"Identify Major Plumbing And Electrical Defects"

Fixer uppers are homes that usually need a moderate number of home repairs generally not requiring special knowledge or expertise on your part, as the homeowner. Fixer upper homes can be excellent bargains when the “asking price” is significantly lower than comparable homes nearby but in good or excellent condition.

An fixer upper needing a cosmetic fix-up can be a great property. They generally need some repainting outside and inside (paint can do a lot of wonders), floor refinishing or new carpets, new lighting fixtures, little repairs, complete cleanup and landscaping.

If the home necessitates massive repairs such as electrical and plumbing problems that usually are expensive, it will slash your profit back or worst, eliminate it.

Before purchasing a house you believe is an effortless fixer upper, a professional home inspection should be considered because the inspector can provide you an accurate idea of what existing problems the home has and what repairs are needed as well as an approximate repair cost.

Here are frequently found fixer upper defects that might need your attention:

Roofing

Insulation

Plumbing system-

Electrical system

Central heating

Central cooling

Water seepage

Structural

These defects requires expensive professional repair especially when talking about the value these repairs will return upon resale.

Most often, these major defects go unnoticed because fixer upper buyers usually can't see the inside workings, hidden out of view behind walls or covered inaccessible areas that are often taken for granted.

Cracked “heat-exchanger” in the heating system, faulty wiring, termite damage and safety and health problems like lead accumulation, water pipes as well as asbestos insulation are common physical flaws that you can't see immediately.

Indications of these hidden problems are as follows:

Moisture stains that can be found on ceiling and walls could mean plumbing problems

Separations between wall and floor specifically for outer walls could mean structural problems Sawdust piles near woodwork or wall corners can be an indication of termites.A home inspection from a professional.

A professional home inspection can cost about 200-325 dollars depending on the kind of property, location, square footage, etc.

When hiring a professional home inspection of fixer upper houses, it is wise that you obtain quotations first from several competing companies. However, the lowest bidder shouldn't be immediately given the job; aside from the price, you must inspect the “quality of service” they offer as well as the company name. It is important to choose a company with a good reputation.

Several home inspection companies have some kind of computer-like machines which can supply inspection reports and descriptions instantly then the company adds their “pre-printed” sections which are very helpful for you in order to understand the fundamentals of repairing, fixing and replacement.

Furthermore, home inspection companies supply an entirely impartial appraisal and assessment of the house, inspecting everything carefully from electrical systems, plumbing to structural to make certain that the fixer upper house you are purchasing is sound.

Professional home inspectors can make certain that all major systems (air conditioning, plumbing, furnace) are working properly or they can pinpoint defects to you because these kinds of repairs will cost you a great deal of money.

However, do keep in mind that major repairing problems don't automatically indicate that you shouldn't purchase the fixer upper home, because they can and should be added in the home’s price negotiations.

A good fixer upper seller or realtor will and can factor in said considerations or concerns and you possibly can purchase the home for even less if you put it clearly that you will be responsible for the repair or replacements. Just be careful that you don't get tricked. Never take anybody’s word that the plumbing, the furnace or the electrical have no problems at all; you have to make certain.

Sometimes you can easily “walk away” from an excellent fixer upper home deal in a terrible neighborhood. At times, when you can specifically pin point what repairs and replacements are necessary, you can obtain a substantially lower price.

"Ensure Your Home Is Safe While On Vacation"

Nothing is more stressful, disappointing, or downright sickening than returning home from a hard earned vacation – only to find that your home had been robbed. Burglary is a common thing these days, with burglary around the home occurring quite frequently. When you go on a vacation, you shouldn’t have to worry about the condition of your home and your things. Your vacation should be relaxing, without having to worry about anything. If you plan ahead before you go on your vacation – you can help to minimize the risks of anything going wrong.

One way to fend off burglars is by hiring a house sitter. A house sitter is one of the best ways to get rid of any type of trouble as well. All you need to do is find someone who will swing by your house a few times a day, check on things, and turn the lights on at night. If you have animals at your house, you may want to hire a house sitter to care for your animals as well as your home. In most cases, peace of mind is worth any price. If you decide to hire a house sitter, you should always make sure that you choose someone reliable who you can trust while you are away.

In the event that you are unable to get a house sitter, you should strive to make it appear as if someone is living in your home. To be on the safe side, you can have a neighbor whom you trust keep an eye on your home. Whoever you choose to watch your property should have a number to contact you with in case something goes wrong.

You can buy various timers and such that will make it appear as if people are in your home. Radio timers and light timers can go a long way in making criminals believe someone is at your house. You’ll also want to consider your lawn before you leave as well. If the grass is too high, people will wonder if anyone is home. You should always cut it before you leave, and have someone else cut it for you if you are going to be gone for more than a week.

You’ll also want someone to pick up your mail as well. If the mail starts to pile up in your box, criminals will know that you aren’t home. Even though you may not be on vacation for long, you should always make sure that your door is locked and that you leave the spare key with someone whom you trust who can keep an eye on things for you.

When that individual comes by your home to check on things, they should be sure to turn the lights and television on in the evening. You should also make sure that your trusted person knows to check on the interior of your home, and look for anything out of the ordinary. If something is wrong, that person shouldn’t hesitate to contact the police. A broken widow, door, or furniture out of place is the first sign that something is wrong.

Vacations are something we all need to take. Vacations are supposed to be fun and relaxing, with no worries about anything else. If you take the necessary steps before you leave, you shouldn’t have anything to worry about. Whether it’s a friend or family member stopping by to check on things or a house sitter that you’ve hired – peace of mind goes a long way in helping you make the most of your very important vacation.

"Use Spy Cameras For Home Protection"

With crime on the rise, technology has lead to a decrease in home security prices. Although many devices have dropped in prices over the years, the spy camera is one of the most popular to experience a decrease in price. What was once only dreamed about in movies such as James Bond is now a reality that is very affordable.

The spy cameras of today are included with pin cameras, pens, and even cameras that are hidden in a pair of sunglasses. Most kits cost a few hundred bucks and will come with sensors and remote Internet access – complete with alarms. This way, you’ll have the chance to hook up your house wide cameras to your main cable system and watch the spy camera from any screen in your house. To watch the video though, you’ll need to have your television set to a specific channel.

Along with spy cameras there is also a variety of other devices that you can use to protect your home and yourself such as motion sensors, alarms, trip wires, spy cameras, surveillance cameras, finger print locks, digital locks, and many more. Almost everything is available at an affordable price, unless you choose to have professional installation. Professional installation will cost a lot more money, possibly even thousands of dollars if you have a big house.

If you aren’t familiar with the way spy cameras and other spy related security works, it may be in your best interest to hire a professional. A professional can show you how to work the equipment and answer any questions that you may have. Even though it will cost you a lot more than if you were to do it yourself, it would be a lot better than messing something up. Spy cameras and equipment can be very tricky – especially if you have no experience with home security.

The pin and sunglasses spy camera is among the most popular. These cameras may require professional installation, as you’ll need to hook the wireless panel up to a monitor or your computer. Depending on the type of spy camera that you are using, hooking everything up can be anywhere from novice to professional level. Sunglasses can be great to use at home or anywhere else you travel within distance, as the camera is completely undetectable to those who are standing within your field of vision.

For protection around the home or anywhere else you travel, a spy camera can be a great investment. These cameras are becoming more and more popular these days due to the drop in price. Although they were very expensive when they were first introduced, those times have changed. You can get a spy camera now for just a few hundreds bucks – making it an investment you can never go wrong with.

"Using Loan For Home Improvement"

A few years after living in a new home, the couple will realize that the home needs some improvement. This could be due to cracks in various rooms of the house or because the family is getting bigger and the children need some privacy.

This can be done easily as long as you have the money. What if the funds are short? Can this still be done now or will the couple have to wait a few more years to save up?

People in this situation don’t have to worry. There are institutions that are willing to help and the you should just go to these professionals and apply for a home improvement loan.

The most common will be going to the bank and applying for a home equity loan. Some homes take years to pay off so the money that can be borrowed will depend on how much the home was for purchased minus the remaining amount that will still be paid from the first mortgage.

As much as possible, it will be good idea to ask for a huge amount just in case this exceeds the projected figure for the project. The payment plan is easier to understand since this is designed to work well for the borrower.

The only question is when to borrow the loan, because the interest rates fluctuate. They may go up and down which could affect how much will be paid aside from the amount that was borrowed.

If this is the case, then perhaps getting a mortgage could also work for the borrower. The interest rates are fixed so it will be a good idea first to observe the market before deciding to borrow money.

The funds needed from the bank may not be enough to cover for the expenses for the renovation. Should this happen, the next best option will be to try other lending institutions to help in paying for the home improvement.

The interest rates of these offices may vary and so are the paying schemes. You should at least compare first before making the decision and getting a loan.

Home improvement is expensive even if this doesn’t happen every year. This can be done in phases instead of one big project to maintain the cash flow. You can first check which area of the house needs the most work then finish that first before going on to the next phase.

"Critical Areas To Be Considered" In Home Improvement

Almost everyone in the neighborhood has had at least one improvement project in their home, especially if you live in the suburbs. Now, home improvement is a really good investment and it can even add a lot of value to your home. In doing this, you need to ensure that all your projects are going to be successful. Here are five areas that you should consider before starting a project.

Cost

You can look for free quotations if you want to check the cost. Most companies can give you detailed cost and pricing on all items. Just provide the vital information and they can give you everything that you need, including the design if you don’t have one.

Hire A Contractor Or Directly Oversee The Project

After you have evaluated the cost of your project, look for a good contractor who will manage the project. All you have to do is give them general instructions and they will do all the rest. However, you can also manage your own project and just hire people directly. Like for example, if you want to add additional rooms to your home, you can hire a plumber, a carpenter and an electrician separately.

Areas

There are at least five major areas that you want to focus on when you remodel your home. Make sure that your plumbing and electrical systems are all working properly. Don’t forget to check your walls and ceilings for damages. Lastly, check your heating and cooling system. You can also consider the over-all energy saving equipment in your home. Using solar panels to save on electricity is a good way to start.

Be Sure That All Your Projects Jive

The problem that you may be facing when you renovate your home piece by piece is that it might not have a general theme. Before doing any small project at your home, always make sure that they will fit in with your whole house and whole improvement plan.

Do It Yourself Reminders

Most people like doing things themselves when it comes to home improvement. If you only need to lay down cement for a patio, doing it yourself is easy. However, if your project involves plumbing, electricity and any other areas that require professional help, it best that you consult or hire a professional for the job.

These are major tips that you should never forget before starting your home improvement project. Be sure to get the best materials that you can find. Whether you want to sell your house in the future or not, taking care of it is a pleasure in itself.

Hiring "Best Electrician"For Fixer-Upper Homes

There are many people venturing now into buying fixer-upper homes. It is undeniable that the venture can be a very profitable.

Yes, it does require some considerable amount of loving care to build the fixer-upper house into a beautiful abode, yet it can be worth all the effort.

You have to know the proper way of buying, repairing and selling the fixer-upper house. When it comes to repairing the fixer-upper house, many people focus on the aesthetics of the house.

They want to give it fresh paint to brighten and liven up the house. They provide lavish carpeting or flooring to make it look expensive. Some even enhance the bathrooms and enlarge the bedroom closets to make it desirable to picky clients.

It must be kept in mind, however, that many buyers now are also very inquisitive with the details of the house. They look beyond what looks beautiful in the eyes. They also investigate the foundations of the house.

They check out the roofing and the foundations of the walls. They look for cracks in the ceilings. They want to know the plumbing system. They don't like pests and mites.

One of the best detail to focus on to make a good impression is the wiring and electrical system of the house. Any buyer will be attracted to buy if they are secure with the electrical system. To ensure this, you must hire the best electrician!

Tips On Looking For The Best Electrician

1. To get the best choices, ask for the contacts of the local master electricians in the neighborhood.

2. Sometimes, it is also good to get recommendations from friends and relatives who've hired very good electricians.

3. Interview the electrician. Inquire if the electrician has liability insurance.

4. Make sure also to see his or her state license to engage in such jobs.

5. Be sure that the electrician has had at least 2 years of experience.

6. It is also required that the electrician is qualified to do the installation of the wiring system and must have passed any standardized examinations required in the field.

7. Contact the references that the electricians will provide. Select the one with best recommendations.

Conclusion

Pick the best electrician to work in the fixer-upper house. With the right amount of commitment, time and work to repair and upgrade the house, this can very well turn out to become a good dwelling place for the family or a nice investment for big profits.

"How To Fix And Replace An Old Toilet"

Most of the time people try to work around an existing toilet. But an old toilet with a wall-hung tank certainly can date a bathroom. Toilets can also look terrible if badly stained from hard water or water that contains high concentrations of iron.

Sometimes you may have to remove the toilet to lay a new floor or to repair the floor under a leaking toilet. This can be a messy job but it's not hard.

If you don't want to buy a new toilet, it's usually easy enough to bring an old toilet up to snuff.If you decide to keep the old toilet, check to see if there is any leaking between the large cast-iron, copper, or plastic pipe, sometimes called the soil pipe, and the toilet. Check for rust stains on the soil stack (you usually can see the soil stack from the basement if the toilet is on the first floor). Also, look for the inspection door (these usually are located in a closet in the wall behind the sink and toilet).

Sometimes you can see the soil stack and other drains from here. If not, check the pipe in the basement. Rust stains running down the pipe are a good indication of a toilet leak, although these stains can come from other sources, such as a leak at the roof collar or from a leaky supply pipe.

A leaky toilet isn't as tough to fix as you might think.

Just follow these steps and you will have it back on the floor in a couple of hours.

Step 1: Collect supplies from your local home center before you tackle the toilet: Purchase a new wax ring to go between the toilet and soil stack, 10 pounds of plumber's putty to seal between the toilet base and floor, and a set of brass hold-down bolts and nuts to fasten the toilet to the soil stack flange. You should also pick up a flexible water supply tube (most toilets use a 3/8 inch tube, but check yours) and a new gasket to seal between the tank and the bowl.

Step 2: Turn off the water supply valve. (It's close to the floor under the tank.) Flush the toilet to drain the water from the tank and bowl. Sponge out as much as you can from the tank to prevent water from spilling out when you remove it. If you have a wall-mounted tank, it does not have to be removed. If the tank is attached to the toilet, remove it by loosening the hold-down bolts, using a screwdriver to keep the bolts from turning inside the tank.

Step 3: Bale as much water from the toilet bowl as possible. Use a wrench to remove the hold-down bolts located at the toilet base. You might have to clean old, hard plumber's putty from the bolt threads. If the bolts are corroded, cut through them with a hacksaw blade between the nut and the washer. These brass bolts are not too hard to cut.

Step 4: Rock the toilet back and forth to break its seal with the floor. Then lift it up and off the soil stack. Dump the remaining water into the tub, then place the bowl upside down on a piece of cardboard or blanket to protect the porcelain finish. Stuff newspapers or an old rag into the drainpipe to contain odor.

Step 5: Use a putty knife to scrape old wax and putty from the bottom of the bowl. Also scrape the top of the soil stack flange. It is important to remove all the old, hard putty from both surfaces.

Step 6: Unwrap the new wax ring and place it on the bowl. Push it back and forth so it will stick in place. If it is cold, allow the wax ring to warm up to room temperature. Or if you are in a hurry, set it in some hot water for a couple of minutes so it will soften and be more pliable. It is hard to get the toilet to sit right in the soil stack flange if the wax ring is hard and will not compress.

Step 7: Pack plumber's putty around the wax ring. Then twist putty into a 1/2 inch-diameter rope, and put the rope around the bottom edge of the toilet. This will provide a tight water seal at the floor.

Step 8: Pack plumber's putty around the bolt slots in the soil pipe flange, to hold the toilet hold-down bolts upright. Place these bolts in the slots, and use more putty if needed to hold them in place.

Step 9: Turn the bowl over and carefully align it so the hold-down bolts pass through the holes in the base of the toilet. Then push it down onto the soil stack flange with a slight twisting motion. Use a level to assure that the bowl is level.

Step 10: Apply petroleum jelly to the tank bolts to prevent corrosion. Then tighten the hold-down bolts. Make them snug but don't over-tighten or you can crack the china. Use the edge of a putty knife to remove excess putty that squeezes out onto the floor.

Step 11: Put the tank back on the toilet, or if the tank is wall hung, reconnect the water supply pipe. If the rubber seal between the tank and bowl is cracked or hardened, replace it.

Step 12: Replace the water supply tube and turn the water on. Check for leaks. Wait a few days to allow the toilet to settle a little bit on the wax ring and plumber's putty, and then tighten the hold-down bolts. Next, install the bolt covers by placing plumber's putty in their base to hold them in place.

That's it, your done - congratulations!

" Steps To Replacing An Exterior Door "

No door takes more use and abuse than an exterior door. It takes a beating and can become warped and cracked. If the door is in bad shape, you're better off replacing it with a newer, more energy-efficient door. Most of the replacement doors on the market today are not too difficult to install.

The easiest approach is to purchase a new door that fits directly into your existing jamb. Since most doors are now manufactured in standard sizes, you will probably be able to find a replacement door the same size as your existing door. Unless your door is very unusual in size, you should be able to find a door close enough to your existing door. You can trim only about an inch or so off the door's width and 3 or 4 inches from its height before you weaken the door or cause problems when installing the locks.

Installing Your Door

It is not possible to cut down a steel, aluminum, or fiberglass-clad door, so if you are thinking about upgrading to one of these doors, you should look for a pre-hung door. Easiest to install are doors that come pre-hung in weather-stripped frames that can be inserted directly into your old door-jamb. They are nailed or screwed to the old jamb. All you have to do is insulate the cracks between the jambs and reinstall the old trim or purchase new trim and install it.

This is not a difficult project, but care must be taken to get everything square and see that the new jamb is properly attached to the old jamb for the door to function properly over the long haul. You should be aware that installing a new jamb over your old takes up a bit of the door opening. So the replacement door will be slightly smaller than the original door.

Step 1: Measure your existing jamb carefully. Take measurements in several places to determine the height, then use the smallest of these measurements. Do the same for the width. You can place wood shims behind the new jamb if the old opening is large, but there is not much you can do if the opening is too small. Most replacement doors give you an inch or so of adjustment, but that is all. Know the swing of the door you need to order. Viewed from inside, doors that have hinges on the left side are right-hand doors, those with hinges on the right are left-hand doors.

Step 2: Remove the old door. Then carefully remove the inside and outside trim. We have found that driving the finishing nails through the trim with a nail set is easier than trying to pull the nails out. Some doors require you to remove the threshold.

Step 3: Place the new door frame in the opening and square it up. Then place shims between the new jamb and the old frame. Use the recommended screws to fasten the new jamb in place. Constantly check that everything stays square as you tighten the screws. Open and close the door to see if there is any binding. It will get worse over time, not better, so take your time and get it right.

Step 4: The threshold, weather stripping, and insulation go on next. Be sure to fill any gaps between the jambs with insulation, and carefully caulk up any cracks. It's easiest to weather strip and caulk before the trim goes on.

Step 5: Reinstall the interior and exterior trim and caulk any cracks. Then install the door locksets. Most of these doors come predrilled.

Tip: Some replacement doors require you to remove the old jamb. This is a major job, and you should hire a carpenter to hang this type of door unless you have had some experience working with exterior doors. The one advantage to this type of door is that you will get a door that is at least as wide as your old door.

"How to get Home Loan "

The time has come that your house needs some work. This could be a few years after the home was built or a few months after buying from a previous owner. There is just one little problem, where will you get the money to do the job?

You don't have to sacrifice not going out for a few months. There are institutions that offer loans to customers that have reasonable payment schemes. There are two types of loans and some tips how you can get them.

The first is applying for a mortgage. There are various rates and payment schemes available. An example is a fixed program where the interest will not change until the loan has been paid. Adjustable ones could go up and down which could be tough during certain months. The balloon starts with shorter payments but gets bigger in the succeeding years.

It is a good idea to think about how long you will be staying in the home since this will be a good indicator of the type of mortgage to apply for. You can budget the available money less the expenses then decide to use the excess to pay off the loan in a number of years.

Another method is called the home equity loan. Literally, the amount of money that can be borrowed will depend on the price of the home minus what you owe on the first mortgage.

You should check the line of credit because it is better to ask for a high amount than too little since most home improvement projects have additional charges. It will be a good idea to also watch the interest rates since this may go up and down which could be to your advantage.

The nice thing about home equity loans is that these are very easy to pay compared to mortgages. Once the papers are in order, you will not have a problem applying for this kind of loan.

The best place to get either of these loans is the bank which you regularly use. Being a regular customer has its advantages that will come in handy during times like these.

If this is not enough, this is the time you should approach other banks and lending agencies. You should compare the rates and then decide which one is offering a reasonable package.

Home improvement is an investment for the long term. You should calculate how much funds are available to be able to choose the right loan to make the remodeling plan move forward.

Improveing "Your Bedroom"

It can be argued that the most special place in your home is the bedroom. The bedroom is the room which embodies serenity and privacy. Many people allow other people to do anything that they would want on all the other parts of the house except for the bedroom.

Even though the bedroom is the most private place in the house, and it is the most unseen rooms by visitors, people should still maintain its beauty. In fact, this is the exact reason why people should improve and maintain their bedrooms, because it is the most special part of the house.

Listed Below Are Some Few Tips On How To Improve One’s Bedroom:

1. Clean, Clean, Clean

This is basically the first step towards a genuine bedroom improvement endeavor. Keeping the room clean is a good practice to uphold and prevent clutter from piling up so that when the big day of home improvement comes you shouldn't hqve to worry about getting all the stuff out and wasting all your time doing so.

2. Reorganize

If the bedroom is not getting an overhaul operation, you can simply reorganize the stuff inside the bedroom and find out the best arrangements which will give better comfort and space. The pieces of furniture are the ones which needs special rearranging. Changing your bedroom arrangement can be a good thing because change is good, especially if it is for the better.

3. Walls

If you are getting bored with the overall look of your bedroom, you can look into changing the color of the walls. The walls dictate the overall ambience in a room and changing its color maybe a good solution for bored people. However, you must make sure that you want to change the color of the wall, if not, it will be a bad way to waste money. Painting is also fun. you can actually do this with the kids or with friends.

4. Buy Additional Stuff

If you can afford it, you can get some new stuff to bring into your bedroom. You can choose the things in your bedroom which you would like to upgrade and sell them in a garage sale perhaps.

These are just some of the basic things that you can do to be able to improve your bedroom. The most important thing to remember is that the bedroom should be a statement of the owner’s personality and with this in mind, you can make changes for the betterment of the room.

"Your Cabinet Hardware"

Cabinet hardware is on of the easiest ways to add a splash of color to your kitchen. There is a large selection of new knobs and other cabinet hardware on the market today. See examples of the range of different cabinet hardware below.

Changing your cabinet knobs and drawer pulls is a simple process if you replace the knob with the same attaching pattern you may not even have to drill any holes if you can use a screw driver you can change the look of your kitchen with new cabinet hardware.

Generally there are two different mounting patterns for cabinet knobs and drawer pulls a single screw and a double screw mount. See below.

If your existing cabinet hardware is the single screw mounting type you can easily replace the old knobs with new hardware of the same mounting configuration, simply remove the screw from the backside and replace the old knob with your new knob and screw.

The problem arises when replacing cabinet hardware with the two screw mounting system. The problem is holes if you are using new cabinet doors obviously this is not a concern but with old cabinet doors we do not want any holes showing. If you are repainting your doors you can fill the old holes before you paint then you can use any type of new cabinet hardware you like. However if you have solid wood doors you may want to use new cabinet hardware that will mount in the original holes.

"Bathroom Remodeling"

The bathroom is one of the most important rooms in the house. It may sound funny, but it’s true. Modern design is moving away from the Spartan simplicity of most bathrooms and are focusing more on making the bathroom comfortable, and convenient. People spend a lot of time in them, so why not improve so that the time you spend there is pleasurable and not merely tolerable. When remodeling your bathroom you have to keep in mind that your bathroom is not just a place to wash in. It is an integral part of your home experience.

First of all, you will have to find out how you can make your bathroom more comfortable. To do so you have to make an inventory of what you have and how you can make it better.

Ask yourself the following questions:

How Much Space Do I Have?

You need to take into account how much space you have in your bathroom. From here you can plan what you can add to your bathroom. Do you want to expand your shower area? Add a bathtub? If your bathroom is already cramped then your options for improving your bathroom are already limited.

Try clearing out some space. If you can, install overhead cabinets and racks to serve as storage space for stuff that would otherwise be cluttered on your bathroom floor. Your bathroom will be much more comfortable if it is spacious enough to accommodate your movement.

What Can I Do To Change The Ambience In My Bathroom?

Change your bathroom’s ambience from drab to fab with a few renovation tips. Most bathroom tiles are plain and lifeless. You may want to consider changing them with attractive tiles that give a cozier feel to the bathroom. Consider having your bathroom painted to change its mood.

If you have enough space you may put ornaments in the bathroom – stools, plants, and décor are all options you may consider. Drop by a home depot to see the latest bathroom implements available.

How Much Will I Spend?

If you have money isn't a problem, you may consider giving your bathroom a total makeover. If money is tight there are a couple of inexpensive alternatives.

Given everything, the best way to get your bathroom looking great is organization. Reorganizing how stuff is arranged in your bathroom will do wonders towards making your bathroom look wonderful.

Also, keeping your bathroom clean, and setting up your bathroom so that it promotes cleanliness is an important part of remodeling.

What Can I Install To Improve My Bathroom Experience?

Improving what is already there will go a long way towards improving your bathroom. If you already have a shower, consider installing a heater. You could change your taps, and fittings with chrome or glass materials. If you need them, you could have additional towel racks and curtains installed.

Lighting is another of the important fixtures you could improve. Fluorescent adds a cleaner, cooler feel to the bathroom. Some people prefer using all sorts of lights – warm, neon, and all other kinds of lighting.

If you have noticed how department stores accentuate and highlight their wares with lighting in their window displays, you’d see how important lighting is in changing the mood of a room. Try observing how a particular lighting scheme can improve the mood of any room.

Will I Need Help?

Some remodeling work will require the assistance of a good contractor. If you really want a professional job on the designing end, you could also consult with an interior designer. Make sure, though, that when dealing with such, you already have an idea of what you want and you are willing to listen, discuss and consider their opinions. You should also make them aware of your budget, and your limitations. They will most likely integrate all of this into a remodeling plan that you can review before approving.

Get To It!

So, convinced yet? The experience of remodeling and renovating your bathroom can be a fun and rewarding experience. If you can get your remodeling job up to par, your bathroom will no longer be just a room to wash and relieve yourself. You might even find yourself enjoying yourself in there as well!

Wood Flooring "Refinishing "

Is your wood flooring already worn out? Has it already gone through the tough tests and is now looking old and pale? It may be time to refinish your wood flooring and make it look new again.

How do you know it is time to refinish the floor? You can do this simple step. Go to the area where the floor is mostly used, your living room perhaps. Get a tablespoon of water and pour it onto the floor.

If the water forms beads and can easily be wiped out, there is no need to refinish it yet. Your floor is still in good condition.If the water that you just poured slowly seeps into the floor and creates a visible spot, it may already need refinishing touches. You may want to keep it in your to-do list and schedule a time when you can do the refinishing. However, if the water seeps in as quickly as you had poured it, then don't waste more time. Your floor definitely needs refinishing, and soon.

Refinishing your wood flooring would require equipments such as a drum sander. Other equipments may be needed for other more detailed tasks in the finishing process. You need not buy those equipments, though. These equipments are available for rent in your local home shops such as Home Depot. You can rent them on a daily or weekly basis.

Different grit papers are used in the drum sander for different floor types. The lower the grit paper number is, the coarser it is for use on more damaged woods. Once you have chosen the right grit paper, you can now start sanding the wood using the equipment. It is suggested that you do the sanding diagonally on both ways then along the grain.

Once you are done sanding the whole floor with that procedure, repeat the process again using a finer grit paper (one with a higher number). After sanding the whole floor again, you can now sand the edges using a spinner/edger machine.

Vacuuming is the next step to clean off the sand dusts. Should there be gaps present after the sanding process, fill them in using the sand dust mixed with varnish to form a paste. Then leave the floor alone for some time.

After a few hours, repeat the sanding process again, this time doing it along the grain with a much finer grit. Do this twice using the highest grit number on the last sanding. After which, vacuum the floor once more and sweep off the sanddust.

After a few hours, repeat the sanding process again, this time doing it along the grain with a much finer grit. Do this twice using the highest grit number on the last sanding. After which, vacuum the floor once more and sweep off the sanddust.

Once the floor is dust-free, it is now time to apply the coat. You would need a roller to do this. Before using the roller, make sure it is clean first using a stiff brush to remove dirt and loose hairs that might get into the finish.

The urethane coating can now be applied across the floor grain by strips. Once the whole array of strips is completed, go back to the starting strip and make sure there are no roller marks or urethane build up.

Let the first coating dry for some time. When the coat is completely dry, the next step is to sand the whole floor using an orbital sander. Vacuum and sweep the floor afterwards to remove the dust.

Finally, the second coating can now be applied using the same procedure as the first. When you do the second coating, make sure the sun doesn’t shine through the window to any part of the floor to avoid uneven marks.

Refinishing your wood flooring is relatively easy as long as you have the right equipment. The rent may be a little costly though, but not as expensive as replacing your whole floor. You can even save more doing it yourself than hiring somebody to do it for you. Also, wouldn’t you be proud to show off your work and tell your friends you did it by yourself?

Nicely finished or refinished floors make your home look more beautiful. It is also a healthy alternative than carpets. Carpets are known to cause allergies because they are difficult to clean. Having just bare, nicely finished wood flooring will help you have a healthy environment inside your own home. Dusts, pests, molds, and animal stains can easily be cleaned up as well.

Home Improvement Tips for the Living Room

The living room is like the lobby of the hotel. This is the place where visitors are greeted and family members met. If the house is quite old, you can try to make some improvements without spending too much to make the room look better.

The easiest will be the lighting. You can start by walking around the living room. Should there be blind spots, you can try to remove certain objects or change the color of the bulbs.

Sometimes this isn’t enough so you may have to add some lighting fixtures such as a chandelier or a few more lamps at certain areas of the living room. When this has been done, you will have a clear view of other things that need improvement.

You can also change the color of the walls. This can be done by buying some paint that will work well with the lights to make the room look bright during any time of the day.

If there are paintings on the wall, you can make them look lively by putting in a small shelf underneath. This can hold some small picture frames or candles that can make the room look cozy.

People who live in colder climates can settle for a centralized heater system or try improving the home with a fireplace. There was a time when you had to make a big hole then slab concrete to get it up and running. These days, hardware stores have pre-assembled models to choose from which saves a lot of money compared to hiring a contractor to do the job.

Flooring is another thing that may need some improvement. You can replace this with the same kind of material or totally strip this for something new. An example is wood. This may come in various sizes but due to termites and aging, cracks will soon appear.

You can still have a wood finish by trying laminated flooring. This looks like wood but it isn’t. These are flat and can easily be installed using some glue placed on the backside then simply sticking this to the floor. Plugs must be inserted to act as a divider between the living room and other parts of the house.

Just know that home improvement projects will cost money. You should make an estimate, buy the proper materials and prepare the proper tools so that once the project starts, this can easily be done in a few days.

Organize Your Closets

Are you already fed up with the mess you see once you open your closet? Maybe it’s high time that you take time off to organize it and make it look like a human being is using it.

Everyday we pull out clothes that we are going to use from our closets. Also, at least once a weak, after the laundry is done, we add these clothes back to our closets. Most of the time, due to our busy schedule or just because of our laziness, we take for granted the way we do these things.

We pull out clothes and accessories in a quick manner and then other stuff gets disarranged. After the laundry, we put back these clothes unmindfully. Thus, we end up having a total mess in our closets.

Here is a step-by-step guide on how you can organize your closets and make them look neat again.

1. The very first thing you have to do is to remove everything from your closet. This will give you an idea, in case you have forgotten, of how big a space you have in your closet. Once you see the whole empty space, you can now have a plan in mind on how you are going to arrange everything.

Make a mental note on what you want to put where. If you also have a space for your shoes and other accessories in your closet, make sure they will all be in the right place and well seperated.

While your closet is empty, take the advantage to clean it. You can probably rub it down with a washcloth, soap and water. For a more enticing smell, you can use a scented liquid soap to clean your closet.

2. The next thing you have to do is to seperate the pieces that you have just removed from your closet. This might be the most difficult part of the task especially if you already have a monstrous mass piled up in your closet. You might even discover things that you thought you’ve lost a long time ago.

When separating the items, it is best to have storage bins at hand to help you do the task easily. You may want to have at least three bins – one to hold the things you will be keeping in your closet, the second bin to hold stuff that will be of no use to you anymore and needs to be thrown away, and the third will be for items that you can recycle, donate or sell in your next garage sale.

Needless to say, the only bin that you need to keep here is the one that holds your important stuff and those that you will keep in your closet. These items are your current clothes, underwear, accessories, shoes, and other things that you think you will still be using. The other two bins can be forgotten for now. You can organize them later, after you finish your main task of organizing your closet. Just keep them out of sight so you will not be tempted to look at them again.

3. Now that you have only the essential things that need to be in your closet, it’s time to divide them into categories. Of course, accessories, shoes and clothes should be separated from each other. Your clothes also need to be divided into different types and categories.

Your professional clothes should be placed separately from your casual and regular clothes. Pants, blazers, long-sleeved polos, coats and other clothes you wear in business should be kept together. Identify your casual clothes and keep them together. Separate your underwear and socks from your main clothes.

Once that is done, you can now rearrange them again based on the frequency you wear them. Make sure that each of your pieces are neatly folded or ironed. If you think something needs to be ironed again, especially your professional clothes, do not hesitate to do so. This will make your closet look much better.

4. Now that you have divided the important pieces that deserve to stay in your closet, it’s now time to put them back. You may want to use closet organizers from now on like clothes hangers, shelves, and shoe rack. Hang all your pants together, make sure your jeans go together and are separate from your business pants. Hang your other top wear like polos, blazers, and coats keeping the same kind together.

Have those clothes that you frequently use placed on top of the others for easy access. Arrange your shoes in the shoe rack and place them below the hung clothes. You can put shelves on those extra spaces in your closet and place your underwear and accessories on separate shelves.

It may really be a tedious task to organize your closet. But it sure is worth the time and effort. Having a neat closet to open in the morning will keep you inspired to go through the day.

Tips to Increase Value of Your Home

Did you know that you could drastically increase the value of your home without having to invest heavily in having your home remodeled or refitted? Yes, it’s possible! And you won’t even have to spend as much just to make it happen!

If you are selling your home, getting a good value for it could prove troublesome. But before you throw in the towel and sell your home for a price way below your expectations, you could try doing some inexpensive renovations to increase your home’s value up to 20%. That’s not a bad figure, is it?

Here is a brief walkthrough of the steps you can undertake to make your home worth much more that it is today.

The Kitchen: Bigger Is Better

The kitchen is one of the critical areas to address in your efforts to increase your home’s worth. Homebuyers are looking for spacious kitchens that are clean, in good repair and have the necessary furnishings for working.

To make the kitchen look more spacious, try installing lights that will make it look brighter. You could also redo the windows to remove clutter and make it spill in more light. This will have the effect of making the kitchen look bigger. Make sure the floorings and the table tops are in good repair. If it is not beyond your budget you could even replace the current flooring with stone or tile, which is a lot better than linoleum that cracks and tears.

Keep the kitchen in good repair. It doesn’t cost much to have scratches and bumps fixed. If you have busted fixtures or electrical outlets, have them repaired with good materials.

A paint job will do wonders not just for your kitchen but for the whole home. So consider adding a good layer of paint on your home.

The Yard

Simple gardening would do much to make your home more appealing. Keeping the yard in order, and tending to the garden would result more in a yard that would most likely attract buyers.

To stress the significance of a good yard, mature trees will typically add about $1000 to the value of your home. So imagine the impact of a well-tended garden to the value of your home!

The Living Room

Like the kitchen, living rooms must give the impression of space. Some people do so by installing mirrors. However, this technique is also suited to the bedroom. The little repairs – like light bulbs and electrical outlets.

Make sure the living room is airy, a coating of light colored paint, installation of good lamps, and a general cleanliness of the living room will contribute much to this effect.

Bedroom

Like the other rooms, the bedroom has to be particularly spacious, airy and bright. Mirrors are particularly effective at accomplishing this effect. Most five-star hotels have to project an impression of space, and they employ this technique to its full effect.

Make sure the rooms have a sufficient number of electrical outlets. The flexibility this offers will add much to the value of your home.

If you plan to install new surfaces, you might also want to consider using natural materials such as stone, marble, quality wood, and others. Studies have shown that many people react favorably to these materials. They also add a feeling of cleanliness to the rooms.

Make the cabinets and closets as large as possible without making the rooms they are in look cramped, you may have to employ a few illusionary tricks here but the results are astounding.

Bathrooms

Use fluorescent lighting instead of incandescent lighting to provide your bathrooms with a light feel. Installing inexpensive amenities to your bathroom like towel holders, racks, shower curtains, shower fixtures and other will enhance the appearance and appeal of your home.

You can mix, match and experiment with the tips given here. The principle of the whole is that you should make your home look spacious, airy, and light. You should also make sure your home looks different from the other homes in your neighborhood. If you can one up their amenities, then well and good! There are other tricks and illusions you could employ to achieve this – tricks that do not have to be expensive at all! So go ahead give your home a good look and start increasing its value today!

Home Decorating "Your Budget"

As the seasons change, many times your local thrift and consignment stores will have a change in inventory. So, be sure not to miss out on decorating supplies, furnishings, accessories, paint, wallpaper, and fabrics that can be found at many thrift stores. But, before you go shopping, make a plan that incorporates items you already have into your decorating task. The best strategy in budget decorating is to always inventory and use what you have on hand before buying decorating supplies. Be sure to check out the garage, attic, and basement for useful materials or furnishings that can be recycled into a new decor.

Shop in your own home first!

Consider moving items from one space to another. Sometimes pulling items from one room to another and simply re-organizing, fixing up, or just using an item in a different way can be enough to jazz up a room. Add a fresh coat of paint, different window dressings and rearrangement of furnishings.

Need some paint!

If you can be flexible about color, check the mis-mixed table at your local home improvement, hardware, or paint stores. You can find high quality paints for a fraction of the original retail cost when colors don't turn out exactly as they should have. Sometimes you can find a slight variation of just the color you've already picked that will work just as well with your selected color scheme and save you lots of money.

I buy these mis-mixed paints (usually for $2-3 per gallon or less) throughout the year and store them appropriately for later use. This way I go shopping in "my own" paint department first to see if I can accommodate the decorating plan I have chosen. Planning ahead and grabbing these types of decorating supplies when they're a bargain is a great way to maximize your home decorating savings.

Collecting fabrics!

Collecting fabrics for future use is also another great idea. Even unwanted clothing can be used to create small window dressings, pillow covers, and accessories. Many people give away scraps of fabrics or sell them at yard sales. Be sure to check clearance and end piece items at sewing and fabric shops. It's really so simple to make a curtain or a pillow. Usually only requires sewing simple seams. For more complicated tasks, if you can't figure it out for yourself, you're sure to find a how-to book at any library or search on-line for free information.

I've found some excellent ideas for decorating on a budget, do-it-yourself projects, and decorating theme ideas from television, how-to books, and online home decorating sources. Benefit from some of the wonderful ideas and projects offered by professionals. You can get some great ideas for areas of your home that you just don't know what to do with.

Before you make your plans!

check out several books at the library on home decorating. You will find no shortage of books on the subject of do-it-yourself home decorating. Glance through them and grab ideas to incorporate into your own decorating task. If you have a specific challenge to overcome, likelihood is someone else has already encountered it, conquered it, and written a book or web page about it. Use their knowledge! It will save you time and frustration of figuring it out.

Make your own accessories!

Learn to make swags and wreaths. Swags and wreaths bring texture and color into a space and can be fairly simple to create. A simple how-to book is all you need to create a few decorative pieces. Wreaths can easily be adapted to suit any theme or color scheme. And, handmade ones are a fraction of the cost of those purchased already made. Swags are so easy to make once you have the right supplies and tools. Like wreaths, they have a basic structure that can be adapted to suit any theme or color scheme. Once you become an experienced swag or wreath crafter, you can whip together an accessory for any decor in a matter of minutes.

Tip:

Some people grow to love the craft of wreath making and it becomes a useful hobby. They make great gifts!

Don't over accessorize!

If you have collections, group them together for the best displays. Your trinkets and treasures will look less like clutter and more like valued collections.

Cheap Tips For Accessorizing Your Home

Do you feel the need to fix up your home – maybe brighten it up a bit or add some spice to it? Or are you just in the designing process of your new home? Accessorizing your home, whether you are upgrading or just starting up, is fun to do. This is where you can put your creativity and imagination to good use.

You might think, though, that buying all those nice-looking home decors might be a rip off. But there’s no need to worry! You can definitely make your home look elegant and classy without spending too much money.

When you decorate and accessorize your home, you must consider some of the basics so your finished product won't look like a mess. The accessories that you have in mind should match the color and theme of the room where they will be placed. The colors and design should compliment the room and not look like it’s out of place.

Here Are Some Tips To Help You In Accessorizing Your Home If You Are On A Budget.

1. If you want to revitalize your living room, you can just add throw pillows to your old couch to take the emphasis off of it. A combination of throw pillows of different sizes and shapes can be a good and inexpensive alternative to having your sofa upholstered.

2. If you are into rugs, new ones can be expensive. An alternative to that is to check out garage sales or shops that sell pieces of older pretty rugs. You can cut them into different shapes and sizes and scatter them around the house to emphasis specific areas. This can also be a good cover-up for hard-to-remove stains on the floor.

3.Lighting fixtures are important additions when you are accessorizing your home. It gives the ambience that you want and creates a dramatic effect when positioned correctly. If you don't have enough to spend on expensive lighting, you can buy the inexpensive ones and place them behind a plant or at the back of the couch. It gives a romantic effect to your bedroom or living room.

4. Scented candles are popular nowadays and you can get them for only a few dollars. You can even place them anywhere like your living room, bedroom, bathroom, dining table, and kitchen area. Adding them to your room adds a romantic effect and warmth, not to mention the sweet aroma that it spreads throughout the house.

5.Plants are another option for an inexpensive home accessory. You can add flowers, orchids and other indoor plants to add color to your room. These plants also make good conversational pieces for your guests. You can find one for about $20. Not bad, huh!

6. An accessory that never fails to impress is a picture. You can hang framed photos or those of your loved ones on the wall or have them lined up atop a shelf. You only need to buy the frames for the photos which can be inexpensive yet look elegant and sturdy.

7. Curtains can add drama to your windows. If needlework is your thing, you can just buy elegant inexpensive fabrics from flea markets and make curtains on your own. Doing this will give you control on how you want your curtains to look. If you think you’re not up to that, you can buy ready-made curtains from flea markets, craft stores or home accessory stores. Just make sure that you have measured your windows before buying to make sure they will fit.

8. Remove all the clutter and unnecessary pieces you find in your home. If you want to redesign your home and add new accessories, make sure to get rid of the old accessories that don't match the theme that you want. Just keep a few base pieces and throw the others or recycle them for a different purpose. Keeping your place simple will brighten the ambience and lighten the mood of your home.

There are different ways for you to accessorize your home without spending too much money. You just need to think out-of-the-box to discover new ways of making your home look more cozy. Use your creativity and imagination in decorating each corner of your home.

If you have the eyes and hands of an artist, you can even make the accessories yourself using recycled materials. Now that’s a real budget-friendly idea! There are several ways to make budget decorating possible, you just need to explore!

Ideas To Improve The Home

Most people after constructing a home realize that one part of the house could have been done better. Since this will take time and money, this is put on hold until the time comes that some renovation again is necessary.

When this happens, you can draw up the plans; work with the contractor in order to get the job done.

One part of the house most important for home improvement is the living room. Many people who visit and those who live in the home stay in this section of the house aside from the individual bedrooms.

A good idea would be changing the living room walls or floors if there are cracks already. You can call a contractor to measure and give an estimate.

It is up to the spouses to decide what kind of flooring will be used for example tile, wooden or laminated. The walls can be repainted or installed with wallpaper. This should match with the furniture of the house for consistency with the theme.

If there are no problems with the walls or flooring, perhaps the furniture could use some improvement. This doesn't mean throwing out the old and buying a new set. If the former couch still looks good, perhaps this can be reupholstered while the table could get a nice varnish.

The home may be hot in the summer and cold during winter. You could also do some improvements on the windows. There are many types to choose from which are designed to stop air leakage, noise and moisture.

A good example is the slider door window. There are two panes of glass that can be moved to each side. A screen is also installed to allow a breeze come into the home. This can be made from aluminum or vinyl which will match the interior of the room.

The storm window is another good investment. This is designed to provide better insulation and prevent the loss of temperature in the home which will save money on the electricity bill.

The door can also be energy efficient. This works just like a window and the you don't have to buy a new one and have it installed. You can just buy some magnetic weather stripping from the hardware store and place it on the top and bottom of the door.

There are many ways to improve the home that won't cost much. You must assess the area that needs the most work then have it done first.

ELECTRICAL SAFTEY

Over-all Safety
Check all walls for wires and pipes before cutting out for any new cables and boxes.

• Turn off the power and remove the fuse from any circuit you are working on.
• Make sure no-one can turn the power on by mistake.
• Use only approved materials.

An electrical supply will come to your home your home at a main, sealed fuse called a service head and from there will go to your meter via one large red and one large black wire. The meter measures how much electricity you use.

The amount of electricity available to you is measured in Volts, and the rate at which it flows along its conductors is measured in amps. The power required by any appliance is measured in Watts. the formula for working out the correct cable and fuse is; Watts divided by Volts equals Amps.

Electricity flows along the live wire, feeding whatever is required and then returns along the neutral wire to its local transformer. The flow can be stopped by the insertion of a switch, which for all practical DIY purposes is placed in the live wire.
Switches, most often, will be linked from your ceiling rose through a separate cable, even though one of the wires in this cable is black it is still live.

Electricity will always find the shortest or easiest route and you may represent it, so be careful.

Cables

Fixed wiring is done in cable. This consists of individual conductors (wires) sheathed separately, by insulation to prevent leakage. The earth or "ground" wire is normally bare. The wires are then jointly covered by the outer sheath. The wires are colour coded, red for live, black for neutral and green/yellow striped for earth, where this is covered. Modern cables are sheathed with PVC which has an indefinite life, older cables were rubber with about 20/30 years life. If your home has these cables do not attempt electrical extensions with them. When installed, bare earth wires should be covered with an "earth sleeve" which can be bought in all sizes at an electrical store or most diy stores.
1.5mm is most common in lighting circuits. When installed it must not exceed 110m in length and carries a fuse rating of 5amps. (6 amps if used in conjunction with a miniature circuit breaker). It is acceptable to run 1200 Watts on this cable, the equivalent of 12 x 100 Watt bulbs, but lighting circuits are normally run independently on each floor of your house.

2.5mm (as above but larger) is usually used for the installation of power sockets on a ring main. The circuit uses a 30 amp fuse at the consumer unit (32 with a MCB). Cable length must not exceed 60m or 50m with an MCB.

Three core and earth is used to interconnect switches with more than one operation.
Flex, is simply flexible cable and is used for connecting appliances. The colour coding is different using brown for live, blue for neutral and green/yellow stripes for earth.
There are many more cables for connecting cookers etc, but these are generally run directly from the consumer unit and require a professional electrician for their installation.

Fuses

Fuses are placed into a circuit as a deliberate weak point. If anything goes wrong within your circuit, the fuse will "blow" first. With the modern RCD boxes, the trip switch will go. BUT BEFORE YOU PUSH IT BACK ON, LOCATE THE REASON WHY IT TRIPPED. Most of the time it is because the circuit has been overloaded or there is an earth fault. If you are in doubt
contact an electrician.

INDOOR LIGHTING

Basic skills are needed to install the new wiring. Connecting things up takes electrical skills and technical knowledge, so if you are in any doubt, employ an electrician.

Always ensure that the power supply is switched off before starting any work on your home's lighting circuits. It is not sufficient to turn off individual light switches. These instructions comply with the requirements of the current IEE wiring regulations.

1- introduction

Get more from your indoor lighting by replacing old lights, installing some extra ones and putting in a dimmer switch or two. Many homes still have only the most basic indoor lighting, with a central pendant lamp-holder or some other type of ceiling-mounted light fitting in each room, plus a plugged-in table lamp or two for extra task or background lighting. Putting up new light fittings in place of what you have can make a big difference to the way a room looks. So can adding extra lights and replacing existing on-off switches with dimmer switches.

2-check out your system

Before you start changing the light fittings you already have, or planning where to install new ones, take a little time to examine your lighting-circuit wiring so you are aware of what is involved in working on it. Turn off the power to each circuit at the fuse box or consumer unit, and then unscrew the cover on one or two ceiling roses.

Modern ceiling roses have a bank of terminals on their base plates, And there will be at least two and probably three cables present. The circuit cable loops into and out of each rose in turn, terminating at the last raised other circuit. A switch cable is wired into each rose and rundown to the switch that controls it. This is known as loop-in wiring. Older roses have just one cable present, and are supplied from a junction box close by in the ceiling void into which the switch cable is also connected. This is known as junction-box wiring.
You may find that some modern roses have only one cable present; they are also supplied from a junction box, usually to save on long cable runs if the rose and its switch are a long way apart. Make sure that the lighting circuit cable has an earth core. The circuits in older houses were wired up using cable with no earth core, and one will have to be added if this is found to be the case - a job for a professional electrician. If you find old cable with rubber sheathing, do not touch it. It is probably brittle and dangerous, and needs replacing - again by an electrician.

3- Replace a ceiling rose

Ceiling roses and their pendant lamp holders discolor in time, as does the flex linking them. It is a simple job to replace an old rose with a smart new one.
You can buy complete pendant sets with the flex and lamp holder already connected up. Alternatively, you could consider fitting a plug-in rose (called a luminaries support coupler or LSC). With this type, you can unplug the flex and lamp holder from the rose for cleaning or when you are redecorating the room.
With the power off, unscrew the cover of the rose you want to replace. If you have loop-in wiring and more than one cable is present, identify the switch cable; it is the one with its black core running to the same terminal as the brown flex core. Mark its sheath with an S and wrap some red PVC tape round its black core to show that it is live. Then disconnect the pendant flex from the rose terminals and set it aside.
Disconnect the cable cores from their terminals. Undo the screws securing the rose to the ceiling and take it down. Press out one of the weakened areas (called knockouts) from the base plate of the new rose or LSC, feed the cables through it and screw it to the ceiling.
Reconnect the cable cores to the terminals on the new base plate. These will probably be labeled for identification. Connect all the red cores to the terminal marked LOOP. Connect the switch cable's black core to the terminal marked LINE, and the other black cores to the terminal marked N. All the earth cores, which should be covered with green/yellow PVC sleeving, go to the earth terminal.

4- Install a new light fitting

You may want to put up a new light fitting in place of a ceiling rose. What this involves depends on whether you have loop-in or junction-box wiring, and on whether the new light fitting has an internal terminal block or is connected to the circuit wiring with a short flex tail.
Turn off the power and disconnect the old rose, as described previously. Label the switch cable.
If you have junction-box wiring and the new light fitting has a terminal blocks (most fluorescent fittings, for example), feed the cable through the entry point in the base plate and screw the base plate to the ceiling. Then connect the cable to the terminal block and fit the bulb or tube. Add the diffuser and restore the power.

If the new light fitting has a flex tail, you have to use insulated strip connectors to link this to the circuit wiring. The connection must be made inside an enclosure which is formed by recessing a round conduit box into the ceiling and then mounting the light fitting immediately below it .You will need access to the ceiling void to do this - easy if there is a loft above, but involving lifting floorboards otherwise.
Draw the cable(s) that supplied the old rose up into the ceiling void, out of harm's way. The rose was probably screwed to a joist, so push a bradawl through the ceiling from above to indicate where it is. Then hold the conduit box (you need the type with rear knockouts but no spout) against the ceiling from below, clear of the joist position, and draw a line round it. Insert the tip of your pad saw in the cable hole cut out to the line and then saw carefully round it. Remove the waste.Remove a knockout from the base of the conduit box, and Push it up into the hole so its rim is flush with the ceiling.

If it is a loose fit, hold it temporarily in place with masking tape. Then gain access to the ceiling void. Cut a piece of wood or board to length to fit between the joists above the conduit box, and screw batten scraps to each end of it. Rest it on top of the conduit box and drive screws through the battens into the joist sides.

Go downstairs and screw the box to the underside of the board from below. Then drill a 18mm diameter hole up through the knockout you removed earlier to create an entry point for the cable(s).Feed the cable(s) down through the hole and into the conduit.
If only one cable is present, you need three strip connectors to link it to the flex tail from the light fitting. Connect the red cable core to the brown flex core, black to blue and earth to earth .If more than one cable is present, indicating loop-in wiring, then four connectors will be needed to allow the connections in the original rose to be reproduced.
Start by connecting all the cable earth cores to connector 1, the black core of the switch cable to conn2, the other black cores to connector 3 and all the red cores to connector 4. Connecting the flex next, taking the earth core to connector 1, brown to connector 2 and the blue to connector 3.

With the connections made, all that remains is to attach the light fitting to the ceiling. If it has a base plate with screw holes at 51mm centers, you can secure it to the threaded lugs at each side of the conduit box with M4 (4mm) machine screws. Otherwise, use woodscrews long enough to pass through the ceiling and into the board that supports the conduit box.
Start by connecting all the cable earth cores to connector 1, the black core of the switch cable to conn2, the other black cores to connector 3 and all the red cores to connector 4. Connecting the flex next, taking the earth core to connector 1, brown to connector 2 and the blue to connector 3.
With the connections made, all that remains is to attach the light fitting to the ceiling. If it has a base plate with screw holes at 51mm centers, you can secure it to the threaded lugs at each side of the conduit box with M4 (4mm) machine screws. Otherwise, use woodscrews long enough to pass through the ceiling and into the board that supports the conduit box.

5- Extend a lighting circuit
If you want a ceiling light at a new position, you will have to extend the lighting circuit with a spur cable to supply it, so once again you will need access to the ceiling void. That will enable you to decide where to make the connection into the existing circuit. You can connect your spur to the circuit in several ways, but the most straightforward is to use a four-terminal junction box connected into the circuit cable at a convenient point.

Turn the power off, locate the lighting-circuit cable and cut it. Remove some sheath from each cut cable end, strip the cores and reconnect them to the new junction box.
Install the new light fitting and its .Then run cable back from each component to the new junction box.

Connect the cores to the box terminals as shown to complete the wiring , screw the box to a joist and fit its cover. Restore the power and test the operation of the light.




6- Fit a dimmer switch

Dimmer switches allow you to control the brightness of your lights, from full on down to the barest glimmer, so they offer you the chance to create subtle mood-lighting effects. You can fit them in place of the existing plate switches, but there are a couple of points you must check before you buy.
First find out the wattage of the light (or lights) the dimmer switch will be controlling. Each switch has a maximum and minimum wattage rating, so you need to choose one that can handle your wattage. Next check whether the plate switch you are replacing has one or two switches , so you can buy a one-gang or two-gang dimmer as required.
Next check whether the plate switch you are replacing has one or two switches (called gangs in the trade), so you can buy a one-gang or two-gang dimmer as required.
Lastly, with the power off, undo the fixing screws holding the plate switch you are replacing to its mounting box. Lift the switch away gently so you can measure its depth. Some dimmers need a box 25mm deep, while many plate switches fit on shallower boxes. Buy a dimmer to suit the box depth. To fit the new dimmer disconnects the switch cable cores from the terminals to the old plate switch. The follow the instructions with the dimmer switch to reconnect them to the correct terminals.Dimmer switches allow you to control the brightness of your lights, from full on down to the barest glimmer, so they offer you the chance to create subtle mood-lighting effects. You can fit them in place of the existing plate switches, but there are a couple of points you must check before you buy.
First find out the wattage of the light (or lights) the dimmer switch will be controlling. Each switch has a maximum and minimum wattage rating, so you need to choose one that can handle your wattage.
Next check whether the plate switch you are replacing has one or two switches (called gangs in the trade), so you can buy a one-gang or two-gang dimmer as required.
Lastly, with the power off, undo the fixing screws holding the plate switch you are replacing to its mounting box. Lift the switch away gently so you can measure its depth. Some dimmers need a box 25mm deep, while many plate switches fit on shallower boxes. Buy a dimmer to suit the box depth.

DREAM KITCHEN

Kitchen Plan

First it is important to choose whether you want a fitted kitchen or a freestanding kitchen. If you choose for a fitted kitchen, you will make the most of your space, as all the difficult corners can be hidden and used for storage. You can choose for flat pack, rigid or custom built to suit your needs and budget. Choose a freestanding and you will get that individual and informal look you might have been looking for. You can use all kinds of furniture to create the ambiance you prefer. You will have to choose your furniture well though to create as much storage space as in a fitted kitchen. Different people have different lifestyles. It is obvious that a single person or a couple will have different expectations from their kitchen than families with growing up children. Make sure the kitchen will fulfil all your needs. Sink, preparation area and hob should never be too far apart and that the fridge should be near the entrance of the kitchen. This all will have effect on where you will plan to put your basic equipment and where the service points for water, electricity and gas will be. Keep the existing service points in mind when planning your new kitchen as rewiring and re-plumbing your kitchen will take a lot of time.

Kitchen Design

Because cabinet doors are the face of the kitchen, it will be very important that you choose a finish you want to look at for quite a number of years. Wood is one of the most popular choices. It can be used for a solid door, but veneer is a good alternative. Besides that, veneer will give more uniformity, as a piece of wood is cut in thin strips to cover all the doors. Wood itself is available in all kinds of colours, but it can also be glossed, painted, colour washed or waxed to give it the finish you prefer. Laminate cupboard doors have endless possibilities in colour, texture and shine. They are easy to clean and work well in a modern or classic kitchen alike, just as glass, whereas frosted glass works best in contemporary kitchens. A worktop will receive the most wear and tear of all the surfaces in the kitchen. It has to endure hot pots and pans, knives, water and dirt. Therefore your worktop has to be made of the most durable material you can afford. Protect your worktop at all times from hot pans and knives by using trivets and chopping boards. Laminate is very popular for kitchens and worktops, as it is cheap and it comes in a variety of colours. It is easy to transform a kitchen just by changing the worktop. Wood is great for its character, but if used for the worktop it is highly sustainable to scratching and cutting. Oil it well to protect it from stains and it will improve in character over the years to come. Stainless steel can be shaped in any way your kitchen goes. The backsplash and the sink can be made into the same piece of steel, which makes that there are no awkward corners that will jeopardise hygiene. Granite is the most expensive material to cover your worktop with. It is highly durable, it doesn't scratch or burn and it keeps its colour. It's a natural material that will give great character to your kitchen. And last but not least, solid surfaces. They are hardwearing, they resist scratches, scorches and heat from hot pans, and if you do damage your surface, there are repair kits available to fix it.

Buying a Kitchen

When you go and buy a kitchen, always make sure that you get a fully itemised costing, so that you know what to be expected to pay. Never pay the full payment for your kitchen when you place your order. Purchase from someone that offers reasonable payment terms and make sure you know the terms and conditions. Check whether the company offers a full after sales service and inspection when fitting is completed. If any questions would arise then they can be answered on the spot and maybe immediately dealt with. Just before you decide on buying your dream kitchen, look at showroom cabinets and inspect areas that receive the heaviest wear, such as around the edges, hinges and seams, to spot any possible signs of weakness in the materials. Fully fitted showroom kitchens also give you a good idea about whether you will like certain finishes and gives you the possibility to look for different door handles, colours and materials.

Top Planning Tips

• Plan your kitchen according to your lifestyle. A family will have different expectations from a kitchen than a young couple. Keep this also in mind when planning your storage.

• Keep the existing service points in mind when planning the kitchen as rewiring and re-plumbing takes a lot of time and money.

• Think about the ventilation points when planning your kitchen. Don't plan cupboards over them.

• Decide where your sink, drainer and dishwasher need to go first as this will be the biggest unit to fit in.

• Plan the main areas (sink, food preparation and hob) close together. This will make your kitchen more efficient.

• When measuring the size of the kitchen, make sure that the exact shape of the walls is known. If there is an inwards corner in the room it will influence the shape of the worktop and the place of the wall-cupboards.
• If you decide for a two-way galley kitchen, leave enough walking space between the two galleys.

• If choosing a U-shaped kitchen, consider the floor space you will have left and maybe decide to use one of the legs of the U as a breakfast bar.

• If you like to cook with a lot of fresh vegetables or you need a big freezer, consider a big fridge/freezer at the end of your worktop for loads of storage and easy access.

• In a small and narrow kitchen you can create more space by making the wall-cupboards taller rather than having them protruding outwards. You will create more headspace and the kitchen will look wider.

• Store heavy items in the cupboards underneath the worktop.

• Store rarely used items on the highest shelves of your cupboard to keep easy accessible space free for daily use.

• Kitchens will always have drawers with all sorts of goods in it, like pens, buttons, matches and sandwich bags. To create more order, use little plastic boxes or special drawer organisers. You will find what you need much quicker.

• Store your utensils near to where you are most likely to use them. This will make your kitchen more efficient.

• Keep your worktop clutter free for a tidy look.

• To disguise a boiler you can build a spice rack in front of it. This will not take a lot of space and will be an attractive display for all your spices.

• Think about where you want your main bin to be situated. Try to integrate it in the area below the worktop to keep outlook of the kitchen clean and clutter-free.

• Don't forget to give your cookery books a place in your kitchen!