Home improvement

If you are looking into buying a property or a house, or you are thinking bout getting some home improvement projects for your current house you will know that the roof is a very bid issue, no one wants to move into a house that has a roof that will not survive the next winter. Changing a roof, or even making slight changes and fixing tasks for a roof, is something that can really get in the way of normal life, especially if done in winter, or on a rainy season.

So if you are interested in knowing a little more about roofing and the work, costs and ideas behind having a new roof for your house, you should research this area, and make sure that you understand and know the basic concepts before you even meet with a roofing contractor that will confuse you with dozens of terms and names you have no clue about, and above all, with a price list that will probably knock you off your feet.

Building constructors and engineers have devised additional use of roofing – that is for a stylish “capping” of the structures they erect. Nevertheless, the style would only last if the materials used would make the roof sturdy and durable.

Through time, man has devised an array of ways to deal with different materials to build roofs, each with its own strong and weak points relative to conditions of weather and area restrictions. These are what roofing contractors know best.

Roofing contractors often do three R’s in roofing:

1. Renew

Roofing contractors can be relied upon when it comes to installing new shingles. They are considered as experts in putting a new cap for a structure.

2. Repair

Roofing contractors also help to correct the problem and to make things better and safe in a building.

3. Remodel

If able to fix the damage, roofing contractors install additional scaffolds and add-ons to keep any other damage from occurring.

If you are surveying for roofing materials, contact first a roofing constructor in order to provide you with several options. Roofing constructors also need to explain the exact roofing materials you need against the materials they want to give you. Budget allocation also influences the final choice of the material to be used for roofing a structure.

As with all other contractors it is always advisable to try and find other people he worked for and see the results, or at least have a short conversation with the owners of houses this contractor made earlier work on, when you are finalizing the details try and have some kind of paper of agreement that you can both sign and that will hold the basic understandings between you and the contractor.

By: Daniel Roshard

It is time for Washington to step up and put legislation in place that will force states to better regulate the home improvement industry. Up to now Washington has left the regulation of the home improvement industry up to state regulators, and for whatever reason(s) many states have fallen considerably short.

There are still some states that do not even have contractor licensing in place for home improvements. For some of the states that do have licensing, the license requirements do not include that the applicant demonstrate the ability to do any type of home improvement work. (That is like saying I will issue you a license to cut hair but you don’t have to demonstrate that you know how to cut hair……… ouch!) Then why do states bother issuing licenses if there are no requirements to demonstrate competence? Revenue? Or could it be that they need more consumer complaints for Consumer Affairs and BBB to handle? The unfortunate consequences of this problem are that homeowners are the ones who are paying the price by receiving poor workmanship and a cascade of home improvement problems.

Let’s be honest, the home improvement industry does not seem to attract the most reliable, honest and competent individuals. The lure of a quick buck and the relative ease to “qualify” to do home improvement work, brings many a “character” to your door. When I was a contractor I needed to hire people for a variety of field positions. Most of the people, who I interviewed and sometimes hired, seemed to have the same type of problems with past employers. These problems consisted of substance abuse issues, honesty issues, and reliability issues. The labor pool never seemed to have an over abundance of talent and employability to pick from.

I remember always reading article after article that dealt with the significant manpower shortage in the home improvement industry. The bottom line of each article would always be the same, “If you can find an honest, reliable and competent person to work for you, pull out all the stops to keep them!!!! Do whatever you need to do to keep that person happy because you’ll never know if you will be lucky enough to find someone to take their place.” As an owner, it was a very constant and stressful problem to deal with. You were almost afraid to try and increase project production because you knew you would have to try and find someone to do the additional work. Finding employees was always an adventure, an adventure that I never looked forward to.

For the last 10-15 years the number one problem in the home improvement industry is the lack of manpower. Many contractors are training and hiring minorities to try and solve this major problem.

If you were to talk to your state authorities about what is being done to improve regulations and screening in the home improvement industry, they will probably tell you something is in the works or there is no money for more regulations (testing). I have been hearing this for 30 years. The county in which I live (Suffolk County, New York) still does not require any demonstration of home improvement ability to obtain a home improvement license. The fee has consistently gone up but the requirements have pretty much stayed the same. We are one of the highest taxed counties in the country, so I refuse to believe there is no money to develop and implement a better policing and screening process in the home improvement industry.

The National Association of The Remodeling Industry (NARI) http://www.nari.org is the only national organization that offers certification of home improvement individuals. They have a number of different certifications that one could obtain. To obtain these certifications the applicant needs to demonstrate a variety of knowledge, ranging from good business practices to project knowledge. NARI’s main certification is called – Certified Remodeler (CR). This certification requires the applicant to prepare an extensive matrix or resume of their experience and knowledge as well as obtaining a certain score on an 8-hour exam. There are only approximately 1000 CR’s, out of the hundreds of thousands of home improvement contractors in this country. I earned this certification in 1994 and still proudly hold this certification today. I will admit that obtaining this certification is a time consuming process and does take considerable effort, but it was well worth it. What I also like about this certification is that it has to be renewed every year by demonstrating continued involvement and knowledge in the home improvement industry.

Why then couldn’t Washington mandate some type of screening, nationwide, that all people interested in doing home improvements must be able to “pass” to obtain a license? This license could be used nationwide. Use a screening process that emulates what NARI does for its certifications. You could make the screening as simple as a comprehensive test with multiple choice questions. A test that could be machine scored.

I think an ideal situation for licensing would be to divide up home improvement licensing into sub-licenses. For example, if you were a bathroom contractor you would obtain a license for bathroom home improvements only. This would refine what licensees are qualified to do, rather then issuing one license that could wrongly give the impression that the licensee is capable of doing any type of project.

The reason I think Washington needs to get involved with this problem is because the American public doesn’t have the time to wait for each of the 50 states to come up with a similar solution, individually.

However, if Washington were to step up and mandate a national screening and testing situation, you would still have to address the screening of the people who show up to work on your house. (if they were not the person(s) who was screened and licensed) These people would hopefully be employees of the person who was screened. Is the homeowner then back to square one with not knowing the qualifications of the people working on their house? I tend to think not, because the person who went through the screening and obtained the license would want to keep the license. It is in the best interest of the licensed individual to make sure the project is done correctly. Problems develop when a contractor has too much work and attempts to get it all done by using inexperienced and unqualified help. The lure of completing more work and making more money sometimes leads to his or her business getting “out of control”. This subsequently leads to quality and project completion problems. Employees of licensed and screened contractors need to “qualify” on some level similar to NARI’s lead carpenter certification.

Will any of these desperately needed changes occur any time soon? To be honest, I wouldn’t hold your breath waiting for Washington to step up to the plate and I don’t think your state or local governments will dramatically improve home improvement regulations either.

So what should a homeowner do to protect their home and property? Get the right “tools” and knowledge to be able to protect your home from poor home improvement decisions and situations.

The Home Improvement Success Club of America(TM) (http://www.homeimprovementsuccess.com) can give you all the right knowledge and “tools” you need, without spending hours and hours doing research and trying to figure out what to do. This club has a variety of forums (chat room, message board, phone consultations and project estimate-contract evaluations) to answer your questions about how to get great home improvement results. Membership to this club also includes the use of The Home Improvement Success System, which is a step by step home improvement system that shows you exactly what to do and what not to do. This system can be used with any project. The club also includes a 30-day money back guarantee if you are not delighted with being a club member.

If you’re serious about doing a home improvement project and protecting your home, then join The Home Improvement Success Club of America(TM). You will be happy you did!

The Home Improvement Success Club of America(TM)
http://www.homeimprovementsuccess.com//>

e-mail-info@homeimprovementsuccess.com
P.O. Box 653
Smithtown, NY 11787
Phone: 631-360-7722
Fax: 631-361-3582

By Hank Jaworowski, CR
Founder and President of The Home Improvement Success Club of America(TM)
Author-The Home Improvement Success System

By: Hank Jaworowski

The housing market in the US is still rather sluggish but, according to a new report issued by the Joint Center for Housing Studies at the venerable Harvard University, home remodeling is set to make a big comeback in 2011 after a three-year slump.

The report predicts average growth of 9.1 percent for the first quarter of 2011, 12.1 percent for the second quarter and 8% for the year as a whole. The report’s authors expect that in 2011 homeowners will spend close to $300 billion (yes, billion) on home remodeling projects.

One area of particular growth that the report identifies that is already making an impact is green home improvements. The share of home improvement contractors that reported they had recently worked on remodeling projects that qualified for federal tax energy credits has jumped significantly – from 40% to 60%. The projects were smaller scale ones – replacement doors and windows, insulation upgrades – but that home improvement is getting greener every day does not seem to be in doubt.

This is all of course great news for the nation’s remodeling contractors but, if you are a homeowner who has been sitting on the fence about a certain remodeling project for a while, now is probably the time to swing into action. The availability of the best contractors in your area – and any deals they might have been prepared to offer during the downturn – may be shrinking soon so the time to act is now.

You can usually tell that a remodeling project – especially a larger one – went well if the homeowner does not include an “if only” in their conversations about the end result. Unfortunately, too many homeowners do end up uttering those words. It’s not that anything went really wrong with their project, it just didn’t turn out quite as they envisaged.

A lot of the time in this situation the problem was not with the work that was done but what the homeowner failed to speak up about. Here are a few examples that you should keep in mind as you plan your remodeling project and maybe learn from the mistakes of those that have gone before you.

If Only I Had Asked For More Outlets

This seems like a rather insignificant detail at first – which is probably why so many homeowners forget all about it – but having the right number of electrical outlets in the right places can make a huge difference to the function of any space.

For example, the homeowner steps into their beautifully remodeled kitchen only to realize that they can’t put their appliances where they wanted to because the outlets are too far away. Or they cannot use their hairdryer in front of that great new mirror because they forgot to ask the electrician to add a socket there. Your contractors are not mind readers and will only do the work you ask them too. Make sure that you discuss even the smallest of details – like an extra outlet – with your contractors before the work begins.

If Only I Had Been More Specific

The clearer you can be with your contractors during a remodel the better. He knows that you want tiling done in the bathroom, but what about the color of the grout? Do you want the handles and drawer pulls that come standard with your kitchen cabinets or do you want to pick out something different? Again, think about these little details before the project begins to avoid disappointment and/or additional expense.

If Only I’d Been Around More

Work may suffer if the “boss” is not around and without good, ongoing communication between contractor and client little problems that could have been solved with one phone call can snowball into serious issues. It should not have to be your contractor’s responsibly to try to catch up with you for two days to answer a simple question that is holding up the whole project. Make a habit of checking in with your remodeling construction crew at least once a day, just to make sure that everyone is still on the same page.

As you can see, the cause of all these “if onlys” comes down to a lack of communication between contractor and client. That is why it essential that you spend enough time with your contractor in the planning stages. And yes, you may have overlooked something, but if you ask “do you think I’ve missed something?”, most good contractors will be happy to point it out to you.

By: Ursula K Rose

As the year turns another leaf, many people welcome the New Year with delightful changes from a list of resolutions, to a beauty makeover, and other such improvements such as a spruce up project to change the look and feel of their homes. From the long months of economic crisis and long running New York housing crunch, what better way to breathe in a fresh change into lives than with undertaking projects to further enhance everyday living, making lifestyles notches better even through the constant hustle and bustle? This article lays out fast home improvement ideas for a new look this coming 2011 perfect whether you are in Brooklyn, Long Island, Manhattan, Queens or Staten Island.

Dress Up the Walls

One of the least expensive and fastest home improvement ideas to take on with the greatest impact to the overall look and interior design involves the walls. Being a dominant surface in every room, a change in the walls can easily recreate an entirely new ambiance. There are various ways to do this, and some of the most common include:

Interior painting- a whole new look to rooms can be achieved. The key to this project is proper wall preparation. You can go for simple solid paints adding variety through the trimmings, or go creative with faux finishes from simple techniques to lavish murals. Wall papering- for added texture and a richer feel to rooms, this is a great idea to pursue. You can also choose to combine this with painting for a more unique touch.

When considering one or a combination of these, you might want to get trendy with your project by implementing the fashionable colors of 2011 in these home improvement ideas. Such ‘in’ colors include

Let There Be Light

Home improvement ideas laid out in this category will not only make up for a gorgeous new look for your interior but can also pave the way to more efficiency in homes. This can be done by adding or widening windows, but with the snow, this idea can wait until the summer months. For a fast fix, you can opt to replace and add lighting fixtures. When undertaking such home improvement ideas, maximize effects through:

Placing lights on task-designated areas such as under cabinets to illuminate kitchen counters. Highlighting interesting décors to divert attention away from structural flaws. Making rooms suitable for whatever purpose they serve. E.g. brighter lights for study or office areas, dimmer lights in bedrooms for a more intimate and private looks, etc. Cutting back on monthly bills by choosing energy efficient lighting fixtures.

Refinish

There are materials in your home that will only need some refinishing to make them looking as good and beautiful as of they were new. Home improvement ideas that involve refinishing are also great ways to trim down on spruce up costs as well as save yourself from the hassles of buying and installing new home features. Some of the areas that you might consider include countertops, flooring, and cabinets whether in the kitchen or bathrooms.

By: Eugene K Makeev

You’ve purchased your property and now you are ready to build you dream home. There is only one problem, you are missing a set of home plans to begin building construction. However, there is no need to stress. There are many options in which to obtain the plans and services you need. With a quick search of the internet, you will be well on you way to finding the right set of house plans or design professional to create the perfect design for you and your family.

Before you get to involved with the task of searching for the perfect floor plans, you should know the requirements established by your local building office. It is very important that you be aware of these rules as it can determine the scope of your plan search. For instance, your local laws my require that all plans be designed by a licensed architect. Another example could be height restrictions requiring your home to be no taller than say 35 feet from the finish floor to the roof peak. Being aware of these pitfalls can help you avoid heartache and delays. In addition to the aforementioned, you should have a defined dollar amount on what you are willing and able to pay for construction plans.

If your budget for plans is small say from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars, the best choice is to go with a stock house plan selection. Search for a home plan that match your list of attributes or come close to doing so. In some cases, you will find the exact home design ready for you to build as is. In other cases, the more common scenario, you will find a near match that will require some modifications. As long as the modifications are minor, meaning that you are not making structural and significant design changes, then you should be in good shape on staying in budget for your construction plans.

While stock house plans are generally a sound choice for the majority of plan shoppers, there are those who will require the services of a design professional. A budget for a custom home can average from 2% to 15% of construction cost. This of course depends on many variables including the size of the home and what services are included. While this option is certainly more costly, you end up with plans for construction that are tailored to your family and lifestyle. A number of potential homeowners will see custom home design services as their only option to the perfect dream home.

In your search for home plans, the most obvious choice is to browse one of the dozen or so broker sites on the web. These sites offer thousands of house plans by an assortment of building designers and architects. This is a practical choice for many who are looking for great plans at a fair price. However, there are hundreds of building designer and architect websites floating around the internet that are owned by the respective design professional. Most if not all of these sites offer custom home design services as well as stock house plans for sell directly to you, the customers.

By: Kirya Duncan

If you would like to fix or repair your house, home improvement grants provide free money to Americans who can use some financial assistance when it comes to covering the cost of home repair. These grants are typically provided by the government. More specifically, your local government has the greatest interest in helping you finance your home improvement projects, as they are the ones to benefit the most.

The home owner, also benefits greatly from these programs. Home improvement grants provide free money that never has to be paid back. As long as these funds are used for the purpose agreed upon in your grant application, the cash is yours to keep.

Once you access the grant database to find the government grant programs that you are eligible to receive, you’ll realize that there are a number of grants to choose from. Some provide money for home repair, others provide free grant money to expand your home, while others offer the cash you need to upgrade your appliances to energy efficient equipment. It all depends on what government programs are specially available in your community and how much funding is left for you to claim.

When you apply for home improvement grants, you do not have to worry about your credit score, collateral or down payment money. Because these are not loans, the government is not interested in this information. What you will need, however, is the details on your project, an estimate as to how much it will increase the value of your property, and a good idea of how much money your project will cost.

By: David Sklonic

When you want something you have to shop for that. And similar is the case with the conservatories in Reigate. Conservatories can be a very nice option for the home improvement and there are several store that supply all the home improvement material. Conservatories are likely to be the biggest investment that one could make with the home improvement job. This can be one of the most expensive and extensive home improvement job that you undertake. So it is very much necessary you have in advance all the knowledge regarding the conservatory construction and design and have got all the accessories that you might need for the construction of conservatories Reigate.

The first and the most important thing is the budget. Conservatories Reigate can involve a bigger cost so it is necessary that you know exactly how much you can spend how much it would cost to you. Here you can have the consultation with some of the experts who will help you have an exact estimate of your conservatory construction after listening to your needs and demands. And the other thing that grabs attention is the space. Your home should have enough space to accommodate your conservatory efficiently. Also you need to see that the conservatories Reigate are designed according to the available space and they perfectly complement the existing structure of the home. This is to ensure that your home improvement doesn’t gives you an odd structure instead of making it look good.
There can be several benefits of having conservatory Reigate. This can give your home an extension. You can extend your living room, kitchen or the study room area. With these you can enhance the overall aesthetics of your home and can also contribute to its real estate value in the market. With the conservatory you can entertain your guest and make them seated in the conservatory. This can also serve as connection between home interiors and exteriors.

There are lot many accessories that you can have in your conservatories Reigate. You can add furniture and electronics to your conservatory and can have the double glazing Reigate doors and windows. These can enhance your conservatory looks and can even lower down the air conditioning bills for your conservatory. Conservatories consists of a lot of glass work being done in roofs, walls, doors and windows and with the glazing Reigate you just expand the beauty of your conservatory or your home.

So if you have been looking for the home improvement shop to buy the conservatories, double glazing or glazing Reigate doors and windows then you need to look for someone who supplies you better quality stuff within genuine prices. So if you have been looking for a place to shop for the conservatories Reigate and all the other accessories concerned with it then you can simply refer the dorking Glass store. They are the expert with conservatory design and construction and supplies all the material and accessories for conservatory building. For more information and details you can log onto: http://www.dorkingglass.com

By: Glynfnbv P Jones

If you are seriously thinking about hiring a home remodeling contractor, you should take the time to give each one of these three questions, some thought. These questions could save you a lot of money and frustration.

1. Are you going to be doing the work your self? Most of the time your contractor will sell you the job, but won’t be doing any of the work himself. Get some more info about the crew that he will be sending to your job. You might get along with the contractor, but could have problems with the workers.

2. Make sure that you have emergency telephone numbers, in case one of the workers gets hurt and make sure that you know where the nearest hospital is located. You could find your self in charge of the situation, especially if there’s only one worker on the job.

3. You should have direct access to your contractor, 24 hours a day, just in case something happened in the middle of the night. All sorts of things could happen, while your contractor or his crew isn’t on the job site. Ask your contractors, if they turn their cell phone off or don’t answer their phone, during certain hours. If this is the case, make sure that they give you an additional phone number, in case there is an emergency.

Each one of these questions might not really sound like they’re that big of a deal, until something happens. I’ve already had problems with each one of these questions and I’m speaking from experience.

Here’s a little heads up, for homeowners. There are plenty of books available on hiring contractors. If you bought one of these books for $20 and it’s saved you some frustration, money or even solved some of your problems, how much would this book actually be worth.

Don’t forget your local libraries, there is plenty of information on home improvement contractors and remodeling projects at larger libraries.

By: Greg Vandenberge

The popularity of home improvement shows on television and decorating magazines has inspired many to create their own dream home. But it can be intimidating to do it, especially if you don’t have a lot of time or money.

Actually there are a lot of things you could do as a couple to make your nest your dream home, especially in the house interior. Read through these tips and try a few. You may soon find yourself venturing deeper into the world of home remodeling.

The first and easiest way to give new life to your home is to (drum roll please), clean it. Get out that mop and bucket and give the whole place a good scrubbing. Wash the floors, the window treatments, the rugs, everything. Once you get started you will see how a good cleaning can give your home a whole new look. While you’re cleaning, you may notice areas that need repairs or that need your decorator touch. Your home will retain that beautiful look if you make a point to clean at least once a month.

Relatedly, while you are cleaning, you should also be decluttering. Your home will look more like a showplace if you move that pile of laundry. Get rid of those stacks of magazines. Ditch that pile of clothes that no longer suits you. Notice that those places in the home decor magazines always show a space clear of clutter. Your home will look so much better without it. Like cleaning, your home will continuing looking great if you declutter regularly. And remember the old adage: If you bring a new thing in, take an old thing out.

Now that your home is spick and span, you may notice places that look rather empty and dull. Try going to rummage sales or garage sales. You may find the perfect picture to hang in that corner. Or you may find a scented candle or a picture frame for your mementos. Get inspired. But not too inspired so you don’t replace the clutter you just got rid of.

Another easy, cheap way to renew your home is a familiar tip: A coat of paint can really change the whole look of a room. You could paint the entire wall or you can experiment with a stencil or a faux finish. Some people even use an old window frame hung on the wall and paint a “view” within it. Check out home improvement and paint stores. You will find plenty of ideas to choose from. The staff will be able to help you too.

See, home improvement projects don’t necessarily have to be expensive or require degrees in architecture and interior design. Once you see what these small efforts accomplish, you just may be ready to try for more. Have fun.

By: Ken C. Morris

One of the best ways to find a home improvement contractor is through your friends. You can ask anyone that you trust, for the name of a good home improvement contractor and find out if they were happy with the work that these contractors did on their home. There’s a good chance that you will also be happy using them.

Think about this for a second, you call someone out of the Yellow Pages or contact a home improvement contractor through any other form of advertising, there’s a good chance that you really don’t know what you’re going to be getting.

However, if you ask someone that you know who has had work done on their home, you now have two good sources. You have the opinion of someone that you trust and you can look at the work that was done by the contractor. Both of these are extremely valuable when selecting the right contractor for the job.

It’s almost like rolling the dice, when you contact a contractor blindly, but I would like to mention another thing and this is something that’s very important. As a contractor myself, I have ran into problems using referrals from other contractors and homeowners.

One of the most important things that I could suggest when using a contractor who was referred to you by a family or friend, is to make sure that you feel comfortable with their personality and that they have the ability to complete the job on schedule and know what they are doing.

Don’t just ask one friend for one referral and use that one contractor. Try to get at least two to three estimates before hiring your home improvement contractor.

By: Greg Vandenberge