New Polymer-Wood Hybrid House Siding May Have Legs

A New Composite House Siding Could Be the Wave of the Future in Home Siding?By Mark J. DonovanSome argue that a new polymer-wood hybrid house siding product is better than any other type of home siding product on the market, less real wood or brick. The new polymer-wood hybrid house siding product is certainly more attractive and sturdier than vinyl siding. It is also cheaper than real wood

Mortgages after Bankruptcy

Summary: With at least two years from discharge of a bankruptcy and reestablished credit with improved credit scores you should be able to apply for a construction loan to build a new home or a home mortgage loan to buy a home.Carl,...the bills piled up and we had no choice but to declare bankruptcy. I have a good job now, and have had it for a little over three years.We don't have many debts,

Holiday Gift Ideas for 2010

It's the end of another Thanksgiving weekend. Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday with family and friends.Tomorrow is Cyber Monday!! Time to get ready for some great online shopping! Here are some new gift ideas to get you started...If you know someone who would like to learn calligraphy or know someone who loves Asian arts and crafts, these beautiful Chinese calligraphy box sets make a

Cracked Foundation Wall

Carl,My 60 year old house has cracked foundation wall needs to be fixed as soon as possible to prevent damage to house. I am trying to figure cost effective method to fix the problem.KotiHi Koti,If it makes you feel better, over 250,000 people suffer from foundation failure problems EACH YEAR!Courtesy of Saber LevelingBesides fixing the crack, you also need to find out what caused, or is causing

HomeAdditionPlus.com among Top DIY Home Improvement Video Channels

Three separate and independent articles recently ranked http://www.homeadditionplus.com/, and its associated video channels, as one of the top home improvement video destinations on the internet.“Clean-cut and coherent, Donovan’s straight talking approach is easy viewing…” reports Amy-Mae Elliott of http://www.mashable.com/.Similarly, Leslie Baird of http://www.helium.com/ reported

How to Get a Contractors License

Summary: A contractors license school can show you how to get a contractors license...read the rest Carl,How do I get a builders license?RichardHi Richard,Start by reading my “Getting a Contractors State License”Then read the rest of "How to Get a Contractors License" including taking a contractors license class.You can also click on a state below to see State License Requirements...then read the

Cost Estimate Spreadsheet

Summary: Whether you build your own new home or have it built, controlling construction costs is the most critical part of construction. A cost estimate spreadsheet gives you that control.Carl, I bought your book, Be Your Own House Contractor, and after reading it I went onto your website and I found where I could download the Cost Estimate Spreadsheet. Oops, I only have a Mac computer and this

Construction Estimating Software

Knowing how much it costs to build or buy a NEW home is like knowing the true dealer cost of a new car before you shop for one. Imagine having that knowledge!Construction Estimating Software gives a novice or experienced new home builder, or new home buyer the opportunity to learn the cost to build any style, size, design, or quality new home in their city.Resi-Cost™ Full Function: Home Cost

Electrical Insulation Gasket Pads for Electrical Outlets and Switches

By Mark J. DonovanOne way you can eliminate cold drafts from your home this winter is to install electrical insulation gasket pads underneath your outside wall electrical outlet and switch covers. Outside wall electrical switch and outlet boxes are notorious for letting cold drafts into your home due to the fact that fiberglass batt or rolled insulation is often not installed correctly around

Construction Bids Too High

Summary: Construction Bids for a new house can vary tremendously. The cost to build a new home is determined not only by size, but by design and quality as well. Carl, I found this really nice house plan that I really, really love. But it was roughly estimated by a builder to cost $166,000 to build. I am comfortable of something below $150,000. Do you think it is possible for us to shed cost that

Modern Minimalist House Design Ideas

Here is the pictures of Modern Minimalist House Design Idea in Singapore by OngOng.Modern minimalist house design is become a trend house design today. We can conjure the modern minimalist house design with many various way, off course our original inspiration will be the best choice when decorating an modern interior house design.

Deck Flashing from Everflashing

By Mark J. DonovanI recently had a chance to check out some perimeter and ledger deck flashing products from Everflashing. Everflashing offers a variety of deck ledger and perimeter flashing products in hot dipped (G185) galvanized, stainless steel and aluminum. Their deck flashing comes in 1-1/2” and 2-1/8” profiles and is available in 5, 8 and 10 foot lengths. Their aluminum flashing comes in

Repairing Copper Supply Line Pipe

By Mark J. DonovanCopper pipes are commonly used in residential plumbing applications. Occasionally a copper supply line can burst. It is particularly common during winter months when water can potentially freeze in the pipes due to the loss of heat in the home. Repairing copper supply line pipes requires some basic tools and skill in soldering / sweating pipes. Tools required include a copper

Buying Land with Existing Improvements

Hello Carl, Your website has been a huge help. Thank you for all you do.My wife and I have found a lot that has had a foundation and basement poured on it. The original owner of the lot was not able to complete the project. The lot has been purchased by a home builder; he is currently selling “as is”.The home builder commonly works in an area about 45 miles away. He is selling this lot with

Building Smaller Houses Post Recession

With an Economy that still Languishes Home Builders are Now Turning towards Building Smaller but Still Amenity Rich HomesBy Mark J. DonovanSince the collapse of the housing market in 2006 home builders, such as Toll Brothers, have been wrestling with how to attract new home buyers. Their most recent post recession solution has been to shrink the size of their new homes while preserving as many of

New Construction Inspections

Building Codes are a set of minimum home building standards. New construction inspections are made to insure compliance to these standards.Hi Carl,In your steps to building a home, you only mention inspections at two stages, before pouring the foundation and after step 23 or 24.Are there other inspections that should take place and if so, at which stages of construction?RoseHi Rose,Actually, the

Skylight Design and Position Considerations

By Mark J. DonovanSkylights can provide natural lighting to a room. They can also provide some level of warmth if chosen and positioned carefully. By carefully considering skylight design and construction, and the placement of the skylight(s) within your home or room, you can maximize these two major benefits.When selecting a skylight make sure to fully understand the energy performance rating

Stop Cold drafts and Dry Air in your Home This Winter

By Mark J. DonovanIf there are major temperature differences in your home during the winter months there could be a number of factors causing it. Also, if the air in your home feels very dry during the winter months, it is most likely caused by warm moist air exiting your home and cold dry air infiltrating it.First and foremost check for air leaks around your doors and windows by running your

Meeting Room Interior Design Ideas

Meeting,conference or presentations need comfortable room with fresh interior design.meeting room decoration need modern office furniture. succesful conference room interior design is done if is allowed enough space.Hotel conference room creates a different atmoshere outside the office.Conference in hotel generally provide all basic Facilities required for make best a conference.

Clean Air Filters in Furnaces and Air Conditioning Systems

By Mark J. DonovanIf you have a hot air heating system or central air conditioning system make sure to clean their air filters annually. Clogged air filters can reduce the energy efficiency of the heating or air conditioning system and can lead to more dust circulating in the home. In addition, clogged air filters can reduce your home’s furnace or air conditioning system from keeping your home at

Guest Blogger Eric Stevenson on Safe Home Renovations

Home Decorating News would like to welcome guest author Eric Stevenson, who was kind enough to offer these helpful tips and information on safety with home renovations and the possible hazards you need to watch out for.Ensure Safety Before the Style Home renovation can be an incredibly exciting process. You probably watched home improvement shows, picked a color pallet and figured out what each

Land Clearing

Hi Carl,Thanks so much for being here. Your website has boosted my confidence and the more I read the closer I get to taking the leap and building!I understand that there are many variables to be considered, but my question is this.In buying an acre lot with many mature trees on it, what is my most cost effective use of the trees? Can they be milled and used to build the house? I'll be building

Lead Education Training for Renovating, Repairing or Painting Pre 1978 Built Homes

By Mark J. DonovanLast night I met with the company Lead-EDU in Manchester, NH. They offer EPA/HUD certification training courses for contractors on Renovating, Repairing and Painting (RRP) homes built pre 1978.Homes built prior to 1978 could very possibly contain lead paint. The EPA has strict rules for home renovation and remodeling contractors on how to test and address older homes that may

Prevent Ice Dams this Winter - Now

By Mark J. DonovanPrevent ice dams this winter by inspecting your attic this fall for proper insulation. Check the Department of Energy’s website to see what the right amount of attic insulation is for your region of the country. Typically a home needs anywhere from R-30 to R-49 in the attic. By installing the necessary amount of insulation in the attic now you can prevent ice dams, and their

High Energy Bills are often Related to Window and Door Leaks

By Mark J. DonovanCheck your home's exterior doors and windows for cold drafts this fall. Much of the heat loss associated with a home comes from damaged or non-existent door and window weatherstripping. Weatherstripping can lose its resiliency and end up not forming a tight seal up against window sashes and door frames.If your home's windows are old, consider replacing them with double pane

Beautiful Bathroom Designs Ideas

Here is presented Some Pictures of Bathroom Designs.The bathroom represents so much more than a place to maintain good hygiene.Below are a few examples of what we thought were well done and beautifully inspiring Bathroom designs

Modern Style Kitchens Italian Design from Scavolini

Here is the Pictures Modern Style Kitchens Italian Design,you can see in the photos of their kitchen designs below that they all manifest as a work of art.The Italian Kitchen concept is open and stylishly Modular.

Exterior House Painting this Weekend

By Mark J. DonovanMuch of my past weekend was dedicated to exterior house painting. The paint on my family room addition house siding and exterior trim work had faded dramatically in the past year or so and was looking quite splotchy. So, with the weather still above 50 degrees Fahrenheit (just barely) I decided to make exterior house painting my weekend project. The previous weekend I had