Adding a wood deck will increase your home’s value and provide you with countless hours of enjoyment.  Wood decks are great for entertaining, enjoying outdoor meals and just plain relaxing.  When planning your wood deck, there are a few things you should consider.

Before beginning construction of a wood deck, find out about building codes in your area.  Knowing the regulations for wood decks can save you lots of headaches down the road.

Many professional deck builders advertise the use of pressure-treated wood.  The wood is treated to repel insects and resist rot.  Due to the presence of toxic pesticides, pressure-treated wood should be avoided for the surface of your deck.  Stick with durable woods such as cedar and redwood for the deck surface and limit the use of pressure-treated wood to the deck supports.

Sealing a wood deck will help protect it from the damaging effects of sun and rain.  Without sealing, the deck will begin to warp and turn gray.  A new wood deck should be sealed shortly after completion.

Waterproofing basements should be a priority for all homeowners with below-ground basements. Since basements are often used for storage and bonus rooms, water leakage can mean the loss of furniture and valued possessions. Waterproofing basements prevents water from collecting and limits water damage and the formation of mold and mildew. Taking preventative steps to waterproof your basement is more cost effective than dealing with damage from mold or leakage after the fact.

Steps for waterproofing basements

The first step in waterproofing basements is preventing the common causes of leakage. Blocked or misplaced outside gutters and rainspouts can cause foundation leakage into the basement. Broken sprinklers can also cause water build up and leaking. Check all around the foundation of the house for possible sources of foundation leakage.

Gaps and cracks in the concrete walls and floor of the basement are another common cause for leakage. Repair of foundation cracks and the application of a sealer to the basement walls are important steps to be taken in waterproofing basements. This work can be done by a professional or as a do-it-yourself project by the homeowner.

Homes which are built in areas with high water tables may experience significant seepage of ground water into the basement. Waterproofing basements in this situation requires the installation of a sump pump.

Bamboo flooring has seen a real increase in popularity over the past few years. Bamboo has been used extensively for flooring in Asian countries for quite some time, and now the rest of the world is catching on to this inexpensive, easy maintenance material.

For those interested in green alternatives, bamboo is an environmentally friendly renewable resource. Reforesting bamboo is not a problem, as it grows very quickly. Once cured and installed as flooring, bamboo is strong and resilient. It stands up well in high traffic areas.

Bamboo flooring is available in many different grades and prices. Installation is not difficult, making bamboo an economical choice for flooring. With many choices in grains and colors, there is a bamboo for every décor.

If you’re in the market for flooring, you won’t go wrong by looking into bamboo. You’ll find many reasons why it’s one of the leading choices for flooring today.

Using new colors for the walls of your home is one of the quickest makeover ideas.  Interesting colors on the walls can bring out the best in your home.  Your choice of colors can also change the feel of many elements of a room, including how large it seems and the mood of the room.

Cool colors which contain blue overtones make rooms seem large and create a sense of calm.  Warm colors which contain red or yellow make a room seem inviting.  You may think that white walls are safe, but its color that will really make your rooms exciting.