- Great for do-it-yourselfers, woodworkers, hobbyists, decorators and gardners
- Enter feet-inch-fractions without changing to decimals
- Use it to estimate quantities and costs for paint, concrete, tile, wallpaper and carpet
- Convert between all standard math dimensions
- Includes: Easy-to-follow user’s guide and 360-degree hinged hard cover door
Product DescriptionHand Held Project Calculator Plus, Includes Fence & Deck Buttons, For Do-ItYourselfers, Woodworkers, Hobbyists, Decorators & Cabinet Makers, Works Directly In Yards, Feet, Inches, Fractions & Metric, Solves Square Up Diagonals, Calculates Board Feet, Converts Between All Standard Dimensional Math Fomats, Works As A Standard Math Calculator, Includes User Guide, 2 Batteries & 1 Year Warranty. . . . More >>
Calculated Industries 8510 Home ProjectCalc Do-It-Yourself Project Calculator
Home Improvement Project
Image taken on 2007-08-04 11:02:10 by gary j wood.
City Building Departments and Tankless Water Heaters I have to say that most city building departments are unfamiliar with tankless water heater installations requirements. Here is a recent example; I won’t name the city of course. For a building permit to replace your tank type water heater you are required to submit a sketch of all existing gas appliances in your home with the length of the gas lines from the meter. Needless to say that the gas lines are not visible, running through walls and whatnot, and it is difficult to determine their length. The city building official stated “you can estimate it but try to be exact”. We were also required to list the BTUs for all of the gas appliances in the home. Now the kitchen floor is tile, the stove is really heavy and I don’t want to break any tiles that are 15 or so years old. If you broke one you wouldn’t find a replacement anywhere. So we “guessed the exact” BTUs on it. This was a home improvement project, not a home demolition project. This city has a 4 page pamphlet showing what is required for installing a tankless water heater. After “guessing the exact” gas line runs in the walls and having a sketch ready we went to the city and applied for a permit. The city charged a permit fee of $230. 00. After looking at our sketch the city official stated: “you need to run a 1 inch gas line to the new tankless water heater”. The tankless water heater was to be installed only 12 feet away from the gas meter. It didn’t matter that both the gas meter and the tankless water heater had ¾ inch fittings, we could not use the existing ¾” line, it had to be 1”. We paid the $230 and obtained our building permit for installing the tankless hot water heater. He also told us that there are 2 inspections required, one for the new gas line and after that has been approved, the tankless water heater can be installed and then another inspection is needed. You have to call the inspection request in the day before you want the inspection, and you have a choice of morning or afternoon; morning is 8:00 am to 12:00 pm, and afternoon is 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm. , and the installer has to be there with the installation manuals with him. The Home Improvement Project Gets More Expensive By that time we had spent several hours of our time scouting the exact gas line runs, figuring out the BTUs from all the gas appliances in the home, and preparing a sketch for the city building officials. We were also required to install a seismic gas shut off valve at the gas meter, a good idea if the utility company doesn’t have one already in the street. Some cities require this valve, some not. More needless costs for this home improvement project. We installed a new gas line and pressurized it for leak detection, and then we waited 2. 5 hours for the inspector to arrive. The city building department also required the installation of an “excess flow gas valve” when installing a tankless water heater, which we had to order, and it hadn’t arrived on time. The function of that valve is to restrict the gas flow if the line (galvanized steel) ruptures as to limit the outflow of gas. The valves come in different BTUs, the tankless one is rated at 300,000 BTUs and the tankless heater can only do 200,000 BTUs. Not only that, but the ¾” gas line can do only around 230,000 BTUs with that run length. Just valve is just another waste of money. So before you decide on that new home improvement idea or project, find out if you need a building permit, and if it does investigate what’s required. Some building departments can turn a green home improvement project brown in a hurry.
Do it yourself projects are efficient ways to minimize cost, and to a certain degree, tap into your creative side. Home improvement is just one area in the wide and complex world of Do- it- Yourself. In a way, home improvement should be done by the homeowners themselves, because the property is theirs, and if something succeeds or fails, the homeowners take full accountability for what happens. How does one begin a do it yourself project? The following is a step by step guide in determining your general path for future DIY projects. 1. Examine your house- a house that has stood against the elements of nature for at least three years probably has suffered some form of damage. When was the last time that you stopped to inspect whether your house is still safe to live in, or if there is something that you can still do to improve it? A thorough evaluation of your house and all its parts would definitely give you great ideas for your future DIY project. With you some paper and a pen, list down everything that you think must be repaired, replaced, improved or taken down completely. Be critical of how furniture and electrical wires are placed in your house. After making your list, start sifting through them. What is it that interests you at the moment? Do you wish to make a new gate made purely of wood, and coated with varnish? Do you think that old door needs sprucing up? Whatever you might choose to do, remember that you have to take into consideration time and budget constraints. 2. Plan first, and plan well- do not commit the mistake of not being able to plan before you try your hand in DIY home improvement. Any project, executed without a clear plan in mind is bound to either fail or finish unsuccessfully. How does one begin a work plan for a DIY project? First identify what needs to be done. Make a list of the things that have to be done prior to the DIY project. Then proceed to make a list of the things that you need to do. This includes even the smallest of implements in the DIY project, like nails and paint. After determining the materials needed for the DIY project, begin to compute how much all this would cost. A good and reliable computation should not be based on estimates alone. If you can, make the computation when you’re at the hardware store. If something seems to be too expensive, then try to find an alternative brand, or if it’s not possible to do this, try to find an alternative, material to replace that which you cannot acquire due to cost, a good example will be thinner gauge plywood for sidings and non load bearing structures. 3. Timeframe- never forget to make a timeframe for a particular DIY project. Failure to do so might mean the project might take too long to finish, or in some instances, it might not be completed at all. A timeframe would tell you what to do and what to complete in a day.
Home Improvement is a popular tem these days but what is it really? What does a project have to include to be termed a home improvement project? Home improvement can be anything from just repainting or wallpapering a bathroom or kitchen to a total home remodel and makeover. Any home improvement project can be shared with everyone in the home taking on some responsibility in the event.
There is no reason to pay contractors the outrageous rates they charge when you have able bodied people in the house to help out. I know what you are going to say, “I can’t even get my teenager to take out the trash!”, but when you give them the choice of helping or selling everything in their room to help pay for a contractor they will change their tune! You will find that family and friends may be willing to help as well, kind of like people used to pitch in back in the day.
Whenever you are thinking about starting a home improvement project you should talk to everyone in the house about it because the turmoil and disruption concerns everyone. Some projects like painting are easy enough that anyone can do them. All you have to do is protect against spills and make sure you don’t get paint on items you don’t want painted. Often you can repaint and entire home in just a few days. A fresh new color can go a long way to changing the look of a house.
If you are planning a large project that requires carpentry skills and renovation of rooms then you may have no choice but to hire a contractor unless you are skilled in that area. Another consideration is money, do you have enough money to pay cash for the project or will it require financing?
If you are seeking out help from friends and relatives for your home improvement project don’t even bother calling up those that don’t take care of their own house. If they don’t care about their stuff they surely won’t care about yours and all they will do is sit around and drink beer giving arm chair advice and criticism. You should schedule a home improvement project so that you can complete it during a short vacation or long weekend.
Another thing to consider is storage. If you are remodeling your home and need to empty a room, where are you going to put everything? If you are like me, your garage is already full. You should consider getting a temporary storage container. If you think that you could possible reorganize the garage you may want to buy some garage storage containers to help you with the organization and make room for the items you need to remove in the house.
Success can be a relative term and could signify both tangible and intangible elements in life, but for most people, success is equated to having tangible properties like fabulous homes and established businesses. For successful business people and professionals in Massachusetts, rewarding one’s self with an expansion or a renovation on their beloved abode is just fitting for all the hardships and determination they exerted to get to where they are right now. If you are part of this group of people and is planning on a home improvement project, then you should take more research and consideration in choosing the right contractor to do the job for you. Making a critical mistake in this area can let you lose all the hard work that you have invested in that contributed to your success. Finding a good contractor for a major home improvement project is critical according to custom building experts at Divisions Unlimited Inc. Whether the work is a major renovation of your home or just a minor repair like peeling paints or leaks in the basement, hiring a professional and capable contractor is the way to go to ensure that what you get is superb quality and service for the cost that you have allocated for them. The following are some tips on how you can search for a qualified contractor for your home renovation needs. * Seek Recommendations from Friends and Family Many people would be surprised to know that several of their relatives and friends have, in one time or another hired the services of a private contractor for a major/minor repair or renovation in their homes. Simply asking them for referrals could get you several potential contractors to choose from and their recommendations can shorten your list considerably more. You can also ask them regarding their experiences with said contractors, whether these are negative or positive feedbacks with information ranging from how the contractors communicated with them to how much they were charged for their renovation projects. Still, the most professional way in choosing a contractor is to get in touch with recommended companies and ask for a formal quotation and project discussion. * Seek Recommendations from Your Local Community Whether you’re from the Greater Boston area or all the way to Weston, it would be a wise move to check on your local community bulletin boards or coordinating with your local Better Business Bureau to seek for potential recommendations for contractors and builders. Your local community will maintain a history of past business dealings or contracts made by a particular contractor and their track record will be a more valuable source of information than any well-prepared brochure or website. This would help you get reputable names in the industry that can help you with your home improvement project. * Seek Recommendations from Past Customers If you do not have ready recommendations from friends or family, or even from neighbors and business associates who have undergone a renovation in their own homes, you can ask the contractors directly for a listing of past customers whom you could contact directly. However, there will be a greater chance that the listing provided would be a little biased towards the contractor. Still, you can ask permission from these past clients if you can visit their homes and see the contractor’s work for yourself, as this would be the best gauge to see their workmanship and to finally decide on who would best fit the job for your home improvement project. Looking for a contractor that would be well-equipped and fully knowledgeable in performing your home improvement project need not be a very stressful thing. Whether your plans involve “standard” renovation work or the more complicated, energy-efficient and custom built improvements in your home, looking for a qualified using the means outlined earlier can help make this task easier and more fruitful.
It pays to continually invest in your New York home and reap the benefits of adding value to it and of course, increasing the quality of living for your loved ones. When thinking of a home improvement project, there are a good number of tasks that you could undertake and this includes getting rid of your old windows over replacement windows. Why? These home features are more than meets the eye, not only adding to the curb appeal but also keep everything inside as comfortable as possible. This article lays out the benefits of having replacement windows and more… Like the eyes of a person, the windows reveal a good deal about the home and serves as one of its gateways to the world outside. The beauty about choosing to have replacement windows is that with the wide variety of styles, designs and color that it comes in, you are sure to find the perfect one to complement with the overall look of your New York home. Among the most popular are the garden, bay and casement windows. Also known as frames and sashes, replacement windows also come manufactured with features for added safety and protection. Most products are commonly compatible with almost every security devices and other features that maximize operability like low-placed latches, and easy-to-twist hand cranks. The sash feature makes opening and closing much easier. Those made with impact resistant glass are especially made to withstand storms, hurricanes or other extremely harsh natural elements that could cause damage to your windows and home. When your home’s heating and cooling leaks through your windows and doors, you are throwing money away by paying energy which has not been used. Replacement windows are energy-efficient alternatives to your old or dysfunctional ones. Many of its kinds, especially those with specialized glazing are good insulator, preventing heat from getting wasted. They also lower the chances of having problems with moisture and condensation. Replacement windows are also made from different materials from wood, aluminum and vinyl. Depending on the look you want and your preferences, you can pick from any of these. In the selection process, you have to carefully weigh the pros and cons of each. Your choice would affect the overall cost, durability, level of insulation, and maintenance required to keep them always looking great. To take advantage of all the benefits, you can opt for clad windows which is made of wood in the interior and either vinyl or aluminum in the exterior. Other than meticulously thinking things over before buying the right product, the proper installation of your replacement windows is also crucial. No matter which option you pick, the highest of quality would still work inefficiently if not installed accurately. So if you do not have ample experience and the right skills to undertake this home improvement project, then better leave it for experts to do. To avail of the services of the best local window contractor, do your research well and ask for multiple bids from likely candidates before making your pick.
When you want to get a project of new home improvement done, you can combine home improvement with a great improvement in family relationships if you take the opportunity of involving your whole family into the project. Even if it is a matter of just painting the walls with a fresh coat of paint, it provides a great event for the family and friends to come together and enjoy a roaring time. Yes, redecorating can be hugely enjoyed! Everyone can do home improvement jobs, young or old, male or female! Obviously, it is not a very good idea to involve small children into too much work.
When you approach everyone for help, you will surely get all sorts of excuses and complaints from them but you have to be really skillful and make them take a guilt trip for offering so many ridiculous excuses. Rest assured, they will come around to help in your project. A project of home is a huge task and you can make do with all the help you will get, especially from your family and friends. It will save you from paying exhorbitant rates that professional home improvement people will charge.
A project of home improvement could be either a small one of a simple paint slapping or a big one like changing the heating system. Every project of home improvement is very important irrespective of whether it is small or big and should be carefully done with due consideration for members of the family living in the home. You must discuss every project with all the members of the family and their views also deserve consideration, unless you are in a state of mind where you do not care about what they think. A project of home improvement is an important topic, More so if it is a big one with a lot of investment which also involves much work.
While enlisting help for your project of home improvement, it would be better to be choosy as slack people or those who are not on the same wavelength as you are regarding the project will mostly prove to be an impediment to the job on hand. They will either slow down the job or it will get messed up, preventing you from achieving what you set out to do. It is also important that you keep yourselves free for a few days or for however long it takes to finish the job, as leaving the job unfinished will defeat the purpose of the home improvement project. Contractors should never be asked to come if you are unable to pay them. A home improvement project is undertaken to enliven your home life and it should never bog you down with worries or bills. It should prove to be a joy from start to finish!