Patio Maintenance in Fall

Ahh fall! Crisp air, beautiful colors, and -- oh no! -- winter preparation! It's true that fall brings many household maintenance tasks, but the pleasant weather makes it enjoyable to be outside, and the time spent maintaining your patios and yards will add years to their life span.

Patio maintenance is particularly important in the fall. Patios which are made of wood should be treated with a waterproofing substance to protect them from the winter weather. This is not a big project -- it can be done in an hour or two for an average sized patio. The time spent doing this will protect the wood and prevent costly repair bills in the springtime.

Moisture is the big enemy of wood, so anything that can trap moisture should be removed. This means sweeping it from time to time to get rid of the falling leaves and to remove debris from between the floorboards of the patio. This can be done with a screwdriver or other small object. Debris which remains between the floorboards holds moisture and quickly rots the foundation frame underneath.

If your patio needs a coat of paint, the fall is a good time to do it. The paint will give the wood more protection during the wintertime. Just make sure not to leave the job too late in the season -- the weather should be clear and dry on the painting day for maximum effectiveness.

If you have plants on your patio they must be prepared for winter. Perennials can be protected with sackcloth and placed in an area where they are less exposed to the elements. Annuals should be removed from their beds and in the soil can be re-fertilized.

Patio furniture should be examined and repaired if necessary, and should be stored in a protected area. Leading patio furniture outside during the winter is bad for both furniture and patio -- moisture will accumulate under the legs and stain or rot the patio floor.

Doing all this work in the fall will extend the life of your patio. In addition, there will be fewer patio jobs to be done in the springtime. All you will need to do is bring out the furniture and replant your plants.

Linda is author of: http://www.patio-furniture-ideas.com

At our site you find information about almost anything you need to know about outdoor and patio living.

Building Your House Help

How Using The Right Ladder Can Make Those Jobs Easier

Ladders come in a variety of styles and heights, and it's important to choose one that meets the needs of the task you're performing. Safety should always come first when using a ladder, so it's necessary to make sure you use the right ladder for the job. For instance, an extension ladder is suitable for reaching those high spots when decorating or cutting tree branches. But trying to reach up too high on a step ladder can be hazardous and lead to accidents. On the other hand, step ladders are ideal for those odd jobs round the house, from changing a light bulb to hanging curtains.

Extension ladders are used for all kinds of outside jobs, from professional window cleaning to painting gable ends of buildings. Aluminum ladders are commonly used, being lightweight and easily portable. However, a fiberglass ladder, although much heavier to move, is safer to use in the vicinity of electrical cables. Well-known manufacturers that sell a range of quality ladders include Werner Ladders and Wing Enterprises.

Inside the home, ladders come in handy in a number of situations. For instance, if you have high book shelves, fitting a rolling library ladder makes it quick and easy for you to reach those top shelves. Library ladders are generally made from wood, and come in a choice of colors and finishes to blend in with your dcor. Another place where a fitted ladder comes in useful is in a loft hatch. An attic access ladder makes it simple for you to utilize that extra storage space in the roof.

Whatever your requirements, from doing DIY in the home or garden, to reaching high shelves, there's a ladder to meet your needs. Choosing the right ladder for the job can help make your task much simpler.

Caroline Smith is a regular contributor to GetLadders.com - an online resource offering a range of ladders including attic ladders, the Little Giant Ladder and more.

How Using The Right Ladder Can Make Those Jobs Easier

Ladders come in a variety of styles and heights, and it's important to choose one that meets the needs of the task you're performing. Safety should always come first when using a ladder, so it's necessary to make sure you use the right ladder for the job. For instance, an extension ladder is suitable for reaching those high spots when decorating or cutting tree branches. But trying to reach up too high on a step ladder can be hazardous and lead to accidents. On the other hand, step ladders are ideal for those odd jobs round the house, from changing a light bulb to hanging curtains.

Extension ladders are used for all kinds of outside jobs, from professional window cleaning to painting gable ends of buildings. Aluminum ladders are commonly used, being lightweight and easily portable. However, a fiberglass ladder, although much heavier to move, is safer to use in the vicinity of electrical cables. Well-known manufacturers that sell a range of quality ladders include Werner Ladders and Wing Enterprises.

Inside the home, ladders come in handy in a number of situations. For instance, if you have high book shelves, fitting a rolling library ladder makes it quick and easy for you to reach those top shelves. Library ladders are generally made from wood, and come in a choice of colors and finishes to blend in with your dcor. Another place where a fitted ladder comes in useful is in a loft hatch. An attic access ladder makes it simple for you to utilize that extra storage space in the roof.

Whatever your requirements, from doing DIY in the home or garden, to reaching high shelves, there's a ladder to meet your needs. Choosing the right ladder for the job can help make your task much simpler.

Caroline Smith is a regular contributor to GetLadders.com - an online resource offering a range of ladders including attic ladders, the Little Giant Ladder and more.

Skylights

New Construction Windows

Hello, my name is John Rocco.I grew up around the window and door business. My father owned a glass shop that dealt in every aspect of residential and commercial glass.Naturally, when it came time to choose a profession, i wound up in the window and door business.I have been in the business for about 27 years, and i have been self employed for 20.

One of the things that separated my company from my competitors was my willingness to show my customers how to replace their windows themselves. Whenever i would encounter a customer with a curiosity or willingness to learn how to install their own windows,i would offer to sell them the labor on one window,using them as my helper.Then,they would install the rest of the windows using the knowledge gained from helping me install one.Most window companies would never do this because there is so much money made on the labor.But i was always so busy,i never felt like it was costing me money.

Eventually, i made an installation video for those homeowners who wanted to do their own windows.While the video is for sale on my website, i decided to take excerpts from the video and write an article once a week covering some part of the window replacement project.This article is going to cover the difference between window frames used in new construction homes, and the window frames that are used to replace existing aluminum or wood windows.

When a new home is being built,the windows are nailed to the wood studs that make up the house frame.In order to accomplish this, new construction windows have a fin around all four sides of the frame that rests against the outside of the stud and nails are driven into the studs through the nailing fin. After that,flashing paper is applied to prevent water leaks,then the exterior material is applied. That material can be stucco, brick, siding, etc.

Now,imagine 10 or 20 years later when you want to replace those windows. If you were going to install your replacement windows the same way the original windows were installed, you would have to remove the exterior material around each window in order to get to those nails holding the frame in there. You can see how this procedure could cause many problems, not to mention all the labor involved. I have seen homes in california with stucco exteriors where the homeowner had the stucco cut out in order to remove the old windows.The problem was they were unable to match the stucco colors after patching. Its just not a very efficient way to replace windows. So the replacement frame was designed.

In most parts of the country it's simply a new construction window frame with the nail fin removed. In the west, where stucco is a common home exterior,a retrofit frame was designed. If you're going to be replacing the exterior material on your home, then you might want to consider going with the new construction window since the nailing fins will be exposed anyway. Also, chances are that a contractor will be doing your exterior replacement,and it would be wise to let the contractor install the windows as well.Since my installation videos deal with window replacement only, these articles will focus on replacement frames and retrofit frames. Using these two frame styles,a do it yourselfer can replace their old windows without any damage to existing interior and exterior surfaces. And the job can be done using common tools such as a drill,tape measure, and caulking gun.

In next weeks article,we will discuss the replacement of wood sash windows.

John Rocco has been installing replacement windows since 1978

To learn more, visit http://www.vinylwindowsforless.com

Door At Stairs

How Do I Choose a Floor Plan for my New Kitchen?

When you first begin to plan remodeling your kitchen, all the things that have to be decided, chosen and purchased may overwhelm you. Where do you start? You may want to start by hiring a designer to help you through the process. This is probably your best bet because a good kitchen floor plan is more difficult to produce than it seems. But if this is out of the question because you have a fixed budget, then you will have to do the footwork yourself.

The new trend in homes today is to keep your home as open as possible. If this fits in with what you want, you may have a big project on your hands, but it can be done. If your kitchen is against a living area, an open bar area between the kitchen and living room helps open the space up while still keeping your kitchen as a separate room.

If you have a large enough space, one of the most useful additions to any kitchen is an island. It gives you more storage and counter space to work with. And as you design the floor plan for your kitchen, think about how much storage you currently need and what extra storage needs you may have in the future. This will help you decide which of the following floor plans fit your style.

Some of the larger floor plans are G-shaped, U-shaped and L-shaped. These are just what they sound like. Cabinets and appliances form these shapes in the space around the kitchen. There are also Galley kitchens, which are very popular in many homes, but their design can feel cramped as kitchen cabinets and appliances are lined up along opposite walls.

The rule of thumb when planning the layout is to keep your work triangle as small as possible while leaving as much open floor space as you can. The work triangle is the perimeter of the area connecting the most important areas of the kitchen: the oven, the refrigerator and the sink. This imaginary triangle serves to help you design your kitchen in a manner that will reduce work and make you more efficient by keeping everything just close enough to be convenient.

The work triangle should be no great than 26 feet and no less than 12 feet, with each leg measuring no longer than 9 feet and no less than 4 feet. You should not place your island or any other obstruction within the triangle.

Armed with this information, get started on your floor plan by deciding which floor plan you like and then measure your triangle to see if you are within the parameters. Take into consideration how much traffic flows through your kitchen and where the large traffic areas are. They should not fall within the work triangle.

A few other tips to remember: make sure your cabinets are at least 16 inches deep, keep at least 36 inches of continuous countertop space in the food preparation area, put your dishwasher close to your sink and make sure that any doors in cabinets, the refrigerator or other storage areas have plenty of clearance. While it may seem like a lot of rules to follow, it will make your kitchen more accessible and convenient when you use it.

Chris Brown is a regular contributor to Home Remodeling, Bathroom Remodeling and Kitchen Remodeling websites. Chris also takes pride in many of his own do-it-yourself projects around his own home.

Do It Yourself Home Help

Where To Find Cheap Marble Tile Flooring Materials Online

Marble is a trusted material for flooring and wall tiles, as it has always been so for centuries. Invigorating the beauty of one's home through utilizing marble tiles for flooring helps to create stunning front terraces and uniquely designed living rooms and foyers.

Today, there are a lot of marble floor tile designs, as well as online stores where consumers could choose designs, ask for advice, and purchase the tiles. Whatever the color, design, price or which store you buy them, marble floor tiles perfectly compliment a small home, as well as a large estate.

Popular Marble Tile Designs

Marble floor tiles these days have a wide offering of designs and color patterns. There are tiles that are available polished, tumbled or honed. Honed marble tiles are utilized to provide more floor traction, whereas polished tiles are used to provide a more elegant look, however they could become slippery when wet, necessitating the placing of bath mats to prevent accidents.

Tumbled marble, on the other hand, with its old-world feel and rustic look, is also becoming a popular design for homeowners.

How To Get Advice On Buying Good Marble Floor Tiles

With the proliferation of hundreds, or thousands of online stores selling marble flooring material, it would be best to seek advice from industry experts and long-time dealers and manufactures, in order for consumers to to get the best tile materials at the most affordable, and cost-effective prices.

Wherever you may be located, one good start in asking for reliable consultation and advice is the local chapter or the office of the Marble Institute of America (MIA), which is a nationwide industry association. The association's website helps consumers get advice on tile cleaning and care, installation guidelines, as well as finding reputable tile contractors and dealers nationwide.

The Floor Covering Installation Contractors Association, is also a good industry group that would assist homeowners regarding the rules and practices covering the aspects of floor covering. Another reputable organization would be the National Tile Contractors Association (NCTA). This organization is committed to improving the floor tile installation industry, as well as helping consumers have informed choices regarding tile flooring materials and installation options.

Tile Colors And Prices

Marble tiles are generally utilized for both interior and exterior flooring applications. Floor tile sizes usually range from 305 x 305 mm, 500 mm, to 800 mm free length. The tile finish could also differ from polished, gauged or beveled.

Natural stones, such as marble and limestone, have prices ranging from $5 to $20 per square foot, and are more preferred in higher-priced renovations. Glass tiles on the other hand, can range as much as $25 to $50 per square foot, depending on the design.

Among the different marble tile colors sold in stores are white, red, black, mottled and banded gray, pink and green. For each color noted, there may be some variations in the mixtures or texture, and these are mostly available at your neighborhood home dcor shops or in hardware stores online.

Marble Tile Flooring - http://tilenet.net

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Exterior Wood Built Stairs
Building A Room Addition

Foundation Repair Contractors

If your house or any part of your property experiences foundation failure, it is not a job you want to correct yourself. In order to do this properly you would have to be extensively trained and have a fast knowledge on the subject. This is not your everyday fixer upper project. Chances are to get the job done right; you are going to need to hire a professional. If you are like some people, this might make you a little uneasy. After all, how many times have you heard about contractors taking advantage of their customers? Some not so ethical contractors will charge you more than the job is worth. If you are a little uneasy calling in a professional, here are some basic guidelines for what to expect from a good foundation repair contractor.

The first thing any foundation repair contractor should do is an initial investigation and then a foundation failure report to some extent. Report will explain how severe the problem is and list the proposed repairs needed. If they are going to have to pier, they much included pier spacing and foundation lines in the reports. This takes some time. It might not be a one visit evaluation. A foundation repair contractor may have to come out, do an investigation and then present you with a formal report at a later time that will detail all the work. If you find a contractor who quotes you a price right then and there, chances are they are not a good one. Also do not be surprised if you are charged a fee for the inspection and the report. Most fees range from a few hundred to almost $1000 dollars. Make sure you ask if that fee will be deducted from the final price of the job once ordered. A qualified and ethical contractor will tell you yes. If they say no...stay away from them

Once the investigation is done and a report is ready, a reliable foundation repair contractor will go through it with you and give you the quoted price. They will also explain that quote and answer any questions you may have. If you are getting quotes by a few foundation repair contractors, bear in mind that the prices should not vary much if they are all doing the same work. This is because the materials should pretty much be the same price for all foundation repairmen. One of the possible reasons for the difference of prices between contractors is the amount of experience they have. A knowledgeable, skillful and experienced contractor might cost a little more money than one who has less experience. Keep this in mind when considering the cheapest contractor. Ask questions about their experience to help ensure you are making the best decision for you, your house and your budget.

Once all the work has been done, you should be given a report that contains all the hydraulic measurements and depths regarding the piers. This report should be saved as it will come in handy if you ever decided to sell you house.

Having foundation failure fixed is a costly project, but by following these guidelines, you will be able to find a foundation repair contractor that you are confident with. Make sure they are one who take pride in their work and are not looking for the quick buck.

For the best network of Foundation Repair Specialists check out http://www.Foundation-Repair.us

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