If you are close to retirement or simply have too much money to throw around and you are looking on a piece of property to invest in, you should consider building a farmhouse. This nation thrives on its’ farmers hard work and devotion to feed millions of people each and every year. Building a farmhouse would somehow be a sort of homage to those farmers of whom we generally take for granted each and every time we visit the grocery store. It isn’t like we take our time while choosing our produce to give thanks to the farmers that toiled over growing that particular piece of produce. So much work goes into providing our nation with a farmer’s splendor that building a home from country farm style house plans would be a great way of giving your small piece of thanks.

When you think of a farmhouse, your first thought is most likely that of a home that has a sprawling front porch. This spacious porch seems to beckon the passersby to come sit and relax in the shade and sip on a nice cool cup of iced tea. There is nothing more welcoming that a wide front porch with rocking chairs that have comfortable cushions upon each seat. This is where the farmer will spend his weekends while he is relaxing with his family. When you are designing your country house plans keep this amazing feature of a country farmhouse in mind. Without this roomy and cozy front porch, it just wouldn’t be a farmhouse.

Most farmhouses that you see in the country are a basic rectangle shape. Also, these farmhouses are always two stories with the bedrooms lying on the second story. However, if you do have a problem with stairs for whatever reason, you should check out house plans for ranch with a walkout basement instead. Now even though you are designing a farmhouse, this doesn’t mean you have to skimp on the luxury items that you put on the inside of your home. You could add in a whirlpool bathtub in the master bath. Or you could even add in walk in closets for all of the bedrooms rather than just for the master. If you wanted to really go against the grain you could install a media room in the upstairs for the enjoyment of your family.

No matter how you decide to design your dream country farmhouse, you will come to enjoy the beauty of such a unique piece of architecture for many years to come. Your country farmhouse will come to be known as your family’s little piece of escape that is usually much needed. When you come to your farmhouse the only thing on all of your minds’ will be relaxation.

So if you are looking for more information on country farm style house plans or country house plans, be sure to visit House Plans And More today. House Plans And More has further information on house plans ranch walkout basement as well.

If you are in the market for a new home that you want to design yourself, but want a smaller more affordable home, then a bungalow home is the perfect choice for you. The style of most bungalows is of a smaller stature with less square footage than the average home. A bungalow is the perfect solution for those who live alone or who simply want less area to take care of.

When it comes to designing your bungalow craftsman house plans, keep in mind that most bungalows are one and a half stories. You might consider placing the master bedroom in the downstairs. The second story would hold simply two bedrooms and a bathroom. The second floor could even look down on the first floor if you wish for a more open feel to the smaller area. The downstairs would then house the kitchen, a great room, the laundry room and a powder bath.

Another option that you could consider would be to up the square footage just a little bit. You could put the master bedroom and two more bedrooms on the lower floor. You could then have the kitchen, great room, dining room, laundry room and a main bath on the first floor as well. The second story would be more traditional. The second story would only contain a bonus room of sorts. If you wanted you could even turn this bonus room into a media room. If these floor plans don’t sound appealing, you could always choose to design a coastal cottage house plan instead.

To make your diminutive bungalow appear larger and more inviting you should also considering having a sunroom or large front porch designed into your plans. Either of these options will create an illusion that your home is actually larger than it is, while also adding a touch of relaxation to it as well. A large front porch or sunroom is just what a bungalow style home needs to draw a person’s eye to the dwelling. These features also tend to invite your guests to sit and relax for a spell or two.

If these features aren’t what you are looking for in your new home, then perhaps you should check out some luxury home plan styles. But if a smaller home is exactly what you are looking for, then a bungalow would be a wise choice. A bungalow is small yet elegant and artistic in its’ own unique way. When you are at home in your bungalow you will feel as though it is in fact a home. A bungalow has a way of making the most ordinary of homes feel extraordinary. Sitting down to read the morning’s paper with a cup of coffee will never be the same!

If you are looking for information on bungalow craftsman house plans or coastal cottage house plan, be sure to visit House Plans And More today. House Plans And More also has information on luxury home plan styles as well.

The field of drawing custom house plans is a crowded and competitive one. There are many architectural and design firms out there vying for a “piece of the pie.” However, if you look closely at examples of their finished product, you will find huge differences among them. The better ones offer quality designs and highly detailed plans.

Drawing a good set of custom home plans involves integrating many different concepts and ideas into a solid and usable working plan. Many designers are able to come up with a unique or interesting preliminary design, but fail to deliver when its time to detail the house structure. They draw a pretty picture but have little or no understanding of how to translate that nice design into a working plan which the builder can understand.

Having been in the business for more than 30 years, we have seen a large number of house plans which looked good at first glance. However, upon closer examination, many of these plans were found to be lacking large amounts of needed information. If a house plan is not easy to navigate or is not thoroughly detailed, then the builder is left to guess at the designer’s intentions. This often means that he will “pad” his bid to make sure that he covers any unknown construction costs that may arise.

One item to look for when evaluating a house plans’ quality level is the number of structural sections which are shown on the plan. Highly detailed sets of plans will always cut lots of sectional views through the house to show every different roof framing situation. This might mean that 10 or 12 (or even more) sections need to be drawn for a large house plan. And even a small house plan should include 3 or 4 sections minimum. However, many home plans available today (especially plans purchased through inexpensive plan directories) cut corners in this department and only show one or two house section views. This means that the builder will have to guess at the rest of the house framing.

Another item which is often missing or lacking in a set of house plans is comprehensive and accurate dimensions. We have always strived to provide more than the minimum amount of house dimensions so that it is easy for the owner and builder to layout a home on its building site. We will even calculate point to point dimensions (using trigonometry) for homes which have lots of odd angles to them (as opposed to a simple rectangle layout). Not all architects or designers will go this “extra mile,” so it pays to check these things out beforehand.

Every set of custom house plans includes several items which need to be blown up and detailed for further clarification. If a set of plans does not provide additional close-up drawings (for things such as beam connections, deck railings, stairway construction, etc.), then it is not a complete set. It is very easy to cut corners during the planning process. But the end result will be higher costs for the home owner – and lots of frustration for the building contractor.

There are some architects and designers who seem to think that its the responsibility of the building department to check and catch any omissions. But the best of the breed takes it as a matter of pride to produce the very best plan and design they can. It is the only way to build up a loyal clientele and to get referrals for future work. And that vote of confidence from former clients makes all the difference in the world.

Steve Minkler
http://Minkler-House-Plans.com

How to paint a concrete floor is a question many do-it-yourself homeowners frequently ask. By painting a concrete floor, you protect it from normal wear and tear. You also add some color to concrete, which is usually cold and dreary looking.

Preparation is paramount. The proper preparation and the right tools are necessary. Although homeowners want to make an improvement to the floor, they aren’t quite sure what to do with the concrete mass. When deciding on how to paint the floor, keep in mind that it is somewhat of a long process.

Before tackling the question certain measures must be taken. First, you have to make sure the room has proper ventilation to prevent irritation to your eyes and nasal passageways. Next, you have to prepare the surface by cleaning it and, if necessary, using a de-greaser to remove tough stains. If there are any holes or cracks in the floor, they need to be filled.

Although how to paint a concrete floor seems like an easy question to answer, there is much more to the task than just painting the floor. As a result, the answer is not as easy as one might think. For example, the concrete floor has to be checked for curing compounds that would prevent the paint from adhering to the surface. In addition, moisture in the concrete has to be removed before proceeding with painting. Finally, the texture of the concrete should feel like medium sand paper. If it feels harder, the paint will not adhere well and acid etching must be done.

First, some basics. For starters, buy enough paint to cover the surface with several coats. A primer and sealer are also needed. Before painting, be sure to stir the paint well. A roller, rather than a brush, is the best application to paint a concrete floor. A roller goes much faster and is much more comfortable for your back. However, a brush will be needed to do the edges and any areas around poles, vents, or other objects embedded in the floor. It’s best to paint these areas first.

How to paint a concrete floor involves choosing the right paint. Epoxy-based paints are best, but if you want to protect the concrete floor from chemical spills, such as those used in a garage, you might want to consider glossy finishing. Next, decide on a color that complements the walls in the room and its style.

Before starting, you want to know techniques so it comes out looking great. First, it’s best to work in four foot sections so you don’t paint yourself into a corner. Use long, smooth strokes. Be sure the primer is well dried before applying the paint color. Likewise, be sure the paint is completely dry before applying the sealer.

When homeowners think about how to paint the concrete floor in the basement, garage, or other area in their home, they understand it takes time, but adds to their investment. Once you’ve painted the floor, you might want to protect it with mats or area rugs, especially in areas where stains and leaks commonly occur. Painting a concrete floor is an inexpensive way to upgrade your flooring and improve its appearance so it better fits with your room décor.

Sue Krippner is a Free Lance Artist, Home Staging and Redesign Professional. For more detailed information pertaining to decorative concrete overlays visit http://www.FrugalHomeDesign.com/Decorative-Concrete.html

Proper exterior painting preparation will help ensure the success of your painting project. Proper painting preparation consists of washing, scrapping, repairing, taping, and covering. Following these four steps will also save you time and money by preventing future paint related problems such as peeling which would create the need to re-paint.

Supply List:

Protective Goggles/Glasses
Work Gloves
Clothes that will get wet and dirty
Hose
Brush Attachment
Liquid Soap
Rags
Sponges
Paint scrapper
Wire brush
Putty Knife
Painters tape
Tarps/ drop cloths
Caulk
Patching compound
Possible Supplies: Rotary paint remover, heat gun, anti-fungal cleaner

Step 1: Washing the Exterior
This is the first and most important step as paint simply won’t stick well to dirty surfaces. It’s safer to use a hose and brush attachment than a power washer as power washers are known to often cause damage to the soffits and can cause warping too. The last thing you want is to paint onto a damp surface which would be prone to mold or mildew growth. Depending on the amount of dirt on the exterior of your home, you may need to use rags and sponges to help remove stuck on dirt. Also consider using liquid soap and or anti fungal cleaner if necessary to remove mold or mildew.

Step 2: Scrapping
Make sure to have your protective goggles on and begin scrapping any loose or peeling paint. For paint that is multi layered or just tough to remove use a heat gun or rotary paint remover which has more power to remove the paint. Use proper safety precautions while using either of these tools such as wearing work gloves and keeping both tools away from your body or flammable objects.

Step 3: Sand and Repair
The next step is to sand the edges of the area where the paint was removed to help the new paint cover and hide the edge. Caulk any cracks, seams or gaps with paintable exterior caulk. It’s important to be meticulous near the doors and windows so that the paint will stick properly in these areas. For wood siding, you should also fill any gouges or holes with exterior grade patching compound.

Step 4: Taping and Covering
This step involves taping any areas which you do not want painted such as windows. Also make sure you cover anywhere that you do not want paint dripping onto, including shrubs, bushes, porches, etc. Plastic tarps or drop cloths will do a great job.

Marcy Tate is a content writer for Networx.com and has been working in the home improvement industry for over 10 years.

Find reliable, professional painters at Painting Networx.com to help with your exterior painting project.

Home design projects look so simple and easy when done on television. You’ve seen the show before. The home makeover is in progress and a decision is made to do some interior painting. Just a few seconds later there is a beautiful new color on the walls of the room. The room looks great, everyone is smiling and it only took a few moments for the transformation!

Your life isn’t like television – it never works this way. I know, my life is never that simple or easy, either. However, selecting a paint color for an interior room or space in your home doesn’t have to be an agonizing process. There are some steps you can take to help you make a good decision when selecting a wall color and, therefore, become one of those happy, smiling people when the project is complete.

Before heading out to the paint store to pick color swatches there are two decisions that need to be made. First, determine the scope of your project, which means that you need to decide if you are going to paint one room, two rooms and a hallway, the entire Great Room, and so on. It seems so simple as to be obvious, but don’t assume, just go ahead and make the decision mentally or write it down in a notebook.

The second part of that question is this: Are there defined ’starting and stopping points’? To answer this question, go into the area and literally look at all of the walls in question. Make sure that the walls of your project flow together and are within the scope of your project. For example, I have seen a kitchen/nook area of a home where the kitchen walls were painted a different color than the nook. That’s fine, except the homeowner just stopped with one color in the middle of the wall above the cabinets, so there was definitely something unfinished about the look of the area! Don’t make that mistake. Look carefully at each wall in the area, also considering any fascia or soffits you may have.

The other decision you should make is regarding the budget. How much money do you want to, or are you able to, spend on the paint decorating project? Again, it seems so simple. But before you run out and buy the paint, you should decide:

1. What brand of paint am I going to use? Some brands and types of paint are more costly than others. Is your project area large? Then you will need more paint. If you might be covering a dark paint with a lighter color, you will need two coats of paint and possibly a primer.

2. Who is going to do the painting? If you are going to hire out the project, it makes sense to get some estimates before spending any money.

3. How many colors of paint will be used in the project? Are you going to have an accent wall or area? Are you going to faux finish any of the space? Try to determine an overall plan at this point.

Once you have decided the scope of the project and a realistic budget, it is then time to think about actual paint colors. Following are some suggestions for you to consider when selecting a wall color.

How much of a change are you considering for the room? Do you want to add some drama to the area? Look at some deeper or brighter shades of colors. Or, a more subtle and neutral look might be more in your design comfort zone. In that case, keep the colors more neutral; consider a shade of off-white (there are hundreds of choices). Remember that a paint chip is a teeny, tiny little piece of color. It looks more intense when you put it on your very large walls. You might want to start with a shade that is less intense on the paint chip and test how it will appear on the walls. We’ll talk more about that soon.

Are you going to introduce a new color to the area, or are you going to use a color that is already in the room? If you are thinking about a new and different color, make sure it will enhance the color scheme that is currently in the room. Your furniture and accessories should have new life and interest with the addition of a new color. Another great technique is to work with an existing color in the room and play it up on the walls by selecting a lighter or darker shade of that color.

It is always a wise decision to test your potential color choices before painting the entire room. Purchase paint samples if possible, or a quart if necessary, and prepare a color board. It’s very simple. Just take a white poster board and put two coats of paint on it. You’ll then have a good idea of the actual color. Put the color board in all areas of the room over a 24 to 48 hour period by taping it to the wall with masking/painting tape. You want to see the color at different times of the day, and in the evening with artificial light.

Following these simple steps will help ensure that you select a color you’ll be happy with in your space, and minimize stress and frustration because you’ve made the important decisions at the beginning of the project. That’s how to complete your paint project with a smile!

Candi Randolph is the author of Ten Simple Steps to Design Success, a simple and easy to understand guide with home decorating ideas and interior design tips. For more information please visit http://www.Great-Home-Decorating.com

I may have never seen my wife so upset as the time when I came through the door with an old stray dog I found. She wasn’t too happy that I took it upon myself to make the decision about our newest family member. With the right words I managed to get her to agree to keep him but only as long he stayed out in the backyard. I didn’t like the idea my new pal being subject to the harsh conditions of the outdoor while I slept nice & cozy indoors. I knew right away it was my new job to build him a place to live and I began looking at various dog house plans.

I was in utter shock at how many different directions I could go with my four legged friend’s new home. I made sure to pick out the best dog house plans. With all of that in place I put my tool belt on and got started.

When building an outdoor home for your pet it is very important that it is built with high standards. The right selection of materials will play a huge role in the life expectancy of your dog house. You really need to put your heart and soul into this and build it the right way. I’m sure you’ll at least be putting a few hours if not a few weekends into this and it couldn’t be any more painful to walk outside and see your dog house in ruins. You’ll know deep inside that you’re the one to blame, that is why it so important to do a quality job. If you can afford pressure treatment, I wouldn’t go without it. You would be surprised at how fast the weather can tear up untreated lumber. Building with pressure treated materials will give your dog house a much longer life time.

With a dog you never know what it’s going to get into next. I used to have a dog that would chew up anything he could get a hold of. It is certainly something to consider when selecting the right material to use. Yes pressure treated wood is the best option but if your dog likes to chew the chemicals on pressure treated wood pose a dangerous threat to your dog. If your dog is a chewer I would highly recommend that you find a different means of building material.

You really want to be sure that your dog house can stand up to the seasons as well. Not just structurally but internally too. If it is getting hot outside it’s a sure thing that it’s getting hot inside the dog house as well. It is important to use a design that incorporates an air flow to keep your dog cool during the summer. With the colder months you won’t want your dog freezing to death either. Put a blanket or two so he can snuggle up and keep warm.

Reduce your carbon footprint AND Reduce your Electricity Bill. Our Review on the best Manuals on Home Solar Power reveals this secret.

Homemade Solar Panels are a hype……and fairly so!

Solar energy saves the environment and saves your energy bill. Don´t bother asking a estimate from a professional contractor. Their quotations are too high and the energy savings won´t make up this initial capital outlay. Take into consideration homemade solar panels guidebooks as they allow you to make the panels yourself for not more than $200.

But are these systems really as easy to make as they say? Yes….they are right, it is not very difficult. A lot of people like you have done it already.

We have investigated the 8 best-selling guidebooks for Homemade Solar Panels and we have chosen for you the greatest guide and those handbooks that score highest marks on important features like: clarity of instructions, customer service, bonuses, etc.

And the unsurpassed manual for Home Solar Power is…Earth4Energy

Earth4Energy: The Best Instruction manual for Homemade Solar Panels

Rating: stars-5-0

CNN and The New York Times are some sources where this guidebook too comes out best and they recommend it highly.

The reason why everybody wants to have this instruction manual for Home Solar Power is actually very simple, the illustrated step-by-step instructions and the high-quality video explanations making it so easy to install your own solar panel. Some good bonuses that are especially useful are where to purchase all the materials for a good price.

All the manuals offer:

* The costs are less than $49 and you will have a membership for a lifetime with free updates;
* They give you all of your money back if you decide within 60 days that you don’t like it;
* Bonuses comes with the package, although some offer you more than others

These other guides are also VERY good and worth checking out:

GreenDIYenergy: They offer the video information with the most quality

Rating: stars-4-5

The video information with this manual is truly high quality and will help you enormously. More than 120 minutes of excellent step-by-step video information that will explain to you in great details how to make your first homemade solar panels.

Power4Home: Really useful extra material regarding Home Energy Saving Tips

Rating: 4 (out of 5)

You will receive similar information and videos with this guidebook for homemade solar panels, though not to the same level of excellence as in GreenDIYenergy or as in Earth4Energy. There is one thing with this guide which is very good. Two bonus books (“83 Ways to reduce you home energy needs” and “Advanced Power Saving Technologies”) which you get for free and are very useful. They contain information on the subject of renewable energy and decreasing your energy needs.

HomeMadeEnergy: Best Client Support

Rating: stars-4-5

HomeMadeEnergy will offer you high-quality step-by-step information with illustrations included. But there is no video support with this manual. The HomeMadeEnergy email support service on the other hand, was fastest to respond and they gave really logical answers. Wonderful helpline!! More than ever if you don´t believe yourself a DIY specialist. This is how HomeMadeEnergy effectively differentiates itself from the other instruction manuals available in the market.

We recommend as the best Homemade Solar panels guide: Earth4Energy

Check our site for the latest Review of the Best Guides for DIY Solar Energy.

About the author: Marly Kester is an expert in renewable energies and energy efficiency for Enerfy. Enerfy is an energy consultancy company advising their business customers on energy and ESCo contracts. Via BestEnergySaving, Enerfy gives energy efficiency and renewable energy tips and tools to DIYers interested in reducing their energy bill and their carbon footprint.

Many of the houses built these days always have good parking space, plenty of compound and the most definite thing that seems not to lack these days is a backyard.

It is quite evident that by the move of technology that even houses are being built with new and great ideas. Nothing tends to be the same old same old; they are changing by the day.

The one thing that people do not know what to do is with the space that comes as the backyard. That is why even backyard shed plans have been structured in order to help people in building and in the beautification of their yards.

Most of the backyard shed plans are available via the internet and are there at very affordable prices. But before one gets to purchase on it is best to consider some few questions that will lead them to choose the best.

The first thing is to know the amount of space they have in their backyard that they are planning to build on. It may be that they only want to build a certain sector and not just the whole yard.

This is because there are backyard shed plans that are designed for large yards and others are designed for small ones.

After this is to consider how much one is willing to spend in the backyard plan.

You would find that the backyard shed plans are all drawn in different forms and the more complicated it gets the more on will spend on building it. It may also tend to be simple but the materials that are required to build it are quite expensive.

The last thing is to know how you want your shed to look like at the end of the day. Should it be simple or sophisticated?

When it comes to backyards people tend to pay less attention because they tend to be at the back of the house there fore no one gets to see them.

But the one thing to know is that it is your house and your neighbors can tell what kind of a person or family you are.

You would find that most people’s backyard and full of garage stuff and a lot of garbage and this does not paint a good picture. Things have been made easier as they are constructors that you can call in order to have your backyard done.

And they come as a package sometimes; the backyard shed plans and the person to do it. It may cost you but at the end it is all to your benefit.

If you are looking for more backyard shed plans, I highly recommend My Shed Plans elite guide by Ryan Henderson. Learn how to build your own shed at my site.