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Basement Remodeling

What Is the Most Popular Stair Tread? – Home Remodeling

If we were to go through history and find out which one of the stair stepping was used the most, we would probably end up with some type of a stone or rock, but we don’t have access to that kind of information. We’re going to base our finding of the most popular stair tread, off of the current trends.
It’s not hard to find this particular tread, because it’s an almost every house, and throughout the United States. If you haven’t figured it out, we’re talking about Oak and particularly Red Oak stair stepping. Now, I haven’t done a survey and you can’t hold me to it, but everywhere I look, I find stair steps and entire stairways that are made out of this particular building material.
I’ve been working on my stair building website for quite some time and have spent thousands of hours, creating all of the necessary parts, for it. During this time, I’ve been taking notes and making observations about what stair parts are popular among homeowners and which aren’t.
If you’re planning on building a stairway and you’re interested in a good solid wood stair step for, you have two choices. You can find a nice Oak stair steps or purchase any other stair step, made out of wood. Oak is obviously the most popular, even though there are plenty of stairways that use other types of wood.
One more note, make sure that you base your stair idea purchases on what you really want and not what everyone else has.

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Basement Remodeling

Do It Yourself – How to Install a New Toilet

So you’re ready to tackle your first bathroom do it yourself project. The toilet is an easy project that can be done within a few hours on any given Saturday. We’ll walk you through step by step and help you avoid any pitfalls along the way. So sit back and relax because this is going to be a breeze.
The first thing that will need to be done to install a new toilet is to turn the water off to the toilet itself. This can be done by looking behind the toilet and finding to water shutoff knob, turn this counterclockwise until water shuts off. Next, you will want to flush the toilet to drain the remaining water.
Now that the water is off, lift the plastic screw covers from each side of toilet (these just pop up), unscrew the bolts on each side. Now you are ready to lift the old toilet out of position, remove the wax ring underneath toilet. Now that the old toilet is out of the way you will need to install a NEW wax ring.
Then place new toilet onto mounting screw holes, screw on the nuts to the mounting screws, tighten securely. Then you will need to re-install the water to the toilet tank, once this is done the water can then be turned back on and check for leaks. If there are no leaks, you are done. It’s that easy! You’ll be glad that you saved yourself the extra cash by doing it yourself!

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Basement Remodeling

Home Remodeling Services Made My Wife Happy

People remodel their houses for various reasons. Some of them remodel their houses because they want to have a change of style, to improve something and at times raise its value. If you think about it, changing things for the better is always a good thing.
Remodeling your house will certainly give it a brand new feel and can in fact make it look more attractive. Since everyone wants to leave comfortably, you should find the right Home Remodeling Services that is available in your area. To make this happen, you need to start planning.
These are the things that you have to consider before you look for people to remodel your house for you.
1. What do you want to change?
2. Will it be for the better?
3. How much will it cost?
Finding good remodeling services can be hard at times and you need to be very picky when choosing your candidates. If you want the best, you must look only for the best. Good services require good money and experience is something that you will need in this kind of work. Hiring amateurs may only lead to frustration and will be a waste of time, money and effort.
Experts in this profession can sometimes make changes that exceed their client’s expectations. That is why getting the right Home Remodeling Services is important and you should carefully understand the risks involved.
Projects like these demand a lot of resources which includes money. Even if the price of labor is fixed and is written in a contract, the price of materials and other equipment that is needed to get the job done may fluctuate every now and then. Make sure that you have “more than enough” capital to finish the task at hand. Sometimes, expenses can exceed more than the contractor’s estimate and you should be prepared when this happens.
Home Remodeling Services can vary from company to company. Most of the time, the number of workers that comprises their team will depend on what kind of remodeling you have in mind. It is best to communicate with them and ask them their opinion on the matter as well.
If you like surprises then that could be a good and bad thing. If you will tell your contractor to “Surprise You” with their results, then you should also be prepared for the consequences. People have different tastes and preference. A contractor’s taste might be different from what the client has in mind and it can cause problems if their preference doesn’t match. To make things simple, it is best to tell them what you want and ask them if it can be done.
You should also consider the problems that might arise in the project. You need to get the proper contract and permits to be able to start the project. Getting Home remodeling services can be the first step in making your dreams come true.

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Basement Remodeling

Home Remodeling Trends for 2011

Another year is over and once again we all made that list of New Year’s resolutions that we always swear this year we really will keep. If making some changes around your home found its way onto that list then here are some of the remodeling trends that are expected to heat up in 2011.
Green Remodeling, Indoor and Out
Bamboo floors, thatched roofs and chipped bark siding may sound like remodeling projects that Tarzan and Jane would undertake, but an increasing number of average homeowners in the US are warming up to the idea of green remodeling. The good news is that prices are also coming down as more and more contractors are educating themselves in the art of eco friendly remodeling.
Remodeling for Relaxation
With the economy still taking its own good time in showing signs of recovery and the real estate market still in the doldrums, homeowners are still looking for ways to de-stress at home. For many that means creating new spaces in the home they have that offer comfort and relaxation. For some that means creating a “zen like” spa bathroom, while for others a basement game room fulfills their need to get away from it all.
Planning for the Future
Remodeling contractors across the country are noticing that the trend for “aging in place” remodeling continues to increase. Even if they are years away from having to worry about needing such things, savvy homeowners are planning for the future by commissioning bathroom, kitchen and general remodeling tweaks that will make their homes more accessible, improving the chances that they will be able to avoid having to leave the home they love should their mobility decline.
Making Smarter Hiring Choices
Consumers are getting smarter when it comes to hiring the right remodeling contractors. Finally, after years of nagging from industry experts, consumers are seeking help when it comes to finding reliable contractors for their remodeling projects and yes, they are actually checking those references!

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Basement Remodeling

The Easy 3-Step Guide to Buying a Claw Foot Bathtub

Add $5,000 to Your House for the Price of a Claw Foot Tub
Claw Foot Bathtubs, like all bathtubs, come in different styles with different accessories. This guide will help you choose the right one for a classic-looking bathroom that could add as much as $5,000 to the price of your home.
We all like to build rooms around themes, no matter how subtle. Post World War I or the Roaring 20’s have been popular themes for decades. Nothing exemplifies these more than the classic claw foot bathtub. But like any fixture for the house, it’s important to pick the type and accessories that suit the period you are building your theme around.
The claw foot bathtub is free standing, supported off the floor a few inches by claw-shaped feet that are attached to the bottom of the tub. Most everyone has a mental picture of this very attractive and popular tub. In the period of 1890-1910, literally millions were installed in homes of that time.
Step 1 Picking the Type of Claw Foot Tub
There are five main types or styles of claw foot tubs:
* Classic Roll Rim- The post World War I or late 19th century tub is the most popular and well known of all the claw foot bathtubs.
* The Slipper- Named because one end has a high backside, resembling a lady’s slipper, that adds to the bather’s comfort. It was made to give someone a lounge position to rest their head.
* The Double Slipper- This tub has high backsides at both ends, with a side mount faucet and center drain configuration.
* Double Ended- Rounded at both ends, to enable one to pick, which way they preferred to bath. This claw foot tub has a side mount faucet and center drain configuration just like the Double Slipper.
* The Pedestal Tub- This claw foot tub, famous in the 20’s and 30’s, is reminiscent of bathroom gin and wild parties. It sits on a pedestal and has an art deco style to it.
These are the five main styles that lend themselves to themes involving 1890-1939. They are great theme conversation pieces, as well as adding comfort and practicality. They are very attractive and most women picture themselves lounging in the deep water they allow, drifting to some fantasyland with no stress or demands. What a nice addition to any home, while increasing its value and appeal.
Step 2 Picking the Faucet and Drain for the Claw Foot Tub
You must pick your style of tub first, because the plumbing and faucet arrangement needs to match the style of tub (see Double Slipper above).
There are three types of Faucets:
* No Faucet- You will need to purchase a free-standing type of faucet with a high goose neck configuration, or a wall mount.
* Wall Faucet- Faucet is attached to the wall with pipes and supply lines visible. They can also attach to a faucet that comes through holes in the side of one end of the tub, much like faucets in tubs today. Don’t worry-the pipes and supply lines are very decorative and made to add to the atmosphere of the bathroom.
* Rim Faucet- The rim faucet is very attractive for claw foot tubs, which have the holes in the rim at one end or the center and the faucet is easily manageable from the tub.
Drains are made for either end mount drains or center mount drains.
Step 3 Picking the Supply Lines
Since the claw foot tub is a free standing tub, which shows the sides and bottom the supply lines are open to the room. Very decorative in appearance, these 8″ lines come in three configurations:
* Double Bend- As the name implies, it has a double bend in which to get as close to the tub as possible and still get around the lip.
* Single Bend- This configuration is used, because no lip is present for an added bend.
* Straight- Last there is the straight configuration which comes straight up and is usually used with a wall mount faucet.
Again, you must have picked your tub style in Step 1 and your faucet type in Step 2 to know which of these supply lines to use.
Another consideration is a shower, which is optional but you need to make this decision up front before Step 1. A shower rod is needed and comes in a configuration according to the size and style tub you chose.
Lastly, the tubs come in cast-iron or acrylic. Cast iron will conduct the heat so keep the water heated longer. Acrylic tubs have more designs to pick from and are easily repairable.
Claw foot bathtubs are fun, attractive and a showpiece in perhaps an otherwise dull bathroom. Remember: they increase the value of your home and can help sell the home when you are in competition with others in your price range.