Best Home Improvement Contractors

Top 5 Remodeling Mistakes

Written by Cynthia on 15 July 2009

Remodeling projects can get homeowners at the same time excited and worried. Whether it is fixing a leaky roof, building a new deck, updating the kitchen or transforming the basement into a home-theater, home improvement projects can be either a nice experience or a disaster.

The wrong contractor, a bad weather spell, an unclear contract clause or last minute changes can all can contribute to turn a dream project into a homeowner’s worst nightmare.

As more homeowners prepare to tackle home improvement projects this year, Consumer Reports, which recently conducted a poll on Home Remodeling, points to the 5 most common mistakes homeowners make when dealing with contractors and conducting the project:

Don’t rush in. Make sure you carefully plan the whole project, and are 100% sure that you will be satisfied with the final result. Making changes to the project “on-the-fly” is the costliest mistake homeowners make. It can add in average of $1,500 to kitchen projects and $650 to bath remodels.
Prepare for the unexpected. As the work begins some new problems might be uncovered. When walls are stripped, things like water damage, mold or pest infestation may surface. Good contractors are able to anticipate some of the problems and allow the homeowner to adjust the budget. Consumer Reports reveals that water damage was an issue with 17 percent of bathroom remodels, and structural problems delayed 10 percent of kitchen projects.
Don’t chase the lowballs. What seems to be cheap initially may end up costing more. To compete in a tight market contractors lower their profit margin, but will make up their costs in labor or other areas. According to the Consumer Report poll, readers who went for the lowball spent in average $1,500 extra on their kitchens and $1,000 extra on their bathrooms. Make sure the contract specifies amounts for products and materials before you sign. Avoid signing contracts with too many “allowances”.
Get the paperwork in order. Have the contractor attach copies of his up-to-date license, insurance and workers’ compensation policies to the written contract. He also should get permits and provide a lien waiver when the job is done; this will keep suppliers from contacting the homeowner for unpaid bills.
Focus on the boring bits. The tedious details no one wants to think about are the ones that will usually make a difference between a successful remodeling experience and a tragic one. Things like the proper placement of outlets for appliances and electronics, task lighting, the proper fan for a bathroom, or even determining a place for the garbage can are usually overlooked in projects but will prove to be fundamental later on. Changes made after the remodeling job is concluded are usually a costly hassle.

Sources:

If it smells like it….

Written by Cynthia on 14 July 2009

Before it becomes visible, mold usually smells.

If it smells like mold, that is what it is, says Eunice Sahr from North Dakota University Extension Service Office in an article published in the Jamestown Sun.

“If you can smell a musty odor or see mold, you have a mold problem. You don’t need to test for mold. Reliable sampling for mold can be very expensive since it requires special equipment and training. Testing is not generally recommended as a first step.”

Along with tips and instructions for safe mold removal, the article discuss means of keep the mold from coming back.

“The moisture problem must be fixed to prevent future mold growth. Since there are some mold spores everywhere and since mold grows on any wet organic surface, the only way to prevent mold growth is to keep things dry.”

Above grade, adequate ventilation and fans will most of the time do the trick. Basements and crawl spaces will often need a dehumidifier, as the relative humidity brought in with the outside air will usually increase as it enters naturally cooler below grade spaces.

The article also advises homeowners to wait until wood moisture readings are dry enough for reconstruction, otherwise the mold might contaminate the newly added woodwork.

Carbon Monoxide: The danger after the storm

Written by Cynthia on 13 July 2009

Carbon monoxide is invisible and odorless.

It’s been a rough, wild summer when it comes to weather. Heavy prolonged rains, tornadoes, powerful storms bringing monsoon-like rainfall, golf-ball-sized hail, apocalyptic thunderstorms and winds powerful enough to level entire neighborhoods.

The most common occurrence under such conditions are power outages which, depending on the size and amount of the damage inflicted upon the power distribution system, can last for days.

To keep the household running, the food from spoiling in the fridge, the sump pump from stalling when it is needed the most, homeowners will usually resort to a gasoline powered generator, lanterns and gas-powered appliances.

According to State and Federal Emergency Management Officials, many people die after a storm or similar disaster from carbon monoxide poisoning due to improper use of such generators and gas-powered tools.

Carbon monoxide is a very poisonous, invisible and odorless gas that can fatally poison a person in a matter of minutes. Opening doors, windows and using fans will not stop carbon monoxide buildup, which is why equipment that produces carbon monoxide should never be used indoors.

Symptoms of CO poisoning include dizziness, weakness, fatigue, and chest pains for those with heart disease, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, headaches, confusion, lack of coordination, impaired vision, and loss of consciousness and – in severe cases – death.

Here some important safety tips to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning:

Under no circumstance, run a gas powered generator indoors, in the garage, basement or crawl space. Gas powered generators are only safe if running in a well ventilated area, at least 10 feet away from the house
Do not use a grill (gas or charcoal) inside a house, garage, shed or tent or fireplace.
Do not use the heat from a gas stove or oven to heat your home.
Add battery operated carbon monoxide detectors to your emergency preparedness kit.
Consider buying battery operated backup versions of vital equipment, such as the sump pump, to minimize the need to run a generator during power outages.
If you are running a generator or any carbon monoxide producing appliance and start to feel dizzy, get out immediately. Don’t wait. If anyone faints or loses conscience, call 911 immediately.

Source: The Anahuac Progress.

Rainy summer likely to stir mold problems in the Northeast

Written by Cynthia on 10 July 2009

Moisture cause mold growth

Health care providers in New Hampshire are bracing for a rough fall season, as the rainy weather creates ideal conditions for widespread mold growth and as a result, people with respiratory problems may suffer complications this fall.

In an article published in Fosters.com Dr. Donald Woodmansee, section chief for allergy and immunology at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon states:

Dust mites and mold flourish in similar conditions. Both commonly trigger allergies and asthma in sensitized people and when they shut their homes up in the fall after a wet summer, problems can result

Under rainy conditions, many old, structurally unsound and improperly insulated homes will have water infiltration problems and eventually mold will start to grow, sometimes in places where it can’t be immediately detect, like the insulation behind the drywall.

When the weather begins to cool down during the fall season, windows are shut and the house in closed. That is when most people with respiratory problems begin to report the worst symptoms.

Although asthma, emphysema and cronic obstructive pulmonary disease are reported year-round, during fall and spring, the numbers of patients seen in hospitals because of such problems typically increases.

The Center for Disease Control in Atlanta, GA., reports molds produce tiny spores to reproduce, just as plants produce seeds. Mold spores waft through the indoor and outdoor air continually. When mold spores land on a damp spot indoors, they may begin growing and digesting whatever they are growing on in order to survive. Some molds can grow on wood, Sheetrock and even bacteria on dirty carpeting.

The only way to control mold in a home is to to keep it dry, by eliminate the sources of moisture and keeping the humidity levels at or below 60%. Fans and exhausts to make the air circulate above grade and a good basement dehumidifier are proven methods to control mold.

Over Half of Homeowners Plan Remodel Projects This Year

Written by Cynthia on 09 July 2009

According to a recent poll conducted by Consumer Reports , over the next 12 months, 54 percent of homeowners are planning a remodeling project.

Although 65% report planning to to do at least some of the work themselves, there is still good news for the remodeling industry as a whole, especially during tough economic times.

The economic downturn, however, is at the very core of this trend as it forced 67% of the interviewed to reconsider their housing plans with 39% of them choosing to fix and improve the property they already own.

To cut down costs, 42% will do the work themselves while 36% will remodel in phases. Also, 46% of the interviewed reported the need to cut down expenses because they don’t have enough money.

The most popular remodeling projects include painting (56%), designing (39%) and flooring (34%).

Consumer Reports Remodeling Poll Methodology
The Consumer Reports National Research Center conducted a telephone poll of a nationally representative probability sample of telephone households. 1,002 interviews were completed among adults aged 18+. Interviewing took place over April 16 – April 19, 2009. The margin of error is +/- 3.2% points at a 95% confidence level.

Source: Info-Zine