Building a Deck - Home Remodeling Tips

A deck is the most important aspect of a building. It enhances the beauty of a house. A deck is a flat extension area of a building, normally a floor, able to support weights. The deck is usually an outdoor area. The deck of the house is a wooden surface above the ground through which you can access the house.

This is a flat surface that is usually roofless but some buildings have decks with roofs. Without a deck, the house will be incomplete. These decks provide an excellent playing area for children.

Building a deck consists of several steps. This process involves good planning and an equally good execution. The plan will be helpful in the construction of the deck and to obtain the necessary approval from the municipal authorities.

The person who wants to construct a deck in his house can draw a plan on his own with suitable scaling. But, usually this is not recommended. The whole construction process depends upon this plan, so it is essential to have professional help.

While considering the deck layout, the doors of the house have to be kept in mind, since the accessing of the house is through the doors. The other important aspects to keep in mind are the house layout, the existing space outside the house, the grade of the yard and the existing trees or gardens. The decks have to be planned according to the local deck building codes.

The footings and the posts are very important in supporting the deck. The bigger the deck, the more you need the posts. The other important components are joists, decking and railings.

The most popular deck board sizes are 2' x 4', 2' x 6' and 5/4' x 6'. But all these sizes need the same amount of wood and the cost is also the same. The materials that are popular for building decks are redwood, cedar, and pressure treated pine. These woods are known for their moisture resistance. The appropriate railings can be attached to the decks.

Building a deck may sound quite simple with the availability of lots of do-it-yourself materials, but professional help is inevitable in case of any deck construction.

Decks provides detailed information on Deck Plans, Deck Builders, Pool Decks, Building A Deck and more. Decks is affiliated with Invisible Fences.

Mold From Dryer Vent On Joist

Log Cabin Vinyl Siding

This article talks in grat depths about the advantages of vinyl over normal wood. It talks about the fact that it looks just as good, but is cheap, has low maintenance and is eco-fiendly.If thought of building a log cabin siding but never took it seriously because of heavy work load and cost then you no longer have any excuses.

Making a log cabin from actual wood will not only prove to be very costly, but it will also have an adverse effect on the environment. Today the world has reached an advanced stage of deforestation. Therefore, we must do our bit to save the planet. Understandably, log wood houses have a very rustic look. With the advent of log cabin vinyl siding, this rustic look can be maintained while the installation and maintenance of the log cabin vinyl siding is cheap and it is artificially made out of vinyl (a chemical), therefore it is eco-friendly since it doesnt involve cutting down tree.

Advantage Log Cabin Vinyl Siding

Besides simply looking authentic, there are a lot benefits that come with log cabin vinyl siding. It also provides many saving opportunities, both fiscally and physically. Vinyl siding is practically maintenance free and does not require insect preventing, staining, and sealing as well as any type of refinishing.

Vinyl log siding is one of the best methods of weatherproofing your structure as it provides complete protection from all types of climates.

Vinyl log siding is 100% man-made but still retains the look of natural wood. Log cabin vinyl siding is certainly cheaper than using full-logs because it's mass-produced. AS it can be easily installed Cost of labor is cheaper.

Parkers Midwest Distributing at www.vinyllogsiding.com offers a wide variety of log cabin vinyl sidings. They come in many different shades, and look almost natural. Whats more is that it doesnt need much maintenance. There will be no holes caused by pests. There will be no termite infestations or beds of fungi on this artificial replica of the real world wood.

An Eco-Friendly Way of Siding

Resource Materials Corp at www.resourcematerialscorp.com offers yet another wide range of log cabin vinyl siding products. They specialize in heat treatment technologies. Once you install their log cabin vinyl siding, you will realize that the amount of heat dissipated into the atmosphere reduces in winter and increases in summer. In short, winters will be warm and summers will be cool

Sisson Log Homes at www.sissonloghomes.com

Sisson Log Homes is renowned for bringing excellently crafted log cabin vinyl sidings complete with the accompanying accessories and fitting should you choose.

In summary, log cabin vinyl sidings are cheaper than their wooden counterparts, are more resistant to moth attacks, are available in all shades, fit perfectly into one another, are eco friendly and require way less maintenance.

You can also find more info on harsh weather conditions and siding products. Homesidingreview.com is a comprehensive resource to know more about home siding review.

Remove Tree Sap From Your Paint

Removing tree sap (Gummosis as defined by Wikipedia) from your car's paint is generally a very difficult and time consuming task.
Here are some tips and tools that are very effective and safe ways to remove tree sap.

1) You need to remove the bulk of the sap from the paint without damage to your paint. The most effective and safe
method is to use a wood paint stirring stick. These are the flat wood sticks given to you free every time you buy house paint.
These work well because they are soft enough to not seriously scratch the paint yet they have nice edges that can grab the sap
and scrape it off. Be careful not to get too aggressive with your scraping if you care about the paint.With
enough force, you could do some damage to your paint.

2) Remove the remaining residue with full strength Simple Green or Goo Gone. I have purchased a number of Tar and Sap removers that are made for this
but so far, I have found full strength Simple Green or Goo Gone to do a better job and seems to be safe for your paint. Now, this does
take a fair amount of rubbing with pressure to completely remove the remains of the sticky sap. Use a soft clean rag or
cloth and apply the Simple Green to the cloth, then rub like crazy! An old sock works well.

3) Finally, apply a cleaner wax to the entire area that you worked on. In many cases, this is a number of areas on your roof
trunk and hood because you parked under a nasty tree that was raining sap onto your car. With that, you should probably
go ahead and wax the entire car... What else are you going to do on a Sunday afternoon? You may need to use a
mild rubbing compound or a cleaner wax with a mild abrasive to eliminate any minor scratches created from step 1.

Gummosis on your windows - The easy part.

Any tree sap on your windows is easily removed with a razor blade. This is the easy part because you can scrape it
all off in one pass without a worry of damaging the glass. Make sure to use a razor
blade holder so that you do not cut your finger off and really make it a bad day!

Dean Chafee, owner and creator of http://www.HowToFixYourStuff.com A community of People Helping People Fix Stuff.
Dean is also a contributing expert at Experts-Exchange: http://www.experts-exchange.com/M_3706695.html

The Basics of Plastering

In figuring for plastering it is not customary to deduct for doors and windows, unless of very large size. It is considered better practice, however, to deduct them and figure accordingly, so that it is possible to use the same figures for getting quantities of material.

Plastering is usually done on spruce lath, which comes 1/4 x 11/2 inches, and made in 4 foot lengths. As studding is spaced 16 inches apart this makes three spans, and all laths should be nailed to the studs at both ends. To cover 100 square yards will take about 1500 laths, and 10 lbs. of three penny nails.

The plaster is usually applied in three coats, known as the scratch, brown and white coats. The first is applied directly to the lath, and consists of lime, sand and hair. Its surface is scratched with a stick to give good adhesion for the brown coats, which contains less hair, but is otherwise very similar.

The white or finishing coat is usually composed of lime putty and fine beach sand in equal parts, to which plaster of Paris is added to make it hard and smooth. For 100 square yards, allow 10 to 12 bushels of lime, 2 bushels of hair, 1 1/2 cubic yards of sand and 100 lbs. plaster of Paris. If a sand-finished effect is desired, the plaster of Paris is omitted and cubic yard of sand added. The surface is finished with a wooden float, so as to bring out the sand and produce a rough surface.

Other types of plaster exist, based on the use of gypsum in the place of lime. They set more rapidly than lime plaster, and care must be taken to use them as directed by the manufacturers. Metal lath and plaster board are also much used in place of wood lath for reproduction corner guards.

They increase the expense slightly, but reduce the fire risk. Whatever method is used, the plaster should be run back of dados and baseboards, as the open spaces add greatly to the fire risk. This is in fact required by the building codes of most cities.

One man will lath about 100 yards in an eight-hour day, openings not deducted. With metal lath he can do from 100 to 150 yards, though if the plan has many corners his speed is greatly reduced. It has been estimated that a plasterer with one helper can do about 150 yards of the first two coats in a day, and about 90 yards of finishing coal.

Cornices and ornamental pediment add greatly to the cost, but are now far less common than they were a few years ago. Most ornaments are cast in the shop, while moldings are generally run on the job. When work of this kind is to be done, stock models should be used as far as possible. These are furnished by a number of manufacturers and can be ordered from their catalogues.

When plaster board is used in place of wood lath, the first or scratch coat may be omitted. This greatly reduces the labor of plastering, but the plaster often tends to crack at the joints between the boards.

For work that must be done quickly, a new type of gypsum board is now on the market, requiring no plastering, but finished ready for paint or paper. It is preferable to use paper, as with point it is hard to hide the joints. This material is only about 3/8 inch thick, while lath and plaster is 7/8 inch. It can be applied with practically no waste.

There are also a number of makes of wall board, generally some sort of wood pulp composition. These shrink badly after application, and if they are papered the paper always cracks at the joints. The manufacturers recommend covering the joints with wooden corner protectors or strips, but this greatly limits the possible treatments, and makes an agreeable effect almost impossible.

The gypsum board mentioned in the preceding paragraph is far preferable, and the cost is not much greater. Both types of wall board are made 4 feet wide, and almost any even number of feet in length.

They are very easy to apply, and if 20% is added to the cost of the material it will usually cover the labor of nailing on. This, of course, is only for plain work, with few corners, and does not include wood strips or other woodwork.

Sarah Martin is a freelance marketing writer based out of San Diego, CA. She specializes in home improvement, remodeling, and working with ornamental pediment. For the best in hardwood moulding and wooden corner protectors, please visit http://www.ferche.com/.

How to Build a Small Deck - Building Ideas

You've decided to learn how to build a small deck and now you need some easy to follow plans to get started. Building a small deck is not that difficult if you follow these steps.

Get detailed plans on how to build a small deck

Pick the right location

Use simple household tools- saws, wrenches, cordless drill etc.

Find a good helper

Let's start with the helper. There are times when you will need to have help even if it's just to hold some boards while you attach them. Sharing the work makes it a bit more manageable too and we've always found it more fun.

After building at least 100 decks in our building career, both large and small I am quite certain that anyone can learn how to build a small deck.

Picking the right location is a matter of convenience. Do you want it attached to your house or cottage? Will it be around the pool? Any scenario you can imagine can be built according to the plans.

How much does it cost to build a small deck? You can be sure that you will save hundreds of dollars by doing the work yourself instead of hiring a contractor. If you are careful you can build a really nice deck for only a couple hundred dollars including the cost of the plans.

Compare that to the thousands that a contractor is sure to charge and you will certainly be smiling, sitting there on your deck when it's finished instead of grumbling about the price.

You see, most of the cost incurred on a building project is labor. Paying someone to do something is the fastest way to increase the cost, as any contractor will tell you.

Start off by locating the finished level of your deck. If an exterior door to the house will provide access then the deck level should be at least 2 inches lower than your door. This will insure that rain or snow won't flow in the house during bad weather.

Learning how to build a small deck can be accomplished quickly with deck blocks as footings. They are big square (liftable) pieces of concrete laid on the ground as footings.

Posts are placed on the deck blocks to the desired deck height and 2 beams are placed across the top of the posts.

These support the floor joists and decking. Be sure to use a durable outdoor approved wood such as cedar or pressure treated lumber. Both work well.

Imagine pulling up a lawn chair or two onto your new deck and enjoying that summer evening breeze, along with a cold drink or two. That's living.

And just think, you didn't have to break the bank to hire a contractor either. You did it yourself and saved hundreds of dollars.

Isn't it time you got started on your own small deck? Let's get started.

How To Build A Small Deck is the place to start to save money on your deck building project, enjoying the outside, by learning how to build a small deck.

After we had finished building our house, we knew we wanted a deck, so we learned how to build a small deck and enjoy our days after work was done.

Tips To Install Guttering

So, you need to either replace or install gutters on your home. This is not a very complicated job even though it sounds as if it is quite extraordinary. There are a couple of decisions that have to be made before you can install it though.

First you will need to decide if you are going to use pvc or metal guttering. Vinyl guttering is very easily installed but the brackets and clamps are exposed on the outside of the guttering for everyone to see. It doesn't look that bad but you have to decide if this is what you want. Metal guttering on the other hand is as simple to put up and you can hang it with spikes that are pretty well hidden from view. You will have to also decide on color as there are a variety to choose from now.

Once you have decided on your type and color the next thing to do is to measure your house in order to determine the amount needed. You want to measure across your house at the bottom of the pitches of your roof. Remember water will free flow down hill and you want the gutter to catch it here and divert it to the downspouts. After you have this measurement you divide this number by the length of each piece of guttering and round up to the next whole piece. This is the number of pieces of guttering to buy. The next thing you need to calculate is your downspouts.

Downspouts are what your gutter diverts the rainwater into. You will need at least one if not two on a straight run. The way you determine this is by figuring the pitch or slope on your guttering. Gutters have to have one quarter inch slope every ten foot in order for the water to drain. That is one inch every forty foot. So, in a nutshell, if your guttering is going to be 40 foot in length you put a downspout on each end. In the middle of your run make a mark where the gutter will mount. At each end make a mark one half inch lower than the center mark. This is a one quarter inch drop every ten feet. Now make a chalk line and install the gutter starting at one end or the other and work the opposite way. This provides the slope evenly in both directions and makes it less noticeable to the eye of the viewer. After you have connected the guttering across the fascia board now you install the downspouts on each end and use the clamps to clamp them to the wall.

Remember gutter channels come in either 4,5, 0r 6 inch channel and the 5 inch is the most commonly used. Downspouts come in either 2x3 inch or 3x4 inch and are usually corrugated. If you live where there is a lot of rain or snow, or there are alot of trees around your house then go with the 3x4 inch. This will accommodate more runoff and will not stop up as quick from leaves. The downspout is corrugated in order to slow the running water a bit to keep it from gushing out the bottom of the downspout.

Once your gutters are installed you need to place a diverter under your downspout and this is usually plastic and fits right under the downspout with the higher end of it next to the house. This points the drain water in the direction of flow without it creating a hole in your lawn from the rainwater. Some people and you may consider underground drain pipes to divert the water even further.

Even though this may sound complicated you don't need a lot of technical expertise. A pencil, paper, tape measure, small saw or snips, hammer, or screw gun, ladder, and a chalk line are all the tools you need. This is a job you can do yourself but is easier with a helper.

Volatile Organic Compounds - Home Advice

What are VOC's?
VOC's are harmful to everyone, not just children - and they can be extremely damaging to the environment. So, what are these VOC's? Volatile Organic Compounds are generated from cleaning fluids, paints, building materials, furnishings, carpets and tobacco smoke. It may be hard to believe, but there are up to 300 VOC's just within our indoor atmosphere. In actual fact, the air we breathe is riddled with air bourne contaminants. Most of us spend a large percentage of time indoors, and any doctor will tell you that good air quality is vital for our health.

VOC's And Paint
Paint, unfortunately, is one of the top contributors of this kind of indoor air pollution, and it's prudent to note that some paints can actually give off fumes for up to five years after their application!

In a study in the USA, the EPA found concentrations of VOC's in indoor air to be 2-5 times greater than in outdoor air. Incredibly, during certain activities, indoor levels of VOC's may reach 1,000 times that of outdoor air! The EPA also identified VOC's as carcinogenic, and highlighted the associated health risks which include lung diseases such as asthma, bronchitis and emphysema. Similarly, an Australian study into the effects on asthmatics of exposure to a conventional water-based paint and a VOC free paint, concluded that Zero VOC paint appeared to be less likely to cause a worsening of respiratory symptoms than conventional acrylic paint, and that some asthmatics would derive a useful symptomatic benefit from using Zero VOC paint. Higher exposure to VOC's from paint (for example, among artists and professional painters) has been known to lead to permanent respiratory, nervous system, liver or kidney damage.

Of real concern are the short-lived bursts of very high exposure, such as those experienced while painting or using solvents.

Ingredients and Additives in Paint
Many paint companies now designate certain paints as being "low VOC" or "low odour" (which should NOT be confused with non-toxicity!). Although low VOC paints are certainly a lot safer than conventional paints, they still contain harmful chemicals that can irritate the eyes, nose, throat, skin and lungs. And it's important to note thar "Low Odour" is not the same as "Low VOC" because fumes from VOC can be masked by other chemicals! Even ZERO VOC might not necessarily be non-toxic due to other toxic ingredients being present such as Ammonia, Phthalates, Heavy Metals, Toluene and Glcol Esters! Ammonia can cause respiratory problems and eye irritation. Toluene is a common solvent in paints and it can damage the heart, kidneys & nervous system when inhaled. It's also known as Methyl Benzene. Phthalates are toxic to the eyes and skin, heavy metals like Cobalt and Cadmium can damage the kidneys an liver, as can Glycol Esters.

When you consider that many paints contain binders, pigments, fillers, extenders, thickeners and additives, it becomes clear just how many potentially damaging elements can be in your paint.

Product Recall
There have been many recent product recalls as a result of high levels of lead and chemical compounds.

VOC Labelling System
Although the impact of interior paints on atmospheric pollution is relatively small, most manufacturers are now of the mind that the amount of VOC's should be reduced and consumers given the choice of using lower VOC containing products. B&Q notably introduced a labelling system in 1996, which shows the VOC content of each paint product. Minimal -(Zero - 0.29%). Low (0.30 - 7.99%), Medium (8-24.99%), High (25-50%) and Very High (More than 50%). Between 1996 and 2005 the average VOC of paint sold in B&Q has reduced from 191g/l to 97g/l.

Zero VOC, Non-Toxic, Non-Solvent paints are often more expensive than conventional paint, but using products in your home that are safe for your children and kind to the environment is worth the additional cost.

A Breakthrough In Glow In The Dark Technology
Until recently, there was no such thing as a Zero VOC Glow In The Dark Paints. However, July 2008 saw the successful release of a ground-breaking new Glow in the Dark paint. The paint is a world-first in terms of safety and following rigorous testing has been deemed 100% safe for use by both adults and children alike. Taking more than a year to develop the new generation of glow in the dark paints are seen as a major step forward in paint technology.

The launch came just days after the department store Harrods were forced to recall hundreds of souvenir teddy bears after tests found potentially harmful levels of formaldehyde, just one of an increasing number of chemicals and lead compounds being found in products causing them to be removed from the market.

The new generation glow paints are zero VOC's and has been developed by a leading scientist whose life's work has focused on Glow in the Dark technology. Now for the first time ever a glow in the dark paint is available that is totally safe and free of any formaldehyde. Important to note is that the new paint is fully compliant to EU toy safety regulations EN71 part 3. The paint is also beneficial to asthmatics and sufferers of allergies.

Superstarz Glow In The Dark paint comes in four colours: blue, violet, green and aqua. The paint is primarily used to transform a children's bedroom ceiling to a truly amazing out-of-this-world cosmic night sky scene. The paint is charged by daylight, UV and artificial light and appears invisible with a milky white appearance in the daytime. At night time however the paints glows for up to 12 hours. Ceilings painted with Superstarz paint have been proven to help children sleep. A 60ml pot of Superstarz costs just 15.99 (including postage and packing). The company have also produced a complete DIY kit, Starz 'Cosmos in a Can'. The kit enables anyone to create their own cosmic ceiling at a fraction of the cost of having a professionally created cosmic ceiling, and includes step-by-step instructions as well as all the materials you need to create incredible effects such as 'The Black Hole', 'The Milky Way', 'Shooting Stars' and 'Constellations' in a galaxy of glittering colour. Perfect for children or a romantic gift for a loved one the kit is available at just 49.99 (including postage and packing).

For further information on this exciting breakthrough in paint technology visit the Starz Ceilings website at http://www.starzceilings.co.uk

Raise Your Roof With a Cupola

Elevate the design of your house, a time honored way---with a cupola??

Cupolas are making a comeback---not only for barns, but for homes, garages, commercial buildings, and gazebos. Although they are ornamental, cupolas are also very functional by circulating air and providing an inexpensive light source. Cupolas provide excellent attic ventilation by providing a natural flow of warm, moist air in an upward movement through louvered or window sides of the cupola.

Cupolas bring back a bit of country to your estate by providing building ornamentation with traditional early American architecture. Installed on rooftops, they create an asymmetrical appeal that allows the outside buildings to look there absolute best.

A cupola is defined as a dome-shaped ornamental structure that sits on top of a larger building. Cupolas are called belvedere when it can be reached by an inside stairway. Lanterns, when they have windows that illuminate the areas below. Like a skylight.

Cupolas meet aesthetic and functional needs. Most owners today use them as decorative. They just screw them in on the rooftop and top them off with a weathervane or finial. Weather vanes give your cupola a personalized and finished look.

The shapes of cupolas can be round, square or octagonal. Common materials include wood, vinyl, stone and metal.

Wood is the preferred material, as it looks natural and is weather resistant; furthermore, it can be painted to match your dcor. Wood does not retain heat, but it requires upkeep of being painted every 5 to 6 years, smog and humidity affect how long the paint will last.

Vinyl cupolas are weather resistant. It is heavier than wood-so there may be extra cost to reconstruct the rooftop the cupola will sit on. Vinyl does not offer as many color options, and the color fades with consistent exposure to the elements. Vinyl is not environmentally friendly.

Proportion is important, in terms of look and function. Larger buildings require larger cupolas. Size is the big issue----what they look like on the ground versus what they look like on the roof. The ratio of 1 inch cupola per one foot unbroken roofline and height a ratio of 1 inch (tall) per foot of roof line.

When choosing a cupola one needs to stay true to the style of the building it will be placed on, cupolas should a building architectural style. Bell style roof lines are most appropriate for buildings with gambrel roof and Colonial style homes, while pagoda style for raised center barns and French Country homes.

The biggest mistake is getting a cupola that is too small, which then has the appearance of a bird house. It's all about a tower pointing to the sky. When properly proportioned it articulates the skyline, giving the building a more interesting profile.

Cupolas are an architectural accent. They are a great way to add class, sophistication, or a little country charm to add beauty to the roof line of buildings. From residential barns to grand cathedrals, the cupola is a timeless masterpiece and an inspiration to many. http://prairierosecountry.com

Prairie Rose Country provides hand-crafted cupolas built by quality craftsman out of marine plywood. Cupolas provide excellent attic ventilation. Installed on the roof tops, cupolas provide attic ventilation by removing moisture, therefore, eliminating wood rot, mildew, and musty odors. Designed for functionality, performance and curb appeal, cupolas will beautify any structure.

http://prairierosecountry.com

Odd Drywall Damage

House Renovation - Framing A Closet

Renovating can either be a fun experience, or a frustrating one, depending on how well you are prepared for it. And if youre renovating a house, then we would hope are quite well prepared. After all, the last thing you want to have to do when youre done is to re-do something you thought was working out just fine.

In any home, space is an issue. You can really never have enough of it. And a well made closet space is an essential part of the houses over all aesthetics. When smartly framed, your closet can be quite an asset, whether its for your precious wardrobe, or next to the main door to just hang coats. Now lets take it from the top.

First, you want to decide on the ideal size. 27 inches of depth is what you want for minimum, especially if you plan on hanging your clothes. Other size factors depend on the size of your room or what you need. You could go with a smaller single door closet, or a bigger walk in.

The best way to frame your closet is by laying the structure flat on the ground. You might want to consider placing it at one end of the rooms wall, just to make it more space efficient. But make sure it doesnt obstruct windows or heat boxes.

Once youve got the basic raw materials ready, make sure youve got the hardware too; apart from your tool box, keep in handy a nail gun, a power miter box and a compressor. If you dont have it on you, you could easily rent all three for less than $100 a day.

After you measure the wall height, you should cut them into length and lay them out between the top and sole plates that will be fixed to your ceiling and floor respectively. Also, figure out where your door will be centered and make sure you mark each spot that needs nailing or trimming, and each part of the frame clearly. After that, its really just putting the parts in place carefully.

Once your frame is ready, hoist it up carefully to put in place using 3 screws to fix the top of the frame to the ceiling. Place your choice of doors on to the frame and if you want to put a light bulb inside, it is advised you consult your local electrical inspector and use only fluorescent lights.

George Christodoulou,

If you have questions about house flipping or would like more information about framing closets and house renovation,
visit, http://houseflipblog.com for more information about house flipping.

You can also ask your questions about house flipping and have them answered by experts in the field.

Ceiling Water Damage

Five Most Essential Items For Do it Yourself at Home

As a person who wants to get his or her hands dirty there is nothing like the satisfaction of getting things done and seeing the finished product in all its glory. The joy and happiness of having completed the work with utmost satisfaction is beyond words and cannot be described on a piece of paper.

That said there are few tips and things that you would need to have in case you want to enjoy the thrill of do it yourself at home. I will be listing five essential items that are a must in your tool box and you should own so that you can do things at your own sweet will without rushing off to buy the stuff every time you wish to do something.

Here is my summary of five essential items in your toolkit.

The first and foremost is the hand tools entire set tool box. That tool box should contain the main screw driver with removable head so that you can plug all other different size screw heads into the main screw driver. That said most of the tool boxes also contain the various spanners for removing various nuts and bolts of different shapes and sizes.

Before buying the tool box make sure that the box contains all the sizes otherwise it becomes an issue for getting the screws to tighten or to remove.

The next essential item is the drilling machine and that is one thing which is required for most of the tasks you do at home. The holes are needed for almost anything that you need install at home be a towel holder or a soap dispenser. You will also need drill bits of various sizes for use along with the drilling machine.

Next comes the measuring tape. You would argue that it is not that essential but believe it is very essential. Almost anytime you get to work you will need to measure the distance for drilling holes correctly as well as getting the alignment correctly. There are various analog and digital measuring tapes which are available in the market.

The fourth item that is a must have is the box full of markers, duct tape as well as etching pens. This will help you in making all the necessary marks and etchings for accurately placing the things.

Last but not the least is the safety goggles as anything you do at home there will be a strong chance of particles of things flying and these goggles will protect your eyes.

The author writes about ceramic bits and ceramic material.

Basement Wall Staining

Thinking About Bathroom Tiles? Read!

So you have been thinking about decorating your bathroom for a while now or you have just started thinking about it well let me tell you now one of the best ways forward in your quest to make your bathroom look as good as possible is to user bathroom tiles to get the effect you want and the great look and feel you may have in mind.

Bathroom tiles are a great way to keep your bathroom looking good and keeping clean at the same time, there is such a big range of tiles out there that you should not be stuck for options to choose from other than if you are stuck trying to decide which one looks better than the rest. No matter what size or shape your bathroom is you are still going to be able to find the perfect design for you.

There are so many different styles, shapes and sizes that bathroom tiles are available in so that you can make a whole host of different design so you are able to be as unique as you like. You are going to be able to find bathroom tiles that are available for your floors or your walls as well as finding tiles that will look great on either or even both.

Remember if you do decide to use bathroom tiles in your bathroom you are not restricted to just using them, many people decorate only certain parts of their bathrooms with tiles for example behind and around a shower or a bath, these usually give off really good looking walls. One thing I must point out at this stage though is if your bathroom is not very big then you are more than likely better off tiling the whole bathroom as small patches of tiles may not look that great. But by all means you can try it just make sure that you are able to rectify the look if it is not the one you want in the end.

Also when you are thinking about installing bathroom tiles you are going to need to consider the tile material, if you are looking for a easy to fit and easily maintainable tile then I would definitely recommend going for the ceramic type. This is because they are easy to install and they can put up with the most abuse without giving up on you. Natural stone tiles are a good way forward but they are by no means going to be the best bathroom tiles for the job.

Natural stone tiles do require a lot more attention than ceramic tiles do, this is because they need to be sealed before any use comes to them as they can potentially get stained which will result in a ruined tile.

One other thing about installing bathroom tiles is that you must have them grouted which brings in another possible issue which is the fact that they can go mouldy, there are techniques that you can use to stop this happening but that will not be covered in this article.

You will want to make sure that your bathroom walls are as smooth and flat as possible so that once you have finished installing them you will not be able to see any issues with the wall which you do not want with bathroom tiles as it can ruin your whole project.

Find more information on Bathroom Tiles

Shear Panel With Mold

Cost Effective Stair Building

What is the most cost effective way of building stairs? Why do the tract homes use on site methods of construction? When you think of a factory assembling a product on a assembly line you think why not a home. Why do they still build homes on lots or residential home sites?

If homes could be built in a factory cheaper than on site that is exactly what every home builder would be doing. They just haven't quite figured it out yet. When dealing with the large amounts of materials required to build a house and of course the expense of shipping. It is not cost effective to build a conventional home in a factory and ship it over long distances.

This is the biggest problem with cost effective stair construction. Most prefabricated stairs you will notice are spiral stairs. These stairs are smaller than most stairs that are used for multi level construction.

Spiral stairs are hard for your average carpenter to build. These stairs can be purchased from a factory easily and quite inexpensive.

The stairs in your average two story house are going to weigh about 3 times the amount of a spiral set of stairs that could be shipped in a cost effective way. Spiral stairs are not going to be the main stairway in a home and normally go up to a loft or an attic. Most spiral stairs don't meet the minimum building requirements for the main stairway in your home.

When building tract homes the lumber is shipped in bulk directly to the house site where it will be assembled. The lumber and other building materials will be shipped once. If it went to a factory and then assembled it would also have to be sent to the site on which the house was to be built. This added expense in shipping the materials twice is the problem for such a large and heavy item such as a set of stairs.

There are other prefabricated types of stairs that are built locally and the shipping usually is not a major expense. If you are building a stairway that is not to difficult to build for the average carpenter it will normally be cost effective to build the stairs on site. This would require having the carpenter build the stairs as part of the rough framing and then after drywall have the finish carpenter build the stair handrail system.

Visit us now for easy Home Constuction Help

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.

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The Importance of Keeping Waterfront Home Property Clean

Bottom line, if you own a home on the water, you need to keep your property clean and free of debris so it doesn't erode and devalue your property. For a homeowner, life on the water is a source of pride and pleasure. It is, therefore, necessary to protect your home's marine assets and enhance their value. When you sign on the services of a specialized waterfront property cleaning service, you can be assured that the life of the bulkheads and supports will be extended for years to come.

What to Look For in a Marine Cleaning Company

As you look for a service to take care of your waterfront assets, be sure to take note of what they offer. A reputable company will gladly do the following:

• Inspection, repair and maintenance of seawalls, bulkheads, floating docks, boat ramps and lifts, permanent docks, and all residential marine structures for any signs of erosion or damage
• Steam Cleaning and power washing of seawalls and bulkheads, jetties, boats and swimming platforms to remove corrosive materials
• Channel maintenance and dredging to extend the life of all marine structures design to protect your home. We acquire the permits and do the work.
• Installation of dock boxes, hoses, carpets, and other marine features and boat enhancements
• Seasonal upkeep for boats and marine structures

When you hire a marine cleaning company to do the dirty work, you want to be certain only the most powerful equipment is used, and that your daily routine is uninterrupted. A good company will arrive via the waterway on which your house sits to get immediate access to what needs cleaned. This way, too, nobody is lugging heavy equipment through your yard. Such a company should be able to come and go without your noticing.

Take note to make sure your marine property is well-kept and cleaned on a regular basis. You can be assured of many years of enjoyment in your home knowing it is well-protected by a job well done.

Don Shearon is the owner and operator of Marine Clean Safety and Prevention, dedicated to quality Virginia Beach waterfront property cleaning and repair. Marine Clean uses the power of water to clean bulkheads and commercial and residential waterfront property.

Wood Post Repairs

Italian Cuisine Sets the Stage For Fine Dining

If you are thinking about going out for an evening of fine dining, then you may want to put Italian cuisine on your list of possible choices. Italian food has always been a big sell when it comes to fine foods, and you will be hard pressed to not find an Italian eatery somewhere within a 15 mile radius of you if you are within a relatively large city. You will find most of the fine Italian fair in this type of restaurant, and more than likely you will be treated to what the house chef specializes in. Whether it is a fine swordfish plate or a grand penne dish with a exquisite vodka sauce, you can be sure that you will not only be full at the end of the meal you will know that you enjoyed each and every bite.

Scanning The Menu

If you were interested in having Italian cuisine for the evening, you would be best served to study the menu well. The fact is there are so many delightful recipes on the Italian menu that it is rather difficult for you to decide what it is you want. As stated above, more than likely the house chef has a specific recipe that is their trademark dish. You really should consider this dish when dining in their establishment as they have worked this dish to a practical fine art. The wait staff can help you choose a wine that will best suite what you are ordering, but the meal can only be suggested. You really need to dig deep into the Italian culture to enjoy the very best of what it has to offer, and the best way to do so is by stepping away from the norm.

Anyone Can Do A Regular Old Pasta

It is very obvious that anyone can do a regular old pasta meal at home, but when you are going to go out to dine on Italian you really should experience what the restaurant is best for. This could very well be a specific pasta dish, but more than likely it is not. It could be a fine shellfish dinner that consists of oysters or even crab, and you could actually be surprised at what you taste. If seafood is not your thing, then there are several pork, beef, or lamb dishes that can be quite succulent as well.

Regional

It may be difficult to find an Italian cuisine restaurant that caters to specific regions in Italy, rather you are more likely to find one that does many of the dishes well from each region. This will be a benefit for you, as you will have the opportunity to sample many of the dishes that put those regions on the map in the first place. Do not be shy about your curiosity of the Italian cuisine, and you will find that there will be more that you will appreciate than expected. This can be said about many dishes that you otherwise would have not even attempted to try prior.

Anna Fiori writes food related articles for the Italian Traditional Food website at http://www.italiantraditionalfood.com

Home Repair the DIY Way

People like renovating their houses. It can be anything. Sometimes it is a moderately leaking basement. At other times it can be bedroom wallpaper or family room flooring. It can also be a worn out shoe rack or a depressed cabinet. Many such home improvement measures require forking out some money. Of course, unless you know the art of doing it yourself; DIY home repair is turning out to be craze today. People are looking to save costs and moreover the thrill of being a mechanic and self-creator is quite huge.

Handyman is doing very well with building, repairing, customizing, renovating, installing at homes. You can look to enhance something as small as a home light by adding certain things to it. Did you ever imagine that a garage could be altered into a workspace or even family game room? Do you know that it is possible for a dark dungeon like basement to convert into a beautiful, colored room? Well all this and much more is possible with DIY home repair ideas. You can always look up to certain professional sites for inspiration.

Let's take up few Handyman proposed DIY repairs. How would you install a completely new toilet in your home? It's an easy process to follow. You have just got to follow few simple steps. Stop water flow through the toilet and use a sponge and a bucket to remove additional water left in the tank. Next, use the channel pliers to remove the ballock valve nuts. Use wrench to side the two nuts holding the bowl to the floor flange. Next is the process of setting the new bowl. This can be done through proper waxing, nutting and bolting measures.

Suppose you have wallpaper that needs to be removed. Now, if it's a new one then it can be done without much problem. If its old and the adhesive seem to have stuck in a hard way, then there are DIY measures you can follow to save the renovation money. Use a steamer over a particular section of the wallpaper. This way the heat is not dissipated. Keep using steamers and chopping the blocks off. At other times, you may need a plastic scraper. This is when the paste or adhesive is too strong.

Sometimes, an old wall paper can pose further problem, at such times you would need to use the steamers, scrapers, and elbow grease all together. Now, when the wallpaper is being removed, some adhesive can still be there. This will make the living room or the bedroom look paltry. It is advisable to go with sandpaper. It will effectively take them out. In worse conditions, use a power sander all along the surface. Be smooth so that the wall is not entirely damaged. Now you can look to put in wall painting or wallpaper.

A range of home remodeling products are available online today. They can let you feel the charm of a new-born place. Most of the time, it is something you never thought possible.

Find out how to Fix, Build, Install, Customize, Repair, Restore, Renovate, and Demolish your House and Home at Handy Man Fix Home Repair.

Odd Drywall Damage

How to Build Your Own Wind Turbine For Home

If the increasing cost of electricity is one of your problems at home, you might want to consider some alternatives like build your own wind turbine or install solar panels on the roof of your home. In recent years, more people have seen the wisdom in using these alternative sources of energy to alleviate their growing electrical expenses. Through any of these options, you will surely see a significant cut in your electricity bills, allowing you to enjoy more savings.

In particular, there are three important concerns to be thought of before deciding and starting to build a wind turbine that you can use at home. First, you need to find a place where strong wind force can be experienced. For wind energy to be converted into electrical energy, minimum wind speed should be about 10 kmph. This almost always does not happen in urban areas so you would have to consider a rural place for this endeavor. Moreover, the place where you are to place your wind turbine should not be surrounded by trees and other obstructions so as not to impede wind strength.

Second, you have to carefully follow the steps in making a wind turbine. The Internet is a rich resource for comprehensive guides in building such. Also, make sure that you have all the necessary materials for making the turbine. Some of the more common materials for this type of project are blades, generator, and battery. A tower where the wind turbine is to be attached to is also required. To avoid functional problems, make sure that you complied with all prerequisites and followed the procedures enumerated in the guide carefully.

Lastly, make sure that you are not violating any local government provision before you build your own wind turbine to avoid being penalized later on.

Tired of high electric bills? Discover how thousands of families are using homemade power systems to power their homes!

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Renewable Energy - Lesson 1 - Introduction to Renewable Energy

With just a little bit of research, one can quickly determine that there is a strong and growing groundswell of interest in renewable energy. Leaving politics out of it, many people are simply interested in making their homes more energy efficient and thereby saving money on heating and cooling bills.

Renewable energy generally includes solar power, wind power, and biofuels. For all categories, there are ways to integrate them into your daily life and into your home to make yourself more energy efficient. These changes will certainly save you money over the long run--and in some case in the short term---but they will also help reduce the massive strain that is being placed on the planet in general.

There are a large number of companies, both large and small, that advertise their specific product or service that fits into the renewable energy industry. There are a great number of businesses that manufacture, install and repair all types of solar panels. Likewise, there are a corresponding number of businesses that sell, service and install systems designed to capture wind power. Still more companies are out there manufacturing and selling various forms of biofuels. Biofuels include bio diesel and ethanol. There are also a very few companies engaged in research and development of hydrogen furnaces which run on biomass, often barnyard waste. While all these companies are in business to make money, the combined effect of what they are selling and producing is a positive one for the environment. Renewable energy is an undeniable fact of life for us now, and we all have a form of social responsibility to do our part to advance it into the mainstream. Regardless if the motivation is purely financial---to either make or save money---the end result is the same; a reduction in the emissions and pollution produced by traditional fossil fuels, and a cleaner, more sustainable environment and economy.

Trends toward renewable energy are taking hold on a more widespread basis every day. One will hear more frequent mention of terms like "green construction" or "green companies". These terms refer to building houses in an environmentally friendly manner, making as much use of renewable energy technology as possible and to businesses that have adopted an organized and serious policy to reducing their environmental impact through use of renewable energy.

Renewable energy has become such a popular subject, that it is seen as a constant theme in contemporary media, including major movies, TV programs and in music. The growing awareness and concern with environmental issues is fueling the fundamental shift toward being more environmentally conscious and toward using renewable energy whenever possible. There is still much pollution and waste in the world today, but there has never been such a high and growing level of awareness and motivation to change our fundamental lifestyles in order to save and cure our climate. Renewable energy is a fundamental piece of the puzzle for not only a healthy planet, but a healthy life as well.

For great tips and information on renewable energy please visit: http://www.RenewableEnergyForUs.com

The Most Effective Methods to Kill Termites

Are you tired of the termite infestation in your house and about to give up? Read on as you will find several important steps to kill termites that will surely work. Termites cause heavy economical damage to the place where they start their attack. There are some homeowners who have even decided to strip their house completely and start afresh. Make sure you are not one among them by choosing the best methods that are effective.

The use of baits has been common from ages past to kill termites. This is one of the best methods that you can use too, provided you have the right chemicals that will affect these insects. You can save money on the several chemical methods that you have to choose from by opting for natural solutions available at your homes.

The best ingredient that can kill termites is salt. You can mix the salt into hot water and see that the salt is completely dissolved. What you have now is the brine solution that is indeed very harmful for these termites. You can make use of a syringe and inject this solution into hidden areas where these termites exist.

The bleach that you use in your laundry is also very effective. Find a full strength bleach and apply this in the infected areas and you can be sure to find the best results that will kill termites. This bleach burns up the termites, so when applying you need to be careful and use methods that will protect your hands and eyes.

Haven't you wondered how our ancestors have coped with these termites? They have indeed used such methods to kill termites and eradicate them from their home. These methods are very effective. You can still take professional help in this area, but this can save you a whole lot of money and will provide you the satisfaction of getting rid of these pests.

Want to kill termites so that they never return? You can use natural methods as discussed above. You can use the help and tips provided at Preventtermiteintrusion and make sure that you do away with termites for ever.

Basement Waterproofing on a Budget

Basement waterproofing is becoming a more and more popular option for homeowners, and is usually the norm for new home construction. Even owners of older homes whose basement waterproofing safeguards are becoming ineffective with age are starting to consider re-doing their structure's waterproofing, a venture which could end up costing thousands. While older homes can be a great investment that pays off in the long run, making a mistake like overlooking potential flooding problems could end up costing your plenty of time and money.

Luckily, there are ways to waterproof your basement on a smaller budget while still ensuring that it will provide adequate protection against potential flooding, drain and sewer problems. A typical complete basement waterproofing job involves excavation around the foundation of the home, new block wall materials, installation of footer drains and wall tarring.

Some smaller fixes, though, can do a good job of shoring up any immediate problems you might have with leakage in your basement while saving you the painful high costs of a more thorough job. A complete excavation around the home's foundation, for example, might be put off for another year if your service provider can instead repair footer drains surrounding the basement without doing any digging at all.

If you home is so old that it never had more modern basement waterproofing equipment installed upon construction, then putting in footer drains will eventually be a necessity if you get a high yearly rainfall. Even still, there are a few simple steps you can take to buy some time and bolster your bank account.

By contacting a competent plumbing or drain cleaning company to ensure your basement floor drain is properly connected to the sewer main and clear of obstructions, you'll make the possibility of flooding much less likely. You can then concentrate on saving up the funds necessary to install, repair or replace the footer drains that will fix your basement waterproofing problem properly.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with doing basement waterproofing on a budget, and plenty of home owners take flood proofing their homes one step at a time over a number of years. Just be certain that you don't give approval to any costly and time consuming projects until you confirm the reliability of the contractors you're working with.

Never be afraid to ask for references from any companies you're considering, whether it's for small or large projects. Large mistakes on small services can lead to damages and problems that will get worse over time and cost you significant amounts of money. By taking some proactive steps before launching your basement waterproofing plan, you can head many of these unfortunate outcomes off at the pass.

Lorain County Sewer and Drain makes Lorain County basement waterproofing easy and affordable. Visit our site today to learn more about basement waterproofing.

Post Your Ideas Here On Home Remodeling

To would appreciate any home remodeling tips for ideas that you have that could help other homeowners, building contractors and other people involved in home remodeling. Post all your comments below .

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How to Shop For Shower Cubicles

The overall shape of your bathroom and its design has to be kept in mind while shopping for a shower cubicle. There are two types of shower cubicles-the open cubicle and the closed one. Open shower cabins partially cover the shower zone and there will be a shower part or a door between the existing walls of the bathroom. Closed shower cabins are completely enclosed on all sides including the top with a roof which prevents outflow of steam and slows down condensation. Even though the cabin is more expensive, it is much more comfortable and greatly enhances the visual appeal.

The body panels of shower cubicles are made from diverse materials such as pig-iron, steel, ceramics, artificial marble and also of synthetic materials like acrylic and quaryl. Quaryl is the latest derivative of acrylic. All these materials have their own characteristics and advantages. Pig-iron panels are steady and rigid, but the disadvantage is that they get hot if used for too long. Panels made of steel sometimes vibrate when a forceful jet of water his it. Ceramic made panels can easily crack up, if used carelessly. Acrylic panels are beautiful to look at and easier to clean but are not durable. Quaryl is more or less same as acrylic, but its surface does not allow dirt to accumulate. Marble is the best and the most convenient material, being durable, convenient, perfect and diverse looks due to the availability to marble of different hues, structures and shades around us. The only disadvantage of marble is that is the most expensive of all the options available.

The doors of shower cabins are generally made of glass. This glass can come in different types and forms- transparent, matte or rough.

High end shower cubicles are not only used for taking a shower, but also for massages, sauna and as therapeutic salons. The number of water jets can also vary in different cubicles.

If you want to know more about Shower Cubicles then feel free to visit Bella Bathrooms

Home Water Filters Are the Answer to Our Nations Drinking Water Problems

We continue to hear about problems with substances found in water systems. Water companies remove most of the harmful substances but unfortunately, too many harmful things remain in our drinking water. Home water filters are being installed in more and more homes across the country. As far back as 1995, up to forty-five million Americans were receiving drinking water that was not up to health standards. This included water that was contaminated by bacteria, high lead content and herbicide contamination.

There are many possible sources of contamination in drinking water. However, remember there is something we can do. Home water filters will remove ninety-nice percent of all contaminants that are found in municipal water systems. We owe it to our families to do something about this major health issue sweeping the country. You will feel better knowing you are doing your part to protect your family.

Let us get back to the many possible ways that drinking water becomes contaminated. Farm run off such as fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides are a major culprit. These leech into the water table and eventually find their way into our drinking water. Fluoride has been added to water but it is not a safe additive either. Bacteria and other parasites find their way into our drinking water as well. Good home water filters will prevent these from getting into our water we use at home.

So, how do water filters work? Filters can be attached to the faucet or right to the incoming water source. One of the best types of filters is the carbon block and granular carbon filters. Water flows through the carbon filters and the filters block the contaminants. Activated carbon is considered the best filter for removing harmful contaminants from your drinking water.

Other top rated filters include multi media block filters. These particular home water filters use activated carbon along with other advantages to filter out the harmful chemicals and bacteria. This combination filter is considered an even better filtering system.

The most important thing to remember is that we can do something about the state our drinking water. First, farmers can stop using dangerous pesticides and herbicides as we now know that they can find their way into our drinking water supply. By taking care of the environment, we can work towards improving our water supply. In addition, we can install home water filters and be sure that our families are drinking clean safe water.

Martin is an advocate for clean safe drinking water. He has done extensive research on the subject. The solution for the problems with contaminated drinking water is home water filters. Martin hopes to educate people on the benefits of a water filtration system. Visit our site today for more information. http://www.water-filtered-and-pure.com/
By Martin Applebaum

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