Home Improvement Information


Building Your Dream Home - Part 2


Razing the CottageWith new house plans and permits in hand, subcontractors hired and a Septic Design in process, it was now time to raze the existing cottage. I considered employing the local fire department to burn it down, however I chose the demolition route instead.

Make Your House A Home


When thinking about polished floors, cushions in place, an exquisite flower arrangement, crisp and folded napkins on the table, take time to think about comfort, family time and kids activities also when decorating or designing your house. A lively place full of warmth and chatter is what makes a 'House' a 'Home'.

Laminate Flooring is Built for the Twenty First Century


The tradition of hardwood floors dates back hundreds of years, their beauty and warmth have downed the halls of castles and brought elegance to many a modern day dining room. Whether it's casual or formal, the natural beauty of hardwood can bring warmth and character to any room and suit any décor.

Hand Hooked Rugs


Hand hooked rugs are a great way to add splendor to a bedroom, a kitchen, sun porch, or children's room. A number of designers like Jane Keltner, Suzanne Nicoll, Sally Dailey, Dena, and Tracy Porter focus exclusively on designing hand hooked rugs.

How to Collect Physical Mold Growth Samples for Low-Cost Mold Laboratory Identification of Mold Spec


How to Collect Physical Mold Growth Samples for Low-Cost Mold Laboratory Identification of Mold SpeciesVANCOUVER, CANADA. Many property owners, apartment landlords, renters, employers, and employees want to know, and need to know, the precise identities of the various mold species infesting their moldy house, rental unit, or place of employment, according to Phillip Fry, Certified Mold Inspector and author of the book Do-It-Best-Yourself Mold Prevention, Inspection, Testing, & Remediation.

Installing a Toilet


The installation of a toilet is a relatively easy job for a homeowner. With a couple of wrenches, a screwdriver and a few shims a new toilet can be installed in about one hour.

Concrete Cutting: Shedding Light On Your Basement Remodel


Basements or cellars (depending on which part of the country you are from) are primarily seen as dark and dingy parts of a home. In most cases they are considered a useless area or are used as a "catch all" for family discards that haven't quite made it to the curbside for trash pick up yet.

Modern Rugs


The modern look is a highly admired form of interior design. The word Modern is a broad term that encompasses many different techniques and styles of design.

What Are The Benefits of Radiant Heating: How Do They Compare With Other Heating Applications


Some of the benefits of radiant heatComfort: Let your bare feet soak up the warmth of soothing heat without the dust and noise associated with other heating sources. Enjoy evenly distributed heat throughout your home kitchen, bedroom, bathroom and basement.

Quick and Dirty Guide to Wood Flooring


If you've always longed for hardwood floors, you're in good company. While soft wooden floors date back to the Colonial era, hardwood floors first burst on the scene in the late 17th century.

Repairing a Hole in a Sheetrocked Wall


It is quite simple to repair a hole in a Sheetrocked wall, however there are minor differences in methods of repair depending on how large the hole is.Small size holes (1/4" or smaller)With small holes, simply apply a little joint compound or wall putty with a small putty knife or trowel.

Roller Blinds


What is behind the popularity of roller blinds. Is it because they are the value for money window treatment or is there anything else in it.

Aluminium Conservatories


The conservatory is a popular addition to homes around the world and in particular in colder climates. Conservatories began their existence in the 1700s as Dutch farmers looked to find ways of protecting their plants during the colder winter months.

Building Permits and Inspections


Probably the most intimidating part of building your own house is the permit process. Not only do the the requirements vary from township to township, but at times the decisions made seem so subjective that we find ourselves seething in frustration.

5 Reasons to Make Early Spring Firewood Time at Your Home


As the weather hints of warmth and the spring buds appear on trees, firewood may not be the first thing that comes to mind. But early spring is the ideal time to buy or gather your firewood for your fireplace or woodstove.

Add Value To Your Home With A Home Improvement Loan


Buying a home is a big and important investment for most people, and understandably property owners want to keep their home in good condition and looking great. However, carrying out home improvements can be difficult if finances are tight and this is where a home improvement loan could really help.

Choosing the Right House Plan


Now that you have made that bold decision to build a home of your dream, it absolutely important to get the best home you can imagine. For you and all of us, building the home of our desire is one time affair in our life time.

Remodeling Online


Remodeling PlansMaking remodeling plans for a house helps you to ensure that your home meets all your needs. It also adds value to your home in the long term.

Home Remodeling Business


Need for home remodelingThe need for home remodeling is on the rise as many people like the neighborhood they live in and the affordability of their existing homes. By incurring a little cost they can remodel their old houses to increase space and add new amenities.

The Wireless Home


It was only a few years ago that Real Estate agents and Builders were promoting the "Wired" feature as a must have when buying a new home. Wired meant that the home not only had cable running throughout it, but also Cat-5 wire.

Home Fire Prevention Effectiveness 1


Are you aware that you can lose all your personal belongings in a single fire?It's very sad when fire strikes your home. You lose everything.

Refrigerators Electric Consumption - Lower It In 15 Minutes


I recently had a customer ask for my advise about cleaning her refrigerator.I started to describe the pros and cons of different cleaners that can be used to clean the interior when she stopped me abruptly.

How To Clean Your Air Conditioner Like A Pro


Jack Frost is nipping at our nose and Santa Clause has just left. The eastern seaboard has just received their third blizzard for a total of over 125 cm (56 inches) of snow in one week.

Would You Steel Your Household Appliances


Would you steel your appliances? That is a question many consumers are now asking themselves.The "in" style -----------------------Stainless steel household appliances are the "in" style right now.

Get Your Home Ready To Sell


Have you been considering selling your home in the near future? If you have, then it wouldn't be a bad idea to take a good long look at your home, using an unbiased eye.After all, a clean, appealing, well maintained home has much better odds of selling, selling for more, and selling faster.

Bathroom Magic


Believe it or not, the bathroom is one of the most magickal rooms in your house; Your make up box and medicine chest can be treasure chest of tools , the bathtub and shower are wonderful place to conduct cleansing and attraction rituals, and the toilet can be a handy mechanism for flushing away negativity.Here are some examples of positive magick that can be performed in your powder room.

Home Furnishings and Shelving


Its spring time and that means we start working on our homes. Cleaning, organizing, purchasing new things to spruce the place up are just some of the home furnishings we do.

CCTV for the Home


Securing your property is one of the growing domestic issues in the UK today. Some research suggests that at least one home is broken into every minute.

Mahoganys Beauty and Durability Makes it Ideal for Deck Construction


A couple of years ago I had the chance to tour several newly constructed Adirondack homes. One of the areas that particularly stood out for me while touring these homes were the decks.

Kitchen Remodel - How to Survive


You have decided to make the plunge and begin to plan your kitchen remodeling project. There are so many questions and you're not sure where to start.

Hardwood Floors - 7 Tips For Selecting Perfect Flooring


DESIGN STYLESWith thousands of colors and styles to select from today it can seem like a daunting task to make the right flooring choice. To narrow the field down it is recommended that you select a flooring style that complements your overall interior design style.

The Techno-Witch and Magickal Appliances


My favourite episode of Bugs Bunny is the one where Bugs turns into a witch and says: "We ride vacuum cleaners now".It is true that the vacuum cleaner can be substituted for a broom to do a spell.

What does it take to be an Interior Designer?


When trying to decide if Interior Design is right for you, it helps to know what that really means. Interior Design is not simply the profession that "makes rooms and places pretty"; it takes a little bit more than that.

Gel Candle Safety: What You Should Know Before You Buy


A lot of attention has been focused on gel candle safety in recent years. Irresponsible (usually foreign) candlemakers have flooded the shelves of dollar stores and discount retailers with poor quality and at times unsafe container gel candles.

What to Know Before Signing a Home Improvement Contract


It is important to be a very careful consumer when it comes to home improvement contractors. For instance, I had a case where my client, an elderly and blind woman, signed a contract and paid $30,000.


More Resources

Your Home is Your Symphony
"Dr. Carl Sagan once wrote, "Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known.
Modern Rugs
The modern look is a highly admired form of interior design. The word Modern is a broad term that encompasses many different techniques and styles of design.
An Overview of Aluminium, Plastic and Timber Conservatories
Conservatories remain a popular accoutrement and attachment to homes throughout the United Kingdom and the world in the 21st century. Around for over three hundred years, conservatories work to provide a lovely transition between the main residence and the natural surroundings abutting the home.
Improving Your Bathrooms Appearance can be as Simple as Changing Your Bathroom Cabinets
Your choice of bathroom cabinet can affect the look and feel of your entire room. If your bathroom could benefit from a fresh new look, then consider replacing your old storage cabinets with stylish new ones.
How to Modify Your Landscaping to Protect Your House from Burglars
Believe it or not, landscaping can be an important part of a good home security plan. A burglar who is "casing the joint" from the street will choose the house with tall shrubs and trees that provide hiding places.
Small Cabin Plans - Finding a Great Log Cabin Plan Online
Small cabin plans - how do you find that special log cabin plan that is just right for you? Before the internet, you would buy some cabin plans books and look through the plans to see if any appealed to you. If you found one, you could order the log cabin plan you wanted by telephone or mail.
Whats Underfoot? A Quick Guide to Patio Surfaces
Patios and terraces have always been popular outdoor spaces. Whether a Parisian courtyard or a rooftop alcove, only porches and sunrooms beat out these paved (or semi-paved) retreats in a recent survey of my readers as the most ideal outside living space.
Let's "Clear the Air" Shall We?
What can you do to "clear the air" indoors, at work and at home? You want to know you are breathing clean air in the places you spend the most time, promoting a clear head and a sense of well being. It's no longer okay to allow clean air into your life just at the cabin or lake.
Planning Permission UK - Tactics if Appealing to the DOE for a Planning Refusal
Tactics of Appealing to the DOE - There will be times in any Design Agents career when a clients scheme will be refused Planning Permission. Fortunately, our experience is now at a point when we can normally forecast these schemes & steer the client away from that design solution.
Get the Lead Out: Candle Wicks in the US
According to the National Candle Association (NCA), most US-manufactured candle wicking is made of cotton or cotton-paper combinations. Nearly 90% of the candles made in the United States (i.
Window Dressing from the Outside Looking In
Window coverings are important to the overall look and feel of a room, of course, but when designing window treatments, don't forget to take into consideration what your overall design will look like from the outside of your home.As a general rule, window coverings should all be of a similar coloring, which will significantly improve the look of your home's exterior.
A Beautiful Carpet Sets The Mood Of Any Room
The first discovered carpet dates back to 1480 BC in the form of an Egyptian Fresco of handloom. Ever since, carpets have made their mark in most tastefully decorated hearths and homes.
Summer Is Here! Consider Tackling Key Home Improvement Projects While The Weather Is Good!
Summer time means barbeques, baseball, camping, and yes, Home Improvement Projects! As the weather gets nice and the days get longer so do lists of home improvement projects. Here are a few projects which are best done in the summer maximizing the long days and the good weather!Gardening/Landscaping: Depending on which part of the country you live in it may be too late to plant a garden from seed, but you most likely still have time to get your garden going using starters.
Consumer Guides: Finding A Quality Contractor and Power Washing Tips
Power washing is the application of high pressure water spray. Some of the most popular services include the cleaning of concrete patios, sidewalks, decks, house siding, entrance ways, and driveways.
Swim Spas Make a Big Splash with Baby Boomers
If you are an aging baby boomer like I am, you may be looking for a fun form of water recreation where you can get some relief from aching muscles and joints, be able to exercise or just relax, have a place for the grand kids to play and better yet, all of this occurs in one place from the comfort and convenience of your own home.Many of the potential swimming pool buyers are looking into swim spas as an alternative to installing a fiberglass swimming pool or above ground pool.
Planning Permission and Building Regulations for Conservatories in the UK
Do I need planning permission for a conservatory?Do I need Building Regulation approval for a conservatoryTo help you understand these issues I detail below some of the "conditions" attached to planning permission and building regulations. (These apply to England/Wales only) Scottish, Irish and North American regulations are quite different - You should in all instances take local advice.
How to Build a Home Sauna - Three Important Questions to Answer Before Building
Considering that home saunas are believed to produce numerous health benefits and provide a relaxing spa experience, it's no wonder than more and more people want to know how to build a home sauna. The answer to this question depends on several factors, including your budget, the space available, and how handy you are.
Plastic Applied to the Picnic Table?
There are many styles of picnic tables on the market, but what kind of material is best for durability and safety? Powder coating has been an accepted coated finish for years and there are several reasons why. The coating look great, you can have most any color you want, they are friendly to the environment and efficient to produce.
Country Home Accessories
Country home décor is the most sought after home interior and it's no wonder since country décor invites a casual friendly lifestyle.Make sure you carefully study the specific style, and color scheme then carefully coordinate the colors of each element of your country décor.
When Is It Time To Call The Professional?
For most Do-It-Yourself (DIY) home project managers, the most difficult decision is to know when to give the professionals a call to come complete a task and when to complete it yourself. The reason we like to do our own home upgrades or an addition is always a pretty internal and selfish reason.

More Home Improvement Information:

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Whether you live in your cabin year round or it's been closed up for the winter, it's time for spring cleaning. It's hard to get motivated.
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An Overview of Aluminium, Plastic and Timber Conservatories
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Bathroom Magic
Believe it or not, the bathroom is one of the most magickal rooms in your house; Your make up box and medicine chest can be treasure chest of tools , the bathtub and shower are wonderful place to conduct cleansing and attraction rituals, and the toilet can be a handy mechanism for flushing away negativity.Here are some examples of positive magick that can be performed in your powder room.