Where Can I Get Cheap House Insurance?

Many people think that it is not possible to get cheap house insurance as everything has getting overpriced nowadays. Basically, if you have been thinking positively and do your best, it is not impossible to secure cheap house insurance. The below are the one of the greatest money-saver tips for house insurance.

Install devices to keep your home safe - Basically, if your house is equipped with safety and security devices like alarms and fire extinguishers, your house will be more protected from disasters like burglaries or house fire. Therefore, they will help lower your house risk to involve in mishaps and thus, fewer chances to make claims. This will encourage your insurance companies to give out cheaper rates when you negotiate discounts with them.

Consolidate your policies - Most of us do not only buy one kind of insurance. There are so many insurance available and usually we buy more than one to ensure that we have adequate protection in our life. Try getting more than one policy like health, life and car insurance together with your house insurance for cheaper rates. You will be offered with multi-policies discount once you take up more than one type of insurance with a single company.

Shop Around - You can choose to shop around in many ways. You can ask for recommendations form your friends and family, visit the companies yourself or search for information using Internet. The easiest way is to visit an insurance comparison sites. Not that it will provide you with multiple quotes from different well-ranked companies instantly, some of them even have service which allows you to talk to insurance expert for better knowledge and understanding about house insurance.

Set high deductibles - Your savings on insurance depends on how much you want to get for the amount of your deductibles. As a matter of fact, the higher your deductibles, the lower premiums that you have to pay. If you can afford high deductibles, get it by all means. This will also prevent you from making too many claims and will lead to more money savings for you.

Where Can I Get Cheap House Insurance? If you have been asking this question, here's your answer. One of the best websites that you can have a look at is cheap home insurance rates if you need help in getting the best money-saving tips. You will get all the information you want in this website. Go to the website and start saving money now!

Getting Rid Of Horrible Attic Sm

Wood Deck Repair Ideas

Do you have any ideas for building or repairing wood decks . We would love to hear from you in the comment area.

Home Organization Books
Hiring Contractors Books

Credit Repair After Bankruptcy

We live in a credit based and driven society and so many people end up living well beyond their means. With a constant pressure to succeed, achieve and display the fruits of success through material consumer goods, many people get sucked into a vicious cycle of personal debt buying goods they can ill afford on credit and then incurring high interest rates.

More money is borrowed in an attempt to help pay off the original debt and slowly but surely the debtor's income and liquid assets become absorbed in interest and loan repayments. In some worst case scenarios, debtors end up paying over a significant proportion of their income simply to cover the cost of the interest that is being charged on the loan rather than actually paying off the capital sum itself. In theory then, the debtor can become trapped in a perpetual cycle of endless repayment and debt with no real way of escape.

Bankruptcy is a legal process which is designed to help debtors to escape such a debt trap allowing the full value of certain debts to be entirely extinguished meaning that the debts cannot be pursued by creditors, and they are in effect written off. Bankruptcy is especially common for many new businesses, not because of poor business management or due to hostile market conditions but simply because the companies liabilities outstrip the actual earnings.

There is often a great deal of stigma associated and attached to personal bankruptcy as people who are so declared bankrupt are typically viewed as being financially irresponsible and careless with their finances. Often issues such as medical problems, divorces, bereavements and the like are major drains on a person's assets and so care must be drawn to distinguish between debtors who become so indebted due to circumstances beyond their control and reckless debtors who are reckless with their money.

Another common misconception that surrounds personal bankruptcy is that it is some sort of magic solution for all of your financial woes. As touched upon briefly earlier within the article bankruptcy will only ever help quash certain types of debts and so even after a person has been declared bankrupt they may still be responsible for the payment of such debts. Some examples include court fines, and alimony or child support payments.

Personal bankruptcy is not an option that should be taken lightly because it will cause a serious amount of difficulty in the future for the bankruptee when they should happen to wish to apply for additional credit or loans. Whilst it would be a little unfair to say that bankruptcy is the kiss of death for subsequent loan applications, this is not too far from the truth as it is a major red flag for lending agencies. Lending agencies are looking for people who are careful and responsible with money and who will pose little risk and bankruptcy goes against just about everything the banks look for.

Be prepared for another kind of sacrifice: your own personal property. Bankruptcy is a legal process and so the law demands that the applicant makes some attempt of payment to creditors which means that all of the assets of the debtor (with some limited exceptions) gathered in by a bankruptcy official and then sold off to settle the creditors. The chances of such property being returned is somewhere between slim and nil as the bankruptcy officials are more concerned with a speedy sale of assets than getting full value for them.

Bankruptcy is a complicated and arduous process and so will require consultation with a qualified insolvency practitioner so as to ensure the best possible way forward. These people do not typically do such work pro bono and so these fees will also be deducted from the net value of the assets sold off.

Bankruptcy then should only be typically be used where the debts have reached such a level that they cannot be reasonably paid off in the time frame in which they are required although the long term effects of bankruptcy are nothing short of problematic of their own accord. Please make sure you do consult an insolvency advisor to determine whether bankruptcy is the best option for you.

Nicholas Boler is the owner of http://www.repairbadcreditfast.com an informational website about Credit Repair. To view our many FREE articles or learn how to repair bad credit fast after bankruptcy, please visit this page: http://www.repairbadcreditfast.com

How to Start Your Metal Building Project

You need to consider a number of issues before beginning any metal building project. Here are six essential aspects that need to be decided on before starting.

The first consideration is your budget and how much money you have available to fund your project. Many people make the mistake of having funding for the initial phase of their project but then not having the monetary resources for the completion. If your budget is limited you may want to consider a smaller building initially that can expand to a larger facility as additional funds become available.

The purchase of a cheap metal "economy" building is not advised. These buildings can quickly become money nightmares on maintenance issues. Purchase the highest quality metal building you can afford to minimize your maintenance expenses.

Most metal buildings do not come with components as a complete building package. If you will be needing doors, windows, vents, insulation, or any other components you should know that these are purchased separately from the base building package.
Do remember in many cases, the foundation base cost is usually extra and carried out by a separate contractor.

Figure the amount and pricing of the components you need to complete your building first before purchasing the building to see if your budget is in line.

Make sure you know the exact height of the metal building that you require. Add 3 or 4 feet in height more than your tallest door or entrance clearance requirement. You should check your local building regulation before deciding the height clearance required by law.
The erector for your metal building project will rarely offer preparation of your site. You have that responsibility and to make sure you budget accordingly for these improvements.

The site needs to be cleared of all foliage and in some cases leveled. Contact a local landscaping company that has done this type of work before if you do not have the time or manpower to do clear the land yourself.

You want to be sure that your new metal building has the space required for its use. Even though metal buildings are expandable do not cut size requirements initially and complicate your space requirements by growing "out of your building" quicker than expected. Budget for as much space as required by your design requirements.

The use of your metal building is important. You will probably need to go with clear-span metal frame construction if your needs are for a column-free interior environment such as a metal warehouses, metal office complex buildings or aircraft hangers.Clear-span accommodates up to 300 feet in width but is a more expensive system.

You can save money if the application of interior columns is not an issue in a manufacturing facility, for example. This is called a multi-span metal frame system.

Written by Jim 'G' Davidson - freelance writer for http://www.metal-building-sales.com

Toilet Paper Under The Bathroom

Drywall Beginners Guide:How to Tape Drywall

If you are working on a home improvement project and need to know how to tape drywall you have come to the right place. This article will feature instructions on taping drywall so the do-it-yourselfer can complete home improvement projects involving this process. Knowing how to tape drywall properly is not a difficult process to learn.

All you need are the proper tools and techniques to get the job done. Although the process of taping drywall is not difficult, it is, however, a time consuming and detailed process. Taping the drywall seams can take three times as long as it takes to hang the drywall in some cases.

Understanding how to tape drywall is so important because without completing this process correctly the room may have an unattractive and unprofessional look. This article will include instructions for how to complete this project but if after reading the article, you are not feeling confident about this project it might be wise to consider hiring a professional drywall finishing crew. Their highly specialized skills will enable them to complete the process with a great deal of precision resulting in a room that really looks complete.

The Right Tools for the Job

Knowing how to tape drywall includes understanding that you will need to have the proper tools to complete the job. It is often said that knowing how to do a job and having the tools to do the job is half the battle. It may be possible to complete the project without the right tools but it will likely take significantly longer.

To tape drywall you will need drywall tape, joint compound and an appropriately sized drywall knife. Also, a coarse and fine grit sandpaper will be needed to finish the job. Without these tools and supplies the process will not only be more difficult but may also not end up looking as professional as it would if you used the proper supplies and tools.

Finishing the Drywall

Knowing how to tape drywall involves understanding the entire process involved with finishing the drywall. This is important because failure to understand the entire process may result in a finished product that does not have the appearance of work done by a professional.

The first step in the process involves applying drywall compound on each joint. Three layers of this compound are typically applied. After each layer is applied, the compound is allowed to dry completely and is then sanded before the process is completed. After the third layer of drywall compound has been sanded it is time to tape the joints.

The joints between each sheet of drywall are then taped and filled with drywall compound. Once the tape is applied the drywall compound is smoothed with a caulking knife and the excess compound is removed.

Finally after the drywall compound dries completely it is sanded first with a course grit sandpaper and then with a finer grit sandpaper to create a smooth and polished look. Allow the compound to dry for 24 hours before you begin to sand.

The coarse grit sandpaper should be used to remove large amounts of compound. The finer grit should be used to blend the edges of the compound to the wall to provide a seamless transition. You may have to repeat the process of applying compound and sanding to attain the desired result. Knowing how to tape drywall will provide that professional look to your drywall project.

Visit http://www.onlinetips.org, and read about automatic drywall taping tools and using a drywall lift.

Exterior Wood Beams

Pictures Of Landscaping - Using Other Peoples Ideas To Design Your Landscape

One of the most common searches on my site is for pictures of landscaping. So I know that a lot of folks rely on photos of other peoples designs to get ideas. But at the same time, while I do have a large picture directory of other peoples projects on my site, the most common questions I receive are still related to specific shapes and design ideas.

It would seem that with as many pictures of landscaping there are to look at online, just about everyone could find a close match to their own property that could be copied. It would seem so.....if every yard was square or rectangular. However, the fact is that most yards arent square or rectangular. So even with the endless landscaping ideas and examples out there, its still highly unlikely that youll find an exact match to the shape of your property.

Dont tell anyone... but even as a professional, I still use pictures of other peoples landscaping as an educational tool and to get new ideas. However, unlike most people, I dont search for an exact idea to copy. I look for unique, creative, and new ideas and pieces of the puzzle.

Now heres a piece of advice and the point to this entire article.

When looking at pictures of landscaping, pay attention to the details, ideas, and principles that are universal to most designs. Look for the things that are common and repeated often by different designers. These are the elements that look good because they are generally based on basic principles of art. These are the things that will probably incorporate well into your own design project regardless of shape.

Other peoples landscaping pictures are a great design tool to help you get your project done. However, instead of hopelessly searching for your exact layout, borrow several ideas from several different designs. Youll save yourself a lot of frustration and have a much better chance of creating something unique to your own property.

Written by Steve Boulden. Steve is the creator of The Landscape Design Site which offers free landscaping ideas, pictures, and advice to do it yourselfers. Check out his free list of landscaping pictures at http://www.the-landscape-design-site.com/gardenstyles.

What Does A Gfi Do

Credit Repair Services

Credit repair services should not be confused with credit counseling services. In fact, credit counseling can actually hurt your credit scores. Credit repair exists to improve your credit scores. It's very important not to get the two confused.

Since credit repair is a fairly new topic and there are so many scams out there, many people are afraid to go to a credit repair service. You shouldn't be. The FTC is coming down hard on all credit repair organizations that are not following the law. As long as you do your homework and know your rights company, credit repair companies can do amazing things for your financial future.

Credit repair services must follow specific guidelines from the Credit Repair Organizations Act, which are intended to protect consumers. You should receive an explanation of these rights before signing a written contract. Read them. In fact, get familiar with them BEFORE making calls and/or visiting a credit repair company. Once you have it narrowed down, look up their record with the BBB.

You should receive a contract with all of the following information:

The payment terms for services, including their total cost

A detailed description of the services to be performed

How long it will take to achieve the results

Any guarantees they offer

The company's name and business address

Many people will tell you that you can repair your credit by yourself and that is absolutely true, but getting results can be difficult, time consuming, and frustrating. Choosing the right credit repair service can save you a lot of time and money. Finding one with years of experience and one that is professional is your best bet. Many of them also have full refund policies to give you piece of mind. I've seen a few reputable ones with 100% money back guarantees. Most of them also offer small monthly payment plans which you can cancel at anytime.

Chane Steiner is a credit repair expert and founder of AAACreditGuide.com, the credit repair authority site. His site has helped many people repair their credit and get back on their feet. Chane has reviewed and recommends the following credit repair services.

Post Your Ideas Here On Deck Building

Do you have any ideas for building or repairing wood decks . We would love to hear from you in the comment area. Any useful comments that you can make on deck construction or deck building will help our blog readers.

Old Souls Of The World

Environmentally Friendly Roofing For Your Home

All home owners would agree that replacing the roof of your home is a daunting task, a home improvement project that is left until absolutely necessary!

The truth is that the roof is one of the most important building features of the home and it is absolutely critical that you choose the right roofing material and the right contractor to have a roof that will last you a lifetime.

If it is time for you to start thinking about replacing that old roof why not make an effort to become more environmentally friendly! Today's home building industry is taking enormous green steps to help provide home owners with more environmentally friendly building material options so that we can make better choices for the environment at home!

Gone are the days of installing the horrifically hazardous asphalt shingles as they are a petroleum-derived product that is a large contributor to our landfills. Now you have green roofing options to choose from!

Types of Eco-Friendly Roofs at Home

1. Greenroofs: A growing trend for urban landscapes today is to implement greenroofs into the design of condominiums and commercial businesses. You can also create one at home as well! A greenroof is simply a low-lying garden built according to specific building code so as to not potentially harm your housing structure. These roofs are an amazing eco-friendly idea that contribute to the improvement of air quality and rainwater runoff toxicity.

2. Recycled Metal Roofing: Another fantastic environmentally friendly roofing material is of course metal. Metal roofing is a common sight in southern states as they are also known to be "cool roofs". These roofs are excellent for energy efficiency as they help to repel the light rays of the sun reducing the overall indoor temperature of your home. It is wise to ensure that your metal roofing manufacturer does use recycled materials. There are many that do, so choose wisely!

3. Solar Power PV Shingles: A great way to help generate your own power at home is to implement solar power shingles into your roofing design. These shingles are designed to resemble typical asphalt shingles! Now you don't have to have enormous solar powers to gain the benefits of solar power.

4. Synthetic Roofing: If you are looking for something a little different and incredibly durable, consider synthetic roofing materials. These roofs are made with recycled plastic waste materials and natural fibres. These roofs are not only incredibly strong but are also very stylish! They can resemble any type of shingle, shake or tile and they last a lifetime! These roofs are in most cases non-toxic and 100% recyclable!

So the decision to replace the dreaded roof can finally make a difference for our planet and of course your home.

Jennie Kyle is the co-founder of TheSexyGreenHome.com a resource website for green living providing visitors with quality information regarding environmentally friendly materials and products for the home. To learn more about green roofing materials visit her website. Turn your home into a Sexy Green Home!

I Have A Squeaky Floor

How to Repair Event ID 454 in Exchange Server

Each Event ID has a different meaning, like Event ID 454 suggests that the Information Store database has got corrupted due to any cause. In the description part, you would see different error numbers, through which the source of corruption and hence cure can be judged out:

"Information Store (976) Database recovery/restore f th unexpected error Error Number

With Event ID 454, the application wants to tell that there is a problem with the restore or recovery operation with the database. If Exchange Server has detected a missing file, any different version file or the corrupted files in the database, this Event ID can be seen. Now, with different Error numbers, you can find the culprit:

Error 1216: During recovery process, when ESE attempts to bring all the databases in a storage group into a consistent process and finds a database missing, the error may be seen. So locate and restore the missing databases to the appropriate folder. Another cause could be the missing or replaced transactions logs with different versions and hence restore them and have soft EDB recovery. While the restore option, the non-access to the Active Directory can also contribute and so replay the log files.

Error 552: D e generation of patch files which use the same name as of database having .pat file extension, the error may be seen. During restoration from the online backup, these files are written in a single folder and hence only one patch file is available due to overwriting and restoration fails. So try to uniquely name the databases in the single storage group.

Error 2204: If the streaming files have been moved, the error may be seen. So locate or restore them from backup.

Error 501: This occurs due to the corruption of log files. So if the database files are consistent, move all the log files from the folder and if they are not, have Exchange Server support / Recovery from backup or using Eseutil/p.

The situations may arise where you dont have backup and also dont want to sacrifice the data with the destructing act of Eseutil. This is the stage when you need some third party help of EDB recovery software. The software prove as a safe play with the corrupted database, giving the extract mecha the affected database.

Stellar Phoenix Mailbox exchange Recovery is the application to have the valuable results of Exchange Server repair. This uses the most powerful EDB repair targeted scanning algorithms to extract the mailboxes. This Exchange Server support software is compatible with Exchange Server 5.5, 2000 and 2003. You can get all the e-mails, notes, cale pointments and other EDB objects, with Exchange Server recovery done.

Swadie Nina is an Exchange Server Support specialist for iYogibusiness, provides detailed information on exchange server support, exchange support, exchange server services, exchange server 2007, server support, windows server support, small business server support etc. For more info you can reach at: swadie.nina01@gmail.com

Broken Electrical Outlet Cover

RegSWEEP Review - It's a Good Registry Repair Utility

Don't spend countless hours searching the web for instructions on how to resolve PC errors or waste your money on computer repairs and calls overseas to help centers! Try RegSweep instead. RegSweep took only two minutes to scan my infected system. I had almost forgotten that I was scanning and was able to get some more coffee while I was waiting. RegSweep supports different languages (including English). RegSweep is designed to scan the registry, identify the problems and repair a majority of the errors.

RegSweep's interface is nice. It isn't difficult to use, but it isn't the easiest interface we have seen either. RegSweep seems to get it's share of mixed reviews. Some people say that it has done them wonders, while other say that it has not. RegSweep isn't just about fixing errors though. It works to boost your general PC performance by the tried and tested start-up management.

RegSweep worked well on my computer. It found 1,036 errors and I reran the scan and repair two times to fix the errors and come up clean. RegSweep is a fairly useful registry repair tool. It is able to do a fast scan of your file system and registry in less than 2 minutes, then automatically repair those infected items to improve your PC functions. I was amazed that RegSweep can do a complete scan of the entire file system and registry in under 2 minutes! All corrupt files, paths, and registry keys will be analyzed and automatically repaired so that your PC functions just as when you first purchased it.

Regsweep covers a bit more ground in what registry entrie it will scan compared to some of the other rgistry repair software I have reviewed. I selected all the options found on the scan screen and hit the start scan button and set my timer. RegSweep is basically a software program designed to cleanup the PC's system registry. I recently discovered that the system registry can also be the cause of slow computer performance as well as error messages. RegSWEEP is not hard to use. In fact, RegSWEEP is considered to be one of the most user-friendly computer diagnostic and repair solutions available.

Get a free download of RegSWEEP here.

Open Plumbing Waste Pipes

Comment on Wood Deck Repairs

Do you have any ideas for building or repairing wood decks . We would love to hear from you in the comment area.

Home Building Books
House Foundation Books

Pest Problems in Your Attic

Sometimes I wonder how these large animals can get through such small holes in our homes and into our attics and crawlspace's. A few years ago, I was working on a home that had water damage to the siding that needed to be fixed. The homeowner of course didn't want anymore water damage and this required repairing roof, the original cause for the siding damage.

When I bid the job, I had no idea what I was about to run into. The first day on the job, went smoothly as I repaired some damage fascia board, but the next day I was in for a surprise, as I removed the damaged siding, I found what looked like dog poop in the attic.

I was looking around in the attic and trying to figure out how a dog could of got up there. I know that I shouldn't have, but I walked around the home inspecting it for a large hole, any holes, something that a small dog could have wiggled his way into. I got my latter off of the truck and then went on the roof, trying to find a place where a dog could have got into the attic.

I couldn't find any holes and after wasting about an hour, I decided it was time to get back to work and since the homeowner wasn't there, I couldn't show him my new findings or ask him any questions. I cleaned up the mess and repaired the water damaged siding, but in the back of my head I kept thinking about how in the heck a dog got up in the attic.

To make a short story even shorter, when the homeowner arrived home that day, I showed him my findings and he informed me that he didn't have a dog. He did however inform me that he has been hearing something walking around in his attic for about a year now. He had a pretty good idea that they were raccoons.

I told him, that I had inspected his home and only found one small hole on top of his roof underneath the roof eave, but there's no way that a small raccoon could fit through that hole. He told me that you would be surprised, what these animals were capable of squeezing into and out of.

Well that's about it, the mystery was solved, I repaired the small hole in the attic and have never heard from the homeowner again. Hopefully that meant I did my job well and not that he was embarrassed about the poop in the attic.

Pest Control Ideas, House Pest Pictures

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 has just finished a Home Buyers Guide to take some of the frustration out of home shopping.

Fascia Board Fell Off Wood Rot
Roof Fascia Section Repair

Frequently Asked Questions of a Computer Repair Person

Here are some of the Most Frequently Asked Questions of a PC Repair Person

Q: What is the difference between a Virus and Spyware in my computer?

A: Virus programs tend to spread naturally via email and/or file sharing. They are destructive in nature also, often destroying data and causing programs to malfunction. Spyware on the other hand, is more subtle, but just as dangerous in a completely different way. Spyware is comprised of a program (or group of them) that deposits itself into your computer without your knowledge, and watches what you do. Information about the websites you have visited, what types of shopping you do, etc is stored, and then sent to companies that sell your data. Demographics like this are sold for big dollars in todays world, and it does not seem to matter how ethical the source is.

Q: How do I avoid getting Spyware in my computer(s)?

A: The best thing you can do is this: Remember that when a popup window appears over or under your web browser , that it needs to be immediately closed. It needs to be closed however, using the X that is at the top, right of the window. This is the same method you use to close any other Windows program. NEVER click on an OK button when you see a popup window! Hitting the OK button will surely install some type of tracking software in your computer and you will be seeing ads for products that they want to sell you.

Q: What kind of regular maintenance does my computer need?

A: There are several things that will make it last longer and run better over the long run. As long as you are using the computer, you will be adding more new programs to it (in many cases). Very often old programs are rarely used and just taking up disk space. When this happens the hard drive can fill up and reduce the speed at which the PC operates quite noticeably. Worse though, is when programs are running in the background because they start when you start the machine. Usually you will see the icon for this type of program on the bottom-right of your monitor in the task bar. All of those icons represent software that is running while you use the computer. Why have old programs tie up system resources if youre not using them?

Old programs need to be uninstalled from the machine. You can always reinstall them at a later date if you decide to! Another thing to do is make sure the computer has enough air. Breathing room is important to the computers ability to cool, and modern computers do tend to run hot! A Pentium 4 computer (or equivalent) operates at very high speeds and the frequencies on the main board are quite high. Add to that a huge hard drive that spins faster than drives used to, and you can see the need for cooling. Many computers have 3 or more fans inside of them. Dont block them in! Also the computer needs to be opened up once a year and have the dirt blown out of the vents and fan areas.

Q: Should I shut my PC off at night or leave it on?

A: Only shut the monitor off, not the computer. Your computer will last longer if it is left on all of the time; it has a power saving mode that will keep it from using much electricity after its been unused for a while. The monitor however should be shut off especially if it is a CRT (television type) screen rather than a flat panel monitor.

Q: How long does a computer last?

A: The hard drive in a modern computer will last 3 to 5 years and can easily be replaced when it fails. All you need is your CDs and your Data Backup for me to do this for you. Most of the other components in the computer are circuit-board based, and have a much longer life span if properly maintained. If a computer is kept clean inside and cool, it may last 10 years easily.

Q: What happens when I lose my original CDs that came with the computer?

A: Your operating system can still be restored - but it takes longer and usually costs more money to do so. What this requires is for the installer to contact your computers manufacturer either via the telephone or the Internet. Only then can the proper software be acquired to make all of the devices inside the computer work.

Q: Do I need a UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) for my computer?

A: Yes and no. Is your computer absolutely necessary for you to do what you do? If so, then it sure would be nice if the machine had electricity when the power in the building goes off! If that is not the case, then I would recommend whats referred to as a Line Conditioner.

This is a device that filters the computers power, providing constant, even voltage to the machine at all times. Do NOT Confuse this with a typical, inexpensive power strip. These devices have 5 or so handy outlets on them but they are NOT surge protectors. They will do nothing at all to protect a computers electronics. What do you expect for five dollars? If your computer is important to you, then you need more protection than just a simple power strip; this is nothing more than an extension cord with a different name applied to it.

Paul Brustas
San Diego PC 2007
All Rights Reserved

http://www.sandiegopcexperts.com

Things to Consider When Creating Your Company Website

Here are some things that you have to consider in designing your site.

1. Avoid too many advertisements

Ads may generate income to your site particularly if you are part of affiliate marketing but too much ads is not useful to any site. To avoid excessive and repetitive ads, you have to place these ads in areas where they can easily be seen but not too distracting to your readers.

2. Site is easy to navigate

Your site should be easy to navigate without broken links. If visitors cannot find the things they need, chances are they will leave the site so therefore, make sure that all the needed information are placed in proper links.

3. Avoid too much pop-up

Too many pop-up ads are not really attracting to web visitors. Often than not, visitors are dismayed and got annoyed easily when too much ads pop up to their screen as these visitors often think that sites with to much pop-up ads are just adwares masquerading as ads so avoid too much pop-up in your site.

4. Don't use loud music to your site

Music can be entertaining but unless your site offers products or services related to music don't put any loud music to your site.

Visitors have different music preferences and not much people will appreciate your favorite song even if it is the new billboard hit. So it is better not to put music to your site. But if you really want to put music, you have to avoid the loud ones as this might annoy your audience, which will cause them to leave your site.

5. Excessive graphics

Graphics is very important in creating your web site but you have to make sure that you are using just enough images because too much will slow down your web site. Just use images that are directly related to your web site to avoid confusing and annoying your visitors.

6. Use the right style and size of font

Reading from print materials is very different from reading in web sources so you have to consider the right size of font. There are websites that really put small fonts to save space but doing so sometimes affect the readability of their web page. Remember, visitors just skim and do not really read so if you are using relatively very small fonts, the likelihood of reading is lower, so choose carefully the size and style of your web font.

7. Rich and informative content

Readers now are also looking for rich and informative content of website. No matter how beautiful your site is but if it does not offer new content, it will still look like empty. You have to offer new contents to update your site and to attract these visitors to visit your site regularly.

8. Color

The color of your images and font should blend well. Avoid background colors and font colors that are contrasting and eye straining to your readers.

Jonathan Popoola specializes in web design gloucestershire and web design cheltenham. Visit my site for information on web design.

Boat Construction - Why Sailboats Look As They Do

The purpose of this article is to give a cursory look at boat construction, not so that you would be able to build one, but to show some of the reasons why sailboats look as they do. Although there is a huge range of designs for boats they are basically the same whether they are a racing dinghy, a fishing smack, or an ocean racer or cruiser. They are as cars are -- the design changes only with the purpose of the machine, and after that for cosmetic effect.

So boats, generally, are sharp at the end that goes through the water first, they have varying degrees of width (beam) and they are blunt at the trailing end. They will have a mast, either tall or short, and they will have sails. Because they have sails, they must have a keel. If the boat is a fishing smack it will be slow, it will have a short mast, and it will be made of enormously strong timbers because it has to survive heavy weather, it has to carry a heavy catch, and it has to have great power to drag its nets.

If the boat is a racing dinghy, it will hold two, sometimes three people. It will be light enough to carry to the beach and trail home, and it will have a dish-shaped bottom and a centreboard. This is because it usually sails in sheltered waters, the weight of the crew keeps it upright, and it wants as little wetted surface as possible so that it can travel as fast as possible. An ocean racer won't have a doghouse (the bit of the cabin that sticks up above the deck), it will have a mast that seems ridiculously light for such a powerful vessel and it will have a wide range of sails to choose from.

The ocean cruiser will have a solid mast, often with steps up the side. It will have a big cockpit, and a big doghouse. The boat will tend to have more beam than the racer, although not necessarily so, and it will have sails that furl into the mast, or around themselves, with the controls running back to the cockpit. The point I am making is that, however the special purpose of a boat affects the design, it will still be within broad controlling factors.

Materials used to make hulls

In the same way that design can change for special purposes, so has it changed in the last few decades, especially because new materials have become available. In fact materials from which hulls are made have changed dramatically. Designers have moved from wood, fibreglass, aluminium and steel to specify foam and Kevlar sandwiches, end-grain balsa held by thin wooden skins inside and out, carbon fibre and other space-age materials. Also, instead of being constructed in a style which had not changed much since Biblical times, hulls are now moulded, and are even baked in giant ovens to cook the exotic materials into a lightweight shape that is lighter than alloy and stronger than steel.

Hull shapes

Hull shapes have changed, too. The fat, shallow, modern boat sails to windward far better than the traditional styles by utilising lift from the keel. And, because they are light, the modern boats run far faster. The only advantage the older, heavier boat has over the modern boat is that it is not thrown sideways as much in big, breaking seas.

But, however much shape and materials have altered, the skeleton of a boat is still much the same. To understand the structure of a hull is to understand the strain on it and to know when to take that strain off. It is outside the scope of this article to discuss design in the sense of which is the latest or which is the best. Every boat buyer decides that personal equation himself. We only want to understand enough about boat construction to see how the design and building absorb the stresses handed out by the sea.

Copyright 2008 Bevanda Pty Ltd

Learn more about sailing in The Boating Bible Manual of Seamanship, http://www.theboatingbible.com/Product.htm

There are also free articles, a blog and a weekly newsletter with tips and advice from Jim Murrant, a very experienced sailor. See you there!

Visit The Boating Bible Manual of Seamanship today -- http://www.theboatingbible.com

It's all about Sailing!

Change Your Thinking About Life

What do I do when I get down and out. Well that use to happen to me often and I seemed to suffer with some minor depression. It would seem like time would stand still. I would look at the clock and notice the time. Let's say 2:23 in the afternoon. I would look back to see what time it was about fifteen minutes latter and it would be 2:26. Wow what in the heck is going on with this clock.

I just couldn't believe it seemed like the day would never end. I would just sit there and think about all the stuff going on in my life, good and bad of course. This seemed to last until I was in my early twenties. I just didn't want to feel like this any more. I made a Conscious design not to get depressed period. I never wanted to feel like that again.

I read a book on ESP and in the book it described visualizing a rose as you went to sleep. I started doing this every night and while I was doing the exercise it seemed to make me feel relaxed in a way I never had felt before. The reason for the exercise was to teach you to visualize something peaceful. This in turn would put you in a peaceful state of mind.

Then a thought came into my noggin. What if when ever I start to feel bad or seem to be going into a sort of depressive state of mind I change my thoughts. It worked... I would start to visualize something else that made me feel comfortable and give me a peaceful feeling. Man was I surprised with my results.

Keep in mind I didn't think of this all on my own but I did put the pieces of the puzzle I needed to together that I needed to change my life. It seemed like I could use this form of self control in different parts of my life. If I was at work and someone made me mad.... Well this didn't work all the time... I still got mad. Let's pick something else OK.

I would worry about something on the job that wasn't going right. Then I would get irritated over something else that wasn't even related to what I was worrying about. Why did I take it out on the other person when what I was really mad about was something else. We do this all the time in our lives. We seem to get mad, get even or give up. Why do we do this and what can we do to stop it.

My main point to all of this is we can change our thinking and change our lives. We can learn new things to change our thinking. We don't need to give up hope that we will always be like this. Change the things you don't like about yourself. Do it today. If you need some help there is a great book that will help you change your life for the better.

You can find it at http://www.live.spiritualideas.com This book has a lot of tools to create the change in your life you want to have a more full filling life.

Most people give up just when they're about to achieve success. They quit on the one yard line. They give up at the last minute of the game one foot from a winning touchdown. Ross Perot.

Start Living Your Dreams Today and Create a Wonderful Life For Yourself And Your Family. Greg Vanden Berge is one of the best inspirations on the planet. You will be hearing a lot about this guy in the future. You can count on it.

Extreme Temperature Building

Please Help Us with Your Remodeling Advice

How would you like to help other contractors, home improvement specialists, builders, real estate professionals and anyone else involved in home remodeling. If you have any tips or home improvement advice to you would like to share with our readers, it would greatly be appreciated. Leave all comments below.

Landscaping Books

All About Log Home Kits and Packages

Building a log home may sound difficult, but by using a log home kit, you'll have a much easier time. Here are some of the basics of log home kits:

What's Included

What's included in a log home kit can differ from one company to another, but they generally include the logs, pre-cut to your order specifications, a building plan to follow with instructions and shipping to your lot with support. Some companies may also offer assembly and finishing.

Pros and Cons

Detailed instructions are included with most kits, and this makes it easy for people to assemble the home themselves, with just basic carpentry and construction tools. One disadvantage is that it requires quite a bit of labor and muscle to assemble the logs and materials provided. Unless your project is a small one, like a single room cabin, the labor can be quite extensive and this can mean that anyone not in the best of shape or older people may not be able to assemble the structure themselves. Due to this, a contractor may be required for assembly, and this can incur a great expense. Often, your log home kit manufacturer can either point you to a contractor that has experience in assembling their homes or they may have people on staff that specialize in helping people assemble the home. This is usually a better option than going with an outside contractor.

Uses

A log home structure can have many uses, including myriad uses for camping cabins, vacation cabins, a hunting cabin, bathhouse, bunkhouse, all the way up to full size homes with multiple bedrooms, full kitchen and bathrooms and large living rooms. A log cabin home is also ideal for use as a second home, vacation home, ski lodge or your dream "cabin in the woods" for weekend getaways.

Customization

Many log home kit manufacturers carry a wide variety of home plans for you to choose from, however, many also offer completely custom home plan options, as well as customizations to their existing plans.

Types Available

One of the main variances in types of log home kits is the type of log used. Typical logs used may be rustic peeled, specially shaped, clapboard exterior and cottage style.

Costs

Log cabin kits can range from thousands of dollars for a very small cabin to tens of thousands of dollars for a larger cabin to six figures for a larger home with multiple rooms and modern features.

Who is it for?

Anyone who wants the rustic, natural look of a log home would be an ideal candidate for a log home kit.

Log Home Exchange is your source for log homes for sale and log cabins for sale in the US and Canada. Visit us at: http://www.loghomeexchange.com/

Building Stairs With Recycled Concrete

All About Retaining Walls - Concrete Retaining Walls and Decorative Retaining Walls

Introduction to Retaining Walls

First, a retaining wall is a structure that holds back, or retains, lateral faces of dirt, water, or other materials. Retaining walls are used to prevent erosion or collapse of higher level ground onto a certain building, structure, or general area. The earth that is retained is often referred to as backfill. The word backfill is also used as a verb to describe placing more dirt behind a retaining wall to make the ground more level.

Retaining walls can be the answer if you are blessed (or cursed) to a contoured lot. They can turn a steep slope into a terraced yard, creating a stair step effect instead of a slope.

Retaining walls can be constructed from many different materials using many different techniques. There are several factors that influence which choice will be the best choice for each situation, including cost, height of the wall, soil characteristics, and ground water conditions.

Generally, most municipalities require that any retaining wall over four feet in height be engineered or approved by a licensed engineer. It is important to check local building codes before starting any retaining wall projects, even if it is below four feet tall. After all, retaining walls should be structurally sound before there is any thought of aesthetic appeal. The retaining wall must be able to stand up to the pressure exerted by the backfill, also called lateral earth pressure. This lateral earth pressure is a majority of the force that the retaining wall will need to bear. Lateral earth pressure is determined by studying the weight of the soil unit, slope of the soil, soil type (for plasticity and adhesion purposes with clay soil types), and ground water levels. Engineers do many calculations with these factors to determine what design to implement with the wall. To homeowners and contractors that do not want to go through engineering steps, it is generally a good rule to overdo it. Many structural methods to build retaining walls with withhold earth, at least temporarily, with a height up to four feet, are adequate, which is why most local building codes require engineering if the wall will be over four feet tall.

However, even methods that may seem adequate for retaining earth can fail if they are not built properly. Many times, it is elements below grade that can make (or break) a retaining wall. Problems including bowing, slanting, or cracking are evidence of retaining wall failure because it was not successful in retaining the dirt. Cutting costs with a bad contractor, insufficient materials, or neglecting the below grade elements can turn out to be more expensive over time if replacement or repair is necessary often or if collapse of earth causes damage to nearby structures. For example, erosion can cause foundation issues if dirt erodes from under the foundation. This is just one example how a retaining wall failure can cause expensive problems aside from the cost to repair or replace the retaining wall.

Another aspect that is often neglected or underestimated that can cause failure of a retaining wall is drainage. Inadequate drainage of retaining walls can mean that water is trapped behind the wall, adding to the weight that the wall must hold back. Usually weep holes and/or drainage pipes are used to flush rain water and ground water from behind the wall. It is important that the drainage system, whatever it be, have a filter barrier to keep dirt from clogging the drain or weep hole.

Options for Retaining Wall Materials

Railroad Crossties Railroad crossties, also shortened to railroad ties, can be used as a retaining wall material; however, as with most every retaining wall material, it must be installed correctly in order to be a solution. For example, most railroad tie retaining walls will need a substantial footer to tie the crossties to in order to keep the bottom from sliding out. Also, there needs to be perpendicular members placed into the ground behind the wall to keep the wall from overturning. These members, called deadmen, should be at least 1.5 times as long as the wall is high and should be placed at minimum every 6 feet or so. Because railroad ties are wood (even though they are treated most of the time), there is a risk that they may rot over time or be subject to termite infestation, which can lead to a weak wall likely to bulge or break. And, even though there are areas for water to slowly seep though, it is still a good idea to have a filtered drain or weep holes designed into the wall.

Treated Wood Treated wood retaining walls offer many of the same risks as retaining walls because over time it is susceptible to rot and termite infestation. It is a labor intensive construction, but it is usually lightweight and decently strong if built correctly. It is recommended to build a concrete footer to attach the wall to in order to keep it from shifting. Construction usually requires a clear area to be backfilled after the wall is built, so it is not always the best material to use if you are replacing an existing retaining wall. This wall still needs weep holes or drains designed into the wall. Standing water behind the wood will only increase risk of rot.

Concrete Concrete is a great material to use for retaining walls. Of course, there is a right and a wrong way to build a concrete retaining wall, which makes choosing your contractor a big job. There are many different designs that can lead to a successful concrete retaining wall, but one thing is for sure: there needs to be a footer beneath the wall to ensure success. Concrete is one of the most durable man-made products known to man. Most concrete poured today is engineered to last for over 50 years. Plus, concrete offers many decorative options as well. Aside from a plain, white concrete retaining wall, you can also pour a colored concrete retaining wall, stain a retaining wall after it has cured, pour into a patterned form, apply a vertical stamp material and pattern after poured, etc. Sealing the concrete wall can lead to an easy-to-maintain surface that rinses free of most dirt and grime.

Blocks or Paver Stones Engineered blocks that stack together to make a wall must be as simple as building with Legos, right? Nope. These retaining walls should also have a significant footer in order to support not only the weight of the dirt but also the weight of the wall. These blocks can be a unique look, but it may even be necessary to place a concrete retaining wall behind the blocks if there immense lateral earth pressure. In such a case, the concrete would be the structural element, using the blocks as a visual feature.

Rock or Brick One of the favorite looks for a retaining wall is natural stone or brick. These materials usually look more permanent and traditionally classy. However, just as we have seen with the other materials, it is necessary to have a concrete footer below grade to carry the weight and ensure success of the retaining wall. Like architectural blocks or paver systems, it may be necessary to back a masonry retaining wall with a concrete retaining wall for structural support.

Tasha Lucas
Monster Constructors - http://www.monsterconstructors.com
Retaining Walls - http://www.monsterconstructors.com/dfw-retaining-walls.htm

Are There Any Good Contractors out There

I would love to hear your good contractor stories. I'm so tired of hearing about contractor nightmares, is there anyone out there that has a good contractor story. Place it in the comment area underneath this question.

Home Inspection Books

Adding a 3 Season Porch Or 3 Season Room

Things feeling cramped? It's as if your house shrank, closing in on the once comfy living quarters. There are plenty of options out there: buy need, build, remodel . . . but do any of them fit within your current reality? For most of us, the answer is a resounding "no". So what options do you have? The 3 season porch.

With the housing market in the slumps moving is impractical. With the economy down adding a large addition is unwise, so the 3 season porch becomes a choice more and more families are moving toward. Financially they make sense, not to mention they conversion potential they provide. If you future-proof your porch you can modify it into a sunroom when the time is right for you.

Benefits of the 3 season porch:

* Increases your living space

* No need for insect repellent

* Raises your property value

When you begin the process of looking for a professional to help you, select the person that is willing to address the questions below:

* How will the new structure tie in with the existing structure?

* How can the inside space be maximized without sacrificing the outdoor space?

* What steps will be taken now to make the sunroom conversion a reality?

If you put in some time now thinking about what exactly you want and deal with a builder that actually listens to your needs before they decide what they're going to do, you will find that your experience with building your 3 season porch will be almost as pleasant as enjoying it for years to come.

Lennox Builders are skilled craftsmen; focusing on the needs of the people they work for. If You Live in Minnesota give them a call at (763) 481-2434 or go to LennoxBuilders.com to start your 3 season porch today.

Wood Backing For Toilet Pipe

Increasing the Appeal of Your House by Means of Home Renovation

They say a man's home is his castle and since it's where we spend most of our hours away from work, it should be one that we're always looking forward to come home to. Whether it is a two-story Victorian, a hillside hideaway or a cozy beachfront bungalow, our homes should be a reflection of ourselves and our character. Also, it should be an embodiment of what we perceive to be the ideal hideout from the pressures and chaos of the outside world.

A person's home should be a place of relaxation and bliss, relatively free of the stresses of day to day living. It is where we spend our time unwinding and meditating and it is where we wake-up to the light of a new day- gathering energy for the activities that await us.

There comes a time when people get bored with the appearance of their homes. Maybe the paint starts to peel, or the plumbing starts to drip. In any case, when our haven from the pressures of the outside world ceases to be a place of Zen and becomes a source of angst in itself, it might be time to consider a few changes and doing a home renovation.

Renovation is the most practical thing to do for homeowners who've had their dwellings for quite a few years. Times are harder nowadays and unless you're one of the lucky few who have extra dough, it doesn't really make sense to sell the home you've become attached to and purchase a new one.

If what's bugging you is just a drippy faucet or a few stains on a wall, you can certainly grab a monkey-wrench or a paintbrush and save yourself some money. If it's something bigger like a new all-around color scheme, an overhaul on the plumbing or actual remodeling, you might still be able to do it considering you've had experience in those things. Otherwise, it's wiser to hire the services of a contractor to avoid making costly mistakes and irreversible damage to your castle.

Contractors have years of experience and expertise on anything you might want to have done. There are general contractors and there are those that do specific tasks: roofing contractors, plumbing contractors, painting, etc. All that you need to do is sit down with one recommended by someone you trust and tell them what you have in mind and how much you're willing to spend.

There are several things folks should look into when having major home renovation done. The first thing obviously, is your budget. It wouldn't make sense to start a major remodeling project only to stop halfway because you've run out of funds. Have a realistic figure on how much you can spend and how much you want done.

When it comes to remodeling and renovation, it's also important to know exactly what you want from the beginning. It's ultimately better to have a clear picture of what your goals are and do your planning from there rather than decide on what you want along the way.

Having a timeframe on how much the project is going to take will also help you manage the adjustments your family has to make. Timing is a big issue when it comes to construction and it's best to plan around holidays, celebrations and family gatherings to avoid unnecessary headaches.

During these tough financial times, home renovation is the better way to go if you want to address problems of wear and tear, increase the value of your home, or just change the appearance of your dwelling and make it more pleasurable to live in.

Jo is a writer for 'EBL Group Limited' (http://www.eblgroup.co.uk), a family managed, established and recommended house insurance repairs outworker stationed in Runcorn Cheshire. If you need insurance building repairs as a result of storm, flood, fire, malicious or fortuitous damage or any other reasons or if you have home and buildings improvement requirements then you should check out EBL Group.

Rubber Paint Over Shower Backing

Installing Molding For Interior Doors

When installing door trim, some carpenters begin with the legs(vertical pieces); Others prefer to hang the top trim first. Installing the top first has the advantage of offering precise control over the most finicky part of the installation, the miters. Once the top trim is up, install the legs one at a time, positioning each so that the miter is perfect. If you install the legs first, you'll have to fit the top trim on both miters simultaneously. Unless both miters are perfect and the legs perfectly parallel, you are bound to get gaps you can't close in your work.

Lay out out the reveal., The door trim is never flush with the edge of the jamb; typically it sits back from the edge by about 1/8th inch. The space, or reveal, leaves enough room for the hinge barrel and provides a margin of error if the jamb dips.

The frame on the prehung door is likely to have a layout line on it that marks the edge of the reveal. If you work on an unmarked door frame, set a combination square to 1/8 inch, and guide it and a pencil along the frame. Mark the reveal on both sides and above the door.

Measure and miter the top trim. First cut a 45-degree miter on one end of the top trim piece; hold it in place to mark the inside point of the second miter cut. Lay out the cut with a combination square, and cut it with a miter box.

Nail the top trim in place. To help position the trim, miter two scrap pieces of molding, and clamp them in place along the sides of the door frame. Cut and place the top trim and adjust as necessary to get a tight miter. Nail the top trim into the jamb. Leave at least 1/8 inch of the nails exposed in case you need to adjust the piece later. Use #6 finishing nails for the jabs and #8 finishing nails through the trim and into the studs.

Miter the legs. Mitering a piece to fit can be tricky. Make it easy on yourself by mitering the legs before you square them off. Then place the legs against the frame so they are upside down. This leaves the miter on the floor and the fulll length of the trim extending toward the ceiling. Mark where the tiop trim touches the leg and cut the leg quare at the mark.

Nail the legs to the door frame. Start at the top, holding the leg so the miter closes tightly, and drive a #6 finishing nail through it and into the jamb. Work down the leg, flexing it if necessary so that it aligns with the line that marks the framing behind the wall. Repeat on the opposite leg, and then set all the nails. To keep the corners tight, predrill and drive a #6 finishing nail at an angle up through the edge of the leg, through the miter, and into the header molding.

For professional mortgage help with lowering mortgages, extending your loan maturity date(s), getting Home Savers Loans, home improvement instructions and tips, please visit http://hstrial-oswingrant.homestead.com

Hiring a Contractor For Bathroom Remodeling - Remodeling Contractors

Well here's the age old question, how do we go about finding a decent bathroom remodeling contractor.

Here's some things you will be looking for in a contractor.

1. Is Your Contractor Fair and Honest?

2. Does Your Contractor Have Experience Remodeling and Designing Bathrooms?

3. Can You Actually Find a Contractor Who Will Complete the Job in a Timely Manner?

4. Do You Think the Workers Will Be Able to Clean the Job up Daily?

5. Will the Contractor Show up on Time?

6. Is the Contractor Going to Work At Least Eight Hours a Day?

7. Does the Contractor's Crew Have Experience?

8. Is Your Contractor and His Crew Courteous?

If you find a contractor for your bathroom remodeling project that has answered yes to all questions above, hire that person immediately. Most contractors can sincerely answer yes to half of the questions above. If you're looking for the ultimate bathroom remodeling contractor, you could be searching for quite a while, you're looking for some one that is competent and you feel comfortable with.

When hiring a contractor, look for someone who has your interest in mind first and not theirs. Find someone who is willing to help with the designed process of your bathroom and the remodeling. If you find a contractor to be arrogant or controlling, there is a good chance, your bathroom might not turn out the way you envision it.

When hiring a contractor for your bathroom remodeling project or any home improvement project, the most important thing to keep in mind is, whether or not you feel comfortable with this person or not. Never hire a contractor you're not comfortable with.

If a contractor is referred to you by someone you trust, this does not guarantee you will be happy with the bathroom remodel. Most referrals that I have gotten over the years are like rolling the dice, I believe I would have done just as good picking a name out of a hat.

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 building stairs and adding useful content to help solve problems created by the lack of construction knowledge in the building industry.

Swimming Pool Books

List Building - 7 Tips For Success

Email list building is the foundation of your effective internet business model. If done with precision, it can offer consistent results month after month.

1. Email lists can take a long time to build.

A opt-in list is worth the effort required to build and maintain it. Building an email list is one of the most important marketing strategies that an on-line marketer can have.

2. List building is crucial to your success and building profits online.

The idea of the building a list and using that list to create profits really is simple, it's not rocket science. Build the list and sell to it, that's it. This is the basic money making secret to continuous income.

3. Opt-in list building is the only sort of list to have.

By having your prospects "opt-in" or agree to receive emails from you, the problem of spam complaints is greatly reduced. This is the best way to avoid conflict with the spam laws.

4. Put an opt-in box on every page.

A new visitor to your web page should not have to go looking for your opt-in page. By having an opt-in box on every page of your website, you will have a lot more chances to get the visitor's sign up.

5. Keep it Easy.

When you design your opt-in box for collecting email addresses, make sure that you keep it easy. The more information you try to collect, the fewer opt-in sign ups you will have. Name and email are usually enough unless you have a real need for more.

6. Invite Opt-ins in Transaction Emails and Checkout.

If someone actually purchases from you and you send them emails of confirmation or emails that allow them to track their purchases, this is a perfect opportunity. Another great time to use an opt-in box is when people are checking out after completing a purchase.

7. Offer something of value for the opt-in.

One of the most effective ways to build an opt-in list is to offer your online visitors freebies of value. Free items such as ebooks, reports, software, and a newsletter are very important to getting a good response to your opt-in request. The freebie should be relevant to the website. It will do you little good to offer an ebook on fishing on a website about parenting.

The truth is that the profits are actually all in your list, so email list building is extremely important. Email list building is crucial to the success of your online business.

Grow Your List On Steroids will show you how to grow a big list while putting cash in your pocket. Earn money and grow your list at the same time. http://growyourlist.blogspot.com/

Long Dryer Vent Problems

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.

Lowest Construction Bids

Quick Muscle Gain - How Long Should You Rest in Your Muscle Mass Building Routine?

You've developed a quality and efficient muscle mass building routine. You've taken the preliminary steps to make sure you see the process through. You've investigated the foods that build muscle and stocked your fridge with these essential items. You've laid out your routine for each muscle group, that is, you've planned what to do on what day of the week. But before you can accurately schedule your workouts, you inevitably wonder, "how long should I rest before I continue building body mass?"

Hopefully you've discovered that to achieve quick muscle gain you need to be working your muscles to failure. For those that don't know what this means, it's simply performing a final set of whatever exercise you're doing until you can't do it any longer (you'll need a spotter). This is vital in that it causes significant microscopic damage - actual microscopic tears -- to the muscle tissues. It is only during this period of recovery that protein synthesis undertakes the process that results in new muscle fibers. Confused? To simplify, you are literally creating tiny tears in your muscles when you lift weights. During recovery, the body literally repairs these tears, creating new muscle that fill-in the tears and cover them. This is why muscle size increases.

But how long does this process take? When is it safe to expose these same muscle groups to further intensive exercise?

Scientific studies suggest that muscle fiber degradation takes approximately five to seven days to repair and recover. Any further exposure of the affected muscle to intensive activity will interfere with the recovery process and prevent you from achieving quick muscle gain. However, using the muscle(s) to assist in exercising other body parts or even taking part in low intensity aerobic exercise will not prevent recovery. Therefore, work each muscle group one day a week in your muscle mass building routine.

For more answers to your common weight training questions, check out this great site by clicking here

What To Do If Your Home Floods

Structural Framing Beams

Let's start with the beams. They can be Glulam, Parallam, Microlam or even wood beams. What are all of these and why do I need them in my house. The beams are used to hold up parts of the house and are located in your walls, roofs and floors. Beams are used to transfer a load from one point to another.

Structural framing beams allow the architect to create large openings, floors and roofs in your house. The beams are also used to support the weight over the doors, windows and other openings in your home. These beams support massive amounts of weight in some cases and are even made of steel if needed.

Another growing problem is the lack of old growth trees in the forest. If we just used wood beams with out using the new engineered beams we would have to cut down a lot more of the bigger trees. So you can add these guys to your Christmas list. The lumber or wood engineers have come up with all sorts of alternatives for new building products. These new beams are just some of them. Keep up the good work guys...

Glulam is a engineered wood product comprised of wood laminations, or 2 x 4s that are bonded together with strong, waterproof adhesives. If you use a Glulam beam on the buildings exterior you will have to order a exterior Glulam beam. In this case the manufacture will use special exterior rated glues for the beam.

When ordering any wood engineered beams specify to the lumber yard what you are using the beam for. Exterior or Interior of the building. If you use a interior glulam over time there is a good chance of the beam delaminating or cracking apart.

Parallam is made from almost all of the wood on the log using veneer strands that are aligned parallel for maximum strength. The end product is a rectangular beam; which is longer, thicker, and stronger than solid-sawn lumber. They are often used as beams, headers, columns, and posts, among others uses.

Microllam is an engineered wood product that uses multiple layers of thin wood assembled with adhesives. It offers several advantages over typical milled lumber: it is stronger, straighter, and more uniform. It is much less likely than conventional lumber to warp, twist, bow, or shrink due to its composite nature. Made in a factory under controlled specifications, Microllam products allow users to reduce the onsite labor. They are typically used for headers, beams, rim board, and edge-forming material.

These beams come in all sorts of different lengths, widths and heights. They are engineered to hold amazing amounts of weight. They really are great engineering marvels.

Tip: I have had to replace almost all of these types of beams over the years due to some form of damage. Like anything else in your home if it is used improperly there is a good chance your are going to have some sort of failure. I have seen people add weight to these structural beams with no thought of them ever failing.

If you are planning on building a room addition, rebuilding your roof, adding a floor or any other type of construction where you are adding a addition load to your house. You might want to consult with a building contractor or structural engineer.

Thanks Greg For Another Super Article On Home Building. For more great articles visit Greg at http://gregvan.com/

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 building stairs books and adding useful content to help solve problems created by the lack of construction knowledge in the building industry. Causes of Structural Failure

Don't Rush When You Install Ceramic Wall Tile in Your Bathroom

It's not that difficult to customize and install ceramic wall tile in your bathroom. A little patience and dedication will get you a long way when installing that dream ceramic tile bathroom wall you've always wanted to have.

Before you begin to install ceramic wall tile, get your tiling tools together. You will need the following tools for this project: A tape measure, a tile cutter and a pair of tile nippers and a pair of pliers, tile spacers, sandpaper, a trowel (preferably notched) and a rubber grout float. To install ceramic wall tile on your bathroom walls properly, you will also need a strong setting material like tiling thinset mortar, or any of a wide selection of tile adhesives. You will also need tiling grout for filling in the gaps between your tiles. Make sure to match your setting material color with your grout.

A bucket, rags and sponges will also be needed for cleaning your tiles of excess grout and other debris, after you're all done. And don't start to install ceramic wall tile without these essentials: You will also need a pair of safety glasses, heavy leather gloves, and long-sleeved work clothes (broken shards, and other debris can cause nasty cuts, if you are not careful). Ready to start on your dream ceramic bathroom wall? Follow the tiling instructions below and make your ceramic tiled bathroom wall and start tiling!

You can begin by finding the center of your wall. Use a carpenter's level, or long pieces of plumb to mark intersecting vertical and horizontal lines. These will be your reference lines for your tiling work. Where both lines intersect is the starting point for your first row of ceramic tiles. From that point, you may then be able to working your way to both ends of your bathroom wall. Make regular checks when you install ceramic wall tile, so that your tiling work is consistent and does run up or down in a slanting direction.

There are two types of bathroom walls you may be working on. One is the common concrete wall, and the other is a special type of called a green drywall. A green drywall is specifically designed for use in bathrooms and showers because it is designed to resist moisture intrusion. Be sure that you clean your walls of dust and debris, as well as repair cracks and fill in gaps and holes. Roughen up or scarify your wall so that your tiling mortar has some grip for bonding. That way, when you begin to install ceramic wall tile on your walls, you won't have a problem with your tiling mortar or bonding material.

You may now start installing ceramic wall tile once the walls are laid out. Start at your reference lines' intersection point. Apply a coat of tiling thinset mortar. Place your tile over it and press the tile down firmly in place. Give it a twisting motion to set it in place. Stop pressing when you feel your tile has set and is no longer wobbly. Duplicate this procedure with the rest of your ceramic tiles. To get a consistent tiling, place tile spacers on all the spaces between your ceramic bathroom tiles. Don't forget to check your work every now and then.

You may not need to use the entire tile as you finish up the end of the row. Use a tile cutter to get your tile under the right size. Then, smoothen the cut edge with sandpaper. Be careful: The edge of a cut ceramic bathroom tile is very sharp. For irregular, use your tile nippers. First draw an outline of the irregular and etch a line along it. Then, use your tile nipper to break off the unuseable edges, until you have required shape. Do this a little at a time, so you can control your tile nipping. Don't forget to sand the edges over.

Once you're done tiling the bathroom wall, leave it to set, overnight, at the very least, or twenty-four hours, at the most. After this setting period, it's time to lay in your grout. There are two main kinds of grout: Sanded or unsanded grout. Sanded grout is a mixture of cement, water and fine sand. Unsanded grout is any of a wide selection of polymer-based and epoxy resin adhesive grout used to install ceramic wall tile. If your tile spaces are more than an eighth of an inch wide, use sanded grout. For smaller tile spaces, use unsanded grout. Start by map out your bathroom wall and work one section at a time. To maximize your grout application, angle your rubber grout float and press down firmly as you spread it over the tile spaces. Check for pockets of air. Dab these spaces with more grout lining by using the edges of your grout float. Use a damp sponge to wipe off any excess grout. Rinse your sponge regularly so you can get a cleaner and better finish. Let your grout dry for a day and then take a dry piece of cloth and clean and buff your tiles.

Before you know it, you're done! Follow these instruction on how install ceramic wall tile, and don't forget that ceramic tiling takes some dedication and patience. Take your time and don't rush your work. When you install ceramic wall tile, the key is consistency and patience. Ceramic tiles that have been rushed will ruin your bathroom's overall look. A bathroom wall with ceramic tiles that run in haphazard inconsistent zigzag lines is not a beautiful thing to look at. And worse, it would only mean that you lack enthusiasm for what you're doing and that you haven't given it your effort.

You don't have to be a master tilist to install ceramic wall tile in your house. All you have is the best ceramic tile installation instructions.

All You Need to Know About Power Showers

In many ways the modern man is now exposed to a wide variety of life enhancing services that is progressively making our generation attain the status of the highest epoch in the annals of human development. The nature of this technology based "madness" is just simply unbelievable it literally cuts through all facets. Yes! Even to areas that were hitherto giving little attention and premium. One of such areas is a place as lowly as a bathroom. The introduction of power showers into the conventional and traditional bathroom systems is a living reminder of the relics of technology there.

I will begin this article by discussing in general terms the operations of technology driven products in the sanitary industry. Primarily, let it be stated in the early phase of this paper that power showers share very striking similarities with the various electric shower systems you must have heard about. In my smartest judgment, which I am certain of is that as a reader your interest will be more in knowing what distinguishes it from other showers.

If you are considering installing a power shower in your home, then expect the following inevitable rewards that will come along: First of all, you will have a regulated service of hot water running through your shower. In addition, as the name implies, it influences the intensity and rapidity of the water from the mains before it is delivered. Interestingly, they are offered in different varieties and shapes that offering customers a luxury of alternatives in the choice process.

If you want to know more about Mira Showers then it is a good idea to visit Bella Bathrooms.

Building Your Dream Game Room

When deciding to remodel or add an addition to your home, many people would like to include a game room. Whether it is in the basement or first floor of your home, a game room adds a place to unwind and have a good time. It can be used for guys or girls nights, family time, holiday gatherings or just any night of the week.

Once you have decided to create a game room in your home, you must decide what types of games you would like to include in it. There are a variety of gaming tables you can buy including poker, blackjack and roulette. You can find any of these items and their accessories online or in a store in your own area. If you order these items online, some sites will even let you customize the tables or accessories with your name or phrases.

Another item you can add to your game room is a pool table. Pool tables come in three sizes, starting at 7 feet and going to 9 feet. You should pick a table that best fits the size and needs of your game room. Once you decided on your pool table, you can then purchase your table accessories such as billiard balls, ball rack and pool cues. A pool table is fun for people of all ages.

Another gaming room item that is fun for people of all ages is a dart board. You can either get your standard cork dart board or an electronic one. You can get standard dart boards complete with wood cabinet and chalk board score board. This keeps up the appearance of your game room when the game is not in play. You can purchase dart boards online or at your local store. For the casino lover, you can add some slot machines. There are a variety of slot machines available for purchase online or at your local store. You can choose from a variety of themes and types of slot machine you would like to purchase.

Once you have chosen all the games you would like to include in your game room, you should decide if you would like to include a bar. If you choose to include a bar, you can either have a custom one built and installed or you can purchase one from your local home store. You can include game themed glasses, dishes and bottles to make your bar game room friendly. Now that you have all your games and maybe a bar, you can now decorate the room. You can choose from gamed themed pictures and signs. If you have a bar you can decorate with signs of your favorite beer or liquor. You can buy your signs and pictures online or in the store. If you buy your signs online, most sites will let you customize them with your name, picture or phrase that you like.

Now that you have everything that needs to go in your game room, all you need to do is set up, decorate and enjoy!

Purchase your poker supplies and billards equipment at Cards and Cues. Article written and Distributed by Steve Cancel at Secure Link - Michigan Website Design.

Wood Post Repairs

Bathroom Decorating For A Zen Like Spa Look

Bathroom decorating can be fun and challenging but when it ends up giving you the relaxing feeling of a Zen like spa it is well worth the effort. Here are some tips on how you can get this relaxing feel in your bathroom

You should use soft colors and neutral tones colors for your Zen bathroom. Matching colors with your wall paint, towels and shower curtains is key so get paint cards that have your paint colors on them and bring them shopping with you when you buy your bathroom accessories - that way you will get a perfect match.

In the bathroom, consider accessorizing with artwork on the walls, as well as toiletry and toothbrush holders, towel racks, towels and decorative soaps. You want to end up with a minimalist look so don't put too much in. Consider sleek designs for the hamper and wastebasket.

If your bathroom is big enough it could include shoji screens, plants and furniture with simple lines as well as a table water fountain and some bamboo. Window treatments for the Zen bathroom decorating theme should be simple and plain. Try updating your windows with bamboo blinds. After you get the ideal look on your windows, you might realize the walls are drab by comparison. To overcome this, try hanging watercolors or oriental silks in frames around the room.

While you may not think about it much, flooring plays a vital role in your interior design style so putting in bath mats to compliment your Zen decorating theme can really improve it's style. The best type of flooring for the peaceful and serene style is organic woven mats which you will want to purchase in neutral tones.

For some decorative touches which will help tie together your Zen decor think about a lotus bowl with 1 flower, rice paper lamps, and Asian pottery to accent your room design. You could also add towels that match your wall colors rolled up and stacked in a bamboo basket just like you might find at the spa.

Your Zen bathroom decorating theme can be a snap if you take the time to plan it out adequately. Simply buy the pieces on your plan and put them in place - your room with have the feeling of a peaceful spa before you know it.

Visit http://bathroomdecoratingguide.com for more great tips on decorating your bathroom in a variety of popular bathroom decorating styles.

Plumbing Pipes Crammed Into Stud

Home Automation Tips

Warning: Remember that electricity is very dangerous and will kill you in a heartbeat. Electricity can also start fires very easily, and fires can also kill you. The best way to get your home wired is by a certified professional who knows your local codes.

We have now a plan and we need to look at the design piece of our new Home Automation. The first step is to do an assessment by answering several questions:

• Wiring and Networking:
• What is the house status? (being built, being remodeled, old construction, new construction)


• The status will affect greatly the type of wiring we will select. We had a complete home remodeling and all the walls were open. We had the opportunity to install 1" orange cable tubing in every room, this allow pulling any type of cables within minutes. We have Cat6 cable, Fiber Optics, TV and audio/video cables.


• Existing construction may not offer the same flexibility and going wireless will become the solution.


• In old construction the quality of the power line is not high quality and will definitively impact transmission such as X10. Ask a certified electrical professional to help evaluating your existing wiring to make sure it's still meets 'code'. Don't be afraid to spend money on your electrical wiring, it will pay back later.


• For this project we will choose an existing old construction with up to local code wiring. The network will be wireless as well as security and monitoring. Z-Wave being too expensive, Home Automation will be based on Insteon and/or UPB equipment.
• Lighting
• Planning for this section is quite easy and interesting. We need to select for each room the type of switches we need and as we will implement security, monitoring and multimedia distribution we will use a control unit to manage all functions.
• Control Units - we recommend 2 different brands Cortexa Technology and HAI. The Cortexa is more IP network based while HAI is more versatile on the security part. For this project I would use HAI which offer two main lines: Lumina and Omni. The Lumina is more limited on the security side but it connects to existing security systems. The Omni offers a complete solution from lighting to security and fire system.The Omni IIe Pro will be my choice as it has the most features and won't limit our future ideas.
• Based on this control unit selection, the technology we will use UPB for lighting control. The cheaper X10 won't work very well in an old electrical wiring environment.
• Now let look at the need for each room to replace existing switches.
• Bedrooms - one switch and one or 2 side lamps
  The switch can be dimmer or non-dimmer, side lamps will need lamp modules dimmer or non-dimmer as well.
• Dining and Living rooms - one switch per room and may be some floor and table lamps with the same dimming status as for bedrooms.
• Play room - two high wattage switches and may be several floor and table lamps.
• Family room - three high wattage dimmer switches, several floor and table lamps and why not adding a nice LCD control panel to create lighting scenes.
• ...etc for each rooms including bathrooms
• Outdoor lights - replace existing switches with non dimmer high wattage ones plus two or three non-dimmers modules for Xmas lights as well.


• We have a list of material to purchase - but don't buy anything yet!
• Heating and cooling
• To plan this section we will base it on a 3 zones heating and cooling system. One for the main floor, one for the second floor and one for the basement.
• First we need to verify with a certified professional that the current heating cooling system can support multi-zoning and that the house and the furnace don't need too much modification.
• For this project all is needed is 6 motorized dampers, a 4 zone control panel for the furnace and 3 RC-90B thermostat as the furnace is a single stage. We can upgrade to RC-2000 with humidity control.
• Thermostats will need to be connected to the furnace control panel and to the HIA control unit. Some wiring to add here.
• The RC-90 and RC-2000 accept external temperature sensors. These sensors installed in bedroom will allow to adapt the floor temperature to the lowest or most important room - Master bedroom or baby's room for example - additional wiring will be required to these rooms.

Pierre Merlin owner of High Tech and More, LLC - We provide great deals on HomeAutomation including Home Security

Framing Garage Corner