Wall Mounted Shampoo Dispensers - An Easier Way to Use Shampoo

Almost every one of us has probably had the annoying experience of coming across an almost empty bottle of shampoo in the shower. The situation is made more frustrating when we discover that we don't have spare shampoo anywhere in the bathroom. In order to get the last drops of shampoo out, we resort to shaking the bottle upside down for an entire minute.

If you don't want to go through such a dilemma again-especially in the mornings when you're late for work-then you should consider getting wall mounted shampoo dispensers for your bathroom. Not only do they offer convenience but they can also beautify your bathroom.

Wall vs. counter

A shampoo dispenser is basically a type of container that has a nozzle and a pump. The nozzle is where the shampoo comes out, while the pump is used to extract the liquid inside. If you go to your nearest bath store, you will see two types of shampoo dispensers - the first one being the wall mounted shampoo dispensers, while the second one are the ones that you can simply place on your counter.

A dispenser that can be mounted on the wall is usually the better choice. When it comes to usage, it tends to be more convenient since the container is already upside down and you don't have turn it anymore. Wall mounted shampoo dispensers also tend to stay in the same place. So if you have members in your family who tend to pick up things only to put them back in a different location, then the wall mounted dispenser is definitely for you.

See through the bottle

Whatever type of dispenser you choose to buy, it is generally advisable to go for a transparent container. Seeing through to the contents of the dispenser will alert you when the container needs refilling.

Important information

Complete information on wall-mounted shampoo dispensers is available at PickyGuide, the authority in free consumer advice. Access top-ranked, best-reviewed, and most competitively priced shampoo dispensers in PickyGuide's recommended products section.

Build Your Own Generator From Scratch

There is no better feeling in the world than becoming 100% energy independent, especially if you've set up your home energy system by yourself from scratch. It's definitely worth making a choice to convert now, as electricity prices and dependence is only going upwards. This article gives you an overview home made electricity, and how to start to build your own generator from materials available at your local hardware store.

First things first, you need to understand just how much better life can be after converting to self generated power. You won't be affected my fluctuations in the energy market, you won't be affected by blackouts during storms, you won't have to pay energy bills (or at least they'll be significantly reduced), and best of all, if you build your own system, you won't have to fork out thousands for installation!

In my experience, the best 2 systems are solar and wind generators. Depending on the climate where you live, you can focus mainly on one of these systems, or both. I'd recommend both. Despite what you might be lead to believe, building and installing one or more of these babies is relatively simple if you've got the motivation, and/or some good help.

Projects can naturally start small, but grow quickly. After one weekend you can realistically expect to be running one household appliance off a solar panel that costs less than US$200 to build. That means that you can be saving money and emissions in only one weekend! You can save even more money faster if you get the help of a friend.

Like all Do-It-Yourself projects, you want to make sure that you have the best blueprints and advice. You can buy appropriate books and material at your local hardware store, or even easier yet (and cheaper), you can get a full home energy blueprint from the internet, instantly. These packages often come with all the knowledge and schematics on how to build a generator, and also constant updates on new technologies. This makes it even better value.

To see the best way to set up a free energy generator in your home, go to this Renewable Energy Systems website now for more information about how to build your own generator

Bathroom Pebble Tiles - Quick & Surprising Details!

By using Bathroom Pebble Tiles remodeling you get an excellent opportunity to bring nature into your home design. If you want to provide your home interior or exterior a natural look, no doubt that these nature-made panels can help you get there. If you feel that you want to remodel your home's interior/exterior by yourself - read the following review.

Some background

Before you plan on using this tiling method it is important to understand how it works - Bathroom Pebble Tiles redecoration is created by assembling together identical smooth stones glued onto a 12" x 12" mesh back. We may find that these panels are made of stones originated from various beaches and rivers from all over the world - mostly from S. East Asia. This tiling technique enables you to easily redecorate anywhere in the inside & the outside: Floors, walls, kitchens, bathrooms, showers, swimming pools, patio flooring, and much more.

Main benefits

Let's quickly summarize the main advantages and benefits of this unique technique:

* Durable to most common home detergents.

* Easily installed over existing surfaces such as old ceramics or plain concrete.

* Easily adjusted to almost any surface size especially when it comes to tiling around taps and small narrow areas.

Looking for useful tips?

* In order to maintain these natural stones properly, it is recommended to apply sealants every two to three years.

* To appreciate the beauty of these 'Nature-Made' panels, it is recommended on removing the excess grout with a wet sponge. After all, you want to expose as much of the stones as possible.

* Using grout should be handled carefully so it is recommended to grout a small area at a time.

There are plenty other great benefits provided by this quick redesigning option simply because you quickly discover the wide variety and opportunities provided by these natural panels.

Final words

Installation process of this unique Bathroom Pebble Tiles technique takes no more than just few hours (pending the size of the surface you are about to cover), not including drying time. It is advised to keep these tips and advices as you are ready to begin with the installation process.

Get creative! - Learn more about how you can easily decorate any surface at home or in the office with Bathroom Pebble Tiles.

Visit: http://www.homepebbletiles.com

The "Seven Deadly Sins" Home Buyers Commit

Buying a Home can sometimes seem to be a daunting task, filled with details and pitfalls. It's hard to remember everything as you are going through the process, but if you can avoid the following seven common mistakes you will come out way ahead.

1) Not Getting Pre-Qualified

This is the step you take before you even start looking at homes, and it will make your life so much easier. Start your home search by visiting a lender. They will ask specific questions about your income, bank accounts, debt, etc. and will help you determine how much home you can afford to buy. Stick within the limits they set for you and you will be much happier in future years. Their guidance is an important first step on the path to home ownership.

2) Thinking There is Only One Perfect Home For You

Buying a home is usually a process of elimination. You have a list of "must haves" and "want to haves", and "definitely don't wants". There are a limited number of homes currently for sale in the area you have chosen. Often times you can't get everything you want in one home, so you must trade-off and balance some of these "haves", "wants", and "don't wants".

New properties come on the market every day, so try to be flexible and open to new possibilities. By eliminating the homes that don't work, you get down to picking the best of the "possibles". Don't worry, you often end up finding a house that is just right for you, and you'll know it the minute you walk in.

3) Not Knowing the Total Costs Involved

When you find homes you like, ask your lender for an estimate of closing costs. This should include Title Company fees, Pre-paid expenses like taxes, insurance and pro-rated mortgage interest. Attorney fees and Homeowners Association dues may also need to be taken into account. Examine this Estimate closely and make sure you understand where each cost is coming from and whether it will be an ongoing cost after you own the home, or a one-time fee. Check the actual Closing cost statement at settlement to make sure there are no surprises.

4) Not Having a Home Inspection

Some buyers try to save a few bucks by not having a whole house inspection or by doing it themselves. Saving money today this way could end up costing you thousands in the future.

Get a qualified Home Inspector to go over the entire house, inside and out, basement and attic. His report will call out all deficiencies and suggest repairs and further action. The findings in the report may also give you leverage you can use in the negotiations with the seller.

5) Not Considering Long Term Needs

It is important to think ahead. Is your family growing? You may need more home 3-5 years from now. That "cute breakfast nook" of today will not be so cute when six people are bumping knees trying to squeeze into it. Will this home suit you in the future, or will you grow out of it.

6) Not Following Through on Due Diligence

Make a list of non-house related issues - Schools, crime rates, neighbors, traffic, power lines, new development in the area, environmental issues, etc. Ask these questions before you make any offer on a home. By getting these answers now, you'll have more confidence in your home purchase.

7) Not Buying a Home Protection Plan

This is an inexpensive short term insurance policy on the home, usually covering appliances and basic repairs for one year. It can be purchased for a small fee and will give you peace of mind about that dishwasher or water heater going bad just three weeks after you move in - every home buyers nightmare. Talk to your Realtor, they can recommend a good plan.

If you can avoid the seven common mistakes above, you'll be miles ahead, and can have peace of mind that you are making a solid, well thought out decision about the purchase of your next home. What's the old saying....."An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure"? Never has it been so true as in the home buying process.

Vicki Walker is a Realtor with Coldwell Banker in Davis, California. Her clients buy and sell Davis CA Real Estate and Homes She has been a Yolo County Realtor for over 12 years and enjoys writing articles about the business of Real Estate.

Choosing Your New Bathtub

Are you a homeowner? If so, if you are given the option to change one thing about your bathroom, what would you choose? If you are similar to many other homeowners, there is a high possibility that the bathtub was your answer. In the United States, there are a rather large number of homeowners who wish that they had a new bathtub. If you are among those individuals, the good news is you don't have to wish any longer? If you want a new bathtub, you should get one. Making a new bathtub part of your bathroom remodeling project isn't as hard as it may appear.

Perhaps, the first step in selecting your new bathtub is deciding on the amount of money set aside for your budget. In addition, if you are remodeling your entire bathroom, it is important that you not make the cost of a new bathtub your only focus, but also the cost of your other supplies. If you mistakenly overspent on a new bathtub, it could affect the rest of your bathroom remodeling plans. Furthermore, you will probably discover that setting a bathtub limit or budget is the best method to cut down on shopping time. Having in mind the amount of money that would be consider overspent will prevent you from wasting your time, by examining bathtubs that you are unable to afford.

It is also a fine idea to decide, ahead of time, how you would like to have your new bathtub installed. If you have plans to hire a professional to install your new bathtub, you will need to be aware of the extra costs. Even though you might want to avoid paying a professional contractor, you may need to. There are several bathroom contractors who specialize in replacing bathtubs. In fact, some, literally, just place a new bathtub right over the old one. It may be feasible for you to do this yourself, but, in most cases, you will discover that a professional contractor would take as little as a few hours to install your new bathtub.

Regardless of whether your choice is to install your own bathtub or hire a professional to do it for you, you will have to find a new bathtub to purchase. If you are planning to have your old bathtub completely removed, you will probably discover that you have more options. When a new bathtub replaces an old bathtub, the tubs need to be somewhat similar in size or style. Hence, if you are remodeling your bathroom with the expectations of getting a "new," bathroom, you may be searching for something different. Fortunately for you, you still have a limitless number of options.

In the United States, the most regularly installed bathtubs types consist of traditional ones, which are also known as standard tubs. These bathtubs are frequently connected directly to the wall, positioned in a corner, and sit right on the floor. One of the good points about the majority of traditional bathtubs is the comparatively affordable price. You can buy a traditional bathtub for as low as two hundred dollars. If comfort is your concern, instead of price, you may want to consider spa-like bathtubs or even massage bathtubs. These bathtubs, as you may guess, are more expensive than most others. Several massage bathtubs or spa-like bath tubs go for around one or two thousand dollars. If you are searching for a trendy, stylish bathtub, you may fancy owning a freestanding bathtub. You can get a freestanding bathtub from as low as five hundred dollars, but it can also reach into the thousands.

Once you have made the decision of purchasing a bathtub that suits your preference, you will need to settle on on a particular tub. Perhaps, shopping is the greatest way to accomplish this. You may find it simpler to decide when you are able to view the bathtub displays set up. For an extensive range of bathtubs, consisting of displays, you are recommended to checkout one of your local home improvement stores.

Did you find those tips on bathroom remodeling useful? You can learn a lot more about bathroom remodeling by visiting http://home-remodeling.homeimprovementnewbie.com/.

The author of this article is Shin who is the webmaster of the site http://www.homeimprovementnewbie.com/ where he provides tips on home improvement.

Shower Curtains - Selecting the Perfect One For Your Home

Shower curtains are not usually one of the major decisions a homeowner spends much time considering before buying. The consideration and purchase of a shower curtain, however is not something that should be done without the proper attention. There are many things that should be taken into consideration. Cost, material and durability are just three items to think about before your purchase. All of these will help you achieve the appearance and impression you are hoping for.

When planning to buy your shower curtain it is important to think about the "look" you are attempting. This may be casual, formal, playful, tailored or un-tailored. Is it going to be hung in a child's bathroom? Perhaps it is for a master or guest bath. Will the shower curtain be where visitors will be seeing it? Is it in a bathroom that is used daily or perhaps just once in a while? All these instances should give you an idea of what type of material would suit the spot best. Shower curtains made of cotton or linen give the appearance of elegance. They are usually more full and flowing and therefore are a bit more formal than a vinyl or plastic curtain. Perhaps you want a clean, simple look in which case your "shower curtain" should actually be a glass door.

Durability and the resistance to mold and mildew are often a deciding factor when choosing the right shower curtain. This is where the amount of use a bathroom shower gets is crucial. While the fabric curtains are beautiful to look at, they may not be practical for long term, every day use. It is difficult to let a full and luscious shower curtain to air out and dry properly between each use. This means that mold and mildew will grow and multiply easily and abundantly. Vinyl and plastic shower curtains are less likely to have mildew grow on them and, if it does, cleaning is a snap. Many homeowners get the best of both worlds by hanging a vinyl shower curtain behind their more decorative fabric curtain. A fairly new fabric on the market is hemp. Hemp is a good choice because the heavy fabric is made from plant fiber, like linen or cotton. Hemp however is naturally antibacterial and antifungal, so it repels mold and mildew. For the environmentally conscious, hemp often grows organically and gets colored with natural dyes. These shower curtains remain durable after many cycles of wash and usually don't need a vinyl liner underneath. Of course a glass door is extremely durable and easy to keep clean.

The cost of your shower curtain is dependent on which type you choose. The vinyl or plastic curtains are the most inexpensive. The fabric curtains vary greatly. You can find many that are rather cheap or have one custom made by drapery seamstress. Hemp is a relative inexpensive alternative. Glass doors are usually the most expensive.

Whatever look and feel you are attempting to pull off in your bathroom, you can achieve it by giving some thought to your shower curtain. Consider the cost, durability and material. Ask the salesperson for any advice she can offer. Take your time so you are pleased with the final decision. In the end, you will be glad you did.

Chuck R Stewart recently purchased a new shower curtain for his new condominium. He was amazed by the selections available for entire sets of shower curtains that could outfit each bathroom of his home.

Wind Generator and Produce Electricity

An average American household consumes 920kWh of electricity a month. With the rising trend of energy cost, you are likely to pay much more for your power bills in the next few years. So why not make a home wind generator and start to produce your own electricity supply?

The idea of using wind generators to produce electricity is not a new one. Although initially only huge turbines are manufactured and run to produce electricity for industries and remote areas, there are now small generator units that are designed for the average home. Even more recently, you can make one from home easily and at a much lower cost.

Instead of spending thousands of dollars to purchase a factory produced wind generator, many average income households are learning to make one from home. This involves obtaining a set of building instructions and using simple materials to construct the wind energy system. All in all, the cost of making your own generator rings out less than $200 in most cases.

The Internet is filled with numerous websites showing you the exact steps to make the wind generator. These resources are mostly free but are geared towards individuals who are technically trained and understand technical jargons and drawings.

For the less technically-inclined person, there are professional starter kits available that will help guide you to make a home wind generator easily. Most of these manuals are well-written and include videos and pictures to make things simple for you.

But there are many skeptics who question whether such kits can really help you make a wind generator from home. Thousands of people around the world have already made their wind-electricity units just by using a DIY kit and are already producing their own electricity.

Now if that is not enough proof that you can make a home wind generator with the help of a DIY kit, then you sure are missing out on a pot of gold.

Home wind generators are meant to help you save money, so start saving today! Get the most popular wind power kit and be the first in your neighborhood to learn how to make a home wind generator.

Who knows, you might turn out to be the wind energy expert in your town someday!

Modern Conveniences Are a Must in Today's Public Restrooms

When you are in the everyday bathroom at school, work, or out in public, there are a few modern devices that you will find in the bathroom. The modern hand dryer is one. Toilet paper dispensers are another, and Micro fiber cleaning cloths are sometimes used to clean your everyday bathroom. The benefit of having these modern devices in your public bathrooms is that it makes everything easier. The task of using the restroom becomes a lot simpler and much more comfortable.

Hand dryers are not only a modern device, but they also help the environment. Hand dryers eliminate the use of paper towels. They also include a lot less effort in using them. All you have to do is run your hands under the dryer for a minute and your hands are dry with a simple motion. Some hand dryers have become revolutionary and new like the "Excelerator". This hand dryer is found commonly in many relatively new movie theaters and malls. The hand dryer uses excessive force when drying your hands so that your hands become very dry in a short amount of time.

Toilet paper dispensers are a modern device that we have seen frequently in many bathrooms for years. The dispensers eliminate the hassle of having to unroll a roll of toilet paper. They also eliminate the sanitary issue by not being out in the open, but in an enclosed case. Toilet paper dispensers are also helpful to a restroom user because they include space for more than one roll. This makes the janitor's job in the restroom easier as well.

Micro fiber cleaning cloths are a revolutionary new tool used for cleaning bathrooms, cars, kitchen counters; virtually anything. The Micro fiber cloths soak up more liquid than a regular cloth, and reduce the use of paper towels. The Micro fiber is easily washable and is inexpensive as well. The micro fiber cloths that I use in my home for dusting work easily with a spray form of wood polish. The cloths make it easy and affordable to keep the items in your house looking clean and new.

New bathroom appliances and devices are being created for restroom use all of the time. The ones that we use now are overlooked by the general public and disregarded as nothing new. Without these few devices, public restrooms would be more disgusting and dirty than they are now. Thankfully, hand dryers, toilet paper dispensers, and Micro fiber cloths make using the restroom a whole lot simpler.

Another good thing about hand dryers, micro fiber towels and toilet paper dispensers is that they are simple to make and operate. With the downfall of the economy today, our manufacturers need an easy to make, sell, and buy product. All of these bathroom appliances are easy to make, easy to operate, and simple to purchase for your place of business. On the internet you find most anything you need. With just a little searching, you can purchase hand dryers, micro fiber towels, or toilet paper dispensers today!

An interior designer can help you find the right Hand Dryers as well as Toilet Paper Dispensers for your workplace or business public restroom area.

Flip That House With Cheap Fixes

Perhaps you have been watching those shows that tell you how to flip that house, but you don't have the tens of thousands of dollars they seem to inevitably spend. What can you do that is fast and cheap to increase the appeal and selling price of a home? Here are six cheap fixes to give you some ideas.

1. Mailbox

While you can't get a great price with major problems, buyers will excuse minor ones if they have already fallen in love with the house. That means you better make a good first impression. The first thing they'll likely see is the mailbox. Install a new one with a few flowers around it. This will cost you less than fifty dollars.

2. Front Yard Landscaping

Another fast and cheap way to a great first impression is to clean the front yard, mow the lawn, trim the trees, throw some grass seed on any bare spots if you have time, and plant a few flowers. Neat, clean and green is the idea. Do this part yourself and you'll be surprised how far a hundred dollars can go.

3. Clean The House Outside

It is amazing how often the front of a house is dirty - even when the home is for sale. If you want to flip that house fast, make it look good! Power-wash it if necessary, and make sure there are no stains on the the front wall nor leaves hanging from the gutters. Shine up any doorknobs or other metal fixtures. This step might cost you nothing but your time, but less than $100 in any case.

4. Stage The House

A house that is empty never feels or looks quite right. Now, it's true that some people can easily imagine what their furniture will look like in those rooms, but not all of us are so good at such visualization. Make it easy on those buyers by having some tables, couches, chairs, and even a few paintings on the walls. If you really want to keep this part cheap and you have nice things at home, borrow them!

5. Use A House Inspection Checklist

It is not only embarrassing to be standing their with a buyer explaining why the toilet doesn't flush, but it is little things like that which can lose a sale. Have a list of things you would check if you were buying a home, and go through your house with it, testing everything, and looking at every room as objectively as possible. Better yet, have a good friend do this for you as though he was interested in the home.

6. Make High-Return Improvements

Repairs have to be done, but many changes are debatable. Should you replace the perfectly good but somewhat ugly carpeting? Maybe. Paint the rooms? Think of the over-all look of the house if you make a set of changes, and do your best to estimate how much they will add to the sale's price. They should add double or more what they cost.

There are often opportunities for improvements with much higher returns. A friend of mine once spent about $1,500 and increased the home's value by about $8,000. How? The basement had big windows, so he added two walls in a corner, along with a cheap paint job and a piece of carpeting to create a bedroom. If you want to flip that house for big profits with little investment in time and money, get creative and look hard for opportunities like this.

Copyright Steve Gillman. For more on how to Flip A House, go now and subscribe to the free 'Fix and Flip' course at: http://www.TipsForFlippingAHouse.com

Important Facts on the Electrical Wire Log Homes

Electrical wiring for a new log home is always a thing that worries owners. As wood is organic it can easily get burned and so a perfect kind of electrical wiring is needed for a material like wood. The electrician performs his main task once the dry-in phase of construction is complete. The electrician should be contracted and he also should be consulted early in the construction process to approve and supervise wiring in the second floor system, roof system, and in the log wall system. All the wiring practices are to be approved by and supervised by your electrician.

In order to wire the outlet boxes many holes would be needed and so they should be drilled and this is to be done when your log erection crew is installing the logs and not later than that. The construction crew will want to mark the location of the holes when they drill these holes on the sub floor. You need to make sure the drilled holes go all the way through the sub floor. The outlet box holes are to be cut then.

A very good way to notch out an outlet box is something you should know about. That is to mark the outline of the box on the log wall, using the actual box as the pattern. Then you would need to drill a series of 1-inch to 1-1/2-inch holes within the perimeter of that outline using a butterfly bit or hole-saw bit. Cleaning the holes is to be done with a chisel. Then plunge the wiring hole to remove chips and sawdust with a stiff piece of wire. The dry in process is to see the holes being drilled and the outlet boxes being cut.

The wires need to be drilled through the rafter or rather the ridge beam when it comes to light fixtures and these wires should hang directly underneath the rafter. A block of wood is needed for rafters that run at an angle to mount to the bottom of the rafter. Even this block is to be cut at the angle of the roof pitch. This is done in order to create a bottom flat surface that is level with the house floor. At the bottom of the block is where the light should be mounted.

When it comes to the wiring for cable and phone lines as well as burglar alarms and so on you would need to consider the process of the wiring before and throughout the construction process and wiring runs coordinated with your electrician. All this wiring is normally run under the sub floor with legs branching upwards at windows or the doors, stud walls etc.

Wiring to overhead lights under a the roof system can run from under the sub floor, up through exterior door jambs and for that you would need to drill through logs above doorway, or interior stud walls, or over the top of the roof decking to the proper location, then down through drilled holes to the light fixture location.

Check out Christi Sealey's website. It will provide you with easy to understand information on building or buying your own Log Home or Log Cabin. Check it out at Your Log Home Guide. Don't make the same mistakes others have made that cost them big!

Mold in Your Attic? What Every Homeowner Should Know About Bathroom Fans and Attic Ventilation

Attic ventilation is a critical component to maintaining even temperatures in your attic all year long. In the summer it saves on the life of your shingles by keeping the boards cooler and decreases your cooling costs in the winter weather by diminishing the temperature difference which in turn prevents moisture build up in the form of condensation. Did you know that having a proper amount of attic ventilation is even required to enforce the warranty of most shingle manufacturers?? When it comes to mold the most import ventilation concerns occur in the winter. In the winter during the coldest months as we run our furnaces, hot air escapes into the cold unheated attic space. When the escaping hot air emerges into the cold attic it rises as heat always does. It seeks out the highest portions of the attic where it then coalesces against the cold boards of the roof. This hot- air-mass-meets-cold-surface phenomena results in a condition known as dew point, which creates moisture in the form of water droplets and ice crystals. The nails themselves also will contribute to this moisture problem as iron is a good conductor of temperature and will readily convey the biting chill of cold winter air directly inside the attic. The evidence of this, can be seen in the form of drips and of drip spots underneath the nails themselves.

Bathroom fans vented directly into the attic or Soffet areas rather than straight through the roof are also to blame for exacerbated moisture problems which lead to mold, wood- rot and health problems. The more adults showering in the house and the longer the showers the more moisture will enter an attic. In fact in some families the bathroom fans alone are the sole culprit responsible for major mold infestations!

If you want to eliminate attic mold permanently you NEED to get EQUAL amounts of Intake Air and Exhaust or Out-take Air into your Attic!

Building scientists have proven that using a balanced ventilation system that utilizes equal amounts incoming and out going air. Incoming air comes in from under the eves through vents cut in the underside of the roof overhangs which are called soffets. Proper soffet ventilation is essential to large amounts of incoming air needed for intake. Many attics were originally vented properly but have become packed with insulation along the way by an over-zealous insulation contractor or homeowner, in an attempt to actually stop air from coming in, sadly a common mistake. This mistake was very common in the 80's and 90's. There are two basic types of Soffet vents: either a contiguous vent or a individual vents which come in round and square varieties. I generally prefer to use 6 inch by 12 inch square vents because of the ease of installation and the low material cost. They work surprisingly well and offer a lot of surface area. They can be purchased easily in brown white and silver to match virtually any siding.

Out-take air, exhaust air ventilation can take 4 basic forms: Gable end vents, ridge vents, box vents or power vents. Of the four the ridge vent is to be preferred, due to its location at the highest point of the attic, namely the ridge. Because heat always rises it is passively efficient at exhausting large amounts of heated air without the use of electricity. Be sure to select a ridge vent without a complicated filter which can become clogged; I prefer the simple metal designs for their simplistic efficient design and operation. Box vents while older and more dated can be efficient if there is a sufficient number of them located across the surface. If your attic already has square, can, or box type vents but not enough of them, it can be a less expensive solution to an inadequate exhaust air problem. The reason is simple they are cheap and easy to install and like the square intake vents can be easily purchased in several colors to match any shingle. If you have a hip roof there may be insufficient ridge length to allow for sufficient out-take; box vents can be an ideal solution for this problem. Powered vents work well, but are dependent upon electricity for operation. This both costs money and is subject to wear and tear of moving parts. Additionally in the event of power outages can leave the attic over heated, for these reasons the author does not recommend them.

Beware of mixing two different kinds of ventilation!!!

By far one of the most common, and the most troubling ventilation mistakes is the mixed use of two completely different ventilation systems. For example mixing a ridge vent with a box vent or a previously installed power vent or gable end vents. What goes wrong is this: air always follows the path of least resistance and looks for the nearest opening , often the ridge will draft air from the box vents and short circuit the entire exhaust air systems, eliminating any chance of correcting the water/moisture issues. It can also bring unwanted weather snow debris etc into the attic because box vents and gable end vents were not meant to be intake vents, which can cause tremendous damage! So remember don't mix two ventilation systems pick one and stick with it ensuring there is enough of whatever vent system you choose.

Is correcting my ventilation a cure for a mold problem in my attic?

Sadly NO, it is not a cure for mold but just for ventilation problems which create moisture issues. No matter who installs your ventilation system in the winter if you are running supplemental heat in your home your attic will be subject to some moisture from time to time during the coldest days. For this reason and several others it is a must to actually treat the mold with a system designed to remove it completely without leaving behind mold or poisonous heavy metals paints and chemicals that can make your family sick. Even dead mold can still affect your health and make your family sick. It is also a good idea to hire a mold contractor with a ventilation expert on staff, because hiring a roofing contractor and a mold contractor is always more expensive!

Did you know most contractors use toxic chemicals to kill mold which may contains carcinogens which are cancer causing agents?

In fact ,sadly, I have seen many many attic projects fail after so-called "professional treatments" :( ! That's why we train other contractors from around the world in the efficient removal of mold using family-safe all natural products that are absolutely lethal to mold. For detailed diagrams and photos of ventilation projects feel free to visit us or call us directly!

Charles Boday CMI, CMRC, CMLCC

http://www.safemoldsolutions.com

http://www.superdrybasement.com

Call Direct 1-800-948-4947

Charles Boday is a Certified Mold Inspector and a Certified Mold Contractor, and he is a graduate of the Certified Mold Inspector & Contractors Institute. He is also a member of the National Association of Mold Professionals He is also a certified Environmental Inspector. He is also a Certified Crystal Meth Lab Clean Up Contractor. He has extensive experience reviewing and investigating toxic type cases for law offices prior to the attorneys taking on cases for litigation. He has worked with some of the countries top scientists seeking alternative poison-free mold remediation techniques. He is state certified to teach the realtors' continuing education course" Toxic Mold! What every realtor should know!" and is the author of the same. He is also a Certified Crystal Meth Lab Clean up contractor. He routinely works for Fanny Mae as well as many other top lenders like HSBC Household First Merit etc. repairing extreme mold damaged foreclosed properties.

He is also an experienced foundation waterproofer and structural repair analyst. He has developed multiple proprietary waterproofing techniques for both interior as well as exterior foundation systems. He has testified as an expert foundation witness and is the Author of the books: The Ultra Dry Basement: understanding and correcting foundation water problems and Ultra Bond Construction Techniques.

Linking Areas of the Home With a Dumbwaiter

There are many reasons that people choose to install a dumbwaiter in their home. Sometimes it is installed by the home builder as the home is being built. This can help to increase the value of the home and its appeal to potential buyers. Other times, the homeowner will decide to install a dumbwaiter into their home after it is built.

There are many advantages to having a dumbwaiter in the home. These devices help make it much easier to do the many chores around the home. For instance, bring groceries up from the garage, is much easier when you can simply load up the dumbwaiter car and push a button. They can also make it much easier to bring laundry to and from the laundry room. These devices can also make it much easier for caretakers who need to bring food or supplies upstairs on a regular basis.

There are several popular kits that are used today to allow a homeowner to retro-fit a dumbwaiter with ease. The electric dumbwaiter is the most common type used, but some people prefer a manual dumbwaiter instead. The disadvantage of a manual dumbwaiter is that it will only be able to support less weight than an electric dumbwaiter. Also since you must use your own power to raise or lower it, they can be rather unpractical.

When installing an electric dumbwaiter, it is necessary to do some planning first. Usually the car of the dumbwaiter, which is the part that holds the goods as they are moved between floors, takes up about two feet by two feet of space. This means you will need a vertical shaft between floors that is about 4 feet squared. This is one reason that it is easier to install the dumbwaiter as the home is being built.

In retro-fit situations finding a space can be an issue, but usually most homes have an area that will work. The car can be configured so that the door opens on different sides, so this means you could configure it to open on one side in the kitchen and a different side upstairs. This increases the flexibility of the device. Often if all else fails, a closet can usually be converted to hold the dumbwaiter.

A track is used to keep an electric dumbwaiter and the car moves along the track. Most tracks are designed so that they can be installed into a wood framed home. The track comes in sections and can be slid together. This makes it much easier and more manageable to install the track.

Some dumbwaiters are in large part already assembled. The cable drive system is already installed along with the car on a short section of track. This piece will be placed at the top of the shaft, then after the track is attached to the shaft, there is little left to the installation. Since the installation is simpler and takes less time, it will in turn cost less to install.

There are many people that choose to install a dumbwaiter in their home. These lifts make it much easier to take care of tasks around the home.

Sean is knowledgable about mobility lifting aids, like the dumbwaiter Several kits are available, such as the AmeriGlide Express, which are intended to be installed quickly and easily. A large part of this lift is actually already assembled, so that the installation can be quicker and easier. This will not only save money, but also time, because the lift can be up and running in only a few hours.

Stair lifts, another type of mobility aid are also very popular. These devices install onto a staircase and move a person along the staircase, so the risk of a fall can be reduced. In many cases, homeowners find that a stair lift ends up being much less expensive and easier to install than an elevator would be. The AmeriGlide Express actually uses the incredibly durable motor found in a stair lift This motor has been extensively tested, with a simulated 16 years of usage, and showed only a little wear, so it will provide many years of dedicated service.

Shop Online For Your Decorative Mirror

The installation of a decorative mirror on the interior of your home can bring about a new atmosphere if you want to do away with the lifeless look that lingers in your dwelling like a fog.

Because there can be hundreds of a variety of decorative mirrors in furniture shops in your area, finding and selecting the right one might require time unless you are able to find alternative ways to simplify and speed up the process. Thanks to technology and the online shops, your dilemma is solved.

Online shopping for a decorative mirror for you home can bring about certain benefits and advantages than by going from one furniture shop to another on foot. For starters, you can shop for that mirror without leaving the portals of your home or even while you are at work in your office. What you just need is a credit card to purchase the item. You can have it delivered right to your doorstep. Simple, isn't it?

When looking for a decorative mirror, you need not spend much of your time looking for the designs that will fit your home. Many of these items are put on display and showcased in numerous furniture shops on the net. You can easily view one design to another without leaving where you are. Also, through this, you can easily make comparisons in terms of price and quality.

Quality should always be the prime consideration when shopping for a decorative mirror on the net. In fact, there are many of these which are discounted already and are on showcase on the internet. However, the procurement of one basing only the price would not necessarily mean a flourishing makeover for your home.

Window shopping can also work when you plan to purchase a decorative mirror online. You need to have an idea on the design, shape, size and the theme of the mirror you find on the net. Then, visualize it as part of your home's interior. Does it fit well? Does it bring out the best of your home? Consider the interior design of your home as well as the other furniture you have. Make sure they blend in with your new mirror. You might as well determine and plan out the theme of your home or what you want it to have. Make it as a reference for your purchase. Decorative mirrors can be sold in various designs and styles. Some can be contemporary and modern. Others can be traditional or are country-specific designed. Some decorative mirrors, even they sport a typical theme, may also suit well with any modern or antique abode.

You have to remember that planning is vital to the success of your decorative mirror purchase. Take time for your assessment. Check the current look of your home and picture how you would want it to look after the project. By this, you can already have an idea on what and how your decorative mirror looks like. Then, check it online to see if shops have what you have in mind.

Eliza Maledevic Ayson writes for Jump2top.com - SEO Company

History of Journaling

A vital part of any writing endeavor is to use a journal to generate ideas for future writing projects. Journaling is an active learning process and it helps us center our thoughts to give them meaning when before they were just swimming aimlessly in our heads. Journaling also gives us a place to record our observations and our memories before life gets too fast for us to remember the small moments which brought us joy once upon a time. The reasoning for recording writing in a notebook is not new. Long before creative writing classes and the use of journals in these classes, field notebooks or logs were vital tools for scientists performing their observations in biology, sociology, and anthropology. In social work and in nursing, journals were also used during internships to record personal growth and learner observations.

Recordings in journals can be traced back to 56 AD China, while in the Western world, journaling became a common practice during the Renaissance when the image of the self became important. In tenth century Japan, ladies of the court used pillow books (so named because they were kept in the bedroom or between the drawers of wooden pillows) to record their dreams and thoughts via poetry and images. Travelers in both the East and West used journals to record their journeys, although Eastern writers integrated more images and poetry into their entries, than Western explorers who stated the facts and details of the places and people they encountered. British sea explorers, such as James Cook and William Bligh, whose logs were later published, recorded their observations, gave an accurate record of events for their chain of command, and recorded significant navigational insights for other naval captains.

Samuel Pepys, who wrote his famous diary from 1660 to 1669, is generally thought to be the first diarist. Not only did he examine current events, he had access to many of these events since he was a high-ranking civil official. He used generous details when describing the people he met and also sought to remedy his past sins by writing about how he could have done things differently. In Europe and America during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, diaries were published in record numbers and writers influenced by the Romantic age and individualism recorded their reflections and feelings.

By the late 1960s and early 1970s, journals became vital tools in process writing classes for recording freewrites, brainstorming notes, and notes on research and topic construction. Outside of the writing classroom, journaling is also used to gain knowledge on spiritual quests, while a large number of women use journals to record their thoughts, feelings and observations and to write against and through their Inner Critic. Journaling is also a vital tool in psychotherapy, so that patients can record their thoughts prior to their appointments, and thus speed up their treatment time.

Many times journaling focuses people who are working on a problem and need the space to develop their thoughts. Writer and teacher Ken Macrorie likens a journal to a "seedbed" that needs watering and time to develop into a mature piece of work. He claims, "Keeping a journal forces a writer to put something into the sock every day or so. Often when he reviews what is there, he sees materials that fit together and build." Toby Fulwiler, another professional writer and scholar, states that a journal lays in the middle of the continuum between a diary and a notebook you would keep for a class. He states that the language in a journal should be kept informal and that the writer needs to use first person, so that she is personally reflecting on an issue, and not using other sources that would distance her from the material. Fulwiler also lists that a "good" journal should contain observations, questions (and more questions than answers), speculation, self-awareness, digression, synthesis, revision, and information. In addition, the writer should make frequent entries, and these entries should take some space on the page so that more thoughts and speculations can be captured.

Today we have journals to record our vacations, our dreams, and our goals. Like the journals of history, we should think of our journals as a way for future generations to see what we were struggling with at the time and to know that their dilemmas are not too far removed from ours.

AV Osborn is a poet, writing instructor, award-winning essayist, published web writer, and creative nonfiction workshop leader. She is also a board member of Carolina Wren Press in Durham, NC and a freelance PR/editor. In North Carolina State's MA English program, Alice is currently working on her master's thesis -- a hybrid first-year creative nonfiction curriculum combining rhetoric and cultural studies. She grew up in the Washington, DC area, lived several years in the Lowcountry of South Carolina, and now lives in Raleigh, NC with her husband and young son. Visit her web site at http://www.aliceosborn.com

Attic Odors - Home Repair Tips

If you've ever opened up your attic access hole, only to find one of the worst odors you have ever smelled in your whole life, I've been there too. What causes these horrible smells and what can you do about them?

Let's start with the cause of these smells, moisture, dirt, mold, mildew, dead animals, animals that make their home in your attic and the biggest problem of all is normally poor ventilation.

Poor ventilation is the biggest problem with musty smells in the attic. These smells are often caused from moisture accumulating in the building materials over time. If there is enough moisture in the attic, the wood will start to rot but this wouldn't be a normal situation, unless there was a roof or water leak.

Roof leaks can cause a constant supply of water to one part of the attic. This constant supply of water will eventually rot the wood and damage the ceiling. Water leaks from pipes can provide a steady supply of water and the situation can attracts termites and mold. Not a good thing.

One of the worst possible smells or odors in your attic would be a dead animal. Don't under estimate the size of some of these animals, they have found dead raccoons, cats, snakes, large birds, squirrels, rats and mice in some attics. These animals usually enter through damaged access holes or vent blocks, roof vents, large gaps, holes and even fireplace chimneys.

Once these animals die, their bodies start to decompose and produce one horrible odor. Once the body is completely decomposed, the smell usually goes away if the attic is ventilated properly. These smells can seep into the homes living area, often creating a room that no one wants to enter.

Home peststhat make their home in your attics, often create smells from urinating and defecating in the areas around their nest. Large birds like owls can become a problem over time.

Now that we've figured out some of the causes for attic odors and strange smells, what can we do to prevent this from happening and if it's already happened, how can we get rid of the smell.

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

If your having problems in your attic, find out more at pest control books and home building ideas

Bathroom Accessories For the Modern Bathroom

If you have a modern looking bathroom then it's a necessity to have small accessories scattered around the room to give it a livelier feel and mood. Having too many accessories can over do it so using them where necessary such as taking the eyes of visitors off a less attractive part of the bathroom is always a good idea.

Having accessories such as towel holders and bathroom mats extinguish the simplistic bathroom effect while still providing the space needed for other objects and accessories. It's essential to keep accessories and storage to a minimum size as it will cramp the bathroom size and it won't receive the style and fresh look your bathroom truly deserves! The main purpose of multiple accessories is the organisation of someone's bathroom - keeping your bathroom organised with less clutter will increase the bathrooms attractiveness and keep it clean.

Having a modern bathroom really needs those stainless steel products such as bins, mirrors and cabinets - they give the modern look a fantastic fresh appeal and a clean atmosphere. A wider range of accessories such as shower curtains tend to be some of the easiest accessories to buy that give that straight look of attention in any bathroom - they often stand out with a one colour look or hold multiple patterns.

Stainless steel accessories such as bins and mirrors really stand out in a light modern bathroom and should be taken into account when modifying your bathroom. The reflections on the stainless steel create a lighter atmosphere and it just looks clean and attractive when in a bathroom. It shouldn't be used everywhere in the room as it can be some what of a boring modern standard - it's not a unique method to attract freshness in a bathroom as it's used widely across the world.

Depending on what sort of style you want to achieve in your modern bathroom this is just an example of what you can do with different accessories, you have your own tastes so you'll most likely have different preferred styles and methods.

Written by James Chapman, a director of Bella Bathrooms who supply Bathroom Accessories for the UK market.

Bella Bathrooms is an online retailer formed by 2 plumbers from the North East of England. Having hands on experience of custom bathroom installation and products has enabled Bella Bathrooms Ltd to only select quality bathroom products for their online shop. They sell bathroom furniture, bathroom suites, showers and bath related products for consumers through the United Kingdom.

Discussing the Construction Home Building Process For Houses

Construction home building is the "meat and potatoes" of erecting a home. There are several different stages that go into making one. Manufactured homes are made a lot quicker than custom homes, but they usually have cheaper materials and labor. The home plans that you choose will determine how long it takes to build your new building.

There are several different stages in constructing it from new home plans. First the ground has to be leveled. If the ground is not level, then the building will settle and the foundation will crack, or the building will sink into the ground. Then the base of the house has to be constructed.

This is usually pier and beam or a slab. Basic plumbing is added at this part of the building as well. Then they add some of the framework for the building. After the framework comes the walls and roof frame. The rest of the plumbing is added, and then the sheet rock and insulation.

They put the roof on, and then add the electrical work. The windows and doors are added, and then they put up the bricks or whatever will be the outside of the house. Once the outside is complete, then they move on to the inside of the house and add whatever is needed indoors. The last thing to be done is floors and painting, and then finally the yard. This process is used because it is the most efficient for following home floor plans.

Manufactured homes are made differently than custom homes. Construction home building for manufactured homes is usually accomplished all at once. If you are interested in buying one, then you look at the home floor plans that the company has available. Then it is possible to choose different features to customize the house. Paint colors and floor coverings are usually chosen at this time too.

The building company then finishes the house so the new owners can move in. There are many manufactured homes built in the ranch house plans style or in the Tudor house plans style. It is easy to build many of these kinds of houses. The home building industry has grown a lot in past years. This started in the 1950s and 1960s with the first manufactured homes. Now, most homes that are built are at least somewhat manufactured.

Construction home building has not changed much over the years. Home floor plans are built into 3-D homes. The main difference in new homes versus old seems to be the fact that manufactured homes are more popular now. While it is still possible to customize these homes, it is harder. However, the fact that the homes are cheaper keeps them popular.

Discover more information about construction home building from Mike Selvon portal, and get more insider small house plans tips.

Bathroom Remodeling Project - Money Saving Tips

Bathrooms are a great place to spend your remodeling dollars, as a beautiful bathroom ads instant value to a home. However, bathroom remodeling may turn out to be more than a homeowner could have ever bargained for, considering the high costs of materials and labor that accompany such a project.

Fortunately, there are three specific areas where a homeowner can save significantly in their bathroom remodeling project. With a little extra time and a bit of bargain hunting, a homeowner can typically save about $200 to $2000 implementing the following suggestions:

* Bathroom Remodeling Tip 1-Search for Discount Tile: If you plan on using marble, granite or stone for your bathroom floor or shower tile, leave plenty of time to shop for clearance or discontinued material. Discontinued stone can be up to $10 per square foot cheaper than flooring or backsplash right off the showroom floor. This allows the homeowner to achieve a more upgraded look (i.e. granite tile) at a fraction of the actual retail cost.

You can find stone materials that have been discontinued or that are on clearance online on popular bidding sites such as eBay, or in the clearance section of flooring supply stores.

* Bathroom Remodeling Tip 2-Use a Bath fitter. Rather than replace a bath or shower that is in decent shape to begin with, seek out estimates from companies that rehabilitate existing fixtures using bath fitters. A bath fitter will typically go over the existing tub and backsplash with a little bit of man power and lots of caulk, thus creating a new look for an old fixture.

Choosing to go this route when updating a shower or tub can save the homeowner more than half of the cost of total replacement, while the finished project tends to look just as good (if not better) in the end.

* Bathroom Remodeling Tip 3-Purchase Discontinued Hardware. Paying retail for hardware fixtures such as faucets and showerheads is the most unnecessary budget drain in a bathroom remodeling project. While they may not look that expensive, new fixtures are an added expense running anywhere between $400- 1000 (especially in the case of custom orders).

To save money in this area, shop around home improvement stores for fixtures that are discontinued or currently on clearance due to an open or damaged box. You may also find discontinued items by looking online for discount plumbing stores or eBay shops. Admittedly, this may take some time if you have a specific look in mind, but you'll be glad you waited when that $500 faucet shows up $200 cheaper at a discount store a year down the road.

* Bathroom Remodeling Tip 4-Use 'Green Plumbing': While not an immediate savings, using green plumbing fixtures such as high efficiency toilets and low flow faucets and showerheads will make a significant dent in your water bill at the end of each month.

Furthermore, additional savings may come in the form of an instant cash back rebate, as some states are choosing to financially reward homeowners that "go green" with their plumbing choices.

You need to use creative ideas like seeking companies that rehabilitate existing fixtures using bath fitters if you don't want to spend too much on bathroom renovation. Venice homeowners can save a lot of money by following tips on bathroom remodeling. Visit http://www.eurotechcabinetry.com.

Useful Tips to Remember When Remodeling Your Home

Once in a while you need to indulge in a remodeling or redecorating project in your room to give a whole new look for your house. If you plan this, you need to have enough money on hand because remodeling projects can typically costs more than tens of thousands of dollars especially if you would want to include areas such as the flooring, cabinets and new appliances. If finances are not a problem, then feel free to go out and buy the furnishings such as Tiffany table lamps and materials you have been saving for in years.

Although money may be no object for you, you still have to take your time when purchasing for the right supplies, furniture and selecting contractors. Determine your budget beforehand for each piece furniture or service and stick with it. At this rate, you will not find yourself going over the intended financial arrangements. The secret lies in spending only about 70-80% of your budget to buy everything you desire for your house. In this fashion, you will still have money to spare when unexpected surprises happen. This will prevent delays that often happen when a contractor unknowingly discovers a termite colony in the process of renovating.

Naturally, people will most often spend their budget on windows, flooring and fireplaces. The expenses in these areas will usually exceed the budget and tends to leave limited choices for other important home accessories such as furniture and lighting. This is not a good idea. You should always put into consideration and include in the budget these important aspects.

For the furniture, always begin with large items such as sofa, chairs, coffee tables and matching accent tables. It is entirely possible that you will over budget in buying these key pieces but it is better to invest in high quality furniture than risking it on poorly made ones that you will surely regret later on. In the long run, you will end up saving money and will wind up with a more complete and durable furniture pieces.

On the other hand, you should also consider the three types of lighting to provide your home with a more comfortable and appealing look. The three types will include the ambient, task and accent light. In the ambient lighting, there is an overall illumination of an area. In contrast, the task lighting is intended for specific tasks and is more concentrated. It has less ambient lighting that is often used for reading and other related tasks. The third type is accent lighting which is light often left in the middle of the night to prevent us from bumping into things. Whenever possible, it is advised to use these types of lighting fixtures to provide a more balanced lighting effect. A living room can therefore be designed to have flush mounted ceiling fixture for ambient lighting, a couple of tiffany table lamps atop accent tables for task lighting and maybe some wall lamps for the accent lighting.

Remodeling and renovating your home will take a lot of effort and patience. As this is an immense project and will most likely be expensive, you should never purchase items such as furniture on impulse. Plan everything ahead of time to harmonize everything and stick with your budget. Surely in the end, you will appreciate the overall look of your new home because of your persistence and hard work.

For more tips and information about tiffany table lamps, please check out http://www.mylampselections.com.

Senior Safety - Bathroom Hazards and Quick Fixes

Are your parents safe living at home? Are they mentally pretty clear, but beginning to have physical or judgment deficits which might impact their safety? Do you worry that Mom may fall down and not be able to get to the phone? What would happen if Mom or Dad slipped and fell in the bathroom? Falls are the leading cause of injury deaths in people 65 years of age and older, according to The National Safety Council.

Most elderly people cherish their independence and will do just about anything to keep it. Sometimes a simple device or two, especially in the bathroom, is all that is needed to keep them safe and independent. This article will show you how to identify and reduce safety hazards in an older persons bathroom.

Water temperature: Set the hot water heater to no more than 120 F to lessen the risk of burns.
Toilet: If your loved ones have difficulty standing up from a low toilet, obtain an elevated seat. There are many types available; I recommend those with attached armrests, if space allows, that fit directly over the existing seat. They are easy to install and don't seem to get in the way when others use the seat. If the toilet height is okay as is, there are easy to attach stand-alone armrests.
Grab bars: It is not safe to pull on a towel bar or push on a toilet paper holder for support, as many older adults do. Instead, properly install grab bars on both sides of the shower/tub area and also within reach of the toilet.
Lessen the risk of slipping or falling. Use a non-slip bath mat or non-skid tape on the tub/shower floor and use a shower or bath chair specifically designed for bathing. Do not try to use another type of chair in the tub or shower, as this could actually cause increased risk of injury. There are also transfer chairs available that have 2 legs on the outside and 2 legs inside the tub so your loved one can easily slide over and use the shower.
Water spills are especially dangerous in the bathroom because fixtures and floor surfaces are typically very hard. Be sure that shower curtains fit properly and there are no plumbing leaks.
Lighting: Light switches should be easy to reach and in good repair. Check that lighting is adequate, use a night light for the path from bed to bathroom and be sure pathway is clear of obstacles.
Consider installing a phone line in the bathroom. This could prevent carelessness while hurrying to catch the phone in the next room.

Hopefully these tips will keep your senior loved ones safe and independent at home.

Ronna Sather is a licensed physical therapist with over 30 years of professional experience, assisting and guiding thousands of families dealing with the safety and independence of elderly loved ones at home. You can visit her website at http://www.seniorsafetyathome.com to find more articles, resources and products which promote senior safety and make life easier in the home environment.

Tile and Stone Pool Liners - Home Tips

Do you remember back when faux things just didn't look completely real? Fake stone, fake wood, fake anything? They all seemed to come close but just couldn't make it over the finish line in the reality contest. Now prefabricated pool designers have come up with new faux tile and stone pool liners and how do you suppose they stack up in the reality contest?

Incredibly Real Looking - Even Up Close

Get ready, because these new decorative pool liners actually create the exact look of what they are supposed to replicate! Thats no exaggeration either, because even with your nose touching them it is almost impossible to tell the difference.

The Complete Look Of a Tile Pool

OK. Remember that it is an above ground pool though, so how do they pull this charade off? The fact, is that if the pool has a deck around it, the look is totally complete. This is because the deck not only conceals the sides of the pool put the top edge, which the deck rides over is also concealed.

How is it Done?

So in the end all that is there to be seen is wood decking, crystal clear water and elaborate tile work. So how did they do it? Its all the result of state of the art manufacturing process that incorporates the latest plastics moulding technology. So what about fading?

What About Maintaining these Tiles?

With the colors blended right into the plastics that make up the tile, rather than painted on colors, fading is just not a problem. Also, unlike real tile that need to be diligently cleaned and maintained, these faux tile pool liners are as maintenance free as any other standard above ground pool liner.

Written by Alejandra Gibson. Find all the professional information you've ever wanted on Pool Liners plus Swimming Pool Liners on my site.

Consider Waterproofing Your Basement

Those who own a home that has a subsoil basement needs to waterproof their basement. Why? Basements that are wet will spread humidity to all parts of the house causing it to trap in musty air that you will be living in. Naturally this is a condition that no one wants to live in or should have to.

When you waterproof your basement you are giving yourself a new investment for your home and making it a healthier place for you and your family to live in. Not to mention that when you go to sell the house this new and improve dry basement will add value to the home than when you first bought it.

Waterproofing your basement is not something that you can jump into lightly. It is a competitive business - which means that you will have extra choices available to you. Learn what is causing your basement to leak and what you will need to do to repair it. Most certified waterproofing dealers will give out free wet basement inspections and will give an estimate on what it will take to fix it.

Those who live parts of the country that will receive heavy downpours will also need someone to waterproof their basements in order to stop leaks. Most dealers will be able to repair these basements professionally.

Over the many years contractors and engineers for basement waterproofing have created several ways to keep basements dry. One of the most common options it to use a concrete water proofer or the other more popular option to use crystalline basement waterproofing.

Other methods will use liquid membrane that is applied to the interior of the space or even a sheeting membrane that s connected to the exterior of the space. A qualified professional contractor will sit down with you and tell you all of the options available to you and the costs of waterproofing.

Learn how to Waterproof the Basement and improve the structure of your home. Before you go with someone in particular make sure that you know the Cost of Waterproofing and what Waterproofing Materials you need.

Installing a Tub Surround

If your tub/shower enclosure has seen better days, why not give it an update? One of the easiest, cost-effective ways to replace your dingy enclosure is to purchase and install a shower/tub surround kit.

Why panels?

These handy kits generally come with three or five pieces. If your enclosure is perfectly square, a three-piece kit (with a back panel and two side panels) is the way to go. But if you're dealing with crooked walls or walls that aren't plumb, the five-piece kit (with a back panel, two corner panels, and two end panels) offers more flexibility.

Not only are these panels water-resistant, they're also easy to clean and will almost instantly revive your bathroom-what's not to love about that? And they come in a variety of materials, from solid surfacing to pressed fiberglass. Though thicker panels are usually more expensive, they're more stable and easier to work with.

Prep work.

Before getting to work, protect the bottom of your tub from dings and scratches with a heavy cloth. If your current shower interior is solid, flat, and in good structural condition, you can install the panels over the existing material (just be sure to give it a good cleaning first, and scuff tile with sandpaper so it'll better grip the adhesive). For drywall, cut out damp sections and replace it with a moisture-resistant version. If you've got a tile surround, simply stick loose tiles back in place with ceramic-tile adhesive. But if several tiles are loose, just remove them altogether and replace them with moisture-resistant drywall.

Now comes the tricky part: removing the showerhead, faucet, and spout-as well as other accessories such as wall-mounted shelves or soap dishes.

Using a tall piece of cardboard, make a template of the side of the tub with the bath fixtures. Measure the exact locations of the faucet handles, showerhead, and tub spout. Cut holes in the cardboard, hold the cardboard up to the wall to make sure the holes align with the fixture placements, and mark the locations on the surround panels.

Installation.

Measure your walls and trim your panels accordingly. Following manufacturer's instructions, apply the adhesive, then attach the panels to the walls and let them dry thoroughly. Replace the hardware, and seal joints with caulk.

For more detailed instructions, check out Popular Mechanics and This Old House. Or watch this step-by-step video, courtesy of HGTV.

Lexicon Consulting, Inc

The Home Know-It-All: Your One-Stop Shop for Home Design, Improvement, and Repair

What Are the Benefits of a Hot Water Demand System?

Before we examine the benefits of a hot water demand system lets make sure we know what it is. For those of you who have not encountered one, a demand hot water system is a hot water delivery system that uses a pump get your hot water from your water heater to your fixture quickly without wastefully running water down the drain.

When you want hot water you press a button which turns on the pump, speeding hot water to you, while pumping the cooled off water in the piping back to the inlet of the water heater. It just pumps the water around in a big loop. When hot water reaches the pump it shuts off, preventing the cold water line from filling with hot water. At that point you have instant hot water when you turn on the tap. Several manufactures of demand systems offer other methods than a button to turn on the pumps, such as motion detectors and photo cells.

Depending upon how your house is plumbed you may be able to cover a number of fixtures with just one pump. Most often the pump is placed at the fixture furthest from the water heater; however it's not difficult to find the best location for the pump. To do so, go to the sink where you think the pump should be located, and turn on the hot fixture letting the water run until it is hot, then shut it off. You have just simulated the operation of a demand system. The difference is you ran water down the drain waiting for the hot, but the pump would not. Now if you go to another fixture and turn on the hot water, you will be able to tell it you get hot water more quickly than normal. You have to wait at least an hour between tests to let the piping cool off.

There are a number of benefits to having a demand system in your home. With most installations you save time since you don't have to wait quite as long as you would with a normal plumbing system. Better than that though is the water savings. In homes with long pipe runs to the most frequently used fixtures the water savings can be huge. Studies have shown that a family of four can save over 15,000 gallons of water per year.

You might get cleaner dishes. The number one complaint that dish washer manufacturers hear about from their customers is the dishes don't get clean enough. According to the manufacturers the reason is nearly always the temperature of the water. If it is not hot enough it doesn't completely dissolve the soap, and hence the dishes don't get as clean. Before you it the run button on the dishwasher, hit the demand system button.

If you are the kind of person who turns on the shower and then goes and does something else while waiting for the hot water to arrive, and comes back to find the water is hot, then you could save significant amounts of energy. Heating the water is far more expensive than paying for the water itself, so running heated water down the drain is expensive. A demand pumping system eliminates this waste of energy.

If you have a septic system, then you know that reducing the amount of sewage entering the system is a good thing. Homes with septic systems often have a well to supply fresh water. If you have a well, you have a water pump. Reducing the amount of water being used by the system reduces the run time for the pump, reducing your energy usage and saving you money.

Demand systems use very little energy. Since the motor only runs for a few seconds at a time they typically use less than $1.00 per year in electricity. And since they don't circulate hot water into the cold water line, they do not use more heat energy than a normal plumbing system.

If you have city water and sewage, then by reducing you water consumption you are reducing the amount of pumping and treating that must be done to the water supply, thus reducing energy usage and reducing the emission of greenhouse gases.

If you happen to have a tankless water heater then you are probably aware that it takes even longer to get hot water with such a heater, and that of course, makes the demand system just that much more valuable. Although hot water circulating systems don't work with tankless heaters, most demand systems do. Some demand systems do not have a high enough flow rate to turn on a tankless heater, so check with the manufacturer before making your purchase. The Chilipepper appliance will turn on any tankless heater.

Demand systems are pretty easy to install. The pumps connect between the hot and cold water lines, and with some systems such as the Chilipepper appliance you don't even need to turn off the water main, just the two angle stops under the sink. You do need a 110 volt outlet to provide power to the pump. If you don't want to mount a button, or if you want to be able to activate the system from another location, most pumps offer remote control, X-10 control, or wireless remote operation.

If you decide to install a demand system in your home you should check with your water company, as many water suppliers are offering substantial rebates for hot water demand systems.

Mr. Lund has been an inventor for over 35 years and has over a dozen patents. For information about patents, inventing, prototyping, online marketing, and new product stories visit Free Invention Help

For more information about demand hot water systems, and tankless water heaters visit: Water Heater Information

Shower Curtains in Your Bathroom

One of the quickest, easiest and least expensive ways to brighten up your bathroom is to get a new shower curtain. They also protect your floor, your tub and your privacy. There are many options available, and as many styles to choose from as you could imagine. There are two main types of shower curtains - vinyl or PVC, and fabric curtains, often used with a vinyl liner to protect the fabric.

Vinyl shower curtains come in any number of colors and styles. You may choose a clear curtain, or one that is opaque. There are many designs and patterns available, as well as curtains with popular cartoon and movie characters designed for small children. Think about the colors and theme in your bathroom dcor and you can find a curtain to match or coordinate.

Vinyl is often used in informal bathrooms, as well as those most often used by children. The curtains themselves are easy to find in a variety of styles, as well as relatively inexpensive to re-place if you you're not interested in cleaning them. While you can buy a mildew resistant vinyl curtain, it will need to either be cleaned or replaced eventually, to take care of any dirt, soap scum and mildew.

Fabric shower curtains are often used in more formal bathrooms, or for a more posh, spa-like feeling. A fabric shower curtain will need a vinyl liner to protect it from water. These liners are very inexpensive, so when it comes time to clean your shower curtain, you can throw away and replace the liner, and wash the fabric portion. Fabric shower curtains can be made from almost any kind of fabric. If you are using a sheer or partially sheer fabric, consider using an opaque shower curtain liner in a color that goes with your bathroom theme. Fabric curtains also come in a variety of textures. Texture can be a way to add interest to any room, even when you don't want to add too much color.

Remember the hardware! You'll need to make sure you have a curtain rod that won't rust, firmly attached. There are many kinds of shower curtain hooks to go with many kinds of dcor. For example, a Nautical themed bathroom might use sea shell, star, or anchor themed curtain rings. You can buy simple plastic or metal rings and hooks in many colors and finishes as well. This small addition could be the finishing touch to your bathroom dcor.

Written by James Chapman, a director of Bella Bathrooms who supply Shower Curtain products for the UK market.

Bella Bathrooms is an online retailer formed by 2 plumbers from the North East of England. Having hands on experience of custom bathroom installation and products has enabled Bella Bathrooms Ltd to only select quality bathroom products for their online shop. They sell bathroom furniture, bathroom suites, showers and bath related products for consumers through the United Kingdom.

Bathroom Fixtures Buying Guide

Bathroom fixtures are available in a broad range of styles, but selecting a fixture always relies on the following:

• Budget
• Material
• Style
• Consistency

Fixtures range from $100 to thousands of dollars depending on the quality, style, and material used. When setting aside money for a bathroom build or remodel, remember a fixture adds another level of style to any room. A simple, bare bath can become classic or modern depending on the style of fixture chosen. Setting a little extra aside for your fixtures will not only wow guests, but also raise the overall value of your house for appraisal purposes.

Bath fixtures are available out of a variety of materials such as copper, silver, platinum, and more commonly brass metal with chrome finishes. Two-tone materials can add some extra complexity to the decor and work with several shade themes. While platinum and even platinum-coated fixtures run in the $1000 range altogether, they add extra sophistication to any room. However, the more affordable fixtures (typically metal with chrome finishes) come in styles that impress any guest or can excite any homeowner.

The styles available are quite versatile. For example, there are at least three main groupings of faucets: single-hole, widespread, and vessel faucets. A single-hole structure allows for one hole where the water is released. The handle is usually part of the larger structure. A widespread is usually 8" long and sometimes longer or shorter. This grouping includes two handles, which are separate from one another and located (separately) on both sides of the spout. The final group is vessel faucets. These faucets consist of one long and lean spout with a handle that can be attached or not. Most often these vessel spouts are seen in Asian-motif bathrooms with the spout looking like a reed over a shallow and rectangular or triangular sink. Some vessel faucets also look like watering pumps over a large round thick basin.

Each of these types of faucets exhibits a certain decorating style. Some styles for your bathroom can include:

• Modern
• Art deco
• Classic
• Country
• Traditional
• Asian
• Tuscan
• Southwest

When choosing a style for your bathroom, remember that it is a place you want your guests to relax in and a space that needs to be kept clean. Clean and straight lines may help your bath area look more sanitized or encourage a guest or member of the household to clean up after him or herself. However, traditional country-themed rooms and traditional floral patterns and fixtures can also help an individual feel relaxed and refreshed while in the bathroom.

Finally, remember when it comes to fixtures, consistency is a must. While your tastes might fluctuate or fixtures may have different styles that you enjoy, plan on purchasing ones that are all the same style, color, or material and are certainly within the same price range or quality range. Without matching fixtures, no matter how attractive they might be individually, the room will look cluttered and unfocused. Instead, you want to create an environment that is consistent, calming, and refreshing.

Anne Clarke writes numerous articles for Web sites on renewable energy, parenting, fashion, and home decor. Her background also includes teaching, gardening, and fashion. For more of her useful articles on bathroom furniture and fixtures, please visit Bathroom Accessories, supplier of information about bathroom fixtures, and more.

How To Fix That Leaky Bathtub Faucet - Fast!

Fixing a leaky bathtub faucet - or any other leaky faucet for that matter - can be an expensive job - UNLESS you can do it yourself!

In this article we want to look at the most common reason for a leaky faucet and show you how to fix it quickly and cheaply.

Preparation

It almost goes without saying that you should turn the water off first! Where to find the handle that does that? Just look under your sink and see where the pipes run. Somewhere along their length you will see either a handle or a wheel you can use to shut the mains supply off. In nearly every case you will need to turn it clockwise to shut.

One other preparation is to block the sink drain - just to prevent a nasty accident with something loose (like a screw or a small nut) disappearing down the drain never to be seen again. Use the plug you normally use, or put some cloth into the aperture. No good being wise after the event!

And - even though it goes without saying - make sure you have bought a replacement washer (or two) from the local hardware store - you don't want to be looking for that when you have the faucet in pieces do you!

Action

Locate the screw that is holding the handle of the faucet in place (it may be hidden behind a small plate or cover and that cover needs to be prised off using a small screwdriver or similar). Then undo the screw.

The next job is to get the handles off. Use a screwdriver to do this - you might need to use a little bit of force to prise it but it will come.

Now you will see the old washer (don't worry if not, we will put one in place anyway). Take off the old washer and replace with the new. Notice that the hole in the washer should just be a touch bigger than the central post that the handle turns.

Now retighten the handle, but only hand tight i.e. only until it stops turning without extra force needing to be applied.

Next, turn on the water again and see what happens! If there's no leak you're home and dry (excuse the pun!). If it still leaks, try tightening the handle a little more.

If it still leaks after that- then the problem is elsewhere and you'll need to get a plumber after all. But al least it was worth a try!

(And by the way - if you notice a big build up of lime around the handle - clean that off with a special removal product from your hardware store - it will pay you in the long run).

Things needed

A screwdriver or two - maybe one flathead and one Phillips or cross-screw. Also two washers (maybe take the old one off ahead of your visit to the store to be sure of getting the right one, or just buy a pack of mixed washers - not an expensive buy).

David Woodford is a freelance writer and owns info4u-services which helps people with free advice to help solve everyday problems. To find out more about fixing your faucet and other DIY jobs around your home, visit http:/http://www.fixleakyfaucet.com it will REALLY help you.

Bad Termite Damage To Window
Damaged Composition Roof Shingle

Basement Bathroom Remodeling Improves Your Home's Value!

Did you know that there's a relatively simple, not terribly expensive way to increase the value of your home without expanding the exterior footprint? You can get more livable space and more equity, simply by finishing your basement. This is much less intensive than many other home improvement project, and homeowners who decide to do a basement finishing project get as much as eighty-five percent of their investment back in many cases. One important element to any finished basement is the bathroom. Basement bathroom remodeling projects are excellent for just about any home and just about any family. If you're living in an older single family residence with just one bathroom, adding another one is one of the best choices you can make.

People love the space and comfort that a finished basement has to offer. Any basement can become a rec room, entertainment room, extra or guest bedroom, library, office, and even your own personal fitness center. You just have to decide how your finished basement will best benefit. Remember to plan with care, and don't forget to include a basement bathroom remodeling project along with your other remodeling plans. No one wants to have to run up and down stairs whenever they need to use the bathroom, especially if there's something going on in the basement. Making your basement bathroom friendly, usable and accessible is important and will increase convenience while adding value.

It's not as hard as you think to add an extra room to your basement. You can even do it yourself if you happen to have the required experience and knowledge. If you know how to do part of the work, but aren't trained as an electrician or plumber, that doesn't mean your basement bathroom remodeling ideas have to fall by the wayside, either. Just contact a professional, talk to him or her about your plans, and have only the work you don't know how to do done by a pro. Remember that in some areas, local codes may require you to have your work signed off on by professionals, or even to have the major work done by someone else. It's important to know as much as you can about code in your area before you even begin to plan. That'll help you avoid legal entanglements later.

Some of the things you'll need to do for any basement bathroom remodeling project include using water resistant paints and materials, making sure the flooring is something that won't attract moisture, mold, and mildew, and being certain you're doing the plumbing and drains correctly. Installing a bathroom in a basement that's located below the drains can be tricky, often requiring use of special fixtures or additional mechanisms. This doesn't have to cost a lot, but you should know what you need well in advance. That way, you won't find yourself wasting time or money by using a solution that won't work for your situation.

A basement bathroom remodeling project should be part of any finished basement. It'll make using the finished space much more pleasant, and it'll add even more to your home's value. Since this is one of the least expensive renovations you can do in your home, there's no reason not to take on a well planned basement bathroom project. It could really make a big difference in your home.

Thomas Johnsen is the Author and Leading Expert on Basement Bathroom Remodel and the creator of the publication Basement Bathroom Remodeling. Visit the site now to find the easy-to-understand step-by-step guides on basement bathroom construction available online today.

Finishing And Installing W Heater
Stucco Damage At Sidewalk

Insulating Basement Wall Problems

Your basement is directly in contact with the earth. Not only that, it is prone to excessive moisture due to its surrounding water and piping systems. Taking this into account, it is therefore necessary to include insulating basement wall, floor, and ceilings in your basement design plan. This is will not only help keep your floor warm upstairs, it will save you from the trouble of unnecessary and troublesome air conditioning repairs.

Here are some of the important tips in insulating basement wall foundation:

1. Use fiberglass or specialty plastic products such as closed-cell foam. The advantage in using these type of materials is that it's light weight and strong. It's also cost effective and versatile. But before using it, take note of the different types also. There are those that are flammable. The best recommendation is to cover it with drywall to prevent flames to spread fast. The best insulating basement wall materials of these types should also be weather-resistant and durable.

2. Know a little bit of the theory in heat transfer. This is called thermodynamics. This knowledge may help you in figuring out some concerns not anticipated in insulating basement wall manuals. You might have a unique heat insulation issues that requires a more profound approach in finding the best solution. Understanding the principles in thermodynamics is one big help.

3. Check your foundation walls if there are cracks. This is where leaks of moisture and unwanted air flow passes through. Usually you can find them in wall joints between the ceiling and the floors. Moisture seeps into the wall and floor. Not only does it affects your basement room temperature, it also looks ugly. When you do find them, insulating basement wall materials should then be applied in these areas.

4. Prioritize your foundation walls. You don't need much heat insulation for the basement ceiling since this is not in contact with soil. The earth is open to moisture and is a bad insulator. When in contact with your basement wall, it transfers the heat inside your basement interior. The floor may also need some insulation. Insulating your ceiling is okay but it's not practical and will prove to be inefficient. Insulating basement wall is more important.

5. Work your insulation with other basement damage prevention control scheme. The closest to this is the waterproofing of your basement. They are closely related and share the same objective - to prevent future damage of your basement walls and fixtures. They also share the same enemies - moisture. Also, if you get these two damage control preventions done ahead, you'll save time and money.

There could be more. The best person to give an advice on this is someone who had experienced the hassles of not having any insulation. One of the many reasons why there is the need in insulating basement wall is because of safety. Neglecting this can translate situations into worse case scenarios such as in health and emergency issues.

Preventive measures are not to be dismissed. Otherwise, it can get you into more trouble in repairs along with expensive solutions. Your home is a major investment. Insulation should not be compromised.

Find more information on insulating basement wall. Get the latest offers on basement insulating products.

4 X 8 Beam Connection To Wall