Home Improvements and Savings With the Hurricane Sock

With the threat of damage associated with hurricane season, more and more homeowners are seeking ways of keeping their home and possessions dry and safe. The best way to make sure home damage is kept at a minimal is to prepare ahead of time and carry effective products that deter the destruction of water leaks, heavy rain, increased precipitation, busted water pipes, flooded basements, and unavoidable acts of Mother Nature.

A popular product sweeping hurricane-prone locations (such as Florida) is called the Hurricane Sock, which acts as a heavy-duty water absorbent for the garage, basement, windows, and doors.

The Hurricane Sock has the capacity to absorb up to one gallon of water and especially accommodates windows and doors when damaging wet weather starts to stir. While the product name suggests it only assists those during hurricane season, there are many other uses associated with the Hurricane Sock. The sock works great to prevent the threat of mold and other damage that comes with a leaky basement, as well as combats pesky window moisture by collecting excess water.

The construction and use of materials of the Hurricane Sock is also impressive. The outside of the sock is constructed of a durable tubular nylon material, which is filled with an ultra-absorbent polypropylene. This allows the product to conform to any desirable surface in an economical and uncompromising manner. After a quick air-dry, the Hurricane Sock is ready for continuous reuse.

Common locations about the house that have responded well to the sock include leaky basement walls, patio sliding doors, garage cabinets, and uneven garage doors. Overall, the water absorbent sock is effective in lessening water damage, dampness, and mildew.

The sock also allows homeowners to pre-plan for the risk of leakage by using the Hurricane Sock in potential spots about the house where water is involved. This includes the water heater, water filtering systems, and the washing machine. In the end, you will find that the sock is much easier to use than a wad of paper towels, or mop and bucket to clean up water damage.

The typical Hurricane Sock is gray in color and measures three inches wide and four feet long. It also comes in varying sizes, price ranges, and quantities. For instance, two Hurricane Socks per case cost an average of $12.99. Four Hurricane Socks cost around $19.99 per case, while a dealer will charge about $29.99 for a case of 10 socks. One of the largest quantity-size orders per case is 40 Hurricane Socks, which runs a customer about $70.

Visit, subscribe to and bookmark: http://myhomeimprovementtips.com and sign up for our free newsletter at: Clean Up Stuff for your home improvement projects & tips.

Tub Faucet Repair Tips

The bathroom is a very important part of your home as it is with the other areas. Here, you get to have warm baths and doing some vanity for yourself. In the bathroom, you will find different bathroom fixtures such as tub and shower faucets. Over time, you might experience damages in your bathroom fixtures and the first thing you can do is to fix such fixtures.

There are many do-it-yourself tips that you can use at home especially for the bathroom. One of which is tub faucet repair. You can fix this by just simple and easy steps. Before anything else, it is just best that you get to know the different things needed in tub faucet repair.

Faucet Designs

Tub faucets have different styles and designs. There are tub faucets that have a single handle that is very convenient as this already controls the temperature and the water flow coming out of the faucet. On the other hand, there is also a double handle type of faucet where in the hot and the cold temperature is done separately using the two handles. To choose which type of faucet you want, it is better that you imagine yourself turning the lever. If you are someone who wants to have two controls for temperature then you better choose to have double lever type faucet handles. There are different designs available for tub faucets nowadays and all you just need to do is to mix and match it with the style of your bathroom. It is recommended that you buy fixtures all from one manufacturer to ensure synchronization of fixture designs.

What Are Washers And Seats?

Washers are usually used in old design types of faucets. Their function is to block water from dripping. A seat on the other hand is when a faucet handle is tightened compressing the washer against it.

Tub Faucet Repair Tips

In repairing a tub faucet, you will notice that there will be drips that you need to address to. With this, you will need to replace the washers and/or seats.

On the other hand, you will need to turn off the water from the main water line so that you can perform your tub faucet repair very well. By doing this, you are sure to fix your tub faucet by removing outer trims without hassle. In removing trims, make sure that you remove carefully the handle/s. The cap is removed thus exposing the screw, which you can take out afterwards. Handle/s should be removed next but should be done very carefully as this may stuck up. You may use pliers to assist you in taking out the needed pieces. After removing the handles, a sleeve or somewhat looks like it should be removed too.

Next, you can now deal with the valve system. You have to hold the handle back for some seconds and then try to half-open the valve. You are sure to take out pressure and thus help you with unscrewing of the pieces. Take note that you have to make sure you are opening the correct piece.

Once you have done this and you have found the washer being broken then you can assume that this may be the cause of the faucet leakage. You are now ready to purchase a new one.

You will also have to check the seats. They are the ones that are being tightened by the washer to ensure stoppage of water flow. You might also need to replace this just to ensure that you will not have to do any reworks.

After replacing such, you are now ready to put back all together the different pieces and after which, you can already use your tub faucet again.

Aikaz Run - Bathroom Advisor

For more information about faucet repair just visit my bathroom designs site.

Hiring a Contractor - Remodeling Tips

Do you want to remodel your home? Do you know how or where to begin? Many people who want to remodel their home may have difficulties in remodeling their homes. If you are not familiar with home remodeling, you can hire a professional team to do the work for you. With their experience and skill, they can perform wonderfully for you and give your home a new appearance.

But you should make sure you can find a good contractor. A good contractor can have your interest in mind when remodeling your house. But it is not easy to find such a good contractor. Some contractors may see your home improvement a smaller projects, so they will pay little attention or care. In such case, the result of home remodeling may be unsatisfactory. So a good contractor should do his best no matter how small the project is. Finding such a contractor will do great good for you. He will leave the job looking excellent.

Nowadays, more and more contractors realize that if they do this project well, the clients will recommend them to other potential clients, so they will win the reputation and make more deals. With this awareness, these contractors will take on each project with all the skill and determination towards excellence.

Many homeowners may decide to take on the project themselves, believing that this will save them money in the end. But if you are unfamiliar with this field, you should stay away from this project and leave it to the contractor. Sometimes, DIY will cost more. When your home remodeling is complicated and complex, you would better hire a professional contractor, which is proved to be favorable and rewarding.

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Sauna Bathing Or Steam Bathing?

Sauna is the Finnish word for "bath". Finns who immigrated to the United States centuries ago brought with them a unique bathing custom, which is now only beginning to become popular here. Often confused with a steam bath, a true sauna bath is very different, even though both types of baths offer the same therapeutic benefits.

The temperatures in a traditional sauna can actually approach 200 degrees Fahrenheit! The extremely low humidity present in the sauna makes these temperatures tolerable. Properly designed, the sauna's relative humidity rarely exceeds 2% or 3% when operated in the "dry" mode. This permits the copious amount of perspiration produced by the body to dry quickly thus having a cooling effect.

All Scandinavian style saunas have a radiant air heater, which has a container of stones. These stones retain and radiate heat more consistently, which is why the Tylo electric sauna heaters have such a deep stone compartment. The stones can also be sprinkled with water to produce the wet sauna. This creates bursts of steam (called loyly by the Finns), which disappear quickly into the porous soft wood of the sauna. Humidity then climbs from a few percent to 10-15%. This instantly intensifies the sauna's heat as if the temperature had increased drastically (although it may even have dropped slightly).

In contrast, a steam bath makes use of a steam generator. This device heats water directly, not air. The steam room enclosure fills completely with condensed vapor. Clouds of steam envelope the bather. The humidity exceeds 100% and the temperatures are much lower than those of the sauna. Because of their very different modes of operation, the choice of construction materials is critical. A totally non-porous material such as tile, glass, or plastic is the choice for a steam room.

Previously, a homeowner desiring a steam room needed to frame and tile an enclosure and then fit it with a steam door. While this resulted in a beautiful installation, both the labor and materials made this method quite costly. Now, modern plastic technology has made the easy to install enclosure available. It has drastically reduced the cost of installing a steam room in your bathroom or exercise room. The Tylo Steam room enclosures are easier to install and more efficient than their framed counterparts by virtue of their design.

Although the steam room enclosure must be non-porous, the opposite is true of a sauna room. A sauna must be constructed of porous materials (meaning some type of wood), and it often actually employs air circulation through intake and outlet vents. Many varieties of wood are acceptable for sauna construction, but care must be taken when selecting the type and grade.

Whether it's dry heat or clouds of steam, the choice is yours and it is only a matter of taste and lifestyle.

Art Glick - art@almostheaven.net
Almost Heaven Group LLC - http://www.almostheaven.net
304-645-2310

How to Build a Shower Pan - Shower Pan Installation

With the convenience with which people today can hire contractors and handymen to do all their home improvement projects for them, it sounds out of place to be asking tips on how to build a shower pan. But engaging a contractor or handyman can be costly, and whether you can afford them or not, it's best to engage in a project that will not only allow you to save money, but can boost your sense of accomplishment, too.

Nowadays, you can easily access answers on all sorts of how-to questions on the Internet. Everything you need to know is on the web. However, with all the tips that abound on cyberspace, you can get hit with information overload and end up more confused than ever.

And that is why we've made the research for you and did the challenging task of choosing the most reliable tips on how to build a shower pan so you can have just this one brief, uncomplicated guide.

Our choice is the set of steps provided by Randy Davis. Here it is:

1. Rough-in shower drain pipe
2. Prepare floor and walls for concrete and membrane
3. Install base of drain.
4. Lay thin layer of concrete to create slope
5. Put down layer of roofing paper
6. Cut and install membrane and top of drain.
7. Hang concrete board on walls
8. Pour final layer of concrete with chicken wire embedded
9. Build form for threshold
10. Pour concrete for threshold
11. Tile it.

These tips have been published on the Internet for years now so rest assured that you can't go wrong if you follow them.

If you want to learn how to build a shower pan, I highly recommend you check out Randy's video course. Learn how to tile shower pan from his step by step videos.

DIY Vertical Wind Generators - Are They Worth It?

With the ever increasing need for everybody to be more careful with the environment (and in today's climate their money) have you ever thought about building your own DIY Vertical Wind Generator? These units are much like the usual wind generators except the blades are positioned vertically rather than horizontally.

It is easy to build a DIY Vertical Wind Generator from plans for normal wind generators. All that is needed is to turn the blades vertical. All the components need to build a DIY Vertical Wind Generator can be found in your local DIY store for as little as $200.

So why build a DIY Vertical Wind Generator rather than a normal wind generator? Since the blades are positioned vertically rather than horizontally you have the option of putting more blade units on the generator since there is more space. It won't necessarily generate more energy but it will allow the blades to become more sensitive to wind, allowing for power to be generated even in slight breezes; something that is not always possible with the conventional wind units.

The units can also be built to be much more compact that the usual wind turbines. This makes them ideal for people who do not have a lot of outside or roof space and can even be set up to sit on apartment balconies or outside walls. You don't even need a stand that rotates with the wind as the blades are sensitive even in a fixed position. The electronic side of setting up the DIY vertical wind generator is not all that complicated either. There are plenty of electronic blueprints out there that will show you how to set this up.

If self-sufficiency is what you are after then you will probably need at lease three to four units. If you want to ensure that you will still have power during a power outage then you will need to fit batteries to the unit. This allows electricity to be stored and be readily available to use. The downside is that these batteries can increase the cost of building the units. My suggestion would be to have a few units with batteries and the other directly connected to the grid. This would allow essential energy to be provided in cases of power outages.

DIY Vertical Wind Generators are ideal for supplying your household energy needs for a fraction of the cost of commercial units. They are easy to build and don't cost the earth.

http://www.squidoo.com/DIY-Vertical-Wind-Generator

Green Bathroom Remodeling

Green bathroom remodeling advantage that is most talked about is that it saves energy and water resources. It also takes advantage of recycled or refinished materials. Bathroom remodeling makes property attractive to homeowners, hotels or motels, apartments or any other person that has bathrooms that need to be updated. This is especially important in a sluggish economy where prospective property buyers are looking for properties that have energy and water efficient fixtures already installed.

Home improvement adds value to any property. And that is why realtors who know the advantages of remodeling are educating those they are helping in selling their properties that potential home or property buyers are looking for energy efficient fixtures and appliances. Realtors who understand and embrace the this knowledge are using it to sell four times more houses than their competitors.

Bathroom remodeling in combination with refinishing involves the consideration of many factors before the home renovation starts. Whether your motivation is environmental responsibility, or saving money, bathroom remodeling would make you feel satisfied. Your bathroom, is your place of solitude, health, hygiene and relaxation.

Many building materials vendors' are selling bathroom remodeling materials that are made of recycled materials like tile; vanities and flooring for example. Recycled fixtures like refinished sinks, and countertops save money and conserve natural resources. Antique claw foot tubs are becoming popular again. Newer tubs are not as good as the originals, therefore, many home owners prefer the old fashion traditional claw foot tubs.

Environmentally sound bathroom remodeling starts with a good consideration of water resources. How is water used? That means that much consideration should be given to how much water is used while flushing the toilet and also how much water your shower heads use. For instance switching from an old standard toilet to a much smaller, dual-flush toilet, alone can reduce your water consumption by 22 percent.

Refinishing, coupled with a good use of environmental assets can save apartment owners and other commercial institutions money on their energy and water bills. It takes quite a good amount of energy to pump water to a purification facility, process it, and pump it to the house. In addition, it takes energy to process the waste coming out of the house. And when you add the energy that is needed to produce hot water, you see that substantial amount of energy is involved.

According to American Water Works Association, toilets consume an average of 20.1 gallons of water per person, per day in a home that doesn't't have water-conserving fixtures. That is a lot of water in a day and close to 30 percent of the water that one person in an average home uses indoors in a day. Therefore for for good savings, consider water-saving fixtures like low-flow toilets. Dual-flush toilets are the way to go.

According to the Federal Energy Management Program, just upgrading from a 3.5 gpf (gallons per flush) toilet to a 1.6 gpf model reduces yearly water use from 27,300 gallons to 12,500 gallons. Another way to reduce water usage and save money is by using low-flow toilets and replacing your bathroom showerheads.

Home renovation offers the opportunity to go from high energy consuming incandescent lighting to lower-energy-consuming fluorescent and halogen lighting. Since saving energy is the goal here, it is a time to add insulation cover openings that loose energy, while avoiding more energy-consuming features like heated floors.

By refinishing, beauties like antique claw foot tubs can be restored to like new condition. Many ceramic tiles may not need to be thrown into the landfills. The colors can even be changed to match your bathroom decor. Remember, not replacement, but refinishing is your best remodeling alternative.

Today, there are varieties of good recycled tile products. There are also materials for your walls and even your bathroom countertop. Use nontoxic grout and caulk.

To achieve the maximum efficiency for your bathroom, make sure that your plumbing supply and waste lines are upgraded. Proper shut-off valves should be installed, while making sure that the hot-water system is running smoothly. With all other considerations, make sure you have a bathroom remodeling or refinishing budget.

Remodeling a bathroom with durability in view

Bathroom remodeling offers an opportunity to remodel with a long term view since most remodels are done to last a few years. It is estimated that 40% of waste that goes to the landfill sites is from home remodeling, that includes bathroom remodeling. Remodeling bathrooms to last just a few years, adds to the landfills and has a big impact on our environment. As you consider your home improvement, pay attention to how long you want your remodel to last.

Benefits of the green bathroom remodeling

The best environmental benefits of bathroom remodeling are achieved when building materials, lighting, ventilation, are combined with equally environmentally sustainable products. By using products that are not friendly to the environment we cross out the gains we have made in reducing VOC's. The same goes for the products that are used in cleaning.

Wilson Ukah, owns Refinishing Stars, a bathtub refinishing company serving homeowners in Atlanta, Chattanooga, Nashville and Knoxville. Refinishing Stars, refinishes bathtubs, sinks, and countertops for hotels and motels nationwide. Wilson can be reached at http://www.refinishingstars.com or sales@refinishingstars.com.

Fireplace Safety Tips

Proper fireplace safety is extremely important. Even if you have been using your fireplace for years, it is important to brush up on your fire safety rules.

Here are some fireplace safety rules for both wood burning and gas fireplaces:

Open the damper before starting a wood burning fire

Leave flue open, even if fire is only smoldering

Teach children about dangers of fire

Use a chimney cap

Do not use lighter fluid to start a fire

Use long matches

For gas fireplaces, light as soon as gas is turned on

Have your chimney inspected annually

Keep decorations and flammables away from the fire

Never leave a wood burning fire burning while you are not there to watch after it

Use a mesh screen with your wood burning fire, and leave glass doors open

Do not burn trash in your fireplace

Keep the top of your chimney and roof clear of debris like pine needles and even low hanging branches.

Realize that artificial logs are not the same as real wood make sure you read the instructions on an artificial log before you use it, and do not add one to a wood fire already burning.

When done with a wood burning fire, and once the ashes have cooled, clean them out in preparation for the next fire.

Do not use charcoal in your fireplace doing so puts you at risk for carbon monoxide poisoning.

If you have children, make sure that you have a guard around your gas fireplace children can get burned not just by the fire but by the glass and metal doors surrounding the fire.

If you have a gas fireplace, make sure that you have at least two places in which you can turn off the flow of gas, just in case one of them malfunctions for some reason.

With a gas fireplace, you should stay aware of any unusual smells or flames they could be a sign that your fireplace is not working properly.

Again, realize that fireplace safety is extremely important. Realize that not properly following fireplace safety guidelines could end with harm to all that you hold most dear yourself, your children, your possessions, your home, etc.

It is most definitely worth brushing up on your fireplace safety.

Anne Clarke writes numerous articles for websites on gardening, parenting, fashion, and home decor. Her background includes teaching and gardening. For more of her articles on fireplaces and fireplace safety, please visit Fireplace Doors

How To Clean Your House Like a Professional

For several years I worked with a janitorial service cleaning offices. From that experience I learned many tricks to make your house cleaning chores easier and faster.

First, decide on the level of disgust that makes you uncomfortable. If you don't mind a little dust but can't stand clothes on the floor, concentrate on that problem.

Second, treat house cleaning like a job - schedule a regular time to clean, put it on a calendar as you would a business appointment and keep that appointment. Enlist your family in the project. If everyone works together, all the chores are quickly completed.

Third, assemble your tools. A pro has a cart to push around but that is not needed in a home. Buy or make a caddy that holds your cleaning supplies. Put a duster, liquid cleaner, damp rag or sponge, dry link free towel and window cleaner in it and store it in a convenient closet. If you don't have small children, keep additional supplies where they will be used - bathroom tile cleaner, toilet brush, etc. in the bathroom, cleanser in the kitchen.

Fourth, set a time limit. If you know that you have one hour to finish all your weekly cleaning, you will become efficient and organized.

Fifth, decide what is to be done on a daily, weekly, monthly and semi-annual basis. For example, daily chores could include pick up all clothes and put in proper place, dishes washed, garbage taken out, countertops wiped down and books and magazines put away. Weekly chores could include dust surfaces and window sills, wash tv, computer and windows where the dog puts his nose, vacuum carpets, mop kitchen and bathroom floors and clean toilet. Make a list of your items and choose how often they need to be done.

Okay, now you are actually ready to start. Begin in one room and put everything in its proper place. Then clean the upper surfaces by dusting the tables and window sills. Clean the tv and computer screen. Clean counter tops and sinks and toilets. Last, clean the floor surfaces. Vacuum and mop.

Voila! Your first room is done. Repeat for the other rooms of the house.

Turn on lively music, turn off the television and just do it. Set your timer and see how much you can accomplish in the alloted time.

Professional janitors know that cleaning isn't particularly fun but it needs to be done. If you treat it like a job, scheduling time, what needs to be done and a reward you will find that cleaning your house will be a lot easier.

Pat Schraier has a website Cleaning-your-House.com with information and resources for cleaning and organizing your home. Sign up for the newsletter for a free House Cleaning Checklist.

Church Building and Church Buildings

Church building is a term used to designate both the physical building of a church facility, and the spiritual building of a group of people into a unified body of believers. The physical church buildings are made of wood, stone, mortar, and brick, but the act of spiritual church building comes at the cost of evangelism, preaching, and teaching. Church building sometimes involves both acts together when a new building is being built and a new congregation is being pulled together. Those that build them with the eternal purposes of Jesus Christ in mind consider Church buildings a ministry in themselves.

A church building is the physical location where a group of Christian believers come together each week to worship God and fellowship with one another. Church buildings often require a great monetary sacrifice on the part of the church members, and often a church building project can last for years. Church buildings can be small or large and the capital necessary to build them varies as well. Sometimes a capital campaign is launched to generate giving on the part of committed church members. Other times church members that are craftsmen or artisans donate their time and services to help lighten expenditures.

Church building requires wise counsel and experienced help to pull it all together. Learning how to build a church to meet the needs of your particular ministry often requires experienced consultants that can offer peace of mind by helping you lay the groundwork both figuratively and literally. Knowing what you can afford to build and how you will pay for it are vital concerns for church building campaigns, and many times just making those decisions with wise counsel can reduce stress, uncertainty and effort. Church buildings are an integral part of a church's ministry to the community, and therefore much thought and planning should be undertaken. Church building is a blessed work and worthy of much prayer and forethought.

Church buildings are places where the Word of God is taught and people come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Acts 14:27 says, " And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles."The work of the Lord that occurs in a church building is holy, blessed work, and everything involved in that church building, from initial construction to the day to day care and cleaning should be right. Church buildings are where God's church, his people, grow up together in love.

For more information about church building and church buildings, visit:
http://www.christianet.com/christianbusinesses/churchbuilding/
http://www.christianet.com/

Top 10 Small Electrics You Need in Your Home

There are essential small electrics you need in your home to make your living more efficient. These items will all save time and effort so you have more time to do things you want. Plus none of them are that expensive so it will not only make your life easier but not break the bank in the hard times.

1. Cordless telephone - Only because I always walk around on the phone

2.Electric mixer - If Jamie Oliver uses one, why can't we.

3. Battery charger - Where would we be without our mobiles etc...

4. Small portable heater - Ssaves you money on central heating and can take the nip away

5. George Foreman grill - If you dont have one you must live in the IOM where no one will deliver any thing

6. Electric toothbrush - Also pretty fun

7. Electric can opener -I'm lazy I know

8. Small desk lamp - Make sure it can take energy efficient bulbs

9. Kettle - Get a cordless one

10. Hoover - Get an bagless one

All of these items will help simplify your life. You will be able to cook faster and more efficiently, brush your teeth in half the time, keep your house cleaner, and much more.

Of course if you go in to any retailer, Walmart, Tesco, Argos, your heads will always be turned by all the amazing electricals, but you have to think do you really need these things. Hopefully this list will give you an insight as to the basics I believe everyone needs.

Goods2clear is a one stop shop for discount deals http://www.goods2clear.com

Planning Your Bathroom Tile Design, Pattern & Installation

If you are planning to tile a bathroom by yourself, this article will help you plan your bathroom tiling installation in the best and cost effective way as well as giving you some tile design ideas. We will guide through your new bathroom tile design and installation planning step by step.

Attention - Note that planning your tiling installation properly is the most important step for smooth, easy going and problem free bathroom tile installation.

Remember a DIY bathroom tiling installation isn't a quick job, so don't miss the point and plan it right. All the time spent planning your tiling installation will save you money and headaches.

You have to plan your bathroom-tiling project carefully; choose the tile design and tile patterns, what materials you need and which tools you require.

Choose your Bathroom Tile design & Tile patterns

The tile patterns that you can create with different tiles are limited only by your own Tile design ideas. A large variety of standard tile designs, ideas and tile patterns are available. Some tile manufacturers may make special custom tile designs for you.

Choosing the tile design is obviously the first thing you need to do, with out deciding this you can not start planning your bathroom tile installation.

You can find a few basic bathroom tile design ideas & tile patterns, check it out.

For some Inspiration you can check Google pictures for some Bathroom Tile design ideas, there are over a million bathroom pictures here.

Tile suitability - Tiles are made in porous and non-porous varieties. When planning a bathroom tile installation, you should choose the non-porous ceramic tiles.

If your bathroom is small and the tiles have designs on them, you may have to go for smaller sized tiles as they have smaller designs. Too large tile designs may not suit small bathrooms so choose a smaller tile design for smaller bathrooms.

If you go for a plain color, the size isn't that important, however try to follow the rule above anyway.

A good tile design idea is to choose contrasting colors for the floor tiles and wall tiles. Then have a skirting line the same color as the floor tile.

Another tile design idea is changing color at chest level, which will change the look of your bathroom.

Try to choose bathroom accessories that compliment the color of the walls.

Materials - How much will you need? - To calculate the quantity of materials that you need, you must take precise measurements of the total area that you wish to tile.

From the total area and the size of each tile, you can calculate the number of tiles required (you must know the size of the tiles you have chosen).

You must also remember to take into account the gaps between tiles when calculating the number of tiles needed, so make sure you include spacers appropriate to the tile size chosen.

If this equation becomes a little complicated, you can always use the table "Calculating your Tile needs" (link here) on this page.

When calculating consider more than half a tile as a full tile and less than a half tile as a half tile. If you have chosen a multicolored bathroom, calculate each color separately and note down the tile requirements.

Ordering tiles - Order the tiles on the basis of the measurements taken. Note that tiles are packed in boxes and the supplier is unlikely to sell tiles individually.

Remember to order extra tiles as you can be sure that some tiles will break during installation (even the best professional breaks tiles). In addition some of these extra tiles could be used in the future if any tiles need replacing. This is not only good but an advisable practice.

Always order additional tiles since the tiles you have ordered may not be available in future, and if you require replacement tiles, you will have difficulty finding a match.

Best tools for a good job - Make sure you choose the right tool for the job. It'll make the job easier and safer too. You probably have a basic toolbox however for tiling installation you need special tiling tools.

Some of them are expensive but don't waste your money buying professional tools that you won't use enough to pay for themselves. Instead hire them. For some $$ you can have the best tools for a few days. And if you've done your planning properly you'll only need them for a few hours.

Remember, that planning your tiling installation properly is the most important step for smooth, easy going and problem free bathroom tile installation.

I hope it's been useful, happy tiling!

The best Tiling Video & DVD and Tiling books reviews at Tiling Tips.Get our FREE report "27 Insider Tiling Tips you want to know" and more by visiting us NOW at http://www.tiling-tips.com

Glass Sunrooms - What You Need to Know

If you're building a sunroom, more than likely it is going to have a lot of glass in it. In fact, many sunrooms actually are about 75-90% made of glass. Of course all the glass is wonderful for allowing you to enjoy the sun and almost feel that you are outside without all the bugs and nasty weather. However, while these glass sunrooms have many wonderful features, there are many things that you need to consider when you are having one installed. Before you start choosing the glass for your sunroom there are a few things that you need to keep in mind.

Consider the Location

First of all the location of your sunroom should be taken into consideration when you are trying to choose the glass. If you are putting a sunroom in a place where you want a great view to the outdoors, then floor to ceiling glass may be something that you want to consider. Also, if you want a great view of the sky, you may even want to be able to consider going with a sunroom that has a glass roof as well, providing you with more sunlight and a great view of the night sky as well.

Use Tempered Glass for Safety

When you are choosing the glass you need for glass sunrooms, it will be important that you go with tempered glass for your safety. You must have tempered glass, since it is much safer and works in the same way the glass in your car does. Going with tempered glass is important for a couple reasons. First of all, it is much stronger so that you avoid having a problem with the glass breaking. Also, tempered glass breaks differently than other glass. It actually crumbles instead of shattering, which means that you are safer if something does happen to break the glass.

Go with Insulated Glass for a 4-Season Sunroom

If you want to have a glass sunroom that you can use all year long, then you'll want to make sure that you go with insulated glass. You should never choose single pane glass for a sunroom that you want to use all year long. It won't keep out the heat of the sun or the cold during the winter. Double pane glass is going to be a bit more expensive but it will provide you with the insulation that you will need from your windows.

Look for a Warranty

Last of all, no matter what type of glass you decide to go with when it comes to the glass for your sunroom, you should look carefully for a good warranty. You want to make sure that your glass has a warranty on the seals and on the glass for breakage as well. A warranty can save you if something happens to your glass, so make sure you only go with glass that comes with a good warranty to keep you protected if something should occur.

For more information on sunrooms and sunroom additions visit TheDiyHomeGuide.com

Proper Use of Bathroom Lighting and Vanity Light Fixtures

Designing a bathroom with proper task and general lighting can be a daunting task. The designer- or the DIY remodeler- has to balance the need for light with the overall ambiance and style aspects. Light sources should be selected so that there is enough light for shaving and grooming, without compromising the comfort or beauty.

Bathroom Task Lighting

For task lighting, it is important to place the light source close to the vanity or sink, thereby minimizing glare and shadows. Aside from creating a more flattering reflection, the amount of energy consumption is also reduced. Keep in mind, that more light is needed as we age. Hence, the age of the homeowners need to be considered to effectively meet their needs. Placing bathroom sconces on either side of the mirror is always a great idea. However, bath bars can also be effective above the vanity mirror. Again, if you are concerned about energy consumption, there is now a great selection of fluorescent bath bars that provide excellent light while reducing heat output and energy use.

Ambient and General Lighting

The general light source in a bathroom is referred to as ambient lighting. It provides light for less demanding tasks. If you have a small bathroom, chances are that the task lighting will suffice. But, if you are decorating a larger bathroom, you do need a separate light source for general and ambient lighting. General light also balances out the brightness of task lighting, so that there are no dark corners in the bathroom. As a general rule of thumb, you need a 60W incandescent light or 26W fluorescent per 60 square feet.

For more information on Bathroom Lighting products, vanity mirrors, and bath accessories products visit us at http://www.BathroomLightingOutlet.com

There you will also find a growing body of content on bathroom design ideas and guides.

To Install Gutters Or Not to Install Gutters

They divert rain water away from your foundation and landscaping. They protect the ground around your home from erosion. They keep water from pouring on your head as you enter and exit your home. They can be used to collect rain water for watering your lawn and plantings during drought times. Why wouldn't you want to install gutters on your home?

They leak. They clog. They overflow. They rob the plants around your home of a good soaking. They can cause tremendous erosion at the base of downspouts. They're ugly! They require maintenance from a dangerous rooftop or ladder. Why would you want to install gutters on your home?

There is no easy answer to the simple question: "Should I install gutters on my home, or not?" You'll simply have to weigh the pros and cons for your particular situation and decide for yourself.

The first thing to consider in making this decision is do you really need them? Take a look at the ground around your home. Does it slope away from your foundation? If it does you don't need gutters to keep water away from your foundation. If it doesn't you should probably look into some grading work before worrying about gutters anyway.

Next, take a look the landscaping surrounding your home. Can it be damaged by rainwater falling from the edge of your roof? This may be a tough question to answer at first thought. Go outside and inspect the areas under your eaves. If you find bare ground, mulch or lawn you should definitely consider gutters, or a change in ground materials that your rainwater will fall upon. If you find mature shrubbery, stone or any variety of hardscaping you probably don't have to worry about erosion. Consider the height of your roof. Water falling from the edge of a two, or three, story home will cause far more erosion and water falling from a single story home.

Do you have trees around your home? Are they taller than your roof? Will they eventually be taller than your roof? If you have, or someday will have, trees that will shed leaves onto your roof you should seriously consider making do without gutters. Consider installing an alternative to gutters, or invest in one of the better products designed to keep leaves and other debris from entering your gutters. And don't be fooled into thinking that coniferous trees (e.g. pines) don't count. They drop as much, or more, material onto your roof as do deciduous trees.

A clogged gutter or downspout is not only useless, it is dangerous. The overflow is likely to find its way into the fascia board to which the gutter is secured causing rot and possible infiltration into walls and other structural members of your home. Where the collected water hits a clog it overflows, pouring onto a concentrated area of your landscaping or hardscaping causing damaging erosion. Water is heavy. A full gutter can break free damaging your home, or worse.

Do you live in an area that compels you, or forces you, to ration water use? This factor alone can trump all others. Collected rainwater is superior to any other source of water for lawns and other plantings. It can be used to wash your cars or fill pools and other water features. You use it for washing clothes and bathing, even for drinking with proper treatment.

Can you get by with a simple diverter over your entryways allowing water to fall to one side or both? Can you simply deal with a bit of water shedding onto your head during storms? Can you deal with the mundane appearance of traditional gutters and downspouts? Granted, half-round copper gutters and round copper downspouts add elegance to Victorian and Gothic architecture, but standard aluminum "K" gutters and rectangular downspouts can do more to break the clean lines of modern houses than any other exterior accessory items.

Chances are you live in a home that already had gutters installed either for need or as an afterthought of conformity. If you are looking at having a new roof or siding installed think hard on all of these points before making a blind decision to replace your gutters and downspouts as well. If you are building new, consider the site and talk to your neighbors, especially if you are moving to an unfamiliar area. In the end, the decision is yours and yours alone. Make an informed one.

Mike Hudecheck
Pro-G Contractors
Roofing Siding Windows Doors
Delaware, Chester, Montgomery, Philadelphia Counties in Pennsylvania; New Castle County in Delaware; Cecil and Harford Counties in Maryland
http://www.progcontractors.com

Exterior House Painting - 5 Tips For Doing a Professional Job

Spring is just around the corner and this article is all about giving the exterior of your house the paint job it deserves. As a professional house painter I would like to lay out five important tips that most people get wrong when painting the exterior of their home.

#1.) House Wash - I like to give the house a good wash before I paint it. I don't wash all four sides at once though. I usually do just one side (the side I plan on painting first) at a time because I'm going to be there for a week or two anyways probably. That way by the time you get to the next side there isn't a bunch of webs or sand or dirt built back up.

#2.) Choosing Colors - Some houses you drive by have weird colors. This is because they picked colors from a fan deck. For best results you should use an exterior house color brochure. Its coordinated color schemes help you to choose normal standardized colors. A standardized color chart will have perfect color matches that you should pick and choose from. Especially if doing two or three color schemes, you want a professional color-coordinated exterior brochure. These brochures are usually found at any paint store.

#3.) Use Quality Paint - I always use name brand paint on all my exterior house painting jobs. Why use inferior paint and waste all that hard labor? Especially if you are paying someone else to do the painting. I like Benjamin Moore exterior house paint. They have good time-tested exterior paints and primers.

#4.) Latex vs Oil Base - I always use latex paint on the outside or exterior of a house. Oil base or Alkyd coating tend to crack and peel. Latex paint can breathe and stays flexible. It lets the moisture out of the house. Oil base paints cannot. That is why you get cracking and peeling.

The only exception is when the you have bare wood. You want to prime it with an exterior alkyd or oil-base primer. Bare wood can cause "bleed through" stains that you can not block as well using a latex primer (Although nowadays some latex primers are actually getting good at stain blocking). But the main thing is that you want to use latex paint on your house's exterior and you want to use a good name brand exterior paint. Especially if you're a house painter and you're doing it for a homeowner. Don't show up on their door step with average name brand paint. People want the best.

#5.) Oil Base Stains - If you plan on staining your house there are many excellent exterior latex stains. Especially solid body stain. Solid body stain looks like regular paint except it's made for rough wood siding. Now if you have a natural wood color siding you will want to use a "semi-transparent" stain that is oil base. I would use an oil base stain in this instance because the oil base stain can permeate down into the natural wood. This is something that should be done every few years to keep the sun and elements from deteriorating the natural wood look. A quick one coat to protect the natural wood siding is best.

Lee Cusano has owned and operated his own successful painting business since 1991. He has also helped many others to start their own painting business with his "Paint Like a Pro Estimating and Advertising System". Lee also offers a new free report titled "How To Quit Your Day Job This Week and Double or Triple Your Income". To get it please go to http://www.Painting-Business.com

Which Shower Will Be Better For Your Home?

If you're planning to buy a shower for your home but do not have any idea on what type and design is suitable for the plumbing structure of your house, do not worry. This article will help you in knowing some features of modern showers and in making a comparison among the different types of showers that are widely used. Definitely, everyone would like to have a shower of good quality that operates well and can add beauty to the bathroom.

Before installing a shower, there are several things to consider and questions to answer before one is guaranteed of a wise investment. The design and area of the bathroom must first be considered among other things. Others things may include:

-Budget for the shower and installation cost.
-Any previously installed heating system.
-Pressure provided by the main water supply.
-Is there any existing system providing hot and cold water?
-Is the electricity suitable for electric showers?

Answering these questions can help you find the most suitable type of shower for your home. The next section contains a list of different types of showers to aid you when choosing the features you are looking for.

Electric shower:

Electric showers have become more popular these days because of the convenience it offers. Electric shower is directly connected to the main water supply and must be connected through a 10 to 15mm water pipe. To ensure reliability, it is recommended that an isolation valve must also be installed. The water pressure at the main entry should be at least 1 bar.

Before the installation, it is necessary to check the capacity of the electric fuse. Electric fuse above 60 amps is recommended. Fuse, switch, and cable should also be considered when installing the system. A10 mm cable will be appropriate. In all cases electric circuits must have a double pole switch used to turn the electric shower on and off for daily use and emergency purposes.

Mixer shower

Mixer showers are designed to mix hot and cold water in a special valve where the desired temperature is regulated before reaching the shower head. Such showers are compatible on both high and low pressure water source. There are two types of mixer showers: thermostatic mixer shower that can maintain water temperature in a selected degree and manual mixer shower where water temperature is determined by the flow of water. The rising and falling of the water dictates the water temperature.

Today, thermostatic mixer showers are a lot cheaper making it affordable for everyone to own. A disadvantage when using mixer shower is the design of the installation. It is connected to other point from the water supply. Sharing the water in various points will change the water temperature dispensed by the shower.

Power shower

Power shower is a modified mixer shower that has an integral pump that maintains the pressure of water and helps increase or decrease the force of spray through shower head. This type of shower can be installed even with low pressure water supply.

Choosing the best design to suit your needs will definitely give you the best return of investment. Not just that. A well designed and suitable shower will enhance the look of your bathroom adding relaxation and warmth on every bath.

If you are looking for more information then feel free to visit electric showers and electric power showers.

Leveling Your Floor - Home Repair Tips

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.

Bathroom Remodeling - How Difficult is It

Even more popular than kitchen remodeling, bathroom remodeling is the most common of all home improvement projects. The typical bathroom receives more traffic than any other room in the house. It is also considered by many people to be a place of relaxation where a person can find relief from everyday stresses. If your bathroom is stale, boring, not functional, or is not a place where you feel comfortable relaxing, perhaps it is time to consider a bathroom remodeling project.

Remodeling your bathroom can make starting your day more efficient and practical, and ending your day a true spa like experience. With vanity sinks, bath tubs, and hot tubs, custom cabinetry and flooring, you can change your old bathroom into something designed just for you. You can further customize your bathroom by adding a whirlpool, a heated towel rack and floor, and custom lighting.

You might also decide to add fog-free mirrors, safety railing, water temperature regulators to prevent scalding, an entertainment center or a low flow toilet. If your budget allows it, you can make the remodel as extravagant as your heart desires. Often a major change, such as adding a bath, will end up forcing a redesign of the entire floor plan in order to retain accessibility of other elements in the room.

When considering bathroom remodeling costs, it is important to remember that some of the cost can be recouped through increased value of the home. If the remodeling job is one that adds value in the eyes of the buyer, upon selling the house the typical homeowner recoups a significant percent of their investment. Remodeling work focusing more on aesthetic touches than improved functionality tends to recoup less money.

It's smart to think about hiring a remodeling contractor to do some or all of this work. Though you may save thousands of dollars doing bathroom remodeling work on your own, if you're inexperienced with that kind of work, or do not have the right tools, the errors you make will wipe out any savings very rapidly.

A home improvement course through the local hardware store or local college is a great way to learn how to make improvements on your home. In fact it is important to take a course before you begin a project. It can save you time, headaches and money in the long run.

Bathroom remodeling has had quite a surge in popularity. Common enhancements such new vanity sinks, whirlpool-tubs, or custom flooring can greatly increase the value of your home. By taking some classes and doing your own research, it is possible to save money by attempting to do home improvement yourself. When considering larger tasks, it's wise to consult with and hire a bath or kitchen remodeling contractor. By hiring a professional, you'll eliminate the risk of costly mistakes that will quickly eat into your potential profit. Make your bathroom more practical and efficient, and end those long days in your own spa environment!

How to Choose the Correct Loft Hatch For Your Needs

Standard Size or Custom Fit

The very first consideration you need to bare in mind is whether you'll need a custom fit loft hatch to fit your exact requirements or whether you can size your loft hatch based on a standard size measurement. Of course this very much depends on what you intend to use the loft for. If you plan to store large items in your loft it stands to reason that you'll need to install a loft hatch that can accommodate the largest item you plan to house in there. The type of ladder you use will also have an impact on the size of your loft hatch. If you favour a concertina fold-down loft ladder then you will obviously need a loft hatch that allows for the ladder to pass through at its longest and widest point. Loft ladders and loft hatches are often sold in packages which pairs loft ladders with the appropriate hatch.

Materials

Loft hatches are available in a variety of materials. The most popular material has always been wood because it's light, cheap and can be adjusted if it doesn't fit exactly. Wood is still the most popular choice of material for custom made loft hatches, for obvious reasons, with PVC the second most popular selection. Custom fit PVC loft hatches are catching up quick however, due to the quick lead times for delivery and their low prices. The situation in the standard size loft hatches market is very similar. Wood previously dominated but now metal loft hatches are catching up in the commercial arena due to their fire resistant qualities, and PVC is increasing in popularity in the domestic market. The benefit of wood, however, is that it can be refinished and repainted time and time again which makes it a much more flexible option. Your redecoration options could be limited with a PVC loft hatch because although they are available in a variety of colours, once you buy it that colour it has to stay that colour.

Location

The location of your loft entrance will have a big bearing on the type of loft hatch you need. If the entrance is located near a wall then you'll have to make sure that the loft door doesn't swing down and mark the wall. You'll also have to make sure that the presence of the wall doesn't interfere with the loft ladder, either by creating an awkward angle or by not allowing an internal ladder to extend out fully.

If your loft entrance is located above a stairwell this will have significant implications to the type of loft hatch you choose. In this situation there are limited ladder configurations available to you, so you'd be forced to choose from a small selection of loft hatches that suit this scenario.

For a loft hatch located in a very cramped space you may wish to consider a hatch that opens inwards rather than outwards. Inwards opening loft hatches are easier to open but more difficult to closer than outwards opening alternatives but they also pose fewer problems when trying to maneuver in a small area.

Loft Hatches
Loft Hatch

DIY Vertical Wind Generators - Are They Worth It?

With the ever increasing need for everybody to be more careful with the environment (and in today's climate their money) have you ever thought about building your own DIY Vertical Wind Generator? These units are much like the usual wind generators except the blades are positioned vertically rather than horizontally.

It is easy to build a DIY Vertical Wind Generator from plans for normal wind generators. All that is needed is to turn the blades vertical. All the components need to build a DIY Vertical Wind Generator can be found in your local DIY store for as little as $200.

So why build a DIY Vertical Wind Generator rather than a normal wind generator? Since the blades are positioned vertically rather than horizontally you have the option of putting more blade units on the generator since there is more space. It won't necessarily generate more energy but it will allow the blades to become more sensitive to wind, allowing for power to be generated even in slight breezes; something that is not always possible with the conventional wind units.

The units can also be built to be much more compact that the usual wind turbines. This makes them ideal for people who do not have a lot of outside or roof space and can even be set up to sit on apartment balconies or outside walls. You don't even need a stand that rotates with the wind as the blades are sensitive even in a fixed position. The electronic side of setting up the DIY vertical wind generator is not all that complicated either. There are plenty of electronic blueprints out there that will show you how to set this up.

If self-sufficiency is what you are after then you will probably need at lease three to four units. If you want to ensure that you will still have power during a power outage then you will need to fit batteries to the unit. This allows electricity to be stored and be readily available to use. The downside is that these batteries can increase the cost of building the units. My suggestion would be to have a few units with batteries and the other directly connected to the grid. This would allow essential energy to be provided in cases of power outages.

DIY Vertical Wind Generators are ideal for supplying your household energy needs for a fraction of the cost of commercial units. They are easy to build and don't cost the earth.

http://www.squidoo.com/DIY-Vertical-Wind-Generator

Using Bath Curtain to Change the Look of Your Bathroom

Bath curtains are a cheap and easy way to add some beauty and a bit of design to your bathroom. Any big household shop in your neighborhood is a perfect place to buy bathroom curtains. I suggest you to spend some time browsing internet online shops, previewing the curtains, picking color schemes and patterns, before making the actual purchase.

When making any decoration transformation plans, keep in mind that bath curtain is the key element of any bathroom design. It should be a natural part of the whole design idea of the bathroom. The right color and pattern will fit perfectly in the style of the bath. Curtain is also reflects your personality. That's why it is very important to pick the right bathroom curtain.

Using more than one bath curtain for decoration is a common way to add style to your bathroom.

Here is an easy guide on using two bath curtains in bathroom decoration.

The first bath curtain should be used as a curtain (for preventing water be sprayed on floor). The second one should be cut in pieces and used in different elements of design of the bathroom. Keep in mind that this design idea is intended for unsigned bath curtains made of fabric. Fabric brings additional style to the bathroom. It makes it look gorgeous. Plastic curtains are much cheaper but fabric look nicer. It is easier to use cloth for decorating purposes.
Talking about the practical side of using fabric curtains: they can easily be washed in the machine.

I'd recommend you to avoid large-pattern designs when picking up curtains. For example: instead of floral design it is better to use one solid color or some vertical stripes pattern. It is preferably to use bright colors instead of dark ones.

If you'd ask me about my personal favorites is bath curtain design, I would pick the light blue fabric shower curtain with multiple dark blue colored stripes. Those colors will make this curtain the first thing people notice in my bathroom. Adding a few blue pieces of soap and towels adds a strong feeling of a style to the room. A finishing touch can be done by hanging a nice photo or a painting on the bathroom wall.

Here is simple guide on decorating bathroom with two bath curtains:

• purchase two identical bath curtains that fits your bathroom design. They should be of the same tint. One a bit lighter, the other should be a bit darker.
• hang the first (light one) bath curtain on the rod in the bathroom. On the one side, it is going to do it's job (preventing water leaking), and on the other side, it is going to inspire you while finishing rest of the design!
• the darker bath curtain should be cut to pieces. It is going to be used for matting picture frames. Before making the actual cut, you should pick up the picture (or pattern) you would like to put on your wall. The picture or pattern you are going to use, is pretty much depends of the design and color of your bathroom. For example: if the bathroom are done in yellow and blue and has a sea shore design, it will be a good idea to put a picture of your friends (or family) on the wall. It will remind you about the happy hours you've spend at the sea.
• once you've picked up the pictures it is time to put them in a frame. Any household shop will help you do that. Be sure to measure the pictures you've picked, before ordering the frames. Use those numbers to get frames of the right size. It might be a good idea, to get a frame of the bigger size and matte the picture with the darker bath curtain. Another cool idea is to matte several photos in one big frame.
• cut the second bath curtain to pieces of the right size.Tose pieces should fit into frames, filling the empty space when photo places in center. Finding a right spot to hand the picture is another important task.
• there might be a remaining fabric clippings after the cutting. You might use the in a variety of ways. The first way is to buy a storage containers and cover them with that fabric. A hot glue gun, a stapler and sewing will help you do this. Covered containers can be placed on a small shelf in the bathroom, or stacked on the floor.

Decorating your bathroom is a simple, but exiting process. By adding a little creativity you can express yourself and make a cozy place in your home.

Know more about bath curtain design, bathroom remodeling and decoration at my Bath Curtain Blog http://www.bath-curtain.com

Moisture Against Gravity - Destroying Walls

Well I'm going to start this article with a little information on a job I did once.

I had been repairing a rental house for one particular homeowner for about three years when all of a sudden I got a phone call from him telling me the rental house was destroyed and he had never seen nothing like this. He sounded so upset over the phone I told him I would meet with him immediately.

On my way to the house I was trying to get an idea in my head what the house was going to actually look like. Since I have been repairing rental properties for over 20 years at this point of my career, nothing really shocked me. I had pretty much seen everything that could possibly be done to rental property by the tenants that lived there. There is a lot to be said about taking care of it as if it were your own.

He was waiting for me at the front door and he looked thoroughly disgusted. As I approached him he was shaking his head and yelling at the same time can you believe these people, can you believe what they did to my house. I was expecting to see the front door ripped off and all the windows broken out of the house but this wasn't the case.

As he led me through the home and I could see the usual clothing on the floor, broken cabinets, a few holes in the walls and of course that awful smell of mold and mildew. All of this stuff was nothing new to me because I'm the guy they call to fix it when a renter moves out of the property.

As I entered one of the bedrooms I got my first glimpse of something I had never seen before but heard stories about and could not believe my eyes. Looking at the walls in the bedroom about 3 feet from the floor all the way around the room, the plaster was soft. It actually looks like someone shoved popcorn into the wall somehow.

The homeowner wasn't even looking at this because of the rest of the damage in the home. I started to explain to him I'd never seen nothing like this but I could guess it was water damage somehow since the plaster was soft. I could actually stick my finger into the wall, that's how soft the plaster was.

My first thought was to examine the carpeting a little closer to see if it was wet. Well it was damp but it wasn't as wet as I would've expected it to be with the amount of water in the walls. With a little more home inspecting I had found the culprit, it was a broken water bed. The water bed was now in the backyard looking innocent.

I couldn't believe a broken water bed could do this much damage so I looked around for broken or leaking water pipes and could not find any. The other bad news I had to inform the homeowner was that the water had damage the bathroom and closet walls also. These walls of course were on the other side of the bathroom walls that were damaged.

Well the point of this story is that water will actually wick its way up or worked its way up into a wall. I had to remove 4 feet of drywall all the way around the room. The plaster or drywall actually acts like a sponge pulling the water into the walls. Hard to imagine that gravity in this case seems to reverse. I would've never thought that water would've traveled so far up the walls creating that much damage.

To repair the rental property I had to remove the damaged drywall, remove the carpeting, dry the wood framing out and put the whole thing back together.

I'm still amazed and will remember that project for as long as I live.

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 House Water Damage

Bathtub Faucet Replacement - Helpful Tips on Replacing Bathtub Faucets You Wouldn't Want to Miss

If your faucet is leaking or dripping then it is time to replace it. Simple as it may sound there are a couple of factors you need to look in to while replacing it. Follow the tips given here and bathtub faucet replacement will be an easy task.

Faucets allow water in pipes to be used in controlled manner. Generally the bathtubs have either 2 valve or 3 valve faucets. They start leaking or dripping when washers become stiff and corroded. Water pressure also hastens this process. In older designs faucets there were rubber or neoprene washers. In the newer systems cartridge is used in place of washers.

It is always necessary to purchase a correct faucet. Faucets come in many sizes and styles. When you need to replace a faucet it is necessary to take exact measurement of holes center to center. Style is optional but size is important.

Also you need to have a correct set of tools to replace a faucet. There are various types of wrenches for plumbing jobs. For square or hex nuts open end wrenches are ideal as they have smooth jaws. If your pipe is chrome coated and you do not want to mar the surface then you can go for strap wrenches. If the pipe is of small diameter then you need to have vise grip wrench. Generally 2 pipe wrenches are required for plumbing one to hold and other to turn.

When installing bathtub faucets look for the faucet assembly behind walls. Generally builders would have provided a rear access panel in the back of tub. Read the installation instructions while assembling the 2 valve or 3 valve faucets.

Here are some general steps to replace a faulty faucet.

First of all turn the water supply off. You can turn off the main supply for the entire house.
Next remove the faucet handle. Tap or pull gently. Overtime the handle may have got welded to stem. So do not force it. If it does not come out gently then use special handle puller.
Next remove the trim and the stem assembly. The stem assembly is used for controlling the amount and temperature of water dispensed to the tub. Use a bath socket wrench to remove this assembly.
Now check the washer. If it is brittle or torn then this is the cause for the drip. Take both the washer and the stem for replacement.
Check the seats. If they are rough then they too need to be replaced. Use a seat wrench to remove it.
When replacing you just need to assemble it all back. Grease the stem threads, washer and nut threads. Then slide them all back and tighten the nuts.
If it is a cartridge style faucet then remove the handle and trim. Then replace the cartridge.

So with a little bit of know-how you can fix it yourself for $80-$90.

Interested in expert advice on Bathtub Faucet Replacement? And here's what you might want to see on Replacing Shower Tub Faucets.

Country Bathroom Remodeling - Ideas and Tips

Are you prepared for total relaxation and tranquility? Then switch to country bathrooms. They are simple, fresh and inviting.

When you say "country bathroom remodeling project", fresh, simple, antique, airy, pedestal sink, vintage, French, English cottage are the images that we invoke in our mind. This idea can be lot different from what an interior designer has in mind.

You can include elements from other rooms of the house, to give the bathroom an authentic country feeling. For example, chandeliers are generally placed in the dining room. You can incorporate small chandeliers with a vintage appearance in your bathroom. This will look great when it is hung just above a claw foot tub.

You can use items like checked curtains or mirrored cabinets to the country bathroom remodeling. You can also use bookshelf from the living room or .a dull cupboard from the bedroom for storage. Armchairs or bamboo chairs make great corner pieces in a bathroom. Wire baskets used in kitchen make perfect storage containers for towels or toiletries. These small changes make a country bathroom luxurious and relaxing. You can enjoy a long soak in the tub now.

Rustic accessories like wooden pegs and antique furnishers are great if you have a historic home. You can also use painted wooden shutters and wooden frames for bathroom remodeling. If you do not have antique furnishings, use look-alike knobs in existing furnishings and give them an impression of antique.

You can contact a contractor or an interior designer to put your thoughts into action. If you are hiring an interior designer or a contractor, make sure that they understand your plans on country bathroom remodeling. Country means different things for different people, as this is just an art of being creative, and creativity varies from person to person. Make sure your contractor understands your requirements, and put your plans on paper. Communication is vital in country bathroom remodeling and time will be wasted if communication is not effective.

If you're looking for more information about bathroom renovation or are looking for bathroom remodeling ideas come visit me at my bathroom remodeling blog.

You will find lots of information about bathroom tile design, shower and tub installation, bathroom remodeling tools, bathroom renovation ideas, bathroom remodeling pictures and even specific information about the topic of this article: country bathroom remodeling.

Bathtub Refinishing - Your Best Green Choice Over Bathtub Replacement

Bathtub refinishing as the best green remodeling alternative benefits homeowners, hotels, motels by saving them money over replacement. For example, a new bathtub may cost as little as $300, but when you add the cost of tearing down that old bathtub, removing it, getting rid of the bathtub and all the fixtures, and then dumping all the mess including that heavy bathtub at the landfill. Bathtub refinishing benefits the environment.

Bathtub refinishing costs go up when you add the bathtub parts, tile work, flooring, carpentry and permits, you see the cost of replacing a bathtub can go into the thousands of dollars. So what you think was going to be a simple bathroom remodeling job, turn into an expensive job. Bathtub refinishing is done without a tear out and that alone saves a lot of money. You are dealing with one contractor, the bathtub refinishing contractor. Compare bathtub refinishing to replacement.

When a tub is refinished, it involves only one contractor, and there is no headache in scheduling. Replacing old bathtubs with new bathtubs, instead of refinishing, can impact the environment badly. Tub refinishing services, saves the landfills.

Bathtub refinishing benefits in a nutshell:

Savings of up to 80% the cost of bathtub replacement.

Savings in time since an average bathtub is refinished in about four hours and can be used 24 hours later.

Choice of many colors.

The environmental benefits of bathtub refinishing are many.

Bathtub refinishing is done in the bathroom. The tub is cleaned, primed and a special coating applied, all in the bathroom. There is no mess brought in during the process and none goes to the landfills after the bathtub is refinished.

This is very significant, since an estimated 47% of all the waste that goes to the landfills is from home remodeling or renovation. Fixtures like bathtubs, sinks, and cabinets are traditionally replaced, which means that they end up in the landfills adding to the environmental problems of replacement.

In addition, it takes a lot of energy to manufacture new fixtures that are used in home remodeling. The raw materials have to be sourced, then transported to the factory, using energy. It takes energy to manufacture the fixture and energy to transport it to the store. When fixtures are purchased, it takes energy to transport them to their final destination. Finally, energy is used in the installation of the new fixtures and the transportation of the old ones to the landfills.

Take for instance, the replacement of cabinets. It takes quite some trees and there we go again, yes, energy to transform a tree into a piece of furniture. Trees are needed for our survival. They clean our air, suck up carbon dioxide, and moderate the temperature of our environment. A lot of species, need trees for survival, and we need their survival for our survival. It is also known that old wood has more character and luster than the young trees that are snatched out of the forests for making furniture. Cutting down more and more trees, simply because one has not considered, refinishing as the best alternative to replacement is inexcusable.

Here are the fixtures that can be repaired and refinished and not replaced:

Bathtubs
Countertops
Kitchen cabinets
Bathroom marble bathtubs and sinks
Kitchen cabinets refinishing

As more and more people understand refinishing is a better alternative to replacement, the less and less fixtures go to our landfills. Equally important is the less energy we use when we refinish instead of replacing all fixtures during home improvement. To find out more information on how bathtub refinishing saves money, time and the environment, visit our website.

Wilson Ukah, owns Refinishing Stars, a bathtub refinishing company serving homeowners in Atlanta, Chattanooga, Nashville and Knoxville. Refinishing Stars, refinishes bathtubs, sinks, and countertops for hotels and motels nationwide. Wilson can be reached at http://www.refinishingstars.com or sales@refinishingstars.com.

Tips For Walt Disney World Reservations

I know this might sound silly, but if you planning to eat in one of the restaurants in Disney world. You are going to have to have a reservation. Some people have made a reservation 180 days in advance yes you are reading correctly. There is such a demand for dinners or dining experience in Disney world. So if you thought you could just walk in and eat at a restaurant of your choice. You will be sorely mistaken want to do is basically put you in a queue, but you do not have to be at that you all the time.

Or you need to do is make a booking or should I rather say advance reservations. Just so that you know, just because you have made an advance reservation, it is not like a booking if you do not show up on time. Your seats will be given away to whoever else is next in line. So when I suggest you do when making an advance reservation would be to arrive 15 to 30 minutes before your time. This will ensure you have in your meal or dining experience luckily, you are under no obligation, and should you miss your reservation. Some popular restaurants are opting to use a proper reservation system and some of them. Even require a deposit when you go and book

The advance reservations for themed dining experiences is a must since you might have heard your heart set eating breakfast with Cinderella at her Royal table. Like I said before, bookings for this kind of dining experience is booked solid for 180 days in advance but please be aware when booking for this you will need to have a credit card. As you will need to pay in full for this meal when making your booking.

During a busy season without a reservation you could wake up to 60 minutes for a table but this could be avoided. If you check in with the CM of the restaurant a lot people have reported that this only works during slow time of the year.

Always keep your confirmation number with you, just in case there is some sort of problems, when you arrive for your booking. Anyone can make an advance reservation at any time. This used to be only for Disney Resorts guests, but this is no longer the case.

All of these things that I mentioned seem a bit silly. I mean, booking 180 days in advance for Cinderella's Royal table sounds a bit much. But that is how things are done in Disney World. So when planning your Disney vacation I suggest you choose, the restaurants you want to eat at and use the advance reservation service but do remember. The restaurants and dining experiences in Disney World are an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity or experience. The issue of price should concern you, because eating in Disney World itself is expensive.

Luis Teixeira offers advice and great tips regarding all aspects on booking your trip to DisneyWorld. Get the information you are seeking now by visiting Walt Disney World Hotel.

Refinished Bathtub Cleaning and Maintenance

Bathtub cleaning and maintenance is very important to hotels, motels, schools and others who have just had their bathtubs refinished or have bathtubs installed. Bathtub refinishing, in addition to saving money, time and the environment, restores old worn out, scratched, dulled bathtubs to look like they came from the factory of a bathtub manufacturing company like Kohler or American Standard. The ambiance of a remodeled bathroom is different and your personal experiences there feel different too. You are ecstatic, you have always wanted this day to come. Here is what you need to know about your refinished bathtub.

How long a refinished bathtub lasts depends on the bathtub refinishing company and the hotels, motels, apartments or nursing homes that have just had their bathtubs refinished.

First, bathtub refinishing companies. The most common complaint from people that have had their bathtubs refinished, is peeling. Coatings peeling off of a refinished bathtub after perhaps weeks or months of use comes from how the bathtub was prepared before the spraying, how it was sprayed and the quality of the coatings used. That is the responsibility of the bathtub refinishing company. At Refinishing Stars, we use quality and long lasting superior coatings that are designed to restore your bathtub to its wonderful luster.

Finally, Hotels, motels, nursing homes, apartments, or homeowners who have just had their bathtubs just refinished, need to follow the following recommendations so that they don't void their refinished bathtub warranty and importantly, to get the maximum service from their tubs.
Refinished bathtub cleaning and maintenance

Because the surface of a refinished bathtub is non-porous, we recommend that abrasive cleaners, bleach, or any cleaning solution that contains strong acids not used on the refinished bathtubs or any bathtubs for that matter. Any aggressive rubbing with a rough brush, steel wool, or abrasive pads will ruin your coatings and void your refinished bathtub warranty.

Bathtub mats with suction, will suck up the coatings on a refinished bathtub and should be avoided.

Since you know what not to use in cleaning and maintaining your refinished bathtub, knowing what to use should be pretty easy. We recommend that you use non-abrasive cleaning solutions that you use in your kitchen that are environmentally safe. The best way to care and maintain your refinished bathtub is to wipe it down with a towel after each use.

Waxing a bathtub will make it last longer for the same reasons that a waxed car or boat lasts longer, and we might add looks better than one that is not waxed. Wax your bathtub every 6 months with a urethane polish that you find in your friendly auto store. We recommend polishing a bathtub five days after it has been refinished. Be careful when using a waxed bathtub. They are slippery.

Hotels bathtub refinishing, gives hotels and motels volume discounts on their bathroom remodeling. To get the bathtubs in your hotels', motels, apartments, nursing homes, or homes looking like new is important before the after care. Here are your bathtub refinishing options:

If you are ready to save your hotels, motels or retirement homes, money and time immediately, fill out our bathtub refinishing needs questionnaire.

As soon as we get the information on your bathtub refinishing needs, one of our stars will contact you with a free estimate. Email us: sales@refinishingstars.com

Copyright 2008 Refinishing Stars| All Rights

Wilson Ukah, owns Refinishing Stars, a bathtub refinishing company serving homeowners in Atlanta, Chattanooga, Nashville and Knoxville. Refinishing Stars, refinishes bathtubs, sinks, and countertops for hotels and motels nationwide. Wilson can be reached at http://www.refinishingstars.com or sales@refinishingstars.com.

Floor Framing Plumbing Problem
Insulation Damage

How Much Do You Love Your TV?

Imagine being able to watch TV while you soak in the bathtub, enjoying the good life? Well there is now a company that makes a killer bathtub with a built in remote control on the tubs side with a 17 inch flat screen television at the other end. Meaning you can sit in your Jacuzzi bubble bath and watch anything you want on TV? Just think you can take an hour long bath each day and never miss the news, your favorite sports program or even play a movie while you soak up the comforts of life.

Some say that Americans have lost their minds, while others say they have surrendered their brains to their TV sets, either way we are a nation of sound and fury all supported by the chaos and controversy on our televisions. Can you remember the last week where you did not turn on a TV set? Have you ever lived a whole week without the TV? Did you know that the average American is now watching 4-5 hours of TV a day? Some folks still watch more television than the time they spend doing emails, surfing the Internet or posting on their blogs. The most interesting thing is many people watch TV while they are online? But why not do something more enjoyable with your time? Why not have a nice warm soothing bath and live like a Roman, the way Americans were suppose to live and while you watch your favorite movie, sports program or shows. Think on this.

If you are interested in seeing what one of these new bath tubs looks like tough, because this online article site will not let me post a picture of it. They will not tell me why, apparently they have some funny rules that no one can figure out.

"Lance Winslow" - Lance Winslow's Bio

If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/

Wood Rot From Stucco
Water Stains On 1x6 Roof Sheathi

Majestic Colonial Punta Cana Resort Review

The Majestic Colonial resort is located in the beautiful Punta Cana, in the Dominican Republic. It is one of the nicest resorts there. Actually, it is a five star all-inclusive resort. This means that you don't have to worry about spending extra money to buy breakfast, lunch, or dinner because the food at the resort is included. The resort is located close to the Punta Cana International Airport. Many couples choose this resort for their honeymoon. It is very elegant, in fact, you can feel literally like a millionaire there. Right from the start, you can notice that employees are very kind. Front desk employees, bartenders, maids, all staff members are very polite, friendly, and helpful. At your arrival, you will receive welcome drinks and many smiles, too. Tipping is not required, but just a couple of dollars daily left for the maid and for your favorite bartender go a long way to get a great service.

This resort has several pools. It is very relaxing and quiet on some of them. On the others there are things you can do, like exercise, aerobics, and many other water activities.
The rooms are big enough, clean, and have beautiful views. The air conditioner works really good. The maid service is good and the mini bars are never empty; food is great. There are about seven restaurants, with a variety of food to choose from, like the Japanese restaurant, for example. For many restaurants you must make reservations. There are also many bars there.

Beaches are really clean with beautiful white sand . You can go for a walk at the beach or just sit there and appreciate the great view. There are lounge chairs, umbrellas, and towels available at the beach and at the swimming pool. You can also visit the spa and relax for a while. The massages area is really beautiful; it has a Jacuzzi and a sauna area, too. If you love to play golf, the Majestic Colonial Punta Cana resort is a great place to practice this fascinating sport. There is also a basketball and a tennis court.

For those who plan to travel with children, there is entertainment for them, too. Video games and swimming pools are available for kids, which are constantly under supervision. This means that you can relax while your children have fun at the children's club.

At night you can go to the casino, dance at the night club, or just stay at the hotel and watch the night show. At the disco, you can dance at music like bachata, salsa, and meringue. There is also a snack bar next to the casino that is opened from 11:00 pm until 4: 00 am. Day or night, there are many entertainment activities to choose from.

This resort is recommended to everyone : young singles, friends, families with children, families with teenagers, "young at heart" travelers, honeymooners, those who want a romantic getaway, etc. If you visit the Majestic Colonial Punta Cana resort you will want to go back again.

The author is a contributor to puntacana-travelguide.com

Ceiling Repairs
Subfloor Joist Reinforcing

Tips in Remodeling a Small Bathroom - Carlsbad Home Remodeling

Being among the top players world-wide in the financial, commercial, entertainment and cultural industries, New York City has become the most densely populated city in the country. With such reputation, the cost of housing soars leaving smaller living spaces a more popular option. Making a home out of these amply-spaced to smaller units is a challenge to many. This includes making important features of the home seem much cozier such as remodeling a small bathroom.

When remodeling a small bathroom, a complete focus on space fused with the right amount of creativity is key to the success of the project. Another important thing to ponder on is that quality does not come cheap. But it does not mean that you would have to always stick with the most expensive service or product, it only means that you should take careful considerations before letting go of your hard-earned cash to be able to give the most value to the money that you spend.

There are various ways to make less space appear much bigger. Enlisted are helpful tips in remodeling a small bathroom:

First off, unless you have significant skills and experience in plumbing, carpentry and electrical works, or the project is not a major one; you should seek the expertise of a competent NYC contractor to help you. Following this first tip in remodeling a small bathroom would save you a whole of time and money in the long run.

Instead of having a tub, maximize the space by having a shower instead. Rather than the traditional shower pan construction, a simple one-piece pan would serve as a much sleeker option as well as a leakproof solution. But if you still prefer a tub over a spacious shower, then go for the soaking bathtubs that are smaller but deeper designs.

In remodeling a small bathroom, choose a lighter and cooler hue for the walls and delicate patters for wallpapers or tiles. Light colors have an airy feel to them creating an illusion of more space. To create a better impact out of these designs, install fixtures offering heavy lighting. Another way to better illuminate the small bathroom is through skylight features. A bay window is a good choice as its alcove may also offer additional storage space.

Two elements have long since been known to give an illusion of more space. Reflection
and vertical objects and designs such as unframed mirrors and tall bathroom products that have shiny surfaces can be used in remodeling a small bathroom. You can have two mirrors installed opposite each other or facing the window. And when shopping, choose a tall but compact model of toilet and either a wall-mounted or sleek sink.

Important considerations when remodeling a small bathroom are the storage of toiletries and room for decorative items. Choose to have spaces cut out into the walls to serves as additional storage or display area rather than having free-standing cabinets or shelves installed into the walls. Lesser things protruding from the walls would help make the space seem larger.

Eugene Makeev has been in the home improvement industry for a while. His skills and expertise, which have been polished through time, are now used to help New York home owners avoid the common pitfalls in home improvements by matching their needs with the right, prescreened NYC contractor. To know more about remodeling a small bathroom, visit Contractors New York

Water Heater Vent In Ceiling

Build A Home Bar - House Remodeling Ideas

Deciding to build a home bar can be a mixed bag of emotions. At first, you're very excited about your home bar plans because you're going to have this fantastic bar right in your very own home! You'll be throwing awesome parties and entertaining countless friends and family members. Everyone will be talking about how cool your bar is and how they want one in their house too.

However, excitement soon gives way to concern as you realize that you don't have the slightest idea of where to begin to start actually building your bar. You've got no blueprints and no idea what supplies you will need. In addition, you may have little to no construction experience and be afraid that you'll really mess up anything you try to build.

This is the point where most people pick one of three options that almost NEVER yield satisfactory results. They either:

1- Buy a pre-built bar - You've seen these pre-fab bars before. They cost an arm and a leg and they stick out like a sore thumb when you place them in your home. Unless you spend really big money, it's very hard to get one of these that actually looks nice and fits into your home well.

2- Wing It - Ever been to a friend's house and he shows you the "bar" he built, which turns out to be some ugly rectangular structure sticking out of the wall, usually with an old piece of kitchen countertop on it? This happens way too often, and it's the result of people jumping right in and and thinking that they can build a bar without a bit of planning. Every once in a while, this turns out well but, more often than not, it is an absolute failure.

3-Give Up - A lot of people actually stop at this stage. They realize they don't know where to begin and feel like it will be too difficult to figure out how to build a bar of their own. They don't even think about seeking out DIY Bar Plans to learn how to easily build a home bar. People fail to realize that with a good set of home bar plans, almost anyone can build a great looking, high quality bar.

Instead of doing one of these three things, the proper thing to do is to simply do a bit of research into how to build a home bar. You'll quickly find that almost everyone who has had success in building a great bar in their home has started with a great set of bar plans. It gives you the confidence that you can build a great bar and, most importantly, removes all of the guesswork from the process.

If you're serious about building a home bar, don't give up and don't risk failure! Start with a great set of Home Bar Plans to ensure success.

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