ConstructionDeal.com Update

If you're ready for a new look in your home, or you want something a bit more... exotic, then you might consider bamboo flooring.

I'm remodeling my home to make it more eco-friendly and "green." Green means that I want to use Earth-friendly products, materials that are good for the environment, and things that are more sustainable or even recycled. I want to lower my impact on our natural resources.

Using bamboo flooring is a great way to be more sustainable. Since it's a grass and not a hard wood from a tree, it can be replaced in just 4 to 6 years. The same amount of wood from a tree could take 20 to 40 years to grow.

How To Install Bamboo Floors - Step One
If you like bamboo and you're ready to install it, you need to do a little bit of preparation first.

After you remove the linoleum, vinyl flooring, or carpeting that was there before... you'll want to remove the carpet tacks, staples, or any dried glue that is left over on our subfloors. You want to install the bamboo planks on a smooth, even surface.

Next, you need to inspect your subfloors. If you've got wood or plywood subflooring, or if you have a concrete slab, you need to make sure it is level. If there are peaks or dips in the subfloor, it can put stress on the bamboo (or any material you use) flooring that will rest on top of it. If any of the subfloor is warped, cracked, or rotten then you need to replace or repair it.

If the floor is made of plywood, like mine is, then it was probably nailed down to the floor joists below it. More than likely you've got a squeaky floor and some of the nails might even be popping up. Get yourself some wood screws and screw them into the plywood. This will hold the subfloor down and give you a tight, firm base to put your new bamboo flooring on.

And it should stop most of your floor squeaks.

Next, remove the baseboards around the entire room. Most baseboards were installed lower than the height of the bamboo planks, probably to accommodate the carpeting or tile flooring. This is a great chance for you to also install more interesting baseboards! And perhaps some crown molding down the road.

Vaccuum up all the dust and debris from all your work.

If you're going to install the bamboo floors or if someone else will, it's important to make sure you pick up (or have delivered) the boxes of bamboo several days before you plan to do your work. And leave it in the room where it will be put in.

Letting the bamboo acclimate to your room temperature, humidity, and other conditions will allow it to adjust. Wood (and grass) tends to expand and contract based on weather conditions. To make sure your flooring doesn't want to move too much, after you install it, let it sit for 3 to 7 days first.

Next, I'll be installing the underlayment and the bamboo flooring planks.

If you're interested in putting bamboo in your home, but don't want to try it yourself, you can always hire a professional to do the work for you. If you need to find a flooring installer, you can submit your request for free on ConstructionDeal.com. It's a fast, easy way to find contractors.

Simply fill out a form and you'll get calls from a few local professionals. There is no cost or obligation. And it will save you time - you won't have to call a bunch of people at random from the phone book. They will call you.

Labels: Bamboo Flooring, Flooring Options, Floors

I recently moved to a new house. After I started packing up boxes at my old house, I realized I was going to need to rent a dumpster. I knew I could post my request on the ConstructionDeal.com website and save time, but... I was curious.

I looked up several companies that rent trash bins in my area and called them. I told them I needed a small trash dumpster to clean up the house. After five calls, I had five completely different dumpster rental rates. Five! It ranged from $180 down to $75. For the exact same size of bin rental.

This underlines the importance of getting more than one quote on anything you do when it comes to renovation, home repair, construction, and such. Getting multiple quotes will almost always save you money.

Another thing to keep in mind when it comes to renting a roll off dumpster. If you think you're going to need to fill it up more than once... get a second one or larger one. Most dumpster rental companies will give you a better deal on renting two at a time. I found out the hard way - I though one would be enough. I had that one filled up the first day. I had them bring another one when they picked up the first dumster. I discovered, because it saves them on manpower and gasoline charges, that it's cheaper to get two of them on the first trip.

Most don't know where to look when it comes to finding dumpster rental services. You can try the phone book or search online. But I recommend posting your request with ConstructionDeal.com. It doesn't cost anything and you choose how many trash bin rental companies you want quotes from.

It's the best way to make sure you get the best prices when you rent. Now, I need to go clean up all the crap in the basement in my new house. Looks like I'm going to need another trash bin... But I'm getting two this time!

Labels: Dumpster Rentals, Trash Removal

Bamboo flooring is all the rage. In fact, I'm installing it in my house this weekend. Everyone loves the sustainable aspect of using bamboo for their floors. It looks good but it's also considered a very green material.

What you haven't thought about is that you can use the same material for your cabinets. Yes, the same bamboo plant that can be crafted into planks for your floor can also be used to make cabinets for your kitchen.

Bamboo? Really? Seriously?
Bamboo is not a wood. It's really a grass. And it grows like crazy. It's almost considered a weed in some parts of the country. This means that you can feel happy about the idea that you're not destroying a tall tree that took decades to grow to make your cabinets.

Sustainability is more than just a home improvement buzzword these days. It's here to stay. Some will pay any amount to lower their impact on the planets natural resources. But many more will go with the green product if the prices are comparable. And bamboo cabinets are priced right.

The nice about using this cabinet material is that it's very durable. More durable than most hardwoods. There are a variety of colors available, too. The lighter, natural blond color is most popular today, but no matter what you choose... you'll have an exotic look in your kitchen that everyone will be talking about.

It might be next for my kitchen, but for now - - I need to concentrate on installing my bamboo floors. Pictures and details on the project to follow soon!

Related Posts:
Bamboo Countertops?
The Latest Kitchen Remodeling Trend


Do you need someone to install bamboo cabinets in your home? We can help. Submit a simple request and we'll match you to local cabinet installation pros. It's a no cost, easy way to find bamboo cabinet contractors.

Not ready to install exotic bamboo? Bookmark our blog and come back often for the latest trends in home improvement.

Labels: Countertops, Kitchen Remodeling

Selling your home without a real estate agent may not be the uphill task that you think it is. With a little time and effort, it's easy to effect an FSBO (For Sale By Owner) transaction if you're familiar with the tricks and tips of the real estate market.

• The first step in selling your home is to have its value assessed. You can contact professional appraisers or do your own research using home selling and land investment software to come up with a figure that's as accurate as possible. Also contact real estate agents in your locality to see what other homes in the neighborhood are worth.
  

• In case the value placed on your home is much lower than you imagined, get professional help in improving your home, and thereby its value. Sometimes, all it takes to boost your home's market value is a coat of paint, a thorough cleansing from top to bottom, and minor repair work to spruce up its appearance. You may have to undertake major alterations like adding an extra bedroom or bathroom or redoing your kitchen's tiles and countertops if they're worn and look shabby. Before you start on any home improvement measure, perform a cost-benefit analysis to see if the expense on the repairs and remodeling is worth it. It's no use spending thousands of dollars on renovations if homes in your area are selling for under a particular amount.
  

• Once you've completed preparing your home for the sale, advertise the same in newspapers, local flyers, the Internet and through any other means possible. Tell people you know that you're putting up your house on the market so that you get the widest word-of-mouth coverage. Most Internet listings are free and allow you to include photographs and virtual tours of your home.
  

• Put up shots of the exterior from the front and take care not to exaggerate with visual effects. You don't want your buyers disappointed when they see the real thing. Before you shoot videos for virtual tours, remove clutter from your rooms and make sure they're clean.
  

• Include all pertinent information like contact details and times in your advertisement. Also include details about your preference for direct sales or those that go through agents on the buyers' side.
  

• Schedule open house days where potential buyers can tour your home and decide if they want to buy it or not. Keep a guest book handy and get your visitors to provide their contact information so you can follow up on their interests.
  

• When discussing a sale with a potential customer, leave room for negotiations. Offer to perform a few minor repairs that they point out if it's not going to set you back by too much, but don't cave in to pressure to sell at a much lower rate than your asking price.
  

• Some websites allow you to sell your house online. Online selling cuts your costs drastically, provides the maximum exposure and provides quick responses. Explore this option to see if it suits your needs.
  

• When finalizing the sale, consult an advocate to ensure that the paperwork and legal processes are taken care of smoothly.
  

By-line:

This article is contributed by Sarah Scrafford, who regularly writes on the topic of luxury real estate in Canada. She invites your questions, comments and freelancing job inquiries at her email address: sarah.scrafford25@gmail.com.

Labels: FSBO, Real Estate

MIA Challenges Radon Test Results of Granite Countertops "Cleveland, OH - The Marble Institute of America (MIA) has refuted the findings of BuildClean, a Houston-based non-profit organization whose recent in-home testing found that potentially harmful levels of radon are emitted by granite countertop surfaces.

The MIA, a trade association whose members include granite and other natural stone suppliers, issued 'an alert,' calling attention to the claims by BuildClean, which has tested radon levels in a variety of countertop surfaces.

'The issue of granite containing radon has surfaced repeatedly over the years,' said Gary Distelhorst, MIA CEO. 'The origins of these concerns [emanate] from manufacturers of radon detection devices and competing synthetic countertop materials.' However, Sara Speer Selber, BuildClean's president, defended the testing's validity, noting it was based on inspections by certified and bonded technicians, and was conducted 'by a science advisory panel of leaders in their field.'"

What is Radon?
The jury is still out with me. I'm not sure if granite and other stone counters contain enough radon or pose enough of a threat.

Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer (behind smoking cigarettes). It's an odorless and colorless gas that is emitted when uranium decays. And there is uranium in nearly all soil deposits. This gas can be inhaled and, over time, can cause cancer.

So, you can see. It is a big deal. And if there is a considerable amount of radon trapped in the granite, marble or other stone materials, then it could possibly affect your indoor air quality.

From all the testing that has been done and all the studies that have been made, this much is clear - there is almost always some radon or radioactivity in natural stone countertops. People working within the stone industry have an agenda and people who compete with natural stone countertops have an agenda. It can be hard to find out what you need to know.

What Can I Do?
If you have a granite counter or plan to get one installed, know that it's possible to have your home checked for radon and you can even use a do-it-yourself kit to check for it. As long as your monitor your living conditions and air quality in your home, and make corrections if you find any problems, you and your family should be fine.

If you still plan to get a granite countertop installed in your home, we can help. ConstructionDeal.com is a free resource to help you find contractors online. It's fast and easy to use. And there is no cost for our service.

Just tell us about your granite counter project and we'll match you with local installers. It's that simple. Submit your granite countertop project today. There's no obligation.

Labels: Countertops