Thursday, July 30, 2009

Why Basement Remodeling?

With the long-running housing crunch in New York caused by the influx of people wanting to be a part of it; smaller living units have become the more popular choice posing as the more affordable option. Naturally, one thing that New York homeowners would have in mind when thinking of undertaking a home improvement project would be more living space. Instead of gaining a home addition that requires tearing down walls and extending the area of your homes, the best possible solution is exhausting the possibilities that any unused area in your home has to offer. This makes basement remodeling an ideal project.

Now you are thinking, 'Why would I want to use my dungeon-like basement when I could extend and create another floor above my roof or enlarge an existing room?' To answer this and lay out more benefits, here are several points explaining why basement remodeling is the best way to go:

- Basement remodeling is a lot cheaper to work on to add square footage to your current living area than a full home addition. Even with most or with every same feature and design, it would only end up costing just a chunk of the whole budget that a full-scale home addition amounts to. With the latter, there would still be a need to not only demolish any existing wall or roof, you would also have to rebuild another to surround the additional expanse. But with remodeling your basement all the crucial structural foundations are already built like the walls, flooring and ceiling.

- Unlike other home improvement projects, basement remodeling involves an area which is not much frequented and is quite isolated. So even when the project is undergoing, you and your family will not be required to put up with so much of the hassles such as the noise caused by the ongoing construction as well as the traffic of contractors and other workers going about their works.

- Being literally surrounded by earth, the basement is typically cooler even if the sun is sizzling hot on summers and warmer during chilly winter months. So no matter what finish you plan and come up with, it will surely be enjoyed with the added benefit of its energy-efficiency.

- The ready availability and easy access to plumbing makes adding another bathroom or a kitchenette ideal. You can do your basement remodeling to result to a luxuriant personal spa, turning every inch of your basement into a haven of utter comfort. But even if you have other plans, the new room could still make good use of the added bathroom or kitchenette. This idea would not only considerably boost the quality of living in your home but add real value to it as well.

- When thinking of the best finish for your basement remodeling project, you can take advantage of the compact nature of the structures making up the basement and its intentional remoteness from the rest of your home. These characteristics make up for utmost privacy as well as great sound proofing. You could opt to have a playpen, home office, music room, and home theatre out of the project finish.

These enumerated, excellently answers why basement remodeling. Another consideration to include in your home improvement project is a qualified basement remodeling contractor. With this, you are just some steps away from project success.

Eugene Makeev has been in the home improvement industry for a while. His skills and expertise, which have been polished through time, are now used to help New York home owners avoid the common pitfalls in home improvements by matching their needs with the right, prescreened Basement Contractor New York. Feel free to use our Basement Remodeling Calculator.

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

The Benefits of Building Cedar Dog Houses Like the Experts

Cedar is a tree that belongs to the pine family. These trees are mostly found in North America but they are natives to the mountainous areas of North Africa and Asia. The cedar trees have needle-like leaves and are cone-bearing trees, just like any other conifers. The first groups of people who have used these trees as they go along with life are the Aborigines. The Cedar wood is used for building homes and their coffins. The best canoes are those that are made of Cedar trees. Cedar trees are also known as the "tree of life" for Aborigines, for North Americans, Africans and other Asians and dogs. Dogs? Yes, that's right, dogs. If you're a dog owner and you want to give a happy and sturdy home for your dog, consider a cedar dog house and you bet your life3 is going to enjoy his stay every minute of his satisfied dog's life.

For most dog owners, the dog's life is very much like their own. If a person needs comfort, security and a nice place to come home to, so does the mutt. Imagine how your pet feels like if after a whole day of dating or picking up bones from your neighbor's house, he will find himself snoozing inside of the best places in the world- his own unique cedar dog house.

But making a dog house is quite tricky for pet dog owners and it will be quite difficult, too. If you have no experience even in selecting the best construction materials and you don't have an idea how to make a dog house or if you always accidentally hit your thumb instead of the nail, you might want to try to hire somebody else to do the job.

But you see, if you can just manage to learn how to build a dog house for your pet, it will also create a stronger relationship with your mutt and you can make something very unique for him.

While there are many different building materials that you can choose when constructing a dog house, most customers prefer having cedar wood to use and you know why. Cedars are very sturdy and reliable. Furthermore, a cedar house can blend in with your house if you want to make your area very elegant-looking. How would you react if you see a beautiful house with a torn-down and ugly mini-junkyard just off-center in a neighbor's front lawn? It would not be a nice view for the eyes, right?

Cedar dog houses are usually constructed by using full cedar frames and raised cedar floors that will make your dog much more comfortable. The framing is solid & can withstand any kind of weather. In addition, cedar wood doesn't attract pests like insects and termites and it is 100% rot-resistant and that can increase your dog's safety and comfort.

For some other dog owners, this might be overkill for them and they will even think that other dog owners might be overreacting for things like these. Well, you can't blame them for feeling this way. Perhaps, they just have a bad dog day that's why they would settle for something less and bear in mind, a poor dog house can lead to an unhealthy animal and unhealthy pets will make everything and everyone around them unhealthy. Dogs are vulnerable to ticks and fleas and a cedar house might even be a good protection for them from these parasites.

And talking about health, a cedar dog house is easy to keep clean. The reason why some dog owners would not prefer the idea of having a dog house for their pets is because it will only waste them valuable time cleaning one. And here's one tip that will make cleaning a lot easier. Make the roof of a dog house detachable. You want nothing but the best for your dog, right? So, get going and get a cedar dog house for him, be it custom-made or ready-made and you can buy one in various pet stores, online and offline.

To learn more about the different types of Dog Houses for your dogs, etc., and how to get discount and cheap pet medications, make sure to visit http://www.callpetmeds.com where you will find everything on getting quality Dog Houses and yet affordable pet medications as well as tips on how to take care of your pets like the experts.

What To Do If Your Home Floods

Monday, July 27, 2009

Creating A Formal Living Room

Majority of households - especially those who are executives and those who don't have small kids at home - prefer formal living rooms because this exudes sophistication and class. Before, a formal living room - which was known as the parlor or drawing room where meetings usually take place - is considered as the main highlight of the house because this is where the finest and most expensive possessions of the homeowners are showcased and displayed.

If you want to create a formal living room in your own abode, make sure that you familiarize yourself with the basics of designing one. Make sure that you know what are the pieces of furniture to be used and the kind of fabric that will match these furniture pieces. And since they are all about symmetry of design, make sure that you know the proper placing of decors and other decorations to complete the space. The following distinguishing factors may help you to achieve the living room that will match your taste, style, and preference.

1. Formal yet friendly. Make sure that it contains elements of the traditional formal living that comes with more comfortable furniture pieces. To make the living room friendlier, try to use color combinations that are bright. Vivid colors such as blue, red, and khaki may do this.

2. Highlighting the positive. Make sure that the decors and furniture pieces are highlighted carefully. For example, a fireplace should be that main accent of the wall. This should be complemented with furnishings or draperies that come in rich and heavy trimmed fabrics.

3. Complementing colors. Color is very important. They should come in vivid colors to accentuate major furniture pieces. To make it more interesting and unique, try to intersect the colors to achieve an eye-catching effect.

Here's a step-by-step procedure to create a simple formal living room.

1. Place the sofa where the fireplace and television are both viewed.

2. Near the fireplace, place a pair of chairs flanks that come in shades of green.

3. Place an antique grandfather clock on one corner and a tall plant in one corner to balance it.

4. Put a stepstool beside one of the chairs that will serves as a side table.

5. Place a floor lamp beside the other chair to balance the stepstool.

6. On the mantel, place at least two model ships to exude an intense statement.

7. Use vibrant window treatments and make sure that these colors are above an average person's eye level.

For more living room design ideas, visit http://www.livingroomdesign101.com

Lowest Construction Bids

Hotels in Delhi - Security Beefed Up!

Delhi, the national capital of India, is a perfect blend of history, traditions as well as modernity. With a culturally and historically rich background, it attracts a huge number of tourists. The city has everything to offer its visitors, right from magnificent temples, splendid forts, colourful bazaars, blooming gardens to pulsating night-life. Every year numerous visitors gather in the city to witness the grand forts and monuments. The city offers an insight into the history of India and promises an exciting tour for the tourists. In all tourist attractions in Delhi are a varied and colourful affair all together.

Tourists visiting the city look forward to a good stay at hotels. The aftermath of terror strikes in Mumbai city, significantly led to a fall in the number of tourists visiting the place. The gory incident took place on 26 November at various hotels. The incident took place at Trident hotel, Oberoi hotel, Taj hotel and Nariman point apart from other hospitals and railway stations in Mumbai. Terrorists targeted the hotel occupants and gunned down innocent tourists. The issue has brought to the fore the security of the people staying at hotels. In the backdrop of the incident, numerous hotels have beefed up security measures in hotels. The security check has been made more stringent and measures to tackle an emergency situation have been addressed too.

The hotels being the hub of important business meetings, social gatherings, housing dignitaries from all over the world, have had to undergo security like never before. The incident shook the entire nation. Now, hotel authorities have been verifying the identity of visitors and staff besides carrying out extensive checking of vehicles before allowing them entry into the premises. Barricades have been placed outside the hotels with private security guards maintaining a close vigil on the movement near the hotel premises. All this is being done to provide upgraded security to visitors.

Visitors can be rest assured of stringent security measures in hotels. The luxury hotels offer you unparalleled opulence, along with international standards of comfort and hospitality. You are assured of the best cuisine, the best dcor; the best facilities while your stay at hotel. We are committed to make your stay more enjoyable and peaceful. Look forward to the best stay at hotels at favourable rates. Police have also taken stringent measures to provide utmost safety to people staying in hotels. Have a pleasant stay at any of the hotels in Delhi.

Sadhna D, Expert Author, Platinum author

For more information on Hotels in Delhi

Hotel in Delhi

Information on Hotels in Goa:

Hotel in Goa

Plywood Beam Repair

Sunday, July 26, 2009

Shower Massage

Shower massages are increasingly popular nowadays. They provide a relief to a person's body. You need to relax from the tensions which you face throughout the day.

The shower equipment is widely available in stores and shops all over the world. Online sales increased immensely.

Brass Shower Massages are available in a number of different sizes and shapes. For instance, a shower in the Sauna is different from those for personal use. Therefore, before you actually buy, you must consider seeking advice from an expert. The type also depends on the theme in the bathroom. Some people might be in favor for a gentle massage of their body while others might want it to be rough.

However, some showers include both the types of showers. For instance with the DreamLine shower panel you turn your ordinary shower into a home spa. The installation is easy with only a hot and cold water connects and fast mounting on wall-attached. There are showers that can mix a certain quantity of oil to the water for have a more relaxed massage. Mixing oil with water also adds fragrance to the shower thereby relieving the person from tension.

A good example is Cascade Vichy Shower. The shower is one of the most intriguing and effective treatments available for today's spa clientele. The Shower System gives the effect of a warm downpour on the body, one of the most relaxing and rejuvenating spa experiences.

Lying on a waterproof massage table, the Cascade's five shower heads rain down, providing a relaxing and therapeutic water massage. The built in hand shower makes thorough rinsing of spa products easy and convenient.

With features like five self-cleaning shower heads, the most accurate thermostatic mixing valve available, and a durable, stainless steel construction, the Cascade will provide years of trouble free service with a timeless, elegant design. Installing of these Vichy showers is done by an expert.

I am John James from brassshowermassage and I am an expert on Showers. I hope this article gives you a good start to choose the right Showermassage, I have written a lot more Free advice on Brass Shower Massage and tips on the Bathroom Improvement.

Shear Panel Water Damage

Saturday, July 25, 2009

Proper Use of Bathroom Lighting and Vanity Light Fixtures

Designing a bathroom with proper task and general lighting can be a daunting task. The designer- or the DIY remodeler- has to balance the need for light with the overall ambiance and style aspects. Light sources should be selected so that there is enough light for shaving and grooming, without compromising the comfort or beauty.

Bathroom Task Lighting

For task lighting, it is important to place the light source close to the vanity or sink, thereby minimizing glare and shadows. Aside from creating a more flattering reflection, the amount of energy consumption is also reduced. Keep in mind, that more light is needed as we age. Hence, the age of the homeowners need to be considered to effectively meet their needs. Placing bathroom sconces on either side of the mirror is always a great idea. However, bath bars can also be effective above the vanity mirror. Again, if you are concerned about energy consumption, there is now a great selection of fluorescent bath bars that provide excellent light while reducing heat output and energy use.

Ambient and General Lighting

The general light source in a bathroom is referred to as ambient lighting. It provides light for less demanding tasks. If you have a small bathroom, chances are that the task lighting will suffice. But, if you are decorating a larger bathroom, you do need a separate light source for general and ambient lighting. General light also balances out the brightness of task lighting, so that there are no dark corners in the bathroom. As a general rule of thumb, you need a 60W incandescent light or 26W fluorescent per 60 square feet.

For more information on Bathroom Lighting products, vanity mirrors, and bath accessories products visit us at http://www.BathroomLightingOutlet.com

There you will also find a growing body of content on bathroom design ideas and guides.

Floor Repairs

Luxury Hotels in Edinburgh

Edinburgh has been the capitol city of Scotland since 1437 and it has developed over the years into one of Europe's most popular and most attractive places. The city has a rich history and many historic building remain in the Old Town area of Edinburgh which is now a UNESCO world heritage site as is the New Town area.

The city comes to life in the summer with both the International Fringe Festival and Military Tattoo running at the end of August. During this time the city is filled with music, entertainment and people from all over the world. It is probably the best time to visit Edinburgh but is also the busiest so getting accommodation early is a good idea.

As for accommodation in Edinburgh, there are a wide selection of guest houses, hostels and hotels throughout the city. But there is a larger selection of five star luxury hotels in Edinburgh than any other city. Most of these are in the city centre, around the Princes Street area and they offer you the chance to indulge yourself in luxury accommodation.

Below are five of the most popular luxury hotels in Edinburgh.

The Balmoral Hotel

Probably the most famous of all the luxury hotels in Edinburgh it has a prime location on Princes Street and even the building is spectacular. Inside you will find a Michelin Star restaurant and fantastic facilities such as a luxury spa which offers therapeutic treatments to relive any stress. (Rooms from 125 per night)

The Scotsman Hotel

This award winning hotel is known to be one of the top luxury hotels in the UK and it has a great location only a few minutes from both the Royal Mile and Princes Street. There are a great range of guestrooms available from a luxury standard room to the Penthouse suite. Many of the rooms have fantastic panoramic view of the city and some of the top landmarks including Edinburgh castle and Arthurs Seat. (Rooms from 114 per night)

Caledonian Hilton

The Caledonian is one of three Hilton Hotels in Edinburgh and it is probably the most luxurious. Walk outside the hotel and immediately you are in the heart of Edinburgh and its many restaurants, shops and attractions. Enjoy the hotel facilities which include wireless internet and an indoor swimming pool. Then at night have a great nights sleep in one of the luxurious bedrooms. (Rooms from 137 per night)

Dalhousie Castle

A unique castle hotel just a few minutes drive from Edinburgh, you are close enough to be accessible to the city but far enough away to enjoy secluded surroundings. This is ideal for anyone wanting to have a relaxing break in the unique surrounding of a traditional Scottish castle. Enjoy dungeon dining, the wonderful countryside or a day at the unique Aqueous Spa. (Rooms from 75 per night)

The Glasshouse

Award wining five star accommodation only a short stroll from Princes Street and Waverley railway station. Indulge in 24 hour room service or watch satellite TV in your comfortable guestrooms or go out and explore the many sights and attractions around Edinburgh. A perfect place for relaxation or exploration. (Rooms from 88 per night)

For a wide selection of both luxury hotels in Edinburgh and accommodation in Edinburgh visit Rooms in Edinburgh.

The author is an experienced traveller from Scotland whom runs a small group of affiliate marketing related travel websites in the UK.

Floor Framing Plumbing Problem

Friday, July 24, 2009

Electric Fireplace

Majority of the houses being built since the early 1900's have fireplaces that are used to heat up the rooms in the house. The location of the fireplace is highly dependable on which part of the house they like holding conversation. Technology has phased out traditional fireplace in almost all houses in the cities. Instead, it has introduced the electric fireplace.

The main reason why people like it so much is because the hassle of wood, ashes, smoke and clearing up are non existent. Despite the fact that the fire produced cannot be used for cooking, it provides a fire that has the ability to keep people warm. Its popularity has increased due affordability, safety, convenience and the fact that it can fit anywhere in the house and making it available to anyone who would like to have it.

With the ability to be able the electric fireplace almost anywhere, does not require any special preparations like a chimney, fuel pipeline or a venting system either are also added advantages. This means that it can fit either in the bedroom, sun porch, foyer and kitchen. It also is a cost saving factor which means it is affordable for most people.

The materials used to make the electric fireplace are marble, brick and any other material of choice an individual may have. You can have it blend in with the theme of your house. Installation is very simple because people are able to do it for themselves, offers realistic simulations and all these makes it very user friendly.

Peter Gitundu Researches And Reports On Fireplaces. For More Information on Electric Fireplace, Visit His Site at ELECTRIC FIREPLACE. You Can Also Post Your Views About Electric Fireplace On My Blog Here ELECTRIC FIREPLACE

Attic Framing Water Stains

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Booking Your Hotel Rooms Through Online Marketing

In the hotel business it is well known that reserved rooms are preferred rooms and while the walk up business definitely helps the bottom line it is the pre determined revenue of the reserved rooms that hotels use to make their living. That means that getting as many rooms reserved as possible and tied down with credit card confirmations and that means marketing the hotel to get that extra business.

People are always traveling for various reasons and the only reason they do not choose your hotel over another hotel is because they have seen something on the other hotel and they have seen nothing in regards to yours. The key is to not just get the marketing machine cranked up and working in your favor but to identify the key areas where your marketing efforts, and dollars, will see the most return.

It used to be that one of the secret weapons of the more successful hotels was the use of travel agents. The hotels would invite travel agents to stay for free in their hotel to see what the hotel has to offer and in return the agents would use the hotels as part of package deals for vacationing travelers.

The hotels would give discounted rates to the travel agents and the agents would fill the rooms for the hotels months in advance. Today there are still traditional travel agents that are experts at filling hotels and keeping those relationships with hotels all over the world alive but the average traveler has moved away from using traditional travel agents and has moved to booking their vacations on the internet.

A smart hotel is going to hunt down the more successful internet travel agencies and work out package deals and discounts with those internet travel agencies to help book rooms in advance. Your exposure with one large internet travel agency is going to exceed the exposure you would get from any local traditional travel agent.

The internet has become the medium of choice for people looking to book vacations and even more popular than the internet travel agents are the internet discount travel sites that allow people to piece together their own vacations with discounts from various hotels, airlines, and car rental companies.

In order to find success with internet marketing you will need to make sure the information being offered travelers via these discount travel sites is accurate and that all of the processes these sites have in place to book rooms in your hotel are also correctly set up. Keep the channel of communication open with these websites and offer them excellent discounts as well.

Some of these sites try and get discounts out of your hotel by helping you fill rooms you cannot fill at full price and offering them at a negotiated discount with the traveler. Any prebooked room you can get is revenue you can count on and a prebooked room at a discount is always better than hoping that someone walks up and pays full price.

Reaching out to travelers through the internet is a full time job and working beyond the traditional travel sites will help get you more exposure. The larger search engine websites offer advertising spaces that are seen by millions of people a day and the rates are not so expensive for exposure like that. Get your hotel's name and link on those major search engines to make sure you are maximizing your exposure.

The final piece to the internet marketing puzzle is making sure your website is clean, easy to use, updated, and helpful to any potential customer that tries to use it. People want as much luxury as possible out of a hotel for as little money as possible so make sure you create a website with a luxurious appearance that gives the impression that you have a hotel worth spending the money on.

Make your website easy to get information from and easy to book a room with and make certain that all room booking information is updated in real time from all of your room booking sources. You will have angry customers and bad referrals if you constantly have double bookings due to a lag in updating the website booking information. Create a desirable and functional website and people will use it to book rooms in your hotel and make you revenue.

Check here Greece hotels and Greece Apartments.

Spaced Sheathing Damage

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Rain Shower Heads - Experience Downpour in Your Bathroom

Have you noticed how most people hate to get caught in the rain? But isn't it surprising that the same people who hate a rain shower love to get rain soaked in their own bathrooms! This is because water from it covers you with warmth and soothes your body whereas rain water chills you to the bone. If you are looking to purchasing the best rain shower for your bathroom then read through the following tips.

Tips For Buying Rain Shower Heads

It is advisable to choose a model which has easily adjustable arms. This makes it easy to direct your shower top in any direction that you want. This can also be beneficial when you want to wash only a particular part of your body, say the lower part, without allowing your hair to get wet. Make sure the adjustable arms come along with it. In some cases, even though it may be shown on the product photo, you may have to pay more for it. A handheld rain shower head is more common because of ease of use. Search online for the best deal before making a purchase. You could get some excellent products for less than $100! Check the size of your shower outlet pipe and buy a top which fits it right. For greater durability, look for a shower head which has a solid brass core construction. Often, people combine it with a high pressure shower head for a more relaxing and effective experience.

Features

Most of them comes with an adjustable arm and wingnuts for easy adjustment. The head diameter varies between 3" to 6". Nearly all hand held showers and standard-style rain shower heads generally have a spray top swivel action of 180 degrees. They have a solid brass, chrome or nickel construction. You can even find it with optional flow control mechanism. It can deliver 2.5gpm at 80psi, unless the water pressure is less than that.

Visit CORE online to get free access to tips and advice for buying rain shower heads.

Drywall Termite Damage

Kitchen Cabinet Basics - What to Know Before You Remodel

If you are considering a "Full Kitchen Remodel" then the first place you will want to start (with regard to material choices) is with your cabinets. Cabinets set the tone for the style and color scheme of your entire kitchen. Answering the questions below will get you on the right track.

Design Styles: The most common design styles these days include Shaker, Modern Contemporary, Traditional, Casual Country and Eclectic. Determining the style will direct you to the wood species that work best.

Door Styles: There are basically three door styles to choose from: Raised Panel, Recessed Panel and Slab. With regard to the raised and recessed doors, you will then need to choose from square, arch or cathedral style.

Types of Wood: Cabinets are made from a multitude of wood species; however the most common these days are (in order of hardness and durability):

Oak, Hickory, Mahogany, Laminates
Maple, Cherry, Birch, Pine
Alder, Poplar

Cabinet Quality: The qualities of cabinets available range from all solid wood construction, partial wood construction with plywood veneer, particle board and veneer and (at the lower end of the spectrum) particle board and photo finish and laminates: Of course the prices range (with all wood construction) from very expensive to very inexpensive (photo finish) or laminate construction. While the old adage "You Get What You Pay For" holds true in most cases, there are a number of ways to reduce your overall cost and still have the quality and look you want. For instance, you can have solid wood fronts and on the exposed ends (doors, drawers and face) and use plywood or particle board on the sides and backs (which are not seen). This can save you thousands of dollars.

Other Cabinet Options: The final choices that are worthy of note are the additional options for your cabinets. These include Lazy Susans, waste basket cabinets, spice racks, wine racks, pull-out trays (instead of fixed shelving) "soft close" drawer hardware, dove-tail drawer or butt-joint drawer construction and (for upper cabinets) crown molding, under mount light molding etc. Glass doors (typically on upper cabinets) also lend a certain 'jene se qua' to the final look.

Cabinet Finishes: Yet another consideration is the finishes available: They are laminates, painted and stained. Regarding stain finishes: You can choose from the standard finishes and (if so inclined) add a "glaze finish" to further accent the wood grain and design of the cabinetry. *** Note: When you choose to add a glaze finish, there will be additional costs and (equally important) additional production time. Glazes can increase your cabinet expense from 6% to 20% and add one to two weeks on to the normal production schedule.

Hardware: The sky is the limit with regard to choices of colors, styles and designs of knob and handles. You can literally spend hours online looking at designs and styles. *** Note: Remember to add this into your cabinet budget from the outset as prices range from $3 or $4 dollars for simple knobs & handles to as much as $20 or more for the more ornate ones! Do you homework and research to find the type you want and the lowest cost producer of same.

In conclusion, remodeling your kitchen can be an exciting and rewarding endeavor and add value to your home. With proper planning, you will get the result you want within the budget you wish to keep. Perform your "due diligence" and you will have a final result for you and your family to enjoy for years to come! Good Luck.

If this article has been helpful and you would like more information on our kitchen remodeling services, please visit our website at http://www.pdremodelingsandiego.com

For a no obligation consultation, simply send us an e-mail at sfrick@pdr-sd.com or call us at (858) 560-0444. We service all of San Diego county and have been in business over 22 years.

Floor Joist With Top Flange

The Beauty of Having Stylish Bathroom Mirrors

A bathroom would not look complete without a mirror in it. You will see that there are many people who prefer to put bathroom mirrors not only because of its primary use in reflecting the look of an individual but also to keep the bathroom more attractive.

Bathroom mirrors add an effect to the overall look of the room. This also creates the illusion that the room is bigger thus putting mirrors in the cabinets can also be a good design and it is even functional. A buyer would also not need to worry about the design because there are many kinds available in the market today. You can set your needs and find the one that can match your wants in keeping your bathroom more beautiful. You will be able to find the style that you need, the shape and the overall look of your room.

You may have different style in mind but you should check out the different designs in the market and you may not be disappointed to see that there are many kinds available and you can buy according to your likings. So whether you want to keep the bathroom look sophisticated or colorful, you can have the bathroom mirrors that can match your bathroom theme. It can even be paired to the sink, whatever material it is made of.

When you think of the shapes, it is also available in varied designs. You can come up with the circular or oblong types, or the rectangles. There are even more modern or irregular shapes if you want it that way. There are also several sizes available so you can adjust with the size or space that is available in the bathroom.

When you want to use a more antique looking bathroom mirrors, then you may do so. Just check out what is available in the market. You can visit your favorite store or you can also have more choices when you start with your search online. There are many online stores that can give you more choices and you can have it delivered to your house. Thus, you will no longer have to spend the time travelling for canvass and actual buying of the bathroom mirrors.

There are more benefits that can be lifted once you have purchased the mirror that you need. Also, you will see that there are actually many ways to buy it and the choices can be unlimited. Thus, when you are in a search of a design that can match with your needs, you can start your search now and avail of the design that would suit your needs, your bathroom's design, and your budget allowance. You just have to plan for it so that you will not be regretting this decision in the future.

Bathroom Mirrors

Article Author Eliza Maledevic from http://www.Jump2top.com, a SEO Company.

Bathroom Books
House Window Books

New Home Buyers Beware

Ican't believe how many homebuyers purchase a house, with very little information and a Lotta hope. I'm a general contractor and often work on these homes, after they have been purchased and a homeowner has their money, the real estate professional is no longer involved in the transaction and the new homeowner is starting to experience the pitfalls from buying the home, that they sincerely believe was in good condition.

It's usually somebody like me that gets involved with the new homeowners after everyone else is out of the picture and chooses not to return their phone calls or explains to them quite simply, it's not our responsibility, you're the new homeowner and we really feel sorry for you, please call us again if we can help you with anything.

You couldn't even help me with that, why would I want to call you again if I had a problem. I never could understand this thinking but have ran into it often. It sounds like an oxymoron when someone refuses to help you but offers you help in the future. What ever!!!.

If homebuyers had something else to rely on besides their real estate salesperson, home inspection service, mortgage or insurance professional, I believe they can eliminate some of these problems. Where do you start and how do you get the information. You can gather information from reputable people, books, the Internet and so on.

The problem is how do you know these people are reputable and the books on the Internet have good information. This brings us to another problem, but I've got the solution that will help eliminate some of the grief. I'm not going to remove all of the grief from your life but have a suggestion for you that will eliminate some of the pain when buying a home.

Arm yourself with a good home inspection checklist. You can search the Internet and they have quite a few good home inspection checklist to work with. These checklist can provide you with things you might not have thought of, and this is where you can eliminate some of the problems.

If you took one of these checklists with you while you were shopping for a home, you would be aware of some of the problems with the home. You might not find all of the problems but these checklist will help you with some of the problems.

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.

Floor Framing Plumbing Problem

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Basement Remodels Need Careful Consideration

There are many important things that you need to consider when you decide to work with basement remodels. The decision to renovate and remodel your basement can be done by yourself, but unless you have all of the latest tools, legal requirements and construction talent, it is much better in the long run to hire a professional basement contractor to do your work.

You need to first realize that your house was not originally constructed to handle extra additions that a remodeled basement might require. Such things as; the structural modifications that might be needed, the air flow in the basement room area, the heating and cooling system and the costs of these basement remodels.

Choosing a competent basement remodeling contractor should be your top priority. This is one of your first decisions when you decide to remodel. The right choice will make a big difference in the quality of remodeling and cost of your project. There are many ways of selecting a good competent contractor. If you have friends that have undertaken a project like this they are good references. You can go on-line to find contractors in your area.

When you have gathered information in the selection process of your basement remodeling contractor, it is very advisable to select 2 or more and ask them to submit bids on your basement project. This will aid you in, not only getting a competitive price, but if they know they have competition in your basement remodels they will know you are serious in finding a good competent contractor.

Having some basement remodels? Discover practical basement remodeling ideas online and turn cheap basement ideas into dream basements at a budget.

Complete Installation Of 3

Cuba Hotel Awards - A Way Through Excellence

Looking for more than good-value hotels in Cuba? Discover a selection of Cuba hotels that have received several prizes and awards, granted by international tour operators and tourism specialists. These leading facilities could be a fine choice for your perfect Cuba holiday or vacation if you trust well-known experts' criteria.

One of the most prestigious lists of the best hotels worldwide is The Gold List of Cond Nast Traveler. This annual list includes a selection of the hotels around the world that have the best service, rooms, food, ambiance and design, location and leisure facilities. The Saratoga hotel, an Old Havana hotel, received a high rating in the readers' travel awards 2006 survey, since it was at 24 in the hot list 2006 of the 60 best new hotels in the world within the category "Best for Ambiance/Design". You can find this distinguished facility in a prime location opposite the Capitol at Havana City. Art lovers will appreciate the Cuban art in all the public spaces of the property and the "mlange" of colonial and contemporary styles at bedrooms and lounges.

If you look further examples of hotel excellence then you should consider theWorld Travel Awards, voted by travel agents worldwide. They were established in 1993 to acknowledge, reward and celebrate the achievements in all sectors of the global travel industry. These awards are regarded as the "Oscars" of the tourism industry by The Wall Street Journal. Cuba hotels winners at 2007 and 2008 were Hotel Nacional de Cuba as Cuba's Leading Hotel and Sandals Royal Hicacos Resort & Spa was the Leading Resort. A classy Cuban hotel at the Cuban capitol city and a gorgeous beach resort in one of the best beaches of the island and of the Caribbean, these are the choices of tens of thousands of travel experts, such as travel agents and other travel professionals.

Also Thomas Cook, one of the most important tour operators in the world, recently accorded its Marque of Excellence Award to Paradisus Rio de Oro Resort & Spa, a hotel which received several important prizes in 2008. For those seeking blissful vacations, here you will find a piece of your own paradise. This elegant hotel, located right alongside Playa Esmeralda beach in the province of Holguin, has received for the fifth time the Marque of Excellence Award (2002, 2004, 2005, 2007 and 2008) due to the quality ratings granted by clients. Since it is a 5-star Ultra All-Inclusive hotel that was conceived for adults over 18 years, it is more suitable for romantic getaways, weddings, honeymoons, events and vacations with group of friends.

Plus, Trip Advisor, the largest travel destinations and tips guide in the Web, granted this Cuba hotel two Travelers Choice 2008 Awards (The Best All-Inclusive in the World and the Most Romantic Hotel in Latin America and the Caribbean). These popular distinctions in the tourist industry represent the views of millions of travelers that have selected this hotel for its outstanding service.

Moreover, Paradisus Ro de Oro hotel received the Gold Medal 2008 Award accorded by clients of First Choice, the leading British wholesale company. Also in 2006, the Paradisus Rio de Oro was awarded the Travelers' Choice Prize in the category of Most Outstanding Hidden Jewels of the Caribbean. Want a better reason to go there in your next Cuba vacations?

If you prefer more responsible and ecologic hotels then you should try Brisas Guardalavaca. This Cuba hotel has won the important award "Green Planet Award" presented by the European Tour Operator Kuoni. This distinction is given to the hotels contracted by this tour operator with relevant results in terms of Environmental Care. This facility has also received the National Basic Environmental Award presented by the Ministry of Technology and Environment in Cuba. So if your catchphrase is "a better and a greener world is possible" then you should consider Brisas Guardalavaca in the top of your Cuba hotels choices.

Also for environment enthusiasts there is a fine resort at Varadero beach, the Iberostar Tainos hotel, which has won an Environmental Hotel Award in 2004/05. Singles, couples and families will appreciate the good four-star value of this recently built hotel, set on a beautiful stretch of beach surrounded by tropical gardens.

Other Cuba hotels have won international distinctions like Meli Las Antillas, which was awarded the Primo Neckermann Reisen 2008 Award thanks to the rankings given by clients of the important German tour operator Neckermann, part of Thomas Cook group. This property ranked among the 100 best and most popular hotels in the world in 2008! So if you want to experience a truly unforgettable holiday you should look after this offer, an All-Inclusive Superior 4-star resort especially recommended for weddings, honeymoons, tourist groups and circuits.

Also the magnificent Paradisus Princesa del Mar hotel was granted the Marque of Excellence Award 2007 by leading tour operator Thomas Cook, in recognition of the hotel's high service standards and quality of its accommodations. What's important about this award is that clients are the ones who assess the hotels by responding to Thomas Cook's satisfaction polls, which measure the service, facilities and quality of the accommodations. It is conceived for adults aged 18 and over and it is highly recommended for those who want to spend some time in romantic environments with extraordinary scenic views and total privacy.

Deciding for any holiday is not an easy thing and planning where to stay is sometimes one of the most stressful parts of planning a vacation. So be a wise traveler and follow the expert's opinion on your next retreats in Cuba.

Giselle Rodriguez is a cuba vacations and cuba hotels blogger and content collaborator at http://www.umbrellatravel.com

Address:
Business Center Building Kohly III
Apartamento 71
Calle 34 entre 49 y 49A,
Reparto Kohly, Playa
Ciudad de la Habana CP: 11300
Cuba

Phone : +53 7 206 9606
Mobile Phone : +53 5 263 1106

Solar House Books
Home Organization Books

Is Money a Big Part of Organized Religion?

Where do you think most modern day religious organizations would be without money? Is money really a big part of modern day organized religion or is that something in the past. Why do certain scriptures require their believers to donate a portion of their earnings?

Does this money improve the lives of religious believers? I'm asking these questions because most people won't. Most people don't even no where the money they earn is going. If you donate money to a religious organization and they choose to hire someone to install stained glass windows throughout the sanctuary, is this really going to help the congregation. Is this a want or a need?

When does a religious group become too powerful for its own good. Do you think the Catholic religion, which at the time of me writing this article, is the largest organized religion in the world, by itself, is very powerful or driven by finances. This organization has seeked wealth and power for centuries, creating an establishment that has its hands in everything all over the world.

Is it fair to have religious leaders living a life of luxury, while some of their followers suffer and go without food or shelter. Should some of this money go towards the aid of others who choose not to believe in the religious culture of their patrons?

Why do some people give money to their religious organization, even though they can barely survive. Are these people driven to contribute money because someone makes them feel guilty? Some of these people give money and time, even at the expense of their own family. It's just not fair, when I see people who are barely scraping by but give faithfully to an organization that promises them a better life after they die.

Your rewards for living a good life on Earth will be received after you die and are allowed to enter the kingdom of heaven. Does anyone have any proof of this? If you choose to base your life entirely on faith instead of seeking knowledge and wisdom, or even questioning your religious doctrine, you're not doing yourself any favors.

Money plays a big part in organized religion and honestly does a lot of good throughout the world. Christianity has had a large impact on the United States of America but only time will tell if it was a good thing or not.

If you have extra money and desire to give it to a religious organization of your choice, feel free, but if you're giving 10% of the money you've earned and really can't afford to, I wish you would take the time to research what your church actually spends it's money on. If your church is building another church in Mexico but you don't have enough money for food, clothes or other necessities, I would suggest that you let other people donate their extra money instead.

It might not be mentioned anywhere in your religion, but I'm sure your God or the ultimate Almighty power of the universe you believe in, does not want anyone to suffer or go without, because your religious organization chooses to make you feel guilty if you do not contribute a certain amount of money, for whatever reasons they can possibly come up with.

If everyone that believes in this interpretation has the keys to the kingdom of heaven, wouldn't Jesus be suggesting a life kind of like Mother Teresa but without any money. She wouldn't be allowed to ask any wealthy people for money, let alone use it if she acquired it somehow.

Have you ever ask yourself is there any Hope in Religion .

Would it be safe to a sound that by asking for money from a wealthy person would mean I would not be going to happen. Does it say anything in the Bible about using money from a wealthy person for great earthly deeds and you get to go to heaven but he does not. If this is starting to sound a little confusing, welcome to my world. There are very few people that follow organized religion, that even ask these questions, let alone seek the answers and find the truth and keeping an open mind to future information that possibly could change the old answer that they accepted as a truth but now realize, the possibility that the old information could be wrong.

If you were a religious leader and could not answer some of the major questions that you yourself had, would you continue living a life of confusion or seek relentlessly to find the answers until you are satisfied. Knowing that if you were satisfied with the answers to your questions and now your religious beliefs have changed considerably, would you retire or quit working with the religious organization you were involved with.

This is one of the biggest obstacles for most people that seem to get comfortable in their religious environments. If the interpretations of a you Bible verses are incorrect and can be proven, either scientifically or through translation errors, does this mean that there are more verses in the Bible that could be incorrect or misleading.

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

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

Cabinet Stain From Mopping

Mosaic Pool Tiles - Important Tips Before Installation!

Mosaic Pool Tiles - Why do they get so popular in recent years? One of the best advantages of using these nature-made tiles is the fact that anyone can use them: from home-makers to professional interior designers. Learn about the latest tiling techniques and how they are about to change the way you decorate and remodel your home's interior and exterior.

Basic introduction

Mosaic Pool Tiles are actually a collection of similar looking small flat stones that are selected by hand and then fixed onto a sq/ft mesh backing seamless tile. It is probably about the unique natural conditions that made the Indonesian beach pebbles the leading source of these nature-made tiles. This is an excellent solution if you plan or redecorating in the following areas: 1) Kitchens 2) Bathrooms 3) Floors and Walls 4) Patio flooring 5) Countertops etc.

What is in it for us?

Finally, when looking at the bottom line, there are several important advantages:

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

+ Installation process is quick and takes only a few hours.

+ Easy to be cleaned and maintained.

Tips!

+ Epoxy based grouts are considered stronger than conventional grout, however take in mind that they are less forgiving to the ignorant installer.

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

+ Use a tile saw in order to cut stones to fit edges or corners.

Summary

Mosaic Pool Tiles remodeling offers countless options as these nature-made panels come in many shapes and colors to easily match the decor of any home or office setting. We could list many other important benefits provided by this quick redecoration option, simply because it provides numerous opportunities whether for the average or professional home-makers. It is recommended to bear in mind the above tips just as you decide on using these natural panels.

Get creative! - Learn more about how you can easily decorate with Mosaic Pool Tiles

Stair Stringer Connection

How to Replace a Toilet Seat

Your toilet is one of, if not the most, important element to any bathroom. After all, everyone uses a toilet. Whether a seat is cracked, rusted or falling apart, toilet seat replacement can be, well, a dirty job. To make the job as easy as possible, follow these steps and you'll have a new 'throne' in no time!

Step #1: Gather the Tools
Like any good handyman or handywoman, it's always important to make sure you have all the tools you will need prior to beginning the task. Tools you will need are the following: an adjustable wrench, a standard screwdriver, pliers, an additional Phillips head screwdriver, a hacksaw, painters or masking tape and penetrating oil.

Step #2: Purchase a Replacement Seat
Before you go ahead and uninstall your current toilet lid, it's important to determine that your replacement seat actually fits. Be sure to measure the length, width and height. Most seats come in circles or elongated ovals; note which style your current seat is shaped.

When you are browsing for the ideal replacement seat, consider your current seat. If your seat matches the porcelain, you might want to keep the color scheme consistent. For a bolder style, choose a rich, dark color such as black, burgundy or hunter green.

Step #3: Remove the Current Seat
Now that you are equipped with all the proper tools and the replacement seat, it is time to remove the existing seat. Close the toilet seat. Loosen the nuts on the bolts with an adjustable wrench; they are typically located underneath the toilet rim. These bolts are usually covered with a plastic cap. To remove the cap, use a flathead screwdriver. If they are rusted or corroded, be careful.

If you are having difficulty loosening the nuts, use your pliers to hold the bolt steady as you loosen the nuts. Apply penetrating oil to help; for very difficult nuts, allow the oil solution soak over night. If you are concerned about stripping the porcelain, wrap tape (painter or masking) around the nut and then apply gentle pressure.

Before you call a professional to remove stubborn nuts, try using a saw. Before you use the saw, however, tape cardboard around the toilet bowel rim to protect the porcelain. Additionally, raise the lid (both the cover and the actual toilet bowel rim) and cover the top of the toilet bowel as well with cardboard. Now saw through the bolts with the saw.

Step #4: Clean the Area
Before you install your new seat, properly dispose of the old seat as it may be covered in germs. Additionally, examine the area to wipe away rust stains or other debris from the toilet area. Be sure to check under the toilet bowel rim to remove any rust stains.

Step #5: Install a New Seat
You're now ready to install your new toilet seat. Align the seat correctly and insert the two bolts that fasten the seat to the toilet; there should be two holes where the previous fasteners were located. To prevent a difficult removal process the next time, coat your existing bolts with petroleum jelly juts in case. Next, slip on the washers and then the nuts. First tighten the nuts with your fingers, and then tighten the nuts with your adjustable wrench. If you find that the nuts are turning the bolt as you are attempting to loosen, hold the bolt in place with a pair of pliers. Be sure to lift the seat up and down a few times to be sure the lid moves freely. If the unit seems too loose, continue to tighten. Finally, apply the plastic caps to cover the ends of the bolts.

Tori Spade works for Your Home Supply (YHS), the definitive website for Home and Garden products and information on a variety of home improvement products.

http://www.YourHomeSupply.com

Home Building Books
Roofing Books

Monday, July 20, 2009

Stair Lighting Problems

Walking up and down the stairs in the dark could become a safety issue. If the stairs in the house are not that old, there should be a light switch at the top and a light switch at the bottom of the stairway. This is a three way switch and is designed to allow you to turn the stair lighting on as you walk up the stairs and then turn the stair lighting off, once you've safely reached the top of the stairway. And vice versa as she walked down the stairs.

If you don't have a light switch, there are motion sensor lights that are battery operated and can be installed easily in the stairway. These lights can provide you with peace of mind, while protecting your family from accidents.

Stairway accidents are nothing to joke about, I lived in a two-story house with four other people and was the last one to fall down the stairway. None of us got seriously injured and the stairway was built to meet local building codes and was inspected by a building and safety inspector. The stairs were built correctly and the stair lighting was no problem, but people still fell down the stairway and it always happens in the evening.

During the day time there were two windows that let plenty of light into the stairway and in the evening the stairway became quite dark, rarely was the stair lightning ever turned on. This could have been outright laziness but nevertheless, it was rarely used and eventually became a safety issue.

Lighting your stairway might not end all of your problems but it can and some of your problems. There are plenty of stair lighting systems available on the market today and some of the battery operated stair lighting systems can be installed by most homeowners.

Think safety always and do your best to solve your stair lighting problems as soon as possible to prevent injuries or accidents.

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 building stairs or home building ideas.

Small Crack In Roof Rafter

Bathtub Surround Installation DIY Guide

You can install a tub surround kit over your regular walls, whether they be tile or any other hard, solid material. Typically, you want to consider bathtub surround installation if the current walls of your bath area are dated or unattractive.

Generally, you'll need a small screwdriver, pencil, pocket knife, tape measure, level, and a jig saw. You'll also want to make sure that you have an installation kit, adhesive with the proper applicator, coarse sandpaper, and caulk.

When using a tub surround installation kit, each will have their own directions specific to that product kit. You want to make sure that your read the directions carefully and thoroughly.

You'll want to following the following general directions when installing your tub surround.

First, you'll want to remove the spout, faucet handles, and all accessories from around the bath tub, and set them aside.

You'll want to go ahead and repair the damaged areas on the current walls that surround the tub, and if you will be installing over ceramic tile, you'll want to use the coarse sandpaper to enhance the grip abilities of the adhesive.

Clean the area between the tub and the wall, and re-caulk if you need to.

Next, you'll want to mark the bathtub surround installation area, including the location of the faucet, spout, and whatever else will stick out of the wall; cut out the areas on the template and use them to mark the location on the tub surround panels and use the jig saw to cut out the holes.

You'll want to next hold the panels in place according to the manufacturers instructions and mark the location of the top and sides on the wall so that you can make sure that the panels will be level.

Next, apply the adhesive according the the manufacturer's directions, paying close attention to the time you should expose the glue before affixing the panels because if you don't allow enough time, the adhesive will not bond properly.

Once you attach the panels to the wall, according to the manufacturer's instructions, you'll want to let the tub adhesive dry properly before turning on the water. Go ahead and replace the faucet, spout, and other accessories at this time.

Lastly, you'll want to seal all the joints with caulk and letting that dry before turning on the water to the tub.

Bathtub surround installation is a pretty easy do it yourself project. Just make sure that you have help with the project, and if you get lost call a professional. Source: Bathtubinstallationinc dot com, Louis Zhang

Get a free guide on bathtub installation. Find out how to install bathtub surround, drain, shower head, faucet, plumbing at http://www.bathtubinstallationinc.com

Pipe Protector On 2 X 4

Natural Stone Bathroom Tiles

Bathroom tiles come in many different styles and varieties. Widely considered the most attractive of all these are Natural Stone Tiles. However as with most things, if you want the best you must be prepared to pay for the best. Natural stone bathroom tiles do not come cheap.

Natural stone bathroom tiles can be broken down into 3 categories based on the type of rock they come from; Igneous, Sedimentary and Metamorphic.

Granite (its name coming from the Latin for "grain" due to its texture) and Basalt are both types of Igneous rock used to make tiles. Igneous rock is created by the cooling of magma (molten rock). As the magma cools into rock, it crystallises giving it its granular appearance.

Granite comes mainly from India, although Brazil, and, closer to home (unless you live closer to Brazil or India), Scotland has large occurrences of Granite.

Not just a product of planet Earth, Basalt is known to have formed on the Moon, Venus and Mars. When we discover Martian habitats I'm 99% sure they we will find that they have tiled their bathrooms with Basalt! (My 1% of doubt leans towards them having ceramic bathroom tiles.)

Formed at the surface of the earth and at the bottom water bodies, Sedimentary rock consists of Limestone among others. It is created in 2 ways; the first is created by the compacting, over millions of years, of mineral and organic material. This could be stones, dust, dead animals and plants, bits of rock weathered away, anything really. Over time, as more and more sediment gets deposited to the top of the stack, the pressure at the bottom increases. As the pressure increases, the water in the stack is squeezed out leaving behind its dissolved minerals. These dissolved minerals act as a glue to bind the sediments.

The second means by which sedimentary rock is created is crystallisation from dissolved minerals. This occurs in shallow water bodies (the sea or lake) when water evaporation is greater than precipitation. As the water in the water body evaporates, it leaves behind its dissolved minerals and these settle at the bottom of the water body to form sedimentary rocks.

Limestone is proving a very popular tile among the contemporary crowd due to its light and neutral tones. Limestone can be coloured anywhere from cream to gold!

Metamorphic rock includes Marble, Coal, Quartz and Slate. Simply put, 'metamorphic' means to change form. Metamorphic rocks are Igneous or sedimentary rock which have changed form, this usually occurs by the extreme heats and pressure deep in the earth's crust.

Marble has long been associated with luxury and affluence. It is a very hard stone and because of this it is possible to achieve a high polish. It is also suitable for and is used frequently in hospitals where sanitation is of paramount importance.

As noted at the start of this article, natural stone tiles can be expensive. You can realistically expect to pay a number of times more than an equivalent ceramic or porcelain tile but if you have the budget for it, it is certainly an attractive option.

Something else which needs to be considered is weight. Natural stone bathroom tiles are a lot heavier than their Ceramic or Porcelain counterparts so you want to check that your floor or wall can take the load. In general your Subfloor should be at least 1 1/8" thick. It may be worth asking an expert for advice on this as there are no hard and fast rules.

See a large selection of Bathroom Tiles

Home Security Books
Green Home Building Books

Home Improvement Tip - Fixing a Squeaky Floor

Question: I have a floor that every single time I step on it I get the most annoying sound. I don't know what it does to me or why it bothers me so much. My kitchen floor squeaks and actually moves up and down if you are standing on it. The whole floor moves. How do I stop it from moving and squeaking. Help Me Greg!

Answer: It sounds like you have a broken floor joist. You are going to have to go under your house. If you have a basement this will be a little easier to fix. It is my guess that you don't have a basement or you would have seen the broken floor joist by now.

Have someone stand on the floor in the spot that squeaks and have them move up and down while you are under the house. Don't have them jump up and down while you are under the house. This could cause more damage to the structural framing of the floor. Once you are in the right position under the floor you can have them start moving slowly. What you are looking for is one of the floor joist that are moving.

If you see one of them moving. Look to see where the damage is. Is it a split, crack, wood rot or a big knot in the wood that has loosened up and fell out. Once you find the damaged floor joist you can now think about repairing it.

If you don't see any floor joist moving. Have the person on top start moving a little bit more and you can even have them jump on it a few times until you see something out of place. If you still don't see any broken floor joist. Start looking at the sub-floor, this will be plywood of some form, 1 x 6 or 2 x 6 materials.

What you are looking for is movement of any kind. Is there a separation or movement between the sub-floor and the floor joist. If you still can't find the problem maybe it is time to call in a professional.

The main thing you are going to be looking for is movement of any kind.

Most squeaky floors are caused from the sub-floor rubbing up and down on a nail. If you have carpeting and you have a squeaky floor you can do your best to locate a floor joist and screw right through your carpeting into the floor joist.

For more help on fixing squeaky floors visit http://gregvan.com/wood_repair.htm

Thanks for the great question. I hope it helps.

Greg Vanden Berge has been in the home building and remodeling business for over 30 years. With this knowledge he has created a few websites that provide useful information for home owners as well as contractors. His main goal is to educate professionals in the home related businesses, dealing with problems that can easily be avoided with just a little bit of information.

His website http://gregvan.com provides all kinds of answers to remodeling and new house building issues that could create major damage as well as possible damage to your pocket book.

Visit us now for Home Improvement Tips

Wood Post In Dirt

Good Exterior Home Improvement Tips

If your home has suffered from a fire or a flood, you can do some remodeling on it. All you need to do is go to the home There are many ways to fix up your house on the outside. You can put things on your house or you can fix something to make it look better. If you have a porch on your house or not, you can build one that wraps around the whole house. All you need is the lumber, nails, and all you need to know is how the lumber needs to be. You have to make sure it is level and if your yard has hills or goes downward, you need to make the boards longer than some of them. If there is a tree close to your house, cut the wood so that it will go around the tree. You don't have to knock it down. You can fix up the roof if it is getting old or if it needs it.

You can even change the roof by putting something over it like metal that will not make your house hot and so it protects it. It will not leak, rust, or bend, and it is a very good investment to put on your home. You can put shutters on your windows to match your roof, and this will also help keep your house cool or warm. When you put on shutters, it makes your house look better. You can make them or you can buy them at a store. You can build a screen porch in front of your front or back door so you can sit outside whether it is raining or to stay cool under it when it is hot outside.

If you have someone in your house that has to use a walker or a wheelchair, you can put a flat stairway for them to get in the house so it will be easier for them. You can put a fence around your yard so you can have some privacy. You can put up a small fence or a tall fence, whichever fits your style. You can also add a sidewalk that goes up to your porch or house, or you can have flowers lined up next to it to make it better. They can be any way or shape that you want to make your house look the way you want it to look and to make it stand out.

You can get any of these things at a home improvement store, and it may cost you a lot depending on what you are doing but it will be worth the money. You can also look around other home improvement store to see which ones are cheaper in price. Another thing you can do is put up new siding around the house to replace the old ones or to cover the wood and make your house look better. This also protects your house as well so the wood will not get damaged.

Visit Adyan Corkern's
Butler Flood Damage Cleanup and Calera Flood Damage Cleanup sites for fast help.

Framing Rough Fireplace Opening

Sunday, July 19, 2009

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

Wood Post Bottom With Filler

Make Your Shower and Tub the Centerpiece of Your Bathroom

We allshoweror bathe; the time we take in a relaxing shower or bath should not be taken for granted. In need of a new shower and tub design? There are great solutions out there. From the tub, to the type of shower faucet, to the shower walls, crafting a new shower is easy, and you'll be able to find something just right for you and your family.

The shower faucet should offer the shower experience you desire. Modern shower faucet equipment offers pressured jets of water. Many showerheads come with adjustable heads for the type of water flow and effect you desire. Shower faucets come in different styles and finishes for a perfect find for you and your bathroom's design. Traditionalists will love the time-honored chrome finish, or maybe go with oil-rubbed bronze for a Victorian look. Contemporary tastes can find a suitable finish in brushed nickel or pewter. The newest trend in showers is body jets combined with a rainshower showerhead or handshower for a true spa experience. Check out a Delta, American Standard, or Hansgrohe shower faucet for durable and reliable timeless designs.

You can't beat the convenience of a shower/bathtub combination. Trusted bathtub manufacturers American Standard, Jacuzzi, Kohler or Duravit offer bathtub solutions to suit your dcor, budget, and personality. Tubs are available in acrylic, fiberglass, cast iron or even copper. Add a whirlpool or air bath feature for ultimate relaxation. Bathtub lengths and widths will accommodate any bathroom size, so be sure to measure and evaluate your tub space to find the right bathtub for you.

Have a clawfoot tub? The nostalgia and good looks of an old-fashioned clawfoot tub are legendary. Clawfoot tub faucets will complete the design and offer a unique shower experience. These faucets have coiled hand held spray nozzles that are flexible for an incredible bathing experience. Choose a traditional telephone-style handshower for real old-time charm. You can even attach a pole shower for a more conventional shower experience. All types of clawfoot tub faucets are a classy and fashionable way of showering.

From the shower and bathtub to its faucet plumbing, wrap up your shower's design with shower walls to help protect the integrity of your bathroom. Shower walls are solid, heavy gauge, easy to clean and maintain, and can be a stylish alternative to tile in the bathroom. Discover shower walls in shades of brown, white, neutral, off white or other colors in contemporary and transitional styles to suit your bathroom and your personality. Check out Swanstoneshower walls for contemporary elegance.

Don't let this pass you by. Update your shower today! If you're building or remodeling a bathroom, this is a key to its design. Discover shower faucets and tubs to match your design theme. Trusted brands like American Standard, Belle Foret, Danze, Delta, Kohler, Moen, and Price Pfister are just a few recognized for their great bathroom and home plumbing product superiority. Check them out today for your shower design.

FaucetOutlet.com carries a wide selection of high quality bathroom faucets and shower faucets in the styles you want at prices you can afford.

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Nailing Or Screwing Drywall

Nails versus screws who will become the winner. When drywall first came out the installers used everything from regular steel nails to galvanized roofing nails. After a short amount of time they started to develop major problems from nails popping out of the finished drywall.

Nail popping results when the nail is driven into moist lumber and as the lumber shrinks the house settles and nail can actually pop out to the walls. Hard to imagine the nail could actually pop out of the drywall as the wood was drying out.

How far the nail would actually pop out was determined by how far it was driven in to the framing studs or ceiling joists. Well pretty soon drywall installers started to use ring shank nails to eliminate this problem. This worked great but these nails were hard to drive in and would often break.

As time went on the nails improved and were made out of galvanized metal with cupped shaped heads and came in a few different sizes. The size of the nail used was determined by the thickness of the drywall. These new nails worked great and had good holding power and eliminated a lot of nail popping.

Using nails means driving them in with a hammer. If you miss the nail you damage the drywall. This seemed to be a big problem and was virtually eliminated with the screws.

Well pretty soon people started using screws which had greater holding power and pretty much nail popping. Another advantage to using screws over nails is the simple fact you need less screws than you do nails to attach the drywall to the metal or wood framing.

This means less labor installing and finishing the drywall.

There is one problem with the screws and that is they have to be set perfectly. They can not break the paper surface on the drywall but have to be set enough into the drywall so that it can be finished properly. Most screw guns have an adjustable setting used to get just the right depth for the screws installed in the drywall. But this also was a problem when screwing into a hard piece of wood you can actually snapped the screw head off, strip the screw head or break the screw.

Nails on the other hand can bend while driving them into a hard surface.

Who wins the nails versus screws while installing drywall? I have got to give it to the screws. That doesn't mean the nails just got screwed or the screws just got nailed.

I couldn't resist. I actually preferred the screws over the nails except for when nailing the drywall corner bead on. Some drywall professionals use nails to hang the drywall and go back with a screw gun and some screws to finish the job. The nails sometimes seem handier than the screws when installing the drywall.

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 Carlsbad Home Improvement

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Cyprus Holidays - Hotels in Ayia Napa

Island of Cyprus lies in the eastern part of Mediterranean Sea, not far away by shores of Libya. Due to its richness and pleasant climate, this land has been very disputed during the centuries and saw many bloody wars. Even today this country has two parts, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and the Republic of Cyprus, but the two parts live in pace and try to enjoy in harmony the fast growing development of the island. Nowadays Cyprus is member of the European Union and one of the main spots where are spent beach holidays in Europe.

Island of Aphrodite (its ancient name) or Cyprus is the third largest Mediterranean island and one of the favorite tourist destinations, attracting over 2 million holiday makers each year. All this people choose to spend holidays on Cypriot shores due to the excellent year-round weather, splendid sandy beaches, friendly people, and great accommodation offered by most hotels in Cyprus. No matter if vacationers choose to buy holiday deals in north or south, there are resorts where everything is designed to make travelers feel good and to let them to remember whit pleasure the moments spent there. In the south of Cyprus some of the main vacation spots are Paphos, Protaras, Limassol and Larnaca, while in north destinations which attract most tourists are Kyrenia and Ayia Napa.

All accommodation units on this sunny island welcome tourists with open arms, but hotels in Ayia Napa seem to be in the top of the best resorts in Cyprus. There are all kind of hotels in Ayia Napa, from budget 2 & 3 star hotels up to 4 and 5 luxury beach resorts, where holidays come to end too fast and are remembered long time after that! High-budget holiday makers can choose between Hotel Alion Beach, Hotel Panas Holiday Village, Hotel Napa Mermaid, Hotel Atlantica Club Sungarden Beach, Hotel Napa Plaza, Hotel Olympic Lagoon Resort, Hotel Nissi Beach, Hotel Asterias Beach, or Dome Beach Resort, while budget travelers have at disposal a wide range of excellent 3 star hotels like Hotel Limanaki Beach, Hotel Nestor, Hotel Nissi Park, Senator Hotel Apartments, Hotel Vias Apartments, and Hotel Bella Napa.

Ayia Napa is located on the eastern coast of Cyprus, very close to Cape Greco, and attracts foremost vacationers interested in spending beach holidays (its sandy beaches are renowned even worldwide!) and to enjoy the warm waters of Mediterranean Sea. A great fact in this beach resort is that in Ayia Napa can spend excellent vacations both families and singles (there are a few night-bars and clubs where are organized really great parties!) because in the area are features of all kind that make everyone feel well! Of course, daytime activities such as water-skiing, windsurfing, canoe rides, scuba diving, snorkeling and speed-boating are very popular among tourists, while in the night people who love to party can do it until a new day appears on horizon! Few people know that there is located the biggest and multiple award-winning theme water park in Europe, with a great variety of slides, so kids and adults alike can enjoy unforgettable moments under the friendly shine of Mediterranean sun! When vacationers got hungry after swimming or other activities, there are many restaurants where they can enjoy the tasty Cypriot foods and wines, renowned since the ancient times.

After tourists have spent memorable vacation days in Ayia Napa , most of them will return to the island of Aphrodite to enjoy better all what this magic land has to offer. And if they want to learn more about the culture of this friendly people, they can try out some other resorts in this country. Hotels settled on splendid beaches offer everywhere great accommodation and holidays in Cyprus are excellent in any part of the island!

More information about accommodation and holidays in Cyprus can be found on Cyprus Holidays and Hotels in Cyprus. This article belongs to Victor Tuszing.

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Saturday, July 18, 2009

Painting and Decorating Your Home

Growing up, I had a good friend named Reggie who lived in a house that was always clean, always well decorated. Due to this fact, painting and decorating has always come easy for me.

His mom liked to do a quick re-paint of their whole house every spring. She and Reggie (his dad died when he was young) would take a whole week to give everything a fresh coat of paint. His mom was a very clean women. She was raised on a farm and I guess people back then farm kids were raised well.

Because my best friend and his mom would take a few days to go throughout the house painting, no doubt this made an impression on me. I would come into the kitchen or go through their house and everything was nice and new. A nice lifestyle. Something painting decorating is all about - it adds flavor to our lives.

As I got older and found a wife, I moved into one of my grandfathers apartments. I noticed that he was a good painter also. He painted white ceilings with pastel color walls and the woodwork trim was enameled white also. So from these two experiences alone I learned how to be a good painter decorator.

Basically if I was to do a custom interior paint job, I would get custom color charts from the paint store. Paint stores have historical custom color charts with three-color schemes. This helps to take the guesswork out of matching and choosing colors as well as planning out a color scheme for each room.

From there all you have to do is pick your curtains, bedspreads, carpeting, rugs etc. and match them to your new paint job. That's basically all there is to doing interior decorating as far as I see it. Then comes the talent. Some people have a knack for putting colors together that it looks really good.

If you just moved into a new house and there is existing carpeting that you don't want to change, tile floors, stained woodwork or painted woodwork that you plan on keeping the same, you simply have to match up new colors to those existing items.

I painted for an interior decorator off and on for a few years until they moved to another city. I painted most of her house inside and some of the outside. She had a real knack for pictures, wallpaper and furniture. She also had the money to do it all.

Painting decorating the outside of your home can be mentioned here also. There are exterior custom color charts that show three-color patterns or scenarios, even historical colors.

It can get rather pricey to live life at its best when it comes to painting and decorating your home. If you do a little bit at a time it can be a fun hobby. One thing that I highly recommend as a painter decorator is to use quality paints and wall coverings. Never skimp on these things. After all, why waste your precious time and resources on inferior materials? Especially if you have to live with it.

I like to see people put different colors in every room so that every room that you enter is a treat to the eyes and the emotions. I like to see colors that gradually flow from one room to the next gracefully. It's the little things like that that create the nicer lifestyle. There is power in color. Colors effect our moods.

Some people that I have painted for will put the same drab color in every room throughout the house as if they got a special deal on the paint or something. And some people never paint any rooms until they move out. They never get to enjoy the paint job.

Now I'm not all that good at choosing colors. I remember a friend in school that had some of those doodle art pens and was coloring a psychedelic VW Beetle. All his colors he chose were amazing. They all went together so well and they were bright.

As long as I use a custom color matching chart from the paint store I can do a pretty good job when painting and decorating houses. Nonetheless some people have real knack for making awesome colors flow.

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

Walls Framed For Entertainment

Planning Your Bathroom Remodel Budget - Home Improvement Ideas

As a bathroom remodeling contractor, I get calls from people, that have no idea what they want or how much anything is going to cost. Here's some simple tips that can be very helpful when planning a bathroom remodel budget.

Bathroom Remodeling Investment

In 2008, the average mid-range bathroom cost around $16,000 and you could recoup around $12,000 of your original investment upon the sale of your home. According to a popular remodeling magazine, larger bathrooms using expensive fixtures, tile, bathtubs, woodworking, toilets and showers had an average of $52,000. Upon the sale of a home, you could recoup around $36,000 of your original investment.

Finding out How Much Things Cost

My first suggestion, would be to visit your local home improvement center, lumber yard or plumbing supply warehouse. Larger stores like Home Depot and Lowe's, seemed to provide you with value pricing but don't have a large selection. While doing some research on the Internet I noticed that some of their pricing is outrageously, outrageous. Some plumbing supply warehouses can provide value but beware others won't.

Create a List of Bathroom Remodeling Parts

You can get a good idea of your bathroom remodel costs for your budget by making a list of bathroom parts with pricing and then adding them up for a grand total. If you're a total bathroom remodel budget is $15,000 and you have a $6,000 bathtub with $4000 worth of tile, you could have a budget problem.

Figuring out the Labor

You will have to contact a contractor to get an actual cost for the labor. Sometimes you can double the cost of your bathroom remodeling parts to get a rough idea. If you have a list or a couple of lists and a few pictures of some sample bathrooms, this will make the contractor's job easier and often they can give you a labor price within a few days.

Give Yourself a Cushion

I would suggest leaving yourself a small financial cushion for any additional remodeling items. For example, you could see a different toilet, or instead of painting the walls, you now choose to wallpaper, you could incur additional expenses that you haven't planned for. If you know exactly what you want and stick to the original bathroom remodeling plan, you shouldn't need the cushion.

Financial problems often transfer into construction problems, so spend some time figuring out, how much money you want to spend on the bathroom remodel and try not to go overboard on the budget. I hate to see homeowners struggling with home improvement loan payments. Try to create a bathroom remodeling budget that is realistic and will not create a financial burden upon you or your family.

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 bathroom remodeling or home building ideas.

Water Heater Inside And Clean Up

How to Plan Your Next Bathroom Remodel

1. Do Your Homework: Gather ideas about what you want done to your bathroom. Best areas to look are the internet or Kitchen and Bath magazines. Consult a design professional if you are completely stuck on this one.

2. Home Improvement Contractors: Again, do your homework. Ask friends and family for referrals of home improvement contractors they have used in the past. It's worth the time spent finding a reliable contractor because than your project will stay on time and most importantly on budget. When ready, set up a payment schedule with your contractors this way everything is spelled out from the beginning. You are much better off dealing with professionals who will get it done right the first time. Your home improvement contractor can assist in picking out your fixtures and finishes also.

3. Plumbers/Electricians: Ask your home improvement contractor for more information. It's best to use who they deal with most often because your project tends to run a lot smoother.

4. Be creative: Now that you have your small team in place, it's time to get all your finishes in order. Possibilities are endless and this is where tip # 1 comes into play. All that homework you have completed should make this process a whole lot easier. Tiles, fixtures, mirrors, lighting, towel bars, paint etc. should all be on your checklist of items to pick out. Priority should be put on main fixtures such as toilet, sink, and tub/shower because this is what is most needed by your contractor in order to keep the project moving. Remember these items (especially tiles) may take up to a couple of weeks to order, so schedule accordingly with your home improvement contractor.

5. Check in with your contractor: Ask your contractor how the project is progressing and if they need anything (i.e. materials, lighting fixtures). If tip #2 was fulfilled, everything should be in order. Put your trust in the professionals you hired to get it completed.

6. Walk through: While your home improvement contractor is at his final stages. Have them go over the project with you and make sure everything is the way it was as discussed.

7. Most Importantly, Enjoy your new bathroom!!

These are just a few helpful tips to use while thinking of a bath remodel. It seems simple because it is. This process does not have to be overwhelming. With a solid team in place and all finishes/fixtures decided on, there is no reason your project should not be completed in a timely manner.

For more helpful information regarding your next home improvement, visit us online at http://www.travisrobertrenovations.com

Visit our photos section at http://www.travisrobertrenovations.com/photos for helpful design ideas. Feel free to contact us with any questions.

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