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An Introduction to Portable Table Saws

There comes a time in every amateur handyman’s life when he realizes he needs a table saw. There are four types of tables saws to choose from, though for the beginner there is really only one choice. There are cabinet saws, contractor saws, hybrid saws and portable, sometimes called “benchtop” saws.

The portable table saw is often the best table saw for the beginner woodworker who does not have a large work area and will only use the table saw for small projects at first.

A portable table saw is designed to be light enough to be moved from one spot to another and is often placed on a bench or counter. Many portable table saws have extra bases available for an additional fee and few come with the base, though most are light enough to be carried if needed.

Bench top table saws usually weigh anywhere from forty to eight pounds, so you can’t exactly carry them around like a hammer, but you can easily move them in and out of storage as needed. Most portable table saws can use standard sized blades like other table saws, but there are still some drawbacks you should be aware of.

Because portable table saws are lighter in weight they aren’t often as sturdy and steady as their bigger brothers, the contractor or cabinet table saws. Portable table saws usually have some size limitations to cuts due to support issues and most don’t have the most sophisticated measurement and metering systems available.

Most portable table saws are made with the amateur handyman in mind, though in recent years several of the more established tool companies have come out with some very strong and durable bench top table saws which are being used by more and more contractors and professional wood workers in a pinch.

When trying to choose the best portable table saw for your needs, consider what kinds of blades you think you’ll want to use, whether you’ll need to change the blade angle or blade height and whether you’ll need to disassemble the unit or want to upgrade the table saw fence and rail system. When looking at specifications you’ll want to compare weight, rip capacity, portability and base configuration and the size of the motor. Also consider the ease at which various adjustments and blade changes can be made. For some people this is important, but for some the basic features of a low-end portable table saw are just fine.

The advantages to starting out with a portable table saw are many. Portable table saws can do the standard ripping and cutting but may be harder to use for more complex cutting and may be lacking the ability to use things like a dado blade or advanced fence and rail system. If you’re just starting out then a benchtop table saw is the way to go because they are by far the least expensive of all the table saw types and they can be moved and stored out of the way fairly easily.

Not all portable table saws are the same. Features and price vary widely from one table saw manufacturer to the next, so compare prices and features closely and try to pick out the table saw that will best fit your present and future needs.

Visit the TableSawSite.com for dependable table saw reviews, information and accessories!

Bathroom Remodelling: Choosing a New Shower Stall

In the United States, a large number of home-owners only have a bathtub in their homes. Most bathtubs really aren’t just bathtubs; many also double as showers. As nice as it is to only have one bathroom fixture, especially one that can do two jobs, you may be looking for more. If you are looking to remodel your bathroom, you may want to think about purchasing yourself a new bathtub. Unfortunately, you will find that not all bathtubs double as showers; therefore, you may also be in the market for a new shower stall.

Perhaps, the most important thing to remember, when looking to buy a new shower stall, is the amount of space that you have available. If you are going from one bathtub to a bathtub and a standalone shower, there is a chance that you may be limited on space. If that is the case, you may find your options to be somewhat limited. That is unless you are planning on remodelling your entire bathroom. If you are planning on changing your entire bathroom around, it may be easier for you to find and purchase the shower stall of your choice, without having to worry about whether or not it will even fit in your bathroom.

Once you have decided that you would like to purchase a new bathroom shower stall, as well as how large of one you can purchase, you will need to start shopping for your shower. Although you may expect to find everything that you need all in one place, it may be a little bit difficult to do. Although there are a number of retailers, particularly home improvement stores, that sell standalone shower kits, there are others who do not. If you are unable to find a retailer who sells shower kits, you may need to purchase all of your parts separately. The parts that you will need may include, but should not be limited to, a shower floor, shower walls, a shower door, as well as a shower head.

When it comes to buying a new standalone shower, there are many home-owners who go searching for the nicest looking standalone shower. While there is a chance that you may be looking for the best, there is also a chance that may be remodelling your kitchen on a budget. If so, you may be pleased to know that standalone showers come in a number of different sizes, shapes, and styles. Whether you are looking a trendy looking standalone shower or the most affordable one, there is a good chance that you will be able to find exactly what you were looking for. Just in case you were wondering, most standard standalone showers start selling for around two or three hundred dollars, and from there the prices goes up.

As previously mentioned, most home improvement stores, both on and off-line, carry a selection of shower supplies, including supplies that are grouped into packages or kits. Therefore, if you are looking to have a new standalone shower in your home, it may be a good idea to shop at one of your local home improvement stores. In fact, home improvement stores, especially large ones, are known for their displays. In order to find the perfect shower for your soon to be remodelled bathroom, you may want to see these displays; however, if the displays are not as important to you, you may also want to think about shopping online. Regardless of whether you shop, whether it is online or locally, you will want to try and find shower kits or packages. These kits and packages are not only convenient, but they may also save you money.

Once you have found and purchased the standalone shower of your choice, you may want to start installing it right away. Since most standalone shower kits come with instructions, you should easily be able to install your own shower, even if you have no prior home improvement experience. What could be better than having a new shower installed and saving money at the same time?

Uchenna Ani-Okoye is an internet marketing advisor and co founder of Free Affiliate Programs

For more information and resource links on bathrooms visit: Bathroom Design

Advantages and Disadvantages of Buying Your Bathroom Remodelling Supplies Online

Have you recently made the decision to remodel your bathroom? Whether you would like to remodel every inch of your bathroom or just a small portion of it, you will need to buy supplies. The supplies needed, will all depend on the remodelling project you need to complete. For instance, if you are looking to have your bathtub replaced, you will need to order a new bathtub. Whether you need a bathtub, new flooring, or even new bathroom cabinets, have you decided where you would like to shop yet? If you are like many other homeowners, you may be wondering whether or not you should buy your bathroom remodelling supplies online.

As previously mentioned, the bathroom remodelling supplies needed will all depend on the type of remodelling that you are doing. The supplies that you will need will also help to determine whether or not you should buy your supplies online. For instance, is you are looking to purchase a new bathtub it may be a little bit difficult for you to buy a bathtub online. Of course, it is always possible to do, but you may find it costly. Depending on where you would be ordering your new bathtub from, it may need to travel across the country. If that is the case, you may find the cost of shipping or delivery to be quite expensive. In fact, you may also find it too much to afford.

In all honestly, the cost of shipping is really the only downside to purchasing your bathroom remodelling supplies online. The truth is that are, literally, an unlimited number of benefits to purchasing your bathroom remodelling supplies online. One of those benefits is the amount of time that it will take you to do your shopping. Online, you could easily find thousands of different bathtubs available for sale. If you find a bathtub, or any other bathroom fixture that you need, you could purchase it without even having to leave your home. You can also save yourself a fairly large amount of time by shopping online. If you have an idea as to what you are looking for, it is possible to find, order, and pay for your kitchen remodelling supplies in as little as a few minutes.

In addition to the amount of time that you can save, by shopping for your bathroom remodelling supplies online, you also have a better chance of finding what you are looking for. Whether you are looking to purchase a new bathtub, a new bathroom sink, a new toilet, or bathroom floor tiles, the internet gives you access to hundreds of thousands of different items. This means that whether you are looking for low-cost remodelling supplies, elegant supplies, or those that are custom made, you should easily be able to find what you are looking for online. You can get started with a standard internet search.

Although there are more advantages to buying your bathroom remodelling supplies online than there are disadvantages, you will find that the above mentioned disadvantage is a fairly large one. If you are shopping on a budget, it is best to look for online retailers that offer shipping discounts for their bathroom remodelling materials, supplies, and fixtures. If you are able to find one of these discounts, you could, without a doubt, benefit from doing you’re shopping online.

Uchenna Ani-Okoye is an internet marketing advisor and co founder of Free Affiliate Programs

For more information and resource links on bathrooms visit: Bathroom Design

Kitchen Cabinets- Plywood or Particleboard Construction?

When shopping for kitchen cabinets, most homeowners focus on the look of the cabinets and the design of the doors, but they don’t ask about the most important feature of the cabinets- the material used to make the cabinet box. While the face frame and doors are important for the overall look, the structure of the cabinet itself is what will determine the lifespan of your kitchen.

While the majority of kitchen cabinet manufacturers will use solid wood for the face frame and doors, there are several different materials that are used for the cabinet construction. Due to the limited amount of aged timber that is available, it has become too expensive for even custom cabinet manufacturers to use real wood for the sides and back. Some higher end cabinet manfacturers build beautiful solid wood cabinets, but for the majority of homeowners, these are simply not economically feasible.

Particleboard is acommon material that some lower end cabinets will feature (and which you may recognize if you have ever shopped at Ikea). Particleboard, also called pressboard, is really just small chips of wood compressed together and held together with glue. Unlike plywood which consists of multiple layers of wood with the grain running in alternating patterns, particleboard doesn’t have any of that interweaving to help strengthen the board. Because of this, the material will tend to chip or break easier, and will not be able to support as much weight. Quite often, you will have to use supports to strengthen the cabinets if you are installing a heavier countertop.

Plywood is the most universally used material for kitchen cabinets. More expensive cabinets will use 3/4″ plywood with a wood veneer for the sides and sometimes for the back (most will not use solid plywood for the back either, but they will include mounting strips across the back). Most cabinets that you will find on the market will feature 1/2″ plywood, which is more than substantial enough to support any countertop material.

Another regularly used material is fiberboard. Fiberboard is basically a thick, dense cardboard. While it isn’t as fragile as particleboard, it doesn’t offer the rigidity of plywood or real wood. The other problems results from the fasteners. Without the grain of wood, fasteners will tend to lose their grip over time.

So when starting the shopping process for new cabinets, it is important to consider the pros and cons all the features of the cabinets. Just because a cabinet looks good, doesn’t mean that it will be able to hold up to the wear and tear that you are going to cause.

Find out where the experts go to get all of their wood cabinets and accessories. Learn how to save thousand on kitchen cabinets by buying them where contractors and builders shop.

All About Point of Use Tankless Heaters

What is a point-of-use tankless water heater, and why are many considering the installation of one in their home?

A point of use tankless hot water heater is a much smaller device that can be placed right under a sink where you use hot water. These units can also be used to supply hot water in a shower or bathtub, although the flow rate, or gallons per minute may not be enough for at tub all dependent on the power of the device.

So what is the reason for using a tankless hot water heater like this? One scenario where this might be a great idea is when the sink is in a part of the home that is far away from the home’s main hot water heater. If it is taking a long time for you to receive hot water, it is usually because of the “run” of the pipes going to your sink. When the run is fairly long, and you have a long wait for the hot water, you’re letting water run down the drain. If you put in a point of use hot water heater under the sink, then you will be good to go. Now with this setup you will have to pay more for electricity to run the heater, but you will save money on your water utility costs.

A point of use heater can truly be called an on-demand or instant water heater as it is always just a few moments before you have hot water delivered right out of the faucet. These point-of-use water heaters will eliminate what is referred to as stand-by losses.

Another method to use one of these systems would be in the kitchen, but a word of caution is necessary. A point of use demand heater could be placed near your sink and thus offer extremely hot water that would be needed for cooking or for making hot drinks. The warning here is the risk of scalding, as some of these demand heaters can produce very hot water.

Investigate the heat settings and the overall operation of these point of use heaters, due to the fact they can heat water with up to temperatures as hot as 180 degrees. Many tankless water manufacturers have now built the units with anti-scalding controls. This will cap the temperature so that the water will not go above about 120 degrees.

You can see how this is necessary to investigate if you have kids in your home. Today the automatic control systems are usually standard and built-in on these point-of-use units, so if you desire a unit that does offer very hot water, you may have to do a little shopping.

There are several manufacturers of these mini tankless water heaters, there shouldn’t be much difficulty in finding something for $200 dollars or less.

Overall, a point of use tankless water heater can certainly make life easier when installed in the right situation.

Jeff Buckley is a freelance writer covering energy saving technologies such as tankless water heaters. Read more about Rheem water heaters and Bosch tankless water heaters.

Solid Beech Hardwood Flooring

Beech is a kind of wood that is well suited for use in any home, building or establishment that wants a versatile kind of wood for the floor. Since beech is a durable, affordable and versatile kind of wood, it is one of the favorite choices among wood lovers. Beech wood floors come in three distinct types, the engineered, the laminated and the solid wood variations. Although some people may consider the laminated beech floors as part of the engineered types, many people still place these floor types in a different category.

Which kind of beech floor you choose depends on a few factors. These factors for choosing between the many different kinds of beech flooring options include costs, durability, ease of care, ease of installation and versatility. With these factors in mind and knowing what you want from your beech floor, it will then be pretty easy to choose the kind of beech flooring type to use.

Solid Beech Flooring

Made out of solid wood planks from European or American beech trees, solid beech flooring is the first option for this wood type. Solid beech flooring is installed using the usual nail-down technique that most wooden floors use or with the glue-down technique that some people find easier to execute. Since these are made of solid wood that is not compressed or engineered for added durability, solid beech flooring may buckle and warp with the seasons and the climates.

Humidity will have a huge effect on how this wood behaves and one of the problems that you may encounter with a solid wood beech floor is the shrinking or expanding that it may undergo. Care for solid beech floors may be a bit more tedious than caring for the engineered and laminated kinds of this floor type but if given proper care, this kind of a floor can last longer than a person’s lifetime.

Laminated and Engineered Beech Flooring

When you say engineered, it essentially means that something is created with the help of technology. This is what engineered beech flooring is, built with the help of technology. This kind of a floor is created with the use of numerous plies of wood that have been glued together to form the slabs and the panels that are placed on floors. The installation of these engineered floors is often found to be easier than the installation of solid wood floors. This is because an engineered beech floor can be laid out on the floor and installed with the use of wood glue.

Most engineered wood floors, including beech, are crafted out of similar core wood plies with the top wood ply being the wood the engineered slab is supposed to represent. This means that an engineered beech floor can be made out of many different wood plies with the topmost ply being the beech wood ply. These kinds of floors are considered to be more durable in some ways than their solid wood counterparts.

Since these are made with multiple wood plies, these wood plies are placed in a criss-cross pattern that gives the wood more durability. This criss-cross pattern is also used to help give engineered wood the kind of quality that solid wood does not have, the ability to withstand shrinking and stretching with the seasons.

Installation Techniques for Beech Flooring

Installation of your beech flooring, whether it is solid or engineered, should be done by a professional to ensure that your floor is evenly laid out and beautifully done. If you are adept at doing things your own way, you can actually try and install your floor on your own. There are three ways to install your wood floor; nail-down, glue-down and floating.

The first two installation techniques can be used for solid wood and engineered wood floors while the last one is specifically for engineered or laminated floors. Before installing your floors, you should be aware that wood floors of any kind should not be installed in places near moisture. This includes areas that are below ground level where moisture rises and may permeate your beech wood floors.

You should also take note to avoid placing your wood flooring near areas that are also prone to moisture despite their being high above ground. Included in the list of places where you should not install your beech floors are bathroom areas or near bathroom areas, indoor pool areas and your kitchen. These are some of the places that wood floors may suffer damage from moisture. Placing wooden floors in these parts of the house is not advisable and is a waste of money due to the possibility of damage.

Jason Ashby has over 25 years experiance in the flooring trade for click for more information on Beech Hardwood flooring

Great Home Decorations Can Improve Your Quality of Life

Finding your way back to a home decorated with attractive decorations can help you to feel uplifted and decrease your stress levels after a hard day’s work. It will also help you feel more at home because it displays your personal tastes around you. When you are living in a well-decorated home it is easier to relish your free time and more interesting to have over guests for an evening.

Some researchers have found that it is good for your morale to be surrounded by plants and natural things. We believe that this is definitely true of the home. This is because we think the real source of satisfaction is the sense of something natural and easy to relate to. We are spiritual animals who need to be bathed in fractal manifestations of life.

This effect can be enhanced by displaying attractive art prints containing organic-looking things which cause you to feel soothed and rejuvenated. When we put up art prints, we gain the ability to select what types of stimulating environments we will have around us, but the effect should be the same: increased relaxation and well-being. These feelings emerge due an increased sense of oneness with our home world. We feel much more settled in, we feel less threatened or challenged by our surroundings, and so we are able to feel comfortable and at ease.

Another thing is that, when we have taken an active role in the way our homes will look it helps us to feel as though we have become an integral part of our home environment. This supplements our feelings of being relaxed because it gives us the feeling that we have a hand in our environment. This alleviates stress and helps us to have a clearer relationship to ourselves and our families when we are in our own home.

Lastly, a beautiful home can help to build up your relationships with others because it makes it significantly smoother to invite acquaintances and associates over to enjoy your home with you. When you have hung up art prints that display an element of yourself, you have lovelied up the place with a variety of conversation pieces that can help to start up fresh conversations and build up your rapport with your guests.

Even if you are only home alone you will find that it is much more enjoyable to be surrounded by pieces that you have invited into your field of vision, because your own consciousness is connected to the pictures at a deep level. Over time, your appreciation of your chosen environment will develop as you grow to feel more involved in home in your environment.

Dallas teaches artists about how to market themselves by writing excellent resumes. He has helped put together an acting resume how to that should not be missed. He has also been involved in website marketing strategy and is available for consulting.

Top Trends for 2008 In Kitchen Design

Every year, new design trends take center stage. This year the focus has shifted to Green Design and Growing Older. Below is a list of the main design trends for 2008

1. Green Design- With the alarming rise in gas prices and building materials, eco-friendly products are now a stable of any kitchen design. The kitchen and bath industry is at the forefront of green design with the development of new technologies and products, such as bamboo and recycled materials including glass, plastics, paper, and metals.

2. Aging-in-Place- More and more manufacturers are catering to the aging “baby boomer” market. New products feature accessibility and ease of use to accommodate boomers through the years, while still offering stylish design. From dishwashers accessible from a wheelchair to cabinet drawers that open automatically, manufacturers are recognizing the importance of universal design.

3. Organization- To keep paperwork and projects from piling up, many companies specialize in home organization. Put your client’s mind at ease with the upgraded additions of cabinetry dividers and custom storage solutions. With companies now specializing in after-market products, you can find a wide range of products that will customize any stock cabinets that you will find on the market.

4. Multiple Layers of Lighting- Accent lighting placed at various heights, under-cabinet lighting, interior cabinet lighting, and above cabinet lighting combine to create a warm and inviting kitchen. Task lighting adds drama and function, while dim accent lighting softens and soothes a room. Each layer of lighting serves a different purpose, which can enhance the room.

5. Compact & Efficient Appliances- One of hottest trends in 2008, is the incorporation of compact and efficient appliances. Horizontal dishwashers, French door wall ovens, two-tiered ranges, and power boil options on cooktops can ease the day-to-day cooking tasks, while maintaining the desired beauty and resourcefulness of your designs.

6. Expanded Color Palettes- Today’s contemporary designs allow for vibrant splashes of color in the kitchen and bathroom. Through bright and bold colored backsplashes, countertops, appliances, and cabinetry inserts and overlays, homeowners can incorporate the newest and hottest colors into any design. A wide range of color is now being used to evoke emotion and set the tone for your next projects.

7. Tile Murals- A trend that is increasing in popularity is using custom murals in the kitchen. Color, form, and design combine to create varied patterns ranging from modern graphics to soft floral patterns. A wide variety of patterns offers a look that’s sure to suit any client’s taste.

8. Integrated Electronics- By integrating wires, speakers, control panels, and flat-screen TVs directly into your design, you’ll allow the surroundings of the room to flow seamlessly around any audio/video equipment that you may want. Planning ahead will allow you to conceal the wiring and give your kitchen a truely custom look.

Find out where the experts go to get all of their kitchen cabinets and accessories. Learn how to save thousand on kitchen cabinets by buying them where contractors and builders shop.

Whole House Fans and Attic Fans

I get lots of questions on the difference between a whole house fan and an attic fan. This article will explain the difference between, and the benefits of, each.

First, Attic Fans
Attic fans designed to move air from your attic to the outdoors. Why would you want to do this? Well, a good handyman knows that in the summer, the temperature in an attic can reach 150F or higher in warm parts of the country. Sure, you have insulation between your living area and the attic, but in that type of high temperature, the heat conduction taking place is fairly significant. That means the rooms with attic space directly above them will be warmer than they need to be. How much warmer? 10F-20F warmer. Between a ranch and a two story, a ranch has a higher percentage of ceiling-to-attic area than a two story of the same square footage. Most estimates have houses in warm parts of the country saving 20%-30% on their electric cost (air conditioning) when using an attic fan. The only downside to an attic fan is really the installation. If you can’t vent it out the side of your house you have to start cutting holes in your roof to vent air up and out. Any time you cut holes in your roof (and thus shingles) you’re running the risk of water leaks and water damage unless you do things carefully, by the book.

Whole House Fans
The savvy handyman will recognize that a whole house fan has many of the same characteristics as an attic fan as well. By pushing air into the attic, it’s forcing air out of it as well. That’s a good thing. So why not just get a whole house fan instead of an attic fan? For one, you can’t run a whole house fan at the same time as air conditioning. It’ll pull all the cold air right out of your house. An attic fan will not, as it only draws air in through your soffits and vents while leaving the air in your living space alone. Installing a whole house fan can be as simple as cutting some drywall and running some electric, or as complicated as cutting and heading joists. Sometimes, if there’s not enough venting in the attic for the whole house fan to push air through, it must be installed in conjunction with an attic fan.

Installing an attic or whole house fan is a great handyman home improvement project. Make sure you have the time and energy (and skills) before starting.

Allen Wright is a freelance writer. See more handyman tips at http://handyman.bpcart.com

Is It Time To Update My Kitchen?

When your appliances are falling apart, your cabinets are worn, and your laminate countertops are peeling apart, it is pretty easy to figure out that you need to renovate your kitchen. Besides the cosmetic issues, there are several other reasons that are more important than whether or not the cabinets are outdated. Here are some additional reasons which can help you decide if it is time to renovate your kitchen.

Location: Creating an open space that incorporates outside living space is a big trend in newer homes. By Incorporating a door into the layout of your kitchen it would help create a nice flow to an outside deck or patio. You also may want to rearrange the position of windows to allow more or less sunlight or to watch your children play in the yard. Keep in mind that a cooking surface should never be located under an operable window.

Efficiency & Eco-Friendly: In today’s real estate market, everyone wants eco-friendly features in the home to reduce their carbon footprint. Outdated appliances can actually be costing you money due to inefficiencies. New technological advances with dishwashers, disposals and refrigerators could save you a considerable amount of money and may be well worth the investment. For example, purchasing a dishwasher with low-energy consumption, delay timer and economy cycle or half-load button will result in saving water and money.

Traffic flow: If there’s more than one cook in your household, you may want to consider making more room around the main workspace. If you entertain family and friends, you will certainly want an open floor plan that allows the cook to interact with guests. By most standards the width of a walkway should be at least 36″ and the width of a work aisle should be at least 42″ for one cook and at least 48″ for multiple cooks.

Sufficient space: Counter space and storage space can dramatically change just by rearranging the layout of your kitchen. The position of your refrigerator or shape of your counter may be taking away useful workspace. A good rule of thumb when replacing a countertop or changing the shape of your kitchen, is that you should have a total of 158″ of countertop frontage, 24″ deep with at least 15″ of clearance above, to accommodate all uses, including landing area, preparation/work area and storage.

Handicap Accessibility: Is your kitchen accessible to individuals with disabilities? While you may not have a need right now, if you plan on staying in the house a long time or plan on selling the house, it is important to keep this aspect in mind. Will you be able to use your kitchen safely as you get older? While it is often overlooked, this is a key design element in any kitchen remodel.

Before you remodel your kitchen, make a checklist of major and minor problems and keep notes of the features you dislike and like the most. Whether you are planning on working with a designer or taking on the task yourself, a prioritized list of needs and wants will help you better organize your remodeling plans.

Find out where the experts go to get all of their kitchen cabinets and accessories. Learn how to save thousand on kitchen cabinets by buying them where contractors and builders shop.

Insulate Your Home and Save Energy

Energy is being wasted in your home as you read this. Where is it going? Right through the walls! Even in well-insulated homes, heat escapes through the walls when it’s cold out, and heats comes in when it’s hot out.

A great way to experience this is by going from an insulated part of the home into a non-insulated part (the garage or attic perhaps?) during a hot summer month. Better yet, try it in California’s Death Valley where temperatures can soar into the 120’s. You’ll gain a rapid appreciation for California insulation technology.

When you’re done being cooked, take a look at your energy bills and your home’s insulation and see if there is some money that might be saved there. The more you can prevent your home’s heater or air conditioner from fighting against outdoor conditions, the more money you’ll save.

Help Me Conserve Energy in My Home!

As mention earlier, the less your home climate control systems have to fight the weather outside, the less they’ll work and the less energy they’ll use. In the next few paragraphs, we’ll discuss what you can do to ensure that warm air stays in the house during the winter months and hot air stays out during the summer months.

The first thing you want to do is make sure that your house isn’t “leaking.” Just like a car tire, having a hole in the house is bad. But unlike a car tire, instead of leaking air out, it’s going to let air in — and that’s exactly what we want to prevent.

Leaks occur most commonly around doors and windows. On a windy day, the large leaks can be easily found by simply running your hand around the frames of your doors and windows. For windows, you can often use silicone to seal around the frame. However, if your window has a hole in it, it’s time to replace it.

Single-pane windows are also very inefficient at keeping unwanted heat or cold outside where it belongs. If you have single-pane windows, consider replacing them with the double-pane variety.

Leaky doors can often be temporarily fixed with wads of insulation or by stuffing folded up newspapers in the cracks. The only problem with the latter solution is what to do when somebody knocks on the door or you need to get out and do some shopping.

Generally, replacing a leaky door is the best option for maximum efficiency.

And finally, to stop warm air from getting out (or vice versa depending on the time of year) make sure that your walls and ceiling are insulated.

Some residents that live in the warm (but not too warm) climate of Southern California might feel like there’s no need for insulating their home. However, even San Diego gets snow sometimes, so be sure to be ready with plenty of insulation for your California home.

Future Energy Corporation (http://www.energysavers.com) specializes in providing California insulation to help make your home more efficient. The author, Art Gib, is a freelance writer.

Warning - Is Your 1970’s House Full of Asbestos

With all the fears about mesothelioma, an asbestos-induced incurable cancer, we had a real shock just before Christmas.

We went away for a week in Spain, and when we came back, we found our bedroom carpet was like a wet sponge. Looking up, we saw water marks right across our bedroom ceiling, and across the upstairs landing as well.

Rushing up into the loft, we quickly saw the cause of this leak, a sticking ball valve in the main water tank. Although there seemed to be no damage apart for the stain on the ceiling, we though we had better call the insurance company in case there had been some more permanent damage to the roof.

Well, the response I got from the insurance company was mind-blowing…

They asked me what type of ceiling, and I told them it was ‘Artex’.

Silence…

‘Do you realise there may be asbestos in your ceiling’ we were told, even though our house was built in the mid 1970’s

They said that they would have to send a specialist out to check the roof, and the cost of the repair would either be about $200 to repair the ceiling, or several thousand if they found asbestos was present. Regardless of the outcome, they would meet the bill.
Well, the specialist came, with his special mask and breathing apparatus, who checked the ceiling, and sure enough, it contained asbestos!

So we were going to end up having to have all of our fitted bedroom furniture dismantled, and then the ceilings in both our bedroom and landing removed, and a new one fitted, plus the bedroom, hall, stairs and landing all redecorated - all for a $200 excess on the insurance.

Talk about total disruption!

Luckily we had built a ‘Granny annex’ for my father who died some years ago, so we moved into that for two weeks, while the decorators took over.

But - when the day came for the ceilings to come down, well, Torchwood had nothing on our house. They arrived in a great big truck, with generators, and air conditioning, and all sorts of space age gadgets.

They sealed all the upstairs doors, except for our bedroom, built a plastic airlock across the bottom of the stairs, and then two of them waddled from their truck in what looked like space suits complete with air tanks, vanished though the air lock and proceeded to demolish our ceilings.

When they had gone, we were left staring through our rafters at the outside roof tiles - Boy was it cold that night.

It’s quite scary really, as over the years we had knocked our kitchen and dining room into one, smashing part of the ceiling in the process, drilled holes for TV cables, and latterly Ethernet cables to go through the ceilings. After all, why should we be worried about the presence of asbestos? We thought they stopped using that, what, in the 1950’s?

But that’s not all…

While the supervisor was here, he looked at our garage. ‘Did you know your garage has got absolutely lethal asbestos sheeting under the eaves?’ Well. Here we go again.

‘Torchwood, we need you again’

Do It Yourselfers - Beware - there is no cure for asbestos-induced cancer.

Geoff Morris has been accused by his family members as being ‘all thumbs’ when
it came to Home Improvements. But
after a little training and the right
tools there’s no holding him back. Have a look at the book that got him
started on fixer upper projects.
http://www.fredshandyman.com

How To Update The Look Of Your Kitchen

When selling a house it is often the kitchen that is the predominant selling point with buyers. A kitchen that has a great layout, stylish cupboards and worktops will add up to creating a space that gives an element of elegance and improves the value of the property. Whenever selling a property it is normally advisable to carry out some work on the kitchen, it may seem expensive at the outset, but if you are wily about which elements to update you can create a contemporary and stylish kitchen that will add a great deal of value.

If you are going to update your kitchen affordably it is important to focus upon the small touches that can completely change the look; these small touches include the cupboards, the cupboard handles and the worktops. If you are clever about how to update these elements you can create a completely new looking kitchen at a fraction of the price. When you are doing this it is advisable to make the most of design magazines to find inspiration.

If your worktops and cabinets are made from solid wood changing their appearance can be extremely simple and cheap. Wood is an extremely versatile material in terms of design, by sanding down the existing stain you can then re-stain the wood making the most of the wood’s natural colour or even paint it in a way so that it becomes a stunning design feature. Natural stains are extremely popular in kitchen design at the moment and whether changing your worktops or cupboards you can make the most of the wood’s natural grain for a contemporary feel.

When looking at the handles for your cupboards it is important to experiment with a wide variety of options. A visit to a kitchen supplier will show that the range out there is vast. When selecting handles it is important to choose a style that matches your kitchen, while chrome may be extremely popular, if you have a wood kitchen it is unlikely that the handles will fit into that look. Ultimately you want your kitchen to be homogenous in terms of styling, this sounds easy but it is surprising how mismatched kitchens can look when people try to update them.

The area around the sink can often become dirty and even covered with mildew because of the excessive amounts of moisture. Rather than retiling the whole splash-back area a cheaper alternative is to install a board of wood, if you are doing this however make sure to use a good waterproof paint that will ensure the wood doesn’t rot. The same can be said for the worktops around the sink, a waterproof stain used on a hardwood will ensure that they are sturdy and resilient enough to cope with daily use.

While you may be put off by replacing all of the worktops in your kitchen because of the price it can be a great idea. It may be an expensive option but the look it creates will be ultimately worthwhile. With choices of wood, stone, granite or metal the options are endless if you want to replace worktops. Obviously these vary in price but quality materials can make or break a kitchen.

Hopefully this article has given some idea of how easy it is to change the look of a kitchen. This can add value you to home whether you are looking to sell or not. By using quality materials and a stylistic eye it is possible to create a contemporary and elegant kitchen that is practical and aesthetically pleasing.

Interior design expert Thomas Pretty looks into how changing the worktops and cupboards can completely update the style and usability of a kitchen.

Plantation Shutters - How To Add A Touch Of Beauty To Your Home

When looking for a window covering option for the interior of your home, plantation shutters are a versatile selection for any home. These functional shutters can not only provide complete privacy, but also regulate the amount of light that can enter in the room of your choice. If a bold look is what you aim for, then Plantation shutters are the way to go.

The increasing popularity of Plantation shutters grows each day due to the flexibility that they provide for any window. With a number of assorted sizes available for almost any size or style of window, Plantation shutters can be installed in many older homes as well as the newer custom-made manufactured homes. They come in a variety of materials suitable for any decor such as wood or even plastic.

There are 4 main types of Plantation shutters to choose from when deciding on what will work with your home. Depending on the style of window you have and what your needs are, this will be your first main decision when choosing your Plantation shutters.

1) Full Height- these shutters are the full extent of the window and can have a horizontal divider to provide stability if they are above a certain length

2) Cafe Style- these shutters are manufactured for coverage of only half the window, thus allowing privacy and light to enter simultaneously

3) Tier-on-Tier- these shutters have independent movement on the bottom from the top to provide extensive versatility for either privacy or lighting or both depending on your needs

4) Solid- typically, the traditional shutter that provides ultimate coverage for privacy and security, can also come with slatted sections on the top half

Plantation shutters are available at many retailers and manufacturers without having to sacrifice beauty for cost. You will be able to find a number of basic sizes and popular styles to purchase at many depots, but if it is a custom shape or size you require, you will be more successful in special-ordering your custom Plantation shutters.

Slat sizes come in an assorted range that will allow you to choose exactly how much light you wish to have and match the style of your room in which they are placed. Starting at a size of only 32mm, you can choose 47mm, 64mm, or even 89mm. All of these shutters have material options of hinges to match your home, whether you have brass, antique brass, stainless steel and white.

Mounting is as important for your Plantation shutters as any other part of them. You can mount them as an outside mount as plain batten, art deco frame or even an L-frame. If you choose to use an inside mount, the choices are plain batten, moulded frame or Trim Z frame. Depending on how you want your shutters to sit when open and how your decor will limit the frame mounting.

After deciding on your new Plantation shutters, you will find that it will not be a decision that you will regret. They are versatile for any age of home and are well suited for any interior style.

The author of this article owns a site packed with information about house shutters and in particular how you should handle putting up plantation shutters without breaking a sweat!

Leather Lamp Shades Create Authentic Western Style

Try leather lamp shades for western decorating and interior design. The use of beautiful rustic shades has become more prevalent in recent years as decorators have become more and more aware of how simple it is to create western and country style in any room, by simply using a rustic lamp shade as part of the home’s decor.

The popular style you come across in the southwest and in designer magazines can be readily copied by simply replacing the shades on lighting fixtures you already have, or by putting them on specially designed rustic lamps like wooden and antler lamps. Leather lamp shades come in a natural color and are also dyed in a variety of colors that look amazing and are great for use with any color scheme.

What I like most about rustic lamp shades is their versatility and the way they accent Native American decor. These hand-stitched, rustic lamp shades are created from soft pigskin, suede leather that is mostly opaque and has a unique finish because of the natural small hair follicle holes on the hide.

Wonderful for directing light both upward and outward, leather lamp shades are popular for use on desk lamps, table lamps, floor lamps, chandeliers, wall sconces, antler lamps and all rustic lamps. It doesn’t matter if you are trying to illuminate a spacious room with floor lamps or other rustic lamps, or are only trying to brighten a dark area with table lamps or accent lamps, leather lamp shades will give you the perfect lighting effect in lighting your home.

You will love the warm glow of rustic lamps shades and the inviting warmth they create when using them in combination with other western style design accessories like Native American rugs and American Indian pottery or with rustic furniture. Knowing how you will use the shade is one thing to figure out before making a purchase. Big lamp shades that give off more light are better for reading and illuminating a big room, while smaller shades work well for accent lamps or brightening a smaller corner.

Leather lamp shades used on table lamps or bedside lamps can make a dramatic statement and bring authentic southwestern style to any room. Whether used with traditional style lighting fixtures or on special western lamps, leather lamp shades are the best way to achieve the rustic design that you love. The wonderful versatility of western leather lamp shades make them appropriate for use in your living room, office, den, bedrooms and in any other room where you would enjoy adding southwestern style.

They also look great in rustic style homes and are the perfect way to bring out the natural beauty of its surroundings. Today, it is easy to buy leather lamp shades online or find them in shops that sell Native American style decorating items. If you love western style in home decorating, and would like to enhance old west style in your home decorating, try using the unique beauty of rustic leather lamp shades for your interior design.

Craig Chambers is the director of Mission Del Rey and offers free information online about choosing leather lamp shades for rustic home lighting fixtures. For more information visit http://www.missiondelrey.com

Try Painted Lamp Shades For Authentic Southwest Design

Painted lamp shades bring out the best in Native American home decor and are definitely the way to go in rustic lighting. The designer look they enhance in your home will have your friends talking about your beautiful interior design long after they leave. In fact, I enjoy decorating with these wonderful shades so much that I often give them as gifts for Christmas or birthdays. These lamp shades are an incredible way to enhance colorful southwestern or Native American style in your interior design and achieve a look that is truly unique.

From elaborate portrayals of Native American Indians and extraordinary mountain terrain, to intricate paintings of dry desert landscape and Indian pueblos, you will no doubt be amazed with how these hand crafted lamp shades add to your home’s Native American design and style. The thing I like most about decorating with painted lamp shades or giving them as gifts, are the large variety of shade colors and options obtainable.

You can decide between exquisite artwork on dyed pigskin leather lamp shades that come in red, green, black, gold, wine, brown or natural, or find a painting you like on a rustic rawhide shade in light or dark. Whether a suede leather or natural rawhide shade, you will certainly find one that matches your color scheme and your decorating style. The beautiful work of the hand-stitched lacing on the leather lamp shade brings beautiful charm and true Native American style to your rustic cabin or country home.

Trying to simply enhance rustic style in a room in your home? The best thing about painted lamp shades is that they look just as wonderful in all rooms of your home and wherever else you want to enhance Native American style. The wonderful thing about painted lamp shades is that they are a very easy way to change your lighting fixtures or give new life to a home without having to spend a lot of money or make a lot of changes. Use painted lamp shades on unique rustic style light fixtures such as wrought iron or antler lamps to create a true rugged mountain look, or just switch the shade on the regular style lamps that you are already using to enhance western style.

Regularly used on chandelier lamps for illuminating large rooms or for table lamps and desk lamps, painted lamp shades are excellent for using anywhere you want to incorporate a splash of color with rustic flare. You will be excited to see how easily a lamp shade can revolutionize the look of the whole room and create true western style in your home. Use painted leather lamp shades with other country or Native style accessories for authentic rustic style. Painted lamp shades look wonderful when combined with Native American blankets and throws, kiva ladders, ceremonial drums, or hand-crafted Indian baskets and pottery.

These one of a kind shades are difficult to buy in retail stores where southwest decorating items are sold, but you can find them online. If you enjoy the Native style homes found throughout the southwest, or just want to bring color and rustic flare to your decor, try using the unique art of painted lamp shades.

Craig Chambers is the director of Mission Del Rey and offers free information online about buying painted lamp shades for southwest home decorating. For more information visit http://www.missiondelrey.com

Efflorescence: Causes, Removal,and Prevention

Efflorescence is a white, powdery substance that appears on the surface of concrete, masonry, and stucco products. It’s a very common occurrence and, although it’s usually harmless, efflorescence can be a real eyesore. It goes unnoticeable on plain, gray concrete and block but becomes very visible on colored concrete and brick. Normally, the problem doesn’t show up until weeks or months after installation and often becomes a dispute between angry customers and contractors.

Efflorescence is caused by water moving through concrete and masonry products. As it travels through in a process called capillary action, the water dissolves salts contained in the material. When the water reaches the outside, it evaporates and leaves the salts on the surface. Overtime the buildup of the salty deposits can become quite significant. Lower temperatures, humidity, rain, or anything that will keep the material wet such as sprinklers facilitates this process.

Despite efforts of manufacturers and contractors to limit efflorescence in their products, they are using raw earth materials that contain salt and will vary in salt content from batch to batch and from one location to another.

Removing Efflorescence

Most efflorescence can be removed by pressure washing with water or scrubbing with water and a brush. The water will dissolve most of the salts but must be rinsed away completely. Tougher deposits can be removed with special cleaning products. Acid washing with diluted muriatic acid should only be used as a last resort because it will etch away some of the cementitious material on the surface. Muriatic acid should be diluted to1 part acid and 12 parts water. The surface then needs to be neutralized with a solution of baking soda or diluted household ammonia. This will stop the acid from attacking the material any further.

Preventing Efflorescence

When it comes to concrete, there are a few steps that can be taken to limit or prevent efflorescence. Proper drainage away from a slab will help reduce moisture moving up from the subgrade. This also includes eliminating any unnecessary sources of water such as downspouts that dump water underneath a slab.

Concrete sealers can also prevent efflorescence from reoccurring. Although regular film forming sealers will stop water from seeping down into the pores, they still allow moisture from the sub-grade to pass through. This can create and trap efflorescence between the sealer and the concrete. Penetrating sealers are the best defense against efflorescence. These silicone-based sealers work by penetrating the surface and reacting with free lime to form calcium silicate. It’s like filling the capillaries and pores with cement to block the migration of water. If the water can’t get to the surface, then salts can’t be left behind.

Kirk Muhlhauser is residential concrete contractor who provides ideas and instructions for enhancing and maintaining your home’s concrete surfaces. Find detailed information at http://www.all-things-concrete.com

Wishing for Practical, Affordable Solar Power

Solar power has been available for decades. Safe, relatively clean energy, but the cost of the panels has long been too high for the average consumer. They’re also the one problem with solar energy, for those wondering about the relatively clean energy part. But the recycling of them should improve over time.

Many people would love to go solar in their homes. It’s a practical energy source in many places, even ones where you wouldn’t expect it to do all that well. And in places where homes aren’t built near a pre-existing grid, solar power is often much, much more reasonable than having wires run out.

The fact that energy prices have been steadily rising also helps solar energy appear more reasonably priced. The cost is almost all upfront, which is perhaps the greatest challenge. A good solar power system sufficient to heat the average home in the United States runs many thousands of dollars. However it also offers tremendous savings over time.

Some people even generate enough excess to where they sell electricity back. It doesn’t bring in much money on the average, but you must admit that having the power company pay you has an appeal, especially if you aren’t paying them anything anymore.

Is solar power ready to take off at long last? It could be. We’ve been hearing for a long time that the day would come when solar power became affordable, something the average family could do, rather than something strictly for the affluent and environmentally aware.

States are becoming more interested in encouraging solar power as well. Many offer rebates or tax incentives to homeowners who install solar panels, and some are starting to look at businesses as well. May as well put those rooftops to good use, after all!

Unfortunately, not all states do this yet. It sounds like they will soon! There is federal legislation requiring states to consider adopting net metering standards by 2008. How this works from state to stat can be tricky, but since 40 states already have net metering, which allows customers to sell excess electricity back, paying only when they need more than they produce, things are looking better all the time.

Solar power is starting to fare better politically too. While it still lacks the funding of the coal or oil industries, it has popular backing. That does make a difference.

Choosing solar power still isn’t the easiest thing. As with other home improvements there’s a lot of paperwork, plus finding a reputable contractor with good solar panel installation experience. But things are definitely looking up.

Stephanie Foster runs http://www.seriouslysolar.com/ as a resource for people interested in solar power. Visit her site to learn more about the advantages of solar power.

Build Your Own Residential Sauna - The Top 3 Considerations

There is no question that regular use of a sauna is enjoyable, relaxing and one of the best things you can do for your health. There is also no question that going to the gym or health club to have access to a sauna can be expensive and a huge nusiance. The solution may be to have your own residential sauna at home. The convenience is obvious but what is not so obvious is the fact that in the long run you may save money by eliminating the cost of a gym membership and gas, not to mention the wasted commute time. Before you dive into a project like building a home sauna there are a few things you need to consider.

- The location of your sauna is very important.
- How much of the work do your want to do?
- What type of sauna is right for you?

Your sauna can be inside or outside. The classic sauna is outside. This may add the option of jumping in a lake or pool as part what will become your sauna ritual. In more northern regions a roll in the snow can be an unforgettable experience. A down side of being outside can be a lack of easy access to running water for rinsing off or electricity if you are using and electric heater.

Indoor saunas are convenient in all weather and take up less space than you might expect. If located near a bathroom access to water for rinsing off is easy. Wherever in the house you put your sauna think about the ease of running any plumbing and electricity to the site. Having an area for changing clothes and relaxing afterwards is a definite advantage.

There is a huge range of options available for residential saunas these days. If you are the do-it-yourself kind of person the basic components of a sauna (heater, and construction materials) are readily available. With a quick search of the Internet you will find several dealers ready to ship the materials right to your home.

If you don’t have the skills or desire to devote the time required for a project like this all is not lost. There are portable and sectional saunas available. It can literally take just a few hours before you are comfortably sweating your way to better health. The beauty is that whether you buy custom components, a kit or a prebuilt unit, everything can be delivered to your doorstep within a few days time.

There are 2 basic types of saunas: Traditional and Infrared.

Traditional saunas are heated with either a wood burning, electric, or gas stove. These stoves heat the air, interior materials and you. The warm-up time can be anywhere from 15 minutes to almost an hour in some larger less efficient units. One advantage of the traditional sauna is the option of adding steam to the mix. When water is poured on the hot rocks of the stove you are immersed in a cloud of heated water vapor. For many sauna enthusiasts this is the heart and soul of the sauna experience.

Infrared saunas create heat differently than traditional stoves. They use Infrared waves to heat your body. This is similar to the way microwaves heat food but Infrared waves are less intense and not the safety concern that microwaves would be. The air in an Infrared sauna is not heated and most of the interior stays relatively cool when compared to the traditional saunas interior. Water is very efficiently heated with Infrared waves. That is why you (we are all basically big water balloons) get heated and the less moist materials around you, like the air, bench and walls stay cooler. It is pretty well established that Infrared heat penetrates deeper into the skin than the radiant heat of a traditional sauna. With this method of heating, warm-up time prior to taking a sauna is virtually eliminated.

The biggest downfall of Infrared saunas is that they are dry. There is no option of producing steam to make it a “wet sauna” since there are no hot rocks.

For hundreds of years many cultures have appreciated the way that regular sauna use made them feel better. Modern scientific study has confirmed what they instinctively knew by identifying exactly why saunas are so healthy for you. When asked which diet or exercise plan is best, some doctors respond “whichever one you will actually follow”. Getting the health benefits of a sauna fall in the same mold: it only helps if you actually take part. Having your own home sauna makes it much more likely that you will take part.

With a little Internet research you will find that there are options to fit any situation and budget. Having a sauna at home will improve your health, increase the value of your home and give you a sanctuary to forget the hustle and bustle of “the real world” for a while. So get one for yourself and go have a good sweat.

Mike Hirn is a longtime sauna enthusiast. His website supplies a wealth of information about the construction, use and health benefits of home saunas.
www.the-home-sauna-center.com

Install A Garage Door Seal: Save On Energy Costs

Many people with garages do not realize that their garage door can actually make your energy costs go up. Especially if you do not have a garage door seal, if your garage is attached to your house, when you open your back door, the heat can escape out of your door. This makes your air conditioner or heater work overtime. If you have a door seal, the heat or air conditioning gets trapped in your garage. It will save you money in the long run and that alone makes it a great investment.

Garage door sealant can be found at any hardware or home improvement store. Just look on the internet at the popular home improvement sites. Most of them are easy to apply and you can even apply them yourself. If you want to ensure that the job is done correctly, however, hire someone to do the job for you. Garage door sealant will seal up your door so that there’s no space between the door and the ground. This not only traps the air, it also has other benefits.

Keep Unwanted Pests Out

A door seal can even keep pests out of your garage. Rodents, such as mice and rats, only need about a half inch space to be able to enter your garage. Rodents can eat through your sheetrock and they can do even worse damage than that. Door seals can keep bats out, too. Anyone who’s been attacked by a bat in their garage knows the value of a good garage door seal.

With energy costs rising so much nowadays, people are looking for any way possible to keep them as low as possible. For this reason, more and more people are paying to have garage door seals installed on their garages. Especially in the winter time, a heated garage is like no other place on earth for gathering with friends or working on your latest hobby or project. Likewise, in the summer time, there is nothing like a cool garage to work on your car or whatever else you do in your garage.

Install a door seal on your garage door today and see what a difference it makes in your energy costs and you will love how it keeps unwanted pests away. If you have a garage with a garage door, then you will want a door seal. No garage should be without one.

Scott Fromherz owns and operates multiple websites. For more information on installing a garage door seal go to http://www.GarageBasics.com/ or http://garagebasics.blogspot.com/

Garage Package: Get That Garage You’ve Always Wanted

You’ve always wanted a garage. Maybe you’ve wanted to park your car under the protective roof of a garage or you just want a place to store your lawnmower or tools. A garage package is just the way to get that garage you’ve always wanted.

A garage package comes with everything you need to build yourself a garage. All the materials are provided for you. All you need is the space to place the garage and the tools to put it together. You can either use the garage package to put the garage together yourself or you can pay to have someone do it for you.

A Garage Is Almost Necessary

A garage is almost necessary for anyone who owns their own home. A garage package is a great idea for those homes that didn’t come complete with its own garage. You need a garage package to store all of the things that you accumulate. Think about all of the things you could store in your garage with your new garage package. You can store holiday decorations, tools, car parts, wine, anything you can imagine. A garage package is perfect for finally getting the space to put all of these things away.

A garage package is also great for anyone who’s wished to park their car in their very own garage but never had one to park under. Parking your car in a garage saves your paint job from the weather. It can protect your car from the elements, from animals and from other people. Cars parked in garages are usually less likely to be vandalized or stolen. So, not only do you get the extra security from your garage package but you can actually help your car to look nicer for a longer period of time.

A garage package can be the way to get the garage you’ve always wanted. Check your local hardware store or home improvement store to see if they have garage packages for sale. You probably won’t be able to do the job just by yourself, you’ll need a few friends to help but it can be a very fun and rewarding experience.

If you don’t know what you’re doing, however, get some help and pay someone to do the job right the first time. Shop around for the best deal and have pride in knowing that your garage looks great. Now you finally have somewhere to store your belongings and park your car.

Scott Fromherz owns and operates multiple websites. For more information on garage package go to http://www.GarageBasics.com/ or http://garagebasics.blogspot.com/

How To Install A Sectional Garage Door

Two years ago you decided to remodel your home. This remodeling has included the installation of new kitchen cabinets, countertops and putting in new appliances.

Also, over these two long years, you have remodeled the bathroom. The beautiful new pedestal sink, matching toilet and whirlpool bath have been accented nicely with the new soft yellow ceramic tile.

Now, you want to focus your attention on the exterior of your home. The first thing you want to install is a new garage door. The old door that you have, that was made of a heavy metal that broke your garage door opener, will be replaced with a sectional garage door.

Your remodeling dreams are being accomplished because you were able to do a lot of the work your self. Saving on labor costs has cut the remodeling budget substantially. To save money as well, you have decided to install the garage door yourself.

General Guidelines

As with all do-it-yourself installation procedures, great care must be taken to strictly follow the detailed instructions that come with your sectional garage door. Also, if the old garage door utilized tension springs to open and close the unit, it is best, for safety reasons, to leave them attached. Detaching these huge coiled springs should not be removed by one individual alone.

Piecing Together The Garage Door

The sectional garage door should be pieced together using the bottom sectional piece of the garage door as the base. This bottom piece can be affixed to the garage entrance jam at such an angle so that the bottom piece is wedged firmly into place and allows for the next piece in process to be attached.

Following this step, begin to assemble the track portion of the garage door. The track portion allows for the rollers to move through the track when opening and closing the door. Once the tracks have been assembled begin to affix the rollers and the various pieces of hardware to the base section. Once this has been accomplished then insert one side of the bottom section into the track by inserting the rollers of the bottom door section. Once accomplished, repeat the same process for the opposite side.

The next step takes you to the second section of the garage door. With an assistant, lift this second section and place it into the vertical tracks by inserting the rollers. Both sides of the second piece should be inserted.

At this point, it is important to affix the hinges of the bottom section to the section above.

The following step is to simply repeat the process of installing the second section by placing the third section on top of the second. At this point, it is important to fasten securely the tracks. These tracks should be fastened to the frame and by using the mounting plates that were provided as hardware. It is also important to attach the securing brackets to the tracks by fastening them to the wooden frame of the door opening.

Following this process, it is now time to attach the overhead tracks that are curved as well as the tracks that run horizontal to the floor of the garage. The horizontal track is attached to the support brackets that have been fastened to a portion of the garage’s wood frame located in the ceiling. Once installed the horizontal tracking should be checked for its being level.

Finally, once you are satisfied with the installation and the door opens and closes properly, retighten all bolts screws and fasteners.

Scott Fromherz owns and operates multiple websites. For more information on garage door installation go to http://www.GarageBasics.com/ or http://garagebasics.blogspot.com/

Adjusting A Garage Door Opener

There is nothing like coming home from a hard day’s work and having your garage door open automatically for you. While still some distance away from your home, at the press of a button, a radio beam is sent that activates the door opener. This allows for you to simply pull into your garage, close the garage door by hitting the same switch, getting out of your car and walking into your home. This convenience is especially useful during inclement weather.

Not only is a garage door opener a modern day convenience that is handy to have, but can also serve as a safety measure for the family. Imagine that no one is home and a member of the family arrives at the house during the hours of darkness. What a relief it is to know that the opener will allow for easy and safe access of that family member. Once safely inside the garage, the garage door can be shut safely by that member of the family while still secure in the vehicle. Once the door has been shut then they may safely embarked into the home.

In addition, there are certain convenient features. These features include remote controls, keyless entry pads and switches that are keyed.

When installing a door opener or using an opener for a period of time there may be certain adjustments that need to be made. Those adjustments include adjusting the limits of the door opener, adjusting the force and adjusting the safety feature.

Adjusting Limits

Sometimes the garage door opener does not allow for the garage door to fully close or open. If this is the case it may require that the limits be adjusted.

On the main panel of the garage door opener there are a number of adjusting screws. The adjusting limit screw can be turned to compensate for the garage door’s lack of closing securely or not opening to the proper height.

Simply turn the adjustment screw in a clockwise direction to fully open the limits of the garage door or the opposite direction to allow for complete closure.

Adjusting The Force

Another adjustment that may need to be made with the garage door opener is adjusting the force. The force of the garage door opener needs to be adjusted if the door, while closing, does not reverse its direction when pressure. This pressure can be applied by holding onto the door. Also, if the door reverses on its own the same adjustment in force needs to occur.

The forced applied by the garage door opener needs to be decreased if the garage door does not stop its movement when held as it is opening.

Adjust The Safety Feature

The door openers of today have a built in reverse direction system. The safety feature is engaged when the door touches an object as it is being closed. This object could be your car, member of the family, etc. A simple test to determine the sensitivity of this feature can be accomplished by deliberately placing an object in the closing door’s path. If the door stops its motion downward, but does not automatically return, simply turn the down limit screw clockwise and retest.

Continue this process till the safety feature of the garage door opener is functioning properly.

Scott Fromherz owns and operates multiple websites. For more information on garage door opener go to http://www.GarageBasics.com/ or http://garagebasics.blogspot.com/

Examples Of Needed Garage Equipment

For the do-it-yourselfer, garage equipment may be a necessity for doing many jobs around the house on your own. Whether you work on your own car, or do periodic checkups, there are some items you will want to own.

A rolling jack is a must-have piece of garage equipment for jacking up your car without digging it out of the trunk or other storage spot. They are easy and quick to use and can be useful for a variety of tasks like rotating tires, changing oil or getting under it for general maintenance. When using any type of jack, before sliding under it, make sure the vehicle if held up by jack stands to prevent it from falling down on you.

An air compressor may be another piece of garage equipment you will want to have on hand, whether just for inflating your tires, of to use with air tools, a quality air compressor with the correct attachments can aid in a variety of household chores. A power washer is another almost essential piece of garage equipment to have around. It can help clean your vehicle, your sidewalks and the garage floor after you have worked on your car. They also work well in cleaning gutters.

Think Of Equipment Needed For Car Care

When you think about what garage equipment you want to stock, remember how much you care for your vehicles. Washing can be done with the help of the pressure washer but waxing can be tiring on your arms and hands. One piece of garage equipment that can help is a power buffer. Normally a small one can be picked up for under $30 and can make buffing the newly applied wax a lot faster and easier.

A paint sprayer, either a separate unit or one that attaches to your air compressor can be another useful piece of garage equipment to have around, especially if you plan to paint your car or outside furniture. They can also be used to apply protective coatings to your wood deck and in painting just about anything.

For those who do heavy work on vehicles, a parts washer is another piece of garage equipment you can’t do without. It holds even the smallest parts for cleaning and allows for proper drainage of the cleaning chemicals to avoid spills on your garage floor and to meet strict disposal standards set by the Environment Protection Agency.

Scott Fromherz owns and operates multiple websites. For more information on garage equipment go to http://www.GarageBasics.com/ or http://garagebasics.blogspot.com/

Where To Shop For A Garage Door Part

Some garage door repairs must be done by a professional, but some simple things can be done at home, especially replacing or adding garage door parts.

The simplest garage door part to replace is the remote. Whether you would like a smaller remote control to replace an old clunky one or give a supplementary one to kids or guests, the only thing to do is search for replacements made by your door manufacturer. Replacement garage door remotes usually cost between $15 and $35.

When kids or pets are part of the household, many homeowners like to have a safety beam - an invisible beam that will cause the door to freeze if it detects anything in the doorway. This saves squished toys at the very least. If your door opener is equipped to hook up to a beam, this is a simple garage door part for any homeowner to add or replace. Generally, beams do not have to be made by the same manufacturer as the garage door machinery. Expect to pay less than $40 for a whole set.

Shopping Around

Because garage door parts are so specialized, it is unusual to be able to go to a local home store and just pick up parts. Before the internet, the best bet was shopping in a professionals’ catalog, but buying just one part might not have been possible. But the internet has revolutionized shopping for everything, including door parts.

Internet retailers and auction sites offer probably every door part anyone could need, in a way that makes it easy to search and compare prices. An internet search will bring up many retailers and auctioneers.

When shopping for door parts online, use the same good judgment you would buying anything else. Before ordering from a site, check out shipping costs, applicable taxes, and return policies. Look for retailers that have high ratings on independent sites like epinions.com or yahoo shopping. Ask and make sure that the parts you order are brand new with a warranty, not refurbished.

More advanced DIY enthusiasts can fix most parts of a door opener: gears, carriages and circuit boards. However, hiring a licensed, bonded professional is a perfectly good idea too. Working with electricity and machinery can be dangerous, or at least problematic, so plenty of people bring in a professional to do garage door work.

Scott Fromherz owns and operates multiple websites. For more information on where to find a garage door part go to http://www.GarageBasics.com/ or http://garagebasics.blogspot.com/

Moving On Up With An Overhead Garage Door

In most cases, the overhead garage door simply refers to garage doors that move up and overhead as they open. There are many companies that have a long history in offering and producing the overhead garage door, allowing the customers to select and customize their own garage designs with ease and comfort. This type of attention to individual detail has made the garage door industry quite lucrative with all sorts of colorful and playful options for your garage that will match and augment your home with a tremendous array of style distinctions.

With the right overhead garage door, you can change the way your home appears from the outside and alter the way it feels on the inside. It may seem like a subtle change at first, but once you discover that the panelling on your garage door can be changed to fit your desires and that your entire house can mold and be modelled right into a pattern with your door, you may never look at the overhead garage door the same way again. Most companies offer a full construction of your custom door, allowing you to take part in the process from beginning to end and revel in your involvement in the installation of such a wonderful addition to your home.

Style Design And Pleasure

There are a lot of options for garage doors that could offer a whole new look to your home. You can decide, for instance, on the material that you door will be made out of. If you have a preference for a certain type of wood then you can specify and work with that wood type when the construction begins. If you have a preference for a panelling design, whether it is conventional or not, you can begin to place your panels where you wish and claim a whole new design pattern all your own with a simple suggestion to the builder. The choice is yours and the design of your overhead garage door will simply come down to what you prefer and what you do not want.

Once you have finished your design on your door, it will be created and installed within an incredibly brief amount of time. From there, you will be able to view it as it works properly and as it is tested by qualified technicians for all of the features you want. There will be emergency shutoffs and motion testers that can work with your car and your other vehicles to maintain that it operates in a safe way. An overhead garage door can, and will, enhance your home in many ways.

Scott Fromherz owns and operates multiple websites. For more information on overhead garage doors go to http://www.GarageBasics.com/ or http://garagebasics.blogspot.com/

Insulate Better With A Wooden Garage Door

In colder climates, wooden garage doors can provide extra protection from the cold and severe weather elements. Besides, they usually just look better than fiberglass.

A wood garage door will be heavier than one made of fiberglass or foam-filled plastic and they can withstand more bumps and scrapes without needing replaced. Usually some wood filler and paint and they can be made to look like new again. Additionally, if you decide to paint your house, garage doors can also be painted to match. Most fiberglass doors are hard to paint and may require replacing just to get another color.

If you use an automatic door opener, a heavier one will be required to open a wooden garage door safely. Use of properly sized garage door springs, whether torsion or extension, will also be required. If you are switching to a wooden garage door, you can consult the supplier of the opener to determine the right size springs you will need.

If using torsion springs, the type that are coiled onto steel rods above the door, it is highly recommended that you hire a professional to install them. They can be very dangerous and have been known to cause numerous injuries and even death just by an inexperience person attempting to install, replace of adjust them. The supporting rails are another item to look at when going to a wooden garage door. Since they are heavier, other ones designed for a lighter door may present a safety problem in the future.

Windows Are Another Option In Doors

Windows in a wooden garage door are another option to consider. Many people want the additional daytime light windows allow while others do not want others to have visual access to their garage. An option to accommodate both would be windows covered with a translucent material which allows light to enter, but prevents people from looking into the interior of the garage.

The insulation value of a wooden garage door will be determined by its construction. A solid wooden garage door, while having the best insulation level, but could be very costly. Others may have a thin wood layer on the inside and the outside with a filling material between them. It could be honeycomb cardboard or a foam filling that gives the both strength as well as insulation. For warmer climates the benefit of a wooden garage door can be found in hollow doors.

Scott Fromherz owns and operates multiple websites. For more information on wooden garage doors go to http://www.GarageBasics.com/ or http://garagebasics.blogspot.com/

The Use Of Metal Buildings - History and Benefits

Steel buildings have become widely used, from storage buildings to office buildings, and even barns, they are among the most popular type of building used. There are many reasons why this has happened, and several benefits to using them over the more traditional wooden and brick structures. Though they have gained in popularity, they have actually been used for many years.

Steel buildings first gained their popularity in the early 20th century, becoming more wide spread during World War II. The use of metal and steel buildings expanded considerably after the war when steel became more available. Since that time, steel buildings have become even more commonly used, as the capabilities associated with them expanded and were improved even more. Part of the reason for this expansion of features and designs is the more recent use of computer-aided design software that has really helped to enhance these structures.

There are many different types of steel buildings include: straight-walled, arch, and clearspan. Straight-walled and arch types are named because of the shape of the outside of the building. Steel arch buildings are the most cost-effective to own and the most structurally sound. They are also commonly used in the agricultural industry. There are several other types that serve a variety of uses, and each can be customized to fit specific needs.

There are several benefits to using a steel building. The first, and probably the most noted, is that they are more cost-effective than using the traditional wooden structures. The reason for this is that they are cheaper to build, as steel is the cheapest method of construction currently available. Another reason for the cost-effectiveness of these types of buildings is the lack of necessary maintenance. Because they are made of steel, they are not privy to problems such as termites and other pests. They are also able to better withstand the wind, fire, rain, and snow, and often hold up better during natural disasters such as earthquakes.

Another advantage to owning a steel building verses a wooden one is the ease with which you can update or add on to your structure. Because it is so cost-effective, it is easy to add additional space to your structure. You can also add updates such as heating and air conditioning as well.

Steel buildings have been found to be sound structures that provide many options. Whether you are setting up a commercial business, or simply want to add a shop or barn to your property, a steel building is a choice you should consider. You will have it for a long time to come.

Future Outdoor Storage Shed are based on the strongest architectural design ever conceived, the arch.

Fun With A Garage Opener

As you prepare yourself for a new era in life and prepare to live in your new home that you built with your spare hands, it occurs to you that you may not have thought of all of the special bells and whistles that you put in to the process. You built the home within your own mind a thousand times, installing the outdoor swimming pools properly and ensuring that every fixture was in its right place. You even connected all of the electrical outlets yourself and as you prepare to spend your first night in the home you realize that there was one toy that you had not yet played with at its completion. That was, of course, the garage opener. You never know what you do with a garage opener until you try it.

Trying your garage opener is something that just cannot wait until morning. You realize, as you stuff yourself into your pyjamas and head downstairs, that this sounds absolutely crazy and that nobody will notice. You also realize that it’s true; nobody will notice because you have installed a quiet garage opener that will open silently in the middle of the night with no creaking or groaning towards the foundations of the home. Your plan is perfect and will unfold to amazing and incredible perfection as you prepare yourself to click that one special button that will open your garage to the world outside.

One Small Problem

As you enter your garage, in your pyjamas and slippers, you locate the garage opener and quiver with anticipation. Never before have you been so excited to push one button. Never before have you been so proud of such a design, of how the door will open silently, and how the button will connect with the garage door to open it with a simple click. You see, you have coordinated the opener with the garage box that keys in the code electronically. With the opener and the box calibrated, you are ready to push the button and let the fun begin. You push the button.

Much to your immediate dismay, nothing happens. It is entirely possible that in your haste you neglected to properly calibrate the garage opener with the box. It is also entirely possible that in your haste you neglected to properly install it. Thoughts run through your mind as to whether or not you installed anything properly and you begin to think that the toilet is ready to erupt upon first flushing. With a final, last ditch effort you decide to check something on the garage opener and find, to your relief and embarrassment, that there are no batteries in the opener.

Scott Fromherz owns and operates multiple websites. For more information on garage opener go to http://www.GarageBasics.com/ or http://garagebasics.blogspot.com/

Keep Bugs Out With A Garage Screen Door

If you are tired of bugs in your garage or bugs from your garage getting into your home somehow, you may want to consider installing a garage screen door to prevent this from happening. With a simple screen door on your garage, you can air out your garage with the door open and still keep all of the bugs out from your facility. This is especially good in businesses in which you may be conducting business in a garage setting and may want to prevent the bugs from entering. A lot of residential areas are also using garage screen doors to prevent bugs and other creatures from getting into the car area.

There are several versions of the garage screen door that can come in handy to help your situation. All you have to do is check out your neighbourhood home and hardware store for more information and you can be on your way with several design estimates within minutes. You can have a fresh air screen mounted on your existing door, for example, that will allow you to open an area on your door and supply air through that screen. This door screen will not complicate the existing operation of your garage door and will not interfere with any raising or lowering of the door because of its positioning.

Other Options

A lot of facilities will offer hand-sewn screens in a small factory or something of the sort because the garage screen door industry is still remarkably small. There is not a lot of mass production on this product because there is no a lot of demand for it. Instead, the smaller manufacturers are available to complete the process and can even install the screen to your home for a fee. There’s nothing quite like having the designers of a product come t your home and install it for you because they know how the product works and will not waste time with improper installation.

When you are enjoying your garage screen door, you can think of the other options you could have gone with that will not give you the same comfort as this setup. You could just leave the door open, but the bugs will come in and you will not enjoy our garage the same way. You could also attempt to construct your own screens from conventional doors, but the sizing and construction would be tremendously complicated. When in doubt, go with a professional garage screen door manufacturer.

Scott Fromherz owns and operates multiple websites. For more information on garage screen door go to http://www.GarageBasics.com/ or http://garagebasics.blogspot.com/