By Paul Petrusma

 So youve had your architect-designed home addition approved for construction and are now ready to engage a builder to do the work.
Putting on first floor home additions is for many people one of the largest single investments they will make, second only to the purchase of the house itself.
Using the right builder can make the difference between a smooth worry-free experience, and 12 months or more of pure stress.
In this article, Paul Petrusma shows how, by selecting the right builder, you can maximise the success of your home improvement project while avoiding unnecessary headaches.

1.Stay in Control of your Budget
You will likely have been given a ballpark estimate of the building cost to use as the basis for your project budget. While this is generally a good starting point, each home renovation project is unique and you do not want to be stung with additional costs which were not included in the price. In other words, the devil is in the detail.
Obtain a Fixed-Price Quotation. The only way to stay in control of your budget is to insist on a detailed, fixed price Quotation from each Builder that you approach to do the work, a Quotation that specifies everything the Builder will take responsibility for. Read the Quotation document carefully. If it isnt listed, then its not likely to be included. Who will pay for internal painting, inspection for hazardous materials (and removal if found), pest inspection, Council damage deposit, Construction Certificate, final inspection fees, etc? Insist that the builder be specific for example include window frame colours (non-standard colours are often dearer). Some builders charge a small fee to produce a detailed fixed price Quotation; this is likely to be money well spent given the peace of mind that comes from knowing that your budget cost will not blow out.
Prime Cost allowances are typically included in a Quotation for items you will select yourself during construction, such as bathroom hardware. If you select an item more expensive than the allowance, you will be required to pay the balance. If, on the other hand, you select one that is cheaper than the allowance then you should receive a credit for the difference. For a meaningful price comparison between quotations, make sure you include the Prime Cost allowance.
Provisional Sums are allowances the Builder has included for works that could not be costed at this time because the scope of the work may not be clear until demolition works are done. It is a best guess by the Builder and you will typically be required to pay any amount over the allowance stated (or receive a credit if the actual cost is less than the allowance). If Provisional Sums vary immensely between quotes, ask the Builder why this is the case.

2.Minimise the Problem of Construction Delays & Poor Quality
Quality. First floor home additions are a specialised type of construction, employing different techniques and systems than those used for new home construction or ground floor extensions. Dont leave quality to chance. Here are some ideas:
Check your local Department of Fair Trading for the builders rating
Find a builder who has won awards for their home addition projects
Speak to past clients or review client testimonials
Ask the Builder what quality control systems they utilise. For example, do they verify the measurements on the plans you provide in order to minimise potential construction problems?
Warranties. While warranties against deficient structural work is provided through NSW legislation, having minor defects repaired can be a more arduous process, particularly for problems discovered only after you take occupation of the new room(s). Make sure that your builder provides a minor defects warranty for at least 6 months after completion.
Construction Time. The maximum time to build should be written into the building contract. As a guide, expect a $300,000 addition to take up to 5 months to complete. If the contract duration is longer, you may be in for some unwelcome delays

3.Address Construction Issues Before They Begin
Construction Supervisor. You will likely be allocated a Construction Supervisor who will oversee the trade contractors working on your project. The Supervisors role is to ensure that construction times and quality are achieved, and that any concerns you may have during construction are heeded. Obtain a commitment that the Supervisor will attend your site on a daily basis during construction and will keep you fully informed on progress.
Emergency Contact Numbers. Make sure that the Builder has a 24/7 contact number in case of emergency during construction, such as storm damage. You should also be given back up contact numbers in case you are unable to reach your Construction Supervisor.
Protecting Your Belongings. Your roof area and parts of the ground floor will become a construction site. Most builders will not insure against damage to your home contents so it is advisable to remove fragile items such as chandeliers or antiques to avoid the risk of damage. You should also check with the builder as to the precautions to be taken to maintain property security.

Paul Petrusma is a director of Cape Cod Australia, pioneers of the house renovations industry in Sydney in 1965. Using a service-driven company with extensive experience in first floor home improvement contractors will avoid a multitude of worries during what is a major house renovation project.

By Daniel Cargille

 Vinyl siding is an amazing option for your home. It's light, durable, long-lasting, low-maintenance and comes in a variety of colors so you can match it to your preferences. There is a world of options outside of vinyl however that can add a very elegant, rustic or modern sense of style to your home. Some are more expensive than others with varying durability and ultimately it comes down to your personal preference and the siding that matches the architecture of your home.

Stucco Siding - Stucco is a very old and still very functional method of finishing a home's exterior. It is favored mainly in the west and southwest portions of the country. It is basically a form of cement with other materials mixed in such as lime or sand. Because stucco siding can be tinted in many colors and be made with many patterns and designs it is quite capable of being one of the more artistic exteriors.

Stone Veneer Siding - All of the most ancient surviving wonders in the world are monolithic or stone structures. This highlights the durability and strength of some stones as building materials. Stone veneering can be expensive, of that there is no doubt. However there are few if any materials that can match the strength, durability and timeless beauty of granite, slate, and other types of stone facing.

Cement Fiber siding - Many home owners would love to have the rustic and natural beauty of wood facing on their home but not everyone wants to have to deal with the maintenance natural wood requires. Fiber cement siding is an answer to this dilemma because it is a very malleable material that can be cast to look just like wood, stone, or even stucco. It also has a few benefits that wood doesn't have such as, it is termite proof, fire resistant, can be shaped just like wood and generally has a long spanning warranty.

Brick Siding - Brick has been in use for ages. Although its durability doesn't hold up compared to some of the hardest stone it is still one of the top contenders as a facing material. It can be manufactured in a variety of pleasing earthy colors and although it is more expensive it is well worth the investment. Its weather, fire and pest resistance is quite high. When installed correctly it can last greater than a century and will need very little if any maintenance in the first quarter of that century.

Cedar Shingle Siding - Homes dressed down in cedar shingles (or shakes) look very naturally, as if they belong with their surroundings. The cedar helps a home blend in well with the surrounding landscape. Made from pure cedar, these shingles are often stained to resemble deep earth tones. The benefit of cedar is that it's a strong, durable wood. If offers the natural look of real wood on the home without the maintenance of common clapboard.

Engineered Wood - Some homeowners choose to go the route of composite wood or engineered wood for the siding on their home. OSB, hardboard and veneered plywood are examples of engineered wood products. These products and other types of siding panels are easy to install and relatively inexpensive when compared to other siding materials. The downside is that while it does resemble wood, the textured grain is uniform so up close you lose the natural wood appearance.

Whether you need siding Charlottesville or windows Charlottesville, we have all the exterior home improvement options you need to make your house look like a home. Personalize your property and start living comfortably again.

By Tony Trussol

 If you've experienced appliance repair before, you know that some appliance repair services can prove costly and when one appliance breaks down, it's shortly followed by another fault in a different appliance. Everything seems to malfunction at the same time. This article contains a few hints and tips on appliance repair which you may want to consider before you eventually call the engineer.

Firstly make sure you've read the appliance instructions and manual before you do anything. The problem could be very simple and you may need to connect a cable or reconnect a wire. We all take manuals for granted, but they are included for a reason and that is to provide us with a basic understanding of parts and components and how they all work together. So to avoid any unnecessary cost, read through the manual and make sure that everything is fitted together properly.

You may also still have warranty with the appliance. Most manufacturers and retailers offer a standard twelve month warranty with their appliance which covers breakdowns and repairs which will also save time and cost. If your appliance has a fault, instead of calling private companies, call the retailer from which you bought the appliance and explain the fault. They will usual send out a repair team to you which are covered by the cost of the warranty. Sometimes you can exacerbate the problem by attempting to repair the appliance, and so try to avoid this if possible as it may void your warranty.

If you have experience in repairing appliances (gas appliance installation, cooker repairs, washing machine repairs etc), then of course use your knowledge if it will save cost. Gather all of the information need about the job, read the manual, gather all of the tools necessary and do your best. There are many fault specific repair tutorials on the internet in both video and text format and they will guide you through the job. Try asking other home owners if they've had the same problem and what they did to resolve it. They may recommend a very good company or they may point you to online reviews of companies. There are hundreds of comparison websites on the internet comparing companies through cost and efficiency so make the most out of the tools available to you. Assess your options and have your appliance repaired.

Whether a washing machine repair or an oven repair, they can all be stressful. Use these hints and tips to get the best deals on appliance repair.

By johnlium woods

 There are numerous motivations for putting in new sliding closet doors. One of these reasons may be that the current ones are not working correctly. They may just worn out or they are damaged. It could just be a desire to change style. If you are going to replace the doors there area few things to keep in mind.

The dimensions of the current door will have to be taken. This measurement is needed when going to choose a new door. It would be a regrettable mistake to get the wrong size of door.

Home improvement stores are the usual places to buy replacement sliding closet doors. It is recommended to compare prices and quality of what more than one store has to offer. You might be able to see some samples on the internet. However, you will want to see them at the store and check out their quality before buying them.

Select a door that has the same style as the room it is going to be in. Consideration should also be made regarding who will be the one usually opening and shutting the door. If you are putting it in the room of a child make sure they can operate it.

There is a myriad of choices for new doors. They also come in a large cost range. It is ideal if you can budget for at least one that is of mid range quality. The cheapest door is not going to stand up to the abuse it will have to take. A color of door must also be chosen.

Many people by there door already stained or painted. Others choose to buy an unfinished wooden door. A wooden door can be painted or stained to be whatever color is desired. It should be done before installation. The door needs to be completely dry before it is handled and installed.

Remove the old doors and properly dispose of them. They should be easy to get out since they are resting on tracks. There are some models that have a locking mechanism. The mechanism is not hard to disable. Once the doors are out the tracks the tracks can be removed.

There is no need to keep the existing hardware. It is possible to reuse the guides for the door if they are mounted in the floor. If they are damaged they need to be removed. Install the new track where the old one was previously. It can be cut to fit if it is too long.

The next steps are to mount the brackets where the old ones were. There are usually screws included with the door. The rollers are then connected to the upper inside edge of the door. If they are already there then this step can be skipped.

The project is almost done when the doors are lifted into place. This is accomplished best by more than one person. This will help to make sure it is aligned properly. The project is not completed until you make sure the person who will be using the door can open and close it easily. The sliding closet doors are now ready for years of use.

Get the low down on the basics of easily installing sliding closet doors now in our comprehensive guide to closet doors .