The idea of needing to replace the roof on your house is only exciting to those who are really bored with life or a professional roofer.  Especially if you have never had to replace a roof before, the sheer number of choices is enough to make you want to go a little crazy, but that is a whole other home improvement issue all together.  Since you have to make the decisions anyway, you may as well learn a bit about one of the newer options in roofing material, the flex roofing shakes.  While they are more expensive than just about any other option you could decide, with some information you might decide they are worth the expense.

There is a good chance you have no idea what flex roofing shake is.  To put it simply, these are shingles made from recycled steel belted radial tires.  In other words, they are rubber shingles.  For those who are concerned about the environment and are interested in recycling wherever possible, these shakes may be the perfect choice.  They certainly help limit the amount of tires found in landfills. 

Flex Roofing Shakes

Another advantage to choosing flex roofing shakes is that they come with a 50 year warranty. That is one serious guarantee.  As you know, rubber lasts forever.  After all, thousands of tons of truck and loads are moved on it everyday.  They are guaranteed against hail and other cases of extreme weather.  To give you an idea of how strong these shingles are, you have to understand that they weigh 350 lbs per square.  There isn’t a storm yet that can beat that. 

If you are worried about the top of your house looking like a truck tire, don’t.  The flex roofing shakes are coated with ground slate and can be purchased in whatever style or color you prefer.  No one but you has to know that you have leftover radial tires on your roof.  Of course when your neighbors have weather damage, you will still be sitting pretty.  Be sure to check with local authorities before installation though.  Some cities and towns prohibit the use of rubber on home roofs. 

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A finished basement should not only be a fun place for your children to play, but also a fun place for adults to enjoy.  Think about all of the possibilities a finished basement can offer: a place for a pool table or a dart board; a place for a home theatre; or, even more popular and perhaps even more fun, a place for a wet bar.  The possibilities for basement bars are endless, but the first part of this project will be bar sink plumbing installation.  After all, you can’t have a wet bar if it isn’t wet!

Bar Sink Plumbing Installation

So how does the average home remodeler go about bar sink plumbing installation?  Well, the most obvious course of action is simply to hire a contractor.  This is a very good idea for many home owners, especially those who do not have a lot of experience with plumbing.  Bar sink plumbing installation can be done by an amateur plumber if there is an existing plumbing fixture.  If you are simply adding a sink or changing out a sink, you should be able to do the work yourself.  But if you need to create a new plumbing attachment and hook up for your bar sink, plumbing installation should be done by a professional.

Once the plumbing has been installed, you may be able to complete the bar sink plumbing installation by yourself.  You will need a lot of tools, and you will need to have already made the actual bar and counter top.  Some of the tools needed will be a drill with a paddle bit, a sink, plumber’s putty, a drain flange, rubber and paper gaskets, channel lock pliers, a faucet, washers, nuts, and caulk.  The steps of bar sink plumbing installation will include cutting a hole in the countertop that is slightly smaller than the sink itself, using plumber’s putty on the drain flange and on the faucet, and then setting these fixture parts into the sink.  You will need to place the gaskets on the sink drain stem, and will need to tighten the drain stem locking ring.  Use the caulk to create a seal around the lip of the sink, and then set the sink into the hole in the countertop.  Be sure that your plumbing attachments are correct, you will end up with a lot of water leaking into your wet bar!

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Granite is an increasingly more popular choice for countertops.  It is beautiful, elegant, and very durable when well cared for.  Solid granite countertops and granite tile countertop designs are very good for both the kitchen and the bathroom, and can be ornate or subtle, depending on the taste of the home owner.  Granite is expensive, so getting the most out of your granite is a must.

Granite Tile Countertop Designs

Granite tile countertop designs, along with solid granite countertops, are wonderful additions to kitchens and bathrooms.  Of course, it is very important to take good care of them and to pick the right design for your room.  Granite countertops should only be cleaned with granite specific cleaners.  Otherwise, the polish on the granite might come off and the entire countertop will be ruined.  When you are discussing your choices in solid granite or granite tile countertop designs with your contractor, be sure you ask about the best way to properly clean your new countertops.

Assessing your plans for your kitchen or bathroom will require you to take a serious look at your intended solid granite or granite tile countertop designs.  For example, make sure that the design you love will work in your bathroom or kitchen.  Some granite tile countertop designs are too ornate for small rooms, and might overwhelm a small bathroom.  Other designs might only work well on long, straight countertops.  If you have a curve or corner in your countertop, these types of granite tile countertop designs won’t work.  Assessing the design also includes looking at color choices.  What works in a photograph of someone else’s home might not work in your home.  Perhaps the colors are too dark for your room.  If this is the case, you can often still use the same granite tile countertop designs, but with different, lighter colors.  Also, your colors should work with your cabinets and other décor in the room.  Remember that granite is stone and will have variations in the color; there is no “pattern” you can count on, so be prepared that your design might look slightly different in some places.

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When most people hear the term “deck” they immediately think of the wooden board type of deck.  While this is the most common type of deck, there are other types of decks that are not as typical and are even more attractive than the traditional wooden deck.  For example, what about using raised deck pavers to create both a patio and a deck in one construction project?  While this may sound challenging, it is something you can accomplish easily with the help of a decking or patio contractor.

Raised Deck Pavers

Raised deck pavers are pavers that are used to create a raised deck in your yard.  Pavers can be stone or brick, though most are brick-like material that are shaped into intricate patterns.  You have probably seen them used to create patterns in patios off the back of a home.  While this is an excellent use for them, they can be used to make a raised deck.  Pavers like this simply need to be elevated to deck height and then used they way they were intended.  What you end up with is a sort of raised patio supported by compacted soil and a wall.

The wall for raised deck pavers can be natural stone or you can use the pavers themselves.  If you are looking for a more uniform style for your deck, use the same pavers you will use for the raised deck.  Pavers are used to create a retaining wall and then soil is filled in and leveled to create a solid place to install the deck.  Raised deck pavers are placed as usual on top of this raised soil platform, using the soil and retaining wall as a support.  Once the pavers are placed, you can put in a railing – most people choose wrought iron, though there are other options – to prevent accidents.  Remember that raised deck pavers do just that: they raise the deck.  A railing is almost a must for safety reasons.  However, it will look lovely with the pavers and will not detract from the flow of the deck at all.

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Not all home improvers have the padded budgets that will enable them to do all of the fancy projects shown on TV and in design magazines.  Sure, we’d all like to add those beautiful granite countertops and hardwood floors that we admire, but those projects are incredibly expensive and that is not always a practical idea.  This is especially true for the weekend home remodeler who doesn’t have a lot of experience or tools.  So below are some budget kitchen projects that are good replacements for pricier projects.

Paint is your friend.  Sure, it may seem boring, but when it comes to budget kitchen projects, it’s hard to beat the price and versatility of a new kitchen paint job.  Think about it: what color are your kitchen walls now?  What kind of décor do you have in your kitchen?  Most appliances will go with almost any paint color, and most cabinets will work with any color, too.  One of the best budget kitchen projects is simply updating the look of your kitchen with a bright, colorful paint job or an interesting paint technique.

Budget Kitchen Projects

Budget kitchen projects can also involve other types of wall treatments like wainscoting.  Wainscoting adds not only a classic look to a kitchen; it also adds excitement and texture to the walls.  Combine wainscoting with a new paint job and you have one of the most effective budget kitchen projects money can buy!

If your cabinets are the problem in your kitchen, they can often be solved by a quick paint job as well.  Cheap and effective, if you’re pretty confident in your do-it-yourselfer skills, you can repaint kitchen cabinets to bring a fresh look into your eating space.

You can also try some new artwork in your kitchen.  This is a great way to change the look of your kitchen and is usually inexpensive enough to combine with a wall treatment.  Look for posters or prints of artwork, buy an attractive but inexpensive frame, and you have one of the smallest budget kitchen projects.  This is something that can even be done in an apartment for those who want to change things up a little bit but can’t add paint or other wall treatments. 

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There are a lot of fun home improvement projects that you can do on your own: painting a room, remodeling a basement, re-siding a house.  But there are also a few home remodeling projects that should not be attempted by the average weekend home remodeler.  Most of these projects need to be done by professional contractors, carpenters, or stone masons.  Projects like building wood exterior doors should only be attempted by a professional carpenter; this is because exterior doors provide protection for your home both from the elements and from potential prowlers. 

Building wood exterior doors may sound like a fun weekend project for you, and that’s completely understandable.  After all, if you have some basic experience in carpentry, you are probably always looking for more challenging projects.  But while there’s nothing wrong with a good challenge, some things should be left to the professionals; building wood exterior doors is one of those things. 

Building Wood Exterior Doors

Think about it for a minute: building wood exterior doors is not just about getting a piece of wood that is the right size for your entry way, carving it the way you want it, and then hanging it in the existing door way.  You need to be sure that not only does the door fit, but that it is weather proof and seals when it closes.  Otherwise, a hard rain storm or heavy snow storm could cause leaks of wind and water to ruin your home.  Building wood exterior doors is an exact construction science as well as a carpentry art. Also remember that if the wood door you hang is not weather proofed it will eventually rot and warp.  This will cause a smelly, bent mess that won’t seal correctly but rather will pull against the door jamb. 

Building wood exterior doors can be done by any licensed and insured carpenter who has extensive experience in wood doors.  If you want something a little more expensive, hire a carpenter with the skills to carve an intricate design on the door.  If you need to go cheaper, purchase a prefabricated wood door; remember that as with any other home improvement project, custom building wood exterior doors will cost a lot more than purchasing manufactured ones.

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