Discount Bathroom Vanities to Upgrade Your Older Home

With housing prices being as low as they are, it's a great time to buy a home, but not to sell one. If you are living in an older home, there are ways to make it feel like new again, so that you can keep on enjoying your home without moving to an upgraded house. Here are a few ideas for you that will make your home nicer but not cost you a small fortune.

The two most popular rooms for remodeling are the kitchen and bathroom, and rightfully so because we all spend a lot of time in these rooms. If you would like to upgrade your kitchen, there are a few things you can do that don't cost a lot but will make a big impact. Why not try adding a kitchen island or butcher block to your culinary area? You will love the extra counter space and food preparation area, which can also double as a handy snack table if you add a couple counter stools to it. Kitchen islands are a great way to upgrade your kitchen without spending a lot of money, and you can get a tile or stone countertop that matches what you currently have on your other fixtures, or you can go for a natural butcher block top that matches any dcor. Another way to spruce up your kitchen without spending a lot is to replace your old kitchen faucet with a newer one, perhaps one that does more than your old faucet head.

Now to tackle that old bathroom! You may have the bathroom that time forgot, or maybe you just don't like what was installed, but the quickest way to change the whole appearance of your bathroom is to get a new bathroom vanity. The vanity is the centerpiece of your bathroom, and if you don't like the current one or it's a looking a little run down, then it can bring the whole bathroom down. If you shop for discount bathroom vanities then you can save money and give yourself a whole new space. You can shop the sales at local home improvement stores, or you can shop online, which is where the best deals are really found. Make sure to measure your space accurately, so that you can find just the right size vanity for your needs, and not find yourself with a vanity that's too big or too small for your bathroom.

No matter what you decide works when upgrading your older home, we hope that you will find these tips helpful and love your old home like it's new again.

If you would like more information on the variety of discount bathroom vanities available or where to find a great price on a bathroom vanity, please visit the Premiere Vanities website.

How To Give Back When You Don't Have A Referral

Networking is all about developing the relationships that are mutually beneficial, where you can help with the success of a referral source as much you can be helped in return. With some relationships, that means the exchange of referrals back and forth. With other relationships, the give and take is more creative.

Sue Haines works as a mortgage originator for a local company. She has developed connections with several Realtors, but in the last year one of these relationships has matured to a stronger extent. Sue now wants to maintain and even increase that relationship, but doesn't know if she has enough business to give more to this Realtor.

Sue's first step was to have lunch with the Realtor. She realized that while she knows this Realtor professionally, she really doesn't know her well as a person. During lunch Sue found out that the Realtor is passionate about a non-profit organization that funds programs for the prevention of child abuse. She also became aware that the Realtor was representing a developer that would be building homes with some very special features, different from the norm. Because of this time spent, Sue now knows there are ways she can help the Realtor in addition to sending customers.

The Realtor was involved in finding sponsors for an upcoming event that would benefit the non-profit organization she supports. Sue went to her boss and suggested that they might want to be seen as a sponsor of this very worthwhile event. Sue's boss agreed, although he provided funding at a lower level than Sue had hoped. Sue then introduced the Realtor to one of Sue's clients who also shares the same interest in child abuse prevention. This person also decided to sponsor, and actually gave more support than Sue had hoped for. You can bet the Realtor now sees Sue as someone with whom she wants to continue to share business.

Was Sue done? No, she went the extra mile by asking her boss if the Realtor and the developer could speak at the next sales meeting about the unique features of the homes they will build and represent. Did both actions take some time on Sue's part? Yes, but the payoff was that Sue received four referrals from the Realtor in the very next month.

Sue found out that there were many more ways to give back to people who give her referrals. While it is assured that everyone likes business to come their way, they are also motivated by many other methods. Sue addressed just two ways, recruiting sponsors and arranging a speaking engagement. She will continue to send people who want to buy or sell a home to this Realtor, and you can bet that she will think of other creative ways to showcase the Realtor - ways that will make the Realtor appear successful to the community. Success builds more success.

Debby Peters is the owner and Director of Training of The Certified Networker Program of Ohio, Ltd., cnpofohio.com a 24 hour referral based training that is evolving a community of profitable referral partners. She is also posts to the blog cnpofohio.blogspot.com

Pocket Door Problems

Moroccan Lighting - Moroccan Lamps And Lanterns

Imagine coming home after a long day's work and slipping into a living room oasis where you're bathed in soft reds, yellows and oranges while resting on a plush cushion, next to a set of mini palm trees, breathing in the scent of Jasmine incense, listening to light jazz flutes. Selecting furniture isn't just about functionality anymore; it's about creating a comfortable habitat where you can relax, de-stress and enjoy your downtime.

Finding the right lighting is the key to creating an ideal atmosphere. As early as 5,000 BC, the Chinese have been building homes in correlation with the sun to provide optimal light, warmth and energy. Historically, Morocco has hosted groups of diverse people from all directions - Phoenicians and Carthaginians from the East, Sub-Saharan Africans from the South, in addition to Romans, Vandals and Andalusians from the North. This Diaspora of culture comes together and can be clearly seen in these colorful Moroccan lamps and lanterns.

What makes Moroccan lamps truly unique is that they're not mass-produced in a sterile factory -- but rather, each shade is made of sheep or goatskin and is then dyed and stretched over a solid iron frame, where it is hand-painted with a needle in brilliant colors, in the decorative tradition of Henna tattoo artistry. Dating back to the Bronze Age, Henna design mimics the Henna plant, which has a plethora of long, thin stalks and tiny blossoms. Much like the tattoos, the lamp designs showcase fluid black lines and shapes, outlined by tiny dots.

Moroccan lamps, varying in shape, size, color and mood offer the opportunity to turn your living room into a stunning art museum. The African Berbers were primarily an agricultural people, so the curved "Berber" floor lamp is painted with a classy, simple style in neutral colors. Tall, slender styles like "The Pharaoh's Light", "Red Sun" or "Orange Magical Arabian Nights" capture one's imagination, while dazzling with dancing patterns, vibrant colors and swaths of vacuous space that instinctively pulls the eyes toward it in wonderment. End table lamps like "African Sun" or "Fez Sun" provide multifunctional use, emanating a soothing glow, while the glass top holds a piece of art, a plant or a tea set for entertaining guests. When you behold a piece like "Ocean Sun," breathing moonlight into the room with its purple hues and oceanic design, you know that this lamp is not just for providing light, but is a piece of art that will compliment other furniture and themes in the room.

Moroccan lanterns made of stained glass resemble the sort of Church dcor that pervades the Holy Land. The shapes range from a rounded hot air balloon design, to a diamond-shaped street lantern style and they can be hung from the ceiling or mounted on the wall. Traditionally, the stained glass panes are subtle, soothing colors - an olive green, a periwinkle blue or a hint of gold. Handmade and framed in black wrought iron, Moroccan lanterns can bring that one unforgettable, warm summer night into your home.

Moroccan lamps and Moroccan lanterns will add an air of magic to any room. When paired with Moroccan rugs, plants and other furniture, these handmade Moroccan lights really put the finishing touches on a relaxing, unique escape.

Adeal Benhayoun is the founder of Star of Morocco, which specializes in exquisite Moroccan lighting items. Please visit us if you have any questions related to Moroccan lanterns or Moroccan lamps.

Fixings Squeaking Stairs

Bathroom Design Lighting - The Basics of Bathroom Lighting

Basically, bathroom design lighting should be considered with different kinds of options. There is practicability, safety, style and decoration. When considering practicability, what comes to mind are the cheap bulbs and shadowy figures we usually see on poor suspense or thriller films. But today, one can avail of energy-saving light bulbs which provide enough brightness to fill the whole bathroom. What's more is that these bulbs, aside from being cheaper, may help you cut costs in your energy bill. A little bit of concern for our environment will do you a lot good.

As it is a design, bathroom design lighting also should feature various and creative designs for lights to play on in a room. Considering the purpose of the room, however, for hygiene and beautifying, lighting designs can play-up the room for a more pleasurable and easier way to clean up. For example, to have an easier way of beautifying yourself, putting make-up or shaving your face, bath lights may be installed in either side of the mirrors. They will soften up your features as well as avoid annoying shadows. Also, counter, mirror or sink bulbs may be installed depending upon the theme or style of your bathroom. But always remember that it is better to install a centralized lighting in your bathroom, limiting the bulbs in the bathroom therefore saving energy and costs of your electricity.

Water, moisture and air greatly affect the wear and tear of your bathroom lights. Bathroom design lighting is not only limited to designs and light fixtures but also guaranteeing safety in every bathroom. Light bulbs should be placed in areas wherein it should be untouched by water. If not, protective covering should be placed in order not to risk the safety of those who use the bathroom especially the young and old ones.

Of course, practicability and safety should not compromise style and decoration. As lighting can greatly affect the mood of a room, using the bathroom should be a pleasurable habit as well as a form of relaxation. Bathroom design lighting comes in different shapes and sizes which can also be energy-savers, too. Depending on the theme of your bathroom, there are many designs to choose from, whether sconce-shaped, sleek cylindrical small lamps, Victorian or romantic lamps or just basic fluorescent lights. Just make sure that it does not clash with the over-all design of the bathroom as well as compromise safety measures.

For more information on bathroom design lighting and bathroom lighting fixtures visit http://www.lightingbathroomfixtures.com for helpful insight.

Attic Safety Handrail Framing

How to Buy Bathroom Vanities

The bathroom is the place where you bath and relax. Bathroom vanities can help you store your toiletries and add a touch of color and style to your bathroom. Just a small cabinet underneath the sink can increase storage space and remove clutter.

There are a wide range of bathroom vanities available. Whether it is antique, deco, traditional or modern there will be a bathroom vanity that suits your taste and the decor of the rest of your house. They can be made from natural wood, stone, ceramics and even glass. You need to make sure that whatever material you choose that it is durable enough for your bathroom habits.

Vanities comes in the form of ledges, linen closets or cabinets. A cabinet style vanity may come with a mirror for shaving and fixing your appearance. These mirrors can be plain or have intricate details on them.

When you are looking to purchase a bathroom vanity it is important that you know how much space you have in the bathroom. Most vanities are from 18 to 45 inches wide. Try not to purchase a vanity that takes up to much space. With that said, if the vanity is too small you won't have enough room for your toiletries. It is important that whatever vanity that you choose can fit a particular sink of your choosing.

Color is another important consideration. Most people choose a neutral color as these tend to fit with a range of different bathroom styles and tiles.

To choose a new bathroom vanity it usually is a matter of going to your local bathroom showroom and browsing through the many that are available there. They will be able to give you advice on quality and price so that you make the right decision.

The Bathroom Vanity Guide can give you more information on choosing the very best bathroom vanities for you.

Drywall And Framing Mold

Shower Head Sale Tips and Advice

Taking a shower is one of the most invigorating exercises one can engage in. We wake up in the morning and almost instinctively make a dash for the shower. For some, a cold or hot shower actually helps them wake up. A cold or hot shower in the evening after a long day at work is also extremely reviving and much report being engulfed with a sense of freshness and new vitality.

Man has come a long way to arrive where we are with showers. Rivers, lakes, waterfalls and also primitive wells used to be the showers back in the 1st century. Today we have high pressure showers and someone can get cleaner and feel fresher than when not using a shower.

A major component of showers is the shower head. While many people don't know this, there are many types shower heads. We are all accustomed to just getting into a shower and turning the faucet on and out comes the water jet. But different shower heads mean different things. A right shower head can save you money in form of water and can even boost your health. The wrong shower head is a drain to energy and can also be expensive as far as your water bill is concerned.

There are literally hundreds of different shower heads in the market costing anywhere from $100 to close to a few thousands (there are those which cost more depending on the material used to make them). The best shower heads are those have in-built energy-saving components. In the market today, you will find two predominant shower heads, the manual mixer and the thermo mixer. The manual mixer is the most common but unknown to most people, this shower head is a huge energy and water waster. A good shower head should be able to restrict the flow of water to 2.5 gallons per minute. This is good for water conservation and comes easy on your water bill. The thermo mixer mixes water and oxygen and then warms the water before it allows it out.

Mixing water with oxygen bubbles means that the water will be highly oxygen-saturated which is good for your skin. It also means that you can have a very invigorating shower without using a lot of water yet get the needed cleanliness just as it would have been with twice the amount of water. Thermo-mixer shower heads are also time savers. Instead of standing in the shower waiting for the water to warm up, you can do something else like warm coffee, brush your teeth, shave or check your email quickly. Then in a few minutes you can get into the shower and the water will be exactly the right temperature.

It is therefore essential to get the right shower head. If you want to switch from the regular manual mixer to the energy-saving shower heads, the best place to start is your local home improvement store such as Home Depot.

Theodore provides information about the best shower heads and recommends the best shower heads that save energy.

Roof Drain Stain On Stucco

How to Upgrade a Master Bath With Home Hardware

Today's busy and stressful lifestyles are causing homeowners to seek refuge in their master bathrooms. They're looking for a peaceful get-a-away after a hectic day and a master bath can often be the perfect solution. But what if your master bath isn't exactly what you want it to be? Upgrading a tired master suite to one that really stands out means going the extra mile when it comes to redecorating. One of the easiest ways to turn an average master bath upgrade into a fabulous makeover is by paying special attention to the home hardware you use.

If you replaced your old vanity with a new stock vanity from your local home hardware center, you know they usually come with some pretty basic cabinet pulls and knobs. Why not change the plain-Jane hardware out for something a little more upscale? You can buy some fairly expensive drawer pulls and knobs and still not have to worry about the impact on your wallet. Home hardware in general is one of those little things that when used properly can make a huge impact and since you won't need too many pieces for most master bathrooms, you won't spend a lot even for quality cabinet pulls and knobs.

Follow a Theme throughout Your Master Bath

When upgrading a master bath it's important to remember the word continuity. In other words you want to make certain that you maintain a theme or style throughout the bath and this is especially true in the hardware you choose. If your faucets, shower heads and towel bars are stainless steel then you'll want stainless cabinet handles and drawer pulls as well. On the other hand if your fixtures are oil rubbed bronze you'll want to continue with the darker metal throughout. Mixing metal fixtures and hardware in your bath will make it seem miss matched, but you can mix your fixtures with other materials such as glass or marble as long as it's in keeping with the same style.

Maybe you're on a tight budget or your master bath is in good shape but just needs some freshening up. You can do wonders with a coat of paint, some new fixtures and cabinet pulls and knobs. If your bath is small, use light colors to open up the space. Consider repainting or staining your vanity and replace the old hardware with something completely different. You'll like the way the new bathroom cabinet pulls and knobs catch your eye every time you walk in.

Add Finishing Touches to Complete the Look

Sometimes upgrading your bath is simply a matter of changing the things you already have in it. Accessories can go a long way when upgrading the look of your master bath. Change the shower curtain, add some matching towels and try hanging artwork on the wall. Just make sure it's water proof! Use wicker baskets to store rolled up towels and body wash. Include an extra fluffy bath mat and add stainless steel cabinet handles and drawer pulls to create the look and feel of a European spa.

While you're out shopping for your new bathroom cabinet knobs why not pick up a few extra and create a matching towel and bath robe rack? Simply take a length of board, paint it to coordinate with the colors in your bathroom and attach the knobs. You can make it as plain or as fancy as your desires and skills allow. Hang it near the tub and shower area or where ever you need a place for some extra towels.

Jim Richardson is Vice President of Your Home Supply (YHS), the definitive website for Home and Garden products and information on a variety of home improvement products. Your Home Supply offer selections on lighting fixtures, and stainless cabinet handles.Visit them now at http://www.YourHomeSupply.com

Water Stains Under Carpeting

How To Fix That Leaky Bathtub Faucet - Fast!

Fixing a leaky bathtub faucet - or any other leaky faucet for that matter - can be an expensive job - UNLESS you can do it yourself!

In this article we want to look at the most common reason for a leaky faucet and show you how to fix it quickly and cheaply.

Preparation

It almost goes without saying that you should turn the water off first! Where to find the handle that does that? Just look under your sink and see where the pipes run. Somewhere along their length you will see either a handle or a wheel you can use to shut the mains supply off. In nearly every case you will need to turn it clockwise to shut.

One other preparation is to block the sink drain - just to prevent a nasty accident with something loose (like a screw or a small nut) disappearing down the drain never to be seen again. Use the plug you normally use, or put some cloth into the aperture. No good being wise after the event!

And - even though it goes without saying - make sure you have bought a replacement washer (or two) from the local hardware store - you don't want to be looking for that when you have the faucet in pieces do you!

Action

Locate the screw that is holding the handle of the faucet in place (it may be hidden behind a small plate or cover and that cover needs to be prised off using a small screwdriver or similar). Then undo the screw.

The next job is to get the handles off. Use a screwdriver to do this - you might need to use a little bit of force to prise it but it will come.

Now you will see the old washer (don't worry if not, we will put one in place anyway). Take off the old washer and replace with the new. Notice that the hole in the washer should just be a touch bigger than the central post that the handle turns.

Now retighten the handle, but only hand tight i.e. only until it stops turning without extra force needing to be applied.

Next, turn on the water again and see what happens! If there's no leak you're home and dry (excuse the pun!). If it still leaks, try tightening the handle a little more.

If it still leaks after that- then the problem is elsewhere and you'll need to get a plumber after all. But al least it was worth a try!

(And by the way - if you notice a big build up of lime around the handle - clean that off with a special removal product from your hardware store - it will pay you in the long run).

Things needed

A screwdriver or two - maybe one flathead and one Phillips or cross-screw. Also two washers (maybe take the old one off ahead of your visit to the store to be sure of getting the right one, or just buy a pack of mixed washers - not an expensive buy).

David Woodford is a freelance writer and owns info4u-services which helps people with free advice to help solve everyday problems. To find out more about fixing your faucet and other DIY jobs around your home, visit http:/http://www.fixleakyfaucet.com it will REALLY help you.

Painted Wood Windows

Considerations For Great Basement Bathroom Design

Do you have some extra room in the basement that's not being used? Thinking about installing a bathroom? It's a great idea, since many older homes were built with only a single bathroom. Installing a new bathroom in your basement is a lot more convenient for families and guests, and it's not as hard as you might think. However, you'll need to make sure you pay attention to a few important basement bathroom design factors. That'll help you be sure that you're getting the most out of your space, and you'll be able to avoid unexpected problems later.

The first thing to do is look at the space you have available and pay attention to your available utilities so that you can lay out your basement bathroom design. You'll want to locate the bathroom such that it's close to plumbing and electrical wiring, so that hookups will be inexpensive and simple. As long as you've got access to electricity and plumbing, you'll be able to put together a space that works well and is pleasant to be in.

Many people choose to position their basement bathroom directly under the one on the upper floor, because everything is already set up. This is the best choice, but if you can't do so because of layout concerns, try to get yours as close as you can. Once you know where in your basement the bathroom will be located, it's time to get out your pencil, paper, and design skills. Make sure that your basement bathroom design takes fixture size and shape into account, leaving plenty of room to move around and add storage if that's needed.

You'll want to decide whether or not you want a full or half bath. Full baths include a shower or tub in addition to a sink and toilet. They're a lot more convenient, but not all basements have the space or are conducive to bathing. If the room tends to be chilly or won't deal with the additional moisture well, you may wish to skip the shower or tub. If you do install a tub, think about things like warmth, water-proof flooring, non-skid mats and wall tile in addition to your other design concerns.

Like any other bathroom, your basement bathroom design will need to take your routine and budget into account. However, there are a few things about building a room like this in the basement that you may not be expecting. Lighting, for instance. Basements don't usually have many windows to provide lighting in the bathroom, so you'll need to make sure there's even, inviting, bright lighting in the bathroom itself and along the path to it. No one wants to wash up in a cave, after all. There's also plumbing to think about - a bathroom that's below your existing pipes may need special plumbing mechanisms to get rid of waste water. These aren't hard to install, but they cost more and may have their own special requirements.

Adding a basement bathroom to your home is a relatively simple home remodeling project. Just remember to put a lot of through into your basement bathroom design before you get started. That way, you'll be able to avoid problems, stay under budget, and get a bathroom that's pleasant and functional, too.

Thomas Johnsen is the Author and Leading Expert on Basement Bathroom Designs and the creator of the publication Basement Bathroom Design. Visit the site now to find the easy-to-understand step-by-step guides on basement bathroom construction available online today.

Bathtub Floor Damage

The Secret to a Quality Kitchen on a Tight Budget

Sure, that Italian marble and Viking gas range are ideal for any kitchen, but they may not be part of a conservative budget. Even if you cannot afford all of the best imports from around the world, you can still design a space that you will be proud to spend time in.

One of the best ways to spruce up any space is to add a bit of paint. Adding some new hues to the walls inside of your kitchen will brighten up the area, but those cabinets could use a new coat as well. Whether you decide to stain and varnish or use melamine paint, do not neglect your kitchen cabinets.

Another great, and inexpensive, renovation idea is to change up the backsplash a bit. There are numerous new products on the market that are simply a matter of peel and stick. Or, you could branch out into the ceramic subway tile idea, which is also relatively cost effective.

How are those kitchen curtains looking? If yours are grease stained and faded, it may be time for a bit of a curtain facelift. Add a few cafe inspired curtains to your room by mounting a simple panel across the bottom portion of the window. Try to leave the tops bare for a truly authentic look.

While we are on the subject of curtains, why not skip them altogether? Thin wooden blinds often present a cleaner look than any fabric panel can, and they are surprisingly cheap. If you love your current look, toss the existing panels into the wash to bring the color back into the fabric.

Aside from curtains, paint, and a new backsplash, the cabinet and drawer pulls inside of your kitchen may also need some attention. If you have a bit of extra cash to spare, check out some auction sites online for antique pulls. You will be pleasantly surprised at the difference that new hardware makes.

All of these sprucing up tricks and tips are well under that one hundred dollar mark. Yet, these small changes really make a huge difference inside of any kitchen. Replacing all of the cabinet and countertops is a great idea, but these larger projects can be done at a later time.

It does not have to cost a fortune to renovate your kitchen space. All you really need are a few great ideas, some elbow grease, and a bit of inspiration. As soon as you give your kitchen a new look, you will find that whipping up those nightly meals is a lot easier to do.

Zack Verde is with http://www.kitchendesignisland.com - your online resource for kitchen design ideas and inspiration.

Protective Metal For Plumbing

Modern Showers For Your Bathroom

Today people are using sauna showers to experience spa like treatment at the comfort of home. These showers enhance the beauty and comfort of a bathroom. Modern day accessories and furniture can completely change the look of your bathroom. Luxurious showers are not so big in size and can be installed in small bathrooms. By installing luxurious showers you can save a lot of money which you spend in visiting a spa salon.

One of the most popular showers which are being used today is sauna showers. Some additional features which you can find in a luxurious shower are mp3, telephone, foot massager and even television. You can find different sizes and shapes of showers. Showers can be bought according to your needs. By using special kits you can change your existing shower into a luxurious shower. It is a good idea to buy accessories through internet stores. Many internet stores offer discount coupons. The website offering bathroom accessories should be reputated.

If you want to enhance the beauty of your bathroom then it is good idea to add some modern accessories and designer furniture. A bathroom is a place which is being used to get rid of all day stress. A clean and luxurious bathroom reflects the lifestyle of a person. Before planning a new bathroom you should set your budget. You can spend a lot on bathroom accessories but everything depends on your budget.

Modern bathrooms are considered as a luxurious place where you can relax after your day job.

If you want to know more about Shower Trays then feel free to visit Bella Bathrooms.

Flipping Houses Books
Home Mold Solution Books

Need Help Remodeling In Carlsbad

What you are thinking about remodeling your house and you live in Carlsbad. Let me give you some advice about some local contractors and some of the people involved. I used a company called Service Magic to find a local heating and air conditioning contractor. All I had to do was go on the internet , type in some information about my self and what I wanted to have done to my home. This didn't seem that bad of a idea at the time. But look what I found out.

I went to their web site, filled in my information and with in minutes I had received the names of at least 4 contractors. Wow this is neat. I didn't even get to start calling any of them when my phone rang. It was one of the contractors secretaries. She introduced herself and asked what would be a good time for someone to come out to look at the work I wanted done.

I was surprised at the speed things were taking place but in a way glad that I had a reputable contractor from one of the largest construction referral services on the internet. I told her 10:00 would be fine. I got a call shortly after that from one of the other companies. He wanted to meet me that mourning at 8:00 if it was Ok with me. I told him of course, let's do this. Then the next one called and I thought great you can come at 1:00. Well you guessed it the next one was coming over at 2:30.

The first contractor showed up as scheduled at 8:00. We talked about what I wanted done and he whips out his note book and starts figuring out a price. This took place around 15 minutes into the meeting. This guys good I thought. Being a General Contractor in Carlsbad myself, for a job like this I would go back to my office and figure out a price and then double check my figures for a accurate estimate. It took this guy less than 5 minutes to create a proposal of around 10,700 dollars for every thing.

Well I was thinking to myself, the job should be around 7,000 dollars but what do I know about construction. I informed him that I would think about it and that I was going to meet with a couple of other contractors that day. He ask me who the other contractors were. I proceeded to tell him that I probably shouldn't tell him who they were. Well your not going to believe this. He put on his physic hat and told me who was coming over. The only thing he didn't know was what time they where coming over.

Oh I forgot to mention before he left he told me he would knock ten percent off the job if I signed the contract right now. I pretended like I was excited just to see his reaction. He looked at me like he had won the gold metal in sales. I told him thanks but I bet your new offer with the ten percent discount will be good for the next few day. Right I asked. He wasn't looking that excited any more as he replied with a Yes it will be good for a while. I thanked him and he went on his way.

My 10:00 never showed but his secretary gave me the old, " He had to go do a emergency job and could he reschedule tomorrow at the same time. I said that would be fine. As a contractor myself I have always put the work I had to do first and foremost.

About 12:30 I get a call from my next heating and air conditioning contractor. He is running late but will be there at 1:30. I appreciate the call and I will see you then. The only problem now is that I have another contractor coming at 2:30. That give the next contractor less than one hour before the next guy shows up. I never liked going over to someone's house and running into another remodeling contractor.

The next contractor was very informative and knew his stuff. I listened and learned. He told me he was going to have to go back to his office and would have a price back in the mourning. Great I told him as I hurried him out the door.

The last contractor of the day shows up and wants to know whose been over to the house, was it these guys or those guys. I told him I wasn't going to tell him who was over. Now this guy was a salesman. He did a little more probing before he let me in on the fact that his company doesn't do complete home installations. He made up some story that his company only replaces the forced air units. I could tell he didn't want to do the job once he found out I knew what I was talking about. So I said my good byes to Mr. Salesman.

The bad part about him was latter on that week his company sent us some mailers. The kind that doesn't have your name on it and everyone in the neighborhood get's one. I couldn't believe my eyes when I started to read this letter. It said we would be glad to give you an estimate on all your heating and air conditioning needs or services. " We Do Complete Installs". I told my wife we could have used this a few weeks ago. Then I recognized the name of the company and now knew that the salesman had lied to me for sure.

That night I started to think about what was going on here it seemed like I was being set up. Everyone knew what was going on but me. It seemed clear to me that these people knew each other.

Well as time went on we ended up hiring the first guy that came over. He seemed to have the best product at the most reasonable price. His company also did a great job. Keep one thing in mind here out of five contractors that I gave the opportunity to bid the job. Only three showed up and from them I only got two bids. Why didn't I get more bids? Quite frankly I was to busy working at the time and of course the other two guys were always going to show up and that kind of strung me along. My mistake.

Here's the kicker to all of this. Service Magic calls me up one day to tell me they would like to start sending me construction leads as a General Contractor.

I listened to what they had to say and was almost ready to sign up with them again. That's right, I was signed up with them when they first started until they changed the rules on me. The salesman that originally contacted me said if I paid them the 100 dollar sign up fee they would let me pick what jobs I wanted to do. That lasted about 5 months before I noticed that they were not sending me siding referrals to pick from. I called them up only to talk to someone who didn't understand the State Of California Contractors Licensing Board.

Well I wasn't about to reinvent the wheel. I simply told them that I should a least get my money back, right. They said they would look into it further as I never heard from them again about my 100 dollars. Well things have changed at Service Magic since I was with them when they started.
As a home owner you don't think you are paying Service Magic because all you do is fill out a simple form giving some information about yourself.

I found out that Service Magic sent all four of these contractors my original information. Each contractor then had to pay 55 dollars each to Service Magic for a total of 220 dollars. All I have to say is how are they getting away with charging this much money for sending a out a simple referral to these contractors.

The contractor unfortunately passes this expense on to his customers. You as the home owners end up paying these fees as a cost of doing business with them. Some contractors think this is a great way of doing business but you might think differently in the future if you start paying over 100 dollars for a simple construction referral.

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

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

Visit us now for Home Improvement Tips

Mold On Lower Wall Area

DIY Projects For Interesting Weekends

People usually do their do-it-yourself projects during the weekends. While some people enjoy fishing or playing golf, many choose to try their hand at do-it-yourself projects around the house.

Easy home improvement projects and the like are a good choice for enthusiasts of all competences.

How to paint woodworks

The first step is to secure the edges of the woodworks around the work area. Use wide masking tape that easily peels off. Mark all the wooden surfaces to be worked on. Begin the painting process with two coats of primer.

Make sure that the color you choose for the final layer of paint would not clash with the overall design of the area. Make sure that there is harmony between the new paint and the old paint.

First paint all windows, before larger objects such as doors. Skirting boards should be painted last. Use fine brushes that easily absorb paint and use even strokes when painting.

The spreading of paint should be done sideways, to save paint and to achieve an even texture on the surfaces. The size of the brushes you will use should be one inch or two inches wide. Avoid overly large brushes as these absorb far too much paint when used.

If you are painting outside your house, avoid painting during windy or rainy days. Windy days will ruin the new paint with flecks of foreign particles.

How to unclog your toilet

Use an old-fashioned plunger for this task. If you do not have one at home, go to your hardware store and purchase the largest plunger available. Plungers are generally inexpensive, and the larger the plunger the more effective it would be.

After you have acquired the plunger, place the plunger in the blocked toilet and flush. The flushing will flood the toilet bowl. As the toilet bowl slowly fills with water, move the plunger up and down.

Make sure that you are consistent with the up and down movement. If you have done it correctly, the vacuum created will dislodge the blockage from the pipe.

The extra water that had been flooding the toilet bowl will slowly recede and will help carry away the blockage. If it is a hairball, add another wave of water to the receding flow by flushing the toilet again.

Next time, avoid flushing kitchen towels and similar kitchen implements to avoid further blockages. People should also avoid flushing cotton swabs, as these will eventually accumulate.

Wallpapering

Hanging wallpapers is easy, as long as you clean the surfaces well before attaching the wallpaper. With sandpaper, smoothen the wall to level the surface. If the surface of the wall is glossy, use the same sandpaper to roughen a bit. Making it rough will make the wallpaper stick better.

Use a table when applying the adhesive to the wallpaper. From the top of the table, roll down wallpaper and apply the adhesive evenly. A soft brush may be used to make the application easier.

To ensure that the wallpaper would be evenly distributed, use a plumb line. The wallpaper should be as even as the plumb line when the two are placed parallel to each other.

The author of this article is Benedict Yossarian. Benedict recommends Roof Bond Foam Roof Insulation and Dekorbeton Concrete Stamping for your DIY needs

Metal Pin Holding Down 2 X 4

Bathroom Air Freshener - The Benefits and Advantages

Your bathroom is the stuff that purple-hued dreams are made of, so the air of despair surrounding you is not exactly beyond reproach. May be the sense of passive resignation stems from the repugnant odors that loom large in your personal space.

Take a deep breath, and allow a bathroom air freshener to deal with the most recurring problem in your bathroom. With these experts at work, not only your bathroom, but even you will be suffused with an air of fulsome buoyancy.

Banish That Nasty Smell Forever

It's just not bathrooms that seem to be gripped by the vile influences of unpleasant odors; closets, bedrooms, storerooms and pet dens give some tough competition. The need of the hour is an advanced product that would get rid of strong odors by infusing a whiff of clean, sweet-smelling air.

The deluge of electric air fresheners are your only beacon of hope against this rather grating issue. The slew of sparkling features, buttressed by the superior electronic ionizer breeze technology, ensures that these hi-end products do not disappear off your radar. Take a look for yourself:

• The circulation of fresh, pleasant-smelling air takes place without any kind of noise or movable fixtures.
• Contaminants in the air are trapped by efficient internal ions.
• They are armed with a virtually indestructible LED night light, that does not in any way disturb your beauty sleep.
• The air remains fresh without any reduction in the desirable levels of oxygen. There are no perfumes or chemicals or their pernicious effects to worry about either
• Since these hi-quality, lightweight and extremely compact air fresheners are equipped with a cordless electric plug, they are remarkably easy to store and use.
• Cleaning them is a breeze, thanks to the presence of removable plates. Just slide them out and wipe them squeaky clean.
• The use of only 3 watts of energy does not burn a big, black hole in your pocket.

I don't blame you if you are already holding your breath in anticipation.

Learn exactly how to generate 100's or even 1000's of positively *BRILLIANT* Bathroom Remodeling Ideas ... FAST ! And here are 25 Dirt Cheap Home Improvement Ideas that could increase the value of your home by several $1000's...

Home Remodeling Books
House Attic Books

Dangers Using Wood Stair Cleats - New Stair Construction

I would imagine most people don't even know what it wood stair cleat is, in construction we have so many words that describe the same thing. A stair cleat is another word for a thread bracket. In other words it's the part of the stairway that connects the stair stringer to the stair step. These have been used for years and over time, most of them will develop the same problem.

Most wood stair cleats loosened up and create a safety hazard. If the stairs are located outside in extreme weather conditions, for example, if it rains or snows a lot, extremely humid humid weather, or extremely hot and dry temperatures, your staircase might not last that long, if it is or isn't maintained properly. It's not a bad idea to use steel or concrete for stairways in these climates.

If you're ever walking up a set of stairs with wood cleats and the stair steps feel a little loose or wiggly, make sure you examined the stair cleats for safety. It's not uncommon for someone to be walking up or down a set of wood stairs and having the stair step or tread giveaway because the wood cleats has loosened.

If the wood stair cleats are nailed to the stair stringer, the nails can loosen up, causing it to become loose, as you walk up and down the stairs applying pressure to the stair cleat, this will create movement in between the stair step and the stair stringer. This could cause the cleat to crack, break and separate the connection between the stair step in the stair stringer.

I would suggest using metal brackets instead of wood cleats. The metal brackets will not crack or disintegrate like some wood cleats. Stair building brackets of course can loosen up and should be maintained regularly.

If you decide to use wood stair cleats, I would suggest using screws instead of nails and drilling holes in the wood stair cleats, most of the time this will prevent cracking the cleat. Try to use a thicker material for the stair cleat, for example using a 2 x 4 with lag screws and washers would be better than using a 1 x 4 with nails.

If you're walking up a set of stairs and a stair step feels loose, contact the owner of the property and let them know, they have a problem with their staircase.

Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He is currently working on more stair building books and adding useful content to help solve problems created by the lack of construction knowledge in the building industry.

Open Plumbing Waste Pipes

Flags When Selecting a Contractor - San Diego Home Tips

Many people actually give contractors less consideration as opposed to the thoroughness and attention of hiring a permanent employee. However, is this wise - especially when you consider the investment you are making in that individual?

1. Incomplete projects. Examine the rsum for a number of short-term projects (abnormally short immediately followed by an immediate hire). This situation may suggest a pattern of a lack of devotion to getting things done. Of course there is a "ramp up" time on any project. As a result of this ramp up time, you are making a considerable investment. Try to avoid having to backfill and ramp up a replacement. Careful consideration on the front end of selecting a contractor for your project can save you literally thousands of dollars.

2. Look for old skills. You may have identified a required technical skill and a candidate may have identified that they do have experience with that skill. Pay careful attention to how current that experience is. When you hire a contractor to install a dishwasher in your kitchen, you expect them to know how to install it then and there. You don't want them to have to "Google" large appliance installation. The same goes with your technical contractor. You are hiring your contractor to get accustomed to the specifics of the project and use the skills they already have and NOT to learn the technology required.

3. Communication skills. In this day and age of global economies and international project collaboration, the potential for inability to communicate within the entire team is great. Make certain the contractor has the necessary communication skills required to participate on the project. Now, if you need a "heads-down" contractor to work independently this will be less of an issue. However, very few if any work in a bubble. The communication hurdle may rear its ugly head in directions, requirements or code review phase.

4. Lone Ranger or Sherriff. Keep a sharp lookout for personality traits that may or may not work on the project. Do you need a team player? Look for a pattern of working alone. Perhaps you need a team player but the rsum is filled with leadership/management responsibilities. Either of these situations might present a significant challenge in your environment.

5. Personal experience vs. team experience. When you review rsums, be able to discern (or ask during an screen or interview) whether the projects contained on the rsum reflect the contractor's work or the work performed by the entire team. Look or listen for answers like, "We were responsible for ..." vs. "My role on the project was to ..." or "I was responsible for ...."

Do not make the mistake of carelessly bringing any contractor on board. Invest the time to carefully consider the candidates and you will probably see your investment reap BIG returns!

For more information on selecting the right contractor contact Eddie Field at www.SummitConsultingServices.net.

By Eddie Field

Eddie Field
Summit Consulting Services
(http://www.SummitConsultingServices.net).

Window Installed In Wood Framing

Make Your Shower and Tub the Centerpiece of Your Bathroom

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Energy Saving Books
Kitchen Books

Finding Something You Don't Like About Yourself - Creating Habits

Finding something you don't like about yourself is usually very easy for most people. Most of the time you don't even have to ask your family or friends because you have heard them complain about the same thing for years. How many times have you heard someone mention, I need to lose weight?

Here's a list of things people don't like about themselves. If you're one of those people that has a hard time finding something wrong with yourself, you could always ask one of your friends for some suggestions. I'm sure they would like that.

1. The need to lose weight. This of course is one of the worst problems with Americans. Most people need to lose weight and let's not forget there are some people that need to gain weight.

2. The need to stop gambling. As more Indian reservations are allowed to build gambling casinos and of course as the Internet gambling gets larger, I've noticed some people with gambling problems.

3. The need to stop drinking alcohol. The abuse of alcohol has been going on for many years. These people have an excuse for why they drink and most of the time it doesn't make sense.

4. The need to stop smoking. This could be one of the most difficult things I've ever seen my friends and family deal with.

5. The need to stop excessive behaviors. For example, gossiping, cruelty, bullying, lying, cheating, stealing, partying etc. You get the idea.

6. Don't forget the dreaded shopaholic. Most shopaholic's seem to have large credit card debt and can't seem to stop this vicious circle of buying and owing money to their creditors.

7. Working long hours or the workaholic. Sometimes this is a necessity but I would suggest that you change your lifestyle if possible. Reevaluate your reasons for working so hard.

8. Religious fundamentalists. People that spend too much time at their place of worship and soon find themselves feeling guilty if they're not doing something spiritual.

9. The need to be on time. This would include people that have problems giving themselves enough time to get ready for work or school.

10. The need to stop doing drugs. I thought by now, approaching my 50s, that drugs would no longer be a problem in the United States, but it is. It's one of the most damaging things people can do to their lives.

There are plenty of things that people would like to stop doing or start doing. If you're a smoker and you seem to shop excessively near the casinos, I would advise you to start with something small and work your way up to the big stuff.

What are you going to change today about your life? Make a list of things that you're not happy with about your life and start making the changes today that you need to create the life you deserve and desire.

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

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

Hard Water Deposits In Toilet

How to Create a Rustic Bathroom

These days, everything is so immediate, futuristic and ahead of the curve. We oftentimes find ourselves caught up amongst the whirlwind of advancing technologies and the endless battle to be fashion-forward and owning the right cars, appliances and gadgets. It's time to stop, take a deep, relaxing breathe, and calm down. Not everything in life needs to be constantly updated. If our past shapes who we are today, why cover it up? Now is the perfect time to "update" your bathroom with rustic style cabinet handles that bridges the gap of old to new.

Go Green
Everywhere you turn, there is a "go green" commercial, green grocery bags or eco-friendly appliances. Adding a bit of green to your bathroom might be the perfect option for you. While to some this means purchasing recycled toilet paper, to others, going green in your bathroom literally means going outside and incorporating your available landscape.

For homeowners with access to lumber, creating more storage space with your local hardware is a great solution. Not only will this limit the resources needed to purchase wood from a store (such as gas money and cost of production), but also, this do-it-yourself project can involve your entire family in a creativity exercise. By utilizing what you have around you, you are literally using your bucolic countryside to redesign your bathroom.

Look To Your Roots
America is known as a melting pot, rich with culture, heritage and tradition. Why not incorporate your ancestors in your new "old style" bathroom? Whether Irish, Italian, Native American, Polish or English or a mixture of everything, you should include a little piece of "you" in your bathroom. For many, a code of arms signifies you and your families' past; by pairing this with a bit of the present, you can create a comfort zone of history.

Get Wild in Style
If you have always wanted to get a little bit wild or exotic when it comes to decorating, your bathroom is the ideal place to express yourself. Using small elements, such as cabinet pulls or cabinet door knobs, you can express yourself in a unique way without overpowering the entire room with conflicting stripes, polka dots or too bold paint colors. Bathroom cabinet knobs nowadays can come in a variety of metals such as copper, iron, chrome and nickel. Additionally, these small elements also come in interesting shapes and sizes. For the outdoorsman, adding fish knobs on your towel rack or shower curtain will certainly compliment any room. Pair this with a soft blue or green paint, and you've got yourself a rustic interior almost instantly!

Be Safe and Secure
Like any good home design, safety and security should always trump design and aesthetic appeal. Be sure to install proper cabinet handles and locks to keep hazardous materials away from children, pets or guests. Ideally, harmful chemicals, prescription medications, sharp items and should be stored in a high storage area, secured with drop latch locks or other child-proof mechanisms. Additionally, hand-held electronic appliances should also be removed from plain view. Not only will this help keep you organizes, but also keeping hair dryers, radios and other items away from water should always be a priority.

Scents Make Sense
What's a bathroom without a fresh scent? If you live in the countryside, the fresh scent of cotton, lavender or chamomile will work perfectly. For the more woodsy or earthy homes, pine needles or cinnamon is a great choice to stimulate your olfactory sensors. If you just simply want a clean, crisp room, light citrus scented candles or soaps help cut through tough odors. Remember, when it comes to the smells in your bathroom, you want to help clear the air, not compete with too many fragrances. If you cannot decide what works best, just use the tried by true method: cracking open.

Jim Richardson is Vice President of Your Home Supply (YHS), the definitive website for Home and Garden products and information on a variety of home improvement products. Your Home Supply offer selections on rustic antique cabinet knobs to help customers design and create their own rustic bathroom. Visit them now at http://www.YourHomeSupply.com

Gable Roof Framing With Flat 2 X

Three Types of Power Shower Systems

If there is one extremely valuable thing that you can't buy with any amount of money, that is time. While you may come up with many potential places where you can save your time, your bathroom shower probably won't be anywhere on top of that list. Nevertheless, if you think for a moment about it, it can make or break the day for you on several occasions like when you need to take a quick 2-minute shower before joining an important meeting. So spending some time or money to solve this problem can come in handy at times. The best option for this purpose would be to install a power shower, or to get it installed from an expert plumber if you are afraid of handling the job yourself.

Typical power showers come with a mixing valve that blends cold and hot water from the gravity fed lines and a built-in pump pushes up water so that you will get good water pressure at the shower head. So first thing to note is that power showers require both a hot water and a cold water supply line so that you can enjoy your bath in all weathers. Ideally, you should connect the lines using gate valves so that you won't need to open up the whole system in case of a shower maintenance job. One could have both a manual power shower and a thermostat power shower; those with a thermostat would keep the temperature constant even if the supply feeds water to another line in your house. Once you have installed the shower correctly, the pump will start automatically whenever you open the shower.

Now there are three types of power shower systems currently available in the market. The first one is the typical power shower we discussed earlier, the one that has a built-in pump and mixer in a single unit. The mixing valve combines cold and hot water to bring water to the required temperature, while the pump pushes this water towards the shower.

The second type of power shower comes with a single impeller pump, which is positioned between the shower head and the mixer. You won't find many of these nowadays primarily because of their lack of adaptability and also because a better option comes at only a slightly higher price. Anyway, in these systems, cold and hot water lines feed the mixer, from where water moves upwards towards the shower head. The single-impeller pump then brings water to the showerhead, but this kind of pump requires installation close to the shower head for optimal usage. And since the pump has to be situated between the mixer and the shower head, the ideal place for it is the loft. But in extremely cold weathers, it can result in frozen water inside the lofts, and since the pump needs free air flow, the loft cannot be insulated.

The double-impeller pump, the single most versatile system, was made to bypass this difficulty. The cold and hot water lines separately come into the pump, from where water is pushed with pressure towards the mixer separately in both lines. The mixer mixes warm and cool water to arrive at the necessary temperature and a single line then outputs to the showerhead. Since hot and cold water is pushed upwards, the resulting pressure at the shower brings a fast water flow.

Whichever system you choose, it will need some electricity to run the pumps. Also, it can't work with combination boilers as it requires the availability of separate hot and cold water pipes. A problem, however, is that they would result in lots of vibrations within the walls. So make sure that you have fitted the surrounding tiles smoothly in order to avoid damage to them.

Is your power shower installed and you are still having plumbing problems? Find more help from Scott Rodgers, a master plumber, at http://www.eLocalPlumbers.com

Home Plumbing Books
Kitchen Books

Creating Your Electricity

Creating your own electricity and generating your own power has always been one of my dreams. Having a self sufficient home, not only a house that takes care of itself by generating its own electricity through windmills or solar panels but the satisfaction knowing that no matter what happens to the electrical companies you will always have electricity at your home.

What a wonderful feeling it would be to get a check back from the utility company instead of paying them every single month. I don't know about you but my utility bills are ridiculous and seemed to be going up in price constantly. I can't believe all the fees they have been charging for years to all of their customers. If you add all the fees for every person in the city or county this comes to a large, a very large number and it's getting worse not better.

Generating your own electricity with solar or wind power is definitely green thinking. This is going to be the wave of the future as fuel used to create electricity continues to rise in price. I really can't imagine what the price of electricity is going to be like in 10 years as the mass consumption continues to rise in developing countries.

We have got to start taking care of our own needs through solar or wind power. We have got to start creating our own electricity to become self reliant. The more self reliant we become as a nation the less dependent we will be on major corporations, especially large power conglomerates.

Creating our own electricity can also be used for electrical cars that can be purchased in the future. Think of the money you will say in fuel costs as the price of gasoline continues to increase as well as less pollution into our environment.

This is definitely the wave of the future and common sense tells us this. I suggest you read this article again if you haven't figured out some of the problems coming our way in the future.

Think green and together we can start saving the planet.

While searching for new alternatives and trying to get some advice on creating your own electricity I came across a book you can purchase in digital format. This book seems to have quite a bit of information on creating your own electricity for a totally self sufficient home.

This book has been created in digital format to reduce the consumption of trees and the waste involved in creating a regular book. What a wonderful idea for helping our environment in quite a few ways.

While searching for new alternatives and trying to get some advice on creating your own electricity I came across a book you can purchase in digital format. This book seems to have quite a bit of information on creating your own electricity for a totally self sufficient home.

This book has been created in digital format to reduce the consumption of trees and the waste involved in creating a regular book. What a wonderful idea for helping our environment in quite a few ways.

For more information visit http://www.gregvan.com and look for Get Earth4Energy Here Create your own electricity! Save 1000's with Earth4Energy

Damaged Roof Plywood

Home Insurance - ABI Warns Against Flood Plain Development

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) believes government proposals to boost the country's housing stock significantly are inherently flawed. Where southern England is intersected by major rivers, the surrounding land is prone to flooding. However, because this is where demand for new housing is highest, current plans envisage major developments in precisely these areas.

The ABI believes that up to one third of the planned three million new homes to be built will be constructed on flood plains Consequently the ABI has suggested that its members may have to remove flood cover as a standard component of their policies, should these plans see the light of day. The position of the ABI has drawn criticism from Ian Wright, the Housing Minister, who maintains that current planning regulations are sufficiently stringent to guard against the risk of newly built houses rapidly becoming uninhabitable through flooding.

Wrights believes that because all local authorities have to consult with the Environment Agency before giving the seal of approval to new developments, home insurance providers have nothing to worry about.

The whole question of flooding and house insurance has registered more strongly on the national radar in recent times because of recent disastrous flooding, not to mention all the hullabaloo about global warming. News images of towns in Gloucestershire completely cut off by flood water linger a long time in peoples' memories.

All told, the 2007 floods cost three billion pounds. In view of this incredible sum it is inevitable that this issue will continue to figure prominently on the future policy agenda of home insurance providers. For the customer in an area that may be affected by flooding, this emphasises the importance of selecting the appropriate cover. The internet is an excellent resource in this regard and it is well worth undertaking a little research to identify the best product.

11.4.2008

source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2008/feb/14/homeinsurance.insurance

Mark Lauterwein is a UK based writer currently writing on home insurance and house insurance.

Hold Down With Anchor Bolt Done

Create a New Green Bathroom Without Replacement

Creating a green bathroom without replacement saves money, time, valuable resources and the environment. It requires accurate knowledge about the resources available today that can save water and energy resources, in order words utility bills, while treading very gingerly on the environment. It means replacing old and inefficient fixtures and appliances with ones that conserve water and energy. It goes much further to include recycling, refinishing and using materials that are recycled.

Benefits

In a hopelessly depressed and sluggish economy, many are creating green bathrooms, without replacement because in addition to saving time, money and the environment, it offers comfort to those that want to wait out a bad housing market. Those that wanted to buy new homes, can wait for the economy to improve while continuing to enjoy the present home with a bathroom face lift for some, and total remodel for others.

Additionally, remodeling adds value to the home and makes it more appealing to potential buyers. Since green bathroom renovation emphasizes reduction in water and energy use, lower utility bills is exactly what many prospective home buyers are looking for in a very tight economy.

Another component of green bathroom renovation that is often over looked is that it saves trees and landfills. It is well known that trees are still the cheapest and most effective way of sucking excess carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The fuel council estimates that an average drive of 1,000 miles, even with fuel-efficient cars emit 3.5 tons of carbon annually.

In order to offset the impact of a single car every year, it takes about 17 mature trees. Interestingly, a single mature tree can absorb 48 pounds of carbon dioxide a year and release enough oxygen to support two people. By shading homes and offices, trees also reduce up to 30% of air conditioning bills.

Creating a new bathroom that does not require replacement benefits the landfills and ultimately the environment. It is estimated that 47% of the junk that goes to the landfills comes from renovation. The reasons are obvious because new construction does not waste a lot of materials compared to total tear-outs. Energy is used in making new fixtures and appliances and is saved when those items are not replaced.

Creating a new bathroom without replacement and on budget:

The easiest and most cost and time effective way to create a new bathroom is to refinish the bathtub, sinks and counter-tops. Cabinets can also be refinished saving precious trees. It costs about $450 to $650 to refinish a bathtub compared to $1500 to $2500 to replace a bathtub. If you are new to bathtub replacement, the price goes so high for a replacing a bathtub that costs a couple of hundred dollars to install, because of the work and contractors involved. Replacement calls for a plumber, removing and replacing tiles, perhaps floor work and the dumping of replaced fixtures. It is usually takes more than a day, while bathtub refinishing can be done in about four hours. Since bathtub refinishing does not involve replacement, money, time, energy and the environment are saved.

Many that have used the services of a few cheap 'bad apples' in the bathtub refinishing industry have complained of peelings. When you pay peanuts, you get monkeys. Period.

After bathtub and sink restoration, shower heads are the next inexpensive items to tackle because they reduce water use. There are many varieties and the prices range from cheap to expensive. Find one that saves water, money and performs equally as a standard shower head.

There have been more strides in the development of varieties of water and energy efficient toilets in recent years and the prices are getting comparable to standard toilets. Take the dual-flush toilet for instance, it uses less than .8gallons per flush for number one and 1.6 gallons of water to send number two down the drain. An average home saves about 15000 gallons of water a year.

Many suppliers of building materials carry recycled tiles, vanities and flooring materials.
These can be used to affect the least impact on the environment, while saving lots of green. Those that are blessed with an antique claw foot bathtub have seen a renewed interest in their use. They are in-expensive to re-glaze, colors can be changed and they are a beauty to be soaked in.

Saving energy can be achieved by using energy efficient light bulbs. Some have added dimming lights to save energy, while others have take advantage of the orientation of their bathrooms in their use of skylights.

Creating a new bathroom without replacement is a sure way to save up to 80% of the cost of bathtub replacement, saving on counter-top and sink restoration, coupled with savings of natural resources. With a tightened economy, you can eat your cake and have it too if you follow these recommendations.

Wilson Uche Ukah, is the President of Refinishing Stars, a bathtub refinishing company serving homeowners in Atlanta, Chattanooga, Nashville and Knoxville. Refinishing Stars, refinishes bathtubs, sinks, and countertops for hotels and motels nationwide. Wilson can be reached at http://www.refinishingstars.com or sales@refinishingstars.com

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The Bible's Power Over One Child

I mentioned Sean in another one of my articles, the story of a young foster boy that we were taking care of. Sean's father was my ex-wife's uncle, and they were going through some tough times for a while and their three children ended up as wards of the state. We eventually ended up taking the oldest child because he was the hardest one to place and another home. His brother and sister ended up with a family that wanted to adopt them and eventually Sean went to live with them and I believe all three of them were adopted by this family. I don't know this for a fact though.

Sean was a emotionally damaged child. His parents would punish him with some strange and bizarre punishments. They weren't really physical punishments but seemed to leave the emotional scars on him and I often think about where he is and what he is doing.

We watched him for about a year and I learned quite a bit from this young man. He was in the third grade but was still at the first grade level for reading and math. I would spend a couple of hours each night during the week helping him with his schoolwork, I seem to have created some sort of allusion that I would be able to bring him up to the third grade level within a short period of time. Wrong. He must've had learning disabilities and of course I don't think I was that good teacher.

Sean was easy going, polite and extremely obedient. He would do anything to avoid getting in trouble and often blamed others for his mistakes. His punishments must have been more than he could bear before he arrived at our home. I think you're getting the picture about what kind of a child Sean was.

One day I found myself in a dilemma with Sean, I couldn't get him to tell me the truth, even though I knew he was lying. I forget what the problem was but I remember a hollow look in his face. It was almost like he wasn't really there. It was almost like he was just doing time, sitting on the bed, listening to me asking the same question over and over again, "Sean are you lying", but he wasn't even paying attention.

I normally would not punish my children for accidents, and never tolerated lying. I was trying to explain to him that he wasn't going to get in trouble, I just wanted to know the truth. He wasn't budging at all and stuck to his story. I remembered that his mother and father were Catholics and feared the church, almost as much as they loved it.

That's what I came up with my evil plan. I don't know where I come up with these ideas, but every once in a while one pops up in my head and I run with it.

I told Sean that I was going to bring the Holy Bible in, and if he could swear on the Bible that he was telling the truth, I would accept that and this would be the end of our conversation. I couldn't believe my eyes, as he started crying and screaming, frantically and excitedly as a yelled out, I did it, I did it, don't bring the Bible in, I won't do it again.

I couldn't believe that was all it took to get information from him. I have always been a pretty good interrogator and found myself gathering information from those people easily, but this was amazing. His fear of the Holy Bible got me thinking about how powerful this book actually is to some people. I remember when I looked upon this book, pretty much the same as Sean did.

It's just a book, like any other book. It's not made at a holy factory or a secret monastery in the Swiss Alps somewhere, it's made from paper and ink and can be damaged and destroyed like other books. I would be surprised if I threw the Bible into the fire, that it wouldn't burn. I would be even more surprised, if I seen three men standing in the fire, wait a minute that's another story in the Bible.

Is it possible for this book to actually control the lives of people. It seemed to control Sean, I wonder if I, could have actually been driving a nail home that his parents started. Could I have added to his belief, that the Bible is a book from God the creator of everything.

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

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

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Painting Contractor Tips For a Clean Job

Interior and exterior both paintings require close monitoring for a clean job. Contractors provide great help to get the job done however, the issue is that you requirements may be miss-conceived by the contractors for that matter at every step of the painting process you have to work close to the contractors so that you can paint the house according to your specifications.

Before specifying the requirements consult the color scheme and the paint material to be used with the contractor. That help you to build a friendly relationship with contractor and they feel more motivated working on their own proposed solutions. Also involve the whole family in decide the color scheme and the texture of the paint so as to minimize the conflicts after the job.

First and the most important job is to review the initial estimate, as the contractors work according to the job and requirements specified in the initial estimate. Check for all the work that has to be done before painting e-g repairing cracks, leakage, broken nails, small holes and bores. You may get this work done by the painting contractors free of cost if you request them in initial estimate. These small jobs will make you pain job perfect. Painting the house without repairing these cracks and holes will affect the overall look and life of the paint. Working carefully on initial estimate will eliminate delays in the painting job. Make sure that the house was trimmed before the paint and all the dirty surfaces have been cleaned, it will help the paint to form a strong bond.

Once the work starts, monitor the crew staff closely because it would be difficult to fix the odd patches after the job. To get the job clean and exclusive, make sure that the crew staff is working with new equipment. Especially the rollers have to be in good working conditions. Paint the trim first, then ceiling and wall in the end. Starting with walls will waste the paints, and will also affect the looks of the paint negatively. Once the wall has been painted, the trim paint will appear on the wall paint, same is the case with ceiling.

Once the paint job is done; closely examine the edges of the walls and ceiling. As uneven and poorly painted edges affects the life of the paint badly. Since it is very difficult to deal with the plastic drop sheets, try to use cotton drop clothes.

When the job is finished, keep the contractor with you to examine the house. To ensure a safe and good looking paint job, several coasts are used to cover the surface. Any uneven coat or bleed through of the fresh paint should be fixed there and then. To inspect the paint properly have a look on the walls, ceilings and window frames from different angles and distance. This will give you the clear picture of the painting.

Painting contractors are professionals, they know the job better. All you have to do is to clearly communicate your requirements and limitations. Any miss-conception about the job will result into a conflict at the end. To make the paint job good experience, try to work closely to the contractors.

Bio: View my profile for more articles about San Diego Painting Contractor

David Hay is the owner of 858 GRAPHICS in San Diego, California. 858 Graphics designs, builds, prints and installs almost any type of graphics. For all your Trade Show Display, Wall Murals, Outdoor Signs, Poster Printing and Vehicle Wraps needs, please visit http://www.858graphics.com

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Developing Wealth Building Habits

If you want to be successful, you need mentors or in other words find people that have succeeded. These people can include the ultra rich like Bill Gates or Warren Buffett, but don't forget about the people around you that have created good wealth building habits.

Some of the people have great advice and will need to be listened to very intently, while others need to be put on a list and never spoken to again. If you're going to be developing wealth building habits, you're going to need some advice from wealthy people. Let me make myself clear, when I'm talking about developing wealth building habits, I'm not talking about spiritual, knowledge, Biblical or religious wealth. I'm talking about making money, as much money as you desire or feel you need.

Wealth building habits start with you. Ask yourself this question "how bad do I want or desire wealth?" Really, really, really bad or are you the kind of person that would like to be rich, but that's as far as it goes. Developing any of these habits does not include sleeping in until 11 o'clock in the morning and then complaining the rest of the day about your finances.

Bill Gates used to work 16 hours a day. How many days a week did he do that? These are the questions you're going to find the answers to. If you're interested in making $50 million, you need to find someone who can teach you, how to make $50 million.

It won't be necessary to contact Warren Buffett but I would advise you to gather as much information about him as possible. Wealth building habits start with learning about wealthy people. If they get up at four o'clock in the morning and read the newspaper until six o'clock, then exercise for 30 minutes and start working at seven o'clock, you need to start doing this also. Developing good wealth building habits over time are what most successful businessman and women have been doing for years. Study their habits and start changing yours.

If you do something every day, it will usually become a habit within 30 days.

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

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

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Walt Disney World Moderate Resorts

Walt Disney World Moderate Resorts are a perfect blend of Disney luxury mingled with tight budget. These resorts offer many little extras for a slightly higher price than their value resorts. Walt Disney World moderate resorts are best for families with children who are independent, first-time visitors as well as experienced Disney travelers, and those who are still trying to have a great vacation on a tight budget. No matter where you stay in Walt Disney World you are going to have the time of your life, why not splurge a little bit and enjoy the little extras a Walt Disney World Moderate resort has to offer.

When you are taking a family vacation with kids who are around age 7 and up, it's hard to keep them happy all the time. They enjoy the fast-paced theme park adventure but still need time to wind down, relax and just play. Walt Disney World moderate resorts are a perfect place to stay for them. These resorts offer great food options in their quick counter service food courts and also a great family atmosphere in their sit down restaurants. They have exciting themed pool areas with fun water slides and hot tubs, fun playgrounds, well equipped arcades and on-site recreation such as bikes and boat rentals. When you have kids in this age group it's easier to make a well thought out plan of all the theme park rides and events you want to see, which will free up some time to enjoy your resort each afternoon or evening. A great Walt Disney World moderate resort to stay at with kids is the Caribbean Beach resort, the food court kid meals are served in a sand bucket with a shovel. It makes a free souvenir you can play with on their beach area. Kids enjoy the colorful themes and designs and parents enjoy all the relaxation and freedom. Walt Disney World moderate resorts are a perfect match for families with independent kids.

Whether you are a first-timer or a year after year Walt Disney World visitor you will appreciate all that Walt Disney World moderate resorts have to offer. With larger rooms, a great selection of dining options, luggage service, themed swimming pools with slides, free Disney transportation to and from all Walt Disney World theme parks and resorts, on-site recreation, amazing themes and dcor and water views you just can't go wrong. If you come year after year, you already know what you want to see and when to go on your favorite rides and all those little tips. The Moderate resorts are great for you because they offer so many different activities to do that you actually will have the time to take advantage of them. Why not spend the morning in a theme park and then enjoy the afternoon with the kids driving around the bay in a boat rental. Have a pizza party in the food court and follow it up with a nice sunset bike ride. Then finish your Walt Disney World day with a firework show and dessert at your favorite theme park. If you enjoy a nice mix of fast-paced theme park adventure with low-key resort time, then the Walt Disney World moderate resorts are an excellent choice for you.

Another great benefit of staying at a Walt Disney World moderate resort is the price. You get to enjoy little Disney extras for a rate not much higher than the value resort rate. The larger rooms allow a more comfortable relaxed atmosphere. The beach areas are perfect if you need stress-free alone time. The themes are so beautiful ranging from the tropical islands to a woodsy wilderness. Each resort will offer something different to your family vacation. For those who are on a strict budget but still want to enjoy a little extra, Walt Disney World moderate resorts are a great solution to your accommodating needs.

Before you choose your resort, decide which theme parks you want to visit, which days to visit them, what tours if any you want to partake in, any additional events you want to see, make your dining reservations, then decide which resort will best fit your plan. If you find you have a nice mix of theme park-adventure and low pace down time, a Walt Disney World moderate resort is an excellent choice for your accommodations. Walt Disney World offers five moderate resorts they include: Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort, Disney's Coronado Springs Resort, Disney's Port Orleans Resort-French Quarter, Disney's Port Orleans Resort-Riverside and The Cabins at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort. Each offers a unique experience that is sure to make your stay one that will be a cherished for a lifetime.

With three children, it's no wonder that I have a passion for anything Disney. I have discovered some helpful information designed to save you money on your next Walt Disney World vacation. It's called the Ultimate Disney Savings Guide. Updated every couple of months, this guide is filled with the latest information designed to show you how you can get a cheap Disney World vacation package. Check it out at DW Savings

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The Beauty of Interior Sliding Doors

In terms of modern interior design, the use of interior sliding doors is not only stylish and modern, but an excellent way of saving space and utilising available room to the best effect.

Any door opening can be converted given adjacent available wall space that can be used when the door is opened. Using rails affixed to the door frame, the sliding door is easy to use for those who may find a conventionally opening door difficult in certain circumstances, and also gives an impression of modernity and attention to style and substance.

Many different types of door can be accommodated, with a popular version being a glass panelled door. This gives the added advantage of extra light in the room - particularly when used as an entrance between two rooms in the centre of the house.

Wooden doors in the traditional style can also be found, these keeping the regular look of a room while incorporating the added advantages of the sliding door method. An attractive panelled door style is popular with many buyers, although plain doors without the panels can give a more effective look in a room that is designed to be modern in style.

Doing away with the traditional arc that is rendered as dead space by the opening of a standard door can be a very effective way of creating extra space in a room that needs such attention.

Smaller rooms can gain a few extra square metres of available space simply by removing the necessary opening area that a standard door requires. In that space can go a table, a chair, a sideboard or other furniture, or even the television and audio systems that take up space in an otherwise useful corner of the room.

The use of this type of door is further enhanced by the simplicity of the opening and closing mechanism, which operates via a system of bearings that ensure a smooth and stylish action with no sticking or difficulty endured.

Apart from use in homes and dwellings, the sliding door can be of great use in commercial premises. The sliding door can be left permanently open for ease of access between offices, for instance, yet closed when privacy is needed thus taking away the open plan aspect in an instant.

In factory premises this opening and closing method can be of even greater use, as it is possible to mechanise the action for use remotely thus allowing transportation between areas yet keeping them segregated for health and safety purposes.

Modern and stylish yet purposeful and innovative, the sliding door is a way of creating space and adding style, and of including a chic and innovative design feature into any home. It is of particular use to those who have limited space, giving access to those vital few extra square metres, and can be utilised to create extra light in potentially dark areas. An innovation that promises to take interior design to greater heights, the interior sliding door is here to stay.

To learn more about sliding doors, visit http://www.slidingdoors101.com

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