Buying a Vinyl Fence? Home Improvement Chain Store Prices Are Not What They Seem

You see them advertise on the TV every day, orange aprons fluttering down the aisles at Home Depot, "You can do it! We can help!?", the warm voice of Gene Hackman telling you "Lowes, let's build something together". These big names spend big bucks to convince you that if you want to improve your home you need to do it up big time at their big name, big box, home improvement chain stores.

Whew, that's a mouthful and in a lot of ways very true too. Except for vinyl fencing. Oh, they sell vinyl fencing and their prices seem to meet the big box standards but everything is not always as it seems.

One of the first questions clients always ask me is, "How do you compare to them?" or "Why was our fence more expensive then theirs?" (If it was more). I found the best way to respond was by simply telling the truth. Sometimes our prices were more and sometimes they were less but one thing was certain. We always delivered a higher quality product.

I have nothing against them and have even advised certain people that the H. I. C.S. might better suit their unique needs. For example, I had a guy who was flipping a property and needed the cheapest fence he could buy. He wasn't concerned with how long the fence would last, he just wanted to sell the property. I suggested, Home Depot.

The key to big box store shopping is to know, what you are getting for the price you are paying. I highly urge you to go and look at their fencing first hand. Feel it, touch it, push it and you will see that it gives quite a bit. The panels are thinner and are generally hollow with no internal ribbing and reinforcement.

They also utilize a bracket system which is an inferior way to assemble vinyl fencing and requires external hardware which distract from the clean lines of vinyl. Their fencing usually comes pre-assembled.

Oh, I hear you out there, "Isn't that more convenient?"

Yes, assembled sections do provide more convenience but always remember that lower quality residential grade vinyl fencing normally comes assembled, as fence panels, while prime quality commercial grade vinyl fencing always comes unassembled.

Why? To be able to ship your order more securely so you receive it, complete and undamaged. It also allows you the opportunity to personally attend to each stage of construction, insuring the lifetime strength and durability of your fencing investment.

Keep in mind that the slide and pop assembly of commercial vinyl sections are very similar to "legos", making them relatively easy to assemble. I, personally, am not a very handy man and I can tell you, from experience, they are not hard to put together.

One last thing to realize when evaluating prices between the H.I.C.S. and a vinyl fence dealer. The H.I.C.S. 's panel pricing, generally, does not include the costs of posts and caps. This is very misleading.

They get you in on the appearance of a lower price, which is usually for the fence panel only. Then they add in these costly but essential items at the time of sale. Right when you have reached that point when you are ready to buy.

Odds are, you usually carry on with the sale and find out the hard way that the posts and caps are where these stores make their money. Which is why they sell their fencing in six foot panels (rather then eight) as this means more posts and caps. You will of course, need posts and caps to assemble a vinyl fence. So when you're pricing various options, you'll need to add these costs into the total.

Wow! That great chain store price wasn't so fabulous after all, was it?

Think about it. If you are going to make a lifetime investment in vinyl fencing for your beloved home. The rule of thumb is that, quality always trumps economy. In the long run you'll end up paying less for a whole lot more.

Copyright 2008 David Spangenburg & Michael Goldman

After buying a home, or a car, the purchase of a vinyl fence ranks as one of the larger purchases you'll ever make. You must read the Vinyl Fence Buyers Guide. You can find it at http://www.vinylfencebuyersguide.com/. It's not a trade manual, filled with industry jargon and dry terminology. It was written for you, the buyer, as a quick, easy read. Filled with ALL the critical facts and information you need, laid out in a straight forward and sometimes humorous manner. It's an easy to read step by step approach that walks you through each and every phase in the purchase and general installation of your new Vinyl Fence. For more details, go to: http://www.vinylfencebuyersguide.com/.

Need Help Remodeling In Carlsbad

The Basics of Plastering

In figuring for plastering it is not customary to deduct for doors and windows, unless of very large size. It is considered better practice, however, to deduct them and figure accordingly, so that it is possible to use the same figures for getting quantities of material.

Plastering is usually done on spruce lath, which comes 1/4 x 11/2 inches, and made in 4 foot lengths. As studding is spaced 16 inches apart this makes three spans, and all laths should be nailed to the studs at both ends. To cover 100 square yards will take about 1500 laths, and 10 lbs. of three penny nails.

The plaster is usually applied in three coats, known as the scratch, brown and white coats. The first is applied directly to the lath, and consists of lime, sand and hair. Its surface is scratched with a stick to give good adhesion for the brown coats, which contains less hair, but is otherwise very similar.

The white or finishing coat is usually composed of lime putty and fine beach sand in equal parts, to which plaster of Paris is added to make it hard and smooth. For 100 square yards, allow 10 to 12 bushels of lime, 2 bushels of hair, 1 1/2 cubic yards of sand and 100 lbs. plaster of Paris. If a sand-finished effect is desired, the plaster of Paris is omitted and cubic yard of sand added. The surface is finished with a wooden float, so as to bring out the sand and produce a rough surface.

Other types of plaster exist, based on the use of gypsum in the place of lime. They set more rapidly than lime plaster, and care must be taken to use them as directed by the manufacturers. Metal lath and plaster board are also much used in place of wood lath for reproduction corner guards.

They increase the expense slightly, but reduce the fire risk. Whatever method is used, the plaster should be run back of dados and baseboards, as the open spaces add greatly to the fire risk. This is in fact required by the building codes of most cities.

One man will lath about 100 yards in an eight-hour day, openings not deducted. With metal lath he can do from 100 to 150 yards, though if the plan has many corners his speed is greatly reduced. It has been estimated that a plasterer with one helper can do about 150 yards of the first two coats in a day, and about 90 yards of finishing coal.

Cornices and ornamental pediment add greatly to the cost, but are now far less common than they were a few years ago. Most ornaments are cast in the shop, while moldings are generally run on the job. When work of this kind is to be done, stock models should be used as far as possible. These are furnished by a number of manufacturers and can be ordered from their catalogues.

When plaster board is used in place of wood lath, the first or scratch coat may be omitted. This greatly reduces the labor of plastering, but the plaster often tends to crack at the joints between the boards.

For work that must be done quickly, a new type of gypsum board is now on the market, requiring no plastering, but finished ready for paint or paper. It is preferable to use paper, as with point it is hard to hide the joints. This material is only about 3/8 inch thick, while lath and plaster is 7/8 inch. It can be applied with practically no waste.

There are also a number of makes of wall board, generally some sort of wood pulp composition. These shrink badly after application, and if they are papered the paper always cracks at the joints. The manufacturers recommend covering the joints with wooden corner protectors or strips, but this greatly limits the possible treatments, and makes an agreeable effect almost impossible.

The gypsum board mentioned in the preceding paragraph is far preferable, and the cost is not much greater. Both types of wall board are made 4 feet wide, and almost any even number of feet in length.

They are very easy to apply, and if 20% is added to the cost of the material it will usually cover the labor of nailing on. This, of course, is only for plain work, with few corners, and does not include wood strips or other woodwork.

Sarah Martin is a freelance marketing writer based out of San Diego, CA. She specializes in home improvement, remodeling, and working with ornamental pediment. For the best in hardwood moulding and wooden corner protectors, please visit http://www.ferche.com/.

Green Real Estate Features

As the health of our environment and our own personal wellness become issues of greater importance, the demand for eco-friendly homes continues to rise. Home builders and developers have responded to this rising demand, and are building "green" properties in greater numbers. According to McGraw-Hill Construction, a home must contain at least 3 of the following 5 elements to be considered green: energy efficiency, indoor air quality, resource efficiency, water conservation and site management (site management would refer to a home's exterior use of water resources and electricity).

Buyers can enjoy a multitude of benefits associated with the ownership of eco-friendly properties, not the least of which is significant annual savings on energy bills. Most of all, owners of green properties delight in knowing that they're effectively doing their part to contribute to a healthier environment.

Preserve Precious Resources

In order to conserve electricity, green properties utilize the power of solar energy. Installation of solar panels can provide most or all of the electricity that a home may need. While this solution is relatively expensive, homeowners can easily recover the cost of their initial investment over time by way of savings on their energy bills. Solar water heaters, which are relatively inexpensive to purchase and install, are a great way to heat your home's water without the need for electricity or natural gas. Green property may also include radiant roof barriers and upgraded insulation, which can also greatly reduce your home's consumption of energy. Low-E windows and exterior sunscreens are very effective in lowering the amount of exterior heat that your home absorbs. This heat would otherwise make its way inside, and would cost the homeowner more to keep it cool. If you can keep the heat out, you will use less electricity!

Discover Other Simple Solutions

Other, less expensive ways to "go green" include purchasing high-efficiency HVAC systems and Energy Star appliances. Install digital thermostats with timers to further maximize your HVAC system's energy efficiency. Outside, choose to plant trees and shrubs that require less water. Installing low-flow toilets inside the house is also a great way to conserve water. Buyers will find all of these features and more when they look into purchasing eco-friendly homes. Purchase a green property today, and do your part to contribute to a healthier environment for generations to come.

Find great green properties in these Arizona communities: Eco-Friendly Ocotillo and Cooper Commons Eco-Friendly.

Building Stairs With Recycled Concrete

What a great idea using your old side walk or driveway to build a nice stairway for your front or back yard. Using the old concrete instead of sending it to the landfill. Wow talk about earth friendly. Who would have thought that using recycled concrete would create a beautiful center piece in your landscaping plans.

That's enough about that lets get to the nuts and bolts of building the stairs. I came across the idea by visiting one of our favorite breakfast stops in Fallbrook. I had been walking down these stairs for quite a while when it dawned on me that the stairs where kind of jagged. When I took a closer look I couldn't figure it out, What kind of building materials did they use.

Then I realized it was recycled concrete in other words someone's old side walk. They even used the old concrete to make some nice planter boxes and retaining walls. The whole area really looks nice. The landscaping created natural look with a old world look to it.

How do I build the stairs using recycled concrete? Simply put first thing you need to do is get some recycled concrete. If you are going to be tearing up a old sidewalk, driveway or patio then you won't have to look far.

If not you can contact some local general or demolition contractors. They would love to have someone haul away their concrete. The reason for this is they have to pay around five hundred dollars for every ten tons hauled away from the jobs they are working on.

The more recycled concrete you need the easier it will be to get it. If you need a lot you will be able to contact a concrete recycling plant and get the phone number to a local contractor that hauls broken up concrete to their plants. These people can drop off a large load if you have a large area to drop it.

Remember that most contractors don't want to be bothered because they are busy working or planning on working. The easier you can make it on the contractor the more likely you will get what you want from them. They usually aren't interested in doing extra work just to make you happy. You can get a lot by being courteous from most people.

Now that you have the concrete you can start building. The concrete will be stacked on top of the other concrete to form the steps. Depending on how long of a stairway you are building you will have to level the dirt and stack the recycled concrete to make the stairs.

Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He is currently working on more building stairs books and adding useful content to help solve problems created by the lack of construction knowledge in the building industry.

Visit us now for more great Home Remodeling Tips

The Benefits of Metal Roofing Over Tiled Roofing

For years Brisbane utilized tile roofs, and when they first came out were a plausible option for a Brisbane homeowner. Since those times, nature has not been so kind to the clay and concrete tiled roofs. The natural composition of tiled roofs plays a huge factor in their early demise. Both clay and concrete tiles are very porous meaning water causes eventual wear and tear on them resulting in costly repairs. After rain, heat and throw in freezing, the tile roofing eventually cracks under the pressure. Water traps in the pores of the tiles and then when exposed to the heat of the sun bearing down on them, they dry out only to be followed up with repeated abuse of re-absorption of water through further rainfalls and cold and warm conditions. The repeated expanding and reduction effect due to environmental factors cause clay and cement tiles to crack and break. Broken tiles on a roof leave the rest of the home exposed to serious water damage.

Tiles admittedly give a home a quaint look, but their efficiency is less then desirable for any wise homeowner. Metal roofing offers a lot more in durability as well as being aesthetically pleasing to the eye. In looking at the environmental factor alone, metal-roofing pays for itself ten fold over in what it saves the consumer in repairs alone and is worth considering if you need a roof replacement.

Why Metal Roofing is a better alternative over old fashioned Title Roofing

Metal roofing can last the lifetime of a home. Repairs are minimal and are generally due to homeowner inflicted damage such as when attaching solar panels or other hardware on the rooftop. A metal roof is so durable it can withstand winds up to 190 kms per hour with no lift up. Even severe hailstorms cannot phase metal roofing, unlike the severe damage a hail or windstorm can do to tile roofing. Brisbane homeowners can even benefit from having a metal roof over a tile roof through insurance deductions, yet another cost effective reason to have metal roofing.

After a tile roof has been laid and finished it can still move as the house settles and as a result tiles can crack or cause the bedding to crack or even look crooked the naked eye. Unlike a tile roof, when you screw down a new metal roof you will find your new roof will not move. As a result your home will have better structural integrity.

Here's why Metal roofing is more durable than titled roofing

With metal roofing, you never have to worry about chipping, rusting, fading or chalking. The colours do not fade no matter how hard the sun beats down on the roof. The heat reflective facet of metal roofing saves the Brisbane homeowner money through its energy saving factor. Not only does a metal roof save a homeowner a ton of money they also come in a wide variety of colours and styles to meet any homeowners taste setting the home apart from the rest of the block.

Greg Hughey owns and operates Metal Technology Roofing a business dedicated to metal roofing and asbestos removal Brisbane.
Greg has over 25 years of hands on experience with metal roofing and understands the benefits of metal roofing over old fashioned tiled roofing.

Dishwashers Help Both the Environment and Women!

I use a dishwasher - typically twice a week. More when I have extra visitors. It uses power but gives me time to do other useful things and uses less hot water because it is only twice a week. I did the experiment when we lived in a rural area with no water supply other than our low rainfall. I measured the water used washing by hand, including the time taken for hot water to arrive hot, thus wasting both water and heating on the frequent short washes. My results sent me straight out to buy a dishwasher. OK this is a value judgment but sensibly used, a dishwasher saves!

OK, here comes the "clincher" argument! What about the chemicals!. I use a minimal amount of as low impact chemical as possible for use in both the sink and the machine. I do not see a lot of difference. I have a relative with a built in dishwasher in his home, who refuses to allow it to be used and he objects to me using mine. I have heard the arguments!

When it comes to clothes, think about your washing machine and next time you replace it look for one with good energy ratings. If you can afford it, I suggest choosing one of those build to comply with the European Union's long life and recycling requirements to reduce the waste of embodied energy in the machine. My washing machine is Swedish and going strong after 18 years. The same comment applies to dishwashers.

Why use hot water for washing. Cold or lukewarm is just as effective. The only exception I can think of is where there are asthmatics in the house with dust mite allergies, then a 60oC wash for the bedding to be sure to kill the mites but back to cold for the rest of the wash.

Air-dry the clothes unless it is very wet. Even small apartments have somewhere to put a drying rack and I dry sheets on poles across the laundry from the top of the door to the cupboard because the strata rules prohibit them being hung outside. This works well.

How do you heat your water? Gas and Solar are the most energy efficient.

The big ticket issues here are water temperature for washing and use of a dryer.

Jean Cannon is an enviro-entrepreneur -both a scientist and a business person and has been both for over 20 years.

So if you are tired and confused by all the hype about global warming, climate change and the need to reduce our carbon emissions and you just want to look at the reality of what is happening and how it affects you in your business and your life, get my Free Report "Getting Past The Hype To Look At Reality" from http://www.carbonsteps.com

Top 10 Secrets to Small Bathroom Designs

It's official. Small bathroom designs are making an inexorable leap to the frontline in the contemporary interior design firmament. No longer are homeowners treating small spaces with a sense of passive resignation, and are in fact, breaking free from the shackles of convention and weaving magic in small bathrooms.

These homeowners stop at nothing to ensure that their personal space resembles a work of art. Gone are the days when the thought of decorating a small bathroom could dim one's ardor. Today, things stand at polar opposites. One finds an earnest desire to liberate oneself from the constraints of claustrophobic eyesores, even at the cost of demolishing long-standing rules in design books.

Secrets Finally Revealed

If a paucity of ideas to inject a dose of freshness into your small space is your constant gripe, it's time to unlock a few secrets. So shun that innate skepticism, and get ready to fire your imagination like never before. Here's how:

• If bathing luxury is your utmost concern, soak in a small but deep bathtub that does not occupy centre stage in the space.
• A transparent shower screen as against an opaque shower wall highlights your bathroom's intrinsic style quotient, leaving nothing much to imagination.
• Do not shelve plans of installing floating or recessed cabinets. Utilize the space on the wall to the fullest.
• Onlookers are sure to stand up and take note of space saving pedestal and wall-mounted sinks.
• Open doors to innovating space saving schemes with hinged or sliding doors.
• Windows in close proximity to the ceiling provide ample space on the walls for cabinets and shelves.
• Optical illusion is not something that only Chris Angel can perfect. Allow natural light to come gushing into the space through windows and skylights, and watch the extraordinary impact.
• The sparkle of under cabinet lighting and the shimmer of mirrors can take the space from dull and dreary to devastatingly dazzling.
• While vertical lines add inches to the space, the spectacular combination of identical wall and floor tiles creates that crackling chemistry.
• Don't remain in the dark about the colossal impact of light, pastel or neutral shades.

Learn exactly how to generate 100's or even 1000's of positively *BRILLIANT* Bathroom Remodeling Ideas ... FAST ! And here are 25 Dirt Cheap Home Improvement Ideas that could increase the value of your home by several $1000's ...