Kens Home Improvements

We don’t like to think much about our roofs. We just don’t want them to leak. Homeowners who want a roof that they truly don’t have to worry about, should consider investing in rubber roofing.

Rubber roofing is a bit uncommon among residential homes today. This is unfortunate; this style of roofing boasts a lot of positives. Not only can it save homeowners a significant amount of money, it’s also environmentally friendly.

Let’s talk about the money first. Traditional shingle roofs require a lot of maintenance. Shingles can be damaged by wind and storms. They often leak as they age. And when they do get older, they need to be replaced, an expensive project.

Rubber roofing, though, is far more durable than are traditional shingled roofs. They are less likely to suffer damage from even severe weather. And they are also less prone to leaks. This can save homeowners an extreme amount of money; water damage can cause serious problems in a home.

If a rubber roof does get damaged, they are a cinch to repair. Contractors, or homeowners themselves, can easily repair most damage with either replacement shingles or a special tape or liquid that dries into a rubber-like material. Repair jobs, then, are quicker and less expensive than they are with traditional roofing materials.

Rubber roofs can save homeowners money on their energy bills, too. These roofs are more energy efficient than are traditional roofs. They keep hot and cool air from escaping, those causing air-conditioning units and furnace to run less often.

Finally, those homeowners who care about the environment should know that rubber roofing is an environmentally friendly option. That’s because rubber roofs are often made from recycled materials. Allowing homeowners to spend less energy on heating and cooling their residences is also a positive for the environment.

Is your home a good candidate for a rubber roof? Rubber roofing works well on all styles of buildings, from sprawling estates to tiny bungalows. Today’s roofing manufacturers are able to create rubber roofs that look as attractive, if not more so, than any traditional roofing material. You don’t have to worry that rubber roofing will be unpleasant visually.

If you’re interested in rubber roofing, be sure to talk with your roofing contractor. A growing number of contractors are learning about the benefits of this type of roofing, too. You should have little trouble finding a contractor who will help you take advantage of the many benefits of rubber roofing.

The time has arrived to remodel the basement. The goal is getting what you want and the best value for your money. How do you accomplish your goal?

Start your project by making a list of what needs to be done. Are there any repairs such as cracks that need to be fixed in the wall or floor? Is the basement remodel to create an additional family space or upgrading a laundry area? This remodel might be as simple as just redecorating from painting to adding carpet or as extensive as adding a wall or a bathroom. The cost depends on project details. Of course, the cost increases the more extensive the project becomes. A basement remodel might be around $2,000 or more than $20,000. It is also important to mention that the cost for a basement remodel increases by more than 5% each year. Another determining factor is basement size and if it is a partial or pre-finished basement.

Planning is vital for any remodeling project. Start by creating an estimated budget. This budget is the maximum that you want to pay. Next, make a list of what is needed, as well as wanted, to get a better idea of where your money will go. This includes building materials and decorations. Then start researching the cost of each item on the supply list. Review national and local hardware ads, specialized books, the internet and call experts. Conducting research helps you get the best value for your money. It will also help by using project-figuring programs available at some stores. Furthermore, look into area rules for a building permit and any materials needed to help keep the mess to a minimum, such as tarps. Keep in mind once decisions are made the budget will probably need to be adjusted.

Many may plan to take on the basement remodel project themselves because it is a major way to get the best value for your money. Yet, is it really? If you have no knowledge or experience in the work to be done, it might be more trouble than value to you. It could become more costly in the end if a contractor has to be called in to fix a problem or finish a job. If you have minor construction knowledge, such as installing trim and light fixtures and painting, do what you can on your own then hire a contractor. If you do the project yourself, also keep in mind that the project might last longer because your time may be limited to weekends and other free time. Only you can determine if you need a contractor, do it all yourself or a combination of the two. You know what is best for you, your family and your home.

Once all the decisions are made create a final budget. Remember unexpected costs will arise for various reasons. It could be a measurement was off and too little of a supply is purchased or prices might have risen after the research process.

The choice of having bamboo flooring within the home or commercial space is becoming a very popular one. The popularity of bamboo flooring is on the rise and many people are opting to use bamboo flooring since it is the “greener” choice. Regardless of what many think, bamboo is a type of grass, not a tree. Bamboo comes from forests in China and Asia where it originally originated and was first manufactured.

When it comes to pros and cons of bamboo flooring, the pros very heavily outweigh the cons, but let’s take a deeper look anyway so that you can judge for yourself.

Pros of Bamboo Flooring

First of all, bamboo flooring is the “green” choice today. Bamboo flooring is made out of a type of grass grown in China and Asia and is therefore, environmentally friendly. Apart from being a renewable resource, bamboo flooring is very durable.

Bamboo flooring is fire resistant, mildew and insect resistant. It also preferred by those who have allergies. Bamboo flooring will not harbor dust.

If you’ve already decorated your house, or have the things for your home picked out, you can match your bamboo flooring to your owned décor by staining the flooring. There are a lot of varieties of bamboo flooring available like carbonized or engineered flooring and even floating bamboo flooring that isn’t attached to the floorboards themselves.

Although many claim that bamboo flooring will not last long, the truth is that if you maintain the bamboo flooring as you should, it can last a very long time. Bamboo flooring simply requires basic upkeep such as sweeping and mopping occasionally. This will help maintain its beauty as well.

Cons of Bamboo Flooring

For the most part, the cons of bamboo flooring are personal preferences, maintenance, or buying issues. There really aren’t any cons to the actual product itself other than that the fact that it can’t absorb sound and may be a little noisier than other flooring choices.

Bamboo flooring should be kept out of solid direct sunlight as the sun can bleach the bamboo flooring. If you have a home that is full of windows then it would be advisable not to purchase bamboo flooring for your home.

In terms of maintenance, bamboo flooring should be kept dry and any spills should be cleaned up immediately in order to avoid twisting and swelling of the flooring where the spill occurred, which could later lead to structural weakness.

As you can see from the information above, bamboo flooring doesn’t have many cons and the cons that it does have is preferential and/or can be avoided with planning ahead and observation. The disadvantages that come with bamboo flooring shouldn’t be a reason to keep it out of your home, as it will enhance the overall look of your entire home. Grass is the new wood for flooring!

Your home feels tight these days. Maybe you’ve had another child. Maybe a mother-in-law or aunt has moved in. Maybe your children are getting older and collecting more possessions. Whatever the reason, you need more space. A home addition will provide this. But there are several factors to consider when making this move.

First, of course, is your budget. Home additions are expensive. But if you’re operating under a tight budget, you can take steps to reduce the cost. For instance, if you can add space without having to knock out interior walls, your labor costs will be lower. If you can do some of the demolition work yourself, you’ll also gain some savings. And if you can confine your additions to the ground level of your home, you’ll save plenty of dollars.

Next, consider your family’s needs. Does everyone bunch up in the family room because there’s simply nowhere else to go? You might consider adding a recreation or home-entertainment room. Are you and your husband crammed into a master bedroom that’s the size of a walk-in closet? It might be time to create a spacious master bedroom with a master bath. Is your kitchen cluttered and cramped? Then consider a spacious kitchen addition.

Finally, homeowners should always consider resale value when putting an addition on their houses. This holds true even for those owners not yet thinking of selling.

Remember, even if you’re perfectly happy in your home today, things can change. You may want a smaller home once your children move on to college. As you get older, you may need to sell your two-story home for a single-level ranch home.

If you do have to sell, you want to make sure that any improvements you made to your house – including additions – not only add value to your residence, but generate positive feelings from potential buyers, too.

That’s why master bedroom additions are so wise. Today’s buyers expect their homes to come with a large master bedroom with an attached, and often luxurious, bathroom. Kitchen additions, too, are smart moves. Today’s buyers, even if they rarely cook, are always looking for high-end, modern and spacious kitchens.

Both of these additions will greatly boost the resale value of your home.

Of course, the final decision on a house addition rests with you. If you think you and your family would enjoy a recreation room addition more than a new master bedroom, go with the rec room. A house is more than an investment; it’s the place where life happens. You want any home addition to make that life more enjoyable.

You’ve made the decision to boost the energy efficiency of your home. You want less hot air to escape from your residence during the winter. You want to keep the cold air inside during the summer. What you don’t know, though, is what type of insulation you should use for your home.

When you visit your local home-improvement store, you’ll see countless rolls of insulation on the shelves. They’ll come in different colors and they’ll have differing price tags. It can all be a bit confusing.

Fortunately, there is one basic value that will tell you whether a certain piece of insulation does a better or worse job of weatherproofing your home, the R-value.

The R-value measures the thermal resistance of insulation. Generally, the higher the R-value, the better a type of insulation is at keeping inside air from escaping. An easy to determine how well your home’s insulation is working is to stand outside your home just after a winter snowstorm. Look on the roof. Is it covered in snow, or has it all melted? If it’s melted, that means that the heat inside your home is escaping through your roof, making the snow disappear. This is a sure sign that your insulation is not doing an adequate job.

When you purchase replacement insulation, pay particular attention to its R-value. It doesn’t make sense to replace old insulation with new material that won’t do a better job. That’s no better than throwing your money away.

You’ll also have to decide whether to go with traditional rolled insulation or with the blown-in loose-fill variety. Traditional rolled insulation are flexible and easy to use. You will, though, have to trim and cut these rolls to fit any non-standard spaces. Blown-in insulation, which is often installed by professional contractors, is blown through pneumatic equipment, and is often used to fill irregular spaces or unfinished attic floors. These insulation usually comes in the form of fiber pellets.

You’ll also have to decide if you want to install your insulation yourself or if you’d rather hire a professional contractor to do the job. Doing the work by yourself will certainly save you a significant amount of money. But installing insulation can be a time-consuming and messy job. And if you do it incorrectly, you’ll end up costing yourself in higher energy bills.

Choosing the right insulation for your home does require some careful planning and research. But if you’re willing to do the research, you’ll soon have a well-insulated and energy efficient home, with the lower heating bills that come with it and maybe even an energy star tax credit for your troubles.

When it’s time to replace the flooring in your living room, master bedroom or den, you have two main choices: hardwood flooring or carpet. Both options come with their own positives and negatives. Choosing the right one involves taking a close look at how the particular room is used.

The main benefit of carpeting is that it is soft, comfortable and easy to maintain. After all, you only have to vacuum once a week and shampoo once every two or three months to keep a carpet looking fresh and clean. But carpeting does have some drawbacks. If you have young children who are apt to spill their grape juice, it can be very difficult to eliminate that stain. If you have dogs or cats who have the occasional accident, your carpeting can swiftly become grimy and rather stinky.

Hardwood flooring, of course, is visually stunning. Many home buyers today consider a must-have when they are shopping for a new residence. They are also durable and hardy. However, they do require upkeep to look their best. You’ll have to polish your hardwood floors to erase scuff marks and normal wear-and-tear. These floors can also get cold during the winter months. They’re also not quite as comfortable as are floors covered by a thick padded carpet.

But which option is best for you and your home? It depends entirely on your family. If you’re thinking about adding new flooring to your master bedroom, a thick carpeting might be best. After all, at the end of a hard day, you’ll want something soft pressing against your feet.

If you want to replace the flooring in your living room, though, hardwood flooring might be the wiser choice. First, there are the obvious aesthetic benefits; a new hardwood floor can add some real visual flair to your living room. Secondly, these floors can stand up to a lot of traffic. If you have children running through your living room on a frequent basis, or guests stopping by every day, a hardwood floor will hold up better than will a carpet.

Hardwood floors can also be easy to clean. If a guest tracks mud on your hardwood floor, you simply wipe it up. If that same guest tracks mud on your new carpeting, that’s a much more challenging fix.

There is no one right answer to the carpeting versus hardwood flooring question. But by taking a close look at your own home, and the family living in it, you’re likely to make the right decision.

What feeling do you get when you first walking into your kitchen each morning? Do you shrug your shoulders? Even worse, do you grimace? If so, maybe it’s time to add something new. Maybe it’s time to use a tile backsplash to spice up your kitchen.

Of all the rooms in our homes, we probably spend the most time in our kitchen. We’re here when we cook our meals. Our kids do their homework at the kitchen counter. We usually eat our lunches and breakfasts here, too. That’s why it’s so important that the kitchen be a bright, pleasant space.

An entire kitchen remodeling will certainly make your kitchen a more visually appealing space. However, it will also drain your bank account. Kitchen remodels are notoriously expensive. They also take several months to complete. It’s difficult living in a home that is in the middle of an extensive kitchen-remodeling project.

If you’re looking instead for a quicker, and less expensive, fix, consider investing in a new tile backsplash.

You might be surprised at the immediate and dramatic difference that tile backsplash makes in your kitchen. A kitchen that once was drab is suddenly brightened by a splash of color. Your kitchen will now have a visual focal point, one that allows you to express your own creativity.

Tile backsplashes come in a rainbow of colors and styles. That’s what makes them so much fun to install. You can go with classic colors such as blue, green or yellow. Or you can go bolder with bright reds, dark purples or mysterious blacks. You can even choose tile backsplashes that boast intricate designs and multiple colors.

The choice is yours. Of course, making the right one requires you to take a careful look at your kitchen. Do you have a more modern kitchen? Then you can get as creative as you want. Add some bold colors or unusual designs with your tile backsplash. They’ll fit right in.

If you have a more traditional kitchen, maybe a country kitchen, then you might be more limited in your choices of tile backsplash. You don’t want anything too modern or avant-garde. It will simply clash with the overall style of your kitchen. Instead, go with more soothing or traditional colors. You’ll still find that your new kitchen backsplash adds new life to your traditional kitchen.

People naturally gravitate to a home’s kitchen. Show off yours in its best light possible by installing a new kitchen backsplash.

Today’s home buyers place great importance on kitchens. They want modern, fully updated kitchens in any home that they buy. This is why it’s so important for sellers to renovate an old, outdated kitchen. One of the best ways to do this is to add new cabinets. Custom cabinets can increase your home’s value.

Custom cabinets can brighten even the drabbest of kitchens. Take a look at your own kitchen. Is it a turnoff to buyers looking at your home? Do buyers immediately know that they’re going to have to spend big dollars modernizing your kitchen?

Custom cabinets aren’t cheap. But consider the alternative: Today’s residential real estate market is still recovering from the big housing crash that began in late 2006. Buyers are still in control. They can afford to be choosy. If they don’t like your home’s kitchen, they’ll have no problem moving on to the next house on their list.

You need to keep these potential buyers from straying. One way to do that is by paying for the installation of custom cabinets in your kitchen.

Today’s buyers want kitchens that are bright and airy. If your kitchen features dark cabinets, or small ones, you won’t be able to achieve that feeling. Your best bet is to replace these older cabinets with new ones constructed of a lighter shade of wood.

Buyers also want a lot of cabinets in their kitchens. They need them to store their juicers, toaster ovens, blenders and other kitchen gadgets. Many older kitchens, though, feature just the bare minimum of cabinet space. Again, this will hurt you when you try to sell your house. Buyers will instantly calculate the cost of adding new cabinetry to your kitchen. If they don’t simply move on, they’ll try to knock the cost of renovating your kitchen off your asking price. Either way, you lose.

There is good news, though: With the housing slump, contractors are more desperate for work than they’ve been in years. For homeowners, this means that it’s possible to get them to take on your remodeling work for a lower price than they would have accepted in 2006 or 2007. Contractors also aren’t as busy. This means it’s easier for them to fit you on their schedule.

No one wants to spend extra money before putting their home on the market. But sometimes it’s unavoidable. One of the most effective ways to spend this money is to add new custom cabinets to your kitchen. This move will not only increase your home’s value, it will help it sell in less time, too.