What Factors Determine Your Home Insurance Quotes

Knowledge is power, and when you learn about these factors and the premiums the insurance companies charge, you can work with these factors and lower your monthly payments.

In the insurance world, rates are always tied with risk. The more risk factors that are present, the higher your home insurance rates will be.

Here are the top 5 factors that determine your level of risk.

Location

Where your house is located is one of the biggest factors in determining your rate. Rates vary widely from state to state and city to city. For example, Florida home insurance is higher than most states because of the high risk of natural disasters.

Living in a high crime neighborhood will also increase your rates. Again, this goes back to risk factors, in a high crime area or along the coast, there is a much greater likelihood that your house will be damaged, vandalized, or stolen from.

Building Cost

Many insurers will look into the building costs in your neighborhood. They will calculates the cost if they would have to rebuild your house from scratch. The higher the building costs, the higher the rates.

Building Materials

Insurance companies will also consider how your home was constructed and what materials were used. If your house is built with brick or stone, you will usually see lower rates. This makes sense as brick houses are able to sustain strong hurricane force winds better than wood and are also more likely to hold up better in the case of a fire. If you live out West, you will see lower rates if your house is constructed using a metal frame, this type of construction hold up much better in the case of an earthquake.

Fire and Police

If you live an in area that has a paid fire department versus a volunteer fire department your rates will be lower. Other factors that are taken into consideration are how close you are to a fire hydrant and how close you are to the fire department. Your proximity to the police station can also have an impact on your rates.

Other Factors

If you have a swimming pool or hot tub, or even a trampoline on your property, your rates will be higher. Believe it or not, even the type of dog you own can impact your rates.

With so many factors that determine how much you will pay for home insurance it makes a lot of sense to shop around and get multiple home insurance quotes to make sure you are getting the best deal.

Online Home Insurance Quotes

Moisture Against Gravity Destroy

How to Repair a Shingle Roof

Shingle roof repair must be one of the easiest types of roofing to work on. Whether you are thinking on doing it yourself, or maybe hiring a contractor to do it for you, you should take time to learn how it is done. Here in this article, we will talk about the basics so you can become familiar with this form of covering houses.

Since long ago people have been laying pieces of similar materials on their roofs to keep the rain out. Today in Western society that material has become the asphalt shingle. If you wondered why it is done in the Spring, it is because of the warmer weather. Warmth makes the asphalt more pliable and easier to handle. If you have a leak, you should go into the attic on a rainy day and locate it from there. If this is not possible, look from a distance at your roof with a pair of binoculars to see loose or missing shingles. If there are small holes or cracks, they can be repaired with roofer's cement. If you have some shingles that are only slightly bent, you can use some asphalt cement and a nail. Make sure the shingles are warm before you try to bend them.

If you do have too many shingles that need replacing, you should start replacing them one row above the area that is damaged. You can dislodge the nails with a flat shovel. Continue until the damaged shingle is showing and then remove it. Your replacement shingle should be cut to fit. If you need two to make it fit with the sequence of shingles, now is the time to do it. Slip the new shingle into the place of the old one you took out. Try to use the old nail-holes. If you can not do this, seal the old holes with sealant before you attach this new shingle. Now, put roofer's cement over the nails, press the shingle down on the roof to seal the adhesive to the roof and you can now replace the row you previously took off to get to the problem area.

There are other types of shingle roof repair, such as wood shingles. They are not similar to the asphalt and are not all that common. There is also the slate shingle which is even less common and will usually require a professional to replace more than a few damaged shingles.The work can behard at first for every version, but as long as a small enough area is damaged, the owner may be able to repair it themselves and save money and perhaps time also.

All of our articles are originals, if you liked this, check out Shingle Roof Repair. To find out more, visit our site http://www.roofrepairhelp.com/

What To Do If Your Home Floods

List of Home Insurance Providers That Uses Credit Scoring

The Insurance Information Institute (III) reports an increasing number of insurers are using credit-based insurance scores to decide who gets homeowners coverage and how much they pay. The effect of this, III claims all else being equal, a person with a good insurance score will pay far less for insurance than someone with a poor score.

Compiling a list of insurance companies not requiring insurance credit scoring isn't as easy as you may believe. The reason being is that the industry is in a state of constant change, especially with the current credit crisis this country is facing. For instance, Michigan Appeals Court ruled that state regulators can stop insurers from basing rates on card pay history (late August 2008).

Michigan regulators can stop insurers from using customers' credit scores to determine home and auto insurance rates, a practice critics says arbitrarily jacks up premiums for those with poor credit histories, the Michigan Court of Appeals has decided. The 2-1 ruling reverses a 2005 ruling by a lower court judge who allowed companies to continue using credit scores in setting premiums

The quickest way to determine whether or not a home insurance provider uses credit scoring is to simply call them up from the phone book and ask. Pure and simple. Of course, if you had taken care of your credit file in the past, you wouldn't be concerned whether the insurer checked credit or not.

You can also be proactive by beginning to repair your credit file so you can consider those companies who do check your credit score in determining your premiums. By making this goal a priority you can drastically improve your premiums and financial life in general.

Start by paying all your bills on time. Its one thing to have bad credit from the past, but almost impossible to do any financing or obtain preferred insurance rates with current poor credit. Keep your total credit usage below 35% of the total amount that's available. This is called your debt to income ratio.

Also having a credit file with a history helps. Someone with a credit file with 5yrs of credit (assuming with timely payments) looks better to the credit bureaus than someone with only 1yr of credit showing.

The point is to take the initiative..and not so much reactive.

'Legal Credit Manipulation' free ecourse. Don't be held hostage by the effects of insurance credit scoring. Learn the secrets to creating the credit you need, want and deserve. Click here at Bad Credit Repair.

Christopher Wright, Financial Cancer Specialist

http://Blog.GoodCreditApproval.com

Painting Metal Siding

Fake Grass Is Growing

With an increasing awareness of the importance of water conservation, many people are looking for alternatives to natural grass. Water restrictions, upkeep, and difficulties in growing natural lawn are just some of the reasons why there is a growing demand for a synthetic surface that can replace natural grass. Synthetic has most of the benefits of natural grass, yet without any of the mowing, watering, or maintenance is proving to be the perfect answer to difficult areas in a garden or sports area.

Synthetic grass, also called astroturf, artificial grass, or fake grass, or soft fall has come a long way from the plastic looking grass seen on 1970s TV shows. Nowadays synthetic grass is serious business and the new synthetic grasses really do look and feel like real. Sure it does not look exactly the same, but it looks real enough to make it very difficult to tell the difference without closer examination.

Traditionally the main type of outdoor artificial has been a short pile, carpet-like product that requires a sand infill to make it durable. This is often seen on tennis courts or in playgrounds at kindergartens. Whilst the short pile grass remains popular for its durability and value for money, the new long pile grass is in demand for its grass like characteristics and close resemblance to real lawn. It can be up to 40mm (almost 2 inches) in height and is made from polyethylene fibres which are woven into a rubber backing, to produce a very strong and durable product.

An increasing number of synthetic grasses have even been approved by FIFA for use in the surfacing of football fields. Since the long pile grasses are softer they allow athletes to slide without getting "carpet burns", and yet still provide the required traction underfoot. Often the new synthetic grasses have a thin layer of rubber granules or sand trapped within the base of the fibres to provide a cushioning effect. For maximum comfort artificial grass can be installed over an impact-absorbing, rubber soft fall base similar to that used for Olympic running tracks and as under surfacing around play equipment.

The new synthetic lawn is also being installed at home particularly in areas where home owners simply do not have the time or resources to do all that is required to achieve a lush natural lawn. In a garden setting, synthetic lawn can be perforated to let rain through and to reduce the impact on nearby trees and plants. It also has the advantage of being able to taken up and re-installed in a different area.

Artificial grass can be installed directly over a number of bases depending on application. These include dirt, compacted road base, wetpour rubber, or concrete. It can be fixed in place by nailing it to a surrounding timber border, or by pegging it to the ground. Often the weight of sand and rubber infill may be enough to hold it securely in place.

Good quality synthetic grass is expensive and that remains a hindrance to its growth. Yet in many instances the expense is outweighed by the advantages. There is no doubt that the demand for synthetic grass will continue to grow.

Next time you walk past a lush green lawn that appears to be too good to be real, take a second look. It may well be that its not.

Pictures of the new long pile synthetic grasses may be found at
softfall playgrounds & soft fall synthetic grass sports surfaces

Nicholas Warren BA (Sydney Uni) and LLB (Maquarie Uni) is a professional playground designer and builder. He is the director of http://www.playcover.com.au

playcover.com.au, a company that supplies artificial grass and rubber softfall for playground safety.

Copyright 2007, Nick Warren. This article may be used free of charge providing all text and references remain intact and unchanged.

Installing A 32 Inch Back Door

Building a Deck Steps Home Building Video

Stair building tips for installing lights and decking, handrail tips and some deck advice.

For more helpful home improvement information visit: http://www.gregvan.com

Stair Building Help

Problems With School Bullies
Saving Money As A Teenager

Mosaic Patio Furniture - Ancient Designs Are Popular Once Again

Every year the manufacturers of outdoor furniture find new ways to bring something unique to market. They do this by growing their collections and/or maybe just borrowing ideas from history. When it comes to borrowing from history a case in point is the currently popular mosaic tiled furniture.

The art of mosaic dates back 4000 years and is done by creating images or design with small pieces of colored glass, pottery, stone or some other material. Mosaic floors have been found in the ruins of 4th century Roman dwellings as well as the wall of ancient chapels.

History Repeats Itself

Fast forward to 2009 where consumers can now choose from a highly varied selection of mosaic tiled outdoor furnishings. Look for more choices in patio dining tables, bistro table fire pits and bakers racks. These items are popular because each one is handcrafted and no two pieces are exactly the same. Mosaic pieces also make terrific focal points because of the unique patterning.

Beautiful Designs

For outdoor living, many of the mosaic table tops use glass and travertine tiles. The glass used is generally stained glass that gets molded to a smooth finish. Tumbled marble and stones are also used in mosaic tables. The exquisite surface designs and patterns vary greatly from geometric style patterning to themes such as: hummingbird, laurel leaf, dragonfly, jardin, Morocco and many more. Other patio items that include mosaic craftsmanship include kid's chairs, accent tables, umbrella bases, and fire pits.

Because mosaic tiled surfaces are crafted by hand they are compared to other materials, fragile. This is not to say that you can't feel comfortable using the surface freely but during the off-season, take precautions and store your furnishings indoors: especially in freezing winter weather.

Read more about the different styles of and uses for a Mosaic patio table at: http://www.everything-patio-furniture.com

Oh God The Contractor From Hell

Choosing the Right Tile

Granite is and continues to be one of the more popular tiles purchased by homeowners right now. Due to its scratch and stain resistance, to go along with its stylish look it has become a favorite to be used on counter tops around the sink and is being used in bathrooms around the sink. On the reverse side it is a little dangerous to use it on your floors for granite is usually polished which causes it to be quite slippery. Putting it on the floor in your bathroom or kitchen where water is often spilled could make this product quite dangerous. My recommendation would be to make sure to use it to dcor and build counter tops.

Limestone is another commonly purchased tile. It's much softer then granite which makes it much easier to work with. Limestone gives you a more of that old school look. The one set back with Limestone is...it does seem to stain a little easier then the Granite or Marble tiles. But if your looking for beautiful classic-look for an affordable price limestone is definitely the way to go.

Travertine has been a surprisingly popular stone. Travertine at first was used mostly on the floors but consumers liked the looks so much it has now evolved to being used on walls for decor. This stone is for the consumer willing to spend that extra money to get a great look. If you choose to go cheap with Travertine tiles (in my experience) it tends to chip. Its a little more brittle then other stones so when working with Travertine be care for if you mess up it will cost you more money on installation. So pay for the best.

Looking to add beautiful tile to your home? Visit worldkitchensonline.com for the best prices on the web!

Jared Cleary writes about Home Improvement, Financial Literacy & Sports. To see more on how to improve your home please visit http://www.worldkitchensonline.com

Ceiling Plumbing Leak Repair

Septic Tank Installation, Repair and Replacement

Where your waste goes after it gets flushed down the toilet isn't something that many of us think about very often, nor should it be. Thanks to technological advances in the last century, plumbing and public sanitation has become much more convenient, hygienic and precise. The vast majority of those of us who live in metropolitan areas have our home sewer lines tapped into the city sewer mains, which means that our waste travels to a public treatment plant to be processed. For homes and businesses that cannot tap into public sewer lines, however, using a septic tank is an option that provides similar results in a different manner.

Septic tanks are large holding tanks for sewage, almost always located below ground. They are usually constructed of plastic, and are often able to contain many weeks worth of waste. A septic tank can generally allow for the permanent disposal of waste in one of three ways: by being pumped out on a regular basis, by having bacteria or chemicals applied that eats away the waste naturally, or be allowing the waste to be dispersed naturally into the ground through a leech field. In all of these cases, septic tanks usually require less maintenance than you would think after the initial installation is complete.

A septic tank is generally called for in a couple of different scenarios. The first and most common is in more rural areas that do not have public city sewer systems available to tap into. The tax dollars that we pay as residents of a city go partially toward providing sanitary services, one of which is maintaining a public sewage treatment plant and sewer system. If, however, your home or business is located too far away from existing city sewer lines, it becomes necessary to dispose of your own waste by installing a septic tank system. Generally, permanent septic tanks are relatively affordable, can be installed in a few days, and are reliable.

Another scenario where septic tanks might be necessary is on temporary, extensive construction projects that will require many laborers over a longer period of time. In this case, portable toilets might be too temporary and inadequate, but actually building a sewer main to attach to the city sewers might be too expensive and time consuming. In this case, a small septic tank system is a more intelligent solution that can be used temporarily and then removed when the construction project is complete.

If you think that you might need to have a septic tank system installed at a home, business or constructions site, make sure that you research local contractors to see who offers the best prices and service. Thanks to modern technology, you shouldn't notice any discernible difference between being attached to a public sewer system and using a septic tank.

Lorain County Sewer and Drain makes installing Ohio Septic Tanks simple and affordable. Visit our site today to learn more about Septic Sewer Systems.

Plants Growing In Sidewalk

Heart of the Home

It started with my need for a new mixer. OK. Well, maybe not exactly. It probably really started when we bought our home in Connecticut two years ago. The kitchen needed a make-over. Not a complete renovation-as some do-but a make-over, to be sure. Its footprint was fine, as was its size. Windows and doors were good, too. But it was dreary. Dark, drab and dreary.

But a re-do-no matter the scope-was out of our reach at move-in, just as it is now. So Ive tried to not think about it too much.

Thats tougher than it sounds. What with me being a visual person-energized by color and proportion and pattern-and kitchen tours taking up space on every New England towns calendar within the next few weeks, its almost impossible to not notice renovated kitchens. Nor to salivate over their inevitable appeal.

Such was the case this past Friday when a friend and I tromped through six fabulous kitchens in an annual little ritual. Carefully calibrated to Mothers Day-not to mention the bursting of daffodils, the budding of most trees, and the flowering of rhododendron-it coincided perfectly with spring fever.

And so it was that my friend, Nancy, and I enjoyed most of the afternoon together...roaming around gorgeous homes, indulging in wonderful treats catered by local restaurateurs, and commenting on what both appealed-and what didnt-to our strong aesthetic sensibilities. Nancy is an artist, too. And she just finished her own dream kitchen a few months ago. So she has not only a good grasp of the whole kitchen re-do thing; she has a similar eye to mine and is highly motivated by strong visuals.

Interestingly, we were both struck by exactly the same things. An enormous, albeit completely-perfect home, didnt do it for either one of us as it did for a friend whom I bumped into while there. Isnt this absolutely incredible? my friend exclaimed.

Nancy and I looked at each other.

Its perfect, I dead-panned.

Too perfect. Perfectly painted, perfectly appointed, perfectly accessorized, perfectly clean. Was it possible real people really lived there? Could anyone have ever actually sauted onions and garlic at its immaculate stainless-steel Viking range?

As we walked to the car, Nancy and I reflected on what truly makes a home, anyway. And where does one stop? In this real estate frenzy of the new millennium, where success is measured by capital gains, square footage and location-location-location; how much is enough, after all? Do we really need commercial-grade stainless steel Wolf ranges and double Sub-Zeros? Granite countertops and farmhouse sinks with copper faucets? Islands with pull-outs?

Seems like we do. A Harvard University study found that Americans spent $233 billion on remodeling and repair projects in 2003, with kitchen re-dos topping the list. A stunning 4 million Americans will do a kitchen remodeling project of some type in this year alone!

Staggering in scope, it is easily understandable. We have everyone from Home Depot to Pottery Barn to Williams-Sonoma to Target to HGTV to thank. Oh, sure. You might not need a kitchen transformation. But seriously, do you have enough fortitude to walk out of Williams-Sonoma fiscally unscathed? And have you seen the summer plastic ware at Target? As if I needed another lime green line item in my home...it was pure will-power that prevented me from grabbing a dozen of the cutest soda-fountain-style tumblers in my favorite color on my weekend outing there.

I read recently that most people do a major kitchen remodel for one simple reason: their friend did it. Oh great. A brilliant tax break? We get that. Increasing the value of your real estate. Get that, too. But peer pressure?

Its easy to see why. I mean, a wonderful kitchen is a lovely thing to behold. I totally get it. Want it. But cant yet have it.

So in case youre in the same state (and I have to suppose that many of you are, given the success rate of these kitchen tours) here are 5 Strategies for Infusing-Your-Kitchen-With-Beauty-If-You-Dont-Have-The-Designer-Kitchen-Youd-Really-Like-To-Have-But-For-Whatever-Reason-Dont:

1) Inject bold bursts of color. Be it via woven placemats at the breakfast table, colorful pottery on your countertops, or brightly-painted kitchen towels hanging from your oven bar: use generous strokes of color to put your brain on a heightened state of alert. Your cabinets might be dreadfully tired and your outdated appliances might leave you feeling totally uninspired. But take heart: a few brilliantly colored decorative objects can provide just the punch your sleepy kitchen needs.

2) Treat yourself to one new kitchen accoutrement. Seen Le Creusets latest red Dutch ovens? Or Kitchen Aids new apple green mixer? How about a shiny chrome coffee grinder? If a total kitchen overhaul is out of your reach, perhaps one modest indulgence will give your room that little kick-in-the-pants that it needs.

3) Change the lighting. My Country French rooster chandelier ala my latest birthday, elevates my eyes upwards...out of the direction of my drive-me-crazy-cabinets and onto something much more beautiful and intriguing. Considering its relatively minor expense, it proved a clever way of adding serious visual interest to a space which otherwise drags me down visually. Shop around. While not as cheap as a new box of candles, a new lighting fixture is often a great way to go.

4) Change things in stages. Perhaps by giving your cabinets a new paint job, you can change the look of the whole room. My girlfriend, Leslie, contracted with a house painter as well as with a decorative painter to dramatically lift her entire kitchen into a veritable work of art. The decorative painter glazed and then hand-painted different floral designs on each cabinet panel, elevating the room into one of lightness and pure beauty. The end result is stunning! Maybe by simply replacing a worn-out dishwasher you can inject a dash of modernity to an otherwise out-dated room. Or perhaps the relatively easy job of changing your countertops will give you more of the look and function that you desire.

5) Enjoy your collections. Not only did my recent trip to Paris cement my affection for le coq; it heightened my awareness of any and all fabulous renditions seen since my return. I can hardly pass by a rooster without checking its craftsmanship, size and price tag. Infuse your environment with the things that you love. Be they pictures of friends and family magnetized to your fridge...or cows or pigs or roosters (we really are a silly bunch, arent we?) dont be afraid to show off your collections to their fullest. When your day is looking particularly gloomy or your hormones are raging; the little things that bring you joy will help to blow both those black clouds away from your precious little head as well as more evenly distribute those swirling shivers of estrogen.

Finally, reflect on the relativity of materialism. Nancy and Iwalking back from house perfect on the kitchen tour, talked about how its all relative anyway. For what seems like extravagant indulgence (or a vulgar display of wealth, depending on your perspective) is just that: its a perspective. Its all relative. What seems ridiculously unnecessary to me might seem perfectly legitimate to you. And remember that most of what we possess is viewed by some 90% of the world as pure luxury. Keep perspective. If your kitchen drives you nuts, try to maintain some level of thanksgiving for what you do have, rather than some level of misery for what you dont.

The kitchen isnt called the heart of the home for nothing. Its where we put love into what we put into our body. Where we infuse our food with energy. Where we sift and dice and shake and bake. Where we laugh and learn and read and relax. Do your part to make it the heart of your home...whether you like the way it looks or not.

I wound up getting a new mixer for Mothers Day. As bizarre a request as it was-coming from someone whose least favorite word in the English language is practical-I got the desire to actually mix something up in there. (Bake a cake...or something along those lines, anyway.) And I have a funny feeling it will actually send me into my kitchen more often...whether I like it or not.

Carolina Fernandez earned an M.B.A. and worked at IBM and as a stockbroker at Merrill Lynch before coming home to work as a wife and mother of four. She totally re-invented herself along the way. Strong convictions were born about the role of the arts in child development; homeschooling for ten years provided fertile soil for devising creative parenting strategies. These are played out in ROCKET MOM! 7 Strategies To Blast You Into Brilliance. It is available on Amazon.com, in bookstores everywhere, or by calling 888-476-2493. She writes extensively for a variety of parenting resources and teaches other moms via parenting classes and radio and TV interviews.

Please visit http://www.rocketmom.com to subscribe to her free ezine and get a weekly shot of inspiration.

Please Help Us with Your Remodeling Advice

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

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There is No Yellow Brick Road Dorothy!

The same old story time after time. There is a program, or a system, or this, or a that designed for ultimate success, wealth, health, prosperity, peace of mind...and it goes on and on...

Its time to stop the insanity!

There is no absolute answer to health, wealth, peace of mind success or anything else! The news may frighten, alarm, disgust...whatever. But the sad but true fact is..."there is no yellow brick road, Dorothy."

There are credible and reliable and profitable ways to conduct business on the net. The old saying of jump on board with this or that is done! Bury that notion!

No program on the net is designed for anything ultimately but separating good people from their money. There is no magic answer to tons of traffic, wealth beyond the imagination, health like it was when one was a child. How could people become son naive on the net as opposed to real life?

There are very good, credible, and profitable programs out there. The one thing to do is take a very close look at the program before handing over the plastic and clicking on the I agree button.

Going to the policies and procedures of any program, any program, any program is absolutely essential. Then, is it feels right and everything checks out OK, then the attitude of going for it is fine, but not until then.

Internet marketing and internet marketers have gotten a bad rap. Its time to take back the net from the scammers and spammers and conduct the legitimate and long-lasting way.

There is absolutely no difference in doing business online than face to face...(or there should not be anyway.)

Time to forget the hype, the lies, the untruths, the illegitimate, the greedy, the stupid, the misinformed, and the out and out liars on the net. Walking away from everything that is harmful and walking towards everything that is good...is the only way to go.

It is possible to make good money, free one's time, and enable one to live exactly like one desires without the tyrannical rule of a company or a boss or the promise of future rewards by staying with a dying horse.

Legitimate business building systems do not need hype...they stand on their own merits. They do not need to convince, coerce, lie, steal and all the rest of the deadly sins to conduct their business.

Profitable marketing techniques online is a doable process if one pays close attention to details and just goes to work!

http://ButchHamilton.com

Butch Hamilton is an SEO|SEM Specialist. Living on the internet has become a way of life...a succesful way of life. His talents for obtaining top positions on the search engines have led him to the point in his life where he has always wanted to be.

"Life-What a Ride!"

Says Mr. Hamilton, "Writing has always been my passion. Gone are the days when I placed blatant ads on the internet for exposure. I have found my life's work in writing articles.

Reliable and credible information is what the internet is all about to Butch Hamilton. His experience as a self employed building contractor...steel fabrication...has led him on an incredible journey.

He now resides in his beautiful home in Texas with his wife. Writing is the passion behind his successful promoting ability on the net.

Butch Hamilton's Quote: "What we think-is what we become."

http://ButchHamilton.com http://butchhamiltonsbestdomains.com

Wood Deck Repair Ideas

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

Older Homes With No Dryer Hookup

Post Your Ideas Here On Deck Building

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

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High Pressure Water Drain Jetting For Clogs

For many people, the science behind new technologies that have been developed to clean sewer drains couldn't be more mundane. Not many homeowners care much about methods to unblock a badly clogged drain until it becomes necessary for them to use the technology for themselves. High pressure water drain jetting is a relatively recent development that allows drain cleaners to literally blast obstructions out of your drains, but it doesn't just consist of a hose that sprays a stream of water. Instead, high pressure water drain jet systems are sophisticated pieces of equipment that often cost tens of thousands of dollars.

That's not to say that hiring someone to use this equipment on your clogged drains will cost an arm and a leg, however. You'll likely spend less than two hundred dollars to have your sewer drains professionally cleaned with a high pressure jet system, but there is no better way to eliminate blockages. While a simple drain snake can take care of smaller clogs from simple obstructions and tree roots, the high-pressure water jet is able to blast away layers of grease, scaling, debris, dirt and even rocks that may have built up in the pipe over time.

High pressure water jetting is not meant to be utilized by anyone but trained professionals who have experience using the equipment. Because the water is forced from the jet at such a high pressure, it is easily capable of seriously injuring anyone who uses the equipment incorrectly. If you have your drains serviced with a high pressure jet, make sure that you and your family stay well away from the equipment while it is being used.

In spite of its potential danger to inexperienced users, though, high pressure water jetting is safe and quiet enough to be used inside of your home if necessary. The jetting system itself is usually a large unit towed by a hitch, but the line is often hundreds of feet long and can be taken into any building safely. As long as the specially designed tip of the jet hose is well inside of the drain pipe before the system is turned on, it is very safe to use.

High pressure water jetting isn't the right choice for every kind of clog. Simpler clogs can often be fixed by a less expensive sewer snake or other means. If your drain has significant problems from layers of heavy built up debris and grease, however, the drain jet is the best option. Although it is slightly more costly, a professionally applied high pressure drain jetting can make your blocked pipes look and operate like new again.

Lorain County Sewer and Drain makes High Pressure Drain Jetting simple and affordable. Visit our site today to learn more about Apartment Drain Cleaning.

Structural Beams And Building

Warning - Homeostasis is Not a Permanent Condition!

You have worked on your health diligently: asking questions, reading, learning about your particular health issue, taking hands full of herbs, vitamins, and homeopathics, exercising, carrying your good water wherever you go.

To no avail; the vibrant health for which you've been searching continues to evade you. Although you see definite improvement, something is missing; your health issues show little sign of budging. And you wonder if even with the lifestyle changes you've made, you may still need to be concerned about the statistics that show that apparently even healthy people can be faced with life-threatening diseases. Everyday examples are easy to find: the strong and healthy beekeeper who died of liver failure (a buildup of years of poisonous bee stings); the 70 year-old pastor who was never ill, claimed by cancer in a matter of months (toxic residue from the termite "tenting" of his home 30 years before). In both of these cases accumulation of natural poisons or synthetic toxins were held at bay by strong constitution. Alas, critical mass at last triggered the surfacing of long ago health challenges hidden at "core".

We know that the human body was created with an amazing set of checks and balances with their prime duty "homeostasis", always trying to bring the body back to normal function. Sometimes it fails despite all our years of doing everything "right". For the clueless ones it's "too little, too late". An arsenal of the most potent drugs and procedures may temporarily prolong the length of a life but never the quality. For others, going natural makes more sense.

Treating "Symptoms" vs. Finding "Root Cause"

I had to make that choice myself at age 50 when a hysterectomy was recommended for hemorrhaging and huge tumors on the uterus. I chose to go natural and six months later had, I thought, licked both conditions. Twenty-two years ago I hadn't thought about root cause - why the tumors and bleeding? Intuited scanning brought to light the fact that I'd spent thirteen of the first eighteen years of my life downwind from a plastics factory in a suburb of Buffalo, New York. And although at fifty I'd cleared the symptoms by neutralizing those toxins, the of these toxins stored in my energy had never been address, mainly because we didn't understand the importance of cleansing into the energy field. The ten-part Repair Loop, often thought of as the "immune system", puts a ceiling on the level of health the human system can reach and an actual limit on the homeostatic process. Clearing root cause is necessary if radical wellness, a new way to think of homeostasis, is to be reached.

Richard at 76 had been told he needed immediate kidney dialysis. We were able to intuit the root cause as Repair Loop damage at about age nineteen. He had a strong constitution and chose to do a four-week vibrational cleanse using subtle energy medicine. Four weeks later his doctor was surprised to see his creatin level was down and gave him an appointment for two months later to re-check, no mention of dialysis. However, because he was still using his very acidic medications he started to experience acid build up with a negative effect on his homeostasis. Richard's daughter told us recently that her father was using an energy formula to daily clear the toxic residue of those meds until he could be weaned off the new harmful meds by his doctor.

John no longer needs the insulin shots he's been giving himself for four years. His Repair Loop was damaged years before by man-made toxins by inhalation affecting his pancreas. Once again energy medicine was able to get at the "root cause" and in just four weeks. John, who was one of the lucky 90% of the population with a strong constitution, had a fast turn around.

Keeping Tabs on Your Homeostasis

Is homeostasis a permanent condition? Unfortunately not. The same factors that damage the Repair Loop are part and parcel of our daily lives: from the body trauma of surgery and dental procedures, sports injuries and accidents to the subtleties of emotional trauma. Synthetic toxins including medications and the chaotic electric of a technological environment also take a frightening toll on the function of the human body.

The rub is the fact that the human system was designed to "read" and respond to the natural poisoning of, for instance, the bite of a rattlesnake or spider, yet fails to read (understand) toxins of synthetic plastics inhaled over the years. Unable to deal with the unknown, these toxins are stored in organs and systems to cause havoc at a later time.

Energy medicine has made significant headway in the detoxification of both man-made toxins and "chaotic" electric. It now has the capability of neutralizing the extreme negative frequencies that herbs and homeopathics have failed to reach. In a modern world these are the issues we face that can prevent even an intact Repair Loop from its role in bringing the body back to normal function.

Once homeostasis is gained it must be protected through constant vigilance. Being aware of your environment, monitoring what goes in your body and listening when your body "talks" to you are an absolute necessity! and on a daily bases.

Of prime importance is keeping the cells on a daily detox schedule with a comprehensive cellular cleanse that deals with Repair Loop concerns. Purified systems react to toxic input with astonishing rapidity; the two situations that can quickly re-toxify the cells and often with disastrous consequences are 1.overdosing on medications after cleansing when organs and systems are just beginning to function normally and 2.dealing with new health issues by returning to the use of harsh and toxic medications (ie. antibiotics) when safer and more natural means are readily available.

Life comes at us in subtle, and sometimes not so subtle, ways. And even though we may have a strong constitution with corresponding good health, there will be times that the body may seem to fail us, forcing us to succumb to disease care, put into place in the absence of real answers.

Looking beyond symptoms, the health care field continues to search for "root cause" - levels of man-made toxins and electric, with which we've never before had to deal. And let's not forget toxic emotions. There are answers, ways of dealing with ill health that are faster, easier and far less traumatic than western medicine ever believed possible. The answers for maintaining homeostasis are here; the hardest part for us is discovering the "root cause" of a health issue rather than settling for a quick fix by treating symptoms.

And now that we know that when health is compromised in any way, the energy body surrounding us leaches its abberant energies into the material body, we have an added challenge. Fortunately energy medicine is one of the few modalities, allopathic or natural that can deal with not just the physical body but with the subtleties of the Energy Field so homeostasis can always be restored.

Carol Keppler, B.S., Ed., has spent the last 30 years developing her proprietary systems and products. An Energy Intuitive, she reads the energy output of the cells of the organs/systems of the body through intuition confirmed by kinesiology/muscle testing. Her accuracy rate is 97% or better - one of the highest on the planet. Carol's clientele spans the globe. Her QuickScan method provides the solution for distance which is not a factor when working with intuition. Her trademarked SixStep System, AltWaters Technology, Body Chart System, QuickScan; and Energy Medicine Foundation have established her as a true pioneer in the energy medicine field. Please visit her websites http://www.altwaters.com and http://energymedicinefoundation.org You may email for more information also at info@altwaters.com

(602) 996-9753

Looking for a Good Contractor's Story

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

Bathroom Books

Adding an Exterior Basement Door to Your Home

Many modern homes are being built with walk-out basements. People have become more and more aware of how important it is to have two exits from basement living spaces, and most building codes require it. A hundred years ago people were only thinking about having access to cellars when they put in bulkhead doors. Now, however, basements aren't just for storage any longer. People are turning to them as extra living space, and they're well aware of the dangers of having only one exit from these basement rooms. Even if you don't have a door leading to outdoors in your basement, you might want to consider adding one for safety reasons.

Have you seen older homes that still use the old-fashioned basement entrances in the back yard? If you have, you know that people back when the house was built were interested in being able to get things in and out of their basement and keeping out the elements. These old doors were basically stairways covered by rotting wooden doors. People weren't as worried about security issues then (wouldn't that be nice!), and it was all about function. Besides, who cared what it looked like? It was only in the back yard.

Now people do care about more than function. People want exterior basement doors that are secure and attractive. They want to be able to access their basement from outside without detracting from their lovely landscaping. If this sounds like you, then you'll be happy to know that exterior basement doors can be added to any basement without destroying the look of your home or landscaping. Although they're similar to old-fashioned bulkheads in design, these door systems are made of modern materials, virtually maintenance-free, and designed to keep intruders out while allowing your family safe egress.

These new doors are watertight, easy to access in all seasons, come in many colors, and have ventilation systems to let air into your basement. The old rickety cellar doors that let in water and varmints are now a thing of the past, and every home can have a safe, secure second exit. Your home will become a much better place to live with this outdoor access to your basement, and it will add to the value of your home.

For more useful information on waterproofing basement products including tips on basement sealing paints visit us at http://www.betterbasementideas.com

Structural Shear Wall Inside

Home Remodeling Stair Lighting Help

Walking up and down the stairs in the dark could become a safety issue. If the stairs in the house are not that old, there should be a light switch at the top and a light switch at the bottom of the stairway. This is a three way switch and is designed to allow you to turn the stair lighting on as you walk up the stairs and then turn the stair lighting off, once you've safely reached the top of the stairway. And vice versa as she walked down the stairs.

If you don't have a light switch, there are motion sensor lights that are battery operated and can be installed easily in the stairway. These lights can provide you with peace of mind, while protecting your family from accidents.

Stairway accidents are nothing to joke about, I lived in a two-story house with four other people and was the last one to fall down the stairway. None of us got seriously injured and the stairway was built to meet local building codes and was inspected by a building and safety inspector. The stairs were built correctly and the stair lighting was no problem, but people still fell down the stairway and it always happens in the evening.

During the day time there were two windows that let plenty of light into the stairway and in the evening the stairway became quite dark, rarely was the stair lightning ever turned on. This could have been outright laziness but nevertheless, it was rarely used and eventually became a safety issue.

Lighting your stairway might not end all of your problems but it can and some of your problems. There are plenty of stair lighting systems available on the market today and some of the battery operated stair lighting systems can be installed by most homeowners.

Think safety always and do your best to solve your stair lighting problems as soon as possible to prevent injuries or accidents.

Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He has just finished a Home Buyers Guide to take some of the frustration out of home shopping.

If your looking for some more building stairs or home building ideas.

Bathroom Books

Home Owners - Protecting Yourself When Remodeling

The slowdown in the real estate market has many homeowners "stuck" in their homes. For many home and condo owners, this brings thoughts of remodeling. Unless you are extremely handy and experienced with the building trades, your home improvement project will most certainly require the services of a contractor. Home improvement projects can easily cost thousands of dollars; making your selection of the right contractor(s) extremely important. While most licensed contractors are reputable professionals and strive to do the best job possible, there are others who lack the necessary skills or expertise in business matters to insure the successful completion of your project. Less reputable contractors may try to sell you services or materials you don't need and may be financially unable (or unwilling) to resolve a dispute should it arise.

Research

The first step to selecting a contractor or tradesperson is to research your remodeling project. You must be knowledgeable about what the job involves, the necessary materials and the steps needed to complete the project. The web is a great place to start. There are many useful websites with tons of free information. Use a search engine such as Google to find information ontype of project you are considering. You will be amazed at all of free information available on the Internet.

Permitting

Depending on the type and size of the project, you may need to contact your local building departments to find out what building permits are necessary and what your legal obligations are regarding obtaining and posting permits on the job site. Once you haveknowledge of the requirements, most licensed contractors will handle the permitting is process for you.

Ask for References

Ask around for references and get two or three estimates. Talk with your friends, co-workers and neighbors for recommendations. When interviewing contractors, ask for names and addresses of previous customers and check with those references. Ask for a copy of their license. Sometimes, the Better Business Bureau maintains records describing whether the company has a number of consumer complaints.

Insurance

Talk with your insurance agent or company about the extent of your coverage during the remodeling project. Before you even begin the project, you should review your policy for weather and water damage, theft, fire and other types of coverage. During the remodeling project, most policies will only cover building materials, so make your contractor be responsible for all products and materials until that time. Additionally, you should be insured for the cost of the construction before any renovations begin and make certain that your home is currently "insured to value."

Hiring a general contractor or a tradesperson brings other risks. Two types of coverage are carried by reputable firms or individuals: worker's compensation and general liability. Discuss the importance of these items with your insurance agent to gains his or her opinions of the applicability of these insurance products to your particular situation. Check with the contractor your select to make sure their insurance is current and also make sure they carry adequate coverage.

By doing your homework and following the simple steps above, you can increase the likelihood that your next remodeling project will be a success.

John Allen is a Sarasota real estate agent representing buyers and sellers of fine real estate. He specializes in condos, waterfront homes and golf course communities.

Bathtub Building Code Problem

Curb Appeal - Making a Good Impression

Take a good look at the front of your house. You probably have a hard time seeing what others see because you are too close to be objective. Walk across the street and take another look, pretending you are a visitor. What people see when they pass by your house is their impression of the rest of your house. A home that is clean and welcoming has curb appeal.

Here are some common mistakes that are easily corrected and will make your house more appealing:

Trash cans. Put the trash cans and recycle bins out of sight. Put them in the garage or shed or at least behind the house. Bikes, trikes and big wheels. Establish a storage area for children's toys and make a point of putting away outside toys at the end of play time.

Eliminate the weeds. Pull the weeds or hire someone to weed for you. Mulch around the flowers and shrubs to discourage weed growth. Weeds are clutter and detract from the appeal of your yard. Cover bare ground. A layer of mulch, nut hulls or whatever type of ground cover of your choosing dresses up the yard.

Squirrels, flags, ducks, geese and wagons. One or two figurines may enhance the yard. Excessive figurines detract from the natural beauty of the landscaping. Declutter the yard and parking area. Throw away or establish a storage area for paint cans, bits of lumber, garden tools, kayaks, muddy shoes, old washing machines, dead Christmas trees, mattresses, brooms and water hoses. (All these were noted during my walk this morning!)

Get rid of junk cars(Sorry to even mention this, but I saw two during my walk this morning).

Trim the landscaping. If the trees, shrubs and flowers have blocked the view of the house, consider taking some out. Too much or overgrown landscaping can be unappealing.

Beryl Westby is an organizing consultant and the name of her business is No More Chaos You can get a free Idea-Kit, filled with tips and ideas on organizing, a free newsletter and tips, articles and ideas to create order out of chaos by visiting her website at http://www.nomorechaos.biz

Exterior Doors - San Deigo Home Tips

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

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

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

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

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

Miriam Tatelbaum is a content writer for Networx.com

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

Should You Cancel Your Home Building Insurance?

Only if you are going to take out alternative cover!

It is very risky not having home building insurance. There are two main reasons. Firstly, if you have a mortgage you have to have it. Secondly, you will have to be pretty well off to be able to re-build the house in the event of a catastrophe. Don't forget, nobody thinks it will happen to them.

What does buildings insurance cover?

So, what do you get for your hard earned cash? Hopefully, just piece of mind, and it is money down the drain. Most people aren't sure what is covered by home buildings insurance and what is covered by home contents insurance. Here is a summary but remember, it varies with different insurers and it is wise to check with the insurer or better still use a broker who knows what he is talking about.

Home buildings insurance covers the main structure of your home, the garage, and outbuildings, (although sometimes only if they are listed in the deeds), for the cost of rebuilding. Usually so is everything else; walls, paths, drives, patios, terraces, fences, hedges, and gates - even tennis courts, swimming pools and ornamental ponds, but watch out for exclusions as they can be difficult to spot in the small print. Many people now have solar panels and wind turbines, they're usually covered too, as are your fixtures and fittings. Inside the house a good rule of thumb is: If you turn the house upside down and it stays put, it's covered under the home buildings insurance.

Other things to look out for:

Some providers need a re-build cost of the property, others use a notional cost of say between 300,000 - 500,000, which is usually adequate, and others use an unlimited amount. Don't be fooled into thinking unlimited is best, that doesn't mean they will give you a blank cheque!

• Some charge extra for monthly Direct Debit others don't.
• You often will get up to 20,000 for alternative accommodation.
• You would usually get cover for fire, storm and flood damage.
• Cover for subsidence or heave of the land your property stands on. (Normally there is a 1,000 excess for this).
• You get a no claims discount, if you don't claim. Always think carefully before making a small claim, after the excess and increased premiums the following year may cancel it out or even make you worse off.
• You can often get an additional discount on buildings and contents insurance if you buy them together.
• It also covers any permanent fixtures in your home like built-in wardrobes, kitchen surfaces, taps, basins, baths and showers.
• If your house was built before 1800, is not of "Standard construction" (i.e. brick walls and a tiled roof) or is listed then you will need special advice and insurers as normal insurers won't touch them.

What causes the damage? You are usually covered for the following conditions:

• Fire, smoke, explosion, lightning or earthquake.
• Riots, civil commotion, labour and political disturbances or strikes.
• Malicious damage or vandalism.
• Storm or flood (If you have claimed for flood damage, don't cancel, you may find it difficult to get covered again).
• Impact or collision.
• Escape of water or oil.
• Theft or attempted theft

If the property is going to be unoccupied for more than 30 days then check with your insurer as it increases their risk. Wet or Dry rot is not covered. Pollution from outside sources is unlikely to be covered. If you are doing structural work to your property then check the builder has insurance, your home building insurance will not cover you if the house collapses!

Colin Warburton is a qualified UK Mortgage and Home buildings insurance Broker and a Network Marketer. If you are looking for a Residual Income, Colin can show you how to get prospects to come to you. You haven't got the time to waste dealing with people who aren't interested in whatever you have to offer.

Energy Saving Books

Building & Targeting the Right Equipment to Build a Budget Home Gym

Who says you need thousands of dollars just to get fit at home? These days, the cost of home gyms is much more reasonable and quite affordable even for the average home. A little imagination, practical common sense and research will come a long way to help you achieve the home gym of your dreams at a budget. Here's how:

Consider buying the most basic.

Most first time home gym owners make the mistake of getting carried away when buying their own home fitness equipment. They jump right in and buy the most complete, multi-function machine that beckons from the display room of a store. This is impractical and very costly.

The reason is that multigyms, apart from being quite expensive, offer multiple exercise or workout options. High-end ones even let you vary your workout routines by allowing you to do 50 to 60 exercise regimens. For the first-timer, this can be very overwhelming. Most beginners can do well with at least 3 and a maximum of 10 exercise routines to get a total body workout AND strength training as well. The result? You have an exercise machine that sits there, not fully optimized.

A better thing to do is to buy the most basic equipment first and expand progressively. This will allow you to add more features and equipment as your fitness levels change and improve. That way, you'll buy only what you need and can afford, at least for the time being.

Go for fewer bells and whistles.

For majority of home gym equipment, you will get what you pay for. However, that shouldn't stop you from keeping an eye on your budget. Losing weight and keeping fit generally requires you to purchase machines that allow cardiovascular equipment. The bad news is, this type of equipment will cost you. The good news is, you can do something about it.

Probably one of the cheaper cardio equipment available today that are effective and easy to use are stationary bikes. Inexpensive ones can cost from about $100 to around $180. The price range may be a bit steep for the budget conscious but remember that cardio exercise equipment are a good investment, so it's best to look for quality, performance and endurance. Just don't look for a lot of features, though.

If you prefer treadmills, there are options that cost around $150. These are generally self-powered (meaning, there is no motor that will move the conveyor belt) and you're usually limited to walking - no running or even jogging. You could power-walk, though and if paired with weights, this type of budget home gym equipment will do nicely for your fitness goals.

There are also cheaper alternatives to the generally-expensive ellipticals. Prices can range from around $280 to $430. Low-end ones do the job but they're mostly best for people with smaller frames. If you're taller or heavier, best go for equipment in the mid-priced range.

For total body workout, try a budget-priced rowing machine. For as little as $150, you'll get a great workout equipment that offers smooth motion, sturdy design and yes, even digital readouts to help you keep track of the calories you have burned.

Buy secondhand or refurbished.

There are stores (also online shops) that offer gym equipment you can get at a discounted price. You need only pay around 20% to 40% of the original price, maybe even less. Be careful, though. Make sure you can check the quality of the machine yourself so you are assured it will perform as it should and last long. Shop around and check out several sources before deciding on which refurbished or secondhand equipment to buy.

Penny pinching fitness buffs

So now that you have an idea of how little you could spend on a home gym equipment, you're probably thinking, 'What if all I can afford is equipment ranging from $50 to $100?' Well, take heart. You can still enjoy home gym fitness at zero budget, by investing in equipment that will not put a dent in your pocket. Here are some choices:

Skipping rope. A single set using skipping ropes offers you excellent cardiovascular exercise. Couple this with a routine in strength training with a set of free weights and you're good to go.

Free weights. If you must spend, spend on a good set of free weights. Free weights are excellent for strength training and muscle toning. Simply pair them with a cardiovascular exercise of your choice.

Boxing equipment. Boxing is a terrific workout because it allows you to shed sweat, it increases your heart rate and works out every muscle in your body. Buy a cheap but sturdy punching bag and a pair of gloves that offer sufficient protection. Then hit your home gym and start working out.

For more information on how to use your own home gym to get fabulous abs go to:
http://www.yourownhomegym.com/Designing-Fitness-Gym-Home.html
http://www.yourownhomegym.com/

Problems With Black Mold

DIY Wind Turbine - Steps Towards Building a Wind-Powered Turbine

If you are planning to build a DIY wind turbine, the first step is to get yourself a good guide with plans from online retailers and start making one. You can go green while saving electricity at the same time without having to buy an expensive wind generator. You will be able to get all the materials needed plus the plans for less than $150.

An average Joe can make his own 1000W wind turbine. Why not make one for yourself, too? You can even get your family in on it and make it a fun family project.

To get you started, you will first need the plans or the blueprint. Find a good place to work in. A regular garage will do. You do not need to get special tools. You can work with the simple tools that you already have. It would be great to have an extra pair of hands.

Look at the plans to find out what you need for the project. It should include a Direct Current (DC) motor. This will serve as your power generator. As the blades of your turbine spin, they turn the DC motor on which would then produce electricity.

Order the motor first for it takes a number of days to get it. This should not cause you much delay because you can use this time to start working on the other sections. You can already fashion the blades of your turbine. Wood is the preferred material for blades especially when making bigger machines. However, should you opt to, you can also use PVC.

If you intend to work with wood, make sure to get strong, good quality lumber. Your blades, especially the tips, should be able to withstand the force of the wind. Constructing the blades should not be complicated. Simply follow what your plans say. It is easy enough for you to make your own set in just one day, using only common tools.

As for the other parts, you will be surprised to know that you can get most of them for free. These include batteries, towers, and others included in your plans. You can piece all the parts together as soon as you get your motor. When that is done, it is now ready to be put up in the wind. Set it up at a place where it can stand at 15 feet above any structure within 300 feet. Your DIY wind turbine will now be able to produce free electricity.

Tired of high electric bills? Discover how thousands of families are using homemade wind power systems to power their homes!

Moisture Against Gravity Destroy

Team Building Leadership

Leading teams into team building conquers the challenge of change. Change is the one constant of life, and change undoes the way things are. A team, for instance, is either building or falling apart. An essential aptitude for true leadership, then, is leading the team into building on a continuous basis. Team building leads a group into a higher levels of team spirit, cooperation and interpersonal communication. Even if you only one other person that you have responsibility for leading, that person needs to perceive you on his side to give his best. Team building is the process of building upon the team-dimension of any relationship. Team spirit either grows, or it dies.

Make Enhancing Teamwork An Essential
Part of Your Team's Goal

As you attempt to lead, keep in mind your quintessential intention to enhance, deepen and strengthen the spirit of "we are on the same team, committed to achieving the same outcome for one another." Integrate the improvement of the quality of teamwork into your objective, strategy and tactics. Include it in the vision of the outcome you share with your team, and express your value of teamwork and team spirit by providing regular trainings in team building to your department or employee(s). If you overlook team building by focused exclusively or excessively on the outcome you want teamwork to accomplish, you neglect the means to your end. This would be like a musician neglecting to adequately care for his instrument.

How you think about each person or group that you are responsible for leading is the real "head" of your organization. By leading your own thoughts, you begin leading in the most significant way. So discipline yourself to think about those you are responsible for leading as members of your team, and not as your problems, adversaries or competitors. You have to "mentally embrace" them as for you, and not against you, particularly when they demonstrate difficult conduct.

Here is an example. Let's say that your department is currently experiencing a disturbing and potentially costly spike in interpersonal conflict. People are misunderstanding one another, forming into cliques with adversarial stances toward one another, there seems to be more blame than problem-solving going on. Let's say further you know the individuals responsible for this growing air of contention. You might be tempted to think of them as being against you, rather than for you. But try this leadership-for-team-building approach instead.

Deliberately think of the problems they demonstrate as symptomatic of the real, invisible cause of the team's breakdown. Regard these individuals as being helpful, like the warning lights on the dashboard of your car. They have too much integrity to conceal and repress the underlying problem in the organization. They are not bringing the team "darkness", but rather bringing light in which you can lead the team to a solution. Interpret their behavior, however dissonant, as a sign of a core-problem that you need to address for team building. This turns feelings of resentment into gratitude.

Also regard any team problems that arise as an inevitable aspect of life's law of change. The songwriter Bob Dylan wrote, "He not busy being born is busy dying." We can apply this to teams. The team that is not busy being born is busy dying. Regard every challenge to team cooperation as sort of birth pang, leading you to lead the team to the next level of cooperation.

How To Lead Your Team To The Next Level

Then, meet with those who are displaying contentiousness and begin by thanking them for bringing to light the fact that there is obviously an underlying problem in the department. Instead of focusing on changing their behavior initially, build their team spirit and teamwork by asking them to help you to identify the real problem. They may, for instance, raise the issue that they are being given too much too do in too little time, which is making them feel overloaded by the lack of clarity in the communication they are receiving.

This gives you important pieces of information for leading the department to higher productivity. You now know that you need to reevaluate the amount of responsibility these individuals have and how much time they have to fulfill those responsibilities. This may lead you to alter the demands you place on them, to train them in better time management, to refresh their technical skills in a training, or to bring the whole department together for team building training.

Next, the contentiousness reveals that they need a more constructive means of communicating their issues, and that those they communicate their issues to need to be receptive. Reevaluate the established communication procedures in place, and consider providing who have been contentious some interpersonal relationships and communication training.

Maintain A Team Building Attitude

To lead most effectively, the leader's attitude needs to be strongly and deeply rooted in team spirit, particularly when relating with individuals who have been displaying misconduct. Regard that misconduct as indicative of that individual's integrity by caring too much to act as if everything is going smoothly when it is not. The misconduct serves you as visible expression of an invisible problem that you need to lead your team into solving together to keep the team building.

Rather than relating to a problematic behavior as a hindrance or as a threat to your objective, relate to it as a blessing revealing how you need to build teamwork and team spirit to meet the inevitable challenge of change.

Bob Lancer is a team building and leadership expert. He presents motivational team building trainings and keynotes to businesses and other organizations. For more information see http://www.teambuildingtrainings.com

Poor Window Fill In Repairs

Change Your Thinking About Life

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Unbiased Tips - Grants & Incentive For Remodeling

The Canadian government both federal and provincial offers grants, and other financial incentive, like tax credit and rebates. These grants are available to anyone whose renovation involves energy upgrading. All products energy star rated for example windows, and appliances, and fixtures, vehicle are all-eligible for ecoEnergy or the ecoAuto programs.

The programs will financially assist homeowners of single-family homes including detached, semi-detached and low-rise multi-unit residential buildings. These grants allow homeowners to offset the cost of renovation that reduces the energy consumption of the home. The extension of the program from 2007 into 2008 and now 2009 has proven that Canadian's are taking advantage of these incentive programs.

Since the begining of this ecoEnergy in April of 2007 the Canadian goverment have processed $58 million in ecoEnrgy grants. Now in 2009, an additional $300 million will be added to ensure that the program continues. Programs like these will aid Canada in meeting it environmental and green economy goals.

Owning a single family home doesn't make you automatically eligible for government grants, there are other criteria. In addition to owning the home, all homeowners must have an energy efficient assessment conducted by a certified energy auditor.

The issuance of the grants to eligible homeowner who have had an energy assessment completed on their home before and after renovation may received a maximum of $5000 from the government (provided all conditions are meet).

In addition most provinces in Canada have implemented complimentary programs which matches the federal government $5000. So in total all homeowners would be eligible for up to $10,000 in grants on energy efficient renovation. Homeowners benefit from a 25% reduction on the cost of energy efficient renovation. There is more assistance coming from the government in the form of a Tax Credit.

Once an energy efficient assessment on you home have be conduct, the following year homeowner are allowed up to a maximum $1350 in tax credit. This is about a 15% tax credit on the portion of the renovation, which has improved the home energy usage.

If you'd like to know more about these ecoEnergy programs and how you can benefit from them here's where I got informed.

For information on tax credit

For construction permit floor plan that get approved visit http://www.reading-detailing-house-plans.com

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Space Saving Tips For Small Bathrooms

It's essential to get the most space out of your bathroom as most bathrooms do contain limited space for such objects in the average house hold. It's not a physical space saving tip to use light colors when painting or decorating a bathroom, but in the sense of lighting and feeling it really does provide a bigger atmosphere so this tip should be used in a small bathroom.

Lighting in a small bathroom is very important and is the best way to make you and others feel like they are in a spacious room rather than a dingy dark one. Options include spotlights from cabinets and the ceiling which provide phenomenal lighting in any room without using up any space as they are implemented. Curtains sometimes get in the way and make a room feel darker, so replacing them with blinds will give you that natural lighting effect you want with the same amount of privacy.

In terms of physical space saving options it's a good idea to use wall hanging objects such as mirror cabinets and towel holders so you not only have all that extra space on the floor but you get that extra storage option available. Another good tip is to purchase a bathroom set that can be implemented into corners of a bathroom and hide pipes that no one wants to see.

Most families include a bath and a shower in their bathroom if they have a big enough room - but this isn't always possible in the average house hold unless it feels really cramped. If you want a bath and a shower it's still possible by purchasing a shower that fits on the wall above the bath. This shower also normally includes a glass enclosure attached to the side protecting the bathroom from being covered in water.

The possibilities for creating that extra needed space are endless but the main tips for doing so would be keeping the bathroom simple and clean, having a simplistic effect automatically gives the spacious illusion to visitors. Having a couple of mirrors around the room is also a good technique - but not too many as this will over do it.

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

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

Getting Your Swimming Pool Ready For Winter

The information you are about to read is from years of experience. If you follow these steps, you will accomplish a safe and worry free, pool closing.

The first thing you want to do is test the water and make sure all levels including pH are normal. Next you're going to want to shock your pool, and then run the filter for 24 hours. Now it's time to start closing your pool, clean out any leaves or debris and vacuum your pool thoroughly. Now you want to pour in the contents of your closing kit.

The next step will be to blow out lines or evacuate any water that might be in the lines. You can do this without emptying pool. You will need either a shop-vac or a compressor. With a compressor, you will take an old winterizing plug and remove the center screw then push a quarter inch compressor hose male adapter in the center of the winterizing plug. A # 9 plug is most efficient. You can now use this in any of the plumbing on the filter. The first way to blow lines out leave all the plugs in the filter and the pump, set the multi-port valve on filter, and close all of the plumbing line valves except for the line you wish to blow out. Open the air release on top of the filter and push the winterizing plug with the compressor line and pump air into the filter. This will push all the water out of the filter and push the water out of the line. Once you see air bubbles install the winterizing plug, do this for the skimmer and returns. Open just the main drain valve force air into the line until you see air bubbles. Then immediately close the valve this will hold air in that line and prevent water from rushing back in. If you have step jets simply open the air vents, remove the jet and plug up the fitting. Then open up the jet valve at the filter, then force air this will push all of the water out of the air vents once the water is stops coming out remove the compressor close the air vents and you're now done with blowing your lines out. Check all plugs for air bubbles.

Now you must remove to plugs in the pump remove the winterizing plug at the bottom of the filter. If you have a chlorinator, you must remove any plugs or remove the chlorinator itself. Make absolutely sure that you shake out any water that may be trapped inside the chlorinator. Set the multi-port valve in between any two selections this will hold the valve open and prevent internal damage.

Do not cover the pump for the winter. It is important that the pump to be able to breathe you do not want the inside of the pump to oxidize. If you have a heater make sure you turn off the gas, turn the gas valve off and remove the winterizing plug under the manifold. It is a good idea to cover the heater. Heater covers are available in our online catalog. This will prevent acorns and any other debris to get inside of the heater, and possibly cause a fire on start up.

Should you choose to use a vacuum to clear the plumbing lines, the easiest way to do that would be to get your-self a couple of pieces of schedule 40 PVC pipe, count how many returns you have and that is how many 1 1/2" 90A streets you will need. Count how many skimmers you have, and that is how many 1 1/2" male adapter's your need. For the skimmers measure how many inches it is from the bottom the skimmer to the top of the water, and add 2". Cut a piece of PVC at that measurement, glue the male adapter to the PVC, wrap the threads with Teflon tape and screw it in the suction whole at the bottom of the skimmer. You may also use our blow out gizmo. Make sure you use Teflon tape on the threads. This will allow you to blow out the skimmer, and it will act as a baffle to prevent the skimmer from cracking if it freezes. Now measure the return holes to top of the water and add 2 inches. Cut the PVC at this length glue the 90A streets wrap the threads in Teflon tape, and screw this in the returns, make sure the pipe is sticking out of the water. Now you can winterized the plumbing, open all the valves go over to these pieces of pipe turn your vacuum on and suck all the water and lines. After the water is out of the lines use a number eight winterizing plug in the PVC and tighten.

Open the pump trapped put the vacuum hose in the opening open the main drain valve. Reverse the vacuum and blow air into this line. You may not see air coming-out of the main drain, but let it go for 30 seconds and then shut the valves. This will push any water below the freeze level and prevent freezing. (Note some concrete in-ground pools may have to be evacuated or blown out by a compressor). If you have a problem removing any plugs or you notice places were water may end up laying it is advisable to buy our any freeze. Just for this anywhere there may be a problem. If you use the PVC in the skimmer, you must take a quart bottle, such as an empty algaecide bottle. Fill it halfway with small stones install the cap turned upside down and put it in the skimmer. This will prevent the skimmer from cracking when it freezes.

To remove handrails and ladders, simply lift the decorative cover, loosen the bolt approximately a quarter inch up and then hammer it down. This will free your ladder or handrail. Then simply lift it out of the cup. If you have a vinyl pool, do not empty it below the skimmer keep the water level as you would in the summer. This will prevent the liner from shrinking in the corners and shortening the life of the liner. There is no reason to lower a vinyl pool. Vinyl manufactures will not cover warranties on pools that have been lowered. If you have a concrete pool, you must lower the pool, at least 1 foot below the skimmer. This will prevent the bond beam from cracking causing the tiles and coping to fall off. Now you're about ready to put the cover on.

For water tube type covers, fill all the water tubes only three quarters of the way, install the cover and place the water tubes on the cover around the perimeter of the pool. Make sure there's enough water tubes used that they are touching. It is not advisable to put the water tubes in the cover loops. Should the cover blow in during the winter, if the tubes are attached to the cover this will drag the cover down making it almost impossible to reinstall the cover with the water tubes.

If you have a safety cover raise all of the brass anchors install the safety cover as you normally would. If there are any loose straps, you should tighten them.

For water tube covers place the cover pump in the center and pump the cover off when ever it rains. Do not pump the cover, when the water is frozen, this will damage the pump. If you have a safety cover and a vinyl pool, install a cover pump in the skimmer. This will prevent the water from being pumped out too much and allows you easy access.

For concrete pools, it is important you keep the water level below the tiles, if you have a step install a cover pump on the second tread down.

Should you have any questions feel free to contact 1800 Pools
S.Merillat

Steve Merillat has been in the Pool industry for 35 years. He has pioneered many pool installation techniques that are used in the industry today. You can learn how to properly take care and maintain your pool yourself saving time and money, from on of the most experienced people in pools

Plaster Wall Moisture Problem