Posted by woodrow ~ February 8th, 2010
I spent many childhood hours trying to see through the haze of Los Angeles evenings with a small-powered telescope, and still caught Jupiter and her moons in the crosshairs. I even took astronomy courses in college, until the math caught up with me. In my dream house, I’m converting the attic into a workshop with a skylight for the summer, and a stellar room for observing the Milky Way in the months of dark skies.
Technically, you just need a converted attic with a skylight or two and a beginner’s telescope to tour the heavens in comfort. Call in a licensed contractor with skylight and roofing experience to ensure that the skylights are tight and your roof sealed from damaging elements. But if your structure isn’t up to snuff, Repair Home reports that you may need additional funds to add a stairwell, dormers, and electrical conduits to complete an attic conversion.
Custom home skylights may further your quest of the heavens. You might want to add a heater, fan, and ventilation. And getting a good set of lights on a dimmer can help your eyes adjust to sudden darkness.
Skylight Considerations for the Converted Attic
Consult with the local college astronomy department to determine the best alignment for your skylight. You’ll also need to consider roof thickness when planning skylights. Some people prefer creating trapezoidal-shaped shafts to bring more light in to the bottom. One thing you don’t want to do is have the skylight cut through trusses or the ridge of the roof. Plan carefully to install them between structural members.
Steiner Solar
Whenever cutting through rafters for installing the skylight, be sure to add temporary supports with two-by-fours. Your contractor should use roofing cement outside the flange and attach new shingles around the perimeter of the skylight. If you plan on doing the attic conversion on your own, be sure to arrange for required building permits and inspections, depending on your community.
Of course, in summer months I’d prefer to sit outside, away from city light, at altitude. But that takes a sweater, good mosquito repellent, and good planning with a star guide. There are plenty of online guides, too, which you could access with a computer sitting on your attic desk. Stargazing can be budget friendly after you complete your stellar attic.
There are two potential pluses in converting space for stargazing: You can get your kids away from the television or cell phone for a while, and your home value could rise as certain as the evening star.
Tags: attic, conversion, roof shingles, skylight
Posted in General Remodeling, Remodeling, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Posted by woodrow ~ February 5th, 2010
Are you considering a one-coat only paint job for the interior of your home? One-coat hiding paint is a relatively quick way of completing a Do-it-yourself interior paint job. But be sure that when you choose a brand and hue, the manufacturer’s label clearly states that it’s a one-coat hiding paint. Typically, brands of this kind of paint have a higher percentage of titanium dioxide listed in the mix of ingredients than multiple-coat paints.
Remember, not all one-coat hiding paints are created equal. According to Consumer Reports, brands vary by what they claim is complete coverage. Certainly you want more than one application for decorative paints and accents.
Paint Colors to Tempt the Palate
This brings me to the hottest-trending interior paint colors that are expected to blossom into vogue this year. The list was compiled by the Virginia non-profit Color Marketing Group (CMG). CMG says that its forecasts are more like “directions” rather than precise directives for contractors, designers, or do-it-yourselfers. The hottest new color, according to the CMG is called “Mardi Grape.” The hue was chosen by hundreds of designers and color professionals as the emerging star, with purple tones trending toward grays and browns that make the tone acceptable as a “neutral color.”
Color Marketing Group
Last month I blogged that more neutral kitchen colors would lead the way for 2010, and now the CMG says that neutral colors will be the “lead performers” acting like “chameleon” tones that gradually shift to match the overall plan from room to room.
Other popular colors, CMG predicts, include red, to add energy as an accent to base colors; orange, to spotlight differences from a neutral gray background; yellow, with gray and green mixes to lend a natural appearance; green, shifting toward the blue end of the palate as an accent color; beige-brown, used in metallic or metal tones to offset dark colors; and gray, with a hint of purple to represent natural elements of the earth.
Sherwin Williams has announced a palate of simple tones for the home, with colors that have names like “Serious Gray,” “Whitetail,” “Moderate White,” “Magnetic Gray,” “Butter Up,” and “Enigma.” Echoing the tends I’ve been reading about, the paint company says its colors are “calm, subtle and nuanced, with undertones that shift according to their surroundings, for easy versatility.”
2010 must be the time to peace out, everyone!
Tags: colors, hiding paint, hues, interior, kitchen, one coat
Posted in General Remodeling, Home Maintenance, Kitchens, Painting, Remodeling, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Posted by woodrow ~ February 3rd, 2010
Earlier this week, I reported on the latest kitchen design trends for 2010 cited by The National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA). Now it’s time to have a closer look at the bathroom remodeling trends that the NKBA listed for the New Year.
The trends were collected through interviews with residential designers and interior decorators. And, according to the NKBA, you can expect some flashbacks to yesteryear designs to lead the way in projects on new or remodeled bathrooms. The four new trends include:
In with the Old, Out with the New
That means contemporary bathroom designs may take a back seat to the traditional styles, with Shaker designs coming in again with a roar. Colors are anticipated to center around beige and bone, with shades of white and quiet colors.
Ceramic and Granite
Save the hardwood flooring for your kitchen renovations. For bathroom floors, the style of the year will feature tile work and complementary granite, quartz, and marble countertops.
Simple Bathroom Fixtures
Along with the flooring trend toward light colored tile, fixtures will follow suit in whites and off-white hues. Under-mount sinks will lead the way in décor, with drop-in sinks, integrated sink tops and countertops, and pedestal sinks bringing up the rear.
A Nickel for Every Finish
When it comes to fixtures, bathroom faucet finishes will look a lot like those that lead the kitchen trends for 2010: brushed nickel and polished chrome leading the parade. Satin nickel, popular in 2009, will remain a top choice this year. Bronze and stainless steel will finish the line of popular choices. Polished chrome rose to prominence last year, supplanting oil-rubbed bronze choices that had been popular for years.
Given these selections by the NKBA, which trends look like smart choices for your home?
Tags: bath, bathroom, design, floors, Remodeling, sinks, trends
Posted in Bathrooms, General Remodeling, Remodeling, Uncategorized | 1 Comment »
Posted by woodrow ~ February 1st, 2010
It’s hard to keep track of new legislation that affects home building and remodeling across the 50 states. Too often homeowners and re-modelers get going on a project that requires a local permit and suddenly discover they have to lay out additional money to meet building codes. I know people who have had to rip out improvements and start over when they neglected to observe the law. If you’ve ever had a surprise visit from a building inspector–-sent your way by a neighbor’s complaint–you won’t want a repeat experience!
One of the most sweeping new federal laws that impact contractors in all states goes into effect the first of April 2010. The regulations, established by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), require that contractors, renovation builders, or home maintenance personnel undergo certification training for maintaining a lead-free painting environment when working on dwellings, schools, or child care centers built prior to 1978.
Keetsa.com
Lead Paint Laws Protect Children
“The Lead: Renovation, Repair and Painting Program” impacts any renovation work done on some 38 million homes in the country that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development estimates still have lead-based paint. We have advice here at Reliable Remodeler for anyone who wants to do a lead paint test. Test results, unfortunately, are not perfect. It’s a good idea to round up the history of your home if it was built prior to 1978 and have your kids tested by your physician.
According to the EPA, all work done on pre-1978 dwellings and schools performed by contractors–anywhere that children are present–must be done under standards that prevent the dispersal of lead from dust or paint chips from sanding or painting preparation from being released into the environment. Property owners are advised to download the EPA’s lead hazard information pamphlet.
If you own property that still has lead-based paint and plan on doing the renovation yourself, the EPA recommends that you take a training class (available in all states), even though the regulations apply only if you are working on someone else’s property. You can also call the National Lead Information Center at 1-800-424-LEAD (5323).
Again, if you’re doing the work yourself, knowing the guidelines can protect you and your children. And doing thorough painting prep work ahead of the project can spare you plenty of trouble by containing the job and keeping the workspace clean. Be safe out there!
Tags: contractor, laws, lead, paint, Painting, preparation, Remodeling
Posted in General Remodeling, Painting, Remodeling | 4 Comments »
Posted by woodrow ~ January 29th, 2010
It didn’t take long after New Year’s Day for prognosticators to begin announcing home remodeling trends for 2010. I had already blogged about early proclamations for 2010 remodeling trends a few weeks ago. But now, in the afterglow of January’s International Builder Show in Las Vegas, bloggers and other media writers are set to pick the trends for kitchens.
According to Ilyce Glink at Moneywatch, we all should hold out hope that homeowners can put together a sufficient budget to do “gut remodeling” projects this year. Her column, picked up the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA), announced styles for 2010.
B-NET
Kitchen Remodeling Trends for 2010
The NKBA (outside) surveyed designers to choose the following trends for kitchen projects in 2010:
- “Traditional is Contemporary.” The Shaker style kitchen with whites, off-whites, and brown earthy hues will be in vogue.
- “Cherry on Top.” Consumers will put their money where their cherry-wood is when it comes to cabinets.
- “Floored by Tile.” Natural stone, ceramic, and porcelain will be the flooring of choice, while granite and quartz headline the counter-top choices.
- “Flexible Faucets.” Brushed nickel will still be the material of choice for faucets, and more and more homeowners will add pull-out faucets and pot-filler faucets.
- “Under-counter Refrigeration.” Although side-by-side fridge and freezer combos will stay popular; look for under-counter refrigerator drawers or wine refrigerators.
- “A Range of Cooking Options.” Gas-powered, wall oven/cook-top combos will be the ticket, but watch for a rise in popularity for induction.
- “Dishwasher-in-a-Drawer.” Energy-saving drawer-model dishwashers will find their way into the greening trend.
Traditional Kitchens Withstand Fads
Despite the trends, Orlando’s WFTV reports that traditional, large kitchens are here to stay. Designs that incorporate small food prep or quick serving areas with larger dining room areas are one way to have your cake and serve it to a large group, too. Large, farmhouse sinks will help speed prep and cleanup.
White cabinet colors will still ride the popularity wave, according to the report, but bright or warm finishes will provide accents. And, expect cabinets to rise, rather than spread out. Pedestal cabinets can offer storage, while still accenting the décor.
One way to keep kitchen space simple and useful will be to employ utility drawers and segmented shelving where pop-out cutting surfaces, wine racks, and tool and spice storage are located right where the chef needs them. In short, even if you prefer a traditional kitchen design, you can customize it for contemporary cooking and serving.
Tags: 2010, cabinet, colors, faucets, floors, kitchen, Remodeling, trends
Posted in General Remodeling, Kitchens, Remodeling, Uncategorized | 7 Comments »
Posted by woodrow ~ January 26th, 2010
The National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) estimates that 200,000 people are injured each year by bathroom falls, slips in the shower, or scalding. The NKBA suggests some straightforward guidelines that are easy for us all to follow. You may have to spend some money upgrading sections of the bathroom, but aren’t family members and visitors worth the extra care?
The NKBA suggests removing all steps that lead up to showers or bathtubs, installing platforms instead where bathers can sit before entering the tub or dry off after. If you can, add grab bars and benches in shower stalls to help prevent falls.
Wherever there is water, there’s the chance for a nasty spill. Hence, use slip-resistant flooring and install sure-grip latex matting outside the bath or stall. If you’re installing new tubs or showers, be sure the water knobs are accessible from outside the tub or shower so bathers don’t have to lean into a scalding stream to adjust the temperature. And, certainly, keep all electrical outlets a safe distance from water, employing ground-fault circuit interrupters to cut off current when they detect water.
Prepare Bathrooms for the Elderly
The University of Missouri Extension reports that grab bars, poles, u-bars, portable seats, and transfer benches can make all the difference when it comes to preventing injuries to the elderly or infirm. Angled bars that connect to two walls can provide adequate support when older people need to rise from tubs or benches in the shower. Movable, adjustable seats can help those who cannot stand for long periods at a time.
If you do install seats or chairs, be sure that the legs have non-slip rubber caps to prevent skidding and possible falls. Many of these measures are not very expensive when compared to the potential cost of medical treatment or hospitalization from falls or burns.
You can even employ some of these safety measures in half-baths or guest bathrooms. Finally, you may be able to handle most of these fixes on your own, but don’t try anything that’s out of your range of abilities. Instead, call a bathroom contractor.
Tags: baths, bathtubs, half baths, safety, showers, tubs
Posted in Bathrooms, General Remodeling, Remodeling, Uncategorized | 2 Comments »
