My Renovation

Intro Drawer Organizer

noreply@blogger.com (Florentius Tony A.) — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 09:45:00 +0000

Cardboard drawer organizer

step 1 Material

Cardboard cutters rules pencils and pens

step 2Mark

after cutting 2 pieces of the card board with the intern size of the drawer... mark the middle

step 33 draw to cut

step 44 Assembling

step 5Voila

Have a nice try.

Make an iPod Video Projector

noreply@blogger.com (Florentius Tony A.) — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 09:36:00 +0000

Project video and pictures on a screen using your iPod!

step 1The setup

The idea is simple, Focus the light from your iPod onto a nearby screen by means of lenses and mirrors.

step 2Cardboard is underrated

Making prototypes is fast and easy using cardboard and a glue gun. A layer of black tape and that Apple sticker makes for a nice look.

step 3Lights down

In order to see anything it must be dark in the room.

Have a nice try.

Ikea Hack: STRIPA Shoe Rack

noreply@blogger.com (Florentius Tony A.) — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 09:26:00 +0000

Make a simple but elegant shoe rack from Ikea shelves. Shoes float out from the wall, and their own weight keeps them in the minimal looking rack.

I really like the J-Me metal shoe rack that works in the same way as this one, but I want a few of these and the J-Me ones cost 50 GBP each. Home made ones I've seen made with planks and shelf brackets all look a bit ugly, but using a few of these pre-shaped Ikea shelves is more aesthetically pleasing, uses fewer components, and costs about 8 GBP.

Stuff you will need:

Two Ikea Stripa shelves (About 4 pounds each)
Screws
Rawl plugs
Tools (not all shown)
Pencil
SD card (or something of a similar width)
Saw
Clamps
Hammer
drill
Pokey thing (Bradawl or thin screwdriver, for marking the wall through holes in the shelves)

Step 1Cut Shelf

Each rack is made out of two Stripa shelves: The bottom one is left intact, the top one is cut to about 2/3 its normal depth and mounted upside down above the first.

I did this very quickly and dirtily, and it turned out well.

Mark a line to cut on the top shelf. I found an old SD card was just the right width. Clamp it, then cut that mofo!

Don't throw away the offcut, you'll be using it for something in a bit. See notes on the images if you're new to woodworking and need more details.

step 2Plane

Use a plane to smooth the rough edge down, then use it to chamfer the inside edge at various angles until it's nice and rounded. You want a smooth edge rather than a hard angle where the upper of your shoes will be pressed against it.

The front of the shelf you cut off just happens to match the size of gap you need between the shelves on the wall (At least, that's the case for my - UK - size 9 and 1/2 shoes). Make some spacer blocks out of it, as shown in the pictures.

step 3Fix to Wall

The shelves come pre-drilled and countersunk in two places, so all that remains is to fix them to the wall. If you're going to be putting heavy boots in these, it might be an idea to drill for a third screw in the middle of each.

I found it best to drill the wall and fix one end, then line it up to mark the other hole. Remember to always do it by eye - using a spirit level is precise, but, as I rediscovered while installing this, can lead to very wrong looking results if the floors in your house slope even a tiny bit.

step 4Enjoy Floaty Shoes

That's it. It can accommodate various sizes of toe, with small toed shoes fitting between the very back of the two shelves, and large toed boots fitting between the recessed parts that offer a wider opening.

The shelves come with small metal pins and holes pre-drilled for joining them together at the ends, so you could easily run more than one of these along a wall. As it is, I find one of these can take three pairs comfortably, or seven shoes if they're crammed a bit.

Edit: Put a second one up, added some noisy phone camera shots to show it. The edge of the lens makes them look different, but both racks have exactly the same spacing.

Have a nice try.

Remodelling Your Kitchen

noreply@blogger.com (Florentius Tony A.) — Thu, 28 May 2009 13:37:00 +0000

A kitchen is one of the most important rooms in any household, for that matter, in every part of the world. Gone are the days you toiled yourself in the kitchen to cook tasty meals for you and your family. The kitchen is no longer considered a place where you spent hours, cutting, grinding, processing and arranging all the ingredients and groceries everyday! You can overhaul your kitchen; a place where you can cook comfortably while enjoying the process as well.

You can create more storage space for all the gadgets and have every ingredient at your fingertips. The preparations can be made much simpler and easier that you begin to cook every single day. You simply need to remodel your kitchen, modernize your kitchen.

Now that we have established that the kitchen needs to be redesigned, we can look at various options to organize and de-clutter the kitchen as much as possible.

The Modern Kitchen Essentials
You need to choose the right countertop, best kitchen cabinet styles, hardware, flooring styles among many other things. Every kitchen is unique and each one of us feels comfortable in a certain environment while cooking. So every kitchen needs to be designed taking into consideration, the individual needs of the user or cook in this case.

As homeowners, you are looking for a functional yet modern kitchen that accommodates all the appliances, gadgets and of course, good storage space. You are probably looking for a simple and de-cluttered look while retaining functionality and efficiency.

Leave it to the Experts!
Every step of your kitchen planning needs to be done, in consultation with the kitchen contractor . He is well aware of the right and sturdy materials for your kitchen cabinets, counters and kitchen flooring and can guide you in the right direction. As a home owner, you might know exactly how your kitchen needs to look or know what the renovation can achieve for you, however, you are perplexed with the numerous choices of materials, flooring or tiling options, different layouts that may work best for your kitchen. At such times, the kitchen contractors come to your rescue and help you choose the perfect solution to all your kitchen needs.

Kitchen contractors often provide good advice with respect to the layout and can suggest practical ideas to accommodate space for every gadget and ingredient in the kitchen, from the microwave, blender and dishwasher to the salt and spices!

Every kitchen contractor is well aware of the fact that the storage space and layout is very critical in the planning of a kitchen. You can begin the renovation process by ascertaining the storage space and layout first. Depending on your needs, the kitchen contractors can begin work keeping these factors in mind. Alternately, you can also choose to have a standard module in your kitchen that can be pre-fabricated to suit your requirements.

The modern kitchen is as glamorous and trendy as your bedroom or living room. Technological developments have made the cooking process very simple and easy that cooking is no longer considered a chore! Studies reveal that cooking can be very therapeutic and relaxing.

Now, that you have an all new modern kitchen, do you need any more reason? Healthy cooking and happy living will be your new mantra now!

Author : Richman Gould

Bunk Beds Are Good For Kids Health

noreply@blogger.com (Florentius Tony A.) — Thu, 28 May 2009 13:32:00 +0000

Kids of all ages love Bunk Beds and Loft Beds because they offer more floor space, a little adventure, and a cozy nest for sleeping. Bunk Beds, futon bunks, and ladders are now available online so they are easier than ever to purchase.

Bunk beds help even the most lackadaisical kids to get at least a moment of exercise. Climbing up and down the ladder of a bunk bed helps build strength in the arms and legs, gives a brief cardiovascular boost, and helps kids develop better muscular coordination.

Rather than taking up space in a kids room with two beds placed on either side of the room across from each other, install a bunk bed instead and open up that extra space to be used for playing, studying, or storage.

One thing you want to be sure to do is buy your bed from someone who sells quality furniture so that you know it'll be a good sturdy piece that will last a long time and not fall apart. Look for guard rails on the top bunk in a ladder that is attached permanently to the frame of the bed. When you get your bed home, it's important to assemble it specifically to the instructions to be sure that it is set up properly and no accidents will happen.

Bunk beds have become a very useful and popular piece of any child's bedroom; they not only create maximum space in cramped bedrooms but are useful for having two or more kids in one room. They allow two children to sleep in the same room while maximizing available floor space. They normally are supported by four poles at each corner of the bed; however some are made with only three. To use the top bunk a ladder is fitted, though many children make it their main objective to find their own way up quicker.

Place the bunk bed tightly against the wall to prevent children from becoming trapped between the bunk and wall. Use both long-side guardrails and caution your children from trying to slip down the back of the bed to the lower bunk.

Before buying a bunk bed, check its sturdiness by placing your hand on the top bed and shaking the whole piece to check if there is any movement. Always make sure the lighter child sleeps on the top bed. The best bunk bed to consider would be a full bed on the bottom and a twin bed on top. The wider bed below would create a better balance.

These days, there are many beds of this type available, although they are more expensive than traditional beds. Often these are bunk beds! Most bunk beds of this style include a play area underneath the bed, and often an imaginative way of getting down from the top bunk. Most commonly this is a slide, so you will need to make sure that the room the bed is to be placed in is big enough for this slide not to be a hazard, both in terms of your child sliding down it and tripping over it at other times.

Author : Russel Lyndon

Great Thing About Children's Bedroom Furniture

noreply@blogger.com (Florentius Tony A.) — Thu, 28 May 2009 13:26:00 +0000

Kids bedroom furniture is perfect for helping your son, or daughter, get his, or her, room organized. How so? Well, it is because they are available in all sorts of types and designs. For instance, maybe your son has a lot of books and video games to go along with that TV of his. Then, what would be a good fit for his room would be an armoire that could double as an entertainment center.

The great thing about children's bedroom furniture, is that is just a great way to really organize your child’s bedroom and keep it clean. It provides them with nice areas to store their clothes, their toys, extra bedding, and even their special keepsakes. Plus, it gives the space a very beautiful look, not just because it is kept clean and organized, but because the furniture itself has a fantastic appearance.

The furniture you choose should also not have sharp corners or heavy pieces that can come off and fall on your child. Again, a lot of furniture made for children is made specifically so that safety is a first consideration, but you should still keep an eye out and make sure the furniture you choose is completely safe and won't hurt your child in any way. Color - Color is important too, but in this case, you can let your child's creativity and tastes weigh in. After all, what's better as a child than to have a kids chair just for you, in your favorite color and just your size? That's one way to make a child feel really special. Another thing to look at in kids bedroom furniture is the edges.

There are some beautiful pieces of furniture out there on the market, but a lot of it has pointed edges. In a child's room, this is an accident waiting to happen. While you may tell them time and time again not to run in the house, it will happen, and it's best if you have rounded edges on the furniture for the time when they run into it. There are many online stores, interior designers and furniture designers, who can help you in selecting the right designer furniture for your kids room. Even they can tell you the ideas on how to make effective utilization of space in the room and use furniture, which give the kids comfort. As your child ages, bunk beds or futon bunks make use of airspace to preserve that hard-won floor space.

We saw bunk beds as climbing structures where kids could practice climbing in a safe environment. The sleepover stage reaches its peak at pre-teen years, when a child learns to bond with people outside the family. Bunk beds are advantageous as older children tire of sleeping on the floor. Futon bunks combine a single bed on top and a double sofa-bed below. The futon bunk bed is the ultimate space-saver for a child’s room as the bed rises above the clutter while the couch is still available as a comfortable reading space and additional sleeper. All of these make for great kids bedroom furniture.

Author : Steven Larrie
Spacify.com has the best quality Kids Furniture (http://www.spacify.com/design-for-kids-room.htm)

Simple Solar Do It Yourself Projects

noreply@blogger.com (Florentius Tony A.) — Thu, 28 May 2009 13:16:00 +0000

If rising utility bills are eating away at your household budget, join the club. Maybe it's time to find some solar do it yourself projects and start winning the battle of the utility bills. In the history of the world, there has never been a better time to get started with a project like this. Many national and local governments are giving substantial tax credits these days to people who are taking advantage of alternative energy sources - like wind and solar power, for example. We're also now seeing potentially huge benefits for third world nations by using simple inventions like solar water purifiers and ovens. Could this be the next big energy revolution, right in front of our eyes? But where can you start?

Probably the best place to get started is with a simple solar do it yourself project that doesn't require a lot of time or money. Once you start to see the benefits of solar energy for yourself on a small scale, you can start moving up to bigger and bigger projects over time - like solar panel arrays, or even wind turbines. But first, let's take a look at a few basic solar projects you can start working on right away.

Many campers and backpackers have taken advantage of solar power for years now. There are some quick and easy ways you can get the benefit of the sun while you're in the great outdoors. A solar cooking system - available for about $40 - will help you cook foods like hamburgers, hot dogs, and soups in less than 60 minutes. And you can keep foods warm for long periods of time, until you're ready to eat, since the cooking temperature is lower than traditional methods.

Simple solar hot water heaters have been around for years now, and you can find them in many campers' backpacks or supply boxes. After a few hours in the sun, these simple plastic bags with a shower head attachment put out very warm water, and you can find them for only $10 or so at many department or camping stores.

Speaking of hot water, installing a solar water heating system on the roof of your house is another possible project. Don't think of this as a complete replacement of your current hot water heater - just a supplement, and one that could start saving you money on your electric or gas bills. Since there is a bit of plumbing involved, this project can be somewhat difficult, but definitely within the reach of the home handyman.

OK, now back to something very basic for a moment. When it's cold outside, simply open the curtains and blinds in your home and let the sun heat things up! I'm sure you've felt how much heat comes in through your windows during the summer, so be sure and take advantage of that energy in winter months too.

Solar panels are another solar do it yourself project that's not as complex as the solar water heating system. Check out this Green DIY Energy review for details about one of the most popular sets of solar panel plans available. Using parts you can find online or at your local hardware store, and for about $100-200, it's possible to make your own solar energy panel that puts out about 18 volts of electricity at about 3 amps - that's 54 watts of power. By building a few of these panels, you'll probably start to see how you could run appliances, add power to a porch or sunroom, store energy in batteries for later use, or even power your entire home before too long.

Last but not least, let's talk about another simple use for solar power - recharging your car's battery. Older batteries can sometimes become weak and start losing their charge, so why not use the sun that comes through the front windshield to charge up the battery whenever you can? The mini solar panel sits on your dashboard and might just give your battery that extra boost it needs to last another 6-12 months or more.

With these simple solar do it yourself projects, you can start right away and be one of the first people in your neighborhood to begin getting the most from one of the most powerful, free energy sources in the universe - the sun.

Author : Tom Tennyson
To learn how you can get started with solar do it yourself projects today, visit http://mysolarwindhome.com

Clean Up Your Act With Fitted Furniture!

noreply@blogger.com (Florentius Tony A.) — Fri, 22 May 2009 21:00:00 +0000

Carpenters aren't just the stars of bible stories - they are busy sawing, hammering and sanding today, still creating both practical and ornamental features in our homes. While carpentry may be one of the oldest trades, it is continually evolving and is used in the most cutting edge architecture and interior design.

One important area for carpentry is fitted storage. This can range from basic shelving to cupboards, even fold up desks or beds concealed behind panels. Fitted storage can be particularly effective in small spaces, keeping visual clutter to a minimum.

Before you use a carpenter have a good think about the size and shape of items you want to store. Now's your chance to customise your storage and neatly organise oversized books, ornaments, clothes and so on.

Think about accessibility. How often are you likely to use a given item and what other items should it be near? Options include cupboards, shelves and drawers. Drawers are more accessible than cupboards as you don't have to root around in the back trying to find things. On the other hand they are more expensive because of the hardware that has to be bought and fixed to make the drawer workable.

Shelving is the most accessible type of storage and can be screened or open. As a general rule it tends to look better if larger items are shelved lower down and smaller items on the upper shelves - otherwise the arrangement can look rather top heavy. There are various shelving systems you can discuss with your carpenter, but all systems should be properly anchored i.e. attached to a solid wall. Also think about what the shelving will hold and choose an appropriate material that will be strong enough to bear the weight without sagging.

Adjustable shelving systems have vertical tracks and brackets that hold the shelves. But bear in mind that very few systems are in fact adjusted after the initial arrangement has been made! "Floating" shelves, which don't have brackets, are a popular option especially in modern interior design, giving an aesthetically clean line. And shelves fitted into alcoves can make maximum use of awkward spaces.

In terms of cupboard space again think about what needs to be stored. In the bedroom, how much hanging space do you need compared with space for folded and stacked clothing? Don't forget that shorter hanging items (skirts, jackets and tops) can be double hung (i.e. you have lower and upper rails), to make the most of your space. A fitted wardrobe with well thought out storage will be much neater and more space saving than buying a number of individual pieces of furniture.

Self contained areas - larders, dressing rooms and linen closets may sound luxurious, even opulent, but sometimes partitioning off a section of a room can leave more floor space than standard free-standing storage might otherwise occupy. Make sure the storage area is efficiently used and enjoy the lack of clutter in the kitchen and bedroom.

Carpenters can work with all sorts of different materials. Obviously strength is the most important issue but how your storage looks may also be important to you. Traditionally of course, carpenters worked with solid wood. Although they still can and do there are other options.

MDF is a very smooth, strong manmade material favoured by modern architects. It can be varnished, spray lacquered or roller painted any colour. Chipboard with a wood veneer is a good solid wood substitute and is cheaper. Plywood is flexible and smooth and comes in various thicknesses. All the solid wood substitutes have the advantage that they won't crack and warp like solid wood can and they are actually often easier for a carpenter to use.

So if you are thinking about fitted furniture, call in a carpenter but firstly work out what you need and how you want your storage to look. Then enjoy living in a new, organised space.

Feng Shui Products

noreply@blogger.com (Florentius Tony A.) — Fri, 22 May 2009 20:56:00 +0000

The art of Feng Shui is a philosophy that focuses on balance, harmony, and improving the quality of life. Despite being thousands of years old, it is still relevant and beneficial today. The practice make use of certain Feng Shui products to manage an energy known as qi, or chi using the English pronunciation, which is the essential flow of energy present within and around all objects, both animate or inanimate.

Some of the manifestations of chi according to the ancient art form, starting with the most subtle and ending with the most tangible, include:

Vibrations
Light
Pressure
Colors
Sounds
Temperature
Solid matter

Tips When Shopping

When shopping for Feng Shui products, some specifics to keep in mind include the image or patterns of the item, the material it is made from, the shape and the color. The color of an object greatly influences the effects it may have on the emotional and physical well being of a person. In Feng Shui, all colors are divided into either the Yin (cool) category, or the Yang (warm) category.

Many products used for Feng Shui purposes are unique, one-of-a-kind pieces that are carefully handcrafted by artisans from countries all around the globe. Decorative accents and embellishments you can use are not limited to the Chinese culture or its symbols. In fact, when choosing such products, you should choose one that mesh with or enhance the area where the item will be used or displayed. Here are some popular Feng Shui products you may want to consider getting.

Bagua

The Feng Shui Bagua map is a tool used to enhance your environment through the placement of objects based on the four directions- north, south, east, and west, and the five main elements- water, fire, earth, wood, and metal.

The Bagua, also written ba gua, consists of separate squares and is an essential part of the ancient practice. Using this tool, literally any space, regardless of its size, can be divided or separated into the nine areas or gua, with each area corresponding to a specific aspect of life. Bagua may even be applied to certain areas of the home rather than entire rooms, and should always be aligned or oriented with your front door, even if another entrance is used more often.
AmmolitiesBesides the Bagua map, prosperity stones are perhaps one of the most widely used Feng Shui products today. Also referred to as the Ammolites, these stones are believed to have healing properties and are used by those with emotional and psychological ailments, as well as by those with a desire to heal their spiritual selves in addition to their physical self.

Mirrors

Mirrors are another item often used in Feng Shui to remedy different situations such as to "send back" undesirable images, reflect and redirect the path of chi, or to prevent chi from moving into another space. Mirrors are also useful for bringing a space into harmony, enlarging an area or room, and also to promote wealth, good fortune, and positive thinking.
OthersOther products may include either specially designed or regular compasses, a variety of organizational tools, and a host of books and guides written on the fascinating subject. Good luck symbols, such as a metal gourd referred to as the Calabash, are also used for promoting longevity and good health.

Other items commonly used in the practice to achieve harmony and inner peace are:

Artwork
Bells, gongs
Bowls
Boxes
Candles
Chimes, wind chimes
Coins
Crystals
Fabrics
Gardening items
Incense
Jewelry
Fountains
Mobiles
Paints
Smudge sticks
Statues, deities
Sun catchers

Conclusion

Whichever Feng Shui product you choose, do ensure that it matches your needs. If you are in doubt, you can always consult your Feng Shui consultant who can assist you in such selection.

Author : Kelvin Ho

http://www.freearticles.co.za/home/home-improvement/feng-shui-feng-shui-products.html

Where Can You Use Laminated Flooring

noreply@blogger.com (Florentius Tony A.) — Fri, 22 May 2009 20:52:00 +0000

Laminate flooring is a new type of flooring, one that has been on the market for just a few years. If you have not seen laminate flooring in a home yet, you are going to be in for a big surprise. Laminate flooring is all about obtaining that real wood floor look, without having to have all the needed care for a wood floor in the long run. This type of flooring can be installed in any room of the home, where lots of moisture is not going to be found. If you have a laundry room where you have water dripping on the floor all the time, you may want to avoid putting laminate flooring in that room. Laminate flooring is great in the bedroom, in the hall, in the living room and so much more.

Laminate flooring is easy to care for. To clean a laminate floor in your home you will need just a dust mop or a very dry wet mop. As with a wood floor, you really don't to over wet the flooring in your home. The flooring that is too wet, all the time is eventually going to warp. The water will get in the material and hold that water. As the water dries out the material in the laminate flooring is going to move and change just as real wood does. Don't worry, laminate flooring installed properly and care for can last years and years in your home, often times longer than linoleum or tile flooring.

Laminate flooring can be installed in any room of the home, which has a level floor. If you have a floor where the sub floor is not even or level, you should install a new sub floor before putting the laminate flooring down. Laminate flooring is going to 'go' together and 'fit' together better when it is all level, and it is going to last longer as it is going to connect together best when on a level surface.

You can install a laminate flooring in a bathroom where you control the amount of water on the floor. You can also install a laminate flooring in the kitchen if you are careful about how much water and spills you have on the flooring. These same principles apply to wood flooring as well so don't worry about being the 'first' to do this. Laminate flooring can be installed in the family room or in the basement rooms where you spent a lot of your time. Laminate flooring is going to keep your home cool, and it great if you have pets so you can just sweep up for hair off the floors in your home.

Author : Ivar Rudi

http://www.freearticles.co.za/home/home-improvement/where-can-you-use-laminate-flooring-in-your-home.html

Creative Concrete Stamping

noreply@blogger.com (Florentius Tony A.) — Fri, 22 May 2009 20:44:00 +0000

Stamping concrete is a great way for you to imitate the look and fee of authentic stone, brick, or pavement without having to spend as much. There are rubber patterns that create the impression of natural stone for this purpose. There are also ready-made patterns for such materials such as brick and cobblestone, however sometimes they can look artificial. One way to avoid this is to create your own patterns to be used in stamping concrete. If you can learn this you will soon find your inventory stock filled with varied patters that can be used for your various concrete stamping projects.

1. Be Innovative
You may even use design ideas you find around your home. For example, you could use an Indonesian batik design block. As long as it can make an impression on wet cement, and does not stick to the finished product, it will do. In good design, there are no limits to the imagination. So look around your area, you might even find an appealing pattern somewhere in your own home! You could consider looking at your garage, your attic, or even your uncle's vacation gifts for potential stamp impressions.

2. Stamping
Commercial stamping produces great imitations. Sometimes, however, stampers are just overkill. You can bring out the beauty of concrete by being discreet at times with your stamping. You could use stamps that litter around your home, a batik woodblock or even a part of an auto transmission. Anything can be used to stamp the concrete as long it doesn't stick and ruin the finished surface. It also has to be durable. A commercial stamp is perfect for improving a plain slab on concrete. You could also use this type of stamp if you desire a professional, standard looking concrete stamping.

3. Creative Stamping
Creating your own stamp tool is can be innovative and fun. You could even use a salvaged part from an old ceiling to create decorative stamp! When stamping on concrete, make sure you understand the risks this procedure entails. Commercial concrete stamps are designed to work well, and are engineered to be as easy to use as possible. They often leave a clean impression. If you were to use your own stamps made of everyday stamp-worthy items, remember that there is a risk that the concrete could be ruined. Commercial stamps are designed to consistently pull free from the concrete; this may not be the case with home-made ones.

- Even slabs with a deep-cut pattern must be jointed so that cracking can be controlled

- Divide the stamped concrete by using sawed joints

- Order correctly slumped concrete

- Lay out stamps before the concrete arrives

- Do as little hand tooling as possible

- Order proper amounts of concrete

Concrete stamping is neither for the inexperienced nor the faint of heart. For those who would like to learn this do-it-yourself art, learning concrete stamping is possible. For the hobbyists, masons, and even for those who just wish to make their homes better, this will truly be a worthwhile undertaking.

Author: John Morris

http://www.freearticles.co.za/home/home-improvement/creative-concrete-stamping.html

Galvanized Pipe Replacement, PolyEthylene Flights

noreply@blogger.com (Florentius Tony A.) — Fri, 22 May 2009 20:38:00 +0000

Plastic piping systems are a sustainable and environmentally responsible choice that will serve generations to come. They are energy efficient during manufacturing and provide peak protection from contamination during service. Strong, durable, light-weight and flexible, these piping systems require significantly less energy to fabricate, transport and install than metal or concrete alternatives. With superior resistance to corrosion and abrasion, plastic piping systems also supply long service life, excellent joint performance and offer leak free protection-all adding up to exceptional value.

HDPE - Better Piping Solutions

High density polyethylene plastic pipe (HDPE) delivers exceptional value, unwavering reliability and remarkable advantages over conventional types of piping. It’s today's right choice for water, drainage, fuel gas, conduit and plumbing & heating. Other reasons HDPE is a superior choice:

Long-term service life
Highly-resistant to corrosion, abrasion and chemicals
Strong, durable, flexible and lightweight
Longer-length pipe with leak-proof joints
Lower labor requirements for installations
Significant overall cost savings

What is Feng Shui

noreply@blogger.com (Florentius Tony A.) — Fri, 22 May 2009 20:26:00 +0000

What is Feng Shui? This is a simple question that can be difficult to answer. Feng Shui is an ancient art and science developed over 3,000 years ago in China. It is a complex body of knowledge that reveals how to balance the energies of any given space to assure the health and good fortune for people inhabiting it.

"Feng" means "wind" and "shui" means "water" (pronounced fung-shway). In Chinese culture gentle wind and clear water have always been associated with good harvest and good health, thus "good feng shui" came to mean good livelihood and fortune, while "bad feng shui" came to mean hardship and misfortune.

Feng Shui is based on the Taoist vision and understanding of nature, particularly on the idea that the land is alive and filled with Chi, or energy. The ancient Chinese believed that the land's energy could either make or break the kingdom, so to speak. The theories of yin and yang, as well as the five feng shui elements, are some of the basic aspects of a feng shui analysis that come from Taoism.

The main tools used in a feng shui analysis are the Compass and the Ba-Gua. The Ba-Gua is an octagonal grid containing the symbols of the I Ching, the ancient oracle on which Feng Shui is based. Knowing the Bagua of your home will help you understand the connection of specific feng shui areas of your home to specific areas of your life.

Tips (3): Selecting the Right Water Heater

noreply@blogger.com (Florentius Tony A.) — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 16:53:00 +0000

A few things to note in selecting water heater for your home. Among them are:

The size of your home, water heater can be installed separately for each room or it's placed centrally and drain water with pipes to heat the entire bathroom.
Capacity of the water produced, thw water heater is to heat water and water that has been store on tank then to be distributed to the bathroom. The more capacity water heater is the more water to store and distributed.
Energy that is required, if you use electricity or gas water heater, It should match with the consumption of electricity or gas that is in used. How it can be adding the purchase of electricity or gas tube is required in a month.
Installation of water heater, The installation of solar water heater it's needed a strong roof. Some roof still need an additional buffer to be installed with solar water heater.
Price, type of water heater in the market is very diverse, as well as the price. The heat source on the water heater also influence the prices, such as electric water heater, gas, and solar energy. Each has its own advantages. Which country who made the product is also very influential, the production is in local region or abroad.
Energy saving, this is the end you must take a look for the use of power. Check the indicator of Energy Factor (EG), which are listed on each product. The higher the EG, the more energy efficient water heater is use.

Happy renovating.

Tips (2): Select the Right AC, Save Electricity

noreply@blogger.com (Florentius Tony A.) — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 16:39:00 +0000

The Jakarta weather and the surrounding areas are often change. In August and September, the weather is often very hot and fierce. Even in some areas it will be very hot, as in the north close to the beach. A hot temperature will make the house does not become a confortable, and the people often go outside.

However, the use of Air Conditioning is sometimes caused new problems, such as increase the electricity bill.

Here are some tips to save power to the use of AirCond, so you can cooling your home and your the billing is still low.

Choose the AC with energy efficient and environmentally friendly.

Set the AC temperature level to comfortable level and avoid to set to a maximum temperature of the cold.

Closed every gap in the room to maintain the temperature

Use the AC timer set, this is to avoid the AC is turned on all night

Info source: http://panduanrumah.com/

Happy renovating.

Remodeling Space With Instant Wall

noreply@blogger.com (Florentius Tony A.) — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 16:09:00 +0000

We often wanted to renovated our house, but we have limited funds, but the change has become a liability. Perhaps because there are new people at home, it can be our grandmother, grandfather, brother, sister, child or a new baby that we need to prepare a room.

Well, to install a solid wall ... certainly it isn't cheap, doesn't it? There are some solutions that met the needs and the budget. We can make the separator wall or partition.

Partition is the non structure wall spacer, we can make it with wood. However, there are other materials that's to be consider to use, there are the GRC board and Gypsum board. (GRC = Glass-fibre Reinforced Cement) (GRC = Glass-fiber Reinforced Cement).

The making process of gypsum wall partitions with GRC are faster than if we make the wall with conventional brick wall. Wow...be careful, the gypsum walls and the GRC walls are being used only as a practical wall only (non structured).

We can use the gypsum walls for dry areas such as living room, family room, or bedroom. Because gypsum has it's own character, it is prone to water and humidity. While for a wet area such as kitchen and bathroom space or the outside, you can use the GRC wall partiton. Because the characters of GRC is impermeable to water and resistant to weather changes.

If you talk construction, they both do the same construction using a hollow iron frame size 4x4 as beams, and thereafter can difinish with a compound to disguise the connection. By the way.....GRC even with the wall, we can also cover the GRC wall with the ceramic surface. With special glue (usually Mortar) the ceramics can sticked strong to the wall.

How about it's cost ....? Offcourse it's cheaper. Just imagine..., if we create a brick wall, the process is to long to build and to long to dry. If it so, it would make bigger cost to work.

Price estimation of making gypsum wall is Rp 90,000, -/m2. That's what we used standard materials such as Indal gypsum, but when we used Jayaboard gypsum certainly it's more expensive. While the painting cost with standard paint (Catylac ICI) Rp. 20.000,-/m2.

Note, it's important .... that you have to prepare the goods for the worker. If it's late, We still have to pay the workers even that they aren't working.

Happy renovating.

Tips (1): Carpet Qualification, Supporting Activities

noreply@blogger.com (Florentius Tony A.) — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 15:51:00 +0000

Carpet is the most good for the room? Many people only wanted to put carpet in, to build the good atmosphere and to create a cozy room. But not only that, we must consider the selection of carpet from the price, design, and treatment.

The major mistake is when they did not choose the type of carpet according to the activity for the room of their own. For instance, thick carpet of wool placed in the room. While our guests or our selfs often does not remove the footwear when we entering the room. While the wool carpet is quite difficult to clean. It is a good idea that you must first consider the activities that will be given room carpet.

Don't be shy to ask about the carpet quality and qualification to the salesman that you want to buy. Do not forget to check your warranty on your carpet, especially for the carpet if it's quite expensive.

Do not be dazzled with a good design and fit with any room, also consider "whether the type of carpet you buy according to the activity of your room?"

Happy renovating

Photo source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/decor8/182632092/

How To Hang Curtains Like A Professional Without Hiring A Pro

noreply@blogger.com (Florentius Tony A.) — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 01:28:00 +0000

When you think of curtains your mind goes straight to window treatments. There are other ways to use and hang curtains to change a room. This is especially true when you are working with an open space and you want to break up that space and add an air of intimacy and privacy to certain areas.

A one room studio apartment can be separated into two rooms by using curtains to separate the bedroom from the rest of the apartment without compromising the space. To accomplish this you will need to use light, high tension wire that will remain straight and not droop and allow the curtain to be pulled back and forth smoothly. You will need a plastic coated cable (aircraft cable works great), turnbuckles, wire rope clips, and screw in hooks with anchor to match the wall.

You will also need a cable cutter for the cable wire. Preparing To Hang Your Curtains

Site in your line and mark two holes for the hooks.
Drill out the holes and push in anchor. Screw in the hooks.
At one end of the cable you will need to make a loop and secure it with a wire rope clip.
Open turnbuckle and attach it to the other hook.
Stretch the cable to the turnbuckle and cut the cable, leaving at least 6 extra inches at the end.
Remove the turnbuckle and fasten cable through one end with a rope clip.
Attach the turnbuckle to the hook.
Now you will need to tighten the turnbuckle until the cable is rigid.

Once you are done with this you need to make sure the wire is rigid enough, test your anchors to make sure they are secure, trim down any excess wire, and slip your curtains onto the wire. For windows it can be a bit more difficult to hang drapes and curtains by yourself. You may want to ask a friend or family member to help, you will be glad you did. The first thing you will need is a good, sturdy step ladder.

Make sure your hands are clean and have no dirt or lotion on them to stain the curtains. Fill your pockets with curtain hooks. This way if a hook falls out of your curtain you will have another handy to replace it without leaving the ladder. Make sure that your rod or wire is secure and strong enough to hold the curtains without bowing.

If your windows are wide, you will want to add an extra bracket in the middle to assure the rod remains straight. Count how many hooks are on the back of your curtain and make sure you have the correct amount of curtain rings or runner hooks to accommodate your curtains. Move one ring to each end of the rod so that when you hang the curtains, you will be assured that they will fit the window.

Hang curtain panels carefully, working from the outside edge and working toward the center of the rod. Once you hang the curtains you will be able to arrange them and do any adjustments. robert(at)shoppingforwindowtreatments.com

About The Author
Robert Schielmann Get more decorating tips using fabric vertical blinds by visiting http://www.shoppingforwindowtreatments.com a popular window treatment & covering website that specializes in tips for creating unique window designs with woven wood blinds and tips on locating quality discount window blinds.

How To Clean Your Home Air Filter

noreply@blogger.com (Florentius Tony A.) — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 01:23:00 +0000

Many people are unaware that the air we breathe in our homes is almost six times more hazardous than the air we breathe outside our homes. Airborne particles become trapped inside and the dirt and stale air have no outlet.

Today, there are different kinds of home air purifiers. The most common ones are carbon, HEPA, UV light air purifiers, ZEOLITE, to mention a few. Each kind of purifier mentioned gathers contaminants; some of these air purifiers have a steel rod while others, have a filter. It is essential to have a clean air filtering system inside your home.

The main function of furnace filters is to keep the heat exchanges and coils on the air conditioning and heating system free of all the dirt. Since home air filters are made of highly efficient anti-microbial filters and motors that ensure pure, clean air at home, it is wise to keep the system functioning effectively.

Learn more about home air filters and furnace filters by visiting http://www.webproducts.com/. A furnace filter or air conditioning system filter can considerably decrease the dust in your home and give you an allergy free oasis from fall pollen and spring seasons. Below are some ways you can clean your Home Air Filter:

Dusting/Rinsing/Spraying – For cleaning the home air filter, remove the air filter panel and clean the condenser and evaporator coils. Vacuum or brush the coils. Rinse the coils with a detergent and water mix using a garden sprayer/hose. Make sure you don’t rinse or spray the electrical parts of the air filter. The coils and fins should not be damaged. Clean the air filter on a regular basis to avoid molding problem caused due to moisture inside the air-filtering unit.
Steam cleaning – For steam cleaning air filters, special chemical filters are shot into an air conditioning unit by employing powerful high-pressure steam machines at approximately 150 pounds per square inch.
Vapor steam cleaners – The vapor steam cleaners are easy and safer as they do not use chemicals but only dry steam. When the steam enters the air conditioning unit, all the molds, fungi, dust mites and bacteria are instantly killed.
Oiling – Liberally apply cleaning oil to the dirty side of the air filter. If you are using a squeeze bottle of oil, squeeze a bead of oil in the length of the crown of every pleat using the tip of the squeeze bottle as a guide. Use a bottle with a graduated view strip for dispensing the right amount of oil. If you are using an aerosol spray, use an equal amount of oil along the length of the crown of every pleat. Wait for about 25 minutes to allow the filter media to absorb the oil. Check the clean side of the filter for any lighter area. Continue the oiling procedure till you notice an even color over the entire filter media. Besides cleaning your furnace filters and air-conditioning filters, it’s essential to replace them, in accordance with your unit’s owners manual.

If you have high level of dust particles in the house due to recent renovations, use of candles or if someone smokes in the house, you should clean and replace the filters more often. Also, consider a regular replacement, particularly if a family member suffers from allergies, asthma or any kind of lung diseases. Visit http://www.webproducts.com/Categories.bok?category=Furnace+Filters for the latest information on furnace filters.

About The Author
Bill Whitworth writes air quality articles for http://www.webproducts.com Web Products, Inc., the Internet’s premier supplier of http://www.webproducts.com/Detail.bok?no=70 furnace filters, air filters, replacement filters, and custom filters.

Climate: A Design Imperative

noreply@blogger.com (Florentius Tony A.) — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 01:21:00 +0000

Climatic variations across regions alter architectural demands for shelter, warmth, cooling and the relationship of indoor and outdoor living spaces. In designing any structure it is imperative that its context be embraced and that both current climatic conditions and those which may be experienced during the life span of the structure are factored into the design.

A structure which ignores its climatic context risks undermining functionality and sustainability. Michael Sandberg of Sandberg Schoffel Architects comments that environmental considerations and sustainability issues are “tremendously important” for both local and international architects and landscape designers.

Mr Sandberg adds that, in architectural design, “climate has always been a major factor” however it is only now, given the recent drought and associated climate extremes experienced in Australia, that it is becoming a much more public discussion.

Architect James Russell agrees that it has always been important to consider climate to ensure a design is “interactive with its surroundings” however client awareness is only now growing with people becoming more receptive to producing buildings that have a low impact on the environment. Countries with extreme climates are further advanced in producing and designing environmentally friendly architecture.

Mr Sandberg describes Scandinavian countries as having fewer natural resources and therefore are further ahead in terms of environmental and climate responsive architecture. Due to a warm climate and ample natural resources, in the past “Australia has lagged behind” other nations in terms of climate responsive architecture Mr Sandberg comments. Little need for insulation, warmth conservation and water proofing meant Australian architects made fewer climatic considerations in design.

Now that the Australian climate has become more extreme there is a greater sense within both the design and broader communities that climate responsive architecture and design is an imperative. Long term rainfall deficiencies across southern and eastern Australia have now led to greater scrutiny and emphasis being placed on water saving design features in residential and commercial properties.

Government restrictions on water use and the promotion of energy efficiency are increasing public awareness of environmental sustainability. Homeowners and commercial organisations alike are being forced to consider the environment in the everyday running of their home or business. According to Mr Sandberg the impact on building design has been an increased focus on water retention, energy efficiency and the use of recyclable and natural materials. Specifically, the use of grey water and installation of water tanks and catchment areas are increasingly being incorporated into Australian architectural design.

The award winning Szencorp Building in Albert Rd, South Melbourne was designed with climate change and weather cycles in mind and represents the latest local environmental solutions in building development. The outdated 1980’s era Szencorp Building was redesigned in 2005 to become the greenest office building in Australia with a six star green rating from the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA). The building was designed to feature a grey water and rain harvesting system, solar hot water system, lighting control sensors and many other environmentally sustainable design features as part of the buildings architecture.

Peter Szental, principal of The Szencorp Group, believes one of the key directions for climate and environment responsive designs both in Australia and on a global scale is through energy efficiency. “The simplest and most cost effective way of cutting our greenhouse gas emissions is energy efficiency. Often overlooked, energy efficiency can dramatically reduce emissions and significantly reduce energy costs.”

While the design trend for new buildings is to become greener, Peter Szental believes architects and landscape designers also need to target existing buildings as an overwhelming majority of commercial buildings in Australia are inefficient and continue to use far more resources than they need. “Australia’s delay in adjusting for the future is creating barriers to cleaner energy and consigning our growing greenhouse liabilities to future generations - a liability to deal with when times may not be so buoyant.”

Local designers can play a vital role in making our living and working spaces more environmentally sensitive by accommodating for “a mix of energies – including cleaner coal, but also biomass, solar, wind, hydro,’ within their work, as well as the government providing further ‘incentives to improve energy efficiency”.

The global design community is responding to climate change. On 18 June 2007 during the International Presidents’ Forum at the American Institute of Architects (AIA) 2007 National Convention in San Antonio, 16 presidents of national and international architectural associations united to address the role of design in response to global climate change. Importantly, the forum attendees, leading architects from all over the world, all agreed to adopt international goals and benchmarks for sustainability in architectural building design.

About The Author
Karen Vosjan is the owner & operator of Domain Design, Australia's leading image driven portal featuring leading Architects and Designers, and showcasing their projects, and capabilities. http://www.domaindesign.com.au

Choosing Bedroom Curtains

noreply@blogger.com (Florentius Tony A.) — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 01:19:00 +0000

Curtains have many purposes in the home not together from making the room give the impression of being grand. They draw closer in many different styles, types, and insignia giving you more of a choice to choose from.

Taking care of a house are something that most people love to do. There are many accessories and different things that you can add to any room in order to give it an additional presence and to help make it look better as well. Curtains are essential for any room and they can have a few different purposes in anyone’s house.

They appear in so many different colors, patterns and styles that they will suit anyone’s color format and tastes. Appropriate Size And Color Of Your Curtains : One rationale of having over and done with is to have some space to you in all of the rooms. Not only this but they can also be enormous to keep heat in when it’s cold and they can control the amount of light that comes through when it is sunny. Also, they vary in price so you could get budget curtains which can look really good, to the more luxurious ones which look fantastic. It all depends upon your own personal tastes.

The foremost thing that you need to do is gauge your transom. Measure the length as well as the width. Then you should decide how far you want your curtains to hang. Wither you want them to stop right below the window, or hang and puddle on the floor. Add these inches into your window measurements. Next you should decide on the rod sleeve, and the hem. You will need to allow inches for both of these, and you will find that the larger the hem on your contemporary fabric curtains, the better the curtains will glance.

Once you know how much yardage of fabric you will need per window, you will be ready to go and buy the fabric for your curtains. You can have them cut each panel for you, so that you can just come home and sew, or you can cut them yourself once you get home. You also need matching thread, and you will be using a serer and a tapestry machine.

You should consider the most suitable length for your over and done with. Some can take the weight off your feet just above the window ledge, giving the impression of fitting neatly into the window space. These are ideal when you have a radiator under the window, so you don’t lose all the heat up through the window behind the curtain. If you want your curtains to rest just below the window ledge, be sure your curtain pole is mounted far enough from the wall to ensure that curtain can hang freely and does not touch the window sill. Floor length curtains should finish just before the floor so they don’t drag.

If they touch the floor they will become grubby very promptly and may be stood on and ripped. In conclusion you should conclude if you need your curtains lined or not. Lining can add considerable disbursement you your curtains, but it is worthwhile if you need the extra seclusion, wadding or soundproofing that lined curtains can provide. You can also buy interlined curtains, with a third panel of insulation fabric between the curtain itself and the main inside layer. Lining can also make your curtains hang better if they are made from a lightweight bits and pieces.

About The Author
David Faulkner You can also find more info on http://www.homecurtainsonline.com/category/sheer-curtains on Sheer Curtains and http://www.homecurtainsonline.com/category/tab-top-curtains on Tab Top Curtains. http://Homecurtainsonline.com is a comprehensive resource to know about Curtains & Drapes.

Tips On Fitting Wood Flooring

noreply@blogger.com (Florentius Tony A.) — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 01:14:00 +0000

When you install wood flooring there are things that you should know prior to and during the installation to be sure that you have the best fitted floor possible. - To prepare your flooring you first must be sure that the sub-floor is dry, flat, and smooth.

You should use an underlay or a barrier over the concrete first. If you have radiant heating in the flooring then you should be extremely careful and follow instructions per the radiant heating guides and by the flooring guide so nothing gets damaged.

The flooring panels should be left in the room that they will be installed for over 48 hours so they can acclimatise to the temperatures of the room. - When you lay laminate planks you will stagger them. The first row of flooring will be full sized planks. The second row will include 2/3 planks and the third row will include 1/3 planks. The joints of the planks should remain greater than 8" from one another. You should also repeat the patterns of the wood grain every 20 planks. -

When you decide on the direction of your laminate floors you need to think about the incoming natural light from outside. The planks should run parallel to the light coming in from the windows or any glass doors that are in the room. In any installation, the starting wall that you begin the installation should be as long as possible. - When you are installing your laminate flooring be sure that you have enough. You should expect to have at least 10% of the flooring go to waste. This is because when you cut the planks you might damage a few and some may already be damaged. Other pieces of planks may not be usable. So when you purchase your laminate flooring, don't buy exactly enough to cover the floor or you will probably run out of planks. -

It is recommended to leave a 10mm gap around each of the planks. This is called an expansion gap because wood expands from temperature changes and humidity. When wood is exposed to warmer temperatures, humidity increases, and other issues, then there must be room for the wood to expand or when the planks do push outward they will buckle. - You should also remember that the first line that you lay is the most important. The first line is the longest and must be totally straight. If the first line that you lay is not straight then you should not continue. You should pull the line up and start over. Poor alignment can cause problems with residue getting caught in the grooves of the planks. Mouldings can be glued or nailed to the wall only and not to the floor. -

You can install laminate flooring on stairs but remember on stairs you must use regular wood glue and the mouldings should be nailed. Laminate flooring should not be installed in areas that are controlled like porches or patios. You should also never install laminate flooring over carpet. Be sure to remove carpeting prior to laying down the flooring. You should follow these few simple steps when you are installing laminate flooring to ensure the best installation possible.

About The Author

Derek Rogers is a freelance writer who represents a number of UK businesses. For laminate flooring, he recommends Completely Flooring, one of the UK's leading suppliers Quick Step Laminate Flooring: http://www.completelyflooring.co.uk

Choosing the Best Cheap Carpet for Your Own Individual Needs

noreply@blogger.com (Florentius Tony A.) — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 18:03:00 +0000

W hat carpet will work best for my needs? What questions should I ask the carpet store before purchasing my carpet? How can I tell if the carpet is a quality carpet versus an over priced carpet? These are the questions that my clients ask me when they are considering purchasing a new carpet for their home.

I will attempt to answer these questions and keep you from spending too much money or not enough money to achieve your new carpet needs.

The first question you should answer is How long do I want the carpet to last? To simplify the answer to this question we will categorize the expected carpet life into under 5 years.

Many people just want to put carpet into their home for resale purposes and wish to spend the least amount of money as possible. Other people wish to replace just their family room for a few years and then replace the whole house once the upstairs or less used carpets are also ready for replacement. If you want just a few years of use, Olefin carpet may be the best carpet for you. It is simply less expensive. It is also colorfast and will not discolor or fade easily. The down side to Olefin carpet is that it will mat easily and not perk up as much once it is cleaned. It will also absorb oils and not release them easily or some times not at all.

As a carpet cleaner, we like Olefin the least since it does not respond to cleaning as well as most other carpets. Now that you decided that Olefin is best for you, How should you pick out your olefin carpet? One of the biggest mistakes people make with Olefin carpet is getting a carpet yarn that is tall. Olefin is very heavy and if you take a tall heavy fiber and support it with lots and lots of other tall heavy fibers they will mat and tangle and not look very good. Your best bet is to get a very short olefin fiber that will not mat.

When you compare the Olefin carpet between stores you want to make sure that you are comparing carpets of equal density. The store should be able to tell you how dense this particular carpet is. Make sure that you are getting the price for a square yard of carpet and not a square foot. Also, make sure that you compare the same thickness of carpet pad and if the carpet installation and carpet stretching is going to be knee kicked or power stretched. You might also want to ask if the installer working for the store is an employee or if they are a sub contractor? Do they guarantee the carpet installation?

You might want to check the store and installer on the BBB web site. I would compare three stores for price. Remember to compare the store for the same:

1. Fiber content (are they made of the same stuff? Olefin)

2. The carpets thickness.

3. Are they all using square yards?

4. Cost of the same thickness carpet pad.

5. Cost of installation.

6. Is the installation under guarantee?

7. Are the installers power stretching or Knee kicking?

8. How much do they charge for old carpet tear out?

9. How much do they charge for old carpet removal?

If you have any other questions regarding choosing the best cheap carpet or finding a longer lasting carpet please look for the article you need at http://www.colorado-carpet-masters.com/

About The Author
Keith Wroblewski is an IICRC Master Carpet Cleaner who has been in the cleaning industry for 20 years. His carpet cleaning company Boulder Carpet Cleaning Masters has been cleaning carpets in Boulder Colorado for 17 years. He has produced several free help guides to help his Boulder carpet cleaning clients and now offers these guides( carpet cleaning, carpet buying, choosing cheap carpets, choosing wool carpets, cleaning wool carpets, and many others. You can find them at http://www.colorado-carpet-masters.com

Dummy Security Cameras Could Void Your Home Or Business Insurance

noreply@blogger.com (Florentius Tony A.) — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 17:57:00 +0000

O ften the expense of a surveillance system can put many people off of purchasing and leave their property or premises vulnerable to theft or attack. It is common known that if any would be criminal sees a property with security or a property without they are more likely to go for the easy target.

With this in mind even if you do not have the money to finance a complete system it is possible to buy dummy security cameras, these make for a brilliant alternative and are a must have for many people. The systems look just like their real counterparts and act as the perfect deterrent for any would be nuisance caller or would be burglar. Most people would not recognize a live system from a bogus one and this is the beauty of them.

The majority of the systems look and feel just like the real thing, they have identical external casings with wiring, cables and markings which you would expect to find. Since many of the dummy security cameras have become ever more sophisticated just like the real ones and now can be bought with a host of features. Motion sensors can be found on them and they act just like the real ones and would fool most people, other features include lights that flash or blink to give the impression that they are recording or live.

Many are branded with stickers and other factual information to further deter the intruder. Some locations or buildings would not make suitable places to have these camera systems and it is important that careful consideration is taken before considering fake cameras. In many offices or business premises real cameras are a necessity with health and safety grounds and also the protection of the goods. Fake systems will not provide the owner with any information should a building be broken into or damaged, and will only act as a deterrent.

The main reason and probably the only reason that anyone would purchase a dummy system is on cost. The majority of businesses that are most likely to use security cameras will have stock or equipment that needs to be protected and the dummy security cameras will do the job unless a break in occurs. Many businesses will not be insured and the goods would not be insured if the security systems are not live and providing active real protection.

For the everyday homeowner then dummy security cameras could be enough to prevent a potential burglar, it would be highly unlikely that if you did get burgled any contents and your home insurance payouts would be prevented because you have security cameras. Be careful to check your insurance policies carefully and do not declare that you have a real live active security camera system in place when you in fact do not. You would be likely to pay reduced insurance premiums, but run the risk that if you do need to make a claim that your insurance would be invalidated due to inaccurate information.

About The Author
Steve Strong's is an employee with Sun Security which is an innovative and growth oriented company who uses a fresh and new approach to meet the security needs of millions of consumers throughout North America. Visit us at: http://www.sunsecurity.com

Bathroom Lighting Design

noreply@blogger.com (Florentius Tony A.) — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 17:15:00 +0000

Bathroom Lighting Design Do you find yourself not wanting to look at yourself in your bathroom mirror in the morning? It may simply be because you have poor lighting. Lighting naturally creates shadows and if you don’t have your lighting properly planned, you may find that your newly remodeled bathroom isn’t the happy place you thought it would be.

I’m writing this article as a result of numerous questions from my neighbor who is remodeling. Being a lighting professional, they have lots of questions for me regarding their bathroom lighting. It really seems to be a daunting task for them. In Bathroom lighting design, there are many decisions to make. From design and placement to what fixture to use to what light bulbs are best. I’d like to take you around the room to give you a rule of thumb when planning your own bathroom lighting design. Shower Lights Showers are a space that you no doubt need a form of recessed lighting.

It’s very important to use a recessed fixture that is made for the shower and rated to work under conditions of humidity and possible contact with water. In addition you’ll want to use a light bulbs rated to use in the shower. Most products will be clearly marked as such. Personally, we have a dimmer on our shower light. It allows for a slow wake up by anyone getting into the shower before the light of day. But it’s important to provide enough light to allow you to shave and see what you are doing. Bathtub Lighting Depending on the height of your bathtub and if it is separate from your shower, your lighting solutions here will be different. Let’s assume you have a separate bathtub here. If not, you won’t do anything different than what I’ve outlined above.

Typically, you will be using recessed lighting above your bathtub area. It is not necessary to have water rated fixtures and light bulbs in this spot. One or maybe two recessed fixtures aimed at the outside of the tub will provide what you need. Aiming to the outside of the tub will provide light to see what you are doing yet will cut down on any glare. Mirror and Vanity Lighting This area might be the most crucial spot to get it “right.” Improper lighting when you are trying to apply make-up or shaving can be the pits.

Lighting companies have come up with a number of functional and decorative choices for vanity/mirror lighting. Topping and flanking your mirror with vanity strips is one way to provide light. Insure that you purchase vanity light bulbs that have a lower wattage or frosted glass so you don’t blind yourself. The mistake I’ve seen many make is that their light bulbs are too powerful and then they unscrew several of them to take the light level down. This totally defeats the purpose of having a vanity strip as it is suppose to distribute light evenly. What we decided to use is our home is wall sconces. And now that I think about it, we used it in all three bathrooms.

The master has 3 as we have a long vanity and there are holes cut in the glass where the sconces sit. The other two bathrooms have the sconces flanking the mirror. When you choose to have more than two, it’s important that the spacing be such that the light is coming from either side of each sink. Spacing here is not as critical; just insure that they are evenly spaced. Most folks tent to stand in front of the sink and you wouldn’t want to have the sconce right in front of your face! Their height should be about eye height. This will need to be adjusted slightly according to the type of sconce that you choose. Bottom line is that you don’t want to be able to see the light bulb itself when standing and looking at the sconce.

Ceiling Fixtures If you are lucky enough to high ceilings in your bathroom, go for a small decorative fixture like a small chandelier. The rule of thumb on the size of chandelier is calculated by taking the width of the room added to the length of the room. (Or if you are installing multiple lighting fixtures, use the dimensions of the area that this fixture is meant to light.) That number should equal the diameter of the fixture. Ie. A master bath that is 15’ X 13’ would need a chandelier or decorative fixture about 28” in diameter.

Recessed Lighting I’m all for recessed fixtures in your overall bathroom lighting design. What I don’t care for are ceilings that look like swiss cheese. After you’ve planned for all other lighting, it would be prudent to fill other lighting needs with recessed lighting. If using recessed in the toilet area, locate the can in front of the toilet and not right over. No reason to be in the spot light! Use recessed to light dead areas or to light sitting/reading areas. Yes, some bathrooms are big enough for reading or lounging areas. Above a bench or reading area is a perfect place to insert a recessed fixture.

Now, I’m going to throw this in now. My neighbor wants to put a sconce above the toilet for reading purposes. Use the same rule of thumb as mirror sconces and place the fixture at about eye level. Night Light Some sort of lighting that can be left on all night is not only a safety solution but will allow you to make the middle of the night trip to the bathroom without totally waking yourself up. Lots of folks use a night light and if you don’t have much space in your bathroom, this is a great solution. I love to use accent lamp lighting when there is room. A small lamp with a long life light bulb or compact fluorescent light bulb in it provides a wonderful accent light day and night.

Either place on your vanity or on a small accent table. There are numerous components to bathroom lighting design. The above should get you started in the process or at least give you the confidence that your electrician is putting junction boxes in the correct spots. One last suggestion I’ll make is to put all of your bathroom lighting on dimmers. Many of us use our bathrooms as a serene get away. To achieve this; lighting is a huge component. Having the ability to dim the lights will provide the perfect atmosphere.

About The Author
Holly Eddins has over 10 years experience in the lighting industry. If you’d like to get more information from Holly about Lighting Design or Choosing the right Light Bulbs for your applications visit her website at http://www.lightbulbmarket.com