How To Paint Your Inside - Home Repair Tips

Your interior walls are a direct reflection of your home and all that it is. From the moment you enter a home it is the condition of the walls that make such a profound and indelible impression. When walls have been beautifully painted and the color(s) have been tastefully selected to graciously accent the surrounding area; the sight can't be anything short of resplendent. That's the effect that walls handsomely done can have on you.

Your house walls consist of more square footage than your ceilings, floors and everything else; so it is imperative that they should be addressed in a very special way. To neglect to do so would be just short of criminal, I think. Your walls make a statement that can be warm and inviting, or cold, negligent and uninviting...it all depends on you. Here is a guide that can help you give your walls a new and appealing appearance, all the while potentially saving yourself a great deal of money; not to mention the satisfaction that comes along with doing a good job yourself, so let's begin the journey.

PREPARATION

Whether your house interior walls consist of : gypsum board/drywall, plaster, simulated plaster, plywood, or wood paneling; before painting it you will need to prepare the substrate (surface) to receive the paint or finish coat. Herein lies the work, however, some cases may prove to be less demanding then others, but it is so important to get it right here because this literally is the foundation on which you will build, for instance, if your walls consist of drywall or sheetrock, as it is most commonly known; you must inspect it thoroughly before proceeding. Check to see if there are any small holes, cracks, mapping lines; not to mention pits, large holes and possibly failing drywall tape. A careful inspection should shed some light on what you really need to do in order to get the walls ready and worthy to receive paint. And if you do need to remove the existing tape and replace it with new tape, then by all means do so. If you have a large hole in your walls you may need to install a piece of new drywall and finish it out. Sometimes, installing a whole new drywall panel is necessary when the hole is extremely large, but whether you're installing a new panel, partial panel, or just skimming over some areas try to do a good job by keeping your work smooth and neat. After all, every thing that you do at this stage will definitely show up in the finish work. So remember to keep it neat and smooth throughout your repairing and preparation stages.

If your interior walls consist of plaster and repairs are in order, again, smoothness and neatness are the operative words. Superficial or cosmetic repairs to plaster can be done by most homeowners, however, if you have a more serious problems such as: plaster falling to the floor; failing lath, large size crevices and cracks---call a reputable plaster contractor right away! But as I stated earlier, many simple repairs can be successfully done by the homeowner.

Your walls might consist of wood, if that is the case, be sure to take the time to inspect it carefully to see if you have any problems, if so, try to correct them as neatly and professionally as you possibly can. You can fill in dents and small holes with a good wood filler, and then sand it smooth with an electrical sander, or maybe you can hand sand it and avoid using electrical sanders that can quickly cause damage to your wood. And with using any electrical tools always work safely and wear full safety gear. If some of your wood boards or paneling need to be replaced then do so. The key to beautiful walls is properly preparing your substrate to achieve a uniform and symmetrical look...and that applies to any type material that your walls may consist of.

PRIMING YOUR WALLS

Now that your walls have been carefully prepared/repaired and thoroughly cleaned, you are now ready to begin priming. Priming your walls is a very important step in getting your walls ready to paint. To neglect to do this is plain folly in every sense of the word. And to use anything less than a quality primer is truly gambling with the out come of your project.

Learn More

Donald Thomas is owner and CEO of AMERICAN PAINTING AND PRESSURE CLEANING, INC. He has been in the home improvement business since 1984. Please feel free to visit our website for more full length feature articles and a lot of great tools and equipment. http://www.americanpaintingandpressurecleaninginc.com

Remodeling Your Home On A Budget

First Steps in Planning a Finished Basement

Like many homeowners, you might be thinking about adding living space by finishing your basement.

Before you go too far in planning how you will use all of that extra space, there are some steps you will need to take to be certain that space will be healthy for your family. In fact, many of the first steps in planning a finished basement are good to protect the health of your family whether you finish your basement or not.

The first steps in planning a finished basement are these:

1. Inspect for signs of dampness. Look for standing water anywhere in your basement, especially in corners and below windows. Also look for signs of mold or mildew. Mold and mildew can grow on walls, floor, windows, and on the wood beams and framing for the floor above the basement. Mold and mildew inside your home can cause respiratory problems for your family, even if they don't have allergies or asthma. Basement dampness can also damage hardwood floors above, cause warping and buckling of framing boards, cause odors and even increase your heating and cooling costs.

2. Determine the cause of any dampness and correct the problem. Water or dampness in a basement can be the result of cracks in walls or floor, leaking windows, inadequate drainage below the basement and inadequate removal of water around the foundation. Drainage of rainwater is relatively easy to fix, and making sure downspouts are correctly placed and extend far enough away from the house is important both to have a dry basement and to protect the footers beneath your basement. Be sure to check the areas where floor and walls meet.

3. Correct any foundation problems. When you inspect, keep a sharp eye out for large and uneven cracks in walls or floor. These could indicate a foundation problem. You will need to have this fixed before you finish your basement.

4. Have your basement inspected by a professional before you start construction. Particularly if there are cracks in your basement floor or walls, it is a good idea to have a professional check your basement for potentially harmful leaks. You should also have the basement checked for Radon and other gases that could be collecting under your basement. While many homes today are built with drainage systems under the basements, this might not be the case in your locality. A professional can advise you about what you need to do to protect your family when you plan to use your basement for living space.

5. Check local building codes for specific things you must do before you start remodeling. For example, some localities require a set number of windows and doors for emergency escape. There might also be specifications about stairs and ceiling height. Remember that the most important part of finishing your basement is protecting the health and safety of your family.

6. Make plans to install appropriate vapor barriers and adequate insulation. You will probably want to install a vapor barrier of some sort when insulating exterior walls and before installing floor covering. This prevents moisture from penetrating porous concrete. There are floor mat products and insulation with attached vapor barrier that can be used for this purpose.

7. If you have any appliances in the basement that use water, check pipes and hoses for leaks. It will be worth the time and trouble to check bathroom pipes, washing machine hoses and the like to be certain there are no leaks before you start construction. Also check for leaks around your water heater and where pipes penetrate walls.

By taking these first steps in finishing a basement you can be assured that your new living space will be safe for your family and will protect your investment in your home.

Copyright 2008 by ABCD Publishing

Dan Fritschen, the author of this article, is the founder of the websites http://www.remodelormove.com and http://www.remodelestimates.com He is the author of three books on home remodeling.

Wood Attic Vents

Cupolas to Add Curb Appeal - Home Repair Advice

We are children of our landscape; it dictates behavior and even thought in the measure to which we are responsive to it - Lawrence George Durrell.

Are you ready to upgrade the look of your home or business, but not sure what you can do? A cupola is an easy add-on that is affordable and provides a classic look. These roof top jewels are becoming very popular with designers and savvy business and home owners alike. This article is going to cover the installation of a cupola. Hopefully you have taken the time and made the right decisions on the size and style to make your outside buildings to look their absolute best. Manufactures will be able to assist you in choosing the right size and style for your architectural accent. When purchasing a cupola, ask the manufacture if they provide guidelines on installation, along with additional information and helpful hints if you are installing the cupola to provide ventilation.

Some cupolas come in boxes and the owner puts them together, seals, caulks and paints them. Others come in 3 sections which are then for the owner to complete, seal and paint. Other manufactures ship the cupola fully assembled and are sealed, primed and painted prior to shipment. During assembly all seams and joints need to be sealed and caulked to properly seal each cupola against damaging leaks that could cause the deterioration of the wood, thus shortening the life of the cupola.

The cupola should be primed and painted before placement on the roof. One should check if they arrive primed and painted if the interior is finished also. Priming and painting all components interior and exterior will ensure a lasting durable finish. When painting your cupola, it is recommended that you use two coats of an oil-based primer first. This should be done before you place the cupola on the roof. Some manufactures prime and paint the cupolas prior to shipment. When custom color is needed, one just gives them a sample of the color wanted and they will paint the cupola to match your color scheme. Often people like weathervanes to top of the cupolas for that finishing touch. Find out if the cupola is fitted with a shaft, designed to accept a weathervane.

The proper pitch cut is very important - so the cupola fits snug against the roof. Most cupolas are designed for a roof pitch up to 10 inch rise. (Known as 10/12 inch pitch. ) If the pitch is steeper than 12/12 inch it is important to order the extension base at the time you order your cupola. Some bases are pre-cut to match the exact roof pitch and the siding is relieved along the lower edges so it can be flashed to provide a weather tight seal. Others arrive with a template to be placed on the cupola which is then cut by the owner. Manufactures do this to protect the base from damage during transport. After cutting the base of the cupola to fit the roof pitch follow the manufactures guidelines to seal the cut edges so water does not enter the base causing deterioration. When cupolas are louvered and not used as a ventilation function, some manufactures will mount plexiglass to the inside face of each louvered panel, thus sealing the unit from wind and rain. The roof of the building the cupola will be placed upon will need some preparation prior to placing of the cupola.

If the cupola is for decorative purpose, cut and remove the portion of the ridge cap that would be under the cupola. By doing this the cupola fits snuggly against the roof between the two cut ends of the ridge cap. Roof preparation when the cupola is going to be used for ventilation: cut an opening in the roof along the peak 6 inches smaller than the width of the cupola, cutting only shingles and sheathing. DO NOT cut ridge or rafters. Then cut down from the peak, maintaining a 3 inch minimum boarder inside the cupola base. Once the cupola is in place, one needs to make sure it is level. Some cupolas are shipped with pre-drilled holes in the base. If one drills the holes it is recommended that holes be at least 3 inches in from the corners of the cupola base. Fasten the cupola to the roof with screws long enough to penetrate the roof boards. Caulk where base and the roof meet on angle sides.

Fill the screw holes and apply 1-2 coats of a good latex or oil base paint. Remember the cupola is on top of the roof and needs to be properly sealed against the elements to provide for its longevity. Now, get off the roof and look at that beautiful architectural accent. They say you can't judge a book by its cover, but when it comes to homes and commercial buildings, the exterior can be just as important as the interior. Just adding the right accents can transform homes and businesses curb appeal. Where first impressions begin!

Elda Titus, owner of Prairie Rose Country provides cupolas built out of marine plywood, assembled by quality craftsman, caulked, sealed, primed and painted interior and exterior prior to shipment. These dome structures, have a copper roof, an eye-catching appeal. To get your business or home the look to stand out from the crowd and add curb appeal, check out these easy add-on cupolas and weathervanes

http://prairierosecountry.com

Toilet Wood Floor Water Damage

Solar Flood Lights - Provides Much-Needed Illumination

Solar outdoor lights are becoming more popular among home and property owners. Such gadgets that are considered standouts are the solar flood lights. A home owner usually utilizes lighting in order to provide more illumination to the landscape, especially during nighttime. Likewise, another concern when employing lights is to enhance security and safety around your property.

As conventional lighting that uses electricity can become a cause for you to pay higher utility bills, a good alternative are solar outdoor lighting. Sun powered products such as solar powered flood lights are quite easy for anyone to install given the simple and few parts that they have. Albeit, the latest in the solar technology as made the solar flood lights brighter and more efficient.

Flood lights can effectively provide better and more enhancing lighting. It is meant to highlight any garden feature or structure. Likewise, such lights can be depended on in providing sufficient illumination on the dart spots in your home exterior or garden.

For those who are skeptical when it comes to the quality as well as performance of the solar powered flood lights, it is known that the improvements in bulbs as well as solar lighting technologies have made great strides.

The fact is that many commercial and production firms who require lights on their surroundings especially during the nighttime are now using solar flood lighting. Many of these firms not only want to save on utility expenses, and more so, they are concerned about the environment. Evidently the alternative form of energy that is solar is every environmentally friendly and does not produce and release harmful products such as carbon in the air.

Solar flood lights, indeed, can be provider of lights for aesthetic purposes. It can effectively accent any feature of the outside areas of a home property. But for many, the security that it gives is good enough reason for a home owner to install these outdoor solar lighting.

For more solar flood lights, solar powered shed lights and other articles on outdoor solar lighting, do visit us at Solar Lights and Gizmos blog

Problems Walking on an Old Roof

Here's some things to think about before walking on the roof of a house. If you slip and fall off the roof you could get hurt seriously. For your own safety if you have no experience walking on a roof use extreme caution. I would even suggest using a ladder and moving the latter around the perimeter of the house if you are inspecting the roof for damage.

Here's some things to keep in mind before walking on a house roof.

1. If the building is above two stories hire a contractor especially if you think the roof has building damage.

2. If the roof is too steep stay off. This could be extremely hazardous to your health.

3. If the roof is severely damaged and has loose shingles or tiles, this could create a safety hazard as you slip on one of these loose shingles and possibly fall off the roof.

4. You should stay off the roof at all costs if there is snow or ice. Ice obviously is extremely slippery and would be difficult to walk on. The difficulty would be increased if the roof has a steep slope.

5. Now last but not least if the roof is wet you should avoid walking on it until it is dry. I have been on wet roofs before and personally slipped myself losing my balance but not falling off of the roof.

Climbing up on a roof and walking around is not child's play and should be left to an experienced professional . If you feel comfortable walking around on any roof please use caution. If you slip in the middle of the roof there is a good chance you will be able to regain your balance or have time to stop yourself before falling off.

I would suggest using caution near the edges of the roof. If the roof is too steep or you don't feel comfortable, why risk serious injury. Use common sense along with the proper ladders to ensure your safety and "Think before walking on a house roof."

Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He is currently working on more building stairs books and adding useful content to help solve problems created by the lack of construction knowledge in the building industry.

Rusting Heaters

Problems With New Houses - Home Building

The house you live in was probably a mass produced home built as part of a housing track. The track home is a rapidly built house in phases. These phases if possible will over lap the other home building trades. If possible you will have the plumbers working on the same house as the electricians and the framers. This is called fast tracking.

Fast tracking a house is building a home as fast as humanly possible. So you can imagine the pressures put on all of the people involved in building a track home.
The pace is so fast sometimes that I have seen job superintendents and foremen look like they were actually going to blow up. I mean explode from the pressure they where under.

Framing the stairs on the job was the same experience for me most of the time. Sometimes I had three jobs going at once. Think about it. At the most, I could only go to each of the jobs twice each week. That involved working on Saturday of course. This made a lot of framing foremen extremely upset. They had full time crews on their jobs always working five days a week. If I missed one day of work. I was behind for the rest of the job.

Now it rarely happened but if I did miss a day of work I had to make it up some how. The only way to make it up was by working late or on Sunday. Well most of the time I worked six days a week from 7:00 in the mourning until 5:00 at night. So working late meant sunrise to sunset. Oh did I mention that I did have a family. This wasn't easy for them either.

One time I got so far behind on a job that I was putting stairs in while they were roofing the houses. Talk about one unhappy foreman. I think you get the idea about the pressure I was under to install these stairs on time. My experience building stairs on track built homes taught me to build homes extremely fast while being proficient.
I'm not interested in working like that anymore. My life is simple now and I want to keep it that way. The next time you see a construction worker working late on a Saturday show some compassion. Maybe by reading this article you will understand some of the pressure he is under.

Building tract homes is hard on you mentally and physically.

Happy Home building.

Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He is currently working on more building stairs books and adding useful content to help solve problems created by the lack of construction knowledge in the building industry. Stairway Safety

Spanish Tile Roofing Damage
Wall Repairs

HVAC Home Improvement Tax Credits

HVAC home improvement tax credits are back by popular demand, or should I say, unpopular demand.In 2005, the Bush administration implemented the federal tax credit for energy efficiency.This tax credit covers a broad spectrum of home improvements, but for the sake of this writing,we are concentrating on the HVAC, home improvement tax credits that allow homeowners to take advantage of direct tax credits for replacing older inefficient heating and air conditioning systems with higher efficiency, Energy Star rated appliances.

The original 2005 program ran through and expired at the end of December, 2007.Home improvements made during 2008 were not eligible for this program, but, in light of the ever increasing economic downturn nearing the close of last year, on October 3, 2008, President Bush signed into law the "Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008."This bill extended tax credits for energy efficient Home Heating & Cooling System improvements. Tax credits for these residential products, which had expired at the end of 2007, will again be available for improvements made during 2009.

The following Tax Credits available for these HVAC improvements include:

$300- Split System Air Conditioning- 15 SEER Minimum
$300- Air Source Heat Pumps- 9HSPF or 15 SEER Minimum
$150-Gas, Oil, Propane Furnace or Hot Water Boiler- 95% AFUE Minimum
$50- Advanced Main Air Circulating Fan- < 2% furnace total energy use

What this means to you the taxpayer, by purchasing.For example, a qualifying air conditioning unit, along with a qualifying gas furnace, where the additional advanced Main Air circulating fan, which in layman's terms "variable speed drive", you would qualify for up to a $500 tax credit that you can apply to your 2009 federal income tax filing.

If you're considering upgrading you're heating and air-conditioning system, 2009 will be a great year for that, and these additional tax credits will allow you to upgrade your homes energy efficiency.It is important to note, that not all ENERGY STAR qualified homes and products qualify for a tax credit. Tax credits are available for a number of products at the highest efficiency levels, which can cost more than standard products.ENERGY STAR distinguishes energy efficient products which, although they may cost more to purchase than standard models, will pay you back in lower energy bills within a reasonable amount of time, even without a tax credit.

These tax credits are not automatic.You must submit a form that authenticates your specific qualifying brand and model numbers.Your HVAC contractor or supplier should furnish these documents.Qualifying brands and models can be found at the U.S. Government Energy Star Website.

Jay Boyd owns his own heating and air conditioning store Home Air Direct where he helps the do-it-yourselfer save money. His blog site Ask Boyd contains numerous tips and stories involving the HVAC industry.