The money you can save when buying online is mind boggling. Big savings are available for members of DirectBuy. This wholesale internet site offers great deals on name brands, but membership is required in order to reap the benefits. They advertise 50% in savings on top name brand items, but you have to pay the fee to join. It’s not unlike Sam’s Club or some other wholesale provider.

Other online shopping sites offer no-hassle returns and free shipping or other online savings. This is great if the item wasn’t what you had in mind. Online shopping can be easy and save money but be careful, it can also be full of loopholes and scams. To help you save money in remodeling costs, check out my list of 20 direct buy sites.

1. DirectBuy.com. Everything you need to remodel your home can be found at this site. It’s the one-stop-shop for the home remodeler. (Membership required.)



2. Direct kitchen remodeling. This is part of DirectBuy.com and is solely dedicated to improving the kitchen. They have new sinks, flooring, countertops. They place a high value on this room and provide can’t-miss options.
3. Directtile.com. Another part of DirectBuy.com. Here tile is the name of the game. You’ll find an awesome array of tile for the modern or traditional bath. They also provide a great selection of sizes and styles. Top name brands at manufacturer’s cost.



4. Bathroomtiledirect.com. This website is totally dedicated to different bathroom tile styles and sizes. Flooring, showers, walls and tubs – all made of various types of tiles. Take the free tour and see what kind options are available.



5. Kitchenandbathwarehouse.com. They have everything you need to start remodeling that old bathroom or kitchen. Free shipping and online chat consultation. (more…)

Photo credit: http://trends.move.com

You don’t hear much about asbestos anymore - except for the occasional and annoying “if-you-have-a-phone-then-you-have-a-lawyer” commercials warning about mesothelioma. Chances are you will never have to worry about asbestos in your life, but there is always that slim chance, and knowledge is power - if you know what to do if you are ever exposed to asbestos, then you stand a better chance of averting catastrophe.

Today’s housing market may be increasing risks of asbestos exposure. Many people are finding it much more appealing to renovate or remodel their homes, as opposed to making a new purchase. Some of these old homes contain asbestos in roof shingles, floor tiles, boilers, furnace ducts, and other materials. The problem isn’t so much that there may be asbestos in the house, the big deal is in removing it properly so that no one is exposed to it during the remodeling process.

If you think you may have been exposed to asbestos, you need to see a doctor immediately. Even if nothing ever comes from the exposure, having it noted on your medical record can be helpful in quickly and correctly diagnosing any ailments that may be related to asbestos in your future. (more…)

 
Photo Credit: Jeremy Levine Design

It is endlessly amazing the way that animal and human life mimic each other. We chuckle and watch the way birds court each other or watch a unique dog whose bark somehow sounds like an English word. But are there more concrete similarities? How do we, as humans, play house just like animals? It may be surprising how often the lines are crossed.

First, the reasons our houses stand out from our mammalian cousins. One, our human inventiveness has facilitated the creation of new materials (concrete, polystyrene, etc.) that have revolutionized home building over the centuries. Two, we have no predators. We don’t mind letting the world know where our houses are.

Yet the growing movement toward green building is bringing natural building materials back to the forefront. And whatever is natural to us is natural to the birds and bees just the same.

The Bees

Photo Credit: BotheredByBees

Aside from their ability to colonize and deal painful blows, bees’ construction expertise is also an inspiration to modern designers. Have a look at honeycomb paper. This interesting honeycomb-like cellulose material creates flexible but strong boards that are also excellent insulators. Are honey-paper houses our future? For a more visual (if not structural) example of our buzzing inspiration, see Frank Lloyd Wright’s Hanna-Honeycomb House on the campus of Stanford University.

The Birds

Since the dawn of their species, birds have been using twigs, grass, straw, and mud to build sturdy (and lofty) homes for their young. And in times past, so did many humans. For some time now we’ve largely ignored the benefits of straw bale housing, including its small footprint and cheap price tag. Again green home building is changing all that. Straw bale houses have incredible insulation value and are relatively easy to build. Any questions? Ask the birds. (more…)