Archive for category Home Remodeling
Turning a Basement into a Gameroom
Posted by Francine in Home Design, Home Remodeling on October 26th, 2009
When it comes to transforming your basement into a gameroom, the possibilities are truly endless. After enlisting the help of a basement finishing contractor, the fun begins. Do you want a theme room, like your favorite sport, a casino lounge, or pub decor? To be wise, it is best to avoid a cluster of posters, street signs, and beer logos. You don’t want your final, finished space to look like an adolescent bedroom. Even if you do not want a single theme, a gameroom should be well put together and organized, with a professional design.
For lighting, consider touch lamps, clap machines, and hanging florescent fixtures over any game tables. You might want to invest in pub lamps or lava lights. For game rooms with a bar, look for lights that advertise your favorite drink or pub fare. Vintage and antique machines are available if you are willing to pay extra. Or if you’re thinking beach bar, buy some Tiki lamps and rattan bar stools. You want to be strategic with the lighting in your basement gameroom. Games like pool and ping-pong need a fairly bright light. Arcade machines will light themselves. Dim or colored bulbs will be great on top of the bar, or in a fixture above a poker table.
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Home Improvements that Pay Off
Posted by Cynthia in Budget Friendly, Home Improvement, Home Remodeling on October 20th, 2009
In times of economic uncertainty it is only natural that we try to save money. We cancel expensive vacation trips, cut on leisure, postpone the purchase of that brand new car, and put off major expenditures such as home remodeling and repairs. The idea is to stretch our hard earned dollars and save everything we can, in case we come to face even tougher times
However, forfeiting some renovation projects and important repairs might not be the smartest choice. That outdated HVAC system, the old windows, and cold basement might be costing you big bucks. The next rainstorm may flood your basement. In other words, the money you’re trying to save in repairs might be being spent instead in utility bills or depleted in bigger repairs later on due to the lack of proper preventive measures.
Even in tough times, there are some improvements that actually pay off, lowering your energy consumption, preserving or increasing the property value, and giving you much-needed peace of mind.
Below is a list of the five of the most cost-effective home improvements and the best investments you can ever make in your home.
Read the rest of this entry »
Garage Remodeling
Posted by Francine in Home Improvement, Home Remodeling on September 30th, 2009
Most residents think about their garage twice a day: when they’re getting into and getting out of their cars. But the garage is an untapped resource in many homes — one that can be re-organized, re-adjusted or just plain re-worked into something fun, practical or even good for your health. Here are some tips for garage remodeling.
One of the easier outcomes for your garage is to turn it into a home gym. This process will create a more convenient situation to exercise, as there will no longer be a need to drive to the gym. It can also save you loads of money in the long run when you no longer have to pay the monthly gym fees. Some ideas to make your garage more appealing for this are to put down a carpet, put up a television or install a radio system, or install shelves and hooks to store less heavy equipment.
Interior Painting Tips
Posted by Francine in Home Design, Home Remodeling on September 30th, 2009
Interior painting is one of the simplest and least expensive ways to create dramatic changes in the appearance and character of your home. Some of the most popular painting techniques are described below. Most of these techniques use more than one color of paint to achieve the appearance of depth and texture. Glazing compound is usually used to thin the consistency of the paint to allow it to be applied in thinner layers, and to prevent it from drying too rapidly.
Before you start on any painting project, remember: don’t skimp on preparation. Sand off flaking paint and fill holes with spackle. Cover all surfaces you want to protect with a good drop cloth, wipe down your walls and remove any grease, handprints or dirt and tape all trim edges, switch plates, outlets and knobs before you open that first can of paint. And if you have any doubts in how to complete the job, contact a professional painter to help you.
Extreme Energy Efficient Housing
Posted by Cynthia in Budget Friendly, Going Green, Home Design, Home Improvement, Home Remodeling on July 24th, 2009
Energy Efficient Homes
Can you imagine a house that is able to warm itself without the need of a furnace or any separated heat contraption? Paying less for your monthly electricity than you pay for a pizza?
The creators of German Passive Houses Project go beyond imagining it. They actually made it a reality and proved it is indeed possible to have a home that is so energy efficient that you need no separate heating system to keep the house warm and there is no loss of comfort.
The Passive House is the world’s leading standard in energy efficient construction: Energy saved on heating is 80% compared to conventional standards of new buildings. The energy requirement for heating is lower than 10 to 20 kWh/(m²a) (depending on climate), adding up to a low cost of 10 to 25 € ($15 to $36 USD) per month.
For you to have an idea on how energy efficient those houses are, keep in mind that the average home in ths U.S. spends 40 kWh a day. Almost twice of what a passive house spends in a month!
According to the website, such efficiency is achieved through a combination of the following:
- Proper insulation methods
- Design without thermal bridges
- Air tightness
- Ventilation with heat recovery
- Proper comfort windows
- Innovative Heating Technology
This technology can be easily applied in new construction as well as existing buildings.
The next step? The Self-Sufficient Solar House, conceived by the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy in Freiburg, Germany.
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