If you love all the home designs you see that have used natural stone and would like to incorporate some of those designs in your home, there are many smaller projects you can probably do yourself.

Installing natural stone tiles onto surfaces is much like ceramic, linoleum or vinyl tiles. With a little beforehand knowledge and preparation, you can turn certain areas in your home into works of natural stone art.

Picking the areas in your house where you would like to use natural stone is what you need to decide first. There are projects that you will be able to yourself, while others could require a little professional help. Buying natural stone can be expensive and you want to make sure the project looks great.

If you are going to tackle a natural stone project like tiling an outdoor patio, walkway, floor surfaces inside your home, and maybe even countertops in a bath or kitchen, you can probably do these projects yourself. There is a lot of free information on the internet that you can access to help you know what tools you will need and all the proper steps from start to finish in projects like these.

There are some projects like laying a driveway, facing your home or fireplace, or building a retainer wall outside that require a little more skill. These projects can be done your self, but they will be harder and more detailed in their structure.

These are the type of projects that you might want to get help with. You can always get the surfaces prepared for the natural stone and then call in a professional to do the actual stone installing. Cleaning up the mess afterwards will save you a little money too.

Choosing the type of natural stone you like the best might not be as easy as you think. There are so many to choose from it might be hard to pick just one. Shop around before you choose. Different stores may offer different deals.

You can often get a better deal on installation if you use the same business as where you purchase the stone. This can be overall more cost efficient and you will probably get a quality job as well.

Make sure you learn how to care for your natural stone surfaces. Natural stone requires some special care if you want it to continue to look great for years to come.

Dror Klar is an advocate and writer about top quality Jerusalem Stone and Granite. learn more about his sites
jerusalem stone and California Granite

Looking for a roofing company in Atlanta? The options have never been more plentiful particularly with the lack of regulations in the state. It’s important to remember that a roof doesn’t just protect you from the elements…it also has a dramatic effect on the look and feel of your property. And this is important when you go to sell it…one Atlanta’s “pastimes” based on soaring values over the last several years. With this in mind, I encourage you to take a little time to become familiar with the many options-

The first step is to determine your needs. Atlanta area weather can be extremely hot then extremely cold in the first few months of the year. This couple with precipitation produces a wide range of weather and demands that your roofing materials are very durable. There are a myriad of options today that didn’t exist even back in the 70′s. The internet is a good starting place to do a little research on all the different technologies available today.

The development of new materials and technologies isn’t the only thing that benefits consumers. The other thing is the ability to hire contractors at a good price these days…not only for their time but their ability to buy materials in bulk. Atlanta area roofing contractors also have a great deal of experience and offer generally good, honest advice.

So how does one find a good, reputable roofing vendor? Of course, there’s always the ages-old referral process where you ask your neighbors. But I honestly think that the internet has become just as valuable a tool…not only in researching the best options but for finding a good roofing partner. Another option is to look at your local chamber of commerce or inquire at the local roofing trade association. The contractors you find there will be those generally want to provide good service and are in it for “the long haul”.

So assuming you’ve found one that you really like, it’s important to do a little research to make sure that they have all the right credentials and that they operate to certain standards. Some important things to uncover is first whether they have insurance to insure their employees against injury. And you want to make sure they’re licensed as well. How about guarantees?
Do they offer manufacturer’s guarantees? How about guarantees for their own work? Finally, it’s good to check some references.

If you’ve made the decision to go ahead with them though, it’s not the end of the process. In order to make sure they have the ability to do a good job for you, make the job accessible for them…with clean grounds, access to all important areas, reviewing plans again before you start as well as during the work, etc. By setting them up in a helpful way, you’re setting everyone up for success!

Giovanni Rueda owns iRoof, an Atlanta roofing company that helps area homeowners with their roofing, siding and gutter needs. For more information on proper roof care go to the company’s website at
http://www.i-roof.com, or call 678-967-3489.

For nine months out of the year, it’s difficult to even broach the subject of one’s attic in Atlanta. It can become as “hot as Georgia asphalt” and so for the most part, we all leave that lonesome area of the house alone most of the time. The subject is more palatable as the winter rolls around because it offers a nice level of warmth to counteract the cold outside. But cold or hot, when was the last time you ventured up there? We can’t forget that part of the house as a valuable area of temperature control year-round for the floors beneath.

And that’s what I want to focus on. The truth of the matter is that many homes in the metro Atlanta have poor insulation, which is really a shame. It’s a shame because in exchange for a relatively small amount of time and effort, the rewards are great in a short period of time. Put more succinctly, by insulating properly you’re saving in heating and air conditioning costs immediately.

My experience as an Atlanta area roofing contractor is that if your attic even has insulation, it is only in the ceiling and it’s probably fiberglass or cellulose that was blown in. If you look closely at it you will see that it has settled and lost a large portion of its insulating value. The cure here is to spend some time in moving some of the insulation around on your own or hiring someone to do it. (If you choose to do this on your own, we highly recommend that you wear the proper clothing to protect you from the insulation–latex gloves, eye protectors, jeans and long-sleeve shirts.)

If the insulation hasn’t spread and has deteriorated over the years, you may need new insulation. There are a couple of ways to determine whether you need new insulation. One is to climb up there and do a visual inspection. Another is to take note on whether you’re AC/heating units are having to work harder in the summer/winter times of the year. If you’ve notice these bills go up, then the insulation may be the big culprit.

I recommend that you do a check once every year…along with checking the vents and any roofing issues you may have. This will keep things in check. And instead of just “maintaining” the insulation you now have, why not look for further ways to save…such as insulation in other areas of the attic…along the walls, etc.? You may be able to save more than you’ve ever experienced.

And don’t forget about the advancing technology of the insulation materials either. There’s a new product out now called polyurethane foam roof insulation and it has twice the insulating or “R” value of the conventional insulation you have in the attic. It’s applied on the surface of the roof under the roofing material. The benefit of this arrangement is that you don’t see it (doesn’t detract from the roof’s aesthetics) and it adds yet another level of insulation and savings. Other benefits- it lasts for the entire life of the home and helps to seal against roof leaks that are inevitable with the roof’s age. I highly recommend this option for homeowners who are considering a new roof.

The bottom line is this…take stock in what’s going on up in your attic. It can be an expensive area when unchecked. Conversely, it’s an area where you can potentially save money where you never expected or anticipated saving.

Giovanni Rueda owns iRoof, an Atlanta roofing company that helps area homeowners with their roofing, siding and gutter needs. For more information on proper roof care go to the company’s website at
http://www.i-roof.com, or call 678-967-3489.

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 bath 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/.

When getting your home ready to sell, you could invest in all kinds of services and upgrades but it is tough to know what really will pay off. These are some guidelines to help you know start thinking like a buyer and see what will help sell your home. In the end, each real estate market and neighborhood is different, so consult with a real estate agent as to what is best for your situation.

Curb appeal is definitely at the top of the list to tend too. Don’t underestimate the importance of curb appeal when selling a home. Most buyers will drive by and check out a list of homes. You want your home to make it on that list so you can get them in the door.

If you cannot attract buyers to get in the home, you have no chance to sell. Keep the yard trimmed and cleaned up. If you don’t have the time yourself or have already moved out of town, hire a professional to come by every 2 weeks. The $100 or so a month to have someone polish the outside of your place is worth it. Once things get overgrown and die, the home looks completely neglected and run-down, even if the inside is spectacular.

Spend some time planting some flowers and/or mulching. Fresh mulch spruces up the outside and is a relatively quick, low cost, and incredibly effective at making the home look inviting. If you can swing it, planting flowers adds that extra touch that makes the home look well-cared for. Of course, you will need to keep after the flowers, water them, and make sure they don’t die. If you don’t have the time to do this or the money to pay someone else to keep up with the gardening, then don’t do it. No flowers are better than dead flowers.

Another option is to put some fake arrangements on the front step. There are some decent fake trees and with a nice ceramic pot, you can dress up your front porch. Of course, if you have barely any room on the front porch then opt for keeping it less crowded. You do not want buyer’s walking in and getting crowded uncomfortably into the front door.

Another idea I heard from a colleague that I thought was a great is to set up a scene on the front porch. If you do have a porch that allows for some space to work with, you could set up a rocking chair or some modern patio furniture, depending on the style of your home to create that inviting feeling.

Power washing your home is a good way to get it looking ready for its new owner as well. It is relatively inexpensive and if you have the DIY motivation, you could rent a power-washer from a hardware store and try yourself, just be careful to not blast your home too much because you could damage it.

When cleaning it up, pay attention to the sidewalks and the areas near the foundation that may have dirtied over the years from rain. Also, clean up those decks. Also, clean up those decks. Many decks look like they are on the verge of falling apart but really just need to be cleaned. There are special deck-cleaning solvents that help bring your decks back to life to look almost new.

The next level would be painting. Painting can get pricey but can really do wonders. It is amazing how many buyers I look with will notice all the scuffs and nicks in paint. When furniture is in a house, it distracts from all the every-day scraps it may have, but an empty home has nothing to look at but itself, so they get scrutinized much more. Painting also cleans up the place. I had a house professional cleaned recently, and although it was spotless, it still felt dirty because the paint needed to be freshened up.

The outside paint is important as well, especially if the home has siding. If you have a home with siding and bordered windows, consider multiple colors that frame the windows and door and make it pop. Usually, painting with one color is much cheaper but you get more bang for your buck when giving your home some contrasting colors.

Ki is an Austin Realtor who enjoys helping clients looking for properties in the central Austin real estate market. If you are looking for a home in Austin his website is a good place to start and offers a search of the Austin MLS.