A Basement Ceiling Home Makeover

When I helped by buddy redo his basement, he wasn't sure what the best type of ceiling to use would be. Some of the choices available were traditional drywall, tongue and groove boards, acoustic ceiling tiles, and a drop-type ceiling. We didn't know which to choose, so we looked at each type a little closer.

A drywall ceiling would be a lot of work. Almost all of the pipes and ductwork would have to be rerouted to fit into joint cavities or out to the edges of the room. If there were still things hanging below the bottom of the ceiling joists, we'd have to build boxes around them. Wherever we needed extra strength, we'd have to nail up furring strips.

In using a drywall ceiling it's important to use the furring and framed boxes to make a strong backing to hold the finishing materials. Although drywall was a low-cost option, we knew there was still a lot of work after the sheet rock was hung, and we weren't real excited about it.

Acoustic ceiling tiles are another great option. They are small enough to be easy to handle and cut. Ceiling tiles are installed by stapling them onto furring strips. In order to do that, once again, we'd need to move everything in order to have a flat surface to staple them to.

The next option we considered was T1-11 tongue and groove boards. This project would once again entail moving pipes and ducts, and it was also the most expensive option we looked at. My friend decided that this just wasn't the look he wanted for his ceiling, so we moved on.

Last on our list was a standard drop ceiling. This is one of the easiest ways to cover ceiling joists, but you still have to cut and hang rails for the ceiling framework, and my friend didn't like the fact that this type of ceiling looked like it belonged in an old office building, not his newly-decorated basement. Besides, drop ceilings were one of the more expensive options we'd looked at.

We'd worked our way completely through our list, and we still hadn't come up with a solution. Then, while shopping one day, he noticed the ceiling of the store he were in. It looked just like his basement ceiling, but a whole lot better. He had to ask the owner what they had done to achieve the look. The owner said all they'd done is clean the pipes and ductwork thoroughly, gave them a coat of primer, and used a sprayer to paint the whole works the same color. It looked amazing, and my friend knew he had found his ceiling.

Once we got started our one concern was whether or not we could paint electrical and gas lines. We solved the problem by calling a professional electrician to ask for his opinion. You know, this ceiling was easier to do than any of the other options, and it cost far less, but it looked super. Before trying this option in your own home, make sure to call a professional electrician like we did, just to make sure it's safe. So I guess the moral of the story is, if you don't like standard ways of doing things, start thinking outside the box.

Before you start your basement projects, learn more about waterproofing basement products and basement sealing paints.

A "What to Do" Guide in Case of Insect Bites

We humans are not the only ones who love to spend our summertime in nature - Insects like it also. So in order to have a great time in nature on a beautiful summer day, we need to be very careful, because we can be easily bitten or stung by various insects.

If you are bitten by insects you will know in very short time because of the immediate effects that can occur on your body, such as pain, itching, scratching, swelling or a local redness. They can be the most annoying symptoms that can disturb your peace and quiet. All these symptoms are caused by the actual venom or a toxic chemical substance produced by the insect's body. The venom or the toxin will attack your body, by producing allergic reactions immediately after it is injected in your body.

The reactions that you will have are based generally upon how sensitive you are to the insect bites and to the venom or toxin. The general reaction to insect bites are mild - like local stinging or itching sensations, and a little bit of swelling that usually disappears in a couple of days. Sometimes, these are not the singular reactions, and if you are a sensitive or an allergic person you can have reactions such as swollen glands, painful joints and hives or even high fever. If you encounter these kinds of symptoms you must immediately contact a dermatologist or your family doctor in the shortest time possible, or if your medical situation aggravates you must call 911.

The most severe reactions to the insect's bites venom or toxin are called anaphylaxis reactions. These reactions are similar to the allergic ones, and appear only on the most sensitive humans. The actual symptoms vary from toxic shock and swelling faces to even breathing difficulties and lung collapse. Also it is very important to know that these symptoms are caused by only a few dangerous animals and spiders such as venomous or toxic spiders, bees, wasps, hornets and yellow jackets.

First Aid in case of Insect Bites and Stings

If you are in an open space (outside your house) such as in the woods or lawns, it will be very wise to go inside, because in the wilderness you are highly exposed to other bites and stings from the other insects.

A straight razor, a knife or even a plastic credit card can become handy if you get an insect sting. You will use this so called "tools" in order to gently scrape off the stinger. Do not try to pull the stinger, because it can most certainly have some venom or toxin to eject. Be careful.

If you are concerned about the local inflammation, you can surely use some ice packs.

If you have a tick, you must gently remove the painful and dangerous tick with a pair of tweezers. Applying adhesive tape on the tick can also do the trick. If the wound remains in your skin a long period of time, you must seek specialized medical attention.

If the wound is very itchy, fell free to use some prescribed over the counter medication. Medicines such as Benadryl, Tylenol Severe Allergy or even Chlorpheniramine Maleate will most certainly do the job.

In case of severe skin irritation you can use a hydrocortisone-based topical ointment cream or lotion, such as the Calamine Lotion, and you will probably have a healthy skin after that.

Call 911 for an ambulance if you experience the following symptoms: hives, dizziness, fainting, breathing problems or even muscle and joint pains, chills, cramps or coma. It the meantime you can take some proper medication, advised by specialized doctors. Take with you the medication you have used, in order for the specialized medics to know what was done so far.

Try to loosen the injured person's clothes if they are wearing any tight ones. It is advised not to give to the injured person any liquids to drink. In case of any respiratory problems, use CPR.

Discover More First Aid And Insect Bites Treatment to relief yourself from it. More information about First Aid here will definitely help you.

Where To Find A Replacement Canopy For Your Gazebo

Owning a gazebo with canopy top is a great way to spend time
outdoors without battling the hot sun or rain. These gazebos
are easy to assemble, affordable, available in a wide range of
materials, colors, and styles, and a great addition to any
backyard. With a canopy gazebo, you can spend time relaxing in
the shade with some ice tea and a great book, kicking back with
friends on a starry night, or dining on grilled chicken and
hamburgers with the family.

Today, canopy gazebo designs have improved dramatically. What
you will now find are canopies made from new and improved
material that is fade resistant, mildew resistant, scratch
resistant, and heavier to hold up better overall. In fact, many
canopy gazeboes are so well made that the manufacturer will
offer a five-year warrant on the canopy portion. However,
sometimes things do happen so if you need to find a replacement
canopy for a gazebo, you are in luck.

Rather than toss out a perfectly good gazebo, you can simply
find a replacement canopy for the gazebo. In fact, if you have
an older style gazebo, this would be an ideal time to update,
choosing a more contemporary style and material. This way, you
can continue enjoying your old frame but now with a beautiful
and fresh facelift. In most cases, a replacement canopy for a
gazebo is very affordable, which would of course depend largely
on the materials chosen and overall size needed.

We suggest when looking for a replacement canopy for a gazebo
that you go with fabric such as weather resistant nylon. Sturdy,
durable, and visually pleasing, this would make a great
impression. Although the replacement features of canopies vary
from one manufacturer to another, many feature special Velcro
straps so the canopy can be installed onto the existing gazebo
frame easily. In addition to single tiered canopy replacement,
you will also discover multi-tiered canopies, as well as various
colors and shapes.

To give you an idea of what you will find on the market, a
beautifully designed replacement canopy for your canopy, let us
say a standard 10x10-foot size and made from durable polyester
vinyl would cost just under $100. However, if you keep your
eyes open, chances are you can find a number of sales or
discounted prices. Included with this replacement canopy design
is a ventilated top construction, which is made to fit easily
over the gazebo frame.

Another recommendation we would make is to choose a replacement
canopy for your gazebo with reinforced corners. This way, you
know you have a tight, secure fit. Most important when choosing
a new canopy is paying attention to the size. Unfortunately,
differences in gazebo designs to include roof pitch, beam
lengths, and so on can make a huge difference in the way in
which a universal canopy fits. Therefore, you might consult
with your local gazebo or home improvement company to make sure
you get the right size for your particular gazebo.

Dion Semeniuk has developed experience into transforming your backyard into your very own resort. To learn how the gazebo can achieve this, visit the Gazebo website.

An Introduction to Awnings

Awnings come in a variety of colors, styles and functions. You can find traditional retractable awnings, awnings for residential homes and even sleek and modern designed awnings. Awnings can serve as a way for a business to advertise locally, to provide shelter from heat or cold for energy efficiency, to simply make a home more beautiful, or a combination of all of these. Awnings have begun to gain more and more in popularity over the past decade or so, with many homeowners recognizing the benefits of having an awning installed.

Placing an awning over a window, terrace or balcony can add beauty and value to a home. Awnings can add curb appeal to nearly every home without blocking views from the windows. Awnings are even great for patios, decks and doorways. You can choose from either stationary or retractable awnings; whatever meets your design and efficiency needs.

Many people enjoy having awnings installed on their decks and patios. One of the most popular types of awnings to install in these places is the retractable awning. On hot days, the retractable awning can be opened to provide shade for those sitting outside as well as for the home itself; blocking out most of the direct sunlight from windows and doors can yield tremendous savings on utility costs.

Thousands of awning companies are doing business across the country. Because the competition is fierce, you can get great deals on multiple awnings or even deep discounts on a single awning. You can call around to local installers to find out what their specials are and compare the savings around town. Simply stated, awnings can make a wonderful addition to nearly any home and in many cases can increase the overall value of the home.

Awnings Info provides detailed information about retractable, canvas, window, RV, patio, aluminum, deck, and commercial awnings. Awnings Info is the sister site of Gazebos Web.

Make Your Home Handicapped Accessible

Whether you have a family member or a close friend who is handicapped, you need to make sure your home is handicapped accessible. Stairs and small hallways are impossible for those who need wheelchairs to move around, but there are a few easy changes you can make or a few features you can look for in order to make sure it is wheelchair friendly.

Safety is the most important feature of any home, but additional measures need to be taken into consideration if one your family members uses a wheelchair. Their bedroom needs to be on the ground floor and needs to have an easy exit. In most cases, this means that there is a door to the outdoors in the room so if there is a fire, this individual can escape quickly. Along the same lines, every room needs to have a large enough space for a wheelchair to rotate 360 degrees, which is approximately 5 feet in diameter. Doorways need to be at least 36 inches wide and hallways need to be anywhere from four and a half to five feet wide. Ideally, your home will have a minimal number of hallways. These precautions make it much easier for handicapped individuals to move from room to room.

The bathroom is the room that needs the most attention. Elderly or handicapped individuals often need the most help in the bathroom but it is very embarrassing to need assistance in this room. Therefore, you should design the bathroom so that these individuals can be as independent as possible. One of the best investments is a walk in bathtub. These tubs are designed in order to make bathing a safer and easier experience for those who have limited mobility. The convenient door opens up so you do not have to swing your legs up and over and the seat inside means you do not need to lower yourself to the bottom of the tub. Grip bars are an extra safety feature and should be installed around the entire bathroom.

Lower tables and keeping important or handy items at a convenient height is also an important consideration. It is not difficult to find a home that is already handicapped friendly or could easily be remodeled to be so. Remember that safety is the most important consideration so this factor needs to be top priority! With accessible emergency exits and a walk in bathtub, you are making the right choices!

If you would like more information on walk in bathtubs or would like more information about handicapped bathtubs, please visit the Simply Bathtubs website.

Calculating Your Basement Finish Cost

When you already know what you should consider to estimate your basement finish cost, the next step is to get the price for your particular project. There are a couple of easy ways to get a good estimate before you commit to your project.

Online Estimators

You can do nearly anything in the internet these days. That includes getting price estimates specifically for basement finishing. Many online estimators are part of contractor websites. Some of these websites however offer the service for free so you don't have to worry about being billed for using their estimator tool. You do have to make sure though that the estimator that you use takes into consideration the region or state where you live. Prices may vary depending on the state.

Price Comparisons

Online estimators are a convenient tool to use but they may not always be close to accurate. A better way to get your basement finish cost would be to go straight to online contractor websites. You can easily find one in your region using a search engine. You can open a few contractor sites so you can compare the services they offer. You can then send a request for a quote with your specifications on your request. If you want a free quote, make sure you check first if a contractor gives quotes for free.

Ask for Recommendations

Nothing can beat asking other people for recommendations. You might have been to a friend's home with a good basement in which case you can simply ask for a price estimate and the name of the contractor. If you do not know anyone who has recently remodeled their basement, you can opt to ask online. There are many forums and message boards where you can ask about basement costs.

Do Part of the Work

You will find it easier to arrive at a basement finish cost estimate if you only had to ask for the price of contractor service. You can get a fairly stable estimate if you just want the cost of labor. You can do this by canvassing the prices of materials yourself. You can inform a potential contractor that you have already set the design and materials and that you need a price for labor only. This is the best way to get the best possible price estimate.

Successful basement remodeling ideas start with a good budget. Begin yours by setting the right basement finish cost. Find out how to do it.

Design Your Own Dream House

In the past, designing your own dream house meant grabbing a pen and pad of paper and spending hours meticulously drawing plans only to scrap them once you made a mistake. It was frustrating work. But, times have changed. Today, there are several house design software programs that can do the same work. Even better, it takes less time and allows for easy adjustments for mistakes along the way. Once a frustrating task, planning your dream house can be exciting again.

Using Software To Visualize Your Dream House

One of the most common problems people have when planning their dream home is trying to visualize how everything looks. House design software resolves this issue. It can provide a 3D interface through which you to view floor plans, walking areas, structural placements and more. But, some software programs are better than others.

Use a house design program that comes with preset floor plans and templates to get you started. Often, even if you have an idea of how your dream house should ultimately look, preset floor plans can get the creative juices flowing. The software you use should also be robust enough to allow you to modify the templates in any way you wish as you're designing the home.

Also, the software should allow you to plan the plumbing within your home as well as the electrical system. Some programs will even let you plan custom trims for your windows throughout your home. The more robust your software, the more flexibility you'll enjoy in designing your dream home to your preferences.

Designing Your Dream Home

If you're planning to design your dream house, using house design software can save time and make the process fun. Software shouldn't replace the skills and advice of a trained architect, but will allow you to create your home without the limitations of pen and paper. If you make a measurement error, adjusting your plans is easy and fast. When you're using software to design your home, the scope of your plans are limited only be your creativity (and physics).

Source: http://www.homedesignsoftwareinc.com

Get our free house design software guide for information about kitchen & bathroom remodeling, deck and garden design, floor plan drawing software.

Green Building Certification Debate

Since March of 2004 the National Association of Home Builders has been working towards having their own NAHB National Green Building Program for certification. Different groups have debated, why should the NAHB devise their own program and not just use the well known U.S. Green Building Council LEED program. To some the LEEDs program is to stringent and expensive. One of the big factors that have builders frustrated is the fact that LEEDs only will allow Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) lumber.This limits the resources available in many areas because not all lumber yards carry or are certified to supply FSC.

The certification process with FSC is getting more expensive. An article posted December 8, 2008, written by Craig Web, in the ProSales Magazine states The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), the key wood certification standard-setter in green construction, is doubling its accreditation administration fees for chain of custody (COC) certification as well as retaliating against certifying bodies that suggest other standard-setters' rules are as good as FSC's.

How is this productive in getting more suppliers and builders embracing the whole Green Building concept. The FSC does not want to see Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) lumber get included in the LEEDs program. FSC dislikes this SFI option because it sees its standard as being better than the others. The Green Building Council plans to decide whether SFI can be included this spring.

By allowing more options and availability to the builders would help promote the use of certified lumber products into everyday projects.

Making products more available and having healthy competition between suppliers gets the cost of certified lumber more in line. Today many lumbers yards charge a high premium for certified lumber because of the added expense and the hassle to control the certification process. But by doubling the accreditation administration fees is not helping answer the builders request for more economical products. The builder needs to maintain a profit and in many surveys many end home owners are not willing to pay more than a 5% increase for a certified green home. So how can a builder provide a green home and still be able to get buyers if the home has a high premium?

The industry needs to allow more options to get leveled pricing and added support.

Allowing only one main entity to certify and dictate what can be a certified green home limits the grow with in Green Building.

http://greenbuildingideas.info

by Steve Feller

Preventing Falls on the Stairs

There are a lot of areas of the home that are dangerous or present a risk. Often this depends on your age group. For instance, a child might be at risk when playing around the stove, while an elderly individual is likely to be more at risk when using the stairs. Identifying and dealing with these issues is paramount to staying healthy and injury free.

Among seniors, a fall can be a very serious thing. It is often harder for an elderly individual to catch themselves before they fall. The recovery time for a senior is also a lot longer and the process can be quite difficult. Many times, due to osteoporosis, even a small low impact fall can result in a broken hip or fractured wrist, so it is far better to prevent them before they happen.

One of the most common places for a fall is the stairs and other areas that change elevation. Sometimes a home will have a step down into the living room or perhaps even into the kitchen, so making sure all of these types of areas are clearly marked is a good idea. Using a piece of brightly colored textured tape is a good idea. On the stairs, you should use the same color tape for all of the steps, with the exception of the first and last step. On the first and last step, you should use a color that sharply contrasts the tape on the inside steps. This way it is easy to quickly pick out the top and bottom step.

Some people also choose to install a stair lift, which is a medical lifting aid. These devices are used to help a person up the stairs and are great for those who find it painful or otherwise difficult to use the stairs. Many accidents are caused by a lack of balance, so those that are at all unsteady should consider using some sort of lifting aid.

One of the great things about a stair lift is that it can be installed to most straight staircases quickly and easily. There is rarely a need to modify the home, with the exception of securing the stair lift track to the staircase. A curved staircase is not quite as easy to outfit with a stair lift though.

It is also a good idea to remove loose carpets, especially around the stairs. A loose throw rug not only can slip, but even if the rug has a non-skid backing, the corner can become turned up, making it possible to trip over it. Instead, carpets should be tacked to the floor and remain firmly in place and otherwise removed.

Having adequate lighting can also be very important to prevent falls. For outdoor use, installing motion sensor lights can be a good idea. These lights come on if they detect motion, but they can also be turned on like regular lights, usually by turning them off and back on again in rapid succession. You can also adjust how sensitive the motion detector is, so make sure you adjust it to turn on as soon as you drive up or come outside. For inside, having good light is important in all areas of the home.

For a senior, it can be difficult to recover from a fall. It is a good idea to take steps to make your home as safe as possible.

Sean Noughtly is a writer that is familiar with many types of mobility aids, such as stair lifts. The stair lift is a very popular device that can make using the stairs possible again. Many who thought they would have to completely avoid the stairs, have found that they are able to independently and safely use the stairs with a stair lift.

AmeriGlide is one company that offers many types of lifting aids, such as stair lifts and also dumbwaiters. A dumbwaiter is like an elevator, but is not used to carry people. Instead it carries items throughout a home or other building. This can make using the stairs much safer, because it is no longer necessary to carry heavy objects up the stairs. Instead, it is possible to simply place them on the dumbwaiter and let it do all the work.

Universal Design

Few of us pay attention to how we get around in our home until for one reason or another it gets harder to navigate that home.I personally had not given much thought to the fact that my master bedroom was on the second floor until I had knee surgery and found that it was difficult climbing those 13 steps. Luckily for me that inconvenience was temporary and I worked around it with the help of my wife.

Baby boomers like myself are beginning to realize that we are not immortal or immune to the effects of time.Sooner or later we will need to either make or living spaces accessible for our friends, family or ourselves. As architects, we work with these issues every day.From designing a new home which is fully accessible to a library addition on the first floor which can be converted to a master suite or guest suite by closing a pocket door at the end of the hall.

Built in accessibility can be so subtle it is almost unnoticeable unless you are looking for it.Wider doors, spacious bathrooms, grade level entries and curb less showers are a few of the easy features to include in a home you plan to spend a lifetime in. We designed a home for an 89 year old client and his partner who were both avid gardeners and loved to cook.Although the 89 year old was in a wheelchair, he still wanted to get into and out of his house on his own as well be able to prepare meals and tend to his beautiful flower garden.He also did not want his home to scream handicapped accessible.We listened and designed the first floor of his home so he could work and move around without help. He could easily come and go while tending his garden or help cook a fine meal.He decided the second floor could be for guests.

Options have improved for making a home accessible from premade adjustable countertops to less expensive residential elevators, baby boomers have once again changed the way we look at living our lives at home.

http://www.crisparchitects.com/ James M. Crisp, AIA is an architect working in New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts.

Getting Started Remodeling Your Kitchen

Tired of dealing with a kitchen that is out of style? You may want to consider giving your kitchen a face lift.

If you are planning to remodel your kitchen, there are definitely many things to consider. After all, you want a beautiful and functional kitchen that won't totally break your bank account.

Not sure where to begin? Here are some tips that can help you get started with your kitchen remodel.

Figure Out Your Budget

The very first thing you need to do once you have decided that you want to remodel your kitchen is to sit down and figure out your budget.

There is no reason to start on the rest of the plans until you know how much money you have to spend. Figure out how much you can realistically spend on this project.

Once you know how much money you have available, then you can go about figuring out what things you'll be able to do with that amount of money.

Whether you have a lot of money or a limited budget, you'll still find that there are many great options for remodeling that will make your kitchen look great.

Look Online for Inspiration

Another important thing to do that will help you get your remodeling project going is to look online for inspiration.

Take a look at pictures and kitchen design ideas that are available on the web. There are many different websites that specialize in kitchen design and remodeling.

By taking the time to browse through, you may find some ideas that you want to use in your kitchen. If you need some inspiration and ideas for your own kitchen, the internet is one of the best tools to use.

Considering the Floor Plans

If you're doing a drastic kitchen remodel, you'll need to consider the floor plans. Perhaps you need to make better use of the space in the kitchen or you need to find more area for storage. Changing up the floor plans can help.

Take a look at various floor plans for kitchens. You may even want to have a professional architect or other remodeling professional come in and help you out.

If you already have an idea of what you want then you need to focus on drawing up plans that will make the most out of your space and that will provide you with the options and space for appliances that you want.

DIY or Professional Contractor

One important consideration you need to think about is whether or not this remodel is going to be a do it yourself project or whether you want to hire a professional contractor.

There are pros and cons to both options, but you'll need to figure this out before you get too far into the project. If you are experienced with other do it yourself projects and you have a limited budget, it can be a great idea to do the remodel yourself, as long as you know what you're doing, just be careful with the gas and electrics, you should seek professional help at this stage to ensure safety.

However, if you aren't familiar with remodeling techniques and you have the available money, choosing a professional contractor to do the work may be a great idea.

Yvonne Sutton runs a free information site on the many aspects of kitchen design.

Visit the site to gain valuable help on how to choose a new kitchen design.

Remodeling Off a Cliff

Recently people have been spending big money for remodeling and using "resale" as an excuse to spend outrageous amounts of money. But if you have to sell your house in today's market it could be a loser's game.

Many people are actually refinancing their homes to do the remodels and going into serious debt to pay for the work. They are essentially financing the remodel for significantly longer than most trendy improvements, i.e. granite countertops and stainless steel appliances.

This leads us to our first rule.

1. If you have to refinance to pay for the work, you can't afford it.
2. Clean up. It's a lot of work, but worth the time. Clean, orderly homes always resale better.
3. Get rid of junk. When I have my houses for sale there is nothing sitting on the floor or impeding traffic flow even in the closets.
4. Remove wallpaper and put up soft neutral paint inside and out. Modern buyers do not like wallpaper.
5. Pay more attention to street appeal than interior decorating. Cute houses resell better and faster than other houses.

This last point...the one about street appeal...is the biggest one you need to have on your side if you need to resale fast. How your house looks from the street matters more than your interior. If buyers don't like the outside they won't even come in to see what you have done inside.

If you own a house that has no street appeal in a good neighborhood you might have a great chance to make money even in a slowing real estate market.

But how do you get street appeal?

It is tough. Just ask all the builders who are stuck with inventories of unsold homes. Street appeal is a moving target. Here are some strategies and recommendations.

1. Try to improve the landscaping pushing it out enough to frame the house rather than hiding it.
2. Make a nice wide path to the door.
3. Paint and use more than one color.
4. Make sure all colors work together including the roof.
5. Add some rock.
6. Frame out windows.
7. Stay true to the architecture of the house both inside and out.

You can no longer just throw a house up for sale and expect it to be easy. You have to work at it. Those first days the property is on the market can never be done over. Do your homework and don't put your house on the market until it is ready.

Clean it up, price it competitively and make it the cutest house on the block. Don't follow all the remodeling gurus along with the crowd right off a cliff.

Paula G Stone and George R (Ron) Stone have a note buying business. Their company buys mortgage notes as well as helps home sellers offer owner financing to sell their home fast and for top dollar while selling the private mortgage note at a simultaneous closing. Learn more about note buying and selling at Selling Mortgage

Contractor Selection

Consumer complaints about home improvement contractors now top the lists of all consumer complaints.

Some states regulate home improvement contractors, but many don't. Some states have strong consumer protection services. But, many state budgets these days can't offer much in the way of protecting consumers - especially after the damage has been done.

That's why it is so important to approach hiring a home improvement contractor in a way that will help prevent potential problems, rather than hiring haphazardly and hoping for the best.

Here are the top 5 steps you can take to help protect your interests when hiring:

1. Know your state's laws regarding contractor licensing and insurance.
2. Never hire a home improvement contractor without screening their reputations, years in business, licenses, and references, no matter where you heard about the company.
3. Never agree to pay more than a token deposit in advance for work.
4. Know exactly what should appear in a good contract, or have your contract reviewed prior to signing.
5. Never make final payment 'on substantial completion'. Hold at least 15% back for payment when the last punch list item has been completed.

The home improvement bug hits many homeowners hardest in the Fall of the year. It's a prime time to make improvements that will reduce energy bills during the winter months, for instance. You may have been waiting for summer to end to put on an addition. Or maybe you're preparing to spiff-up the exterior prior to selling. Whatever the motivation for making improvements, you will be probably dealing with one or more home improvement contractors. This is a good time to brush up on your homeowner-contractor skills. The ancient adage, 'Caveat emptor' (Let the buyer beware) is never more true than when making home improvements.

Richard J. Roll, Founder and President of the American Homeowners Association (AHA) has helped over 1 million homeowners in all 50 states save money on buying and maintaining their homes. For more tools, information and resources to help you maintain your home and instantaneously save money go to http://www.ahahome.com for a special offer from AHA.

Facts About Dampwood Termites

Termites that feed on wood are part of a group with three different types of termite species. The dampwood termites feed on damp wood, rotting wood or timber and any other wood that has moisture. Protecting yourself and your home or building requires a few simple steps, on of which is clearing your property of any wood with moisture, which will attract the dampwood termites.

The Pacific Coast area sees more dampwood termites then anywhere else. The states affected by this group of termites are Washington, California, Nevada, Oregon and Montana. Some less destructive dampwood termites also live in Florida and the southwestern part of the country.

Characteristics Of A Dampwood Termite

This group of termites has soldiers to protect the colony, workers to find food sources and the reproducers, a king and queen. The life stages of a termite are an egg, nymph and then the adult. The life cycle doe not include the pupal stage.

You notice more of a distinguishing difference between termite species with the adults rather than the younger termites. Dampwood termites are generally much larger than the other termites by about a half of an inch. With brownish-reddish heads with big mandibles, the worker dampwood termites are smaller than the soldiers are while the reproducers are an inch in length and they have wings.

Feeding Of The Dampwood Termites

These termites need no shelter as they travel from food source to the next. During the early infestation of the termite, you may not notice much activity, but as soon as the nest is set, they go to work and feed on the wood and moisture. These little pests hide while feeding on the wood in order to remain undetected.

Dampwood termites normally eat the wood from the inside out as they tunnel their way through the wood. These tunnel areas are smooth as if sandpaper was used to sand the surface.

Can You Avoid Dampwood Termites

If you no you have wood that contains a high moisture content you need to keep a watch on your wood areas to prevent heavy infestations of termites. If you have faucets that leak or any other areas of damp wood in the area, this will attract the dampwood termites. Clear up any areas that attract the termites to your area and then keep a close eye on you basement and other areas that may have wood with high moisture levels.

You can also find more information at Types Of Termites and American Termites. Termiteshelp.com is a comprehensive resource to know more about termites.

Barn Home Conversions

Although not a new method of building a home, barn conversions are becoming more and more popular these days. The problem facing most families wanting to convert a barn into a home is the lack of know how involved in it.

It's needless to say that there are many barns in various shapes and sizes all around. Many are in bad shape. Please don't make the mistake of buying one that is labeled a unique fixer upper opportunity. Don't fool yourself. If a barn has gotten into the shape where the boards are falling off the sides, unless you're buying it for parts, my suggestion is to leave it alone. By the time the boards start falling off, there's major flaws. The main trouble would probably be that the girts are rotting and the fasteners (nails) are turning loose.

When I built my home from an old centennial barn, there wasn't even a handful of books and reference websites available on the subject. And when I talked with contractors on the subject, the most common response I got was a blank stare. Fortunately I was able to talk to some barn builders that had been in the trade for decades and were willing to share ideas on how it could be done.

One of the most daunting tasks was to repair the weather damage and remove the layers of dirt that had accumulated over the years. My particular barn was used to shelter horses and a few milk cows.

There are two methods of converting a barn.

The first method is to use standard residential construction practices, essentially making the barn into a standard construction home. Nine times out of ten after this type of renovation takes place, the barn no longer looks like a barn but looks more like a stylized residence. And the cost with this method sometimes exceeds standard residential construction.

The second method and the one my wife and I chose to use, employed the same materials the barn was built with. I went to the local saw mill and bought rough sawed boards to make up the interior walls and floors. Even the doors and windows were hand built with this type of method. We just made sure the house was well insulated and all the cracks were closed. This method saved us thousands of dollars and kept the charm of the old barn intact.

Tim Davis is a veteran Architectural Designer who also teaches architecture and drafting over the internet http://houseplandrafting101.net He is currently in the process of writing an Ebook entitled "How to Turn a Barn into a Home". The info page for updates on this ebook can be found at http://draftingservice.us/barnhomes