Home Improvement Contractor - Is He Qualified?

I am a general contractor in the state of Michigan. In other words I fix, build, or remodel anything pertaining to residential homes. The purpose of this article is to inform home owners about a growing problem in the construction/remodeling industry. That problem is the increasing numbers of unqualified individuals that are entering the field.

Due to the struggling economy and recent lay offs, many conversations around the kitchen table go something like this: "What are we going to do now Jane"? "Well John, you helped my brother roof his house that one time and you fixed the door on our shed and you like working around the house...why don't you put an ad in the paper as a roofer or a carpenter"? "Hey Jane, that's a great idea. I can get business by offering a really low price. Yea, that's what I'll do"!

Now I feel for a guy that is out of work. I really do. But when an unqualified individual decides "hey I'll be a contractor", all to often this results in nothing but trouble for the customer. What happens if John falls off the roof or drops his hammer on the hood of your brand new car? Is he insured?

What about warranties? If he says "I will guarantee this roof won't leak for 5 years", and then it does, will he still be in business? Statistics say no. As a matter of fact, most of the people entering into business today will not be in business 1 year from now, much less 5 years from now.

Of course there is the most important question: does he know what he's doing? Does the fact that John helped his brother roof a house make him a qualified roofer?

There are insurance considerations as well. For example, lets say a home owner hires an individual that is not licensed to install a new furnace in his home. If the furnace starts a fire and burns the house down, some insurance companies will deny the claim. The reason is since there is no record of a permit(which there would not be as an unlicensed individual can not obtain a permit) they assume that the furnace could have been installed incorrectly. Now a home owner is left with a huge loss and all because they wanted to save a few bucks on the installation.

Do yourself a favor and stick with a pro. If you conduct a proper contractor interview, then you know that you are going to get a quality job by a licensed and insured individual who offers a warranty........and honors it. If you are not sure how to conduct a proper contractor interview, you can find information on this and other subjects at my web site.

My name is R. Paul Phillips. I am a co owner of Tanner-Phillips Properties, which is a new construction/remodeling business in Lansing, Mi. I have a free home improvement information website located at [http://www.greater-lansing-home-improvement.com] While my site is tailored for the Lansing area, the majority of the information is useful to anyone interested in home improvement tips, product reviews, how to screen contractors......etc. I also have a contact page so you can ask questions specific to your project.

Home Improvements - Adding Value to Your Homes

Being able to own a house is a privilege. However, living your dream home is even more rewarding. When one is able to live in their homes the way they wanted it to be, there is joy, satisfaction and pride.

This is a common goal. To achieve your dream home and to enjoy the comforts of living is very much possible even if you just have a simple house. All you have to do is to invest on the right improvements at home.

Despite the many difficulties that people are facing, the mania for improving homes is still going on. In fact, the home improvement industry makes more than $200 million every year. This just proves how important homes are for people and there is no stopping them even during the rough times. Do you want to know why? Here are the reasons:

1. It increases the value of the property which could also increase in sales price in the future.

2. It adds beauty to the place.

3. Unused rooms will be converted into something more functional.

4. Space is maximized.

5. It helps saves energy.

6. It helps promote a safe and secured home.

Now how do you go about improving your homes?

There are several ways to modify your place for the beauty and for betterment. You can accomplish this by hiring a contractor or follow do it-yourself tips. Just bear in mind that not all improvements are a sure shot strategy to increase home values. Therefore, anyone contemplating to have this should think well and hard in terms of practicality, usability and worthiness.

Here are some great tips for improving your homes:

1. Convert basements into a functional room. Don't just use it as your storage area. Rather remove all the cobwebs, put some lighting, put in a huge sofa bed, put pool tables, put carpets and transform the room into a mini-bar, a guestroom or even an entertainment room.

2. Kitchen has always been an important area of the house. No matter how small the place is, making it more functional makes it attractive. Put in some good stuff like stainless steel appliances, sleek looking countertops and newly painted or brand new cabinets. You can even try to maximize the space. Any homemaker would appreciate being able to move freely in their kitchen.

3. The lawn should be well-manicured. Plant flowers to give your backyard some colors. On the other hand, grow some trees to give more shade on your backyard. You can add a kiosk where you can spend quite moments.

4. You can try to develop a patio, veranda or even construct decks. This also an added space for simple activities like dining, barbecuing or even chilling on beach chairs. When you have a gorgeous backyard, it gives a whole new attraction to your guests and a lovely site to see for your family.

5. Remove and replace rotten structures in the house. As much as possible, replace rotten woods with materials that are resistant to termites, rust and stains.

6. Add energy saving devices that could lower the cost of utilities. Try installing solar panels, which allows you to use energy for free. You may also want to consider fireproofing your homes like adding sprinklers and upgrading your smoker detectors.

Find out more information about quality homes with superb values from these sites Affordable Housing in Scottsdale and Carefree Affordable Homes.

Home Remodeling Tips: Planning Your Remodeling Project For Value, Comfort And Safety

Your home represents a big investment -- perhaps the largest of your lifetime. Safeguard and update your property with careful planning of home remodeling projects to make sure they add value, comfort and safety to your home.

Start With A List Of Needs And Desires

Before you launch into a major remodeling project, walk around your home and property, then sit down and make a list of shortcomings ... structural issues, overdue maintenance tasks, safety concerns and inconveniences. Next, make a list of "wish list" projects ... remodeling ideas or luxury installations you've always wanted for your home.

Look for synergies within each list. Often you'll find that items on your luxury "wish list" are much less expensive when undertaken as part of a more prudent maintenance upgrade. For example, a Jacuzzi installation in your master bath might not return enough in resale value to make it a solid investment on its own, but if your existing bath tub is cracked and leaking anyway, the difference in price between the Jacuzzi and a conventional tub replacement will make your "luxury" upgrade much more reasonable.

With this strategy in mind, work your lists of needs and desires into a single, prioritized remodeling plan.

Building Codes And Permits

Never undertake a major remodeling project without first researching the building code requirements in your area. Building codes and permitting requirements can vary considerably from one community to another, but as a general rule a building permit is probably required when structural work is involved, or when the basic living area of a residence is to be changed.

The details respecting required permits in your area are readily available from your local township or boro office. A quick web search may save steps and provide you with a printed copy for your planning record. Reputable home improvement business representatives can also help you determine whether or not a home remodeling project will require permits and inspection.

Plan Financing Well In Advance

It's usually best to save up cash in advance for your home remodeling projects, but if you budget carefully and shop for financing, interest rates can be factored in to other remodeling project expenses and evaluated accordingly. Talk to lenders in advance and make sure you understand all of the terms of a financing agreement before you take the plunge.

Local realtors and online real estate resources can be helpful in determining what value, if any, your remodeling project will add to your home over time. Factor your findings into any financing decisions you're considering.

Select Qualified Remodeling Assistance

Many home improvement and home remodeling projects fall comfortably within the do-it-yourself realm. But larger projects, even those that aren't so complex, can often be overwhelming. Check your skill set and your schedule before undertaking a remodeling project to make sure you have both the know-how and the time to see it through to completion. If you have any doubts, considering enlisting the help of a qualified remodeling contractor.

Choose a contractor with an established place of business, preferably in your locality. Ask for and check references, and observe each contractor carefully as he or she "sizes up" your home improvement or home remodeling project. If they're not asking many questions, there's no way they can adequately estimate the cost of your remodeling project.

Lists of accredited contractors are available from industry organizations like the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI). These organizations can also offer guidance as to how much bonding and insurance is adequate for the type of project you're preparing to undertake.

Once you've chosen a remodeling contractor, make sure you get a written agreement that explains "exactly" what you will get for your money. Don't sign a contract until you are both in complete agreement on critical details like scheduling, quality of materials and workmanship.

Living With A Remodeling Project

Once you've selected the best contractor for your project and scheduled a start date, prepare your home--and yourself--for what's about to come. Keep in mind that unreasonable expectations will always lead to dissapointment, and no project has ever been completed to perfection.

Expect the unexpected. Late deliveries, strikes, shipment shortages, wrong parts, oversights, rain, changes, etc. are all par for the course in a major remodeling project. Monitor progress and maintain constant communication with your contractor, but be reasonable. Some delays are inevitable, and many are beyond the contractors control.

Keep things in perspective. Don't expect perfection, but do expect good work. For example, built-ins won't have a furniture like finish unless you've specified and are willing to pay furniture finishing prices. A paint drop isn't the end of the world, but a paint trail leading down the hallway should be pointed out by you, and made right by your contractor promptly.

Protect your belongings. Dust and dirt from demolition and construction activities is unavoidable, but you can minimize the impact by covering everything possible, keeping doors closed and sealing off construction areas with plastic sheeting. Dirt and dust will be a fact of life until your project is completed, but your contractor should make efforts to keep work areas as clean as possible throughout the project.

Stay calm and flexible. Time clocking workmen simply builds resentment. Try to understand the difficulties of managing a project inside someone else's home, and remember that some inconvenience is to be expected. Plan to be without water or power at various stages in a project, and remember that your contractor is as anxious as you are to finish the job.

The Home Improvement News and Information Center provides information and resources for home remodeling, home improvement and home energy management projects. For more information about remodeling, point your web browser to http://www.HomeImprovementTime.com/consumer/search.asp?search=remodel&mode=search.

The Effects of Energy Efficiency Home Improvement

If you own a home that you sometimes find draughty and expensive to heat - then you could benefit from carrying out energy efficient home improvements. An energy efficient home is not only more environmentally responsible, it is also much more economical in the long run. When you take steps to stop air leaks and improve the insulation in your attic, basement and walls, these steps can mean your house stays warmer and you are more comfortable through the winter months when those cold winds seem to seep in from the outside.

Be assured, steps taken to improve energy efficiency is likely to be far more beneficial than you realize particularly in an older home. Indeed, effects are likely to be as far reaching as helping to create a viable home performance industry while improving our environment.

What is energy efficient home improvement?

Energy efficient home improvement is about creating a home that is comfortable and uses less energy to heat and cool, because it is well sealed against air leaks and well insulated against heat transfer. When a home is poorly insulated, the use of a heating system can be undermined by loss of heat through lack of insulation in the walls and attic, poorly fitted windows and doors that let in draughts and so on. By taking measures to correct these problems, you'll be able to improve the energy efficiency of your home - and that can mean significant savings on energy bills. The following are some of the ways in which you can improve the energy efficiency of your home:

Diagnostic Tools The best way to address problems in older homes or homes that have few energy efficiency measures taken during construction is through running some diagnostic tests to find the home's 'weak points' when it comes to energy efficiency. These tests can assess how tightly the home is sealed and pinpoint the locations where hot air is escaping from the home. These tests examined areas such as ductwork systems, attics/roofs, basements, exterior wall cavities, utilities entry points and so on. Ultimately, the tests will determine how efficient or inefficient for that matter your home is; whether you have drafts that is allowed to come in unhindered, whether or not you have insulation in your attic or walls and whether you have insulating windows and well sealed doors etc.

Window insulations - When you have windows that are not insulated, you can experience loss of heat in two ways. First, if your windows are older (such as on a traditional, character home) then you may get heat loss via gaps or spaces around the window. Second, the home may have single glazed windows which lose heat via heat transfer. The Repairing or replacing of older windows with energy efficient ones can help to prevent further loss of heat; which in turn can improve the comfort of your home. To address the second issue, you may opt to have the windows double or triple glazed (using heat reflecting glass), or have polythene insulation installed to help minimise heat transfer and keep the maximum amount of heat inside your home. Other applications such as heavy drapes across the windows during the winter can also further reduce heat loss to the outside.

Door insulations - If you have glass doors, then many of the same principles apply to insulating these as you would your windows. Additionally, draft proofing or weather stripping is one of the simple things you may want to consider when air sealing your homes; Preventing draughts from entering rooms also means preventing heat from escaping. These applications are quick and simple to install and they can make a big difference to your home. It is also possible to carry out improvements to your home by having insulated outer doors installed by a professional. Some of these doors are solid, sturdy doors that will help to reduce heat loss because they contain insulation within their core.

Air sealing - This process refers to the sealing of the less obvious draft spots in the home. If you have a draft under a door, you may be able to stop it with a weather strip, but a significant amount of heat loss can take place via gaps and holes in basements, crawl spaces and attics or lofts. In order to eliminate heat loss in these locations, it is worthwhile to hire a contractor to assess your home for leakage, carry out sealing around areas where leaks are identified is very essential to improving the home's energy performance. A professional can seal your home quite tightly to improve energy efficiency and prevent loss of heat from these locations.

Duct sealing - If you have reverse cycle air conditioning ducted system in your home, there is a possibility that you will experience issues of heat loss via poorly sealed openings, gaps around the seals of the ducts and so on. If you have an older home that is prone to be draughty, then chances are you are letting a lot of money slip through your fingers, heating a home that is releasing a large proportion of that heat outside conditioned space. The long-term cost of this could be significant when compared to the ease of sealing leaky ducts. A professional home performance improvement contractor can help you assess the loss via the ducts and other areas and can help you to correct these problems without inhibiting the function of the system.

Roof/Attic - Insulation in the attic is one of the most effective insulation procedure; helping to keep the warmth in during the cold months and the heat out in the hot months. If you insulate your attic you would be creating one of the most important cost savers for an energy efficient home,for heat loss through the attic can account for up to 20% of the loss of heat from the home. Insulation products for the roof can include traditional fiber glass or you may opt for a more environmentally friendly option such as cellulose which is pulverized recycled newspaper treated with fire and mold spores retardants. This works more efficiently than the regular fiberglass insulation when dense pack, in addition its production is less damaging to the environment as it is biodegradable.

Wall insulation - Wall cavities in your house can act in a similar way to double glazing, dense packed these cavities with blown-in cellulose insulation and boost the energy efficiency of your home. Some new homes may have been built with energy saving measure already in place, however older (existing) homes all across the country may have to have this done to achieve desired energy efficiency.

Why energy efficiency matters?

Home energy efficiency improvement matters and should be aggressively pursued because of its obvious job creating potentials, its long-term viability as an emerging building performance industry and its increasing importance in the drive to reduce green house gases. The current job market is clearly in need of a 'shot in the arm.' There is little doubt that energy-efficient building improvement has the explosive job creating potential that is needed now to help right this economy. Indeed, low-income communities all across this country are full of unemployed people who could easily be trained is the relatively low skilled weatherizing techniques.The construction industry, for example, which has loss over 20 percent of its workforce since 2008 would find the strong commitment to energy retrofit a welcome development. In addition, inner-city neighborhoods where older in-efficient buildings are often the dominant building stock provide a perfect 'ecosystem' of desirable buildings and worker pool. Cities such as Boston in the Northeast United States has gotten the message and has embark on the quest to find how to best capitalize on this opportunity.

The long-term viability of energy efficiency as a building performance service is attractively promising because of two main reasons. One, to achieve any plausible reform in our national energy policy, this has to be a fundamental piece of the equation. It is becoming clearer that the government recognizes this and is inching its way forward. Cities across the country are brainstorming for creative programs to solve this building energy in-efficiency problem. The city of Boston has a proposal on the table to infrared scan all the buildings in the city to test for heat loss. Two, The national building stock, residential and commercial, is woefully energy in-efficient and must be improve or we will continue to throw money out the window and pollute the environment, clearly, unsustainable options.

Beyond the considerable potential for immediate job creation and the creation of a new industry with all the social benefits attached, reducing climate pollution is an important bi-product of energy efficiency improvement. According to the Pew Center on Global Climate Change, buildings account for about 43% of the total carbon dioxide emissions in the U.S., compared to transportation 32% and industrial 25%. The interesting fact is that activities to improve building energy efficiency are among the most cost effective among alternatives to lower green house gases. The truth is, a homeowner choosing to improve his/her home energy efficiency is in fact contributing to solving the fundamental environmental, social and economic issues of our time.

Why should homeowners care about energy efficiency?

As a homeowner, carrying out improvements to ensure energy efficiency can quickly start to return the money you've out-laid. When you air seal,insulate and improve the envelope of your home correctly to prevent the loss of heat, it is effectively cutting out wastage. You wouldn't go to a store for basics like bread and milk then throw 20% of it out. The fact is you're 'throwing out' a huge amount of your heat Without weatherization and other energy efficient home improvements. If you don't like the idea of wastage and you don't want to continue throwing away your money, then you should give serious consideration to having your home weatherize. The correct installation of energy saving insulation in your attic and basement alone can reduce your energy bill by around 20 percent or more; add that to the money you will save by having air sealed, and installed insulated windows and you'll quickly see that those savings stacking up. A simple way to get started with making energy efficient improvements to your home is to contact a professional. An experienced home performance improvement contractor can run a series of diagnostic tests to measure your home's efficiency and how tightly it is sealed. Armed with this information, you can then take the steps you must to improve your home's energy efficiency in order to start saving the maximum amount of money while enjoying a more comfortable, healthy home.

David H. Allen is a recognized expert in energy-efficient building improvement in the Boston Market. His company http://caledoniaconstruction.com founded in 2002 specializes in the supply and installation of energy-efficient and low maintenance home improvement products. He frequently writes industry specific articles which he invites you to check out via his blog retrofitboston.com.

Home Exteriors: Construction and Renovation

Exterior remodeling is a very hot industry right now. This is likely due to the incredible return available on these small-scale projects. Living through an interior renovation can be taxing. It interferes and interrupts your life. Any delays exacerbate this for the dweller of the home. An exterior renovation, however, produces minimal disruption.

Psychologically, it is much easier as well since you can get away from the mess that comes hand in hand with any kind of construction or renovation. You can go inside your home and close the door. What is out of sight, is out of mind. With an interior remodel, you do not have this option.

Some exterior remodeling is fairly straightforward and simple to accomplish. Landscaping is one of the milder remodels out there. Adding or replacing a patio, deck, or porch provide tremendous return on your investment. The return on these endeavors averages about 80%.

Exterior remodeling is all about curb appeal. The exterior of your home is what brings in potential buyers. Even when your house isn't on the market, the outside is the first thing your guests see. You want people to enter with a positive vibe about your home. Replacing siding can really spruce up a home's look and add protection from the elements as well as a nice visual finish. Replacing windows on a home can update the entire look and design of a home.

Window replacement can be more costly than other updates, however, if the size of the new windows is different than the original windows. A size differential will result in additional drywall costs and repair work inside the house, which is disruptive and messy. But new windows can be a terrific investment as it can increase the energy efficiency and the curb appeal.

If you are looking for Minnesota painters or Minnesota painting services go ahead and browse this website. You will be sure to find something that interests you.

Is the Industry Doing Enough to Encourage Women?

Although there are more women entering the trades than ever before, it has been brought to attention that still more needs to be done in order to give these women the help and encouragement they need to succeed within these male-dominated environments.

The heating industry has undergone a great deal of change and development over the past few years. This is mostly due to the government proposing new policies and the development of new technologies such as renewables. With this new change comes the new responsibility for industry trades to build upon their work force by adding new and additional skills. The time has come for women to become trained and take advantage of this new transformation in the industry.

Preventing gender divides in the industry

Although it cannot be argued that there are more women working in the industry now than ever before, there are still gender obstacles and other stereotypes that are preventing women from reaching the top. According to The Women and Work Commission (WWC), the gender pay gap has actually widened to 22.6% from 21.9% in 2007.

Adult apprenticeships are a good and important way to get young women to enter this career path. The government has come up with a number of initiatives, one of them being spending over 1 billion on apprenticeships. The public reaction to this development has been mostly positive.

However, although the government has been working hard in developing strategies in order to get more women into the industry, some organizations claim that there is still a long way to go and not enough is being done. For example the WWC are still skeptical about the level of progress made and state that there is still a gender divide in the work place.

Employers taking steps to deal with gender divide

Many employers have responded to the situation by taking some positive steps forward in preventing this discrimination. For example, Construction Skills ran a national advertising campaign to promote the construction industry as a attractive and lucrative career option for women.

British Gas have also taken the initiative by trebling the number of women starting an apprenticeship in order to redress the balance.

Are women themselves not that keen?

Many of the UK construction and engineering companies have claimed that despite initiatives to encourage more women to enter the industry, job applications from women are still low. It was found that despite 80% of women saying that they would be interested in going down a non-traditional career path, the applications coming in are still low.

It has been argued that many of these gender stereotypes come from schools where enough is not being done to promote non-traditional careers for girls. There are some organisations that are set up for the purpose of encouraging these women to enter non-traditional career paths. For instance, the Women in Science & Construction (WISE) is set up to encourage young girls up to the age of 19 to pursue careers in science, engineering and construction.

Tal Potishman, editor of Heating Central, writes articles about combi boiler, central heating, plumber Cambridge, underfloor heating and solar thermal. He specializes in helping save money by advising on efficient heating.

Inspirational Story That Changed One Home Improvement Contractor's Life Forever

I have been writing and sharing my stories with thousands of people, all over the United States and the story that I'm about to tell you, happen to someone that I truly enjoyed working with. This person's life changed forever, because one man chose to share something special with him.

I don't know how many struggling contractors there are out there, but this guy was one of them. He was working for other contractors during the week and on the weekends he was trying to get his own construction company going. He would often work long hours during the week, earning enough money to take care of his family and working on the weekends, trying to save up enough money to start his own business.

After doing this for about five years, he finally realize that he was having problems at home with his wife and children, who rarely got to see him, he decided to put his dream aside and focus on his family. A few more years went by and he took odd jobs every once in awhile to keep his dream alive.

Things seem to be going okay for him, until one day he met a man who would change his life forever. The man that he met was on his way to becoming a very successful general contractor and was starting to use the services of this young man. They soon became pretty good friends and the general contractor told the young man that one day he could see him running a successful construction company.

The young man started to think about what the other guy had said, but didn't want to disrupt his family. He explained this to the general contractor, and got a response that would change his life forever.

The general contractor handed him a book called," Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill." The young man looked at the book and said, "What do you want me to do with this, read it." Yes said the general contractor and I have other books that I would like you to read also. If you're serious about making more money in the construction industry and providing a better life for you and your family, I suggest that you start doing a little more reading.

It wasn't just this one book, that changed the young man's life forever, it was the rest of the books that he read also. Sometimes we tend to focus on the way things have always been done, when we really need to focus on the things that really work.

The young man went on to become a successful general contractor and never forget about the other contractor's generosity. Today this guy helps others fulfill their dreams as a way of returning the favor that changed his life forever.

If You're Looking for a Great Contractor, Click on This Link Perfect Home Improvement Contractors

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Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books.

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