Friday, March 5, 2010

What to Know Before You Are Replacing Your Roof

For every homeowner there happens to be a time that they will need to replace their roof. This is a job that needs to be done by professionals because they know exactly what they are doing. However you should know something about roof replacement before the job is done.

There are many inconveniences that come along with replacing your roof. Replacing your roof is not anything that can be done in just one day. Therefore you need to have your home and your family prepared for this kind of inconvenience. The contractor will probably let you know about what you can do to prepare your home for replacing your roof.

When your roof is being torn off you will need to have a garbage dumpster for the debris. When having your roof replaced there is a lot of extra debris that will be pushed off of your roof. When a contractor is stripping off the old roof it should go very orderly however there can be some things that can be blown away. To prevent the debris should it start to blow you should move all of your cars and any breakables that you do not want to be damaged.

It would be a polite thing to let your neighbours in on what is going on because it can get somewhat noisy. When the old roofing is stripped off and also when the new roof is being pounded down it is a very noisy job. Many families that have their roof replaced chose to leave their home when the commotion is going on so they do not need to experience all of the noise.

When you are having you roof of your house replaced you must take all of the mess and the danger into consideration. All of the space that anything is going to be falling should be sealed off while your roof is being replaced. Make sure that your family knows that there will be some changes for a couple of days while you are having your roof replaced.

Making Your Home Energy Efficient

The financial situation that the world is facing these days many people are trying to find a way to save, save, save. By making your home energy efficient it will save you money in the long run. By doing this you will decrease your monthly power bill.

Insulation is a key to maintain the comfort of your house inside. By installing the proper insulation you will see lower power bills. There are places in your home that should be insulated that you may not have thought of such as floors, ceilings, basement walls, overhangs, and the walls inside. When air can leak in it is costing you money. So you need to be sure that all cracks and crevices are sealed tight.

Replacing lights to a energy efficient model will help your home become energy efficient. Also if you make use of your dimmer switch it makes a difference. Open up your blinds and curtains and let the natural light shine in this is how you can save the most on your bill and it is the best way to conserve energy.

When you are using your home appliances you are using a lot of energy. The best way to save energy here is to shop for new appliances that have the energy star. The expense of these appliances might be more but in the end you will be saving.

Install some solar panels this will make your home energy efficient. Energy is created with these using natural resources. There are also solar panles that are available that can heat water they are called solar thermal collectors. What a great way to use the suns natural energy and to make your home energy efficient.

What You Should Know Before Doing a Kitchen Renovation

Every homeowner has thought about giving their kitchen a renovation at least once. There are many homeowners who have had the thought many times. If you are thinking about a kitchen renovation then maybe like most people you have thought only about the main features of the kitchen. There is more to a kitchen that can be renovated then just the floor, walls, and cabinets. However there are many other items that will also benefit from a renovation in your kitchen.

Maybe you should think about buying a new dining room set if your set is in the kitchen or if your kitchen and dining room are combined. Your table and chair set usually are a main focal point in either your kitchen or your dining room.

When doing a kitchen renovation you must consider a new countertop. When you are choosing a countertop be certain that you are selecting one that can handle the abuse and one that can be used with many color schemes in case you decide to change the color of your kitchen down the road.

When you are changing your countertop you may also opt to change the kitchen sink as well. There are many different kitchen sink styles that are available, check with your plumber or your local hardware store. If you happen to be changing your sink it is a must to also change your faucets too.

When you are renovating you might choose to only change your cabinet doors. Many cupboards are designed that you only need to change the cabinet doors to upgrade the look of your kitchen.

Remember that the next time you are thinking about renovating your kitchen that there is probably more to it then you expect.

Information About Different Paint

There are many different paints, stains, and varnishes that are available today and this can make choosing paint a headache for anybody that has no idea what they are looking for. There are two major categories in which paint falls in and that is oil based and water based. Stains and also varnishes also fall in these same categories.

Paints that are oild based come in gloss, semi gloss, or matte. Oil based paint happens to wear well and makes for a good cleaning surface. It is good to use oil based paint on doors, windows, or jsut about anywhere that needs to have a finish that provides a protection. If you need a good washable surface you can also use oil based paint on ceilings and also on walls. Always remember that if you paint over wall paper it will make it a lot harder to remove in the long run.

Water based paint is much easier to work with this is because the brushes and all painting tools can be cleaned using only water. When painting your ceilings or walls water based paint is a good choice and also good for textured surfaced outside.

When painting any new surface it is best to use a primer. By doing this you will prevent any paint from being absorbed. Also by doing this it gives the paint something to stick to. The primer the you choose should be manufactured by the same company. Also you can use a water based primer for an oil based top coat but it is not a great idea to use a oil based primer for a water based paint.

The coats of paint that you will need depend on how porous the surface being painted is and the thickness that the paint is applied. The overall quality of the paint has a big factor too.

Bathroom Renovation

What You Should Know About Bathroom Renovation

If you feel like you are ready for a new bathroom or you need to update what you have there are many ideas that you should run through. An idea is great but it should always be put down on paper so your contractor knows exactly what you are looking for also. Many things can be done to your bathroom to spruce it up from adding a mirror to changing the color of the paint.

If you are planning to change to door, pocket doors do not need a wide arc to be opened. By adding a pocket door you will give your bathroom some added space. Also to add some space to your bathroom you should get rid of the closets they are great but the shelves could go in the hall and you can use shelves or hanging mounts for everything in your bathroom.

For the walls you should go for a lighter color such as white or cream. Lighter colors make your bathroom look as though it has opened up. Dark colors may make your bathroom appear shut in and cave like. Also to add some illusion of extra space in your bathroom you should hang some mirrors on the walls. The more mirrors that you hang the more space it appears that you have.

If you are gong to do a total makeover for your bathroom then you must look into installing a stand up shower. Stand up showers that sit in the corner are the best choice because they will give you some extra floor space.


Whatever it is that you choose to do to for your bathroom renovation if it is going to be a larger renovation plan ahead and write in down on paper. Another good thing to do is to hire a professional to do the confusing work.