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Article: (from USA) What to look for when hiring a home remodeling contractor

A home remodeling contractor is just the person in charge with the knowledge to build a house. He gets paid for that knowledge....

With the cost of labor on the rise, you can save yourself lots of money if you do-it-yourself.

Most of the people that have a contractor build their home today run into problems. You get into your new home and find that you missed a few things on the walkthrough. Now you have to call the contractor back and have him make it right. Good Luck! You may have wanted to have upgrades in your house but the cost made it out of your budget and so you passed or maybe will add it later. Either way, you still don't have what you wanted.

You can be the contractor or owner builder as it is called. It may not be for everyone, but you are going to be in control of every aspect of the building of your new home, addition or remodeling project.

You don't have to know everything about what you are doing and there are books on almost every subject on construction. You can read on, that will tell you and show you how a job is done properly. This and common sense will often keep you out of trouble.

If you are a handy type person, there are so many things you can do for yourself and save the harder chores and projects for a sub-contractor. When the time comes and only after you have done your part of the construction, you will have saved yourself thousands of dollars. What is the worst that can happen? You'll have to pay him to correct your work anyway. You may surprise yourself finding out that you are able to do more than you thought.

The steps that are going to save you the most money is the planning, shopping, and execution of each phase of your project. Some states require you to be a licensed contractor, but you can also apply as owner builder and do it yourself. You will still have to get insurance to protect yourself and anyone that walks on your property.

To save yourself even more money, make a company name up doing business as John Doe Construction, and apply for a tax-exempt form, so when it comes time to buy materials, you can reap the rewards of buying the materials at wholesale. For example, Kitchen cabinets retailing for $5,000 would cost $1,200.00 wholesale.

Don't be taken! If you find you need to take a course to learn about tiling or wallpapering, check with your local stores like Home Depot or Loew's Lumber. They hold classes for the public and most are free to attend.

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ARTICLE: Budjeting for your Water Feature by Danielle Dickinson

Budgeting for Your Water Feature

Anyone that has ever constructed a water feature will tell you that it can be surprising how quickly the cost of installing such a feature can escalate. For this reason it is imperative that careful planning takes place BEFORE you rush in and begin constructing your dream water feature. Such planning can prevent nasty shocks from occurring.

Design

The first, and often overlooked, consideration should be having a plan put to paper by a Water Feature Specialist. Frequently, your vision and a tradesperson's vision of what your feature should look like is a matter of interpretation. Plans put this issue and any other conflicts to rest. Also, Water Feature Specialist can advise you on important issues such as the best style of water feature to suit your space, placement, material choice and practical considerations (eg: location of underground services, water tables, safety, site specific issues etc). Ultimately employing the services of a Water Feature Specialist to design and/or construct your water feature not only avoids costly mistakes but ensures that you will be delighted with the end result!

Material Choices

This is the area that will absorb most of your budget. If you have employed the services of a Water Feature Specialist then you will already have a list of materials that you need to purchase that has been designed to suit your budget.

If you are designing and constructing the feature yourself there are many ways to save money on materials without compromising too much.

A few examples are:

• Reproduction stone instead of natural stone

• Facia a wall rather than construct from stone

• Rendered and painted Besser Blocks rather than more expensive blocks

• A liner pond rather than a concrete one

• A solar pump in a small feature eliminates the need for an electrician

• Second hand bricks/pavers can be replaced with modern imitations

Be creative and spend more time at this stage, you will be amazed at how much money you can save.

Buying Equipment

Purchasing Pumps and Filters for Water Features can be a daunting task. It is best to always seek professional advice here as mistakes can be very costly. In order to get professional advice you will need to be able to answer the following questions:

1. What size is your pond/water feature (or volume, if known)?

2. What is the 'head height' of your water (ie. The height your pump will need to push water)?

3. How often and for how long do you intend to run your pump?

4. What other features must your pump run (eg: Spitters, Filters etc)?

It is wise to buy the best pump that you can afford as this is the heart of your feature. Buy a pump that is large enough to run your feature (consider future additions also). Imagine a car where motor that wasn't quite powerful enough to run it, your water feature is no different. If you skimp now you may need to buy a new pump later on, a costly mistake.

Construction

When considering your budget it is prudent to consider the types of skills required to complete construction of your feature as the construction of a water feature often requires many skills. Be realistic about your skill level and decide if it is best to call on the assistance of a Water Feature Specialist.

If constructing the water feature yourself you should make allowances for tool hire/purchases as you will most likely not have all tools required on hand.

Other costs to consider:

Tip / Skip fees - you need to dispose of waste, especially if excavating

Electricity supply - always employ a suitably qualified and licensed electrician. As all mains power must be at least 600mm below ground level you may elect to dig the trench yourself to save money or consider hiring a trenching machine.

Aquatic Plants & Soils / Fish - Often overlooked at this stage

Delivery Fees - plan and co-ordinate delivery of materials well so that you do not overspend on delivery fees

Consumables - don't forget tubing, fittings, nails, screws, glue etc

Nets / Water Quality Test Kits and Treatments etc - all essentials for owning a water feature

Estimating Time

Often the time required for construction of a water feature is not sufficient and more often than not, twice the amount of time originally estimated is actually required. When planning how much time you will spend on your project add time for ordering, visiting suppliers, phone calls, inclement weather, late deliveries from suppliers and other factors outside your control.

Remember that set-up and pack-up also adds time onto your day. Allow yourself plenty of time and be realistic in your expectations of yourself and make creating your water feature and enjoyable experience.

About the Author

Danielle Dickinson is an avid water feature enthusiast. She is a regular contributor to Gardening Magazines. Visit her website www.waterfeaturesonline.com.au for more information on building and maintaining any type of Water Feature as well as a huge range of water gardening products.