Home Building Articles
House Votes to Expand Homebuyer Tax Credit
- November 5, 2009
- Buying a home is about to get cheaper for a whole new crop of homebuyers — $6,500 cheaper.First-time homebuyers have been getting tax credits of up to $8,000 since January as part of the economic stimulus package enacted earlier this year. But with the program scheduled to expire at the end of November, the House voted 403-12 Thursday to extend and expand the tax credit to include many...... Read More
New Lead Safety Rules - How the Rules Affect Painters
- October 27, 2009
- Effective April, 22, 2010, if you are working for compensation on a project that will disturb paint in a home, school, or childcare facility built prior to 1978, you must comply with the new lead safety regulations, including: Painting and property management firms must be EPA-certified and their employees must be trained in the use of lead-safe work practices. Painting and maintenance...... Read More
Water Saving Toilets
- October 27, 2009
- Water-saving toilets are now standard on all new construction because of a 1992 federal mandate for plumbing fixture manufacturers. Also known as low-flow toilets, water-saving toilets use 1.6 gallons per flush (gpf) of water or less, compared with older toilets that use 3.5, 5.0, and up to 7.0 gpf. The 1.6 gpf models significantly reduce the amount of fresh water consumed and the corresponding...... Read More
Water Saving Faucets
- October 27, 2009
- Low-flow faucets and showerheads sound like they deliver low water pressure, but that's not too appealing to a homeowner who's working at the kitchen sink or trying to start off the day with an invigorating shower. In actuality, good low-flow or water-saving faucets and showerheads deliver what feels like full-volume water. They provide equal or better performance than conventional fixtures,...... Read More
Solid Surface Countertops
- October 27, 2009
- Solid surface countertops were a revolution of sorts when they were first introduced. Until then most modern countertops were limited to tile or laminate. Solid surface has come a long way however, available in a vast array of colors and patterns, made by numerous manufacturers. The term “solid surface” may seem a bit obvious since all countertops are “solid”. But...... Read More
Separating Fact From Fiction on Residential Fire Sprinklers
- October 27, 2009
- Residential fire sprinkler technology has been around for several decades, yet there has never been a strong market demand for these potential life-saving devices. Almost 30 years ago, the idea of installing a system in the home was first developed, and since then manufacturers have done their best to educate consumers and create new markets. Even with all this educational material on...... Read More
LED Facts
- October 27, 2009
- Light Emitting Diode, more commonly known as "LED", represents the cutting edge of lighting technology. LEDs operate on a totally different concept than traditional incandescent style lights. Instead of using a brittle metal filament that is susceptible to shock and vibration, LEDs are solid-state devices with no moving parts utilizing an electronic chip that is encapsulated in an epoxy...... Read More
Interior Painting
- October 27, 2009
- By following some basic guidelines for surface preparation, primer application, and topcoat application, it's possible to avoid the majority of the headaches associated with interior paint. Surface preparation Wall and ceiling surfaces should be completely dry before primer or paint is applied. Use a damp cloth to remove loose dust and dirt created during the drywall installation. If the...... Read More
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