Blue Willow HomesRemodeling And Restoration ::Fine Construction

Improve The Look Of Your Home With Bay Windows

It was the perfect spot. Our California ranch style house had a large picture window in the front room. The window extended from a few inches above the floor to only a few inches below the cathedral ceiling. The walls and ceiling were redwood stained knotty pine and the floor was a matching hardwood. The window looked out over a flower bed, shrubs and the expanse of front lawn. It was the perfect window to be replaced with a bay window.

The window was nearly square. It was 72 X 72 inches. We considered a bow window, but elected to install a bay window instead. We just felt that our particular house looked better with three panel bay window rather than the multiple panel bow windows. Our intent was to fill the seat board of the bay with potted plants we had sitting in front of the current picture window. The new arrangement would give us a little more space in the room and improve the overall appearance of the house. It was time to go shopping.

Scratch vs. Pre-built

When we first got the idea of installing the new window, I began gathering plans for building a bay window. Thumbing through books and magazines, and the Internet search engines, I found several plans for building a bay window from scratch. I also found that undertaking such a project was going to be unnecessary. Most of the major window manufacturers, such as Pella, Milgard and Anderson make both completely pre-assembled bay windows as well as pre-built components for bay windows.

These days very few contractors will take on the project of building a bay or bow window from scratch. It simply isn’t practical when for the same or less money they can install a high quality pre-built window. If the contractors use pre-built windows or components for new house construction or renovation projects, then we could do the same for our remodeling project, we reasoned.

Installing a bay window can easily be a do-it-yourselfer project. Before you go the diy route, however, you may want to line up a contractor to help out if necessary. This is not going to be a job that you can complete during a Saturday afternoon. Chances are you are not going to finish it in a weekend, for that matter.

You are also going to want to line up some help. Bay windows and window components are heavy. At least they are too heavy for one person to manage.

Be sure and check out the weather forecast, including the long range forecast. Installing the window means opening a hole into your home. It can take a couple of days to get the new window in place and sealed. The last thing you want is for rain to come pouring in on your floor, walls or furniture.

Be sure and check your city or community construction codes. There may be special local requirements, such as having safety glass in low profile windows. You are probably going to need a building permit anyway, so that is also a good time to check the codes.

Tools and Materials Needed

The tools you will need for this project include a tape measure, a framing square that you can also use as a straight edge, a circular saw or miter saw, crow bars, drill and bits, level, stapler, utility knife, tin snips and a caulking gun.

The materials you will need include the bay window unit, the support brackets, nails, roofing paper, shingles, roofing nails, exterior grade silicone caulking and fiberglass insulation. You will also need 1X6 inch boards for the window skirting. If you are enlarging an existing window, or if you are installing the window in a space that was previously the wall, you will also need 2X4s for cripple studs and additional framing.

Basic Installation Steps

1.Establish window position in the wall. Remove the existing window. Measuring the bay window, mark on the exterior of the house the opening needed for the new window. Using your circular saw, cut the required opening.

2.Framing. Build the framing for the new window. This will likely include cutting through existing studs and putting in a new header, rough sill, jack studs and cripple studs.

3.Install the support braces. A window up to five feet wide will take a minimum of two support braces. A wider window will need three.

4.Set the window in place. Lift the bay window on the support braces and slide it into the rough opening. Shim as necessary to level the window. Anchor in place.

5.Build the window roof. Set the roof frame on top of the bay window unit and nail in place. Fill the space between the roof and the top of the bay window with insulation. Fasten the roof sheeting to the frame and cover with roofing paper. Install the drip edges and the flashing and then shingle.

6.Install the window skirting around the bottom of the window. Fill will insulation and then attach the skirt bottom to seal the underneath side of the window.

7.Seal the edges with silicone caulking.

This is a list of the basic installation steps and they have been abbreviated in the interests of simplicity and space. The window unit you buy will have complete installation steps. Take it from the voice of experience; it really makes the project go much more smoothly and it will be completed in much less time when you read and follow them.

In our case, I had two friends helping with the project. We have worked together on other projects and work together well. We had the old window out and the rough framing completed on Saturday afternoon. We buttoned up the hole with plywood overnight and went back to work the next day. By Sunday evening we had the new window installed and the roof and skirting completed. On Monday afternoon I finished sealing up the outside and completed the trim work for the inside.

And, we were right. It was the perfect spot for a bay window. It looked great from the outside. Inside, it became the focal point of the room and added a special charm to the house. The window gave the house added character and value.

When it came time to sell the house, it was one of the features that were particularly attractive to the buyers.

About the Author

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Chicago Remodeling: A Newer Look for Your Old House

A state like Chicago is filled with elegant and stylish houses and if you happen to live there, there is really a need to make your house equally stand out with the rest. When your house shows signs of weakening, it is better for you to remodel or renovate instead of buying a whole new property. Your house is a place where many memories took place so you need to preserve and beautify it. In Chicago, remodeling or renovation of your house is one big decision that the entire family must make. It involves careful planning, budget allocation and creativity.

The first thing to do would be to inspect and assess the whole structure of the house. Have a home inspector check out the walls, the roof, the ceiling, the flooring, the rooms, the attic and the basement. It is also necessary to check the insulation, electrical works and the plumbing details. Once you have the report derived from the output, you will then have an estimate as to how much you will spend for the Chicago remodeling of your abode.

The next step would be to plan by stages the renovation. You can first concentrate on the roof followed by the ceiling. The walls and the woodworks should be next. The flooring should be the next phase to be remodeled. If there are some cabinets that you no longer need in one certain room, you may still be able to use them in the basement or attic. Reuse old stuff as much as possible. If there are some rock-hard posts in the house that cannot be removed, do not destroy them but instead use your creativity to plan something around them.

In renovating your kitchen, make sure you follow the work triangle design which links the cook top, the sink and the refrigerator for a systematic food preparation. You can repaint the cabinets or remove them and install ones with different shapes. Chicago kitchen remodeling is fun and brings out the creativity in you.

The bedrooms can also be remodeled depending on the taste and personality of its user. To create a minimalist look, the bed and cabinets can be built-in. The bathrooms are the most commonly-used rooms therefore attention here should also be given. The first step to take in Chicago bathroom remodeling would be to take away all the fixtures. The tiles on the walls and floors should be stripped out next. The bare walls and flooring should be properly cleaned and any remaining grout or caulk must be removed. Paint them with the color of your choice. Install the new fixtures once the paint has dried. New tiles should then be placed on the walls and flooring. Your bathroom in the first floor should be below the one in the second floor so that you save more money by using the same pipes.

The last step would be to paint the exterior of the house so that it would look totally new. House remodeling can save you money and with the right plan and design, you can make a profit if you decide to sell it with its new look.

About the Author

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Is there a website where real people can show off pictures of their home decorating or apt.?

i was hoping that i could find a community or even a website where you can get some decorating ideas for someone my age, 25. i want to redecorate my home and remodel it. if anyone has any good home interior design websites where real people can show off their decorating please let me know. thanks. a good one i know of is designspongeonline.com

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what programs are the best when you try to design a remodeling project, bathroom kitchen, basement etc?

i wnat to start make some designs for remodeling project , what progam are the best, i want to be 3d be able to see the plase from diferent angles, to be able to use existing products ( like furniture and tiles and sink ) on market ..
thank you

Try Sketchup:

http://sketchup.google.com/

Easy to learn–I’ve used it for deck design and planning remodeling projects at my house. You can view the house from any angle, including beneath and above. My son used it to try out various ways of rearranging the furniture in his dorm room.

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Remodeling Options in Toronto Kitchen Design

Large number of people prefers to remodel their kitchen Few better options exist if you desire to add new life to your home. After all, the kitchen is the most used room in the modern home. It’s used for dining and cooking, certainly, but it is also a gathering place for family and friends. Therefore, changing the look and feel of your kitchen is an excellent option, particularly if your kitchen is a bit dated. What new expansions can you find for Toronto kitchen design?

New Appliances – Every one loves new appliances. If your kitchen appliances are outdated and awful, it’s right time for an up gradation. The contemporary appliances come with advanced technology and can give improved functionality to your kitchen with additional fun.

One of the most popular additions for a new kitchen design is that of an under-counter wine cooler. These can be found with clear, glass walls and doors, or they can be outfitted with wood paneling to match your kitchen cabinetry. With addition of a wine cooler to your kitchen, you can make extra space in your cold storage and it can also allow you to increase your vintage collection.

Another popular appliance for new Toronto kitchen design is that of dual, side-by-side ovens. You’ll come across various advantages of these dual ovens. Both ovens work independently, therefore you can cook in both, utilize one for baking and other for warming, or any arrangement of different tasks. You will also that dual ovens are quite an attention-grabbing addition to your kitchen.

Another option is installation of wall-mounted oven and microwave. Such ovens are easy to use and give an additional cabinet space for other needs. Modern microwaves are more multipurpose as compare to the old ones and some microwave ovens offer the benefit of convection.

Lighting Choices – Replacement of lighting pattern of your kitchen is one the in demand option in Toronto kitchen design. Simply adding under-counter task lighting to new or existing cabinetry can give your kitchen a new look, as well as greater functionality. You might opt to add track lighting to the ceiling, or install recessed lighting as well.

Your choices in lighting should reflect the overall theme of your kitchen design, though. There are various latest designs are available which actually integrate into the fixtures inside the kitchen and give a perfect look.

About the Author

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How does the loan process work for a home that is half-way through a remodel and down to studs?

My husband and I are looking for our first home and have fallen in love with a house that is down to the studs in some areas in the middle of a remodel. The home has no structural issues – it is all cosmetic – but does need all new applicances (has none), new walls (70s style paneling in living room), new flooring (has concrete now) etc. Would we need to get a construction loan even though it is structurally okay? How would the mortgage process work for this?

We completed a major remodel of our home a few years ago and we needed to refinance our mortgage several times during the remodel process (so we would have enough money to finish the remodel). In each case the appraiser from the lender appraised the home in its current condition. In your case that would be the value of the home with some walls stripped to the studs. Our loan broker (accurately in our case) advised against getting a construction loan because of the high interest rates and difficulties with loan conditions etc. Instead we handled it with Second Mortagages that were provided as credit lines. This worked real well with paying contractors during the course of the remodel.

Fortunately for us, we learned that the value of a home in mid-remodel is not that much lower than when completed. As a result we were able to complete our remodel. However, we had lived in the home for many years before the remodel and had quite a bit of equity built up.

Hope this helps

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Should I make home improvements on my town home?

I have a town house in southern California. It is 1650 square feet, 3bd/2.5 ba, has a yard and 2 car garage.

This is a great site that can help you with your upgrades. I updated my kitchen and made a good chunk of change when I sold it. http://www.improvenet.com/Homeowner/KitchenRemodeling/ It gves you good visuals and ideas for what you want to do. Hope this is helpful!

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