By Daniel Stouffer
Many homeowners can't afford to buy a new house that offers adequate living space, though there are many very large homes build everyday. If you have a large family living in a very small space, tensions can run high often between the kids, the parents, and even the pets because people often can not get away from each other for a "time out".
Often families, that are growing (new kids, new pets, new grandparents), look to the unfinished basement for their expansion needs. They just need more living area for everyone. However, there are a few things to remember before diving into remodeling your basement.
The Difference Between a Hole in the Ground and a Roughed in Basement
Many older homes have basements if you can call them that. Nothing more than a hole with some concrete and paint, they leave a lot to be desired. Some newer home if not all of them have a basement roughed in but not finished. Builders want to keep the costs down and leave the basement finishing to the new owners. Often basements are not included when they are constructed to save money.
However, older homes almost always have them in some form or another. The problem with many of these old basements is that they were not built to be living spaces; just dirty holes with rain water storage. Some basements have dirt floors, mold problems, and many of them leak water during heavy rains. Many remodeling issues are even difficult to the professional contractor. The difference is they have prior experience to help them out. Let alone a novice homeowner. All this means is the remodeling of your basement should be considered a project that requires time and planning ahead of any work to be completed. You have to be sure your investment is not washed away with the first heavy rain storm hits.
Stopping up the Water Problems is Number One Priority
If you know you have water problems, you have to take care of those before you start remodeling a basement. This is not always easy. Often this critical step is not always affordable. There are times when it is nearly impossible to do it. Some older basements have stone walls that are pieced together with mortar. Those walls routinely have water running through them and it is difficult to make this type of foundation water tight. Even if a little bit water continues to trickle in over time, you will have mold and soggy carpet problems.
As New Homes Settle Problems Can Creep Up
Newer basements are more secure and are generally build better but even some of them have major problems due to settling of the ground around the house. If you suspect or know you have problems, have someone come in and tell you the probability of fixing things right so you can continue with your plans for remodeling the basement. A few dollars and a couple of weeks to get issues corrected right from the beginning will alleviate many expensive corrections down the road. No one wants to rip apart a new sheet rocked wall to fix a condensation problem when that could have take 10 minutes and a few feet of plastic to fix. Think the entire basement remodeling effort out from the beginning. Think like a project manager or contractor and divide the work out into phases.
Getting Advice is Important; Especially for Electrical Work
Once you are sure you will not have water problems, you can start your endeavor. However, remember that a basement is underground. There can be problems with ventilation, light, and heating. You may want to start remodeling a basement on your own to save money. But if you really don't know what you are doing, you should find someone to advise you before you begin. This is especially true for the electrical work and wiring. There are strict building codes related to electrical design. This particular area it is often better to higher a professional. The small cost of this will be worth it if you can avoid some of the common problems some have when remodeling any part of the home.
How to Avoid Building Your own Money Pit
Remodeling a basement can be an expensive venture. The last thing you want is to find all of your hard work and hard earned dollars have gone to waste. Without the proper planning, any project can run into delays and disaster. This is even more often the case for a basement remodel that you attempt yourself. It is never wasted money to ask for expert advice when you lack the experience to do it right.
It is true you can save money by doing some of the easier things yourself. When you consider the risk of doing it wrong, you may decide and feel more comfortable with the water issues, heating and cooling design, and any plumbing work if you make sure a contractor takes a look or actually does the work. Effectively managing the build out or remodeling of your basement is never easy but it can be done.
At Solargies, our goals are not to just promote the adoption of alternative energy sources and the help change the general mind set towards improved energy conservation but it is also my personal quest is to create a powerful, grassroots movement for social, economic and environmental change. Learn more at http://www.Solargies.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com
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Author: Lee Dobbins
Before, they were used to simply serve their purpose – hang curtains. Today, curtain rods are more than just a tool. They have evolved into a more functional, more sophisticated devices that do not just hang curtains but also compliment and enhance the overall effect of the drapes.
Showing more skin, rods are no longer the typical metal or wooden sticks used to hang curtains. They have evolved into remarkable works of skill or talent, showing every design as an intricate sketch of masterpiece.
Wooden curtain rods are now made more sophisticated and classy. Most of them are handmade and crafted with the most top-rated materials to bring out the beauty of the wooden material.
Various designs were sculptured in the wood, with different glaze materials or varnish as the finishing touches. Hence, you can make either a Victorian or a Western-inspired window with rods that were made from high-quality wooden materials.
On the other hand, the solid and powerful effect of metal curtain rods is no longer confined to the usual plain metal stick. With the growing popularity of metal rods, consumers now have more choices. They can choose from a wide array of metal rods such as solid brass, chrome, graphite with brass, and brushed chrome.
With a wider range of choices, more and more manufacturers tried to develop newer, fresher, and more exquisite designs to compliment, contrast, or enhance the beauty of curtains. They can even modify plain curtains by transforming them into something more elegant.
Installing curtain rods has also evolved into an innovation, bringing ease and convenience in mounting rods on walls, woods, or other types of surfaces. Hence, whether you live in a castle, cabin, or the classic abode, there is certainly a good curtain rod that will suit your taste, your style, and of course, your curtains.
However, curtain rods do not just differ according to their designs or structures. They also differ in sizes and shapes. Hence, it is important to measure your windows first before you go out and buy your rods.
Here are some things you must consider when buying curtain rods:
1. Your windows
Your windows have different sizes, according to your plan when you were just building your house. And even if you have bought a ready-made house, window sizes are not standard for all types of houses. Hence, it is extremely important to measure your windows first before you start buying your rods.
All you have to do is to measure the outside part of your window. This is where you will mount your curtain rods. It is best to have the correct size than to waste time and money by going back to the store just because you have to wrong size.
Keep in mind that as a rule, your rods should always be longer than your window by as much as 5 inches. This ensures total coverage for your windows.
2. Your curtains
Of course, you should never start buying the rods without looking first at the curtains that you will use. The types of curtains you will use will determine the type of rod that you have to buy.
For example, if you will be using the typical designs of curtains that flow straight down the wall, you will have to buy a chrome curtain rod, for heavier drapes, you need to buy stronger metals such as graphite with brass or solid brass.
3. Strength of the curtain rod
You would not want your curtains sagged unattractively down your windows, right? Hence, to avoid such dilemma, it is best to choose rods according to their strength and capacity to hold a certain type of drapes or curtains.
For heavier curtains, it is best to choose stronger, more solid rods. Supporting devices should also be considered. These brackets provide end-to-end support for the rod, as well as support for the middle portion of the curtain rod.
4. Your budget
Curtain rods can be very expensive especially if they were made from high-quality materials. Hence, if you cannot afford to buy those expensive kinds, it is best to stick the ordinary.
Keep in mind that decorating your home with good sets of curtain rods can change the way people will look at it. However, it does not necessarily mean that you have to spend more than what you can afford just to decorate your house.
So the next time you buy your curtain rods, consider these factors and you will definitely make a big difference. Even if curtain rods are generally seen as something that holds up your curtains, they can also reflect the kind of personality that you have.
About the Author:
Lee Dobbins writes for http://curtains.home-webzone.com where you can learn more about different curtain rods and choosing the right curtains for your room.
Article Source: Article Base
By Matt Euler
You picked the perfect site for your new home but now you're mired in indecision. Building "green" sounds noble (who doesn't want to help our planet and create a healthy environment for our kids?) but it also sounds expensive, difficult and confusing. If you're like most people, you probably assumed that a green home is a simple assemblage of eco-friendly products like recycled timbers, bamboo flooring, and oderless paint - but in fact, choosing products like these is only a small part, and perhaps the least important, of sustainable building. To demystify what it means to build green, we have to start with a primer of basic principles as outlined by Andy Engel in Tools of the Trade - what I like to think of as the Seven Green Building Blocks.
But first, a definition: What is a Green Home? A green or sustainable home is one that is built and functions with a reduced impact on the environment by using resources efficiently, and that provides a healthy, non-toxic environment.
Green Building Block #1- House Design
Here's a surprise - the size, siting (orientation to the sun) and shape of your house have the greatest impact on how energy-efficient it will ultimately be.
The larger your house, the more materials it will take to build and the more energy to maintain. This is your most critical decision. Resist the urge to super-size.
Solar orientation is the second most important factor in determining your home's energy needs. This is called passive solar design. Try to place the longest walls of the house on an east-west axis. This will give your south facing windows sun in winter and shade in summer. You can also place your garage on the west side of the house or use a porch, roof overhang or trees to shade your west walls.
The simpler the shape of your house (think New England Salt-Box) the more energy-efficient. Protruding wings and bays increase the exterior skin of the house and let heat escape from the core, much like our own fingers and toes.
Green Building Block #2 - Durability
Like our bodies, houses age, sag and eventually collapse. Water and moisture are the two culprits responsible for the premature aging and final demise of our home, beginning with mold and ending in rot.
- Water can be kept away from the structure through proper drainage, gutter and downspout design, as well as use of special rain-screen walls.
- Moisture can be controlled through carefully installed window and door flashings and with thorough sealing. By minimizing air loss, you keep moisture out and heat in, reducing energy costs by as much as 20%. When moisture is no longer allowed to travel through the exterior walls, it eliminates the danger of condensation in the framing, thus extending the life of your home.
- Use paperless sheetrock to allow any moisture to wick out of damp drywall.
Green Building Block #3 - Energy Efficiency
Your home uses energy such as electricity and gas for light, heat or cooling. You can reduce your need for heat and cooling through passive solar design, which provides a kind of built-in thermal protection. But you also need to reduce thermal loss or leakage with insulation and air sealing. If possible, install your own energy supply.
- Use insulation and builder's felt in the walls, floor and ceiling to reduce heat loss. Close cavities such as areas behind showers and tubs, soffits and recessed lights with a moisture barrier to prevent heat loss.
- Seal all openings and cracks where air can pass in or out of the house.
- Don't run HVAC ducts in unconditioned crawl spaces or attics - 20% of the energy can be lost. Fully insulate areas around your ducts and thoroughly seal them.
- Lighting accounts for about 15% of a home's energy use, but you can reduce that percentage in several ways. Replace inefficient incandescent bulbs with cooler, longer lasting CFLs (compact florescent lights) or the new LEDs (light emitting diodes). LEDs use 1/3 the electricity of CFLs and are more directional for task lighting.
- Decrease energy waste by installing a home automation system with motion sensors to turn lights on and off as you enter or exit a room. A home automation system can also reduce your heating and cooling needs by automatically opening or closing your window shades depending on the outside temperature, and by turning down your thermostat at night and when you are away from home.
- Use energy efficient appliances.
- If possible, invest in solar panels to generate much of the energy your house consumes. Your power company will even buy back any excess electricity from you during times of low use (like when you are on vacation).
Green Building Block #4 - Reducing Waste
You can reduce excessive waste in 2 ways: by using materials more efficiently (and thus, needing fewer of them) and by reusing old materials. In either case you help the planet and your pocketbook at the same time.
- Size your house sensibly. Design your house in four foot multiples to conform to standard wallboard and plywood sheets. You will also dramatically reduce piles of scrap lumber.
- Recycle and reuse building materials such as old concrete and stone as a base for a parking lot.
- Be an avid recycler of glass, plastic and metals in your household. Set up a compost bin to turn your food scraps into rich mulch.
Green Building Block #5 - Water Conservation
The aim here is twofold: you need to both reduce the amount of water your family consumes, but also channel the rainwater that falls on your lot back into the soil.
- Use low-flow shower heads and toilets to reduce water usage.
- Use automatic sprinklers with moisture sensors to regulate water use and prevent over-watering.
- Use native and drought-tolerant plants.
- Use porous concrete pavers on driveways to allow rainwater to percolate down into the earth and recharge aquifers.
Green Building Block #6 - Indoor Air Quality
We've already mentioned how proper sealing and insulation can prevent moisture and mold in the home, but an air-tight home has its own problem - it traps all gases and fumes inside the home, thus polluting the air you breathe. Particle board and OSB off-gas formaldehyde; paints, finishes and car products contribute VOCs (volatile organic compounds); gas stoves and poorly vented gas appliances contribute carbon monoxide to the stew. There are two ways to clear the air and breathe easier: use products that are less toxic, and change your ventilation system.
- Use building materials like plywood in place of OSB to reduce formaldehyde buildup. Some carpets are not only made from recycled nylon, but also boast no VOCs. Natural floor adhesives, paints and finishes also offer zero emissions.
- Use a dedicated air supply for furnaces and water heaters to prevent gases from back-drafting into the house.
- Install a heat recovery ventilator (HRV) system to bring fresh outside air into living spaces while exhausting air from bathrooms, kitchens and laundry rooms.
Green Building Block #7 - Green Products
We've already shown how using green products can make a difference to the environment and your health. With more and more eco-friendly products to choose from, let's sort out the various types and shades of green on display.
- Products made from recycled materials: concrete made from fly ash (a waste product of coal power plants), carpet made from recycled nylon (and recyclable after its life), synthetic stone counter tops made from recycled paper, glass and cement.
- Reused building materials: salvaged timbers, lumber, brick and stone.
- Products from sustainable resources: cork flooring from the cork oak tree (also durable, sound and heat insulating and hypoallergenic); bamboo flooring from fast growing bamboo.
- Energy-efficient products: solar panels, Energy Star appliances, home automation systems, CFL and LED lights.
- Non-toxic products (both in their manufacture and use in the home): low odor paints and finishes, carpets and plywood.
With this primer in hand, you now know the difference between a CFL and a VOC. As you can see, the most critical choices for a green home are made when you first sit down at the drafting table. Your dream home will be energy efficient, durable and safe if you design it using all seven green building blocks. Your friends might turn green with envy.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com
O ne intrinsic quality of human beings is to make our possessions an extension of who we are. This is often realized in the type of car we own, or where we live. Our possessions become a symbol of status and achievement. When it comes to the homes in which we reside, size and location alone are not enough to complete this extended representation of ourselves.
There is no better tool than your home to be utilized as an outward expression of who you are or what you hope to convey to others. Whether your home is used for casual entertainment, or your personal slice of heaven, there are some key factors that must be adhered to when crafting your homes décor into a work of art.
To begin sculpting your home environment, first start with the end in mind. You need to conceptualize your ideal space, and identify your style. This first step can be completed by simply composing a scrapbook of things you like. These items can consist of personal photos, images from magazines (furnishings, fabric, fashion & lifestyle images), and color samples. Gathering these images and samples will aid in painting a broader picture of what appeals to you most.
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Y our Bedroom interior design is crucial because the bedroom is the inner sanctum sanctorum of any house. A bedroom is the place you go to relax and just unwind after a long and sometimes stressful day.
Therefore, it is important then that the bedroom is designed to fulfill your needs. Not only does this room need to look good to the eyes but also must be soothing to the soul.
A bedroom design can be a challenging task because not only is the bedroom a very romantic place but in this age where stress takes its toll on many, a good night's sleep is an increasingly rare commodity.
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