How To Avoid The Pitfalls Of Buying A Used Stair Lift

A seemingly simple thing as walking up and down stairs can be impossible for those who are disabled or handicapped. Installing a handicap stair lift can give a person a real sense of independence - perhaps for the first time in years. But they are very expensive. It is possible to save hundreds of dollars by installing a used stair lift however before doing so, you should first be sure that the second hand one is going to be right for you.

There are two types of stair lift; straight and curved. Both types can be powered by either mains electricity or by rechargeable batteries. Before you consider buying a used stair lift you should be aware of the issues in installing and using an electric or battery model for both straight and curved chair lifts.

A curved lift is for stairways that have turns or mid-level landings. Curved models are custom made and can take anything up to 3 months to install. They are also considerably more expensive than straight models. If your stairs require a curved lift you should think long and hard about buying a used model. A used one will have been custom made for another staircase and will almost certainly not fiF17t yours. Therefore a used curved stair lift will require that the track - on which the chair travels - be modified substantially; in fact, you may not be able to modify it at all and have to buy a new track for your stairs.

Buying and installing a used curved chair lift is a specialized skill. Unless you are very experienced at this sort of work, you will need to buy this sort of lift from a supplier, who will install and provide a warranty. The suppliers are not hard to find, a quick look on the web will quickly help you locate a dealer near you.

To buy and install a used straight stair lift is less problematic. There's no need to modify the track; you simply have to fit it to your stairs. However, there are one or two things to check before you buy this type of second hand chair lift. If your stairs require that the rail be fitted on the right-hand-side then make sure the used model you buy is suitable for the right and not the left side. If you're going to install it yourself you should make sure that the track is the right size for your stairs. Tracks come in various lengths - usually between 16 and 20 feet - so make sure the track length is long enough for your stairs.

Most new models are battered operated - makes like Stannah and Bruno Stair Lift - and there are many advantages with battery powered models. Ones that use rechargeable batteries generally have a smoother ride, are easy to install - requiring no wiring and the stair lift can be used during power outages.

Many older models are powered from mains supply. One or two manufacturers like the Summit Stair Lift still make a mains powered model. If you are going to buy a used stair lift that is mains powered you will need to do some wiring; unless you're a qualified electrician you will need a professional to do this work. Also, it was quite common for these types to have the electric cable trail behind the chair, which does present the possibility of someone tripping over it.

Other things you should check before you buy a second hand stair lift are the general condition of the chair; does it swing out smoothly; does it have a seatbelt - if you need to wear one you will have the problem of trying to buy a seatbelt for a model of stair lift that may no longer be made. If it's a battery powered model check that the batteries and charger are in good working order. The same applies to all the controls.

Finally, you should think about a warranty. If you buy a used model and fit it yourself you won't have any guarantee that it will be safe and work properly. If you buy from a specialist supplier then you should get some guarantee about safety and will get after sales support. As stated, there are many reputable suppliers of used stair lifts - you can find many of them online - and they sell many leading brands like Acorn, Stannah and Bruno stair lifts.

Follow the links for used stair lifts and get stair lift reviews on leading brands like the Bruno stair lift.

An Obligation To Provide Clean Power?

We contract with an electrical utility to supply are homes and businesses with power. They supply this power, from a power generation facility, through an elaborate electrical grid and then connect it to our home or business with overhead wires or via an underground connection.

Is it reasonable for us to assume that the energy that is supplied and the method used to supply it, is clean and safe? Apparently not!

More and more U.S. electrical utilities are suggesting to their customers that they install whole house surge protection along with specific use surge protectors for high value items such as computers and home entertainment centers. Depending on the utility the fees range from free installation to an installation charge of $95, monthly fees from $6 to $10 and committed contracts for three to five years.

Now I am quite aware that many electrical surges in our homes and businesses do not originate on the power lines, some surges come over cable TV and telephone lines. In many cases the wires, whether they are power, cable TV or telephone are just the delivery mechanism and the actual surge was picked up from lightning striking the ground or the actual wires themselves and there is very little a utility or communication company can do to prevent the damage that might be caused by such an incident.

However, some of the electrical surges are a direct result of; too little power on the grid, over demand and the installation of overhead power lines. Yet we are being asked to cover the cost of protecting our homes and businesses from a commodity that we are paying for in the first place.

The question is; should the property owner be responsible for providing surge protection in order to safe guard their installed electrical equipment, or should the utility take the responsibility both morally and economically of providing surge protection?

For additional information on safeguarding your home from power surges or other renovation projects, visit Renovation Headquarters.

Rustic Country Decor - How to Decorate Cottage Style Homes

Rustic country decor and how to decorate cottage style homes are extensions of American country style decorating. In addition, traditions are borrowed from French, English and some Swedish country looks. Rustic country decor can be defined as coarse, charmingly simple, unfussy, unfinished and yet with endearing qualities. Rustic country decorating includes the use of natural woods, aged surfaces, rough finishes and simple lines. Cottage style homes are comfortable, modest, quaint homes that can be made of thick stone or log wood.

Floors in rustic country decor and cottage style homes are made with stone or wood materials. Wooden floors were traditionally constructed with boards that were bare and simply waxed and hand-polished (high-gloss varnishes did not exist). Sometimes the boards were painted with light colors. If you like floor coverings, use oriental rugs and throws for visual warmth and color. Rustic country decor is about handcrafted objects, simplicity, furnishings that you enjoy and connecting back to nature.

Rustic cottage furniture is commonly made with pine and perhaps painted with hand-painted designs such as flowers, birds, animals, country scenery or leaves. Use ladderback chairs, rocking chairs, benches, wicker furniture and Windsor chairs. A large rectangular table made of pine is a good option for your kitchen or dining room table. To give your furniture a rustic look, brush a coat of paint on the furniture piece, then rub most of the paint off. After it dries, apply wood stain unevenly for an older weathered appearance. It will be perfect and rustic looking!

Baskets can be used to store wood, pine cones, flowers, plants and needlework. Brass candle holders, oil or kerosene lamps, sconces, hurricane lamps, tin lanterns, recessed ceiling fixtures or a vintage wrought-iron or metal chandelier provide successful lighting for rustic country decor and cottage style homes. Colors used in rustic country decor or cottage style homes are neutral tones ranging from white to bone, earth tones, red barn, blues and greens.

For rustic country decor in the kitchen, use open shelves, hutches, buffets, plate racks and cupboards for storage. Often, country kitchen storage is crammed with stoneware pots, plain glazed earthenware and glass jars. Kitchen pots should be made of copper, steel or cast iron -- cookware tends to be large and plain. Use open shelving in the rustic country kitchen to display plates, dishes and dinnerware collections. Natural woods, light colors and bright fabrics work great for window treatments. Adding a rustic butcher block island creates a wonderful visual effect as well as provides useful functionality.

A rustic country decor bathroom has neutral tones or soft colored walls, antique-looking lighting, and wooden antiques or antique reproduction cabinets and vanity. Knowing how to decorate cottage style homes and bathrooms can result in creating a calm and elegant atmosphere. Clawfoot tubs, pedestal sinks, country style antique brass faucets and old-fashioned country cabinets provide the kind of atmosphere that makes you want to spend time there. Plain white towels are recommended instead of patterned or bright modern patterns. Use wicker or wire baskets to keep your sponges, loofas and shampoos handy near the tub or shower.

Understanding how to decorate cottage style homes means including items like quilts, antique furniture or reproductions, flea-market pieces, trunks, chests, armoires, stenciling, wallpaper, adirondack chairs, flower wreaths and bistro chairs. These types of elements give cottage style homes the kind of rustic country decor that is simpler, very personal and warmly inviting.

Whether in a seaside setting, an urban environment, a countryside location or a wooded mountain retreat, cottage style homes are cozy and unassuming, combining the past with the present. Read all you can find and learn what creating the rustic country cottage means to you no matter where it's located. Enjoy expressing your personality and showing what the definition of home means to you.

Copyright 2005 InfoSearch Publishing

David Buster is VP of InfoSearch Publishing and webmaster of http://www.yourdreamloghome.com - visit the website and learn more about rustic country home decor and design, rustic kitchens and bathrooms, log cabins, fireplaces and firewood and much more.

Building With Pressure Treated Lumber? Know The Rules!

If you are building a deck, retaining wall or a swing set for the kids it is highly likely that your material of choice is pressure treated lumber.

Pressure treated lumber, if installed properly, should provide a 40 year useable life. However, there are some things about pressure treated lumber that you have to know, in order to obtain that life and not have your project fall apart in a few years.

To create pressure treated lumber, raw lumber is impregnated with two waterborne compounds that are copper based chemicals. The amount of copper basically determines the usage and all pressure treated lumber, sold in the US, is supposed to have a tag stapled to the end of the board signifying its pounds of preservative per cubic foot of wood product:

0.25 Above Ground

0.40 Ground Contact

0.60 Permanent Wood Foundation

2.50 Salt Water

Because the lumber is impregnated with 16C3copper, the choice of fasteners becomes very important. When two dissimilar metals come in contact with one another a galvanic reaction is created, the outcome is that the materials corrode and disintegrate. The higher the levels of copper in the lumber the faster that the corrosion will occur.

Although most people realize that they must use corrosion resistant fasteners and connectors many do not consider items such as flashings and light poles that are also in contact with the pressure treated lumber. Of course the best metals to use for fasteners, flashings and anything else that comes in contact with the deck is stainless steel or copper whenever possible. Stainless steel is expensive and copper is not conveniently available at your local lumber supply so the next best material is steel that has been galvanized.

Galvanized fasteners come in different grades (the thickness of the coating), better manufactures mark the box with a G rating. The higher the G rating, the more zinc used. You shouldnt use less than a G-90 rating and engineers are now suggesting the use of G-185. If the box is not marked it is probably a G-60 or less and this will not provide enough zinc coating to prevent galvanization from occurring. Cadmium plated nuts, bolts and screws do not provide any protection from corrosion whatsoever.

Some manufactures have created composite coatings for use with pressure treated lumber. Read the label on the box and make sure that what you are buying is suitable for the job.

Do not use aluminum flashing, deck flashing must be stainless steel, galvanized or copper. Aluminum corrodes very quickly when in contact with copper. This also means that metals items that come in contact with the pressure treated lumber must also be protected, items such as outdoor furniture, and barbeques should have rubber or vinyl feet or wheels.

For additional information on pressure treated lumber for your home or other renovation projects, visit Renovation Headquarters.

Improve Your Bathroom, Improve Your Home

A bathroom does not have1C83 to be a drab or unexciting room although in many older homes this was the case. Here are some bathroom renovation ideas that will bring bathrooms to life.

In classical times, the bathroom was a room of great beauty. This was mostly because indoor plumbing was unknown and the function of the bathroom was to provide a place for bathing. This was often done in tiled baths surrounded by works of art and fancy tile mosaics. While space restrictions would prevent most modern bathrooms from copying the look of Roman baths, it is not impossible to add a little classic beauty and comfort to this room. Here are some bathroom renovation ideas that can accomplish this little trick.

One of the best ways to recreate a classic look is the use of tiles. Tiles were one of the earliest decorative motifs of classical bathrooms. The use of glass tiles on the walls of a bathroom or ceramic tiles on counter tops can add a classical look to an otherwise drab bathroom. Along with the use of tiles, lighting is something that is often overlooked in older bathroom designs. Attention to the improving of internal lighting and the subsequent brightening of the bathroom often changes the ambience of the room completely.

When you are working under budget restrictions in your renovation project, consider leaving as many original fixtures in place as possible and designing your improvements around them. If the plumbing fixtures are in good condition, it is not economical to tear them all out just to move a sink a few inches or relocate the toilette bowl. It is true that most bathroom designers in the past decades did not seem to appreciate the use of space, but you can often find creative ways to increase space without tearing everything out and starting over.

One of the new products being used in many modern bathrooms are under tile heating coils. These radiant heating systems produce warmed tiles on the bathroom floors. The installation is not too difficult and can be done as part of the floor tile replacement. Many bathroom renovations are based on the replacement of a tub with some type of shower. This involves a major investment in plumbing and can be avoided by considering the use of a handheld showerhead that can be used to convert the simple tub into a shower. The problem of installing shower curtains is not quite as expensive to solve as running behind the wall pipes to provide a conventional shower.

These are just a few bathroom renovation designs and ideas. The bathroom does not have to be the forgotten room of the home. The idea of bathing has always been as much to promote relaxation as well as cleanliness. A well lit and beautiful bathroom will recapture this classical feeling of comfort and can often be achieved with little effort.

Aazdak Alisimo writes about bathroom design ideas for http://www.BathroomDesignSupply.com

Roofing Material

A fine roof is an essential element of a well planned home. Employing experienced workforce and use of high quality equipment is important. Rates, simplicity of setting up and appearance are all deciding factors in selecting a roofing material. It is important to examine a roof structure before deciding upon a material. Walls, beams and structures must sustain the weight of the roofing material, which are available in wide varieties.

Composition shingles are reasonably priced and offer a fresh look. These are hardwearing, have low maintenance costs and are fire resistant. Shingles maybe made of recycled material. However, they usually have a short life span and can be blown away by strong winds.

Roofing tiles are a more modern and long lasting alternative for roofing. They are fire and rot resistant and cannot be destroyed by insects. This type of roofing needs little maintenance, hence is a popular option.

Wood shakes wear, over time, but it is a natural look and the wood allows a house to take in air. Unfortunately, they are also susceptible to mold, rot and insects. This roofing requires appropriate repairs and renovation. Standing-seam steel, aluminum or coated steels are popular metal roofing varieties. These are strong, fire resistant and need low maintenance. Mostly made from eco-friendly material, they weigh less and maybe installed over existing roof structures.

Slate, although a costly option, offers an extremely natural appearance and great fire resistance. Slate roofing requires low maintenance and is not at risk from insects. They are also heavy, brittle and cause difficulties in rooftop repairs and drainage cleaning. Concrete includes a variety of fiber-reinforced cement products. They are durable, long lasting and need low maintenance.

Purchasing high priced materials does not always mean they will be superior and not all products are suitable for the needs of all homes. It is vital that homeowners choose the right material, ensure correct installation and conduct timely assessments, which provides longevity of roofs. If the right selection is made, a roof may survive for 20 to 50 years, and at times, much longer.

Roofing provides detailed information on Roofing, Metal Roofing, Roofing Contractor, Roofing Material and more. Roofing is affiliated with Asphalt Shingles.

Building With Pressure Treated Lumber? Know The Rules!

If you are building a deck, retaining wall or a swing set for the kids it is highly likely that your material of choice is pressure treated lumber.

Pressure treated lumber, if installed properly, should provide a 40 year useable life. However, there are some things about pressure treated lumber that you have to know, in order to obtain that life and not have your project fall apart in a few years.

To create pressure treated lumber, raw lumber is impregnated with two waterborne compounds that are copper based chemicals. The amount of copper basically determines the usage and all pressure treated lumber, sold in the US, is supposed to have a tag stapled to the end of the board signifying its pounds of preservative per cubic foot of wood product:

0.25 Above Ground

0.40 Ground Contact

0.60 Permanent Wood Foundation

2.50 Salt Water

Because the lumber is impregnated with 16C3copper, the choice of fasteners becomes very important. When two dissimilar metals come in contact with one another a galvanic reaction is created, the outcome is that the materials corrode and disintegrate. The higher the levels of copper in the lumber the faster that the corrosion will occur.

Although most people realize that they must use corrosion resistant fasteners and connectors many do not consider items such as flashings and light poles that are also in contact with the pressure treated lumber. Of course the best metals to use for fasteners, flashings and anything else that comes in contact with the deck is stainless steel or copper whenever possible. Stainless steel is expensive and copper is not conveniently available at your local lumber supply so the next best material is steel that has been galvanized.

Galvanized fasteners come in different grades (the thickness of the coating), better manufactures mark the box with a G rating. The higher the G rating, the more zinc used. You shouldnt use less than a G-90 rating and engineers are now suggesting the use of G-185. If the box is not marked it is probably a G-60 or less and this will not provide enough zinc coating to prevent galvanization from occurring. Cadmium plated nuts, bolts and screws do not provide any protection from corrosion whatsoever.

Some manufactures have created composite coatings for use with pressure treated lumber. Read the label on the box and make sure that what you are buying is suitable for the job.

Do not use aluminum flashing, deck flashing must be stainless steel, galvanized or copper. Aluminum corrodes very quickly when in contact with copper. This also means that metals items that come in contact with the pressure treated lumber must also be protected, items such as outdoor furniture, and barbeques should have rubber or vinyl feet or wheels.

For additional information on pressure treated lumber for your home or other renovation projects, visit Renovation Headquarters.

Big Mold Problems

Roofing Material

A fine roof is an essential element of a well planned home. Employing experienced workforce and use of high quality equipment is important. Rates, simplicity of setting up and appearance are all deciding factors in selecting a roofing material. It is important to examine a roof structure before deciding upon a material. Walls, beams and structures must sustain the weight of the roofing material, which are available in wide varieties.

Composition shingles are reasonably priced and offer a fresh look. These are hardwearing, have low maintenance costs and are fire resistant. Shingles maybe made of recycled material. However, they usually have a short life span and can be blown away by strong winds.

Roofing tiles are a more modern and long lasting alternative for roofing. They are fire and rot resistant and cannot be destroyed by insects. This type of roofing needs little maintenance, hence is a popular option.

Wood shakes wear, over time, but it is a natural look and the wood allows a house to take in air. Unfortunately, they are also susceptible to mold, rot and insects. This roofing requires appropriate repairs and renovation. Standing-seam steel, aluminum or coated steels are popular metal roofing varieties. These are strong, fire resistant and need low maintenance. Mostly made from eco-friendly material, they weigh less and maybe installed over existing roof structures.

Slate, although a costly option, offers an extremely natural appearance and great fire resistance. Slate roofing requires low maintenance and is not at risk from insects. They are also heavy, brittle and cause difficulties in rooftop repairs and drainage cleaning. Concrete includes a variety of fiber-reinforced cement products. They are durable, long lasting and need low maintenance.

Purchasing high priced materials does not always mean they will be superior and not all products are suitable for the needs of all homes. It is vital that homeowners choose the right material, ensure correct installation and conduct timely assessments, which provides longevity of roofs. If the right selection is made, a roof may survive for 20 to 50 years, and at times, much longer.

Roofing provides detailed information on Roofing, Metal Roofing, Roofing Contractor, Roofing Material and more. Roofing is affiliated with Asphalt Shingles.

Fallbrook Church With Red Tile

Building With Pressure Treated Lumber? Know The Rules!

If you are building a deck, retaining wall or a swing set for the kids it is highly likely that your material of choice is pressure treated lumber.

Pressure treated lumber, if installed properly, should provide a 40 year useable life. However, there are some things about pressure treated lumber that you have to know, in order to obtain that life and not have your project fall apart in a few years.

To create pressure treated lumber, raw lumber is impregnated with two waterborne compounds that are copper based chemicals. The amount of copper basically determines the usage and all pressure treated lumber, sold in the US, is supposed to have a tag stapled to the end of the board signifying its pounds of preservative per cubic foot of wood product:

0.25 Above Ground

0.40 Ground Contact

0.60 Permanent Wood Foundation

2.50 Salt Water

Because the lumber is impregnated with 16C3copper, the choice of fasteners becomes very important. When two dissimilar metals come in contact with one another a galvanic reaction is created, the outcome is that the materials corrode and disintegrate. The higher the levels of copper in the lumber the faster that the corrosion will occur.

Although most people realize that they must use corrosion resistant fasteners and connectors many do not consider items such as flashings and light poles that are also in contact with the pressure treated lumber. Of course the best metals to use for fasteners, flashings and anything else that comes in contact with the deck is stainless steel or copper whenever possible. Stainless steel is expensive and copper is not conveniently available at your local lumber supply so the next best material is steel that has been galvanized.

Galvanized fasteners come in different grades (the thickness of the coating), better manufactures mark the box with a G rating. The higher the G rating, the more zinc used. You shouldnt use less than a G-90 rating and engineers are now suggesting the use of G-185. If the box is not marked it is probably a G-60 or less and this will not provide enough zinc coating to prevent galvanization from occurring. Cadmium plated nuts, bolts and screws do not provide any protection from corrosion whatsoever.

Some manufactures have created composite coatings for use with pressure treated lumber. Read the label on the box and make sure that what you are buying is suitable for the job.

Do not use aluminum flashing, deck flashing must be stainless steel, galvanized or copper. Aluminum corrodes very quickly when in contact with copper. This also means that metals items that come in contact with the pressure treated lumber must also be protected, items such as outdoor furniture, and barbeques should have rubber or vinyl feet or wheels.

For additional information on pressure treated lumber for your home or other renovation projects, visit Renovation Headquarters.

Big Mold Problems

The Effect of Lighting on Solid Surface Material

One thing about solid surface counter tops and showers that some people do not take into consideration is the way that lighting in a room affects the appearance of the surface.

My most recent case of this is a Corian shower. The color is Cocoa Brown. There are only 2 walls and there is a shower pan. Just to the left of the shower there is a small window and it is the only outside light coming into the bathroom.

On this particular shower, the wall panels had to be polished to a high gloss. The shower pan also needed to be polished. Because of this, I decided to bring the first wall panel into the shower before making all the cuts for fitting so the homeowner could inspect and approve the polishing job on the pieces.

Before I even had the panel resting comfortably on the shower pan the homeowner said, "Those pieces don't match." Immediately I looked down and sure enough, it looked like 2 very different colors. Now, I knew that they were not two different colors but even though I knew it, for one quick second I even had to second guess the colors between the panel and the shower pan.

Immediately my helper was on the phone with the fabricator (I wasn't the fabricator, I was just helping the fabricator on this job) trying to figure out how they could have made such a mistake.

I had the piece of material that was cut out to allow for the hot/cold controls. I put it on the shower pan and it was the exact same color as the shower pan. However, when we held the cutout up on the wall, it then became the same color as the wall panel. They both looked very different but they were the same after all.

So, what caused the drastic difference in color? The light from that one small window. As soon as the "problem" was noticed, I took a picture. While we were waiting for the designer to show up and inspect things, we went to lunch for about 45 minutes.

When the designer got there, the lighting had changed so drastically in that bathroom that she walked in, looked at it and said, "It looks the same to me." Sure enough, the wall panels looked the same as the shower pan. I went ahead with the rest of the installation and when I was done, the lighting had changed again and once again it looked like two different colors. I turned the bathroom lights on and off and each time the color went from different, back to the same.

Basically, the point of this story is this.

Light can really do funny things to your solid surface material. Window light in particular can play some serious tricks on the appearance of the color and also in the correct light angles, you can see more scratches and smudges and just plain busyness (new word) on your surface.

These light tricks are not unique to solid surface. Natural stone and manufactured stone also have the same lighting issues but for some reason solid surface really seems to get picked on for this. The difference I guess is the "sameness" factor that people expect to see from one piece of solid surface to the next. It should all look alike. Period.

Stone products are natural and therefore everyone automatically knows to expect some variation from piece to piece.

I think the important thing is to make sure that the customer is aware of this issue ahead of time and to expect it to a certain degree. It's all about building the proper expectations and then coming through on those expectations.

Bryan Dix is the owner of Complete Solid Surface Refinishing. North Carolina's first and best solid surface counter top "repair only" fabricator. CSSR Blog is packed with photos of different repairs and situations. Questions that customers and others ask will be addressed here. CSSR Blog.

Exterior Wood Stairs

Bathroom Lighting Design

Do you find yourself not wanting to look at yourself in your bathroom mirror in the morning? It may simply be because you have poor lighting. Lighting naturally creates shadows and if you don't have your lighting properly planned, you may find that your newly remodeled bathroom isn't the happy place you thought it would be.

I'm writing this article as a result of numerous questions from my neighbor who is remodeling. Being a lighting professional, they have lots of questions for me regarding their bathroom lighting. It really seems to be a daunting task for them. In Bathroom lighting design, there are many decisions to make. From design and placement to what fixture to use to what light bulbs are best. I'd like to take you around the room to give you a rule of thumb when planning your own bathroom lighting design.

Shower Lights

Showers are a space that you no doubt need a form of recessed lighting. It's very important to use a recessed fixture that is made for the shower and rated to work under conditions of humidity and possible contact with water. In addition you'll want to use a light bulbs rated to use in the shower. Most products will be clearly marked as such.

Personally, we have a dimmer on our shower light. It allows for a slow wake up by anyone getting into the shower before the light of day. But it's important to provide enough light to allow you to shave and see what you are doing.

Bathtub Lighting

Depending on the height of your bathtub and if it is separate from your shower, your lighting solutions here will be different. Let's assume you have a separate bathtub here. If not, you won't do anything different than what I've outlined above. Typically, you will be using recessed lighting above your bathtub area. It is not necessary to have water rated fixtures and light bulbs in this spot. One or maybe two recessed fixture111Cs aimed at the outside of the tub will provide what you need. Aiming to the outside of the tub will provide light to see what you are doing yet will cut down on any glare.

Mirror and Vanity Lighting

This area might be the most crucial spot to get it "right." Improper lighting when you are trying to apply make-up or shaving can be the pits. Lighting companies have come up with a number of functional and decorative choices for vanity/mirror lighting.

Topping and flanking your mirror with vanity strips is one way to provide light. Insure that you purchase vanity light bulbs that have a lower wattage or frosted glass so you don't blind yourself. The mistake I've seen many make is that their light bulbs are too powerful and then they unscrew several of them to take the light level down. This totally defeats the purpose of having a vanity strip as it is suppose to distribute light evenly.

What we decided to use is our home is wall sconces. And now that I think about it, we used it in all three bathrooms. The master has 3 as we have a long vanity and there are holes cut in the glass where the sconces sit. The other two bathrooms have the sconces flanking the mirror. When you choose to have more than two, it's important that the spacing be such that the light is coming from either side of each sink. Spacing here is not as critical; just insure that they are evenly spaced. Most folks tent to stand in front of the sink and you wouldn't want to have the sconce right in front of your face! Their height should be about eye height. This will need to be adjusted slightly according to the type of sconce that you choose. Bottom line is that you don't want to be able to see the light bulb itself when standing and looking at the sconce.

Ceiling Fixtures

If you are lucky enough to high ceilings in your bathroom, go for a small decorative fixture like a small chandelier. The rule of thumb on the size of chandelier is calculated by taking the width of the room added to the length of the room. (Or if you are installing multiple lighting fixtures, use the dimensions of the area that this fixture is meant to light.) That number should equal the diameter of the fixture. Ie. A master bath that is 15' X 13' would need a chandelier or decorative fixture about 28" in diameter.

Recessed Lighting

I'm all for recessed fixtures in your overall bathroom lighting design. What I don't care for are ceilings that look like swiss cheese. After you've planned for all other lighting, it would be prudent to fill other lighting needs with recessed lighting. If using recessed in the toilet area, locate the can in front of the toilet and not right over. No reason to be in the spot light!

Use recessed to light dead areas or to light sitting/reading areas. Yes, some bathrooms are big enough for reading or lounging areas. Above a bench or reading area is a perfect place to insert a recessed fixture. Now, I'm going to throw this in now. My neighbor wants to put a sconce above the toilet for reading purposes. Use the same rule of thumb as mirror sconces and place the fixture at about eye level.

Night Light

Some sort of lighting that can be left on all night is not only a safety solution but will allow you to make the middle of the night trip to the bathroom without totally waking yourself up. Lots of folks use a night light and if you don't have much space in your bathroom, this is a great solution. I love to use accent lamp lighting when there is room. A small lamp with a long life light bulb or compact fluorescent light bulb in it provides a wonderful accent light day and night. Either place on your vanity or on a small accent table.

There are numerous components to bathroom lighting design. The above should get you started in the process or at least give you the confidence that your electrician is putting junction boxes in the correct spots. One last suggestion I'll make is to put all of your bathroom lighting on dimmers. Many of us use our bathrooms as a serene get away. To achieve this; lighting is a huge component. Having the ability to dim the lights will provide the perfect atmosphere.

Holly ha2DBs over 10 years experience in the lighting industry. Want more information about lighting or light bulbs? Visit her website http://www.lightbulbmarket.com

MoldRemoval

12745

75956

Great Ways to Remodel Your Kitchen

No matter whereabouts you live everybody's kitchen and bathroom provides the same basic functions. In fact all bathrooms have to have things in common they all have to have a bath, a skink, and a toilet. The pe5B4rsonal touches make all of the differences in your unique and personal place. The bathroom and Kitchen are the best used rooms in the whole house. If you've brought a hole in Cincinnati then it may take a long time to remodel your kitchen due to the age of most of the houses there.

Cincinnati is mainly located along the front of a river, there are many different ideas that you could work into your kitchen which would be unsuitable for many other areas. Of course you don't need to bring the sights of the city into your house you can do something else with your personal space. You could turn your kitchen into a lovely beach scene.

The city has extensive history trading by river, and is also very close to Kentucky. This makes many different themes suitable for use in a kitchen here. All contractors in Cincinnati are experienced with a number of these different remodeling ideas; they may well be able to offer advice.

Make your Kitchen look better

One of the most difficult things involved when remodeling a kitchen is dealing with old houses. Cincinnati has a number of older properties. It can be difficult to tastefully update the kitchen's look without destroying the character of the old property. The kitchen in these homes will be perfectly functional they just need updating for aesthetic purposes. If you have experience and imagination then you may be able to make your Cincinnati bathroom wonderful.

Just as in5AF any other area of the country, by remodeling your kitchen you can add value to your whole home. When someone is buying a home the three rooms that they will scrutinize the most are the kitchen, bathroom and they will also inspect the heating equipment. The better these areas look the more desirable your house will be. With the vast number of houses available on the market today you need to make yours stand out amongst the crowd.

No matter how big your kitchen is most kitchens will require additional storage space. Most kitchens would also benefit from some extra seating areas. You could install a bench along the side of one wall which allows some extra seating and storage space.

The author Clinton Maxwell is really interested in news about home decor. Sharing his passion in works, the reviewer demonstrated his know-how on issues associated with kitchen corner cabinet solutions.

Patio Covers

Your Best Bet At Hiring A Good Carpet Cleaning Company

In most cases, we look to hire a good carpet cleaning company because we do not have the time to clean our own carpets. Furthermore, they do a great job at getting rid of stains that a standard cleaner cannot get rid of. Therefore, we find that hiring a cleaning company is our best option. Before we choose just one company, you should know how to choose a good carpet cleaning company.

Before you hire any company, there are several very important questions that you should be asking.

First, do they guarantee their work? You want a company that guarantees their work. If they do not, you can almost be sure that you are not dealing with a reputable business and should take steps to find another one.

Second, do they belong to any type of association? Reputable and honest carpet cleaning business will likely belong to some sort of association, such as PCUCA (Professional Carpet and Upholstery Cleaners Association) or the NCCA (National Carpet Cleaners Association).

Third, you want to ask if they are bonded and insured? You do not want a cleaning company that is not insured or bonded. This could be asking for trouble. If they damage your carpet or furniture you want to be sure that it is covered by their insurance.

Fourth, are they certified and licensed to clean carpets? This means they know what they are doing. They have taken the necessary courses and tests to get their certificates and licenses, therefore, you can trust their knowledge.

Finally, ask them why they think they are better than their competition in the same area? What do they offer? Are they fast? Why do they think they are the company to go with? Knowing this can help you make the best decision for your carpet cleaning needs.

Asking these questions allow you to avoid many problems. If you have heard horror stories, making sure that you take the time to choose the right carpet cleaners is important. This way you can avoid getting a company that doesn't have any idea as to what they are doing. You can also avoid a company that uses the wrong chemicals, saturates the carpet, discolors your carpet, or simply causes a great amount of damage that you do not need and likely cannot afford. Make sure you ask all of these questions before you choose a carpet cleaning company.

Find out more about carpet cleaning services by visiting Cleaners-Carpet.com, a site to help you understand the products, chemicals, machines, and services available to clean you carpets.

Hiring Help

Make A Splash With Your Shower Curtains

Shower Curtains Are Necessary For Bathrooms:

Looking for a quick makeover for your home? Start with your bathroom! Installing a new shower curtain can be the coolest way to cheer up your bathroom without investing a lot of money in the process. There are many styles of shower curtains to choose from, and you may be amazed at how dramatically a simple shower curtain can change the dynamics of a room. You can choose shower curtains that will stand out from the rest of your bathrooms colors, or you can choose one that provides a subtler match. It's all up to you the possibilities are next to eternal!

If you are drained of cleaning up your shower corral and anyone that has been forced to combat soap scum before is likely darn tired of it will find shower curtains to be an effective solution to this issue. Shower enclosures, as well as shower curtains, accumulate humidity and, after a while, they become ugly. The difference is that changing shower curtains costs almost nothing compared to changing a glass or acrylic shower enclosed space. A homeowner can choose the right curtains but ruin the overall effect if the window is left dusty and unkempt. It is important to keep windows clean and free of dust before adorning them with curtains or blinds. It should be illustrious that curtains can attract dust and other allergens so better make sure they are regularly replaced and washed

For those who have allergy, the best way to decorate windows is through the use of vinyl blinds. Vinyl blinds are not as susceptible to keeping dust as long as they are wiped with a clean cloth daily. Like curtains, there are various types of vinyl blinds to choose from. There are vertical blinds and there are horizontal blinds. You can also have your windows fitted for the exact blind

Cotton and cotton mix curtains are good 'neutral' fabrics for curtains. They blend into most rooms and well-made cotton curtains will often hang in a way that gives the impression that they are of a higher grade. Cotton is a good alternative if you want more curtains for your dollar. There are a variety of style choices within the Cotton mix. A couple of examples would be Corduroy and Denim fabrics. Being a heavier fabric, Cotton and Cotton Mix curtains are very practical for rooms that get a lot of sun. The fundamental role of curtains has shifted over the years. They are still used in part for their original purposes, privacy, insulation, soundproofing and light control. However, with the advances made in glazing technology, these functions are no longer so important and all window coverings have taken on a more decorative role.

Once you have chosen the design and color of the curtains, you need to take into consideration how much light you want coming through your curtains. Meaningful this will help you decide the cloth of the curtains that you are wanting. While you will find curtains in the style to be made of many different fabrics, you want to be sure that you choose the best fabric choice for your breathing space that you fancy to curtain.

You can also find more info on Sheer Curtains and Tab Top Curtains. Homecurtainsonline.com is a comprehensive resource to know about Curtains & Drapes.

Homesecuritytips

Worthwhile Home Improvements

While most homes require minimal improvements, you will be much better off if you make the types of changes that are worth the extra investment.

Though there are no guarantees that any sort of home improvement will allow you to list your home at a higher price, some home renovations are much more worthwhile than others. While several people may decide to knock down walls and purchase designer cabinetry, others may find that basic changes are quite important. The three repairs that tend to result in a larger return include floors, roofs, and kitchens.

Let's begin with your floor. What does your floor look like? If you have wall to wall carpeting, is it in good shape? If your floors consist of hard wood, is it polished? Make sure that carpets are stain free and that wood shines brightly. However, if your floors have seen better days, it may be timABDe to replace them. Though carpet tends to be cheaper than wood, wood often sells much better. Many buyers love the look of hardwood floors throughout a home, and while you are in the selling process you can always place throw rugs on top of your wooden floors to protect them. Aside from carpet and wood, you may consider ceramic floors for some of the rooms in your home... just make sure that your tiles are not chipped, cracked, or loose. Next, turn your attention to your roof.

Believe it or not, prospective buyers will always ask about your roof. When was it last fixed? When was your roof installed? Have you had any problems with your roof? Are there any loose shingles? A new roof can be a great selling point, and this home improvement should never be overlooked. You know it (and buyers know it) - roofs are expensive to replace. Still, if your roof is in desperate need of attention, find the money and replace it. Buyers will certainly walk away from a roof that needs to be renovated. Lastly, look to the one room in the house that everyone loves to spend time in ... the kitchen.

When you think of an ideal kitchen, what sort of image comes to mind? Though your picture perfect kitchen may come with marble countertops and gleaming cabinets, it definitely does not come with chipped counters and broken down appliances. Spend a few moments staring at your existing kitchen, and decide if your counter, backsplash, cabinets, and appliances are in good shape. If not, begin repairing your kitchen, and start with the countertops. You don't have to replace an entire kitchen, just make sure that everything appears to be new and clean.

Spending a small fortune on home renovations is not necessary, but make sure your kitchen, roof, and floors are up to par. Once you create a desirable house, buyers will begin to see your home's overall appeal ... and isn't that the whole point?

Raynor James writes about a wide variety of real estate issues for FSBOAmerica.org, where you can view or list homes for sale by owner for 1 month free.

Wood Block With Abs Pipe

List Building Essentials - Pt 1

Weve all heard that building an e-mail list is one of the main keys to success on the internet, but just why is it so important and how does the average beginner go about doing it?

Why do I need a list?

When people come to your website, from wherever they have found it, they will make a fairly rapid decision as to whether they want to buy what youre offering or not, right then and there.

Some will of course and thats great but what about all the rest? Did they decide theyre completely not interested and will never, ever buy from you? Maybe.

Or did they not buy today for some other reason. Maybe they said, Ill come back and look at this again, this evening from home, take a closer look and make a decision then.

Maybe they said to themselves, I dont want to buy this now; Ill wait till I get paid. Maybe they said, Id buy this if I knew more about it. Maybe they said, thats interesting but I dont know this guy and it could be rubbish; I know theres a money back guarantee but what if the guys a cheat?. Maybe Ill check out what else is around and come back if I cant find anything.

Youll never know these things because they wont tell you. Whatever the reason, they didnt buy and now theyre about to go. So what can you do to say Whoah there please stick around a little longer?

How can you guarantee that the guy who said hed come back later will remember to do so, or that he will remember but then hell have forgotten the name of your site, or how he got there and even though he wants to he cant come back?

Thats what an opt-in is all about. Its offering up a little hook for your fish to try but its not a painful one, it wont hurt him and he can spit it out anytime its a friendly hook.

You need to grab his e-mail address and keep in touch with him after hes left your site. Heres how you do it.

Opting in

An autoresponder is an automated e-mail service that will send out pre-written e-mails to the people who sign up for it. For example you can create a series of 7 e-mails explaining more about your product or service and when a visitor to your site subscribes they are sent one of these e-mails every day, or every two days or every week or three the first day and two the third and so on. You set the parameters through a very simple interface.

The e-mails should be simple and short just saying things like Thanks for visiting my site, I hope to welcome you back real soon; heres some more info about my product. You give them just a little more in each e-mail. Each one will have a link back to your site so that when the customer is ready he can easily get back there and make the purchase.

In the last e-mail, you might make a final suggestion to buy or make a special discounted offer. If he doesnt buy after that fair enough, say goodbye and end the dialogue. Or maybe not.

In Part 2, Ill explain how to build an Opt-in form and what to put in your messages.

If you would like to read more great articles on self improvement and making money online, I'd like to invite you to subscribe to my free newsletter, which you'll find at :
http://www.money-and-mind.com

Determine Roof Slope

List Building Essentials - Pt 1

Weve all heard that building an e-mail list is one of the main keys to success on the internet, but just why is it so important and how does the average beginner go about doing it?

Why do I need a list?

When people come to your website, from wherever they have found it, they will make a fairly rapid decision as to whether they want to buy what youre offering or not, right then and there.

Some will of course and thats great but what about all the rest? Did they decide theyre completely not interested and will never, ever buy from you? Maybe.

Or did they not buy today for some other reason. Maybe they said, Ill come back and look at this again, this evening from home, take a closer look and make a decision then.

Maybe they said to themselves, I dont want to buy this now; Ill wait till I get paid. Maybe they said, Id buy this if I knew more about it. Maybe they said, thats interesting but I dont know this guy and it could be rubbish; I know theres a money back guarantee but what if the guys a cheat?. Maybe Ill check out what else is around and come back if I cant find anything.

Youll never know these things because they wont tell you. Whatever the reason, they didnt buy and now theyre about to go. So what can you do to say Whoah there please stick around a little longer?

How can you guarantee that the guy who said hed come back later will remember to do so, or that he will remember but then hell have forgotten the name of your site, or how he got there and even though he wants to he cant come back?

Thats what an opt-in is all about. Its offering up a little hook for your fish to try but its not a painful one, it wont hurt him and he can spit it out anytime its a friendly hook.

You need to grab his e-mail address and keep in touch with him after hes left your site. Heres how you do it.

Opting in

An autoresponder is an automated e-mail service that will send out pre-written e-mails to the people who sign up for it. For example you can create a series of 7 e-mails explaining more about your product or service and when a visitor to your site subscribes they are sent one of these e-mails every day, or every two days or every week or three the first day and two the third and so on. You set the parameters through a very simple interface.

The e-mails should be simple and short just saying things like Thanks for visiting my site, I hope to welcome you back real soon; heres some more info about my product. You give them just a little more in each e-mail. Each one will have a link back to your site so that when the customer is ready he can easily get back there and make the purchase.

In the last e-mail, you might make a final suggestion to buy or make a special discounted offer. If he doesnt buy after that fair enough, say goodbye and end the dialogue. Or maybe not.

In Part 2, Ill explain how to build an Opt-in form and what to put in your messages.

If you would like to read more great articles on self improvement and making money online, I'd like to invite you to subscribe to my free newsletter, which you'll find at :
http://www.money-and-mind.com

Home Help Plans

Learning The Basics About Green Building

Green building almost seems like a fad these days. With all of the emphasis on helping the environment, it seems like being as environmentally conscious as you can is the popular thing to do. But when it comes to green building, there are a lot of ways to change your current living or work environment into something more energy efficient. Here are three ways that you can add green building to your life as well as to your home.

Water conservation is the first step in green building. Because the heating and cooling of water is something that takes up a lot of energy, you need to find new ways to perform these tasks. There are a number of 'green' solutions for this problem. Some homes install systems that are solar powered in order to heat and cool water in this way. You can also choose to recycle your water through your home in order to limit the use of water each day. This kind of system will take the water from your daily showers, clean it, and then put it back into use in the home for washing dishes, for example. You can also create a system that catches water from the environment to help you get more water.

Green Building

Next in green building is to create energy efficient electricity. Though everyone would like to install solar panels on their home, it's not always cost effective for home owners. Solar panels are expensive and installing them to provide constant energy to your home is not always the best option when you don't live in a sunny environment. Talk with local solar energy providers to see if this is an option for you. If not, or if you're just not ready for solar power, you should look into changing your light bulbs to halogen bulbs and buy energy efficient appliances. These appliances will have energy efficiency stickers on them.

Another great way to add green building to your life is to consider the waste that you create each day. Instead of simply throwing out everything, you will want to create a recycling setup that collects recyclable items. You will also want to find a compost container that will allow your food waste and paper products to be turned into rich fertilizers.

This article was written by Gregg Hicks of http://www.reliableremodeler.com which provides Internet-based home improvement information and services. Offering homeowners a simple, quick, and free way to access, qualified home improvement remodeling contractors.

Wood Siding Bell Tower Detail

What All Is Involved In Getting A T1 Line?

If you are a potential customer, don't even bother wondering what is behind the curtain. The telecom companies take care of the infrastructure, and you take care of the bill -- that's how it works. It doesn't matter if the "big tan telephone company cabinet" is involved or not -- you just want the service. Sure, it's interesting to know how stuff works, and it would be fun to drive by some box in the middle of some cornfield and know that your electrons are running through it, but it really doesn't matter, right? If the price is too high, you're not buying regardless of how the service is provisioned.

To answer the question, a T1 typically is nothing more than two copper pairs which are converted from analog to digital, with special conditioning (and signal repeaters if the distance requires them). If your location could get two additional regular phone lines, then you could probably get a T1 circuit without additional construction or trenching. If such additional work would be necessary, it's quite possible that you would not be charged for that work. In our industry, special construction costs are identified after the order is placed, and the customer can cancel the order with no penalty if the additional costs are not acceptable. It's not likely that construction costs can be identified prior to an order.

Most responsible internet providers will give you a dedicated internet connection at the full 1.5M speed. There are local "tier 2" providers that will purchase a certain bandwidth from an "upstream" provider, then resell it and oversell it. For instance, "Joe's Telecom" might buy a 45M DS-3 of internet access from AT&T. A DS-3 has enough bandwidth to support 28 T1 circuits. Joe will recognize that not every one of his customers will be using the full 1.5M at all times, so he will sell more than 28 T1 circuits -- this is overselling. So long as he watches his circuit utilization, and orders more bandwidth before the customers start crashing into each other, then all is well. But if he's like Comcast, and severely oversells, then customers' circuit performance will suffer. So you will want to know if your T1 circuit is dedicated access all the way to the internet backbone, or if it goes to Joe's concentrator where it is shared among his customers. If the service you get is from AT&T, Sprint, Verizon Business, Global Crossing, Qwest, Savvis, Internap, Level 3 and a few others, then you're dedicated. If it's from a local provider with a limited service area, it's probably shared bandwidth, and the pricing should be lower than from a dedicated provider. But....the quality defined by a Service Level Agreement (SLA) and QoS (Quality of Service) will also be lower.

Relative to a router, in your quote requests mention that you want "managed" service, which tells telecom companies that you want the T1 router to be included as part of their package. The T1 router is different than a typical "broadband" router one would get at a local electronics shop. T1 routers have built-in CSU/DSU functionality which assists in the synch up of the circuit. Some typical T1 routers are Cisco 1841 and Siemens 5940.

A free quote source highly recommended for fast, quality, personal service can be found at DS3-Bandwidth.com (they can assist with more than simple T1 if needed). Word of advice.....you must provide accurate contact information (installation address, email, phone number) and sufficient detail on your network requirements/application.....otherwise they'll ignore you as a bogus request. If you're serious take advantage of what they offer. If you're not serious.....go elsewhere.

Michael is the owner of FreedomFire Communications....including DS3-Bandwidth.com and Business-VoIP-Solution.com. Michael also authors Broadband Nation where you're always welcome to drop in and catch up on the latest BroadBand news, tips, insights, and ramblings for the masses.

Framing 2 X 4 Skylight Well

Buying Your First Home And Sleeping Well At Night

The real estate process of buying a home for the typical family can be a very stressful event, almost at the top of the charts. The selection of a professional agent can be a tremendous benefit as a counselor and guide to navigate you through the process with as little stress as possible. The average home buyer spends very little time interviewing and investigating agents for the role as their agent.

The first part of the home buying process for many is the desire to look at homes and not the careful selection of a real estate agent. This can be a huge mistake as the knowledge and experience level of an agent can change the outcome of the stressful process to a smooth one. Many homebuyers end up with an agent by default, what I mean by this is that the buyer has no plan of action for selecting their agent. The introduction may have been as casual as the buyer calling on an ad or attending an open house.

Of course you want to start the home buying process with a strong foundation and finding the right agent will make a big difference in the total experience. As a first time home buyer you will depend on the expertise of your agent. You will not know what to expect or when to expect it within this very challenging process.

You will want to interview several agents before you even start looking for a home. By pursuing an interview process you will also educate yourself. Here are several areas you will want to discuss with agents that you are interviewing.

1. What is the experience level of the agent? Selecting someone that has at least two years or more of experience will show they have survived the test of time and the knowledge to assist you in the home buying process.

2. What is the geographical area that they service. As an agent works in a given neighborhood they will gain additional non-real estate knowledge such as which area has better schools, less rush-hour traffic or lower crime rates.

3. Does the agent carry errors and omissions insurance? This protects them and you when there is a contractual issue or an undisclosed defect in the home. The Department of real estate doesn't require a broker to carry it, and this is not something you want to find out after closing.

4. Many agents work only on a buyer broker agreement basis, you will be asked to sign a contract for several months during which you will be obligated to work with this agent exclusively for that time period. Other agents will ask you for this agreement once they have worked with you, both parties feel it is a good relationship, and you are ready to make an offer.

5. Always ask for references. A good agent will have their references ready for you.

6. In order to serve their client as best as possible some agents have decided not to represent both a buyer and seller in the same transaction. One of the main reasons for this is that it is very difficult to be an advocate for two parties with opposite goals.

7. How does the agent select the homes that they show you? Many agents will e-mail their clients a lot of properties and let the buyer decide which homes to see, this can be a very ineffective and time consuming process in which the buyer sees many homes that do not suit their needs. The best agents will preview all of the homes on the market that fit a buyers general criteria and then show their client only the best homes. This process leads to a much more efficient and beneficial outcome for the buyer.

8. Does the agent have a close relationship with a trustworthy and knowledgeable lender? By working closely with the lender an agent will be more able to guide the process ensuring that the buyer gets the best loan program for their situation and is only looking at homes that fit their budget.

So as you can see, by methodically and strategically selecting an agent you can positively influence the outcome of your home purchase.

Co-written by Randy Nathan and James Dedolph, creators of HomeSniffer.com where you can find Homes for Sale in San Diego and LoanSniffer.net where you can find the best rate and terms for Homes Loans in San Diego. Both of these sites are a good resource for information about San Diego Real Estate.

Handrail Bolted To Brick Wall