How to Install Ceramic Tile - Proven Steps to Success

You can quickly learn how to install ceramic tile and have stunning success with your project. Sure installing tile is usually left to the pros. But with the right tips, most people can build beautiful surfaces. It's just a matter of getting the right tools and learning how to prepare the surfaces and put the tile in place. Following are the four basic steps for getting tile installed the right way.

Gathering the materials is the first step. Now materials includes getting the few basic tools required for tile installation. There are just a few special tools required. The most important tools you don't already have are the tile cutting tools. That would include tile nippers, maybe a tile cutter board and usually a tile saw. You can rent a saw or start with a very inexpensive saw too.

The other part of gathering materials is deciding on the tile you will use and how much tile you need. That may be the hardest part of the whole project. That's because you have so many tile choices. After you decide how much tile you need, you'll know how much tile adhesive and grout you'll need too. Your tile supplier can help you figure quantities of all the materials. Once you have your materials you're ready to get started with the installing.

An important preparation step is getting the base for the tile solid and clean. A surface that moves will cause cracked tiles. Often the easiest way to get a solid smooth surface is to put down cement board. But that's not necessary since tile can be installed over many different materials. Once you have your materials and your surface preparation done, the actual installation is not very hard.

Laying the first tile is the hardest part. That's because the position of the first tile determines how much cutting of tiles you'll do. It also determines how straight the joint lines will be. Getting the tiles lined up correctly will make for a neat installation. The best way to get the lines straight is to use your chalk line early and often. Actually setting the tiles involves some art. Setting tile is easiest if you gently twist the tiles into position. You don't want to drop the tiles into place or slide the tile into place either. Make sure you have enough mud on the tile so you have a little extra so you can bump the individual piece into place.

Once the tiles are in place, the grouting of the joints goes quickly. Grout does come in several types. Whether you choose sanded or unsanded grout depends on the size of the joint. Another option is using epoxy grout where the tile is in a constantly wet place. After the grout sets briefly, it is easily cleaned to finish the job.

You can learn how to install ceramic tile with the right instruction and some practice. There's no reason why you can't do a professional looking job on your first project. There are quite a few tricks to learn to make it easier to lay tile.

Video tutorials showing how to install ceramic tile can be found at our website.

Al Bullington invites you to visit http://InstallingCeramicTile.net for answers to your tile questions.

Retaining Walls Suffer From Moisture Problems

Whether you're driving down the road or through a neighborhood and you notice a retaining wall that has large cracks in it, or is severely discolored, or one that has white calcium deposits from moisture covering the entire wall, you've got problems with moisture.

The retaining wall is designed to hold the dirt back, that's it's sole purpose. It's not going to hold any moisture back unless someone has installed a waterproofing membrane to separate the soil from the concrete block wall. If the soil isn't ever going to get wet, then you probably don't need to waterproof the retaining wall.

However that's normally not going to be the case. So we need to waterproof the interior of our retaining walls to eliminate future moisture problems that could eventually, deteriorate as moisture starts to accumulate, inside of our block wall for a longer periods of time.

If you don't know anything about waterproofing, I would suggest that you hire a waterproofing expert. Waterproofing looks easier than it actually is, and might be out of your scope of work.

I'm not going to suggest that you use waterproofing paints, because I haven't seen great results with these products. However, if you're not that concerned about your retaining wall and are looking for a cheaper way to apply any waterproofing materials, these paints might not be a bad idea. Sometimes, Something is better than nothing.

If you live in a relatively dry climate, it might not be necessary to waterproof your retaining walls. But if you live in a damp or moist area, especially an area where the ground is moist all year round or more than six months out of the year, I would suggest that you waterproof the back of your retaining walls.

If you're really interested in basement remodeling and repairs, you should click on this link House Basement Repair Ideas. Get some great home repair advice that can make a big difference on any of your home remodeling projects.

Dryer Vent In Basement Window.

Greg Vandenberge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He has just finished a Home Buyers Guide to take some of the frustration out of home shopping.

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Low Flow Shower Heads - Tips For Choosing the Right One

Installing low flow shower heads not only helps lower your monthly water and energy bills but is also the easiest and least expensive method to save the environment. But before you rush to purchase them, you should do some research on their effectiveness. This is because a wide variety of low flow shower heads are available in the market and each of them offers different results. The right shower head is the one that saves both water and energy, is attractive to look at, suits the dcor and makes your daily shower - a pleasant experience!

Pressure Compensating Technology

Water pressure can vary from building to building and even from region to region. It can be as low as 20psi at one place to greater than 80psi at another. It is because of this water pressure that the same shower head can give a different feel at different places. So one of the important factors to consider before purchasing a shower head is to find out whether it has any built-in pressure to compensate flow regulator technology. This will ensure that regardless of the water pressure, the gallons used per minute as well as the feel of the shower remain fairly consistent.

Spray Pattern

How warm we feel while taking a shower influences the extent to which we enjoy our bath. The manner in which the spray pattern covers the body plays a major role in the level of warmth felt in the shower in addition to the water temperature. It has been observed that most people prefer the full face spray pattern with nozzles distributed evenly throughout the diameter of the spray face. The water coming out of this shower head feels warmer as it is distributed evenly across the shower face.

Attractiveness

When purchasing your low flow shower heads you also need to make sure that it has an elegant look which can match the dcor of your bathroom. There are many models available to match your requirements including polished chrome and brass and brushed nickel options.

Visit CORE online to get free access to tips and advice for buying low flow shower heads.

How to Protect Foundation Plumbing Pipes?

If you install any underground plumbing pipes, in your concrete building foundation, you will need to protect them, from the concrete. You can use a variety of products and the most common of them will be a Styrofoam wrapping that can be purchased at most plumbing supply stores.

Let's start with the waste pipes, that are made out of plastic. The concrete could actually start to put pressure on the plastic pipes as the concrete starts to expand and this pressure could actually damage your new waste pipes.

You don't need to wrap all of the plastic waste pipes, only the parts of the waste pipes that will be exposed or in direct contact any concrete, but you do need to protect every copper water supply line that will be buried under the ground or exposed to the concrete, with a plastic sleeve. These products can be purchased again at most building supply or plumbing supply stores.

If these pipes aren't protected properly, you could find yourself within a short time, repairing the pipes that are either inside of your concrete foundation or buried underneath your concrete foundation. Either way, this isn't going to be a good thing.

You definitely need to wrap a plastic sleeve around the water supply pipes that are going to be buried or in direct contact with the concrete. This is a must and most building departments will require your plumbing pipes to be wrapped, before it they will sign off on your rough foundation plumbing inspection.

However, for the waste pipes, you can actually use cardboard to protect them. If you're short on funds, why not grab some cardboard boxes, dismantle them and start using cardboard to wrap the pipes, with a little duct tape.

There are plenty of ways to save money in the construction business, buy a few books, read a couple of articles, with a lot of pictures in this can provide you with lots of construction information, from experience building contractors.

Check out some of the best selling Home Building Plumbing Books all on one website

If you're really interested in basement remodeling and repairs, you should click on this link Home Repairs. Get some great home repair advice that can make a big difference on any of your home remodeling projects.

Greg Vandenberge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He has just finished a Home Buyers Guide to take some of the frustration out of home shopping.

Thanks for reading our articles

Pattaya Hotels in Thailand - How to Choose the Right One

Pattaya Thailand is often seen as just a footnote in most guide books when compared to it's bigger sister Bangkok. Kind of like Dean Martin is to Bangkok as Jerry Lewis is to Pattaya. Sure youcan find a lot of class in cosmopolitan Bangkok, but Pattayawith itshumble beginningsin all its glory is more fun in many ways. You see Pattaya started off as a small fishing village. It was until theearly 70's Pattayamorphed into a haven of no holds barred sin and sunthat is evident today.

As such most take that 2 hour journey ina taxito Pattaya as part of a side trip from a much longer stay in Bangkok.And from the highwaywhen the evening arrives you can catch the glitter and glow of Pattaya as she hovers in the foreground with theGulf of Thailand beyond.

When mosttravelers and tourist arrive in Pattaya they make the mistake of booking hotels that are directly right in heartof the nightlife action. Areas such as Walking Streetlocated in South Pattaya, a red-light district powerhouse with large concentrations of bars, clubs, go-go bars and massage parlors.Hotels or what should be called roach motelsinside of these areas arein horrible conditions with management without a care in the world for their guests. Such establishments in Pattaya figureyou're going to be drunk as hell anyways so whyshouldthey care. And since most of these hotels aresurroundedby bars, clubs and drunks you're going to have a hard time catching a good nightsrest, especially if you're staying there more then a night. And trust me, the noise can get really loud. Just imagine hundreds of bars with their speakers on max.

My advice is to stay about10 - 20 minutes away from any concentrated areas of nightlife establishments. You'll findhotels in Pattaya with better rates, rooms and hotel facilities. You can even findlots of self containedresorts at very reasonable rates.

My second advice is don't book any super cheap hotels, so please resist the temptation.There are plenty ofcheap hotels in Pattaya that charge $15 USper night, sometimes even less. The cheaper the hotel, the cheaper the walls. What I mean is you knowmosthotel guests will be bringing company or companies back to their rooms. So if you're confident enough that you're a heavy sleeper then by all means go ahead and try to sleep through it.Otherwise be prepared to hear the goings onof your neighbors.Another huge problem is also most likely your room will have poor air conditioning or none at all. Trust me, air condition is the most important room luxury you will everneed next to water. Pattaya can get really hot especially during April.

There are plenty of hotels in Pattaya with very reasonable room rates with good clean rooms for $30 US dollars. Even if you could spring $50 US dollars per night you'll get a great room in a hotel that would cost three to four times as much in the West. Choosing the right hotel is a major factorin theoverall experience of a vacation of a lifetime. So choose your hotel wisely for the best vacation in Pattaya that willmake your friends envious.

For more information on where to stay in Pattaya Thailand please visit Pattaya Hotel Guide.

Edwin M. Clark is a business consultant who travels to Southeast Asia, specifically to Thailand for over 8 years. His experience and knowledge in the region has provided valuable information and resources for business venturers and mid range to major corporations in the travel industry.

The Damage One Small Water Leak Can Do

What I'm about to explain to you, cost the homeowner about $1200 and it could have been fixed, with a two dollar rubber washer. When I say two dollars, it could have been even less than that, but we'll stick with two dollars.

The story you are about to listen to, deals with the renters, the owner of the rental house and the water damage repair contractor. The water damage repair contractor makes the money, the owner of the home, loses the money, and the renters, really don't care, because it's not their home anyway.

If you own property, and rent it out, I would like to advise you to, do a walk-through on your properties at least every two months. If this homeowner, would've seen the water heater damage, he could have simply went down to his local home improvement center, or plumbing supply Center and purchased a new water heater connection pipe or the rubber washer, that was leaking and repaired it.

Instead of checking up on the property, regularly, I don't really believe that the homeowner, ever went back to check on the property, once it was rented. I always feel sorry for these guys, I have to repair, all of the water damage, replace all of damaged materials, and the homeowner needs to fork out the money. The water leak ruined the water heater and it also needed to be replaced.

This is the damage that one small leak can do. I often hear people joking about it, and I even seen it on a television show one time, when the entire house collapsed and at the end of the show, the plumbing repair contractor, held up a $.15 rubber washer and told the homeowner's, that this was the problem and if they would've replaced it, their house would still be standing today.

I understand that this is the movies, but things like this really happen. So pay attention, inspect your homes on a regular basis and save yourself hundreds if not thousands of dollars in the future.

If you're really interested in basement remodeling and repairs, you should click on this link Home Repair Advice. Get some great home repair advice that can make a big difference on any of your home remodeling projects.

Click Here To Learn More About Water Heater Damage and Repairs

Greg Vandenberge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He has just finished a Home Buyers Guide to take some of the frustration out of home shopping.

Thanks For Reading My Articles

Hawaii Vacation - Hotels in Kauai

Hawaii Islands is one of the main vacation spots in the entire Pacific region, attracting a huge number of holiday makers not only from the US, but also from Australia, Japan, or European countries like the UK, Germany, Norway, and many others. All this people travel to Hawaii due to the stunning scenery, gorgeous tropical nature and pleasant climate, wide variety of outdoor activities, and extraordinary accommodation offered by a large number of hotels, most of them settled in exquisite beach resorts. Hotels in Hawaii are in the top of the best accommodation units not just in the US, but even in the world, lying in areas with breathtaking views and featuring excellent amenities, high level services and a well trained and useful staff which make tourists feeling like at home.

Hawaii is one of the states of the USA (from 1959) and is since a long time one of the preferred vacation destinations of the people from this country. In fact, it is an archipelago which comprises eight bigger islands and many islets. The main islands of the volcanic chain are Niihau, Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe, Maui, and Hawaii, better known as the Big Island. Most holiday resorts are built on Kauai, Oahu, Maui, Lanai and the Big Island and are visited annually by very many tourists who are looking to enjoy great accommodation offered by luxury 4 & 5 star hotels, excellent food in restaurants with local and international cuisine, splendid warm weather, and a multitude of vacation activities such as swimming with dolphins or even sharks, scuba diving, reef snorkeling, sailing, horseback riding, hiking on tall mountains, trekking in dense rain forests on the coasts of dormant or active volcanoes, cruising, helicopter tours and the list could almost endless continue!

Kauai is one of the islands where can be spent a great vacation in Hawaii. Island of Kauai is the fourth largest in the Hawaiian archipelago and is also known as the "Garden Isle" due to the splendid tropical vegetation. Its beaches are main holiday attractions, since most vacationers are looking to spend great moments outdoors and enjoy the reinvigorating sunny weather and warm waters of the Pacific Ocean. Still, on this island are a few other natural attractions, the most important ones being the canyons with scenic waterfalls. Waimea Canyon, part of the Waimea Canyon State Park, is one of the most impressive canyons in the entire world, being also named "The Grand Canyon of the Pacific".

Most of hotels in Kauai are settled on the shores of the island in beach resorts which contain, beside accommodation units, many restaurants, shops, tennis courts, golf clubs, ports and marinas, walking areas, diving and surfing schools, parks and others. Housing in any of the hotels in Kauai is great, just like the sights to inland or to the ocean, and some of the best resorts are Hotel Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas, Hotel Resort Quest Islander on the Beach, Hotel Resort Quest Kauai Beach Makaiwa, Hotel Castle Kaha Lani Resort, Apartments Outrigger Lae Nani Resort, Hotel Castle Lani Kai Resort, and Hanalei Bay Resort & Hotel.

A vacation in Hawaii is a dream for many people and tourists who are enough lucky to spend there a shorter or longer holiday, once arrived back to home, don't stop to relate about their life experience for weeks or even months! This is because the gained memories during a trip to Hawaii Islands are so impressive that make emotions to flow out spontaneous and without any obstacle...

More information about accommodation in Hawaii Islands can be found on Hawaii Vacation and Hotels in Hawaii. This article belongs to Victor Tuszing.

Pest Droppings in the Attic - Pest Problems

Sometimes I wonder how these large animals can get through such small holes in our homes and into our attics and crawlspace's. A few years ago, I was working on a home that had water damage to the siding that needed to be fixed. The homeowner of course didn't want anymore water damage and this required repairing roof, the original cause for the siding damage.

When I bid the job, I had no idea what I was about to run into. The first day on the job, went smoothly as I repaired some damage fascia board, but the next day I was in for a surprise, as I removed the damaged siding, I found what looked like dog poop in the attic.

I was looking around in the attic and trying to figure out how a dog could of got up there. I know that I shouldn't have, but I walked around the home inspecting it for a large hole, any holes, something that a small dog could have wiggled his way into. I got my latter off of the truck and then went on the roof, trying to find a place where a dog could have got into the attic.

I couldn't find any holes and after wasting about an hour, I decided it was time to get back to work and since the homeowner wasn't there, I couldn't show him my new findings or ask him any questions. I cleaned up the mess and repaired the water damaged siding, but in the back of my head I kept thinking about how in the heck a dog got up in the attic.

To make a short story even shorter, when the homeowner arrived home that day, I showed him my findings and he informed me that he didn't have a dog. He did however inform me that he has been hearing something walking around in his attic for about a year now. He had a pretty good idea that they were raccoons.

I told him, that I had inspected his home and only found one small hole on top of his roof underneath the roof eave, but there's no way that a small raccoon could fit through that hole. He told me that you would be surprised, what these animals were capable of squeezing into and out of.

Well that's about it, the mystery was solved, I repaired the small hole in the attic and have never heard from the homeowner again. Hopefully that meant I did my job well and not that he was embarrassed about the poop in the attic.

Pest Control Ideas, House Pest Pictures

Greg Vandenberge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He has just finished a Home Buyers Guide to take some of the frustration out of home shopping.

The Best Luxury Hotels in Pigeon Forge

Pigeon Forge has been among the favorite destinations of local residents and foreigners. It is surrounded with beautiful places and activity areas. Pigeon Forge is a good vacation place for sightseeing, hiking, fishing, strolling, or just for pure relaxation.

While on vacation, you may opt to stay at any of the luxury hotels available in Pigeon Forge located either at the main city or near peaceful mountainous areas which features good value of accommodation with the most hospitable service at your pleasure.

Holiday Inn

The Holiday Inn in Pigeon Forge has been a trusted name in the hotel industry. Luxurious accommodation and excellent service are guaranteed. Dollywood, Dixie Stampede, Dolly's Splash Country, Black bear Jamboree, and Country Tonite are some attractions to see during your stay here.

Room amenities include:

Free newspaper delivered at your room
Cable TV
In-room movies
Microwave oven
Coffee maker
Mini refrigerator
Working desk with lamp
High-speed wireless Internet access
Telephone with voice mail
Unlimited free local calls
Hair dryer
Private bathroom with bath tub
Sofa bed
Non-smoking room

Indulge yourself in a healthy workout at the fitness center with only modern fitness equipments. The center is complete in cardiovascular workout, treadmills, exercise bikes, and stair masters. A fitness instructor is also ready to help you with proper workout methods.

Other hotel amenities include:

Spa service Self-service laundry facilities
Car rental with tour guide
Indoor pool
Business center
Safety deposit box at the front desk

Louie's Grill is the on-site restaurant that serves many delicious cuisines. It serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Comfort Suites

The Comfort Suites is a luxury hotel located in Pigeon Forge surrounded by many tourist destinations. It has a peaceful and cozy ambience vacationers are looking for. There are shopping malls nearby for your pleasure.

A connecting trip to downtown Gatlinburg and other places is available through the trolley service. It stops right in front of the hotel entrance. Among the area attractions worth visiting include:

Dollywood Amusement Park
Dixie Stampede Dinner Theater
Louise Mandrell Theater
Ripley's Aquarium Of The Smokies
Great Smoky Mountain National Park
Belz Factory Outlet Mall
Tanger Five Oaks Outlet Mall
NASCAR Speed Park
Ogle's Water Park

The guestrooms are kept clean, fresh and comfortable at all times. It also comes with contemporary amenities to supplement your needs. Access the Internet with high-speed wireless connection provided. A complimentary breakfast is served everyday.

Guestroom amenities include:

Cable TV
Coffee maker
Comfortable beds and beddings
Hair dryer
Wake up call
Room service

Relaxing in the spa center and sauna will complete your vacation experience. The spa provides the latest revitalizing techniques which will surely regain your energy after a whole day of fun and adventure. You can also choose to have a refreshing dip at the hotel's modern swimming pool. The fitness center is open to those who want to workout.

There are many restaurants outside all serving the finest local and international cuisines.

For more information on Pigeon Forge Luxury Hotels and Grand Resort Hotel in Pigeon Forge please visit our website.

Basic Home Electrical Wiring - For the Do it Yourself Home Electrician

The Green Bay Packers were one of the most successful football teams and Vince Lombardi said something to them that I will never forget," This is a football." All the football players laughed and he said that we're going to start with the basics and that's what I'm going to do, with this article.

Let's start with our electrical wire, the two most common electrical wire sizes, that will be used in most homes, will be 14 and 12 gauge electrical wire. Let's clear something up, right off the bat, the smaller the number, the larger the wire. In other words a 12 gauge electrical wire is a little bit larger and will carry more electricity, for longer distances than a 14 gauge wire.

What about electrical outlet plugs? These plugs are usually the same, except for the fact that they come in different colors. When I said that most electrical plugs are the same, I'm talking about your standard wall outlet plug. There are different electrical plugs that will be used for air conditioners and some kitchen appliances like 220 Volt electric stoves and ovens.

What about your home's light switches? Your standard two way light switch will usually turn a one light on or a group of lights on, from one location. A three way light switch will usually turn one light on or a group of lights on from two different locations. A four way light switch, will usually turn one light or a group of lights on from three different locations.

It doesn't get any more basic than that. I hope this gives you a better understanding about your home's electrical system.

If you're really interested in learning more about remodeling, new home construction, home maintenance, home repairs and really want to get the nuts and bolts of home improvement. Visit our web site and select from the best-selling home building books on the Internet.

Greg Vandenberge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He has just finished a Home Buyers Guide to take some of the frustration out of home shopping.

If your looking for some more home inspection pictures or home building ideas.

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Foundation Waterproofing Vs Dampproofing

Most people who build a new home with a basement plan on making it an added living space. New homeowners want to install a large screen TV, a pool table or maybe another bedroom. They expect that their basement will be dry and free of water. But what they don't know is that it may be possible that their basements are not waterproof.

Water vapor that gets into a basement causes the musty odors that you smell in a basement. Any liquid water that gets into a basement can damage carpets, drywall and any insulation that is installed inside the basement. And it can cause mold to grow.

First the Basics

Not all foundation coatings are waterproofing. When foundations are built, many are coated with what is called dampproofing. This is a bituminous asphalt membrane that is black in appearance. While it has been used for decades, it does not truly waterproof a basement. Dampproofing can stop water vapor, but that is it. Dampproofing cannot stop liquid water from getting through the foundation walls and into the basement.

Foundation Waterproofing Membranes

According to the ICC-ES, a non-profit public benefit corporation that evaluates products and sets performance criteria for the residential building market, waterproofing must do three things. First, it must stop water vapor. This gaseous form of water is released by the surrounding soils and can move through the foundation walls and into the basement.

Secondly, waterproofing membranes must be able to stop liquid water under hydrostatic pressure. In easy to understand terms, hydrostatic pressure is the force exerted by liquid water that is in the soil. You can think of it just like the water in a water tower. The taller the soil and therefore the higher the water column in it, the greater the hydrostatic pressure against your foundation. Also, the amount of water that is in the soil itself can affect the amount of hydrostatic pressure. The greater the amount of water in the ground, the higher the hydrostatic pressure exerted against the foundation.

Third and most important is that waterproofing must span a crack in a foundation. Foundations crack as a normal process of concrete curing, and if that crack is not sealed against water intrusion, it can leak when it rains.

Why Dampproofing will not Stop Water

Dampproofing does not have the ability to stop liquid water under hydrostatic pressure. This is because it goes on very thin, only 10 mils thick in some cases. Water under hydrostatic pressure can go right through it.

Because the dampproofing is brittle and has no flexibility, it cannot span a crack in a foundation. When the foundation cracks, so does the dampproofing. Therefore, liquid water can penetrate into the basement area.

The terms waterproofing and dampproofing are incorrectly used interchangeably. So, when you are building your new home, be sure that your builder is using a quality waterproofing membrane. It will give years of protection and effectively give you a larger living space that will stay dry and keep your finished basement safe from water.

This article is written by Aaron Kuertz who's with Applied Technologies, LLC. Aaron has been in the waterproofing industry since 1998. Applied Technologies is a manufacturer and supplier to professional waterproofing contractors and homeowners in the United States. For more information about foundation waterproofing visit Applied Technologies on the web

Build New Or Remodel?

There are three possible scenarios involved in that question:

1. Stay where you are and renovate

2. Move to an existing house and renovate

3. Build a new house for you to move into

There are numerous considerations, not the least of which is how you feel about your existing location. That word - LOCATION - should be your primary focus. Do you prefer to remain where you are, or not? Is staying where you are an option, or are you forced to relocate due to a job change, or other issues?

If you wish to stay where you are, there's no reason to read this article. Remodeling and/or expanding the place where you now live is the least expensive alternative - by far.
Your aggravation levels will increase during the construction, but they will do that with either of the other choices as well. If it gets to be too much, you can move to a motel for 2 months, eat dinner out every night, and still come out cheaper than either option 2 or option 3. If you want to be in your present home, case closed.

So let's assume you have to move, and we'll concentrate on option 2 vs. option 3. There are two important aspects of this topic which apply to both.
In both cases you have to research the property with the building department to make sure you will be able to do what you wish. Verify zoning, lot size restrictions, and access to utilities.
You will have unknown costs (moving, insurance, taxes, financing costs, etc.) in either case.

Advantages of remodeling an existing house:
Fewer hidden (or unknown) costs. New homes often have impact fees, ground preparation fees, and higher permit fees than those imposed for remodeling.
Hard construction costs will be less (usually, but not always).
You can move into the house much sooner. If you have to leave your existing home quickly, you may not have the ability to wait for a new home to be built.

Advantages of building new:
Unrestricted design potential, allowing you to end up with a more modern, better insulated home, with better traffic flow than you would have in an older building. Also, older homes have less closet/storage space than new ones.
Your long term energy costs will be lower because all of your equipment will be running more efficiently.
Less disruption to family routine. While construction is happening, you're still living in your present house. Then you move into a finished product (possibly with some decorative items to complete).

I'm sure you noticed that I haven't listed costs in either list. The determining factor is going to be the extent of the renovation to the existing building. Depending upon the condition of the house, age, building codes and other factors, it can actually be more costly to remodel than to build new.

In either case, allow an extra 20% in your budget over and above any quoted costs you've obtained. 10% is for upgrades that you decide upon after initial pricing. The other 10% is for the rising costs of material and labor. If the price of oil goes through the roof again, 10% might not be enough.

If the older home was built between 1950 and 1978, there might be issues having to do with asbestos and lead paint. Make sure you get a professional inspection performed. You may also be required to bring the plumbing and electrical systems up to date.

In conclusion, renovating a home might be very rewarding, as well as the cheaper alternative. However, you have to do your homework before making the commitment, in order to insure that you're not stepping into a money pit. Every situation is different. Your decision will probably come down to what your sixth sense tells you. Regardless of how you choose, anticipate that moving into a new home will take more time and more money than expected.

Charles Gueli

Home Helper

http://www.continuous-home-improvement-help.com