First, you will need to inspect your home. Check the exterior first. Check the roof for missing shingles or leaks. Make any necessary repairs. If your home has a fireplace, check to make sure that the chimney is in working order. Replace any broken or cracked bricks. Now make sure that your gutters are free of debris. Check the exterior window screens and window casings.

Now, you want to check the interior. Check the fireplace first. Repair any cracked or broken bricks, check the damper to make sure that it is working properly and shuts tightly, and clean out all of last years ashes.

Walk through every room. You will need to check all electrical outlets to make sure they still fit close to the wall. Now check all windows. More heat escapes and cold air penetrates through loose or broken windows than any other area of your home.

If you have an older home, you will need to pay close attention to your windows. Weather stripping your windows is one easy and inexpensive way to save money on your electric bills.

If you are planning on installing the stripping yourself there are a variety of choices:

· Felt-If you are on a tight budget felt will work. It will not insulate as well as the others, but it will definitely work and is very easy to install.

· Foam-It should have adhesive on one side for easy installation.

· Interlocking-This is probably the most difficult to install as the pieces need to fit together perfectly, so you may consider hiring a professional.

· Spring Metal-It is usually packaged in a roll and should come with the brads you will need to install it.

· Vinyl-It comes hollow or foam-filled and it is generally applied to the exterior of your home. The foam-filled provides more insulation than the hollow variety.

You should be able to find most weather stripping at any home improvement store and the majority will be sold separately or in a kit that will include all of the hardware that you will need and they are all sold in a variety of colors and finishes. Depending on which type you choose, you will need a few simple tools-a hammer, screwdrivers, tape measure, pencil, scissors, and a hack saw or tin-snips.

Prior to installing the new weather stripping, remove any old stripping or debris. Now is probably a good time to clean around the windows and window sills. If you are applying adhesive stripping, make sure that everything is completely dry before starting the application process.

It is best to install weather stripping to windows before the cold weather hits. Set aside a nice day and take your time. This is not difficult but does take patience. As with all home improvement, if you have any questions, consult a professional.

First calculate the dimensions of each window in your home and decide if you want a single (full-length), two-piece, or three-piece sash. The single storm sashes are the simplest to assemble but the two or three piece are sturdier. If any window is larger than 9 square feet, you will need to assemble the two or three piece sash. Depending on your budget, the least expensive storm windows are made of aluminum and can be made for much less than ready-made storm windows.

The tools that you will need:

• Hacksaw
• Small Miter Box
• Sturdy Hammer & Nails
• Small Screwdrivers (regular and Philips Head)
• Jamb Brackets & Screws
• Combination Square
• Sturdy Clear Tape

Depending on the type of sash that you are making you will need to follow the following dimensions:

• Single Sash-1/8 inch smaller than the width and height of the window
• Two-Piece-1/4 inch smaller than the width and height of the window
• Three-Piece-3/8 inch smaller than the width and height of the window

You might also be interested in placing storm windows on basement windows. If so, the storm windows can be installed on the inside and are usually ¾ inch more than the width and height of the windows. They can be secured with wood screws.

Since most home improvement stores offer free glass-cutting if you purchase the glass at their store, you will not have to worry about this. Remember to have the glass cut

1 1/16 inch smaller that the outside measurements of the aluminum frame (See Above). Single strength glass is acceptable, but double-strength can be purchased for a few pennies more and is well worth it. All you will need to concern yourself with is the aluminum sashes and corner locks and the proper tools.

If you are replacing old storm windows you can check the measurements of the aluminum prior to sizing and cutting the new aluminum. The original storm windows probably fit perfectly so using them as a guide will make your job easier.

Now remove the glazing channel before cutting the new aluminum sash. Place the channel around the perimeter of the glass, taping into place if necessary. Use the combination square to show 45° angles, and then cut the glaze from the corner and the aluminum with a hacksaw. File off any rough edges.

You are now ready to push the corner locks into place. Place the new sashes over the top and bottom on the pane, then add the sides. Make sure that the new sashes fit snugly and they are centered.

For added security, mount two jamb brackets (one on each side) to the top of the window about 1 inch from outer corner of the window casing. Now screw the counter jamb brackets to the top and 1 inch from the corner of the new aluminum sash. You may now put the new storm window into place.

Due to global warming and shifts in weather patterns storms, tornados, and hurricanes seem to hitting America more frequently and with higher intensity than ever before. Help protect your home by adding storm windows that can reduce drafts, heating and cooling costs, and help protect your home and family.

First, you will need to get all of the necessary tools together. You will need:

• Heavy Gloves-You will need these when removing the broken window and the glass that may be embedded in the grooves
• Light Hammer-This will be used to tap the new glaze into the grooves around the new window
• Screwdriver or Chisel-Use to extract old putty that might be embedded in the grooves
• Sturdy Tweezers-These may be necessary to remove any leftover hard-to-reach glass chards
• Soldering Iron-This will be used to soften old putty for easier removal
• Sandpaper-Used to smooth the grooves after removing the old putty and glass
• Exterior Paint-You will need this to touch-up any cracked paint and to use as a base after removing the old putty and broken window
• Glazing Compound-This will be brushed into the grooves before replacing the new pane
• Putty Knife-This can be used to embed and smooth the glazing compound around the window frame

It should be noted that you can cut the glass yourself. When doing so, you will need additional tools to include a workspace, a sturdy piece of plywood, a Ralter square, a hardware strip, and a glass cutter. However, most home improvement stores offer free glass cutting if you purchase the glass at their store. If you choose to do this, you will need the exact dimensions of the glass. A general rule of thumb is to measure the inside of the window frame and order the glass to be cut 1/16 to 1/8 of an inch smaller than the interior window dimensions.

The first step is removing the broken glass from the frame while wearing heavy gloves. You will need to remove any old putty at this point. If the putty is difficult to remove soften it using the soldering iron. You should be able to pry the remaining putty out of the grooves with a screwdriver or chisel. Be careful not to damage the grooves.

After the glass and putty are removed clean the window frame and coat with thinned exterior paint. After the paint is completely dry, apply a layer of glazing compound onto the grooves on all sides to help reinforce the window. Carefully place the window into the frame.

Now take the screwdriver or chisel and gently push the glaze halfway down into the groove every few inches of the frame. Take some fresh glazing compound and mold into a string about ½ inch wide, and press onto the interior all away around the window. Before the glaze dries, take the putty knife and press the glaze down around the edge. This should make a nice visual finish. Wait for at least a week then paint the window and the glaze, being careful not to paint the window shut, for further re-enforcement.

Replacing a window is not very difficult or time consuming and doing so will help lower electric bills. Now might be a good time to consider weather stripping while you are at it.

Wade, a very handy man in his own right, did not have the time to handle the project, so they turned to a contractor for this major home improvement. It was a time-sensitive matter, so they carefully took the following advice and precautions to make the renovation go as smoothly as possible.

• Know exactly what you want renovated before tackling a home improvement project. Consider the interior and exterior of your home. Do you want the add-on to look like the rest of the house? If you have a brick home, will you want to use vinyl siding or wood on the exterior? If adding a room, do you want to add windows? If so, how many? Will you be adding a bathroom?
• Consider hiring an architect. If there will be major structural changes to your home, as in the case of Ruth and Wade, an architect is trained to make the addition visually flow with the rest of the home. You don’t want something that still resembles a garage.
• Do not rush. Take time to ask friends and family if they have ever used a reputable contractor in your area. Find at least two. If you know someone who made the same renovation(s), ask to see the finished product.
• Accept no less than two bids. Multiple bids would be ideal. You don’t want to be ripped-off. To help cut costs, tell each contractor that you are taking multiple bids.
• The contractor should be a member of at least one trade organization, and have property damage, personal liability, and workman’s comp insurance. He should be familiar with State and county laws pertaining to home improvement.
• Know that a general contractor should be able to do the entire job and that a subcontractor has an area of specialization.
• Once you select a contractor, you will need a contract. If you do not understand or have the time to read a contract, find an attorney.
• Ask as many questions as possible and discuss the materials that you want, the time in which you want the job completed, and the total price for the project.
• Avoid the common Bait and Switch scam in which the contractor will guarantee a job using specific materials and a certain price. Sometime after the onset of the project, the contractor will try to either upgrade the material or will tell you that the project is going to cost more than originally planned.
• Oversee the project as much as possible. Don’t get in the way, but remember that it is your property. If the project is not going as you think it should, call the contractor. One reason that this project went very smoothly for the Richardson’s is because they lived on-site and were present during the renovation.

What could have easily been a nightmare for the Richardson’s and Maxine went very smoothly because they followed these home improvement rules and are quite happy with their new living arrangements and the renovation.