Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Are You Looking For Eco-Friendly Bathroom Remodeling Ideas?

Creating Eco-Friendly Bathroom Designs Are Easier Than You Might Think!

Are you looking for some great bathroom remodeling ideas that are eco-friendly? If so, you will be happy to know that there are many options for you to explore that will allow you to have a bathroom that looks great while also reducing your carbon footprint.

Here are a few of the secrets that bathroom re-modelers use when exploring eco-friendly bathroom designs.

Considering the Furniture

When creating an eco-friendly bathroom design, you should be certain to give thought to the furniture you will include in your space. This includes items such as...

* Bathroom Cabinetry
* Vanity Units
* Bath Panels and Shelving

You can make these items more eco-friendly by choosing those that are made from materials such as sustainable timber, wheat board and bamboo. In fact, bamboo is an excellent material to use in bathrooms because it holds well against moisture and humidity.

In addition to considering the material used to make the bathroom furniture, you should also take a closer look at the sealants and finishes used on the pieces. Ideally, your bathroom furniture should be made with natural, water-based ingredients such as plant oil or other materials that do not contain chemical additives.

Picking the Right Lighting

When it comes to bathroom designs, achieving the right lighting is critical. After all, most people use mirrors in their bathrooms to help them while shaving, putting on makeup and styling their hair. Therefore, you want to have the best light possible to make yourself look good when you get ready to start the day.

By keeping a few eco-friendly bathroom remodeling ideas in mind, you can get great lighting while also lowering your impact on the earth.

Finding ways to let natural daylight into your bathroom is one of the best ways to get great lighting, while reducing your need to use electricity. So, wherever possible, add skylights or solar tubes to your bathroom in order to allow more light to come in.

With the help of bathroom designer software, you can play around with different natural lighting options and come up with a design that works best for you. Where lighting is necessary, choose fluorescent bulbs rather than traditional bulbs. Not only will this help the environment, it will also help you save on your energy bill!

Decorating Your Bathroom

As you explore bathroom remodeling ideas, don't forget about the little things that you add to your space in order to give it character. Soft items such as towels and bathrobes serve a function while also helping to pull together bathroom dcor. Even these items are available in eco-friendly designs. Look for those that are made with...

* Bamboo
* Certified Organic Cotton
* Hemp

You should also look for items that are unbleached and have been dyed with vegetable colorings rather than chemical additives.

Of course, you should also look for water-efficient showerheads, faucets and toilets to save on the amount of water you consume. Just remember to include these items as you create your bathroom designs and you will surely be thrilled with the results!

James Mahoney is the owner of two sites on home design, Bathroom Designers Ideas.com and Kitchen Designers Ideas.com. He has written many articles on both bathroom and kitchen design. Learn about bathroom design ideas and trends by visiting his site at http://www.BathroomDesignersIdeas.com

Lower Basement Wall Staining

Sunday, June 28, 2009

Right Door Closers For Your Doors

At our present time, our world has developed technologies to make us live comfortably and easier. We have been innovative and creative to keep up with the fast pace of our world. Everything we do demands us to be time efficient. And doors are not an exemption to that innovation.

If you are tired of opening and closing up your doors and you feel like wasting a few of your time just because of opening and closing it. Now there are close doors, we can just open our doors and it can automatically close. Through that, we do not have to be anxious if ever we have left our door open because it is the function of the door closers to mechanically close it.

It comes in various styles that will perfectly fit to your doors. Take also into consideration the amount of traffic that the door closers will control in that certain area for there are specific type door closer that can manage the amount of traffic of your door. So, before putting it up you must first calculate the quantity of traffic that the door closer will manage so that you can install the right door closer for your door.

There are those that are designed to tolerate a severe traffic jam; it is well-matched for main entrances of business offices, hotels, firms and the like. It has the competence to be used 300-400 times daily. There are also these types of closers that are for average traffic that can be used for 50-100 times daily. Make sure to use the well-suited door closers for your door for you to handily open and close the door. For outside doors, a backheck is considered necessary it is a third valve or control that is added to it so that the opening and closing of the door is not too quick.

It is in two styles, overhead and jambed mounted. These overhead door closers can be hidden or surface mounted while the jambed mounted style will fit between the door and doorframe and are completely unseen when the door is closed.

Because today people are so dependent with the internet, you can search for door closers online for you to easily purchase it at your own computer in your convenient time. The prices are within your means with the guarantee that it is made only of robust materials that can allow you to make of use it for many more years. It is useful these days for everything today should be speedy and time efficient. This is convenient not just at homes but as well as to business firms and companies because this can surely grant expediency to their clients and costumers.

Matthew Stanton writes an article about Door Closers which provides incoming and outgoing visitors of a particular building to close doors for them automatically. Simply visit this website at http://www.wholesalelocks.com/door-closers.html

Saturday, June 27, 2009

5 Reasons Not to Have a New Roof Installed Over an Old Roof

So you need a new roof and are trying to decide whether or not to try and save some money by having the new roof installed over an existing layer of roofing. This technique is quite common in many areas and many roofing contractors don't see any problem with this method and have no problem trying to sell homeowners on a lay-over or go-over as this technique is called. They are wrong.

5 Top Reasons A Lay-Over Or Go-Over Is A Bad Idea When Re-Roofing

1.) Areas that have or had leaks can't always be addressed properly

There is a good chance that your old roof had some problem areas including possible leak spots, whether you noticed them or not. Without tearing off the old roof and properly identifying these types of trouble spots and determining where the leak was coming from and traveling to it is impossible to tell what areas of your roof may need some special attention.

2.) Any rotted wood under the existing roofing will only get worse

There could be areas that have rotted wood hiding under the old roofing. These rotted areas need to be identified and replaced before a new roof is installed. Obviously if your roofing contractor is only doing a lay-over roofing installation then these rotted areas will remain covered up and only get worse as the years go on. Also the nails holding down the shingles in areas with rotted wood cannot properly do their job and you have a much higher risk of shingles blowing off in those areas.

3.) Eaves, rakes and valleys need special treatment

This is a big one. The eaves, rakes and valleys of your house need special attention when your home's roof is being installed. This is especially important in colder climates like Massachusetts, where we are located. In the winter time the eaves of your house are under attack by Mother Nature, whether it is through ice dams, snow build up, or just the constant freezing and thawing that occurs throughout the winter season. When a new roof is properly installed the roofing contractor needs to put new aluminum drip-edge around the entire perimeter of your roof.

Next they need to apply a 3 foot wide section of ice & water barrier around the perimeter as well as in any valleys on your roof. Then they can begin to install the new roofing. Without tearing off the original roofing there is no way to properly install the new drip-edge or ice & water barrier. On a lay-over type of roofing install, the roofing contractor is counting on the existing products on the home's roof to still be up to par and be able to handle the winter conditions. All too often the old products fall short whether it was because they have outlived their lifetime, were sub-par to begin with, or maybe they were never there to begin with (all to often the latter is the case with ice & water barrier).

4.) Extra roofing weight is no good for old rafters

One of the more obvious problems with a lay-over re-roof is the added weight of the extra layer of shingles. On most newer homes this is not an issue, however many older homes have rafters that are considered undersized by today's framing standards. It is not uncommon to see 26 rafter systems on many of these houses. Now in most situations a 26 rafter is undersized to begin with and you certainly don't want to be adding the weight of a new roofing layer on top of an old roofing layer to these already undersized rafter systems. With newer roofs using 210, 212, engineered trusses, etc. the weight isn't always as much of an issue.

5.) Shorter roof life expectancy

Most responsible roofing contractors agree that a lay-over roof will decrease the new roof's lifetime by about 25%. This fact alone means that any money you might have saved by doing a lay-over, as opposed to a tear-off and new roof install, was only a short term savings. In addition, you now have 2 layers of roofing that will need to be removed the next time your roof is done and that will also add more cost to the job

Tear-Off Then Re-Roof Is Always Superior

Well, I just gave you 5 very good reasons to tear off your old roofing and then install your new roof. Yes it can be cheaper in the short term to do a go-over on your old roof, but, in the long term it will cost you more. We never recommend this technique to our customers. We always recommend completely tearing of the old roofing, fixing any underlying problems, then installing a fresh, beautiful new roof that will outlast any lay-over roof as well as better protect our customers' homes.

Josh Johnson is part of the team at BCI Contracting, Inc., a Massachusetts roofing contractor, and he would be happy to provide you with more information about their roofing, siding, and seamless gutter installation services if you visit the website. You can also visit Josh's roofing blog which focuses on the roofing and siding industry, particularly in Massachusetts.

Friday, June 26, 2009

Problems With New Houses - Home Building

The house you live in was probably a mass produced home built as part of a housing track. The track home is a rapidly built house in phases. These phases if possible will over lap the other home building trades. If possible you will have the plumbers working on the same house as the electricians and the framers. This is called fast tracking.

Fast tracking a house is building a home as fast as humanly possible. So you can imagine the pressures put on all of the people involved in building a track home.
The pace is so fast sometimes that I have seen job superintendents and foremen look like they were actually going to blow up. I mean explode from the pressure they where under.

Framing the stairs on the job was the same experience for me most of the time. Sometimes I had three jobs going at once. Think about it. At the most, I could only go to each of the jobs twice each week. That involved working on Saturday of course. This made a lot of framing foremen extremely upset. They had full time crews on their jobs always working five days a week. If I missed one day of work. I was behind for the rest of the job.

Now it rarely happened but if I did miss a day of work I had to make it up some how. The only way to make it up was by working late or on Sunday. Well most of the time I worked six days a week from 7:00 in the mourning until 5:00 at night. So working late meant sunrise to sunset. Oh did I mention that I did have a family. This wasn't easy for them either.

One time I got so far behind on a job that I was putting stairs in while they were roofing the houses. Talk about one unhappy foreman. I think you get the idea about the pressure I was under to install these stairs on time. My experience building stairs on track built homes taught me to build homes extremely fast while being proficient.
I'm not interested in working like that anymore. My life is simple now and I want to keep it that way. The next time you see a construction worker working late on a Saturday show some compassion. Maybe by reading this article you will understand some of the pressure he is under.

Building tract homes is hard on you mentally and physically.

Happy Home building.

Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He is currently working on more building stairs books and adding useful content to help solve problems created by the lack of construction knowledge in the building industry. Stairway Safety

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Home Furnishing - Give Your Home A Facelift

House is just a structure made of bricks and cement. It is how you put your personal stamp on it that makes it a home. Furnishing your house to your taste is one such stamp. It is not only a personal but also very exciting. Before embarking on a shopping spree to buy furnishings for your home, some basic things have to be kept in mind. These include the utility, style, taste and above all your pocket. Function and fashion are the main guiding factors in choosing home furnishings.

Function is the first and foremost criteria to be kept in mind for a person before he goes hunting for the basic furnishings. Table, chair, bed, cupboard, curtain, carpet, wallpaper and so on, should be primarily chosen for their utility. A bare home, without furnishings, is unfit for living. The furnishings in a house reflect the lifestyle of the owner. Along with the function, the latest trends should also be studied. But it is not advisable to follow the fashion eyes closed. Look at what suits your home and personality and only then make a decision. Compliment the style and colour of the furnishing for fabulous results.

There are various materials being used now days to furnish the homes. These include wood, cane, stone, metal, textile and silk. With innovative ideas and technology, you can make your habitat as comfortable as you like. Once you have determined what you are looking for, you can buy wisely at auctions, estate sales, straight from the showroom floor or on line. Doing your homework before and during the purchasing process surely pays off. All furniture and home decorating stores have their own websites where you can actually see pictures of what they are offering. Special attention must be given to bedroom furniture. since a person spends some of the most relaxing moments there.

Hence, with a little bit of effort you can furnish your house and make it a home worth living.

Jayson Pablo, a dedicated writer of Rupizcompare.co.uk which provide information on home furnishing accessories like home decor.

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Interior Design Tips and Disciplines

Interior design is in line with architecture. It has little to do with the decoration of the interior of a building. It includes renovation of homes, floor plans and codes of construction. Interior designers are people who design the interiors of buildings. Creativity is a key aspect in this profession and it works in unison with the establishment of an abstract course.

Interior Design Disciplines

There is quite a wide series of disciplines in the interior design career. They include specialized performance, function, computer technology, skills for presentation, social disciplines, aesthetic, promotional and professional disciplines. Cultural implications also play a disciplinary role in relation to interior design. In order to pursue this career, a person needs to have attained a degree in architecture or technology.

The Design Process

The process of designing the interior of a building is similar for all types of buildings. It begins by identifying a client's objective, budget and timescale. This is what interior designers refer to as brief taking. The main aim at this stage is to improve the client's returns.

The designer provides the client with a Cost Proposal, which gives the total estimated costs of the interior design that is to be performed. Most designers prefer to use the Computer Aided Design but a few others use hand sketches. The later portrays individuality. Computer aided design is mainly used to correspond solutions for design in sensible views. This program saves time as compared to hand sketching, which is time consuming.

The preliminary concepts are then presented for authorization. Once approved, the designers begin to make floor plans. Afterwards, specifications are made in connection to the furnishings, alterations and finishing. Repositioning of windows, doors and walls is done if necessary, at this stage. While this is being done, the designer must have the exterior plans in mind as well. If the performance handles project management, then the interior designers may naturally take up this role.

Specifications of the design are incorporated in a package which is later on used by the building contractor to finalize the client's design. The design phase can be done years or even months after the completion of the design requirements.

Working Conditions

The conditions of employment are not the same with all interior designers. They depend on the particular profession of an interior designer. Large companies have a daily program for their interior designers, while smaller companies have their employees working on contracts.

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The article written above is just a sample of the great content Summer Banks can provide.

Adding On

About half of the work in our office is new construction and half renovations and additions.When designing a home from scratch some of the most important elements to study(besides the clients wishes) are views, site features, sun and wind direction, and the approach to the site.

The most important single element in an addition/renovation is the existing building. Sometimes the portion you save and restore is key to the rest of the project.Although it is almost impossible to perfectly match the 200 year old materials which have aged in place, flooring recycled from salvaged barn beams comes pretty close.In the northeast we are particularly lucky to be working with craftsmen who take their work as seriously as the people who built the original homes

A case in point is a project we recently finished which included additions, renovations and restorations.Like most old homes it had been added onto by successive generations of home owners.Also like most old homes, some additions were done well and others were not thought out quite as fully.The historic portions of this home set the tone for the rest of the project.In addition to relating to the existing home and meeting the spatial requirements of our clients, it was critical that we save two large very old very large oak trees.Needless to say the oaks are doing fine.

When adding to a very old home every wall that is opened reveals the secrets of the carpenters which has been hidden away for sometimes centuries.Those carpenters often recycled posts and beams from even older structures.When times were tight, it seemed they used every piece of scrap wood they could cobble together to make the building stand.Most of all those explorations inspire awe and respect for the people who built these wonderful buildings by hand.

Not every renovation/addition project has a great existing building to take inspiration from.Often the portion which is added becomes the stronger design element and therefore influences the rest of the existing home.I don't know if that is the tail waging the dog, but sometimes perhaps the tail should do the waging at least in home design.

I must admit, that adding onto an historic home is like working with a colleague whom I respect and admire.We are challenged by those homes to do our best.

http://www.crisparchitects.com/. James M. Crisp, AIA is an architect working in New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts.

Friday, June 19, 2009

Exterior House Painting - 5 Tips For Doing a Professional Job

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Damaged Stucco Corner

Drywall Manufactured in China is Not Dry - Neither is it Safe

Respiratory issues, other health problems and frequent appliance failures are only a few of the problems claimed to be caused by "Chinese Drywall". Drywall is a flat board made from gypsum plaster. It is used to create interior walls for its economical cost, smooth appearance and fire-resistance. However, it seems that many Florida homeowners are having problems in homes where drywall manufactured in China has been installed.

The housing boom in the early-mid part of the decade has been noted as the beginning of this problem. Normally, drywall is bought from domestic producers, but the boom caused shortages, so some home builders, particularly in Florida, purchased drywall shipped in from China. Only a few years later, in 2009, there appears to be something rotten in the State of Florida.

Home owners have reported everything from sore throats to unexplained personality changes in their pets. Everything in between includes: respiratory problems, headaches and nosebleeds, pet ill health, nasty sulfur odors with no apparent source and a general feeling of malaise. Homeowners with young children or those who are expecting are refusing to return to the houses they bought, for fear it might damage their children's health.

Despite the Florida Department of Health's assurance that there is "no immediate health threat", homeowners remain unconvinced about the "un-immediate" health threats lurking in their homes. The experience of some homeowners, who felt 'miraculously' better when traveling away from their residences for an extended period of time, has convinced many that the problem lies within the homes and could constitute a threat to their continued health and safety.

One theory is that the drywall isn't gypsum at all, but a less appetizing mix of waste from power plant scrubbers. This would explain the high content of sulfur-based gases that are being emitted from some of the drywall examined, and for the rapid deterioration of electrical connections and household appliances. Some gases named as being present in tested board include hydrogen sulfide, sulfur dioxide, carbon disulfide, and carbonyl sulfide. Fumes from hydrogen sulfide can cause severe respiratory distress and death.

Sulphur-based gases produce something else when they come into contact with moisture: sulfuric acid, which eats away at many materials like a beaver in an aspen grove. This can explain while many people have gone through three or more appliances in five years when the appliance itself should be lasting for ten or twenty. Air conditioners, TVs and other common household appliances are being affected as well as medical equipment. While not having a TV working can be an annoyance, not having one's dialysis machine or heart monitor functioning can be serious or even fatal.

The drywall problem, combined with other issues relating to toxic materials found in other items produced in China is leading to a demand for tighter regulations and inspections. Also, for provisions that address the needs of homeowners faced with homelessness because they dare not re-enter their homes due to health concerns. Some home builders are addressing this by relocating families while they conduct tests, but many homeowners are fighting with their home builders who say that there is no appreciable health risk.

The "Chinese drywall" problem is something we are likely to hear more about in the very near future. For now, it behooves those who are purchasing new homes to find out where their drywall comes from and avoid anything with a "Made in China" label.

Jerry Clifford has received the prestigious 100% Club award for his success as a real estate agent in the Minneapolis real estate area. He is certified as an ePRO and prides himself on attention to detail. If you need help in your search for Plymouth Minnesota real estate, visit JerryClifford.com.

Ice Dam Problems And Solutions

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Natural and Commercial Cleaning Supplies

When it comes to cleaning, commercial cleaning supplies often get the boot in cleaning books. Comparably, the difference between using commercial and natural cleaning solutions is the time and effort required to scrub, having a clean green feeling, and the safety of our health. Natural cleaning may not be preferable for everyone, but it's good to know the differences between natural and commercial cleaning products.

Going natural will often require having to apply a cleaner, waiting a period of time to let it soak in, scrubbing, and then repeating the process until the job is done. Many commercial cleaners don't always require these extended periods of time, or if they do they don't require as much scrubbing as may be required if you were to use natural cleaning solutions. Going natural often requires that you spend time making pastes and solutions to tackle your cleaning chores.

The benefit of natural cleaning products is that you can often buy large quantities of them, like Vinegar for example, at a relatively low cost that will last you for months. Most commercial cleaners may not last as long, the cost may be more expensive, and there are side-effects and potential health hazards they can create. With natural cleaning supplies you will not have to worry about health hazards or side-effects when using your cleaners. It should be acknowledged though that just because a product may be natural does not in any way mean that it is a gentle cleaning solution. By this, I mean that a natural cleaning solution may guarantee better health, but it may not guarantee the complete safety of certain household possessions. In the ways you can cause damage to your fabrics with commercial cleaning supplies, you can do the same with natural ones as well; lemon for example can fade fabric, hydrogen peroxide can cause unwanted lightening to carpet if used to remove a stain, and salt can rust metal and create permanent damp patches. So it's always advised to be careful when using any cleaning solution, period.

Now, going Green may be the most beneficial route to take if commercial cleaners cause problems for you. Many people find undesirable side effects to their health when using commercial cleaning products. Allergic reactions, headaches, and respiratory problems are all common side-effects for some people when using commercial cleaning products. Ammonia and sodium hypochlorite for example, can irritate the lungs and cause respiratory problems. Products with heavy amounts of these chemicals are not recommended for people with heart conditions or chronic respiratory problems. Some cleaning products contain parabens as preservatives, which has been linked with cancer. There are numerous problems associated with commercial cleaning products such as air pollution, water pollution, environmental and health hazards.

For Environmentalists the main concern here is the damage that chemical cleaning agents pose to our planet. Tons of different cleaning products with hazardous chemicals are being released every year and pose more of a threat to our environment. Scientists are continually finding that many chemicals have potential cancer risks. The products you may be using in your home today may indeed be posing dangers to not only your health but your families and the environments as well. This is often one of the main reasons that natural cleaning products are preferred over commercial ones.

Overall, natural and commercial cleaning products have their pros and cons. Depending on your preference, your personal situation, and the time you can dedicate to house cleaning, natural cleaning solutions may or may not be the best route for you. On the contrary, if you prefer natural over commercial and have the time to put into making your own solutions, then you will be able to enjoy the benefits that natural cleaning has to offer you and your family.

Debra Marks is a house cleaning enthusiast and author. For more great information on natural cleaning supplies you can visit http://www.simplehousecleaning.com a website dedicated to providing quality information on house cleaning.

Wood Window Damage

Monday, June 8, 2009

Remodeling Porches Is Easy

Remodeling porches can create great benefits for your home. This example from DoItYourself.com shows that you can make more of your outdoors with these fresh-as-air ideas that use paint, stain, and basic carpentry skills to spruce up a plain backyard. Mosquitoes, plus the desire to enjoy spring, summer, and fall relaxing outside, prompted the owners of an Atlanta, Georgia home to transform their back porch from a concrete slab to a screened-in showcase. The decision was simple; the solution wasn't quite so easy.

Though they knew they wanted to screen the existing back patio -- a square of concrete tucked under a roof overhang -- complications arose. The porch needed to blend in with the existing house and still withstand the local insects, high humidity, and scorching summer temperatures. The concrete slab had a slight drop for rain runoff, so the homeowners had to trim the inside of the frame to fit that slope.

Here?s a step-by-step of what they did:

1. Cut the paneling. Pre-primed 4x8-foot sheets of beadboard ceiling paneling are cut to fit.

2. Install the ceiling panels and fan. A nail gun makes quick work of installing ceiling panels and is easier than holding a panel while swinging a hammer. Before all of the paneling is installed, the ceiling is wired for a fan and light. The fan enables the homeowners to keep their porch 8 to 10 degrees cooler than the outdoors, while the light allows the porch to be used at night. One person held the fan while the other connected the wires then screwed the fan into place. The ceiling's finish trim hides the seams in the paneling.

3. Frame the porch. The 2x4 frame of the homeowners' porch was sized to fit the standard-width screens that were installed later. Crosspieces can be either nailed directly through the vertical braces or toenailed in place.

4. Attach interior paneling. A staple gun secures the interior pine-and-plywood beadboard paneling. Though the panels are level across the top, they had to be trimmed at the bottom to follow the uneven concrete floor, which slopes to accommodate rain runoff.

5. Attach and level exterior paneling. The hardboard exterior panels are added one at a time, from the bottom up. The builders custom-cut the first one to follow the bumpy ground line. It took some practice tries to get the paint the same tone of pale yellow as the weathered version on the house. The weather-resistant exterior paint requires only a washing with soap and water to maintain its color.

6. Finish off the screen. Vinyl grids are screwed directly into the wooden frame. The screens attach to the channels in these grids, creating a stapleless installation for fiberglass or aluminum screens. Once the screens are rolled into the grid channels using a spline, excess screen is simply trimmed off. A mallet snaps the caps over the vinyl channels and locks the screens in place.

Kurt Schefken's web pages can be discovered on plenty of web publications linked to saw sharpening and tree trimming. You can see his comments on chain saws at various other sources for chain saws information.

2 X 4 Drop Ceiling Fire Blocking

Sunday, June 7, 2009

Inerrancy of the Bible - Are There Mistakes in the Bible

What does the word inerrancy main? Inerrancy would refer to text that is accurate and totally free of any errors or without any mistakes. Does this sound like any book that you have ever read or have knowledge of. Maybe there is a one sentence book that could fall into this category.

Most books however and even this article has mistakes. If I made a decision to base my life, my entire life and that of my children and grandchildren, I would want to make sure that it was accurate as possible.

Is the Bible, 100%, 90%, or even 50% accurate. Are these stories that were written by people many years ago and the lessons have been helpful but now need to be rewritten.

Does the Bible actually contain the will of God? Some scholars believe that certain sections of the Bible meet this criteria while others do not. How can these people judge if they are not God and how can we believe in this stuff is not true.

If the Bible was inspired by God but written by men, this could actually mean that God had complete control over writing the Bible or does this mean that the man wrote the Bible with gods inspiration. I'm inspired by God daily and often write about it, but don't seem to have enough followers to make it into the biblical Hall of Fame. I'm writing with inspired beliefs right now.

If there are errors in the Bible, how extensive or how many errors are there actually. There are actual stories that can be documented as historical facts. This doesn't mean the rest of the Bible is factual, nor does it mean it is historically inaccurate.

The Bible has some errors in it and some facts that we can prove but leaves us with the question, is this a book from the Creator of the universe or a book written by men, to make us believe, it was written by God and if so why are we still believe being in it. Why do some people read this book and other religious text daily? What motivates them to read holy Scripture regularly but doesn't seem to allow them enough time to find out if they are reading accurate information.

The biggest problem I have with the inerrancy of the Bible is the fact that most people tend to ignore certain truths and cling to their childhood beliefs about religion. If this is not the way or the truth, I would want to start looking for it, instead of following someone else's dreams or religious doctrine.

Greg Vanden Berge is a published author, internet marketing expert, motivational inspiration to millions of people all over the world and is sharing some of his wisdom with experts in the fields of writing,marketing, and personal development.

Greg is currently working on a video library filled with great movies on a wide array of topics, like religion, self help and spiritual changes in the world. His views on religious freedom are slowly changing the way people think about institutional religion. Religious Education And Fear

Peaceful Effects Of Nature

Saturday, June 6, 2009

Emu Oil - Repair Your Hair With Emu Hair Products

Most hair disasters are neither permanent nor defy solutions. A fix is always available, though not all of them may be quick and easy. Emu hair products rich in Emu Oil, help solve frizzy hair, split-ends, dandruff, scalp psoriasis and many other common damaged hair problems. We discuss some of the common hair problems that we all face at some point of time and the solutions.

Horrors of Hair color

Selecting and using hair color can be very tricky. The result that you can finally obtain over your natural shade may not be indicated on the color box and the problem can be compounded if you are bleaching your hair. If the problem is with the color, you can go for color removing products available from your beauty supply store. The bleach in the color remover is the only way to remove permanent or semi permanent color. Make sure not to use the color remover on relaxed hair. On the other hand, if you are over-bleached make sure to take professional help since you may run the risk of severe breakage in the absence of professional assistance.

Bleaching and color treated hair often result in breakage or split-ends. The hair's shaft has been stripped of its nutrients and the bulb and cortex may have suffered damage. Emu hair products heal the scalp and follicles helping restore healthy growth phase development. Emu shampoos and conditioners improve elasticity and help proteins to heal the shaft.

The Hair Cut

At times, a hair cut can be a disaster indeed. If that happens to you, a wig need not be the last option. The worst scenario is of course the terrible cut which you may think has to be grown out. Women in general tend to gain in confidence when they have good looking hair and succeed because of the confidence. There are several synthetic and human hair wigs that can be a perfect match for your previous cut and color. The next thing you should do is consult a competent hair stylist because you cannot afford a second scalping which will leave you with the only choice of a wig. Bad hair cuts generally lead to damaged hair. As we age, hair becomes more brittle and thin. Nutrients, vitamins and minerals increasingly find it difficult to flow through and hydrate and nourish the hair. Emu hair products provide external nourishment, especially if used in conjunction with a hair vitamins or protein formula.

Blow Drying Damage

Make a compound of one cup olive oil, a whole egg and one third cup of honey. Pour the compound through your hair, comb through and let it stand for a minimum of 3 hours before rinsing completely. This compound can be a little messy and will take lot of rinsing. To restore the shine, you can use a vinegar rinse if you do not wash it out. The odor will be only momentary. When you use your dryer later, hold your dryer at least 6 inches from your head and keep moving it continuously when drying. The curling and straightening irons should not be allowed to get too hot and you can sprinkle some water at intervals while you continue styling your hair.

Though somewhat effective, there are easier and "kinder" ways to help heat damaged hair. Heat damage goes from literally "frying" your hair - depleting hydration and damaging the shaft and, possibly, the root. Worse yet is if damaged occurred while your hair is still wet - in that case we are "steaming" - killing protein bonds and preventing nutrition delivery. Emu hair products infuse hydration externally while repairing and healing.

Emu Oil has been used for, and clinically proven to, repair damaged skin and hair. Commonly used for burns, hair products, moisturizing conditioners, shampoos, and skin products, emu hair products offer superior moisturization without being oily or grease; and, they help clear dandruff, scalp psoriasis, and reduce inflammation, itching, and dry hair.

Stepping On Ceiling Plaster

Help! My Clothes Closet is Stuffed!

My closet is stuffed. What do I do? Most folks at this point would love to go out and buy a closet system. These vary in price and quality. But if you do get one at this point, you are actually putting the cart before the horse. Here's the deal. First you need to sort and clear through your clothes. I mean, it doesn't make any sense to buy storage for clothes you no longer need or use, right? So here are some ideas for this most important part of closet design.

Get rid of clothes that don't fit. Period. Be ruthless. If you've lost weight, get rid of the large clothes (don't give yourself an excuse to "grow back into them.") If you've gained weight, get rid of the "just five pounds away," or "I used to look great in this," or "if only I could wear that again," or whatever other story is attached to those clothes. Our body lives in the present. Those clothes live in the past. It's very important to realize this essential truth.

Get rid of clothes that remind you of bad times. Emotional energy has residue that can stick to you and your clothes. When my father was dying, I rushed to his bedside wearing some very nice work clothes. I stayed with him for 24 hours until he passed. Needless to say, I couldn't bear to look at those clothes again, even though they were perfectly good. Now, that's a dramatic example. But take a look at your clothes. See if any of them remind you of a breakup conversation or a particularly awful family gathering. At the very minimum, take them to the cleaners. Then try them on again - is that residue still present? You may want to let them go.

Get rid of clothes that still have price tags on them. Look at it this way. It used to be that when you bought a new outfit, you were excited to wear it. If you have clothes that still have price tags on them (I'm talking a month or weeks later), chances are you're not excited about them. On sale, too tempting to resist, but wrong color? A great buy if you could lose those five pounds? (See above). A friend said you looked fabulous in it but you weren't quite sure? Those clothes represent unfinished business and they have no right to be in your closet.

Like so many things in our home, closets and the objects within are metaphors for our life. Closets that are stuffed to the gills with things that don't fit create a metaphysical energy that is very draining. Think of clearing clothes from your closets as a form of energy clearing - you're getting rid of old, uncomfortable times that you chose not to experience again. And, that beautiful, open space allows you to dream and vision your true self - not bogged down with the past that doesn't fit but with the present and future that does.

Interested in more ways to clear clutter and gain control of your environment? Get great tips and motivating messages by subscribing to articles from http://www.emptyyournest.com

Finding The Very Best Kitchen Appliances For Your Home

Most apartment kitchens are already supplied with stoves and refrigerators included. However, if you need a new stove, microwave, or refrigerator there are many types of such appliances that are good buys, you just need to know what brand, size, and type etc. that you need. Here are some ideas to get you started if you are looking for new stoves, refrigerators, microwaves or other kitchen appliances:

* Refrigerators:

Refrigerators are essential kitchen appliances

The most popular and convenient refrigerators are side-by-side as opposed to the actual fridge part being on the bottom and the freezer on top or vice versa.

Water and ice dispensers on the outside of the door are a very nice touch that make water and, if you choose, ice water easily accessible.

There are even refrigerators, such as ones GE has designed, that are shallower in depth than traditional model refrigerators, which making it much easier to seek and reach for things stored at the back of fridge. As you probably know, food can go bad way back there, usually because you never see it when you look around for something to eat.

And of course, there are much smaller refrigerators that are not so much kitchen appliances as they are conveniences for the office, dorm rooms or recreational vehicles etc. These items are very handy in a lot of ways, and designed especially for the purposes I just mentioned. Virtually all kitchen appliance manufacturers offer such items.

The dishwasher:

Most dishwashers come with push button controls or simple to use dials in the front. Dishwashers in general are fairly accessible appliances, but sometimes you will want to do a little research on the reliability of such kitchen appliances before purchasing your dishwasher.

Dishwashers are usually at least 34" high and will fit perfectly beneath a standard 36" high counter. Unfortunately, standards kitchen appliances do not work for everybody.

For example:

Some people are very tall and have trouble bending. In these cases the person should try to have a higher dishwasher installed, (and often will have higher counters as well). This approach will make their experience in their kitchens a whole lot less painfuland such accommodations for the installation of kitchen appliances is sometimes even doctor recommended.

For another example:

People who use wheelchairs often find it easier and more accessible to have a kitchen counter that has provides space underneath it so that they can pull their wheelchair right up to the counter like a chair. Thus the size of the dishwasher they choose to purchase will have to be carefully considered.

The stove:

Of all kitchen appliances the stove is one of the most important. There are plenty of kitchen appliance manufacturers currently designing burners and ovens especially with different kinds of accessibility in mind.

Knobs:

Sometimes there are knobs or push-button controls in the front of the stove. This way the user does not ever have to reach across a hot burner while cooking.

Ceramic cooktop units:

Another great kind of stove is the type of stove or burners with flat surfaces. These kitchen appliances allow you to easily slide pots and pans from one area to another, and are incredibly easy to clean up after.

Ovens:

The way that the oven door opens is also very important.

Many ovens have a door that pulls downward. This sort of door will provide a very convenient transitional shelf.

On the other hand, some consumers prefer a door that swings to the left or to the right. This may seem to allow him or her better access to the oven racks inside.

* Microwaves:

Microwaves are kitchen appliances that are safer and much less expensive than other kitchen appliances. They are easier to operate than conventional ovens especially because you set the cook time and the microwave immediately turns itself off. This is a great feature for the forgetful cook. Sure you can set a timer for your oven, but the oven stays hot and if you do not hear the dingersupper may be burned, and you may even have to disconnect the smoke alarm. But with a microwave oven, the item you have heated up will just sit there, waiting for you to remember it.

Look for features like a microwave with a door release that can be simply pushed shut.

Many microwaves have pads for programming the operation you need, such as cooking popcorn, re-heating soup or beverages, defrosting frozen leftovers etc. These pads are terrific, unless you have low vision. Or you can, of course, set your own time and heat levels with the number and cooking level pads.

Some microwaves have a timer dial rather than a touch pad.

* Smaller conveniences:

Other kinds of kitchen appliances are not necessary, but make for great accessories and can be incredibly useful in the kitchen. Without some of these smaller and less essential kitchen appliances, there are some things that you will not be able to make.

In-sink garbage disposers:

It is easy to become dependant on in-sink water dispensers. Once you get used to not having to scrape off the remains of your meal on or in your dishes into the trashcan it becomes habitual to take the dishes straight to the kitchen sink. If you do this without an in sink garbage dispenser your drain will get cloggedand quickly.

In sink garbage disposals are designed especially to dispose of food waste easily. And they will help your trashcans smell better longer, for lack of rotting food collecting inside.

Instant hot water dispensers:

Instant hot water dispensers can be a great convenience for those who need quick access for things like coffee or soup. However, it takes only a minute or two more to heat your water in the microwave. Accessories such as instant hot water dispensers are a fancy touch to add to your kitchen for extra convenience.

There are many kitchen appliances to choose from that I have not mentioned here. Popular and smaller items such as blenders, coffee makers, espresso machines, mixers, egg timers and more are great items to own, though not essential. Whatever kitchen appliances you choose to purchase for your kitchen, make sure they are in high quality condition and will be long lasting for your convenience.

Anne Clarke writes numerous articles for websites on gardening, parenting, fashion, and home decor. Her background includes teaching and gardening and consumer information. For more of her articles about household appliances please visit Kitchen Appliances.

Water Heater Damage

Will a Credit Repair Service Help You Buy a Home?

The short answer is, "No and stay away from them!" Credit repair services are those companies who promise to repair your credit and remove evidence of your past credit misdeeds, even if the information they are claiming to remove is accurate. These are not to be confused with credit rescore/reseller companies who work with credit bureaus to rapidly remove mistakes and old information on a credit report.

The charm of credit repair is the idea that for just $XXX you can have your credit score miraculously scrubbed of all the residue of missed payments, bankruptcies and other imbroglios. Credit repair company (CRC) advertisements sidle up to you with all the wit and subtlety of a man in the trench coat asking, "Hey, kid, wanna buy a watch?" and wait for your greed to overcome your good sense. In today's uncertain economic climate, many people are trying desperately to hold onto good credit, which makes ads like these extremely appealing.

The problem is that, despite what they might claim, CRCs cannot remove or repair accurate information that has been entered into the databases of the three main credit agencies. Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. They also cannot do anything that you can't do yourself to correct mistakes and address problems with any of these companies. It may take some more time and effort for you to get your credit report, identify mistakes and old information and write the appropriate letters, but you can do it for the cost of a postage stamp. Go to annualcreditreport.com for more information about getting free credit reports.

There are many signs that a CRC is not on the up-and-up. Any advice they give you about creating a "new credit identity" is most likely going to lead to multiple felonies. Watch out for people with their hand out before they provide you with any material evidence that they have performed the services for which you are paying. They are not legally entitled to any payment under the Credit Repair Organizations Act. A "service" CRCs often offer is disputing any and all negative reports, which does nothing more than waste your time and any money you are paying.

However, companies that offer to help you improve your credit aren't all bad. There are companies, known as credit/rapid rescorers or resellers, which tend to work in private, often along with mortgage companies and the credit bureaus. They specialize in addressing legitimate mistakes in a credit report and fixing them. However, all they can do is try to remove false and old information; they cannot improve your credit score or even guarantee that it will be improved. All they can do is try.

However, when they do try, armed with letters from creditors who have admitted that they have made mistakes or that a debt has been repaid in full, the results can be very rapid indeed, which can be a bonus for home loans. What the consumer takes days or weeks to accomplish, the credit rescorer may be able to do in a matter of hours. The fees are also reasonable, especially when compared to CRC fees, which can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars.

While a credit rescorer may be able to run your credit up a few crucial points that can get you a home loan at a lot more reasonable rate, don't expect them to perform miracles with bad credit. The only sure-fire way to improve bad credit is to pay off your old debts and maintain good debt repayment habits. This takes time to affect your credit score, which can impede your progress in getting a decent home loan. However, the time you take can mean that you have time to save money for a bigger down payment, home purchase expenses and moving expenses.

Stay away from anyone who offers you a "miracle cure" for your credit woes and concentrate on improving your credit the slower, but ultimately more effective and legal way. Only use legitimate credit rescorer companies and make sure you research them with the Better Business Bureau and your state attorney general. Most of all, establish good credit habits and keep an eye on your credit reports in order to qualify for the best home loan you can.

Illustrated Properties is a Jupiter real estate company with professional, effective services to help you succeed in the local market. Visit TedSoldIt.com for information on local neighborhoods like Singer Island real estate, and to see listings of homes for sale.

Corrosive Metal Conduit

Friday, June 5, 2009

Home Solar Solutions - Reduce Home Electricity Bills With Solar Energy

Home solar solutions have the potential to generate clean, renewable electricity for home owners. By using solar energy, we can reduce our home utility bills for many years to come. Apart from our bank mortgage, electricity cost is one of the largest expenses in our household. Although solar technology is complex, the renewable power systems are simple to install and maintain. How does the technology work? This article will provide some information on the application of solar power at home.

A home solar system in general uses solar array to capture the sun energy. A solar array is made from numerous solar cells soldered together in series. Solar cell or Photovoltaic (PV) is made from semiconductor material and has the potential to generate electric current the exposed to sun light. For optimum results, solar arrays are usually fixed on rooftops. To convert the sun energy to usable electric power, the array is connected to batteries bank through a charge controller. The charge controller will regulate the batteries charging process and also prevents any current from flowing back to the array. Since a battery can only store Direct Current (DC), an inverter is used to change the DC to Alternate Current (AC). All of our home electrical appliances run on AC.

Home solar solutions are the fastest grown renewable energy for residential usage. Many people are concern about the rising cost of energy. One of the steps we can take to shield ourselves from expensive energy bills is to implement solar technology at our homes.

Want to know how you can build your own Home Solar Panels to reduce your electricity bill for under $300? If you are good with hand tools, start a Do It Yourself (DIY) project to construct a residential solar array to harness free energy from the sun. What you will need is a step by step instructional guide. Get a comprehensive Solar Power For Homes guide review at http://www.DIYSolarHomes.com/

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Falconry - The Ultimate Pigeon Control Method

Falconry is an art which involves the use of trained raptors (birds of prey) to hunt. Traditional views of falconry state that the art started in Mesopotamia. Historically, falconry was a popular sport and status symbol among the nobles of medieval Europe and feudal Japan. Falconry is not the preserve of the past. If its simple but inviolable concepts are followed, a well-trained bird can be a delight for many years. Nowadays, it is being used as a bird control method in big cities and it is extremely effective.

People are already tired of buying ineffective pigeon repellents and other bird control installations. It is time for a revolutionary method that is going to scare all the pigeons from nesting on your roof and from landing in unwanted areas. Now it is the proper time to introduce falconry - the ultimate pigeon control solution. Many artificial pest control devices are marketed as the best ones but in reality most of them are quite unreliable. Pigeons are intelligent animals and quickly adapt. Spikes, nets, traps, repellents are less effective - pigeons can easily find ways to avoid them all in the long run. So it is just a matter of time till they start coming back again. It doesn't take long to understand that sonic pest control devices, warning sounds and hawk models offer no danger whatsoever.

With falconry - pigeons have no other choice then stay away from that roof or a deadly hawk attack will follow. This is what the ultimate pigeon control method is all about - extremely efficient tactics of pigeon removal. Studies have shown that birds, especially pigeons do not become habituated to real-life predators, such as falcons and hawks. Their presence is continuously associated with danger. What's even better is that the hawks only need to fly once or twice per week to have the desired effect.

With falconry you can forget about all the other pigeon pest control methods. Do not purchase any more pigeon repellents. It is a waste of money. Getting rid of pigeons has never been easier. Do not waste your precious time searching for ultimate installations again birds. Try falconry services for big cities today and you won't be disappointed.

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Energy - Reduce The Costs of Gas Line Repair By Not Having to Destroy the Pavement

If you work with an industrial work and repair crew that does a lot of city work, there are a couple of things you can do to win more contracts than the competition:

1-Get better results

If you don't get great results, you're probably not going to get as much return business, that's economics 101. But let's be honest, this is the city government we're talking about, here. If we could rely on politicians to always make smart choices, we wouldn't be stuck in the middle of a gas crisis right now. So step two might actually be more important...

2-Do it for a lower price

If you can cut costs without sacrificing quality, then do it. No matter how skilled you and your crew are, there are plenty of city officials who only look at the bottom line. If you can work quickly and cheaply, you've got an Ace up your sleeve in securing contracts for industrial work and repair.

When it comes to repairing gas lines, you may want to consider cutting cost and hours by switching to adhesives.

The main benefit of using adhesives to repair cracks and put gas lines together should be obvious. You don't have to rip up the entire sidewalk (or pavement depending where in the world you are) to remove huge chunks of pipe. Once you've determined where the problem is, you only need to dig until you've found what needs to be repaired, apply some industrial strength adhesive to it and call it a day.

Whether you're using sealant tape or adhesives, it's a lot easier, a lot cheaper, and a lot safer to repair and assemble gas lines this way. Using any kind of torch or soldering kit might not be safe, even if the gas has been turned off (which is why a lot of gas lines are made of plastic alloys these days). Any worries about there being some gas still floating around in a damaged pipe are greatly reduced when you're using adhesives or sealant tape instead.

Really, it just doesn't make sense to replace huge chunks of pipe that could easily be sealed with adhesive and it doesn't make sense to tear up the sidewalk to make room for more complicated repair methods. If you're offering to fix gas lines with adhesives, you can offer to do the job for a fraction of what you might require otherwise, allowing you to win more contracts, and without spending too much time on each individual job, so you can quickly move on to the next one.

Another benefit of using adhesives and tapes for repairs is that the price of production materials like PVC pipe and so on is undeniably rising all around the world. This is thanks in large part to the current cost of oil. Heavy materials cost more to move around. Adhesives on the other hand, have retained a pretty low price because they're less cumbersome when it comes to shipping and handling.

Permabond is a leading manufacturer of engineering adhesives, supplying high-quality industrial adhesives to customers worldwide. Permabond has offices in The Americas, Europe and Asia and a worldwide network of distributors to assist you with your specific bonding and sealing requirements. To learn more, please visit Adhesives.

Monday, June 1, 2009

Stair Building Deck Video

Stair building tips for installing lights and decking, handrail tips and some deck advice.

For more helpful home improvement information visit: http://www.gregvan.com

Stair Building Tips

Swimming Pool Books
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Tile Shower Pan - 3 Different Types

Your tile shower pan can be of three types. If you are considering installing a new shower you should know your choices. If you have problems with your current shower leaking, knowing how the shower is put together helps you talk to a tradesman who will work on it.

Traditional Tile Shower Pans

Most likely your existing shower pan is made using traditional methods. That means the shower floor is built up with masonry or a cement mix. The concept used for this method is simple, but there are several tricks and some art involved. This method if properly done will produce ceramic showers that work great for many decades.

Very briefly the traditional pan is built as follows. First, set a special shower drain in place with the drain top at the height of the finished floor. Make sure you have a good solid sub floor topped with roofing felt. Then pour in mortar mix and slope it to the drain. The next layer is a waterproof vinyl membrane. This sheet is the waterproof barrier which is glued to the drain. Above the membrane or liner goes the top layer of masonry sloped to the drain. Then finally install the tile and grout to finish the floor.

Know that the masonry and grout in a shower floor are not waterproof. Only the vinyl liner is waterproof. If installed properly, you have a long-lasting set-up. If mistakes are made, you have a problem. Also the shower floor is not maintenance free. The joints at the floor to walls must be checked regularly and may require caulking from time to time.

Fiberglass Shower Pans

A quick and easy way to build a shower pan is to install a fiberglass pan made for this purpose. These are the pans you see at building stores. Tile cannot be installed on these pans. It's fast and relatively easy but fiberglass pans have negatives. These pans do not last as long as traditional pans. They are easily scratched and damaged. And a fiberglass shower pan does not have the luxury look and feel of a ceramic tile shower.

Tile Ready Shower Pans

There are several systems now that make installing a shower pan faster than the traditional way. All the systems use a vinyl pan with an integral drain designed for installation of ceramic tile over the top of the pan. Methods vary, but systems contain material to line the walls and make a completely waterproof shower. Some systems use a mortar base for the shower pan to sit on. Others use a special foam base.

The advantages of these systems over traditional systems is speed. No waiting for mortar layers to dry. Also the level of art and skill for the installer is less. The disadvantage is cost. Typically the tile ready showers are far more expensive than a traditional tile shower pan.
The material is sometimes as expensive as the whole job cost the traditional way.

Puzzled about how to build a ceramic tile shower? Need more information? Visit our site for tile shower pan tips.

We invite you to visit http://www.installingceramictile.net for answers to your ceramic shower questions.

How to Repair the Washing Machine Drain Hose

Having problems with your washing machine because the drain hose does not drain? This is one of the most common washing machine problems one can encounter whenever the washer breaks down. Many factors can cause this breakage and age is one of them.

If your washing machine continues to fill itself with water and you can hear the sound of the motor, then it indicates that the washer belt is still functioning properly.

Whenever a drain hose stopped working, there are only two reasons - either the drain hose is faulty or the pump in the washing machine has gone something wrong. In this article, we will share with you what you can do to fix this problem.

First Step

You need to inspect the washing machine lid to find out whether is broken. You can make use of a pencil or a long pointed object to poke against the lid button.

Second Step

Check whether the hose is attached to the pipe hole. If that is the case, unattached it.

Third Step

Choose a replacement hose. Two main types of hose are available. You can either choose the reinforced rubber or the sturdier and newer type - stainless-steel reinforced.

Fourth Step

Turn off the source of the water supply. Remember to unplug the electrical plug for safety reason. There are 3 hoses and you need to disconnect them to do the replacement. You need a monkey wrench tool, pipe wrench and a normal plier to help do the job here. Be careful of the water dripping from these hoses.

Final Step

After you have removed the hose from the washing machine, it's time to replace the old with the new hose. This is a much easier step. Apply a little grease on the faucet and connector and make sure the rubber fits in directly into the hose connector. Complete the job with the hose connector. Take note to not avoid twisting the hose when you setup for new hose. Try to leave some gap behind the washer and wall for the hose.

Visit http://www.washingmachineadvisor.com for more washing machine repair tips, Asko washing machine reviews and other washing machine related advice.

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