Super Home Ideas

Home improvement tips and articles that will help you with your next project.


Tuesday, May 30, 2006

Painting Tips

This past week I painted a garage and it was a rush job. I was told to pay more attention to the schedule than the quality. In keeping with this idea I found that I saved a great deal of time by not taping up the many windows that this garage had while I painted.

There were 9 doors total, each door of the garage had 8 windows each, making a total of 72 windows. Instead of taping over each window before I painted, I used a very wide putty knife/scraper and held it flush to the windows while I painted the trim around them.

This was not the optimal painting set up, but it did cut down on my prep time before painting. I would guess that I saved about 2 hours total by not taping all the windows up before I painted. I managed to keep the majority of the paint off of the windows with only a few drops here and there getting on the windows.

For the ones that did get a little paint on them, I simply took a wet rag and wiped the paint off of them before the paint had a change to dry.

So if you find yourself needing to paint and paint quickly around windows, where time is more of a factor, you may want to try this quick and easy painting tip.

Be sure to visit our primary website at www.superhomeideas.com for many more articles and tips.

As always, let us know if you have any suggestions/comments/feedback on how to improve our site, or if there are any particular subjects that you would like to see articles on.


Saturday, May 27, 2006

Practicing Safety In Home Improvement

By Lee Dobbins

With the high prices of contractors these days, lots of people are doing their own home improvement projects. This is a great way to save money, but one area the average homeowner may be lacking in is knowledge about basic safety rules that should be observed for any home improvement project.

Common safety practices include wearing protective clothing like gloves, masks and eye wear, reading labels and adhering to manufacturers instructions and discarding any waste products in the proper manner.

It makes sense to use gloves, earphones, glasses and masks if you are repairing or improving the home including the use of chemicals such as paint. Thus, purchase a work kit including work gloves, goggles, hearing guards and particle masks before starting any project that could cause you harm.

Safety is critical in any home improvement or repair project that you are attempting yourself. Therefore, if you are starting a project which has risks, like using chemicals, be sure you read allthe instructions carefully before you begin. Once you finish the project remember to wash your hands thoroughly for removal of any residue which can linger on your skin. If you are using paint then try using regular salad oil to remove paint, or stains from your skin.

Electrical work can be tricky and you may want to call a professional. At the very least, check the components of any electrical parts you are trying to repair for labels or markings and read them completely before starting your project.

If you are repairing, electrical outlets be sure to mark the wires before putting in the new component. Usually, the wires are already marked, however sometimes the markings wear off. Therefore, when you figure out which wire goes where you should mark it before putting the plate cover back on. Also, make sure you shut down the breakers to that outlet and that your skin is dry before starting to work on anything electrical.

In addition to safety measures, you also need the right tool for the job or you will find yourself getting very frustrated and maybe even doing damage to the project or yourself. Some common tools include paint brushes, rollers and edgers, painters tape, screwdrivers, hammers, drills, joint putty, pipe wrenches and so on.

For the best results when painting it is a good ideas to buy the ‘natural” bristled brushes. These work better with paint and go on in a nice smooth coat. When the brushes are not in use put them in a safe area and remember to clean them as recommended for the type of paint you are using so that they will last a long time. Other tools that you are not using should also be kept in a safe area. If you are using sponge paintbrushes for decorative painting or touch-ups throw the brushes away once you are done so that they do not get mixed up with your household sponges!

Safety in home improvement projects is not difficult provided you read and follow directions on any product or tool you are using. Most any purchases made come complete with guides, which instruct you how the job is done. Making sure that you read all instructions before installing, repairing or improving the home can help you stay safe.

It might seem like extra work, but putting safety first can help you avoid problems later on. The last thing anybody needs is to start a home improvement project t save money and end up paying high hospital bills as the result!

Lee Dobbins writes about home improvement and remodeling, read more articles on home improvement at http://www.dailynewz.info

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lee_Dobbins


Tuesday, May 23, 2006

The Truth About Home Improvement Loans

By: Tripp Taylor

Are you planning to stay in your home for a long time, but you aren't quite satisfied with the look of your home? Do you think your home could use new cabinets in the kitchen? Perhaps your house needs a new roof or new carpets? Or maybe you think your house needs a new bathroom? If you are thinking like this in anyway, you probably need to look into home improvement loans. Home improvement loans are what people use to make improvements such as these to their home. If you are unsure about this subject, there are some things you should know. Please continue to read for the truth about home improvement loans.

Most home improvement loans are often FHA loans that are commonly insured because they are used to improve a home or rehabilitate it so it revitalizes it in an aging neighborhood. In essence, home improvements are seen as a good thing where lenders are concerned. But home improvement loans can be costly. Most home improvement loans are done through a home equity line of credit or home equity loans. Some are even done with a second mortgage. This, in reality, costs people a lot more money. When you get your home improvement loans in this manner, you are actually getting the money from your equity... money you have already put towards paying off the house. This means you are basically starting all over and paying for the house all over again.

There are many factors to consider when you search for a lender to get the home improvement loans from. Before you start, make sure your credit score is as good as it can possibly be. Next, when getting home improvement loans, try to search for the one with a low fixed rate. Variable rates tend to change quite often and thus cost people more money in the end. Also, when searching for home improvement loans, look into the ones that will get you the cash when you need it. Some lenders take an awfully long time to get you the money you are asking for. Lastly, when looking for home improvement loans, search for the ones with the best deals. Some lenders offer no appraisal fees and no lender fees. This will in turn save you a bit of money.

This is some of the important things you need to know when you decide to look into home improvement loans. You want to make your home beautiful, but be sure you do it in the cheapest manner possible. With careful research, you should be able to find the right home improvement loan for you that will save you money in the end. You can then look forward to having a lovely home!

About The Author...

Tripp Taylor offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning Loans. Get the information you are seeking now by visiting Home Improvement Loans
Article Source: Real Estate


Sunday, May 21, 2006

Selecting The Right Clothes Dryer

Buying a clothes dryer for your home is a fairly simple decision process. Once you have read this report, your buying decision might even be a bit easier.

Four manufacturers produce the clothes dryers that account for 80% of dryer sales in America. Those four primary brands are: GE, Maytag, Kenmore (a Sears brand), and Whirlpool.

There are other generic brand names that are sold in the marketplace, and most of those are subsidiaries of the major manufacturing companies. Maytag makes Amana. Electrolux makes Frigidaire, Westinghouse, and White-Westinghouse appliances. GE makes Hotpoint. And, both KitchenAid and Roper are made by Whirlpool.

There are really only five choices to make when choosing your next clothes dryer:

1. Size of Tub

2. Gas or Electric

3. Thermostat or Moisture Sensor Shutoff

4. Quiet Dry

5. Other Gadgets

SIZE OF TUB

There are three basic size designations in washers and dryers. There is Extra Large Capacity, Super Capacity and Super Capacity Plus, or a variation thereof. The actual volume difference between each of these size designations is really quite small on the grand scheme of things. Usually, we are talking an extra pair or two of blue jeans for each size increase.

When selecting the size capacity of a machine, it might be all right (though not recommended) to mix up your machine purchases, but you do not want to have your dryer size smaller than your washer size. It would be a real pain to fill your washer, wash your clothes, and then not be able to get all of your clothes into the dryer!

If there are one or two people in your household, then the Extra Large Capacity could make sense. But, if you have a house full of children, you should go ahead and spend the extra money to get a larger-sized machine. If your wife has one of the smaller machines, she will certainly have to run more loads in order to wash everyone's laundry.

Generally, if you have four people in your home, you will have to do two extra loads of laundry using the Extra Large Capacity, instead of the Super Capacity Plus machine. More loads of laundry equates to more water usage, more heating fuel usage (electric or gas), and a grumpier wife, since she spends an extra two to three hours a week doing laundry. That -0 you are saving now, may cost you well over that amount over the life of your washer and dryer.

GAS OR ELECTRIC

The person who built your house usually makes the gas or electric decision for you, whether you like it or not. Most homes have either a 240-volt plug or a gas connector in the laundry room. Few, if any, builders put in both options.

If your home is equipped with the 240-volt plug, I highly recommend that you look to see if your plug is a three- or four-prong plug, prior to going to the store. Appliance manufacturers sell the actual dryer cords separate from the dryer. So, the retailer will ask you which plug you need with your machine.

If you want to save the ten dollars or so, you can use the dryer cord that is on the clothes dryer you are replacing. If the dryer cord that is currently on your machine is flimsy or brittle, I would strongly suggest buying the new cord. To do otherwise leaves your home vulnerable to a fire hazard.

If you have the choice between gas and electricity for your clothes dryer, gas machines will generally run another or so. If you have to change your laundry configuration from gas to electric, you may very well spend that much on the electrician alone. Additionally, it is a well-known fact that gas dryers use less energy than electric dryers. So, over the long haul, your gas dryer will be more economical than your electric dryer --- even Consumer Reports recommends that you buy the gas dryer for this very reason.

THERMOSTAT OR MOISTURE SENSOR SHUTOFF

Thermostat controlled dryers are the dryers that only give you an option for timed drying.

More expensive dryers give you the option for timed drying or Moisture Sensor Shutoffs. Each manufacturer describes the Moisture Sensor Shutoff in different ways. Whirlpool calls it AccuDry. Some manufacturers refer to it as Energy Saver. Whatever they call it, the concept is the same. It has a moisture-sensor in the tub, and when the humidity level drops below a certain level, the machine will decide that the clothes are dry, and the dryer will shut off on its own.

Consumer Reports deems this an essential feature on any dryer that you might buy. The reasons are many:

1. Overdrying can damage or shrink fabrics, and moisture sensors will minimize this risk.

2. By shutting itself off when the clothes are done drying, you are no longer forced to waste gas or electricity drying "already dry" fabrics.

3. By running the dryer for a shorter period of time, you can wash more clothes in less time. Your wife will thank you.

QUIET DRY

Some machines have an extra quiet motor. It made a big difference in my home, since our laundry room is less than twenty feet from our living room. With our old, cheap dryer, we would need to turn our television up, if we were running laundry while we were in the living room. Just the very experience of drying clothes was enough to give me a headache. With our new quiet dry machine, we are not even aware that the dryer is running, until the buzzer goes off telling us that it is done. Awesome.

OTHER GADGETS

Clothes dryers cannot really get that technical. The additional options that are available on some machines are: heat level and special fabric settings. Really, they are the same thing, but the fabric settings take a lot of the guesswork out of figuring out what temperature you can run for each your fabric types.

Some machines have a buzzer to let you know when the dryer is finished. This one is nice sometimes, especially if you are trying to do as much laundry as you can in a short time span.

Lights inside the drum are a nice addition, though not always necessary.

TIPS TO EXTEND THE LIFE OF YOUR DRYER

Keeping good airflow in your machine is the one, essential step you can take to get the most life out of your clothes dryer. There are several factors that can affect airflow, and we will cover those factors here.

Any reduction in airflow creates several problems.

1. A clogged dryer is less efficient and uses more gas or electric to dry clothes.

2. It puts additional wear-and-tear on the machine's motor.

3. And, most importantly, it creates a fire hazard.

EXHAUST VENTILATION:

All of the manufacturers and Consumer Reports recommend using either rigid or flexible metal ducting for exhaust ventilation tubing. They strongly recommend against using the plastic or foil exhaust ventilation tubes. The reasons are many.

1. They are notorious collectors of lint, and can get clogged easily.

2. The can be stepped on and crushed, preventing good airflow.

3. They can sag, also preventing proper airflow.

4. They can easily be torn and damaged.

Anytime the ventilation tube gets clogged or blocked, it can force lint to back up into your dryer causing additional blockages.

Even with metal ducting, you should clean out your ventilation tube once a year.

LINT FILTER:

Some appliance manufacturers put the lint filter in the door, while others put it on top of the machine. For ease of cleaning, it is a matter of personal preference.

It is very important that you should clean your lint filter between each use. If you fail to clean it between each load, you run the risk of having the lint fall back into the internal components of the machine.

Any accumulations of lint are always a fire hazard.

Excess lint in your dryer can ignite and catch fire. This could easily destroy your dryer, and very possibly catch your house on fire.

In fact, the Wall Street Journal suggested that dryer lint is the perfect companion for camping or hiking trips, since it is light and easy-to-carry, and it makes excellent kindling for your campfire.

For more fire prevention and safety tips in connection with your clothes dryer, visit the Consumer Product Safety Commission website at: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/5022.html

THE ODD AND UNKNOWN BYPRODUCT OF DRYER SHEETS:

If you use dryer sheets when you dry your clothes, then you need to pay special attention to this tip.

Dryer sheets can reduce static and add a nice scent to your laundry, because they have chemicals in them. What few people realize is that these chemicals are released from the dryer sheet when they are heated, and they fill the hot air inside of your dryer.

As the machine is running, and after the cycle is finished, these chemicals settle on the various components inside your dryer, including the lint filters. After a period of time, these chemicals can create a clear, unseen barrier to your dryer's airflow.

Test this idea. Pull your lint filter from your machine and run it under water. Where the water pools and does not flow through, those chemicals have created an impenetrable barrier to your dryer's airflow.

Every few months, you should wash out your lint filter using soap, water and a sponge, to keep airflow at its optimum.

IN CONCLUSION...

Finding the right clothes dryer, for your own needs, does not have to be a difficult process. With a little knowledge, you can make a good decision. I hope this report has given you the information that you will need to make your decision easier.

Using the additional tips provided in this report, you should be able to keep your utility bills lower and to extend the life of your clothes dryers by another several years. If you take good care of your clothes dryer, your clothes dryer will take really good care of you for many years to come.


Wednesday, May 17, 2006

Say Goodbye to The Wooden Window Shutter

by: Rene Knops

A discussion of the wooden window shutter plus definitions and descriptions of the many kind of inexpensive and low maintenance shutters on the market.

The traditional window shutter is usually made of wood, needs a lot of maintenance and looks like it is right out of an episode of the Brady Bunch. These window shutters that have been in existence since Colonial times are a bit of an anachronism. Most people simply never shut them yet still the hinges need to be oiled and shined.

It might be time to get rid of the anachronistic wooden shutters on your home and go with something more modern such an aluminum window shutter that resists the elements and never closes. This will definitely cut down on your replacement and maintenance costs for keeping the exterior of your home looking sharp!

Here is a run down of the different types of decorate window shutter that are offered by manufacturers today.

Vinyl window shutter - These easy to clean, affordable shuttles last about forty years! They give your house a traditional look without the traditional expense of replacing them frequently. They weigh next to nothing and look like the real thing. They are available in all of the traditional louvered, board and batten and raised panel styles. Even better they come primed and ready to paint in the color of your choice.

Composite window shutter - These shutters are like a thick particleboard that is made from a composite of weather and rot-resistant materials. They are made from molds that offer all kinds of styles including the louvered, board and batten and raised panel window shutter style. You can also find these types of shutters in a cupboard style (sometimes called the Bahama style) that is hinged at the top so you can open and close them just like the old fashioned wooden shutter.

Fiberglass Shutters - This type of window shutter is the most expensive but they do last about twenty years. They are also molded and offered in a variety of designs including the Bahama, louvered, board and battened and raised panel window shutter styles. The fiberglass window shutter is also stronger and more secure than other types and can be used to protect your windows during hurricanes and storms. Most manufacturers offer these in scores of colors and textures that mimic the look of the real thing. You can also buy these primed and paint them yourself to match your house's exterior design scheme.

Aluminum Shutters. The aluminum wood shutter is also offered in a variety of styles including the faux colonial louvered style and the Bahama style. These strong shutters are great protection for your windows, both in terms of an intruder and also against a hurricane. They come in about a thousand textures and colors. However the powder coated finish looks a little less authentic than other types of shutters and many companies also only offer a warranty of about three years on aluminum shutters.

Of course the crème de la crème will always be the traditional wood shutters, but unfortunately they are not as storm proof as the fiberglass or aluminum window shutter and the costs of protecting them from the elements are relatively sky high compare to other types.

About The Author

Rene Knops helps you get a clear view for choosing beautiful window blinds, shutters or window treatment at lowest prices. for Special Deals and more visit: http://www.choosingwindowblinds.com./


Monday, May 15, 2006

Home Improvement Projects Can Increase The Value Of Your Home

Home improvement projects can improve the look and value of your home dramatically. Though in some cases, using a home improvement project as a way to increase the value of your home can actually backfire and cost you money. So how will you be able to tell if the project that you have planned will add to the value of your home or decrease the value of your home?

The first thing that you need to know is the appraised value of your home. You must know the appraisal value, or estimated resale price, of your home before you can determine if a project will increase or decrease the value of your home. Although you may fell that your home is worth a certain amount of money, and that a home improvement will increase the value by X amount of dollars, your feelings will not set the final selling price, the appraisal will.

When completing a home improvement project that you believe will dramatically improve the resale value of your home you need to consider your neighbors houses. If you have the nicest house in your neighborhood, but you are trying to sell it for twice as much as the appraisal value of other homes in the neighborhood, you will be disappointed.

A general guide is to not try to sell your home for more than 20% of what the surrounding homes will sell for. For simplicity, let us assume that the homes in your neighborhood are appraised at a value of $100,000. This would mean that you could expect to get about $120,000 out of your home if you make selective home improvements.

What this means for you as a homeowner is that you should seriously rethink any home improvement project that would cost more than $20,000 going by our above example. Using the above example, it is easy to see that a $30,000 home improvement project would cause you to lose money in the long run.

Now, if you can make a home improvement that costs very little, but results in a higher resale value, it may be a good idea to pursue that project. Going back to our example, if you can spend $5,000 on a project and this results in your home being appraised at $115,000, then it is a great investment idea.

You also want to consider the appeal that your home improvement project would have to a future owner. For example, swimming pools and hot tubs may be something that you enjoy, but would a potential buyer pay extra for those features? There are some fairly safe projects that you can pursue that other home buyers generally find valuable. Some of these include kitchen remodeling, adding or remodeling a bathroom, adding a new room, landscaping, etc.

Also keep in mind that maintenance projects do not usually result in an increased value for your home. Replacing a broken furnace or hot water heater usually will not improve the value of your home when selling it. These are considered maintenance issues that all homeowners expect the home to have working. Most people would not consider paying full price for a home that does not have these basic features in working order.

The bottom line is that if you are interested in increasing the resale value of your home you need to make smart decisions. Smart decisions on which home improvement projects to tackle can put extra money in your pocket when you sell your house.


Wednesday, May 10, 2006

The Site Is Finally LIVE

I am pleased to announce that our primary website www.superhomeideas.com has finally gone live, so feel free to visit. There will be a great deal more content added to it over the next week or so. The site is still under construction and we will be making daily changes to it so check back frequently.

We also welcome any suggestion or ideas that you have that you feel could improve our website.


Sunday, May 07, 2006

Home Improvement Project Planning

Home improvement project planning is of critical importance regardless of how large or small your home improvement project is. Too often people rush into a project without considering all the steps that they need to take in order to successfully complete it. When someone runs head first into a home improvement project without proper planning it can cause significant frustration and headaches.

Home improvements require planning so that you can avoid the commons situations of finding out that you don't have the right tools, the right supplies, or the money to complete the home improvements.

Have you ever found yourself in the middle of a home improvement project that you were trying to get done quickly, only to find out in the middle of the project that you need a special tool? Then you have to stop what you are doing and run to the store to get the tool. This may not sound like a big deal, but if you have to do this a few times a day during a home improvement project it can cost valuable time.

The lack of planning on your home improvements can also cause financial headaches. If you find that you do not have the required tools or enough supplies you are forced to go buy them. Now if you are on a tight budget and do not have the extra money to get the needed tools or supplies you will be in a very difficult situation.

Imagine that you are doing a home improvement project in your bathroom and that you jumped right into it without planning. Now your bathroom is torn up, the water is turned off, but you cannot complete the project due to a lack of tools or supplies. THIS CANNOT WAIT! You, and your family, NEEDS to have a bathroom to use!

This is just one example of how poor planning can ruin a home improvement project. Here are some tips to help prevent a home improvement crisis-

-Review a similar project that someone else has done. Read a manual on the project that walks you through step by step and describes the tools and supplies that you will need to finish the home improvements.

-Budget extra money for the project. More often than not, no matter how well you plan, there will be some unforeseen expenses and you will need that extra money to finish the home improvement project.

-Budget more time than you think you will need. If you think it will take 4 hours to finish the project, give yourself 6 hours just in case you need the extra time.

-Ask for help. There is nothing wrong with talking to someone who has done a similar home improvement project before and finding out what complications may arise. It never hurts to have a friend or family member lend a helping hand with the actual home improvement project either. Two heads are always better than one.

Planning your home improvement project will make it a more enjoyable experience for you and you will likely do a far better job because you will not be in a rush to finish it and cut corners.

So start planning your next home improvement project today and do your best to cover all of your bases so that you do not run into any unexpected surprises while doing your home improvement.


Friday, May 05, 2006

Color, Rollers and a Little Bit of Spackling! Ready to Paint Those Kitchen Cabinets?

So you have decided to do it! Turn those dull and lifeless
kitchen cabinets into a splash of bright color! Yellow! Red!
Purple (What are you thinking)! You can make the job an easy
one (well, at least not a grueling one!) by following these
step:

1. Remove all the hardware from the doors and drawers (yep, ALL
the handles, pulls and hinges).

2. If the drawer fronts can be removed, do so. Pull out the
drawers and set aside.

3. Clean all surfaces with a mixture of water and TSP
(tri-sodium phosphate) and a sponge or an abrasive pad.
(Pssst…don't worry. Everyone's kitchen doors get that dirty!)

4. Wipe all the surfaces dry.

5. Look for dents or scratches. Repair them with spackling
compound applied with a putty knife.

6. Let the spackling dry thoroughly.

7. Check any new hardware to see if they fit the existing holes.
If not, fill in the old holes with spackling compound. (or
return the new hardware to the store and get some that will
fit!)

8. Sand the surfaces to be painted will coarse sandpaper so the
paint will adhere more completely. Wrap the paper around a
sanding block for ease of use.

9. Make certain you sand all the nooks and crannies and rounded
edges. (Yes, all of them!)

10. Paint the backs of the doors and drawer fronts first. Let
dry and then paint the front faces. You can paint the doors
with a standard-sized paint roller. Paint the edges with a
brush.

11. Use one of those little paint rollers to paint the face
frames.

12. Let everything dry completely before you begin to reassemble.

13. Screw the hinges to the doors and then back to the face
frames.

14. Reattach all the handles and the pulls or add the new ones
(don't give up - you are on the home stretch!)

15. Apply rubber or felt bumpers on the backs of the doors to
prevent the paint from sticking.
Hurrah! A new kitchen - fresh and clean! Now what do you think
we can do in that upstairs bath?

Pamela Cole Harris is an editor and writer with 35 years experience. Visit her website, http://www.homeandgardenmakeover.com, for a free newsletter with remodeling, home improvement and decorating ideas for the financially challenged, creatively deficient and technologically illiterate. Or visit http://www.pamelacoleharris.com for unique content for your website.


Home Improvement Loans

Home improvement loans are a great way to get started on making your home a better place to live. With a home generally being the largest investment that a person will make in his or her lifetime it is understandable that he or she will want to undertake a home improvement project at some point.

A home improvement loan can often be found by using the equity that you have built up in your home. This home improvement loan can be used for kitchen remodeling, bathroom remodeling, basement waterproofing, or any other home improvements that you can think of.

A home improvement loan is a great idea because in the end it can increase the overall value of your home. Consider that you have established equity in your home and you then take out a home improvement loan to undertake a home improvement project. Even after you repay your home improvement loans it is likely that the value of your home will increase and that you can resell your home and make a profit.

Home improvement loans allow you to use your home improvement projects to not only increase the value of your home, but to make it more comfortable as well. Many people do not consider home improvements unless they are forced to do so. This goes along with the old saying of “if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it”. This may be fine for some people, but if you want to make your home a better place to live and to increase the value of your home, you should seriously consider making some home improvements.

For more information on home improvements and home improvement loans visit our primary websites at www.superhomeideas.com where you will find articles and advice on these topics.


Tuesday, May 02, 2006

Finishing Your Basement Walls: At Home with Furring, Shims and Plumb

In the past, many homes were built with unfinished basements
and the homeowner used those dark, bare, usually damp spaces
for storage, laundry, or large collections of spider webs and
dust bunnies. You may have bought one yourself and now, with
the high price of new housing, you are looking to expand your
current house to meet your family's needs (do your covenants
really allow 10 story ranch houses?). That unused basement
seems be the answer!

Want to do it yourself? I suggest you begin by evicting the
dust bunnies! Next, we need to finish the basement walls. Easy,
right? Just slap up some drywall and tape! Wrong. Here's how
to do it correctly:

1. Look at the amount of moisture in your basement. Are the
walls moist? Are there mushrooms growing in the corner? Is
there standing water in any part of the area? (If you make
the kids wear lifejackets when they go downstairs, you may
have a water problem). You should call a professional for
ideas on how to get rid of water seepage. It will be money
well spent and will prevent many problems later.

2. Estimate the amount of drywall and furring strips (long,
thin wood strips which enable you to attach the drywall to
the concrete face) you will need. For every 4 feet of wall,
you will need one sheet of drywall (we are assuming that
your ceiling is less than 8 feet!) and 4 furring strips.

3. Screw the furring strips to the wall leaving a space of
approximately ½ inch from the bottom of the strip to the
floor in case water seeps in. Make sure the strips are
plumb (use your handy-dandy level) and drill holes about
16 inches apart into the wall (use a masonry bit). Drive
in hardened concrete screws with your even-handier-dandy
drill.

4. Shim the furring strips to create a flat plane for the dry
wall. (Is this the point where the author makes a bad pun
about doing the shimmy?) Start with the strip nearest the
corner and use a long level to see if it's plumb. Use a
shim, if needed, to bring it level. Repeat the process to
make certain all the strips are plumb with the first.

5. Add insulation and a vapor barrier. Both are available at
your local home improvement store. Placing insulation panels
between the strips increases the R-value of the basement.
The R-value measures the basement's resistance to heat loss.
All you have to do is cut the insulation panel to size and
press it between the strips. The plastic vapor barrier will
help minimize moisture penetration. Staple the barrier to
the strips, but try not to get overly enthusiastic with the
stapler and breaking the surface of the barrier. The more
holes are in the barrier, the more moisture will penetrate.

6. Cut the drywall. Drywall should also be placed ½ in off
the floor in case the floor gets wet. Use a straightedge or
a T-square to mark the cut line on the drywall face. If you
don't have a straightedge or a T-square, use the edge of a
furring strip. Drywall is easy to cut using a utility knife.
Just cut through the paper facing. The piece to be cut off
is then snapped toward the back of the panel. You can then
cut through the paper backing with the utility knife. Easy,
huh?

7. Screw the drywall to the furring strips. The best way to
measure where you need to screw is to snap a chalk line
along the drywall at each furring strip (do you remember
how far apart you placed them?) Use 1 ¼ inch drywall screws
and be careful not to screw so deep that you break the
surface of the face paper.

8. Finishing the wall. Ok, now for a bit of artistry! You can
make the wall look really good - or really, really bad!
Apply a layer of drywall compound in the cracks between the
dry wall sheets. The layer should be about 3 inches wide,
more or less. Then apply a strip of drywall tape and apply
another thin layer of compound over the tape. Then fill in
all the screw holes with compound. Try to make the surface
and smooth as possible (easier said than done!). After the
first layer dries (usually 24-36 hours,) scrape off any
uneven ridges or lumps and apply a thin layer of compound
with a wide putty knife. Sand smooth and you are ready paint!

You now have a blank palette ready for a wide range of
decorating options: bedroom, play room, den, family room, game
room, bonus room, office, gym, workshop or bowling alley. The
choice is yours! The style is yours! Have fun!

Pamela Cole Harris is an editor and writer with 35 years experience. Visit her website, http://www.homeandgardenmakeover.com, for a free newsletter with remodeling, home improvement and decorating ideas for the financially challenged, creatively deficient and technologically illiterate.