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Rebuilding is Good for the Soul

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To me, nothing is more cathartic than holding a paintbrush and changing the look of a bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, living room with a color.  Painting is relaxing in that I can drop all my worries and concerns and concentrate simply, totally on transforming a room.  I tape.  I avoid splatter.  I avoid dabbing the color on the ceiling.

I should paint as a side job, except I would feel bad about taking money for doing something I love.

Repainting – like rebuilding – is good for my soul.  Just as it is good for Helen of Zero Mile Diet who has gone through many stress inducing life changes.  She has found rebuilding their rental home to be therapeutic,

Michael and I are rebuilding our home together; reframing where necessary and doing it right.  In this way, we’re doing the same for our relationship.  It’s taken a huge beating during this period of stress and it needs not only a lick of paint but some thorough TLC.  We’re stripping it down to the beams, filling the walls with insulation, stapling vapor barrier, hanging drywall, filling holes, sanding, painting, and making the rooms warm, comfortable and good to be in.

I admire her spirit, this Helen.

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Remodeling Q&A from Pennsylvania

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This question & answer post by the web site called Lancaster PA Remodeling Tips and Tricks spotlights their first remodeling project.  They discuss the ups (great new bathroom) and downs (no shower for a month),

are you happy you did it?
Yes. Taking a shower in a stall everyday is slightly better than taking a bath on a daily basis.

how often do you use the room?
It’s a bathroom/laundry room, so just about every day.

do you think you’ll remodel in the future?
Someday, but hopefully not in this house.

Check out this before and after picture!

BEFORE

AFTER

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Expect No Profit from Remodeling

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A new report shows that remodeling projects will warrant no profit when selling a home.  According to a study by the National Association of Realtors, home owners will recoup about 60 percent of their remodeling investment.  Where kitchens and bathrooms previously had the best payback, today it’s the exterior maintenance that is most rewarding.

Exterior improvements mostly performed better than interior ones, owing to the necessity of maintaining a home’s “curb appeal.”

“In today’s buyers market, given the large inventory, where people have so much selection, it’s important to have the exterior catch the eye so they’re willing to step inside,” according to Lawrence Yun, chief economist for NAR.

Consider a new deck, vinyl soffets, new gutters, and updated landscaping.

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Solar-Powered Projects

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Solar_power
The sun’s heat and light provide an abundant source of energy that can be harnessed in many ways.
In my quest to discover what there is to know about solar power, I found all kinds of uses for the suns rays that can help us conserve energy. First off was my discovery of solar water heaters.

Also called solar domestic hot water systems, solar water heaters generate hot water for your home in any type of climate, fueled solely by sunshine.

Solar water heating
systems usually cost more to purchase and install than conventional
water heating systems. However, a solar water heater can usually save
you money in the long run. Check out the U.S. Department of Energy site on solar power for the economics of potential savings. Find out more about solar water heaters here; and if you’re feeling particularly DIY, check out how to build your own unit!

The next interesting thing I found was an article at News Scientist Tech about solar-power paint.

Scientists are developing a
way to paint solar cells with a photovoltaic paint onto the steel sheets of walls and roofs of
warehouses and other buildings to generate electricity from the sun.          
       

   
       
            
            
               
            
       

   
       
            
            
               
The
paint will be based on dye-sensitised solar cells. Instead of absorbing
sunlight using silicon like conventional solar panels, they use dye
molecules attached to particles of the titanium dioxide pigment used in
paints.            
       

   
       
            
            
               
            
       

   
       
            
            
               
Finally, the solar panel. Through the use of photvoltaic cells, solar panels make use of renewable energy
from the sun, and are a clean and environmentally sound means of
collecting solar energy.

If you are looking for information
on solar panels and don’t know where to start, check out CALFINDER’s blog on solar panels and going solar.

Not quite ready to tackle solar projects on your own???   Don’t forget the fact that searching for a qualified solar installer will never be a dilemma. CalFinder Solar does the FREE screening for you and only works with the best installers in the industry. Get a bid now!

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Remodeling Instead Of Buying A Bigger Home

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HammerWith the current housing market being the way it is, more people are opting to remodel instead of buying a larger home. My friend Carol is doing just that- when I saw her last week, she told me she needed a bigger house, stat.

Her biggest concern was finding a good contractor to do the remodeling. She told me that seems to be the hardest part, because it’s hard to find good reviews of contractors anywhere, and one person’s good experience can be another person’s nightmare. It’s hard to know, really.

I told her about CalFinder. They have free estimates for all kinds of home improvement, and I love what they say about why you should use a CalFinder contractor:

Why You Should Use a CalFinder Contractor?

  • Quality workmanship
  • Fair pricing
  • Availability for your questions
  • Happy customers and vendors
  • Clear contracts and agreements
  • Friendly service

We only feel comfortable referring contractors that we would
have work on our own homes. When we certify a contractor we are looking for
more than just quality workmanship or a final product.

We care about the customer experience and look for contractors that ease
the process of home improvement. Our contractors are reliable, you can
count on the promises they make.

Being able to count on your contractor is so important! Remodeling is a major transition time in your life, and anything to make the process easier is a blessing.

Carol’s going to finish her basement to make more space in her house. Finishing your basement can be a great way to both add space and value to your home. She also told me that while she was having remodeling done, she’s going to add value to her home by remodeling the bathroom. Having a fabulous bathroom makes your home easier to sell- that’s so important in this stagnant market.

I’m excited to see what Carol’s home looks like when it’s finished. It is good to know there are companies out there like CalFinder that can make the process a little easier.

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When It Comes To Remodeling, Outside Counts

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Costvaluelogo_3
In the midst of the real estate slowdown, more and more home owners are deciding to stay in their homes and remodel rather than trying to sell in a challenging market. The 2007 Remodeling
Cost vs. Value Report has recently stated that three of the four projects with the highest
national percentage of costs recouped this year Resideyourhome_2

were exterior upgrades.

The most profitable project on the national level was upscale siding
replacement, recouping 88 percent of costs upon resale.

Our friends over at CALFINDER agree. They say in their post Fiber Cement Siding: Why It Stands Up to Wood and Vinyl that

"home improvement projects are not all created equal. Some garner a
higher return on your investment. Installing fiber cement siding is one
such project. According to Remodeling Magazine, an average of 88.1% of the cost of installing fiber cement siding can be recouped after resale. The magazine’s 2007 Cost Vs. Value Report
identifies fiber cement siding replacements as the consistently highest
paying midrange and upscale remodeling investment in several U.S.
regions. In addition, Industry News reports that fiber cement siding demand will rise at an above average rate through 2010".

Read more about Fiber Cement Siding and request Free General Remodeling Estimates here.

The other two exterior remodels that rated high for cost recovery were wood deck
additions Deck
and wood window replacements also returning more than 80
percent of costs.

Moving inside the home, according to the same report, remodeling trends tend to be the most costly upscale remodeling projects consisting of master suite
additions and major kitchen remodels. Those projects can reach costs well into six
digits. As it turns out, these major projects are also among the most
popular.

Kitchenremodeling_2
Find Kitchen Remodeling Contractors for Design and Renovation  and receive free estimates through our friends at CALFINDER

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Find A Contractor For Your Remodeling Project

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CalfinderFinding a good contractor for your remodeling project can be a dicey proposition. A friend of mine recently interviewed a contractor who got into a screaming match with his ex-wife on his cell phone while she was interviewing him. My parents hired contractors who left the state, leaving their job unfinished and with their money long gone. We’ve all heard the contractor horror stories before.

If only you knew who to call, to avoid getting ripped off. Well, now you do; our friends over at CALFINDER has started a network that has taken the worry out of the process. CALFINDER was developed by homeowners for homeowners.They do the screening of contractors for you as well as conduct ongoing monitoring and customer satisfaction surveys. All CALFINDER’s contractors are carefully pre-screened and monitored. Here’s just a few of the services you get when you partner with CALFINDER to find your next contractor;

"Before we certify a contractor we perform a variety of checks. Below are just a few of those checks:In-depth check of current license and insurance coverage   

  • Personal interview with at least 10 previous clients ensuring customer satisfaction and business reliability
  • Ongoing monitoring and customer satisfaction surveys
  • Follow up with each homeowner we work with to ensure that our contractors are providing a great serviceRemodeling_man

CALFINDER’s founders, who have a diverse background in construction,
computer technology and business management, realized that planning and
executing home improvement projects are incredibly time-consuming and
expensive and believed they could fill a void by developing a reliable
source to help local homeowners find high-quality contractors. CALFINDER was established in 2005 covering main home improvement
projects including home remodeling, painting and window installation. Working with a vast network of 200 top-notch,
professional contractors, CALFINDER handles more than 600 homeowner service
requests per month."

We at Shakhammer think this is a great solution to taking the worry out of finding a good general contractor who is good
enough to work on one of your most valuable assets- your home. Check out their home improvement and remodeling blog too for the most up-to-date information on home rejuvenation trends and remodeling projects.

 

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