Great video on how to fix a hole in your wall .
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 inspection or home building ideas.
Rusting Ceiling SprinklerMany people who have poor credit seek the professional help and advice of a financial credit repair counselor. But how can financial counseling really help you? Here are some ways that a specialist can help you with your current financial situation.
Remove Negative Items From Your Credit Report
Debt specialists can negotiate with creditors to remove negative items from your report, which will help raise your score. Some of the things that the financial specialists may be able to have removed from your report include:
Late payments
Bankruptcies
Collections
Charge offs
Repossessions
Foreclosures
Tax Liens
If any of these negative items are present on your report, a financial credit counselor may be able to have them removed.
Design A Payment Plan You Can Afford
If you have credit card bills and loans that are piling up and you are struggling to make even the minimum payments, a financial counselor can help you. A debt specialist can negotiate with your creditors to design a repayment pan that you can afford. Don't continue to make the minimum payments or acquire late fees because you have too many bills to pay. Talk with a financial counselor to help you find a way to make your payments on time.
Give Professional Financial Advice For The Future
A credit repair financial counselor can help you improve your credit score and can also help you make sure that this will never happen to you again. It is not only important to have a good credit score, but it is also important to plan for the future.
Some ways that you can improve your credit score include:
A credit repair counselor can give you the knowledge and resources you need to manage your credit and finances responsibly and improve your credit score.
Rusted Electrical Box ExteriorMany safety precautions take place due to concern for children.However, the parents have accidents almost as frequently as their children.To avoid accidents in the home, consider these simply safety features.
There's a report that is issued every year called the State of Home Safety in America report.It stipulates that more than 300,000 emergency room admissions each year are the result of injuries at home.Be diligent about home safety, and protect your loved ones from serious injuries.
Charles Gueli
Home Helper
http://www.continuous-home-improvement-help.com
Cellulous Attic InsulationOne of the most frequently-asked questions on my forum is "How do I find the right contractor for my remodeling project?" There are many important steps and considerations in choosing and hiring a contractor for a remodeling project. There should be a lot of research and checking information before making a contractor choice.
Here are the top ten tips I offer to homeowners about finding and hiring the best contractor for a remodeling project.
1. Look for a contractor with a strong track record of success in your community. This person will have survived and thrived in the community. The business will be well established in the community, and people will know the contractor and his or her work.
2. Look for a contractor with knowledge and experience in the kind of work you want done. Experience is important. You need a contractor who has experience and knowledge of the specific kind of work you want done. For example, you don't want to hire a roofer to do an electrical job. When interviewing contractors for your project - ask them what projects they are working on now. They likely are doing several - if one or more is a project similar to yours, that's a good sign.
3. Check vital information on the contractor. Check with the state or local licensing board if contractors are required to be licensed in your area to ensure that the contractor is properly licensed to do the kind of work you need and that the license is current. Also check on the contractor's insurance. Ask contractors you are considering for the project to show you their insurance certification. Then call the insurance company and check to ensure the policy is current.
4. Check the contractor's record. Check with the Better Business Bureau, local courts, and search on the internet to find out if there have been any complaints or court cases involving the contractor. Also consider performing a background check. Many companies on the internet offer this service.
5. Develop a clear description of the project, including your workmanship expectations, materials and quality of materials before you discuss the project with a contractor. Your ability to be clear and specific allows the contractor to offer informed opinions and accurate estimates. It is also wise to be open about your budget from the outset, and if the cost is a major concern for you, ask the contractors you interview for their advice on how to minimize the cost.
6. Ask for and then check professional references. Ask for the contractor's standard references, and then ask for several references from projects that contractor is working on currently, as well as several references for projects the contractor completed recently that are very similar to yours. When you talk to the reference ask all the standard questions. Also ask what went wrong and how the contractor made it right.
7. Organize your project and the interview process. Make or buy an organizer to manage the business cards, literature, quotes, estimates and notes that you will accumulate during your search. A good organizer is The Complete Remodeling Workbook and Organizer. Use an interview script for both the contractor and references and a standard list of questions that you answer after the interview so you can compare contractors objectively.
8. Ask a lot of questions during the interview about the contractor, the project and the estimate. Not only do you need answers to specific questions, you need to evaluate your ability to communicate with the contractor. This is also an opportunity to decide whether you do or do not trust the contractor to be in your home and around your family.
9. Carefully compare and evaluate all estimates. I usually recommend that homeowners get at least 5 estimates. You will then need to compare the estimates, including all the details, in order to decide who to hire. Ensure that all of the estimates reflect the same workmanship, finished work, quality of materials, and schedule. If you are having difficulty comparing estimates, ask the contractor to help you make the comparison. If a contractor isn't helping you with this, then he/she probably is not the right one for you to work with.
10. Get a good contract. Get a contract that is based on the total final cost of the project (not an estimate). Be certain that everything is included in the contract. Sample contracts are available at http://www.remodelestimates.com If any changes from the details in the contract are made during the work process, ensure that all changes and costs are put in writing with a change order.
Dan Fritschen, the author of this article, is the founder of the websites http://www.remodelormove.com and http://www.remodelingorganizer.com He is the author of three books on home remodeling.
Shaky Garage Door TrackDo you need a juicer or blender or both? Well two great tools for today's healthy kitchen, let's start by telling you what each machine does. A blender is a standard piece of kitchen mixing equipment, for the raw food fan this is what you use to make delicious meal-in-a-glass smoothies!
A blender is simply a mixing jug with a rotary blade at the bottom; whatever you put in the top gets liquidized and turned into a drink! So for example you may throw in a banana, some soy milk, some strawberries and a few ice cubes and you'll have a delicious and easy to digest fruit smoothie, no waste, and no fuss and just swill out the blender jug when you are done. Simple!
The beauty of smoothie making is that there is no waste product, everything is used up in the drink, your ingredients are liquidized and made very easy to digest, just think of those lazy summer days with a tall banana smoothie in your hand and the sun's rays on your face perfect!!
Blenders also make short work of adding super foods and other drink enhancers to your smoothie; you could whip in barley grass powder, protein powder, ginseng, or any other healthy liquid or powdered supplement!
With a decent blender you can make super easy to digest nutritious smoothies every day!
Ingredients suitable for blending:
1) Banana, Mango, Strawberry, Raspberry soft pulpy fruits!
2) Juice from your juicer
3) Nuts
4) Seeds
5) Kiwi fruit (peeled), Berries, Star fruit, passion fruit, avocado, grapes,
6) Orange and other citrus (peeled of course)
7) Super food
8) Greens complexes, powdered barley grass etc.
9) Protein powder! Go beefcake!
10) Seed oil, essential fats etc
11) Ice, ice baby - let's face it you want your smoothie cool, after all anything less than the best is a felony!
12) Leafy greens - I often make a point of chucking in a handful of spinach
Juicer! Get in! This is what we are all about! Now your juicer is like a key!! It's a key for taking all of Mother Nature's natural fare and unlocking the raw liquid goodness from within! Grab a carrot! Now look at that carrot and imagine inside it is charged with all the stuff you need, vitamins, minerals, enzymes and live Nutrients for life!
Now your juicer allows you to take a handful of nature's finest foods and separate the rough, tough, and hard to break down body of the fruit or veg from the pure liquid gold nutrient content within! If you were to take that carrot now and run it through a juicer now you would have two things, one, a small mound of bland dry pulp, and two, a glass of nutritional LIQUID GOLD! This is what the juicer does! It unlocks the natural raw power of fruits and veggies and gives them to you in a way that your body can fully and easily absorb!
Your juicer or blender can give you a lifetime of service providing you with the best dietary supplement of all, natural living juice!
Now there are obviously different types of juicers with differing capabilities look our for our article on the different types of juicers.
Mark Snare owns and operates http://www.juiceproducer.com and tries to life a healthy lifestyle!
When remodeling or improving your home, you should stop and look at the future before you make any decisions. Some day, your investment will have to be sold. And you will want to get as much out of it as you have put in it.
There are things that just hurt a home when you are trying to sell it. These are items that really seem important to you, but the majority of buyers don't want.
The number one example is a swimming pool. I would love to have an in-ground swimming pool at my house. But I know that it would not be a good investment.
It is expensive to clean, maintain and buyers aren't looking for swimming pools. Buyers don't want the troubles or the energy bills that come with swimming pools. Lenders don't include pools in the mortgage appraisal, so it really has no value to your home.
Another thing that can hurt you is overexpanding your home. Yes, buyers are looking for space, but you can have too much space. If you add on a family room, you are likely to see a 83% return on your investment. It costs you when you don't get back 100%. Adding a master suite to a home will grant you a recovery of only 80% of the cost of the addition.
It gets even worse if your additions make your home much larger than those in your area. This hurts your appraisal value, as there are no other homes of your size to compare to.
You shouldn't go too crazy with your changes either. Yes, there are a lot of people that would find a basement that looks like an old-time western saloon quite charming. But would they want to buy it? What if the basement was extra storage and a family room instead?
You would think that a home office would be a good addition. So many people work from home. Yet, it probably isn't wise to totally outfit a room to be an office by installing a workstation and office storage. You will recoup an average of 73% of your investment, according to the National Association of Realtors.
Another thing to avoid is doing too much by yourself. Shoddy or handmade workmanship will not benefit you. I know a couple that painted their brand new home themselves. The job was not great, as you can see paint on the ceiling throughout the home. Plus, the colors are quite unusual. To sell their home, they may find that it would have been better to have a professional paint in a neutral color scheme.
Try to keep your decor in your personal belongings, not the home itself. Faux finishes are lovely, but if they are too unusual, they may be a sticking point. You may love unusual colors, but remember, hot pink walls are not for everyone.
When you know you will be selling your home, it helps to spend your time only on renovations that will pay you back. Do the most important projects first.
The projects that show the greatest return at resale are improvements to siding, windows, kitchens and bathrooms.
A midrange bathroom renovation can give you a 102% return on the investment. An upscale bathroom renovation can recoup 93% of the cost. A midrange kitchen improvement will recoup approximately 91% of the cost. Minor jobs return 99%.
Keep in mind that the most important improvements aren't those that add to your home, they are those that maintain the home. Make sure the paint is in good condition, the gutters are clean and the lawn is kept up. Keep track of annual checkups, such as the heating and air servicing, and make sure you include the info when you are trying to sell your home. A well-maintained home is always a good seller.
Martin Lukac represents RateTake Refinance Rate marketplace. RateTake matches consumers with multiple lenders offering low rates. Got too much credit debt? Get Debt Help and you'd be surprised what we can do together.
Landfills nowadays each contain huge amounts of organic materials and hold a huge potential to pollute the local groundwater for generations in the containment systems upon which their design is based fail to function as intended.
The engineering of a landfill is no different to other engineered structures, in fact in many ways, especially due to its pollution potential it may be more important that it does not fail when compared to some other structures.
Landfill base liners are by nature buried once constructed and the opportunity to do repairs is extremely limited.
The lining of a landfill is the foundation of a major civil engineering structure.
Just as for the foundation of a multi-storey building great care is taken throughout the construction, the Engineer in charge of a landfill construction would be negligent if he did not require adequate checks to be made on all aspects throughout the design and installation of a landfill liner (or capping).
Carrying out all the necessary checking that the design is implemented and results in a properly built liner (or cap) in a methodical manner and without omissions and then to be able to show others subsequently that the quality of the materials used and the way they were placed will make a proper lining which is as the designer intended everywhere it is laid, is called Landfill Construction Quality Assurance (CQA).
CQA can only be applied once a competent design engineer has completed a design process which has resulted in a detailed specification for the materials to be used, and the thicknesses, depths and positions etc, of these materials when they are used.
This is what is called landfill geomembrane CQA, and it is normally carried out under the overall supervision of a client or purchaser's professional representative (eg "Engineer") who appoints an experienced CQA Engineer to carry out Construction Quality Control (CQC).
The CQA Supervisor is best appointed to someone outside the construction Contractor's organisation to ensure his/her independence.
Whilst geomembrane materials are relatively impermeable even when compared with low permeability clays, they will transmit a small amount of water even when perfectly installed.
The vapour transmission rates of the geomembrane materials used vary for different fluids, but for water they normally have a permeability in the region of 1?10^-15 m/sec.
It is only if leakage rates increase substantially above this rate that problems will occur.
Unfortunately, if a landfill design is poorly carried out without a great deal of care being paid to construction quality (especially if only one thickness or one type of single barrier will be used), leakage can be hugely increased.
Just think how quickly a bath empties if you inadvertently knock the plug out while bathing!
In the realm of CQA, knocking the plug out without noticing when you did it would be called a lining defect.
It stands to reason therefore that leakage rates through a geomembrane are very significantly increased by the presence of even a few defects, and defects when present must be found and repaired before the job is finished.
In CQA plans in these defects are methodically identified and then as much as possible completely eliminated.
Steve Evans has provided more leading information on Landfill CQA (landfill Construction Quality Assurance) at his blog. A full version of this article is available at the importance of Landfill Construction Quality Assurance.
Composition Hip Shingle ProblemStair building tips for installing lights and decking, handrail tips and some deck advice.
For more helpful home improvement information visit: http://www.gregvan.com
Roofing BooksSeeing that I have recently finished building our new home I thought I'd share some insights into the design of a new home. There are many new house plans available today and the sky's the limit on features and styles. The biggest problem with the design process is once we've decided that we'd like to build a new home human nature kicks in and we want it to happen over night. The problem with that is we typically don't spend enough time evaluating and considering the design aspects of the new house. The most important thing to remember is spending extra time in the beginning will prevent you from having second thoughts once the house is done. The following list are ten important things to consider when choosing a new house plan.
1. Style - I think the style of the home is the best place to start. The style of the home will connect with so many of the choices you make so its important to spend some quality time thinking about the style you'd like to live in. Are your preferences more modern or traditional? Do you want a house that is similar to your neighbors? What house style will hold the best value in your neighborhood? What style house will closely match your interior style and existing furnishings? These are all questions that you need to ask yourself and your family. This was a tough question for my wife and I as we grew up on two sides of the country and our styles are very different.
2. Number of Bedrooms - This question may seem simple and easy to answer but it is worth thinking about and discussing. The easiest answer to this question would be based on your current family size and needs. You may need a two bedroom today and need a four bedroom down the road when your family grows. Or maybe you need four bedrooms today yet your kids will be off to college in a few years.
3. Single Level Vs. Multiple Levels - Whether or not your new house has only one level or more is really a personal decision. Some people really enjoy having single level living with no stairs to climb up and down. Some people prefer the more traditional cape and colonial home styles with bedrooms on the second floor. Some land sites are quite small and someone looking for decent square footage may only be able to build a multi-level house. If you think you may retire and live in your house as you get older the single level house may appeal to you.
4. Master Bedroom Suite - Today's new house plans typically offer a master bedroom suite. These suites often have generous closet space, large private bathrooms with soaker tubs, jetted tubs, large walk-in showers and even walk-in closets. These suites generally increase the value of the home and make the house more marketable if you sell in the future.
5. Bonus Rooms (Laundry, Play) - One of the most popular trends in todays house plans are dedicated laundry rooms and the renewed popularity of pantries. In fact, in my new house we made the mudroom a combination laundry and pantry. Some house plans offer laundry on the second floor of multi-leveal houses. A word of caution if you choose a second floor laundry. Make sure you insist that some type of extensive drain system be installed in the unfortunate case there is a broken washing machine hose.
6. Number of Bathrooms - The average number bathrooms in new houses has steadily increased over the years. The average home in the US has 2 1/2 baths and the average appears to be heading towards 3.
7. Kitchen Style - I could write an entire article on this topic, however, the main point here is that many house plans have just a basic kitchen layout. My suggestion is find a house you like and then modify the kitchen to your liking. Plenty of home supply stores will design you a new kitchen free of charge based on the floor plan so don't let a simple kitchen layout deter you from a house plan you really like.
8. Floor Plans - When evaluating floor plans try to visualize how you will furnish the house and how you plan on using different rooms in your daily life. Get a tape measure and measure rooms in your current house to get an idea of how big a 12'x15' room really is. Often people have a hard time visualizing the size of a room and later when the house is done they are not happy with the size. I really suggest spending time on the evaluation.
9. Functionality - The functionality of the new house plan is really one of the most important aspects for your long term comfort and use of the house. If you put the dining room on the other side of the living room so that you have to carry meals through the living room you will soon realize that's not very functional. The same is true about the proximity of bathrooms to bedrooms. Again, I think its important to compare where you currently live to the house plan and think about your likes and dislikes.
10. House Site - The house site can sometimes play a big part in the style, floor plan and functionality. For instance, if you have a very small site you may need two floors. Or maybe your lot is really hilly and needs a drive under garage. Just make sure that when you pick a couple of plans you evaluate them based on the lot as well.
If you get one thing out of this article remember this, plan, plan, plan and plan some more. The more you plan and evalulate your new house plans the happier you will be when you're finally living in your new house.
Todd Fratzel, P.E. is a building superintendent for a construction firm in New Hampshire. In addition to supervising the construction of new homes Todd is a registered professional engineer in the New Hampshire and Massachusetts and has an extensive back ground in building structures. For additional articles like this one see his blog at http://www.homeconstructionimprovement.com
Warped 2 X 6 Stair HandrailOne of the most versatile items to consider in your interior design effort is wood molding. Not only are there tons of uses for it but there are literally hundreds of different types of molding.
Adding it to your decor also increases the perceived value of the home. Why? Because molding is something that was added purely for esthetics and not as a necessity. Savvy real estate agents know that when a potential buyer spots molding in the home the usually exhibit positive buy signs.
Wood molding can be used in many different ways.
Door trim. Set your home apart by deviating from plain old mitered edges. Adding blocks to the corners will give a pleasing, upscale look to an otherwise plain jane doorway. And, instead of a single door trim, try adding an additional decorative molding for another look.
Baseboards need to be sturdy. The entire reason for having baseboards is to protect the wall. There are different synthetic materials you can get such as vinyl but nothing takes the place of solid wood.
A base shoe molding added to the baseboard provides additional transitioning from the flooring material to the baseboard.
Try dressing up your window casings. Just like doors, windows are usually finished off with a single plain trim and mitered edges. Try adding blocks and trim to match the doorways and you're sure to please the eye.
Is your dining room or kitchen eating area a bit on the cramped side? If so, think about installing a chair rail. Just as the name implies, chair rails are designed to prevent damage to the walls. If the room for your table and chairs is somewhat cramped, sliding the chair back to get up from the table can create unsightly nicks, dents, scratches and sometimes even knock out the drywall. Installing a chair rail at the height of the backs of your chairs will provide a "stop" that prevents damage to the wall. Chair rail material is easily spruced up with a new coat of paint and is much easier to maintain then repairing and replacing drywall or other expensive finishes.
One of the best uses for wood molding is crown molding. Just as the name implies, crown molding gives a "crown" to your room. Placed at the top of the wall as a transition to the ceiling, wood crown molding is one of the best ways to add value and beauty to any room.
Wood molding can also be used as handrails in your stairwell creating beauty and safety to your stairs.
Another use for wood molding is as a top to wainscoting giving a "finished" look to any wall where you have opted to use wainscoting as a design option.
Another decorating tip is to use plain molding as a "frame" on a wall. The frame can act as a design element by adding a contrasting paint, wallpaper or finish to the area inside of the molding frame. This is a great way display your favorite art or other personal items such as a collection of sorts mounted to a backboard of simple, finished wood.
With just a little imagination you can definitely make the most of molding in your home!
Bill McRea is the publisher of Knowninfo a premium website dedicated to providing Information, Marketing Strategies and Quality eBooks. Visit our site daily for updated information, and unique products.
Flat Roofing MaterialsWhen it's cold, we walk over and turn up the thermostat, and when it is hot, we walk over and turn on the air conditioner to cool us down. But, how does that little box on the wall actually control the temperature of our homes or offices?
A mechanical thermostat is actually a very simple device. It is basically a thermometer attached to a switch that turns on your heater, whether your heat source is natural gas or electricity. If you remove the cover of your thermostat, you will see the inner workings and get a better idea of how a thermostat works.
The top layer holds a mercury switch and a thermometer coil. The mercury switch is just a small vial filled with the liquid metal, mercury. Within this vial are three wires: one at the bottom of the vial; one at the left of the vial; and one at the right of the vial. As the temperature rises or cools, the vial of mercury gets tipped to the right or the left making the corresponding wire come into contact with the wire that runs along the bottom. If the mercury gets tipped to the left, a connection is made that creates a current that energizes a relay, which starts the heater and circulation fan. As the room heats up, the vial levels off and once that is in balance, the connection is broken causing the heater to turn off. If the mercury switch is tilted to the right, another relay causes the air conditioner to turn on.
What tips the vial in either direction is the thermometer coil that rests against the vial of mercury. The thermometer coil is constructed of a bi-metallic strip made of two different types of metal, usually copper and iron, which are bonded together. Because the different metals respond to heat at different levels, this strip contracts and expands causing the coil to curl up or uncurl as the temperature changes. This curling or uncurling motion tilts the mercury vial, which then signals the heating source to kick off or on. When you adjust the temperature knob on your thermostat, you are actually adjusting the tightness of the coil.
Beneath the top layer of your thermostat, you will see the circuit board, which houses the wires that actually lead to the circulation fan and heat source. The circuit board is connected to the mercury switch via a metal screw and wire, which "reads" the switch and turns on the appropriate heating or cooling device.
Newer on the market are digital thermostats. These thermostats differ from the mechanical thermostats in that they use a thermistor, a resistor whose electrical resistance changes with temperature. The microcontroller in a digital thermostat measures the resistance and converts that number to a temperature reading. Digital thermostats can save energy because they can be programmed to turn the heat or air conditioning off or on at preset times throughout the day. For example, you can set the air conditioning to come on an hour before you come home from work, or have the heater remain off during the hours while you work and then turn on an hour before you get back so your home is warm and cozy when you open the door.
Home Design ArticlesThe construction bulldozer is one of the most powerful crawlers that have a sturdy blade part that makes for an efficient equipment. Bulldozer, while often thought of by many as heavy machinery, actually refers to as a dozer bladed tractor.
Often times, the construction bulldozers are tracked vehicles that are gargantuan in size and extremely powerful. Their tracks provide them with amazing mobility as well as the ability to hold on through rough grounds. On the other hand, the wide tracks help in distributing the dozer weight on the wider areas. This helps the bulldozer from sinking in soft or muddy areas.
Construction bulldozers actually possess amazing ground hold. It also has a torque divider that converts the engine power into dragging ability, thereby allowing it to utilize its weight to be able to push those heavy materials and obstruction in front and easily remove objects from any ground.
Over the years, construction bulldozers have experience modifications and changed into becoming much modern and more efficient machinery capable of performing heavy tasks that the original dozers were not. For example, bulldozers become loader tractors by the removal of the blade and substitution of the bucket as well as hydraulic arms, making it effective in scooping of soil and loading the scooped material into trucks.
Original construction bulldozers are bulkier, whereas now there are smaller versions which are best in operating in small work places that allows for limited movement such as tunnels and caves. Mini bulldozers are affectionately called calfdozers.
For more articles and discussions on construction bulldozers and Komatsu Excavators, do visit our Excavation Equipment World blog.
So you want to build a hutch or put down wood flooring in the living room. The question is which hardwood lumber is the best for the job. The answer is not difficult if you learn a little about the characteristics of hardwoods and what gives them their unique qualities.
What is Hardwood Lumber?
Hardwood is defined as wood coming from broad leaf trees or those that produce nuts. It is the hickory, oak, Walnut, Maple, and cherry trees that are most popular in North America. This is because the climate is just right for large production of such species of trees. The lumber that is created from these strong trees is given the generic name of hardwood.
Not all hardwood is the same. Industry groups have made great strides in standardizing wood by strength and grade. This helps consumers know which are truly the hardest and which are right for specific woodworking jobs.
For example, the hardest of the hardwoods is hickory and Pecan. It is measured by how many pounds of pressure is needed to mar the wood. In the case of these two woods it is approximately 1,820 pounds of pressure before the wood is marred.
On the other end of the hardwood scale is Aspen. It is classified as a hardwood, but requires only 350 pounds of pressure to mar its surface. In between are hard maple at 1,450 pounds and white oak at 1,360 pounds. This give you a comparison of which woods are best for flooring (the harder woods) and which make better material for building furniture. Cherry is just about in the middle of the hardness scale at 950 pounds of pressure to mar.
How Hardwood Can Change
Hardwood contracts and expands depending on temperature and moisture. This is because it tries to adapt to its environment. It was once a living thing and continues to have a life of its own to some degree. In order to minimize the amount of change to wood it is kiln dried to remove much of the moisture and stabilize it. This helps keep the finished wood product truer to the size and shape of when it was manufactured.
Leading manufacturers of hardwood lumber take into account changes in wood and the purpose for which it will be used in designing the lumber. For example, the Windsor plywood is often used as sub-flooring and for exterior wall bases. Dunn, Carter, Lowes, and Siegel lumber all stock their lumber rack with rough cut lumber for any job. Online retailers such as Lumber Liquidators have a huge supply of hardwood lumber mostly for finished flooring applications.
Careful consideration needs to go into the right type of lumber for your hardwood project, but equally as important is the finished look. Many hardwoods vary only slightly in their strength and durability, but as a consumer, you need to decide to you like the grainy look of white oak or the smooth finish of maple. Any type of hardwood lumber can be stained and finished with several colour variations, so look more at grain than colour when choosing what wood looks best to you.
Clinton Maxwell writes at large for http://www.insidewoodworking.com , a website with topics around 84 lumber , carter lumber and other areas. Sharing his passion in detailed publications like http://www.insidewoodworking.com/lumber/hardwoodlumber.html ,the reviewer demonstrated his expertise on things similar to hardwood lumber and carter lumber.
Home Electrical BooksThese days it seems that the fashionable trend in living is going green. By that we mean more and more people are choosing to opt for cleaner energy, less waste, environmentally friendly building materials, paints and flooring plus energy efficient appliances. Al Gore's award winning documentary An Inconvenient Truth did more to stir up interest in the green movement than most published scientific studies did. Whether or not you support the global warming theory, one thing you can't dispute is the obvious savings, both in the environment and your finances, that making some simple and if you're willing, not so simple, green improvements to your condo or house. Not only will this benefit you as long as you live there, but it will also make your home more attractive to potential buyers if you should decide to sell.
Perhaps the easiest thing you can do to start saving money and energy is to replace your old light bulbs with energy efficient ones. The newer compact fluorescent bulbs are available in a wide assortment of sizes and last a lot longer than basic light bulbs, all while saving on electricity consumption. New compact fluorescent bulbs often use as little as 20 percent of the energy that an older bulb will use. You can also install timers on outside lights.
To improve water consumption you can install low flush toilets and also either attach aerators to your faucets or buy new ones with aerators already installed. This simple device mixes air with the water flow, which creates good pressure with less water. You can also replace the shower heads in the baths with low flow heads.
A typical hot water heater will run constantly to keep the water hot at all times, making this appliance one of the most costly to operate in your home. You can either improve the heating efficiency of the tank you currently have by adding insulation around the tank or wrapping the pipes. You can also install one of the newer models that only heat water on demand, not constantly. Tankless models work very well and can save up to 50 percent of what an older model would cost to run. There are also solar powered hot water heaters for the ultimate in energy efficiency.
You can also go the extra mile with saving water by installing a rain water collection system to water your lawn and landscaped plants, plus making sure that you only plant native species that are tolerant of local climate conditions will also benefit your outdoor environment.
The appliances in your kitchen as well as your washer and dryer are another major area where you can green up your home while saving energy and money in the long run. Replacing some or all of your kitchen appliances with more efficient Energy Star rated ones will reduce electricity consumption and they will run much more efficiently. Remember that for every perk like an automatic ice maker or defrost, a refrigerator becomes less energy efficient. This is especially important because in the average home, a refrigerator uses the most electricity of any appliance you own. Washer and dryer models are now available that operate much more efficiently. Front load washers not only hold bigger loads, they use less water and energy.
For some really major savings you can replace your outdated heating and cooling system with an energy efficient one. Older systems, especially boiler-based ones, are usually extremely inefficient. Newer systems with programmable thermostats allow you to adjust settings according to the times you are home and need more heating or cooling. Just by installing a ceiling fan in even just the biggest room in your home and then lowering the setting on your air conditioning by 3 to 6 degrees, you can save as much as 25 percent on the cost of cooling your condo or home.
Insulation is critical to saving energy, and an average home will lose about 50 percent of its heat through the ceiling and walls if not properly insulated. Check the R value, which is the rating system for insulation value, of what you currently have in your home or what you are considering installing. The higher the R value, the better the insulation value. Don't be fooled by thinking the thicker or heavier the insulation, the better. You should only look at the R value when deciding on what type.
For a basement in a typical home in North America, the suggested R value insulation should be R-12. One inch of insulation is basically equal to 30 inches of concrete. Of the different types of insulation, Expanded Polystyrene is the best, with blown in Cellulose a close second and Fiberglass in third place. It is also important to install some type of water proof barrier or membrane to protect insulation from moisture. If insulation gets wet it severely reduces its performance.
By adding some simple or some slightly more difficult green touches to your condo or home, you will not only improve your own savings, but will help the environment and probably entice more buyers to your home if you decide to sell. For more tips on selling your home or to find out more about some popular green developments and condos, you can check out the buildings profiled on About Chicago Real Estate
Kim Richards writes articles about Chicago real estate and new home trends for About Chicago Real Estate.
2 X 10 Miter Around PostIn colder climates, contractors and owners of buildings with metal roofs should consider the potential liability of a snow and ice avalanche after any winter storm. When the weather breaks and the sun emerges, it melts the ice on the surface of the roof panel. Water from the snow melt creates a lubricant which is the catalyst for snow and ice to slide. These dangerous avalanches could potentially cause injury or death to pedestrians, bend gutters, destroy automobiles, HVAC equipment, livestock and other property below.
With over 32 years experience supplying snow guards to the post frame industry, we have found that there are several important factors to consider when selecting the proper snow guard for metal roofing applications. The most important features to consider are the height, width and shape of a snow guard or rail system. This determines its ability to hold back layers of heavy ice and snow. A pad style guard should have a flat, forward mounted face that measures at least 3 inches across and stands no less than 2.5 inches high. It must be mounted in the lowest portion of the roofing panel where the snow and ice actually moves, not on a high seam above the problem area. Snow guards mounted on a high seam will cease to be effective once the snow and ice compacts on the panel and becomes lower than the guard. A bar or rail system should always have a flat face or square tube with an ice stopper, at least 3 inches wide, mounted perpendicular to the panel flat. Installing the correct type of ice stopping device is the key to keeping the snow and ice from going under and over the bar.
The two most common types of snow retention systems today are the pad style guards which mount in the panel flats and the rail systems which crimp to the seams. On standing seam floating panels, adhesive mounting is the preferred method of attachment for pad style snow guards. This mounting method does not restrict the natural thermal expansion and contraction process of floating metal roof panels and in the event of severe snow drifting conditions, it provides a release feature that eliminates the possibility of panel damage. The other method is a crimp on snow guard or rail system. It is very important to remember that crimp on guards or rails have no release aspect and panel damage could occur if snow loads exceed the design capabilities of the clamp. Therefore, these systems should always be installed in strict accordance with the manufacturers recommendations!
Another noteworthy consideration is the type of material from which the snow guard is made. Clear polycarbonate is virtually invisible and will not create corrosive galvanic reactions caused by dissimilar metals exposed to outdoor elements. Because all plastics do not maintain the same characteristics when exposed to various weather conditions, the consumer should only consider using a product made from a virgin grade, UV stabilized, prime polycarbonate material. Our company uses the same type of polycarbonate, approved by NASA, used to make astronaut face masks.
Something else to consider, clear pad style snow guards are far less noticeable on a roof than colored ones. A color matched snow guard will act as a sundial and cast a conspicuous shadow. Think about this scenario, a person is standing in front of a building and is looking up at the roof. What do they see? They observe all the protruding objects that do not blend with the sky, including nontransparent snow retention systems. Clear snow guards unify with the skyline and in most cases, are almost undetectable.
With so many snow retention choices on the market today, it may be difficult to choose the correct system for your roof because there is not just one type of snow retention system that is perfect for every application. Some types of metal roofing do not have the proper seam height and are not structurally suitable for use with a clamp down system. While it is usually harmless to the panel to use an adhesive mounted system, weather conditions may not always be ideal for immediate installation.
When it really comes down to it, choosing an experienced manufacturer and following their instructions and spacing recommendations is the key to a successful snow guard installation.
Our company has designed a generic on-line estimator program that we hope will help set the industry standard for snow guard placement. SpacingTool.com enables the end user to instantly determine how many guards should be used on a particular project. This tool immediately produces free on-line layouts and price quotes that can be accessed multiple times with an email generated key code. The program features a user friendly interface that only requires basic roof criteria and simple contact information. In addition, this web site can be accessed from any internet capable mobile phone, while on the jobsite, to obtain instant snow guard calculations.
Today, more than 42 years later, I am proud to continue my father's legacy with integrity. SnoBlox-Snojax is recognized in the metal construction industry as a trustworthy, nationally known manufacturer whose predominant business is snow retention. Our customers are our most valuable asset and we are committed to excellent customer service, "Hands on Ownership" and providing the industry with the highest quality snow guard systems available on the market, at the best possible price with an unconditional warranty! Our mission is to meet the constantly changing needs of the metal roofing industry by continuously researching, developing, professionally testing and marketing the "Best of the Best" and we plan to be of service for generations to come!
By Brion P. McMullen, President & CEO of IceBlox, Inc.
http://www.metalroofsnowguards.com/ and
http://www.spacingtool.com/
You can find all kinds of products that will help you to remove nearly all types of stains. The perfect solution in completely removing stains is by cleaning the spills and dirt the second they appear.
There are a number of ways to clean up stains by using products in your home which you use frequently, such as detergents, rubbing alcohol, vinegar, lemon juice, etc. You just need to know how to use these regular household products.
Your first option is to use 1 teaspoon of clear, household type ammonia and a half cup of cold water. You can apply this solution to the carpet directly or use it in a spray bottle. It is crucial not to wet the carpets backing when you use the solution. Once you have applied the solution, you can use paper towels to blot; allow it to dry from top to bottom.
Your second option is to use detergent solution made of dish soap or hand soap. The ideal combination is one quart of water and one quarter of a teaspoon detergent. You need to make sure the soap does not contain lanolin or bleach.
Your third option is to use water. It will re-hydrate the stain to help with removal. The majority of pet stains can be cleaned up by using a steam cleaner. Once you are done, be sure to dry the area as completely as possible.
Ink stains
1. Buy isopropyl rubbing alcohol.
2. Apply it by pouring some onto a clean white towel or cloth. You can use paper towels if they are white.
3. Blot the stain as much as possible until it is cleaned.
4. Be careful, because if the stain is small, you should blot in one direction only so you do not spread the stain.
Beer and wine stains
1. Mix a solution with 1 part water and 1 part white vinegar.
2. Apply the mixture to the stain. You can use a spray bottle to saturate.
3. Allow the stain to sit around 10 to 15 minutes.
4. Use a sponge and clean in a rubbing motion.
5. Rinse the area with warm water.
6. Brush the carpet pile back into the natural direction it has.
7. Use layers of white paper towels; place them on top of the area; put something heavy on the paper towels. Wait until the area has dried.
Protect your carpet against paint drips, snow, mud, dirt, stains, and heavy traffic conditions. Read about plastic carpet protections as well as temporary carpet protections.
One of the major activities that homeowners usually go through at one time or another is home remodeling. This is not only because they want to add value to their homes when it comes to market value, but also because remodeling their homes usually brings satisfaction, contentment and well-being to everyone living in them. However, remodeling a house is not an easy task and can be quite daunting, especially if there are plans to add some rooms or extend the floor plans or renovate at a wide range. Even if the remodeling plans only entail some minor facelifts like wall repainting, floor retiling, dcor changing or rearranging of furniture and appliances, there are still considerations to be made. Because of this, there is always a need to make some kind of home remodeling plans.
Whether the changes that are intended to be made to a house are minimal or major, home remodeling plans would make everything easier. With these plans, anyone could ascertain the budget of the remodeling and the amount of time and effort needed, among many others. As there are always limits to what can be afforded when it comes to time and budget when it comes to home remodeling, these plans would work in taking note of all the considerations that have to be taken care of in order to make the remodeling go on smoothly. So, it is best to always look into what needs to be remodeled first and to do some kind of prioritization. This way, a more beautiful and improved house can be arrived at, with less hassles.
The first thing homeowners need to do in making home remodeling plans is to check on the area that needs improvement. They should already have an idea on what they want done on these areas that they want remodeled, so they could decide on whether they can do the job themselves or hire professionals to do the remodeling for them. If they think that they can handle the task at hand, then the best thing that they should do is visit workshops, galleries, shops or even remodeling sites on the Internet, where they can get some guiding tips on how to go about their project more smoothly. Looking into the processes, materials and techniques that could possibly be needed in their home remodeling would also help these homeowners a great deal. As there are a lot of sources of information everywhere, these homeowners should just exercise patience and keenness in their research and in analyzing on which information will work best for them.
In making home remodeling plans, homeowners should also take note of the areas and things that they want to change or improved. This is because while there are things that only need to be repainted or refurbished to be improved, there are others that really need to be changed. They should also consider that there are little things that could be done that could already bring a great improvement to a room.
Wendy Pan is an accomplished niche website developer and author. To learn more about basic home remodeling plans, please visit Best Home Remodeling for current articles and discussions.
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 home 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 House Remodeling Pictures or home building ideas.
Deck Building BooksPrecision inventory control and product protection are two things that are vital to recession proofing any business involved in the distribution of lumber or the manufacture of wooden products like furniture. Cantilever lumber racks offer a very low-cost means to accomplishing both, and they can support up to several thousand pounds in weight.
These systems are best custom built, because the capacity and size of a cantilever lumber rack will be determined by product length, type of lumber cut, and the total weight capacity supported by the arms. Precise calculations have to be made to ensure evenly distributed loading, uneven loads will reduce the total capacity of the rack by 50 percent.
Cantilever lumber racks are intended to organize and protect cuts of lumber by keeping them off the floor and providing an efficient method of categorizing various dimensions and types of wood. Cantilever lumber racks can be built with single or double-sided towers. If base assemblies are stackable, it allows towers to be joined together to create entire rows of storage.
This is an extremely efficient method of space management in crowded warehouses. Cantilever lumber racks take up much less space than pallet racks, and so long as they are anchored properly to the concrete floor and built with appropriately proportioned columns, arms, and braces, they can be built very tall so as to minimize their consumption of horizontal floor space and make it easier for forklifts to access their contents.
Cantilever racks are vital to the lumber industry. Almost all cuts of timber feature a variety of lengths, widths, and thicknesses. Organizing these cuts by sheer dimensions alone is difficult enough. When you consider the added difficulty in categorizing lumber by wood type, it quickly becomes evident how difficulty inventory control without a system of organization and a convenient method of retrieval.
Wood is also very vulnerable to impact and moisture and requires some special storage considerations. Even indoors in very hot, humid climates, warehouses can be too humid for the long-term storage of lumber, and leaving boards, planks, and sheets on the floor invites damage, mold, and safety concerns. Cantilever lumber racks both elevate and separate lumber by size and type, placing it closer to fans or other forms of ventilation, or making it possible to cover the lumber with plastic or tarpaulins in order to prevent it from becoming damp.
The most common type of cantilever rack that is used to store lumber is the structural rack. Structural cantilever racking is used for more heavy-duty applications such as lumber and pipe storage. Structural components generally include structural columns and bases, roll-formed arms, horizontal bracings, X-Bracings, and hardware used to mount the units.
X-braces can be either 48 inches or 60 inches wide. Columns, as we have already mentioned, can be either single-sided or double-sided. Many lumber yards prefer to use double-sided cantilever lumber racks because this allows them to create rows for forklifts to move through. It also makes better use of space to build this type of system if there is sufficient area in which to do so.
For information on used pallet racks, refurbished cantilever racks or material handling equipment visit us at Easy Rack
CAUTION: Most electric dryers use 220 volts to power the heating element. Always disconnect the dryer power cord from the wall receptacle before doing any tests or repair work.
Here are some tips.
Check the fuses
If you have an electric dryer, the first thing to check are the fuses or breakers in your homes fuse box. If this fuse is blown, it is possible for your dryer to spin but not produce heat. If you've checked the fuses and they are not blown, the next possible cause is the heating element.
Check the heating element
To check the heating element, move the back panel of the dryer. You'll need a volt/ohmmeter to check the element terminal. Locate the element and set the volt/ohmmeter on the RX-1 scale. Remove one lead from the element and then place one probe of the volt/ohmmeter on the terminal of the element. Place the other probe of the volt/ohmmeter on the remaining terminal of the element. Look for a continuity reading of the volt/ohmmeter of approximately 2-5 ohms. If there is no continuity reading, the heating element is defective and should be replaced.
LINT- Your dryer's greatest enemy
To extend the life of your dryer, clean the lint filter every time you use the dryer. Even if the lint filter is cleaned after every load, lint will still accumulate around the dryer's moving parts, the exhaust duct and vent.
Each year inspect the vent pipe and vent cover operation. Disconnect the exhaust duct and remove lint from the internal exhaust pipe, the duct and the vent. Make sure the duct has no kinks, where lint and moisture can build-up.
Turn off the power, remove the front and rear panels and vacuum out the lint from around the motor and idler.Poor air flow uses more energy and can cause lint build-up in the internal ducting, leading to a fire hazard.
When in doubt, don't hesitate to call for help. We are open 7 days a week, including holidays, and offer same day service on most repairs.
My Appliance Tech
866.740.2258
At My Appliance Tech, you'll receive superior service, professional technicians and a unique customer service experience. Our factory trained technicians undergo a thorough background check, including drug testing. Our goal is to build a strong and long-lasting relationship with you. We are reliable, honest and insured. Let us be your appliance tech!
We offer Same-Day Service 7 days per week and serve customers from West Palm Beach to Miami. You can trust our expertise as we repair all makes and models with a generous warranty on parts and labor. We also offer installation services where available.
Give us a call today or make an online appointment. We're ready to serve you!
Skylight Framing With LightDrywalls are common finishes used in the interior of homes whether in New York, or other cities in the U.S. No modern home could ever have been built without it. Though the building material has been manufactured to be tough, it is still not totally safe from any damage. Different levels of finishing, thickness and treatments that come with it offer various levels of soundproofing, fire resistance as well as impact tolerance. The extent of the drywall repair will be dependent on the degree of damage.
Also known as gypsum board, any damage to it is commonly remedied through homeowners doing the drywall repair themselves or hiring a pro. Though both options do have their benefits, they also have drawbacks. So when faced with any damage, it pays to carefully consider which alternative is best for your circumstance.
DIY Drywall Repair
Other than saving on the overall cost of the project, what drives many homeowners to do things themselves is the feeling of satisfaction upon finishing off the task successfully. Resources on the topic are abundant and you can easily look up helpful articles ad instructional videos about it in the World Wide Web, and even offline through magazines and books. The task is fairly easy if you are dealing with minor drywall repair involving slight dents, or small holes.
Just like other home improvement and maintenance project, the problem you would have to face if you try to handle the drywall repair on your own is the risk. Without any experience and skill, the risk of committing any mistake and thus sacrificing the quality of the result is huge, especially in cases where the damage is extensive. So if you think you are not up to the job, then better let the pros handle the work.
Drywall Repair Specialist
The factor that makes many homeowners cringe at the thought of acquiring professional help is the cost of labor, making up for the considerable difference when you think about how much the materials would cost. A hired drywall repair specialist, though, would save you time which you could choose to spend doing more important things. Equipped with the right tools and quality materials, you would not have to bother rummaging through the shed to look for tools.
In areas where guests are entertained like the living area or the kitchen, it pays to maintain their attractiveness. The smallest flaw could really take a toll in the area's appearance, and what more if there is a gaping hole on the wall? With a drywall repair specialist to do the job for you, the project results would be seamless and noticeably better; and a lot faster letting you enjoy the results in the shortest wait.
Drywall repair takes some practice and ample skills to produce results wherein the damage would seem to not even have existed. So when faced with any drywall damage, you have to weight your options carefully. The thing that you think might save you more could even cost you more.
Eugene Makeev of Craftsmen Network helps New York home owners avoid the common pitfalls with Brooklyn, NY drywall installers by matching their needs with prescreened drywall contractors NYC.
Please feel free to use our drywall estimator.
Creating your own electricity and generating your own power has always been one of my dreams. Having a self sufficient home, not only a house that takes care of itself by generating its own electricity through windmills or solar panels but the satisfaction knowing that no matter what happens to the electrical companies you will always have electricity at your home.
What a wonderful feeling it would be to get a check back from the utility company instead of paying them every single month. I don't know about you but my utility bills are ridiculous and seemed to be going up in price constantly. I can't believe all the fees they have been charging for years to all of their customers. If you add all the fees for every person in the city or county this comes to a large, a very large number and it's getting worse not better.
Generating your own electricity with solar or wind power is definitely green thinking. This is going to be the wave of the future as fuel used to create electricity continues to rise in price. I really can't imagine what the price of electricity is going to be like in 10 years as the mass consumption continues to rise in developing countries.
We have got to start taking care of our own needs through solar or wind power. We have got to start creating our own electricity to become self reliant. The more self reliant we become as a nation the less dependent we will be on major corporations, especially large power conglomerates.
Creating our own electricity can also be used for electrical cars that can be purchased in the future. Think of the money you will say in fuel costs as the price of gasoline continues to increase as well as less pollution into our environment.
This is definitely the wave of the future and common sense tells us this. I suggest you read this article again if you haven't figured out some of the problems coming our way in the future.
Think green and together we can start saving the planet.
While searching for new alternatives and trying to get some advice on creating your own electricity I came across a book you can purchase in digital format. This book seems to have quite a bit of information on creating your own electricity for a totally self sufficient home.
This book has been created in digital format to reduce the consumption of trees and the waste involved in creating a regular book. What a wonderful idea for helping our environment in quite a few ways.
While searching for new alternatives and trying to get some advice on creating your own electricity I came across a book you can purchase in digital format. This book seems to have quite a bit of information on creating your own electricity for a totally self sufficient home.
This book has been created in digital format to reduce the consumption of trees and the waste involved in creating a regular book. What a wonderful idea for helping our environment in quite a few ways.
For more information visit http://www.gregvan.com and look for Get Earth4Energy Here Create your own electricity! Save 1000's with Earth4Energy
Going green no longer means geodesic domes or strange-looking houses, owned by staunch environmentalists. Green has become more and more mainstream over the past several decades.
Home builders are responding to home buyer's demands of energy efficiency and environmental concerns. Many new homes contain at least some green features.
First, the Framing
Even something as seemingly insignificant as using lumber that has been certified as coming from sustainable forests by the Forest Stewardship Council contributes to the green revolution in building. The same is true with using 2x6 studs in outer walls, which serves two purposes: allowing builders to use less lumber by spacing studs farther apart and to use thicker insulation between the studs.
Although FSC-certified lumber is still a bit hard to get and costs about 20 to 30 percent more than standard lumber, the additional cost only translates to a few thousand dollars, which is often negligible, considering the cost of most new construction today. However, as more forests become FSC compliant, the cost of that lumber should decrease.
Today's Home Buyers Want Energy Efficiency
The increase in green building techniques is driven in large part by consumer demand, which in turn has been driven by the ever-increasing cost of energy. The more it costs to heat and cool a home, the higher the demand for ways to lower those energy costs. The increased demand for green building will continue to bring more and more contractors into the field to fill the need. It's a cycle that's likely to continue to escalate, which is good for everyone concerned, and the planet as a whole. In fact, many economists are predicting that eventually the overwhelming demand for green homes by consumers will translate into a total shift in that direction.
Other relatively easy, but cost effective green techniques include such things as wrapping ventilation systems, using Energy Star certified appliances, and using low-flow showerheads and low-flush toilets. All of those measures can significantly increase the efficiency of a green home and save thousands of dollars over the years in reduced heating, cooling, and water consumption.
Green Building Expands Nationwide
The green revolution isn't just on the West Coast or other trendy areas. The demand for green homes can be seen nationwide. In fact, there are a number of builders across the country that have seen their entire construction business shift to green homes. A large part of that increased demand has been generated by increased awareness by the general public about the various concepts of green building.
For instance, when consumers hear that they can heat and cool a new 3,000 square-foot home for less than $125 a month, that gets them excited about the possibilities. In the very near future, as more and more consumers become familiar with the various concepts of green building, that trend is likely to escalate exponentially, and as energy costs continue to rise, getting customers to incorporate green building techniques and technology into their new construction projects will become an increasingly easier upgrade to sell.
For more information about the environment and green building, go to http://environmentpsychology.com
Jeanette Fisher is the author of real estate and interior design books and the Residential Design Guide.
Humidity and moisture in your crawl space can often lead to a serious problem for homeowners not using a crawl space dehumidifier; wood rot. Wood rot, also called wood decay, is caused by microscopic organisms that belong to the fungi group. These organisms are what cause the wood to actually decay.
Wood is comprised of 3 major components: cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. Wood rots because the fungi "eat" these 3 major components of wood cells by releasing enzymes that digest wood cells.
Wood that has a moisture content of 20% or above is very susceptible to rotting. The attacking fungi require 4 conditions for colonization:
1) Adequate oxygen supply
2) Temperature range between 40-100 degrees Fahrenheit
3) Constant moisture source
4) Adequate supply of food (wood)
Untreated moisture damage can cause a decrease in your property value by 10% to 15% according to the National Association of Waterproofing and Structural Repair Contractors (NAWSRC).
Catching moisture problems like wood rot in the early stages will save you both money and headaches. There are several warning signs to alert you that moisture may be damaging your home: excessive condensation on windows, blistering or peeling paint, discolored wood surfaces, splits across the wood grain, mold spots, musty odors and standing water in your crawl space.
If you notice any of these warning signs, you need to determine where the moisture is coming from. Check for plumbing leaks, roof leaks, debris filled gutter and downspouts, foundation cracks and poorly graded soil that drains towards your home. In your crawlspace, look for mold stains on the foundation walls and/or puddled water.
Moist, humid air from your crawlspace increases the moisture content of the wood in your home, making it vulnerable to wood rot. By installing a vapor barrier and a high grade crawl space dehumidifier, you can protect the value of your home.
About the Author Chuck Jaymes is an indoor air quality professional and offers reviews and comparisons about Crawl Space Dehumidifiers for OscarAir, Inc.
Owning your own home comes with several advantages. Aside from having the wonderful feeling of living in your own property, there's no rent to worry about and you're free to do as you please with it. Homeowners have their share of headaches of course- property taxes, insurance, the normal problems of aging of building materials and everyday wear and tear.
Maintaining one's home in order to keep its original looks and value takes dedication and a bit of money. A lot of folks get caught up in the daily grind and overlook the responsibility of home maintenance. A lot of beautiful homes have been lost after incurring irreparable damage due to neglect.
The more common forms of time-related problems are issues with the roof, plumbing and cracks in the walls. Missing or damaged shingles should be checked every six months along with possible leaks in gutters and downspouts. Holes in the roof should be patched up right away to prevent them from getting bigger and avoid water damage to your furniture and appliances.
Walls, bricks and woodwork should also be checked for deterioration. Cracks in walls are pretty normal due to earthquakes or settling in old homes. To ensure historical integrity, the materials used in repairing old homes should be the same as the original. Plaster is usually used for walling in homes with some age. Aside from settling, plaster gets cracked because of deterioration due to poor quality and water damage also.
The first step in repairing cracks in walls of plaster is clearing them up and making sure dust and loose chunks of plaster are cleaned out. This can be done easily with a carpenter's 5-way scraping tool specially designed for this task. There are two steps to applying new plaster to cracks in old walls. Applying the base coat plaster to bind and fill-up the cracks, and the top coat finish for a smooth finish. In preparing the new plaster, make sure to follow instructions by the manufacturer to prevent back-jobs which can cause significant waste of time and money.
Another common and usually recurring problem in homes is the toilet bowl. Since these have a fair amount of moving parts, the necessity to do minor troubleshooting is quite expected. When the handle for the flush becomes tight or sticky, it's just a matter of cleaning the mounting nut (after accessing it by removing the tank cover, of course). A handle that is loose or one that doesn't flush means the chain is either too slack or has been broken. Remedy this by adjusting the chain, using different hole or replacing it in case of breakage.
When the toilet becomes clogged and a plunger won't help, it's time to call in the big guns. A "snake" otherwise known as an auger can reach inside the drainage deeper and unclog whatever is blocking the water and waste from being flushed.
A leaking toilet if left unchecked will inevitably flood your floor and cause expensive damage to your subfloor and woodwork. It could just be a problem with the bolts or couplings around and inside the tank. If after checking you can't find any problem with those, most likely the sealant around the base has to be replaced or worse, there's crack somewhere and you'd have to replace the whole thing.
If you encounter problems or remodeling issues that you think is way beyond anything you've experienced or read in those DIY manuals and videos, it might be a good move to look around for a good contractor. House and building contractors although more costly, can save you loads of time and effort as well as take care of issues with permits and such.
Jo is a writer for 'EBL Group Limited' (http://www.eblgroup.co.uk), a family managed, recognized and accepted house insurance repairs outworker stationed in Runcorn Cheshire. If you need home insurance repairs because of storm, flood, fire, malevolent or accidental damage or any other reasons or if you have house and commercial buildings upgrading needs then you should check out EBL Group.
Behind Wood Lath PlaterThe unique challenge of our times is conservation. Everything, from public busses to private homes, is feeling the pressure to go green. In some cases, it's easily accomplished. In others, it's not as easy. And in all aspects of life, the focus has shifted to renewable, eco-friendly resources.
They say every little bit helps. Why not do your part to make your home or business more environmentally helpful? By using eco-safe, agriculturally based spray foam insulation, you can.
There are a variety of insulation options but some are much greener than others. If you're concerned with your home using renewable, energy efficient materials, then using a foam insulation spray could be your solution.
In addition to other benefits you get from using a foam insulator in your home or business, the product is also environmentally friendly. It's made up mainly of renewable resources and the means of application is Earth friendly. It is free of ozone depleting components, and the application solution is water based.
Unlike similar petroleum based products, the greener spray foam has the highest oxygen index, and zero fuel contribution. There are few products that can boast such qualities. The properties of the insulation also help to make your home energy efficient.
You can apply this insulation anywhere you need it, around joints, joists, frames and other building support structures and still get a tight seal. You won't get any air pockets or little crevices where air can leak in or out. This sort of air tight sealing ability helps to keep your heating and cooling units working efficiently. Also, it allows you to get a smaller unit because it doesn't have to work so hard. It's been shown to reduce heating and cooling costs by 40%. That's effectiveness you can see.
Not only is spray foam insulation green, it's versatile. It functions well as a barrier to airborne sound and comes with one of the highest fire resistances available in similar products. Pest and rodents won't do any damage because the insulator has no nutritional value to them. It's water resistant, and flexible enough to allow some movement of the building structure. Finally, it produces no toxic vapors after it's applied. You can even rent or buy the equipment and install it yourself.
With concerns about the environment on everyone's minds, it helps that you can find products to help in your conservation efforts. You can get greener cars, recycle your trash and electronics, and buy energy efficient appliances. Why not make your home or business part of the solution? Renewable resources benefit all of us.
The best thing about spray foam insulation is that you can put it anywhere. It doesn't matter if you're starting fresh on your building, or replacing worn out or useless materials. The spray foam can be applied to existing structures with the same effectiveness it has on new structures.
If going green is a priority for your house or office, applying spray foam insulation is another way to help your environment.
With concerns for the environment growing daily, it's good to know there are more ways that we can be eco-responsible. For your home or business, you can apply spray foam insulation, renewable and energy efficient product. Visit Apex Foam today to see their foam selection. http://www.apexfoam.com
Wood Window DamageThere are many areas where you can experience significant energy savings when you are building a green home.By working with an architect in the early design stages, many of these areas can be addressed in the design of your energy efficient home, helping you to save money in the future and enjoy a healthier home:
1)Footprint:Reduce the size of your home.Your home design should be limited to only as much space as your family needs.This will keep your energy usage to a minimum right from the start.
2) Windows:Windows are a break in the thermal insulating barrier of your home.The higher quality window you choose the better performance the entire home will achieve.
3)Insulation:Even if you do nothing else, by choosing a superior building envelope for your home like structural insulated panels (SIPs panels) and/or an insulated concrete form foundation system (ICF), you will enjoy huge savings in heating and cooling your home (up to 50%-60% over a home without SIPs).
4) Passive solar design:By incorporating sunlight for lighting and heat and natural ventilation into the basic home design, you can reduce the size of mechanical systems and lighting in the home.
5) Heating system:Consider a renewable energy system to heat and cool the space and tap water in your home (solar, wind, geothermal).
6) Ventilation:Incorporate an air-to-air exchanger, or heat recovery ventilator (HRV) system into your home. This will replace stale air with fresh outdoor air while maintaining the temperature inside the home and conserving energy.
There are many other areas of the home that can be addressed to increase energy efficiency and save money over the life of your home. In the beginning stages of the home design, your green architect will discuss your opportunities to save money while providing a healthy environment for your family.
About the Author: Jeremy Bonin, a principal partner of Bonin Architects & Associates http://www.boninarchitects.com, is an award-winning green architect and the author of TIMBER FRAMES: Designing Your Custom Home. With a special interest in sustainable design and green homes, structural insulated panels (SIPs), as well as timber frame construction, Jeremy incorporates renewable energy practices where possible, including geo-thermal, solar, radiant heat, and energy-efficient foundation systems.
You must be ready when an opportunity comes before you, opportunity often comes in the form of work and that's why most people seem to miss it. Most people are too busy looking for the easy path through life. They seem to lay around waiting for the opportunity of a lifetime,... to simply fall at your feet.
Why would you want to spend so much time complaining about something, or someone? Other people can help you along the way, if you let them, but it's up to you, ultimately, to become the most you can possibly be. I have had plenty of opportunities in my life and have took advantage of some, while letting most of them pass by.
I'm no different than most people but now seem to be aware of my surrounding opportunities, all the time.
How many times do you wish for an opportunity to come along? It's probably one that you missed already, at some point during your life. Are you going to be prepared for the next opportunity when it comes along? These opportunities seem to repeat themselves throughout our lives and if we're not in the right state of mind, we often overlook them and let them pass by, time and time again.
You need to prepare yourself in advance for the next opportunity. If you are prepared and have your eyes open, you will be able to see the next opportunity that comes your way. Preparation will increase your chances for success and good fortune always.
Opportunities come in all shapes and sizes. Be on the lookout, when you're walking to the grocery store, taking a break at work, reading the newspaper, talking to your neighbor, walking down the street or even while you are sitting alone, letting your mind wander away. Your chances for success could come while your in your quiet places, or relaxing. Be prepared.
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.
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. His views on religious freedom are slowly changing the way people think about institutional religion.
Bathtub Building Code ProblemFirst things first when looking for your dream home. Make a list of all the things you're looking for. With today's computers and search engines on the Internet it makes home shopping by keywords very simple.
Most real estate websites have boxes you can check off, if you're looking for a three-bedroom house with two bathrooms and a swimming pool. You simply check these items off, select the area you would like to search for homes and and you now have a list of homes to look at.
Some of these homes have virtual tours on the Internet, which allows you to go through most of the home before you actually visit the house. Modern technology has made searching for your dream home a virtual reality.
You can now look through the list and select the most appealing homes before you start driving around. Don't let the pictures of these homes deceive you on the Internet or MLS. Some of the descriptions of these homes can also be very deceptive.
When looking for your dream home, used every possible means available to you. This would include your real estate professionals, newspapers, magazines, search engines, internet websites, and don't forget about driving around your favorite neighborhoods. This is actually how we found one of the homes we bought.
Our real estate salesman gave us a list of homes to look at, while we were driving around, we spotted a home that caught our attention and we pulled in the driveway. To our amazement, the real estate saleswoman who listed the home lived a couple of houses down the street and was right there asking if we wanted to see the inside of the house.
Your family, friends, neighbors and people you work with, can also help you with your homebuying quest. You would be surprised at how helpful some of these people can be. I knew someone who found a home they really liked, knocked on the door and told the homeowners, they would be very interested if their home was ever put on the market. Within a few weeks, he was buying the home.
I'm not telling you to knock on everyone's door whose not selling their house, but you never know how or when you're going to run into the house of your dreams.
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 buying checklist to take some of the frustration out of home shopping.
Don't buy a house without visiting, one of the best websites for home inspections. This website has thousands of pictures that deal with home inspection problems. If you're buying a house, check out this section on home inspection cover ups.
Home Mold Solution BooksThe cost of remodeling a simple home can be estimated very simply by a market survey or by using cost estimating software. It is easy because simple home remodeling is very common and everyone has a bit of its knowledge. You can have an exact idea about the expenses of contractors, laborers and even the materials that would be used for remodeling a home. However, it becomes a little different when you are talking about estimating cost of remodeling a mobile home.
Remodeling a mobile home costs a little more as compared to normal homes. You can't get an exact idea about the cost of remodeling a mobile home. Its costs keep changing. However, you can use some of the below mentioned ideas in this article to know about the basic issue which make remodeling mobile homes more expensive as compared to fixed homes.
The Basic Cost Difference between Mobile Homes and Fixed Homes
You can get some ideas about the cost of remodeling a mobile home by making a simple comparison between the older homes and the latest models. You will find a lot of differences in their models as well as in their costs. The basic difference between newer and older models is the implementation of building codes and civil laws. Earlier, there were no such restrictions for building codes but now they are essential. It gives you an idea of possible costs for remodeling a mobile home.
What it says openly is that the costs of remodeling a mobile home these days are much higher as compared to the old ones. Remodeling your mobile home in alignment with the city codes might cost you a lot of money. You can, however, remodel the ceiling area because the mobile homes come with factory made ceiling areas but removing the old ceiling for remodeling your mobile home also costs much. The job gets doubled here as you will have to pay for removing the ceiling of your mobile home as well as for installing a new ceiling in your mobile home.
In a mobile home almost everything is settled inside the factory, even the floors of the mobile home. They are finished facing the walls and when you are remodeling your mobile home, you have to spend double of your time and money to fix the new flooring. It too costs a lot and as double as compared to ordinary homes. Moreover, in a mobile home, neither the doors nor the windows are of standard size. They vary in height and setting up new doors & windows causes a lot of effort. Experts have to work very precisely to make the new doors fit into their places. Here again, costs get doubled.
However, you can find good rates of remodeling a mobile home at times if the price of the materials and costs of labors have decreased. But it would still be more expensive as compared to remodeling a fixed home.
There is a lot more that you can get to know about remodeling, constructing and improving a home. All the related details are available at http://www.theyarelocal.com/articles/remodeling/index.php
Remodeling and building homes over the years I have seen all sorts of stud spacing measurements in bearing and non-bearing walls.
How far should we space a framing stud in a bearing wall?
Most plans will give you this information. If you have a structural shear wall the plans will tell you what size of lumber to use at the plywood breaks. The normal spacing on a bearing wall will be 16 inches on center unless otherwise noted on the building plans. This is the most common spacing for studs in a wall.
How far can we space framing studs in a nonbearing wall?
I have seen studs spaced as far as 24 inches on center in a nonbearing wall. Over the years looking at the building code books I have found this to be acceptable for most framing applications. Do not confuse a nonbearing walls with a structural shear walls because there is no weight sitting on the shear wall.
Interior structural shear walls will require 16 inch on center spacing or less depending on the structural engineer and your local building department.
What are the disadvantages of spacing the studs 24 inches on center?
Using half-inch drywall with 24 inch on center stud spacing can give the wall a week or spongy feel. I have been in houses that have 24 inch on center's stud spacing and can actually push the wall and see it move. Using 5/8 drywall will solve this problem in your walls.
What are the advantages of spacing the studs 24 inches on center?
The only advantage in spacing the studs farther apart is the fact you will be able to save a few dollars on the overall cost of building or remodeling your house. I personally do not recommend this process because the savings is miniscule compared to the overall cost of building the entire house.
If you look on a measuring tape between 19 and 20 inches you will usually find a little diamond. This little diamond is another measurement for laying out eight-foot walls or floors. So instead of using 16 inch on center layout you can use 19 1/4 for stud spacing. This will save you an additional stud in your wall or floor joist every 8 feet.
I have been writing more articles on home construction problems trying to help contractors and homeowners build safer stronger houses.
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.
Visit us and get more information on building and remodeling your homes in San Marcos Home Building
Spanish Clay Roofing
