Home Water Damage

Use Fountains to Create Ambiance

2009-09-01T06:29:00.001-07:00

Everyone wants ambiance in their home, but few people actually know how to create it. Fortunately, the world wide web makes it easy to find ideas and implement them in to our home dcor. You can even search for ideas for garden dcor if you really want to create an indoor and outdoor space that is beautiful and comfortable. One thing that you will surly want to include in your furnishings include fountains. There are just so many different types of fountains that will really make your home look and sound more peaceful and relaxing.

Indoors

There are many different types of fountains you may buy for the indoors. You may choose a small and affordable fountain that may be placed anywhere in the home. It would work especially great in the living room or even dining room to lend some extra tranquility to these busy areas. But, you may want o place the fountain on your desk, in the kitchen, bathroom, or even your bedroom. If you like fountains and the trickling of water then you may place it anywhere you feel it would benefit your home and you. You may even add a fountain in multiple rooms to create the ambiance you are looking for.

Outdoors

When you add a fountain to your outdoor area, whether it be a porch, garden, or yard, you will be able to go a little larger. Some people choose very large fountains to really create a focal point and a place to work from. If you can afford to do this then it certainly is a good idea because your home will only look better as a result. Not to mention you will love going outdoors and seeing and listening to your fountain.

Buying a Fountain

There is one thing you will want to keep in mind, however, and that is actually buying a fountain. You do not want to choose something that does not go with the interior of your home or the garden of your home so look for a fountain that reflects the style of your home. There are all kinds of fountains available from traditional to modern and classic to alternative. You will find some that are lighted and others that have rocks and even tall waterfalls. You will find the fountain you are looking for, it just takes time! So, shop around and see what you can find. You certainly will not find what you are looking for if you do not start looking.

Caitlina Fuller is a freelance writer. Fortunately, the world wide web makes it easy to find ideas and implement them in to our home decor. You can even search for ideas for garden dcor if you really want to create an indoor and outdoor space that is beautiful and comfortable. There are just so many different types of fountains that will really make your home look and sound more peaceful and relaxing.

Deck Railings -Safety and Beauty Combined

2009-09-01T02:28:00.001-07:00

Deck Railings Are A Necessity

Decks definitely need deck railings. In most cases, deck railings are necessary due to the building codes. If you are not going to follow the building codes, then you need to realize that you are setting yourself up for some painful consequences, including lawsuits, fines, and more. By simply adding railings to your deck, you will be able to save yourself the unnecessary harassment and the financial drain that may occur. A lower deck railing height than is required by the building codes is sometimes the corner that some people cut and there are some reasons why this is not safe.

Railings and Building Codes

Building codes are different depending upon where you live, but most of them have a law that says that if the deck is more than 3 feet from the ground or another horizontal surface, that you will need to have a way to protect from falls. A wall is an acceptable way to protect from falling, but a wall can be an obstruction to your view. This is a very costly way to meet the building code and it does not make you any safer than deck railing would.

Deck Railing Choices

Safety is the major reason for deck railings, but they can also add character and visual interest to your deck and home. You can even create an unusual look by using multicolored railings that will draw the eye. There are several different materials that you can use, including wood, PVC, aluminum, or even a combination of materials.

Railing Requirements

In railing installation, you need to keep two things in mind. These things are:

1. Railing Height: This is usually dictated by the building codes of your particular area. The height is usually at least 30 inches, but check with your local city or state building commission to ensure that your railings are the correct height.

2. Railing Construction: Depending upon the building codes, you will need to place your posts at intervals that are dictated to you. A proper deck railing needs to have a few different components, including a bottom rail, vertical rail, and a top rail. The bottom rail helps to make the railing look more complete. The vertical rails need to be spaced so that a child cannot get through the railings. A top railing may be one piece or two and they are used to give additional strength to the railing structure and to attach the verticals to. This is the piece that sees the most wear from hands and from weather.

Andrew Caxton contributes adding long articles on railing styles for http://www.deck-porch-railings.com . A website with tips on railing designs.

Indoor Ponds Keep Plants and Fish Healthy During Winter Months

2009-08-31T22:29:00.001-07:00

If youve never seen an indoor fish pond or are of the mind that the only place for a fishpond is outdoors, its time to readjust your thinking. Many people love the idea of having a goldfish or Koi pond in their lawn and garden area but find the reality isnt always as wonderful as the fantasy.

Every winter runs the risk of losing the plant and fish life in your pond with the first freeze. As a result, more and more people are coming up with a method for bringing the outdoors, in and forming your very own pond indoors is a beautiful alternative to a tired old aquarium. While an indoor pond doesnt have to be beautiful in order to be functional, you can choose to make it a focal point and conversation piece quite easily.

A fairly simple and inexpensive way to craft an indoor pond this winter season is by using interlocking landscaping blocks to form a basic outline, and place a pre molded plastic pond liner (to avoid leaks), and other landscaping items such as rocks, plants, and soil in order to fill in the gaps. Others have even used a plastic kiddie pool for the fish and disguised the pool by hiding it with bricks or landscaping rocks.

The main purpose of indoor ponds is to protect your fish and plant life from the extreme winter weather conditions. It is quite easy to move the fish and plants from one pond to another. Be sure to keep the indoor pond regulated for temperature and water freshness by using proper equipment. Taking these precautions should keep your Koi fish and your plants healthy throughout the harsher winter months.

Rob Buenaventura invites you to ArtificialGardens. Here we provide tips and benefits on Koi Ponds. For additional information on Koi Fish Supplies check out ArtificialGardens for your water gardening needs at http://www.artificialgardens.com

Small Shrubs and Bushes - Their Importance in a Garden Design

2009-08-31T18:33:00.001-07:00

The design question that will almost inevitably arise in most garden situations is that which relates to the space between the hedge or shrubs and trees that border a garden, and the ground plain which takes up the majority of the area. This ground plain usually comprises of a lawn, but an alternative material like a wooden deck is often the desired option particularly in dry climates. Whether a lawn, deck or some other material is chosen, the same question remains - what is to be done in the foreground between it and the hedge or shrubbery? This is where low or dwarf shrubs and bushes come in.

Low shrubs can be classified as woody plants that cover the ground up to a height of about 50cm or so. Their primary function visually, is to fill up the space at this low but not necessarily prostrate height. In this way they cover and hopefully beautify the space between the ground and the point where the larger shrubs or hedging plants start to grow. They should be considered before other design options such as herbaceous and flowering perennials for a number of reasons.

Dwarf bushes provide a low maintenance solution. While herbaceous plants, whether annual or perennial, require constant attention, such as very frequent clipping and pruning, small shrubs generally need only be pruned once or twice a year if at all.

In this way, they serve as a stable element in the garden. Flower beds by their very nature are constantly changing, with plants being cut down, divided and re-planted, or replaced altogether. There is a place for this of course in the garden, and indeed large areas taken up by low maintenance dwarf bushes actually free up valuable time for the proper attention that herbaceous beds require.

Many dwarf shrubs are modest in their water requirements and some can even be defined as water conserving plants. This means that in a typically Mediterranean climate, with an annual rain fall of say 450mm, they can be grown by consuming about 200-300mm of irrigation water per year, i.e. 200-300 liters per square meter. By way of comparison, a perennial bed will need at least 500mm per year, while annuals often gulp up over 1,000 mm, or 1 cubic meter per square meter per year.

By reducing the amount of flowers and concentrating them in smaller, well defined groups in the garden, the opportunity arises of designing flower beds that function as focal points and not just as smatterings of colour in the garden. The creation of focal points should be one of the compositional aims of the design.

So if you're being overwhelmed by the amount of work needed to maintain your flower beds, or herbaceous borders, then you may wish to consider redesigning some of them by replacing the herbaceous material with low, shrubs and bushes. Here are some examples that I recommend from over 20 years experience gardening in Israel.

Pittosporum tobira "Wheelers Dwarf"

Coprosma repens - There are a number of different varieties including dark-leaved plants and those with variegated foliage.

Melaleuca sp."Green Dome"

Ficus sp."Green Island"

Asparagus densiflorus "Sprengeri" group

Juniperus sp. - Low growing varieties

In addition, a number of shrubs which grow vertically, such as Nandina domestica, or Junipers like the upright variety "Kaizuka", can be judiciously placed for accent and emphasis.

About the author - Jonathan Ya'akobi

I've been gardening in a professional capacity since 1984. I am the former head gardener of the Jerusalem Botanical Garden, but now concentrate on building gardens for private home owners. I also teach horticulture to students on training courses. I'd love to share my knowledge and experience with you.

So you're welcome to visit me on http://www.dryclimategardening.com

Evaporative Water Cooler - This Water Cooled Condensing Unit Is No Swamp Cooler

2009-08-31T14:36:00.001-07:00

This unique cooling technology from Freus, shouldnt be confused with a swamp cooler. Although water is used to assist with the cooling, it is sprayed over condensing coils rather than pads.

The water cooled condensing unit is a residential application of the 250 ton split system chillers already used by commercial buildings. Think of this technology as a mini-chiller for residential use.

Evaporative water cooler units for split system air conditioners have a number of advantages over air-cooled units. Water removes heat from the condenser coils far more efficiently than air. This reduces the temperature of the compressed R-22 refrigerant, which in turn reduces the work load of the scroll compressor. Not only will the compressor last much longer, there is only a minimal loss of cooling efficiency when the outdoor temperature exceeds 100 degrees.

Typical air cooled units can lose as much as 25% of their efficiency at the same temperature.

How much can you save with a water cooled condensing unit?

Charles Mullin, a casino worker who lives in North Las Vegas is also single. So every utility bill comes from his lone paycheck. That's why he switched the air conditioning system on his 1,500-square-foot home to a water cooled condensing unit.

"Before I installed it, I had my thermostat set at 75 to 78 degrees to try to keep my electric bills down," he said. "I tested the new system at 65 degrees - felt like a meat locker. My bill went down to $86. That's about a 45-percent savings and the house was set cooler."

Mullin told all his friends about the units and the savings he's seen. He figured the Freus system will pay for itself in about two years.

Richard Waite, president of Hal Mechanical, installer of Mr. Mullins water cooled AC, said they are specifically made for the desert climate.

The only extra that's needed to swap out an old air conditioning unit for a new water-cooled one is to run a water line to it. The unit has an automated system, similar to a toilet tank, keeping the water at the correct capacity. The system also flushes itself to avoid calcium buildup.

Due to the almost constant capacity, the condenser size does not need to vary due to climate zones, like air-cooled units. The Freus is installed in much the same manner as an air-cooled condenser and has the unique ability to service multiple air handlers. This provides the space saving convenience of housing two or three compressors (up to 10 total tons) in a single cabinet.

Jim Kilby of Green Valley, a casino management professor, replaced his 10-year-old air conditioning units, one 5-ton and one 3-ton, with two water-cooled ones of roughly the same capacity. He figures his electric bills dropped by a third.

"The hotels have been using this technology for years," Kilby said. "When you think about it, water does a better job of cooling the air than air. It just makes sense."

Whether you call them evaporative water coolers or water cooled condensing units, this mini version of the 250 ton chiller is sure to revolutionize desert cooling.

Alternative-Heating-Info.com offers a unique look into geothermal heating and cooling, radiant heating, solar heating systems and pellet burning stoves.

How To Brighten Up Your Home With These Flower Arrangement Ideas

2009-08-31T10:32:00.001-07:00

A beautiful flower arrangement piece can become the focal point of the room you choose to decorate. It's truly fascinating how we can combine different flowers to create a mesmerizing bouquet. With the vast selection of colors, fragrances and shapes, you can create or readily buy a flower arrangement piece that will speak to you and others walking in the room what you want to communicate.

First thing to do is decide where you will be placing your flower arrangement. Will it be placed on the floor in your hall, on top of a piece of furniture?

What about the space where your arrangement will sit? Will you need a finished piece that is tall, round, wide or full? What is the decor of the room you've selected that will contrast powerfully with your flowers?

Don't limit your creativity!

There are several design styles you can choose from and we have included a variety of design here for you to get those creative juices flowing.

Use these as a guide to creating your own flower arrangement style. Pictures of the flower arrangements below can be found at our site.

Bud Vases

A bud vase with a single stem or several stems of your favorite flower(s) is a simple but elegant flower arrangement piece. Cut your flower stems to about twice the height of your vase. To enhance your flowers beauty, also include some linear foliage.

One tip I will give you with bud vases is to be imaginative. If you don't have a bud vase, recycle any beautiful glass containers you have lying around the house such as perfume bottles or any other.

Basket Arrangement

A basket flower arrangement brightens up your favorite room very well. They make perfect gifts for a housewarming occasion, birthday, or to send and cheer a loved one who is sick.

Baskets come in all sizes and shapes and if you are designing your own basket arrangement, you can find the one that will be perfect for you. There is so much you can do with flower baskets - let your creativity run wild!

Garden Arrangements

Don't these flower arrangements look like you've picked them from your garden?

After years of living in the city in an apartment block, I have now the great fortune of living in the suburbs and I've taken great pains to create a heavenly garden filled with white and red roses, carnations and lilies. With greenery surrounding their flower beds, my little garden looks like a little paradise.

Centerpieces And Table Arrangements

The trick for a successful centerpiece or table arrangement is not to make them too tall as to obstruct views across your dining table.

Choose or create the piece to generate the mood you want to achieve. Flowers at your table will enhance the dinning experience.

About The Author

Looking for a gift? Let Gina and Nick show you what we buy for friends/family and each other. At our site you will find popular gifts, gift information and stories from our readers. Come have a look http://www.we-recommend.com

Why Use Or Make Compost Tea

2009-08-31T06:30:00.001-07:00

We all know that compost is a wonderful material especially those that practice organic gardening. What could be better than compost? Well how about compost tea. When you begin with good quality compost you will end up with a complete solution of nutrients and bacteria for all your gardening feeds.

Compost tea helps:

keep diseases off the plant with the many bacteria that it has.

Provide an abundance of food needed for good growth.

Destroy any toxins that hurt the plant.

Improve the flavor and taste of vegetables.

Produce more vibrant flowers.

So why not give this tea a try either by buying it or brewing it yourself. You can now in many good nurseries buy this tea or start brewing the tea yourself.

The results will amaze you, so get started!

The good bacteria that is available in the tea will compete for the plants food. Hunt out the bad critters and eat them up. Helps make the antibiotics to prevent those bad critters. And scare the bad varmints so they don't attack your plants.

Compost tea that is made in an accurate manner has a abundance of microorganisms which will help your plants growth and overall health as well as the soil that the microorganisms live in. It can be regarded as the yogurt for the soil. The organisms living in the soil are both bad and good. What the tea does is make sure the good guys win By bringing in useful protozoa, bacteria, beneficial nematodes and fungi the tea shows it is the hero needed to save the soil.

When you have good air circulation the bad bacteria cannot live in the soil. But good bacteria will thrive in soil that is well vented with air. Produced the right way this is when compost tea races in. If you have well aerated compost solution you have gotten relieve from of three-quarters of the harmful varmints.

When you use toxic insecticides or chemical fertilizers we quash the amount of beneficial microorganisms in the soil.

Mainly plants make their own vigorous activity and food and one-half of that is delivered to the roots and much of that breaks down into the bordering soil and have you ever wondered who receives that? Right, the goody-goody guys, and then it changes into a beneficial repetition.

Compost tea is made by many different recipes using compost as a beginning substance and making a liquid solution obtained by steeping or soaking a substance. Today, there are many different ways to make a homemade brewery or you can buy in nurseries or online to make your tea. With the advancing technology changing everyday there are bigger and better efforts to better costs and efficiency.

In addition, there are likely as many formulas for compost tea as there are for recipes for chili in Tennessee, with better plans on improvements and a concentration on its utilization for more specialized applications. For example, if you are making compost tea to fight plant pathogens, the inclination is to have as much microbial variety as feasible. While you are brewing the tea many gardeners are adding supplements to the mix like additional bacteria and fungi.

Expecting the best about compost tea is high, but realizing its limitations and having down-to-earth expectations are essential. One comes to mind is when to use this concoction and that is almost immediately after brewing. Since you are presenting live organisms you want them to be alive when application is done.

An excellent reason for making compost tea is to transport microbial mass of living matter, fine organic matter, and soluble chemical elements of compost into an aqueous stage that can be put on soils and plant surfaces in ways not accomplishable or economically possible with regular compost.

Jim's articles are from extensive research on each of his topics and life-long experience. You can learn more by visiting: organic fertilizers and compost tea.

Increase Your Success When Transplanting Seedlings

2009-08-31T02:32:00.001-07:00

Transplanting seedlings is one of my favourite tasks in the garden. There are a few simple things to consider to give your young plants the best chance to flourish - you want them to thrive, rather than just survive.

Timing

Think about the time of year. Just because certain seedlings are available at your nursery, don't assume it's the right time to plant them out. If you're not sure, read the label - most tell you the best time of year to plant. You could look in gardening books, research online or ask family or friends who are gardeners (they might even give you some seedlings if they've bought too many).

You can plant tender plants before the risk of late frosts has passed, provided you listen closely to weather forecasts and are prepared to cover your 'babies' with protection or enclose them in a cloche.

Hardening Off

If you've grown your seedlings from seed you probably know to harden them off before planting. But if you're buying them from a nursery take a look at where they've been living. Have they been in a glass-house, under shade or exposed to the weather? If you seedlings have been grown outside exposed to the weather, they won't need hardening off. But if they've been pampered, they'll need a bit of toughening up to prepare them for the real world.

To harden off your seedlings you need to leave them outdoors for a longer time each day. Protect them under a porch or behind shade-cloth, bringing them indoors at night for the first few days. After a couple of days, you can expose them to the morning sun. At the end of a week, they'll be tough enough to transplant to their permanent plot.

Planting Out

The garden bed they are being planted in should already have been prepared with layers of organic matter, compost and mulch. Water seedlings 10-15 minutes before planting out.

Before removing seedlings from their containers, arrange them where they will be planted. When you're happy with the arrangement, use a trowel to dig a hole about twice the size of the rootball. Doing this prep work reduces the length of time that the roots will be exposed (drying out).

Fill each hole with water. This supplies moisture to the plant's root zone rather than the surface where it may quickly evaporate. Gently ease the first plant from its container, working from the bottom and sides to loosen it. Don't try and pull it from the container by its stem - you may damage it. Only handle these young plants by their individual leaves or by the root ball. Keeping the rootball intact will help prevent transplant stress, but gently tease the roots to loosen them.

Place the plant into the ground at about the same level that it was growing in its container. Backfill the hole until it is almost level with the soil. I like to add some organic fertilizer at this stage, to give my 'babies' a head start. Just use a small amount - you can add more later. Finish backfilling, pressing the soil lightly around the roots to ensure good soil-to-root contact.

Water them in well, avoiding overhead watering, immediately after transplanting. Water daily for about a week until seedlings are well established. Bring mulch around the plant, leaving about a 10cm (4inch) diameter clear around each plant.

Other things to consider

Avoid transplanting vegetable seedlings when the weather is expected to be excessively hot. If you can, choose a day that is cloudy or transplant late in the afternoon or evening so that your plants can recover through the cool of the night, without sunlight beating down on them. If you can't do this it's a good idea to provide some temporary shade, particularly in hot weather.

An initial watering with an organic seaweed fertilizer will provide a wide range of nutrients and help reduce stress on your young seedlings.

Get all your equipment ready before you start - hand trowel, gardening gloves, kneeling pad, your water bottle and hat.

Tomatoes are an exception to the rule as far as planting depth goes. You can plant them right down to the first set of true leaves. They will grow new roots right up to the soil level, making them more sturdy.

Seedlings from the Cucumber family (cucumbers, squash, pumpkins, melons) do better planted in hills. This allows for better drainage and warms their soil to give them a better start.

Hi, I am an avid organic gardener and am known by my friends as the recycling queen. I live on a small country property in South Australia.
It is my mission to encourage as many people as possible to start organic gardening ( I know you'll become addicted). This will improve both our individual lives and the wellbeing of our personal and global environments.
Anyone can grow their own healthy food with Organic Gardening. Click here to get started now!

Happy Organic Gardening, Healthy Living...
Julie Williams
http://www.1stoporganicgardening.com

Duranta - A Must Landscape Bush For A Mild Winter Garden

2009-08-30T22:32:00.001-07:00

Duranta erecta is a fast growing shrub that reaches about 4-5 meters (20-25ft). With consistent pruning, it can be kept to lesser dimensions and so is suitable for small as well as larger gardens. Although originating from sub-tropical North America and Mexico, it is also suitable for those Mediterranean climates that do not experience winter frosts. It is known by a variety of common names such as Sky Flower, Golden Dew Drop, and Pigeon Berry.

There are a number of varieties belonging to the species, possessing a plethora of names, which seem to differ from place to place. They are all similar to each other however, and this makes it possible to grow different plants together, thereby creating a subtle variation on a theme.

In a number of small but significant ways, Duranta erecta has landscaping features that are almost unique to the species. From my experience, the shades of green are unmatched in the gardening world. The most common types possessing foliage of a very special medium hue, while some have lovely gold colored leaves.

They all have gorgeous, violet-blue flowers that though individually small, grow in a mass, creating a powerful effect. There is often though, considerable variation in this regard within the species. The blooms also appear at the same time as the tiny, orange berries, which hang down in panicles. The violet and orange together, makes for an unusual but attractive combination. There seems to be some confusion as to whether the berries are poisonous or not.

The medium leaf texture means that Duranta erecta associates well with trees and shrubs that have similar foliage. It therefore goes well with the usual Mediterranean type plants like Pistachio, Olive, Pomegranate, and Sumac, but less successfully in my opinion with the course leaves and large flowers common to plants like Hibiscus. A quite stunning effect can be created by combining the golden-leaved Durantas with grey-leaved shrubs like Leocophyllum, or with deep, purple-leaved bushes such as Cotinus.

In most garden situations, Duranta needs regular pruning and trimming to maintain bushy, compact growth. Care must be taken however, not to remove all the flower buds at the same time. With a little bit of sensitivity and common sense, this is not too hard to achieve, as the plant flowers so profusely through the summer. Alternatively, it can be limbed up as a small tree. To grow it on a single trunk is rather difficult, as the plant grows so rapidly, but it can easily be turned into a multiple-stemmed tree.

My name is Jonathan Ya'akobi.
I've been gardening in a professional capacity since 1984.
I am the former head gardener of the Jerusalem Botanical Garden, but now concentrate on building gardens for private home owners.
I also teach horticulture to students on training courses.
I'd love to help you get the very best from your garden, so you're welcome to visit me on http://www.dryclimategardening.com or contact me at jonathan@dryclimategardening.com

Professional Heating and Air Maintenance

2009-08-30T18:34:00.001-07:00

Your homes central heating and air conditioning unit, or HVAC, is a key element in your home's energy consumption and comfort level. For these reasons, it is important to have your home's system routinely serviced by a professional technician. It is recommended that your it should be serviced by a qualified technician once every one or two years, depending upon your region's climate and your home's size, age, etc.

It is important to choose a qualified, dependable heating and air specialist to perform any required maintenance of your HVAC system. Having an experienced service technician evaluate its performance is the only way to ensure that your central heating and air conditioning is running efficiently and safely. Keeping your home's system properly maintained will extend your equipment's life and improve the capacity the system can handle. Here are a few things to be sure that your hired service technician should perform.

Any qualified service technician should thoroughly inspect your complete HVAC system. A comprehensive inspection should be made of all elements including cooling coils, primary and secondary drains, blower components, condenser coils, electrical connections, heat exchanger and burners, all safety controls, heat anticipator settings, as well as your system's thermostat and all its included components. After inspection of all these elements, the technician should replace, repair, tighten, adjust, and/or clean any of these components as needed.

A standard scheduled professional maintenance should also include the cleaning or replacement of any air filters found in your home. The technician should lubricate all moving parts incorporated in your home's HVAC system, as well. Freon should also be added by the technician when deemed necessary. If needed, your unit's airflow should be adjusted to ensure efficient temperature rise or decrease. All debris should also be removed from your outdoor condenser unit.

While the heating and air service professional is at your home, he or she should monitor the amperage and voltage draw on all motors, air conditioning and heating cycles, flue draft, and air conditioning operating pressures to ensure proper refrigerant charge.

It is important to have a professional service technician perform scheduled maintenance on your home's system. Qualified A/C techs require the necessary tools, skills, and experience to keep your home's A/C running efficiently, avoiding costly repairs in the future.

Mr. Oliver is a marketing agent of James River Heating and Air Conditioning Company. The heating and air conditioning contractor provides comfort service in the areas of heating and air conditioning throughout Richmond Virginia and surrounding areas. For information on their Heating and Air Conditioning please visit their website.

5 Factors to Consider When Choosing Doors, Windows and Skylights For Your Home

2009-08-30T14:33:00.001-07:00

When looking at one of these windows, doors and skylights, whether you are replacing old ones in your current home or buying ones for your new home, there are some factors you will want to take into consideration. These are called fenestration factors.

According to Wikipedia, fenestration is defined as, "Products that fill openings in a building envelope, such as windows, doors, skylights, curtain walls, etc., which are designed to permit the passage of air, light, vehicles, or people."

The National Fenestration Rating Council (NRFC) has developed a rating system for you to compare the performance of different fenestration products. NFRC is a third party, non-profit organization that sponsors certified rating and labeling programs to help consumers compare the energy and performance features of windows, doors, and skylights. NFRC's programs set minimum performance standards, or mandate performance levels. This is where ENERGY STAR comes in. ENERGY STAR enables consumers to easily identify NFRC-certified products with superior energy performance.

There are five (5) characteristics to consider when looking at a fenestration product.

1. U-Factor - This measures how well the product prevents heat from escaping your building envelope. The rate of heat loss generally falls between 0.20 and 1.25. The lower the U-Value, the greater the product's resistance to heat flow, and the better its insulating value. The U-Factor is particularly important during the winter heating season.

2. Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) - The SHGC measures how well the heat caused by sunlight is blocked. It is expressed as a number between 0 and 1. The lower the number, the less solar heat is transmitted into your home. Atypical range is 0.25 to 0.80. Blocking solar heat gain is particularly important during the summer cooling season.

3. Visible Transmittance (VT) - This is expressed in a number between 0 and1, and is a measure of how much light comes through your fenestration product. The higher the VT, the higher the potential there is for daylighting. Generally, products range from 0.20 to 0.80.

Daylighting is the practice of placing windows or other transparent media and reflective surfaces so that, during the day, natural light provides effective internal illumination. Energy savings from daylighting are achieved in two ways-either from the reduced use of electric lighting or from passive solar heating or cooling.

4. Air Leakage (AL) - Any air which filters through cracks in the product's assembly results in heat loss and gain. AL is measured in cubic feet of air passing through one square foot of window area per minute (cfm/ft2.). The lower the AL value, the less air is leaked. Most industry standards and building codes require a minimum AL of 0.3 cfm/ft2. The AL rating is optional and manufacturers can choose not to include it in their labels.

5. Condensation Resistance (CR) - This measures the ability of the product to resist the formation of condensation on its interior surface. The higher the CR rating, the better the product is at resisting the formation of condensation. The CR rating is optional and manufacturers can choose not to include it in their labels. The CR does not predict condensation but rather measures the potential for its formation.

When looking for windows, doors or skylights take these characteristics into consideration. The better NFRC ratings will result in increased energy savings and great comfort for you and your family.

Chuck Warrender, an experienced custom builder, opened UBuildIt in 1988 to show people how to become Owner-builders and save money or gain equity on their own custom home building and remodel projects. Chuck designed the UBuildIt System for Owner-builders who want to build more home for their money by directing their own construction projects. UBuildIt's Construction Consultants guide Owner-builders every step of the way and provide a proven system, professional advice and trusted resources. UBuildIt now has over 100 franchises across the US. Learn more about Chuck and how to build or remodel your own custom home at UBuildIt.com

The Best Sago Palm Care

2009-08-30T10:35:00.001-07:00

If you are looking for a tree to brighten up either the home or garden then a planting shade tree may be just what you need. They have the ability to make the space around them look tranquil and homely and they also make everything seem a little more attractive within the garden. However, you do need to ensure that you choose the right tree for you and your needs.

Choosing the Right Shade Tree for Your Needs

There are so many different types of trees which you can plant in order to give you shade from the sun. However, care does need to be taken otherwise you could end up with a tree which is completely unsuitable.

Things you need to take into consideration include:

How tall the tree will grow

How much care the tree will need

How much light the tree needs

All of the above will make a difference to which tree you actually select. Obviously some grow bigger than others and if you are looking for a tree for your small garden, a huge oak tree may not be what you need!

So you need to take into consideration the needs of each tree you are considering. Are you looking at planting a specific shape of tree? It may sound strange but trees do grow in different shapes but most people do not really take much notice of that. It is also important to not plant the tree too close to the house. It is a well known fact that trees can drain the moisture out of houses and that can cause the walls to crack and become damaged over time. So, space the tree a good distance away and that way your home will stay safe.

You will need to consider just how hardy the tree you are planting is. If you purchase a sago palm plant for example, it will need specialist care and attention and it may not be suitable for all weathers. In order to find out you need to do your research and the same goes with all different types of trees. You cannot expect the tree to grow and protect you from the sun if you do not even bother to take the time to research its needs and look after it properly.

Overall some trees are better for shading you from the sun than others and some good ones include maple, oak, honey locust and ash trees. You just have to make sure that you do the right amount of research and know what the tree needs in order to help it survive.

Andrew Caxton is the editor and journalist of many information websites like http://www.home-decorating-reviews.com , who has written more articles and newsletters on palm trees . A website with tips on sago palm care.

The Soil Benefits

2009-08-30T06:33:00.001-07:00

The most important element in determining a garden's success is according to experts its soil. Paying attention to soil quality dramatically improves the odds of producing healthy, verdant plants.

As gardeners have categorized the three basic types of soil, these included clay-based, sand-based and loam-based. Loam-based soils are considered the ideal since they provide a consistency that allows most plants to thrive. Loam consists of 20 percent clay, 40 percent sand and 40 percent silt. But if the soil of your own garden contains too much sand or clay, there is no reason air: adding amendments will allow you to tailor the soil to successfully meet the needs of your plants.

Soil classification is a contentious subject, from the structure of the classification system itself, to the definitions of classes and types, and finally in the application in the field. Every classification system starts with its own individual definition of soil. The essential problem is that soils do not reproduce or have DNA like living organisms, so no "objective" criteria can be used to choose among classifications. The most qualified specialists in the world can and do spend hours arguing about a soil's classification. Thus, instead of fighting it is better to assess its quality.

First, begin by assessing the existing soil quality. The soil that contains too much clay will have a wet, sticky consistency with large clumps. The problem with clay-based soils is their prevention of sufficient air flow, but their high nutrient levels make them an important part of a good soil mix. Sand-based soils, on the other hand, will exhibit a light, granular texture as shown in. The drawback with sandy soil is that while it allows ample drainage and air flow, it's low on nutrients. Loam, which is the best type of soil, will exhibit a rich dark color and have a light texture with just a hint of stickiness that allows it to hold nutrients. Even in gardens with loam-based soils, however, mixing in a bit of clay-based and sand-based soil will help ensure a nutrient-rich, evenly aerated consistency.

Once you've established a great base soil in your garden, the next step is to add organic material to increase existing nutrient levels. Whatever amendment you select to nourish your garden-compost, grass clippings, ground-up leaves, etc.-be sure to consistently monitor the soil quality and add new amendments as needed.

Soils are also affected by human habitation. People can alter soils to make them more suitable for plant growth through the addition of organic materials and natural or synthetic fertilizer, and by improving their drainage or water-retaining capacity. Human actions also can degrade soils through the depletion of nutrients, pollution, soil contamination, and soil compaction, and by increasing the rate of erosion, which is the relocation of soil through the movement of water or wind.

Thus, keep in mind that whatever you do might have an impact to the overall appearance of your garden. Planting in containers is different than planting in the garden and therefore demands a different type of soil. Since water tables and other conditions in containers are unlike those in the ground, the best option for container plants is a high-quality potting mix (generally not the least expensive). Using this medium for your potted plants will ensure that they thrive at the same level as your garden plants.

Kadence Buchanan writes articles on many topics including Gardening, Society, and Employment

What is Compost Tea?

2009-08-30T02:31:00.001-07:00

Organic gardeners all know compost is fantastic stuff. But now, there's something even better and that's compost tea. If you start with a good compost you'll have a versatile elixir for all your garden needs.
Compost tea helps prevent foliage diseases and at the same time increase the nutrients to the plant and shutdown the toxins hurting the plants. It will improve the taste/flavor of your vegetables. So why not give this tea a try either by buying it or brewing it yourself. You won't believe the results!

Four ways that good bacteria work:

Help compete for the nutrients

Dine on the bad varmits

Help produce antibiotics to use against the varmits.

They shove the bad varmits out.

Compost tea that is correctly brewed has a wealth of microorganisms that will benefit your plants' growth and health as well as the soil that they live in. Compost tea can be considered yogurt for the soil. The microorganisms living there are both good and bad. What the tea does is make sure the good guys win by introducing helpful bacteria, fungi, protozoa and beneficial nematodes.

Harmful bacteria lives best in soil that does not have good air circulation. Good bacteria lives best and will thrive in soil that is well ventilated with oxygen. This is where a good compost tea, made the right way, comes in. When you have well oxygenated compost you automatically get rid of 3/4 of the bad varmits. Also by using harmful insecticides or chemical fertilizers we reduce the number of beneficial microorganisms in the soil.

Plants produce their own energy and food and half of that goes to the roots and some of that goes into the surrounding soil and guess who gets that? Correct, the good guys, and then it turns into a beneficial cycle.

The following is taken from the internet and shows compost tea is becoming a force in gardening.

National Organic Standards Board Compost Tea Task Force Report April 6, 2004 Introduction In 2003, the National Organic Standards Board convened a Compost Tea Task Force to review the relevant scientific data and report their recommendations on What constitutes a reasonable use of compost tea? The Task Force was composed of 13 individuals with knowledge and expertise in organic farming practices, organic certification, EPA pathogen regulations, compost, compost tea production and analysis, plant pathology, food safety and environmental microbiology.

Throughout their discussions, members consistently acknowledged the growing interest among certified organic and conventional growers to use compost teas, and the need to develop effective biologically-based tools to manage plant fertility, pests, and diseases.

A primary reason for producing compost tea is to transfer microbial biomass, fine particulate organic matter, and soluble chemical components of compost into an aqueous phase that can be applied to plant surfaces and soils in ways not possible or economically feasible with solid compost.

This article is provided courtesy of http://www.basic-info-4-organic-fertilizers.com You may freely reprint this article on your website or in your newsletter provided this courtesy notice and the author name and URL remain intact.

Gardening Your Flowers to Grow

2009-08-29T22:33:00.001-07:00

Many people like flowers in their garden. The whole point of having a garden for some people is to be able to have flowers which they can enjoy and smell and pick and give away to friends on birthdays or funerals. And there are many types of flowers which are indigenous to the lands in America or near your home so that you should be able to grow these flowers without too much incident at all. But before you begin the struggle to get your flowers up and running, you should first find out about the different types of flowers which are able to be grown in your area versus the kind of flowers that you want to grow and the climate an area in which they are able to grow.

Flowers In A Nursery What An Idea

Many people are such fans of flowers that they will do tree trimming to allow in more sunlight or even build entire nurseries in their backyard where they can grow the flowers they want to grow. Even if they are in harsher northern climates or tropical southern climates which are not conducive to the growth of these flowers, a nursery is a controlled environment in which they will be able to do the things they want to do.

Many people don't even think of this when they are thinking of their own lives and their own flowers. However a nursery is not going to cost too much money and if you have a big enough backyard and if you have paid off the mortgage on your home then being able to achieve this level of success is a thing which should come easily enough. If you feel that you would like to find out more about having a nurturing your backyard then you should speak to somebody who installs them. While it may be an added expense you don't want to take on at this time it is always something to look forwards to in the future.

Low Priced Is Twice As Nice

If you want to just buy some nice flowers or garden some nice flowers on your own terms and in your own yard without the necessity of a nursery then that is something else you can do pretty easily as well. Need to have flowers which are indigenous to the year area and you need to be able to afford them. Getting since she flowers is an easy enough task and getting flowers that are priced low and smell nice is twice as nice.

The collaborator Eric Slarkowski is really passionate about issues similar to chain saws. His publications on tree trimming chain saws are found on http://www.insidewoodworking.com and also different web pages.

Solar Heating - A Solution For Winter Swimming Pools

2009-08-29T18:32:00.001-07:00

When the summer months pass and the temperature starts to drop you may discover that a dip in the pool leaves your teeth chattering and your body shivering for hours afterwards. If you're like most people, this would not be a very pleasant experience for you. In many areas of the country this has always been a problem for swimming pool owners who find themselves unable to swim in during the winter.

How can this be avoided?

There have been many heating solutions developed for swimming pools over the years. Currently the most popular are heat and gas pumps. While cheaper to set up, gas pumps are more expensive in the long run given the rising price of gas in recent years. Heat pumps are a bit more expensive to set up initially, but will prove to have lower maintenance costs. Both types of pumps, however, suffer from serious flaws. Neither gasoline nor electricity mix very well with water. A gas leak will contaminate the water, and I don't think I need to explain what would happen if you happened to be swimming while an electrical malfunction occurred.

To overcome these dangerous challenges, you may want to consider solar heating for your swimming pool. It is possible to install solar panels which will collect energy from the sun and use that energy when needed to provide heat to the water, keeping it warm even during the cold winter months.

Over the long term, a solar heating solution is even more cost-effective than either the gas or heat pump system. Without the need for supplies of gasoline or electricity, the maintenance costs of solar heating panels are very low, yet will still provide year-round warmth for your swimming pool.

The heat collected by the specially designed solar panels is transmitted through copper wires into strategically located pipes, where it is then released into the pool water. This type of heating system is safe, since there is no danger of electrocution or contamination of the water.

A solar panel setup allows for regulation of heat through valves that are able to control the amount of heat released through the pipes. This ensures that the water will never be too hot for you, nor will it be too cold, even during the coldest winter days.

If you enjoyed this article and would like to learn more about solar heated swimming pools, then please visit our swimming pool website for more information.

Lavender - The Scent of Relaxation in Your Herb Garden

2009-08-29T14:33:00.001-07:00

Amongst the many types of lavender, three main varieties stand out, English, French and Italian lavender. Some have been hybridised and these are easily grown hardy, though you can't grow the seeds, as they will revert back to the original plant. The hybridised plants have larger flowers; so if looks are what you are after, go for it.

If you intend to harvest for the oil, or to make lavender pillows, the English lavender has the strongest scent. It is the most popular lavender, with its compact bushy growth reaching about 3 feet high. It has silvery pointed leaves and tiny mauve flowers grow at the end of long stems. Different colored flowers, from white through to pinks, blues and mauves, are available and the highest concentration of oil is in the flowers.

French lavender is considered the most hardy of all, reaching a height of about five feet. If the spent blooms a snipped off regularly it will bloom for nearly nine months of the year, giving good value for money and time. The blooms cut off can be dried and used for pot-pourri or sleep pillows. So can the leaves. Given a sunny spot, it will reward you with a greater depth of colour in the blooms.

Italian lavender is the baby of the three, growing to only about two feet high. It is a bit scarcer, but well worth cultivating if you can find it. Its leaves are tiny, smooth and pointed and although similar in many respects to the other lavenders, it is still different enough to form a good contrast. It flowers from mid-winter to early summer and will make a most attractive small hedge or groundcover, the deep mauve flowers covering the bush profusely. It is not as highly perfumed as the other two lavenders.

The best time to pick lavender flowers for drying is just before the last flowers have opened. Do it on a dry day while it is still cool to retain the oil essence. Hang in a shady, airy place to dry out and then strip the flowers from the stems and store in airtight containers. Lavender is most effective visually if grown as a hedge or with several bushes grouped together. They all like a sunny well-drained position.

Lavender is used as a remedy for giddiness and faintness. It calms and relaxes and cosmetically is good for oily skin.

Hans is an avid gardener and writes for http://www.gardening-guides.com visit us for more articles on herb gardening

Indoor & Outdoor Fountains - Add A Peaceful Touch To Your Home Or Garden

2009-08-29T10:36:00.001-07:00

The beautiful sight of a cascading water fountain combined with the gentle trickling sound of the flowing water is wonderfully soothing. We all tend to lead busy lives these days, and when our nerves are fraught, being able to retreat to a peaceful spot and relax for a few moments is important. This is where fountains come in handy. They come in a huge variety of styles, from decorative tabletop fountains to ornamental garden fountains. So, whether you like to escape to the backyard or unwind inside in your favorite armchair, a fountain can easily be located nearby to help ease your stress.

Indoor fountains enable you to bring the naturally peaceful sound of trickling water inside, so you can close your eyes and easily imagine you're by a babbling brook or waterfall. A desktop fountain placed on a computer desk or shelf helps promote a good working environment. The moving water helps to purify the air and acts as a natural humidifier. As well as small tabletop interior fountains, floor and wall fountains are available for larger spaces such as an entranceway or reception area. These are great for creating a welcoming atmosphere.

Garden fountains can be used in any garden design, from large lawned gardens to small courtyard areas. Pond fountains are excellent for creating an attractive display and for keeping the water circulating. Bird bath fountains are ideal for attracting beneficial wildlife to a flower garden. Outdoor fountains are powered either by an electrical pump or by the sun's rays. Solar fountains have the advantage of no running costs and can be moved easily to any position you like, provided the solar panel is kept in sunlight.

Whether you want to drown out the noise of the city and transform a small patio into a haven of tranquility, or want to create a relaxing ambiance in your home, a water fountain could be the perfect accessory.

Caroline Smith is a contributor to FindFountains.com - an online resource offering a huge selection of outdoor and indoor fountains, including indoor wall fountains, garden pond fountains and more.

Wood Stoves Cast Iron Verses Steel

2009-08-29T06:38:00.001-07:00

Wood burning stoves the comparison between steel and cast iron. Steel stoves heat up quick and start giving off heat right away. When the fire in the steel stove cools down so does the stove. A cast iron wood stove can take a couple hours to heat up, but when the fire dies down the cast iron will radiate out heat for hours. When comparable sized stoves are heated and operating both generate comparable heat into your home. What we will look at is the time it takes a wood stove to heat up and the time it takes to cool down.

If you plan to purchase a wood stove and burn it 24-7 late fall till early spring either stove will heat the same. Where the heat up and cool down times play into the comparison is the home owner who burns a wood stove just a few times a week and wants to heat up a cold home quickly. Many people have cabins or cottages that the sole source of heat is a wood stove. When entering a cold cabin in the dead of winter you want heat right away verses waiting for it to heat up.

Cast iron stoves have more features like upper air controls that allow you to add more or less air into the catalytic chamber for more combustion. Lower air controls are for the fire box. Most steel stoves only have lower air controls for the fire box.

Most cast iron stoves have ash drawers. The bottom of the fire box is either a cast grate with slots for the ash to fall into the clean-out drawer or some have shaker grates. Shaker grates are controlled from the side of the stove with a special wrench type tool. Steel stoves are lined with firebrick. Most steel stoves do not have ash drawers. Ashes are removed with a shovel. As stated above steel stoves are lined with firebrick this is to help the stove hold heat. Firebrick is easily broken when logs are tossed in and from normal wear of heating and cooling. Firebricks can be replaced.

While steel stoves are welded together, cast iron stoves are held together with furnace cement. Heating the stove under normal circumstances the expanding and contracting will cause the seams to crack. After a few years of burning the cast iron stove should be broke down and all the seams re-cemented.

Both steel and cast iron stoves have gaskets around the door and glass. The rope gaskets should be replaced annually. This is minor maintenance and it keeps the stove airtight.

Cast iron stoves are available in decorator porcelain enamel colors. A word of caution the colors will darken over time after the stove is heated. If the wood stove is overheated the finish can crack. It is similar to crazing that appears on your diner plates and other ceramic pieces. If there is water on the stove clean it ASAP. If the stove is hot do not spill water on it. The enamel finish will stain and the water marks are noticeable.

A wood burning stove is a great source of heat. Wood stoves last for 15 plus years and are inexpensive to operate. Whichever wood stove you choose enjoy it!

Cast Iron VS Steel Wood Stoves

Catalytic Combustors

Wood Stove Steamers

Portable Air Conditioners Ensure Economy And Convenience

2009-08-29T02:35:00.001-07:00

Small is beautiful and convenient and so is the portable air conditioner as it can be shifted from one place to the other very easily. Read on to find out all the other advantages.

With the onset of the damp weather, it becomes difficult to survive without constant central air conditioning but that can prove to be quite expensive. The answer to this problem is a portable air conditioner as it has many advantages. It is easy to shift from one place in the home to another and that makes a portable air conditioner the ideal cooling system solution for your home, office or industrial site.

The portable air conditioners are easy and quick to install, as they do not involve any lifting or tearing up of windowsills. Moreover it can be shifted very easily from one place in the home to the other. For taking care of the hot spots in the central air conditioning, the portable air conditioners are far more convenient than window air conditioners. It is also ideal for window shapes, which present problems for installation. There is nothing like portable air conditioners for use as a spot cooler in the home.

A portable air conditioner is an excellent choice for saving money as just one unit needs to be purchased and it can be shifted easily to where you need it as it is mounted on castors and some can weigh only about 36 pounds. Moreover, as only one room is cooled at a time instead of the whole house, the total energy consumption is very low as compared to other air conditioning systems.

Another advantage of portable air conditioners is the energy efficiency that they provide. The average efficiency is in the 8 to 10 range although some are as high as 15, which is 50 percent better than most older central air conditioners. The small size of the portable air conditioners is very advantageous and as such it can fit in a corner or against a wall. It functions like an effective dehumidifier if you do not vent the warm exhaust air out through a window and its size is also the same as that of a room dehumidifier.

In order to reduce humidity and allergies, even the small ones remove 35 pints of moisture per day from the room air. The portable air conditioners also use the heat-exchange principle as the other air conditioners to cool and dehumidify the air. The operating principle is also similar to a window air conditioner as the room air circulates over cold evaporator coils to cool and dehumidify it inside the unit. The room air is exhausted outdoor after flowing over the hot condenser. There is no chance of already-cooled indoor air escaping outside as two ducts are now used.

Nowadays, you have electronic controls in most models and you can set the desired room temperature, blower speed, start and stop timer, and operation mode (cool, dehumidify, heat). The portable air conditioners also have hand-held remote control with which you can conveniently change all the settings as per your need.

The other features of portable air conditioners include a built-in air cleaner with an optional charcoal filter and oscillating louvers to distribute the cool air throughout the room. You can also switch off the louvers to direct the flow of air towards yourself, if you so desire.

Get the right air conditioner the first time. Discover the advantages of different air conditioner models and which one best suits your needs by reading our free articles at: Air Conditioner Reviews

Compost Pail

2009-08-28T22:40:00.001-07:00

Compost pails are one of the most neglected parts of the whole composting process, yet they are an integral piece and one that is visited quite often. A few simple considerations make their use more satisfactory to the kitchen user and the composter alike.

The pail may be of almost any description as long as it can hold kitchen scraps. Ideally, it will be large enough to hold at least a day's offerings and perhaps two. Any longer in the heat of summer or even the normal heat of kitchen preparations will most likely cause unwanted odors to be received. If the pail is to find a home on the floor or the counter, a decorative crock with a cover can be used, else any sort of bucket will do under the sink or another counter.

A few cautions, mostly common sense, make using the compost pail easy, effective and reasonably sanitary.

place only plant materials in the pail. Animal by products rapidly produce rancid odors and attract vermin to the compost pile.
line the bottom of the compost pail with three layers of paper towel or newsprint. It helps to absorb liquids and odors and will keep the pail smelling fresh.
empty the pail every two days or whenever it fills. Some occasions it may not be full after two days but it is best to empty it before rot progresses and smells develop.
if fruit flies become a problem use a cover on the pail and empty it more often.
wash the pail on a regular basis. Rinse with warm water and soap and wipe down with paper towels. The towels can be left in the pail to be composted.
regularly sterilize the pail. Wash it with a bit of bleach in water. This prevents harmful bacteria from getting a foot hold.
be nice to kitchen users, especially if this is the eating room. When preparing strong smelling foods, empty the pail immediately.
keep a pile of dry, brown material handy to the compost pile or bin to add when emptying the pail. This allows for easy measuring of composting materials and a well mixed pile.

Some people like to cover the compost pail. I have not found this necessary if it is maintained with common sense and emptied regularly. Rather, a cover is often a nuisance when the pail is under the sink and the cover has to clear the plumbing when being removed. Treat your compost pail with good sense and it will be a pleasurable tool in the composting effort.

Darrell Feltmate is an avid gardener who has been composting and gardening for over 25 years with gardens up to 1/2 acre and compost piles for each. His composting site may be found at Compost Central. You can be a master composter in no time at all.

Much of his compost uses wood shavings from his wood turning hobby. The site for wood turning may be found at Around the Woods.

Hybrid Tea Rose - About Roses

2009-08-28T18:40:00.001-07:00

As for the hybrid tea rose, you'll find that it is the most commonly used flower to put into an English garden or even a used as a border. As for the tea rose, you'll want to keep in mind that there is some elegance to the rose and you don't need to deal with this huge bush in your yard. You are able to take care of the hybrid rose a lot easier than most of the other roses that you may have planted. You will find that they are still roses and still need some TLC, but you'll be able to keep them under control easily. It is very important that you learn how to take good care of your flowers and gardens. You'll want to learn how to take good care of your tea roses, because they can enhance the appearance of your garden and you'll be able to improve your self esteem. Gardening has its way of making others feel good, because it is an achievement.

The tea rose is very small when you compare it to the typical rose bush. It's really nice when it comes to the size of the tea rose brush because you are able to use them for so many things. You can use them in a typical garden or you can use them as a border. When you use the tea rose bush as a garden accent you'll be able to work in some color and class, but you'll also be able to have fun with the design. You can use wildflowers with the hybrid roses and you can use many other flowers that you typically wouldn't put with a rose garden, because they are not overpowering at all.

The tea rose will typically come in colors like white, red, yellow, green, and red. Sometimes you'll see them in shades of blues and purples. Keep in mind that there are many numerous hybrids that you'll want to consider when planting a garden. You still can easily make a good rose garden with these hybrid roses, however, you'll have a lot more space then you would with a typical rose plant. You'll find that these flowers are very bright in colors, but they also have a very strong scent. If you are to put a hybrid tea rose garden together, you may want to think about adding some seating so that you can sit and enjoy the fruits of your labor.

Tea roses are sold locally and online or through catalogs. You'll be able to create a wonderful design with these roses. Learn about growing Tea Roses and how you can enjoy more by reading gardening articles online everywhere.

Cheryl Hanlon garden author. Find more about gardening articles by Cheryl at http://www.backyardliving.com

Buy Flowers Online

2009-08-28T14:41:00.001-07:00

Like love, the language of flowers is universal. People understand it across the globe, irrespective of their race or background, echoing their feelings of love, joy, desire, happiness, faith, hope or loyalty. Nothing expresses more than a bunch of exotic fresh flowers in full bloom.

Be it your anniversary or Christmas celebrations, choosing the right floral arrangement takes time and can be frustrating if after taking that drive and dealing with traffic your local florist doesnt have what you desire. Buying flowers online is the most convenient alternative to get what you want comfortably from your home. Local stores may not have a big selection of flowers and you might have to settle for whats available instead of what you actually desire. On the other hand if one online florist doesnt offer what you are looking for, you can easily move on to a site that showcases exactly what you have in mind.

Online stores display photos or illustrations of their flower arrangements so that you can actually see them before placing the order. While placing the order on the phone you cant see the actual bulbs and the arrangement you get may turn out to be entirely different from what you imagined.

When you order flowers online, place the order only after comparing and deciding the best flower arrangement offered at the most competitive price. Make sure they are assuring delivery at the date and time you ask. If you want your flowers to last longer, order ready-to-bloom buds which will blossom two or three days after you receive the shipment.

Whether you buy daffodils - which signify sunshine and happiness or irises - denoting faith, hope and wisdom or any other kind of flower, buying online will give you the best available choice in your price category.

Buy Flowers Online provides detailed information on Buy Flowers Online, Send Flowers Online, Buy Cheap Flowers Online, Buy Fresh Flowers Online and more. Buy Flowers Online is affiliated with Local Flower Shops.

Bonsai Tips

2009-08-28T10:43:00.001-07:00

A great hobby that many people should try, because it is calm and restful is to grow and cultivating a bonsai tree. Often people buy some shaping tools and a young bonsai tree, and begin. In a short time they often experience disappointment as their best efforts result in failure, and perhaps even the death of the bonsai tree. But it does not need to be that way. I here give you some useful and basic Tips on how to grow a bonsai tree.

Bonsai Tips 1: Choosing the right Bonsai Tree from the start

Choosing the Bonsai tree from the start is very important, and you should choose the tree wisely as it may become a problem later if you do not look carefully for the right things for the tree. Some of the most important things to look for is:

Attractive bark.
Small leaves

It will make the whole process a lot easier, if you start out with a Bonsai tree with some good and healthy
outlook.

Bonsai Tips 2: The environment for the Bonsai tree

The environment of the Bonsai tree is also very important. You need to consider things such as sunlight, rain, wind, humidity etc., because each of these environment elements will make a difference in the development of your Bonsai tree. Try to optimize each element for your tree, and you will soon see a healthy and beautiful tree growing up.

Bonsai Tips 3: The Watering process for the Bonsai tree

The watering of the Bonsai tree is one of the most vital parts in the process of growing bonsai plants. One of the most common problems with the Bonsai Tree, that people are not able to find the right balance of giving water to the tree. You need to make sure, that your Bonsai Tree gets plenty of water, but certainly not too much. A basic rule of the watering process is to look at the colour of the leaves.

Generally speaking, if they are yellow in appearance and brittle to the touch this indicate a lack of water. If however they are yellow and falling you may find that you have been over watering your Bonsai Tree. You should focus a lot on this water processing issue, It's a good ideal then to get into the habit of watering your Bonsai tree a little everyday. After a while you will become more aware of just how much water your Bonsai Tree actually needs.

Bonsai Tips 4: Shaping and dwarfing of the Bonsai Tree

Shaping and dwarfing of the Bonsai Tree is accomplished by following some fundamental techniques. The small tree size and the dwarf foliage is maintained by a consistent schedule of pruning of the roots and leaves. It is important that you learn and follow the Different methods of this area. Further it is important to have on hand the proper shears and cutting tools to use during this process.

Pruning is crucial to the plant, so good quality tools are critical. Also, some pruning should be done seasonally, as most bonsai trees require a period of dormancy and fail to grow roots or leaves during that time. Remember: pruning not done correctly can either weaken the tree or kill it.

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By following these simple Tips, you can a much bigger chance to avoid disappointment, and enjoy the feeling of accomplishment and serenity of growing your own Bonsai Tree.

About The Author

Morten Hansen has been focused on the Bonsai area for several years and is mainly writing about subjects, that make it easier for people to understand the different issues about the Bonsai Tree. For more details about the Bonsai Area visit our website http://www.BonsaiTips4you.com

Halve Your Energy Bills by Doubling Up! Part 2

2009-08-28T06:44:00.001-07:00

It is not an accident that the list compiled by The National Association of Home Builders on how to save energy in your home has windows included in it. In fact, right near to the top is 'double-pane windows that have high performance glass that helps reduce heat loss in the winter and heat gain in the summer'.

In Part 1 the general case for installing Insulated Glass Units (IGUs) was discussed - in particular noise reduction glass; assuming you are all dying to get on with it, here are the whys and the wherefores of your choices in energy-saving glass.

The most popular reason for installing IGUs is for green and/or energy reasons. In this same vein, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and the U.S. Energy Department recommend that you search out specific qualities when choosing your glass.

Glass can be chosen for its energy saving qualities or for its noise reduction qualities. Since Part 1 of 'Halve Your Energy Bills By Doubling Up dealt with the generalities of IGUs and specifically with noise reduction glass, this Part 2 will only decipher the mysteries of energy-saving glass.

There can be certain options in the qualities of glass that are specifically designed to help with energy reduction and these may be the reasons you might want to change to new windows.

One of these is low-e coated glass. 'Low e' stands for low emissivity; as the word suggests it relates to the amount of heat that is 'emitted' through the glass by radiation. Radiation can go two ways, your heat can radiate out through your single pane windows and the cold can 'radiate' in.

Alternatively, sun shine shining on the window can radiate heat into the room you are trying to cool, and your air conditioning will work twice as hard trying to keep those panes of warming glass cool.

Doesn't sound like much but according to the U.S. Department of Energy either scenario can raise your bill by ten to twenty five per cent. With energy costs on the rise, this represents lots of cash.

So if you choose glass that has low-e coating it will reduce the flow through your window of hot to cold, or cold to hot, and lessen your energy output.

There is another type of glass, mostly recommended for people in mainly hot climates; it is called 'solar control spectrally selective' glass. This blocks the infrared portion of your sunlight.

This is the 'hot' portion that is used to power solar heating panels. Blocking it allows the sun to shine through your 'solar controlled spectrally selective ' pane of glass without heating the room up. Therefore it is not recommended for seasonal climates, where in the cold season we like to feel abit of sun warmth in the home!

Before you think about buying, you would be advised to check out the non-profit organization that spills the beans on doors, windows and skykights. It is called The National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) and you can find it on the Internet.

Fenestration, in this case means the design and placement of windows in a building (from the French word for window: fenetre).Windows that are certified by the NFRC carry a label that is invaluable in helping you to make an informed choice. The labels specify four different ratings.

- The U factor measures how well the heat is kept inside a building. For climates which also experience cold weather, NFRC recommend a U factor of 0.35 or below.
- Visible light is also measured - the higher the number the more light is transmitted.
- NRFC also measures a window's ability to block heat from coming in i.e. from sunlight. Zero is the better blocking rate than one.
- Air leakage is a handy one to know about; as heat loss or gain can be from cracks in the construction of the window unit. The Energy Department recommends a loss rating of not more than 0.3 cubic feet per minute.

Another guide is to check and see if the windows you are choosing have the Energy Star label on them; this is approved by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Glass for use in windows is moving into the technological era as fast as anything else, so do not be too quick in choosing 'any old IGUs' - take the time to really get what you want and enjoy the reductions you deserve.

PorchLight Real Estate Group combines local market knowledge with cutting edge marketing skills. For more information on Denver CO real estate or to do a search for Broomfield real estate, visit us online at PorchLightGroup.com.

An Energy Efficient Home is a Money Saving Home!

2009-08-28T02:43:00.001-07:00

Energy efficiency is top priority in most people's lives today and this is the reason for the increased popularity in environmentally friendly homes. In fact, people living in these homes experience improved breathing conditions and reduced incidences of flu.

The first thing to do for an eco friendly home is it replace the ducting, heating and cooling systems with low emission and energy efficient stuff. Changes that can be made are like using corn burning furnaces instead of wood fireplaces, using solar water heaters and not electric water heaters and updating of the furnace with an energy efficient model.Use timers and dimmers to regulate your systems It is better to use electronic timers for turning these energy efficient models on and off, when required. It is also possible to save money by using lighting control systems like dimmers, timers and occupancy sensors.

You can improve the heating capacity of your water heater by wrapping it with a thermal blanket. To get increased air conditioning benefits, you can provide some shading for the air conditioner and install a programmed thermostat that adjusts setting automatically.Fill up all cracks and block air leaks. All cracks in the house have to be caulked, vapor barriers installed and energy efficient doors and windows installed. If you intend to sell your home, it is better to do all this about a year before the sale so that you can prove the energy savings through low heating bills.

It is also possible to improve energy efficiency of the home by improving insulation of attic, basement and exterior walls, floors, ceilings and heating ducts. This prevents hot or cold air from entering or leaving the room for increased cooling and heating.Similarly, block any possible air leaks in the form of holes and cracks n walls, windows and doors. Even ensure that there is no air leakage in your ducts.

Use modern windows for maximum lighting Lighting and ventilation have more emphasis today as homeowners turn to be more health conscious. There are more homeowners keeping Feng Shui elements in their homes and are using natural venting. Modern windows and vents are created to provide for maximum natural lighting, and make more use of solar heating. This is to ensure removal of contaminants from the room, reducing the build up of mold and mildew and to avoid using air conditioners.

With all these tips, you will soon be the proud owner of an energy efficient home that produces reduced energy consumption bills for you.

James Tyler is the owner of Ace Builders, a residential remodeling company serving the Raleigh, North Carolina area. Tyler writes about issues relating to all types of remodeling and home improvement projects.

For more information, tips and advice visit http://www.acebuilders.net

The Benefits Of Using Electrostatic Air Filters In Heating And Air Conditioning Equipment

2009-08-27T22:38:00.001-07:00

As technology advances, we get new innovations in every field, including that of furnace filters and air filtration. One new option that's becoming more and more popular is that of electrostatic furnace filters. Ask a lot of duct technicians these days, and you'll hear that these filters have many benefits, and are a great way to save money. After all, you'll never have to replace a filter again. Here are a few of the benefits that are associated with using electrostatic furnace and air conditioner filters.

Helps Relieve Allergy Problems

Exposure to common allergens, including mold, pollen, pet dander and dust, is reduced when you use an electrostatic furnace filter. If you have asthma, allergies, or other respiratory problems, you'll notice a lot less irritation and fewer episodes

Electrostatic Filters Are Economical

These filters help keep your air conditioner coils and the components in your furnace from collecting dirt and dust. That dust is the single most common cause of heating and cooling system failure. If your system is cleaner, it will have a longer life and be more efficient, meaning that you'll use less energy and need to repair your furnace less often. Also, unlike conventional filters, electrostatic furnace filters never have to be replaced. While they cost more to install initially, you'll save in the long run by not replacing dirty filters.

Cleaning Your House Gets Easier

Since the electrostatic filter collects dust effectively, less of it gets out to settle throughout your home. That means less dusting, easier vacuuming, and a generally less bothersome time keeping your house clean.

Electrostatic Filters Are Environmentally Friendly

Filters you never have to replace are filters you never throw away, and that's a lot friendlier to the environment. Reducing waste is a common concern in many countries, and these filters are one way to cut down on the amount of trash you throw out. The landfills will thank you.

Easy Maintenance

To make sure that your filter does its job correctly, there is a little work required. However, all you have to do to maintain furnace efficiency is give the filter a cleaning once a month. This can be done by vacuuming the heaviest buildup off the filters surface. Then, lay your filter flat and spray with detergent on both sides. Spray the filter with water, turn it over, and repeat until the water isn't dirty anymore. Just let your electrostatic furnace filter drip dry, and put it back in your heating and cooling system to continue providing you with clean, high quality air.

Help keep your heat pump or air conditioner working a peak efficiency by selecting a good air filter. There are many options and things to consider when making your selection. Visit our site to learn more about furnace filters and air conditioner filters or to get more information about electrostatic furnace filters.

Finding an Energy Efficient Modern Home

2009-08-27T17:08:00.001-07:00

The modern prefab home, in the manufactured home market, is all the rage. The day has arrived when home owners can own a dwelling with a truly modernist design. Now individuals can enjoy a modern, stylish abode at half the cost of site built homes. With the advent of this method of home construction, a person can live in style and comfort all at the same time. Modern prefab homes can be found in a variety of places, but if one wants to see the latest homes plans, they can find out more by visiting certain websites dedicated to the promotion of these unique domiciles.

If a person is really interested in a modern prefab home, then the best place to start the research process would be searching Google for "fabprefab." At their website, one can find out a ton of information on these custom modular homes. All the information that one could ever need is here. Everything from understanding what the homes are made of to what the cost is can be found on this informative website. One can also find architects that create these amazing homes on this wonderful website. These homes are quickly becoming the desired dwellings in the factory built homes market.

When one thinks of going green, they rarely think of a prefab home, but that is exactly what they will get if they invest in one of these modern homes. This unique new modular home can bring a person closer to living in an upscale environment without living with the cost. Beauty and eco friendliness have never looked so good together as they do in the modern prefab homes of today's world.

Bo Von Brockdorff was once a contractor who specialized in California manufactured homes. Unlike site built home contractors, Sacramento modular home builders ensure energy efficient homes so you can go green without giving up luxury and style. Not bad for a Sacramento manufactured home.

Saving Mortgage Money in the Credit Crunch

2009-08-27T09:02:00.001-07:00

Tips that will save you money

You should first take a close look at your living expenses... debts, loans, phone bills, mortgages... Then shop around to find the best deals in the marketplace for each of these cost centres.

Mortgage Review

You are unlikely to make a more expensive purchase than your home, so you need to find the best deal for your repayments. If your mortgage is being repaid at the full standard variable rate you will almost certainly be able to find a more competitive rate. The base rate is falling nearly every month so you should be able to pick up an excellent deal. Do not feel that you are tied to your own building society or bank, but check that you will not incur financial penalties if you swap mortgage providers.

Take a Look at your Bank Account

Is your current bank account right for you? A survey has revealed that 52% of current account holders are missing out on an extra 3 per cent interest on their savings and are paying 12% too much on their overdraft

Having an overdraft does not prevent you from changing banks In fact on transferring your account some banks will offer a lower, perhaps even zero, interest rate on your overdraft for a specific length of time. There is no better place to look for good deals than on the internet...especially on comparison sites.

Save on Fuel Costs

You can save money and help to protect our planet's environment by choosing the right energy services for your home and using them wisely. Electricity is generated using gas, coal or oil, which releases carbon dioxide into the air, thus increasing the adverse effects of global warming. If everyone insulated their homes, thereby reducing the energy we use, we would help the environment and save money.

Grants to Save Energy

Local authorities offer a wide range of grants to assist you with draught proofing, hot water tank insulation, loft insulation, cavity wall insulation.....Every authority has different criteria, which have to be met before they will award a grant, but it is well worthwhile enquiring to see if you are eligible.

Electricity and Gas Providers

Few markets are more competitive than domestic energy supply, so you should be able to pick up a good deal by shopping around. Make sure your new supplier offers a good service before signing up. In a continually changing marketplace, on line comparison sites are a good way of finding the best offer at that particular time. Many people can save 150 a year by changing suppliers and you can often get additional discounts by paying through a direct debit agreement.

Installing Double Glazing

There is no better way of saving energy than through double glazing your home. To have double glazing installed by a professional company is expensive, but there are a range of inexpensive DIY kits available. These kits will not be as efficient as purpose made double glazed windows, but they will reduce draughts and save you money for just a few hours work.

Installing Insulation

Insulating your home can save you up to a third on your heating bills. Research has shown that 20 per cent of heat loss is through your walls, roof and ceilings. Roof insulation must be at least 150mm thick to be effective. Heat loss can be reduced by two thirds by installing wall insulation. Your hot water heating bill will fall substantially by fitting an insulating jacket.

Kings College Brokers offer great deals on Mortgages, Loans and other financial products. Visit our site for more info. Our sister site Brokers Online offers cutting edge articles and information about Life Insurance and other great financial products.

3 Leading Solar Energy Technologies

2009-08-27T00:57:00.001-07:00

Solar technology is constantly evolving. It is clear now that for the near future, it is the the most viable method to generate clean, renewable energy.

Billions of dollars in investments go into scientific research of solar technologies. Still,almost all commercial and residential systems use one of 3 technologies: Thin-film P.V. (Photovoltaic) , Silicon P.V., and concentrating solar.The two P.V. technologies compete against each other as a solution for residential customers, while P.V. solar panels and concentrating solar compete for large scale, commercial installations.

Photovoltaic - Silicon

The first P.V. panels built from solar cells technology used silicon to generate electricity. When light from thesun hits a silicon atom inside the cell, an electron is emitted (photoelectric effect) . When enough sunlight hits enough silicon atoms, an electric current is generated. Today, most installed solar panels use Silicon to generate electricity.

The problem with Silicon is that it is expansive. It isthe same Silicon used in modern computer CPUs. Additionally, manufacturing processes arehighly complicated and expansive. Silicon is not very effective in converting sunlight to electricity - only about15% of sunlight is converted.

Photovoltaic - Thin film

As P.V. solar panels gained popularity, it wasclear that using Silicon as thesubstrate might limit widespread adoption of solar technology, due to the highcosts of Silicon and the panels' production. The solution - thin film cells.

Thin film cells operate the same way as their silicon counterparts(the photoelectric effect), but their manufacturing process is cheaper, and the materials used in the process(glass, stainless still, glass) are much cheaper than Silicon.

The tradeoff for the price advantages over Silicon based P.V.is efficiency - only about 10%.

Concentrating solar

The most intriguing, and some argue, the most viable technology in use today is concentrating solar. Concentrating solar plants can generate enough energy to power tens of thousands of homes. These huge solar fields are made of thousands of mirrors, who concentrate sun light onto a fluid. That fluid heats up, generating steam, which is than converted into electricity using a steam turbine.

These plants are usually built in desert areas, where sunlight is abundant. Building these plants can costbillionsof dollars, but they have one amazing characteristics: their efficiency in converting sunlight to electricity canbe as high as60% (as oppose to 10-15% for P.V. technology).

There are many variations of the 3 technologies presented here, and as more research becomes production, the prices of solar energy system will drop, while efficiency will rise.

Joseph H. Ben is the founder of ThetaNoon - the global solar energy systems directory,available at : http://thetanoon.appspot.com/ Thetanoon provides anyone interested in solar energy unique insight into real world solar energy systems - solar panels, water heaters and other technology. Each system in the directory is monitored and electricity output and CO2 savings are estimated.Users' experience, images and location related information make ThetaNoon the best resource on the net for anyone investing into solar technology. To learn more about real-world solar systems, visit: http://thetanoon.appspot.com/

The First Step to Saving Money on Your Energy Bills, Part 1 (The Kitchen)

2009-08-26T16:53:00.000-07:00

Believe it or not, it is entirely possibly to start saving tonight on your energy bills - no matter where you live, or the type of house you live in. The real secret to saving money is knowing where to start. So, let's get started!

It's a very important step - yet it is one that nearly everyone falls all over. In fact, it is the first step for a reason. Knowing where to start looking for energy problems is half the battle. Once you find the problem areas of your home, you can find solutions that will fix or remedy those areas.

In this article, we'll focus on your kitchen's energy usage.

Every home or apartment has a kitchen. And in this kitchen there are numerous appliances you have to keep your eye on. Do you know what the biggest energy waster is in 95% of kitchens? It's the refrigerator. That modern marvel is terrific for keeping foods from spoiling, but if it is more than 10 years old, it is "obsolete" and a waster of energy. Today's refrigerator units use on average 25% less energy than their predecessors just 10 years ago.

So what can go wrong with a refrigerator? Usually the first sign of wear on an old fridge is the seals and hinges of the door. It isn't surprising when you consider that the doors are opened and closed repeatedly at least 10 times a day in over 50% of homes. Think about how often you open and close the doors on a daily basis. Twice at breakfast, four times or more at dinner, and a few more times to reach for a cold beverage.

All the strain on the hinges adds up, especially on older units. Now granted, they are built to withstand the constant opening and closing, but eventually problems will crop up. And when they do, either the door refuses to close all the way or it gives way to small areas around the door that aren't insulating as well as they should.

And the seal...well it doesn't take long for the seal to crack or lose its tight "grip". Once this happens, refrigerated air will leak out (or more to the point, warmer air will seep in) causing your fridge to work harder. The additional strain on the compressor, fan, and other parts means they run longer, on average, than usual. And this directly translates to high energy bills.

So, whats the solution? Well, hinges should be replaced if they are going bad, and the seals should be checked - especially on older units. You can also improve the efficiency of your fridge by ensuring it is not placed in direct sunlight or near a heat register. Minimize the amount of times the doors are opened and closed. Every time you open or close the door, you are exchanging cooled air for warm air. Finally, vacuum the exchanger coils once per year to allow better air circulation and more efficient operation.

The fridge is not the only place energy is used or potentially wasted. Your stove/oven also uses energy. And like refrigerators, the older they are the less efficient they become.

Whether you have an electric range or gas range, be aware that advances in appliance technology again means that units 10 years old or more are less efficient than current models. Keep in mind too if you have a natural gas range that there is inherent inefficiency with burning fuel for heat. Every gas appliance has an efficiency rating which tells you how efficient the unit is at converting the gas input to heat. As a practical example, if a range has a 10,000 BTU burner and operates at 80% efficiency, the most heat it will out put is 8,000 BTU. As the unit gets older, the efficiency rating goes down, so the fuel is burned less efficiently. This means that the range will need to run longer to achieve the desired result. Again, the direct result is higher gas bills.

Electric ranges are no different, except, as with all electronics, they are near 100% efficient in converting the "power". In other words, there isn't a built in efficiency problem as with natural gas appliances. The wattage the unit is rated at will be what it takes as input, and the heat output is consistent. There is no need to convert to an "efficiency output" as with natural gas. However, like their gas counterparts, the heating elements and electronics inside the unit certainly become outdated or can break over time. Consider that if an electric range burner "burns out" or breaks, it is useless. It must be replaced. Gas appliances usually don't have these electrical problems. Newer units use less power and heat better because of better convective cooking surfaces, better heating elements, and better, more energy friendly electronics inside the unit.

Ovens, whether they are electric or gas, typically have the same faults. Over time, the seals wear out and heat is wasted through the doors, Their heating elements as well can become old and outdated. Additionally, the insulation that surrounds the oven may crumble or being to show signs of wear. All these elements contribute to the oven's inefficiency.

So, how do you combat these problems? Sometimes, it isn't an option to use them less. But ideally, that is the best course of action. When using the oven, try to cook foods during the last 5 minutes of the cooking cycle with the heat "off". Avoid peeking into the oven - use the window. Opening the oven too often allows vital heat to escape, and thus the oven as to turn on for a period of time to compensate for the lost heat. You can use a similar trick with electric ranges. The element will remain warm for a couple minutes after it is turned off. Use covers when cooking on the range as they trap more heat than open pots and pans. Lastly, once boiling temperature is reached, turn down the burner to maintain the boil. It saves energy, while still boiling the liquid.

Last, let's touch briefly on microwaves. Another modern marvel that makes cooking fast and simple. There is a direct correlation between the power of the microwave and the power consumption. The power, measured in watts, is the power input. At 100% power, the microwave converts most of the power input to radiation, which heats the food/liquid in the microwave. Simply put, the more powerful the microwave, the more energy it takes. There is no such thing as a powerful microwave that is "energy efficient". Powerful microwaves are inherently energy hogs.

So, where's the opportunity for savings here? Well, using the microwave in "short" periods helps. The less you use the unit, the better off you are. And like most other appliances, older units become inefficient over time. The electronics and more importantly the radiation (microwave) source becomes outdated and produces less radiation. The 10 year rule applies here - if it is older than 10 years old, look into replacing it. Also, watch the hinges and door latch. These have a tendency to come loose with constant usage, even if the unit is only a few years old!

I hope you've enjoyed the energy journey through the kitchen. Next article, We'll walk through your living room and look for opportunities for energy savings there. See you then!

Dave Andersen regularly writes about home energy savings tips, energy efficiency, and saving money on home energy bills. He is not only an avid proponent of alternative energy and energy conservation, but of homeowner education about their home energy usage. He is a regular contributor to Utility Bill Busters, a free blog updated often with cutting edge energy saving tips for homes and businesses. It can be found at http://www.utilitybillbusters.com

Green Real Estate Upgrades and Renovations - How to Save Money on Heating and Cooling

2009-08-26T08:45:00.001-07:00

The following interview was conducted with Marlayna Phenechka, a building subcontractor based in Asheville, North Carolina who practices green building and sustainable thinking. Phenechka has worked on both residential and commercial real estate projects in North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. She outlines some basic upgrades to facilitate more efficient and less expensive heating and cooling. The upgrades are a smart investment for the average consumer since the money spent is quickly recouped.

Turn Off the Hot Water! On-Demand Hot Water Heaters
(Estimated Cost: $250-800 Labor: $400-1400)

The resources used to heat water is expensive, often the second highest residential energy use in homes. Did you know most hot water heaters in homes are designed to keep water hot constantly? One good way to save electricity or gas is to simply turn off the hot water, and turn it on only when needed. Consult an electrician to install a timer or switch. Have them turn the water heater down from a manufacture's scalding 140 to 115 degrees. Another overlooked method to cutting costly water utility bills is to simply buy a 'blanket' for your water heater.

In Europe, modern Asia and Israel, On-Demand, or Tankless, Hot Water Heaters are more common than the hot water tanks in US homes. These cost effective, efficient devices turn hot water off unless it's in use. Phenechka says, "There's an off mode on this system. There is no pilot light either, which saves valuable energy. Many On-Demand Hot Water Heaters are even made with a temperature remote control feature so the user can adjust the temperature to his or her preference, saving even more energy."

The best On-Demand or Tankless Hot Water Heater uses liquid propane or gas as a source of energy. If main power is shut down for some reason there will still be hot water. "The size of an On-Demand Hot Water Heater is about the same as a backpack and weighs approximately 30-40 pounds," Phenechka adds. In some cases, installing a gas line to fuel the On-Demand Hot Water Heater may incur an extra expense, though liquid propane may be a better option. The majority of US states offer a tax credit for these devices.

Heat Pump Heating and Cooling Systems
(Estimated Cost for the system and installation $3,000-8,500)

Heat Pumps are a great way to conserve money on heating and cooling. "Some heat pumps come with heat and air conditioning and are well worth the initial investment. During milder winter days, the heat pump draws in warm air through the home's ducts; in the summer, it pulls in cool air and dehumidifies it at the same time," says Phenechka. A heat pump is far more efficient then many other heating and cooling systems and saves some homeowners as much as $100 per month or more. Make sure you purchase a programmable thermostat with the system and check and seal any leaks all your original air ducts and returns to optimize your investment!

Attic Exhaust Fan
(Estimated Cost: $80-$250)

Installing (or repairing) an exhaust, or gable, fan in the attic can make a huge difference in airflow, humidity, and temperature in a home. Solar exhaust fans, with their own tiny solar panel are now available at many of the big box stores! Hot air especially gets trapped in the attic, and without an exhaust fan, it is hard for this air to move and the home's temperature stays high. Attic fans are easily installed, and most have sensors for temperature and humidity so the fan automatically turns on. A gable fan ensures that even if there is air conditioning in the home it is not overused.

There is also a whole house fan system made to work in conjunction with an attic fan. The whole house fan system is an alternative to air conditioning especially in cooler, dry climates. It harnesses and pulls in the cool air that exists outside to the interior of a home through open windows at night.

Ceiling Fans
(Cost: $50-$100 each)

Ceiling fans also eliminate much of the need for air conditioning and sometimes act as a complete alternative to AC. "Ceiling fans have a wind chill factor of three and up," states Phenechka "a ceiling fan in each room can have a huge impact on the comfort inside." When a home is being heated in the winter, a ceiling fan will help spread the heated air more evenly throughout the house. Ceiling fans are a great way to upgrade a home, and many attractive fans, some with lighting fixtures, are available to choose from. Don't forget to use energy efficient bulbs in the ceiling fan for increased energy savings.

Green Upgrades and Renovations for Commercial Real Estate

Many of the green strategies mentioned not only have value for residential homeowners but also for commercial real estate such as retail stores, office buildings, apartment buildings, factory plants, restaurants and shopping malls. Heating and cooling costs are a major issue for commercial real estate developers and investors. If you want to save money on monthly bills consider hiring a green building and renovation specialist to upgrade the heating and cooling system of your commercial property. Commercial fan systems and on demand hot water heaters can hold great long term value for commercial real estate owners and are a healthy business investment.

These simple, green living recommendations will make your home or building more energy efficient and save you money over the long term. Whether you have hundred or thousands to spend on environmentally conscious, real estate upgrades and renovations there are affordable green solutions to keep your heating and cooling costs down. In a time of rising energy costs, it makes sense to go green. These kinds of heating and cooling upgrades and renovations will increase the value of your commercial or residential property and make it more attractive to future buyers.

Elaine VonCannon is an award winning REALTOR with RE/Max Capital in Williamsburg, Virginia. She specializes in retirement and relocation in the Williamsburg, South Eastern Virginia area and in Virginia Estate properties. To learn more visit http://www.voncannonrealestate.com or http://www.estatesinvirginia.com

Energy Performance Certificates

2009-08-26T00:35:00.001-07:00

From 2008 the UK will have a regulation governing business property. There will be a certificate required that rates the building dealing with energy management. This will have a huge impact on the business community.

The UK in 2008 will see new regulation being rolled out that will affect all commercial premises. EPCs stands for Energy Performance Certificates and will be required for rental, sale or construction of commercial property.

So each building will be given an energy rating A,B,C,D,E,F,G. Band A should have the lowest fuel bills reflected by being the most energy efficiency. For the higher rating the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions should be lower.

It is thought that currently most UK commercial property will fall into bands D-E for both ratings. Obviously this rating will effect the businesses value on sale or rental achievable. So this will push the business owners' to invest in better energy efficiency throughout as this money spent will be regarded as a potential return on investment. And therefore a positive business action to be undertaken.

Each EPC will last for ten years. The Department of Communities and Local Government (CLG) must measure the effects of EPCs on the business sector. Adjustment may have to be made if it has a damaging effect because of cost in a recession and the ability of the landlord to lease their property easily. This legislation will effect business premises across the range of sizes so nobody will be unaffected by this.

This policy has the added advantage of long term money savings on fuel bills as that it looks like energy demand for the long term will be high due to the UK now having limited resources and the massive demand on oil in the Far East.

http://www.mortgagebestrate.co.uk/commercial_mortgage.htm

02380 781222
patrick@mortgagehome.co.uk

Solar Energy Homes - Need it Badly in This Recession

2009-08-25T16:40:00.001-07:00

An increasing number of solar energy homes are popping up around the world. Most people hate getting that huge electric bill each month, but we tend to feel like we have no choice. You've got to have electricity, right? So what other options do you have but to continue to pay exorbitant fees to the electric company?

The good news is that you DON'T have to be tethered to the electric company forever. You can choose to go solar. Not only is solar energy great for the environment, using it will cut your power bills drastically, and even eliminate them in some cases. Some people who are very clever with the use of solar power have even found that the electric company ends up owing THEM money each month, instead of the other way around!

Solar energy was one of the first widely acclaimed alternative energy sources, and it's been promoted for years as the best alternative to traditional electricity. It's got a lot going for it. For one, it's a completely renewable resource. As long as there's a sun, there's going to be solar energy, so you never have to worry about how you're going to power your house when you use it. It's also completely non-toxic and non-polluting. Anyone who cares about the environment will be naturally attracted to the use of solar energy.

However, the thing that attracts most people to solar power is the monetary benefits. In fact, these benefits are what lead the majority of solar power users to build solar energy homes. Solar energy is available to anyone, and can be stored for use during cloudy days. Obviously, if you live in the Arctic Circle, where it's dark for 6 months of the year, using solar power may be challenging during those months. However, you can still benefit from it by using it all summer. It doesn't take much of the sun's energy to power a home, so you'll probably end up with surplus power on really sunny days.

You can actually sell this surplus energy back to the electric company, which is how you can get them to pay you. In fact, the electric company is eager to grab its share of your power, since it costs them less to buy it from you than it does for them to generate it themselves. So, not only are solar energy homes cost-effective, they can actually generate income as well as power. Isn't it time you investigated going solar yourself?

You can build your own Solar Energy for homes under $200 by following this guide by Clicking Here

How to Reduce Energy Costs Substantially - How to Lower Your Energy Costs Within Days

2009-08-25T08:17:00.001-07:00

Economic Turmoil and Energy Inefficiency

The rising cost of fuel and gas isn't going to stop anytime soon. Everyone is feeling the tremendous and burdensome effects that are hitting our wallets and pocketbooks day-to-day. Gas prices may slump for a brief period but you can bet your last dollar that they won't be that low forever. Many global entities across the world are trying to make the conversion to the alternative energy that will be so powerful in the 21st-century. If you want to know how to lower your energy costs and how to reduce energy costs by over 80% each month, then start thinking about solar energy...

Solar Panels and Energy for Your Home

Solar energy panels are hands down the most effective and cost-efficient energy alternative that we can use right now to combat the rising price of oil and coal electricity. If you want to know how to lower your energy costs each month then considering putting up a solar panel can be one of the first steps you take in understanding how to reduce energy costs. The wonderful thing about solar energy panels that they are on the market and are accessible very easily. The only downside is the costs. The cost of a commercially installed solar panel can cost upwards of $2000 including the purchase price and the installation fees. But wait! There is hope!

How to Reduce Energy Costs by Making Your Own Solar Panel

Solar panels that create electricity from sunlight are known as photovoltaic panels. This panel is connected with photovoltaic cells, sometimes just called solar cells. They also contain something called crystalline cells and these crystalline base structures have the ability to absorb sunlight when it is exposed and convert it to electric power. The more photovoltaic cells placed on the solar panel, the more current of electricity can be produced. You'll find out how to lower your energy costs substantially once you understand how to obtain maximum energy from a solar panel and what causes it to drastically reduce your utility costs each month. And guess what? Instead of paying that big hefty $2000 fee which is highly unnecessary, you can build your own--for less than 200 bucks...

For in-depth detail on the advantages of using solar energy and access to a step-by-step guide to building your own solar energy panel for less than $200 you can visit my website here at http://www.CreateHomeEnergyNow.webs.com. Remember -- go green!

Suspended Ceilings - Home Tips

2009-08-11T09:31:00.001-07:00

Suspended ceiling or known also as dropped ceilings are ceilings that are placed underneath the existing one and hide any kinds of wiring or piping that may be sticking out of the current ceiling. Suspended ceilings are a great idea as they allow you to hide all of the clutter that is up there already allowing for maintenance to be carried out on anything that is there without as much risk as you would without the suspended ceiling being there.

They are made up from a grid that contains metal frameworks which is held together with wires which connect up to the existing ceiling, in this grid tiles are placed and linked up, this is what makes the basis of a suspended ceiling even thought there are many different types of suspended ceilings, they all seem to follow the same basis.

Suspended ceiling started being made to help with sound levels in rooms and offers sound absorption. This is made by adding insulation above the tiles, this helps to absorb the sound in the room.

Now though sound absorption is not the only reason for getting suspended ceilings installed, nowadays you can have a lot of different reasons for example you may want to hide pipes or create air ducts for you building, if this is the case then suspended ceilings are definitely the way forward for you.

When you are thinking about getting your suspended ceilings installed there should be one main concern on your mind, this is Safety. You need to know that your ceilings are going to be safe and cause no harm to anyone or be a hazard in any way. You are going to need to make sure that the tiles and anything else you place up in the suspended ceilings in firmly attached to the grid otherwise there can be problems with the ceiling falling down or in the event of an emergency where the ceiling has to be pulled down I.e. a fire, then the whole ceiling can be brought down as one and doesn't come down in pieces causing major hazards.

If you are going to install suspended ceilings in a clean room then you need to make sure that the suspended ceiling complies with all rules and laws that are set. If your suspended ceilings are in any way contaminated with dust or particles then your whole clean room becomes pointless and questionable.

Clean rooms are required in many different industries which include food, electronic and pharmaceuticals. If your room does not meet the industry standards you can be closed down, so therefore making sure that your suspended ceilings in no way effect your business you will need to make sure that you can meet requirements with your ceilings. You will need to have a steady flow of purified air being brought into the room; this can be easily incorporated into suspended ceilings in the ceiling void above.

So before purchasing your suspended ceilings you should make sure that it complies 100% with all of your health and safety regulations.

Find more about Suspended Ceilings

Plant Growing Under Roof

Tankless Water Heaters - Are They Worth It?

2009-08-10T12:56:00.001-07:00

A penny saved is a penny earned. I had my buddy call me up and tell me about this article on consumer reports about it taking 20-25 yrs to recoup your initial costs on a tankless water heater. That just really gets under my skin because it is not true. First off the technology has been around for 40 yrs and is rock solid and extremely efficient. Your fuel costs will be cut significantly and your risk of a flood is virtually eliminated.

I am sure that at least 50 percent of homes in the U.S. will at some time have to use their homeowners insurance to cover the costs of damages caused by busted water heaters. Well I am sorry folks but tankless is the only way to go and you will not only benefit from the savings, your lifestyle will improve as well. I know it's worth something to dad to be able to take a shower after all of the girls get out without having to wait for an hour.

And you can rest assured that a wife who is able to use her garden tub to take a bath in instead of a dust collection bowl will gladly pitch in a little. So if you are going to write an article about tankless water heaters at least know something about them or keep your mouth shut. I have personally installed over 100 units and have received zero complaints. I have a tankless on my house and it has paid for itself with peace of mind and reduction in our fuel costs. Clean consistent hot water is priceless to modern man.

Log onto http://www.atlantaplumbingdirectory.com to find the Atlanta Plumber you need now.

Mold And Stucco Damage

Glass Knobs - Home Tips

2009-08-09T16:11:00.001-07:00

Complete your kitchen or set of drawers with the glittery elegance of glass knobs and reflect times past. Whether your home is Victorian or not you can easily inject a bit of nostalgia by changing a few small details like your kitchen cabinet hardware.

Believe it or not there was once a time when multi-faceted glass knobs were standard in new homes. Today people use sleek metal handles to reflect their modern style, but some savvy decorators look for authentic glass hardware to give a home a truly unique look.

Originally gaining popularity when World War 1 forced the mass production of glass things due to the fact that metal such as brass, bronze and iron was needed for planes and ammunition, these handles were soon made to suit different house styles, budgets and tastes.

You could choose from clear ones with six, eight or 12 facets, colored ones in various shades from cobalt blues and emeralds to violet, amber and even milk. You could also choose from various shapes from ovals and globes to squares and octagons. Another popular style had tiny bubbles inside which works well with contemporary spaces today. Any of these were once readily available, but now it can be tough to find a set that will sparkle with the elegance of the past and the promise of the future.

Start simply. You may not find a huge variety of glass knobs at your local hardware or home store today, but it is a good place to begin. I f you don't find the ones you have your heart set on keep looking. Try garage sales and flea markets. Ask to see what a local salvage yard has on hand. You never know the treasures that you may find.

But while you are looking you have to keep in mind the right size you need and how many you need. If you want authentic antique glass knobs it may be difficult to obtain a full set. Once you know how many, what size and what style you are looking for you can begin your search.

It is these small details that truly define the look of a room. Whether you choose a specific color or style the hardware you choose reflects your personal style. Create a vintage look with shabby chic milk glass or give your space a modern vibe with sleek crystal pulls. Try blue ones, or yellow ones and more to create a space that is truly you.

You will surely love the beauty the right hardware can bring. No matter if you replace it in the kitchen, in the bath or on a set of drawers these small details can have a big impact. From an eye catching sparkle to a glittery shimmer it is glass knobs that fill your space with light and vintage style. Who would have thought that this simple symbol of elegance still holds true today? Finish your home with distinctive details and you will always love returning to it every day.

Author Jennifer Akre is an owner of a wide variety of online specialty shops including that offer both items and information on how you can easily furnish and decorate your space. Whether it is cabinet hardware for your bathroom or handles for your kitchen there are many tips you can use to make those spots both functional and beautiful. Click today http://www.ekitchenhardware.com and indulge your senses.

Upside Down Electrical Outlet

Efficient Exterior House Painting - Home Contractor Advice

2009-08-08T19:26:00.001-07:00

Being a good contractor often starts with helping clients achieve the level of success that they have in mind at the very beginning of a project. Homeowners will be delighted with the effectiveness and efficiency many contractors offer their projects. Professionalism often goes a long way in making sure that things go as they are supposed to and the results are up to the standards of the homeowner; often exceeding anything they had expected.

Exterior house painting does not have to be the chaotic experience that many homeowners envision it as becoming. With so many horror stories about bad contractors or complicated projects, homeowners may be reluctant to take on such large home improvement projects. They may put things off as long as possible without considering the consequences it may have on the house. Waiting too long between paint jobs and letting the paint job go south can make the house look ugly and will often make the next paint job more complicated and complex. This can turn into a mess for homeowners that are already afraid of the project.

Getting to the painting project when the time is right is often the best way to avoid these scenarios. Hiring a contractor can help to solve many of the problems that homeowners face when trying to take on these projects alone. A contractor can help with the planning of the project, offering advice out of their extensive library of knowledge and experience. Many contractors have seen problems come and go throughout the projects they have worked on, or have been trained in how to deal with these problems. This professionalism is often just what many projects are missing. Helping them move through home improvement projects with greater efficiency, the true value of a contractor often exceeds the monetary value they hold.

Good communication is often the best way to ensure that things go smoothly on a project. When the contractor and the homeowner are on the same page and know where the exterior house painting project is headed, the contractor can act semi-independently. They may not need to ask the homeowner about every little detail, as they will understand the homeowner's vision and will know where they want to take the project. This can help to save a great deal of time and ensure that the project is completed by the deadline with as little delays as possible.

Exterior house painting does not have to be a complicated, frustrating mess. If things are planned effectively, the project will seem to go smoothly and everybody will be happy with the results. The final product is what really matters, as it is the reason homeowners decide to paint in the first place. A beautifully painted home can make any house look its very best and will make those living inside pleased. Exterior house painting can be a job if the homeowner practices good communication and plans things the right way.

Getting things done the first try is often the key in making sure everybody is happy. This can help to save a good deal of stress and make sure that things go exactly as they should without delay.

More information on College Works Painting home repair for your home is just a click away.

Carpet Damaged At Threshold

Log Home Preservation Methods - Borate Wood Preservatives

2009-08-07T23:02:00.001-07:00

Log Home BorateTreatments - the options and how and when to use!

One of the most important ways to protect your investment, your home, is to use a wood preservative on your logs. There are only two times that you can effectively use these products on your logs. When the home is built, before it is stained, or after cob blasting a finish off of your logs, before you re-stain. The wood preservative must be applied to raw wood, so it can soak in and dry underneath the stain.

All wood faces the possibility of rot and insect infestation, even in dry climates. Fungi and insects actually consume the cells of dead wood, often causing severe structural damage that often requires log replacement-a costly repair. We use Penetreat to help protect your home from costly damage of rot and insect infestation. Penetreat is a borate based wood preservative. Borates are well known across the world for their protective qualities. Penetreat provides a protective "shell" coating which helps defend your home against dry, wet, and brown rot, as well as termites, house borers, powder post beetles, and carpenter ants, (to name a few).

Borate is not toxic to people and animals. It will not harm you or your pets. Borates do not affect the natural color or strength of wood. They are completely odorless, and are not corrosive to metal fasteners, nails or screws. When a "Penetreat" home is properly sealed against moisture, the borates can provide many years of effective protective.

Impel Rods are a highly concentrated solid form, water diffusible borate rod. They are ideal for both preventative treatments of high risk areas and remedial treatments in areas with existing decay. Because Impel Rods stop decay when properly used, there is no need to replace decay damaged, yet structurally sound logs! Decay prone and rot hot spot areas at greatest risk include: base logs, corner construction, exposed rafters or overhangs, and below windows, doors, and dormers.

Impel Rods depend on moisture to work. When moisture contents of wood reach levels suitable for decay attack, i.e. (around 25 percent) Impel Rods slowly dissolve and begin to diffuse throughout the moisture saturated wood. The preservative will migrate into the areas of highest moisture, which are at the highest risk from fungal decay. The diffused Impel Rod will adequately and effectively prevent the wood from rotting and decaying because it will not allow the fungus that causes rot to grow. When moisture levels drop below 25 percent, the preservative becomes dormant and provides a reserve, ready to reactivate should decay conducive conditions reoccur. We feel that Impel Rods are an essential part of the protection of your log home, and include them as part of our prevention and restoration system.

We hope this article has been helpful and look forward to giving you much more information in future articles to help you preserve your log home dream!

Jamie Fonder

Top-Coat Log Home Restoration LLC

http://topcoatloghomerestoration.com/

Soft Stucco Stucco Damage

Putting God on Trial

2009-08-07T02:18:00.001-07:00

I was listening to something interesting the other day when someone mentioned putting God on trial for some of the atrocities in the world. If God is the creator of the universe and all that is, or all that ever will be, how can we put him on trial, he's our creator. We can't put our spiritual master on trial can we, he'll just escape anyway if we convict him, won't he. He's got to be smart enough to break out a prison.

As a child I often thought about God and why he would allow such suffering throughout the world. It never made sense to me when I was child and it still doesn't make sense to me today. Why would the creator, want us to suffer, with even the littlest of problems. Other religions have explained it as if God was teaching us a lesson and that's why we have hardships in our lives.

Do you think God ever went through these hardships? Did God have problems finding a job or gathering some food? Does God even eat? Okay now I'm getting off the topic here,(I wonder what God does eat)... if children do something wrong, most of the time their parents will discipline or correct them. If adults to things wrong, the government will discipline and reprimand them. Sometimes these punishments can be severe. It depends on the crimes committed.

If man has to be put on trial for committing crimes like murder, genocide, and general atrocities towards mankind, should God also be put on trial or is he above man because he's God. I can't imagine the creator of the universe ever being put on trial for man's crimes against humanity or other men, but it seems like someone who is all powerful and all knowing could help his children out of this little mess that we're in today.

Couldn't God help us like we help our children. We as parents might not have all the answers, but we do not claim to have them. We are not all powerful and all knowing, like we would assume God to be. When is God going to help us solve some of our major world problems, like genocide and starvation.

Putting God on trial might not solve all of our problems today but it would be nice to have some help with our problems. If he created us to please him, do we have to go on trial one day, for all the things we did or ignored while we were alive. Something to think about isn't it.

Greg Vanden Berge is a published author, internet marketing expert, motivational inspiration to millions of people all over the world and is sharing some of his wisdom with experts in the fields of writing,marketing and personal development. Check This Out What Happened to the Wise Men's Gifts

Greg is currently working on a video library filled with great movies on a wide array of topics, like religion, self help and spiritual changes in the world.

Bow In Basement Wall

First Steps in Planning a Finished Basement

2009-08-06T05:25:00.001-07:00

Like many homeowners, you might be thinking about adding living space by finishing your basement.

Before you go too far in planning how you will use all of that extra space, there are some steps you will need to take to be certain that space will be healthy for your family. In fact, many of the first steps in planning a finished basement are good to protect the health of your family whether you finish your basement or not.

The first steps in planning a finished basement are these:

1. Inspect for signs of dampness. Look for standing water anywhere in your basement, especially in corners and below windows. Also look for signs of mold or mildew. Mold and mildew can grow on walls, floor, windows, and on the wood beams and framing for the floor above the basement. Mold and mildew inside your home can cause respiratory problems for your family, even if they don't have allergies or asthma. Basement dampness can also damage hardwood floors above, cause warping and buckling of framing boards, cause odors and even increase your heating and cooling costs.

2. Determine the cause of any dampness and correct the problem. Water or dampness in a basement can be the result of cracks in walls or floor, leaking windows, inadequate drainage below the basement and inadequate removal of water around the foundation. Drainage of rainwater is relatively easy to fix, and making sure downspouts are correctly placed and extend far enough away from the house is important both to have a dry basement and to protect the footers beneath your basement. Be sure to check the areas where floor and walls meet.

3. Correct any foundation problems. When you inspect, keep a sharp eye out for large and uneven cracks in walls or floor. These could indicate a foundation problem. You will need to have this fixed before you finish your basement.

4. Have your basement inspected by a professional before you start construction. Particularly if there are cracks in your basement floor or walls, it is a good idea to have a professional check your basement for potentially harmful leaks. You should also have the basement checked for Radon and other gases that could be collecting under your basement. While many homes today are built with drainage systems under the basements, this might not be the case in your locality. A professional can advise you about what you need to do to protect your family when you plan to use your basement for living space.

5. Check local building codes for specific things you must do before you start remodeling. For example, some localities require a set number of windows and doors for emergency escape. There might also be specifications about stairs and ceiling height. Remember that the most important part of finishing your basement is protecting the health and safety of your family.

6. Make plans to install appropriate vapor barriers and adequate insulation. You will probably want to install a vapor barrier of some sort when insulating exterior walls and before installing floor covering. This prevents moisture from penetrating porous concrete. There are floor mat products and insulation with attached vapor barrier that can be used for this purpose.

7. If you have any appliances in the basement that use water, check pipes and hoses for leaks. It will be worth the time and trouble to check bathroom pipes, washing machine hoses and the like to be certain there are no leaks before you start construction. Also check for leaks around your water heater and where pipes penetrate walls.

By taking these first steps in finishing a basement you can be assured that your new living space will be safe for your family and will protect your investment in your home.

Dan Fritschen, the author of this article, is the founder of the websites http://www.remodelormove.com and http://www.remodelestimates.com He is the author of three books on home remodeling.

Old Electrical Wiring

Fear of Calling A Contractor

2009-08-05T08:17:00.001-07:00

Your thinking about remodeling your home. You have asked everyone you know if they have a good contractor they trust or do they know anyone who does. You might have read a few articles like this or visited a couple of web sites to get as much information as you can about dealing with contractors during a house remodel.

Now the time has come for you to take the first step and call one of the contractors. You have spent some time looking through books and magazines to find just what you want done to your house. You have a idea of how much money you are going to spend if the job can be done exactly how you envision it.

You have called the city or county building department in your area to find out what is required from them in the way of building permits. If you have done some of these things you are ahead of most homeowners. There are a few of you that do know what can be done with a rough idea of how much the project will cost. A ball park figure lets say.

Most of the home remodeling Anxiety is caused from the miscommunication or no communication. The biggest problems I have had are from some sort of communication misunderstanding. I have been very lucky with having less than a handful of what I would consider a major home remodeling problem.

Do your best to explain what it is that you want done to your home. This also means understanding what it is exactly in writing what you are going to have done to your house. If you or the contractor do not understand this could lead to a possible anxiety attack and a problem.

Once you hire a home remodeling contractor the next step is to let them do their job. This doesn't mean. If you are watching them tear into a wall and the picture on the other side is about to fall off. Don't bother them. Of course stop them and remove the picture. We all make mistakes. If you see something isn't working out, talk to your contractor about it.

Don't be afraid of your contractor. If you see that what you had in mind isn't working out to your satisfaction. Explain the problem calmly and be to the point. I don't like it when someone beats around the bush and I never get to the problem. I would rather have them yelling at me, telling me what a jerk I am than taking two hours to make a point I have to drag out of them anyway.

If you do come to a problem that neither one of you can solve or you think the other one is at fault for whatever reason. You can contact the Department of Consumer Affairs and explain your situation to them. There is a good chance if you need a arbitrator they will set up a time and day for you and your contractor to meet. The arbitrator will come to a final decision for the both of you and that will be final. Of course their is always the Supreme Court... Well we don't want to go that far do we.

Most of the time if you have everything in writing in the form of a contract you shouldn't have any problems. If you do there is a great chance they will be able to be resolved quickly.
Doing major remodeling to your home can be extremely stressful at some points. Listen to your contractor when he is giving you advice on how to deal with the stress. He is a good source of wisdom especially if he had been doing it for years.

Resolving home remodeling anxiety will be a little more difficult during the construction process. It is very important to think the remodeling project through all the way to the end if you can. Try to think about worst case scenarios and figure out the best possible solutions before they happen.

Flying off the handle sometimes causes hammers and humans to lose their heads, as well as their effectiveness. William Arthur Ward

For more helpful home improvement information visit: http://www.gregvan.com

Greg Vanden Berge has been in the home building and remodeling business for over 30 years. With this knowledge he has created a few websites that provide useful information for home owners as well as contractors. His main goal is to educate professionals in the home related businesses, dealing with problems that can easily be avoided with just a little bit of information.

His website http://gregvan.com provides all kinds of answers to remodeling and new house building issues that could create major damage as well as possible damage to your pocket book.

Visit us now for Home Improvement Tips

Floor Framing Plumbing Problem

Why Energy Efficient And System Built Homes Thrive In This Economy?

2009-07-28T14:23:00.001-07:00

Today's energy efficient homes are built to meet or exceed the government's 5 STAR requirements for energy efficiency. Consider the following: when gas prices are higher, people will drive by several stations looking for a cheaper price or bargain- instead simply stooping at the first station that is most convenient.

Real estate, new home purchasers seem to follow the same trend. There are many first time home buyers who are still looking building homes all over the country. But not as many as in the recent years. Those buyers are just scrutinizing their investment more. They are shopping multiple builders, researching energy efficient house and system built homes on the internet, etc. at much more higher rate then before. The inflation, which is increased cost of land, building materials and labor have slowed the market, but have also created a great opportunity for builders of energy efficient house building systems. Those builders who stand the scrutiny of being compared to many other possibilities have much better chance to stay in business.

A slowdown can spell doom to many builders using traditional construction methods, as it is nearly impossible to price much less than other builders without offering less quality/features. However, is stark contrast, energy efficient house with System Built Homes thrive in this market as we able to offer homes that match (or often exceed) quality/feature standards while offering a much competitive price than houses are built with regular stick building. While the slower market dictates less and more scrutinies buyers, an energy efficient house with System Built Homes have the ability to attract more of these buyers.

You can find more information by visiting energy efficient home website for more data on the latest energy efficient house construction trend. If you're interested to find out how you can have your energy efficient System Built Home designed, please contact us at Residential Design.

Wood Post And Beam Connection

Going "Green" in Your Home

2009-07-27T23:21:00.001-07:00

As our society gets more conscious of our impact on the environment, many consumers are concerned about "living green". And while it's important to worry about what we drive, and what we eat, and what we spray into the air, one of the biggest impacts on our planet often goes overlooked - our homes. A house require a great deal of natural resources to be built and large amounts of energy to keep maintained. Many new home builders are building homes specifically designed to have a smaller environmental "footprint", but there are things that everyone can do in their homes to help save the planet.

1. Harness the Power of the Sun - Lower your energy bills and help the environment by looking into the possibility of using solar power to help power your home. Many states offer varying types of incentives to install solar panels. Even with incentives, the upfront investment can be a little pricey, but you're guaranteed to make your money back eventually in the savings on your utility bills.

2. Energy Efficient Appliances - Many companies that manufacture home appliances now have energy-efficient models. Next time you decide to remodel your kitchen, consider switching to these models.

3. Insulation - Improper insulation can be one of the biggest contributors to wasteful energy in your home. By ensuring that your home is properly insulated, you increase the efficiency of your heating and cooling units and reduce the amount of energy (and money) required to run them.

4. Planting the Seeds - It may sound simple or hokey, but one of the easiest and most effective ways to help your environment is to plant trees. Not only will you be contributing to clean air and making the world a more beautiful place, but trees will also provide shade to your home during the hot summer months, making it easier and somewhat cheaper to keep cool. And when you're ready to sell, the boost to your curb appeal that comes from a beautiful yard doesn't hurt either.

5. Avoiding pesticides - There are many types of pesticides on the market that are not only harmful to the environment, but also to you and your pets, due to the toxic compounds that they contain. Look for pesticides that are environmentally safe or try to avoid them altogether.

6. Open your windows - On a sunny day, turn off your lights and open your blinds and let the natural light in. If the weather is nice and cool, turn your AC off and open up your windows. Give your utilities a much-needed rest.

7. Sealing the gaps - Go around your home and make sure that any gaps in the windows and doors leading outside are properly sealed. The focus is on efficiency and it's hard to efficiently cool or heat your home while air is leaking in and out.

8. Try Xeriscaping - Xeriscaping is a new form of landscaping that uses indigenous plans and specially designed irrigation to landscape your yard. The local plants respond much better to your local weather and will - once grown out effectively - need much less care and watering to maintain.

There are many, many other ways to reduce your environmental footprint, from recycling to riding your bike to work. Consider some of these options to help keep your home environmentally friendly. And remember, the planet isn't the only thing you're saving. An energy-efficient home costs less to maintain. Increasing the green of your home will eventually increase the green in your wallet.

Lee Cameron is a professional REALTOR serving the Orlando real estate market. Lee has consistently proven his talent and knowledge in the real estate business and is known to his flair the business and the care with which he treats his clients. For more info on homes & properties in Orlando contact Lee today.

Shaky Garage Door Track

Installing Drywall - Mudding and Taping

2009-07-27T07:57:00.001-07:00

Installing Drywall, or hanging drywall as the professionals usually refer to the task, can be done by the homeowner. However, it is usually best done with two or more people as it requires significant lifting of heavy material. Mudding and Taping can also be performed by the homeowner, however these tasks require some practice and artistry.

Measuring and Ordering Drywall

Prior to actually hanging the drywall, the material first needs to be ordered and delivered. To determine how much material to order, measure all of the surface area, starting with the ceilings and then the walls. Calculate the total square feet and divide by 32. The result should give you the number of 4'x 8' sheets of drywall required for the job. I would also recommend adding another 5-10% to this figure to account for inefficiencies. Drywall does come in larger sheets, such as 4'x12', however for a Do-it-Yourself homeowner these larger sheets can become unwieldy and maybe even impossible to bring into the existing home.

For bathrooms or other moist areas Greenboard should probably be used as this material is moisture resistance.

For bathroom areas where ceramic tile is to be applied, e.g. Shower/Bathtub areas, Concrete board should be used. The concrete board is also referred to as Wonderboard or Durock.

Joint Compound and Fiberglass tape will also be required for Taping and Mudding. Joint Compound typically comes ready-mixed in 5 gallon containers. I would suggest 1-2 containers per 500 square feet of drywall. Fiberglass tape is quite inexpensive so I would suggest picking up 2 to 3 roles for most Do-it-Yourself drywall projects.

Drywall screws or ringed nails will also be required. Typically I use 1.25" length screws or nails. Also, strips of corner bead will be required.

Drywall Tools

Prior to starting drywall installation, you need to obtain the proper tools. A Drywall Lift really comes in handy when hanging sheetrock/drywall on the ceilings. You can rent Drywall Lifts at hardware or home improvement stores. If your budget does not allow for this cost, Jacks (or Ts) can be made out of 2"x 4"s. The Jacks (or Ts) should be of a length such that they are just an inch or two taller than the height of the ceiling and have a cross beam that is approximately 3' in width. Usually there are a couple of 45o angle braces connecting the crossbar to the main stem of the Jack. The Jack can then be used to hold up the drywall to the ceiling while it is screwed/nailed into place.

In addition to the Lift or Jacks, a drywall screw gun, hammer, T-square, carpenters knife, drywall saw and a keyhole saw are required. The keyhole saw is used for cutting around electrical boxes.

If mudding and taping are to be performed then Taping knifes, a Corner knife, sand paper, a pole sander and a Mud easel or pan will be necessary. For the taping knifes you will need a 6" wide blade and a 12" wide blade.

Preparing the site for Drywall

Prior to hanging the drywall, make sure the building inspector has first approved the Framing, Plumbing, Electrical and Insulation jobs. Secondly, a vapor barrier should be applied over the insulation on the outside walls if un-faced insulation was installed. Frequently sheets of plastic are used for creating the vapor barrier. The plastic is simply stapled to the framing, covering the insulation.

Finally, inspect all of the framing carefully. Ensure that nailers (e.g. 2" x 4"s) are existent at each corner and header, that the framing is straight, and that the framed walls create smooth planes. In addition, the ceiling should have strapping applied (1" x 3" cross boards). Also, make sure metal protection plates have been installed to studding where sheetrock screws or nails could inadvertently penetrate plumbing pipes or electrical wire.

Safety

Drywall installation is dirty, heavy work. The Gypsum in drywall can be irritating to the eyes, lungs and sinuses so wear safety goggles and masks to avoid breathing in the material. Gloves are also recommended to protect against sharp blades.

Installing Drywall

Start with the ceiling as this will allow the sheets on the walls to help hold the sheets on the ceiling. Use the Drywall lift or Jacks to hold the sheets in place while screwing or nailing them to the ceiling. The screws or nails should be installed such that they are slightly recessed and create a small dimple without breaking the paper. Screws or nails should be applied every 8 to 12 inches on each stud. Screws are typically stronger and can be placed further apart, e.g. 12 inches. It is best to fasten the screws/nails to the edges of the drywall first and then fill in the field afterwards.

Rows of drywall should be applied in a staggered pattern. This will create an interlocked pattern that creates a tighter and stronger ceiling/wall.

After the ceiling has been completed it its time to move on to the walls. Drywall should be applied from the top down, with the sheets hung perpendicular to the floor joists or studs. Again the rows should be staggered. The bottom piece should sit about inches from the sub-floor.

For purposes of efficiency and strength it is best to apply the large sheets of drywall over the doors and window openings and cut out the excess later. This will create stronger/cleaner looking walls and save significant time.

Installing Corner bead

Once the drywall has been installed, corner bead should be applied to all outside edges. Corner bead should be nailed every 6-8 inches and penetrate the framing.

Taping and Mudding

Again start with the ceiling. Apply a skim coat of joint compound over the surface of a seam using a 6" wide taping knife. If the seam is wide, apply a liberal amount of joint compound to fill it. While the Joint compound is still wet, apply the fiberglass tape over the skim coat of Joint Compound. Make sure the seam is centered under the tape. Once the tape has been installed, apply additional Joint Compound over the tape, again using the 6" wide taping knife. Continue this for all of the seams. Note: the tape will still be visible. Additional coats will eventually hide it.

The inside corners are usually the most tricky and require practice. Patience is the best advice and note that additional coats will be applied later to smooth out any imperfections.

Once the seams are done, using the 6" wide taping knife, apply mud to all of the screw/nail dimples. A skim coat is all that is initially required.

Note: When applying the mud over the tape and screw/nail dimples, make sure all excess material and uneven patches are smoothed down with the blade. This will reduce sanding later.

Once the ceiling is done, you can move on to the walls. Repeat the same process, however with the outside corners just apply a liberal coat of joint compound to the valley that is formed by the corner bead. This valley typically represents the first 3 or 4 inches from the edge of the corner.

Once the first coat has been applied let it sit overnight or until it is dry, prior to starting the second application of Joint compound. Make sure to completely clean off the taping knife, the mud easel and any other containers or instruments that have mud on them prior to finishing up for the day.

Applying the Second Coat of Mud

After the first coat has thoroughly dried, it is now time to apply the second coat of mud. It is this coat that should hide the tape.

Again, start with the ceiling. Using the wider taping knife apply a generous amount of joint compound over the taped seams as you want to build up the area over the tape. Taking large strokes smooth the joint compound over the tape applying more pressure to the side of the taping knife further away from the tape. This will help to leave more mud over the tape. When complete, the mud should cover an area that extends beyond the width of the tape by 2 to 3 inches.

After the seams have all been completed, apply a second coat of mud over the screw/nail dimples. With this second coat, flare out the mud over the dimples such that the diameter of the mudded area is about 3-4 inches in diameter.

For the inside corners a Corner knife may come in handy. Corners involve a little artistry so again take your time. Apply a generous amount of joint compound and then run the Corner knife down the corner starting from the top. Take long, even strokes. A 6" taping knife may also be helpful to smooth out any imperfections.

For the outside corners, using the broad taping knife apply a generous amount of joint compound and flare out the material such that it extends out 6 inches or so from the corner. Again, apply more pressure to the blade side that is further away from the corner so that you leave more mud nearer the outside corner.

Once the second coat has been applied let it sit overnight or until it is dry, prior to starting the final application of Joint compound. Make sure to completely clean off the taping knife, the mud easel and any other containers or instruments that have mud on them prior to finishing up for the day.

Applying the Final Coat of Mud

After the first coat has thoroughly dried, it is now time to apply the final coat of mud. It is this coat that requires the most artistry and the least amount of joint compound. Here you are simply applying a final skim coat to the already mudded areas.

Prior to applying the skim coat it is best to take your wide taping blade and lightly pass over the mudded surfaces. This will remove any bumps or ridges.

Again start with the ceiling seams and apply a small amount of joint compound using the broad taping knife. Again continue to flare out the seam by extending the mudded area such that about 6 inches resides on each side of the now invisible tape. Remember this is a skim coat so little mud is required. The purpose of this coat is to effectively fill in any lines or recessed areas.

After the seams have all been completed, apply a final coat of mud over the screw/nail dimples. With this second coat, flare out the mud over the dimples such that the diameter of the mudded area is about 6-8 inches in diameter.

For the corners use the broad taping knife and add just enough mud such that you can flare out the mudded surface area to about 8-12 inches, taking care to filling in any lines or dimples.

Once the final coat has been applied let it rest overnight or until it is dry,

Sanding

Sanding is a very dusty and dirty mess so please uses goggles and a mask.
I find it best to use a pole sander with an open screened sand paper material specifically designed for sanding sheetrock/drywall mud.

Lightly sand all of the taped areas, however concentrate sanding on the outer edges of the mudded areas such that all seams and ridges are eliminated and blend into the main surface areas.

Once sanding is complete, vacuum up the dust and you are ready for priming and painting the walls and texturing the ceilings.

About the Author: Over the past 20+ years Mark Donovan has been involved with building homes and additions to homes. His projects have included: building a vacation home, building additions and garages on to existing homes, and finishing unfinished homes. For more information about Home Improvement and Home Additions, and Home Remodeling and Repair visit homeadditionplus.com and homeaddition.blogspot.com

Bathtub Building Code Problem

Finding a House Painter - San Deigo Home Tips

2009-07-12T14:16:00.001-07:00

There are many reasons why you should hire a house painter, but knowing exactly how to go about it can be confusing. If you want professional-looking results and none of the stress of doing it yourself, follow these few easy steps to finding a painter who fits your needs.

The easiest way to begin your search is through the Internet. Only there can you quickly find contacts and information that can get you on your way to having a beautifully painted home. Using the Internet also has additional benefits that will be discussed later.

In the search engine of your choice, type in your area name followed by the word painter. Focusing your search to painters in your area is important because only they can know exactly the type of paint and method to use for your particular region. Select a few reliable-looking Web sites and begin browsing the company's information, taking notes on each. In particular, be on the lookout for clearly displayed contact details, a promising statement regarding the company's mission, and most important, testimonials and pictures of past work. An accessible Web site that contains testimonials and a portfolio is a sure sign that the painter takes his or her work seriously.

As you are browsing each company's site, take note of the services each offers and if these match up to your current needs. The best painters offer services that include, but are not limited to,

Complete interior and exterior house painting
Specialty and faux finishes
Green/low VOC coatings
Wallpaper hanging and removal
Power Washing and mildew removal
Comprehensive project and surface evaluation
Detailed painting specification and estimating
Color consultation and schematics
Prompt and accurate scheduling
Smart job management and supervision
Thorough surface preparation
Minor carpentry and dry rot repair
Consistent, on time completion of painting projects
Quality workmanship and materials
Two-year free touch up service.

Eliminate any painters from your list that do not offer services for your required project. Once you have narrowed the list to at least two prospects, contact them and invite them to you home to give you a bid. Ask for a copy of the bid to compare with your final bill. All that's left now is to hire the bidder that you feel best matches your needs and price range, and you're on your way to having a beautifully painted house.

Schmidt Painting (http://schmidtpainting.net/) is a Cape Cod painter with more than ten years of experience producing quality work. Rachel Spohn is a freelance writer.

Plant Covering Window

Remodeling Books Save Time and Money

2009-07-12T00:25:00.001-07:00

The other day, I was surfing the Internet and came upon an online home building bookstore that put together a website with the best-selling home building books on the market today. These books range from basic carpentry to advanced structural engineering and everything else you could possibly think of that could be related to the home building, selling, remodeling and construction process.

I couldn't believe the simple and easy to use. Here's a list of some of their books selections.

Photo Guide to Home Repair - The most up-to-date, complete, and useful guide to home repair a homeowner can have. With more than 350 projects and 2300 photos, virtually every home repair challenge.

Exterior Siding, Trim & Finishes - This first ever compilation by Fine Homebuilding on the popular subject provides builders with ideas for choosing the correct finishes for home exteriors, plus solid how-to information.

Flipping Houses - This book is designed for realty investors who want to profit from buying below market, making cosmetic improvements to add value, and then quickly reselling.

Bathroom Remodeling - Remodeling a bathroom is a challenge - it's action-oriented and requires extra energy and stamina. But you, undoubtedly, realize it's a challenge you want to take on.

One $20 house building books or home repairs book, can save you lots of money, if you're willing to do a little research and the labor to complete almost any home building project.

By the way, if you're interested in learning how to repair a roof, build your own house, interior decorating, structural engineering, building a deck, gathering some more information about home painting or even remodeling your bathroom. Our online home building bookstore can save you money if you're willing to do the work.

Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He has just finished a Home Buyers Guide to take some of the frustration out of home shopping

If your looking for some more Home Remodeling Pictures or home building ideas

Bad Termite Damage To Window

Building Outdoor Kitchens - Do You Need One

2009-07-11T10:45:00.001-07:00

How often do you find yourself outdoors is the first question you ask yourself before you go off and plan to build an outdoor kitchen for your home. These days you need to think twice before doing any major renovations on the home. Aside from the major expense that will be required of you, it will also take a major toll on you as you have to supervise the entire project. But if you have the budget and the time to extend your home to include an outdoor kitchen, go ahead.

Aside from the question asked above, there are other major considerations, you need to think about before deciding on having another kitchen outdoors such as visitors. If you are the type of person who has visitors often, then you need an extension of your home. Energy is a given as everybody wants to save up on energy. By having an outdoor kitchen, one gets to save up on energy and energy cost. Space is also major concern. You cannot have this, if you live in a condominium. You have to have a backyard, a space where you can have it.

If you have a big family, having an outdoor kitchen is an advantage. Kids get messy all the time, especially during meal times. By having this, messy times will become fun times! You will no longer mind the mess as long as it's outdoors. As the mess will only be limited to that area and the other parts of the house will no longer be affected.

So start on building that outdoor kitchen and let the good times roll.

Cheryl Forbes owns and operates the website http://www.outdoor-kitchen-concepts.com

Animal Dropping In Attic

Build Deck Stairs in 3 Easy Steps With Adjustable Stair Brackets Vs Traditional Stair Construction

2009-07-10T20:51:00.001-07:00

Adjustable brackets have many advantages compared to conventional stair building. With adjustable stair brackets, you can custom fit deck stairs into an exact area, forming any rise or run required. Traditional stair building is rigid and not forgiving. If you miscalculate or need to make some adjustments, then you have to throw out your materials and start all over again.

The adjustable bracket method also differs from conventional stair construction with its ease of installation. The automatic adjustable system only needs 3 saw cuts per stringer and you can make your deck stairs up to 7 feet wide. Only 2 stringers are necessary. No center stringers are needed at all because riser acts as a load-bearing joist, spanning across the stair between the two stringers, giving you stronger stairs. Literally, in 3 steps you can build deck stairs. With the traditional method you must custom cut, align and support several stringers as needed for the stair width. This requires a high degree of skill.

There's a lot less waste of wood too. With traditional stringers you cut away half the strength when forming the stair. Also, you don't have the frustration with math and all the mistakes that come from mathematical error with the new building method. In most cases, a simple adjustment will eliminate the error. This will save you a lot of time.

Adjustable brackets not only adjust, but are also approved as 'joist hangers'. This allows you to attach 2" thick risers that span across the stair like floor joists, every 10" or 11" between the two stringers. This eliminates the need for several center stringers running down the stair as in conventional construction. Since there are only two stringers, you also eliminate the need to align and attach several cut stringers in order to build your stair.

Another benefit to using brackets is that they provide 'code compliant' rail post support. According to the accredited testing, the brackets are used to provide rail post support for any type of wood stair which meets the code requirement for 200lb. Lateral load at 42". Conventional stair building doesn't have a good solution for this rail post attachment problem. If a big person presses on the railing in traditional stair framing, it can easily give way.

In addition to deck stairs, the brackets can be used for interior stairs: basement stairs, tongue and groove stairs, and even concrete formwork.

This is how it works:
Step one: Set the brackets on the two 2x6 stringer members using the spacers and pivot screws.

Step two: Remove spacers and rotate brackets to adjust stair height.

Step 3:Fix brackets in position, attach risers and treads.

Before you begin, determine the exact number of steps you need and exactly how wide you would like your steps to span.

In summary, 8 reasons why adjustable brackets are superior to traditional stair building:
1- Allows for a custom fit.
2- Ease of installation: 2 stringers, 3 saw cuts each
3- Less waste of materials.
4- No math skills required.
5- Simple adjustments correct errors.
6- Approved as joist hangers.
7- They provide 'code compliant' rail post support.
8. Big time savings in comparison.

EZ Stairs products allow builders to build stairs with a wide range of materials such as redwood, cedar, tropical wood, treated wood, untreated wood, vinyl, steel, and composites. This stair building system allows for customized rise and treads configurations which can be adjusted to meet all building codes for any interior or exterior application- ICC approved. It is the only adjustable stair bracket system available anywhere. To help you figure out how many stairs you will need, the website provides a free stair calculator as well.

EZ Stairs introduced the new patented adjustable dual-purpose exterior/interior brackets in 2003. In 2004, it won Pro Sales Magazine's Editor's Choice award for new product innovation in the construction industry. In 2005, it introduced its composite deck compatibility solution and was chosen for LBM Journal's 'Hot Products' Award at the 2005 International Builders Show, and again voted one of the fifty 'Hot Products' at the 2008 International Builders Show.
For more information, visit the ez-stairs.com website or call 866-693-9570.

Small Crack In Floor Slab

Some of Our Favorite Drywall Repair Tips

2009-07-10T07:14:00.001-07:00

Repairing drywall is one of those projects that can make a huge difference in the value of a home. With so many people taking advantage of the boom in real estate by purchasing, repairing and reselling homes, learning to repair drywall has obvious monetary benefits. We present here a few of our favorite drywall repair tips.

-In order to repair small holes in drywall, the best procedure is to clean the holes carefully, then dampen them with a sponge. The holes can then be filled in using a professional drywall patching formula. The drywall patch should be applied using a narrow putty knife. If you prefer, these small holes can be repaired by using patching plaster to fill in the holes. After the compound has dried, the area should be primed and painted to match the rest of the wall.

-For patching larger holes, it may be preferable to use precut adhesive wallboard patches. It may be necessary to make the hole wider in order to fit the patch into place. After the precut wallboard has been put into place, the seams should be covered and the patch should be covered with joint compound. When applying the joint compound it is important to follow the directions on the label. After the patch is in place, it should be primed and then painted to match the rest of the surface.

-If nails have popped out from in the drywall, be sure that the panel is well secured to the surrounding studs above and below the nail. The nail should then be hammered in and dimpled. A second nail should be put in and dimpled next to the original nail. Joint compound should then be applied to cover both nails. After the joint compound has been allowed to dry, the area should be primed and painted.

-Small dents in the drywall can be repaired by first sanding the surface thoroughly. Sanding will help to make the edges rough, thus providing a good base for joint compound to adhere to. After the area has been sanded, the dent should be filled with joint compound using a three or four inch spreader. The joint compound should be spread evenly and pressed firmly into the area to be repaired. For large dents it may be necessary to allow the joint compound to dry overnight and then apply a second coat. After the joint compound has dried completely, the area should be sanded, primed and painted.

For more information on home improvement and more information on drywall repair, take a look at our comprehensive home improvement guide at http://www.home-improvement4u.com. Also, check out our forum at: http://www.home-improvement4u.com where you can chat with an expert contractor about drywall repair or any home improvement question you may have.

Brooke Sikula is a freelance writer based in Ventura, CA and maintains her own website at http://www.brookesikula.com. She is also a regular contributor to http://www.get-home-improvement.com.

Old Electrical Wiring

House Drywall Application - Home Building Tips

2009-07-09T17:19:00.001-07:00

Let's start with the basic eight-foot sheet of drywall. Most drywall contractors apply drywall horizontally however I have seen some contractors working with metal stud framing install 10 foot sheets of drywall vertically.

The reasons for installing the 10 foot sheets of drywall up and down or vertically in this situation are quite simple. There is no structural strength required in these walls because they are simply partitions dividing rooms and usually the drywall only needs to be finished up to 9 feet. This is the only time I have seen drywall ran vertically.

In a wood framed house the drywall actually adds a little sheer value to the home itself.

The manufacturer suggests installing eight-foot sheets of drywall horizontally. The horizontal application of drywall means installing the 4 foot side of the drywall up and down and the eight-foot side of the drywall side to side.

What is the reason for installing the 4 x 8 sheets horizontally?

When it comes to finishing the drywall the 4 foot seams that run up and down or vertical will not be as noticeable as a seam running up and down the entire wall. If you haven't read one of my last articles on eye level window setting then let me give you a brief eye level education.

A person 5'8" in height will be more apt to notice things between 4'6" off the ground and 6'6" off the ground. If we ran the drywall vertical there is a good chance the eyes would be able to pick up any finishing flaws in the drywall. Running the drywall horizontally will just put us a little out of range from the lower eye level of 4 foot six with our finish.

Another reason for installing the drywall horizontally is there is a good chance your eyes would be able to pick up four foot lines in the wall going from floor to ceiling quite easily. On older homes you will see lines in the ceilings about every 24 inches. This is because the plaster or drywall ceilings is starting to sag in between the ceiling joist.

These lines are difficult to do anything about once the drywall is finished. The only alternative you would have is to remove the ceiling and re-drywall and finish it.

Drywall ran vertically will tend to crack easier than staggered drywall ran horizontally. The four foot section of drywall is stronger than the 8 foot section. If you stagger your drywall breaks every four feet this will increase the strength of your wall as well.

Try not to break the drywall at any door openings. The door openings seem to crack easily from the corners working their way towards the ceiling. Let the drywall run over the doorway and then cut the doorway out leaving the rough door opening during wallboard installation.

If you have ever seen a house that was drywalled by a professional crew the waste is unbelievable. The reason for this is simply that the drywall contractor does not want to come back and patch cracks in the walls three or four years after he is done. It can be quite labor intensive installing scrap pieces of drywall versus using larger sheets to cover the same area.

Don't forget and always remember that. Horizontal installation of drywall is recommended by the manufacturer.

Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He is currently working on more Building and Remodeling Library and adding useful content to help solve problems created by the lack of construction knowledge in the building industry.

Roof Fascia Section Repair

Get The Best Estimate For The Cost Of A Remodel

2009-07-09T08:43:00.001-07:00

The cost of your remodel depends upon several factors such as the cost of materials and fixtures, the extent of your remodeling plans and whether you choose to hire a general contractor or do it yourself.. Finding the right general contractor and subcontractors can be a big challenge. You can save time searching by getting free quotes from prescreened contractors.

There are several ways to get an estimate for the cost of a remodel project:

Cost per square foot

This is the most common way to do a quick estimate. This method simply assigns a cost per square foot of area that will be remodeled. The cost can vary between $100 to $700 per square foot.

You can quickly see that this estimate has little value since the range of potential costs is so great. While $700 per square foot is unusual and it is unlikely you could spend that, $100 per square foot is unrealistically low unless you make great efforts to minimize the cost.

The RemodelEstimates.com calculator gives a more accurate estimate by considering information about the rooms that will be remodeled, the level of finish that you want, and how you will manage the project.

Estimate from a contractor or an architect

With a general idea of the rooms that you want to remodel as noted above, you should be able to get an estimate of cost from a contractor or an architect. They will likely use a cost per square foot to calculate an estimate, but they will not use a range as broad as $100 to $700. Find a great contractor fast and for free. To ensure the quote from the contractor is accurate you need to give the complete information about your project. To make these tasks easier and your whole remodeling project run smoother you should invest in a good organizer like The Complete Remodeling Workbook and Organizer.

While this estimate will be much more accurate than an estimate based strictly on the square footage, you will not have the ability to change your preferences and get a new estimate very easily from a contractor or architect. The remodelestimates.com calculator uses the same types of information as an architect or contractor would, and because it is fully automated, it allows you to create estimates for different combinations of materials and room changes for free.

Drywall Screwdriver

Residential Metal Roofing - A Better Option?

2009-07-09T07:14:00.001-07:00

If someone where to say to say the words "metal roofing" I bet most people would be thinking of the old and ugly, and often rusting, corrugated metal roof. But metal roofing materials have come a long way and have become much more popular in recent years. They are attractive, light weight, durable and fire resistant. There are many types of options for metal roofing but the main two are aluminum and steel. Each has their own benefits depending on its application.

Aluminum is strong, durable and light weight. These are the same properties that makes aluminum a popular choice in the aerospace industry. And if its good enough for NASA then its excellent as a roofing material. Due to its being very light weight roofing with aluminum does not require the structure's roof to be reinforced which can be a problem when using other heavier materials such as tile or slate. Another major benefit to using aluminum is its resistance to rust and corrosion. This can be a very important advantage for those building is coastal areas that will be subjected to salt spray. And lastly because aluminum is more malleable than steel it can more easily be formed into various designs and shapes.

Steel is another option for a metal roof. But steel itself is not known for its corrosion resistance and will start to rust quite quickly. Therefore the steel that is used as a roofing material is galvanized. This means that the steel is given a protective coated of either zinc or zinc/aluminum to give it the rust and corrosion protection needed for use in roofing. For use in areas of high winds steel can be a better option than other metal roofing materials because of its higher resistance to wind uplift. Galvanized steel roofing is also available in a variety of finishings. It can be painted, aggregate-coated, or with a mill or bare finish. It will also never crack or peel when exposed to sun and weather making a long lasting material.

For home owners looking to save on cooling costs in the summer metal roofs can do just that. With a tradition asphalt shingle heat from the sun can be absorbed into the home heating it up throughout the day. A metal roof will tend to reflect the radiant heat away that would normally collect in the home's attic. Depending on where you live you could save about 40% on your cooling costs.

The biggest stumbling block most home owners have with metal roofing is the cost as it is more expensive than other available roofing options and yes, if you plan on moving in a few years than a metal roof may not be cost effective. But if you are planning on living in your home for a long period of time a metal roof can actually be cheaper. That's because a metal roof can last as long as fifty years or more and requires very little maintenance. In the same time period an asphalt roof may need replacement 2-4 times.

A properly and professionally installed metal roofing, whichever type you choose, will give you decades of protection and beauty to your home. Add to it the energy cost savings and you have a winning combination.

Specializing in Brampton Real Estate Harry Saggu is a professional agent with Century 21 Peoples Choice Realty Inc. and has a background in economics. Please feel free to visit the website for information on the Brampton Ontario Real Estate market.

Framing A Gable Roof

Leveling Your Floor - Home Repair Tips

2009-07-08T18:06:00.001-07:00

If you've ever been in a building where you feel like you are getting pushed to one side and you can't seem to stand up. You have either been drinking too much alcohol or the floor could be sloping. I was just in a store the other day that was full of antiques and glass but I could hardly stand up because the floor was sloping enough to create what I would consider a liability issue to the store owner.

Sloping floors are not going to be that easy to fix and repair. Repairing these floors will require a little skill and it would be a good idea to hire a professional to repair the damage. This is not going to be a simple fix and this is probably the main reason most people never choose to fix their sloping floors.

Fixing these floors will require either pouring a new concrete slab, replacing the wood floor framing members or replacing the actual building foundation itself. No matter how you look at it the sloping floor is going to be a costly item to repair.

What causes a sloping floor? Termite damage or dry rot destroying the wood framing or it could be as simple as a water leak over a long period of time causing the building foundation to sink and become out of level. Poor soil conditions with either too sandy or an expansive clay soil could be the culprit also.

Sloping floors can be damaged from incorrect landscape drainage. This would involve water settling around the foundation of your home and over a period of time the weight of the house along with soil problems can create the building to start sloping to one side.

The number one contributor to a sloping floor again like most damage done to a house is going to be water. Do your best to keep the water away from the house using roof gutters and landscape drains. These items are relatively inexpensive compared to the costs involved in repairing sloping floors.

Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He is currently working on more building stairs books and adding useful content to help solve problems created by the lack of construction knowledge in the building industry.

Find out more about Water Damage.

Tips For Remodeling A Bathroom

Please, God

2009-06-08T06:30:00.001-07:00

Gustav is coming closer to New Orleans---and I remember another day three years ago. I recall images and the emotions they evoked that I will never in my life forget. That there is also this stirring fear it could happen again that brings tears to my eyes.

According to the news this morning, Gustav may have weakened to a Category 2, down from the Category 4 that it was when taking aim for New Orleans earlier. Please let it be. Please let it be spared this time, this city that is called The Big Easy. A city that America just can not be complete without. If you have ever been to New Orleans, you will know what I am talking about. It's a place that, once you have been there, draws you back---again and again and again.

Katrina hit the city three years ago---and remembering brings back those images that one just never expected to see in America. Viewing the aftermath on television was like viewing images of some far removed third world country---leaving one with a feeling of sadness for those enduring those circumstances "over there". But it was always "over there", wasn't it?

As I write this, 2 million people have evacuated. At least this time there was enough preparation for that to happen. Maybe this time a young boy and his father can get on a bus and not worry about abandoning a beloved pet, a dog that young boy refused to leave behind. Because being prepared to leave before the storm hit---that didn't happen the last time. Not before over 1600 people died. Not before patients in hospitals were left to die without proper care and doctors, so tired and yet remaining to try to do what little they could. Not before the body of an old woman was covered by a cardboard box, remaining there on the street---dying with no dignity. Not when Katrina hit and devastated the city from the 9th Ward to the Garden District to the French Quarter. Whether the damage was physical or not, the damage was deep and lasting.

Celebrities such as Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, Oprah Winfrey and Ellen Degeneres have tried to help rebuild--truly rebuild and not simply throw money toward the effort as some others did. K-Ville with Anthony Anderson playing Detective Marlin Boulet was a television show that reminded us of the bravery and courage and determination of many in the NOPD. K-Ville, a show that was canceled early---more than likely because there was not enough of a following to keep it alive. More than likely because we forget. That was then, it couldn't happen again, right? Move on, get over it, it's over---we don't need to be reminded of something that was in the past, do we? Sure, we don't.

That was Katrina. We can hope and pray that lessons were learned and awareness such that the aftermath of Gustav will be much different. Leaders made mistakes and learned, too. Let's hope we learned enough.

To the Big Easy and her people--

Linoleum Edge Lifting

Foundation Repair Or Waterproofing?

2009-06-08T05:19:00.001-07:00

If you notice cracks or water leaks around your home, you may be having some foundation problems. This is a very dangerous situation because if your foundation is cracking, sinking, or shifting, it puts your whole house at risk. So, routinely check for any brick wall cracks or chimney cracks, drywall fractures and always look in your basement to see what your foundation is doing down there. If you notice any problems it's best to address the situation immediately because there are solutions available.

When it comes to repairing a cracked foundation, whether it be sinking, bowing or leaking water, two words immediately come to mind - Foundation Repair & Waterproofing. What are the differences? Which one do I do? Which one do I do first? Which one is correct for my situation?

First, as always, contact a knowledgeable foundation inspector. This generally is a civil engineer, structural engineer or P.E., or certified foundation repair contractor. These are the experts that can diagnose your problem and give well founded advice on a course of action to resolve your foundation issues. They will walk through your home, inside and out, and analyze your situation and give you a written evaluation of the current extent of damage. With this information you will then be able to make a sound judgment on what steps are needed to maintain the original integrity of the structure.

Simply put waterproofing can be defined as diverting water to a predetermined location. Waterproofing does not solve structural issues. Waterproofing does not fix a failed foundation.

Waterproofing can remove problematic water from around a structure. Waterproofing can divert water so as to not put undo stresses on basement walls. Waterproofing can stop nuisance water infiltration. Waterproofing is just one step in the process of solving your failed foundation. When used in conjunction with quality foundation repair products, waterproofing, can and will help maintain the integrity of your home.

Foundation repair can be defined as methods of underpinning or shoring your failing foundation due to unexpected forces. Using designed and engineered foundation repair products can reposition your foundation to originally designed tolerances. These products can be used to lift a structure. These products can support your foundation by changing load bearing points. Quality foundation repair methods use surrounding load bearing soils to support your homes foundation.

Which comes first the chicken or the egg? Do you waterproof first, or do you install foundation repair products first? Simply put, it depends on the recommendations of your foundation expert. Is water infiltration causing your problems? Is water collecting around your home? Are your gutters and sump pump working properly? Is your foundation settling due to poor soil support or changing soils under your home? Are there vertical cracks in your basement walls? Are there horizontal cracks in your walls?

These questions all will be answered in the initial inspection of your home. Your foundation engineer will talk you through your individual needs and suggest methods of repair. Generally you will need a combination of foundation repair and waterproofing. When used together you can be assured that your home will be restored to its original structural integrity while removing water issues that can cause future foundation problems.

Epoxy sealing a crack works great, but if you are only diverting the water to the next weakest spot on your foundation you are only chasing a problem. Super duper sump pumps with turbo charged battery backups are great, but do nothing to straighten bowed or sinking walls. A dry basement does nothing for a basement that is setting on poor or consolidating soils. If your basement is leaky, there has been damage done, and this damage needs to be addressed by foundation repair experts.

Foundation repair or waterproofing is the question; a qualified foundation expert is the answer. Call your local expert today and have your foundation issues solved by the experts.

About the Author:

Jeff Tully invites you to view his website http://www.myfoundationrepairs.com if you are having any foundation issues including bowing walls, cracks in your foundation or any type of settlement issue. On this website you will find the truth about foundation repair methods and what you should expect. There are many misconceptions about foundation piers or tie backs, get the straight answers here.

This site was designed and built with the homeowner in mind is the only true source for foundation repair and waterproofing information. From determining if you really have a structural issue to hiring an engineer or foundation expert, you will find the answers on my site.

Checking The Level Floor Framing

Winter Suggestions to Protect From Water Damage

2009-06-08T04:09:00.001-07:00

Mike Oliveira, a local Service and Production Manager for a basement waterproofing company, and I sat down the other day to discuss what is typically needed to get your home ready for winter. Flooding, bursting pipes, snow melt and other naturally occurring things can ruin a great season for the whole family. However, a few simple things can be done in order to beat the weather to the punch:

1.) Make sure all your out door sprinklers are shut off. If you didn't have your system winterized, call your sprinkler company to find out what you can do to start that process (especially helpful if you live in the north east or mid north west.)

2.) Make sure all your out door spigots are shut off from the inside. Keeping areas like this from freezing helps to maintain water flow inside.

3.) Have your Water Heater and Boilers maintained. Keeping these pieces up-to-date can help you replace them before they wear down, or fix minor problems that can cause to gallons of water flooding space in your basement. It's not a matter of "if" it's a matter of "when".

4.) Have your sump pump maintained. Making sure that your sump pump is working properly can help to defend your basement come the spring, heavy thaw, or if exterior water pipes freeze and burst.

5.) Make sure to have your plumbing looked at and have your water lines insulated and pitched. Cleaning all lines can help to remove clogs. Clogs cause back ups, which can freeze, then cause the weakening of the pipes and bursting.

6.) If you have a generator make sure that you're up to date on your service and that things are running fine for those desperate times during some of New England's great winter storms.

7.) If you have a water/moisture control system installed, consider having your system upgraded with a battery back-up sump pump. If you're not running on a generator for back up electricity, battery back-ups are more than just suggested. Having something to remove water is essential for coming out of the winter and into spring.

Other than that, make sure to have plenty of hot-chocolate, emergency phone numbers by the phone (plumber, basement repair company, heating company, etc.) and enjoy the winter! Stay warm, stay dry!

Jacob Lee- pioneer basement
http://www.pioneerbasement.com

Wood Fence Damage

Why It Is Becoming Hard To Decrease Flood Insurance Premiums In The UK?

2009-06-08T02:56:00.001-07:00

The last few years have seen the amount of rainfall in the UK increase and in the past few months especially there have been horrific scenes of homes devastated and in some cases entire towns cut off for weeks at a time. It is with all of this in mind we take a look at why it is becoming hard to decrease flood insurance premiums in the UK.

Over the past 5 decades the UK has seen a massive boom in the need for housing as the population of the country has grown from around 36 million people to a massive 58 million people . This has put a massive strain on the need for affordable housing and many new estates with the expansion of towns have been built on flood planes!

A flood plane would have been the land that in times of heavy rain and swelling rivers would have flooded and offered some relief to the rivers during the flooding and the waters would have drained away. Unfortunately due to the fact that there are now properties and roads built on this land the water still floods but doesn't drain away as easy.

This leaves behind it a great deal of devastation as the waters don't only cause damage as they flood the properties but the mud and the disease that the waters can leave behind can make the properties uninhabitable for months to come. This is some of the reason that getting a decrease flood insurance premium is less likely than before.

There is also the gamble of flood insurance, if you get flood insurance included in your policy then you are likely to get an increase on the cost, however you will in the next few years see an increase in the price of home and content insurance as the insurance companies continue to regain the money that it will be costing them (an estimated 3 Billion Pounds) to put right the issues that the current floods have caused.

Can you expect to see a decrease flood insurance premium over the next few years, probably not, as the climate continues to change and the unexpected weather conditions get worse and more unpredictable then the cost will more than likely rise but is it worth not getting the insurance? Personally I think you would be mad not to protect your home and belongings.

Find more valuable information from Home Flood Insurance and make sure that you are not caught by the next major weather event.

Split Stair Balusters

Self Build and DIY Conservatories

2009-06-08T01:45:00.001-07:00

Self Build and DIY conservatories are a way of saving money on a new conservatory, but it's not something I can't recommend unless you have some building experience, are an enthusiastic and knowledgeable DIY'er or have trustworthy local builders and carpenters that can do all or some of the work with you.

Most DIY conservatories are off-the-shelf modular designs and while these may look satisfactory on a small modern building, it's unlikely that they will complement a period property or one with a distinctive design.

Similar problems will be experienced with uVPC conservatories or ones sourced from a superstore or a builders merchants catalog. Conservatories built in this way may save you money, but will probably stick out like a sore thumb on the back of your home and may even reduce the desirability of the property when you come to sell it, rather than add value to it.

A DIY Conservatory doesn't have to be a cheap looking mass-produced product if you invest in one from a bespoke conservatory designer with their own workshops and craftsmen. Contact one of these and they should be happy to discuss your self-build requirements with you and provide detailed drawings and plans. In fact they may be very happy to work with you, as they will be selling a conservatory and not have to do the installation work themselves!

However, before you get to this stage you need to choose the style of conservatory that will suit your home and your lifestyle. Take a look at conservatory websites and familiarize yourself with traditional conservatory designs such as Georgian and Victorian and the alternative modern and contemporary designs.

When you've chosen a design, you'll need to calculate the size of the conservatory. In my experience most people overestimate the size of the conservatory they need. So my tip is that you measure some of the rooms in your home and look at how much furniture you have in the space. Then go into your garden with some bricks, string or garden twine and measure out the size of the conservatory you would like on the ground in situ. Take some garden furniture and arrange it in your outlined space; mark the positions of doors from the house and into the garden so you can see the thoroughfares and then see how comfortably you can move around your furniture and how much space you need.

Then you'll need to get down to more practical matters. Find out whether any planning rules apply in your locality and what building rules there are that need to be followed. You'll also need to understand what type of foundations will need to be prepared depending on the ground conditions.

A good builder should be able to cope with these issues quite easily, but it is worth taking time to understand the processes involved so you can see what you may be able to undertake yourself and what you might find easier to sub-contract to local tradesmen. Most conservatory companies will have been through the process many times before and will be happy to advise you with href="http://www.oakconservatories.co.uk/diy_conservatory_do_it_yourself_conservatories.htm">diy conservatories

Ian Dewar, Consultant to Richmond Oak Ltd
http://www.oakconservatories.co.uk

Wood Post In Dirt

Insuring Your Fine Art Collectibles

2009-06-08T00:27:00.001-07:00

Artwork

Art is an expression of one's thoughts and feelings. Yet, many pieces of art also have a monetary value as well.

For this reason, you should protect your artwork and your collectibles as you would any other investment. Protecting it means having a proper insurance policy on it. This doesn't hinder the beauty aspect of your paintings, sculptures or other fine pieces of art. What it does is protect you against the unknown. Some may begin to argue that they cannot afford any type of insurance on their art collectibles. But these same people should actually stop and think about what they would lose if something tragic such as a fire would occur. Their beloved art would be destroyed, most likely. Plus, they would have no money to show for their lost. No, the money from an insurance policy couldn't bring back the beauty. Nothing would bring back the beauty. Yet, the money could be a small comfort and could allow the owner to try to find another piece of art to comfort them.

If you do have a painting or collectible you think it is worth a lot of money and you wish to insure it, here are a few things to do. First, get it appraised. Go to a professional appraisal. You need to know exactly what the piece is worth in dollars and cents. Make sure you get this appraisal in writing, too. This is your proof of its worth. Now get busy and start photographing the pieces you wish to have insured. You should also photocopy any sales receipts, wills, etc to prove that you have actual ownership of the piece.

Those two things are the easiest things you can do. Of course, the hard part will begin now.

Do a budget.

Decide how much you can actually afford on insurance.

You might even want to decide on what types of insurance you want?

Do you want fire and water damage coverage? What about theft coverage? Yes, even if you live in a good neighborhood, you could very well get robbed.

Before you begin calling local insurance companies for quotes, begin with your current company that holds the policy for your home. Most homeowner's policies will have an amendment that can be added to include such assets as art. You also may get a reduction in the rates since you all ready have coverage with this company. If you don't like the quote your current company gives you, and then begins shopping around to other companies. You may also want each company to give you two separate quotes, one for fire and water damage alone and one that includes theft coverage.

What if you cannot afford to cover your collection or your one special piece of art for the full amount of its worth? Don't fret. Think about it like this. Wouldn't it be better to be able to insure the piece for half of its worth than to not have it insured? If something would happen, you would get some money. Plus, you can always increase the coverage if your financial situation happens to improve.

Once you decide on a policy, actually read it. You should also understand what it covers and its terms. Ask questions. If you want to know if it will cover a fire that is caused from an electrical problem. Ask. You need to know the answers to the questions that are important to you.

You also need to be able to understand the fine print. If you don't understand it, don't be afraid to ask. It is the insurance agent's duty to help you understand.

Finally, once you take out the insurance policy make sure you keep up with the payments.

Now relax and enjoy your precious artwork, knowing you are covered if disasters strike.

Jeffrey Meier at Jam727 Enterprises at http://www.thearticlehome.com blog offers even more detailed information on a wide variety of topics.

Insulation Damage

Lake Effect Snow

2009-06-07T23:12:00.001-07:00

Lake effect snow can cause large local variations in snow depth with 50 cm of snow accumulate over the course of a few days near the shore and a few miles inland from the lake shore there may be no snowfall at all. Lake effect snow does occur in regions away from the great lakes (for example along Lake Baikal in Russia) but it is far more pronounced and and destructive to ground and air transportation around the great lakes.

Lake effect snow occurs when a mass of freezing air moves down from the Arctic over a body of warmer water, creating instability in the atmosphere above the lakes. As a consequence, clouds build and develop over the lakes and, as they move downwind, develop into snow showers and squalls.

The water temperature of the Great Lakes lags behind the atmosphere in cooling through early winter, as water holds its heat far more readily than land. The heating from below results in instability in the air during cold outbreaks. This instability mixes warm, moist air near the surface of the lakes into the lowest 1 to 1.5 km of atmosphere. Rising air rapidly reaches saturation, and the result is shallow cumuliform clouds, frequently aligned in bands parallel to the low-level wind. By January, ice covers most of the lakes' surface area, cutting off or reducing the heat supply.

The distribution of lake effect snowfall in the Great Lakes area depends upon several factors: the position and direction of weather systems, the lake water temperatures and its variations, and the strength and direction of the winds. Topographic differences on the lee of the Great Lakes also affect the intensity and distribution of snowfall. On the eastern and southern shores of the Great Lakes, lake effect snowfall contributes between 30% and 50% of the total winter snowfall.

Winds from the Arctic generally blow from the west or northwest, causing lake effect snow to fall on the east or southeast sides of the Great Lakes. Whether or not an area gets a large fall of snow from lake effect snow is dependent on the direction of the winds, the duration they blow from a particular direction, and the size of the temperature differential between the lakes and the air above. Cold air holds very little moisture and the low level of the atmosphere is quite unstable. Therefore clouds can form very quickly, condensation occurs and snow falls.

In late 1977 a storm hit the southeast of Lake Huron around London, Ontario. In just three days from December 7th to 9th 100cm (39 inches) of lake effect snow fell on the region. This snowfall was made worse by the 60mph winds causing huge drifts.

However the largest snowfall recorded that was attributed to lake effect occurred in January 1966. In a five day period from 27th to 31st, 259cm (102 inches) of snow fell in Oswego, New York. Half of that total fell on the 31st.

Mark Boardman BSc dip.hyp is a leading author and expert on the climate. For more information about Lake Effect Snow or a look at World Weather, go and look at these sites.

Fireplace Drywall Ceiling Damage

Reducing Your Flood Insurance Premium

2009-06-07T21:43:00.001-07:00

How much of your property is covered by your insurance policy? Have you limited the cover of some contents of your house to cut the cost of your insurance premium? Only when emergencies arise like flooding and you find all your precious possessions float away or get damaged right before your eyes, and you get an amount that is not enough to cover all your losses or have your house rebuilt , you will realize that cutting costs is not a good idea after all.

However, there are hundreds of ways to reduce your insurance premium. The rule is not to tie yourself to the very first insurance provider that comes your way. There are so many insurance companies in the United Kingdom that you can choose from. Take the time out to get as many quotes as possible so you can compare their features and get a cheaper premium.

The next thing you can do is to come up with necessary measures to secure your home. Floods can not be prevented but you can do something to reduce the risk of damage to your home and the contents. You can not relax and leave everything to your flood insurance provider, most especially if your house is located in a flood zone area.

When you have made measures to secure your home and property, your insurance company will see that you have made preventive measures and see you as a better risk. Then they may lower the premium quotes. Look out for special offers and bonuses some insurance providers will be offering to their clients from time to time. Some insurance providers may even offer discounts on certain policies and this is something you also have to keep an eye on.

If the house and the contents you acquired are under mortgage, chances are your mortgage lender may provide the flood insurance for your property for them to feel safe that their investment is protected but you still have a choice to shop around for an insurance company which can give you the best deal.

If you make your own choice, the mortgage lender may also have to check and approve the flood insurance policy you chose. They may check the policy details to see that your property is in good cover when emergencies arise.

Again, take time to browse and shop around for several quotations before you make your decision. You can navigate through the web for all the insurance providers in your area. If you have sifted through your search, make a call and get additional information.

If you have several quotations already and you still have not decided on one who offers the most reasonable flood insurance premium and can satisfy your needs, you may also consider paying a higher excess. This can be a cheap way to get an excellent policy, but at a reduced price. Paying a larger excess, in the event of an emergency is a small price to pay when you consider the sums involved in recovering the total value of your property and possessions.

If you are looking for information or advice on flood insurance or flood plain insurance or reducing your flood insurance premium, visit us now. FloodInsuranceAdvice.com is a goldmine for information on all aspects of flood insurance.

Wood Window Damage

Maids in Orlando Show the Easiest Ways to Clean a Bathtub

2009-06-07T20:40:00.001-07:00

Everyone will agree that nothing makes our backache more than cleaning the bathtub! Even just to think about it causes anyone to grimace. However, here are some practical tips from Maids in Orlando that could make it a little easier to accomplish this task.

Mixing a 'sprayable' solution of a degreasing liquid detergent and water in a spray bottle makes it a good one, earth friendly, apart from having nice scents. Spray the solution all over the tub and let it sit for about 10 minutes, which should be enough time for it to work its way into the soap scum and dirt. Use a large household sponge and go over the surface completely, rinse it thoroughly and check for stubborn areas, Maids in Orlando recommends to break out a good abrasive type cleaner and to start scrubbing!

Thereafter, adding a little of the degreasing detergent to the bath water when you are done and agitating the water as it drains helps keep the "ring around the tub" from forming. Be sure to rinse your tub with clean water to remove soap and avoid streaking.

Shower stalls are easy to maintain, once you have thoroughly cleaned. All you need to do is to wipe down the wet surfaces after a shower. Maids in Orlando suggests using a squeegee on flat surfaces and a towel on the rest. If water is wiped from the surface, there will be no water stains, no soap scum and no oily grime buildup. You should, however, give your shower a good cleaning and treat with sanitizer (to avoid mildew in hidden places) at least one a month to six weeks.

Using polishing and finishing products for vinyl or acrylic showers and tubs and with a little rubbing, will remove most stains discoloration. This will leave a smooth, sealed surface that resists water spotting and stains by causing water to bead up and run off. Remember, if hard water stains are not present, dirt and mildew will not build up, and your tub stays clean.

Here are some additional tips from Maids in Orlando on how to clean the bathtub.

First, assemble the right tools - liquid detergent, spray bottle, protective gloves, mild abrasive, cleansing products, and a scrubber (brush or sponge).

Pick up and put away all your bottles of shampoo and conditioner, soap, etc. Your work will be easier and faster if these things are out of the way - its looks better, too.

Before you start your heavy scrubbing, wet the bathtub down and, using the detergent, begin lightly scrubbing al the heavily grimed areas of the tub. Allow to "work" for about 10 minutes, so the detergent can begin breaking down the grime.

When the time limit is up, go back to scrubbing, and the dirt should come off fairly easily. After cleaning a section, spray or splash with clean water to mark your progress and do the same thing with the rest of the section.

When it's all done, practice regular maintenance for a few weeks, then give another going over.

Brett Burks has been in the residential cleaning services since childhood. If you are in need of learning more about ways to keep your house or office clean then you should head on over to the website at Orlando maids.

Mold Growing Under Paint

Black Homeowners Guide to Fighting Termites - 6 Signs You Have Them

2009-06-07T19:21:00.001-07:00

The termites are coming! With the combination of unseasonable weather, a slow real estate market, and lack of termite inspections and control, termites continue increase at alarming rates - especially in African American neighborhoods. Other than water, termites are your homes greatest enemy. They love to slowly eat away at your homes foundation. In fact, all they do is eat and make love, not a bad life if you ask me. But I digress.

The three groups of termites that love to snack on your home are dampwood termites, drywood termites and subterranean termites.

The most lethal to your homes structure and foundation comes from drywood termites and subterranean termites. Drywood termites live above ground and love mostly warm coastal locations. For example, California, Texas, Florida, Louisiana.

Subterranean termites have the largest population and are in the most locations, thus pose the biggest threat to the largest number of homes.

Here's Five Signs You Have Termites:

1. Hallow wood.

Poke wood near foundation of your home with a pointed metal object. Severely damaged wood eaten from the inside is usually a sign of termites.

2. Dirt in wood.

Termite love moisture, so many people often confuse termite damage with water damage and vice-versa. The best way to recognize termite damage is that termite bring dirt up into the wood.

3. Large numbers of winged termites swarming from wood or the soil often are the first noticeable sign of termites. Termites normally swarm in early spring. You may also notice winged termites swarming around wind sills.

4. Other signs of termites include mud tubes and mud coming from cracks between boards and beams around or under your home.

5. Light attracts winged termites and they shed their wings in window sills, cobwebs, and other on other surfaces . When you notice winged termites or the wings they shed inside your home, this is often a sign of termite infestation. Consult a qualified termite company.

6. Follow the moisture trail.

Moisture is the number 1 source that attracts termites. Check areas around your house that constantly moist. For example under leaky faucets, sprinklers, pipes, puddles, etc.

Follow the water. "Moisture is probably the No. 1 draw for termites," says Potter. So look in areas beside the house where moisture holds - under leaky faucets or around air-conditioning units - "anything that lets water puddle close to the foundation."

What To Do If You See Termite Signs or Clues.

First don't panic. Fortunately termites like to savor what they eat, so they are slow eaters. According to termite experts it normally takes a colony five years to eat through a pound of wood. But if you notice an infestation you should call in a professional, you most likely have multiple colonies happening.

How to Prevent Termites

The best protection from termites is prevention.

Here's five tips to prevent inviting termites to dinner at your home.

1. Avoid stacking of allowing wood or wood products against your home, like lumber, tree branches or limbs. This is like putting a juicy piece of meat out for your termites, a very inviting dinner bell.

2. Avoid allowing moisture to stand close to your homes foundation. This is also very attractive to termites, they adore moisture, it's very refreshing to them, they like having a drink with their dinner too.

3. Homeowner with decks love storing wood and wood products underneath. This is also like placing a let's do lunch invitation to hungry termites.

4. Make sure you keep dirt around your home from touching the wood siding of your house. This allows subterranean termites to easily enter your home. It's like providing elevator service. Make sure you keep the wood around your home at least 12 inches off the ground, according to University of California's Integrated Pest Management Program.

5. Make sure you correct anything that allows standing water, moisture or doesn't allow water to naturally flow away from your homes precious foundation. A dry foundation is boring to termites.

Termites damage is responsible for billions of dollars in damage to homes and commercial building every year, according to a recent University of California study. Now you have simple, effective tips to recognize and prevent these pesky creatures from literally eating you out of house and home.

If you suspect you may have termites consult your local pest control company for a free inspection.

Roy Primm, publisher of Black Homeowner News has written dozens of articles helping homeowners manage their homes through this housing recession. To read informative articles, watch free homeowner videos and more go to http://www.BlackHomeOwnerNews.com

Crack In Fiberglas Bathtub

All You Need to Know Water Cleanups

2009-06-07T18:10:00.001-07:00

Before you zero in on just about any water cleanup service for your instantaneous water damage requirements, be very sure that you are going in for a professional water damage company that has adequate experience.

A good company should be aware of quick and timely restoration, as the first requirement is to remove the water before it causes any serious damage to the material. It goes without saying that foul odor, bacteria, contamination and fungi will result in case the area retains moisture for long. Moreover, mold formation also occurs if water damage is not treated well within time!

The technicians of a reliable company should be thorough professionals - working hard towards getting your property back to its original condition as early as possible. They should make the entire process fairly convenient and less hurting. Though some 'hurt' on the part of customers is a part of the process, resulting from damage to the property, the technicians should go beyond the call of duty to do their best!

Professional technicians should be so quick as to expedite the restoration process - removing everything related to the water damage, thereby helping you save any additional costs.

Reputed companies involved in water cleanup services often deal with issues like water and properties damaged by flood. All possible efforts are made to restore the damaged places to their original form again, as fast as it is possible. Trained technicians not only spot moisture that invades such properties, but also remove it. Molding is also checked as the work to stop microbial growth is undertaken simultaneously.

Identifying the elements that have either already caused damage or are likely to be the causes is the first step. With that being accomplished, the repairs are undertaken and water tests are conducted, the property is best restored as it originally was. To ensure proper execution of work, good companies appoint managers to supervise the process. It is made certain that the technicians finish the work properly, so that the customer is happy with the results and keen to return to their property.

In order to deal with a contaminated drywall, the technicians work towards building a 'containment' area. This way the dust is also kept away from the unaffected areas. Moreover, such an area checks the spread of contamination and mold to other areas. Alongside this process, the technicians also check for leaks if any.

The moist areas of your property are properly dried using dehumidifiers. This too is done as quickly as possible, as the technicians are aware of the fact that the moisture can travel through the air and change into liquid. A sink drain line or a tub drain allows the water in the humidifier to go through.

Removal of the contaminated areas and drying of the other areas are two main aspects that water cleanup companies work at. The process of drying generally takes a couple of days, sometimes even more, depending on the condition. Once the technicians have successfully run tests to locate the source of the water, the restoration work begins almost immediately!

Leo Nov is an editorial staff member of RestorationSOS.com, a leading service provider for water damage cleanups. To learn more about Water Damage Cleanup New York and Water Damage Restoration New York, visit RestorationSOS.com.

Bow In Basement Wall

Insurance Claims - Mitigate Your Damages When You Have a Claim!

2009-06-07T16:58:00.001-07:00

Mitigate damages in insurance claims.

Remember, the word "mitigate" is an insurance term that means protecting the property from further damage. This can involve placing tarps over damaged roofing, removing damaged contents, pumping water out of your home or other temporary repairs. The costs for temporary repairs to protect your property are covered in your policy.

You have a responsibility in your policy to mitigate your damages. Depending on your individual situation, that may mean doing something as soon as possible after a loss. If you don't protect your property from further damage, the insurance company will likely deny the additional damage that will occur.

For example, if you have a windstorm that tears off your shingles. You do nothing to protect the roof and four days later, a big thunderstorm dumps a couple inches of rain on the roof, which causes water damage to ceilings throughout the house. The insurance company would pay to fix the roof, but not the water damage inside.

You may need a restoration contractor to mitigate the damages for you. I wrote about restoration contractors in Chapter Four. Here is a little extra comment about restoration contractors.

You might see many restoration contractors drop by to see if they can help you with temporary repairs, like tarps on roofs, board-up, pumping out water and demolition, and contents removal. Get written estimates from them BEFORE you sign ANYTHING. They will sometimes tell you that they were sent by the insurance company (maybe true, maybe not), and that it is your responsibility to protect your property from further damage (which is true). They may tell you that they will "direct bill" the insurance company (which they may do).

Be very careful on contents removal, sometimes known as "pack out." The more contents they clean, the more money they make. The cost to clean something is a fraction of the cost to replace it. So, when the restoration contractors are involved, the claim value is reduced, which benefits the insurance company. That is why many adjusters may bring a restoration contractor with them to the loss location. Remember that many policies pay REPLACEMENT COST, and following major fires, large windstorm and water losses, most of your damaged possessions can be replaced instead of being cleaned. Every penny that goes for cleaning your contents comes from the contents limit of liability shown on your policy declarations page. So, theoretically, a substantial amount of your insurance money to replace your items could go to the restoration company to only clean the items!! If the restoration contractor cleans a bunch of your property, and you reject it as unusable, there will be less money for replacement of your property.

The contract for cleaning and restoration of your property will be between you and the contractor...not the contractor and the insurance company.

MAKE SURE YOU ARE IN CONTROL by mitigating your damages!

Now, I'd like to offer you two special reports at no cost. One is "5 Things To Do When Shopping For Car Insurance," and the other is "5 Things To Avoid When Shopping For Car Insurance." Each one is a $9.95 value, but free to you when you sign up for my newsletter at the website address below.

P.S. WARNING!! Do Not Buy Insurance, or Submit an Insurance Claim Without Visiting This Website!

check out: http://www.insurance-claim-secrets.com

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Finalist, USA Book News "Best Book Awards 2008"

My blog is at: http://insurance-claim-secrets.blogspot.com

Concrete Stained Sheathing

Mortar Repair - The Art of Tuckpointing

2009-06-07T15:38:00.001-07:00

If you have an older home or have had recent settlement in your homes foundation, you are probably a candidate for tuckpointing. What is tuckpointing you ask? Good question.

Tuckpointing is the process of filling in missing, cracked or deteriorated mortar joints in masonry walls. In this process the installer removes the damaged mortar if necessary, then installs fresh pointing mortar into the open mortar joint by 'tucking' or pushing it into the damaged joint with a 'tuckpointer' or a 'pointing tool'. He will also color blend the new pointing mortar to match the existing mortar color as close as possible. Once the mortar has been 'tucked' into place, the installer will use several different tools to 'tool' or finish the fresh pointing mortar so that the joint finish matches the existing mortar joint finish.

Sound tedious doesn't it?

Well it is and though the average homeowner can get mortar from a DYI center and push it into a joint, it can and usually results in a sloppy or smeared finish. Though this will close the mortar joint from the elements which is good, the unsightly finish may or may not be acceptable to a homeowner depending on the location and situation.

If you want the joint to 'disappear' with the repair, then you may wish to contact and experienced masonry repair professional. You will want to look for someone who is not only an expert but is artistic and able to match and blend colors so that the final mortar color matches the existing. He must also have the knowledge to understand the proper time to 'tool' the fresh pointing mortar as well as the proper tooling sequence that makes for a seamless final appearance.

Who would be in need of this service?

If you see cracks in your brick, block or stone you are in need of tuckpointing. Whether you choose to do this repair yourself or hire a professional will be determined by the final results you are looking for.

For a seamless repair that 'disappears' we recommend that you contact your masonry repair professional for further evaluation.

Michael Olding is tradesman and consultant in the field of restorations and repairs and currently operates a restoration and repair business in Cincinnati, Ohio. He is also a Master in the field of masonry construction, restorations and repairs.

In addition he is a writer and speaker as well as a marketing, training and business consultant for the contracting industry. If you interested in his services he may be contacted by visiting http://www.cincihomepro.com

Attic Framing Water Stains

Easy Way to Repair a Large Hole in Your Wall

2009-06-07T08:23:00.001-07:00

Great video on how to fix a hole in your wall .

If your looking for some more home inspection or home building ideas.

Bhagavad Gita
Magic Of Believing Book

Do I Need Flood Insurance?

2009-05-15T07:04:00.001-07:00

Did you know that your homeowners insurance does not cover water damage due to natural flooding? Overflowing rivers, tidal surges, city storm drain backups, and storm driven rain may flood your home but unless you have specific coverage against these perils, you're likely on your own.

In addition to natural flood disasters, your homeowner's insurance policy most likely specifically excludes flooding due to sewer backups and "seepage." Some insurance companies do offer special endorsements for coverage due to sewer backups. If you want this type of coverage, call your insurance agent and see if it's available. Water seepage is considered a maintenance issue and is not generally covered by insurance. Your best protection against water seepage is to evaluate and maintain your home.

Flood insurance is available to cover your home against flooding. This type of insurance is often referred to as a "single peril" policy. The National Flood Insurance Program offers policies covering natural flooding such as storm surges, snow melt, heavy rains, levee failures, blocked storm drains, and other flood events. However, a flood must be significant enough in order for the flood insurance to kick in. For example, the floodwaters must either affect two or more properties or cover at least two acres.

Some lenders require flood insurance policies, normally if you live within a designated flood plain. Flood hazard maps are used to determine a property's risk. High risk properties need a standard policy.

If you don't live in a flood plain, you probably won't be required to obtain a flood insurance policy. However, flood insurance is available for low to moderate risk properties. Nearly 25% of all flood insurance claims are located in these lower risk areas. Policies for low-to-moderate risk properties are less expensive. These policies are called "preferred risk" policies.

You can purchase flood insurance from your own insurance agent or locate an approved insurance agent through the FloodSmart.gov Web site. Shopping around for flood insurance isn't necessary because rates are set by the National Flood Insurance Program and are based on flood maps.

An interesting note if you're considering buying flood insurance is that there is a 30-day waiting period before your policy goes into effect. You can't look at the weather report and decide to buy flood insurance just before a hurricane makes landfall. The two exceptions to this waiting period are when the initial purchase is made in conjunction with certain loans in high risk areas or when the initial purchase is made within a year of a flood map change.

Water damage can and will occur regardless of whether you have flood insurance. Having the right type of policy can help you pay for repairs. The Dryout Network is experienced at drying out and restoring your water damaged home or business as well as working with the various insurance claims processes.

Mr. Mark Decherd
http://www.dryout.net
1415 Colonial Blvd.
Fort Myers, Fl. 33907
1-800-330-1504
Water Damage

Prepare Your Home For Rising Waters

2009-05-15T05:45:00.001-07:00

Floods can strike quickly, catching many homeowners unawares. Even a small amount of water can lead to thousands of dollars worth of damage, both to personal items and to the structural integrity of the house. In order to reduce the amount of damage your home incurs, it's imperative to plan ahead long before the storm hits.

The first thing you need to do as a homeowner is to make sure that you have sufficient property insurance. In addition to standard home insurance, you need to purchase flood insurance as well. Even if you do not live in a high risk area for flooding, it's still a good idea to get the extra insurance. While you may never need it, this small investment could seriously pay off in the long run.

Make sure that the flood insurance you do have will provide adequate coverage for your property and belongings, and always keep a copy of your insurance papers safe and out of water's reach.

Formulate an escape plan with your family that includes emergency exit points and a common meeting place. There's a good chance that you'll be separated from loved ones during a flood, so be sure to prepare ahead of time. Don't forget to plan ahead for your pets' safety as well. Many emergency shelters don't allow pets, so have a backup safe house ready for them.

Educate the entire family on where first aid supplies and food stores can be found, and instruct them on the dangers of flood waters. Small amounts of flooding can be appealing to children who want to play in the water. You should however, assume that the water is unsafe. It's very likely that it's contaminated with sewage and spilled chemicals, so avoid contact with it if at all possible.

To protect your home in a flood, again, preparation is key. Seal air bricks, attach flood barriers to windows and doors, and place sandbags around the perimeter of your house to divert incoming water. It's also advisable to plug sinks with something sturdy in order to keep water from surging up through the drains

Turn off your gas and electricity so you don't risk electrocution, and move dangerous chemicals to a higher floor so they don't spill and contaminate the water. Remove what curtains and rugs you possibly can, and relocate whatever furniture you can to higher ground. If this isn't possible, try raising heavier pieces on bricks to reduce their contact with water. Anything that's dear to you, move upstairs. Otherwise, there's a strong chance that it'll be lost to the flood waters.

Once the flooding hits, you will want to have a first aid kit, flashlight, and a wind-up radio on hand. Gather necessary medications and supplies, and get to safety at your first opportunity. You'll be able to breathe a sigh a relief knowing that you and your family have done all you can to keep yourselves and your property as safe as possible.

Search for real estate in Bellingham WA. All Whatcom listings including Lynden, Blaine and Lake Samish real estate. Access photos, virtual tours, neighborhood info, maps and more at BuyerMax.com.

Drywall Tools You Need

2009-05-15T04:29:00.001-07:00

If you want to take on the task of drywalling, then you will need the right tools for the occasion. Drywall tools are essential for getting that sturdy, smooth wall you need to create. If you have never hung drywall before, your local hardware superstore no doubt has classes you can take to let you in on the secrets of the pros. But even their classes can't save you if you don't have the right tools for drywalling.

Drywall Tools: The Basics

To get your drywalling started, these are the pieces of drywall equipment you'll need:

- Two kinds of trowels - a plastic one and a corner one.

- Some kind of sanding material, be it a sanding machine or sandpaper - a sanding machine is much easier for most of the walls, but you will need some sandpaper, and a sanding pole to get the top of the wall.

- a drill - a cordless drill is the easiest tool for drywalling.

- a utility knife

- a large T-square for measuring and cutting your drywall.

- a steel or plastic corner tool

- two knifes, one four inches and one ten inches. These are for tape and for those finishing they drywall

- a container for mixing your drywall solutions. If you want to avoid rust, go stainless steel.

- assorted cloths, tape, and brushes.

- taping tools

Working with Drywall Tools

Drywall is too important a job to take on without any experience whatsoever. Although you can find information on the internet about how to drywall, sitting through a class on the subject is really the best way to go for a novice.

After you're sure you know how to get the job done, make your plans and buy the right amount of materials (plus a little extra for those little mistakes). When you get started, move from top to bottom, making sure you are leaving as little space between the boards as possible. If you make a mistake, you can fix it later by sanding, but doing it right the first time is worth the hassle.

When the drywall is up on the walls, you will need to begin the process of smoothing. This process takes three days, minimum, even if you have done an impeccable job with the drywall. You'll need to apply at least two smoothing coats and a finishing coat. Make sure everything is sanded to perfection before you slap on that finishing coat, because there is no going back after that.

Greg Hansward's summaries can be found on a lot of web publications tied to information on drywall finishing tools and drywalling and mudding tools. You might come across his contributions on drywall taping tools at various other sources for drywall taping tools tips.

Factors That Contribute to the Cost of Your Roof

2009-05-15T03:13:00.001-07:00

So you have roof damage, and you need to have the damage repaired. So where do you start? Well, first you should consider what must be done to repair the roof, and also make an estimate of what the job will cost.

The first thing to consider is the roof type. Is it gabled, or hipped or some other type? The type of roof and the pitch of the roof must be recorded in order to get a proper estimate. Other roof types include flat roofs, mansard roofs, bonnet roofs, saltbox roofs, gambrel (barn) roofs, and shed roofs.Flat roofs are gaining in popularity due to some newer methods of drainage.

Along with type and pitch, determine the square footage of the base of your home. All this information together will give you a good idea of the quantity of materials required for the job.

Next, consider the type of material you wish to use. Some people like metal roofs, and these are very good in the sense that they are very durable; they may be, however, out of your price range. I myself have no problems with asphalt shingles, as long as they are rated for 20 years or more.

There are other options to consider like attic ventilation systems and skylights. We have a skylight, and it is really a nice option - it adds a nice brightness to our living room.

Lastly, don't forget to get at least three quotes from contractors. Contractor quotes sometimes differ quite a bit, and with proper research, you can save thousands of dollars!

For more advice in minimizing roofing cost, please visit our website: http://roofing-cost.com

Apartment Move-in Checklist

2009-05-15T02:01:00.001-07:00

A new apartment is an exciting prospect. It means new friends and neighbors, new attractions and, hopefully, a better place to live. To make sure that your new apartment remains exciting and doesn't yield nasty surprises, there are several things to check that you might not have considered both within the apartment and in the area you'll be moving to.

Inside

Check the faucets and showers in the kitchen and all the bathrooms to make sure there is good water pressure and that the hot water heater is working.

Make sure the toilet flushes correctly; there's nothing worse than a toilet that doesn't flush properly or that constantly leaks water into the bowl.

Check all the lights in the apartment to make sure they work. If they don't, have the landlord replace the bulbs first, but it may be the fixture itself.

Check the level of cell phone reception in all the rooms in the apartment. These days, many people use their cell phones almost exclusively; checking now can spare you aggravation and annoyance later.

Check all the appliances to make sure they are working properly. Make sure the refrigerator is cooling, the stove and oven work and the microwave, air conditioner and heater.

Check for signs of any insect infestation. Look in the cabinets, around the baseboards; the apartment should be well cleaned.

Listen for sounds of outside traffic. How soundproof are the walls? If you're near a busy highway, or in an urban area, traffic will be a constant.

Check the action of all the doors. Do they open and close smoothly? Do you have to push or pull very hard to open or close any of them?

Check the carpeted areas for wear and tear. Are there any discolored or damaged areas? Is the carpet pulling up in any corners or pulling away from any spot? Also check for water damage on the walls or ceilings at this time.

Outside

Check out the reputation of the landlord with other residents. Do they take care of issues in a timely manner? Do they respond to complaints quickly?

Check out the road system and public transportation. This will give you a good idea of how long it will take you to get to specific places like work, school, the grocery store or the gym.

How safe is the area? Do your homework and find out what the crime rate is like. Is the community gated and patrolled at night?

What are the area's schools like? A quick check on the Internet will tell you if the local schools get a passing or failing grade.

Does the complex provide a playground or park? If not, is there one nearby where you can walk your dog, let the kids play or just relax in the evenings?

Where will you wash laundry? If a washer and dryer is not provided, or at least hookups for them in the apartment, where can you wash your clothes?

Joy Hinson is the marketing manager of Rental Markets Inc. who manages Apartments-in-Atlanta.com, a website dedicated to promoting Atlanta Apartments providing resources, and information as well as an apartment search for people looking to move to Atlanta, Georgia.

Vintage Silk Cleaning

2009-05-15T00:35:00.001-07:00

Vintage silk can be damaged by dirt that is trapped within the folds of the garment or any exposure to light, heat, and dust. Some of the damages by the stains may not be recovered and can tear during cleaning. Use caution while following the steps below to clean vintage silk.

Start by spreading a dry towel under the silk garment. Then, wring out a damp towel and use it to moisten the surface of the silk. Next, make a solution of 1/8 cup liquid detergent and three cups water. Dip a sponge in the solution. You should go with the grain of the vintage silk and gently rub the sponge on the area you wish to be cleaning. Then, dip another soft sponge in clean water and blot where the spot is to rinse the soapy solution off. Next, mix two cups water and four tablespoons white distilled water. Using a clean towel, apply it to the cloth surface. These two solutions prevent damage from the vintage silk.

Lastly, you should lay the vintage silk between the folds of a dry towel and gently press it to dry. To remove wrinkles from the fabric, iron on the lowest setting and approach with caution. Use the tips below while applying the above steps:

Use a cotton swab instead of a sponge to clean any small stains.
Do not wring out any vintage silk. This can damage the silk.
Do not use any steam when ironing.
If this vintage silk is antique, contact a vintage restoration expert to help you out if you have questions.

Once you have followed the simple steps below, your vintage silk should now be looking as clean as you bought it.

Don't forget to check back to http://www.paolettiscleaners.com for more cleaning tips and advice.

Please visit http://www.paolettiscleaners.com to see more cleaning tips.

Kids Picnic Table

2009-05-14T23:22:00.001-07:00

A kids picnic table is one of those simple things in life that the whole family can enjoy. Children love helping to build things. And a picnic table is simple enough that even if you never finished a wood working project before, this little craft can be done in under an hour. Only a hand full of tools are needed, and this varies only slightly depending on how much involvement an adult wants to have in the proses:

A wooden stool or saw horses:

A square set for making 90 degree markings

An adjustable or open end wrench

Measuring tape:

Pencil

Hammer

Drill and drill bits.

Screw driver (wood screws - 20 or so)

12 x Carriage bolts (" wide by 2" long w/ nuts and bolts)

If the kids picnic table is meant to be a kids only project, a hand drill and hand saw can be used under adult supervision. Otherwise, pre-drilling and cutting with power tools can drastically cut down on time and 're-dos'. Either way, square headed screw are recommended because they do not slip with a screw driver and goggles should be worn because drill bits do have a way of snapping.

Then there is the wood. 8 - 1x6 (seats and tabletop) and 9 -1x3 (legs, seat supports, table supports and brace) should do the trick. Being as we are just building a kids picnic table, there is no need to go over board (no pun intended) with red cedar or any thing fancy like that. It is recommended that you do not use pressed, treated wood though because of the chemicals and health factors. Pine is a typical wood used for this project. Untreated wood can be used if the table is to be used indoors. If the table is intended to be left outside, choose a wood type that has a natural resistance to decay in preference to a pressure-treated wood. The local lumber store will be able to assist in this. Either way, if it you wish the have it last longer then a year, you should treat it with some kind of sealer to avoid water damage, warping and splinters.

When all is said and done, your new kids picnic table will be cause your children to light up at there own handy work and want to use it every night. You can even truly make it there own by letting them paint it, carve on it and draw on it... what can it hurt. It will be much more then just a place to sit and eat. Find more family camping and picnic fun here

My son has been in Boy Scouts for 4 years now and he is working on his Star Ranking. I have been adopted as an assistant and have enjoyed just about every camp out they have gone on. I've learned a lot from those little guys, and must say that I look forward to these monthly outings each and every time. Rain or shine, winter or summer.

How to Remove Mold Effectively

2009-05-14T22:03:00.001-07:00

After finding mold in their home, many people begin to panic. However, this is not necessary. There are several, simple instructions that can teach you how to remove mold from your home with moderate effort. Before beginning, it is important to remember to cover your mouth and nose with a mask to protect your lungs as it can be difficult to determine if the mold is harmful or not.

As such, goggles and rubber gloves are also key. Mold can be very dangerous and can cause a whole range of health issues, ranging from headaches to cancer. Therefore, your protection should be taken very seriously.

First, move all clean furniture in the infected area to a mold free room. Then seal the air vents to prevent further spreading to other parts of your home. To protect yourself, open a window to keep the air circulating.

Next, put all contaminated items that cannot be saved into trash bags and take them immediately outside.

Your next step is to determine how to remove mold from the various surfaces that are infected. Mold can be removed from hard plastic and glass surfaces with the aid of non-ammonia soap or bleach. Allow the cleaner to penetrate the area for 15-20 minutes before removing. With some scrubbing, these surfaces can become completely mold free. Wood can be scrubbed and then sanded, but other porous surfaces are not as simple.

Dry-wall and carpeting, for example, must be completely removed and replaced. Be sure to clean the area around these to ensure that the mold does not come back.

Once all of these surfaces are mold-free, disinfect them with bleach. Also, washing with a borate-based solution can help prevent mold in the future.

For additional information there is a wealth of books available with further instruction on how to remove mold. If you have a particularly large area of infestation, it may be beneficial to consult a professional in order to learn the best strategies on how to remove mold from entire homes or buildings.

If you have mold in your home, you should know that it's very dangerous and can even be deadly. Find out now how to rid your home of mold and the dangers by visiting http://www.moldbegone.info today. It may be the best decision you've ever made.

Pouring Cement Foundation of Your Home (As Owner-Contractor) Includes Window Bucks and Window Wells

2009-05-14T20:50:00.001-07:00

When building your own home (or any other home for that matter) you must know where your windows will be placed in the basement. In addition you need to have the window bucks and window wells ordered and delivered before the forms are set up, because the window bucks must be placed in the forms exactly where you want them as the forms are set up. I ordered both the bucks and window wells myself, and had them both delivered before the foundation forms were set up. You will probably need to pay for them at the time of delivery, unless you have an account with the provider.

After the foundation is poured and the forms are removed, the cement sealant is applied by a sealant sub-contractor. Then the window wells will be attached to the concrete by whomever you designate to do the job. Be sure to sign a contract with the sub who will do the sealant, stating what he is expected to do, how much he will charge, and how soon he will do the job.

You can see the tar sealant and the window wells in the picture.

While acting as the general contractor of your own home, by paying for the window wells and window bucks yourself, you will likely save some money.

It is very important that the placement of your windows in the basement be decided before starting your housebuild project. You need to be sure to consider where the deck(s) and outside stairs will be placed out from the main floor, so that a basement window is not infringing upon the same space.

We had that problem, and had to relocate the deck slightly to the left of where we had intended it to be. Instead of the deck being off from the family room, it actually is off the kitchen instead.

The windows in the foundation of your basement are placed with window bucks and protected by window wells, and are absolutely necessary to remember when building your new home as owner-contractor.

Linda Baxter is a musician, playing piano and organ and conducted a small choir for 14 years. She arranges music and enjoys creative ways of teaching piano to students. She is a stay at home Mom of nine children, (22 grandchildren now) who acted as General Contractor for building their retirement home. She hired and paid subcontractors, was overseer of all construction work (with the help of her husband, RL), and did most of this from her "armchair".and telephone. She freely shares her experiences on her website, http://www.home-built4u.com, hoping to help other potential owner/builders escape some of the pitfalls she and RL experienced, while being their own General Contractor.

Summer Solstice - Bask in the Golden Hue

2009-05-14T19:28:00.001-07:00

Summer Solstice, which is on June 20, is essentially a geographical phenomenon. Before we delve into the depths of the whys and the hows, it would be worthwhile to make it clear at the very onset that it has a lot of other aspects that must be taken into consideration if we are to understand the vast gamut of associations that can be linked to this annual event. These aspects can be cultural, traditional or merely symbolic. If we are to fully comprehend the significance of the term 'summer solstice', let us begin by the geographical explanations.

The sun is directly overhead a particular latitude in the north and south of the equator every year. It is the latitude of twenty three and a half degrees on either side. When the sun is on that particular latitude in the north, it is called summer solstice. Similarly, when the sun is on the same degree in the southern hemisphere, it is called winter solstice. In Latin, solstice means 'to stand still'. This is the last latitude to have the sun directly overhead. Then on, the degrees recede and the sun is directly overhead the equator and finally, into the southern hemisphere. This is the cycle. Therefore, June 20 is the longest in the northern hemisphere and consequently, the night is the shortest.

Summer solstice is the peak of summer. Snow begins to thaw in places where they had not budged previously. That is why the summer solstice is looked upon as the 'beginning of something' in many cultures. There are festivities and events in many regions.

It can also be interpreted as a new dawn in terms of relationships. If you had been going through a rather rough patch in with your love, this is the time to let the sun pierce through the veils of darkness that have lately accumulated between the two of you. Studies suggest that people are in their cheerful best when the weather is good and breezy. The warm glow of the lovely weather does a lot of good to evaporate the drudgery that had rusted your soul during the long, dull and monotonous winter. It is time to throw of the shackles and disperse the gloomy fog.

Summer Solstice is the time for celebrations galore. Anyway, you do not need an excuse to bask in the warm sunlight. Just go out and revel in the myriad colors of summer. It is a shot-lived joy that Nature herself offers us. This is the time for people who love outdoor activities. Since your energy levels are on a high, you also feel like doing work that you have been pushing around through the year! The length of the days being long, you also get a lot of time to spend outdoors.

A special mention must be made of the setting sun, as Shelley put it - 'In the golden lightning/ Of the sunken sun'. Its one of those rare pleasures in life that come to you irrespective of your social or economic status. You just need to have a heart that appreciates beauty. Make sure you have a field day!

Dorothy Smith, the author of this article, writes about the events & special occasions. Want to know more about summer solstice celebrations or summer solstice cards? Celebrate summer solstice by sending free ecards.

Reducing Your Flood Insurance Premium

2009-05-14T18:09:00.001-07:00

Why Buyers Should Attend House Inspections

2009-05-14T16:49:00.001-07:00

While many buyers are enamored with the idea purchasing a house, they often fail to fully investigate the house in question. House inspectors can do this for you, but you should also attend the inspection.

While you are out looking a perspective houses, you probably noticed a few things. Unless the seller is foolish, most houses are going to be in excellent shape. The landscaping will be nice and up-to-date, the painful look excellent, the house will be very clean and so on. You will find this on most houses for one primary reason. The seller wants to sell the house! The question, of course, is whether the house is truly in good shape, or just looks nice.

As a buyer, because without saying that you should always demand a house inspection by a qualified professional. The purpose of the house inspection is to take a closer look at the quality of the house. A house inspector is going to check for things like internal water damage, termites, rot and other things that appear to be problematic. Obviously, you want to know if there are any serious problems underlying the pristine exterior of your potential house.

While most buyers know that they need a house inspection, they often don't understand the importance of attending the house inspection themselves. In fact, you should try to get the seller to attend the house inspection is well if you can pull it off. The reason for this has everything to do with reasonableness. When you and the seller both attend a house inspection, you get a first-hand account of what is right and what is wrong with the house. This will almost always cut out any riffraff from the seller about whether there is a serious problem or not. This makes negotiating a financial solution to any potential problems much easier and much more straightforward.

Even if there are no problems with the house of any significance, you should still attend house inspection. Why? Well, there is a practical answer. If you attend the house inspection, you're going to get an introduction to the practical things related to the house. You're going to find out where things such as the gas valve, water valve, electrical box and other key little things are located. You may think this is something you can do easily on your own, but you'd be surprised how hard it is to find certain things on a house.

For house buyers, house inspections are an important step in making sure you're getting a quality piece of property. That being said, it is a mistake to just rely on a report from a house inspector. You are committing to a large amount of debt, so make sure that you get out there and understand what you're buying.

Raynor James is with FSBO America - FSBO homes for sale by owner.

Weather Explained - A Brief Explanation of What You Should Know

2009-04-30T20:18:00.001-07:00

People instinctively seem to know how important weather is to their daily lives, especially in areas where it changes often. This is important because an unprotected individual in the face of severe weather can be significantly injured or killed by its effects. Having at least a cursory understanding of what the weather is will mean that you are not only more informed and educated, but will be better able to determine what, if any actions you can take to protect yourself and make wise decisions concerning the weather around you at any given time.
Broadly defined, weather is "a set of all the phenomena occurring in a given atmosphere at a given time." It occurs in the hydrosphere and troposphere. The hydrosphere is any part of the earth or its atmosphere in which water or water vapour is found. The troposphere, on the other hand, is the lowest layer of the atmosphere and contains about 95 percent of the mass of air in the earth's atmosphere. The troposphere extends from the Earth's surface up to about 10 to 15 kilometres. Weather happens because of temperature and moisture differences between one place and another. Differences occur because of variations in the angle of the sun at any particular location. Weather means current activity and climate is related to the average conditions over longer periods of time.

Specialized weather conditions such as hurricanes need to be given attention here because of the significant influence they have over warm areas. Areas of particular concern are the tropics and warm U.S. states where hurricanes and other severe weather phenomena exist regularly. A hurricane is a low pressure zone funnelling surrounding warm air to the ground. A hurricane is the same as a cyclone. The difference comes from the area of the ocean that the storm forms. Cyclones are responsible for a wide variety of different meteorological phenomena such as tropical cyclones and tornadoes. The result is that weather forecasters usually further defines the term with another. A hurricane is itself a commonly cited chaotic phenomenon for it consists of elements that come spontaneously to form complex systems. The elements together are a greater risk than the pieces when considered individually.

Weather might also be defined this way: weather is the short-lived condition of the air. It can be called "short-lived" because it can change rapidly. For example in some places like Melbourne, Australia you could experience three weather patterns in one day. Weather is logical; it is a straight cause and effect situation. The problem is that the cause is often unknown.
As stated earlier, weather can have a significant impact on the environment around us. It is important to accurately predict certain outcomes of particular types of weather. This is the case, for example when dealing with forest and brush fires. Weather is often the most influential variable. People in charge of controlling wildfires must understand how fire may react to an alteration in the weather, such as a wind change. Wind and water conditions, such as water availability are a large determining factor affecting how fire crews respond. Many times aspects of fire control and containment include "controlled burns". A controlled burn refers to" prescribed or controlled burning of a specific area to prevent it spreading further where containment may be far less certain. It is a technique sometimes used in forest management, farming and prairie restoration".

It is important to understand weather and because of how it can affect basic tasks that people often take for granted. Such commonplace activities include driving a car. Weather is one environmental risk factor that is known to affect road crash rates around the world. If a person were informed of weather conditions that might significantly impair the safe driving of a vehicle, the prudent driver would pull over until a specific weather condition has passed. Seeking appropriate shelter strong enough to withstand the present conditions is also advised.
It is also good to be aware of common weather terms that are heard everyday like "wind chill". Wind chill is based on the rate of heat loss from exposed skin caused by wind and cold. As the wind increases, it draws heat from the body, driving down skin temperature and, eventually, the internal body temperature. Another significant term used in weather prediction is Zulu time. Meteorologists use Zulu time, which is the standard time in Greenwich, England, in their forecasts, such as for aviation, to avoid confusion with time zones in forecasts for far-away locations. Air traffic controllers use it for the same reason. Standardization is important to avoid confusion in different places. Another common term is "jet stream". Jet stream relates to the strong temperature contrast between polar and tropical air. . Because the Earth's axis is tilted relative to its orbit, sunlight is at different angles at different times of the year. This results in temperature changes. Temperature differences than cause pressure differences. Higher altitudes are cooler than lower altitudes.

Lastly it is important to realize how volatile and sensitive the atmospheric system is. Small changes in one part of the system can have a huge impact on the whole. Weather forecasting makes use of science and technology to predict the state of the atmosphere for a future time at a particular location. It is hoped that this brief explanation of weather in general with reference to more specific weather phenomena will help you gain a more clear understanding of it, how it affects you and what certain, common terms used frequently actually mean. Appreciation is hereby expressed to Google for general definitions of specific weather terms. You can learn how to use the define feature with the following syntax to learn meanings for terms you specify this way; "define:term" where term refers to the term you are frying to define. Look for additional articles at the websites given at the end of this article.

For more information, please visit the Marketplace section of http://www.learnherenow.com You will find additional articles on this website. Please check out our sister site at http://www.stevenmilbrandt.com Thank you. It is hoped you find this article both helpful and informative.

Pour Girder To Post Connection

Termite Eradication - 6 Easy Steps That You Need to Take in Order to Get Rid of Termites

2009-04-23T19:04:00.001-07:00

Termites can actually make a difference to whether your house lasts for decades or gets literally eaten up within a matter of months. These little insects can do some serious damage to your house, especially if its foundation is predominantly made up of wood. Termite eradication should therefore be high on your priority list.

Fortunately though, there are some simple steps that can you can take in order for effective termite eradication and protect your house.

1. The first step in termite eradication actually starts with early detection. You should be constantly on the lookout for breaks or cracks in your house. Your checks should not be limited to wooden parts for termites are also known to get inside cracks present on brick walls too. If you have a wooden fence outside your house, then you need to check it too.

2. You will need to ensure that there are no wooden scraps lying near your house. They are the places where termites thrive in large numbers. The area near surrounding your house should be kept clean of wooden as well as cardboard debris.

3. If you have a crawl space, just make sure that it has adequate ventilation to prevent excess moisture.

4. Installation of moisture absorbers is another termite eradication step that helps. Damp conditions are the breeding ground for termites and it therefore makes sense to invest in a quality moisture absorber.

5. Another simple termite removal method lies in simply reducing the number of wooden furniture items in your home. Remember, the less wood you have, the lesser the number of termites in your house.

6. You should schedule periodic visits by a pest control company. Although we can always do our bit for termite eradication, it is still something that is best left to professionals.

If you are someone looking for information on termite repair, then the internet is the best place to search for it. Visit Preventtermiteintrusion, an online guide, can offer you valuable advice on termite eradication, using which you can now protect your home for years to come.

Building Handrails Books

You Want A Fireplace: Here's What's Involved

2009-04-23T18:30:00.001-07:00

Just to make sure I had my facts straight, I did a search throughout the net for any expert who wanted to undertake informing readers of the steps involved in installing a traditional fireplace. As I thought, none did. They will venture to inform readers how to change the face of a fireplace or how to do repairs, which means you have to have a fireplace.

But, none of them want to address the actual installation of a fireplace. I can certainly understand why. There is a thing called liability and few experts want that. They know that if you come to them to ask questions, they can answer you with the utmost authority. Then, they can even do the work. But, to be able to try to help someone understand the work involved, the safety issues and every other concern in a simple how-to over the net, thats a completely different story.

The reason is because there is so much involved. Just to brief you on all these different things, you would have to first find the place where you want the fireplace. Easy enough right? Not really. You can pick the most obvious places in the middle of your living room, dining room or bedroom and probably get away with it just fine. But when you go outside of those areas, now you are looking at possible problems. Pipe work or electrical wiring might be running where you intend to put your fireplace. It might be a load bearing wall. Are you starting to get the idea?

After you have picked your perfect place, now you have to look at all the construction that is involved. You are going to need to make the floor safe and that means installing a hearth. Stone is best. But, there are other materials. You need to install a firebox, which will house your fire. That requires knocking a hole in the wall. Run your hole straight up to the roof for the chimney, which will require fire resistant material. The standard is brick. The chimney is often a little more work than you think. You might not even be able to live in your house while all the construction is taking place.

Of course, materials are easily going to run you several thousand dollars and labor, unless you can do it yourself, will run another several thousand dollars. A good rule of thumb is that when it is all said and done, you will have spent anywhere from $5000 to $7500. Thats around the amount where you would need a loan unless you are rich and can just write a check. And if you are reading this, I can safely assume that doesnt apply to you.

Safety concerns include of course the fire resistant material that you have chosen and the construction of the fireplace itself. There can be no mistakes or you might be saying good bye to your house. You wanted a good fireplace experience. Roast marshmallows on your front lawn while the local fire company tries to save whatever they can of the house where you once lived. Not funny? Well, it proves my point though doesnt it. There is another concern that involves smoke ventilation.

These things are important and Im sure you are well aware of that fact. But, you really want a fireplace? When you looked at the house and you wanted to buy it so bad, that was one thing you didnt think about. But, now its getting to you that you have a house without a fireplace. Well, consider an alternative.

For over twenty years now, there has been an alternative to the traditional fireplace that really can beat all the other alternatives at every issue. A ventless gel fireplace is easy to install. From the time you put in your order to the time you receive it will be about two weeks. It is mobile and you can put it anywhere you want throughout the house. No holes to knock into the walls. No floors to tear up for a hearth. Place it where you want and light the gel.

It is ventless, which means you can have no fear of ever being smoked out of your house. The gel burns into a water vapor that completely evaporates before it leaves the room. The fireplaces come in traditional wooden styles as well as new contemporary styles like wall units and middle of the floor units. You can also get styles that go nicely on the back porch. The greatest factor yet is how inexpensive the ventless gel fireplace can be. As low as $300, you can see the big difference in cost.

Fireplaces add ambiance to any room. They make the difference between a house and a home. Quite romantic and rather inviting for all occasions, its not hard to understand why a home owner would want a fireplace where a wall now stands. Thats why more and more people are turning to the ventless gel fireplace. They get the fireplace experience without all the hassle.

Jessica Brylan is a home improvement expert. She loves remodeling homes. She has even built a few. In all her work, she has split off into interior design every once in awhile. But, actual construction is her first love. She knows enough to get by with the big guys.

Home Stucco Books

Home Inspection: Pre-inspected Listings

2009-04-23T17:57:00.001-07:00

The future of real estate?

* Home inspections have traditionally been for the benefit of the purchaser.

* Pre-inspected listings benefit all parties - purchasers, vendors and Realtors.

Deals are less likely to fall through.

Home inspections, performed as a condition of the offer, can kill deals - and often needlessly. Sometimes this is because the purchaser gets cold feet; sometimes there's a big problem no one knew about. Sometimes it is because the house has been misrepresented; sometimes it is because the home inspector scared the purchasers by not explaining that minor and typical problems are just that - minor and typical.

If the home inspection is performed prior to the house being listed, all parties will be aware of the physical condition of the house before an offer is drawn. There will be less likelihood for surprises after the fact. Deals will be less likely to fall through.

Pre-inspected listings can avoid renegotiation.

In a buyer's market, most houses have to be sold twice. It takes a lot of work to get a signed Agreement of Purchase and Sale... then the home inspection is conducted and the purchaser wants to renegotiate.

If all parties know the condition of the house prior to the offer, there is generally a lesser need for renegotiation. As most Realtors know, renegotiation can be very difficult. Vendors have already mentally sold the house; purchasers are suffering from 'buyers' remorse'. Egos, pride and frustration can muddy the already emotional waters.

A vendor who pays for a home inspection will be further ahead than one who has to renegotiate. He or she may even sell their house faster.

Unrealistic vendors.

An inspection at the time of a listing can also help a Realtor deal with a vendor who has unrealistic expectations. The inspection report is good ammunition for explaining why you can't ask top buck for a house that is not in top condition.

Repairs prior to sale.

Sometimes, the home inspection will reveal items which should be repaired immediately. A pre-inspected listing allows the vendor to repair the problem prior to putting the house on the market.

If the inspection occurs after the Agreement of Purchase and Sale, the purchaser could walk, renegotiate or depending on the inspection clause, the vendor may have the option to make repairs. A repair made by an unmotivated vendor to satisfy the condition may not be the best repair and may not meet the purchaser's expectations. This has caused more than one deal to not close.

Peace of mind for the purchaser.

There is no doubt that part of the value of a home inspection is a guided tour of the house for the prospective purchaser. Perhaps the inspection company could return to do a walk-through with the purchaser, if requested.

Reputable inspection companies.

Pre-inspected listings will only have value if the home inspector and/or company is perceived to be reputable, qualified and properly insured. Prospective purchasers might have little or no faith in a report created by someone they perceive to be working for the Vendor or Listing Agent.

Editor's Note: This article is for discussion purposes only and does not represent any policy or opinion on the part of Electrospec or it's representatives. It is intended only as "food for thought", and it is hoped that no one will be offended by the suggestive nature of any parts of the article.

Summary.

Does the future of home inspections lie in pre-inspected listings? Will offers be cleaner and deals less likely to be renegotiated or fall through? Will pre-inspection afford purchasers, vendors and Realtors a new measure of equilateral protection?

Hmmm...

Gil Strachan is a professional home inspector, representing Electrospec Home Inspection Services in east-central Ontario, Canada since 1994. Visit http://www.allaroundthehouse.com to learn more about home inspections.

"The Home Reference Book"
You can probably find a home inspection for a little less than what we ask, but you probably won't find the Home Reference Book. A $60 value, this solutions-oriented reference tool comes free with every inspection we perform.
It's the first tool you should have around the house!

Hiring Contractors Books

Assignees, Nominees And Other Extra-terrestrial Buyers

2009-04-19T14:31:00.001-07:00

This world would be unquestionably a simpler place to live in, if one was at least given the right to know whom he is selling his own house to. But after nineteen years of real estate sales practice, I have come to the realization that this is not meant to be.

The common law Doctrine of Privity as it relates to contracts provides that a contract cannot confer rights or impose obligations arising under it on any person or agent except the parties to it. In essence, the Doctrine of Privity of Contracts simply states, that only the parties to a contract have the right to sue or be sued under it. This means, generally speaking, that third parties who get a benefit under a contract do not have the right to go against the parties to the contract beyond the entitlement to such benefit. An example of this occurs when a manufacturer sells a product to a distributor and the distributor sells the product to a retailer. The retailer then sells the product to a consumer. There is no privity of contract between the manufacturer and the consumer.

However, one exception to this doctrine is that for contracts, which create an interest in land. Contracts involving real property run with the land, so that a new property owner can sue or be sued on a contract, even though he was not a party to it. A second exception to the Doctrine of Privity is an assignment

In an assignment, a person (called the assignor) can assign to a third party (the assignee) his entitlement to benefits arising out of a contract. If he does so, the third party has the right to sue to enforce those benefits. Obviously, a person cannot assign liabilities under a contract.

There are two types of assignments: statutory and equitable. A statutory assignment has three essentials:

[ ] The assignment is in writing.

[ ] The assignment is absolute, that is for the whole amount, and unconditional.

[ ] Notice of the assignment has been given in writing to the original promissor.

If any of the foregoing essentials is missing, the assignment might still be equitable. Statutory and equitable assignments are enforced differently by the Courts. In an equitable assignment all three parties must be named as parties in a court action to recover the amount outstanding. In a statutory assignment, on the other hand, only the original promissor and the assignee are named as parties to the action. The assignor is not a party to it.

An assignment does not alter the rights of the parties to the original contract. The assignee has no better legal position than the assignor had. More specifically, he receives the assignment subject to any defenses, which could have been raised between the original parties. If the assignor has properly assigned his rights, he is free from any further liabilities. It is now up to the assignee to collect the benefits of the original contract. Should the assignee fail, he cannot sue the assignor for it.

Finally, the original promissor does not have to make payments to the assignee until he receives proper notice. Once this notice is received, the original promissor must pay to the assignee and not the assignor even though he has not consented to the assignment.

Although no one can assign his liabilities under a contract, as stated above, a promissor can have his obligations performed by someone else. For instance, a promissor can require his employee or sub-contractor to perform his obligations under a building construction contract. Where a promissor has someone else perform his obligations under a contract, it is called vicarious performance. Vicarious performance is not an assignment, in that it does not result in the substitution of one the original contracting parties for another.

In the aforesaid example of a building construction agreement, the original contractor (promissor) is still liable to the other contracting party. In addition, the sub-contractor who performs vicariously cannot be sued by the other contracting party for non-performance. Only the building contractor can sue the sub-contractor, and this is so because of the privy of contract intercurrent between the two of them.

Luigi Frascati

Luigi Frascati is a Real Estate Agent based in Vancouver, British Columbia. He holds a Bachelor Degree in Economics and maintains a weblog entitled the Real Estate Chronicle at http://wwwrealestatechronicle.blogspot.com where you can find the full collection of his articles. Luigi is associated with the Sutton Group, the largest real estate organization in Canada, and is based with Sutton-Centre Realty in Burnaby, BC.

Luigi is very proud to be an EzineArticles Platinum Expert Author. Your rating at the footer of this Article is very much appreciated. Thank you.

Environmental Construction Products

2009-04-19T08:15:00.001-07:00

Trends in sustainable and environmentally friendly construction continue to inch towards the mainstream, with new products being introduced almost daily that are more cost effective and efficient than ever. Here are some products and trends in environmental construction:

Walls

Use of alternative building materials, including reclaimed woods, recycled metals and non toxic materials are making homes more green from the inside out. Even insulation is becoming more green, with wider usage of a mixture of recycled cotton and denim materials instead of toxic and dangerous to install traditional insulation.

Flooring

There's a wide range of environmentally friendly flooring options. From concrete to stones, recycled metals, recycled tiles, recycled glass, reclaimed woods, sustainable woods, bamboo, cork and even more environmentally friendly linoleums.

Paints and Finishes

There is now a large amount of paints and stains available for your interiors, including walls, floors, bathrooms, staircases and all your surfaces. These new products are either non-toxic or use much less toxic chemicals, making the eco-friendly choice also the most healthy choice for environmentally sensitive people. In addition, these less toxic paints and finishes are much easier to dispose of.

Carpeting

Traditional new carpeting uses a lot of chemicals to produce. In addition, the installation of new carpeting will typically fill the indoor air in your home with what are called "VOC's" or volatile organic compounds. These compounds include chemical carcinogens like benzenes and even formaldehyde. That new carpet smell is actually a cocktail of chemicals you are breathing. These chemicals can take several years to dissipate from your indoor air. By using eco-friendly carpeting, you are eliminating or severely decreasing the amount of chemicals you are bringing into your home. Also, the materials used in eco-friendly carpeting are typically recycled or sustainable. Most carpets need padding and these too can be loaded with chemicals. Instead, homeowners can choose new environmentally friendly carpet padding that is made from recycled cotton.

Cabinetry and Countertops

Even kitchen and bathroom cabinetry and countertops can be eco-friendly. New cabinet options include cabinets made from completely sustainable woods using non-toxic finishes. For countertops, new non-toxic composite materials including quartz and recycled glass chips are available. Even the glue used to adhere the cabinets to the countertop can be an eco-friendly water based glue product.

Whether you are building a new home, remodeling or simply performing some upgrades, you won't want to ignore the many eco-friendly options.

Lydia Quinn writes for Brandon Safety Lights, a leading provider of solar barricade lights, barricade light accessories and traffic safety supplies. Visit us at: http://www.brandonsafetylights.com

Home Foundation - Hidden Foundation Problems That Could Cost You Thousands in Your Next Home

2009-04-06T22:41:00.001-07:00

Homes are built on a number of different support systems; the standard well known types on footings are slab, crawlspace, and basements. There are others that deal with particular soils conditions such as piers, grade beams, driven piles and engineered post tension slabs.

1. Your problems with a slab foundation are pretty straight forward. Slab foundations are built in one variation as one pour of concrete including the footing, walls, and floor system. The tendency of single pour solid concrete slabs is to crack because the concrete cures at different rates based on the thickness or mass. The floor system is normally 4" thick and cures at one rate, the walls and footing maybe 12" thick and 30" deep will cure at a different rate this can cause cracks in the floor system. These cracks will cause an opening to the soil below which is the big problem. The crack will cause moisture to wick into your carpet, the crack may split the hardwood floors, crack your ceramic tiles, and stain the vinyl tiles or sheet flooring.

Slab foundations are also built on footing with block or brick walls and floor system. The chance of cracking is less likely to occur with this system. The footing is poured separately cures, the foundation walls are erected and the floor system is poured and cures. The chance of cracking is lessened because of three separate stages of work. The cracks can occur but are at a minimum as compared a single pour system.

2. Crawlspace problems are cause by the poorly finished or unfinished areas below the first floor decking. The dirt floor of a crawlspace can be covered with different materials according to local and state building codes. Some required a concrete slab over a 6 mil plastic vapor barrier others require only 100% coverage of a 6 mil plastic vapor barrier. Both can cause serious moisture problems because of the unfinished walls and unconditioned area of the crawlspace. The unconditioned (no heat or air conditioning) space can cause mold, mildew in the crawlspace and moisture to wick up into the home through the wood joist and deck floor system. This is causes odors in carpet, cupping or warping hardwoods, wet ceramic tiles, and stains in vinyl floor backing.

Worst yet is that in some cases the heating system and the water heater are located in the damp wet crawlspace causing corrosion on the pipes, fittings, valves, and any metal parts in the crawlspace over time it will be a huge problem for any future homeowner. The better builders today are providing a completely conditioned crawlspace where the dirt floor is sealed the walls are sealed and insulated which keeps out the moisture and allows your mechanical systems to operate properly for years. What did your builder do or what are the plans for your new home?

3. Basement problems can be the same as crawlspaces with the unconditioned areas except the basement is deeper in the ground, closer to any water level or water table which can be a more serious problem. Basements have always had the reputation for being damp and smelly they still can be if the builder is not using modern waterproofing materials and designs. The possibility of floor system cracks exists in basement homes. Using proper water proofing techniques and exterior grading basements have become very desirable. The walk-out condition where the rear wall is actually open to ground level (the lot sloping down from front to rear) has offered some excellent opportunities for homeowners to add usable heated square footage to the home and become a much better alternate to the finished bonus room on the third floor.

Your choice of foundation system is governed more by the site and soil conditions. Most builders would rather build what pleases you at a profitable cost than to chance losing a sale. Some home builders you may find are stuck or set in their building techniques and may not offer you choices that are evidently available or possible.

And now I would like to invite you to claim your FREE access to 2 recent articles "9 Tips For You to Make Real Money in College Rental Properties " and "9 Steps to Save Big Dollars For Your Student With In-State Tuition" at https://www.collegetowneproperties.com/Free_Helpful_Articles.html

Bill "The College Rental Investment Guy" is a leading expert on College Rental Investment Properties and Off-Campus Housing.

Create Your Dream House

How Annual Rainfall Affects Basement Waterproofing

2009-04-06T20:22:00.001-07:00

With recent advances in materials and construction technology, basement waterproofing techniques are quickly gaining popularity. When it comes to new residential construction, basement waterproofing techniques such as the installation of footer drains or french drains is a given if a home is being built in a wet area of the country. If you own an older home, however, the technology used when your residence was constructed might not currently protect you from all flooding and water damage problems. And depending on the area of the country where you live and its annual rainfall, your basement could be an unexpected disaster waiting to happen.

Annual rainfall affects basement waterproofing for the simple fact that the more saturated the ground is with water, the more stresses that are present on your home's foundations. There's really no effective way to make a cinder block wall completely waterproof, since moisture can slowly push through the material's porous surface and into your home over the decades. Believe it or not, cinder blocks have a lot in common with a sponge, and effectively soak up water in the ground around them. Higher rainfall means more moisture in the ground, and in that kind of environment, your basement walls will inevitably suffer damage if you don't the proper drain waterproofing in place.

Properly waterproofing your basement to protect against saturated ground means installing footer drains that draw the groundwater away from your home and deposit it elsewhere. Footer drains are plastic pipes with small holes in them that allow water to enter and flow away from your home. The best basement waterproofing procedure calls for installing footer drains all around your home, then securing them with the proper back fill methods. As the years progress, you may need to occasionally clean the drains if they become obstructed with dirt or other refuse, but with a proper clean out installation this is a very simple procedure. Properly installed footer drains, however, rarely need to have major service performed on them.

Fewer homes in dry western regions of the country need complete basement waterproofing procedures that include footer drains, and the reason why is pretty obvious: they have less precipitation, and fewer flooding problems. Living in greener areas of the country or near large bodies of water can make for beautiful views, but the increase in groundwater saturation levels is an unfortunate side effect. Keeping your basement properly waterproofed doesn't have to be a huge burden, though, as long as you a diligent in performing annual maintenance and proactive in heading off any potential problems.

Lorain County Sewer and Drain makes Cuyahoga County basement waterproofing easy and affordable. Visit our site today to learn more about basement waterproofing.

A Carpenters Story

Home Foundation - Hidden Foundation Problems That Could Cost You Thousands in Your Next Home

2009-04-06T18:27:00.001-07:00

Bill "The College Rental Investment Guy" is a leading expert on College Rental Investment Properties and Off-Campus Housing.

Carpentry Articles

How Annual Rainfall Affects Basement Waterproofing

2009-04-06T16:23:00.001-07:00

Lorain County Sewer and Drain makes Cuyahoga County basement waterproofing easy and affordable. Visit our site today to learn more about basement waterproofing.

Building Codes And Remodeling

Does My Home Insurance Cover Me For Flood Damages?

2009-04-06T14:54:00.001-07:00

Flooding can happen at any moment and for any reason. Mother Nature can run her course and create flood conditions or a water main may break. At any rate, no matter how it happens, if you experience flooding within your home it is stressful, worrisome, and hard to deal with. At the same time, you have the question is flood damage covered by my home insurance?

The one thing you want to understand is that in most cases, flooding is not covered on general home insurance. You may see clauses that state water damage, but essentially, flooding by acts of God or manmade items are not covered. It is truly very important to understand your policy and discuss options with your insurance agent to be sure that you have the coverage you need.

Far too often, many people go through thinking they have what they need, regardless of the circumstances. However, as with many instances within the last few years, people find out, the hard way, that they in fact did not have coverage for flood damage. Most insurance companies offer flood coverage, in fact all of them offer it, however, it is an additional policy, an additional source of coverage that will increase your premium.

It is important to talk with your insurance agent and discuss flood coverage. You might think that you live in a relatively safe area, free of major flooding, however, you cannot control Mother Nature or events that happen outside of your home. Having your home fully protected is the only sure way to feel comfortable and have peace of mind if the event does occur.

Flooding causes all kinds of damage. You have to deal with contamination, mould, sanitation, water damage to property and content rotting, and so much more. While flooding itself can be hectic, if the work is not performed properly, it can cause a great deal of trouble for you in the future as well.

In other words, to really know if your home insurance covers this type of damage, you want to contact your insurance agent. Talk with him or her and ask them if flooding is included in your coverage. Unless you specifically asked for it and it is a part of your premium that you pay each month, it is highly likely that you are not covered.

If you are not covered, talk with your agent about coverage. Ask what is included, what is not, and how much it will add to your premium. Flood damage coverage is one of the many things you will need to fully protect your home and your belongings. It gives you added peace of mind, knowing that if a flood does occur, you are protected and have the means to cover the cost of repairs, drying, and replacement if need be.

Does your home insurance cover flood damage? Call your agent today and find out, if not, make sure you add it, just to be on the safe side.

Derek Rogers is a freelance writer who represents a number of UK businesses. For Loss Assessors and Domestic Flood Insurance claim services, he recommends Morgan Clark.

Got Attic Mold

Tips to Recover Carpet From Water Damage

2009-04-06T13:40:00.001-07:00

Seeing your favorite carpet being damaged due to water is really frustrating. For years you would have been cleaning & maintaining the floor covering to keep the new looks. But one day due to any reason, it got ruined. How heart breaking it is? Lately, water has been the cause of damaging the floor covering. Especially when there is organic decay, deterioration of fiber, heavy soiling, mold growth, heavy soiling, stained, smelly and soggy runner it's a real big problem.

There are different types of remedies for overcoming the carpet water damage successfully. Here are few of them.

If your floor runner has been spoiled due to water that overflowed from the sink/ toilet, then it is wiser to discard it. If you think removing the carpet and replacing it is a big problem then you need to restore the rug from damage either yourself or by hiring a professional. Here are few tips to refurbish the carpet yourself.

* Remove all the furnishing over the damaged fitted covering over the floor. At times, fabric has the tendency to leave the stain and it would look weird, when the carpeting dries.
* Start extracting the excess of water.

* Once the carpet restoration professional comes, ask them to clean it using disinfectant.

* When the rug is cleaned ensure that no traffic is there on the carpet. This will help in keeping the backing of the floor covering intact and eliminate the chances of de-lamination.

* In addition to it, see that there is no tack strip and carpet padding. Try to elevate the rug and use the right equipment for drying the rug. One can use fans, or dehumidifiers to speed up the process.

Hope these tips will help in restoring the carpet completely. Still if you cannot smarten up your floor covering then take the help of a carpet restoration company. They will definitely look into the problem and do the needful. If you thing money is a problem and if you have the floor covering insured then you can claim the money. But don't expect that the rug manufacturer will pay you for the carpet damage. Usually it's a big no from their side. So take the necessary help from the right person at right time to overcome the carpet-refurbishing problem successfully.

Born and raised in New Delhi, India, Mohita completed her graduation in English Literature from Delhi University, India. She also holds a Master's degree in Journalism from Makhanlal Chaturvedi Rashtriya Patrakarita Vishwavidyalya, Bhopal. She is currently working as Content Writer.

How To Kill Black Mold

What Do You Need to Know About Flood Clean-Up

2009-03-31T17:46:00.001-07:00

Record flooding throughout the United States followed by a new round of monster hurricanes has Americans wondering what's next - and will the levees hold?

Whether you live in a flood plain, marshland, riverfront property, or coastal community doesn't really matter after a flood strikes your home. After all, the damage is done. In addition, even homes located in "safe" zones are susceptible to flooding. You can live in a house on stilts on top of a mountain located far away from any body of water and still get flooded due to plumbing mishaps, heavy rainfall, a leaking roof, sewer backups, or any other calamity.

So, what do you need to know about flood clean-up? First, let's look at the effects of water in the aftermath of a flood:
Water kills
Water is a mess
Water damages
Water contaminates
Water is a breeding ground for nasty infestations

Drownings and electrocutions are two of the most commonly associated dangers of water. Take care not to be the next victim. Structures are unstable after a flood and it is completely possible to falling through soggy floorboards and drown. Similarly, if the power is still on, electrocution is a major danger.

While it looks kind of fun to see people paddling canoes or riding jet skis down Main Street, it's not recreation. This isn't crystal clear lake water - this is floodwater filled with mud, leaves, branches, building materials, animal feces, sewage, and who-knows-what-else. When the water recedes, all of the solids will be left behind. In short: a mess.

Even if the floodwaters were crystal clear, the presence of water where it doesn't belong is damaging. Imagine a typical one story, three bedroom home flooded with just six inches of water. What would need to be replaced? Starting from the bottom up, you're looking at flooring, carpeting, carpet pads, area rugs, baseboards, drywall, wallpaper, insulation, wiring, lower cabinets, furnishings, long draperies, and any electronic equipment stored on the floor. And that's just for starters.

Remember all of that debris in the water? Imagine a soupy mass of water in your home. While the debris such as broken boards and tree branches can be removed, what about the contaminants within the water? Raw sewage, fertilizers, chemicals, and other contaminants are mixed into the water and are sure to leave a residue of pure nastiness behind once the waters recede.

While water dries out, belongings can be replaced, and contamination can be cleaned up, another major water damage concern exists: infestations. Mosquitoes love to lay their eggs in such an environment. Waterborne illnesses such as diarrhea, cholera, typhoid, and hepatitis are also a concern. Finally, mold infestations are a real and imminent threat.

Because of the mess, damage, contamination, and potential for nasty infestations, flood clean-up should begin ASAP. Power must be turned off because of the risk of electrocution and homes must be inspected before entry. Next, the water source needs to be dealt with. This may involve sump pumps, mops, sponges, siphoning, patching holes in the roof, or turning off the water supply. From there, the building needs to be "hosed down" or scrubbed and dried out. Everything should be discarded or decontaminated depending on the extent of the water damage. In addition, mold inhibitors should be applied.

Repairs, such as replacing the damaged wiring, roof, insulation, drywall, and flooring, should take place next. Finally, once the clean-up is done, homeowners should consider preventative measures to protect themselves from another flood event.

By: Mr. Mark Decherd

Mr. Mark Decherd
http://www.dryout.net
1415 Colonial Blvd.
Fort Myers, Fl. 33907
1-800-330-1504
Water Damage

Insurance and Your Claim - Will They Pay

2009-03-31T15:36:00.001-07:00

You've poured over your policy wondering, "Will my insurance company pay for repairs?" Insurance policies are complicated and filled with jargon that's often difficult for the policyholder to understand. Even if you understood what the terms used actually mean, policies are also loaded with exceptions and exclusions. By the time you've read the policy from cover to cover, you're left with the same question - will they pay for it?

To further complicate matters, even if a loss is covered, the policy most likely includes a deductible as well as coverage limits. Depending on the nature of the loss, multiple insurance companies may be involved. For example, if a storm strikes and you have both wind and flood damage, you may have to file a claim with your homeowners insurance for the wind damage and another with the national flood insurance program (if you have flood insurance) for the water damage.

Depending on where you live, your deductible may be higher under certain circumstances. For example, in Florida, your deductible for hurricane damage is much higher than if your home was burglarized.

So, will your insurance company pay or won't they? Look at it this way, insurance companies DON'T want to pay. They are in business to generate profits and will need to be convinced BY YOU that the claim should be paid. The burden of proof lies on you, the homeowner. This means that you will need to prove your case and do it well. The better prepared and more organized you are, the better.

Start with documentation. You may need to take dozens of photos and provide your insurance agent with detailed estimates to counter against the insurance company's original settlement offer. You may need to demand to see how the agent depreciated your property and negotiate a more reasonable method. While your homeowner's insurance policy is a contract, the claims process does provide room for negotiations.

Your best bet is to be prepared for a fight. Your tools in this battle include a detailed home inventory, digital photos and video documenting the damage, estimates from local contractors, and a willingness to demand a better offer. You don't have to do this alone. In fact, many contractors are willing to be present during the insurance adjuster's visit to help point out damage that the adjuster might have otherwise ignored. In addition, public insurance adjusters act as advocates for the homeowner and work on your behalf to negotiate a higher settlement offer.

Arm yourself with knowledge, documentation, and real-world estimates while also considering professional representation and you'll be better equipped to answer the question, "Will they pay for it?"

Mr. Mark Decherd
http://www.dryout.net
1415 Colonial Blvd.
Fort Myers, Fl. 33907
1-800-330-1504
Water Damage

Drywall Water Damage - House Repairs

2009-03-31T14:52:00.001-07:00

Drywall is a material used for finished construction of core walls and ceilings. Recently if your walls / ceilings have been spoiled due to slope that is directed towards your house, floods, leaking pipes, or any reason, then immediate attention should be given to them to treat them successfully. Here are few tips to treat the ugly looking drywall water damage patches on the wall.

The best way to treat the drywall water damage is to isolate the complete area. Check the area for softness and discoloration. At times it helps in detecting the cracked and leaking pipes. The dripping water down the roof or overhead pipes are indicators of severe problem, therefore call a professional help immediately. If you are handling the damage all by yourself, then here is checklist of tools you would require for repairing the damage: industrial strength fans, joint compound, drywall patch, drywall tape, putty knife and nails.

For isolating area from the rest cut wet drywall patch from rest of the wall and circulate air through vent using high intensity fan. The high intensity fans are available at all hardware stores easily. If you have a dehumidifier, then turn it on to put the moisture completely away from wall. Continuously monitor the process of drying, still if you find moisture after 12 hours then detach more segment of the wall. This will help in better airflow and prevent development of molds & mild dew. Once the wall dries completely then reinstall the drywall & studs. While reinstalling people have reported instances, where after the water damage there has been ruptures in the wall or buckles has erupted then carefully sand down the portion and do the needful. If the crack is very large, then it is essential to install a plywood supporter board on studs. This will help in holding the new drywall properly at the place it is been fixed.

If necessary take a professional help. If the damage has occurred due to pipe leak then leave a small gap / clearance between the wall & floor top. This will protect the wall from any future damage due to water leak. Hope this article on drywall water damage would have been useful to you.

Basement Waterproofing is Essential

2009-03-30T21:55:00.001-07:00

The foundation of your house depends on a strong basement. Basement waterproofing prevents water from penetrating into the basement area Waterproofing your basement is mandatory or else it could lead to structural damages and collapsing drywall.

Given below are 5 reasons why basement waterproofing is essential:

" Structural damage: Water seepage is very common problem in basements; especially if you live in wet areas with moist soil. If you do not take proper preventive measures for this problem then it could lead to structural damages to your property. You find seepage mainly in the corners where the wall meets the floor. This process is typically slow and won't show immediate consequences but if ignored then it could cause major damages such as bowed walls and cracked foundation. Basement waterproofing is very important to treat wet basements. Timely preventions can save you from disastrous structural damages.

" Infestations: If you live in an area where there are black molds, then it becomes absolutely essential to waterproof your basement. Damp areas are a breeding ground for waterborne contaminants such as black mold. All kinds of mold can grow between walls and under padding of wet carpets; the worst kinds are the black molds. It is very toxic and can cause death. If basement waterproofing is not done in time them these infestations keep breeding in the wet areas which can cause major health hazards. You may even have to abandon the house if the professionals are not able to take care of the infestations.

" Natural calamities: If you live in an area where there is heavy rainfall or in hurricane areas, basement waterproofing becomes very essential. These areas are prone to flooding; as a result, water is very likely to enter the basement. Rainwater can penetrate through cracks in the wall causing seepage. Also when flood water collects around the foundation walls, water collects in small pockets in the soil next to the foundation and starts forming hydrostatic pressure. Over the time this pressure increases until the water is pushed through the wall. Thus basement waterproofing becomes necessary in such areas.

" Damage to property: Most of us keep a lot of stuff in the basement like furniture, books, equipments, etc. sometimes there are workshops or even wine cellars down in the basement. But if the basement is not waterproofed then water seepage can cause a lot of damage to your property. Wooden furniture rots when it gets damp. Expensive items could be damaged due to dampness. It you plan to use your basement for important purposes then it becomes even more essential to waterproof your basement.

" Sloping and grading: It's important to know if the ground around your house is sloping away from your foundation. The soil outside should meet the walls; if it doesn't then the water can penetrate between the gaps. In this case you have to hire a professional grader to help slope the ground downhill and away from your house. But as preventive measures it is best to waterproof your basement just in case you do not detect the sloping around your house instantly.

Basement waterproofing can be expensive but it's worth the cost to prevent you from irreparable damages in the future.

To learn more about the importance of basement waterproofing and to get helpful guides visit our website at http://www.allaboutbasementwaterproofing.com

Causes of Septic Tank Odor In The Home

2009-03-30T20:38:00.001-07:00

If you live in a rural area, there's a good chance your house is equipped with a septic tank. The septic tank will normally go unnoticed during day-to-day living, but it sometimes makes it odorous presence well known.

If you are experiencing an odor from your septic tank, it is usually caused by one of three things.

1. Dry Drains

A dry drain is probably the most common cause of septic tank odor in the home.

Nearly all drains include what is called a "trap" somewhere along the pipe. This is a U-shaped segment of pipe filled with water which prevents gases from traveling through.

If the water should dry up, however, the gases are able to leak into your house. This most often occurs in places such as guest bathrooms or other places where the drain is used infrequently.

The solution to this common problem is to simply run water through the drain. This will refill the trap and stop the gases from reaching your house.

To avoid future dry drains, you should use them periodically to prevent them from drying up.

2. Problems With The Vent Stack

Septic tank odors can also be allowed to enter your house because of a problem with what is known as the vent stack.

The gases produced by the tank are released via a pipe that extends through your roof. This is the vent stack.

If this pipe should become clogged with leaves or other debris, the gases will not be able to travel through and will be forced back down into your house.

Leaves covering the opening of the vent stack may need to be manually removed.

Even if the gases are allowed to pass through the vent stack, a strong wind with some down force may blow the gases back down to your house again. This is normally fixed by raising the height of the stack.

3. Faulty Seals/Gaskets

Yet another possible cause of septic tank odors within the home is a broken seal or gasket along one of the pipes.

This commonly occurs near the base of the toilet, and you should be able to detect it by smelling around the area.

Unless you are a handyman, it is probably best to call a plumber or other professional to repair the seal. It should be a relatively simple job, and not too expensive.

If you would like to learn more about septic tank odors in the house, please visit our septic tank website for more information

Organize Your Way Out of the House

2009-03-30T19:52:00.001-07:00

You see all sorts of wonderful organizing ideas for kid's play rooms or nifty gadgets to help you organize the kitchen, but what about wonderful solutions to get you out of the house with your sanity, your hair, and all of the things you need? Have you ever thought about the mental checklist you do before you actual leave the house in the morning?

Keys - Check

Phone - Check

Purse - Got it

Kids - Yep

Backpacks - Sure enough

With a final holler at the kids, "Do you have your homework and lunches?" you are running out the door to start your day. Most of the time it works like magic, except when it comes to going grocery shopping and you forget your list, stopping by the dry cleaners totally vacates your brain, and you still have not remembered to grab the blender from last Christmas to take it back to the store.

Sure, having nifty organizing systems for your linen closet is loads of fun, but how about the organizing system for your errands? Not only is this just as important, this solution can actually save or give you money back! Now THAT is a great organizational system.

Let's go ahead and start by finding the perfect staging area. When I say staging area, I mean we need to find a location in your house that you pass by every time you go to get into the car. Do you leave your house through the garage, laundry room, front door, or side door? Whatever door you leave from should be the designated staging area or the base of operations.

What sort of things do you currently leave the house with?

Keys
Phone
Purse
Dry cleaning
Grocery list
Returns
Mail

How much room do you currently have at your disposal to use for our base of operations? This includes wall space, floor area, shelving, etc. we can utilize.

Keeping those three items in mind, let's figure out some simple solutions to help you get out of the house quickly with everything you need.

My family and I leave the house from the front door, but we do not have anything close to resembling an entry way. Instead we have a little hall way that either opens into the living room or the dining room. Not the most inviting entry into a home, but my husband did have this skinny tall table that he made in Shop class in high school. We re-stained the table and placed in up against the wall in front of the door. I have a cute little pail we use to put our keys in, another matching pail to place our incoming mail and yet another one for the outgoing mail. Underneath the table, I leave my purse along with any returns I need to take back. This includes things I need to drop off to my family and friends. I do keep my dry cleaning bag in my bedroom, but when it's time to take it to the cleaners I drop it on the floor, under the table and next to my purse. I can't forget the bag even if I wanted to, since it is right next to my purse! The best part about this system is you can use it anywhere in your home as long as you have room to put a thin table up against the wall.

However, sometimes you don't even have that much space to spare, especially if you come in from the garage through the laundry room. One of my clients had such a problem in her laundry room. She barely had room to open the door so putting a long skinny table was definitely out of the question. Instead, we found a very tall bathroom shelving unit. The shelving unit is about 6 feet tall with little shelves and a very pretty white decorative wood. On the lower shelves, she placed her returns. On the hand height shelves, she used two baskets on two shelves; one for incoming mail and the other for outgoing mail. She loved the idea of having a charging station for everyone's phones, so we created one of our own. We drilled some holes in the back of the shelf, brought up an extension strip and created a cute little charging station for 3 cell phones, 2 iPods, and 2 Bluetooth ear pieces. Since we essentially ran out of shelf space, we drilled a few more holes into the side of the unit and placed some cute little hooks for keys and a heavy duty hook for her purse and umbrellas.

In both cases, we put everything we needed in one place so we didn't have to worry about forgetting to grab the dry cleaning, yet again! There was no need to hunt around the house for our lost purse and if there was something in the bucket that said Out Going Mail whoever was leaving the house would see it! Whether would actually TAKE it to the mailbox was another thing, but still!

So think about what you need, where the logical place to set up shop is, and how much space you require and create a little space of organizational perfection in your house!

Happy Organizing!

Suzanne McLoone

Let's Talk Organizing

For over 20 years, Suzanne has been helping corporations and small businesses organize their time so they can spend more time and energy doing the things that are most important to them. With a philosophy of "life is too short", she thrives on making the most of her time and trying to encourage those around her to do the same.

As an organizational consultant, public speaker, and former radio talk show host; Suzanne has been offering her Organizational Quick Tips to anyone and everyone who will stand still and listen for "30-seconds". http://www.letstalkorganizing.blogspot.com

Problems While You Are Building With Contractors

2009-03-30T18:47:00.001-07:00

Sometimes as contractors we get in a hurry and we just want to finish the job. We told the homeowner we would be done in three months, at the same time the homeowner keeps adding new work to the list.

I ran into a problem like this on one job where the contractor was in a hurry to finish the flooring and chose to go right over the existing floor that was out of level. He told the homeowner he didn't have time to repair that section of the floor. He was installing half-inch plywood over 1 x 6 diagonal floor sheeting to strengthen up the floor.

This floor was going to require quite a bit of attention from the contractor and his crew. The homeowner should have hired another contractor to repair the floor while the original contractor finished the house remodel. When your contractor gives you that much grief about any work, you need to start thinking about hiring another contractor or at least finding one to complete the task your original contractor has no interest in.

I felt sorry for the homeowner because this was not what he wanted and he was upset with the contractor but the job was done. This is my warning to any contractor, handyman or home repair specialists. When installing a new plywood floor over an existing floor to strengthen it up, use some common sense and repair the floor correctly or don't do the job at all.

I wrote this article for contractors to have a little more sympathy for the homeowners you are working for because sometimes they can't see the whole picture like you can. I also wrote this article for homeowners to listen to your contractor carefully when he is explaining a potential problem that you can't visualize further down the road. Any contractor with over 15 years experience remodeling homes has a pretty good idea what's going to happen next.

Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He is currently working on more building stairs books and adding useful content to help solve problems created by the lack of construction knowledge in the building industry.