Preventing Water Damage in the Attic
July 31, 2010
Preventing Water Damage in the Attic
by: Terry Allen
Controlling the natural drying of your property must start at the attic as it is located at the top of the house, separating between the roof and the rest of the house.
Ceiling and Floor
Be sure to look both up and down when inspecting the attic. Pay special attention to openings through the roof such as pipes, vents and the chimney. Take a look to confirm that all surfaces are dry and that there is no mold or rot. Also, check the bottom of the roof sheathing and roof rafters. It is recommended to inspect during the morning to make sure that the roof is sealed and that no daylight penetrates through roof cracks. Inspect the floor and make sure it is dry.
Recessed Lights Canisters
The presence of rust and corrosion indicates possible moisture invasion and a potential electrical hazard. Additional indicators for potential water damage are stains above or near the wood, or on the insulation around the canisters. Consider replacing old recessed lights canisters with newer, safer ones that include built in insulation.
Vents
Halfway Through Summer - Are We Having Fun Yet
July 30, 2010
Today is Thursday the 23rd of June and we’re almost halfway through the summer can you believe it. It seem to me that you wait and wait to get past the winter (at least here in the Northeast) then some years a wet soggy spring and finally your rewarded with sunny warm weather.
Once it arrives you run madly around getting your yard ready for outdoor activities. You dash off the the local nursery to purchase a few new perennials (that you hope will grow) several varieties of annuals to fill up the pots for the steps, Oh yes and don’t forget the hanging baskets.
Now you don’t mind paying (in some cases) ridicules prices for these beautiful flowers after you’ve waited it seems like forever just to be able to put them out and admire them. I’m sure that most of you (this author is not included here) have already gotten your yard, gardens, patios and decks spruced up and have already been enjoying this wonderful summer season.
No, well if you happen to be a late starter (this is where yours truly comes in) it’s not to late. In fact here is my list, maybe you can use it to get ready and start having fun.
7 Tips For Choosing A Rocking Chair
July 29, 2010
7 Tips For Choosing A Rocking Chair
by: Flor Buenaventura
Do you sometimes find yourself wishing that your favorite TV chair can also be a rocking chair? Is there a new baby in the family that you wish you can sing to sleep in your arms while sitting comfortably yourself? Does your idea of unwinding after a long day’s work include reading a book by the fire in the winter or just contemplating the outside scenery in the summer?
American fondness for rocking chairs
If you answer yes to any one of these questions, then you are not alone. A growing number of Americans either own a rocking chair which has become a member of the family or think of buying one.
Rocking chairs began to appear in the late 1700s when someone ingeniously thought of adding skates or rockers to the bottoms of adult furniture, similar to a child’s rocking cradle or rocking horse.
Since then, owning a rocking chair has become a distinctly American proccupation, with most Americans, including some of America’s famous presidents, showing great fondness for their rocking chairs - whether they be the elegant American designer Sam Maloof creations with the elongated curved runners or the homely white wicker rocking chair that usually has been with the family for more than 30 years.
How To Choose A Curio Cabinet
July 28, 2010
How To Choose A Curio Cabinet
by: Flor Buenaventura
Curio cabinets have become a delight in themselves as they showcase your favorite things and mementos to friends and family, keep all your dear treasures in one place to admire them in wonderment everyday, or protect your growing collection of porcelain dolls from your 5-year old.
Curio cabinets started as places to keep curios - defined in the dictionary as curious or unusual objects of art or knickknacks and whatnots that are perhaps worthy of collecting because of their oddity. This definition could, of course, include silver spoons from Alaska, all assortments of wedding and christening favors, crystals, face masks from Africa and possibly even shrunken heads from the Amazons of Ecuador and Peru.
Nowadays, however, you can use curio cabinets for anything:
- Show off your family’s sporting interests by displaying your son’s bowling trophies next to your husbands autographed baseballs.
- House your priceless family heirlooms - such as, great grandma’s turqoise and silver comb, grandpa’s golden pen, mum’s old sapphire brooch which you wore on your wedding day and your son’s first baby photo.
Spring Flower Gardening
July 28, 2010
Spring Flower Gardening
by: Linda Jenkinson
Spring is the time when nature and your garden awakes and comes alive after the long winter. That first spring flower or that first green leave is the sign that winter in coming to an end and that a new growing season has arrived.
Spring and Flower gardening is almost synonymous. Spring is the time to interplant perennials, shrubs, roses and plant or transplant your annuals.
It’s time to shape up your soil, loosen the mulch around your plants and prune your early blooming shrubs. Rake and remove leaves and debris from your garden. Without a good planting medium your flower garden will never be at its best.
Perennials will save you a lot of work in your flower garden. So keep perennials high on your list. These hardworking beauties eliminate yearly replanting and will still give you that spring and summer color that you are longing for. It’s best to choose varieties that don’t need a lot of staking or frequent division. Notorious sun lovers are daylilies, sedium, and speedwell. Plants like hosta, fern, sweet woodruff and columbine feel more at easy in the shadow.
Wildlife Gardener
July 27, 2010
Gardening for wildlife has become quite a passion for me, although I only have a small urban garden I have still managed to fit a fair amount of bird and insect friendly flowers and plants in.
Since reading an article about the decline in popular species of birds such as sparrows, blackbirds and thrushes I decided to do my bit to help my local bird population by purchasing two seed feeders, a nut feeder, a bird table and a small bird bath I was ready and waiting for my new feathered visitors, which up to that point was few and far between.
After a couple of weeks of patiently waiting and watching I was beginning to loose hope, only the odd sparrow turned up every other day, though still I waited. After the fourth week success, it seemed that word had spread and dozens of sparrows flocked to my garden, amongst them birds that I had never seen in my garden such as Blue Tits, Great Tits and Green Finches.
I have found Blackbirds are a lot more common now, along with two grey squirrels which constantly argue over the feeders!
Is Your Fertilizer Poisoning You?
July 26, 2010
Is Your Fertilizer Poisoning You?
by: Jason Willkomm
A little known loophole in state and federal regulations has been skillfully manipulated for profit at your expense. Actually, at your health’s expense. Environmentally polluting companies have deceptively declared they are recycling in order to divert millions of pounds of toxic industrial waste from expensive EPA disposal facilities to fertilizer production facilities.
It is another loophole (fertilizer labeling regulations) and soft money contributions that enable these companies to profit while they poison hundreds of thousands of people and saddle them with serious health problems. Labeling is inadequate, because fertilizer labeling laws only require beneficial nutrients like zinc or phosphate to be listed. fertilizers are sold directly to the public without warnings or information that informs consumers about the presence or quantity of toxic metals.
It was the mayor of a small Washington state town, Patty Martin, who initially uncovered the disturbing truth. Her book “Fatal Harvest” details the story and sparked an investigative report by the Seattle Times which has brought the entire matter to a head. The Times documented nationwide use of fertilizers containing cadmium, lead, arsenic, dioxins, radionuclides and other hazardous waste.
Interior Painting Ideas Guaranteed to Bring Your Walls Back to Life!
July 25, 2010
Interior Painting Ideas Guaranteed to Bring Your Walls Back to Life!
by: Michael Holland
There are many different interior paint ideas you’ll discover that can be used to add style, and change the look of your rooms. As you begin decorating the rooms of your home.
Interior paint ideas are about being creative and you can be as creative as you wish. Plus, you shouldn’t have a problem when it comes to controlling your budget.
That’s because most of the materials you will need can be acquired for a small amount of money. However, you should remember that although interior paint ideas do not have to be expensive, creating your designs with them, can take quite a bit of your time.
So, be patient, because hurrying your paint designs will often result in an unrewarding outcome.
The following are some of the different ways you can use interior paint ideas to dress up the look of your walls:
Rag Rolling - Rag rolling is done by rolling up a rag as you would a magazine or newspaper, and then rolling it with your hands over the wet paint that has already been applied to the wall.
Vicorian Decorating In 6 Easy Steps!
July 24, 2010
Vicorian Decorating In 6 Easy Steps!
by: Michael Holland
Victorian decorating is considered one of the most inticate of all the different interior decorating styles that you can choose from. The reason for this is because the colors, fabrics, furniture and decorations are all elaborate and full.
Victorian decorating is based on the period during the 19th century in jolly old England. So, the more authentic you want your Victorian room to be, you can expect that the furnishings and other decorative items can be quite expensive.
You will need to be very creative and crafty if you wish to make the most of this theme. But, it’s possible to makeover a room with a Victorian style, even if you are on a tight budget.
Following is an example of how you can use Victorian decorating to transform the look of your living room:
Step 1 - So that you know the size of the area you have to work with, the first thing you should do before beginning your Victorian decorating is to measure the space of the room.
Sunflowers
July 23, 2010
Hi there,
I am Jhon Saunders and recently took up gardening as a hobby. i have managed to buy cheap gardening equipment and also items such as blubs, lights etc. I have submitted various articles on mow I did this. To view this articles, please search under my name.
Sunflowers, what are they and why am I writing about them?
Well to put it frankly, sumflowers really do liven up any garden and they are so easy to cultivate. Literally, all you need to do is plant a sunflower seed ( you are not going to ask me where to get hold of these are you!) and then just add water.
The advantages of growning flowers like sunflowers is they also attract bees. Due to there size, they also add a focal point to the garden. For this reason, most houses here in the UK, tend to plan them in their front yard.
Just out of interest, if you goto the South Of France, you can drive through fields and fields of sunflowers- a very beautiful se.
