ERHolz General Contracting

Great design is like a masterpiece, you know it when you see it. But even if it’s beautiful, an object is not well designed if it?s missing the most essential element: function.

The ever increasing attention to home products is reflected in a growing trend of integrating pleasing design into every part of the house, from showers to the kitchen sink. According to Mary Jo Peterson, a design consultant and a veteran in home improvement projects, consumers are demanding more style in their homes. However they do not want to sacrifice ease of use, either. Peterson points out that as baby boomers age, more companies are designing home products that look great while taking into account accessibility issues and the concept of universal design.

Multitasking is all in a day’s work in home improvement projects, kitchen remodeling, bathroom remodeling or a simple mixing of colors. Decorating ideas are like magic tricks, you just need to learn a few trade secrets and a bit of practice to perfect it.

Installing products that add style to the home and that can also adapt universally to owners’ changing needs are vital factors both in building and renovating a house. This will serve the current occupants quite well and will also increase the house value when the owner decides to resell.

Bathroom remodeling is a definite step in home improvement. If we consider the amount of time we spend in this room, then this is one space that we cannot afford to overlook. Think of it like this, a decade from now will you be able to easily get in and out of your current bathtub? Other bathroom designs that needs further contemplating includes the height of the lavatory countertop, as well as the space beneath and if it allows legroom for a user in a wheelchair.

Universal design could also pay off in kitchen remodeling. The kitchen is typically the most used room in a home, a place for cooking, eating and spending time. As the heart of the home, there are some interesting alternatives for kitchen that go well beyond the norm. Planning for a variety of counter heights to add function is fast becoming a trend in kitchen redesign. A lot of new kitchens features two or sometimes even three different counter heights, a working area for someone who is seated, another at normal height and the third one is at bar height which is suitable for a taller person.

In kitchen redesign, appliances are also beginning to address universal design issues. For instances dishwashers that can be installed in drawers and under counter refrigerators add a contemporary impression as well as for easy access.

The primary objective of universal design is not only to add style and elegance to your home, but to make your life easier and ultimately turning your home into a more comfortable place to live.

Have you ever thought of changing your room’s design? Do you think your porch needs a little makeover? Then it is time for you to make some improvements in your home and create a difference.
Home improvement can add sparkle to a dull wall color, a new shade to a dreary interior design, or vigor to a lifeless porch. It simply pertains to the method of refurbishing or repairing a home.
In most cases, home improvements are executed by an expert. However, with the cost of commodities nowadays, plus the real service fees of “professional handyman,” many people have opted to work on their home improvements through their own initiative.
No wonder why the so-called “do-it-yourself” jobs have been pretty popular. Through this process, homeowners can enjoy renovating their own homes like professionals. There are shops that provide seminars or workshops regarding their products and the way homeowners can operate them at home.
There are many types of home improvements. Each category can provide optimum modernization to one’s home.
However, home improvement package prices may vary. It is best to identify the right measures to save more on home improvements.
Here are some ways on how to cut back on your home improvement costs:
1. Do your research
Before you start on your home improvement project, it is best to do an extensive research about the matter. Try to find out the current prices of home improvement packages available on the market today. It is also best to identify the different factors that can affect the conditions of each type of home improvements.
2. Scout for the best quotes
If you will be hiring a professional repairperson, it is best to look for the best price quotes on home improvements. In this way, you will be able to anticipate the possible rates and charges, which will enable you to prepare the required amount.
3. Do the math
Before you start buying things that you need for your home improvement, it is best to have everything estimated.
Should you decide to seek the services of a professional repairperson, you will know how much it will take you to improve your home. You can’t easily be fooled by any person because you know exactly the cost of expenses.
Besides, having a rough estimate of your home improvement plans will enable you to control your expenses. You can focus on the areas that need to be prioritized. Once you have set a specific budget on it, you can now consider the other areas without having to spend more than what you can afford.
4. Decide whether you can do it yourself or you should hire a professional
If you want to save more on your home improvements, it is best to decide if you can do the project yourself or you really need to hire a professional.
It is unwise to assume that you can do the job just to trim down your expenses, where in fact, you don’t have the slightest idea how to start the job.
Insisting to do the job yourself will only end up to waste or destruction. It is best to hire a professional if you really want to save on your home improvement.
5. Ask for recommendations
Word of mouth is considered as one of the best advertising strategy in marketing. It is also one of the best ways to ask for some help about the things that you are not familiar with.
For example, if you don’t have any idea about home improvements, it is best to ask your friends, relatives, or even colleagues about home improvements.
They can give you some pointers about home improvements based on their own experience. Tried and tested, their idea about home improvements can really help you make a difference.
6. Find the best contractor
If you wish to save on home improvements through contractors, it is best to hire the best. You can do this by checking on your contractor’s capabilities and certifications. In this way, you can be sure that the services you pay are reliable and efficient.
Try to keep these things in mind to save on your home improvement projects. Keep in mind that home improvements need not be expensive. You can beautify your home without having to go overboard.

Buildings are the SUVs of US energy consumption, gobbling up 71 percent of the nation’s electricity. In this Sept. 22, 2008 talk, Arun Majumdar, Director of Berkeley Lab’s Environmental Energy Technologies Division, discusses how scientists are creating a new generation of net-zero energy, carbon-neutral buildings.

Copyright (c) 2009 SaverSystems

I live in Ohio which is an area that can have tough, cold winters and hot, dry summers. Ohio’s severe weather swings take their toll on driveways and sidewalks and make it common to see these surfaces in some phase of deterioration. In minor cases, the deterioration shows up as small circular spots of concrete that lift off or “spall”, leaving pock marks on the surface of the concrete. In more severe cases the erosion can be so bad that the concrete falls apart and ends up needing to be replaced. There are two contributing factors to this deterioration:

1) The heavy freeze/thaw cycles that occur when you have major temperature swings 2) Chemical degradation caused by the use of road salts and de-icing chemicals.

When chemicals are part of the problem, the deterioration is most evident on the apron of the driveway or in the areas under where cars are parked. The driveway apron is subjected to road salts that get thrown up by the snow plows and cars are exposed to road salts that get tracked in by the vehicles. This damage can be prevented by treating the driveway with a water repellent that will prevent the water and chemicals from soaking in to the concrete and doing their damage. The process to do it correctly is really pretty simple. Just follow a few basic steps.

Start by cleaning things up This is the time to make your concrete look new again, by removing all the dirt and staining that has accumulated over the years, and the process is pretty easy to do. For this step you’ll need a power washer, a garden variety pump-up sprayer, a five-gallon bucket and some masonry cleaner. I use a product called Defy Safer Masonry Cleaner. The nice thing about it is that it works just like muriatic acid, which is a great concrete cleaner, but it doesn’t burn your skin or have the harmful fumes that an acid cleaner typically does. Like the name says, it’s “safer”.

To begin, fill a 5 gallon pail with 4 gallons of water and then add a gallon of the Defy Safer Masonry Cleaner. Pour this diluted mixture into the pump-up sprayer and you’re ready to go. Make sure that you work in sections and start by wetting the first section down with a garden hose. Spray a liberal amount of cleaner on the wet area, let it work for 4 or 5 minutes and then power wash the area clean. Move from section to section until the entire surface has been cleaned.

If you’ve already got damage, patch things up. Using a hammer and a chisel, take a few minutes to knock out any concrete that isn’t firmly attached and in place. If it’s loose now, it’s only going to get worse so you might as well remove it and make the necessary repairs. For small pock marks, it’s a judgement call whether or not to fill them in. Just keep in mind that your repaired areas will always cosmetically look a little different from the rest of the concrete so if things are still pretty tightly adhered, you may want to leave the minor surface imperfections alone.

How to actually go about making your repairs will differ, based on the size of the area that you need to fix. There is a pretty good tutorial video at www.easy2diy.com that will walk you through the various steps of the process and help insure that the repairs are made correctly and will last.

Take a break, maybe go fishing. This is always my favorite part of a project because I love to fish! Anytime you’re working with concrete, you need to take your time. When concrete patching is first done, those patched areas will be highly acidic. That’s bad when it comes to coating them with a sealer or paint. Instead, wait about 4 weeks and the patched areas should become more neutral with a PH of say, around 7. With a more neutral PH, the sealer that you apply in the next step will work, so take a break.

Go buy some water repellent, and don’t be cheap It is very important that you resist the urge here to save a buck. My experience is that cheap sealers don’t last, it’s that simple. The cost of using a premium product is a little higher up front, but over the long-term, it’s a lot cheaper than having to continually re-do your project so step-up and buy the good stuff, you’ll be glad you did.

“Sealers” vs. “Water Repellents” Ok, I’m not trying to make you a product expert here, but at this point you do need a little more information about the various products that you will be looking at when you go to purchase something to treat the driveway with. First, understand the difference between sealers and water repellents. Sealers are generally film-forming products, often times acrylics. Consider them sorta’ like paint, only clear. Sealers are not what you want. They tend to stay on the surface and often times will make the concrete appear shiny and/or darker than normal. These products can easily peel or wear off. Sealers typically don’t last very long on a driveway. Water repellents on the other hand soak in to the concrete and won’t alter the appearance when applied correctly. They are very long lasting. You’ll get at least several years out of them…these are what you want. The most durable water repellents that I’ve found are silane/siloxanes. These are typically the most expensive but are the type you really should consider using if you want your project to last. A good choice for your project is Defy Heavy Duty All-Purpose Water Repellent. This product not only is an extremely durable silane/siloxane water repellent, but it also has a “salt-screen” in it that works to prevent damage from de-icing chemicals and road salts. Also, it’s water-based, VOC compliant and eco-friendly. There are no harmful solvents to mess with, and I hate using solvent-based products.

Oh, one more thing. As great as they are against water and salt damage, silane/siloxane products typically don’t offer much protection, if any, when it comes to protecting you driveway from things like motor oil or transmission fluid so if you’ve got car problems, fix your car.

Spraying is fast and easy. When you start applying the water repellent, spraying it on, as opposed to brushing or rolling, makes all the sense in the world. First, it’s the fastest and easiest way to apply a water repellent, but there is another point to consider (as if “easy” alone wasn’t enough). The key to water repellents performing long-term is to saturate the surface. Often times when using a brush and roller you tend to under-apply the product. In other words, you don’t put enough of the product on to do the job.

You don’t have to go out and invest in an expensive sprayer. Stop in to the Home & Garden section of your local store and pick up a garden variety pump-up type sprayer. I suggest you get one that will hold 2-3 gallons of material. When you’re spraying you can go through a couple of gallons pretty fast. If it has a fan shaped nozzle instead of a cone shaped, that’s all the better.

Apply the right amount. Be careful here. More is not necessarily better. You simply want to spray the sealer on to the point where you saturate the surface. If you’re just “wetting” the surface you are probably not applying enough material. If it’s puddling up on you, you might be applying too much. Ideally you want to apply only as much material as the concrete can easily absorb. Don’t worry about it too much. You’ll get the hang of it pretty fast. If you over-apply the product and allow it to dry, it can darken the surface and make it appear splotchy. So if you do put too much on, before it dries, just spread the excess out with a dry brush or roller.

Let things cure Good news, you’re done. Let things dry off and cure for several days and your driveway’s all set. As the months begin to pass, you may start to lose some of the water beading that the product had when you first applied it but don’t worry, the water repellent is still working. It has penetrated deeply in to the concrete and will continue to work well below the surface. After a good rain just keep watching your driveway compared to your neighbors. Yours will dry off quickly because the water isn’t absorbing in while your neighbors will stay wet for hours.

If you do start to think that you are ready for a maintenance coat, just give your driveway the “Water Test”. Pour a glass of water on the driveway. If it easily absorbs into the concrete it’s time to re-treat. If it lays on the surface, it’s not.

An introduction to green building practices from energy savings to finish material with Natural Built Home store owner Rachel Maloney.

It is a big decision to take on any home improvement project. There is always the cost consideration, but there is also a time factor, and a decision on the labor issue. Cost is usually the most important aspect of any home improvement task. How much will you spend verse how much will it improve my house and the value of it? A general renovation rule is that any decent home improvement project – will double the value that was put into the job. Meaning if you spend two thousand dollars, you should be able to see four thousand from that project when you sell the house. It is not a cut and dry rule but instead an idea of how to gauge what you are getting out of the household improvement.
Time is another issue. How long is my bathroom or kitchen going to be in a state of disrepair while I wait for this project to be completed? We have all heard of the nightmare stories where a contractor starts a project then takes three weeks to come back to the job. Proper planning of a project and a direct communication line with your contractor should alleviate this problem. Make sure that a timeline is established and you hold some money back as incentive to finish the job. Another good idea to implement is milestones, so that when certain goals are reached the builder or contractor gets another payment.
Labor is a factor. Are you going to try a do-it-yourself project or hire a professional? Shop around and get at least three estimates. Talk to each contractor and get a feel for their work ethic or passion for the job. You should be able to feel some enthusiasm or eagerness from a contractor that enjoys his work and also takes pride in doing a good job.

If your going to tackle the project by yourself, make sure you understand what you’re “getting into” and you have some help if needed. Many home improvement projects are started and not finished. The last things you want to do is start a bathroom or kitchen project and not finish it correctly. Even worse not finish it at all. So be realistic, make sure you have allotted enough time, and be aware of the logistics to a project (meaning it might take more planning than you originally thought).
Finally if you have taken these ideas into consideration you will want to know how to save money on the materials. The best new method to saving money is to buy products online. Home improvement centers cannot compete with online stores. Online retailers have less overhead and this saves the consumer money. When buying online also look for pre-assembled or RTA (ready to assemble)cabinets. These unassembled products are just as good as regular home improvement products but cost about forty percent less! When factoring a budget, it is nice to see your kitchen cabinets or bathroom vanities at forty percent less than what you expected, so keep “RTA” in mind when shopping online. Using these ideas should help start a project and hopefully it will guide you through the process.

When it comes to choosing the right commercial kitchen design, money will always be the very first thing to consider. No doubt, there are design companies which can help you to get one of the best commercial kitchens around. But, you will have to shell out a lot of money and money still doesn’t grow on trees.

For people who are not lucky enough to get perfect commercial kitchens with out paying attention to money, it is essential to move with extreme care. In case money is a concern for you but you are interested in starting your own business, then you must try to find one such design company which may provide you with professional services at the most competitive rates.

In addition to this, you must always keep in mind that a great kitchen design is not always connected with more money. Although there is absolutely no doubt about the fact that spending more money will help you to get exceptional commercial kitchen but you really don’t have to spend a lot of money to get a good one.

Remodeling your commercial kitchen:

Apart from getting design services for new kitchens, there are lots of people who have to consider remodeling at some stage of time. If you are one of those people, you must realize that it is important to consult with a design company to avoid making a mistake. However, you can always make some changes on your own according to your budget constraints. For instance,

•    If you have a really small budget, you can always deal with the problem area of your kitchen. In this scenario, it is enough to replace countertops or other freestanding appliances.

•    In case you have a slightly better budget, you can always opt for new cabinets, appliances, flooring and counters. However, it is possible only if you have structurally correct kitchen because restructuring will not be possible in limited budget.

•    Having big budget means that you can make all sorts of changes to your commercial kitchen. That’s exactly the point where you will require professional assistance.

Most people are of the view that commercial kitchens are all about having lavish exteriors but it is nothing more than a misconception. Your customer retention rate improves when you pay attention to the quality and hygienic conditions. Safety measures, like disabled access, electric devices position, fire exit accessibility, etc, should also be taken in the right way.

It is exactly because of all these issues that getting services pertaining to commercial kitchen design is not only expensive but complicated as well. A simple mistake in design can make you pay through the nose. So, whether you are interested in a new commercial kitchen or want a remodeling, you must seek professional help in order to get a perfect commercial kitchen design.

Protecting Your Family and Home From the Dangers of Lightening

As the seasons change, so do the elements and storms we are exposed to. This time of year, hurricanes and flooding rains are major problems we face. A by-product of these mysterious weather phenomenons is lightning. A lightning storm, also known as an electrical storm, can be extremely dangerous and destroy a home with a single blow. These erratic ribbons of energy seek to find refuge by kissing the earth with a tremendous force of energy and destroying anything that may be in its path.

At any particular moment, there are over 1,800 thunderstorms in progress somewhere around the globe and 25 million bolts of lightning reach out of the sky, coming in contact with the ground, annually.

Watching a good lightning storm zigzag across the sky is an awesome visual experience. The ominous ness and the electrical displays are extraordinary to watch. But, these displays of dancing energy come with a destructive power that steals more lives and causes more damage than floods, hurricanes and tornadoes – combined.

There is a way you can help to protect your home from being destroyed by these flashes of energy. Installing a lightning protection system can provide a path for the lightning to follow into the ground and help to direct it from melting the shielding in your homes electrical system and taking out the electronics and appliances plugged into your outlets. These systems do not prevent lightning from striking nor do they attract it, but help to direct its energy out of harms way.

Lightning protection systems that meet the latest standard requirements are considered to be 99% effective by Underwriters Laboratories. These systems can be partially concealed on the exterior or completely concealed during construction.

If lightning strikes the ground, it can affect whatever is within a 60 foot radius and 10 times that area, if it strikes water and can be lethal. On average, it can strike over 50 times within a quarter-mile of your home and is the leading cause of fires in suburban and rural areas.

There are several factors to determine if your home is at risk:

1.      If your home is located in an open area

2.      If lightning strikes were reported or seen within close proximity

3.      If your home is located in an elevated area, like a mountain.

4.      If you do not have a system to safely direct the path of electricity into the ground

A Few Lightning Facts

·        A lightning bolt can travel from 25 – 45 miles horizontally prior to hitting the ground and can be from 6 to 8 miles in length.

·        The size of a bolt is about 1 – 2 inches in diameter with the surrounding light making it seem a lot larger.

·        A single bolt of lightning can become up to 5 times the heat of the sun and carries with it 1 billion volts of current and up to 20,000 amperes.

·        The Empire State Building is struck by lightning over 100 times per year.

·        Most lightning strikes occurs between 12 noon and 4 PM

In homes located where sandy soil conditions are prevalent, more elaborate systems are necessary. Sand is dryer than normal soil and does not conduct electricity in the same way that moist soil does. For areas with sandy soil conditions there is a system that dissipates the energy over more of an area than the simple lightening rod, cable and clamp system.

Although the rod and cable system is easier than the more elaborate systems, for the best results and to ensure that you meet the requirements for a lower deductible and discounted premium from your insurance carrier, have a licensed professional evaluate and install the best system to protect you, your family and your home.

To get your copy of Hector’s book,

What Your Parent’s Never Told You About Owning a Home

Visit www.americashomeimprovementcoach.com and with

your purchase his book you will receive 5 reports on

ü     Selling Your Home In Any Market

ü     Hiring the Right Contractor For You

ü     Staying Within Your Budget

ü     Looking Out For Contractor Scams

ü     What Questions Should You Ask a Potential Contractor

A recent survey shows that an increasing number of professionals are using home based offices. This is because a home based office not only allows one to save time in commuting but at the same time enables one to reduce work hours as well; thus getting to spend more time with the family. However, home based offices come with some innate problems like lack of living space as well as privacy. For professionals facing such a dilemma, therefore a garden office is the best solution.

In recent times, many employers too prefer professionals who work from home as they not only show improved productivity but at the same time allow the company to save on the cost of infrastructure. However, what worries the employer is the lack of peaceful ambience in an employee’s home that would let him complete his work peacefully. Garden lodges products are designed mainly to be used as garden offices and are the best solution in such a case. After conducting a careful detailed site survey of your garden, you can choose a garden office that will best suit your needs. When you are working from home there are many options. You can work from anywhere – right from your kitchen table to the loft. Whatever be the option for a home based office, a garden office still remains the best solution as it offers you an independent working space separate from your home. Most importantly you can have the much-needed privacy that a garden studio offers for carrying out your work more effectively and efficiently.

The best thing about a garden studio is that it combines functionality with aesthetics. If you do design your garden appropriately you can create an office that not only has convenient electrics and lighting but will also provide you with a professional environment. Being a separate construction that has been designed specifically for office work, it will provide the right ambience for your work all the year round in comfort and security.

Gardenlodges.co.uk will provide you with the best solution to your home working dilemma. The traditional garden lodges are priced at around £12,995 and use modern construction techniques that result in an elegant blending of functionality with aesthetics. The garden offices provided by gardenlodges.co.uk complement any property. What sets the company apart from its competitors is that it allows you to personalize your garden office and create your own unique design best suited for your exact requirements.