Showing posts with label Home Improvement. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Home Improvement. Show all posts

Mistakes to Avoid In Home Renovation

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Mistakes to Avoid In Home Renovation
A home is the most important possession of any person. This is why a homeowner would wish that his home is in proper shape and properly maintained. Otherwise the value of the home would decrease considerably. A carefully laid out renovation not only increase the value of the house but it would make it a more pleasing place to live in. However not all renovations are successful. There are some renovations projects that can bring more frustration than satisfaction to the owner.

 Remodeling a house is not an easy process. But there are always different ways through which we can make it less difficult. IF you are planning to give your house a new look, here are a few tips for you.  

1. Not having enough money

Even though there are ways to make it affordable but renovation projects don’t come in cheap. Many people don’t realize the cost of home renovation. When you put down some wall, you may find different things that required to be repaired that are not in your budget. That is why it is important to keep some money for some unplanned repairs and fixes.  

2. Buying Cheap Materials

Contradictory to common belief, buying cheap material doesn’t help you save money. Because the cheap material you buys is often of poor quality. Thus you would have to spend money on repair and maintenance later. In this way you end up spending more money.  

3. Not Getting Proper Permits

All homeowners are aware of the fact that a homeowner should acquire all the necessary permits from the concerned authorities before he or she can put up a house. But not many people know that renovation of a house also requires permits even before it starts. Get all the necessary documents for you home renovation project so that you can avoid any kind of penalties.

 4. Hiring the Wrong Contractor

Another common mistake is that people give contract to the contractor with the lowest bids. People who hire cheap contractors get poorly renovated houses at the end. So only hire reputable and reliable contractors.

 5. Ignoring Lighting Requirements

 People often ignore lighting which is very important part of our homes. So make sure you opt for the right lights for your home.

Buying the Right Table Cloth for your Table

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Like tables, tablecloths also come in different shapes and sizes. As they are a very important part of your kitchen and they matter a lot to the overall kitchen or dining room theme and appearance. The fabric that you have opt for can made to resist fading from harsh, steady sunlight like vinyl, soft and rich or delicate and lacy.

 Tablecloths are usually sold in a diverse range including linen and cotton being the most popular of all and polyester, linen and vinyl being the more practical choices. Special table cloths for weddings and other special occasions usually made up of silk and organza. The purpose of the table cloth will determine which material is best suited for your requirement. But one important things is that each material offers its own pros and cons in terms of functionality and style.

Which type of fabric you choose for your table cloth can complement or confuse your dining room décor and design. If you keep these guidelines in mind while buying table cloths or table linens, it will help you select the perfect kind of fabric that will make your dining experience more elegant, enjoyable and memorable.
• Before you decide about the kind of fabric for your table, do consider your needs, your food habits and how often you would have to entertain guests.

• If you entertain family and friends very often, the linen tablecloth is the perfect choice for you. They might be expensive but they do look elegant and graceful.

• If you want a tablecloth for everyday use and you have children at home create a lot of mess while eating, then cotton table cloth is the most appropriate choice for you. Cotton table cloths last very long as compared to other table cloths. You can clean them easily too.

• Another less costly option is to buy a polyester tablecloth or cotton-polyester blend tablecloth. With it silky and shiny looks, it would be the best option for semi formal indoor dining or outdoor parties.

• Silk and organza are expensive tablecloth options and are best suited for weddings nad other special occasions.  

Choices In Indoor Heating Options

Monday, December 13, 2010

When its time to replace your current heat unit, you have many indoor heating options to choose from. You will need to decide what type of heat source you will be using. The most common choices are oil, power, coal, wood, natural gas, and propane.

There are several types of units to choose from; each with their own advantages as well as disadvantages.
Forced air is the most popular type of units today. The air is heated up inside a furnace and then pushed through air ducts, which will bring the air out of vents in every room of the home. There are advantages to using forced air. This type of unit is very cost-effective, you can humidify the air or dehumidify it. You can filter the air before it goes into the rooms, and you can add on a cooling system for the hot months. The disadvantages to forced air include the fact that the system takes up a lot of space, duct work can take up space, the blower or fan on the system that forces the air through the duct work can be noisy, the forced air can stir up allergens, and the system must be maintained on a regular basis.

Radiant heat is a popular type of indoor heating both in the past and in today's homes. Hot water is heated by a boiler that is fueled by propane, natural gas, oil, power, wood, or coal and puts out heat in units or panels that is directly under the floor or in the ceiling. The advantages to using radiant heat include the comfortable even heat that you will feel and they are energy efficient. The disadvantage is that it takes a while to heat up the water, installing may be expensive, pipes are under the floor or in the ceiling and can be difficult to get to when needed, and although air conditioning can be added it will require you to add separate duct work.

Hot water baseboard units works like a radiant unit by using hot water that heats up by a boiler. The hot water once heated travels through pipes inside a unit along the wall where the wall and floor meet. As the heat comes out it heats the room. Advantages to hot water baseboard units is that the heat is quiet, even, and energy efficient. The disadvantages include nothing can be on or in front of the unit, heats slowly, and you cannot run air conditioning in the same unit.

Steam radiators are older units that are not as popular today. There are two varieties to the steamed radiators; one pipe and two pipe systems. One pipe system works by steam and water using the same pipe but they travel in the opposite directions. Two-pipe system has a pipe for each. The advantages include quickly warming up to provide heat, comfortable, even, and the radiators can be small in size. The disadvantage is they are not very decorative.

Boilers come in many sizes. The size used for homes are considerably small and can generate water or steam to provide heat. Advantages for boilers include they are cost effective, compact in size, and minimal maintenance required.

Geothermal is becoming more popular than ever in indoor heating options. It works by taking the heat from one area and sending it to another area in the home. Nothing is wasted with geothermal heating units. Advantages to geothermal units include the fact that they are up to 70% more cost efficient and you can add a cooling system to the unit.

 Resource: Ezine Articles