Category: Home Improvement
Posted by - June 7, 2011 - Home Improvement
This article will discuss about the pros and cons of both vinyl siding and fiber cement. Vinyl siding comes in wide range of colors and sizes. It has twelve foot sections, which are snapped together by nailing strip and a rigid lip to allow increased weather protection. Fiber cement is made from powdered cement with cellulose fiber. Both of these sidings are suitable for different homeowners in different circumstances.
First of all, plastic siding is lighter and cheaper than fiber cement. The cheaper price is results of the inexpensive materials and less labor involved during the installment of vinyl siding. However, manufacturers of fiber cement claims that the higher cost at the beginning is worthwhile because of the low maintaining cost.
Vinyl siding also requires less maintenance than fiber cement. For vinyl siding, you just have to wash it occasionally and have a more thorough wash once a year. For fiber cement, you need to renew the caulking around the windows or doors in addition to the washing. This is because the covering is not that durable compared to fiber cement.
Other than that, vinyl siding is also easier to install compared to fiber cement. So, the former is suitable for DIY home owners. In contrast, fiber cement requires accurate cutting to ensure that it is installed firmly to the boxing, which is best done by skilled professionals.
However, fiber cement can be more resistant to crack compared to vinyl siding. This is because vinyl siding may be vulnerable to extreme temperatures. When vinyl siding melts, there may be hot toxic vapors releases from it. Having said that, the new technology has reduces this problem.
Besides, fiber cement can be painted with any color whereas vinyl cement comes in baked-in color. House owners can chose from a wide range of colors for vinyl siding while you can choose your paint color for fiber cement. One of the cons of baked-in color is the hassle of finding a color match if you want to replace some of the panel. Fiber cement gives you the option of repainting.
Posted by - May 25, 2011 - Home Improvement
Do you have any idea why installing bay windows is so tough? What you need to know is that installing a bay window is not just a one person job simply because of the size and difficulty of the install – it’s for this reason alone that you should always hire a professional window installer rather than trying to do it yourself. What most people think is that the bay window can just be nailed to the frame but what they don’t understand is that bay window is so heavy that normally it takes a couple people just holding it into place for another individual to stand there and secure it to the house.
One of the toughest parts about installing a bay window is the fact that you don’t always have the help you need. For instance when my wife and I wanted to install a bay window in our den we decided that I would hold the window and she would secure it to the house, this did not work. The reason this didn’t work was not because we didn’t know what we were doing, it was because the window was to heavy, parts of the securing process needed more than 1 person, and almost ever bay window is going to need some customization in order to make it fit perfectly right. As you can see, we just needed some more people to help us out even if they were just there running and getting things or even if they were holding the window.
When it comes to installing a bay window it is probably best to let the professionals handle that aspect of it so that you don’t get hurt and your window gets installed properly. What most people don’t realize is the installation process can sometimes be as expensive as the window but that is all the more reason to buy the window from a window company so that they will come out and install the window unit themselves for a fraction of the cost. Remember this because far too many people think that they can save money by doing the installation process themselves just to find out that they are going to have to hire a window installer at some point so they might as well have done that first.
Posted by - April 26, 2011 - Home Improvement, Real Estate
It’s hard to find good help and especially if your planning to market your home or you have just purchased one that needs some updating. Complaints about home improvement contractors rank high on consumer agency lists. Here we’ll offer some do’s and don’t for home buyers and sellers when planning to hire an outside contractor to repair or renovate their home.
Do’s
-Verify their insurance. Ask to see copies of liability insurance and amounts before signing a contract.
-Ask for references. Request a list of references from past and current clients. Call and discuss with them the pluses and minus’ of the contractor. Take the time to visit homes where work was done, check for timeliness and attention to detail on work sites.
-Request information on suppliers and subcontractors. Contractors are only as good as their support system. Vendors and subcontractors can share insight into the business practices of your potential contractor.
-Check with local Better Business Bureaus and with local building and planning officials. Most likely you’ll need building permits and certificates of occupancy from the local office that regulates renovation and building. These officials should be familiar with you contractor and their work.
-Get at least 3 estimates. We used a service last year called RoofCleaners.com for roof cleaning our house to get a few estimates. You will be surprised at how different the costs can be for the same work. Have plans and specifications in writing to deliver to contractors who bid on work. A flat fee for a project is more cost effective than time and materials. Detail materials, paint colors by brand, appliance make and model and warranties.
-Draft a complete contract. Make sure it lays out who is doing what, when it should be done by and what happens if it is not done to your satisfaction. Include payment schedules and how changes to plans will affect costs and the contract. Options should be listed separate from the main contract.
-Address refusal to complete work. It’s not likely that your contractor will refuse to complete work or abandon the project, but it pays to include a course of action if these situations arise in any contract.
-On occasion provide food treats and beverages. On hot and humid summer days or below freezing winter ones, make the effort to provide chilled bottled water, steaming coffee and a quick pick-me-up to contractors.
-Be appreciative verbally. After a rough or long day at your home, I have found it always pays to let contractors know that you appreciate their extra efforts. Staying late to complete the plumbing to get a toilet running or leaving the job site broom clean without asking is worth a hearty thank-you.
Dont’s
-Ignore making scheduled payments on time. A sure bet to get slow follow-through from contractors. If the contractor is performing as stated in the contract, so should you.
-Forget patience. Delays by cabinet or door manufactures can be out of the contractors control. Don’t be afraid to double-check though if they have been ordered to meet job lead times.
-Make the contractor guess what you want. Start a clip file before you have a contractor over to review job. Pick up some home magazines and tear out colors, finishes, appliances and overall looks for a room that you like. Develop a list of dislikes, anything helps to eliminate and communicate your thoughts.
-Be cheap. Good work costs sometimes comes at a higher price. And buyers know chintzy materials and craftsmanship. Don’t nickel and dime your contractor, and pay for all change orders you request.
-Be unavailable for contractor questions. There are always a couple of items that sneak past the drawings and specifications or surprises that you run into in an older home. Make al your contact information to your contractor so if they need to reach you to make a decision that if you don’t could hold the job up.
-Forget that we don’t live in a perfect world. It’s difficult to have strangers in our homes and even more so when the inconvenience of a remodeling job interrupts our personal refuge. Contractors like to complete work in a timely manner, but they don’t control all the remodeling moons to align them perfectly on every project.
Posted by - April 25, 2011 - Home Improvement, Real Estate
Sellers get today’s market with pricing and longer market times, but understanding that the priced-right home needs to have an up-to-date appeal to home buyers can be a daunting next level. After years of hearing from successful sellers that they didn’t have to do a thing, sellers need some rehabilitation to understand how they can stand out from their competition with rising inventories. Many sellers are open to a overhaul if the tips come from someone other than their agents mouth. Here is a handy list to help convince sellers that some features in their home might need some attention.
-Test all door and cabinet knobs. Replace mis-matched or inexpensive hardware for a quick update. Buyers rarely can get beyond a knob that comes off in their hand as they attempt to use a door.
-Take the time to paint walls, trim and ceilings. Keep adjoining rooms in the same color palette which will make your home appear larger and flow better. Clean up spills from messy painters. Hire professionals to paint mullions on windows and staircase spindles.
–Slipcover mismatched furniture in a room that requires visual unification.
-Discover ways to organize day-to-day room needs. Substantial wicker baskets or square stainless steel or brass can organize magazines, remote controls and toys. Books provide a good look, but vary them by laying some down and standing some up.
-Wallpaper is considered fill-in-the-blank decorating. No two people have the same taste in this instant decorator wannabe. If it’s more than three years old, take it down and paint in a neutral color. And wallpaper boarders are out.
-Simple furniture rearrangement can bring new life to a tired space. Float sofas and coffee tables away from walls for a designer look. Use area rugs to anchor furniture groupings on bare tile and wood floors. Place groupings of candles and clear glass bowls filled with natural potpourri, fresh fruit or glass crystals on side and coffee tables.
-Make sure there is balanced lighting in every room for dusk and evening showings. Dimmers help set the right tone.
-Polish and wax hardwood floors to brighten and blend an old finish.
-Clean every surface until it shimmers and shines. Clean can seal a deal. Don’t forget the windows.
-Purchase the best quality carpet pad which can make any new carpeting “cushy”, and home buyers love cushy. Stay away from shag styles, buyers know it won’t be around long in style cycles.
-Streamline window fashions. Heavy drapes are in the minority. Think “let the light shine in” when placing placing blinds and shades. Light and bright can overcome other issues with home.
-Freshen-up closets with closet organizers to maximize storage space and paint a neutral washable color. Make sure buyers can see the back of all closets and cupboards. Lighting is often overlooked feature in closets, but buyers will always turn on lights when viewing a closet, big or small. Thinning closets, cabinets, basements, attics and garages will also help your storage spaces look larger. If you can’t part with items, rent a storage locker to hold items for decision making later.
-Don’t forget the basement, dark, dirty and musty basements are a turn-off to buyers. Add extra lighting, paint the floor and vacuum out all the cobwebs. Organize storage areas and take the time to clean the washing machine and dryer. To spruce up the hot water heater and furnace, wipe down with a strong cleaner. Scrub the laundry tub and sweep left-over leaves out of exterior stairs and window wells. Run a dehumidifier to reduce basement moisture.
-Take a good look from the street or road at the front of your home. Look for shrubs that are over grown or dead and remove and replace with shrubs that are to scale to your home. Small inexpensive bushes send the wrong message.
-Limit yard ornaments to a favored few. Excess ornaments can make yards look busy and buyers might want them included in a purchase contract.
-Paint and refresh yard lights, flagpoles, mailboxes, window boxes, fences and trellis. Don’t forget the swing set or play equipment.
-Replace broken bricks on terraces, cracked concrete patios and steps. Eliminate trips and falls on property showings.
-Restore screens on porches and lanai’s. Dirty, rusty and ripped screens limit functionality to homebuyers.
-Don’t leave pets unattended for property showings especially when you know they can be aggressive or territorial around strangers.
-Have carpets and area rugs cleaned before showing your home to potential buyers. Those allergic to animal dander and hair, even if they can’t see your pet will know when their eyes and nose start to alert them to an allergic reaction. Many will not purchase a home that poses strong allergy problems.
-Pick up dog droppings in the yard. Buyers out to take a look at the roof don’t want any “take away”.
-A barking dog or overly friendly cats can kill a showing. Be pro-active and take your pets off site for showings. Hire a dog walker to occupy pets if you can’t be home.