There are several home improvement consumer laws that have been created to help the consumer who are working with contractors for their home projects. These consumer laws are different in different regions but one must be aware of all of them to take maximum advantage as well as to avoid any kind of troubles. Here are some of the most important home improvement consumer laws that can help you in your daily life.

You Have a Right to Cancel Your Contract

The federal government gives you the rights to cancel any kind of contract you signed within three days. This law has been created to support a consumer who happens to change his mind after signing a contract. So, in case you change your mind after signing a contract, you have three days to cancel the deal without any troubles. You have the right to do so.

Don’t Forget the Cancellation Form

When you cancel a contract, make sure you get two cancellation form of the contract from your contractor. One of these forms is for your record while the other one is for the contractor. You have to clearly mention all the details of the contractor, and the reason for canceling the contract. Make sure you ask for it from your contractor after canceling a deal. Majority of people are not aware of such home improvement consumer laws and they do not ask for any kind of documentation when they cancel a deal.

It is Your Right to Ask for a Contractor’s License

Many states do not allow any contractors to work without a contractor’s license. If you do not know about home improvement consumer laws of your region, you should make sure that your contractor is registered and has a valid license to work in a particular region. Otherwise, you might have to face several problems if your contractor does not have a contractor’s license.

Avoid a Bad Contractor

Make sure that the contractor you hired for your project has a good working reputation. Otherwise, if there is any kind of complaints signed against your contractor, you will not be able to proceed with your home improvement project according to home improvement consumer laws.

These laws are different in different regions but you can always research on the internet and get yourself updated to use these home improvement consumer laws for your best.

By: Aron Joshua

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A loan is a type of debt. The borrower initially receives an amount of money from the lender, which the borrower pays back often—but not always—in regular installments to the lender. This service is generally provided at a cost, which is referred to as “interest on the debt.” Home improvement loans are taken to refurnish, remodel, repair, or renovate a house. One can use home improvement loans for external repairs, tiling and flooring, internal and external painting, etc.

The home improvement loan provides many benefits. For example, when one takes a home improvement loan to upgrade a home and to get it in the shape, one can take a tax deduction. Additionally, renovation will increase not only the quality but also the value of the house, allowing the home improvement loan to compensate for itself.

The costs of home improvement projects can be paid from savings, which is the least expensive option, or by credit or store cards, which are other types of loans. Credit or store cards can be very expensive options if debtors cannot pay on time. Store card interest rates can be as high as 25-30%. Credit cards offer rates of around 15-18%. So these borrowings must be planned with proper care. Personal loans can be another option if it is difficult to plan credit card borrowings.

Larger projects obviously require more money, which may not easily be met from either savings or credit cards. Hence, one must try for other options for raising cash for home improvements, including a further advance on a mortgage, an unsecured loan with flat rate or unsecured loan with variable rate, or a secured loan. Many major improvements are funded in these ways.

By: Alison Cole

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With the holidays just around the corner, Christmas shopping sits center stage. Video games, DVDs, Ipod’s, a 2008 Hummer, all kinds of people ask for all sorts of things. Some people are easier than others: teenagers are typically satisfied with clothes, sports zealots are typically happy with paraphernalia representing “their team,” and kids are typically overjoyed by lots and lots of toys. Some people, however, are harder to shop for. The Do-It-Yourselfer in your life, for instance, probably won’t be overjoyed by a Tickle Me Elmo. Instead, try hitting the nail on the great gift head with the following ideas:

Gift certificates to hardware stores:

If there is one thing the Do-it-Yourselfer can always use it is supplies. From nails to glue guns, from plywood to drill bits, some Do-it-Yourselfers have been known to buy out the inventory at local hardware stores. Instead of trying to figure out what supplies they need – and hoping you buy them the correct ones – simply give the gift of ambiguity: a gift certificate.

Home Improvement Books:

There are all kinds of ways to learn the tricks of home improvement. Some people attend workshops, some people watch videos, and some people just make it all up as they go along. Home Improvement books, however, may be the most effective way. Not only are they an extensive source of reference, but they are also a lot easier to refer back to than a plumbing seminar from the late 1990’s.

Rechargeable, cordless power tools:

There are tools, then there are power tools: gear that has turned very cool and very convenient. Power tools turn hard work easy and are even better when they are cordless, allowing the fixer upper to take them anywhere. A rechargeable, cordless power tool is the perfect gift for anyone who doesn’t yet have one. They’ll be amazed by what they’ve been missing, particularly when they are missing an electrical outlet.

A Good Flash light:

Except for those stormy nights when city power goes out, it’s quite easy to overlook the importance of a flash light. Even Do-it-Yourselfers tend to overlook them. For this reason, flashlights make great gifts. A Do-it-Yourselfer can’t only benefit from a flashlight, but a good, heavy, and bright flashlight. These kinds of flashlights help people to perform home improvement projects in attics, under sinks, and in basements.

Ladders:

Anyone who can live their whole life without ever needing a ladder probably never engages in home improvement, or is just exceptionally tall. Ladders, for Do-It-Yourselfers, aren’t only handy, they are necessary. If you know a renovator who doesn’t have a ladder, it’s a perfect gift to help give them – and their repairs – quite a lift.

By: Jennifer Jordan

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Hanging a door is not so easy if you don’t know a few tricks. Here I will show you the easiest way to hang a door. Firstly we have to get nearest size of door to the opening that is already there.

Doors are manufactured in various standard sizes. The manufacturers also make them in what is called in the trade as blanks, it is a solid piece of door which you can cut the size out off. There are also firms that make special sizes but they can be expensive as they are making one off a certain size.

Firstly then, measure the original door size, check with your supplier if it is available. The size you have could be metric or imperial, that is it could be millimetres or feet and inches. The old door size could be I a smaller size that is a stock size, (standard size) which is a good thing, if it is then that is the one for you.

Some times with modern buildings you will find that you don’t really have much work to do to hang and fit the new door as the frame will accommodate the size that you have because these particular frames and doors have been specially manufactured for your home when it was constructed.

The older buildings are a challenge because maybe the building itself has sunk in one place or another leaving the door frames cockeyed or skew. I have personally seen some that are 30mm out of square and that is only in the door width, say 800mm or 900mm.

If you have a situation like this, check first that the door is fitting okay, if it is. When fitting the new door and have it on the trestles put the old door (when it is stripped) on top and use the old door as a template and mark around it. This is the easiest solution when faced with this situation.

Modern doors are manufactured sometimes with a hollow core to make them lighter for the hinges. They are like a egg box inside with a solid piece running all round to make the door rigid and give it strength. Cut that away and you are in trouble.

When you get the new door home leave it in the room for about a week so that it can acclimatise to the room because this door has been in a cold warehouse until you bought it and it has to get used to its surroundings. I know it is just a door but remember it was a living breathing tree once.

The next very important thing to look for (most people don’t know this) That on the top or bottom edge of the door there is a marking symbol stamped on the door, the symbol is “LOCK “,that symbol defines the side of the door where the lock goes. In the construction of the door the manufacturer glues an extra block of timber in to accommodate the lock. On the hinged side of the door there is around 20mm of timber for the hinge screws. Bottom and top there is the same amount of thickness, if you have to cut this off you can clean the piece up and glue it back in and clamp it up till it is dry. On the lock side of the door it is the same as the hinge side but the block I spoke about earlier is only around 300mm long so it is imperative that you get this right. Get this wrong and you will have difficulty fixing the screws to the door itself as you are only fixing to the thin outer sheet of the door, you would be better to throw the door away and start again as the handles on the door is not going to stay there with the steady opening and shutting.

By: Dave M Leitch

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The following costs are intended as ballpark estimates for repairs and improvements to a typical three bedroom home. The costs are based on information obtained in the east-central area of Ontario. Our experience has shown that actual contractor quotations can vary by as much as 300%. It is advisable to obtain estimates from more than one contractor.

Roofing/Flashings/Chimneys

Install conventional asphalt shingles over existing shingles $1.25-$2.00 per sq.ft.

Strip and reshingle on medium sloped roof $2.50-$3.50 per sq.ft.

Strip and reshingle on steep, high or complex roof $4.00-$6.00 per sq.ft.

Strip and re-roof with cedar shingles $5.00-$9.00 per sq.ft.

Strip and replace built-up tar and gravel roof $5.00-$8.00 per sq.ft. (min. $1000)

Strip and replace single-ply membrane $5.00-$8.00 per sq.ft. (min. $750)

Reflash typical skylight or chimney $300.00-$500.00

Rebuild typical chimney above roof line $100.00-$200.00 per lin.ft. (min. $300)

Repoint typical chimney above roof line $6.00-$8.00 per sq.ft. (min. $250)

Exterior

Install galvanized or aluminum gutters and downspouts $4.00-$5.00 per lin.ft. (min. $500)

Install aluminum soffits and fascia $8.00-$12.00 per lin.ft.

Install aluminum or vinyl siding $3.50-$5.00 per sq.ft.

Repoint exterior wall (soft mortar) $3.00-4.50 per sq.ft. (min. $200)

Repoint exterior wall (hard mortar) $6.00-$8.00 per sq.ft. (min. $200)

Parge foundation walls $3.00-$4.00 per sq.ft.

Dampproof foundation walls and install weeping tile $100.00-$150.00 per lin.ft. (min. $1000)

Install a deck $18.00-$25.00 per sq.ft. (min. $1000)

Resurface existing asphalt driveway $2.50-$4.00 per sq.ft.

Install interlocking brick driveway $6.00-$8.00 per sq.ft.

Rebuild exterior basement stairwell $3500.00-$5000.00

Build detached garage (single) $8000.00 and up

Build detached garage (double) $12000.00 and up

Build retaining wall (wood) $20.00-$25.00 per sq.ft. (min. $500)

Build retaining wall (concrete) $30.00-$40.00 per sq.ft. (min $500)

Painting (trim only) $1500.00-$2500.00

Painting (trim and wall surfaces) $3000.00 and up

Structure

Underpin one corner of house $3500.00 and up

Underpin or add foundations $300.00 and up per lin.ft. (min. $3000)

Lower basement floor by underpinning and/or bench footings $150.00-$300.00 per lin.ft. (min. $5000)

Replace deteriorating sill beam with concrete $60.00 and up per lin.ft. (min. $500)

Install basement support post with proper foundation $300.00-$400.00

Perform chemical treatment for termites $1300.00 and up

Repair minor ***** in poured concrete foundation $400.00-$800.00

Electrical

Upgrade electrical service to 100 amps (including new panel) $1000.00-$1300.00

Upgrade electrical service to 100 amps (if new panel not required) $500.00-$700.00

Upgrade electrical service to 200 amps $1800.00-$2200.00

Install new circuit breaker panel $500.00-$700.00

Replace circuit breaker (20 amp or less) $50.00-$100.00

Add 120 volt circuit $150.00-$250.00

Add 240 volt circuit $250.00-$350.00

Add conventional receptacle $75.00-$150.00

Replace conventional receptacle with ground fault circuit receptacle $60.00-$90.00

Replace conventional receptacle with aluminum compatible type (CO/ALR)(assuming several are required) $10.00-$15.00 ea.

Upgrade entire house with aluminum compatible receptacles, connectors, etc. $500.00-$700.00

Rewire outlet with reversed polarity (assuming electrician already there) $5.00-$10.00 ea.

Heating

Install mid-efficiency forced-air furnace $1700.00-$2500.00

Install high-efficiency forced-air furnace $3000.00-$4000.00

Install humidifier $200.00-$400.00

Install electronic air filter $500.00-$800.00

Install mid-efficiency boiler $2500.00-$4000.00

Install high-efficiency boiler $5000.00-$9000.00

Rebuild firepot (refractory) on boiler $500.00-$800.00

Install circulating pump $400.00-$600.00

Install chimney liner for gas appliance $300.00-$700.00

Install chimney liner for oil appliance $700.00-$1800.00

Install programmable thermostat $200.00-$300.00

Remove oil tank from basement $400.00 and up

Remove abandoned underground oil tank $3000.00 and up

Replace radiator valve $75.00-$150.00

Add electric baseboard heater $250.00-$350.00

Convert from hot water heating to forced-air (bungalow) $8000.00-$10000.00

Convert from hot water heating to forced-air (two storey) $15000.00-$20000.00

Clean ductwork $250.00 and up

Cooling/Heat Pumps

Add central air conditioning on existing forced-air system $2000.00-$3000.00

Add heat pump to forced-air system $4000.00-$5000.00

Replace heat pump or air conditioning condenser $1200.00-$2000.00

Install independant air conditioning system $8000.00-$15000.00

Insulation

Insulate open attic to modern standards $0.50-$1.25 per sq.ft.

Blow insulation into flat roof, cathedral ceiling or wall cavity $2.00-$3.50 per sq.ft.

Improve attic ventilation $40.00-$50.00 per vent

Plumbing

Replace galvanized piping with copper (2 story with one bathroom) $2000.00-$2500.00

Replace water line to house $1500.00-$3500.00

Replace toilet $300.00 and up

Replace basin, including faucets $350.00 and up

Replace bathtub, including ceramic tile and faucets $2000.00 and u

Install whirlpool bath, including faucets $3000.00 and up

Retile bathtub enclosure $800.00-$1200.00

Replace leaking shower stall pan $1000.00-$1600.00

Rebuild tile shower stall $1500.00-$2500.00

Replace laundry tubs $250.00-$500.00

Remodel four-piece bathroom completely $6000.00 and up

Connect waste plumbing system to municipal sewers $3000.00 and up

Install submersible pump $800.00 and up

Install suction or jet pump $400.00-$600.00

Install modest basement bathroom $4000.00 and up

Interior

Add drywall over plaster $1.50-$2.50 per sq.ft.

Sand and refinish hardwood floors $1.50-$3.00 per sq.ft.

Install replacement windows $30.00-$50.00 per sq.ft.

Install storm window $100.00-$200.00

Install masonry fireplace (if flue already roughed-in) $2000.00 and up

Install zero-clearance firelace (including chimney) $3000.00 and up

Install glass doors on fireplace $300.00 and up

Install skylight $1500.00-$3000.00

Remodel kitchen completely $10,000.00 and up

Install conventional alarm system $1000.00 and up

By: Gil Strachan

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Home Improvement