The versatility of fast-growing bamboo plants is just amazing. As a truly renewable resource, this woody substance is considered eco-friendly. Building materials made from high quality bamboo are strong and weather resistant. Entire homes have been built in some parts of the world using nothing but bamboo. Given these facts, it’s not surprising to hear that there is such a thing as bamboo siding. In modern construction, it is rare to see a whole home veneered with bamboo siding. More often, it is used for decorative purposes to accent [...] Continue Reading…

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 [...] Continue Reading…

Wooden gutters are relatively rare. These days, they are a specialty item that can add a great deal of value to a home. They tend to be very strong and sturdy as well as being attractive. Wood gutters are almost exclusively found on older houses – especially those designed in the Victorian style. Depending on consistency of maintenance and the type of wood they are made from, these gutters can last up to 100 years.
The main reason to install wooden gutters as opposed to other types is to improve [...] Continue Reading…

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 [...] Continue Reading…

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 [...] Continue Reading…

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 [...] Continue Reading…

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 [...] Continue Reading…

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 [...] Continue Reading…

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 [...] Continue Reading…

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 [...] Continue Reading…

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. [...] Continue Reading…

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 [...] Continue Reading…