How would you like to make your house more energy efficient AND have the government pay for some of the project costs through tax credits? If this interest you, pay attention. Right now the government has extended/implemented many tax credit programs that last through December 31, 2010. Today, I will touch on a few areas that will make substantial changes in your energy bill as well as being very wise decisions for the future of your home.
Insulation: Adding insulation is one of the easiest and most cost effective ways to reduce energy consumed in a home. Most insulation and products that reduce or eliminate air leaks qualify, just make sure they come with a manufactures certification statement usually found in the packaging. Be aware, however, that the insulation tax credit does not include labor costs.
Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning: Furnaces, boilers, heat pumps and central air conditions that meet the minimum requirements installed in 2009/2010 may qualify. You will be happy to know that labor costs for HVAC and Water Heaters are included.
Water Heaters: Water heaters account for 14% to 25% of the energy consumed in your home, so a new water heater is a great investment, especially if the government is willing to pay for it! Water heaters have an average life of 10-15 years. If yours is approaching the end of it life you should consider a tankless water heater or a newer version that qualifies for the tax credit program. Qualifying water heaters include gas, oil and propane water heaters (including tankless), electric heat pump water heaters and solar water heaters.
Windows and Doors: Whether it be one window or your whole house this is a very practical project to undertake. With the wide array of window options not only will this add efficiency to your home but could also add an aesthetic boost. If you can’t afford to do your entire house, start with the front and then work your way around. The tax credit does not include installation.
For all of the tax credits that I mentioned the government is willing to contribute 30% up to $1500 if installed in 2009/2010. The property will also need to be your primary residence, rental properties do not apply.
In order to claim these tax credits complete and file Form 5695 with your regular tax return. Although you will not have to submit certificates verifying the material you installed meets the energy requirements you will need to keep them on file.
A tax credit can be a great benefit, it reduces the amount owed to the IRS on a dollar for dollar basis. If your liability is reduced to zero with some tax credits being unused, the balance may be carried to the next years taxes. Please check with your tax advisor to see if these are feasible options for you.
To learn more about tax credits and materials that qualify please visit www.energystar.com.
Detail brings out character in your home!
There are many fine touches that can bring out the character in your home. Adding molding is something people often overlook, but it is a great way to bring out your home’s charm. For example, most people take a lot of time choosing cabinets, paint and tile but don’t put the same amount of time or thought into moldings. With the plethora of different materials available at the local lumber yard adding molding can be an quick and inexpensive weekend project.
Selecting the correct molding for your house is a simple process. First you need to know whether you want a painted or stained product. If you are looking for a product you can stain sticking with solid pine or poplar is a good idea. If your intention is to paint the molding, finger jointed material or MDF (medium density fiberboard, a less expensive product) are you best choices.
Next step, location, location, location!!! Usually all rooms have base and casing, crown and chair rail should be well thought out before installation. It is very usual to see crown molding, chair rail and wainscoting installed in a dining room or family room because these might be the only places you can get away with it. All of the material might be to much for the average living room or kitchen and give off a cluttered feel. As a general rule of thumb keep crown molding in the living room and chair rail in the dining room/hallway. Here’s an idea – for your bathroom think about a chair rail with a wainscoting but do it out of tile. Check out this example http://www.hgtv.com/home-improvement/covering-bathroom-tile-with-wainscoting/index.html. You will need to take a little time to experiment with molding locations throughout your home.
Installing molding can be a do it yourself job if you have some extra time, tools and a good eye. Chair rail, base and casing are definitely all do-it-yourselfers. Crown molding can be a little tricky especially in older homes where right angles and straight walls are rare. Installing any molding takes a lot of patience and remember measure it twice and cut it once!
Understand the types of molding
Crown Molding : Trim that runs along the top of a wall. Usually where the wall meets the ceiling.
Chair Rail : Trim that is mounted on the wall between 36” and 48” off the ground. Wainscoting : Paneling applied to the lower portion of a wall. Usually underneath the chair rail.
Base Molding : Trim that is mounted at the bottom of a wall.Casing : Trim that surround windows and doors.
Selecting the correct molding for your house is a simple process. First you need to know whether you want a painted or stained product. If you are looking for a product you can stain sticking with solid pine or poplar is a good idea. If your intention is to paint the molding, finger jointed material or MDF (medium density fiberboard, a less expensive product) are you best choices.
Next step, location, location, location!!! Usually all rooms have base and casing, crown and chair rail should be well thought out before installation. It is very usual to see crown molding, chair rail and wainscoting installed in a dining room or family room because these might be the only places you can get away with it. All of the material might be to much for the average living room or kitchen and give off a cluttered feel. As a general rule of thumb keep crown molding in the living room and chair rail in the dining room/hallway. Here’s an idea – for your bathroom think about a chair rail with a wainscoting but do it out of tile. Check out this example http://www.hgtv.com/home-improvement/covering-bathroom-tile-with-wainscoting/index.html. You will need to take a little time to experiment with molding locations throughout your home.
Installing molding can be a do it yourself job if you have some extra time, tools and a good eye. Chair rail, base and casing are definitely all do-it-yourselfers. Crown molding can be a little tricky especially in older homes where right angles and straight walls are rare. Installing any molding takes a lot of patience and remember measure it twice and cut it once!
Understand the types of molding
Crown Molding : Trim that runs along the top of a wall. Usually where the wall meets the ceiling.
Chair Rail : Trim that is mounted on the wall between 36” and 48” off the ground. Wainscoting : Paneling applied to the lower portion of a wall. Usually underneath the chair rail.
Base Molding : Trim that is mounted at the bottom of a wall.Casing : Trim that surround windows and doors.
Is bathroom remodeling a good financial idea? It sure looks like it!
A bathroom remodel is a solid investment, according to Remodeling Magazine’s annual Cost vs. Value Report. A $15,000 bath remodel will recoup almost 75% of those costs when it’s time to sell your home, and a more extensive $50,000 job returns 70%. In addition, you can maximize the value of your investment by using smart strategies to help you to get the bathroom of your dreams while keeping costs under control.
http://www.houselogic.com/
http://www.houselogic.com/
Small bathroom? Here are some tricks to enlarge it without demo.
Do you have big ideas for your small bathroom renovation? There is absolutely nothing wrong with that!
Here are some thoughts about making your small bathroom seem bigger without calling in the demolition crew. Instead of using the traditional style mirrors get custom mirrors that reach all the way to the ceiling. The color of your bathroom can play a big factor in how big or small it can look. Dark colors should only be used for larger rooms. Another trick is to paint the doors the same color as the walls.
The key factor is the less you have in a small area the bigger it will seem. In redesigning the small bathroom take time and make a conscious effort to de-clutter it will go a long way in opening up the bathroom. This is another great time to evaluate the size of any furniture you have in the bathroom. How many cabinets to you really need? is there to much storage? can the storage be moved to create more space? can the toilet be moved to enhance the bathrooms size?
During your small bathroom renovation, you"ll be looking for more creative and less bulky ways to store your bathroom items. Like space saver cabinets such as the ones that stand over the toilet make great storage areas for toiletries and towels. Shelving and hanging items will keep things out of the way as well. A blank wall is great for shelving and even small cabinets or bins.
There are other ways to get great results during a small bathroom renovation. If you do not use your bathtub consider removing it and adding a slim shower stall instead. Make your ceilings look larger by putting up crown molding and be sure to paint it the same color as your ceiling for the effect to work.
Ross White
www.whiteconstructiongroup.com
Here are some thoughts about making your small bathroom seem bigger without calling in the demolition crew. Instead of using the traditional style mirrors get custom mirrors that reach all the way to the ceiling. The color of your bathroom can play a big factor in how big or small it can look. Dark colors should only be used for larger rooms. Another trick is to paint the doors the same color as the walls.
The key factor is the less you have in a small area the bigger it will seem. In redesigning the small bathroom take time and make a conscious effort to de-clutter it will go a long way in opening up the bathroom. This is another great time to evaluate the size of any furniture you have in the bathroom. How many cabinets to you really need? is there to much storage? can the storage be moved to create more space? can the toilet be moved to enhance the bathrooms size?
During your small bathroom renovation, you"ll be looking for more creative and less bulky ways to store your bathroom items. Like space saver cabinets such as the ones that stand over the toilet make great storage areas for toiletries and towels. Shelving and hanging items will keep things out of the way as well. A blank wall is great for shelving and even small cabinets or bins.
There are other ways to get great results during a small bathroom renovation. If you do not use your bathtub consider removing it and adding a slim shower stall instead. Make your ceilings look larger by putting up crown molding and be sure to paint it the same color as your ceiling for the effect to work.
Ross White
www.whiteconstructiongroup.com
Bathroom Remodel (After)
Master Bathroom photo looking toward vanity 1.
Master Bathroom photo looking from vanity 1 to vanity 2. In this Bathroom we replaced the shower and shower valve, bathtub, cabinets, countertops, mirrors, plumbing fixtures, sinks, added lighting and changed the paint color.
When thinking about insulating, think about spray foam insulation.
Cost and cleanliness aside, there are clear benefits to using spray foam insulation. Because it's a spray and not a long piece of pink fiberglass, spray foam insulation gets into all of the tiny nooks and crannies, providing better insulation. Drafts are filled and the house is warmer in the winter. No cold air can escape in the summer either. In light of these facts, the homeowner with spray foam insulation can expect lower utility bills.
Spray foam insulation fills every little crack and crevice, so vermin and bugs have a harder time getting into the home, saving on extermination bills. Plus, it's such a great adherent, it can stick to a floor and insulate from underneath. Most homes insulated with spray foam have a higher resale value, especially newer homes. There are environmental advantages as well; most notably, there aren't any fiberglass particles floating around in the air.
Spray foam insulation also seems to last longer. It sticks to the walls and won't fall off like fiberglass. An extra bonus is that it doesn't cause itching when touched, unlike fiberglass foam, and it inhibits mold because it doesn't absorb water.
The do-it-yourselfer can also purchase small cans of foam at the home improvement store. These are perfect for sealing cracks around doors and windows as well as gaps around pipes and fixtures. For large insulation projects, however, it may be in your best interest to call in a professional. While it's more expensive to install spray foam insulation than fiberglass, it may pay for itself with the money saved on utility and repair bills.
Design Ideas for Small Kitchens
Small Kitchen Spaces In space-challenged kitchens, finding enough storage space is often a problem. Cutting back on your cabinets and opting instead for a walk-in pantry as well as removing those items that you hardly ever use are easy ways to make space for the items and appliances you do need in your kitchen. So move your china out of the kitchen and into the dining area; use this new found space for your pots and pans.
Your countertops can differ in heights; this allows for visual variety and also helps to maximize productivity if there are more than one cooks in the area. Vary your cabinet door styles to make your space more visually interesting; after all your kitchen does not have to be uniform in its outfit: use one style of door for your wall cabinets and another style for the island. On the same note, choose different cabinet paint colour or decorative finish; burnt orange for the island and gentle yellow for the surrounding cabinets; apply wood stains that are darker for the island and lighter for the rest of the area.
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