Wood Stair Cleats Problems - Stairway Remodeling

I would imagine most people don't even know what it wood stair cleat is, in construction we have so many words that describe the same thing. A stair cleat is another word for a thread bracket. In other words it's the part of the stairway that connects the stair stringer to the stair step. These have been used for years and over time, most of them will develop the same problem.

Most wood stair cleats loosened up and create a safety hazard. If the stairs are located outside in extreme weather conditions, for example, if it rains or snows a lot, extremely humid humid weather, or extremely hot and dry temperatures, your staircase might not last that long, if it is or isn't maintained properly. It's not a bad idea to use steel or concrete for stairways in these climates.

If you're ever walking up a set of stairs with wood cleats and the stair steps feel a little loose or wiggly, make sure you examined the stair cleats for safety. It's not uncommon for someone to be walking up or down a set of wood stairs and having the stair step or tread giveaway because the wood cleats has loosened.

If the wood stair cleats are nailed to the stair stringer, the nails can loosen up, causing it to become loose, as you walk up and down the stairs applying pressure to the stair cleat, this will create movement in between the stair step and the stair stringer. This could cause the cleat to crack, break and separate the connection between the stair step in the stair stringer.

I would suggest using metal brackets instead of wood cleats. The metal brackets will not crack or disintegrate like some wood cleats. Stair building brackets of course can loosen up and should be maintained regularly.

If you decide to use wood stair cleats, I would suggest using screws instead of nails and drilling holes in the wood stair cleats, most of the time this will prevent cracking the cleat. Try to use a thicker material for the stair cleat, for example using a 2 x 4 with lag screws and washers would be better than using a 1 x 4 with nails.

If you're walking up a set of stairs and a stair step feels loose, contact the owner of the property and let them know, they have a problem with their staircase.

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 is currently working on more stair building books and adding useful content to help solve problems created by the lack of construction knowledge in the building industry.

Fascia And Siding Problem

Why Basement Remodeling?

With the long-running housing crunch in New York caused by the influx of people wanting to be a part of it; smaller living units have become the more popular choice posing as the more affordable option. Naturally, one thing that New York homeowners would have in mind when thinking of undertaking a home improvement project would be more living space. Instead of gaining a home addition that requires tearing down walls and extending the area of your homes, the best possible solution is exhausting the possibilities that any unused area in your home has to offer. This makes basement remodeling an ideal project.

Now you are thinking, 'Why would I want to use my dungeon-like basement when I could extend and create another floor above my roof or enlarge an existing room?' To answer this and lay out more benefits, here are several points explaining why basement remodeling is the best way to go:

- Basement remodeling is a lot cheaper to work on to add square footage to your current living area than a full home addition. Even with most or with every same feature and design, it would only end up costing just a chunk of the whole budget that a full-scale home addition amounts to. With the latter, there would still be a need to not only demolish any existing wall or roof, you would also have to rebuild another to surround the additional expanse. But with remodeling your basement all the crucial structural foundations are already built like the walls, flooring and ceiling.

- Unlike other home improvement projects, basement remodeling involves an area which is not much frequented and is quite isolated. So even when the project is undergoing, you and your family will not be required to put up with so much of the hassles such as the noise caused by the ongoing construction as well as the traffic of contractors and other workers going about their works.

- Being literally surrounded by earth, the basement is typically cooler even if the sun is sizzling hot on summers and warmer during chilly winter months. So no matter what finish you plan and come up with, it will surely be enjoyed with the added benefit of its energy-efficiency.

- The ready availability and easy access to plumbing makes adding another bathroom or a kitchenette ideal. You can do your basement remodeling to result to a luxuriant personal spa, turning every inch of your basement into a haven of utter comfort. But even if you have other plans, the new room could still make good use of the added bathroom or kitchenette. This idea would not only considerably boost the quality of living in your home but add real value to it as well.

- When thinking of the best finish for your basement remodeling project, you can take advantage of the compact nature of the structures making up the basement and its intentional remoteness from the rest of your home. These characteristics make up for utmost privacy as well as great sound proofing. You could opt to have a playpen, home office, music room, and home theatre out of the project finish.

These enumerated, excellently answers why basement remodeling. Another consideration to include in your home improvement project is a qualified basement remodeling contractor. With this, you are just some steps away from project success.

Eugene Makeev has been in the home improvement industry for a while. His skills and expertise, which have been polished through time, are now used to help New York home owners avoid the common pitfalls in home improvements by matching their needs with the right, prescreened Basement Contractor New York. Feel free to use our Basement Remodeling Calculator.

Exterior Remodeling - Fiber-Cement Siding Compared to Vinyl Siding

In the world of remodeling the exterior of your home, there are several things to consider when comparing fiber-cement siding to vinyl siding.

Disguising the Problem

Vinyl siding is sometimes used as a cover-up to be placed over the old damaged cladding. The current problems may still exist. Sometimes it may be improperly installed. This invites insects and moisture to build up behind the panels, and may even go through the structure of the home.

Flammable

Vinyl facing may melt or burn if it too close to a heat source such as your grill or a close by fire. The flammability of the cladding is such a concern that some counties/districts are starting to educate homeowners about its natural flammability.

Fiber-cement facing is non-combustible when exposed to significant amount of heat or flame. It has been appreciated for this safety feature. It is also approved for fire-rated structure.
Fading

All colors fade from the sun and there are several options that you can do to replace vinyl cladding. You can install a replacement piece and try to find the matching color of your original siding. You can also replace all the cladding again if you can't find the matching color. You may also paint the facing, but keep in mind this type of facing is made to expand and contract which will cause the paint to chip and peel over time.

Fiber-cement facing can be painted any color that you desire. It will also remain longer than with wood. It won't crack and peel as quickly as vinyl.

Warranty

Always look at the warranty before your purchase. Look closely at the "Life-Time" to see how many years the warranty really covers and also what is covered. Check the "Normal Weathering" section to see what their definition is of normal weathering.

Fiber-cement facing may be found to have a 50 year transferable limited product warranty, and a 15 year finish warranty. This warranty is good for even the most sever climates.

Poor Quality and Aesthetics

Vinyl siding may not look as natural as wood. It has overlapping seams and fake wood grains that try to copy the appearance of wood.

Fiber-cement siding has the beauty of real wood with the ability to be painted any color and not have the chipping and peeling of vinyl or wood. There are no overlapping seams to take away from the natural appearance it will lend to the home.

Weather Resistant

Fiber-cement cladding is a very durable product that can even withstand the most severe climates. It will not go brittle in the cold or be damaged by flying debris like the other type of cladding is known to do.
Thickness

The great amount of thickness that accompanies fiber-cement cladding adds to the products strength that provides impact resistance from wind or hail.

The finest vinyl siding is only 5/100th inch thick.

These are several things you need to consider when investing in the exterior of your home. In the long run, having fiber-cement siding is aesthetically and financially more sound than having vinyl siding which is an inferior product.

Mr. Oliver is a marketing agent of Blue Ridge Exteriors. The siding contractor provides James Hardie Siding throughout the Richmond Virginia area. For more information on their James Hardie Siding please visit their website.

Carpentry and Construction Technology Program

The construction industry is one industry which offers a good number of employment opportunities today, especially to carpenters. As well as new construction projects, carpenters continue to be in demand in repair and remodeling work. Specifically, the markets which are most promising for these skilled workers are Residential building with the rise in housing plans, as well as commercial carpentry. In 2006 alone, carpenters held approximately 1.5 million jobs.

Some factors attributed to the high demand for Carpentry and Construction technicians include the imminent high rate of retirement of workers in the coming years and the comparatively smaller number of people with the right carpentry and construction qualifications getting into the industry. It is actually being forecast that the number of salary jobs in the construction industry will continue to grow by an average of 11 percent until 2014.

As the construction industry maintains its competitiveness, more training programs are being offered by vocational and technical institutions. People who would like to make themselves more valued employees can do so by earning an associate degree in carpentry and construction technology in less than two years.

Carpentry involves a variety of work from blueprint reading, cutting and sizing wood and other construction materials, installing drywall and windows, roof framing, laying floors, making cabinets and building stairs among many others.

Due to the nature of their job, well-rounded carpenters who can work in remodeling and residential and commercial construction with ease have a greater potential for advancement. More than all the workers involved in construction, the carpenters utilize the highest number of hand tools ranging from the hammer, chisel, sanders as well as power tools such as saws and electric drills.

Although carpentry skills can be gained while doing actual work, there are now vocational schools that offer formal training and apprenticeships on this field. Employers want an employee who can come to work already equipped with the carpentry skills he or she needs to have to do a good job. Additionally, most employers prefer to hire carpenters who have undergone apprenticeship because of the extensive training it provides. Some even give weight to previous experience in the military service.

Carpenters who want to land in an entry-level job are not necessarily required to have college education. High school graduates with the right skills, notably in mathematics and problem solving, good eye and hand coordination as well as physically fitness can are more likely to be qualified to start working.

However, before one is considered as a skilled carpenter, several years of formal education and hands-on training through apprenticeship are vital.

The proper instruction and basic training can be gained from accredited vocational and technical schools as well as from online programs. A course in carpentry and construction technology normally combines classroom lecture and practical or on-the-job training.

With the right knowledge and skills, any carpenter can outshine other applicants for the job and has a bigger opportunity to start work at a higher level compared to those with no formal training. As they gain experience, they can later advance to the position of either carpentry supervisor or general construction supervisor.

Construction projects show no sign of stopping in the future. Whether there's a global financial crisis or not, structures from houses to commercial buildings, roads to bridges will always be built. Carpenters who have good experience and are capable of performing different tasks have a bright future ahead of them.

Triangle Tech equips students with the skills for succeeding. With comprehensive Carpentry & Construction Technology courses students learn modern construction methods along with age-old traditions of craftsmanship. When you complete the Carpentry training program, Triangle Tech will help you with Job Placement and help you find the job you've always wanted.

Forklift Inspection

Having been in the equipment sales business for nearly 30 years, I get asked a few questions on a consistent basis.

Most frequently I'm asked, "How do I know if I'm getting a quality piece of equipment?

Or "What should I be looking for when I buy that used iron?"

Well of course that depends on what you are looking for. There are different inspections that need to be done for different categories of equipment. And because there are so many types of equipment being manufactured today there isn't enough time to cover every one of them, at least not in one article.

What I will do though is address a different piece every month and hopefully that will answer the majority of your questions as we go through-out the rest of the year.

Of course if you have a specific question you can always call or e-mail me and if I don't know the answer, I can find the answer for you in short order.

This month let's start with Forklifts;

The most common type is the Industrial straight mast forklift. For the sake of space we'll concentrate on a 5,000 lbs capacity machine. But this really could apply to any standard straight mast machine.

Let's go right to the heart of any piece of equipment, the engine.

Check the oil level, and when you have the dip stick out of the engine, run the oil over your fingers, see if you feel any dirt or grit in the oil itself. Check the color. If it has a milky or watery look to it, you may have cooling system problems. How is the thickness of the oil? Is it fresh or has it lost its viscosity? Then finally smell it. Does it smell burnt or just smell like oil? This isn't as through as having an oil sample run, but as a quick inspection, it can tell you if the machine has been serviced lately.

Next let's take a look at the machines physical structure.

Inspect the mast. Look inside the channel where the different stages ride up and down.

Are there any shiny or worn spots? Any metal shavings present? Start the machine up. Does the mast move up and down smoothly or does it bind up? Does it chatter on the way down? Binding could mean a structural problem possibly even a bent mast or carriage assembly. Check out the hoses. Is there any excessive wear, cracked covering or leaks? Then inspect the lift cylinders and tilt cylinders. Look for pitting, scrapes or missing chrome on the rods themselves. This will eventually cause leaks. And of course check for obvious leaks. If the machine is equipped with a side shift operate that and check for all of the above on that cylinder as well.

Check the area where the mast connects to the forklift. Is it free of cracks and look well lubricated. Check out any pins and or bushings. Same thing, free of cracks and well lubricated? Check the carriage out itself. Is it bent? Does it have a back rest? And are the fasteners tight. Inspect the areas where the forks are attached. Does it look in good condition? Finally check the forks themselves. Are they straight? If they have holes cut in them, (for a trailer ball hitch) remember that may have changed the temper of the metal on the forks and cause them to be weaker.

Continue on with the structure inspecting the machines ROPs (roll over protection) to make sure it hasn't had something dropped on it or been flipped over on its side. Any damage here could cause you liability down the road if someone were to be injured due to a damaged ROPs.

Look at the back end of the machine to see if you can check the condition of the steer axle and steer cylinder. Check for leaks and any major play in the steering assembly, ball joints and axles.

Now it's time to operate the lift. Make sure the seat belt is in good condition and USE IT.

Start the machine again and check for the transmission operation. Forward and reverse. The machine should move smoothly without major delays or transmission slippage. Does it have an inching pedal? And does it operate correctly. Check the brakes. Also check the steering. Is it smooth without excessive play? There shouldn't be any offensive noises coming from the machine during these tests.

Operate all functions again on the forks, Lift up down, tilt forward and back and side shift side to side (if equipped). Some hydraulic sounds will be heard but it shouldn't be a growl or a scream.

There is nothing better than checking out a machine first hand to tell you if it's a good unit or if it's one that should be avoided at any price.

Remember:

You always get what you expect, when you take the time to inspect.

If these terms I've used are foreign to you, it might help to have your mechanic go with you to look at the machine. Or as always, you can call me if you need help with a machine.

Todd R. Moir is the owner and principal broker of equipwholesale and has been in the equipment industry since 1975. Working in the equipment rental industry gave Todd a solid background in how to buy and sell construction equipment. Contact him at todd@equipwholesale.com or at http://www.equipwholesale.com

Chocolate - Once Believed to Be the Food of the Gods is a Great Gift For Any Occasion

The cacao tree (botanical name Theobroma cacao, means "food of the gods") was an important part of the Myan and Aztec royal and religious cultures for centuries. Christopher Columbus is credited with introducing the cocoa bean, the main ingredient in chocolate, to King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella upon his return in 1492. Initially, chocolate was primarily enjoyed as a drink and was so expensive to produce, it was available only to the wealthy. By the 1800's, with the invention of the cocoa press, mass production, and processing techniques, the old coarse grained cocoa was replaced with a smoother textured cocoa creating the solid chocolate similar to the chocolate we enjoy today.

Chocolate was brought to the colonies in North America in the 1700s and has grown to become a major part of American culture. Chocolate enhances the flavor of almost everything. It covers nuts, pretzels, fruit, jellied candies, cookies, donuts, we dip it, we sip it, we serve it hot, we serve it cold, we add it to coffee, tea, cereal and protein bars. The variety of chocolate items available makes it a number one choice for gift giving. A elegantly packaged box of chocolates is an appropriate gift for almost any occasion with the largest percentage of boxed chocolates being sold for Valentine's Day and during the months of November and December.

The variety of chocolate items also makes it a wonderful choice for gift baskets. Several different boxes of chocolates can be combined with a box of cocoa, fudge, chocolate chip cookies and chocolate covered pretzels to create a gift basket that will please almost anyone. You'll find chocolate in some form or other in many themed gift baskets. It may be a chocolate scented candle, chocolate covered espresso beans or chocolate covered jalapeno chips. There's a chocolate for every taste.

One great feature of chocolate is that in its semi-liquid state, it can be poured and cast into any shape. Seasonal representations, like roses for Valentine's Day, bunnies for Easter, and Santas for Christmas are common. Chocolates imprinted with company names are being used to promote businesses. The imprinted chocolate may be a simple as a candy bar or may be somewhat creative. A software development firm may choose a chocolate CD imprinted with the company name as a promotional item, while a building contractor may choose a set of chocolate tools.
An elegant box of imported chocolates makes an impressive warm call gift or a thoughtful thank you for a referral. When you think gift, think chocolate.

Marie is the owner and chief designer at Laurel Mountain Basket Company, the New England gift basket service voted "Best In The Valley" by the Valley Advocate Readers Poll 5 years in a row and chosen amoung the Rave Reviews! Top 100 for 2007. Visit her at http://www.laurelmtbasket.com

Great Stair Building Books Can Make The Difference

Where do we go to buy stair building books? Do we go to the major retailers like Amazon or Barnes & Noble? I have found over the years the information in most of these books I have purchased from these stores has a lot of fluff with very little common sense stair building application.

I bought one stair building book that had information on handrails. The front cover looked great and I thought this was going to be a great book reading the reviews from Amazon. When I finally got the book in the mail, I would say about one third of it was math tables for building elaborate wooden hand railing's. These tables were not easy to understand along with the rest of the book.

Back when I bought the book on building stair handrails it dawned on me that most of the construction workers I have met during my 30 years of working in the field were not very good outside of basic math. Now I knew a lot of carpenters that could read a measuring tape and use a framing square pretty good. But when it came to advanced geometrical construction projects like a stair hand railing system this was out of our league.

Reading this book or should I say parts of it gave me an idea to write a book of my own, starting with basic stair building I took all the fluff or the hard to understand advanced stair building applications out of my book, How to Build a Straight Set of Stairs.

I put a lot of time into creating an illustration for every possible part of building a simple set of stairs. I have probably built over 2000 sets of stairs during my lifetime and have explained and taught basic and advanced stair building to other carpenters. Understanding what parts of the stair construction process they understood, I was able to improve my skills as a stair building teacher.

Most people do not need advanced stair building skills to construct a simple straight set of stairs. If you are building a straight set of stairs and would like a stair building book with lots of easy to understand illustrations along with simplified directions you have found it.

We're building more stair building books to help contractors, carpenters, handymen and homeowners understand the stair building process.

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 is currently working on more building stairs books and adding useful content to help solve problems created by the lack of construction knowledge in the building industry.

Healthy Humidity - Home Tips

During fall or winter, there are only two words to describe the weather - cold and dry. If you've ever experienced going through the entire season before, you'll agree that the conditions are neither healthy nor comfortable. Your lips get dry, your skin gets flaky and you have to nearly drown yourself in lotion and moisturizer. There's an easy way to make dry conditions more comfortable for you and your household - with a humidifier.

What's a Humidifier?

It's basically a small household appliance that balances the humidity in the air by releasing moisture in the form of water vapor. The smallest portable humidifiers typically use a wick mechanism where there's an absorbent material soaked in water which releases the moisture into the surrounding air to achieve equilibrium. There are also larger units for the whole house, humidifiers that can manage your whole house.

Different Kinds of Humidifiers

Aside from the usual wick-type room humidifiers, you'll also find ultrasonic, cool mist and warm mist humidifiers widely available on the market today. Each type has its own advantages and disadvantages that you may want to consider if you're planning to buy a unit for your home.

Cool mist and ultrasonic humidifiers work similarly in that they both 'throw' water into the air to increase humidity. A rotating disk flings water at a diffuse in a cool mist dehumidifier to disperse the water molecules into the air. Ultrasonic dehumidifiers use a metal diaphragm that vibrates rapidly to shake the water droplets up into finer particles and create a cool fog.

Vaporizer or warm mist humidifiers, on the other hand, have a reservoir of water. The water is gradually boiled to create steam which is then released into the air. Warm mist humidifiers are generally seen as the 'healthier' option because, unlike ultrasonic and cool mist humidifiers, they don't just release water into the air. The boiling process gets rid of the microorganisms and foreign particles that might be present in the water.

The Health of Benefits from Humidifiers

Although comfort is the most obvious advantage of a humidifier, you're actually getting a lot of health benefits along with it. Your body wasn't designed to thrive in dry environments, and your skin reacts negatively to conditions that aren't humid enough. Better, younger-looking skin is the first thing you'll notice after you install a humidifier in your home.

Dust particles are likelier to float around and circulate when conditions are dry. That means it's easier for the dust particles to get inhaled or to stick to skin where they could trigger dangerous allergic reactions. When there's an ample amount of moisture in the air, dust particles tend to get bogged down and safely clump from the floor where they can't cause allergies.

Add all that to the less static electricity and the better indoor conditions in your home. With all those benefits, it's undeniable that a humidifier will definitely be a good investment for your home. Whether you're getting the smallest room humidifier or an extra-large whole house humidifier, it's a purchase that your whole household will be thankful for.

Herman White is an expert author who writes on various topics. He is constantly involved in writing valuable and informative articles with an interesting pitch that makes readers know more about the things. Keep an eye or scribe to read more from Herman White.

Discolored Roof Shingles

Tips For Dealing With a Manufactured Home Builder

If you are considering buying a prefabricated or manufactured home then you will be dealing with a manufactured home builder. They are much easier to deal with then your average building contractor is, but all the same you will want to get the best deal that you can get.

A Lot of Design and Decorating Choices to Make

One quandary that you will face is the astounding number of choices and options that you will encounter prior to your home being built. It's just not like it used to be, because todays manufactured home builders are all out to offer more then the next guy in design and decorating options.

Take Your Time and Study Your Options

The secret to making the right decisions is to first get yourself acquainted with the information. Also, do your absolute best to avoid any snap decisions that you may regret later.

Choices in Fireplaces

For instance, you will be offered any number of choices in custom fireplaces and mantels. If you have never owned a home with a fireplace then you must take into consideration whether you want a gas or wood fireplace, so give it some thought beforehand.

Take a Virtual Three Dimensional Tour

Another new marketing trend for todays manufactured home builder is three dimensional computer software that allows a prospective client to actually take a virtual tour of their home before it is even built. It's a great tool for helping a buyer to make the right choices when selecting out their options.

Study Up and Ask Questions

So study the process well and don't be afraid to ask some questions. Can they install speakers in each room of the home your are considering buying? Also, what types of security features can you get with the manufactured home that you are considering buying?

Written by Jayden Jefferson. Come visit my website for more info on modern modular homes as well as modular manufactured homes.

What Kind Of Wood Rot

Model Remodeling Contract

This simplified model owner and contractor agreement covers the major areas of consideration for most major home improvement projects. While not every provision may be appropriate for all contracts, it does draw attention to the most important subjects relevant to contractual obligations. There may be additional terms or legal provisions that might be suggested by the homeowner, an attorney, or contractor which might be appropriate for the job under consideration. It is always wise to have your legal counsel review the contract if the job is large and/or unique.

Because the circumstances vary considerably from one job to another, we make no claims, express or implied, that this simplified owner and contractor agreement will protect all owners or all contractors against all possible circumstances, and expressly disclaim any liability therefor. It is also fair and in the best interest of the homeowner and the contractor that the description of work to be done be as thorough and specific as possible. Plans and/or materials lists and/or other relevant information should be referenced in the document and attached as an addendum.

Homeowners can avoid many problems by selecting a qualified contractor. While there are no guarantees, risks are reduced if the homeowner makes certain that the contractor has all required licenses in the state or locality, is covered by workers compensation, property, and personal liability insurance, and is bonded. Ask to see a copy of the insurance certificate or the name of the insurance carrier so you can verify the policy.

Check the local Better Business Bureau to make sure there is not a history of dissatisfied customers. Ask for current references. Best are those with jobs just completed or still underway. Since both subcontractors and employees change over time this gives a better measure of current capability and performance.

Ask if they are a member of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry, the National Association of Home Builders Remodelers Council, and/or any of the trade associations representing specific sectors of the remodeling industry. Most offer educational programs that keep members current on technology and management practices, and many have certification programs. Membership in these trade associations is one likely indicator of the contractor's commitment to the trade and to professionalism.

In most regions a down payment representing costs of materials and other early costs is expected. Beyond that homeowners should seek to break the job down into as many discrete components as is reasonable, and to keep the payments related to the costs of materials and labor for that component. Homeowners shouldn't get into a position where they've paid 90% of the total price and the job is only half done.

Remember, a major remodeling job is a complex undertaking bringing together thousands of parts and components, a variety of human skills, and a variety of uncontrollable variables (not the least of which is weather). Start early and allow plenty of time for unanticipated delays at each stage of the process. Unavoidable delays are not uncommon. Small glitches are likely under the best of circumstances. Keep your sense of humor.

Richard J. Roll, Founder and President of the American Homeowners Association (AHA) has helped over 1 million homeowners in all 50 states save money on buying and maintaining their homes. For more tools, information and resources to help you maintain your home and instantaneously save money go to http://www.ahahome.com for a special offer from AHA.

Exposed Wall Wire Mesh

Success Starting in Your 40s

You're going to find it hard to believe, but very seldom does an individual peak with creativity until they reach the age of 40. The average individual usually makes the most money between the age of 40 and 60. This doesn't have anything to do with retirement. Most highly creative people keep producing until they die.

If you're 55 years old and looking for a new career or can't seem to find a job in the profession you have worked at your whole life, don't be alarmed or fearful. Do you think you could start your own business? Is there something, you have always wanted to do but have put it off until retirement, or until you had enough time to do it?

Why wait, if you can't find a job in a business you never truly enjoyed, maybe you can find a new job doing something you love.

I have worked in construction for 30 years and at 44 years old started to pursue a career in writing and plan to create award winning websites and best selling books, for the rest of my life. This doesn't mean, I won't work in construction ever again, but I will become a best selling author within the next 20 years.

Most people don't take the time required to learn a new profession. If you're sincerely interested in another career, and you're 50 years old, there is plenty of people out there to give you hope and inspiration.

If you would like some proof, here's a couple successful American businessman who succeeded after the age of 40. Henry Ford is probably one of the most popular and became extremely successful after the age of 40. Andrew Carnegie, an American industrialists who transformed the steel business and did not start reaping the rewards of his efforts until he was well past the age of 40.

I gathered this information from the book "Think and Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill. There is a section in the book where he talks about people after the age of 40 with phenomenal success. Anyone who's interested in gaining wealth through spirituality or finances should read this book.

I've often heard the statement, "People Often Over Estimate What They Can Do in a Year and Often Underestimate What They Can Do in a Decade." If you want to accomplish something after the age of 40, I would advise you to start with a plan and then put that plan and the action. Your plan could take five to 15 years to achieve or longer but think about the rewards, whether spiritual or financial.

Gregory Vanden Berge is working to promote personal development ideas and spiritual reform. He has started a web site for videos and articles based on current information about subject he is very familiar with.

"Education has freed me, to pursue other ideas and release me from the bondage and fear of organized religion."

Gregory Vanden Berge

Ceiling Plumbing Leak Repair

Comment on Wood Deck Repairs

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

Wood Attic Vents

Home Selling Tips - Best Real Estate Advice Ever

One of the most important things to remember when selling your home is to keep it as clean as possible. If you need help or don't have the time to organize your stuff, you can hire a home staging professional in your area. Ask your real estate professional for more information.

1. Remove any clutter from the home and place it in storage. Do not store this stuff on the property if you don't have enough room. Storing clutter in closets or in your garage, will often make these areas look smaller. By removing clutter or even large pieces of furniture, the rooms will look larger.

2. Disconnect yourself emotionally from your home. This is a big problem for people who have lived in their house for long periods of time. If you've raised a family here, the children could have emotional ties also to the home. Some home sellers are looking for someone special to buy their home, if you've got the time and money to wait, you can be selective but be careful, because the longer you wait, the market could go up or down.

3. When your real estate professional is showing the house, it's always a good idea to leave the home until the potential homebuyers are gone. One example of this would be if you were in a bad mood or didn't have a good day and were a little upset at the world. Your mood could cause potential homebuyers to lose interest in the property. I've seen this more than once.

4. Make sure everything is operating properly. This would include doors, door knobs, windows, kitchen appliances, garage door openers, cabinet drawers, bathroom fixtures, toilets, faucets, lights, switches, electrical outlets and anything else that moves, slides, turns or rotates that is part of the home.

5. The Interior and exterior walls of the home should be in good shape. Make sure there's no termite damage, wood rot, peeling paint, broken windows or holes in the walls.

6. Make sure the flooring is in good shape. Some real estate professionals will suggest, replacing the carpeting with a neutral color. This method often works pretty good but I have seen plenty of homes that were re-carpeted and after the home was purchased the carpeting was replaced again, by the new owners. Just make sure the flooring is in good shape.

7. Here's a trick that definitely works a little magic when selling a home. Leave some cookies or a nice fruit bowl on the dining room table. There is no need to leave a sign that says "Eat Me". It gives the home a warm feeling, almost like a country atmosphere.

8. Even better than home selling tip number seven would be baking some cookies just before the perspective buyers arrive, it's not the cookies, it's the smell from the cookies that most people cannot resist.

These are just a few home selling tips but the most important is to keep the inside and outside of the home clean.

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.

Don't buyers sell a home without checking how the problems with poor home repairs.

Why Dont We Listen To Our Parent

Remodeling a Mobile Home - What Are Basic Cost Increments

The cost of remodeling a simple home can be estimated very simply by a market survey or by using cost estimating software. It is easy because simple home remodeling is very common and everyone has a bit of its knowledge. You can have an exact idea about the expenses of contractors, laborers and even the materials that would be used for remodeling a home. However, it becomes a little different when you are talking about estimating cost of remodeling a mobile home.

Remodeling a mobile home costs a little more as compared to normal homes. You can't get an exact idea about the cost of remodeling a mobile home. Its costs keep changing. However, you can use some of the below mentioned ideas in this article to know about the basic issue which make remodeling mobile homes more expensive as compared to fixed homes.

The Basic Cost Difference between Mobile Homes and Fixed Homes
You can get some ideas about the cost of remodeling a mobile home by making a simple comparison between the older homes and the latest models. You will find a lot of differences in their models as well as in their costs. The basic difference between newer and older models is the implementation of building codes and civil laws. Earlier, there were no such restrictions for building codes but now they are essential. It gives you an idea of possible costs for remodeling a mobile home.

What it says openly is that the costs of remodeling a mobile home these days are much higher as compared to the old ones. Remodeling your mobile home in alignment with the city codes might cost you a lot of money. You can, however, remodel the ceiling area because the mobile homes come with factory made ceiling areas but removing the old ceiling for remodeling your mobile home also costs much. The job gets doubled here as you will have to pay for removing the ceiling of your mobile home as well as for installing a new ceiling in your mobile home.

In a mobile home almost everything is settled inside the factory, even the floors of the mobile home. They are finished facing the walls and when you are remodeling your mobile home, you have to spend double of your time and money to fix the new flooring. It too costs a lot and as double as compared to ordinary homes. Moreover, in a mobile home, neither the doors nor the windows are of standard size. They vary in height and setting up new doors & windows causes a lot of effort. Experts have to work very precisely to make the new doors fit into their places. Here again, costs get doubled.

However, you can find good rates of remodeling a mobile home at times if the price of the materials and costs of labors have decreased. But it would still be more expensive as compared to remodeling a fixed home.

There is a lot more that you can get to know about remodeling, constructing and improving a home. All the related details are available at http://www.theyarelocal.com/articles/remodeling/index.php

Bottom Plate Gap For Shear Wall

Cost Effective Stair Building

What is the most cost effective way of building stairs? Why do the tract homes use on site methods of construction? When you think of a factory assembling a product on a assembly line you think why not a home. Why do they still build homes on lots or residential home sites?

If homes could be built in a factory cheaper than on site that is exactly what every home builder would be doing. They just haven't quite figured it out yet. When dealing with the large amounts of materials required to build a house and of course the expense of shipping. It is not cost effective to build a conventional home in a factory and ship it over long distances.

This is the biggest problem with cost effective stair construction. Most prefabricated stairs you will notice are spiral stairs. These stairs are smaller than most stairs that are used for multi level construction.

Spiral stairs are hard for your average carpenter to build. These stairs can be purchased from a factory easily and quite inexpensive.

The stairs in your average two story house are going to weigh about 3 times the amount of a spiral set of stairs that could be shipped in a cost effective way. Spiral stairs are not going to be the main stairway in a home and normally go up to a loft or an attic. Most spiral stairs don't meet the minimum building requirements for the main stairway in your home.

When building tract homes the lumber is shipped in bulk directly to the house site where it will be assembled. The lumber and other building materials will be shipped once. If it went to a factory and then assembled it would also have to be sent to the site on which the house was to be built. This added expense in shipping the materials twice is the problem for such a large and heavy item such as a set of stairs.

There are other prefabricated types of stairs that are built locally and the shipping usually is not a major expense. If you are building a stairway that is not to difficult to build for the average carpenter it will normally be cost effective to build the stairs on site. This would require having the carpenter build the stairs as part of the rough framing and then after drywall have the finish carpenter build the stair handrail system.

Visit us now for easy Home Constuction Help

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 is currently working on more building stairs books and adding useful content to help solve problems created by the lack of construction knowledge in the building industry.

Judging Your Childrens Partners

Repairing a Sinkhole Damaged Home? Beware of the Money Pit

If you buy, sell or own real estate in Florida or have been a resident in Florida for any length of time, you are probably well aware that Florida is more prone to sinkholes than hurricanes or tropical storm damage combined. It's impossible to determine the amount of monetary damage caused annually by Florida sinkholes. One sinkhole damaged home costs on average between $100,000 to over $150,000 so we could do the math, however, we just don't know how many homes or businesses are actually affected.

Although there is a database maintained by The Florida Geological Survey of the number of reported sinkholes in Florida-no one really knows the true number of sinkhole homes or occurrences of sinkholes in Florida and the only data that is collected are data based on the number of observed Florida sinkholes. The Florida Geological Survey (FGS) has gathered data on Florida Karsts (sinkholes) since 1907 in an attempt to understand the relationship between karsts and the state's groundwater resources and aquifer systems.

However fascinating to geologists -sinkhole formation in Florida and its relationship to "karsts" and the "aquifer" is the last thing the owner of sinkhole damaged home cares about. If you suspect your home has been damaged by a sinkhole than what you need is "HELP." If you have seen or experienced any one of these 9 common signs of sinkhole activity, than you should promptly educate yourself on what to do and maybe most importantly, what not to do next.

1.) You have depressions or an opening in the ground.

2.) Cracks running in the interior floors, walls or ceiling.

3.)The windows and doors do not open and close properly.

4.) There is a slope in the floor of the house.

5.) Stair step cracks on the outside walls of the house.

6.) Cracking or buckling of the concrete slab floors.

7.) The well water has dirt or debris in it.

8.) Feeling the house shift under your feet.

9.) The house next door to your home is a Florida sinkhole home.

There could be other signs of sinkhole damage to your home such as plumbing and other various problems, and it is best to seek the advice of an expert sinkhole engineer in order to determine what steps to take. Are You Prepared for a Sinkhole Damaged Home?

Owning a sinkhole damaged home can be costly and even once repaired; owning a home that has been affected by a Florida sinkhole can be a continuous nightmare. Most homeowners believe that once a sinkhole damaged home is repaired, it is no longer a financial or otherwise dangerous risk. This is not the case. Owners of unrepaired sinkhole damaged homes can spend in excess of $150,000 repairing a home only to have the sinkhole and the damage reappear over and over again. Often, selling your home to an investor who will buy your sinkhole home "unrepaired" is the wisest choice. As difficult as it may be to part with the damaged home, it most often saves a homeowner financially and in some cases, removes them from what could be a very dangerous situation.

Repairing a Sinkhole Damaged Home? "Beware of the Money Pit"

The cost of repairing a sinkhole damaged home is astronomical. Most homeowners think that if a sinkhole damages their home, the insurance company will have to cover the cost of the repairs. The truth is that, the insurance companies do not encourage using combined methods of repair and they will only pay up to the policy limits for the repair of the house. The problem is compounded and somewhat of a double edged sword as most insurance companies try very hard to avoid paying out to the limits of the policy. Additionally, insurance companies often recommend that a homeowner opt for only one particular repair method versus a combined proven method of sinkhole repair. This makes it even more susceptible to recurrent damage and more costly repairs.

What Options Do Sinkhole Damaged Homes Owners Have?

Owning a sinkhole damaged home can affect an owner's finances in numerous ways. Not only does it suck the value out of your home, it sucks you dry from the high cost of initial and recurrent repairs. But, what options do you have if you own a sinkhole home? The options are pretty straight forward--- Stay and repair or sell and move into a home that is safe and free from sinkhole damage. Most importantly, selling releases the owner from the big money pit. (No pun intended.) This means, no initial or recurrent repairs must be covered by the owner if sold to an investor of sinkhole damaged properties.

What Buyers Want to Know about Your Sinkhole Home & What You Must Disclose

If you think you can sell your sinkhole damaged home after you have repaired it -think again. First, you must disclose this information to potential buyers of your home. Secondly, insurance companies will normally advise a buyer seeking property insurance that your home is listed as a sinkhole property-- if in fact you have been determined to be in a sinkhole "area." Of course there is no real ready reference on this with the exception of maps of past sinkhole activity in the area as well as the area geology reports. Insurance availability is a valid concern and buyers who do not specialize in buying sinkhole damaged homes, most always walk away from this type of sale. Many buyers and home owners are denied insurance even if there has been a report of a sinkhole within a half mile or less of the home they wish to purchase. Again, this is just another reality of owning a sinkhole damaged home. Insurance companies have the right to not issue an insurance policy on the basis of sinkholes in the "area."

If you believe yours is a sinkhole damaged home educating yourself prior to calling your insurance company is recommended. From finding a sinkhole attorney, an unrepaired sinkhole home buyer or to learn more about the different types of Florida sinkholes and sinkhole repair, visit http://tampalots.com. Florida Florida Statutes. 627.7072 refers to sinkhole insurance claims and you can read it in its entirety on the website mentioned above.

For many Florida homeowners, sinkholes are a very common natural occurrence and just another price we pay for living in paradise! All you can do if you're a victim of a Florida sinkhole and you find yourself saddled with an unrepaired sinkhole home is take the recommendations of a qualified engineer, file a claim with the help of a good sinkhole lawyer who may help you get the most from your insurance policy or sell your sinkhole home to a buyer who specializes in sinkhole homes.

Chris Langee is an expert in the repair and purchase of sinkhole damaged homes in Florida. Chris has extensive experience and knowledge about Florida sinkholes including the cause and solutions to sinkhole damaged property. If you are curious about how sinkholes are formed, the Florida Aquifer, "Karsts" and the various types of sinkholes in Florida visit http://www.tampalots.com For general information about sinkhole insurance claims, Florida statutes or to locate a buyer for your sinkhole damaged home, please visit Chris's website. For over 17 years, Chris has been assisting homeowners with valuable information and resources as well as providing tangible relief to owners of sinkhole damaged homes.

Chris Langee and Bay Area Graphics & Marketing authored this article about Florida Sinkhole Damage in hopes of providing readers with comprehensive information that will help them survive the financial and emotional stress of owning a sinkhole damaged home.

Cut Hip Rafter Damage

Raising Your Grandchildren - Tips For Finding Help

Your grandchildren are living in your home. Now what? Raising your grandchildren is not an easy task and there are legal questions to be answered.

You are to be commended for taking on the task of raising a second family. I know you didn't ask for the job, but now it is yours.

Have you checked with a lawyer?

You may not feel you need one, but if it comes down to you having legal custody of your grandchildren you cannot afford to walk into court unprepared. Grandparents do have some legal rights now, but nothing is set in stone.

How are you doing financially?

Some of you may still be working and are able to absorb the extra expense of your new family. While, some may already be on a fixed income, used to be called retirement, and may be struggling to make ends meet.

How's your relationship with the parent of the grandchild?

That parent is still your child. Sometimes they are just in need of a little help until they can get life together. Sometimes they have gotten themselves into a mess and need some serious help. Help you may not be qualified to give.

Are there other grandparents involved?

You may desire to have your grandkids with you, but they may have been given to the other grandparents. That's the problem with this situation, you have some many people and personalities to deal with and that can be a big problem.

What about the home life the child or children came out from?

Sometimes this can be a real problem. There can be abuse, drugs, alcohol, pornography and who knows what else. The society your grandchildren live in today is much different from the one in which you grew-up.

Here's a few tips for overcoming these problems.

1. You really need a lawyer, even if you do not plan to get legal custody of the children. You need to know your rights and things do change.

2. Seek out financial advice. Proper financial planning is crucial if you are short on cash. You may want to investigate additional sources of income. If you have legal custody you may qualify for financial aid.

3. Check out various support groups. Some online forums offer limited legal advice and you can find others in the same position as you and can be a big moral booster.

4. There are several good books available. Check Amazon and others for suggestions.

The information in the raising grandchildren is limited right now, but I am sure that will change soon, as there are 4.5 million kids living with their grandparents in the United States. This is a huge market and I am sure there will be more help soon.

Click Here to find the information you need. I know how tough it is my two grandkids have lived with me for three years. Get the help you need at http://www.squidoo.com/grandparents-rights-1

Tips on How to Repair Credit Score Legally

Understanding every detail of information on the credit report is an important step to repair your credit score. Your credit report carries free credit score that the lenders look at before finalizing their lending decisions. A good credit score means that you can easily qualify for loans and credit products at low interest rates and attractive terms. Conversely, bad credit rating means that the lenders will stay away from you and even if they offer credit, that would attract high interest rates.

If you are having a negative credit rating, you need not worry because you can repair your credit legally on your own or with the help of legal credit repair companies. Moreover, you still have a chance of getting a loan with credit score that is not good because all creditors have their own guidelines of granting credit. Some lenders have special loan and credit products for people with bad credit. Still you should try to improve your credit rating and take steps to improve your credit legally because a good credit rating can help the lenders to offer you loans and credit at better terms.

The Myth and Reality of Fixing Credit Rating

Some credit repair companies lure you and convince you that they can help in credit repair by fixing credit ratings. You should remember there is nothing such as fixing credit rating. No matter what a credit repair company may offer you, the fact is that nobody can remove any up-to-date legal and accurate information from your credit report.

The credit repair companies can at best help you removing the errors and mistakes from your credit reports. A legal credit repair company can help you with debt consolidation and other legal means for debt reduction and credit repair.

If you find there is any incomplete or inaccurate information in your credit report, you can request for an investigation and take remedial measures on your own. You, as a consumer, have the full right to ask for an investigation of your credit report and fix the errors legally and that too without any monetary cost. If you do not have time for the same, you can take help of legal credit repair companies who can help you with necessary steps for how to repair your credit legally.

Self-credit Repair

For self-credit repair through legal means, you need to get the copies of your free annual credit reports from the legal credit reporting companies. Read and go through the credit reports thoroughly and check if there is any erroneous information on the credit reports. Any inaccurate or incomplete information in your credit report can inadvertently affect your chances of obtaining loans, insurance, job, house on rent etc. Therefore, it is well worth to inform the credit reporting companies about the errors with documentary proofs and get them corrected. You can legally challenge the wrong entries in writing.

The Federal Trade Commission is always there with you (the consumers) in providing assistance for your legal credit repair. The FTC maintains an online database of all civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in US. It can steer you for the help you may need for your credit repair. In this way, you will notice that you are slowly repairing credit rating.

Keep patience and make smart budgeting decisions. This way you will eventually be able to pay your creditors on time and prove yourself suitable for credit. This is a slow but effective way to repair your credit legally. This approach of credit repair on your own is far successful in the longer run as compared to engaging a credit repair company that indulges in illegal means for fixing credit rating.

Find more information on how to rebuild your credit report here. Did you know that you could obtain FREE annual credit report? Check out this link: free annual credit report.Also visit our site for instant cash advance: instant cash advance.

Missing Attic Insulation

Credit Repair Truth Or Dare

Credit Repair and the Great Illusion

Credit repair is a discovery process. The vast majority of consumers in the United States are intimidated by the thought of credit repair. The credit bureaus are viewed in the same light as the Internal Revenue Service; a temperamental and potentially ruthless big brother. Oddly enough, this perception could not be farther from the truth. It turns out that the credit bureaus are quite tame and even reasonable, if you know how to manage them.

Protecting the Myth

Like the Wizard of Oz, the credit bureaus live happily behind the curtain of illusion, benefiting from the aura of power. Let's dispel the myth a bit to spark your credit repair efforts. The credit bureaus are not government entities, nor do they have any government blessing. They are big business, and exist to make money. And they do a great job of it. They are well managed, well focused, and extremely profitable. And in spite of the fact that they have become indispensable intermediaries and guardians of your precious credit score, any communication from you is an unwanted burden on their bottom-line.

Credit Repair and the Truth

So, what went wrong? If the credit bureaus are doing such a great job of running their operations why are there so many errors in consumer credit files? Why is credit repair even needed? There is no contradiction here. Profitability and competence in no way guarantee an accurate product. In fact, by moderating the effort that goes into quality control the credit bureaus demonstrate their business savvy and bolster their bottom line. Does this seem outrageous? After all, your financial life depends on your credit scores. Shouldn't the credit bureaus be held to the highest level of accuracy when it comes to such important data? Yes and no.

Legislation Cuts Both Ways

Because of the importance of the product they offer, the credit bureaus have been on the business end of countless lawsuits. In fact, a day does not go by when a non-compliance lawsuit is not filed against one of the three major credit bureaus. The importance of credit repair and the groundswell of consumer concern have not escaped the notice of federal lawmakers. The law that governs the credit reporting industry and provides legal leverage used by professional credit repair services is called the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). There is much in the way of consumer protection built into the FCRA, but there is just as much protection for the credit bureaus.

Credit Repair to the Rescue

The law simply demands of the credit bureaus that reasonable steps be taken to maintain quality. And here is the essential point for all of those interested in credit repair to be aware of; reasonable steps may be determined by the credit bureaus based on the costs associated with implementation. In other words, if it costs too much to fix, it's going to stay broken. But, not to worry, you are not without a remedy. Credit repair to the rescue.

Credit Repair and the Bureaucracy

As frustrating as it may be to discover that there such a margin of error allowed in an industry that has so much power over your life, there are ways you can make sure that your credit report shines. All the credit repair tools you need are built into the same tome of law, the FCRA. Many people think of the FCRA as the consumer protection law that was designed to force the credit bureaus to provide more accurate data. It's not so.

Looking More Closely

A close reading will reveal the fact that the overriding focus of the consumer protection built into the FCRA provides consumers with basic legal rights to rectify credit reporting errors. This is a radical difference from forcing the bureaus to be accurate. The true message of the FCRA is, look out for you, because no one else will.

How Bad is it?

If the FCRA puts so much of the burden of accuracy on the consumer, it means, by inference, that in the absence of consumer participation credit reports are likely contain errors. And that is exactly what has occurred. Fully seventy-five percent of consumer credit reports contain errors and require credit repair. Fifty percent contain errors significant enough to cause those afflicted to pay premium interest rates and even get denied for loan requests.

The Law is Your Sword

Credit repair, as a result, is as an essential process in your life as a regular physical examination or tuning up your car. Credit repair is far more than a credit rejuvenation for those with past credit issues, it is a necessity for everyone. If you don't have the time to manage the credit repair process on your own, hire a professional. It's important, it's your credit, take care of it. Good luck!

Copyright 2008 James W. Kemish. All Content. All Rights Reserved.

Jim Kemish, a nationally recognized consumer advocate and credit repair expert, is the president and founder of Sky Blue Credit Repair, a leading credit repair service since 1989. Jim is also the president of Power Mortgage, a Florida mortgage company based in Delray Beach, Florida.

Stucco Paint Water Damage

Build Home Solar Panels to Help Reduce Or Eliminate Your Power Bills

The idea of using solar panels to produce electricity in your home is growing enormously popular day by day, especially the kind that you can build yourself. Solar panels produce electricity using the natural energy of the sun. These panels absorb the wavelengths of light and turn them into heat and power for the home. Homemade solar panels also work on most cloudy days because it is the light not the heat of the sun that is important. So many people just don't realise that, and decide that solar power can't work for them.

That said, bright sunshine is best, of course! It is easy to design and build your own home solar panels with the help of one of the many kits which can be found on the internet. These aren't kits of parts, they are kits containing designs, instructions and information, both written and video, which tell you every thing you need to build your own solar panels. They also give similar instructions for home made wind turbines, too, giving you two kits in one! The kits that are sold and used are not considered expensive and in addition the overall cost of the entire project is worth the funding; because the homemade solar panels will usually pay for themselves within the first few months of installation or being constructed.

These kits are really not expensive - some are less than $50 but can save you hundreds of dollars in time and materials which can be wasted if you try to go it alone. There will still be some cost of materials of course, but the saving in electricity will soon pay for that. For the most part, people who purchase these kits do all the work themselves, saving money on hiring professionals too. These kits are the fastest selling home improvement items on the internet at the moment proving that this is a product that really works. Of course, the advantages don't just stop with the cash savings. We are all coming under increasing pressure to preserve the environment and its resources.

You can see solar panels all over the place - on RVs, office buildings, factories and farms - and the number is increasing all the time. Oh yes, one other cash incentive is that some electricity companies will also buy your surplus electricity from you! Now that really is turning the tables on the giant utility companies, isn't it? Yet another good reason for building your own home solar panel.

Click here for more about free home power, home solar panels and reviews of different kits.

Sure Fire Tips For Termite Elimination

Termites are the most horrible devastating creatures that are available. Also known as white ants, these are home wrecks that eat on the wood structures of your home making them hollow and causing them to go weak. This means that your building will collapse slowly. Termite elimination is very easy. You can call professionals home to help you in this regard or there are other easy do it yourself methods that you can follow.

Termite elimination is possible when you first identify that your house is infested with these insects. If your house has lot of wood structures, then beware. You first need to look into your garden and find their colony. Termites cannot be identified very easily and hence the best methods of termite elimination require careful inspection of your home. Termites do not feed just on wood, but it even destroys other materials like cloth, carpets, paper etc.

The best methods employed in termite elimination include the use of termite barriers like poisoned soil or other physical baits. This will not allow the termites enter your house and hence they start infecting the walls outside your house and it will be easier to notice their presence. Thus with regular inspections you will be able to get rid of these termites.

You can treat the timber at your home. This is another method of termite elimination that you can easily perform. Spraying certain chemicals will make sure that the wood at home is not infected further with these termites.

When you are constructing the house, you can make use of termite resistant wood. These include the use of wood from the Turpentine tree or White Cypress or even the Sequoias. With all these important tips in mind you can get rid of termites very easily. You need not approach any professional pest protection agency. There are such simple steps that you can perform on your own and make sure that your house is free from all such termite infestation.

If you have these steps in mind, you will be able to deal with termites initially. For detailed information, you can visit Preventtermiteintrusion and Check the guide available for best methods of termite elimination forever.

Conveyor Belt Repair With Urethanes

Problem:Conveyor beltsreceive extreme wear from the impacting of large size aggregate. Mechanical clips can be used to temporarily repair torn or worn areas of the belt. Other options include vulcanizing or replacement. Both areexpensive and involve lengthy unscheduled shutdowns costing thousands of dollars per hour. In many cases, belts might not be accessible to repair equipment.

Solution:The damaged area, including the belt and mechanical clips were roughened using a grinding machine and wire wheel attachment. Surfaces were then chemically cleaned usinga degreasing solvent. Mechanical clips were then primed usinga urethane priming agent for metal. A coat ofurethane rubber primer was applied over the rubber section and allowed to cure for 15 minutes.Next, a urethane is mixed and applied over the complete repair area replacing the worn or missing rubber.The urethane is smoothed over with a putty knife and allowed to cure for 4 hours.

Urethanes are 100% solids and bond well to rubber and metal. Urethanes are very resistant to abrasion and in many cases will outwear the rubber belt material. Holes that do not damage the overall integrity of the belt can also be repaired by applying mesh material and coating the area with urethane. Urethanes are available in a wide variety of duromters and curing times. Urethanes can also protect equipment where there is sliding abrasion, vibration, expansion, or contraction.

Users should be make sure they have all materials on hand to make repairs before beginning the repair.Several "belt repair kits' are available commercially that contain all necessary materials for making long lasting, in-field repairs.

Larry Bly is the founder of http://www.thegluedepot.com and has over twenty years experience in repair and maintenance repair materials.

Easy Wall Repair, Home Video

Great video on how to fix a hole in your wall .

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.

Roofing Books
House Window Books

How To Install Shower Pan Liners

How to install shower pan liners is the critical skill for building a trouble-free shower. You do have several options for installing a shower pan. Read on to learn the basics of shower liner installation and some of the different options for building a long-lasting shower.

The Traditional Way

If you want a ceramic shower, the traditional way is still the most common way to build a shower pan. The traditional way is masonry construction. A masonry base is built and the ceramic tile is set in place over the masonry base. This method requires some skill and even art. But if you understand the basics, a handy person can install a shower that works right on the first try.

Over a sold sub-floor you build two layers of mortar and then set the tile over the top layer. The drain is a special drain with two layers of drain holes. The first mortar layer is poured and sloped to the bottom drain holes. After that first layer dries, a waterproof vinyl sheet is installed on top of the first layer. This sheet is the real key to waterproofing the floor. The sheet is run up the shower walls and glued to the shower drain base. Over the waterproof membrane goes the top mortar layer. The tile is installed over this layer and grouted in place.

The vinyl membrane is necessary because ceramic tile and grout are not waterproof. The grout especially soaks up water and doesn't stop water at all.

One big plus of traditional construction is that any size or custom layout for your shower is possible.

Fiberglass or Acrylic Liners

Your local building supply store stocks shower liners ready to install. These pans are easy to install and can be used with matching walls or with tile walls. Choose fiberglass or acrylic materials for different looks and quality. The advantage of these shower floors is ease of installation and ease of cleaning. But custom sizes are much more expensive and may not be available in the layout you need. Fiberglass shower floors also are easy to scratch and damage and do wear over time. Ceramic tile cannot be installed over standard fiberglass or acrylic shower pans.

Tile Ready Shower Pans

If you want a traditional looking ceramic tile shower without the construction of the traditional shower pan, choose one of the tile ready shower systems. And these are systems. Most include wall and ceiling component liners as well as floor liners. Most tile ready shower pans include a vinyl pan with a built in drain. The pans are built over a masonry base or over foam support.

The advantage of these systems is the ease of installing. The skill level is less than the traditional construction. Plus installation is faster since no waiting is required between layers. The downside is cost. The kit often costs as much as a completed traditional installation. Manufacturers of tile ready systems are Tile Redi, Schluter and Wedi. Check your area for installers.

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

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

Al Bullington enjoys using and maintaining ceramic tile showers.

Bathroom Remodeling Ideas For Remodeling

When you're planning any bathroom remodel, consider the costs of the bathroom remodeling versus the return on the actual investment. According to one of the popular remodeling magazines, the average bathroom remodel throughout the country cost around $16,000.

If you were to sell your house within a few years, you could recoup around $12,000 of your original investment. This would translate into a $4000 loss to your pocketbook eventually.

Using these numbers for your bathroom remodel investment, you would recoup around 75% of your original investment. If you know anything about investing money, this will not be a good rate of return and if you keep investing your money like this, you won't have any to invest, eventually.

Keep this in mind, if you're going to be selling the home within a few years. If the bathroom isn't in good shape and you're not planning on selling soon, you could remodel the bathroom and enjoy it for quite a few years. You wouldn't be looking at this as an investment but as maintenance costs.

If you need to remodel the bathroom, because it's getting a little run down and will create a problem when selling a home, I would suggest minor remodeling, if the toilet, fixtures and bathtub is in good condition, I would suggest changing the sink, cabinet, bathtub surround, flooring and some new paint.

If you're remodeling cost is now at $8,000, you would recoup at least $6,000 and would only lose $2000 on your original investment. Now this still doesn't make any sense, if you're still losing money, why would you even want to remodel the bathroom. Why not sell the home as it is and not lose any money? This is a tough decision to make and keep in mind, these are average costs.

You could recoup less or more than 75% of your bathroom investment costs.

Most real estate professionals will advise you to remodel the bathroom for two reasons, for one the house will sell for a few more dollars, and this will increase their sales commission. The second one is probably the most important for any one selling a home, the home could sell faster.

If you have the time and are in no hurry to sell the home, I would suggest trying to sell the home as is first and then sprucing it up, if you can't sell it within three months.

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 Remodeling Pictures or home building ideas.

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