Concrete Cutting: Shedding Light On Your Basement Remodel
April 30, 2008
Basements or cellars (depending on which part of the country you are from) are primarily seen as dark and dingy parts of a home. In most cases they are considered a useless area or are used as a "catch all" for family discards that haven’t quite made it to the curbside for trash pick up yet. Well, with the skyrocketing prices of real estate these days and the lack of any substantial property to use for an addition to our homes, the basement, after years of being ignored and neglected, is finally being recognized as a useful, cost effective resource for adding more living space to our beloved homes.
Several factors that have to be considered before any serious basement renovations take place include ceiling height, stair pitch or steepness and emergency egress. All three of these requirements can differ considerably depending on where you live. You can call your local building department and they can tell you these requirements. As for what emergency egress is, it is basically an emergency escape. A door of at least 30" wide in most areas is considered a very safe egress but a window has to be a certain size and a minimum distance from the floor in order to be considered safe.
Grey Water- Not Drinking Water- For Your Garden
April 29, 2008
The average home can reduce their water consumption by around 30% by re-using grey water on their garden.
The figures are compelling. Sure, they vary from household to household, but they go something like this?
An average household on a suburban block consumes some 60,000 gallons/300,000 litres of water a year- all of it drinking-quality water from the tap.
Around one-third, or 20,000 gallons/100,000 litres a year, is used on gardens and lawns.
That means that around 40,000 gallons/200,000 litres get used in the home.
Almost all of that (lets say 36,000 gallons/180,000 litres) leaves the home, and the block, as waste water.
Now, here’s the fun part. According to one major water body, approximately 60% of that is re-usable grey water. That includes water from the bathroom and laundry, but does not include black water from the toilet, or water from the kitchen.
60% of 36,000/180,000 is just over 20,000 gallons/100,000 litres.
Where have we heard that number before? Oh, yes, that’s the same 20,000/100,000 we put on the garden and lawns!
As we said, the figures are compelling. The question is, how do we do it in practice? Where do we find a product to take advantage of this free water, worth about $100 at today’s low prices?
Modern Rugs
April 29, 2008
The modern look is a highly admired form of interior design. The word Modern is a broad term that encompasses many different techniques and styles of design. Abstract Expressionism is one popular designation, which has a profound impact on interior design, particularly in the use of color and materials. The term Abstract Expressionism was first used by Robert Coates in the March issue of the New Yorker in 1936.
Abstract Expressionism does not describe any one particular style, but rather a general attitude. It can be applied to design using famous artist’s paintings and rugs inspired by the grand masters. Most painters of the movement favored large canvasses, dramatic colors, and loose brushwork that have motivated designs of modern rugs and other home accessories.
The general opinion is this form of art and rugs are expensive far beyond the budget of the average person. However, one does not have to spend an exorbitant amount of money to own these paintings. Fortunately for the art enthusiast these artists’ paintings are available in the form of prints; a 20x 40 inches costs as low as $80.00.To complement this décor one can source modern rugs that are inspired by abstract paintings. At Exquisite Rugs one can source modern rugs stirred by the main exponents of the genre; Pollock, Marc Rothko, Guston, Kline, Newman and Still.
What Are The Benefits of Radiant Heating: How Do They Compare With Other Heating Applications
April 28, 2008
Some of the benefits of radiant heat
Comfort: Let your bare feet soak up the warmth of soothing heat without the dust and noise associated with other heating sources. Enjoy evenly distributed heat throughout your home kitchen, bedroom, bathroom and basement.
Custom Designed: Whether for supplemental floor warming, or total space heating, every system is custom designed to fit all rooms independent of their shape or size. These systems will heat under any surface including marble, slate, carpet, hardwood and tile. The compact Control Box will hang on the wall of your garage or in a utility room. No heating vents or ducts will be seen, and no furnace or boiler is required.
Perfect for Remodeling and Additions: The simplicity of the low voltage heating element makes this system incredibly easy to install in your remodeling or room addition application. No floor buildup is necessary and no additional construction costs are incurred. The unique heating element can also be installed in between floor joists to heat an existing floor or room.
Safe: So safe, in fact that nails, water, and even touching the heating element during operation will have no harmful effect! You will have peace of mind while loved ones play as the systems are tested to UL standards and run on worry-free, low-voltage energy (8 to 32 V.).
Repairing a Hole in a Sheetrocked Wall
April 27, 2008
It is quite simple to repair a hole in a Sheetrocked wall, however there are minor differences in methods of repair depending on how large the hole is.
Small size holes (1/4" or smaller)
With small holes, simply apply a little joint compound or wall putty with a small putty knife or trowel. Let dry, then sand lightly and paint.
Medium size holes (Greater than ¼" in diameter and smaller than 2" in diameter)
First clean out the hole and surrounding area of any debris and loose sheetrock. Then apply a mesh tape, specifically manufactured for sheetrock applications, across the hole. Use your putty knife to ensure that it is applied evenly on the wall surface. Next apply a liberal amount of Joint Compound over the hole and mesh. Let this set for 1 to 2 days.
After the initial coat has been applied and has had time to fully dry, apply a second skim coat of Joint Compound over the area. However, this time spread the Joint Compound over an area that is 2-3 times the size of the original hole. Basically you want to flare out the area that you are repairing so that it will blend in nicely with the rest of the wall. Again let the area dry for a day.
Fountains of Refreshment
April 26, 2008
When hot, sticky days hit, try to use all your senses to keep cool. Sight and sound have amazing psychological effects, even when the thermometer soars.
One of the most cooling and relaxing sounds I know is that of a trickling spring. It relaxes my mind and helps my body unwind. In the city, it can drown out the sounds of the daily hustle and bustle of life, calming and refreshing the spirit. I also love the glinting, reflective surface of water. You can have the soothing coolness of water without a huge space so why not recreate this in your outdoor living area?
Some small water features have still water and aquatic plants but with the fight to remove stagnant water where mosquitoes can breed, many people now prefer items with moving water.
The most popular “moving water” items are tabletop fountains, statuary fountains and spitting creatures. All rely on a pump to circulate water through the feature. The water is pumped up through plastic tubing and released into the fountain, returning to the bottom where it is pumped up the tubing again. Most pumps run on an electrical connection but some smaller tabletop fountains have batteries. There are also solar units available that require no electrical hook-up.
Aluminium Conservatories
April 25, 2008
The conservatory is a popular addition to homes around the world and in particular in colder climates. Conservatories began their existence in the 1700s as Dutch farmers looked to find ways of protecting their plants during the colder winter months. These early greenhouse structures evolved not only into the common garden greenhouse but also the conservatories we see today. The original concept in all probability did not have in mind the idea of creating a transitional space between the dwelling and the out of doors. Of course the initial idea behind those who created the first versions of conservatories was to provide a means to prolong the life of plants during the chill of the northern European winter months.
Today the equivalent commercial greenhouses are typically made of aluminium, whilst the manufacture of aluminium has been slow to progress. However, in recent years as technology has progressed, aluminium conservatories have become a serious rival to the PVCu conservatories so popular since the 1970s. The New Generation Aluminium conservatory has a strong slim frame which lends itself perfectly to the sleek lines and rectangular design of Edwardian conservatories.
Building Permits and Inspections
April 24, 2008
Probably the most intimidating part of building your own house is the permit process. Not only do the the requirements vary from township to township, but at times the decisions made seem so subjective that we find ourselves seething in frustration. However, permits and inspections are a necessary step, and they are in place predominately for your protection. Ask any earthquake victim in Iran. Because I am concerned here with new construction, I won’t go into the permits required for renovation; that’s another story.
In a new development, the buyer usually doesn’t have to think about permits; the builder takes care of all the details. With independent projects, you may end up engaging a contractor who hires all the sub-contractors and takes care of the permits. This makes life infinitely easier for the buyer, but you’ll pay for that convenience. In rural areas, because township officials are usually volunteers, they tend to work only one or two hours a week, and often after five o’clock. If you miss their time, you’ll probably have to wait another week. This could run your builder ragged and cause unwelcome delays.
5 Reasons to Make Early Spring Firewood Time at Your Home
April 24, 2008
As the weather hints of warmth and the spring buds appear on trees, firewood may not be the first thing that comes to mind. But early spring is the ideal time to buy or gather your firewood for your fireplace or woodstove. Why? Here are 5 good reasons:
1. Firewood needs at least six months to season. If you want your firewood ready for the cool days of next fall, now’s the time to be getting it.
2. Insects living under the bark are dormant in early spring. When you store firewood now for use next fall or winter, any insects will likely die before you bring the firewood into your home. That’s a plus!
3. Prices for firewood are generally down in early spring, and the supplies are good. Buying now instead of waiting for cold weather to buy your firewood will save you money.
4. Fuel costs, especially the cost of heating oil, are rising. Many people will be turning to their fireplaces as a source of supplemental heat, especially when they see their fuel bills next winter. So next fall is expected not only to have the regular seasonal increase in firewood prices but also to see additional price increases due to unusually high demands. Buying your firewood now puts you ahead of those price increases that are forecast for firewood next fall.
Where Does Safety & Security Begin? Security Expert Explains
April 23, 2008
Personal safety begins with you. It is widely accepted that a wide-ranging personal safety strategy must incorporate prevention, deterrence and defiance.
PREVENTION: Is the first and most important element of any personal safety strategy. Prevention includes all those things that can be done to avoid dangerous situation. The most obvious and critical of those things is maintaining a keen awareness of your surroundings at all times.
DETERRENCE: Being aware of potential danger is only one step in your personal safety strategy. Deterrence includes a wide variety of tactics to help tip the odds in your favor. Such tactics might include body language, verbal aggression, screaming or using a sound device ? any actions - which put you back in control. Send the message loud and clear ? that you are an assertive person that can deter many potential attackers who are looking for easy victims.
HOW SOUND WORKS AS DETERRENT: Crime prevention experts view SOUND as a highly effective and powerful tool in the fight of personal security. Sound is assertive. Making sound notifies the attacker that you are not willing to be a victim. Sound increases the attacker’s fear of being caught. Sound can startle and disorient and attacker who is not expecting it. Sound calls attention to the scene of the attack (or potential attack). Others can help or call for the Police, and attackers never want witnesses.
