Don’t let the dim economic news darken your door. When it comes to remodeling your home, you can pinch pennies and still add value to your property. Choose wisely, and those inexpensive changes you make today won’t affect selling your house tomorrow, say real estate agents based in Portland, OR. Even if you are not selling your home this year, any project — from paint to countertop — should be tackled with an eye on resale value, says Glenn Matz, principal broker with Re/Max Equity Group.... more

Changing the lighting in your home generally requires some re-wiring, and for that you should consider hiring a licensed electrician. However, there are some simple solutions that allow you to make some changes using existing fixtures and outlets. In an average-sized room, you need three points of light, explains Jennifer Roos, owner of Jennifer Roos Interior Designs. “A good way to approach lighting is to layer it with task, ambient, and overhead lighting. You want to avoid concentrating light... more

Making a splash in the bath — while using less water — is increasingly the goal of “green-minded” homeowners embarking on a bathroom remodel. And with good reason: According to WaterSense, a voluntary public-private partnership program sponsored by the Environmental Protection Agency, each American uses an average of 100 gallons of water per day at home. By installing water-efficient fixtures and appliances, usage can be dropped by about 30% — which shaves an average of $170 per year off... more

Homeowners who plan on replacing the roof this summer are faced with one basic question: What is the best choice for my home? Keith Green, owner of Keith Green Construction in Portland, OR, and Steve Philips, owner of Four Star Roofing based in Hillsboro, offer advice on how to choose the best roof. Q. How do I know when it’s time to replace my roof? A. If there’s a leak, it’s probably time, says Philips. Otherwise, “Do a visual check. If it looks nice and flat, not curly, that’s ok. But... more

What does a wooden covered bridge in Eugene have in common with a splintered stadium bleacher in Beaverton? Once deconstructed, nails removed, and milled, these “rescued” wood products make great floor boards…and are gaining popularity as an “exotic” wood. In this instance, exotic refers to the story behind the wood, not its country of origin. “Exotic doesn’t have to mean out of this country. Not when you think about what the reclaimed wood used to be, not what kind of wood it is,”... more

Homeowners have countless choices when it comes to fixing their floors. One option is to re-sand and re-stain an existing wood floor. If that won’t do, it’s possible to tear out the old floor and start anew, using new or reclaimed wood products or environmentally friendly materials like cork or linoleum. In some cases, setting a new floor over an old is the best option, especially if the existing floor — for example, vintage linoleum — contains asbestos. A licensed contractor can help you... more

Wouldn’t it be nice to have your hardwood floors re-sanded — with no dust left behind? Matt Sellens, owner of Portland, OR-based Perpetua Wood Floors, offers customers just that. Using specially designed equipment, Sellens and his crew can sand a new or existing wood floor without leaving a whiff of dust behind. “It’s fairly new technology,” he says. Think of it as an elaborate vacuum system that draws all the dust generated by the sanding through a precisely designed filtration unit and... more

Sometimes it’s necessary to spend a little bit of time in the gutter. That drainage system attached to the roofline of your home is designed to divert falling water away from the foundation and into the yard or sewer system. In older homes with basements, properly functioning gutters and downspouts keep the lower level dry and free from mold and dry rot. Free-flowing gutters also make it hard for mosquitoes to breed, a growing concern now that the West Nile virus has penetrated the Northwest. When... more