Metal Siding Painting Advice

Painting metal and aluminum siding can become a nightmare if not done right. Over the years I have worked on and repaired many homes with metal siding. Metal siding is real common in mobile homes. Most older mobile homes use aluminum paneling for their exterior siding.

Most painted metal siding seems to last at least 20 years. The reason for this is the paint is baked on in a factory giving it a high quality and nice looking surface. This baked on method is used for painting aluminum and most metals siding that gives the product a long life.

I lived in a mobile home park for a few years and my next door neighbor's mobile home had never been painted and was over 45 years old. He would go out and washed the mobile home once a year with some TSP soap while using a brush on the end of an extension pole to clean the home.

His mobile home might not have looked brand new but it was definitely in great shape. Over the years he had developed a few scratches and some dirt that was hard to wash off but that was about the extent of the damage to the painted metal siding.

Well we painted our mobile home and used an expensive metal primer along with some expensive paint from Dunn Edwards & Co... This paint worked great. We lived there for around four years and never had any problems once the home was painted. Having been in the construction business I knew we had to use a good metal paint primer in order for the paint to stick to the baked on paint process for the metal siding to look good.

Here's my advice to you when painting metal siding.

1. Make sure the metal siding is clean. Use TSP soap along with a scrub brush and scrub that baby clean. The cleaner the metal surface the better the new paint primer will stick or adhere to the old paint.
2. Follow the instructions carefully on the paint primer can when applying the primer. Do not paint below or above the recommended paint temperatures.
3. Make sure you explain to the paint salesman at whatever store you're in that you are going to be painting metal siding. Get the right paint primer.
4. I would love to recommend a paint primer but cannot because I don't want to get a phone call from anyone a few years from now telling me the paint is peeling off of their home. Let that responsibility become the paint manufacturers.
5. Let the paint primer dry for the recommended time as per the directions on the paint primer can. I prefer letting the paint dry at least one week. The reason for this is some paint primer's stay soft for a while and if you paint over them immediately they doesn't seem to bond as good and sometimes will stay soft for a long period of time.
6. Apply your final coats of paint following the manufacturer's instructions on the paint can.

There you have it painting metal siding is all in the preparation of the surface you are painting.

Have fun painting and always read and follow the manufacturer's recommended instructions for the products you are using. These people test their products constantly and know the best way to apply them to any surface.

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 different Types Of House Siding

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Stucco Wood Trim Missing

How to Afford Your Dream Home

Is it your dream to one day own a holiday home in the sun; a beautiful house where you can escape, relax and be free of the worries that seem to go hand in hand with every day life?

Well, youre not alone!

A recent survey by a well known mortgage lender in the UK revealed that up to one in three Britons not only dream about owning a home in the sun but fully intend to make that dream a reality some day. And in the US the number of Americans planning to one day buy that ideal second home haven is now up to three in ten people.

Now let me ask you another question: -

If it is your dream to one day own that beautiful home in the sun what exactly are you waiting for?

Why wait for one day when you can make your dream a reality today?

Here are just five simple ways that could free you up to make your ideal property purchase today.

1) Location, Location, Location

There are still some very beautiful and highly affordable locations left in this wonderful world of ours destinations that are less well known, less popular with tourists, less well developed maybe; but no less beautiful, no less welcoming and certainly no less safe!

You just have to look a little further afield or think outside of the box and be prepared to do some of the real estate research yourself. The most popular destinations for second homes like Florida and Spain are very well documented and there are literally thousands of real estate agents to help you find that pricey holiday villa or apartment.

But if you want to be able to buy up something that doesnt have such an inflated and unachievable price tag then look to less well marketed and tourist populated areas find the next emerging market.

Did you know that property in Northern Spain is a fraction of the price of property on the Costa del Sol, property in Northern Belize is a fraction of the price of property in the Cayes and property in central France is a fraction of the price of property on the Cote dAzur for example? Did you know Croatia and Bulgaria have beautiful summer climates and stunning beaches?

Be a proactive pioneer and seek out the most affordable and desirable holiday home hotspots and make todays budget go that much further.

2) Jet to Let

If you need to borrow to finance your property purchase consider buying an apartment, villa or house that can easily be rented out during the peak season in your dream destination. The weekly rental income you can generate from your property purchase will pay off the extra money you had to borrow to buy your dream home now rather than waiting until tomorrow.

Once the peak season is over and youve generated the highest rental yields possible you can free up the home for a couple of weeks and you can take time out to travel to it and enjoy an out of season break in your very own dream overseas home.

Once the holidaymakers who let your home have helped you pay off your mortgage you can either continue to take an income supplement from the property or refuse to rent it out and have it all to yourself either way, jet to let is the latest way to afford that second home overseas.

3) Pool Resources

If you and your friends or family members all share the dream of owning a second home overseas you could consider pooling your financial resources together to get on the second home property ladder.

This will enable each of you to make your financial contribution go so much further - and if you draw up a contract between you all at the start which details who can have access to the house during which weeks of the year there will be no possibility of arguments later on!

4) Get a Fixer-Upper

Many first time buyers in the local market consider buying a home in need of repair, renovation or just a cosmetic overhaul. Its a well known fact that homes in need of some TLC get sold far cheaper than perfectly presented show homes. Well, the same applies in every house market regardless of where in the world youre looking to buy.

Therefore spend a little time learning about the local real estate market in your preferred country, find out about average costs of houses and then look for homes priced under this ceilingall of them will be priced down because they require work.

Always make sure you get a survey done on any home youre interested in to ensure youre fully aware of the work required then get building quotes etc., and cost the work up obviously the more work you can do yourself the less money it will cost and then go get yourself a fixer-upper and use some of your holiday time turning your second home into your dream home.

You will be amazed at how well you can potentially push up the value of a second home by taking this path in many countries overseas run down homes are undervalued because local people have no desire to take on the work. If you put in the effort and turn the house around, when you want to sell it you will probably be handsomely financially rewarded!

5) Release Equity

If you have equity in your principal home i.e., your house is worth more than the mortgage you have on it you could consider re-mortgaging to free up this equity and you could then use this equity for a second home purchase.

There are some major considerations to think about before taking this path however because it involves increasing your debt ratio. On the good side you can often reduce your overall mortgage interest rate when you re-mortgage and you will be putting the money you free up straight back into property.

On the bad side you will be increasing your debt and your loan will be secured on your primary residence. This option can suit many people but you should speak to a financial adviser before taking this path.

Hopefully these five simple ways have given you some food for thought there are many ways to stop putting off until tomorrow that dream that you could be living today.

Why wait until youre too old to enjoy a home overseas before you buy one!

Rhiannon Williamson is a freelance writer whose many articles about buying investment property abroad have appeared in real estate and financial publications around the world. To read her latest articles about property investment in Cyprus visit this link: Property in North Cyprus

Covering Damaged Vent Screens

Exterior Doors - San Deigo Home Tips

There are many choices when it comes to exterior doors for your home. The three most popular door types are wood, fiberglass and steel. Factors such as where you live, the exact style or design you want and your budget will all affect your decision. If you are thinking about replacing your exterior front entry door then you should think about all the great benefits to a new front door such as adding curb appeal and value to your home. A new door will also give the exterior of your home a quick update for a relatively low price. In fact, you can purchase a really great quality steel door (which is one of the best door types on the market) for about $250.

Wood Doors
Wood doors have been around the longest of all doors and provide the most decorative and personalized options. These traditional doors have other beneficial characteristics such the ability to be painted or stained, a project you could probably handle on your own. Wood doors are made better and stronger today then they used to be. While wood doors do provide a sense of security (being that they are thick and heavy) they are not as secure as fiberglass or steel doors in that they have the potential to be kicked in. You can also choose from a variety of finishes for a wooden door and easily customize decorative glass for the door. If you live in a hot climate such as Las Vegas or Palm Springs then a wood door may not be best for your home because the wood can swell and end up costing you time and money from having to maintain and fix the door. If you want a warm and traditional feel to your home and top security isn't a priority for you, then wood doors are an excellent option.

Fiberglass Doors
If you are looking for a strong, very secure and very energy efficient door then a fiberglass door is a great option for you. Fiberglass doors look and feel like wood but won't crack, warp, scratch, peel, swell or expand like wood and are three times stronger than wood doors and in some cases can be easily painted or stained. These doors have a wood grain texture molded into them which gives the appearance of a real wood door when painted or stained. Fiberglass doors resemble wood doors so closely that it is hard to differentiate between which one is real wood and which one is fiberglass. These doors provide added security protection and greater insulating quality- while keeping to a traditional theme with less maintenance than wood doors.

Steel Doors
Steel doors are the most energy efficient of the doors discussed here but do not have as much decorative options as wood. Steel doors are the best option for those who live in areas that are subject to harsh weather such as hurricanes or tornados since they are so tough and strong and also hold up to all the elements (such as heavy rain and snow) well. Another great benefit to steel doors is that they don't chip or crack or even warp. Another perk is that many steel doors come with a fireproof option. Keep in mind that steel doors can get dents but can also be easily repaired if needed. Being that steel doors are so strong and secure and the most cost efficient, they will probably continue to be one of the most popular door choices.

Whatever door you choose for your home, make sure that you weigh out the advantages and disadvantages of each door type to find the one that suits you best. You will also want to make sure that you find a professional contractor to install your new door properly.

Miriam Tatelbaum is a content writer for Networx.com

At Networx.com, we connect you with local contractors who are trustworthy, quality professionals that are screened by us and reviewed by you. Make sure you click this link Doors Networx to find a reliable, local door contractor in your area and to receive free quotes.

A Primer on Selling Your House in a Buyer's Market

The sky is falling. Chicken Little may actually be right this time. And that's not all that's falling. The value of the dollar is falling through the cellar and so are home values. If you've got a $200,000 gem of a piece of property that you're looking to unload, you're probably finding that you're lucky if you can get 75% of that amount. Yeah, things are pretty bad all over. But they don't have to be. See, a lot of this is caused by mindset. Sure, some of it is the buyer's mindset. But some of it is yours too. And THAT is what we're looking to change with this article.

Let's be honest right now. You're thinking that there is no way you're going to sell your home for what it's worth, especially that it's probably been on the market for at least 30 days. Am I right? And your realtor? Forget about it. You're not getting any REAL help there so you're thinking that this is also a waste of your time. Nobody seems to have any answers and you begin to go into a panic. Tell me when I'm off base.

Okay, let's get one thing straight right from the get go. The value of a piece of property is what it's worth to the person who is buying it. Do you REALLY think that if a prospect were to see your home, realize that it was the home of their dreams, that they wouldn't pay you top dollar for it...especially if they thought that somebody else was waiting to snatch it from under them? Hey, they don't have to know that you're having trouble selling your home. It's none of their business. So YOU have to put on a front for that prospect. You need to show your home with confidence and make it very clear that it's going to go fast.

Don't rely on your realtor. Get out there and put your own ads into the marketplace. Don't come up with those lame "Must sell" ads. That just screams desperation and your prospect is going to know that they have you over a barrel. Don't know just what to write? No problem.

Below you will find a review that I think you'll want to read. It will solve ALL your problems as far as getting your house sold. I'm putting my reputation on the line by saying this because I firmly believe in this resource THAT much. It's literally fool proof.

Don't let the buyers walk all over you. You CAN get the price for your home that YOU want.

To YOUR House Selling Success,

Carson T Dyle

Want to sell your house even in a buyers market and get what YOU want for it? Read my other articles on this subject as well as a brief review of a great book with a totally out of the box tactic that WILL get your house sold. You can find it at http://howtosellmyhouse.blogspot.com/2008/11/i-want-to-sell-my-househelp.html

How to Sell Your Own House - And Sell it Fast!

Are you one of the millions of people who are bypassing realtors and selling your house on your own? This article will give you some tips on how to sell your own house. There can be many reasons for selling your own home besides saving on realtor costs - although that's a big one. The average commission paid to the listing and selling agent is 6%. On a $200,000 home, that's $12,000. It takes hard work to sell your own home but it can be done if you're willing.

First, you must become objective. To sell your own house you have to release your emotional attachment to your home. If you continue to be attached, you will have a hard time letting go and may decline the right offer because you don't think it's good enough. Some emotion is good. A good story, a feeling of attachment always makes prospective buyers feel that they are getting a good deal, but you want to be able to let go when the time comes.

Price your home correctly. Your house is only worth what someone is willing to pay. It may seem like a million dollar house to you, but to the market it is only $300,000. Your house may actually be a million dollar house but at the time you are ready to sell, a number of factors may go into a decrease in the property values of your neighborhood. Be aware of this and price your home to sell.

Presentation is everything! In order to sell your own house it should be the best in its class. You need to make your house look better than any other house at its level in the neighborhood. Why would someone pick your house when there is a better looking one down the street? Remove all the clutter from countertops and remove any pets when you have prospective buyers coming by.

Give your buyers some incentives to pick your house. Install new carpet and paint the interior walls. Have your home inspected and purchase a home warranty. This gives prospective buyers some peace of mind knowing that they won't run into unforeseen problems once they purchase the home.

Market, market, market. You have to get people to see your house in order for them to buy it. Besides the basics of putting up signs and listing your home in classifieds, tell everyone that you know that you are selling your own house. Check with local school principals, they may know of families wanting to move into the area.

USE PICTURES. Align yourself with a mortgage broker, real estate lawyer and/or title company. Besides helping with the final paperwork, these professionals may be able to direct traffic to your home and give you other ideas on how to sell your own house.

You will find many more tips on how to sell your own house at Real Estate - Get In The Know. Get information about buying homes, different mortgages and other real estate information at Real Estate - Get In The Know

What Does a GFI Do

In your bathroom you should have a GFI electrical outlet. Most new homes or newly remodeled homes require you to have GFI electrical outlets in the kitchen. Most older kitchens do not have GFI electrical outlets. GFI stands for ground fault circuit interrupter.

Why not call it a GFCI instead of a GFI electrical outlet? Well it is called a GFCI in some instances. GFI is short and is the most common name used by most electricians and builders for this type of outlet.

GFI 's come in 15 amp and 20 amperage outlets. GFI outlets must be wired properly. Make sure you're using the proper wire size when hooking up the GFI outlet.

How do I know which size wire to use? This all depends on how far away you are running it from the electrical panel. There are charts you can use to figure this out. If you are not running the electrical wire more than 80 feet from the electrical panel you can use 12 gauge electrical wires for a 20 amp GFI. This is a general rule of thumb for most electrical house wiring.

If you're going to be using a 15 amp GFI and you are going to be less than 80 feet away from the electrical panel you can use 14 gauge electrical wires. Again this is just a general rule of thumb for most electrical house wiring.

A GFI is a light duty electrical plug used in bathrooms, kitchens and the exterior of your house. The sole purpose of the GFI is to shut the breaker off faster if there is any moisture or light load problems.

Let's say for instance you have your hair dryer plugged into the GFI outlet. The hair dryer somehow falls into the sink while it is on or plugged in. The GFI outlet will instantly shut off because of the sensitivity of the breaker inside of the plug it self.

The GFI plug has a test button and a reset button on it. If you are continually resetting the GFI you will wear it out eventually. I have had GFI plugs after resetting the button about 10 times break and no longer able to use them.

The GFI electrical plug is a great idea and if you don't have them in your bathroom or outside of your home it would be a great idea to have an electrician install them for you.

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 Home Building Library and adding useful content to help solve problems created by the lack of construction knowledge in the building industry.

San Diego Termite Damage

Plaster Crack In Brick Wall

Things to Keep in Mind When Choosing a Condominium Unit Or Town Home Complex

When you buy a Langley condominium unit or townhouse complex, there are certain things you should always keep in mind.

The structure:

See if the building built was really designed to be a condominium or town home complex. If it wasn't, there would be obvious signs of conversion on the structure. If you really want to make sure, check with the local city planning office. Ask for the plans that were submitted to them by the developer. Conversions can look inconspicuous and it could even better than the old design. However, noise and insulation problems may arise from this since the original design was made for a different purpose.

Insist on having a building inspection done for a condominium or town home unit that you are keen on acquiring. Building inspection techniques and methodology for condos are somewhat different from traditional houses. Some costs that you may incur in the inspection may fall under the responsibility of the association.

Most inspections also cover the common areas of the building. Some building inspection procedures may involve invasive techniques to be able to identify particular structural integrity concerns. Aside from hiring your own building inspector, it would also be a good idea to find out if the strata have conducted a recent comprehensive building inspection. This inspection should be signed by a qualified independent engineer. Have your building inspector assess the survey that was done.

The community:

Get to know the people who live in the complex. Try to feel if there is a sense of community in the surroundings. You can often gauge the sense of community just by spending time in the common areas.

Check if people are friendly. A little smile and eye contact can typically confirm this.
Are the residents happy and satisfied? Do they value and respect each other?
Mingle with some of your would-be neighbors. Introduce yourself and find out what they are like and how they react.

The extras:

Does your unit have a parking area? If so, find out where it is located. The location of the parking area should be convenient and safe.
Check if the complex offers extra storage area. Find out the details, whether these are free, communal and secured.
Pools, hot tubs, gym area and other amenities - Check the general condition of these amenities. Are they maintained well? See also if they comply with all legal and safety regulations.

Get a professional opinion:

Do not rely too much on your realtor. You should also have a real estate lawyer go over the rules and agreement for your complex. Spending a few extra hundred dollars to cover your bases will give you less headaches in the long run.

Not keeping these factors in mind might lead you to end up with a less than ideal home purchase.

Andrew Szalontai is a realtor and Langley condominium expert who has spent years buying and selling condos and real estate in Langley and Surrey.

For more information on how to save thousands of dollars in your next purchase of Langley property, please visit Andrew's Langley Real Estate website.

Realtor Conflict of Interest

Just about every real estate sales entity utilizes the Multiple Listing Service (MLS): Realtors, agents, Internet sites, even their so-called competitors such as Help U Sell or Assist 2 Sell, will help sellers get on the MLS system. But are they doing sellers any favors?

Through the MLS, the buyer's Realtors and therefore the buyers have access to what should be treated as the seller's privileged information. The MLS system does not differentiate between seller's interest and buyer's interests. MLS reports to all agents in the same way. There is no division or protection of privileged information. Unfortunately, it is only the sellers who need to be protected and this is just not done. There is very little information about the buyers that could be statistically shared, which could be considered sensitive. Interestingly enough, the co-mingling of this information can actually hurt sellers.

Let me prove this accusation with just 3 words.

Days on Market?

Any buyer's agent who is a Realtor and a member of MLS can simply look up, through the MLS system, the complete history of any property. With a stroke of a key, they can inform a potential buyer how long a property has been for sale known as DAYS ON MARKET. The Multiple Listing Service shows exactly how many days the property has been for sale on the market. How is this in the seller's best interest?

It is not but this information is shared by all!

Most sharp buyers and their agents are going to judge your price based on how long your property has been for sale. They will attempt to negotiate very hard with a seller who has had their property on the market for any length of time. In fact, the more days a property has been on the market the less money they will usually offer. Make no mistake about this one, almost all buyers will ask this question and they always get an answer. The sad or frustrating part of this equation is that your listing Realtor, the very person responsible for protecting you, is also the very entity providing this critical information to the buyers through the Multiple Listing Service with the blessing of the National Association or Realtors. It is being used against you, the seller and your Realtor and your agent's listing service provide this privileged information to your money's enemy?

Many aspects of the Multiple Listing Service are tools that favors and are in the best interest of the buyers and their Realtors.

The statistic days on market is a great tool for the sellers but should not be shared with the buyers to the detriment of the seller's interest.

In my new book LISTING REALTORS ARE OBSOLETE. USE THE INTERNET TO SELL YOUR PROPERTY AND SAVE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN COMMISSIONS I explain many of the changes and conflicts of interests that take place and have a negative impact on the sellers of real estate and how so many Realtors are actually counterproductive and harmful to the Seller's cause.

I can show you how to work directly with buyers and cooperate with the type of Realtors that are entirely worthwhile, the buyer's agents. My 12 PRINCIPLES FOR SUCCESSFUL ONLINE PROPERTY SELLING is available online for free at http://www.AskJamesJoseph.com

Stair Tread Brackets - Remodeling Tips

Metal stair tread brackets are used instead of wood cleats and for plenty of good reasons. These often become a safety hazard over time, as the wood starts to deteriorate. Metal, will not disintegrate as fast as the wood it is normally attached to. In most cases the wood stringers and steps will suffer from wood rot or termite damage before the metal brackets become a safety problem.

Metal stair brackets, often require lag screws instead of nails or screws to attach the stair step to the stringer. These lag screws are normally an inch and a quarter for the stair treads, if they are built from 2 x materials. For example a 2 x 12 or 2 x 14 stair tread will require lag screws that will not go through the wood step. A 2 inch like screw will easily go through an inch and a half stair tread. If you're building a stairway, this will be useful information.

Some metal stair connectors have four holes on each side of the metal bracket for the lag screws, while other metal stair brackets have three holes on each side. This normally depends on the thickness of the stair tread and the use of the stairway. Public stairways will normally require the stronger stair tread connector.

During my career of building stairways, I have seen quite a few metal stair tread brackets. Some builders had custom made brackets to meet specific stair tread applications, while others used Simpson products, that are more readily available to home builders and contractors.

One of the biggest problems I have noticed, using metal stair parts is the lag screws can loosen up over time, creating a safety hazard. Warping treads, along with stair steps that split where the lag screw is located, seem to be the biggest problems associated with metal brackets. There are stair building safety codes that should be followed when building or remodeling stairways.

Staircases are normally high traffic areas and should be maintained regularly. Public stairways with high traffic areas should be maintained more often. Anyone walking up and down the stairways should notify the building owner of any problems, to prevent accidents in the future.

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 building straight stairs and adding useful content to help solve problems created by the lack of construction knowledge in the building industry

Hip Roof

Perfect Contemporary Kitchen - House Remodeling Ideas

Are you tired of your plain, typical kitchen design? Now is the perfect time to give your kitchen a much-needed facelift. With post-holiday sales at an all-time high, you'll save money on the items you need such as kitchen cabinet hardware, appliances, gadgets and countertop materials. Additionally, remodeling your kitchen with a newer, more contemporary design can increase the value of your home almost instantly! Follow these guidelines to creating an idyllic kitchen perfect for any home.

Tip #1: Upgrade Your Materials

Traditional kitchen designs often incorporate plain wooden cabinetry and countertops and even matching appliances such as dishwashers and trash compactors. Now is the time to upgrade your materials! Newer model kitchens feature sleek, ultra-modern stainless steel fixtures that match any color scheme. Other alternatives include lighter varieties of woods such as ash or birch.
Replace existing countertops (that are most likely colored laminates) with elegant granite or other stone material. Contrary to popular belief, upgrading your materials will not necessary include an bump in the price tag; once you've chosen your materials, research and compare to find the best prices for your budget.

Tip #2: Get the Necessary Accessories

No kitchen design is complete without the necessary and often overlooked small details such as cabinet pulls, drawer pulls, pots and pans, the toaster and other handy gadgets. When deciding what kitchen cabinet knobs you'd like to purchase, be sure that the design, finish and style match or are complimentary to your cabinets and appliances. For instance, if you have many stainless steel appliances, you might want to install stainless cabinet handles as well.

Whether you already have every kitchen gadget and tool one could ever need or are looking to purchase a few odds and ends, be sure you have adequate storage space for everything you have or will have. Don't clutter your countertops unnecessarily; smaller appliances and items can be stored in drawers too, such as toasters, waffle makers and blenders.

Tip #3: Limit the (Artificial) Light

Cutting down on bright, glaring lights in your kitchen will not only reflect a more contemporary design but also will help lower your electric bills dramatically. Instead of heirloom chandeliers or industrial fluorescent lighting, try a softer lighting look. Many fashionable kitchen light fixtures are designed to create a focus within your room. Whether your island, work unit, unique vases or a bowl of fruit, designate an area you'd like to showcase. To create this "limelight" effect, install recessed globe lights or even a single hanging light fixture.

While this design reduces the number of man-made light fixtures, you should also consider using as much natural light as possible. If possible, install skylights or window boxes. These fixtures immediately brighten your kitchen without the cost of electricity. Plus, natural light will help warm up your kitchen, especially during the chilly winter months.

Tip #4: Don't Forget the Floorboards

One of the most overlooked aspects of any kitchen is literally right underneath your shoes: your floor. Chances are you haven't ever considered replacing your woodwork and flooring. There are a variety of modern materials to choose from, so take time to consider all your options. If you don't want to give up the wooden, country feel, install reclaimed wood flooring for a unique style. Other floor materials include the ever durable laminate flooring (ideal for homes with children and pets) and flooring made of bamboo or ceramic tiles.

When you've narrowed down your options, bring a selection of your favorite floor choices home to your kitchen to see how they meshes with the rest of your remodeling project. A bold cabinet color will compete with a busy ceramic floor and vice-versa. Always consider how much traffic your kitchen will see as some materials are more practical than others. If you're not sure what the best material is for your needs, ask a professional before you've purchased the products.

Tori Spade works for Your Home Supply (YHS) the definitive website for home improvement tools, and gardening supplies. Your Home Supply offers a wide range of products, like cabinet hardware, to help customers with decorative accessories for the home. Visit them now at http://www.YourHomeSupply.com

Perfect Contemporary Kitchen - House Remodeling Ideas

Are you tired of your plain, typical kitchen design? Now is the perfect time to give your kitchen a much-needed facelift. With post-holiday sales at an all-time high, you'll save money on the items you need such as kitchen cabinet hardware, appliances, gadgets and countertop materials. Additionally, remodeling your kitchen with a newer, more contemporary design can increase the value of your home almost instantly! Follow these guidelines to creating an idyllic kitchen perfect for any home.

Tip #1: Upgrade Your Materials

Traditional kitchen designs often incorporate plain wooden cabinetry and countertops and even matching appliances such as dishwashers and trash compactors. Now is the time to upgrade your materials! Newer model kitchens feature sleek, ultra-modern stainless steel fixtures that match any color scheme. Other alternatives include lighter varieties of woods such as ash or birch.
Replace existing countertops (that are most likely colored laminates) with elegant granite or other stone material. Contrary to popular belief, upgrading your materials will not necessary include an bump in the price tag; once you've chosen your materials, research and compare to find the best prices for your budget.

Tip #2: Get the Necessary Accessories

No kitchen design is complete without the necessary and often overlooked small details such as cabinet pulls, drawer pulls, pots and pans, the toaster and other handy gadgets. When deciding what kitchen cabinet knobs you'd like to purchase, be sure that the design, finish and style match or are complimentary to your cabinets and appliances. For instance, if you have many stainless steel appliances, you might want to install stainless cabinet handles as well.

Whether you already have every kitchen gadget and tool one could ever need or are looking to purchase a few odds and ends, be sure you have adequate storage space for everything you have or will have. Don't clutter your countertops unnecessarily; smaller appliances and items can be stored in drawers too, such as toasters, waffle makers and blenders.

Tip #3: Limit the (Artificial) Light

Cutting down on bright, glaring lights in your kitchen will not only reflect a more contemporary design but also will help lower your electric bills dramatically. Instead of heirloom chandeliers or industrial fluorescent lighting, try a softer lighting look. Many fashionable kitchen light fixtures are designed to create a focus within your room. Whether your island, work unit, unique vases or a bowl of fruit, designate an area you'd like to showcase. To create this "limelight" effect, install recessed globe lights or even a single hanging light fixture.

While this design reduces the number of man-made light fixtures, you should also consider using as much natural light as possible. If possible, install skylights or window boxes. These fixtures immediately brighten your kitchen without the cost of electricity. Plus, natural light will help warm up your kitchen, especially during the chilly winter months.

Tip #4: Don't Forget the Floorboards

One of the most overlooked aspects of any kitchen is literally right underneath your shoes: your floor. Chances are you haven't ever considered replacing your woodwork and flooring. There are a variety of modern materials to choose from, so take time to consider all your options. If you don't want to give up the wooden, country feel, install reclaimed wood flooring for a unique style. Other floor materials include the ever durable laminate flooring (ideal for homes with children and pets) and flooring made of bamboo or ceramic tiles.

When you've narrowed down your options, bring a selection of your favorite floor choices home to your kitchen to see how they meshes with the rest of your remodeling project. A bold cabinet color will compete with a busy ceramic floor and vice-versa. Always consider how much traffic your kitchen will see as some materials are more practical than others. If you're not sure what the best material is for your needs, ask a professional before you've purchased the products.

Tori Spade works for Your Home Supply (YHS) the definitive website for home improvement tools, and gardening supplies. Your Home Supply offers a wide range of products, like cabinet hardware, to help customers with decorative accessories for the home. Visit them now at http://www.YourHomeSupply.com

Bathroom Remodel Investment If Selling

When you're planning any bathroom remodel, consider the costs of the bathroom remodeling versus the return on the actual investment. According to one of the popular remodeling magazines, the average bathroom remodel throughout the country cost around $16,000.

If you were to sell your house within a few years, you could recoup around $12,000 of your original investment. This would translate into a $4000 loss to your pocketbook eventually.

Using these numbers for your bathroom remodel investment, you would recoup around 75% of your original investment. If you know anything about investing money, this will not be a good rate of return and if you keep investing your money like this, you won't have any to invest, eventually.

Keep this in mind, if you're going to be selling the home within a few years. If the bathroom isn't in good shape and you're not planning on selling soon, you could remodel the bathroom and enjoy it for quite a few years. You wouldn't be looking at this as an investment but as maintenance costs.

If you need to remodel the bathroom, because it's getting a little run down and will create a problem when selling a home, I would suggest minor remodeling, if the toilet, fixtures and bathtub is in good condition, I would suggest changing the sink, cabinet, bathtub surround, flooring and some new paint.

If you're remodeling cost is now at $8,000, you would recoup at least $6,000 and would only lose $2000 on your original investment. Now this still doesn't make any sense, if you're still losing money, why would you even want to remodel the bathroom. Why not sell the home as it is and not lose any money? This is a tough decision to make and keep in mind, these are average costs.

You could recoup less or more than 75% of your bathroom investment costs.

Most real estate professionals will advise you to remodel the bathroom for two reasons, for one the house will sell for a few more dollars, and this will increase their sales commission. The second one is probably the most important for any one selling a home, the home could sell faster.

If you have the time and are in no hurry to sell the home, I would suggest trying to sell the home as is first and then sprucing it up, if you can't sell it within three months.

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

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

Mixed Color Tile Roofing

Bathroom Moisture Problems - Home Remodeling

Right above my bathtub in my master bathroom the paint is peeling off the wall. The area is peeling above the tile in my bathtub and shower combination. I tried to glue the peeling paint back and only made the situation worst.

First things first. The paint is peeling because there is to much moisture in the bathroom while you are using it. Do you have any windows you can open or a ventilating bathroom fan. If you have a window crack it open part way while you are showering.

The water droplets will accumulate on the walls and drip into any cracks. Right above the tile grout is a great place for moisture to accumulate. Oh yeah moisture loves grout and drywall. If you have any unpainted areas or an area that has cracked. Guess what you have now.

Your paint is peeling because the bathroom gets hot and cold. Moist and dry. If you have the door and windows shut. You just created a moisture trap. Most people prefer their privacy and will closes the door when using the shower. Well then open the window and let some cold air in while you are taking a nice warn shower. I don't think so. Most showering fools don't like that idea either.

Ok one more idea keep the windows shut so you don't let the cold air in. Then lock the door so no on barges in on you. If you have a ventilation fan turn it on. This will at least pull fresh air in from under the door and send the moist air out of the house.

But the fan is so noisy and I can't enjoy my nice warm vapor producing shower that will eventually cause me to get sick from mold particles floating around in the air while I am using my bathroom.
Does this about sum it up for you and don't we all do this from time to time. We want to enjoy our shower time, so we close up everything and when we are in our bath sauna environment relaxing our house is getting some damaging moisture that could cause mold and mildew.

Open a window or door a little when you shower. Get some air circulating through the bathroom and prevent damage to your nice house.

Put up with a little inconvenience for you homes sake and your pocket book.

Greg Vanden Berge has been in the home building and remodeling business in California 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 provides all kinds of answers to remodeling and new house building in North San Diego Home Remodeling Carlsbad Home Remodeling

Visit us now for Bathroom Ideas

Skylights

Electric Fireplace

Majority of the houses being built since the early 1900's have fireplaces that are used to heat up the rooms in the house. The location of the fireplace is highly dependable on which part of the house they like holding conversation. Technology has phased out traditional fireplace in almost all houses in the cities. Instead, it has introduced the electric fireplace.

The main reason why people like it so much is because the hassle of wood, ashes, smoke and clearing up are non existent. Despite the fact that the fire produced cannot be used for cooking, it provides a fire that has the ability to keep people warm. Its popularity has increased due affordability, safety, convenience and the fact that it can fit anywhere in the house and making it available to anyone who would like to have it.

With the ability to be able the electric fireplace almost anywhere, does not require any special preparations like a chimney, fuel pipeline or a venting system either are also added advantages. This means that it can fit either in the bedroom, sun porch, foyer and kitchen. It also is a cost saving factor which means it is affordable for most people.

The materials used to make the electric fireplace are marble, brick and any other material of choice an individual may have. You can have it blend in with the theme of your house. Installation is very simple because people are able to do it for themselves, offers realistic simulations and all these makes it very user friendly.

Peter Gitundu Researches And Reports On Fireplaces. For More Information on Electric Fireplace, Visit His Site at ELECTRIC FIREPLACE. You Can Also Post Your Views About Electric Fireplace On My Blog Here ELECTRIC FIREPLACE

Benefits of Underpinning - Construction Tips

In the construction world, underpinning is a process in which you strengthen and also stabilise a foundation of a building which could be potentially dangerous if no action was taken. What are the benefits of underpinning a building or structure the building really need the work doing to it? These maybe a few of the question you may ask yourself if a surveyor tells you that your building needs underpinning. A few of the reasons and benefits you should consider are as follows...

1) The existing foundations are not strong / stable enough - underpinning will correct these problems.

2) The use of the building has changed - Possibly you have changed the purpose of a building, maybe from a house to a shop - underpinning will allow the building to take more pressure.

3) The soil properties that the building lies upon have changes - there could have been some movement in the ground, perhaps through subsidence - underpinning will help strengthen the building in this case.

4) New buildings or structures added to the surrounding area. If a new house is build next to an existing property, then underpinning maybe needed to strengthen the first property.

5) Land cost has increased. If the price of land increases by a great deal, it maybe cheaper to use underpinning with a view to improving the existing property (perhaps adding a new floor) rather than purchasing more land.

As you can see, there are many different reasons why you should consider underpinning rather than neglecting the reasons for using it.

Underpinning foundation Engineers
Underpinning foundation

Metal Roof Hatch

Prefabricated Shower Stalls

Installing a prefabricated shower stall often turns out to be a tricky and time-consuming job that takes great practical skill, yet with sensible pre-planning and the right tools for the job, a professional result can be obtained by the average home-handyman. Allow 3-4 days to complete the work and brush up on your carpentry, plumbing, wall-preparation and finishing skills because you're going to need them all!

To begin with, make sure you have the right equipment and tools before you begin the job. Importantly, purchase the shower stall before building the frame it will fit in in order to get accurate dimensions.

You will need: a prefabricated shower, electric drill, plumb level, tape measure, caulk, screws, hole saw, shower/tub adhesive, tape, pencil, leather work gloves, hammer, work boots and an adjustable wrench. Protective eye-wear is also highly advisable (wear when using power tools.)

Getting the prefab shower into position can be the tricky part. You will need to fit it through an existing doorway or an outside window. In some instances, part of an exterior wall may have to be removed in order to get the unit inside; seek professional advice first if required.

Because prefabricated shower stalls have watertight walls, cement-based backer boards are not needed.

It is advisable to install insulation between the studs in order to reduce plumbing noise.

When drilling holes in the unit's walls to fit the faucet and shower arm, measure carefully in advance and always wear protective eye-wear when drilling.

Position parts carefully and attach the unit to the framing. The drain piece, shower handle, escutcheon, and shower-head all need to be fitted correctly to prevent leakages and future problems. All seams need to be caulked efficiently and a thorough checking of any leaks needs careful attention; later corrections to any plumbing faults can be difficult to carry out.

Finally, finish the walls and fit a shower door or curtain bar. It is vital that you seal the joints between the bathroom walls and floor and shower enclosure with a good quality silicone! Installing water-resistant drywall around the top edge of the shower stall can be a wise, long-term investment; tiling the top edge is also a great idea as it will likely last a lot longer than wallpaper or paintwork.

If you aren't adept in skills like demolition, plumbing and drywalling, you may be best served by employing a qualified professional to carry out these tasks.

As a final reminder, installing prefabricated shower stalls can be quite fiddly and time-consuming. The plumbing especially has to be completed with some expertise in order to have a sound unit. Yet having said all this, a successful shower installation is achievable if you take your time, check well for any leaks and consult an expert for advice if the need arises.

Good luck!

For articles by the same author, on a variety of subjects, please visit: http://fatherspirit-mydailybread.blogspot.com [~ MY DAILY BREAD ~ ; Telling, not selling!]

House Pocket Door Problems

Just a few months ago I went over to repair a pocket door that was closing at a weird angle. This was the first time I had ran into this sort of situation and was definitely confused. I got a flashlight and started looking inside the pocket door frame. I had a hard time finding the problem but when I did it was obvious.

As the pocket door was sliding closed it would work perfectly but when you went to open it the bottom of the door would stick out about an inch and a half passed the door jam. The problem turned out to be the track was missing a screw in the very back and as the door slid back into the frame the tracking would hang down at an angle from the weight of the door. There was no way to reach the screw because it was at that very back of the pocket door frame near the framing itself.

In order to fix the pocket door problem I was going to have to remove a good sized area of the plastered wall at the upper right hand corner of the pocket door frame. This was the only thing I could think of and would require a simple wall patch and some paint to make the repair complete.

This job took me about one hour to cut the hole and replaced the screw that had fallen out of the pocket door tracking. I then use some fast setting drywall plaster and some fiberglass drywall tape to repair the wall. This took another hour to finish the drywall properly.

Some pocket door problems are a little easier to repair than this one. Most pocket doors seemed to have problems sliding and eventually are left closed, never to be used again.

Painting the doors over and over again can actually add to the thickness of the door or excessive moisture in the home over long periods of time can also cause the door to swell preventing it from opening properly.

Painting the rollers themselves or the track that the rollers ride in can create a problem with rolling the door easily and effortlessly. If the pocket door rollers or tracking is damaged they will have to be repaired or replaced, obviously. Some people actually spray silicon on the rollers or grease the pocket door wheels and over time the track becomes caked with dried grease and dirt making the door hard to open and close

Here's one most people don't ever think about and yet I have faced this problem more than once. "The Dreaded Picture Hanger". Most people don't realize that the pocket door will not operate very well with a nail driven through it. I have had people complain about their pocket door not operating properly but they can wiggle it a little.

When I come upon a situation like this it usually just requires removing the nail that the picture is hung upon.

I have also seen instances where the home has been remodeled and new floor trim or door trim has been installed. The finish carpenter using his nail gun without changing to a shorter nail has himself nailed the pocket door shut. This could be a big problem because the nails are so thin they could be hard to remove.

Well that's all I can think of for pocket door problems that I have ran into for now. Until the next article have fun remodeling your home.

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 Vista Door Repairs

Doors

Home Owner's Insurance - Flooding

About 20,000 communities have agreed to tighter zoning and building measures to control floods, reports FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency). This is due to the fact that flooding is the most prevalent natural disaster and the basic home owner's insurance policy does not cover flooding.

The biggest investment most Americans would have is their home, so isn't it wisdom to protect that investment? Home owner's insurance policy is a compulsory requirement before mortgagors would consider your application and the insurance amount must at least cover the loan. But that is not enough; if you live in an area that is prone to floods then you need to get a separate cover for flood.

The location of your home determines whether you are insurable. Most beach front or ocean side homes (especially those that are in areas that are prone to hurricanes) are considered uninsurable. So you have to bear this in mind as you seek to purchase that beautiful home by the sea side or beach front.

Most communities are now involved in NFIP (National flood Insurance Policy). This makes it easier for residents in that community to buy flood insurance. So check in your community and find out whether they have such plans.

Sometimes flood victims who do not have flood insurance can receive federal aid. But this is a loan that is payable with interest and this happens only if the President declares them a national disaster.

The interest on this loan is about 4% and at the end of the day you pay more than if you had bought a flood insurance policy.

According to NFIP a loan of $50,000 would require monthly payments of $240 which is $2,880 per year for 30 years. Whereas your $100,000 flood insurance premium is $33 a month which is $500 per year.

So considering the above, the best thing for you to do is to buy a flood insurance policy. Bear in mind that there is awaiting period for every insurance policy, so do not wait until there is warning of a disaster before running off to buy one.

InsureMe Home Insurance Quotes

Home Insurance Quotes

Chisomeje Odimba writes for Quality-Insurance-4-Less.

Roofing Room Additions

Home Insurance Flood Row

We all remember the unbelievable sight of some of the worst floods the United Kingdom has come across in the middle of summer last year. We were unprepared due to the season, there had been no warnings until then first ones hit, and horribly, there are still hundreds of people who are not back in their homes. Some are still living in trailer homes outside their old houses, and with the bad weather of this summer looming they are at risk of being hit again.

There have been so many discussions over the past few months between the insurance companies throughout the country and government arguing over whom and for how much people will be covered. Many insurance companies have had to refuse point blank to cover because there are either inadequate or no plans whatsoever to tackle the impending floods.

This year it is estimated that over 500,000 homes are at risk of flooding this year, and the amount of damage will rack up to over the 1billion pound mark of last year. The amounts of the claims that the insurance companies received were estimated at four years worth in just two months.

If you have any suspicion that your home, car or business is at risk of flooding it is certainly worth speaking to your insurance adviser sooner rather than later. If you discuss how much you are insured for and how you can avoid flooding you will be glad you did if you are indeed hit. If your cover is not adequate you could of course take out additional cover to make sure your property is safe.

There are many arguments as to why the floods and bad weather are approaching the country during high summer, most finding them selves down to global warming. The unfortunate news with this is that the weather's habits are therefore unlikely to change in the coming years, and if anything get worse.

For Cheap Home Insurance be sure to make sure you look into all of the different Home Insurance deals and packages available. House Insurance can really make the difference on the day you are the victim of theft, floods or fire.

Getting Rid Of Horrible Attic Sm

Books on Home Building - Professional Advice

If you're a do it yourself or or a homeowner who every once in a while, once to tackle a small or large project but doesn't know where to begin, can gather useful information from home building books. I have been using these books for years and may have been worth their weight in gold.

I started my career working for my father and my father worked for his father as a Carpenter. Our job was to frame the house and we built a Lotta homes. I learned how to frame and developed some great carpentry skills from my father and working with other skilled carpenters. Over the years, if you're paying attention, even a monkey can figure out, how to assemble almost anything.

The only problem that I faced, was learning how to build the rest of the home. I would often ask questions to other building trades like plumbers, electricians, roofers and construction superintendents. Some of these people were helpful and others were not. When I was in my early 30s, I purchased my first book on home building. This book lead to other books and soon I found myself with more home building knowledge that my father.

I had about 50 books on home building and soon found myself doing large home remodels, with no formal education. I would attribute almost everything that I learned outside of house framing to books. These books have proven invaluable to me over the years and with a relatively small investment. I couldn't have spent over $200 purchasing these books but have used the knowledge from them to save myself thousands of dollars.

One $20 home building books or home repairs, can save you lots of money, if you're willing to do a little research and the labor to complete almost any home building project.

By the way, if you're interested in learning how to repair a roof, build your own house, interior decorating, structural engineering, building a deck, gathering some more information about home painting or even remodeling your bathroom. An online home building bookstore can save you money if you're willing to do the work.

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

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

High Tech Solution to Calculate Construction Costs

If you are planning to build a house, then the first thing you have to do is to calculate construction costs. Although you can easily ask for estimates from builders and contractors, it is still best if you can determine the actual expenses of materials you will use for the project.

Here is a high tech solution to accurately estimate the construction costs for any house building project.

Using Architectural Design Software

In the past, estimating construction costs was very expensive. First, you need to hire a licensed architect to design the house structure. Professional fees of architects are costly and this could take away significant portion of your budget for the project.

After getting the final blue print of the house design, then you have to ask several contractors to give you an estimate for the construction costs. However, most estimates will exceed your budget which could dent your finances.

By using architectural design software, you eliminate the need to hire an architect and you can easily determine the actual cost of materials for the project. There are lots of user-friendly design applications you can use and some of them you can download for free.

The Process of Computer-Aided House Design

The first thing you have to do is to select a house building and design application that would be easy to use. This way, you will not spend much time learning to use the software.

You have to find a construction design application that has a drag and drop utility. This will allow you to simply point and select the types of building materials you will use and drag-and-drop these to create a house structure.

All the elements of house building will be included in such applications. You can start by creating the structure of the house. Then you have to build walls, floors, windows, and roofing.

Once you created the basic house design, you can now switch to interior design mode. You will be able to select floor tiling, kitchen construction, plumbing, electrical wiring, and other aspects of house building.

If you can master the software, you will be able to create a complete house design with accurate measurements of dimensions in less than a week.

Automating Construction Costs

Now that you have a complete house design, the next step is to estimate the costs of materials you used on your design. You can run a complete inventory check from the software.

The design application will generate an accurate count of materials used for the design. You will get a complete accounting of materials that will be used for the house down to the smallest kitchen tiles.

Once you have the data, simply print out the list and start calling several construction material stores. You can also use to Internet to get different pricelists of house building materials. Base on the prices you gathered, you can now calculate the actual cost of your project.

Estimating construction costs nowadays is easier and faster if you utilize computer aided design software. All you have to do is to add the labor cost and other contingency expenses and you will be able to get an accurate estimation of the entire construction costs.

George Edmondson is an accomplished writer on construction costs estimation. There are numerous articles and resources about construction costs that you can find. Simply visit http://www.aboutconstructioncosts.com and learn how to accurately estimate construction costs.

A Blinding Good Idea!

Have you checked out blinds lately? They are so easy to install, they will soon be replacing curtaining fabric as the windows covering of choice.

Blinds are quite an inexpensive way to give your home a new look, especially if you have it up for sale. If you want it to look customized so that it has more curb appeal, then installing blinds is one way to have all your windows looking uniform. From the outside, it will give your home a 'neat' effect to have all windows looking the same.

From the inside, blinds can often make a room look less cluttered than conventional drapes. Many people actually like the homey look of drapes, but use blinds as well, to close out the world at night.

Blinds these days have come along way from the white sterile things that we associate with the dentist's office! Nowadays you can even buy a 'silk look' custom made vertical blind that hangs in folds just like a drape!

There are also wooden blinds, which add warmth to a room that was missing when we could only choose the old white blinds. Many woods are available, so that the shade of wood color can be matched to each different room. The price range starts reasonably with faux woods and escalates to the premium wood prices.

Of course, if you really want to get into the matching thing, blinds are available in most of the popular colors. Burgundy, brown, green and blue or khaki, pink and purple, whichever color you want, is probably already waiting for you.

Blinds need not be expensive, they can start as low as $10.00 and a floor to ceiling vertical for sliding doors can be bought for as little as $40.00.

These days you can even buy suede fabric blinds which may be nice for a more masculine touch. There is also an option on a sun shield panel blind, which obviously cuts down the sunshine in your home. This will minimize fading of your furniture and carpets from sunshine.

If you have teenagers in the house, they may enjoy the denim roller blinds that are available. If the thought of all that shopping fuss is bothering you, then it is very easy to order on line and get home delivery.

Will it increase the value of a home? Well, it may increase the desirability, but as the outlay is fairly low, it may not actually increase monetary value. However, if a prospective buyer does not like blinds, they can just be forever left open, or taken completely away.

However, nearly everyone wants privacy on the one hand and big windows on the other so blinds get around this dilemma; because of this blinds do make your home a more desirable proposition.

Palm Gardens, a luxury Arizona gated community. To learn more about this beautiful retirement community in Arizona, visit http://www.palmgardensonline.com

Starting With Simple Things

Do-It-Yourself Earthbag Building - Yes You Can!

The two largest obstacles to home ownership are expensive building materials and overly complex construction methods that require specialized skills and equipment. The problem is so acute that over 70 percent of Americans are unable to afford contractor-built homes. With the current downturn in the economy and the loss of millions of jobs, the housing situation in the U.S. is definitely taking a turn for the worse.

Everyone needs a place to live - shelter is a basic need. But since the current system is bypassing the vast majority of the population, it's time to investigate simpler, more affordable building methods.

The answer may be right under our feet (earth). That's right; building with earth is a timeless building tradition with some structures lasting many hundreds of years. Over a third of the buildings in the world are earth structures. Earth is probably the least expensive building material (literally dirt-cheap), and therefore holds enormous potential for solving our housing crisis. Some may assume earth buildings are just mud huts. Far from it! If your background isn't in architecture, you may not be aware of the amazing diversity of earth structures. Look up "earth architecture" on the Internet if you're not already informed.

There are many earth building methods - adobe, rammed earth, CEB and so on. This article explores the growing popularity of earthbag building (also called sandbag building) and how it can be used to provide affordable housing that's simple enough for do-it-yourselfers to build their own home. By using dirt-cheap building materials (earth, sand, gravel, recycled materials, etc.) and eliminating expensive contractors and specialized equipment, the cost of construction can be slashed to a fraction of conventional housing costs.

Earthbag building has it's origin in military sandbag building. For about 100 years, the military have been building durable, blast and bullet proof structures out of sandbags. Also, sandbags have been used for many years to hold back floodwater. Today, builders are using the same basic process of filling, stacking and tamping bags to build a wide variety of structures the world over - beautiful homes, offices, shops, schools and more.

Besides affordability and durability, the other main advantage is simplicity of construction. What could be simpler than filling and stacking bags of earth? The main skills can be learned in a few minutes simply by being shown or watching a video. Almost everything you need to know is available free on the Internet. And most people already have the basic tools around the house - shovels, buckets, garden hose, ladder. The other few tools required can be made quickly and easily or purchased inexpensively.

Here are just a few ways of saving money by building with earthbags:

• Recycled bags are readily available in most places. Polypropylene or burlap bags are ubiquitous, being used for all types of grain, fertilizer and animal feed, and sometimes for concrete, plaster and other products. Talk to local farmers and feed supply outlets.
• Misprinted bags are often available direct from manufacturers at greatly reduced prices. Between misprinted bags and recycled bags (in good condition) you can cut the main expense of earthbag building to almost nil.
• No special mix is required. Most soils, including those on or near most building sites, are adequate or can be adjusted with sand or clay to create an appropriate mix. This makes the other primary material for earthbag building basically free or close to it.
• You can order special mixes of earth from sand and gravel producers, such as road base and reject fines, at very low prices. The main expense is delivery, but this has to be weighed against your time and effort to dig it from the ground. Spending $200-$300 for delivery of an excellent mixture free of large rocks and roots can save hundreds of hours of hard labor. And, they'll dump it in piles around the building site to speed construction and save even more work.
• No need for a typical concrete foundation. Earthbags filled with gravel make an excellent foundation. This step alone can save you thousands of dollars.
• Build an insulated earth floor and save thousands more. Sealed earth floors can last hundreds of years. Think of all the wood, plywood, linoleum, etc. that can be saved.
• Use earth plaster and save thousands more. With wide roof overhangs of 36" or so, earth plaster will hold up very well in most climates, requiring only minor maintenance.
• Use recycled materials whenever possible. Door and window forms, for instance, can be made from scrap wood from pallets, discarded barrels or tires. Sinks, tubs, doors, hardware, shelving, tile and many other components can be salvaged for very low cost.

Owen Geiger, Director of the Geiger Research Institute of Sustainable Building at http://www.GRISB.org has co-authored http://www.EarthbagBuilding.com to better focus and keep track of the rapid growth of this novel building method.

How to Determine After Repair Value

After Repair Value, or ARV, is one of the most important figures for an investor to know. Without calculating ARV, you'll have no way to tell if you've got yourself a good deal or just another money pit.

Determining the ARV is important for a couple reasons. Number one is purchase price. Number two is resale value. Let's talk about purchase price first. You come across a great piece of property for sale. It's not in the best of shape and you realize it will need some repairs before you sell it again. How do you know if the price is too much?

I start by looking at the comparable sales, also known as comps. If you happen to be in an area that is with the technological times, then you can go to the city or county website and search the real estate assessment records. From there, search for the property you are looking to buy. Once you find the property records, there should be a tab or area that references recent neighborhood sales. Compare the property you want to buy with these recently sold neighborhood properties to determine the ARV. Each recent neighborhood sales display usually shows you the date the property sold and for what price. Simply compare the bedroom and bathroom configuration, as well as the square footage, to find the recent sales price of similar properties.

You now have the recent sales prices of properties that are similar in size and configuration to the one you want to buy. But you have two more pieces to look at first. Always make sure that the comps you find have sold within the last six months to be safe. As you are aware, the market can change in such a way that home prices fluctuate greatly in a short time. You also want to make sure the comps are no more than a half-mile to a mile away, and preferably in the same neighborhood if possible. Again, I like to be conservative for safety's sake. Now that you have narrowed down your comps to similar size and configuration, that sold within the last six months and are within a half-mile to one mile; take the lowest recent sales price of the group and use that as your ARV.

Now that you have determined the ARV, you can reverse engineer the maximum allowable offer. Multiply your ARV by 0.65, or 65%. From there, subtract the repair costs, costs of buying/selling/holding, as well as your desired profit, to come up with the maximum allowable offer. Examples of your buying, selling, and holding costs would be stuff like title work, attorney's fees, closing costs, realtor's fees, title insurance, mortgage payments, taxes, and utilities from the time you own the property to start the repairs, until you sell it again.

For example, your comps provide you with a reasonable ARV of $150,000. Multiply $150,000 by 0.65 and we get $97,500. Estimated repairs are $15,000, buying/selling/holding costs $5,000, and we would like to make a $25,000 profit. Subtract the $15,000 repair cost, $5,000 buy/sell/hold costs, and the $25,000 profit from $97,500 and we arrive at $52,500. $52,500 is the maximum allowable offer that you should not go above. Pay any more than that and you might find yourself in financial trouble if your repairs go over budget or the house sells less for than your calculated ARV.

Len Costa is a real estate entrepreneur specializing in Wholesaling discount properties. He frequently hosts free training teleseminars and offers a variety of valuable real estate products, services and information. For High Profit Properties Well Below Market Value, visit http://www.MaverickWholesaleDeals.com to sign up. 2008 - All rights reserved.

Buying an Affordable Foreclosed House at Auctions

First things first, a house that is foreclosed is actually a result of a particular individual or the past owner's house's being - unfortunately - closed.

The house's previous owner is then unable or no longer want to take that particular house back via releasing that house after paying the appropriate dues on its mortgage.

When such an event happens, the specific house is then overtaken by a financier, or the lender, mortgager, and is thereby put up as resale. This is in order to get one's money back via reselling that house via an auction, or by any other similar means.

Usually, the reason why foreclosed houses exist is the present owner of the house's present financial problems.

How would one find out about foreclosed houses?

Is there a specific way to find out where foreclosed house auctions are available? Believe it or not, houses that are foreclosed are usually advertised in the local media and the newspapers.

The agents of real estate also usually have vital info on houses that are foreclosed.

Also, county and local courts also have info on such houses and so anyone could advise anyone who needs such details on the foreclosed house deals that are currently available.

Is there a best way to buy a house that is foreclosed?

Believe it or not, it is through auctions that are conducted in court which is considered as the best and profitable way to purchase a house that is foreclosed.

The reason for this is that there are little risks when one buys through court auctions especially when the specific house is bank foreclosed by the Urban and Housing Development.

Is it good to buy a house that is foreclosed?

This questions always looms especially on those people that are first timers in the real estate purchasing field.

Believe it or not, a foreclosed house is actually less expensive compared to purchasing a normal and regular house.

Differences and discounts could range from anywhere from fifteen percent to fifty percent.

This therefore allows someone to pay a down payment that is significantly lower, thereby helping an average house buyer to be able to afford a particular house in the real estate booming market.

Also, it is a lot easier to finance such houses by one hundred percent in some of the cases.

Check and double check

Just like in any other decision, there are always advantages and disadvantages that come along the way.

What is important are that the following factors are considered and thoroughly checked prior to purchasing a foreclosed house.

What is the house's condition? Add to the house's cost its current tear and wear condition as such repairs could add up to its cost in the long run. Usually, the one responsible for fixing up the place is the house's buyer, at least in most of the cases.

It is also vital that a house inspection is conducted. This is because once a particular house is sold and bought, the deal has technically been made and is irreversible.

All in all, it is necessary that one take all precautions when obtaining all the pertinent info prior to purchasing a house that is foreclosed.

Always remember that when cautiousness and carefulness is practiced, the dream of having to own the house you have always wanted is clearly within reach. This could prove to be beneficial for you in the long run.

For listings of foreclosed house auctions, please visit http://www.real-estate-foreclosed-home.info

Bathtub Surround Installation DIY Guide

You can install a tub surround kit over your regular walls, whether they be tile or any other hard, solid material. Typically, you want to consider bathtub surround installation if the current walls of your bath area are dated or unattractive.

Generally, you'll need a small screwdriver, pencil, pocket knife, tape measure, level, and a jig saw. You'll also want to make sure that you have an installation kit, adhesive with the proper applicator, coarse sandpaper, and caulk.

When using a tub surround installation kit, each will have their own directions specific to that product kit. You want to make sure that your read the directions carefully and thoroughly.

You'll want to following the following general directions when installing your tub surround.

First, you'll want to remove the spout, faucet handles, and all accessories from around the bath tub, and set them aside.

You'll want to go ahead and repair the damaged areas on the current walls that surround the tub, and if you will be installing over ceramic tile, you'll want to use the coarse sandpaper to enhance the grip abilities of the adhesive.

Clean the area between the tub and the wall, and re-caulk if you need to.

Next, you'll want to mark the bathtub surround installation area, including the location of the faucet, spout, and whatever else will stick out of the wall; cut out the areas on the template and use them to mark the location on the tub surround panels and use the jig saw to cut out the holes.

You'll want to next hold the panels in place according to the manufacturers instructions and mark the location of the top and sides on the wall so that you can make sure that the panels will be level.

Next, apply the adhesive according the the manufacturer's directions, paying close attention to the time you should expose the glue before affixing the panels because if you don't allow enough time, the adhesive will not bond properly.

Once you attach the panels to the wall, according to the manufacturer's instructions, you'll want to let the tub adhesive dry properly before turning on the water. Go ahead and replace the faucet, spout, and other accessories at this time.

Lastly, you'll want to seal all the joints with caulk and letting that dry before turning on the water to the tub.

Bathtub surround installation is a pretty easy do it yourself project. Just make sure that you have help with the project, and if you get lost call a professional. Source: Bathtubinstallationinc dot com, Louis Zhang

Get a free guide on bathtub installation. Find out how to install bathtub surround, drain, shower head, faucet, plumbing at http://www.bathtubinstallationinc.com

2 X 4 Wall Built On Top

Build Your Own Wind Turbine - How to Build a Home Made Windmill

Global warming and dwindling supplies of fossil fuels have caused people from all corners of the globe to become concerned, resulting in a long overdue interest in the potential of wind energy. On the other hand, many people have already embraced this free source of renewable energy and are already powering their homes with wind energy.

Wind Energy

Radiation from our sun heats the air which in turn rises. As this warm air rises, so cooler air sinks down to replace it, resulting in perpetual wind currents which cover the surface of our planet. Of course, wind currents have energy and when one considers how devastating a hurricane or a tornado can be, it's all to easy to imagine what a phenomenal amount of energy can be harnessed from the wind.

Of course, for the purpose of powering your home with wind energy, we're only interested in more moderate winds, suitable for wind turbines. In essence, a wind turbine is much the same as the old original windmill; only wind turbines incorporate technology which allows us to convert wind power into electricity

Wind Turbines

In the past, wind farms, which can sometimes be seen on the roadside, were mainly used to supply remote areas which were of the grid as well as remote farms. Nowadays however, wind turbines are becoming increasingly common even in residential areas that do receive grid supplied power. In this case, a wind turbine can either reduce your consumption of grid power or even eliminate it altogether.

In order to achieve maximum stability, all wind turbines have no less than three lightweight blades, usually made from PVC for extra durability.

As most are familiar with, a wind turbine needs to be mounted on a tower and while those used on wind farms can be more than a hundred feet high, residential towers only need to be high enough to ensure the turbine blades are above any structures which could obstruct the wind. In addition to being mounted on a tower, the blade assembly is mounted on a shaft to enable it to swivel around as the wind direction changes.

Home Wind Energy Systems

While wind turbines can come in many shapes and sizes, those which are used for powering homes are divided into three kinds:

1) Grid inter-tied with backup battery

2) Grid inter-tied without backup battery

3) Off-Grid system

Irrespective of which system you use, all three systems harness wind energy and convert it to electricity in exactly the same manner. The difference between the various systems lies in the wiring, and in the case where a battery is being used; electricity can be saved and used as and when required. In a system that has no battery, electricity is supplied directly into the home supply.

Wind turbines provide practically all homeowners with an ideal opportunity for powering the home with wind energy. Not only will you save money on electric bills, but you'll also be helping to build a greener world.

If you are interested in learning how to Build Your Own Wind Turbine visit solarwindenergys.com where you will see how easy and affordable it is to construct your very own Home Made Wind Mill.

Stucco

Stone Foundation Repair - What to Do?

Owning an historic property with an old stone foundation can be an interesting experience. Those with a strong will and a sound pocketbook can be true caretakers of a piece of history. The foundation of that history is the simple, bold and strong field stone foundation wall.

Older buildings with a stone foundation will generally have the original stone facing visible on the exterior and interior of the building. However it was common to apply a coating of plaster to the interior foundation wall in the basement area, as a means of waterproofing so the stone may not be visible from inside of the building.

Most of the original plaster would have worn off by today but if you are lucky, you just may run across an old stone foundation still in pristine condition but this would be the exception.

Usually after 30 - 50 years the foundation would have shifted cause cracks to appear in the foundation wall and it wasn't uncommon to apply a second to the foundation with a masonry cement stucco. If the second layer is cement stucco than it would indicate that the second coating must have been applied after the early 1900's, when mass produced cement stucco became available.

Regardless if plaster or stucco was applied to the walls, they will look lumpy as the individual stones shapes will show beneath the plaster or stucco.

What to look for -A lot of these older stone foundations were never well maintained and can challenge a building owner with problems ranging from water leakage, mortar turning into sand, loose stones and bulging walls. Anything beyond these few maintenance problems could be considered 'in failure' and may need an engineer's inspection.

Stone foundation walls that leak - It wasn't uncommon for these old stone foundation walls to leak. When they were originally constructed a hole was simply dug to the dimensions of the building and a trench dug where the walls were to be placed. Large field stones would be placed in the trench and became the bed stones of the foundation wall.

Drain tile were not in use around the foundations of older building so static pressure would have been a problem from the beginning depending or the soil type and topography. A high quality builder would have trenched to daylight from the low corner of the building site to take water away from the foundation, if the site permitted. The trench would be partially filled with rubble stones before covering but this simply drainage technique would be an exception and not the rule.

Most of the older homes were constructed high off the ground to keep moisture to a minimum. The basement area for these homes where never intended to be used as living space so a little moisture would have been common and of no concern.

Stone foundation wall problems - Decades of water infiltration will cause deterioration to the stone foundation walls. The result can be bulged walls from excessive static pressure or settlement of the foundation, deteriorated mortar joints from excessive moister or loose stones and missing mortar joints from simple aging and movement.

Bulged walls - This problem presents the biggest hurdle for a building owner depending on the degree and severity of the bulging problem and the location within the foundation wall. Generally though, a portion of the foundation wall can be removed and rebuilt but proper shoring must be in place to support the building load before you proceed. This should not be out of the range of an experienced mason contractor and you should seek their advice.

Loose stones and missing mortar - These items are simple to remedy. Loose stones should be taken out and re-set with fresh mortar. Care should be taken not to undermine any critical support areas within the foundation. If you suspect an area of loose stone is carrying a beam load or other loads then consult a professional for advice.

Holes and missing joints can be filled with mortar or tuck-pointed to help tighten the foundation walls. Any brand of masons mix available at the local box store should be adequate.

After you have completed the repairs mentioned above you may wish to apply another layer of cement stucco. This will help to smooth out imperfections, close small holes, 'stiffen' the walls surface and hopefully provide some protection against water leaks.

Check the foundation annually and make any necessary repairs immediately. By taking immediate action and implementing the repairs recommended above you will be one step closer to keeping that old, stone foundation in shape.

Michael Olding is tradesman and consultant in the field of restorations and repairs and currently operates a restoration and repair business in Cincinnati, Ohio. He is also a Master in the field of masonry construction, restorations and repairs.

In addition he is a writer and speaker as well as a marketing, training and business consultant for the contracting industry. If you interested in his services he may be contacted by visiting http://www.cincihomepro.com

Round Gable Vent With Shingle

HUD Homes - How to Use FHA 203K Renovation Loans to Create MASSIVE Equity

These days HUD foreclosures are everywhere. They are everywhere because the path to ownership for a lot of these homes was quite low initially. This is good for you because HUD homes represent some of the absolute best bargains on the market these days. Purchasing a HUD home is a little different than purchasing a traditional foreclosure though. That is why is is important you get a good knowledgeable HUD Realtor to help you out. How is it different? First of all, HUD has an automated bidding system, an easily manipulated one at that. HUD's system, and what you should bid, is based a formula derived from days on market and number of times the price has dropped. A good HUD Realtor can usually get you within a few thousand of the lowest bid that the system will accept in the absence of other bids. This means HUGE discounts for you if you know the right Realtor. When you are perusing HUD listings you need to be aware of some of the caveats and what they mean to you. One of the things you need to pay close attention to when purchasing a HUD home as a primary residence is the FHA insurability. Homes with less than $5000 in repair are usually classified as FHA Insurable. HUD will escrow the repair money in an account for you to fix what the appraiser has noted needs fixing after you close. HUD Houses with over $5000 needed generally are FHA 203K Insurable. This means if you want to buy with traditional FHA financing you can't, you need a FHA 203K renovation loan (or another type of renovation loan like the Fannie Mae Homestyle). Finally, you will see some homes that are not FHA 203K insurable. These are essentially teardowns.

If you really want the sweet deal on a HUD Home it is good to find one that has dropped in price once or twice and that needs some repair. It isn't unusual for us to see 30% discounts to as-is value on these types of properties. Keep in mind to, that if you are going the way of the renovation loan you will be using after-repair value and that you can often sculpt a house that you love with 50% equity the day you move in. Invest in kitchens and bathrooms along with giving the home some curb appeal will generally provide you the best returns and the most instant equity. Don't let the news media scare you into indecision, savvy home buyers are solidifying their family's future with the deals available in this market.

Jonathan Blackwell
FHA 203K Specialist
Hometown Lenders
http://www.203KLoan.net
http://www.GoGreenWithFHA.com
404-551-3845

Making Your Realtor Web Site Pay For Itself

Most home buyers start their home search on the net. If you're a real estate agent or broker and you think your website should be doing more, you're not alone. Realtors are in a very competitive business and a good web site will make your business more successful.

A realtor's website design needs to accomplish several things. First, your realtor site represents your business image and your value proposition, or why that buyer should choose you as their agent. If your website looks like it was done by a 12 year old, that's the first impression you're going to project! If you're not good at graphic design, this is not the place to learn. It's your business, and the success of your realtor business on the internet starts with a good, professional web design and reliable web hosting.

Several choices are available that can put you ahead of the "do-it-yourself" look, quickly and painlessly. For a few hundred bucks, you can get a simple, but professionally designed web site designed specifically for your realtor business. Sure, even more generic template websites are available for less, but why reinvent the wheel? A good realtor website is specifically designed for addressing things like mls listings, mortgage calculators, pictures, pdf files for floor plans and other necessary items.

Unless you want your site to look like hundreds of other realtors, you should consider a limited edition type of website. These are more a structure than a template and allow you to choose from thousands of pictures and the better companies will provide you with several hours of graphic design time.

When you really want to stand out, full custom realtor web sites are the way to go. While you can go to a graphic designer and spend a great deal to get an exquisitely beautiful site, a number of realtor website companies have custom design packages that give you a great first impression, provide the features you need, and keep the costs reasonable.

Second, your time is better spent with customers, rather than fiddling on the computer putting in listings and making time consuming basic updates. That's where using a company that makes realtor websites and provides hosting can be a big plus. Better ones, have an administrative section that simplifies or automates many functions that can take away precious selling time. Automatic MLS listing updates, and check boxes to automatically add links to local attractions or other necessary area information are some examples. A few now have the ability to have your own blog, and link to maps at the click of the mouse. That's also why they appear to be more expensive than other hosting solutions. If you were to have someone add that kind of functionality, you'd be paying a lot more!

Third, you need to be found on the internet by Google, Yahoo! And the other large search engines. That means that what you say on your website pages is important. Start by looking at the sites that show up when you search for real estate agents or homes in your market area and see what they do. You also need to have your site listed with the search engines, a service that is usually provided by the realtor website companies at no additional cost. If you're creating your own website, then you need to make sure you do this as soon as your site is live. It may take several months before Google or other web bots find your site, but the results are well worth it. If you're still not seeing results, you may want to enlist the services of a search engine optimization specialist, many of who are available as a service by the realtor web companies.

These people know exactly what it takes to be found on the internet and are worth their weight in gold!

Follow these steps and you'll see your realty business success grow on the web in no time. A well designed realtor web site that attracts searchers, projects a professional image and provides information and resources to buyers is an asset that will pay
BIG dividends!

Shawn Low is a successful author, Real Estate internet marketing authority and regular contributor to the popular pressurewashing resource http://sites.google.com/site/hotwaterpressurewash