Solar Water Heaters = Energy Savings!

If you're looking to reduce your energy bills and reduce your environmental impact on the planet, you might want to consider a solar water heater. Not only can it save you from high utility bills, it can cut down on your personal greenhouse gas emissions and can improve the value of your home. A solar water heater works just like you'd think it would. It harnesses energy from the sun to heat the water. Throughout the day, the sun warms water stored in a tank with a heating element that is solar powered. There are two different kinds of solar water heaters: passive and active. The passive system does not require pumps to move water - the only forces needed are provided by the water supply from the city or the simple engineering of water temperature changes! The active system uses a pump to move water to the storage tanks or the collector to be heated. Both systems usually keep the energy source off during the day for better efficiency. Another advantage to solar water heaters -- there may be a tax rebate available to reduce your costs further. These solar systems usually cost more upfront to purchase and install but, because of reduced energy costs, they usually pay for themselves after only a few years.

Ten Bathroom Renovation Tips

Most bathroom remodeling articles focus on the same things over and over again. A lot of it is common sense. I did manage to find an article on renovating the bathroom with some really unique tips that I wanted to share with you. Here are ten tips from Style at Home.com/ 1 Choose Elegant Fixtures. A pedestal sink with graceful lines is more attractive than a blocky cabinet vanity. A classic claw-foot tub is like bathroom sculpture. Even enclosed in a deck, the simple lines of the lip have an inherent beauty that surpasses most acrylic versions. 2 Sit in a Bathtub before Buying it. Bigger isn't always better. A 60-inch tub is fine for most people. It offers enough room to stretch out and provides a secure foothold, so you don't float into oblivion when the tub is full. Assess the angled back and lip for comfort and neck support -- a tub for two people slants at either end and has taps in the middle. If you only have enough space for a small tub, buy an extra-deep one. 3 Select Durable Flooring. Ceramic, marble and stone tiles are all excellent durable and water-resistant choices for a bathroom. Subfloor heating coils will make these hard surfaces warm. Well-sealed hardwood floors offer natural warmth and act as a foil for the other hard, cold surfaces in a bathroom. 4 Hang a Stylish Mirror. One beautifully framed mirror over a sink is more attractive than many surfaces covered with mirror. Supplement it with a wall-mounted adjustable makeup mirror, and consider installing a lighted, mirrored shaving niche in your shower stall. 5 Use Found Space. Take advantage of space between wall studs by recessing a tall storage cabinet into the wall to maximize vertical storage while saving floor space. The cabinet should have an interior depth of at least three inches and a door flush with the wall. 6 Build a Shower Area. Consider building an open-concept shower area that doesn't need a curtain or door and is less confining than a standard shower stall. In addition to well-designed drainage, a ceiling-mounted rain showerhead and/or a high wall-mounted showerhead that splashes less water will keep the area outside the shower drier. 7 Share Space for Added Function. In homes with back-to-back bathrooms, a shared shower with access doors to each of the bathrooms maximizes limited space. Or turn a closet located next to a bathroom into a small ensuite with access to the neighboring bath. 8 Design Lighting that Works. Good lighting is imperative. Combine halogen pot lights with wall sconces beside or over the mirror for lighting with no shadows. Always install dimmers. 9 Buy a Quality Toilet. When buying a toilet, it's not necessary for you to spend big bucks, but you don't want to scrimp too much, either. You can get a good-quality one-piece toilet for about $400. Models with elongated bowls and seats are usually most comfortable. 10 Incorporate Luxury into Your Room. If you're fortunate enough to have lots of space to work with, indulge yourself with an expanded spa-like bathroom that includes a dressing room -- a haven for privacy and relaxation. Outfit it with a television, fireplace, exercise equipment, makeup vanity and even a large comfortable occasional chair upholstered in thick white terry-cloth.

Outdoor Kitchens

Are you thinking about having an outdoor kitchen installed in your backyard? 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. Things to Consider When Planning an 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 Outdoor Kitchen Budget 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 completely functional outdoor 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 outdoor kitchen 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 and 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.

Construction & Remodeling Tips

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 knick-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 remodeling 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. 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!

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