Kitchen Remodeling Doesn't Have to Break the Bank

If you've been considering kitchen remodeling for any length of time, you may have become convinced that it's not even worthwhile to consider starting a renovation unless you're ready to spend fifty thousand dollars.

You can certainly be forgiven if you've adopted that attitude, but there's a good chance you're mistaken. Many people, perhaps yourself included, first start considering remodeling their kitchen because of things like nicks in the laminate or cracked tile and missing grout in the counterop. Or they may have drawers that don't have drawer glides, or cabinets with broken hinges. Or maybe they just think the color of the cabinets is ugly, or the vinyl floor tiles are peeling up. Perhaps their appliances are a wonderful shade of avocado.

So they start investigating the ins and outs of kitchen remodeling. At first they're just interested in replacing or fixing the things that are lacking in their kitchen. But as they continue to research, they start to see all these wonderful things: Oak cabinets, granite countertops, commercial stainless steel ranges with six burners and massive hoods, etc. And then they begin to lose sight of why they started this quest as AD1their desires become more and more grandiose.

But maybe they (or you) don't need granite countertops, oak cabinets, or a six burner stove. Perhaps a coat of paint and some refacing would work fine for the cabinets. Maybe a nice linoleum floor and a new sink. Possibly replace that old scratched laminate countertop with a new one. You might be surprised how much some of them look like granite nowadays. Add in some new stainless steel (or black or white if you prefer) appliances and a coat of paint on the walls, and you might think you're standing in a brand new kitchen. And for one-fifth of what you thought you'd have to pay.

One popular change that you might want to keep under consideration is the removal of a wall. If done right, this can work wonders for making a small kitchen feel spacious and open. Of course, you must make certain that any wall you remove is not structural. If removal of the full wall is not feasible, consider removing part of it and making it into a 'half wall' where only the top half or so is taken out, or creating a 'pass-thru' - more or less a square or rectangular hole in the wall. These can also make a world of difference in the feel of the finished room.

Of course, it could be that your kitchen does need major updating. Maybe your stove and refrigerator are right next to each other. Any remodel worth the name has to change that. Maybe there's just not enough room for the four or five people that normally prepare meals in your house - so you really do need to expand outside the current kitchen walls.

But make sure that any major (and expensive) changes occur because you need them or you really want them - not because you see them in every magazine you pick up or every TV design show you watch.

To get more kitchen remodeling ideas, such as how to design a kitchen, check out http://www.bestkitchenremodelingideas.com.

Build Your Own Hovercraft In A Weekend

Hovercrafts, also known as Air-Cushion Vehicles (ACV), are amphibious vehicles that move on a layer of pressurized air. Because of their unique design, they can cruise over virtually any surface: water, road, grass, snow and ice. As a result of their flexible nature, Hovercrafts have a great advantage in military applications, but they aren't just for the military. Lots of hobbyists love them too, especially since they are easy to build and with a good set of plans you can build a Hovercraft in a single weekend.

Some hobbyists prefer building and racing radio-controlled hovercrafts, which much like toy boats and helicopters, are controlled from a distance. But theres a lot more fun to be had than watching a small toy hovercraft fly around the local pond. You can actually build a hovercraft for yourself, and then get in it and take it for a drive. You can take your hovercraft for a nice leisurely cruise on the lake, or you can race your kids in the crafts you helped them build! If you get even more involved in hovercraft construction and operation, there are clubs to join as well so you can race fellow hobbyists and share building tips that will help you get more speed out of your craft.

And I have to say, Im a big klutz and even I managed to follow these plans without hurting myself or anyone else in the vicinity. On a weekend trip to my sisters, who happens to live near a lake, I made a short supply run to Lowes and then arrived on my sisters doorstep with plywood stacked up in the car. Her husband, myself and my brother put the Hovercraft together in less than a day and then spent the early part of the evening fighting over who got to use it next, so I think next time were going to try putting two more together so we can all race each other. Having done it once, Im pretty sure now I could just build the next one myself. The plans are easy to follow and well-illustrated for even a hardware newbie like myself to follow. And they really are just an incredible amount of fun. I'm actually looking forward to winter so I can try it out on the ice.

Want to build your own Hovercraft? Get a good set of Hovercraft Design Plans and get started on your weekend project. Convince a couple of friends to join you, and you can start racing them.

Tile Shower Pan Installation Tips

Tile shower pan installation tips can help you build a ceramic shower yourself. Also the more you know about how to build a shower pan, the better you can work with the tradesman who actually builds your shower for you.

The traditional way to build a shower pan is to use masonry to build a base upon which the tile is set and grouted. This is a simple concept but not so simple to actually do. There are several tricks that tile setters use that make it hard for a normal handy person to build a shower pan. The stakes are high when building a shower pan. Most of the critical elements of a shower floor get covered up during construction. If you make mistakes and the shower leaks, there is no easy way to redo your mistakes so everything must be torn out and you get to start over.

See the real reason for a shower pan is that a shower floor naturally leaks. The grout does anyway. The grout in a shower floor is porous...water goes through it. Without a waterproof liner under the floor, some of the water in the shower will go right through the shower base and rot the subfloor. So a shower pan has a waterproof liner underneath the ceramic tile designed to route any water coming through the grout to the drain. The drain is especially designed with weep holes under the surface of the floor to catch the runoff that moves through the grout.

The steps to building the pan are these basic processes.

• Build a solid subfloor, either wood or concrete.
• Set the drain so the finished height is at the finished level of the floor.
• Pour the first base layer of mortar sloped to the base of the drain.
• Put in the vinyl pan liner six inches up the walls and glue to the base of the drain.
• Put gravel in lower drain holes to keep hole open.
• Pour top base masonry level sloped to the drain.
• Lay tile with thinset over cured base.
• Grout tile.

That's the concept and it's a fairly simple concept with quite a few tricks and also many variations. For example, some people put the vinyl membrane on the bottom and just pour and slope one coat of masonry.

The way to avoid all this process is with a tile ready shower. At least three companies make complete systems that include pans with built in drains all ready for tile to be installed after the pans are set in place. Some systems use foam and vinyl sheets to make the pans in any configuration. Others use standard pans which may or may not fit your application. But the tile ready shower pans save a lot of time and require less skill. The disadvantage is cost. Complete traditionally constructed tile showers can cost less than just the parts for some of the tile ready showers.

Also you can get fiberglass shower pans to use as shower floors. These pans are probably available at your local building supply store. You can use a fiberglass pan as a base and put tile on the rest of the shower. Fiberglass shower pans are not made for tile installation over the pan. Also anything other than standard sizes will be unavailable or very expensive.

You can see there are alternatives to a traditional masonry shower, but there are good reasons why most tile showers are still built the "old" way!

Puzzled about how to build tile showers? Need more information? Visit our site for tile shower pan tips.

We invite you to visit http://www.installingceramictile.net for answers to your ceramic shower questions.

Mediterranean Landscape Design - Planning Your Outdoor Paradise

Mediterranean landscape design brings together the beautiful, lush European countryside and the relaxed, culturally rich lifestyle of small coastal villages to create an outdoor living area designed for enjoyment. This garden style is a perfect look for today's modern California style architecture and complements Spanish, Tuscan, and other Mediterranean influenced designs as well.

A Brief History of Mediterranean Landscape Design

Gardening has seen its beginnings along the Mediterranean coast in ancient Arabia and soon spread to surrounding regions of the warm and breezy European shoreline. Throughout time, landscape design as we know it today has slowly evolved from the earliest Arabian gardens, drawing influences from Greek, Roman, and more modern Italian architecture and style.

Modern Mediterranean landscape design is as varied as the region itself. Some styles are rustic and relaxed, while others are lavish and sophisticated. With so many different styles to choose from, selecting the best design for your property can seem diffic111Cult. Consider the style and dcor of your home, as well as your own personal tastes, as you look over the different types of Mediterranean garden styles commonly found in the yards of magnificent modern homes.

Spanish Mission and Spanish Colonial Revival Styles

Spanish missions were first established in southern California in the late 1700's when the area was colonized by Spanish settlers. These missions were self-sufficient structures with extensive landscape designs including space for gardens, livestock, and outdoor living. This architectural style seen a rebirth at the turn of the 19th century and was closely followed by a renewed interest in all types of Spanish colonial structures and landscape designs.

The Santa Barbara revival style is also influenced by the Spanish mission and colonial designs. After a destructive earthquake in 1925, most of the city was rebuilt to reflect the original architectural style of the area, but on a magnificent scale with luxurious Mediterranean style homes in some of the world's finest communities. These three styles have many similarities and are generally characterized by these attributes:

• Simple, but elegant, structures built with stucco and adobe bricks and accented with vibrant clay roof tiles are usually the center of the estate .
• Distinct lines and patterns, symmetrical shapes, and clearly defined unity throughout the home and garden are an important part of these Spanish Mediterranean style residences.
• Gardens with lush vegetation, fragrant citrus trees, and serene palms are commonly seen as well.
• Both Spanish mission and colonial revival styles also feature landscapes with elegant walkways and romantic, flower-covered arches.

Moroccan and Andalusian Garden Styles

Morocco brings vibrancy and an air of mystery to Mediterranean landscape design. Moroccan style outdoor spaces are full of color, often featuring detailed mosaic tiling and bright, lush vegetation. Accessories with Moorish influence, romantic water features, and subtle lighting are the defining elements of Moroccan gardens.

Andalusian style homes and gardens are a unique blend of simple Spanish architecture and rich, Moroccan details. Citrus trees, accented by romantic roses and fragrant, relaxing lavender, and the rustic, adobe style architecture of colonial Spanish California, detailed with colorful mosaics, are common to the Andalusian design. Both Moroccan and Andalusian style landscape designs are ideal for the sunny, Mediterranean climate of southern California.

The Romance of French Country Gardens

The influence of France brought an even more laid back appearance to Mediterranean landscape design. Flowing curves and natural beds of colorful wildflowers are significant to this outdoor style. Useful vegetation, like vegetable and herb gardens, are also common, as well as shady trees that provide fruits or nuts. Romantic and secluded garden nooks that provide comfortable seating, along with a spectacular view, are essential to French country garden designs.

The Tuscan Garden Style

Italy's contribution to modern Mediterranean landscape design comes from the artistic, yet simple, age of Old World Tuscany. The Tuscan garden style is a popular look for recent Renaissance trends in fine architecture and is well suited to the year round coastal warmth of southern California. This luxurious garden style features:

• Lush plant life, including aromatic herbs and graceful climbers with colorful blooms.
• Natural, rustic materials like terra cotta and stone.
• Peaceful water features, garden ponds, and vertical wall fountains.
• Teak garden furniture or elegant wrought iron accessories.

Southern California is an ideal location for Mediterranean landscape design because of the inviting climate and beautifully diverse countryside. Affluent communities, like Orange County's magnificent Irvine Ranch, are perfect examples of the luxurious 4A0possibilities of custom Mediterranean influenced outdoor spaces. A professional landscape design service can help you plan a garden that complements your home while meeting the needs of your family.

Allen Quay is a professional landscape designer in the southern California area and specializes in custom high-end landscape designs. You can find more valuable landscape design tips and information on Allen's website, the Landscape Design Advisor: http://www.landscape-design-advisor.com

Vinyl Picket Fences

Vinyl products like vinyl picket fences and privacy fences are designed mainly for outdoor purposes. Vinyl picket fences are used in homes as domestic boundaries for confining children and pets to a limited area. These fences transform the appearance of the home and bestow a new look. They are good alternatives to wood picket and rails.

There are different styles of vinyl picket fences such as traditional, 1C5Fclassic, and contemporary fences. The picket fences are available in a variety of choices: colored, white, and differently styled. Among these, the white picket fence is widely preferred. Four factors are taken into consideration for the picket styles: height, board width, board profile, and spacing. Vinyl picket fences are maintenance free and do not require painting, sanding, or staining. They are short but safe, strong, and durable. They have proven to be functionally better than traditional wood picket fences.

An added advantage of vinyl picket fencing is easy installation. However, before undertaking the installation of the picket fence at home, several factors need to be considered. The primary concern is the question of suitability. In the case of a residence, it is important to ensure safety and security. The fence should afford protection and serve to keep strangers out of the premises.

Vinyl picket fences do not need chemical treatment with insecticides. The price of vinyl picket fences is more than wood fences. However, this is negligible since there are constant periodic expenses associated with wooden fences, including maintenance by painting and sanding. Wooden fences are also susceptible to damage by seasonal effects.

The vinyl picket fences offer several benefits in terms of ease of use, effortless maintenance, and high quality. In recent times, they have gained popularity and achieved a strong reputation in the market, substantiating author Robert Frosts remark, Good fences make good neighbors!

Vinyl Fences provides detailed information on Vinyl Fences, Vinyl Picket Fences, Installing Vinyl Fences, Vinyl Lattice Fences and more. Vinyl Fences is affiliated with Ornamental Aluminum Fences.

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Byzantine Architecture

Byzantine Empire

When he Roman Empire fell in 476 AD the Middle Age started. However, before its fall, the empire was divided into the Eastern and Western Roman Empires. In 476, the "Western Roman Empire" fell, while the Eastern Roman Empire, whose capital became Constantinople, preserved Roman culture (and architecture) and became the Byzantine Empire.

The religious buildings and their designs are the first achievements of the Byzantine Empire. Another important advancement was the development of bacilicas. Bacilicas were early Christian or medieval churches. This style was common in Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches.

Byzantine and Islamic architecture share aB53 common trend: that is, the use of the dome. One example is the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, which was Islamic architecture, but illustrates the influence Byzantine bestowed as the dome style passed on to the Muslims. They often used "Persian' dome. We modernly refer to this as the Onion Dome. The most celebrated example is the Taj Mahal (A.D. 1630) at Agra, India. Byzantine's advancement in developing the dome created a new style in global architecture, for no other civilization had designed buildings, especially religious buildings, as did the Byzantines.

Structural evolution

As early as the building of Constantine's churches in Palestine there were two chief types of plan in use: the basilican, or axial, type, represented by the basilica at the Holy Sepulchre, and the circular, or central, type, represented by the great octagonal church once at Antioch. Those of the latter type we must suppose were nearly always vaulted, for a central dome would seem to furnish their very raison d'etre. The central space was sometimes surrounded by a very thick wall, in which deep recesses, to the interior, were formed, as at the noble church of St George, Salonica (5th century), or by a vaulted aisle, as at Sta Costanza, Rome (4th century); or annexes were thrown out from the central space in such a way as to form a cross, in which these additions helped to counterpoise the central vault, as at the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, Ravenna (5th century). The most famous church of this type was that of the Holy Apostles, Constantinople. Vaults appear to have been early applied to the basilican type of plan; for instance, at Hagia Irene, Constantinople (6th century), the long body of the church is covered by two domes.

Hagia Sophia

The Golden Age of Byzantine Architecture was under the rule of Justian in 527-565. It was during this period that the most famous examples of all Byzantine Architecture was built, including the Hagia Sophia. The Hagia Sophia was rebuilt from 532 to 537 after the previous church was destroyed by riots and fires. This church has some unique features which became the patterns for Byzantine Architecture for years after.

The style of the Hagia Sophia or Church of Divine Wisdom, was to have a large dome in the middle of the structure. The dome has a unique form in that it rest on 4 massive pillars which are arranged in a square.

Six Clay Pipe Roof Dormer

Vinyl Picket Fences

Vinyl products like vinyl picket fences and privacy fences are designed mainly for outdoor purposes. Vinyl picket fences are used in homes as domestic boundaries for confining children and pets to a limited area. These fences transform the appearance of the home and bestow a new look. They are good alternatives to wood picket and rails.

There are different styles of vinyl picket fences such as traditional, 1C5Fclassic, and contemporary fences. The picket fences are available in a variety of choices: colored, white, and differently styled. Among these, the white picket fence is widely preferred. Four factors are taken into consideration for the picket styles: height, board width, board profile, and spacing. Vinyl picket fences are maintenance free and do not require painting, sanding, or staining. They are short but safe, strong, and durable. They have proven to be functionally better than traditional wood picket fences.

An added advantage of vinyl picket fencing is easy installation. However, before undertaking the installation of the picket fence at home, several factors need to be considered. The primary concern is the question of suitability. In the case of a residence, it is important to ensure safety and security. The fence should afford protection and serve to keep strangers out of the premises.

Vinyl picket fences do not need chemical treatment with insecticides. The price of vinyl picket fences is more than wood fences. However, this is negligible since there are constant periodic expenses associated with wooden fences, including maintenance by painting and sanding. Wooden fences are also susceptible to damage by seasonal effects.

The vinyl picket fences offer several benefits in terms of ease of use, effortless maintenance, and high quality. In recent times, they have gained popularity and achieved a strong reputation in the market, substantiating author Robert Frosts remark, Good fences make good neighbors!

Vinyl Fences provides detailed information on Vinyl Fences, Vinyl Picket Fences, Installing Vinyl Fences, Vinyl Lattice Fences and more. Vinyl Fences is affiliated with Ornamental Aluminum Fences.

Indexsidingpictures

Acorn Stair Lift - How Does It Rate?

The Acorn Superglide 120 is the number one selling stair lift on the market. But is the number of home stair lifts sold by the company due to hype and slick marketing, or does Acorn sell in large numbers because it's the best?

Safety should be the buyer's first concern when looking for a stair chair lift. It should be a mobility aid and not a health and safety hazard. Also, you need to determine what features it should have to best serve your requirements. The price of the it should be your last concern.

Acorn models come fitted with many safety features as standard. Like most top rated stair lifts, the Acorn Superglide is powered by DC 24 volt rechargeable batteries. This ensures that you're entirely safe from electrocution. Pressure sensitive sensors are fitted to 5 surfaces on the chair; on the footrest and carriage. This ensures that the chair will immediately stop should any obstacle be encountered.

The swivel seat is standard and will only operate when the seat is in the correct locked position.

As standard, an inertia lap belt is supplied, but there is the option of fitting a static, 3-point fixed-over shoulder harness.

Most importantly, electronic and mechanical breaking systems are fitted as standard to prevent any uncontrolled descent of the chair.

One shouldn't assume that all companies provide the above safety features. The Summit stair lift, which is cheaper than the Acorn Superglide, only comes with sensors on the footrest - there is nothing to detect any obstacle on the rail itself. Also, the Summit does not feature a breaking system anywhere as near sophisticated as the Acorn machine.

The Acorn also comes with mechanical joystick and two wireless remote controls. The chair is of a slim line design and can be folded to free up space on the stairs. You can also get outdoor versions and you can get an Acorn Superglide Perch stair lift, which is great for those who have trouble in bending knees.

Few other manufacturers offer so many features as standard and at the same cost of an Acorn machine.

Well, it all sounds too good to be true, but does the Acorn stair lift have any negative points?

In fact, it does. Acorn only makes a straight stair lift. Therefore, you won't be able to use this company's product if your stairs are curved, have middle landing, half turns etc. Other manufacturers like Bruno and Stannah make curved stair lifts. In order for a manufacturer to claim to make the best machines, it really should be making curved models. Curved machines require more advanced manufacturing techniques and one would have to ask if Acorn lacks these.

Also, the Acorn website touts that the Superglide is very easy to install. The company says that if you can put up a set of shelves you can install an Acorn stair lift. The Accessibility Equipment Manufacturer's Association strongly recommends against self-installation for many safety reasons as well as local law violations and lack of warranty. Both Stannah and Bruno advise against self-installation and state that installation of any kind should only be carried out by a qualified technician.

One can't help thinking that Acorn promotes self installation because it helps boost sales.

The Superglide is one of the best stair chair lifts for straight stair cases. Most consumer reviews seem to back this up. But, if you do buy an Acorn stair lift, do have it professionally installed. If the dealer tells you that there isn't any need and it will only add to cost, find another dealer who will install it for you.

Follow the links for the Acorn stair lift and the Bruno stair lift and other stair chair lifts.

Shop Stairs

The Cost of Remodeling

Being a homeowner you probably already know that remodeling your entire house will be expensive. There is no alternative around the money that you will have to spend in order to remodel your home. However, the most important consideration that you'll want to think about before remodeling is the rationale that you want to do so.

If you want to remodel because you want an enhanced environment for yourself and your family then the cost may be insignificant to you if you have the financial means to complete remodeling projects. On the contrary, if you are simply remodeling to increase the value of your house for when you sell it then you may not be that interested on spending every single cent you have just to update your house if you are not going to attain considerable returns.

Another important portion, though, is the thought of the total cost of everything. Cost is an especially important factor when remodeling the house, mainly because there are all sorts of things which could change the price.

For example, material that could be used in the wall that you are going to add-on to your house may have thought to have cost $4,000 by your home remodeling contractor, but if you found it at a considerably lower price then you may be able to save money in that area. However, the reverse is also true and more often then not expenses for materials and completing the job will almost always overshot the estimate that you initially received from your home contractor.

Get a Second Opinion

If you are really considering taking on the remodeling projects of your house then it may not to be a bad idea seek out second opinions when it comes to researching on how much everything will cost. You may be able to have a remodeling company come in from out of town to do the project on the weekend simply because they are cheaper than the remodeling company in-town, however, when you add in the cost of transportation to and from your location then it may not be a significant difference between the two companies.

On the same note, home remodeling is one of those areas where the price for one company may be completely different from the price of one company, even though they are situated in the same city. Obtaining several estimates for completing jobs is of utmost importance if you would really like to get the most value for your dollar.

Hidden Costs

There are also hidden costs that are typically always associated with remodeling your house. For example, not many people consider this to be a big problem, but it could cost hundreds of dollars simply for debris removal alone! Of course, your home remodeling company may be able to get it done cheaper than if you simply called around for prices, but this is just one aspect of the home remodeling business that homeowners need to be aware of!

All of these issues, though, are important when remodeling your entire house! By taking into consideration the cost of the materials, along with hidden costs, and ensuring that you cross-check each cost with several remodeling estimates, is of utmost importance when remodeling your home.

Did you find those tips on remodeling cost useful? You can learn a lot more about remodeling cost by visiting http://home-remodeling.homeimprovementnewbie.com/.

The author of this article is Shin who is the webmaster of the site http://www.homeimprovementnewbie.com/ where he provides tips on home improvement.

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Home Remodeling: A Few Favorite Kitchen Renovation Ideas

Kitchen renovation ideas range all the way from simply replacing hardware on cabinets to a total remodel of this entire cooking and dining area. Here are some thoughts on a few things people dream about making happen in this room, the favorite gathering spot of many.

Installing a multi-purpose island may be at the top of your list of kitchen renovation ideas. Imagine, finally, enough room to slice, dice, cook, and wash utensils all in the same area! With a custom island kitchen, youd have all that along with room on the regular counter space to perform other kitchen duties. Kitchen islands have become so popular that people in the building industry estimate more than half of all new homes now have them. If you dont, why not consider building one now?

Kitchen renovation ideas that include wood-burning fireplaces also make it to the Boy-Id-like-one-of-those-someday list. Although this means major remodeling that includes tearing out a portion of a wall, constructing a chimney or other venting system, and then working with stone or brick, what a cozy, comforting addition to have in ones kitchen! Just make sure theres room in your kitchen renovation ideas to include the rocking chairs that would go with it oh-so-well.

Assuming youre low on bucks but still want to apply some kitchen renovation ideas that have been rumbling around for awhile, why not consider resurfacing your kitchen cabinets? Doing this costs far less than a complete replacement and can take years off the looks of your current cabinets. You can hire a professional to do this, or you can do it yourself in one weekend if you purchase them already stained and finished.

However big or small your budget, energy level, or your imagination, kitchen renovation ideas can keep you alive with interest for years to come. There always seems to be something that could be done to enliven, invigorate, and refresh this room where so many love to hang out. So why not spend some quality time on thinking up your own kitchen renovation ideas? Like they say, theres no time like the present.

Carlo Morelli writes for OnlineTips.Org, where you can read about laminate flooring and kitchen cabinet ideas.

Emergency Maintenance

So Your Expensive Corian Countertop Is Cracked - Don't Panic

Anytime you spend a lot of money on something only to have it break down on you, it usually will send you into a tizzy. Well if it is a solid surface counter top then there is no reason to freak out.

One of the big selling points for solid surface counter tops is the fact that they can repaired if they are scratched, cracked, chipped, burnt or anything else. As long as your counter top has not been ground into a pile of powder or confetti, it can be repaired.

On occasion, I will run across a posting in some diy forum or message board and people will post replies about repairing solid surface counter tops. They say how you can fix a crack with super glue or some new fantastic resin that you can simply pour on the crack and then sand it down and then it's fixed. Well, that simply isn't true.

Other than simple scratch removal and some stain removal, there is no such thing as a homeowner doing a real, legitimate, invisible, beautiful repair on their own solid surface counter top. It's just not going to happen. That is one big myth that can be busted in the blink of an eye. Just ask anyone who has been unfortunate enough to take this advice. Sure, maybe the magic potion that they poured on the crack filled it in, and sure, once they sanded it down after using the magic potion the crack was no longer felt when you rubbed your finger across it, but what did it look like? In a word, awful.

In the event that it doesn't look awful at first, just hold on, it will. It will start to change colors, usually it goes darker. So if you had a crack in a white counter top and you did a diy fix on it, it's not going to be long and it will start to turn black. Imagine how proud you would be of your handy work then. Your once beautiful counter tops now look like something that you salvaged from some old hotel or something. YUCK!

The good thing is, even if you are not qualified to repair your own co515unter top, there are people out there that are qualified.

Bryan Dix is the owner of Complete Solid Surface Refinishing. North Carolina's first and best solid surface counter top "repair only" fabricator. CSSR Blog is packed with photos of different repairs and situations. Questions that customers and others ask will be addressed here. CSSR Blog

Window Over Stairway Ceiling

Three Types of Lighting for Room Remodeling

When remodeling a room, choosing the correct lighting is one of the most important considerations. Proper lighting sets the atmosphere of the room, creates a particular mood, or provides accent to an architectural style. Lighting also accentuates the good aspects of a room or disguises a rooms shortcomings.

There are three main types of lighting, general, task, and accent. Each has its own specific uses, depending on a rooms needs.

General Lighting

General lighting is sometimes called ambient lighting, and is the foundation of any rooms lighting scheme. It is what provides the overall illumination of a room, enabling the occupants to be able to walk around the room easily and safely.

There are many types of general lighting, such as chandeliers, wall or ceiling fixtures, and recessed or track lighting.

Task Lighting

Task lighting allows a rooms occupants to perform specific activities such as writing, reading, dressing, or cooking, depending upon the room being addressed. There are a number of possibilities when it comes to task lighting, such as pendant lights, portable lamps, as well as recessed or track lighting.

The important consideration for task lighting is that it must be bright enough to prevent eyestrain without causing glare or distracting shadows.

Accent Lighting

Accent lighting is designed to add drama to a room through the creation of visual interest. It can be used to spotlight paintings, plants, sculptures, or to highlight an unusual wall texture or drapery. Accent lighting generally focuses at least three times as much light on the focal point as the general light in the room, and is usually provided by recessed, track, or wall mounted lighting.

Using the three types of light dramatically improves the overall look and feel of a room, and should be one of the most carefully considered parts of any remodeling plan.

(c) Copyright 2004, Jeanette J. Fisher. All rights reserved.

Professor Jeanette Fisher, author of Doghouse to Dollhouse for Dollars, Joy to the Home, and other books teaches Real Estate Investing and Design Psychology. For more articles, tips, reports, newsletters, and sales flyer template, see http://www.doghousetodollhousefordollars.com/pages/5/index.htm

Precast Concrete Fencing

Ranch Renovating Made Easy

Many people own a ranch home, and if you do then you will no doubt already have some ideas how you would like to improve your home. You will have to spend a long time renovating your home, so it's important to make sure that it achieves what you want. In order for your project to be a success you should think long and hard about what you want to achieve.

Ranch Renovation Projects

There are virtually an unlimited number of options available when you are considering renovating your home. In fact there are so many that it's easy to get carried away with it. There are a few projects in particular which are more popular than the others.

A typical ranch has an asymmetrical exterior and is a single story structure commonly in a rectangular 5B4or occasionally an L shape. If your home isn't already in an L shape then you could consider extending it in order to get yourself more space.

Most ranches are decorated with simple wood panelling on the walls, stone fireplaces, built in storage, and picture windows so you can view the beautiful garden. When renovating your ranch home it is a good idea to use natural wood where possible, although this is quite expensive it's certainly worth it. It not only makes it look better, but it also makes your home more valuable.

There are people that buy a ranch home in poor condition, renovate it and sell it on for a profit. The people that make the most money will be those that implement good improvements. There are also people that renovate their own ranch home that they just happen to sell, these are two very different types of houses and you should be careful when deciding.

There are hundreds of houses out there, by presenting yours in the best way possible it will make yours more desirable. If your home is in poor repair, not only will that put some buyers off but it will also bring the price down. By renovating your home windows you can encourage people to be interested in your property, because there's not as much expensive work to e done. If you're trying to sell a house on for a profit then you should be careful when deciding which improvements to make, ideally you want to spend as little as possible while adding as m5A8uch to your house value as possible.

No matter which improvements you plan to make on your home it will involve a lot of effort on your part. This means it's very important to make sure you're doing the right renovations in order to add as much value to your home as possible.

Focusing recent findings in construction, the columnist works mainly for http://www.replacement-windows-tips.com Working on his works such as http://www.replacement-windows-tips.com/garden-windows.html the writer demonstrated his expertise on issues associated with vinyl garden window

Index

Hooked On Body Building

Body building champions are not cut from the same cloth as the majority of people. Body building dependence appears to affect male and female body builders equally, despite previous claims that it is predominantly a male problem. Body Building is the process of developing muscle through the combination of weight training, increased caloric intake, and rest. Body building nutritional supplements are easily available in every health food store and most gyms. Body building not only helps you physically but mentally as well because it builds self-confidence, makes you more disciplined and helps you achieve your goals in life.

Protein

Whey protein and soy protein are protein supplements effective for bodybuilding in men and women. Additionally, during the off-season, adequate protein must be available to provide amino acids for protein synthesis. Furthermore, during the pre-contest phase, protein intake must be adequate to maintain muscle mass. A relatively high protein intake (approximately 30% of energy intake) reduces lean mass loss relative to a lower protein intake (approximately 15% of energy intake) during energy restriction. The higher protein intake will also provide a relatively large thermic effect that may aid in reducing body fat. Consumption of protein / amino acids and carbohydrate immediately before and after training sessions may augment protein synthesis, muscle glycogen resynthesis and reduce protein degradation. The vast majority of body-builders believe they must consume large amounts of animal protein daily to get results. Many body builders take up to 45% of their calories as protein, believing this leads to large muscle gain.

Builder

Others believe bodybuilder discipline is the answer. For one thing, bodybuilders realize that a strong mind and a strong body go together. Despite all these wonderful preventative measures, however, sometimes even the bodybuilder can go astray. The champion body builders that you read about and see in the magazines are experts in modeling. Many professional Body Builders know that their imagery and mental techniques account for a big part of their success. Only 20 minutes a day, and you will discover how the successful bodybuilders make such impressive gains in such a short time. Someone who engages in this activity is referred to as a bodybuilder. As a sport (competitive bodybuilding) body builders display their physiques to a panel of judges, who assign points based on their aesthetic appearance. Body builders use resistance weight training to increase muscle size. However, they point out, many differences exist in the motivations and psychological characteristics of bodybuilders compared with other exercising populations.

Body building is actually a sport whereby competitive body builders display their muscular bodies in front of a panel of judges who assign points to determine the rankings and prize awards. Body building is tough enough without feeling frustrated and defeated when you look in the mirror. Body building benches are fairly inexpensive new, and if you frequent yard sales, you'll probably run across a cheap used bench every so often. Body building can be done on a budget, no question about it.

Jeremy Page is a successful Webmaster and publisher of www.WeKnowBodyBuilding.com. He provides more information about body building and lifting that you can research in your pajamas on his website.

Concrete Mold Problems

Basic Brand Building

A brand is the essence of who you are. The more powerful the brand the more memorable you will become. Think about brands that you can identify with. What impresses you about them and what attributes make you remember them? Brand icons didn't get that way over night and many of them have failed because they couldn't "connect" with their audience. Strong brands will stand the test of time.

After you have thought about strong compelling brands that impressed you start building your own brand statement by distilling down your essential core message: Who are you and how do you want people to identify with you? What values do you represent? When people think about you what image do you want them to visualize? Think about what sets you apart from you associates. This is about building your own image so forget the company or business in your personal brand statement.

Now that you have started thinking about your core message consider ways that you can reinforce your brand. Remember YOU are the brand, not your product or service, so this is essentially about you. Where and how can you demonstrate your brand message? When and how can you reinforce your brand?

Your brand needs to be authentic, from the heart; you can't make a brand statement believable about something you are not. When evaluating your brand message it's important to understand your audience who are you trying to impress with you message? What do you want them to remember? You are creating your own "personal buzz" with your brand so the more you can hone in on your audience the better you can craft your message. It?s important to recognize that you can?t be all things to all people so you want to capture your target audience with your message.

Everything you do should have your brand image, whether it?s giving a speech, writing a letter or the message heard on your voice mail. The brand is a living thing, the more you utilize it the more powerful it will become. Building a brand is like using a set of building blocks. One piece doesn't make much of a structure but 20 pieces will. Think about how you can build your brand by adding pieces to enforce the totality of the structure "you." Getting outside opinions helps your cause. When people think about you what assets to they remember? If it?s different than what you are tying to convey then you need to reshape your message.

Take a moment to study the brand messages of people you admire or hope to model. Using the Internet is a great place to do this. Type in the name of the person in quotation on any search engine and see what turns up. It should give you ideas on ways to craft your own message.

Think about how many places you have your name listed on a piece of paper or the Internet. That?s where you should be building your identity here a short list of places you should be making your brand shine.

Voice mail
Business cards
Stationery
Email address & SIG file
Personal website
Press releases

Personal branding will help you stand apart from your competition. Whatever the circumstances your brand can only enhance your identification in the marketplace. Keep on refining and honing your brand message as you become more comfortable with whom you are.

Recognized Packaging Guru and Chief People Packager JoAnn R. Hines unlocks the secrets that propelled her career from anonymity to world recognized leader. This indispensable workbook will show you specific ways to accomplish your personal branding goals and launch your career into the stratosphere. We have done all the work for you with guidelines, cheat sheets and easy-to-use templates to customize for your own use.

"The Packaging Yourself Workbook" is the only career workbook you will ever need!

This workbook cuts through the clutter in a simplified, straightforward manner and drastically reduces the time it takes to build your personal brand.

The "Packaging Yourself Workbook" is $29.95 plus shipping and handling. Place your order @ http://packaginguniversity.com/pkgustorefront.htm

Don't take my word for it. Hear what Linda has to say "JoAnn provided me with the no-nonsense approach I was lacking in my business. I needed new and fresh ways to promote my business; and JoAnn helped me focus on goal setting and finding concrete ways to reach my target audience.>

Guardrail Problem

10 Steps To Achieving Maximum Performance Through Recognition

As a conscientious leader, you can:

Build a high performance team

Value your team members

Bring out the best in each of the members of the team

Employees will actually become a part of the team. This will happen when they feel included in plans for the future and when they feel rewarded for achieving goals. Everyone wants to be part of the team, part of the company, part of the big picture.

Being included doesnt mean being consulted or being asked for approval. It does mean taking those employees into consideration and keeping them informed of the plan and the progress.

Being rewarded for achieving goals doesnt have to include money or awards but in fact could be just high 5s and back patting as steps are achieved along the way. Show them that you understand that they actually helped achieve that goal. I read that at MDI, every time a major contract was signed, a giant gong in the entrance room was gonged loudly enough so everybody in the building heard it and knew of that success. Timing is important

The word rewarded, conjures up thoughts of money or gifts that are considered expenses or costs. Rewards can of course range anywhere from a thanks, you did a good job to Cash bonuses and everywhere in between. Promotional products fit almost every catagory except cash.

Rewards can be the success of the company and the continuance of operation or even expansion which could lead to promotions and long term employment.

Actual rewards should be considered as investments.

PLAN REWARDS

Set criteria for awards program, Present lasting, personalized awards

Standard, classy timeless awards stand the test of time

A personalized award will be kept and treasured

A functional gift will be used and discarded.

Trendy and gimmicky gifts are fun for a while

When your company name is on an award, you are in fact advertising your company while rewarding or acknowledging someone. Everyone will see the image you project.

Set clear objectives for your company

PHILOSOPHIES

Management & Shareholder needs

Company Vision and Mission Statements

PRODUCTS

Main or Key products

Ancilliary products

Possible new products

TIMELINE

Short term goal, 1 year goal, 5 year goals, beyond Year end

Expansion/merger/takeover plans

SET CLEAR GOALS FOR MONTH, YEAR AND FUTURE (in measurable terms)

Product Volume

Dollar Value

Dates

Measureability

Progress tracking

WHO IS ON YOUR TEAM???
Yourself
Employees
Staff
Suppliers
Customers
Community

10 STEPS TO ACHIEVING MAXIMUM PERFORMANCE THROUGH RECOGNITION.

1. Timing, Timing, Timing. (Not Location, Location, Location)

2. Quality (not cheap, does the trick)

3. Appropriateness (choose the award to match the event)

4. First Impression, Last Impression (there is a 'right' time to make it the best)

5. Corporate Image ( everyone sees what you project. Be good and be constant )

6. Achievability of contests or programs ( make sure you get winners)

7. Image building. Communicate/advertise the program, the winners (You want your image to travel.)

8. Reciprocation creates obligation payoff repayment (be cognizant and make it your advantage.)

9. Consistency exudes reliability ( you see this in all the major players )

10. Focus on all, one at a time
-Business
-Product
-Customers
-Suppliers
-Employees
- Families
- Community

Is it all about Recognition, Promotional Products, Awards Program and Incentives? NO!! It's about business. It's about you. It's about them.

You've heard it said 'Business is Business' but I believe more and more that 'Business is Family'. Sure there are times when bad things happen but you get over it, solve the problems and get back to business. Get the 'family' working again.

My name is Rod Winning I own and operate Winning FairWays Inc. Promotional Products for Success I can be contacted at rod-fairways@hotmail.com www.winningfairways.com

Rod Winning is President of Winning FairWays Inc. Promotional Products for Success. http://www.winningfairways.com contact him at info@winningfairways.com or at rod-fairways@hotmail.com

Large Pre Cast Treads

Logo - The Graphics Which Drive Your Company

The bright red of Coca Cola, the bull head of Chicago Bulls, the big arched "M" of Mac Donalds - dont you recognize them the moment you see? Thats the power of logo. Whether you're in a competitive industry or not, whether your business is small or big it doesn't matter! The fact is that your customers remember your business when they see your logo, regardless of how hard you try to convince yourself otherwise. A good logo makes not just a first impression, but a lasting one as well.

The symbol, the color, the font, the text, the size, the precision etc all count towards bringing the attention of your potential customers towards your company, and creating your companys image and finally its brand. Get a custom logo for your business that best reflects your company's spirit! It is very essential to choose what type of logo suits your company's business. Most of the large international companies have pretty simple logos because research says not to overload the consumers with too much information. And yes a lot of research goes into creating these simple logos. Each of these logos has its own specific font and size, and exclusive color combinations that make them unique. Every single symbol and icon used together with the logo has a significant meaning.

But there are a few important things that should be kept in mind while selecting or making a logo for your company to create that recognition in the market. You have to create a unique and special icon together with your logo including your website or company name in that. A logo should have a peaceful combination of colors and not more than two or three colors should be used at a time. If you are hiring a logo design company then it is better to get it done by a professional logo design company with loads of experience. Before you take the final decision of launching your company logo you should test it once in a trusted circle. And last but not the least is to have a striking tagline to accompany the logo. The resultant logo should convey the right message to the people. You got to have an idea for the vision you want to create in the people's mind. The key to the success of a company's identity depends to what extent you can give your logo the recognizable look.

The graphics of your logo should be communicated purely in visual terms, to the right brain hemisphere of your customers. It should not depend on verbal or intellectual interpretation. If it is a word mark, it should be recognized by its form alone. For example, you don't have to "read" Adidas's logo more than once, to recognize the famous brand. The three parallel stripes mark became the worldwide Adidas corporate logo - a name that stands for competence in all sectors of sports throughout the globe. Think of the future and avoid being too trendy. A good logo will last your company 15 years and give your customers a chance to burn the image into their brains. Even with these tips, it's important for a company to get outside help unless it has in-house designers who have experience with logos as well as the time to devote to the project.

Logo designs form the energy, the feeling and the passion of a business. It's what makes us care. It is more than research and strategy. Good design is exciting - it shouts- it demands that you remember it.

Jennifer is an expert Internet marketing professional with years of experience in various industries such as: Business, Finance, Logo designs Real Estate, Web-Design, Health & Medicine and many more.

Your Home Remodeling Creation

What All Is Involved In Getting A T1 Line?

If you are a potential customer, don't even bother wondering what is behind the curtain. The telecom companies take care of the infrastructure, and you take care of the bill -- that's how it works. It doesn't matter if the "big tan telephone company cabinet" is involved or not -- you just want the service. Sure, it's interesting to know how stuff works, and it would be fun to drive by some box in the middle of some cornfield and know that your electrons are running through it, but it really doesn't matter, right? If the price is too high, you're not buying regardless of how the service is provisioned.

To answer the question, a T1 typically is nothing more than two copper pairs which are converted from analog to digital, with special conditioning (and signal repeaters if the distance requires them). If your location could get two additional regular phone lines, then you could probably get a T1 circuit without additional construction or trenching. If such additional work would be necessary, it's quite possible that you would not be charged for that work. In our industry, special construction costs are identified after the order is placed, and the customer can cancel the order with no penalty if the additional costs are not acceptable. It's not likely that construction costs can be identified prior to an order.

Most responsible internet providers will give you a dedicated internet connection at the full 1.5M speed. There are local "tier 2" providers that will purchase a certain bandwidth from an "upstream" provider, then resell it and oversell it. For instance, "Joe's Telecom" might buy a 45M DS-3 of internet access from AT&T. A DS-3 has enough bandwidth to support 28 T1 circuits. Joe will recognize that not every one of his customers will be using the full 1.5M at all times, so he will sell more than 28 T1 circuits -- this is overselling. So long as he watches his circuit utilization, and orders more bandwidth before the customers start crashing into each other, then all is well. But if he's like Comcast, and severely oversells, then customers' circuit performance will suffer. So you will want to know if your T1 circuit is dedicated access all the way to the internet backbone, or if it goes to Joe's concentrator where it is shared among his customers. If the service you get is from AT&T, Sprint, Verizon Business, Global Crossing, Qwest, Savvis, Internap, Level 3 and a few others, then you're dedicated. If it's from a local provider with a limited service area, it's probably shared bandwidth, and the pricing should be lower than from a dedicated provider. But....the quality defined by a Service Level Agreement (SLA) and QoS (Quality of Service) will also be lower.

Relative to a router, in your quote requests mention that you want "managed" service, which tells telecom companies that you want the T1 router to be included as part of their package. The T1 router is different than a typical "broadband" router one would get at a local electronics shop. T1 routers have built-in CSU/DSU functionality which assists in the synch up of the circuit. Some typical T1 routers are Cisco 1841 and Siemens 5940.

A free quote source highly recommended for fast, quality, personal service can be found at DS3-Bandwidth.com (they can assist with more than simple T1 if needed). Word of advice.....you must provide accurate contact information (installation address, email, phone number) and sufficient detail on your network requirements/application.....otherwise they'll ignore you as a bogus request. If you're serious take advantage of what they offer. If you're not serious.....go elsewhere.

Michael is the owner of FreedomFire Communications....including DS3-Bandwidth.com and Business-VoIP-Solution.com. Michael also authors Broadband Nation where you're always welcome to drop in and catch up on the latest BroadBand news, tips, insights, and ramblings for the masses.

Old Concrete Used To Make Stairs