Remodeling your home can make it feel like you have moved house but the problem is deciding on what choice to go with; choices have to be made and this is where the delays happen. When you decide on remodeling the interior or exterior of your home you also have to consider the expense of completing this task. The budget does control what gets done, whether the best materials are used and even those who will do the job so it is not a subject to be rushed. The first step should really to call in a contractor who will make suggestions on materials and styles given the budget you will have set and talked about. If you intend to use the contractor to carry out the work you need to make it clear from day one, whose responsibility it is to purchase the materials.
It may be worthwhile at this point to let your neighbors know that there may be some remodeling disturbance for a while as it is always best to keep on their good side. Measurements are crucial and the importance of this aspect cannot be stressed enough as it will concern every aspect of remodeling including what materials you will be able to afford and are available. One of the hardest aspects to deal with is ordering the correct products and materials for your home remodeling and you might find it easier to leave this in the hands of the contractor.
Often a contractor is only called in to consult with the home owners with technical aspects which they have already made plans about. A general contractor negotiates a contract for the entire project, and either completes the specialized work with his own crew, or sub-contracts to other various house remodeling contractors. Some people that start these projects are quite experienced and prefer a hands on approach only employing a general or specialist contractor over aspects it they are not comfortable completing alone. Often people do not want to move so home remodeling is the answer and it usually increases the value of the home at the same time. Some desired home improvements seem to differ from region to region (sometimes from city to city) so before embarking on any work, be sure to investigate what types of improvements are being carried out on in your neck of the woods. However, if you are just purely making your home a better place to live in, this remodeling may or may not coincide with what is happening elsewhere.
View Ideas And Trends For Home Remodeling and Home improvement.
Choosing Remodeled Basement Wall Products
As housing costs slump and more and more people are finishing their basements instead of selling their homes, companies are designing their own basement remodeling wall panels. Unfortunately, many of these companies have products that have been hastily produced, poorly researched, or make misleading claims to the effectiveness of their final product. Before you make a final decision on which basement finishing products you want, ask yourself these five questions:
1. Is this basement wall product water resistant? A basement water leak at some point isn't a matter of how, it's a matter of when. With all the pipes, sinks, and toilets in the house along with the water heater, washing machine, and water storage tank, something is definitely going to leak. Additionally, rain and ground water can leak through foundation wall cracks in the basement walls or floor as well as through the foundation wall-floor joint.
2. Will my basement wall product resist mold? Even when your basement is not leaking, water can still come through the porous concrete, stone, or tile foundation walls because of hydrostatic pressure. This moisture will collect behind and under your finished basement wall product. If it has any organic material, this material is going to grow mold. Fiberglass, drywall, wood, and most other building materials used for basement walls have at least some organic material. Mold and dust mites growing on the organic material will release spores and fecal material in the air that will travel throughout the house and are two of the top allergens in a home.
3. How durable will my walls be? Once you finish your basement, you're going to want to use it. This means that you may want pictures, shelves, cabinets, a plasma TV, a mirror, a wine rack, or any number of other items mounted on the walls. You're going to want a strong, reliable wall that can hold up. Additionally, it's important to have basement walls that can handle daily wear and tear without breaking, scratching, or becoming damaged. A product that washes easily is also important- especially if children and pets will be in the room. A good test to see if your wall is going to be able to handle stains is to draw a pencil line on a sample. If it can be easily removed, then you should be able to wash most stains from the wall. Beware of absorbent wall materials- if it absorbs moisture easily, it will also absorb spills and other liquids.
1. Is this basement wall product water resistant? A basement water leak at some point isn't a matter of how, it's a matter of when. With all the pipes, sinks, and toilets in the house along with the water heater, washing machine, and water storage tank, something is definitely going to leak. Additionally, rain and ground water can leak through foundation wall cracks in the basement walls or floor as well as through the foundation wall-floor joint.
2. Will my basement wall product resist mold? Even when your basement is not leaking, water can still come through the porous concrete, stone, or tile foundation walls because of hydrostatic pressure. This moisture will collect behind and under your finished basement wall product. If it has any organic material, this material is going to grow mold. Fiberglass, drywall, wood, and most other building materials used for basement walls have at least some organic material. Mold and dust mites growing on the organic material will release spores and fecal material in the air that will travel throughout the house and are two of the top allergens in a home.
3. How durable will my walls be? Once you finish your basement, you're going to want to use it. This means that you may want pictures, shelves, cabinets, a plasma TV, a mirror, a wine rack, or any number of other items mounted on the walls. You're going to want a strong, reliable wall that can hold up. Additionally, it's important to have basement walls that can handle daily wear and tear without breaking, scratching, or becoming damaged. A product that washes easily is also important- especially if children and pets will be in the room. A good test to see if your wall is going to be able to handle stains is to draw a pencil line on a sample. If it can be easily removed, then you should be able to wash most stains from the wall. Beware of absorbent wall materials- if it absorbs moisture easily, it will also absorb spills and other liquids.
Seeking Contractors For Home Remodeling
Home remodeling has never been so popular but it is not an easy task deciding what to have; there are now so many variations of materials and styles that it can cause problems making a choice. The next aspect of any remodeling, outside or inside is the expense related to those plans. Unfortunately, for the vast majority of homeowners, the cost is the primary consideration and often it is not possible to have everything within the budget that has been set. To make this task easier, many people hire a contractor to go through the plans with them to provide a professional opinion of how much money it will cost. If you intend to use the contractor to carry out the work you need to make it clear from day one, whose responsibility it is to purchase the materials. If you are living close to other people you might want to consider letting them know about your remodeling plans in case there will be any disturbance. Once you have done this it will be time to measure up exactly what is required for the project but be very careful with this and double check everything as any errors on your part could prove expensive. This is where it starts to get a little tricky, especially if you have decided to carry out the home remodeling material ordering yourself.
Some people have definite plans about what they want to achieve with their improvements and only call in a contractor for consultation purposes. Often contractors that are employed to carry out the work may decide specialized areas of the project would be better served by sub-contractors who are experts in a particular part of the project. Alternatively you can hire services of a general contractor or even specialized contractors for your entire project or just certain aspects of it. The popularity of home remodeling has been fueled by the desire to stay in a neighborhood you feel comfortable with whilst improving the home simultaneously. Although it can be difficult because the type of home improvements can depend on where you live, and does vary considerably, so it is worth finding out from contractors what their most popular work is. The type of remodeling work you are considering will obviously depend on your circumstances and if you intend to stay, then area fashions will not be your major concern.
Some people have definite plans about what they want to achieve with their improvements and only call in a contractor for consultation purposes. Often contractors that are employed to carry out the work may decide specialized areas of the project would be better served by sub-contractors who are experts in a particular part of the project. Alternatively you can hire services of a general contractor or even specialized contractors for your entire project or just certain aspects of it. The popularity of home remodeling has been fueled by the desire to stay in a neighborhood you feel comfortable with whilst improving the home simultaneously. Although it can be difficult because the type of home improvements can depend on where you live, and does vary considerably, so it is worth finding out from contractors what their most popular work is. The type of remodeling work you are considering will obviously depend on your circumstances and if you intend to stay, then area fashions will not be your major concern.
Magic Of Moulding And Trimwork
Did you know that adding moulding and trimwork and instantly change an ordinary boring and boxy room into an elegant living space? The amount of character added with mouldings and trimwork is of great substance. Considering that most people can install moulding themselves it is a sure-fire way to add true class to any room or home. Today I would like to go over some basics with you and let me start at the most basic level. Since the 1950's simplicity has been the main factor in home builders, thus lacking in ornamental details and architectural detail. The point that I am getting at here is that moulding and trimwork are used as a design tool to add superb and remove boring. Not to mention that adding trimwork often makes the room look larger. The most common type of mouilding is casings. Casings are used to frame doors and windows. Just about every doorway has a casing around it. Go and take a look at your bedroom door. There is more than likely a casing there to frame the door and add an appealing look to the entryway. Now take a step back and imagine that doorway without the casing and the door going flush to the drywall. That would not look good at all would it?
Another good example of a casing is a window stool. That 5 inch worth of trimwork at the bottom of the window adds instant elegance to the window itself. Adding casings is not too difficult. There are a lot of guides out there. In fact, you can pick up detailed guides at your local home improvement store. Since casings are usually already there around windows and doors let's move on to some more trimwork and moulding. Crown mouldings and chair rails. These are both examples of horizontal trimwork. A crown moulding runs along the top of the wall against the ceiling. This adds instant beauty to a living space. Crown mouldings are available in many different sizes and material types. Chair rails are used as decorative trimwork to divide an ordinary wall into two different areas. This makes decoration possibilities endless.
Another good example of a casing is a window stool. That 5 inch worth of trimwork at the bottom of the window adds instant elegance to the window itself. Adding casings is not too difficult. There are a lot of guides out there. In fact, you can pick up detailed guides at your local home improvement store. Since casings are usually already there around windows and doors let's move on to some more trimwork and moulding. Crown mouldings and chair rails. These are both examples of horizontal trimwork. A crown moulding runs along the top of the wall against the ceiling. This adds instant beauty to a living space. Crown mouldings are available in many different sizes and material types. Chair rails are used as decorative trimwork to divide an ordinary wall into two different areas. This makes decoration possibilities endless.
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