The existing look and feel of ceiling textures in your bathrooms was probably determined at the time your house was built. Different builders tend to create their own unique patterns based on their preferred technique. The end result depends on what kind of trowel is used to spread the “mud” and exactly how it is applied. Some contractors use a spray gun for quick applications such as a popcorn style ceiling. Others create a combed look by swirling motions with a special comb style trowel. Textures can also be “painted” on to the ceiling with a roller.

When you are doing repairs, you want to try to match the texture that is already present. However, it may be simpler to start over. If you are removing an old ceiling texture to make way for a new look, be aware that popcorn coatings installed before the early 1980’s sometimes contained asbestos. A licensed professional may be needed to remove this material for safety reasons.

Tips for Ceiling Refinishing

Bathrooms are humid environments. The drywall joint compounds and mud that you use to create the ceiling and wall textures should have some sort of fungicide mixed in to prevent the growth of mold and mildew. Also, the paint covering the ceilings should be safe for use in wet areas. This is especially true near any shower. A semi-gloss paint is usually a good choice.

Mud comes premixed and should be very wet when purchased so that it can be easily manipulated. If you must add water, make sure you know exactly what you are doing. Any inconsistency will cause cracks during the drying phase. Work fast and spread the material thin. This will help ensure a consistent layer over the entire drywall

Are you planning to replace the faucets in your bathrooms? Consider installing new drains as well. Matching the style and material of the drain to the faucet is a design detail that is often overlooked. Sometimes replacing a drain seems to be more trouble than it’s worth. That may be the case when the old drain flange or cover is corroded or damaged – making it difficult to remove with a wrench.

In such cases, you may be tempted to simply buy a plug or stopper to fit over the drain instead of replacing it altogether. This cheap fix costs only a couple of dollars and is a viable short term solution. However, with an “inside out” wrench you can usually remove any stuck parts easily making this home improvement project simpler than it first appeared. Then, a new flange and drain cover can be installed without much risk of damaging the threads on the existing drainage pipes.

If you are installing a basin or a tub, a new drain is a must. It is just a whole lot easier to work with all new parts including drain pipes, traps, and tail piece rather than trying to make the old components fit together with the new. If the drain in question is in the bath or shower, you must find a way to gain access to the pipes behind the tub. Most homes built in the last 30 years have an access panel hidden in a closet, hallway, or garage (some place that is not noticed very often). If your home doesn’t have one, it best to find a way to build an access panel so that maintenance in the future will be a whole lot easier.

Glass blocks are an ideal medium to create custom shaped, semi-private windows, room dividers, and walls (especially in bathrooms). A series of prefabricated glass blocks in the form of a panel can be used to replace any traditional window. Used as building blocks, these glass cubes add a nice finishing touch to modern construction. In fact, they are much more versatile than many other types of building materials.

Glass blocks refract light and obscure the view – creating plenty of privacy. At the same time, up to 80% of all light freely passes through them. This vastly reduces need for additional interior lighting during the day. They also maintain much greater security than plate glass windows.

Glass blocks are tough. They are water proof and will not easily break, chip or scratch. If damage does occur, an individual block can be readily replaced instead of the entire window. This is true even for individual blocks pre-cast in a panel. They are mortared together with a latex and acrylic mix that creates a superior water resistant seal and protects against thermal shock.

Many shapes and sizes of blocks are available. Modern styles include beveled edges that allow the construction of curved surfaces. They are available in a vast array of colors and designs. This creates an opportunity for introducing inventive architectural concepts in your bathroom.

Sunrooms need windows that serve two purposes. These windows should open and close easily so you can ventilate the room and keep your energy costs for heating/cooling manageable. They should also make it difficult for an intruder to get inside. This is especially important for an attached sunroom that opens into the main section of the house. With any glass walled room that isn’t regularly shielded with privacy blinds or curtains, burglars have the opportunity to see valuable items on display. They need to have a reason to believe entering will be difficult or dangerous.

Windows that are secure and difficult to break can help deter a potential burglar from making an entry attempt. All windows in the sunroom should have appropriate contacts to set off an alarm if someone tries to open them from the outside. Placing alarm monitoring company labels in highly visible spots can also be a deterrent. Installing security window with safety locks may create additional barriers to entry.

Large casement and awning windows used for sunrooms tend to be some of the most secure on the market today for a couple of reasons. Generally, they won’t open wide enough to let an adult through. The crank used to open and close casement and awning windows can act as a security device by significantly slowing a burglar down. As long as the window is in good working condition, it is next to impossible to disengage the mechanism from the outside – and it is difficult to break.

Sometimes refurbishing existing kitchen cabinets can be difficult or not worth the time and expense. This is generally the case when mold or water has caused the materials to warp or rot resulting in pervasive structural damage to the body of the cabinets. However, when you can reuse your existing cabinets, refurbishing is a very cost effective way to give them a new look. The first step is to evaluate each cabinet’s condition and functionality.

What parts need to be repaired? It may be a very simple task to fix interior shelving or replace missing screws. If damage is limited to one panel or a single drawer, it may be possible to repair the problem area with some DIY carpentry work.

How is it possible to make cabinets in kitchens look new – even if they are not? As surfaces age they often accumulate scratches, dents, and other roughed up spots. Depending on the scope of the defects, it may be a simple procedure to sand or fill them in with a little wood putty before applying a new finish.

For cabinets made of composite materials, adding a new laminate facing can cover up a multitude of surface problems. Solid wood cabinets can be sanded down (or treated with a stain stripping product) and then brightened up with a fresh coat of stain and sealant. For cabinets that have already been painted in the past, introducing a new color theme with an application of medium gloss paint is a good option.

Believe it or not, hardwood floors are a viable option for many bathrooms. You’ve heard the old mantra that “water and wood don’t mix”. Many people shy away from having wood flooring in their bathrooms because of fears about water damage and/or mold growth. Yet, today’s polyurethane finishes make wood products particularly moisture resistant.

Plasticizers, synthetic resins, and film-forming transparent sealers create very effective protective barriers. These modern surfacing products expand and contract along with the underlying wood. So, the watertight seals they create remain intact. Modern hardwood floors can withstand most humid environments with the exception of the most saturated conditions. This means that the occasional splash of water and the average humidity found in most bathrooms don’t necessarily pose an insurmountable problem.

It’s a good idea to make sure that you actually install a hardwood. Softer woods such as pine are much more susceptible to water absorption and should be avoided. Some of the best hardwood floors for a bathroom are made from maple, oak, walnut, cherry, ash or hickory. These tend to not absorb much moisture in the air even without sealers. Once you install hardwood floors in your bathroom, add one or more decorative bathmats to prevent significant amounts of water pooling on the floor. If water does come in contact with the wood, simply wipe it off with a dry towel.

Technically it’s not a good idea to paint vinyl siding. However, if you move into a house and the one thing you can’t stand is the color of the vinyl (and you can’t afford new siding) you might choose to paint it anyway. Once painted, vinyl siding is no longer maintenance free. It may need repainting in about ten years. Ordinary exterior paint simply won’t work for this job. An exterior latex paint that has a mixture of urethane and acrylic resins is a better option. These special paints were recently developed specifically to adhere to vinyl siding.

Vinyl tends to expand and contract a great deal over a range of temperatures. Alternating periods of sunlight and darkness quickly cause the bond between regular paint and the surface of the vinyl to fail. A successful coat of paint must tolerate these changes without peeling or cracking. One additional way to minimize this problem is to use a shade of paint that is as light as or slightly lighter than the existing vinyl. In other words, try to match the degree of darkness of the color as closely as possible (even when using an entirely new color scheme).

Prep and Paint Tips

The best paint bonds are created on a clean and dry surface. Use a sponge and soapy water to physically wipe away any dirt and residue from the vinyl. Do not use a pressure washer. These washers will soak the area behind the vinyl and cause problems later. They also do not remove dirt as well as advertised. There simply is no substitute for a little bit of hard work in preparing the surface by hand.

Bleach based on oxygen release (such as Oxy-Boost) can be used to get rid of mold or mildew on any existing surface to be painted. This shouldn’t hurt the siding or any surrounding vegetation. Do not use chlorine based bleach. Let the surface dry completely before painting. Apply two coats for best results.

There are many types of roofing tiles that are manufactured to resemble other (usually more expensive) materials. For example stamped metal may be used to make faux terracotta or clay tiles. This material is sometimes preferred because it is much lighter than clay. This means the underlying roof structure does not require additional reinforcement to support the weight of the tiles. Metal also does not require quite as much care in handling as clay products do.

Composite roofing slate is an example of what some people call semi-fake roof tiles. Powdered slate can be mixed with polypropylene (plastic) to form a composite blend. With a 60-40% ratio mix, it can be molded into almost any desired shape of shingle. The mixture tends to be color stable and usually no further additives are needed.

As with metal, the advantage of plastic-based composites is that they are much lighter than real slate roofing tiles. Quality throughout the composite slate tends to be very consistent from one tile to the next – a feature not found in all-natural stone material. These semi-fake roof tiles are fire resistant just like slate and have the added bonus of being 100% recyclable.

Not all imitation tiles are considered “fake”. Concrete tiles can be made to look like most other roofing materials and are quite durable. In fact, these represent an entirely different category of roofing product. You don’t get the weight advantage provided by other imitation tile or shingle products, but you do get premium performance. Some concrete tiles have lasted for more than a hundred years.

Despite the fact that the era of the McMansion is drawing to a close, homeowners still want spacious luxury and convenience built into their master bathrooms. This can sometimes be accomplished by integrating certain traditional elements of the bathroom into the master bedroom. Creating the illusion of space is all about making intelligent use of what you have available. You might consider remodeling this area of the house to include a layout that blurs the distinction between the bathroom and the bedroom.

A pedestal sink can be installed in the open space of the bedroom in a style reminiscent of an old fashioned wash basin. Separating the different spaces within the bathroom can also increase the efficient use of space. For example, locating the commode inside a separate water closet (with its own door or screen for privacy) allows one person to use the toilet while someone else is showering.

Some people want their entire vanity and sink placed conveniently near their walk-in closet, dresser, or perhaps near their bed. Others prefer their walk-in closet to be an extension of the actual bathroom because that’s where they tend to get dressed after a morning shower. The point is that you don’t have to group all the features associated with “bathroom” together. You can change things around so that their placement is more convenient for your daily hygiene habits.

As remodeling goes, a complete kitchen overhaul is one of the more expensive projects you can choose. New floors, countertops, appliances, cabinets and island workspaces can quickly add up to tens of thousands of dollars. If your kitchen is in pretty decent condition but you just want a fresh look, there’s no need to replace expensive items that are still functional. The following three changes can transform the look of your kitchen for a few hundred dollars.

Paint – Painting kitchens is relatively easy and makes a great weekend project – especially for couples. The basic supplies for this project include a gallon of Kilz and a gallon of high quality semi-gloss paint in the color of your choice. Add a couple of pints in complimentary colors for the trim or accents and you can create even more visual interest. With rollers, brushes, drop cloths, tape, and a few other supplies, you can generally paint an average sized kitchen for under $200. For a less time-consuming makeover, restrict the paint job to the walls and ceiling. For an entirely new look, repaint your cabinets as well.

New Hardware – Little details often make a huge difference. Changing the handles on your cabinets and kitchen drawers does exactly that. There are plenty of drawer pull and handle options available in the $3 range that can make your kitchen look sleek and modern, ornate, or rustic. For about $50 dollars and 20 minutes of work, you can make it look like you replaced an entire set of kitchen cabinets. Just be sure to take one of your existing handles to the hardware store with you to match the distance of the holes.

New Lighting – Buy a new fixture or replace the existing bulbs with completely different ones. You can find energy efficient bulbs that give off light in tints from white to yellow to slightly blue. The colors of your kitchen will look different depending on which type of lighting you choose. Even just increasing the amount of light available can change the entire feel of the room. Under-cabinet lighting and task lighting can brighten up worksurfaces and make your kitchen more pleasant to work in.

When homeowners start looking for ways to upgrade their kitchens, replacing an electric stove with a natural gas unit is a fairly common choice. However, this can be challenging even when you already have gas connected to your home.

Before converting your stove area to handle a model that uses gas, make sure everything will fit in the space properly and will operate without interference from any other appliance. Movement of doors and handles change the dynamics of the space requirements and not all gas units have the same standard dimensions as electric stoves.

The electrical outlet must match the one used by your new stove. A gas connection with adequate pressure is also required. If the proper valves and outlets are already in place, the person delivering the new gas stove will make the final connections for you.

What If Your Gas Lines Don’t Reach the Kitchen?

Gas lines may need to be extended into the stove top area so that the device will operate. If you are lucky, this connection outlet might already exist; but this is unlikely when all previous stoves installed in the kitchen over the years have been electric.

Make sure that you turn off the gas supply completely before making any changes to existing lines. You need to be sure that the gas valve used to connect with the stove is the exact one necessary for the appliance you bought. It’s best to hire a contractor when gas conduits need to be reworked or extended. A mistake in handling gas lines can result in leaking or an explosion.

What About the Electrical Outlet?

Electric stoves generally require 220v instead of 110v needed for gas stoves. There are a couple of possible workarounds for this problem. If a normal 110v outlet exists nearby, it might be possible to plug the gas stove into it instead. Then, you can leave the 220v outlet in place and simply not use it.

The other is to create the 110v outlet that is separate from the 220v outlet. Or, you may need to actually convert the 220v outlet to 110v. A lot of electrical experience is necessary to handle such a job. Like making changes to your gas lines, this step is not recommended as a do-it-yourself project. Get a qualified electrician to do it for you and make sure it’s done correctly.

A little knowledge will help you identify the common warning signs of a roofing scam. Here are some basic ways to protect yourself:

• Be wary of any company that contacts you out of the blue.
• Follow up on any references and check with the Better Business Bureau for any complaints.
• Get a least 3 competing estimates and don’t always take the lowest bid.
• Ask contractors to justify their bids listing what work/materials it includes. This will allow you to make valid comparisons between any estimates.

Here are descriptions of common roofing scams and how they work:

Elevator Ride – You take the lowest bid from competing quotes for necessary roof repair. As the agreed work is done, additional problems magically appear. The contractor won’t get started on the additional work until he is paid for work already done. This cycle repeats several times until the cost of the entire repair is more than the estimate from the highest original bidder.

Free Inspection – In a door to door operation, representatives canvass the neighborhood near where there has been a tornado, high wind, or hail damage. Since work crews are already in the area, they claim to offer free inspections and special deals on repair for any roofing problem they find. These guys prey on the elderly and the handicapped because such customers cannot personally verify any damage on the roof. The scammers draw up contracts for unnecessary repair work.

Insurance Scam – The contractor convinces the homeowner that they can claim more damage than actually occurred. He will write up an estimate for insurance reimbursement. The problem is that insurance investigators look for exactly this kind of fraud. It’s too easy to get caught as a willing participant. The illegality will also tend to silence the owner against any other problem associated with the contractor. He cheats the customer and blames the homeowner if any fraud is discovered.

Take the Money and Run – These guys will ask for full compensation upfront and take shortcuts with inferior material or never do the job at all. Sometimes they will ask the customer to sign over their insurance check for the damages and then disappear.