Basement crack repair can be a minimal job or it can mean something bigger and more costly. When you speak to a contractor get an estimate of what he thinks the costs will be and get a couple of estimates. Labor will be much of the cost incurred. You may even need to get an engineer to look at your property if the cracking is really bad.

An estimate will be made up of many factors and is based on the square footage of your home. You may have a combination of skilled and unskilled labor doing the work. You will need to determine the cause of the crack and eliminate this first. This can also entail the expertise of a plumber if the cause is a leak. If you have any damage to floors you may also have to employ a floor installer.

The least expensive bid may not be the best one. Get references on the contractor before you make a decision. Make sure and check the licences of the contractors as well.

At the same time you might check for termites or other pests that could be in the area. If you live in an area prone to earthquakes you might also consider having your home earth-quake proofed. You can do this by installing seismic anchor bolts.

Cracks that are larger than 1/4 of an inch and are increasing in size or if you note that there is movement it should be evaluated by a … READ MORE >>>

Home Renovation – Weatherstripping For Windows

With winter fast approaching, many homeowners are looking for ways to cut down on drafts in order to keep warm and maintain a handle on energy costs. One of the fastest, easiest, and cheapest ways for homeowners to cut down on energy consumption, and one of the first Energy Star home renovation recommendations is to seal all windows. Energy Star estimates that homeowners can save as much as 10 percent on their annual heating and cooling bills with an effective sealing and insulating home improvement project.

Having checked their windows for air leaks, homeowners will need to consider a number of factors before heading off to purchase weatherstripping. In order to determine how much weatherstripping a home will need, homeowners will need to measure the perimeters of all windows in the house, and then add approximately 10 percent to their figure to account for waste and cutting mistakes.

With an amount of weatherstripping in mind, homeowners must choose the type of weatherstripping that they wish to use. There are a number of options available, but the most important rule here is one of common sense – homeowners must consider the use of the window which they are sealing when considering a type of weatherstripping for their home improvement project. For example, weatherstripping destined for a window sash must take into consideration the fact that the window still has to be able to freely slide up and down to open and close. Therefore, the weatherstripping must be thin enough … READ MORE >>>