Shady Contractor

Hiring a contractor is a major decision, and not one to be taken lightly. For most of us our home is our biggest single asset, and it is important to protect that home by checking out any potential contractor carefully. It is essential for any homeowner to ask plenty of questions before hiring a contractor, and it is important to follow up with the local licensing authorities to make sure that the contractor you are considering has passed muster with those authorities.

Before you hire a contractor for your home be sure you understand, and watch out for, the top 10 ways shady contractors could rip you off.

1. Failing to have the proper licenses for the parts of the country where they operate. The rules vary, but many states and localities require that all general contractors be licensed in the states where they operate. Some contractors try to cut corners and unfairly boost their profits by failing to obtain these required licenses.
2. Charging for materials that were never delivered. Most homeowners would not know how much wood it takes to build a deck or add a room, so some unscrupulous contractors may try to charge for materials that were never used. It is important for those homeowners to get lists of all materials that were used during the job, and to ensure that the amount of material used makes sense.
3. Charging for higher quality materials than what was actually used. Sometimes a shady contractor may charge for granite counter tops while installing a poor quality substitute, or substitute inferior materials in other ways. It is important for homeowners to examine the materials thoroughly and question anything that appears to be of inferior quality.
4. Working with unqualified or unlicensed subcontractors. Hiring a great general contractor does not guarantee great results. That is because some contractors may subcontract out parts of the job, and the quality of those subcontractors can vary widely. When hiring a contractor be sure to ask whether or not subcontractors will be used.
5. Not disclosing subcontracted work. The best way to determine if subcontractors will be used is to ask, but not every homeowner will know enough to ask this vital question. While in a perfect world every contractor would disclose any subcontracted work when preparing the estimate, this is rarely the case.
6. Failing to get the proper permits. In a perfect world contractors would make sure that all necessary permits were in place before they got started, but that is not necessarily the case. Some shady operators will try to cut corners by failing to pay for permits, and that could leave the homeowner holding the bag. It is therefore important for homeowners to follow up with their local township offices to make sure that all needed permits have been filed. Failure to file permits can be a sign of trouble to come, so if such an oversight is uncovered it may be time to look for another contractor.
7. Failing to stand by their estimates. Getting an estimate is essential, but some shady contractors will provide a lowball estimate and try to make it up once the job has been awarded. It is important to check back frequently while the work is being done to get a good idea of how the work is progressing and how well the estimate is holding up.
8. Failing to carry proper insurance. All contractors should have proper insurance in place, but some shady operators may try to save money by carrying less insurance than they need – or forgoing insurance altogether. It is important for homeowners to make sure that the contractor they hire has sufficient insurance coverage in place.
9. Not staying until the job has been completed. We have all heard about those fly by night operators who take a deposit and disappear in the middle of the night. This is an all too common practice, and one that homeowners have to be aware of.
10. Demanding payment in full before the job is done. While a reasonable up front payment for materials and supplies is definitely in order, demanding payment in full before the work is finished can be a real sign of trouble. If your contractor is demanding payment up front you may need to look for a new contractor.

If you love the old fashioned look of Italian interior design, you may want to add this motif to your home. Kitchens are an ideal location for this style of décor. Tuscan texture for the kitchen or dining area is a characteristic wall finish that cannot be replicated using wallpaper. There are two methods you can use to create this effect. Both require a bit of artistic flair to pull off properly.

Simulated Mudding

Apply a much thicker layer of mud or joint compound (tapping mud) than normal over the sheetrock. This forms rough and random angular patterns over the entire wall surface. Randomness is the key to success.

Don’t worry about any so called mistakes as you apply the mud on the wall with a trowel. Any imperfection actually adds beauty to the surface. Try to create some sort of balance and consistency over the entire wall’s surface, but don’t get too detailed. Just slap it on.

Apply a light colored latex paint over the mud with a rectangular roller. Don’t press down too hard. Let the paint roller go where it wants to. Don’t work the paint into all the crevices created by the mud. Let it dry.

Use a lint free rag to apply a heavy layer of oil based stain over the wall. Then use a second lint free rag to wipe off the excess.

Faux Color Painting

Faux paint techniques create a similar visual effect over an initially smooth sheetrock surface. Sand the wall surface completely smooth. Use a W pattern to apply a base color of latex paint. Let it dry and do a second layer with the same base.

Highlight the wall with a mixture of a small amount of white gloss paint and a dark colored latex paint (in the same color family as the base paint). This combination creates a textured appearance similar to the mud. Do not cover the original coat completely; let some of the base paint show through.

Another dark color of paint can be used to create an additional layer of highlights over this surface. Load only the tip of the brush and wipe off any excess before applying the paint.

Use a damp rag to lightly lift up the paint in a tapping kind of motion. This creates additional texture. You can leave this step out or do additional one of wiping off the paint with a different rag. It’s your choice. Success depends on drying times and how fast you work.

Modifying the bathrooms in your house to make them more accessible is actually a smart idea even if you don’t currently have someone with a disability in your family. It’s wise to keep in mind that each one of us is only temporarily able-bodied. If you love your home and plan to “age in place” or if you anticipate bringing an elderly parent into your household at some point, it’s a good idea to make modifications now. This will be an additional benefit if you or a family member experiences an unexpected injury or illness. Here are the top factors to take into consideration when planning this type of home improvement project.

Wider Door

Many architects and contractors fail to realize the problems associated with a 24” bathroom door for elderly and disabled home owners. That’s the standard residential size and is entirely too small for a wheelchair to get through. While some bathroom doors are a bit larger, they are rarely the 32” minimum needed for access. If there is a corner that must be navigated, then a minimum of 36” of clearance width is required. A project like widening a bathroom door takes two people with moderate carpentry and drywall skills about 8 hours to finish.

Bathtub & Toilet

High tub walls can make it extremely hazardous for someone struggling to get in or out. The slightest amount of moisture can create slick surfaces that increase the risk of falling. Both showers and tubs can be difficult to maneuver without hand holds. Consider installing grab bars in these areas to increase safety for all users. Also, consider adding a seat option in the shower or choosing a walk in tub with a door that eliminates the need to step in and out over the side. Grab bars near the toilet can make it easier for a person in a wheelchair to transfer to and from the seat. Most of these items can be readily installed by anyone with the proper tools and a good set of instructions.

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

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.

Lightning rods are most commonly installed on the roofing of high rise buildings and houses located on hill tops. These structures are most vulnerable to million volt bolts. Lightning strikes on low houses are rare enough that most homeowners don’t worry much about them. However, when a lightning bolt does connect with an unprotected house it can destroy all the electrical systems present. Phone lines and metal plumbing are potential conduits for electricity from the lightning strike to cause injury to people inside the home.

It’s good to know that most home owner’s insurance will cover damage from a lightning strike. The insurance carrier will investigate the legitimacy of the claim by tracking the weather and checking satellite lightning strike data. However, it will take time to repair extensive damage. Preventing this inconvenience and protecting expensive electronics may be worth the expense of installing a lightning protection system. This is especially true for luxury homes that are several stories tall.

A lightning protection system generally has 5 parts:

1. A series of Air Terminals (the actual lightning rods) installed along the highest points of the roof
2. A braided conducting cable that connects the rods with the grounding elements
3. Ground rods or plates to redirect the electricity into the earth away from the home
4. High grade metallic bonds to the keep parts together during the surge
5. Surge arrestors to protect the home from indirect strikes on nearby electrical lines

Lighting protection systems add stress to the roofing system. Care must be taken to ensure that leaks do not occur from mounting the rods and cable. Extra flashing may be needed to ensure a proper seal around the various components.

As with any major remodeling project, a bathroom makeover can go very wrong. This is especially true if you decide to handle the job yourself instead of finding a qualified, reputable contractor. Here are a few mistakes that you can avoid if you do the proper planning:

Overcrowding

Most bathrooms aren’t very spacious – even in larger homes. This means you need to check your layout carefully before making any changes to the interior. Putting in a new sink and then finding that you can no longer open the door all the way is a real problem. When possible, choose minimalist fixtures and space-saving storage options. Measure everything in the bathroom at least twice before you start installing anything new.

Making Repairs Difficult

When it comes to plumbing, there’s no telling when disaster will strike. If you resurface your bathroom walls and floors, make sure you aren’t inadvertently creating a barrier that must be ripped out for a plumber to fix a simple issue such as a leak.

Wrong Sink/Faucet Combo

You want holes in your sink for the faucet/handles. Just make sure the spacing and number of openings in your new sink match up with the faucet you have selected or vice versa. Otherwise, you will be in for an unpleasant surprise when you go to put everything together.

Fumes and Moisture

A bathroom is a tight space to work in and often isn’t well ventilated. This is a problem during remodeling because fumes from paint, epoxy, and other materials can accumulate and make you sick. Also, after the work is done moisture will build up in the room and create a mildew problem. Use a pedestal or box fan to ventilate while work is being done and install a ceiling vent if there isn’t one already in the bathroom.

If you own a two story home and are generous enough to allow a relative to move in to a spare upstairs room, have you considered making it a real suite? There’s already a bedroom and a bathroom, a second bedroom can be readily converted into a study or living room. All that’s really missing is a kitchen. A microwave isn’t a substitute for a real place to cook. So, you might consider having an area rewired to handle a few real kitchen appliances.

You don’t have to go overboard with all the bells and whistles. A sink is fine for a single person. There isn’t a real need for an upstairs dishwasher. Look for small appliances – like those designed for a one bedroom apartment. A cooktop may be all your guest needs, but there are ovens that have a fairly small footprint that might work too. Refrigerators that come in compacts sizes from 4-5 cubic feet are perfect for upstairs kitchens.

Extra Tips:

• If you locate the kitchen along a wall that adjoins a bathroom, it may be easier to get the plumbing done for the sink.
• If you install a range with a stovetop fan, it needs to be vented into the attic to prevent moisture from building up indoors.
• Choose non-slip tile for your upstairs kitchen – especially if you have an aging parent living in the second floor suite.

If you have a small leak in your gutters, it is possible to patch just the affected area. However, where there is one hole more will probably develop over time – especially if your gutters are fairly old. This means it may save you time and trouble to proactively stop leaks. You can do this by installing a liner along the entire width of the gutter.

This material may consist of a geosynthetic membrane or aluminum fixed in a self adhesive matrix. Either type of material can generally be cut to the desired width with scissors or a utility knife. The liner is slipped into place just under the hangers along the entire length of the trough for full coverage. Using a single, uninterrupted piece of liner reduces the risk of leaking since there will be no overlapped areas.

A gutter liner kit will generally come with a caulk gun and adhesive for putting the gutter back together and sealing all the seams (such as around the downspouts). Aluminum faced liners can be painted, but since they are hidden inside the gutter this is not absolutely necessary.

DIY Or Hire It Out

This is a project that you can do yourself if you don’t mind working on a ladder. Whether you actually need to remove the gutter from the house depends on the type of liner used. It is possible to hire a gutter company to do this job. The labor costs will make the job more expensive than it would be otherwise, but it is still much cheaper than having new gutters installed.

Some liner manufacturers claim that their products can extend the life of a gutter system by 10 years. However, if your gutters have large holes caused by corrosion or serious damage from a storm, a liner isn’t the appropriate solution.

Shaker style kitchens are a popular design option for people who love rustic surroundings but want something simpler than a “Country” or “Southwestern” motif. If you are remodeling your kitchen and want an old-fashioned look with clean lines, this may be the right choice for you. Here are some of the features you can expect to see in a kitchen built on the Shaker model.

Straight Edges

A Shaker cabinet usually has a light to mid-toned finish (think maple, cherry, or white oak). The door panels may feature a recessed center surrounded by a rectangular frame of wood slats. There are no fancy curves anywhere in the wooden design of these cabinets. Everything is focused on function and sturdy serviceability.

Smooth Surfaces

Stone countertops make an excellent pairing with the plain wood of a Shaker inspired kitchen. Pull knobs, handles, and faucets in a matte finish (like brushed nickel or stainless steel) also work well. The flooring should be wood for a fully authentic look, but a muted stone or tile floor is also suitable.

Natural Accents

Any modern appliances should be tucked away out of sight so that the beauty found in the quality craftsmanship will be more apparent. Natural lighting works best with this kitchen style, so a discrete tubular skylight might be a perfect fit here for daytime use. Light fixtures can be selected in metal finishes that match the hardware on the cabinets to make it blend with the rest of the room.

In the near future, imagine windows that not only provide a clear view and illuminate rooms, but also use sunlight to efficiently help power the building (or home) they are part of.  MIT engineers are working on a new way to harness the sun’s energy that could allow just that.

This involves the creation of a novel “solar concentrator.” “Light is collected over a large area [like a window] and gathered, or concentrated, at the edges,”

As a result, rather than covering a roof with expensive solar cells (the semiconductor devices that transform sunlight into electricity), the cells only need to be around the edges of a flat glass panel. In addition, the focused light increases the electrical power obtained from each solar cell “by a factor of over 40,”

The system is simple to manufacture, the MIT team believes that it could be implemented within three years even added onto existing solar-panel systems to increase their efficiency by 50 percent for minimal additional cost. This would substantially reduce the cost of solar electricity.

For now this can be quite expensive, but for the long term of your home it is a big investment making your home energy efficient.  Combine this solar power tech with the current insulated windows, you can’t go wrong!

Homeowners frequently select vinyl window replacements because they do not require painting and they are easy to maintain. The better quality the window is made out of the higher the price for the windows. Some vinyl replacement windows are actually wood windows with vinyl cladding (the exterior of the window is coated in vinyl). Homeowners like these ones because you get the natural wood look on the inside, and the low maintenance features on the outside.

Wood replacement windows are also still very popular. They are much more affordable and the homeowners like the natural wood look. The downside of wood windows is do require you to maintain them and paint them. Also, over time the window sill splits.

Metal/Steel window replacements are also another good alternative. The only downside of these windows is that they can be dented resulting in permanent damage.