If you are interested in changing your flooring you should be aware of all your options from cheap to expensive. With so many flooring options it can be difficult to decide which one is right. Not only do you have to consider the cost, but you also have to look into other details such as durability, your decor, etc.

Price may be most important to you; there is nothing wrong with this. But even then you still have to make decisions on what type of flooring is best. For instance, ceramic tile is going to be cheaper than travertine or slate. It may not look as high end, but it is a cheap option that gives you a similar look and feel. The same holds true when buying wood flooring. Laminate flooring is cheaper than real wood. But while it looks the same in many ways it is not going to appear as high end or as durable to the feet.

As you can see, flooring ranges from cheap to expensive and everything in between. This is true no matter if you are buying tile, wood, vinyl, or carpeting. As a buyer you need to know what type of flooring you are interested in, as well as how much you are willing to spend. Shop with these details in mind, and the perfect flooring will present itself to you soon enough.

photo credit: Velo Steve

Brad Pitt?s Make It Right Foundation was founded as a reaction to Hurricane Katrina and the slow reaction of emergency crews and the government. Town hall meetings brought some issues to light and a unique opportunity. The leveling of sections of the Lower 9^th Ward made it possible to rebuild with an environmental bent that will save money and the environment in the long run. Thus Make It Right was born.

At this point there are 14 new designs for single family and multifamily homes and they will be built in the Lower 9^th Ward of New Orleans along with more than 100 other homes as the reconstruction begins.?

The multifamily home is a new addition to their line up as the Make It Right Director, Tom Darden, knew there would be a demand as they neighborhood used to be filled with this type of home.

Not that there is any bright spot in the devastation that Hurricane Katrina created but there really is an opportunity to bring the area innovative living situations that are affordable, safe, ecoconscious and livable. No matter how you feel about Brad Pitt and his beliefs you have to give him credit for his work in New Orleans as these homes may turn into architectural innovation leaders that people in other regions look to for their own inspiration.

Any remodeling project, big or small, needs a budget. This is true no matter if you are doing it yourself or hiring a professional. Moving forward without a budget is a good way to get into financial trouble. Here are three ways to avoid breaking your budget:

1. For do-it-yourself projects add up all the costs of material before you buy anything. This will give you an idea of whether or not your project is on the right track. You may find that you have more money in your budget, or maybe that you are overdoing things and need to take it back a bit.

2. If hiring a professional you must receive a solid quote before moving forward. This is something that many people forget, and soon enough they regret it. If a contractor does not want to give you a firm quote you should move onto somebody else.

3. Be strong! The best way to stay on budget is to tell yourself ?no? when you get the urge to spend more. You know how much you can spend, but only you can hold yourself to this number.

If you want to stay on budget during your next remodeling project, follow the tips above.

photo credit: pnwra

Water. It is one of the most powerful forces on earth, and dams are what we use to harness it… at least temporarily. Water, besides being the foundation for all life on this planet, is also heavily erosive. Every dam ever built will ultimately fall if it is not maintained. And while the argument may go on forever as to whether the benefits of dams outweigh their drawbacks, they are without doubt some of the most awe-inspiring structures known to man. Below are just a few of the largest and also some of the tallest dams ever constructed.

Three Gorges

Three Gorges Dam

Let’s start off with a big one, literally. The Three Gorges Dam in Sandouping, Yichang, Hubei, China is the largest dam and also the largest hydroelectric power station in the world. It spans the Yangtze river. Although structurally complete, the dam is still being brought online, with additional generators currently being installed. Once completed, its thirty-two main generators will reach a full capacity of 22,500 MW. The dam has also been the site of much controversy. By the time of its completion, approximately 1.24 million people were displaced, because of its construction. The dam also flooded numerous cultural and archeological sites, and contributed to the functional extinction of the Yangtze river dolphin, the Baiji. By volume of material, the Three Gorges Dam measures in at 39,300,000,000 cubic meters.
Image via CC bonnie

Verzasca Dam

photo credit: MuntyPix

This is not one of the largest dams in the world, nor is it even one of the tallest (it ranks in at 25th). Yet it is still, without a doubt, one of the best known. This elegant looking dam can be found in Val Verzasca, Switzerland. So why is it so well known?? This is the bridge James Bond dove off of in the film (and video game) “GoldenEye“. Today, all one needs is a few euros to take a bungee jump off of the bridge themselves. The premiere of the 14th season of “The Amazing Race” featured the contestants diving off this bridge.

Hoover Dam

photo credit: Alex E. Proimos

Arguably the most well known dam in the United States. As with the Verzasca, this dam is also not the biggest nor the tallest. However, when it was first completed in 1936, the Hoover dam was the world’s largest concrete structure, as well as the world’s largest hydroelectric generating station. While keeping in mind that there are now significantly larger dams in the world, if the concrete used to build the Hoover dam were used to create a two lane highway instead, the highway would have reached from New York all the way to San Francisco. Today, the concrete is still curing and therefore growing stronger with each passing year. The dam, obviously named after Herbert Hoover, provides a substantial amount of electricity to many areas of the southwest United States. Recently it was featured in the first Transformers movie.

Nurek Dam

Nurek Dam image via wikipedia

Located in the country of Tajikistan, this earth fill dam is built across the Vakhsh River. So why is it on this list?? At 300 meters it is currently the tallest dam in the world. The dam was completed in 1980 when Tajikistan was still a part of the Soviet Union. The dam took nineteen years to complete. The dam consists of a concrete core surrounded by rock and earth. As with many dams, this one also generates hydroelectric power.

Rogun Dam

Rogun Dam Site via Google Earth

The Rogun is an unfinished neighbor of the Nurek. It began construction in 1976, but the project was eventually put in stasis. It’s currently on this list, because if it is ever finished, it could potentially become the tallest dam in the world. The dam’s projected height was 335 meters. As of now, less than 60 meters are all that remain after it was abandoned. However, in early 2007, Russia and Tajikistan announced they would be partnering up to complete the dam. Currently, there are two plans on the table. One has the dam reaching only 280 to 300 meters high, while the other features the original 335 meter potential height. Which one will they choose?? We’ll just have to wait and see.

Oroville Dam

image via wikipedia

At 235 meters high, this is the tallest dam in the United States. It is located above the city of Oroville in Butte County, California. The dam was completed in 1968 after seven years of construction. The dam was designed with a multitude of purposes in mind including providing a water supply for both drinking and irrigation, flood control, power generation, and creating a better environment for fish and wildlife.

Syncrude Tailings

Coming in at 540,000,000 cubic meters by volume of material, the Syncrude Tailings Dam is the second largest in the world. It is located near Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada. The dam is a barrage dam, built for the purpose of storing tailings left over by the ongoing extractions of oil from the Athabasca Oil Sands. The dam was built between the years 1973 and 1978. It officially began operation, along with the mining effort on September 15th, 1978. Hypothetically, the dam could eventually supercede Three Gorges as the dam will continue to increase in size as long as the mining operations continue. It does however have a long, long way to go, so it is considerably unlikely this will ever happen.

New Cornelia Tailings

At 210,000,000 cubic meters, this dam is less than half the size of the Syncrude Tailings dam, but it is still the largest dam in the United States. As with other tailings dams, this dam was created to store the tailing created by a mine. In this case, the mine in question is the New Cornelia Mine. This mine has been inactive since 1983, but there has been talk of beginning a project to mine the tailings themselves.

Dams are without a doubt modern monoliths and a testament to the capability of mankind’s engineering prowess. And as with anything that exists in the realm of extremes, dams can either create a lot of good or much harm depending on how and where they are built. Responsibility is key when creating these massive structures.

Los Angeles is known for being home to some fairly unusual people; it’s also built upon the back of Hollywood, a very unusual industry. So it goes without saying that Los Angeles has a few unusual buildings. Here are a few that stand out from the crowd. (more…)

The number of bathrooms in your home has a lot to do with its value. Generally speaking, more bathrooms are better. If you are interested in adding a bathroom you should be aware of what goes into the process. Yes, it is a great idea and you will add value to your home. But at the same time you need to realize that this is a big undertaking.

The first thing to consider is space. Where are you going to add your new bathroom? Since every home is different there is more than one answer to this question. You may have the space to add a bathroom on the first or second floor of your home. Or maybe the only place for this is in your basement. If you are interested in adding a bathroom the first thing you must do is determine where it will be located.

Now that you know where you want to add your bathroom you have to think about how much work will go into adding plumbing. If your new bathroom will be on the other side of the wall from an existing one, things will be much easier on you and anybody you hire. Your plumber should be able to gain access to the existing pipes and use them in your new space. The placement of the pipes in your home may determine where you can and cannot add a bathroom.

What you include in your new bathroom is up to you. Do you just want a sink and toilet? Do you want to add a shower as well? A lot of these questions will be answered once you decide on a space, and of course, when you set a budget for the project.

When you add a bathroom you are adding value. Just make sure you are ready for a big job.

As a property manager you should be thinking about which repairs you can complete on your own. Remember, do-it-yourself repairs can save you a lot of money. A professional will charge you quite a bit for both parts and labor. This doesn?t mean that you should handle every repair on your own, but you can definitely look into this from time to time.

Believe it or not, do-it-yourself repairs can do more than save you money. They can also be a lot of fun. There is something exciting about using your own two hands to make a repair. Of course, you need to know what you can do and what you should outsource to professionals. It is one thing to fix and paint a few walls, but another entirely to install a new furnace. How much knowledge do you have of the home repair industry?

As you learn more you will find that do-it-yourself repairs are becoming more and more fun. Who knows, you may even want to enhance your skills to the point that you can handle pretty much anything that comes along, including big jobs.

All in all, do-it-yourself repairs can be fun while also helping you save money. If you are a homeowner or landlord you should definitely learn as much as you can about making your own repairs and upgrades.

There is nothing worse in a home than a dirty, dingy bathroom. Who wants to get clean in a space that is so unappealing? Fortunately, your bathroom doesn?t have to be the downfall of your home any longer. You can make some basic changes that will have your bathroom looking better in no time at all.

One of the simplest upgrade that is sure to work is adding a fresh coat of paint. No matter what color your walls are, you can change this in a couple of hours and some hard work. All you have to do is apply a quality primer, wait for it to dry, and then roll on your new color. Don?t forget to add a fresh coat to the ceiling as well.

While fresh paint is important, there are probably other areas of your bathroom that you want to change as well. Before you think about big changes, first consider if minor upgrades will do the job. Why change out your entire vanity when you can buy a new faucet and hardware??

It is often times the smallest changes that can turn a dingy bathroom into a spa-like oasis. These minor changes will not only make your bathroom look better, but will also allow you to keep more money in your budget for other repairs throughout your property.

A dingy bathroom has no place in your home. If you are tired of this, consider making the proper upgrades today.

Is your kitchen outdated? Is it in desperate need of new life? If so, one change that may transform your room is new kitchen cabinets. Old cabinets date your kitchen. New cabinets showoff a modern, upscale look. In many cases, new kitchen cabinets may be all you need.

You have two basic options when choosing new kitchen cabinets. You can buy those that are in-stock and readily available at any large home improvement store such as Home Depot or Lowes. Or you can opt for custom cabinets. There are pros and cons of both.

In-stock cabinets cost less, but are not always as upscale or appealing as custom pieces. That being said, you should note that in-stock cabinets come in a variety of sizes, styles, and colors. You may be able to find what you want and save money in the process.

If you want custom cabinets you will have to find somebody who can take the order and send it off to the manufacturer, or contact the right person directly. With custom kitchen cabinets you will get exactly what you want. Do you need a unique size? This can be done. How about a stain that you have not seen anywhere else? Again, this is doable. You are paying more for custom cabinets, but you get exactly what you want.

New kitchen cabinets, no matter what kind they are, will surely update your space. Choose the ones that will work best for the current d?cor or your home, and be ready to smile when they are all installed!

photo credit: Nils.Woxholt

Many people dream of a home on the water, the serene comfort of having at least one side of the home facing glistening shores. For some the dream goes beyond the location to the home itself and that’s where those dreams take an unusual turn. These eye-catching waterfront homes have startling views but the views are of the houses not the water.

Castle Meur

Nestled between gigantic boulders this unassuming home, dubbed Castle Meur, seems to shrink from invaders and rightly so as the home on Pointe de Plougrescant was built between the rocks as protection from high winds and storms. This 1861 gem is still owned by the original family although its currently only used as an occasional vacation home.

Robert Bruno’s Steel House

Slightly reminiscent of a ViewFinder or an alien pod, Robert Bruno’s Steel House was created by a sculptural architect with a vision in mind. Having spent approximately three decades creating this masterpiece the resulting structure is a home you either love or hate, but no matter what you’ll take a second look.

The Orchid House

Surprisingly, the Orchid House in Cotswold has drawn a lot of attention for its 7.2 million pound price tag, AND the home isn’t even built yet. This innovative and purportedly eco friendly residence is set to take three years to construct. Unbelievably, it’s expected to produce more energy than it consumes, but that remains to be seen.