Split Level House Renovations

The most popular Split Level house renovations are projects to finish unfinished or partly finished areas, opening up the main floor, updating the kitchen, adding bathrooms to the main (formal living area) floor and to the upper level (bedrooms area).

Many people want to create more openness in the main floor of a split level, which usually consists of living room, dining room, kitchen and possibly a bedroom. Openness can certainly be achieved by removing some of the walls between rooms. You will need to be sure you know which walls are load-bearing walls. For example, you might want more openness between the kitchen and the dining room. Either removing the wall or replacing the wall with a counter will open up the area and feel more spacious. Removing the wall between the living room and dining room can also open up the area and make it more conducive to entertaining.

It is not uncommon for split level homes with four levels to have an unfinished bottom level. Finishing this area is really no different from finishing any basement. It will be important, however, to check on ceiling height early in the planning stages of the project. A number of split level homes have lower ceilings on the bottom floor.

The desire to add a bathroom to any home is quite common. Split levels often offer two important opportunities for bathroom additions. First, most split level homes were not built with a bathroom on the main (formal living area) floor. Many homeowners would like to add at least a half-bath or powder room on the main floor for the comfort and convenience of guests or for elderly or disabled family members. Determining the location of the new bathroom is a challenge in most split levels. Logic and cost-consciousness would suggest locating the new bathroom near (next to, above or below) existing plumbing. This allows you to use existing supply and removal pipes. Depending on the floor plan, A16however, this might not be workable. Location of pipes to a new bathroom on the main floor will also require some attention to the ceiling height of the floor below (if there is one). If the lower level has typically lower ceilings, placement of plumbing might depend upon where you can run pipes without making the lower level unusable. You can get a quick estimate of the cost to finish a split-level homes basement at www.remodelestimates.com

Adding a bathroom on the bedroom level is also a very popular renovation to a split level. Many split level homes have only a shared bathroom on this floor. Other designs include a very small master bathroom. Whether your remodeling plan involves adding a second bathroom or enlarging a master bathroom, it will be necessary to sacrifice space somewhere on that floor. Again, you will probably want to try to build the new bathroom close to existing plumbing, if possible to reduce the amount of work required and to control the cost of your renovation. Enlarging a master bathroom in a split level will almost certainly require taking space from the bedroom. One solution might be a bump out or add an addition that spans both the bathroom and the master bedroom. The key to success for remodeling projects is to be organized - try getting an organizer like the one at www.remodelingorganizer.com

Although split level home designs present some unique challenges to remodelers, with a creative eye to design, careful planning, and attention to detail, most of the changes you might want to make are possible.

Dan Fritschen, the remodel-or-move guru is President and Publisher at ABCD Publishing and operates three very popular websites including http://www.remodelormove.com which helps homeowners make this important decision on the basis of knowledge and reliable cost estimates, a He is the author of three books on home remodeling.

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Drywood Termite Pest Control

What's in a name? For one thing, you can tell by the name where a termite's nest will be found. A Drywood Termite colony will be found in dry wood. A Subterranean Termite colony will be underground.

Drywood termites are much less sensitive to dehydration than Subterranean Termites. This adaptation lets them live above ground, inside of dry wood. In fact, the wood framing of almost any building has enough moisture to keep them going. These insects are designed to make the most of their role in the world. Aside from having a thicker shell (to handle the dry environment), their social system and caste system is adapted to this role as well.

Like most termites, a Drywood Termite colony begins with a pair of mated swarmers (alates). We usually look for Drywood swarms during the late summer and into autumn. However you might see them at virtually any time of year. The evidence most people find after swarming is a collection of loose wings on a window sill. (See photo at right.) At this point the insects have shed their wings and already burrowed into the woodwork.

After swarming from their parent's colony the new royal pair needs to find a place to build their nest. A crack or crevice will serve them nicely. In buildings they often start around wood windows or doorways or they may be found in the eaves or in the substructure area under the house. Houses with wood siding tend to be especially vulnerable because there are so many cracks and crevices where a new colony might establish. In nature, we find them in the "dead arm" of a tree, in a woodpile, or in any other dead wood.

Once established, the new colony will grow slowly, but steadily. After a few years the colony may have eaten their way well into the framing around their initial entry point. A mature colony may grow to several thousand members. Given time, their galleries may extend into wall framing in all directions, into substructure timbers and floors and into the ceiling overhead.

The only evidence of their activity inside the wall or floor might be a pile of "seed-like" pellets that continue to appear even after cleaning them up. These pellets are the fecal material of the termites and it is a positive sign that Drywood termites have been at work.

After just three to five years, a few swarmers will usually be released, and the cycle continues...

Doug has worked in the pest control industry since 1973. He received his first license for pest control while stationed in Massachusetts with the U.S. Army. He currently holds California Operator's licenses in General Pest Control and Wood Destroying Organisms, as well as a Field Representative license for Structural Fumigation. Doug has written several courses that have been approved by the Structural Pest Control Board for continuing education.

Contact us for all your Fresno Pest Control needs.

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The Different Types of Home Siding Material

There are numerous types of siding available for today's homes offering different advantages and/or disadvantages. Certain types of siding are more popular in some areas of the country than others, influenced largely by climate and availability of product. Price also influences the type of siding chosen by a builder or a home owner.

Types of siding available:

1. Aluminum or Vinyl Siding These siding options are available on new homes as well as often put on over older types of siding. The biggest advantage of this type of siding is that they do not require painting. The disadvantage is that aluminum siding dents and vinyl siding cracks. Vinyl siding has improved over time as the quality of vinyl improves.

2. Masonite Siding or Hardi Plank These siding options have a similar appearance but offer very different results. Masonite siding deteriorates over time and requires painting, caulking and routine upkeep. Hardi Plank (a brand name) is a similar looking product but is made of cement and therefore does not rot. It is growing in popularity and is a terrific alternative to Masonite.

3. Brick or Stone Both of these products provide an excellent siding option. They are virtually indestructible as well as attractive. They do not require the routine maintenance that other types of siding require. The biggest drawback is price, although in some areas of the country it is still very affordable.

4. Stucco Traditional stucco is made with cement and offers a solid, lasting, moisture proof siding. It is seen a great deal in Florida where the climate would require constant upkeep on other 567types of siding and the solid cement siding keeps the houses cooler than traditional siding.

5. Cedar Shakes For those who love the look of cedar shakes, it is an excellent alternative to Masonite siding as it requires less maintenance. When treated with stain it does not rot or peel.

6. Veneer & Synthetic Siding These siding alternatives give you the appearance of other types such as stucco or brick, but do not give you the quality or longevity.

7. Clapboard Siding that is made from solid wood is more costly than other types of siding but lasts longer and looks better than other manufactured sidings such as Masonite. It is also a product that lends itself well to stain and therefore will not peel as siding that is painted.

8. Steel and Vinyl Coatings These are becoming more and more popular. They are more expensive but are nearly indestructible thus requiring little maintenance. Vinyl Coatings are applied like paint but are much thicker. Since it is a relatively new product it is important to find a company that will apply it correctly as applying incorrectly can cause many problems.

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Some Ideas for Remodeling Porches

Fixing up a porch is a great idea that will extend the use of your home considerably. Using just some paint, stain and basic carpentry skills, you can make your porch a pleasure to spend time on.

An example shown on DoItYourself.com shows a couple from Georgia who wanted enjoy their extended warm seasons of spring, summer and fall, but avoid the problems of mosquitoes and decided to take their slab concrete patio and make it into a screened in area they could enjoy almost all year long.

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The patio was just concrete square under a roof overhang. They wanted the porch to blend in with the home, as well as protect the family from the heat, humidity and insects of the Georgia summers. The concrete slab declined slightly to allow for runoff, so there had to be some adjustments made to accommodate this feature.

Here is their step by step solution:

Step One. Cut pre-primed 4X8 sheets of beadboard ceiling paneling.

Step Two. Install the celing paneling and the ceiling fan. They used a nail gun to make the installation of the ceiling panels faster and easier than trying to swing a hammer upward. Before all of the panelling was installed, the ceiling was wired for the fan and light. This will allow the porch to remain cool and the light will allow the room to be used at night. This was a two person job, with one person holding the fan and the other connecting the wires and screwing the fan in place. The finish trim hid the seams in the paneling.

Step Three. Frame out the porch. Using 2X4 boards, they spaced them to allow for standard width screen to be installed. The crosspieces were nailed directly through the vertical braces.

Step Four. Install the interior panelling. Pine and plywood bead board paneling was secured by staple gun. These had to be trimmed along the bottom to accommodate the uneven floor.

Step Five. Install and level the exterior paneling. The harbor ad exterior panels wear put into place, from the bottom up. The first one had to be custom cut to allow for the uneven ground line and then the rest followed. These panels were painted to match the existing exterior of the house, so there was a lot of trial and error to match the aged yellow paint exactly. But weather resistant exterior paint was used so that it can be easily kept clean by rinsing Wit soap and water.

Step Six. Do the screening. Vinyl grids had to be screwed directly into the wooden frames. Then the screens were attached to the channels in the grids, so the fiberglass or aluminum screens could be slid in without using staples. When the screens were rolled into the grids with a spline, the extra screening material was cut off. With a mallet, the caps over the vinyl channels were banged into place.

Being really passionate about tree trimming and saw sharpening, Ray Walberg wrote plenty of detailed articles in this specific field. Sharing his passion in detailed publications, the author improved his experience on topics like chain saws and saw sharpening.

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Average Sunroom Prices

According to NARI. (The National Association of the Remodeling Industry). sunrooms can repay more than 70% of their investment cost. Not bad when you consider that sunroom prices can range anywhere from from $12.000 - $70.000 (including the cost of materials and labor).

Averaging the Cost of a Sunroom

Broken down. it is estimated that the average sunroom runs at about $10.400 in materials. with $1500 in materials to construct a deck or foundation and $270 to construct the stairs. Add in the flooring and roofing systems and youre looking at a price tag of somewhere in the neighborhood of $13.500- $14.000 dollars.

The second most important factor- thats almost as important as the first- is the cost of labor. Just the labor charge itself for preparing the sunroom will be around $10.000. Then there will be approximately $1650 in labor for the deck and $200- $250 for the stairs. Once. again factoring in labor costs for flooring and roofing. the number lands in the area of $12.000.

Putting the two numbers for materials and labor together puts the total cost at a conservative $25.000. This number will of course travel up and down the scale depending on the materials used. Obviously. the better the materials used in building your sunroom. the higher the price will be when all is said and done. Trying to save money by using less expensive materials. however. does not always make good sense. As they say: You get what you pay for.

Features that Add Value to Your Sunroom

Your sunroom can be constructed of aluminum materials with energy efficient exterior and interior and thermally broken panels or for a more classic touch. you can construct it of wooden panels and beams.

There are a number of additions that will give your sunroom the look and feel that match your homes interior and exterior. Vinyl clad sunrooms will convey a Georgian or Victorian type conservatory look. Options such as sliding glass doors and windows with double locks and childproof handles provide a measure of safety to your sunroom.

Investing In Your Sunroom

Style will also determine the cost of your sunroom. Various roof designs such as cathedral. solarium. conservatory or California all have different price ranges due to the amount of materials involved in their construction471. Each style also has a number of optional upgrades in its window systems that can be of benefit or just a way to make your space just that much more unique.

Andrew Caxton is a reliable journalist who has published more articles on this issue for http://www.allsunrooms.com If you would like more information on this topic please checkout his website at sunroom prices

My Independent Contractor Home Resume60215@hotmail

Copper Weathervanes - A Great Option For Making Your Home Stand Out

You live in the suburbs and the one thing that kind of bums you out about it is that fact that your home looks just like everyone elses. Sure, the uniformed appearance helps with aesthetic appeal of the entire neighborhood, but at the sometime, it can get a little boring. So, if you are searching for a way to make your home stand out from the rest, a beautiful way to do it is with copper weathervanes. They are eye-catching selections that would be an ideal addition to any home.

Copper weathervanes are extremely appealing to the eye because of the beautiful copper that they are crafted from. When purchasing yours, there are two main finishes that you can choose from including polished and antique. The polished finish is one that is very shiny and shows off this materials reddish bronze tone. Now, over time, if you do not apply a lacquer or polyurethane to protect it from the elements, it will weather to a gorgeous verdigris color, which is actually the antique option that was mentioned. If you want yours to have that antique finish right off the bat, you can get ones that are already finished off in that way.

With copper weathervanes, there are many different styles, shapes, sizes, and designs available, which makes it a synch to find something to match where you want to put it and your personality. For example, if you want something for your rooftop and you like things that have a nautical theme, then a great option for you would be one that is in the shape of a schooner or sailboat that is larger in size. Along with being a great choice for the top of your house, this outdoor accessory would also be a nice choice for other spots throughout your space as well. Like you could put one that depicts a peaceful dove in your garden as a nice decorative accent, which would also be a nice addition to any shed back that needs a little sprucing up.

When it comes down to it, there are just a lot copper weathervanes to choose from and some other style available include ones that feature farm animals like chicken, pigs, cows, and roosters, others that have more of a transportation theme like cars, motorcycles, and trains, and you can even get ones that feature garden whimsy scenes including fairies, dragons, and witches. And, those just listed are just some of the options that are available. For a great way to see them all, do not head down to your local garden center or landscape store. Instead, make a b-line for your personal computer and do some online shopping. You can see everything that is available without leaving your home and your selection will even be shipped right to your door. Now, it does not get any easier than that.

So, if you are looking for a way to make your home stand out from everyone elses on your block, a fantastic way to do just that is with beautiful copper weathervanes. One would be a stunning addition to your home and is a great way to break up the monotony in your neighborhood.

Jennifer Akre, a successful business owner of numerous furniture and decor sites, provides the online shopper information on weathervanes and weather vanes. Finish your home in style. You Deserve It - Treat Yourself: copper weathervanes.

How To Wash Vinyl And Aluminum Siding

While it's not something you'll want to do too frequently (it's a fairly big job!), there are times when you will need to bite the bullet and wash your house. It does not have to be a "back-breaker" job if you pace yourself and follow a few handy tips.

Over time vinyl and aluminum siding develops mildew, oxidation or other soiling, which detracts considerably from the original crispness and freshness of new siding. Aluminum siding becomes dull; vinyl siding shows mildew spots; both get soiled from the elements.

You can restore some of the original beauty without actually breaking your back! And, depending on the size and style of your house, you might even be able to do it without climbing a ladder (ranch style houses, anyway).

The process is actually quite simple, though it takes a bit of muscle, so prepare yourself for several hours of fairly strenuous work. Plan to rest whenever you need to. Carry or have close-at-hand plenty of drinking water (drinking from the hose is not recommended). Also, work in shade whenever possible, take your time, move smoothly and methodically. Most of all, don't let the job overwhelm you! In fact, you might want to consider scheduling such a job over a two day per16D0iod to make the whole experience comfortable and more rewarding.

Instructions:

Procure a box (or carton) of TSP powder (Trisodium Phosphate) at your local hardware store or home center.
Procure a telescoping brush kit (also available at most home centers). You might want to consider the kind that attaches to your garden hose for this type of cleaning, although it isn't entirely necessary.
Read and follow all manufacturers' labels and instructions for any precautions and/or personal protective equipment recommended.
Procure recommended personal protective equipment (gloves, goggles, etc.)
Read and follow manufacturer's label instructions for mixing the TSP powder with water (for cleaning), in a bucket large enough to accept your brush-head.
If your house is a ranch style, you might not need a ladder, depending on the lay of the land around the building. If it is not a ranch, you most likely will need a ladder. Be sure to follow all recommended ladder safety guidelines (see "notes" below for related link).
From the ground and/or ladder, hose a section of the house down to rinse off surface dust, pollen, etc.

Once an area is wet, dip your brush head in the TSP/water solution and brush the siding...starting as high as you can reach with the telescoping brush. Start by working an area about 20 feet wide and work the entire height of the siding for that width if you can.

As you learn the process, you may choose to increase your working area; just try to avoid too large an area, as the cleaning solution may dry before rinsing, which can create streaks or may require repeat brushing.

Working from top to bottom, thoroughly brush the area you're working on, Use both horizontal (side-to-side) and vertical (up-and-down) motions, to ensure thoroughness.

Once you've brushed thoroughly, rinse with clean water.

Repeat this process for the entire house.

NOTES:

Always read and follow label instructions for safe handling and working with chemical products. If in doubt about a product's 'exposure' safety, request an MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) from the supplier.

Also, always practice safe ladder-use.

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