February 2012 Issue
Clear Cut believes your kitchen or bath renovation has to start with great design. So to deliver more to our customers, we’ve launched an online magazine with design tips, information, links, and resources.
February 16, 2012
Spring Home Renovation Preparation
» As winter delivers its last icy blast this month, turn your thoughts to the sunny days ahead. Planning your garden and spring renovations is a lovely way to pass the long winter nights, and get a jump on things when the spring days arrive.
January 15, 2012
Tips for a Successful Bathroom Renovation
» It's a well known fact that the bathroom and the kitchen are the most expensive rooms in the house, but putting some thought and planning into the project before hand can help save some money and stress whether you are doing it yourself or bringing in a contractor. And even if you're not planning to sell your property in the foreseeable future, you do want to bear re-sale value in mind - do you really want to spend thousands and thousands of dollars for a high tech designer bathroom knowing that if you had to sell the property, you would never get back that money, especially if the design is very "personal"? These issues can make it very difficult to sell a property when the time comes.
December 15, 2011
What Are Prefinished Hardwoods?
» Decorating the inside of your home to suit your every need takes a lot of thought in order to create rooms that you will be satisfied with seeing on a daily basis. It is important to choose materials for your walls, flooring, and counter space that will provide a firm foundation that will prove to be reliable. When deciding on your flooring there are many factors you need to consider to ensure longevity in the purchase. Considering the every day maintenance is crucial in your choosing as well as to prevent a never ending day to day upkeep. Many homeowners are resorting to prefinished hardwood flooring due to their rich appearance, durability, and many other desirable attributes they offer a home.
November 15, 2011
Bathroom Remodeling Don'ts - What Not To Do
» Bathroom remodeling takes time, careful planning, and precise execution. The objective of a bathroom remodel is to upgrade the appearance of your bathroom with the latest bathroom fixtures, designs, and styles. However, bathroom remodeling can be a bit overwhelming. Even if you don't install your new fixtures and furnishings yourself, simply selecting that perfect bathroom vanity, sink, and mirror can be more complicate than you think, especially if you've never remodeled a bathroom before.
October 15, 2011
Will Solar Power Work for Canada?
» Every day people in Canada hear on the news about the high cost of electricity and its production and the problems with the environment.
September 15, 2011
The Romance of Skylights
» With more and more people going 'natural' and looking for elements that bring home the Earth, elements like skylights and solar blinds are becoming very popular. According to interior designer, Joe Hash, "Skylights bring in a lot of drama to the room if they are properly installed. Nothing can beat walking into a room that is drenched in natural sunshine and a clear, blue sky". No wonder architects and designers are turning to skylights in a big way. For the interior decorator, skylights do not use up any extra space though they are able to create a sense of openness and vast spaciousness.
August 15, 2011
The Basics of Four Seasons Sunrooms
» Four seasons sunrooms are beautiful structures built into the side of your home. It allows you to enjoy an outdoor environment with all the indoor comforts. Wind, rain and the unwanted invasions of the insect world can be kept at bay as you comfortably enjoy your outdoor experience. Four seasons sunrooms require less effort and time to build than the traditional 'brick and mortar' add-on and can add to the resale value of a home. As a living space, it can be used in any manner you desire and furnished to your taste.
July 15, 2011
Door Entry Handlesets For the Modern Home
» What ever happened to the plain, brass door knob on your entry door? Well, to be honest, it is becoming as rare as brass in decorating new homes. Nickel and chrome are the new bright or antique brass. You can have polished nickel, brushed chrome, or a clear chrome that adds to the look of your new home.
June 15, 2011
Planning on Building a Deck?
» A deck can be a beautiful addition to your home and create an excellent flow between the inside of the house and the garden. A good deck could even add value to your house if you intend to sell it at a later date. Decks are great places to relax, play with the kids or hold parties, from barbeques to wedding receptions, and if you are lucky enough to have some water on your property, be it a pond, a river or a lake, then a deck is more or less essential! Decks come in many shapes and forms, from pre-built snap-together designs to completely home-made creations, built from scratch from timber.
May 15, 2011
Radiant Floor Heat: Warms Your Soles But Doesn't Empty Your Pockets
» There is no doubt that radiant floor heating is a superior method of heating your home. Its popularity is steadily increasing as people discover that not only is it the most comfortable form of heating, but also the most cost efficient.
April 15, 2011
New Roof - Advantages Of Metal Roofs
» If you need to repair your roof or even to make a new one, you should learn a lot about roofs, the materials they are made of and design.
For the roofs of private houses, hotels and small shops, it will be better to use the best quality metal tiles made of steel. You can find this type of coverage in every market. It is appropriate for all the seasons and for marine and mountain conditions. Placing the metal tiles is easy, thanks to the good design and all the accessories for roofing.
March 15, 2011
Bamboo Flooring Review - Pros and Cons of Bamboo Floor
» Bamboo, which is actually considered a grass instead of a tree, grows much more quickly than most types of hardwood. Usually the bamboo is harvested between three and six years. Compare that to hardwood trees which can take anywhere from 40 years to 120 years to mature. That's a big difference obviously and is the main reason it is considered such a good Eco friendly option to hardwood.
February 15, 2011
Hot Trends for Bathroom Remodeling in 2011
» The bathroom of the 21st century is a place to relax, rejuvenate and enjoy, not just a place to wash up. More and more people are commissioning bathroom remodeling projects that not only improve the overall look of the space but improve its function as well.
January 15, 2011
Expand Your Room With Bay and Bow Windows
» The right arrangement of windows can enlarge your living areas, creating the effect of the outside being an extension of your home. Natural light and your home's exterior surroundings can seem as much a part of your living room as your couch or television.
December 15, 2010
Fiberglass Versus Wood For Your Front Door
» Homeowners who are in the process of upgrading or renovating their homes will consider changing the front door to the house. The front door is one of the most heavily used parts. Traditional wood doors tend to wear out quickly. Even if a wood door is not replaced periodically, the finishing can peel or crack in little less than a year.
November 15, 2010
Stucco Versus Vinyl Siding For a House Exterior
» When you are considering how to finish the outside of your house, you may want to consider the advantages of stucco versus vinyl siding. While the first one certainly is an attractive finish for your home, it does require maintenance and repair, while the second one is virtually carefree. Frequently the choice of whether to maintain an old stucco finish or simply cover it with vinyl siding simply depends on how much maintenance the old stucco finish needs.
October 15, 2010
The Pros and Cons of Hardwood Flooring
» There is no doubt that hard wood flooring lends an air of natural elegance and a warm welcoming glow to any home. Hardwood flooring has a timeless air of quality and it certainly exudes a feeling of permanence. Hardwood floors are natural and so it brings a natural earthy feeling inside your home which is something that more synthetic flooring just can not match - there is just something about the feel of hardwood that can't be duplicated in a factory and it has been said that installing solid hardwood flooring in your home is a great investment that will retain its value over time.
September 15, 2010
Choosing a Good and Affordable Contractor
» When making home improvements, some homeowners choose to handle the
project themselves. However, individuals with little home improvement
knowledge will have to rely on a contractor. Selecting a good and
affordable contractor is essential. Because some contractors are shady and
charge ridiculously high fees, picking the right contractor requires
research. Here are a few tips to help you pick the best contractor for your
next home improvement project.
August 15, 2010
Kitchen Remodeling - Survive, Thrive, and Revive
» Kitchen remodeling is a fun and effective way to update your home for your enjoyment and for better future resale value. If you're considering a kitchen remodeling project you probably have lots of questions, and are wondering how to get a great finished product AND best survive the project.
July 15, 2010
6 Great Countertops: How to Choose the Best Material
» Get beyond the brand names and your countertop options really just come down to a handful of materials. The choices can seem overwhelming, but the truth is that there's never been a better time to be in the market for a new counter. Once upon a time, you were lucky to have some faded laminate as a small prep area beside the sink. Today, you can choose from hundreds of colors, patterns and textures, in materials ranging from natural stone and acrylic sheets to quartz composites and stained concrete. Here's a detailed look at the six most popular countertop materials: natural stone, solid surfaces, plastic laminate, ceramic tile, wood and concrete.
June 15, 2010
5 Reasons Not to Have a New Roof Installed Over an Old Roof
» So you need a new roof and are trying to decide whether or not to try and save some money by having the new roof installed over an existing layer of roofing. This technique is quite common in many areas and many roofing contractors don't see any problem with this method and have no problem trying to sell homeowners on a lay-over or go-over as this technique is called. They are wrong.
May 15, 2010
What is an Average Asbestos Removal Cost?
» Asbestos is a toxic material seen in a large number of materials such as insulation, ceiling tiles, flooring tiles, sprayed-on plaster for acoustic or decorative walls or ceilings, and plenty of others. Asbestos dust particles are extremely tiny and once airborne can be sucked into the lungs. As soon as the body's immune system cells attempt to break down the dust particles lodged in the lung tissue the immune system cells die. Scar tissue grows all over the lifeless cells and continues do to so for many years after being exposed.
April 15, 2010
6 Steps For Safety - Asbestos Popcorn Ceiling
» Asbestos popcorn ceilings were installed in hundreds of thousands of homes across the country in the 1970s because they hide ceiling imperfections and they reduce all sorts of noises. When asbestos popcorn ceilings were first applied, they were applied either with a polymer type substance or with a silicate material. This extensive use of asbestos in popcorn ceilings predated our knowledge of the health problems (such as lung cancer and mesothelioma) associated with its use. If your popcorn ceiling contains asbestos, you should take proper precautions to avoid health problems because series or even fatal problems may occur.
March 15, 2010
The Bathroom Reno - Get it Right!
» Along with the kitchen, the bathroom is one of the key rooms people pay attention to when buying a house. If you've decided to renovate, then it's important to get it right.
February 15, 2010
What Are Dual Flush Toilets?
» The latest innovation in bathroom technology is the dual flush toilet. As the name implies, these toilets allow you to choose from two different kinds of flushes. Why is this necessary? Well, excuse the crudeness of the next sentence, but getting rid of a number one requires less water and energy than trying to flush away a number two! You can save your water consumption by purchasing a dual flush toilet, which allows you to choose between a high or low volume flush for all purposes.
January 22, 2010
Creating your dream remodel – a kit
» Kitchen and bathroom remodeling is generally acknowledged as having the best rate of return on investment. But let's be honest–most of us don't renovate for the long-term financial gain–we renovate our home to create a more enjoyable living space.
When I set out to remodel, with all the details and the length of time it involves, I like to remember it's about the advantages that a new kitchen or bathroom brings, not the work it takes to get there.
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