A Kinda Handy Guy

Budget Bathroom Makeover Ideas

2007-08-31T14:42:00.000-03:00

Do you want to give your bathroom a fresh new look without ripping out walls and starting over? These quick and easy budget-saving tips can help you give the room a new look in a weekend.

Budget Bathroom Makeover Ideas

by Rachel Paxton

I recently gave my bathroom a complete makeover. It was much easier than I expected, and only took a few days to complete. For less than $200 I gave my bathroom a completely new look that I love.

The first thing I did was choose some paint. I started out with bare white walls. I chose Kilz brand paint. The color is called "Garden Glove" (a cheerful spring green), and a gallon cost about $15 at Walmart. One gallon was plenty to paint the entire bathroom. Just painting the bathroom gave it whole new look. I also bought a small can of white paint to touch up the paint around the doorways.

Because our master bathroom is not very well lit, we decided to change the light fixture. For only $40 (including bulbs) at Home Depot, we installed a vanity light fixture over the mirror behind the sinks. It only took a few minutes to install, and it looks great. The bathroom is much brighter now than it was before.

To gain some extra storage space, we purchased a white cabinet that stands over the toilet. It has four shelves and a cupboard and cost about $100 at Home Depot. I recently saw that Walmart had some similar cabinets for between $50 and $75.

We have two windows in our bathroom so I thought plants would really brighten up the room. I bought some pretty solid color flower pots from Walmart for a couple of dollars and some matching spring primroses (less than $2 each). I set the pots on top of the new cabinet. The finishing touch will be a couple of ferns to hang above the garden bathtub, in front of the windows.

I love my new bathroom. It looks like a completely different room. Just a few simple changes can update and rejuvenate your bathroom too!

About the Author:
Rachel Paxton is a freelance writer and mom of four.
For easy home decorating ideas for busy moms, visit Frugal Home Decor at www.Frugal-Home-Decor.com.
Article Source: www.ladypens.com

DIY Methods to Save on Utilities

2007-08-28T21:49:00.000-03:00

by: Rick Chapo

If your utility bill is out of control, you need to consider ways to tame the beast. There are plenty of do it yourself [DIY] ways to save on utilities.

DIY Methods to Save on Utilities

Utility costs for heating, cooling and electricity are near record highs. Worse, they are expected to rise fairly dramatically over the next few years. Since you will live in a residence for the rest of your life, making small changes to save money on utilities will save you tens of thousands of dollars, if not more. Here are some areas to check out and fix to start saving some bucks.

Leaks and drafts from the interior of your home to the exterior can easily double your utility bill. There are a couple of obvious areas to check out such as windows, frames around doors, fireplaces and entrances to attics. Less obvious spots to check include gaps around electric outlets, mail slots, pipes, spaces around baseboards and gaps around air conditioners where the interface with the exterior. If you find gaps, caulking can often take care of the problem or you can pursue a weekend DIY repair.

Insulation in a home can be a real problem when it comes to utilities. Since I hope to avoid getting sued, let me just suggest builders tend to use the minimum amount and grade of insulation required by regulations when building homes. If you live in a tract home, this may be all the more true.

If you seal the areas where you have drafts, but the heater or air conditioner is still turning on every few minutes, insulation may be a problem. Inspecting insulation isn’t the easiest or most comfortable task. The easiest method is to first climb into the attic and see if there is any exposed insulation. Unfortunately, the grade of insulation in the ceiling may not match the grade in the walls.

To check the walls, the best bet is to find a small area where you might have a hole. Closets are typical spots. If you have kids, look for areas where a doorknob has punched through a wall. If none of these are available, you can remove a small surface area in a closet. Once done, determine if the entire area is filled with insulation as well as the R grade of your insulation. Compare it to recommended grades in your area. You can then patch the area and nobody will be the wiser. If all else fails, get a thermal inspection for a professional.

Most people are not going to need to blow out their insulation. Doing so will help, but sealing a home will go a long way to cutting your utility costs. With this in mind, give your home the once over.

About The Author:
Rick Chapo is with http://www.solarcompanies.com – a directory of solar energy companies. Visit http://www.solarcompanies.com/articles to read more solar power articles.

Cheap Ways to Get More Curb Appeal

2007-08-26T11:11:00.000-03:00

Whether you're thinking of putting your home on the market and want to spruce it up tosell, or you're just looking for quick and easy way to make it look a little brighter, Jen the Domestik Goddess has 6 Quick Ways to Dress Up a Front Door" from a new paint color on the door to a seasonal decoration on the front step.

As you go about your daily business, take a look at the fronts of other homes and make a mental note of what paint colors and decorative accents appeal to you. Then try a few ideas out at home, to find the style that suits you best. Just think — for the price of a can of paint or a yard-sale treasure, your home can have a mini-makeover every month!

She is wise, I think, to suggest that homeowners go easy on the landscape lighting -- we see too many bad arrangements of lights picked up on sale and on impulse at Home Depot, and just poked into the ground along the front path. We'll talk more about landscape lighting and front entry tricks for better curb appeal in future posts.

Water Garden Liners - Which One To Use?

2007-08-20T23:38:00.000-03:00

by Doug Green

There are several kinds of pond liners available in pond stores.

The first is EPDM rubber – and this is extremely durable, resists punctures and quite flexible. It is normally sold in 40 or 45 mil thickness. If you intend to put a rock bottom on top of your liner, this is the liner for you as it is very flexible and will give and take with freezing. The puncture resistance and flexibility ensure a long life and consistent performance. Usually guaranteed for over 20 years.

Polyethylene is the cheapest liner you can buy. But with this lowered cost comes a lowered lifespan. If exposed to sunlight – this material may only last one season. It is not puncture resistant and it is quite stiff. The only serious use of this material is if you have a very large pond with a sandy bottom and can bury the edges so the sunlight can’t get to it. But if you think you want to build a backyard pond cheaply, using this is truly false economy.

Polypropylene is another choice and it comes in the same thickness as EPDM and is equally puncture resistant. The problem comes in the flexibility (about the same as polyethylene which is to say terrible) and this makes it difficult to go around corners. But it is the strongest of the liners.

Old swimming pool liners make terrible liners as they tend to degrade quickly in the sunlight and are quite stiff.

And what about cheaper materials such as that for roofing. The difference between fish-safe and other material is that the fish safe liners are made with a consistent formula. Other non-fish materials might be OK in this batch but if compound A becomes cheaper next week, it will replace the more expensive compound B. The difficulty is that it doesn’t matter for roofing that compound A kills off fish while compound B does not. In fish-safe liners, all material used is consistently fish-safe. But it is possible to obtain a real deal on roof liner material sometimes – just be aware that it may or may not be fish safe.

About the Author
Doug Green, an award winning garden writer with 7 books published answers gardening questions in his free newsletter at www.water-gardens-information.com.

Make Your Own Air Conditioner

2007-08-11T16:18:00.000-03:00

Credit goes out to Pete H. in sunny England for this great build. This version of the homemade air conditioner removes the need to drain water outside by using an aquarium pump, and sits on a rotating base.

Pete's homemade air conditioner is a smart DIY job based on a insulated polystyrene box, ice water, copper tubing, and a fan.

Get the Most from Woodworking Tools with Some Useful Tricks of the Trade

2007-08-03T22:21:00.000-03:00

by: John Mann

Many of the great woodworkers have become skillful because they have had the opportunity to watch and learn from a pro. Undoubtedly, serving as an apprentice under a professional woodworking expert is the best way to hone your own skills but not everyone has this opportunity. However, if you have the drive and passion for woodworking, it is entirely possible to become highly skilled by simply reading about the subject.

The following includes some useful tricks of the trade that will surely help you to get the most out of your woodworking tools. A woodworking expert is not born; it takes time and some useful hints.

Wood is the woodworker’s most important tool.

Without wood, your woodworking tools would have no job and there could be no end product. The first trick to woodworking is knowing how to properly cut plywood, and that involves using the right tools and manipulating the wood in the appropriate way. Different cutting jobs require different blades.

Blades differ depending on the number of teeth, the width, angle and the rake of the blade. Before cutting, assess which blade best suits your cutting needs and which one will help you to produce the cleanest cut possible.

When you are ready to cut, score the cut first by running the plywood through your saw once, removing only a small piece. The next cut that you make will be much cleaner.

To keep a clean line in your cut, use a router. Make sure that your router is fitted with a straight bit as this will help you to achieve a clean line. A pilot bit and a straight edge will also help produce a clean line.

You may also want to consider purchasing a panel scoring setup. Some saws can be fitted with a plywood panel scoring setup that is most useful if you cut a lot of plywood. This setup consists of a smaller blade that first scores the surface of the plywood before the wood reaches the cutter.

Once you have your wood cut, it is necessary to sand down the rough edges. You may not realize it, but sandpaper is one of your important woodworking tools. Here are some helpful wood sanding hints.

For easy handling, some woodworkers cut their sandpaper into smaller pieces if they have a sanding block or a finishing sander while others fold the sandpaper to rotating sides as it wears down. However, make sure that your sandpaper is not folded so that two abrasive sides touch as this will wear down the paper against itself during use. To prevent this, fold the paper so that the abrasive sides contact only the non-abrasive sides. This simply requires a single cut along half of the sheet.

Once all your wood is cut and well sanded, you are ready to build.

Handling wood is not always easy though, but there are tricks that can help you to do the job right.

Anyone who has ever tried to nail into the end of board knows that splitting can happen because as the nail is driven into the wood, the wood fibers are forced apart causing the grain to split. Experienced carpenters will flatten the tip of the nail with a hammer before driving it into the wood because a flattened tip will slice through the wood and crush the fibers rather than split them. This woodworking trick is most useful when installing molding and trim.

There are so many tricks of the trade to be learned when it comes to woodworking. You will find that as you begin to amass a larger knowledge of woodworking tips, your projects will start to look better, and you will be well on your way to becoming a woodworking expert.

Woodworking professionals will tell you that there exists an important relationship between the tools you use and the wood you handle.

About The Author
John Mann is an experienced home renovator and webmaster. Visit his website Workbench Ideas (www.workbench-ideas.com) for workshop tips.

Roofing Secrets Revealed

2007-07-22T15:26:00.000-03:00

by: ARA Content

Choosing the right roofing material for your home can be a mystery for many homeowners. With the number of options available, it has become increasingly difficult to choose.

Over the last few years, residential metal roofing has grown significantly in popularity as many homeowners have learned of its durability, while others have focused on the many styles and colors available. However, there is still a greater number who are trying to unravel the clues.

Tom Black, executive director of the Metal Roofing Alliance (MRA), answers the most common questions most homeowners have about metal roofing:

Why should a homeowner consider metal roofing?

Metal roofing has many advantages. For example, metal roofs have a lower life cycle cost than most traditional roofing material such as asphalt or cedar and it can withstand severe weather such as hail, snow, high winds as well as fire. It's also available in many styles and colors to fit virtually any home.

What is the overall cost of a metal roof?

Metal roofs can initially cost three to four times more than traditional roofing materials, but homeowners should keep in mind that the typical asphalt or cedar roof requires replacement every 15 years. While asphalt or cedar roofs are initially cheaper, when homeowners consider the cost of a metal roof spread out over a 60-year period, metal is the clear choice.

Do metal roofs come with warranties?

While most premium asphalt roofs will last from 12 to 20 years, metal can last more than 60. That's why you'll find most metal roofing with warranties of about 50 years -- nearly four times more than most other roofing products.

Aren't metal roofs noisy?

Not at all. Metal roofs with solid sheathing and insulation control noise from rain, hail and bad weather just as well as any other roofing material.

How does metal roofing stand up to extreme weather?

Metal roofing is the most durable roofing material available. Whether it's hail, snow, severe winds or even fire, metal roofing protects homeowners from whatever Mother Nature can throw their way. For example, in a hail storm, a metal roof's solid structure prevents dents, dings and other damage hail is known to cause. In fact, homeowners in some areas receive up to a 30 percent reduction in their homeowners insurance for having a metal roof installed.

Will metal roofing help combat the rising cost of energy?

One of the most beneficial aspects of metal roofing is its ability to insulate a home. Not only does metal roofing keep the house comfortable regardless of the weather outside, but it can actually lower air conditioning and heating bills.

Will metal roofing fit with the style of my house and neighborhood?

Definitely! Metal roofing comes in a variety of styles, colors and finishes and is made to look just like other popular types of roofing material including cedar shake, slate, asphalt shingles and clay tiles.

Where can homeowners go for more information on metal roofing?

Homeowners can go to www.metalroofing.com to learn more about metal roofing, view the various styles available and participate in the "Ask the Experts" section.

Courtesy ARA Content, www.ARAcontent.com; e-mail: info@ARAcontent.com

Get Ready for Hurricane Season

2007-07-21T10:24:00.000-03:00

With that record-breaking hurricane season a couple of seasons ago, and then much-ado-about-nothing (for the most part) after a big build up last year in the news, this year looks like shaping up to be a real doozy!

So I was curious to find out more about where hurricanes come from, especially why one year is so much different than another year for severe weather. And also what we should be doing to prepare for a hurricane or other big storms. Browsing in Chapters I came across a pocket-sized book that covers everything you wanted to know about hurricanes... but didn't know who to ask.

Hurricanes: What You Need to Know is a nifty little guidebook that anyone within striking distance of a hurricane should read...and heed.

It's got interesting (to me) scientific stuff about how they form, storm tracks, how they're named, and how they're categorized.

It's also loaded with practical things to do to prepare for a hurricane, from protecting your home and family, making evacuation plans and checklists, to dealing with the aftermath if the worst should happen.

When Hurricane Season begins...
Verify the telephone numbers and personal information of everyone on the plan.

Print updated copies of the emergency plan for all the members of your family, your children's school, and other frequently-used facilities.

Change the batteries in your flashlights and portable radio, and replace the spare batteries.

Replenish your emergency kits. Replace the bottled water, ensure that all food is still safe to eat, and check that medicines have not expired.

Good practical steps that people in Hurricane-prone areas take every year as a matter course, right?

Apparently not.

I couldn't believe it when I read Broderick Perkins' story last year on the 2006 hurricane season forecast (Outer Banks Sentinel):

A poll of 1,277 residents in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia recently conducted by Elon, NC-based Institute for Politics and Public Affairs at Elon University found that 57 percent had done nothing to prepare for the hurricane season. Can you imagine? Right on the heels of that Hurricane Katrina and the rest!

Elon also found only 18 percent had taken basic hurricane preparedness steps including purchasing bottled water, canned food, batteries or preparing a hurricane survival kit. Only 7 percent had prepared their home for a hurricane by making upgrades or installing safety shutters or doors.

I've never had to worry much about hurricanes here... but with global warming, it's not out of the question anymore.

Although I don't live in a high-risk hurricane area, we've seen our fair share of major winter blows as well as an increasing number of borderline tornados within a hundred mile radius of our country home. High winds and torrential rain are a disturbing phenomena - mostly because there's little we can do to protect ourselves or our home once the storm arrives on our doorstep.

My guidebook will probably live in the downstairs bathroom, where I can grab it and tuck into our emergency kit if we're ever forced to head for the hills.

Spruce Up Your Home Without Busting Your Budget

2007-07-02T23:11:00.000-03:00

by ARA Content

Do-it-yourself tips for summer remodeling projects

Ah, summer. Between neighborhood softball games and trips to the community pool, it's the biggest time of the year for moving and home remodeling.

While many of us turn our thoughts to upgrading our homes, our budgets may already be tapped. Here are some simple do-it-yourself ideas to spruce up your home, specifically the kitchen and bath, without breaking your budget.

Jazz up cabinets with snappy new drawer pulls.

One of the simplest ways to add pizzazz to the kitchen is to install new cabinet hardware, says home improvement expert Don Vandervort of www.hometips.com.

"At your local hardware store you'll find a wide array of drawer pull designs - from painted ceramic or metal knobs, to whimsical designs shaped like knives and forks. Simply unscrew your existing cupboard hardware, replace with the new, and presto, you've completed a quick an inexpensive update for your home."

Pour on the charm: upgrade the faucet.

A beautifully designed faucet can change the look of your sink area and the way you feel about your drinking water. Simple faucet design lines can make a clean and modern addition to the kitchen or bathroom sink, while some faucet models can even improve the taste of the water coming from the tap.

"Not everyone likes the taste of their tap water," says Vandervort. "For those who choose the filtration route, an attractive, yet practical solution is the ClearTap Water Filtering Kitchen or Lavatory Faucet, made by American Standard. It removes contaminants, retains fluoride, and produces clean, good tasting water with the turn of a faucet handle."

Kids climbing the walls? Try scrubbable paint.

Ketchup, food, scuff marks, mud all these things can just be wiped clean with some of the new high-performance paint finishes available today.

"Interior paints have a scrubbability rating, established through standardized testing," Vandervort says. "Though this rating may not be posted on the can, a paint retailer should have information on the rating."

"One problem with using a flat paint on interior walls is that it doesn't take kindly to scrubbing," he says. "If you scrub it with a damp cloth, you'll remove the dirt or smudge, but the exposed pigment particles can ruin the finish. To avoid this, choose a high performance paint (not flat), that can stand up to a good washing."

Expand space with drawer organizers.

Is a small-sized kitchen or bath cramping your style? Try adding drawer organizers to increase your storage space.

These days, you can find a nice range of inexpensive racks and slide-in baskets at discount and hardware stores. Whether you store cleaning utensils, Grandma's vintage pie pans, or your favorite bath salts you can create new nooks and crannies for all of your stuff, and get the clutter off the counter.

Gain a foothold on more attractive flooring.

Flooring makes a huge difference in the appearance of a kitchen or bath. "Oftentimes vinyl flooring is dated and worn," Vandervort says. "But the good news is that you can go ahead and lie new vinyl or laminated wood material right over the old flooring. Many of the items available today give the look of ceramic tile or natural wood at a lower cost."

Brighten it up.

For an easy and inexpensive way to brighten up a kitchen, install under-the-counter lighting. A small purchase at the hardware store is all it takes to completely change the way the light hits the surfaces of a room. You can also save energy dollars by choosing the right lighting.

"Switch from incandescent light bulbs to highly efficient compact fluorescents, and you'll use about one-quarter to one-third less energy to produce the same amount of light," Vandervort says. Another tip: move natural light further into rooms by bouncing it off the ceiling. A window located close to the ceiling works for this, as do louvers or operable blinds that can help direct light.

Make a tiny bathroom look larger.

Even a bathroom the size of a phone booth can look larger with a little ingenuity, according to www.americanstandard-us.com. Try using lighter, cooler colors: they feel airy and trick the eye. Wallpaper with a smaller pattern also helps expand the space. Try some on the ceiling, or emphasize horizontal lines with a coordinating border. Or try installing bath tile that contains a subtle pattern and then repeat it onto the floor. If your bath is really petite, try using a trim pedestal lavatory or wall hung fixtures - both free up valuable floor space. Also, remember to go heavy on the lighting and choose reflective surfaces, such as a shiny marble vanity.

For more easy and inexpensive tips on sprucing up your home this summer, visit www.americanstandard-us.com or www.hometips.com.

Courtesy ARA Content, www.ARAcontent.com; e-mail: info@ARAcontent.com

To Remodel, Or Not To Remodel? That Is The Question

2007-06-21T01:03:00.000-03:00

by Dakota Caudilla

If your lifestyle has changed and your current home cannot accommodate you--maybe you've gotten married or you've had children--then remodeling could well provide you with the means to create a more comfortable home.

Budget, budget, budget

Before you begin anything you really need to plan a strict budget and set aside a specific amount of funds for the job. One of the most essential aspects of successful remodeling is to have a clear idea of what is to be done to what and when, and how much it will all cost. Major disappointments (and expensive ones, too) occur when there is no clear plan, first. A budget will help you make important decisions about amount of work necessary and the quality and type of materials to be used. Seeking expert advice is always advisable.

Thinking ahead

Before you begin discussing the changes that need to be made, think ahead. Determine what your needs are right now, and what your needs will be in the future. Do you need extra space right now because you are planning on having a baby? Will the extra space accommodate a second child say in two or five years? Never plan for right now. Needs change so quickly and you could save money in the long run if you remodel your home with the future in mind. On the other hand, don't over remodel. Doing too much can prove wasteful and expensive.

When in doubt, ask an expert

You may think that you can't afford an expert to help you with your remodeling plans. It doesn't hurt to shop around and ask. If you do decide to go with an expert make sure it is an architect and contractor you feel comfortable with. Remodeling your home can cause a lot of anxiety so it is best that you feel free enough to communicate exactly what you want without feeling pressured.

Dakota Caudilla, journalist, and website builder Dakota Caudilla lives in Texas. He is the owner and co-editor of www.home-makeover.net on which you will find a longer, more detailed version of this article.