Reliable Remodeler Blog » contractor

Nail gun safety for homeowner-remodelers

woodrow — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 19:15:32 +0000

The most-famous motto for all contractors and DIY handymen/women is “measure twice, cut once”. I’d prefer to move the phrase, “work safe, work smart” to the top of the slogan list. A report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) cites 37,000 emergency room visits a year to treat catastrophic injuries caused by nail [...]

Nail gun safety for homeowner-remodelers is brought to you by the home remodeling pros at Reliable Remodeler. Get more of your questions answered at Ask the Contractor.

Last chance for tax rebates on energy efficient home improvements

woodrow — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 23:11:06 +0000

Homeowners have until December 31 to buy materials and install energy efficient home improvements under the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010. Provisions of the bill, an extension of previous tax credits, mandate that you buy only ENERGY STAR-compliant biomass stoves, heat and air conditioning units, insulation, roofing, water heaters, [...]

Last chance for tax rebates on energy efficient home improvements is brought to you by the home remodeling pros at Reliable Remodeler. Get more of your questions answered at Ask the Contractor.

Winterizing for everyone: Insulation tips

woodrow — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 23:10:22 +0000

Come winter, consumers and homeowners have questions about the kind of insulation that works best in their homes. Of course, the answer varies based on your location, existing insulation, how much space you have to insulate and whether the area to insulate is accessible (for hand installation) or inaccessible (requiring spray-on products). Before you even begin, [...]

Winterizing for everyone: Insulation tips is brought to you by the home remodeling pros at Reliable Remodeler. Get more of your questions answered at Ask the Contractor.

Assemble a fall chore list now

woodrow — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 16:49:20 +0000

It’s not too early to put together a priority list for home improvements or landscaping chores you need to get done before fall and winter. The stressed housing market means many contractors are offering low bids just to get work. Assemble a menu of tasks according to what you can do yourself and by jobs [...]

Assemble a fall chore list now is brought to you by the home remodeling pros at Reliable Remodeler. Get more of your questions answered at Ask the Contractor.

Put mold eradication on your fall home improvement list

woodrow — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 16:49:46 +0000

Get the mold out of your house now before winter comes barreling into your neck of the woods. Mold clean-up and eradication is best conducted while you can still open doors and windows to ventilate and dry your home. My house in the Pacific Northwest sits under unbroken clouds and persistent rainfall for months after [...]

Put mold eradication on your fall home improvement list is brought to you by the home remodeling pros at Reliable Remodeler. Get more of your questions answered at Ask the Contractor.

Tool review: The Saw Stop airbag for fingers

woodrow — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 22:11:19 +0000

When remodeling, you shouldn’t have to change the structure of your hand. Perhaps by now you’ve seen the video of a whirring cabinet saw stopping just before it slices through a hot dog. I’m not kidding. Makers of the Saw Stop line of hobbyist, woodworking and industrial grade saws use a frankfurter as the crash [...]

Tool review: The Saw Stop airbag for fingers is brought to you by the home remodeling pros at Reliable Remodeler. Get more of your questions answered at Ask the Contractor.

Protect your health while remodeling

woodrow — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 19:29:39 +0000

It’s a known fact that people who work in green buildings have greater productivity and less absenteeism. The Green Building Advisor reports nearly a 50 percent increase in on-the-job time and productivity in buildings designed to cut the worker’s exposure to allergens. So, why shouldn’t home improvement enthusiasts consider taking green measures when they embark [...]

Protect your health while remodeling is brought to you by the home remodeling pros at Reliable Remodeler. Get more of your questions answered at Ask the Contractor.

Accessible design: bathroom improvements for seniors

woodrow — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 22:47:58 +0000

Nearly 80 million so-called Baby Boomers are 65 years or older. Rather than spend upwards of $60,000 a year to live in a nursing facility, many prefer to modify their homes and “age in place.” That may mean spending from $9,000 to as much as $80,000 to modify their entries, kitchens and, especially, home bathrooms. Elizabeth [...]

Accessible design: bathroom improvements for seniors is brought to you by the home remodeling pros at Reliable Remodeler. Get more of your questions answered at Ask the Contractor.

Vinyl siding options: chat with Bob Vila

woodrow — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 20:39:53 +0000

Discussing vinyl siding is a lot like bringing up politics or religion at a family gathering. You’re sure to get an earful of conflicting opinions. I’ll say this: if vinyl siding isn’t in your home improvement conversation, it ought to be. The material has become the first choice among an estimated 32 percent of the [...]

Vinyl siding options: chat with Bob Vila is brought to you by the home remodeling pros at Reliable Remodeler. Get more of your questions answered at Ask the Contractor.

Beware: Mold is not limited to bathroom environments

woodrow — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 09:00:24 +0000

Most homeowners believe that the worst household mold originates in the bathroom. Truth is, mold is all around us in the home. Spores travel through the heating and cooling system and your vents. They enter on a fall day when a breeze stirs them up from a pile of rotting leaves or cut grass. Once [...]

Beware: Mold is not limited to bathroom environments is brought to you by the home remodeling pros at Reliable Remodeler. Get more of your questions answered at Ask the Contractor.

Remodeling trends for 2011

woodrow — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 09:40:13 +0000

Are you wondering what remodeling trends will rise to the top of the pack this year? So did the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) when it polled member builders and contractors that belong to its 58 chapters nationwide. Remember, as you look over the results, that they may be colored by the kinds [...]

Remodeling trends for 2011 is brought to you by the home remodeling pros at Reliable Remodeler. Get more of your questions answered at Ask the Contractor.

Home improvement projects to avoid…for now

woodrow — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 23:12:49 +0000

Should you consider making home improvements now? “No” is not the right answer. “None that cost more than they’re worth” is closer to the truth. Making wise choices, seeking competitive bids from hard-hit contractors and tackling projects that make sense in light of the economy may be a solid decision in light of today’s circumstances. Recently I [...]

Home improvement projects to avoid…for now is brought to you by the home remodeling pros at Reliable Remodeler. Get more of your questions answered at Ask the Contractor.

Buying the right tool for the job

woodrow — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 04:59:16 +0000

Everyone has heard the old cliché about having the right tool for the job. But the best tool for any home improvement or home repair project is ultimately only as good for the job as the person handling the work. Hand and power tools are generally sold in one of four grades: cheap, homeowner, serious [...]

Buying the right tool for the job is brought to you by the home remodeling pros at Reliable Remodeler. Get more of your questions answered at Ask the Contractor.

Removing paint stains after the fact

woodrow — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 23:03:46 +0000

No matter how careful you are when painting the interior or exterior of your home, stains happen. The better contractor knows how to dab up spills immediately and remove all traces of the accident. But what about stains that escape your attention when you’re painting as a do-it-yourselfer? Once the stain is set and dry, [...]

Removing paint stains after the fact is brought to you by the home remodeling pros at Reliable Remodeler. Get more of your questions answered at Ask the Contractor.

Slate tile for your kitchen

woodrow — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 21:37:03 +0000

The natural stone of slate tiles for your kitchen floors, backsplashes or countertops, has retained its popularity with homeowners for its durability and warm appearance. Slate flooring is naturally resistant to slipping and DIYers appreciate the look and feel of the product. When used with a dedicated slate sealant, the tiling is easy to maintain [...]

Slate tile for your kitchen is brought to you by the home remodeling pros at Reliable Remodeler. Get more of your questions answered at Ask the Contractor.