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


Buying the Right Garage Door Opener
If you have recently built a new garage you might be having a difficult time deciding on the right garage door opener. It is certainly something that seems simple at first.
Why You Should Get A Patio Awning
In these days of climate change, the UK summer is believe or not, getting warmer and sunnier. Whilst this gives us opportunity to enjoy more time in the garden and sitting on the patio.
Discovering Fiberglass Roofing Panels for Your Roofing Needs
Roofs are an integral part of the house. The design of a roof tells a lot about the structure.
A Guide to Home Dehumidifiers
It can be difficult to choose from among the countless home dehumidifiers out there. First, determine the square footage of the largest room you plan to dehumidify.
The Advantages of Pre-Engineered Steel Buildings
Steel is a remarkable material that has been steadily increasing in popularity for construction. It is 66% recyclable, which offers both environmental and financial benefits, and is especially strong and durable.
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.
Bring Out the Comforters for Back to School
If the weather is turning chilly it must time for the kids to go back to school. Bring out the comforters, flannel bed linens, quilts and stadium blankets.
Interior Design Simply Means Personalizing Your Interior Environment
Interior Design today is all about customizing your built environment with conceptual planning, aesthetic sense and technical solutions applied to achieve the desired result. It goes beyond just the visual or ambient enhancement of an interior space, it seeks to optimize and harmonize the uses to which the built environment will be put.
11 Tips for Stripping Wallpaper: How to Get Rid of Ugly Wallpaper!
I broke my promise to myself and stripped wallpaper again. The only reason I did this is for $100,000 profit.
Light Up Your Life
A house or any particular room can be carefully planned, well thought out and perfectly executed but without the proper lighting it never really comes to life. A perfect example is a tile back splash in a kitchen.
Planning Permission Tips UK - Understanding Your Local Planning Officer - They are Only Human
This time of year often sees an explosion in new enquiries for development schemes but the irony of this fact is that most people think that they are in time for a Spring/early summer build if they start the Planning & design process now through the Local Authority?? Sorry but this thinking should have been at the end of last summer - September at the latest. In most cases people do not seem to realise the time scales involved .
Choosing The Right Window
When you have reached the decision to purchase new windows for your home, be sure you choose the right windows to suit your needs. Determine the reason why you are replacing your windows.
Strapping a Ceiling
Prior to hanging sheetrock to ceiling joists it is important that strapping first be installed.Strapping helps prevent cracks from showing up later in your home's ceiling, as well as provides more surface area for securing the sheetrock to the ceiling.
Protecting Yourself from Miter Saw Hazards
A miter saw, also known as a "chop saw," is a circular saw that is mounted on a frame. It is designed to be portable and to make very accurate angled cuts between 45 and 90 degrees.
The Benefits Of Wooden Flooring
They're affordable and come in a wide variety of styles and colors. They're easy to install and maintain.
Unfinished Furniture - Finish It Yourself!
Unfinished furniture has started to become extremely popular in the last few years. As customers have discovered the benefit of buying unfinished wood furniture, the industry has responded with an even larger selection.
This Is Why People Should Consider Granite Countertops
Granite countertops are among the most beautiful things you can add to your kitchen. Kitchen countertops gain a beautiful glow from these pieces of art.
Worktops and Countertops for Kitchens - Buyers Guide to Materials
Worktops and Countertops for Kitchens - Buyers Guide to MaterialsThe worktop or countertop is not only necessary for a kitchen it is also an integral part of its design. Food preparation can deliver a large amount of wear and tear to the surfaces in the kitchen.
A Checklist for Bathroom Remodeling Plans
Careful planning is the key to a successful bathroom-remodeling project. Before you begin any work in the bathroom, create a budget, a floor plan, a list of supplies, a timetable, and important legal considerations.
Measuring For Your Vinyl Replacement Windows
Let's say you're tired of those old wood windows, and you decide it's time to upgrade to vinyl replacement windows. You get 2 or 3 contractors to come out and give you an estimate.

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Kitchen Remodel - How to Survive
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Making Space for Sacred Space
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Deck Building Basics
In my previous article, "planning for a new deck," I outlined the steps for planning for a new deck. This article takes the process one step further.
Waterproofing Basement Walls
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Which Lamp Should I Choose?
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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.
Roof Cleaning - Making Your Old Roof Look Like New!
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Installing a Home Theater System
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Understanding Air Purifiers
Purchasing an air purifier can be confusing, and you do get an awful lot of information thrown at you when you visit the different manufacturing websites, don't you? How can you tell what's what, and why do we need air filters anyway? And how do air purifiers work? Is the air really that bad? Haven't we been breathing the same air for thousands of years? Yes and no. First of all, we've been breathing the same air for thousands of years, but we live in a symbiotic relationship with the plants around us - that is, we rely on each other to survive.
Persian Carpets - Popular Styles
There are numerous styles of Persian carpets. In fact there are over 300 different variations.
I Need What Part?
One of the first things you learn as a homeowner is that you may own your home, but you don't actually live in it full time. You get to spend the rest of your time living in the hardware store or hardware dept of your local retail store.
Color Help: Color Theory and Design Psychology
Color theory is an entire science unto itself, and to get a full picture of how it all works, I'd suggest picking up a few art books. In this article, however, we're going to take a brief look at the essentials of color theory, in light of the concepts of Design Psychology.
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.
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.
Beautiful, Sparkling Chandeliers!
If you want to add extra spark to rooms, consider adding chandeliers to the rooms. Chandeliers offer added elegance and charm as well as light.
Rodent Proofing Your Home
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Creating Dynamic Window Coverings Without Breaking the Budget
When creating dynamic window coverings, it's important to choose carefully, because your window coverings will become the focal points of a well-decorated room. But choosing the right window treatments, at the right price, takes some thought about not only the look you're hoping to achieve, but also about the nature of the space itself.
A Well Chosen Bathroom Vanity Will Make Your Bathroom Look Great!
A bathroom vanity is the centerpiece of your bathroom. Regardless of how well the rest of the bathroom is decorated, it just won't look right without the right bathroom vanity cabinet.