Log Cabin Packages

If you are interested in log cabin packages then the best place for you to go shopping for information is online. There are many sites that will give you information on these packages and help you choose which one is right for you. When you are searching you want the log cabin that would be ideal for you and you will need to make some decisions on whether you want small logs or larger ones for your cabin. Then there is the color of your cabin to choose. Most important when you go online and find what you want is to make sure that the company you are dealing with is a very reputable company before you get started with your purchase. You also want to check out what is included in your package and what is not. This way there will be no surprises at the end of the deal.

If you can actually visit the company that you intend to deal with it would be a great idea. If they have been in the business for a long time they have a wealth of knowledge that could help you in your decisions for your cabin. You will find that the staff is friendly and more than willing to give you advice. If you dont find a company with staff such as this, then you should walk away. They are not the kind of company you want to deal with.

You can also learn a lot by visiting web sites that offer cabin packages. By doing this you can view floor plans to help you decide your needs in a cabin and with plans that are offered online they are tried and true and have already been built for someone else. If you want a customized cabin, it can cost a lot more than the plans that are offered on one of these sites.

For lots of information on log home kits and related topics, visit DIY and Remodeling at http://www.diyandremodeling.com

Mirrored Medicine Cabinet - Home Tips

When I grew up I had a tiny bathroom, but I didn't care because it was entirely my own. You could barely turn around it was so small. But it had the features I needed including a medicine cabinet with a three way mirror for doing my hair.

Honestly, I don't know how anyone could get ready in the morning with just a single paned mirror. I rely on those three mirrors to angle around and see the back of my head. I now combine it with the full length mirror in the larger bathroom I now have to bounce my reflection off so many surfaces I can see everything easily. Even things I don't want to see so often.

Behind that mirror is the usual medicine cabinet. Mine is stuffed full of beauty supplies and other miscellaneous items that otherwise wouldn't have a home. I'm sure there's several things in there that need to be thrown out. Old perfumes, 3 bottles of mousse, earrings I never wear, maybe I'll go clean that out tonight.

Medicine cabinets are really important. I don't keep much medicine in them, those have to be locked away from the children. So hair products take their place. My cabinet is the of the usual variety, but I really like those recessed ones that look like just a plain mirror and then surprise people when it turns out to have storage space. Even funnier is when people assume the plain mirror is a medicine cabinet and end up ripping it off the wall when they try to open it.

If you want more information on the various styles of recessed medicine cabinet or get a mirror medicine cabinet please visit our website.

Corner Roof Fascia Damage

Save on Winter Home Heating Bills

With home heating energy costs continuing to rise, many homeowners are searching for ways to save on their oil and gas utility costs this winter. Listed below are a number of tips on how to save on your home's winter heating bills.

First and foremost, make sure your home heating system if serviced in the fall. Filters should be changed, and flues, nozzles, and burners cleaned. The heating system should also be tuned to ensure maximum heating efficiency.

Second, while having your heating system serviced have the serviceman lower the hot water temperature by 5-10 degrees. You'll save on energy costs and you will prevent scalds when washing dishes or taking showers.

Third, make sure all of your heating ductwork and pipes in the basement are insulated. You can find foam pipe insulation at any home improvement store and it is simple to install.

Forth, check your attic insulation. If you can see the ceiling rafters in your attic you do not have enough insulation in it. Your attic should have 9 to 15 inches of insulation in it. Also, make sure that the existing attic insulation is installed properly. It should sit flush up against the ceiling rafters.

Fifth, fill your oil and gas tanks in late fall before the extreme cold whether hits. The cost of oil and gas typically skyrockets when the extreme cold whether hits due to a surge in demand due to the cold temperatures and procrastinating homeowners.

Sixth, install a programmable thermostat in your home and set the thermostat 5-10 degrees lower when you are away from the home for extended hours and during the night when you are asleep.

Seven, in the fall check the caulk around your exterior doors and windows. If they are not already caulked or the caulk is old and cracking install new caulk. Doors and windows that are not caulked are havens for drafts within your home.

Eight, while checking your exterior doors for caulking also examine the door weather stripping. If it is old and you can see light seeping in-between the door and door jambs it is time to replace the door weather stripping.

Finally, install flow-restrictors on your home's shower heads to minimize the amount of hot water used during showers.

By implementing these simple home heating energy savings tips you can dramatically reduce your home's heating bill costs this winter while still staying warm.

About the Author: Over the past 20+ years Mark Donovan has been involved with building homes and additions to homes. His projects have included: building a vacation home, building additions and garages on to existing homes, and finishing unfinished homes. For more information about Home Improvement and Home Additions, and Home Remodeling and Repair visit homeadditionplus.com and homeaddition.blogspot.com.

Waterproofing Contractors All Look the Same - Carlsbad Construction

If you're standing in the middle of a pile of papers, brochures and handouts, inspection sheets and business cards, you're not alone. Many people feel not only overwhelmed by the sheer number of people doing basement waterproofing all over America, but are overwhelmed by the details that go into a job like this. People get strung out on quality vs. price, marketing and internet related posts.

The question boils down to: How Do I Pick a Basement Waterproofing Company to fix my Wet Basement Problem?

1.) Do they outsource their work?
In other words, is what they're saying they're going to do something they're actually going to do themselves, or do they hand it to someone else? Outsourcing is a great way for companies to cheaply hire other workers to work on a job by job basis. This allows them to get massive amounts of work done quickly. Quickly isn't always the "best."

This can lead to other problems down the road. Such as holding the company liable for any issues you're having with the install, insurance, or payments.

If a company supports its own crews it's much easier to cover the workers, receive payments directly and swiftly deal with any issues the customer might have. Direct communication with a support staff typically leads to a higher customer satisfaction rate because of boss-employee relations. A crew you hire out randomly doesn't have to call you back or be accountable for anything. A crew that works for the company has their jobs and the company's reputation on the line. Quality of service and install are then typically better.

2.) Price.

Price is a huge factor for many people.

If a company immediately says that they can knock a few thousand dollars off for "X,Y,Z" that's a huge red flag. They wouldn't have been able to take off that amount of money if it wasn't "fluff" or mark-up.

The trick is applying this to the overall scheme of things. If a company comes to $2,000 for a 120 foot job, then that's a red flag: What kind of material are they using? Are they using cheep outsourced labor? Is what they're giving me something I could find at Home Depot? For the other end of the spectrum, if the company is $16,000 for that same 120 foot job: What am I getting for this? Is it worth it to me? Can I modify, upgrade the system and finish after? If you notice that the company then knocks off that "fluff" factor, then that should also be a red flag: How much is mark up? Is the product really good quality if they could come down in price that fast?

If there are no red flags ask about second options to get you moving in the same direction. Any company that's not willing to work with you around your budget isn't worth doing business with in the first place.

Jacob Lee- pioneer basement http://www.pioneerbasement.com

Dust Clogging Bath Fan Vent

Build Your Own Wind Turbine - House Ideas

As one of the greatest sources of inexhaustible energies available, wind power is the best available source for generating electricity while reducing pollution. This very reason is why people are opting to install windmills for their individual household electricity needs. For building a wind turbine, you don't need any advanced construction or engineering skills. In fact practically any person can do this task with ease. When the blades spin they generate power and it is converted into electricity by the turbine. This is done by an electrical motor present inside the turbine. The first and foremost thing about installation is finding the appropriate location for placing the unit. The location should be free of obstacles and should have wind speeds above 5 MPH. The roof tops are an excellent place for installing a windmill. There are some basic materials that you will need, which include: a tower to give support to your system, a generator, blades, mounting and batteries. These parts are available in nearly any hardware store across the country.

Benefits of building a wind turbine for yourself:

- Can save about 80% of your monthly electrical bills, or even eliminate them completely.

EX: If monthly power bill is around $200, you can cut it down to $40. By this around $1000 can be saved every year. You can even produce excess electricity to eliminate your bill and sell left over electricity back to your local power company.

- Get tax credits for using green energy, this is part of the government's environmental plan.

- Protect your environment by reducing global warming and your dependence on expensive fossil fuels.

- The value of your house is increased.

On average, a self-made windmill doesn't cost more than 200 dollars. This can be easily paid back by savings on electricity in a fairly short period of time. Rather than buying an expensive commercial one it's better to opt for a homemade model, which only takes a day or so to assemble, even with limited skills. It's wise to choose many smaller systems than a bigger one. Through this method, even when one system is shut down for maintenance, the other systems can generate power and you don't have to supplement your wind power with electricity from your power company.

The cheapest option for installing wind turbines is to go with DIY Wind Turbine Instructions which includes detailed instructions, step-by-step video walk-throughs and even locations to get all of your materials as cheap as possible.

With DIY wind turbine instructions you can be living off the grid, on free wind energy, for as little as a $200 start up cost.

Start saving money and the environment today, what are you waiting for?

Attic Sheeting Water Damage

Make Your Home Energy Efficient This Winter

Energy Efficiency during the winter months can be achieved with these Smart Home Improvement Ideas

Every homeowner, even one with a brand new home, is thinking about how they can continue to update their home. With the recent emphasis on greener living and more energy efficient methods for building homes, it only makes sense that energy efficient home improvement ideas are on a lot of people's minds right now. Especially as the season starts to turn colder and the winter months come. Keeping heating bills down and maximizing the energy efficiency of one's home becomes more and more important this season. If you want to improve your home, as well as improve its energy usage, take a look at some of these ideas. Your chosen contractor shouldn't have any trouble helping you plan your energy related improvements.

Easy Energy Efficiency for Any Homeowner

One thing you can do to use less energy this winter doesn't require the use of a contractor. Consider switching all of your light bulbs to the popular compact fluorescent version. They actually use between 70 and 75 percent less energy than the regular light bulbs we are all accustomed to. Another energy efficient winter home improvement idea to try out is to use cold water when possible in your laundry. By not using energy to heat water for your laundry, you are saving that energy. In fact, simply turning down the maximum temperature on your water heater can make a vast improvement to your energy efficiency as well. These small changes are easy, but you'll be making a big impact.

Larger Projects for Bigger Energy Saving Results

Of course, there is energy efficient winter home improvement ideas to think about that are more complex than screwing in a light bulb. One word could save you both energy and money: Insulation. Having a professional contractor come to your home to inspect your insulation can be a priceless endeavor. By checking where energy escapes from your home, and sealing and insulating these spaces your home can keep heat in and not have to expel as much energy to keep it heated. Any contractor should know the common insulation trouble spots in your home (around windows, in the attic, around doors, duct work) and will be able to bring the correct materials to insulate them properly.

Solar panels are getting a lot of attention recently. Home solar panels are used to limit how much energy your home uses from the utility company and help you produce your own power. How effectively solar panels will heat your home will depend on the region you live in. Some models can be placed anywhere the sun hits most consistently in your yard, or roof. Many homeowners appreciate the convenience and almost nonexistent maintenance that goes along with solar panels.

While we are on the subject of roofs and putting things on them, your roof's condition can have a lot to do with how much energy your home uses. Have a contractor come out and do an inspection. If he or she finds any problems, be sure to have them corrected as soon as possible.

Consult a Local Contractor for More Advice on Energy Efficiency

Energy efficiency projects for the coming winter can be large or small, or anywhere in between. No matter what budget you have, there is a project that can help make your home a more efficient system. For more ideas, or help deciding what projects will be best for your home, consult a local contractor, and find the best specialists with Fix The Home's online contractor referral service. Get your energy efficiency projects started now so your home will be ready for any weather this winter.

Contact Information:

Aaron Klimchuk
Director of Operations
aaron@leadstormmedia.com

Building Your Dream Home - Part 2

Razing the Cottage

With new house plans and permits in hand, subcontractors hired and a Septic Design in process, it was now time to raze the existing cottage. I considered employing the local fire department to burn it down, however I chose the demolition route instead. Though I did not contact the Fire Department, I was convinced that this route would have led to multiple delays and pitfalls, as I would have been at the whim of several town employees and weather conditions. The demolition route required only the excavator subcontractor and had less weather related schedule risks. In addition, the demolition cost and effort was very reasonable. Within two days, it was as if the cottage never existed on the land. It is important to note, however, that the cottage was relatively small. It was 22 x 30. If the cottage had been significantly larger, then the Fire Department route may have made more financial sense.

The demolition effort itself basically consisted of three parts. First, all of the furniture and appliances needed to be removed. Most of these items were old and musty and were not worth saving. Next, the excavator used a large backhoe and tore apart and crushed the building into small pieces. Finally, the excavator loaded the debris into several 20 cubic yard dumpsters, which were then hauled away by a dumpster company. Finding the appropriate dumpster company was a little bit of a challenge, as there are strict regulations on the disposing of certain home construction material. In addition, the dumpster costs can dramatically increase depending on how far away their facilities are from the construction/destruction site.

Breaking Ground

After the cottage was razed, and the stakes were placed outlining the boundary of the new home, it was time to break ground. This was a very exciting time as my dream was about to begin to take shape. I was building a large contemporary home with a wall of windows facing the lake front. Admittedly it was only a hole in the ground, but this hole represented the rough footprint of my future house. Seeing the hole, I could begin to more easily visualize my future home.

Digging out the hole and preparing the site for a foundation is one of the most critical aspects of building a new home. As a result, I spent several occasions with both the Excavator and Foundation subcontractors reviewing the house plans and the site prior to, and during the excavation. It was imperative that all of us were on the same page to ensure that the foundation walls, with all its jogs and step ups/downs would be located and installed per the plans. During these meetings a few adjustments were necessary to the foundation plans, however with all the team members involved the changes were minor and absolutely necessary. The changes helped prevent more serious problems later on and ensured that the outside aesthetics of the home were maintained.

As I already indicated, the foundation is extremely important to any quality home. If the foundation is not built upon a solid footing, nor constructed of the appropriate concrete strength, the foundation walls will crack in short order. These cracks can lead to water in the basement, settling in the framing, and eventually cracks in the finished walls and ceilings. Consequently, it is imperative that the excavation site not only be properly dug out, but also backfilled with crushed stone and sand to provide for a stable base and to enable proper drainage underneath and around the home. In my case I had the excavator dig out sufficiently to enable 18 of crushed stone to be backfilled into the hole and still meet my foundation plan requirements.

Once the site was prepared for concrete, the foundation crew installed concrete footings 18 wide and 12 deep. In addition they installed several cement footings in the middle of the house footprint for lally columns. The footings represent the base of the home and support the concrete foundation walls and the home itself. Due to the fact that it was winter, Calcium Chloride was used as an accelerator to speed the curing time of the concrete. In addition water had pooled in a portion of the hole, so constant pumping was necessary during the curing time.

After a couple of days, the foundation crew installed forms for the concrete walls. A day later the foundation walls were poured. Three days later the forms were removed and the foundation walls were in. I then had my excavator subcontractor return. After tarring the outer walls, just up to the level of where the finished grade would be, he installed a perimeter drain around the foundation and then backfilled the foundation with clean sand and fill. It is important that boulders and clay not be used as backfill material. Boulders can crack the foundation walls while being pushed into place, and clay can lead to improper drainage around the home.

With the foundation in and backfilled I was ready for framers.

The Framing Stage

The framing stage is probably the most exciting part of building a home. In a relatively short period of time, literally days, a house begins to take real form. Within less than a week knee walls were up, floor joists were installed and a plywood sub-floor was down. After a couple of weeks, the first floor walls were up and ceiling joists were being installed. I was so impressed I was convinced my new home was a month ahead of schedule. Boy was I wrong.

Before I elaborate on my misconception I should jump back for a minute. While the excavation work went on, I was also engaged with the Framing subcontractor. The Framing subcontractor needed to order framing material including lumber, doors and windows, shingles and siding. Inevitably there were issues with the availability of material and delivery dates, and as a result, we spent a fair amount of time resolving these issues. Fortunately, due to constant communication and quick problem solving we were able to have the initial delivery of lumber arrive on the site within a day after the backfilling of the foundation.

It is important to note, that it is at this time of the project that the large outlays of money begin to occur. Lumber costs for a home construction are quite large, and final payments are due to the Excavator and Foundation subcontractors. Excavation/Sitework and Foundation installations are a significant portion of the cost of building a home. In addition, the Framing subcontractor requires a portion of his labor to be paid in advance.

Also, it is very important that Homeowner Construction Insurance be obtained prior to the construction phase. This insurance protects the Homeowner/Builder against material theft and job injuries. All of your subcontractors and their employees should be insured but dont count on it. During any building project, subcontractors are bound to hire extra help for short stints and I would be surprised if these temporary employees were added to the subcontractors insurance policy. The homeowner/builder insurance policy is small change compared to the risk of theft or the threat of injury lawsuits.

As I indicated earlier, I was in for a surprise with the framing phase of my home. As mentioned, the initial framing moved quickly. However it was still winter and frequent snow storms and extremely cold weather began to hit. This dramatically slowed progress. In addition, with the fresh supply of snow it quickly became apparent that my framing crew had an affinity to snowmobiling. So even on the sunny days my framing crew was frequently absent. No matter my level of complaining or prodding I was unable to control my framing subcontractors work ethic.

Consequently, I had to contact my plumbing, electric, and fireplace subcontractors to inform them of the delay. This was extremely painful to have to do, as I had no definitive date on when I would actually need them and each of them had very full calendars. As a result, to be able to call them at the last minute and expect for them to drop what they were doing to come to work on my project was highly unlikely. Again, through regular communication with these other subcontractors I was able to mitigate some of this problem, however my project did experience significant schedule slips due to my framing crews shenanigans.

In retrospect, I am not sure what I could have done to have prevented this problem. Reference checks on the Framing subcontractor had been positive. I guess I should have asked what his hobbies were and made sure they did not correspond to the season I wanted the work done. It is also a fact that unexpected things do happen on any project and one should expect it and plan accordingly. For example, put some contingency dollars and schedule into your project for events such as mine. Also, I can not stress enough to establish a rapport and regular communication channel with all of your subcontractors. Do not assume anything during a project of this size.

To Be Continued .

In Part 3 of Building Your Dream House, the Framing continues and Rough Electric and Plumbing begin. Stay tuned

Over the past 20+ years Mr. Donovan has been involved with building homes and additions to homes. His projects have included: building a vacation home, building additions and garages on to existing homes, and finishing unfinished homes. Mr. Donovan's formal education and profession have been as an Electrical Engineer and Marketing Manager.

Me_Donovan@comcast.net
http://www.homeadditionplus.com
http://www.homeaddition.blogspot.com