Developing a garage addition building plan and estimating garage addition costs

The decision to add on a garage addition to a home is one of the best home improvement projects a homeowner can make. A garage addition provides great utility and can significantly increase the value of a home. Prior to actually breaking ground, however, a garage addition plan and garage addition costs estimates should be developed. A garage addition plan starts with making initial sketches of the garage addition concept and evaluating how it will tie in with the existing home structure. Though most homeowners prefer a large garage, it is very important during this phase to consider proportions between the existing home and the new garage addition. To aesthetically look appealing from the road the garage addition length should not exceed two-thirds the length of the existing home. Otherwise the garage addition could overwhelm the existing home structure. The depth or width of the garage addition is less critical from an aesthetic standpoint, as it is usually less visible from the road. Once the initial sketches have been completed, detailed garage addition building plans should be generated. Depending on the complexity of the garage addition either the homeowner or an architect can develop the actual garage addition building plans. In either case, the plans will need to include scaled drawings with dimensions, and cross-sectional construction views with constructional materials specified. The cross-sectional views should include from the concrete footings all the way to the peak of the roof. Each new transition from the footings up should be carefully drawn. Examples include: the footing/foundation transition, the foundation/sill plate transition, and the wall/roof rafter transition. The plans should also include a comprehensive bill of materials for the project. In addition, all property lines and appropriate setbacks should be clearly shown in the drawings. Estimating the garage addition costs depends on who is building the addition. If the homeowner plans on acting as his or her own general contractor and performing some of the work (e. g. the framing) then costs will need to be calculated starting with the bill of materials generated during the planning phase. With a comprehensive bill of materials a homeowner can provide much of the list to any home improvement store where they can fill out the pricing information for the specific items for the project. For specialty items such as garage doors, garage door openers, and in some cases lighting and plumbing fixtures (if required for the garage addition) the homeowner may need to contact specialty stores for pricing. The subcontractors may also be able to provide some unit pricing (e. g. garage doors). If the homeowner is acting as his or her own general contractor and will require subcontractors, then it is important that they identify early the subcontractors and review with them the plans and development schedule. Each subcontractor should provide a firm fixed estimate for the particular job based on the plans and bill of materials. In addition their bid should also include start/complete dates for the particular job. With garage addition plans and costs estimates in place the homeowner can then proceed with pulling permits and developing a fairly accurate building schedule. Once permits have been approved, construction of the garage addition can begin. It is important to note, however, that even with the best plans in place things happen and schedules slip. To mitigate schedule slips a homeowner acting as his or her own general contractor should factor in some buffer to the schedule and always be looking ahead several weeks during the entire project. They should regularly check with suppliers to ensure building material will arrive when required and should occasionally check with subcontractors to ensure that their schedules are still in line with your garage addition project. With these simple planning, budgeting and scheduling issues addressed prior to the start of the project, building a garage addition can be a positive experience both pre and post construction phase. For more information on building a garage addition see the Garage Addition Bid Sheet from HomeAdditionPlus. The Garage Addition Bid Sheet includes an extensive questionnaire (Request for Quote) that a homeowner can provide to prospective general contractors and subcontractors for bidding the garage addition. In addition, the Garage Addition Bid sheet also includes estimated costs and time intervals for constructing a garage addition as well as a list of key home material manufacturers. Finally, the Garage Addition Bid Sheet includes an extensive set of helpful tips and advice on making sure the garage addition is built properly and on time and budget.

How to budget for home improvements

Home improvement projects often scare people away. The typical homeowner will believe that it will cost thousands of dollars to remodel one room since they often lack the skills to do the job themselves. They may also feel that the project is too expensive since many materials and tools are needed. To the contrary, home improvement does not have to be expensive at all. Of course if you hire a contractor or subcontractor to do the job, you will pay a fortune but if you have the patience and the ability to read and follow directions then you can remodel an entire room in your home for less than one hundred dollars. Of course this will depend on the type of remodeling you want to accomplish and your definition of remodeling. If you believe painting a room is considered “remodeling” then your costs will be inexpensive. If you want to expand a room or redesign it then your costs will rise. So to help you save money, you will need to decide the type of remodeling then you will need to contrast and compare materials. Before starting the process of improving your home, you will need to setup a budget and a plan to get started. You will need to consider various notions when considering and planning home improvement. For example, do you intend to paint your home? Do you intend to tile your home? Do you want carpet and/or hard wood in your home? How many rooms do you plan to remodel? What material will you need? How much material will you need? Asking questions is part of analyzing and planning for home improvement. One of the best tools to have when considering home improvement is knowing what you like and knowing what you want. When I improve my home, the first thing I want to do is to roam around my brain to search for my favorites and what excites and appeals to me. Thus, when I go to the home improvement stores I already have in mind what I am going to purchase, thus this relaxes my quest to improving my home. If you are lacking the cash to improve your home then setting up a budget will help you get what you want as well as save you cash. You may even consider purchasing materials and tools for home improvement at the stores that offer discounts and/or purchases with no payments until a particular date. This notion will give you time to get your home improved while saving the cash to payoff the improvement materials and tools. If you have more then one hardware or lumber store, then look for the best possible deals. Sometimes if you purchase at a local hardware store instead of a large brand name, you may be able to work out a nice deal. Unfortunately, many people go for secondary home loans, i. e. home equity loans, to improve their home. Getting loans from lenders often lead to debt, and secondary home loans for improvement only leads to paying off your home twice. Thus, avoid those high interest rates and loan payments and learn to budget to improve your home. It may take you longer to make those home improvements but it give you less stress and will help keep you out of debt. Let me give you an overall view of what one room could cost you for repairs. Say you want to paint a room in your home. You will need plaster, sealers, primer, paints, paint thinners, scrapers, screwdriver, paint opening (often comes with your paint purchase), patches, paintbrushes, tray, and so forth. Now you may think this is going to cost you a fortune to improve your home, but to the contrary, you are wrong. The paint and tools will cost you the most while the other items will cost less. Primer, sealers and plaster could cost around fifteen dollars if you go to the right store. Paint thinners, trays, brushes and screwdriver will cost around fifteen if you visit the right store. Thus, the patches should be purchased with a plaster kit, which will save you a few pennies. The paint will cost around twenty per can, depending on the type of paint purchased. Therefore, for around a hundred bucks you could remodel a room in your home without hiring anyone to do the job providing you follow the instructions. What about the bathroom? Can you remodel the area on a budget plan? It will depend on the size of the area an the type of remodeling but if you wish to tile your bathroom and paint the walls you could get the job done for around a hundred bucks give or take a few dollars. If you visit the right stores and know what you are doing, you could remodel a small bathroom or medium bathroom for around fifty bucks. Learning to budget and plan can help you remodel your entire home (if the home is in good standings) for a few hundred dollars. Furthermore, doing the work yourself will save you thousands of dollars.

The benefits of installing a ceiling medallion

A ceiling medallion is probably not the first thing you think of when you think of classing up a room. Everyone is remodeling these days, and the reason this remodeling trend has taken America by storm is because people are seeking to make something old have a new stylish look. Refurbishing a house is also a good way to be economical. If you redo the house you already own, it is usually cheaper and a better idea than buying a new house. A stylish look is one of the benefits of installing a decorative ceiling medallion. Another benefit of installing a ceiling medallion is to mask flaws or imperfections that may exist in a ceiling, especially if the ceiling is older. One final benefit to adding a decorative ceiling medallion is that while it adds value and style to your ceiling they can be inexpensive. One of the most beneficial effects of installing a ceiling medallion would be that it can totally change the appearance of a drab or older style ceiling. Even when you have installed a beautiful light fixture to change up a room, many times, a decorative ceiling medallion can really make a difference. It helps to add a finishing touch to that chandelier you just installed. To make sure the medallion gives the type of look you want it to, always take the room, surroundings, and fixture you’ve chosen. You do not want your medallion to be too elaborate for your ceiling, but at the same, if your ceiling can handle an elaborate medallion, you want to pick something that will do your ceiling justice. Another great aspect of installing a ceiling medallion is that it can really be a simple cover up that can help hide any imperfections that may exist in the ceiling. Small imperfections in the ceiling that seem insignificant, yet are still noticeable can be hidden by installing a decorative ceiling medallion. When choosing a ceiling medallion in order to cover up a flaw in the ceiling, you must take into account the size of the flaw you are attempting to hide. If it is small, you can basically choose any type of medallion. If you have a larger flaw, make sure you are choosing a medallion that will cover up the problem, yet still goes with your ceiling. One final advantageous aspect of installing a decorative ceiling medallion is that it can be very inexpensive for the value and positive changes it can bring to a room. Ceiling medallions can be purchased for as low as $35. Prices range from $35 to $500, or more. Of course, you can find outrageously expensive medallions, but for a trivial amount of money, you can purchase an elegant ceiling medallion and change the way your room and light fixtures look. A ceiling medallion is definitely not the most noticeable feature of a room, but everything is in the details. A decorative ceiling medallion is a feature that will stand out when someone is noticing the details of a room. It is pieces like this that pull the style of a room together and make an overall great impression. There are several aspects of choosing a medallion that are very positive. They can class up a ceiling, hide noticeable flaws, and are relatively inexpensive. Keeping these things in mind, installing a ceiling medallion can be a terrific option to renovate and rejuvenate any room in your house where you wish to make a change.

Tales of the often underappreciated kitchen faucet

Hi, my name is Leaky (I hate that nickname but you gave it to me). I’m your kitchen faucet. I don’t think you realize how important I am in your life. Stop and think for a moment how many times you touch me everyday. What about your children? They’re up here pulling on my handle all the time with their grubby little hands, sometimes yanking too hard and causing me to loosen my screws a little bit more each time. I love your children, but they don’t handle me with as much caution and some adults do. Most of the time I go completely unnoticed. Sure, you use you all the time, but you don’t really give me your undivided attention unless I’m dripping and annoying you. Hey, I get runny noses just like everyone else in the family, give me some doctoring! I remember when you first saw me. I was sitting on the store shelf next to my brothers and sisters, and you were commenting about how much we cost, what features we had, what color we were and if we would be a good fit for your kitchen. I was so excited when you stopped to read my tags because I knew I was the perfect kitchen faucet for you. Then you crushed my hopes a little with your comments about how expensive I was. Good grief! I cost about $125 but your children are running you close to $10,000 a year! I see you look at them lovingly, but I just get a passing glance. You compared me with my brothers and sisters and after a lot of grumbling you figured out what I knew all along. I was the perfect faucet for you. I am royalty you know. I’m related to all the best family lines; Moen, Kohler and Delta all have influenced my creation in some fashion. I don’t think the general public understands how important I really am. You go to the store expecting to pay about $20 for a faucet and then get angry when you see that quality costs money. We’re no different than any other appliance or gadget in your kitchen; the best of us are higher priced. We also come with a lot of neat features such as multiple handles, hot and cold settings with a hundred variations in between, some of us are even gold plated! We protect your kids with anti scald devices and give you the one thing you can’t live without: water. Why shouldn’t we demand a fair price for our services? Go on, enjoy your day, but would you please just once stop to notice my beauty and service to your family? Speaking for all ignored kitchen faucets we would all appreciate it. Thanks.

Top futon buying tips

Futons are a type of flexible furniture that are made from foam mattresses and foldable cotton. These originally came from Asia and there various styles have been derived from the first design based on how it will be used either as a bed, a couch or a combination of both. 1. Three Elements Of A Futon: - Frame This is the futon's foundation wherein it should be easy to use, strong and durable. It should be able to withstand stress that comes during conversion from couch to bed and back. - Mattress This is the furniture's cushion. When buying this material, consider how comfortable it is for sitting and sleeping. - Pillows And Covers These do not only make the futon attractive but it should be able to protect the mattress, too, from spills and dirt. 2. Frame Types: - Bifold Frame This frame allows the mattress to fold in half along its length. Choose this frame when you want a couch that can be regularly converted into a bed. Sizes for this type of frame include chair size, queen size and full size. - Loveseat Frame The mattress for this kind of frame come in two parts. These are the couch and an ottoman. Because of the small footprint, these are recommendable for small spaces and are usually available in twin and full sizes. - Trifold Frame This type of frame allows the mattress to be folded three times and is available in full, queen and twin sizes. 3. Determine What Size You Need - King size: 76 inches x 80 inches - California king size: 72 inches x 84 inches - Queen size: 60 inches x 80 inches - Full/Double size: 54 inches x 75 inches - Twin/Single: 39 inches x 75 inches. 4. Ensure The Warranty Lasts At Least 5 Years This tip is extremely useful when you're planning to buy a futon that will serve the dual purpose for sitting and sleeping. 5. Get A 6 Inch Or Thicker Futon This will make sure that you will be comfortable using the furniture especially when sleeping and it also assures you that it does not become lumpy on a shorter period of time. 6. Essential Futon Tips - Get a futon mattress made of cotton and wool if you want a mattress that is very soft. The disadvantage however of mattresses that were made from this is that, they are not very flexible. - If you want the traditional mattress feel for your futon, consider getting a mattress that has an innerspring such that a unit of spring is located between the layers of the mattress's cotton and foam. - Futon mattresses that have innersprings are flexible but are however, heavier than those that are made from pure cotton and those that have combinations. - If you do not plan to move or roll the futon oftentimes, buy a futon mattress made of pure cotton or those that have a combination of foam, cotton and springs. These materials provide a heavy and durable mattress. - If you want to purchase a mattress that weighs less but can hold its shape and does not sag, get something made of foam and cotton. - For a lighter mattress than this one, a blend of polyester and cotton as material for the mattress will do the trick. Such mattresses can also hold their shapes and are soft and flexible. These are considered the best mattresses for everyday use. - If you want to have more seating room using your futon, choose those that are designed as bifold. - When purchasing wooden frames for your futon, try to consider those that are made from southern yellow pine than other types of wood and pine. - Southern yellow pine are more durable and very heavy which makes them ideal to use for futons compared to other materials that are brittle and are not capable to withstand the stress that the furniture endures. - When testing the support and the comfort of the futon at the shop, try to lie down on it and distribute your weight evenly on the mattress. Check that the futon is not lumpy.

Unravelling the mystery of vesa wall mounting

VESA (Video Electronics Standards Association) VESA (Video Electronics Standards Association) is an international body, founded in the late 1980s by NEC Home Electronics and eight other video display adapter manufacturers whose aim was to establish an industry-wide interface standard designed for PC’s, workstations, flat panel monitors and TVs. Identifying the VESA Standard The standard defines, amongst other things, the various types of 4-hole patterns displayed normally in the middle on the rear side of a large number of monitors and TVs, to which alternative mounts and brackets can be attached once the base stand has been removed. Occasionally the term is abbreviated to FDMI which is defined as Flat Display Mounting Interface standard, but is more widely known as VESA mount or bracket. The main groupings of VESA are as follows:- VESA MIS-D Has mounting hole patterns in either an 100 mm x 100 mm or 75 mm x 75 mm square pattern. VESA MIS-E Mounting holes are in a 200 mm x 100 mm rectangular pattern. VESA MIS-F Several holes spaced in 200 mm increments (e. g. 400 x 200 mm, 600 x 400 mm etc.). Making An Informed Choice When purchasing an LCD / Plasma mount / bracket the description of the product should state whether it conforms to one or several of the VESA standard dimensions mentioned above and/or whether it has numerous hole patterns to fit non-VESA screens, often described as universal fittings. Often, the manufacturers fail to specify the exact standard, and the consumer will have to check the fittings on the back of the screen. It has even been known that different production runs of a particular screen have had mounting holes that complied with different standards. My advice would be to wait until the back of the screen can be checked, or ask a reputable dealer for advice. Although the standard was initially limited to smaller LCD monitors and televisions, it is becoming increasingly common as the availability of third-party universal mounting has increased. Many manufacturers are now adopting the larger MIS-F standard for larger plasma and LCD screens.

Anti mold venetian plaster

Although mold is in nature, nobody wants mold all over their walls. Insurance companies are paying hundreds of millions on mold related claims. It is indeed a serious issue. So again why Venetian plasters from Firenze Enterprises are Anti-Mold? The short answer is that mold can only grow in an acidic environment. So now you may ask, “What does this have to do with our Venetian Plaster”? As you know from your high school chemistry class all natural lime plasters are alkaline, that means that the Venetian plasters walls are not acidic, therefore, no mold can form on them. This of course has to do with the Ph scale. The Ph scale is a measurement of the activity of Hydrogen ions. I’m sorry, but we said we would keep it simple. The pH measure of the degree of the acidity or the alkalinity of a solution as measured on a scale (pH scale) of 0 to 14. Numbers below 7.0 indicate acidity; numbers greater than 7.0 indicate alkalinity. If something has a pH of 7.0 that means it is neutral, neither acid nor alkaline. Mold can only grow in an acid environment The primary ingredient of Firenze Enterprises Venetian Plaster is Slaked lime Ca(OH)2, produced from calcium carbonate that is mined and heated. Lime is Alkaline in nature. In fact, if any of you grew up on a farm you know that lime is used to raise the pH of your soil if it is overly acid. So since Lime is alkaline in nature our Venetian Plasters being composed essentially of Lime are not only breathable, but Anti-Mold. Impact of the Environment How does this affect the quality of your life? It think the implications are obvious, however, let me add that many health researchers claim that because of environmental issues our bodies produced too much acid that may even be causing chronic health problems. The following is an excerpt from the article ACIDIDTY AND ALKALINITY IN OUR DIETS: “Many people just don't feel good anymore. Some find themselves being much more susceptible to colds, or to whatever "bug" is currently going around. Much more serious are the increasing cases of autoimmune diseases such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, chronic fatigue syndrome, and fibromyalgia. "Health" and "wellness" have become relative terms. Low-level toxicity from many sources can be very difficult to detect. The combined action of all these toxins creates a "toxic cocktail" effect which can seriously weaken the body and the mind through a process we call "fermentation" or the over-acidification of the blood and tissue as a result of the proliferation of yeast, fungus, and bacteria. Yeast and fungus are single cell life forms which inhabit the air, soil, water, and many of the foods we eat. They are more highly developed than the intermediate states of bacteria or the early stages of viruses. Over the years, they have developed into over 500,000 different species. They are opportunists and survivalists”. supreme-greens. info/acid-alkaline-balance. html Conclusions At this point I want to stress that as humans what we eat and the environment we put ourselves in is directly related to our health. My next article in the Master Series will explain this further. Mold in your home has been described as the next major class action lawsuit

Enjoy your garden and patio for longer with a gas patio heater

With the increased new trend in outdoor living, which has undoubtedly been by TV Gardening DIY programs, we are all spending more money on our garden and patio areas. Creating an inspirational outdoor living space is something we can all do, with a wide range of hard and soft landscaping products, lighting, decorations and garden accessories available widely on the market. Some of the latest innovations are in garden heating which allows us to spend more of our precious leisure time enjoying our garden or patio area, be it for entertaining family and guests or simply for relaxing. Gas patio Heaters provide instant controllable heat and warmth, thus making your outside room as comfortable and enjoyable as any of your inside rooms. On days when the temperature is not as warm as one would like, the patio heater can be turned on to give off a heat circle of around 6 metres and gas patio heaters come into their own after sun set, when they create atmospheres from party to tranquil. When choosing a gas patio heater always ensure that it has the necessary safety features such as; a tilt sensor, which will cut off the gas and flame if the patio heater is knocked or blown over whilst in use and also an auto shut off switch will cut off the gas if the flame is blown out. Patio heaters come in many shapes and sizes, but by far the most popular are the upright standing heater, sometimes available with a circular table around the gas bottle housing, and the table top patio heater. Heat output is measured in Kilowatts and sizes range from 12 kw up to 15kw gas patio heaters, which are usually used for pub, hotel and commercial environments. Finished gas patio heaters usually range from coloured powder coated to the more expensive stainless steel models. The main difference in finishes relate to the likely life of the heater. Stainless steel patio heaters look by far the most impressive and will keep their lustre for many years. Powder coated patio heaters tend to weather slightly less well and will rust if the powder coating is damaged. Table top heaters are very popular but are a lot smaller and also have a much smaller heat output but they are a very effective way of providing heat to people immediately around the garden table. Accessories for Patio heaters include covers ( which are a must is you intend to leave it outside during the winter), wheels – which will enable you to easily move the heater around the garden, ballast tanks which give extra stability and most good patio heaters actually come with a gas bottle regulator installed and ready for easy attachment. Patio heaters run off bottles gas, mainly butane but sometime propane which is widely available in the UK and most other countries. The regulator which is usually supplied with the heater, clips straight onto the bottle and is easy to install. Gas regulators are supplied by all gas bottle suppliers, but ensure that you take you gas bottle along to the dealer as there are varying sizes of bottle head. Patio heaters require very little maintenance if any at all, and will give extend your time in your garden or on you patio. Some safety points worth remembering are; Position in a fairly sheltered area, as this will both reduce the likelihood of damage in strong winds and also increase the amount of ambient heat output. If the heater is outdoors during the winter, buy a patio heater cover and protect you heater with it. Always leave the gas bottle in the heater to give it extra weight. If you patio heater comes supplied with a ballast tank in the base, fill it with sand or if none is available, use water but mix car anti-freeze with it, otherwise the tank may crack when freezing occurs in winter. Do not let children use the patio heater as a toy or climbing frame. Enjoy long nights throughout the year with your patio heater – your life will take a new turn into outdoor living.

Laminate flooring installation best practices

Assuming you are laying laminate wood flooring that is pre glued. Whether they have a real wood veneer or everything about them is fabricated, you should allow the boards to sit inside your home for at least two days to fully acclimate to your home's conditions before installation. Failure to do this can cause rippling or gaps between the boards that can be impossible to fix without tearing the planks out and starting from the beginning. If there is some type of existing floor it needs to be completely removed before laying the first piece of your new laminate. If you are replacing an old floor, cut it into manageable pieces and pry them up with a long handled scraper for best results. Make sure every piece is up and then vacuum. Make the floor as even you can you without sanding. The most important thing to check for and fix are low spots, if you let them go you will have a squeaky floor. After that you put down the underlayment. Start from the walls and work out from there, use a utility knife to cut the underlayment to fit the room. It's not a bad idea to mark up the underlayment to use as a guide when laying your laminate boards. Use a wood spacer to leave an expansion gap between your laminate and the wall, then work your way out from there. You should have to only moisten the glue on the edge of each board for it to activate. Then slide the next board into pace and press it firmly against the previous for a good, snug fit. You want to use a pry bar to protect your wall once you start laying the last of the boards. Simply ease the end boards into place and you're done.