Economy is jacked. Bonuses have been pulled. Household budget is struggling to keep its head above water.

You’re well aware of this. The kids know all about it. Hell, the dog has even accepted the circumstances for what they are. Everybody is doing their part in making sacrifices and concessions.

But what about the house? What sort of concessions have you asked your house to make during the past year or so? Is your house all too aware of your current financial situation?

Despite it’s kindness and unsurpassed level of understanding, has your house ceased to require maintenance? Does it no longer require replacements? Has it agreed to hold off on all pressing projects until “things get better?”

If this is the assumption you’re operating under, then might I suggest you reconsider your hypothesis.

Your house is your largest investment (tired of hearing me say that, yet?) and it should be treated as such. Rocky financial times may not afford you the ability to turn your queen-size bedroom into a king-size master suite. But the necessary maintenance and replaceable items of your home should not be left to they wayside.

Windows, siding, roofing and guttering need to be considered absolutes on your home’s maintenance and replacement checklist. With the case of each of these items, failure to replace them in a timely manner will most always result in higher paid costs later on down the road.

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Time to get a new roof, eh?  Do you feel like you’re walking into the situation a little blind, def and dumb?  Having a decent grasp on the terminolgy alone will allow you to feel more confident through the process, as well as make a better-informed decision, in the end.

Here’s a little roofing vocabulary:

Tear Off: To remove the existing roof material from the house

Recover: To install new shingles over the existing shingles

Valley: The area where 2 roof sections meet

Ridge: The peak of the roof

Hip Roof: A roof-shaped like 4 triangles

Gable Roof: A roof shaped like 2 rectangles

Rake: The side edges of the roof

Eve: The bottom or gutter edge of the roof

Decking: The wood underneath the shingles

Drip Edge: A metal trim that is fastened to all the roof edges, and protects the rake edges from hard rain

Felt Paper: Material used as a vapor barrier to protect the shingles from heat, air and moisture that comes from your attic space (acts as a 2nd barrier)

Flashing: Installed along walls, chimneys, and skylights to prevent water from entering seams – made out of aluminum

Ridge Vent: A long, continuous vent installed on the peak of the roof with a slot for exhaust ventilation

Cap-Shingles: Shingles installed along the ridge vent or hips

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Whether you’re trying to sell your home, or you’re just one of those crazy types who takes pride in the appearance of their home, you might like to browse the following information.

Many of us are quick to give attention to interior home remodeling projects.  We can easily clean and clear out clutter, paint interior walls or swap out cabinet hardware.  But a home’s exterior is what makes the first impression to a buyer or a guest.

Consult this little list for a few exterior remodeling tips that will help you get the most bang for your buck:

• ROOFING: How old is your roof?  Has your roof endured any high wind, hail or heavy rain storms?  What about ice storms?  Just because you can’t see the damage, that doesn’t mean it isn’t there.  Discolored, missing or damaged shingles should be replaced.  While this can be a major expense, if damage is storm-related (and most damage is) then your insurance company will hook you up.  And if you get in touch with a good contractor, he’ll deal with your insurance company for you.
• PAINT: Painting a wall or two is definitely something that most homeowners can do on their own.  But for a whole-house exterior job, you should definitely call a professional.  This type of project, if done properly, can completely change the look of your home.  It can also add thousands to your resale value – It is what will catch the eye of a prospective buyer.
• LANDSCAPING: If you don’t have it, get it.  The exterior of your home really should be as beautiful as the interior.  I always find it funny how many people will spend hundreds and even thousands of dollars on interior furnishings and decor, but are reluctant to invest a little extra money in proper landscaping.  Nicely trimmed hedges, plants and a little mulch will go a long way.
• PORCH: In case you were wondering, I’m really big on porches.  I’ve talked about them before.  Porches do SO much for a house.  They increase resale value astronomically, they enhance curb appeal and they completely change the overall first impression of a house.  They are an absolute must have.

Let’s take a look at how these guys have clearly utilized our little list of tips:

Roof – Check!

Paint – Sort of blah in terms of color choice, but nice and clean, nonetheless.

Landscaping – Very nice.  Very nice.

Porch – A little narcissistic, but that’s okay.

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I think home remodeling is too often viewed as one of those necessary evils in life.  It’s all relative, though.  And it has a lot to do with approach.

I’ll list a few tips that might help to motivate you into the realm of ‘Remodeling Like A Pro!’

• Trendy – Think twice on this one.  A) It will cost you more up front. B) It will potentially look dated in no time flat.  Definitely something to consider if you’re remodeling with intent to resale (and who isn’t right?)
• Insulation – Expert tip: Don’t skimp on this one.  Yes, too much can lead to mold issues – But not enough will cost you for years to come.  You can drastically decrease heating and cooling bills by properly insulating your home.  (And remember, the term insulation applies to many more things than just the scratchy, fluffy pink stuff).
• Test Drive – You can get a good feel for the projects that take priority and what types of changes you really want if you live in the house before you begin to remodel.
• Make Up Your Mind – Changing your mind six different ways from Sunday during your remodeling project will accomplish 2 things: 1) You’ll cause the project to take longer and cost more 2) You’ll drive your contractor nuts.  Try to get all of your imagining out of the way prior to the job start date.
• Think Twice – If you’re not a licensed contractor (or married to one) then I would suggest you strongly rethink the idea of doing it all yourself.  There are plenty of things that can be done on your own – And the good folks at the local hardware store with the little orange aprons will be happy to offer any advice they can.  But in all honestly, some tasks are best suited for a pro.  Don’t stretch beyond your limits.
• Don’t Be Surprised – Plainly stated: The job will cost more than you expect, so set aside an additional 10% cushion.
• Don’t Say I Didn’t Warn You – The job will be very messy.  Dust, debris, trash, screws…Things might get damaged.  This is just a part of the process.  (If a professional brings damage your way, he should obviously repair it, but don’t freak out – Just a part of the process).

That’s all I’ve got on that topic for now.  But as a quick side note, today is National Donut Day.  So from one ‘little things in life-lover‘ to another, Happy Donut Day!

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I found a blog entry that is right on target.  The link is displayed right below.  I’ll go ahead and copy/paste the exact text into this posting, as well.

Storm Chasers

Hail Storms

Posted: 2009-03-13 by  twill

Storm Chasers Complaint Rating: As a contractor, here is my advice when propositioned by a storm chaser, or high pressure insurance adjuster. WAIT!!! As in don’t hire anyone to do your roof for a minimum of 3 months, maybe up to six months. You got to wait the scum out. And don’t think it is as simple as hiring a “local” contractor. Here is how the scam works: The out-of-town fly-by-night Stormchaser, “rents” the locals name and phone number for thousands of dollars ($50, 000 or more. Big Bucks). They then move their operation in. And what an operation it is!! 20 salesmen!! 10 roofing !! And you thought that were calling Joe’s Local Roofing Co. to replace your roof!! Well Joe will be there after the storm… to clean up the mess. And if he is smart he will shut his doors and take the money and skip town too. Or he will … be cleaning up the mess. And suddenly that $50, 000 “payoff” will turn out to be peanuts as he will be paying out of pocket to repair the hack jobs until he is broke and brokedown. The approach of these low lifes is to move fast. They move in quickly while the insurance money is flowing. The “roofing salesmen” after all, are not salesmen. They are order takers. Tin men. Con men. Last season’s insurance adjusters (as if that makes them credible!) They are zipping around beating the honest contractors and honest homeowners before the community knows what has hit them! Hell has been unleashed and they are feeding on the people in born GREED.  Yard signs saying:1-800-free-roof. Think I am kidding? So the best solution for a community is to not hire ANYONE for a few months while these parasites die from inactivity.Take the time to work with someone you can trust to deal with the insurance company, a local contractor who has roots in the community. Yes he’ll be busy and may not get to you for a while, but MOST hail damage does not constitute an emergency. When you get your insurance check, deposit it in the bank and wait for the leeches to leave town. They will.

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Here’s a special little tip when setting out to hire somebody to remodel your home in some way:

Make sure the fence/gate is in good working order.  Assure that the latches and locks function properly and with ease.  If your remodeler will require backyard access, this is extremely important for a variety of reasons.

1. Let’s try to imagine what it must be like to haul heavy, tedious materials from a work truck, back to somebody’s yard.  How ‘un-fun’ must it be to have to fight a dilapidated gate and/or a non-existent latch on top of the materials?  Yea.  Not so much.
2. These materials and possibly tools are often times left around back the house overnight for safekeeping.  If your gate is unsecured, would it be easy for a neighbor kid to find mischief in your temporarily disrupted backyard haven?  Can we say “lawsuit?!?”
3. What about dogs? Do you have one?  Does he like to run amuck in the backyard jungle?  Does he also like to play the “dart out gate as fast as you can and see how many people you can trip in the process” game?  That’s a fun one for your workers, too.  That one will definitely get the job done in a proficient and timely manner…

Receiving a successful home remodeling experience is so often contributed to the factors of heightened communication and consideration.  If all parties involved can do their part towards these initiatives–Success will be had…Beautiful homes will be re-built.

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Whatever you do, DO NOT freak out!  I understand, your contractor has just completely done (fill in this blank) wrong and it seems as though (fill in this blank) will end up looking like the biggest disaster ever!  And even though the (fill in this blank) showed up in the wrong color and the subcontractor acted completely clueless to the whole situation, I need you to know that it will be okay.

Because things don’t always go as planned–and because often times in remodeling, things have a tendency to go as “unplanned,” I would like to offer a few helpful suggestions that you might want to consider during this process.

Well planned construction projects have a very low failure rate.  But because construction is such a complicated process, it is not uncommon to see problems arise.  Follow this lead, and you’ll be just fine:

• If you think there might be a problem, don’t hesitate to voice your concern.  Contact your project manager and discuss your thoughts right away.
• Keep calm and remain respectful.  Try to assume that there is good will on all sides.  Insist upon clarification and timely resolution.  (And don’t panic if you can’t reach him on the first try–Remember, he
  most likely manages anywhere from 5-20 projects at any given time).
• Get all information and agreements in writing.  This includes all initial contracts and change orders.
• Don’t succumb to ‘construction speak.’  Ask questions and get clarification.  Industry pros earn bad lingo habits along with the best of us–You might have to break ‘em in!
• Remember, not all contractors are ‘bad guys.’  Actually, the majority of them are really talented, hard-working, ‘in it for the right reasons’ kind of guys.  In my experience–you work with them, they’ll work with you.  And all will live happily ever after.

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So, you’ve found your new home and it appears to be everything you’ve dreamed of…on the surface.  No worries.  This is where Home Inspection Reports come into play.  Often times, a home buyer is clueless to the home inspection reporting process.  But this process, if done properly, can save the buyer hundreds if not thousands of dollars.

Did you know that there is a major difference between the building inspector that works for your local government (the one that produces the building-inspection report) and the actual home inspector that is hired privately (by you–the home buyer)?  The building inspector generates a report that is ‘for his eyes only,’ so to speak.  Many homeowners assume that if their home passes local government building inspection, then all must be well.  Not true.  This fella actually sets his bar to minimum standards.  So, making the grade with the building inspector is like earning a 70% on an exam.  Big deal!

Proper home inspection should be carried out by an accredited Kansas Home Inspector.  Here is a link to the NAHI site:

Kansas NAHI

These folks will visit the home and perform a thorough inspection of the house.  The house survey process will often times take up to 3 hours.  And the report itself should read approximately 30 pages in length.  The inspector will not recommend purchase or not, but he will allow you to make a well informed decision of your own.  No home is perfect, but a new home buyer should be given the full picture.

Wondering what kinds of things will be looked at during the home inspection?  Here you go:

• Structural Elements: Walls, ceilings, floors, roof & foundation
• Exterior Evaluation: Wall covering, landscaping, grading, elevation, drainage, driveways, fences, sidewalks, fascia, trim, doors, windows, lights & exterior receptacles
• Roof & Attic: Framing, ventilation, type of roof construction, flashing & gutters (no guarantee roof certification)
• Plumbing: Identification of pipe materials used for potable, drain, waste & vent pipes.  Condition of: Toilets, showers, sinks, faucets & traps (no sewer inspection)
• Systems & Components: Water heaters, furnaces, air conditioning, duct work, chimney, fireplace & sprinklers
• Electrical: Main panel, circuit breakers, types of wiring, grounding, exhaust fans, receptacles, ceiling fans & light fixtures
• Appliances: Dishwasher, range & oven, built-in microwaves, garbage disposal & smoke detectors
• Garage: Slab, walls, ceiling, vents, entry, firewall, garage door, openers, lights, receptacles, exterior, windows & roof

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For the majority of us, springtime weather conditions here in the land of Oz are filled with spurts of excitement and anticipation, but very little follow-thru.  While this is definitely a good thing, it surely doesn’t give any of us the authorization to slack off on our storm-related prep skills.

Do you and your family have an official Home Storm Plan?  If you were given 3 minutes notice, would you be capable of rallying your troops to safety?  What if you weren’t even given any notice–Would you know what to do?

I’ve gathered some good facts that you might consider keeping in your back pocket.  These facts could help you and yours if you’re ever caught in the middle of an official land of Oz storm.

First, there are signs you can look for in an approaching tornado storm system–You cannot always rely on the sirens.  Here are some key signs to look for, according to the folks over at TornadoProject.com:

• Sky is a sickly, greenish or greenish-black color
• A strange quiet within or shortly after a thunderstorm
• Fast-moving clouds
• Clouds moving in a rotating pattern (I know, I know) or converging toward one area of the sky
• A sound like a waterfall or rushing air–Turned into a roar (Tornados are said to make the sounds of oncoming trains and jets)
• Debris dropping from the sky (Like your neighbor’s lawn art or backyard grill, for example)
• Debris such as branches/leaves being pulled upwards

So, if you hear sirens or if you recognize any of the above signs…

• Go to a PRE-DESIGNATED shelter such as a basement, storm cellar or lowest building level.  If there is no basement you should go to the center of an interior room on the lowest level of the house (Think: Interior hallway or closet).  This spot should be discussed with the entire family prior to such an event.

• Get away from all windows, doors and outside walls.

• Get under a table to protect your head and neck.

• DO NOT open windows.

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Wallpaper Calculator

As if hanging wallpaper wasn’t hard enough–The wallpaper roll manufacturers expect us to be able to bust out with our handy-dandy Geometry/Trig skills as we’re standing in aisle 4 trying to decide between solids and stripes!

The above link is a super little tool.  It will help you out with your next wallpapering project.  I think it’s confusing to try to estimate how much wallpaper to purchase for a project, but you can use this link to enter your wall length and height in order to get a really good idea as to how much paper will be needed.  It even subtracts paper for doors and windows.  How cool is that?!?

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