The first story is about a 1912 stucco Tudor home:

The first couple bought their home in 1981 for around $53,000. Built in 1912, their stucco Tudor home had two bedrooms and a full bathroom on the second floor and contained 800 square feet on the first floor, 750 on the second, and 700 in the basement.

Immediate Repairs Needed

Unfortunately, when they first bought their home, they were faced with repairs. The house had been sitting vacant for a year before they purchased it. During that time, water pipes and heat radiators had frozen. The house also had an old oil boiler.

They removed the oil boiler and installed inner thermal electric water radiant baseboard heat. But the baseboard heating system did not prove to be efficient; there were no storm windows, and the house still had cold spots. They contacted the local electrical utility company to have their home converted to gas (hot water and furnace) and to qualify for the Weatherization Program. They sold the radiators and some of the thermal baseboards to a used building supply. The rest of the inner thermal baseboards were sold to a friend and donated to a local charity.

The Weatherization Program helps customers identify and repair areas where energy may be lost due to inadequate insulation and inefficient doors and windows. Financial assistance may be offered by the electrical utility company to qualifying customers for taking weatherization steps. For example, grants may be offered to help cover a portion of the cost of insulating attics, walls, and floors over heated areas. A small grant may be paid toward replacing existing windows with more energy efficient windows. An energy audit determines the exact amount of each grant, and the grant does not need to be repaid. Any remaining balance after the work is completed and the grant has been awarded is the homeowner’s responsibility. There may be a weatherization program in your area—you will want to contact your local electrical utility company for more information.

While the house appeared large, the rooms were small. With children still at home, it was time for an expansion. The thought of moving never entered the picture—they liked the neighborhood—but they didn’t know how to add on without losing the integrity of the home. An architect friend drew some plans that the couple liked so well that they hired a contractor and started their project in September 1993.

The Remodeling Experience

The contractor was to be responsible for excavation, foundations, framing, plumbing, roofing, insulation, and drywall. In order to save money, they purchased the windows which the contractor installed. They also did the demolition with the help of their 13-year-old son, and they did their own wiring—all 4,500 feet of it!

Another area where they saved (or in this case, made) money, was by putting their detached single-car garage up for sale. They ran a classified ad in the local newspaper that read “Garage for Sale,” which most people read as “Garage Sale.” Boy, were these people surprised when they showed up looking for furniture and trinkets! Once sold, the garage was relocated and the couple didn’t have to go through the process of tearing it down.

The completed addition is a dream come true as it gives the homeowners the extra room they need and want. The square footage of their home was increased by 800 square feet per floor, including the 800-foot double-car garage at basement level. The addition includes a new kitchen, full bathroom, and a mud/laundry room on the first floor. The second floor has a master bedroom, an extra bedroom, a full bathroom, and a rebuild of the original bathroom.

Final Thoughts

This house finished out with four bedrooms and three baths, not to mention the original sun room, a deck over the garage (using a special membrane material so water will not leak into the garage), and the original basement that incorporated extra rooms. The new addition was finished to match the existing home, both exterior and interior.

By the time the job was completed, the couple put between $80,000 and $90,000 into the project. For a time, their home outpriced the rest of the neighborhood, but this was of little concern to them. They like the neighborhood and plan to stay there, and that was their main reason for doing the project.

Stay tuned for stories two and three…

In this economy, though, who can afford to give their teenager the room decor of his or her dreams? Actually, you can – if you get your teen involved in the planning and execution of her room redesign.

What’s more, involving teens in redesigning their own rooms teaches them valuable budgeting and home improvement skills that will serve them well when they own homes someday. Focus your teen room redesign project on teaching a handful of important skills, including:

* Budgeting – Allowing your teen to update her decor is a great way to teach her budgeting basics. Start out by deciding how much cash you’ll contribute to her efforts and how much she’ll have to come up with on her own. Help her allocate her funds by deciding what she most wants to change about her room. Can she live with the carpet if she wants to buy a pricier bed? Is the wall color OK as long as she can have new linens and drapes?

* Painting – It’s the simplest, most cost-effective way to give a room a completely new look and if your teenager learns how to paint well now, he’ll never fear the job later when he has to tackle it in his own home. If you’re not confident about your own painting skills, sign yourself and your child up for a class in the basics at your local home improvement store.

* Flooring – Installing, hardwood floors, tile and vinyl can often exceed the cost of the materials. Learning how to install carpet yourselves can be a great money-saver, allowing your teen to stretch his budget and acquire a valuable skill at the same time.

* Wallpaper murals –Unexpectedly easy to install, wallpaper murals are a great, cost-effective way to make a bold, personalized statement in any room. Look for a company, like Environmental Graphics, that offers teen-friendly images and complete online instructions for installation. Visit www.DecorPlace.com to learn more.

* Linens and drapes – The lesson here can be twofold – either how to shop for and find great linens and drapes at discount prices, or how to make your own at a fraction of the cost you would pay to buy them. If you possess basic sewing skills, you can easily help your teen tackle making his or her own drapes and linens. Or, you can both enroll in a sewing class at your local community college to perfect your skills.

Helping your teenager redecorate her room can be a great way to teach her valuable skills, refresh your own abilities and enjoy a memorable experience together.

“Natural ventilation created by venting skylights is much more effective than opening a window,” says John Carmody, director of the Center for Sustainable Building Research at the College of Design at the University of Minnesota. “ Green building guidelines encourage homeowners to provide more natural ventilation, primarily because it reduces energy consumption,” says Carmody, the author of several books on building design.

The chimney effect created by an open skylight exhausts volatile organic compounds (VOCs) along with humid, moist, stale air while admitting healthful, natural light, explains Joe Patrick, senior product manager with VELUX America. “Homes that can’t ‘breathe’ can be unhealthy, as VOCs can build up in tightly sealed spaces and cause health problems.”

Patrick also points out that while modern skylights allow a home to breathe, they don’t leak. “This was sometimes a problem with early skylights, but quality units, properly installed with matched flashing kits, make that an unnecessary concern,” he says. “They are as dependable and functional as any vertical window or other installation that requires an opening in the sides or roof of the home.”

Kitchens and bathrooms are areas of the home where venting skylights are particularly effective for removing heated, moist air.

Kirsten Ritchie, a civil engineer and regional director for sustainable design for Gensler, a global architectural, design, planning, and consulting firm, says, that among her favorite innovations or design ideas for a green kitchen are, “lots of operable windows for natural daylight and free ventilation.”

Patrick points out that operable skylights serve the same function and offer as many, if not more, accessories to adjust and control light and ventilation as do vertical windows. Plus, skylights offer sensors to close them in case of precipitation.

“Venetian blinds are available to adjust light, cellular shades to diffuse light, light block shades to block light from the inside, and exterior heat block awnings block heat before it enters the home,” Patrick says. “And ENERGY STAR-qualified skylights with energy efficient, insulated, low-E glazings offer protection against solar heat gain, resist condensation twice as long as clear glass, and protect interiors by reflecting the vast majority of the sun’s fade-causing rays.”

“There are a number of improvements homeowners can make today that will more than pay for themselves over time,” says Chris Pickering, vice president of marketing at Ply Gem windows. “With the 2009/2010 energy efficiency tax credits in full swing, now is an ideal time to make cost saving upgrades to the home.”

Ply Gem, a leader in the building products industry, offers some helpful tips to prepare your home for the winter season and beyond:

* Add insulation to your attic to reduce heat loss and drafts.

* Install glass doors on fireplaces to reduce drafts and make sure your damper is working properly.

* Clean vents and air ducts and replace filters to promote air flow and ease the strain on your heating and cooling system.

* Drain a few gallons from your water heater to remove sediment and help it operate more efficiently.

* Upgrade to insulated siding, like Mastic Home Exteriors by Ply Gem Structure EPS, to efficiently lower heating and cooling costs for the home by up to 25 percent.

* Wrap your hot water pipes in insulation pre-formed for that purpose to reduce heat loss and ease the workload on your water heater.

* Check around doors and windows and replace damaged caulk or weather-stripping.

* Replace old single-pane windows with energy efficient, dual- or triple-pane models to reduce heat loss in winter and keep hot air out and cool air in during summer.

“Windows are a particularly good place to save energy and money,” Pickering says. Advancements like Argon fills between window panes have made windows more efficient than ever before and can be a major component in lowering utility bills.”

Installing ENERGY STAR-rated windows can save more than $450 per year in heating and cooling costs. Plus, with the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, you can receive a tax credit for 30 percent of the purchase price of new energy-efficient windows up to a maximum of $1,500. Window manufacturers are helping homeowners break down the benefits with Web tools like the one from Ply Gem. Do the math and you’ll find that new windows, along with these other energy saving tips, can pay off immediately and for years to come.

“If you could invest a few dollars and save $100, you’d do that, right? That’s what you’re doing when you invest in making your home more energy efficient,” says Michael Chenard, director of environmental affairs at Lowe’s. “An inexpensive air filter replaced at recommended intervals can save you $100 or more on your heating and cooling bills. Making your home more energy efficient saves you real money.”

Chenard recommends checking out Lowes.com/BuildYourSavings, to answer a few questions about your home and receive a list of recommended home improvements along with your estimated cost savings. He also suggests several ways to save money in your home.

Utility Savings:
Toilets – Replace an old, inefficient toilet with a WaterSense-labeled model and you can save up to $90 per year off your water bill, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

Light bulbs – When you replace your five most-used incandescent light bulbs with ENERGY STAR-qualified compact fluorescent blubs, you can save up to $70 a year. According to the EPA, the average cost of a CFL bulb is between $4 and $9, but they pay for themselves quickly in savings on your utility bill.

Programmable thermostats - As little as $30 and an hour or two is all it takes to save up to $500 a year, according to a 2008 article in Money magazine. ENERGY STAR-qualified thermostats with pre-programmed settings are intended to deliver savings without sacrificing comfort. For instance, your thermostat can automatically adjust the home’s temperature during sleeping hours or when no one is home achieving significant savings. The EPA recommends raising your thermostat four degrees in the summer and lowering it seven in the winter. Savings may vary depending on where in the country you live.

Do-it-yourself Savings:
Lawn maintenance - If you use a professional lawn service to mow, trim and maintain your lawn and landscaping, simply doing it yourself can save up to $900 a year, based on the national average paid for professional services.

Pest control – If you’ve got termites, ants or rodents, you might be tempted to throw up your hands and call a pest control service. But you can do your own pest control easily and affordably and save up to $300 a year, based on a national average of professional pest services four times per year.

Tax Credits:
Windows – Replacing 300 square feet of old, single-pane windows with more energy-efficient ENERGY STAR-qualified windows can save more than $460 every year in energy costs, according to the EPA. You’ll notice a difference in the summer when you don’t need to run your air conditioner as often and in the winter when your heater can rest more often.

Sealing and insulation – If you have less than 15 inches of insulation in your attic you can save money by adding more and also use expanding foam insulation to seal cracks and gaps where air seeps in and gets out and you can save up to $500 in annual energy costs, according to a 2008 Money magazine article.

“In addition to the savings you’ll see in your monthly bills through energy-efficient improvements, you may be able to take advantage of the tax credits in the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act,” says Chenard. “Certain energy-efficient improvements to residential properties, like replacement windows, are eligible for up to 30 percent of the cost of improvements (up to $1,500) in tax credits under the Residential Energy Efficient Property Credit.”

For more information and additional energy saving ideas, visit Lowe’s stores in United States and Canada and Lowes.com/BuildYourSavings.

1. Tile Backsplash

The days of automatically matching the backsplash to the counter are gone. Today’s latest kitchen trend is adding some color and personalization with unique backsplashes that complement but don’t necessarily match countertops. Try brightening the room with a backsplash featuring yellow or blue accents or even mix things up a little with a number of different colored tiles to make a checkerboard pattern. Manufactured tiles are affordable, starting at approximately $4 per square foot, and adding a few hand-painted tiles with such items as fruits, flowers or shapes can provide creative flair. Adding backsplash tiles is a simple project that even the beginning DIYer can take on without hesitation, and it can be completed in just one afternoon.

2. Pullout Faucets

Consider adding a new pullout faucet to your kitchen to provide the functionality needed for filling large pots, watering houseplants and doing assorted dishwashing and cleaning tasks. These faucets combine great looks as well as added convenience. Manufacturers such as Moen now provide pullouts with design options to make them stylish additions to the room. For example, its new Colonnade offers the charm of traditional, classic styling, while the Salora has a sleek and contemporary look complementing modern kitchen decor. Starting around $250 each, these faucets still install as regular fixtures, thanks to a simple, single-bolt tie-down installation method.

If the last time you purchased a faucet your finish options were “chrome” or “chrome,” you will be pleased to see that faucets are now available in more stylish finishes, including copper or brushed stainless steel. Copper finishes are becoming increasingly popular and can provide the perfect complement to range hoods, teakettles, cookware and other items. Brushed stainless steel continues to be a popular choice, in part because it matches the look of many of the latest commercial-style appliances.

3. New Countertops

Your countertop is one of the most important and visible parts of your kitchen. A new countertop can give your kitchen a whole new look, and your choices are virtually limitless. The most popular choice is laminates. Available in hundreds of colors and textures, these countertops cost approximately $25 per linear foot. They are easy-to-clean and long lasting, but they do show cuts and nicks.

Following a close second to laminates are solid surface countertops. Although they can cost quite a bit more — $90 to $200 per linear foot — solid surface countertops will allow nicks, scratches and burns to be buffed out. Quartz and granite surfaces are also increasing in popularity — but increasing in cost as well.

If you want some extras but don’t want to spend a lot, consider using a laminate on your main countertop and tile on a small area of the kitchen, such as an island. Tiles cost about $4 per square foot and work beautifully on secondary work surfaces.

4. Refacing/Refinishing Cabinets

In a kitchen-remodeling project, new cabinets are usually the largest expense — but they don’t have to be. If the general structure of your cabinets is good, consider refinishing or refacing them. This can cost less than half the price of new cabinets. Refinishing means stripping, staining or painting the surface; while refacing requires replacing cabinet and drawer fronts and putting a matching veneer on the cabinet frames. Refacing creates a totally different look and allows you to change from dark wood to light, which will brighten an outdated kitchen. Both refinishing and refacing will not only save in material costs, but will also save labor costs compared to new cabinets.

If even refinishing or refacing cabinets is not in your budget, you can simply change the cabinet hardware. New knobs and handles are available in all shapes, sizes and finishes — and some are even sculpted allowing you to create your own special kitchen look.

5. Stainless Steel Sinks

If your kitchen sink is stained, scratched or pitted, you will be happy to know that for about $300, you can get the latest in stainless steel sinks. A new trend is undermounting for fast, easy cleanup with no ridges to get in the way. In its Lancelot line, Moen offers new shapes, such as oval, round and trapezoid. If you need to fit a new sink to an existing countertop, the rectangular sink is still a popular option. Today’s stainless steel sinks are durable and, thanks to sound-deadening designs, quiet. Double-bowl models, though slightly more expensive, provide more work area while extra-deep bowls provide additional capacity for large jobs.

6. New Lighting

Illuminate dark work areas with under-counter lighting that can be purchased as separate halogen lights or as a strand of rope lights. Halogen lights cost about $3 each and should be spaced 18-24 inches apart. Rope lighting is one continuous strand of lights and usually costs $3 per foot.

In addition to under-counter lighting, you may consider changing ceiling fixtures. Some of today’s hottest styles are recessed lighting or pendant fixtures that hang down a few feet from the ceiling to provide better illumination for an island or eating area. Usually you can find fixtures at relatively moderate beginning prices at home centers or kitchen showrooms.

7. Stenciling, Painting and Wallpapering

Plain-colored walls are becoming a thing of the past as more homeowners opt for bold, colorful designs. Many new, faux finish designs use sponging techniques and stencils to personalize the look of the kitchen. Even the color palettes are changing from neutrals to dark blues, greens and maroons. Besides being inexpensive, painting is one of the easiest projects to complete in a fairly short amount of time and it makes a dramatic difference in the appearance of any room.

Borders and wallpaper are also as popular as ever in the kitchen. Since so many of them now come pre-pasted, the wallpapering process is pretty simple. If your kitchen is already painted, a decorative border can add just the right touch of style and color. Borders are popping up on all areas of the wall, not just near the ceiling. Try a waist-level, chair-rail border or even something at eye level to break up the room.

8. Appliances

One of the biggest expenses in a kitchen-remodeling project is replacing the appliances. To avoid buying new appliances all at once, selectively add appliances by choosing the one that is most out-of-date in either look or function, and then add others over time as your budget allows.

If your old appliances still fit the bill in terms of performance, but you’d like an updated look, you can actually repaint them or buy new panels to match the new decor or cabinetry in your kitchen. Visit your local home center to find out how this can be accomplished for your particular brand of appliances.

9. Workspace and Storage Options

The island is usually the hallmark of any kitchen remodel, but if you are on a budget, a new, built-in island may not be on the agenda. If you still want the convenience and storage space of an island, consider one on wheels. For approximately $300, you can have a kitchen island that has the extra advantage of allowing you to stow it away in the corner when not in use.

Another suggestion is to create elegant storage areas in the kitchen by taking the fronts off your cabinets and installing glass shelving. In this way, you can mimic the open look of today’s modern kitchen cabinetry while still having a place to display cookbooks, dishes or glassware.

To maximize storage space in the kitchen, go to your local home retailer and look for little extras that can be added to your current cabinetry such as a spice organizer, a place for recyclables, plate racks or wine racks.

10 Window Treatments

Nothing catches the eye like windows, so making them look good is critical. If you sew, you can bring a new look to your windows for the price of materials and an investment of your time. If not, pre-made window treatments can beautify your kitchen, often for less than $100 per window. The latest styles include tab top valences, swags mounted on metal-finished rods and a variety of blinds. You can add shelves or interior window boxes to your kitchen windows for plants or flowers. This little trick is perfect for blocking out a less-than-desirable view of a neighbor’s house or insulating the room from a busy street.

By making the switch yourself, you can do it without breaking the bank. Lowes.com offers their step-by-step instructions for getting the job done:

First measure for new windows:
It is important to have accurate measurements for every window in your home. Accurate measurements ensure that your windows fit properly for maximum energy savings and ease of installation.

Important!

Take all measurements from inside your home.

Be sure to measure all the way to the jambs on the left and right. Measuring only to the stops would cause your new windows to be too narrow.

1. To find the width, measure from the inside of the jamb on one side of the window to the inside of the jamb on the other side of the window. Measure at the bottom, middle and top of the window. Use the narrowest measurement for the width of your replacement window.

2. To find the height, measure from the top of the sill to the bottom of the window’s head jamb. Measure at the left, middle and right of the window. Use the shortest measurement for the height of your replacement window.

Using the smallest measurements ensures that the replacement window will fit inside the existing window frame.

Remove the old window sashes:

Since the replacement windows fit inside the existing window frame, you only have to remove the sashes, parting bead and inside stop from the existing window. To make the project easier and safer, install your new windows from inside your home.

1. Remove the inside stop pieces from the window. Take care when removing these pieces; you will reuse them when installing the new windows.

2. Remove the inside sash. If the old window uses weights, cut the sash cords or chains. Let the weights fall to the bottom of their wells and simply leave them there.

3. Slide the outside sash to the bottom of the window. Remove and discard the parting beads. Remove the outside sash in the same manner as the inside sash. Do not remove the exterior stop from the window jambs. These stops will retain the replacement window when you install it.

4. Clean the window jambs and sill thoroughly. If the old window had weights, either drive the pulleys into the frame or remove them entirely. Fill any holes in the jambs or sill with caulk.

Install the new window:

Poorly installed or adjusted windows waste energy and are difficult to operate, so take your time installing and adjusting your new window.

1. Lay a bead of caulk along the inside of the outside stops on the jambs. Mark the sill for the sill angle. Caulk and install the sill angle.

2. Center the top and bottom sashes vertically in the new window frame. Slide the bumper stops toward the center of the frame until the four mounting holes in the side jambs (two top and two bottom) are visible.

3. Place the header, also called the expander, on top of the window and caulk its top.
Window expander.
Put the header in place and secure it with the small screws provided with the window.

4. Place the window in the opening and check for square. If the window is not square in the opening, shim as needed to square it. Install the mounting screws at the top and bottom of each side jamb. Do not install the screws so tightly that they deform the side jambs.

5. Slide the header up so that it seals any gap between the top of the new window and the old frame. Use the screws provided with the window to secure the header in place.

6. Slide the top and bottom sashes up and down to check for gaps and smooth operation. If the sashes do not operate smoothly, use the built-in adjustment screws in the side jambs to adjust the window frame. Precise adjustment varies by manufacturer, so refer to the manufacturer’s notes for specific adjustment instructions.

7. Caulk the inside of the window and reinstall the inside stops.

This is a do-it-yourself project for a homeowner who has had some previous experience with home remodeling projects.