Category: Driveways Waterford

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Besides providing your home with more living space, a home addition can be a terrific investment. However, before embarking on such a project the homeowner should first consider several important items.

Building Home Addition, homeowner, home market value, architectural considerations, financing home addition, living space, doors, windows, roof lines, elevations, siding

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Besides providing your home with more living space, a home addition can be a terrific investment. However, before embarking on such a project the homeowner should first consider several important items. These items include: home market values in the neighborhood, financing, size and scale of project, architecture, timetable for completion, personal disruption/inconvenience threshold and the sweat equity commitment level.

Size of Addition and Market Value

Prior to actually breaking ground on a home addition, it is best to first determine what you are looking for in terms of additional living space. For example: How many square feet? What types of rooms? Once this is understood, it is then important to find out the market value of homes in the local area with similar size and features to the new and improved home. With this information the homeowner can then calculate the difference between their current home market value and the new and improved home market value. This difference should represent the maximum budget for the new addition if a positive investment is desired. For example, a homeowner would not want to spend $50,000 on a new home addition that provides only $25,000 in increased market value to the improved home.

Financing

The next important question involves how to fund the home addition. Unless the project is being funded via cash/savings then financing will be required. If current mortgage rates are higher than the existing mortgage, then a home equity loan will probably make the most sense. If current mortgage rates are lower than the existing mortgage, then refinancing the entire home, including the cost of the home addition project, may make the most sense.

Architectural Considerations

Once the financial items have been addressed it is then time to focus on the size and scale of the project, as well as the architectural and aesthetics of the new addition. The addition should be of size and scale such that it aesthetically melds into the original house. It should not be too small or too big. Frequently, homeowners get carried away and add large amounts of new living space without sufficient thought on the outside appearance. From a market value, there is more to a home than just pure living space. A home needs to maintain its exterior aesthetics as well. It is important to consider such items as siding, doors, windows, rooflines, and elevations. All should meld into the existing home exterior seamlessly and aesthetically.

If an architect is not planned for the project, then the homeowner should at least make some sketches of the home exterior with the new addition. The building inspector will probably require them anyways during the permit process. Also, there are many Home Design software packages on the market today that can help create such drawings.

Schedule and Sweat Equity Commitment

The next two items that should be considered include the timetable for completing the project and the homeowner sweaty equity commitment level. Many homeowners assume they can do a lot more than they are either skilled to do or have the time to do. From personal experience, I would suggest contracting out the site/ground work, rough framing, roofing, siding, heating/cooling, and the drywall. All of these tasks require skill, time and brawn. If local laws permit, electric and plumbing may be tackled by the homeowner. However, both require skill and can be life threatening if not performed properly. Other tasks that a homeowner could tackle include installing interior doors, finish trim, painting, cabinet installation, tiling and hardwood flooring. Prior to a homeowner signing up to any specific task however, they should first honestly assess their skill and available time, and compare them to their project schedule. If they don t match, hire the contractor.

Threshold of Inconvenience and Disruption

Finally, a homeowner should consider their threshold for inconvenience and disruption. A home addition, particularly if it involves the kitchen, is very disruptive to today s busy lifestyles. It is also a dusty, dirty and noisy endeavor. In addition, dealing with subcontractors can be challenging at times. For a typical addition anticipate several months of effort and inconvenience.

If after assessing all these issues you are still willing to move forward with the project, contact your subcontractors, pull your permits and get ready for an exciting time. For most homeowners tackling a home addition is a positive experience that provides both new living space and a great investment.

For more help on building a home addition, see HomeAdditionPlus.com’s Room Addition Bid sheet. The Room Addition Bid Sheet will help ensure that your room addition project goes smoothly and is completed on time and budget.

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If you are thinking about installing a custom ceramic tile shower then you will first need to consider installing a Shower Pan Membrane liner.

Shower Pan Membrane Liner, Custom Ceramic Tile Shower, Grout, Ceramic Tile Shower Installation

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Installing a custom ceramic tile shower in your home is something a do it yourself homeowner can do with a little upfront knowledge. The most important aspect of a successful custom ceramic tile shower installation is properly installing a shower pan membrane liner. The shower pan membrane liner is used to ensure a leak-proof shower.

Shower pan membrane liners are used to funnel any water that seeps through the floor or wall grout to the shower drain below. The shower pan membrane liner is made up of a flexible type of plastic material that sits below a bed of mortar, and the tile, in the shower floor area.

Prior to installing the shower pan membrane liner, the floor of the shower needs to be pre-sloped to ensure that the water will flow towards the shower drain assembly. The pre-slope is accomplished by applying a layer of mortar to the floor of the shower unit area. The layer of mortar is troweled in such as way as to create a gentle slope from the shower wall edges to the center of the shower where the drain resides.

Once the pre-slope mortar has cured, the flexible shower pan membrane liner can then be installed. There are a couple of types of shower pan membrane liners on the market, with each having their own benefits. With either type of membrane, the homeowner needs to form and fold the material into the base of the shower area and secure it to the sides of the shower wall frame with staples and/or nails. In addition, an opening in the membrane should be cut out to allow the adjustable shower drain assembly to slip through.

With the shower pan membrane installed, the cementitious ceramic tile backerboard can then be secured to the framed shower walls. The backerboard is a rigid material that is ideal for attaching tile in wet areas such as a shower stall.

After installing the ceramic tile backerboard, a final coat of mortar needs to be applied on top of the membrane to protect it and to provide a solid base for laying the ceramic floor tile.

With the final coat of mortar cured, the ceramic tile can then be installed in the shower.

Once the tile and grout have been installed, the shower drain assembly should be adjusted so that the drain height sits flush with the finished ceramic tile floor.

For more information on installing a shower pan membrane liner, see the Shower Pan Membrane Liner Installation EBook from HomeAdditionPlus.com. The Shower Pan Membrane Liner EBook will quickly teach you the step-by-step process for installing the shower pan membrane liner correctly. It includes instructions on framing the shower stall, pouring the pre-slope and shower base mortar, and installing the shower pan membrane liner.

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Although building an outside deck can be a huge undertaking, it is a great place for many activities — sunbathing, barbecues with friends, a safe place for the children to play, or a hot tub. To name a few.

decks

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One of the most beautiful additions to any home is a deck. Not only does it add beauty, a deck also adds value to your home.

But there is much to think of when preparing to build a deck. A poorly built deck can be a disaster. Following are 10 things to consider before you build your deck.

1. Purpose

First of all, what is going to be the primary purpose of your deck? Entertaining guests — you’ll need to consider how many guests you want the deck to hold, because more guests equal more weight. A play area for small children — safety is essential. Whatever your intended purpose, think it all the way through before starting to build.

2. Location, Location, Location

The next thing to consider is the location. Landscaping issues may crop up exactly where you think you should place your deck. You should consider entrances and exits to your home. Access to your deck is essential — if you can’t get there, you can’t enjoy it.

3. Deck Plan

You will need to have a deck plan, which will serve as a guide for the entire project. It doesn’t require a professional work-up, but you should be thorough.

4. Attaching Deck To Your Home

There are many ways that a deck can be attached to your home. Although the deck can be freestanding, it is not very practical or safe. If you decide to attach your deck to the house, you will need to decide how you will cut away the siding at the joining point. You will also need to determine if the framing of your home is strong enough for the deck.

5. Deck Supports

Deck supports are an important part of this process, so you will need to decide exactly how many footings and posts you will need, and where to place them.

6. Decking Material

What type of decking material do you plan to use? Composite decking materials are a good choice because they have been chemically engineered to avoid the problems of traditional wood. However, if wood is your choice, redwood, cedar and pressure treated pine are all popular because they resist rot and decay. If you choose another wood decking material, you will often need to provide protectant and sealant material.

7. Permits

Remember, different areas have different zoning laws and requirements so it is important to find out what permits will be required to build your deck in your area. While some areas require an official building permit, others will require only a periodic site inspection. Some require both. Check with your city government to decide what actions you need to take.

8. Tool Time

Make sure you have all the tools on hand that you will need for the project. There may be additional expenses added to the project to buy these tools. If you do not have this kind of experience, you should consider the next point very carefully.

9. Professional Help

Decking is a big project to undertake if you are a weekend handyman. If you have little construction experience, decking is not a good beginning learning project. Poorly built decks are very dangerous. If you cannot handle the project, it needs to be in the hands of a professional.

10. Extras

The final thing to consider is any extras you might want to build into and onto your deck. You might add a decorative handrail or you might want flower boxes on each corner, or perhaps built-in seating for your guests. Whatever extras you choose will personalize your deck.

All Decked Out

Although building an outside deck can be a huge undertaking, it is a great place for many activities — sunbathing, barbecues with friends, a safe place for the children to play, or a hot tub. To name a few.

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Any habitable construction built for human purposes can be termed as a building. Buildings are used for purposes of residence, industry, academic, official, political and many others. In ancient times, buildings were in the form of small hutments which were made of thatch, hay, stone, bricks and such other crude materials. Today building construction is a much more complex art and uses materials such as reinforced concrete, cement, steel, glass, etc.

Buildings, Building Materials, Home Buildings, Steel Buildings

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Any habitable construction built for human purposes can be termed as a building. Buildings are used for purposes of residence, industry, academic, official, political and many others. In ancient times, buildings were in the form of small hutments which were made of thatch, hay, stone, bricks and such other crude materials. Today building construction is a much more complex art and uses materials such as reinforced concrete, cement, steel, glass, etc.

Based on their purposes, there are many types of buildings like residential buildings, warehouses, commercial buildings, church and school buildings, storage buildings, arenas and gymnasiums, farmhouses, museums and theaters, shopping malls and much more. Almost every commercial and noncommercial purpose requires a building to carry out its activities. The building may be of a single storey or may be a sprawling skyscraper having hundreds of stories.

Construction of a building is a very complicated task. When planning a building construction, the most important thing is to consider its function. The building must fulfill all the necessary requirements. Next consideration is of the exterior appearance of the building. This is achieved by hiring the services of an architect. Then a contractor is roped in to engineer and construct the building.

There are two main types of construction methods for buildings, viz. system construction and conventional construction. Conventional construction methods are orthodox methods, requiring traditional building components like wood, steel, masonry, and concrete to be cut fitted, welded and assembled on site. In contrast with conventional construction, system construction is both fast and effective. In this the building is erected with pre-designed parts which include floors, roofs and walls.

A building construction does not mean just the construction of floors, roofs and walls. There are several other fixtures like plumbing, electrical wires, cabinets, fireplaces, doors and windows, etc. that are to be considered. Buildings are also made waterproof, disaster proof and pest-resistant.

Almost every building can be covered by an appropriate insurance policy. There are many types of insurance policies available in order to avoid any loss like fire insurance, flood insurance, earthquake insurance, home insurance or boiler insurance.

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Have you ever had renovations or alterations done to your property? Then you are fully aware of the amount of fine dust that is generated and manages to get absolutely everywhere even in places far removed from the actual working area. You then spend hours, days and possibly weeks attempting to remove this dust. Is there a much faster route to dust removal?

There most certainly is and it means following two or three rules if you wish to be successful.

Never attempt to…

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Have you ever had renovations or alterations done to your property? Then you are fully aware of the amount of fine dust that is generated and manages to get absolutely everywhere even in places far removed from the actual working area. You then spend hours, days and possibly weeks attempting to remove this dust. Is there a much faster route to dust removal?

There most certainly is and it means following two or three rules if you wish to be successful.

Never attempt to sweep up the dust and debris. If there are large pieces of masonry, plaster and other building materials then you have no option but to sweep this up for its removal. When doing so ensure that as much air flow through is generated by opening all available windows and doors. Do not attempt to carry out the final clean for several hours after doing this. Allow all the dust to settle before attempting this procedure. Sweeping simply throws huge amounts of dust into the air which will then be gradually deposited on every available surface from ceiling to floor.

Always vacuum the dust from all surfaces such as sills and skirting, around window frames and door frames using the small attachments that are supplied with the vacuum. Upright vacuums unless they come with a long length of hose attachment are not ideal for this as it is likely there will be some use of step ladders to reach and vacuum the higher points in the rooms.

Having vacuumed thoroughly all surfaces including the vertical ones where dust is likely to gather these surfaces should then be wiped down with a damp cloth. If marks and stains have appeared then it is advisable to carry out this procedure using a universal cleaner.

With regard to the flooring, carpets should be thoroughly vacuumed, but if it is hard flooring then after vacuuming a scrubber drier should be used. Simply mopping alone will not remove the dust. Mopping will only wet the dust and spread it around so that it dries as muddy streaks.

If floor boarding is in place then after vacuuming carpet should be laid as soon as possible because every time the boards are walked on dust will rise out of the gaps in the boarding and settle on all the surfaces once again.

If a scrubber drier is not available then use a mop with a large amount of water and wet vac the water up rather than mop it up. This may require two treatments to be completely successful.

If you follow these simple guidelines then your property should be free of builders dust in record time.

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Bruce hardwood flooring is well known high quality flooring.

bruce hardwood floors, bruce laminate flooring, bruce wood floors

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Bruce hardwood floors are among the best floors in the world and are available at flooring retailers all over the world. There is a difference in the quality of Bruce hardwood as good, better and best. This is simply the allowable character of the flooring. The good collection has the largest amount of character knots, mineral streaks and pinholes. Wood is a natural product so you will see differences in boards of every category, no matter quality of Bruce hardwood floors you have.

Whether you have Bruce hardwood floors or Bruce laminate flooring, you still have to give them the same amount of care. When you are washing Bruce wood floors, you can sweep or vacuum them. When washing them, make sure you use a damp mop and don t use excessive amounts of water. The water could stain the Bruce hardwood and even with the durable laminate floors, using a lot of water could make the planks become uneven on the floor. Use a soft cloth to dry the floors and make sure that you do dry them thoroughly.

You cannot use scoring pads or abrasive cleaners on either Bruce hardwood floors or Bruce laminate flooring. This will mar the finish of the floor. The Bruce wood floors do have the coating needed to give the floors an exceptional shine, especially if you buy prefinished hardwood. If you use wax on these floors, instead of getting a better shine, you will mar the polyurethane coating. In the case of unfinished Bruce hardwood, once you have the floors installed then you do have to give them several coats of this protective coating, which dries to a gleaming shine.

Even with Bruce hardwood floors, you may notice dents occurring in the wood, especially in areas where you have heavy furniture. Even though hardwood does have a cell structure, like everything, if there is enough pressure, the hardwood will dent. Bruce wood floors also go through an aging process, which means the color will darken with age. If you have mats or rugs on the Bruce laminate flooring or the Bruce hardwood, you need to move it from time to time. Leaving the covering in place means that when you do move it, the area under the rug or mat will be lighter than the rest of the floor.

Simple everyday cleaning will keep your Bruce hardwood floors looking like new for a lifetime. If you accidentally spill something on the floors, you do have to wipe it up immediately. If you don t, it will stain the floor and then you will have to find something to help you remove the stains from your Bruce hardwood floors. You don t have to worry about this as much with Bruce laminate flooring, but if you have hardwood, you certainly do.

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Bruce hardwood flooring gives you a range of choices when choosing your flooring material.

bruce hardwood flooring, bruce hardwood floors, bruce wood flooring

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Installing Bruce hardwood flooring on the floors of your home is one of the best investments that you can ever make. It will add to the ambiance of any room and increase the value of your home if you ever want to sell. Each grade of wood used in Bruce hardwood carries a warranty all its own. Choose from three grades of hardwood Good, Better and Best to have hardwood floors with knots and character. The Best grade in Bruce hardwood flooring is the most expensive, but it also has the best quality wood and the best warranty.

Even with Bruce hardwood flooring, you will see variations in the wood in each plank. This is what will give your hardwood floors the unique appearance that you want to achieve. This variation exists in all qualities of Bruce hardwood floors because no two boards are the same. You do have to be careful even with hardwood even though it is solid. If you place furniture with sharp edges on the flooring it will dent the hardwood. Bruce wood flooring also goes through a natural aging process so if you have an area covered with a rug, when you move it the floor underneath will be lighter in color. It is recommended that you do move rugs from time to time to prevent this discoloration from occurring.

Sometimes, people who have installed Bruce wood flooring in their homes hear popping sounds when they walk across the floors. This is not defect in the Bruce hardwood flooring and is perfectly natural, so there is no cause for alarm. All hardwood goes through a process called patina and it may be caused by an uneven subfloor under the Bruce hardwood floors. If you glue the hardwood planks in place, you do have to make sure that you use the trowels properly when applying the adhesive so that you have a perfectly uniform surface for the hardwood floors.

Although it is not recommended, you can have Bruce hardwood flooring in the bathroom of your home. This is because hardwood is not conducive to areas of the home where there is excessive moisture. The choice to use unfinished or prefinished Bruce wood flooring is a matter of personal taste. It depends on how much work you want to do to finish the floor yourself or how much time you want to spend on maintenance of the Bruce hardwood floors. There are advantages and disadvantages to both, so you can ask the Bruce experts for advice when you are selecting your hardwood flooring. Prefinished hardwood does have more advantages, such as longer finish warranties, uniform stain application in a factory setting and it is easier to keep clean.

If you want to install Bruce hardwood flooring in areas where there will be lots of traffic, the Dura Lustre Plus finish will allow you to do this without any worries. Bruce offers commercial finishes for its hardwood floors, but it doesn t recommend using mats in doorways or in front of the kitchen sink. Bruce does not recommend that you wax Bruce wood floorings. To keep the natural shine of Bruce hardwood flooring all you have to do is wash it up with a water based cleaner for hardwood floors and give it an occasional buffing.

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British Petroleum was once known for their petroleum products. How times have changed. BP is now one of the biggest producers of solar products.

bp, british petroleum, solar, solar energy, solar power, energy, alternative, fuel,

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British Petroleum was once known for their petroleum products. How times have changed. BP is now one of the biggest producers of solar products.

British Petroleum Solar Products Manufacture

Solar power is the way of the future. Whether you are interested in saving the environment or just saving money, solar products can provide you with the power you need to run a household while not using traditional fossil fuels or supplied electricity. Solar power can also be a great investment for your home s future and your family s well being.

BP solar products are backed by BP s thirty years of experience in the solar energy industry. The company started out as Solarex Corporation in 1973, and has led the industry in solar power since that date. BP has been a world leader in petroleum based energy sources since 1901, but in the latter half of the 20th century took the opportunity to turn to solar energy as a means of supplying the world with power. Currently, BP Solar operates the largest fully-integrated solar power plant in the United States which is located in Frederick, Maryland. BP solar products are also sold by BP as one of the products made with the many solar cells produced annually by BP.

BP solar products, sold as part of BP Solar Home Solutions, are available in California, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. They are sold in these states through the Home Depot and other independent dealers. Non-residential customers (large businesses) can obtain BP solar products in the following states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Jersey and New York. Some states offer rebates up to 70 percent of the purchase price of a BP solar energy system, and others offer tax credits to homeowners that choose solar power.

BP contractors and independent dealers will assess your home and roof for the best options available to give you a solar powered house. They will assess the shape and pitch of your roof, as well as any potential shady spots, in order to ascertain the amount of BP solar products you will be able to accommodate. They contractors will also be able to take a survey of your house to see how much energy you need to run your household.

Choosing BP solar products to supply energy to your home is a cost effective and green way to help the Earth. You can help to save the environment for future generations as well as making a great monetary investment for the future. Solar energy is going to become more important as time goes on, so getting started now will help you to advance the cause of cleaner energy before it s too late.

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The beauty and state-of-the-art performance associated with the Porsche is now revving up kitchens in the form of range hoods gifted with clean lines of European design.

Bringing The Porsche Into Your Kitchen

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The beauty and state-of-the-art performance associated with the Porsche is now revving up kitchens in the form of range hoods gifted with clean lines of European design.

For years, range hoods have been an afterthought when remodeling a kitchen. Cabinetry, lighting or flooring have traditionally been more important aspects for homeowners to consider. However, the latest range hoods, such as the Best by Broan WM24 range hood designed by F.A. Porsche, may help turbocharge remodeling efforts.

According to the Home Ventilating Institute (HVI), kitchens are a main source of pollutants in the home-a result of grease, smoke, moisture and other by-products generated from cooking. Typical family cooking adds more than 40 gallons of moisture to the air annually and this excess moisture can lead to allergy problems and structural damage by encouraging the growth of molds, mildew and bacteria. Unwanted odors also are a byproduct of cooking, lingering for days and soaking into fabrics, carpets and clothing.

The solution is to exhaust pollutants to the outside. A range hood is the best way to do this. The WM24 hood features efficient HVI-certified internal or quiet external blower options for exhausting pollutants outside the home.

The composite skin of the WM24 helps to reduce noise and is available in metallic red, metallic blue, metallic black and matte aluminum finishes.

Cooking also is made easy through the use of many other outstanding features. The hood features particulate sensor technology for detecting particles from cooking, providing selectable automatic operation. Another feature is an advanced air-refresh cycle control that periodically and silently replenishes the environment with fresh air.

Additional special features include Heat Sentry™, which detects excessive heat and adjusts the blower speed to high automatically, a four-speed, electronic push-button control and flue extension options for ceilings above eight feet tall.

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Tips on breathing some life back into an older vanity on a budget.

home improvement, remodeling, DIY, bathroom

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If you can t stand the look of your vanity and want to breathe some new life back into it, you should consider trying to spruce it up. Aside from what you may have heard, an old vanity cabinet can be overhauled with little to no money. While you could always invest in a new cabinet, you d be amazed at the kind of satisfaction a small amount of elbow grease and time can bring about.

Probably the most lucrative option for those with an unsightly bathroom vanity cabinet is to paint it. Most vanities can be painted with standard paints available at home improvement stores. If you re unsure as to what type of paint your project will require, it s best to talk to an employee at your local home improvement store. The employee should be able to give you some insight into the materials you ll need to execute your project.

If painting s not something you re looking forward to, you should consider replacing the hardware on your vanity. Swapping out your bathroom vanity cabinet s old hardware, with new and shiny hardware can bring about astonishing results. It really doesn t take much to revitalize a room s focal point.

If neither the above options appeal to you, you have the option of replacing your vanity s countertop. The countertop is one of the bolder elements of a countertop and can thus work to enhance its appearance or utterly annihilate it. If your vanity s current countertop is simply no longer cutting it, you should seriously consider replacing it. Those that are willing to spend more money should consider purchasing real stone countertops. If the budget s a bit tight, you can also go with a laminate countertop. Both will get the job done just at varying prices.

Giving your vanity a new look isn t as hard as it initially appears. If you re willing to dedicate a little time and patience, the possibilities for revitalizing an old vanity are endless.