Buying bulk can be really addicting. Imagine saving a few dollars if you buy a six per pack of a product compared to buying just one? The savings that you can potentially have can be really hard to resist.
Knowing this, groceries and superstores have been employing this marketing strategy since time immemorial. Buy two and take 1 for free or buy three and save a dollar. There are even packs of items that combine products that are saleable and not so saleable and the strategy works. People buy things that they never really use on the long term.
Most of these products are just kept in garages or in stock rooms, often forgotten. So instead of saving their money, they have actually paid for something that they have not been able to use. And they only find out about this when they do a spring cleaning in their houses.
To recoup their losses, as often said in business, most organize garage sale or yard sales in order to get rid of the items in the house that they have not been able to benefit from. Buying in yard sale can be really economical since the items are sold in cheaper prices while being relatively new. In fact, some of them are not even used. Below are some yard sale secrets that can help you find a good buy when buying in yard sales.
Come early
Remember that you are not the only one in the neighborhood who is in search of a good buy. Virtually everyone else will.
want to buy something that is worth their hard earned dollar to the cent. If you want to be able to buy the good ones, then you should make it a point to be there in the yard sale early. If you can be the earliest bird there, all the better. Although you will be able to buy something in the afternoon, you will have missed out on all the great stuff that people in the morning shift have already bought. There will also be more variety when you come early.
Haggle
Prices in garage sales are not fixed. This means that you can haggle with the price. Try to get as low a price as you can. One technique is to start low and then work your way up just in case the person having the garage sales does not agree with the price that you want. Of course, before quoting a price, you should also have a pretty good idea how much the product is. That way, you will know just when a price is already unreasonably low!
Look for the tags
Garage sale or yard sales products are a mix of old and new ones. As much as you can, try to look for products or items that still have tags on them. Items that are in plastic are also another good buy. Just be patient in unearthing treasures.
Get hold of it
If you want something, take hold of it. This is true with life and with yard sale secrets. Although you can certainly think about buying something first, there should not be so much dilly-dallying involved. One technique is to get hold of the items that you want and then just decide when you are already near the counter. That way, other people will not have the opportunity to get it if you really want it.
Monday, June 25, 2007
Waterfall Construction Basics
If you wish to incorporate a waterfall into your garden you should make careful planning the word of the day. Not only will you need to study and understand design aspects and sheer physics, you should also make the effort to learn about what is needed in order to support the plant and animal life you wish to incorporate into your waterfall and garden and/or fish pond.
There are many different water features that can be added to a garden in order to make it more tranquil, relaxing, and appealing. One feature that is growing in popularity is the waterfall. This is a great way to include exotic plants and ornamental fish with a little touch of beauty in your garden area.
When making your plans take careful note of whether you can do all the necessary labor that is needed yourself or if you will need an extra set of hands or possibly some skilled labor—depending on your own skill sets—for the task. You should also take note that there are several options available to you one of which is a pre-formed fiberglass unit for the pond and in many cases the waterfall as well. If your budget allows and you are concerned about your skills being up to the task of creating a waterfall, this may by far be the best route to take. No matter the decision, the labor typically begins with digging.
You should also take careful stock of the circumstances of your waterfall and select a pump that will meet your needs. If you do not have an adequate pump, your waterfall and all of your efforts will prove far too soon to be wasted effort. In addition to a pump you should also check on a good filtration system for your waterfall and pond. This is particularly important if you plan to keep fish in your pond. A good filter is essential at keeping the water clean and clear and the animals beneath the surface happy and healthy. Also they are difficult to see and appreciate if the water is murky.
When you are in the building process for your waterfall let creativity dictate the placement of rocks when possible but keep in mind the practicalities involved. You will be amazed at the beautiful affect you have created for your garden area when all is said and done, up and running.
The final process of construction is typically the installation of the hose, pump, filter, and electrical supply. This is an important step, as your waterfall will not function without it. Take great caution during this step and be ready to sit back, relax, and enjoy your new and improved garden.
Reasons to Buy Real Estate in Oklahoma City
There are many questions a buyer of property should ask himself or herself before committing to a real estate investment. It is necessary to ask these questions so that the purchase will be a wise one, and a positive experience. When making a purchase in Oklahoma City there are many attractions that will help to make your experience a positive one. Finding answers that satisfy your needs will turn into your reasons to buy real estate in Oklahoma City.
The capital of the state of Oklahoma is Oklahoma City. A property located there will interest individuals who are active in political events or those who just like to stay where the action is. There are a lot of cultural landmarks such as the Myriad Botanical Gardens located downtown that increases the value of property there. This is a large urban park, which pulls residents and visitors alike to the community. Community value is one element of property ownership that is important whether you are purchasing for personal or commercial reasons. To add more value the city offers many other cultural events like performing art centers, colleges and universities, museums, upscale retail stores and trendy restaurants all of which give real value to your property.
Oklahoma City has amenities both city and urban with an average property selling price of $135.000. There are many different neighborhoods to choose from: downtown, Asian district, near the Bricktown Entertainment District, or quiet residential streets that give you the hometown feel. The latest statistics has the population of the city at 589,003 with an owner occupied being at 53%.
When buying investment property here are a few questions to get you started:
1. What can I expect as far as cash flow for this property?
2. Can I afford to support this property if the cash flow should turn negative?
3. What are the local improvements planned for the area the property is listed in?
4. Is there population growth for this area? (You do not want to purchase in an area with negative growth).
5. Is the property and neighborhood tenant friendly?
6. What kind of condition is the property in and how much will it cost to conduct a building inspection? (always get an inspection done).
7. How old is the property? (deprecation benefits are less with older properties)
8. How many industries are present in the city? (If there is only one industry - avoid at all costs).
The statistic of home ownership for 2000 shows 67.7% of Americans own versus renting their home. More adults are realizing that it is possible to have that dream of owning a home. Here are a few questions to ask when taking the plunge to owning personal real estate:
1. Do you know what your total costs will be from Day 1 to closing on the property?
2. Do you know how to find a real estate agent that will look out for your needs and not the buyer's or the agent's?
3. Do you understand the financial aspects of buying a home? (getting a mortgage, property taxes, insurance, maintenance)
4. Do you know what your credit report says about your financial state?
5. Do you know what type of housing and what type of community you are looking to live in?
6. Do you understand basic real estate terminology?
7. Do you know how to negotiate terms for your new home purchase?
8. Have you shopped around for quality and affordable homeowners insurance?
Now that you have your questions, get those answers so that you will know all the reasons for buying your real estate property in Oklahoma City.
The capital of the state of Oklahoma is Oklahoma City. A property located there will interest individuals who are active in political events or those who just like to stay where the action is. There are a lot of cultural landmarks such as the Myriad Botanical Gardens located downtown that increases the value of property there. This is a large urban park, which pulls residents and visitors alike to the community. Community value is one element of property ownership that is important whether you are purchasing for personal or commercial reasons. To add more value the city offers many other cultural events like performing art centers, colleges and universities, museums, upscale retail stores and trendy restaurants all of which give real value to your property.
Oklahoma City has amenities both city and urban with an average property selling price of $135.000. There are many different neighborhoods to choose from: downtown, Asian district, near the Bricktown Entertainment District, or quiet residential streets that give you the hometown feel. The latest statistics has the population of the city at 589,003 with an owner occupied being at 53%.
When buying investment property here are a few questions to get you started:
1. What can I expect as far as cash flow for this property?
2. Can I afford to support this property if the cash flow should turn negative?
3. What are the local improvements planned for the area the property is listed in?
4. Is there population growth for this area? (You do not want to purchase in an area with negative growth).
5. Is the property and neighborhood tenant friendly?
6. What kind of condition is the property in and how much will it cost to conduct a building inspection? (always get an inspection done).
7. How old is the property? (deprecation benefits are less with older properties)
8. How many industries are present in the city? (If there is only one industry - avoid at all costs).
The statistic of home ownership for 2000 shows 67.7% of Americans own versus renting their home. More adults are realizing that it is possible to have that dream of owning a home. Here are a few questions to ask when taking the plunge to owning personal real estate:
1. Do you know what your total costs will be from Day 1 to closing on the property?
2. Do you know how to find a real estate agent that will look out for your needs and not the buyer's or the agent's?
3. Do you understand the financial aspects of buying a home? (getting a mortgage, property taxes, insurance, maintenance)
4. Do you know what your credit report says about your financial state?
5. Do you know what type of housing and what type of community you are looking to live in?
6. Do you understand basic real estate terminology?
7. Do you know how to negotiate terms for your new home purchase?
8. Have you shopped around for quality and affordable homeowners insurance?
Now that you have your questions, get those answers so that you will know all the reasons for buying your real estate property in Oklahoma City.
Home Value Trends in Wyoming
Real estate industry experts and the media have been predicting the bursting of the housing bubble for a while now, like modern day Nostradamus'. The U.S's market will crash, home value medians will dive, sales will slump. The past few months have been filled with a lot of doom and gloom predictions of the nation's market. But knowing what the national market is doing and the national home value median isn't going to help you when you want to buy or sell in a specific area. (In case you're curious, the national median home value was $221,900 in 2006). To get a good idea of where an area's market is headed, whether home value goes up or down, you need to look at more than just that area's current market. You've got to examine it's economy, employment and growth opportunities and it's attractions.
Wyoming, with it's capital of Cheyenne, seems to be a state that flies under most peoples' radar. Known as the Cowboy state, and relatively sparsely populated with only 515,004 residents in 2006, many assume Wyoming is a middle of nowhere state with nothing to do and nothing to offer, which is definitely not true. First off, with it's sprawling plains and fertile land, Wyoming's agriculture provides the rest of the country with cattle, beets, sheep, hay and wheat, while it's industries provide mining, chemical products, lumber and wood, printing and publishing, machinery and of course, tourism. A strong economy is one good indication that an area's real estate market should stay steady and home value rates will increase.
Wyoming is known also as “forever west” and evokes the very essence of the American Old West, a simpler time of cowboys and cattle runs. Wyoming has stuck to that simplicity and many of it's tourist attractions are along the same line. The central region of the state is the corridor that many pioneers followed to the West, from sage-covered plains to tree-studded mountains. Historical trails and cultural spots abound. Wyoming is probably most famous as the home of Yellowstone National Park, as well as many other national parks and Indian Reservations, so there's plenty to do, whether you like visiting historical and cultural spots or want to get outdoors for some wildlife-watching, fishing, hiking, boating, etc. Wyoming is also home to many fossil findings (see the Fossil Butte National Monument) as well as herds of wild horses and dude ranches. For those craving night life, the major cities like Cheyenne and Laramie has clubs, theaters, dining, breweries and anything else a city should have to offer.
Though many of Wyoming's attractions are geared more toward the outdoors type, they still see plenty of tourists each year, yet another reason their real estate market and home value rates should stay relatively steady. Even their unemployment rate is down from recent years to 2.9%, though they say a historical low of 1.9% back in February of 1979. The average household income is similar to many mid-western states at about $46,000 in 2005. The median home value is relatively low as well, at about $152,011.
Wyoming's real estate market, though not booming, does not seem to be affected by the supposed slump as many other states are. It is one of the largest coal suppliers in the world and because of the high need for mineral related products (like coal and gas) the eastern part of the state had suffered a severe work shortage and lack of housing. Due to this need, the job market exploded and construction began on new housing for the state. Because of this, much of Wyoming is still a seller's market, unlike the rest of the country. With so many job opportunities and a strong economic future, Wyoming home value rates haven't taken much of a hit as many other areas, and as long as those factors stay booming, it should have a steady market for a while to come.
Foreclosures for Sale Becoming the Trend
A foreclosure for sale comes about when a lender is allowed to recover the amount owed to them by either selling or retaking ownership of the property. Usually the owner has defaulted on their mortgage or loan payments over a period of time. The process begins when the lender does a public default notice. The public notice is called a Notice of Default or a Lis Pendens. In 2007, a record number of homeowners are falling behind on their house payments. The foreclosures for sale are a common theme in many markets across the nation especially in California. The variable interest rate figures into many foreclosures for sale situations. Homeowners are not always able to handle the expense of an increase mortgage payment to their living expense. The novel ideal of a low interest initial wears off quickly with loan payment increases of $300 to $500 per month. In addition, the changing U.S. economy and job situation and quick credit lifestyles have lead to keeping up with the Joneses and over spending. However, the foreclosure for sale phenomenon has no easy culprit or easy fix. Homeowners are losing their property at record pace; it is a trend that does not seem to be abating. High utility costs and slowing economy are only a couple more factors adding input to an already worrisome situation. What Can the Home Owner Do? When facing losing their home, the property owner has a few options. Ideally after the investment in purchasing their home, up keeping and maybe even renovating their home a foreclosure for sale is not the option they had anticipated. However, in today’s financial world these things happen. Initially the home goes into pre-foreclosure; during this time the homeowner can reinstate their loan if they pay off the default amount before their grace period ends. The grace period is what is called the pre-foreclosure. If the owner is facing a foreclosure for sale situation, they also have the option of selling their home to a third party. This third party person comes in and pays off the loan. This allows the homeowner in the foreclosure for sale circumstance to have a better credit record by not having a foreclosure on their history. In this situation, the lender can take the property back to re-sell it. The lender may option to sell the property to anyone or they can go through a public auction. There are many people looking for a foreclosure for sale who earn money by buying and reselling property. It is usually considered a good deal to get the home at less than 20 per cent of the market cost. These investors then flip the property to make a profit. Ideally, the homeowner with a foreclosure for sale is either looking to retain their property by repaying their loan and returning to financial stability or to release the property without a blemish on their credit history. It is important to look into all options in order to decide what to do.
Types of Dunnage for your Shipping Boxes
Not long ago, wood was the only material available when it came to dunnage that separated boxes and other cargo while in transit from industry to market. With better manufacturing and composite materials available in today’s market and the decrease in usage of metal strapping for shipping boxes, there are now several options when it comes to protective dunnage for your shipping.
Wood. (floor dunnage, lateral dunnage) Not as popular as it used to be, wood is still used as dunnage. The main reason for this is that wood is often available on the floor of any warehouse and can fit almost any size shipment. It provides good structure and does not fall apart, and it is also very resistant to wear and abrasion. Wooden dunnage has increased in costs, however, and may not be the best option for boxes which contain sensitive or fragile materials.
Inflatable. (interlayer dunnage, top dunnage, lateral dunnage) Shipments containing boxes with sensitive materials inside are increasingly being packed with inflatable dunnage. Air bag like structures are manufactured from kraft paper (vinyl and polyethylene are also used) and have plastic interiors. Lighter materials are not suitable for shipments with metal strapping, but the kraft paper models can handle a lot of abuse. These dunnage options are ideal for both separating boxes and inside the box itself; the product being shipped can mold to the bag, so not only are the packages separated, but are also protected from vibrations.
Foam. (all uses) Foam dunnage is familiar to almost anyone who has ever opened a package. Foam can be used in small bits on the inside of the box, or as molded pieces for pallets, top, and lateral dunnage. The disadvantage of foam, of course, is that it can be messy and is not environmentally friendly.
Fabric. Dunnage made of fabric is especially useful for suspending your product inside its shipping container, with custom designed partitions. This product is collapsible and returnable, so your investment in dunnage doesn’t need to be written off with each shipment.
Plastic. Thermoformed plastic trays make excellent bin liners, and offer the added benefit of being returnable and reusable. Their lightweight design reduces shipping costs (as compared to wood) while their toughness increases durability.
Remember that dunnage serves a few different purposes. It needs to protect the contents of the shipping boxes both inside and out, as well as the interior of the ship or truck doing the transporting. The type of dunnage that you select will depend on the type of shipment you are making and the other types of packaging materials that you are using, as well as convenience and price.
Wood. (floor dunnage, lateral dunnage) Not as popular as it used to be, wood is still used as dunnage. The main reason for this is that wood is often available on the floor of any warehouse and can fit almost any size shipment. It provides good structure and does not fall apart, and it is also very resistant to wear and abrasion. Wooden dunnage has increased in costs, however, and may not be the best option for boxes which contain sensitive or fragile materials.
Inflatable. (interlayer dunnage, top dunnage, lateral dunnage) Shipments containing boxes with sensitive materials inside are increasingly being packed with inflatable dunnage. Air bag like structures are manufactured from kraft paper (vinyl and polyethylene are also used) and have plastic interiors. Lighter materials are not suitable for shipments with metal strapping, but the kraft paper models can handle a lot of abuse. These dunnage options are ideal for both separating boxes and inside the box itself; the product being shipped can mold to the bag, so not only are the packages separated, but are also protected from vibrations.
Foam. (all uses) Foam dunnage is familiar to almost anyone who has ever opened a package. Foam can be used in small bits on the inside of the box, or as molded pieces for pallets, top, and lateral dunnage. The disadvantage of foam, of course, is that it can be messy and is not environmentally friendly.
Fabric. Dunnage made of fabric is especially useful for suspending your product inside its shipping container, with custom designed partitions. This product is collapsible and returnable, so your investment in dunnage doesn’t need to be written off with each shipment.
Plastic. Thermoformed plastic trays make excellent bin liners, and offer the added benefit of being returnable and reusable. Their lightweight design reduces shipping costs (as compared to wood) while their toughness increases durability.
Remember that dunnage serves a few different purposes. It needs to protect the contents of the shipping boxes both inside and out, as well as the interior of the ship or truck doing the transporting. The type of dunnage that you select will depend on the type of shipment you are making and the other types of packaging materials that you are using, as well as convenience and price.
Blue world pool swimming pool offers you many amusements
Anyone who says that they are not attracted by the cool blue waters in a swimming pool is lying! How can someone not want to relax, lounge and enjoy in the cool waters, especially at the end of a tiring day. A swimming pool is a wonderful place where you can indulge in many activities that relax you and your family. All of us know that it is important to spend quality time with our family, especially with the kids. A swimming pool is the one place that can aid you in doing this without putting out too much of an effort. So if you do not have a swimming pool installed at your house, make sure that you get one installed really soon. You will see that this will turn out to be one of the best financial investments that you have made for your family, so you must not delay installing an above ground swimming pool at your house.
The only thing that you will have to be cautious about while working with a dealer to install the swimming pool is to make sure that he is a genuine dealer. If you are working with Blue World Pools, one of the reputed pool dealers in America, you will have no such worries. All the professionals working for this dealer are handpicked and given special training to deal with every aspect of installing and maintaining a swimming pool. The professionals efficiently deal with any kind of customer complaint about any aspect of the swimming pool. Blue world pools have dealers operating across several cities in America and if you are willing to install a swimming pool at your place, they are just a phone call away from doing the work for you.
If you look around you will find many people complaining that they have been duped by swimming pool dealers. Now this is one thing you will have to be careful about while choosing a swimming pool dealer to install the swimming pool at your place. Sometimes one can come across fraudulent dealers who quote one price and actually charge higher prices after installing the swimming pool. At Blue world pools the term fraudulent is something you will never encounter and if you are working with this dealer, be assured all dealings will be fair and above board. You just have to make sure that the size, shape and color of the swimming pool that you choose must coordinate properly with the rest of your house. Surely you will want to enhance the beauty of your house by installing a swimming pool.
You can accomplish many things by installing a swimming pool at your house. Your children can play in the swimming pool during the summer season and as a result you will not have to worry constantly with whom you children are hanging out. You can invite your friends over to your place and organize a small informal get together by the poolside. You will not have to search a place to host your parties to enjoy great times with friends. With a swimming pool, you can do all this and much more!
The only thing that you will have to be cautious about while working with a dealer to install the swimming pool is to make sure that he is a genuine dealer. If you are working with Blue World Pools, one of the reputed pool dealers in America, you will have no such worries. All the professionals working for this dealer are handpicked and given special training to deal with every aspect of installing and maintaining a swimming pool. The professionals efficiently deal with any kind of customer complaint about any aspect of the swimming pool. Blue world pools have dealers operating across several cities in America and if you are willing to install a swimming pool at your place, they are just a phone call away from doing the work for you.
If you look around you will find many people complaining that they have been duped by swimming pool dealers. Now this is one thing you will have to be careful about while choosing a swimming pool dealer to install the swimming pool at your place. Sometimes one can come across fraudulent dealers who quote one price and actually charge higher prices after installing the swimming pool. At Blue world pools the term fraudulent is something you will never encounter and if you are working with this dealer, be assured all dealings will be fair and above board. You just have to make sure that the size, shape and color of the swimming pool that you choose must coordinate properly with the rest of your house. Surely you will want to enhance the beauty of your house by installing a swimming pool.
You can accomplish many things by installing a swimming pool at your house. Your children can play in the swimming pool during the summer season and as a result you will not have to worry constantly with whom you children are hanging out. You can invite your friends over to your place and organize a small informal get together by the poolside. You will not have to search a place to host your parties to enjoy great times with friends. With a swimming pool, you can do all this and much more!
Swimming Pool in your Gite in the Languedoc?
Now that you have bought your property in the Languedoc,and are thinking of turning it into a Gite, you may consider having a swimming pool to attract more income and more clients into your Gite. Here are the laws surrounding swimming pools.
Everyone should be aware of the law governing pool security in France. It is the law and despite many arguments against it, all in-ground pools in France must now have one of the four approved methods of security system in place. The fine for not complying with the law is €45,000.
Above-ground or semi in-ground pools are not affected by the law and normally just rely on a security ladder or one that gets taken away when the pool is not in use.
The law has been specifically put in place to protect children under five years old but anyone with children will understand that no security device, no matter how well approved can replace the vigilance of a responsible adult at all times.
The law was originally passed on Jan 1 2003. To comply with the law, the standards for pool security systems have been set by AFNOR (the body responsible for French safety standards) so that any method of security fitted must conform to the specifications set out in each category of security device.
There are four types of approved security system:
1. Security Barriers, AFNOR standard: NF P 90-306.
2. Pool Alarms, AFNOR standard: NF P 90-307.
3. Pool Covers, AFNOR standard: NF P 90-308.
4. Pool Abris, AFNOR standard: NF P 90-309.
Any security device can either be self certificated by the manufacturer who declares that it has made the system in accordance with the AFNOR standard, or certificated by the manufacturer and also certified and tested by the LNE (Laboritoire National d'Essai). Any device tested by the LNE will be given its own certification number, it's considered to be homologated (agreed to) and will carry the NF mark.
1 Security barriers
There are dozens of types of pool security fencing now available in France. There are flexible mesh barriers, metal barriers, UPVC barriers, Perspex and transparent PVC panelled barriers and wooden fences. Although not everyone's cup of tea, a barrier is one of the best options for pool security.
Note that no natural boundaries can be considered as a security barrier eg: hedges, banks, ditches etc. Neither will any other sort of fencing not specifically made as a pool security system, no matter how impenetrable it is.
For collective usage pools (pools used by more than one family) particularly gites, campsites and so on, there must be a self-closing, self-latching gate which opens outwards away from the pool. Most systems available have this type of gate as standard.
For private pools a barrier system can be fitted with a manually operated gate, but it makes sense if you are going to have a go, to fit a child-proof latch, as high as you can out of reach of little ones.
The main advantage of a barrier is that it needs very little maintenance or testing, so once it's installed you can pretty much forget about it. As long as any gate fitted is tested occasionally, it doesn't rely on anyone else doing anything apart from opening the gate.
Another option for a barrier is of course, a wall. There are important parts of the standard that must be adhered to, the most important of these is the barrier must be further than 1m from the edge of a pool, and be over 1.10m high. There must also be no foot holds so natural stone walls are not legal, but a smooth rendered wall is quite acceptable.
The AFNOR standard also states that the barrier must not be so far away from the pool so as to be ineffective, in other words if you fit a wall all around your property it won't be deemed as secure as the house is inside the protected area. This all gets very complicated and in many cases the best thing to do is protect the pool area only and make it a designated area for swimming only.
Another great advantage of a wall is that it will keep a lot of debris out of the water and it really does define the pool area.
One disadvantage is that it does reduce visibility from outside the pool.
2 Pool alarms
Alarms come in two main types, immersion detector or perimeter alarm. The immersion detector senses a fall into the pool and then must activate within 12 seconds. The perimeter alarm works by infra red beams, when broken the alarm sounds. These systems, although approved, are not the best option for pool security and are best used in conjunction with another approved device.
There are many downsides to using an alarm system: some alarms require wristbands or keys to be worn by swimmers, others need a code to be entered which disarms the alarm while people swim. They don't work under a cover so need to be removed if you want to winterise your pool.
There are also some grey areas. Alarms must be tested monthly, they are susceptible to false alarms and the AFNOR standards state that a responsible adult must be able to respond to an alarm in less than three minutes. Although a five year old should have an adult with them at all times, if they don't and there is a fatality, ultimately the responsibility lies with the pool owner.
The only benefit is cost. But the cheapest option is very rarely the best one.
3 Pool covers
As with the other options, there are lots of different security covers available, so the main thing to remember is that whichever sort of cover you choose, it must be put back on whenever your pool is left unattended, so a cover which is easy to put on and take off is important, especially if you expect anyone else using the pool to put the cover on when they aren't using it.
Any cover used to winterise your pool must also be AFNOR approved (unless you have an alternative form of security),so if your cover is more than three years old the chances are that it won't be approved and will need changing.
There are covers which do the job of a security system, summer and winter cover and are even available solar or mains powered so all you have to do is turn a key to operate them.
4 Pool abris
An abri looks a bit like a greenhouse and they are available in many shapes and sizes, fixed or telescopic. Apart from the price, (this is about the most expensive option) there are many advantages. As well as it being an approved security device, it will help heat the water in your pool, keep out debris, reduce chemical usage and evaporation, and if you heat your pool, it effectively turns it into an indoor pool you can use all year round.
The main disadvantage to fitting an abris is the cost. A low fixed abri, although cheaper, doesn't give a lot of room underneath and some people find them claustrophobic: high abris, normally up to 3m tall give plenty of space but also need a great deal of room to install them.
Whichever system you choose, it should be practical and easy to use, and your local pool professional should be able to advise you on the pros and cons of each system and discuss the suitability of each system in your particular application.
(You are advised to get Professional opinion on the Law for swimming pools in France)
Everyone should be aware of the law governing pool security in France. It is the law and despite many arguments against it, all in-ground pools in France must now have one of the four approved methods of security system in place. The fine for not complying with the law is €45,000.
Above-ground or semi in-ground pools are not affected by the law and normally just rely on a security ladder or one that gets taken away when the pool is not in use.
The law has been specifically put in place to protect children under five years old but anyone with children will understand that no security device, no matter how well approved can replace the vigilance of a responsible adult at all times.
The law was originally passed on Jan 1 2003. To comply with the law, the standards for pool security systems have been set by AFNOR (the body responsible for French safety standards) so that any method of security fitted must conform to the specifications set out in each category of security device.
There are four types of approved security system:
1. Security Barriers, AFNOR standard: NF P 90-306.
2. Pool Alarms, AFNOR standard: NF P 90-307.
3. Pool Covers, AFNOR standard: NF P 90-308.
4. Pool Abris, AFNOR standard: NF P 90-309.
Any security device can either be self certificated by the manufacturer who declares that it has made the system in accordance with the AFNOR standard, or certificated by the manufacturer and also certified and tested by the LNE (Laboritoire National d'Essai). Any device tested by the LNE will be given its own certification number, it's considered to be homologated (agreed to) and will carry the NF mark.
1 Security barriers
There are dozens of types of pool security fencing now available in France. There are flexible mesh barriers, metal barriers, UPVC barriers, Perspex and transparent PVC panelled barriers and wooden fences. Although not everyone's cup of tea, a barrier is one of the best options for pool security.
Note that no natural boundaries can be considered as a security barrier eg: hedges, banks, ditches etc. Neither will any other sort of fencing not specifically made as a pool security system, no matter how impenetrable it is.
For collective usage pools (pools used by more than one family) particularly gites, campsites and so on, there must be a self-closing, self-latching gate which opens outwards away from the pool. Most systems available have this type of gate as standard.
For private pools a barrier system can be fitted with a manually operated gate, but it makes sense if you are going to have a go, to fit a child-proof latch, as high as you can out of reach of little ones.
The main advantage of a barrier is that it needs very little maintenance or testing, so once it's installed you can pretty much forget about it. As long as any gate fitted is tested occasionally, it doesn't rely on anyone else doing anything apart from opening the gate.
Another option for a barrier is of course, a wall. There are important parts of the standard that must be adhered to, the most important of these is the barrier must be further than 1m from the edge of a pool, and be over 1.10m high. There must also be no foot holds so natural stone walls are not legal, but a smooth rendered wall is quite acceptable.
The AFNOR standard also states that the barrier must not be so far away from the pool so as to be ineffective, in other words if you fit a wall all around your property it won't be deemed as secure as the house is inside the protected area. This all gets very complicated and in many cases the best thing to do is protect the pool area only and make it a designated area for swimming only.
Another great advantage of a wall is that it will keep a lot of debris out of the water and it really does define the pool area.
One disadvantage is that it does reduce visibility from outside the pool.
2 Pool alarms
Alarms come in two main types, immersion detector or perimeter alarm. The immersion detector senses a fall into the pool and then must activate within 12 seconds. The perimeter alarm works by infra red beams, when broken the alarm sounds. These systems, although approved, are not the best option for pool security and are best used in conjunction with another approved device.
There are many downsides to using an alarm system: some alarms require wristbands or keys to be worn by swimmers, others need a code to be entered which disarms the alarm while people swim. They don't work under a cover so need to be removed if you want to winterise your pool.
There are also some grey areas. Alarms must be tested monthly, they are susceptible to false alarms and the AFNOR standards state that a responsible adult must be able to respond to an alarm in less than three minutes. Although a five year old should have an adult with them at all times, if they don't and there is a fatality, ultimately the responsibility lies with the pool owner.
The only benefit is cost. But the cheapest option is very rarely the best one.
3 Pool covers
As with the other options, there are lots of different security covers available, so the main thing to remember is that whichever sort of cover you choose, it must be put back on whenever your pool is left unattended, so a cover which is easy to put on and take off is important, especially if you expect anyone else using the pool to put the cover on when they aren't using it.
Any cover used to winterise your pool must also be AFNOR approved (unless you have an alternative form of security),so if your cover is more than three years old the chances are that it won't be approved and will need changing.
There are covers which do the job of a security system, summer and winter cover and are even available solar or mains powered so all you have to do is turn a key to operate them.
4 Pool abris
An abri looks a bit like a greenhouse and they are available in many shapes and sizes, fixed or telescopic. Apart from the price, (this is about the most expensive option) there are many advantages. As well as it being an approved security device, it will help heat the water in your pool, keep out debris, reduce chemical usage and evaporation, and if you heat your pool, it effectively turns it into an indoor pool you can use all year round.
The main disadvantage to fitting an abris is the cost. A low fixed abri, although cheaper, doesn't give a lot of room underneath and some people find them claustrophobic: high abris, normally up to 3m tall give plenty of space but also need a great deal of room to install them.
Whichever system you choose, it should be practical and easy to use, and your local pool professional should be able to advise you on the pros and cons of each system and discuss the suitability of each system in your particular application.
(You are advised to get Professional opinion on the Law for swimming pools in France)
Home Value Trends in Oregon
The media and industry experts can talk about the housing bubble bust and decreasing or increasing home value prices across the nation all they want, but if you're looking to buy or sell a home, knowing national statistics won't make your job any easier. (If you're curious though, the national median home value in 2006 was about $221,900). In order to figure out the best time to buy or sell, you need to dig into the specifics of the area you're thinking of making a move in and get the details on the state of the market and all the attractions the area has to offer.
The state of Oregon (with its capital city of Salem) is fast becoming one of the real estate hot spots of the nation. More and more people are relocating to Oregon, especially Californians, according to statistics by 3 national moving companies. It's not hard to see why: with a population creeping up on 4 million, the cost of living is fairly low, unemployment rates are decreasing and Oregon has plenty of attractions to offer to new initiates. A rise in economy and job growth is a sure fire way to keep a real estate market stable and continue to have steadily increasing home value prices, while a big tourism industry is a great way to continually attract potential residents to a state.
Oregon's economy relies heavily on its agriculture (cattle, vegetables, fruits, dairy products, wheat) and industries such as lumber, wood and paper products, machinery, scientific instruments, food processing and tourism. The unemployment rate, which stayed in and around 7% or so through early and mid 2000s, has dropped to 5.1, edging closer to the historical low of 4.7% Oregon experienced in 1995. The median household income was about $43,262 in 2005 and with more jobs available, more first-time home buyers can afford a higher home value than previously.
Oregon has seven distinct regions, and between them, there's something for everyone to do in the Beaver state, which helps keep their home value median rising. Oregon can be broken down into: Portland Metro, the Coast, Williamette Valley, Souther Oregon, Central Oregon, Eastern Oregon and Mt. Hood/The Gorge. You can check out cultural attractions and the nightlife in the Portland Metro area, drive up and down the Coast and visit famous lighthouses and fishing villages, visit Williamette Valley for wineries and scenic covered bridges, or take a trip to Southern Oregon to see the deepest lake in the US: Crater Lake, which was formed in about 5700BC after a 12,000 foot volcano called Mt. Mazama explosively erupted. Then you can travel to Eastern Oregon for Hell's Canyon and the famous Oregon Trail and north a bit to the Mt. Hood and the Gorge area to ski, hike and windsurf.
Last but not least is Central Oregon, and currently the hot spot for real estate activity in Oregon. Central Oregon is a playground of skiing, golf, hiking, biking fishing and climbing. Bend is the new big area for real estate in Oregon, especially with job growth in transportation and utilities, tourism, education and health and government services. The current home value median in the state of Oregon is about $236,000, while in Bend that home value median is actually much higher at $279,000. Oregon as a whole is seeing homes stay on the market for an average of 60-120 days, with homes taking a bit longer to sell in the Bend area, simply because of the boom there in 2006, which is slowing down. The Bend, Portland and Klamath Falls areas are all seeing activity in sales of single family homes, while Salem and Eugene activity tends to come from “move up” buyers.
According to a federal agency report, home value prices in Bend appreciated faster than any other city in the nation in 2006. The market has since slowed down, but home value medians in the area continue to rise and the inventory of unsold homes has stayed relatively steady since the first of the year at about 2,250 homes on the market. Though the huge boom Bend and the rest of Oregon experienced is likely over, with everything Oregon has to offer and the way 2007 is shaping up, it looks as if Oregon will continue to enjoy increasing home value prices and one of the more successful markets in the nation.
The state of Oregon (with its capital city of Salem) is fast becoming one of the real estate hot spots of the nation. More and more people are relocating to Oregon, especially Californians, according to statistics by 3 national moving companies. It's not hard to see why: with a population creeping up on 4 million, the cost of living is fairly low, unemployment rates are decreasing and Oregon has plenty of attractions to offer to new initiates. A rise in economy and job growth is a sure fire way to keep a real estate market stable and continue to have steadily increasing home value prices, while a big tourism industry is a great way to continually attract potential residents to a state.
Oregon's economy relies heavily on its agriculture (cattle, vegetables, fruits, dairy products, wheat) and industries such as lumber, wood and paper products, machinery, scientific instruments, food processing and tourism. The unemployment rate, which stayed in and around 7% or so through early and mid 2000s, has dropped to 5.1, edging closer to the historical low of 4.7% Oregon experienced in 1995. The median household income was about $43,262 in 2005 and with more jobs available, more first-time home buyers can afford a higher home value than previously.
Oregon has seven distinct regions, and between them, there's something for everyone to do in the Beaver state, which helps keep their home value median rising. Oregon can be broken down into: Portland Metro, the Coast, Williamette Valley, Souther Oregon, Central Oregon, Eastern Oregon and Mt. Hood/The Gorge. You can check out cultural attractions and the nightlife in the Portland Metro area, drive up and down the Coast and visit famous lighthouses and fishing villages, visit Williamette Valley for wineries and scenic covered bridges, or take a trip to Southern Oregon to see the deepest lake in the US: Crater Lake, which was formed in about 5700BC after a 12,000 foot volcano called Mt. Mazama explosively erupted. Then you can travel to Eastern Oregon for Hell's Canyon and the famous Oregon Trail and north a bit to the Mt. Hood and the Gorge area to ski, hike and windsurf.
Last but not least is Central Oregon, and currently the hot spot for real estate activity in Oregon. Central Oregon is a playground of skiing, golf, hiking, biking fishing and climbing. Bend is the new big area for real estate in Oregon, especially with job growth in transportation and utilities, tourism, education and health and government services. The current home value median in the state of Oregon is about $236,000, while in Bend that home value median is actually much higher at $279,000. Oregon as a whole is seeing homes stay on the market for an average of 60-120 days, with homes taking a bit longer to sell in the Bend area, simply because of the boom there in 2006, which is slowing down. The Bend, Portland and Klamath Falls areas are all seeing activity in sales of single family homes, while Salem and Eugene activity tends to come from “move up” buyers.
According to a federal agency report, home value prices in Bend appreciated faster than any other city in the nation in 2006. The market has since slowed down, but home value medians in the area continue to rise and the inventory of unsold homes has stayed relatively steady since the first of the year at about 2,250 homes on the market. Though the huge boom Bend and the rest of Oregon experienced is likely over, with everything Oregon has to offer and the way 2007 is shaping up, it looks as if Oregon will continue to enjoy increasing home value prices and one of the more successful markets in the nation.
Dover - Delaware: A Tax Friendly Retirement City
The only saying is true, “There are two things you can rely on in life; death and taxes.” More often than not, when looking for an ideal place to retire, one of the considerations for most retirees is taxes; specifically property taxes. While there are many cities across the US who boast “no-income tax” retirement; the fact is property and sales taxes can absorb most of your retirement income.
Dover, Delaware is not only among the top ten places to retire to, but has the lowest property tax of any city in the US. In fact, there are no sales taxes at all in this state, and social security benefits are free of state tax. Moreover, up to $12,500 of a retirees income is tax free. Add to this the fact that a home valued at $133,000 requires a payment of just a little over $540.00, which makes Delaware one of the top locations in the US offering tax friendly retirement city. With homes ranging in the area of $111,000; this city of 32,000 residents offers a community considered to be high on the senior friendly city list as well.
Conveniently located halfway between Washington and New York, Dover is within a few hours of one third of our nation's population, Dover offers an ideal location along with a quality of life second to none. Living in Dover, you will experience a vibrant downtown, a very attractive historical district and well established neighborhoods.
With its natural beauty as well as attend arts and entertainment activities, such as the Schwartz Center for the Arts and Dover Downs, who bring in national acts on a regular basis, you will feel an instant connection to the community. Listed as one of the ten best small cities based on cost of living and overall quality of life, Dover has been touted as having the best quality of life among US cities – bar none. Not only is Dover an “ideal place to retire,” but is a clean and safe community in which to live.
Dover, Delaware is not only among the top ten places to retire to, but has the lowest property tax of any city in the US. In fact, there are no sales taxes at all in this state, and social security benefits are free of state tax. Moreover, up to $12,500 of a retirees income is tax free. Add to this the fact that a home valued at $133,000 requires a payment of just a little over $540.00, which makes Delaware one of the top locations in the US offering tax friendly retirement city. With homes ranging in the area of $111,000; this city of 32,000 residents offers a community considered to be high on the senior friendly city list as well.
Conveniently located halfway between Washington and New York, Dover is within a few hours of one third of our nation's population, Dover offers an ideal location along with a quality of life second to none. Living in Dover, you will experience a vibrant downtown, a very attractive historical district and well established neighborhoods.
With its natural beauty as well as attend arts and entertainment activities, such as the Schwartz Center for the Arts and Dover Downs, who bring in national acts on a regular basis, you will feel an instant connection to the community. Listed as one of the ten best small cities based on cost of living and overall quality of life, Dover has been touted as having the best quality of life among US cities – bar none. Not only is Dover an “ideal place to retire,” but is a clean and safe community in which to live.
Land Leveler: Buying Tips and Pointers
Potholes in your farm field areas can cause harm not only for your very own safety but for your crops as well. Yet, with land levelers around, you don’t have to worry of such problems. So what is a land leveler anyway?
Well, a land leveler is actually a machine or equipment used to smoothen out and level your farm fields to free it from potholes and other land surface irregularities that can otherwise endanger your growing crops and your safety as well. Through land levelers, the clods, stones and other stuff and particles that can negatively affect the smoothness of your farm field area can be broken up and pulverized. Thus your seed bed can indeed be a good location for a healthy growing plant. You can also plant the seed with uniform depth to improve the possible end products.
Land levelers are widely available in the market not only in your local farm equipment stores but in the net as well. Instead of hopping from one store to the other that will best fit the features of your land and your budget as well, online stores can give you much comfort simply by browsing the net anytime you want or wherever you may be. Placement of your orders can be done in several ways. You can browse the store’s online catalog for the specific type of land leveler that you want. Then fill up their online forms with the needed information. Or, you can also send your emails.
You can have a custom made land leveler to imbibe the features that you specifically want. Another option is to call the hotline usually tied up with the store. Some online sources have their own customer service staff to help them in choosing the best and the right land leveler type. Such feature is a great help especially if it is your first time to purchase a land leveler.
Together with the varied land leveler brands are the different leveler features and styles. Some leveler comes with added blades to cut the hindrances that may affect the smoothing process of your land field. If you desire for better balancing one you start the smoothing out process, then a land leveler with hardened steel strip on the bottom area of the blades is a good choice. The strip can also help for better positioning and handling.
The blades, strips, tubings and bracings of the land leveler are just few of the factors that you must thoroughly check in buying a new product. The blades must be strong enough to go through rocks and other hard stuff that can hinder the smoothing process. It must also be easily removed for easier cleaning, repair or replacement. The same is true with the strips. Make sure that it is made from tough durable materials to ensure long lasting use.
Nowadays, there are also land levelers made from lasers for easier use. It is actually the product of latest technological advancements that can take away the usual hassles of traditional land leveling process. Laser land levelers are equipped with laser rays to even out rugged surfaces. You may have to spend an extra amount to purchase such type of land leveler but it’s actually worth it. Using a laser land leveler can help you maximize the productivity of your farm land and thus, maximize its use and profit. It can also help a lot to save water so it can cut the high cost of utilizing tube wells.
Well, a land leveler is actually a machine or equipment used to smoothen out and level your farm fields to free it from potholes and other land surface irregularities that can otherwise endanger your growing crops and your safety as well. Through land levelers, the clods, stones and other stuff and particles that can negatively affect the smoothness of your farm field area can be broken up and pulverized. Thus your seed bed can indeed be a good location for a healthy growing plant. You can also plant the seed with uniform depth to improve the possible end products.
Land levelers are widely available in the market not only in your local farm equipment stores but in the net as well. Instead of hopping from one store to the other that will best fit the features of your land and your budget as well, online stores can give you much comfort simply by browsing the net anytime you want or wherever you may be. Placement of your orders can be done in several ways. You can browse the store’s online catalog for the specific type of land leveler that you want. Then fill up their online forms with the needed information. Or, you can also send your emails.
You can have a custom made land leveler to imbibe the features that you specifically want. Another option is to call the hotline usually tied up with the store. Some online sources have their own customer service staff to help them in choosing the best and the right land leveler type. Such feature is a great help especially if it is your first time to purchase a land leveler.
Together with the varied land leveler brands are the different leveler features and styles. Some leveler comes with added blades to cut the hindrances that may affect the smoothing process of your land field. If you desire for better balancing one you start the smoothing out process, then a land leveler with hardened steel strip on the bottom area of the blades is a good choice. The strip can also help for better positioning and handling.
The blades, strips, tubings and bracings of the land leveler are just few of the factors that you must thoroughly check in buying a new product. The blades must be strong enough to go through rocks and other hard stuff that can hinder the smoothing process. It must also be easily removed for easier cleaning, repair or replacement. The same is true with the strips. Make sure that it is made from tough durable materials to ensure long lasting use.
Nowadays, there are also land levelers made from lasers for easier use. It is actually the product of latest technological advancements that can take away the usual hassles of traditional land leveling process. Laser land levelers are equipped with laser rays to even out rugged surfaces. You may have to spend an extra amount to purchase such type of land leveler but it’s actually worth it. Using a laser land leveler can help you maximize the productivity of your farm land and thus, maximize its use and profit. It can also help a lot to save water so it can cut the high cost of utilizing tube wells.
3 Big Tips for Buying a Hot Tub
If you're thinking of buying a hot tub, there a few things you should consider before shelling out the money. Since this is a fairly large investment (with average prices running above $5,000 these days), not only initially but in continuing maintenance and increased energy bills, you want to make an educated decision.
I've compiled a couple tips to get you thinking before you go out and make a purchase.
1. Make sure you have room for a hot tub and decide where you will place it.
Before you even start looking at makes and models, you need to take a look at the area where you're going to place the spa. If it's indoors, is the room equipped to handle the heat and humidity that will be byproducts? If the hot tub will go outdoors, will it be on a patio or on a deck?
Concrete patios are good at holding the weight of a hot tub, but wood decks usually need to be reinforced. Consider not only the weight of the hot tub itself but the substantial (and heavy) water it will contain. Filled spas take hundreds of gallons of water which equates to thousands of pounds. Make sure your deck can handle this extra burden year in and year out before installing a hot tub.
2. Crunch the numbers.
When you're buying a hot tub, it's important to factor in all the costs involved. There is the initial cost, of course, which will run in the thousands of dollars. It's true that hot tubs can be financed via bank loans or through the dealer, but there are other costs that cannot be financed.
Consider the ongoing expense of buying chemicals to balance the water so it doesn't start growing bacteria. This can cost an extra $25 or more a month. An even bigger expense is the cost of electricity to heat the tub. Depending on where you live, this could add $50-$100 to your energy bill each month. If you're going to fill the hot tub and use it year around (which many people like to do--hot-tubbing in the snow is fun!), you could be looking at an extra $1,000 a year in expenses that go beyond the initial purchase.
3. Go out and shop around.
Ok, we've talked about the dreary stuff. Let's talk about actually selecting a hot tub!
You may be tempted to order a model from an online store or even eBay (and truth be told, you can get some good deals that way). But you always, always want to try out the model you're considering before buying. Even if you plan to buy online, go to the local dealer and try hot tubs out first (you can always take a brochure for the model you like and look for a better price later).
Trying out a hot tub before you buy is important. Because this is a big investment, you want to make sure you get a spa you really love. Buying the most well-known brand matters a lot less than buying a tub you'll be comfortable in for years to come.
To try out some tubs, head to your local dealers. If you're not too shy about being seen in a swimming suit in public, bring your suit and a towel along. Dealers usually have models on the floor that are filled with water, so you can really try them out. You should bring the whole family when you go, everyone who will be enjoying the hot tub on a regular basis (here's one shopping trip where the kids will have fun).
Even if you don't want to get into a swimming suit, at least climb into the dry floor models and try sitting in the different seats. Are they comfortable? Are they a good fit for your body size?
Finally, make sure you only get a hot tub as big as you need. If you're a party animal and are planning to have eight people in there at a time (and you can afford the expense of maintaining a bigger tub), then by all means, go large. However, if you have a small family and will only occasionally be having people over to hot tub, get a smaller model. It takes a lot of energy to heat those bigger ones, which means a bigger monthly bill for you down the road. Hold down on extra costs by only getting what you need. Today, you can even get two person models that are like oversized bathtubs (but you can't sit in your bathtub and look at the stars!).
Hopefully, this article will help you when you are out shopping for your hot tub. Get one you love and have a good time for years to come!
I've compiled a couple tips to get you thinking before you go out and make a purchase.
1. Make sure you have room for a hot tub and decide where you will place it.
Before you even start looking at makes and models, you need to take a look at the area where you're going to place the spa. If it's indoors, is the room equipped to handle the heat and humidity that will be byproducts? If the hot tub will go outdoors, will it be on a patio or on a deck?
Concrete patios are good at holding the weight of a hot tub, but wood decks usually need to be reinforced. Consider not only the weight of the hot tub itself but the substantial (and heavy) water it will contain. Filled spas take hundreds of gallons of water which equates to thousands of pounds. Make sure your deck can handle this extra burden year in and year out before installing a hot tub.
2. Crunch the numbers.
When you're buying a hot tub, it's important to factor in all the costs involved. There is the initial cost, of course, which will run in the thousands of dollars. It's true that hot tubs can be financed via bank loans or through the dealer, but there are other costs that cannot be financed.
Consider the ongoing expense of buying chemicals to balance the water so it doesn't start growing bacteria. This can cost an extra $25 or more a month. An even bigger expense is the cost of electricity to heat the tub. Depending on where you live, this could add $50-$100 to your energy bill each month. If you're going to fill the hot tub and use it year around (which many people like to do--hot-tubbing in the snow is fun!), you could be looking at an extra $1,000 a year in expenses that go beyond the initial purchase.
3. Go out and shop around.
Ok, we've talked about the dreary stuff. Let's talk about actually selecting a hot tub!
You may be tempted to order a model from an online store or even eBay (and truth be told, you can get some good deals that way). But you always, always want to try out the model you're considering before buying. Even if you plan to buy online, go to the local dealer and try hot tubs out first (you can always take a brochure for the model you like and look for a better price later).
Trying out a hot tub before you buy is important. Because this is a big investment, you want to make sure you get a spa you really love. Buying the most well-known brand matters a lot less than buying a tub you'll be comfortable in for years to come.
To try out some tubs, head to your local dealers. If you're not too shy about being seen in a swimming suit in public, bring your suit and a towel along. Dealers usually have models on the floor that are filled with water, so you can really try them out. You should bring the whole family when you go, everyone who will be enjoying the hot tub on a regular basis (here's one shopping trip where the kids will have fun).
Even if you don't want to get into a swimming suit, at least climb into the dry floor models and try sitting in the different seats. Are they comfortable? Are they a good fit for your body size?
Finally, make sure you only get a hot tub as big as you need. If you're a party animal and are planning to have eight people in there at a time (and you can afford the expense of maintaining a bigger tub), then by all means, go large. However, if you have a small family and will only occasionally be having people over to hot tub, get a smaller model. It takes a lot of energy to heat those bigger ones, which means a bigger monthly bill for you down the road. Hold down on extra costs by only getting what you need. Today, you can even get two person models that are like oversized bathtubs (but you can't sit in your bathtub and look at the stars!).
Hopefully, this article will help you when you are out shopping for your hot tub. Get one you love and have a good time for years to come!
How to Find Cheap Rents in 5 Cool -- but Hot -- Cities
A leading financial magazine recently put together a list of U.S. cities where one can find still find relatively cheap rents, but that are enjoyable to live in.
While many young college graduates aim to launch their careers in huge metropolitan areas like San Francisco or Los Angeles, many may find satisfaction (and save a lot of money) by looking beyond the major metropolises. The five cites listed below all have a growing "under-30" population and solid job markets:
Athens
The University of Georgia is situated in this college town and is responsible for its unique appeal to young graduates and its subsequent growth. The city offers free wireless Internet downtown, and the university and two regional hospitals help keep the city's unemployment rate impressively low.
Where: Downtown, West side, Five Points Cost: 650-750 dollars a month for a one-bedroom apt., or 750-850 dollars for a 2-bedroom apt.
Atlanta
Atlanta is the state hub and Georgia's most densely populated city, as well as being the center of the ninth biggest metropolitan area in the United States. It is #4 among American cities for wireless Internet, and ranks third in the number of Fortune 500 companies headquartered in its metropolitan area, just a bit less than New York City and Houston.
Where: Midtown, Virginia Highlands, East Atlanta Cost: 600-900 dollars a month for a 1-bedroom unit, 800-1,350 dollars for a 2-bedroom
Austin
The capital of Texas, Austin is the state's fourth most-populous city and the 16th largest in the U.S.A. The city was ranked as the #2 Best Big City in "Best Places to Live" according to Money magazine in 2006. Many graduates each year from the engineering and computer science programs at The University of Texas at Austin provide a steady source of young, talented, and driven employees that help to fuel the city's technology and defense industries.
Where: Downtown, S. Austin Cost: 500-800 dollars a month for a 1-bedroom apt., 700-1,200 dollars for a 2-bedroom
Denver
The Denver Metropolitan Area has more federal workers than any other metropolitan area except for Washington, D.C. Among Denver's attractions are a good light-rail system and a top-20 ranking for free wi-fi.
Where: W. Highland, LoDo, Highland Cost: 700-800 dollars a month for a 1-bedroom apartment, 900-1,200 dollars for a 2-bedroom
Minneapolis
The biggest city in Minnesota, Minneapolis sits next to Saint Paul, the state's capital. Availability of wi-fi, ease of transportation, medical trials, expenditures on university research, advanced degrees held by the work force, and general conservation of energy are so far above the national average that in 2005, Popular Science named Minneapolis the "Top Tech City" in the U.S.
Where: Uptown, Northeast, North Loop Cost: 600-700 dollars per month for a one-bedroom unit, 800-1,100 dollars for a two-bedroom
While many young college graduates aim to launch their careers in huge metropolitan areas like San Francisco or Los Angeles, many may find satisfaction (and save a lot of money) by looking beyond the major metropolises. The five cites listed below all have a growing "under-30" population and solid job markets:
Athens
The University of Georgia is situated in this college town and is responsible for its unique appeal to young graduates and its subsequent growth. The city offers free wireless Internet downtown, and the university and two regional hospitals help keep the city's unemployment rate impressively low.
Where: Downtown, West side, Five Points Cost: 650-750 dollars a month for a one-bedroom apt., or 750-850 dollars for a 2-bedroom apt.
Atlanta
Atlanta is the state hub and Georgia's most densely populated city, as well as being the center of the ninth biggest metropolitan area in the United States. It is #4 among American cities for wireless Internet, and ranks third in the number of Fortune 500 companies headquartered in its metropolitan area, just a bit less than New York City and Houston.
Where: Midtown, Virginia Highlands, East Atlanta Cost: 600-900 dollars a month for a 1-bedroom unit, 800-1,350 dollars for a 2-bedroom
Austin
The capital of Texas, Austin is the state's fourth most-populous city and the 16th largest in the U.S.A. The city was ranked as the #2 Best Big City in "Best Places to Live" according to Money magazine in 2006. Many graduates each year from the engineering and computer science programs at The University of Texas at Austin provide a steady source of young, talented, and driven employees that help to fuel the city's technology and defense industries.
Where: Downtown, S. Austin Cost: 500-800 dollars a month for a 1-bedroom apt., 700-1,200 dollars for a 2-bedroom
Denver
The Denver Metropolitan Area has more federal workers than any other metropolitan area except for Washington, D.C. Among Denver's attractions are a good light-rail system and a top-20 ranking for free wi-fi.
Where: W. Highland, LoDo, Highland Cost: 700-800 dollars a month for a 1-bedroom apartment, 900-1,200 dollars for a 2-bedroom
Minneapolis
The biggest city in Minnesota, Minneapolis sits next to Saint Paul, the state's capital. Availability of wi-fi, ease of transportation, medical trials, expenditures on university research, advanced degrees held by the work force, and general conservation of energy are so far above the national average that in 2005, Popular Science named Minneapolis the "Top Tech City" in the U.S.
Where: Uptown, Northeast, North Loop Cost: 600-700 dollars per month for a one-bedroom unit, 800-1,100 dollars for a two-bedroom
The Real Estate Licensing Process
There is no doubt that a career in real estate can be very advantageous, as well as exciting. Of course, in order to obtain a career in this field, the first thing that you will need to do is go through the real estate licensing process. This does not need to be difficult, as long as you have a good idea of what it is that you will be facing. Here, we will take a closer look at some of the most important things that you should know when it comes to real estate licensing.
One of the things that you may be wondering about is what type of requirements there are for you to be eligible for real estate licensing. For starters, you need to be of at least eighteen years of age. You also must have graduated from high school, or have obtained a degree of equivalency, such as a GED in order to go through the real estate licensing process. Before you can take the exam that is required for real estate licensing, the first thing that you will need to do is learn more about what other requirements your state has prior to the real estate licensing process.
Most states will require you to take a course, or some form of training before you will be eligible to complete the real estate licensing exam. These types of real estate training courses are often offered by community colleges or real estate schools. You should be able to find one within your local area. It is important to make sure that you learn about all of the state requirements beforehand. Completing them is the first step of the real estate licensing process, as you cannot continue the process without these requirements.
Once you have completed all of the requirements of your state, the next thing that you will need to do is find a test center which offers real estate licensing. The cost of this examination will vary according to where you live, but it is typically around a hundred dollars. Keep in mind that is necessary for you to get your real estate licensing done from the state that you are planning on working in. For example, if you are planning on working as a real estate agent in California, you would not want to get your real estate license in Washington.
In order to prepare yourself for the real estate licensing examination, it is important to make sure that you look over all of the information that you learned in your real estate classes. It will also be very beneficial for you to buy a real estate licensing test kit, which will provide you with a good idea of what types of questions you can expect to see on the real examination.
Keep in mind that if you do not pass your real estate licensing test the first time, it is quite okay. You will be able to take it again, but you will probably need to wait a certain period of time. Once you have actually passed the real estate licensing examination, you will be ready to find a job with a reputable real estate agency to work for. While you may have to spend money, time and hard work to get through the real estate licensing process, you will find that it is well worth it in the end.
One of the things that you may be wondering about is what type of requirements there are for you to be eligible for real estate licensing. For starters, you need to be of at least eighteen years of age. You also must have graduated from high school, or have obtained a degree of equivalency, such as a GED in order to go through the real estate licensing process. Before you can take the exam that is required for real estate licensing, the first thing that you will need to do is learn more about what other requirements your state has prior to the real estate licensing process.
Most states will require you to take a course, or some form of training before you will be eligible to complete the real estate licensing exam. These types of real estate training courses are often offered by community colleges or real estate schools. You should be able to find one within your local area. It is important to make sure that you learn about all of the state requirements beforehand. Completing them is the first step of the real estate licensing process, as you cannot continue the process without these requirements.
Once you have completed all of the requirements of your state, the next thing that you will need to do is find a test center which offers real estate licensing. The cost of this examination will vary according to where you live, but it is typically around a hundred dollars. Keep in mind that is necessary for you to get your real estate licensing done from the state that you are planning on working in. For example, if you are planning on working as a real estate agent in California, you would not want to get your real estate license in Washington.
In order to prepare yourself for the real estate licensing examination, it is important to make sure that you look over all of the information that you learned in your real estate classes. It will also be very beneficial for you to buy a real estate licensing test kit, which will provide you with a good idea of what types of questions you can expect to see on the real examination.
Keep in mind that if you do not pass your real estate licensing test the first time, it is quite okay. You will be able to take it again, but you will probably need to wait a certain period of time. Once you have actually passed the real estate licensing examination, you will be ready to find a job with a reputable real estate agency to work for. While you may have to spend money, time and hard work to get through the real estate licensing process, you will find that it is well worth it in the end.
Creating a Dream Home and Bedroom Design on a Few Bucks
You've probably been thinking about redesigning certain areas of your house since the day you bought it and keep putting it off because you simply don't see any way that you can afford to go through with the process. However, if you have a small budget to work with, there is a lot you can do to work toward building the inside of your dream home to match the outside that you so love. Let's look as some ideas for inexpensive decorations to get you started.
Flooring: When you fell in love with the house, it was because you looked at the outside of the old Victorian building and couldn't resist the fairy tale look of the place, right? Then, you stepped inside and found old carpet that was worn in many spots or tile that had been replaced in the 70's and has some sort of paisley design. You can't afford to re-carpet or retile, but you can't continue to look at the place as it is. There are two options to consider. For larger, more open spaces, find a nice area rug – there are discount furniture stores and chain stores offering great prices on these – that you like and can cover up the majority of the eyesore that bugs you. In smaller rooms, go for simple throw rugs. These are very inexpensive, durable, and disposable when you are tired of them.
Walls: You loved what you saw when you walked into the foyer – high ceilings and bright, white welcoming walls – but when you got to the bedroom, you wrinkled your nose in disgust. Someone in the early 80's had installed dark brown paneling on two of the walls. To make matters worse, the kitchen was covered with ugly floral wallpaper. How can you make this work for you? Paint is the answer in both cases. Until you can afford to start ripping out walls, sand down the paneling and apply a coat or two of lighter, brighter paint to make the place come to life. In the kitchen, score the wallpaper to shred and remove it, and paint over it in the color of your choice. One way to also dress up a wall is to change the window dressings – there is nothing like a new set of curtains to make a room look fresh and new.
Lighting: Of course, you may find that the rooms you enter have great lighting, or they could be severely lacking. In either case, you can go to wholesalers or surplus locations and choose new fixtures, including ceiling fans (should you need the help cooling down your home in a hot location) for reduced manufacturer prices. Always be sure you have ample light without blasting yourself with the heat of a thousand suns!
While these are all small, inexpensive solutions, you can easily begin to transform your home into a place you can relax and enjoy with these few suggestions. Renovations can be a hassle and cost a lot of money, but redecorating shouldn't be!
Flooring: When you fell in love with the house, it was because you looked at the outside of the old Victorian building and couldn't resist the fairy tale look of the place, right? Then, you stepped inside and found old carpet that was worn in many spots or tile that had been replaced in the 70's and has some sort of paisley design. You can't afford to re-carpet or retile, but you can't continue to look at the place as it is. There are two options to consider. For larger, more open spaces, find a nice area rug – there are discount furniture stores and chain stores offering great prices on these – that you like and can cover up the majority of the eyesore that bugs you. In smaller rooms, go for simple throw rugs. These are very inexpensive, durable, and disposable when you are tired of them.
Walls: You loved what you saw when you walked into the foyer – high ceilings and bright, white welcoming walls – but when you got to the bedroom, you wrinkled your nose in disgust. Someone in the early 80's had installed dark brown paneling on two of the walls. To make matters worse, the kitchen was covered with ugly floral wallpaper. How can you make this work for you? Paint is the answer in both cases. Until you can afford to start ripping out walls, sand down the paneling and apply a coat or two of lighter, brighter paint to make the place come to life. In the kitchen, score the wallpaper to shred and remove it, and paint over it in the color of your choice. One way to also dress up a wall is to change the window dressings – there is nothing like a new set of curtains to make a room look fresh and new.
Lighting: Of course, you may find that the rooms you enter have great lighting, or they could be severely lacking. In either case, you can go to wholesalers or surplus locations and choose new fixtures, including ceiling fans (should you need the help cooling down your home in a hot location) for reduced manufacturer prices. Always be sure you have ample light without blasting yourself with the heat of a thousand suns!
While these are all small, inexpensive solutions, you can easily begin to transform your home into a place you can relax and enjoy with these few suggestions. Renovations can be a hassle and cost a lot of money, but redecorating shouldn't be!
Using Silk Flowers Stems in a Home Decorating Project
Most craft designers are aware of the variety of Silk Flowers Stems available. But it is a resource that home designers and decorators often overlook. Decorators are used to working with fabrics, wall hangings and accents. Silk flower Stems provide a great way to add subtle color without the high maintenance of live plants. Convenience and Comfort are the decorating mantra for today's designers. With the busy lifestyles that we lead, homeowners insist on rooms they can live in, not rooms that they are constantly maintaining. Silk Flowers are a quick and easy way to accommodate these styles. There are some simple rules to follow.
Consider the rest of the room when choosing Silk Flower Stems. Don't throw in colors that don't go into the rest of the decor.
Don't overwhelm - putting 5 dozen bright red flowers in a room can pull all the focus into one spot.
Choose flowers you can live with year round. If you get sick of seeing daisies after a few months, choose a flower that you normally don't see in just one season. Silk Lilies, Silk Tulips and Silk Roses are probably the most popular choices.
Don't Skimp. If you do this right, silk flowers will be in the room for many years. Many people keep silk flowers for a decade. The difference between first class and no class is only a few dollars per year.
Choose the vase or planter carefully (Please note, silk flowers are versatile - unusual containers are perfectly OK). The container should match the stem. If you have very tall stems, choose a tall container. If you a single stem, don't use a long rectangular planter. A little common sense goes a long way.
The Cost Of Night Vision Security Camera Coverage
A night vision security camera is no longer limited to use in businesses. Home owners have started to recognize the benefits of these "see in the dark" cameras and not only are they proving handy for outside disturbance purposes, but they are being used inside as well, particularly by couples nursing new born babies and young children.
Night vision cameras can capture black and white or color images and vary in distance coverage. It depends on your hip pocket and how much you are prepared to spend. Many come with built in infrared illuminators and these are becoming more frequently used by parents.
The Advantage Of Infrared Light
Infrared light cuts through low light conditions with relative ease and in traditional night vision security cameras, it's what provides the ability to see images in the dark. Infrared light has the capacity to react instantaneously to any movement or intruder and provides in most cases, excellent detailed images.
When shopping for night time security cameras, keep in mind the different levels of performance capability available on the market. It's a good idea to speak with a security camera expert because if you are seriously considering adding this type of coverage to your property, then you want to be careful you don't under or over capitalize your coverage.
Infrared - Your Eyes In The Dark
The amazing technology that is infrared has made life more difficult for intruders. With just a little light from nature, such as low moonlight, these night vision cameras can take images almost as if it was daytime. They are fitted with a light emitting diode (LED) which is needed by the infrared equipment to catch the clear images either in complete darkness or extremely low-light times.
Can you use these cameras for both business and homes? Sure, in fact, homeowners should not consider them out of reach budget-wise when thinking night vision security. For businesses, they are ideal for either in or outside especially when it's lights out and it's outside business hours. That's when infrared comes into it's own and keeps a steady and watchful vigil over your premises.
When conditions are light, they provide crisp, color images and revert to infrared mode when light conditions deteriorate. Many people will ask if these cameras are also referred to day/night models. Technically they are but you should not confuse them with the day/night cameras. Why? Because the latter do not have infrared capability built in. They are economically a great alternative for people on a budget and especially effective when there is a little street lighting about.
Did You Know?
It's important to make sure you have a warranty covering your night vision security camera purchase. Most will come with at least a one year warranty while others will automatically have more. In some cases, you can purchase extended warranty options for a percentage of the products sale price.
Keeping Your Children Safe
An indoor wireless security night vision camera has plenty of benefits and is extremely useful for parents who want to keep an eye on their children. They are particularly useful for monitoring babies and plug straight into your television, VCR, DVR or computer. In fact, they are excellent in monitoring the whole home if you want to go all the way in spend tactics. Those wanting a simple wireless system should not be too concerned about any set up difficulties as they take very little effort at all to install.
Get away from poor drainage problem
Poor drainage is the ultimate and leading cause of death for our beautiful garden plants. Adding up organic matter would enhance poor drainage problem. If you have tried that, though, and your land clearing site still remains watery for hours after a short, heavy rain, then further action is now required. Shallow trenching and drainage pipe could solve the problem. Please follow the below given instruction for further drainage solution.
Instructions
* Look for a spot below the level of your garden where the water could drain away safely. A storm drain, dry well or even drainage ditch is an perfect choice.
* Calculate the distance from the lowest point in the trouble site to your drainage area. Then purchase enough perforated 4-inch (10-cm)- diameter drainage pipe to cover that particular distance.
* Dig a trench 18 inches (45 cm) deep and 12 inches (30 cm) wide, sloping below among the two points. Try for a drop of about 1 inch (2.5 cm) for each 10 feet (3 m) of ground.
* Test the slope by driving a glide into the soil at every end of the trench. Run a string among the two glides, and use a spirit level to calculate the drop among them.
* When the slope is at the correct angle, line the trench with about 3 inches (7.5 cm) of gravel or crushed stone.
* Lay the pipe on the stone (see B), and ensure that any joints are completely fastened tightly.
* Cover the pipe with agricultural fabric to defend soil from clogging the perforations (tuck the cloth under the pipe towards the uphill opening).
* Add another 6 more inches (15 cm) of stone over the drainage pipe.
* Finally replace the soil in the trench.
Tips & Warnings
* If your drainage problem is very serious, you might really need expert to help. Before you try any do-it-yourself steps, ask a land clearing contractor. * On a large residential or commerical site, consider just going with the flow. Many beautiful plants, including cardinal flower, Japanese iris and astilbe, thrive in moist soil. * Another option to expensive, time consuming drainage correction is to grow your plants in any well defined containers.
Instructions
* Look for a spot below the level of your garden where the water could drain away safely. A storm drain, dry well or even drainage ditch is an perfect choice.
* Calculate the distance from the lowest point in the trouble site to your drainage area. Then purchase enough perforated 4-inch (10-cm)- diameter drainage pipe to cover that particular distance.
* Dig a trench 18 inches (45 cm) deep and 12 inches (30 cm) wide, sloping below among the two points. Try for a drop of about 1 inch (2.5 cm) for each 10 feet (3 m) of ground.
* Test the slope by driving a glide into the soil at every end of the trench. Run a string among the two glides, and use a spirit level to calculate the drop among them.
* When the slope is at the correct angle, line the trench with about 3 inches (7.5 cm) of gravel or crushed stone.
* Lay the pipe on the stone (see B), and ensure that any joints are completely fastened tightly.
* Cover the pipe with agricultural fabric to defend soil from clogging the perforations (tuck the cloth under the pipe towards the uphill opening).
* Add another 6 more inches (15 cm) of stone over the drainage pipe.
* Finally replace the soil in the trench.
Tips & Warnings
* If your drainage problem is very serious, you might really need expert to help. Before you try any do-it-yourself steps, ask a land clearing contractor. * On a large residential or commerical site, consider just going with the flow. Many beautiful plants, including cardinal flower, Japanese iris and astilbe, thrive in moist soil. * Another option to expensive, time consuming drainage correction is to grow your plants in any well defined containers.
The Greenhouse Advantage for Seed Starting
With proper planning there are several advantages that greenhouse enthusiasts have for seed germinating and getting their plants off to a great start.
Jump Start the Growing Season - Just as greenhouse gardeners are able to extend the growing season they can get a head start as well. Many desirable plant varieties cannot be sowed until after the last freeze of the season and in some cases it takes even longer for the ground to warm to an appropriate temperature for optimum seed germination. In the greenhouse, seed germination can start three to four weeks before the estimated last freeze of the season giving greenhouse gardeners a head start on their open air counterparts. This is particularly important for success with long season vegetables (those that require 70 or more days to produce) e.g., melons, tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, corn, carrots and parsnips among others.
Climate Control - Most seeds germinate when the soil temperature is between 68 and 86°F. In some areas the greenhouse may be warm enough for good seed germination on its own, but if not, the sheltered environment of the greenhouse is a perfect place to use inexpensive soil heating cables or electric seed warming trays for starting seeds. An added advantage of the greenhouse for your new seedlings is protection from severe weather like strong wind, rain or unexpected cold that can be devastating to new sprouts. The increased humidity of the greenhouse also helps to provide an ideal germinating environment.
Pest Control - Seeds and young plants are particularly vulnerable to garden pests and predators. Birds in particular love seeds and often times they will dig them up from the ground before your plants even get a chance to sprout. This even happens when using sprouting trays or containers outside. Once seeds are sprouted, young plants are still quite vulnerable to small rodents and insects until they are 8-10 inches tall. The greenhouse gives plants protection from pests until they are strong enough to have a good chance of survival in the open air garden. An added benefit of the greenhouse is that it provides a wonderful environment for using biological pest control by releasing lady bugs into the greenhouse. Lady bugs will consume up to 1,000 aphids in their lifetimes in both their larvae and adult stages and work well in greenhouse settings.
Now is the Time! - If you have a greenhouse and have not considered starting your plants from seeds you now have all the information and reasons you need to start using this low cost alternative to starting your gardens. Good luck and happy propagation
The Different Kinds Of Marble Tile Flooring
Marble tile flooring offers a lot of advantages when you choose to use it for your home. Marble tiles have been used extensively in places that were not only noted for affluence, but also in places that needed an effective tile flooring that helps maintain the room’s elegance and functionality at the same time. Marble tiles are able to denote tasteful and regal beauty without sacrificing its practical uses in the architectural structure.
Marble tiles for flooring are very appealing to people since no two marble tiles are ever alike. Each marble tile’s vein-like virulet designs are unique and different, especially since these patterns are sometimes applied using varying colors and size. This is why marble tiles are used in a variety of ways in the décor and functionality of the house.
The different kinds of marble tile flooring actually helps in determining where such a tile will be placed, and for what purpose it is going to be used. The quality of the tiles, including its natural beauty helps create an array of different kinds of marble tiles, with different colors, patterns and textures.
One type of marble tiles are either glazed or unglazed. Marble tiles that are glazed helps improve the marble tiles ability to resist water stains since the surface of the tile is very hard and smooth. This enables the tile to become easier to clean and maintain. There is no need for waxing the surface since the surface has a hard surface finish, which means that it is able to keep its natural shine without the added help. Glazed marble tiles also comes in a variety of colors, all of which can be given either a high gloss, satin, matte or dull finish, and may be smooth or textured, depending on your preferences.
Marble tiles which are unglazed are more scratch resistant, which helps it maintain its natural and clean appearance. Nobody would like to have scratch marks on their floors, especially those which are difficult to remove. Unglazed marble tiles, however, are more prone to stains since it does not have the hard surface finish that glazed marble tiles possess. This is why this type of marble tile needs constant care, which is why you may need to apply a sealer or wax on its surface to help protect it.
Tile sizes also offer different kinds of marble tiles, such as the 12 by 12-inch paver, which is normally used for large scale areas, up to the tiny mosaic marble tiles which are used to make grids of tiles. These types of marble tiles are usually sold pre-arranged on a webbed backing.
Whatever the kind of marble tiles, it should have a nonskid, stainproof surface. Keep in mind that marble tiles for flooring should be functional as it is decorative. It would be wrong to place a marble flooring tile that offers little to no slip-support by being non-slip. It would defeat the purpose of having a functional floor marble tile if it is slippery. This probably is the most important factor that would determine if a marble tile can be used for flooring.
Marble tiles for flooring are very appealing to people since no two marble tiles are ever alike. Each marble tile’s vein-like virulet designs are unique and different, especially since these patterns are sometimes applied using varying colors and size. This is why marble tiles are used in a variety of ways in the décor and functionality of the house.
The different kinds of marble tile flooring actually helps in determining where such a tile will be placed, and for what purpose it is going to be used. The quality of the tiles, including its natural beauty helps create an array of different kinds of marble tiles, with different colors, patterns and textures.
One type of marble tiles are either glazed or unglazed. Marble tiles that are glazed helps improve the marble tiles ability to resist water stains since the surface of the tile is very hard and smooth. This enables the tile to become easier to clean and maintain. There is no need for waxing the surface since the surface has a hard surface finish, which means that it is able to keep its natural shine without the added help. Glazed marble tiles also comes in a variety of colors, all of which can be given either a high gloss, satin, matte or dull finish, and may be smooth or textured, depending on your preferences.
Marble tiles which are unglazed are more scratch resistant, which helps it maintain its natural and clean appearance. Nobody would like to have scratch marks on their floors, especially those which are difficult to remove. Unglazed marble tiles, however, are more prone to stains since it does not have the hard surface finish that glazed marble tiles possess. This is why this type of marble tile needs constant care, which is why you may need to apply a sealer or wax on its surface to help protect it.
Tile sizes also offer different kinds of marble tiles, such as the 12 by 12-inch paver, which is normally used for large scale areas, up to the tiny mosaic marble tiles which are used to make grids of tiles. These types of marble tiles are usually sold pre-arranged on a webbed backing.
Whatever the kind of marble tiles, it should have a nonskid, stainproof surface. Keep in mind that marble tiles for flooring should be functional as it is decorative. It would be wrong to place a marble flooring tile that offers little to no slip-support by being non-slip. It would defeat the purpose of having a functional floor marble tile if it is slippery. This probably is the most important factor that would determine if a marble tile can be used for flooring.
Growing Mushrooms at Home Using Agar Plates
Growing mushrooms from home is a great hobby for both food, fun and profit. You will need some special equipment for following the Agar procedures. Mushroom cultivation can be done without this step but it is great for the enthusiast who wants to clone mushrooms and isolate sub-strains from fruiting mushrooms to store in their personal culture libraries.
Agar Culture:
Agar is a polysaccharide derived from marine red algae. Agar is unique because it has the ability to remain liquid until cooling below 36 degrees C. The advantage here is that nutrients and other growth media can be mixed together before the Agar solidifies. The agar will remain solid at room temperature. Once the solution is mixed together it can be poured into individual Petri dishes for use in inoculating with one of the following: mushroom spores, a liquid culture, an agar wedge from a colonized Petri dish or live tissue from the mushroom itself. Using live tissue is a method for cloning a desired species and capturing its unique characteristics.
There are 5 different types of media and their name refers to their functionality.
•??General Purpose Medium: This is designed to grow a broad spectrum of microorganisms. Nutrient Agar is a general purpose media.
•??Enriched Medium: This media is enriched with some kind of special growth factor such as blood, serum, hemoglobin etc.
•??Selective Medium: This contains a chemical that inhibits the growth of certain organisms while promoting the growth of others.
•??Differential Medium: This can grow several types of microorganisms, but can distinguish among them due to different appearances on the medium; color of the colonies or color of the medium where the organisms are growing.
•??Fermentation Medium: This determines whether a microorganism can ferment a particular carbohydrate. Fermentation is an anaerobic process that often generates acids. If the carbohydrate is fermented, acid is produced, and this can be detected by a PH indicator dye.
For our purposes in growing mushrooms we will be using a Selective Medium. We will be adding various nutrients, minerals, etc. to promote the growth of our mycelium. We can even add antibiotics to hinder the growth of some bacteria.
There are many Agar recipes that can be used but two of the most common are Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) and Malt Extract Agar (MEA).
Malt Extract Agar (MEA)
10 grams light malt extract
9 grams agar agar
500 ml potable or distilled water
Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA)
Broth from boiling 150 grams sliced potatoes
in 500ml water for 30 minutes (add water to 500ml)
9 g agar agar
7 grams dextrose
1 gram brewers yeast or yeast-extract (optional)
Amaranth Soy Agar
20 grams amaranth flour
20 grams soy flour
9 grams agar agar
500 ml potable or distilled water
Cornmeal Dextrose Agar
25 grams yellow cornmeal
3 grams dextrose
9 grams agar agar
500 ml potable or distilled water
Dog Food Agar DFA
20 grams dry dog food
20 grams agar agar
1000 ml distilled water
One thing to note when preparing Agar recipes is that it is definitely a circumstance when less is more. If too many nutrients are added to the Agar it becomes hypertonic. What this means is there will be a higher concentration of particles in the nutrient solution than there are in the dividing cells of our mycelium. Nature prefers balance. When mycelium is placed into this hypertonic solution, equilibrium will try to assert itself. Because the cell membranes of the mycelium are selectively permeable; only allowing certain things across the membrane. The water inside the cell will cross the membrane by osmosis to the outside and the cells will dehydrate; halting growth. This is why sugar, an energy source for bacteria, can be used as a preservative in jams and jellies. The jam becomes hypertonic and inhibits growth.
When preparing Agar recipes, you will need a container to sterilize the mixture in. A quart size jar works perfectly for this. Drill a 3/8” inch hole in the metal lid and fit the inside with a tyvek filter disc. Mix the contents thoroughly inside the quart jar. Place the lid loosely on the jar and load into your pressure cooker (optional: you can preheat your water to boiling before adding the quart jar. This will prevent caramelization of the ingredients). Fill the pressure cooker with water until an approximately 1 “ water level is on the side of the jar. Sterilize the jar for 30-40 minutes at 15 p.s.i
After the sterilization time, allow the cooker to cool to zero pressure before attempting to open. The pressure cooker should be opened in front of a flowhood or a sterile glovebox should be used when pouring agar plates. Each recipe above will fill 20 agar plates.
When the jar is cool to touch but the contents are still liquefied, pour enough MEA or PDA to fill the bottom of the Petri dish. The longer the lids are left open to the air the greater the chance for airborne contaminates to enter the culture medium. Allow the agar plates to cool to room temperature and solidify. Optional: You may seal the edges with parafilm to help stave off bacteria contaminations.
When inoculating agar plates, again, it’s important to use a sterile glovebox or flowhood to decrease the chances of contamination. Each agar plate can be inoculated with agar wedges from a colonized plate, spores from a mature mushroom or a prepared liquid culture.
If you have purchased our pre-sterilized medium please follow these directions for reheating it.
Directions for Using our Agar Culture Medium.
Place your quart jar in a pot of water and fill the pot with water until it covers half of the quart jar. Leave the lid in place to prevent contaminates from entering. Raise the water temperature to boiling in order to liquify the medium. Agar will remain liquid until it falls below 96.8 degree F.
When the Medium has liquified it can be poured into waiting agar plates. It is important to pour your agar plates under sterile conditions. We highly recommend using a Flowhood but a glovebox might work. We make no guarantees if a Flowhood is not used. Bacteria are present everywhere including the air. It only takes a few particles to land on your medium to contaminate it. When the agar has solidified again you can seal the edges of the agar plates with parafilm or other sealing device.
Agar Culture:
Agar is a polysaccharide derived from marine red algae. Agar is unique because it has the ability to remain liquid until cooling below 36 degrees C. The advantage here is that nutrients and other growth media can be mixed together before the Agar solidifies. The agar will remain solid at room temperature. Once the solution is mixed together it can be poured into individual Petri dishes for use in inoculating with one of the following: mushroom spores, a liquid culture, an agar wedge from a colonized Petri dish or live tissue from the mushroom itself. Using live tissue is a method for cloning a desired species and capturing its unique characteristics.
There are 5 different types of media and their name refers to their functionality.
•??General Purpose Medium: This is designed to grow a broad spectrum of microorganisms. Nutrient Agar is a general purpose media.
•??Enriched Medium: This media is enriched with some kind of special growth factor such as blood, serum, hemoglobin etc.
•??Selective Medium: This contains a chemical that inhibits the growth of certain organisms while promoting the growth of others.
•??Differential Medium: This can grow several types of microorganisms, but can distinguish among them due to different appearances on the medium; color of the colonies or color of the medium where the organisms are growing.
•??Fermentation Medium: This determines whether a microorganism can ferment a particular carbohydrate. Fermentation is an anaerobic process that often generates acids. If the carbohydrate is fermented, acid is produced, and this can be detected by a PH indicator dye.
For our purposes in growing mushrooms we will be using a Selective Medium. We will be adding various nutrients, minerals, etc. to promote the growth of our mycelium. We can even add antibiotics to hinder the growth of some bacteria.
There are many Agar recipes that can be used but two of the most common are Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) and Malt Extract Agar (MEA).
Malt Extract Agar (MEA)
10 grams light malt extract
9 grams agar agar
500 ml potable or distilled water
Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA)
Broth from boiling 150 grams sliced potatoes
in 500ml water for 30 minutes (add water to 500ml)
9 g agar agar
7 grams dextrose
1 gram brewers yeast or yeast-extract (optional)
Amaranth Soy Agar
20 grams amaranth flour
20 grams soy flour
9 grams agar agar
500 ml potable or distilled water
Cornmeal Dextrose Agar
25 grams yellow cornmeal
3 grams dextrose
9 grams agar agar
500 ml potable or distilled water
Dog Food Agar DFA
20 grams dry dog food
20 grams agar agar
1000 ml distilled water
One thing to note when preparing Agar recipes is that it is definitely a circumstance when less is more. If too many nutrients are added to the Agar it becomes hypertonic. What this means is there will be a higher concentration of particles in the nutrient solution than there are in the dividing cells of our mycelium. Nature prefers balance. When mycelium is placed into this hypertonic solution, equilibrium will try to assert itself. Because the cell membranes of the mycelium are selectively permeable; only allowing certain things across the membrane. The water inside the cell will cross the membrane by osmosis to the outside and the cells will dehydrate; halting growth. This is why sugar, an energy source for bacteria, can be used as a preservative in jams and jellies. The jam becomes hypertonic and inhibits growth.
When preparing Agar recipes, you will need a container to sterilize the mixture in. A quart size jar works perfectly for this. Drill a 3/8” inch hole in the metal lid and fit the inside with a tyvek filter disc. Mix the contents thoroughly inside the quart jar. Place the lid loosely on the jar and load into your pressure cooker (optional: you can preheat your water to boiling before adding the quart jar. This will prevent caramelization of the ingredients). Fill the pressure cooker with water until an approximately 1 “ water level is on the side of the jar. Sterilize the jar for 30-40 minutes at 15 p.s.i
After the sterilization time, allow the cooker to cool to zero pressure before attempting to open. The pressure cooker should be opened in front of a flowhood or a sterile glovebox should be used when pouring agar plates. Each recipe above will fill 20 agar plates.
When the jar is cool to touch but the contents are still liquefied, pour enough MEA or PDA to fill the bottom of the Petri dish. The longer the lids are left open to the air the greater the chance for airborne contaminates to enter the culture medium. Allow the agar plates to cool to room temperature and solidify. Optional: You may seal the edges with parafilm to help stave off bacteria contaminations.
When inoculating agar plates, again, it’s important to use a sterile glovebox or flowhood to decrease the chances of contamination. Each agar plate can be inoculated with agar wedges from a colonized plate, spores from a mature mushroom or a prepared liquid culture.
If you have purchased our pre-sterilized medium please follow these directions for reheating it.
Directions for Using our Agar Culture Medium.
Place your quart jar in a pot of water and fill the pot with water until it covers half of the quart jar. Leave the lid in place to prevent contaminates from entering. Raise the water temperature to boiling in order to liquify the medium. Agar will remain liquid until it falls below 96.8 degree F.
When the Medium has liquified it can be poured into waiting agar plates. It is important to pour your agar plates under sterile conditions. We highly recommend using a Flowhood but a glovebox might work. We make no guarantees if a Flowhood is not used. Bacteria are present everywhere including the air. It only takes a few particles to land on your medium to contaminate it. When the agar has solidified again you can seal the edges of the agar plates with parafilm or other sealing device.
For months now you've probably heard the doom and gloom predictions of the media and real estate experts about how the market is in a dive, home value averages are falling and the housing bubble has burst. The problem with these predictions are they tend to generalize the state of the nation's real estate market, rather than details of each individual area. In reality, the success of the market varies from area to area, and the national home value median isn't all that important for you to know if you're thinking of buying or selling. (If you're curious though, the median home value for the U.S. in 2006 was $221,900). (You can visit http://www.getmyhomesvalue.com to get a free home value report).
The only market you should focus on is the one in the area you're thinking to buy or sell in. It's important to get an idea not just of the average home value in the area and rate of sale, but the economy, employment and attractions in that area. Knowing how an area pulls in visitors and residents will give you a good idea of how steady home value averages and the market is in that area and let you somewhat predict what those factors may do in the future.
Montana, with it's capital of Helena, is any sportsmen or wilderness lover's paradise. With a relatively small population of about 944,632 (in 2006) in a pretty big state, 46 of the 56 counties in Montana have only an average of 6 people per square mile. In general, the more rural an area, the lower home value averages tend to be, while the more populated areas tend to hold on to higher home value prices simply because they are a more popular place to live.
So far in 2007 Montana's unemployment rate has reached all time lows, at 2% in March 2007 and rising to only 2.2% in April. This rate is one of the lowest in the United States. The economy of Montana and smaller population surely has some impact on this rate, since Montana has more land to raise agricultural products such as cattle, wheat, barley, sugar beets, hay and hogs while their industries are mainly mining, lumber and wood products, food processing and of course, tourism. The abundance of land in space in Montana leaves it open to further development, and gives good prospects for the future that home value averages will rise again.
Montana's tourism breaks is down into 6 regions: Glacier Country, Russell Country, Gold West, Yellowstone, Missouri River and Custer. Though Montana has it's share of big cities, it is more known for its historical, wilderness and cultural attractions then its night life, though there is still plenty of that! Montana is perfect for the adventurer, home of Glacier National Park and not far from Yellowstone National Park. Montana has been a spot of exciting dinosaur discoveries with a Dino Trail of 15 museums and field sites, as well as tons of Native American cultural spots and activities and even reenactments of General Custer's famous last stand. You can follow part of Lewis and Clark's journey through the state, or sit back and hike, fish, and climb mountains all day in some of the most beautiful wilderness in the United States. Montana's market and home value averages should stabilize easily with such low unemployment and so many attractions in one state.
The median household income in 2004 was about $35,500 and rose just a bit to over $37,000 in 2005 and a fair estimate for the median income for 2006 would be between $38,000 and $39,000. As with the rest of the United States, the rate of income growth seems slightly below the rate of growth of home value medians. The average median home value in March of 2007 was $145,865 while April's average home value dropped to $131,680. To be fair, the lower price in April was for a slightly smaller home.
According to many agents in Missoula county, the higher tiered homes are still selling pretty easily, while the mid to lower-tier homes have a bit of a longer wait when put on the market. Motivated sellers are adjusting their home value asking price, mostly in response to reports that markets in other areas were sliding fast.
Overall, it would appear that Montana has stayed relatively stable in terms of real estate ups and downs. Home value medians never really hit the high-highs some areas of the U.S. saw and are therefore less likely to experience the low-lows either. The number of homes for sale in any given neighborhood has an effect on overall home value medians. With new homes hitting the market in the spring for Montana, it seems likely the home value median will stay level as buying and selling activity accelerates.
The only market you should focus on is the one in the area you're thinking to buy or sell in. It's important to get an idea not just of the average home value in the area and rate of sale, but the economy, employment and attractions in that area. Knowing how an area pulls in visitors and residents will give you a good idea of how steady home value averages and the market is in that area and let you somewhat predict what those factors may do in the future.
Montana, with it's capital of Helena, is any sportsmen or wilderness lover's paradise. With a relatively small population of about 944,632 (in 2006) in a pretty big state, 46 of the 56 counties in Montana have only an average of 6 people per square mile. In general, the more rural an area, the lower home value averages tend to be, while the more populated areas tend to hold on to higher home value prices simply because they are a more popular place to live.
So far in 2007 Montana's unemployment rate has reached all time lows, at 2% in March 2007 and rising to only 2.2% in April. This rate is one of the lowest in the United States. The economy of Montana and smaller population surely has some impact on this rate, since Montana has more land to raise agricultural products such as cattle, wheat, barley, sugar beets, hay and hogs while their industries are mainly mining, lumber and wood products, food processing and of course, tourism. The abundance of land in space in Montana leaves it open to further development, and gives good prospects for the future that home value averages will rise again.
Montana's tourism breaks is down into 6 regions: Glacier Country, Russell Country, Gold West, Yellowstone, Missouri River and Custer. Though Montana has it's share of big cities, it is more known for its historical, wilderness and cultural attractions then its night life, though there is still plenty of that! Montana is perfect for the adventurer, home of Glacier National Park and not far from Yellowstone National Park. Montana has been a spot of exciting dinosaur discoveries with a Dino Trail of 15 museums and field sites, as well as tons of Native American cultural spots and activities and even reenactments of General Custer's famous last stand. You can follow part of Lewis and Clark's journey through the state, or sit back and hike, fish, and climb mountains all day in some of the most beautiful wilderness in the United States. Montana's market and home value averages should stabilize easily with such low unemployment and so many attractions in one state.
The median household income in 2004 was about $35,500 and rose just a bit to over $37,000 in 2005 and a fair estimate for the median income for 2006 would be between $38,000 and $39,000. As with the rest of the United States, the rate of income growth seems slightly below the rate of growth of home value medians. The average median home value in March of 2007 was $145,865 while April's average home value dropped to $131,680. To be fair, the lower price in April was for a slightly smaller home.
According to many agents in Missoula county, the higher tiered homes are still selling pretty easily, while the mid to lower-tier homes have a bit of a longer wait when put on the market. Motivated sellers are adjusting their home value asking price, mostly in response to reports that markets in other areas were sliding fast.
Overall, it would appear that Montana has stayed relatively stable in terms of real estate ups and downs. Home value medians never really hit the high-highs some areas of the U.S. saw and are therefore less likely to experience the low-lows either. The number of homes for sale in any given neighborhood has an effect on overall home value medians. With new homes hitting the market in the spring for Montana, it seems likely the home value median will stay level as buying and selling activity accelerates.
Solar Water Heaters: Active Systems Can Supplement Standard Water Heaters
Solar Water heater Systems
Solar water heater systems are designed to be active, with pumps or fans to promote the gathering of heat, or passive, with no mechanical parts added to the system. Solar water heaters have been around since the late 1800's. Standard natural gas water heaters took their place in the early 1900's. Since the 1970's, new technologies have solved the many problems that have plagued the solar water heater industry. Difficulties such as oxidation, rusting, and inadequate amounts of hot water are not problems any more.
The difference between the different kinds of active solar water heaters is the way the heat collector protects itself against cold conditions. These systems are called: Recirculate, drain-down, drain-back, and heat exchange.
The recirculate system
This system uses an electrical pump to move water through the collector to prevent it from freezing. Moving water will not freeze, but some heat is sacrificed to do this.
The drain-down system
This system simply takes the water out of the collector by opening a valve when a thermostat indicates that the water is near freezing. If electricity is down, then the collector empties all water.
The drain-back system
This system uses a heat exchanger to store drained water from the collector when it nears freezing. The heat exchanger coordinated with a storage tank, pushes the water through to the water heater and then the rest of the house. The drain-back system has an electrical pump that works most of the time. If the pump is shut off for any reason, the heat exchanger stores the water from the collector and uses this water as the heating fluid. The heat exchanger can lose up to 10% of its heating efficiency.
The heat exchange system
This system is the only system which does not drain out any water from the collector when it nears freezing. The heat exchanger uses an oily fluid that prevents freezing to travel to the collector and keep the water warm. Some of these systems use compressed air to heat the water instead of an oily fluid.
All these active systems have sensors located on them to keep the pumps and fans working. These systems need maintenance on a regular basis. These systems should still be able to be bypassed by a standard water heater if necessary.
Solar water heater systems are designed to be active, with pumps or fans to promote the gathering of heat, or passive, with no mechanical parts added to the system. Solar water heaters have been around since the late 1800's. Standard natural gas water heaters took their place in the early 1900's. Since the 1970's, new technologies have solved the many problems that have plagued the solar water heater industry. Difficulties such as oxidation, rusting, and inadequate amounts of hot water are not problems any more.
The difference between the different kinds of active solar water heaters is the way the heat collector protects itself against cold conditions. These systems are called: Recirculate, drain-down, drain-back, and heat exchange.
The recirculate system
This system uses an electrical pump to move water through the collector to prevent it from freezing. Moving water will not freeze, but some heat is sacrificed to do this.
The drain-down system
This system simply takes the water out of the collector by opening a valve when a thermostat indicates that the water is near freezing. If electricity is down, then the collector empties all water.
The drain-back system
This system uses a heat exchanger to store drained water from the collector when it nears freezing. The heat exchanger coordinated with a storage tank, pushes the water through to the water heater and then the rest of the house. The drain-back system has an electrical pump that works most of the time. If the pump is shut off for any reason, the heat exchanger stores the water from the collector and uses this water as the heating fluid. The heat exchanger can lose up to 10% of its heating efficiency.
The heat exchange system
This system is the only system which does not drain out any water from the collector when it nears freezing. The heat exchanger uses an oily fluid that prevents freezing to travel to the collector and keep the water warm. Some of these systems use compressed air to heat the water instead of an oily fluid.
All these active systems have sensors located on them to keep the pumps and fans working. These systems need maintenance on a regular basis. These systems should still be able to be bypassed by a standard water heater if necessary.
Before you Renovate your Kitchen
Are you looking to remodel your kitchen? If you are, here are some practical Feng Shui tips that may be of use to you.
In the study of Feng Shui, the stove and other similar devices such as the oven and microwave are categorized under the element of ‘fire’. The wash basin, refrigerator, dishwasher etc falls under to the element of ‘water’. In the cycle of the five elements, water control fire which is a destructive relationship that is not friendly.
Hence when you lay out these items in the kitchen, you should ensure that there is at least one foot (two feet is better) between them. The stove and the wash basin in particular should also not face each other directly as this is viewed as a clash between ‘fire’ and ‘water’. They can be placed side by side separate by a distance of between 1-2 feet or they can be placed perpendicular to each other. The back of the stove should also be backed by a wall.
The toilet is also categorized under the element ‘water’ and it clash with the ‘fire’ of the stove. The stove must not be placed against a common wall with the toilet. It would be disastrous if the WC is exactly behind. Another possible clash is when the stove directly faces the door that opens into the toilet. You should reposition the door or relocate the stove. In the event that you cannot do anything, the only solution left is to fix an automatic door closer so that the toilet is closed at all times.
In Feng Shui, it is thought that overhead beams can exert a hurting downward force and it is unfavorable form to have someone standing beneath for long period of time. Therefore when deciding on a suitable place for the stove, position it in such a way that the person cooking is not standing right under an overhead beam.
In some designs, the kitchen is directly under a bedroom upstairs. You should place the stove such that it is not exactly below the bed upstairs. Or you can move the bed upstairs so that it is not directly on top of stove. It is also quite possible that the toilet upstairs is directly above the stove or oven. You should relocate them if this happens.
The kitchen is a hot place and grouped under the element ‘fire’. You should not increase the heat by using a ‘fire’ type of color schemes such as the colors red and orange. You should also not use much of the color green as it represents wood which produce fire! Colors such as blue (which represents water), yellow (which represents earth) and white (which represents metal) are more favorable as they have a moderating effect on fire.
In Feng Shui, ‘qi’ comes from all directions and they are not static. Some of these ‘qi’ are auspicious and some are not. The inauspicious ones can be activated by renovation works. We should be aware where they are and not carry out renovation when they affect a certain area. For example it goes into the NE in 2007 and you should not carry out massive renovation works in the NE sector of the house in 2007. In 2008, the afflicted sector is S and this is followed by N, SW, E, SE, Center, NW and W. The cycle then repeats itself.
In the study of Feng Shui, the stove and other similar devices such as the oven and microwave are categorized under the element of ‘fire’. The wash basin, refrigerator, dishwasher etc falls under to the element of ‘water’. In the cycle of the five elements, water control fire which is a destructive relationship that is not friendly.
Hence when you lay out these items in the kitchen, you should ensure that there is at least one foot (two feet is better) between them. The stove and the wash basin in particular should also not face each other directly as this is viewed as a clash between ‘fire’ and ‘water’. They can be placed side by side separate by a distance of between 1-2 feet or they can be placed perpendicular to each other. The back of the stove should also be backed by a wall.
The toilet is also categorized under the element ‘water’ and it clash with the ‘fire’ of the stove. The stove must not be placed against a common wall with the toilet. It would be disastrous if the WC is exactly behind. Another possible clash is when the stove directly faces the door that opens into the toilet. You should reposition the door or relocate the stove. In the event that you cannot do anything, the only solution left is to fix an automatic door closer so that the toilet is closed at all times.
In Feng Shui, it is thought that overhead beams can exert a hurting downward force and it is unfavorable form to have someone standing beneath for long period of time. Therefore when deciding on a suitable place for the stove, position it in such a way that the person cooking is not standing right under an overhead beam.
In some designs, the kitchen is directly under a bedroom upstairs. You should place the stove such that it is not exactly below the bed upstairs. Or you can move the bed upstairs so that it is not directly on top of stove. It is also quite possible that the toilet upstairs is directly above the stove or oven. You should relocate them if this happens.
The kitchen is a hot place and grouped under the element ‘fire’. You should not increase the heat by using a ‘fire’ type of color schemes such as the colors red and orange. You should also not use much of the color green as it represents wood which produce fire! Colors such as blue (which represents water), yellow (which represents earth) and white (which represents metal) are more favorable as they have a moderating effect on fire.
In Feng Shui, ‘qi’ comes from all directions and they are not static. Some of these ‘qi’ are auspicious and some are not. The inauspicious ones can be activated by renovation works. We should be aware where they are and not carry out renovation when they affect a certain area. For example it goes into the NE in 2007 and you should not carry out massive renovation works in the NE sector of the house in 2007. In 2008, the afflicted sector is S and this is followed by N, SW, E, SE, Center, NW and W. The cycle then repeats itself.
Uniqueness of Bamboo Flooring
Among all the new forms of flooring that has been introduced recently, bamboo flooring would probably be the most sought after. There are quite a few reasons behind such popularity. In the following section of the article we will try and look at some of them and explain this growing popularity for bamboo flooring.
The Look
What makes bamboo flooring unique the moment you look at it is its distinctive look. Quite different from that of hardwood, the bamboo flooring are mostly laminated. Since a lot of treatment is required, the bamboo floors are generally available pre-finished. The most common shade in which they are available is their light, natural color although darker shades of the floor are available. Such shades are achieved by a process called carbonization. Carbonization results the sugar in the bamboo to darken and gives it a honey-brown color. The more you carbonize the darker will the bamboo become. The choice of bamboo floors is further increased by the different kinds of planks available to the customer. They are divided according to their construction:
Vertical solid construction
Horizontal solid construction
Engineered construction
Woven stranded construction
Besides the uniform color, the bamboo floors are distinct in the kind of dark bands it has, formed from the nodes, and the tightness of its grain.
The Features
Science classifies bamboo as grass, but when you compare the hardness of it to most of the well-known hardwoods, bamboo comes on top, easily. In fact, some species of bamboo are twice as hard as red oak. And that’s not all. Even when we factor in resilience, bamboo scores more. Being more resilient they are more resistant to dents.
Since bamboo is grown mostly in tropical regions, it is also much better equipped to deal with moisture. That allows it to deal much better with standing water or other spills. Additionally, bamboo floors are laminated, which gives it further protection against moisture. So chances of cupping, warping or gapping are greatly reduced.
Environment Friendly
In today’s time of global arming and deforestation, it is difficult to endorse hardwood floors as any hardwood floor will mean felling of trees. One understands that new trees are being planted for every tree felled and effort is on to protect the environment. At the same time, it must also be understood that each hardwood tree can take up to anything between 30 and 100 years to reach maturity. On the other hand, a bamboo tree is ready for harvest in just five years. And since it’s a form of grass it can grow from the same place. This makes bamboo a more environment friendly choice.
The Look
What makes bamboo flooring unique the moment you look at it is its distinctive look. Quite different from that of hardwood, the bamboo flooring are mostly laminated. Since a lot of treatment is required, the bamboo floors are generally available pre-finished. The most common shade in which they are available is their light, natural color although darker shades of the floor are available. Such shades are achieved by a process called carbonization. Carbonization results the sugar in the bamboo to darken and gives it a honey-brown color. The more you carbonize the darker will the bamboo become. The choice of bamboo floors is further increased by the different kinds of planks available to the customer. They are divided according to their construction:
Vertical solid construction
Horizontal solid construction
Engineered construction
Woven stranded construction
Besides the uniform color, the bamboo floors are distinct in the kind of dark bands it has, formed from the nodes, and the tightness of its grain.
The Features
Science classifies bamboo as grass, but when you compare the hardness of it to most of the well-known hardwoods, bamboo comes on top, easily. In fact, some species of bamboo are twice as hard as red oak. And that’s not all. Even when we factor in resilience, bamboo scores more. Being more resilient they are more resistant to dents.
Since bamboo is grown mostly in tropical regions, it is also much better equipped to deal with moisture. That allows it to deal much better with standing water or other spills. Additionally, bamboo floors are laminated, which gives it further protection against moisture. So chances of cupping, warping or gapping are greatly reduced.
Environment Friendly
In today’s time of global arming and deforestation, it is difficult to endorse hardwood floors as any hardwood floor will mean felling of trees. One understands that new trees are being planted for every tree felled and effort is on to protect the environment. At the same time, it must also be understood that each hardwood tree can take up to anything between 30 and 100 years to reach maturity. On the other hand, a bamboo tree is ready for harvest in just five years. And since it’s a form of grass it can grow from the same place. This makes bamboo a more environment friendly choice.
How to Care for a Quilt
A quilt is basically a bed covering made of two layers of material or fabric with a layer of padding in between. The fabrics are all stitched firmly together, usually in a decorative crisscross design. Designing a quilt is an art. A handmade quilt for example, is something that should be preserved not only for the comfort it gives but also for the technical skill involved in making it.
How to Take Care of Your Quilt
Quilts are made of various fabrics, some of them more fragile than others over time, and thus need to be taken proper care of. Follow a few basic tips to take care of all your quilts, whether you are handling, storing, or cleaning them.
Tips on handling quilts:
•You must always wash your hands or wear cotton gloves while handling your quilts.
•You must never eat, drink or smoke around the quilts.
•You must keep quilts on clean and dry surfaces.
Tips on storing quilts:
•You must store your quilts in a cool, dark, dry place. Avoid storing quilts in the attic as attics have very poor ventilation. Do not store quilts in the basement, as basements are very humid.
•You must keep your quilts out of the direct rays of the sun. The ultraviolet rays of the sun are responsible for breaking down fabric dyes and speeding up the oxidation of fibers.
•You must ensure that the quilts are kept away from insects and mice.
•The best way to store quilts is in acid-free boxes or papers. However, they can also be folded in clean cotton sheets or washed.
•You need to ensure that you do not pile too many folded quilts on top of each other. Also the quilts need to be unfolded and refolded every three to six months to avoid extreme creasing.
•You must avoid storing the quilts in plastics as they contain dangerous vapors, which might deteriorate the fabric.
•Wooden boxes can also be used for storage provided they are sealed with a defensive covering of polyurethane varnish, and then lined with unbleached, washed muslin or acid-free paper.
•You must avoid storing your quilts in newspapers and cardboard boxes, as they are full of damaging decomposing agents.
Tips on cleaning the quilts:
•The best way to clean the quilt is by vacuuming. The usual method is to lay it out on a big, dirt free surface and then tenderly move a low-suction, handheld vacuum with a small brush accessory over the quilt.
•You can also wash the quilt by the wet-cleaning method. However, it must be avoided unless handled by an expert. If you must wash it yourself, you must first test wash a small portion to check whether the dye is running out or the fabric is getting spoiled or not. You need to use a very mild detergent and a container that can take care of the entire quilt at one go.
•You must not use too much force while washing. Instead, you need to rinse the quilt gently with the palm of your hands.
•Once the washing is over, the quilt must be lifted with both arms to distribute the weight evenly. You should never lift it by one corner.
•The quilt must be laid flat to dry on a clean non-porous surface.
•You must avoid dry cleaning cotton quilts. This is essential as dry cleaning agents are chemicals that are believed to be carcinogenic (causing cancer) in nature. The various chemicals used for dry cleaning will get inside the padding and remain there.
Once you have finished washing your quilt, the next step is to dry it. You can just throw the good quality quilts in the dryer and expose them to a regular warm cycle like we do with all our clothes. If it is very delicate, you might want to dry it naturally in the air. However, as already mentioned, quilts must never be placed under direct sunlight.
So, guard your quilt and its fabric carefully! It's an heirloom in the making!
How to Take Care of Your Quilt
Quilts are made of various fabrics, some of them more fragile than others over time, and thus need to be taken proper care of. Follow a few basic tips to take care of all your quilts, whether you are handling, storing, or cleaning them.
Tips on handling quilts:
•You must always wash your hands or wear cotton gloves while handling your quilts.
•You must never eat, drink or smoke around the quilts.
•You must keep quilts on clean and dry surfaces.
Tips on storing quilts:
•You must store your quilts in a cool, dark, dry place. Avoid storing quilts in the attic as attics have very poor ventilation. Do not store quilts in the basement, as basements are very humid.
•You must keep your quilts out of the direct rays of the sun. The ultraviolet rays of the sun are responsible for breaking down fabric dyes and speeding up the oxidation of fibers.
•You must ensure that the quilts are kept away from insects and mice.
•The best way to store quilts is in acid-free boxes or papers. However, they can also be folded in clean cotton sheets or washed.
•You need to ensure that you do not pile too many folded quilts on top of each other. Also the quilts need to be unfolded and refolded every three to six months to avoid extreme creasing.
•You must avoid storing the quilts in plastics as they contain dangerous vapors, which might deteriorate the fabric.
•Wooden boxes can also be used for storage provided they are sealed with a defensive covering of polyurethane varnish, and then lined with unbleached, washed muslin or acid-free paper.
•You must avoid storing your quilts in newspapers and cardboard boxes, as they are full of damaging decomposing agents.
Tips on cleaning the quilts:
•The best way to clean the quilt is by vacuuming. The usual method is to lay it out on a big, dirt free surface and then tenderly move a low-suction, handheld vacuum with a small brush accessory over the quilt.
•You can also wash the quilt by the wet-cleaning method. However, it must be avoided unless handled by an expert. If you must wash it yourself, you must first test wash a small portion to check whether the dye is running out or the fabric is getting spoiled or not. You need to use a very mild detergent and a container that can take care of the entire quilt at one go.
•You must not use too much force while washing. Instead, you need to rinse the quilt gently with the palm of your hands.
•Once the washing is over, the quilt must be lifted with both arms to distribute the weight evenly. You should never lift it by one corner.
•The quilt must be laid flat to dry on a clean non-porous surface.
•You must avoid dry cleaning cotton quilts. This is essential as dry cleaning agents are chemicals that are believed to be carcinogenic (causing cancer) in nature. The various chemicals used for dry cleaning will get inside the padding and remain there.
Once you have finished washing your quilt, the next step is to dry it. You can just throw the good quality quilts in the dryer and expose them to a regular warm cycle like we do with all our clothes. If it is very delicate, you might want to dry it naturally in the air. However, as already mentioned, quilts must never be placed under direct sunlight.
So, guard your quilt and its fabric carefully! It's an heirloom in the making!
Why all indoor gardens should use mylar
All indoor gardens that use artificial light should use a reflective film to increase growth. Your plants mature faster and it will make your plants bigger and stronger much quicker. This is very easy to achieve by hanging sheets of reflective film around your garden. Make sure you keep them at least 6in away from your plants. Hanging them to close will only block your lighting from reflecting light back and forth to each sheet around your garden. You want the light to reflect around and around and around. Even cover the floor and the ceiling to reflect your light up and down. Artificial lighting for home hobbyist greenhouses or interior grow rooms has expanded in use in recent years as the price and quality of these systems has improved. Homeowners who have made a large investment in sunrooms, only to find their plants grow poorly all winter are turning to artificial lights to create a more lush space. In addition, many avid gardeners are finding that an indoor grow area lit by artificial lights can be cheaper to run than heating a greenhouse. With few exceptions most plant require relatively high levels of light to exhibit healthy growth. This coupled with the fact that most artificial lights have lower intensity than full sun means that serious gardeners need to be looking for more light. Anyone who has started tomato plants in February under a couple of fluorescent grow lights can tell you that the plants grow spindly and look terrible by the time it is warm enough to plant them outdoors. At the same time gardeners who have invested in the proper lighting system can harvest tomatoes grown entirely under artificial lights in January!
Why all indoor gardens should use mylar
All indoor gardens that use artificial light should use a reflective film to increase growth. Your plants mature faster and it will make your plants bigger and stronger much quicker. This is very easy to achieve by hanging sheets of reflective film around your garden. Make sure you keep them at least 6in away from your plants. Hanging them to close will only block your lighting from reflecting light back and forth to each sheet around your garden. You want the light to reflect around and around and around. Even cover the floor and the ceiling to reflect your light up and down. Artificial lighting for home hobbyist greenhouses or interior grow rooms has expanded in use in recent years as the price and quality of these systems has improved. Homeowners who have made a large investment in sunrooms, only to find their plants grow poorly all winter are turning to artificial lights to create a more lush space. In addition, many avid gardeners are finding that an indoor grow area lit by artificial lights can be cheaper to run than heating a greenhouse. With few exceptions most plant require relatively high levels of light to exhibit healthy growth. This coupled with the fact that most artificial lights have lower intensity than full sun means that serious gardeners need to be looking for more light. Anyone who has started tomato plants in February under a couple of fluorescent grow lights can tell you that the plants grow spindly and look terrible by the time it is warm enough to plant them outdoors. At the same time gardeners who have invested in the proper lighting system can harvest tomatoes grown entirely under artificial lights in January!
Growing Mushrooms at Home Using Grains
Creating Grain Spawn
When growing mushrooms at home, cereal grains such as wheat, rye, millet, maize, amaranth, quinoa, etc. can be used as a vehicle to expand your substrate mass into bulk substrates. If you’ve mastered half-pint jars, making grain spawn is the next logical step. When a jar of grain is completely colonized it can be used to inoculate other jars of grain using what’s called a grain to grain transfer. G2G for short. Paul Stamet’s explains that 1 jar of colonized grain can inoculate 10 more jars of grain. Each of these jars in turn can inoculate 10 more jars and finally those can inoculate 10 bags of bulk substrate each. Do the math and you are expanding your mycelial mass up to 10,000 times the original jar. (Growing Gourmet and Medicinal Mushrooms, 2000).
If you would like to create your own Rye jars, simply follow these instructions and start making your own grain spawn to experiment with.
There are many lid designs that can be used with your quart jars. We recommend drilling four ¼” holes as you normally would in half-pint jar lids. Then drill one larger hole in the center. This will be filled with a High Temp Gasket sealer to create a self-healing injection site. If you are using the quart jars for grain to grain transfers you can leave out the injection site.
Depending on the size of your pressure cooker you will want to adjust the amount of ingredients to suit how many quart size jars you will be able to sterilize at one time. For each quart jar measure out 200g or 250 ml of organically grown rye. You can use the quart jars for measuring. Simply pour the rye into each jar to the 250 ml level. We will need to set a pot large enough to hold enough water to cover all of the rye grains put together.
Fill your pot with enough water and heat to boiling. Immerse your grains in the water and then lower the heat. Keeping it up high will cause the grains to break open and this can lead to contamination later on. We want to steep the grains for one hour stirring now and then. For my stove I lower the heat from level 8 to level 3 when putting the grains in and then on down to level 1 after twenty minutes. Your stove will be different but I included these settings to show an example. The grains will start to swell from absorbing water as time goes on.
After your hour of steeping is up you will want to drain off the excess water and then pour the grains through a strainer. I usually rinse off the grains before loading them in the quart jars. Scoop enough grain so that each jar is evenly filled. Place your lids on loosely and cover them with a square of aluminum foil to keep water droplets from landing on the lid and seeping through to the interior.
Load your pressure cooker with the jars and fill it up to the desired water level. Now, take your jars back out and preheat your pressure cooker water to boiling. This will help prohibit more grains from exploding during the heating process. After the water has started to boil, load the pressure cooker again and place the lid on. After the pressure cooker starts to sizzle at 15 p.s.i., set your timer for 90 minutes.
Allow the pressure cooker to cool to room temperature before removing the lid. Shake the jars when removing them to mix up the grains. The grains on the bottom will have a greater moisture content than the rest and will need redistributed. Allow the jars to cool for 24 hours before attempting to inoculate them.
When you inoculate your jars, it is best to work in a clean area to prohibit bacteria from contaminating your substrate. Cleanse the area well and nuke the air with Lysol. Using a culture syringe, insert the needle through the self-healing injection site and administer 1 cc of solution per jar. Shake up the grains to distribute the solution and incubate at between 82-86 degrees F. After five days, you can shake the jar one more time to aid in speeding up colonization time. If the jars have not colonized within 14-21 days the jar is most likely contaminated or the temperatures are too low.
Grain to Grain Transfer
When a Quart Rye Jar is fully colonized it can be used to inoculate up to 10 more jars to expand your mycelium and increase substrate mass thus increasing yields. Inoculating a grain jar with colonized substrate is faster than using a Liquid Culture because there is more mycelium to reproduce and proliferate. The procedure is fairly simple. The main concern is sterility when opening the uncolonized substrate jars.
First thing. You should wait approximately 1 week after the jar has colonized to ensure the interior has colonized as well and allow the mycelium to digest the substrate in preparation for fruiting. A rye jar usually colonized in about 3-4 weeks. Sometimes this can take longer if the temperature is not between 82-86 degrees during incubation.
When you are sure colonization is complete you will need to break up the grain so that you can inoculate your other substrates. Using a tire is perfect for this. Just make sure there are no cracks in the jar or it could break. You should also use safety goggles when doing this. After the grains have broken up, place it back in your incubation area and wait 24 hours. This will help rule out contaminations. The next day, mycelium should be growing again. If it has not within 24 hours the jar is considered contaminated by bacteria and should be thrown out. If you use it then you are potentially contaminating all of your new substrate jars.
The following day when you are ready to inoculate your jars, you should clean your work area, table and air with some cleaner. Any automatic air should be turned off one hour before the procedure. This helps calm the air and reduce the risk of airborne contaminates entering the jar when you open it. Ideally, you should be working in front of a Flow Hood but a Sterilized Glovebox will work as well. If you are using a glovebox, load the jars at this time.
The Procedure: Reshake the colonized jar to break up the grains. To inoculate the new rye jars, remove the lid from your colonized jar and the lid from the fresh substrate jar. Shake some colonized rye grains into the fresh substrate. There should be enough to divide the 1 colonized jar into 10 new ones.
Continue with the rest of the jars. Remove the lid, quickly inoculate with rye grain and replace the lid. The less time the lid is off the better. Incubate your jars the same way you did the first one. After these have colonized you can do several things with the grain.
• Use each jar to inoculate 10 more jars each
• Fruit the mushrooms right out of the top of the jar (depending on your species; not all mushrooms fruit directly from grain)
• Use the colonized grain to inoculate any of our 3 lb Substrate Spawn Bags. In most cases these can be fruited directly using our grow chambers or a humidity tent.
• Use the colonized grain to inoculate Pasteurized Straw
Affordable Ways to Renovate without Renovation
Spring and summer are the seasons of different repairs, reconstructions, remodeling of our houses. Every time we think about any renovation we think about changing the whole interior or just a part of it to create a new look or at least a feeling of it. Most of the times it requires a lot of time and money and usually we do not have any of them. Here are some tips how to change your room using just a simple lighting fixture.
One can notice that the interior lighting influences the mood, comfort and coziness of the room. Just one lighting fixture is capable of creating the feeling of a medical establishment or the cozy place for relaxation with a cup of coffee and a favorite book.
The main idea today in choosing the right lighting fixtures for your house is – “Do not just follow the traditional rules, where the main chandelier is always located right above your dining table, and your wall sconces in the master bedroom are symmetrically mounted on both sides of the bed”. Be creative! The tendency today is the creation of many accents, both mobile and mounted, combination of direct, dispersed, and reflected lighting.
Decorative lighting plays also a very important role in finishing of any interior. You can use several sources of light in one room – it can be a floor lamp, table or wall lamps, different spotlights and track lights. Just direct the light to the most beautiful details of the interior – a niche in the wall, a vase, a sculpture. One more trick – to add some enigma to the room, mount a spotlight to the floor to enlighten a certain object on the wall. This idea came to us from the ancient times, when the torches were hidden behind different niches, walls, stones.
And finally, some general recommendations from the designers of Casa Di Luce showroom:
1. In order to visually enlarge a room, light up the walls to a maximum extent. While painting or decorating, use the materials with a high coefficient of reflection.
2. If you want to make ceilings look higher, direct the light of your fixtures upwards, if, on the contrary, you are not satisfied with your high ceilings mount the chandeliers on the ceiling with the light downwards. The ceiling will appear dark and will not attract attention.
3. To visually widen the hallway, it’s recommended to mount several wall sconces along one wall. It’s a big mistake to install lighting fixtures in the middle of the ceiling along one line; it will narrow the space of the hallway.
4. Remember, dispersed light creates the feeling of comfort and coziness, so try to use it in your interior.
One can notice that the interior lighting influences the mood, comfort and coziness of the room. Just one lighting fixture is capable of creating the feeling of a medical establishment or the cozy place for relaxation with a cup of coffee and a favorite book.
The main idea today in choosing the right lighting fixtures for your house is – “Do not just follow the traditional rules, where the main chandelier is always located right above your dining table, and your wall sconces in the master bedroom are symmetrically mounted on both sides of the bed”. Be creative! The tendency today is the creation of many accents, both mobile and mounted, combination of direct, dispersed, and reflected lighting.
Decorative lighting plays also a very important role in finishing of any interior. You can use several sources of light in one room – it can be a floor lamp, table or wall lamps, different spotlights and track lights. Just direct the light to the most beautiful details of the interior – a niche in the wall, a vase, a sculpture. One more trick – to add some enigma to the room, mount a spotlight to the floor to enlighten a certain object on the wall. This idea came to us from the ancient times, when the torches were hidden behind different niches, walls, stones.
And finally, some general recommendations from the designers of Casa Di Luce showroom:
1. In order to visually enlarge a room, light up the walls to a maximum extent. While painting or decorating, use the materials with a high coefficient of reflection.
2. If you want to make ceilings look higher, direct the light of your fixtures upwards, if, on the contrary, you are not satisfied with your high ceilings mount the chandeliers on the ceiling with the light downwards. The ceiling will appear dark and will not attract attention.
3. To visually widen the hallway, it’s recommended to mount several wall sconces along one wall. It’s a big mistake to install lighting fixtures in the middle of the ceiling along one line; it will narrow the space of the hallway.
4. Remember, dispersed light creates the feeling of comfort and coziness, so try to use it in your interior.
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