ThermaPureHeat is a completely chemical-free new process called Structural Pasteurization that utilizes clean, pure heat to kill mold and bug infestations of any size without harming pets, plants or people.

Used effectively in difficult infestations such as bed bugs, it leaves no residues or smell behind. The treated areas can be safely occupied right after the treatment by anyone, including pets and small children.

The process is also scalable: it can be applied to a whole house, to a single floor or even a single area or room and the concept is very simple. Giant heaters — 500,000 bpu each — blast hot air into the house until it reaches the desired temperature. Different infestations require different heat settings but the treatment will kill the mold or bug infestation, with the added bonus of killing many harmful bacteria and viruses as well.

Here’s a Discovery Channel Video about the process:

Are you a reader?  Then invest in a lounge/reading area with thought-provoking artwork and ample lighting. Eye experts generally agree that two reading lamps of at least 175-200 watts are best to avoid strain.  If this seems too bright for a bedroom, consider installing a series of wall sconces behind a comfortable chair and ottoman, which will give you a lot of light and style.  Get lots of pillows.  Maybe your reading area is a cozy nook—think about installing built-in bookshelves.  Does landscape art move you, or something modern and geometric?  It’s best for the eyes not to read lying down, but if you prefer reading in bed, think about installing a padded headboard.

Color is important because it will define the vibe of your master bedroom.  Passion colors include deep red, peach, pink, purple, and gold.  A good masculine accent would be royal blue.  Consider smart colors like ivory, amber, steel blue, or gray-green if you are going with a reading theme.  General sanctuary colors, and ones suited to either gender, should be soothing and earthy, like forest green, mocha, cobalt blue, or rich eggplant.  Play with schemes and consider a subtle stencil high on the walls, which will draw attention up and give your room some lift.

One way to make your bedroom stand out—while saving money—is by painting a headboard onto the wall above your bed.  It’s a great illusion and you can get very creative.  Measure the width of the head of your bed, marking it with painter’s tape from floor to ceiling.  Choose a color that will compliment the existing one on the wall.  Add details like wall decals, if you wish.  Paint stars and birds, or a chandelier.  This is a good master bedroom project for the artistically inclined.  You might even consider a mural.  It’s your room, after all.

A potted tree will be a great focal point in your master bedroom, or a leafy plant.  Do you like golf? Sewing? Classical music? Astronomy?  Decorate according to your hobbies and enjoyments and you will find the room to be much more than a place to dress and sleep.  It will be your safe, lovely retreat.

Article originally published here: http://www.homeremodelingct.org/connecticut-contractors/12-designer-decorators/79-design-in-the-master-bedroom.htm

Digital Thermostats
Simply put, digital thermometers have buttons instead of a dial for controlling HVAC zones.  Many have the option of presetting temperature, with “home” and “away” buttons, and timers.  These are called “digital programmable thermostats.”

Digital Contact Closure Thermostats
Using “smart” activation, these are digital thermostats that can be activated and controlled through certain security system commands, or a phone transponder.  Using any remote phone, the homeowner may control the HVAC zones in his home.

Digital Communicating Thermostats
These are highly specialized control gauges.  Each thermostat in every zone of your home are connected at a centralized “controller.”  Often the “controller” is a hardware or software system that is programmable to your computer.  It is ultra-convenient and eco-friendly.  Digital communicating thermostats give the homeowner control of all the zones, any day of the week, any time of the day, throughout the seasons, as long as the homeowner has access to the central controller.

A “damper” is what technically controls the air channeled into a zone.  Using a HVAC damper is more energy-efficient than the old-school method of simply closing a vent.  The damper is set up at the mouth of a pipe that distributes the air, expanding or constricting, depending on your desire.  Manual dampers work at the simple twist of a screw.  Motorized dampers may be an attachment to the screw, or they may be sophisticated and computerized.  The homeowner may choose a specific percent that the damper should be constricted, from 0 to 100.  A 100% damper would be completely open for maximum airflow.

Dampers work at the source to monitor hot or cool air release into different zones of the home.  When a vent is simply closed, the treated air still has to travel to the zone.  This is not a HVAC energy-efficient method.

Different thermostats and dampers are compatible with different HVAC systems, so it’s important to research.  Know whether your home uses gas, oil, or Heat Pump systems.  Most of the “smart” thermostats will be connected virtually the same way as your old thermostat.  However, additional wiring will be needed for connection with remote communicators and alternative control options.

Article originally published here: http://www.homeremodelingct.org/connecticut-contractors/21-heating/123-monitoring-hvac-zones-thermostats-and-dampers.htm

It’s important to remember your current location and the design and layout of your home. This plays a major role on the style and selection of energy-efficient windows you select for your home.

A family living in the northern region will need different windows than a family living in the southern region. The environment and climate conditions are entirely different, and windows will need to serve each purpose.

The windows you select should be purchased by the design of your home. The direction and size of the windows are more important than one would think.

In hot or heat dominated regions, windows facing south should be heavily glazed. This is done to make efficient use of solar heat during the cold and bitter winter months. The windows should also possess a solar heat gain co-efficient of more than .6 but a U-factor of less than .35 to assure heat transfer is reduced during the hot and humid summer months.

Those who live in cooling dominated regions should focus on the north-facing windows. It is a good idea to have the windows facing the south shaded by trees, bushes and porches to minimize the sunlight and heat. Tinted or reflective windows are not suggested for these climates. It has been suggested they reduce the SHGC and allow more heat in during the spring and summer months.

In the regions where temperature fluctuates higher, wooden frames should be avoided. This has been suggested because the materials have been known to expand and contract. Wood laminate window frames are a better option and maintain the same aesthetic appeal.

If you live in heat-dominated regions, glass-filled windows are the best choice. They provide better insulation and considerably reduce the U-factor. Tinted glass is popular and a good choice. The only downside to tinted glass is it can cause indoor plants to die due to the lack of sunlight.

Glaze glass is another good choice. They have multiple panes of glass. Such types of glass are recommended for cooler climate regions. However, the cost of double-pane or triple-pane windows is much higher than single-pain windows, but they last indefinitely and dramatically reduce cooling costs in the hot summer months.

Before making any quick decisions you should consider the variety of glass before buying energy efficient windows. This is what will determine the amount of energy you conserve. Whatever your choice may be, remember to always take into consideration the available options and select one that best fits your needs.

Article originally published here: http://www.homeremodelingct.org/connecticut-contractors/36-windows-doors/140-tips-for-purchasing-energyefficient-windows.htm

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.

Will the gameroom be for adults, or will kids be joining in the fun?  It is wise to get mixed age-appropriate activities.  A real poker table is great for adult-night, so it is best to distract the kids with an arts and crafts table, indoor hockey net, bowling set, basketball hoop, or board game area.  Otherwise, kids will be too tempted by the adult game fun.

Wall color schemes for basement gamerooms include the use of complimentary colors.  These are two colors on opposite ends of the color wheel that create a striking affect.  Complimentary colors are often used on sports uniforms—blue and orange, purple and yellow, green and red.  It is best to use the darker color as trim, and the lighter color on the main wall.  The lighter color will make your pictures, clocks, and signs stand out more.  Or try a large diamond-shaped design across the walls.  Create a geometric mural if you are artistically inclined.  Paint your favorite arcade character, sports star, or muscle car.

You can always mask the functional components of your basement with moveable paneling if you want to hide a rattling furnace and water heater.  An unfinished ceiling will have an industrial effect, or install panels and a handsome ceiling fan for ventilation.  You can still access any pipes or ceiling ducts with drop ceiling panels.

A basement gameroom has fun meeting functionality, and who can argue with that?  A finished basement will also significantly raise the price of your home.

Article originally published here: http://www.totalbasementfinishing.com/basement-finishing/basement-finishing-ideas/articles/turning-a-basement-into-a-gameroom

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.

Basement Finishing
Finishing your basement will do more that just add living space to your home. It will actually pay you back and eventually, even prove itself profitable! To sweeten the deal, it can be done at half the cost of building an addition.

Remodeling Magazine’s Cost vs. Value report lists basement finishing as one of the few investments in which you will be recovering most of your money right away in added property value. You can recover an average of 75% of the cost if you sell the property immediately.

However, the most significant benefit of a finished basement is the ability to improve the home’s energy efficiency. The U.S. Department of Energy reports that an average 1,500 square-foot home that has a finished basement with R-10 insulation, and is heated by natural gas (at $0.72/therm) can save anywhere between $200 to $400 a year.

Add to that the fact that, even considering ups and downs in the housing market, the U.S. Census Bureau shows home prices tend to increase in average 251.69% every 20 years interval. Therefore, in 20 years, the added value to your property will not only fully cover the remodeling costs; it will prove profitable!

Crawl Space Encapsulation
That moldy, filthy, rotten crawl space is more than just unsightly and unpleasant. It’s a black hole in which not only your money disappears, but also your home’s value, structural integrity, indoor air quality, and your family’s health.

Because of the way the air moves inside buildings, everything that goes on in the crawl space has significant impact on how structurally sound, comfortable, healthy, and energy efficient your home is.

As the air in the house is heated, it rises and escapes through any openings in the upper floors. To replenish the air supply, new air is sucked from the lower levels, mainly from your basement or crawl space. That is called the “stack-effect” and because of it, everything that is in that filthy crawl space air, including mold spores and dust mites, is consistently entering your home.

It is estimated that 1/3 of the air you breathe inside the home is crawl space air. In addition, the typical crawl space moisture that is also being carried in with the air makes your home harder to cool and heat. During the winter, cold air is also sucked in through the floor. If air ducts run through the crawl space, energy losses can amount to as high as 50% – half of the money you pay in to heat and cool your home is literally wasted.

Crawl space encapsulation is a relatively inexpensive new technology that can control moisture and prevent moisture-related problems in this space. It protects your floor joists and wooden structures from mold and rot, and keep dust mites and other moisture loving pests at bay. Furthermore, according to studies conducted by Advanced Energy and Habitat for Humanity, sealing and conditioning a crawl space can make your home an average of 18% more energy efficient.

Battery Operated Backup Sump Pump
Say that you have a very good drainage system and a quality sump pump, which is well maintained and in great condition. Nevertheless, one morning, after a big storm, you wake up to a flooded basement and thousand of dollars in damaged property. The storm knocked down the power, and with it, the sump pump was rendered useless.

There is no way to fully protect your basement from flooding without a backup sump pump system, preferably one that does not run on electricity or depend on a generator.
During a long-lasting power outage, you will want the generator to spend its energy keeping your refrigerator, appliances and lights running.

A battery-operated backup sump pump is, in that case, your best option. If you have a finished basement, or you store anything of value in your basement, a battery-operated backup pump is a must. It saves you a lot of money and lets you sleep better, knowing that your basement is protected.

Replacement Windows
Replacing your old, obsolete windows with new Energy Star rated windows can help save a lot of money in energy bills.
According to the Alliance to Save Energy, a non-profit coalition of business, government, environmental, and consumer leaders, installing energy-efficient replacement windows can reduce your heating and cooling bills by up to 30 percent! New double-hung, wood-clad windows with double-pane low-E glass, can reduce drastically your heating and cooling costs, besides improving significantly the looks of your home and adding value to the property.

HVAC Upgrades
Replacing obsolete furnaces, which usually operate at only 60 percent efficiency or worse for a new, high-efficiency two-stage unit, that rates at least 90% efficiency, can save you hundreds of dollars each year.

Likewise, replacing your old A/C system with a new unit that achieves a minimum of 13 SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) can save you big bucks in cooling costs during summer. In addition, most new models use non-ozone-depleting refrigerants, making them more environmentally-friendly than older units.

In addition to all the benefits, some of these improvements, such as basement insulation and HVAC upgrades, may qualify for loans, grants and tax incentives under different local, state, and federal government energy efficiency programs.

In conclusion, a good assessment of your home’s overall condition is fundamental in times like these. You can’t afford to let your property, which is probably your most valuable asset, lose value. Sometimes, the best way to save money is to invest in technologies and repairs that will keep you from wasting it.

When you want to use plants to incorporate different looks in various parts of your home, realize that some rooms are more suitable for one type of plant than another.  When plant shopping, take note of whether a plant is low-light or high-light, and think of which areas of your home get more sun, or less.  It is often the case that higher-light plants require more water.  If there are pets or children in your home and you want a low-maintenance floor plant, a snake plant is a much safer choice than a cactus.  Always ask when shopping whether a growth is poisonous, and avoid them if you have animals or toddlers that might unwittingly try a bite.  In that case, it’s best to decorate with high hanging plants, or perhaps an indoor tree like a ficus bejamina, with leaves out-of-reach.

It’s wise to select plants with a look that compliments the interior design of your home.  A more modern interior would do well with a funky marginata or colorful bromeliad.  A country kitchen would be lovely with a hanging ivy or pothos, and an Asian-themed living room would be suitable for a collection of bonsai.  Always take into consideration that plants grow.  Choose a pot that will give the roots plenty of space to spread.  Large plants like tropical trees and exotic palms must be in big potters, or else they are liable to topple onto the floor—or worse, perish.

Designing with plants gives you the option to cover up areas of the home like stained carpet and damaged walls.  You can brighten a splintered windowsill or unsightly radiator with a small orchid.  You can liven up an unused fireplace with a collection of warm ferns.  All plants usually do best when stationed in one area, as they become used to the same temperature and sunlight factors, day in and day out.  It’s best not to move them or shuffle them around unless absolutely necessary.  Flowering plants tend to wilt around heating vents or close to a stove.  Try to keep your houseplants in an area with the most consistent surroundings, and even one slightly humid.

Be careful of overwhelming your space with plants.  One single tree is usually sufficient as a warm focal point in a living room or large entry.  The bigger the foliage, the more oxygen it gives off, so a considerably leafy plant may be good in the bedroom to help you sleep better.

Have fun decorating with plants.  Be cautious and creative—your new plants just might last for decades.

Article originally published here: http://www.homeremodelingct.org/connecticut-contractors/12-designer-decorators/76-decorating-with-plants-bringing-the-outside-in.htm

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.

Some people might find it a more useful and pragmatic approach to turn their garage into a home office.  For people living in warmer climates around the country, putting an office in the garage is a great way to spend a day because garages tend to be naturally cooler than the main portion of the house.  Additionally, one can always put an air conditioner in one of the garage windows or a heater for those cooler winter months.

The most obvious choice for any garage is to create a workshop.  As the garage is a place where many people already store their tools, one needs simply to organize their supply and create a few additional tables, hangers and storage units.  The first thing to do is create a list of all of your tools and equipment.  Maybe write down some categories on a piece of paper in a way that makes sense to you.  Then, you can use that list to organize your tools accordingly. If you need cabinets, shelves, hooks or racks, plan for them first and the process will be easier in the end.

Once you’ve created your plan, it’s important to clean out the entire garage to get it ready.  When that’s completed, it’s time to work on the main ingredient for any workshop: the bench.  As you can imagine, a work bench can expect to hold a great deal of weight, so this step is not as simple as throwing some plywood over a couple of hobby horses.  You must create a framework with a bracing system designed to hold whatever weight you think will suffice.

Remember, garages today no longer need to be four walls and a roof where you keep your car and other random items.  The garage can easily become a second home for your health, your office, or your favorite hobby.  All it takes is a little time, a little energy and a little commitment and your garage remodeling job can be a success!

Article originally published here: http://www.homeremodelingct.org/connecticut-contractors/19-garage/90-garage-remodeling-in-connecticut.htm

Paint
Paint is a simple and inexpensive product that can go a long way.  Are the bathroom or kitchen cabinets too expensive to replace?  Sand and paint them.  Is the floor etched and dull?  Most flooring material can be painted.  With all the colors on the market, you can get creative, even on a tight budget.  Consider stencil patterns.  Maybe you want a ski or fir tree pattern in a lodge-like living room, or a comforting foliage design in a country kitchen.  The possibilities are endless in a child’s room—rainbows, baseballs, clouds, dolls and animals.  If you are artistically inclined, paint a mural on the wall.  Before painting anything, however, make sure the paint you have purchased is compatible with the intended surface.

Fabric
Instead of buying new furniture, invest in a slipcover for that aging sofa.  Cover-ups are similar to paint in that they’re an inexpensive and quick way to an entirely new look.  Are the wood kitchen chairs nicked and stained?  Cover them with handsome, durable fabric.  Does your bed need an extra something?  Go with new throw pillows with a fun pattern.  Curtains add charm, and there are all kinds available that are very inexpensive.  It’s amazing what a difference some new fabric can make in a room.

Mirrors
Budget-friendly wall mirrors can be purchased to really open up a space.  Think about a pattern of small mirrors for a geometric affect.  Or frame a single mirror for a “mock window.”  Place a mirror behind a collection of stones or a houseplant.  Mirrors add light and seem to give a room greater size and dimension.

Light
It’s stunning what replacing a lampshade or lighting fixture can do for a room.  Fabulously original fixtures are often available at discount stores.  Funky, simple, or chic, lighting matters perhaps more than anything else, yet often its importance is often overlooked.  After all, the lighting is what will illuminate your vision.

When redecorating on a budget, stick to your priorities but always leave room for spontaneous buys.  Little purchases can become large style accents in your space.  Interior design is an art in itself—one that doesn’t have to cost you a ton of money to make a bold, new statement.

Article originally published here: http://www.homeremodelingct.org/connecticut-contractors/12-designer-decorators/89-interior-design-on-a-budget.htm

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.

Rag rolling
The rag rolling technique uses a special fabric cover for your roller to either apply color (ragging on) or to remove paint that has already been applied to the wall surface (ragging off). Some painters prefer to use damp rags loosely balled up and held in the hand to apply or remove paint, instead of using a roller cover.

Sponging
Like the handheld rag technique, sponging uses the ragged texture of a dampened natural sea sponge to achieve a mottled effect on walls and ceilings by adding or removing layers of paint. Both sponging and ragging techniques require practice to make sure you are able to achieve consistency over a large surface.

“Leather” look
This technique can be a little more difficult to master than ragging or sponging, but with a little practice, the results can be spectacular. The key is to work in small areas – no larger than 3′ by 3′ for best results. In this method, while glaze or paint is still wet in the treatment area, sheets of plastic wrap are applied to the surface and then removed to achieve the lines and wrinkles common in aged leather. This effect can also be achieved using strips of chamois cloth, stacked up and tied in the middle. Holding the strips up by the center, the appearance is that of a loose mop head. Dampen the chamois mop head and scrunch it gently in your hand, applying the ends of the chamois to the wall to remove some of the paint or glaze.

Color glazing
One of the simplest techniques to complete, color glazing involves the use of a base coat of one color of paint, with one or more layers of different colors of paint, thinned with glaze, on top. By thinning the upper coats with glaze, the base coat can show through, creating the illusion of depth. Color glazing is often combined with ragging or sponging on the uppermost layer of color.

A fresh, interior paint job can change the look of a room and create a completely different feel for your home. And one of the best things about paint is its relative low cost: even if you don’t achieve the look you want with one technique, it’s a simple matter to cover it up and start all over again.

Article originally published here: http://www.homeremodelingct.org/connecticut-contractors/28-painting-staining/91-interior-painting.htm