home design diy

Eight ways to stay cool without an air conditioner

admin — Sun, 20 May 2012 17:30:00 +0000

Although at http://www.meaco.com we sell air conditioners we realise that for the sake of the planet we should be looking for other ways to keep cool as well whether to make our air conditioning more efficient or to stay without any air conditioning at all. Below are eight ideas to keep you cool without an air conditioner;

1. Turn things off

If you not using an electrical appliance or a light then turn it off. All electrical appliances give off heat, whether it is a television, computer or a phone charger. They all give off heat. When you are not using them – turn them off.

2. Close your curtains

Most heat comes through windows from the sun, keep curtains and blinds closed to prevent the sun from superheating your room.

3. Don’t open your windows

Seems strange but while it is hotter outside than in don’t open your windows. If you do then you will be letting in hot air and warming up the house. Open windows when the sun has gone down to ventilate the house and let in the cooler night air. When the air is cooler on the outside than it is on the inside, having windows open on both sides of a house will create a through breeze and cool the house down quicker. Keep the internal doors open to help the draught. Point fans to the outside through an open window on the down wind side of the house to push out the hot air.

4. Be Green-fingered

If your house has a south facing garden and is heating up then plant some climbing plants on a trellis to shade the house. Ivy will stay green in the winter but you might want to benefit from the low sun in the winter so Virginia Creeper might be better because it dies off in the winter.

5. Insulate Your Pipes

Make sure that all of your hot water pipes are insulated.

6. Go Australian!

Avoid turning on the oven. Eat lots of salads and cook outside.

7. Move your fridge

Fridges give off a lot of heat. Move it out from the wall so that air can circulate around the back of it to make it’s cooling more efficient.

8. Insulate your house

Good insulation keeps your cool in summer as well as warm in winter.

About the Author

Chris Michael owns http://www.meaco.com, a major supplier of air conditioners in the UK. Chris has several years of experience in selling air conditioners, although in this article he turns the business upside down to tell you how to stay cool without an air conditioner.

Is It Worth It to Do Remodeling Project by Yourself?

admin — Sun, 20 May 2012 05:56:00 +0000

With the economy in havoc worldwide, more and more homeowners are looking into economical ways to improve their homes to boost functionality, appeal or both. But most often, they plunge into the pitfall of pinching money the wrong way. One of the greatest decisions that a homeowner should decide on before starting with a project is if whether to do the remodeling himself or hire a qualified contractor. And if you are just considering DIY thinking you’d be able to save more, then think again. Whether you are in Long Island, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island or Manhattan; careful deliberation on whose hands you will entrust the job is a must.

First off, other than the costs, there are still other factors that you should consider to know if the doing the project all by yourself would be worth it and be favorable for both you and your New York home.

One of the keys to remodeling success is craftsmanship. With this said, the factors that you have to check on is if you have the skills, knowledge and experience to do the project right… the first time. If you do not have enough of these to ensure a high quality and timely finish, then your best bet to getting the job completed in the most efficient manner is through hiring a qualified contractor. Contractors make remodeling jobs seem easy because they have the right skillset and tools; and they have been doing these tasks for a living. One reason when hiring contractors is a must is when undergoing large-scale remodeling which involves structural work. Building permits may require that the job be done by licensed contractors and skilled tradespeople.

Another key to remodeling success is product selection. By choosing durable and superior quality products, materials and supplies; you will be making a more costly but either way wise investment. If you are not a contractor yourself or do not have what it takes to properly integrate these into the remodeling project, not only are you exposing the project to any mistakes but you are also risking blowing the established budget and breaking the bank.

Contractors charge a good amount for their services. But if you do your homework well and find a qualified, competent and dependable one; then you would surely be able to give great value to your labor budget. Here are other benefits if you put the construction hat down and hand it over to whom it should be on, and do your own work as a homeowner-manager:

. save yourself from the mess and stress;

. reduced working days to finish the project letting homeowners as well as the rest of the family enjoy the changes sooner;

. with your hired contractor’s connections you can tap into a network of more qualified tradesmen and make hiring subcontractors much easier;

. with his knowledge and experience, you can get superb advice, tips and insights on how things can be done better and what will work best with your lifestyle to boost quality of living to the fullest.

About the Author

Eugene Makeev uses his skills and expertise to help home owners in Brooklyn, Long Island, Queens, Manhattan, and Staten Island avoid pitfalls by matching their needs with prescreened contractors Brooklyn.

Visit us for more on remodeling New York.

Pest Control Can Be Easy!

admin — Sun, 20 May 2012 04:32:00 +0000

Constantly finding ants marching around your kitchen or having cockroaches scatter when you turn on the lights is the last thing anyone wants to deal with. People have so much going on in their lives as it is. Then after the third visit from your local pest control professional, you’re really feeling it in your pocket book. It is even more frustrating going through product after product and still seeing bugs in the corners. Don’t let these pesky critters get the best of you; easy pest control is possible!
First things first, you need to control the problem before it becomes one. Take a few extra minutes each day to be tidy. Ants, roaches, and mice will not invite their friends and family over if there is nothing to eat! If you spill something, wipe it ALL up well. If you drop something, pick it up. Do the dishes. Wipe down the table and countertops. Sweep the floors, and mop when needed. A big problem is trash. Don’t allow your trash to sit for days giving even your neighbor’s pests time to sniff it out. Be sure to keep the inside of the trash can clean too. Cleaning up after yourself each day is easy pest control compared to those that have a tendency to leave all their messes for a later date when it has become a huge headache to deal with. Not to mention, it has probably also attracted some unwanted guests.
Most often with pest control products, you get what you pay for. Many people look for the “quick fix” to a pest control problem. A lot of sprays that you find kill insects on contact or when they have walked across where you applied it. You will see some dead bugs, but it’s guaranteed that there are many more where they came from. To solve the real source of the problem you need a bait. Baits work well for ants, roaches, and termites. It attracts the pest; they ingest it or pick it up on their body, take it home, and spread it to the others effectively killing off the whole slew of them! Baits are not detected as a threat by your pests and eliminate the source of your problem instead of just the few that you see wandering around.
If you’re looking for easy pest control for all bugs, there are some excellent products available. Suspend SC is a professional grade product that will kill pretty much every insect you can think of. You mix it with water and spray it in affected areas. It leaves no smell or visible residue and lasts for three months after sprayed! It’s safe for use around the home and outdoors, even in the garden. Another product with excellent results is Demon WP.
Pest control really can be easy if you go about it the right way. Don’t let things get out of hand with uncleanliness, and know what kinds of products to use to save time and money over the long run!

About the Author

To discover some easy pest control techniques that can help you get rid of pests for good, without spending a lot of money, please read more articles from John. John S. can teach you how to do some of the most difficult pest control tasks, such as termite control, for less.

Choosing A Carbon Monoxide Alarm

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:44:00 +0000

What is carbon monoxide? It is a gas that is created when fuels like oil, propane, wood or gasoline is burned and is also formed when household appliances are used. In North America carbon monoxide is the leading cause of accidental poisoning deaths.

This gas is both odorless and tasteless and because it is also invisible it cannot be detected. In order to be aware of the danger of being poisoned every homeowner should install a CO alarm on every level of their home.

When researching the different makes and prices of CO alarms be sure to invest in an alarm that has been manufactured with the most current sensing technology. Carbon monoxide levels accumulate in small measures in every home over a period of time and your CO alarm will alert you before you start to experience any high levels that would result in poisoning. Your families’ safety will be assured if you have installed the most up to date smoke and carbon monoxide detector in your home.

Because CO alarms can be prone to false readings due to temperature changes, a CO alarm equipped with electrochemical sensors are best to purchase. Some CO alarms also feature a technology known as Nighthawk which has been classified as the most accurate type of sensor by major manufacturers.

Most importantly is the end of life warning of your CO alarm which is designed to alert you that it is time for the battery to be replaced in your unit. Some manufacturers of CO alarms will test for long term reliability and will state the information in their catalogs.

Your smoke and carbon monoxide detector should also be certified either UL (Underwriters Laboratories) or CSA (Canadian Standards Association) which is a strict guide line set by third party standards. This certification will be printed on the packaging.

Some CO manufacturers have both of these standards met for their alarms. Some other key features to make note of when purchasing your alarm system is to look for a statement of the CO alarms accuracy levels. A UL listed will mean that is has been certified UL as well.

If you live in areas that experience power outages or you own a gas powered generator your CO alarm system should also be able to function as a battery powered alarm. In the event of a power outage your battery unit will provide 24 hour protection. You should also have a smoke and carbon monoxide detector with a backlit digital display that you can view the CO levels in darkness.

Your CO alarm can be moved from room to room or placed upon a shelving unit. The alarm should also display a screen which shows the levels of carbon monoxide in your home with updates every 20 seconds. Another function as part of your alarm is the peak level memory which shows you the highest level of CO present. With this knowledge an emergency personnel team will know how to conduct proper treatment if poisoning should occur.

If a short term power outage should occur your CO alarm should also have a plug in battery device that can be plugged into a backup generator.

Another great feature is the voice warning which will announce any present danger of carbon monoxide high levels in conjunction with an alarm beep. A smoke and carbon monoxide detector will usually provide warnings for CO and smoke.

To prevent false readings or alarms place your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors 15 feet away from heating and cooking appliances. Monthly, test of your unit to make sure it is working properly. Since technology usually changes every 7 years consider upgrading at that time.

About the Author

Joel is an expert author whose been publishing online for several years. To learn more about smoke detectors visit his latest website at wireless smoke detectors, which provides valuable information and creditable references on the best deals for wireless and Smoke And Carbon Monoxide Detectors.

DIY Carpet Cleaning Tips in Tampa for You

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 01:33:00 +0000

Carpet cleaning is a very tedious job! I bet all you ladies agree with me on this one. Especially when you have a dog or a cat in the house (you feel like throwing that mutt out of the house!)
So, how do you clean your carpet?
Here are some carpet cleaning tips in Tampa for you-
Step 1: Use a brush to remove all the hair- The easiest way to do this is to moisten the brush with water first. This helps because the hair and dirt stick to the brush easily if it is wet. Always go in the same direction while brushing. Also while doing this, make sure you remove all the hair that is in the brush every 5th stroke, and then make it wet again and continue.
After you have completed cleaning the carpet, you can clean in the opposite direction (if you are not satisfied).
Also, never apply too much pressure on the brush, because it may spoil your carpet and it is sure to be a waste of your energy and money.
Step 2: Vacuum clean: Let the carpet dry for about 5 minutes and then start vacuum cleaning. I would suggest not using the brush attachment (which they give for cleaning pet hair) as it does not give a very good result.
While vacuum cleaning, you can go in any direction you want.
Step 3: Use a wet cloth: If your carpet is not washable, and it has stains, using of a wet cloth will remove some of the stains. Just remember, that the cloth (or the brush in step 1) should not be too wet. Also, you should not switch from one color part of the other with the same cloth (as the color may spread) or it will spoil your carpet. While doing this, use a disinfectant with the water.
Step 4: This is my favorite step-let the carpet dry properly. Then glide the vacuum cleaner over it so that it removes stains to some extent. After all the cleaning, use a lint remover as the final finishing touch. Your carpet starts shining once again.
An optional step 5: To give your carpet a little sheen and to make it look new again, wet a cloth with a mixture of fabric conditioner and water (available in any store) and rub it on your carpet in one direction only. Leave it for 10 minutes.
Finally your carpet looks as good as new! Again if your carpet is washable, you can wash it yourself. The above carpet cleaning tips in Tampa are very popular in the market and the best thing is that you alone can do all the above steps. So you save money and at the same time keep your home a happy and healthy place to live in.

About the Author

Get latest information on Carpet Cleaning Tips in Tampa. Carpet Cleaning is a must to keep your home disease free. If you do not know how to clean carpet follow the link. Remove carpet stains. Keep yourself updated with the latest DIY Carpet Cleaning Tips in Tampa

Free Woodwork Plans – How To Find The Best Free Woodwork Plans

admin — Thu, 17 May 2012 04:09:00 +0000

When it comes to free woodwork plans there is a vast range to choose from. But with most things in life you get what you pay for and unless they are high quality plans it can often be a false economy to try to work with them.

Have a think about any unfinished woodworking projects you have around the place. Odds are that the reason you didn’t finish it was because of the plans.

They were either too complicated so you got lost and couldn’t follow them. Or the diagrams didn’t quite make sense or the list of tools and materials wasn’t really clear so you got half way through and found yourself without a crucial cut of wood or specific tool.

So, how do you overcome this? Well if your budget doesn’t quite stretch to plans then just make sure you keep these three simple rules in mind when you are evaluating a free plan:

1. A Photo of the Finished Item

It’s really important that you can see the finished project before you start. Not only does it give you a clear goal but is also proof that the plan has been made by someone rather than just being a designed. Yes, that does happen!

2. Step by Step Diagrams & Instructions

The vast majority of woodworkers I’ve talked to about unfinished projects say that they just couldn’t understand the instructions, got frustrated and abandoned the project largely because of this. Instructions are always easier to read when they are broken down into smaller blocks of information which is why step by step instructions are important.

3. A Detailed List of Tools and Materials Required

A chef wouldn’t start cooking without having their ingredients together at the start and neither should you. If your plans don’t have a list of the materials required then you are much more likely to get part way through and not have something you need.

When that happens it almost always spells UNFINISHED PROJECT!

It can be hard finding exactly what you want with free woodwork plans. If you’re serious about woodworking then I suggest investing in a great resource of step-by-step plans to ensure you don’t waste your time and money and woodworking remains a pleasure.

More…

About the Author

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Alex Rivers is a passionate DIY and woodworking enthusiast.

How To Build Solar Panels Creating Free Energy and Electricity

admin — Wed, 16 May 2012 10:00:00 +0000

How to make solar panels have been a popular topic over the recent years as having them installed by someone who’s qualified can cost you anywhere from $20,000-$50,000. Why pay that much when you can install it yourself, all this requires is a little time and patience.

People often wonder, what level of difficulty comes with them learning how to make solar panels. The answer, not much. This is because there are no special tools or knowledge required to generate free electricity and all the supplies that you need to build this self sufficient device is located at your local hardware store such as Lowe’s and Home Depot.

I know you may have come across many reports about alternative energy. But if you really interested on how to make solar panels then Earth 4 Energy would be recommended. Not only do they have a dynamic and informative ebook, it is also included with videos breaking it down for you to understand. Earth 4 Energy is so confident you will like this porduct that they give you a 60 day money back guarantee, making sure you have time to make your solar panel as well as generate free energy and electricity.

The bottom line of this article was to inform you that there is an honest way to generate free electricity from your home using a solar panel while saving money. Do you have any idea how much money you would save if you didn’t have to pay electric bills? I’m sure you do. So do you and your family a favor and look into Earth 4 Energy, and spend your money on what you desire not what you feel like is a necessity when it’s really not.

Let’s look at the benefits of solar panels. One, it is a money saver, two, its environmentally friendly. Unlike the big companies you pay for you energy and electricity, there are no external gases released into the air polluting our beautiful environment. How to make a solar panel benefits you in ways you are not even aware of, to become more aware of advantages visit the Earth 4 Energy Review website now.

About the Author

For more information on how to make solar panels and save money today, visit Earth 4 Energy. For a limited time they are offering a bonus of how to build Wind Turbines, hurry this deal won’t last lon

A Comprehensive Review of Teds Woodworking

admin — Tue, 15 May 2012 21:59:00 +0000

Teds Woodworking is a collection of a wide variety of woodworking projects meant for everyone. You can expect guides on how to build home furniture, dog houses, and even sheds. All this was compiled by Ted McGrath who is a professional woodworker with years of experience behind him. Find out what separates this package from the rest.

One of the first things you will notice is that this package is meant for people of all skill levels. The plans included are clear and straight to the point which appeals to beginners. With enough confidence, they can eventually move on towards more complicated projects. Seasoned veterans will find additional tips that can make things easier for them.

Even with over 16000 plans on the site, there is still no problem when looking for something. Everything is organized so you really have little to no questions at all. It is a good thing to know that customer support is always available to help out. If something does not feel right, you can get a full refund within 60 days of purchase with no conditions whatsoever.

A few bonuses are included in Teds Woodworking as well. The CAD software is a huge help in drawing and planning absolutely and is included free of charge. 150 videos discussing a wide variety of woodworking topics is another free addition. There is even a comprehensive woodworking guide which provides an in-depth look into this trade which is yours absolutely free.

The plans and blueprints on the site can be accessed by all members. These contain so much detail that they require large files which may take a lot of time to finish downloading. Large files bring bad news for anyone with bandwidth problems and bad internet connection. As such, the site offers its members the option of upgrading to a set of DVDs to solve this problem.

With such a huge library of plans, the site is virtually a woodworker’s heaven. However, this can be a bit too much especially for first-time visitors. There is no need to worry about it though. The site is very well organized which makes searching for something less tricky than it seems.

Anyone engaged in woodworking will find this purchase heaven sent. It is one of the best packages available today and it will not even cost you that much. Now that is value for money indeed. You cannot find anything else that even comes close.

So what is the final verdict? Teds Woodworking is a product worthy of your purchase and certainly lives up to all its expectations. Detailed instructions and a selection of comprehensive guides with a few extras and handy features await anyone who makes this purchase.

About the Author

Toby Chalus writes articles professionally about the home improvement market. DIY gets more and more popular every year so take a look at Toby’s latest article on teds woodworking.

Firewood Storage Shed Plans – You Can Build Your Own Firewood Storage Shed

admin — Mon, 14 May 2012 20:54:00 +0000

A few years back my wife and I bought our first house, until then it had been apartment living for us. Back then the thought of firewood storage shed plans never entered my mind.

However, now that I was a homeowner a lot of extra responsibilities came along with the title. It is super expensive these days to hire craftsmen to do anything for you, so I was forced to learn how to build my own projects and that is where I learned about plans.

Since I have a fireplace for the first time and it’s really cool, I never thought much about where I would get the wood to burn or where I would store it, so for the first year our beautiful fireplace went unused.

One night we were having dinner with the neighbors and he offered me a set of firewood storage shed plans and also me told me where I could get the wood.

Getting the wood was the easy part. I actually got mine from the back of a truck, but you can also get wood from ads in the newspaper or your towns trading post. I just wasn’t sure how capable I was at building the shed, so convincing me that I needed to build some kind of storage shed for the wood was much harder to do and I actually refused to do it that first year and ended up with wet rotting wood.

I finally broke down and built a little shelter for my wood. I found the plans my neighbor had given me and took them to the hardware store to get a quote for the materials. I them drove over o the local lumber yard and they beat the price by more than 10%.

The shed consisted of three walls and a roof and the floor was actually cinder blocks over some plastic covering to keep the moisture out. As I stacked the wood I placed mouse poison deep inside so dogs or other wild life could not get to it.

I tried stacking the wood as loosely as possible to make sure there was good airflow. I got my wood towards the end of winter and put it in the shed to season up a bit in time for the following winter.

I recommend that if you have a fireplace, you build yourself a firewood storage shed and that you get a good set of plans to build it. I have learned that having a good set of plans for any wood working project will save you time and money.

Make sure you price shop, take your plans to a few lumber yards and hardware stores for quotes, this way you can save a lot of money. Your firewood will be dry and clean and will burn easily. There is just nothing better than a warm crackling fire on a cold winter night.

About the Author

You can get your own Firewood Storage Shed Plans, plus 12,000 more project plans at http://www.myshedplans123.info

What Do You Need From Your Storage Shed?

admin — Mon, 14 May 2012 16:27:00 +0000

How will your new storage shed best serve your needs? Now that you have decided it’s time for a storage shed, What are your options? Well, you do actually have a few options available to choose from. To begin with, you must select the space available and area where it’s going to be constructed, this will determine what size will suit your property best. Take into consideration if your new shed will be utilized solely for extra storage space or a possible workshop at the same time. If you do the right planning ahead you can get the utmost size available for your space while serving it’s purpose at the same time.

A new storage building can definitely help to free up space within your home while providing a safe and secure structure without having to rent a costly off-site storage facility. A few other options available for your new shed is for your garage, household or gardening needs. How many times have you parked your car in the garage only to hit your door on a storage cabinet, bike, barbeque grill or lawnmower? Think how good it would feel to walk out into your garage and see both cars sitting there without all the clutter. A shed with generous shelving and skylights can become a very handy potting garden shed for those who love gardening. If it’s large enough, it can also serve as storage for gardening tools. People with pools will often have customized sheds built for use as pool houses. They’re also perfect for storing pool chemicals, pool toys, accessories, and deck furniture. As with any other structure be sure to add some type of ventilation if you plan on storing flammable materials or pesticides.

For accessibility who doesn’t like a shorter trip to grab some tool when needed? If the storage building is near where you need it, then you save time having to walk off in search for something that could be close at hand in a building designated for that purpose. A well designed and constructed storage shed simply enhances the area around it while providing convenience and efficiency to your life, it will also increase your property value when built correctly.

A good DIY building design will save you time and money. There are many great resources for a simple building to a more elaborate one that can be found online. One of the most complete guides you can acquire with step by step details, illustrations, blueprints and materials list can be found at Storage Shed Building Designs. I myself, as a complete woodworker have witnessed many wonderful projects that were constructed in just a weekend or two using the DIY shed plans found through this website: StorageShedBuildingDesigns

About the Author

I really do have a passion regarding Woodworking. I’ve completed numerous projects in my 15 years of experience and enjoy giving my input and advice to those in need. I have several blogs and websites which I constantly update with my expert opinions.

This information will help you build a 12′x8′ storage shed complete with illustrations, blueprints and easy to follow step by step storage shed building designs

Michael Strickland

Email: easytrader2011@gmail.com