Home Building Remodeling News and Community

REINews: Build a A/C Cage to Prevent Theft

Real Estate Investing News has an article on how to prevent Air Conditioner theft by building a rebar metal cage around it: "How to build a cage for your Air Conditioner (A/C) to prevent stealing for $90 or less. An A/C condensor on a Houston, Texas foreclosure I bought had been stolen long before I bought it. The idea of putting a brand-new 13 SEER unit into a neighborhood known for A/C theft was not attractive. I am told that the scrap metal dealers are doing thumbprint, photograph and 3 day waiting period now before paying for copper. The A/C cage will consist of 3 bars north/south and 3 bars east/west. See picture. This should provide more than adequate room to work on the unit and have un-restricted air-flow. The goal is to make the cage so the unit cannot be removed from the cage without destroying it..."

NYDN: Green Home Remodeling?

NY Daily News has an article on green home remodeling: '...Last fall, the National Association of the Remodeling Industry launched a green remodeling educational program toencourage contractors nationwide to incorporate cost-saving and Earth-sustaining green concepts into their clients' homes. It focuses on indoor air quality, energy conservation, resource conservation, reduced material waste and the useof products that are better for the environment. One of the key ideas is energy conservation. According to the federal Energy Department, residential and commercial buildings would use $20 billion less energy a year if they were more energy-efficient. As a result, green remodeling putsa strong emphasis on modifications such as energy-efficient appliances and thermostats that can be programmed at different temperatures for different times of the day...'

PR: Faux Finished Medallions Now Available

Focal Point introduces Focal Finish, a selection of 10 faux finish options now available for more than 30 of our medallions. Focal Finish medallions are perfect for anyone who wants the look of a professionally stained or faux finished medallion without the work. Add medallions with Focal Finish to your next project and save time and money! Focal Finish can be ordered on select Focal Point medallions at any authorized dealer in the US.

Why McMansions and Starter Castles? Because You Can!

In recent years, snickering comments about the increased size of the average new United States house have come up in the news as well as in casual conversation. 'McMansions' and 'Starter castle' are now cliches. Approximately 1500 square feet was the norm in the 1950's. The average now is about 2600 square feet. An overlooked explanation for the trend toward large houses is that houses in general are considerably easier to build than in decades past.

Recycled Shipping Containers as Homes

Here's a short news video about using steel shipping containers as a home building material.

Bathroom Remodeling: Closet to Castles

The average person visits the bathroom about 6-8 times a day, making it an average of 2,500 times a year. That adds up to about 3 years of your life on the john. If we factor in how much the average person spends in the shower or bath, taking into account here that we live in a hyper clean society, we have to tack on a couple more years. At least. And then think about everything else you do in there, from bathing your kids to getting ready for a night out. That�s a lot of time in that small space we call the bathroom. It�s no wonder then, that remodeling trends for bathrooms have been doing flips and turns faster than the water going down in your toilet. And more spectacularly, too.

PR: New Moulding Installation System Saves Time

Who says installing crown moulding can't be easy? Focal Point's newest innovation, the Quick Clips� moulding installation system is perfect for people interested in ground-breaking new products that save time and add value to a home. The Quick Clips system will revolutionize crown moulding installation and allow professionals (or DIY homeowners) to create elegance in a snap. The key benefit of the Quick Clips moulding installation system is that it eliminates half of the steps associated with a traditional crown moulding installation. This abbreviated installation saves time on the jobsite, so more installations can be completed in a day. In addition to the attached press release, please visit our website at www.focalpointproducts.com for more information on Quick Clips. Our site includes product photos, instructions and a brief demonstration video.

Copper Pipe Adhesive

Here is an interesting product from the Superglue people: an adhesive for copper pipe that does not require soldering. From my previous copper pipe sweating experience, this may be the product for me! From the website: 'Repair Copper Pipes without solder! Do you have some leaks in your copper pipes after the harsh winter? This unique product will fix you up in less than 20 minutes. Safe and easy to use Copper-Bond is UL listed for joining copper tube used in fire sprinkler systems and and NSF approved for hot and cold water systems.'

MEN: Easier Plumbing with PEX

Mother Earth News has an article about the advantages of using cross linked polyethylene plumbing (PEX) over conventional plumbing. It also has installation steps. Interesting reading: 'Next time you need to replace pipes in your home, consider an alternative to rigid piping that comes in rolls, can be cut easily to any desired length, and requires no soldering and very few joint fittings. Generically called PEX-AL-PEX, this flexible plastic piping is so easy to install that you can handle most projects quickly on your own...'

Light Emitting Diodes (LED) For Home?

The short answer according to wikipedia is not yet: '..."Currently, solid state lighting is not readily available for household use, requires power source conversion in household applications, and is relatively expensive, although costs are decreasing. LED flashlights however already have become widely available." The Energy Self-Sufficiency Newsletter also has an informative piece on this topic.