Home Improvement Contest

Rohm and Haas, a specialty materials company, along with the Arbor Day Foundation is hosting the $pruce Up Your Home nationwide contest in search of homes in need of a little TLC. From now until February 1, 2009, individuals can upload a photo of their home and 200 words explaining why their home deserves a spruce up. The grand prize winner receives a prize package worth $20,000, including an $8,000 home improvement gift card and a new exterior home paint job. Eight first place winners receive a new exterior paint face-lift.

For additional information follow the link.

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Home Improvement or Remodel!

What is the difference between a home improvement and a home remodel? I generally define a home remodel as a major undertaking that significantly changes the appearance of the property. It usually involves structural changes or at least adding or deleting walls.

I also consider the complete renovation of a kitchen or bathroom to be a remodel. By that I mean changing fixtures, cabinetry and floors.

Another distinguishing feature can be whether or not a building permit is required in order to undertake the work. No building permit required then in my opinion it falls under decorating or home improvement. If a building permit is required then it is a remodel.

All that being said, it really doesn't matter whether you consider your project to be a remodel, home improvement or decorating the same considerations applies to making it a success.

Those two considerations are:

• Planning
• Knowledge

Why Are Area Rugs Popular Again?

Area rugs have been around for centuries. In modern decorating the usages seems to have peaks and valleys that cycle ever 10 to 15 years. Right now, area rugs are definitely the "in" floor covering. There, maybe a number of reasons for their current popularity.

Carpeting, in one manner or another, has always been a popular floor covering. The decorating cycle that seems to be prevalent is between area rugs and wall-to-wall carpeting. One of the inherent problems with wall-to-wall carpeting is the difficulty in cleaning. Carpeting is one of the worst enemies of individuals with respiratory or asthmatic health problems. It traps, dirt, dust, mold spores, animal dander, and a host of other allergens.

The better the carpet, by number of fibers per inch, the worse the problem. Vacuum cleaners, no matter how powerful, never remove a 100% of the dust or other contaminants. If you don't believe me, use your current vacuum over an area of wall-to-wall carpeting (after vacuuming, with the power still on, hold the hose in the air, stretch and shake the hose as best you can to remove any dust that may be trapped in the hose). Clean out the bag or canister, ensuring that there are no dust remnants. Vacuum the same area again check the bag or canister and you will see more dirt and dust!

Area rugs have the same inherent problem of trapping dirt, dust, and pollen, however they have the advantage that they can be conveniently removed from the home and taken to be dry-cleaned. The residential and commercial so called steam cleaners, I say so called because they do not use steam to clean the carpet or rug, do a better job than a vacuum, but they still do not remove all the dirt, dust and other contaminants that have made their way through to the under padding.

Now that other floor coverings, such as hardwood and laminates have come down in cost and are being manufactured for installation by the home handyman, wall-to-wall carpeting is decreasing in popularity and area rugs are being used to create warmth and decoration. Where wall-to-wall carpeting is generally a flat color, area rugs give a homeowner the ability to decorate with an assortment of colors and patterns.

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