My Home Demolition Saga: Considering the wrecking ball

Observe National Home Improvement Month with a ‘Must Do’ List

Green building tips

Tiffany Barcik, an architect at Moon Bros. Architects who is a LEED-accredited professional and EarthCraft-trained, offered these green building tips.

• Take your site into account and how rain flow, wind and orientation will impact heating, cooling and irrigation around your home.

• Consider setting up your home for solar power even if you don’t plan on using it right away.

• Companies such as Metlund offer hot-water circulation systems that recirculate cold water while you wait for your hot water to kick in. The result is instant hot water without water waste. The system can be installed in both new homes and during a home renovation.

• Explore solar water heating, a fairly easy feature to integrate in either a new home or a renovation project.

• Look at low-VOC in not just rugs, paint and finishes, but also in cabinetry, which can off-gas dangerous substances such as formaldehyde for the life of the cabinet.

• In the future, as water conservation rises in prominence, homeowners should consider a gray-water recycling system like those made by Brac Systems in which used shower water or laundry water (gray water) is used to flush toilets or irrigate.

• Choose the most efficient and properly sized HVAC for your needs. A variable-speed air handler system is often a good choice for a more comfortable and efficient cooling system and is generally cheaper to operate.

Find out more and read the original article here:  HGTV’s eco-home goes lean and green

Then call Mr. Cheapee to help get you started.

Home renovations now a popular money saving springtime activity across America.

1. Direct Surface Water Away from your Foundation. This may sound obvious, but it can sometimes be overlooked in the initial design of a home or when landscaping and adding additions. Changing the direction of water flow can be accomplished in a number of ways.  Faulty or outdated leader drains should be directed towards catch basins, dry wells, or if your property has pitch, out to fresh air.  If portions of your or your neighbors’ lawns are pitched towards your foundation, the addition or removal of earth can be a quick fix to insure proper lawn drainage.  This, done in tandem with Fench or curtain drains, which provide a channel for storm water to flow away from the house, can sometimes be the difference between a wet or dry basement.

2. Waterproof your Basement. Faulty areas around cracks and holes in the basement walls should be chipped out and then filled and patched.  Then the interior walls should be treated with waterproofing.  Many waterproof mixes will not adhere to painted walls. You must first remove the old paint by sanding, wire brushing or sand-blasting the surface before the waterproof mixture will adhere. Consider cutting an interior drain into the floor to handle any basement drainage.

3. Install a Sump Pump. If you live in an area with a high water table like most of Westchester, NY, exterior solutions may not be enough. Sump Pumps may be the only way to keep you above water.  The new hydro back up systems keep the pumps going even during prolonged power outages.  A dehumidifier is a perfect solution for any extra humidity and can keep the subterranean areas mold and mildew free.

4. Protect Exterior Foundation Walls. This is a more extensive project, but may be worth the investment.  The drainage areas around your home would ideally consist of perforated pipe, gravel and filter fabric.  Houses built pre 1960 generally have clay footing drains that are now becoming inundated with silt and are rife with problems and due for replacement.  Land excavation of the perimeter (or portions of the perimeter) may be necessary.  Once you have excavated down to the footing, waterproof the exposed walls with tar and apply a water proofing membrane that will direct the moisture down to the footing drain and away from the house.

Every home offers its own unique drainage problems. Some of these fixes you may be able to handle on your own, but for others you will need to hire a general contractor. Let the water damage specialists at MC General Contractors take a look at your particular problem and together we can work out a complete, affordable solution.  MC General Contractors have been diagnosing and solving drainage problems as well as mitigating water damage in Westchester County, New York and the surrounding areas since 1994.  They are fully licensed and insured, so give them a call today for a free estimate.  1-855-CHEAPEE  www.MrCheapeeInc.com

1) ReUse:To save money on remodeling and to help keep the project environmentally friendly, consider using used building materials and fixtures. Have Mr. Cheapee Inc. see if any of your old materials can be reused. Possibly they can be refinished or put to a new use. Many types of things can be found on Craigslist like wood flooring from an old demolished building. You could find used or leftover stock lighting fixtures at salvage stores.
2) Keep New Material Purchase Modest: IKEA is a great resource for kitchen cabinets at low prices. In the bathroom, consider using a classic white subway tile. Use paint to make a statement on the walls. It’s cheap and can make a large area more interesting.
3) Use Mr. Cheapee Inc. to Take Care of Your Demolition: By using Mr. Cheapee Inc. or renting a dumpster form Mr. Cheapee Inc. and doing it yourself, you can save a lot on contractor costs.
Using these three ideas together, you can afford to have that new look you’ve been wanting!

No doubt, it is a big decision for a person as to whether he should renovate his home or not. Part of him wishes for his home to be up-to-date, using all the latest remodeling techniques. The other part of him warns that he might not be ready to go through with all of this. It is quite easy to imagine the person stuck in a tug-of-war. Which side should he go with? That is the dilemma he faces.

Renovating your home adds value to the existing structure. With the addition of a pool or Jacuzzi, there will an increase in the monetary value of your home. Furthermore, installing skylights or using tinted glass on cupboards and closets also puts in to the appeal. In future, if you ever decide to sell your house, the buyers would surely be attracted to the newly renovated and eye-catching features.

Truth be told, everyone wants to hear praise for themselves and the things they own. The fact cannot be ignored that renovation does add a good dash of charm to your place. These changes, however much subtle they be, never go unnoticed by family and peers. They always show their appraisal and appreciation, which in turn makes your day.

There is also the downside of renovation. It may bring you joy for the moment, but it also brings heavy bills. In distressing times of rising inflation, prices have gone through the roof, (forgive the pun). A minor job like repainting your shutters would cost more than you can imagine. So, if you decide to give your house a makeover, prepare yourself. It will probably cost you a hefty amount, so to speak. Renovation has its perks, but they come at a high price.

A lot of people will argue that going through the hassle of renovating is not worth it. They say that buying a new home altogether will be a better option. Renovation brings its share of headaches, exhaustion and tensions. Why go through all that suffering? Your friends will suggest you go for the safer option and avoid risking your health, both mental and physical. However, you can not jump from home to home, every time you see a new crack in the wall. That is just not feasible. All you can do is suck it up and bear the hectic process of renovation. Believe it or not, that will be in your best interest.

With time, your house gets old, its features loose their original appeal or you find a new feature you just can not ignore to have. You will have to get some renovation done one way or the other, whether you like it or not. It is an important process which sustains and strengthens your house against all kinds of wear and tear. Even if it costs a lot, you know you can not go about without it.

Christina Xio

Article Source: http://www.upublish.info

Whether you’re a novice looking to install your first door, or a seasoned pro looking for ways to get things done more efficiently, we’ve got some tech tips to help you fix up your home.

If you’re taking on your first remodeling project, information is the most important tool in your tool box. If you don’t have all the necessary information to get the job done, it will almost certainly take longer than it should.

If you want to get the job done right, you’ll need to learn as much as you can before diving in. Home Owners Net has a wide variety of tutorials, and instructional videos on how to perform many common household repairs and renovations.

Once you’re in the middle of a project, it can be hard to stop working and make your way to a computer. If you need more information on a project once you’ve already begun to work, the ServiceMagic Mobile iPhone app has you covered.

The app lets you find articles and information on any project you’re working on, and if you find yourself in a hopeless situation you can even use it to find a professional contractor in your area who can swoop in and save the day.

If you’ve installed your share of doors, and laid your share of flooring you’ve probably got all the information you need to handle any home renovation you might be considering.

Fear not, we still have a tech tip that can help you.

No matter how many hours you’ve spent working on your home, using a level and a chalk line to give yourself some guidelines never gets any easier than the first time you did it.

The DeWalt Self Leveling Line Laser makes it easy to draw a perfectly straight vertical or horizontal line. This handy tool will automatically level itself, and shoot out a laser beam so you will have a guideline to follow.

As you might have already guessed, a laser light isn’t the ideal guideline when you’re working outdoors or in a well lit room, which is why you’ll want to pick up a pair of DeWalt Laser Enhancing Glasses.

Each pair makes the red laser lines given off by the self leveling line laser plainly visible, even under bright lights.

Whether you’re just starting out with your first remodeling project or you’ve been renovating your home for years now, these tech tips will help you get the job done.

By Mike Kurz | Email the author | June 4, 2011

Find original article here: http://galloway.patch.com/articles/tech-tips-for-home-improvement

WASHINGTON – If your home needs renovations, you’ll find prices on some bathroom and kitchen items have dropped significantly.

If your bathroom needs an overhaul, the the prices of granite sink-tops and porcelain sink have dropped significantly, according to SmartMoney magazine.

It also costs less than it used to to install one of those high-end spa showers with multiple heads.

In the kitchen, counter installation prices are down. The price of custom cabinets declined.

If you’re thinking of creating an outdoor room, consider buying a gas fire pit instead of a masonry fireplace. Fire pits cost less, and many can be moved if you decide to change your layout.

Start your renovation now!  Call us to handle the demolition and rubbish removal for your project: 1-855-CHEAPEE

My family and I recently embarked on that most stressful domestic endeavour: the home renovation. When we decided to finally modernize our 70s kitchen and create a playroom in the basement for our two kids, my husband and I felt reasonably confident we had done our homework.

We found a contractor with great references, shopped around to find the best deals on quartz and hardwood and made ourselves very familiar with the IKEA catalogue. We had decided to avoid the drywall dust and stray nails and move out for the six weeks of renovation, so we scoured Craigslist and found a great condo in a lovely neighbourhood for a decent price. The day our contractor started opening up walls, we were ensconced in comfortable accommodations, making regular visits back home to monitor what was happening at the homestead.

A few weeks into the renovation, Sean was catching up on mail, including our house insurance renewal. After scanning the policy, he casually dropped this nugget of information: “By the way, did you know that we’re not covered by our insurance while our house is being renovated?” Um… oops?

This was not something either of us had anticipated. Frankly, we hadn’t even thought to call our insurance company to discuss our home renovation. It’s a mistake many homeowners make at their peril, says Anne Marie Thomas, manager of sales and new business development for the Insurance Hotline. She says homeowners should contact their house insurance company well before they break ground.

“There are all sorts of things people simply don’t think about when doing a home renovation,” she said. “For example, if you have to vacate your home for a renovation, let your insurance company know because it’s a violation of your policy if your home is vacant for more than 30 days.”

If you are going to be out of your home for a substantial time period, Ms. Thomas says you can ask your insurer for a vacancy permit. “It might cost 20 or 50 dollars more, but it’s worth it,” she said.

Even if you are out of your house for less than 30 days, a substantial renovation could still affect your coverage and you may need to modify your policy. “If there’s exposed walls and that sort of thing your insurance company might change your policy to a building under construction,” she said. “Because if you think of it from an insurance company’s perspective, if you’ve got walls torn down and a big gaping hole in the roof and it rains, they’re on the hook for all your items. So they would exclude that, for example.”

And what if someone breaks in during your renovation and burglarizes your home? Ms. Thomas says you should still be covered, but it depends on the extent of the renovation. One important step is to ensure that your contractor has insurance.

“Check them with the Better Business Bureau and ask to see their certificate of insurance with your address on it,” she said. “That way, they’re responsible for some liability. If one of their workmen gets hurt on your property, that’s going to be on their insurance policy. And by this kind of behaviour, you’re demonstrating to your insurance company that you’ve done due diligence with respect to being a responsible policy holder while you’re working through this renovation.”

For homeowners who’ve just completed a renovation without their insurance company’s knowledge, Ms. Thomas recommends letting them know, pronto.

“Something as simple as updating the kitchen and the bathroom can add thousands of dollars to your home in terms of replacement value,” she said. “Your insurance company may want to be provided with receipts, because if, heaven forbid, the home burns, how do they know you just renovated a $5,000 countertop?”

“It might cost you a little bit more in terms of your premium, but paying a little more on your premium makes a lot more sense than paying a lot of money later because you didn’t know you weren’t covered and you could have been.”

Fortunately for my husband and I, everything went off pretty much without a hitch during our reno (which was miraculously on time and on budget) and we didn’t have to deal with insurance issues at all. But should we ever decide to make any more changes to our home, we will heed Ms. Thomas’s advice and give our insurance company a call.

Like Ms. Thomas says, “It’s a lot easier, believe me, to deal with it before something happens.”

Read the full story here: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/personal-finance/home-cents/dont-forget-insurance-when-planning-a-reno/article1986066/