Install Kitchen Countertop Lighting

Brighten up dark countertop spaces with an under-cabinet light fixture. Watch how to install a light fixture and hide the cords.

How to Make Your Home Green

From floor plans to new furnishings, home remodeling comes with endless choices and possibilities. Whether it’s a small project or a major addition, one important element to keep in mind as a homeowner makes those choices is green design.

To make it easier to incorporate green elements in renovation projects, the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) Foundation partnered with the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) to produce green remodeling guidelines for the homeowner, builder, designer and construction professional.

Green design not only reduces the impact on the environment and saves resources, it promotes a healthy lifestyle free of toxic materials and allergies. The increasing availability of new technology and innovative products is making it easier to achieve a healthy, safe and efficient home. In fact, anyone can implement aspects of green design. It can be as simple as purchasing bulk-product dispensers or as extensive as installing a tankless water heater for the entire home. Here are a few ideas for the homeowner that chooses to go green:

* Appliances: Choose high-efficiency water heaters, low-flow toilets and showerheads, faucet aerators, and energy- and water-efficient appliances. Consider using bulk-product dispensers for body-care products.

* Flooring: Reuse existing flooring and subflooring when possible and look at flooring made from natural or rapidly renewable materials for new floors. Refinish wood floors using safe processes and with greener and safer materials. Avoid carpeting in high moisture areas or where spills could occur. Consider removable area rugs instead of wall-to-wall carpeting.

* Lighting: Make smart use of natural light and supplement it with efficient electric lighting like compact fluorescent bulbs.

* Paints: Use low- or zero-VOC (volatile organic compound) paints, finishes, adhesives, grouts, caulking, and sealants.

* Furnishings: Choose cabinetry and other furnishings made from recycled or reclaimed materials or wood certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. There are a number of products on the market, including countertops, tables, chairs and flooring, made from a wide range of recycled and reclaimed materials. Select compact furniture that incorporates storage and consider reused, salvaged or antique furniture.

* Water Use: Set water heater temperatures no higher than necessary and conserve water use.

* Safety: Install smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.

REGREEN, set to launch during INTERIORS 08: The ASID Conference on Design (www.asid.org/interiors) March 13-16, 2008 in New Orleans, is a residential remodeling program created through the collaboration of professionals in all sectors of the homebuilding industry. Currently, a draft of the REGREEN guidelines is available for public comment and review. Access the guidelines online at www.regreenprogram.org. The final version will be released next March at INTERIORS 08.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Stump Removal

AsktheBuilder.com host Tim Carter demonstrates one method for removing stumps. This method is especially effective if you have many stumps to remove in a short amount of time.

DIY Choices Add Elegance to a Home

New furniture and a fresh coat of paint are great places to start when updating your home, but what can you do to go above and beyond to really make your house stand out? Often what makes a home interesting and noteworthy are the little details. The latest trend in decorating rooms today is to add architectural details that give a new dimension to a room.

As more and more condos, apartments, town homes and single-family homes with standardized floor plans are built in mass, less and less differentiation between units is occurring in the building phase, leading homeowners to seek interior design expertise or to initiate do-it-yourself (DIY) remodeling projects that will give their rooms new architectural dimensions.

Crown moulding, probably the most popular architectural addition to rooms today, does for a room what accessories do for an outfit – it adds style, personality and detail. From the kitchen to the dining room to the bathroom, any room can be dressed up with the simplest addition of customized moulding.

“Crown moulding adds a certain class to a room – an architectural elegance,” says Chele Benjamin, owner of Chele Benjamin Interior Design in Chicago. “There’s just a certain added dimension to a room with crown moulding that homeowners want.”

One way to integrate moulding into a room is to drop the moulding from the ceiling and add lighting behind it. Benjamin says this option adds flavor to both the ceiling and the walls. Or another idea is to utilize extra wall space by creating two rows of moulding and varying your color palette above and below each row for a crisp look.

And who says installing moulding can’t be a simple DIY project for any homeowner? To make crown moulding installation easier and less time-intensive, Focal Point Architectural Products developed the new Quick Clips moulding installation system that allows amateur DIYers and professionals alike to install designer-quality moulding with only amateur-grade tools, less caulking and no priming. With Quick Clips, installers no longer have to patch holes, find studs or miter corners, which means a “weekend project” will no longer require a weekend’s worth of time.

Focal Point offers two sizes of mouldings for the Quick Clips system: 4 1/8 inches and 5 7/8 inches. Eight decorative patterns are available, allowing homeowners to choose a design that captures the unique style of the room.

“The 4 1/8-inch profiles are most suitable for 7- to 8-foot ceilings or in smaller spaces, like powder rooms or small parlors,” says Cristina Kreis, owner of Architectural Impressions in Chicago. “The 5 7/8-inch profiles work better in larger spaces with 8- to 9-foot ceilings.”

“With Focal Point’s comprehensive offering of decorative accents and moulding treatments, and now the Quick Clips system, adding value to any room in the home can be achieved stylishly and in significantly less time,” says Sherrie Towne, marketing specialist for Focal Point.


For more information on how Focal Point can help you add value and unique style to your home with the easy-to-install Quick Clips moulding installation system, visit www.focalpointproducts.com, or call (800) 662-5550.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Taping and Mudding Drywall

Mark Donovan of HomeAdditionPlus.com walks you through the process of taping and mudding drywall.

Save Energy This Winter without Spending a Dime

As fall turns to winter, energy usage turns into higher energy bills and, according to the Department of Energy, 2007 energy costs are increasing. While there are plenty of costly ways to save on your utility bills this winter -- buying a high efficiency furnace, radiant floor heating system or solar-paneled roof -- there also are things you can do to cut energy usage that won’t cost you a dime.

“We’re seeing a trend with consumers who want to live comfortably and efficiently,” says Chuck Smith, CEO of Hunter Fan. Smith says many consumers aren’t willing to sacrifice their comfort in the name of energy efficiency, but they do want smart solutions for consuming less.

“Having the right products and home infrastructure is only part of the equation, “says Smith. “Some of the most effective energy savings solutions can be implemented simply by knowing what to look for around your home.”

According to Smith, some of the most effective energy-savings solutions are right under your nose or, in one case, right above your head.

Follow these no-cost energy saving tips for the winter:

Flip the Switch … on Your Ceiling FanThat is

A ceiling fan is naturally energy efficient -- it circulates air while using very little electricity. Most people don’t realize a ceiling fan can help warm you up in the winter as easily as it can cool you down in the summer. In fact, less than 25 percent of people are taking advantage of the easy energy savings a ceiling fan affords.

“One of the most economical ways to save energy during the winter is to run your ceiling fan in the proper direction,” says Sandy DeWald, ceiling fans product manager for Hunter. “Many people cringe at the notion of lowering their thermostat when it’s cold out because they do not want to sacrifice comfort for lower energy bills. That’s why the ceiling fan is so important. Operated correctly, a ceiling fan that’s sized appropriately for the room can save you up to 10 percent on your heating bills.”

As DeWald explains, most ceiling fans have a switch that controls the direction of the blades. When the fan runs counter-clockwise, it blows air down, providing the cooling effect desired during warmer months. By running the fan clockwise, during colder months, it circulates the warm air near the ceiling. This circulating effect makes the room warmer, which decreases demands on heating systems and allows you to comfortably turn down your thermostat to save on energy costs.

“Turning down your thermostat just one degree can save you two percent on your heating bills,” adds DeWald. “What makes the ceiling fan even more economical is that it only costs a few pennies a day to operate.”

Get With the Program

If you don’t believe a programmable thermostat can save you a lot of money, keep reading. According to Energy Star, while many homes today have a programmable thermostat, approximately 70 percent of consumers find it too difficult to operate and, as a result, lose out on energy savings.

“Forgetting to turn down your thermostat just one time before you leave for work can mean several dollars in lost energy savings,” says Erich Schroeder, thermostat product manager for Hunter. “People have enough on their minds, and that’s why a programmable thermostat is so useful -- it doesn’t forget.”

Programmable thermostats save energy by offering convenient, pre-programmed temperature settings that allow you to scale temperatures back as you leave and warm things up upon your return. When used properly, a programmable thermostat can save you as much as $150 annually in energy costs.

“Most people perceive that a programmable thermostat is difficult to program and therefore don’t use it appropriately, but it can be as easy to set as an alarm clock. The only difference is an alarm clock won’t save you hundreds of dollars each year in energy savings -- a programmable thermostat will,” adds Schroeder.

Go Unplugged

Did you know that up to 75 percent of the electricity used to power home electronics is consumed while the products are turned off? According to the Department of Energy (DOE), power continues to run through your home electronics even when you have them turned off -- yes, even the coffee maker.

Now, consider that approximately 60 percent of your energy bill is electricity -- 15 percent of that from electrical devices -- and it’s easy to imagine how much you can save as a result of doing some simple unplugging this winter.

Some of the most common household devices that consume electricity while not in operation include: computers, TVs, cable boxes, cell phone chargers and other power adapters and anything else with a microchip that requires at least some juice to keep its inner clock ticking. So, while you might think it’s a nice convenience to have a clock around every corner, if you want to save money, don’t rely on your VCR or microwave to display the time.

Creating a daily unplugging routine is easy. For starters, go around the house and unplug those devices that do not need to be plugged in, especially those that operate in standby mode such as computers and home entertainment systems. According to the National Resources Defense Fund, cable and satellite set-up boxes, and digital video recorders are among the worst offenders of using energy when not in use.

For those often-used devices that also are found in groups, such as the TV, cable and surround sound system or the computer, printer and scanner, use a power strip. It allows you to run a number of devices from one power source and operates via one convenient switch.

Assess Your Saving Potential.

If you are interested in energy savings but don’t know where to start, performing a home energy audit is a good first step.

Performing an energy audit will help you prioritize your energy upgrade needs and give you a better understanding for how you and your home consume energy. A good energy auditor will uncover any air leaks or insulation problems and recommend energy saving products. The Department of Energy provides a free, do-it-yourself plan that can be found at www.eere.energy.gov.

Check with your local energy company to see if they offer free professional audits. If your energy company does not perform them, they should be able to recommend an agency that will. A professional audit will give you a more accurate assessment than one you do on your own.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Mixing Joint Compound

AsktheBuilder.com host Tim Carter demonstrates how to mix drywall joint compound. From getting the right consistency to time saving mixing techniques, discover some secrets about how to prepare joint compound.

Build Your Own Backyard Retreat with Walls and Pavers

The crackle of a campfire, the aroma of roasting hot dogs, crisp fresh air and a starry sky overhead - sound like camping? With a little imagination and a modest landscaping investment, it could be your back yard.

More and more, homeowners are finding new ways to entertain right outside their back door. Using a modern segmental retaining wall system in combination with concrete paving stones, even the most mundane yard can be transformed into a cozy, relaxing retreat for friends and family.

“With versatile, easy-to-use systems like Versa-Lok retaining walls and Willow Creek paving stones, most do-it-yourselfers have the basic skills required to install their own backyard fire pit and patio,” says Aaron Westfield, landscape architect with Villa Landscapes in Oakdale, Minn. And if you don’t, many landscape suppliers offer free training seminars on installing the products they sell.

"Creating a place to cook and entertain in your yard doesn’t require a full-blown outdoor kitchen,” says Westfield. “We’ve designed many patios incorporating just a fire pit and simple seat walls that were not only beautiful but also very affordable.”

Westfield says a system like Versa-Lok is capable of building walls with curves and corners without using specialty pieces.

“Versa-Lok wall units are solid rather than hollow, so they can be easily modified using a mallet and masonry chisel without compromising their strength or stability,” says Westfield.

To design your own backyard fire pit, first decide what size and whether you want a square or round patio. Then you need to determine whether you want your fire pit set into your patio or built above-ground.

“There are a wide variety of manufactured cast-iron fire pits from which to choose, or you can build your own from retaining wall units,” explains Westfield. If building it from block, line the inside of the pit with fire brick, he says.

Next, pick out a pattern and paver product for your patio.

“If you opt for a circular patio, Willow Creek Circlestone is a natural choice,” says Westfield. “The system is designed to accommodate any size fire pit in the center.” Other patterns for square or rectangular patios include herringbone, diagonal herringbone, basket weave, running bond and random.

To complete your patio fire pit, you’ll need freestanding seat walls around the perimeter to accommodate your guests. These should be a comfortable sitting height -- between 18 and 24 inches, or three to four courses, depending on the size of retaining-wall blocks you use. Finish the walls on the top with matching caps that serve as a seating surface.

Most retaining-wall suppliers also make paving stones in matching colors. Get creative and use complementary colors such as red pavers with charcoal walls, or different colored caps, for nice visual contrast.

Other amenities may be added to your patio firepit, such as columns on the ends of your seat walls, or even bench seats built into your wall. Ask your supplier to show you some pictures of other projects for ideas. Some may sell ready-to-build systems already designed and packaged.

Landscape lighting can add a touch of elegance to your outdoor entertainment area. Lighting kits are available for installation in retaining walls and patios. These low-voltage systems are simply inserted in place of a wall or paver unit.

“The possibilities for what you can do yourself with retaining-wall systems and pavers are limited only by your own skills and imagination,” concludes Westfield. “And if your imagination exceeds your skills, you can always hire a landscape designer or contractor.”

For further information on how you can build your own backyard retreat, visit www.versa-lok.com or call (800) 770-4525.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Woodworking Clamps

A review of the most common woodworking clamps.

Energy-Saving Tips for the Home Heating Season

From compact fluorescent light bulbs to ENERGY STAR-rated appliances, consumers are interested in the latest and greatest “green,” energy-efficient products. While these products help homeowners make an impact, many consumers may overlook basic steps they can take to conserve energy in their home and lower energy costs, especially during winter months.

In fact, the Department of Energy reports that the typical American family spends more than $1,600 a year on home utility bills. And heating can account for almost half of the average family's winter energy bill. Experts recommend that consumers use basic winterizing practices and evaluate the latest heating systems to prepare their homes for colder weather.

Home maintenance and preparation should include:

• Sealing leaks around doors and windows.
• Adding weather-stripping or replacing worn stripping around doors and windows.
• Inspecting and cleaning chimneys.
• Caulking gaps where needed.
• Checking insulation. Focus on crawl spaces, basements, walls, floors and attics.
• Vacuuming vents and other heating components.
• Consider replacing old windows and heating systems with newer, more energy-efficient models.
• Replacing furnace filters.

“There are quick, cost-effective ways to manage your energy expenditures this winter, like having a trusted, local heating and cooling contractor conduct a routine maintenance check on your system,” says Kevin Dudash of Bryant Heating & Cooling Systems. “Additionally, a dealer can provide information about larger investments a homeowner can make to reduce energy costs associated with the winter season.”

A reliable dealer can help homeowners compare the cost of a new system to the estimated savings they may experience over the years following their initial investment. For example, although they may cost more up front, studies show heating cost savings of up to 25 percent when consumers install hybrid solutions, such as the Hybrid Heat Dual Fuel system by Bryant. The combination of a furnace and heat pump creates a system that always works at maximum efficiency. The energy-saving duo capitalizes on less expensive electricity to heat the home in milder weather, switching to more effective gas heating in colder weather.

Consumers can easily find a reliable contractor who will do whatever it takes to keep their home running at maximum efficiency. Visitors to www.bryant.com can even search by zip code for a qualified dealer in their area.

With the right home maintenance practices and a knowledgeable, trusted heating and cooling system dealer, homeowners can assure a comfortable, cost and energy-efficient winter.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

How to Grout Tile

Customize your kitchen or bathroom with your favorite tile. Learn how to grout tile to get professional-looking results.

Caring for Your Hardwood Floors This Winter

Homeowners with hardwood floors are often concerned about damaging their floors during the winter season. Without proper care, winter’s harsh elements -- slush, snow and salt -- can dull the varnish of hardwood floors and even cause warping and gapping.

It’s almost impossible to avoid winter elements. After all, what would the season be without building a snowman or sledding until you’re soaked? Rather than missing out on winter fun, here are a couple of simple steps you can take to protect your floors this winter.

Install Floor Mats

Catching slush and snow at the door is the best way to avoid damage. It is important to keep these mats as clean and dry as possible. You may even consider investing in an additional mat that you can use while drying the other. If your kids enjoy playing outside, encourage them to remove their wet snow apparel as soon as they come back inside to avoid trekking snow all over the house.

Get Creative with Everyday Household Materials

Placing a dish-drainer tray mat by the door with a towel underneath can be a nice place for shoes and boots to dry off. Kindly ask your guests to remove their shoes as they enter. Buy inexpensive or disposable slippers to make your guests feel more comfortable.

Train Your Pets

Pets are the number one offenders of tracking snow and slush into the house. Train your pets to patiently wait by the door while you dry their paws with a towel, and then reward them with a treat. Consider placing a bowl of treats by the door as a reminder.

Be Prepared

Always keep soft towels or a wet/dry vacuum on hand in case you need to get rid of water right away. While towels can clean up most of the mess, it’s best to invest in a quality floor care kit. Lumber Liquidators offers a Bellawood Floor Care Kit which comes with one 32-ounce bottle of Bellawood’s soy-based cleaner, one mop with a washable terry cloth mop head, and one tin with 100 felt furniture pads. The Bellawood Floor Care Kit can be found on the Lumber Liquidators Web site at www.lumberliquidators.com and at all store locations for $25 per kit.

Check the Warranty

Some companies offer warranties, should snow or other harmful elements damage your floors. Make sure to find out before you purchase your hardwood floors what type of product warranties the company offers. Lumber Liquidators offers warranties on most flooring options, which in turn helps protect you and your floors.

“Damage to hardwood floors in the winter is among the top concerns we hear from our customers,” says Tom Sullivan, founder of Lumber Liquidators. “Using our floor care kit on a fairly regular basis should do a thorough job of protecting your floors. While winter is a key season to be cautious, there are damaging factors all year long so we recommend the kit be used regularly.”

While winter can be a difficult time for hardwood floors, there is one benefit to this season: It’s one of the best times to install hardwood flooring. According to Sullivan, indoor moisture levels are at their lowest, which helps to prevent gapping.

For more information about installing hardwood flooring, call (800) FLOORING (356-6746) or visit www.lumberliquidators.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

How To Build A Rainwater Collection System

VideoJug: How To Build A Rainwater Collection System
Recycle your rainwater and keep your landscaping looking healthy, the eco-friendly way. Building a rainwater collection system is fast, easy and can save you money on your water bill.

Installing a Stair Runner

Mark Donovan, of HomeAdditionPlus.com installs a carpet stair runner on a straight hardwood staircase.

The Seven Deadly Sins of Kitchen Design

Getting a new kitchen may seem like heaven, but if you commit some common kitchen-planning sins, you may spend your remodeling project in you-know-where.

Kitchen designers may be trained to help customers avoid mistakes, but they all have war stories of being brought into projects only after big problems arise. What are the kitchen-planning gaffes they see most often?


1. “Appliance Fever”-- This commonly occurs when clients insist on having a 72-inch Viking range in an 8- by 10-foot kitchen. They may have six burners, but nowhere to store a pan. This problem can usually be fixed by choosing appliance options like double oven ranges, dishwashers that are incorporated into the sink, counter-depth refrigerators, and even under-the-counter refrigerators. A kitchen’s cabinet space can be planned down to the square inch, as well, with products like Decora’s “superpantry,” which unfolds like a Swiss army knife to reveal layers of shelving.


2. “Door Smack Syndrome”-- Have you ever been in a kitchen where you’ve been working at the counter, only to get banged by someone trying to get into the pantry or coming in from an outside door? Consternations such as planning a dishwasher beside a corner sink, or placing the range right in a narrow walk throughway, can be corrected by allowing at least 3 feet of elbow room on either side of each primary work area, and putting key appliances in protected areas.


3. “Embellishment Mania” -- Corbels, columns, and decorative molding make a kitchen distinctive . . . unless you’ve overdone it. “I was in a kitchen recently that literally had fluted columns between every cabinet,” says award-winning Decora kitchen designer Neal Luck, owner of NHL Kitchen Designs in Long Beach, Calif. “Not only was it gaudy to look at, but they wasted a staggering amount of space.”

“Columns and corbels should only be used at the end of a run of cabinets, or to offset a major design piece, like an island or a farmhouse sink,” he says. “The same principle should be applied to molding. It can run around the top of the cabinets, or offset an important design feature.”


4. “Habitual Code Breaking” -- A surprising number of people plan kitchens with dangerous building code violations that can be very costly to fix. Common mistakes include poor or nonexistent venting above the cooktop, building cabinets less than 12 inches from the cooktop, using non-tempered glass in cabinets that require them and putting too many appliances on one circuit.


5. “Cabinet-Induced Claustrophobia” -- “It never fails to surprise me when I walk into an open kitchen, and a client has put upper cabinets over the top of an open counter,” says award-winning Decora cabinets designer, Tracy Foslein of Home Valu Interiors in Bloomington, Minn. “People are spending thousands of dollars to knock down the walls between their kitchens and dining areas, and they’ve just hemmed themselves in.”

“If you really need the storage space, it’s better to use Decora’s ACCESSories line to get more storage space out of your lower cabinets. Over the years, you won’t enjoy peeking underneath the cabinets all the time to talk to your family,” she adds.


6. “Wood Matching Disorder” -- Few things make customers crazier than trying to pick a wood for their cabinets, especially when they are trying to make an exact match with the furniture or the flooring.

“In a million years, you’ll never get an exact match, and you wouldn’t want to,” says Luck. “Having that much of an exact wood shade can be very tiring on the eyes. Instead, plan your kitchen cabinets to be two to three shades lighter or darker than the wood tone you’re trying to match. It will coordinate, without being too ‘matchy-matchy.’ ”


7. “Investment Dysfunction” -- Is your kitchen really ugly, or just not working for you, yet you refuse to admit it? “I see clients come in all the time who just hate their cabinets, and have a poor kitchen layout, yet they think they can fix all that by getting a new granite countertop,” Foslein says. “Or even worse, they’ve already ripped out the cabinets and only want to spend half what it would take to do the job properly. When you’re planning your kitchen, remember, it pays to get a good, well-made cabinet. They’re the one thing you can’t remove, and you can’t fix so easily later.”


For more information on kitchen design, and to see a gallery of “Design with Decora” contest winners, visit http://www.decoracabinets.com/.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Magnetic Paint

New paints from Rustoleum let you turn any surface into a home for magnets, a chalkboard, or both!

End the Year with a Weekend Project that Pays You Back

If you’re looking for an easy home improvement project to tackle during your upcoming holiday break, why not choose one that pays you back? Adding insulation in your attic not only helps reduce your heating and cooling bills for years to come, but if you purchase qualifying insulation products before December 31, 2007, you may be eligible for a federal tax credit of up to $500. When was the last time one of your weekend projects gave you that kind of return?

Before you spend any money, you’ll first need to determine how much insulation is needed. To do so, make a trip to your attic and take a look around. If the wood beams of your attic floor are visible, it’s a pretty safe bet that you don’t have enough insulation. But even if you can’t see the beams, it’s no guarantee that there is adequate insulation to achieve optimal energy efficiency. It’s best to measure the insulation. If it’s less than 15.5 inches deep, your attic is probably under-insulated. Although the amount of insulation needed varies depending on the region of the county you live in, the U.S. Department of Energy recommends most attics be insulated to R 49.

R values represent thermal resistance to heat flow and achieving R 49 in your attic requires 15.5 inches of fiberglass blanket insulation (which is commonly sold in rolls or pre-cut lengths called batts), or about 18 inches of blown insulation. To check the recommended R-values for your region and to calculate the amount of insulation you’ll need to purchase, use the handy calculator at www.InsulateYourAtticNow.com. This Web site was created by Owens Corning, known worldwide for its PINK Fiberglas insulation, and features installation instructions, a project checklist and a search function for finding the nearest insulation retailer. Although adding insulation is a simple do-it-yourself project, the site also has a contractor locator if you’d rather hire someone to do it for you.

If you intend to apply for a federal tax credit, make sure you purchase a product that qualifies under the Energy Policy Act of 2005. To find products that meet the requirements of the Energy Policy Act, visit www.owenscorning.com/insulationfedtaxcredit. If you use qualified insulation, you’re entitled to a tax credit worth 10 percent of the purchase price, up to $500. Other requirements of the tax credit include:

* The insulation must be used in your primary residence.

* Homes, condominiums, mobile homes and cooperative apartments qualify.

* Installation costs are not included.

* The insulation must be expected to last five years, or have a two-year warranty.

* Use IRS Form 5695 “Residential Energy Credits.”

* Keep the receipt for the insulation and the Manufacturer’s Certification Statement for your records, but you do not have to submit them with your tax return.

* The Energy Policy Act of 2005 expires on December 31, 2007.


In addition to the federal tax credit, many states and local utilities offer rebates or incentives for homeowners who make energy improvements, so be sure to check locally for region specific information. For more information on how to qualify for the federal energy tax credit, visit www.owenscorning.com/insulationfedtaxcredit.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

How to Choose Sandpaper

If you have a sanding job ahead of you, then choosing the right grit in your sandpaper is an important factor. Learn the basics to buying sandpaper, and how to determine sandpaper grit.