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By Realty Times Staff |
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| Do you have too much to store and too little space? If you're like many homeowners, finding enough storage space can be a challenge. Thankfully, remodeling professionals can help you create new ways to tuck away your family's treasures in a resourceful and sophisticated way, according to the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI). Finding storage solutions doesn't always mean undertaking a major remodel. Sometimes it's about using the square footage you already have. Remodelers can help you plan and reallocate storage to accommodate your family's changing lifestyle. Getting creative with storage can improve daily living and boost the resale value of your home. For his stair solution, Van Cura created storage bins under the wooden treads of a staircase. He did this by attaching each tread of the staircase to the frame using hidden piano hinges, which allow each tread to open like a storage chest. The homeowner could then use the space under the tread to tuck away dry goods and cans. This storage strategy can be used in many areas of a home. In the foyer, for example, the hidden cubbies under stairs can stash shoes and outdoor gear. In the basement they store cleaning products or seasonal accessories. For a short run of stairs, remodelers can also install a set of custom drawers underneath the stairwell with access from the either the side or the back -- another great use of space. Any good stair installer or skilled remodeler should be able to do this project, but it demands a structurally sound staircase, fine cabinetry skills and careful preparation. "It's easiest if you're planning a new set of stairs, but it can also be done as a retrofit to existing stairs," Van Cura notes. |
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Wis. recently created more storage for a family of six by reconfiguring two existing rooms and adding some square footage. The family's mudroom was once a cramped hallway that led from the house to the garage. "Not having a place to put on and take off their shoes was their biggest pet peeve," Szpek said. As a solution, he designed two furniture-style storage units that provide both seating and a place to store outdoor gear. On one side of the room, a large boot-bench and locker cabinet gives the kids a place to sit down or hang up coats. The bench features storage beneath the seat and wicker baskets on a shelf above the hanging area. Drawer cabinets also flank each side of the bench, creating a personal spot for each child to stash hats, gloves and mittens. Across the room Szpek planned a shorter boot bench for mom and dad that offered flip-top storage under the seat and hooks to hang coats behind them. Both storage pieces were accented with traditional beadboard backing, crown molding and a medium-brown distressed birch finish. In the family's 120-square-foot laundry room, Szpek created a beautiful and storage-smart workspace. Upper and lower cabinetry provides plenty of storage for detergents, brushes and sponges, and a long countertop gives mom ample space to fold clean laundry. Under one area of the counter, Szpek designed cubbies that accommodate six laundry baskets -- one for each member of the family. "When mom's done folding clothes, she can separate the loads into a separate bin for each member," he says. "The abundance of storage space worked great for this family of six." |
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Some think that lenders average everyone's credit scores together. If Jane has an 800 credit score and John has a 400 credit, score, their combined score would be 800 + 400 = 1200 divided by two, giving a not-so-terrible-after-all score of 600. Okay, close to terrible but nothing near 400. 
Markets operate on the basis of supply and demand. If you have a local market where the supply of homes is significantly greater than demand, you will have a market where home sales slow, prices stall or drop, properties are more affordable and purchasers are typically able to negotiate significant concessions from sellers. 
Insurance is usually the last thing people worry about when they are buying a new home. According to the Insurance Information Institute, that's a mistake, because it will be an expense a buyer will have as long as they own the property. 
How far is the home from the fire department? A location close to the station usually means lower insurance costs. What is the condition of the plumbing and electrical systems? Older and poorly maintained systems cost more to insure. Does the property meet current building codes? Up-to-date properties are safer and also cheaper to insure. What about wind damage? If insurance against windstorms is required, is private insurance available or will the buyer have to rely on a state-run program? If there a windstorm deductible? Is the home vulnerable to flooding? Floods aren't covered under a standard homeowner policy, although most major insurers will provide it through the National Flood Insurance program. How much the insurance costs depends on where the property is. Is there earthquake risk? Earthquake insurance requires an endorsement or a separate policy. Creating an outdoor living space beyond the four walls of your home is gaining ground as one of the most popular home improvement projects of all. Whether your outdoor room will be a brick paving patio or a wood or composite deck, creating an outdoor room is the least expensive way to extend your living space.
Not only does building a new deck or patio create new space for recreation and relaxation, the return on your investment is also significant. According to one report, installing a deck will give you a 76.8% return on investment when it comes time to sell your home. Patios aren't rated in the findings, but I'd expect the results to be similar. Whatever outdoor living space you decide to build, you will be increasing the value of your home.
All it takes to build your own wood deck or brick paver patio is an evaluation of the space you have, proper selection of materials, and basic construction knowledge. Consider the following elements for an outdoor room with quality from the ground up.
Paver Brick Patios: In the realm of DIY patio possibilities, brick, natural stone and cement pavers are the main paving choices in materials. All three varieties are installed in sand, with irregularly shaped natural stone being the biggest challenge to work with, as it's like assembling a giant outdoor jigsaw puzzle. Start your patio project by carefully assessing the space slated for placement and planning for necessary drainage. Then take time to properly excavate, level and line the patio area for long lasting, trip proof results. The most common paver patio mistakes come from not properly prepping the base. Don't rush through the patio brick installation, or the bricks will loosen and weeds will form just as quick!
Durable Decks - The costs and looks of decks can vary widely due to the many choices of materials available. Wood decks are the least expensive, but can be troublesome to maintain, so if your budget is healthy, and tolerance for maintenance low, you might like to consider composite decking, a high tech alternative. One of the most popular composite decking products is Fiberon Decking, a well made and durable composite decking product that is as tough as it is beautiful.
Whatever the decking surface and railing material you choose however, pressure treated lumber is generally the standard for construction of the floor framing and support structure of your deck.
Deck Construction Options: Once you've made your choice in decking materials, deciding how to fasten the deck board to the frame involves a few trade-offs. If you're working with vinyl or fiberglass-plastic decks, the fasteners are usually a hidden feature not visible to the eye. If you're working with wood, you should think through your options. Nailing may be easy, but even galvanized nails can leave stains and rust bleeds on the wood. Plus, as the wood expands and contracts, nails pull out, resulting in loose boards on your deck that can be unsightly and even dangerous.
For a more permanent deck assembly solution for your outdoor room, select stainless steel screws. Using a power drill with the right tip, stainless steel screws can be driven to just below the deck's surface where they're difficult to spot. And since the screws are stainless, they can't rust and stain the finished surface of the wood.
Also, unlike ground-level brick paving projects, one of the most critical areas of deck building is flashing. Pressure treated lumber can be very corrosive and cause fasteners and key deck hardware to fail. For a safe structure, use a high tech flashing like Vycor® Deck Protector. Made by Grace Construction Products, Vycor prevents corrosion and joist rot caused by water accumulation under deck boards.
Deck Sealing: Even wood that's decay-resistant will warp and split, making the deck uncomfortable for bare feet and possibly unsafe. To minimize movement, make sure the deck is sealed within the first 3 to 6 months after it's been constructed. Using a good quality sealer on your wood deck helps stabilize and protect the wood from the damaging effects of solar radiation as well as moisture.
Deck Cleaning: Annual cleaning of an otherwise tired looking wood deck can do a lot to freshen it up. Mix a simple, effective cleaning solution in a five gallon bucket by combining three quarts of water, one quart of bleach, and a half cup of detergent (make sure the detergent is ammonia-free, as mixing ammonia and bleach can form a dangerous gas). Apply the mixture to the wood deck using a stiff floor brush and let it sit for a few minutes, then rinse thoroughly. When planning this deck cleaning project, schedule your work for the cooler hours of the early morning or late afternoon, as the cleaning solution may dry before it has a chance to work when applied to a hot deck.
Deck and Patio Building Permits: Whether your outdoor room will be created by building a wood deck or patio by yourself or calling in a construction pro for assistance, be sure to get a building permit. If you're planning to sell the home, your local zoning or code enforcement inspector may be contacted for an inspection and you'll want to be sure that you've done everything properly.
