Kitchen Renovation Contractor

Our whole homes should be a reflection of our personalities, our kitchens are no different. They are very personal rooms that are considered as the heart of the house. In order to i5B4mpress people with your kitchen you should make sure you get exactly what you want.

There are two ways to get what you want when you are having your kitchen renovated. The first is doing it yourself, now this is obviously very difficult, but you are guaranteed to get exactly what you want. The other easier way is to hire a contractor and guide him closely. You could even use kitchen design software to lay out your kitchen and help to make sure your contractor knows exactly what you want.

Discussing Your Choices With Your Contractor

Before you rush out to buy some software to remodel your kitchen you should decide what you want to gain from your kitchen remodelling project. Carry out some research to find out what would work well for your kitchen, investigate all of the current trends and see which you like. You can research these things in magazines and even on the internet. There are lots of websites where you can get this information for free which will save you the price of a magazine!

There are many different designs of kitchen available, you should start by making a list of everything you need in your kitchen. Do you need a dishwasher? Do you need a microwave? Continue in this fashion until you have listed all of these things. You will need to make sure you leave enough space for these appliances when you are fitting your new cabinets and remodelling your kitchen. Try to cater for everything that will be fou5ABnd in your kitchen, even including somewhere to store your utensils.

If you are renovating your kitchen using home renovations software I should warn you it can be contagious! Just watch you don't get carried away and do the whole house. You should try to make the house design flow, and this can be done by renovating the house in stages. Your contractor should be able to offer you valuable advice on your renovation projects so make sure you ask your contractor for their opinion.

Kurt Schefken's papers can be found on different web publications with reference to kitchen cabinets. His observations on wall mount faucets can be discovered on http://www.kitchen-cabinets-tips.com

4 X 12 Stair Stringer Trip Hazar

Underground House Floor Plan

If you happened across a home built from an underground house floor plan you could be forgiven for thinking the owners might be Hobbits because the only things visible might be a door or window set into a foliage covered hill. This type of home is actually a series of small, interconnecting domes made from cement and partially or completely submerged into the earth.

Such unconventional house floor plans are actually a step in the right direction for those persons thinking outside the box in terms of energy conservation and environmental benefits. Living underground in such earth-sheltered housing has its merits and takes a very conservative view in energy usage.

When considering an underground house floor plan, look for the following applications:

1. The house floor plan should blur the distinction between indoors and outdoors. The purpose is to exist in close harmony with nature.

2. The windows should be honeycomb style to harness solar energy.

3. Since the windows for this type of floor plan don't open, an intake vent system with filters should be installed to draw fresh air from outside. The filters help keep out unwanted pests.

4. Air should be fanned from a solar collector through the home duct work into a rock store beneath the main living space. The store system maintains an efficient heat-exchange which works with the insulating soil to maintain a comfortable temperature year round. A good system would require no additional heating or cooling.

The dome shaped rooms give rise to maximum floor space and minimum wall area. Floor areas do not to conform to traditional housing expectations and and the living spaces are defined with curved walls with no sharp corners. Natural sunlight can be channeled into the house via the use of a skylight lined with natural reflective materials

Underground house floor plans got their start in the 1970s from an Austrian architect named Eisenhofer. Sadly, most dismissed his energy efficient and unconventional house plans as nothing more than a hippie experiment. It has only been within the past few years that interest in earth-sheltered housing is attracting some interest. As people become more environmentally conscious, the popularity of underground house floor plans as an energy efficient alternative can only increase.

Get fantastic ideas for your new house! House floor plans come in all shapes and sizes. Find the right house floor plan for your family today!

Buying and Renovating Tips

With property prices spiraling out of control, many home buyers have found that the only property they can afford are those needing renovation. Perhaps that's the situation you're in, too. While such a tactic will get you into a home, it still is a decision that must be entered into with eyes wide open.

If you're considering buying and renovating, here's some advice designed to keep your plans on track and within budget.

Create a separate budget

Before you even start looking for property, it's crucial to put together a separate renovation budget. And because you never really know what you're in for, always factor in additional funding to cover those 1C84unexpected costs that almost always crop up.

Knowing how much you're able to spend on renovation really helps when it comes time to choose a property. If a home needs major structural work and that's not within your budget, the property may not be right no matter how low the asking price.

Do your research

Always be suspicious of a property with an unusually low asking price, especially if it's been on the market for a while. There's usually a reason for that low price and you need to know what it is. Unless you have a sizable budget and a lot of patience, it's probably best to avoid property requiring extensive renovation.

But that's not always the case, especially if the property is located in a desirable neighbourhood. If you can buy a home, make the required renovations and afterwards still sell for a profit, then the property might be worth a closer look.

The bottom line is this: Always know the full extent of the necessary renovations. Once you know what's needed, determine the work you can handle and what you'll need to contract out.

Seek expert advice

If you're unsure the extent of renovation required or the costs associated with a certain type of renovation, you can always obtain quotes from area professionals. Besides obtaining a more accurate estimate of costs upfront, you may gain some "insider's" knowledge which is almost certain to help later on.

Check permitting requirements

Don't forget to check local permitting requirements before considering any type of renovation. Permits can add unexpected costs and time delays; two problems that can drastically alter your budget as well as your renovation plans.

Remember this isn't television!

When you watch those popular "do it yourself" home renovation shows such as Property Ladder you might think the work looks easy. But what you don't see are the many hours of footage that have been edited out. While it appears to take the homeowners just 30 minutes to tear apart the bathroom and put it all back together, in reality that renovation probably took many days and involved many hands. Always make sure you can commit not only the money but also a substantial amount of time to complete the necessary renovations.

Buying and renovating property is full of challenges and isn't right for everyone. But if you're up for a challenge, the results are often well worth the effort.

For up-to-date information on UK property currently available for sale, visit:
http://www.propertyflaunt.com

How To Avoid The Pitfalls Of Buying A Used Stair Lift

A seemingly simple thing as walking up and down stairs can be impossible for those who are disabled or handicapped. Installing a handicap stair lift can give a person a real sense of independence - perhaps for the first time in years. But they are very expensive. It is possible to save hundreds of dollars by installing a used stair lift however before doing so, you should first be sure that the second hand one is going to be right for you.

There are two types of stair lift; straight and curved. Both types can be powered by either mains electricity or by rechargeable batteries. Before you consider buying a used stair lift you should be aware of the issues in installing and using an electric or battery model for both straight and curved chair lifts.

A curved lift is for stairways that have turns or mid-level landings. Curved models are custom made and can take anything up to 3 months to install. They are also considerably more expensive than straight models. If your stairs require a curved lift you should think long and hard about buying a used model. A used one will have been custom made for another staircase and will almost certainly not fiF17t yours. Therefore a used curved stair lift will require that the track - on which the chair travels - be modified substantially; in fact, you may not be able to modify it at all and have to buy a new track for your stairs.

Buying and installing a used curved chair lift is a specialized skill. Unless you are very experienced at this sort of work, you will need to buy this sort of lift from a supplier, who will install and provide a warranty. The suppliers are not hard to find, a quick look on the web will quickly help you locate a dealer near you.

To buy and install a used straight stair lift is less problematic. There's no need to modify the track; you simply have to fit it to your stairs. However, there are one or two things to check before you buy this type of second hand chair lift. If your stairs require that the rail be fitted on the right-hand-side then make sure the used model you buy is suitable for the right and not the left side. If you're going to install it yourself you should make sure that the track is the right size for your stairs. Tracks come in various lengths - usually between 16 and 20 feet - so make sure the track length is long enough for your stairs.

Most new models are battered operated - makes like Stannah and Bruno Stair Lift - and there are many advantages with battery powered models. Ones that use rechargeable batteries generally have a smoother ride, are easy to install - requiring no wiring and the stair lift can be used during power outages.

Many older models are powered from mains supply. One or two manufacturers like the Summit Stair Lift still make a mains powered model. If you are going to buy a used stair lift that is mains powered you will need to do some wiring; unless you're a qualified electrician you will need a professional to do this work. Also, it was quite common for these types to have the electric cable trail behind the chair, which does present the possibility of someone tripping over it.

Other things you should check before you buy a second hand stair lift are the general condition of the chair; does it swing out smoothly; does it have a seatbelt - if you need to wear one you will have the problem of trying to buy a seatbelt for a model of stair lift that may no longer be made. If it's a battery powered model check that the batteries and charger are in good working order. The same applies to all the controls.

Finally, you should think about a warranty. If you buy a used model and fit it yourself you won't have any guarantee that it will be safe and work properly. If you buy from a specialist supplier then you should get some guarantee about safety and will get after sales support. As stated, there are many reputable suppliers of used stair lifts - you can find many of them online - and they sell many leading brands like Acorn, Stannah and Bruno stair lifts.

Follow the links for used stair lifts and get stair lift reviews on leading brands like the Bruno stair lift.

An Obligation To Provide Clean Power?

We contract with an electrical utility to supply are homes and businesses with power. They supply this power, from a power generation facility, through an elaborate electrical grid and then connect it to our home or business with overhead wires or via an underground connection.

Is it reasonable for us to assume that the energy that is supplied and the method used to supply it, is clean and safe? Apparently not!

More and more U.S. electrical utilities are suggesting to their customers that they install whole house surge protection along with specific use surge protectors for high value items such as computers and home entertainment centers. Depending on the utility the fees range from free installation to an installation charge of $95, monthly fees from $6 to $10 and committed contracts for three to five years.

Now I am quite aware that many electrical surges in our homes and businesses do not originate on the power lines, some surges come over cable TV and telephone lines. In many cases the wires, whether they are power, cable TV or telephone are just the delivery mechanism and the actual surge was picked up from lightning striking the ground or the actual wires themselves and there is very little a utility or communication company can do to prevent the damage that might be caused by such an incident.

However, some of the electrical surges are a direct result of; too little power on the grid, over demand and the installation of overhead power lines. Yet we are being asked to cover the cost of protecting our homes and businesses from a commodity that we are paying for in the first place.

The question is; should the property owner be responsible for providing surge protection in order to safe guard their installed electrical equipment, or should the utility take the responsibility both morally and economically of providing surge protection?

For additional information on safeguarding your home from power surges or other renovation projects, visit Renovation Headquarters.

Rustic Country Decor - How to Decorate Cottage Style Homes

Rustic country decor and how to decorate cottage style homes are extensions of American country style decorating. In addition, traditions are borrowed from French, English and some Swedish country looks. Rustic country decor can be defined as coarse, charmingly simple, unfussy, unfinished and yet with endearing qualities. Rustic country decorating includes the use of natural woods, aged surfaces, rough finishes and simple lines. Cottage style homes are comfortable, modest, quaint homes that can be made of thick stone or log wood.

Floors in rustic country decor and cottage style homes are made with stone or wood materials. Wooden floors were traditionally constructed with boards that were bare and simply waxed and hand-polished (high-gloss varnishes did not exist). Sometimes the boards were painted with light colors. If you like floor coverings, use oriental rugs and throws for visual warmth and color. Rustic country decor is about handcrafted objects, simplicity, furnishings that you enjoy and connecting back to nature.

Rustic cottage furniture is commonly made with pine and perhaps painted with hand-painted designs such as flowers, birds, animals, country scenery or leaves. Use ladderback chairs, rocking chairs, benches, wicker furniture and Windsor chairs. A large rectangular table made of pine is a good option for your kitchen or dining room table. To give your furniture a rustic look, brush a coat of paint on the furniture piece, then rub most of the paint off. After it dries, apply wood stain unevenly for an older weathered appearance. It will be perfect and rustic looking!

Baskets can be used to store wood, pine cones, flowers, plants and needlework. Brass candle holders, oil or kerosene lamps, sconces, hurricane lamps, tin lanterns, recessed ceiling fixtures or a vintage wrought-iron or metal chandelier provide successful lighting for rustic country decor and cottage style homes. Colors used in rustic country decor or cottage style homes are neutral tones ranging from white to bone, earth tones, red barn, blues and greens.

For rustic country decor in the kitchen, use open shelves, hutches, buffets, plate racks and cupboards for storage. Often, country kitchen storage is crammed with stoneware pots, plain glazed earthenware and glass jars. Kitchen pots should be made of copper, steel or cast iron -- cookware tends to be large and plain. Use open shelving in the rustic country kitchen to display plates, dishes and dinnerware collections. Natural woods, light colors and bright fabrics work great for window treatments. Adding a rustic butcher block island creates a wonderful visual effect as well as provides useful functionality.

A rustic country decor bathroom has neutral tones or soft colored walls, antique-looking lighting, and wooden antiques or antique reproduction cabinets and vanity. Knowing how to decorate cottage style homes and bathrooms can result in creating a calm and elegant atmosphere. Clawfoot tubs, pedestal sinks, country style antique brass faucets and old-fashioned country cabinets provide the kind of atmosphere that makes you want to spend time there. Plain white towels are recommended instead of patterned or bright modern patterns. Use wicker or wire baskets to keep your sponges, loofas and shampoos handy near the tub or shower.

Understanding how to decorate cottage style homes means including items like quilts, antique furniture or reproductions, flea-market pieces, trunks, chests, armoires, stenciling, wallpaper, adirondack chairs, flower wreaths and bistro chairs. These types of elements give cottage style homes the kind of rustic country decor that is simpler, very personal and warmly inviting.

Whether in a seaside setting, an urban environment, a countryside location or a wooded mountain retreat, cottage style homes are cozy and unassuming, combining the past with the present. Read all you can find and learn what creating the rustic country cottage means to you no matter where it's located. Enjoy expressing your personality and showing what the definition of home means to you.

Copyright 2005 InfoSearch Publishing

David Buster is VP of InfoSearch Publishing and webmaster of http://www.yourdreamloghome.com - visit the website and learn more about rustic country home decor and design, rustic kitchens and bathrooms, log cabins, fireplaces and firewood and much more.

Building With Pressure Treated Lumber? Know The Rules!

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 16C3copper, 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.