Financial Incentives for Using Solar Power in Your Home

It is undeniable that energy prices are going through the roof. Just take a look at your utility bill. The good news is using solar power can save your bank account, particularly with new incentives.

Personal Tax Credit and Deductions

If anything is more aggravating than exploding energy costs, it's your tax bill. New and established government programs let you attack both by going solar. The first method is by simply saving money on taxes. If you install a solar energy system on your home, the federal government is going to give you a tax credit of up to $2,000. Tax credits reduce your tax liability dollar for dollar unlike deductions which are subtracted from your gross income. A majority of states now also offer tax credits you can use when paying state taxes. Each state handles the matter differently, but you can expect to get a credit for a percentage of your installation cost or a fixed figure.

Net Metering

Net metering is a concept that has resulted in exploding sales in the solar energy industry. Net metering refers to state laws that require utilities to purchase power generated from your residential solar system at the same price the utilities would otherwise charge you for electricity. In effect, net metering lets you use the utility company as a battery. While you are at work during the day, your solar system sends energy to the utility and your power meter actually runs backwards. When you come home at night and use power, the power meter runs forward. All and all, net metering will either slash or completely eliminate your utility bill. With solar panel systems having a life of 40 years, think how much money you'll save! While a majority of states have net metering laws, not all do. Make sure to check if yours does.

Property Tax Incentives

Property taxes. How we all hate paying property taxes. Well, many states now provide exemptions, exclusions or credits for homes with solar power. Each state handles this issue differently, so look into the potential savings in yours.

Rebate Programs

To promote solar energy, rebate programs are offered to homeowners by states and utilities. Again, the characteristics of such programs vary wildly, but typically come in the form of rebates ranging from a couple hundred bucks to $4,000 or more.

With your utility bills going through the roof, it is time to consider steps you can take to save money. The economic benefits of going solar have never been better, which makes now the time to convert.

About The Author
Rick Chapo is with http://www.solarcompanies.com – a directory of solar energy and solar power companies. Visit http://www.solarcompanies.com/articles to read more solar electricity articles.

Brick and Stone Masonry: Still Stand Strong

The choices that you make when designing and building a new home or purchasing an existing home affect your value throughout the time of ownership. No time is the highest value more important than when selling. Each decision you make will affect value and play a role in what the house is ultimately worth in a re-sale. Make your choices carefully. Do your research. Talk to realtors about what is in demand in your area. A good example of a value choice is the use of brick and stone masonry for your exterior. In American architecture, nothing evokes feelings solidity and permanence like masonry.

Have you ever read through the classified home listings, or seen a realtor's flyer and read the words, "four sides brick?" There is a reason that real estate professionals market a home this way. It is a signal of quality to a potential buyer. While stucco and siding are both attractive options for cladding the exterior of your home, brick and stone masonry will increase the value. Upon arrival at a perspective new home, a buyer will usually begin assessing it from the minute that they turn into the driveway.

Stucco

When applied properly hard coat stucco can be an effective exterior cladding while also providing flexible design. When purchasing an existing stucco home, a buyer should have two thoughts in mind.

1. Is this house a hard coat stucco or EIFS? (a synthetic stucco system)

2. Will an inspector need to be hired to examine the condition of the exterior and locate any moisture behind the walls?

Already there are roadblocks in the buyers mind about purchasing the home. Both questions would need to be answered. You need to know what type of stucco it is, and a specialized, professional inspector is always a good idea no matter the type. A professional stucco inspector can determine where there are problems and check for moisture behind the material, while suggesting the extent of damage and remedies in a thorough report.

Siding

Siding tends to have fewer stigmas than stucco. While it does not have the solidness of brick, when installed correctly, it does an excellent job of protecting the interior of the home from moisture. Houses clad with siding seem to have a certain charm and appeal to Americans as it is used from coast to coast. With a siding home, again, it is a good idea to have a thorough inspection to uncover any moisture that has found a path into the interior. A proper inspection will reveal if the siding was installed correctly. Make sure your inspector examines the following areas of a siding clad home where there may be problems.

1. The seams at door and window openings

2. Around vents, such as a dryer vent, and pipes that must pass through to the interior

3. Any area where siding might meets the ground

4. The connection of a siding clad chimney to the house structure

5. Areas where landscaping touches the home

Also, it is a good idea to determine the type of siding... There are several types in use today: wood, cement fiber board and vinyl. Wood siding is beautiful, but will ultimately require maintenance due to exposure to the elements. You will eventually need to replace boards, nails and frequently paint to keep it in the best condition. Cement fiber board is an excellent choice. It is very durable, emulates the look of wood, but will stand the test of time. The advantage of vinyl siding is the ease of maintenance. When properly installed, vinyl siding will only require cleansing from season to season with a mild solution and water to keep it looking new.

Brick and Stone Masonry

Brick and stone masonry has stood the test of time in our culture. While wood sided homes have come and gone over the decades, we know that homes in the Northeastern United States built at our country's inception are still standing today. Brick and stone products inspire a feeling of solidity and permanence. There are very few problems associated with brick or stone. They protect the interior of your home like a fortress, withstand the elements and bring great resale value as it passes confidence along from one owner to the next.

When you have a masonry home inspected, make sure note is taken of any cracks that have appeared in the mortar, which might be the result of settling or another stress on the wall. Check the system of weep holes which are used to drain moisture from behind the walls. Make sure these holes are not obstructed. Additionally, check ground level areas where weep holes could actually perform the reverse function and take moisture in during flooding rains.

Fortunately brick and stone masonry, for the most part, are maintenance free, durable, and a value addition to any home. Today there are many choices in masonry and a visit to a local brick and stone company will make selecting a color and style a breeze. Many have small mock ups of what a wall would look like in each product that they sell. One of the most fun ways to select your new brick or stone is to take a drive around neighborhoods you like and focus on brick colors and the shapes and variation in the stonework. This way you would better be able to envision what the exterior of your finished home might look like.

Whatever the material you choose for the exterior of your home, installation is the key component. Take the time to ensure all proper procedures are followed for the specific material. When buying an existing home, hire an inspector! No question you might have about the exterior cladding of a home is a bad one. You are protecting a very large investment.

About The Author
Dalton C. Reynolds is a contributing writer for http://www.atlantadesigndirectory.com and renovates homes for clients in the greater Atlanta, GA area. Copyright © 2006 Dalton C. Reynolds.

10 Things You Must Know When Building or Renovating

There are many sad cases of home renovations not going as planned - often going way over budget or schedule, or unforseen complications popping up unexpectedly and ruining even up to years of work.

Most of these situations would never have gone so awry with some careful planning and early decision making sooner in the renovation process. Below are a few issues that it is vital to think about before you begin your home renovation.

10 Things to Think About BEFORE Beginning Work

Prepare a budget
Be aware of council regulations
Find a tradesperson
Know your start and completion dates
Selecting Products
Prepare plans
Purchasing products
What should I purchase myself?
What services are available to my property?
What sort of hot water unit do I need?

Prepare a budget

Before you start shopping for your new bathroom or kitchen you must know your spending limits. Whether you are getting a loan or paying cash, you need to work out how much your project is going to cost. Some businesses also offer finance solutions for approved customers.

Be aware of council regulations

Find out all the information you can before you arrange tradesperson. If your home is heritage listed you will need to meet strict council regulations. Many renovations must be approved by the council before work can commence. Contact your local council for more details.

Finding a tradesperson

Speak with family and friends who have done renovations or built a home. It is important to find a tradesperson that you can communicate with. Make sure you understand everything they are telling you. Book a tradesperson well ahead of time, as they can be booked for months in advance. Ensure that your tradesperson is licensed. Your product warranties are only valid if installed by a licensed tradesperson. In Australia, Trades@call provide professional, reliable tradespeople for most jobs, and all workmanship is guaranteed.

Know your start and completion dates

Communicate with your tradesperson and come to an agreement of realistic start and completion dates for your project. If you have a specific date that the job must be finished by, for example you have relatives coming to stay, let your tradesperson know. Keep in mind that unexpected problems can hold up your project, no matter how well you have planned it.

Selecting Products

It may take a few shopping trips for you to decide on the products that give you the look you desire and are also practical for your needs. Browse through a print or online catalogue. Once you have decided on a style (modern, heritage or easy living) this will narrow down your product choices. Be aware of any size restrictions of the room. Print out or write down product specifications and measure up your bathroom. You may use the online bathroom planner at the Bourne Bathroom and Kitchen Centre website to layout the products you have chosen.

Talk to your tradesperson about your choices. If the tradesperson tells you that a product you have chosen is unsuitable, find out why. It may just be that extra work is required that they don't want to do. Remember, it is your home and you need to be satisfied once the job is complete.

Prepare plans

It is important that you draw up plans of your bathroom or kitchen. Discuss the plans with your tradesperson. Let him know what sort of products you would like, so he will know what work needs to be done. For example if you have chosen an inwall cistern, the tradesperson will need to know so he can set up the plumbing correctly before the tiling is done. It is best to have specifications of all of the products you have chosen so the tradesperson knows exactly what work is required.

Purchasing products

When selecting products, find out how long it will take for delivery. Some goods such as tapware and toilets will be in stock, while others such as spas and vanity units are custom made and can take up to 1 month to order in. Often these custom made products are non-refundable so confirm your product choices with your tradesperson before ordering. Find out from your tradesperson which products they will required first. Generally, the first products needed are the shower base, bath or spa and mixers if they are being installed on the wall.

As an owner builder, what should I purchase myself?

If you are owner building, make sure you purchase all of the main products for your bathroom, kitchen and laundry. This will ensure that you make all of the decisions and achieve the result you want. There will be things you will not think about when placing an order, such as different handle types on a vanity unit, the pump position of your spa, that you will need to decide on. It is important to make these decisions yourself as they will affect the overall result of your project. Smaller fittings for plumbing can be purchased by your tradesperson.

What services are available to my property?

It is important to know whether you need gas or electric appliances (hot water unit, cooking appliances). If you live further out from the city, you may need LPG appliances. If you currently have electric appliances and you want to change to gas, speak with your tradesperson to determine if this is going to be cost effective and worthwhile in the long run. If you are building a new home, decide on the appliances you want before building begins, as the plumbing will need to be roughed in based on your product selection.

What sort of Hot Water Unit do I need?

There is a wide range of hot water units available and it can be quite daunting to try and choose one. If you are replacing an existing unit your choices can be limited, so speak with your tradesperson. The instantaneous hot water units are popular at the moment, but they use a larger gas line than the standard storage units. This can mean major plumbing changes which can be quite costly, though in the long run the instantaneous systems are cost efficient. See the Bourne Hot Water Selection Guide for more detail.

Many of these points seem somewhat obvious, but the problem arises when you start taking things for granted. When you don't make sure that all your bases are covered, you may find that you have invested a lot of time, effort and money in a home renovation that you may end up unhappy with.

About The Author
Richard Bourne is owner and manager of Bourne Bathroom and Kitchen Centres. Bourne Bathroom and Kitchen Centres (www.bournebathrooms.com.au) offer the largest range of bathroom, kitchen and plumbing supplies in Melbourne. Bourne's exhaustive selection of home renovation supplies and great after sales service have helped thousands of people to buy "beautiful products at beautiful prices" since 1992.
nathan@technologymatters.com.au

How Travertine Tile Is Prepared For Flooring and Wall Tile

As old an option it is for a sturdy and reliable building material, travertine tile remains to be a highly diverse natural stone, suitable for all kinds of applications. Travertine was used in the ancient world, but can also be found as a major component of many modern buildings such as the Getty Centre in Los Angeles, and the UCLA medical centre. Travertine tile is used as floor tile in both residential and commercial settings, as well as a decorative option for wall cladding and backsplashes. Travertine tile has both indoor and outdoor uses, being a durable stone, and can be both functional and aesthetically striking.

Processing travertine tile

Travertine is removed from the earth in large blocks before it is cut into what can be recognized as travertine tile. It may be cut in any of the following ways:

• Cross-cut – The travertine is cut with the grain of the stone bedding and on the same layer as it is formed in the earth. This makes for a more uniform texture and color

• Vein cut – the travertine is cut across several layers of the stone bedding, making for a more mottled, tiger-stripe effect when cut into tiles

After the travertine is quarried, it is strictly selected for color variances, and further assessed after it is cut for holes and chipped edges. Beyond the selection process, the travertine may be subject to any of the following processes

• Honed – the surface of the tile is sanded to create a matte finish

• Tumbled – the travertine is literally tumbled with gravel and bearings, giving it a rough-hewn, aged appearance.

• Brushed – a wire brush is used to give the surface of the travertine tile a worn, textured surface

• Filled – The pores in the travertine tile are filled with colored resin or cement to produce a pristine, solid surface.

• Polished – the travertine is sanded and polished, producing a shiny look

A featured design element of which anyone would find to be a source of pride, the popularity of travertine seems to be undiminished. In fact, choosing travertine tile for flooring and for wall tile is getting to be more and more popular!

Learn more about travetine tile and buy at http://www.builddirect.com/Travertine-Tile.aspx

About The Author
Rob Jones is Communications Coordinator with BuildDirect (www.builddirect.com), a leading online wholesaler of building products. Rob writes articles for commercial contractors and DIYers on features, installation, and maintenance of building materials used in commercial and residential projects.