Bathroom Improvement

friends we know own a rental property in ny and it needs repirs new furnace new bathroom floors and a hot water tank and so on can they get a home improvement tax credit for these repairs or is it a loss on their taxes

Actually all I want to do is put a new marble counter, with a new sink and faucet. Is this hard to do by yourself? I have no home improvement experience, so maybe is it best to hire someone. But I want to make sure I am not over-charged. Any suggestions will be helpful.

and what kind of paint should i use for color– flat ,semi gloss??? Dont know about home improvement but learning fast.

What are the advantages/limitations and do’s/ don’ts of laminate flooring? I would like to use it for my kitchen and bathroom. Is it water-proof? Is there a special one for bathroom? Where can I find step-by-step installation instructions as well as helpful tips? Do I need to put on a water barrier layer before installing the laminate flooring? What are some of the good brands of laminate flooring? Any and all comments will be appreciated. I am a novice home improvement person.

Lets say you finish your basement or add a bathroom, this adds value to your house. Taxes are partially based on the value of your home right? How does this work? I live in NY if that helps but in general what happens?

I purchased new oil rubbed bronze fixtures for my bathroom. The problem is that the shower/bath enclosure doors have very ugly, shiny brass hardware (sliding door track, frame, handles, etc). I swear I once saw a home improvement show where they just painted the hardware (spray paint) to update the look. However, when I ask at home improvement places, they tell me that would not work. I’d rather invest $20 in paint and apply some elbow grease rather than spend $250 on a new door. What might work?

New kitchen, bathroom, landscaping? Share your ideas!

If you are doing home improvement on your house do you need a permit. like fixing a door, remodeling bathroom, etc…..

We’re renting a house, and I want to fixup the bathroom and the kitchen, but all the home improvement and makeover sites I’ve been to only have stuff that I know I can’t and don’t want to do, so if anyone knows of any sites, or if anyone has any ideas of their own, I would appreciate it! I’m looking for things I can do myself.

I have an older home that needs several things done: new roof, porch repair, plumbing and electrical upgrades, and remodeling of the kitchen and bathroom. What are the advantages of using a general contractor to do the work, as opposed to hiring companies that specialize in one kind of home improvement?