Floor Framing - "A Failure to Plan is a Plan to Fail"

You can not just jump out of the truck and start bending nails! Always approach floor framing with the same careful planning and care as used in any other carpentry task. Study the blueprint carefully and make note of the location of staircase openings, cantilevers, in floor beams, and concentrated loads from above. My theory is to build from the roof down. Of course, I do not mean build the roof first. Look at the roof plan (a few days ahead of time) and take note of any concentrated loads, varying wall heights, cathedral ceilings, etc. A good carpenter knows these things before placing sill plates and beams.

I like to begin by having two of the guys go around and snap lines on the perimeter of the sill plate whatever the thickness of the rim joist is to speed up the process of framing the floor. All floor joists can be set to this line eliminating the need to pick the rest of the floor joists up and over the box sill. I realize there are a lot of carpenters out there who will disagree with this method and prefer to install the rim joist first. Over the years I have done it both ways, and feel if you tighten sill plate nuts only finger tight this method works best, especially on the second floor because you have 3 1/2" to walk on instead of 2".

You are usually better off beginning your layout from the longest straightest run that you have. If you have enough time and can still keep all the carpenters busy, I find it best to layout the staircase openings first to avoid the possibility of the apprentice placing material in my way. Sometimes this is not possible, in that case you should start laying floor joists on the opposite side of the staircase.

If you have access to a Pettibone or Lull it can be the best laborer you ever had, even a small skid steer or backhoe with forks is much better than your back. You are however forced to use what you have, so at the very least have your material supplier dump the load in the best spot for your situation.

Once you have the staircase and any cantilevered floor joists marked out begin by crowning and marking floor joists. Think about the situation, right or left-handed person, best direction for rolling the floor joists, etc. Locate the joists so that they are all crowned in the same direction, close enough to the mark so all you have to do is roll them up and nail in place. When nailing on the end where the rim joist goes a lot of people put to many nails on the end and split them out, this reduces bearing on the sill plate and invites a floor squeak which is nearly impossible to locate and fix later. Look at the grain pattern on the joist and locate nails accordingly, one or two well placed nails are plenty as the joist will be nailed to the box sill later. When working the middle I find it best to, walk the beam, nail on the opposite side of where the opposing floor joist will be sistered up. Always work in the direction that is best for the man in the middle, because they will be slowest, dragging an air hose and nailer, especially if forced to work backwards. Always remember In carpentry a little planning goes a long way towards greater efficiency, not to mention your poor aching back.

The author of this article has 29 years of experience working in the highly competitive housing market of the west and southwest suburbs of Chicago as a carpenter. His job titles have included Master Roof Cutter, Apprentice, and everything in between. Most of his experience is in the high end custom home marketplace, including all aspects of fine homebuilding, from footings to ridge cap. His website contains more information on House Framing Carpentry, Pythagorean Theorem, Framing Square and Roof Framing

Kitchen Design For Your Home - Home Tips

From Basic Barbecues To Designer Kitchens Luxurious Kitchen Granite Countertops Are The Focal Point.

Are you considering a great outdoor kitchen design for your home? If so, you aren't alone!

In fact, a growing number of homeowners are deciding to expand their outdoor living space by creating a functional yet beautiful outdoor kitchen design that allows them to spend more time in the great outdoors.

It should come as no surprise that the popularity of outdoor kitchens continues to rise. After all, installing an outdoor kitchen offers a number of benefits. Some of these benefits include...

* Providing you with more space for social gatherings or to spend time with your family

* Helping you keep your air conditioning bill down by allowing you to cook outdoors and preventing extra heat from building up inside your home

* Keeping the messes and smells involved with cooking outside, so your home can remain clean and smelling great

* Increasing the value of your home

In addition to offering all of these benefits, it is possible to create a great outdoor kitchen design without having to spend a significant amount of money.

While a luxury design could certainly cost well over $100,000 to complete, it can also cost less than $1,000 to develop a basic design. The final cost of your outdoor kitchen design will depend upon how many extras you decide to include with your project.

For example, an outdoor kitchen that contains all of the features you would find in an indoor kitchen, or one that features luxury items such as kitchen granite countertops, will be more expensive than a basic design that consists solely of a built in backyard barbeque.

When deciding on the outdoor kitchen design that is right for you, consider your short and long-term plans, as well as your budget. If your budget does not allow for more luxurious items such as kitchen granite countertops, look into other options that can be just as functional while allowing you to create a design that is well within your budget.

You also need to consider the amount of available space when planning an outdoor kitchen design. While your budget may allow for an extensive outdoor kitchen, putting one in a very small backyard may look awkward and overcrowded.

By using your outdoor space wisely and selecting a design that will complement the size of your space, as well as the style, you will be certain to create a beautiful and functional design that will bring years of entertainment to you and your family.

James Mahoney is the owner of Kitchen Designers Ideas.com. He has written many articles on kitchen design and puts out an information packed newsletter. Learn about kitchen design ideas and trends by visiting his site at http://www.KitchenDesignersIdeas.com

Cabinet Stain From Mopping

How to Build a Simple Computer Desk

Back a few years ago I decided I needed to buy a computer desk. After looking around at a half dozen furniture stores and department stores, I came to the conclusion that there were only two types of computer desks on the market; very expensive ones from high end furniture stores and pressed board garbage from low cost box stores. Neither suited my budget or tastes, but I needed a computer desk.

It was during this realization that I came up with an idea of building my own simple computer desk. I remember seeing standalone kitchen cabinets for sale at one of the local home improvement stores. I thought, hey if I could affix a countertop surface to two kitchen cabinets I'd have a functional computer desk.

Finding the Components for my Computer Desk

With the idea in mind I grabbed my tape measure and drove to a local home improvement store. The store had numerous standalone kitchen cabinets for sale, made from all types of wood. Some were low end constructed, while others were more high-end constructed. I found one cabinet that consisted of a top drawer and a large front door with adjustable shelves. I then found another cabinet consisting entirely of a column of drawers. After pulling them aside, I then visited the countertop area of the store, and surprisingly I found pre-fabricated 5 foot countertops for sale. I selected one that was aesthetically appealing to me and rested it on top of the two kitchen cabinets. I spaced the two kitchen cabinets apart so that they were located at the far ends of the countertop to allow room for a chair and seating. I then made a height measurement and determined that the only modification required was to cut about 2 inches off the bottom of each kitchen cabinet.

Building a Computer Desk

With my desk idea nearly realized, I purchased the two kitchen cabinets and countertop and brought them home for assembly.

Using a skill saw I removed two inches of the base of the cabinets. This was easy to do since the cabinets had about a 3 inch area below the fixed base cabinet shelf and the drawers that was effectively empty space. I then positioned the two cabinet pieces in my office area and mounted the kitchen countertop to the two cabinets using screws and brackets.

Finally, I mounted a keyboard tray slider to the underside of the countertop and my good looking and functional computer desk was ready for use.

Note: Keyboard tray sliders can be found at most office stores.

About the Author: Over the past 20+ years Mark Donovan has been involved with building homes and additions to homes. His projects have included: building a vacation home, building additions and garages on to existing homes, and finishing unfinished homes. For more home improvement information visit http://www.homeadditionplus.com and http://www.homeaddition.blogspot.com

One Option - A Sunbeam Humidifier

When purchasing a humidifier one brand to consider is a Sunbeam humidifier. Sunbeam humidifiers are available in warm mist or cool mist varieties. The units vary in size, dispensing enough water for small to large rooms. Some of the units include filters whereas some do not or have reusable filters within the machine.

One type of Sunbeam humidifier to choose from is the Warm Mist Vaporizer Humidifier. This unit is a basic steam humidifier. This means the base is filled with water and electricity boils the water sending it into the air as steam.

Another warm mist Sunbeam humidifier is the Water Steam Humidifier. This unit is also a steam humidifier. The only difference is it covers a larger area.

The Warm Mist Humidifier, a steam humidifier, is also a Sunbeam humidifier. It can run for 16 hours on one tank and releases 3 gallons of water into the air.

The Cool Mist Impeller Humidifier is another type of Sunbeam humidifier. Impeller technology is when rotating disks fling water at a diffuser that breaks the water into fine droplets that float into the air. The water is sent into the air cool, not heated. The impeller disk evenly distributes the water into the air. It also can run for 28 hours on one tank.

A more complex cool mist Sunbeam humidifier unit is the Cool Mist Humidifier with Permafilter Technology. This machine is slightly different because it filters the cold water as it leaves the machine. Most cool mist machines do not have a filter, but this filter is reusable so it will save you $60 a year.

Sunbeam humidifiers also offer the Ultrasonic Humidifier. Cool water is injected into the air via small vibrations created by the unit. This humidifier fills a medium or large room and can run for 27 hours on one tank.

Humidifiers are recommended for winter use. Low temperatures along with heating systems can create dry air. The dry air can lead to illness, nose bleeds, dry skin, cracked lips, and home damage.

Humidifiers put a certain percentage of moisture into the air depending on what you set it at. Some units can automatically determine how much the air is lacking. If your unit does not, you can buy a hygrometer that reads the amount of moisture in the air. Set your unit to add the amount needed to total between 30 and 50%.

Lillian G. W is a marketing executive for global consumer brands, media, and high tech businesses. She loves writing about shopping, product reviews, fashion, travel, green innovation, arts & entertainment. She spots consumer trends, explores and assembles ideas, and provides creative solutions to business challenges. Currently, she writes for IMshopping.com

Broken Electrical Outlet Cover

French Drain Installation and Home Foundations

French drain installation is one of the easiest things you can do to prevent water from entering your homes basement or crawl space. However, frequently contractors and homeowners neglect to install them when building homes or additions on to homes. The cost of installing a French drain is minimal, as it only requires some perforated PVC piping and inch crushed stone. French Drains should always be installed around foundations.

A French drain takes advantage of gravity and aids in helping ground water seek lower levels away from your homes foundation.

A French drain is basically a network of crushed stone and plastic piping that encircles the home or home addition and channels water away from the foundation.

After the homes footing and foundation walls have been constructed and sealed, several inches of crushed stone should be poured around the outside of the foundation wall near the base of the footings. The crushed stone should be poured such that a natural swale is created towards the lowest expected finished grade around the foundation and abutting yard. This will help aid in the direction of water away from the home.

A small trench should then be extended out into the yard, from this lowest finished grade location at the foundation so that water will continue to drain away from the foundation. The trench should be approximately 1 foot wide and should extend deep enough to enable water to continue to drain from the foundation. The trench should extended outward from this point in the foundation to a distance that the drain reaches the natural ground surface. This will enable the ground water around the foundation water to be effectively channeled out to the surface some extended distance away from the home.

Perforated 4 inch PVC, or similar plastic pipe, should then be placed and connected together on top of the crushed stone with the holes facing downward. It is important for the holes to face downward as water tables build from the bottoms up.

The PVC pipes should be connected such that they funnel water towards the trench and then connect, if necessary with a T-connector, to a straight section of PVC pipe that extends the length of the trench.

With the piping installed, the pipe should be covered with an additional 1-2 feet of crushed stone, less as you work your way out towards the end of the trench.

The foundation can then be backfilled, and 2-4 inches of topsoil can then be installed on top for growing grass.

French drain installations are also common for channeling water from other locations in a yard. Typically they are used in applications where water coming off of a hill would normally drain into a back or side yard. By installing a French drain, the water can be short circuited from entering the back or side yard.

For more help on Fench drain systems and building a family room addition, see HomeAdditionPlus.com's Room Addition Bid sheet. The Room Addition Bid Sheet provides you with the knowledge on how to plan a room addition project, and what to look for when hiring contractors for your new home construction. It also includes a detailed cost breakdown table and spreadsheet for estimating your own room addition building costs.

About the Author: Over the past 20+ years Mark Donovan has been involved with building homes and additions to homes. His projects have included: building a vacation home, building additions and garages on to existing homes, and finishing unfinished homes. For more home improvement information visit http://www.homeadditionplus.com and http://www.homeaddition.blogspot.com

Energy of the Future - Hybrid Fuel

Nowadays many people are concerned about their electricity and water bills. People try to consume less electricity by using equipment that have fewer volts and save water by using recycle water and so on. Car gas consumption, and control with consuming gas. Concerns over such matters are understandable, as people just cannot afford to be luxuriant with expenses and such these days.

When talking about saving on vehicle gas money, fuel for hybrid cars comes to stand as a smart solution. These help motorists in saving gas, as well as helping keep the carbon monoxide levels in the atmosphere controlled to a minimum level.

The hybrid fuel in composite cars is not exactly a new fuel formula, which is ten times better than regular gas fuel for regular combustion engines or something like that. Hybrid cars are simply vehicles with could tap into two different sources of power, thus its ability to use hybrid fuel.

Hybrid cars are automobiles, which powered by regular gas powered engines, complemented with an alternative power type of energy. Both these form the fuel in the cars. Most of these cars are gas powered, at the same time powered by electricity, saving on gas consumption as well as lessening the emission of carbon monoxide into the atmosphere.

These hybrid cars boast the plus factors of dedicated electric cars and regular combustion engine cars, with less of the minus points, which define vehicles respectively powered by these types of engines. Here is an example: A hybrid electric powered car has the basic premise components of an electric car, which is a rechargeable battery system, which stands as the vehicles main power source. With hybrid electrical vehicles, users are free from the range-charge issue most dedicated electric cars are limited to, meaning users do not have to charge their vehicles on a dedicated level.

These cars could easily charge their on-boar batteries, as they are cruising on gas power. Regenerative breaking or the vehicles electric generator connected to the vehicles engine enabling the car to charge its rechargeable battery while running on gas.

Once the car is fully charged, users could simply change to change modes, and economize on gas, as the car is now running on electric power.

Bottom line, cars and their hybrid fuel stands to be a strong point many after market consumers are interested in them. It is because of the benefits they offer to users, as well as the benefit they have to offer to the environment, more and more people are using them.

At the rate things are going, it would not be surprising to see hybrid fueled vehicles becoming the de facto class of automobiles running on the streets in the future.

More Information at the best car

Green Home Building Books

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.