If you’re thinking about building or repairing your home, you might want to consider some green options.  No, I don’t meant painting your house green (although you certainly can if it suits you), I’m talking about making eco friendly choices.

Certainly one of the first things that comes to mind is using “green” products.  Low VOC carpets and floors and cabinetry made from renewable resources like cork and bamboo should be high on your choice list. VOC’s are organic (carbon-containing) compounds that evaporate at room temperature. These compounds are used as solvents, degreasers, paints, thinners and fuels. In the kitchen and in bathrooms, you could choose recycled glass countertops that add a unique touch to the kitchen and are a great way to put old glass to use.  These countertops come in many color combinations and resemble artful mosaics which lend a classy air to your room.

If you are redoing your heating, then look into solar or wind power.  Wind power might not be practical for all homes since you need to have quite a bit of land and a high area for the turbine.  Solar power, on the other hand, can be adapted to almost anywhere.  You can actually make you own solar panels for a little under $200 each.  You can find out how by reading another post of mine Home Made Solar Panels.  If putting in a solar system is still not within your reach, you should at least make sure that you insulate properly and use quality windows and tight fitting seals on your doors to minimize heat loss.

Avoiding use of paints and glues that produce air pollution is another consideration.  This is not only important for the environment, but for your health as well.  Toxic fumes can build up in your home and are bad for your health.  In fact, the EPA estimates that the pollution inside your home can be up to 100 times worse than that outside the home!  In order to have cleaner air inside, use water based paints instead of oil based and avoid products that have a lot of adhesives.  When you do need to use adhesive, try to make sure they are as “green” as possible.

Luckily, there are plenty of options in eco-friendly materials and you don’t have to sacrifice beauty or function to go green.  When choosing the new materials and items for your home, be sure you do your homework and look for eco-friendly options, I think you will find plenty of items that fit in your new design!

There are so many ways you can make your Home Improvement experience better…

Now that you have found a good contractor after following my steps in “The Hard Part: Finding the Right Contractor” its time to talk about the small things you can do to make sure your experience is a pleasant one.   On the first day the workers show up the boss, salesperson, or owner will probably be there to give the foreman some instructions and introduce you to him.  If he doesn’t, make it a point to introduce yourself because chances are he will be the one you are dealing with most often.  If the two of you can get along it will make your day and his work much easier.  It is good to get the names of all of the workers as time passes on your job, just make sure not to talk to them too much because you might get them in trouble with their boss.  Those are probably obvious to but this next one may not be:

Tip the workers early!!!

I konw what you are thinking, Why would I tip someone before the job is completed?  Think of the word TIPS: To Insure Proper Service, by starting of on this foot you are now a “good” homeowner in all of their eyes.  You may even want to tip small at the beginning and again at the end (if deserved).  So even if they come into work one day angry at their boss they will keep the quality of their work high for you, not for him.  If you don’t want to give them cash you could always buy a pizza or two they will appreciate it just the same.  The absolute least you should do is offer them a cold or hot drink depending on the season.  Really to sum this paragraph up ther are two sentences they will use to describe you:

1. They are really nice people. OR
2. Cheap skates didn’t even offer us a glass of water.

I can almost promise if it is #2 your home will reflect it!

Dealing with the owner/salesperson…

This is where I recommend you be more formal and keep everything in writing.  Things you would like to edit about the original contract should always be handled in writing and should be as specific as possible.  I say this for the protection of all parties involved yours and the contractors.  You don’t want to get hit with a large “Extras” bill upon completion of your job so by doing this there will be no suprises.  On the same note it’s not fair to start haggling with the contractor over price after the work is completed.  If you have ever watched a judge show on daytime tv you should know the first thing they want to see is the contract.  Here’s a scenario for you to picture yourself  in:  You hire a contractor to remodel your kitchen. Halfway through your project you decide you would like to add a backsplash he says sure give me another $500 you agree.  He installs the tiles upright but you wanted them on a 45 degree angle.  You end up in small claims court trying to get your money back or the job fixed but when you show the contract to the judge there’s no mention of a backsplash at all.  Now your stuck with something you don’t like or you have to shell out more money to have it done right.  Either way you lose!

How you deal with the workers and the salespeople can be the difference between being happy, satisfied, or downright angry.

Always here to help                                                                                                                      ~Johnny

When it comes to saving the planet and saving some money on your energy bill, lighting can play a key role.  Did you know thatlighting can account for about 30% of your energy bill?  Changing your standard light bulbs to more energy efficient options can save you quite a bit.  Not to mention the positive impact on the environment.  Here are some tips for more energy efficient lighting:

The first thing you should do is switch to compact fluorescent lighting (CFL).  That’s those swirly lights that have a whiter glow to them than the incandescent lights.  While these might cost a bit more than the regular incandescent lights, they use only about 25% of the electricity so they can have a big impact on your lighting bill. They last a lot longer than regular bulbs too so you won’t have to replace them as often.  If you consider their usage and durability they are actually cheaper than regular bulbs.

LED light bulbs are a newcomer to the energy efficient lighting market and have a few advantages over CFL’s.  They have a brighter light and don’t take time to “warm up” and reach their full lighting.  They also cost less to run and last even longer than CFL’s reducing your energy usage by 80-90% and lasting over 100,000 hours.  These by far are you best option.

When it comes to lighting outside the home, the energy conscientious consumer might want to consider solar lighting.  Lights for walkways, driveways and outside the front door can collect energy from the sun during the day and use it to power their lights during the night.  A great way to light up your home without using any energy at all.  To learn how to build your own solar panels check out Earth4Energy they have detailed step by step illustrated instructions and even videos for less than 50 bucks the knowledge is priceless. You can read my review on them by clicking here.

In addition to using more efficient light bulbs, there are some things you can do to help reduce the amount of energy you use for lighting. First of all, you want to be sure that you don’t use lights unnecessarily.  When no one is home or when a room is empty, be sure to turn the lights off.  During the daytime, open the blinds and let the sunshine in instead of using indoor lighting.  Using motion sensors can help to insure lights turn on only when needed.

When it comes to lighting, you need to have the right amount for the tasks you intend to do.  While you don’t want to skimp or have poor lighting in important areas like the kitchen, you also want to be cognizant of when to use the lights and when to flip the switch.  Remember reducing your use of electricity helps to reduce CO2 emissions into the air since the plants that produce electricity are largely coal burning plants which can add to global warming.  A little bit of prudence on your part can make a big difference in the stability of our environment.

Eco-friendly made affordable

I want to give you a little background information about me, I rent my home in Long Island and pay over $2200 a month for rent on a 3 bedroom home with utilities included.  But in my lease it states that I have to pay $30 dollars per month, per air conditioner and because I refuse to suffer in the heat I paid over $600 for the 2008 summer season which isn’t even that long in New York.  So when I heard that I could build my own home made solar panels for about $200 I was intrigued and on the hunt for the best instructions I could find.

Building your own solar panels, I know sounds scary.

After a few hours of reading page after page of sales pitches, testimonials and reviews I found a winner:

Earth4energy

What really drew me to them is that they give you links to purchase all of the necessary materials, you get free updates for life, and of course the money back guarantee.  Heck they even give you the IRS tax rebate forms but like I said I rent so that don’t mean anything to me but it might to you.  They also have wind energy solutions too for those cloudy days and even show you how and where to get free batteries to store unused power.  I also have intentions on building and selling systems for a decent profit so you will be hearing how that pans out in a few months time something you may also want to consider.  Another good thing about this product is you can build your panels 1 or 2 at a time, which is good because what if you can’t or just don’t want to cough up the 10’s of thousands that solar contractor’s charge.  Priceless information and they sell it for less than $50 you can’t beat that.

And if you do need help you can always count on me.

Always Here to Help
~Johnny

Going Green In The Kitchen: It’s easier than you think.

Going green in the kitchen includes everything from what you eat to how you cook it.  There’s a bunch of things you can do in your kitchen that will help lessen your impact on the environment.  From using a water saving faucet, to energy efficient appliances to cleaning with non-toxic cleaners, going green in the kitchen can be great for the environment as well as for your budget.

One little thing you can do is reduce your use of paper towels.  My family used several rolls of paper towels a week but we reduced our usage by keeping some cloth towels handy in the kitchen and using those for wiping our hands, spills and other uses that would normally call for a paper towel.  You’ll save money on paper towels and there will be less of them in the landfill which, in turn, helps the environment.  Also, the less paper towels that are produced, the less pollution in the air from those manufacturing plants.

Did you know that some types of cooking are more energy efficient than others?  While many cooks love a gas stove, the fact is that the newer model electric stoves are more energy efficient.  Using a toaster oven or microwave instead of using your big oven, you can drastically reduce the energy used for cooking.

Another thing you can do in the kitchen to help the environment is buy local whenever you can.  While this might seem like a small thing, transporting food is actually a big drag on the environment.  Flying bananas into upstate New York from the tropics can be costly in terms of air pollution.  Not to mention that foods from the grocery store can are usually loaded with pesticides and your local growers probably don’t put as much junk on their crops.  Plus, with the economy the way it is it’s nice to support the farmers in your own community.

Reduce your waste by using reusable cloth grocery bags, reusing jars and composting organic materials.  You can compost your kitchen scraps, paper and even cardboard.  This will make great fodder for your garden and does double duty as it acts as an organic fertilizer saving you from buying fertilizer which saves you money and ensures that harmful chemicals don’t leach into the environment from commercial fertilizers you might have had to purchase.

The absolute most important thing you can do to go greener in the kitchen is to recycle.  I think it is sad that most schoolchildren know more than their parents about recycling.  So are you smarter than a 5th grader?  Just be sure to check the rules at your landfill as to what has to be separated out and buy yourself some bins (Call your local sanitation department they may give them to you for free!) to help you keep things separate.

Last but not least you want to keep the environment in mind when you clean.  Cleaners full of chemicals can be bad for the environment and the fumes from these can be harmful to the health of yourself and your family.  There are plenty of natural things you can use for cleaning like vinegar, baking soda and tea tree oil that will help keep your kitchen sparkling without harming you or the environment.

10 Things You Can Do Today To Go Green

Everyone wants to help the environment but a lot of people think that in order to do so they have to drastically change their lifestyle or fork out a lot of cash.  But the real truth is there are a lot of things you can start doing today that won’t cost you much, and will most likely save you money!  While these might seem like small things, all these little things add up and if we all did just a few of them, it could save the world for our kids, grandchildren, and every future generation after that.

Here are 10 “green” things you can do that won’t crimp your style or your wallet:

1. Use recyclable cloth grocery bags instead of plastic – plastic bags take eons to degrade and can be harmful to wildlife.  Cloth bags only cost you $1 and most grocery stores even give you a rebate every time you use them.  Not only that but they’re stronger, fit more groceries, can be used over and over again for anything and are easier to carry!

2. Buy reusable coffee filters you’ll never run out!

3. Start a compost pile with your kitchen scraps. Not only will you have great organic fertilizer for your garden you will also be making good use of your scraps.

4. Use cloth kitchen towels instead of paper towels.  I really recommend ShamWow I just bought them last week and it really is amazing. So amzing I bought 2 more sets already.

5. Buy used, need a new sofa or TV?  Try looking at your local consignment store or in the classifieds.  You can get like new items for a fraction of the price and it keeps those items out of the landfill.

6. Curb your printing. Just ask yourself  ”Do I really need to print this out?”  Every time you say no you’ll save money on paper and ink.  At around $25 a cartridge it will add up quick.

7. Get your news online – instead of getting a newspaper just go online and read your local news.  Nowadays almost every newspaper has webpage where you can get late breaking news.

8. Work from home or you could organize a carpool.  You’ll be producing less carbon emissions and saving on gas. (plus you’ll probably get a lot more done without your boss staring over your shoulder!)

9. Buy from local farmers,  flying and trucking food all over the world creates a lot of pollution so try to support your local farmers and buy as much food as you can there.  It will be healthier for you and the environment.

10. Turn down your water heater, most people have their water heater up too high 120 degrees is fine and make sure you wrap it with insulation.  This will help it run more efficiently and save you on heating costs.  You can save even more by insulating the pipes coming out of the water heater.

There’s so much more you can do to help the environment but it can be overwhelming to try too many things at once.  Start with some of the tips above and, when those become 2nd nature take on more green living activities.  Before you know it you’ll have more money to spend and be living an eco-friendly lifestyle!

All right time for part 2.  I know it took a few days sorry but it’s been a hectic week at work. Today we are going to inspect and repair our copper flashing and be filling our shingles back in.  For those of you who missed Part 1 click here.

Inspecting and repairing copper flashing.

There are two common ways that you flashing can be damaged. The first is an obvious one, are the any nails going through your flashing? If so pull them out and seal the hole with your sealant.  The second and less obvious are the welds in the 4 corners of your skylight check them for cracks,  again fill them with sealant and make sure to press the sealant in with something (I always use a peice of garbage shingle). Now if it’s wasn’t done when your roof was installed apply sealant on the top and sides where the flashing and underlayment meet.  Don’t caulk the bottom because if any water or moisture gets under the flashing you want to make sure it has a way out. When caulking the sides be careful not to get it inside of the lip on the flashing if it happens just clean it off, that’s where you want the water to run down and that lip stops it from getting in your house.  All repaired and sealed lets move right along.

Replacing the Asphalt shingles.

The hardest part of any roof job is getting the shingles on the roof so please be careful do a 1/2 or 1/4 bundle at a time if you have to.  Okay starting at the lowest course of shingle you removed flip a new shingle upside down with the face up. Using your utility knife or snips cut the shingle to size and nail it in place making sure not to nail through the flashing. Repeat that up both sides of the skylight.  When you get to the top notch around the skylight only cutting off what is necessary.  Now fill in the remaining courses sliding the last course we removed under the roof.  Remember to re-nail the shingles we loosened when we started.

Wel there’s nothing left to do now but grab a cold one and feel great that you just saved at least 400 bucks.  If you run into any trouble along the way you can always me on my contact page, by leaving a comment or by email at Johnny@homerepairhelper.com.  Till next time…

Always here to help

~Johnny

It’s still the very beginning of Home Repair Helper but I feel like giving something away and the rules are as simple as can be.   Subscribe to my blog by email (and click the link in the confirmation email) and then your entered in the raffle.   Just for being willing to receive helpful home improvement advice you get a shot at winning a $10 home depot gift card.   Now I know there’s not a lot of content here yet but quality takes time.  I am going to hold the raffle when I reach 25 confirmed email subscribers to keep the chances of winning higher for you.  The winner will recieve an email with instructions to claim their prize.

Getting in on the ground level of a site with quality content could also be great for you.  If there’s a repair around your house that you don’t want to pay someone to do or aren’t exactly sure how to do, visit my Contact page and let me know.  It could be a future post geared specifically to helping you with your problem.  It’s a win-win for both of us: I build content and you get personal solutions.

Short and sweet for today.  Good Luck!

Always here to help,

Johnny

PS> I am in no way affiliated with Home Depot to go to their official site click here