Home Improvement Remodeling Articles at ReliableRemodeler.com

Remodeling projects in 2011 remained on a small scale

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:10:30 +0000

Consumers are still skittish about spending on home remodeling in the economy, according to statistics from Remodeling Magazine. The magazine’s highly respected Cost vs Value Report comes out annually, ranking projects by return on investment and citing home remodeling trends. For 2011-2012, consumers earned the best values on attic bedroom conversions, minor kitchen remodeling, garage [...]

Remodeling projects in 2011 remained on a small scale is brought to you by the home remodeling pros at Reliable Remodeler. Get more of your questions answered at Ask the Contractor.

Does your home meet miminum energy codes?

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 02:24:55 +0000

Does your new or remodeled home meet the minimum energy codes for construction and design? If you’re like most consumers, Alliance to Save Energy (ASE) believes that you have no idea. Last fall, the nonprofit agency reported that energy bills in an average new home that doesn’t meet the minimums are consistently higher. In fact, they’re [...]

Does your home meet miminum energy codes? is brought to you by the home remodeling pros at Reliable Remodeler. Get more of your questions answered at Ask the Contractor.

Can I remove my house’s second level in order to create a taller ceiling height in my living room?

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:48:40 +0000

I want to remove a second floor bedroom above the living room that is on the first floor of my house so that I can create a higher ceiling for the living room? Is this possibe, what are the pitfalls?

What’s the typical cost of drywall installation?

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:14:55 +0000

We are remodeling our basement, adding 2 BR's and 1BA. We are going to complete all the work ourselves, except for the drywall and paint. Could you give me a ball park estimate on what a drywaller and painter might cost to do these parts of the project? There is probably 1500 sqft of wall coverage. Thanks

How can I hook up a washer and dryer?

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:21:45 +0000

My house has no hook ups on the main floor for a washer and dryer. I would like to install a W & D in my mudroom, where do I begin?

Is it time for a garage-door tune up?

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 05:15:13 +0000

Of all the doors or gates to your home, your garage door and opener probably experience the greatest amount of wear and tear during a year of ordinary use. Imagine how many times that door has opened in the last 365 days; how many round trips have you made to work, school or the local [...]

Is it time for a garage-door tune up? is brought to you by the home remodeling pros at Reliable Remodeler. Get more of your questions answered at Ask the Contractor.

Repairing kitchen water damage

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 02:08:41 +0000

I need to replace a couple of the laminate floor boards on my kitchen floor that were warped by water from a leaky refrigerator. My kitchen cabinets are installed on top of the laminate flooring, some of which needs to be removed and replaced. How can I remove the flooring without removing all the cabinets?

Does a cedar shake roof add value to your home?

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:07:58 +0000

What type of roof would add more value to my house, a cedar shake roof or an asphalt shingle roof? Thanks in advance.

Daylight harvesting is coming to your town

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 02:32:33 +0000

Daylight harvesting, once deployed only in large commercial and industrial settings, is getting lot of airtime with home builders and renovators. The process is just like it sounds: You install a combined window treatment and lighting system that coordinates the amount of heat and light that comes through your windows into living spaces. It’s not [...]

Daylight harvesting is coming to your town is brought to you by the home remodeling pros at Reliable Remodeler. Get more of your questions answered at Ask the Contractor.

How do I level a sloped concrete floor?

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 19:05:27 +0000

We have converted our home's exterior patio into an enclosed porch with walls. There is a slope to the concrete floor, which I would like to level prior to framing the interior walls and installing the trim and floor covering. What is the best way to level a sloping concrete floor?

Rolled roofing: installing a cap sheet

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 20:10:01 +0000

I'm putting a new roof on my house and have already installed some 30# roofing felt to the sheathing. What's the best way to install the cap sheet and what type of adhesive should I use?

Is it bad to run the air conditioning during construction?

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:38:59 +0000

I am in the middle of a house construction project. The AC is now operational, but is it okay to use it while other construction is still happening?

Can my contractor charge profit and overhead on change orders that give me credit?

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:33:50 +0000

Although our construction budget had a line item for an $8000 metal roof, we instead chose a $2000 shingle roof. Our contractor is still charging us profit and overhead on the $8000 line item, is this fair?

Can I texture the paneling in my living room?

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 04:47:35 +0000

Can I texture over the wood paneling in my living room?

How secure is your home?

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 02:15:01 +0000

It’s my nature to surf the world of online home improvement blogs. There’s great information out there, including home improvement ideas if you’re rebuilding or going green. But I’ve yet to see a blog give any bandwidth to a discussion about home safety and security. Are we just numb to the same old ideas of [...]

How secure is your home? is brought to you by the home remodeling pros at Reliable Remodeler. Get more of your questions answered at Ask the Contractor.

What does “green remodeling” really mean?

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 19:43:36 +0000

You’ve heard a lot about green remodeling. Many new homes are constructed with green building materials, appliances, windows and doors. Green, in short, means that the initial builder or homeowner making a sustainable home improvement is concerned with energy efficiency, indoor air quality, the conservation of natural resources and, ultimately, home value. Let’s look at the [...]

What does “green remodeling” really mean? is brought to you by the home remodeling pros at Reliable Remodeler. Get more of your questions answered at Ask the Contractor.

Wise budgeting for home remodeling

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 00:26:31 +0000

If you’ve ever had to live in a home a while with only half of your remodeling project completed, I feel your pain. Planning ahead for overages when you’re budgeting can spare you the headache of working your life around open walls or unfinished woodwork. Sometimes it’s just a matter of neglecting to deal with [...]

Wise budgeting for home remodeling is brought to you by the home remodeling pros at Reliable Remodeler. Get more of your questions answered at Ask the Contractor.

Nail gun safety for homeowner-remodelers

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 19:15:32 +0000

The most-famous motto for all contractors and DIY handymen/women is “measure twice, cut once”. I’d prefer to move the phrase, “work safe, work smart” to the top of the slogan list. A report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) cites 37,000 emergency room visits a year to treat catastrophic injuries caused by nail [...]

Nail gun safety for homeowner-remodelers is brought to you by the home remodeling pros at Reliable Remodeler. Get more of your questions answered at Ask the Contractor.

Green insulation for new homes and additions

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 22:44:18 +0000

Structural insulated panels (SIPs) are among the latest green design building systems used for residential construction. SIPs are panels manufactured with a foam insulating core packaged between oriented-strand board skins. The resulting sandwich is durable, high in energy efficiency and may even reduce the scale of the systems used to heat and cool your home. Since [...]

Green insulation for new homes and additions is brought to you by the home remodeling pros at Reliable Remodeler. Get more of your questions answered at Ask the Contractor.

Try green insulation for health and energy efficiency

Sun, 08 Jan 2012 16:29:28 +0000

If you’re committed to going green, you’ll be curious about the new generation of efficient, low-impact insulation products on the market. Traditional insulation products can off-gas (at worst) or give off odors in your home. You can swap them out for low or non-VOC emitting insulation products and, at the same time, fill your home [...]

Try green insulation for health and energy efficiency is brought to you by the home remodeling pros at Reliable Remodeler. Get more of your questions answered at Ask the Contractor.

Federal tax credits for New Year improvements

Sun, 01 Jan 2012 04:34:33 +0000

Now that 2011 has passed, many of the Federal tax credits offered by the government for new windows, insulation, doors, and other products for home energy efficiency remodeling have also drawn to an end. Even with these incentives gone, you should still consider evaluating energy efficient materials before making a purchase, or choose other green [...]

Federal tax credits for New Year improvements is brought to you by the home remodeling pros at Reliable Remodeler. Get more of your questions answered at Ask the Contractor.

How to choose the perfect light bulb

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 17:22:21 +0000

Are all light bulb products interchangeable? Not so, according to Consumer Reports. The product evaluator and watchdog recommends that you match the replacement bulb to your lighting fixture. Even if you buy a bulb made for energy efficiency, using it in the wrong environment can shorten its life and negatively affect its performance. Selecting your bulb First, [...]

How to choose the perfect light bulb is brought to you by the home remodeling pros at Reliable Remodeler. Get more of your questions answered at Ask the Contractor.

Record utility costs may drive us to energy efficiecy

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 22:22:53 +0000

A new study shows that the price of electricity provided to American homeowners has skyrocketed over the last five years. Energy price research conducted by the USA TODAY shows that we’ve endured the longest consistent stretch of utility bill increases since the 1970s. Today’s average bills represent a $300 annual increase in electric bills over [...]

Record utility costs may drive us to energy efficiecy is brought to you by the home remodeling pros at Reliable Remodeler. Get more of your questions answered at Ask the Contractor.

Smart green building devices that promote energy efficiency

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 18:26:14 +0000

Have you heard about smart meters? A smart meter connects homes with the electric grid. It’s a two-way communicator that helps homeowners truly examine their energy use and make decisions about how to operate their appliances, HVAC systems, and lighting. Depending on your utility provider, your smart meter can help you determine the best hours (known [...]

Smart green building devices that promote energy efficiency is brought to you by the home remodeling pros at Reliable Remodeler. Get more of your questions answered at Ask the Contractor.

New windows can curb record-high energy bills

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 04:19:22 +0000

If you’ve been watching your electric bills soar, welcome to the club. A new report from USA TODAY finds that we’ve endured five straight years of increases, making it the largest leap since the energy woes of the 1970s. Even if your earnings have stagnated, the cost to consumers for electricity has kept on rising. We [...]

New windows can curb record-high energy bills is brought to you by the home remodeling pros at Reliable Remodeler. Get more of your questions answered at Ask the Contractor.

Spring Lawncare Sets the Tone for the Year

If you want your lawn healthy and attractive for summer parties and barbecues, you haven't a moment to lose.

Should You Call a Contractor Before Putting Your House on the Market?

Selling your home is never a simple proposition. One of the simplest ways to succeed in any housing market is to increase the curb appeal of your home.

Sell Your Home Quickly: Add a Deck or a Fence for Instant Impact

You are ready to put your house on the market, but is your house ready to sell itself? If the answer is no then think about a few improvements that can make a world of difference.

12 Affordable Ways to Brighten Your Home's Facade

Whether you're in the market to sell your home or just want to boost its curb appeal, these twelve handy tips can give you the advantage you want.

Adding a Mudroom to Your Home

If organization is your goal, think about creating a mudroom for your home

7 Easy Steps to Prepare Your Backyard Pool for Summertime

Who doesn't love a bit of summertime fun in the backyard pool? But before you take that refreshing dip, some attention to preparation and maintenance is in order. Before the summer sun beats down, take these steps to get your backyard pool ready.

Five Backyard Projects for Warm Weather Fun

Springtime doesn't just mean blooming flowers and incessant cleaning, it means preparing your landscape for the dog days of summer. If you're ready to shed your winter clothes and head outdoors, consider these five backyard projects for warm weather fun.

Indoor Air Quality Check Off List - Checking it Twice!

The indoor air quality check off list can be a useful tool for making sure you know how to keep the air in your home free of pollutants anf, and safe for you and your family to breathe.

A Lesson in Patience: Deck Core Rot Repair

Deck core rot repair takes some careful planning and a lot of patience. Cored wood is wood that is almost like a sandwich.

Ready For Clean! - How to Start Pressure Washing

Some cleaning jobs take a lot of force – water force. Pressure washing uses a pressure washer that sprays water with high powered force so you can clean even the toughest grime, grease or mold. Learning how to start pressure washing the right way can make the job easier and quicker.

Hiring the Pros for Bathroom and Kitchen Cabinets

Thought there are many projects you can complete on your own in your home, bathroom and kitchen cabinets are not always the best ones for beginners to get started on. From the actual construction of the bathroom and kitchen cabinets to the installation of the cabinets themselves, this can be a project that is time consuming and simply intimidating if you're not a well-trained professional.

Pros and Cons of Solar Energy

Solar energy is one of the fastest growing segments of alternative energy sources available today. Solar energy provides efficient energy without any harm to our environment or depleting our natural energy sources. Overall the pros outweigh the cons of solar energy evaluation. There are some cons.

An Array of Landscaping Ideas for Your Home

One of the best ways to increase the value and aesthetics of your home is to beautify the landscape. Because changing the landscape of your home is usually inexpensive, it provides a solid return on investment.