Basement Renovation

by: Keith Hoyng

A finished basement can be a great place where you can entertain your family and friends by putting in a recreation room which includes a pool table, ping pong table, pinball machine, and/or dartboard.

Before a basement renovation you should:

1. Look for basement foundation cracks. Hairline cracks in the basement can be the fault of improper curing where as large cracks are most likely caused by settling. Both can be repaired with hydraulic cement if the crack is not active i.e. whatever caused the crack is no longer an existing problem. If the basement crack is still active then the crack patching may be re-opened later.

2. Look for basement moisture problems. Moisture problems may be tough to fix. Water is persistent and can make its way through the basement walls that are considered permeable. An easy way to test water problems is to tape a piece of aluminum foil to various places on the basement walls and floors. Seal the edges of the foil tightly and leave in place for several days. After several days, if moisture droplets appear beneath the foil then moisture is going through the basement masonry. If the moisture appears on top of the foil, the problem is condensation from basement humidity. Look for other water problems by looking in the underside of the basement's first subflooring for signs of leaks. Fix any faulty pipes and fixtures. Look for brownish stains on the basement subfloor and sides of the basement joists. This will indicate active or an old leak that has been repaired. If the stain is spongy, an active leak exists.

Basement renovation planning is key to the success of your basement. For instance, if you decide you want a wetbar and/or bathroom, you will need to have the plumbing done first. This would be a top priority because the plumbing usually goes beneath the cement floor. After the plumbing is completed, you need to plan and install the electric which may include hiring a certified electrician. Your plans should include enough electrical outlets, telephone lines and cable hook-ups. These will be used for your television(s), lamp(s), computer(s), electronic games, and a computer modem. Once installed, you must decide on paneling, dry walling, or painting to cover your cement walls. Although paneling might be cheaper, the refined look of drywall makes it the material of choice for finished spaces.

Paneling can look dated and does not always last long.

The next phase in your plans should be the stairwell. Some professionals suggest you should open up the stairwell and install a banister because a basement typically features stairwells that are enclosed. By opening up the basement stairwell you remove some of the basement like atmosphere. Some designers would like to see the doorways of the basement widened and employ arches and columns to dress them up. Examples include French Doors for privacy or a partial separator using decorative glass to add elegance to the basement room.

When looking at windows, if applicable, add as many as you can. Basements tend to be dark and gloomy but with more natural light it becomes a better and well lit area. If windows are very limited, look into security and use glass block windows. When it comes to artificial lighting, the choices are fluorescent lights, table lights, floor lamps and ceiling lights. If your budget allows, stay away from the fluorescent lighting since it is not the most appealing in design.

When installing the ceiling, stay away from suspended ceilings because they make the basement look like a basement. Consider using tray ceilings. When choosing the color for painting, use a light, bright, or dramatic color scheme. With these colors, you can turn that dark gloomy basement into a room that opens and brightens.

The basement floor is always cold since it is in direct contact with the ground. Look at having a subfloor between the concrete and flooring space. This will make it a warmer and dryer living area and a smooth surface for your carpet or flooring of your choosing. If a subfloor is not in your plans and you are using carpet, get plenty of padding to put under the carpet. Try to have a storage room added, maybe around the sump and furnace area. This would be convenient for all those things that can't be thrown out. Think about adding shelves to this room to keep it fairly organized.

To control noise, have thick wall to wall carpeting and a high quality pad can absorb much of the sound. You can use sound deadening material below any underlayment or subfloor. This is nice especially if the basement is used for a bedroom or office. An easy way to reduce noise is by installation of thick insulation between ceiling joists.

In below-ground basement renovations, should you want to add a kitchen or bath you can tie into the plumbing system that is in place above. You can buy toilets and lavatories that are specifically designed for below grade applications.

After your basement renovation are complete, start adding the "toys" that will make it an enjoyable area where you get away from it all.

About The Author Keith Hoyng is the web master and operator of www.quickcash2u.com which is a good source of information for remodeling and much more information. Visit this site at http://www.quickcash2u.com/basementremodeling.html.

En lyckad mix av gammalt och nytt

Spännande mix med gammaldags vita takbjälkar, klassiska franska stenväggar och modern arkitektur. Bilder från Côte Maison.

Exciting mix of wood, stones and contemporary architecture. Images from Côte Maison.

Franska konstnärslyan

Skapa en viss stämning eller känsla med bilder och tavlor. Snyggt upphängda, slumpmässigt ställda mot väggen eller bara häftade i en salig röra ovanför skrivbordet. Välj tavlor du verkligen tycker om eller med något tema som intresserar dig så blir intrycket personligt och intressant. Bilder från franska Marie Claire Maison.

The French Artistic style maybe? Nice pictures or paintings can add that extra feeling or special touch that you want in your home. Images from Marie Claire Maison.

Kitchen Safety: Keeping Stovetops and Ovens Clean

by: Vincent Platania

The kitchen is the heart of a family’s house. It is in this room that a family prepares meals, shares meals, and gathers to talk about the day. This is the room where guests gather, where friends play games around the kitchen table, and where parents might relish a quiet time at the end of the day. It is also one of the leading locations for a household fire, an accident, or germs that breed food-borne illness. Every householder needs to be aware of the issue of kitchen safety.

Many homemakers ignore the regular cleaning and maintenance of kitchen appliances, preferring to cover dirty burners or toasters to give a false sense of cleanliness, but allowing crumbs and greasy residue to accumulate on these surfaces. Others hate cleaning their ovens with a passion reserved for little else, and put this chore off as long as possible, even when they own self-cleaning ovens. Kitchen safety is the farthest topic from their minds. However, food that is spilled or burned-onto the cook top or oven surface and not cleaned up is the leading cause of kitchen fires. Oven, microwave, or stovetop spills can ignite quickly, and can spread just as quickly to curtains, towels, or walls. Greasy residue on floors can cause people to slip and fall; and old, spoiled food on counters and tables is a source of bacteria that can contaminate fresh food and utensils. If small children are crawling or walking underfoot and reaching for every visible item of interest, tasting as they go, it is even more important to keep things clean in this central room. Kitchen cleanliness is an issue of kitchen safety, and not just of keeping a neat house to impress the neighbors.

A regular chore list is the best way to get in the habit of kitchen maintenance. Writing down each small chore and when it should be completed, helps to form habits that will keep the entire family safe and well. Counters and sinks should be wiped off at least daily, if not after each meal. Spills should be cleaned up quickly in microwave oven (Try Fuller Microwave Oven Cleaner.), regular ovens, or on stove tops. Cutting boards need to be washed with each use. To control spatters and the residue of cooking fumes, the entire kitchen should be washed with a good degreaser at least once a week. Range filters and hoods are part of this maintenance, as well as garbage cans and disposals. Any appliance that is regularly left on the counter should be given a cleaning at least once a week, if not after each use. Make sure that every surface of the kitchen is cleaned thoroughly at least once a month. (Try Fuller Cooktop and Counter Cleaner.) The entire family should be educated about the importance of these chores and encouraged to clean up their part of the mess.

A good, easy-to-use stove or oven cleaner can make these essential chores more palatable. What is the best oven cleaner? Look for one that does not need to be left overnight, but that works in a few hours. Many stove or oven cleaners produce less toxic fumes than earlier versions. Also, newer formulas will not run, but will stay in place to soak and thoroughly loosen the burned on food. (Try Fuller Brush’s Industrial Oven Cleaner or Spotless Oven). With a damp rag or sponge, wipe off any loose food, and then spray on the cleaner. Let the cleaner set for thirty minutes to several hours, depending on how soiled the area is or according to the product’s instructions. Soil should be softened to the point that it wipes up easily with a damp rag or sponge. If there is stubborn, burned on food, follow your oven manufacturer’s instructions for what type of abrasive you can safely use and not mar the cooking surface. If you have left the product on too long and it is dried, try laying a damp rag over the area for a few minutes to soften the product for easier removal.

There are products on the market that will help keep food from adhering to cooking surfaces, keeping these appliances from getting so dirty they are difficult to clean. One product that can save hours of cleanup time the next time you clean your oven is Fuller Brush’s Oven Spray. This product is to be sprayed on the oven surface after it is clean. Again, check with your oven manufacturer to see if it is compatible with your oven surface.

With good habits, or fanatical adherence to a chore list, your kitchen can be the safe, pleasant, gathering place it is meant to be. Kitchen safety will become second nature to you and your family.

About The Author Vincent Platania Fuller Brush Products. In business since 1906, Fuller Brush has been offering families high-quality household products for nearly a century. Fuller Brush natural cleaning products are environmentally friendly. Visit http://www.fuller-brush-products.com for more information

Home Decorating Ideas For Different Furniture Styles

by: Adam Peters

Have you ever thought about the many different furniture styles? Probably you have ever watched a program TV, where they showed people how to update an entire room of your house; let’s say the living room or bedroom. You can also read everywhere about the rustic style or about the Italian designs. However, do you know really what do these styles mean? We go deep into the different styles, which are the most demanded around the globe. Let’s start:

+ Rustic: This style is known because the using of natural materials. The pieces of furniture included into the rustic designs use to be handcrafted, with a strong cultural and regional touch in their pieces. Rustic style also brings to any home the feeling of begin more comfortable. It also reflects to be on most of their instances, casual tends, which makes it more personal than other styles.

+ Antique: Antique furniture styles are characterized by European interior houses designs. What is very important to point up is the fact of antique furniture is commonly made to be used, not displayed. This makes of antique designs look boring or without further interesting additions, such as fancy details.

+ Modern: What we need to know about modern furniture is the clean lines that offers to the room itself. Modern styles for interior designs are often made of vinyl, plastic or chrome. These materials came up around the 50’s, and since then they have found a place into modern houses, as the standard.

+ European furniture

This style of furniture can be roughly split in 3 main branches: Italian, English and French. We begin by the Italian, because it is becoming very popular over the last decade for US citizens. Why? because the Italian style offer a wide range of materials to choose from, from wood up to marble, stone or fabric. Furniture pieces into the Italian furniture are ornate as well as large, sometimes using Roman sculpture and architecture. We go then to the French style. If you like crowed decorating prices of furniture, French is definitely yours. It often includes designs, elaborated and perhaps handcrafted with detailed carvings, with highly ornate patterns.

+ Fancy details with English furniture

The English furniture has been always made of woods, including principally walnut, oak or mahogany. This styles is very close to the American rustic one, due to its fancy details and the use of natural colors. The predominant color used on these pieces of furniture used to be is dark or natural colors. However, it depends on the era you base the English decoration. In the current world, there exist so many styles, materials and furniture designs, and it is evolving year after year. All type of influences comes up every day on furniture designers, and changes in the technology of materials affect directly on the new home decorating ideas.

About The Author Adam Peters contributes adding articles to an online home decorating and interior design magazine. Your guide on home decorating and how to choose from hundreds of decorating ideas and tips. Adam will inspire you to capture the look you wish. Find further information on decorating and design at http://www.home-decorating-reviews.com.

Home Warranty: The 5 Reasons You Need To Get One Today

by: Aaron Hoos

Wouldn’t it be nice if your life had a “reset” button? There aren’t many guarantees in life, so when you can get one… you should! And a home warranty policy can provide exactly that guarantee!

What is a Home Warranty?

After all, your home is the single largest investment you’ll ever make. Doesn’t it make sense to have home warranty protection that matches? That last thing you want to do is deal with the problems that occur when household systems break down and you have to repair or replace them.

A home warranty protects homeowners against the costs associated with unexpected repairs or replacement of major household systems and appliances that may break down… even from normal wear and tear! And if something like your refrigerator or freezer breaks down, you may have insurance to cover the food inside, but it won’t cover the appliance. That’s where a home warranty is useful.

A home warranty policy works. And what’s even better, it’s so simple! If a covered appliance or system in your home breaks down, it will be fixed or replaced with no hassles, no lengthy claims process, no thumbing through the yellow pages trying to find a reputable service provider.

Why is a Home Warranty Beneficial?

1. It’s comprehensive: A home warranty plan provides coverage over the existing systems and appliances in your home, regardless of age, make or model.

2. It’s affordable: Home warranty protection protects your wallet against the high cost of home repairs or replacement that comes from normal wear and tear.

3. It’s always available: A plan through a reputable home warranty company gives you preferred customer access to screened, local service contractors 24 hours a day, 365 days per year.

4. It’s convenient: A home warranty policy gives you plenty of security because you know – in case of emergency – that a service contractor will respond within a few hours, even on weekends and holidays.

5. It’s easy for you: A home warranty plan gives you the peace of mind that if your home system or appliance cannot be fixed, they will be replaced with new item.

Weigh those benefits against the cost of buying or repairing those same systems yourself. And don’t forget to add in the time and hassle you’ll experience by trying to schedule and manage the repairs or delivery. It’s time you can better spend… on just about anything else!

As a home owner, you’ll enjoy the peace of mind that comes with a home warranty. But if you are selling a home, consider these added advantages: According to a recent poll, over three quarters of buyers rate a home warranty as one of the most important considerations when buying a home, behind location, design and financing options. And an international home warranty policy survey showed that people who sold their homes with a home warranty sold their house sooner and got more money!

How Do I Find a Good Home Warranty Provider?

If you Google "home warranties" you will find many providers and finding the right one is important. Here are some tips to help you.

When you are looking for a home warranty company, be sure to find one that is focused on you, the consumer. After all, there are plenty of home warranty companies that “straddle the fence” and try to appeal to both the service contractors and the realtors who push their products. It’s much nicer to deal with a company that pays attention to its customers. How can you tell? Companies that do focus on the consumer will have valuable information on their website about the types of things you’ll find useful… even if it doesn’t have to do with home warranties.

You’ll also want to find a home warranty company who offers 24/7/365 service. If you find a home warranty company who does, use them! If not, keep looking. You don’t want to make a late night phone call because of a broken furnace only to get a recording that says, “Please call back tomorrow morning.”

As you search for a home warranty company, look for ones that make it easy on the consumer: for example, they should have one number for claims, online policy sign-ups, etc. You don’t have the time to be running around, trying to do all the legwork. The home warranty company should make it easy for you to sign-up. They’re in business to help you!

Find a home warranty company that covers the systems and appliances in your home. Many companies offer a pre-packaged policy – which is okay – but additional coverage should at least be available for other appliances in your home, such as a pool or spa.

Your policy should be guaranteed. If it’s not, find another company. Some companies will make sure that your satisfaction is guaranteed. Those are the companies that care about the consumers.

Home warranties are excellent “just-in-case” policies to have. You’ll sleep better at night knowing that you are well taken care of should something happen to the systems and appliances you rely on every day. And having the right company protecting you will give you even more peace-of-mind to ensure that your home is a great place to live!

About The Author Aaron Hoos is a writer working with Remax Warranty Corporation. Remax Warranty provides you with peace-of-mind through their comprehensive home warranty policies available online at http://remaxwarranty.com.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Gott Nytt År!! Tack alla som följt bloggen och varit inne och läst under det gångna året och tack för alla era positiva och uppmuntrande kommentarer. Jag uppskattar det verkligen och hoppas att ni även i framtiden klickar er in hit. Bilderna kommer från JJLocations.

Thansk for reading the blog during the year and thanks for your nice comments. I hope you will enjoy my posting and stay with me for next year too. Images from JJ Locations.

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