Sunday, May 31, 2009

Where Can I Get Cheap House Insurance?

Many people think that it is not possible to get cheap house insurance as everything has getting overpriced nowadays. Basically, if you have been thinking positively and do your best, it is not impossible to secure cheap house insurance. The below are the one of the greatest money-saver tips for house insurance.

Install devices to keep your home safe - Basically, if your house is equipped with safety and security devices like alarms and fire extinguishers, your house will be more protected from disasters like burglaries or house fire. Therefore, they will help lower your house risk to involve in mishaps and thus, fewer chances to make claims. This will encourage your insurance companies to give out cheaper rates when you negotiate discounts with them.

Consolidate your policies - Most of us do not only buy one kind of insurance. There are so many insurance available and usually we buy more than one to ensure that we have adequate protection in our life. Try getting more than one policy like health, life and car insurance together with your house insurance for cheaper rates. You will be offered with multi-policies discount once you take up more than one type of insurance with a single company.

Shop Around - You can choose to shop around in many ways. You can ask for recommendations form your friends and family, visit the companies yourself or search for information using Internet. The easiest way is to visit an insurance comparison sites. Not that it will provide you with multiple quotes from different well-ranked companies instantly, some of them even have service which allows you to talk to insurance expert for better knowledge and understanding about house insurance.

Set high deductibles - Your savings on insurance depends on how much you want to get for the amount of your deductibles. As a matter of fact, the higher your deductibles, the lower premiums that you have to pay. If you can afford high deductibles, get it by all means. This will also prevent you from making too many claims and will lead to more money savings for you.

Where Can I Get Cheap House Insurance? If you have been asking this question, here's your answer. One of the best websites that you can have a look at is cheap home insurance rates if you need help in getting the best money-saving tips. You will get all the information you want in this website. Go to the website and start saving money now!

Lowest Construction Bids

Your Home Remodeling Advice Will Be Helpful

To would appreciate any home remodeling tips for ideas that you have that could help other homeowners, building contractors and other people involved in home remodeling. Post all your comments below.

Fireplace Books
Handyman Books

Stucco - For the Protection of Deteriorated Masonry

Stucco can be a great way to protect damaged masonry - Old or poorly maintained masonry can be costly to repair. A stucco application to deteriorated masonry just might be the answer for small budgets yet still provide reasonable protection of the damaged masonry from the elements.

What exactly is stucco? - Stucco is a cement and sand based mixture that is used as a siding material on homes or businesses or as a decorative or waterproofing material for covering masonry walls.

When buildings begin to age they start to experience many different forms of deterioration mostly from water infiltration. Sometimes the cost of repairs can be very expensive.

When old, deteriorated masonry structures do not warrant the investment in re-construction or repair then a stucco application may be the alternative. This will extend the life of the masonry by filling in the obvious damaged area and in addition provides a smooth waterproof surface from rain water.

It can be used where bricks are flaking or 'spalling' - Stucco can be used as an intermediate repair application that will protect the surface of old or deteriorated masonry from water entry. It helps strengthen the surface of the wall which will slow the process of spalling or flaking of brick masonry. Stucco can be used in so many different ways and is truly a very versatile product.

Old masonry chimneys and walls are prime candidates for stucco - Old masonry chimneys and walls can be real problems. If the conditions are right an application of a stucco coating can extend the life of your chimney or wall by closing off the deteriorated bricks and mortar joints and providing a smooth surface for water run off.

How is the stucco coating applied? - For the simplest applications stucco cement is mixed with water. A bonding agent is also added to assure the best possible bond of the stucco to the masonry surface.

The masonry wall is dampened prior to the application of the stucco coating to keep the stucco from flash drying which can weaken the bond of the stucco to the masonry. This first application is called a 'scratch coat' and is used to fill all voids and cracks and smooth out any inconsistencies in the wall. The scratch coat is then left to dry overnight.

Then the second stucco coat is applied - Sometimes a single coat is all that is requested and other times a second coat is applied to tighten up the surface of the wall and add some finished texture to the appearance to the masonry. Many different pigments can be added to the stucco and many different textures can be applied.

Stucco can be used as either a cheap and effective repair solution or if the budget allows a highly decorative and artistic texture designed to enhance the beauty of any home. How you choose to use it is completely up to you and how much you wish to spend.

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

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

Where Can I Get Cheap House Insurance?

Many people think that it is not possible to get cheap house insurance as everything has getting overpriced nowadays. Basically, if you have been thinking positively and do your best, it is not impossible to secure cheap house insurance. The below are the one of the greatest money-saver tips for house insurance.

Install devices to keep your home safe - Basically, if your house is equipped with safety and security devices like alarms and fire extinguishers, your house will be more protected from disasters like burglaries or house fire. Therefore, they will help lower your house risk to involve in mishaps and thus, fewer chances to make claims. This will encourage your insurance companies to give out cheaper rates when you negotiate discounts with them.

Consolidate your policies - Most of us do not only buy one kind of insurance. There are so many insurance available and usually we buy more than one to ensure that we have adequate protection in our life. Try getting more than one policy like health, life and car insurance together with your house insurance for cheaper rates. You will be offered with multi-policies discount once you take up more than one type of insurance with a single company.

Shop Around - You can choose to shop around in many ways. You can ask for recommendations form your friends and family, visit the companies yourself or search for information using Internet. The easiest way is to visit an insurance comparison sites. Not that it will provide you with multiple quotes from different well-ranked companies instantly, some of them even have service which allows you to talk to insurance expert for better knowledge and understanding about house insurance.

Set high deductibles - Your savings on insurance depends on how much you want to get for the amount of your deductibles. As a matter of fact, the higher your deductibles, the lower premiums that you have to pay. If you can afford high deductibles, get it by all means. This will also prevent you from making too many claims and will lead to more money savings for you.

Where Can I Get Cheap House Insurance? If you have been asking this question, here's your answer. One of the best websites that you can have a look at is cheap home insurance rates if you need help in getting the best money-saving tips. You will get all the information you want in this website. Go to the website and start saving money now!

Electrical Outlet Problems

Are You Really Covered For All Your Needs

How many of us know that home insurance is not only a smart thing to have but also a must. When we buy our dream home even if it just is a starters home we are bound by law to make sure that this investment of a lifetime is insured for the right amount. Accidents do happen and just to make sure that you will not be left with a big mortgage if something does go wrong, the bank or lean holder will always need you to have the right coverage. This is why many people these days have a great insurance broker that helps them find the right home insurance. So let's take a closer look at what you should find in your personal policy, and what you can and should expect from your broker. You might find that when you're done reading you will need to come and see what we have to offer.

When we take a closer look at insurance we see that people are sceptical. Sometimes this has to do with the fact that many people have had the same insurance broker their whole lives, and sometimes it is simply because it is hard to hear that we might have spent a lot of money over many years for nothing. Home insurance is not like any other insurance. Many times we see that people might think they are covered in the right way only to find out that the complete opposite might be true. When you first buy your house and it comes time to buy your insurance do you really look at your policy? We find that many people are simply gob smacked by the process of buying their new home. Just dealing with the banks alone is a huge deal, and in many ways mentally draining. But in order to make the sale go through you will be required to have the right coverage, and things get complicated.

Home insurance is in many cases taken out in a very fast order. The broker comes by and tells you this great story and the only thing you can think of is let's just get this done. Many times we forget to look at the fine print of the policy; we don't even get anything in writing when we do take out our insurance. We have had many years of insurance experience and we do provide you with the most honest and well covered home insurance you can get. We are professionals, and we pride ourselves on our brutal honesty. If it is not covered you will know, and what is covered will simply be stated in your insurance quote. This is what has made us one of the most and best liked insurance brokers on the market today. So when you're done reading this article I would like to challenge you to read through your policy and make a honest decision. We will be here for any of your questions.

Visit Legal & General and get a home insurance quote today.

How Tough Are Concrete Epoxies

Saturday, May 30, 2009

Insurance Premium Audits For Contractors - How to Avoid Getting Overcharged in an Audit

WHAT DO CONTRACTORS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT PREMIUM AUDITS? Most contractors find they are subject to premium audits from insurance companies for general liability, workers compensation, and sometimes for automobile, and even builders risk insurance policies. This applies most types of contractors, including general contractors, plumbing contractors, heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) contractors, electrical contractors drywall contractors, painting contractors, roofing contractors, and so on.

A premium audit is a review of your business operations, financial reports, and records to determine what to charge you for your contractor liability insurance, workers compensation, or other coverage provided. The objective is to determine the final earned premium for a given policy that was issued on the basis of payroll, sales, subcontracting costs, or other variables.

Policy premiums are based on projections you provided for payroll, sales, and perhaps subcontractor costs. Your insurance rates can vary based on this information, the audit determines what the correct premium should be based on your actual experience.

The audit is performed by an auditor selected by the insurance company. They may be an employee of the insurance company, or an employee of an auditing firm, or even an independent contractor.

THERE ARE THREE TYPES OF PREMIUM AUDITS. Depending on the size of your premiums and your operations you may get one of the following:

Physical Audit - Conducted at your premises or at a secondary location such as your accountant's office.

Phone Audit - An auditor contacts you over the phone to complete the audit. This type of audit is generally for small- to mid-sized accounts.

Mail Audit - A voluntary audit form with instructions is mailed to you. Mail audits are generally conducted for smaller accounts.

RECORDS AUDITORS MAY ASK TO SEE: Auditors are likely to ask for one or more of the following types of records:

Journals and Ledgers
Tax filings Individual
Pay Records
Time cards
Vehicle titles
Contracts with clients
Contracts with subcontractors
Records of Job Costs
P&L Statements
Balance Sheets

QUESTIONS AUDITORS MAY ASK The auditor will likely ask questions about your records or operations. They may be asking questions to determine if the correct classifications are being applied. If an auditor decides your operations are not correctly classified, it can have an unwelcome surprising result of a large audit billing. Make sure you understand your classifications, and how the boundaries of your particular classifications are defined.

If an auditor questions the use of any classifications, they may ask to see some actual work being done by your employees.

It is important to understand credits you are entitled to in audits.

Insurance classification and rating rules often allow credits to your audit, but your records must be maintained to provide the necessary information in detail and summary form.

If premiums are payroll based, you will pay for total remuneration as defined in the policy.

Remuneration in most states, means money or substitutes for money, and includes:

Bonuses
Commissions
Holiday Pay
Other Money Substitutes
Overtime Pay
Payments made to Profit Sharing Plans
Payments made to statutory benefit plans
The value of board and lodging
Tool Allowances
Wages

Understand the following concepts and definitions to help make sure you avoid overpaying from an audit.

OVERTIME
In most states, the amount attributable to overtime in excess of the regular time pay rate may be deducted. It must be clearly identified in your records. Excess pay for overtime must be clearly segregated in the payroll records.

DIVISION OF PAYROLL
Division of an individual employee's payroll to more than one classification is not allowed, except for construction or erection operations and/or certain executive officer classifications. When payroll is divisible, daily time card must be kept allocating the work to different classifications. Failure to keep daily time cards may result in all payroll of an employee getting assigned to the highest rated classification.

SUB-CONTRACTORS
Avoid becoming responsible for injuries to employees of subcontractor, by obtaining certificates of insurance naming you additional insured. Check your contracts with your subcontractors to make sure you are held harmless and properly protected by indemnification clauses. Auditors look to see if you have adhered to the terms in your policy as respects to your subcontractors. Sometimes audits go bad when the certificates are not in place, or the auditor decides payments to subcontractors are really wages to employees.

AUTOMATED RECORDS
Set up your automated records to provide audiors what they need, and you will find your audits go smoothly, and save you lots of time in the future.

DOCUMENTS YOU MAY BE ASKED FOR AT AN AUDIT
Accounts payable journal and cash dispersements
A/R journal
All vehicle leases, including but not limited to, owner-operator leases
Annual income tax statements
Documents supporting entries in the journals and financial statements
Driver and vehicle logs
Expense journal
Income Statements
Monthly Individual earnings reports
Payroll records including the payroll journal
Quarterly 941's
Registrations for owned vehicles
SUI's (State Unemployment Reports - DE 6's in California)
General and subsidiary sales ledgers
All underlying journals

Control insurance costs using our proven system. Avoid overspending by instituting solid renewal controls. Opt in to our free support system at http://www.contractorinsurancetoohigh.com

Don Bury, President Insurance Cost Reduction Services 3663 Camino Bella Rosa Sierra Vista, AZ 85650 Phone/Fax: 800-760-1867 email: donbury@icrs.biz

Simple Light Switch Replacement

Air Conditioning Repair and Maintenance

Air conditioning is just the opposite action of the heat pumps that are used daily in the home. Air conditioner is almost like a refrigerator that is used normally. In a normal refrigeration cycle, the heat pump transfers the lower temperature heat that is generated into higher temperature heat sinks.

The heat that is generated would flow in the opposite direction. The air conditioner pumps out the heat from the interior of the room. A centralized air conditioning uses a duct to distribute the air to one or more rooms with the help of a chilled pipe lines. In a central air conditioning system, the internal noise is relatively lower as it is placed outside the room.

An air conditioner reduces the humidity of the air with the help of the system. The reduced humidity condense the water vapor in order to reduce the temperature i.e. it almost works like a water drop is turned to an ice droplet by a change in the temperature.

An air conditioner is designed in a way reducing 40% to 60% of the humidity in the occupied space. There are some conditioners which only gives dry air. This works like a normal conditioner where only a heat exchanger is used, only intake and exhaust happens.

Repair and its maintenance

Air conditioner and heater works in the similar way with all the duct work, and the blower system. When the system fails, many people would think that there is a need of a repair man to handle it. But in some cases it is not needed.

The most common problem is that they forgot to change the temperature from cool to heat or heat to cool when there is a change in the climate. The most common problem can be fix by the home owners by tracing the problem.

For instance when the air conditioner fails to work, check the circuit breaker or fuse, compressor and pressure level. In some cases there would be an ice formation due to the extreme temperature. In such cases, the only solution is to switch off the air conditioner until the ice melts down.

Air conditioner is usually termed as a comfort maker. When your comfort maker gets disturbed from its routine function, it would be better to call for a serviceman on certain issues. This system works with a condenser and an evaporator. When this remains static, a service man is advised to look after certain condition.

So it's always better to have a periodical check up on your conditioner and a routine cleaning has to be done.

Check out more air conditioning and heat installation tips at my air conditioner site. Learn more about home air conditioning repair and how you can repair air conditioner yourself.

Cutting Stair Handrailing 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

Wandering Or Lost Souls

Water Damage FAQ

What causes water damage?

The most obvious causes of water damage, and those that cannot be avoided, are severe forces of nature, such as hurricanes or floods. Water damage also can occur when a fire is extinguished, from leaking pipes, and malfunctioning washing machines and heaters, as well as leaks in your roofing and siding and from defective gutters, which will cause water to pool around your property and potentially leak into your basement.

What areas of my property should I watch regularly for damage?

Water damage can occur in every area of your home and property, but there are certain areas that, if damaged, are more problematic and should be watched closely. Check the plumbing pipes and connections in your home's bathrooms and kitchen as well as any pipelines in your basement or crawl spaces for standing water and leaks.

What are some hidden signs of water damage?

Some of these signs include peeling paint and wallpaper, splotches of mold, moisture and condensation, a musty smell and moisture in your carpet or other flooring.

Are there any tools or pieces of equipment that are important for detecting and dealing with water damage?

Moisture detectors are important since moisture can cause mold growth and poor air quality. Leak detectors are used for finding hidden water leaks, including those in walls and crawl spaces. Other tools you can use are dehumidifiers and water extractors to help repair water damage.

What actions do I take when I first notice the damage?

Immediately following a water-related incident, call your insurance provider to inform him/her of the damage. If your home is severely damaged, determine whether it is structurally safe to enter. If not or you are unsure, immediately make arrangements to stay elsewhere.

What steps can I take to minimize the damage?

If your home is structurally sound and before the restoration professionals arrive, turn off your home's power, water and natural gas supplies. Cover damaged windows, doors, walls and roof areas with plywood or plastic sheeting to protect your interior from the elements.

Does water damage cause mold?

Water damage certainly has the potential to cause the growth of mildew and mold. Because mold thrives in moist and warm environments, any place that is wet (and especially humid) is a perfect place for mold to grow.

How can I prepare for expected water intrusion from a storm?

The best way to keep water from becoming a major problem is to prepare your property before the damage occurs. One thing you should be sure to know is how to cut-off the power in your home in case of a flood. Water and electricity are a deadly combination.

How can I help speed the repair of my home and property after a storm?

Documenting your property's damage and relaying the information to your restoration professional can make for a speedier repair. Inspect the exterior of your home for damage. Check out your roofing structure and document any shingles missing or in need of repair. Also note if your chimney or the flashing surrounding it is damaged or missing and list any damages to your gutters. Check your home's siding for warped or loose boards. Note signs of water intrusion through your home's windows and doors and don't forget to check the access points to your basement.

How can I remove standing water easily?

The first step to removing standing water from within your home is to sweep it outdoors. Any standing water left on carpeted areas should quickly be removed with a wet-vac. The removal of standing water is crucial for salvaging your home's carpeting and could save you money.

How does the water removal process work?

Several steps are taken to remove water from your property in the event of a flood, hurricane or other water-related disaster. First, the water will be removed from the property. Once the water is removed, a dehumidification process will begin to dry the wet areas. Next, evaporation of the water will occur, and, finally, the air will be tested to ensure that all water and moisture is gone from the property and won't cause any further problems.

Other processes involved with water damage restoration include wet carpet restoration, odor control, fabric restoration, mold remediation, and dry wall and wood floor restoration.

What are the different categories of water?

There are three basic categories of water. The type of water in your property will help determine the extent of the damage and how the water will be removed.

The first category of water is clean water than poses no harm to people. This includes water damage caused by a sink or bathtub overflow or an appliance malfunction.

The second category of water is called gray water. This category includes water that has a significant amount of contamination, which can be chemical, physical and/or biological. Gray water can cause harm and illness to those who are exposed to or drink it.

The third category of water is known as black water. This water is very unsanitary and contains pathogenic agents coming from other contaminated water sources. It can cause discomfort and illness to those who are exposed to or who drink it. Black water can come from sewage and flood waters from rivers and streams.

What should I do to protect my valuables?

If your home is too damaged to secure, remove valuables to a storage facility or the home of a trusted friend or family member. If your home is secured against intrusion, transfer valuable belongings to a safe and dry place within your home. Relocate water-damaged items, such as furniture, clothing and rugs, to an area of your home that is dry.

Does home maintenance really make a difference in preventing water damage?

Even the most highly conceptualized and well-built home cannot protect you 100 percent from water intrusion and the resulting damage, but a well maintained home can protect you from most water incidents, excluding severe emergencies. Routine maintenance and seasonal inspections of roofing and siding as well as other vulnerable areas can pinpoint potential problems before they can allow for water infiltration and damage.

How do I hire a professional restoration company?

Hiring a professional restoration company is important to ensure proper care for your property. Most insurance carriers will specify a list of restoration companies available to you and some may allow you to choose a restoration company from your own research.

Professional restoration companies will have available to you a list of industry organizations to which they belong and certifications they carry. Many professional restoration companies will also have examples of their work for you to view. In the case of disaster restoration, checking references may not be advantageous. But, rest assured that industry associations have strict guidelines and verify that members follow them.

ACCORD Restoration specializes in clean-up, repair, restoration and rebuilding after fires, floods, storms or natural disasters. We offer reliable, 24/7/365 emergency services carried out with expert craftsmanship.

To learn more visit http://www.accordrestoration.com/

Getting Rid Of Horrible Attic Sm

Friday, May 29, 2009

Home Improvement is Not For Everybody

Fixing up the house can be a tricky matter that many homeowners are not up to. Hiring some outside help is often the best thing for these larger, complicated matters that require professionalism to ensure they are done correctly. Keeping things simple and planning everything as much as possible is the best way to make sure that things are completed on time and in the most efficient way.

Moving through home improvement projects as quickly as possible is a priority for many homeowners. Nobody likes his or her yard to be in disarray for too long, so ensuring that everything get done without delay is very important. Avoiding problems and mishaps is the best way to ensure that everything runs according to plan. Incidentally, making sure that everything is planned out perfectly is another key in meeting deadlines the homeowners may set for themselves. Hiring a contractor for the larger, more complicated home improvement projects is often the best way to avoid these costly delays.

When things run smoothly, everything will fall into place. The homeowner will be happy with the work being done. The work will be done on time. The final product will be as the homeowner expected or planned and everybody will be happy. Ensuring that this is the case with each and every home improvement project is a struggle for many homeowners that choose to go at it alone. That is why hiring a professional to help with the more complex projects is the best way to ensure things are done properly.

More information on College Works Painting home repair for your home is just a click away.

Floor Repairs

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Home Improvement Grants to Update Your Decor

If you are tired of your old outdated home but can't seem to scratch up the cash to give it a face lift, maybe you should consider a home improvement grant from the government. This is an amazing way to get most, or even all, of the repairs, remodeling, and redecorating you may need without having to pay for it yourself. So to speak anyway. This is free government money that you'll never have to pay back. But in a sense you've already paid for it. If you are an American taxpaying citizen over the age of eighteen, you have already invested gradually into it in your hard earned tax dollars.

Every year the government sets aside hundreds of millions of the American taxpayer's dollars for the specific purpose of returning it to them in cash awards to individuals who apply, and qualify for the various government funded grant programs. It is required by law that the government awards every cent of this money to all who apply and are found to be eligible.

And there are virtually hundreds of acceptable purposes for one to acquire these funds. Home improvement grants are rapidly becoming one of the most commonly awarded types of funding made available to the American public today because it enhances urban development and increases property values. A very good investment for the government while also living up to their fiscal responsibility to it's citizens.

If you'd like to find out if you're eligible to receive free government money to repair or remodel your home by availing home improvement grants, check the links below and begin searching the grant data base for your local government human resource agencies today. You may be sorting color swatches tomorrow.

Apply for Personal Grants.

See how much money you qualify to receive today and never pay back. Get Grants for Individuals

Large Crack In Floor

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Post Your Ideas Here On Home Remodeling

To would appreciate any home remodeling tips for ideas that you have that could help other homeowners, building contractors and other people involved in home remodeling. Post all your comments below .

Home Theater Books
Fireplace Books

Shower Pan Framing Tips

Whether you live in a home that has a bathtub or a shower, there is a good chance that structural framing could be damaged if there was any water leaking around the plumbing fixtures. The damage should be repaired before framing your pan.

If you're replacing a bathtub and installing a new shower this is going to require constructing a wood shower pan. Now building a wood pan will require a level floor surface, shower damn and blocking.

Now let's start with building the shower damn. You're probably wondering what is a shower damn and what does it have to do with the wood shower pan. The shower damn is actually the area you climb over when entering into the shower. This part of the shower pan enables the water to flow off a shower curtain or door into the shower pan and down the drain.

The shower damn needs to be at the least 6 inches tall and would be best if it was at least 8 inches. You can use a 4 x 6 or a 4 x 8 for the wood shower damn.

Next we need to block the perimeter of the pan area in the wall framing that we will use for our shower walls also. These blocks should be at least 12 inches high. This would require using 2 x 12 lumber for blocking.

After you block the perimeter of the shower pan and installed the shower damn you are ready to have to shower water proffed with a process known as hot mopping the shower pan or using a vinyl liner.

Well I hope this gives you a better idea of what's involved when framing shower pans during the house framing process.

Greg Vanden Berge has been building and remodeling for over 30 years and his information has proven valuable to most contractors and homeowners all over the world. He usually tries to write at least two articles a day on home improvement or remodeling problems.

Greg is in the process right now of working on a home inspection website that will revolutionize the home inspection business. He is also working on a book to help homeowners and contractors as well as other home related professions in dealing with the home inspection process.

You can visit the home inspection website currently under construction at Home Inspection Help

Crawl Space Repairs
Insulation Damage

How to Repair a Fiberglass Boat Floor

There are many benefits to using fiberglass boats due to their efficiency and stability. They are even considered a great substitute when compared to other boats. Some of these benefits using fiberglass boats includes absence of rust, termites and they do not have to be painted frequently.

Even though fiberglass boats require less maintenance they often get occasional blisters, holes at the bottom of the boat and other minor damages from the elements. By following these instructions you can have your fiberglass boat easily repaired.

1. First of all, locate the appropriate tools for the job. The tools you would basically need are saws, sandpaper, resin and hardener, Epoxy putty, paint brush, Epoxy paint, sandpaper, scissors, fiberglass cloth and fiberglass gel coating.

2. Find the damaged areas of the boat and use the saw to remove this portion of the boat.

3. The next step is to make sure that you clean all traces of wax and dirt from the area so that the resin works properly. After doing this, allow the area to dry.

4. Use the sander to grind the area where the adhesive is to be placed, stir and liberally apply the resin and hardener with a brush for good results. It is much easier to use supports while you fix the damaged area of the fiberglass floor.

5. Prepare the fiberglass to fit the hole, by cutting a portion that is suited to cover the hole. To get the best results it is highly recommended that you cut the fiberglass to match the shape of the boat floor.

6. Use sandpaper to smooth out the edges, next apply a layer of fiberglass over the resin and hardener, make sure you remove the bubbles and that the fiberglass is secured. Then use sandpaper to smooth out the surface of the fiberglass.

7. Continue with the same layering process of cutting fiberglass until finished. For a more refined look, sand the rough areas of the repaired sections of the fiberglass floor, paint the sanded areas and then add a layer of gel coat for the finishing touch.

For more information on fiberglass boats, visit http://www.fiberglassboats.com

Monday, May 25, 2009

Hocus Pocus, It's All About Focus

Fifty years ago my grandparents were not distracted or confused about their purpose. They may not have liked their calling. In fact, my grandmother did not, but she never lost her focus. "The farm" provided grazing for 3 cows, a few fat pigs, one goat tied to a post, acres of corn, pear trees, peach trees, and a cherry tree by the farm house. At least this is what I remember.

My father remembers picking beans, and his Mom giving birth under a tree, and then going-back to bean-picking (she gave birth 12 times; my grandfather had a focus too!).

"The farm" gave and was life for Mommer and Popper. At noon, their sons and workers crowded the kitchen for lunch. At times, there would be 20 men eating from Mommer's table. For years, the stove was stoked with wood.

They labored every day including Sunday when they went to the West Haven Connecticut farm market at 3AM. Although they never thought of focus, they understood the importance. Every action was intended toward keeping the farm going, killing a chicken. How many of your grandmothers can whack the head of a chicken and throw it in a pot simmering on a wood burning stove?

Neither wore Armani or Burberry. Their children carried a bushel of potatoes to the barber to barter a haircut. Popper could graft branches on a tree;Mommer could cook spaghetti sauce for 30 on a wood burning stove.

My grandparents weren't too nurturing, but I observed that living on a farm requires focus. Every animal and each plant dies without attention. They both wore glasses, but neither was myopic or hypermetropic. They could see what needed doing, knew they could do it, and did it. Yes, they did complain; farming is hard, even tragic work, but they never gave up well into their 80's.

No farming in my life except for a couple of raised-box gardens. My tools are software, spreadsheets, and optimization tools. I harvest fees for my work when portfolios grow, and when my clients can buy with the fruits of their portfolios from the financial planning guidance I provide.

Mommer and Popper cultivated about 6 /7 crop fields, but they were all vegetables. Growing fruits and vegetables is the farming they understood, and they never veered from it.

Maintaining one field of endeavor requires focus because distractions grow faster than weeds. Many weeds attempt to choke the one plant we want to grow.

Doubt

Email

Telephone calls

Google searches

Coffee/tea breaks

Pets

family

Internet Marketers

My father spent hours pulling weeds around the bean plants. When his parents said, "Go pick beans," he must have understood the harvest depends on pulling out the weeds (not really; he didn't want to feel the wrath of his parents on his butt!) Don't think he liked doing it, but my guess is he learned something invaluable. He kept his focus as a home-building contractor. Only once did he veer, and it was a costly distraction.

So, what do you do to keep the weeds out and the plants growing? Using Internet marketing jargon, discover and nurture your keywords. What motivates you? What one subject defines you clearly and deliberately?

Remember Jack Palance in "City Slickers"? Holding one finger upward, he said to Billy Crystal, "Just one thing". Find that "one thing" that gives you a focus. Write, memorize, and meditate on that "one thing".

Next stay alert to shades of meaning. Every plant, animal, fish, human shivers with nuance. Find the energy within every facet of what keeps you focused. What gets your attention. What makes your heart stir rapidly (other than romance)?

To get to your goal, you will need to fulfill a sequence of tasks (pulling weeds).Keep track of each one by listing and "checking-off" its completion. Monetize tasks by asking and recording. "How much did that effort earn?" "How long did that task take?"

You cannot measure what you don't track. Keep a journal.Observe what works and what does not. Make sure that your focus resolves a problem for yourself and others. Once you discover a pattern to your focus, how can you create a self-perpetuating system with monetary rewards?

Pulling weeds is tedious, but the harvest comes. Keep your eyes on your field and that "just one thing" that validates you. All of a sudden you will awaken to the magic of "Hocus pocus, it's all about focus."

As a registered investment advisor, Ray Randall provides clients with tools to manage risk control as clients work toward investment goals. You may read more about him at Ethos Advisory.com Ray also manages the article bank and resource directory found at Echievements.com. Would you like to know how much risk your temperament permits? Fill out a request for a no-cost report on the Ethos Advisory Services contact page.

New Funding Solutions For Condo Projects That Have Funding Obstacles

The great thing about the American construction developer is that the never give up. In the past 24 months the condo developers have had an impossible time getting financed. Several reasons were overdeveloping, bad price points and just the economy in general.

In my line of work, I saw lenders advertising their programs and at the bottom of their flyers, in large red letters they would post: "No Condos, Residential Developments, or Raw Land".

At last, a solution as arrived on the scene of this economic disaster for the condo developer. It's not exactly a condo solution, but it is a solution that a) makes sense, b) serves the market, and c) gets the developers back on their feet and back to work....which ultimately boosts our ailing economy.

The solution is simple: there is a new funding program in the private sector that is very flexible and very favorable towards mulitfamily projects and apartments. Developers don't have to lie or misrepresent themselves, they simply need to change their unfunded project into a multifamily or apartment project. Same tract of land, the structure can even be very, very similar. It simply cannot be called a "condo" project. The key to success is having a direct conversation with the funder, and sharing exactly what is in place now. The funder will then tell the developer exactly how the project needs to be tweaked in order to fit into the funder's funding footprint.

The other good news is the rates are fantastic. These are not "hard money" terms, which were the only solutions for these projects in the past.

Brian W. Walker
Walker Commercial Funding
Please visit our website for more information on our programs and services:
http://www.walkercf.com
brian@walkercf.com
(281) 852-8298
Skype: brian.walker7

New Home Buyers Beware

Ican't believe how many homebuyers purchase a house, with very little information and a Lotta hope. I'm a general contractor and often work on these homes, after they have been purchased and a homeowner has their money, the real estate professional is no longer involved in the transaction and the new homeowner is starting to experience the pitfalls from buying the home, that they sincerely believe was in good condition.

It's usually somebody like me that gets involved with the new homeowners after everyone else is out of the picture and chooses not to return their phone calls or explains to them quite simply, it's not our responsibility, you're the new homeowner and we really feel sorry for you, please call us again if we can help you with anything.

You couldn't even help me with that, why would I want to call you again if I had a problem. I never could understand this thinking but have ran into it often. It sounds like an oxymoron when someone refuses to help you but offers you help in the future. What ever!!!.

If homebuyers had something else to rely on besides their real estate salesperson, home inspection service, mortgage or insurance professional, I believe they can eliminate some of these problems. Where do you start and how do you get the information. You can gather information from reputable people, books, the Internet and so on.

The problem is how do you know these people are reputable and the books on the Internet have good information. This brings us to another problem, but I've got the solution that will help eliminate some of the grief. I'm not going to remove all of the grief from your life but have a suggestion for you that will eliminate some of the pain when buying a home.

Arm yourself with a good home inspection checklist. You can search the Internet and they have quite a few good home inspection checklist to work with. These checklist can provide you with things you might not have thought of, and this is where you can eliminate some of the problems.

If you took one of these checklists with you while you were shopping for a home, you would be aware of some of the problems with the home. You might not find all of the problems but these checklist will help you with some of the problems.

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 home inspection or home building ideas.

Bathroom Remodeling Problems

Saturday, May 23, 2009

Remodeling Professionals Needed

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.

Swimming Pool Books

You Can't Afford That Garage You Need

For those of us who have a home that did not come with an attached or detached garage but could use one to house our cars or need one for storage, it is overwhelming to find out how much it costs to build a standard garage.The foundation alone is more than most of us can afford right now.

There is also the hassle of the code process with the local building departments as well as hiring a good and competent contractor who can deliver the job for the quoted amount.It seems that, in the world today, very few jobs come in at the quoted price.It just does not make since when you break it all down into dollars and cents.

Now what to do?What you need costs more than you have but you still need a garage!Believe it or not, you do have a few choices.If you need some type of covering for your vehicles, a carport may work for you or a portable garage that is more like a plastic sheet structure that can go from place to place.

Even though you may think it crazy, you will need to check with your local codes or community boards to find out if you need any type of building permit to construct these structures. It is always better to find out before you purchase and install any of these than to find out you have to tear them down because you did not get the correct permit.

Another great and cheaper way to go is to put up a plastic garage, otherwise known as a vinyl garage.These garages have a great reputation for being sturdy and come in various sizes so you can customize whatever you need.The more extra storage you need for storage, the deeper the garage you can buy.

Another great garage that is a lot more inexpensive and comes in varying colors, shapes and sizes are the metal garages that can be put up over a weekend.These are economical for residential and commercial uses and are a good choice for many areas of the country.You can determine by your region the correct structure for snow load and wind speed.

The bottom line here is if you are in need of a garage, there are a lot more choices than you may realize.Find the one that works for you and go for it!

It's easy to construct a Duramax garage. There are other great outdoor products and structures for your home and garden to choose from.

Kitchen Articles

Friday, May 22, 2009

Finding Out How to Destroy Bed Bugs Once and For All

Most of us were raised never considering the chance of bed bugs. We may have known that they'd been a nuisance years ago, but we never connected them with our world at all. Things have changed recently, though. Bed bugs have returned with a vengeance, and people now want to use modern methods in order to get rid of the annoying bugs. Once again we have to learn how to kill bedbugs.

The Cimex Lectularius is the most common kind of bed bugs, and they like living off people even though other kinds of bed bugs prefer animal hosts, such as bats or birds. Bed bugs are brown or dark red, about .25 of an inch in length, and have oval-shaped bodies. Since these bugs started appearing in people's homes again a few years back, more and more people are shopping around for the best ways to get rid of them and eliminate the problem.

The time tested methods for killing bed bugs, such as laundering bedding and clothing in very hot water, still work. In addition, though, we now can use clothes driers which, when set on the highest heat, do a good job of destroying the bugs. For items that weren't made to withstand the heat, modern food freezers make a remarkable substitute. Still, there are large, bulky items, like mattresses, which have to be sealed in black plastic and then left out to cook for awhile in the sun. As heat increases inside the plastic, the bugs are destroyed. Sadly, this method can take up to two weeks and may seriously damage the materials encased in the plastic as well as the bugs.

The Ideal Place to Kill Bed Bugs: At the Source

A majority of people want to know how to kill bed bugs in their hiding places, especially if they don't really know where the source is. Because of this, it's generally the best idea to hire a professional exterminator. What happens with bed bugs is that during the daylight hours they secret themselves in areas that make it impossible for the majority of us to find them, such as behind baseboards. They only emerge at night to feed on people as they are asleep. Before the people awaken in the morning, the bugs are long gone back to their hideouts.

Consider what a nasty awakening it would be to wake up plastered with bites and blood from the bites. You'd certainly want to find the ultimate remedy as soon as possible. There are chemicals which have only a slight odor that can be used effectively, but, as a reminder, chemicals should be left in the hands of the professionals. These people are trained in the handling of harmful chemicals as well as in locating the areas where the bugs are hiding.

Another type of chemical destroys the bed bug infestation by causing male infertility. This is critical since a female bug will lay as many as 200 to 500 eggs at once. These chemicals have been demonstrated to work great, but they won't do it overnight, and if more eggs hatch before the chemical does its job, the male babies may not be affected at all, because the chemical may have already worn off.

If you or someone you know ever has bedbugs, it's probable that you're going to want to find out how to kill bedbugs so that you can eliminate them for good.

For more tips on getting rid of bedbugs, visit http://www.greatsleepsecrets.com/tips_on_sleeping/how_to_get_rid_of_bed_bugs.asp

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.

Real Estate Books

Increase the Ambiance With Porch Columns

The columns on the front of your porch often say a lot about the look and feel of your home and it very important to design and build them carefully. If you are not interested in having someone else build these columns for you, you can actually do it yourself. The nicest columns that you can add to the porch on the front of your house are stone porch columns.

Before starting to build these columns you must first plan and prepare. It is important to look at the current state of your porch and decide if it is in fact strong enough to handle the building of new columns. This is important as stone columns do in fact add a great deal of weight to the porch and if the porch is older then it may not support the new stone.

The next step involves measuring between your existing columns. If you do not already have these on the porch then you should make a sketch of the porch and the placement of the columns. It is important to record the distance between the columns for future reference. There are many different styles and designs to choose from in the line of columns, but if you want ones made of stone it is likely you will have to add the stone yourself using mortar.

It is important that you leave room between your columns as you do not want to make them so big with the stone that you will block off the view of the front of the house. It will also be important that you be able to move large items in and out of the house through the columns.

Now you are ready to select the stone. If you want different stones of different colors, it is important that you select stones of similar sizes. It will not look good if all of your stones are different, you want to have some sort of pattern on your columns. Once you have selected the stones and have measured correctly you may beginning putting your stones in place. Once again it is important to be careful with the selection of stone as you may find that these stones can take up a lot of additional space on the front of the porch.

For more information on porches, porch plans and related topics, visit AboutPorches.

Cast Iron Pipe In Top Plates

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Perk Up Your Home With Modern Furniture

Remodeling a home is desired by many individuals. This can make a home cozier and more stylish, depending on the needs of the owner of the house. But even if this is greatly desired, there are only a few individuals who are really able to enjoy remodeling. This process entails much planning and also takes more money from you. Thus, these considerations limit a person which ends up not remodeling a home.

But if you know how to carefully plan this task and know how to find the proper materials for your home, you can enjoy remodeling without spending too much. You just have to be sure with your options and select among them.

If your budget an allow buying of a modern furniture for your home, then this would be one of your best option in remodeling. You have to know the right places to shop for the furniture but you have to be careful with your decisions. Many kinds of modern fixtures are out in the market and you have to select the one that you really need. The prices of these pieces vary so your budget can always try to find the piece that is worth spending on.

The modern furniture is preferred by many individuals because it looks better and it is also useful. You can even check on mall sales and other areas where you can have more savings. This means that you will be able to enjoy your expenses because you are sure that they are worth it. You can achieve your dream of remodeling your home while keeping on a tight budget. But this also means that you have to exert more effort in searching for the modern furniture that will suit your taste and budget. You can try window shopping first so that you will know the things that are offered in the market and you can already start checking their prices and noting which pieces are for you.

You have to take advantage of the things that you can have. If there are discounts, then check if you can find a piece that you may need in your home. This would be your way to get a hold of the modern furniture that can still meet your financial capabilities. You have to plan for this task as you are not only planning to buy a piece of furniture but you are also trying to make your home better looking. You have to make it look better so it would be important that you also use the right pieces of furniture. If you have to spend more on a piece of fixture, then make sure that it is worth it. Check the quality, the material and the design so that you will be sure with your purchase.

Eliza Maledevic Ayson writes for Jump2top - SEO Company

Porch Rafter Beam Damage

Monday, May 18, 2009

Wind Generator and Produce Electricity

An average American household consumes 920kWh of electricity a month. With the rising trend of energy cost, you are likely to pay much more for your power bills in the next few years. So why not make a home wind generator and start to produce your own electricity supply?

The idea of using wind generators to produce electricity is not a new one. Although initially only huge turbines are manufactured and run to produce electricity for industries and remote areas, there are now small generator units that are designed for the average home. Even more recently, you can make one from home easily and at a much lower cost.

Instead of spending thousands of dollars to purchase a factory produced wind generator, many average income households are learning to make one from home. This involves obtaining a set of building instructions and using simple materials to construct the wind energy system. All in all, the cost of making your own generator rings out less than $200 in most cases.

The Internet is filled with numerous websites showing you the exact steps to make the wind generator. These resources are mostly free but are geared towards individuals who are technically trained and understand technical jargons and drawings.

For the less technically-inclined person, there are professional starter kits available that will help guide you to make a home wind generator easily. Most of these manuals are well-written and include videos and pictures to make things simple for you.

But there are many skeptics who question whether such kits can really help you make a wind generator from home. Thousands of people around the world have already made their wind-electricity units just by using a DIY kit and are already producing their own electricity.

Now if that is not enough proof that you can make a home wind generator with the help of a DIY kit, then you sure are missing out on a pot of gold.

Home wind generators are meant to help you save money, so start saving today! Get the most popular wind power kit and be the first in your neighborhood to learn how to make a home wind generator.

Who knows, you might turn out to be the wind energy expert in your town someday!

Sunday, May 17, 2009

How to Replace your Broken Oven Element

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Home Stucco Books

Saturday, May 16, 2009

Building Links - Pinging Services

The process of pinging is a simple and effective way of electronically verifying the presence of an IP address on the internet. It is similar to what telemarketers do, you know, when you get those weird phone calls that ring and nobody is there, they are identifying that the phone number is legitimate. However, pinging has no real threat. It is merely a method for programs and computers to identify each other and verify each others existence on the World Wide Web. This process is necessary every time a person anywhere boots up an internet program, or the internet from their home or business computer. You may be wondering how and why this works, okay, here goes.

When Is It Used?

The most common types of ping applications are used for programs such as instant messaging services, internet portal software, search engine actions, and other programs such as those used on the internet. These internet/web programs may include blogging portals, forums, service/client applications, and other programs exclusively accessed on or through the internet. Most static, or unchanging websites usually use pinging services a lot less, however they may use tracking service such as visitor counters when you ping them through your accessing them on the internet.

The most common applications are usually blogs, instant messaging services, RSS feeds, and any other high traffic user interfaces. These types of programs are usually meant to be updated multiple times daily and the pings are usually sent to subscribers to let them know new information has been submitted or for the owners of theses sites to know about comments. Other pinging services are usually affiliate partnerships that need to know about new content being posted on their affiliate's website so that they can change or update advertising placed on the site.

Search engines are the most widely used of pinging applications. When new content has been placed on an already indexed website they receive a ping so that search engines and index bots can crawl to that site and index the new page of information. This type of pinging is an important part of building website traffic. Therefore, many pings are usually sent to all necessary internet indexing services. This creates the optimum experience both for web publisher and their readers. If the website owner is using a webhost for their site, pinging services are usually included, and those who have custom built pages, or who use web hosts rather that website hosts usually have to purchase a pinging service application.

Pinging Advantages & Disadvantages

When using pinging, it is popular to use more that one service for better results. This does come with drawbacks, although many feel it's worth the risk. Using more that one pinging service means that perhaps more than one or two search engines will be notified of the new information. Some pinging services may notify only a certain number of search engines, so using more than one service can ensure that most or all internet search engines are aware of the new information on the website.

As search engines are constantly searching the internet for new content, getting one or two pings about new content on a particular site may induce them to index that new information faster. This simply means that its targeted audience may be able to find it sooner than if the search engines were left to find the site on their own. Therefore, a website owner's content will be put to work that much faster.

That is why it is popular among content producers to use more than one pinging service. Many websites and blog sites allow this and it is quite easy to paste the pinging code right into the appropriate place within the sites content. This does, however, have a few draw backs. If the search engines, servers, or computers are pinged too often or too many times, the pinging may trigger a spam response and the website, blog, server, or computer may be blocked either temporarily or permanently. Some websites do allow an override of this and may enable the user to input a scrambled code into a verification box to verify it's a legitimate ping.

Using Pinging Wisely

Users can and should use pinging services. They are an invaluable tool in building website traffic. If you either have a site for profit or non-profit, pinging services should be one of your tools of the trade. If used properly they can be a good investment of your time. The simple act of notifying internet servers, search engines, and users of new content or your presence on the web can go a long way in your internet campaign. Using the right amount and your good judgment in this area should provide you with many happy returns, in traffic that is.

Judith Hoelscher is an internet marketer, and author of several internet marketing related articles and reviews. You can find more informative articles and resources at: http://www.the-internet-marketing-tips.com

Horizontal Or Vertical Drywall

Top 10 Accessories for Your Motor Home

No motor home is really complete without adding some extras. Searching motor home accessories and parts may prove to be a tedious task especially if you dont know where to search. There are so many dealers and manufacturers that offer automotive supplies and various types of automotive accessories. And most of them have web sites which you can conveniently search online.

By shopping online you are going to be amazed by the many categories and brands that are available. You can buy audio and video systems, electrical, electronic, exterior, exhaust, suspension, steering parts, and other accessories. You may also find some special tool items for your motor home needs, such as pressure washers, air compressors, tire gauges, and even repair kits for damaged fan belts. The interior accessories are usually what most motor home owners purchase, and the online possibilities are virtually endless. Shopping online is more economical since most online dealers offer affordable prices compared to those offered by local auto parts dealers.

Among the benefits of online shopping is the fact that some online automotive dealers that provide customers with free catalogs that are simply emailed to you or placed as inserts on their free newsletter mailings. Online shopping has made purchasing an easy and convenient endeavor.

Here are ten great online motor-home shopping aids:

1. Add-A-Room

There are actually three types of add-a-room accessories which motor home owners may choose from, and these are as follows: standard add-a-room, add-a-room LTD, and the designer add-a-room. The standard add-a-room is an economically priced, one-piece lightweight vinyl room which allows you to enjoy the outdoors without the bugs. It also outperforms all other rooms on the market, and boasts completely reversible, sewn-in privacy panels that can be held down during windy or rainy days with Velcro fasteners. The add-a-room LTD is considered to be the premier room on the market today. Enjoying the outdoors with the comforts of home is great, coupled with the fact that it can turn your awning into a spacious private room. You may also roll the privacy panels for fresh air or roll them down for complete privacy. Equipped with plenty of storage space, the designer add-a-room is perfect for matching your patio awning and RV. It provides cool bug-free comfort for entertaining, sleeping or just enjoying the scenery.

2. Interior Sun Control

There are four types of interior sun control to suit various needs. The first ones are the smart visor and power smart visor which are ideal for large windshields. The second one is the slide visor and power slide visor which is best for large side windows. The third one is the vent shade, which is perfect for blocking out the blinding rays of the sun and the fourth one is the skylight shade which is used to block out the light.

3. RV Window Covers

RV window covers are consists of three types: the windshield cover, window cover, and sunshades. The windshield cover protects the coach while giving you the pleasure of having a full view of the outdoors. It also blocks 94% of the suns heat and glare. You can enjoy a shaded, cool, more comfortable environment and run your air conditioner much less. The window covers cool down the temperature inside your stored RV and protect the interior from the suns ultraviolet rays. This equipment is also perfect for covering large windows of your RV. The sunshades are used to beat the heat and are usually placed on rear windows to prevent the interior of the RV from heating up like an oven.

4. Thin-lite awning roller light

Its a 12volt, bright bug-free awning light. The 32 light fixture is shatter-proof and also water resistant and is designed to provide a minimum of 3000 hours of light.

5. Undercover storage skirt

To maximise space away from the elements and prying eyes why not install an undercover storage skirt in the area under your bunks. It attaches to the bottom of your folding camping trailers bunk area and when youre ready to go, packs away into a small storage bag.

6. RV activated taillights and safety cables

7. Stabilizers

These are black aluminum, light weight and easy to stow. These are manually operated screw jacks aid leveling of RV and provide stability.

8. Tow bars

Towing your car behind your motorhome gives you the most freedom when touring as you can park up and then use your car as a runaround. The most popular way to tow your car is via a tow bar, which allows all four wheels of the car to remain on the ground. The main reason for choosing a tow bar is convenience. Once you unhook your car, the tow bar remains on the motorhome or detaches with your car. It saves the hassle of finding somewhere to park a towing trailer.

9. Connector Protector

A protector for your trailer cable is a great way to keep out the dirt, rain and to save it from damage from accidental impacts. They are inexpensive and really easy to use and has the added bonus of allowing you to hang the electrical cable from your trailer up and out of harms way.

10. Gas Detector

A gas detector is usually 12 volts and draws 46 mA. Very simple to operate, a gas detectors is an essential piece of safety kit for your motorhome. They sit there, looking harmless but should you have a gas leak they can save your familys life. Try the LP Gas Detector Safe-T-Alert.

Jo Williams has an interest in Shopping & Retail and Motor Home Accessories, for more FREE information and articles please visit Motor Home Accessories Resources

Painting A French Door

Friday, May 15, 2009

Making Your List Building Viral

An approachable list is certainly an asset to your business. People are however confused as to how they should build a list. Actually it is not a very difficult task. List building is maintaining a depository of potential customers who are easy to contact. List building can take off to a good start if you have an auto responder and a web site. The most important aspect involved in this process is automation. An automated program leaves you with enough time for running other parts of your business. Always target your promotions for a niche market.

How do you make your list building viral? A virus has the capability of producing an infinite number of new strands every year. Making your list building viral ensures new a implementation that will slowly increase the growth and thrust of your list eventually.

Make sure that you always have useful information. Building a list should always have a viral aspect in it. The technique and strategy, which has the power to exponentially grow your list is important for a viral list building. For example, in order to download a product, the person has to recommend four of his friends before downloading. Doing this can multiply potential customers from 1 to 4 to 16 thus making your email list grow exponentially.

Offer something free, like a free membership or e-book with your product. Make your free offer so good, so over the top that no one would want to turn it down. If you carefully make sure that you concentrate on your particular niche the people who read your offer will naturally want it. They know other people within that particular niche and should have no problem recommending others for the same free offer.

You can also give away your free offer, no strings attached and then when they actually down load your offer you offer them something even bigger, something better. Make your first free offer a brief report. Then your follow-up offer can be the entire report or a related report that gives the reader even more information, more techniques...more, more, more. But to get this second offer they have to refer 2, or 3 or 4 friends before they can download it.

You can get script you need by Googling "Tell a friend script". It's a simple cut and paste process.

Viral list building is only part of the puzzle. There are many more ideas to help you build a profitable email list. Go ahead and Google list building, check out all the free ebooks. Sign up and download them, use what's good throw out the rest and unsubscribe quickly to anyone who doesn't offer over the top value and or is always trying to sell you something.

Don Clifton has been helping internet marketers by providing informative articles and tested products for internet marketers. To download a fantastic Free ebook on list building go to http://www.neededproducts.com/

Problems With Black Mold

Dog Creates Remodeling Nightmare

How many homeowners normally leave their dog in the backyard or they have full time access to the backyard through a doggie door. You're probably wondering how can a little dog create a remodeling nightmare for any contractor.

This wasn't the case this dog was a large Labrador retriever and tore up everything in the backyard constantly. The house remodel we were working on was a two story room addition over a single story house. This job lasted around six months and the dog was a daily reminder of how much attention a large dog actually needs.

Let's start with the first item of value the dog actually destroyed. It was my favorite tool bags of course that I have taken care of for over five years and deeply appreciated the fact that they were broke in just the way I wanted them to be. Kind of like a baseball mitt that doesn't quite fit right because of how stiff it is until you break it in.

While the homeowner of course apologized and never even offered to replace them. Oh but after that he did mention never to leave anything lying around in the backyard. Lesson learned of course and never forgotten. Well to make a long story short this large dog could chew up tools, lumber, plumbing pipes, electrical wire and was even able to destroyed the plywood fencing we would use to keep him away.

I'm going to stop right there with the remodeling nightmare created from this dog in hopes that other contractors can learn from my valuable lesson. As a contractor you should never assume that a homeowner will replace any damaged or broken tools and materials.

As a homeowner with a dog reading this article, think about having a place to enclose the dog if necessary while remodeling work is done on your home.

I love being around dogs and other animals but sometimes a problem like this can make life extremely miserable for both parties.

Greg Vanden Berge has been building and remodeling for over 30 years and his information has proven valuable to most contractors and homeowners all over the world. He usually tries to write at least two articles a day on home improvement or remodeling problems.

Greg is in the process right now of working on a home inspection website that will revolutionize the home inspection business. He is also working on a book to help homeowners and contractors as well as other home related professions in dealing with the home inspection process.

You can visit the home inspection website currently under construction at Home Inspection Help

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Don't Be Afraid of Kitchen Or Bath Design

When designing for a new kitchen or bath, some people are intimidated by the large selections of plumbing fixtures, lighting fixtures, ceramic tile choices and all the other things that go into remodeling your kitchen and bath.

Don't be. Kitchens and baths are the best dollar return value when renovating your home. A St Paul kitchen makeover returns 80% value when done. In some homes you can get over 100% return.

There are things to watch for but your kitchen, bath contractor should be experienced in what offerings you should consider and what you should think twice about.

Hot remodeling can be traditional Cherry wood cabinets with a chocolate glaze over a Cambria quartz top, or Maple in a Shaker style over a lush granite counter top. Under cabinet lighting to show off your new tile backsplash will round out the view.

Remodeling can be regional; a kitchen remodel in Minnesota may follow a design that would be considered too country for Los Angeles and a kitchen makeover in New York may be too bold for a Minneapolis kitchen. But don't let that stop you from getting what you want. Remodeling means compromise sometimes.

Kitchen design is taught in classes sponsored by the National Kitchen Bath Association. Many of its kitchen design students go on to excel at remodeling. Many great kitchen remodel experts never took design classes and yet their kitchens and baths win design contests the same as people who graduated in this specialty. Experience is the key. Talent doesn't come from school, but a good design program brings that design talent out.

Bathrooms are especially challenging to remodel, it's a small space that is walled in, and so designing a bathroom usually means working within a box. A good bathroom remodel is only possible if your remodeling contractor understands and works around obstacles and realizes the limitations of the structure.

Design for kitchen and design for bath creates challenges that when properly met will result in a home renovation you'll be happy with for years. I have worked for people who tell me they still love the kitchen or bath I did for them 10 or 15 years ago. Quality remodeling can be timeless. It should at least be functional and pleasing. Sure, interior design is challenging, but meet it head on with a good contractor with good design plans and the results can be a kitchen or bath remodel that is the envy of the neighbors.

Paul Lesieur/ Certified Kitchen Bath Designer
Website: http://www.silvertreeconstruction.com

Monday, May 11, 2009

Latest Shower Designs

The new age human being seeks convenience and luxury at the same time. He has brought out a multitude of products and services to achieve this end. Showers are also a part of that stream of innovations. As days passed, showers also changed for the better. Electric showers are the present day kings in the field of bathrooms and showers.

Electric showers are very convenient to use and easy to install. It is the ultimate answer to the showering needs of the entire family. They can be attached to any existing domestic electric circuit and plumbing systems without making much modifications. Main bathrooms or en-suite ones or the ultra modern shower cubicles - all sport an electric shower system these days.

A refreshing shower after a hectic and tiresome day can do wonders to pulling up the morale of a person. What if it is done in a perfect ambience with water warm enough running over you pampering your body and spirits? It can be a heavenly feeling. That is exactly what electric showers provide.
Thousands of different brands and models with different capabilities are available for you to pick. Always exercise discretion while choosing one. The one you buy should be compatible with the existing systems of your house and also your budget. However, this is an easy task due to the huge choices available.

Triton electric showers and Mira electric showers are two leading brands providing quality products. Triton showers have some novel models that heat up water as soon it enters the heating system.

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

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

Remodelers Trying to Help Homeowners Maximize the Value of Their Existing Homes

While the housing market slows, many homeowners look at their existing home as a great place to spend money, rather than building or buying a new home. That means opportunity for home builders who are currently struggling in the slow housing market. Home builders have often looked at remodelers more as the "handyman" type, and not as sophisticated. However, remodeling is often more complicated and requires more experience than building new, due to the need to mesh the existing structure with the new construction.

So, now that many homebuilders are looking for work, the remodeling market remains strong, and those homebuilders are finding that remodeling is a great place to jump in. Homeowners are realizing that one of the easiest ways to increase the value of their home is spend some money redoing kitchens and bathrooms. Whether the owner is planning to remain in the home for many years, or hopes to sell the house, the enjoyment and value created by a well planned remodeling project can pay for itself very quickly.

Home builders are finding that their familiarity with the newest trends in home construction is appealing to the homeowners who have been living in an outdated home, and are ready for an update. Luxury features such as granite countertops, farmhouse sinks, pot filler faucets, and bamboo flooring are all design trends finding their way into the newly remodeling houses.

One place where money is not considered to be money well spent is on swimming pools, hot tubs, and media rooms. While these may bring the owner plenty of enjoyment, when the time comes to sell the home, prospective buyers may not see the value, and in fact be turned off by the expense of maintaining pools and hot tubs, and media technology changes so rapidly that it could be out of date in just a few years.

Matt Roberts is President of MJ Roberts Enterprises. Farmhouse Sinks are available from Lavello-Sinks.com

Pick a Good Air-Conditioning Repair Company

If your home has an air conditioning unit, you need to stay prepared if it breaks down someday. It is never a pleasant feeling when your air conditioning unit breaks down on a hot and humid afternoon. Therefore it is important for you to know who to call in case it breaks down.

Usually when the air conditioning unit breaks down, you will most likely call up the first air conditioning repair company in the listing of your local directory. However, picking a good air conditioning repair company is very important. Even if your air conditioning unit is repaired temporarily, there is no guarantee that it will not break down again. In this article, let me highlight some of the things to consider when picking someone to repair your air conditioning unit.

The company that you choose to service your air conditioning unit must have fast response time. The company should be able to respond to your need 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You will never know when your unit will break down; therefore this is a very important criteria when choosing a service company. Usually, such a company has their own customer service officers and will send a technician to your home after you have enquired about their service.

Next, you need to find a competent service company to repair your air conditioning unit. You will want a professional technician to show up and repair the unit. Therefore, make sure that the service company has all the necessary professional certifications to show for. This is very important because you do not want a person with no technical know-how to meddle with your air conditioning unit.

You also need to be comfortable letting the technician into your home. The technician should arrive ready for work, with all the necessary equipments ready. Before you let him or her into your house, be sure to check his identification. Some service company only service commercial units, so be sure to check with the company whether they provide servicing to residential units.

Last but not least, the service company should offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee for the work done.

So spend some time on research to pick the right air conditioning service company for your home. You should shortlist a few companies and compare their prices, credentials and competency. There is no hard and fast rule on choosing the best company for the job. If a company suits the criteria that you are looking for and you have a good feeling about them, go ahead and appoint them for the job.

To seek professional aircon services, visit EricoolAircon.com now.

Cheow Yu Yuan is the co-founder of OOm, an online marketing agency that provides professional SEO Services.

Feel free to publish this article on your website, or send it to your friends, as long as you keep the resource box and the content of the article intact.

Rubber Paint Over Shower Backing

Friday, May 8, 2009

Smoke Damage - Home Repair Advice

Smoke, a harmful mixture of chemicals and toxins, is dangerous to your health and your property, and adds to the damage done to your property as the result of a fire.

Inhaling smoke is very damaging to your health, which is why fire departments help vent smoke from buildings.

Once the fire department has put out the fire and vented the building, their job is complete, and there is often a large mess left behind, including discoloration and corrosion of materials as well as pungent odors that may be difficult to eliminate from your home and belongings.

At this point, smoke restoration companies should be called for professional help. This clean-up job requires special tools and knowledge to prevent further damage and to restore the property.

The extent of smoke damage and the ease with which it is cleaned away is often based on the type of smoke in your home: wet, dry, protein and fuel-oil.

Wet smoke comes from low heat and is difficult to clean. Dry smoke results after a fast burning fire at high temperatures. Protein smoke is invisible, but discolors varnishes and has an extremely foul odor. Fuel-oil soot smoke is a result of a furnace malfunction.

Before the restoration professionals arrive, there are several things you can do to start the smoke removal process. Immediate action is important since many items in your home can be damaged by smoke, including electronics, clothing, upholstery and draperies.

First, open windows and turn on fans, if possible, to air out the home and begin to eliminate the remaining odor. This can also help dry out your carpets and other upholstered items that may have been water damaged by extinguishing the fire.

These tips will speed up the restoration process, too:

Do

  • Brush off or vacuum loose soot particles from upholstery, drapes and carpets.
  • Discard open food packages.
  • Take clothing to a laundry specializing in smoke damage restoration.
  • Wipe residue from kitchen and bathroom fixtures.
  • Relocate pets to a clean environment.

Don't

  • Attempt to wash walls or paintings because improper techniques could do more damage.
  • Use electrical appliances until cleared to do so by the restoration professionals.
  • Use ceiling fans because they could short circuit if the ceiling is wet.

ACCORD Restoration specializes in clean-up, repair, restoration and rebuilding after fires, floods, storms or natural disasters. We offer reliable, 24/7/365 emergency services carried out with expert craftsmanship.

To learn more visit http://www.accordrestoration.com/

Interior Roof Shaped Ceiling

Thursday, May 7, 2009

Some of Our Favorite Drywall Repair Tips

Repairing drywall is one of those projects that can make a huge difference in the value of a home. With so many people taking advantage of the boom in real estate by purchasing, repairing and reselling homes, learning to repair drywall has obvious monetary benefits. We present here a few of our favorite drywall repair tips.

-In order to repair small holes in drywall, the best procedure is to clean the holes carefully, then dampen them with a sponge. The holes can then be filled in using a professional drywall patching formula. The drywall patch should be applied using a narrow putty knife. If you prefer, these small holes can be repaired by using patching plaster to fill in the holes. After the compound has dried, the area should be primed and painted to match the rest of the wall.

-For patching larger holes, it may be preferable to use precut adhesive wallboard patches. It may be necessary to make the hole wider in order to fit the patch into place. After the precut wallboard has been put into place, the seams should be covered and the patch should be covered with joint compound. When applying the joint compound it is important to follow the directions on the label. After the patch is in place, it should be primed and then painted to match the rest of the surface.

-If nails have popped out from in the drywall, be sure that the panel is well secured to the surrounding studs above and below the nail. The nail should then be hammered in and dimpled. A second nail should be put in and dimpled next to the original nail. Joint compound should then be applied to cover both nails. After the joint compound has been allowed to dry, the area should be primed and painted.

-Small dents in the drywall can be repaired by first sanding the surface thoroughly. Sanding will help to make the edges rough, thus providing a good base for joint compound to adhere to. After the area has been sanded, the dent should be filled with joint compound using a three or four inch spreader. The joint compound should be spread evenly and pressed firmly into the area to be repaired. For large dents it may be necessary to allow the joint compound to dry overnight and then apply a second coat. After the joint compound has dried completely, the area should be sanded, primed and painted.

For more information on home improvement and more information on drywall repair, take a look at our comprehensive home improvement guide at http://www.home-improvement4u.com. Also, check out our forum at: http://www.home-improvement4u.com where you can chat with an expert contractor about drywall repair or any home improvement question you may have.

Brooke Sikula is a freelance writer based in Ventura, CA and maintains her own website at http://www.brookesikula.com. She is also a regular contributor to http://www.get-home-improvement.com.

Interior Roof Shaped Ceiling