HOME PAGE                ABOUT US          PRIVACY        CONTACT US


Simple, Fast, Free Estimates!
No Obligation, Find Out How Much You Can Save !


    


...........................................................................




 

 

Thank you for visiting our remodeling contractors website.

   Our remodeling contractors estimate general contractor website is designed exclusively for the homeowner and/or renter to get their job done efficiently and in a timely manner.

  We are dedicated to giving you an easy estimate request form for your remodeling project and following up with prompt and courteous service. We believe that between the customers request and our contractors skill your home improvement project will be a wonderful and delightful experience.

  Fill out the easy form and give us an idea of the project you wish to complete and you will receive an estimate from a qualified and licensed contractor. The benefit of a licensed contractor gives you assurance that your project is in capable hands and the job will be done right from start to finish.



Bathroom Trivia

A bathroom is a room that may have different functions depending on the cultural context it is used in.

In its literal sense it means 'a room with a bath', but as bathtubs have partly made way for showers and steam showers, the more general sense of 'a room where one bathes' makes more sense. There can be just a shower or just a bathtub or both, sometimes combined and sometimes separate (in which case the bathtub may have a second shower). Usually, it also contains a handbasin or sink and often also a toilet. In the USA, 'bathroom' commonly means 'a room containing a toilet' (in other countries this is usually called 'toilet' or alternatively 'water closet' (or 'WC'), or 'lavatory'). For this interpretation of the word see bathroom (American). If a bathroom facility is attached to a bedroom it is often known as an en-suite or if it's attached to a master bedroom it's known as a master bathroom.

A half (1/2) bath contains a toilet and a handbasin (lavatory). A 3/4 bath contains a toilet, a handbasin (lavatory) and a shower. A full bath contains a toilet, a handbasin (lavatory) and a bathtub.

  For information and articles about contractor laws and licensing we have included a link for your convenience. To find out more, simply click on the corresponding state you wish to obtain information from. - Home improvement contractor info

Additional information and resources:

Read Home Decorating Articles - We have included a great resource link for you to get ideas about designing to compliment any home improvement project. The link will open in a new window so you may keep our estimate form open for easy access.

Find Decorating Pictures - Finally...a source for interior decorating and gardening pictures! A giant selection of home and garden, and interior decorating from a great website that will give you many ideas about updating your home with an array of well thought ideas. Link opens in new window so you may return for an estimate.




Design considerations

The design of a bathroom must account for the use of both hot and cold water, in significant quantities, for cleaning the human body. Disposal of the water usually leads to a sewer or septic tank. Water may be splashed on the walls and floor and hot humid air may cause condensation on cold surfaces. From a decorating point of view the bathroom presents a challenge. Ceiling, wall and floor materials and coverings should be impervious to water and readily and easily cleaned. The use of ceramic or glass, as well as smooth plastic materials, is common in bathrooms for their ease of cleaning. However, such surfaces are often cold to the touch and so water-resistant bath mats or even bathroom carpets may be used on the floor to make the room more comfortable. Alternatively, the floor may be heated, possibly by startegically placing heater conduits close to the surface.

Electrical appliances, such as lights, heaters and heated towel rails generally need to be installed as fixtures, with permanent connections rather than plugs and sockets. This minimises the risk of electric shock. Ground-fault circuit interruptor electrical sockets can reduce the risk of electric shock, and are required for bathroom socket installation by electrical and building codes in the United States and Canada. In some countries, such as the UK, only special sockets suitable for electric shavers are permitted in bathrooms, and are labelled as such.

Bathrooms can also be a source of decorative inspiration. One can easily decorate the bathroom by choosing shower curtains or cubicles to match a theme.




Home Improvement Information

Planning Permission Tips UK - Permitted Development Allowances - Not the Golden Goose You Imagine


There is a perception amongst most folk that every house is allowed a certain percentage of extension development without the need for formal Planning Permission. People seem to think that it applies to them even when they purchase an already extended property.

The Permitted development allowances as contained within the GPDO 1995, Statutory instrument 1995 No. 418 is a minefield of criteria & restrictions with affecting paragraphs & clarifications all over the document which has lead to a vast array of interpretations from homeowners, agents & Planning Authorities, some of which has been challenged in the courts. It is so cumbersome that there is even a government discussion document out at the moment seeking to address these issues that should result in an update or complete new legislation document in the coming months so watch this space.

This News Letter is far too short to go into every issue of what you can & cannot build within the curtilage of a dwelling house without formal Planning Permission (unless you have purchased my MAXIMUM BUILD PLANNING GUIDE OF COURSE???) but it may be advantageous to subscribers of this news letter to highlight some of the more common 'trip up' clauses that will prevent you from erecting your extension, outbuilding or alterations to your property as follows:-

1. Site zoning - if your property is within a conservation area or Area of outstanding natural Beauty or a National park then your PD limits may be fully withdrawn or limited from normal.

2. New dwellings - If your property was part of an estate, small infill development, one off build etc. within the last 15 years then there is a good chance that the Planners cleverly by stealth removed the PD rights to the property as part of the original Planning Approval as a Planning Condition. This is to maintain control over your property in most aspects for the future. Even older housing estates may have their PD rights lifted so do check first. This is the most common of all reasons why most ordinary householder hopes are dashed at the outset or illegal buildings are erected in the first place.

3. Previously extended properties - If you are purchasing a property that has already been extended then it is likely that no further PD rights exist applicable to extending a dwelling. 70 cubic metres is not a great deal of extension volume.

4. Ancillary outbuildings - These have minimum distance requirements from the house & to a highway. They also have strict ridge & Flat roof heights & are again affected by the sites zoning as in item 1 above. The use must also be ancillary and contain no bed space. So no granny annexes, office suites or huge buildings that cannot be classified as an 'ancillary use'.

5. Extension heights - If it is over 4M high within 2M of a boundary then sorry but no go here as well.

6. Fence heights - Normally 1M max. close to a highway or 2M in most other cases.

7. Roof Dormers - if they exceed the existing ridge line, front towards a highway (that means paths as well) or are greater than 40/50 cubic metres (terrace/other) or within a conservation area then no go for building them without Planning.

8. Porches - that do not cover a doorway or exceed 3 square metres or exceed 3M high or are within 2 Metres to a highway do not comply with PD - you will need Planning Permission.

There are more areas of 'trip ups' but the ones listed above are the main common catches that most people fall into from time to time.

The solution is to always check the constraining details with your local Planning Dept. with what you want to do & get it 'informally' agreed in writing. This aspect is actually harder to obtain than you think as most Councils now want you to apply for a Certificate of Lawfulness (C of E) which is a legally binding document that confirms (or denies) that you do not require formal Planning Approval for your scheme.

You see the council have an unfair 'get out of jail free' card where their 'opinion letters' outside of a C of E are not legally binding? - Isn't that great! Can you imagine what the world would become if we were are all granted that sort of 'cop out' licence in our correspondence & professional opinions?

Cynical I may be but this sort of evasion of duty & responsibility really guiles me. The down side is when applying for a C of E is that you need proper drawings showing all aspects of the design, siting & location plan etc. which is not normally achievable in a DIY format by the householder, you need to pay a fee (currently £55.00) & surprise, surprise - it takes about 2 months!!!! to decide. - ere.......excuse me....but doesn't that sound just like a Planning application - YES - to be informed that you don't need planning in the first place! - what a great ploy & clever thinking by the boys at Whitehall. I think the phrase is....'you couldn't possibly make this up!

If you have trouble deciding what you want to build is PD or not & the council remain unhelpful outside of a C of E then do seek a professional opinion from a Building Design Agent used to this sort of residential development.

Our 'Maximum Build Planning Guide' explains further the tactics involved when extending a property under Permitted Development & what areas can be exploited for developing land or a site for residential use & how to give yourself the best chance of being granted an approval.

Our 'Maximum Build Planning Guide' explains further the issues involved when extending or developing a property for Planning Permission.

http://www.planning-approval.co.uk


MORE RESOURCES:
These smart upgrades and fixes won't cost you a lot of money, but they could help you clinch a deal if you're trying to sell

You told us your 2009 resolutions, from replacing electrical outlets to overhauling landscaping. We help you get the job done

One look at the dilapidated 1926 foursquare—smack in the middle of beach-condo country—sealed the deal for this couple.

A from-scratch kitchen with every convenience and finely crafted woodwork is a natural fit for a Craftsman-style home

Fancy fireplace fronts. The Victorians used them to improve the look of their hearths in the off-season, but you can put them to work today to upgrade your interior rooms year-round

Ever wonder what's inside those beautiful city rowhouses? Here's a glimpse of a century-old Renaissance Revival—TOH TV's new project—filled with well-preserved details

Buried by a blizzard? Follow our tips for digging out

The seller of my new home had all the rooms freshly painted. Now we are noticing cracks where trim meets wall and wall meets ceiling. These cracks were not present when we closed. Why did this happen and how do we fix?

home   |   site map
  ©  Copyright 2003-2006. All rights reserved.    Powered by   HostGator.com    Remodeling Contractors Estimate Form    Do it yourself