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Archive for February, 2010

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Buying and Installing Window Blinds Without Spending A Fortune

February 25th, 2010

Window blinds are one of the most attractive and costliest window treatments. You can however greatly lower you costs by doing most of the work yourself and shopping wisely. This is possible with a little knowledge, knowing how to uses a few tools and also buying ready made blinds and not the custom kind. You can also make roman blinds using your own custom fabric. This however would be require a little sewing experience, but it is an option and there are countless online tutorials that will show you how. This article will give you some pointers on how you can pay a fraction of the price of what can cost hundreds if not thousands of dollars to outfit all your windows with blinds.

Your research of of window blinds will result in you being familiar with some major brands. There are the high end brands such as Hunter Douglas, Levolor, Graber and Bali. These are the best you can buy but the only problem is they cost so much money. And our objective is to be cost effective without compromising the quality of the blinds we will install. The first thing you should do is find out the sizes of all your windows as well as any doors you want to install the blinds on. After you have all your measurements it is time if you have standard size windows and doors. Hopefully all your windows will be standard sized. Unless of course you have a bay window or arched window that would require custom sized vertical window blinds.

When shopping you will notice that the most expensive materials used for blinds are natural wood and fabric louvers. Faux wood can easily replace the natural wood, it will be just as durable, look just as good and will lost one third of the price of wooden blinds. Vinyl is a great alternative to custom fabric designs. They are made of PVC, which is guaranteed to last a very long time. You might also consider aluminum, although it will cost more than vinyl.

» Read more: Buying and Installing Window Blinds Without Spending A Fortune

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Posted in Windows & Doors

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New Pantry Doors In Your Kitchen

February 24th, 2010

One of the things about kitchen designs is that they change over time.  And, with some of the recent trends in home decorating for kitchen spaces, what was great yesterday is old fashion today.  If you get caught up in this sort of dance, you are sure to feel stressed to try and keep up with the latest design trends.  One place where you can get a great look and change it over time is with your pantry doors and cabinet doors.  A new kitchen will cost tens of thousands of dollars for a complete renovation.  However, you can get a new look through some simple strategies that may save you thousands.

A possible way to achieve this is by using your cabinet doors for your new kitchen.  In other words, you can re-use those old doors and give them a fresh new look.  Sometimes, just a little paint and some new hardware can make them look like the latest design out there.  If you want a completely new look, then you’ll have to spend the money on replacements.  However, you might even be able to save some money by using your existing cabinet structure or ‘bones’ like the shelves and mounted unit and just replace the cabinet doors themselves.  This might require some freshening up of the old cabinet unit that is mounted on the wall, but it may well be worth the cost.  You may even be able to tackle this project yourself – definitely something to consider.

Now, if you want new pantry doors, this is something that is a bit trickier.  You can certainly just buy new ones and there are plenty from which to choose.  Some of the popular styles involve a glass insert in a wooden frame.  These are typically wood doors with either a clear or frosted glass insert.  That glass piece can also be decorated with glass-etched images or a design suitable for a kitchen.  You can paint or stain the wood to match most any kitchen decor.  So, if you want to change your cabinets or appliances and counters at some point, you can still keep your pantry in tact. » Read more: New Pantry Doors In Your Kitchen

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Fiberglass Pool Kits

February 22nd, 2010

On of the main advantages often listed when people discuss fiberglass pools is that they can be purchased as fiberglass pool kits. In my opinion this can be an advantage or a disadvantage.

A fiberglass pool kit is basically a one-size fits all option – in other words you can’t customize it to fit seamlessly into your own back yard. This can be a disadvantage if there is something you want that isn’t offered in a kit. However, it can be an advantage if you’re all about simplicity – much fewer decisions to make.

I just stated that these kits are one-size fits all. This is true and not true. Let me explain. There are specific kits available with a limited number of sizes and shapes. However there are more than one size and shape of pool for you to choose from, therefore you do have a handful of options, just not a multitude of options. Again an advantage or a disadvantage depending on your perspective.

Another consideration when considering a fiberglass pool kit is that all fiberglass pools are required to be in ground. The pressure from the water and the surrounding earth keep the pool from cracking and grounded. Therefore purchasing a fiberglass inground pool does not cover the excavation and implementation costs. This is never really an advantage, just something to be aware of. However, if you are planning on installing the pool yourself it can be a huge disadvantage. Many people underestimate how much it will cost to excavate the pool area. Time and money are also wasted if the person has no previous experience installing pools. » Read more: Fiberglass Pool Kits

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Posted in Hot Tubs, Pools & Spas

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Plumbing Advice from Atlanta Plumbers

February 21st, 2010

After working for many years as a professional plumber I’ve learned quite a bit about some of the mistakes that the average home-owner makes when it comes to simple plumbing maintenance.  Many of my closest friends are fellow Atlanta plumbers, and we often comment on how so much of our money is made as simple handymen.  Here are a few tips that you can use to make your home a little more plumbing friendly and more comfortable. After all it is better to make sure everything is functioning well than to let things turn into a plumbing emergency. » Read more: Plumbing Advice from Atlanta Plumbers

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Posted in Plumbing

Insulating with Upvc Windows

February 19th, 2010

In most homes the majority of your heat loss is through the

windows. To stop this loss of heat in the winter months you

need highly energy efficient double glazed windows. These

are windows which are made up from two panes of glass which

are sealed together with a small air space between them to

provide an insulating barrier. These window units are then

installed into a frame work to make up the actual window.

These frames also make up a lot of your windows insulating

ability. They must have a tight fit to prevent air leaks, or

chilly drafts, and they must of course be a good insulating

material them self’s.

While wood is used for most window frames it is not as good

an insulating material as upvc or some similar material

which can be molded with insulating pockets built into the

frame itself. The wooden frames over time, or with not

enough upkeep, will warp and rot allowing in the cold

drafts. Upvc being a sturdier material will maintain its

tight tolerances keeping out the cold drafts. and of course

it will last for many years without rotting or loosing its

good fit, » Read more: Insulating with Upvc Windows

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Posted in Windows & Doors

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Can You Install Ceiling Lights On Your Own?

February 18th, 2010

For the DIY homeowner, the idea of installing their own ceiling lights might seem like a job that is right up their alley.  In some circumstances it certainly is, but in others you definitely need the help of a qualified professional.  In this post I will show you the difference between these two situations, as well as some tips for installing lights of your own.

You just bought your shiny new chrome ceiling light fixture, and are chomping at the bit to get it installed and bask in its warm glory.  But you realize that the light that you want to replace is totally different than the one that you just bought!  What gives?!  I’ve been in this exact situation before, and it’s definitely not any fun!

The times to install your own ceiling lights is when the new one is mounted exactly the same as the old one.  All you have to do is turn the power off, take off the old light, hook up the new one, secure it, and you’re ready to go.

Unfortunately most lights are not this way!  Most of the time you will have to increase the size of the opening in the ceiling to get the new light to secure.  This isn’t a tough job, but if you’ve never worked with cutting into drywall it can be extremely stressful (like trying to cut a sunroof into your car kind of stress).  That’s not to say it can’t be done, but if you screw it up it’s a ton of work to get it repaired.  If you aren’t sure, hire a pro to install one light and watch them like a hawk to figure out how to do it on your own. » Read more: Can You Install Ceiling Lights On Your Own?

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Posted in Lighting

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Tips For Planning a carport

February 18th, 2010

Unfortunately, due to my wife and I collecting various items over the years we are no longer able to get the car in the garage. The ideal solution would have been to have built a storage shed years ago, but unfortunately I didn’t.

Most of the time the car is fine outside but it does get dirty quickly and birds mess on it which just makes more work for me. Therefore, I decided to resolve this problem by building a carport and search for some good plans.

I initially started to draw my own plans but this soon turned into a bigger job than I thought it would. I decided, therefore, to go online and find some plans for carports that would produce a good looking structure, would be simple enough for me to build myself and would meet the local planning codes.

With the plans comes a comprehensive list of all the tools and materials needed. It also lists the quantities required and all the hardware to ensure that the project would go without a hitch.

In my area, we experience high winds and hurricanes are infrequent but a distinct possibility. I therefore had to ensure that the carport would withstand heavy winds. This involves making sure the posts are anchored down properly. The carport has no side wall, therefore, without correct anchoring they can easily be lifted by powerful winds and destroyed.

Another factor was the collection of snow on the roof in winter. The roof had to be able to support the extra pounds in weight of snowfall. This is achieved with a correctly pitched roof that allows heavy collections of snow to just fall away. » Read more: Tips For Planning a carport

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Posted in Garage

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The Benefits of Tiled Walk In Shower Stalls

February 17th, 2010

There are many benefits of choosing to use tiled walk in shower stalls when you decide to renovate your bathroom. A walk in shower is created by pouring a shower pan with a water proof barrier under it. The walls have the same water proof barrier and then a tile backer applied. The pan is sloped to the drain so you have to lay tile to fit the angle. Sometimes special cuts are needed to make the tile lay to the angle of the floor. After the wall tile and floor tile are layed they are all sealed so water will not go through them.

With a walk in shower you have only a small lip to step over. This makes them very easy to access even for elderly or handicapped individuals. In fact all handicap equipped showers are walk in types. This easy access feature also makes it safer. When you do not have to step over the edge of a tub or something you have less chances of slipping and hurting yourself. This is an important feature when you get up in age and your bones are a little weaker. This is also a good feature when you have an injury.

A tiled walk in shower stall can also offer you more room when you wash, which is fantastic if you happen to be a little bigger than average. No need to squeeze into a standard shower enclosure. They also can be made so a curtain or door is not required. This is an excellent benefit if you do not like the feel of the » Read more: The Benefits of Tiled Walk In Shower Stalls

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Garage Door Remote Control Replacement

February 16th, 2010

Some garage door opening devices are supplied with 2 or 3 remote control handheld units. These units when pressed will activate the garage door openers and the door will either open or close. Sometimes the remote control units become lost or damaged and do not work. Or perhaps you just need additional units for each of the house holders that require access to the garage. 

Most, if not all, of the manufacturers of garage door opening mechanisms will supply additional or replacement remote control units, but they are expensive. There are universal garage door remote replacement kits on the market that can be attached to your existing door opening mechanism at a much lower cost. They are easy to fit and usually are supplied as standard with two or three handheld units. 

If you are just looking for additional transmitters, and you have in your possession one of the original hand held remote control units, you can then purchase universal remotes that can be cloned from that original. Many remote control units work by sending a code to the receiver in the garage to open or close the door. A cloned transmitter will copy this code from the original unit and store it. When the button on the new device is pressed it will send the new stored code to operate the door. Some other remote control units will send a different code every time the button is pressed. With these remotes » Read more: Garage Door Remote Control Replacement

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Posted in Garage

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