November 9, 2009 - 9:44 pm
What should you consider when purchasing exterior siding for your home? You should consider price, durability and appearance. Hardie board siding is a great choice for exterior application. Hardie board is a fiber cement composite which means that it will resist many elements which wood siding cannot. One advantage of Hardie board siding is that it does not absorb water which means it does not rot. Although slightly heavier than wood siding it is more economical because it won’t face damage from termites and other insects. Because of its dense construction it is able to absorb impact from debris during serious storms. Most Hardie board siding comes with a fabricated woodgrain that gives it more appeal and a natural look, it also comes in other textures like brick. A cheaper option for exterior siding is vinyl siding, however vinyl siding is known to sag and is not as attractive or natural looking as Hardie board.
Sheets or Planks?
Hardie board siding comes in many different sizes, you can purchase it in sheets and planks, also sheets and planks come in various sizes. The most common sizes of sheets are 3 x 5, 4 x 8 and 4 x 4. The easiest form of Hardie board siding to install would be the sheets however planks give it a much more appealing look. A disadvantage of installing planks is there usually long and heavy making them awkward to install. If living in a Southern or coastal region Hardie board siding will be an excellent choice because mold and mildew will not easily gather on it.
Most Hardie board siding comes pre-primed you can also get them prepainted as well. If you choose to paint the siding yourself it will absorb primer and paint and will maintain the paints beauty through the years. You would be able to find cheaper siding but not one more economical and more durable. Most hardiplank manufacturers offer a 30 year to 50 year warranty. Most Hardie board installation is “do-it-yourself” but you can hire crews to do it for you as well. A three-person crew with scaffolds and nail guns should be able to install siding on a two-story home in about a weeks time.
The most time-consuming process of installing new Hardie board siding would be the pull down of old siding but if putting Hardie board on a new home the time required should be cut in half. In summary Hardie in board siding is a practical, economical and attractive way to side your exterior home. More and more people are looking into installing Hardie board on their homes because of its resilientness to unpredictable weather, insects, mold and other factors that will destroy your home’s beauty over time. It sustains paint for the life expectancy of the paint and won’t deteriorate for several decades. Hardie board is relatively easy to install and won’t take long for your home to be looking new. So when the time comes for you to purchase siding for your home consider Hardie board as your best choice.
October 1, 2009 - 12:02 am
If there is one thing that I love and hate at the same time, I would have to be remodeling work. The work itself can be so physically demanding and take such a long time, however the payoff in the end is almost always worth the effort. This last month I undertook the daunting task of remodeling the kitchen in my home that was built in the 1940s.
It is actually quite amazing to me to look at the craftsmanship of manual labor workers from 70 years ago, and compare it to the craftsmanship and work that you get in today’s society. Cabinets are actually made from real wood, and each nail was driven by hand as opposed to a pneumatic airgun. Not to say that there is anything wrong with modern tools, but you can tell that a person appreciate their work much more when they were finished back then as opposed to how they feel about their work now.
First things first, was to pull down a hideous light fixture in the kitchen along with all the upper and lower cabinets. This task alone took me about 2 1/2 days to get everything toward out and put into a dumpster that I had rented. After everything was off the walls, I proceeded to tear up the linoleum floor that had been down for the last 15 or 20 years. It was easy to pull up along the edges, but in the center of the kitchen and along all the walkways, it was extremely difficult to get off the floor.
While I had everything out of the kitchen, I hired a plumber and electrician to come in and make sure all my plumbing and electrical work was up to code. For the most part, the plumbing was okay except for a couple of lines, while the electrician opted to completely rewire my kitchen all went back to the main breaker box. This was expensive, however was nice because now all the plugs and outlets in my kitchen are now three prong with a ground as opposed to just the older style two prong plugs.
I ordered premade cabinets about two weeks before I started my demolition of my kitchen, to ensure that they would be in and ready to install when I was ready for them. Basic cabinet installation is very easy, the only part that I can stress make sure you get correct is, finding a good stud to screw them to, and making sure that they are square and level. I used plastic shims to hold up any corners that needed to be raised, and when the tile is install around them you’ll never see the shims.
Speaking of tile, after the cabinets were in, it was time to install the 18 x 18 porcelain tiles. One word of advice is, if you happen to have a smaller kitchen, I advised to stay away from the larger tiles. For some reason, they actually made my kitchen looks smaller. I did a little research and found that many people had the same complaint about using a large tile in a small room.
After the tile was installed in crowded, my wife and I went to Home Depot and browse their selection of Formica countertops. For some reason, choosing the formica countertops was one of the most stressful parts of the whole job. When you get to choose a neutral color that would tie in the cabinets to the floor and to the wall color we chose. After much debate, we went with a grayish tan stone look. They came out quite nice and was well worth the headache.
After all was said and done, including the kitchen sink, we finished out our kitchen remodel for a little under $8500. Most of that cost was the price of the cabinets and having to pay a plumber and electrician. If I had been more skilled in the electrical and plumbing department I would have tried to accomplish that part of the job myself. All in all, I have to say that I’m very happy and pleased with the end results, I know that money spent on remodeling kitchens and bathrooms is some of the best way that you can spend money on your home. The kitchen and bathroom improve the resell value of your home more than any other room in the home. Just something you might want to keep in mind if you are considering doing any kind of remodeling to your home in the near future.
September 23, 2009 - 11:46 pm
When I look at a home, whether it is a home I own all ready or a house I am looking to buy, it is vital as a business man that I get as close to an accurate estimate on cost for remodeling as possible. Not all homes I buy need immediate attention and are often ready to rent out as soon as I close. This is my attempt to explain how I make money renting property, such as homes and duplexes.
I really feel that curb appeal has the best chance at getting a renter into a new rental property I may buy. So I always make sure that the lawn is presentable and that the sidewalks and driveway are pressure washed and clean. I may also take the extra time to pressure wash the house itself and touch up any paint that may be chipping and replace any siding that may be rotten, chipped or broken.
I usually buy older homes that were built in the 40’s 50’s and 60’s. These homes are usually covered with either brick, stone, or cedar shingles. In most cases I can use some kind of hardiplank material to replace the broken or damaged pieces. The siding or exterior covering is very important in helping maintain a homes value over the coming years. Before replacing any siding I will always have an estimate drawn up that will give me a good idea of what the siding cost are going to be before anything is physically done. Moving along to other aspects of the exterior, is the roof.
Roofing is extremely vital and probably the most important part of a home, as it protects everything inside. A typical shingle roof will last about 15 to 20 years. If your roof is showing any signs that it needs to be replaced, replace it. Do not wait! Living in areas where tornadoes, earthquakes or hurricanes occur often, a good roof is extremely important.
Always have a home inspected. If possible use an inspector that you either know and trust or that comes highly recommended. Have every aspect of a potential home or rental be inspected, inside and out. This will include structural inspection along with plumbing and electrical.
Never buy the worst house or the nicest house on the street. If you buy the worst house, your taxes will still be high, and if you buy the nicest house, you will never be able to sell it for what its worth.
Does your potential rental have a garage? A garage is a big bonus for a potential renter and can make a person lean towards renting your property over someone elses. Washer and dryer hookups are a bonus as well. If your rental does not have the arrangements for a washer and dryer, can you find the space to make it happen? This little commodity will allow you to add at least an extra 20-25 dollars per month onto your rental fees.
Furnished or unfurnished? This is a big question you will face when becoming a land lord. You must evaluate your rental situation and the houses location, size, rental fees and renters. I have rented both furnished and unfurnished homes. True furnished homes bring in more money, but the stress factor goes up in the process. By furnished, I do not mean everything. Furnished in most cases simply means, refrigerator and stove. I have had renters leave in the middle of their lease and take the fridge and stove with them.
These are some of the simple basics of owning a rental property. Overall renting is low stress, but can become a nightmare when things go wrong or you have a horrible renter. Feel each applicant out and never be afraid to run a background check on even the most seemingly nicest people, they are the ones you usually have to watch out for.
Hope this article helps you make better rental property decisions in the future and allows you to become a successful land lord and property owner.
