Creative Manipulation of Faux Paint Finish

Paint applications that are designed to imitate other materials are called faux paint finish. Different methods are used to apply paints, glazes, and texturizing materials to create illusions of fabric, stone, wood, and other natural surfaces. Depending on how it is used, most often it is applied by hand tools with a variety of paintbrushes, sea sponges, putty knives, and cotton rags.

There are many ways to vary this technique, and it really is a good idea to practice first. Here is a guide of some effects that you can achieve:

Sponging is the easiest decorative finish to master. You can sponge with paint or tinted glaze on a color base.

Sponging off is a faux finishing technique similar to sponging. However, for sponging off, first you apply the paint or glaze on the walls, then you remove it with the sponge before it dries.

Ragging is a faux finishing technique that's a little different than sponging. After you try it, you'll want to rag everything. The paint applicator is a rag and not a sponge.

Ragging off is a faux finishing technique similar to sponging off. First you apply paint or glaze to the surface with a brush or roller; then you remove it with a cotton rag.

Rag rolling is similar to ragging, except the shape of the rag and the way it's manipulated are key to the success of this technique. This technique is something like using a rolling pin. Hold the rag in both hands and roll it into the wall. The paint is deposited from the rag to the wall.

Rag rolling off is a faux finishing technique that combines rag rolling and sponging off wall sections, thereby removing the finish.

Color layering is a little time-consuming, but it can give your walls or ceiling a combination of old world charm and new age elegance. The most important part is to choose colors that work well together.

Paper pressing is a fun technique that can give some very unique finishes and textures. You can accomplish this by simply pressing various types of paper into wet paint or glaze and removing.

Brush swirling is relatively simple. All you do is lightly pull and drag a brush through a wet glaze surface. Which kind of faux paint finish you use depends on personal preference as well as drying time, workability, and cleanup.

Automatic Pool Cleaner: Is It Really Beneficial?

There are literally an unlimited number of benefits to owning an automatic pool cleaner. However, to understand those benefits, you must first learn about automatic pool cleaners and how they operate. As with many other pool products, including pool accessories, you will find that automatic pool cleaners come in a wide variety of different makes and models. Despite the different styles, all automatic pool cleaners accomplish the same goal. That goal is to keep your pool clean and free of wreckage.

When it comes to automatic pool cleaners, you will see that there are two main types of automatic cleaners. These cleaners are often referred to as a vacuum cleaner or a pressure cleaner. While both types of these automatic pool cleaners will help to keep your pool clean, they work in different ways. Before making a decision as to which type of automatic pool cleaner you would like to buy, you are advised to quickly familiarize yourself with each.

Automatic pressure cleaners often work in a way that is similar to a pressure washer. With these cleaners, high pressure water is used to stir, mix, and bring dirt and debris up from the bottom of the pool floor. Once this debris has been brought up to the surface of the water, it then can be removed through the pool’s filter.

Automatic vacuum cleaners work in a way that is similar to a traditional vacuum cleaner. Special hoses create suction that is used to lift dirt and debris up from the bottom of the pool. These hoses may then be connected to the pool’s filtration system or a special bag can be used to collect the debris. The pool vacuums that tend to have their own filter bags are often known as robotic cleaning systems. This is due to the fact that they can operate without the assistance of a pool’s filtration system.

Regardless of which type of automatic pool cleaner you buy, you will like be pleased with the results. This is because there are a number of benefits to using an automatic pool cleaner versus doing it yourself.

If you are currently a pool owner and you manually clean your own pool, it is likely that you know that it can be a long and difficult process. This means that you may be able to spend more time working, with your family, or better yet, you could spend more time swimming.

In addition to saving yourself time, you may also be able to save yourself money by using an automatic pool cleaner. Many pool owners do not have enough time to manually clean their own pools. For a reasonable price, an automatic pool cleaner can do the same job. In fact, you may find that, overtime, an automatic pool cleaner ends up paying for itself.

Whether you are manually cleaning your own pool or hiring a professional, you are advised to at least consider buying an automatic pool cleaner. After you take the time to examine the pool cleaners that are available for buy, you may start wondering why you waited so long to get one.

The Ins and Outs of Bathroom Showers

If you are thinking about changing your shower you may well have looked around a few bathroom shops and been surprised by the number of choices you have. Even choosing a shower valve can be a confusing business so here's a guide to tell you what is what when it comes to showers.

Manual Shower Valves This is the most basic type of shower. Most manual showers have a single lever control that you use to control the flow of the water and the temperature. They are very simple to use and usually are not expensive.

Thermostatic Shower Valves The great advantage of a thermostatic shower valve is that it can provide a constant, even temperature and cope with fluctuations in the flow and temperature of the hot and cold water feeds. Most thermostatic valves have extra anti-scald safety features and will cut off the flow of water if the cold water supply fails.

Concealed and Exposed Valves Concealed / Exposed refers to the way the shower valve is mounted on the wall. A concealed shower valve is built into the shower wall so that most of the valve is hidden and only the control levers are visible. An exposed valve is mounted onto the shower wall so that the whole mechanism is visible. Many shower valves can be mounted either exposed or concealed.

Twin Shower Valves Unlike a single lever valve, a twin valve has two controls, one control for the rate of water flow and a second control for the water temperature.

Triple Shower Valves A triple valve has three controls; one for the water flow, one for the temperature and a third which is usually a diverter. The diverter is useful if you have two shower heads. It's becoming more common to have a fixed shower head above the shower and a hand-held shower head as well. The diverter on a triple shower valve allows you to select which shower head water is fed to.

Sequential Shower Valves This is one we get a lot of questions about. A sequential valve has a single lever that works rather like the knob on your cooker. When the lever is fully anti-clockwise the shower is off. As you rotate the lever it turns the shower turns on. With a sequential valve “on” means fully on so you have full pressure straight away. As you rotate the lever further you increase the temperature of the water.

Shower Panels A recent newcomer is the shower panel or shower tower. This is a single unit that contains everything you need for a sensational shower. Specifications vary but usually include a shower valve (often thermostatic), a diverter, a fixed shower head, a hand held shower and several body jets. Shower panels are easy to install but can require quite high water pressure to work well so you may want to install a shower pump as well.

Customized Showers These days, shower components are standardized enough that you can pretty much pick and choose the parts you want to create the shower of your dreams. You can choose from hundreds of shower valves, diverters and stop valves, have multiple heads, ceiling mounted heads, riser rails, rigid risers or body jets to build exactly the shower you want, individual and customized to your own needs. After all, how else will you get a shower with 16 jets and a 12 inch shower heads?

Electric Showers Electric showers heat the water as it passes through the shower so they only need a cold water supply so you have simpler plumbing and don't need any hot water to run them. Electric showers are particularly popular in en-suites.

Power Showers A power shower is basically a shower with a built in pump. A power shower needs both hot and cold water supplies. A power shower does not heat the water; it pumps water through and increased water pressure, giving you a stronger shower. Power showers are ideal where you have low water pressure, perhaps in a bungalow.

So there you have it. Not quite everything you need to know about showers, but a good start!

The Best Composit Decking Material for Withstanding Mother Nature

Composit decking is one of the new decking materials for commercial and residential decks that is cornering a section of the market. If you are not sure about using this material for your decking, you should read some of the reviews of the various brands. Viewing photos of decks completed with composite decking material will also give you a good idea of the professional ambiance that this can bring to the exterior of your home. Although composit decking comes in second place to wood in the look and appearance of a deck, you can get this material that looks as if you have a traditional wood deck.

The word composit means that the material used in the decking is molded or extruded using a process of mixing wood and plastic to create a unique decking material. Composit decking has distinct advantages over wood if you want to have a deck with which you will have very little work in the future. If you read composite decking reviews, you will learn that some manufacturers use polyethylene plastic while others use vinyl. The wood used is generally wood fibers or sawdust, although you would never guess this when you see the composite decking photos.

The brand of composit decking that you buy depends on what you are looking for. Read the composite decking reviews of Elk, Procell, Trex Geodeck and more then 25 other manufacturers of composite decking. You will find very favourable reviews about all of them whether you choose plank decking or composit tile decking. In the reviews, you can also learn valuable information about how to install this decking and the best ways of fastening it to a wooden frame. You can learn from the mistakes of others by reading reviews, so that you can avoid some of the common problems homeowners sometimes have and then feel so foolish when they realize the simple mistake they made.

Composite decking photos in magazines and online are a great way for you to decide which type of composit decking would best suit your home. As you compare the various photos of the composite decking material, you can also compare the prices of this decking material. When you compare the prices of the composit deck prices with that of wooden decks, you should keep in mind that composite decking requires very low maintenance. This is not true of wood decking. Read composite decking reviews to help you understand how paying a higher initial price can help save you money down the road.

The only maintenance you will need to do when you install composit decking is washing it down with a hose. This decking material does not rot, crack or splinter and it never needs painting or staining. If you notice that the color fades a bit in the first few months, just read the composite decking reviews to find out that this is perfectly natural. The color will fade slightly as it adjusts to the weather of your location. After that, the color will remain constant in your composit decking so that it will always look like new.

Common Sense Fire Safety for Your Home

This will come as no great surprise, but did you know that the majority of house fires are the result of cooking? In fact, studies show that cooking results in approximately 400,000 fires every year in single family homes and multiple family dwellings. Add to that the number of fires that go unreported and the total is more like 3.5 million residential fires.

Here are some tips from the Orange County (Calif) Fire Authority to help prevent most of these fires:

*Never leave cooking unattended - This is probably the most common cause of kitchen fires. This includes all appliances including toaster ovens, coffee pots and other small appliances. They can overheat and cause a fire if left alone. Be sure to unplug them when not in use.

*Wear close-fitting clothes while cooking - loose, long sleeves can catch fire when dangling near hot burners. Wear close fitting sleeves and avoid storing things over the stove and having to reach over hot burners to retrieve items.

*Avoid overloading outlets - plugging too many appliances into an outlet could result in an electrical fire. Also be aware of cracked or frayed cords.

*Heat oil slowly - Fires can start easily if the setting is too high and the pan is unattended.

*Smother a grease fire - don't use water on a cooking fire as this will spread the fire and make the it worse. Slide a lid or other non combustible item over the fire and remove the heat source. With oven fires, close the door and turn off the oven.

*Do not allow children to play around the range and other appliances.

*Don't hesitate to call 911.

These are just some of the common-sense reminders that can help to prevent a fire and send your dream home up in flames. Or, worse, cause severe injury or death. A small amount of caution can make a world of difference. Remember what your mother said: don't play with fire!

Bring out the Beauty of Your Home with Bathroom Rugs

With so many different types of bathroom rugs to choose from, you can alter the look of your bathroom with a simple purchase. Before making your purchase, first you must decide what size of rug you would like, what color you would like, and what textures you would like. You can choose a small rug to place in front of the toilet or tub/shower, or one to cover the entire floor area.

Once you have established the size of your rug, you can start to think about what color to purchase. You can choose colors that will match with your paint scheme, colors that are light or bright to make the room look bigger, or just simply a color that you like. Be aware that darker colors, although they don’t show as much dirt or wear, may make the room appear smaller than it actually is.

So after you’ve established size and color, you can choose from many different materials and types of rugs. Anything from short shag to braided materials will be available to you. Most rugs designed to go in the bathroom are lined on the bottom with a rubber like material. This keeps the rug from slipping out of place, an important safety feature.

A bathroom rug is not only decorative, but functional when stepping out of the shower or tub. Stepping out of a shower or tub with wet feet is not only dangerous and exposes you to the chances of slipping or falling, but eventually the water can damage the flooring in the bathroom. Please keep in mind when choosing a rug that you may be stepping on it with wet feet and it may receive substantial amounts of water depending on where the rug is placed.

If you are looking for an inexpensive way to redecorate your bathroom, changing the rug is a great move. And if you tire easily of the looks of your bathroom, changing a bathroom rug occasionally is an inexpensive way to keep the room looking sharp and fresh.

For example, if you wish, you could change the color of the rug with the change of seasons—lighter colors during the spring and summer months and warmer, dark colors during fall and winter, or you can place a decorative rug in the bathroom to celebrate the holidays. Whatever your choice, the simple change of a bathroom rug can put a new look into your bathroom.

Lock Your Mailboxes to Keep Your Identity Safe

A lot of people don’t consider locking their mailboxes, but it should become a usual habit. Every now and again there are some people who decide to go digging through your mailbox. They may steal your phone bill or they may steal something as important as you social security card. That is just one of the reasons why everyone should have locking mailboxes.

Identity theft has become a very big problem for many people around the world. Many people who have gone through identity theft has happened just by unfortunately not having locking mailboxes. If you live in an apartment building, you have probably seen the neighborhood mailman deliver your mail. In the middle of the mailboxes of all your fellow neighbors there is one big lock in the middle that only the mailman has a key for. This prevents anyone else besides the mailman and the post office to have the ability to open everyone’s locking mailboxes.

If you are someone who owns a house and you have a regular mailbox that anyone can open it would be a very good idea to put a lock on it and make sure that only the people that you trust to have the key for it. Another thing you should make sure of is that your locking mailbox is big enough so if you are away for a couple of days you do not have to worry about it sticking out of the slot.

If you are expecting something very important a very good suggestion would be to wait in front of your window until the mailman gets it to you. Make sure that you do not leave it in the mailbox for too long; especially if it does not have a key. If it does have a key still wait for it, you can never be too safe.

Pay attention to where you keep your locking mailbox key so you do not lose it. You may consider it misplacing and you can just get another one, but to some people it may just be the beginning of an identity theft case. No, there are not many people who are willing to walk around to every mailbox and see if the key they have opens it, but there is a lot of technology now that can help them find out what household’s mailbox it belongs to.

Post offices all around the world have been thinking of many possible ways to keep your mail safe. In some states and countries have even set up security alarms on mailboxes that go off when someone besides the mailman opens the lock that opens all the mailboxes at the same time.

The best types of locks to use for locking mailboxes would be Deadbolt locks. This is not the usual key lock this lock is made up of a combination, key and springs so it is not easy to open. You do not have to worry about anyone breaking into that. These locks are so amazing that you cannot just buy them at your local hardware store you must order them. The companies that sell these locks are usually associated with the Post office.

Aluminum Blinds: Are They Durable Enough for Long Term?

If you want durability in window coverings, aluminum blinds will give you the peace of mind you crave. They do give you the special ambiance you want for every room of your home and you can color coordinate the blinds with the décor. Aluminum blinds are manufactured with this in mind as well as the fact that people want something that will last. When you purchase blinds, you have a choice of vertical blinds, mini blinds and Venetian blinds in the aluminum line. Aluminum blinds look just as good in a formal dining room as they do to the window of a rec room in the basement.

Although aluminum blinds are more expensive than vinyl, they are cheaper than wooden blinds. You can have aluminum mini blinds with a 1 inch slat or aluminum Venetian blinds with slats 2 or 3 inches wide. If you shop at Hunter Douglas for aluminum window blinds, you will have 129 colors to choose from and several different levels of privacy. If you just want reduced light, then you can have aluminum material in blinds that will permit some light to come through, while blocking the glare. You can also have these blinds in styles that give you complete privacy when you have them lowered.

You don’t have to worry about not being able to put aluminum blinds to specialty cut windows. You can easily have aluminum mini blinds made to order to fit bay and corner windows and even arched or round windows. Along with using the standard cord to raise and lower aluminum Venetian and mini blinds, you can also have a battery operated tilt feature to the blinds. This feature is wireless, which makes installation of the blinds relatively easy. The motor is quiet, yet powerful and the 6 channel remote control can operate up to 6 window blinds as long as they are within 50 feet of the control.

Aluminum blinds offer good energy efficiency. Blinds with this rating resist heat loss through the window during cold seasons, yet provide the shade you need when the sun’s blinds rays are strongest. With aluminum mini blinds and Venetian blinds you can also order for your windows with a high rating for UV absorption as well as forming a sound barrier. If you need to cover large windows, the Venetian blinds with the larger aluminum slats are the best ones to use. The steel head rail is rolled so that when the blinds are raised they are hidden within the head rail, although you can set them at any level on the window.

The color choices in the line of aluminum blinds include solids, metallic and matte, which has a low gloss finish. These mini blinds and Venetian blinds provide the perfect dressing for any window. Install them within the confines of the window facings so you have the wood of the window exposed or use them with toppers and valances for a coordinated look. Whatever look you wish to achieve in a room, aluminum blinds will help you do it.

Log Homes And Log Furniture: Feel the Calmness and Harmony

In case you haven’t noticed, the world is “going to hell in a handbasket”. No one knows where that phrase comes from or what it means exactly, but the implication is understood by anyone who hears it - that things seem to be out of control. If you watch the evening news, read today's headlines, or listen to the radio then you know what I am talking about. The world is going to hell in a handbasket. So what does the world’s demise have to do with the title of this article? That’s easy, in a world out of control, there's just something miraculous about logs that creates peace and tranquility in my life.

If that sounds a little bizarre to you, permit me to explain. Your house may be of a contemporary design, or a Mediterranean style bungalow, or perhaps you make your home in a French chateaux, but for me there is no warmer, or more peaceful environment than a log home richly decorated with rustic and log furniture. I call it my “Norman Rockwell effect”.

The late Mr. Rockwell had a distinctive painting style and his prints portrayed an optimistic depiction of everyday life in America. Even while the world was at war and our nation was climbing out of the great depression, Rockwell had an uncanny knack of reinforcing what was really important to ordinary Americans. The imagery his pictures produced inspired us to be decent people and live a good life. They evoked a feeling of calming and harmony. I experience that “Norman Rockwell effect” every time I walk into my cabin in the woods.

There is this undefined something about a log home and log furniture that literally transfixes me in an extraordinary way. How best can I describe this to the uninitiated? When I look at a wall constructed of logs, I get a sense that it vibrates at a different intensity than the rest of its surroundings. No, I am not some new-age metaphysical tree-hugger, I’m a guy who appreciates natural beauty and I connect with things created from logs.

Consider if you will that a pine log and a 2x4 (or 2x10, etc.) are both wooden building products of the same matter and used for the same purposes. However, if one were to erect a wall using both materials, there is no similarity in the visual experience, the character or any aspect of the two walls. The logs with irregular lines, bold grain, conspicuous knots and uneven coloring produce a visual rendering that Mr. Rockwell strove to achieve with every brush stroke. To me, logs exude a sensation of warmth, of strength, a sense that all is right with the world… and that is a lot to expect from a dead tree.

So what is it about logs that give me this near spiritual experience? I think it is an implicit appreciation of a sense of perpetuity, of history, strength and permanence. America was built from logs. The first structures erected across this land were more often than not constructed of logs. For hundreds of years, people carved their homes, shops and churches from the wilderness using the most plentiful resource available, trees in their natural form. In addition, we Americans like to be noted for being individualists, and at a time when most of the population live in city apartments or suburbs with cookie-cutter houses, a log home sets one apart from the crowd. In that same rationale, log furniture is not generally available at ordinary furniture stores. One must venture out to the wilderness (or at least exit the shopping mall) to find quality log and rustic furniture.

Okay, I will admit to having some plastered walls in our home and yes, we even have several furniture pieces that one might label as “conventional”, but visitors to our home invariably remark about our log furniture and log accents. To date, no one has yet to compliment us on our marvelously plastered bathroom.

I began this dissertation with a cliché about our world going to hell in a handbasket, and how that related to my love and appreciation for all things log. I am confident that my opinion on both matters is sound. We inhabit a turbulent and chaotic planet, but I live in a log home with hand-made log furniture. For that reason, all is right with my world. Now don’t anyone turn on that darn TV while I’m reading my old issues of the Saturday Evening Post.

Liven Up Your Patio with Wooden Patio Covers

Having a patio gives the house an extra dimension and an attractive outdoor space. For people who love the outdoors, having a patio means having an extra room and allows for a wonderful home-to-garden transition.

1. The Benefits Of Patio Covers

It serves mainly as a protection from the harmful rays of the sun but patio covering also has more benefits. With different materials on the market, you can create a stylish look with your patio cover. It gives you a full range of opportunities to make your home even more beautiful than it was before. There are a lot of materials to choose from but if you are also concerned about style and beauty to grace your patio, then wood patio covers are just the thing for you. Wooden patio covers is a stylish way to protect you from the heat of the sun as well as the rain. It also adds value to the house.

2. Enjoy Outdoor Spaces

With your new stylish wooden patio covering, outdoor activities are more enjoyable. Enjoy the convenience of outdoor beauty, or use your barbeque during weather conditions like rain where you would typically be unable to.

3. Wood Is More Beautiful

Aesthetically speaking, wood has gained supremacy over different materials used in making patio coverings. Hardwoods like cedar and redwood are usually used in making wooden patio covers. This material gives you the natural beauty of wood grain that simply isn't available with any other materials on the market. Plus the variety of ways one could do to accentuate the designs on their patios.

- Turn your patio into a beautiful work of art - Impress your friends - Give your backyard a personal style - Add value to your home - Protect your patio from the elements - Barbeque during rain or snow conditions - Provides shade during summer heat - Wood costs less than other materials, about 20-30% cheaper than vinyl or aluminum.

4. Disadvantages of Wood

Wood covers need a lot of maintenance over the years. They require a regular treatment to prevent water from seeping into the wood, and deter insects from eating into the wood itself. Wooden patio covers are susceptible to damages brought about by rain, wind and sun. Since wood deteriorates faster than the synthetic materials because of the nature’s interfering elements, it will need extra attention. FOr this reason, preservatives should be applied to the wood in the first two years. This is done to ensure the durability of the wood. Application of the preservatives after two years is within every three years. Over the years your low investment with wood patio covering would increase. With the cost of maintenance at hand, having a vinyl or aluminum covering would cost you less in the long run.

Umbrella Blunders to Avoid

How many times have you been caught in the rain and had no place to duck in out of a downpour? By the time you reach your destination, all you can think about is how you might still be dry if you had brought an umbrella. Worse still are those times when you do bring an umbrella and the wind is so strong it collapses your little piece of sanctuary and you get wet anyway. Although seemingly low-tech in this age of wireless this and that, the umbrella is still the most practical way of keeping dry when you simply must get somewhere—no matter the weather. Here are some common blunders to avoid when shopping for an umbrella.

When possible, you want to actually open your umbrella up before buying. One of the common blunders people make is buy an umbrella without looking at the stitching. With cheaper models, it is possible to see light coming through little pinholes because the material is cheaper. The stitching itself should be taut and held firmly against the ribs. Pinholes and loose stitching will lead to leaks every time. A quality umbrella should be impervious to water from above so it needs quality material and taut stitching.

An umbrella collapses in high wind situations due to cheap or poorly crafted ribs. Thin ribs made out of substandard metals will not stand up to the stresses of Mother Nature for very long. An umbrella that cannot handle winds of up to at least 35 mph is not worth having.

The ribs should be thick and slide smoothly along the shaft. Well-made ribs crafted from quality materials will glide up and down the shaft and then lock into place. The locking mechanism on a quality umbrella should also be thick, made from quality material, and have a high-tension spring able to withstand the stresses of high wind situations. To test the quality of the ribs, try hitting your hand against the ribs in order to stimulate the blunt forces caused by high wind gusts. If the umbrella collapses or even seems flimsy when striking it, move on to the next model.

Finally, an umbrella handle needs to be sturdy and made from quality materials as well. Umbrella handles made from plastic tend to crack and deteriorate quickly. While these will be cheaper, it is important to remember that an umbrella lies dormant in a closet for most of the year. Plastic handles tend to dry out because the petroleum in them evaporates quickly. Umbrella handles made from wood or hard rubber evaporate at a much slower rate and therefore last much longer.

Buying an umbrella isn’t a difficult thing and there are only a few points to keep in mind: Look for quality material; taut stitching; quality, well-made ribs that glide along shaft and won’t collapse if you hit them; and lastly, handles made from wood or hard rubber. Keeping these simple points in mind when buying your next umbrella may help ensure you stay dry for many years to come!

Mistakes to Avoid for First Time Home Buyers

Buying your first home is exciting. No more rental payments to a landlord making money for someone else. Instead, you are purchasing your own home and investing in yourself. Money paid to your home mortgage is really investing in your future. It is no wonder that first time home buyers are so excited, sometimes so excited that they make mistakes. There are a few common mistakes of first time home buyers, which with some knowledge and direction can be avoided.

First of all, it is always good to research the housing market and see what is out there. Yes, the very first house you look at may look like its perfect, but there are others out there for sale too. Be sure to at least look at a few before deciding on the one you want to buy.

Watch the cost of the home, do not be swayed into thinking that you can not barter down the cost of the house, you probably can.

Insist on a home inspection by a qualified inspector. There are plenty of people who will provide you with a home warranty when you buy their house and try to sway you from having the house inspected.

Having a home warranty is important and many first time home buyers just don't know that they should or could get one when they are buying an older home. Home warranties are not a new product; they've been around for many years, but many people think that they are for new homes only, not realizing that they can be purchased for older homes as well.

A home warranty makes great sense when you are purchasing an older home - you just don't know the house very well until you've lived in it. A home warranty protects first time home buyers from major expenses for repairs and replacements that could come up. A first time home buyer can make a major mistake if he or she does not understand that if something goes wrong, they are fully responsible to fix it. There is no landlord to call and the costs are all theirs to bear. This is one of the major reasons it is so important to invest in a home warranty when you purchase an older home. If any major repairs need to happen, most often the home warranty will cover the costs, making owning a home much more feasible.

When looking for a home warranty, it's important to have a basic understanding of what you are looking for. When you talk to an agent, there are many questions that you need to ask to be sure you know what level of warranty you are getting. Questions to ask include:

• What is covered with the home warranty? Most often the electrical system, plumbing system, heating system, cooling system/air conditioning, and major appliances that are covered under the warranty.
• What is excluded from coverage with the home warranty? Most often this includes outdoor water, including the sprinkler system, faucet repairs, hot tubs, pools, spas and costs of hauling away debris and old appliances.
• What are the rates/premiums? How much will you have to pay for the home warranty?
• What is the deductible on the home warranty? The deductible is how much you will have to pay when you make a claim. Most often the deductible is $50, this amount will be deducted from the overall cost of the reparations paid by the warranty company.
• How long is the warranty active for? Most often home warranties are offered in one year terms.
• Is the warranty renewable at the end of the term? If you've purchased it yourself as the buyer, it is likely renewable. However, if the seller purchased the home warranty, it will not be renewable.
• What are the terms of the warranty? When will the warranty be void? Most often if you've misused the item, or if it is not up to code or not installed properly, your warranty will be void and will not cover any reparations.
• How are claims handled?
• How do I make a claim?

With the above information, first time home buyers can avoid some of the serious mistakes that are usually made, and then go through with their home purchase knowledgeable and safe from the fall out of a potentially serious mistake. Mistakes such as the ones listed above can land a first time home owner in serious debt paying for repairs they were not prepared for financially. Owning a home of your own is very exciting, especially a first home, but make sure you go into it with your eyes open, your finances secure and a plan for the future should a problem rise with one of the major components of the home.

The Benefits of Faux Wood Shutter

During the 1990's wooden window shutters became very popular is the United States, part of a widespread increase in real wood window accessories. Wood shutters were however relatively expensive, so alternatives soon appeared in the shape of wood blinds. Now the trend has reversed and the ever popular wood blind market has encouraged a resurgence in wood shutters, and in particular faux wood shutters which give a wood effect but at much less cost to the consumer. So why should you choose a faux wood shutter over real wood?

Window shutters are designed to provide privacy and to shade your room from the sun's rays, and have advantages over similarly priced blinds in that the shutter can provide a more complete shade, letting less light into the room. Faux wood shutter sets are generally made from PVC or a composite material and are designed to afford the buyer all the advantages and aesthetic attractions of real wood without the inherent costs associated with natural wood.

15 or 20 years ago wood blinds were bought mostly by the wealthy, however the development of the faux wood shutter has made shutters more affordable, in fact forcing manufacturers to lower the relative cost of real wood units to prevent an erosion of their sales. This means real wood shutters are affordable for many more people, but faux wood shutters are still the cheaper option. However this narrowing of the price difference has meant that currently around 50% of custom blinds sold in the US are faux wood, and the percentage for shutters is likely comparable.

One of the reasons consumers often choose a faux wood shutter is concern for the environment, people are now aware of global problems involving natural wood depletion and look for assurances that the wood used is sustainable and is being replaced. This concern is not an issue with faux wood shutters of course, however it could be argued that wood is at least a biodegradable material where PVC and composite materials can contribute to growing refuse disposal problems in the future. In the minds of the majority of buyers these issues tend to register less than price and aesthetics, but it is something to be considered.

There are obvious advantages to faux wood shutters in terms of strength and resistance to damage, a faux wood shutter will not warp fade or crack like a wood shutter, and PVC will keep its shape and texture much better than wood over long periods exposed to the sun. The shutters themselves are available in many looks and textures, replicating many real wood varieties, even common wood stains and varnishes. It must be said that most people can very quickly tell the difference when close to the shutters, however the purpose is simply to convince the casual observer from a distance and help create an expensive wood "look" to the home or room.

The question of which type of shutter to choose, either faux or wood, can only be answered by the buyer. However for most people the choice comes down to one simple question: how much are you prepared to pay? You will find most real wood shutters are still expensive and if you are buying them for every window in your home it can be a significant outlay. Take a close look at the faux wood alternatives, you may just find exactly what you are looking for, at significantly lower cost.

Feather Wreaths: Attractive And Simple Decoration for Your Home

Feather wreaths can be a strikingly attractive decoration and are surprisingly simple to construct.

A wreath made from feathers (either real or artificial) can take many forms. They range from playful decorative items constructed from artificial pink fuzzy feathers to more traditional looking seasonal door pieces made from the feathers of wild turkeys. The options are nearly endless. A quick look at any major crafts show will reveal hundreds of possibilities. The many different styles of these wreaths make them a consistently popular accent item.

Although there are many different patterns and ways to construct a feather wreath, one of the more simple means to produce one is by using a basic straw wreath form (available at any major craft store) and several large feathers. This approach requires no additional supplies, except a pencil or other device that may be used to poke guide holes into the form.

The wreath maker simply splays out the feathers and creates a ring around the bottom third of the form. Usually, the feathers are inserted at an angle to produce a more organized and attractive final product. After completing the first ring of feathers, additional layers are made using the same pattern. Generally, three or four layers will produce a desirable outcome if the feathers are sufficiently large relative to the wreath form's size. After all feathers are properly inserted, the wreath maker may add accent items to improve the final performance. The traditional favorite is a bow placed at the bottom of the wreath.

This strategy for producing a feather wreath works wonderfully with large turkey feathers and can produce a stunning seasonal piece perfect for fall and Thanksgiving decoration. However, the technique will work with virtually any kind of feather. For instance, one can create an angelic wreath from white flowers or a fun, colorful craft from a bag of multicolored artificial feathers.

Feather wreaths can be relatively simple to make and produce a wreath maker with a popular alternative to wreaths constructed from leaves, twigs or branches. The exact nature of a flower wreath is limited only by the maker's imagination.

How do Vinyl Blinds Fare As An Alternative To Wood Blinds?

Faux wood blinds are the most common form of blinds used as window coverings. This is because they are the perfect alternative to wood blinds and they are cheap. Fauxwood window blinds are made of vinyl material or a combination of vinyl and hardwood. They are called faux wood blinds because they look like wooden blinds. However, they are more durable than real wood and are suitable for all rooms of the home, even those with high levels of humidity. Faux wood blinds are also much easier to clean than wood blinds.

The main reason that faux wood blinds have become so popular is that homeowners like the look of blinds to their windows and the fauxwood blinds are cheap. Faux wood blinds can cost 30% less than wood blinds. They also last a lot longer than blinds made of real wood, which makes them really cost effective. An occasional cleaning and dusting will keep faux wood window blinds in perfect condition. In fact, these window blinds are so durable, you can take them down from the window and wash them in the bathtub.

You can get fauxwood blinds in sizes to fit the smallest or largest window. While you can purchase them in the store in sizes almost the same as that of your window, you can also have them custom made. Custom made faux wood blinds are not expensive either so you can dress your windows in the perfect manner without incurring extra costs. They are available in mini blinds or vertical blinds and you can also get these in motorized versions.

Installing faux wood blinds is a simple affair. You just have to decide where you are going to mount the brackets – inside or outside the facings on your window. Most of the faux wood window blinds come in measurements to fit snugly inside the facings, so if you want them outside you may have to look for cheap faux wood blinds that are an inch or so wider. Once you mount the brackets, then you simply slide in the head rail of the blind and insert the small covering that keeps it from falling out. Then you can attach the wand used to open and close the slats and you’re all set.

Whether or not you install the faux wood blinds inside or outside the facing, you can use valances and drapes with these blinds. If you purchase the fauxwood vertical blinds, then this comes with a covering for the head rail, so you don’t need to have a valance. Most homeowners do use a small valance or topper over both faux wood blinds and real wood blinds, just to suit the décor of the room and to add to its ambiance.

Checklist For Stairlifts Accessories

Accessories You May Purchase For Your Stairlift Product

You know how cars are always adorned by all sorts of accessories, right? Men go ga-ga over the bling-blings for their wheels, almost the same way women go crazy over belts, brooches and the sorts.

Well, for stairlifts, the primary purpose these accessories serve is safety and comfort and not design. Stairlifts may already be costly as they are, but it would still do you good to purchase accessories to ensure the well being of your loved ones.

Frame type Sit And Stand – If the stairlift product that’s to be installed at your house would be used by more than one person, perhaps it’s better to purchase a sit and stand frame for your stairlifts, especially when neither have the same health problems. With this type of frame for your stairlifts, the user or passenger may be able to either sit or stand while he/she climbs up and down the stairs.

Seatbelt – Yes, just like when you’re riding a roller coaster or your ordinary Ford truck, it’s always advisable to wear a seatbelt…just in case anything happens. You can choose between a seatbelt that would be wrapped around your lap – the manufacturers describe it as an inertia reel lap harness – or one that would strap both your shoulders – this time, referred to as static type, 3 point fixing over shoulder harness. Either way, as long as you have a seatbelt for your stairlift, the chances of risking injury are less likely.

Hinged Rail – In a small or compact sized house where there’s little space available, stairlifts with hinged rails are quite ideal because you could fold the lower part of the rail when it’s not in use. This is also ideal if your stairway is right next to the doorway and the lower part of the rail of the stairlift just serves as another obstruction.

Power Folding Footrest – Let’s just say that you have a mighty big house and even with the dough rolling in nonstop, you still prefer to install stairlifts instead of an elevator, no matter that there’s about twenty feet worth of stairs to climb up and down.

Wouldn’t it be nice for the passenger to have a footrest while they’re traveling from the East to the West Coast? But seriously though, the footrest for the stairlifts can also be handy for users or passengers who have problems bending down.

Power Swivel Seat – This is more for the comfort of passengers as they enter and exit the stairlifts.

How to Choose the Best Composite Decking Material

There are many types of composite decking material for you to choose from when you decide this is the material you want for your deck. Although composite decking is composed of wood, it does have other components as well, such as recycled plastic and the wood is usually reclaimed wood. The wood in the composite decking material may actually be sawdust or chips of wood. There are various prices associated with composite decking material, so you would be wise to read reviews of each brand before you buy.

Evergrain is one of the brands of composite wood decking. If you read the composite decking reviews of this name, you will find that the molding process used in the manufacturing of this type of composite decking material is the closest you will get to having a deck look like it is made of real wood. Composite wood decking is available in various colors, but for a truly beautiful deck, homeowners usually want the look and feel of a wood grain. The reviews of Evergrain will tell you that there is a 25 year warranty with this composite decking that includes the fact that the decking color will remain true.

All composite decking material is easy to install. When you are looking through the various composite decking reviews, you may have several factors that you want to look for. The most important part of installing composite wood decking is the price. This is the bottom line for most homeowners as they determine which brand of composite decking their budget will allow. Composite decking is more expensive than traditional wood decking, but even in this category there are differences. For example, Trex decking is the most expensive type of composite decking, but once you have it installed you have a deck that will last a lifetime.

Even if you decide to go with the cheapest composite decking material, of which Veranda decking is one, you will still have a beautiful deck. There is an added bonus if you choose this type of composite wood decking in that the boards are reversible. One side has a wood grain, while the other has a smooth finish. When you get tired of one style on the deck, you can reverse the boards so that everyone will think you have a new deck. Composite decking reviews also give you hints about the best way to install each type of decking and any problems that you need to watch out for.

Whichever brand of composite decking material you decide to choose, you do not have to visit the local home improvement store to get it. With the many companies selling composite wood decking that have online stores, you can virtually order your decking from any part of the country and have it shipped to you. Along with reading the composite decking reviews, you can also search for retailers with the cheapest prices of composite decking material. Although this may take you a little extra time, the money you save will make it worth your while.

Living Air Purifiers: A Healthy Way To Live?

Living Air purifiers are manufactured, along with other brands, such as Fresh Air, by Ecoquest, a company that strive to improve the quality of the living environment of families all over the world. And while this is undoubtedly a noble quest, many experts and consumers question the ability of Living Air purifiers to meet this task adequately.

Living Air purifiers take their place at the higher end of the indoor air cleaner market, costing as much as $700 for a single room clean air purifier. And while many consumer reviews rate Living Air purifiers highly, there is no escaping the fact that these indoor air cleaners contain a substance that an increasing number of experts claim is damaging to our health – ozone.

While many consumers report improved air quality in their homes with the use of a Living Air purifier, even those who suffer with such debilitating conditions as asthma, an increasing number of experts are citing evidence that suggests that ozone can cause long-term damage to an individual’s lungs. So while a Living Air purifier might bring instant relief to allergy and asthma sufferers, there might well be a more far-reaching price to be paid with the use of these indoor air cleaners.

The more immediate effects that consumers have reported with the use of a Living Air purifier include a strong odor of ozone in the home, and persistent headaches. Some users find that these effects can be reduced by operating Living Air purifiers at a lower setting, and while this might eliminate the typical symptoms that an indoor air cleaner is introduced to combat, there remains the threat posed by ozone.

Though expensive, Living Air purifiers are generally reported as being effective in removing particles and dust from the air. But, by using ozone in their design, it is likely that these clean air purifiers are emitting something far more dangerous than the particles they eliminate.

Living Air purifiers are expensive and emit ozone. Maybe they aren’t the best indoor air cleaners.

Practical Buying Guide for A Wood Stove

There’s little better than the comfort of a wood stove. Wood stoves have been around for centuries and they are proving to be just as popular today as they were a hundred years ago. One reason for this is the advances in technology. Wood stoves of today produce less smoke than wood stoves of old, and they produce less mess as well. Another reason why they continue to be popular today is that they come in such a wide variety of styles that finding one to fit into the décor of your home is easier than ever.

Before you buy a wood stove, however, there are a few things to keep king mind. The first one is where you plan to put the stove. Remember that they can produce quite a lot of heat, and so you will want to install it where you need it most. Many people opt to put their stoves in a centralized location in the house so that the heat radiates equally to all parts.

Another thing to keep in mind is that you can actually cook on your stove. Of course they did that in the past, but there’s no reason why you couldn’t do that today as well. If you spend a lot of time in your kitchen anyway, why not kill two birds with one stone and use it for both heating and cooking purposes? If you love a lively kitchen, the stove will also be a natural magnet for anyone in the house looking for comfort and warmth.

The variety of styles available these days is astonishing. Of course some will want the old-fashioned look, and you will have no problem finding stoves with that type of design. Perhaps you would like to recreate the times you remembered from you own home as a kid, or maybe even your grandparents’ house.

But in addition to the old wood stoves that nearly all of us remember and love, wood stoves also come in more modern designs. Although just as practical as the traditional design, these newer designs are meant to fit right in with more modern décor. You will find these sleek and modern pieces can even add a lot of style to your home.

The last major aspect to consider when buying a stove is the size. As with designs, there are a number of different choices to choose from. One thing you will want to be sure of is that you find a stove that will allow ample space around it for walking. The heat that a stove can generate isn’t something that you want to constantly be avoiding. If you have children, you might also want to purchase a guard to go around the stove.

No matter what you’re looking for in a stove, these days there’s surely something out on the market that meets your needs perfectly – large or small, old-fashioned or modern, you will be happy to cozy up to your stove on a cold winter night, possibly just like your ancestors did even centuries ago.

What to Consider When Choosing for Aluminum Strap Patio Furniture Sets

When looking for a great patio furniture set that will last, a type to consider is aluminum strap patio furniture sets. Aluminum patio furniture sets have improved by leaps and bounds since the days of lightweight folding chairs, which usually fold when they’re not supposed to. The construction, maintenance, storage, and appearance of aluminum patio furniture makes it a great choice for hassle-free patio furniture.

Aluminum strap patio furniture is now made from the finest components. The hardware used is all virtually stainless. The base and feet of aluminum strap patio furniture is also equipped with aluminum skids which protect any type of patio surface. Aluminum strap patio furniture is created from welded aluminum frames which ensure durability. They are then powder coated in a process that makes aluminum patio furniture more comfortable and resilient than ever.

Most aluminum strap patio furniture pieces stack very easily. This is convenient for storage, especially for hotels or commercial sites like pools and beaches. There are some types of aluminum strap furniture that do not stack. These pieces usually have more details and accessories that do not allow for stacking. These additional accessories, however, add a touch of elegance to otherwise simple furniture, and the reduced storage capacity may be worth sacrificing for a more up-scale patio look.

So what is out there for aluminum strap patio furniture sets? Some sets are simple double wrapped vinyl straps, while others feature a criss-cross basket weave design that is even more elegant. Aluminum strap patio chaise lounges offer superior comfort. Complete with armrests, back braces, optimal ground clearance, and wide range reclining adjustment, just about anyone can get comfortable. Also available are aluminum strap patio bar stools and tables. These are perfect for casual outdoor dining, or catching a drink pool side. And aluminum strap patio furniture sets are also available in a wide range of colors.

Aluminum strap patio furniture sets are one of the most versatile types of patio furniture on the market. They are ideal sets for either commercial or residential patios.

Design Your Bathroom for Visual Enlargement

Huge bathroom with a wall-sized window, stylish plank beds and view of veranda with Japanese rock-garden is impractical dream for the large majority of us. In limited urban environment all we often have is just four-squared box. And even rather large bathroom sometimes is not enough for realization of all our design plans. As well-known stepmother from a fairy tale "Cinderella" had said - "The kingdom is small, there is no room to be on the loose". You can't enlarge your bathroom even at the expense of your neighbours because of chief wall. But maybe it's better to solve this problem with the help internal reserves and to expand your bathroom environment visually? Maybe, it'd be better to help out missing square meters just virtually, by creation of their visibility?

Design. You've got to start with bathroom design for competent disposal of available space. Development of modern installation systems allows placing of all bathroom and lavatory equipment not in its common places but in places where you need it to be; you can save some tens of inches or even a few meters and free some space visually. For example, you may save some space with angular installation of not only bath and shower cabin, but wash basin or toilet bowl. The bath or shower cabin may be completely or partially hidden in a niche if such technical feasibility is available.

Bathroom and lavatory equipment. If space available is not as huge as you want, you can easily save it by choosing of small bathroom equipment specially designed for small bathrooms which consumes much less space than standard equipment. In that case the doll's house effect is triggered and the environment around diminished pieces of equipment seems to be larger. By the way, many people think that space-saving toilet bowls and bidet are even more convenient, than standard ones. Of course you can't say that about a small wash basin or a bath. Hanging bathroom equipment is of interest, too, as it visually frees some space; bathroom equipment like "two in one", for example, tandem of shower and bath, is popular as well.

Walls. The walls play the most important role in visual enlargement of bathroom space. You should never use shadow toned ceramic tile and other types of covering in small rooms, especially in combination with large decors and wide borders. The tile is to be light toned. In was considered for a long time that large ceramics was to be used in small rooms. Nevertheless, practice shows, that mosaic makes even a small room visually larger.

Necessary effect of depth is achieved with ceramic tile and furniture of light, deep tones and shades in combination with medium-sized and soft-core decor, narrow decorative borders especially placed not horizontally, but vertically. Panels are outside the fold, even the large ones, but only those including perspective view: landscapes, especially marine, imitation of view from a window, the sky and so on. Your look does not die against them but flies away. Photo panels are the latest thing in decoration of rooms.

Ceiling. Well, and if you want to rest relaxing in aromatic foam and you don't want to feel the weight of ceiling above you? Then the best choice of yours shall be the reflected ceiling - top demonstration of glamour. There are also other ways to decorate the ceiling: suspended ceilings with special illumination, ceiling made of stained glass and painted as starry heaven or something like that and inviting to the eye… Availability of visual perspective view is the main thing.

Windows. Feeling of visual prospect may be also achieved with false window, replicated on one of the walls. It is necessary that it looked like real: frame, glass, curtains … It may even open and the flowers are to be placed on the window sill. One more interesting variant is use of stained glass which is usually placed in shallow insets and highlighted. And then it seems that behind that glass is a window in absolutely special, even magic world.

Mirror. The most simple and affordable way to enlarge closed environment is to use a mirror. It optically doubles the environment as it reflects all space of the room. Besides, the smaller is the room the larger is to be the mirror. Mirrors may be placed not only above a wash basin where they, certainly, play the key role, but as well everywhere on the walls and even replace them if it does not cause negative emotions of the owners. Some time ago mirror-like tile was very popular, but, unfortunately, because of its fragility, insufficient safety (it cracks up easily) and complicated maintenance it became less popular nowadays.

Furniture. As for floor-mounted and wall-adjacent furniture you've got to use only the most space-saving one; it'd be better even to hide it in the niche or under a wash basin. Walls are to be completely free from massive hook-up elements; you'll have to use only the lightweight glass, metal or wooden shelves. There is no point to presume on usage of a lot of accessories.

Of course, all that is just the attempt to compensate what we miss in real life and your bathroom won't become larger because of all these gimmicks. But you'll partially lose the feeling that you are in wardrobe, surrounded by bath, wash basin, toilet bowl and washing machine worked into that wardrobe. It's nothing but optical illusion, but as the poet had said, "illusion that uplifts us". And maybe later even the Japanese rock-garden becomes a reality.

Smart Ways to Value Composite Decking and Cedar Siding

If you’re thinking of adding new siding or decking to your home this year, one of the key decisions you’ll need to make is your choice of wood, synthetic material, or other material. You’ve probably heard your friends speak about cedar as their preferred building product for decks, fences, and siding. It’s the way they speak about cedar that tells you that cedar wood is special. This year, improve your home with cedar siding and add a new deck using composite decking.

You may believe that cedar siding is more suited to quaint cottages, however there are a number of finishes that can be applied to cedar siding products that match any style of home architecture.

The truth is, that cedar siding offers tremendous benefits for the homeowner who wants the best combination of appearance, insulation, and weather resistance. No other wood compares to cedar for its natural beauty, durability and functionality. It suppresses noise better due to its cellular structure. This wood's cellular structure also offers better heat insulation value. Most respectable builders and contractors know and will advise on using cedar siding because of its lasting value and attractiveness, but the energy saving benefits are worth noting.

Decking

Homeowners today want to extend their living space into the yard to be closer to nature and to have more room for backyard barbecues, pool parties, relaxing and leisurely Al Fresco dinners, and evenings spent leisurely reading or chatting with family and friends. Decking provides a versatile living space however it is heavily trafficked and can suffer wear and tear. While cedar is a nice decking material, it may need yearly maintenance. Some homeowners don’t mind and enjoy sanding and applying a new coat of finish every few years. For someone who wants less maintenance and more living, a better alternative is composite decking. These engineered products have the appearance of real wood, yet are more durable, weather resistant, and require less maintenance. Composite decking is the choice of today’s homeowners.

Composite Decking

There are a variety of building materials you can construct your deck with. Pressure-treated pine is inexpensive but comes with a variety of problems such as rotting, warping, breakage, moisture retention, insect damage, and drying out. This leads to deck deterioration. Cedar and other woods such as Red Meranti are wonderful woods for decking, but some have to be sealed or stained every few years. Composite decking on the other hand is very durable and can withstand the harshest winter conditions. Maintenance is easy. As temperatures rise and fall and as moisture freezes and then thaws, it is composite decks that will better maintain their original appearance and condition.

Western Red Cedar Siding

There’s nothing like Western Red Cedar siding. It is in strong demand.

Cedar wood types are white cedar, red cedar, and yellow cedar. The advantage of red cedar is tight grain and high oil content. Red cedar is more porous and you can apply a wider variety of paints and stains to it. The most plentiful supplies of cedar are Western Red Cedar from the Western Pacific regions of the US and Canada. Manufacturers such as Interfor (International Forest Products) are producing an array of superior quality, primed cedar products that deliver the great value of cedar and which can be finished in the color of your choice to match all modern home decors.

Vinyl Siding

Vinyl siding products on the other hand are available in a limited amount of colors and the grain and texture in vinyl siding doesn’t compare to cedar siding. Cedar’s grain and texture is difficult to duplicate artificially. These primed and prefinished cedar products are developed under ideal temperature and humidity conditions, with the cedar substrate dried to the proper moisture content for superior paint adhesion.

Studies show that 70% of the cost of home siding is recouped when selling the home. However, cheaper vinyl siding will not contribute to the resale value as well as finished cedar siding products will. Your investment in cedar siding may be fully recovered when you sell your home. Vinyl siding products account for a large share of all siding products sold in the Eastern US, however they are purchased because of perceived lower cost and maintenance. The average homeowner often makes the decision to buy siding only when an emergency situation arises such as severe deterioration, plans to sell the home, or damaging moisture or water penetration is occurring. The choice is to use an inexpensive building product in the hope that it will impress and serve the short term need.

Few homeowners can afford to buy new siding every 5 years so they’re stuck with their vinyl siding product for years to come. Vinyl siding also has the tendency to break under very cold temperatures and another drawback is its appearance. Few dream homes utilize vinyl siding, and that should tell you all you need to know about the value of appearance. When you consider value, appearance and durability, it is difficult to beat cedar siding. Since you make this investment in your home so infrequently, why not consider cedar siding for your home?

Other Home Finishing Products Some cedar wood product distributors carry a line of cedar building products for uses on patio railings, deck railings, mouldings, and exterior trim.

New Home Developers If you’re a builder of exclusive residential communities, cedar products can stimulate sales and build enthusiasm during open house events. Buyers of high end homes are sensitive to quality and nothing says class and elegance the way cedar does. Today’s cedar siding products are manufactured and designed to suit any home architecture. The prestige of cedar wood products is worth noting and creates real sales-generating value for your new home development.

Above Ground Pools: The Best Option for Swimming

Nothing can beat the heat of summer like the cool, refreshing waters of a swimming pool. The cold water of swimming pool is a haven in the scorching heat of summer. You never want to get out of the swimming pool. The pool becomes irresistible.

Swimming pools are basically made for recreational swimming and competitive swimming activities. A personal swimming pool definitely adds style and value to your home.

Swimming pools are mainly of two types: in ground swimming pools and above ground swimming pools. In ground swimming pools are permanent structures requiring excavation and professional installation; above ground swimming pools are becoming more popular these days, as they are easily installed.

Above ground swimming pools The above ground swimming pools are the best option for recreational swimming as they have very low construction costs. The basic advantage of these pools is that they are easy-to-build. Above ground pools are made up of prefabricated kits. These kits can be put together by a keen DIY enthusiast to make a pool. But most people like to have it installed by the professionals as the pool then comes with a guarantee.

A professional will install the pool quite systematically for you. Firstly, the ground is leveled to provide a flat building surface. Then the installers assemble the base track. The track supports the outer wall made of plastic, metal or even wood. Then the plumbing is laid after the sand and is spread in the pool area. Finally, the vinyl liner over the pool walls is secured, smoothened and fastened into place and the pool is filled with water. Now the pumping system and filtering system are hooked up and the pool is ready for swimming.

Types of above ground pools An above ground swimming pools is an owner’s delight. They can be placed anywhere. They are easy-to-build and easy-to-use pools. There are basically two types of above ground swimming pools, hard-sided pools and inflatable pools with soft sides.

Hard-sided pools Hard-sided pools are available in several varieties of depths and sizes. These hard-sided pools are generally oval or round in shape with a sheet metal frame. For stabilization, one piece of flexible metal wall with a sheet metal rail is attached to the top. The top rail is attached to the inserted vinyl liner so that the water is contained. A metal-sided pool is difficult to assemble, as it requires more elaborate ground preparation.

Soft-sided pools Soft-sided pools have become increasingly popular over the last decade. These above ground pools are available in both rectangular and round shapes, with the rectangular shape being more popular. These pools also have metal frames, and are available in a variety of depths and sizes. These pools are known for their strength and durability and are cheaper than hard-sided pools. They are a great way to have a customized pool as they can be built in large sizes.

Soft-sided pools can be placed on almost any surface. They can be placed on dirt, grass, sand, concrete and even gravel. The pools have tolerance up to 3” out of line on each level. The liner material which is used in these pools is similar to that used in bullet proof vests. This makes the liner puncture resistant and durable. Soft-sided pools can be assembled within a few hours.

Both hard-sided and soft-sided pools require an electric pump to circulate the water. They also require filters and ladders. Filters are needed to ensure that the water is clean and ladders, so that one can get in and out of the pool safely.

Both pools also require an automatic chlorinator, pool heater and a pool cleaner. A swimming pool slide and pool lights make great accessories to improve your swimming experience. Above ground swimming pools are cheaper compared to in-ground swimming pools. A small above ground swimming pool costs up to $1500 and a large one can cost up to $10,000. Above ground pools are easier-to-install, however, these pools have disadvantages as well. They are not very attractive and will require some landscaping to help them blend in to your garden. They are also less durable as compared to in-ground pools.

However, above ground swimming pools are popular pools and are purchased by a large number of people. They provide many happy days full of enjoyment and easy relaxation, a great investment for your home.

Create The Illusion Of Wallpaper with Faux Finish Stenciling

Faux finish stenciling is an inexpensive way of adding decorative detail. The key is to apply the embossing material evenly over the stencil, building depth in thin layers. It's certainly true that stencils can wake up a wall or create an eye-catching detail on a cabinet door.

You will need the stencil, paint, and a tool brush or sponge to apply the paint. You can buy stencils complete with instructions and registration marks, or make your own. As with other decorative techniques, the simplest schemes are usually the most successful.

Once dry, faux finish stenciling images can be lightly sandpapered to soften or age them. Quality supplies and proper care of stencils is key. If you find a painting, drawing, or photo with great stencil potential, it's not difficult to use that image to generate a stencil.

Apply the stencil as a ceiling, wainscot or baseboard border, or as an all-over pattern, like wallpaper. If the stencil becomes too build-up with paint, or if you want to save it for another day, scrub it clean with detergent and dry on paper towel.

Test out your patterns either by cutting the stencil from colored paper or by drawing it onto a sheet of paper and holding the results up against the surface to be decorated. The wall to be painted should be clean. Apply a base coat of paint.

Hold the stencil in position with masking tape, load your brush or sponge with only a very small amount of paint, starting at the edges of the design and working inwards, hold the stencil in place for a few moments afterward to let it dry. Clean the stencil and reapply the paint as necessary.

Choosing the Right Bathroom Vanities for a Touch of Elegance to Your Home

Bathroom vanities have long been associated with luxury and style, and these days there's a huge choice of elegant bathroom vanity furniture available, making it easy to give your bathroom a stunning new image. Bath vanities come in loads of different styles, from those with a sink in the counter top and a cabinet beneath, to decoratively presented dressing tables. Which type you choose depends not just on your personal tastes, but the layout and size of your bathroom.

A bathroom vanity table with an upholstered stool or chair can look very attractive in larger bathrooms. Alternatively, a well chosen bathroom sink vanity can help lend a sense of grandeur to bathrooms where space is limited. Bathroom vanities come in a range of styles and finishes. Polished wood such as aged walnut or cherry, can look great in an antique themed or period home. For a country style or rustic bathroom, distressed or hand painted designs can compliment the décor perfectly. There are also numerous sleek and contemporary bathroom vanities for modern homes.

Being able to store your beauty products in a vanity cabinet or display your perfume bottles in a table top tray is a really convenient luxury. If you decide to opt for a sink vanity unit, you can choose from a selection of durable and attractive vanity tops that can stand up to years of daily use. Choices include granite, marble and glass, among others. Vanity sets usually include all the matching accessories you'll need, or you can purchase items such as mirrors and lights separately. Whatever your decorating theme and budget, some new vanity furniture can be the icing on the cake for your bathroom's makeover!

Brief Overview About Tempurpedic Mattresses

Tempurpedic Mattresses, generically known as Memory Foam, are becoming mainstream items. Even so, with all the different options and prices of foam on the market, the consumer should know about the major differences between these products prior to paying a major amount of money for a bed they will be sleeping on for many years.

I've personally tried out a memory foam mattress and pillow set, and can honestly express enthusiasm for this product. It adapts to the contours of the body significantly better than an innerspring mattress. In any case, I personally cannot personally recommend a specific brand because every sleeper has different preferences due to weight and sleeping habits. The best thing to do is to visit your local bed store and try laying down on a couple different bed systems. When the sales staff have to prod you awake, you know you've discovered the right brand.

The importance of getting sufficient good-quality uninterrrupted sleep cannot be overstated. No-one functions well on lack of sleep. Due to the abundance of artificial lighting and late-night entertainment and activities, the vast majority of people in the developed world are sleep-deprived, and sleep deprivation is a important cause of accidents. Remember the Exxon Valdez? That accident took place in the early hours of the morning, and industrial accidents peak on the graveyard shift. Sleep-deprived students learn poorly. Chronic sleep deprivation has an effect on the appetite centers of the brain, causing overeating and subsequent obesity. Any bed system which allows you to reach a deeper level of sleep will substantially improve your quality of life.

There are many benefits to memory foam above a conventional mattress: it's hypoallergenic, molds to the individual contours of anyone's body, and will provide a form-fitting cradle of insulation on cold nights so you require fewer weighty, dusty allergenic blankets and comforters. All the pressure points that cause discomfort, and subsequent tossing and turning, are eliminated.

Memory foam was first introduced onto the market by a Swedish firm called Tempurpedic. This brand-name top-of-the line product is very expensive, and there are dozens of cheaper competing brands, some made in China, others from the USA. In any case, be warned: not all memory foam products are alike, as with any merchandise, you tend to get what you pay for, both in quality and longevity.

Memory foam is visco-elastic, and it responds to temperature changes much as bubble gum does. Better-quality memory foam has a wide range of temperature responsiveness, while some of the cheaper brands can get as hard as wood if the ambient temperature of the bedroom goes beneath sixty degrees. Finally, as you change position the foam warms up from your body heat, it will respond and conform to your body shape, however this can take a couple of minutes. Meanwhile, pressure points and discomfort are created which could cause you to awaken. Also these cheaper brands might turn into soft goo on hot summer nights, offering no support. Better brands of memory foam, like Sensus and Temperpedic, specifically state their consistent performance through a wide temerature range.

An additional issue is the longevity of the memory foam, as all foam products eventually break down and lose their springiness. Better memory foams offer longer guarantees, twenty years, whereas the cheaper brands offer ten years.

So, in summary, you do not have to acquire the brand name Tempurpedic product, however it's best not to pinch pennies and buy the cheapest either. You'll spend many nights regretting a bad choice of mattress. Two or three hundred dollars is not really a large additional expense when spread out across decades of memory foam mattress utilization.

As well as differences in quality, there are also differences in memory foam mattress construction. Mattresses can have either three or four inches of memory foam across a denser supportive core. More isn't necessarily better, because if the top layer of memory foam is too thick, you'll sink in quite far prior to hitting the supporting layer underneath. Tummy sleepers should purchase two inch foam, side sleepers and medium sized people should buy mattresses with three inch memory foam, large or heavy people or back sleepers should acquire the four inch.

The base of the bed can diverge as well. A few memory foam systems feature loose sheets of foam of different firmness levels that can be arranged to the sleeper's private taste, others are laminated together. As well, man-made (petrochemical foam products) are about 1/3 the cost of natural latex. People who are sensitive to out-gassing of man-made products should think about a natural product.

Easy Makeover with New Bathroom Vanities

Bathroom vanities are designed both to look good and to provide a practical function. Vanity sets come in all kinds of designs and can even be custom made to meet your particular requirements. For example, vanity makeup tables often come with storage compartments in the drawers for smaller items. A sink can be incorporated into the unit, and a base cabinet added underneath. Built-in bathroom vanity cabinets are great for saving space, and the extra storage space is ideal for keeping your counter top free from clutter!

A massive range of bathroom vanities can be found at online stores these days, which makes it easy for you to browse a range of different collections all from the comfort of your home. You'll soon notice that there's a huge choice of designs to choose from, to suit bathrooms of any theme. It helps if you have an idea of the look you're aiming for, be that period, country-style or contemporary, for example. Furniture style bathroom vanities are favorite choices among those wishing to bring a touch of elegance to their room. Decorative arched skirts or bun feet can be wonderful features, and can help your vanity table become an attractive focal point of your bathroom.

Think about whether you'd prefer stools or chairs as part of your vanity set, and remember to check out extras such as mirrors and lights. Other things to consider are the finish of your counter top. Vanity tops are made from durable and stylish materials, including marble and granite, so you're sure to find something to reflect your personal tastes. Wood bathroom vanities can be made from a variety of beautiful woods, including oak and maple, which can be left unfinished, glazed or painted. Attention to detail can make a big difference to the overall appearance of your bathroom, so be sure to choose a vanity unit that compliments your existing bathroom fixtures and cabinets.

If you're looking for a way to give your bathroom a stylish new image without too much effort, then a new vanity table could be the perfect solution!

Is It Time to Automate Your Home?

On first hearing the term "home automation", most log home owners will say something like... I didn't build a rustic log home to turn it into a high-tech, silicon powered "smart building".

I couldn't agree more, the ever-changing technology of our fast-paced, hyper get-ahead world is one of the things most of us were trying to leave behind. But don't let misinformation (or misunderstanding) keep you from achieving your original goal of simplifying your life.

Most of us can recall the first time we felt the excitement of making a light turn on with a timer, or changed channels on our TV with a remote control. A home automation system is about automating everyday tasks like those while getting the most from our energy dollars and protecting our home. Further good news is that we don't have to call in the professionals to make it all happen.

Today's home automation products are effortless to set up, even for non-geeks, and the cost is amazingly inexpensive. A typical starter kit, which includes home automation software several modules, remote controls and sensors is less than $100. Also, one of the best features of these systems is that you don't have to leave your computer turned on for everything to work (additional modules for lamps and appliances cost as little as $15).

A company called X10 is the leader in inexpensive home automation products and offers a product called ActiveHome Professional (learn more here). After programming by your computer, an interface box communicates with your appliances through your home's electrical wires. You can program the system to do amazing things using the ActiveHome Pro software. It is possible to lower your energy bills by developing schedules for lights and appliances.

You can download a plug-in from X10 that permits modules to operate on an "if-then" basis. For instance... if a room is dark and motion is detected, lights can be turned on in sequence, or music can play (or an alarm can activate). You are limited only by your imagination. In fact, X10 also offers a free software development kit that can interface with your e-mail. The point is, you can use the command modules to perform basic functions or get as creative as you want.

ABC Television's Popular Show Extreme Makeover Home Edition has a reputation for finding and showcasing the latest technology into the homes they remodel and build. The X10 ActiveHome Pro products have been featured on the show.

So, you may have chosen to escape the city by building a log home in the country, but inserting a little technology in the mix will help you achieve your dream of simplifying your life. Its never been easier or more affordable to put home automation to work.

Simple Tips to Choosing the Right Bathroom Taps

Whether you're designing anew home, remodeling your bathroom, or adding a bathroom to your existing home, you'll need to choose bathroom taps for your new bathroom.

Ceramic disk valves vs conventional valves

Do the taps you are consider have Ceramic disk valves or conventional screw down valves? The ceramic valves are considered to provide better function, but are generally more expensive. You just have to decide if the difference is worth the extra price or not.

Design

There are many different bathroom tap designs, but they are broken down into two main categories – Contemporary designs and traditional designs. Contemporary designs offer you unique, cutting edge designs to give your bathroom a fresh, edgy look. Conventional designs give you an older, more traditional look. Of course, you will want to synchronize your bathroom fixtures so that they are all of one overall design.

Finish

Bathroom taps are available in many different finishes, to suit any taste or need. Some of the most common finishes are chrome, brass, and gold. Keep in mind that in general, the finish is unrelated to the construction of the fixture. In other words, a brass finish faucet is probably not made of brass.

On some designs, you can also get extras like ceramic handles. These add a very stylish, classy look to your faucet. Of course, ceramic will not be as durable as metal, but risk of breakage is very low on a quality bathroom tap.

Guarantee

Bathroom taps are being sold with increasingly good guarantees, such as 10 years. Check the guarantee of the bathroom tap you are considering buying.

Ease of use

If possible, you should check a fixture for ease of use before you buy it. Does it operate smoothly and easily? Is it easy to operate with wet and slippery hands?

Keep these tips in mind to help you choose the perfect bathroom taps!

How to Remove Aluminum Sliding Glass Door

Last week I explained how to measure your existing sliding glass door so you can order the vinyl replacement door. This week I am going to go over the steps required to remove the old sliding door before installing the new door.

First, you have to remove the sliding panel and the stationary panel. The vast majority of doors out there have the sliding panel on the inside half of the track, and the stationary panel is on the outside. Whatever the case in your particular door, the outside panel has to come out first. To remove the fixed panel, you need to remove the sill cap that snaps into the bottom track and runs from the fixed panel to the side jamb where the sliding panel locks. Force a screwdriver into the crease and pry the cap up. Then, look for screws on the inside side jamb holding the fixed panel in place. These screws prevent someone from prying up the sill cap and pulling out the fixed panel in order to gain entry into the home. In addition to the side jamb, be sure to check across the top header and bottom track for screws there as well. Once all the screws have been removed, you need to pull the fixed panel away from the side jamb. You can start by simply grabbing the side rail of the fixed panel and pulling as hard as yo u can. If you're lucky, the panel will pop free. Then you can lift the panel up as far as it will go into the top channel and swing the bottom away from the track, and remove the panel. Now, I said "if you're lucky", because in most cases the panel will be stuck in the side jamb, the bottom track, or both. Usually, you're going to have to use a pry bar to loosen the fixed panel before it will slide out of the side jamb. Once the fixed panel is out, removal of the sliding panel is usually easier. Just lift up and swing the bottom away from the track, then remove the panel. Sometimes the bottom rollers will prevent the bottom from swinging out of the track. If that's the case, you will need to find the roller adjustment hole in the bottom corners of the sliding panel. Put a screwdriver into this hole and turn the screw counterclockwise to bring the roller as far up into the bottom of the sliding panel as possible. This should allow the slider to come out.

Now, you want to remove all the screws from the side jambs, top header, and bottom track. Then, take a pry bar and get it under the bottom track about in the center. Pry up until the track is separated from the floor. The next step will depend on whether your old frame is nailed to the house frame, or simply screwed in. If it's screwed in, then the frame should now be loose in the opening, since you removed all of the screws. You just need to remove whatever inside trim there might be around the door frame. This type of frame should come out. If your door is nailed to the house frame, you will have to do a bit more work. Use a hacksaw to cut the track in half, approximately in the center. Start with either half and raise the cut piece up towards the side jamb until the the track piece separates from the side jamb. Do the same thing to the other half.

So, now you have to remove the side jambs. You want to do this without damaging the exterior material that surrounds the door frame. Take a heavy chisel and pound it into the crack between the frame and exterior material, whether it's stucco, siding, etc. Start at the bottom 6 inches first. What you are trying to do is pull the nail fin away from the nails holding it in place. So, once the chisel is pounded through the metal frame, pry away from the side wall. The heavier and longer the chisel, the more leverage you will have. You will hear the frame "pop" free of the nail. There will be several nails holding each jamb in place, so you want to start at the bottom and work your way to the top corner. Once you get the bottom third loose, many times you can grab the jamb with both hands and pull the rest of the nails free as you go up. When you get to the top corner, work the jamb free. Do both jambs, then do the top. Sometimes the top has no nails, or just one in the center, so it will come down pretty easily. Be sure to wear safety glasses and a dust mask when doing this job, especially when removing the top header.

At this point you are ready to install the new door. The installation procedure is slightly different, depending on whether you're installing a retrofit style frame or a replacement frame. We will discuss both procedures next week.

Great Living Room Ideas to Fill Your Home

Living room ideas are among the most sought-after designs that people want for the interior of their homes. Living room decorating does, after all, impact the most shared space in the home, and the place where you likely spend the most of your time together.

Therefore, it is important that when you’re decorating your living room, you’re using living room decorating ideas that fit everybody’s tastes, while still being practical, appealing when guests are over, and easy to maintain. However, as so many people discover, such decorating ideas for a living room are often easier said than done. With such a long list of vital criteria, it’s not difficult to understand why!

Within a room with so many different purposes, you may feel that you need an awful lot of tips for decorating a living room in order to make it livable and presentable at the same time. Don’t worry, those tips are out there, and waiting for you to use them.

The following are some great living room decorating tips to help you to create a comfortable, attractive, practical space:

* Be careful when selecting your colors. When decorating a living room, light, and neutral colors are frequently the safest. This way, when you want to choose or change your furniture and accessories, you’ll be able to do so with the most freedom.

* The flooring, when decorating the living room, should be classic looking and durable. This frequently means waxed hardwood floors, or neutral wall-to-wall carpeting that has given flair with area rugs.

* Interior decorating living room means proper furniture positioning. You’ll need to think this out ahead of time. The best strategy to use is to consider the way the people using the room will group within the space. Living room decorating ideas usually divide spaces up into two or three seating areas to provide a cozy setting no matter how many people are there. Decorating ideas for living rooms also usually direct the furniture toward a focal point in the room such as large windows, a fireplace, or a large piece of artwork.

Aside from this, there is no limit to decorating ideas for living room.

Things You Need to Consider for Your Bathroom Safety

Bath safety is one of the important factors that a disable individual needs to consider. But oftentimes this is overlooked because they do not know what bath safety products are available in the market. Each year thousands of accidents happen in bathrooms. That is why it is important to practice bath safety at all times and be aware of things to consider to avoid any accidents in the bath tub.

Disabled individuals have different needs and physical limits so bathroom products and equipments should be modified to suit their needs. Bath safety includes equipment and facilities modified to suit the disabled person’s need and safety procedures. Without modification, bath safety can be very risky especially for people who have trouble getting in and out of the bathroom or bath tub safely. Placing a shower chair in the tub can provide assurance to disabled individuals that it is safe to shower in the tub. Likewise, hand held shower heads can provide flexibility and control to avoid blistering while bathing.

Using walk-in bathtubs can also be more accessible for disabled individuals. Walk-in tubs are as relaxing as standard bathtubs. This type of tub would not hinder the entrance and exit because you don’t have to climb over the edge of the tub to go in and out.

Grab bars are among the easiest addition to a bathroom. They are built in the walls and sides of walk-in tubs for additional safety in entering, exiting and moving around the tub. The grab bars are often made of chrome plated or heavy duty steel. When adding this safety facility in the bathroom, it is important to consider the user because of the wide grips may be too big for a senior or a woman.

However, if you prefer to use a regular tub there are still items that you should add for additional safety. This includes items such as transfer tools, transfers seats and benches. Other areas of the bathroom can also be modified for safety such as the toilet seats and toilet frames. Anti-slip tape can also be applied to the bathtub floor to make it slip-free. Slip resistant tub floors can also make sure that you have stability on the floor.

There are many companies that provide home visits to assist in bathroom safety situation. If you are unsure how to modify your bathroom it may be worthwhile to get a consultation before making a selection of bath room safety products.

Smart Comparison Shopping In The 21st Century

If you are in the market for a home appliance, you likely are interested in obtaining a top quality appliance for a reasonable price. Taking off and beginning your search for a home appliance -- whether it be something for the kitchen or a washer or dryer -- can be a frustrating and oftentimes complicated experience. With that said, the first step that you should take when you embark on looking for a home appliance is a course of comparison shopping. When all is said and done, the simple, first step you should take in your search for the right home appliance simply is to comparison shop.

In the brick and mortar world, you should keep and open mind -- be broad minded, indeed -- about where you do comparison shopping for home appliances. For example, you might want to check out what is available at stores that specialize specifically in home appliances, major discount retail stores and home improvement centers. By stopping into these three different types of merchants in the brick and mortar world, you will be able to see where you can get the best deal on a particular home appliance that you might be in the market for at the present time.

You never know which of these stores will have the best buy on a particular product. There are times when these stores put their merchandise and stock on sale. By taking advantage of these sales, you can end up saving a great deal of money on home appliances.

In addition to searching for a home appliance in the brick and mortar world, you will also want to spend some time doing some comparison shopping on the Internet and the World Wide Web. As with so many products and services in the 21st century, the Internet has become a solid place for a person looking to make the purchase of home appliances. There are a wide array of different sites that market and sell home appliances of different types. (In addition, some of the major retailers of home appliances in the brick and mortar world now also maintain Internet venues through which the products they sell can be bought on the World Wide Web as well.)

In the end, by shopping around both in the brick and mortar world and online, you will be able to find the home appliance that you are looking for at a price that is within your budget.

Indoor Fountains: Achieve a Peace of Mind at Home

Water fountains in indoor settings have become quite a buzzword among home decorators and owners like you in the last few years. This is not surprising, since indoor fountains give you a relaxed and peaceful atmosphere, as the water quietly runs in the fountain. Stores can attest to the popularity of indoor fountains. A look at stores in malls and on the Internet results in a lot of indoor fountains being sold. But what happens if you can’t find your indoor fountain of your dreams in the malls or in the various websites? Do not fret. Actually, there are many of you that do not seem to find what they think are the right indoor fountains for them.

Having a beautiful and elegant indoor water fountain does not always have to be the same with what other people have just because you bought yours from a store or in the Internet. And, no, you don’t want to pay for a fountain with an extremely steep price just to avoid having a commonly owned fountain. Try doing it on your own. The sound of the trickling water from a fountain you did might prove to be more peaceful and relaxing than the mass-produced ones.

I. Build Your Own Indoor Fountain

If you can’t find an indoor fountain in the market that could match your personal taste, lifestyle, and uses, why not make your own? Making your own indoor fountain is cheaper than buying it in a store or online. Generally, making one would cost you around $40. There are a number of variations available in making your own water fountain, but the instructions in making one are very basic.

II. Materials

- for base, you could use a waterproof container - aquarium pump that is submersible; easily available in garden centers or at fish stores - copper pipe with diameter of half an inch - easy-to-use pipe cutter that costs around $2.50 only - silicone glue - when this dries up, the glue becomes clear - two pieces of elbow joints - reducer that goes on top of your pump - t-bar - a copper piece - beautiful and appealing rocks which you will be using for your foundation to stabilize the fountain and make the foundation more sturdy

III. Building Steps:

1. Put the pump into your container

Since the pump hole is relatively smaller compared with copper fittings, you must add the reducer. By this time, you are prepared in putting the first arm of your copper foundation.

On the pipe’s outer edge, put some silicone. Then put together the pieces one by one. Before putting the top pipe over it, you must have some holes pre-drilled. You can pre-drill using a drill bit with a one-eighth-inch size. This will make your fountain have the perfect flow. You must remember all the time that the copper frame size should fit snugly into your container, allowing the water to freely circulate.

2. Check if its top part is aligned

The top part is aligned if the water perfectly flows right into your container. Expect that the final arm will be longer since the pump will elevate it. Place the joint first, as this will make the arm secured. Measure then the pipe. Cut down the excess part.

3. Keep it stabilized

Adding a number of beautiful and large stones should make the weight heavier. After putting the large stones, put some small river pebbles. And then add water.

4. Go From There

Now you have the basic foundation for your indoor fountain! From there, you can design it based on your imagination, for the look of your fountain is limitless and depends on how imaginative and creative you can get. For just starters, you could improve your fountain look by putting dried flowers and grasses. Arrange them. If you plan on installing a fountain right inside your kitchen, you might want this example. You could create your base foundation using a used or old copper pan. Flatten it using a hammer. Then suspend the flatware using copper wire.