Home Addition Plus

Helping Homeowners Every Day


Home	How-To	Store	Ebooks	Bid Sheets	HouseSight	About Us	Contact

HomeAdditionPlus.com Monthly Newsletter

Home Improvement News for the DIY Homeowner

August 04, 2010 Edition: 0057

HomeAdditionPlus.com August 04, 2010 Newsletter

Newsletter Topics

Latest Happenings
Wood Flooring Installation Bid Sheet
Geothermal Heating and Cooling
Restoring a Lawn
Home Renovation
Deck Railings Systems and Construction
How to Replace a Toilet Tank Fill Valve Video
Other New Articles and Videos

Latest Happenings

The past month has been both a hectic month and a fun one for me. Besides hiking, boating and water skiing, I had time to attend a local lakeside home show and generate a new Wood Flooring Bid Sheet / Checklist tool. In addition, I also had some major landscaping done around my lake home. Suffice it to say, it is amazing what a little TLC and some compost can do to a lawn to rejuvenate it and return it back to its original green splendor. Besides lawn restoration I also had a new blue stone patio and a lakeside granite stone fire pit installed. I’ll include some pictures in next month’s newsletter.

I also took the time to write a number of new articles on a variety of topics, including house siding, garage door openers, interior doors, heating systems, window treatments, shelving, and flooring. To say it again, I was very busy over the past month. Most of the articles I wrote were comparison pieces that highlight the pros and cons of various home remodeling products.

Finally, I generated a couple of new videos. One video was on “Portable Band Saws” and the other was on “Changing a Toilet Tank Fill Valve”.

This month is starting off just as busy so stay tuned for next month’s newsletter.

New Wood Flooring Installation Bid Sheet

Based on popular site visitor demand I finally sat down and generated a new bid sheet / checklist tool. Earlier this week I announced my new “Wood Flooring Installation Bid Sheet”. The Wood Flooring Installation Bid Sheet is a comprehensive checklist tool and guide for assisting homeowners in obtaining quality wood flooring quotes and installations. The 21 page bid sheet teaches homeowners how to find true wood flooring installation professionals who know all the trade secrets in achieving a beautiful wood floor installation and finish. And most importantly, the Wood Flooring Bid Sheet explains how to prevent an expensive learning lesson and disappointment when it comes to installing wood floors. For a short time I am offering my “Wood Flooring Installation Bid Sheet” at a competitive discount price of $15, so order yours today if you have wood floor installation plans.

Geothermal Heating and Cooling

Last month I attended the Lakeside Living Expo in Gilford, NH and had an opportunity to view some of the latest in green living technology. Of particular interest to me was the geothermal heating and cooling system offered by Dragin GeoThermal of Meredith, NH. In the winter time, a geothermal system works by drawing BTUs from the ground to heat a home. In the summer time, the processed is reversed by drawing BTUs from the home and sinking them into the ground to provide air conditioning to the home. The geothermal heating/cooling process is relatively simple in function however it operates much more efficiently than oil and gas furnaces. For example, compared to oil heating, a geothermal heating system works 75% more efficiently. In addition, geothermal systems are eligible for an energy efficiency tax credit of up to 30% of the installation cost. To learn more see my article “Geothermal Heating and Cooling”.

Restoring a Lawn

Over time lawns can begin to look a little long in the tooth. Insect damage, weed infestation, and drought can play havoc on a lawn. Many homeowners often think the only solution to restoring a lawn is to spread new and expensive topsoil over the yard and then re-seed it. The effort and cost required is often viewed so prohibitive by homeowners that they just say the heck with it and continue to let the lawn go. That’s unfortunate, because a beautiful lawn can really dress up the curb appeal and value of a home.

During the past month I restored my lawn, and I must say 4 weeks later it’s looking great. When restoring a lawn it is important to de-thatch, aerate, apply compost, and overseed the lawn. My article on “Restoring a Lawn” explains in depth the process of returning a lawn to its original beauty.

Home Renovation

Home renovating or home remodeling can mean a lot of different things to a lot of different people. Renovating homes can mean gutting the entire inside of a home and effectively doing a complete home renovation, or it could mean building a home addition onto an existing home. No matter the size of a home renovation project, to be successful, upfront design and planning is essential. Attention to detail is critical! See my article on “Home Renovation” to learn more. Also check out my home remodeling and construction bid sheets at “Home Addition Bid Sheets”.

Deck Railing Systems and Construction

Deck railings play a vital role in protecting you and your family. Improperly installed deck railings lead to death and injuries every year due to failed deck railings. It is critical that deck railings be installed correctly and to proper building codes. Before designing and building a deck, permits should be pulled so that the deck design can be checked for safety and conformance to local and industry building codes. See my article on “Deck Railing Systems and Construction” to learn more.

How to Replace a Toilet Tank Fill Valve Video

Over time a toilet tank fill valve can fail and cause the toilet to continuously run. This can damage a private septic system, and cost a small fortune in water bills. Removing an old toilet tank fill valve and installing a new tank fill valve is easy to do. All you may need for tools is an adjustable wrench to loosen the old toilet tank fill valve locking nut. Watch my “How to Replace a Toilet Tank Fill Valve Video” to learn more.