5 Universal Design Principals to Consider in Bathroom Renovations

You only renovate a house maybe two or three times in a lifetime. It is worth considering using the principals of Universal Design in any new renovation. Incorporating Universal Design principals will not only make your house easier to live in but may delay moving into a care facility in your later life. You can live in your house longer. Here are five things to consider when you are planning your renovation.

Accessible building entrance on an accessible route.

An accessible route means a continuous, unobstructed path connecting accessible elements and spaces within a building or site that can be negotiated by a person with a disability who uses a wheelchair, and that is also safe for and usable by people with other disabilities. 
Usable doors - that allow passage into and within all premises must be wide enough with a (nominal 32-inch) clear opening to allow passage by persons using wheelchairs.
Light switches, electrical outlets, thermostats, and other environmental controls in accessible locations.
Reinforced walls in bathrooms for later installation of grab bars.
Usable kitchens and bathrooms - that is, designed and constructed so an individual in a wheelchair can maneuver in the space provided.

 

Bathrooms

Bathrooms are one of the most dangerous rooms in a dwelling due to the hard, slippery-when-wet surfaces. Bathrooms typically have few handholds or other gripping surfaces useful for support. With the growing number of people with disabilities and the aging of our society, we have come to recognize that to be able to bathe safely and independently, people must be given a variety of bathing options. Traditional fixtures often do not meet the variety of individual needs.

Bathrooms designed using Universal Design principals provide a basic level of accessibility for a person using a wheelchair to maneuver about the space, approach and use the fixtures.

They do not differ in appearance from conventional bathroom designs.

Clear Space

In bathrooms, the basic building block of space used is a 30-inch x 48-inch clear floor space.

Clear floor space allow persons using wheelchairs and other mobility aides to approach and use the fixtures.

A 30-inch x 48-inch clear floor space is the approximate space occupied by an average size person in a conventional manual wheelchair.

Clear floor spaces for fixtures and appliances may overlap. The 30-inch x 48-inch clear floor space must be positioned for either a parallel or forward approach to toilets, vanities, baths and showers. Neither a vanity cabinet nor toilets should encroach on this clear floor space.

Shower Stall Size

A 36-inch deep or deeper stall better contains water and minimizes uneven warped surfaces so all four wheels of a persons shower wheelchair stay in contact with the floor. Thus, the user is better able to maintain traction and control when maneuvering into and out of the shower.

Other Considerations

Using vinyl safety flooring in conjunction with trench drains throughout the bathroom will ensure that you eliminate one of the major accident risks - wet slippery floors. Utilizing a trench drain at the perimeter of the shower stall, means that you only need to have a fall run one way for water run off. This will allow you to place a portable shower chair within the stall with minimal "wobble".

Installing single outlet mixer taps and a hand showers will enhance ease of use.

Putting some Universal Design thought into your next renovation project is bound to pay significant dividends in your later life.

Bathroom Design Ideas For Your Assistance

Bathroom is one of the most private places in the house where you can unwind yourself at the end of the day. Your bathroom is that corner of the house where you can take a shower to soothe yourself or soak yourself for a bubble bath to release your tension. We always look for imaginative bathroom design ideas for remodeling and improvising some changes to make that private corner of the house a suitable place for ultimate relaxation. The first step would be to jot down the entire bathroom remodeling idea in pen and paper.

While planning your bathroom design, you must first imagine how you want your bathroom to appear. Your imagination can then be turned into reality by allowing all the things to fall in place. You need not choose from the ideas and designs given in the catalogs; sky's the limit if your imagination and you can go as far as you want to.

To begin with, you must first determine the theme of the bathroom design. If you can look through some of the recent magazines, you'll come across several popular designs; just add a personal touch to those designs to make it ideal for your bathroom. Aquatic and nautical designs are very popular themes for bathroom designs.

You must choose appropriate colors for your bathroom as well as it can make a lot of difference to the outlook of the area. Some of the prominent color hues used for bathroom are purples, soothing blues, calming aquamarine and revitalizing blue-greens. Patterns can also be used to suit the chosen theme.

The flooring of the bathroom is also very important and must look nice and appealing. The walls and the flooring must maintain a color contrast, so if your bathroom walls are of a darker shade of color you must use lighter shades for the floor and vice versa. You could also use floor tiles to make a difference.

Make proper use of fabrics to add some detailing and texture to the appearance of the bathroom. Neatly arranged shower curtains, bathmats and fluffy towels can be used for this purpose.

You must accessorize your bathroom well, but don't mess up things. Arrange all your accessories very neatly so that it looks appealing. Bathroom accessories include proper furniture, fixtures, storage shelves, decorative pieces, hampers etc. You can also use pot plants and aromatic candles to enhance the appeal. Place mirrors on the walls and try to simplify the look. Use good looking soap stands to maintain the overall look of the bathroom. Avoid using too many accessories; you must limit using too many things to save enough space in the bathroom. It is not necessary to have all our storage within the bathroom, make some arrangements outside as well to make your bathroom more spacious.

All these bathroom design ideas are very simple but useful and handy. You can try these tips to remodel your bathroom almost immediately and it won't cost you much.

Choosing a Professional Plumber

At least once every year, you need to check your plumbing, pipes can clog up, water can get infected, and leaks can spring. When any of these happen, you need to call professional plumbers you can rely on.

It is also a good idea to have your plumbing checked to see that everything is in order. Also, in case of extreme emergencies, you need plumbers who will provide you with the service you need. The question then is, how do you know who to call?

Many plumbing companies claim to be the best, of course they will. And in a place like Reading, you can be sure there will be many companies who say their number one. But how do you find competent plumbers in Reading? How do you find a professional plumber in Reading who can cater to all of your needs? Here are some basic tips to help you find one.

1. Pricing

Money is always an issue. You want a company that has the best bang for the buck. Plumbers in Reading will provide you with reasonable price quotes for whatever task you have in mind. Be it a small leak underneath your kitchen sink, to a busted toilet pipe that caused a flood from the second floor; they will give you a competitive prices that guarantee quality results.

2. Experience

Who would you rather choose? A plumber reading an instruction manual as he works, or one who has experience in handling your plumbing needs? It is always a good idea to see how long a company has been around to scope their abilities. Instruction reading plumbers have a knack of messing up when confronted with a problem that is not in their manual. Plumbers in Reading has plumbers with numerous years of experience that can be depended on.

3. Safety Guarantee

Safety should be a very big concern. It is not a good idea to readily assume your plumber will act professionally when confronted with accidental injury, and property damage. Ask questions to see how a company will handle incidents that were not part of the plan. The Plumbers in Reading company has a top-notch safety guidelines that are strictly followed and in the rare case of a mistake, they are ready to handle it.

4. Clean up

Why spend more money on cleaning up after them? Look for the plumbers who include clean up as part of their contract. You are already paying them to do a job that will sometimes get surrounding areas dirty, the least they can do is clean up after they are done. A competent commercial and residential plumbing company such as Plumbers in Reading ensures that you do not spend more than you need to.

5. Insurance

A qualified plumbing company will not hesitate to show you its insurance policy. Make sure they are fully insured. Check if they have liability insurance and workers' compensation. Needless to say, you are putting yourself in danger if you hire a plumbing company with no insurance. Plumbers in Reading shows you its insurance policy up-front, no need to ask. We want you to know that it takes its work seriously and covers all the basics.

How a Quality Sink Water Filter Can Protect You From Ingesting Chemical Poisons Every Day

You may not feel that there is a lot to be gained by installing a sink water filter in your home, but the truth is that one of these appliances can do you a lot of good. If you allow unfiltered tap water to freely enter your home, then you are setting yourself up for a lot of health problems in the future. You may not think that the state of our water is that bad, but believe me, it is.

Studies have shown that every time you drink a glass of unfiltered tap water you may be ingesting anywhere from three to five individual chemical agents. There are traces of as many as 80,000 different chemicals present in our reservoir system. Some of these chemicals entered our water supply by accident, but the majority of them are there due to careless disposal.

Millions of tons of chemicals have entered our water supply because of major industries dumping chemical waste directly into our lakes, rivers, and streams. The bulk of these chemical agents are toxic to human beings, but there are at least 2,100 of them that have been positively identified as cancer causing agents! Are you convinced yet that you need to install a sink water filter in your home?

If that did not do it for you then I have another fun fact that may cause you to sway towards my way of thinking. Have you ever wondered what hospitals, doctors' offices, clinics and pharmacies do with all of the out of date medication that they have on hand? What they do is follow the instructions from the pharmaceutical companies as to the best method of disposal; they flush them down the toilet.

In order to prevent all of these chemical agents from entering your home you need a sink water filter. You can't depend on the treatment facilities to protect you like so many others do, because they are helpless to do anything to halt the flow of chemicals, toxic metals, and parasites and cysts in your water. That's right, not all potentially dangerous microbes are killed during the chlorine disinfection process; indeed, shockingly few dangerous substances are removed.

A high quality counter top or under counter sink water filter will feature a quartet of filters each designed to remove certain contaminants from your drinking water. Due to the tremendous number of chemicals present in your water, you actually need two different filters to fish them out. The multi media block and granular activated carbon filter will effectively remove these chemical agents.

For blocking traces of toxic metals such as lead and copper in your water, your filter needs to be equipped with an ion exchange. This handy filter will replace the toxic metals that it finds with healthy electrolytes, and it will also ensure that the pH level of your water stays balanced. An ion exchange will ensure the removal of any disease bearing parasites and cysts present.

A high quality sink water filter is a major necessity in your home. You simply can't afford to overlook this lifesaving but inexpensive device.

Toilet Terrors And Other Potty Training Fears

Potty training fears, often called toilet terrors, are common among toddlers and small children. Look at things from your child’s perspective. He is giving up the security of a diaper for a big, cold thing with a giant hole that might swallow him. Up until this point, your child has been able to go in his diaper. He didn’t have to control himself until a potty was available. He could go anytime and anywhere, knowing that someone would always be there to change his diaper. The idea of having to go to a specific location means he will have to stop what he’s doing to use the potty. To top it all off, he looses the warmth of his diaper and must now go potty naked where other people might be watching!
Common potty training concerns and solutions:
Fear of Making a Mistake – Your child is just beginning to control his bodily functions. He won’t be perfect at it, and might worry that he will be punished for accidents. Throughout the potty training process, assure your child that you are there for him and he can come to you if he’s afraid or worried about something. When accidents happen, don’t make a big deal out of them. Simply clean up and tell him that you know he is trying. Potty training is often a good time to build a trust between you and your child that will last throughout your lives.
Fear of Automatically Flushing Public Toilets – More and more public restrooms switch to automatically flushing toilets. Children who are at the later stages of potty training (transitioned from the potty chair to the toilet) are often fearful of the public toilet flushing while they are seated. These fears can be alleviated with a simple, inexpensive device called the Flush Stopper.
Fear of Falling In – The fear of falling in the toilet is common when your child has mastered the small potty-chair and transitions to the toilet. You can help alleviate this fear by purchasing a potty seat that either fits on the toilet or attaches to the toilet such as the Flip-N-Flush [http://www.zipbaby.com/potty_training_products_flipnflush.php] or PRIMO's Ducka [http://www.zipbaby.com/potty_training_products_primo_ducka.php]. The potty seats will decrease the size of the toilet hole and help your child feel more secure. The Flip-N-Flush is especially useful because it flips down for your child’s use and flips up so that other family members can easily access the regular toilet seat.
Your child’s fears need to be addressed as real and serious fears. If your child knows that you understand and are trying to help, he will feel more relaxed and comfortable while potty training.

The Advantages of a Squat Toilet

Frequent travelers and those who are stationed overseas are very familiar with the concept of a squat toilet. Others, though, may find this to be a very unusual bathroom fixture.

Rather than sitting up off the floor like a standard flush toilet, the squatting toilet is basically just a hole in the ground into which you urinate and defecate. The only exception that you will find is a "pedestal" squat toilet. This style is approximately the same height as toilets found in America.

Squat toilets are most frequently found in Asia and Europe and go by a variety of names, such as Iranian, Turkish, Eastern or Natural-Position toilets. Yet, they function in much the same way as a traditional one.

The main difference between a squat toilet and a flush one, other than the position of the fixture, is the lack of toilet paper. To compensate for this, a bowl or bucket of water is placed next to the unit and you wash yourself rather than wipe. This can be very difficult to get used to when you come from a country with flush toilets, but adjustments have to be made in certain situations.

The reason the squatting toilet is so popular is that many believe it is cleaner and safer than its seated counterpart. Some studies have shown that sitting on a toilet may lead to hemorrhoids.

In addition, it is believed that straining while seated during a bowel movement can lead to illnesses such as constipation, IBS, and colon cancer, among others. The reasoning for this is that the straining causes a lot of pressure on internal organs which leads to nerve damage in these organs. The damaged organs are then more susceptible to disease.

Other concerns focus on the amount of fecal matter left during a bowel movement produced on a seated toilet. Some experts believe that fecal matter left in the body can stagnate and lead to disease also.

Yet, concerns about disease also arise from the use of a squat toilet. People often do not use the fixture properly, or don't care enough to hit the hole. This can lead to a dirty floor surrounding the toilet. When the next person goes to use it, their skirt or pants may fall and land in this mess, leading to sickness. So many people choose to completely remove their lower clothing before using the fixture to eliminate this problem.

The choice of whether to install a squat toilet is personal, and only you can decide if it will work for you. For more information about these unfamiliar eco toilets, see the author's website, shown in the paragraph below.

Success Tip - Commitment Versus Compromise - Take a Pick

Nothing beats a man or woman who is CONVINCED, CONVICTED and COMMITTED to a CAUSE. We can tell how far you will go by what powers you. Your engine capacity (internal VALUE system) spells out your DESTINY coordinates. You have no one to blame but yourself if you end up at someone else's destination. Commit to your PURPOSE, your PATH and your PLAN rather than spend time observing other people's PROGRESS. Many times we attempt to do things but we do not have a deep seated commitment and conviction about what we do. We do things to merely spend time and see another day but not to intentional leave a mark or an impact. We act while harboring doubts about the outcomes hence we are not convinced enough. Alternatively we start working on a project but we lack commitment to making things happen. We do it when we "feel" like doing it hence the project suffers from lack of attention. Eventually it was another good, sensible idea, gone to waste. All the great people I have studied have shown an unwavering, unshakable and immovable desire to be committed to their dream, passions and ideas. Commitment separates great men from fly by night dreamers. If all the inventors and innovators had one day old commitment, we probably would not have the great, smooth lives we enjoy to this day. Someone had to be committed to what they saw in the dream, they let nothing or nobody influence them negatively. You have to realize that your invention may look too simple to some people but in no time, people cannot live without it. Check the history of the originally simple idea of online community called Facebook. To this day, people get to the point of addiction to this new idea and concept but did not even think beyond email and web browsing not so long ago. Even the coming of the internet was itself not much of an addiction to many than this new phenomenon.

Jeff Mullin, a senior writer of the News and Eagle started his article by asking a vital question "What couldn't we live without". In his article he mentions some of the greatest inventions of all time which look simple now but took a great deal of commitment to make. He highlights that "the flush toilet, invented in 1591 by Englishman Sir John Hampton, was on the list of the 325 "Greatest Inventions of All Time," recently released by the folks who publish Encyclopedia Britannica. The list ranges from the aerosol can, invented in 1926 by Erik Rotheim of Norway, to the zipper, developed in 1893 by American Whitcomb Judson. In between are such modern items like disposable diapers and Post-It Notes, as well as venerable favorites such as the automobile, the telephone, the steam engine and the airplane".

Commitment and conviction is what helped me during the most devastating time in economic history. It is interesting that I formed Infotech just a year after the economy of Zimbabwe had started the decay process. It was down-hill all the way such that when the Global economic crisis hit other nations towards 2009, we had been hit many years earlier so it was not new to us. We had the experience. There were justifications and good reasons for anyone who managed to close shop and sell businesses. Somehow my conviction kept me hoping that someday the whole meltdown and economic madness would end. Sure enough it had to take all the 9 years since I had been in business for some level of sanity to prevail. No one would have blamed me if I had quit on my vision. Many bigger corporates closed shop and left. I remained convinced that I would cross over to a new economic order which indeed happened. At the time of writing this book, we have started seeing the signs of economic recovery in our nation after the dollarization of the economy.

Ponder Points - Think about this - What cause are you committed to? Are you committed to your dream and ideas to the point of not letting go in the midst of adversity, criticism and discouragement? What ideas do you have which may seem small but no one has ever done it before?

Affirmation Points - Say this to yourself - I am committed to my dreams and vision. I have set my mind not to turn to the left or the right. I am focussed on the ultimate goal, to be the next success story that people will be talking about many years from this day. I am more than what people have told me. I walk with boldness and knowledge that my commitment today creates my world and a whole new perception in people's minds. I am confident though that people's perceptions of my progress do not affect my commitment to all I desire to do.

Preventive Maintenance For Your Plumbing

To avoid recurring costs and the hassle of hiring professional or registered plumbers, it would be wise to go ahead and do a few checks on your home plumbing system yourself. Preventive maintenance is all you need. Keep in mind that a plumbing system is composed of pipes and plumbing appliances. These appliances are your toilets, bathtubs, showers, sinks as well as the laundry facilities and maybe your lawn sprinkler system.

Water pressure is an essential factor in giving you a decent and adequate water supply to your home. One of the problems you might encounter is the loss of water pressure on a certain plumbing appliance. Loss of water pressure could mean one of 3 things. One, there's a leak somewhere along your water pipelines. Two, something's clogged up in your water line. Three, something is going on with the water company supplying you water.

Another important factor in your plumbing system aside from the pipes and fixtures are your drains. Observe how fast the water goes down the drain. Overtime, you may notice that it takes longer for the water to go down. This is an early sign telling you that a clog may happen. Chances are, something is already clogged in the drain line, but its not causing any major problems. It is best to address this early because as time goes by, that small clog will start to collect other materials like human hair, dust or whatever goes down the drain. Eventually, its going to cause a major clog and you'll have a headache on your hands. It might be a good idea to use those chemical solutions that you pour in the drain but nothing beats a snake or a rooter.

The toilet is probably one of the most significant pieces of plumbing appliances. Some even consider it the most important thing at home. More than often, clogs or backup up toilets are the number one problem for this plumbing appliance. Do not flush anything else other than your "human waste" down the toilet. Paper may seem harmless but it eventually builds up and may clog the drain. If you are going to use toilet paper and flush them down, look for those biodegradable ones that dissolve in water overtime. Another common problem of toilets are the inner workings of the toilet's tank. Sometimes the parts and valves in them malfunction. It would be wise to replace these parts if years have gone by because sooner or later they will fail and you don't want it to fail during the most crucial times.

As for your other plumbing appliances, check to make sure that you spot leaks on the sink, bathtub or shower. Finding them early will save you a boat load of headaches and money. These leaks are likely to be caused by cracked, hollow or loose tiles around the plumbing fixture. You might also want to check if the gaskets in your faucets are still fine because they'll wear out eventually since you do use them almost everyday.

One last plumbing appliance you may need to examine is the water heater. Check the heater's burner chamber. See if there is rust around it. It may need cleaning or even get replacement if necessary. Check the flame of the heater. The color of the flame should be blue. If you see hints of yellow then that means the burner needs to be cleaned. You should also consider cleaning the inside of the water heater. Overtime, sediments in the water may build up inside it.

So how often should you do these preventive measures? It's nothing more complicated than just once a year. If you've done your preventive maintenance then you will save a lot of time, money and headaches. You won't have to keep on calling that emergency plumber when your plumbing breaks down.

Bathroom Remodel Ideas - Tips to Help With Your Next Project

Bathroom fixtures is very important. It can really make your home's most intimate room beautiful. As with any room in your house it's the small things that can make the biggest difference and bring your bathroom to a whole new level. The tiniest of details can surprisingly add a whole new level to your bathroom and will also add additional functions that will help out a lot. Clutter is never cool. Bathrooms appear in all sizes but there are probably as much small bathrooms as their is big bathrooms. As a result making the most of the space you might have is crucial. Once again it is the little points that develop the ambiance inside your bathroom. When you are dealing with a small space you want to make it appear bigger. The feeling of being trapped is in no way a great feeling. By adding mirrors you can give off the sense that the bathroom is larger than it is. Make an effort to get smaller fixtures like lighting, toilet, and a vanity.

Ensure that the vanity mirror and sink are relative in size. There is nothing uglier than a huge mirror over a small vessel sink. This style is confusing for the eye and makes the bathroom look small and ugly. The placement of mirrors is critical as well. With your small bathroom you must eliminate as much clutter as possible. It's important to have small hidden drawers, an in wall medicine cupboard and possibly a little closet. Using the vanity for storage space is usually a good thing. One can find small vanities available on the market which have some storage space. Try to make use of shelves but only put neat things on these shelves such as already folded towels, candles... certainly not an open tooth paste bottle, tooth brush, a brush with or without the hair, a newspaper or magazine, etc. I possibly could continue for days concerning the stuff that your house guests shouldn't have to see when they are in the bathroom. Anyhow enough with that rant. Generally keep it simple.

Bathroom colours really set the mood. Colors do influence your subconscious mind. White, light yellows, a few gentle pastel colours help to make your bathroom feel much more open. Thus try to use these color variations. More dark colours tend not to make use of lighting and make the bathroom feel smaller. When you're buying paint be sure you ask an expert about waterproof paints. It is really an absolute headache watching paint chip in your bathroom due to a few hot steamy showers. Furthermore go the extra mile when spending money on your bathroom's paint, high quality counts.

Let's move onto the lighting. Try and present sufficient light so the space feels open and comfy. You don't want the bathroom to seem like a police interrogation and definitely not like you are in a dimly lit creepy cocktail lounge. Try putting a light on the ceiling and maybe one to enhance the vanity. Attempt not to make the vanity light too vibrant, it may be a self-confidence killer. Last but not least aim to get all Eco-friendly materials for your bathroom. This consists of recycled items, pre-used, bamboo, and water conserving equipment like reduced flow dual flush toilets.

Bathroom Mirrors - Things to Consider When Buying

When you are decorating your house, it's easy to get excited about the theme of your living room, or the way that your bed spread will match the drapes in your bedroom - but you can't forget to pay close attention to another important room in your home, the bathroom. Too often do homeowners overlook the importance of one of the most basic bathroom elements which is their bathroom mirror.

When you're shopping for your bathroom mirror, there are a number of things that you need to consider. First and foremost, you need to consider if there are any practical limitations. For instance, is there a certain shape or size that your new mirror needs to fit into? Perhaps the type of wall that it will be one requires that it be mounted by hanging with screws. This is common with certain types of wall finishes that are difficult to use adhesives on.

Next, you need to make sure that your new bathroom mirror fits in with the major shapes of your bathroom. If you have a lot accessories of a certain shape, then you can narrow down your new purchase to the same shape. You can also consider how fancy your current theme is. This will help you narrow down what style your new mirror should be. If you have a very fanciful bathroom, you have a multitude of choices available to you. If your current theme is quite basic, you should have a very wide range of options.

There are many choices of designs that you can consider as well. Some bathroom mirrors look like they are set in an old picture frame, while others have no border at all. Just take some time to consider what you have available to you. Not enough people consider the importance of the look and feel of your bathroom. After all, there is no doubt that almost all of your visitors will visit this room sooner or later.

New Bathroom Renovation Budget

The bathroom is usually regarded as a great sanctuary where one could finally relax after a long day's work. This area is also mostly subjected to renovations. In any endeavor of remodeling, you need to prepare your budget first of all. You could go from DIY solutions to intricate detailing done by professional contractors.

You need to decide on your budget. And you could only set the proper financial costing if you initially settle on the type and extent of the renovation. You must have at least rough draft of the bathroom's final look. The plan should include the new designations of lighting and positions of new fixtures. Especially for the full remodeling task, you need to consider the electrical connections and plumbing. Unless you are savvy in these areas, you have to hire the services of professionals. To lessen your expenses, disregard hiring a middleman. You could easily handle the transaction with the contractor or electrician. Some home improvement shops are great locations where you could find trustworthy workers and servicers. Their fees would depend on the extent of their task.

DIY renovation

If you really are on a tight budget but your bathroom needs a little zest, opt for this method. You would be surprised at how much you could save on labor fees if you decide to do most of the work. However, if your plan includes re-assignment of pipes and electrical wiring, you really need to consult experts to avoid mishaps.

The main focus for self-help remodeling is to give proper attention to the materials. You could get quick tips from online DIY home improvement sites. These offer suggestions where good materials can be found and at great prices too. For one, you could find listings of salvage yards, thrift stores and bargain shops. You could get great deals by buying scrap wood and/or metal. You could also check out new tiles, which are cheaper when bought in bulk orders. In addition, there are a wide range of furniture pieces looking closely similar to antiques, which are naturally less expensive. Claw foot tubs, faux leather finish mirrors, dresser tables and even slightly used sinks.

You could also find good use for old doors, cabinets, toilets, bathtubs and shower heads. You could enhance their look by simply refurbishing paint application or adding decorative detail. For example, you could achieve rustic finish for doors and cabinets through simple applications. Put nails in a thick cloth. An old towel would be perfect. Beat the door and cabinets using the bundle. You would see nail marks on them. Apply a fresh coat of paint. Super white is preferable for bathroom doors and choose a contrasting or complementing color for the cabinets. Let it dry for a half day. Apply clear varnish into the surfaces. Let it dry for a couple of hours. Once everything is set, these fixtures would seem as if bought from an antique store.

Any old dresser could be converted into a sink counter. Do the same paint and varnish treatment for a consistent look. Drill a hole into the top of the dresser which could accommodate your existing sink. Ensure that the plumbing would still function well.

Full-blown remodeling

This one requires extensive spending. But you could have an overview of the total expenses if you use a bathroom construction/renovation calculator. You could access home design directory online sites that offer free estimation for your request. Basically, you would be asked to choose the layout. Some sites display visual presentation of layout options. When you have selected the layout, specify the size, contents and tiled area.

The size ranges from small to large or customized according to your preference. As you designate the tiled area, you would also be asked to choose the tiles. As for the contents, you could pick which ones should be included - bath, mixer, wall spout, bench top, basin, mirror, shower enclosure, towel rails (heated or traditional), robe hook, exhaust fan, and others. The costs depend on your specifications. For example, renovating a small bathroom including tiled floors and walls would cost around $22 per sq-meter. The price would increase depending on the tiles you choose. The standard-type tiles per sq-meter cost around $40. The contents range from $80 to $2,000+ a piece. The prices are dependent on the type of the materials.

You should also consider the labor costs. You could save a little if you stick with the original positions of the electrical wiring, plumbing, windows and other fixtures.

The main point in all of these is that you could have better renovation experience if you know how to stick to your budget and layout. You need to be decisive so you could be spared from unnecessary spending.

What To Check When Buying A Used Home

When buying used or foreclosed homes, you can usually find lists of foreclosed or previously-owned homes at your county hall, at the courthouses, or online through many different real estate listing websites. While buying used, or either foreclosed homes has many benefits, there are definitely some risks involved.

Old homes can be just as problematic, or worse, as back-breaking, as new ones. In fact, because they have been tested by years of use and abuse, they can be filled with problems, especially if the builder used any shoddy, unethical house-building methods. It would be best to hire a qualified house inspector before you buy as a good hedge against very expensive surprises.

But then again, hiring a house inspector can be very costly -- from several hundred to a thousand dollars or more. However, if you ultimately end up buying the house, this is money well spent. On the other hand, if the house has serious drawbacks, you're better cut off saving the cost of the inspector and moving on to a better prospect.

In order to determine a house's overall quality before you decide to get the services of a house inspector, here are a few suggestions to keep in mind:

o Make a thorough check of the structure. From a considerably distant vantage point, take a good look at the house. Do the walls appear to be plumb and flat? Then go inside, and see, are any walls bowed or not square at corners? When you go to the middle of the living room floor, does it flex or feel solid?

o Inspect water control facility. Does the ground slope away from the base of the house? Will gutters, downspouts and drainage pipes carry excess water away from the house, or directly into the basement? Scout for any evidence of water damage.

o Take note of the finer details. Check on the quality of workmanship in the finish details such as moldings, tile work, hardware, wall panels and paint.

o Where's the roof?. Is the roof new and in good shape? Go up and see if looks neat and properly applied.

o Verify the quality of the electrical system. Are the number and locations of receptacles adequate to the needs of the house? Is the main circuit breaker marked at least "100 amps"?

o Inspect kitchen and bathroom fixtures. See if the sinks, toilets and tubs have quality fixtures. Find out if they do work properly. When you turn on the faucets and flush the toilet, check if the water pressure is adequate.

o Water heater and plumbing systems. Verify if the water heater is either gas or electric. Water supply pipes from the water heater to fixtures should be copper.

o Heating systems. Locate where the furnace or heater is and what type is it. Find out if any rooms are not heated. Is the house air-conditioned?

o Insulation concerns. Take a peek at the the attic and check for insulation; R-19 is a minimum in moderate climates; and up to R-38 (12 inches of fiberglass) is required in cold climates. Remove the receptacle cover on the perimeter wall to check for wall insulation.

o Fireplace quality. Find out if the fireplace has screens or glass doors, and dampers and log lighters. Is there a combustion vent that draws air from the outside and a spark arrestor at the top of the chimney?

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