Finishing Baseboard Trim

Installing trim means you've already gotten through the toughest parts of remodeling a room. Installation of baseboard trim is something akin to icing on a cake and should be taken on as an enjoyable project that signals the end of what may have been a long, hard job. Along with wall and window trim, it's the finishing touch, the accent, the piece de resistance - and knowing this should help propel you easily toward its completion. But don't get in such a hurry that you don't take care to do it right!

Finger-Joint or Continuous-Grain

Before purchasing, decide whether or not you'll be painting or staining after the installation of baseboard trim. This can make a difference in the price of your trim. For baseboard that's going to be painted, you can buy the less-expensive finger-joint trim, which is molding created by joining and machining shorter pieces together to form one continuous length of trim. The seams are visible, but very effectively covered by paint. If you decide on staining the trim, however, you need to go with continuous-grained baseboard. This higher-priced baseboard trim costs more but results in an attractive continuity accentuated by the seamless grain of the wood brought ouA37t by stain. Do all painting and/or staining of the molding before installation.

Begin installation of baseboard trim at an outside corner, if one is present, in the room. Otherwise, start at the wall on the opposite side of where the door going into the room is located. Because this is the first wall people see when they walk into a room, you want this one to have the best-looking baseboard possible. If you run short for some reason or the other on the other walls and need to splice pieces, it won't be nearly so evident.

Angled and Square Ends

Use a power miter saw for installation of baseboard trim at inside and outside corners. A T-bevel can measure odd angles that don't measure what should be neat, 90-degree angles (but rarely are!) and when walls aren't square to floors, baseboard trim can be coped to fit with a coping saw. For the first section of baseboard trim, the cut is simple: Make both ends square, no angle cutting is necessary. It's the subsequent, connecting pieces of baseboard that need to be fitted at either corner of this piece. Those two pieces also are angled only at those corners with their opposites ends being square. The remaining pieces of baseboard are cut with angled ends meeting square ends until the room is finished.

Finishing Up

Use six-penny finishing nails to fasten the baseboard to the studs, which are usually about 16 inches apart along the wall. If you do not have a stud finder, tap along the wall and listen for the hollow versus solid sound that differentiates between a stud being there or not. To hide the nail heads or obvious indentations made by the nails, fill with wood putty to match the stain or touch up with paint, as needed.

Visit OnlineTips.Org for more on finishing trim, including wainscoting and how to use coping saws.

Bathroom Remodeling Check List

Bathroom remodeling is the best way, after kitchen remodeling, to increase the sales value of your home. It can be a small bathroom remodel or a large one, but either one done correctly can garner a higher price when you sell your home. Even if you do not plan to sell in the near future, a bathroom remodel can make life easier and more enjoyable for your family.

A bathroom remodeling check list is not a necessity, but it comes close to being that. Before you launch your project, a bathroom remodeling check list can help you gather your ideas in one place. It can assist as you estimate time, cost, and effort involved. As you work, your check list will help you move smoothly from one task to another.

Your contractor may or may not use a bathroom remodeling check list. If you have one, however, you can ask that it be used. It will keep costs in line with the budget. It will be your game plan. It may also get you back into your bathroom sooner.

The bathroom remodeling check list we offer here may be different from others, but it can be adapted to meet your needs. You may want two lists, actually. Make one a list of necessitie2238s, and the second a list of optional things you would like in your bathroom remodel if possible.

Bathroom Check List

1. Design: Before you begin a bathroom remodel, take time to design the finished room. There are a number of helpful digital design software programs you can use if you are doing it yourself. You may want the popular Tuscany theme or a vintage design. If you hire a professional designer, work with her on this step before moving ahead. Look at samples and pictures of tiles, paint, fixtures, and other materials.

2. Permits: With your design completed, you know what you plan to do in your bathroom remodel. You need to get permits from your city or county. If you are using the services of contractors, be sure all permits are in order before work is started.

3. Walls: Will your bathroom remodeling project involve moving walls or refinishing them? If walls are to be moved, this may be the first step. You may want to add a new window, or move a door as part of your bathroom remodel. Plan carefully.

4. Floors: Most bathroom remodeling projects include some type of floor work. If tub, toilet, shower, or sink are to be moved, you will need plumbing changes. New holes will be made in your floor. You may need new sub floors. This step will probably follow the movement of walls.

5. Plumbing: This part of bathroom remodeling calls for a licensed professional. If you are not a licensed plumber, be sure you have one scheduled at the right time.

6. Electrical: Much bathroom remodeling involves changes in lighting fixtures. Changing a light bulb is simple. Adding lighting to a new part of the bathroom is not. As above, if you are not a licensed professional, schedule an electrician for this part of your bathroom remodel.

7. Decorating: Once walls and floors are done; plumbing and electricity are installed or re-routed, fixtures and other parts of your bathroom remodeling project reach fruition, it is time to decorate. No bathroom remodel is complete without themed decorating. Leave time to do it right.

Bathroom remodeling check lists are sometimes available from your contractor. A few contractors post detailed lists online. The important thing is to take time to thoroughly plan the bathroom remodeling project from beginning to end. Get an estimate from your contractor, or estimates from two or more contractors. Make sure everything is written down, with cost and time estimates. If you do, your bathroom remodel will be as painless as possible.

2007, Anna Hart. Anna Hart invites you to read more of her articles about bathroom remodeling at http://www.easybathroomremodeling.com. Anna has also posted articles on that site about bathroom decorating and design. If you want to learn about bathroom remodeling ideas for a small budget, you wont want to miss her article on the subject.

Pebble Stone

With the immense popularity gained by several natural materials inside kitchens and baths, pebble stones have become the number one choice for several people across the globe when it comes to enhancing the interiors.

When it comes to surfacing material, pebble stone is the most preferred stone. Varieties such as earth toned river rock and polished black quartz are extremely famous among pebble stone lovers. The pebble stones are measured for thickness and thereafter assembled on to mesh blacked 12"x12" sections. These sections are specially prepared to be interlocked so that they possess a natural random look when installed. You can also find a 'standing stone' version of these pebble tiles. The tiles have the pebbles standing on end and also attached to mesh backing. These standing stones are available in 4"x12" bricks usually applied to vertical surfaces with the help of mortar.

Pebbles do not require grout for installation. Hence, they provide the appearance of standing stone. These stones make great pieces of dcor for interiors as well as exteriors of homes and offices.

If you want to collect natural pebblE60es, you can find these in Indonesia in abundance. Here, they are hard sorted for flatness, thickness and thereafter joined together individually and bonded on to a mesh backing.

You can easily utilize hand crafted natural pebble stone tile flooring for pools, waterfalls and bathrooms. These are easy to install and you don't require any professional help. These pebbles are hand sanded individually and put into place. Thereafter, these are shipped from overseas. Several stones are attached to tiles and provided a strong mesh backing. After this process these tiles are smoothed down to create an even surface. This makes the stone ideal to walk on.

There are several reasons to consider pebbles stone as an ideal choice for your interiors. Given below are the features of pebble stone that makes it perfect choice for interior dcor.

a) Attractive:
Pebble stone is known to create an amazing area with a variety of colors, designs and borders available under this category on the market.
b) Inexpensive:
Pebble stones are cheaper than other surfaces available in the market such as tile, brick, flagstone or pavers.
c) Porous:
These stones are known to remove puddling and low/high areas.
d) Easy to clean:
Pebble stones are very easy to clean. You can wash these with a hose.
e) Seamless:
You would not find any seams or joints on these stones. The stone are installed over expansion joints or even cracks due to its elasticity that allows for expansion.
f) Wide usage:
Pebble stones can be easily installed on hard surfaces including concrete, asphalt, tile, flagstone, brick or wood decks. You can turn your pool decks, patios, driveways, walks or planters in an area of elegance, style and class. These stones can be easily used for residential, commercial and industrial installations.

Pebble stones look attractive and provide an ultimate choice for installation for interior dcor.

We, at BBM Impex are dedicated to represent the nations treasure of natural stone. visit Pebble supplier & exporter.

I am freelance writer, I have written on many fields that are under the sun. I have passion to play with words. Accuracy, clarity and impact are the hallmarks of my work.

I am not a "Shakespeare", and don't have ability to convert imagination and thoughts into words, If I have to define myself in a few words, I would say I am a copywriter, I have good command over research, expertise to explore extensively and ability to prove that. I can write on any subject, from beauty to intellect, food to travel, paradise to Hades, flowers to nuclear bombs, rainbow to Tsunami, pen to sword, Britney sphere to Halen Keller, Tumors to Health and fitness, celibacy to Seduction. You can also find some of my articles at Freelance SEO Copywriter and Article Ghost Writer

11 Tips for Stripping Wallpaper: How to Get Rid of Ugly Wallpaper!

I broke my promise to myself and stripped wallpaper again. The only reason I did this is for $100,000 profit. My family and I did not have time to wait for professional help. We sold our investment property before finishing the work and needed the home ready for appraisal.

While stripping the wallpaper, I realized that many homemakers get wrong advice for this horrendous task. After years of experience on over 30 houses, I offer my tried and best tips:

1. Use a clothes steamer or rent a professional steamer
2. Soak a large section of the wall
3. Run a "Paper Tiger" scoring tool across the damp section
4. Steam the section again
5. Spray the section with fabric softener and hot water
6. Score the section with the paper tiger again
7. Steam again
8. Remove any curling edges (sometimes large areas peel off)
916D0. Scrape with a six inch sheetrock blade
10. Repeat the above steps on the section until most scrapes off easily
11. Scrub with hot water, TSP, and a sponge with a scratchy surface

Cautions: Use the Paper Tiger gingerly so you don't scratch or gouge the walls. Use gloves with the harsh chemical TSP.

Don't live with ugly wallpaper any longer!

P. S. Please email me if you have any additional tips on stripping wallpaper that would help others!

Copyright 2005 Jeanette J. Fisher. All rights reserved. (You may publish this article in its entirety with the following author's information with live links only.)

Jeanette Fisher loves to help home makers create homes for glorious living. For free ebook on Interior Design Psychology go to http://www.joytothehome.com

See What Your Home Remodel Will Look Like Before You Invest

A problem faced by anyone contemplating home improvements, interior decorating, landscaping, or a major remodel of their home with the addition of a second story or a new room is what will the project look like after it is completed.

Technology has now come to the aid of professionals, home handymen, and women by providing software packages that perform and display all aspects of home improvement, decorating, landscaping and even a total remodel of a home.

For the interior designer or decorator these software programs allow you to drag and drop images of interior furnishings such as chairs, tables, sofas, lamps, and buffets. You can even hang photographs on walls and change the flooring. Do you want to know how the room would look if the colors were different? One click and you can see the room in any color you desire. Change window coverings from blinds to drapes, add a chandelier in the dining room, or change your kitchen appliances from white to black and then to silver.

The programs are so detailed that you can see different fabric choices on sofas and the throw pillows that accompany them.

You can see where shadows will appear depending on the style of light fixture that you choose.

Will French doors suit the entry to the family room? Its an expensive exercise to install them and then determine that they do not work with the rest of the dcor. With the software programs available you can add the French doors before you invest!

Will a 20 x 30 foot deck look ridiculous on the back of your home? Will there be enough room for a swing-set and sandbox for the kids if you add a water feature to your landscaping? Should the fence be painted white or left natural? All of these questions can be easily answered by doing your landscaping in virtual 3D reality.

Having a problem visualizing whether your new second story addition would look better with a shingled gable roof or a metal or clay tile mansard design? With the software programs, you can change roof design and/or materials with a click or your mouse.

Homeowners spend tens of thousands of dollars remodeling a kitchen or bathroom and never really know how it will appear until it is completed. Now you can make major or minor modifications to any design without cost.

And, to make viewing your proposed changes ultra convenient the software provides you with 3D viewing, which means you can literally see the room from any angle you choose. How would the room look if you are sitting on the sofa or standing at the entry or in front of the window click your mouse and see what others will see!

There are two basic types of design and planning software available:

1. Software that your purchase and own, that will reside on your computer, in a similar manner to any other computer program.
2. Software that you pay a monthly or yearly service fee, that resides on a companys remote computer server that you manipulate via your computer.

There are advantages and disadvantages to both products.

Additional information on design software. Home improvement, remodel and landscaping information.

Home Remodeling Tips

Home remodeling includes remodeling of various parts of your house such as kitchen, bathroom, lobby, sitting room, basement and all. Home remodeling is a complete package that gives a new and complete look to your home. With home remodeling, you also get to modify the exterior5B3s and interiors of your home in a way that you want. Home modeling is now a common phenomenon amongst many home owners in many parts of the world. Home remodeling also lets you restructure your home and incorporate the latest trends and fashion.

However, there are a few things you need to consider before opting for home remodeling. First of all you need to hire a contractor to remodel your home (of course after you have done enough research find the best one; internet research is a good option). A contractor is a n expert and can also show you various options and designs. An expert will do a better job than you can do any day. Second, you need to have a budget for home remodeling. You need to keep some money aside for home remodeling. Also, keep in mind that during the process of home remolding, sometimes there are unanticipated expenditures. So, always have some funds aside for that.

You can choose either specialized contractor or general contractor for your tasks, depending on your requirements. Also, consult your friends and relatives when choosing a contractor. If possible, see their past works to get an idea of the quality of their work. Home renovation does not happen everyday, and when you get it done, ensure that you get the best.

For more tips and details please visit www.allremodel.com.

Natasha

Bath Accessories for Easy Bathroom Makeover

Recognizing the latest trends in bathroom designing, everybody sees the potential for their own bathrooms with just a little accessorizing and a few small changes. No need to change out the shower and fixtures! Bath accessories have undergone a tremendous change in the way they are designed with increase in utility and comfort levels.

Today, so many quality bathroom accessories are manufactured and available in the market that you may have a tough time choosing the right one to enhance the look and feel of your room. Beautiful accessories can really transform it into a spa-like atmosphere.

At first thought, many people think that decorating is going to be expensive. We know that this secluded corner of the house needs to be clean and functional, but what about beautiful and chic? The idea to glamorize this private area of your home has been gaining momentum, and people have become more conscious about the look and feel of the powder room, besides the practicality.

Smart decorating can give any room an inviting appeal, and when it comes to the bathroom, it's no different. We all want it to smell clean and fresh, but let's move beyond just clean and into the realm of fabulous! (Fabulous on a budget at least.)

4 quick, easy and inexpensive ways to freshen up with bath accessories: door hardware, cabinet hardware, and paint and aromatherapy.

1. New Cabinet Hardware

New cabinet hardware is such an easy way to transform the look of your bathroom! Various knobs and handles enhance the beauty of doors and drawers of the cabinets under the basin or on the wall.

Choosing the right cabinet hardware that perfectly suits your bathroom is a difficult task as many aspects need to be considered. You should consider the design of the cabinets when choosing new hardware.

Whether you are looking out for a decorative cabinet hardware, simple cabinet hardware or an antique cabinet hardware, it's important to research well before you make a purchase decision.

Also, you want to consider buying new cabinet hardware that attaches the same as any existing knobs you may have. If your handles have two screws attaching them to the cabinet doors, buy new styles and shapes of handles, but make sure they have the same two screws, so you won't have to drill more holes. It should be mentioned that if the handles have two screws, you want to measure the distance between the screws. These can differ also.

2. Matching Bath Accessories

If you are considering new cabinet hardware, you want to look at new bath accessories in towel bars, toilet paper holders, towel rings, and shower rods, all in matching styles. You can match all of these things regardless of if its style is Italian, French, traditional or modern.

Some of the more popular patinas are chrome and brushed nickel, with oil rubbed bronze being the newest trend.

3. Fresh Coat of Paint

The wonders of a fresh coat of paint! Even if you choose the same color, a fresh coat without all of the nicks and marks can make the room feel so clean. If your room looks drab and dull, you can add a touch of bright colors to enlighten the room and try some textures in painting as well.

Don't forget the paint sheen - this can make a huge difference.

Flat paint has a matte finish. It doesn't reflect light and is good at hiding bumps and nicks on the wall.

Satin paint (sometimes called eggshell), has a slight shine, and it lasts longer and is more stain resistant than flat.

Semi gloss paint has more luster than satin paint and is easy to clean. It's best if you think you may be scrubbing the walls.

Gloss paint is hard and shiny and hides. It's most stain resistant, but it enhances imperfections on the wall surface that it is used. It is usually used for base boards, trim and cabinets.

4. Aromatherapy

Now that you have everything looking so great, buy a few scented candles to increase the spa appeal. Or go flameless with a plug-in oil warmer in a clean scent to really make this your escape!

Once you are done with remodeling and the recreation of your bathroom, indulge in a nice long bubble bath and pamper yourself.

With beautiful new 222Ebath accessories and cabinet hardware, your bathroom can feel like an oasis! To see a wide variety of what's new and available in bath accessories, visit CKI Lock online at http://www.ckilock.com/.

Designing the Ultimate Game Room - Ideas To Get Started

Many people would love to be able to create and have their ultimate game room. When you spend a lot of time entertaining others or you enjoy having extra space in your home to relax and have fun, a game room can be a great way to be able to have room for the kind of activities you love to do. If you really want to design the ultimate game room, you need to have the right ideas to get started. Here are some ways that you can begin the planning and renovating process.

Turning your game room ideas into a reality will take a list of things that you want to include in your new room. Think of this as the ultimate Christmas List that will contain all of your wildest dreams in a game room. Maybe you want to have video games that you can play over and over or an old-fashioned pool table. Think about your favorite images of a game room and then make a list of the elements you like most about the room. This is not a time to think about price or feasibility, but rather just to find out what you really want to do.

Ultimate Game Room

Next, you need to create a budget that is realistic for your life. For many people, they will begin with the cheaper parts of creating an ultimate game room, like the flooring and the wall coverings. As this process progresses, they will begin to add pieces that add dcor and then the actual game playing pieces. Unfortunately, you will not have your game room up and running by the weekend, but you will eventually have the room of your dreams it just may take a little longer.

Don't forget to add the luxuries that make an ultimate game room a place all your friends talk about. For example, add in a bar and a keg cooler or a place for a refrigerator for snacks. You want to think about all the things you might want down in that room and then figure out ways to add them. A leather couch and a flat screen TV will help you entertain friends that aren't actively playing games, but will ensure they are having a good time.

This article was written by Gregg Hicks of http://www.reliableremodeler.com which provides Internet-based home improvement information and services. Offering homeowners a simple, quick, and free way to access, qualified home improvement remodeling contractors.