Archive for November 25th, 2009

Getting Your Ducts in a Row

Is it absolutely necessary to have your heating ducts cleaned every year? Experts seem divided on the issue. Home improvement expert Bob Villa says it’s not necessarily so. He claims a great many people have them cleaned when there are no obstructions or growth in them. Villa says the time to have someone in to [...]

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New Lead Paint Laws for 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 perso

Interviewing Contractors: Know the Right Questions to Ask

Hiring a contractor is overwhelming, but if you know the questions to ask, you’ll be sure to get all the information you need when interviewing a contractor to be able to hire the right person for the job. We always recommend getting more than one estimate for a project. So, with each contractor you meet, you’ll want to ask the same questions so that you can get the most accurate, comparable impressions and estimates from each person you meet with. Here is a list of questions we recommend asking: 1. Do you have up-to-date licenses and registration with the state? 2. Do you have copies of these documents to show me? 3. Do you have proper insurance and bonding?       a. They should have liability insurance, as well as worker’s compensation insurance. 4. Have you worked on

Radiant Floors for Your Kitchen and Bath

As I grow older, my feet get colder. Every winter I wish I had radiant floors. I first encountered a radiant floor kitchen in Washington State where friends had rehabbed a Victorian home. They used a hydronic tubing heating system, which is usually too pricey for most homeowners. It can cost more than putting in an entirely new boiler and forced air system. But the floor was toasty and muffled the shock of walking across the floor to make morning coffee. Today, you can install an electric radiant floor heating system for your kitchen or bathroom floor for under $500--depending on square footage. I discovered two kinds of electric radiant heating systems with a wide range in costs for materials and labor. Both have gained in popularity over the last decade. Some systems consist of cables

Remodeling Design Software Can Lend You a Hand

Looking to get computer-assisted help in designing your home improvement plan? Not everyone can afford an off-the-shelf software solution that runs into the hundreds.  And some of the inexpensive remodeling sketch programs you find in the cheap bins at the office supply store have adequate functions to satisfy your needs. To that end, here’s a brief review of some of the products you can buy online to get the job done. I don't endorse any of them but hope the links can get you started. For starters, there’s Design Workshop Lite, a graphics program that works on PC and Apple platforms. The company offers free online tutorials, too, including one to design an entire house. The software is free, but you can purchase a CD rom with tutorials and 3D models with textures and shapes for $19.

What to Do About Radon

In thinking about internal pollutants and dangers in the home for an earlier blog this week, I thought you Do It Yourselfers might benefit from a talk about radon. There are a great many false notions about this toxic gas and whether you need your home inspected. So I went straight to the source: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). According to the EPA one out of 15 homes has elevated radon levels. The real culprit in radon home pollution is radioactive gasses in the soil beneath your home. Radon is released in gas, which filters up through the soil and sifts through gaps and cracks in the building materials, through walls and floors, between spaces in pipes and conduit, or cracks in your walls. Occasionally radon can enter your home through the water supply. Radon’s principal

What the Stimulus Means for Homeowners (or soon to be homeowners)

The stimulus bill has finally passed and with a trillions of dollars in the mix you’re probably wondering what parts will help you. Here’s a short review of how homeowners can benefit from the new bill. We’ve been talking a lot about tax credits for homeowners wanting to make energy efficiency improvements to their home. It’s a sweet deal to have the government pay you to update your home, but the deal has just gotten a little bit sweeter. Before, most improvements, such as new Energy Star windows installed in your home, were eligible for a tax credit of 10% of the project up to $500. With the new bill, these projects are now eligible for 30% of the project up to $1500. That’s triple what it was! For most homeowners, $500 wouldn't cover much of an installation, but $1500 can m

My Backyard Design Options for Raised Flower Beds

One day, after studying the ugliness of my backyard, I decided that I was going to have to do something about it. Normally, the average person would think about what they would want to do with their backyard, research their options, and then do it. What did I do? I tore up my entire backyard, that day. I did not even stop to think about the details, such as: cost, labor, materials, weather, etc… Now I am looking at a giant dirt mess. (Yes, that is my actual yard) (Photo courtesy of Angela Zander) Because I have never had a yard or let alone any living plant life that I was responsible for I am not sure why I thought I would be able to tackle something like this and have the know how of what to plant, when to plant, what to plant flowers in or how to build a wall for my elevated fl

Stimulus Plans: Time for New Windows and Doors?

I don’t always believe claims on returns on investment for home improvements. The fluctuating costs for materials and labor—let alone the continual development of better products—makes it all a moving target. But I’m thoroughly convinced that replacing your windows with energy efficient substitutes can make a difference in utility bills and curb appeal. Recently, I heard about tax credits for installing new energy-efficient windows, skylights, and doors as part of the stimulus plan. With contractors scrambling to make up for fewer customers in the current economy and the $1,500 tax credit for new windows, it could be the perfect time to upgrade your windows. You can read about the credit at the Efficient Windows website. Do An Energy Audit The Federal Government has a useful onlin

Expert Interview: Bathroom Remodeling with Jill Moskowitz of Bathroom Magic

We’ve covered kitchen remodeling, home lighting and historic homes, and now we’re moving on to bathroom remodeling with the guidance of another industry expert: Jill Moskowitz of Bathroom Magic.  A bathroom, next to kitchens, is often the most remolded room in a home. So, it’s likely that if you haven’t already done a bathroom remodel, you might actually be considering one at this very moment. Jill will offer her insight on starting your own remodel, including planning, making the most of your budget, and other tricks of her trade. Jill has been in the bathroom remodeling industry for 7 years, two of those years with her current position as a design consultant at New Jersey based Bathroom Magic.  Jill spends much of her time going to customer’s home to provide them with a free

What I've Learned from My Home Renovation: ThisYoungHouse.com

As the old saying goes: Hindsight is 20/20. Looking back it’s easy to see where things went wrong, or what you would have done differently. For a homeowner, having the helpful hindsight of others can be priceless, especially if you’re a new homeowner with big renovation plans on your mind.  To help you avoid having “woulda, shoulda, coulda” renovation moments, I’m working on compiling the insights and experiences of a number of my favorite bloggers who are working through their own renovations and remodels…and doing it successfully! Our first feature is from John and Sherry of ThisYoungHouse.com. This young couple is documenting the remodel of their home in Richmond, Virginia.  A modern, fresh and young take on home renovation this couple’s blog is a testament to th

Pricing Your Project: Understanding Your Project Quote

When you plan a major remodeling project, first things first: you have to hire a contractor. Of course, you’ll want to make sure that you are hiring the best person for the job. You’ll want to consider a contractor’s past work, your rapport with the person, and perhaps most importantly, the price they quote you. Many homeowners are baffled when it comes to looking at a quote. They see lots of numbers, and of course, the final price. No one wants to pay too much. One common cost on a quote that homeowners often grapple with is the contractor markup. This markup is the amount over cost that a contractor charges. It’s vital for contractors, since this is where they earn their profit, but what kind of markup is appropriate? The answer? The honest truth is that there is no industry st

Hiring a Contractor: A Homeowner’s Checklist

I’ve been working on some new resources for homeowners, and have been thinking about a basic checklist for homeowners to follow during the process. Contractor Hiring Process Checklist 1. Receive at least three estimates on your project 2. Ask each contractor the same questions, and give them the same project parameters to get the most accurate and comparable estimates 3. Verify professional licenses 4. Ask for and check references 5. Do a background check through the Better Business Bureau, or another agency. 6. Verify Insurance and Bonding 7. Make sure you are given a contract, and make sure all parties agree to and sign it. To me these are the essential parts of the hiring process for homeowners. Not doing these things can mean disastrous results and a frustrating process. Ever

Expert Interview: Green Building with Joel Fraley of Neil Kelly Co.

Seems that everywhere you look green building is the talk of the construction industry. While some contractors and companies just talk about it, others have dedicated years to learning about the industry and growing with it. The Neil Kelly Co. based in Portland, Oregon has been dedicated to the green movement for many years. Spearheading a green construction focus in the West, the company can claim to have built the first LEED certified building in the West.  Being a model for green excellence takes a dedicated team, and I’m lucky to be able to feature an interview from one of them, Joel Fraley. Joel is a great person to interview on this topic since he has both experience in the field and knowledge from being an active member in professional associations for the green building moveme

Home Insulation and Federal Tax Credits

The federal tax credit program for purchasing new insulation materials seems like a win-win proposition to me.  For starters, installing insulation that meets the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) Standards for 2009 means you can enjoy savings on your heating and air conditioning bills. Second, installing new insulation can increase your home value and, third, the tax credit applies to 30 percent of the cost of materials up to $1,500. In order to claim the tax credit, you have to complete the new installation between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2010. It applies only to your principal residence. You’re required to use the bulk insulation products that meet or exceed the insulation levels required for your geographic location in the United States. You can view the minimu


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