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Rabu, 23 Mei 2012

How to Find and Choose a Bathroom Remodeling Contractor

by Marcus Pickett
Bathroom_contractor
Preliminary guidelines for finding and choosing a bathroom remodeling contractor are the same as other home improvement contractors: Get at least three estimates, check recent customer referrals, make sure the contractor is licensed and insured. Yet, as you begin to dive deeper into the bathroom remodeling process, additional, more nuanced factors come into play. Given the likelihood that you'll find more than one qualified contractor, here are some insider tips that will help you choose the best person for the job.

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Bathroom Remodeling Budgets and Contractors

Once you've taken the universal steps to identify experienced and reputable remodeling contractors, often you can make your final hiring decision by setting your budget. High-end bathroom remodeling companies will usually set you up with an in-house bathroom designer and/or a project manager who will allow you to use a larger remodeling budget to the greatest effect. A more budget-friendly bathroom remodeling company will require a more proactive approach from the homeowner in terms of bathroom design and generic, discounted products.
Naturally, most homeowners seek out a middle ground for both their budgets and the level of bathroom remodeling services. To illustrate this choice and to give you some idea of bathroom remodeling budgets, it's useful to look at two different sources for average bathroom remodeling costs:
1) Remodeling Magazine determines the average cost of bathroom remodeling based on set parameters that include several upgrades and comprehensive bathroom overhauls that homeowners frequently forego during their own remodels. Their estimated cost for a bathroom remodel is $15,899.
Check out Remodeling Magazine for more information.
2) ServiceMagic tracks the average cost of bathroom remodels as actually negotiated and completed by homeowners and contractors. These projects include both minor and partial remodels, as well as high-end remodels with all the bells-and-whistles. Their estimated cost for a bathroom remodel is $9,712.

Pay Attention to Process as Much as Product

As homeowners start looking at new bathroom components, they quickly discover which fixtures they like - an elongated toilet with a wood seat covering, for example, or a cartridge faucet with white ceramic, double handles. But with all the research and attention on products, too many homeowners neglect the ordering process. Will the contractor contact the manufacturer and be responsible for the purchase and delivery of these products? Will you do it yourself? What happens if you fall in love with a manufacturer the contractor doesn't usually deal with? What happens if you change your mind during the remodeling process?
These questions come up more often than most homeowners realize. Ask prospective remodeling contractors exactly what their standard operating procedure is for ordering products. Often, the best overall price for your bathroom remodel will come from a mixed approach. Let the contractor order products from manufacturers with whom they have frequent relations and built-in discounts, but be sure you can order your own products, too, so that you can take full advantage of classic, free-market competition. Finding a bathroom remodeling contractor who is willing to stay flexible in this regard often leads to the best remodeling projects.

Communication, Scheduling, and Preparation

The best contractors also tend to be the most popular contractors. So expect your contractor to be working on many projects at once. They can juggle these projects because the best contractors are also effective communicators who will give you a clear schedule, advanced notice about changes to this schedule, and near constant updates about the progress of the remodel. Plus, virtually all remodels experience delays of some kind. Manufacturers are notoriously unreliable with their estimated delivery dates. Water damage may be discovered behind the walls of your bathroom. By the time it's all said and done, the average time to complete a bathroom remodel is about five weeks, according to data collected by ServiceMagic. And, for most, if not all, of this time, the bathroom will be completely out of commission, so you'll need to prepare and alter your bathroom routine accordingly.
-- Marcus Pickett is a senior home improvement writer with ServiceMagic.com. He has written more than 1200 articles on managing your home and home improvement trends.

Senin, 21 Mei 2012

Juliet Balcony: Extending the Indoors Outside

by Marc Dickinson
We've all taken high school English, so we've all seen the play where she stands on the terrace and talks about love. Therefore, not surprisingly, the location of that famous speech has now become a part of architectural history. A Juliet balcony is a small veranda barely big enough to fit a person. So why, do you ask, would you want to build such a confined area on the side of your house? Unlike larger balconies, a Juliette balcony isn't intended for large parties and patio furniture. Instead, it is an intimate extension of the interior room, which is meant to add an outdoor ambiance to the indoors, and vice versa.
Interior Design, Outside?
Often a Juliet balcony is made to fit the traditional model from the Shakespeare play: a short, narrow rectangle surrounded by stone balustrade that is supported by plinths and opens almost immediately into the adjoining room through glass doors. As you can see, the design of the place tends to be more important than its function, but that doesn't mean it isn't useful. In fact, due to its European influence and romantic heritage, this small, exterior area has become very fashionable among buyers, and therefore can add a lot of value to your home if it used and displayed properly. Here are some decorative ways a Juliet balcony can be utilized:
Garden: By installing railing planters, balcony boxes, or hanging baskets, this space can quickly become a high-rise garden. This is not only practical for city dwellers, but by adding plant life right outside a room, a relaxed, natural mood is instantly created. You could possibly even wind vines between the balustrades, partially enclose the space with a shaded trellis for more privacy, or seal the area with glass windows to form an impromptu greenhouse.
A Life-size Window: Having a Juliette balcony allows you to open up a room. Since there are usually French doors that lead out onto the veranda, you now have the option of opening up an entire section of your wall to let in more light and fresh air.
The View: These additions are very common in urban settings since they don't take up much space but still permit a place to admire and behold a spectacular cityscape.

Interested in this stylish addition? Use this link to install a

Modernization
If your home is not constructed of brick or stone, you may think a Juliette balcony isn't for you. However, since the 15th century, many renovations have been conducted to make this area feel more modern and contemporary. Instead of stone balustrades, install glass railing for a lighter, sleek appearance. Make the sides into iron grates for a more rustic, country look. And if your house has wood siding, decks, or patios, a wooden Juliet balcony can be a perfect upper-story accent to match your home's pre-existing exterior. These small additions not only look great from inside their adjoining rooms, they are also eye-catching from the street below. They create an old-fashioned fairytale atmosphere that is perfect for the occasional romantic rendezvous. Plus, they're cheap to install since they are a pretty uncomplicated add-on to a building (depending on the design and material of a home's exterior). Just make sure you hire the right professionals to do the job for you so that this outdoor extension is safe, sound, and well-supported.
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Sun Porches are a Relaxing Addition to a Home

by Marc Dickinson
Many of us have an unused corner of the house that soon turns into a cluttered storage space. It's too small to turn into a bedroom, but is bigger than a closet; therefore it ends up accumulating knick-knacks, a few storage bins, and maybe a piece of discarded furniture. Why let this space go to waste? One of the latest trends in renovation is utilizing every area of your house in order to make a more comfortable living space and to add value to your home. A great way to re-create a small addition is by turning it into a sun porch.
A Unique Space
Sun porches have been around for centuries. They became popular in southern states because of year-around sunshine, and most were built out of necessity: without air conditioning, a screened-in outdoor living area was needed during the hot summer months. However, this trend soon became fashionable in the northern states as well: by turning screens into windows, one could enjoy the outdoors while huddled up against the winter weather. Now-a-days they can be found everywhere due to their new modern design mixed with their old-world charisma.
Versatility
By turning a mud-room or small alcove into a sun porch, a relaxing oasis is suddenly created. Imagine reading, napping, or watching TV on a hot summer's day where you have the opportunity to be cool and comfortable inside, yet not feel guilty about missing the sunny day outside. Or it's the dead of winter and you're cozy, all wrapped up with blankets on your couch but you still get to watch the snow fall and birds fly south. Watch the rain while staying dry. Be apart of nature without being bit by mosquitoes. It's the best of the both worlds, all year around.
But these outdoor-indoor living spaces don't just have to be a quiet get-away. If you have a bigger space, turn this particular space into a den, a library, an office, or a dining space. Imagine doing work or paying bills while encased in a tranquil portico. Since these rooms are so enticing, make it a place where people have the chance to congregate and enjoy them. Enclose it entirely in glass and turn it into a make-shift greenhouse, someplace to store your plants during the winter months. Put in a portable fireplace and all of a sudden you have sky lodge right in your home.

Use this link to hire a local prescreened

Limitless Looks
Big or small? Hardwood or carpet? Do you want a sunroom or do you want to keep it looking like a deck? Do you want it with screens or windows or both? Keep it open to the house or install some French doors? Open up the space by surrounding it with windows or have it be more shaded with less entryways and exits? Make it another functional room with tables, chairs, and window treatments, or decorate it with sparse furnishing to keep it calm and subtle? As you can see, the design and ambience of a sun porch is limitless.
The only thing to pay attention to is your own style, and the best way to make your imagination into a reality is to hire a design consultant or architect. These professional builders will be able to guide you during the project by being as hands-on as you want. If you have a smaller space, you may be able to do a lot yourself, but for bigger room, upper-level construction, or for complete new additions, hire an expert who knows what they're doing. Especially since most of these rooms use a lot of glass and need proper support from a trained specialists.
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Those Sleepy Little Sleeping Porches

by Matt Myers 
The sleeping porch is thought to be a recent phenomenon, only finding its way into the most modern homes. But the truth of the matter is that sleeping porches have been around for more than a century. However, recent home improvement trends have brought this savvy little addition back to the cutting edge.
Southern Porches
At heart, sleeping porches are just screened-in porches that are used for a different purpose than a typical porch. Because southern plantations homes had large wraparound porches, they were set up to be "screened in" once this product became available. Some of these homes had decks and balconies on the second floor, which also transitioned nicely into screened-in porches to keep the home's occupants from having to fight with all the bugs.
This was before air conditioning, so when it got hot in the summer people needed to have access to any breeze that might blow by. So often these porches, second-story decks, and balconies became sleeping porches.
The Craftsman Adoption
The Craftsman style of architecture (1905-1930), also called "Arts & Crafts" and made popular by Frank Lloyd Wright (you might have heard of him; he's kind of a big deal) is perceived to have been influenced by southern homes. The porches that are signature on these bungalows are often included in the front and back of the home, specifically on corners so as to have access to breezes from all different directions. However, a sleeping porch is often upstairs in many of these homes.
Interested in your own sleeping porch? Use this link to hire a local

What's All the Fuss About?
Imagine those lazy Sunday naps that are almost involuntary. Maybe there is a quiet rainstorm happening outside, maybe a good book lies open across your chest, maybe golf is on the television rocking you to sleep with a cool breeze nipping at your face. I'm getting tired just thinking about it. This kind of restful sleep, even if just a nap, is why people are eager to have this addition on their homes. The sleeping environment these porches provide rivals great vacations. Who wouldn't want one in their house?
If you are interested in something like this for your home, use this link to install a sleeping porch.
What's great about these porches is that, depending on the space you have in there, you find some quality sleeping porch furniture so that this is a place to have mint juleps and coffee with friends and family. The bed doesn't have to be the only reason to be in the room. These are great rooms for entertaining, reading, drinks before dinner, drinks after dinner, lunches, some have even used these porches as offices. Why anyone would prefer that environment to a cubicle is beyond me. Read More...

Minggu, 20 Mei 2012

Bathroom Decorating Ideas

by Marcus Pickett 
In general, many homeowners don't take enough risks with their bathroom decorating. Bathrooms are about cleanliness, sure, but, from a decorating point of view, they're about creating mood. You may think of white as being sterile, but color is going to be one of the key components in creating a relaxing atmosphere. The smaller room of a bathroom allows you to make bold decorating choices with less risk of an overwhelming effect. Of course, there's always going overboard and making the room so busy that it becomes distracting, but most homeowners aren't even close to taking their bathroom decorating this far.
Create a Budget
Your budget doesn't necessarily need to have an exact dollar amount right away, but it's better to decide on a relatively specific range and then narrow down what you can do within your budget and what's most important to you. It's no fun to get your heart set on something only to realize you can't afford it. Everybody would like to have a spa-like retreat if we didn't have to worry about our budgetary concerns. You should also keep in mind that for every dollar you spend on one bathroom decorating idea is another dollar you can't spend somewhere else. And, of course, the opposite is true for every dollar you save.
Bathroom Decorating Ideas
Of course, it's not easy to stay bold with your bathroom decorating while also staying within a budget. Here's a rundown of some of the best bathroom decorating ideas we could find with a brief note about their budget implications.
  • Bathroom Walls: Doing something exciting with your walls is one of the cheapest ways to make a bold decorating statement. Vibrant paints are easy, but you might also think about wainscoting, wood paneling, or backsplash tile.
  • Contemporary Lighting: New lighting design and fixtures is one of the most cost-effective and underrated ways to improve your bathroom decorating. Recessed lighting and modern wall sconces are just two of the more common and ways to improve your bathroom lighting design.
  • Shower Stalls: This bathroom decorating idea is great for smaller bathrooms and homeowners who are honest about the fact that they rarely, if ever, take baths. Saving space by shortening a traditional bathtub into a shower stall will immediately open up your bathroom space. Luxury shower stalls can even improve your daily shower experience. Built-in Cabinets: Cabinets are just the most common feature that can be built into walls and save space. The cost and overall value really depends on the condition and ability of your walls to accommodate these nifty storage spaces. As an alternative, converting floor cabinets to wall cabinets will also reclaim floor space and help open up your bathroom.
Need a better bathroom? Use this link to hire a local

Inexpensive Bathroom Solutions: Repair and Resurface
Bathtubs, sinks, cabinets and tile can fall into disrepair beyond what can be fixed with a cleaning product and elbow grease, but that doesn't mean it needs to be entirely replaced. Fiberglass inlays can patch most cracks or chips, resurfacing techniques can make even the oldest bathtubs look brand new. Cabinets, too, are often great candidates for resurfacing. You may not like the size or placement of your cabinets, but otherwise, resurfacing can dramatically improve the effect your cabinets have on bathroom decorating. Repair and resurfacing what you can will allow you to focus the rest of your bathroom decorating budget and other things.
Hiring a Bathroom Decorating Professional
With bathroom decorating, the project can be a collaborative effect between you and a professional contractor. You may be able to resurface your cabinets yourself, allowing you to hire an electrician to come in and install new lighting fixtures. If you can salvage your walls with re-grouting and re-caulking, you may be able to hire a bathtub repair contractor to overhaul your old tub. Recognizing what you can do on your own will enable you to spend your money on specialized projects. Together you can often extend your budget into what amounts to close to a full bathroom remodel.