Home Siding Material

There are numerous types of siding available for today's homes offering different advantages and/or disadvantages. Certain types of siding are more popular in some areas of the country than others, influenced largely by climate and availability of product. Price also influences the type of siding chosen by a builder or a home owner.

Types of siding available:

1. Aluminum or Vinyl Siding These siding options are available on new homes as well as often put on over older types of siding. The biggest advantage of this type of siding is that they do not require painting. The disadvantage is that aluminum siding dents and vinyl siding cracks. Vinyl siding has improved over time as the quality of vinyl improves.

2. Masonite Siding or Hardi Plank These siding options have a similar appearance but offer very different results. Masonite siding deteriorates over time and requires painting, caulking and routine upkeep. Hardi Plank (a brand name) is a similar looking product but is made of cement and therefore does not rot. It is growing in popularity and is a terrific alternative to Masonite.

3. Brick or Stone Both of these products provide an excellent siding option. They are virtually indestructible as well as attractive. They do not require the routine maintenance that other types of siding require. The biggest drawback is price, although in some areas of the country it is still very affordable.

4. Stucco Traditional stucco is made with cement and offers a solid, lasting, moisture proof siding. It is seen a great deal in Florida where the climate would require constant upkeep on other types of siding and the solid cement siding keeps the houses cooler than traditional siding.

5. Cedar Shakes For those who love the look of cedar shakes, it is an excellent alternative to Masonite siding as it requires less maintenance. When treated with stain it does not rot or peel.

6. Veneer & Synthetic Siding These siding alternatives give you the appearance of other types such as stucco or brick, but do not give you the quality or longevity.

7. Clapboard Siding that is made from solid wood is more costly than other types of siding but lasts longer and looks better than other manufactured sidings such as Masonite. It is also a product that lends itself well to stain and therefore will not peel as siding that is painted.

8. Steel and Vinyl Coatings These are becoming more and more popular. They are more expensive but are nearly indestructible thus requiring little maintenance. Vinyl Coatings are applied like paint but are much thicker. Since it is a relatively new product it is important to find a company that will apply it correctly as applying incorrectly can cause many problems.

Pressure Treated Lumber

If you are building a deck, retaining wall or a swing set for the kids it is highly likely that your material of choice is pressure treated lumber.

Pressure treated lumber, if installed properly, should provide a 40 year useable life. However, there are some things about pressure treated lumber that you have to know, in order to obtain that life and not have your project fall apart in a few years.

To create pressure treated lumber, raw lumber is impregnated with two waterborne compounds that are copper based chemicals. The amount of copper basically determines the usage and all pressure treated lumber, sold in the US, is supposed to have a tag stapled to the end of the board signifying its pounds of preservative per cubic foot of wood product:

0.25 Above Ground

0.40 Ground Contact

0.60 Permanent Wood Foundation

2.50 Salt Water

Because the lumber is impregnated with Copper, the choice of fasteners becomes very important. When two dissimilar metals come in contact with one another a galvanic reaction is created, the outcome is that the materials corrode and disintegrate. The higher the levels of copper in the lumber the faster that the corrosion will occur.

Although most people realize that they must use corrosion resistant fasteners and connectors many do not consider items such as flashings and light poles that are also in contact with the pressure treated lumber. Of course the best metals to use for fasteners, flashings and anything else that comes in contact with the deck is stainless steel or copper whenever possible. Stainless steel is expensive and copper is not conveniently available at your local lumber supply so the next best material is steel that has been galvanized.

Galvanized fasteners come in different grades (the thickness of the coating), better manufactures mark the box with a G rating. The higher the G rating, the more zinc used. You shouldnt use less than a G-90 rating and engineers are now suggesting the use of G-185. If the box is not marked it is probably a G-60 or less and this will not provide enough zinc coating to prevent galvanization from occurring. Cadmium plated nuts, bolts and screws do not provide any protection from corrosion whatsoever.

Some manufactures have created composite coatings for use with pressure treated lumber. Read the label on the box and make sure that what you are buying is suitable for the job.

Do not use aluminum flashing, deck flashing must be stainless steel, galvanized or copper. Aluminum corrodes very quickly when in contact with copper. This also means that metals items that come in contact with the pressure treated lumber must also be protected, items such as outdoor furniture, and barbeques should have rubber or vinyl feet or wheels.

For additional information on pressure treated lumber for your home or other renovation projects, visit Renovation Headquarters.

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Rain Gutters And Downspouts

Rain gutters and downspouts are obviously one of the more important aspects on the outside of any home. They help in protecting your foundation from eroding as well as your roof and siding from rotting as well. Not to mention preventing a complete muddy mess that you have to try and avoid walking in. The biggest question about rain gutters is, what do you really need for your particular home? Here is a quick look at some of the basics on choosing a gutter system for your home.

What size of rain gutter do you need?

Because gutters come in different sizes, as well as materials one of the first things you will need to know is what size you need. This will depend on what part of the country you live in. If you live in an area which receives heavy rainfall then you should go with a larger 7" gutter channel. You need the bigger size to handle the heavier amounts of precipitation to prevent them from overflowing. For those living in areas which get little rain then a 5" or 6" gutter will be fine.

What kind of material do you want your gutter made out of?

Your next step is deciding what type of material you would like to have your gutter made of. The most common materials are aluminum and vinyl. Both have their advantages and disadvantages, but you can also choose to have them made from copper, steel or other materials. Obviously, cost will be a consideration when you are looking at copper gutters, but copper will last a lifetime if cared for properly. If you live in an area where you do not have extreme temperature fluctuations then a vinyl gutter system would make for a good choice.

Seamless or not?

Finally, you will need to decide on whether you would like to have a seamless gutter system or one that is in sections. Seamless gutters and downspouts are considered by most experts to be the best choice. It eliminates the "seams" that could eventually lead to leaks and sagging. Keep in mind though; a seamless gutter will still have seams at the corner breaks. Also, seamless will be a more expensive option. All in all though, it is the best route to go.

Installing rain gutters

Finally, whatever gutters and downspouts you decide to install, don't use the old style of putting them up with big spikes and ferrules. This is a very outdated method of installation and will only lead to problems down the road since these spikes expand and contract with the weather and wear out the fascia boards as well. Use gutter hangers and you will eliminate this issue altogether.

Once you have made your choice for the type of guttering you want you can have it installed by any number of contractors for a nominal cost. It is well worth leaving to the pros. Getting up on a ladder and trying to do it yourself is not a great idea, especially if you have ever fallen off a ladder as so many people have. Let a pro do it and you can enjoy the benefits of their work for years to come.

You can learn more about Rain Gutters And Downspouts as well as much more information on all types of gutters and downspouts at http://www.GuttersA-Z.com

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Dealing With Salvage and Debris in Your Home Remodeling Project

In a remodeling some items can be salvaged easily while others would just be a waste of time and effort. Whether or not to save an item is a matter of judgment. The typical reasons for saving existing materials or fixtures are for use on the present job, for use in the future, for resale, or for the aesthetic value. As far as aesthetic value is concerned it may not make financial sense to save items or materials, but if it is something you really like and can't replace it may be worth the time and effort to have it saved.

As far as the other reasons you may want to consider the following.

You may want to use materials to make patches or repairs in parts of the house that you are leaving as is. For instance if you are only tearing out part of a wood floor you may need to save some of the torn out material to use if the remaining floor is damaged or if materials are needed to mate the old section with the new. Also, you may get started on the project and then decide to change midway through. Having matching materials may give you some flexibility when you run into unexpected problems or difficulties.

You may decide to salvage some materials for later use to be determined in the future. In this case it is a good idea to have a safe, dry, out of the way place ready to store the materials before you start the demolition.

Also take into consideration the resale value of the fixtures or materials you are tearing out. For example when I was tearing out a partial wall in an older home I found that the 2x4's were beautiful clear vertical grain fir. It was such beautiful clear wood I could have easily sold it. As it was I saved it and used it on another project.

Besides older sinks and claw foot tubs there may be other fixtures that an antique dealer would be interested in. If the house is older and has the old windows with wavy glass you may find art suppliers that have an interest. Salvage dealers may be interested in any large timber beams, hardwood flooring or expensive wood paneling. Heavy metal fixtures and pipe may also have some salvage value.

In some cases, of course, salvaging just isn't practical. You will have to spend too much time cleaning up the old material to make it useable. If you are using a contractor they may not want to deal with the added labor or dealing with old materials. Even if you are doing it yourself your time has value that must be taken into account. When new materials of similar quality are available for a reasonable cost it's probably a better idea to completely replace the old with the new. Investigate the costs involved and estimate the extra time when deciding what to save and what to get rid of.

This brings us to dealing with the debris. Before you start swinging the hammer you need to have a plan for the disposal of the debris. When doing demolition work a square foot of wall can end up being a cubic foot of debris that is heavy and difficult to manage. You will usually have too much to put in the garbage and most cities will not allow remodeling debris anyway. If you have access to a truck you may want to look into renting a trailer. If you have a larger project you may want to rent a dumpster where you pay for rental and a charge for each pickup. When comparing these two options remember to take into account the time, cost of gas and dumping fees associated with hauling it off yourself.

Learn more about home improvement projects by visiting http://easyhouseremodeling.com, a popular house remodeling website that offers information, tips and free house remodeling resources and home improvement advice.

Do It Yourself Home Help

Kitchen Pendant Lighting - For Flexible Uses Inside Your Household

If you are looking for the best kitchen lighting fixture, there are many options for you. But if you want to narrow your search, why not just consider pendant lighting, or also usually called as light suspenders or light drops? They are called such, since a mounted pendant light typically dangles from a ceiling through the use of metal chain or rod. Kitchen pendant lightings are popular choice because not only they serve as better task lighting solution for kitchen functions, but they also complement well the overall aesthetics of the room.

Pendant lights are best used over the kitchen lighting applications, specifically over the island or countertops. They have the right level of brightness just enough for whatever purpose your kitchen has. You can adjust this level of brightness because of the dimmer switches they typically come together with. The switches will bring just the right amount of brightness when you are preparing the ingredients of the food you are cooking. Brighter illumination is most ideal when chopping your vegetables, cutting meat, and mixing the ingredients. Similarly, it is what you need when you are on the actual process of cooking.

When you are done with the preparation of the meal and is ready to be served, you can turn the switch to adjust the brightness into more subdued effect when the family is about to eat. To some households, the kitchen is best place for children to study school lessons, for the mother to study bills, and even for the father to read his newspaper at night. Therefore, kitchen pendant lighting must be carefully designed to provide them proper illumination each time. The pendant light with its dimmer switch allows the entire household to adjust the illumination level just according to their specific needs. The flexibility of this type of kitchen lighting is the main reason why it is most popular and more preferred by many.

When it comes to aesthetics, the pendant lightings are available in a wide variety that surely all kinds of kitchen designs will have just the right type to complement them. Some of the designs available are traditional pendant lightings, transitional pendant lightings, crystal pendant lightings, tiffany-type pendant lightings, and a lot more. From these choices, it really is not a problem if your home needs a kitchen pendant lighting that incorporates classic and timeless design, artistic expression fused with timeless design, unique and elegant design, bold and contemporary style, and signature-type integrated with an architectural distinction.

All of these designs are not tough to achieve. They are available in the market and they will surely create the most desired aesthetics you prefer for your home. Of course, your preference will also rely on the budget you are willing to spend for this project. Kitchen pendant lightings are available in different price marks, mainly running around from $30 to as much as $500. So, even if you are trying to keep low on your budget, there is really no problem when choosing for the right kitchen pendant lighting. All of these pendant lights are creations that will provide what your kitchen needs, functionality- and aesthetics-wise.

For kitchen lighting ideas, visit http://www.kitchenlighting101.com

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Building Inspections - Permits and Problems

Things to Know

1. The General Contractor or the person that the Building Permit was issued to must make all inspection requests.
2. Building Permit Cards must be posted and building plans must be available at the jobsite or the inspection will not be performed and a penalty can be charged.
3. Permit Fees are based on the valuation of project defined as labor, materials, plus profit
4. If the project is large enough a plan review will have to be completed by the building inspector

Who are They

The BDI inspects approves and issues all permits required by code for new construction and for repairs and additions to all public and private buildings. They assure safe building standards for the general safety and welfare of us all. When Do I Need a Building Permit Building permits are required when any structural change or major alteration is made or for new construction. Normal maintenance doesnt need a building permit.

Here are some common examples, although this list is not complete:
1. New structures
2. Enlargement of existing rooms
3. Porches, decks, and retaining walls
4. Anything involving structural beams, joist replacement or bearing support
5. Foundations and footing repair, underpinning or shoring up of a structure
6. The conversion of basement or attic space to living quarters
7. All new fences except the replacement of existing fences
8. An entire new roof, when roof work is not replacement of like material

When Don't I need a Building Permit

Here are some common examples, although this list is not complete:
1. Ordinary repairs to residential buildings and structures, there could be height restriction here.
2. Plaster patching, exterior and interior painting, floor sanding and refinishing, floor tile, carpeting, replacement of flooring
3. Repair or replacement of gutters and downspouts
4. Replacement or repair of exterior doors and non-fire rated interior doors whenever no modification is made to the opening
5. Wall paneling applied directly to wall surfaces; acoustical ceiling tile applied directly to ceiling surfaces;
6. Installation of battery-operated smoke detectors
7. Replacement of existing fencing, same height, material and location in the rear or side yards
8. Non-dish radio or television antennae

The BDI will focus on all common areas unless there is a specific complaint. In that case they can go anywheres in a building. They do not need an owners permission to enter a unit, but they do need the tenants permission to enter an apartment. They will look at all common areas to sleuth out dangerous or hazardous code violations or egress issues. They are essentially interested in safety issues and will look especially for fire extinguishers, doors, lighting, stairs, doors and smoke detectors. If there are any violations of code they will issue a "notice of violation" or NOV.

What They Do: They will inspect a property for three reasons:

1. Law requires general inspections to uncover and correct safety issues and code requirements. These inspections are mandated periodically.
2. Someone has complained
3. To review new construction work for safety and code violations.

The Dreaded "Task Force Inspection"

If a building is a nuisance and gets repeated complaints then the city can call in many or all the agencies and create a task force to inspect the building. The agencies involved can include fire, health, police, and the D.A. The task force is only formed for the worst offenders, generally drug dens or health hazards.

Construction Inspections

The inspector is looking to see that the work is up to code and does not exceed the scope of the permit. Very often, construction will take place and other issues come up. If they exceed the parameters of the work approved they can deny approval of the work. Now you have to come into compliance and that can mean a bureaucratic snafu or worse. A citation or NOV (Notice of Violation) is issued and you will need to apply for another permit to fix the problem to come up to code. When the work is completed according to the demands of the BDI, you will need another inspection to get cleared. If you still have problems with getting the work approved you have a few alternatives

Fighting the BDI

1. Know the code: You will need to prove the condition cited is legal
2. Get all the permit plans the DBI has and try to make a case that the condition is historical
3. If its an older building it may be grandfathered
4. Talk to the senior inspector and make an informed case
5. Talk to a real estate attorney or engineer

The Hearing

This is your last effort to right a wrong. You can have your attorney or property manager or possibly a structural engineer make your case. This is your last ditch effort to allow a condition to remain in place. Obviously, you dont get to this unless there is a lot of money at stake.

Howard Bell
yourpropertypath.com

http://www.yourpropertypath.com
We believe that knowledge should be free and freely shared.

Home Remodeling Books

Austin Remodeling

One of the many wonderful aspects of the Austin, Texas real estate market is the variance you will find amongst properties found within the city of Austin. While many large national tract home builders have entered Central Texas, the actual city of Austin still maintains its wide array of choice and design for home buyers. Throughout the city, especially in such areas as Tarrytown, Cat Mountain, Westlake, Hyde Park, and others, remodeling, and even complete tear downs have become increasingly popular. As a buyer or seller considering such a project in today's marketplace, you must be careful to avoid certain pitfalls.

Unlike what you may have seen on television shows which glorify and oversimplify the process, remodeling a home with the intent of profiting in the near future takes careful planning and discipline. The most important decision you will make is picking a property in which you can not only add value, but also one in which there will be demand for when the time comes to sell. Help differentiate your investment by looking for certain features that are both unique and highly desirable for your particular market. A great example in Austin is a property with a view of Lake Austin or the hill country. School districts can help differentiate your property as well. Affordable remodeled homes in the Eanes school district historically have a very low days on market.

Getting a number of bids from licensed contractors and selecting contractors that you trust is extremely important. Ask for references and for examples of past work. Since time is money, find out how long it is truly going to take to finish the remodel. Do not take everything said at face value until you can validate it. Since many times financing is involved, you will need to understand the process of draws and the lender's inspectors that will validate certain work is completed before releasing funds. While this may seem burdensome, it may allow you to sleep better knowing that certain things are being completed to a lender's satisfaction. It is important to understand the budget and to be aware of where cost overrides could potentially occur and what you will do if there is one. Having some type of buffer in place is much more advantageous than being tapped out to the last penny.

Before moving forward with a remodel, be certain you know the true market value of the property in its current untouched condition. Unfortunately, making a strong investment decision isn't as simple as weighing your predicted future value versus your original cost of investment plus remodel cost. You must also look at such factors as realistic carrying cost of the debt, taxes, construction time, in addition to factors affecting possible future market conditions, such as current market supply versus demand, trends for the future, etc. Simply remodeling doesn't guarantee profits. Make smart decisions and consider all of your risk prior to moving forward with any remodel. Remodeling for the sake of remodeling is a risk you don't need in today's market.

Donald Plunkett is President of Congress Realty, a flat fee listing company which serves Austin and many other markets in the Western United States. His company is a member of over 50 MLS systems. More info: http://www.congressrealty.com

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