you are on the lookout for a top notch contractor, you are going to want to compare bids that contractors offer you along the way. You'll find that there is a lot of room for negotiation when it comes to the bids on the remodeling. So, when you do get a bit, you should learn to negotiate to make sure you get what you want. If you are ready to start comparing bids, here is a closer look at what to look for in bids, comparing them, the materials to consider, and the best tips for finding the best possible bid out there.

Things to Look for in a Bid
First of all, before you can really make a decision on contractor bids, you are going to have to know what you should be looking for in a bid. This is something that occurs before you sign a construction contract. So, here are the top things you need to look for in contractor bids on construction services for your home.

- Clear Definition of the Work - One thing that you should be looking for in a good bid is a clear definition of the work that you need to have done. The bid should be very specific about this. Having some plans included is a great idea, with the initials of the contractor at the bottom of the each page of the plans that have to do with their proposal.

- Dates of Starting and Completion - Another aspect to look for in a good bid is the dates when the contractor is going to state and when they propose to have the project completed.

- The Insurance Provisions - The insurance provisions should also be included in any bids from contractors. You will want to know what is covered and who is going to be providing that coverage.

- Price of the Bid - Of course the price of the bid should be included in the bid. Of course not just the price should be included. However, how the price will be paid should be included and when the money should be paid should also be a part of the bid. Here you should find how long the bid is going to hold as well.

- Responsibility of Cleanup - The responsibility of the cleanup is another thing that should be included in the bid that the contractors give to you. The last thing you want is to get left cleaning up everything on your own. So, make sure you see on the bid whether they will clean up after the work or if they are going leave it all up to you. This can definitely make a difference in the bid that you decide to choose, so read very carefully.

- Conditions that Can Lead to Withholding Payment - - Any conditions that can lead to you withholding payment is something else that should definitely be included on the bid.

Tips For Comparing the Bids
Once you have several different bids from various contractors, that include the construction services that will be offered and more, then you will need to start actually comparing these bids so you can go on to have a construction contract drawn up and signed. Carefully compare these contractor bids. You want to make sure that you go with the best possible option for your needs. A great way to compare is to come up with a comparison sheet so you can easily compare these bids. This will allow you to more easily see how the bids compare to each other. Remember, the price is not the only thing that you are going to want to consider. The quality of materials and amount of work is going to matter as well. Go for the best value for your money, not just the lowest price.

Keep the Quality of Materials in Mind
Product material quality is an important consideration when you are taking a look at the contractor bids that are offered to you. You need to realize that the lowest price that is offered to you may not be the best deal for you. Make sure that you look at the materials that are going to be used. Make sure that the materials used are going to be quality. Why pay less only to have lower grade materials used on the remodel? So, ensure that you keep this in mind when you are looking at the bids.

Top Tips for Finding the Best Bid
So, you may be wondering how you can find the best possible contractor bid. Well, there are several ways to do this. First of all, you need to go through the bids line by line. This way you get a good idea of the comparison. Go with the more experienced and quality contractor as well, even if they don't have the lower price. Consider trying to negotiate the price. Let them know you'd love to have them work with you, but you have a limited budget. They may be willing to come down a bit on the price quoted in the bid. If you never ask about a lower price, you'll never know if they will come down a bit. So, make sure that you get out there and do some negotiating so you and the Minnesota contractor can come to a good agreement.

Visit http://www.RemodelMinnesota.com to learn more about a the remodeling process as well as working with a contractor. John Mazzara is involved with financial services in the Twin Cities, MN. Officing out of Edina, Minnesota-John is centrally located within the 7 county MN metropolitan area. John owns three separate businesses-a licensed real estate broker associate selling Minnesota real estate since 1986-affiliated with RE/MAX Associates Plus http://www.MinneapolisStPaulHomes.com, an independent CFP-certified financial planner since 1989 with an independent Minnesota financial planning firm-Financial Planning Associates and the owner of a Minnesota mortgage broker firm-Venture Development Inc-specializing ins residential, commercial and investment mortgages If you are looking for someone to help you in the areas of real estate sales/purchase, mortgages, or and/or financial planning and insurance you should call John for a free 1 hour consultation to see if he can meet your needs. 952-929-2577. RE/MAX Associates Plus and Venture Development are located at 7300 France Ave S, Suite 410, Edina, MN 55435

Building Safe Stairs

Moisture Against Gravity - Destroying Walls

Well I'm going to start this article with a little information on a job I did once.

I had been repairing a rental house for one particular homeowner for about three years when all of a sudden I got a phone call from him telling me the rental house was destroyed and he had never seen nothing like this. He sounded so upset over the phone I told him I would meet with him immediately.

On my way to the house I was trying to get an idea in my head what the house was going to actually look like. Since I have been repairing rental properties for over 20 years at this point of my career, nothing really shocked me. I had pretty much seen everything that could possibly be done to rental property by the tenants that lived there. There is a lot to be said about taking care of it as if it were your own.

He was waiting for me at the front door and he looked thoroughly disgusted. As I approached him he was shaking his head and yelling at the same time can you believe these people, can you believe what they did to my house. I was expecting to see the front door ripped off and all the windows broken out of the house but this wasn't the case.

As he led me through the home and I could see the usual clothing on the floor, broken cabinets, a few holes in the walls and of course that awful smell of mold and mildew. All of this stuff was nothing new to me because I'm the guy they call to fix it when a renter moves out of the property.

As I entered one of the bedrooms I got my first glimpse of something I had never seen before but heard stories about and could not believe my eyes. Looking at the walls in the bedroom about 3 feet from the floor all the way around the room, the plaster was soft. It actually looks like someone shoved popcorn into the wall somehow.

The homeowner wasn't even looking at this because of the rest of the damage in the home. I started to explain to him I'd never seen nothing like this but I could guess it was water damage somehow since the plaster was soft. I could actually stick my finger into the wall, that's how soft the plaster was.

My first thought was to examine the carpeting a little closer to see if it was wet. Well it was damp but it wasn't as wet as I would've expected it to be with the amount of water in the walls. With a little more home inspecting I had found the culprit, it was a broken water bed. The water bed was now in the backyard looking innocent.

I couldn't believe a broken water bed could do this much damage so I looked around for broken or leaking water pipes and could not find any. The other bad news I had to inform the homeowner was that the water had damage the bathroom and closet walls also. These walls of course were on the other side of the bathroom walls that were damaged.

Well the point of this story is that water will actually wick its way up or worked its way up into a wall. I had to remove 4 feet of drywall all the way around the room. The plaster or drywall actually acts like a sponge pulling the water into the walls. Hard to imagine that gravity in this case seems to reverse. I would've never thought that water would've traveled so far up the walls creating that much damage.

To repair the rental property I had to remove the damaged drywall, remove the carpeting, dry the wood framing out and put the whole thing back together.

I'm still amazed and will remember that project for as long as I live.

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

Visit us and get more information on House Water Damage

Linoleum Edge Lifting

Removing Interior Walls

Here's a word of advice for any contractor, Carpenter, handyman or homeowner that is planning to remove an interior wall from your home or someone else's. Beware of removing interior walls, to eliminate your fears of the house collapsing. Some of the interior walls inside of the house are important structural components of the building.

Some of these walls hold up floors, roofs and other loadbearing sections that could create safety problems within the structure of the house itself. This is an area where an expert with framing skills should be consulted. What is the definition of someone with excellent framing skills? Some one with at least 10 years as a master framing carpenter.

My home building experience consists of three decades for over 30 years of assembling some of the most difficult sections of a home. During these years I have seen damage done to houses from removing structural interior walls. Most of this damage could be repaired with a little structural engineering. Some of the damage could not be repaired and caused other damage to different sections of the house. The damage caused in some cases to the floor and the roof framing had to be completely rebuilt.

I'm not telling you about every single thing I have ran into but you would be surprised if I started to make a list of all the homeowners and professionals in the building industry or home selling and buying business that contacted me to remove a structural component of a building. There have even been a few of these people that told me everything was going to be okay just go ahead and remove the structural building component.

Needless to say I would leave these people very irritated but I'm sure they found someone to do the job. The bad news is I was normally the person they would hire to go back and repair the damaged building after these people were gone and out of business. There have been cases where people have removed an interior walls against my better judgment and over the years of driving by in these homes I personally got to witness the structural damage that was occurring on the outside of the house.

I have no idea what the inside of the house looked like but could only imagine. My advice again when removing interior walls is to hire an experienced contractor or at least get some advice from an experienced framing carpenter. This does not include your basic know it all that has basic construction experience like your father in law, parents, friends, golfing associates or people you work with that tell you not to worry about it, just do it, everything will work out just fine.

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

Visit us and get more information on building and remodeling your homes and What Does A Shear Wall Do

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Bathroom Remodeling - Find the Latest Designs

If you are looking to remodel your bathroom then you may want to search some of the designs that are popular for 2009. When it comes to redesigning a bathroom there are a limitless number of options for you to choose from. It is best that you narrow down your options by picking a few themes that you like the best or ones that fit into the over all look of your house. Some people will redo a bathroom and make inexpensive minor changes such as paint and adding new knobs to the cabinet. This can make a big difference to the look when you are trying to stay within a budget.

In some cases you may want to do a overhaul of your bathroom and this may take more time and money. Once you have an idea of the look you want then you want to pick some colors that you think will work well. It is a good idea to bring in an expert in you do not feel comfortable ripping up the floor or removing tile. They can give you an idea of price and how long the project will take so you know what you can expert. In some cases you may be able to do some of the work yourself so that you can save money.

Remember that when you are redoing a bathroom you want to look at the latest designs because this will help you to make good choices. First you want to start by looking in magazines and online to see what some of the new designs and colors are. Some people also find that going to a home show can be a great way to find new designs as well.

Get Free: Bathroom Remodeling Advice

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Bryan Burbank is an expert in the field of Maintenance and Home Repair

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Nailing Or Screwing Drywall

Nails versus screws who will become the winner. When drywall first came out the installers used everything from regular steel nails to galvanized roofing nails. After a short amount of time they started to develop major problems from nails popping out of the finished drywall.

Nail popping results when the nail is driven into moist lumber and as the lumber shrinks the house settles and nail can actually pop out to the walls. Hard to imagine the nail could actually pop out of the drywall as the wood was drying out.

How far the nail would actually pop out was determined by how far it was driven in to the framing studs or ceiling joists. Well pretty soon drywall installers started to use ring shank nails to eliminate this problem. This worked great but these nails were hard to drive in and would often break.

As time went on the nails improved and were made out of galvanized metal with cupped shaped heads and came in a few different sizes. The size of the nail used was determined by the thickness of the drywall. These new nails worked great and had good holding power and eliminated a lot of nail popping.

Using nails means driving them in with a hammer. If you miss the nail you damage the drywall. This seemed to be a big problem and was virtually eliminated with the screws.

Well pretty soon people started using screws which had greater holding power and pretty much nail popping. Another advantage to using screws over nails is the simple fact you need less screws than you do nails to attach the drywall to the metal or wood framing.

This means less labor installing and finishing the drywall.

There is one problem with the screws and that is they have to be set perfectly. They can not break the paper surface on the drywall but have to be set enough into the drywall so that it can be finished properly. Most screw guns have an adjustable setting used to get just the right depth for the screws installed in the drywall. But this also was a problem when screwing into a hard piece of wood you can actually snapped the screw head off, strip the screw head or break the screw.

Nails on the other hand can bend while driving them into a hard surface.

Who wins the nails versus screws while installing drywall? I have got to give it to the screws. That doesn't mean the nails just got screwed or the screws just got nailed.

I couldn't resist. I actually preferred the screws over the nails except for when nailing the drywall corner bead on. Some drywall professionals use nails to hang the drywall and go back with a screw gun and some screws to finish the job. The nails sometimes seem handier than the screws when installing the drywall.

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

Visit us and get more information on building and remodeling your homes and Carlsbad Home Improvement

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Carbon Monoxide in the Home is Silent and Deadly

Carbon Monoxide (CO) poisoning is lethal and is the leading cause of accidental poisoning deaths in our country, according to the Journal of the American Medical Association. Today, CO poisoning in your home does not have to be a threat. Simply go to any home improvement retailer or large household merchandise store and you can purchase carbon monoxide detectors for your home or office.

CO detectors are easy to install taking about 7 minutes if you include the time it takes to remove it from the packaging and read the simple mounting instructions. Even less time is involved if you can find the CO detector that has a battery back up and primarily plugs directly into any grounded outlet inside your home.

CO is a tasteless, colorless and odorless gas that is lethal in a fairly short amount of time, within minutes even if the concentration is only moderate. Low levels of CO exposure over a long period is also a serious health risk and results in permanent neurological damage

CO results from the combustion of flame-fueled devices such fireplaces, ovens, furnaces, wall-heaters, clothes dryers, grills, to name a few. If there is not enough proper ventilation or the device is damaged, deadly amounts of CO can accumulate in the air and you will not know that you are breathing the deadly gas.

Carbon monoxide detectors save lives. They do have some limitations in terms of placement and usage so it is important to read carefully when choosing the right CO detector for your home or office.

Curt Roese is the author and is a Real Estate Broker holding the EcoBroker and NAR GREEN Designations. Find more information about Carbon Monoxide in Your Home and sign up for his informative newsletter at Green Healthy Home.

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Popcorn Facts

Unbuttered popcorn is considered to be a good, low-calorie snack. However, unbuttered popcorn can be quite tasteless. There are many ways to make unbuttered popcorn a tastier snack. A dash of brown sugar, soy sauce, garlic and onion salt, iced tea mix, peanuts and raisins can add to the flavor.

Popcorn satisfies the craving that people have for snacks. Popcorn is a type of flint corn. The kernels of this corn have a hard outer shell and are starchy inside. Dry-roasting these kernels in a specific way makes them pop up. Kernels are normally dried to a moisture level of approximately 13.5 %, which is the most favorable moisture level for popping this corn.

According to many historians, corn first came from Mexico. The oldest ears of corn were found in the Bat Caves in western central Mexico. Popcorn is a snack that is basically more then 5,000 years old and is still very popular among many people. The most astonishing fact relating to corn is that it was introduced to Europeans by the American Indian tribes. The English colonist first came to know about popcorn at the initial Thanksgiving feast.

Popcorn contains a high level of carbohydrates and fat, if people consume buttered popcorn or pop the corn the traditional way by using oil. It is a fact that each popcorn kernel contains a little amount of water inside a circle of starch, which is encircled by the hard outer surface of the kernel. Upon heating, this water usually expands and, with corresponding pressure building against the starch, it then pushes through the hard surface, making the corn burst open. With this, the soft starch inside of the kernel inflates and bursts turning the core inside out. There are many online sites available that offer facts on popcorn. People can learn a lot about popcorn and interesting ways to add to its taste.

Popcorn provides detailed information on Popcorn, Popped Popcorn, Popcorn Machines, Popcorn Factories and more. Popcorn is affiliated with How Many Carbs In Pizza.

Do I Need to Be Able to Estimate Construction Repair Costs to Wholesale Houses?

Almost all of the properties that wholesalers will "put under contract" will need some degree of repair work. These repairs can range from some new carpet and paint to a complete "gut job" where you will have to remodel the entire house inside and out!

Unfortunately we as wholesalers must be able to calculate the rehab dollar amount. We must be able to plug this critical "Rehab Value" into our Wholesale Formula Spread Sheets. These spreadsheets tells the wholesaler if he has a real deal on his plate or not!

More on how to calculate your spreadsheet numbers some other time!But for now, just know that this rehab dollar amount is a critical variable when figuring out how much you will offer on the property you are looking at!

So, if you know absolutely nothing about estimating repairs on a rehab project this could be a problem for you. So here's what I suggest you do if your new to the business. CALL A CONTRACTOR TO HELP YOU CALCULATE THE REHAB COSTS! Then, open up your ears and your eye's and pay attention to what the contractor tells you about the project at hand.

Estimating repairs is not rocket science. It just takes a little practice to get it right! I suggest that new investors should be walking through as many distressed properties as they can with a notepad, a tape measure, and an open mind! I can teach anyone in 30 Days or less, how to calculate rehab numbers and have excellent ballpark repair numbers on just about any project.

I have put together some generic project cost sheets that will help put 90 % or more of the repair totals together for you. Just plug my numbers into your Rehab Value Spreadsheet and you will be more than on your way to arriving at the complete project costtotals that you will need. In my e-book "Wholesaling Smarts" I have included this project estimating cost sheet.

You may have to pay your contractor a few bucks for the first few estimates, but do it anyway! Think of it as the price of an education! While the contractor is doing his thing, you should run your own numbers using the cost estimating sheet in my e-book. Then, after the contractor has given you his numbers, compare them to yours to see how you did on your project total. Be patient, it will take some practice, but anyone can learn how to estimate like a pro! After a while,you will neverneed to call the contractor again, I promise!

You must have an accurate rehab cost value to plug into your wholesale deal spreadsheet, whether you are estimating the repairs or your contractor is doing it for you. It's an evil necessity that all wholesalers must contend with if they want to be successful wholesalers!

More Free FAQ videos about real estate wholesaling here? www.FAQMentor.com

About the Author: Eddie Case

Since 2001 Eddie Case has flipped several hundred houses in the Harrisburg, PA region. Eddie's "straight line" approach to Wholesaling revolves around the unique specialty of "assigning his contracts" to other investor/buyers commonly, this technique is known as assignments. Eddie is the host of his own weekly radio talk show "Reality Real Estate" where he educates his listeners on the subjects of wholesaling and assignments. Eddie is dedicated to helping others succeed through understanding and applying his time tested, step-by-step approach to wholesaling houses.

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Credit Repair Service - What You Should Know

You've probably turned to this article because you're troubled by your debts. And falling into debts is not a pleasant thing, and everyone will agree on this. The constant worry and discomfort from knowing you are in debt can slowly eat at you from the inside and you would naturally want out of the desperate situation as fast as you can. There are some very simple methods you can follow that can guarantee you get out of debt quickly:

Budgeting: This is probably the first thing that might come to people's mind when curbing debts is concerned. But it may also seem the dullest and boring solution. But when you consider the vast number of people in debt nowadays, budgeting becomes essential.

Budgeting is easily the oldest and most time-tested way to get out of debts. The obvious reason behind incurring debts is useless expense and that too, recklessly. Spending money without giving a second thought will automatically lead to unnecessary debt situations. Budgets make sure you don't waste money on unnecessary purchases. And debts can also be easily paid off with the help of the same.

Credit Cards: These can be, at the same time, really useful and the bane of your existence. It serves its purpose of doing away with the need to carry around liquid cash every where you go, but it also entices you to buy plenty of stuff you won't need, thus leading to a lot of needless expenses. Therefore, you need to be in control and be sure of the way you use your 'plastic money', because they can lead to huge debts. And if you have more than one card, try paying off the debts from the cards with the maximum rate of interest, and you will find soon enough the repayments falling in line, and you'll be out of debt before you know it.

If you like to learn more about Credit Card Service or more about Debt Solutions just follow the highlighted links.

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This is How to Build Home Solar Panels

Are you sick and tired of paying those exorbitant prices to the electric company? Or perhaps your motives are nobler, and you're just trying to figure out how to reduce your "carbon footprint." Whatever your reasons, you want to know how to build home solar panels.

I would like to help you say goodbye to electric bills and hello to renewable energies. In this article, I'm going to give you the information you crave to get you started saving money, or saving the planet. I'm going to show you what it takes to build your very own home solar panels.

Have you ever heard of the old saying, "As sure as the sun rises"? I'm certain you have, and it has its roots in the fact that we're pretty sure that the sun will rise tomorrow, and the next day, and the day after that. The sun is always shining no matter how gloomy the day is where you happen to be, or regardless of whether it's night-time, or daytime. The sun is shining somewhere, and it's always going to rise the next day.

That's what makes solar power one of the best and most reliable renewable energy sources available. The problem most novice environmentalists face is the cost associated with installing solar power systems. They probably won't see a return on their investment for at least 10 years, if not more!

That's enough to deter most would-be environmental warriors from even considering installing home solar panels. However, there is an alternative to the expensive, commercial solar power systems.

The most cost-effective way to take advantage of solar power is to build your very own home solar panels. Are you getting scared yet? Does it sound too complicated? Not to worry because building your own solar panels is easy enough that kids, teens, and yes, even you can do it. All you need are the proper instructions.

The parts required to build home solar panels aren't anything exotic either. In fact, you can find most of the supplies at your local hardware store. You also have the option to purchase a solar panel kit, which will include all the parts you require to be generating your own energy from the sun in no time.

You can construct small home solar panels to power small appliances or small tools in your workshop. If you're really motivated, you can even build solar panels powerful enough to service much larger electric loads. The size of the project is limited only by your own ambition.

Several resources and guides exist that can help you by providing detailed instructions for building your home solar panels. One of the most important steps to take is to seek quality, and detailed instructions. Without these, your solar panels may not be the most efficient, or cost effective they could be, or worse yet, they may not even work!

Once you get your hand on quality instructions, it's time to head down to your hardware store to get the supplies you'll need. When you have all your materials, you'll be able to start building your home solar panels, but watch out, because soon your neighbors may catch wind of what you're doing and they'll be asking you to build solar panels for them as well.

Perhaps your goals aren't as lofty as saving the earth and instead you just want to save some money in this economy. But, by building your own home solar panels you can also feel proud of yourself for doing your part to save the environment as well. In declaring your freedom from the fossil fuels that run our lives, you are making a huge impact on our world.

Professional solar power systems can cost thousands to be installed. Who has money to spare in today's economy? Make the choice to go "solar" today, and learn to build your very own solar panels. You'll be saving money, and the environment.

Visit http://renewableenergyathome.info/

Three Ways of Getting Rid of Fleas in Bedding and Soft Furnishings

The best way to get rid of fleas and flea eggs in your pets bedding and your soft furnishings is use the vinegar and water mixture to wash them. But if you dont want to use the vinegar and water mixture there are other alternative that you can use to get rid of fleas and flea eggs in your pets bedding and soft furniture.

Here are two suggestions:

• Wash your pets bedding in scalding hot water. If you just want to get rid of the fleas you can always wash your pets bedding in ultra hot water without soap. The heat of the water and the force of the water will kill any fleas in the bedding and dislodge any eggs from the bedding. If you do run your pets bedding through the washers hot cycle then run the washer once afterward with no clothes in it to make sure that the flea eggs that you rinsed out of your pets bedding dont end up back on your clothes or bedding.
• Dry clean bedding and pillows that cant be washed in hot water. You can clean couch cushions, pillows and some types of bedding that cant go in the washer like fur bedding with a dry clean at home kit from the store. Usually this involves putting the item that you want to dry clean in a special bag containing dry cleaning solution and then putting it in the dryer on a very high temperature for a set period of time. So, anything that you can fit into your dryer you can dry clean. The high heat and the chemicals will quickly kill and fleas and get rid of eggs that might be embedded in your soft furnishings or in your own bedding

Get your free guide, learn secrets of flea treatment and other nuggets on natural flea prevention, natural flea control, best flea prevention, flea control product, flea medication, dog fleas

http://www.findpethealth.com

Matt Le Tutla

Trenchless Sewer Repair - Plumbers Repair Sewer Lines and Pipes All Year Long

Trenchless sewer repair may be something you need, but if your home is in a part of the country where the weather is bad for half of the year, there may not be much you can do about it until spring arrives. On the other hand, if your Los Angeles area home is in need of a new sewer system, this may be the right time of year to get the work completed. Unlike most of the country, with freezing temperatures and several more months of unpredictable weather, here in the greater Los Angeles area plumbers are able to work outdoors throughout the year.

Plumbers will come and take a look at your home or commercial building to see if you are in need of any type of plumbing repair. Many times there is a blockage, caused by grease buildup or a foreign object that is restricting the flow of your sewer line. Other times the culprit is corrosion that causes deterioration, resulting in collapses in the line that restrict flow. Los Angeles is a city with the average home being more than forty years old, so the plumbing system may be in dire need of repair at any given time. If you live elsewhere, you may have to wait until well into spring before you can have this type of work done.

Other reasons for your sewer lines to not be operating at their maximum level are leaking joints, root infiltration, or off-grade pipes. Let professional plumbers take a look, using their high tech video equipment and other state of the art plumbing methods.

Leaking joints occur when the seals between the pipes have broken, allowing water to escape into the area surrounding the pipe. In Los Angeles, there are small, almost undetectable earthquakes on a daily basis, so one of these tremors may cause a sewer pipe to begin to leak.

In the older properties located closer to the heart of Los Angeles, the original sewer lines and piping may have been off-grade, meaning that the existing pipes are composed of sub-standard materials that have corroded or deteriorated over time.

Root infiltration, also known as root intrusion, has been a major problem in Los Angeles for more than forty years. This is due to the various plants and trees that were brought to Los Angeles over the years that are not native to this area. The roots from these shrubs and trees, in search of more water than is available in Los Angeles, slowly invade the sewer lines, preventing normal cleaning and damaging the sewer lines.

And now I invite you to find out more by visiting http://www.LosAngelesPlumbingandSewer.com to get more information about Schuelke Plumbing and their team of professional plumbers. Whether you need a trenchless sewer repair or copper repiping, Schuelke is your residential and commercial plumbing specialist.

Post Your Ideas Here On Deck Building

Do you have any ideas for building or repairing wood decks . We would love to hear from you in the comment area. Any useful comments that you can make on deck construction or deck building will help our blog readers.

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Home Renovation - Make Your New Renovation Match Your Old House

A large percentage of people who renovate their homes do so to update, add value or prepare their home for sale. All too often though, home owners plan a renovation with no thought of making the new work blend with their older home.

This can result in the new work looking like an ugly wart stuck onto the original home. This often even effects the resale value of the home.

This is because when people shop for an older home they are looking because they like the style and look of the older homes and bad renovations will turn them away.

This means that you should consider the era your home was built in to make sure that renovations and upgrades flow naturally together in your older home. This is most noticeable on new exterior walls of additions, windows, doors and door hardware, light fixtures and things like heating vents, trim and flooring.

That doesn't mean that you need to forgo any new conveniences or not make improvements to increase energy efficiency or convenience. It just means that you need to carefully consider the style of your home before you act.

Look around neighborhoods that are the same age as your home to get ideas about how other people have successfully blended upgrades in their homes.

When you choose a contractor make sure that he has done renovation work with your age of home and understands your goals. Fortunately there are several companies that offer period style hardware designs in new materials.

A good project should make it hard to recognize where the older house ends and the new work begins.

Bob Current writes about a variety of subjects including tips on home renovation. Get his free report about tips for Choosing The Best Contractor for your renovation at http://www.homeimprovementtips.info

Home Contractor Problems and Solutions

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 Vanden Berge 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.

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