How to Use Lighting

Fluorescent lighting is made in many different levels of brightness. Each level is acceptable in different areas and arenas. For decorating purposes it is important to match the light color and level of brightness to the home or business. Fluorescent lighting color is described by the Kelvin rating or how cool or warm the light is. There are six different levels of fluorescent lighting and all are listed below with suggestions for rooms to use the levels in.

• 2700
This level is a warm white and a lower level of brightness. Lighting at the 2700 level should be used in private rooms in the home, counseling offices and restaurants. It presents a more intimate level of lighting and promotes trust.

• 3000
Lighting of 3000 Kelvins are called soft whites and mostly used in home furnishing stores and waiting rooms. This type of lighting allows for people to feel comfortable, but is less intimate that lighting at 2700 Kelvins.
• 3500
This lighting is in the middle of warm to cool lighting and should be used in commercial, retail stores and offices. This color temperature performs well when paired with a silver lens. It will brighten the flatness of the fluorescent light.

• 4100
This level begins the cool white lighting. This temperature represents the lighting of an overcast, winter day. This level is not often used.

• 5000
The 5000 Kelvins lighting is most used in hospitals, laboratories and doctors office. The lighting is crisp and harsh.

• 6500
This is the bluest and coldest of the lighting. The 6500 level of lighting used mainly in jewelry and accessory stores where specific and minute details of the product need to be seen.

3 Tips for Laminate Flooring

Laminate flooring has become increasingly more popular for both economic and ecological reasons. This type of flooring can be used in multiple rooms and is a cheaper compliment to wood flooring. It is also one of the easiest home renovation projects to do yourself. To install the flooring yourself, you will save hundreds of dollars on installation but will need to be prepared. Below are three tips to better prepare you to install your laminate flooring.

1. Be Organized
Plan out what you want to accomplish and check that you have the necessary tools and accessories at hand to complete the job. You will need enough flooring to cover the square footage of the room, proper underlayment, transitions, moldings and glue. Be sure you have a complete understanding of the project and the expectations before starting.

2. Inspect the Flooring
Inspect the flooring before installation to ensure you have the correct pattern, style and color you want for the room. Check all laminate planks for visible defects. Do not install laminate planks with obvious damage. Your flooring may come with a manufacturer’s warranty and the company may be willing to replace the damaged planks.

3. Basics are Important
○ Check your subfloor prior to installation
The subfloor will need to be in proper condition before installation. Replace damaged areas that are loose or have been damaged by moisture. Clear all loose debris and dirt before laying the foam underlayment.

○ Acclimation
Laminate flooring must be conditioned for at least 48 hours before installation. This type of flooring will constrict or expand depending upon the moisture in the air. Cross stack the unopened boxes in the room where the flooring will be installed. Do not allow the temperature in the room fall below 65 degrees.

○ Use proper underlayment
Laminate flooring will need proper underlayment installed underneath. Use regular underlayment when installing laminate over wood sub-floor. Use vapor underlayment for cement sub-floor, wood subfloor over crawl space, in manufactured houses, vinyl installed over concrete and radiant floor.

Feng Shui Home Renovation Tips

When remodeling your home consider following feng shui tips. Feng shui allows the home to have a balanced space for each family member.

Feng shui allows those who use it to attain positivity in their homes and lives. The focus of this Chinese philosophy is to control the flow of energy. When using this concept it will help home owners to arrange their rooms and furniture in a way that will help to gain positive energies in the home. Below are four tips to help home owners utilize feng shui.
1. Balanced space for each family member:
It is important to establish balance in spaces such as the children's bedroom. Children's rooms should be of equal size. This will avoid fights of inequality between the children. Using this technique will also establish an equal amount of love among the children.

2. Location of the kitchen:
The kitchen is the heart of the house, meaning the location of the kitchen is a vital part of the house. In order to achieve a positive flow of energy the kitchen should not be seen directly after entering through the front door or from a bedroom. It should be more centrally located.

3. Figure out the lighting:
Another essential of feng shui is lighting. When performing a home renovation, consider the lighting and the arrangement of the lighting fixtures. Focus on areas inside the house that is not endowed with natural light. This will help to light your house evenly.

4. Know the basics of feng shui:
Familiarize yourself with other aspects of feng shui, such as ba-gua. Ba-gua helps to analyze the energy of a certain space while using feng shui. Also, consider introducing five elements wood, fire, earth, metal and water. Be aware of the colors that fall within these elements, such as red, orange and pink which are fire colors.

5 Bathroom Remodeling Tips

In effort to stay current with the trends, the most common room to be remodeled is the bathroom. This is because, many bathroom remodeling projects are relatively easy and inexpensive in comparison to other room remodels. Below are eight, economical tips to consider when remodeling your bathroom.

• If you are looking into a bath tub replacement, first consider reglazing the tub. This can save you more than half the cost of a tub replacement and is a much cleaner, quicker project.

• If you are replacing or adding a tub surround, consider cultured marble sheets. It will save you money on the installation costs and marble sheets are easier to clean.

• If you have limited space and are hoping to create more room, there are multiple options for you. Try purchasing a jetted tub and shower combination. Also you can use a pedestal lavatory instead of a vanity cabinet with a sink. Both options will open up the bathroom.

• If you are planning to add a large jetted tub to your bathroom, you may also want to consider adding a water heater dedicated to that tub. Large tubs can hold up to an average of 75 gallons or more of water. This can overextend your existing water heater and cause problems in the future.

• One of the most important pieces of advice, is to gain as much knowledge as possible. Know your options, develop a plan and research ways to execute it. If you plan to use a contractor, get multiple bids and check the credibility of the contractor.

For more tips on remodeling, check out the FREE Remodeling Salvation Guide from Irion Books LLC.

Top 10 Remodeling Trends of 2011

As the New Year begins so do new trends of remodeling. While houses may not be selling, homeowners are still looking to modernize their homes and stay with the current trends. Below is a listing of the top 10 remodeling trends that are expected in 2011.

1. Bathroom Remodel: Bathrooms are the most cost effective rooms to remodel. Many require only small fixes, such as new tile or appliances. Meaning 2011 is the year for a bathroom update

2. "Must Do" Remodeling Projects: Also in an effort to be cost effective, home owners are predicted to complete projects that 'need' to be done, such as a roof that leaks. People will be working towards completing their "have-to" projects instead of their "want-to" list.

3. Warm Up the House: Interior decorators are noticing more warmer colors and tiles in recent decorating. People are moving away from minimalist, white designs and are in favor of cozier, earth tones. The new trend is a mix of earthiness and modern design.

4. Backyard Deck: Homeowners have also begun to increase their outdoor space. Many people enjoy being outside and are spending more time at home.

5. Opening Up Rooms: Open floor plans are in and many homeowners have removed interior walls to enlarge and modernize older spaces. Open floor plans help families be more flexible with the square footage they already have.

6. Bronzing: Metallic features are also moving towards warmth. Oil rubbed bronze, aged bronze or distressed hardware are becoming increasingly more popular.

7. Going Green: Bamboo floors and bark siding are some of the newest and more popular green home products. Homeowners are looking for greener and more energy efficient appliances. Some homeowners have even moved towards tri-pane windows.

8. Industrial Flair: Exposed beams will continue to be popular, but so will stainless steel cable and architectural products. Many homeowners have begun to work from home, meaning homes will take on a more industrial or commercial look to enforce business credibility.

9. Relaxation Space: Tranquility has become a more common need for homeowners as of recently. More people are looking for 'zen like' bathrooms, with works-steam, seats and body sprays.

10. Planning Ahead: Finally, many homeowners are looking towards the future and to their retirement years. People are adding ease into their homes for their later years through easy opening cabinetry, hand held showers and more accessible kitchens and baths. They may not be in need of the products now, but homeowners are increasingly thinking about their future with these additions.

Remodeling New Year’s Resolution

As January approaches, you may be deciding on your New Year's remodeling resolutions. This is a great opportunity to make some additions to your home and save money on your energy bill. Consider purchasing home appliances with the Energy Star label. Products with the Energy Star label are more efficient and will help cut your spending.

The Energy Star label was established to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants caused by the inefficient use of energy. The label makes it easier for consumers to identify and purchase more energy efficient products. The products labeled with the Energy Star offer savings on energy bills without sacrificing performance or features.

Products only earn the Energy Star label by meeting six specific guidelines set by the Environmental Protection Agency. The guidelines are:

• Product categories must contribute significant energy savings nationwide
  
• Qualified products must deliver the features and performance demanded by consumers, in addition to increased energy efficiency
  
• If the qualified product costs more than a conventional, less-efficient counterpart, purchasers will recover their investment in increased energy efficiency through utility bill savings, within a reasonable period of time
• Energy efficiency can be achieved through broadly available, non-proprietary technologies offered by more than one manufacturer
• Product energy consumption and performance can be measured and verified with testing
• Labeling would effectively differentiate products and be visible for purchasers
  

To find a list of all products with the Energy Star label check out the Energy Star website.

Home Remodeling Tax Cuts

As the year is coming to an end, you are may be looking for ways to lower your energy bills. There are many solutions for you; the U.S. offers many tax credits for energy-saving home improvements. Unfortunately, you will need to act fast, some expire on December 31st.

What improvements are covered by the expiring credits?
Homeowners can get a tax credit for installing:

• Specific wood or pellet stoves
• Energy-efficient furnaces
• Water heaters and air-conditioning systems
• Insulated roofs, windows and doors
• Wall and ceiling insulation.

The tax credit covers 30% of the purchase costs, up to $1,500. For a complete list, check the Energy Star website at www.energystar.gov.
Is the installation cost covered?
The cost of putting in heating and air-conditioning systems, water heaters and biomass stoves is covered. Unfortunately, installing new windows, doors, roofs and insulation is not covered.

Can I use the tax credits for improvements in a vacation home?
The improvements qualify for an existing home that is your primary residence, even if it is a houseboat or mobile home. But rentals, vacation homes and new construction are not eligible.

With time short, what improvements make the most sense?
Upgrading your heating and cooling can save as much as 50% of the average home's energy bill. If your furnace or boiler is more than 10 years old, this may be the ideal time to replace it.

What improvements can be done relatively cheaply?
Adding insulation is the cheapest choice for home renovation. The most low cost choice is to just insulate the area where your family spends most of their waking hours. The cost will be low and your family will be much more comfortable. Also insulation is a do-it-yourself project, meaning you can save on labor costs.

Am I going to have trouble finding a contractor on short notice?
In the current recession, many contractors will be available. You can find qualified contractors at the website of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry at, www.nari.org. Many of the contractors have knowledge of the tax cuts and have the equipment and materials ready.

Will a new dishwasher get me some tax credits?
Unfortunately, appliances do not qualify, but appliances carrying the Energy Star seal will help reduce your energy bill. Many states and local utilities are offering direct rebates on some appliances. To check if programs are available in your state go to www.energysavers.gov.

Might the program be reinstated for future tax years?
Legislation has been introduced to extend the tax credits, but experts have said it is unlikely that Congress will pass it before the end of the year.
Will I be able to handle this on my tax return without having to call on an expert?
The form is simple. You will need to save the manufacturer's certificate that states the equipment or service is eligible under the program. If not available with the product, the certificates can also be found on the websites of the manufacturers.

Are there any tax incentives for rooftop solar-power systems?
Federal tax credits for solar-energy, small residential wind turbines and geothermal pump systems cover 30% of all costs, installation included, with no cost limit. Also, these apply to primary homes, vacation homes and new construction. The best part is that these do not expire until 2016.