Going Green With Bathroom Remodeling

Going green with a bathroom remodeling is a major consideration today for many homeowners. A green bathroom remodel is good for the environment, but it is also good for you because it will save you money on utility bills for years to come. Read complete Article

Jobsite Checklists

A few of Footbridge Media clients were mentioned and quoted in an article by LowesForPros.com You can read the article by clicking here - Using A Jobsite Checklist.

Westchester Remodeler Launches Special Report For Homeowners

The Crecco Group Remodeling, Inc. today announced the release of a new consumer report that shows Westchester homeowners how to avoid getting ripped off when they remodel their homes.

Inside this eye-opening report, you’ll discover insider tips on how to easily hire the right contractor; how to get your remodeling project done right, the first time; and how to save yourself thousands of dollars on your project.

The report entitled, “The Consumer Guide To Successful Home Remodeling” covers everything from selecting a contractor, avoiding remodeling blunders, keeping the reigns on your budget, and learn how to be a knowledgeable, confident participant in your own home remodeling project.

All Westchester homeowners can get a free copy of this special consumer report by going to www.creccobordonaro.com. or calling 914-449-6547.

Anthony Crecco, president of The Crecco Group Remodeling, Inc. and author of “The Consumer Guide To Successful Home Remodeling” is creating an educational resource for homeowners in the Westchester area. Future plans include a website of educational guides on renovating your home, professional advice from local experts, and a question and answer forum for Westchester homeowners.

About The Crecco Group Remodeling, Inc. Our job is to provide you with a completed home remodeling project, and advise you on ways to save money, without cutting essential costs. With our experience in this industry, we have learned who to rely on for quality materials, and services. Professional scheduling, project planning, and project management are handled for you. For more information visit www.creccobordonaro.com.

WHY USE A LICENSED CONTRACTOR?

Article by Long Island Remodeling

Let’s say for instance I told you that you have just won an all expense free vacation to anywhere in the world. Airfare included.

The resort was 4 stars the food was fantastic. Your accommodations consists of a pent house room which Includes a marble Jacuzzi bath, a king size bed, your covers turned down every night with chocolates left on your pillow.

But here is the twist!

The airplane you will be traveling on has a 25% chance of crashing, no survivors. Are you a risk taker? Would you take that all expense free vacation knowing what you know now?

It’s like hiring an unlicensed contractor. Yes, they are cheaper. They work with no rules and regulations. 100% of the time there is no recourse with consumer affairs. 95% of construction companies fail in the first 5 years of business Then, 96% of those Surviving companies failed in the next 5 years. In summary, 4 out of 100 companies last.

Built Right Renovations Inc. beats those odds by celebrating their 20th year anniversary.

While 96% of remodeling companies are high risk, you can depend on Built Right Renovations as your low risk remodeling contractor.

I will leave with these last words, “Amateur’s work until they get it right. Professional’s work until they can’t get it wrong.”

Why Should You Remodel Your Home?

When you’ve made the decision that a home remodeling project is affordable and desirable, ask yourself exactly why you’d like to renovate. There’s no right or wrong reason to renovate your home. After all, it is your home! You and your family get to make this decision according to your needs and your budget. There are three types of remodeling projects you may want to consider; renovations that reflect your lifestyle, renovations that are necessary for the upgrade of your home, and renovations that involve essential maintenance and repair.

Maybe, after all these years, you simply need a change of scenery. Growing children need a place of their own to play and get rowdy - just because they’re kids! Perhaps your lifestyle should accommodate the needs of your family. Does your kitchen need more light? Attractive tract lighting or a skylight may be just the thing for you. Did you know that you can create a huge amount of extra living space by renovating that dingy old unfinished basement and that never-visited attic? Wall borders are very popular, and can create a whole new look for bedrooms, kitchens, and bathrooms.

Home upgrade, or retrofit, innovations are about the “mechanics” of your home. Installing more insulation to reduce heating and cooling costs is one example. Putting in dual-pane glass or solar panels can also help with the electric or gas bills. Maybe it’s time to replace the furnace since it’s been contrary lately and the warranty has expired. Focusing on the “shell” of your home in this manner, you’ll find that annual maintenance isn’t necessary. But the longer you stay in your home, the more these things become issues.

Renovations that involve maintenance and essentials repairs shouldn’t be put off; this is part of the annual maintenance your home requires. If you’re a smart homeowner, protecting your home investment is essential. For example, look at the calking around your windows and your roof shingles. Maintenance renovations stop problems before they start; small problems that could easily turn into catastrophes!

Regardless of your reasons for renovating your home, this can be done within the budget you can afford. If you’re planning to remain in your home for the long-haul, all three above-mentioned reasons are quite valid. If you plan to sell your home in the future, the right renovations will improve its value and selling price.

Black Mold Removal And Small Bathroom Remodeling: How To Keep It Out

Black mold is a fungus that spreads relentlessly in your bathroom

Very few bathrooms escape the dreaded black mold fungus. Sooner or later it finds a nice damp corner of your shower or your walls and begins to grow. Slowly at first then before you know it it’s all over your beautiful bathroom. Black mold is notoriously difficult to get rid of and control but a cure is possible. I reveal the secret below.

How to spot black mold in your bathroom

Well it’s difficult to miss it. It’s a black blight, which starts in corners and cracks then grows along joins and seals. The bigger it gets the faster it grows It loves to follow the lines of silicon sealer and grout between ceramic tiles. It seems to get inside the silicon sealer even the fungal resistant kind. It can turn your lovely bathroom into a dirty pit if you don’t do something about it quickly.

General measures to keep black mold out of your small bathroom

There are some common sense things that you can do to slow down the march of the black mold in your bathroom. Black mold thrives on moisture so keep your bathroom well ventilated. Open windows and doors after use and wipe down surfaces to encourage them to dry faster.

Wiping down all ceramic surfaces with a dilute solution of bleach every few days will also help to slow down the growth of the fungus.

Traditional remedy for black mold in the bathroom

The traditional cure for black mold has been to cut out the affected areas of sealer and grout and any bits of wall covering that is contaminated. Wash the whole place down with a dilute solution of bleach and then re tile, re grout and re seal. This cures the problem for a while but sooner or later, usually only a few months or weeks later, the black mold returns.

This is a very frustrating cycle to be riding on because you have to keep doing it. Many people eventually just give up and the black mold takes over.

The secret that can banish black mold from your small bathroom

Black mold in my small bathroom had been defeating my efforts to keep it under control and finally I decided to remodel the whole bathroom which I thought would get rid of it forever. Was I wrong! I managed to keep it out for a few short months but somehow it found it’s way in again.

I cut out and replaced the contaminated silicon sealer but this only slowed it down. Then someone told me about a product called ‘Mold and Mildew Remover’. You simply spray it onto the affected areas then leave it for 3-5 minutes before rinsing it off. This sounded too good to be true but I thought that I would give it a try anyway.

The person that told me about the product also told me that the secret was to be patient with it and not expect to see instant results from just one spraying so I set about treating the affected areas of my little bathroom 2-3 times a week and watched what happened. After the first month I dropped the treatment to 2-3 times a month.

The results were nothing short of amazing and fantastic. I thought that I saw an improvement after the first week and after the second week I was convinced that the black mold was at least not growing any more. After a month the patches of black mold were definitely smaller than they had been and after 6 months they are nowhere to be seen. They have completely vanished and I’m so very pleased with it.

How to fit a shower into a very small bathroom Small Bathroom Shower at www.bathroomsremodeling.this-info.com Steve Gee

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Steve_Gee

3 Reasons To Buy Vinyl Siding

Inexpensive Alternative

Vinyl siding, even with all the high-end options still remains cheaper than both wood and stone siding. When you choose to buy vinyl siding you have many options for both low and high quality materials. It is strongly suggested that you choose the highest quality materials you can afford as this will lead to the longevity of your vinyl siding. Some things to consider when choosing options include, the cost of house wrap or tarpaper, Styrofoam backed vinyl siding, and the cost of installation. These are all things that will increase the total cost of your vinyl siding, however they lead to increased efficiency and longevity; while still coming in at a lower cost than other alternatives.

Highly Durable

Although there is no question that both stone and brick are the most durable siding options, when choosing something that is inexpensive vinyl will always come in first. Vinyl never needs repainting, and when you buy new vinyl siding you’ll find that its pigment is completely baked into the vinyl; not just the surface. Therefore any dance stings or scratches and be invisible. Vinyl is also more durable, and stronger than wood siding. It lasts much longer than both aluminum and wood siding.

Maintenance Free

There is zero maintenance associated with vinyl siding. When you buy vinyl siding its pigment is baked in and thus never needs repainting. It will never chip, is very dent resistant, and whether his extremely well.

The Perfect Choice for a DIY Homeowner

If you are a weekend warrior, or just an ambitious homeowner installing vinyl siding could not be easier. Depending on the size of your house it can be done in a day or a few weekends. The materials are light, easily cut, and most importantly easily installed. Vinyl siding requires no special tools, or even a high degree of skill. When you buy new vinyl siding it will come with the instructions necessary for easy installation. In fact because vinyl siding uses an interlocking mechanism to lock the panels in place you need a little more than a hammer and nails to install it.

Easily Adaptable to Nearly Any Building Style

Because vinyl siding is patterned after wood siding when you decide to buy vinyl siding you will be offered the same choices that are available in wood siding. This includes architectural elements such as soffits, fascia, and corner boards. The sky really is the limit when choosing an architectural style for your new vinyl siding.

Vinyl Siding Buzz

Vinyl siding was not always well received by the public, in fact it was looked at as a tacky and inexpensive solution for covering large amounts of houses. Nowadays however because vinyl siding has taken on so many exciting new looks and characteristics this attitude has completely changed. It is now considered a very modern architectural element that can be adapted to fit many styles.

You can also find more information on Metal Siding and Vinyl Siding Manufacturers.homesidingreview.com is a comprehensive resource to know more about home siding review.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dave_Faulkner

Kitchen Cabinets: Reface or Replace?

Your kitchen needs a makeover and the transformation starts and ends with the cabinets. But how do you know if your cabinets need to be entirely replaced or if just a refacing will suffice? To reface or to replace—that this the burning kitchen cabinet question. The answer lies in the current condition of your existing cabinets.

If the cabinets that are already installed in your kitchen are of poor quality, are not opening and closing properly, and/or are laid out in a fashion that doesn’t appeal to you, then you may want to think about starting from scratch by replacing them. If, on the other hand, your existing kitchen cabinets are well made, properly functioning and well positioned in the room, consider taking advantage of a kitchen cabinet reface. It may save you the bundle you need to devote to other kitchen makeover touches.

Either way, when choosing where to purchase your new kitchen cabinets or kitchen door refacing, look for a cabinetry company that provides a wide array of finishes. Maple, oak and hickory kitchen cabinets are durable and give your kitchen that rich, earthy look. Softer but warmer, cherry and birch kitchen cabinets lend a natural knotted appeal to the room. And for those who would prefer easy cleanup in a more modern flavor and in their choice of color, laminate kitchen cabinets fill the bill.

Deciding whether your kitchen cabinets need to be entirely replaced or a new door reface will do is a task best left in the hands of a built-to-order cabinetry expert. These professionals can not only advise you on the best course of action for your kitchen cabinets, but they can also recommend the material that will turn your kitchen makeover dreams into a reality.

As the world’s leading manufacturer of built-to-order cabinetry, KraftMaid leads the way in offering an almost endless selection of door styles, finishes, functional storage solutions and decorative enhancements that allow you to customize your home to suit your style – and your lifestyle with cabinetry “made just for you.” Visit KraftMaid at http://www.kraftmaid.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Craig_Rowe

Deck Sealing

A deck is an extension of your home’s living space and where you will spend much of your time during the summer months. Consequently, it needs to be treated and cared for as much as your home’s inside rooms.

Most important to the care of your deck is regularly sealing it. This is particularly true if you want your deck to maintain the natural color of the wood.

Sealing a deck is critical in order to preserve the life and look of the wood. The sealant preserves the beauty of the natural wood by protecting it from both water and sun damage.

When to Apply the Deck Sealant

In order to preserve the natural wood look for many years, I typically apply the sealant every year. Also, I usually apply it in late summer/early fall as I live in New England. I do this because of the concern of snow lying on the deck for long periods of time during the winter months. My concern is in the acidity of the water in the snow. By putting on a sealant just prior to snow season, I can provide peak protection against the prolonged damaging effects of the acid contained in the water. In hotter climates, where there is less snow, I would suggest applying the deck sealer in late spring.

Clean the deck prior to Sealing

First, remove all of the deck furniture off of the deck.

Prior to sealing it is then best to power wash the deck and let it thoroughly dry. You may need to use a stiff bristly brush to get off any material that is not being removed by the power washer. Pine pitch frequently requires the services of this tool. There are also a variety of products offered by sealant manufactures that can also assist in the deck sealant preparation.

After power washing it may take 24-48 hours, or even longer, for the deck to thoroughly dry, pending weather conditions. Make sure the deck is completely dry prior to applying the sealant. Otherwise the sealant may not be appropriately absorbed into the wood’s surface.

Once the deck is dry, and you are about ready to begin sealing, use a leaf blower to remove any debris that may have fallen onto the deck’s surface since you power washed it. If you do not have a leaf blower, than simply sweep the deck.

Sealing the deck

First, the deck sealer should not be applied if the temperature is below 50 degrees Fahrenheit and if rain is forecasted in the next 24 hours. Otherwise the sealant may not absorb properly, nor dry properly.

Using a brush apply the sealant around all the deck edges and posts. Once the edging is complete, use a sprayer, brush or roller to apply the sealant to the deck surface. Make sure that the sealant is firmly pressed into the wood surface to maximize the penetration of the sealant into the wood.

Typically only one coat is recommended by most deck sealers.

Though most manufactures suggest the deck is ready for walking on after 24 hours, I would recommend waiting a little longer if the weather has not been ideal for drying conditions.

Once the deck is dry, return the deck furniture and enjoy the beauty of your deck for another year.

Me_Donovan@comcast.net
http://www.homeadditionplus.com
http://www.homeaddition.blogspot.com

Over the past 20+ years Mr. Donovan has been involved with building homes and additions to homes. His projects have included: building a vacation home, building additions and garages on to existing homes, and finishing unfinished homes. Mr. Donovan’s formal education and profession have been as an Electrical Engineer and Marketing Manager.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_Donovan

Great Article and Information Resources

After a few years our own clients websites become information portals for content for homeowners. Listed below are some great resources for homeowners:

Home Remodeling Articles

Plumbing Articles

Air Conditioning Articles

Window Replacement Articles

We will be adding more resources as our client’s consumer information library continues to grow.

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