Pebble Tile Shower Floor

A Pebble Tile Shower Floor enables you to redecorate your home by using the same techniques and style used by the Greeks and the Romans. If you look for a quick way to redecorate any surface at home, you should try these natural stone panels. If you are interested about Easy do-it-yourself tiling techniques - read the following article.

Short overview

A Pebble Tile Shower Floor is about gathering the same small flat stones that are manually and carefully attached onto a mesh backing of 12" by 12" size. The seashores of S. East Asia are rich with these flat pebbles, and indeed most of these tiles are originated from that part of the world. It seems like no other tiling technique enables you to redecorate practically anywhere inside and outside your house: Bathroom flooring and wall coating (including showers), kitchen surfaces such as countertops & backsplashes, patios, pools and even fireplaces.

Main advantages

Using this simple tiling solution definitely brings various redecoration advantages:

* Durable to most common home detergents.

* Considered inexpensive compared to other tiling solutions.

* Installation process is quick and takes only a few hours.

Useful tips!

* Upon completion, it is important to wait the adhesive's recommended drying time before you begin on grouting.

* Use a tile saw in order to cut stones to fit edges or corners.

* Make sure the surface you are about to tile is flat, clean, dry and free of contaminants.

Conclusion

Pebble Tile Shower Floor remodeling is highly effective for any home-maker as it requires minimal effort, knowledge, and resources. We could easily find many other benefits provided by this fun & easy remodeling option, simply because any average and unprofessional home-maker can do it easily by him/herself. If you wish to succeed with your first installation it is recommended to use the following tips & advices just as you decide on using these natural panels.

Get creative! - Learn more about how you can easily decorate your bathroom with Pebble Tile Shower Floor.

Wood Floor Discoloring

Hiring a Contractor For Bathroom Remodeling - Remodeling Contractors

Well here's the age old question, how do we go about finding a decent bathroom remodeling contractor.

Here's some things you will be looking for in a contractor.

1. Is Your Contractor Fair and Honest?

2. Does Your Contractor Have Experience Remodeling and Designing Bathrooms?

3. Can You Actually Find a Contractor Who Will Complete the Job in a Timely Manner?

4. Do You Think the Workers Will Be Able to Clean the Job up Daily?

5. Will the Contractor Show up on Time?

6. Is the Contractor Going to Work At Least Eight Hours a Day?

7. Does the Contractor's Crew Have Experience?

8. Is Your Contractor and His Crew Courteous?

If you find a contractor for your bathroom remodeling project that has answered yes to all questions above, hire that person immediately. Most contractors can sincerely answer yes to half of the questions above. If you're looking for the ultimate bathroom remodeling contractor, you could be searching for quite a while, you're looking for some one that is competent and you feel comfortable with.

When hiring a contractor, look for someone who has your interest in mind first and not theirs. Find someone who is willing to help with the designed process of your bathroom and the remodeling. If you find a contractor to be arrogant or controlling, there is a good chance, your bathroom might not turn out the way you envision it.

When hiring a contractor for your bathroom remodeling project or any home improvement project, the most important thing to keep in mind is, whether or not you feel comfortable with this person or not. Never hire a contractor you're not comfortable with.

If a contractor is referred to you by someone you trust, this does not guarantee you will be happy with the bathroom remodel. Most referrals that I have gotten over the years are like rolling the dice, I believe I would have done just as good picking a name out of a hat.

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

Add Unique Style to Your Room With Cabinet Drawer Handles

Looking to bring something different to your room without huge costs or large home improvement renovations? The most successful home remodeling projects are those that utilize small budgets through smart purchases on small, detailed pieces of a room that often go unnoticed. So, you may be wondering exactly how this can be done? Simple! Through upgrading of the cabinet drawer handles! Whether it is kitchen or bathroom cabinets, by replacing the knobs and pulls of cabinets, you add new life and unique style to your room!

As to specifically how to start this home improvement, begin by determining what cabinet pieces you want to replace, and how you will make that upgrade. Common replacements involve drawer handles, as cabinet drawers are the cheapest renovations, rather than completely remodeling an entire kitchen counter, bathroom sink, etc.

Some tips to remember when going into this type of home remodeling project is to match the styles of your new replacements to the overall room, but the replacements should have something unique to it. For example, purchase cabinet drawers or handles that are detailed woodworks. Individual pieces that create action will give the whole room a little more buzz and eye appeal.

Another tip to cabinet drawer handles is to give a stand-out color to them. Think of how your outside house works, typically the shutters are a color of focus, where the main color is typically a standard off-white or cream. By doing such a simple paint job, you add depth to the room, while not completely changing the room drastically!

As well, if you want to make a truly unique style to your room, think about creating custom-made drawer handles. Yes, this is the more expensive route, but having a professional craft some unique pieces will give your kitchen or bathroom a look and style that no one else can have!

So, hopefully you are now better prepared for your next home remodeling project, and remember to always have fun with your home improvement! It is all about creating your own style, and gives your room something appealing without making you broke!

Tori works for Your Home Supply (YHS) the definitive website for home improvement tools, and gardening supplies. Your Home Supply offers a wide range of drawer handles to help you bring unique style to any room. Visit them now at http://www.YourHomeSupply.com

How to Attach a Zinc Frame to Stained Glass

A zinc frame on stained glass panels is essential for structure and rigidity. The zinc frame is added once the design is cut, foiled and soldered. The process of adding a zinc frame is accomplished by following seven steps.

1. First, measure the length of zinc came needed for each side.
2. Then, decide if you want straight cuts or mitered cuts for the corners.
3. Using a came saw or a fine tooth hack saw, cut the zinc came to the length and angle you need. Initially, you may want to cut the pieces long then re-cut once you dry fit the came to the stained glass piece.
4. Once you have all the zinc came cut and fitted to your piece, insert the glass into the came channels and hold zinc in place using t-pins. If you are using Handy Hangers, you would insert them into the came corners during this step.
5. Now flux the corners of the came frame and all the solder seams that touch the frame
6. Then, solder each joint of the frame and the adjacent solder seams.
7. Once, the first side is done, carefully turn the piece over and repeat the process on that side.

To apply hanging rings to the zinc frame, lightly flux the ring and the area of the frame where the ring will be attached. The area in which you attach the rings should be where the zinc frame meets a solder seam. Next, solder the rings to the zinc frame. Be sure the ring extends over the edge of the frame. If you are going to add a wood frame to the stained glass piece do not attach rings to the zinc frame.

Hanging rings can be purchased or easily made by using copper or silver wire. To make your own hanging rings, wrap wire around a pencil or other object to get the diameter you need. Then simply cut it, making a small circle. If you need stronger rings, cut two or three lengths of wire and twist them together. The twisting can be done easily by placing one end of the strands in a vice and the other end into the chuck of a drill. Rotate slowly until the desired amount of twisting is completed. Then wrap the twisted wire around a pencil or other object and cut.

After zinc frame is attached, be sure to use flux remover and remove all flux residue.

Some areas of concern:

Please note that zinc frames are available in different sizes, widths. Each one, however, laps over the edge of the glass the same amount. So, the only reason for going to a larger width is looks. Additional strength may be gathered if your stained glass piece is extremely large. Any piece over 30" wide or tall should definitely be framed in the largest size zinc frame available.

Mitered cuts look better in my opinion, especially if you are not using a wood frame. Actually miter cuts are not that much harder to accomplish, so why not be professional in the first place? Small electrical frame cutters, 2" blade, are available for around $20. This is worth it in my opinion.

When mounting frame on your art work, be sure that all edges of the glass are secured into the full depth of the zinc frame. Otherwise, you will experience dissatisfaction after you solder the pieces together. As mentioned, T-pins are suggested to be sure and hold the frame tightly anchored to edge of the glass and deep into the channel of the zinc frame.

When soldering the corners or the seam lines connecting the frame, you will see a slight rise to the solder. It is common to see the actual solder at these points, but after patina is applied, these blend together and look fine. Be careful as to not build up too much solder at these locations or this may be highly visible when finished.

After soldering the first side and then turning the art work over to solder the second side, examine the frame to see that it is in the correct position before soldering. Sometimes it can get "adjusted" when you turn the piece over.

I highly suggest the using hanging rings that have been twisted together as these are much stronger and tend not to pull apart after the art work has been hanging for some time. I have experienced single wire hooks actually failing and a piece or two has dropped and broken. Save yourself grief (take it from me) and only use the twisted, therefore stronger hanging rings.

If using a wood frame, a better look is always produced by mitering the corners of the wood. Simple 45 degree cuts on the end of all frame members easily accomplish this. When mechanically attaching these pieces of frame, I strongly suggest the use of a good carpenter's glue and one screw for long term hanging safety. Additionally, wood frames come in all sizes, including width, thickness and specie of wood. Decide how you want to finish them, paint or stain. This will enable you to use the right wood for the right job and not end up painting oak wood. Oak is too expensive and beautiful to hide under paint in my opinion. Mechanical hanging fasteners that include screws into the wood should be used.

I started out as a stained glass admirer. After a class in stained glass, I became addicted. At first I made stained glass to decorate my homes, which lead to friends asking me to make stained glass for them. Now I am a full time professional making stained glass as well as instructing others on how to make stained glass. My studio is located outside of Chicago, Illinois. For more information on making stained glass or to sign up for my newsletter, go to http://www.creativity-in-glass.com

The Beauty of a Construction Site

Something that architects and contractors take for granted but that homeowners rarely experience, is the construction site. When it is your house being built or added onto, I recommend that you spend as much time as possible with the "insides" of the place where you will be living.

It is a bit like viewing the inside a person during an operation. Yes, it may be messy and confusing unless you know how everything works, but it is always fascinating and sometimes beautiful. Not to take the metaphor too far, but a home has structure like we have bones, wiring and controls as we have nerves, and mechanical systems like we have...maybe I've gone too far, but you can see where I'm going.

The most universal observation is that during the building process, the scale of rooms and the overall building changes dramatically depending on the phase of construction. When the foundation is poured the space may look too small, with the framing up, the building may look too large. Trim, siding, windows and roofing bring the massive structure back into proportion. Inside finishes and trim as well as cabinetry and paint make a room that felt too large or small, feel comfortable.

The craftsmanship that goes into the framing and rough plumbing and electrical work pays off as the home is being finished. Straight, plumb, and square walls and floors make the trim carpenter's work easier and faster. You can tell a lot about a contractor by the way the early stages of the building are completed. If they care about the way the house is framed, chances are they will take the same care in finishing the job. A friend and talented photographer, Michele Muir was at one of our job sites photographing everyone in our office, and took some time to record the beauty of the job site.

http://www.crisparchitects.com/

James M. Crisp, AIA is an architect working in New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts.

Take an Active Role In Your New Home Design

Whether you know a lot about home building or just have some ideas of how you want your new home to look and function, you are an important member of the team designing and building your home. Contributing to the layout and building plan in the design phase will ensure that you realize your dream of living in the perfect home for you and your family. Increasing numbers of new homeowners are taking this approach by actively working with their building contractor and designer.

You may already have some good ideas of what you want to manifest in your design, or you may be starting from scratch and in need of inspiration. Outlined below are some sources of ideas for you to see what is available and how it would work for you.

Visit Open Houses

This first step can be a fun way to spend an afternoon on the weekend, as well as a free source of good ideas for your project. You can check out houses in your price range, as well as those that are more expensive, just to see what an additional investment can buy. Some ideas in very high-end homes can be adapted to other price level building with little or no loss of quality. You can also see what appeals to other potential buyers who are touring the same home, and what pitfalls to avoid. This can be important in terms of preserving market value in your new home design. You may also have access to the expertise of a wide variety of realtors and agents in terms of what works for most families and what appeals to the real estate market. Don't be afraid to pick their brain!

Magazines and Stores

Think of those glossy home improvement and lifestyle magazines as compact stores for you to window shop in from the comfort of your living room. These magazines were created to give you ideas for your design and should be considered even if on the surface they seem out of reach for your lifestyle.

You can tear out and collect pages that have elements of what your are looking for in your new home, and the juxtaposition of different magazine photos can stimulate brand new ideas that have never before been seen in any magazine or in anyone else's home. Isn't this ability to be one of a kind an important reason you decided to build rather than purchase an existing home anyway?

For a "hands-on", three-dimensional feel for what different elements look like and how they work, nothing beats a visit to your local home improvement store. They have set up mock kitchens, baths, and entryways to give you a real feeling for how their products function together in a realistic setting. As they say, take what you like and leave the rest.

Rather than sitting back and waiting for someone else to come up with the home of your dreams, isn't it time to get out there and participate in that once in a lifetime opportunity to create the perfect space for you and your family to live and enjoy life? With a little work and imagination, your dream home can become a reality.

Cadell Derbing's newsletters can be encountered on a large number of online sites with reference to homemade window coverings subjects. You might come across his publications on window covering idea at http://www.curtains-drapes-coverings.com and other sources for window covering idea information.

DIY Vertical Wind Generators - Are They Worth It?

With the ever increasing need for everybody to be more careful with the environment (and in today's climate their money) have you ever thought about building your own DIY Vertical Wind Generator? These units are much like the usual wind generators except the blades are positioned vertically rather than horizontally.

It is easy to build a DIY Vertical Wind Generator from plans for normal wind generators. All that is needed is to turn the blades vertical. All the components need to build a DIY Vertical Wind Generator can be found in your local DIY store for as little as $200.

So why build a DIY Vertical Wind Generator rather than a normal wind generator? Since the blades are positioned vertically rather than horizontally you have the option of putting more blade units on the generator since there is more space. It won't necessarily generate more energy but it will allow the blades to become more sensitive to wind, allowing for power to be generated even in slight breezes; something that is not always possible with the conventional wind units.

The units can also be built to be much more compact that the usual wind turbines. This makes them ideal for people who do not have a lot of outside or roof space and can even be set up to sit on apartment balconies or outside walls. You don't even need a stand that rotates with the wind as the blades are sensitive even in a fixed position. The electronic side of setting up the DIY vertical wind generator is not all that complicated either. There are plenty of electronic blueprints out there that will show you how to set this up.

If self-sufficiency is what you are after then you will probably need at lease three to four units. If you want to ensure that you will still have power during a power outage then you will need to fit batteries to the unit. This allows electricity to be stored and be readily available to use. The downside is that these batteries can increase the cost of building the units. My suggestion would be to have a few units with batteries and the other directly connected to the grid. This would allow essential energy to be provided in cases of power outages.

DIY Vertical Wind Generators are ideal for supplying your household energy needs for a fraction of the cost of commercial units. They are easy to build and don't cost the earth.

http://www.squidoo.com/DIY-Vertical-Wind-Generator

DIY Home Improvement at the Tip of Your Busy Fingers

Do it yourself projects should be doable, easy and ultimately useful. The following are some practical DIY tasks that you can try if you have free time at home.

Wiring a plug

Wiring a plug only requires basic know-how to carry out. First off, why would it be necessary to wire a plug? Sometimes, appliances' plugs become brittle, and break. It is dangerous to use broken plugs. Broken plugs can result in electrocution and in some rare instances, death.

In some cases, the wires inside the plug becomes disconnected. The first thing to do is to unplug the device to be repaired from the power source. With a screw driver, remove the cover of the plug and proceed to clear the terminals of any dirt.

This applies to new plugs. The only difference would be the insides of new plugs are clean. Proceed to separate the three distinct wires. The neutral wire, the earth wire and the live wire. All three are important, don't leave anything behind.

Attach the three distinct wires to the proper terminals inside the plug. Most plugs are uniformly built, so you won't have any trouble carrying this step out.

The brown wire, which is the live wire should go to the portion of the plug marked "L". The neutral wire, which is often coated with blue plastic should go to the "N" terminal. The third wire, the earth wire goes to the topmost region of the plug.

The copper wires should be wound around the proper terminals, or they should at least pass through. Some plugs require wounding while others do not.

Be careful with the fine strands of copper wire. Any loose strands should be fixed. Remember, loose strands can cause fire from shorts once you plug in the appliance.

Fixing a leaking faucet

You do not need a plumber to fix a leaking faucet. Often, leaking faucets can easily be remedied with the right tools. The first step to fixing a leaking faucet would be to turn off the water valve.
Leaky faucets are often due to brittle or broken rubber washers. These rubber washers are simple enough to be installed by anyone. Unscrew the top of the faucet after the water supply has been turned off.

Remove the broken washer and inspect the area. Clean the top portion of the washer of any kind of dirt. Molds should be removed with a clean sponge.

Place the washer and proceed to re-install the handle of the faucet. If all goes well, you would be able to screw the handle quickly. If the washer's size is right, the leaks would no longer appear. Turn off the water supply once again and test. A clean stream of water should appear.

In case this approach does not work, there is a possibility that there might be cracks or fissures on the faucet itself. Turn off the water supply once again, and inspect the faucet for minute cracks.

If there are minute cracks, purchase generic sealants. The sealants do not have to be expensive. Sealants like Epoxy Steel can be used.

The author of this article is Benedict Yossarian. Benedict recommends Roof Bond Foam Roof Insulation and Dekorbeton Concrete Stamping for your DIY needs.

Plaster Crack Wall Damage

How to Build a Small Deck - Building Ideas

You've decided to learn how to build a small deck and now you need some easy to follow plans to get started. Building a small deck is not that difficult if you follow these steps.

Get detailed plans on how to build a small deck

Pick the right location

Use simple household tools- saws, wrenches, cordless drill etc.

Find a good helper

Let's start with the helper. There are times when you will need to have help even if it's just to hold some boards while you attach them. Sharing the work makes it a bit more manageable too and we've always found it more fun.

After building at least 100 decks in our building career, both large and small I am quite certain that anyone can learn how to build a small deck.

Picking the right location is a matter of convenience. Do you want it attached to your house or cottage? Will it be around the pool? Any scenario you can imagine can be built according to the plans.

How much does it cost to build a small deck? You can be sure that you will save hundreds of dollars by doing the work yourself instead of hiring a contractor. If you are careful you can build a really nice deck for only a couple hundred dollars including the cost of the plans.

Compare that to the thousands that a contractor is sure to charge and you will certainly be smiling, sitting there on your deck when it's finished instead of grumbling about the price.

You see, most of the cost incurred on a building project is labor. Paying someone to do something is the fastest way to increase the cost, as any contractor will tell you.

Start off by locating the finished level of your deck. If an exterior door to the house will provide access then the deck level should be at least 2 inches lower than your door. This will insure that rain or snow won't flow in the house during bad weather.

Learning how to build a small deck can be accomplished quickly with deck blocks as footings. They are big square (liftable) pieces of concrete laid on the ground as footings.

Posts are placed on the deck blocks to the desired deck height and 2 beams are placed across the top of the posts.

These support the floor joists and decking. Be sure to use a durable outdoor approved wood such as cedar or pressure treated lumber. Both work well.

Imagine pulling up a lawn chair or two onto your new deck and enjoying that summer evening breeze, along with a cold drink or two. That's living.

And just think, you didn't have to break the bank to hire a contractor either. You did it yourself and saved hundreds of dollars.

Isn't it time you got started on your own small deck? Let's get started.

How To Build A Small Deck is the place to start to save money on your deck building project, enjoying the outside, by learning how to build a small deck.

After we had finished building our house, we knew we wanted a deck, so we learned how to build a small deck and enjoy our days after work was done.

Architects And Home Design

Remodeling Your Home For Resale

It is true that remodeled kitchens provide a good return when selling your home, but such a project is very involved, costly, and often a headache. Instead of a complete overhaul, give your kitchen a fresh appearance by installing new appliances and replacing outdated cabinet hardware with trendy pieces.

Another simple improvement to your kitchen includes changing faucets and light fixtures. Freshen up bathrooms in the same manner as the kitchen. Change hardware pieces such as faucets, towel bars, soap dishes, as well as light fixtures. Also think about updating your mirror and other accessories in the room such as shower curtain, wall hangings, and towels.

Fixing up the yard will add significant curb appeal and is one of the most worthwhile improvements you can do for your home. Curb appeal refers to the view of your home from the street. Because the outside of your house is the first thing the buyer sees, the yard and entry leave a strong impression and help the buyer decide whether they even want to see the rest of the house.

So go out to your curb and look at your house; does it look nice? Can you even see it? If you have large trees or shrubs that cover the majority of the house, cut them back or get rid of them to increase your curb appeal. Make sure the yard is neat and trimmed and for a small investment you can put together a beautiful flower bed or adorn the entry with beautiful potted arrangements.

Also, consider improving the entry way by installing new trendy porch lights and a new mailbox. If necessary, give your home a fresh coat of paint. All of these improvements are relatively inexpensive but make a big difference when it comes to selling your home.

When it comes to carpet, first check to see if there are hardwood floors underneath by lifting up a corner in a closet. If there are hardwood floors, just have the carpets well cleaned and advertise that there are original hardwood floors.

More buyers are attracted to wood floors these days. If there is not wood below and the carpets are old, have the carpets replaced. New carpets give your home both the smell and look of newness.

Seriously consider painting the entire interior of your home, especially if it hasn't been done in a while. When you are repainting, choose light neutral colors. Although dark or bright colors may be trendy and look nice, they limit the buyers' ability to picture the home as their own. A light and neutral color will clean up the walls without turning off any customer.

Although you may love your neon beer sign in your living room, some buyers may not and can be turned off by such personal items. Try to make your house more generic and hide your quirky belongings; try to make it look like a model home. It helps the buyer picture their own belongings on the wall.

Keep your house clean. This costs nothing but makes all the difference. No one wants to pay a good price for a cluttered and dirty house. If you are a pack rat, now is the time to change the habit and throw it all away or invest in a storage unit to place all your junk. Avoid a cluttered look and make sure everything has a place and is put away.

These small improvements will make a big difference and will give you the best opportunity to sell your home quickly and for the best price.

A good looking home can fetch you a good price. You could give your kitchen a fresh appearance by replacing outdated cabinet hardware without spending too much on complete kitchen remodeling Sarasota homes can look renovated with simple ideas too. Visit http://www.eurotechcabinetry.com.

Wet Appliance Floor Damage

Attic Odors and Strange Smells

If you've ever opened up your attic access hole, only to find one of the worst odors you have ever smelled in your whole life, I've been there too. What causes these horrible smells and what can you do about them?

Let's start with the cause of these smells, moisture, dirt, mold, mildew, dead animals, animals that make their home in your attic and the biggest problem of all is normally poor ventilation.

Poor ventilation is the biggest problem with musty smells in the attic. These smells are often caused from moisture accumulating in the building materials over time. If there is enough moisture in the attic, the wood will start to rot but this wouldn't be a normal situation, unless there was a roof or water leak.

Roof leaks can cause a constant supply of water to one part of the attic. This constant supply of water will eventually rot the wood and damage the ceiling. Water leaks from pipes can provide a steady supply of water and the situation can attracts termites and mold. Not a good thing.

One of the worst possible smells or odors in your attic would be a dead animal. Don't under estimate the size of some of these animals, they have found dead raccoons, cats, snakes, large birds, squirrels, rats and mice in some attics. These animals usually enter through damaged access holes or vent blocks, roof vents, large gaps, holes and even fireplace chimneys.

Once these animals die, their bodies start to decompose and produce one horrible odor. Once the body is completely decomposed, the smell usually goes away if the attic is ventilated properly. These smells can seep into the homes living area, often creating a room that no one wants to enter.

Home peststhat make their home in your attics, often create smells from urinating and defecating in the areas around their nest. Large birds like owls can become a problem over time.

Now that we've figured out some of the causes for attic odors and strange smells, what can we do to prevent this from happening and if it's already happened, how can we get rid of the smell.

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 having problems in your attic, find out more at pest control books and home building ideas.

Damaged Stucco Corner

Building a Deck Steps Home Building Video

Stair building tips for installing lights and decking, handrail tips and some deck advice.

For more helpful home improvement information visit: http://www.gregvan.com

Stair Building Help

Acoustic Ceiling Water Damage

Checking the Building For Square

The most important thing when building a home is the ability to keep everything as square, plumb and level as possible. Starting with the foundation, if the foundation is not square or level, the rest of the house is going to be out of alignment.

You've probably heard the saying, start with a good foundation. This applies to the building industry as well. There are quite a few ways to build a square foundation, it all depends on what kind of tools you have, to build it with.

Some of these tools can be quite expensive but it used every day can save you a lot of time and of course time is money.

You don't need expensive tools to build a square foundation. You could actually build a square foundation with less than $100 worth of tools. It might take you a little longer but could be done.

Let's start with the 3 - 4 - 5 rule.

Okay lets see if I can explain this in layman's terms. If no West side of the foundation is 3 foot and the north side of the foundation is for foot, then the diagonal measurement from the southwest corner to the northeast corner would be 5 foot. Out of square building can create foundation problems

This can also be done using 30' x 40' should equal 50 foot. You can use this if the building is large and you need to check it for square.

By measuring the foundation diagonally from each corner, the measurement should be exactly the same. If it isn't, the building is out of square and should be adjusted before the concrete is poured. This measurement should always be checked before you get too far along in the form building process.

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 having problems in your attic, find out more at concrete contractor basics and home building ideas.

My Parents Motivation Using Fear

Soundproofing Makes Life A Little Better And Quieter

Air, water and land pollution are not the only pollutions that plague our planet nowadays. One major problem that our world is struggling to overcome at present is noise.

Noise doesnt only destroy your peace of mind, it also degrades performance, reduces efficiency, makes you lose your sleep thus affecting your health and sometimes, it even causes accidents. A noisy home creates chaos among family members just as noise in the office breaks down production and causes workers to misunderstand each other.

Because of noise, gap is created and the order of things is disturbed. Noise is truly detrimental not only psychologically and emotionally but almost in all aspects of every individual. This is why when it comes to noise, you have to shield yourself and your home.

Soundproofing Tips To Help Restore Peace And Quiet To Your Home

To effectively achieve soundproofing, you first have to understand the principle behind noise. Sound is actually produced from the reverberation of air; hence, in order to do soundproofing, you have to deaden the air or stop it from moving. If its not possible to do this, at least reduce the speed of air so as to moderate noise as well.

Using sound barrier is the most frequent solution for soundproofing any room or space. Those materials that block off or oppose noise are called sound barriers and they are mostly made from nonporous materials; thats why most of them are sturdy and solidly strong. Examples of sound barriers include acoustic panels, drywall, plaster board, wood and concrete.

Noise can also be eliminated or dampened through passive absorption. This method is the exact opposite of blocking sound using sound barriers. Here, sound wave passes through an absorbent material such as acoustical foam or mat and is forced to change direction multiple times or dissipate. The diffusion of noise reduces its energy or intensity thus when the sound reaches your ears after passing through an absorber, it wouldve been considerably regulated and usually accompanied by a transformation into heat energy.
Whether you live in a big house or dwells in a modest apartment in the city, the sound of peace and quiet is almost a luxury amidst the multitude of noise that beleaguers you. Soundproofing your home will get rid of all the noises that disturb you, not to mention that it will also please your neighbor with an ear-piercing squeal.

Aside from surrounding and sticking all types of soundproofing materials on the walls, ceilings, floor, windows and doors of your home, you can also soundproof your home in other simple yet innovative ways. For instance, having some trees or big plants in your front yard could dampen down noises that come from the road. Another small thing that you can do to minimize noise at home is by installing rubber pads on the edges of your doors. This will stop all that slamming sound and banging of doors which startle you out of your wits. You can also check your houses for inconspicuous airspaces and crevices where noise may enter your home. Seal these fissures with liquid type sealant to ward off noise from crossing the threshold of your home. If youre into art or imaginative enough to try off other atypical things, then you may set up fountains or put in a large aquarium into your living room to replace the noise with soothing sounds of gushing water.

Soundproofing doesnt need to be that complex and costly. With your own innovations and unique ideas, you can find ways to keep peace and quiet to your home.

Robert Banks is the owner of http://www.soundproofing-info.com Know the different soundproofing methods and solutions by checking http://www.soundproofing-info.com

Floor Framing With Toilet Pipe

Cost Effective Stair Building

What is the most cost effective way of building stairs? Why do the tract homes use on site methods of construction? When you think of a factory assembling a product on a assembly line you think why not a home. Why do they still build homes on lots or residential home sites?

If homes could be built in a factory cheaper than on site that is exactly what every home builder would be doing. They just haven't quite figured it out yet. When dealing with the large amounts of materials required to build a house and of course the expense of shipping. It is not cost effective to build a conventional home in a factory and ship it over long distances.

This is the biggest problem with cost effective stair construction. Most prefabricated stairs you will notice are spiral stairs. These stairs are smaller than most stairs that are used for multi level construction.

Spiral stairs are hard for your average carpenter to build. These stairs can be purchased from a factory easily and quite inexpensive.

The stairs in your average two story house are going to weigh about 3 times the amount of a spiral set of stairs that could be shipped in a cost effective way. Spiral stairs are not going to be the main stairway in a home and normally go up to a loft or an attic. Most spiral stairs don't meet the minimum building requirements for the main stairway in your home.

When building tract homes the lumber is shipped in bulk directly to the house site where it will be assembled. The lumber and other building materials will be shipped once. If it went to a factory and then assembled it would also have to be sent to the site on which the house was to be built. This added expense in shipping the materials twice is the problem for such a large and heavy item such as a set of stairs.

There are other prefabricated types of stairs that are built locally and the shipping usually is not a major expense. If you are building a stairway that is not to difficult to build for the average carpenter it will normally be cost effective to build the stairs on site. This would require having the carpenter build the stairs as part of the rough framing and then after drywall have the finish carpenter build the stair handrail system.

Visit us now for easy Home Constuction Help

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

Dealing With Embarrassing Problem

Exterior Home Improvement Tips

If your home has suffered from a fire or a flood, you can do some remodeling on it. All you need to do is go to the home There are many ways to fix up your house on the outside. You can put things on your house or you can fix something to make it look better. If you have a porch on your house or not, you can build one that wraps around the whole house. All you need is the lumber, nails, and all you need to know is how the lumber needs to be. You have to make sure it is level and if your yard has hills or goes downward, you need to make the boards longer than some of them. If there is a tree close to your house, cut the wood so that it will go around the tree. You don't have to knock it down. You can fix up the roof if it is getting old or if it needs it.

You can even change the roof by putting something over it like metal that will not make your house hot and so it protects it. It will not leak, rust, or bend, and it is a very good investment to put on your home. You can put shutters on your windows to match your roof, and this will also help keep your house cool or warm. When you put on shutters, it makes your house look better. You can make them or you can buy them at a store. You can build a screen porch in front of your front or back door so you can sit outside whether it is raining or to stay cool under it when it is hot outside.

If you have someone in your house that has to use a walker or a wheelchair, you can put a flat stairway for them to get in the house so it will be easier for them. You can put a fence around your yard so you can have some privacy. You can put up a small fence or a tall fence, whichever fits your style. You can also add a sidewalk that goes up to your porch or house, or you can have flowers lined up next to it to make it better. They can be any way or shape that you want to make your house look the way you want it to look and to make it stand out.

You can get any of these things at a home improvement store, and it may cost you a lot depending on what you are doing but it will be worth the money. You can also look around other home improvement store to see which ones are cheaper in price. Another thing you can do is put up new siding around the house to replace the old ones or to cover the wood and make your house look better. This also protects your house as well so the wood will not get damaged.

Visit Adyan Corkern's
Butler Flood Damage Cleanup and Calera Flood Damage Cleanup sites for fast help.

Active Subterranean Termites

Headboards Can Be A Mirror Of Your Personality

Everyone has a stylistic preference, especially in terms of his or her own home dor and particularly in the bedroom. One of the best ways to get this point across is to choose the right style from among the many headboards on the market. However, you may not be familiar with the various styles of headboards available today and what they say about you.

Wooden headboards are available for those who enjoy everything from an Edwardian extravagance to a minimalist rustic design. Wood can be carved into an intricate design or can provide a basic, flat backboard for your bed, creating an empty canvas from which to begin a surrounding design. Large headboards carved from wood tend to show your penchant for being in the spotlight, stealing attention from other aspects of your design. Choosing a smaller piece shows your need to have all the elements in your bedroom work together to create a complete picture.

Iron headboards are a typical choice for those who tend to change their minds often, since the wrought iron background is so diverse, and the dor surrounding the material can be changed as frequently to the widest variety of styles as you desire. If you feel like decorating the area with red and black Feng Shui design this month and in basic white cottage style next month, headboards of wrought iron are the perfect background from which to begin.

An iron sleigh bed, with its intricate design and specific look, speak to your classic taste and the need to feel cozy and "at home" in your bed. These beds, including the material, also show a preference for the outdoors due to the resemblance to an actual sleigh. Of course, because sleigh rides are equated with romantic evenings, this choice of headboards can also show you up as a romantic at heart! Again, though, the choice of iron as a material shows your need for diversity and simplicity.

If you choose to redesign your bedroom with a choice of one of the popular modern platform beds available today, you are showing you either don't really care much for detailed design or you prefer a true minimalistic design behind any additional dor or accessories you use to express your style. With these headboards, there is little intricate carving, metalworking, or design, and they are typically quite plain, allowing you to build around them.

One other choice you may consider in choosing your personal style is the purchase of leather headboards. While these are not necessarily intricate in terms of weaving or carving, they do speak to a sense of sophistication and desire to add a stately and expensive appearance to the room. Regardless of your choice, the style of headboards you choose will easily tell people who you are and give them insight to your taste.

Ben Weissman writes articles about using Metal Beds, Headboards and other Contemporary Bedroom Furniture to Decorate Your Home. You'll find more Interior Design Ideas at http://www.Home-and-Bedroom.com Make your bedroom into a personal retreat!

Increase Home Value Through Smart Renovation

The practice of increasing home value through proper renovation techniques has never been more important than it is today. We constantly hear on the news about poor economy and poor real estate market. Homeowners who plan to increase their home value through renovations should be reminded that the margin for error is slim and a small mistake could easily wipe off their profit or worse result in a total loss.

Slow economy should not scare away homeowners from remodeling their home in order to increase their home value. However, homeowners should only follow smart renovation techniques and be careful not to over-renovate their home. Over-renovation could be a total financial disaster. Prudent homeowners must learn about value engineering in respect to home remodeling if they are serious about profiting from renovation.

The methods and analysis that enable you to determine what specific renovations allow you to benefit most from renovation is referred to as value engineering. In the next paragraphs we are going to briefly point out the steps one needs to follow in order to maximize one's profit and increase his/her home value.

I) Step one is to contact your local real estate office or a qualified appraiser to obtain the current market value of your home as well as the value of renovated homes that are similar to yours within your area. The purpose of this research is to ensure that there is room to profit. If you find that the value of renovated homes nearby is close to the price of your un-renovated home, then there is no point in renovating your home.

Make sure that you only compare your home with homes that are similar to yours and are located a short distance from your home. There is no point comparing your home that is on a 30 x 90 parcel of land to a home built on a 10 acre land or a home that is located in different areas as real estate prices vary from area to area.

II) Contact your local real estate office or a qualified appraiser to find out which renovations in your area add value and which renovations do not. You then need to look further at the renovations that add value and ask your appraiser or your real estate agent to determine how much value each of these renovations bring to your home.

Comparable Market Analysis (CMA) is the method used by real estate salespersons and appraisers to determine home value. Appraisers look at large quantity of sold properties near your home and then adjust the price for your home based on the condition of various parts of your home as well as any new additions or extensions that you may have build to your home. As an example the appraiser knows that a second additional bathroom in your area is very desirable and the sold price of homes with a second bathroom show an increase of $4000 in comparison to those that did not have the second bathroom. In the same way the appraiser may note that a finished basement increase value by $6000 or fireplace has no impact on the value and etc.

III) Now that you know the value of each renovation, you need to find out your cost for carrying out each of these renovations. This step is needed to find out if you are able to make a profit from a particular renovation. To determine your cost for each renovation, you should obtain at least three price estimates from qualified contractors.

IV) After completing step three you are in the position to determine which particular renovation maximizes your profit. You can accomplish this by subtracting the added value each renovation brings as detailed in step three from the cost of that renovation determined in step four. This is especially useful when you have a limited budget and need to know which renovation will give you the maximum profit.

To learn more about increasing your home value through renovation click, Increase Home Value

Visit http://www.homeremodelingguide.ca to find other helpful remodeling ideas, advices and resources.

Moss Growing On Stucco

Credit Repair Blueprint - Part 2

In the previous article of this series I talked about how important it is to get copies of your credit report from each of the major credit reporting bureaus. I explained the various sections of your credit report and how to read it. The FICO score was discussed and why it's the only score you need to worry about. If you haven't already procured copies of your credit reports and FICO scores from each bureau, look at my previous article to find out the best place to get these. It will be hard to start repairing your credit without these things.

There are two rules of thought in fixing your credit. Start building new credit and getting rid of the negative items. I will break these down and I will give some ideas for both.

One of the easiest ways to add new credit is applying for a secured credit card. Everyone is eligible for this card and it's a great way to start building new credit. If you are like the rest of us (yes me included) who's credit has gotten hammered in the last couple of years, this may be your only choice. A secured card is different from a normal credit card in that you will have to deposit money into the account and pay a small application fee. The key to making these cards work will be to make sure they report to the major credit bureaus. This way you can start making purchases on the card and begin making monthly on time payments.

This leads me to the next subject which is keeping the proper debt to credit ratio on your revolving credit. To explain further, if you have a credit card with a $3000.00 credit limit and you owe $1500.00 on this card, your debt to credit ratio would be 50%. Believe it or not, maintaining a small balance on your credit cards will improve your credit score, where paying the card off each month can have a negative affect on your score. The reason for that is the way your score is calculated. Lenders want to see that you can make monthly payments and hold a balance on your credit cards. It's how they make money, and it's built into the credit score algorithm to look for this. Keeping a 25 to 35% debt to credit ratio will begin driving your score up.

Removing negative items from your credit report is a more complicated subject. Enter the Fair Credit Reporting Act to your rescue. This law was passed to help the consumers. The FCRA says that the consumer can dispute negative items found on their credit card deemed to be inaccurate. Presented in the correct fashion to the credit bureau will prompt an investigation from the credit bureau to look into this inaccuracy. The credit bureau has 30 days to investigate the matter and if it can't be resolved than the negative item will be removed from your report. This is one of many techniques used to remove items from your report, so use it correctly.

We have briefly covered some of the techniques used to build new credit and remove the items that are having a negative impact on your credit score. Please visit my website for more detailed information, articles and forms to get started towards raising your credit score. Good luck!

William Lingle is the owner/operator of Clever Credit Repair - and author of the free e-book "40 Credit Repair Secrets". Please visit my site for a unique approach to learning credit repair. We will arm you with the best quality information, articles and resources to repair your own credit as good or better than any professional service can offer. Please check my review of the best secured credit cards for building new credit.

Shear Panel Water Damage

10 Simple Actions That Reduce Your Environmental Impact

There is a big difference between knowing how to live green and actually living green. Being green isn't always easy and it isn't always cheap but the world you live in becomes a better place for your efforts.

"Greening" your own life starts with a single step. If you are ready to take that first step then consider the following 10 simple actions that you can apply in your own life to reduce your impact on the environment.

1. Support local green businesses. Do you have a local Co-op or Farmer's Market you could be shopping at?
2. Install Energy Star products such as compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) or a Cool-N-Save(tm) Air Conditioning Pre-Cooling System. Doing this can provide a 30-75% energy savings.
3. Always remember to check and maintain your tire pressure at least once a month. Doing this can save you about $840 a year on gas and reduce approximately 250 lbs of carbon dioxide.
4. Add low-flow aerators to any sink you have that may have been manufactured before 1994. In 1994 the government mandated that sinks could have no more then 2.2 gallons per minute of flow, before 1994 sinks could use between 3-4 gallons of water per minute.
5. Purchase green power from your electric company. This reduces demand for fossil fuel based power.
6. Plant a tree. Tree's offer shade and reduce CO2 from the environment.
7. Bring your own utensils into work - it's an easy way to avoid throwaway plastic ones.
8. Bring your own coffee mug to coffee shops - it's an easy way to avoid disposable coffee cups.
9. Reduce the amount of red meat you eat. Why? The production of animal-products has an expensive environmental cost, so the less you eat, the less the environment incurs.
10. Unplug power adapters, like your cell phone charger and MP3 player charger, when not in use. These chargers use energy 24/7 even when your item is not charging.
    

While this is far from a comprehensive list I hope these tips help you become a bit more "green" in your own life. As the world keeps getting bigger it's more and more important we each do our part.

Sam Greyhawk is an energy efficiency evangelist who works for Cool-N-Save(tm), an Energy Star Partner, in Huntington Beach, California. When you want to reduce your impact on the environment remember Cool-N-Save(tm).

Consider Repairing Your Home With the Help of FHA 203k Streamline Rehab Loans

Are you considering buying a home that needs repairs or rehabilitation? Are you living in a home that needs repairs or updates, but can't find a loan to pay for those needed repairs? HUD has a program for which you may qualify. The FHA Streamline 203k Rehab Loan is designed just for people who would like to purchase a home that needs repairs or would like to refinance their home and make needed repairs.

Typically, when you purchase a home that needs repairs, you have to set up a complicated series of loans. First, you have to take out a loan for the home's current value, then find a lender to borrow the money for the repairs. Finally, after the repairs are finished, you have to refinance the home at its new value and pay off the first mortgage and the repair loan. The FHA 203k Rehab loan is designed to streamline that process. With an Arizona FHA 203k loan, you take out a mortgage on your home and specify the repairs needed and their expected cost. The amount for the repairs is put into an escrow account on which you can draw as the work is completed. AZ FHA 203k loans are available to first time home buyers and others who may not qualify for traditional commercial loan products.

How can I use the FHA 203k Loan program?

FHA 203k loans can be used to secure a mortgage in three ways:

- You can use an FHA 203k loan to buy a dwelling and the land on which it sits and do repair and rehab work in place
- You can use an FHA 203k loan to buy a building on another site and move it to a new foundation on the mortgaged property and repair it
- You can use an FHA 203k loan to refinance an existing mortgage and repair the mortgaged dwelling

What properties are eligible for Arizona FHA 203k financing?
FHA 203k loans can be used to purchase or refinance one to four unit family dwellings, including condominium units under certain circumstances.

What repairs are allowed under an FHA 203k loan?
A homeowner can use a 203k loan to make needed repairs that become a permanent part of the existing home. The cost of the repairs must be at least $5,000 and less than $35,000, except under very specific circumstances. If a home requires updates or repairs to meet energy efficiency or safety standards, those must be included in the loan amount and must be completed before other repairs. If there are no required repairs, then FHA 203k financing can be used for painting, room additions, decks and even to upgrade appliances in a home. Among the repairs that qualify under the $5,000 minimum requirement are:

- Reconstruction and structural repairs like chimney repairs, repairs of termite damage, roof repairs, addition of skylights
- Modernization or projects that improve function like adding or updating a bathroom, remodeling a kitchen or adding built-in appliances to a kitchen
- Eliminating health and safety hazards, like lead paint or asbestos abatement
- Changes for aesthetic appeal like new siding or adding a second story to the home
- Plumbing replacement or reconditioning, including the installation of new plumbing fixtures like interior whirlpool tubs
- Energy efficiency improvements like the addition of solar panels or caulking and weather stripping, or installation of double hung windows, etc

For more information about FHA 203k rehab loans, contact a qualified Arizona FHA lender.

Joel McLaughlin / Dataflurry
Learn more about the benefits of Arizona FHA Streamline 203K loans
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PC Repair Showstoppers - 10 Things That Can Derail Your Business

If you want to run a successful PC repair company, you have to know how to provide end-to-end solutions to your clients and build real relationships. This involves learning to spot and address potential problems proactively... before they turn into total catastrophes that will destroy your business.

First of all, you have to keep communication lines open with your clients if you want to be an effective project manager. During major projects, keep in touch with the main contact person at the client site at least once or twice a week, so you can give and get feedback, and report on project developments.

But which issues can ruin client relationships and derail your business? The following is a list of 10 potential show-stoppers for your PC repair business, so you can identify and learn how you can side-step each of them.

1. Ambiguous Software Licensing, Ownership or Poorly Documented Configurations. If your client is getting new PCs, make sure your client has the media and the right number of licenses. Especially in the case of software installation with non-standard configuration, make sure the proper configuration settings and procedures are well-documented and accessible.
2. A Client that is a Control Freak. You can't afford to just sit back and take it if your clients want to boss you around. Unless your PC repair clients want to pay for your training, non-billable downtime, overhead, taxes, insurance and fringe benefits, clients need to know your firm's staff are not their employees.
3. Data Not Transferred from Old PCs. Small business end users often think that years-worth of stored data files will be magically transferred from their existing PC's to new server folders or computers. Because they believe in this supernatural phenomenon, they hardly ever mention all or any of their data files when talking to you about their IT problems. You need to be responsible for scouring local drives for stray data files as part of your initial assessment.
4. A Project that Drags in the End. With problem clients, you might find yourself embroiled in follow-up work and tweaking for weeks or more. When you are first planning a project, you need to know and define which tasks are in scope and which are out of scope. If you're not sure, refer to the latest revision of your time budget. Don't be afraid to use change orders if necessary.
5. Hardware Incompatibility. Be wary of non-standard hardware not provided or recommended by your PC repair firm. It can derail you... big time!
6. Lack of Server Data Backup. Be certain you have a complete and verified backup of all data on your clients' existing server in case you need to roll back to original configuration settings or find data.
7. Delays on Products or from Service Providers. Because you will be acting as a project coordinator/virtual CIO, you will often be coordinating telco or ISP account activation or product shipments from multiple distributors. And you might run into unanticipated delays. Most small business clients will be content just to be kept apprised of the situation as long as the delay is not too bad. Get scheduling commitments from all subcontractors and write the proper contingencies into your project plans to protect you and clients.
8. A Project Timetable that is Too Rigid. You might think you should print out your project plan and set it in stone, delivering just one version to the client. However, this is dangerous. Make your timetable an amendable, living document. You'll probably update your timetable on a weekly basis to reflect progress and problems or delays.
9. Skipping the Planning Phase to Save Time or Money. Do you think it might be wise to skip some of the preliminary needs analysis and planning because they seem like wastes of time? Never skip these critical tasks. When you skip important planning and needs analysis steps, you run the risk of overlooking key elements of projects.
10. Incompatible Software. If you want to be perceived as a PC repair professional, make sure you don't take software compatibility for granted! Ask and test sample configurations to make sure everything works as advertised.

In this article, we outlined 10 business problems. Learn more about how you can attract great, steady, high-paying clients now at http://www.PCRepairBusiness.com

Copyright (C), PCRepairBusiness.com, All Rights Reserved

Easy Way to Repair a Large Hole in Your Wall

Great video on how to fix a hole in your wall .

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.

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Wet Basement Remodeling

So you have decided to add additional living space to your current home by finishing the basement. This additional square footage will increase the value of your home along with creating a new space for family to spend time together. But wait, there is the fear that finishing a space that is below grade can get wet and ruin your investment. What do you do? What do you need to know?

First, gutters should be cleaned and maintained. Gutters should be sloped a minimum of 1 inch for every forty feet of vertical run. Downspouts should extend either well beyond the area of influence around your foundation or intergraded into a underground network that collects storm runoff and sends it to a day light area down hill from the structure.

Next, the soil needs to be re graded around the foundation. If water pools against your foundation it's only a matter of time before it finds its way into the house. In order to create positive drainage, it is important to remove any mulch or debris from the surface before you move the soil. You can reuse the mulch on the new area but it's important not to mix it with the soil. A mixture of soil, mulch and debris can actually make your drainage problems worse. The soil should slope 6" over 10' away from the foundation.

Installing or replacing your sump pump is one of the best ways to stop any flooding from occurring. Battery backup models are available so that even during power outages you can rest assured that your basement will not be flooded. As hydrostatic pressure rises, due to ground water, the sump pump will send water to the exterior of your home. Where this water exits the home you should have a PVC line extending beyond the area of influence or to your driveway to prevent that water from going back against your foundation.

At this point you need to assess the overall structural integrity of the basement walls. If there are any signs of cracks or bowing you should contact a foundation engineer immediately so that the situation can be evaluated and a structural plan can be devised if necessary. If foundation repairs are necessary the foundation engineer can recommend a foundation repair expert to perform the repairs on your home. Many times cracks and leaks can be solved quickly and inexpensively by trained foundation experts.

Upon completion of any necessary repairs work can begin on your new living space with the confidence that your investment will not be destroyed by water infiltration or structural failings. The steps are simple and many times only require minimal efforts and expense compared to having your newly renovated space being flooded.

About the Author:

Jeff Tully invites you to view his website http://www.myfoundationrepairs.com if you are having any foundation issues including bowing walls, cracks in your foundation or any type of settlement issue. On this website you will find the truth about foundation repair methods and what you should expect. There are many misconceptions about foundation piers or tie backs, get the straight answers here.

This site was designed and built with the homeowner in mind is the only true source for foundation repair and waterproofing information. From determining if you really have a structural issue to hiring an engineer or foundation expert, you will find the answers on my site.

Building Projects With Treated Wood - Home Remodeling Ideas

Building with treated wood and the idea that this project will last forever because of the wood you used is not necessarily true. Over the years I have seen contractors and homeowners use treated wood for projects like building decks with this idea in mind.

I just met with a homeowner that was asking me about vinyl fencing. The homeowner approached me with some facts about vinyl fencing. She started to explain to me how long a vinyl fence would last verses a wood fence. I reminded her that the vinyl posts usually slip over metal or wood building materials.

She proceeded to inform me that treated wood will last a lot longer than wood used when building a wooden fence. It took me a while to change her mind and reprogram her with a few picture this from my website. I know this is hard to imagine but wood rots and steel rust.

All you end up with is a vinyl fence that is in pretty good shape if taken care of properly laying down in your yard with broken or rusted fence posts.

Do you know that some people use treated wood for countertops and food preparation areas when building certain projects like an outdoor barbecue? Do you know people build outdoor furniture with treated wood and then sit in it with a chance of toxic chemicals entering into your body? This is where Redwood comes in as a natural building product or other nice looking woods. Redwood is classified as a softwood and if used for a countertop and a barbecue kitchen area you will have to protect it from heavy pans and people using the countertop for a cutting board.

Do not use treated wood for a projects that will be used for food preparation later.

It's a good idea to wash your hands after handling treated lumber. It's a really good idea to wash your hands after using treated lumber if you are going to eat something or make something for another person or yourself.

For all the homeowners and building contractors that use treated wood and bury it in dirt. Or build a low lying deck right above the ground I would like to share something with you. I have been repairing and replacing your work for over 30 years now. You guys keep me busy and I want to thank you for all the years you guys have been in business.

I still can't believe the amount of work I see being done using treated wood with the illusion that it will last longer than regular construction standard wood. I don't know how else to put it except to say treated wood will rot fast in the right conditions.

Treated wood does need to be protected from rain, snow, heat and other elements of the weather. It cannot sit in the dirt or lay in water for long periods of time without slowly disintegrating. Oh yeah one more thing termites will eat sections of the wood that is not completely treated.

Use treated wood properly when building and inform other people about some of the stuff you learned in this article. Reread this article later and save it for 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 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 Structural Home Repairs

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