Are There Any Good Contractors out There

I would love to hear your good contractor stories. I'm so tired of hearing about contractor nightmares, is there anyone out there that has a good contractor story. Place it in the comment area underneath this question.

Roofing Books

Converting Two Single Garage Doors to a Double Garage Door

If you are fortunate enough to own a large garage you will often have two single sized garage doors as your main form of entrance.

As attractive as these single sized doors can look you are losing a lot of usable space due to the central pillar between the two doors.

It is relatively easy to turn your single sized garage doors into one large double sized garage door thus utilising the full opening width to its maximum potential.

Before you consider converting your garages you need to check pricing and availability of the new double sized door. Being that these are often larger than any standard door you will need to look towards a company who manufacture bespoke doors that can be designed to fit your garage.

Choosing a respectable garage door company you may find they are able to carry out the conversion of your single doors for you as well as installing the garage door itself.

Converting the garage door is a relatively simple procedure. The basics are as follows:

Firstly a new lintel has to be arranged as almost certainly you will have two lintels at present resting on top of the centre pillar. Removing the centre pillar like this would result in the whole roof collapsing. The new lintel will be in one piece and spanning the whole opening width of your garage.

Using props to hold up the roof of the garage the new lintel is installed, resting on the brickwork either side of the garage. The central pillar is now removed. Be prepared for a lot of brickwork to be disposed of - often a skip is the only way to dispose of this. PVC cladding will most likely be required to cover over the lintel and make everything look nice.

You now have one large double opening ready to have your double sized garage door installed.

Whilst the above steps may sound simple, there are many different problems that you can come across in doing this work and as such you should seek professional advice before undertaking this work or better still - use an expert.

Nationwide offer bespoke garage doors for the UK. See an example of how we remove a central pillar here

Stair Stringer Fire Blocking

Home Building Books and Construction Help

If you're a do it yourself or or a homeowner who every once in a while, once to tackle a small or large project but doesn't know where to begin, can gather useful information from home building books. I have been using these books for years and may have been worth their weight in gold.

I started my career working for my father and my father worked for his father as a Carpenter. Our job was to frame the house and we built a Lotta homes. I learned how to frame and developed some great carpentry skills from my father and working with other skilled carpenters. Over the years, if you're paying attention, even a monkey can figure out, how to assemble almost anything.

The only problem that I faced, was learning how to build the rest of the home. I would often ask questions to other building trades like plumbers, electricians, roofers and construction superintendents. Some of these people were helpful and others were not. When I was in my early 30s, I purchased my first book on home building. This book lead to other books and soon I found myself with more home building knowledge that my father.

I had about 50 books on home building and soon found myself doing large home remodels, with no formal education. I would attribute almost everything that I learned outside of house framing to books. These books have proven invaluable to me over the years and with a relatively small investment. I couldn't have spent over $200 purchasing these books but have used the knowledge from them to save myself thousands of dollars.

One $20 home building books or home repairs, can save you lots of money, if you're willing to do a little research and the labor to complete almost any home building project.

By the way, if you're interested in learning how to repair a roof, build your own house, interior decorating, structural engineering, building a deck, gathering some more information about home painting or even remodeling your bathroom. An online home building bookstore can save you money if you're willing to do the work.

Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He has just finished a Home Buyers Guide to take some of the frustration out of home shopping.

If your looking for some more home inspection or home building ideas.

Swimming Pool Books

How to Pick a Remodeling Contractor

If you live in the state of Minnesota and you plan on having some remodeling done, you may need a good home remodeling contractor to help you out with your needs. No doubt you'll find that there are many different contractors to choose from in the Twin Cities area, but you don't want just any contractor working on your home. There are many different considerations that should be kept in mind when it comes to choose from all the remodeling contractors out there. So, here's you simple checklist to keep in mind when you are trying to make sure that you get the best contractor possible for your remodeling needs.

Ask Family and Friends for Referrals
The first thing you'll want to do is to make sure that you ask family and friends for referrals when you are trying to come up with a contractor. Getting contractor references from your friends and family members is a wonderful way that you can make sure you end up with an excellent contractor. This way you actually know someone that has had a great experience with the contractor. It helps you to be sure that you'll get a great contractor.

Ensure They are Licensed by the State
When you are trying to pick out the best remodeling contractor, you'll find that it is important to make sure that they are licensed by the state. They should have a state of MN contractors license that they can show you. You definitely don't want to go with a contractor that has no license. Also, when you are looking at their license, you'll want to make sure that there have been no complaints filed against them or any type of disciplinary actions taken against them in the past. This insures you get the best possible contractor for your remodeling project.

Check for the Contractor's Insurance Certificates
Make sure that you check for insurance certificates when you are trying to find the best remodel contractor. They should have General Liability as well as Workman's Compensation. If they have no insurance, you'll definitely want to avoid going with their services, although just having General Liability is okay.

Find Out About Their Business Longevity
Take the time to find out about their business longevity before you decide that you want to go with a particular contractor. The best option is to go with a contractor who has been in the same business with the same name for over 10 years. Five years is excellent as well. However, if they have only been in business for a year, you may want to be a bit wary of going with a brand new business when you need help with contracting. Experience is a definitely bonus when choosing remodeling contractors.

Make Sure the Business is Stable
You should also take a look at the business that the contractor is running. Is the business one that is both permanent and stable? If there is no office at all and you only get a cell phone number, this is a Minnesota contractor to reject. The best option is to find someone that has an office as well as an address. A working phone number is very important as well when it comes to making sure that the business is a stable one.

Check Out Their References
Ask for a list of client references when you are trying to find the best home remodeling contractor. If they cannot offer you any references at all, you probably will want to choose someone else. The same applies for if you call references and get negative comments. It's best to make sure that you get at least several positive references from people who have used the same contractor in the past. This way you know what kind of a job that they are going to do.

Find Out About Their Experience
Experience is another important consideration when you are considering what type of contractor to go with. Going with a contractor that specializes in the work you need done is the best option. If the contractor doesn't have any type of experience in the type of work that you will need to have done. Having the experience necessary is very important. You really don't want a contractor with no experience at all working on your bathroom or kitchen. So, make sure that you choose carefully.

Take a Look at Their Bids on the Work You Need Done
Before you make your final decision on the best home remodeling contractor, you should take a look at their bids on the work you need done. Make sure that the bids have a good description of the work to be done and that they will guarantee the work that gets done. You'll also want a contractor that only asks for about a of the money up front and then final payment when the remodeling work is finally complete.

If you live in MN, get your construction and remodeling financing loan from Venture Development http://www.VentureLoanApp.com John Mazzara is involved with financial services in the Twin Cities, MN. Officing out of Edina, Minnesota-John is centrally located within the 7 county MN metropolitan area. John owns three separate businesses-a licensed real estate broker associate selling Minnesota real estate since 1986-affiliated with RE/MAX Associates Plus http://www.MinneapolisStPaulHomes.com, an independent CFP-certified financial planner since 1989 with an independent Minnesota financial planning firm-Financial Planning Associates and the owner of a Minnesota mortgage broker firm-Venture Development Inc-specializing ins residential, commercial and investment mortgages.

If you are looking for someone to help you in the areas of real estate sales/purchase, mortgages, or and/or financial planning and insurance you should call John for a free 1 hour consultation to see if he can meet your needs. 952-929-2577. RE/MAX Associates Plus and Venture Development are located at 7300 France Ave S, Suite 410, Edina, MN 55435

Light Falling Off Wall

How to Give Your Bathroom a Custom Look With Knobs and Pulls

Many homes today that have been purchased brand new or have been recently built suffer from something like a case of the blahs. The home itself is, of course, beautiful, or you wouldn't have bought it, but you may also find your new surroundings a bit sterile, particularly in the bathroom.

Brand new bathrooms are often done entirely in white - white walls, white tile flooring, white tub, white shower stall, white sinks...that's a lot of white, and certainly doesn't do much to show your personality. To really start feeling at home and comfortable in your new house and bathroom, you will want to put your own personal stamp on things, you'll want to express your unique sense of style, and the good news is that all that white makes the perfect canvas to put your creativity to work on.

Many of the things you can do to dress up your bathroom fall into the do-it-yourself home remodeling category. A bath remodel does not have to involve a contractor and a plumber, particularly when you just want to decorate the room, not tear it apart and start over again. If you don't want white walls, then a coat of paint in your favorite color will go a long way towards sprucing things up. Since much of the space in your bathroom is taken up by other things - toilet, tub, sink and vanity, medicine cabinet, shower stall - you can get away with painting the walls a bright or bold color without it being overpowering.

The next thing to look at is the shower curtains and window treatments. Adding in draperies for both the windows and the shower in a fabric that you love will instantly change the whole look of the room, and when you add in other matching bathroom accessories like rugs, toothbrush holders, soap dishes, and more, your bathroom is blah no more!

The last area to focus on is bathroom lighting and cabinet hardware. A beautiful new light fixture that blends in well with everything else you've done is an addition that is both functional and decorative, and to finish things off, choose knobs and pulls that complement either the room as a whole, or match the material your lighting fixture is made of. Bathroom cabinet knobs and drawer pulls come in a huge array of different styles and finishes, and while they are necessary items that you need in order to access your bathroom cupboards, your cabinet knobs can also be highly decorative.

It is easy - and if you shop carefully, also inexpensive - to put your mark on your plain bathroom and give it a custom look that lets your personality and style shine through.

Amanda works for Your Home Supply (YHS) the definitive website for home improvement tools, and gardening supplies. Your Home Supply offers a wide range of products, like cabinet hardware, to help customers with common household repairs, as well as decorative accessories for the home. Visit them now at http://www.YourHomeSupply.com

Reverse Osmosis Water Treatment Systems

If you're like me, you're probably pretty weary of salesmen. They would lie and cheat just to get you to purchase their products. People that sell home water purifiers are one in the same. The example that really comes to mind here are companies that sell reverse osmosis systems. Sure, having a reverse osmosis water treatment system is better than having no water treatment system at all but there are far better options out there. Here are 5 ugly lies to watch out for so you understand why reverse osmosis systems are mediocre at best.

1. Reverse osmosis water treatment systems are inexpensive. Using a reverse osmosis system may be cheaper than drinking bottled water but it is by no means inexpensive. Reverse osmosis costs 18 to 24 cents per gallon. In contrast, carbon filtration systems cost less than 10 cents per gallon. Which would you choose?

2. A reverse osmosis water treatment system removes all contaminants. Reverse osmosis systems are not capable of removing synthetic chemicals. It helps to understand how they work in order to see why that is. During reverse osmosis, water is exposed to a porous membrane under pressure. Contaminants such as minerals and organic chemicals, which are molecularly larger than water, are caught by the membrane. Synthetic chemicals are molecularly smaller than the membrane so they pass through. For that reason, reverse osmosis systems must be used in conjunction with a carbon filter. Why not just use a carbon filter in the first place? Carbon filters remove both organic and synthetic chemicals.

3. Reverse osmosis water treatment systems are convenient and easy to use. In comparison to other water treatment systems like carbon filtration, reverse osmosis systems are high-maintenance and complicated. Reverse osmosis systems require adequate water pressure and a diaphragmed storage tank and as such as very high-maintenance. They are also difficult to install. Carbon filters on the other hand can be installed in a matter of minutes without the help of a plumber.

4. A reverse osmosis water treatment system produces healthy, pure water. Having a reverse osmosis system is better than having no water treatment system at all but the water it produces actually isn't that healthy. The problem with reverse osmosis systems is that they produce de-mineralized water. Studies show that in order to maintain good health, we must drink water that contains natural trace minerals such as calcium, potassium, and magnesium. Drinking de-mineralized water can lead to multiple mineral deficiencies and an increased risk for cancer. Comparatively, carbon filtration systems remove all the bad stuff while leaving in the good stuff.

5. Reverse osmosis water treatment systems are efficient. The truth is that reverse osmosis systems are wasteful. They waste 2 to 3 gallons for every gallon of clean water they produce. They are also notorious for being slow because they produce less than a gallon of water per hour. Carbon filtration systems can produce up to 30 gallons of water per hour without wasting a single drop.

Now that you are armed with this information, make your decision wisely and carefully. There are many water filters out there to choose from but when you consider cost, effectiveness, efficiency, and convenience, a reverse osmosis water treatment system simply isn't a good choice. Carbon filtration systems are the best option available when it comes to home water filters. So get out there and find a carbon filtration system for your home if you want the best water filter money can buy.

John Lim Cher Sern who is an avid proponent of natural health. To get more information about reverse osmosis water treatment systems make sure to visit our website at http://www.cleanhomewaterfilters.com

Home Inspection Books

Building a Dolls' House For Your Grandchildren

Dolls' House Building: A Magnificent Obsession

When I was a child it was just after the war and materials were in short supply. I didn't have many toys - and don't think I missed them, since I became an obsessive reader and never had my nose out of a book. An exception was when I was in London with my godmother, who took me to museums.

The day I saw that great big, gorgeous dolls house, which had belonged to Queen Mary, was a milestone - one I have never forgotten. I was completely entranced by the wonderfully detailed furniture, the little people, the wallpapers - all in 1/12 scale. How I loved it. I suppose I must have been about 8 when I fell.

Then I hit my teens, got into rock'n roll, (no sex and drugs for me!) studied for my exams and forgot about the dolls' house.

At forty I was ready to have another go. But this time I knew that I wanted to build a dolls' house. Not a dolls' house from a dollhouse kit, but one from plans, cutting the wood myself and truly being in charge of it all. Let's start at the top -why not?

Why not is because I had no experience at all with carpentry. I had made clothes for myself and others, I had knitted really complicated patterns, my cross-stitch was the envy of friends. But this was a different kettle of fish. I had no tools to speak of, an uncooperative husband, who in any case wasn't a carpenter, and a burning desire to make a dolls' house.

I went to the local friendly hardware store with my plans and explained myself. They were wonderful. I marked up the dimensions I wanted and for the price of the plywood, plus a teeny bit more, they cut my house for me. I bought a keyhole saw, for the window apertures, and a few little bits - tiny strips of prepared wood, sandpapers, glue, tiny screws, tiny hinges, one long piano hinge, a few small screwdrivers and a spirit level. Armed with all that and a lot of optimism I went home and made my dolls house.

I was immensely proud of it. I finished it with love, wallpapered the walls, made internal doors, painted the woodwork, including the skirting boards (something I would NEVER do now) and stood back and admired it. Then I made the furniture, using plans from a second book and copying some of my own furniture in 1/12 scale like the rest.

When it was finished - oh, maybe a year after I had started - I looked at it again and realised how bad it was! But I had learned the skills, and knew many little things that would carry me through the creation of the second, bigger and better house. And it WAS both bigger and better. When I saw how much better, I threw away my first attempt.

A station building (built from a photograph to my own plans) and a shop followed. Then I made just one house in 1/24 scale which was fun and quicker, but not so satisfying.

So there's the history - until manufacturers began making wonderful, fairly cheap dolls house kits. At first I felt it wold be cheating. When temptation overtook me I bought my first and quickly made it up. Oh,how easy it is to make up a kit. It's square, it's complete, all the little pieces you forget you're going to need are there. The kit is built in no time at all, leaving you more time to buy or make the furniture. By this time eBay was operating and wonderful stuff for the dolls house could be bought for very little money.

And then I decided to share this with others. I'm no genius, and I wanted to share my enthusiasm with other women. I had come to this with no formal training, and, with the advent of dolls' house kits, knew that none was needed. So I went into the business of finding out how to sell this idea on line. It has been a real educational journey, which continues. I am not there yet, but I know more and more each day. My website is up and running and now there are search engines to learn about.

What I do know is that women can build dolls' houses, and that they enjoy, no - love, doing it. I have a little group of people I know who share my joy of it. My grand-daughters both love the houses and the nine-year-old has built one with me. She became quite possessive about the colours we would decorate it in, and insisted on choosing the bedroom wallpaper. I bought a wonderful CD off someone clever on eBay, with which I can print my own flooring (which I do on matte photo paper) and wall coverings (ordinary paper works). So we have a wide choice of papers readily available on my pc and colour printer.

Bedding and cushions are fun little projects for us both, and I made (actually MADE) some people to go in the house. We have a father, a mother and one kid. (Oh, and lots of little babies who came on eBay). It isn't finished yet - well, the house is but the interior still lacks the odd thing, but I am already onto the next task, renovating an old house given me by a friend.

I have to confess, the storeroom is rather full. And I'm probably spending too much time on it. But what else would I be doing? I still go to the theatre, visit the family, play the piano, watch TV, read. Other times I work on the latest doll house project. And I wouldn't change any of it. Sometimes I forget the housework - you know, the real stuff. Who cares? I'm working on my dollhouses and having a wonderful time.

I am Dianna Moylan, in my mid-sixties, an ex-teacher who has fallen in love with dolls' houses. I live in a small house which is rapidly becoming swamped with doll house stuff. My site, http://www.diannadollhouses.co.uk is newly launched. I also sell on eBay. In addition to loving making dolls' houses I enjoy writing a lot and welcome this opportunity to have a say.

Getting Rid Of Horrible Attic Sm