For gaining space in a home there are several ways to go: up, sideways and down. The first two require extensive renovations whereas down, in the basement, already has the shell, floor and utilities ready to go. Unlike other areas of the home the basement can be completely closed off for privacy or as a space to send the kids for privacy upstairs. However, you may encounter some obstacles such as lack of light, low ceilings and exposed ductwork but these can be worked out with a little planning. For example, ductwork can be painted black or, as in commercial buildings and hospitals, painted bright colors to accentuate them. Whatever you plan to do in the lower regions of the home get a professional basement remodel contractor to look at the space. Not only will you get a great job but he or she knows the pitfalls of basements and can correct them.
 

Having a kitchen space that uses less power and water is said to be "green." However being environmentally responsible in the kitchen goes a lot further than that. Considerations such as energy-saving appliances, a recycling station and using sustainable building materials all contribute to the eco-friendly movement. Renovating the kitchen with environmentally-friendly materials such as cork, bamboo and linoleum floors, as well as stone countertops, is in keeping with this trend. In addition, many home owners are also keeping their old cabinets, refinishing them and adding new doors and avoiding sending the old cupboards to the landfill.
 

The popular understanding of "faux finishing" is that the process revolves around painting. However, the true definition of this technique is applying new processes and materials onto one surface to imitate another. Faux paint finishing can be applied using whatever you have on hand like rags, newspaper, sponges and even plastic grocery bags to create realistic imitations like marble, stone or even bamboo. Sponging and ragging still rate among the most popular applications and can be accomplished by do-it-yourselfers. Getting started just requires a bit of practice and very soon any novice can be making great walls.
 

One of the most frustrating things that can happen to your home is to have water in the basement. Many homeowners have had the sinking feeling after going down the basement to find soggy carpets and soaked boxes of personal possessions. Basement contractors go right to the source of the leaks and this could mean excavating around the exterior basement walls. When the cracks are fixed a waterproofing membrane seals the foundation then a drain tile system is put in place and the are is backfilled with 1" gravel. Water will now be drained away before it touches the foundation and, better yet, the basement will be dry.

Bathroom Remodeling Basics

The master bathroom used to be one of the most transient places in the home but new innovations in tubs, showers and other fixtures have transformed it into a hub of relaxation, a vital living space and refuge. Just like the ones of thirty years ago today's bathrooms have to be designed to serve a purpose so designers are incorporating style with new technologies. Low-flow toilets and showers are conserving water and heat recovery systems on shower drains are saving hot water draining from the new soaker tubs and steam shower cabinets. The after-bath experience is a lounge complete with reading area, massage table and an entertainment center.
 

Hardwood was the luxury flooring for most of the last century but a lot of maintenance was needed to make the surface look great. The floor surface had to be waxed and buffed and then, to redo them, the wax had to be stripped off before they could repeat the cycle. So in the 1960's and 1970's many home owners just covered them with carpet. Now people are discovering beautiful hardwood floors under linoleum and old carpet and they want to refinish them to their former glory. With the new finishing agents and techniques old hardwood floors are now the new gems of new flooring.
 

In all parts of the country homes need insulation, either from the cold or intense heat. Because in actual fact, without insulation both require great amounts of energy to maintain a comfortable home. In the standard home design the energy savings can be increased by putting more insulation in the attic. This includes fiberglass batts and blown-in cellulose insulation which both have an insulation factor of R-3.5 per inch. For the best results the attic should have an R-40 rating which would be a minimum of 12 inches of either product. Blown-in cellulose is recycled bits of newspaper treated with a fire retardant. An agitator the size of a washing machine mixes this with air an it is pumped into the attic space.

Cathedral ceilings follow the roof line which means there is not a lot of space separating the two surfaces. These spaces are usually filled with fiberglass batts, blown-in cellulose or rigid foam sheets. Another product, closed-cell foam spray, sticks to the ceiling and expands to form a leak-proof seal. This prevents any moisture build-up that could rot the roof from inside. Another product, radiant foil, looks like a large emergency blanket but installed in the attic can both reflect the summer's heat out of the attic or, in winter, reflect the heat back into the home. In addition to insulation a smart homeowner will check the home for leaks from windows, chimneys and other spaces.
 

At the first sign of an increase home heating homeowners will rush to fill up their attics with insulation. This is good, and should be done, but they neglect to service another big problem: drafts. Before doing anything a homeowner should contact an Energy Star representative and see about getting an energy audit on the home to find out where the heat is leaking out. New technologies like infrared photos of the home will show where the heat is escaping, especially from older homes where insulation was not as important because heat was cheaper back then. A blower test will reveal air leaks, most of which then can be caulked and sealed. Other leaks include outlets, doors, window sliders, utility junctures with the home's exterior and vents. These can be fixed with weather stripping and caulking ro, in the case of window sliders, removable sealer.

Green products for insulating can be found on the GREENGUARD Environmental Institute (GEI) site. They can also point out over 2000 items in the home that give off volatile organic compound (VOC) gases and recommend products that are safe for interior use. VOC's are responsible for indoor air pollution. In addition the GEI shows which building products are recycled and which ones leave the least "carbon footprint."