Professional Advice on Home Building

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.

Gregvan

Using a Dumbwaiter to Increase the Accessibility of Your Home

It can often be very hard to carry items between floors. This is a task that can be hard for seniors, but really it is something that affects most people. To help make it easier to transport items around a home or multistory building, a dumbwaiter can be used.

If you were in an office building and you had to bring a box upstairs, you would use the elevator. Not only is it much easier to do this, it is also a lot safer, because when you are carrying something up the stairs, you are actively increasing the risk of a fall. Most homes don't have an elevator, so it becomes necessary to carry items up the stairs again. That is unless, of course, you own a dumbwaiter.

Dumbwaiters are in some regards like elevators. Both of these devices can be used to make moving things between floors much easier. However, for residential settings, they take up much less space and typically require much less modification to the home. Also, unlike elevators, dumbwaiters are also not used to transport people; instead they are only used for inanimate objects, like groceries.

The electric dumbwaiter is the most common type of dumbwaiter used today, but some people still use manual lifting aids. While the style has changed, the idea behind a manual dumbwaiter is actually thousands of years old. The electric dumbwaiter is much newer though, with the first electric dumbwaiters being developed towards the end of the eighteen-hundreds. The modern dumbwaiter borrows from this rich heritage, but brings improved technology and safety features.

The easiest way to install a dumbwaiter is to do it as the home is being constructed. This way the space required can be used most efficiently. Many developers like to add them to help increase value and interest in their homes.

These lifts can also be added to an existing home though. Finding a place for the shaft is usually the first consideration. The shaft is the vertical space between floors in which the dumbwaiter will be raised and lowered. For most homes, a space of about four square feet is required. This is because a standard dumbwaiter car is usually around two feet wide and two feet deep. There are upgraded dumbwaiters available that are much bigger.

Once a space for the shaft has been set away, the rest of the installation can be rather straightforward if you purchase the right dumbwaiter kit. Some do-it-yourself kits are available that strive to make the installation as simple as possible. For instance, the car, drive system, and much of the wiring will often times come pre-installed on a small piece of the track. This small length of track can then be installed at the top of the lift, so in one step, the car, drive system, and many other components are installed.

The electric dumbwaiter is by far the most popular type of platform lifting aid used in homes today. It offers convenience, but it can also reduce the risk of a fall, because there is no need to carry items up the stairs.

Robert Dinland is a writer who deals primarily with medical and health related topics. Installing a dumbwaiter can be a great way to improve the accessibility of a home. Since there is no need to lug items up the stairs, the chance of a fall is reduced. For people who have trouble walking up the stairs, dumbwaiters are often a very popular and cost effective option.

Wood Repairs

Add Value to Your Home - Refurbish Your Kitchen Or Bathroom

TV's Phil Spencer has recently been urging homeowners to "do everything they can" to improve the saleability of their properties saying that improvements to kitchens and bathrooms are among the best ways of selling houses. A recent Lloyds TSB Tickbox.net and Opinion Matters survey found that 73% of people in Greater London claim that installing a new kitchen is the best way of adding value to a property. The Lloyds TSB poll showed that a high percentage of people thought that an energy efficient boiler was the environmentally friendly home improvement that added most value to a property.

In a Telegraph feature earlier in 2008, '50 ways to improve your home', upgrading your existing kitchen was at number 19 whilst 'banishing broken bathrooms' came in at number 20.

There are many things that can be done to improve the saleability of your home and increase its value where kitchens and bathrooms are concerned. Here are just a few ideas:

1. Fit a spacious walk in shower - far more convenient and practical than an over-bath shower.
2. Install under floor heating in a bathroom - this will remove the need for unsightly radiators thus saving space and creating a far more seamless design. What's more, under floor heating is far healthier as the heat is more evenly distributed throughout the room rather than staying at head height, and it also keeps nasty things like mould and damp at bay.
3. Update your kitchen so that it includes built in modern conveniences - this will really make an impact on potential buyers because it's a job they won't have to do themselves.
4. A modern eco-friendly condensing boiler will help tip the scales in your favour when selling a property because potential buyers will be able to enjoy the benefits of reduced fuel bills and increased energy efficiency.
5. Consider the installation of a solar hot water heating system which will offer considerable savings on fuel bills for your potential buyers.
6. If space allows, add a downstairs cloakroom. Modern WCs and basins come in the most compact of sizes and it is relatively straightforward to liberate some space and transform it into a very convenient feature.
7. If your bathroom does not need a complete overhaul but could do with a little 'something' then go for some new taps. Choosing attractive taps from a high quality range will miraculously transform the look of any bathroom, and it should be a relatively low cost exercise in terms of your potential return.

If you are looking to improve the saleability of your property then a good place to start is by talking to your plumber who will be able to give you sound advice on your heating system options and energy efficiency for starters. A good plumber will work with reputable kitchen fitters and other professional craftsmen to provide a complete service and overall they will be able to provide you with space-saving and energy efficient solutions.

Ivor Bates is the director of Bates Heating and Plumbing Limited, a plumbing and heating company established in 2001 and covering all areas of London, Docklands and Essex. Bates Heating is CORGI registered. They can install, replace or refurbish bathrooms, kitchens and various types of heating system including energy efficient condensing boilers, under floor and solar heating. For more information visit http://www.batesheating.co.uk

Stair Tread Carpet Stain

Italian Kitchen Design Tips You Need

Italian kitchen design is incredibly popular all over the world and for good reason. The sleek designs and bespoke features mean you get a kitchen that looks fantastic but also functions efficiently.

When designing an Italian style kitchen, remember to think about how you're going to introduce a good amount of light into the space. After all, Italian kitchens aren't often dark and dingy.

An Italian kitchen design will be very easy on the eye, but your primary concern should be the layout and getting everything exactly how you need it. This will ensure you're finished kitchen functions how you need it to, which is the most important thing.

Storage is always a concern, but especially when you're going for a sharp finish. But remember, it's imperative to give yourself ample room to store all of those pots and pans.

After you've finished your layout, you can then being to think about how you're going to add the sophisticated touches and sharp lines that will give your kitchen design an Italian finish.

To successfully create an Italian kitchen design getting the right fittings and fixtures is imperative. Make sure you shop around and get the perfect products, as the small touches will determine how successful your final design is.

If you're getting professional to do the work for you, make sure you get at least three quotes to ensure you're not only getting the best deal, but also the people who understand the look you're going for.

If you manage to follow all of these tips then you'll put yourself in a great position to get the Italian kitchen you pictured in your initial plans.

Thomas Baugh writes articles to advise people on how to create the perfect kitchen design.

Attic Safety Handrail Framing

Caring for Concrete Kitchen Countertops

Concrete, tough and durable, is the hot new kitchen countertop material. Fabricated in just one to two weeks, this luxurious and completely customizable concrete surface enhances any design inspiration. As with other kitchen surface options, concrete requires a small amount of care and maintenance to ensure its longevity and beauty.

The concrete kitchen countertop is sealed to create an impervious surface that repels stains and is abrasion resistant. However, acidic liquids left on the surface for a long period of time may eat through the sealer. Thus, it is recommended to wipe up any spills as soon as possible.

Cutting directly on the concrete kitchen countertop is not recommended as it may damage the integrity of the sealer over time. An integral cutting board can be incorporated into the concrete, enhancing the functionality and uniqueness of the surface. Hot pans placed directly onto the surface are also a no-no. In this case, a trivet can be integrally placed in the concrete so the cook always has a place for hot pans to rest.

Cleaning a concrete kitchen counter is simple and inexpensive. Basic soap and water or a non - abrasive cleanser is the best option. To maintain the finish, waxing with beeswax every two months will protect the concrete.

Concrete countertop guru, Buddy Rhodes, said it best, "Concrete is high touch. Handmade and tactile...regular use imparts a warm patina to the surface over time."

Enjoy your concrete kitchen countertops! Revel in the fact that you have chosen a product which only gets better with age. Continued use, enhancing subtle variations of texture and color, adds richness and depth to the concrete surface over the years.

Joy Brown is the owner of Artisan Concrete, Ltd., a decorative concrete company specializing in the creation of concrete countertops, floors and elements.

If you found this article on decorative concrete informative and would like to learn more, please visit http://www.artisanconcreteltd.com to receive a FREE consultation or call Joy directly at 719-207-0486.

Why Property Inspections Are Important

Purchasing a home is quite possibly the biggest physical investment the average person will make in their lifetime. We pay mechanics to examine the insides of our cars, so why not pay an expert to examine the insides of our properties (certainly a far more valuable asset)? The cost is generally in the low hundreds, but could end up saving you thousands. A pre-purchase building inspection could also see the price tag lowered on your dream home.

A property inspection involves a qualified professional thoroughly examining the building for defects and structural problems. Such defects could include water damage as a result of shower leaks or any other leaks, termite damage, timber decay, moisture in sub-floor, poor brickwork, cracks in bricks and walls, roof and footing defects and any other structural problem that may exist. A property inspector can also check for illegal building practices.

All potential home buyers should arrange a building inspection before purchasing property. Of course there are already enough costs associated with buying a house, but it works out a lot cheaper in the long run if you discover a termite infestation or shonky brickwork before signing anything. Building inspections are also useful for settling disputes between neighbors about possible construction work damage, as well as buyer and seller disputes.

Quality property inspection companies will also offer additional services such as pest inspection. A pest inspection may reveal unwanted guests such as cockroaches, mice and wasps nesting in a hidden location. Or worse: termites. Termite damage has the ability to destroy houses before a problem is even realised. Unfortunately they are usually not visible to the naked eye. This is where additional pest inspections can really come in handy.

All good inspection companies will use moisture meters, listening devices, and most importantly, a thermal camera to seek out potential termite infestations. Basically, this camera will detect higher temperatures within the walls of your home, which indicates that termites may be nesting in these areas. Pest inspections will also reveal whether there has been past termite activity in the building.

Some things to check for before buying a house include moisture and mold on walls and ceilings, flaking paintwork, rotting timber and cracks in brickwork and walls. However; arranging a building inspection is the best way to get definitive answers and repair quotes. A good building inspection company will offer a detailed report citing the damage found and estimate repair costs. Images of the defects and expert advice are an added bonus. Make sure that the property inspectors you hire are licensed and have their own indemnity insurance.

This article was provided by Childs Property Inspections: Professional building inspectors who provide a wide range of property inspection reports for Australian homes including Dilapidation Reports Pre-purchase Building Inspections and Termite Inspections.

Walk-in Closet Organizers

It stands to reason that you more space you have, you more organized you will be. Why then, are so many walk-in closets disorganized messes? It seems that the more space we have, the more junk we have to fill it.

Walk-in closets offer a variety of design options. They can be filled with shelves for folded clothing or books. They can host tie racks, belt racks, and shoe cubbies. They can hold multiple garment racks for hanging clothes. Hooks and hang bars can also be installed to hold hats, robes, and other such items. Drawers or dressers can be placed inside walk-in closets to free up space inside the room.

Walk-in closets grant you the freedom to be creative. For example, islands and benches can be placed inside large closets to create the feeling of a dressing room.

Walk-in closet organizers can be purchased as kits from local home improvement stores and some department stores. These kits contain everything needed to design your basic closetcomponents, shelving, and hardware. Accessories are available separately. You may have to purchase more than one kit to accommodate the entire closet. Though assembly is necessary, it is usually relatively simple.

Closet organizer systems can also be purchased for walk-in closets. These systems usually consist of pre-assembled pieces that simply need to be installed. Most can be placed on the floor for a built-in look or wall-mounted to keep floors clear.

Another option for walk-in closet organizers is a custom closet. Though these can be rather expensive, it does allow for a bit more creativity and flexibility. Custom closets can be ordered online. You give the dimensions of the closet and the desired components and accessories. You also select color, material, and style. The company will then provide you with a drawing or diagram of the proposed closet. Upon approval, they will ship the pre-made pieces to you for installation. Local closet organizer companies are also available. Many of these will send a consultant to your home. This person will evaluate your space, your dcor, your needs, and your budget before presenting his or her recommendations for a custom closet.

With walk-in closets, the sky really is the limit. Organization is truly within reach.

Closet Organizers Info provides detailed information on bedroom, kids, custom, wood and walk-in closet organizers for sale. Closet Organizers Info is affiliated with Original Content.

A House With Cracks

Eight Ways to Add Value to Your Home

Two story brick traditional with 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, island kitchen, and large deck! Sound familiar? We often talk about houses in terms of room count, along with a list of finishes, such as tile floors, granite counters, or faux paint. While this vocabulary conveys certain facts, it does not provide the tools to think about how to re-design a house in a fabulous way.

It is valuable to be able to make the decisions that transform a poor design into a house that is memorable, enduring, and widely appealing. To do this we need to go deeper than simply updating finishes or increasing square footage. We must think about how the structure shapes the feelings and experience of its inhabitants. In the words of Winston Churchill, "We shape our buildings, and afterwards our buildings shape us." When a house has design flaws, we know intuitively that it does not feel right. On the other hand, a well designed house can make us feel inspired, enriched, and touched by a sense of order.

We often see houses that have some elements in the structure and site that appeal to us, but cannot be lived in without remodeling. Often our clients say that they want to find a house with good bones (meaning good basic design), that they can update. The truth is that most houses have some good design and some bad design. Painting walls and updating fixtures will not cover bad design. You will need to think about the house in a deeper way. Use these design processes to help you make the difficult decisions that will result in a house that many people would love to live in.

1. Relate the house to the site.

Think about how the house integrates and interacts with the land around it. This awareness is a basic, but often ignored, beginning. The connection and interplay between interior and exterior spaces enhances both in a powerful way.

Manage the views from each window. Is there an undesirable view into a neighbor's home or yard? Is there a nice view that is blocked by a wall or fireplace?

Notice how the walkway leads to the street, where privacy is needed, where noise buffering is needed, how drainage will work.

A side area could be a private garden, accessible from the main bedroom. A front porch overlooking the street could bring the house into a relationship with the neighborhood.

2. Bring in natural light.

Houses can be transformed by adding windows and other light sources. Generous light feels safe and uplifting, and attracts people toward it.

Natural light raises the level of importance and the beauty of rooms. Light all main rooms from two sides, if possible, to reduce glare and balance the light. Use glass doors, windows, skylights, transoms, or light tunnels.

Keep passive solar techniques in mind as you add windows and shading devices. The control of solar energy for light and heat is fundamental for an efficient and comfortable home.

3. Break down hard barriers between indoor and outdoor spaces.

Glass doors, screens, and walls that slide open can create semi-transparent walls, forming indoor/outdoor spaces that have enormous appeal.

Breezeways, garden rooms, bay windows, and screened porches are spaces that people love. These bring people into contact with the outdoors, yet may be furnished in a comfortable way.

4. Think of outdoor spaces as large rooms.

When all areas of the site are thought of as living spaces, new ideas open up. These outdoor spaces expand the house by creating a sense of semi-enclosure in various ways.

Their edges can be defined by trees, fences, wings of the house or other buildings. For example, an outdoor room may be a shady natural space on the site enclosed by a line of trees and shrubs.

Outdoor living spaces can be courtyards, walled gardens, trellis covered breezeways, stone patios, or outdoor showers. Think about their use and connectedness to the house.

Often, we see an exterior space that is built as an isolated destination place - a second floor deck, for example. If you have to make an effort to go there, the space will not be used. Outdoor spaces are most used when they are on paths used by people coming and going. This is why a front porch is a very appealing design element. People naturally meet here, and the porch connects with neighbors walking by.

A popular outdoor living area is the backyard deck. This is often seems to be an afterthought, tacked onto the house. Can it be covered and screened?

5. Consider widening roof overhangs or adding propped shutters over windows.

This is a green building technique in warm climates, blocking solar penetration.

The view of the outside roof structure seen from inside the house evokes a sense of shelter and protection.

If possible, extend the roof in some areas to create covered porches or breezeways. Rooms that are simultaneously open and protected are very appealing.

Inside the house, exposed rafters, rustic beams, or wood surfaces on the ceiling create feelings of strength and character in the home.

6. Review traffic flow - a crucial, but often ignored, design element.

Walk down the paths that bring you inside the front door, then lead you to various rooms through the house, and again to the outdoors. Do they cut through the middle of living areas? When this happens the living area will never feel complete and comfortable.

Circulation paths should lead along the edges of main rooms, and efficiently to private rooms. A maze like floorplan creates a sense of wasted energy and confusion. Few exterior doors may result in a subtle feeling of being trapped.

Bring multiple uses to hallways and connecting spaces with bookshelves, windows or window seats.

Set apart the main entrance with details such as a covered place to stand, special doors, benches, or potted plants.

7. Compare the sizes of rooms in proportion to each other.

People have an intuitive sense of the correct hierarchy of spaces. Small living spaces will seem wrong when combined with large bedrooms.

Homes with awkward design can often be improved by removing walls to make one large space from several smaller ones.

Consider the use and function of each room. Is the room to be used privately, such as a bedroom, study, or library? Or, will the family gather here to cook and eat informally? Some houses include formal areas, others do not. Some have many rooms, others are very open. There is no right or wrong decision here. Houses that have a true and intuitive appeal have a clarity as to the function of each room.

8. Choose materials as an integral part of the design - not as decorator selections made at the end.

For example, structural materials can be exposed, or flooring can be used to connect and unify spaces.

Bring in the beauty and texture of natural materials. Use materials that offset each other - warm and cool colors, rough and smooth textures, solid and delicate walls.

Use materials to connect the house to the site - for example, a wood clad house surrounded by woods, or a stone house next to outcroppings of stone. Or, connect the house to the neighborhood with historic colors and siding.

Repeat materials and colors to unify the interior and exterior.

Roselind Hejl is a Realtor with Coldwell Banker United in Austin, Texas. Her website - Austin Texas Real Estate - http://www.weloveaustin.com - offers homes for sale, market trends, buyer and seller guides. Let Roselind help you make your move to Austin, Texas. http://www.weloveaustin.com Austin Real Estate Guide

Patio Pavers

Do you Choose Green? Incorporating Sustainability in the Home

Twenty Five years ago the Environmental Protection Agency decided they had to do something about the changing air quality and respiratory health of US citizens, so they signed into legislation The Clean Air Act of 1972.

Since then, companies have had to comply with the act or face stiff penalties. Well, the times have changed. For years now, forward thinking companies have known the financial and health impact of sick buildings. The US Green Building Council estimates that one third of all buildings have serious indoor air quality problems. Poor indoor quality in the US is responsible for an annual loss of $15 billion in worker productivity. Now, a growing number of states are enacting tax cuts to corporations that incorporate green, environmentally friendly elements in their buildings.

Whether we like it or not, Green is trickling from the corporate environment and into the home. Sustainability should be an integral part in home building and design, and eventually builders and manufacturers will not look at green design as a trend but as a way of earning more market share.

Consumers are catching onGreen is the way to go. If youre just learning about green living and design there are a number of things you can do to change the health of your family and your home.

• Recycle and use recyclable materials wherever possible.
• Replace or minimize the use of products which contain hazardous chemicals
• Use supplies designed to reduce consumption such as rechargeable batteries
• Support companies that utilize minimal packaging and recycled materials in their packaging
• When painting, choose paints that minimize the amount of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These substances are indoor air pollutants typically used as solvents in products such as paint and household cleaners.
• Look for companies that support the Environmental Choice Program (an eco labeling program) or, that carry an eco label on their products.

If youre planning on renovating or building a new home, please consider the following suggestions:

• Try to eliminate carpeting but to expose hardwood floors instead.
• If adding hardwood floors, consider bamboo or woods certified from the FSC. (Forest Stewardship Council). The wood that is certified comes from well managed forests
• If you want to purchase new carpet, consider 100% organic wool or purchase Cool Carpet by Interface. Its cool because all the carbon dioxide emissions from this carpet are neutralized. The company has retired more than 250,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions which equates to 58,000 cars taken off the road for a year, or over 28 million gallons of gas not consumed.
• Use rapidly renewable products. These are materials that have a shorter harvest period which is typically 10 years or less.
• Avoid purchasing over packaged products- for example; buy nails etc in bulk.
• Use leftover insulation for soundproofing interior walls.
• Use low VOC Paint. Benjamin Moore low VOC paints carry an Eco Label on their line.
• Recycle leftover or unused materials.

By making changes now- even small ones- can make a difference. Who knows, you may be doing some positive things already. Every small decision increases awareness and if we all do our part we can be in the right mindset to make bigger changes down the road.

Go Green Go!

Written by Debbie Greene, ASID. Debbie Greene is a professional Interior Designer and owner Of DC Designs, Inc. in Atlanta, Georgia. Debbie is also the creator of http://www.ratemyroom.net the only website in which viewers and decorating enthusuiasts can rate photos of decorated rooms, write reviews and give advice. Please contact Debbie at http://www.dcdesignsinteriors.com or visit http://www.ratemyroom.net to submit you decorated room. The weekly feature page will prominately display the room with the highest ratings

Vinyl Or Tile Kitchen Floors

Window Framing Problems

As a building contractor it is my job to assemble the house to meet the specifications from the architect and the structural engineer. I do this by looking at the building plans and installing the specified lumber sizes. I can take it upon myself to install a larger size wood beam or window header adding an additional cost to the job of course. I don't think so.

It's not uncommon for a framing contractor that has an additional 5 foot scrap piece of 4 x 8 left over that he now has no use for. He can then choose to use the 4 x 8 instead of a 4 x 6 for the window header. This type of building is common and acceptable.

If the structural engineer calls out for 4 x 6 window and door headers do not take it upon yourself to replace the 4 x 6 with a 4 x 4. I have seen too many framing contractors or carpenters make an on-the-job judgment like this.

A good example would be a single story house with 2 foot wide windows that require a 4 x 6 window header. As the carpenter builds homes over the years he can come to his own conclusion that a 4x4 will work fine for this application. Again keep this in mind as a framing contractor and a carpenter you are assembling the home not designing it.

Do not change the sizes of any headers or beams.

A long time ago carpenters used a standard rule of thumb, you could go up two sizes larger than the window opening for your header. Let me give you an example of what I'm trying to explain.

A 4 foot wide window opening would require a 4 x 6 window header. A 6 foot window opening would require a 4 x 8 window header. This should give you an idea of what I mean by going up two sizes larger than the window opening to figure out the lumber necessary to use for your window header.

This rule of thumb does not necessarily apply in today's building industry. The reason for this is structural changes from earthquake damage. The structural requirements that are required for building a home require a lot more metal bracing and strapping. Therefore some of the lumber requirements for beam sizes and window headers will be different.

This message is for general contractors, framing contractors and carpenters. When installing a window header and you take it upon yourself to change the size you also assume the responsibility if the building fails. This type of mistake is common and you guys know what I'm talking about.

It's not worth it. Keep in mind you are the assembler and not the designer of the building you are working on.

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 House Framing Structural Repairs