Monday, September 29, 2008

Small Bathroom Design Problem Solved With A Small Toilet

A small toilet could be the key to your bathroom-remodeling problem

Remodeling small bathrooms can be difficult especially when you try to fit more 221Binto your makeover bathroom than you had in your old one. The key to solving your problem could lie in the design of your new toilet.

Fitting more stuff in your small bathroom

This was the situation that I found myself in when I remodeled my very small bathroom. I wanted to turn the place into a beautiful ceramic heaven that all my family and guests would be pleased to use. I also wanted to add a separate shower cubicle to replace the shower over the bathtub that I hated and this is where the problem lay.

My little bathroom was already crowded with just a bathtub, toilet, washbasin and radiator but I desperately wanted a new shower so I set to work on the design. I armed myself with measuring tape, pencil and graph paper which can be printed for free from here Free Graph Paper for Bathroom remodeling and used it to rearrange the items in bathroom on paper.

By moving the radiator over the bathtub and the washbasin to the opposite wall I managed to free up quite a lot of space but I could see that I still didn't have enough room for the toilet. At least not for one the same size as I had already.

The problems with toilets

The main problem with a lot of toilets is that they take up too much wall space. Not only are the cisterns or tanks too wide but they also often tend to have the water inlet and overflow on the side of the tank, which takes up even more wall space. So I started to look for toilets that would fit into the space that I had available and found that there is quite a lot to choose from.

Choose a small toilet with a bottom inlet feed

I was pleasantly surprised when I started to look for small toilets. I found some that were so tiny that they would fit almost anywhere. Unfortunately they would be very little use for anyone but the most petite of us because they would be completely impractical.

So it's a compromise that we are looking for. A toilet that is big enough to be used by all, and small enough to fit into the available space. You should be able to find small toilets that have cisterns of 16 inches width or less with plumbing that enters from the bottom rather than the side.

The plumbing arrangement helps a lot because side entry takes up a lot of room. The toilet that I chose even directs the overflow into the waste outlet rather than requiring a side-exit pipe to carry it away.

I managed to fit my new small toilet next to my nice new shower cubicle and it all worked out great. I hope that yours does too.

How I remodeled my very small bathroom Very small bathroom remodeling at http://www.bathroomsremodeling.this-info.com

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Your Mobile Home Needs Care Too

Renovating manufactured homes or mobile homes often presents new challenges not found in other types of homes. Here are some tips for you to consider when it is time to fix yours.

One of the advantages to living in a manufactured or mobile home is that there are no support beams to worry about. There are no load-bearing walls inside the structure. The roof of a manufactured home is generally supported by the outer walls. So if you need space in your manufactured home, simply removing an interior wall can work wonders. Please note that you may have to renovate other walls so they can provide additional support for the outer walls but this fix should be easily accomplished.

If you do remove the wall, be careful with the surrounding floors and ceilings. Floors in manufactured homes are not thick and may have been weakened from exposure to the outdoors. If you remove an interior wall, you may find wildlife investigating your digs as well. So be sure to fill in any small holes to prevent animals or insects from moving in. This includes nail holes, screw holes and any tiny holes that resulted from taking out the wall. You will need to keep an eye out for critters that may have wandered in.

Another great 2234way to add space is to add a porch. This is an easy project but you must remember to build it as a free-standing unit. Do not try to incorporate it into your manufactured home's structure. Your home was not designed to support an additional porch and it may not be able to bear the additional weight.

If you need additional storage space, consider adding a shed. These are quite durable and can be used for indoor and outdoor seasonal items. Check to make sure the shed is allowed where you live.

Because the space under the flooring is subjected to the elements, it is always a good idea to inspect that space from time to time. Make sure everything is in good repair and be sure to make necessary repairs in a timely manner. Also be sure your home is ready for sudden storms and keep the names of reputable contractors on hand in case disaster strikes your area.

Be sure to plan ahead for any renovation project. Make sure you have the money, the time and the ability to finish it. If you don't have the money, wait until you do. If you don't have the time, ask a friend to help. If you don't have the ability, hire a professional who is familiar with working on manufactured homes. This is your home we're talking about. You want a job that is done right.

Manufactured homes are wonderfully affordable housing that will you will enjoy for years, if you take the time and effort to keep them up.

Greg Hansward regularly edits news on areas dealing with kitchen center islands. You can have a look at his comments on pictures of kitchen islands and kitchen island designs at http://www.kitchen-cabinets-tips.com

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Adding Thousands of Dollars to The Value of Your Home Without Spending a Lot of Money

The secret to saving thousands of dollars on kitchen cabinets is slowly getting out to the general public. Retail prices have doubled in the past few years because of their high overhead expenses: gas prices, rent increases and also the cost of labor. While cabinets have been available on-line for years, the Internet kitchen cabinet business is exploding. More and more people are finding out that they do not have to pay high retail prices for kitchen cabinets.

It makes sense. If you can buy something online, you are probably going to save money. Simple economics puts a retail store at a disadvantage. The store has a large amount of overhead and shipping costs that also need to be hidden in the retail prices. At the same time, an internet store has little overhead and is often linked to a direct importer. However, always remember to shop around online. Many places offer good prices, but with a little searching and a few good key words, you can turn up even better deals.

I mentioned key words and this means that there are certain buzzwords in the kitchen cabinet business that you should know. The most important phrase is RTA kitchen cabinets. This simply means ready to assemble. Most kitchen cabinets are not assembled; however a retail store will assemble them for you and charge you plenty. All you need to know is that RTA kitchen cabinets can easily be assembled. No drills or hammers, just a flat head screwdriver and some patience. Don't just look for cabinets, dig a little deeper and use a good phrase like RTA kitchen cabinets. It will save you thousands of dollars on a large kitchen order.

You may also find that the good RTA kitchen cabinet sites will offer a good selection of bathroom vanities, including Euro vanities and other new designer styles. Again, these type of cabinets and vanities are being sold in retail stores for as high as 200% more than what you can find online. Yes this sounds absurd, but a quick check of a big box retailer and then going to an RTA kitchen cabinet website and you will see that the savings are huge. Also keep in mind that a good amount of the retail kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities are made of particleboard. On the other hand, a good RTA site will use only real wood and plywood.

When you're online remember that there is no such thing as free shipping. Repeat this with me, "there is no free shipping". What some Internet sites do is increase cabinet prices, and try to lure you in with free shipping. RTA kitchen cabinets can be expensive to ship, but not as expensive as fully assembled cabinets. Yes it will cost some money, but if you add that in with your saving on the kitchen cabinets, you will still find that you are way ahead in savings.

So don't waste your time at Home Depot or the other big box building supply stores. They are not saving you money. Go online and don't stop at the first kitchen cabinets site you find, dig around and you will find some good buys. And remember, use the phrase RTA kitchen cabinets and you will be pleasantly surprised at the savings that are out there.

I have been able to save thousands of dollars on discount kitchen cabinets by buying RTA cabinets. If you are interested in finding out my secrets, go to my Kitchen Cabinets article at Hubpages.

Designing Your Bathroom

While redecorating your bathroom the way you want, you can work with lots of different ideas. Before you start the designing process, it is of paramount importance that you take into account the style of your own bathroom and be creative with your thinking. A few important styles include traditional, modern, country, southwestern and Victorian styled bathrooms.

You may explore the internet, interior decoration books and magazines and relevant home shows on the television to get ideas for the design and dcor of your own bathroom.

Below, you will find some natural bathroom design ideas that can enhance the overall look of your bathroom.

Natural Lighting

It has been noticed that soft and natural lighting in a bathroom are relaxing in nature. For this reason, there is hardly a surprise that majority of people prefer to install skylights in their bathrooms, that guarantees natural light in their bathroom.

If, for any reason, you are unable to install skylights in the bathroom, you always have a choice of a window to let the sunshine in. But this will only happen when your window is big enough to let the light and air inside the bathroom. You may also go for halogen lights. The best thing about halogen lights is that they give you more natural feel as compared to bulbs and fluorescent lights.

Natural Flooring

Your bathroom floor can also give you a natural feel, provided you are willing to put in some hard work. First and foremost, you have to get rid of vinyl and carpeting. Laminate wood or ceramic tile flooring is a much better option as compared to vinyl and carpeting if you want a natural feel in your bathroom. Secondly, the color of your flooring should be lighter especially if you have dark walls. On the other hand, if you have light walls, it is recommended that your flooring color is dark. If you have no issues in budget, you may opt go for natural stones a887s your flooring. Travertine and marble look absolutely fantastic in a bathroom.

Natural Walls

There are some people who ignore the significance of bathroom walls while designing their bathroom. This is not wise because bathroom walls can set the whole mood of your bathroom on its own. For example, selecting natural wallpaper for your bathroom not only gives a natural feel to your bathroom dcor but can also change the whole outlook of your bathroom. There are plenty of wallpapers available in the market that resists all of weather conditions.

To design your bathroom aesthetically you not only need expensive and beautiful furnishings, but good selection of materials and resources too. Only natural and balanced furniture that is complemented by proper setting can help you in aesthetically designing your bathroom.

http://www.4BathroomFurniture.com is a complete guide to buying bathroom furniture and decorating it. The site provides reliable information on Contemporary Bathroom Storage Furniture, Bathroom Vanity Furniture, Wicker Bathroom Furniture and more to buy the best product.

Finishing Basement Ceilings

There are many ways to finish basement ceilings and you have to chose which type that suits you best. You can chose from traditional drywall, tongue and grove board, acoustic ceilings and drop ceilings. You can think about each option and find the best one that works for you.

If you decide on drywall, you have to be prepared to relocate pipes and ducts in between the joist. If all of it cant be hidden in the joist cavities, then you will have to box in what is showing. You will also have to add furring strips to put extra support where you need it. This is necessary to give strength to the boxes and provide a solid backing for the finished ceiling treatment. You will find that drywall is a good choice due to the fact that it is inexpensive but there is a lot of work involved before you get a finished product such as plastering and sanding.

If you prefer acoustic ceiling, the tiles are wonderful to work with due to their small size. You can install them by stapling them to the furring stripes but you do have to have all pipes and ducts hidden to get a smooth surface for your ceiling. You will find the same with using tongue and grove board, but once again you have to have a smooth surface and all pipes and ducts must be hidden. The cost of using this material is a bit higher, especially if you have to get someone to move pipes and ducts that cant be hidden easily.

A drop ceiling works really well on a basement ceiling if you have the height in the room. It is the easiest solution for your ceiling. This involves framing everything out, but it certainly will take care of the pipes that are hanging and cover them well with a smooth finish when youre done.

For lots of information on basement repairs and related topics, visit DIY and Remodeling at http://www.diyandremodeling.com

Important Issues When Purchasing A Ladder

You might have realized that for doing certain handy works at home like hanging a picture on the wall, changing a broken glass pane, painting the wall, fixing a light shade and a lot of activities as such you need a ladder. It is obvious that you want a stable, secure, reliable, cost effective user-friendly multipurpose ladder. A wise man will always spend in a ladder that will satisfy any challenge he takes on. If you are looking for the best one, the little giant ladder is the only answer. No other ladder in this planet can be so useful as the little giant ladder.

Are you aware which little giant ladder will suit you the most? Little giant ladder is a multipurpose ladder, a combination of 24 ladders in one. It has different models with the varying needs of the users. One thing you must decide that which type of work 9A5you will perform. Is it normal housework, professionals work or the industrial work? Hare are few things that may be helpful for you while purchasing a ladder.

Safety and stability: Select a little giant ladder system with the flared footings to enable you remain safe and stable when you climb high on the topmost rung of the ladder.

Built: Select the little giant ladders that are most durable with a longer life span and offer the best value for your hard earned money.

Versatility: Out of different models, chose your little giant ladder that should serve flexible tasks that you need to do.

Weight: You have to think that a professional grade aluminum ladder weighs between 25-45 pounds whereas a fiberglass model will weigh between 3550 pounds. Any ladder lighter than this range wont be as durable or trustworthy.

Value: Go for a ladder that will prove valuable to you. Little giant ladders have many models. Get your little giant ladder in accordance to the height that you want to reach for and fits your needs.

Little giant ladder will not only save your money, one little giant ladder will save you so much space in your office or home. It is a wonderful product and you any one will feel proud to possess it.

We have made the most comprehensive research on ladders. Find it only on the Multipurpose ladders source. All about little giant ladders and other ladders on http://www.leandernet.com/Ladders/Little_giant_ladder.php

Giving Your Siding a Facelift

If you are looking to add some value and glamour to your home there is nothing quite like redoing the paint or siding. Now the question is presented, which type of exterior should you choose for your home? The largest deciding factor in this choice is likely going to be what type of exterior is already on the home. If you have vinyl siding, or stucco, or simply painted wood it will usually be more cost effective to stick with what you already have. However here are a few more things to consider when this choice presents itself.

There are four basic types of siding on the mark9B6et today. Vinyl siding, stucco, aluminum siding and wood. Stucco is a great exterior to deal with and is very easy to keep in pristine condition. A good power washing can bring life back to the most distraught looking stucco quite easily. What to look for to decide if your stucco needs to be redone is crumbling around the bases and edges. Stucco is also easy to paint. When dealing with vinyl siding it is not a good idea to paint this surface as vinyl can bend easily and cause the paint to crack and peel.

Usually in this situation vinyl siding will need to be replaced if it cannot be cleaned. Aluminum and steel siding is another long-lasting surface that is easy to paint and easy to maintain. Usually a fresh coat of paint will bring this metal surface back to life. Finally we come to wood siding. Paining or staining is an absolute necessity for wood as it needs to be protected from the elements, if not it will rot and decay quickly. Is the wood soft and splintered? Can you see the grain on the back side of peeling areas? If so, then replacement might be necessary. The same is true if your siding appears to be warped or buckled.

The exterior of your home is the first thing that people see so it is quite important to have it in the best condition possible. No mater what type of exterior your home has, a little time & effort can make it shine like new! Don't be afraid to put a few dollars into it either, during the sales process it will come back in abundance.

HomesByLender.com is the elite source for FSBO financing and homes for sale by owners. Utilize our nationwide search to locate FSBO homes in any state or town. HomesByLender.com is your one-stop FSBO information source.

Refinish Your Hardwood Floor Like a Pro

This article is written by a pro of refinishing hardwood floors since I have done too many to count. Maybe 300 would be a good guess. My father was in the business full time (as well as aluminum windows and doors (which I'll write another article about that soon) and while I attended college, and for a short time after, I worked with him as well as on my own refinishing hardwood floors.

In fact, I just did my mother-in-law's last summer and my back still hurts!

Before you even think of stBD6arting this DIY project, you need to be fairly good shape. There is a lot of bending, kneeling and scraping...if you do it right.

Ok, you still are here reading so I guess you are serious :o)

Here are the easy? steps to a beautiful, shiny hardwood floor:

  • Determine what kind of finish you would like first. There are a couple choices, flat, medium gloss and high gloss. It's strictly taste as they both wear the same. I prefer a polyurethane paint but some like varnishes. I found urethane to be a durable finish and won't yellow over time. Look for 'non-yellowing' on the can. They come in either oil or water based, and I prefer water base for the ease of clean up.

  • Go to your local hardware store that carries floor sanders, edger sander, pain scrapers, sandpaper (medium) and the floor paint.

  • Prepare your floor by filling in any blemishes, depressions, cracks and nail holes.

  • Sweep and then vacuum floor. (at this point I would hang a plastic sheet over any door openings if the door has been removed (new construction etc).

  • Sand main floor being careful to keep sander going in same direction. Start with a coarse sandpaper and switch to finer for second sanding. The first sanding is to get to bare wood and the second for a finished look.

  • Sand the edges. The trick here is to use a fairly light touch and rotate the sander in semi-circle reducing sand marks.

  • Now the fun part. Take your scraper in scrape the corners and under heaters. Don't worry about under heaters too much as it won't be that noticeable.

  • Whew! The hard part is done. Now the fun part. Sweep and vacuum floor and if you see a swirl or sanding marks scrape the out.

  • Put the sealer down. Wait at least 2 hours, hand sand the whole floor, vacuum and apply the urethane. If you don't have air conditioning, put a fan on the floor to dry it quicker.

  • I usually waited at least 4-5 hours for it dry, most of the time overnight. I recommend at least 2 coats of urethane for a durable, hard finish.

    You're done! Wow not so bad was it?

    Oh yeah,

    Email me for a chiropractor lol

    Dan Farrell is the owner of http://www.closet-organizer-plan.com where you can get a free closet organizer plan and other home improvement ideas and articles.

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