Home and Garden Improvement

Kitchen Cabinets Aren’t Just for Kitchens Anymore

admin — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 17:00:00 +0000

Not many families are in a position to do a lot of expensive remodeling on their homes these days – with questionable real estate and job markets, spending a lot of money on your house may not sound like a good idea. Fortunately there are numerous ways you can spruce up just about any room without digging too deeply into your pocket — by using your imagination and RTA cabinets, your friends and neighbors may think you had a custom cabinetmaker pay a visit.

Upgrading with RTA Cabinets
If you’re not familiar with RTA cabinets, they’re just like the high quality cabinets often found at kitchen design centers, but you assemble them yourself. They’re normally a fraction of the cost of their better known counterparts, can often be put together with just a screwdriver, and are available in numerous finishes, styles, and wood species. If you want to apply your own unique color or stain mixture, many styles can be ordered in natural wood. While these DIY-friendly cabinets are great for remodeling your kitchen, a few other inexpensive room upgrades they can be used for:

• Work Areas – if you have a home office or work station, base cabinets work great as storage units and a countertop can be used as a desktop, computer platform, or just a place to sit your printer. Add a few wall cabinets to store office supplies or parts for your hobbies and crafts.

• Laundry Area – base cabinets can make a great place to store detergents and fabric softeners that may be strewn across the floor and a countertop across the top makes a convenient platform for folding clothes as they’re pulled from the dryer.

• Mud Room – whether you call it a mud room, utility room, or even a back porch, a few base and wall cabinets can be an inexpensive way to restore order to the space. All those small lawn and gardening tools that you use on a regular basis can be stored where they’re easy to find and provide a place to keep those outdoor pet toys on a shelf instead of all over the yard.

• Garage – keeping your garage clean and orderly can be easy when you add a few wall and base cabinets across the back wall. Garage storage companies charge an arm and a leg to upgrade the space – complete organization may cost you very little with RTA cabinets.

These are just a few inexpensive upgrade options using RTA cabinets – you’re only limited by your imagination.

When you are ready to save thousands of dollars on the kitchen of your dreams, shop where the builders and contractors shop. Save thousands on rta kitchen cabinets at RTA Cabinet Store.

Method to Follow For Successful Lead Paint Removal

admin — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 17:00:00 +0000

In the past years, lead paints were regularly being used for houses and other building construction purposes. With time, some studies were conducted, which concluded that the lead paints can be awful and injurious to health of kids, pets and adults. Individual intakes lead while breathing; resulting in lead poisoning. Therefore, there are different laws that were introduced according to which contractors were required to take strict safety measures in order to remove it. Two of these important laws include; law act out by an agency called Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which was laid out in the year 2010. This law was mainly planned to prevent infection caused due to lead based paints by an easy testing process that verifies the presence or absence of lead paint. Second, Repair and Painting Rule (RPR), according to which, most house development projects or schemes on houses constructed before the year 1978 were strictly required to follow or take security measures for lead paint removal. In order to do this, contractors are required to spend on various lead protecting materials like, protective clothing, lead paint testing kits, respirators and plastic sheeting. This article will bring to your knowledge about what preparations to make and methods to follow for lead paint removal.

Before starting off with the lead paint removal job, it is essential to move all the accessories, furnishings, fittings and furniture including sofas, beds, carpets, tables and curtains, etc. If moving the stuff is not feasible for you, it’s recommended that you cover or wrap them with large sized plastic sheets. Apart from the furniture, you should also cover up the floor of your house and seal it using tapes. You should cover everything in a manner that flakes of the lead paint and dirt do not drop on it; because if it does, it will destroy all your furniture, fittings and furnishing. In addition, if the lead paint removal process is to be done outside your house also i.e. the garden and backyard area, then it’s preferable to cover that also with the plastic sheet. This process should not be undertaken in the garden or backyard, if there is excess air. Small children and women who are expecting are advised to be kept away when this process is being done. As a safety measure, you should put on gears such as safety goggles, gloves, shoe covers and disposable overalls. Moreover, avoid eatable stuffs while you are doing the process of lead paint removal.

Now coming to the method of removal; your initial approach should be to take all the possible preventive measures to avoid the lead dirt and fumes. The best and the most secure way are to make use of chemical strippers, as these strippers do not produce any lead dirt or fumes. These chemical strippers are applied on the walls using a brush. They are then left for some time to settle down. After they are settled down properly, you will notice that the paint starts to soften, which then leads to formation of little bubbles. As the paint softens, it becomes easier to take out the layers of the paint with the help of a huge knife or brush. After successfully completing the initial step, you will notice that paint is still there in some areas. In order to remove this, make use of alkaline strippers to take out the remaining layers. Method of applying and removing alkaline strippers is same as of chemical strippers. Final step is to clean the strippers and paint with the help of water and detergent. If these steps are followed appropriately removal process will be completed effectively and in less time.

Most Popular Home Remodeling Projects Are Kitchens and Baths

admin — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 17:00:00 +0000

If you are considering a home remodeling project, you are on the right track if the kitchen and bath are the rooms that come to mind. These are the two most popular renovation projects for most homeowners. Here are some popular trends in sprucing up a kitchen or baths.

Kitchens

One of the first things many people do when performing a home remodeling project in their kitchen is updating the cabinetry. Outdated cabinetry makes an extreme impact on the overall look of a space, making the house itself look dated and worn out. Simply refinishing or replacing that cabinetry can make a huge difference in how a kitchen looks.

People with large kitchens are opting to add in built-in coffee preparation areas. This allows the materials for the coffee to remain front and center, while still looking decorative and fashionable. Since tailor-made coffees are very vogue right now, this is also a practical move.

Brightening up the kitchen with new appliances is also popular. People are opting for traditional cabinetry and countertops, and then accenting these with bright, colorful appliances. If you are thinking that your kitchen needs a little more color, this may be the right option.

These ideas can quickly and effectively spruce up your kitchen. Since the kitchen becomes the center point of many houses, this is a great way to spruce up an area without redoing everything.

Bathrooms

Bathrooms are the second popular area for home remodeling. While these are not necessarily the focal point of a house, they are, nonetheless, somewhere that people spend a lot of their time by necessity. Homeowners are transforming run-of-the-mill bathrooms into luxurious spa retreats with a simple remodel.

One way to quickly makeover a bathroom is to upgrade the vanity and cabinets. An outdated sink quickly outdates the entire bathroom. Keep everything looking up-to-date with an updated vanity.

Flooring can be a source of trouble in bathrooms, especially since it is regularly exposed to water and dampness. Swapping out old linoleum for something more modern, like tile, is often part of a remodel for the bathroom.

Other quick fixes that can make this home remodeling project truly shine are swapping out old fixtures. Lighting, towel racks, and even toilets can be upgraded to attain the look you want in this essential room. Some projects will include many of these changes, while others will include just one or two. Homeowners are often surprised what a difference they see when they update a lighting fixture or towel rack.

Home remodeling should be fun and exciting, not stressful. One way to take some stress out of the process is to hire a professional company to do it for you. You will not have to worry about the labor, demolition, or even the cleanup. You can simply sit back and enjoy the finished product when all of the hard work is done. With a professional, a remodel can actually be fun, because your only job will be setting the budget and picking your colors.

Navigating the Mine Field That Is Home Improvement

admin — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 17:31:00 +0000

Thirteen years ago, the home improvement industry was a much kinder landscape. The amount of information available was present but consumers were not as covered by it through as many channels. In that time, I have seen some amazing home improvement projects and some monumental fiascoes. Throughout those thirteen years, the one phrase that has been repeated over and over… “This could have easily been avoided.” Pre-planning and choosing a contractor are often poorly executed steps in large home improvement processes.

First, the amount of information that homeowners have to navigate is mind boggling. HGTV, DIY, websites, local organizations, manufacturers, distributors, subcontractors, contractors, banks. Consumers have to STOP and ask themselves some pertinent questions before they even think about going to a search engine and looking for a contractor.

The most important part of the plan during a project of any magnitude is the pre-plan. Consumers need to ask the following questions:

1. Why am I really doing this project? Be honest with yourself. Don’t automatically think that putting 30k into your kitchen is going to get you 30k more on your sale price. Its just not going to happen.

2. Can you REALLY afford this project. Assess the rest of your life. What kind of shape is your car in right now? How is your health? How far away are those college tuition payments for your 13 year old?

If your confidence level is still high move on to #3.

3. Are you prepared to have a total life invasion for an unspecified period of time. Most projects are messy and time consuming. How is your patience?

4. Does the magnitude of the project justify the time frame that you plan to occupy the home or will it force that time frame? Do you need to put a $50,000 addition on a house you plan to leave in 3 years?

It is true that some consumers have so much extra cash around that none of the above questions matter. Those consumers are an extreme minority. For the rest of you.. read on.

Second, the old days of calling the first three companies that come up on Google are over. I used to be that guy and I work in this industry! Social media marketing has transformed strategic business practices forever but remember, you aren’t hiring them for their IT skills. However, it is not an understatement to say that someone without an email address is not going to be viable in the long term 21st century business landscape.

Choosing the right contractor is very easy. Interview them! Meet them! Demand references! Call the references! Demand punctuality and integrity! Don’t fall in love with every contractor that shows up with an iPad. Ok, that is a little understated but its where everyone must start. The information age has allowed the art of the viable personal relationship to suffer. There will be plenty of time to check out their Facebook page and look at their website. Speaking to past customers and looking at their actual completed projects is dire.

If the time is now for your project, get started early. Don’t back yourself into a time crunch. Pre-plan and be honest with yourself and your family. Talk to several contractors. Make a list of your non-negotiables for whoever you hire. Avoid stress and pitfalls. Good luck with your project!

Log Home Restoration Strategies

admin — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 17:48:00 +0000

In log home restoration the execution of techniques, products as well as procedures changes from company to company. From planning to design to the actual construction, each and every log house would have its very own set of variables as well as specific challenges. One important step is caulking. Probably at the very least half of the log homes are inaccurately caulked or perhaps not caulked completely. Meaning the property is weathertight you aren’t caulked in any way. Usually, most log houses have some amount of caulking. Typically it can be seen around doors and windows. Oftentimes the edges have either been caulked or maybe some kind of expanding foam could have been utilized.

To caulk a log house thoroughly, it’ll only take several days with respect to the size. When it is a log house renovation, there may be some old caulk that will have to be extracted first yet, afterwards, the new application is easily utilized, tooled and also cleaned to give a neat weather-resistant joint which will last for many years. It ought to be kept routinely. Considering the fact that logs are always moving, changing, breaks are opening up, they should be caulked and sealed immediately or else they’ll be an avenue for water together with bugs to penetrate to the center of the log. Chinking is a strategy to not only to seal in between logs, but additionally affect the complete appearance of a log home. You can find various shades to choose from, and a 1 to 3 band of chinking utilized between logs can transform the appearance of a log house, and also incorporate tremendous artistic elegance.

Pressure washing can also be one more technique in log house renovation which could be provided in conjunction with some other services. Stripping can be another method utilized in log restoration. It will also remove mold yet, it is strongly recommended to follow it up with a chlorine rinse to be certain all the mold isn’t only eliminated, nevertheless the mildew spores are destroyed deep into the orifice in the wood. If not completely irradiated from the lumber, mildew can possibly grow once again under a new stain inflicting major issues that can just be remedied by starting the entire stripping procedure again.

With utility expenditures soaring, it’s very important to maintain tight seals in between logs and around windows and doors. Log homes tend to be the hardest structures to keep sealed accurately. They get smaller as the moisture leaves them thereby creating cracks. They lose size and also dimension both longitudinally and also lattitudinally. The logs take on moisture and then release it again. For this reason it’s very essential that the stain used on them breathes. Nearly all sealants caulk and chink, is not going to tolerate this amount of movement by the logs.

Log home restoration should be done right. Otherwise, it is relatively easy to do quite a bit damage very quickly to the timber. Log house professionals should have the proper products as well as expertise to help you with your renovation needs. Definitely, you don’t wish to spend your time off working on substandard products, ensure that the correct course of action for a certain situation is being used.

Insulating Attic Entryways

admin — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 17:00:00 +0000

When it comes to installing insulation in the home, one area often neglected is the attic entrance. There are many different types of entrances. They all need at least some sort of barrier or body of protection between the entryway of the attic and the very hot or very cold air in the summer and winter. When located above a non-conditioned area, the necessity is lower, since there is no temperate air to escape into the unused attic. These are some of the different types of attic entrances that homeowners may encounter when seeking entry into their attics.

Pull-Down
A pull-down entrance is usually located in a hallway or room on the uppermost floor of the home. It is also common to find over the garage or screened porch. The entrance is generally marked by a panel in the ceiling. There should be a cord dangling from the panel that, when pulled, comes down. Sometimes the cord may be tucked up inside the panel to limit the access of children or occupants walking about under the dangling cord.

The panel is typically made of treated or untreated plywood, depending on the age and construction of the home. A folded up ladder is usually attached to the pull-down panel. When unfolded, the ladder creates access to the attic. It is not meant to be used on a frequent basis and may not be sturdy enough to hold large individuals or more than one person at a time. As a result, many homeowners neglect this portion of the attic. It cannot be seen from below, and is often forgotten. Adding insulation will prevent unconditioned air from escaping through this hatch when it is closed.

Hatch
A hatch, or scuttle hole entryway, is similar to the pull-down entrance. The main difference is that there is no ladder. Access is gained by putting up a ladder or using something sturdy for support to climb up through the hole. This type of entryway is often located in an upper hallway over a conditioned space, like a bedroom. The panel should be insulated to prevent conditioned air from escaping into the attic.

Full Stairway
Homes with unfinished attics may have a full stairway allowing access. There is frequently a door closing off the entryway. While insulation is not needed on the door itself, any cracks and crevices should be filled or blocked by insulation or weather stripping. For large gaps under the door or around the hinges, consider replacing the door itself.

One of the most common problems that homeowners face in attic energy loss is inadequate protection at the entryway. Using the proper blanket of protection can save homeowners money in energy bills and prevent conditioned air from escaping no matter what type of entrance is used.

Popular Kitchen Remodeling Ideas

admin — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 17:00:15 +0000

The kitchen is a popular part of every home as this is where people often gather to catch up with each other or simply spend time together. For that reason, it is important that your kitchen reflect an ambiance conducive to such activities. It must be warm and inviting rather than cold and sterile. Take your time in coming up with a plan to get the look you want. After all, there are hundreds of kitchen remodeling ideas out there to choose from. Here are two kitchen remodeling ideas to get you started.

First, you have to consider the shape of the kitchen you want. There are three kitchen shapes, namely, U-shape, L-shape, and G-shape. A U-shape kitchen usually places the stove, fridge, and sink on each different wall, with the sink at the center and the fridge on one end. This kind of shape works well in a square room or if you want to emphasize the basic work area in your kitchen. An L-shape kitchen, on the other hand, uses two walls of the kitchen to contain the three points of working space. This shape works well in a much larger room because you can utilize the length of the room. Lastly, you have the G-shape kitchen where one working is found on each of the two walls and the third working area is on a separate area or counter top. For instance, some choose to place the sink in the separate area because it may be safer to place the cooking area against a wall.

Second, you must pay attention to details. Details are everything. A simple kitchen will still stand out if items such as fixtures, storage space, kitchen decorations, and more are well thought out down to the color and material. You can add unique items or add special features that will make your kitchen stand out, such as antique pots and pans or chic and colorful kitchen utensils to add a splash of color. You can also put up a uniquely designed shelf or storage space or counter top or use colorful mosaic tiles on one wall of your kitchen. Whatever kitchen remodeling ideas you choose to explore, the important thing is to tailor fit your kitchen design to suit your needs and the needs of your family.

These two kitchen remodeling ideas may be simple, but not enough people actually take them into consideration before undertaking a remodeling project so they end up having to redo some portions of the design or continue to be clueless as to what they want their kitchen to look like. Deciding on which kitchen remodeling ideas you want to adopt early on can help you develop a design faster and implement it more efficiently.

Oscillating Multi-Tool – Now You Can Tackle All Tasks With Ease!

admin — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 17:00:15 +0000

An oscillating multi-tool is perfect for cutting and sanding, trimming wood or plastic, as well as cutting PVC and copper pipe. Its small foot print makes it the ideal tool to reach those tight spaces. With the right blade it is an invaluable tool to remove grout around tile and can allow you to remove a counter top without destroying a tile back splash. When renovating old windows, doors and sashes it can make quick work of stripping the old paint.

The oscillating multi-tool is made to cut hard surfaces, not soft such as any fingers that happen to get in the way. The oscillating multi-tool was first used in hospitals to remove casts; it would easily cut through the plaster or fiberglass but wouldn’t leave a scratch on the underlying skin.

If your plan is to add an oscillating multi-tool to your tool box for an occasional job then the 1.5 amp motor will do just fine, however, if you are planning any major renovations or even using it as a full-time tool in home building and renovation then the larger and more powerful 2.5 amp motor will handle any job you can throw at it. Once you decide on the amount you will be using the oscillating multi-tool, the next decision is to either go with a cordless battery operated type or use it with a cord.

If you will be using the tool in hard to reach places the cordless model will be your best bet, but if you will be using for prolonged periods you will have to make sure that you have extra battery packs. For the home handy man the simple corded model might be the answer.

Whatever your choice, keep in mind of the flexibility of this tool. It’s not just a cut off saw. It can be used as a sander, scraper, or even used to cut metal such as nails, or wood as well as plastics. Plumbers have been using it as a cut off saw for copper pipes because of the smooth edge it leaves.

Every year there are more and more uses found for the oscillating multi-tool. New blades are being manufactured for new uses all the time. There is even a specialty blade made for removing the caulking on deck boards on boats that doesn’t harm the wood.

Some of the blades can be expensive and the best tip to add to the life of any of the blades is to let the oscillating multi-tool do most of the work. It may cut through a surface a bit faster if you add pressure but this will surly shorten the life of the blade. You will find that just a bit too much pressure while cutting wood will actually burn the wood so practice that light touch.

Like any other new power tool practice makes perfect, take the time with some scrap wood and see how it feels and see what this oscillating multi-tool can do. The learning curve with an oscillating multi-tool is easy. Once mastered it will be the go to tool in any home or professional toolbox.

Realizing a Dream House: Home Renovation Ideas

admin — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 17:00:15 +0000

Renovating a house can be an exciting experience on one hand and on other hand it can be painful also. It does not just beautify your home but also adds value to it. Nonetheless, home renovation requires a little bit of effort, creativity, and of course- expenses. Here are some tips which you can apply when you decide to revamp your house and make it a beautiful haven to live in:

Know the kind of house you truly want.

Many people buy a house then have it reconstructed. Basically, when you buy a house, the structure and design may not be completely suitable to your lifestyle or family size. If you want to renovate it, be sure to have a clear picture of the home you desire. You can browse the internet for contemporary house structures if you want to make it more modern or search around for house renovation ideas. Hiring reputable home renovations professionals can help you in achieving the kind of house you want. It has to be your personal preference so at the end of the renovation, all the effort and cash you spend is worth it.

Set a specific budget.

There are two ways to set the budget for the renovation. One you can plan for the kind of renovation you want, considering the rooms, walls, flooring, furniture, fixtures and other areas you want to change. Then compute for the budget required for renovation. Secondly, you can have an estimate of how much you have to spend on renovation. Then renovate the house considering your budget. When seeking for home builders experts you may first ask them about an estimate for the house restructuring as per your plan. Budget is very important and before the actual revamping of the house, you should consider what you have available before the project gets underway.

Secure the foundation and start renovating the weak points.

Many homeowners give more emphasis on the designs they want rather than the things that really need improvement. If you want to add more rooms or perhaps another floor to make your house three-stories instead of two, you need to know first if the foundation of the house is firm enough to withstand it. You may also have to check for weak and ruined areas in your home. Have home builders expert check on the roofing, flooring, as well as the strength of the walls. After renovating the weak areas in your house, you can start with complementing them with beautiful structural designs.

Think of renovating as an investment and not as money-spending.

When you renovate, make sure to select high quality materials. You may want to add a garden and do some landscaping and widen your garage. Of course adding structures will depend on your needs. If you have a growing family it is much better to make the house bigger. Renovating a house is more than a desire to live in a comfortable and beautiful home. Nowadays, home improvement is a kind of investment. Real estate properties are getting more and more expensive. Beautifying your home can add value to it and in any case you decide to sell it in the near future, you are sure to have a return on investment (ROI).

It is indeed fulfilling to live in a comfortable and secured house. And renovating your house is one way to make it happen.

Remodeling Your Kitchen Has Never Been So Easy

admin — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:00:15 +0000

You could remodel your kitchen in many different ways. Before you start your kitchen remodeling process, you should know what changes you want to bring to it; because you want the best of all kitchens. You can either change the cabinet sheets or install new appliances, or you could re-structure the entire kitchen by changing the shape of the counter, or make some extra space for some dining arrangement. The most important part in kitchen remodeling is planning the layout of your kitchen. If the layout is not set up properly, then your kitchen might end up looking like a disaster. You have to plan it in such a way that it is convenient for you and the members of the house to use. The layout focuses on the kind of cabinets you would like in your kitchen, and the shape of the counter. Of course, it also includes the extra space you would like for the purpose of eating. Kitchen remodeling will definitely be a fun experience!

Cabinets Placed In a Row:

In case of a narrow kitchen, it would be best to place the cabinets on one side in a row so that the kitchen does not look messy, and it will be convenient for you to take out things and place them back conveniently without moving around much. If you want yourself in ease while cooking, then your refrigerator, sink and oven should be placed close to each other. But, because you have a narrow kitchen, you can accommodate a dining space in there; it is suitable for large kitchens.

Galley Kitchen Does Not Provide Enough Room for Family Time:

You will usually find a very small kitchen in the apartments or even in small houses; they are known as the “Galley Kitchen.” Basically, these kitchens have the cabinets placed on two walls facing each other. The Galley kitchen cannot accommodate many people at once; because it does not have much space in it. And, if you want to create room for the dining area in a Galley kitchen, then you will not be able to do that; because you will not be left with any space for yourself, and your kitchen will look very stuffy.

L Shaped Kitchen adds Fun to Cooking:

The L shaped kitchens usually have lots of space in it, and the L shape serves as a counter where you can place stools, and your family can come and have fun while you cook. This structure allows you to move about easily; because you have lots of space, and your cabinets are also placed in a very convenient position. Nowadays, most large houses have these L shaped kitchens; because it adds fun to cooking and eating!

Be Careful While Setting Up Your U Shaped Kitchen:

The “U shaped” layout can be a bit messy; because you cannot easily decide where to locate your appliances, because the structure is quite odd. You cannot place anything in between the U; otherwise, your kitchen will look like a mess. You have to be very careful while setting up your U shaped kitchen.

Install Islands for Extra Space:

Islands just add extra space to your kitchen where you can place your additional appliances or could also arrange for a dining area. If you have a large kitchen, then an island would look great there. But, if your kitchen is small, then you cannot create a large island, otherwise you will have space constraints, and it will also get very difficult to move about. It is necessary that you have enough space in your kitchen for an island; otherwise you could always install a portable island, which you can move in and out easily as per your requirements. If you keep the above points in mind, then kitchen remodeling can add an extra value to your house.