Symptoms of Toxic Mold Exposure

Unfortunately, the symptoms of toxic mold exposure can be quite similar to those of other illnesses. Sneezing, coughing, dryness of the throat, shortness of breath, and headaches are just some of the initial symptoms a person exposed to black mold would experience.

Others are memory lapses, mood swings or depression, nausea and vomiting, and a tightness in the chest.

One can usually eliminate other illnesses if the condition is accompanied by an irritation of the eyes and skin. However, this still does not eliminate the possibility of a usual allergy.

To find out with a significant degree of certainty that there has been toxic mold exposure, you need to perform a combination of tests.

First, if the symptoms appear when you enter a particular room or area of the house and are relieved when you are away from that particular area, there is a high possibility that that room has toxic mold growth somewhere.

Second, if the symptoms aren't consistent with, say, the common cold, where a running nose is often accompanied by cough with phlegm, you can also start considering mold as a possible culprit.

Preventing toxic mold exposure

Here are the most basic steps to take in preventing exposure to harmful toxic mold:

First step: Track the mold down. Keep a journal in order to monitor those areas of the house where you most often experience the symptoms.

First search in places which have a high humidity level, and those that may have been subjected to water leaks or flooding. The basement, the attic, and the bathroom are the places where you should first make an inspection.

In every room, check the wallpaper, under the carpet, window sills and joints, ceiling boards, and crawlspaces. Toxic mold thrives in dark, damp spots in poorly ventilated rooms.

Second step: Get rid of it! Once you have tracked down the growth, it's time to scrub them away. Use a mild detergent and some water plus a good scrubber to get to the bottom of the contamination. Remember not to overlook any spot, as even a small amount of surviving spores can cause another growth cycle.

When getting rid of an entire wall panel, plastic sheeting must be used to prevent the growth from spreading to adjoining panels of the wall or the floor. Don't forget to protect your eyes, nose, and mouth when you start cleaning off the mold, as it may be toxic.

Don't fret if all this seems like a job too much for you to handle. You can always consult the yellow pages to look for professionals who can do the cleaning for you. They have the equipment and the expertise in dealing with toxic mold and they can do it in a much shorter time than you can, reducing the risk of further spreading mold growth.

You can also find more info on black mold exposure. Blackmoldbliss.com is a comprehensive resource which provide information about Blackmold.

What to Know About Exterior Stucco Contractors - Carlsbad Contractors

Making the decision to do any large amount of work to your home is a little nerve wracking to say the least. You have to decide what you feel is the main priority and who is going to be best suited to do the work. As any do it yourselfer who has ended up with a less than well done home improvement project can tell you, you are often better off to let the professionals handle it. Take the exterior stucco contractors for example. If you have never dealt with finding and hiring such a well trained, specific contractor before, the task can seem overwhelming. With a little bit of knowledge about stucco and contractors in general, you won't have any trouble deciding on the right professional for your project.

As with any kind of home improvement help, with exterior stucco contractors, the first thing you want to do is get together a list of names. You can find this list from the phone book, online resources, or better yet, from someone you know personally who has worked with the contractors before. Try to find at least 3 different stucco contractors to talk to. They should be willing to come to your home, look the house over, and offer a free estimate. While you have the exterior stucco contractor's undivided attention, be sure to ask him or her any pressing questions that might be on your mind.

As any of the exterior stucco contractors can doubtless tell you, applying stucco is much like painting a picture. Every contractor has his or her own way of doing it. One contractor's texture and finish is nothing like the next ones. You can be sure you will be happy with the results by asking to see samples of every exterior stucco contractor's work you interview. Prices aren't likely to vary much, but your reference for their work certainly will. Once you have chosen your contractor, you can look forward to a brand new look for your home.

For more information on exterior stucco contractors

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

How to Build a Solar Panel - Earth For Energy DIY Solar Kit Review

As most of you will know, purchasing solar panels is an expensive business. So expensive is the cost associated with installation of a solar system, it has put most of us off buying them.

Earth for Energy has developed a guide that shows you step-by-step how to build a solar panel. These how to build a solar panel guides (around $40) will walk you step-by-step via an illustrated manual and easy to follow videos through the process of building your own DIY solar power kit.

The guide shows you how to build a solar panel and generator with materials available from your local hardware store for less than $200! compare this to the thousands of dollars you would normally have to outlay and I am sure you will agree its an investment worth making.

Once installed you will soon be on your way to saving some serious money. The instructions are literally child's play to follow, in fact get the whole family involved in the project, its educational and fun!

So don't wait any longer, join the over 1 million US households implementing solar energy in one form or another. Remember not only will you be saving money by slashing your power bills by as much as 80%, you will also be doing your bit for the environment as solar is a clean, renewable energy source.

NOTE : If you act now you can save $40 off the normal price of the earth 4 energy how to build a solar panel and solar generator guide Click Here for more information.

Like most things released in this format there are some products to avoid, Click Here for a review on the best DIY Solar Power Kits available on the web

Jon Elsdon is a Solar Energy Consultant and Environmentalist. Jon is editor of DIY Solar Power

More Than a Garage

Today's garage, in some ways, is simply an update of the nineteenth century carriage house. Compared to today, those structures seemed more important and therefore more time was taken for planning both the look of the buildings and their relationship to the home. Often the carriage house was part of a barn or stable and occasionally included living quarters above.

I consider the character and placement of a freestanding garage as important as locating the house on the property since the addition of a garage begins to make an isolated house into a compound. A garage structure can be used to block winter winds, an unsightly view or to simply provide an attractive element in a landscape composition.

When a client asks us to design a garage for their home, one of the first questions we ask is: "Do you think you would ever need additional living or storage space?" and most of the time the answer is "Yes". Compared to building free standing guest quarters or studio space, the second floor of a garage is the best deal in town. Since you already have a roof and foundation, the additional costs include taller side walls, a stronger ceiling/floor, and a stair to create usable raw space for storage.

Once the building is framed, finishing off the space can be accomplished modestly or at great expense just like you would any room in your home. A living space over an unheated garage does present some unique challenges. First the floors as well as the roof must be very carefully insulated. Secondly the water and septic lines must be insulated until they are in the ground below frost line. The garage space must be separated from the living space by fire rated sheetrock and any door into the living space from the garage must also be fire rated.

As far as taking care of cars, we have designed garages with radiant heat in the slab as well as air conditioning. For one car collector we included lifts and an oil changing pit as well as a two story viewing gallery.

Whether you need a simple structure to cover a car, a place to display a valuable antique, or a multipurpose building for cars and guests, the architectural details and the relationship to existing structures is as important to consider when designing the garage as any building on your property.

http://www.crisparchitects.com/

James M. Crisp, AIA is an architect working in New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts. To see photos associated with this article go to: http://crisparchitects.blogspot.com/2008_03_01_archive.html

Set a Fire in Your Hearth - How to Choose the Perfect Fireplace

In recent years the fireplace has become much more than the functional "Heating Element" of a house, evolving into the 'must have' visual focal point of your living space. The transformation in fire design alone has been revolutionary, with higher efficiency and energy saving technology - combined with a variety of fuel bed options, to enhance the "WOW" factor.

Having 20 years experience within the fireplace industry, customers repeatedly say to me that there is much more to consider when buying a fireplace than they first imagined. Hopefully, I can help you to avoid some of the pit falls and provide you with a better understanding of the products available, giving you confidence that your decision will be right. Right for you and your budget, looks right in your home and above all is correctly fitted and meets safety standards and regulations.

Firstly, to ensure that the intended fireplace is going to look right, a measurement of the width of the internal chimney breast needs to be noted. If the property has low ceilings check that you will not find your chosen surround/mantelpiece overpowering. (Remember to add the height of the intended hearth to that of the surround if it is to sit on it.) When choosing a gas fire consider whether maximum heat efficiency is paramount, or is your intention more towards being decorative? If you do need high efficiency then you may have to compromise on the type of fireplace you are contemplating. Note:If the heat output is high, (depending on the kW input of gas) a minimum free flow air vent of 100sq.cm may be required for certain open flued fires.

One important aspect to bear in mind with a recently built property is does it have a "floating floor" (most do for insulation purposes). If so, then the fireplace should be fitted onto a solid base. The builder is likely to include a disclaimer in the sales contract should problems occur due to the fireplace having been fitted directly onto this type of floor construction. I would advise: Do not compromise on fitting - most problems and disappointments are caused due to what appears to be cheap fitting costs or D.I.Y installations. Apart from regulatory measures resulting from ill fitted fireplace and/or fires, the cost of replacing a cracked or broken hearth or back panel (in the case of say natural marble) can be costly. Natural marble is supplied as a set from the same scant, and no two sets are the same.

Whilst on the subject of natural marble, you should be aware that not all marble sold is of the same quality. It is a natural product supplied from various countries and therefore having individual characteristics. Therefore, a low cost marble could be of inferior quality rather than a bargain. Marble is also absorbent and spillage's (particularly soft drinks containing citric acid) can leave stains similar to water marks within the marble, so liquids are best kept away. Natural stone i.e; Sandstone, limestone, hearths and back panels or complete fireplaces are offered. Some simulated stone effect fireplaces are now available which are considerably less expensive but are not suitable for solid fuel fires (in some cases only suitable for electric fires - check for recommended use).

Depending on your choice of intended fire/fireplace and site, will determine the rebate required for the surround. Specific rebate sizes can be ordered but a standard rebate is normally 25-32mm that is adjustable to approximately 75mm on a stock item. The rebate is determined when all other aspects are decided upon and the method of installation has been established.

Finally, for your own peace of mind and safety, it is a legal requirement that any gas installation must be carried out by a CORGI registered gas installer who now should carry a CORGI identity card.

R Pearson is a Director of Fireplace Megadeals an established online retailer of fireplaces, gas fires, electric fires and stoves. For further information please visit their website at http://www.fireplacemegadeals.co.uk.

Barn Home Conversions

Although not a new method of building a home, barn conversions are becoming more and more popular these days. The problem facing most families wanting to convert a barn into a home is the lack of know how involved in it.

It's needless to say that there are many barns in various shapes and sizes all around. Many are in bad shape. Please don't make the mistake of buying one that is labeled a unique fixer upper opportunity. Don't fool yourself. If a barn has gotten into the shape where the boards are falling off the sides, unless you're buying it for parts, my suggestion is to leave it alone. By the time the boards start falling off, there's major flaws. The main trouble would probably be that the girts are rotting and the fasteners (nails) are turning loose.

When I built my home from an old centennial barn, there wasn't even a handful of books and reference websites available on the subject. And when I talked with contractors on the subject, the most common response I got was a blank stare. Fortunately I was able to talk to some barn builders that had been in the trade for decades and were willing to share ideas on how it could be done.

One of the most daunting tasks was to repair the weather damage and remove the layers of dirt that had accumulated over the years. My particular barn was used to shelter horses and a few milk cows.

There are two methods of converting a barn.

The first method is to use standard residential construction practices, essentially making the barn into a standard construction home. Nine times out of ten after this type of renovation takes place, the barn no longer looks like a barn but looks more like a stylized residence. And the cost with this method sometimes exceeds standard residential construction.

The second method and the one my wife and I chose to use, employed the same materials the barn was built with. I went to the local saw mill and bought rough sawed boards to make up the interior walls and floors. Even the doors and windows were hand built with this type of method. We just made sure the house was well insulated and all the cracks were closed. This method saved us thousands of dollars and kept the charm of the old barn intact.

Tim Davis is a veteran Architectural Designer who also teaches architecture and drafting over the internet http://houseplandrafting101.net He is currently in the process of writing an Ebook entitled "How to Turn a Barn into a Home". The info page for updates on this ebook can be found at http://draftingservice.us/barnhomes

Information About Home Builders in Georgia

Below you will find information about home builders in Georgia. Visit each home builders website to find more information about their new homes for sale and new home community locations.

Heritage Log Homes - Heritage Log Homes strives to bring home buyers the most comprehensive possible site when it comes to buying log homes over the internet. Heritage Log Homes now provides information on the Heritage Difference, which offers a list of absolutely everything that sets Heritage Log Homes apart from competing companies and other producers of fine log homes and similar structures. For example, Heritage Log Homes uses a proprietary Thru Bolt System, as well as an ecologically friendly log seasoning process. Located in Kodak, Tennessee, Heritage Log Homes offers home building expertise in numerous markets, cities and states all throughout the nation. For more information about Heritage Log Homes and their current and upcoming products not only in Snellville, Georgia but also throughout the United States, visit their website.

RTF Construction - RTF Construction is a commercial general contractor that is located within Atlanta, Georgia but that regularly services Snellville, Georgia by producing leasehold improvements, church construction, home building and numerous other forms of construction and building, which they have done for more than 16 years now. After 16 years of construction in Atlanta Georgia, RTF Construction feels confident in letting you know that they offer some of the best building in the industry. For more information about their residential construction and remodeling projects past, present and future in Snellville Georgia and other cities in Georgia, visit their personal website.

Meridian Homes - Meridian Homes builds new homes and communities in Georgia and South Carolina. Meridian Homes has several new home communities located in and around Snellville with new homes starting in the $100s. Meridian has been building new homes for over 12 years and has delivered more than 4,000 homes The Meridian Homes corporate offices are located in Loganville, Georgia. For more information about Meridian Homes visit their company website.

The information that has been cited above was gathered from each individual home builder's company website in September of 2008, and is considered to be reliable accordingly. If you want to find out more information about Snellville homes for sale as well as new Snellville home subdivisions, you should visit each home builder online.

New Homes Section is a one-stop destination to find home builders, new homes for sale, green homes and information about new home communities. Quickly located new homes throughout the U.S. and discover information about pricing, floor plans, community locations and home features.