The average bathroom is not always the healthiest room in the house. For the most part that is not due to poor housekeeping but instead to some of the very elements in the room instead.

If you have been considering a bathroom remodel here are some things your remodeling contractor can do for you that will make your new bathroom a healthier place as well as a better looking one.

Urea formaldehyde, vinyl chloride gasses, volatile organic compounds, and toxic mold all sound pretty dreadful right? Yet all these nasties and more are to be found lurking in most bathrooms, essentially making them sick. Where are they hiding and what can be done?

Nasties In the Water

Although municipal tap water is treated there are still quite a few less than pleasant substances that escape that process. Your bathroom water will be healthier, easier on your skin and maybe even pleasant to drink (or at least clean your teeth with) if you install permanent water filters on your showerheads and bathroom faucets as a part of your remodeling project.

Nasties On the Floor and Walls

Even carpet that bills itself as suitable for the bathroom is probably not. Mold loves moisture but it also loves carpet and often a homeowner can not see the mold because it is growing on the underside of the carpet. That mold is not doing much for the air quality in your bathroom. Wallpaper in the bathroom is another mold magnet so it is best to avoid those two décor options all together.

In addition most traditional paints, adhesives, and sealants emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) for years after being applied. If you are having your bathroom repainted make sure your contractor uses low VOC paint after stripping off all the old stuff.

Nasties In Cabinets

Bathroom cabinets improve both the look and function of a bathroom, providing extra storage and keeping the clutter out of sight. Avoid opting for cabinets made from medium density fiberboard (MDF) or particle board though, as both materials have been found to off-gas urea formaldehyde, a known carcinogen.

If you have MDF cabinets already that you cannot bear to part with you can lessen the possible health danger by resealing them with a low VOC sealant.

When it comes time to replace your old roof – or have one put onto a new construction – you have a number of different roofing materials to choose from. It pays to do a little research here before you make your choice as certain roofing materials are more suited to certain situations than others. Here is my guide to some of the most commonly used roofing materials.

Asphalt Shingle Roofing

This is, by far, the most commonly used and most economical roofing choice nationwide. In many cases it can be half the cost of other options and that fact alone can be the deciding factor for many people. When it comes to appearance asphalt shingle roofing is not always the most aesthetically pleasing but it is tough, durable and should last for years if properly installed.

Metal Roofing

Metal roofing is especially good for homes that are located in areas that experience heavy snowfall.

There are several different types of metal roofing to choose from. Standard metal roofing comes in large sheets that attach to the decking of your roof but metal roof tiles and metal roof shingles are also gaining in popularity, although they do tend to be considerably more expensive than metal roofing panels.

Whatever form of metal roofing you choose it is tough enough to last for decades and many homeowner’s insurance companies will actually give you a discount on your policy for having such a roof because of the extra safety metal-topped houses carry. The appearance of a metal roof is not to everyone’s taste but it is an option well worth considering.

Tile Roofing Materials

Tile roofs are often the most attractive, yet also most expensive, option available to homeowners having a new roof installed. Traditional tile roofing, which is generally an attractive burnt orange in color, is a great favorite of the southwest; its appearance is unique, but its performance may be an even bigger draw for many homeowners as it can last for up to 70 years.

In areas where hurricanes, tornados, hailstorms or heavy snow and ice accumulations are an issue though a tile roof is probably not the best choice as the potential for damage, both to the roof and your home from falling roof tiles, is rather great.

If you are considering replacing an old roof with a tiled roof it is also important that your roofer ensures that the structure of your home itself can handle all the extra weight that a tile roof will add or the results could be disastrous to say the very least.

Other Roofing Material Options

Cedar Shingles

Cedar shingles are more expensive than their asphalt cousins but are undoubtedly more attractive. As long as they are well maintained and resealed every few years they should also last just as long.

Concrete Shingles

Concrete shingles have risen to premier roofing status in the past few years. Why? Because they are virtually indestructible and come in a wide range of attractive shapes and sizes. Yes, concrete roofing is an expensive option but it is also probably the last roof you will ever need to buy.

Home remodeling, even when you have a good general contractor on board, can be tough. Trying to get across to the contractor you are considering hiring exactly what you have in mind can be a challenge. “I want a bedroom in my attic” is, after all, a little vague.

If an architect is not in the picture and if your drawing talents stopped developing after third grade, a tool to help you envisage what the home improvement ideas in your head will turn into in real life would be really handy. Especially if you could do it all right from your phone. Well, guess what? There is an app for that – Home 3D for the IPhone and iPad.

Home 3D is rather different to other remodeling software aids you may have seen in the past. Using pre-set room dimensions that can be adjusted if needed, it allows you to alter the layout of any room within seconds. Want to see what your bedroom would look like minus the dividing wall? Done. Want to put it back again but this time with a built in closet? Results in seconds.

Home 3D also differs in that not only does it let you design – and then redesign – the layout of the rooms you are considering remodeling but virtually decorate them as well. It allows furniture to be moved, wall art to be hung, and an overall design scheme to be established—anytime, anywhere.

That means that when you do meet with your remodeling contractor for the first time all you will have to do is take out your Apple gadget of choice and they will instantly have a clear picture of what you want them to aim for. Planning and negotiation, then ultimately the remodeling work itself, can thus begin far more quickly.

Do you long to make a dramatic change to the exterior of your home, to approve its aesthetic and curb appeal in a matter of just a few days? By having new siding installed home owners can achieve exactly that.

From the dependability and low maintenance of vinyl siding to the textured elegance of cedar shingle and the timeless appeal of wood clapboard, there is a home siding material to suit every home owner’s  taste and every design aesthetic. Here are some of the more popular home siding options for your consideration.

Vinyl Siding

These days vinyl siding is probably the single most popular material in home siding and for some very good reasons. Modern vinyl siding is crafted from tough PVC plastic and, unlike wood, it won’t rot nor will it flake like cedar shingle. It is inexpensive to purchase, quick to install and comes in a rainbow of different color options.

On the downside though even the very best vinyl siding tends to begin to crack and look dull in as little as three to five years. Environmentalists are not the biggest fans of vinyl siding either, as it produces hazardous byproducts; it will release toxic chemicals when burned, making it difficult to dispose of and a potential serious danger to the whole neighborhood in the event of a house fire.

Aluminum Siding

Many contractors feel that aluminum siding is a bit of an old fashioned option these days and it has been almost totally eclipsed by the popularity of its cheaper vinyl cousin. The advantages that aluminum does still offer though is that it will not crack over time and it is virtually fireproof.

Seamless Steel Siding

Steel siding is certainly tough and it resists shrinking and expanding caused by temperature fluctuations that can affect other materials. On the other hand, some find its appearance rather plain, although you can find many imitation wood offerings that are rather appealing.

Cedar Shingle Siding

An American classic, cedar shingle siding blends beautifully with wooded landscapes and waterfronts and can give a home a whole new character.

Traditional cedar shingle siding is crafted from natural woods that have often been stained to resemble other earth tones like green, brown and gray. The biggest complaints people have about cedar shingle siding is its tendency to crack or flake as well as it having a certain propensity for mold.

Fiber Cement Siding

Fiber cement siding can take on the appearance of wood, stucco or masonry and is both fire proof and termite proof. Fiber cement is durable and for many homeowners is a real cost effective alternative to wood that looks almost as good as the real thing.

Wood Clapboard Siding

Although there are all these other siding options, wooden clapboard remains the siding of choice for the more expensive homes across the country. It may surprise you to know that when properly installed and well maintained  – the occasional staining, a power wash once a year – wood clapboard siding can outlast vinyl by decades.

Older homes are favored by many but they do present special challenges during any remodeling project. For instance, exactly how do you go about turning that quaint but not very functional old bathroom into the modern spa like space you’d love?

Stick With the Basic Scheme of Things

A remodel of an older bathroom is going to be at least twice as difficult – as well as twice as expensive – if fixtures have to be removed completely instead of being replaced. In other words, if you really do not have to move it don’t. If you do want to switch things around make sure that you and your bathroom remodeling contractor know exactly what is going where before the work begins. Designing on “the fly” is particularly problematic in a bathroom.

Flooring Considerations

Marble or ceramic tile look fabulous in a bathroom but the bathroom floors of older houses tend to be rather uneven, which will probably lead to cracking and lifting a few months down the line. Leave any tiling work to a pro – they will know just what has to be done to the old subfloor to make everything work.

Use All the Space

One great thing about many older American homes is that, in comparison to their modern counterparts, these houses often have huge bathrooms. All this space opens up a myriad of possibilities for your bathroom remodel and you should make use of all the space you have. You don’t have to follow any rules; anything goes – a sauna, a relaxation area, even a second laundry room.

Septic System Concerns

If you are remodeling an older bathroom and will be adding new fixtures it is important that you check whether or not your septic system can accommodate the increased water usage.

Practical considerations aside ,some areas have regulations that can lead to hefty fines if your septic tank is being overtaxed. Check with your local building department to find out what the rules and regulations are in your area before bathroom remodeling work begins.

Going green is bigger than ever these days and homeowners across the country are looking for ways to add some green to their home’s functionality. If you are not ready to install a wind turbine in your back yard just yet though, that’s OK. There are simpler ways you can retool and remodel your home to make it a more eco friendly place to live.

Get an Energy Audit

The first step towards the greening of any home should be to commission a professional energy audit. The auditor will assess every appliance in your home, your HVAC system, your windows, doors, attics – in fact in every nook and cranny – to find where your home is wasting or losing energy and therefore using more than its fair share of the world’s energy resources.

They will then make a report with recommendations to be followed to make the home more energy efficient. These recommendations may range from installing replacement windows and upgrading an HVAC system to smaller projects like re-insulating your attic or re-lagging your pipes.

Often an energy auditor will even make suggestions as to which local contractor to hire to perform these remodeling jobs but never take up those recommendations without doing a little homework and research on each contractor yourself.

Smaller Green Touches Around the Home

Even before the energy auditor’s report comes in and bigger remodeling projects begin (like those new replacement windows) there are some easy small tweaks that homeowners can make around their houses to make it more efficient.

Lighting

If you haven’t already, make sure that all the bulbs you use in your home are of the Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL) type. Yes, they cost more initially than “regular bulbs”, but they last a lot longer and use far less electricity on a daily basis so will pay for themselves rather quickly.

Water

An old shower head can be a water gobbling monster, using up to a massive 80 gallons of water a minute. The simple act of installing a new showerhead can cut that consumption right back to as low as 1.75 gallons per minute instead, literally saving thousands of gallons of water on an annual basis.

Toilets are another big water waster as well. In an ideal green world environmentalists say people would use composting toilets – capable of turning human waste into natural fertilizer – but this is still rather a big step for most people to take. Having a low flow toilet installed is a more conventional option and you can go even greener by using chlorine free, recycled toilet paper and organic cotton bath towels.

Green Friendly Landscaping

Instead of drowning your lawn month in and month out with a sea of toxic chemicals, fertilizers and other decidedly eco unfriendly products, seek the advice of a professional landscaper about greener alternatives that can do the same thing without polluting the environment. At the same time you could consider replacing some of the water greedy plants in your yard with attractive alternatives that require less water.

The news on the housing front in the U.S. is still not good unfortunately. Homes are still not really selling and millions of people have either lost their homes to foreclosure or are fighting hard not to.

All these economic woes mean that rather than take their chances in a poor real estate market many homeowners are looking for ways to expand and improve the space they already have.

In many cases it is because children who may have been gone for decades are now moving back in with Mom and Dad, because even as adults they cannot afford to make it on their own right now. Many are foreclosure victims while others simply cannot afford sky high rents.

The question of fitting everybody back into a home comes up often. A childhood bedroom may have long since become a study, sewing room or even a gym. In any case that one small room would be of little use when the grandkids are moving in as well.

For some homeowners the answer lies in the basement, for others the attic. Both spaces are ripe for remodels that can add an entirely new “wing” to a home, which makes it much easier to accommodate new arrivals without everyone getting underneath one another’s feet and on each other’s nerves.

Some homeowners wonder which is easier – attic or basement remodeling. There is no one answer to that question though. Most basements have the basics – electrical wiring, solid floors, some windows – already in place which could save time and/or money over an attic renovation. However moisture and damp challenges in a basement may make the attic remodel a more feasible choice. The only person who can tell you for sure what would work in your home is a good home remodeling specialist.