Home Improvement Center : Tips for Deciding Between Water Heaters

Are you in the process of renovating your home or building a new one? If so, then you are probably going to be shopping for water heaters sometime in the near future. This being the case, there are several things that you should look for that will help you to make an informed decision. Be sure to look for a unit that is large enough to serve your volume needs, a unit that is energy efficient, and a unit that is set up for the correct type of utility.

Home Improvement Center : Tips for Deciding Between Water Heaters

Home Improvement Center : Can the Unit Meet Your Needs?

The first thing that you should look for when shopping for water heaters is that you are getting a unit that can service the size of your home and family. If you have a large home or a large family, then the unit's size will be important. The greater the volume that you and your family use, the larger the unit you will want to buy. The last thing you want is to have to fight the rest of your family for a warm shower. Be sure that you get a large enough unit to make the whole family happy.

Home Improvement Center : Is the Unit Energy Efficient?

When shopping for water heaters, it is also important to look for a unit that is energy efficient. If you are using large volumes, then your heater will be working very hard to keep up with your needs. You will want to look for a unit that can meet your needs without costing you a fortune in utility costs. There are several units on the market that use less energy, so you should make sure that you look at these first.

Home Improvement Center : Will the Unit Meet Your Installation Needs?

Finally, when shopping for water heaters, it is important to make sure that you are getting a unit with the correct energy supply. Be sure to check your home's energy source before you begin shopping. If you have an electric energy source, then make sure the unit you buy heats with electricity. If you have a gas-powered source, make sure you buy a unit that runs on gas. You want your unit to be compatible with your home.

In all, there are several things to look for when shopping for water heaters. You want to be sure that your unit can meet your family's volume needs, is energy efficient, and is compatible with the energy source in your home. If you can find all of these things, then you will have made a smart purchase.

Home Improvement Center : Cement Board Siding

Cement board siding is a great alternative to traditional wood clapboard siding. The most common type of cement board siding is made to simulate traditional wood clapboard. There are products that simulate shingles and other types of siding as well. The finished look is very similar wood clapboard. Unless you look fairly close and touch the material, it can be hard to distinguish. Cement board siding is a factory-made composite material; Portland Cement, wood fibers and other additives are fused together under extreme pressure. Cement board siding is considered by many experts to be a Green building material because it is extremely durable and made partially from recycled content. CertainTeed, one of the major manufacturers of cement board, claims that its siding contains 30% post industrial recycled content.

Home Improvement Center : Cement Board Siding

Another major manufacturer of cement board siding is the James Hardie Company and their product that simulates clapboard is known as HardiePlank. HardiePlank has become term that most builders use for cement board siding. I used HardiePlank on an addition to my house and am slowly replacing all of my siding with it. I also used trim boards made by the James Hardie Company for the exterior window trim, soffits, fascia, mud boards and corner boards.

I am very pleased with the HardiePlank products and I am confident they will be long lasting. The boards come pre-painted and the finish is great. I have been keeping a piece of trim board lying in the mud for the past four years and the paint has not started to peel. As the old asbestos siding held paint really well I think the cement board will too. When I built the addition, the cost of the cement board was a third less than cedar clapboard and there would have been the added expense of painting the cedar. Three years after my addition I re-sided another exterior wall of the house and the colors match perfectly. The major drawbacks are that since the boards only come in twelve foot lengths, there are more seams. My friend and contractor scarf cuts the joints, which helps and makes the seams look better than a typical butt joint. The material is very hard and it is difficult to make the joints perfect. I am certain that this siding and trim will last for generations and will not find its way to a landfill for many years to come.

Home Improvement Center : Advantage of Cement Board Siding

• Durable and dimensionally stable
• Impervious to wood boring insects
• Doesn't Rot
• Non Combustible
• Material is cheaper than conventional clapboard siding
• Can reduce the cost of homeowners insurance
• Can be cleaned with a hose
• Requires less maintenance than wood clapboard siding
• Comes Pre-painted or primed, with a factory applied baked-on paint
• Paint is less fade resistant than conventional paint
• Saves the cost & trouble of painting
• Excellent paint adherence
• HardiePlank has a 15 year warranty on their paint, the warranty covers labor as well

Home Improvement Center : Negative Aspects of Cement Board Siding

• More difficult to work with than wood clapboard
• Needs to be installed carefully for it to look its best
• All joints need to be caulked
• Shows more seems than wood siding because maximum length of the siding is 12 ft.
• Siding is brittle if it doesn't have a solid backing and pieces can be broken

Home Improvement Center : Proper Use of Generators

Everyone has experienced a power outage. In fact at one point people didn't even have electricity. These days, however, homes are run very differently. Most families don't heat with wood, and rely on electricity to warm their homes and keep their food fresh. Still, it will happen-- the dreaded power outage. So now what? Unless it's cold outside how do you keep your food cold? What will you do to cook? How will you get warm water? Bathe? Obviously we can do without. These days however we also have the option of using generators.

Home Improvement Center : Proper Use of Generators

We have all heard it humming in the neighbor's yard. They have lights and perhaps a TV flickering. Surely heat and refrigeration. You find yourself a bit jealous, but you have heard those things are dangerous. Power won't be out long. Right? Three days go by and you're swimming in your green pool to feel fresh. Maybe the neighbors are onto something. After all, over at the neighbor's house you see no evidence of a tragedy. That's because they are using it properly.

How does one use generators properly? We have all heard not to use one in the house, and that means the basement is forbidden as well, but generator sheds are a great option. Some are built with a ramp to roll it outside, others are built so all four sides open. Either option allows for plenty of ventilation. The unit doesn't need a shed of its own to function but keeping it away from windows and doors, and allowing for ventilation is important.

Home Improvement Center : Proper Use of Generators

The family next door has the television and refrigerator on, and also perhaps the freezer, furnace, air conditioner, or even the curling iron. Using generators properly, however, requires you to plug each appliance in at a time, and only what your machine can safely run. Some people run the unit to the circuit breaker. This is a mistake. You really must have a circuit dedicated to the unit, otherwise when power is restored, you are sending power back out into the lines. Even if this doesn't end in death, it can end in a power surge. There goes the television you were so eager to watch.

So to avoid replacing your electronics, use your unit properly. Be sure you have proper ventilation, that it's far enough from windows and doors, and that it is plugged in properly. Extension cords may be annoying, but in the end using them is far less trouble than replacing everything you own.

Home Improvement Center : Top Home Remodeling Jobs

Home remodeling projects can provide an outlet for creativity or they can turn into far more work than you thought they were. If you want to make your house more attractive and to add a level of appeal to it that will have people wondering just how much you paid for that, it may be time to call in a professional to do the work. Large-scale projects are best left to the professionals. On the other hand, if you are interested in a few simple ways to spruce up your home or add some personal touches to it, consider these tips.

Home Improvement Center : Ways to Make Your House Your Own

There are many simple ways to add both value and function to a location. Home remodeling projects can help you to do this. No matter what background you have, it is a good idea to bring in a design specialist and contractors when dealing with major components of the home including anything to do with the structure, electrical, plumbing, heating and cooling. These tips are outside of those areas.

• Update any room and create a more appealing space by painting it. Do not forget the ceiling too.
• Create a welcoming seating area by using a spare bedroom as an office or a reading room. You can easily do this by using an area rug, a few bookcases and some updated lighting.
• Those with a bit of skill can add dimension and character to their location by using wall art. This includes a peel-and-stick variety that allows you to put a fun message or picture onto the wall as a statement piece.
• Do you have areas where the wall is damaged? You can find drywall patch kits to do this type of work on your own.
• Sometimes, just removing plants and dead brush, or too many shrubs can help to open up the outdoor look of the house. Use a powerwasher to clean off the walls, too.
• Replacing carpeting can be something a do-it-yourselfer handles, at least the removing portion of it. Consider finding an installer to do the rest of the work.
• Refinishing or painting cabinetry in the kitchen can help to brighten up and clean up the space. You will likely have to sand it down to remove old stains and then add a fresh coat over the top.
• In the bathroom, improve the lighting, replace the vanity and update the cabinetry to add more storage. You may be able to install a new sink too.

Home Improvement Center : Top Home Remodeling Jobs

Home remodeling allows you to add some personal touches to your space. Do not overlook the benefits of investing in a professional for larger scale projects, though. That can help to add more value to your home and less risk to the final project's success.