Attic conversions are one way to take advantage of usable space that just goes to waste in many homes. Depending on the design of your house, there may be a very usable room just sitting there, waiting to be discovered. One of the most important things you will have to consider is what you are starting out with. If there is only a small amount of room available, you might be best off using the area for storage unless you are ready to get into a major renovation project.

There are a couple of ways that you can start using the space that is just sitting there above your head. Some people choose to use the attic as a storage area for items that do not get used very often. In a lot of cases, the attic becomes almost like a museum. Over a number of years it often fills with the things that people want out of the way. Sometimes these items end up spending a very extended stay in the attic.

If you have more space available in your attic, you might want to go all the way and make the conversion into a living area for your family. This might be an add-on bedroom or just an extra space to serve as a family area. Making the switch will be much easier if the entire area allows people to stand up. Unfortunately, most attics are capped with sharply sloped rooftops that are not really conducive to standing comfortably if you are over three feet tall.

Even if you are going to use the space just for storage, there are some things to keep in mind and to check out before you move anything into the space. The first thing to consider is the condition of roof. If there are any leaks, these should be repaired before putting anything valuable into storage. Of course, if you discover leaks, they should be fixed anyway before serious damage occurs to the inside of your home.

Next, you need to remember that attics are generally not set up to be comfortable places. In the winter they often get quite cold, and in the summer, they can become oppressively hot. Items being stored there must be able to safely withstand such conditions unless you intend to make arrangements for the area to have a more controlled climate.

If you do decide to go with a renovation project, be sure to check to see if there are any local codes or ordinances that will apply to your project. It would also be wise to get some input from local contractors. Even if you are fully qualified to do the work yourself, getting estimates and ideas from several professionals is a good starting point. Likewise, you may want to ask your local building inspector for input before getting yourself too far in to the project.

If your situation is right for an attic conversion, it can increase the resale value of your home down the line. That is not even to mention the fact that it will provide you with more usable living space. Take stock of your situation and make your decision based on what is right for you and your family.

We have known for a while that we needed to get a new roof. The current one is the original that was slapped on in 1962 using the cheapest materials available as they threw up entire neighborhoods in this area over the space of a couple of years. A very nasty little storm that blew through around the end of April knocked off several shingles and encouraged us to set the wheels in motion on getting our roof replaced.

If you have never had a new roof put on your home, but are thinking about it, you should realize that it is not an inexpensive project. Depending on what needs done, it can be quite expensive. It is also not the type of job that you will want to take on as a do it yourself project if you are not qualified and experienced. There is a lot of work involved and the materials are not cheap. This is why you should definitely take the time to get as many estimates as you possibly can before giving any roofing company your business.

Contractors are not created equal. It would be great if we could just automatically expect fair pricing for quality work, but that does not always happen. When we were selling our previous house, we needed to get a new roof before it would sell. One roofing company we got a bid from had people on their payroll that did nothing by sales and estimates. The guy who showed up was very much a salesman. I'll always remember him saying that we should chain him to the picnic table before he escaped after he gave us his fabulous offer. It turned out that his company was, by far, the most expensive of the ones who submitted bids. Seriously, they were about $3000 more than the nearest contractor. What amazes me is that this company keeps getting work at their inflated rates. The work they do is adequate, from what I've seen, but I honestly don't see how it is worth the extra that they charge. I can only assume that the people who hire them really enjoy the salesman's friendly banter and they don't even bother getting other estimates.

Most quality roofing companies will offer free estimates. Take them up on the offer and pay attention to how they treat you from the time you first contact their business. If alarm bells start going off as they try to hurry you into a contract, get their offer and then move on. Likewise, if they only seem interested in pushing you to the next (more expensive) option, take a step back. Don't let them pressure you into agreeing on anything until you have all of the information you want from several contractors.

Ask to see examples of work they have done in the area. Most will be happy to let you see what they can do for you. Also, ask friends and family for the names of anyone they were happy with. One caveat here is that you should probably think twice about hiring friends or family to do the job. If you don't like the results, you could find yourself in a sticky situation.

As you meet with contractors, ask them a ton of questions about what their work will include. Be very careful when it comes to the cost of replacing wood. Some companies will tell you that they will replace bad wood at some specific price per square foot. Realize that one sheet of wood that measures 4' x 6' will contain 24 square feet! That one can add up in a hurry. It is possible that your roofers will find unexpected damage when they get into the project, find out what the extra materials and labor are going to cost you if they do find something.

Finally, make sure that you see all of the required insurance data from the company. Trying to save by getting yourself a fly by night roofing crew could cost you dearly if something goes wrong. A quality company should have all of their qualifications and insurance information at the ready for you to inspect.

Getting a new roof on your home can really improve the look of your property. It is a major job though and it deserves to be taken seriously. The small amount of time you put into doing the proper research and getting estimates can save you thousands of dollars and tons of grief down the line. Get as many free roofing estimates as you can with as many details as you can. You will be glad you did in the end.

The lure of living in a milder climate induces many folks to sell their ordinary homes and move south, where there are hundreds of mobile home communities set up to provide low maintenance living among people with similar backgrounds and interests.

Other people choose to live in mobile homes for a variety of reasons. For some, it's an opportunity to live economically as a permanent choice or while saving money to build or buy a regular house.

One thing that many, if not most, people fail to realize is that the construction and systems of a mobile home are not in all cases quite like those found in an ordinary house. This is particularly true in the case of the mobile home furnace.

Due to the construction realities of mobile homes, the furnaces intended for installation in them must be designed differently from an ordinary furnace. Space limitations are critical, and mobile home heating systems must account for smaller ductwork, tighter angles in the ductwork, and a different system of venting than in the ordinary furnace they may be familiar with.

Unless someone is planning on moving to the very warmest parts of the country, a well-functioning furnace is a necessity. If someone is lucky enough to buy a brand new mobile home, they can rely on the manufacturer to properly install a suitable unit in a safe and efficient way.

However, if one is buying a used mobile home, there are some things that ought to be considered to avoid financial loss or even disaster. While a furnace installed in a house may be expected to last upwards of thirty years with proper maintenance, this isn't necessarily the case with a mobile home furnace. Although mobile home furnaces have closed the longevity gap with regular furnaces to some extent, they operate under more challenging conditions and may not last so long.

If one is contemplating buying a used mobile home that is more than fifteen years old, it's very wise to have the furnace inspected by a technician qualified and experienced in dealing with such units. A thorough inspection will involve some dismantling of the unit and a careful examination of the combustion chamber for cracks. This is essential to ensure that combustion gases don't escape into the living area, which could be deadly.

A qualified technician can give some estimate of the useful remaining life (if any) of the furnace being inspected. He will ensure that all the electrical connections are safe and functional. If the determination is made that the furnace will need extensive repairs or is no longer safe, there are some options for the mobile home owner or potential buyer.

While electric furnaces are just about always more expensive to operate than gas fired units, they do provide a safe means of supplying heat. In some more remote areas where natural gas lines have not reached but electrical service has, some people have opted for electric mobile home furnaces.

However, in light of the reality that electricity is an expensive option for heating, manufacturers for many years have offered propane fired gas furnaces. If you opt for such a unit, it will be necessary to provide a large tank for storage of the gas and arrange for reliable deliveries of it. It will also be necessary to install appropriate venting to account for the release of combustion gases. This is also true if natural gas service has been extended to areas where there was formerly only electricity.

A qualified technician can provide expert advice regarding whether or not a conversion from an electric mobile home furnace to a gas one will pay long-term dividends. He or she will have access to professional software that calculates the amount of energy needed to effectively heat the living space. In many cases, the cost of this analysis will be forgiven if a new unit is purchased.

Used mobile home furnaces can also be found for sale. However, unless such a unit is being sold by a certified expert in the field with a safety guarantee, these should be avoided in light of the risk of there being hidden safety defects.

Here is a video I came across that some people may find helpful.

Looking for an inexpensive, comprehensive guide? Click the image above.

Another factor in favor of refinishing kitchen cabinets is that there really isn't a tremendous range of facings employed in their manufacture. They may be flat or finished with some type of molding and a recessed panel, but old cabinets and new tend to share the basic designs. A sixty year old cabinet with a fresh finish will not be readily distinguishable from an expensive new cabinet by reason of an unacceptably dated profile.

However, refinishing kitchen cabinets is not necessarily the walk in the park that some writers would lead one to believe. It will take a serious commitment of time and energy to get the sort of results that most people would find acceptable. After all, there are professional cabinet refinishers making a good living at selling their expertise and experience. If it were such a simple matter as one might be led to suppose, they would not be investing their lives in the work.

The simplest finish to apply to old cabinets is paint. Given that it covers completely and will hide whatever may be underneath, it takes less preparation than refinishing with a stain or clear finish. When choosing paint for a kitchen cabinet refinishing project, oil-based paints are much to be preferred over latex, at least as far as the finished product is concerned. It will dry to a harder and longer lasting finish than latex paint, but it involves more work to apply, particularly with regard to cleaning up and maintaining your tools. Latex washes up with water; oil-based paint requires a chemical solvent.

You should start by determining what sort of finish is currently on your cabinets. If you have painted kitchen cabinets, it's best to apply a coat of oil-based primer. Before doing so, however, you should go over the cabinets with a degreasing cleaner and perhaps give them a light sanding.

If you want to go with latex paint, make sure that you are not applying it over an oil-based non-primer paint by testing the existing paint. Rub an inconspicuous area lightly with denatured alcohol on a rag. If the paint softens, it's latex; if not, it's oil.

Latex paint applied over an oil-based non-primer paint will tend not to grip properly. However, latex may be applied safely over an oil-based primer. Thus, an oil-based primer is appropriate for use under oil or water based paint.

If your kitchen cabinets are stained, you can use a stripping agent to lift the finish according to its directions, but be prepared to do some sanding. If you intend to paint over the stained finish, you can apply a shellac based primer rather than bother to remove the old finish. This will work under an oil or latex based color coat.


If you want to re-stain your cabinets, it will be necessary to remove as completely as possible all traces of the original stain. This is likely to be the most challenging of refinishing projects, and is not to be lightly undertaken. Once the old stain finish is removed, you can apply any sort of modern stain you prefer to the raw wood according to the instructions provided.

Having said that, start by reading and comprehending the instructions all the way through. Locate and have on hand all the tools listed before starting, and take an inventory of the parts supplied.

Then, check the door for balance. If you raise the door to around chest level and release it, it should stop on its own before falling to the floor. That reflects the tension on the springs. If out of balance, it's time to check with a knowledgeable professional. Check to make sure that the glides move smoothly and uniformly through the rails. Rails that are out of alignment can put undue strain on any opener.

When mounting your garage door opener, be particularly careful to mount it to a structural component that can withstand some force being applied to it. Never consider mounting an opener with expansion type fasteners even of a heavy duty nature. With regard to mounting components, never install the switch or keypad where it can be reached by very young children. You don't want your garage door to become a toy to a toddler.

If your model of garage door opener requires being hard wired into the electrical system and you aren't quite sure of your ability to do this job properly, consult a professional. Also, if you are clueless about matters electrical, you might not want to deal with even the low voltage aspects of the system, such as the connection from the switch to the power unit or the electric eye sensors to be installed to reverse the downward movement of the door if it becomes obstructed at all.

Be sure to test your garage door opener installation thoroughly before going into the house and putting your feet up. Ensure that the door reverses direction if it hits any obstruction on its way down. Ensure that it stops running when the door is fully up or fully down and that the motor doesn't run on.

For the do it yourselfer of at least moderate experience, installing a garage door opener can generate some substantial savings in return for a few hours of work. For those less experienced or competent, the cost of professional garage door opener installation can be a long term bargain in terms of money and regrets.