Home improvement

Home improvement can be defined as modifying the existing structure of one’s home by making additions and making changes. Mostly a professional technician is recruited however, sometimes; the home improvement is done on a non professional and an amateur basis by the home owner.

As mentioned above, there are two ways of going about the process of home improvement. The first id the professional and the second is the do it your self (DIY) method. In the professional method you could hire a general contractor to be in charge of the whole home improvement project. On the other hand you could do away with the contractor and ‘do it yourself (DIY). You will need to hire the plumbers, electricians, roofers etc yourself.

There are endless types of works in home improvement that you could do. To begin with the walls could be wall papered, or painted. Wood paneling can also be installed on it. New flooring, such as linoleum, hardwood flooring, and tiling can be installed. The kitchen and bathroom sink, cabinets, and pipes can be replaced with new ones. The electrical and plumbing systems could be upgraded. As also the heating and the air conditioning systems.

Similarly other home improvement projects that could be undertaken are the tearing and replacement of the roof, repairing the foundation and the chimney if required, waterproofing the basements etc. these are only a few of the home improvement projects mentioned here.

By: Tej Sharma

Most of the time, home improvement projects are costly. In some cases, people resort to tapping their savings to be able to get some home improvements done. This can be very hurtful to ones pockets. In some cases, people resort to getting home improvement loans which can sometimes drag your budget off track and getting you more buried in debt than ever.

However, you should not be in desperation, there are different ways of doing home improvements without spending too much money. Money is a resource that’s very important and should be spent in more important things like the education of your children and emergency situations like sicknesses.

Here are some tips on how homeowners can do home improvement programs the cheap way:

1. Know what you want

Many people hire contractors to do home improvement jobs for them precisely because they do not know what they would want to do with their homes. Consulting these professionals can really hurt your pockets only to find out later that you don’t want what they have done to your house.

You can use different home improvement magazines, watch some television shows regarding home improvements or even look around in other people’s homes to be able to get some ideas regarding what you would want to do with your house. These ideas can be put on paper in drawings or in short descriptions.

2. Feasibility

There are many ways of improving your home. YOU should think about the feasibility of home improvement projects before undertaking them.

3. Rearranging

Changing the arrangements in your house can be considered as home improvement projects. Putting your furniture in good and new positions can be a good way to change the overall ambience of the house.

4. Change the color scheme

Colors have big roles in terms of giving the home a good ambience. If you are getting bored with the overall ambience of your house, you can do some repainting jobs yourself. YOU can also involve the other members of the family and this will make the job easier and more fun.

5. Be green

Putting in plants into the overall scheme of home improvement is a good way to give the house a fresher look. Plants add warmth and freshness to every home. If you are clumsy when it comes to plants, you can use synthetic plants as well.

These are just some tips on how to achieve a better home with lesser budget. However, a cheaper way doesn’t equate to a less effective way. The more important thing is that you enjoy your house and feel comfortable with it.

By: Bill McRea

If you are one of the many people who are taking advantage of our present situation and how inexpensive it is to do construction on your home, you may already know the size of a mess that is created when you undertake such an endeavor. If not then it is time to think about bulk trash pickup for home construction.

Not many people realize how simple and inexpensive it actually is to have professionals come and deal with the debris left over from your home improvement project. They will not only provide the dumpster for you to use, but will also bring it to you the very same day to be filled, and they will remove it as soon as it is full to be emptied.

One must also not forget that it is not legal to have large amounts of trash collecting on your property, not only because it does not look nice, but because it is a real danger. People can easily hurt themselves among the clutter, and the work will be slowed down. If it begins to rain, or sit for a long period of time, mold can begin to grow, or worse, pests have even been known to occupy the spaces.

Professional bulk trash pickup is a sanitation service as well, and without them no job can proceed. The fact that they are available seven days a week and respond the same day is simply an added benefit to an otherwise indispensable service for any home renovation of building project.

By: Paul A Buchanan

With an ever-expanding network of home improvement television shows and DIY magazines, the do-it-yourself home improvement sector has taken off. Homeowners everywhere are rushing to their local hardware stores, ready to rip out their bathroom tile or tear down old kitchen cupboards.

As excited as you may be to get started on your first DIY home improvement project, there are a few considerations you should first take into account. You need to plan, understand your project, budget, and be aware of your space. To learn more about these basic, but crucial, DIY home improvement tips, keep reading.

1. Plan, Plan, Plan

Before you even begin a DIY home improvement project, you should have a full plan in place. And prior to making that drive to the home hardware store, put together a folder with all your measurements and a complete list of everything you intend to buy, right down to the last nail.

People get excited about projects and don’t want to get right to it instead of “wasting” time planning. However, by planning you’ll make fewer mistakes, be less likely to waste materials and time, and much more likely to stay on budget. In the end, you’ll be glad you did!

2. Budget

Along with planning, comes budgeting. As you plan the details of your project, keep a running tally of the expense for each material. If you don’t know how much something costs, check the Internet or call your local retailer to obtain a price ahead of time.

Once you have your budget, add 10-20% extra. Almost every home renovation project, DIY or not, runs up against unexpected expenses – it’s just a reality of life’s uncertainties. Whether it is materials that cost more than you expect or a surprise problem that needs to get fixed, you’ll need to have the money ready to take care of it. Every good DIY’er knows to have a little extra on hand.

3. Understand Your Project

Before you attempt to tackle a major home improvement project, make sure you know what you’re doing. Use resources like books, your local hardware clerk, the Internet and how-to videos to get a good grasp on the project you will be undertaking.

If you feel like the project is out of your league, don’t hesitate to call in a professional.

4. Know Your Space

This tip is related to planning, but make sure you have enough space to take on your project. Don’t try to fit a new island in your kitchen if there isn’t sufficient room for it. Try to live by the old carpenter’s adage of “measure twice, cut once.”

By: Bill McCowen

The shaky housing market has some home improvement contractors running scared, but there is no reason to hang up your tool belt just yet. Business from homebuilders may have dried up, but homeowners themselves still need what you have to offer. In fact, experts are forecasting growth in the remodeling arena – in part as an offshoot of the decline in home sales. The trick will be switching your marketing strategy to reach your new target audience.
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Remodeling, of course, is an evergreen business. Approximately 25 million homeowners undertake some type of home improvement project each year, according to research from Harvard’s Improving America’s Housing 2007.?And the Home Improvement Research Institute predicts that sales of home improvement products will grow at an average rate of 6% annually over the next four years – a sign that people will still be investing in their homes.?
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Some of this demand is triggered by normal home upkeep. Two-thirds of existing homes are now at least 25 years old – the age at which items such as the roof, windows and plumbing fixtures begin to need repair or replacement, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). Other projects are inspired by a simple desire to upgrade one’s living environment – perhaps pushed along these days by television lifestyle shows filled with luxury amenities.
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Additional demand will be driven by the state of the housing market, experts say. Some homeowners who were planning to move will instead renovate because they can’t sell their homes in the current economy. Properties that have fallen victim to the foreclosure crisis will be acquired and in need of remodeling, particularly over the next 18 months as foreclosures peak. And pent-up demand for older home remodeling, energy efficiency retrofits and rental stock improvements will be unleashed when the economy perks up, according to Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies.
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Bottom line: there’s still business today, and there will be MORE business over the near term. Now is the time to lay the marketing groundwork to cash in.
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While word-of-mouth referrals will always be important, it’s not enough to keep your pipeline filled. Advertising plays an essential role in bringing customers to your door by building brand recognition as well as credibility. But not all ads are created equal. Follow these rules of thumb for best results:

Define your target audience and create an effective method to reach them. If your service is high-end, maximize your advertising dollars by targeting only top homes by value in the marketplace. Showcase your best work through photographs. This inspires remodeling ideas and helps consumers visualize the effect that a remodeling project will have on their own home. Look for advertising outlets that focus on home remodeling, because that’s where your target customer is going to be looking for contractors – not mixed in with pizza coupons. Advertise on a regular basis. A consumer normally needs to see your name and ad repeatedly before picking up the phone. Be sure that your phone number and other contact information is prominently displayed in your ad so that consumers can reach you easily.?

Remember: the home improvement business is still alive and kicking. It’s just a matter of finding opportunities in new places. Put yourself in front of the right people – through advertising – and the work will come.
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For more information on home improvement advertising, visit www.thehomemag.com.

By: C. Goebel

Making the decision to do any large amount of work to your home is a little nerve wracking to say the least. You have to decide what you feel is the main priority and who is going to be best suited to do the work. As any do it yourselfer who has ended up with a less than well done home improvement project can tell you, you are often better off to let the professionals handle it. Take the exterior stucco contractors for example. If you have never dealt with finding and hiring such a well trained, specific contractor before, the task can seem overwhelming. With a little bit of knowledge about stucco and contractors in general, you won’t have any trouble deciding on the right professional for your project.

As with any kind of home improvement help, with exterior stucco contractors, the first thing you want to do is get together a list of names. You can find this list from the phone book, online resources, or better yet, from someone you know personally who has worked with the contractors before. Try to find at least 3 different stucco contractors to talk to. They should be willing to come to your home, look the house over, and offer a free estimate. While you have the exterior stucco contractor’s undivided attention, be sure to ask him or her any pressing questions that might be on your mind.

As any of the exterior stucco contractors can doubtless tell you, applying stucco is much like painting a picture. Every contractor has his or her own way of doing it. One contractor’s texture and finish is nothing like the next ones. You can be sure you will be happy with the results by asking to see samples of every exterior stucco contractor’s work you interview. Prices aren’t likely to vary much, but your reference for their work certainly will. Once you have chosen your contractor, you can look forward to a brand new look for your home.

By: Gregg Hicks

Homeowners often have additional construction or home improvement that need to be completed in their homes, and many Los Angeles construction experts are frequently asked whether building permits are needed for every remodeling or home improvement project. The truth is that many construction projects require a building permit in Los Angeles, but smaller projects don’t require a permit. However, even when people should obtain the needed permit, they don’t, and building officials may not make a big issue of the situation. But building specialists know that work performed without a permit can have safety implications and can mean more expensive future repairs.

Building permits are needed for modifications or major repairs to electrical systems, building additions, construction of new buildings or movement and demolition of existing buildings. These are all mid to large sized jobs that need to be inspected for safety and correct specifications. The Los Angeles construction contractor you hire should help you get the permit you need for this type of project. If you are completing the home improvement project yourself check the Los Angeles city website for construction permit requirements.

There are cases were building permits are not needed in Los Angeles construction. For instance you may not need a permit if your building a detached accessory building that is less than 200 square feet and which has no utilities. You don’t need one if you are building fences or retaining walls that are less than 4 to 6 feet tall. Painting, wallpapering, floor covering installation, cabinet and counter top installation or other finish work does not need a building permit either.

Plumbing work like the cleaning of plumbing stoppages,repairing of plumbing leaks and reinstallation of toilets or sinks does not involve the need for a construction permit, nor does anything that requires routine maintenance of existing buildings, fixtures or equipment.

However, when a building permit should be obtained, LosAngeles construction experts suggest that it is a good safety precaution to purchase it. There is a fee involved, and getting the permit may be a slow process and can slow the project down somewhat, but it also ensures that the project is inspected and reduces potential liability if there is an injury or damage on the site. It is always best to obtain a building permit for larger remodeling or construction projects as it is your protection.

Check with the LosAngeles city government offices to see if your project needs a building permit or not. If you are required to purchase a building permit, keep it with your home documents for future reference. This will always offer useful information to future potential home buyers, when and if you decide to sell the home.

Only unreliable Los Angeles construction contractors do not get a building permit for a larger remodeling projects. This type of contractor may charge less on the overall project, but mistakes made with your family’s health or risks taken by the unreliable construction contractor may end up costing you more money over the long run.

By: Graham Osborne

Opportunity and danger are two sides of the same coin. Home improvement projects offer the opportunity to enjoy your home and to increase its value. Such projects; however, present the danger of personal injury, property damage, and unexpected expense if the work contains construction defects. Here are some steps you should take to maximize the opportunity and minimize the danger of home improvement projects. This article addresses common construction defects in exterior projects involving gas pipes and electrical wires. Related articles cover other construction defects.

1. Do your homework. People research many major purchases; but they spend thousands of dollars on home improvements with little or no research about avoiding construction defects or about hiring a qualified and reliable contractor. Information that can help homeowners is available from many sources. Books explain basic construction and building code concepts in plain language. Manufacturer’s installation instructions for many products are available on the internet. This does not mean that you need to become a construction expert before you embark on a home improvement project. You can and should; however, become educated so that you can recognize common construction defects. Being able to recognize construction defects puts the contractor on notice that you are an informed consumer.

2. Use only licensed and experienced contractors. Verify the status of the contractor’s license and whether any complaints have been filed against the contractor. Complaints against a contractor are not always a deal killer, but they are a red flag that requires more investigation. Obtain references from the contractor and contact them. Use at least one reference from a project completed over one year ago to help you determine the contractor’s response to warranty issues.

3. Obtain a building permit, if required. A building permit is usually required if new electrical circuits, water pipes, or gas pipes are installed or if there are significant additions or changes to any of these systems. A permit is usually required when adding to or making structural changes to a building. A permit is an inexpensive way to get inspections of the work by a qualified third party. It may also reduce your potential liability if a problem occurs. The contractor should obtain the permit. If the contractor is reluctant to obtain a permit, this is a red flag. The contractor may not be licensed to do the work, or he may have other problems that you may want to know about.

4. Look for common construction defects. Here are some examples of common construction defects in exterior home improvement projects.

Failure to bury gas pipes and electrical wires at required depth. Digging around buried gas pipes and electrical wires can damage them and cause gas leaks and electrical shocks. Bury most gas pipes at least twelve inches below the finished dirt level. Bury electrical wires at least twelve inches if the wires are ground fault circuit protected. Bury wires enclosed in metal conduit at least six inches. Bury most other electrical wires at least eighteen inches.

Failure to place electrical receptacles on a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) circuit when required. This is an electrical shock hazard. Place all exterior receptacles and all receptacles in garages on a GFCI protected circuit.

Failure to properly install and protect electrical wires. This is an electrical shock hazard if the wires become loose or damaged. Place most exposed and accessible electrical wires in approved conduit. Place electrical connections and wire splices in a covered electrical junction box. Electrical wires that are installed outdoors or that are buried must be approved for these uses.

Failure to protect gas pipes from corrosion. Corroded gas pipes can leak. Protect gas pipes against corrosion when they are in contact with the ground and when they are in contact with masonry and concrete. The gray paint on gas pipes around gas meters and pipe wrap tape are common corrosion protection methods.

Failure to properly install gas appliance flexible connectors. This is a gas leak hazard. Flexible connectors are the yellow (one common color) flexible tubes that you see between the rigid gas pipe and a gas water heater. These connectors are intended to connect one rigid gas pipe to one gas appliance. You should be able to move the connector at least two inches at the center of the connector. A connector that cannot be moved and is too tight strains gas connections at the pipe and at the appliance. The connector should not have a bend with a radius smaller than 1 ? inches. A tight radius bend can weaken the connector and reduce gas flow.

Seize the opportunity to beautify and improve your home; but be aware of the dangers that such projects present and empower yourself to avoid these dangers.

By: Bruce A. Barker

California imposes very specific requirements on contractors who draft, prepare, and submit home improvement contracts to consumers. If a contractor fails to meet the minimum requirements then their contracts are potentially illegal, unenforceable, and the contractor could lose the benefits the contract was designed to provide them.

Notwithstanding the granite countertops, the cabinets, or the carpet, the contractor you choose is the most important decision in the entire home improvement project. A very easy way to tell if you are dealing with a true professional contractor is by looking at their proposed contract very carefully. When I say carefully I mean to take the document and have a competent attorney review it. The contract will tell you a lot of information about the contractor without even having to speak with them. For example, California Business and Professions Code 7159 et seq. has very specific requirements designed to protect consumers against contractors. If the contract does not have these minimum protections you should be very wary of the contractor whom you are about to do business with. Some of the protections are as follows:

A home improvement contract and any changes to the contract shall be in writing and signed by the parties;

It must include the name, business address, and license number of the Contractor;

“Home Improvement” heading must be on the contract in at least 10-point boldface type;

“Contract Price” heading followed by the amount of the Contract;

“Description of the Project and Materials to be Used” heading

“Down payment” heading that states DOWN PAYMENT MAY NOT EXCEED $1,000 OR 10% OF CONTRACT PRICE”;

“Schedule of Progress Payments” heading with each progress payment stated and specifically referencing the amount of work performed and materials provided;

“Approximate Start Date” heading;

“Approximate Completion Date” heading;

“Note about Extra Work and Change Orders” heading

Commercial general liability insurance notice indicating whether or not the Contractor has insurance;

Workers’ compensation insurance notice indicating whether or not the Contractor has worker’s compensation insurance;

A mechanic’s lien warning notice describing to a consumer the issues of mechanic’s lien rights held by contractors;

Joint Check provisions wherein a consumer can make a check payable to both the contractor and the subcontractor or material supplier to protect them from being double billed;

Information about the Contractors’ State License Board (CSLB);

“Three-Day Right to Cancel” notice that gives a consumer 72 hours to cancel a contract without penalties;

This above list is a few of the common items that contractors fail to include in their contracts. If one or more of these items are missing from your contract please have it thoroughly reviewed before signing it.

Additional common questions to ask the contractor include:

How long has the contractor been in business in the state? Check their license status on the contractor’s state licensing board website.

The contractor should have a business history in your area including a list of references, phone numbers and email addresses. If they can’t provide references consider looking elsewhere. Hiring a contractor to complete a project where another has gone out of business can be costly and disastrous.

Get the names and contact information for everyone, including subcontractors, sub-subcontractors and employees who will be working on your property and insist on a full-time project supervisor.

There are dozens of other questions to ask during the selection process all of which are equally important. There are also other protective clauses that you can request to be included in the contract. For additional information about these areas contact a competent attorney who is familiar with construction contractor, contractors, and the contractors state licensing laws.

By: David Roberson

If you have a home improvement project that needs to be done, how do you decide whether to do it yourself or hire a professional? Here are some tips to help you decide.

Renovation do-it-yourself projects have become more popular, especially with the rise of television shows such as Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. They make it look so easy to “flip” a house, don’t they? DIY is popular mainly because doing it yourself saves money, obviously.

Contractors can be expensive:
They have to consider materials, labor, insurance as well as their profit margin when quoting a price. Frankly, they are in business to make money to put food on their families’ tables. So hiring someone won’t necessarily be cheap.

DIY projects are not necessarily hard to do. All the home improvement stores and even some community colleges offer seminars in how to complete common tasks such as applying tile or building decks. There are also scores of books, magazines, pamphlets and other information on all sorts of projects. You can also look online for more tips.

By carefully planning what you are doing, be it new windows or just installing wall mount sinks, and knowing how to use the equipment, you should be able to do the most common tasks yourself. As an added feature, making it your own project will give your family a chance to “bond” and give you a great feeling of accomplishment.

On the other hand, you may decide that hiring a professional is best for you. People are busy today and you simply may not have time to wallpaper the bedroom. Or, you may start a project and run out of time: a family emergency may arise and any free time you thought you had is gone. It happens.

Another common scenario occurs when someone gets started on a project and encounters a problem. It is perfectly all right to contact a professional to either fix just the problem portion or to finish the entire project. Some contractors are sneaky and tack on an additional fee to fix problem projects but if you shop around and find a reputable contractor, he or she should treat you fairly.

So, before you start a home improvement project, ask yourself: Do I have the time to do the work? Do I know how to do the work? Are there resources I can refer to if something unexpected arises? Or, would it be worth it to hire a professional? Have I called around and gotten price estimates for labor and materials?

By asking these common-sense questions before you start, you can determine whether you have the makings of a do-it-yourselfer or if you’d rather leave it to the pros. It’s better to figure that out now than after you’ve gotten yourself into a mess you can’t get out of.

By: Robert J. Carlton