Booking Your Hotel Rooms Through Online Marketing

In the hotel business it is well known that reserved rooms are preferred rooms and while the walk up business definitely helps the bottom line it is the pre determined revenue of the reserved rooms that hotels use to make their living. That means that getting as many rooms reserved as possible and tied down with credit card confirmations and that means marketing the hotel to get that extra business.

People are always traveling for various reasons and the only reason they do not choose your hotel over another hotel is because they have seen something on the other hotel and they have seen nothing in regards to yours. The key is to not just get the marketing machine cranked up and working in your favor but to identify the key areas where your marketing efforts, and dollars, will see the most return.

It used to be that one of the secret weapons of the more successful hotels was the use of travel agents. The hotels would invite travel agents to stay for free in their hotel to see what the hotel has to offer and in return the agents would use the hotels as part of package deals for vacationing travelers.

The hotels would give discounted rates to the travel agents and the agents would fill the rooms for the hotels months in advance. Today there are still traditional travel agents that are experts at filling hotels and keeping those relationships with hotels all over the world alive but the average traveler has moved away from using traditional travel agents and has moved to booking their vacations on the internet.

A smart hotel is going to hunt down the more successful internet travel agencies and work out package deals and discounts with those internet travel agencies to help book rooms in advance. Your exposure with one large internet travel agency is going to exceed the exposure you would get from any local traditional travel agent.

The internet has become the medium of choice for people looking to book vacations and even more popular than the internet travel agents are the internet discount travel sites that allow people to piece together their own vacations with discounts from various hotels, airlines, and car rental companies.

In order to find success with internet marketing you will need to make sure the information being offered travelers via these discount travel sites is accurate and that all of the processes these sites have in place to book rooms in your hotel are also correctly set up. Keep the channel of communication open with these websites and offer them excellent discounts as well.

Some of these sites try and get discounts out of your hotel by helping you fill rooms you cannot fill at full price and offering them at a negotiated discount with the traveler. Any prebooked room you can get is revenue you can count on and a prebooked room at a discount is always better than hoping that someone walks up and pays full price.

Reaching out to travelers through the internet is a full time job and working beyond the traditional travel sites will help get you more exposure. The larger search engine websites offer advertising spaces that are seen by millions of people a day and the rates are not so expensive for exposure like that. Get your hotel's name and link on those major search engines to make sure you are maximizing your exposure.

The final piece to the internet marketing puzzle is making sure your website is clean, easy to use, updated, and helpful to any potential customer that tries to use it. People want as much luxury as possible out of a hotel for as little money as possible so make sure you create a website with a luxurious appearance that gives the impression that you have a hotel worth spending the money on.

Make your website easy to get information from and easy to book a room with and make certain that all room booking information is updated in real time from all of your room booking sources. You will have angry customers and bad referrals if you constantly have double bookings due to a lag in updating the website booking information. Create a desirable and functional website and people will use it to book rooms in your hotel and make you revenue.

Check here Greece hotels and Greece Apartments.

10 Things a Homeowner Won't Tell a Contractor - Common Courtesy

I've been a contractor in the state of California for over 20 years and there are some things that a homeowner won't tell a contractor. These are a few things that a contractor might want to hear, but a reluctant homeowner, might have second thoughts telling their contractors how they really feel.

1. We are happy with all of the work that you did in a timely manner and we appreciate your services.

2. We are happy with the way you performed your construction tasks, efficiently and we appreciate your services.

3. The work was done by a true professional and we would recommend you to any one of our friends.

4. The payment plan that you created in the contract worked out perfectly and never made us feel uncomfortable. It never seemed like you had too much of our money or we were putting you in a bad spot financially.

5. Thanks for keeping the job clean, it meant a lot to us, because we have seen other construction jobs that look like a tornado ran through them.

6. Thanks for helping us with our design. Working with your contractor on a daily, weekly or monthly basis can be frustrating or joyful. Let the contractor know either way how you are really feeling.

7. You and your crew are extremely hard-working and we appreciate the simple fact that you didn't come to work late or leave early.

8. Thanks for the reasonable priced estimate on our project. You helped us say a lot of money and we appreciate that sincerely.

9. Thanks for doing the extra work at a reasonable price. You could have gouged us at certain times, but you chose to be fair and work things out, in a way that would benefit both of us.

10. This one is the most important and often overlooked by homeowners and it's simple and easy to do. Thanks for doing what you said you were going to do and actually doing it.

Just a simple thank you and paying them on time, for a service well done is enough for most contractors. However, a little common courtesy can go a long way, even in the construction industry.

If You Live in Northern San Diego County or South Orange County, and You're Looking for a Great Contractor, Click on This Link Home Remodeling Contractor

Greg Vandenberge 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.

Click here if you're looking for additional Homeowner Contractor Advice. If you're interested in gathering more information on how to hire a good contractor, make sure that you visit our website.

Bathroom Design Lighting - The Basics of Bathroom Lighting

Basically, bathroom design lighting should be considered with different kinds of options. There is practicability, safety, style and decoration. When considering practicability, what comes to mind are the cheap bulbs and shadowy figures we usually see on poor suspense or thriller films. But today, one can avail of energy-saving light bulbs which provide enough brightness to fill the whole bathroom. What's more is that these bulbs, aside from being cheaper, may help you cut costs in your energy bill. A little bit of concern for our environment will do you a lot good.

As it is a design, bathroom design lighting also should feature various and creative designs for lights to play on in a room. Considering the purpose of the room, however, for hygiene and beautifying, lighting designs can play-up the room for a more pleasurable and easier way to clean up. For example, to have an easier way of beautifying yourself, putting make-up or shaving your face, bath lights may be installed in either side of the mirrors. They will soften up your features as well as avoid annoying shadows. Also, counter, mirror or sink bulbs may be installed depending upon the theme or style of your bathroom. But always remember that it is better to install a centralized lighting in your bathroom, limiting the bulbs in the bathroom therefore saving energy and costs of your electricity.

Water, moisture and air greatly affect the wear and tear of your bathroom lights. Bathroom design lighting is not only limited to designs and light fixtures but also guaranteeing safety in every bathroom. Light bulbs should be placed in areas wherein it should be untouched by water. If not, protective covering should be placed in order not to risk the safety of those who use the bathroom especially the young and old ones.

Of course, practicability and safety should not compromise style and decoration. As lighting can greatly affect the mood of a room, using the bathroom should be a pleasurable habit as well as a form of relaxation. Bathroom design lighting comes in different shapes and sizes which can also be energy-savers, too. Depending on the theme of your bathroom, there are many designs to choose from, whether sconce-shaped, sleek cylindrical small lamps, Victorian or romantic lamps or just basic fluorescent lights. Just make sure that it does not clash with the over-all design of the bathroom as well as compromise safety measures.

For more information on bathroom design lighting and bathroom lighting fixtures visit http://www.lightingbathroomfixtures.com for helpful insight.

Searching For Your Dream Home - Buying Property

First things first when looking for your dream home. Make a list of all the things you're looking for. With today's computers and search engines on the Internet it makes home shopping by keywords very simple.

Most real estate websites have boxes you can check off, if you're looking for a three-bedroom house with two bathrooms and a swimming pool. You simply check these items off, select the area you would like to search for homes and and you now have a list of homes to look at.

Some of these homes have virtual tours on the Internet, which allows you to go through most of the home before you actually visit the house. Modern technology has made searching for your dream home a virtual reality.

You can now look through the list and select the most appealing homes before you start driving around. Don't let the pictures of these homes deceive you on the Internet or MLS. Some of the descriptions of these homes can also be very deceptive.

When looking for your dream home, used every possible means available to you. This would include your real estate professionals, newspapers, magazines, search engines, internet websites, and don't forget about driving around your favorite neighborhoods. This is actually how we found one of the homes we bought.

Our real estate salesman gave us a list of homes to look at, while we were driving around, we spotted a home that caught our attention and we pulled in the driveway. To our amazement, the real estate saleswoman who listed the home lived a couple of houses down the street and was right there asking if we wanted to see the inside of the house.

Your family, friends, neighbors and people you work with, can also help you with your homebuying quest. You would be surprised at how helpful some of these people can be. I knew someone who found a home they really liked, knocked on the door and told the homeowners, they would be very interested if their home was ever put on the market. Within a few weeks, he was buying the home.

I'm not telling you to knock on everyone's door whose not selling their house, but you never know how or when you're going to run into the house of your dreams.

Greg Vandenberge 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 buying checklist to take some of the frustration out of home shopping.

Don't buy a house without visiting, one of the best websites for home inspections. This website has thousands of pictures that deal with home inspection problems. If you're buying a house, check out this section on home inspection cover ups.

Bathroom Lighting Fixtures - How to Choose For Your Remodeling Project

When thinking about a bathroom remodeling project, there are many things to consider. One of the most important items you will need is light fixtures. Keep in mind there will be differences in your project depending on if you are working with an existing home or a brand new home. If you are remodeling an existing home, your lighting requirements for bathroom light fixtures may be different than if you are building a new home. For instance, in an existing home, there will likely be elements in place that dictate the basic style of bathroom vanity you need to choose. Or there could be a decorating style across the rest of your home that you want to continue into the bathroom.

Start by searching the internet to view vast array of light fixture styles available through the many different lighting retail websites. Your choice is important because the way you choose to decorate will need to last for many years and should reflect your personal style. Now is also the time to formulate your budget. Be mindful of costs while shopping and keep your budget updated so you know where you sit. This will assure that you are able to do all of the things you want to in creating a comfortable bathroom.

The size of your bathroom will determine a large amount of your project. It will dictate the style of the bathroom vanity that you choose and the amount of lighting you will need. If the room is small, choose a single sink vanity. If you have a larger space to work with, consider a double sink vanity. The double sink provides additional surface and storage space, and also creates personal space for the people that use the room.

If you are working with a small bathroom, you can create the appearance of a larger space by using light colored paints, selecting a narrow vanity with under-sink storage, and by using mirrors to help create the feeling of more space. Do this by selecting a large mirror that adds dimension.

If you are working with two bathrooms, consider decorating one with a feminine style and the other one with masculine dcor. For a feminine look, use soft light colors for the bathroom vanity and walls, and for the masculine bathroom use strong, dark colors and wood finishes.

The bathroom light fixtures are extremely important to the overall mood in the room. Be sure to work out the electrical wiring for your light fixtures. If you have experience in household wiring you can tackle this project yourself. If you do not have the skills for this, call a professional electrician or select a lighting retailer that can offer you assistance. If you hire out, get at least three quotes so that you can compare the prices. You can find these electricians by going to your computer and searching the internet.

The primary use of a good vanity light fixture is to provide correct lighting for your grooming activities. These lights are placed above and or on the sides of the vanity for good lighting. Often times, the vanity lighting needs to light the entire bathroom, so be sure to choose a fixture or fixtures that you are sure will accomplish this task. Soften the lighting affect in your room with frosted or beige colored light bulbs or by selecting frosted shades for the bulbs. Many lighting retailers have a large selection of shades from which to choose.

When you tackle a project like a bathroom you must do so by sitting down and planning first. The most critical part of your bathroom remodeling project is selecting the light fixtures and the vanity. Everything else will complement these main elements. The floor covering, the walls, the shower and tub colors, and small decorative items you choose will make your bathroom much more appealing and comfortable if you spend the time in the beginning to think through your entire bathroom remodel plan.

Julia Ritzenthaler is Owner of boutique multiple online furniture stores, For more information about unique bathroom vanity ideas, visit us online or email us with your questions at uniquevanities@msn.com.

I Can't Wash the Mold Off the Walls - Mold Repair

If you have mold growing on your bathroom walls, ceilings or any other walls in your home and can't seem to remove it, that's probably because it's underneath the paint. This might not make any sense, but if the mold continues to grow back, it's probably growing between the paint and the drywall or plaster.

This is real common around moist areas like your bathroom or even behind your stove if you do a lot of cooking with pots that are releasing steam, you could have a moisture problem and moisture attracts mold and mildew. If the steam is condensing on the back wall, behind the kitchen stove, you could find yourself stripping the paint or even removing the drywall to fix the problem, correctly.

If the mold is growing behind the paint, the only way you will be able to fix this, right, is to remove the paint and treat the drywall for mold. This might sound like a lot of work, but there is a simpler way, but not a more effective way.

You can simply clean the wall with chlorine or bleach, leave the area that you treated alone for a few days for until its dried out thoroughly. Then you can simply paint over the area with a semi gloss or high gloss paint. Flat or satin paints could actually absorb enough moisture to start growing the mold again. A semi gloss or high gloss paint will act like a water resistant barrier and help to prevent moisture from soaking into the wall.

Now here's the bad news, the mold hasn't gone away, you're just sealing it in the wall or ceiling. Eventually you could start to see a dark spot under your newly painted wall repair. This will tell you, that the mold is growing underneath the paint, that you just applied and probably even underneath the layer of paint, you painted over.

If you're having problems keeping the mold away, there's a good chance that it's growing underneath the paint. Clean it the best you can with bleach or chlorine, read the directions thoroughly before using these products and if the mold keeps coming back, you can paint over the mold or remove the drywall, re-plaster it and then paint over it. You have a couple of choices.

Always try cleaning the mold with bleach first and if the problem is in the bathroom, you could always leave the door open while you're showering to prevent moisture buildup in the bathroom. Open a window or turn a fan on, keep the moisture out until you know for sure mold is gone.

You are free to copy this article to your site as long as you include the following resource information with an active link to my site:

What is Mold and Toxic Mold Pictures

Greg Vandenberge is a General Contractor, published author, internet marketing expert, motivational inspiration to millions of people all over the world and is sharing some of his wisdom with experts in the fields of writing,marketing and personal development.

Small Luxury Hotels

Small luxury hotels are establishments for travelers who want a refined and stylish place at an affordable price. Small luxury hotels are comparatively less expensive than the grand luxury hotels. Their infrastructure and the architecture reflect a high degree of quality. These hotels make up in service what they lack in grandeur.

Small luxury hotels provide a high level of service and hospitality as well as wide variety of amenities and facilities. These hotels aim at pleasing their guests by focusing on personalized service and access to several amenities.

The rooms in small luxury hotels are stylish rooms that are well equipped. The comfort of the guest is a priority but the services are standardized. There is attention given to even small details and guests feel well cared for.

When compared to a luxury hotel, small luxury hotels have a fewer number of rooms and staff. The typical room to worker ratio in a small luxury hotel is of 1:2 or 1:3. The staff is trained to provide unobtrusive round-the-clock services.

Small shopping and dining establishments are generally maintained in or close to the hotel for the convenience of the guests. Some of the small luxury hotels maintain excellent restaurants. Small luxury hotels are located in prime areas and offer several facilities to their guests. The staff at these hotels is trained to extend facilities like baggage handling, room service at extended hours, laundry services as per specific instructions and the like.

To make a stay comfortable for business travelers, fully equipped conference rooms and business centers are made available. Business travelers usually like access to computers and high-speed Internet needs catered to. Any other specific requirements are also readily taken care of.

These services can be used by any guest by complying with the specific requirements of each facility. These hotels also offer packages and deals to guests at comparatively low prices to attract more customers.

Luxury Hotels provides detailed information on Luxury Hotels, Small Luxury Hotels, London Luxury Hotels, New York Luxury Hotels and more. Luxury Hotels is affiliated with Luxury Cruise Lines.

Tile Grouting Tips For Your Bathrooms, Kitchens and Floors

Isn't tile grouting supposed to be simple, if you read the directions and watch a couple of videos? What could make tile grouting so difficult? Grouting your tile isn't that difficult, by the time you're done reading this article, you should have a pretty good idea how to grout your floors, bathrooms, kitchens and anything else that requires tile.

I used to have problems grouting tile, but after I read the directions, I became a grouting wizard. This sounds hard to believe, but after reading the directions on the tile grout bag, I became a grout master. I know, you the type of person who never read the directions, you simply add water, mix and start grouting.

It's time to change your thinking about, whether or not the directions will be helpful. Whether it's about grouting your bathroom floor or putting together your home barbecued. I read one thing on the grout bag and it changed my entire grouting career.

The grout should slake. After you're done mixing the grout, you should wait between five and 10 minutes to let the moisture soak into the grout mix. Do this once, and you will never go back to mixing your grout and applying it, as quickly as possible after it has been mixed.

For more information on grouting, remodeling or home repairs, I would recommend reading books on home improvement and home repairs. Some of these books can make a big difference in your home improvement abilities as a handyman. I would also recommend reading more articles, there's plenty of information about tile and grouting, all over the Internet.

Click here if you are looking for some more Bathroom Remodeling Ideas

If you're really interested in basement remodeling and repairs, you should click on this link Home Repair Tips. Get some great home repair advice that can make a big difference on any of your home remodeling projects.

Greg Vandenberge 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.

Thanks for reading the article

Exterior Remodeling - Fiber-Cement Siding Compared to Vinyl Siding

In the world of remodeling the exterior of your home, there are several things to consider when comparing fiber-cement siding to vinyl siding.

Disguising the Problem

Vinyl siding is sometimes used as a cover-up to be placed over the old damaged cladding. The current problems may still exist. Sometimes it may be improperly installed. This invites insects and moisture to build up behind the panels, and may even go through the structure of the home.

Flammable

Vinyl facing may melt or burn if it too close to a heat source such as your grill or a close by fire. The flammability of the cladding is such a concern that some counties/districts are starting to educate homeowners about its natural flammability.

Fiber-cement facing is non-combustible when exposed to significant amount of heat or flame. It has been appreciated for this safety feature. It is also approved for fire-rated structure.
Fading

All colors fade from the sun and there are several options that you can do to replace vinyl cladding. You can install a replacement piece and try to find the matching color of your original siding. You can also replace all the cladding again if you can't find the matching color. You may also paint the facing, but keep in mind this type of facing is made to expand and contract which will cause the paint to chip and peel over time.

Fiber-cement facing can be painted any color that you desire. It will also remain longer than with wood. It won't crack and peel as quickly as vinyl.

Warranty

Always look at the warranty before your purchase. Look closely at the "Life-Time" to see how many years the warranty really covers and also what is covered. Check the "Normal Weathering" section to see what their definition is of normal weathering.

Fiber-cement facing may be found to have a 50 year transferable limited product warranty, and a 15 year finish warranty. This warranty is good for even the most sever climates.

Poor Quality and Aesthetics

Vinyl siding may not look as natural as wood. It has overlapping seams and fake wood grains that try to copy the appearance of wood.

Fiber-cement siding has the beauty of real wood with the ability to be painted any color and not have the chipping and peeling of vinyl or wood. There are no overlapping seams to take away from the natural appearance it will lend to the home.

Weather Resistant

Fiber-cement cladding is a very durable product that can even withstand the most severe climates. It will not go brittle in the cold or be damaged by flying debris like the other type of cladding is known to do.
Thickness

The great amount of thickness that accompanies fiber-cement cladding adds to the products strength that provides impact resistance from wind or hail.

The finest vinyl siding is only 5/100th inch thick.

These are several things you need to consider when investing in the exterior of your home. In the long run, having fiber-cement siding is aesthetically and financially more sound than having vinyl siding which is an inferior product.

Mr. Oliver is a marketing agent of Blue Ridge Exteriors. The siding contractor provides James Hardie Siding throughout the Richmond Virginia area. For more information on their James Hardie Siding please visit their website.

Plywood Roof Sheeting - Roof Framing Trade Secrets

Most framing contractor's look at the building plans and order all of the material, according to those that are specified on the plans. This works out fine, and can often save you money, but rarely produces the best home that you could possibly frame.

As a professional framing contractor, I would like to share one of my house framing tips with you. Most plans require half-inch plywood or oriented strand board as their roof sheeting. This product is fine and if you're building a lot of homes, you're not going to have the choice. Ordering larger sized plywood could cost you thousands of dollars, especially if you're building a lot of homes.

However, if your framing or building a home for someone or even yourself, you might want to take my advice and think twice about it, before ordering the roof sheeting. Half-inch plywood, works okay for 16 inch on center roof rafters or engineered truss roofing systems. It doesn't work well on 24 inch on center roof rafters spacing.

It is usually flimsy and weak at the center point, directly in between the 24 inch roof rafter bays. If you're going to use the half-inch plywood, I would recommend using plywood clips that are relatively inexpensive and can be placed in the direct center of each roof rafter bay on each sheet of plywood. These can be purchased at most home improvement centers or lumber yards.

The other alternative, and this is what I recommend, would be to use 5/8 inch plywood. This plywood works great for 24 inch on center roof rafters and you will have a nice sturdy roof to walk on, while roofing your home.

I have actually seen people step through the flimsy plywood, while lifting heavy roof tiles and bundles of composition roof shingles. Experienced roofers try to walk directly on top of the roof rafters, when loading their roof shingles or even carrying them on the roof.

If you're a home builder and your concern is about making a profit, you will need to use the half-inch plywood. If you want to build a superior roof, use the 5/8 of an inch plywood.

If You Live in Northern San Diego County or South Orange County, and You're Looking for a Great Contractor, Click on This Link House Framing Contractors.

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Greg Vandenberge 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 excellent home inspection checklist to take some of the frustration out of home shopping.

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Things to Consider Before the Installation of an Electric Shower

Everyone wants to have an attractive and luxurious shower in their bathroom. Electric showers have better impressions among other types of showers and are widely used because of their excellent performance. Compared to other showers, electric showers are easy to install, economical, and convenient to use. Basic requirements when installing electric showers include little plumbing from the cold water supply and appropriate electrical connection. However, few precautionary measures should be taken in order to provide a safe and economical output.

For households with only cold water pipe line available, electric shower is the only option. It is also recommended for areas with low pressure water supply. Electric showers have built-in pumps designed to maintain water pressure for the shower and sprayed through the shower head.

On the other hand, for households with both hot and cold water pipe lines, mixer showers are suitable and the best option. It is designed to mix hot and cold water to regulate the water temperature when used. Lastly, on areas provided with low pressure water supply, but with installed heater for a shower, power showers are the best option.

During installation, the shower head should be installed in an area far from the base tray to avoid contact. Installation of electric shower should also be in accordance with the water supply that should have a minimum running pressure of 1.0 bar at a flow rate of 8 liters/minute. Water supplied to electric showers should be cold and must have a dedicated line to be used exclusive for the shower to maintain water temperature.

Showers should not be installed in sections with freezing conditions, but should be placed on tiled surfaces. Before completing the water supply connection with electric shower, pipes should be cleaned and checked so that waste can be washed out and avoid obstructions for the water to flow. One isolated valve must also be fitted in the main water supply. This valve will regulate the opening and closing of the main water supply which is necessary when performing maintenance of the shower.

For electric showers, compatible cable that can carry proper voltage to the device should be chosen. A separate electric connection should be used from the unit to the shower through a double pole switch. The switch will be used to turn the heating process of water on and off. It is also suitable for turning electricity off in emergency situations. This should be installed in a secured place, away from any person taking shower to prevent any accidents brought by electrical shock. For added safety, wirings of electric shower must be connected to a switch without any plug or socket.

Making the required electrical connection for the shower may sound simple, but professional electricians are required to perform the task. All these precautions should be considered before installing electric showers. By considering these things, installing electric showers is made easy and safe. Let us all remember that one can only get the most out of it when it is installed properly and effectively.

If you are looking for more information then feel free to visit electric showers and electric power showers.

Do-It-Yourself Kitchen Design

Remodeling the kitchen has become one of the most popular projects that home owners undertake to improve their home. One of the reasons is that, along with bathrooms, redoing a kitchen has the highest return on investment of any home improvement project. There are many parts of a remodeled kitchen that a home owner can manage themselves. All it takes is a little research and a little knowledge. However, although hiring an independent contractor is risky and expensive, there are some things best left to a professional.

What You Should Leave To The Pros

There are some parts of remodeling a kitchen that are NOT recommended for the DIYer. One main component is any electrical work. Not only is electrical work difficult and dangerous, improper wiring can lead to fires and can damage expensive appliances. You also risk voiding the warranty on many electrical items if they are not completed by a certified electrician. Be sure and see your warranty for details. Planning with electricity is simply not for the amateur, not even for a contractor who is not a certified, licensed electrician. This isn't to say that your general contractor or even you cannot handle the job. In many cases the work is not really that difficult. It just simply isn't worth the risk and liability involved.

While some plumbing can be easily tackled by an amateur, such as replacing an existing faucet, rough-in plumbing should also be handled by a professional. If you are relocating a sink or adding a dishwasher, soldering of the pipes may be required. This task is technically difficult and potentially dangerous. Incorrect soldering can even lead to a fire. Working with installing or replacing PVC pipe is also tricky business. If not installed correctly, you could have potential leaks that can cause significant damage as well as costly repairs.

Most other jobs that will be required in a kitchen remodel are easy enough to handle yourself. Even difficult installations such as cabinetry can be tackled by the do-it-yourselfer who is motivated and educated. Hiring a contractor is going to cost you at LEAST as much in labor as you plan to spend on materials, and quite possibly more. Do some research, take your time, and you can actually enjoy creating a new kitchen by yourself.

Simon Burke has worked in the home decorating field for many years and loves to share his interior design experiences and ideas with home owners everywhere. Another article on do-it-yourself kitchen design - click here.

How to Protect Foundation Plumbing Pipes?

If you install any underground plumbing pipes, in your concrete building foundation, you will need to protect them, from the concrete. You can use a variety of products and the most common of them will be a Styrofoam wrapping that can be purchased at most plumbing supply stores.

Let's start with the waste pipes, that are made out of plastic. The concrete could actually start to put pressure on the plastic pipes as the concrete starts to expand and this pressure could actually damage your new waste pipes.

You don't need to wrap all of the plastic waste pipes, only the parts of the waste pipes that will be exposed or in direct contact any concrete, but you do need to protect every copper water supply line that will be buried under the ground or exposed to the concrete, with a plastic sleeve. These products can be purchased again at most building supply or plumbing supply stores.

If these pipes aren't protected properly, you could find yourself within a short time, repairing the pipes that are either inside of your concrete foundation or buried underneath your concrete foundation. Either way, this isn't going to be a good thing.

You definitely need to wrap a plastic sleeve around the water supply pipes that are going to be buried or in direct contact with the concrete. This is a must and most building departments will require your plumbing pipes to be wrapped, before it they will sign off on your rough foundation plumbing inspection.

However, for the waste pipes, you can actually use cardboard to protect them. If you're short on funds, why not grab some cardboard boxes, dismantle them and start using cardboard to wrap the pipes, with a little duct tape.

There are plenty of ways to save money in the construction business, buy a few books, read a couple of articles, with a lot of pictures in this can provide you with lots of construction information, from experience building contractors.

Check out some of the best selling Home Building Plumbing Books all on one website

If you're really interested in basement remodeling and repairs, you should click on this link Home Repairs. Get some great home repair advice that can make a big difference on any of your home remodeling projects.

Greg Vandenberge 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.

Thanks for reading our articles

10 Things a Homeowner Won't Tell a Contractor - Common Courtesy

I've been a contractor in the state of California for over 20 years and there are some things that a homeowner won't tell a contractor. These are a few things that a contractor might want to hear, but a reluctant homeowner, might have second thoughts telling their contractors how they really feel.

1. We are happy with all of the work that you did in a timely manner and we appreciate your services.

2. We are happy with the way you performed your construction tasks, efficiently and we appreciate your services.

3. The work was done by a true professional and we would recommend you to any one of our friends.

4. The payment plan that you created in the contract worked out perfectly and never made us feel uncomfortable. It never seemed like you had too much of our money or we were putting you in a bad spot financially.

5. Thanks for keeping the job clean, it meant a lot to us, because we have seen other construction jobs that look like a tornado ran through them.

6. Thanks for helping us with our design. Working with your contractor on a daily, weekly or monthly basis can be frustrating or joyful. Let the contractor know either way how you are really feeling.

7. You and your crew are extremely hard-working and we appreciate the simple fact that you didn't come to work late or leave early.

8. Thanks for the reasonable priced estimate on our project. You helped us say a lot of money and we appreciate that sincerely.

9. Thanks for doing the extra work at a reasonable price. You could have gouged us at certain times, but you chose to be fair and work things out, in a way that would benefit both of us.

10. This one is the most important and often overlooked by homeowners and it's simple and easy to do. Thanks for doing what you said you were going to do and actually doing it.

Just a simple thank you and paying them on time, for a service well done is enough for most contractors. However, a little common courtesy can go a long way, even in the construction industry.

If You Live in Northern San Diego County or South Orange County, and You're Looking for a Great Contractor, Click on This Link Home Remodeling Contractor

Greg Vandenberge 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.

Click here if you're looking for additional Homeowner Contractor Advice. If you're interested in gathering more information on how to hire a good contractor, make sure that you visit our website.

Important Do-It-Yourself Home Remodeling Advice

Often I'm asked by homeowners, if they think that they can build something on their own. Often I end up explaining the process to them and it's pretty confusing. I would like to give some homeowners and construction handyman some do-it-yourself home remodeling advice, about projects that I think they should avoid and the reason why.

1. Working on Electrical Service Boxes

I really don't recommend, anyone who lacks experience working with electrical, to be working on it at all. When it comes to the electrical service box repairs, if you don't have any experience working in this specific area, I am suggesting this to all homeowners and do-it-yourselfers, stay away from electrical service power boxes. Electricity can be extremely hazardous to your health, so take my advice, this is coming from an expert on the subject.

2. Plumbing Water Supply Lines

I don't recommend, anyone who doesn't have any experience working with plumbing water supply lines, because if they break, or if your repair, doesn't hold properly, you could destroy a large portion of your home. Picture this, you just got through putting a new faucet in, everything looks great, but it's time for you to go to your baseball game. You come home about four hours later and the entire house is flooded with water.

This kind of stuff does happen and you need to take the advice of an expert here. It has even happened to me and I understand the process, pretty good. If you plan on fixing any plumbing water supply lines, make sure that you can spend the time, keeping an eye on your new home repair. If you're going to have any problems with them, they will usually happen within the first few hours of use.

I hope this helps, sometimes it's better to pay a professional, but I can understand, every intelligent person, is interested in saving a few dollars and learning new skills.

If you're really interested in basement remodeling and repairs, you should click on this link Home Repair Pictures and Advice. Get some great home repair advice that can make a big difference on any of your home remodeling projects.

If You Live in Northern San Diego County or South Orange County, and You're Looking for a Great Contractor, Click on This Link Vista Home Repair Contractors

Greg Vandenberge 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.

Thanks For Reading My Articles

Home Purchasing Checklists Provide Protection

Home purchasing checklists provide protection for consumers with useful information for future home repairs or current home repairs that will need to be done before the home is sold. Home inspectors often use checklists like these, while they're inspecting the home.

If more home shoppers used home inspection checklist while shopping for houses, we would probably have more satisfied homebuyers than dissatisfied ones. Recently just purchasing a home, we had our real estate professional, the previous homeowner's real estate professional and a mortgage lender, involved in the purchase of the property.

There was a home inspection report from the current homeowners, available for us to look at. It provided us with the damaged parts of the home that were repaired or replaced. Some of these repairs were from termite damage and it was stated so on the report. This was helpful information for us as we walked around the home inspecting it for damage.

The work that was repaired to look satisfactory and the rest of the home had minor damage. Listening to one of the real estate sales people that were involved in the transaction, you would've thought we would get in the deal of a lifetime and they had nothing but good news to say about the product they were representing. I easily understood that, this person could have influenced some one into believing that the home was in great shape, if they didn't have a home inspection checklist with them.

The home had been re-carpeted, painted and was in generally good shape. The problems with the home, were the old windows that were hard to open, the heating unit leaked gas, the tile flooring that ran through the kitchen and a large room addition looked great, except for one thing, they installed the tile over linoleum.

This eventually will have to be replaced as the tile starts to separate from the linoleum. While I'm writing this article, there's about 40 square feet of tile that needs to be replaced, because it's popping up and cracking.

A home purchasing checklist does not guarantee that you will find everything but can't eliminate some of the things that homeowners have the biggest problems with. If you could just eliminate one of these problems, the small price of purchasing, one of these checklists would be worth it.

Home purchasing checklists provide protection for the shopper and I would recommend, never shopping for a home without one.

If your looking for some more home inspection or home building ideas.

By Greg Vandenberge

What is a Three Way Home Electrical Light Switch?

A three way home electrical light switch is a special light switch that can be used in your hallways, large rooms and stairways. These light switches are specially made to operate one light or a group of lights from two different locations.

They are most commonly found in hallways and provide a homeowner with the option of turning the light on at one end of the hallway and turning it off, when they are finished walking through the hallway and are about to enter into another room.

Before three way home electrical light switches were made, people would turn the hallway light on and leave it on or they wouldn't turn the hall light on at all, because they knew that after they walked down the dark hallway, they wouldn't be able to turn the light off at the other end.

Three-way light switches are also used in stairways. It makes a lot of sense, to be able to turn your stairway light on, at the bottom of the stairs and then after you have walked up the stairway safely, you can simply turn the stair lights system off.

As homes become larger, it's not going to be uncommon to find three way light switches being used at either end of large rooms. If your living room or family room was located within the center of your home and had an entrance at each end, it wouldn't be a bad idea to install a light switch at each end, for travelers who are simply walking through these room.

Remember that three-way light switches, are used to operate lights from two different locations.

If you're really interested in basement remodeling and repairs, you should click on this link Great Home Repair Advice. Get some great home repair advice that can make a big difference on any of your home remodeling projects.

If You Live in Northern San Diego County or South Orange County, and You're Looking for a Great Contractor, Click on This Link Encinitas Home Remodeling Contractors

Greg Vandenberge 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.

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Building Codes - Stairway Construction

The stair building code was created for building safety. Before the building code and local city enforcement (Building Inspectors), anyone could build a house. This meant Uncle Earl who had just watched a couple of his friends build a house down the street construct some sort of a dwelling. The next step for Earl would be to help these guys for a day and now he is a professional home builder. You get the point.

Stair Building Codes create the safety needed for one of the most hazardous areas of your home. You might know someone who has fallen down a stairway?

I lived in a house I built for 15 years and I redesigned the stairs from a winder design to a T shaped set of stairs. Both sets of stairs were built using the local stair building code for my city.

Wow I could not believe how many times my family members fell down the stairs. I even fell down once. I was amazed. When I switched from the winder to the T shaped stairway there were less accidents. My point is that even using the stair building codes this is a dangerous part of your house.

Having a professional stair builder install your stairs is great advice. Take it. For example this happened to me on quite a few jobs. I get a set of plans from a architect who has been designing houses for over 40 years. I looked at the stairway to find out that he has designed a stairway that is too small for the length of this part of the home. If I build the stairs using the plans that by the way were approved from the local building department, I could have a problem.

You are probably asking yourself how does this happen. Aren't these people experienced professionals. Of course they are. They probably have the U.B.C. (Uniform Building Code) in their office somewhere. Everyone makes mistakes here and there but this is one area of the home where safety is a big concern.

Just look at it like this. The stair building code was designed to improve the safety and reduce the number of accidents while using the stairs. Over the years I have seen stairs poorly designed and constructed. These stairs create problems for the owners of the buildings not just the people that use them. Did I mention lawsuits. This is one area where a lawyer will have a field day.

As a building professional I advise you to use the stair building code first for safety and second to avoid lawsuits. Get an idea from some of the pictures I have taken over the years on problems with stair building.

Use common sense while building or remodeling your home. It goes a long way.

Greg Vandenberge 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. Stair Building Articles

Retaining Walls Suffer From Moisture Problems

Whether you're driving down the road or through a neighborhood and you notice a retaining wall that has large cracks in it, or is severely discolored, or one that has white calcium deposits from moisture covering the entire wall, you've got problems with moisture.

The retaining wall is designed to hold the dirt back, that's it's sole purpose. It's not going to hold any moisture back unless someone has installed a waterproofing membrane to separate the soil from the concrete block wall. If the soil isn't ever going to get wet, then you probably don't need to waterproof the retaining wall.

However that's normally not going to be the case. So we need to waterproof the interior of our retaining walls to eliminate future moisture problems that could eventually, deteriorate as moisture starts to accumulate, inside of our block wall for a longer periods of time.

If you don't know anything about waterproofing, I would suggest that you hire a waterproofing expert. Waterproofing looks easier than it actually is, and might be out of your scope of work.

I'm not going to suggest that you use waterproofing paints, because I haven't seen great results with these products. However, if you're not that concerned about your retaining wall and are looking for a cheaper way to apply any waterproofing materials, these paints might not be a bad idea. Sometimes, Something is better than nothing.

If you live in a relatively dry climate, it might not be necessary to waterproof your retaining walls. But if you live in a damp or moist area, especially an area where the ground is moist all year round or more than six months out of the year, I would suggest that you waterproof the back of your retaining walls.

If you're really interested in basement remodeling and repairs, you should click on this link House Basement Repair Ideas. Get some great home repair advice that can make a big difference on any of your home remodeling projects.

Dryer Vent In Basement Window.

Greg Vandenberge 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.

Thanks For Reading My Articles

Tile Grouting Tips For Your Bathrooms, Kitchens and Floors

Isn't tile grouting supposed to be simple, if you read the directions and watch a couple of videos? What could make tile grouting so difficult? Grouting your tile isn't that difficult, by the time you're done reading this article, you should have a pretty good idea how to grout your floors, bathrooms, kitchens and anything else that requires tile.

I used to have problems grouting tile, but after I read the directions, I became a grouting wizard. This sounds hard to believe, but after reading the directions on the tile grout bag, I became a grout master. I know, you the type of person who never read the directions, you simply add water, mix and start grouting.

It's time to change your thinking about, whether or not the directions will be helpful. Whether it's about grouting your bathroom floor or putting together your home barbecued. I read one thing on the grout bag and it changed my entire grouting career.

The grout should slake. After you're done mixing the grout, you should wait between five and 10 minutes to let the moisture soak into the grout mix. Do this once, and you will never go back to mixing your grout and applying it, as quickly as possible after it has been mixed.

For more information on grouting, remodeling or home repairs, I would recommend reading books on home improvement and home repairs. Some of these books can make a big difference in your home improvement abilities as a handyman. I would also recommend reading more articles, there's plenty of information about tile and grouting, all over the Internet.

Click here if you are looking for some more Bathroom Remodeling Ideas

If you're really interested in basement remodeling and repairs, you should click on this link Home Repair Tips. Get some great home repair advice that can make a big difference on any of your home remodeling projects.

Greg Vandenberge 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.

Thanks for reading the article

Important Do-It-Yourself Home Remodeling Advice

Often I'm asked by homeowners, if they think that they can build something on their own. Often I end up explaining the process to them and it's pretty confusing. I would like to give some homeowners and construction handyman some do-it-yourself home remodeling advice, about projects that I think they should avoid and the reason why.

1. Working on Electrical Service Boxes

I really don't recommend, anyone who lacks experience working with electrical, to be working on it at all. When it comes to the electrical service box repairs, if you don't have any experience working in this specific area, I am suggesting this to all homeowners and do-it-yourselfers, stay away from electrical service power boxes. Electricity can be extremely hazardous to your health, so take my advice, this is coming from an expert on the subject.

2. Plumbing Water Supply Lines

I don't recommend, anyone who doesn't have any experience working with plumbing water supply lines, because if they break, or if your repair, doesn't hold properly, you could destroy a large portion of your home. Picture this, you just got through putting a new faucet in, everything looks great, but it's time for you to go to your baseball game. You come home about four hours later and the entire house is flooded with water.

This kind of stuff does happen and you need to take the advice of an expert here. It has even happened to me and I understand the process, pretty good. If you plan on fixing any plumbing water supply lines, make sure that you can spend the time, keeping an eye on your new home repair. If you're going to have any problems with them, they will usually happen within the first few hours of use.

I hope this helps, sometimes it's better to pay a professional, but I can understand, every intelligent person, is interested in saving a few dollars and learning new skills.

If you're really interested in basement remodeling and repairs, you should click on this link Home Repair Pictures and Advice. Get some great home repair advice that can make a big difference on any of your home remodeling projects.

If You Live in Northern San Diego County or South Orange County, and You're Looking for a Great Contractor, Click on This Link Vista Home Repair Contractors

Greg Vandenberge 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.

Thanks For Reading My Articles

Five Things That a Termite Inspection Company Might Not Ever Say

I don't think that I've ever heard of a termite inspector, ever go to a home and not find any termites. Even if the home doesn't have any damage that is visible from the termites, it seems like it's always a good idea, to tent the home, just in case, for protection. Anyway, here's five things that you might not ever hear a termite inspector ever say.

1. Your house is free of termites. This means that there isn't, one termite on your property and the termite inspector isn't going to make any money. Let's face it, termite damage, whether it's visible or invisible, keeps these guys working.

2. Your house isn't going to fall down, if I don't do anything to stop the termites. I have seen homes, where termites have been working on them for quite some time and they still seem to stand up and function properly.

3. Termites don't eat much and I wouldn't worry about the damage. Most termite inspectors will tell you how much a termite in Hawaii or Africa will eat in a day, but doesn't seem to have an honest idea, how much damage they are doing to your home, if they can't actually see it.

4. Every one that works for our company, has at least 30 years experience, repairing any termite damage. Don't even get me started with this one.

5. We will replace all of the termite damage wood, back to its original condition. What they might say, is that they will replace the wood that is damaged by termites, that you can actually see.

There are plenty of great termite companies out there and this article was meant just to have fun with most of them. Termite damage can be a serious problem with some homes and I would suggest that you contact at least three termite inspectors, before proceeding ahead with any home repairs or use of chemicals.

Try not to forget, the only way that a termite inspection company will make any money, looking at your house, will be to find something wrong with it.

If you're really interested in basement remodeling and repairs, you should click on this link Easy Home Repair Tips . Get some great home repair advice that can make a big difference on any of your home remodeling projects.

If You Live in Northern San Diego County or South Orange County, and You're Looking for a Great Contractor, Click on This Link San Diego Remodeling Contractors

Greg Vandenberge 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.

Thanks For Reading My Articles

How to Protect Foundation Plumbing Pipes?

If you install any underground plumbing pipes, in your concrete building foundation, you will need to protect them, from the concrete. You can use a variety of products and the most common of them will be a Styrofoam wrapping that can be purchased at most plumbing supply stores.

Let's start with the waste pipes, that are made out of plastic. The concrete could actually start to put pressure on the plastic pipes as the concrete starts to expand and this pressure could actually damage your new waste pipes.

You don't need to wrap all of the plastic waste pipes, only the parts of the waste pipes that will be exposed or in direct contact any concrete, but you do need to protect every copper water supply line that will be buried under the ground or exposed to the concrete, with a plastic sleeve. These products can be purchased again at most building supply or plumbing supply stores.

If these pipes aren't protected properly, you could find yourself within a short time, repairing the pipes that are either inside of your concrete foundation or buried underneath your concrete foundation. Either way, this isn't going to be a good thing.

You definitely need to wrap a plastic sleeve around the water supply pipes that are going to be buried or in direct contact with the concrete. This is a must and most building departments will require your plumbing pipes to be wrapped, before it they will sign off on your rough foundation plumbing inspection.

However, for the waste pipes, you can actually use cardboard to protect them. If you're short on funds, why not grab some cardboard boxes, dismantle them and start using cardboard to wrap the pipes, with a little duct tape.

There are plenty of ways to save money in the construction business, buy a few books, read a couple of articles, with a lot of pictures in this can provide you with lots of construction information, from experience building contractors.

Check out some of the best selling Home Building Plumbing Books all on one website

If you're really interested in basement remodeling and repairs, you should click on this link Home Repairs. Get some great home repair advice that can make a big difference on any of your home remodeling projects.

Greg Vandenberge 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.

Thanks for reading our articles

How to Install Ceramic Tile - Proven Steps to Success

You can quickly learn how to install ceramic tile and have stunning success with your project. Sure installing tile is usually left to the pros. But with the right tips, most people can build beautiful surfaces. It's just a matter of getting the right tools and learning how to prepare the surfaces and put the tile in place. Following are the four basic steps for getting tile installed the right way.

Gathering the materials is the first step. Now materials includes getting the few basic tools required for tile installation. There are just a few special tools required. The most important tools you don't already have are the tile cutting tools. That would include tile nippers, maybe a tile cutter board and usually a tile saw. You can rent a saw or start with a very inexpensive saw too.

The other part of gathering materials is deciding on the tile you will use and how much tile you need. That may be the hardest part of the whole project. That's because you have so many tile choices. After you decide how much tile you need, you'll know how much tile adhesive and grout you'll need too. Your tile supplier can help you figure quantities of all the materials. Once you have your materials you're ready to get started with the installing.

An important preparation step is getting the base for the tile solid and clean. A surface that moves will cause cracked tiles. Often the easiest way to get a solid smooth surface is to put down cement board. But that's not necessary since tile can be installed over many different materials. Once you have your materials and your surface preparation done, the actual installation is not very hard.

Laying the first tile is the hardest part. That's because the position of the first tile determines how much cutting of tiles you'll do. It also determines how straight the joint lines will be. Getting the tiles lined up correctly will make for a neat installation. The best way to get the lines straight is to use your chalk line early and often. Actually setting the tiles involves some art. Setting tile is easiest if you gently twist the tiles into position. You don't want to drop the tiles into place or slide the tile into place either. Make sure you have enough mud on the tile so you have a little extra so you can bump the individual piece into place.

Once the tiles are in place, the grouting of the joints goes quickly. Grout does come in several types. Whether you choose sanded or unsanded grout depends on the size of the joint. Another option is using epoxy grout where the tile is in a constantly wet place. After the grout sets briefly, it is easily cleaned to finish the job.

You can learn how to install ceramic tile with the right instruction and some practice. There's no reason why you can't do a professional looking job on your first project. There are quite a few tricks to learn to make it easier to lay tile.

Video tutorials showing how to install ceramic tile can be found at our website.

Al Bullington invites you to visit http://InstallingCeramicTile.net for answers to your tile questions.

Plaster And Drywall Cracks

Bamboo Flooring - One of the Better Going Green Choices

Bamboo flooring is becoming one of the popular choices in hard flooring surfaces today. This is even more true for those homeowners who wish to use "green products" that are easily renewable.

An oak. maple, or pine tree needs to be cut down to get the benefit of lumber products. Another new tree needs to be replanted in it's place, taking many years to reach maturity.

Bamboo, on the other hand, will replenish itself and usually grows to stage that it may be harvested in about three years.

Bamboo flooring-What Does It Offer In Appearance?

When selecting bamboo flooring, the choices in appearance are many. Surprisingly, this product takes on the look of traditional wood flooring and can be found in many finishes.

There are shades as light as a pale bleached look. You will find all of the standard tones as well in light tones, medium tones with reddish overtones, dark tones like walnut, and even an almost black. The choices in appearance are many.

Bamboo, like other hard surface flooring will be beneficial to any in your household who suffer allergies. It will be easier to clean and maintain and keep your household environment more allergen free.

Shopping For Bamboo Flooring

When shopping for bamboo flooring, and especially if you are going to install it yourself, do be sure it is accompanied by manufacturer instructions for the installation process. Do not rely on a sales person. Read and follow the manufacturer instructions and recommendations to the letter. The manufacturer will recommend whatever products, tools, or methods are best used in the installation process to reach the most desirable outcome.

Most bamboo flooring, unlike standard laminates is either installed with glue or fasteners. Use the installation recommended, be sure underlayment is clean and flat, and acclimatize the product properly before beginning installation.

It is advisable to purchase bamboo in either the mid or upper price range. This is true of most flooring products in order to get a better quality that will provide the most in durability and performance.

With proper selection and installation you can enjoy the beauty of your bamboo floor for years and feel that you have made a step toward going green and still get the benefit of a beautiful wood look floor.

Find information on other flooring choices as well as a variety of bathroom remodeling tips and advice at=> http://www.bathroom-remodeling-hints.com

Advantages Framing With Steel

Are Home Remodeling Costs Down?

Lately we've been inundated by doom-and-gloom news in the media about the real estate market. But if you're planning to stay in your home and remodel or upgrade a rental for future resale, there is actually some good news to report: it's becoming less expensive to remodel as the market slows down and the law of supply and demand kicks in.

A year or so ago, the market was on fire and building materials and labor were scarce and expensive since the demand for both was equally hot. Construction material was in short supply, if you could find it at all, and finding skilled craftsmen for your project was an exercise in frustration. That situation was made even more difficult by the demand for rebuilding areas of the country that had been hit by Hurricane Katrina. On top of that, delivery costs also rose, due to a spike in gas prices. All of those factors contributed to cost increases of as much as 50 percent in certain areas.

The good news about all that? With the slow-down in the real estate market, materials are more readily available and construction people are actually looking for work to fill their schedules. Gas prices came down briefly, though they've begun to rise again, but the other pressures have lessened, which means that the cost of many common remodeling projects has decreased by 20% or more.

That's especially good news if your project is relatively small. During the height of the real estate boom, many contractors turned down smaller projects or told home owners to wait until they could get to them. However, many contractors are now actively trying to drum up work as the market continues to soften.

The downside of remodeling with an eye toward increasing your property's value is that, at least for the near term, your upgrade probably won't immediately pay for itself like it would have in the last few years. Since real estate prices have declined significantly in many parts of America, your remodeling project won't do much from an investment standpoint as it used to. Recent surveys have suggested that even the most popular upgrades, bathroom and kitchen remodels, are only returning about 80% of their cost.

The bottom line: this may be a good time to schedule that major remodeling project you've been wanting, assuming you're not doing it to quickly turn around and use the upgrade to increase your profits. If you do want to sell for top dollar in a buyer's market, you can increase your profits by turning your home into a buyer's dream home using less expensive faux paint techniques.

Whether you want to remodel or just decorate your home, you can benefit from exploring Flip That House with FAUX. See the controversial home that was on Flip That House at http://flipthathousewithfaux.com/book.html Enjoy your home!

Copyright 2007 Jeanette Fisher

Painting Metal Siding

Frozen Pipes

First, it's important to know which pipes are frozen. If your water will not drain, this means your drain pipes are frozen. If no water comes out of the faucet, this means that your supply line pipes are frozen.

DRAIN PIPES:

What to do: If your sinks, toilets, showers or tubs will not drain, this means that your drain pipes could be frozen. If your drain pipe is frozen, open cabinet doors or cut into your walls or ceilings to allow the heat from your home to get to the pipes. To heat your pipes faster, a hair dryer is a great way to warm them up. Please use the hair dryer with care - if water starts leaking out, the hair dryer can short circuit.

Why it happens: Many times pipes freeze due to finishing off a basement. When the basement was unfinished, the pipes were exposed to the heat of the home. Once the basement is finished, the sheetrock and insulation blocks off the pipes from getting heat from the home. If the pipes freeze, the could cause damage to newly finished basements.

How to prevent it: A simple precaution for preventing frozen drain pipes can be as easy as cutting a 6x9 return air grate in the area to allow warmth into the joyced cavity. Always remember to insulate your pipes from the cold, but not from the heat in the house.

SUPPLY LINE PIPES:

What to do: If your water will not come out of the faucet or shower head, this means that your supply line could be frozen. Your pipes could be burst, so first you must shut your water off at the main. You will want to get heat to your pipes. The best way to heat them is to open cabinets and doors, cut holes in the walls and use fans or hair dryers to warm them up. Again, please use care when working with the hair dryer, if it gets wet, the hair dryer can short circuit. Warming the pipes is important, and the extent of the damage cannot be determined until they are mostly thawed.

Why it happens: Many times pipes freeze due to recently finishing off a basement or a change in insulation. The pipes in your home need to be insulated only from the cold on the outside, but not from the heat on the inside. If your pipes are insulated from the heat inside your home, they have no way of staying warm.

What do do after the pipes are thawed: If after the pipes are thawed, there are non leaks, many times full operation is returned. Sometimes scale and sediment move through the lines because of the glacial-like action of ice, which pushes sediment into blocked pipes. Because of this, ariators and shower heads may need to removed and cleaned for them to work completely.

If a leak develops because of burst pipes from ice, turn the water off again, and call a plumber. It is helpful to know exact location or even cut open walls to identify the exact location of a split pipe.

How to prevent it: If you are worried your supply lines are going to freeze because of past history or evidence to support that, some plumbers may recommend letting run to keep the water flowing - similar to a water tower. Please do not do this! This can be just as dangerous. The water usually cannot go down the pipes fast enough and it can develop layers of ice and plug the pipe, causing an unattended running faucet to overflow the sink. Another way to prevent a freeze is to take care of those leaky faucets. The dripping into the drain can cause an ice buildup and eventually cause a frozen pipe.

Amanda Klecker - Zell Plumbing & Heating

http://www.zellplumbing.com

Fixings Squeaking Stairs

Custom Home Design - Software For the Do-It-Yourselfer!

If a new custom home is in your future, consider doing at least the preliminary designs yourself. Of course you have no doubt already looked at countless home designs in magazines, but none fit your bill - exactly.

With today's technology, computer drawing software has been made extremely user friendly. There are a number of design software options available that the complete novice can quickly manage. And many of these programs are powerful enough for professional designers as well.

Simple and professional. What could be better for your own do-it-yourself custom home design software? Now you can take the best ideas of all of those plans that you have been browsing over and try to incorporate them into your special home.

Many of these software programs offer simple "drag-and-drop" features. This speeds up the design process considerably and allows you more time to do the more important design tasks like bathroom designs and kitchen designs and closet designs.....

Now designers, architects and builders will do this work for - FOR A PRICE. But it may take a few generations of drawings to get to your desired home design. And we all know that time is money!

You will gain a great deal of insight into your home when you design it yourself. You will look at space requirements and flows that you may otherwise disregard if designed by someone else. And some of the small but important spaces - closet, linen storage, laundry, even kitchen cupboard spaces - will get the extra attention that you deem is required.

Having this kind of input into your special new home design will be exciting and self-satisfying as well. Imagine having you friends over raving about a particular design feature and being able to say "That was MY design idea".

Now you will likely still have to engage someone to produce the construction set of drawings, but the design is still YOURS. And you will truly end up with a custom home designed especially for you.

To view a number of home design software options visit our Punch Design Software page. PrefabMetalBuildingKits.com is a website dedicated to metal buildings. Visit us at Metal Building Kits.

Painting A French Door

Getting Solar Power For Homes - Home Tips

Have you been thinking about getting solar power for your home? Does the idea of powering your home with the rays of the sun interest you? If so, then you'll be glad to know that you many options. No matter what kind of budget you're on, there are affordable solutions that will match your specific needs.

You could always go out and purchase solar panels, but you can save a lot of money if you make your own. Even if your budget is tight, you can still afford all the materials necessary for building solar panels. You can either build from scratch or buy solar panel kits. The kits will have the components needed and all you'll have to do is assemble them. Either way, getting solar power for homes can be very affordable.

While solar power is becoming increasingly popular in rural neighborhoods, those living in urban areas still have options. If you live in an apartment complex in the city, you still may able to place a small solar panel on your roof or patio. You can also ask your electric company if they have any options for customers interested in solar energy. It's becoming more common for cities to offer residents solar generated power through grids. See if that's an option in your area.

No matter where you live, you should consider getting solar power for your home. Not only will you be doing your part in helping the environment, but you'll be saving a lot of money too. While energy sources from the earth are limited and nonrenewable, there will always be a sun. And as long as there's a sun, there will be solar power.

Earth4Energy will teach you everything you need to know about getting solar power for homes. You can learn how to store FREE solar power that you can use anytime you want. Earth4Energy will also help you to understand your options better through informative guides, illustrations, video tutorials, and more.

About the author:

Nadav Snir is a chemistry and physics student who studies energy and ways of convservation. To find out more about energy saving and Earth4Energy, visit his site: http://Great-Info-Products.com/WaterForGas/earth4energy.html

Exterior Wood Beams

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

Painting Metal Siding

Understanding Wood Shrinkage in Finish Carpentry

These days trim wood shrinkage in finish carpentry does cause some problems and has tested the reputation of even the most seasoned finish carpenters. This can be controlled some what if it is properly addressed however the shear speed at which houses get built and the use of new growth lumber these days poses a lot of the problems that are unfortunately some times unavoidable.

Trim wood should be acclimated to the inside environment of the house where it will be installed. This does also apply to the wood of a new wood floor to be installed. What this means exactly is the wood needs time to adjust to the temperature and humidity levels of the house where it will be installed. This in turn reduces the shrinkage of the wood and that helps to keep miters tight and doors working properly. There is much discussion on how long this acclimation period should be and a few variables do come into play here especially with a newly built home. A very minimum of an acclimation period would be 48 hrs. if the environment change of the storage place of the trim wood or the store to the house environment is not a huge difference. Another factor is after the acclimation period it is best to get the wood finished and sealed whether you do it before or after installation.

Ultimately wood is going to shrink and swell according to the seasons. Some places more than others due to the climate differences. The best way to reduce this is to try and keep the environment in the house relatively even with just the temperature although I have seen a new house with new trim work sitting empty with no activity like cooking or showering for a long period of time have major shrinkage in the trim wood due to no humidity. I had trimmed this house and was just sick when I went back for the final; fortunately the builder that I had done the work for understood this problem and took full responsibility. I had been in the finish carpentry business for a long time and had a good reputation of doing good work but some times that reputation doesn't mean anything to the people that don't understand these problems.

For the do it yourselfers doing trim work, there are a few things to consider. If you are remodeling or doing renovations to an existing home just simply taking the precautionary measure of acclimating the wood will eliminate the major shrinkage problem in most cases. On new homes it is however nice to know the humidity levels in the house as well as the wood. One easy way to check the wood is with a moisture meter tester. This little meter is relatively cheap or can be borrowed from a contractor that does building or remodeling. The use of a dehumidifier is recommended in a new house or new construction and doing a little research for the moisture content that is recommended for the area that you live in is also advisable. This is due to the different climates in the country and various temperature changes for the different areas. As a finish carpenter it is important for people to understand some of these issues concerned with wood shrinkage whether you are doing the work yourself or hiring a professional to do the work for you ultimately to protect yourself.

Pat Fisher is a professional carpenter and woodworking craftsman. For more information on finish carpentry and household carpentry projects, visit http://www.finishcarpentryhelp.com and pick up your free eBook.

Installing Windows At A Eye Leve

Home Improvement Tips - Types of Countertops

It used to be that laminate was pretty much your only choice for kitchen countertops. Those days are thankfully long gone but now a homeowner is faced with a variety of choices and wide range of prices available for your kitchen renovation.

Some of the popular choices include:

Ceramic Tile

This remains as a popular and economical alternative that is heat and scratch resistant. It is high maintenance though since it needs to have it's grout sealed regularly to avoid staining.

Concrete

This is a incredibly versatile surface that can be textured and detailed with patterns unlike any other surface. However it is extremely porous and needs to be regularly sealed to avoid stains.

Engineered Stone

This product is made of a quartz composite with colored pebbles or different materials giving its wide range of colors. Texture is usually even and the colors can be reproduced over larger areas. It as extremely durable product that can resist heat and stain.

Granite

Granite is a natural stone. It comes from different regions of the world and can vary widely in color and pattern. It needs to be seamed and requires period sealing to avoid stains. It cannot tolerate high heat from hot pans.

Laminate

Laminate comes in a variety of colors but is not designed to be long lasting. Although it is somewhat stain resistant it will scratch easily. It will also burn easily from hot pans.

Marble

This is another natural stone that is porous and stains easily. It must be sealed every two to five years. They are also easily scratched and cannot take high heat from hot pans.

Slate

This is a third natural stone that is less porous and doesn't require sealing but can be easily scratched

Stainless Steel

This is a very popular product because of the sleek modern look it conveys. It is very durable and resists staining. Often times the surface is brushed to hide any scratches.

Wood

Various types of hardwoods can be used for countertops. It does require regular sealing to avoid drying out and is susceptible to burns from hot pans.

These are some of the pros and cons of the more popular types of countertops. Choose your countertop carefully depending on your usage and needs.

Bob Current writes on a variety of subjects including home improvement tips. You can get a free copy of his report about Choosing The Best Contractor for your project at http://www.homeimprovementtips.info and at http://www.concretecountertops.bcurrent.info/concretecountertops

Painting A French Door

Discount Bathroom Vanities to Upgrade Your Older Home

With housing prices being as low as they are, it's a great time to buy a home, but not to sell one. If you are living in an older home, there are ways to make it feel like new again, so that you can keep on enjoying your home without moving to an upgraded house. Here are a few ideas for you that will make your home nicer but not cost you a small fortune.

The two most popular rooms for remodeling are the kitchen and bathroom, and rightfully so because we all spend a lot of time in these rooms. If you would like to upgrade your kitchen, there are a few things you can do that don't cost a lot but will make a big impact. Why not try adding a kitchen island or butcher block to your culinary area? You will love the extra counter space and food preparation area, which can also double as a handy snack table if you add a couple counter stools to it. Kitchen islands are a great way to upgrade your kitchen without spending a lot of money, and you can get a tile or stone countertop that matches what you currently have on your other fixtures, or you can go for a natural butcher block top that matches any dcor. Another way to spruce up your kitchen without spending a lot is to replace your old kitchen faucet with a newer one, perhaps one that does more than your old faucet head.

Now to tackle that old bathroom! You may have the bathroom that time forgot, or maybe you just don't like what was installed, but the quickest way to change the whole appearance of your bathroom is to get a new bathroom vanity. The vanity is the centerpiece of your bathroom, and if you don't like the current one or it's a looking a little run down, then it can bring the whole bathroom down. If you shop for discount bathroom vanities then you can save money and give yourself a whole new space. You can shop the sales at local home improvement stores, or you can shop online, which is where the best deals are really found. Make sure to measure your space accurately, so that you can find just the right size vanity for your needs, and not find yourself with a vanity that's too big or too small for your bathroom.

No matter what you decide works when upgrading your older home, we hope that you will find these tips helpful and love your old home like it's new again.

If you would like more information on the variety of discount bathroom vanities available or where to find a great price on a bathroom vanity, please visit the Premiere Vanities website.

Plaster And Drywall Cracks

The Importance of Remodeling

In real estate, first impressions truly are everything. In fact buyers can usually tell within the first few seconds of viewing a home whether or not it's the right choice. Call it intuition or a simple matter of taste but at the end of the day sellers must make sure the home exterior grabs attention.

The National Association of Realtors reports that sellers have the best return on investment with exterior remodeling projects which is a no brainer considering it's the first thing prospective clients see. These remodeling projects can encompass a number of things from vinyl sliding to wood decks.

Keeping in mind that since the exterior is what most people see, that's where sellers should put the majority of their funds. This is not to say that interiors should be overlooked as interior remodeling also has its sizable return on investment but in this case one must take into account the whole first impressions idea.

Remodeling does not necessarily have to involve (or be limited to) the actual home exterior as the landscaping can also have a dramatic effect in catching a buyer's attention from the outside. After all, a colorful and well maintained yard does give off an impression that the home is in good condition.

During these tough times when buyers are scarce, the more effort that's put into making a good first impression, the better the chances of finding a buyer. Always make sure that whatever funds are used towards any home remodeling are not funds which affect money used for an emergency or for long term savings.

For more information please visit http://www.southbeachboutiquerealty.com

Are Social Energy Tariffs the Solution to Fuel Poverty?

Social energy tariffs explained
So what exactly is a social energy tariff? It's generally a term for a special rate offered to vulnerable people who have difficulty paying for the gas and electricity that they need.

The eligibility criteria for social tariffs vary between utility providers. Most gas and electricity suppliers make their social tariffs available to the elderly, those on benefits or low incomes, and the 'fuel poor'. Fuel poverty is when at least 10% of your income is spent on gas and electricity. So if you think that you may qualify, it's worth contacting your current energy supplier to find out for certain.

Social energy tariffs available from UK Energy Suppliers

* British Gas has a Winter Warmer scheme for people in receipt of disability or attendance allowance, or pension credit. This provides payments of up to 30 each for gas and electricity during winter. The company will also offer its lowest standard gas and electricity tariffs to vulnerable customers.

* E.On offers a Stay Warm tariff which fixes gas and electricity at a low rate for a year. To qualify, you must be over 60, living in a house with a maximum of three bedrooms, and paying for both gas and electricity by direct debit.

* EDF Energy provides a 15% discount on current standard tariff prices to the fuel poor or people who qualify for income support or pension credit.

* Npower's Spreading Warmth social energy tariff will deliver a discount of 250 per annum to dual fuel customers who are most in need (125 for single fuel users).

* Scottish and Southern Power gives discounts to the fuel poor, those on benefits and people with special needs via its Energy Plus tariff. It estimates that this will be equivalent to a 30% reduction in bills for a family in a three-bed semi.

* ScottishPower suggests that eligible customers on its Priority Services Register (for pensioners and those with certain disabilities) apply for their Carefree Plus tariff, which offers discounts of up to 122 per annum.

In addition to the 'Big 6' energy providers, Atlantic Electric & Gas, Countrywide, EBICo, Ecotricity, Good Energy, Green Energy, Sainsbury's Energy, Scottish Hydro Electric, Southern Electric, Spark Energy, Swalec, Telecom Plus, Union Energy and Utilita also have their own Social Tariffs.

The future of social energy tariffs
Industry regulator Ofgem has published new guidelines on social energy tariffs. Previously, social tariffs were only required to be as cheap as the direct-debit tariffs provided by the energy supplier. However, this meant that the most vulnerable customers were often paying more than people on low-rate internet deals. The social energy tariffs are now required to be at least equal to the utility company's cheapest deal, which includes online-only tariffs.

There is also a possibility that social tariffs will be defined by law. At the moment, the definition of a social tariff is decided individually by each gas and electricity supplier. This means that trying to work out which energy company provides the best deal is difficult, as eligibility criteria and costs vary. The government may enforce minimum standards in the future.

The Winter Fuel Payment
People aged 60 or over may get a Winter Fuel Payment to help them keep warm in winter. This tax-free annual benefit is normally paid from November, with most payments made by Christmas. Qualifying households will receive between 250 and 400 towards their winter fuel bills, and the money will be paid in the same way as their pension.

Other ways to lower utilities bills
If you aren't eligible for a social tariff, or if you are looking for another way of saving money on your utility bills, it's also a good idea to see if switching energy provider will reduce your gas and electricity costs.

We've all been affected by gas and electricity price rises, but if you're having serious problems with paying your utility bills, there is plenty of help available if you know where to look. Don't suffer the cold in silence; make sure that your energy supplier is giving you the assistance you need to heat and light your home.

To compare Energy Prices check out http://www.confused.com/gas-electricity