Share Site-Finished Site-finished floors are wood floors that are sanded and finished after they are installed in a home. These floors are left up to the homeowner’s imagination with an extensive pallet of stain colors and finishes to choose from. The sanding process can he …
Share One of the most important doors in your home is the garage door. Here’s a link to a roughly two-minute video that discusses the things you can do to help ensure it functions well, including inspection, lubrication and balance. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knM4Iw …
Share If you’re considering investing in home renovations, why not build your very own home theater room? Believe it or not, there are actually a number of benefits to having a separate home theater room as opposed to having your entertainment center set up in the living ro …
Share You can read your own meters to help monitor your electric or gas energy use. During the heating season, your energy use should be compared to the number of heating degree days for the same time period; during the cooling season, compare your energy use to the number of …
Share Q: Are brick patios as long lasting as concrete? A: With the right installation, brick can be a beautiful addition to your backyard. But, they can buckle if not laid properly. As usual, hire a reputable contractor for this project, and your patio should last for decades …
Share Daylighting is the use of windows and skylights to bring sunlight into your home. Today’s highly energy-efficient windows, as well as advances in lighting design, reduce the need for artificial lighting during daylight hours without causing heating or cooling prob …
Share 1. Stay disconnected. Unplug your cellphone and other electronic gadgets as soon as they’re fully charged, or you’re just wasting energy while they soak up juice all night. 2. Lighten up. Use compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) if they stay on at least 15 …
Share If you’re thinking about investing in home renovations, remember that taking away can be just as beneficial as adding on. Take the bathroom, for example. If you have a small bathroom that has a giant tub taking up space, why not have it removed? Removing the batht …
Share One of the most cost-effective ways to make your home more comfortable year-round is to add insulation to your home. Energy Efficiency Perhaps the most important building material in an energy-efficient home is the insulation package. Without a good insulation system, o …
Share Properly insulated homes would significantly reduce the release of these pollutants into the atmosphere: Sulfur Oxide Nitrous Oxide Fine Particulate Matter In the United States there are at least 45 million homes (65 percent) that lack the proper levels of insulation …
Share Have your home heating systems (including chimneys and vents) inspected and serviced annually by a trained service technician. Never use portable generators inside homes or garages, even if doors and windows are open. Use generators outside only, far away from the home. …
Share By John Tabor, president, Tabor Design Build Trying to determine what constitutes a good return on investment for home renovations? It’s generally best to have conservative goals. Over time, factors such as inflation will raise the value of most well maintained homes …
Share Guest Blogger: Janice Howell, MODA Floors & Interiors, www.modafloorandinteriors.com Sooner or later, time, traffic, life and living will take its toll on any floor covering. Ceramic tile is no exception. Understanding the best methods to care for your ceramic floor …
Share The color red is perhaps the most boldly daring and dramatic color of all. Red stops you in your tracks and demands attention. It often makes us think of stop signs, warning signals and fire engines. It is a versatile color with a vast number of connotations ranging fro …
Share Planning and overseeing a home renovation can be very stressful. After all, you have to think about money, logistics, the quality of the job and more. Because of this, it’s easy to forget about your pets. Unfortunately, a home remodel can affect the comfort and safety …
Share By Linda Castle, ASID, Decorated Designs Romance, such an elusive word, yet something we all strive to incorporate more of into our daily lives. Romance invokes feelings like love, passion, mystery, adventure and emotion. The challenge is to bring more of these feelings …
Share Keep bathroom doors closed. Never leave small children alone around any container of water. This includes toilets, tubs, wading pools, spas, aquariums and buckets. Safeguard bathtubs and sinks used for bathing by using faucet covers and nonskid mats or decals. Before ba …
Share Wood flooring is the most abundantly renewable flooring material available. The U.S. Forest Service states that the annual net growth for hardwoods is greater than the average annual removal rate. This means that trees are growing faster than they are being used today. …
Share Flagstone patios are really popular and can be done in a number of different ways to suit your home and landscape. In this brief video from About.com, Eric King, of King Landscaping, offers tips on how to lay a flagstone patio. http://video.about.com/landscaping/How-t …
Share Interior Designer Linda Castle, of Decorated Designs, offers some tips on how to choose paint colors for a sophisticated traditional kitchen. Via About.com http://video.about.com/homerenovations/Paint-Colors-for-a-Sophisticated-Traditional-Kitchen.htm
Share Guest Blogger: Greg Norred, CEO, Norred & Associates Over the course of your life, the chances of being the victim of a crime are at least one in three, higher if you live in a large city, and higher still if you’re a woman. The criminal’s objective is to maximi …
Share Energy conservation and rising fuel costs make ceiling fans a natural choice when it comes to conserving our natural resources. Ceiling fans not only circulate cool air in the summer, they also help with the movement of warm air in the winter. During the summer months, …
Share Recycling CFLs and other fluorescent light bulbs helps reduce the chance that the small amount of mercury they contain will end up in the environment, and some states/provinces require consumers to recycle fluorescent bulbs after they burn out. If your local environment …
Share Here are some energy-saving tips from Georgia Power to help you get your home ready for winter. On sunny days, open curtains and shades to let the sun warm your home naturally. If you have a fireplace, make sure the damper is closed when the fireplace is not in use. Thi …
Share By Peggy A. Card, CKBR, Designer/Certified Kitchen and Bath Remodeler, Tabor Design Build Q: What’s the best way to stretch a budget? A: There’s no one feature that can single-handedly stretch a budget; however, by looking at each grouping, you can create ov …
Share This weekend homes across the country will be a little brighter when millions of Americans kick off the holiday season by trimming their trees and their yards with holiday lights. Here are some seasonal lighting tips suggested by GE Lighting veteran Mary Beth Gotti, dir …
Share Walkways can serve different functions within a landscape. In this video from About.com, Eric King of King Landscaping shows how to design the different types of walkways that you’re likely to need. http://video.about.com/landscaping/How-to-Design-a-Walkway.htm &n …
Share Tabor Guest Blogger: Lutron Electronics, www.lutron.com Choosing the right light bulb is a balancing act between energy savings, comfort, durability, cost and compatibility. Each area of a home or office will require different types of light and present different opport …
Share The National Association of the Remodeling Industry offers homeowners these top 10 warning signs that a home improvement contractor may not be reputable: You can’t verify the name, address, telephone number or credentials of the remodeler. The salesperson tries t …
Share By John Tabor, Tabor Design Build A remodeling project gets our blood pumping when we imagine how that new master bath or gourmet kitchen will change our lives. Before you get lost in the excitement, recall some of the horror stories you’ve heard about remodeling …
Share By John Tabor Here are some reasons why you’ll want to hire a professional to design and construct your new deck. The building codes for decks have become much more complicated due to the abundance of deck collapses during the last few years. Attachment techniqu …
Share Tabor Guest Blogger: Nicholas Draper, president of Granite Source Did you know that renovating a kitchen or bath is the best way to add value to your home? As we wait for the economy to stabilize and home prices to increase, there are a number of ways you can work on yo …
Share Here are some tips for managing a bath remodeling project. Consider reglazing a tub instead of replacing it, especially if it’s still in relatively good condition. This can save you more than half the cost of a tub replacement and minimize the dust at the same t …
Share Here are some fireplace safety tips to help keep your family and home safe all winter long. Have all fireplace components inspected by a licensed contractor before using. Don’t place decorative or combustible items near the fireplace. Make sure your fireplace is v …
Share There are ways to stretch your remodeling budget and still end up with stylish results. In the Kitchen •If at all possible, reuse existing appliances, and build your new cabinets around them. This could save you anywhere from $1,500–5,000 easily. However, be aware …
Share Creating more space can be a big budget buster. Once you add square footage to a home, the price increases significantly. One alternative is to borrow space from a neighboring room (called space reconfiguration). A great place to steal space for a bathroom expansion is …
Share Be creative. There are often multiple solutions to accomplish a design objective, some more expensive than others. Discuss various options with your contractor. If all the room really needs is a facelift, make the most of changes with paint, as opposed to structural cha …
Share No one likes to cut a budget, especially when it’s his or her own. But when it comes to planning a remodeling project, homeowners must establish a realistic budget . . . and actively manage it. Preparing for a remodeling project is a lot like preparing to buy a ca …
Share Tabor Guest Blogger: Claire Bowen, Shaw Floors Want some great basic guidelines on floor maintenance for the various types of floors? Here they are: Carpet Many carpets have stain-resistance treatments, but you still have to do basic maintenance. Regular vacuuming is th …
Share Tabor Guest Blogger: Jim Burks, president/founder, Pinnacle Lighting Group To enjoy the exterior of your home after the sun goes down, develop a comprehensive outdoor lighting plan. Illuminating your property’s boundaries will make you and your guests feel safer a …
Share Tabor Guest Blog: National Association of the Remodeling Industry The National Association of the Remodeling Industry is providing tips to homeowners on how to prevent a remodeling project from becoming an allergenic nightmare, since it is estimated that 36 million Am …
Share By John Tabor We’ve all met the “guy up the street” who buys a truck, a toolbox and a business card and calls himself a remodeler. Since your home is your biggest asset, you need to know that the contractor you choose to remodel it is a full-time, dedicated, exper …
Share By John Tabor Here’s a link to an interesting article (http://bit.ly/MTAXKk) from Houzz, a leading online platform for home remodeling and design ideas. It offers tips on how you can keep your remodeling costs in check by identifying potential budget busters. This …
Share Tabor Guest Blogger: Eric King, ASLA, King Landscaping, www.erickinglandscaping.com The best way to choose patio furniture for your home is to first think about three things. Number one: what is your budget? Number two: how are you going to use it? Is it for everyday or …
Share It is expected that home improvement activity will pick up in 2012. If you are planning to upgrade or remodel your home, you can expand your homeowners insurance policy to include improvements to your property. Getting Insurance Coverage for Remodeling or Upgrading Your …
Share Tabor Design Build Guest Blogger: Mary Kay Woodworth, executive director, MALTA (The Metro Atlanta Landscape and Turf Association) Beware of These Toxic Plants for Pets If you’ve got a green thumb and are a pet owner, it’s a good idea to take inventory of the plants …
Share Tabor Design Build Guest Blogger: Ben Gardner, Atlanta Humane Society Keeping Your Pet Cool: The most important thing to remember during the summer months is to take care that your pet remains cool when outdoors. This means not leaving your pet outdoors for long periods …
Share Tabor Design Build Guest Blogger: Morgan Zenner, Marketing & Communications Coordinator, National Association of the Remodeling Industry Going green doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. The National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) offers easy ways t …
Share Tabor Guest Blogger: Greg Chapman, Benjamin Moore Myth: All zero-VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) paints are the same. Fact: False. Some paints claim to be VOC-free, and in their pure white formulation, they are. But, when you ask the paint store for a color, that’s w …
Share Tabor Guest Blogger: Anita Howard, senior director of communications and events, National Wood Flooring Association Love wood floors, but confused about which type is right for your home? Hardwood flooring is manufactured in two ways: solid and engineered. Each is ava …
Share John Tabor, owner of Tabor Design Build, put his money where his mouth is when he incorporated green elements into a three-story addition to his own home. Now, after completing the remodel – one of the most complex projects his company has done – Tabor says …
Share Tabor Guest Blogger: Gerald Thompson, Wood Chemist, Bona Hardwood floors are one of the largest investments in your home. Protect them by routinely cleaning to avoid dirt and in turn scratches and a dull finish. Using products that are safe for your floors, family and t …
Share Tabor Guest Blogger: David Maddox, owner, Tuxedo Mosquito Control This is the time of year when we start planning our outdoor activities. Unfortunately you’re not the only living creature who’s thinking about warm weather. Mosquitoes are revving up for summe …
Share Tabor Guest Blogger: Theresa Minkoff, project consultant/interior designer, MODA Floors & Interiors This brief video covers some of the things you need to consider when selecting tile for your home. This includes location, budget, types and shapes. Click here to wa …
Share TABOR Guest Blogger: Jim Burks, founder/owner, Pinnacle Lighting Group Real estate agents say a nicely landscaped and illuminated yard can increase your home’s resale value by 12-14 percent. Although that’s important, most people invest their time and money …
Share By John Tabor If you’re considering remodeling your house, there are two crucial stages you need to understand: planning the project and selecting the company to do the work. Thinking both of them through will help ensure you minimize the issues to be addressed …
