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Archive for the ‘Residential Enhancement Ideas’ Category

Do-it-yourself home heating
Do it yourself home heating is a serious undertaking which usually calls for the capabilities of a professional contractor, so any home handyman who goes it alone must be prepared for a lot of difficulties. There are two things you must have possession of in order to DIY a furnace, boiler or other home heating system: special skills and the correct hand and power tools. When replacing an older furnace or heating system first make sure the new system will fit or you will need alterations to the ceilings, floors and walls. One of the skills required to replace an oil or gas furnace involves plumbing, as there are a lot of things that are difficult with the installation. As the saying goes, safety is job 1, and before you think about a DIY replacement of your heating system in your house think safety first. It is much simpler to learn how to maintain the system once it is set up than learn how to install one yourself. You might be the handiest guy you know but you still need your work checked out by an expert.

Foam insulation
Insulating your residence is an valuable course of action in this day and age as a result of the high cost of energy along with the need to preserve our resources as much as we can. Spending less money and eliminating insects, dirt, and dust is why using spray foam insulation is the best deal, and as an additional bonus with the cost savings, foam can ultimately pay back the investment. Dust is not only an annoying mess but also brings in allergens, and in addition to bugs can enter a building by way of little openings around pipes, cables, ceiling joists, wall studs, door and window frames. Exterior noise is also reduced, although the largest amount of noise comes through the windows and is most effectively blocked by adding double or triple-pane glass, or preferably, soundproof windows.

The most common styles of insulation are cellulose, fiberglass, rock wool and foam (such as polyurethane or polystyrene). Fiberglass has the advantages of being relatively inexpensive as well as more convenient to install, though there are additional benefits to employing spray foam insulation as an alternative. One of the greatest benefits of foam insulation is the ability to seal little holes and cracks that may be invisible to the naked eye, something which can’t be said of both fiberglass and cellulose insulation. This will help stop bugs and dust from infiltrating the house. The total seal created by foam almost eliminates most air infiltration into or out of a home.

Another big benefit of foam insulation is its high R-value, which is the method used to classify insulation, and the higher the R-value the more effective the product. The R-value is the rating which shows how efficiently insulation prevents heat transfer between the inside and outside of a house. It helps stop air flow since residences that are insufficiently insulated are apt to be drafty and have cold and hot spots. You will obtain a more consistent temperature in most climate conditions using foam insulation which eliminates these drafts. Keep in mind that high-quality insulation can also make your residence cooler in the summer time in addition to warmer in the winter due to a reduced amount of heat transfer in or out.

To give you an idea of certain common R-values, unpainted cement as a rule is more or less an R-1 while the insulation in the attic of a lot of newer houses is regularly around R-44. While thicker insulation usually possesses a higher R-value, this can differ based on the type of material used. Materials that have enclosed air pockets more often than not have higher R-values. You will appreciate how this happens when looking at the various R-values of several insulating materials. Fiberglass has an R-value per inch of 2.2 to 2.7, rock wool is 3.0 to 3.3 per inch, while cellulose is 3.2 to 3.8 per inch. Foam, on the other hand, has R values which range from 4.0 to 8.0. This added R-value per inch allows contractors to use two-by-fours for the exterior wall construction as opposed to the normal 2×6 construction which is needed for other insulation products. Utilizing this smaller framing has the advantage of giving the owner additional living area, as much as 35 square feet in a 1,500 sq.ft. residence. This is like realizing an extra linen closet! Additional benefits of foam insulation include the fact that it is both fire and insect repellent, helps to limit condensation of moisture, and it will not contract or fall.

But the major advantage is reducing energy costs given that as much as 70% of your residence’s consumption is the result of air conditioners and heaters, therefore it is wise to prevent air gaps. Fiberglass insulation, which is very helpful for some areas, leaves gaps around pipes, vents, window and door frames. Foam insulation plugs all these openings and makes for a more effective seal throughout your residence than fiberglass can. The bottom line is foam insulation can save money on your energy costs while contributing to the worth of your residence.

How will foam insulation work? Polyurethane foam, which has been utilized by appliance companies for a lot of years to insulate refrigerators, freezers and water heaters, is the material used for spray-on insulation. This expanding foam is sprayed on the surface of the attic or inside the walls to create an continuous solid mass of insulation. This foam is produced using liquid polyurethane, which is applied employing special equipment.

But, as with most chemical products, there are disadvantages to using foam. One of the major disadvantages of foam insulation is that it should be applied by a trained contractor. This is definitely not a task for the average do-it-yourselfer. This insulation works best during the building phase because it can be very messy to apply. There will also be problems when working with plumbing or electrical companies which usually are not comfortable working around the stuff if it has already been installed.

Radiant barrier insulation
Without a doubt, nothing is better than installing radiant barrier insulation in the attic for keeping your residence cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Because the sun heats your roof in the summer months and the heat radiates into your attic, there will be two approaches to handle this heat: employ fiberglass insulation, or employ radiant barrier insulation. Traditional insulation blocks some of the attic heat, but a lot of it enters the rooms below. Radiant barrier sends 97% of the heat back to the roof, keeping the living quarters below at a nice temperature while not spending as much on air conditioning. When things get cold in the winter the radiant barrier reflects the heat back into the house, thus reducing your heating bills. Radiant barrier consists of a thin coating of aluminum attached to plywood, cardboard kraft paper or other support materials. A few brands of radiant barrier insulation are reinforced with fiber to add durability and make it easier to install. Bubble insulation, which is a bubble material surrounded by two metal plates, is not as effective as radiant barrier, because the bubble material will deflate over time causing the metal plates to come in contact with each other.

On the Internet there are numerous other websites which handle residential heating and cooling topics. Need additional help finding electronic air cleaners? If that’s the case, then OU Air Cleaners is a good place to visit. Could you also be wondering about diy underfloor heating? If so, About DIY Under Floor Heating should be of help.

The best concrete sealers are made of epoxy
Epoxy resins are the ideal solution to small gaps and cracks in concrete, as resins promptly water-proof any concrete surface from driveways and sidewalks to counter-tops and patios. The minute you see a small crack in concrete anywhere on your house or yard you should apply as much sealant as necessary to safeguard it from any more damage. If the cracks are major it may not be enough to put on a sealant to the surface, as you could be faced with serious structural problems that will involve an inspection by a professional. Epoxy resin sealers also render the concrete surfaces easier to stay free of stains and make it simple to clean. You may have to put on a few coats of sealer and allow a week for it to dry, but from then on you don’t need to be concerned with ongoing maintenance. Condensation down in the basement is one more reason not to neglect any smaller cracks in the floors and walls, as mold can easily develop there.

Building concrete steps
Concrete steps can be more economical than steps made of wood for the reason that they are low maintenance, and when they develop cracks, they will be fairly straightforward to fix. For starters, you will need to make a frame made of wood, filling the inside with a layer of gravel, compacting the gravel down, then fill the frame with cement. Building them might be demanding and strenuous, but once completed, leaves a person with a skill they will be glad they learned. This is the list of materials and tools you will need when setting out to build them: shovel, tamper, hammer, edge trowel, finishing trowel, 2x4s, 1/2 inch plywood, cooking spray, gravel and cement. You will also need a wheelbarrow for mixing the concrete, or you could rent a small cement mixer. Make certain the steps are leveled and surfaced correctly to prevent any possible dangers such as puddles of water, which can make the them slippery or icy, depending on the temperature and weather. They can be painted, however only certainkinds of paint can be applied, and therefore slip-proof paint is advisable.

Preserving the concrete in your home
Regardless of where the concrete is located, odds it will need some sort of protection. The only question may be deciding which form of protection can work best. No matter what type of coating you choose, the concrete slab should be structurally sound and free from all contamination that could influence the ability of the coating to bond with the concrete.

Your next job is to figure out what kinds of abuse the concrete will most likely be exposed to, as this can affect which type of concrete coating will be most effective. A few of the major problems experienced by concrete are chemicals, abrasion, impact, and thermal shock. Other aspects that could influence which kind of concrete coating is right for you are appearance, installation requirements, and the desired life expectancy of the surface.

You will have many different options with regards to installing a concrete coating. The most commonly available polymers are polyurethanes and epoxies. Urethanes have a very low permeability and will make an excellent pick in case you are looking for waterproofing abilities. Nearly all urethanes will incorporate solvents. Epoxy concrete coatings will be solvent-free and work nicely for chemical and abrasion resistance. They will be a good pick for repairing cracks, for overlays and for toppings. Newer formulations of concrete coatings are made from an epoxy urethane mixture which gives superior thermal and stress relief and excellent impact resistance. After you have selected the best product you must determine an adequate thickness, which goes from from a light layer to a thick topping. Additionally it is important to settle on whether or not you prefer the floor to be decorative and if you want a glossy or textured finish.

While calculating your budget you should be concerned that often cheaper treatments do not provide the type of safeguard you really require and might end up being more expensive in the long run. Care for your concrete and it can provide you many years of enjoyment.

The category of residential concrete will concern many different things. The following links will direct you to additional sites which should be a great source of information. The following link will lead you to information pertaining to basement waterproofing. Do you want to find out about garage foundation repair? Then eFoundation Repair should be able to help.

Water heaters
Without hot water a house is not a home, and if you are in the market to obtain one you will find plenty of options from which to select. Traditional hot water heaters hold hot water in a 20 to 120 gallon tank system which sustains the water at the same heat consistently until the water runs out and the tank refills. The disadvantages to tank hot water heaters are that they usually cost more than tankless options since you need to keep the water hot all the time, and when the tank runs out you have no hot water until the tank re-fills and re-heats. Modern residential hot water systems are frequently tankless, a more reliable and economical heating application than old-fashioned tank heaters. Before you pick between a tank heater system or the tankless model, you will have to decide on either an electric powered model or a gas powered one. A gas heater makes sense if you already have a natural gas line that goes into your house, but keep in mind the need to adequately vent most gas powered appliances. Electric powered residential heaters are cheaper and more safe than gas models, but if you deal with frequent power outages you might lean toward propane or natural gas. If you develop any sort of problem with your hot water heater call an expert to inspect it, and always consult the instruction manual supplied by the manufacturer.

Saving energy with a tankless water heater
For a cleaner environment and lower fuel bills many homeowners are improving their home heating systems with electric tankless water heaters. The water in a tankless system must run a little while until it heats up, but when you shut it off it stops running up the energy costs. With a tankless heater there is a heating element which is activated when the tap is turned on, and turns off when the faucet is shut off, allowing you to access to hot water for as long as you want it. Tankless water heaters maintain a constant water temperature without the fluctuations you frequently suffer through with tank heaters. Once you empty the tank you will not have hot water until it reheats. Prior to replacing your old gas powered water heater with an electric tankless heater make sure you have the necessary amperage and voltage. When you consider the overall picture, you will probably be better off hiring a professional to install a new home heating system, for safety concerns if nothing else.

Bathroom faucets
The size and number of the holes in the sink or vanity must specify which basic type of faucet you put in, single piece or split set. When your faucet merges the hot and cold outlets then it is a single piece faucet, whereas if the hot and cold water are kept separate it is a split set faucet. There is a big difference between installing faucets in a new sink, which should be completed quickly before the sink is mounted, and having to get beneath an old sink which will be the only way to access the plumbing. The most easily maintained faucets are made of polished chrome, which is beautiful to look at, cleans up using soapy water, and won’t show so much as a scratch. If you have a leaky faucet it can bother the heck out of you, but they can be easy to fix once you determine the kind of valve the faucet has. Ball, cartridge, compression and disc valves are the most frequent kinds of household faucet valves restricting the flow of water. Once you have ascertained the kind of valve your faucet has, look for that old instruction manual for faucet installation before you head over to the hardware store for parts. The biggest faucet in your home is in all likelihood the one in your shower and tub, and you will need those faucets to be equipped with pressure-balance valves to prevent dangerous fluctuations in water temperture, which could lead to scalding or even thermal shock.

With the Internet there are quite a few other sites which handle home plumbing topics. If, for example, you have an interest in tankless water heaters, then About Tankless Water Heaters will have a lot of useful tips. An additional website is Kitchen Faucet Review which will provide information for kitchen faucet designs. And one might need to read more about discount kitchen sinks. When this is the case, Outland Kitchen Sinks will have a lot of pertinent information.

Styrofoam crown molding
When you want the elegant look of wood in your home, but without the costs of real wood, install Styrofoam crown molding. Styrofoam crown molding seems to be so much like genuine wood no one will be able to tell the difference, and since it is lightweight, it’s a snap to install with no need for special tools. Styrofoam molding ordinarily uses peel-and-stick adherents for an easy installation, and homeowners discover that a few common household objects are all that is required to complete the job. When you install Styrofoam molding, first count the number of corners you are dealing with, then measure wall lengths accurately. With your calculations and measurements completed, you are prepared to attach the outside and inside corner molding, then attach the rest of the wall pieces. It is important to abide by the manufacturer’s instruction manual to the letter, and pay special attention to the position of the molding as the adhesive dries to make sure it stays on straight as it dries. Styrofoam molding is available in lots of styles, and all of them require latex paint only. Always stay away from oil-based paint since it can damage the molding. Once you have installed the Styrofoam crown molding and adequately painted it you will understand the difference it makes in the elegance and beauty of your home.

Crown molding: foam vs. wood
Crown molding, which is put up where the wall intersects with the ceiling, gives any room an elegant look and feeling. With a full variety of styles that you can choose from, you can harmonize crown molding with any interior decor scheme. Molding made of real wood is costly, but think foam molding if you like the look of real wood without the expense of money and time. Moldings made of foam are lightweight and a snap to install but real wood is heavier and requires a lot more skill, time and money. Using peel and stick adhesives, foam crown moldings can be installed by anyone, whereas real wood is hard for one person to deal with. You can also match the texture of your foam molding strips with the texture of the ceiling and walls, as long as you are applying latex coating and not oil based coatings. Real wood is what certain insects call dinner but foam crown molding resists termites and other pests as well as any sort of rotting or decay.

On the Internet there are quite a few other sites that deal with home improvement projects topics. If, for example, you are interested in a metal roof, then Choose Metal Roofing will have plenty of helpful tips.