Applying Asphalt Shingle Roofing

Asphalt Roofing Basics

Being a starter, strip by cutting the tabs off a shingle with a roofing knife. Then cut 6 inches off one end. Positioning the trimmed shingle on the roof with the cut edges overlapping the rake (edge) and eave (bottom by 1/2 to 3/4 inch. Nail the shingle on the roof with four galvanized roofing nails, positioned 3 to 4 inches from the eaves.

Cut the tabs off another shingle and put the full length on the roof. Butt it against the first shingle and nail it in place with galvanized roofing nails spaced 12 inches apart. Continue cutting and installing along the roof until you have installed the starter strip from one side to the other.

Put a shingle on the roof so that the lower edge overlaps the cutter apron at the eaves no more than 3/4 inch. Measure from the edge for the roof to the top of the shingle and snap a chalk line this distance from the edge along the entire roof. Do not use red chalk because red pigment will stain roofing material.

Apply the first shingle of the first course. Begin at the edge and start with a full shingle. Position the shingle to overhang the eaves and rake edges by 3/4 inches. Nail the shingle in place with four nails.

Once the first shingle is on, move to the first shingle of the second course. This helps align the shingles properly and means you do not have to move across the roof for every shingle. Cut 6 inches off the end of a shingle. Align the bottom edge of the shingle with the top of the cutouts in the first shingle. Nail it in place according to the manufacturer's directions.

With 2 shingles in place, start the 3rd course. Cut 12 inches off the end of a shingle. Align the edge with the edge of the roof, and align the bottom with the top of the cutouts in the shingle below. Nail in place continue up the roof to the sixth course, trimming each shingle to be 6 inches narrower than the one below it. After the 6th course, you will apply a full length shingle along the edge of the roof.

Return the lower edge of the roof to reach the space next to the 1st shingle you installed. Butt a full-length shingle next to it and nail it in place.

Work your way up the roof, nailing a single full-length shingle next tot each of the shingles already in place. After you've completed the 6th course, nail a full-length shingle in place to start the seventh course. Measure and snap a chalk line across the top to make sure that the row is straight. Snap a line every seven rows so that you can correct any errors before they get too serious.

Continue working diagonally up and across the roof. All the shingles are full -length, except those shingles so that each is 6 inches narrower than the one below. When the rake shingle is only 6 inches wide, start the pattern over, applying a full shingle above it.

When you reach the far edge of the roof, trim the shingles. On a straight-edge roof, trim the shingles so that they they are just long enough to overlap the rake by no more than 3/4 inch. Having a hooked blade knife will make cutting easier.

Finish shingling all the way up to the ridge, adding flashing as needed. When you reach the top, trim the shingle flush with the ridge. When you shingle the other side of the ridge, overlap the shingle on the ridge and nail it in place. There are companies that provide pre-made ridge caps. Check to see if you can get them for the shingles you are installing.

Cut 12-inch-square hip caps from regular shingles. Then trim them further so that they taper at one end to 10 inches. Snap a chalk line parallel to the hip and 6 inches away from it on each side of the ridge. Attach each side of each cap with one roofing nail, 1 inch from the edge, just above the sealing tab. Overlap the caps by 1 inch.

When 2 hips meet, cut a 4-inch v out of the middle of a hip shingle. Nail in place and cover the nailheads with roofing cement. Shingle ridges as you would hips, working from each end toward the middle. At the midpoint of the ridge, butt the neighboring ridge caps. Cut 1 inch off the narrow end of the final cap shingle, and nail over the butted caps. Cover nailheads with roofing cement.

For professional mortgage help with lowering mortgages, extending your loan maturity date(s), getting Home Savers Loans, home improvement tips, please visit http://hstrial-oswingrant.homestead.com

How Tough Are Concrete Epoxies

Easy Way to Repair a Large Hole in Your Wall

Great video on how to fix a hole in your wall .

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

If your looking for some more home inspection or home building ideas.

Roofing Books
House Attic Books

How To Perform Roof Repair

If you are a person who has ever considered performing roof repair, please read this article. You can rest easy knowing that it takes just a little experience and some tools and an average house can be done without any problem.

To learn how to perform roof repair on an asphalt or metal roof takes just a few common tools and a pair of shoes with flat soles. The flat soles will do less damage than those that have heels after you walk on your roof. Make sure before you get on the roof that it is safe to walk on. If you have rotten wood because of a leaky roof, it is possible a rotten board or joist could break when you put your weight on it. Also if you see that the damage is extensive you may want to consider full replacement, because at that point it would be cheaper to replace than to repair.

To learn how to perform repair on an asphalt roof it takes a few tools you probably have already. A shovel is used to remove the shingles, a hammer is used for the roofing nails, and roofing cement can be used to glue bent shingles down and secure them. When you replace a broken or damaged shingle you will remove the row of shingles above it so you can get to the damaged one. One tip is to use the roofing cement to bond a torn shingle down to the roof and secure it with a roofing nail. Completely damaged shingles will need to be replaced. Try to use the same holes that the old shingle used when installing the new shingle in its place.

To learn how to repair a metal roofing is not quite as easy. You will need to identify what type of metal your roof is made of. Once you do, you will need to get a patch made of the same metal. The surface of the metal roof will need cleaning before you start your repair. You will need roofing cement, wire brushes, pliers, sandpaper, solder, soldering guns, flux, tin snips and gloves to handle sharp metal edges. After locating the damaged area you want to repair, you will need to cut a piece of new metal that is two inches larger than the area you are repairing. Then cut off the corners of this new patch with the tin snips. Bend the outer edges of the new metal under. Fold it under one half inch. Sand the folded parts and make them shiny. Now use the flux on the shiny areas of your new patch and the damaged area. Now, put the new patch down on the damaged area and hold it down with a weight, perhaps a brick or block. Use the solder and soldering gun and go along the edges of the new patch and seal down the new patch to the roof. The solder must melt and fill in the gaps between the new patch and the damaged roof. Go all the way around the new patch until you are done. Now, cut another patch larger than the damaged area. Coat the entire area of the soldered patch and press this second patch down on it. Apply another coat of cement over this. Do another patch like the last one if you want to make sure it does not leak. Cover it all again with roofing cement or roof coating and you are done.

One tip on how to perform roof repair on an aluminum roof is to use fiberglass patches instead of metal. Aluminum is not a metal to be soldered, so the fiberglass will have to be used instead. Do not worry, it works well on the aluminum roof and is probably easier than on other metals.

All of our articles are originals, if you liked this, check out How to Perform Roof Repair for similar information. Get more free information here http://www.roofrepairhelp.com/

Affordable Home Insurance - Get Very Cheap Rates

Okay, we all agree that we need to secure our homes and all the valuable contained therein. I would like to think that we also agree that it would also be really wise to get this coverage at a very affordable rate. Getting affordable home insurance simply means you have to take not of certain points when getting a policy.

It is very important to know exactly what amount of coverage you need. Without this knowledge, you could easily over cover which would mean you are practically throwing away money or you could under cover which would mean that your home insurance coverage is more or less a joke since it can not cover what it is meant to cover. So take the time to get to know the exact level of coverage you need.

When you know the amount of coverage you need. You would then want to take the time to find out in details all the factors that can earn you a discount. There are a whole lot of discounts you can miss just because you did not bother to ask. In fact you might actually qualify for some without having to do anything extra.

The interesting thing is that all the things you need to do to qualify for a discount are actually things that would be beneficial to your home. Things like security gadgets, repairs and renovations etc.

If you can afford it, do this two things to further reduce your rates.

1, Opt for paying your rates annually. It helps reduce your rates. and
2, Go for a higher deductible. It also helps in the reduction of your rates.

Finally, you could render all your good work invaluable if you do not compare quotes. This is one of the single most effective ways to save. Get and compare several quotes before settling for one.

It is best to visit abut 4 free quotes comparison sites if you really want to save.

Here two great sites you can start from
Hometown Quotes
Insureme Quotes
Chimerenka Odimba is the publisher Several finance based sites.

Extreme Temperature Building

How Can Truck and Dump Bodies Be Defined?

The truck or dump body is made of metal casing that is specially fitted onto the chassis of the truck. It allows you an easy source of transportation of goods from place to place.

Most truck and dump bodies currently on the market are hydraulically operated with a few pneumatic operated bodies available. To unload the goods the hydraulic system is started. The hydraulic system contains the pump, cylinder, and pistons. An air compressor, not a pump, is used for the pneumatic system. With the help of these mechanical supports, the front part of the vehicle can be lifted to unload. In the end the body returns to its normal position.

There are many different types of dump bodies made from numerous types of materials. The kind of goods to be transported will determine the dimensions of the truck body.

The design and shape of the truck depend upon the size and shape of the material to be transported on a regular basis. A truck used for the transportation of vehicles (such as cars or motorcycles) is shaped accordingly. If the truck will mainly transport regular goods, a body style that is created for universal applications could be used.

Every truck has limited carrying power. Chassis can get damaged if the load exceeds the specified limit. The base or body of the vehicle needs to be strong enough to support the loads for which the chassis was made. Therefore it is very important to choose appropriate material.

Some of the common types of dumpers are:

(1) Those used for the transportation of asphalt. This type of dump body can handle large loads and stand up to heat. Asphalt dump bodies have rounded edges, allowing the substance to be dumped smoothly, as well as a hydraulic lift system.

(2) A high lift tail gate truck body is designed off the hydraulic system for the transportation of construction materials.

(3) Conveyors and high lift installation bodies are commonly used for lifting loads to a higher level throughout the city. Conveyors and a high rising lifts are included as part of this body. A professional in the roofing business would need such a truck.

Many other shapes are also available on the market for truck bodies. Chassis manufacturers and external after-market manufacturers sell truck and dump bodies directly to the public. Bodies custom made to your requirements and budget can be purchased through an after market manufacturer.

As a small business owner in the construction field, James Handrousen knows all about truck bodies in California. For truly great dump bodies, it's wise to stick with Tom's House of Hydraulics. That way, whether you need a big truck parts or a hook lift, you will get best quality kit for your money.

Fixings Squeaking Stairs

Key Facts about the Oak Tree

The Oak Tree is Considered to be one of the most significant and magnificent trees in the whole world. In all there are over 300 varieties of these majestic forest giants.

Some species of oaks include the Royal Oak and Quercus Robur (Common Oak), which are very popular in Britain. Another species of oak called the Charter Oak is very prominent in the United States. Among the rarest of oaks is the Cork Oak, and is so called because it is the tree that is used to make a majority of the finest wine bottle corks. The earlier-mentioned British Quercus Robur is one that is most often used in landscape architecture around an estate home.

Most oak trees take hundreds of years to reach maturity. In fact, one tree in Windsor is over 800 years old. This tree was planted during the reign of King John, and has lived through at least 35 monarch reigns. This tree has lived longer than most men, even the men of ancient times.

The oak remains a symbol of spiritual significance and serves as a valuable commodity for the creation of durable tangible goods. For instance, the bible uses the oak tree in reference at least 23 times. In addition, Romans, Greeks, Celts, Slavs, and Teutonic groups put the oak on a pedestal, higher than any other tree.

The oak tree is also referenced in many ballads, such as Major Oak in Sherwood Forest, which was also associated with Robin Hood. This is an actual tree that is still standing after quite a long time, and it measures to be 20 metres (64 feet) wide. The Major Oak is one tree that has reached its maturity.

Oak has also been used on British coins. The sixpence, which is one of Britains oldest coins, has an oak tree engraved on it, and the shilling does as well.

The reason why the oak is such a well-revered tree is because it is one of the strongest woods in the world. In fact, it has been noted that the oak tree has five times the shearing strength of Scots pine. That is the reason it is used to make burial coffins for important people, such as the one of Edward the Confessor located in a shrine in Westminster Abbey.

Those who love to learn about the history of why certain names came about can read about the history of the Royal Oak. In brief, the Royal Oak was so named because King Charles II hid inside an oak tree after he was defeated by Cromwell during the Battle of Worcester in 1651. He lived in exile for at least ten years before returning to the kingdom. His birthday became a self-proclaimed public holiday, called Royal Oak day, and needless to say the Royal Oak was named after him.

Another brief moment in history pertaining to the oak tree includes the story of the ship the Mary Rose. The story of this oak ship does not have as happy of an ending as the story of the naming of the Royal Oak. However, it is very significant in many ways.

On July 19th, 1545 the Mary Rose sunk in the water as King Henry VIIIs army attempted to cross from Spithead fight French invaders. Unfortunately the entire ship sunk, and over time the pieces, including the hull were located. The entire ship is now sits a short ways from Lord Nelsons flagship HMS Victory in Portsmouths Naval Dockyard.

Again, the problem with the Mary Rose was not the wood that was used to create it, but rather the way it was constructed. Oak has long been a choice for many water vessels made in earlier times, and the Mary Rose just happened to be an unfortunate case in which the ship failed to protect the passengers. Ordinarily people had made it safe across the waters aboard a ship.

Overall the oak tree is a very strong and sturdy wood, and represents many things, including that of the concept of longevity, and of wisdom. This is a tree that stands the test of time.

By visiting the author's website at http://www.oakconservatories.co.uk you will find useful information for about oak hardwood conservatories.

Advantages Framing With Steel

Hardback Bookbinding Repair Instructions - Part 2 - Sections

Part 1 of this series of articles covered the basic bookbinding instructions to repair loose and torn endpapers. This article covers loose sections in a multi-sectioned book. If your book has only one section, these instructions will still give you some answers - you'll just be finished your repair faster!

Sections refer to printed sheets folded to page size for binding together, with other such sheets, to form a book. Signatures are the letters or figures printed below the text at the foot of the first page of each section.

Pulling - separating the sections from the original binding - should be done with the least possible damage to the folds of the sections.

1. Open the front cover of your book and the front flyleaf if it has one.

2. Press firmly on the body of your book and pull the cover and flyleaf away from your book until the mull (the open weave material used to reinforce the spine) and the tapes or cords are visible.

3. Cut these carefully with a sharp knife. Repeat the process for the back cover and then the cover should be free from your book.

4. Remove as much of the back lining mull and glue as possible. If there is still a lot of old glue remaining, place your book between two pieces of waste hard cardboard with about 1/2" of your book protruding. Cover the spine with a thick coating of paste and leave it to stand for 10 minutes - this will allow the old lining and glue to soften. Scrape off the old glue and lining with the back of a knife and leave to dry completely.

5. Turn over the first pages of your book until you come to the first stitches of sewing thread. Cut all the stitches with a sharp knife. Turn over the same number of pages and you should see the signature at the bottom of the right hand page which indicates it is the first page of the next section.

6. Close the first section, grip it firmly in your left hand, press down on your book with your right hand and pull the section away from your book gently.

7. Remove any glue and thread from the back of the section and place it face downwards on your work surface. Repeat this process for all the remaining sections, keeping them in their correct order.

8. The outside sections of your book may have a crease from the original backing in their folds - this is known as the old groove and should be removed before you begin repairing the sections. Place the section on a hard smooth surface and tap the fold fairly hard with a hammer. A few sections can be done at the one time depending on the type of paper. It is safer to start in the middle of the section and move it.

9. Sections with back folds that are torn or separated can now be repaired with "guards". Check the grain direction of the page to be repaired and cut a strip of paper 1/2" wide and 1 1/2" longer than the page to be repaired.

10. Paste the strip on one side and pinch the ends together with the paste side inwards. (This stops the strip from curling up).

11. Place the strip in the centre of a sheet of waste paper and then place the back of the damaged page along half the strip.

12. Lift the waste paper so that the other half of the strip is placed on the page and press down through the waste paper.

13. Allow the paste to dry completely then trim off the excess guards exactly level with the top and bottom of the pages.

14. When all your guarding repair work is complete, collate the book making sure the sequence of signatures is correct.

15. The sections of your book can now be sewn (covered in another article) and your book can be rebound (also covered in another article).

Single pages can also be repaired with guarding and then returned to your book by tipping in (a thin line of glue at the spine edge).

Kim Baillie

http://bookbindinginstructions.brighterplanet.org

Remodeling Professionals Needed

How would you like to help other contractors, home improvement specialists, builders, real estate professionals and anyone else involved in home remodeling. If you have any tips or home improvement advice to you would like to share with our readers, it would greatly be appreciated. Leave all comments below.

Did The Indians Have It Right

Installing Solar Panels - What You Need to Know About It

The need to install solar panels is gradually becoming a necessity for some household, considering the fact that it can provide the power and heat need for your family day to day energy requirements. Nevertheless, the category of persons that have a more powerful photo-voltaic panels also chose to trade the excess power it creates to utility firms, thereby helping to the reduce the fuel combustion needed for energy creation. Mounting a solar panel may be less or more difficult depending on the specification of your home. Bear in mind that is better to install solar panels on the roof of a building undergoing construction as it is at the time of its finishing.

Tilted up and mounted up installation are some of the options you can take when you are fixing your solar panels. When you fix the panel at the time of the roofing you are going to prevent the problem of roof leaking. After you have removed the roof, you can easily place the rafter safely on the structure, that way it is going to last longer and also defiant. It is simpler to work with shingle roof cover than tile roof due to the fact that transporting and installing solar panels could be fragile for that aspect.

The amount of money needed for installation of solar panels isn't all that much when you start to rip the benefits in the long run. Additionally, when you start using solar energy you will see a 30% reduction in the amount of tax you pay for energy. This is applicable to U.S residence where you can get tax credits for going green when it comes to electricity generation.

Unluckily, the exploitation of other forms of energy is just beginning in some countries of the world making their installation too expensive. Moreover, environment safety is put into consideration when it comes to creating these alternatives and also making the products required to supplement the types of energy are not affordable. Nevertheless, you can install solar panels to power your day-to-day energy needed in some house and as time goes you can begin to add extra panels till the whole of your house is powered by solar energy.

Earth 4 Energy is a DIY manual which consists of videos and guides which you can easily use to build your own solar panel from home for under $200. If you want to live off the grid, now is your opportunity to build yours less than the price of commercial made ones.
Check it out at http://modospot.com/review/earth4energy.html

Problems With Black Mold

How to Repair Registry Files - Improve Computer Speed

You are probably looking to repair your registry, or just your computer. There are many people who have been in the situation where the computer is just not running like it's supposed to. Even more frustrating than that, there is usually software, adware, malware, etc. that comes on your computer uninvited.

Whether you download music or simply visit websites, everybody is at risk, of course more activity is more at risk than others - but you can still have tons of ad-ware on your computer, and even worse; your registry. Learn some of the affects some people are having with a bad registry.

A Corrupted Registry - The Experiences People Have

Do you experience any of these following problems?

Dangerous Adware that comes up (tracks your browsing and comes up with unblock able, yet relevant pop-ups
Constant "fake scans" and "fix your computer" adware
Advertisements of offensive material
Tremendous slow-down
Unexpected shutdowns
Unchangeable Desktop Backgrounds
A number of problems?

Believe it or not, there are people who accumulate hundreds among hundreds of errors on the computer that most spyware programs simply cannot track. You can fix the problem - in fact, there has not been a problem that is non-fixable; the great thing is that you can start soon & very soon using the right software.

What a Good Registry Does for your Computer

There are many people who simply just want a great registry cleaner for the computer. First of all, you may want to consider the fact that you may not need a registry cleaner. If you already have tried adware or spyware deletion software, then you may be able to eliminate them with the registry.

It is important to know that the registry is the part of the computer where some of the most important information is. Just think about it like this; there are specific parts of the brain that tells your lungs to breathe without you thinking, how to keep your heart beating with out you constantly concentrating; well the registry can be the same way for the computer.

It stores many of the settings for the third party settings, many applications in your "control panel", and systems critical to your computer running, which is why by fixing your registry; you can control the overall performance of your computer.

Are you experiencing Repair DLL Error Messages, EXE error messages, general slow downs of your computer, Sychost, System 32, Fix General Protection Fault, General Shutdown, Javascript, Activex, Adware, Spyware, Viruses, or a huge variety of errors for your computer? You can fix this with a very easy to use registry fix tool that is available for a free trial. For More Information, Visit:http://registrycleanpro.blogspot.com/

Hard Water Deposits In Toilet

Auto Repair Service - Beware of the Word FREE!

Have you ever wondered why an auto repair shop would include anything for FREE? Take the "multi-point vehicle inspection, " for example. When your car's in for auto repair service, they're willing to take the time to look over your car for no charge? Why? There are two primary reasons for this. The first is marketing. Repair shops are attempting to build value and to entice you to service with them. The second is they're looking for work - literally. They're hoping to find a problem, which they can then fix for you - not for FREE.

What you are actually getting for FREE is very little. These multi-point checks are merely cursory glances (if at all) at fluids, belts, hoses, tires, brakes, and under-carriage. Depending on the vehicle it actually takes 1-3 hours to thoroughly check it over - something no repair shop will do for FREE. This is not to say the multi-point check is unnecessary, but the reality is that it's already done with most oil changes, repair services, and regular car maintenance schedules. Whenever your vehicle is being serviced, technicians are always looking for needed repairs to sell you. They're paid by billing labor hours. That is, the more stuff they can find wrong with your car and "encourage" you to fix or maintain, the more money they make - not exactly the folks you want in your corner.

There's nothing wrong with "searching for repairs" as long as if and when repair needs are found that they are indeed needed and not exaggerated. Ask your auto repair shop to prioritize any suggested repairs and/or services in terms of safety and potential further damage. Don't be afraid to get a second opinion and ask questions. Always get "whatever they're saying" in writing with a complete break down of parts, taxes, labor, and miscellaneous charges. And stick to your manufacturer's recommendations for your car repairs and maintenance. Remember - with these types of FREE marketing efforts you will likely PAY.

-Theodore P. Olson
RepairTrust
Making sense of Auto Repair Service

Fireplace Drywall Ceiling Damage

Comment on Wood Deck Repairs

Do you have any ideas for building or repairing wood decks . We would love to hear from you in the comment area.

Drywall Books
Patio Books

Interior Wall Framing Help For Home Owners

Framing a new wall, anywhere in the home will not be very difficult to do. However, removing an interior wall on the other hand could be an enormous task and create some big problems, especially if you remove a loadbearing wall. A loadbearing wall would be something that is holding up another section of the home, like the roof or the floor.

If you're not removing or moving a wall, framing a new wall is a task that most homeowners with very little skill can do quite easily. Let's start with the basics, most walls are built from 2 x 4 framing lumber, which can be purchased at any lumber yard or home improvement center.

Let's start with measuring the length and the height of the wall. For example let's say that the wall you intend to frame is going to be 8'7" long and 8 foot tall. If I was going to figure the lumber for this wall, or how much material I would need. I would start with some simple arithmetic.

We need one bottom plate and one top plate. This would be the lumber that's going to run horizontal or right to left in our wall. So now we know that we need two pieces that will be 8'7" long and since they only sell lumber in 2 foot increments, our choices will be narrowed down to a couple of 10 foot two by fours.

The height of the wall is 8 foot tall and will require us to buy 8 foot two by fours. Now how many two by fours am I going to need? Most walls require 16 inch on center placement of the vertical two by fours, or in other words the two by fours that go up and down will be spaced 16 inches apart. If I was to divide 16 inches into 8'7", that would require 7 - 8 foot two by fours.

It's pretty simple math and don't forget to convert your measurements into inches to make the job easier. 8'7" can be converted to inches by multiplying the number of feet times 12, 12 times eight and then adding 7 to it will give us 103 inches. We can now divide 16 into 103 inches to give us the amount of vertical two by fours needed to frame our interior wall.

Don't forget there's 12 inches in a foot.

House Wood Damage or Wall Framing Tips

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

Rim Joist Damage
Subfloor Joist Reinforcing

Tips on Laptop Repair

Laptops are complicated pieces of equipment but repairing one may not be as expensive as a laptop repair technician may lead you to believe.It is important to carry out thorough research before embarking on a laptop yourself.Ensure that you have a few basic items to assist you rather than making the common mistake of grabbing anything nearby.A Laptop is not an inexpensive item to replace so it is worth avoiding unnecessary mistakes.

This article is intended as a rough guide of tips for laptop repair, there is plenty of information out there on the internet that will help with specific enquiries.Make sure you ask all the questions before you begin to attempt a repair yourself, if you don't do the research you may be charged more for someone to correct the mistakes that you have made.Should you decide to undertake a repair be sure that you have a good understanding of what needs to be done, if you don't have the first idea seek professional help.

Before you begin it is sensible to make sure you have long nosed tweezers, an electric static discharge mat, a Teflon wedge, needle nose pliers and Phillips head screwdrivers size 0 & 1.Take a back-up of everything on the hard drive before beginning the repair, just in case.It is best if possible for the repair to take place in a room without carpet.

One word of advice if you are playing around with the LCD the backlight inverter can give you quite a nasty shock if the laptop is powered up.So ensure that the laptop is switched off and unplugged from the mains.It is also sensible to remove the laptops battery and hard drive before beginning a repair.

Obviously if you are a novice to laptop repair you will probably not own anti-static gear like wrist straps etc, if there is a likelihood of you carrying out laptop repairs regularly it may be worth investing in the anti-static gear, rather than killing off your laptop and having to dump it in the rubbish.

When carrying out a repair do not disassemble the laptop unless it is necessary to do so.Try to ensure the environment you are to work in is clean and make sure that you have the correct tools.Before beginning the repair make sure that you test the machine properly, you need to have the correct symptoms to diagnose the fault.If you need to remove any parts of the laptop take care to keep the parts in a safe place where they won't get damaged.When removing screws keep them with each part they have been taken from, this will help when reassembling the laptop.When fitting the laptop back together use the correct size screws for each part, this will prevent you ending up with screws that simply do not fit the holes you are left with.Before disconnecting connectors make sure that you have had a good look at how they work, it is worth making notes for yourself as you carry out the repair as it will help jog your memory.

Jenny Austin is an expert in Laptop Repairs, for further information on SEO, please visit cambridgelaptoprepairs.co.uk

Homebuilding: Setting Basement Steel

One of the first steps in the construction of a new home is
setting the steel beams and columns in the basement and/or crawl
space. This supports the floor joists and usually runs the length
of the house at mid span in most homes. Not only does this system
support the floor, but usually has the weight of bearing walls,
ceilings, second floors, second floor bearing walls and sometimes
roofs transfered down to it.

The first step is to install the sill plates on the foundation
wall . This gives you a place to nail 2x4 bracing to hold columns and beams in place while you install them. Once set in place these braces hold the steel till the floor joists are nailed in to take their place.

Before I continue, a word of caution. Homebuilding can be a
dangerous activity. Care and safety are a must in all phases of
the construction process. Setting steel definitely falls into
this category. Beams can weigh anywhere from 100 to 400 pounds
depending on their size and length. Beams can be lifted into
place manually but I would recommend the use of a crane. Not only
can the beams be put in place safely, but it can also quicken the
process.

With the sill plates in place the steel can be set. One end of
the first beam typically starts in a beam pocket formed into the
top of the foundation wall. The other end sits on top of a lally
column. A typical column is 3 1/2" in diameter and filled with
concrete. It has a flange welded to the top with holes in it that
match holes in the bottom flange of the beam. The beam is lowered
onto the column and then bolted together.

To make this happen, I like to use four people. One to hold the
beam in the pocket, one to hold the column, one man on a ladder
to guide and bolt the beam onto the column and one man to nail
off bracing to sill plates. Braces (2x4's) are laid flat on the
bottom flange of the beam on both sides of the web and then
nailed to the sill plates on opposing walls.

The next beam is now ready to be set. With one person holding the
next column, the next beam is lowered onto the new column and the
previous column. Men on ladders guide it into place and bolt it
down. Again 2x4's are used to brace the beam to the outside
foundation walls. This procedure is repeated until you get to a
beam pocket at the other end of the building, or a column that
terminates at an opening.

To keep beams level and straight, I like to use a dry line from
beam pocket to beam pocket (this can also be done with a laser).
First I drive a nail in the sill plate corresponding with the
edge of the beam. Most beams run pocket to pocket. If this is the
case I'll drive a nail in the plate by that pocket at the same
dimension as the first nail, measured from a common reference
point, usually the front or back sill plate. I now have a
reference point to line up the edge of the beams with and result
in a straight installation.

Assuming the foundation and sill plates are level, this string
can be used to level the steel beams (again, a laser can be
used). After most beam installations a 2x plate is either bolted
or shot with a powder actuated tool to the top of the beam. This
is to bring it level with the sill plates and to provide nailing
for the floor joists. Using a 2x block as a gauge, lay it on the
top of the beam where it sits on a column. This simulates the
plate that will be installed later. Shim the column till the
block touches the bottom of the dry line. Repeat this for every
column. Columns are shimmed with steel plates of various
thicknesses. These shims are provided by the steel supplier.

The next step is to plumb the lally columns on their concrete
pads. Using a 4-foot level, the columns are tapped into plumb
with a sledge hammer. Make sure the steel shims remain under the
columns. After all columns are plumbed up, the concrete floor can
be poured. This holds the columns in place.

The next step is to frame the floor. Once the floor joists are
nailed in place all bracing can be removed. The joists are now
holding the steel in place.

Just like the foundation, setting the steel straight and level is
important to producing a quality home.

(c) Mike Merisko www.sawkerfs.com

Mike Merisko has been a carpenter for 26 years. Most of those years were spent in the homebuilding and remodeling industries. He was also in business as a carpentry and general contractor. While that is his forte, he also has experience in bridge building, commercial construction, and exhibit building which is how he earns his living these days. You can browse through articles by him and others at his website http://www.sawkerfs.com or visit his blog at http://www.sawkerfs.blogspot.com

Business Finance Misinformation and Confusion

Confusion about commercial loans and working capital financing seems to be increasing despite efforts by the federal government and commercial lenders to suggest that there is ample business loan funding. As a result, the actual availability of business financing for commercial finance programs such as commercial mortgages and business cash advances is unclear to most business owners.

It seems apparent that there have been many reports suggesting that normal commercial finance channels are either frozen or extremely sluggish. In reality there are probably more opportunities for commercial loan needs than suggested by such reports. However, increasing uncertainties in financial and credit markets have produced conflicting and misleading information about the availability of commercial financing. For most business owners, it is probably not clear if business finance funding is realistically available to them or not.

In spite of some admittedly bad news, there continue to be to reliable funding sources for commercial real estate loans, working capital loans and especially for business cash advances. At the same time, the current negative economic conditions will prove to be difficult for most businesses. Commercial borrowers should expect that extra efforts will be required to successfully arrange commercial financing. An especially harsh reality for business financing is that many banks have discontinued all or most of their business lending activities, often with very little advance notice.

One common example of commercial finance misinformation distorting what is actually feasible is that some kinds of commercial financing have been more disrupted than others by recent events. Commercial borrowers might be unnecessarily confused by reports that do not refer to all commercial loan situations but rather primarily apply to a very specialized form of business financing. For example, by most accounts commercial construction loans are in short supply currently. Such specialized business loans are not as easily available as they were just a few months ago, and a more accurate accounting would reflect that the number of commercial lenders currently active in construction financing has shrunk dramatically. At the same time, most commercial real estate loans without new construction have not been as severely impacted as funding requests which do involve construction financing.

Several publications have reported that most new business financing requests are on hold or have simply been rejected due to recent financial market uncertainties, and this is another example of how business finance funding reports might confuse small business owners. While the sources for this information might have been honestly told by one or more lending institutions that they are in fact deferring new commercial loan funding, this does not mean that is the case for the entire country. If the discussion involved automobile sales, it would be comparable to concluding that nobody is selling cars anywhere after learning that several major dealers and two manufacturers announced that they were going out of business due to lack of adequate sales. Just because one or more banks fail or stop making business loans, it does not mean that there are not commercial loans available from other sources.

Commercial borrowers would be wise to maintain a cautious perspective in determining how to refinance or obtain small business loans simply because the banking industry has been involved in financial disruptions of an epic proportion. Many banks are sounding and acting like they have been through the equivalent of a train wreck. In such a natural disaster, it might not be prudent for business owners to seek the advice of banks which effectively caused the train to derail in the first place.

Despite reports about limited availability of business financing, some commercial lending activities such as business cash advance programs are actually as active as they have ever been. In the current commercial funding crisis, small business owners should seek a commercial loans expert for a realistic assessment and candid discussion about working capital loans and business finance programs.

Obtain effective strategies for business cash advances and commercial financing - Steve Bush is a business finance funding expert => AEX Working Capital Finance and Commercial Real Estate Loans

Creating Your Electricity

Creating your own electricity and generating your own power has always been one of my dreams. Having a self sufficient home, not only a house that takes care of itself by generating its own electricity through windmills or solar panels but the satisfaction knowing that no matter what happens to the electrical companies you will always have electricity at your home.

What a wonderful feeling it would be to get a check back from the utility company instead of paying them every single month. I don't know about you but my utility bills are ridiculous and seemed to be going up in price constantly. I can't believe all the fees they have been charging for years to all of their customers. If you add all the fees for every person in the city or county this comes to a large, a very large number and it's getting worse not better.

Generating your own electricity with solar or wind power is definitely green thinking. This is going to be the wave of the future as fuel used to create electricity continues to rise in price. I really can't imagine what the price of electricity is going to be like in 10 years as the mass consumption continues to rise in developing countries.

We have got to start taking care of our own needs through solar or wind power. We have got to start creating our own electricity to become self reliant. The more self reliant we become as a nation the less dependent we will be on major corporations, especially large power conglomerates.

Creating our own electricity can also be used for electrical cars that can be purchased in the future. Think of the money you will say in fuel costs as the price of gasoline continues to increase as well as less pollution into our environment.

This is definitely the wave of the future and common sense tells us this. I suggest you read this article again if you haven't figured out some of the problems coming our way in the future.

Think green and together we can start saving the planet.

While searching for new alternatives and trying to get some advice on creating your own electricity I came across a book you can purchase in digital format. This book seems to have quite a bit of information on creating your own electricity for a totally self sufficient home.

This book has been created in digital format to reduce the consumption of trees and the waste involved in creating a regular book. What a wonderful idea for helping our environment in quite a few ways.

While searching for new alternatives and trying to get some advice on creating your own electricity I came across a book you can purchase in digital format. This book seems to have quite a bit of information on creating your own electricity for a totally self sufficient home.

This book has been created in digital format to reduce the consumption of trees and the waste involved in creating a regular book. What a wonderful idea for helping our environment in quite a few ways.

For more information visit http://www.gregvan.com and look for Get Earth4Energy Here Create your own electricity! Save 1000's with Earth4Energy

Oh God The Contractor From Hell

Post Your Ideas Here On Deck Building

Do you have any ideas for building or repairing wood decks . We would love to hear from you in the comment area. Any useful comments that you can make on deck construction or deck building will help our blog readers.

House Attic Books

Budget Kitchen Remodeling All by Yourself

Everyone wants the best for their homes and one of the most important areas one's house is the kitchen, which is probably the most favorite place of bonding for families and friends alike. We only want what is best for our homes, which is why we fill them with beautiful interior decoration pieces and possibly, with the most modern equipments available in the market today.

Those of you wondering on how to remodel your kitchen on a budget, there are a lot of options available which can enhance the look and functionality of your home. Most home stores can help those who are on the lookout for remodeling their kitchen on a budget.

Do It Yourself

The best way to save money when while trying to remodel your kitchen on a low budget, is to try and do it by yourself. You could try to involve help from the members of the family or friends who you know might have similar interests and would enjoy the process. Involving yourself, friends and family in the whole thing, would give your kitchen the look you want, besides being a great opportunity to re-bond with those who are involved in the entire process

Once you have decided to remodel your kitchen on a budget, you should at first sit down and in details write down all the ideas and changes that you have in your mind for your new kitchen. You should be able to conceptualize the look and feel of the kitchen after completion. By doing this, you can decide on the appliances that would complement the ambience that you want. By this time you have to decide if you want to totally change your old kitchen cabinets or just upgrade them with a new color scheme and freshness more suitable to the new look of your kitchen.

Yet another great tip for remodeling your kitchen on a budget is that you can retain your old plumbing which means that you don't need professional services. In doing this, you will be saving on the cost of labor and new materials, apart from that it would save you a lot of time, energy and hassles for everyone.

Moreover, try to browse through the nearest Lowe's or Home Depot home store in your vicinity because they can help you and suggest ideas about the best options when you are trying to remodel your kitchen on a budget. For detailed information and to make a list of the materials that you might want, try visiting their website at www.homedepot.com and www.lowes.com.

The free-lance writer Carl Esonhouse is very passionate about topics related to saeco espresso maker. You might discover his observations on saeco coffee machines and saeco coffee maker over at http://www.coffee-espresso-maker-tips.com.

Building Codes And Remodeling

Pest Droppings in the Attic - Pest Problems

Sometimes I wonder how these large animals can get through such small holes in our homes and into our attics and crawlspace's. A few years ago, I was working on a home that had water damage to the siding that needed to be fixed. The homeowner of course didn't want anymore water damage and this required repairing roof, the original cause for the siding damage.

When I bid the job, I had no idea what I was about to run into. The first day on the job, went smoothly as I repaired some damage fascia board, but the next day I was in for a surprise, as I removed the damaged siding, I found what looked like dog poop in the attic.

I was looking around in the attic and trying to figure out how a dog could of got up there. I know that I shouldn't have, but I walked around the home inspecting it for a large hole, any holes, something that a small dog could have wiggled his way into. I got my latter off of the truck and then went on the roof, trying to find a place where a dog could have got into the attic.

I couldn't find any holes and after wasting about an hour, I decided it was time to get back to work and since the homeowner wasn't there, I couldn't show him my new findings or ask him any questions. I cleaned up the mess and repaired the water damaged siding, but in the back of my head I kept thinking about how in the heck a dog got up in the attic.

To make a short story even shorter, when the homeowner arrived home that day, I showed him my findings and he informed me that he didn't have a dog. He did however inform me that he has been hearing something walking around in his attic for about a year now. He had a pretty good idea that they were raccoons.

I told him, that I had inspected his home and only found one small hole on top of his roof underneath the roof eave, but there's no way that a small raccoon could fit through that hole. He told me that you would be surprised, what these animals were capable of squeezing into and out of.

Well that's about it, the mystery was solved, I repaired the small hole in the attic and have never heard from the homeowner again. Hopefully that meant I did my job well and not that he was embarrassed about the poop in the attic.

Pest Control Ideas, House Pest Pictures

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

No More Stories about Horrible Contractors Here

I would love to hear your good contractor stories. I'm so tired of hearing about contractor nightmares, is there anyone out there that has a good contractor story. Place it in the comment area underneath this question.

Bathroom Books

Enjoy the Beauty of Nature With Stone Landscaping - Enhance Your Yard With a Patio, Outdoor Kitchen

After the chill of winter, everyone is excited to be venturing outside once again. If you're one of the many Americans who doesn't have a functional way to enjoy your yard, why not consider stone landscaping. These beautiful, practical features-from patios to walls to complete outdoor kitchens-enable you to easily and comfortably spend time outside. Break out of the confines of the indoors and start living your life in the relaxed atmosphere of nature!

Stone Patios Patios are probably the most traditional way to create an outdoor room. Built from fieldstone, slate, or pavers, stone patios provide a well-defined living space within your yard. Add a picnic table to make an al fresco dining room or arrange comfy rattan chairs to fashion an open-air family room. A patio can be installed abutting your house, in a sheltered corner of the yard, or near a shady tree to suit your outside living style.

Stone Outdoor Kitchens One of the hottest new trends in landscape design today is outdoor kitchens. With all the amenities of a regular kitchen, outdoor kitchens enable you to prepare food, cook, and grill without ever leaving the backyard! Although the "outdoor kitchens" of the past were typically just ordinary charcoal grills, today they're equipped with sinks, stovetop burners, and refrigerators as well as high-tech grills. Built into attractive stonework installations, these kitchens are beautiful as well as functional! Just imagine being able to cook dinner without having to leave the quiet serenity of nature, enjoying birdsong while washing the dishes, and the myriad other benefits of a complete cooking space set in the great outdoors.

Stone Walls While many people think of stone walls as livestock fences or retaining walls, they can also provide seating, frame a view, or disguise eyesores. Would you spend more time outside if you didn't have to look at your neighbor's unsightly lawn? Have an attractive stone wall built to hide it! Want somewhere to sit to enjoy the evening breeze, but don't have space for a deck or patio? Add a stone wall at a comfortable height, and voila, instant bench. Let yourself think outside the box when it comes to stone landscaping: you'll come up with endless ideas to improve your yard in ways that invite the whole family to spend hours outside!

Matt Gallo is a home improvement specialist and the Internet marketing manager for Prospect Genius, a leading provider of online local advertising solutions.

Double Floor Joist

Kitchen Design Tips That Make Remodeling Easy As Pie

The kitchen is one of the most used and valuable rooms in your home. Designing your own kitchen can be a gratifying experience. Whether you want to increase your home's value or are just in need of an update, kitchen design can help transform your home. Starting a kitchen design project can be overwhelming, so consider these main points and kitchen design tips before you dive in.

1. Budget

You don't have to allocate money to individual projects or appliances right away, but you should have an overall budget before you start getting too caught up in your plans. You also should set budget for time as well. How long can you afford to live without your kitchen? This will affect the extent of the design. Even a rough guide will be invaluable during the initial planning phases.

2. Space and Layout

The amount of space available will be a determining factor in the final layout. Small spaces will need to be made compact and functional. Larger spaces can also pose difficulties as you don't want to be running from fridge to oven during an important meal. You want to maximize available space and also determine what secondary functions the kitchen should have. Will it be strictly for cooking or is there space for an informal dining or activity area?

3. The Golden Triangle

This is a commonly referred to kitchen design concept. The golden triangle is the three appliances or areas of the kitchen that you utilize the most often (fridge, oven, dishwasher, sink-it will vary by person). These are recommended to be placed in a triangle formation so you will never have to move far to complete any given task. Although many people find this setup useful, there are many other layout designs that may be better suited for your needs.

4. Storage

Before you start picking out marble countertops and stainless steel appliances, you'll want to carefully plan out storage space. Many professional designers have come up with creative ways to maximize space even in the smallest of kitchens. Drawers and cabinets should be easy to access and not spread too far apart.

You need to also think of safety issues if you have small children. Knives should be stored in either locking safety drawers or high enough up where small hands can't reach. Heavy objects that can fall need a storage area low to the ground.

5. Lighting

Natural and artificial lighting can change the entire mood of a kitchen, so it's best not to overlook or skimp on these aspects. Adding windows to breakfast areas or in front of preparation counters will not only make cooking a pleasure, but can help you save on some electricity as well.

6. Color

Color palettes will have a large impact on your kitchen design. The materials used for the floor, countertops, and appliances are all affected by your chosen color scheme. Are you looking for ultra-modern stainless steel appliances? Then the pastel blue walls might clash. Consider how the different components and their appearance can complement each other.

Kitchen cabinets in Sarasota Florida can be custom designed to make the most of any kitchen space, creating functional work spaces with unbeatable style. Visit http://www.eurotechcabinetry.com to view the award-winning kitchen designs and custom-built cabinets.

Lower Basement Wall Staining

Soundproofing Makes Life A Little Better And Quieter

Air, water and land pollution are not the only pollutions that plague our planet nowadays. One major problem that our world is struggling to overcome at present is noise.

Noise doesnt only destroy your peace of mind, it also degrades performance, reduces efficiency, makes you lose your sleep thus affecting your health and sometimes, it even causes accidents. A noisy home creates chaos among family members just as noise in the office breaks down production and causes workers to misunderstand each other.

Because of noise, gap is created and the order of things is disturbed. Noise is truly detrimental not only psychologically and emotionally but almost in all aspects of every individual. This is why when it comes to noise, you have to shield yourself and your home.

Soundproofing Tips To Help Restore Peace And Quiet To Your Home

To effectively achieve soundproofing, you first have to understand the principle behind noise. Sound is actually produced from the reverberation of air; hence, in order to do soundproofing, you have to deaden the air or stop it from moving. If its not possible to do this, at least reduce the speed of air so as to moderate noise as well.

Using sound barrier is the most frequent solution for soundproofing any room or space. Those materials that block off or oppose noise are called sound barriers and they are mostly made from nonporous materials; thats why most of them are sturdy and solidly strong. Examples of sound barriers include acoustic panels, drywall, plaster board, wood and concrete.

Noise can also be eliminated or dampened through passive absorption. This method is the exact opposite of blocking sound using sound barriers. Here, sound wave passes through an absorbent material such as acoustical foam or mat and is forced to change direction multiple times or dissipate. The diffusion of noise reduces its energy or intensity thus when the sound reaches your ears after passing through an absorber, it wouldve been considerably regulated and usually accompanied by a transformation into heat energy.
Whether you live in a big house or dwells in a modest apartment in the city, the sound of peace and quiet is almost a luxury amidst the multitude of noise that beleaguers you. Soundproofing your home will get rid of all the noises that disturb you, not to mention that it will also please your neighbor with an ear-piercing squeal.

Aside from surrounding and sticking all types of soundproofing materials on the walls, ceilings, floor, windows and doors of your home, you can also soundproof your home in other simple yet innovative ways. For instance, having some trees or big plants in your front yard could dampen down noises that come from the road. Another small thing that you can do to minimize noise at home is by installing rubber pads on the edges of your doors. This will stop all that slamming sound and banging of doors which startle you out of your wits. You can also check your houses for inconspicuous airspaces and crevices where noise may enter your home. Seal these fissures with liquid type sealant to ward off noise from crossing the threshold of your home. If youre into art or imaginative enough to try off other atypical things, then you may set up fountains or put in a large aquarium into your living room to replace the noise with soothing sounds of gushing water.

Soundproofing doesnt need to be that complex and costly. With your own innovations and unique ideas, you can find ways to keep peace and quiet to your home.

Robert Banks is the owner of http://www.soundproofing-info.com Know the different soundproofing methods and solutions by checking http://www.soundproofing-info.com

Wooden Bench Making in 6 Easy Steps

Although you may think it is really more difficult than it really is, bench making can be done in 6 simple steps. After we have gathered the needed materials and tools we can do bench making in no time. We can make ourselves a nice, simple and safe wooden bench; one that will be both functional and beautiful and something you will be sure to get compliments on and a great conversation piece. After all, what's better than saying, Yeah, I made that!"

Bench making is easier with these six steps.

1. First, we start off by measuring the frame of the bench seat to our desired dimensions, cut them, and then tack-nail them together. Bench making includes drawing a curve line on the side pieces lengthways and cutting them using a jigsaw before attaching them together. This forms the seat shape. We may also form it as we see fit.

Then cut and sand the seat slats and mark their face boards. Screw the seat frame tightly together. Glue and nail the slats to the frame, beginning from the back. A inch vertical spacer will help. A good bench making design is providing a slight slat overhang on the front.

2. Second, we come to the screwing portion of bench making. Glue and screw front legs to our seat frame by first pre-drilling and applying countersink holes for screws to fit in. Do the same with the hind legs.

3. Third is sanding. Bench making is also about safety so we round sharp corners and sand the seat face and legs to smoothen all surfaces. This avoids board grains or fibers from sticking out and hurting the user. Sanding also creates better-looking seat surfaces.

4. Fourth, we deal with the back rest in bench making. Get the top rail measurement and add a space 5/8 inch from the rail top to the back part of the hind leg. This should give a 1/8 inch space at the bottom of the rail between the back part of the leg and the rail.

Then place the router tenons or tongues and vertical back slats on one end. There should be a fitting groove at the top rail. The tongues should easily fit into the groove. Glue the slats and nail them.

5. Fifth, bench making with armrests requires putting wood cleats 3 1/2 by 3/4 by 3'4 inches to support the front legs. Make a 3/16 inch hole with a drill at the midpoint of the cleat and have it attached through the bracing at the corner.

The armrest should measure from the back of the hind leg to some inches off the front leg. An armrest notch should receive the leg support of the back rest. Drill a hole and countersink atop the front cleat piercing the armrest then glue and screw.

6. Then, sixth is final sanding. Bench making should end with all surfaces, ends, and corners smoothen before painting. There we have our nice, simple, and sturdy bench.

John Grant is a the author for a how to do it your self site where he is writing articles about how to build a bench.

Real Estate Books

How to Build a Home in Central Portugal

Having a property designed and built specific to your needs is one way to ensure you get the home of your dreams in Central Portugal.

There are many advantages to designing and building your own place in the sun here in Central Portugal.

It can be more cost effective than purchasing an existing villa or house. You benefit from having the property designed specific to your needs and the finish tailored to your requirements.

However anyone contemplating building a property in Portugal should be aware the planning process is not a speedy affair. Unlike the United Kingdom, where a planning application can be submitted and approved in eight weeks, in some cases planning applications in Portugal can take up to two years' to be approved depending upon their location and the proposed size of build.

One thing is for certain, there is no shortage of building plots for sale in Central Portugal. However, caution should be taken when considering purchasing land in Portugal as there are many confusing laws governing the use of land.

As in the United Kingdom, land in Portugal is divided into categories and priced accordingly. There are five different classifications of land types in Portugal - Reserve Ecological, Rustic, Agro-Florestal, Urban and Commercial. This classification directly affects the use of the land and the overall selling price. For example a rustic plot measuring 1,500 square metres can be purchased for as little as 5,000, whereas the same sized plot with an Urban classification could cost up to 250,000 or more. see our website for more informationIf you intend to construct a permanent structure it is highly unlikely you will be given planning approval from the local council if the land is classified as Reserve Ecological or Rustic and some times this also applies to Agro-Florestal land.

This may all seem very confusing, however there are systems in place to enable you to verify whether or not a planning application will be considered prior to purchase. This process is called PIP and does incur charges, which vary from council to council, but it is an invaluable resource and well worth doing.

Once you have ascertained the plot of land you wish to purchase is viable for construction and the size of building that can be erected, then you can - once you have purchased the land - proceed with designing your dream home in Portugal.

You may already have a design in mind to construct in Portugal and may think it could be cheaper to employ a technical artist to convert your ideas into an acceptable application. However while this may save some money it is advisable to use an architect to compile the planning application (Projecto). *see Planning Permission in Portugal on our website for more details.

Architects (arquitectos) in Portugal study for up to seven years and are up to date with all the latest changes to planning rules and will be able to guide you through the whole process.

However unlike the United Kingdom where an architect will also compile the structural engineering side of the planning application, in Portugal this part of the process is carried out by an engineer (engenheiro).

While you are waiting for your planning application to be approved from the local Cmara it is wise to use this time to source reliable, licensed builders and get estimates (oramentos) for the total build cost.

Generally speaking most builders use a proven formula to quickly work out the total build cost of a property and this can range from 450-600 per square metre of construction. However to ensure an accurate quote from builders, provide copies of the architectural and engineering reports.

Reputable builders will give detailed estimates for each stage or phase of the build as well as a projected time of build. Always get at least three builders to give estimates and ask to see examples of their work. It is also a good idea, if possible, to speak to some of their previous clients.

Once you have chosen the builder to construct your dream home it is a good idea to have a contract drawn up by your lawyer detailing the cost of the build, the length of build with a start and finish date of construction. This contract will give you peace of mind and recourse should any problems occur with the builder.

If you are not going to be in Portugal for the duration of the build it maybe worthwhile investing money in employing a Project Manager to oversee the day to day running of the construction and to keep you informed of any problems that may occur.

When both parts of your planning application have been approved by the Cmara the next stage is to purchase a Licena de Obras. The length of time you have specified for the total build begins when this Licena is purchased and stamped. Should the build take longer it is possible to apply for extensions from the Cmara. If for any reason you do not wish to purchase the Licena immediately the planning approval will remain valid for up to two years, this also can be extended.

New build properties in Portugal are quite quick to construct and the usual amount of time a builder will take constructing an average three bedroom detached house is around six to nine months, though this can vary and in some cases is weather dependent.

When the build is complete the Cmara will inspect the property, though sometimes this is only from the outside. They will double check the Livro de Obras (Book of Works) which is kept by the engineer. If they are happy everything is in order the Cmara will provide a technical file (Ficha Technica) and a Habitation licence (Licena de Habitao) for the property.

However if there have been some changes to room layouts during the build, retrospective plans must be given to the council along with an engineering report to show everything has been constructed according to the law.

All information provided here is given in good faith and is correct at the time of writing

Derek is a partner in a successful licensed estate Agency, Based in Central Portugal, http://www.chavetejo.com as well as a marketing and information website promoting Central Portugal.http://www.gekkoportugal.com Derek has several years experience in Property sales and development, both in Portugal and in England as well as 15 years experience in customer care and aftersales.

Nailing Or Screwing Drywall

Your Office Building and Carpet

Here in New Jersey there are many buildings, homes and businesses as far as the eye can see and when one of these belongs to you, you will definitely want to take care of it, to keep it in the best condition. If your property happens to be an office building more than one unit, your tenants will require and demand care for the exterior and the interior. Most office buildings must maintain level of cleanliness that is commensurate to the standards of professionalism as that is where you and your tenants work and meet with future and current clients.

To hire a "handyman" of sorts is always a good idea so this person can care for the property with repairs and maintenance of all general needs such as painting, electrical and simple landscaping concerns, however the one thing you will always want to have on call is a local carpet cleaning company that you trust to get the job done right and can be available at a moments notice for any emergencies that arise.

The carpet that you have in your office complex will need to be durable enough to withstand heavy traffic but need not be the most expensive and elaborate carpet that is available. With various treatments available from your preferred New Jersey carpet cleaning company, such as anti-static treatment, stain resistance applications and deodorants, your carpets can remain in a good and functional condition for many years to come.

If for any reason you are thinking of replacing the carpet you can find many low to mid-range priced carpets that will suit your needs, such as carpeting made with synthetic (man made) fibers. Many of these carpets will be pre-treated with all of the aforementioned applications and if they are properly cared for will last for quite a long time, keeping their appearance and bounce.

Be sure when purchasing carpeting for your New Jersey office building that you get all of the left over carpeting or scraps once installation is complete. This will aid you in any patch work and provide you with extra material if the need arises. If there are no scraps or leftover carpeting you might want to purchase some extra material for any future needs you may have.

One thing that must be stressed in order to maintain a professional and nice looking office center is regular cleanings of the carpets. Many of these types of buildings have a high volume of traffic that causes wear and tear, soiling, staining and many other problems that can greatly reduce the life of your carpeting. By performing regular carpet cleanings you can be assured that you are giving the carpets what they need for longevity and future use. Just as a tree needs water to thrive, a carpet needs cleaning in order to last as long as it can and look as great as it did when installed.

You can easily arrange a regular cleaning schedule with your local carpet cleaning company and you and your occupants will appreciate the look and feel of the carpeting in your office building.

Thank you for reading! For more info check out my Jersey carpet cleaning website where hopefully you'll find the solution for all of your carpet cleaning needs! I look forward to answering any carpet cleaning and restoration inquiries you may have. Simply click here: Jersey carpet cleaning contact to be redirected to my websites contact page, also here is the original Your Office Building and Carpet article location.

Ice Dam Problems And Solutions

Relocatable Cabins As an Investment For the Future

Relocatable cabins are an excellent alternative to building a home from scratch, and are an affordable option when you want to expand your property to include a home that can be used for family members, or rented out to others. With all of the necessities that are commonly found in relocatable cabins, you can easily convert a preexisting space into a wonderful home.

Owning Property

With the price of housing skyrocketing, and the need for affordable housing becoming more common, relocatable cabins have taken on a new appeal to families of all sizes. Combining homes to fit more than one generation of the family is now more common than ever, whether the reasons are financial or a matter of health. You can design a cabin to fit the needs of your family, with options ranging from a one room addition to a self inclusive home.

As long as you have property that can be used for the cabin, you can order the prefabricated home to be delivered directly to your home. If you are planning on building the addition yourself, then you will need to take the time to file all of the proper documentation in your territory, which will have its own set of rules and regulations concerning building.

Renting

You will want to think about the potential of your relocatable home for the long term, since the materials that are used will ensure that it lasts a lifetime. If you have chosen a relocatable cabin for temporary use, such as for a child who is becoming independent, then you may want to consider using it for a rental property in the future. Today's relocatable cabins are much more than just a spare room, they are a home that is both modern and functional.

You can choose among the most popular looks for your cabin, including hardwood flooring and bay windows that will ensure that your investment pays off over time. You can choose affordable financing options that will allow you to pay reasonable amounts for the cabin over time, which can easily be covered by renting the property out.

Expanding

A relocatable cabin can also add value to your existing home. When you purchase your cabin, you will be able to choose from both annexed cabins or cabins and those that are joined to an existing home. You can choose decor and colors on the addition that match the existing home, and add features, such as a sun room, that create a special look and feel for potential buyers in the future. If you do not have time to install the addition yourself, then you can have the manufacturer arrange the building for you.

You can also add items such as built in BBQs and carports to the relocatable cabins, making them an excellent choice for rental properties. The one and two bedroom homes are as inexpensive as $20,000, a price that is quite competitive for a brand new home in the market today.

For top quality, low cost, affordable Relocatable Cabins in Victoria, you need to see Relocatable Cabins

What Kind Of Wood Rot

Installing a 32 Inch Back Door

In some older houses you will find a 30 inch back door. Have you ever tried to move a refrigerator or some large furniture through a 30 inch door? Keep in mind most bedroom doors are 30 inches wide and are in 36 inch hallways. 30 inch doors and bedrooms make it tough to move some furniture in too.

Let's start with the price difference between a 30 inch door and a 32 inch door. The cost difference is usually going to be around $20. If you are building a hundred homes this could become quite an additional expense. So we can understand why the home builder installed a 30 inch door in the back of our home.

He got the extra money in his pocket, you got a headache.

Here's the big problem. If you ever want to install a larger door you will need to replace the structural door framing. Now this is where you could run into a little bit of an expense. Changing the framing for a wider door could become quite costly. It could actually cost over $1000 in some cases.

Now if the homebuilder would have originally installed a 32 inch door in your house it might have ran him as high as an additional $45. How can this be? I will give you the first clue. There is a good chance the homebuilder will not be moving into any of these houses. If for some strange instance he did move into the house, he would learn the same lesson whenever he needed to move a large item into the house.

I'm a contactor and learned this lesson in a long time ago.

If you are building a new home you might even want to consider installing a 36 inch back door. This door will give you plenty of room when it comes to moving large items in or out of your house. The cost difference between a 36 inch door and a 32 inch door is usually around $20 also.

When building a new home most people don't give very much thought about their interior or exterior doors. Here's a simple chart I made to help with some basic door decisions.

Bathroom Doors Should Be 28 Inches Wide Minimum.
Bedroom Doors Should Be 30 Inches Wide Minimum.
Front Doors Should Be At Least 36 Inches Wide
Back Doors and Garage Doors Should Be At Least 32 Inches Wide

If you are a professional football or basketball player don't use these numbers above.

If you have large sliding glass doors or French doors throughout your home and can use them to move large items into the house you can install whatever size doors you choose that are comfortable to walk through.

Give some thought when installing a new door on your next project and keep some of the above tips in mind..

If you are designing a home give some thought to the stairways and hallways in the home as well.

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 and Remodeling Library and adding useful content to help solve problems created by the lack of construction knowledge in the building industry.

Visit us and get more information on building and remodeling your homes and Bay Window Ideas

Types of Bathroom Sinks

Bathroom sinks come in many shapes and sizes designed to complement any bathroom size and style. Listed below are the most common bathroom sink styles.

Self Rimming Sinks

Also called countertop sinks, these sinks are come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and hole configurations. They are mounted from above the counter with a visible rim that fits in the hole of the counter top. When ordering this type of sink, be sure to take into consideration whether your faucet requires a single hole, 4 center set or 8 widespread configuration and be sure to order the sink in the same corresponding configuration.

Undermount Sinks

Also known as undercounter sinks, are installed from underneath a solid surface counter top, such as granite, stone or manmade material and does not have a rim. To install this style of sink you may need a mounting kit.

Pedestal Sinks

These are freestanding sinks that sit on their own bases. They are usually generously sized for everyday use and are beautifully styled. Pedestal sinks are perfect for small bathrooms and powder room because they save space but they dont offer any underneath storage space. When selecting a pedestal sink, be sure to consider the finish of the exposed plumbing items underneath.

Vessel Style Sinks

Also known as above-counter sinks, vessel sinks can be mounted on ornate stands that brilliantly hold their own in your bathroom design. This style offers new exciting shapes, designs and colors, and stands freely on cabinets to make a big fashion statement. Wall-mount faucets work well with this style sink, however some manufacturers offer a tempered glass faucet stand which butts up to the glass vessels and hides the base of deck-mount faucets. Some vessels are manufactured with an overflow but most are without an overflow, so a grid drain must be installed to prevent accidental over filling.

Console Sinks

Console Sinks combine the style of a pedestal while at the same time providing larger counter areas. The sink and countertop are one. Because of the larger counter area, console sinks come complete with either (2) or (4) legs for support. This style offers a lot of choices in size and style of sink; oval, rectangular, square and round, and you can choose a single or double bowl. They are easy to clean and offer extra counter space. Standard sizes are available and custom orders can be placed.

Wall Hung Sinks

Installed on the wall, they save both floor and cabinet space. Like Pedestal lavatories, they are very popular in smaller bathrooms. They can be installed at any height and are usually offered with an optional towel bar.

Visit Faucet.com for a wide variety of quality bathroom sinks. Call and speak with one of our product specialists to find the right bathroom sink for your home.

A Look at Kitchen Cabinet Designs - From the Boring to the Interesting!

Kitchen cabinet designs can really influence the concept of your kitchen. It can make your kitchen a boring and dull place or it can give it a cool and interesting look. The final look of your kitchen has to be decided by you. Each one of us normally has a concept or theme based on which we decide on all fittings in the kitchen. Your kitchen cabinet designs have to gel with your theme for you to get the right feel in the kitchen.

If you are planning on a particular color as the theme of your kitchen, then the kitchen cabinets should be made with a wood that has a color that will gel with your theme color. If your theme color is a light shade then some people like to go for light colored wood so that the kitchen cabinets and the wall colors are all light. Some go for dark colored wood so that the kitchen has a warmer and cozier feel.

A lot of ladies like to go for the classic or contemporary look. Here the wood color is then kept dark for the classic look and is kept light for the contemporary look. Kitchen cabinet designs have a lot to do with shades and the types of wood.

You can design your own cabinets or you can get it designed too. There are experts on the net and in the market. Give them the dimensions of your cabinet space and tell them what you need. They will design a custom made cabinet for you. If you are someone who is creative and feel that you can do a good job then kitchen cabinet designs can be designed by you.

Some points to remember before designing your kitchen cabinets: -

1. Keep the theme in mind.

2. Keep the color of the walls in mind.

3. Always go for good wood which is termite resistant.

4. Keep the water type in mind.

5. Keep the wood and finishes away from any contact with water. If it is coming in contact then try and find a water resistant finish.

6. Keep the dimensions in mind always.

7. The dimensions should be written down and the cabinet should be of the correct size.

8. The kitchen cabinet designs should be user friendly.

9. If you clumsy with handling bottles etc it is nice to put a small rod in front of your jars or bottles. This has to be done on the inside and has to be done in the production stages itself.

10. If you are short on space, then you must have enough cabinets and the cabinets should be inside the wall and not sticking out.

11. If you have a very big kitchen then you can go for bulky kitchen furniture and cabinets.

12. Use each nook and cranny while making your kitchen cabinet designs. The corners these days can be used by having foldable drawers and adjustable drawers. If nothing else is feasible the corners can be used as a place to display some of you kitchen curios.

13. Ensure that you have separate compartments for all your kitchen ware. The bottle and vessels should be completely different places etc.

A little bit of careful planning and the correct kitchen cabinet designs can give you kitchen a marvelous look and feel.

Visit DIY Home Improvement Ideas for more excellent ideas on how to paint kitchen cabinet plus DIY guides from fireplace remodeling to decorating a childs' room plus more.

Wood Range Hoods

While cooking, at home, we need to eliminate grease, smoke, odors, and steam that rise from the cook top. This is accomplished with a range hood and a power driven exhaust fan. Range hoods can be made of metal, heat-resistant plastics, and more, however wood range hoods complement the cabinets that surround it.

A wood range hood is one of the most eye-catching parts of the kitchen; it should be designed with this in mind. They can be as simple as a square cabinet with a power pack mounted beneath it, to an elaborate work of art trimmed with tile, wood panels, or stainless steel.

Wall-mount range hoods are made to fit the cabinets surrounding it, often attached on each side so the crown molding is continuous across the top. However, an unattached range hood, where the cabinets end on each side can be picturesque as well. An island or peninsula range hood extends down from the ceiling and is often bell shaped and finished on all four sides.

A mantel or shelf can be incorporated into ornate range hoods, which is perfect for displaying fancy plates or decorative nick knacks. Corbels, onlays, and wood panels add even more detail, personalizing a custom wood range hood to the homeowner's style.

Keep in mind the range hood will need to be vented outside the home to work properly. If the vent pipe extends out the top of the range hood, more cabinetry might be needed to cover the pipe. Other options include; back wall ventilation, or re-circulating. In a re-circulating application, a filter is used to remove particles from the air, before releasing it back into the kitchen.

The homeowner and the cabinetmaker should design the wood range hood together. The cabinetmaker will have many ideas available, so ask questions, and do a little research.

Visit us at Hardwood Technology to learn more about Cabinets and Woodworking

Does Home Improvement Still Make Sense In A Housing Slump?

Last night I watched a home improvement show in which a Florida couple had spent $50,000 updating their home. Now they were asking their realtor for a home appraisal. Amazingly, the realtor told them their renovation had increased the value of their home by $120,000 - more than a two-to-one return on their investment!

Cable TV is filled with shows like this that inspire homeowners to take on kitchen remodeling, bedroom makeovers or similar projects.

But many of these shows were filmed two or three years ago during the height of the housing boom.

As we enter 2008 we face a very different housing market in which nationwide home prices are stagnant and even declining in some markets.

In this sort of environment, does home improvement still make sense? The answer depends on what sort of home improvement you want to tackle.

Avoid Style Makeovers

First, it's time for a reality check. Even during the peak of the housing boom, the idea that remodeling your home produced a high return on investment was simply a myth.

According to 2004 survey by Remodeling Magazine, the average home renovation returned only 80% of its value at the time of resale.

So for every dollar you invested in a major renovation, you could expect $0.80 back in your pocket. And that was in 2004, when home values across the country were climbing at an unprecedented rate.

If you want a style makeover to make yourself happy, by all means you should do it. But you shouldn't expect it to dramatically increase the resale value of your home.

In fact, your taste could well end up driving away potential buyers. Personal tastes can be tricky. You may love red and gold walls in your living room, but some buyers will see this as a liability that needs to be fixed.

Even if your tastes are in step with current tastes, styles will change over time. Your choice of kitchen tile and countertops may be in line with current fashion, but if you don't plan to sell your home for another ten years, the style may well be dated when you sell.

Keep in Step with Your Neighborhood

Your home's location is still the biggest factor determining its value. With that in mind, renovations make the most sense if they bring your house up to the norm for the neighborhood.

If your 3,000 square foot home has only two bathrooms, adding a third bathroom makes sense. If all other homes in your neighborhood have a deck, then adding one to your home makes sense as well.

But this rule only applies to major items. Just because your neighbor added solid gold faucets and a sunken marble bathtub doesn't mean you should remodel your master bath to keep pace.

And if you are already the biggest house on the block, further home upgrades will do little to increase the value of your home.

Invest in Home Maintenance.

Home repairs and preventative maintenance are the best investment you can make in your house, and they make sense regardless of whether the housing market is in a boom or a bust. They won't necessarily raise the value of your home, but they can prevent your home from loosing far more value due to damage and wear.

Putting off repairs simply means they will cost more when you do get around to fixing them. A crack from a settling foundation will expand over time. Water damage from a leaky gutter will only cause further wear to your exterior walls.

When you sell your house these issues will almost certainly come up in the home inspection, and you may need to discount your home's price to allow the buyer to make repairs. Worse, too large a repair bill may simply scare a buyer away.

The Bottom Line:

Overall, the best advice is to invest in sound home improvements that keep your house in good shape and up to the standard of your neighborhood.

If you still want to make a style upgrade, that's fine. But do it for aesthetic reasons, not financial ones.

Mold Growing On Cement Wall

Room Acoustics & Home Cinema Rooms

Room acoustics play a huge role in creating a successful home cinema. The best home cinema hardware in the world will fail to perform at its best in a badly designed room.

The main issue in a home cinema tends to be excessive reverberation time - this is the time taken for a sound from a speaker to decay by 60dB below its original level - i.e. the amount of time it takes for a sound to dissipate in the room.

If you can imagine standing in a completely empty room with hard floors and ceilings and clapping your hands, the sound will echo for quite some time and therefore take a long time to decay (it reflects off the walls and floor). Now imagine standing in a carpeted bedroom and clapping your hands, the sound would not echo as much and disappear quite quickly (the bed and the carpet would absorb some of the sound). The bedroom has a lower reverberation time than the original room.

In a home cinema it is generally good to have a shorter reverberation time as if the reverberation time of one syllable overlaps the other it can be difficult to make out speech. The same thing happens with sound from the surround sound speakers - one effect overlaps another resulting in a muddle of sound.

Home Cinema Treatments

There are several ways to treat excessive reverberation time - changing the shape of the room is one. Imagine a square box, a wave comes out of the speaker hits the back wall and comes back 180 degrees on itself - muddled sound. Now imagine a complex shape like Octagon, some waves will still bounce back at 180 degrees but the majority will bounce off in different directions - the sound still exists but all the bouncing will reduce its energy quite quickly (and therefore volume) and keep the sounds distinct.

The other way to treat excessive reverberation is to absorb the wave - acoustic panels consist of acoustic substrate finished in fabric. This tends to be the most practical way to improve the sound in your room and the finishing fabric can be almost any design - improving aesthetics at the same time as the sound. Manufacturers such as Cineak and Cinematech have products available in a variety of sizes and shapes to cater for most situations.

Written by: Dave Chester

Custom Controls

http://www.CustomControls.co.uk

Custom Control & Entertainment Solutions - Home Cinema, Multi-Room Audio Video, Home Automation & Lighting Control. Premier Dealers for Crestron, Kaleidescape, Lutron and Bowers & Wilkins.

2 X 4 Nailed On To Wall