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General Article

Tips To Help You Decide Whether To Trade Up or Remodel Your Home

May 8, 2022 Comments Off on Tips To Help You Decide Whether To Trade Up or Remodel Your Home

With everything involved in moving, it may make more sense to remodel your current one than find a new house. The following tips can help you compare your options and make an informed choice.

Assess Your Neighborhood

Assessing where you live right now and how you feel about it is a great place to start when considering a move. If you really enjoy your neighbors, area schools and local amenities, you might want to think about a remodel instead of uprooting your family for a larger home. On the other hand, if the negatives outweigh the positives, then a move could be a great choice.

Make a Dream Home Wish List

The next step is to look at the features you would include in a dream home. Make a list of everything that you would absolutely love to see in your next house. It’s perfectly fine to add items that you may never get, the idea is to generate a list that helps you see where your housing priorities fall.

Identify Your Home’s Limitations

Once that is done, go through your own home. Identify any limitations it has, such as too few bathrooms, small bedrooms or a lack of outdoor play areas. It may be helpful to talk over your needs with a residential contractor Levittown PA to get a clear picture of what it would take to merge the two lists into something you are satisfied with.

Calculate The Real Cost of Moving

Finally, take time to calculate the real costs of moving. If you are staying local, this may not be overly high. However, a move across the state or country can get expensive. Consider prices for moving companies and supplies and be sure to ask utility companies about any required deposits.

Looking at your home’s shortcomings and what you would want in a dream house, determining the real cost of moving and assessing your neighborhood can help you decide between upgrading your home or moving to a new one.…

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Renovation Contractor

Tips For Purchasing A New Tub

May 7, 2022 Comments Off on Tips For Purchasing A New Tub

More and more people are remodeling their homes rather than buying new ones. That makes sense as you can get the home you want without investing in a shaky market. Of all the home improvement projects, remodeling the bathroom ranks near the very top of the list. For those who want to undertake a bathroom redesign effort, it is important to get a great tub or shower. Bath tubs come in many shapes and colors so that no matter what your taste or need, there is sure to be an outstanding choice available to you. So, let’s take a quick look at a few tips that will allow homeowners to get the perfect tub for their particular needs.
Out of all the criteria to consider such as size, design, material, and color, the size is the most important. If you don’t get one that fits comfortably in your bathroom and the space allocated for the tub, you will never be happy with your choice. Be sure to take very accurate measurements to ensure a good fit. A tub that consumes too much space and makes everything else seem cramped is going to make you regret your choice for many years.
The material used to manufacture the tub is next. Here the most common choices are fiberglass, acrylic, and porcelain. There are also tubs manufactured out of wood and also cast iron, but these are not really used often these days. Out of the possible choices, fiberglass is by far the most often selected since it is relatively inexpensive compared to the others and is easy to maintain. The other materials, in addition to the extra expense to purchase, require higher maintenance. But don’t just dismiss them, take time to look at the options and weigh the cost versus the benefits and get a tub that will last a lifetime at a price that is right for your budget.
While materials and size are important, most people will focus on the design and color when making their decision. The tub is the centerpiece of the bathroom so that is understandable. You want something that is practical but looks good. The good news is that you can get a tub in just about any color imaginable allowing you to match your other fixtures very nicely. Additionally, there are many shapes and designs to choose from, you can get tubs with jets and many other fancy features. Most tubs are the traditional rectangular shape but other shapes such as round, oval, square, or even heart shapes are available. When choosing unique shapes, it is critical to make sure that your measurements are properly taken.
After living in a home for a while, a bathroom remodel is one of the first alterations a homeowner will make with the choice of a tub being the most important decision in the project. There are many really stylish and practical options. Be sure to do your research on the different materials and features that fit your budget and you will make a great choice.…

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Room Additions

Reasons Why You Must Get Cellular Blinds

May 6, 2022 Comments Off on Reasons Why You Must Get Cellular Blinds

For more than thirty years, cellular blinds were used in most houses around the world. At the present, these kinds of blinds are gaining back their once booming popularity. Its rebirth is due to one simple reason – they are very beneficial to the house owner.
Before going to the advantages of these blinds, let us first discuss what these really are. Cellular blinds are also sometimes referred to as honeycomb shades. These kinds of blinds are made of cloth often glued or sewn to form a cell with diamond shape. These blinds are better than other blinds because of the reasons below.
These blinds are great in insulation. Their design allows trapping of air in its “honeycomb” cells. The air that is trapped helps in insulating the home and decreasing the heat the windows emit. With this capability, your house will have supply of heat during winter and will stay cool during summer. Because of this, you will be able to use less energy and save money from the cooling and heating expenses.
Another reason why cellular blinds are better is its variety of colors. Every house in the world is different and each room of the house is one of a kind. This type of blinds have different tints and hues that would fit in homes with bold colors, those with light colors and even homes with neutral colors. Because you have wide range of colors that you can choose from, you do not have to redecorate your house just to match with the blinds.
Installation of other kinds of blinds is difficult. However, cellular blinds are easy to install. They are created with the “do-it-yourself” installing concept. There are also a lot of videos online that can give step-by-step instructions on how these blinds can be installed. In installing cellular blinds, you will only need screwdriver, measuring tape, marking pencil and a drill.
Whatever your reason in searching for blinds is, whether it is due to having a new house, home improvement or redecorating, cellular blinds are the wisest and the attractive choice. By buying these, you can save money and time while making your house more charming and appealing.…

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Basement Remodeling

Dos and Don’ts of Bathroom Remodeling

May 5, 2022 Comments Off on Dos and Don’ts of Bathroom Remodeling

Do:
Budget your bathroom
Making a budget for your bathroom is essential. A good way to start the remodeling process is to make a list of all the components in your bathroom and research their prices. Next, decide what you’re willing to spend on each so you can effectively estimate the total cost of your bathroom. Allow for some unexpected costs in your budget as well so that there are no huge surprises when the job is complete.
Allow for ample ventilation and light
Abundant light and ventilation will make your remodeled bathroom feel fresh and new. You don’t want to walk into a space that you just spend thousands of dollars on and feel like it’s dark and dingy. A ceiling fixture is perfect for general lighting in a bathroom, but lights installed over the vanity will truly be a great addition to your space. This way there will be no shadows when you look in the mirror and the space will be bright and airy.
Ventilation is crucial because when there is static, moist air mold and mildew may make a home on finishes and painted surfaces. A bathroom fan is the best defense for this as well as a window with a screen so that air can flow in and out of your newly remodeled space.
Consider resale value
Trends are always coming in and going out so make sure to consider the possible homeowner that may purchase your home in the future. Spend money only where it is due to receive the biggest payback down the road. By covering the basics- paint, updated lighting, re-caulking, and old vanity replacement- you can surely make more than you spent
Don’t:
Rush the process
Expecting your bathroom remodel to be done tomorrow is unreasonable. To get the job done right the fist time, it’s important that everything takes the appropriate amount of time. Hire skilled contractors that will take their time and complete the job at an efficient pace. If things are done too quickly, small things can be overlooked and cost you in the end.
Planning your remodel weeks or even months ahead of time till help move things along because there is a plan being followed. Commit to a plan and don’t try to rush it.
Forget about storage
Bathroom storage is often overlooked because it is not something that comes to mind when the words “bathroom remodel” are said. Although this may be true, running from the shower to the hallway linen closet is not fun. A closet inside the bathroom is ideal, but even a small shelf or chest that houses your towels and essentials would do the trick. Also, make sure you have enough storage for all the various health-care and first-aid essentials in your bathroom.
Forget to factor in water usage
Homeowners looking to purchase your home in the future will definitely be looking for water-efficient fixtures in your bathroom. It’s easy to install a water saving showerhead or toilet. Do your research and make sure that it is affordable not only for the future, but also for you now. By purchasing water-efficient fixtures you could save on your monthly water and energy bills.…

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Home Repair

Replacing Flooring From The 1970s

May 4, 2022 Comments Off on Replacing Flooring From The 1970s

When it comes to new floors these days there are far many more options available to you than there were even just three decades ago. One example of this is laminate tiles, it is now in widespread use today, yet could not even have been dreamt of in the 70’s, when the main type of wooden flooring was parquet block flooring that was put down with bitumen. Indeed at this time even solid wooden planking to cover over floorboards was a long way off.
The problem was with this type of wooden block flooring is that it was put down to stay down with the bitumen making it virtually impossible to remove, certainly not without major damage.
Around the same time vinyl flooring was also very popular with changes to production methods meaning that a far wider range of colours and patterns became available, and thus vinyl flooring and tiles became far more popular, however again the problem was that it was put down with glue so strong that it is a mammoth task to remove, often taking far longer to remove the old vinyl than to put down the new floor.
Indeed in many older properties both these types of flooring are so time consuming to remove that they are often covered over with the new flooring be it carpet, laminate or another layer of vinyl.
However if you do want to remove the flooring you will ideally need to call in a specialist to remove it, as if you just prise up the older parquet wooden flooring then you will find that the surface of the floor is covered in irregularly shaped pieces of bitumen that will need the use of solvents or a floor sander to make the surface smooth enough to put down any other form of flooring. Although carpet underlay will remove a lot of imperfections, with any other form of flooring such as vinyl or laminate flooring then anything other than a perfectly smooth surface may cause problems. In particular any remaining lumps of bitumen will begin to show through any vinyl floor laid over them.
In either case you may find it far easier to place the new covering over the old one as it may cost a substantial amount to take the old floor up.
Ironically original 1970’s wooden block flooring is now sought after and considered retro, resulting in wooden flooring manufacturers now making replica flooring which true to the 1970’s original wooden flooring and much like modern solid wood, is very hard wearing.…

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Basement Remodeling

Finding The Best Gym Equipment For The Home Environment

May 1, 2022 Comments Off on Finding The Best Gym Equipment For The Home Environment

Most of the people nowadays are seeking to create their own home gym as they wish to avoid the overcrowded environment and the regular lines which is found in the public gym. This is normally a brilliant idea as it would aid in expediting your workout experience and provide an environment which is available at any time of the day without concern over time or driving to another location. When you’re looking to create your own workout environment there are several opportunities available, but you want to make sure you have the right equipment to maximize your workout experience. When you start your workout design, some of the very best tools to start with are found with bumper plates and squat racks.
Free-weights are a vital component of any personal gym when an individual has any aspiration to build muscle and tone the body. When you look at your free-weight opportunities, no other product could provide you with the advantages of bumper plates. With bumper plates you’ll discover a quality product which comes in a variety of weights and is designed to prevent damage to its home environment. When you are building a home gym the feature of safety and home preservation are usually important considerations with your gym equipment. Additionally, several bumper plates come with the option to personalize your weights. This personalization is a one of a kind feature to bumper plates and as a home gym you could get your name on the weights or a personal motto to provide continuous inspiration.
With the use of free-weights such as bumper plates you ought to even make sure you have the equipment you need to support your bumper plate exercises. A major example of this requirement is found with the utilization of squat racks. Squat racks are a form of equipment that will take most of the dangers out of a crucial form of exercise.
Squat exercises require the lifting of large quantities of weight over your head and the squat rack allows you to elevate that weight without jeopardizing your head, back or spine. Additionally, it features safety features which would catch the weight if you exceed your strengths ability and latches to easily lock in the weight when your workout is concluded. Squat racks are one of the many important stations an individual should have in their home gym.
Although not every home has the space for all the equipment like bumper plates and squat racks so there are all inclusive opportunities like the power rack. The power rack is a device which is similar to a squat rack but provides additional workout options to aid condense your workout demands. Whilst this device is normally higher in price, the all in one feature for a homeowner with a confined space makes the power rack well worth the investment.…

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General Article

Plan Ahead, Don’t Compromise

April 29, 2022 Comments Off on Plan Ahead, Don’t Compromise

Plan Ahead, Don’t Compromise

One area where this “no time – got to compromise” principle shows up is in the support of countertops. After investing thousands of dollars in their countertops most owners are never told that they need support for countertop overhangs. Well, they are likely told but not until the countertop fabricator shows up to run the templates or possibly when the installer shows up to put in the counters. This seriously limits the homeowner’s ability to select a desirable solution for supporting their countertops.

Countertop support brackets are more than just shelf brackets or standard decorative wood corbels. A countertop overhang is no small matter and true countertop brackets are designed to handle the load of the overhang. These types of brackets really constitute hardware in the kitchen and should be selected as such. You cannot pick up them up at the local hardware store or from large box stores because they are not carried. The countertop support brackets used to hold up stone counters are specifically designed for that purpose and are often made to order or when in stock require shipping to the customer’s construction site.

Cathy Morgan knows about the significance of delaying selection of countertop supports. The general manager of an online source that is a designer and producer of custom countertop support brackets says, “We hear daily from people looking for countertop supports having just learned that they need them for their countertop installation scheduled for the next day. Unfortunately, that leaves the customer limited to those supports that are stock and bearing overnight shipping costs in order to fill the need.” The additional costs associated with shipping overnight are one thing. But more unfortunate is the customer’s inability to take advantage of the full line of designer countertop supports available or the possibility of using the customization service provided by the company.

Bottom line – time is needed to select the right countertop support bracket. Homeowners are asked, months before they are needed, what type of knobs and handles they want on their cabinets. Why wait until the week before installation to ask what type of countertop support is desired? The answer is a bit simple. No one is sure whose job it is to specify the need for supports. The contractor will generally rely on the countertop fabricator. The fabricator may defer to the installer. Ultimately, they can all point to the problem with limited knowledge of the requirement standards.

You can eliminate this problem by educating the contractor and yourself. Their are comprehensive resource areas on the topic of countertop supports on the web. Customer service representatives are that are knowledgeable on solving the issue of timing as well. Cathy gives her pointers very concisely – “First, do not wait to hear that you need countertop supports. If you are planning a serving or seating area at your kitchen countertop you will likely need supports for the counters in that area. Be proactive and start your search early. 2. Do not compromise your desires because of timing. It is likely that whatever is put under your countertops will be there until they are removed. Make sure that it is a support that meets your needs visually and functionally.”…