Green Remodeling by Adding Ceiling Fans to Your Next Home Remodeling Project

Installing a ceiling fan is a quick green remodeling project.  When you are thinking about home remodeling, the projects don’t all have to be expensive and drastic to make a big impact.  A ceiling fan can add a dramatic feel to a room, but it also will add some green to your wallet.

A ceiling fan can reduce your energy bills year-round.  Most people understand that adding a small breeze to your living space in the summer will reduce your cooling needs.  In the winter, moving your heated air that sits near the ceiling through your living space will also decrease your heating needs.  That energy savings throughout the year makes this small improvement a great green remodeling project.

Ceiling fans come with or without light fixtures.  Most come with an extension arm so that they can be hung in rooms with vaulted ceilings.  There are many different styles available.  Newer ones even come with a remote, so that you do not need to wire the fan down through a wall to a switch.  This is a convenient way to ensure that your small home remodeling project doesn’t turn into something bigger.

Green remodeling is always a good goal in any home remodeling project.  Adding a ceiling fan to your bedroom or living room during home remodeling will help you achieve the goal of green remodeling.

(Photo Credit:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/simplycute/129749167/)

Green Remodeling and Home Improvement Using Bamboo Flooring

If your home improvement plans call for new wood floors, think about using bamboo and green remodeling.  Bamboo flooring is becoming more widely used as green remodeling ideas take hold.  Traditional hardwoods, such as oak, can take up to 120 years to mature.  Bamboo is actually a quick-growing grass, and it can be used in as little as three to five years.  It also regenerates from the roots, so it does not need to be replanted and requires very few fertilizers.  For green remodeling, the choice to use bamboo is very conscientious.

Bamboo flooring is as beautiful as any hardwood and will certainly add value to your home.  Bamboo flooring is available in different shades and colors.  You can also choose a bamboo that shows more growth rings and knots.  In general, the darker the color, the softer the bamboo wood.  Some claim that bamboo is more durable than other wood flooring, but remember that any wood flooring can scratch and all require gentle cleaning.

Installation of bamboo flooring is similar to installation of other wood flooring products in your home.  Bamboo can be installed as a floating floor, tongue and groove, or as click together flooring.  As for any home improvement project, you’ll need to assess your abilities to install the flooring yourself.

Home improvement using green remodeling techniques and materials will continue to be a trend for the forseeable future.  Bamboo flooring will increase the value of your home and showcase your concern for the environment as well as your flair for home improvement.

(Photo Credit:   http://www.flickr.com/photos/43162676@N07/4054180883/)

Simple Painting Project

Ready to Paint!

Painting is absolutely the easiest and cheapest of any home improvement project.  You can update the interior design of a tired room or add curb appeal to your home’s exterior at a fraction of the cost of most home improvement projects.

Choosing the right colors for you, your room and your furniture is the most difficult aspect of interior design.  The color choices today are endless, but thankfully experimenting with color is relatively easy with paint.  If you want to try something different, just buy a half-gallon and see how it looks.  Express yourself in your interior design.

After your color decisions are made, it’s time to get down to work.  The most important, and least appealing, part of painting is the prep-work.  These steps are time-consuming, but will pay off in the end:

• Remove switch and outlet covers.
• Spackle nail holes.
• Tape off windows and other areas difficult to paint around.
• Cover furniture.

Another time-saving up front step you can take is to make sure you have all the proper home improvement and painting tools at hand:

• Brushes (at least one smaller one with an angle tip for cutting in molding)
• Rollers
• Roller pans
• Edgers
• Rags for spills and drips

Edgers are great time-savers for painting up against ceilings or up to door trim.  As long as the wall texture is not too thick, an edger will help you make a clean line transition, a hallmark of excellent interior design.

Remember, paint top to bottom.  Paint the ceiling first, then all of the trim, finally the walls.  After all of the preparation is done and the right tools are available, the actual painting goes very quickly and the look of your room transforms in front of your eyes.  A simple coat of paint, done well, could be just the right home improvement project for your house.

(Photo Credit:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/booleansplit/3366476478/)

Small Bathroom Remodeling, Pedestal Sink

Stylish Pedestal Sink

It’s time to think about opening up some room in that bathroom by doing some small bathroom remodeling.  But will a pedestal sink really meet your needs?  Pedestal sinks are very stylish and can be an integral part of small bathroom remodeling, by making the room appear larger.  The downside of a pedestal sink is that you will need to figure out where you are going to put items that are currently stored in your vanity.

Some pedestal sinks only have a sink top, while others do have a small shelf of space for a bar of soap or possibly a toothbrush canister.  What they don’t provide is a cabinet in your bathroom to store toilet paper, towels, wash cloths, brushes, combs, etc.  So, if you are considering installing a pedestal sink, you need to add storage as part of your small bathroom remodeling project.  Look around your bathroom or the adjacent hallway to find storage options.  You may be able to create storage in your bathroom with baskets or overhead cabinets, depending on the layout of your small bathroom.  Remodeling these spaces is always a challenge for the imagination.

The other things to think about when making a decision to install a pedestal sink, are what the wall finish behind your current vanity looks like and will you be able to blend it into the rest of the wall.  Also, you may need a plumber in order to move the drain and supply lines to fit within the pedestal part of your new sink.

(Photo Credit:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/26106530@N06/2498726503/)

Hiring a Handyman: The Remodeling Contract

Now that you’ve gone through the process to find a good, reputable handyman, it’s time to consider a written remodeling contract.  Sometimes it seems that a remodeling contract may be overkill for your situation.  It’s not.  A remodeling contract will prevent misunderstandings during the job and will help you enforce your verbal agreements.  The complexity and amount of detail in the remodeling contract will depend on your comfort level with the handyman, and the complexity and dollar value of the job.

A remodeling contract should, at the minimum, contain:

• What is expected of each party
• Who is responsible for acquiring any necessary permits
• A statement affirming that appropriate insurances and licenses are held by the handyman
• Price and payment schedule
• Detailed list of materials (if the handyman is supplying them)
• Timetable for completion

Some experts say that you should never give a handyman a down-payment, however it may be acceptable if the handyman is purchasing the materials.  A handyman is different from a contractor and may not have all the credit accounts needed for your job.  Another alternative would be to set up an account at a lumberyard against which the handyman can charge.  If you do this, be sure to carefully monitor receipts.

Many nightmare remodeling stories can be averted by having a good understanding with your handyman and then entering into a written remodeling contract.  It makes sense for you and is also good business for any handyman.

(Photo Credit:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/30157413@N08/3567036023/

A Contract Will Help Make Sure this gets Finished