Warm Weather Signals Busy Home Improvement Season and ‘Honey Do’ Lists Grows

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RISMEDIA, June 2, 2011—The spring and summer seasons launch a busy time for home remodeling and improvement projects as homeowners spruce up for entertaining, listing their home for sale, or increasing the property’s value. A slowly warming housing market has made staying a popular trend among homeowners who choose to remodel versus losing money on a sale. For those who must move, cost-effective projects that make a home more visually appealing or structurally sound is a great way to entice potential buyers.
Regardless of the homeowner’s motivation to renovate, Power Home Remodeling Group—a leading home remodeling company—offers tips for prepping a home before embarking on popular summer projects.
“Prepping your home for remodeling or improvements of any type is important whether you’re working with professional installers or readying your space for a ‘do it yourself’ project,” says Ann Sawyer, Power’s vice president of operations & installations. “Preparation is key to a smooth installation and avoidance of time-consuming project pitfalls.”
Power offers the following tips for homeowners to keep in mind before home improvement projects begin:
• Have a plan: Communicate with your contractor well before the scheduled installation date about project requirements. Open communication about expectations and a timeline will limit the chance of unexpected surprises after the project is underway. Also be sure to have a source of electricity readily available, especially when working outdoors.
• Start with a clean slate: Store knick-knacks, art work and family photos to ensure they don’t become damaged during renovation. Dismantle window treatments and move furniture into a different room of the house. Store fixture plates, screws and hardware in individually labeled plastic bags for reinstallation when the project is finished. Also be sure to cover carpet and flooring in high traffic areas with a drop cloth to protect it from paint, dust and debris.
• Mesh new with old: When installing new flooring, counter tops or appliances, pay close attention to measurements. Baseboards that were installed with carpeting may need to be adjusted to accommodate wood flooring. Similarly, a dingy door and trim could be an eyesore in a freshly painted room. Be sure to match finishes when replacing hardware like drawer pulls, doorknobs and towel bars. An old brass doorknob is certain to clash with a sleek new pewter faucet. Keep these details in mind throughout the renovation to ensure a satisfying end result.
• Consider project requirements: Some of the most difficult remodeling projects involve electricity and plumbing. It’s important to consider the voltage of the electrical current and outlets in your home before plugging in a new appliance. Wire and hose length are also vital considerations before remodeling. For example, it is important to remember that an appliance must be pulled away from the wall for maintenance when planning the layout of a room. Homeowners looking to complete a project themselves must also remember to obtain the appropriate licensure from their local municipality for major renovations.

3 Good Reasons to Buy a Home This Weekend!

3 good reasons to buy a home this weekend

Well, It's really Two Things: #3 is a past event, but you get the idea.

Radon Gas Mitigation: Let’s Breathe Easy

By: Jan Soults Walker

Published: March 25, 2011

Take steps immediately to reduce radon gas buildup if your home tests high.

Knowing the available radon mitigation methods and costs will help you make the best choice. If you’ve tested and determined elevated levels of radon gas in your home, don’t worry. Radon mitigation methods can reduce levels by 99%, allowing you to breathe easy.

Reducing radon: Simple strategies

If radon test results indicate that levels in your home are only slightly elevated—less than 4 pCi/L (picocuries per liter of air):

• Caulk cracks or gaps in the slab, foundation, or framing—wherever your home contacts soil—to inhibit radon gas

infiltration. This step also improves the success of other radon reduction strategies.

• Open exterior crawl space vents to increase air flow and dilute radon buildup.

• Install a heat recovery ventilator (HRV). An HVR introduces fresh, air conditioned air into homes that are otherwise tightly sealed.

Reducing radon from unsafe levels

If radon levels inside your home test at 4 pCi/L or higher, enlist the services of a professional contractor who is trained in radon mitigation strategies. Contact your state radon office for a list of contractors in your area who are trained and certified in radon reduction techniques. Obtain several bids.

Professional radon mitigation options

Some of the systems used for reducing radon are:

• Soil suction. A special vent fan draws radon from soil beneath your home through pipes that dispel gas into the open. Negative pressure created by the suction further inhibits the buildup of gas. Fans run 24/7, and are usually

guaranteed for up to 10 years of continual operation.

• Sub-membrane suction. Considered the most effective strategy for homes with crawl spaces, sub-membrane suction employs a high-density plastic sheet atop the soil. A fan draws radon gas out through vent pipes located beneath the plastic.

• Passive and active ventilation. Ventilating a crawl space or adding additional vents may also reduce radon gas. Opening vents is passive ventilation; adding a fan is active. When employing either of these methods in a colder climate, you may need to add insulation in a crawl space to prevent pipes from freezing.

Costs for radon mitigation

Prices for radon mitigation vary depending on the extent of the work being done, but range between $800 and $2,500. The average cost nationally is $1,200 to $1,400.

As a rule, a house built on a slab or with a basement requires less labor, resulting in the lowest costs for radon reduction. Radon reduction in a house over a crawl space tends to be most expensive since a vapor barrier may be required.

Homes with any combination of slab, crawl space, and/or a basement fall in the

middle range for costs. Another budget consideration: As you ventilate radon gas from your home, energy

costs increase—either from releasing air that’s been heated or cooled, or from you operating a fan full-time. Using an HRV to ventilate helps reduce waste.

With four home renovations to her credit, Jan Soults Walker is a devotee of

improvements, products, and trends for the home and garden. For 25 years she’s

written for a number of national home shelter publications, and has authored 18

books on home improvement and decorating.

© Copyright 2011 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS