Remodeling Atricles

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Litman Powers strives to be a resource for the St. Louis homeowner. Remodeling a home is one of the biggest steps a person can make, and we would like to offer valuable tips to those considering such a large undertaking. Please come back on a regular basis for continuing education.

Basement Remodeling Articles

» Creating A Basement You Will Love

» What You Should Know About Basement Remodeling

» Ideas For Remodeling Your Basement

» Essential Guide to Basement Remodeling

» Time to Finish the Basement

» Home Renovation "The How to Guide"

» Basement Designs for Low Ceilings

» Basement Remodeling Tips

Bathroom Remodeling Articles

» What You Should Know About Bathroom Remodeling Projects

» Bathroom Decorating Ideas

» 12 Ways To Make Your Bathroom Look Bigger

» Increase the Value of Your Home With Bathroom Remodeling

» 5 Tips On Bath Design

» Bathroom Remodeling Plans

» Stretch Your Bathroom Remodeling Budget Further With Discount Bathroom Vanities

» Making A Statement With Bathroom Vanities

If you are looking for a contractor, please call LPI today at 636-544-8604 or complete our online request form for an in-home consultation.

Creating A Basement You Will Love

Looking for space to put an exercise room, entertainment center or playroom? Go underground! If your home has an unfinished basement, remodeling might be a great way to transform this commonly under-used space.

When considering a basement remodel, start by making a floor plan. As you do, be sure to mark the location of your furnace, washer and dryer, and any other large appliances. Take notes on:

access to the basement from upstairs and outside;

where plumbing is already located if you want an additional bathroom;

where vertical support columns are located

location of windows and doors

floor / ceiling / wall materials.

With constant contact with the earth, basements are vulnerable to dampness, making basement remodeling a bit more complex than first meets the eye. We'll help you take appropriate measures to ensure a room free from moisture.

Most basements have low ceilings and few windows. But this doesn't have to limit you. There are many creative ways to make your basement light and airy. Talk to us about the variety of wall and ceiling lighting options available. Patriot Home Remodleing will help you make sure that appropriate electrical lines and outlets are provided from the beginning.

Some tricks-of-the-trade in making your underground space first class:

Stay away from dark wood paneling and instead consider drywall painted in light tones to make the room brighter. Semi-gloss paint will gently reflect even more light into the room.

Open up the visual space. Double doors, even glass double interior doors-take away the typical cubicle look. Or, how about a rounded archway or pass-through area from one room into another.

Check to see if existing windows can be enlarged. Or, consider installing a small boxed window for a mini-garden to grow herbs or start plant seedlings. This will greatly increase the amount of light coming into the basement and provide a view to the great outdoors.

Built-in bookcases and entertainment units add a richness and depth to a room. Light them with either interior lights or from the top to cast light upwards.

Disguise vertical support beams, and horizontal ceiling pipes or floor joists by boxing them in. Or, you might decide to actually use pipes and beams as interesting accents by painting them with bold colors or with subtle earth tones.

An unfinished basement is much like a diamond in the rough, unexplored splendor awaiting your discovery!

If you are looking for a contractor, please call LPI today at 636-544-8604 or complete our online request form for an in-home consultation.

What You Should Know About Basement Remodeling

Most basements are dark, gloomy, and simply serve as a storage area for old toys, clothes, seasonal items, and anything else that is not used on a regular basis. Most of us rarely go down into the basement unless it is to unload more clutter that we don't want or need.

But, why not turn this gloomy storage room into something functional and useful? Remodeling your basement is a cost-effective way to significantly increase your home's living space. Suddenly you could have a nice, cozy guest room, a playroom for your children, a home office, a game room; the possibilities are endless!

Below are five simple steps to a brand new basement.

1. Repair any Basement Water Problems First

Even if your basement hardly ever has issues with flooding or dampness, it's best to take care of the problem completely before beginning any remodeling efforts.

Permanent solutions can take time to put into operation. A smart place to begin is to get in touch with a home inspector who specializes in waterproofing problems.

2. Decide What You Want to Use Your Basement For

This is where you can turn lemons into lemonade. Your Basement has poor lighting? Consider setting up a dark room or a home theater. Is your basement lonely and isolated? The isolation helps provide a nice sound cushion for noisy activities such as a teenager hangout, a game room, or a place for your kids to practice their musical instruments to their hearts content. Use your imagination and come up with something that will benefit your families lifestyle.

3. Consider Professional Advice with Your Basement Design

Even though your basement might not be much to look at now, you'll want to end up with quality living space when the project is finished. An interior designer or architect can help you get the most out of the space. A little forethought and careful planning now can help you design a space that is attractive, comfortable and practical.

4. Consider the Air Circulation

Something important to consider is the air circulation of your basement. When your home was originally built, chances are that there were very few if any registers or vents installed in the basement. When you remodel your basement, you need to think about the need for good air circulation, adding openings where necessary.

To be on the safe side, install a carbon monoxide detector in your basement so that you'll have an early warning of any problems with the venting of the furnace or any other major appliances.

5. Make the Most of Your Basement's Natural Light

Depending on what you are using your basement for, you may wish to add more natural lighting. This can be done by enlarging your basement's windows. Another benefit of larger windows is that they provide additional escape routes in case of fire. Some may be concerned that by having basement windows that is providing easier access into the home by thieves. One way to lessen that risk is to install glass bricks instead of conventional windows at any location that is high-risk.

Take full advantage of the effect of regular windows by mounting some windows in the interior walls between rooms that open pathways for natural light to reach interior rooms.

About the Author:

Christine Griego is the owner of http://www.home-options.info, a website that provides home improvement information, tips, and ideas.

If you are looking for a contractor, please call LPI today at 636-544-8604 or complete our online request form for an in-home consultation.

Ideas For Remodeling Your Basement

For any homeowner wanting to remodel their basement, the first thing you need to do is really get an idea of how you want it to look and feel. Do you want it to become a bedroom for your child or an office to work from home in? The activities you plan to do in the basement will be important when it comes to how you are going to remodel it. You will need to get a basic layout of what you want the results to be and then use that to assist you with examining the natural light that is offered.

It is very likely that your basement won’t offer too much natural light so you will have to come up with some other options. There are many different choices that you have including placing floor lights on the sides of the stairs, using lamps that are full size or that sit on a desk, and using hidden fluorescent lights that you can place in the ceiling.

If your remodeling plans include placing a bar in your basement make sure you measure the space you have before you buy the bar. The same if you are planning to turn it into a bedroom as you need to make sure the bed is going to fit. Should you decide to use your basement for living space then measure accordingly for book shelves and storage units. Always measure at least twice and never just guess as to how much space you have available.

Low ceilings in a basement can appear out of proportion but you can color it and decorate it a light color. Don’t go with white as it will show any dirt that accumulates. Try a light shade of lemon to brighten things up. Dark colors work well for high ceilings but on a low ceiling they will give the room an uncomfortable feel.

You can also find more information at Basement Remodeling and Damp Basement. Basementremodelinghelp.com is a comprehensive resource to get help in home basement improvement.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dave_Faulkner .

If you are looking for a contractor, please call LPI today at 636-544-8604 or complete our online request form for an in-home consultation.

Essential Guide to Basement Remodeling

Most of our house basements are nothing but a place to dump what is not used and thus over the time, this very useful space gets converted into unused space. However, basement remodeling can help you reclaim the unused space of your home and convert it into something livelier and more enterprising. Instead of using your basement as an additional storage space that is an extension of junk yard, basement remodeling can help convert it into an extension of your living and recreational space.

Few important aspects of basement remodeling are lighting, ventilation and humidity control. With some thoughtful planning and the right kind of basement remodeling you can convert it into a play area, teen hangout or music/dance studio. Children, especially teens, will love your remodeled basement, as this will allow them all required privacy and personal space while you can still keep a watch at what your child does. Basement remodeling can give you a wonderful space to pursue your hobbies or recreation such as aerobics, exercises, yoga, meditation, dance, etc.

With basement remodeling, you are adding a ‘new room’ to the already existing rooms in your house. However, before you move ahead with your basement remodeling plans, there are a few essential points that you must bear in mind. Firstly, the basements may suffer from occasional dampness and flooding. Your basement remodeling plans must make way for appropriate measures to take care of this problem. Install the necessary equipments such as dehumidifiers in your basement and get it waterproofed. Next, the air circulation and ventilation should be carefully attended to. Basements are closed spaces. So, to ensure their effective usage, proper ventilation and air circulation is a must.

If possible get your basement remodeling done in such a way that natural light also reaches it. Besides the natural light, make good use of artificial lights so that every nook and corner of the basement is well lit. This will certainly add life to your basement remodeling and usage idea. Besides the light and ventilation, insulation is another major concern that needs to be handled in basement remodeling project. It is necessary to make a comfortable, dry basement.

Once the above mentioned basic requirements of basement remodeling are met, you can think of the décor theme, which definitely will be based on how you are going to use your basement. In any case, the furnishings of the basement should be very practical. The surfaces that do not absorb moisture are best for basements.

For more details and tips visit http://www.allremodel.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Natasha_Salve

If you are looking for a contractor, please call LPI today at 636-544-8604 or complete our online request form for an in-home consultation.

Time to Finish the Basement

So, you're thinking of adding a fourth bedroom, but your main floor space is all maxed out. It looks like it's time to do something about that unfinished basement; maybe add a small exercise room and an office, while you're at it. A basement renovation is perfect for these cooler months, as you'll find yourself being drawn to working on indoor projects.

Here are a few things to keep in mind before you start the renovation:

Create a project plan that outlines your projected schedule, estimated costs, budget and the type of work to be completed. This will be updated as you progress through the different stages of the renovation and will provide a valuable tool to keep you on track.

Start looking through magazines, the internet and home improvement stores to get a good idea of what you expect your basement to look like. Decide what types of rooms you require, such as an exercise room, TV room, games room, etc. If you shop around, it can be surprisingly reasonable to hire a designer for a consultation; in a few hours they can provide valuable information regarding paint colors and design ideas to get you started.

Designate a file folder for paint chips and design ideas.

If you plan on doing the work yourself, then the following points need to be considered. If you are hiring a contractor, make certain you understand the following issues so that you can ask the right questions. Ensure that you get at least three quotes and that all of the required changes are documented. If the contractor will not be dealing with a certain area, that also needs to be documented.

Inspect your basement for any of the following problems:

Do you have to duck to avoid bumping your head on a beam or duct?

Are there traces of moisture or mold on the floor or walls?

Does the basement smell musty?

Look for cracks as wide as a pencil in the walls or floors?

If you answered "yes", to any of the above, then the costs of fixing these issues should be added to your budget.

Obtain a building permit if you are altering the structure of your house, the size of windows, exterior doors or changing occupancy needs by adding an apartment. Find out the required heights for a basement ceiling from your local building official, as this needs to be taken into account.

Look for moisture: Dampness in the floors or walls must be corrected before you begin to cover these areas with carpeting and insulation. Common sources may include, cracks, poor drainage, over flowing eaves troughs and downspouts.

Air circulation: Determine if the basement will require extra heating, a dehumidifier or additional ventilation.

Bathroom: Do you plan on adding a bathroom? If so, additional plumbing requirements will need to be taken into account.

Electrical: Will you have additional outlets, heat registers, etc. Also, in the case of a laundry room or stove, you may require high voltage outlets or vents. Also, ensure the wiring is in place for cable, computers, phone lines, etc.

Smoke Detectors: Decide on the best location for an additional smoke detector, as they are required on every floor of the house. Carbon monoxide detectors should be placed near any gas appliance, fireplace or furnace, and near a doorway to an attached garage.

Windows: Decide on the location of any additional windows and consider their effectiveness as a source of light, escape route and energy efficiency.

Escape route: Determine whether all family members have a safe means of escape during a fire or emergency.

Furnace room: Do you require an enclosure for your furnace, hot water heater, etc. Also, ensure that there is adequate air flow for your type of furnace.

Sound-proofing: Adding that family entertainment center is a great idea, but what about the speakers located directly under the upstairs bedroom? You will need to determine whether additional sound-proofing materials will be required.

Storage: You can't have enough storage; will you require additional closets, shelving, bins or other means of storing stuff.

Additional bathroom: It would be awfully handy to have a small two-piece bathroom downstairs; make sure you decide this before you start.

Wall systems: Traditionally, basement walls are built by insulating, adding vapor barrier, wood studs, drywall, taping and finishing with paint or wall covering. Although widely used, and cheaper than some other alternatives, this can be time consuming and messy.

I know this seems like a lot to think about, but the more prepared you are the smoother the project will be. Have fun and enjoy your new living space.

About the Author: Edina Minneapolis real estate features upscale properties set in a gorgeous residential area. Visit Associates Realty for all of your Minneapolis real estate enquiries.

If you are looking for a contractor, please call LPI today at 636-544-8604 or complete our online request form for an in-home consultation.

Home Renovation "The How to Guide"

By Neil Parnham

Home renovation is the process of making changes to your home in order to either undertake maintenance work or to make it more beautiful and comfortable. It is also undertaken to upgrade your home from an investment point of view so that its market value goes up. You could either go in for a major overhaul of your home or you could make minor alterations of some areas. Moreover, you could make changes to both the exterior and interior of your home or either of the two.

Budgetary Constraints

Who wouldnt want his home to look more beautiful and be more comfortable? The desire to live in a better home than your neighbour's or your friends home is part of human nature but you have to check your bank balance before you plan out any home renovation ideas. The first stage of your planning should therefore, be the allocation of a budget for this purpose. You have to decide as to how much money you can spare for home renovation and also make up your mind regarding the type and extent of renovation that you wish to carry out.

You would then need to get quotes for the work and see if the budget allocated by you would suffice for the purpose. You should also keep a suitable margin for unexpected contingencies. You might need to reduce the extent of repairs or compromise on the quality of work in order that the expenses remain within your budgetary limits.

Design Consultants And Contractors

If the home renovation work is of a minor nature, you can plan it out and execute it yourself as any warehouse can supply the required materials and the do-it-yourself instructions. However, if the home renovation involves major overhaul of your home, it would be advisable to take the help of professional design consultants and to assign the execution work to a contractor.

Nowadays, the best place to look for such professionals is the Internet as you can contact them easily from the comfort of your home and get their opinions and quotes in no time at all. Moreover, you can either engage a general contractor who would supervise the entire work on a turnkey basis or you can go in for individual specialized contractors for different types of work such as flooring, roofing, plumbing and painting. The general contractor would take responsibility for the complete scope of the home renovation work from designing to execution and even clearing the debris when the work is over.

Spectrum Of Home Renovation Work

The range of home renovation work is vast as it includes many aspects such as floor improvement, wall makeover, roof replacement, maintenance or improvement of ventilation, heating and air conditioning systems, providing water proofing for basements, providing energy saving devices for reducing utility bills, providing improved safety measures, and decorating the home and its exteriors.

Careful planning and implementation will go a long way in achieving the type of home renovation that you need.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/home-and-family-articles/home-renovation-the-how-to-guide-198503.html

If you are looking for a contractor, please call LPI today at 636-544-8604 or complete our online request form for an in-home consultation.

Basement Designs for Low Ceilings

When designing your basement, the ceiling height can play a large factor, especially when the ceiling is low. Basements with low ceilings pose some design problems. To begin with, the area can easily start to take on the appearance of a cave. Much like vaulted ceilings make an area feel larger than it is; the amount of space may appear much smaller because of low ceiling height. Here are a few basement designs for low ceilings.

There are a few things that can be done to open the area and help to keep your basement from resembling a cave. One easy way is the use of light. If you have low ceilings you should work on opening up the area and making it lighter and brighter. Upward light will give the basement a larger appearance. Table and floor lamps do a great job of brightening up the space and making it appear larger.

Wall sconces can help if they are installed correctly. You should be careful when choosing installation height. These need to aim the light at the ceiling to open up the area. Since they shine upwards, you do not want them aimed just under your eye level, obviously, because that would be irritating. A wall sconce should be at a height that will place the light above your eye level. If the ceiling is too low to accommodate this then sconces shouldn’t be installed.

Fluorescent lighting can make a basement appear dimmer and more cave like and should be avoided. Recessed lighting within the ceiling draws attention to the low ceiling and makes the area appear more confined.

Where possible, you will want to open the area up and make it appear more spacious to make up for the low ceiling. A more open look with furniture being placed around the perimeter instead of placing furnishings in the middle of the room gives a more spacious appearance. Small cozy groupings of furniture in the corners work well for recreation rooms. Any arrangement that will leave the center of the floor open, allowing guests to easily scan the room’s contents, will give it a larger appearance and make up for the low ceiling.

Dark paint will not go well with the low ceiling. You should choose a light color for your walls. Where possible, windows are another area that should be taken advantage of as much as possible. Use light window treatments that do not smother the light or block the window from view. Window treatments could include stationary draperies and a valance to dress the window without covering it up. If needed for privacy, mini blinds can be installed.

Mirrors can open up a basement and make it look like there is more space. Placing mirrors on the wall gives the appearance of increased depth to a room. Placing mirrors on opposite sides of the room, so that the image of one mirror appears in the other, draws your eyes from the ceiling and gives a never ending look to the room.

Avoid hanging anything from the ceiling. This will draw attention to the low ceiling and make the area appear much smaller and more confined. You do not want to hang lights from your ceiling either, not only will they draw attention to the low ceiling but you may bump your head on them.

Visit us for more information on how to design a home theatre in a basement, creative basement ceiling ideas and basement makeovers.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Christopher_W_Smith

If you are looking for a contractor, please call LPI today at 636-544-8604 or complete our online request form for an in-home consultation.

Basement Remodeling Tips

If you have a basement that is not being used to its full potential then why not remodel it. You will find there are many basement remodeling tips on the market to help you make this as easy as possible. The rewards you will find after you finish the job will make you surprised and happy and wondering why you never did this sooner. Even if your basement is being used for storage there are other places that can take care of these items the trade off will be worth the effort.

First you have to start by taking inventory of the usable space that is in your basement.. Then you have to think of what is most important to your family, such as a playroom for the kids, a games room for your teenage children or a home theater for the whole family. Once you began anything is possible. Keep in mind that you will have to work around your furnace and the pipes and ducts that you will find, but there are ways to either hide these things or leave them open and pretty them up with different kinds of paints.

If you can’t afford all the changes at once, then pick out the ones that are most important for now and work on just that. Make a list of the materials you will need and phone some hardware stores to get an idea of what your repairs and remodeling are going to cost. Try to estimate on the high side rather than the low side. It is always better to end up with a positive surprise at the end of your project than a negative one.

You will have to begin your remodeling by checking the walls for leaks or any other source where there is a possibility of leakage. Once you have everything secured then you can truly start your remodeling.

By Jim Poniente

If you are looking for a contractor, please call LPI today at 636-544-8604 or complete our online request form for an in-home consultation.