Home Improvement Articles

In modern construction, the use of stucco is commonplace; especially for Southwestern design utilizing exterior stucco wall finish. The use of plaster, however, has declined significantly from its traditional widespread use for finishing interior walls. Interior plaster wall finishes have been replaced largely by gypsum board, also known as drywall or sheetrock.

One of the oldest coverings for a home or dwelling is stucco coating. This lime, cement and sand mixture was used in different forms by the natives in American southwest, the Moors in North Africa and the Mediterranean dynasties well before the birth of Christ. This was because it went well over stone, brick and wood and sealed the structure from the wind and elements. Today it is one the main exteriors for homes in the hot, dry areas of the country.

One of the most popular home exteriors in the world is stucco. Cement-based stucco dries as an incredibly-strong, man-made rock material that will last for years. In addition, a well-maintained stucco home will increase in value because the maintenance is almost nil. This is because pigments can be added as it is mixed so that it never needs painting.

As the price of home heating fuel rises with every hike in the price of a barrel of crude oil new home builders are pausing to search other options before going with the traditional wood home. With a maximum R-value of less than R-2 per inch and heat loss at each stud and window header, wood construction is literally full of holes. You can add to that the real possibility of holes and small imperfections where cold air can get under the fiberglass insulation and into the home through electrical outlets and ducts.

One of the biggest energy drains in the home today is the hot water tank. Showers, dishwashers, sinks and automatic washers depend on hot water and, in the case of showers, the use could be several times a day. It accounts for 25% of the home energy consumed and accounts for almost 2 tons of carbon emissions from each home. Not only is the hot water used for washing purposes many gallons of it sit idle in the pipes after use and cools down. In effect, it is wasted energy.

Every winter, a large portion of the US is inundated with large accumulations of snow and ice. Snow removal is necessary to keep residences and businesses alike accessible to travel and commerce.

Ever since man first built up mud and rocks to protect his family against the wind siding has been a necessary part of a home's structure. Like the roof it keeps the interior walls from the elements and insects, both of which cause decay and a loss of structural integrity of the home.

The allure of being your own general contractor is quite simple. Acting as your own general contractor will not only save you a lot of money (most believe a savings of 10-20% is pretty realistic) but will also save you the trouble of having to interview several general contractors and finding the right one for the job. Not to mention you'll have total control over every aspect of the project.

No homeowner looks forward to the day they have to replace their roof and considering the cost of hiring roofing contractors to replace a shingle roof, it's no surprise why. Unfortunately many homeowners are not aware that routine roof maintenance could go a long way in extending the life of their roof and that regular roof maintenance is actually a necessary component of maintaining your roof and home. It's actually as necessary as mowing your lawn or maintaining any other part of your home but as the old saying goes Out of sight; Out of mind

Just as certain as the coming of rain, so is the certainty of every homeowner eventually needing the services of a roof contractor. A residential general contractor may be qualified to install most common types of a roof system. However, the services of a specialized roofing contractor may be necessary for difficult applications such as built up roofing on a flat roof.