Tips to Get the Best From Your Bathroom Remodeling

Many people mistakenly believe that the bathroom is the least important area of the house. Considering that this is the first place you visit after you get up, and probably the last place you go to just before bed, nothing could be farther from the truth. In fact, many people spend many relaxing moments in their bathroom, luxuriating in a bath while listening to soft music or playing with their kids before they go to bed. Therefore, it is only reasonable that many people want to remodel their bathrooms to give it the looks and comfort that the rest of the home provides.

Often, people are totally defeated by the thought of giving this small space a new look. After all, what is there to do? How much can one move the lavatory or the bathtub, and what would be the point anyway? Well, there are many ways you can use mirrors, lighting, free-floating cabinets and light to give this space a large, roomy and extravagant look. In fact, a properly done bathroom remodeling job could leave you open-mouthed! But you needn't call in the experts or pay through your nose for expensive designers before you get the bathroom of your dreams. Just follow the tips below and you could well be showing off your bathroom to your friends and family.

1. If your bathroom is cramped and starved for space, get rid of the tub. Go for a compact shower unit that has gleaming faucets and controls. On the other hand, if you have a large bathroom, make use of geometric designs instead of the conventional tub, and demarcate this area from the rest of your bath space.
2. Ax bare cabinets and vanities. Instead, make use of cabinets that are concealed nicely behind large mirrors. Mirrors increase the illusion of space and give a nice touch to your bathroom.
3. With the wide array of sinks and washing bowls available, it is not too difficult to get sleek designs that are compact as well as stylish. Glass fittings are popular these days.
4. Go for compact fittings. This will increase the illusion of space.
5. Make clever use of lighting to give the bathroom a bigger look. Allow light to pour in through frosted windowpanes. Use cool colors. Vertical stripes add to the feeling of space and height.
6. Get rid of dark fabric that makes the bathroom look dowdy and depressing. Instead, use light fabric in cool colors. Glass block windows should never be covered up, as they are great style statements.
7. Place lights above mirrors. Use stylish light fixtures so that bald tubes do not give off glaring light that hurts the eye. Place lighting fixtures in a way that they are nicely reflected around the bathroom.
8. Lastly, avoid clutter. If the space is small, keep unnecessary things out of it. Functionality should nicely be amalgamated with style so that you get maximum mileage from what you use in the small space.

Bathroom remodeling is not the tough job that it is made out to be. In fact, since you have to think sleek and slim, it is by far the easiest room to remodel and convert.

Bathroom Remodeling - First Choice Stone, specializing in granite countertops, and cabinets for kitchens and bathrooms is dedicated to providing old world quality and craftsmanship with innovative technology.

Confessions of a Tile Setter - Bathroom Floor Selection

Selecting Tile for Your Bathroom is an area where I feel you should adhere to some basic principals but, this is also an area where you can let your imagination shine. Various sizes, colors, and textures combined can make your bathroom truly a work of art!

Let's begin.

First, you should consider maintenance and ease of such. Second, you should consider texture and where to place it. Third, colors. Fourth, design and design elements consistent with the interior flavor or theme of your home or space.

Maintenance is often overlooked at the expense of loss of luster and shine over a period of time. Nothing looks worse than a dull and well worn Travertine.

My advice after having busting out many Travertine floors is to consider Granite, Ceramic, Porcelain, or Glass for the bathroom floor. Use a durable non porous easy to clean material. You can use Travertine but remember it needs to be sealed. As a floor surface this can build up if not maintained properly. Like Marble, Travertine is a soft material and requires maintenance and can be stained, scratched, and easily chipped.

Textures on the floors can add an immediate design element. Perhaps a textured material or natural stone placed strategically in the center of the floor or as a perimeter band. Running your floor tile on a diagonal or diamond pattern has the effect of making your room look larger. However, expect to pay anywhere from $1.75 extra and more for a diamond pattern per square foot.

Design elements will add to cost as well. As much as $5.00 or more per square foot can be expected. Textures such as tumbled Marble would best be suited on walls. Round Riverbed Stones work well on shower floors and offer somewhat of a therapeutic value. Tumbled Marble or another color of Natural Stone used as a color band if incorporated correctly adds excitement and an "out of the ordinary" point of interest.

Colors. Always remember when using Natural Stone the installation generally costs more because tile setters have to craft, shape, grind, polish and form many pieces of the material. More often than not, there are no pre-formed corners and edges as there are with ceramic tile. And, the process takes a lot more time. You'll appreciate that more when shelling out $25 to $30 or more per square foot for the material alone.

Another point to remember is that almost any tile including Natural Stone can have a pattern! You really need to open up a few boxes to determine if you may run into an issue here.For instance, some time ago we installed a Walnut Travertine shower and walls. As I removed tile from the boxes and it was placed on the wall, we could clearly see we had reassembled the cut slab straight out of the box. This is unusual but it happens. In other cases the same grain or flow of colors in Natural Stone be it Granite, Marble, Sandstone, Travertine, and Gemstone may not look good. Dark tile areas might need to be distributed within lighter tiles so you don't wind up with too many dark or light tiles in one area.

If you are a do it yourselfer, when setting Travertine floors or walls be sure to use a Thinset Mortar that closely matches the tile surface color. Lighter Travertine should be placed with white thinset mortar and darker or Chocolate Travertine should be set with grey thinset mortar. This is because Travertine is a porous material and your thinset can actually show through the surface or push through on installation. This can appear as a stain.

Design elements enhance the flavor of a space by using colors, textures, and sizes. A simple 6X6 shower enclosure will look much more appealing with a color stripe at the very least at about eye level. Using that same color stripe in other spots like the shower floor or inside a niche adds a little class.

There is a virtual universe of materials, colors, and textures at local distributers to flavor your next project. These additions add simple and attractive sophistication to an otherwise boring bathroom floor or shower.

The materials and ideas are as endless as your imagination and budget.

Be creative Please!

And, by the way, stop using 4X4 tile and that so called "water resistant" blue board for backing. We tear out more of this stuff than anything else. Use Hardy Backer and at the very least 6X6 tile. Fewer grout lines = longer lasting shower tile job.

If you are considering new tile for the next bathroom floor or shower project check out my tile tips at http://howtofloortile.blogspot.com/

Shutting Out Light and Improving Appearance

Improving the appearance of a room while blocking out unwanted sunlight or moonlight is easy with Interior Window Shutters. They are a more permanent solution to window coverings. They are also better than most window coverings because they are not nearly as delicate and are easier to clean. Interior blinds come in different styles, finishes and prices.

There are basically two types of interior window shutters, being traditional and plantation style. While you only have a couple of different types to choose from they can be configured in a number of ways depending on your window height and width.

The big choice you have is in finishes and materials. Finishes range in different color paints to different color stains, even natural wood. But if you do not go with wood you have the options of going with iron shutters, and polywood shutters. Iron shutters can add to the beauty of your home and they also are more safe because they can be removed easily from the inside, but not from the outside. Keeping outside things outside and allowing you to exit from the window if necessary. Polywood shutters are nearly maintenance free. Meaning you will not have to fork out more money after they are installed. Remember your decoration when choosing interior window shutters.

Your home can look more beautiful and different with the addition of interior window shutters, you may even believe that you are in the wrong house. They are such an amazing feature to add to a window,while you still get your views outside, you can shut them out to make it dark or more intimate.

Do some research on price and make sure you understand everything that they are offering with your new interior windows. Sometimes the price does not include installation, which is added later. Sometimes they only include clean up as an extra fee to the home owner. You may opt for them to clean up or you may be fine with cleaning it up yourself. Remember after all the dust settles you will have a beautiful new interior with the added security and safety of interior window shutters. When it is all said and done, throw a party or have a get together just to show off your new interior window shutters. Don't be shocked when people are amazed what a difference they made in your home.

This article provided courtesy of http://www.shutter-world.com/

Are Your Sliding Glass Doors All Glass and No Slide?

Have you noticed that the sliding glass doors in your home are becoming harder and harder to slide open? Are they more than 10 years old? Do they happen to be aluminum frame dual pane doors? Those doors are heavier due to the dual pane glass, but most of the aluminum units did not use stainless steel rollers. The rollers get rusty after a while, and start to bind.

To replace the rollers, you must remove the sliding panel from the opening. The fixed panel must be removed in order for the sliding panel to come out, in most cases. FIgure out whether or not your fixed panel has to come out as well. If the slider is on the inside track and the fixed panel is on the outside track, you will have to take out both panels, because the slider will only come out from the outside. There is a lip on the bottom of the track inside your house, that keeps water from coming in. However, that lip is also too high to lift the sliding panel up and over. Therefore, you will have to remove the fixed panel first, then lift and swing out the slider from outside. If you are one of the few who have a slider on the outside track, then you can lift your slider out without having to remove the fixed panel.

For now, let us assume that you need to remove the fixed panel first. To do this:

1) Remove your screen door if you have one.

2) Look for a metal piece on the bottom track that runs from the bottom corner of the fixed panel all the way across to the bottom of the side jamb that has the door lock hardware. If your door is really old, that piece might be missing. If there is one, pry it up from the track. Once that piece is removed...

3) Look inside the house where the fixed panel is against the wall jam -- look for screws holding the frame to the jam. Remove these screws, and place them where you won't lose them.

4) Pull the fixed panel out of the side jam.

5) Lift the slider up and out, just like you did with the fixed panel.

6) Once you get the slider out, nearly all rollers are held in place by the same screw that holds the frame corners together. So set the panel on one side, remove the screw in the corner, then flip the panel over, remove the screw on the other bottom corner. Now, using a rubber mallet or the wood handle of a hammer, tap the bottom frame off the glass. Now you have access to your rollers. Examine how they are inserted into the door frame. Remove only one roller to take with you to match when you shop for new ones. Then, you can use the roller that you left in place as a guide to installing the new ones.

7) Buy new rollers at someplace like Lowe's, Home Depot, Ace Hardware, or Orchard Supply Hardware. They should carry what you need. If they don't...

8) Have new rollers ordered. Bring the roller to your local glass shop. If they don't have them in stock, they can order them, which could take about a week. In that case, don't worry. Go home and tap the bottom frame back on the door panel, but leave the corner screws out. It's fine to leave out the roller that you removed. Just lift the door back in place, install the fixed panel, but don't snap the bottom piece back in, and don't install the inside screws. Then, from inside the house, just lift the slider and pull it closed. Don't drag it if you left the roller out. That will scrape the bottom track. Lift it just enough to take the pressure off, and close and lock it.

9) When your new rollers arrive, take everything back out. Install the new rollers. Before putting the door back in, adjust the new rollers all the way up. This way, the new rollers won't interfere with you lifting it back in place. Adjust the new rollers down until the door slides well and locks. There should be an equal gap at the top and bottom when the door is about an inch from closing into the side jam. The rollers can be adjusted to make this dimension even.

You may think this sounds expensive, but it doesn't have to be. Sliding glass door repair can be done by a professional for $50 or $60 including parts, so it may be worth hiring someone to do it. However, in high population areas, it may be typical to be charged $100 in labor only. They may also mark up the cost of the rollers, and you could end up paying $130 for a job that would only cost you about $20 to do yourself. Glass door repair does not have to be intimidating, or expensive. Good luck!

Kathy Hildebrand is a professional writer who is easily bored with her "day job" assignments. So, she researches anything and everything of interest and starts writing. Writing about an extremely wide variety of subjects keeps her skills sharp, and gives her food for thought on future paid writing assignments.

More of her research and articles can be found at http://www.lasertargeted.com/glassrepair and other sites around the internet.

Tips For Planning a Small Bathroom

Adding an additional bathroom can greatly increases the value of any home, and can be a huge advantage to a growing family. How do you proceed when you don't have much space to put a new bathroom in? Even the smallest bath can feel idyllic with careful planning. Whether you are building from scratch or re-modeling, a few helpful tips will get you on your way through the planning stage.

The first step is choosing where your new bathroom will be placed. Build as close as possible to the existing utility and plumbing lines, and you will save yourself major plumbing expenses. Consider who needs to use the room, and how accessible it will be to them in that location. If the bathroom will not have a window, you must be able to install one, or install a vent to the outside of the house to remove humidity and prevent mold and mildew. Check your local building regulations before you plan too far, so you won't have to go back and change plans later.

Next, decide exactly what needs the addition should fill. If you don't need a bathtub and a shower stall, don't install them both! If you do need both a bathtub and a shower, look into a combined unit that will fit both functions into one space. Look for furniture that multitasks, and personalize this bath to your households needs. A large family has different needs than a single person, and this is an excellent time to create an area to perfectly custom fit your life and your home. Maximizing the functionality of a small room increases its value to you beyond the financial value added to your home.

Take precise measurements of the space. You can create a template of your proposed bathroom using graph paper or a simple computer program. Try different arrangements for a bathroom suite and furniture using standard size measurements. If you are unsatisfied with how it comes together, check local suppliers for more unconventionally sized pieces. A smaller bath or shower enclosure may make a perfect fit. Likewise, corner units are available for bath, shower, basin and bidet that can make the most of the floor space in even the tiniest bathroom.

How's your hardware? Short spout taps in both bathtub and basin won't overwhelm a smaller unit or get in your way when you use it. Choose towel rails, wall sconces, and storage solutions that hug the walls and don't break up the visual space. Now add the elements that make this space "You" - color, texture and decorative accents.

Planning to make any area, most especially a small one, as functional as possible gives you a much greater chance to express your personal style in that space. With a little forethought and planning, the smallest of bathrooms can become a luxurious haven.

Written by James Chapman, a director of Bella Bathrooms Ltd who supply Small Bathrooms across the UK.

Bella Bathrooms is an online retailer formed by 2 plumbers from the North East of England. Having hands on experience of custom bathroom installation and products has enabled Bella Bathrooms Ltd to only select quality bathroom products for their online shop. They sell bathroom furniture, bathroom suites, showers and bath related products for consumers through the United Kingdom.

Can You Use Old Concrete To Build A Stairway

What a great idea using your old side walk or driveway to build a nice stairway for your front or back yard. Using the old concrete instead of sending it to the landfill. Wow talk about earth friendly. Who would have thought that using recycled concrete would create a beautiful center piece in your landscaping plans.

That's enough about that lets get to the nuts and bolts of building the stairs. I came across the idea by visiting one of our favorite breakfast stops in Fallbrook. I had been walking down these stairs for quite a while when it dawned on me that the stairs where kind of jagged. When I took a closer look I couldn't figure it out, What kind of building materials did they use.

Then I realized it was recycled concrete in other words someone's old side walk. They even used the old concrete to make some nice planter boxes and retaining walls. The whole area really looks nice. The landscaping created natural look with a old world look to it.

How do I build the stairs using recycled concrete? Simply put first thing you need to do is get some recycled concrete. If you are going to be tearing up a old sidewalk, driveway or patio then you won't have to look far.

If not you can contact some local general or demolition contractors. They would love to have someone haul away their concrete. The reason for this is they have to pay around five hundred dollars for every ten tons hauled away from the jobs they are working on.

The more recycled concrete you need the easier it will be to get it. If you need a lot you will be able to contact a concrete recycling plant and get the phone number to a local contractor that hauls broken up concrete to their plants. These people can drop off a large load if you have a large area to drop it.

Remember that most contractors don't want to be bothered because they are busy working or planning on working. The easier you can make it on the contractor the more likely you will get what you want from them. They usually aren't interested in doing extra work just to make you happy. You can get a lot by being courteous from most people.

Now that you have the concrete you can start building. The concrete will be stacked on top of the other concrete to form the steps. Depending on how long of a stairway you are building you will have to level the dirt and stack the recycled concrete to make the stairs.

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.

Visit us now for more great Home Remodeling Tips

How To Lay Bathroom Tiles

Prepare Yourself

The first step in laying bathroom tiles is to be prepared. You want to start with a clean and smooth surface. If there are even small problems with the flooring, chances are you will not get the tiles to lie correctly. To be sure that this happens, use a sander on the floor to completely even it out. You can then sweep up, wash and dry the floor before you go any further. If the floor is not dried thoroughly, you may find that the tiling can not get a good grip on the floor for stability.

Once the floor has been prepared, the next step is to purchase the correct number of tiles for the bathroom area that you have. Do not underestimate how many you need. It is often necessary to purchase at least 15 percent more than you think you need. This provides you with safety in extras in case of problems with calculations or even if the tiles do break along the way. In addition, this gives you enough to put away in case the bathroom tiles break down the road. You can then easily replace them.

Placing Them Down

When laying bathroom tiles the adhesive step is one of the most important. Purchase the correct type of product for your need. For the bathroom, it is important to find waterproof adhesive for the area. If you use an adhesive that does not provide this protection, the adhesive will deteriorate over time leaving the tiles vulnerable to many problems later. A small crack or even a tiny space can allow water to seep in, causing a number of problems for you. Instead, purchase and use the correct adhesive.

Grouting Correctly

When laying bathroom tiles, the grouting process is just as important as the adhesive. Be sure to wait at least a full day from the time that you lay the bathroom times before you start the process of grouting. This gives the adhesive time to set. You can then apply the grout correctly. Do only a small area of a time so that you can remove excess grout before it dries and you can not remove it later. Use the correct tools to firmly position the grout into the grooves.

Adam Peters is a journalist who writes newsletters on decorating for http://www.home-decorating-reviews.com A focused website that offers the best articles on removing bathroom tiles and home interiors.

DIY Bathroom Remodeling - Home Remodels

The first question you need to ask yourself when remodeling a bathroom is can you actually do the work yourself or do you have someone that can help you with the remodeling. If you don't know anyone and can't do the work yourself, I would suggest hiring a contractor with experience remodeling bathrooms.

If you can do the work yourself or think you could do the work yourself, why not give it a shot. Any experience you have in construction or home remodeling, is going to be beneficial to your bathroom remodeling project. There is plenty of information on the internet or in your local libraries on bathroom remodeling and these often prove to be great resources for do it yourselfers.

As an experienced contractor I have gathered a great deal of information through books, at work and watching local home improvement shows. The biggest problem with the show's and quite a few of these books, is they don't provide enough information. Most of the time they provide you with the basics of bathroom remodeling and you could soon find yourself in trouble or seeking the advice from a home improvement professional.

The largest benefit for doing the bathroom remodeling project yourself, could be the money you save, along with the satisfaction of completing the project. It makes homeowners feel good when they've completed a large home remodeling project, like a bathroom remodel.

If you don't have the time, lack the experience or a combination of both, I would suggest hiring a contractor to relieve you from the stress and frustration of your bath remodeling project. The more complex your bathroom remodeling project is, the greater the degree of difficulty, the longer it will take to complete the project. Some of these projects can take up a lot of your time.

If you're working on galvanized water supply pipes or old cast iron waste pipes, you could find yourself hiring a plumber to install your bathtub and fixtures. These old pipes create problems for most do it yourselfers and I would suggest hiring a professional, whenever you run into a problem you don't feel comfortable with.

Choosing to tackle some of these difficult problems yourself, could lead to water leaks and more damage to the home eventually costing you even more money than the original cost of hiring an experienced plumber in the first place. When it comes to water, structural framing and electricity, think twice, especially if you're not experienced in these areas.

My advice to do it yourselfers is to hire a professional if you're not comfortable or seek the advice from a contractor or someone with considerable experience bathroom remodeling.

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.

If your looking for some more House Remodeling Pictures or home building ideas.

Stone Foundation Repair - What to Do?

Owning an historic property with an old stone foundation can be an interesting experience. Those with a strong will and a sound pocketbook can be true caretakers of a piece of history. The foundation of that history is the simple, bold and strong field stone foundation wall.

Older buildings with a stone foundation will generally have the original stone facing visible on the exterior and interior of the building. However it was common to apply a coating of plaster to the interior foundation wall in the basement area, as a means of waterproofing so the stone may not be visible from inside of the building.

Most of the original plaster would have worn off by today but if you are lucky, you just may run across an old stone foundation still in pristine condition but this would be the exception.

Usually after 30 - 50 years the foundation would have shifted cause cracks to appear in the foundation wall and it wasn't uncommon to apply a second to the foundation with a masonry cement stucco. If the second layer is cement stucco than it would indicate that the second coating must have been applied after the early 1900's, when mass produced cement stucco became available.

Regardless if plaster or stucco was applied to the walls, they will look lumpy as the individual stones shapes will show beneath the plaster or stucco.

What to look for -A lot of these older stone foundations were never well maintained and can challenge a building owner with problems ranging from water leakage, mortar turning into sand, loose stones and bulging walls. Anything beyond these few maintenance problems could be considered 'in failure' and may need an engineer's inspection.

Stone foundation walls that leak - It wasn't uncommon for these old stone foundation walls to leak. When they were originally constructed a hole was simply dug to the dimensions of the building and a trench dug where the walls were to be placed. Large field stones would be placed in the trench and became the bed stones of the foundation wall.

Drain tile were not in use around the foundations of older building so static pressure would have been a problem from the beginning depending or the soil type and topography. A high quality builder would have trenched to daylight from the low corner of the building site to take water away from the foundation, if the site permitted. The trench would be partially filled with rubble stones before covering but this simply drainage technique would be an exception and not the rule.

Most of the older homes were constructed high off the ground to keep moisture to a minimum. The basement area for these homes where never intended to be used as living space so a little moisture would have been common and of no concern.

Stone foundation wall problems - Decades of water infiltration will cause deterioration to the stone foundation walls. The result can be bulged walls from excessive static pressure or settlement of the foundation, deteriorated mortar joints from excessive moister or loose stones and missing mortar joints from simple aging and movement.

Bulged walls - This problem presents the biggest hurdle for a building owner depending on the degree and severity of the bulging problem and the location within the foundation wall. Generally though, a portion of the foundation wall can be removed and rebuilt but proper shoring must be in place to support the building load before you proceed. This should not be out of the range of an experienced mason contractor and you should seek their advice.

Loose stones and missing mortar - These items are simple to remedy. Loose stones should be taken out and re-set with fresh mortar. Care should be taken not to undermine any critical support areas within the foundation. If you suspect an area of loose stone is carrying a beam load or other loads then consult a professional for advice.

Holes and missing joints can be filled with mortar or tuck-pointed to help tighten the foundation walls. Any brand of masons mix available at the local box store should be adequate.

After you have completed the repairs mentioned above you may wish to apply another layer of cement stucco. This will help to smooth out imperfections, close small holes, 'stiffen' the walls surface and hopefully provide some protection against water leaks.

Check the foundation annually and make any necessary repairs immediately. By taking immediate action and implementing the repairs recommended above you will be one step closer to keeping that old, stone foundation in shape.

Michael Olding is tradesman and consultant in the field of restorations and repairs and currently operates a restoration and repair business in Cincinnati, Ohio. He is also a Master in the field of masonry construction, restorations and repairs.

In addition he is a writer and speaker as well as a marketing, training and business consultant for the contracting industry. If you interested in his services he may be contacted by visiting http://www.cincihomepro.com

Electric Shower Installation

Before going any further with this I need to point out that in some areas any work on electrical wiring needs to be done by a competent suitably qualified electrician. Check with your local authority if you are in any doubt about this.

The above being said there are things that you can do to make it cheaper and less time consuming. Or use the following advice to help you not get duped by some low life cow boy contractor.

For your new installation the new electric shower is going to need some thought and checking before proceeding.

If you already have a electric shower installed and the new one is the same power rating:

Check that the existing wiring is in good condition.

Check the area around where the shower will be fitted for condition of the walls and ceilings.

Check the condition of the pipework for your water supply.

Check the pressure of your water supply is adequate

Check the condition and the efficiency of your drain. Pour some water in there to make sure it drains out quickly as over time these can get partially blocked by hair and lime scale etc..

If you are upgrading a existing shower installation, all the above are relative plus:

Check that the existing wiring is rated for the amount of power that is needed.

Check that the water is flowing enough for the higher rated shower.

If this is a completely new install:

Where is the nearest drain?

Where is the nearest cold water supply?

Can you get enough fall from your selected place of the new shower to allow the drain/waste pipes to take the water away quickly enough. (The shower needs to be higher than the drain.)

Decide the easiest route for the new water pipes to supply the shower.

Do you have spare capacity to power the electric shower. they need their own supply of electricity. Preferably on a new circuit with a rcb in place to help protect you and your home.

Where is the new electrical cable going to run through your home?

All of the above need to be taken into account before deciding on the final position of the shower installation. If all of your needed sources of supply etc.. are at the other end of the house then it may be necessary due to costs to reconsider your original plan. Maybe to install a non electric shower instead.

Having gone through the above process you should have a good idea of what is needed so when you get in potential contractors you will know if they are giving you a good service or not. To make things a little cheaper you may consider doing some of the work yourself. However, please remember the safety aspects of the proposed project after all water and electricity do not mix too well.

Written by James Chapman, a director of Bella Bathrooms Ltd who supply electric shower products across the UK.

Bella Bathrooms is an online retailer formed by 2 plumbers from the North East of England. Having hands on experience of custom bathroom installation and products has enabled Bella Bathrooms Ltd to only select quality bathroom products for their online shop. They sell bathroom furniture, bathroom suites, showers and bath related products for consumers through the United Kingdom.

Rustic Teak Furniture

If you are an outdoor furniture enthusiast and want to give your furniture a rustic and natural look you must go for outdoor teak furniture. This type of furniture brings natural ambiance around you so that you feel yourself so close with nature.

Today, this Outdoor teak furniture is gaining in popularity day by day because of its fine quality and rustic hue. By having outdoor teak furniture, you can get a number of benefits such as its environment friendly character, durability; comfort, all weather proof nature. You can find a large variety of teak wood furniture such as Adirondack furniture and Adirondack chairs, log swings and porch glider swings, rustic chairs, wagon wheel benches, wagon wheel furniture and garden tables. All these types of furniture are available in different sizes, styles and colours.

Outdoor teak furniture is considered an appropriate choice for lawn and patio furniture. It looks both modern and indigenous. The elegant environment that one finds by having this furniture is unique. If you want your furniture to have a long life, you should go for cedar, which is one of the most famous types of teak. Cedar is pretty thick, and has solid wood. Therefore, you don't have to worry about weather aspects. The smell of cedar is quite aromatic.

The colour of Teak furniture is not subject to being faded as happens in the case of metal furniture. That is why this teak furniture doesn't require painting and merely a simple finishing coat will be enough. Most of the varieties of teak such as cedar, aspen and pine go through the process of checking, which is one of the features of these woods. This process happens when moisture is released by wood. But, the structural process of integrity of the wood remains unaffected with the process. This process of checking is only done so as to enhance the style of outdoor teak furniture.

You can find some other varieties of outdoor furniture and accessories as well like porch swings, gliders, bridges, etc. All these outdoor furniture and accessories are formed of materials of superior quality. Outdoor teak furniture can be used for various other purposes such as patio furniture groupings and deck furniture.

So, if you want to have the feeling of comfort, relaxation besides so many other advantages such elegance, durability and nearer to nature then Outdoor teak furniture is the best option for you.

Dave Clark has many years experience writing articles, he has also written many books, and is well known in the industry. Dave currently has many projects he is working on, he is also on the board of directors for Cushy Sofa a manufacturer and online retailer of Memory Foam Pillows, Memory Foam Toppers, Memory Foam Sofas, Divans, Buy your Sofa and Memory Foam Mattress direct from the manufacturer.

Bathroom Remodeling - The Potential Cost

For many people house renovation comes before bathroom remodeling and this part of the house is always overlooked during most renovation projects. People get busy decorating their rooms and try to make them look as lovely as possible. Even the kitchen is usually considered over bathroom and the remodeling of the same mostly remains the last option. It may also happen that people spend so much on room renovations that they are unable to afford to go for bathroom remodeling. But whether you believe it or not, a nicely remodeled bathroom can become the show piece of the whole house or apartment.

In most major cities such as New York bathroom remodeling will depend greatly on the number of bathrooms in a residence and what needs to be done to get the outcome the homeowner requires. A residence having a single bathroom has different needs and accommodation than a residence with more than one bathroom. Hence, a proper look into the nitty-gritty of the same is indeed very much important.

For many New York contractors the average bathroom remodeling project normally requires no more than a week. Remodeling generally calls for designing based on the actual bathroom space, managing the project, specifying the different types of fixtures and the materials to be used. The usual bathroom fixtures mainly include shower faucets, bathroom faucets, and bath faucets. With today's new remodeling fashions you can select various types of these products. Every kind of product is now available on the market. New York contractors provide can source lovely fittings including Jacuzzi, power shower and huge bath tubs if the budget permits.

In some cities such as New York bathroom remodeling is pretty costly but of course it can be solved no matter what your budget with proper planning. Some of the things that can be done to reduce the cost include using flowery or bird shaped pictures or stickers on the tiles of your bathroom and can paint the wooden surfaces such as doors, bath panels and windows of the bathroom. A mirror in a NY bathroom creates an illusion of a bigger bathroom and so it is a must to put up mirror with different colors at the borders or you can simply put frames at the mirror's borders. Bathroom curtains are cheap and using curtains of the same color as the bath will look quite stylish and urban. Many contractors try to understand the customer's requirements first and then will work according to their taste making the place as classy and stylish looking as it can be.

However, you do not need to change everything during your bathroom remodeling, as it would become a very costly affair then. Just by replacing the bathroom taps, towel rail, soap dish and some other accessories will give the bathroom an all over different look. Besides, you should also allot some shelves and cabinets of interesting designs in the bathroom for storage of items like soap, shampoo and other necessary items of daily use. Towel racks should also be given some space and the towels kept on them should be of bright colors.

You can also put up wallpapers of different styles like the rain forest style or bamboo style in your bathroom as it would provide a total different look to your bathroom. Also, if your bathroom has a lot of space, then do think of getting a bathtub or a spa bathtub like those of Victorian designs.

The key in doing bathroom remodeling is to have a definite idea of what you would like it to look like when it is finished and getting a number of estimates as to the cost of having it done. By using simple, less expensive yet effective fixtures you can also save yourself tons of money. You contractor will give you assistance every step of the way.

If you live in New York and are considering bathroom remodeling it is advised that you hire an experienced remodeling contractor. These New York contractors are professionals who will work on your project with speed, efficiency and give you the high quality workmanship you desire. You can find many of these contractors at the Craftsmen Network.

Fixing a Speaker Cabinet by Replacing a Home Theater Speaker

When it comes to great audio sound, there is no part of a home theater that is more overlooked that the speaker cabinet. It is the very last link in the sound chain and controls the final way you hear everything. The speaker cabinet reproduces the tone as sound waves in the air which creates the subtle differences in sound. What happens when you have a blown speaker in one of your cabinets? Do you fix it or just buy a new one?

Usually the answer to this question is a wholehearted yes, simply for the reason that those cabinets were built with your speakers in mind. That is what they designed for. Think about the amount of math and engineering that was involved in building the cabinets with a certain amount of air space in mind. These cabinets were tuned specifically for those old speakers. Installing other speakers in there will not sound the same as your old speakers.

Here is a simple step by step process how you can remove the bad speaker from the cabinet and repair it.

• Take the speaker cabinet you'll be working on and set it on its back to remove the speaker grille. Some grilles are different than others. Some simply pop into place, while others are secured in with screws visible from the side or front of the cabinet.
• Now that you have the grill removed, you'll next unscrew the first screw from the bad speaker, and then the screw opposite the first one. All of the screws need to be removed in an opposite pairs order.
• Now, carefully list the speaker out of the cabinet. It will still be connected by wires to the other speakers and the head unit. Some are attached by two wires while others by four. There should never come a time when you remove a speaker and there is only one wire. If this you see this is the case then you may be lucky and the speaker is just disconnected and not blown out.
• Now take those wires hanging out the back and pull them out of the speaker tabs using the plastic connectors. Never pull on the wire itself. You'll end up damaging it. Those tabs should be color coded to help you distinguish between the positive (red) and the negative (black) wires. If they aren't, then simply label them with a marker before you remove them. Be careful not to let the wires fall back inside the cabinet once they are removed by taping them to the sides.
• Double check that the removed speaker is in fact blown and dead by determining the resistance between the two positive and negative connection tabs. If you get a read out on the meter of less than an ohm or more than twice the impedance rating, you have yourself a bad speaker. If you get a reading between the two good zones, then there shouldn't be anything wrong with the speaker. One other way is to lightly press on the center of the speaker cone. The speaker is blown if it makes a scratchy sound or does not spring back to its original shape.
• Now that you have your new speaker ready to go, you'll need to reconnect the wires by pushing the connectors onto the matching tab. Set the speaker into the mounting hole and replace the screws in that same opposing pair fashion as used earlier.
• Lastly, you are going to tighten all those screws, replace the grille and return the speaker cabinet back to its upright position.

Electra Warehouse does not only offer mobile electronics, it also carries brand named pro DJ equipment and home audio equipment. Electra Warehouse strives to give each customer a great one stop shop for the best bargain mobile, home and pro dj electronics. Visit them at http://www.electrawarehouse.com.

Are You Having Foundation Problems - Home Contractor Advice

Foundation settling or shifting can be caused by many variables. Before any repairs can be made these variables need to be identified and understood. In medical communities the saying is "cure the disease, and then treat the symptoms". This applies to foundation repair also, we need to find out what is causing the problem, why is it causing a problem and then finding a solution to the problem.

The most common cause of foundation problems is moisture. Sometimes it is a lack of moisture and sometimes it is too much moisture. Problems with gutters, downspouts or drain tile are very common. Clogging is usually caused by leaves, debris, or collapsing. In some cases the clog causes the sump pump to recycle water that erodes and saturates soils along the foundation. Rain water needs to be diverted away from the foundation to prevent hydrostatic pressure on the foundation and floors. In times of drought water may need to be applied near the foundation to maintain more consistent soil moisture content.

Many times foundation problems manifest themselves in the form of severe cracking of slabs or basement floors. Basement floor slab cracking can occur for several reasons. They can be significantly thinner than the blueprint called for or the sub base of stone may be significantly thinner than originally called for. Heaving often results in cracking as well.

Binding or inoperable doors and windows, distorted glass panes and wedge shaped gaps at the top and bottom of doors and windows is a common complaint of homeowners, especially settling homes. Sticking doors and windows are symptoms of foundation problems. As the structure settles differentially, sticking doors and windows become a nuisance.

Most drywall cracks appear in the corner of doorframes or windows and result from differential movement between framing and the drywall. Some wood frame movement can be caused by normal processes such as shrinkage or temperature expansion.

Houses with crawl spaces generally show recurring damage patterns. Often a few vertical cracks in the crawl space open and close seasonally. Due to their shallow foundation nature these cracks grow significantly during extreme periods of drought or rain. Among several potential factors , these shallow footings may rest on expansive soil that experiences more acute cycles of shrink and swell, which is often aggravated by landscaping.

Damage to exterior flatwork is also a common sign of foundation problems. Cracking of concrete can have a variety of causes including swelling soils, grade, concrete shrinkage, settling, frost heave, tree roots and poor quality of concrete or installation. Concrete that slopes toward the foundation and cracks channel water against foundation walls and footings causing cracks.

Repairing damaged foundations represents the greatest engineering challenge for a known problem. Improperly supported pilasters, concrete piers , random crack filling, misapplication of carbon fiber strips and the engineering conviction that wider footings prevent settlement are ? examples of potential ill-conceived foundation repair methods.

The art of foundation repair begins with a complete foundation investigation by a competent foundation engineer. This engineer will visit the symptoms and measure the settlement of the structure while reading the signs of damaged foundations. Upon completing his investigation he will then give a written description of the issues along with recommendations for a cure.

Potential cures can be steel resistance piers, helical anchors, tie-backs, plate anchors or waterproofing. Along with proper drainage, when these underpinning products are installed, per manufacturer's specifications and under the guidance of the foundation engineer you can be assured that your problem will be solved.

So, if you are having foundation problems, don't panic. There are solutions to help you, there are qualified engineers to help you and there are competent foundation repair contractors available to enact these solutions.

About the Author:

Jeff Tully invites you to view his website http://www.myfoundationrepairs.com if you are having any foundation issues including bowing walls, cracks in your foundation or any type of settlement issue. On this website you will find the truth about foundation repair methods and what you should expect. There are many misconceptions about foundation piers or tie backs, get the straight answers here.

This site was designed and built with the homeowner in mind is the only true source for foundation repair and waterproofing information. From determining if you really have a structural issue to hiring an engineer or foundation expert, you will find the answers on my site.

Pebble Tile For the Bathroom - How to Work Around Them

Would you like to know the purposes of the pebble tiles? There are actually plenty of them. For one, you can have them in your pond or garden. They can add that Japanese Zen touch, which always denote peace and calmness. You can also utilize them into your walls, especially when you want to achieve texture. There are a lot of them that are very smooth to touch, so they will always feel good into your hands. There will also be a pebble tile for bathroom.

Here are some guidelines in choosing pebble tile for bathroom:

1. Determine what kind of look you want to achieve in your bathroom. There are countless designs of bathroom tile for bathroom that you can pick, and each of them will have a completely different effect than the others. If you want to achieve a more natural look, it would be best if you stick with natural or unpolished pebble tiles. You can also go for polished or glass pebble tiles when you want something that looks completely different. There are also multicolored ones, which are just perfect when you want to be more creative and liberal when it comes to your designs. If you do not have any idea of what to choose, you can try to skim through home magazines and online bathroom designs.

2. Identify where you are going to attach the pebble tile for bathroom. You can use the pebble tiles right into your walls or into your floor. You can place them all over the area or in a specific location. You need to have a clear idea of its placement, since the size of the pebble tile that you are going to select will be dependent on the size of the area. Normally, though, these pebble tiles are measured at 12 inches by 12 inches. You can purchase them by piece or by bulk. Of course, you can definitely save more money when you settle for the latter.

3. Know if you want a professional to work on it or not. Just like any home project, you have two choices. You can have someone work on the pebble tile for bathroom, or you can complete the project on your own. There are advantages and disadvantages for each. If you want to minimize errors or if you do not have any idea on the equipment or additional materials that you are going to need, you should hire a professional. It will cost you hundreds of dollars, but you are assured that they will be perfectly done.

You can also work on the pebble tile for bathroom without any professional help, but you have to rely on your quick learning. There are some guidelines that you can read both online and offline, such as in magazines and books. The pebble tile manufacturer may also have their own instructions on how to install them properly into your bathroom. You have to follow them to a T to avoid committing mistakes along the way.

Kyle Tyler Helps you get creative! - Learn more about how you can easily decorate any surface at home or in the office with pebble tile for the bathroom

Visit Kyle's website at: http://www.PebbleTile.Info

Exterior Doors - San Deigo Home Tips

There are many choices when it comes to exterior doors for your home. The three most popular door types are wood, fiberglass and steel. Factors such as where you live, the exact style or design you want and your budget will all affect your decision. If you are thinking about replacing your exterior front entry door then you should think about all the great benefits to a new front door such as adding curb appeal and value to your home. A new door will also give the exterior of your home a quick update for a relatively low price. In fact, you can purchase a really great quality steel door (which is one of the best door types on the market) for about $250.

Wood Doors
Wood doors have been around the longest of all doors and provide the most decorative and personalized options. These traditional doors have other beneficial characteristics such the ability to be painted or stained, a project you could probably handle on your own. Wood doors are made better and stronger today then they used to be. While wood doors do provide a sense of security (being that they are thick and heavy) they are not as secure as fiberglass or steel doors in that they have the potential to be kicked in. You can also choose from a variety of finishes for a wooden door and easily customize decorative glass for the door. If you live in a hot climate such as Las Vegas or Palm Springs then a wood door may not be best for your home because the wood can swell and end up costing you time and money from having to maintain and fix the door. If you want a warm and traditional feel to your home and top security isn't a priority for you, then wood doors are an excellent option.

Fiberglass Doors
If you are looking for a strong, very secure and very energy efficient door then a fiberglass door is a great option for you. Fiberglass doors look and feel like wood but won't crack, warp, scratch, peel, swell or expand like wood and are three times stronger than wood doors and in some cases can be easily painted or stained. These doors have a wood grain texture molded into them which gives the appearance of a real wood door when painted or stained. Fiberglass doors resemble wood doors so closely that it is hard to differentiate between which one is real wood and which one is fiberglass. These doors provide added security protection and greater insulating quality- while keeping to a traditional theme with less maintenance than wood doors.

Steel Doors
Steel doors are the most energy efficient of the doors discussed here but do not have as much decorative options as wood. Steel doors are the best option for those who live in areas that are subject to harsh weather such as hurricanes or tornados since they are so tough and strong and also hold up to all the elements (such as heavy rain and snow) well. Another great benefit to steel doors is that they don't chip or crack or even warp. Another perk is that many steel doors come with a fireproof option. Keep in mind that steel doors can get dents but can also be easily repaired if needed. Being that steel doors are so strong and secure and the most cost efficient, they will probably continue to be one of the most popular door choices.

Whatever door you choose for your home, make sure that you weigh out the advantages and disadvantages of each door type to find the one that suits you best. You will also want to make sure that you find a professional contractor to install your new door properly.

Miriam Tatelbaum is a content writer for Networx.com

At Networx.com, we connect you with local contractors who are trustworthy, quality professionals that are screened by us and reviewed by you. Make sure you click this link Doors Networx to find a reliable, local door contractor in your area and to receive free quotes.

Drag and Drop Bathroom Design - The Benefits and Advantages

Considering the fact that our appetite for hi-end, avant-garde technology is getting voracious by the day, the explosion of drag and drop bathroom design software is not really that mystifying. But what has really left several members of the interior design community completely in awe is the manner in which these user-friendly programs have managed to win the plaudits of every nifty homeowner.

No doubt, these downloadable, versatile, easy to work with programs are not just about having loads of fun, but also promise a uniquely insightful experience. It's your chance to give wings to the artistic genius in you.

Your Dream Bathroom- Just A Few Clicks Away

If you maintain that creating your dream bathroom takes more than just a few clicks, you better get ready to invert that absolutely absurd thinking. Here's what these software programs promise:

• Creating accurate, graphical representations of bathrooms is simpler than it actually sounds.
• It gives you the opportunity to customize existing designs or create something refreshingly different.
• Apart from drawing up the master plan, you can drag-and-drop all existing features, from the wash basin, shower and bath to the lighting, furniture, fixtures, cabinets and more.
• The breathtaking array of materials, textures and colors helps you enliven your plans like no other. From intricate floor tiles to ethereal wall papers, you are never hamstrung for lack of options. So you can be sure that your newly-designed bathroom is the stuff that Technicolor dreams are made of.
• There's a dizzying assortment of 3D bathroom symbols to choose from. So you can design and edit in 2D and 3D.
• The veritable mosaic of brilliant colors that display your dream bathroom from different angles is mind-blowing, giving you a spectacular sense of space and specifications.
• The virtual walkthrough experience enables you to make the necessary improvements in the design without moving an inch.

Well, I guess now you why not only homeowners, but also bathroom and tile manufacturers, interior design and retailers are completely in thrall to the magic of these software programs.

Here's exactly how you can generate 100's or even 1000's of positively brilliant Bathroom Remodeling Ideas ... FAST ! And you could easily increase your home's value by several $1000s fast with these 25 street-smart tips for Dirt Cheap Home Improvement

Fireplace Design Ideas

Are you trying to find some inspiring information about fireplace design ideas? There are some basic elements to any fireplace that are generally addressed in turn, in order to come up with a complete fireplace design. There are three main components to any fireplace design.

The three primary components to fireplace design include the hearth, the firebox and the type of opening that is employed between the firebox and the room in which the fireplace is located. The hearth is the area outside of the firebox, in general. The firebox is the area in which the fire itself will be burned.

Hearths

Let's first talk about hearths. A hearth may be flush with the floor, raised above the floor, or sunk down lower than the floor. Additionally, there may be no hearth to speak of at all. In these cases the firebox should be at least two inches above the floor, as the hearth is what helps protect the floor from the heat of the fire.

Another type of hearth may include hearth seats of various kinds. The most traditional and popular type of fireplace with hearth seats are the kinds that feature simply two blocks on either side of the firebox opening.

Fireboxes

As with the hearth types, the different kinds of fireboxes generally have mainly to do with the height relative to the floor and / or hearth. There are raised fireboxes, flush fireboxes that are the same height as the floor, and there are dropped fireboxes that are somewhat lower than the hearth and / or floor in front of the fireplace.

Fireplace Openings

Of course the most widely utilized type of fireplace opening is the rectangular opening. Generally, a rectangular opening will be just that: rectangular in shape. However, even with rectangular openings, the sides typically flare outward from the firebox toward the face of the fireplace.

There are flat arch top openings where the sides are straight, yet the tope of the opening has a slight arch to the shape. As with the traditional rectangular opening, the sides typically flare outward from the firebox toward the face of the fireplace.

There are full arch fireplace openings where the opening contains no straight lines. These types of fireplace openings have one continuous curve all around the fireplace opening. This is the type of opening you are probably used to seeing in American Southwestern style fireplaces.

There are also corner fireplace openings that allow for there to be two open sides to the fireplace. As the name suggests, a corner opening fireplace is situated in such a way that an entire corner section of the firebox is exposed.

There are U-shaped fireplace openings where the firebox is exposed on three sides, the front, as well as the two side areas. These last two types of fireplace openings will generally produce better heat radiation. If you will be using your fireplace to heat your home, and not merely as decoration these are certainly worth looking into. For images of these various fireplace styles, take a look at http://www.fireplacesnow.com/FireplaceStyles.htm .

Jon worked in construction for 10 years before starting his own local fireplace installation service 8 years ago. At his website, Jon will show you how his years of experience in the industry can help change your fireplace into the focal point of your home. To learn more about fireplace design ideas visit http://www.fireplacegate.com

Do You Know Everything About Shower Cubicles?

Modern architects tend to separate the wet and dry areas of a bathroom by installing a cubicle for the shower area from which water cannot spill or seep out. These shower cubicles or shower enclosures as called by some come in all sorts of shapes and sizes and hues.

The cubicle consists of a glass shower cabinet to contain the spray from the shower, and a tray at the base to collect the waste water.

Shower enclosures are usually placed in the corner of the room or in a recess so that space outside the cubicle is not compromised. They could also be fitted against a flat wall and when installed in this way, can be moved to other part of the room more easily is required. Sometimes a partition wall is also built so as to cover up the pipe work, but this is suitable only to large bathrooms. These days, 'D' or 'U' shaped cubicles, specifically designed for installation against a flat wall are also available.

The cubicle usually is made of one complete frame with no joints so they are very rigid. The walls inside the cubicle are made waterproof material with the use of using ceramic wall tiles or a wall panel.

Shower cubicles are easy to install, an experienced plumber can accomplish the task in two days. However, intricate cubicle with its entire pipe works and other paraphernalia can be installed by an expert only.

Shower cubicles add functionality to a washroom without requiring much space. A shower cubicle can also be used in addition to a stand alone washroom to offer a more space in the bathroom. High-end cubicles offer sauna facility and some other add-ons.

The addition of a shower cubicle a little of the space and budget of the owner, but the atmosphere it invokes is limitless and beyond any level of imagination.

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

Are There Really Home Water Filters That Work?

A lot of people seem to be of the opinion that home water filters won't really do enough of a job of purifying our drinking water to make them worth the expense. Then you will hear many of those same people turn around and ask, how do water filters work. It all just seems odd to me, that's all.

I mean, how can you tell me in one breath that you don't think that home water filters do an adequate enough job to protect you from the pollutants in our drinking water, and then turn around in the next an tell me that you don't even really have a full understanding of how the filter operates?

If you suffer from a lack of knowledge as far as how do water filters work, then how can you pass a judgment down upon them? You have to have a full comprehension of what these units can do, and you also have to have a working knowledge of exactly what kinds of contaminants the unit is going to have to face.

Home water filters have to have a well rounded filtering design due to how many different pollutants that it deals with. The most potent threat comes from the chemicals that are present in our water supplies. There can be literally hundreds of them present in trace amounts, and the majority of them all reach our homes at one point or another.

To understand how do water filters work against these chemicals you have to know that there is such a variety of them that you actually need more than on internal filter in order to be able to effectively block them all. For this your unit needs both a multi media block, and a granular activated carbon filter. Together they will block 99% of the chemical content of your water.

Your home water filters also need to be able to block parasites and cysts from you drinking water. For this you need what is called a sub micron filter system. There is also one more filter that you need if you are going to be successful in removing the only remaining threat which is lead and copper.

So, how do water filters work in removing these toxic metals from your water? The system will this time employ an ion exchange unit which will effectively trap these heavy metals, and it will replace them with sodium and potassium. This unit is also effective for keeping your waters pH level balanced,

Any unit that you may find that has all four of these filters in it is a water filter well worth the money that you pay for it, and to be honest with you there are units that contain all of these features that are really quite reasonably priced. Don't let anyone fool you into believing that you have to pay a small fortune for home water filters that are effective in purifying your water, because that is absolutely not the case.

Learn about other water filtration systems at my website that I personally use that can dramatically improve the quality of your water.

Dana Lakes is a passionate researcher of water purity issues that affect our health and well-being. She articulates her opinion at http://www.clean-filtered-safe-water.com. To learn about water purification systems that Dana recommends for your home or office visit http://www.clean-filtered-safe-water.com

Hiring a Great Pool Removal Contractor

For some, removing a swimming pool may seem like removing a house. Once you realize it can be done, you may be thinking...but how? How can a huge, concrete based pool that takes up my entire yard be removed safely and efficiently? All kinds of questions may be going through your mind: Will we disrupt the neighbors? How will they get a bulldozer into my yard? What if they hit a gas or water line? Lets face it, fear and anxiety are the emotions we feel when faced with the unknown. These are the emotions that make scary movies, giant roller coasters and haunted houses so compelling, but when you are hiring a pool removal contractor the last thing you want to feel is fear. So how do you handle this process? How do you hire a pool removal contractor in the bay area or anywhere else? The best way to do it is to simply eliminate the unknowns.

When it comes to hiring a swimming pool removal company here is the best advice I can give you: Hire a company that has removed a lot of pools. That's it. It's just that simple. Practice really does make perfect. Plus, there's a reason why a particular contractor has done a lot of work. People trust them - they have a track record. It's no different than if you needed brain surgery and you were interviewing surgeons. If the doctor told you it would be his first, but another other one had done a hundred procedures, who would you pick? You'd probably be concerned about the outcome if you chose the first doctor. Same goes for pool removal. Pick a contractor that knows their stuff!

So, you have started the search. You are calling contractors and talking to friends. How much experience should your pool demolition contractor have? One hundred pools or more certainly would be a high benchmark. If a company has removed that many swimming pools, they understand all the pitfalls and problems that can arise. That makes it much more likely your job will get done right and in a timely manner. It's an important job, one you want done right. Going with the right contractor could mean the difference between getting it done cleanly and simply in just a few days versus it taking weeks and potential legal hassles. Keep it simple.

Here's another bit of advice: Always check the references of pool removal contractors. People have been getting burned by contractors of all types for years because of not following this step. You especially want to do this if you live in an area where there aren't a lot of in-ground swimming pools. The chances of any one contractor having a great deal of pool removal experience won't be high. The important thing is that you can verify the jobs they have done, and see if their customers were satisfied with the contractors work. Do yourself a favor, check them once and check them twice - call at least 3-5 of their former customers. See what they thought of the work performed. It could save you a huge headache later.

The other thing I always tell people concerns money: Be very leery about giving a contractor money in advance. Did you know that most states have laws about how much money a contractor can ask for up front? Its true. It seems that people have been getting burned by contractors for so long, that the government finally had to step in. If you are serious about your pool removal and want to do it right, you might make it a point to know what your state law is regarding this. Generally, it's a very small percentage of the contract price. In cases where permit fees are high and it takes a long time to get approval, contractors may want the customers to cover those costs. Bottom line: If a contractor asks for a lot of money up front, do yourself a favor: don't do it!

The main point I want to get across is this: do a little home work before hiring a contractor. A pool removal is a big deal. It can be expensive. You really need to ensure that it is done professionally, and at the right price. Whatever you do, don't go with the first bid that comes your way. And if a particular contractor seemed a little shady - trust your instincts, they probably are. Keep looking! When you have confidence that your contractor can deliver, then you can relax and actually enjoy the process. Think about it: your new backyard and new lifestyle are waiting!

If you need help finding a pool removal contractor contact me at verdell@poolitout.com. I would love to help you!

http://www.poolitout.com/

Four Secret Tips That Only the Bathroom Remodeling Pros Knew Until Now

If you had a secret guidebook to remodeling your bathroom, things would be easier, wouldn't they? Instead, it can seem like all the bathroom remodeling secrets are reserved for the professionals, but not anymore. With these four bathroom remodeling secrets, you can get professional results without having to pay for their services.

Secret #1: Sometimes simple is best

Too often, we think that bathroom remodeling needs to be extensive and detailed in order to get stylish results. So, we rip out the vanity we have and we try to install something new in order to do something dramatic. Instead, take a tip from the professionals and do LESS. Here are some ways you can take the advice of "Less is more":

Try repainting your vanity instead of replacing it

Replace your vanity countertop

Replace your sink

Try replacing your fixtures instead of getting a new vanity

Strip down your wallpaper

Just replace the toilet and nothing else

Change to all neutral colors

Remove anything with patterns

Replace an old shower door with a new one or a new shower curtain

Secret #2: Color does matter

Another thing that professionals know that you may not is that colors of paint do matter. When you're selecting the paints for your bathroom, you need to recognize that you need to choose more than one shade. There's a common rule of having one color that is in most of the room, while there's another color that should coordinate with that first color and then a small part of your room that has an accent color. So, you might want to use a basic color for most of the room, and then something that's a little different than that shade, but in the same color family, plus one bright color on the ceiling or on the trim.

Secret #3: Take back your space

Your bathroom can look completely different when you start removing things from it to clear out the space as much as possible. For example, instead of having a bulky bathroom vanity, you could have a simply pedestal sink that leaves you with plenty of room. You might also want to downsize your toilet or remove some of the shelving from the walls. Try to find things that you can leave out of your bathroom and then remove them to make the most of the remaining space. Sometimes just opening up the space can help things feel more modern and stylish.

Secret #4: Remodeling doesn't have to be expensive

Even with all of these professional remodeling secrets, you don't have to spend a lot of money to redo things in your bathroom. Many of the fixtures and accessories can be found at discounted prices via online retailers as well as through secondhand sources. Try shopping at places like discount retailers, garage sales and estate sales to see what you might be able to find for your project.

When you're ready for a professional looking bathroom remodeling project, you will want to head to http://www.discountbathroomvanities.com for ideas and products that will suit your needs.

Dave Robert is a VP at Discount Bathroom Vanities Publishing, and an avid fixer-upper who's been restoring old houses for more than twenty years. Readers can tap into Dave's knowledge about home remodeling, and kitchen and bathroom design, at: http://www.DiscountBathroomVanities.com

Bathroom Accessories Will Improve the Look and Feel of a Bathroom

A person who is looking to spruce up his or her bathroom does not need to do so by buying new wallpaper or painting the walls. The fact is that there are a number of bathroom accessories that can be purchased that can help give a different feel to the bathroom area.

Even if a person feels as if one of these accessories will not do the job, if he or she uses a number of accessories, that means that he or she will be able to make a big difference by making a few small differences at a time.

Some of the things a person can do with accessories include:

New lights - Lights can make such a big difference in a bathroom that it sometimes appears that something more drastic has been done. The brighter the lights in a bathroom, the better it is for most people. Not only do bright lights allow people at vanities and sinks see the mirror better, but a bright light can make a bathroom appear bigger.

If a person is trying to decorate around a theme, white fluorescent lights do not necessarily have to be used. Some people choose to use lights with blue hues in them to help give the bathroom more of an underwater feel.

New shower curtains - A shower curtain can often be even more noticeable than wallpaper and it is certainly much cheaper. One of the things that some people choose to do is buy a certain type of shower curtains and then decorate around the style of the curtain. For example, a person who buys a shower curtain with dolphins on it can then move to other parts of the bathroom with the idea of decorating with dolphins in mind.

This means that other bathroom accessories that have dolphins on them - like toothbrush holders, mirror frames, cups and toilet seat covers - can be used in other areas of the bathroom to create a different feel in the bathroom.

Towels - The towels hanging in a bathroom should be carefully chosen to show that they are able to mix well with the other items in the bathroom. This means that if the color burgundy has prominently been used in the bathroom area to decorate, a great way to accentuate this decoration is to buy and hang towels that are of the same color.

Shelves and cabinets - Doing something like changing out the shelves and cabinets in a bathroom is a great way to do something fairly simple and inexpensive, but still make a somewhat significant change to the overall feel of the room. For example, if a person has had white shelves and cabinets in her bathroom for years, and then decides to install black cabinets and shelves instead, there will certainly be a different feel in the bathroom, even if only a couple of cabinets gave been replaced.

Again, doing only one of these things may not make as big of a splash as a person might want, but if a person chooses to do a few different things to change up the bathroom accessories in a home, he or she will likely see that a few small changes can equal up to one significant change.

Anne Clarke writes numerous articles for Web sites on gardening, biking, fashion, and home decor. Her background also includes running, yoga, and tattoos. For more of her useful information on bathroom accessories, visit Bathroom Fixtures.

Bathtub Repair is One Thing You Can Do by Yourself

Expenses should be weighed very carefully. Every expense should be categorized into a want or a need. This is to manage the household budget more efficiently and to have money when rainy days come. We can never tell when we need to fix something in the house. We never can tell whenever a need, a big need, comes along. Repairs in the house almost always is a big expense and is always categorized as a need.

However, there are ways by which you can cut down on house repairs expenses by doing it yourself. It does not necessarily mean when your bathtub is broken, you will replace it immediately. Maybe you can do a little bathtub repair. Fix it up a little and save yourself some money.

Bathtubs get a lot of abuse over the years. You will see a little discoloration here and there. You will notice a little crack. The faucet may need to be replaced. There are a lot of things that can go wrong with your bathtub. You can always do it yourself but in order to make your bathtub look as new, you might need to hire a professional. Look at it this way, you have already saved yourself a lot of money by not replacing your bathtub. So maybe you can spend a little more by hiring a professional. So your bathtub will look good as new.

However, it will ultimately depend on the house repair budget. If you need your bathtub to be fixed right away and you do not have the budget for it and the repair is minimal anyways, why don't you do it yourself? In this way, you can still use your bathtub. After a couple of months, when you already have the money,why don't you reevaluate if you still want to hire a professional to redo your bathtub.

It is all about re-evaluating a little and choosing the cheaper option to save some money for the rainy days.

Cheryl Forbes owns and operates the website http://www.bathtubspecialist.info

South West Shower Curtains

Privacy is key especially when having a bath. Curtains are very important in providing privacy in shared bathrooms. However, if you value the beauty of your bathroom, you should choose curtains carefully. South West shower curtains come in outstanding designs. They bring a sense of warmth and rejuvenation to the bathing place. It is best to add matching accessories so as to transform the whole place.

There are many colors in which the curtains come in. They include: green, red wine, gold, brown and purple. The Arapho type comes in warm earth tones. Some of these tones are: russet and ocher. It is an excellent choice for a casual expression. South West shower curtains are available in different materials. Polyester is one such material.

It is advisable to have very long curtains. They prevent water from seeping into other areas in the bathroom. The Silver ado type is loved by many. It is simply beautiful. The Se dona type of curtains are designed by Lawrence Home fashions. The curtains in colors such as brown, Se dona red, sage green gold and purple. As you bathe, the curtains create a view of the Se dona Red rocks.

There are some South West shower curtains that are available in rare colors. Some of these include: rust, turquoise blue and earth brown. Your bathroom will surely be a place to refresh and relax. These curtains are available in shopping malls. They are also available online. You simply need to let your fingers do the walking. Whatever your choice will be, ensure that it suits your pocket and your home.

Peter Gitundu Researches and Reports on Shower Curtain. For More Information on South West Shower Curtains, Visit His Site at SOUTH WEST SHOWER CURTAINS

You Can Also Add Your Views About South West Shower Curtains At My Blog here SOUTH WEST SHOWER CURTAINS

Five Major Causes of Home Damage

You were very proud when you first got your house. After several years of renting, you finally own a house. Thanks to the online ad of homes for sale. Do you think you will still have the same kind of emotion after five years?

Most family find themselves living at a cluttered home with busted doors or windows. Aside from the portions of their house, their furniture does not look too good as well, drawers will not close and cabinets have broken mirrors. How did the house get to such a bad shape? It is difficult to believe that their dream house once became so chaotic.

To help you prevent this from happening from your house, let us identify the major cause of the damages at home. Here are five reasons why there are damaged houses:

1. Natural calamity is one major cause of damages in the house. The damage it gives depends on its intensity. It can be as minor as your paint fading and as disastrous as wiping out your entire house. Make sure that you apply for property insurance. This will protect your property from other risks like burglary and fire.

2. Another cause of serious damage at home are the not repaired minor damages. When they accumulate, the homeowner will find it impossible to repair. If you spot small damages in the house, repair it immediately, if not you will find yourself incurring more cost because you have to hire a professional to do it especially when the damage has grown.

3. Clutter can also cause deterioration in parts of your house. There are many houses bombarded with stuff that the owners do not even use. Clutter also invites pests like termites and cockroaches. Spilled liquid products can cause stain on the appliances, floors, furniture, and wall.

4. The people living in it are other factors of home deterioration. An example is letting the kids scribble on the wall. Another is the scratches on the floor due to dragging of the furniture. If the people living in the house are careless, the home will surely end up a disaster. Like any object you own, your house needs to be cared for. It is the responsibility of the people living in it to look after the items in the house.

5. The misuse of some parts and furniture of the house is another reason. Instead of using a chair, some would sit on the table. The cause of damage is usually because of improper use. Be an example to your kids and stop putting your feet on the coffee table. Teach your children to use the items in the house accordingly.

Finding out the major reasons why damages in the house occur will help you avoid it. As much as possible, you would want to make sure that you preserve the quality of the house you got time ago. To avoid damages due to calamity, assess the location of the house you are going to buy. On the other hand, you can avoid the other reasons for home damage through responsiveness to the needs of your house.

Chris Turley is an expert and professional real estate agent that will help you to find the perfect home that better fits your needs. For more information on Gilbert homes for sale, please go to http://www.ourbestrealestate.com

Laminate Cabinet Door Damage
Roof Drain Stain On Stucco

What Are Dry Wells?

A dry well is an underground storage facility for the disposal of unwanted water accumulated due to storms. Storm water is running off from roofs. It drives away this water in to the ground where it mixes with local ground water. This temporarily stored water released from it via penetration into the surrounding soils. It can be a structural chamber or hollow cavity filled with aggregate. It is specially designed for disposal of roof runoff water that does not carry any solid particles. Due to this reason it does not use for floating solid waste.

Important Features of Dry Wells
It is a kind of simple structure consists of hollow well stuffed with gravel, riprap, rubble and other debris. Such kind of wells is resistant to crumple but have limited storage capacity because of their storage area mostly occupied by stones.

Advance Dry Wells
Concrete cylinders with perforated sides and bottoms are constructed in order to provide resistance against collapse. This in turns increases the storage capacity of well. They are completely buried and do not occupy land area. Concrete cylinder makes it tougher.

How does it Work?
It is a passive structure. It receives water under influence of gravity. You don't need to spend energy to direct the flow of water in well. Number of entry pipes or channels is ranges between one and more than one. Number of small exit openings is present on the large surface area of sides and bottom. These openings are used to release to stored water. It receives water very quickly when ground water pressure is equal to atmospheric pressure. After this stage rate of receiving water depends on the rate of water discharge from well. Due to this wells with huge capacity are designed that can store large volumes of water in accelerated way and then dispose it off on gradual basis. Connection between inflow and outflow is always maintained to resist collapse and clogs.

Limitations in Constructing Dry Wells
Size and location of well is dependent on permeability of soils and slopes.
Size of the well is also matters to program its maintenance. Larger wells need less maintenance.
Flatter areas have suitable slope pattern for its construction. Rooftop gutter screens are used to stop leaves and other debris from entering in system.

Parameters of Designing Dry Wells
Storage volume and permeability rate of sub grade soil are considered as important parameters of design. Storage volume must be adequate enough to carry runoff water without overflow. On the other hand good permeability capacity of sub grade soil means that it can able to dispose of stored runoff water within 72 hours.

Conclusion
Dry well is very important structure in any building. Its basic purpose is to reduce the volume of storm water runoff from roofs of building. Covered wells that are used to dispose sewage water is called Cesspool on the other hand open wells that dispose storm water in ground is called Recharge Basin or Infiltration Basin.

If you want to know more about shower remodeling you can visit this site http://www.theyarelocal.com/articles/remodeling/bathroom_remodeling/shower_remodeling.php It will give you useful information about shower remodeling.

Damaged Exterior Drywall
Bottom Of Wall Damaged From Water

How to Replace your Broken Oven Element

The oven element in your electric range can burn out at any time. Unfortunately it always seems to happen at the most inopportune times, such as the week before Christmas or Thanksgiving.

Most elements do give warnings before burning out. They will often have a bright spot that will be noticed by the homeowner, just prior to burning out. If your element has a bright spot replace it as soon as possible. Waiting for the element to burn out is inadvisable because the oven thermostat or other electric components can be affected.

In all aspects of this job safety must come first. Use only the manufacturers original parts, not a cheaper substitute. Only attempt this repair when you have enough time, and patience, to do it properly. Remember, you will be dealing with 240 volts - thats twice as much power as flows through your regular household circuits. Only attempt this repair with another adult present.

If you feel confident in your ability to safely replace an oven element then try the following method:

1 Disconnect range from electrical power, either by unplugging or turning off breakers. Pull range away from wall so all sides can be accessed.

2 Remove rear panel of range to expose the element wiring. Identify which element you suspect being burnt out.

3 Carefully remove the element wiring. They are usually screwed on connections. Avoid breaking the connections or stripping the screw head with your screwdriver.

4 Go to the front of the range. Locate the screws securing the element within the oven cavity. This may require a flashlight because they are usually covered in debris. Again use caution not to harm the screw heads. The screws may be very tight and will require patience to remove without harming. If the screws will not turn they will have to be drilled out using a high-speed drill. If this becomes necessary use caution not to chip the oven interior.

5 Remove the oven element. If its broken avoid touching the pieces with your bare hands. The pieces can be very sharp. Plus, the white powdered insulation contains harmful chemicals.

6 Proceed to a parts store to obtain a replacement. Make certain you have your make, model, and serial number. Manufacturers use a vast variety of elements. Each model, type, configuration, and wattage requirements will determine which element was installed in your range.

7 Install the new element and secure it with the screws. If the holes in the mounting plate dont align you will have to drill holes in the cabinet interior. Carefully drill holes in the cabinet using a high-speed drill. Use caution not to let drill slip to avoid damaging or chipping the interior liner.

8 From the rear of the range reconnect the element wiring. Dont bent the electrical connections or allow the screws to strip the threads. If the wiring is burnt the insulation must be cut back to expose undamaged wire. Cut the insulation back using a knife or wire-stripping tool.

9 With the new element installed plug the range back into the electricity. Start the oven and allow to run for five minutes. Disconnect the electricity and quickly feel the wiring insulation at the element connections. They should feel slightly warm, but not hot. A hot connection indicates a poor connection, or the possible failure of other components associated with the oven. If hot, it will be necessary to remove it and redo. Once satisfied with connections replace the rear panel and reinstall into counter.

10 Test the oven operation. All elements should go off and on as per normal.

11 Final step is to do a test run of the oven temperature. If you have an oven thermometer allow the oven to cycle off three or four times at a regular baking temperature. The thermometer should indicate same temperature at which the oven dial is set. As a confirmation bake something such as muffins or cookies as your test substance.

As the preceding has shown, replacing a burnt element is not a difficult repair. But, it is certainly one that should only be attempted by someone who is confident around electricity. If you are uncertain about your ability around high voltage, telephone an appliance repairperson for help.

An appliance repairperson can have your element replaced, tested, and operating in less than an hour. Less time than it will take you to find the part. Also, they will have all the tools and testers required to do the job quickly and safely.

Copyright 2006 Donald Grummett. All rights reserved. Need answers about repairs and maintenance of Household Appliances? With 35 years experience Donald Grummett can help. Visit http://www.mgservices.ca to learn much more invaluable information.

3 Double Hung Windows In Rough

Advantages and Disadvantages of Washing Machine and Dryer Combination

The combination of a washing machine and a dryer is the latest development in the laundry machine field for the past years. The combination of a washer and a dryer is basically designed to save space than having a washing machine and a dryer separately.

Disadvantages:

It can only handle small laundry loads.
Value of time. It will take about 4 hours to finish a laundry load that weighs about five pounds. The dryer could only dry of a full load of wash at a time when the laundry is done. This means that you have to remove the other half from the washer-dryer and replace it with the other half.

Advantages:

One of the advantages of having a washer-dryer is it's price. It's like purchasing two machines with the price of one.
Another is the machines expenses. It will actually save you more money with your utilities and it is energy-saving.
And, it is advantageous because the combination of the washer and dryer utilizes the space in your home.

Do a little research or canvassing when you are planning to purchase a washing machine and dryer combo. You can visit online or stores to know the price and the different kinds of the machines. You will be grateful if you take your time before you go ahead to buy a washing machine.

If you don't have enough space in your house or living apartment or small home for the machines, you should find a stackable washing machine and dryer combination because it can save up a lot of space, money, and time.

Do you need a new washing machine? Visit http://www.washingmachineadvisor.com for more tips, washing machine reviews and advice on various washing machines brands.

Backing Block Holds Up Drop

DIY Methods to Save on Utilities

If your utility bill is out of control, you need to consider ways to tame the beast. There are plenty of do it yourself [DIY] ways to save on utilities.

DIY Methods to Save on Utilities

Utility costs for heating, cooling and electricity are near record highs. Worse, they are expected to rise fairly dramatically over the next few years. Since you will live in a residence for the rest of your life, making small changes to save money on utilities will save you tens of thousands of dollars, if not more. Here are some areas to check out and fix to start saving some bucks.

Leaks and drafts from the interior of your home to the exterior can easily double your utility bill. There are a couple of obvious areas to check out such as windows, frames around doors, fireplaces and entrances to attics. Less obvious spots to check include gaps around electric outlets, mail slots, pipes, spaces around baseboards and gaps around air conditioners where the interface with the exterior. If you find gaps, caulking can often take care of the problem or you can pursue a weekend DIY repair.

Insulation in a home can be a real problem when it comes to utilities. Since I hope to avoid getting sued, let me just suggest builders tend to use the minimum amount and grade of insulation required by regulations when building homes. If you live in a tract home, this may be all the more true.

If you seal the areas where you have drafts, but the heater or air conditioner is still turning on every few minutes, insulation may be a problem. Inspecting insulation isnt the easiest or most comfortable task. The easiest method is to first climb into the attic and see if there is any exposed insulation. Unfortunately, the grade of insulation in the ceiling may not match the grade in the walls.

To check the walls, the best bet is to find a small are where you might have a hole. Closets are typical spots. If you have kids, look for areas where a doorknob has punched through a wall. If none of these are available, you can remove a small surface area in a closet. Once done, determine if the entire area is filled with insulation as well as the R grade of your insulation. Compare it to recommended grades in your area. You can then patch the area and nobody will be the wiser. If all else fails, get a thermal inspection for a professional.

Most people are not going to need to blow out their insulation. Doing so will help, but sealing a home will go a long way to cutting your utility costs. With this in mind, give your home the once over.

Rick Chapo is with SolarCompanies.com, a directory of solar energy companies. Visit us to read more articles on solar power and home energy audit checklist.