Home Improvement Information


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.

Outdoor Bars - Essential For Summer Entertaining


The trend for enhancing your patio is to create an outdoor kitchen area. Cooking and eating aren't the only things favored by these new ideas in outdoor living.

Wall Oven - A Necessity For The Disabled


Wall ovens, available in electric and gas forms, are best ovens for the people with disabilities. The ovens can be placed considering the required height of the user, and the controls can also be placed within the reach of the standing or sitting user.

Types of Table Saws


A table saw is one of the most popular pieces of machinery used for woodworking. It consists of a circular saw powered by an electric motor that is mounted onto a table.

Planning Permission Tips UK: The Value of Design Statements When Submitting a Planning Application


In theory every Planning Application should be supported with a design statement. This is simply a written document that explains certain aspects of the design and why it is required including the clients needs.

Bathroom Interior Design


Any advice or guide on the interior design of a bathroom should be based around one simple concept: keep it simple. Rooms inside of a home should have functional aspects, and if one room is designed for very specific functions, it is the bathroom.

Why Should You Need Tools for Everyday Living


How often you have used tools for your everyday living? The advantage for having power tools, automotive tools or garden tools in your house is really awesome. In an emergency condition, you might need tools to repair your things.

Use Ladders Safely


The Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that eachyear more than 511,000 people are treated for cuts, bruisesand fractured bones from improper use of ladders. Morethan 300 people a year die from ladder related injuries.

Daydreaming About Your Home Makeover Projects


Most of us enjoy daydreaming about our perfect home. Do you ever think about your home just before falling to sleep? Instead of worrying about your tasks for tomorrow, try this exercise tonight: imagine you're arriving home.

Apartment Inspection Checklist


You have found an apartment you like and you are eager to move in this lovely place. Hold on! Before you sign the lease with the landlord, some inspection is necessary and it might save you a lot of trouble.

Adjustable Bed - Start Each Day on the Right Note


Your daily beauty sleep will not be complete if any of the following four factors namely light, noise, and temperature and of course the bed that you are sleeping on are not up to the desired level. While you may adjust the other three factors according to your desired comfort you won't be able to do that with the bed unless you have an adjustable bed.

New Tax Breaks for Energy Efficient Home Improvements


If you would like to make your existing home more energy efficient and get some help paying for the improvements, you need to know about the Energy Tax Incentives Act of 2005. The new law provides a $500 lifetime credit against your federal income tax for the cost of certain energy-saving home improvements that you make to your home after December 31, 2005 and before January 1, 2008.

Tips To Improve The Quality Of Your Outdoor Space And Patio


It's easy to get overwhelmed trying to figure out just how to bring an outdoor room together to make it a peaceful spot to relax or enjoy quality time with friends and family. But if you think of it as yet another room to decorate and furnish, the space will come together more easily.

Natural Gas vs Charcoal Grills - Which One Is Right For You?


Barbequing outdoors is a pleasure that anyone can partake in and with so many types of grills available you can practically cook anywhere. One exception to the list is a natural gas grill which needs a permanent hook up.

3 Great Reasons to Shop for Home Lighting Online


If you are a consumer who knows just what brand or style of lighting fixtures you are looking to buy, the internet can save you money. Conversely, if you are just learning about what lighting fixtures, interior and exterior, are available for your home, the internet is a great place to get educated.

The Solar Energy Industry Grew 67% Last Year: Are You Making the Best Decision for Your Future?


Are you considering using renewable energy resources to heat water or generate electricity?Would you like to be independent from the grid?Do you want to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions you and your family produce?Great! You are not alone in your quest.The demand for solar power energy is growing.

Age Old Question: Buy New or Remodel Existing Home?


Your house doesn't have enough storage space, bathrooms, or counter space! Not too mention your kitchen is old, small and poorly ventilated. Now you are trying to decide between remodeling your current home to address some of these needs and buying a new bigger home.

Planning Your In-Wall Speaker System


So you've finally decided to get your favorite music throughout your house. What's next? Where do you go from here? That depends upon your requirements and weather this will be an installation in an existing home or a music system in a new construction home.

Ways to Heat Your Water


Water heating optionsWhere you live, as well as the life style you lead, the number of people in your household, and where you'll put the water heating system, you'll need to factor these realities in if you're going to purchase a new hot water system, or getting a back up system.Having this basic information at hand, will ensure you'll get hot water every day of the year, when you want and however much you need - at the best cost possible.

Is a Hot Tub for You? Top 5 Questions You Need to Answer


As a way of relaxing, more and more people are adding a hot tubto their home. Not only are hot tubs relaxing but they alsooffer tremendous benefit for people of all ages.

The Ultimate Comfort - Top 5 Reasons For Getting an Awning


Awnings are an economical and efficient way to shade a deck orpatio from the hot glaring sun or cold winds and rain. Thegreat thing about choosing an awning is that you could go with adesign whereby the awning is out all the time or if you prefer aretractable awning that can be pulled back when you want toenjoy sunlight and open air.

Planning Permission Tips UK - Conservatories - Dispelling a Myth


It's now well into the new year and the residential development scene has got off to a good start again. All this talk about 'slow down' certainly hasn't affected peoples desire to improve rather than move.

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.

Remove Carpet Stains - The How To


Your short lesson on how to remove carpet stains: act fast. Carpets today (most) come with stain-resistant treatments, so spills can be removed if you get to them quickly.

Aluminium Window Frames


When double glazing first became a popular window choice in the 1960s, most frames were made of aluminum. Aluminum remained the most popular choice for framing double glazing windows through the mid-1980s, when it held over 60% of the market.

Remedies for a Wet Basement


A wet basement can be just a nuisance or even real nightmare. Each year, thousands of homeowners are faced with the unpleasant side effects of seasonal rainfall.

Skip Troweling Method for Textured Ceilings


There are several ceiling texture choices to choose from when finishing a room. You can simply apply a flat paint to the ceiling, or spray or roll on a popcorn textured ceiling.

Deck Building Ledger - The Secrets to Successful Deck Construction


The Deck Building Ledger holds all the secrets to successful deck construction because it is the essential piece of wood that connects your deck to your home and from which all other measurements are taken.Choose the piece of lumber for your ledger carefully, hold it up and look down the side of the wood to check for irregularities like warping and twisting.

Which Water Purification Systems Are Best? - A Comparison of the Three Most Common Technologies


Fresh water is essential to our health and comfort. Not only do we rely on it to stay hydrated, we use it in many other ways including bathing, cleaning and cooking food, and laundering our clothes.

How To Choose The Right Home Water Filters and Water Purifiers For Your Needs


When it comes to home water filters and water purifiers, consumers have many choices. You can choose from leading name brands such as Brita, Culligan, PUR, and Braun.

The Health Benefits Of Drinking Water - Is Bottled Drinking Water Healthier Than Filtered Tap Water?


Water is a key ingredient in a healthy diet and lifestyle. There are many health benefits of drinking water.

Bathroom Designs Idea - Can I Design My Own Bathroom?


A bathroom designs idea -- can I really design my own bathroom? Why not! Today, the bathroom is much more than just a room for grooming and a place to read. Bathrooms can be a good place for home exercise equipment and a good music system or TV, for example.

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.

From Savu to Infrared - The History and Health Benefits of Saunas


The health benefits of saunas are not a recent discovery. The use of steam or smoke baths to cleanse the body and reduce stress has been a part of religious, social, and family traditions in numerous cultures for thousands of years.

Conventional Steam Saunas vs. Infrared Saunas


The health benefits of steam saunas have been recognized for centuries, beginning with sweat lodges, traditional Finnish saunas, and other methods of heating the body and producing perspiration that cleanses the cells and pores. Typically, a heat source such as a wood, electric or gas sauna stove is used to produce the heat in a sauna.


More Resources


Making the Most of a Small Bathroom
In bathroom terms at least, bigger doesn't have to be better - It's all just a case of making the most of the modest proportions you're presented with! And what's more, designing a bathroom that's small on space usage but big on style and functionality should be a lot more fun.The Click Bathrooms guide to maximising a modest bathroom follows three simple principles?1 - Make it seem biggerA great way of tackling a bathroom with limited dimensions is by creating the illusion of space.
Replacing Aluminum Frame Single Pane Windows
In our past articles I talked about all the steps required to properly replace your old wood sash windows with energy efficient vinyl windows. I told you how to measure for the new windows.
Sparkling, Clean Lighting Will Add The Perfect Touch To Your Home
When one thinks of the many factors that affect the look of a room, most people think only of the paint and furniture. In doing so, they overlook the most important factor: Lighting.
Planning Your Replacement Windows Installation
Windows are the eyes of a home. From inside, you see the outside world through them.
Choosing a Vinyl Replacement Window Contractor
Whenever I write an article, it's usually tailored to the do-it-yourself homeowner to help them save some money on the high cost of labor these days. This article is for the "not so handy" homeowner who wants to have new vinyl windows installed in their home.
Choosing Color Schemes: Colors and Physiological Response
Because colors have tremendous emotional impact, understanding how color affects human beings can help you create a harmonious, joyful home. But studies have also shown that color elicits physiological responses, as well.
Deck Decorating
On my blog, I once wrote about life on the Veranda - a favorite Southern, summer pastime.Picture a Charleston side-porch house, facing the obligatory magnolia tree, refreshing gin and tonics or the standard mint julep.
Upholstery Fabric Will Give Your Furniture a New Look!
Upholstery fabric will put some new life into your old and ragged furniture. If you notice that your furniture has been starting to look a little worn and shaggy recently, upholstery fabric may be just what you are looking for.
5 Steps for Creating a Garage You Can Love - and Use
A major US corporation recently launched a new line of products it hopes will create a $650 million retail business - appliances and storage devices designed to appeal to the 65 million garage owners in the U.S! According to a 1994 study by the U.
Fixer-Uppers: What To Fix
You've bought a house, a fixer-upper you can make some money on. What improvements and repairs should you make? First of all, you need to know this before you buy, as I explained in another article.
Warm & Toasty Outdoors with Patio Heaters
The Heat is On with Patio Heaters Any outdoor lover will tell you that the right patio heater will allow you to extend your love of the open-air life all year round. A 15-20 foot circle of heat can easily increase the outside temperature by 10-25 degrees Fahrenheit and that makes all the difference between having to stay inside and eating out.
10 Tips for Working With a Contractor
This is the year you're going all out. You're going to build a deck, add a porch, erect a gazebo or lay a patio.
Stair Railings Styles
The stair railing at home is more than a simple way to get from a floor to another. You can create an extension of your personal likes in decoration, with ornamental parts of wood, iron and other material easy to install that will increase the value of your home at the same time.
Chester Conservatory Build Process
1. The site of the proposed conservatory.
Hand Stripping Furniture
Directions for HAND Stripping.Work with plenty of ventilation, safety goggles or glases, and skin protection.
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.
Building a Garage Addition to Your Home
One of the most rewarding home improvements I made to my house was to build a garage addition. For years I contemplated building a garage addition while I scraped the ice and snow from my cars and waited for them to warm up during the winter months.
Installing Vinyl Replacement Windows In A Wood Frame Opening
When we left off last week, we had removed the old wood sash windows and prepared the opening for the vinyl replacement windows. Now it's time to install your new windows.
New-age Paint Thickening & Rheological Additives : Solvitex & Solvizen
For Paint Manufacturers worldwide, there has come a radical new development in the legion of Thickening Agents & Colloidal stabilizer for Aqueous Latex Paints. So far most of the companies producing aqueous Paint emulsions, the most preferred thickening agent was Hydroxy ethyl cellulose (HEC).
Hot Tubs: Without A Shadow Of A Doubt Guarantee Relaxation When You Dip Your Feet Into The Water!
A staple of healthy outdoor living, hot tubs equals to water therapy that pound our bodies with jaw dropping and heart stopping relaxation. Dating back to Roman times, baths served as a medical remedy in treating many maladies.

More Home Improvement Information:

Related Articles


Planning Permission Tips UK - Conservatories - Dispelling a Myth
It's now well into the new year and the residential development scene has got off to a good start again. All this talk about 'slow down' certainly hasn't affected peoples desire to improve rather than move.
Outdoor Kitchens - Simple and Sophisticated
After September 11, many of us decided to stay closer to home. We are electing to remodel our existing homes instead of buying new and moving.
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.
Electrical Safety and Power Tools
Power tools are one of the greatest conveniences for getting handyman jobs and professional jobs done quickly, but since power tools often run on electricity, it is essential that safety instructions are followed.Here are a few quick power tool safety tips.
Hand Stripping Furniture
Directions for HAND Stripping.Work with plenty of ventilation, safety goggles or glases, and skin protection.
Electric Radiant Floor Heating
Electric radiant floor heating systems are heating systems designed for use under carpeting, area rugs, tile, stone, and laminate wood floors and have been used in Europe, South Africa, and Australia for over 20 years.Radiant heat does away with the age-old problems of cold rooms by offering easy-to-install zone heating.
Making Space for Sacred Space
When you read a great inspirational book, prayer, or article, don't you think to yourself, "What a great idea! I should do more daily rituals, prayer, meditation."? It always seems like a great idea, right? We know that sacred practices and sacred space bring peace, harmony, joy, and ease into our lives.
Basic Methods of Foundation Waterproofing
It is absolutely necessary to waterproof the foundation of your home. Foundation waterproofing is a critical step in maintaining your home's value and an important measure for preventing very serious damage.
Reduce Your Heating Bills This Winter - Overlooked Sources of Heat Loss in the Home
Imagine leaving a window open all winter long - the heat loss, cold drafts, and wasted energy! Well if your home has a folding attic stair, a fireplace, and/or a clothes dryer, that may be just what is occurring in your home!These often overlooked sources of heat loss and air leakage can cause your heat pour out and the cold outside air pour in - costing you higher heating bills, causing cold drafts, and wasting energy.Air leaks are the largest source of heating and cooling loss in the home.
New Trends in Design & Comfortable Living
For the past several years I have seen the emergence of a new trend called 'Lifestyling'. Lifestyling encompasses many elements on gracious living, extravagant and memorable entertaining, architecture, home design, and tips on where to live comfortably in spaces large and small, with less effort or clutter than you can imagine.
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.
How to Install a Ceiling Fan - A Simple Guide
A Complete manual on how to install a Ceiling Fan may take more than just an article; it may all even take up an entire booklet. Let me just give you a simple, no-nonsense essential guide in installing a ceiling fan.
Interconnects for Your Audio/Video System - Choosing The Proper Cables
Research & DevelopmentI began designing audio and video interconnect cables in 1988. I was asked to develop custom interconnects for discriminating audio and videophiles, who wanted to see and hear the quality of their components and the source material without added personality from their interconnects.
Where Did We Get Clocks From Anyway?
A clock is simply a device that measures time. Typical clocks have faces and hands.
Spring Into Action: Home Maintenance
Spring has sprung! Even more important than buds, birds, and bees, spring brings buyers! When buyers are looking for a place to nest, they would really rather not see problems. As it turns out, nearly every home inspected has problems or imperfections of some sort or size.
Strongly Scented Candles: Use your mouth, nose and eyes to tell
Triple scented, heavily scented, strongly scented - these are all phrases candle manufacturers are using to tout their claim that their candles have more "smell" for your buck. In reality, these claims only act to confuse most consumers.
Rodent Proofing Your Home
It's that time of year where rats and mice are apt to enter our homes. Lets talk a bit about their abilities and senses first.
How To Choose Decorative, Recessed Locking Mailboxes
Do you need a decorative, quality, recessed locking mailboxfor your home? There is a large selection of mailboxes fromwhich to choose, and you may wonder which is the rightmailbox for you. A recessed locking mailbox is a perfectway to keep your mail safe from prying eyes, and can beinstalled on the exterior of your home or as part of afreestanding mailbox.
Work From Home and Make Money from On-line Rewards and Incentives Programs
You'll be amazed at how much free money you can make when you work from home answering surveys, accepting offers, and reading e-mails. Simple tasks like these can help you earn cash without leaving the house.
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.