Use A Wallpaper Border For A Budget Backsplash

You can add some splash to your kitchen without spending a lot of money by applying a simple wallpaper border for a backsplash. You can get a pretty good bargain on borders in the closeout bin at your wallpaper store or home improvement center, but make sure they have enough of the border to go around the area you want to cover as these bargains are usually close outs and you might not be able to get more!

Since most wallpapers come pre-pasted, applying the border is easy. A backsplash area is usually pretty small so this project can be done in an afternnon. When selecting your border, think about your overall theme or color scheme of the kitchen. You want to pick something that complements it and, of course, pick one that is washable so that you can easily remove all the "splashes" that occur during normal kitchen activities.

To prepare your wall area for the wallpaper border, clean the wall thoroughly first. You can just wash them with soap and water but make sure you get any gunk or grease spots off. If there are any big holes in the plaster, you might want to patch them, but little holes are OK and the border will cover them up nice! Remove the coverings to any light switches or electrical outlets.

Measure out your wall paper so it is a couple of inches longer that the actual size of the backsplash and cut. Apply the paper to the wall per the manufactuers instructions. If your paper has a pattern, make sure you match the pattern on the cut edges in corners or where you couldn't use the continuous roll. Butt the bottom of the border up against your counter. If there are any windows or moldings in the area you are papering, you will want to overlap any paper that is against them. Make sure you smooth the paper out with a wet sponge or wallpaper brush to remove any bubbles and wrinkles. After putting the border up, take a wet sponge and smooth it out to the edge - always move the sponge from the paper to the wall so that the edge doesn't buckle up. Make sure the edges have enough paste on them so that they don't peel back after it is dry.

Cut off excess paper around any moldings, window and in the electrical outlets and switches.

For more information about buying or selling a home in the Laguna Beach area, visit my website at www.imakesoldhappen.com/.To search like an agent in Northern California, sign up for a Listingbook account with the link on this page. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/26862

How To Remove Popcorn Ceiling

Popcorn ceilings are made up mainly of chalk, clay and an aggregate. To remove it you have to wet it, which turns it into a soft gooey mess. It's not going to be an easy project, but with a little preparation you can control the mess.

Start by removing anything possible from the room. Protect the floor and anything that had to stay in the room with a thick sheet of plastic. Lay out some old newspaper on the floor on top of the plastic to soak most of the wet mess up.

A note of caution - if your popcorn ceiling is from the early 70's it may contain asbestos. If you suspect your ceiling may be from that era, remove a small piece of the popcorn ceiling and send it in for testing. If it does contain asbestos, it will have to be removed by professionals who can also dispose of it properly to reduce the cancer risk asbestos can pose for you and your family.

Wear some old clothes, a hat to keep the goop out of your hair, and protective eyewear. A respirator of some sort or at least a mask to keep most of the dust particles out of your lungs is a good idea as well.

Use a spray bottle and completely saturate part of the ceiling. Let it soak in for a few minutes and then use a scrapper tool to scrape the gooey mess of your ceiling. A drywall-finishing knife works well. Hold a bucket under the tool to catch most of the removed popcorn ceiling. Work in small section and keep repeating the process until the popcorn ceiling is removed. Use a wet sponge to wipe off any remaining residue on the ceiling.

You may have to rewet some parts of the ceiling to get the popcorn to soften up enough to remove it. Try not to wet it more than 2 to 3 times. You don't want the drywall beneath to get too saturated with water. It may warp or grow mold.

Once the entire popcorn ceiling is removed, let the ceiling dry completely. Now it's time to sand the entire surface to remove any rough patches. A pole sander works great for this. Give the dust a chance to settle and then use a joint compound to patch any wholes, cracks etc that may have formed on the ceiling. Let the compound dry for about an hour, then lightly sand over it to smooth it out.

Once you get the mess on the floor cleaned up your new smooth ceiling is ready to be painted.

For more information about buying or selling a home in the Laguna Beach area, visit my website at www.imakesoldhappen.com/.To search like an agent in Northern California, sign up for a Listingbook account with the link on this page. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/178458

5 Quick Weekend Projects For the Home

What does the term "weekend project" do to you? Does it fill you with kittenish delight? Or does it make your chest feel like someone's sitting on it?

Weekend projects don't typically take the entire weekend. Of the literally dozens of potential home improvement project that you could tackle over a weekend, here are five quick and easy ones that won't take you away from enjoying your weekend.

Unclog the showerhead: If the water pressure during your morning showers has been declining steadily, you might need to clear up mineral buildup on the showerhead.

Get some distilled white vinegar, a rubber band and a plastic bag. Place the showerhead in the plastic bag that's filled with vinegar, and tie it shut with the rubber band. After soaking overnight, your showerhead should be void of any mineral buildup, and since vinegar is a natural cleaner and disinfectant, you won't be harming the environment.

Install energy-efficient light bulbs: A lot of us have already done this one to some extent. Both compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs and light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs are gradually coming down in price, making them an even more worthy investment.

This doesn't really get much easier. Unscrew the old, inefficient incandescent bulb. Replace with new, super-efficient bulb. Rejoice in the money and energy savings.

Install LED under-cabinet lighting: I've talked about this one before, and it bears repeating. The counter area beneath your kitchen cabinets is an ideal place for lighting. This cost-effective and energy-efficient upgrade will rejuvenate the look of your kitchen.

After a bit of planning (how many LED discs and mounting brackets do you need, for example), this job shouldn't take you more than two or three hours-even less if you have a helping hand.

Update your kitchen with a new faucet: You might be surprised at the difference a new faucet can make in your everyday life in the kitchen. And with a massive selection of next-generation kitchen faucets available (water-efficient and pull-out fixtures, for example), it's well worth investing an hour or two to install one.

A number of plumbing manufacturers have simplified the installation process with fixtures that can be put in quickly and easily by even the most inexperienced layman.

Flush your water heater: When I first saw this project, I immediately put it on my must-do list. It had me at improved efficiency. This is a twice-a-year project that's surely worth the effort.

This is a multi-step process so for the skinny on how to flush your water heater, visit the blog at ConsumerReports.org.

Until next time, Happy Home Improving!

For more information about buying or selling a home in the Laguna Beach area, visit my website at www.imakesoldhappen.com/.To search like an agent in Northern California, sign up for a Listingbook account with the link on this page. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6130673

New Roof: Face Lift for a Home!

Thousands of homeowners all over the globe want to own a house that captures the attention of passersby. An older house that undergoes a makeover can bring back its original beauty or even exceed the curb appeal of the original home. One of the most crucial aspects of any building is the rooftop. This is the part most likely to be seen by people, even at a distance. For anyone who strives for perfection, the chance of having a new and better looking roofing system installed on a building can be a lifetime achievement.

This new structure can add exceptional beauty to the exterior that can deliver a feeling of pride in such an appearance. Because of the advances in technology within the construction industry, a structure can be built that not only has a catchy, unique design but also has a great ventilation system. There exists the capability to give any house quality and efficiency while adding attractiveness and elegance via the addition of a brand new roof.

Because a roof is one of the more expensive parts of a building structure, it is essential to choose the best possible structure that meets any budget plan.

Choose a Design

Knowing budget allowances for a new structure, a roof design can be selected to achieve whatever look is desired for the house. Many people elect to match the design of the roof to the exterior of the home. Material selection is a similar process with many also selecting materials that match the exterior of the home to give it a great curb appeal as well.

There are several things that can be done when designing this new structure that covers the top of a home. First, try to picture a three-dimensional image about the style of the roof at different angles then match it with various aspects of the home's interior and exterior. Choose a design that looks appealing and attractive at first glance.

Choose a Color

The true beauty of a home can be complimented by choosing a color that suits each home's own character. Roofing material comes in a variety of colors from which to select the product and the color that best suits each individual house. This might be a good time to ask for ideas from a contractor to be sure that the choice is the right color for the style and design of the roof as well as the house.

Choose a Style and Shape

For a house that stands out from the crowd, make something that fulfills that desire rather than something that is popular and stylish in design magazines. There are six different styles and shapes from which to make a selection. Each one of them has various functions based on the each local region. To make a design truly unique, mix two or more roofing styles and shapes. This certainly will make a home unique and is bound to grab the attention of friends and neighbors. When all the renovations are complete, this new look will deserve and receive many second glances!

Durability

One of the most common considerations when installing a new roof is its durability. It is important to think about not only about how the new structure will look; it is also valuable to consider how durable and functional it will be. How many years can this structure and the materials used last? Does it have the ability to resist the various kinds of roofing problems brought on by the power of Mother Nature?

When having a new roof installed on a house, it is always a prudent step to seek the advice of roofing professional. These contractors are trained and equipped to handle all aspects of roofing design and installation. Take years off the outer appearance of a home - give it a face lift with a new roofing system today!

For more information about buying or selling a home in the Laguna Beach area, visit my website at www.imakesoldhappen.com/.To search like an agent in Northern California, sign up for a Listingbook account with the link on this page. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6293236

Enhancing Your New Home

Today, most homes, especially in subdivisions and apartment complexes, have the same building structures and styles. For the sake of efficiency, most subdivisions are becoming replicated. Nothing is exclusive or unique style. If you live in a home development project, your home could have the same layout and design as your neighbor's. This does not mean that home projects are not good, they are simply not unique and special making them so ordinary and monotonous. Thus, if you want to be special from the rest, here are some considerations to enhance your new home.

New homes are ideal - new environment, new furniture, and new accessories. Also, there's the comfort and safety you can feel living in a suburb where everything seems good. However, this makes your home competitive for real estate value. Consult your local assessor's office and try to browse through your suburb and you will usually see that the housing projects are estimated at uniform values. Thus, because the real estate market is so competitive, if you roam around, most houses are just replicates as well as many "for sale" sign boards. So, it is significant to put your own design to your home.

Make your home unique from your neighbor so that it will have charm and personality. However when the time comes that you want to sell your home, you can appraise your home for a higher value.

A great way to turn your drab home style into something exceptional is to go back in time. Since modern homes don't have their own story or what you call as their "soul," you need to create your own. Thus, although your house could be modern, your interior could be antique or classical to create a historic appeal. As an alternative, restore a modern window with a stained glass to project a bucolic appeal. Place some carved woodwork on your table tops. Replace the contemporary carpet or linoleum with wooden floor. Place some carved décor around your fireplace. The finer details are usually gives your home uniqueness - it projects your love of details.

However, even in classical homes, you still need some modern touch. A remarkable way to renovate your drab home is to transform and modernize the house furniture. Kitchens are huge selling points but these should have dishwasher, range and other modern tools in the kitchen. However, if you install some modern fixtures you could turn a drab kitchen into an efficient space bringing your home more unique.

For more information about buying or selling a home in the Laguna Beach area, visit my website at www.imakesoldhappen.com/.To search like an agent in Northern California, sign up for a Listingbook account with the link on this page. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6309465

Tips In Hiring Reliable Contractors

Homeowners want to get a residential property that satisfies their needs. Value for money is a top priority for most people looking to buy a home these days. Who could blame them?

Today, it's just natural for people to take the extra steps to ensure they're not wasting their hard earned money on a property with hidden problems. Being the place that provides shelter to their families, they want a home that is durable and well maintained to protect them from natural calamities.

If you're planning to do some renovation work, however, it's your responsibility to get a trusted and reliable contractor. You wouldn't want to compromise your home to anybody who won't be able to fix your house properly. In these days of scams, it's best to be sure that you're getting the right contractor who can do his job well and at the right price.

Get four references if possible. Experts know that when hiring contractors, they normally provide three references. For a change, you can ask for four. As most of these references are the usually ones who give them a positive feedback for their first work, try to ask the contractor that the fourth reference should be a person that called them back to repair a problem. This will let you know how the contractor followed up with the homeowner until the issue was solved.

Ask a friend or family member to assist you. You should do this if you live alone. Let a friend or a sibling stay with you when you meet and interview potential contractors. Women need to have a male present if possible and make sure you keep all your valuables before you let the contractor come in your home. When they inspect your house, go with them so you know what they're doing.

Verify their license. A contractor needs to have the proper license so be sure to check this document as well as their local operating permit. An honest contractor should not hesitate to show you his credentials at your first meeting. You can check this at the office of the state's secretary.

Check the Better Business Bureau. Another office where you can check the credentials of potential contractors is the Better Business Bureau. You can check from not just one bureau but even from the other bureaus in nearby states because it's normal for contractors and their crew to move around.

Ask about contractor coverage. Apart from the license, you can also check if the contractor has surety bonds, performance bonds and workers' compensation. If you don't know where to verify this, consult your insurance agent.

Contractors should buy the supplies. This is the norm but a word of caution, don't give the money to the contractor. What you can do instead is to set a time to meet with the contractor at the supply store and be the one to pay the materials. You can then arrange for the supplies to be delivered to your home only on the day they will be needed.

For more information about buying or selling a home in the Laguna Beach area, visit my website at www.imakesoldhappen.com/.To search like an agent in Northern California, sign up for a Listingbook account with the link on this page. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6346984

5 Cool Ways To Give Your Bedroom A New Feel

The rains are abating, the weather's getting warmer, and with June right around the corner, now is the perfect time to update your bedroom for the summer season. Here are 5 cool ways to give your bedroom a new feel for the summer holidays.

Pick A Theme

Why not pick a new theme? You could go with something European, something Country, or maybe even try out some different Asian bedroom furniture sets. Each theme has its own unique touches and summery flair. Try a new, modern European dresser and mirror combo, or perhaps a new set of Country nightstands made of warm, honey-colored oak. Or try a taste of the orient with bamboo-based tatami mats, matched Shoji screens (room-dividers) and paper-skinned oriental lamps. When it comes to Asian bedroom furniture sets, you can't go wrong with a perfectly laid tatami floorplan with appropriate lighting accessories. If you have the funds, try out Japanese platform beds for a summer-soothing night's rest!

Pillow Talk!

Let's talk pillows! There are so many different kinds to update your bedroom with! European pillows or shams are typically 26"x26" square and make a great addition to a European-themed room. Try a vibrant summer color such as lime green, teal, or a nice, sunny orange. You may also like to try an extra set of pillows in a contrasting color for your Country-styled theme. Think warm florals, or vibrant primary colors. Make sure not to overdo it!

Particularly well-matched for Asian bedroom furniture sets, hugging pillows come in many different shapes and sizes. The following pillows work great with Asian bedroom furniture sets. Try out summer-colorful Dakimakura hugging pillows from Japan, Guling pillows from Indonesia, or Abrazador long hugging pillows from the Philippines. For the truly adventurous, a Shitou Zentou (Chinese rock pillow) is meant to cure headache or depression, and is rumored to increase intelligence. The Shitou's are typically made from jade though, so make sure you can afford it!

Art Deco-ration

One of the easiest ways to give your bedroom a new feel for summer is to change up the art in the bedroom. Summery prints with flowers, natural scenery, or even seaside depictions make great art additions to the bedroom for the warmest months of the year. You can leave up photos of special events or people, but try heading down to your local art store for affordable to not-so-affordable options. Prints are a great idea when original art is expensive. Make sure to pick a festively colored frame, or at least a summery vibrant matte. The framing/matting can make all the difference to whether a print pops-out with summer flair, or if it looks like it's been hung haphazardly on any which wall.

Paint The Walls Bright

Bland bedrooms are easily made bright and summer-ready with a brand new coat of summery paint! For greens, try sea green, parsley, mint, or chic lime. For a bright splash, try lemon freeze or daffodil. For summery blues try a deep indigo blue, teal, or fun turquoise.

Summer-Inspired Window Treatments

Summer-inspired window treatments go a long way providing a summery change of feel to your bedroom. Lace or sheer curtains look light and airy, and are definitely July-appropriate. Mother of Pearl buttons sewn onto lightweight linen or other light filtering fabrics give a casual beachy look. Wooden slat blinds are also very summer-beach appropriate. Or try woven shades in bright patterns or solid colors with accenting shade ties. For the Japanese-inspired bedroom, bamboo or other natural fiber roll-down blinds are especially appropriate to dress up those Asian bedroom furniture sets for the summer.

For more information about buying or selling a home in the Laguna Beach area, visit my website at www.imakesoldhappen.com/.To search like an agent in Northern California, sign up for a Listingbook account with the link on this page. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6351942

Install Kitchen Backsplash Tiles And Give Your Kitchen A Weekend Makeover

Decorating your kitchen backsplash can be a fun and exciting weekend project. Kitchen backsplash tiles fit right into that special space between your upper kitchen cabinets and your kitchen countertop.

They are usually 18 inches high and 12 to 20 feet wide. Because your backsplash is a small area, it's a relatively affordable place to use the pricier tiles, and also the place to get a little fancier with laying them. It takes a lot less time to tile your backsplash. This makes installing kitchen backsplash tiles the ideal weekend project for the do it yourself tiler. In one weekend you can transform your backsplash into a beautiful eye catching kitchen focal point.

There are many beautiful decorative tiles available to use as your kitchen backsplash tiles, and they are also fairly easy to install. There's the ever popular glass wall tile which is impervious to stains and moisture. Some of these glass tiles are even strong enough for floors, but due to their expense they are usually used as an accent tile for walls. Glass tiles come in a wide variety of beautiful gleaming colors and textures.

Mosaic tiles are small tiles ¼ to 3 inches in size. They come in just about any shape you can imagine, such as fish, circles, stars, squares and the list goes on. These tiles may be glazed ceramic, marble, glass, natural stone or even metal, and these decorative patterns come already assembled on 12 inch square sheets with mesh backing, making for a quick and easy weekend tile installation.

Then there's metal backsplash tile which can be made up of stainless steel, copper, brass or iron. These tiles offer a very up to date look, especially for kitchen backsplashes. They may be smooth, mosaics, cast in shapes or even stamped with patterns, and they are perfect to use as a backsplash tile, because they're perfectly sized to fit the common 18 inch backsplash.

You can also use decorative accent tiles to dress up your kitchen backsplash. Simply choose a handful of dressy tiles that have painted or ingrained images you like, or are embossed with fish or palm trees or any other shape that suits your fancy. You can even use tiles that are glazed in bright colors and sprinkle them throughout your backsplash.

Continue your backsplash designs all the way to over your range, or create a different design for this area. Turn your backsplash tiles on the diagonal and frame the design with picture frame tiles and create a tile mural, or create a color collage using decorative color tiles that compliment the color scheme of your kitchen.

The designs you can create for your kitchen backsplash using decorative tiles are endless. All you need is a little imagination. The tiles will take care of the rest.

For more information about buying or selling a home in the Laguna Beach area, visit my website at www.imakesoldhappen.com/.To search like an agent in Northern California, sign up for a Listingbook account with the link on this page. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5029488

Affordable Bathroom Vanity Sets That Will Make Your Friends Envious Of You

It's done. You finally got a place on this planet to call home. A brand new house or one that you are going to move into soon. You're excited about it. Renovation process will take a few weeks and you can't wait to cruise into your new sweet spot. Time to go shop for some affordable bathroom vanity sets to make your bathroom look good.

What Do People Like?

These days, many home owners are looking for something that will look awesome in their home. Come to think of it, since you will be spending so much time at home, you might as well make it look good all the way so that when you come home from a crazy day at work, you get to enjoy the results of your labor. Different people all have different taste in stuff. So when it comes to choosing the bathroom vanity of your choice, you will have to see for yourself which design or style that captures your attention. There's the modern and contemporary ones if you want your home to look futuristic. Then there are the antique bathroom cabinets for the more conservative folks who love classical stuff.

Affordable And Looks Great

You could easily find bathroom vanity sets that are affordable these days. And I don't mean the cheap ones which will eventually fall apart on you after a year or two. I mean the really great looking ones that will make your bathroom look stylish or classy. Enough to make your friends envious of you. Home owners do not have to travel far to look for them. They could just get online and view the different varieties that are available and these online shop will have them shipped to your home in no time. Some will even throw in free shipping making it convenient for home owners to shop from them.

The Rest Of The Stuff

Now getting the bathroom vanity sets is just the beginning to having a really nice bathroom. Consider buying the toilets, bath tubs, faucets, showers, cabinets and shelves as well. Your bathroom will still look good depending on the color and lighting that you put into it. Need some creative ideas? Other than looking through interior design magazines, the online stores that sell these vanities will be able to recommend the type of products to complement the vanity of your choice.

Summary

So if your friends don't envy you, I am sure your neighbors will once you have your home all set up nicely. Other than the bedroom, the bathroom is the place that you would like to spruce up to look good since you will be using it every day. Happy shopping!

For more information about buying or selling a home in the Laguna Beach area, visit my website at www.imakesoldhappen.com/.To search like an agent in Northern California, sign up for a Listingbook account with the link on this page. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6600670

Can You Do-It-Yourself?

Whether it is just to save money or because of an inspiring home improvement show on television, it seems that more and more people are taking on do-it-yourself home improvement projects. But is it for everyone? Do you think you have what it takes to be a successful do-it-yourselfer? Here are some things to consider.

Why do it yourself at all? You are busy with your own life, family, career, etc. Isn't is just easier to hire someone else to do the "dirty work"? Easier, yes. Cost effective, no. Probably the most common reason for taking on a do-it-yourself project is to save money. In most cases, the project can be completed for half (or less) of the cost of hiring a contractor.

Of course, you can usually count on a contractor to complete the job faster than you can, and they have been doing this professionally for some time. At the same time, at least in the U.S.A., contractors are notorious for starting a project and disappearing for weeks at a time, leaving you with a half-finished mess. So you would need to consider the trade-offs of the final result looking more professional, versus having control over when and how the work is done. And there are no guarantees about the final result from a contractor - there are plenty of horror stories about botched jobs and the larger problems they create. If you do decide to use a contractor, please be sure to hire someone you know well or someone for whom you can obtain reliable references.

There are probably many people who are afraid to try a home improvement project because, never having done this before, they don't already know how to do it themselves. This is an understandable reason to hesitate. However, there is a plethora of books, magazines, websites, even home improvement store employees, available to help. If someone is truly interested in a topic, and has the desire and will to learn, they can pick up the needed skills.

A less-obvious requirement for anyone who wants to successfully complete a home improvement project is a healthy balance between attention to detail without being too much of a perfectionist. These hands-on projects are detail intensive and require patience. At the same time, it is important to realize that nothing will be absolutely perfect. You need to do your best to get it just right, but also know when to let go of the desire for perfection. No house will have perfectly square corners, and materials will not always be perfectly sized. As long as you are satisfied with the appearance of your work, you have found the proper balance.

Home improvement projects can reduce stress, or create a new stress. Because of the focus required to complete a project well, it can help you put other issues out of your mind for a while. It gives you a break from trying to solve all your other problems while you are creating something new in your home. At the same time, however, home improvement projects can introduce new stresses, as you try to fit something just right or try to agree with your spouse over color choices. Overall, putting some time and effort into improving your surroundings is usually relaxing and rewarding.

Start with a small project to build some confidence. Anyone should be able to find a project or two around the house which interests them. Knowing that you have accomplished such a task can be very rewarding. Just be sure to allow at least twice as much time as you think it will take, because something always comes up or goes wrong on the first try. With dedication and resolve, any obstacle can be overcome.

For more information about buying or selling a home in the Laguna Beach area, visit my website at www.imakesoldhappen.com/.To search like an agent in Northern California, sign up for a Listingbook account with the link on this page. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/661976

The $27,000 Toilet Seat - Funny DIY Story

This story was told to me by a plumber I know and it brings home the reason why there are times to call a professional.

I received a call from a homeowner asking for someone to come estimate some repairs. When I asked the sort of repairs, he said it would be too many to enumerate, but much easier if I just came out to the house and looked. I went. It began like this...

Old Joe wanted to change his toilet seat, but couldn't get the old one off. So he tried wrenches until he rounded off the nuts (he was turning them the wrong way because they were upside down) and then decided to get his trusty cold chisel and hammer out. Well, he tapped a bit on it with no success, so he drew back the hammer to smite a mighty blow against the stubborn bolt. In so doing he broke the toilet tank and flooded the area with cold water. This cold water gave him a shock and he drew back in a hurry dropping the hammer into the bathtub causing a big chunk of the porcelain to pop off the tub floor.

Regrouping his thoughts, he ran down to the basement two floors below to shut off the water to the house, the house had no other valves installed when it was built in the 1890's. Meanwhile water was flooding through the floors and had saturated the plaster of the ceiling below to the point it collapsed into the living room. Old Joe then removed what was left of the toilet tank, and tried to remove the bowl from the floor flange. It wouldn't budge either, so out comes the trusty chisel and hammer again, and "WHACK" no more toilet bowl. In the process however, he managed to tear the closet flange from the floor as well,and since it was attached to a lead closet bend, it torn and now needed replaced too. He determined that it would be necessary to cut out the tee in the stack where the closet bent was attached. Since he had no idea how to repair old lead piping, he thought using that nifty PVC from Home Depot would do the trick.

He tried to cut the cast iron stack with a hacksaw to no avail, then tried a sawzall, also fruitless, so.... yep, out comes the good old chisel and hammer, but a bigger hammer this time. He whacks on the stack a few mighty blows and Viola' it splits into several pieces with one tiny segment still holding it all together. He pried the last vestige of solid pipe out of the wall with a crowbar and suddenly the remaining section of pipe (the vent going through the roof) lets go and with a mighty crash comes down and out of the wall through the sub floor into the now plaster less ceiling of the living room, continues its downward decent until it hits the TV set, ricocheting off that and through the floor of the living room until it hit the electrical panel plunging the house into total darkness and finally comes to rest after shearing off the main water shut off valve flooding the basement.

This was a $27,000 toilet seat replacement.

For more information about buying or selling a home in the Laguna Beach area, visit my website at www.imakesoldhappen.com/.To search like an agent in Northern California, sign up for a Listingbook account with the link on this page. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/42829

Kitchen Cabinet Secret Exposed!

As a contractor I am constantly looking for a great deal and a way to save a few dollars. If it means a little more work but a significant monetary savings, then it is a great deal to me. So when I stumbled upon kitchen cabinets that could be bought and assembled and I didn't have to pay the high retail price, I was very interested. It is simple; I am not paying someone else to assemble the kitchen cabinets or the additional costs associated with transporting them and storing them.

I was in one of those big box home supply centers and was going to buy my kitchen cabinets the usual way. I already had the pre-assembled kitchen cabinets loaded into onto one of those flat carts when I casually complained to another customer that there has got to be a better way than hauling all these kitchen cabinets around. The other customer jokingly said buy them online. Of course I thought it was a joke. I did a little research and found out that the kitchen cabinets get shipped to you, you avoid any store hassles, and the best part is that the cost was 40% less than the big box home center prices. Part of the reason these kitchen cabinets cost less is because they are considered "RTA kitchen cabinets" which stands for ready to assemble kitchen cabinets.

So I decided to do a search and see what I could find online. I was floored! There are many choices out there and it was easy. When the kitchen cabinets arrived, I was shocked again. Not only were the kitchen cabinets solid wood, but they did not have one piece of cardboard or particle board. The reason I mentioned this is because the big box stores have solid fronts but very little else in the areas of real wood.

Finally, I thought these kitchen cabinets might be a hassle to assemble. The kitchen cabinets were easy to assemble. Each cabinet came with a single page of directions and needed only a flat head screw driver to put them together. The cabinets with drawers were a little more time consuming and I used my electric drill to make the assembly go faster, but overall the kitchen cabinets are easy to put together.

Finding an RTA kitchen cabinet store might be difficult in some areas of the country, but if you look online you will be able to find these sites quite easily. There is a shipping cost; however, if you buy enough kitchen cabinets the shipping is reduced or actually free. Keep in mind that after I added shipping costs, my overall spending was still a lot less than what I would have spent at a super center.

So the secret to in-expensive kitchen cabinets is to go online and find them yourself. So start searching, it might be a little more effort but it is worth it.

For more information about buying or selling a home in the Laguna Beach area, visit my website at www.imakesoldhappen.com/.To search like an agent in Northern California, sign up for a Listingbook account with the link on this page. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/865358

Paint Me a Picture - No - Paint Me a Hall, DIY Style

Painting is one of the easiest DIY projects around. Novice DIY weekend warriors often begin with their DIY home improvement projects by repainting fences, hallways, doors, windows and walls.

Important tools

To be able to do painting jobs around the house, you would need the following:

1. Roller brushes of different sizes- you need different sizes, depending on the job. Roller brushes that are more than six inches in length are good for walls. Smaller roller brushes can be used to paint the bottom of walls. Small roller brushes can also be used to paint tables and chairs.

2. Synthetic brushes- synthetic brushes come in all shapes, sizes and colors. However, as a rule of thumb, purchase those that have fine yet durable strands. Synthetic brushes should be at least two inches wide. Larger brushes should have longer handles.

In addition, large brushes are heavier, so you have the option of attaching them to poles for hard to reach areas, such as the corners of ceilings.

3. Supply of old newspapers- you can use newspapers or similar recyclable papers. Use these to protect furniture and other surfaces when you are painting. Use plenty of paper when painting large surfaces such as walls and ceilings.

4. Plastic paint pans- pans can be bought from hardware stores. These specially made pans hold the paint on one side, while uneven surfaces allow you to remove excess paint.

5. Thinners- thinners will allow you to remove excess and encrusted paint on your roller brushes. Hard, encrusted paint can damage your roller brushes in the end. Never use water, as it will take too long to remove all the paint.

How to paint a hall

It seems daunting at first- the idea of painting a hall. But in reality, some tools and a bit of patience, plus lots of fun will get the job done.

The first step is to clear out your hallway. Put all the stuff in your hallway in another room. This eliminates the need to put newspapers all around. The risk of paint spots on your stuff is reduced to zero.

Second step is to clean the walls with a wet sponge and some soap. Rinse the walls and allow it to completely dry. If there is glossy paint, use a sandpaper to make the surface a bit rougher.

With a roller brush, apply the primer. Proceed to applying two coats of paint. Let the paint dry for a day or two.

Start re-adding things to your hallway. Old, useless things like unused golf bags should not be added to your hallway again. This process will de-clutter your hallway.

To beautify this space, consider adding plant life. Potted plants are a good choice. The potted plants need not be real. You can use plastic daisies or synthetic roses. Just make sure you clean your plants regularly with a wet piece of cloth to preserve their color.

If you do not have a clock in the hallway, consider adding a wall clock. Wall clocks can be either modern or completely classical with swinging pendulums.

For more information about buying or selling a home in the Laguna Beach area, visit my website at www.imakesoldhappen.com/.To search like an agent in Northern California, sign up for a Listingbook account with the link on this page. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1909069

10 Things To Consider Before Planning And Installing A New Bathroom

Whether you want to install a new bathroom or make improvements to an existing one there are some decisions you need to make and challenges to overcome. A bathroom must be tailored to your requirements and every plan will vary depending on the planner's needs.

1. Seek professional advice before planning a bathroom. You may need to consider local water regulations, existing plumbing facilities and the way your house is constructed.

2. Define the role and requirements of the new bathroom. Planning a bathroom involves more than the positioning of basic fixtures such as the bath, basin and toilet. Make sure your plan allows for plenty of floor for wall space and for extras such as towel rail, mirror and storage.

3. Decide if you need to make any changes to existing services and whether structural work is required. Measure up and note the position of the existing services, windows and doors and work out the plan to get the bathroom fixtures where you want them. You'll also need to decide if you need to move any doors, windows or walls and whether you need to make changes to the electricity wiring, water and drains.

4. Draw out the bathroom area on graph paper and work out how best to divide up the bathroom for different purposes or tasks. You may need to consider whether to use double or sliding doors, archways or curtains.

5. Ensure that you have enough space to accommodate your chosen fittings as well as enough room to move them into position. Think about how much room will be required for toiletries, storing towels, medicines etc.

6. Build in utilities such as heating, ventilation and lighting. These are important to ensure that your bathroom has enough light and works efficiently.

7. Make provisions for future plumbing and allow for access to potential trouble spots such as the shower pump and boxed-in toilet cisterns. If possible, fit removable panels instead of sealing these utilities behind fixed walls.

8. Find out exactly what sort of fittings you require and whether they will be suitable for the intended location.

9. Think about your style preferences in terms of the fit and flow with the rest of the house. There are products to meet most requirements or designs. Consider the trade off between price and good quality, and look out for longer warranties and guarantees.

10. Consider traffic patterns in terms of how many people will be using the bathroom and how often. Also, if people of varying ages use the bathroom, you may need to choose fittings that cater for different age groups in your household such as a slide shower so you can adjust the height of the spray.

Taking time to plan ahead can help to translate your ideas into reality and ensure that you end up with your ideal bathroom.

 

For more information about buying or selling a home in the Laguna Beach area, visit my website at www.imakesoldhappen.com/.To search like an agent in Northern California, sign up for a Listingbook account with the link on this page.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/46915