Selection Procedure Choosing natural stone for your granite counter tops has several considerations to keep in mind. Some granites without color variations could be selected from very small samples. Others need to be viewed fully because of slight shade variations. Although variations give granite its natural beauty these same variations [...]

In 2008, the Pennsylvania Legislature passed the Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act.  The law requires that all contractors who perform at least $5,000 worth of home improvements per year register with the Attorney General’s Office. As of July 1, 2009, consumers in Pennsylvania are able to verify registration with the [...]

EPA Requirements Common renovation activities like sanding, cutting, and demolition can create hazardous lead dust and chips by disturbing lead- based paint, which can be harmful to adults and children. To protect against this risk, in 2008 The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued the Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule. It [...]

Fresh paint not only brightens and updates a home’s exterior, it also provides a protective seal against weather damage. Typical costs: • Exterior paint averages $25- $40 a gallon, and a 3,000- square- foot home takes 15 or more gallons of paint, or $375- $600 just for the paint. However, [...]

Fresh paint can take a room from looking dreary and out-of-date to a sense of sparkling newness for a relatively low price compared to other remodeling projects. Typical costs: • Interior paint itself costs anywhere from $12-$50 or more a gallon, depending on the quality. Painting a 12×12-foot room, both [...]

Choosing the Right Color Using The Psychology of Colors Trying to figure out the psychology of rooms is a delicate subject. Since the Bathroom is unique and the processes that go on in there are very private, we’ll consider the Bath as an example. However, there need a few key elements [...]

Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park Travertine, a type of limestone, can be left in its natural state, with no polishing. It is sedimentary rock formed from the remains of plants and animals, often deposited by mineral springs and hot springs. We often find seashell fossils on travertine tiles. It [...]