Construction Deal Update

I found a great post on Paul Thurst's "Homeowner's Blog" about his recent exorbitant electric bill and what he was going to do about. I thought I'd pass along his ideas and information - perhaps there are some things you can do here to cut your electric bill (and if you're incredibly rich and don't care about your high electric bill, at least you can do your part for the environment!)

"I just paid my electric bill yesterday. Yikes! It was a little over 15 cents a kWh. My biggest problem is I have an electric water heater. We seem to use a lot of hot water with showers, the wash, the dishwasher, etc. So I put together a list of things that can save money on the electric bill. Most of them are pretty easy, some are more involved."

He goes on to show various energy consuming appliances, with great information on how much each one draw while in use.

Paul continues, "Then I did a little research on how to save money and make the appliances more efficient.

With refridgerators and freezers, vacuum the dirt and dust off of the condensing coils (black coils, usually in the back) at least once per year. Make sure the unit has enough air circulation to cool the coils as needed. If the air is restricted by dirt or blocked by a wall, it can make the appliance work harder. Many freezers have a "condensation saver" setting. This is a heat strip embedded in the freezer door that uses quite a bit of power. Turn it off and wipe up the condensation with a rag every so often.

For hot water heaters, set the temperature to the minimum required. If you don't like to take very hot showers, then the temperature can be reduced further. Generally speaking, when I shower, I run all hot water and it is the perfect temperature. There is also less likelihood of being scalded.

Clothes dryers need to have the lint filter cleaned after every load. A blocked lint filter will cause the dryer to run longer. Also, it is a very good idea to clean the dryer vent every year or so to remove excess lint. I did this with a shop vac in about 20 minutes. I also put up a clothes line in the backyard, In the summer, we use this exclusively to dry the our clothes. It is a bit more work, but it does save electricity.

Air conditioners need to have the inside foam filter cleaned as well. This can be done with a vacuum cleaner. While you are at it, take a low pressure garden hose to the aluminum fins on the outside of the unit. This is where the heat that is removed from the inside goes out. They must be a clean and free from dirt, pollent, leaves, fuzz, and other debris to conduct the heat into the atmosphere quickly.

Dishwashers should be ran only when full. Use the "air dry" or "energy saver" settings for drying the dishes.

Don't use portable electric heaters if at all possible. Hair dryers? Blah, you are already beautiful, how can you improve perfection!

Well pumps use the most electricity when they first turn on. To keep your well pump from short-cycling, install a bladder tank or make sure your non-bladder tank has the correct air charge in it. See this post for an explanation.

Saving money on lighting is pretty easy. As your incandescent bulbs burn out, replace them with compact florecent bulbs. These use almost 75 percent less power than the incandescent bulbs and last four to five times as long. Look for inexpensive Compact LED bulbs in the future. Those will use even less electricity and last almost indefinitely.

Finally, many appliances have stand-by power usage. Many times those things with the little black cubes (wall warts) that plug into an outlet are prime users of power. You may want to limit the use of things with wall warts. Also, many items with remote controls such as TVs, VCRs and DVD players use power when in stand-by mode, waiting for the on command from the remote control. If you have any of these items that don't normally get used, unplug them.

There are small electric meters called a "Kill a Watt" meter. You can use this to measure your stand-by loads. A somewhat interesting statistic is that if everyone in the US turned off there stand-by loads, 28 large power plants would sit idle.

If you really want to get zealous, you can buy one of those outlet strips that turn off and on. Then you can plug all of your stand-by loads into that and turn it off at the end of each day."

Check out Paul's blog and bookmark it - it could be a great resource for you to learn as much as possible from someone who may have already gone through what you're yet to experience!

Everyone gets excited when they know a remodeling company is coming over to renovate a kitchen, a bathroom, or a basement. They've talked with their contractor and all the materials have been picked out and are on the way. They know that it's only a matter of time before their new granite countertop or whirlpool bathtub is in place and ready for use.

The problem is – you've got wait for the whole "construction process" to be over. I wanted to give you a few tips to make sure that process goes as smoothly as possible. These are all the tiny details you've got to take care of before any remodeling workers arrive at your house. It's the stuff that most homeowners forget about, but it can make for a really smooth transition from unfinished basement to being a construction site. It might even save the remodeling company some time and you some money (in costly delays.)

Prepare Your Home

- Pack up all the nick-knacks, small items, tools, decorations, and books that can get in the way of home remodeling. And I don't mean the things in the room being worked on. The remodeling process can create a lot of dust that will spread throughout the house. If you store these items, they can remain dust free – which means less work for you.

- Along those lines, cover larger items like bookcases and furniture, with plastic or cloth sheets to protect from drywall or demolition dust. You'll want to spend time in your new kitchen not vacuuming the layers of dust embedded in your living room sofa.

- If it's a kitchen renovation, try to create another kitchen in a different room. Move your refrigerator to this room. Set up a work table and a space for your microwave. Your bathroom sink may have to double as a kitchen sink; make room for only the most necessary items. Clear dry goods out of your kitchen cabinets well in advance if those cabinets are to be removed.

- You could be without running water for a significant period of time. Or they may need to turn off the water supply at the worst possible time for you. Store up as much water as you have space for in the weeks before work will begin.

Prepare for the Construction Site

- Many companies and subcontractors will be trying to find your house for the first time. Make sure there is large, visible signage with your street name and number on it for all those deliveries.

- Some contractors do not arrange for portable toilets. If it's up to you, call in advance to make sure they will be delivered, on time, and call several days leading up to construction to ensure their prompt arrive (two days before work begins will give you the best cushion.) Talk with your contractor about this.

- Clearly mark spots around your house – with signs – where you won’t mind workers to travel and deliveries to be dropped off. Keep in mind that construction materials have become quite expensive and you want to make sure things are not stolen during the night.

- If you obtained your own permits, make sure they are handy or are even displayed on the wall in an area that is (and will be) accessible.

- If the contractor is not arranging this, make sure your construction dumpsters are there and ready to be filled during the demolition process (which is usually the first thing to happen on any remodeling job.) If they're not there, it can cause a delay or you'll have to pay workers to remove the debris to one spot and then to pick it up from that spot and put it in the dumpster when it arrives.

Talk with the contractor, in depth, before the project begins, so that you know what is expected of you (click here to find a local pro.) Once you're both on the same page, you can sit back and relax knowing that your new bathroom or kitchen is on its way!

Many of you may be planning to have a deck built, either this year or to get ready for next summer, and I wanted to talk about your choices in deck material.

Your options include using a natural wood, metal, fiberglass, or using a composite decking material. If you've been reading your home and remodeling magazines, you may have seen a lot of ads for composite materials that will make your new deck "virtually maintenance free!" My advice to you - don't believe the hype.

Composite deck materials have been around for about 15 to 20 years now. They were to be an environmentally friendly product, being made up of recycled materials (plastic, wood and cellulose fibers), and they would not require sealing or refinishing. The marketing was heavy from the manufacturers to let you know a composite material deck would last a long time and would not require maintenance. Warranties were thrown about left and right.

Turns out that your best bet for a new deck is to use good old wood. A nice cedar, pine, mahogany, or redwood should do the trick. Using composite materials on a new deck still requires that you use wood for the supporting structure, they still require a lot of maintenance, and many of the composite decks are requiring a sealant to protect them. Turns out some of the decks are made with up to 50% wood fibers and are rotting away. In fact, there was a recall of one manufacturer. It's not as strong as wood and needs more support to avoid sagging. And the price of these composite materials is still higher than your basic choices of wood materials.

Nothing beats the look and feel of a good wood deck. Yes, you do have to seal them on a regular basis - usually every 2 years. But the nice thing about wood is that you can replace sections if there is a problem or severe damage and you can also have the surface of the deck refinished. Try to refinish the surface of a plastic composite material. Wood can be damaged by the sun, by water, and by constant heavy use. In my opinion, the wood decks do require TLC but the advantages of the wood outweight the disadvantages of all the other materials.

Composite materials have come a long way in the past few years, and there are many who strongly support using them on new decks. I'd love to hear from people who have composite decks that are 3 or more years old to see what their experience has been with them.

If you'd like to talk to one of our Deck professionals about a new deck, post your deck project with us here.

Demolition Could Save You Money and Save Your Planet:

The first thing that DIYers and Contractors do is tear down the old room that's being renovated. They back up a giant dumpster and fill it full of demolition debris. On most remodeling jobs, it can be done quickly, usually in one day. On some home additions, it might take a few days to fill up the dumpster.

Where do you think all that construction debris is carted off to?

Guess what? You might be able to do something about our overfilled landfills. And help out your neighboring communites. And help out your wallet... Sound interesting? It's important to think about all those old materials that are being removed from your house and what can be done with them. The short answer - recycle. Construction materials account for 22% of all of our entire waste stream.

Did you know that up to 90% of an old house can be recycled? Think of all that construction garbage that would not be added to your local landfill. Habitat for Humanity has opened many ReUse stores throughout the country and they're encouraging builders and homeowners to recycle their demolition materials.

And, in California that I know of, you can get money back or tax incentives by showing that you turned your construction debris over to a recycling center. It could be a great way to save money on your home remodel or addition. Check with your local government offices on environmental services or waste management. Or you can Google "construction debris recycling" or "demolition debris recycling" and your city/state.

What can be recycled? Some items are hazardous but most are renewable materials. Wood, drywall, insulation, asphalt, concrete, gravel, brick, and more. Make sure you, your contractor, or the demolition subcontractor know that you wish to take an extra day or two to separate out all the construction debris so most of it can be recycled. Even if they don't like it - it's your planet and you're paying the bill. In more ways than one.

Post your demolition project and receive multiple bids from local demo pros.

After seeing the teak designs from William Garvey Limited, in the UK, I think I might consider a wood bathtub. And sink. And shower. The company focuses on designing and manufacturing furniture for bathrooms and wet areas.

How does it work? They use teak for most of their products. Natural oils and the unique interlocking joints do all of the work. Teak is perfect for wet areas because of it's durabiltiy and stability. The wood is dense, oily, and slow grown to protect it from moisture erosion. It's the type of wood used in most marine applications (the wood accents on most boats.)

The design possiblities are what makes wood a great option for the bathroom. It goes beyond the standard white porcelain to allow you to entertain any number of design ideas - Asian, modern, country, and more.

The great thing about the William Garvey company is their commitment to environmentally sound practices that cause the least amount of impact to the planet.

I recently stumbled upon this site - it's called FoldBedding.com but they've got a second product (besides the really cool folded bedspreads) that I really love called Wallter Paintable Wall Applications.

From the site, "The geometric, wood-based applications add a third dimension to the wall on which they are composed, commanding light and shadow in an inventive way and turn the space in to something original. Fold bedding’s clients include The W Hotel, Hotel Lucia, Hotel Max Seattle, Dreamworks Productions, Urban Outfitters, Stratus Films, CB2, Debbie Travis Facelift, and ABC’s Extreme Makeover Home Edition."

You can buy the products on their site or search for a local retailer that might carry the products. These are a great way to go beyond the boring, drab, plain uni-color walls. You can paint them to match or you can contrast them to the color of your walls.

Check out the site if you get a chance.

I found a great blog written by landscape designer Rick Anderson. If you're not sure what landscape design is, or if you want to get some inspiration for your own landscaping, check it out. The site is called the Whispering Crane Institute and his mission is to provide some insight into the world of landscape design. He does point out that it is not a profession of kids who cut your grass and I think that's a perfect jumping point to take you into Rick's universe.

It's a bit late in the season, but there's still time to think about an outdoor upgrade for your home. Two questions: Do you like to eat outdoors and do you hate to run back and forth for supplies while you're eating and cooking outside? Well, if you answered YES to both, it might be time to think about adding an outdoor kitchen to your house.

Some things to consider when planning your outdoor kitchen:
- How much do you want to spend?
- How much space do you have outdoors?
- How much will you use your outdoor kitchen?

Your budget will determine how far you go. Whether you'll end up with just a new grill and counter space or if you'll get a complete kitchen (with a grill, fridge, eating area, sink, gas & electric lines, and more.)

And, you might not have enough room for a full spread. Some may have to contend with a deck, a pool, or a small yard and cannot go all out. Careful planning by your designer can usually accommodate several options.

Finally, think about how much kitchen you need based on how much you'll use it. If you only plan on eating outside once a week or two weeks, you'd probably just want a grill and countertop/cabinet set up. But if you'd like to practically live outdoors, you can really add some value to your house with a second kitchen with all the amenities.

Outdoor Kitchen Options:

Custom Units
- Built-in to your specs to fit your space and your choice of materials, styles, and size
- You can match materials to your pool tiles or house colors
- Give you more flexibility for all the options you want
- Gives you the best upscale look
- Can be very expensive to have all the custom masonry installed
- Could increase your home's value

Prefabricated Units
- Less expensive semi-custom or prefab designs that come in specific sizes
- Choose from selected materials for the sides and counters (not as much selection choices)
- You provide sizes of your appliances (grill, fridge, etc.) and the pieces are manufactured and shipped to the home for installation
- Can possibly be moved with you when you leave
- May not require building permits, depending on application

Freestanding Units
- Not as much glamour but definitely less expensive (perfect for rare outdoor use)
- Very portable
- Come with limited counter space to accompany your grill and underneath storage
- Inexpensive
- Some have excellent options, like a built-in fridge or a umbrella for protection

Keep These in Mind when Building your Outdoor Kitchen:

Make sure your grill is not placed in a location that can send smoke into your home or through your eating area.

Keep it comfortable: make sure you can weatherproof the location. Add umbrellas or roofs to keep the sun off. Add portable gas heaters to extend the season. A firepit may be an option for additional heat.

Make sure you can move your refrigerator indoors if you have really cold winters. And if you run water lines, don't forget to winterize to prevent pipes from freezing.

Check on local building requirements - if you're going to add gas, electric, and/or water lines you may or may not be able to run those lines together to your kitchen. Or, you might be able to put them in the same trench be keep them separated.

Your desired outdoor kitchen options can ratchet up the prices: think about how you like to cook. Adding wood-burning or pizza ovens, woks, ice makers, or oven vents can add to your budget.

If you can, plan on adding an additional counter opposite the grill or even a u-shaped counter area to be able to continue the "work triangle" that you have in your indoor kitchen to the outdoors.

Start with the grill and build your kitchen around it.

Okay, so I covered some tips to help you sell your home during this housing market decline (or bursting bubble, depending on your point of view.) But I also wanted to give some suggestions of what not to do if you're trying to sell your home these days.

I'm all for staging your house to make it visually more appealing - there's a house on my street in the $600,000 range, with a "Price Reduced" For Sale sign, that has two rooms that look like they were finger-painted in a blood red color... and they wonder why it hasn't moved for the past 3 months...

It's also necessary to make sure whatever is broken gets fixed -- if the home isn't going to pass prospective buyers' inspections, they're not going to pull out their checkbooks (it's regular to see homes here in L.A., with For Sale signs in the front yard, that have exterminators' tents draped over them.)

Where I worry is that desperate homeowners might look to make drastic home renovations to fan the flames of interest and spark a sale. There are a few remodeling jobs that will increase your resale value so it's important to know what to do and what not to do. Check out this 2005 Cost vs. Value Report to get an idea of how much return you might get, based on your area of the country, for what you'll spend on the remodel.

Two major suggestions of what to renovate: do a low-to-medium cost kitchen remodel or add an additional bathroom (if you have the space/correct floor plan - consult an architect or design specialist.)

Renovations I suggest you avoid if your selling your home:

- Basement Upgrades - You might be tempted to finish your basement or turn an existing areain your finished basement into a home theater. Or another bedroom. Despite the fact that you may be making the room more livable, more than likely it will not help you sell it and you probably won't get back the money you spend to do the job. Also note, you normally can't count a basement bedroom as another bedroom on your listing (depending on window size.)

- "Invisible" Upgrades - Unless needing repairs, don't replace or remodel anything that can't be seen. Telling people the house has a new furnace, a tankless water heater, or brand new copper plumbing just doesn't do the trick. buying a house can be an emotional and visceral experience. Updates need to be visual and visible. Crown molding can be seen -- new insulation cannot.

- Swimming Pool Additions - You've always wanted a pool, Jacuzzi, or whirlpool spa tub. But not everybody feels the same way. In fact, some people with small children definitely don't want those upgrades. Others with colder winters and maybe people without the extra income for maintenance might find these additions a deal breaker. Adding a pool in a small yard could remove a child's or a pet's play area.

- "Specialty Room" Additions - Don't spend any money to convert a bedroom or family room into a home office, gym, den, or home theater. Those rooms are great for your house, if you'll be staying there a while and you don't need the space. If you've already got a specialty room set up, change it back to the original purpose.

They say the current housing market won't recover until at least 2007 and maybe not until 2008, depending on how the economy reacts. Make sure your house is ready to sell but don't throw money away on renovations that won't provide a return on investment.

Let us know if you need to find a remodeling expert to prep your house for sale. It's a free service to find local experts.

Related Posts:
How to Beat the Bursting Housing Bubble
Real Estate Dictionary
Housing Bubble Humor

Labels: Housing Bubble, Real Estate

It didn't used to be this way, but now, whenever anyone talks about hardwood floors, they always mention bamboo. Which is sort of funny because bamboo isn't even a wood -- it's grass. But it has really been a big trend lately in replacement flooring. Why? Well, it looks good, comes in a big variety of styles, and it's very durable. Another reason it's taking off could also be that it's a very sustainable, eco-friendly material. And these days... green is good.

Prices vary from $2 a square foot to more than $8. Beware some of the cheaper bamboo (look for a brand with a Klump lacquer coating, which is supposed to be the best in the industry.) There are the standard installtion options, similar to most hardwoods (they've got a snap & click variety for easy installation, plus the regular glue or nail versions.) It can come in natural (unfinished) or a stained and sealed style (finished.)

It could be a great new flooring option for you. You could save money and not leave as much of an environmental dent as you do with hardwoods.

(Thanks to Lindsay over at Home Improvement Ideas for the bamboo idea!)

Sometimes, it's nice to get the creative juices flowing. Here are a few truly innovative designs from an Italian studio called Lagostudio. While they might not be practical for your three-bedroom ranch in Nashville, it can be a fun way to generate new design or decorating ideas.



I like the bed in this photo. It's called the Fluttua and it makes it seem like the bed is floating. Actually, the center post underneath supports the bed and it's also attached to the wall. Very cool, very modern look.

I've been studying a lot of sites that cover our slowing (some say crashing) housing market. Housing sales have decreased dramatically the past few months, and housing prices are falling all across the country. Many homeowners are still holding on to unrealistic expectations and many would-be buyers are making ludicrous lowball offers, so the market is basically at a stalemate. As inventories jump, prices will have to plummet. Many don't expect it to get better until at least 2008.

Last year and part of this year, home prices skyrocketed to ridiculous levels. And now, no one wants to be the last person to have paid way too much to buy a house. To read more on the media coverage, I highly suggest Ben Jones' blog, The Housing Bubble.

If you own your house and waited too long to sell, I've got a few tips to help get your home off your back:

1 - Start with your Real Estate Agent - Make sure your current agent has a ton of experience. Used to be you could hire any agent, with only 2 months on the job, and the house would sell before her or she pounded the "For Sale" sign into the ground. No more. Get someone with experience, name recognition in the community, and superior sales skills.

2 - A Proactive Agent - Get an agent that will truly "pound the pavement" for your listing. You need a proactive agent that will be out there, moving and grooving on your property. Many of the newbie agents that got into the biz over the last two years will be in "career change" mode in the next few months. The real agents who know how to work will be the ones who survive this cycle. Find one who will work for you!

3 - Know an Agent's Quality - A great agent will guarantee his or her service in writing. A bad one would run for the hills from a guarantee. A great agent will not make you sign a long term listing agreement. A bad agent will freak out if you won't sign a fat contract. If it's not working out, you need to be able to cut the cord.

4 - All the World's a Stage! - I got an email from a House Stager the other day (her business is called "ReFluff Your Stuff" in Georgia - I love that name!), about listing her business on our main site, so I thought I'd do some research. Hire a stager to go through your house and make your house sellable. Many people wrongly think staging is too expensive. Not true. It's about being creative, not spending money. It's actually possible to sell your home "as is" (and not stage) and lose money.

5 - Realistic Pricing Plans - You're not going to get the big profit you thought you would. Plan accordingly for a much more stingy market. Let your agent do the research on the right price for your home, in your neighborhood. I would recommend not leaving your house on the market too long (and expect some really low lowball offers.) If you've already moved and cannot sell, consider renting the house out at a reasonable rate to help provide some relief.

6 - Self Staging - You're a Do-It-Yourselfer, huh? Okay. Know this - any wild and crazy decorations, furniture, fixtures, colors, and designs in your house will turn off the average John Q. Public homebuyer. You might have the most clever and eclectic taste on the planet. Your artsy friends think your house is "to die for!" But dark, rich colors on the walls and ultra-modern furniture can turn off today's picky buyer.

- To save money, make sure you have Curb Appeal: manicure the front lawn, add some colorful flowers, paint the shutters, trim bushes, paint the front door a nice neutral color, brush falling leaves off the roof, etc. Lay down sod if the summer beat up your grass. Add a new doormat.

- Is any room in your house red? Blue? Bright green? School bus yellow? Paint it. Creams, whites, pale yellows, coffees, and light earthy greens. With white trim around the doors. Use an eggshell paint to keep off fingerprints and make it easy to clean before an Open House.

- Declutter. Remove those piles of books, magazines, and newspapers. Less is always more. Remove anything and everything knick-knacky. Take out all your family photos. They want to picture themselves living there. Again, less is more. Makes the house look and feel bigger.

- Check under your 70's orange shag rug and pray someone put hardwood floors there. Pull it up, rent a buffer (or hire someone to simply re-finish the floor), and you've got an inexpensive way to add home value.

- Turn cluttered kid's rooms into a guest bedroom. Not everyone has or likes kids. It could turn them off to see a pink bedroom with ponies and stuffed animals.

- Steam clean the carpets. Remove pets to the Mother-in-Law's house (you might be used to the odors, but...) if you have them. Use new fresh towels, candles, and flowers during an Open House.

- Replace blinds. Keep curtains open during showings - natural light sells.

- Make sure the house has "feature cards" in every major room (sell features, such as 'air conditioning', 'new water heater', 'finished basement') for showings.

- Get rid of dirty clothes, trash in waste baskets, mail on counters, make it look like no one lives there. Or a photo layout in "Metropolitan Homes.

Good luck in selling your house!

Labels: Housing Bubble, Real Estate

Last week, Stefania over at CityMama gave us some special "link love" and had these very nice things to say about our blog:

"Blogs I'm digging: Construction Deal, Baggage That Goes With Mine, and House of Prince.

...I started out reading people [blogs] that no one has ever heard of. I made a point of it even, and still do. (I sure wish I had known about Construction Deal when we were remodeling our Portland kitchen.)

Late at night, when I finally have time for myself, there is nothing I like more than going on a blog roll journey."

Thanks, Stefania! You rock!

I know, it's a bit early to start thinking about winter (it's going to be 103 degrees here in LA today), but if you contact a heating contractor now, you'll get better attention and a faster response.

First, check your insulation. Warm air rises and if you don't have great insulation, it could keep going straight up and through your roof. Most U.S. homes should have insulation with an R value above 22. The higher the value, the greater the thickness. Head up into your attic, with a ruler, and check to make sure your insulation rises up at least 7 inches.

Next, seal up your house. Inside, check for cracks around windows, gaps between your wall and flooring, and near your electrical outlets. Use caulk and caulk gun (or a Handyman) to seal minor gaps. Check the weatherstriping around all doors and windows. Outside, also check around your windows for leaks (have someone hold a light up to expose smaller gaps.) Check electrical outlets and loose faucets for gaps. Use expanding foam or caulk to fill them in.

This would be a great time to have your air ducts cleaned. Sure, your regularly replace your house air filter (right?) But your ducts also have a build-up of all that crap that you see stuck to your dirty filters every month. A good air duct cleaning will increase flow and efficiency of your duct system.

Make sure you have a professional inspect your heating (or cooling) unit before each new winter or summer season starts to make sure the system is in working order (fans lubricated, belts inspected, etc.) It can seem expensive, but an emergency call when it's Christmas morning and 10 below outside always, always costs more...)

Another cost saving tip: insulate your water heater and pipes. When it's cold outside, your water heater may need to work harder to get water hot and keep it hot. They have kits you can use to wrap insulating blankets around your water heater and insulation wraps for your water pipes. It prevents heat loss and helps the efficiency. However, make sure you follow any instructions provided with the kits -- you do NOT want to cover up anything close to flames or any air vents. If you don't know what you're doing, you can use one of our experts.

Everyone dreams of the perfect kitchen. They all want to toss their particle board kitchen cabinets and their cheap laminate counters from the mid-80's.

I've got an article, Countertops 101, on our main site that covers a lot of the basics of new kitchen countertop materials - check it out here.

But here's a quick sampling of what's available and what's hot in the latest Kitchen Countertop trends:

Butcher Block or wood counters are made from strips of maple or oak that has been glued together. But just about any hardwood can be made into countertops. Bamboo countertops are the latest trend! Wood counter material has a warm, beautiful look that can come in a variety of shades and textures. It's perfect for people who want to cut directly on the surface of their counter.


Granite countertops are the most popular but also the most expensive. Why? Besides the beautiful surface, granite is extremely heat and scratch resistant. A granite countertop is very durable and will last a long time. A granite countertop will never go out of style and granite slab installation will greatly increase the value of the house.


Stainless Steel Countertops are for more than just restaurants. They've come back in a big way due to the durability, stain and water resistance, low maintenance, a myriad of size and shape choices. It's also very easy to clean and you can put a hot plate or pan on the surface without worry of damaging it.

If you need to find a countertop installation company, keep ConstructionDeal.com in mind.

You should always check references. Get names and phone numbers (the Contractor should be proud of any past work and happy to give the information) and call them.

Ask -- at least -- these four questions:

1) Did the Contractor stay on schedule and follow the terms of your contract?

2) Did the Contractor listen to your concerns, respond to problems, and seem concerned about resolving the issues?

3) Were you pleased with the work and were you pleased with how it got done? (okay, so it's two questions... sue me.)

4) Did the Contractor make all the necessary corrections to any problems?

Click here to find out if a Contractor is licensed. When you're ready to do any renovations, keep in Construction Deal in mind to find a local pro.

We occasionally get requests to have Wine Cellars built or Wine Coolers installed in new kitchens. A good bottle of wine usually never lasts long in my hands, but I figured I'd pass along some wine storage tips for those planning to start a wine collection:

Keep Wine Temps Down

Make sure the wine bottles are stored at a consistent temperature (usually between 53 and 59 degrees Fahrenheit, with 55% to 75% humidity.) Keeping temps constant is a key. One of your best bets is a wine cellar in your basement or a wine fridge in your kitchen. Without those options, don't rack the wine in a warm, bright area - keep them in a dark place, low to the ground.

If you have a cellar installed, make sure they put the lights on a timer so that the heat from the lamps don't interfere with temperatures.

Store the Wine on it's Side?

Yep. I usually keep myself on my side after I've stored a lot of wine...

Age is Relative

How long to age the wine? Depends on your taste. If you prefer a bold, flavorful wine you can open it right away. However, if you prefer a more mature, mellow flavor, you can age a bottle for five, 10, and even 15 years to get taste you're looking for.

Re-cork Open Wine Bottles

If you're like me, the wine never lasts long enough to stick a cork back in it. But if you've opened up any old bottle of Chardonnay or what-have-you, and can't finish it, re-cork it. Put it in your fridge. Since any type of wine - red, white, rose - will "flatten", make sure you finish it off within 3 days of opening it.

How Long to Age?

Red wines usually age best. The flavor will mature when the acidic tannins fade. Ask your wine shop about how long to keep it on ice. Some wines should be finished off immediately and some (depending on the grape, vintage, etc.) should be stored for years. If the shop doesn't know, you can check with the maker of the wine - they usually have the details on their websites. They are the source and they know when their grapes will peak.

Mahogany?

You've heard mahogany is the best wood to use in a wine cellar? You've heard right. It's a great hardwood that is durable and helps protect the wine. Pine, birch, and oak can retain water and start to rot after an extended period. Some of the best cellars in the world use mahogany.

Need to find a carpenter to protect your grape juice investments? Click here!

Two friends of mine, one an editor over at the Kitchen & Bath Design News, wrote a really informative and very entertaining (re: funny) book on how to keep your cool while going through a kitchen remodel. It's called "Everything and the Kitchen Sink: Remodel Your Kitchen Without Losing Your Mind."

If you get a chance, check it out. Here's a sample:

"If you're still looking for a way to justify your new kitchen, here is our list of the top ten reasons to remodel:

You Are What You Eat.
Are you beginning to worry that the guy Burger King knows your kids by name? When you try out a new hair color, does the Chinese food delivery guy notice before your spouse does? A new kitchen might just inspire you to spend less time driving through or eating out. Even better, the latest appliances speed up cooking times, while offering all kinds of extras to help you make better-tasting, healthier foods.

You Support Energy Conservation.
Many older appliances consume enough energy to power a small third world country. Your parents taught you to clean your plate because kids are starving in Africa. Shouldn't you be equally conscientious about saving energy?

College is Over.
Just because you made it through four years of higher education with only a hot plate and a toaster oven doesn't mean you should cook that way for the rest of your life. You've got a grown-up job and a mortgage now. It's time to live like an adult.

Remodelers Need your Money more than Doctors do.
Cracked surfaces are havens for dirt and bacteria that can be dangerous to you and your family. Wouldn't you prefer the short-term inconvenience of a renovation (where you at least end up with a brand new kitchen) to a long hospital stay for food poisoning (where your doctor ends up with a BMW, and all you get is green Jell-O)?"

If you'd like to order the book, here's a link to the Amazon.com page: Everything and the Kitchen Sink

To find a quality Kitchen Designer, post your project free with Construction Deal.

In our continuing coverage of the latest trend in re-surfacing, we've got more information from Joe Welch, at Stained By Design. This time, Joe's got some information about maintaining your exterior acid stained concrete floor covering:

"Your Exterior surface should be sealed with multiple coats of a high-solids, UV-inhibiting, penetrating solvent-based sealer. This sealer will repel dirt, dust and other substances that can get a foot-hold on concrete surfaces and promote the growth of mold and mildew. Basic care is as shown below:

1. If you notice a powdery white or splotchy appearance; especially after a rain, the sealer is doing its job. This is the dirt/dust mentioned above. A rinse with a garden hose followed by a squeegee pull or leaf blower blow-dry will remove the excess water and dust.

2. Pressure washing is generally not needed. A rinse or a blow dry will remove most things on the surface.

3. If there was a spill of a soft drink or something you didn’t see right away, use a mild soap like Ivory liquid in some warm water to loosen the material. Rinse and blow and you are back to a clean surface.

4. Plastic glides or Magic Movers should be affixed to heavy furnishings or those which will move frequently.

5. Potted plants should have a dish placed under them to catch excess water; this is especially true if you use a lot of fertilizer on the plants. White powdery spots are caused by fertilizer run-ff and can be remove with CLR cleaning solution.

6. The surface should be resealed from time-to-time. The manufacturers of the sealant usually recommends resealing every 1 to 2 years. How often your surface needs to be resealed depends on the amount of rain and sunlight it receives plus how much abuse is place on the surface by people or pet animals. When you start to notice that water doesn't bead up on or seems to absorb into the surface, it is time to reseal."

If you're in Louisiana, contact Joe about getting your driveway, patio, or interior floors resurfaced with decorative concrete overlays at (337) 316-4505 or you can email him.

If you'd like to talk to a decorative concrete or acid stained concrete specialist in your area, consider Construction Deal. We have a nationwide network of concrete companies ready to help with your project. We'll match you to one in your neighborhood, for free. It's the smart way to find a concrete contractor!

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Acid Stained Concrete Flooring 101

Labels: Acid Stained Concrete, Decorative Concrete, Stained Concrete

I was watching DIY's Kitchen Renovations show over the long weekend and I got to thinking about homeowners doing part of the work themselves to save money.

Man, that show makes it look so easy to do. But it's usually not.

Many contractors will get requests from homeowners who ask if they can do some of the work during a project, like demolition or painting. Some even want to do framing and drywall work, ahead of time, to save money. And it's not that some people don't have the ability to do things, but I worry that a lot believe they can do more than they really can.

There are some things that I think homeowners should be aware of if they decide to "help out" during their renovation.

- If you do your own demolition or installation work, and you haven't factored in other work that needs to be done first, you could end up spending more money to get it all corrected (they may have to reinstall something or remove your installation to fix the problem or get an inspection.)

- If you have to call or meet with your contractor to ask for help, discuss methods or get advice, your contractor might (and probably should) charge you for his or her valuable expertise and time. Talk about it before you get your advice to find out if it will end up on your final invoice.

- If you are prepared to do a job on the site, you'll be treated like any other subcontractor and you'll be expected to do the work on time and meet quality standards. If you're not happy with your lumpy, uneven ceiling because you installed the drywall yourself... you might have to blame yourself. Or pay to have it corrected.

- If you are not available to be there when they need your work done, you could delay the timing and schedule of the job. You could end up losing a subcontractor who has to wait for you to complete your part of the job (because they'll move on to another jobsite) or you might have to pay them more to wait around.

I certainly don't want to discourage handy do-it-yourselfers from helping out on the job, saving a little money, and being able to brag about their work. But talk to your general contractor and make sure you've got some of these concerns answered so that there are no surprises.

If you need to find a local Kitchen Remodeling Company, consider Construction Deal as a great way to save time.

One of my neighbors has a solar power system on his roof. I've talked about the installation process because I've been considering it for my house here in Los Angeles. It's not just the "green" incentive either... well, money is green, I guess. And you can save a lot of it switching to solar power.

My neighbor had it installed a few years ago and he told me it was in the ten thousand dollar range (plus installation) to have the panels put up. It might cost more now, but I haven't looked into it. He said that the company that installed it helped to arrange a loan and the electric company provided incentives along with multiple tax credits. His house faces west, so he had to put them on the front of the house which doesn't look great, but... he said he rarely pays an electric bill anymore.

A typical 2 kilowatt (kw) residential rooftop PV system produces about 3,600 kw hours per year. This is about half the electricity usage for an average LA home. By substituting sun power for fossil fuels, this system avoids the need to make electricity by burning 3.7 tons of coal. In turn, approximately 10,000 lbs. of global warming greenhouse gases do not enter the atmosphere. Which is good.

You stay a part of "the grid." When the sun shines, you should be able to generate more power than your home consumes and your electric meter will spin backwards generating a credit. At night you'll draw on utility company power, essentially using the electrical grid as a giant battery.

But the incentives are nice, too. For a quick example, LA is offering a $2000 tax credit. There are incentives that provide "buydown" assistance to cover up to half of the installation costs. And the payback period (the time it takes to pay back the investment) is usually only a few years.

Check and see if you city or state has any solar power programs.

Do me a favor. You've got a long weekend coming up. Take some time and inspect your home to make sure you're ready in case of a fire emergency. It's long overdue and you know it. Protect yourself, your family, and your property.

CHECKLIST:

- Get rid of all the oily rags in your garage. Now.

- Check the lamps in your home. Find the maximum wattage rating. Make sure the light bulb does not exceed that rating. If you can't find it, take the lamp to a lighting store for recommendations.

- Look for frayed, loose, worn, or old electrical or power cords on all electronic equipment. Replace as needed.

- When you're checking your power cords -- feel each cord by hand. Is it hot? Relatively warm to the touch? Not always a good sign. It could be that the cord is overloaded or just old. If it's overloaded and continues to overheat, it could lead to wire fatigue and, then... fire.

- Can you remember when the last time was that your replaced the batteries in your smoke detector? No? Replace 'em. Pronto. Wipe down or dust the detector to keep it free from contaminates (don't use any cleaning agents or solvents on it.)

- Wait -- you don't have smoke detectors? Get thee to a home improvement store post-haste... (that means NOW!) And get a CO (carbon monoxide) detector - put it on a wall near your master bedroom, from about 1 foot off the ground to about face level to make sure it works properly. I think they also have combo CO and smoke detectors.

- Don't smoke in bed. Don't smoke on the sofa, when you're tired... Um, don't smoke period.

- Get a new fire extinguisher from any home store. Have at least one for every 500 to 600 square feet in your home. If you've already got them, check them out and make sure they'll still charged.

If you think you might want to install fire sprinklers in your home, we've got your covered! You can post your request for free right here.

Have a safe, healthy, and happy Labor Day Weekend!