Reprint by The Chatham Builder, Peter Watts
                               508-776-2470
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Peter

There are a lot of different things that you can do to help improve the appearance of your home both inside and outside. One way of doing this is to remodel your home. If you are going to remodel your home you might want to think about going to some remodeling shows to get some ideas. Once you have decided how you want to remodel your home, you will want to decide how long it will take to remodel your home. You will also want to determine when the best time of year to remodel your home is. Here are some tips to help you determine when the best time if year to remodel your home is.




The first tip is to decide what exactly you are going to be remodeling. For example if you are going to be remodeling your kitchen you are probably going to need alternative ways to cook for a month or so until your kitchen is put back together. If this is the case you might want to do your remodeling in the summer. The reason for this is so that you can use a grill outside for most of your cooking needs. You may also want to keep your microwave handy so that you have a place to heat up food if need be.

The second tip is if you are adding an addition onto your house. If this is the case spring and summer are also a better pick then the winter. The reason for this is that you won't have the cold drafts coming in that your heater has to compensate for. If you live in an area where you have very hot summers you might want to try for spring. This way you will hopefully have all the walls up and have the insulation in by the main heat of the summer.



The third tip is your living room. If you are remodeling your living room you can probably do this any time of the year. The best time might be spring or fall. The reason for this is that you will be able to open windows to help air out some of the dust that might get trapped in the house.



The fourth tip is if you are painting or staining. If you are doing this you might want to do it in the spring or fall so that you can open the windows to get the proper ventilation that you need. You can also do it in the winter you might just end up having to open the windows and let the heater run to compensate for the heat that is being lost.



The fifth tip is if you are redoing your landscaping. If you are working outside spring is a great time to start these projects because you are ready to get out and work in the yard after being cooped up all winter. If you are planting grass by seed you might want to consider planting it in fall so that it has all winter to start growing.



These are just some of the tips on the best time of year to remodel your home. As you can see depending on the project will depend on what time of year is going to be the best time. The best thing to do is to do some research and see what the weather has been like in years past in your area. This will help you to get a better idea about what months have what type of temperatures. Knowing what the temperature is going to be like will help you to be able to determine the best time of year to remodel your home.

Reprint By Peter Watts Home Improvements
                             508-776-2470

http://www.peterwattsinc.com/



link to my video:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gm8Sz9L1p1A   

Strategies for Going Green in the Bathroom, HGTV Reprint by Peter Watts

Strategies for Going Green in the Bathroom

HGTV Reprint by Peter Watts Home Improvements



508-776-2470 
 
http://www.peterwattsinc.com
 
 

Follow these energy- and water-conservation tips for the greenest bath around.



By Rob Fanjoy

Redoing a bathroom is a big project, but going green can make it seem even bigger. With new terms to learn (e.g., VOCs, off-gassing) and new products to consider, it can be hard to know where to start. These tips can help you plan your strategy to ensure that you get the green bathroom you crave.



Cabinetry and Vanity Tops

Look for cabinets made from wheatboard or other low-VOC materials. Standard cabinets are made with urea-formaldehyde, which can off-gas potentially harmful VOCs for up to 15 years.



Vanity tops are similar to countertops, and engineered stone surfaces — such as DuPont Zodiaq, CaesarStone and Icestone — are popular choices. Recycled tile is often more popular as a vanity top than as a kitchen counter, since cleaning grout in the bathroom is less of an issue than in a food prep area.



Lighting

Use fluorescent lighting paired with electronic ballasts for maximum efficiency and performance. If a fluorescent bulb over your vanity just doesn't do it for you, look for efficient halogen options. "And try to include a window or skylight," says Sean Ruck, spokesperson for the National Kitchen & Bath Association. "Any natural light you can introduce, even from a tubular skylight, will dramatically lessen your dependence on electric light."

Ventilation

A vent fan is a must to remove odors, airborne irritants and moisture that can lead to mold problems. To be truly effective, a vent fan should be left on for at least 20 minutes after a shower, so consider a timer that will ensure it runs long enough to remove all the moisture. Look for versions of less than one sone (a sone is the unit of measure for the level of sound put out by a vent fan). If space and design permit, include an operable window for natural ventilation and daylight. Make sure the window is well-insulated.



Tubs and Showers

Choose recycled glass, ceramic or porcelain tile for shower surrounds. Thinner grout lines with unsanded, lightly colored (not white) epoxy grouts are easier to clean and less prone to mold and mildew. Acrylic and fiberglass are easier to maintain, but are less durable and less eco-friendly from a manufacturing standpoint. And maybe your old tub would look great in your new bathroom with some professional refinishing. "Many older tubs are wider and deeper, and while that may not conserve water, a lot of people find them much more comfortable," says Ruck.



Flooring

Tile and natural linoleum are often your best choices to hold up in a bathroom environment. Cork and bamboo flooring may be an option at least in some areas of your bathroom; just make sure they can stand up to water exposure. Stay away from vinyl sheet and tile products.



Low and No VOC Products

Many caulks, adhesives and sealants made for the bathroom include some sort of mildewcide or other mold-inhibiting compounds. These make it easier to keep your bathroom clean, which means you use less potentially irritating cleaning agents. However, many also include harmful VOCs, so look for the ones labeled "Low VOCs" or "No VOCs."

GOING GREENER

In addition to the ideas above, there are a host of other options for making your bathroom even greener. While these will add additional cost, they promise a significant return on investment.



Tankless hot water heaters — While these can add several hundred dollars to your bill, tankless water heaters use 20 percent less energy than traditional water heaters, paying for the extra up-front cost in just a few years.



Reclaimed fixtures — While these may cost less than new fixtures, the investment in time spent searching for fixtures to reuse can be significant. If you choose to have old fixtures refinished, ask the refinisher to use chemicals with low VOCs.



Composting toilets/waterless urinals — Not exactly mainstream in U.S. homes, these products are becoming very popular in green commercial buildings because of the water they save. Clivus Multrum manufactures composting toilets for the home and Kohler is now making residential waterless urinals.



Greywater recycling — These systems collect and filter water from sinks, tubs, showers and the laundry (called grey water) and re-use it to irrigate landscapes or even to flush toilets. These systems range from the very simple to the very complex and are not accepted by all code jurisdictions, so do your homework first.

Peter Watts Home Improvements

508-776-2470

http://chathambuilder.blogspot.com/

Custom Tile by Peter Watts Inc of Cape Cod, Ma

Custom Tile work by Peter Watts Home Improvement of Cape Cod
Contact Peter watts at 508 776-2470
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