How to Create a Stylish and Fully Functional Bathroom

An ultimate bathroom experience is easily accomplished. And it does not necessarily have to be a go-for-broke pricey initiative, nor does it need to have a flashy, pushbutton House of Tomorrow look. Whether redecorating, remodeling, or building, you can stick to well-recognized and appreciated traditions with efficient and effectivebathroom fixtures. Much of the room's dcor serves vital functions. From faucet to sink, tub and shower, to the toilet and accessories, decorative and functional fixtures will offer an optimal and effective bathroom experience that will improve the way you live.

You will find great bathroom sinks and faucets for your bathroom. These bathroom standards get a whole lot of attention, and with good reason. You can rinse and clean with sinks and faucets in a full range of styles - contemporary, Victorian, modern, or traditional, to name a few. You will discover many finishes and sizes for a perfect fit in your bathroom.

Your bathtub and shower are essential to making a complete bath. They can be your place to clean and freshen up, and also become an escape from the outside world. Many intelligently designed shower faucets and intricate shower kits reinvent the way we shower via massaging jets and pulses of water from various nozzles. Customer favorite brands such as American Standard, Jacuzzi, Kohler or Duravit offer excellent tubs and shower and tub faucets from which to choose. Whether you are looking for a standard soaking tub, clawfoot tub, whirlpool tub, or airbath, you will find the right style, size, and finish at the right price for your design budget.

Bathroom accessories are vital to bathroom design. Items as simple as shelves and hooks improve the efficiency of the bathroom by assisting in tasks. Toilet paper holders, soap dishes, and shower accessories come in great styles to match your bathroom's other fixtures. Typically, plumbing brands offer a line of accessories to go with their faucets and sinks so customers may create a coordinated look in the bathroom.

Vanity topsoffer cabinetry, counter top, and sometimes sink and faucet all in one. They are crafted in different sizes and styles to fit most any bathroom. You will also find mirrors and wall sconces to match your vanity top's style.

The toilet is a vital part of the room. This fixture needs to be dependable and function exceptionally without fail or fear of embarrassment. Toilet plumbing technology has improved greatly in recent years. You will discover advanced toilet equipment with incredible flushing capabilities. Because the toilet is the biggest culprit for water loss, intelligent and durable designs save water while flushing waste away better than any toilet has ever before. Once you discover the advanced water saving, flushing, and anti-clogging capabilities of the modern toilet, you will find the quality of your investment is well worth its price. Check out toilets from brands like Price Pfister, TOTO, St. Thomas, and American Standard.

Bathroom experts such as Delta, Whirlpool, Moen, Central Brass, Danze and Kohler are dedicated to providing high performance bathroom utilities, fixtures, and accessories.

FaucetOutlet.com carries a wide selection of high quality discount bathroom faucets and discount shower faucets in the styles you want at prices you can afford.

Finding Something You Don't Like About Yourself - Creating Habits

Finding something you don't like about yourself is usually very easy for most people. Most of the time you don't even have to ask your family or friends because you have heard them complain about the same thing for years. How many times have you heard someone mention, I need to lose weight?

Here's a list of things people don't like about themselves. If you're one of those people that has a hard time finding something wrong with yourself, you could always ask one of your friends for some suggestions. I'm sure they would like that.

1. The need to lose weight. This of course is one of the worst problems with Americans. Most people need to lose weight and let's not forget there are some people that need to gain weight.

2. The need to stop gambling. As more Indian reservations are allowed to build gambling casinos and of course as the Internet gambling gets larger, I've noticed some people with gambling problems.

3. The need to stop drinking alcohol. The abuse of alcohol has been going on for many years. These people have an excuse for why they drink and most of the time it doesn't make sense.

4. The need to stop smoking. This could be one of the most difficult things I've ever seen my friends and family deal with.

5. The need to stop excessive behaviors. For example, gossiping, cruelty, bullying, lying, cheating, stealing, partying etc. You get the idea.

6. Don't forget the dreaded shopaholic. Most shopaholic's seem to have large credit card debt and can't seem to stop this vicious circle of buying and owing money to their creditors.

7. Working long hours or the workaholic. Sometimes this is a necessity but I would suggest that you change your lifestyle if possible. Reevaluate your reasons for working so hard.

8. Religious fundamentalists. People that spend too much time at their place of worship and soon find themselves feeling guilty if they're not doing something spiritual.

9. The need to be on time. This would include people that have problems giving themselves enough time to get ready for work or school.

10. The need to stop doing drugs. I thought by now, approaching my 50s, that drugs would no longer be a problem in the United States, but it is. It's one of the most damaging things people can do to their lives.

There are plenty of things that people would like to stop doing or start doing. If you're a smoker and you seem to shop excessively near the casinos, I would advise you to start with something small and work your way up to the big stuff.

What are you going to change today about your life? Make a list of things that you're not happy with about your life and start making the changes today that you need to create the life you deserve and desire.

Greg Vanden Berge is a published author, internet marketing expert, motivational inspiration to millions of people all over the world and is sharing some of his wisdom with experts in the fields of writing,marketing, and personal development.

Greg is currently working on a personal development video library filled with great movies on a wide array of topics, like religion, self help and spiritual changes in the world. His views on religious freedom are slowly changing the way people think about institutional religion.

4 Quick Tips to Stage Your House

When it comes to selling your home fast, staging is everything. It's not as hard as you may think, and you can easily make your home appealing and attractive to potential buyers.

Arrange Your Living Spaces
Minimize the amount of furniture in each room and don't arrange it on the walls. Pull the furniture away from the walls and group a couple of pieces in two or three places around the room.

Use soft fabrics for throw pillows, etc. Fabrics such as silk, lamb's wool and satin will add a rich, luxurious touch to any room.

Take down any fancy window coverings and replace them with drapes or curtains in neutral colors that have simple lines and compliment a room, not overwhelm it.

Put a unique statue, plant, or other item on bookcases, shelving units, and fireplace mantels that will draw a buyer's attention to the special features of your house they might have otherwise missed. Just these simple things can help you sell your house fast.

Choose Accessories Carefully
Use a mirror in a small room to give it the appearance of being larger than it really is. Additionally, an area or throw rug can brighten up any room.

Put your large sofa into storage and use chairs and loveseats to compliment your living or family room; this will make the room look larger.

Use fresh flowers if possible to brighten up a kitchen counter, bathroom, or foyer. If you don't want to bother with fresh flowers, use good quality silk flowers instead.

Put orange oil or lemon oil on all the wooden cabinets in your house. It will add a nice sheen and make them look clean and fresh.

Kitchens and Bathrooms
The kitchen and bathrooms are the most important rooms in your house to prospective buyers. You may want to arrange a few fun and interesting cookbooks on your kitchen counter.

Fill a basket with spa items such as ribbon tied towels, scented soaps, bath salts, lotions, etc. Place the basket on your bathroom vanity. Make sure the basket is size appropriate for the room. For example, don't place a huge basket in a small bathroom.

Porches and Patios
Don't forget to spruce up the front porch, deck, and patio of your home. If its spring, summer, or fall, place pots of fresh plants and flowers outside. Don't overwhelm the space, but a couple well-placed planters of gorgeous flowers can work wonders.

You don't have to spend a lot to reap huge rewards when it comes to staging your house for sale. With just a few simple steps you can entice home buyers in the front door and have them scrambling to purchase your home.

About the Author:
Martin Orefice the president of USHomeAssist, a group of professional home buyers that purchase houses nationwide. Visit http://www.USHomeAssist.com to find out how to sell your house fast, and even stop foreclosure.

Optimize DIY Projects - Tips That Elevate DIY to an Art

While some people go into DIY blindly, without any concern for the right kinds of preparation and the right kinds of tools, many choose to listen to the experts.

Experts such as Tommy Walsh (Collins DIY) and Kelly Hoppen (Posh and Becks) all encourage DIY enthusiasts to research, prepare well and find the best ways to do things first.

Surviving DIY

Sometimes it is all a matter of survival. DIY projects, such as replacing floorboards and installing sash windows are not easy. Therefore, some recommendations are in place to make your life easier as a DIY weekend warrior.

Sanding

Sanding should be done with the right kind of sandpaper or sander, and the sanding should be done along the grain. This means you have to find the direction of the cambium and sand that way.

If you sand across the grain, you will end up with a coarse texture that you will have redo to smoothen. DIY enthusiasts know that if you have to repeat something, you did it wrong the first time. Time is gold. Remember, you do not want to be stressed out even before you finish the DIY project.

Another use for butter is...

It is not true that nothing beats WD40 or monkey grease when it comes to reducing friction. Nevertheless, creaking doors, creaking windows and creaking gates can all be remedied with butter.

Use butter that had already melted, and apply liberally around the creaking joints. The butter should have as little water content, and should have high fat content. Avoid overly salted butter as these could react with metal or with wood.

On the use of wood

If you want to install a new gate, new fences and build new shelves for your home, get the woods cut at the merchant. Some people like to saw their planks of wood themselves.

While it is fine if you have an electric saw, it's a waste of time if you are doing it manually. Cutting is almost always free at merchants, so make your measurements before you buy and have your wood pieces cut before you bring them home.

Want a bigger room?

If you want a room to look bigger than it really is, but you do not need extra space, do not knock down the walls yet. You heard us right; do not get that sledgehammer yet.

One very simple way to make a room look bigger than it really is, is hanging a mirror. Try it for yourself and you will instantly see what we mean.

Scrape the scraper

Replacing old wallpapers can be tricky business. Not only have the adhesives dried completely into the wood or concrete, but often, the wallpaper just won't give up.

Some people resort to violence- with a scraper. Unfortunately, scrapers have the tendency to damage the surface below the wallpaper. Paint, wood and concrete come along with the old wallpaper.

In cold countries such as the United Kingdom, depleted walls are never good things. What is the solution? Hire a steamer machine and use it to tear the wallpaper naturally from the wall.

This article was brought to you by Springfields Army Stores, a leading supplier of camping equipment in the UK

Church Construction

The topic of church construction comes-up at some point in the life cycle of every ministry. Whether you're acquiring or remodeling an existing church or building a new worship facility from the ground up, the process of church construction can be daunting to say the least.

Over the years we have found that ministry staff and their advisors are so focused on the "hard" aspects of construction (financing, land acquisition, permits and entitlements, architectural design, etc.) that they tend to under estimate the value of the softer aspects like the design of their audio and video systems. If you desire to have excellent worship and fellowship, then it's critical that attention be paid to acoustics, audio, lighting, and video systems from the beginning of the church construction process.

One of the major problems plaguing church construction projects is the lack of vendor coordination, communication, and collaboration. There is often a gap in coordination between the design of the sound, lighting and video systems and the installation. Very often one company is selected to perform design work (early in the project) for the architect, and another is selected a year later to install the system. Changes to the electrical, structural and other building systems have often been made by the local building contractors during this time without thought to the impact on the technical systems, because "there was no one to call."

The key to a successful outcome for any church construction process is to have a design-build firm that has sole responsibility for every aspect of the AV system. A good AV design-build firm serves as a single point of contact on all issues ranging from concept, to design, to final installation and training. The design-build firm's designers, engineers, and technicians are involved in your project from day one, exchanging information all along the way, while never losing sight of your ministry's goals and priorities.

Good design-build firms have disciplined project management teams that anticipate and solve problems before they become critical issues. They become an asset to the project by bringing needed expertise at every step along the way insuring that a project is delivered under budget and ahead of schedule.

Ron Simonson is the President and CEO of CCI Solutions, one of the nations leading providers of professional audio, visual, lighting, and recording equipment. CCI Solutions assists corporate, educational, and worship facilities in achieving performance/presentation excellence. More information about Ron Simonson or CCI Solutions can be found at http://www.ccisolutions.com or by viewing http://www.ccisolutions.com/blog

Pegasus Faucets Are a Wise Investment

Changing faucets in the home is like changing out the light fixtures and you may not think that it can make a difference, however the change is surprisingly vivid. With Pegasus faucets, you may turn the kitchen from utilitarian to a more current style. You can make your bathroom go from 90's tract home to the 21st Century showstopper. Many interior decorators think that changing a home's faucets is the easy method to change a look of your room with comparatively little expense.

As the kitchen is often the center of the home, the faucet change is important. In case you select Pegasus faucets, then there are some choices. First, decide if you would like to have single handle faucet or else dual handle faucet. In case, you select single, will it be fixed sprayer or pull out sprayer?

Your option of the finish on a Pegasus faucet is significant. Pegasus faucets are accessible in chrome, polished brass, pearl nickel, and biscuit, white and stainless finishes.

In the bathroom, your options for Pegasus faucets are very much similar as in the kitchen. First, decide if you would like a single handle faucet or else dual handle faucet. The famous choice in bathrooms is a dual handle faucet just because you may produce more exact draw of water and control temperature much better than with the single handle faucets.

Also for the bathroom fixtures, Pegasus faucet options are very much similar to kitchen faucets. You can choose polished brass, pearl nickel, and chrome, white or Venetian bronze. Once again, you would like to think of some other fixtures in a bathroom the shower or else slider doors, light fixtures.

If you are updating the whole bathroom and would like to change the shower and bath fixtures, then you can get the pieces that will coordinate with Pegasus faucets that you chose for bathroom sinks. From basic to fancy, there is a faucet for every bathroom.

We have done a lot of research on the various faucets available on the market including the Pegasus faucet. Visit our site today for more information on the different brands of faucets available! http://www.faucetden.com
By M. Applebaum

Basement Makeovers

The basement is frequently the room that has the most square footage in a home. Yet, basements are frequently not always very welcoming. They can be dim and have dank and frequently they are simply treated as extra storage space. However, you can do much more with your basement than using it as a place to keep things. What is pleasant about a basement is that it can be your private space to do whatever you like. Be creative and come up with something you'd like to add to your home that can be completed in the basement.

A basement can be an exceptional location to store food. There is not much light in a basement, which is excellent for food. Having your own pantry can be very convenient. Another option is to store wine in your basement. What is enjoyable about this idea is that you can choose your favorite wines and then permit them to ferment in a spot in your home where they will not be disturbed. If you are one of the many home brew masters who like to make their own beverages, you can organize your basement to fit this purpose.

Basements can be a great escape for teenagers too, who are often happy to be in seclusion and enjoy having their own area where they can spend time with their friends and play video games. They're also a great place for teen bashes. Being underground, they're a lot less likely to disturb the neighbors. So why not fit out your basement appropriately with an upscale sound system and a luxury plasma television? This is a great way to make your kids content, and the envy of the neighborhood.

If you decide to go ahead and put a sound system in your basement, why not take it one step further and add a projector and perhaps some media chairs? This will convert your basement into a home cinema. You have the room you need to do a home theater right in a basement, and you also have the restricted light that is essential for this kind of room. This way you can turn your basement into a practical space that you and your friends will enjoy for years to come.

If you take pleasure in creative things like photography, a basement also works well as a darkroom. That way you can develop your own photos. You'll have to make sure that you have an entrance that can be restricted or has some sort of system to make sure that your darkroom is not entered at the wrong moment. You may want to also add some benches to use as a workspace. You can also add lines to hang photos to dry on. One thing you will have to do is consider the best way to add ventilation to your basement to make sure you are not breathing any harmful fumes. No matter what course you take with your basement, make sure it suits you and what you enjoy doing.

Find an excellent home in Ohio: Miamisburg Luxury Property and Middletown Affordable Real Estate.

Tricks For Making a Small Bathroom Look Larger

Do you have a small bathroom? Short of knocking all the walls down to make space, which will create a real home improvement nightmare scenario, there are much simpler solutions. You can use a few clever interior design tricks to making your bathroom seem bigger than it is, and make the most of your space. This will make you bathroom feel like a whole new beautiful space, which is usually the point of most home improvement endeavors.

Tip #1: Get a corner bathtub. If you have a small bathroom with a freestanding bathtub or even standard bathtub that is built into the wall, you are wasting space my friend! Corner bathtubs are designed specifically to fit in the corner of you bathroom, which will save you valuable floor space. To make your bathroom seem bigger, the key is opening up the floor space so that you're not turning around from the sink and finding yourself half in the bathtub. A corner bathtub will take up much less space than that freestanding bathtub, and you'll be amazed at how this one trick can make your bathroom seem bigger.

Tip #2: Get a corner bathroom vanity. If you can't fit a corner bathtub in or that doesn't work for your floor design, there are bathroom vanities designed to fit specifically in corners. A vanity can take up a lot of room if it's placed right in the middle of your bathroom, and if you get one designed for the corner, it will open up some very valuable wall and floor space. You can use this space for other things or keep it open, and your bathroom will feel so much larger!

Tip#3: Keep things organized and out of sight. If you have a small bathroom, a common problem you probably have is that it is cluttered with toiletries and necessities, because you simply have no place to put them. If you open up your floor and wall space with a corner tub or vanity, you can utilize this extra space with a nice slim linen cabinet. This linen cabinet will give you a lot of storage space to put everything away, so you can clear your countertop, floors and any other cluttered stacking you have going on in there. Nothing makes a room look smaller than clutter and stuff all over the place, so one of the best ways to make your bathroom look bigger is to keep it clean and tidy, and have somewhere to tuck all your necessities away out of sight.

If you would like more information on corner bathtubs or freestanding bathtubs, please visit the Simply Bathtubs website.

Exterior House Painting

Spring is just around the corner and this article is all about giving the exterior of your house the paint job it deserves. As a professional house painter I would like to lay out five important tips that most people get wrong when painting the exterior of their home.

#1.) House Wash - I like to give the house a good wash before I paint it. I don't wash all four sides at once though. I usually do just one side (the side I plan on painting first) at a time because I'm going to be there for a week or two anyways probably. That way by the time you get to the next side there isn't a bunch of webs or sand or dirt built back up.

#2.) Choosing Colors - Some houses you drive by have weird colors. This is because they picked colors from a fan deck. For best results you should use an exterior house color brochure. Its coordinated color schemes help you to choose normal standardized colors. A standardized color chart will have perfect color matches that you should pick and choose from. Especially if doing two or three color schemes, you want a professional color-coordinated exterior brochure. These brochures are usually found at any paint store.

#3.) Use Quality Paint - I always use name brand paint on all my exterior house painting jobs. Why use inferior paint and waste all that hard labor? Especially if you are paying someone else to do the painting. I like Benjamin Moore exterior house paint. They have good time-tested exterior paints and primers.

#4.) Latex vs Oil Base - I always use latex paint on the outside or exterior of a house. Oil base or Alkyd coating tend to crack and peel. Latex paint can breathe and stays flexible. It lets the moisture out of the house. Oil base paints cannot. That is why you get cracking and peeling.

The only exception is when the you have bare wood. You want to prime it with an exterior alkyd or oil-base primer. Bare wood can cause "bleed through" stains that you can not block as well using a latex primer (Although nowadays some latex primers are actually getting good at stain blocking). But the main thing is that you want to use latex paint on your house's exterior and you want to use a good name brand exterior paint. Especially if you're a house painter and you're doing it for a homeowner. Don't show up on their door step with average name brand paint. People want the best.

#5.) Oil Base Stains - If you plan on staining your house there are many excellent exterior latex stains. Especially solid body stain. Solid body stain looks like regular paint except it's made for rough wood siding. Now if you have a natural wood color siding you will want to use a "semi-transparent" stain that is oil base. I would use an oil base stain in this instance because the oil base stain can permeate down into the natural wood. This is something that should be done every few years to keep the sun and elements from deteriorating the natural wood look. A quick one coat to protect the natural wood siding is best.

Lee Cusano has owned and operated his own successful painting business since 1991. He has also helped many others to start their own painting business with his "Paint Like a Pro Estimating and Advertising System". Lee also offers a new free report titled "How To Quit Your Day Job This Week and Double or Triple Your Income". To get it please go to http://www.Painting-Business.com

Finishing a Basement - And How to Plan For It

Profile: We had the opportunity to talk about finishing a basement with Bobby Assadourian, President and CEO of Triple R Inc. Located in Hamilton, Ontario, Triple R has been serving customers throughout the Golden Horseshoe for six years. The company covers a wide range of renovation, rebuilding and repair services. One common job type is basement remodeling - Triple R can often be found finishing a basement in a new home, or enhancing an existing finished basement that needs work.

Other services include general repair and maintenance - both indoor and outdoor; renovations - bathrooms, kitchens, basements, and more; masonry; complete plumbing and electrical; landscaping; framing, drywall; painting; ceramics and flooring; heating and cooling; doors and windows; siding; and roofing.

Q: Let's talk about basements. Finishing a basement is a concern for many homeowners. What advice can you offer to get them started?

A: First, make sure your basement is dry.

If your home is new, wait two to three years to let the home settle and for all the materials in the basement to interact with each other. Be aware that some basement waterproofing may be necessary.

If it's an older home, make sure there are no moisture issues in the basement before you start anything!

Don't trust that basement moisture is temporary or may "go away," or that nice drywall and paint will "cover it up" - it doesn't work that way.

Every dollar you spend on your basement remodeling will be wasted if you don't address the moisture issues first. I'm always totally honest with homeowners: if they're better off to wait, I'll tell them upfront.

Bear in mind the Tarion warranty (see Tarion for the exact specifics regarding time limitations, etc.). During the two-to-three year period, you're covered for defects in the foundation - but you need to be able to see the problems! You have to see the whole basement floor and the walls. There can be no dream basement until this period is over!

The documents from Tarion often sit on refrigerators collecting dust, and that's very dangerous. You have to put off the sports bar, the home theatre and the sound system in the basement until you can be certain the foundation is sound. This might not be what you want to hear about your dream basement remodeling, but if you don't allow adequate time you're going to be throwing your money away (this all pertains to new construction).

Q: Assuming moisture issues are addressed, what's the homeowners' next step in finishing a basement?

A: Do not build to Ontario minimum building code! Mike Holmes of Home & Garden backs me 100% on this. Often, basement remodeling comes down to money - but beware that the "minimum building code" is exactly what it sounds like! It won't produce a basement or anything else that will stand the test of time and it won't provide value for your dollar. It's truly the bottom of the barrel.

The funny thing is, there's not much of a monetary difference between good to best. However, because building codes are designed for builders and contractors, in some ways the system benefits them. Builders can save a few dollars on products, and that really adds up over time as they build hundreds of houses. That's why many of them choose to build to lower specifications.

For homeowners, though, the cost difference is pretty minor. Labour is the same - or, in some cases less, because good products are easier to install. It's really worth your while to insist on the best when you're finishing a basement. Bear this in mind and you'll save a lot of pain in the years to come.

C: What's the best way for homeowners to budget for a basement remodeling and get a reasonably accurate idea of total costs?

A: To get an accurate idea, they shouldn't try to cost it out themselves - get a contractor.

Take your time, though, to educate yourself before calling a contractor. Read magazines, literature, talk to people at big box stores.

Get a really good idea of how your finished basement with look in terms of layout, design features, and materials - know them by trade name! Contractors have a much easier time when homeowners know exactly what materials they need. If you can't afford certain materials, talk to the contractor about finding the best balance between cost and quality.

Knowing your materials will also increase your chances of having a good contractor experience - the contractor will know within a few minutes of speaking whether you've done your homework and are knowledgeable and serious. Contractors need to impress homeowners, yes - but there's nothing wrong with the homeowner impressing the contractor! Contractors are more likely to prioritize your quote and get back to you quickly if they can tell that you are serious, that you know what you want, and that you've done your research.

Q: What trends are you seeing in basement remodeling? Any exciting new products homeowners should be aware of?

A: First off, remember that you'll spend a lot of money over the years heating and cooling your basement. Due to this, there's a growing trend toward being Energy Star-efficient and -compliant.

To achieve this standard, you must seriously consider upgrading from "pink or yellow" basement insulation to Roxul. It provides some labour savings because it's safer and not itchy, it lasts much longer - but most importantly, the energy savings are phenomenal! The money you spend upfront will pay itself back in dividends over the next few decades in energy savings. It's also fire-resistant.

Another interesting basement product to be aware of is "Ipex." It's a revolutionary plumbing product that's phasing out copper. It'll take several years for most contractors to adopt it, but that's true for any new amazing product that comes out on the market. Even if the products are the best choices for finishing a basement, or are more green and efficient than other products, contractors tend to "wear their old shoes."

Again, be aware of the product options when finishing a basement, do your research and be ready to ask for them by name. Show the contractor that you know what you're talking about.

Q: What other advice can you offer to homeowners looking to finish a basement?

A: To have a really successful basement renovation, you must have good communications with your contractor. The vast, vast majority of problems in basement remodeling are caused by poor communication!

Homeowners have to consider the time they spend looking for a basement contractor, or any contractor, as a dating period! "Date" your contractor for an appropriate amount of time, because you're entering into a relationship with that contractor. You need to evaluate them personally, not just professionally!

Q: Why did you join our contractor network?

A: It's an association that's doing good on a large scale and bringing quality people together. Since I started with them, nothing but good has come my way. These people run the company so efficiently and with so much discipline, and they contribute to so many good causes in addition to their regular work (such as the March of Dimes).

Q: We hope homeowners use our service to find a reputable local contractor...but if they don't, what criteria should they use to determine who's the right choice for finishing a basement?

A: I firmly believe that there are three or four valid ways that you can research a contractor and make very sure he's legitimate. When renovations go wrong, the contractor bears responsibility - but, to be honest, the homeowner usually does too! The bottom line is that a basement renovation or any other type of work demands that you thoroughly research both your project and your contractor, and maintain good communication. If you do that you'll almost certainly have a positive experience.

1) never hire a contractor without a city license (*note - where applicable).
2) call in to WSIB and make sure your contractor has proper workplace insurance.
3) call their commercial insurer.
4) call references and visit the jobs in person.

Remember that nobody else can do this for you (unless you're using a service such as ours). It is your responsibility and you must take it seriously!

You can view this article with photos on our website.

This article was written by Trevor A. Bouchard
President & CEO of QuickContractors.com Inc.

For more information go to: http://www.QuickContractors.com

Choose a New Shape

Many people think that a bathtub has to be oblong simply because they have never looked at the very many different shapes that are now available in today's marketplace due to this fact it is possible to choose a bathtub that is made of various bathtub shapes and really change the look of your bathroom as well as transforming your bathing experience.

One of the main types of bathtub that has come onto the market over the past few years is what is known as a corner bathtub, and as the name implies it simply fits into the corner of the bathroom. The good thing about it is that it can save a lot of space and so if you have a small bathroom this can be a really good thing. They can also be quite deep which means you can have a good soak into the bargain.

Of course not everybody has a small bathroom, and if you're one of the lucky ones who happens to have a large bathroom then one of the best things you can do is to look at the bathtub that really can add an element to a design. For many people who like the traditional look a claw foot bathtub is one of the best things to choose, particularly when it is put on a pedestal. This really does add a center of attraction to the whole bathroom, and the shape, which is usually nicely curved, really does have a relaxing air.

You should also remember that as well as many different shapes now being available there are now many different ways of taking a bath apart from sitting in hot water. A Jacuzzi bathtub is not as expensive as it used to be and although you do still have to spend a bit of extra money it can be an excellent way to relax at the end of the day. All in all, the next time you're looking for a bathtub think of all the different shapes that are available and the various things you can do to make your bathing experience much better. There really is no need to look at the oblong bathtub any longer.

carl formby owns and operates smallbathtubdesigns.com Small Corner Bathtubs and Handicap Whirlpool Bathtubs

Remodeling Books Save Time and Money

The other day, I was surfing the Internet and came upon an online home building bookstore that put together a website with the best-selling home building books on the market today. These books range from basic carpentry to advanced structural engineering and everything else you could possibly think of that could be related to the home building, selling, remodeling and construction process.

I couldn't believe the simple and easy to use. Here's a list of some of their books selections.

Photo Guide to Home Repair - The most up-to-date, complete, and useful guide to home repair a homeowner can have. With more than 350 projects and 2300 photos, virtually every home repair challenge.

Exterior Siding, Trim & Finishes - This first ever compilation by Fine Homebuilding on the popular subject provides builders with ideas for choosing the correct finishes for home exteriors, plus solid how-to information.

Flipping Houses - This book is designed for realty investors who want to profit from buying below market, making cosmetic improvements to add value, and then quickly reselling.

Bathroom Remodeling - Remodeling a bathroom is a challenge - it's action-oriented and requires extra energy and stamina. But you, undoubtedly, realize it's a challenge you want to take on.

One $20 house building books or home repairs book, can save you lots of money, if you're willing to do a little research and the labor to complete almost any home building project.

By the way, if you're interested in learning how to repair a roof, build your own house, interior decorating, structural engineering, building a deck, gathering some more information about home painting or even remodeling your bathroom. Our online home building bookstore can save you money if you're willing to do the work.

Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He has just finished a Home Buyers Guide to take some of the frustration out of home shopping

If your looking for some more Home Remodeling Pictures or home building ideas

Bathroom Flooding Causes Mold Growth

Bathrooms have a way of getting mold growth in it because of all the moisture that comes from the shower or water getting on the floor. The water that can get on the floor can be from the sink, tub, or from the toilet. If water gets on the floor from the toilet, it is because it has overfilled or backed up, which can cause water to run all over the floor. It can get in the cracks of the bottom of the walls, seep into the wood around the sink, and get under the linoleum on the floor. It can cause mold to grow around the tub, toilet, and other places in the bathroom.

Mold can get in the wall, which is called black mold, and it is toxic to have in your house. It can cause allergies and other problems that can affect the body. If you are having headaches, that can be a very possible sign that you have mold and you need to check out the house. Call the mold professionals to test the house and check for mold growth. Also have them check the rooms near the bathroom or the room that it is connected to for mold because the moisture can travel to other rooms and form mold under the carpets, walls, floors, and other places that you might not know about.

It can even cause moisture and mold to get up in the ceiling, which can stain the ceiling and cause it to start to bow in which it also makes it dangerous for you. If there is a bad amount of growth growing in the bathroom, everything will have to be torn out, replaced, and something put in like air vents so it will not happen again. If there is mold on the tub, around the top of the tub, or on the tiles, you can kill it with bleach to get rid of it. You will have to scrub to make sure all the mold is gone and the areas are cleaned before anything. If there is a window in the bathroom, open it to help circulate the air in there so it will help keep it dry in there and so no moisture can build up.

Mold can also grow on the shower curtain as well. You need to clean that every time you clean the bathroom so no mold can grow and make sure you get it dry after every use of the shower. If mold has grown on it, it is good to throw it out and get a new one so the mold will not spread on anything else or in the air. Mold can get under the seal or the caulking around the tub. If it gets under there, it will have to be removed and cleaned so it will not do more damage than it already has.

Adyan Corkern is a writer for Wet Carpet Drying and water damage Virginia.

Framing Basement Walls Can Provide Warmth and Comfort

If you have any experience at carpentry working with framing basement walls can be fun and save you a lot of money. If you have no or very little experience with carpentry you can still learn with the right desire.

So you have an unfinished basement in your home and would like to create another room like a recreation room or laundry room or basement study you can do it. The first thing you need to do is know there are two areas that you will be framing, the outside walls of your basement and the inside walls to create the rooms within.

The outside walls or perimeter walls are the walls that you can either construct to provide warmth and added comfort or just construct as walls to provide added pleasantness to the basement. Framing Basement Walls to provide warmth and comfort is the best way to go if you plan to use the rooms in the basement as part of your living area.

If you want the basement room to be warm and comfortable, you will need to use 2 X 4 wooded studs for your framing around the perimeter. This will let you use insulation between the studs to provide the warmth required between the outside foundation and the inside wall.

The interior walls will also be constructed of wooden 2 X 4 studs, but normally don't require insulation between the studs. If you want added noise protection adding insulation to the inner walls can help deaden sound.

When you spend time framing basement walls correctly you will have a more functional basement area to add value and comfort to your home.

Looking for ways to have an artful and creative basement wall? Discover practical basement remodeling ideas online and turn cheap basement ideas into dream basements at a budget.

DIY House Painting - Home Contractor Advice

How The Pros Paint

You probably wonder how the painters get the job done so quickly, and then you realize they have a system that they use on every single job to get through it quickly and efficiently and tidally. At this point you're just imagining what the end result would look like and what you want it to look like. You have probably gone to a lot of paint stores and other places to get ideas of what you want.

They probably advise you on the different types of paints that would be available for various types of applications such as bedrooms and living rooms, kitchens and bathrooms. They inform you about the shine levels of paints from flat finish to shiny finish and where they would use them. Since paint has been getting a lot better these days, you can go to a less shiny paint that is still be very durable but of course you pay for the quality of the paint. Not all paints our washable, in a cheaper line of paints enough to go to a shiny paint to make it more washable. The higher-end paints a more washable and lower shy levels.

To begin with you have to start the job off right.You should spend a short time assessing what you are going to do and how you're going to do it. This is very important for you to make a plan of action. From this point you will be able to decide where to have your tool station and what you're going to have stored in your tool station for the various tasks that you will be performing.

Now you're ready to do the next thing and that is all your preparation work. You now will grab a drop cloth. Put it under the place you're going to repair. Here now you will do your preparation work scraping sanding etc. The drop-off will protect the floor underneath. And so on throughout the whole house until all your prep work is done. Prep work should not be hurried up because this is the basis of a good paint job

Written by Vic Nagy owner of Hollywood Painting since 1979
This is the first of a series of articles I will be writing on DIY painting projects
You will be able to find me at: http://www.hollywoodpainting.com/

Sauna Bathing Or Steam Bathing?

Sauna is the Finnish word for "bath". Finns who immigrated to the United States centuries ago brought with them a unique bathing custom, which is now only beginning to become popular here. Often confused with a steam bath, a true sauna bath is very different, even though both types of baths offer the same therapeutic benefits.

The temperatures in a traditional sauna can actually approach 200 degrees Fahrenheit! The extremely low humidity present in the sauna makes these temperatures tolerable. Properly designed, the sauna's relative humidity rarely exceeds 2% or 3% when operated in the "dry" mode. This permits the copious amount of perspiration produced by the body to dry quickly thus having a cooling effect.

All Scandinavian style saunas have a radiant air heater, which has a container of stones. These stones retain and radiate heat more consistently, which is why the Tylo electric sauna heaters have such a deep stone compartment. The stones can also be sprinkled with water to produce the wet sauna. This creates bursts of steam (called loyly by the Finns), which disappear quickly into the porous soft wood of the sauna. Humidity then climbs from a few percent to 10-15%. This instantly intensifies the sauna's heat as if the temperature had increased drastically (although it may even have dropped slightly).

In contrast, a steam bath makes use of a steam generator. This device heats water directly, not air. The steam room enclosure fills completely with condensed vapor. Clouds of steam envelope the bather. The humidity exceeds 100% and the temperatures are much lower than those of the sauna. Because of their very different modes of operation, the choice of construction materials is critical. A totally non-porous material such as tile, glass, or plastic is the choice for a steam room.

Previously, a homeowner desiring a steam room needed to frame and tile an enclosure and then fit it with a steam door. While this resulted in a beautiful installation, both the labor and materials made this method quite costly. Now, modern plastic technology has made the easy to install enclosure available. It has drastically reduced the cost of installing a steam room in your bathroom or exercise room. The Tylo Steam room enclosures are easier to install and more efficient than their framed counterparts by virtue of their design.

Although the steam room enclosure must be non-porous, the opposite is true of a sauna room. A sauna must be constructed of porous materials (meaning some type of wood), and it often actually employs air circulation through intake and outlet vents. Many varieties of wood are acceptable for sauna construction, but care must be taken when selecting the type and grade.

Whether it's dry heat or clouds of steam, the choice is yours and it is only a matter of taste and lifestyle.

Art Glick - art@almostheaven.net
Almost Heaven Group LLC - http://www.almostheaven.net
304-645-2310

Injection Waterproofing - Home Repair Tips

Injection waterproofing is often used to fill and seal cracks and crevices. The material is most often made from a polyurethane compound. The compound is lightweight and expands up to twice its original size when applied to a surface. Many non-toxic and environmentally safe products are available at home improvement stores nationwide. Injection waterproofing is used mainly in foundation crack repairs.

In most foundation cracks, a polyurethane injection can seal the opening. In some smaller cracks it may be apparent that a sealant was used because it may be difficult to evenly inject the compound. Single caulking style cartridges and the dual side-by-side cartridge systems are the types of injection waterproofing compounds available for retail purchase. Both of these are manually injected and easy to pump.

When using an injection waterproofing method, it is important to keep the area dry. Temporarily block any flowing water to the area, and clean and dry the area as needed. Experts say that in the case of water flowing through a hole, you can temporarily caulk the hole with candle wax, modeling clay or plumbers putty. If the cracks are in narrow or hard-to-reach places, you can use a flexible hose attached to the injector nozzle.

Whatever waterproofing system your leakage problem requires, be sure to do your research. If you choose to make this a do-it-yourself project, make sure you know where your leaks are coming from and the proper method to repair them. When purchasing waterproofing materials you should make sure you are buying the appropriate product for your needs. The National Association of Waterproofing and Structural Repair Contractors (NAWSRC) has tons of information on waterproofing. Whether or not you decide to hire a contractor, this organization can help you from beginning to end.

Waterproofing Info provides detailed information on waterproofing systems, including injection waterproofing, foundation waterproofing, concrete waterproofing, deck waterproofing, basement waterproofing, and waterproofing basement walls, as well as waterproofing contractors and consultants. Waterproofing Info is affiliated with Business Plans by Growthink.

Things to Consider Before the Installation of an Electric Shower

Everyone wants to have an attractive and luxurious shower in their bathroom. Electric showers have better impressions among other types of showers and are widely used because of their excellent performance. Compared to other showers, electric showers are easy to install, economical, and convenient to use. Basic requirements when installing electric showers include little plumbing from the cold water supply and appropriate electrical connection. However, few precautionary measures should be taken in order to provide a safe and economical output.

For households with only cold water pipe line available, electric shower is the only option. It is also recommended for areas with low pressure water supply. Electric showers have built-in pumps designed to maintain water pressure for the shower and sprayed through the shower head.

On the other hand, for households with both hot and cold water pipe lines, mixer showers are suitable and the best option. It is designed to mix hot and cold water to regulate the water temperature when used. Lastly, on areas provided with low pressure water supply, but with installed heater for a shower, power showers are the best option.

During installation, the shower head should be installed in an area far from the base tray to avoid contact. Installation of electric shower should also be in accordance with the water supply that should have a minimum running pressure of 1.0 bar at a flow rate of 8 liters/minute. Water supplied to electric showers should be cold and must have a dedicated line to be used exclusive for the shower to maintain water temperature.

Showers should not be installed in sections with freezing conditions, but should be placed on tiled surfaces. Before completing the water supply connection with electric shower, pipes should be cleaned and checked so that waste can be washed out and avoid obstructions for the water to flow. One isolated valve must also be fitted in the main water supply. This valve will regulate the opening and closing of the main water supply which is necessary when performing maintenance of the shower.

For electric showers, compatible cable that can carry proper voltage to the device should be chosen. A separate electric connection should be used from the unit to the shower through a double pole switch. The switch will be used to turn the heating process of water on and off. It is also suitable for turning electricity off in emergency situations. This should be installed in a secured place, away from any person taking shower to prevent any accidents brought by electrical shock. For added safety, wirings of electric shower must be connected to a switch without any plug or socket.

Making the required electrical connection for the shower may sound simple, but professional electricians are required to perform the task. All these precautions should be considered before installing electric showers. By considering these things, installing electric showers is made easy and safe. Let us all remember that one can only get the most out of it when it is installed properly and effectively.

If you are looking for more information then feel free to visit electric showers and electric power showers.

How to Unplug Your Toilet

We've all had this experience. You really have to go but someone has just made your toilet nonfunctional. You've tried to plunging it until your hands and wrist started to ache but no amount of effort seems to get things flowing again. You've thought of calling a plumber but they're expensive at even the normal labor rate. So what can you do besides getting your body tired by continuing what you are doing?

• Most people don't know how to plunge a toilet properly to begin with. They push and push until the wax seal breaks out and then they have another problem to contend with. Also, they've bought the wrong toilet plunger.
• The most effective plunger to buy is the one that has a flap that folds out so the rubber end looks like a bell. Stay away from the one that looks like a saucer.
• To properly plunge your toilet first make sure the flap on the plunger is extended out. Then place the end into the hole. Slowly push the plunger down into the hole until the air in the plunger is expelled. This creates a vacuum in the plunger. Make sure the outside rim of the plunger is fully seated over the hole on the bottom of the bowl. Then with a quick jerking motion pull the plunger so that the vacuum created lifts the water out of the hole and releases the obstruction. You may have to do this several times before you are successful.

After many attempts using this method without success I discovered another way.

• Hot water! My bathtub is next to the toilet, so I filled a large pot with hot water and poured it into the bowl to soften the obstruction and within eight or nine potfuls I was successful. As soon as I saw that the water level was going down quicker I used the plunger once again and then tried to flush and it worked!

Next time this happens you should try these methods. You'll save your muscles and your pocketbook!

Ryan writes at http://www.fiftyandahalf.com, a blog about life in your fifties. He is always on the lookout for ideas on how to make life easier and ways to improve the quality of life.

What You Should Know About Vessel Sinks

When it comes to bathroom dcor, choosing a right vessel sink can unbelievably transform the image of your bathroom. Vessel sinks are either made of porcelain, steel or ceramic and are fixed right under the tap in most bathrooms, whether public or private. A vessel sink is almost identical to a kitchen sink with a tap extending over the rim to fill it up. It really becomes hard to overlook a vessel sink while in the bathroom. The type of vessel sink may differ in accordance to the bathroom dcor.

There are some vessel sinks that re fitted right above the counter while there are other types of vessel sinks that which are mounted over the counter itself. In olden days no one could even think of a decorative bathroom and hence vessel sinks were all the same everywhere. But with the evolution of time and technology today, vessel sinks are available in different shades, materials and several types as well! So if you are giving a thought to upgrade your bathroom dcor you may as well change your old traditional vessel sink into a modern one. You may even try your hand at some vessel sink shopping!

A trip to a home improvement store may land you amongst the various varieties of vessel sinks. Today, vessel sinks manufacturers have become contemporary and apart from the traditional metallic or porcelain vessel sinks, there are many different sink materials which include china or even glass. These can cost you a little more but they have many buyers who want to give their bathrooms a trendy and textured look. Vessel sinks are manufactured using specially treated strong and durable materials. The cost of materials has lowered considerably and hence vessel sinks are now available in brass, glass and porcelain which give a trendy look and are affordable as well.

So if you are willing to modify your bathroom dcor or let's say your vessel sink you may have to invariably think about the faucet or the tap. You may even have to check out your plumbing because it may give you some limitations in your modification plans. And just in case you face some limitations, repositioning the pipes and your plumbing may just get a bit above our budget.

Another important aspect here is the after care. After installing a new vessel sink you may have to pay more heed to the after care in order to nurture the modifications. Especially sinks made of porcelain, china or glass may need some special care. The reason behind this is that sinks made of these materials have a tendency to get scratches easily. You may even need to keep away hard water stains and only use gentle cleaning ingredients. You should also endeavor to use non-abrasive cloth on vessel sinks that scratch along using mild soap and water. Vinegar can work wonders for hard water stains. Also you must avoid using steel wool, abrasive cleaners, or harsh chemicals which have a tendency, to damage the vessel sinks.

Looking for vessel sinks? Check our complete guide to the best vessel sinks :types, installation tips and where to buy.

How To Get Rid Of Fruit Flies With A Homemade Fruit Fly Trap

Anyone who has ever left a few bananas sitting out or forgotten to change their garbage knows all too well the problem with fruit flies. It seems that once they've invaded your kitchen, you can't get rid of them. You can scrub, clean, remove tempting fruit and spray the garbage can with disinfectants, but they always come back. You can't help but cringe just looking at them.

We have always had problems with fruit flies, with one of the main reasons being that we live in an apartment and by law - must recycle. Because of where we live, we have to keep our recycling containers inside until they can be disposed of once a week. If the recyclables aren't cleaned well enough after being used, they make a perfect breeding ground for fruit flies. They love bits of rotting food remnants and seem to thrive in even the smallest amount. When fruit flies move in, they just don't want to leave and will lay eggs in and on anything they can find - fruits & vegetables left on the counter, sink drains, garbage disposals, empty bottles & cans, garbage bags, and even mops and rags.

A Few Fun Facts About Fruit Flies:

- Can lay up to 500 eggs at a time

- Their entire lifecycle is complete in about a week

- While considered mainly a pest, they have the potential to contaminate food with dangerous bacteria

We all know that removing the food, getting rid of the garbage & cleaning up plays a big role, but we also know what it's like to move a piece of fruit and have a swarm of fruit flies fill the air only to escape your attempts at killing them. Where are they gonna go? Obviously the ones flying around can't be easily captured or killed, so they'll linger about until they find some other place to lay eggs and the whole cycle starts again.

In all my attempts, I found the best way to capture and remove the ones that escape is to create a simple trap using a jar, plastic wrap and a piece of food. Here's how it works:

1. Get a small jar you don't plan on using again ( like a baby food jar or something similar ) and wash it out well. Make sure it is not a jar with a funky smell such as a used pickle jar or anything that use to have strong spices. You want a clean, odorless jar.

2. Take a chunk of banana and place inside the jar. This is why you want a clean, odorless jar - so that the banana smell won't be overpowered by other not-so-tempting smells. Banana seems to work the best, but you can experiment.

3. Fit a piece of plastic wrap over the top of the jar, making sure that it fits tight and well sealed around the edges. Then take a pen or pencil and poke 4 to 5 holes in the plastic, just big enough for a fruit fly to fit into. Once a fruit fly crawls in, it can't get out. You would think they would just fly back out through the holes, but they won't!

4. Place the jar in an area where you have seen the most fruit flies. Depending on the amount of fruit flies you have, you can expect to start seeing the jar fill up within just a few hours. After 24 hours, you will discover just how bad your fruit fly problem is!

This simple, inexpensive & safe method works perfectly and if you don't want the jar on public display, you can always slip it behind the garbage can, in the cupboard or even under the sink (Just don't forget about it!). You will want to empty the jar every 3-4 days before any eggs have a chance to hatch. While adult fruit flies can't easily escape through the holes, their maggots can very easily, and besides that - they are disgusting to see crawling around in the jar. You don't want to see these things crawling on your counter!

Cleaning out the jar shouldn't be a problem. If you have a kind heart, you can choose to let them go outside. Personally, I spray the little buggers with bug spray, wash out the jar and start the whole process over again if I think there are still some fruit flies left to capture.

For bad fruit fly problems, you will want to use this method for a good two weeks to make sure you've captured the majority of fruit flies. You might even want to use a few jars in different places. Before long, your kitchen will be back to normal.

Carole Nickerson has been a web developer and internet marketer since 1998. Visit http://www.thenetter.com for more free articles, tips and software

Stair Lighting Problems - Safety Home Ideas

Walking up and down the stairs in the dark could become a safety issue. If the stairs in the house are not that old, there should be a light switch at the top and a light switch at the bottom of the stairway. This is a three way switch and is designed to allow you to turn the stair lighting on as you walk up the stairs and then turn the stair lighting off, once you've safely reached the top of the stairway. And vice versa as she walked down the stairs.

If you don't have a light switch, there are motion sensor lights that are battery operated and can be installed easily in the stairway. These lights can provide you with peace of mind, while protecting your family from accidents.

Stairway accidents are nothing to joke about, I lived in a two-story house with four other people and was the last one to fall down the stairway. None of us got seriously injured and the stairway was built to meet local building codes and was inspected by a building and safety inspector. The stairs were built correctly and the stair lighting was no problem, but people still fell down the stairway and it always happens in the evening.

During the day time there were two windows that let plenty of light into the stairway and in the evening the stairway became quite dark, rarely was the stair lightning ever turned on. This could have been outright laziness but nevertheless, it was rarely used and eventually became a safety issue.

Lighting your stairway might not end all of your problems but it can and some of your problems. There are plenty of stair lighting systems available on the market today and some of the battery operated stair lighting systems can be installed by most homeowners.

Think safety always and do your best to solve your stair lighting problems as soon as possible to prevent injuries or accidents.

Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He has just finished a Home Buyers Guide to take some of the frustration out of home shopping.

If your looking for some more building stairs or home building ideas.

Liverpool Airport Hotels - Why Should You Stay There?

Liverpool Airport Hotels are easy to find, as Liverpool Airport is ideally located just out side of Liverpool City Centre, and so is handy for all the facilities of a busy modern city such as Liverpool.

With passengers taking more city breaks, long weekends as well as longer holidays, there has never been a better time to enjoy your time off work, and travel.

If you fancy a long weekend exploring a European City, or visiting friends and family who live abroad, then perhaps you will want to extend your holiday by staying in a Liverpool Airport Hotel.

If you're considering arriving at, or departing from Liverpool Airport, you may be looking for a Liverpool Airport Hotel to stay in. As the airport is so close to the city centre, you can choose from any number of Liverpool Airport Hotels. With so much to do in Liverpool and Merseyside, you really will be spoilt for choice. And that's before you consider visiting places further afield such as North Wales, The Lake District and the Golf Coast. Why not stay in Liverpool for an extra day or two and make the most of your time here? From the tours of the Beatles landmarks, to the modern art at the Tate Gallery, other museums and art galleries, and the brand new exciting Liverpool One shopping environment, there really is plenty for everyone to do in Liverpool.

As well as Liverpool and Merseyside, the North West offers many places to visit and things to do. Sport is well represented in the North West. The North West coast is known as the Golf Coast, thanks the many golf courses, including Royal Liverpool, Royal Birkdale and Royal Lytham. There are also 7 Premier League football clubs in the North West. Horse Racing is also popular, with the famous Haydock and Aintree race courses easy to get to. Blackpool, Southport and the Lake District are all worth a visit if you can make the time.

The picturesque North Wales coast line includes the popular destinations of Rhyl, Colwyn Bay, Llandudno and Anglesey which are within easy reach, and there is always plenty to do, whatever the weather.

Whether you're flying to or from Liverpool Airport on a weekend city break or a summer or winter holiday, make sure that you consider a Liverpool Airport Hotel either before or after you travel.

With flights to and from many different European destinations, you can be sure that you can fly to where you want to be, or depart from where you are.

As the 2008 European Capital of Culture, Liverpool has become one of the most popular places to visit. Make sure you see what all the fuss is about, and either fly from, or to Liverpool Airport, and stay in one of the Liverpool Airport Hotels.

Find out more about Liverpool Airport Hotels, and book your Liverpool Airport Car Parking online at LiverpoolAirport.com

Kitchen & Bath Remodel on a Tight Budget

If you're thinking of selling your house and it has older and outdated kitchen and bathrooms you're probably thinking thousands of dollars to remodel and upgrade.

There is a low cost alternative to replacing bathtubs, showers, counters, etc. by simply having them professionally refinished. We sold our house in 2007. It was built in the 70s I believe and each of the three bathrooms had different colored fixtures and tile. One was yellow, one was avocado, and the other was a funky brown and gold.

After some investigation I found a company called Miracle Method of Knoxville who refinishes tiles, tubs, etc., in place with very high grade paint and totally changes the look to a clean, modern finish.The entire process, depending on how much you do, takes anywhere from 1 to 3 days. If you're worried about durability they guarantee the finish for 5 years against peeling and flaking.

They have a showroom in the Middlebrook Pike area near Wright's Cafeteria so you can go by and see their work firsthand.

In each bathroom they repainted the bathtub and all the tile along the walls. I installed new vanities, mirrors, light fixtures, and a new, comfort height commode along with new vinyl flooring. My total cost per bathroom was under $2,000 and the difference was enormous.

BTW, our house sold at full price in a week. The buyers were totally blown away by the bathrooms and kitchen in a 35 year old house. So if you're thinking of selling your older house please give lots of thought to how your bathrooms and kitchen will appear to prospective buyers.

Jim Lee, REALTOR, Certified Residential Specialist

Great Travel Advice - How to Find Your Hotel When You Don't Know Where You Are Staying

It happens daily. People arrive at an airport and either did not print out their itinerary or lost it somehow. Now they have only a vague idea of which hotel they were staying at and like most people, they race to the airport hotel board and call the first chain they think may have their reservation. But what do you do when they tell you that there is no reservation under your name?

Firstly, make sure you know what name the reservation is under. If a friend made the booking, give them their name because all advance reservations require a credit card to hold it and many times the reserving party using their card will think they have to place the reservation under their name also. If you are pretty positive you have the right hotel, make sure they look for misspellings also.

If you are fairly certain it was a chain or franchise hotel (like Super 8 or Quality Suites), call one of the same franchises from the airport hotel board and ask for their 800 reservation number. You then call the 800 number for that brand and give your name. If you have a reservation at ANY of the franchises under that brand, they should be able to find it. For instance, Wyndham covers Super 8's, Travelodges, Days Inn among others. Choice hotels include Clarion, Comfort Inn, Quality Inns plus more. Intercontinental includes IHC hotels, Holiday Inns, Courtyard hotels. A central reservation number for that brand should be able to tell you if you have a booking at ANY of their franchises.

Lastly, you may need to contact whomever made the reservation and ask them. Or get on a computer if you have a computer generated reservation and look for the confirming email or reservation. If none of these work for you, you may have to just stay where you can and swallow the loss of a no-show reservation and make sure in the future that you print out and carry with you the hotel information for easy access when you land.

David C. Reynolds is a longtime veteran of the Hotel business who offers common sense, money saving advice on how to find rooms, booking hotels as cheap as possible, travel and ground transportation tips, understanding reviews and occasional destination 'specials'. If you would like detailed information about reserving hotels as cheaply as possible, check out his e-book or MP3 at: http://www.cheaphotelforyou.com To get details about his 50+ page travel tips e-book, go to his site: http://www.cheaphotelforyou.com/TravelTips.htm

The Basics of Plastering

In figuring for plastering it is not customary to deduct for doors and windows, unless of very large size. It is considered better practice, however, to deduct them and figure accordingly, so that it is possible to use the same figures for getting quantities of material.

Plastering is usually done on spruce lath, which comes 1/4 x 11/2 inches, and made in 4 foot lengths. As studding is spaced 16 inches apart this makes three spans, and all laths should be nailed to the studs at both ends. To cover 100 square yards will take about 1500 laths, and 10 lbs. of three penny nails.

The plaster is usually applied in three coats, known as the scratch, brown and white coats. The first is applied directly to the lath, and consists of lime, sand and hair. Its surface is scratched with a stick to give good adhesion for the brown coats, which contains less hair, but is otherwise very similar.

The white or finishing coat is usually composed of lime putty and fine beach sand in equal parts, to which plaster of Paris is added to make it hard and smooth. For 100 square yards, allow 10 to 12 bushels of lime, 2 bushels of hair, 1 1/2 cubic yards of sand and 100 lbs. plaster of Paris. If a sand-finished effect is desired, the plaster of Paris is omitted and cubic yard of sand added. The surface is finished with a wooden float, so as to bring out the sand and produce a rough surface.

Other types of plaster exist, based on the use of gypsum in the place of lime. They set more rapidly than lime plaster, and care must be taken to use them as directed by the manufacturers. Metal lath and plaster board are also much used in place of wood lath for reproduction corner guards.

They increase the expense slightly, but reduce the fire risk. Whatever method is used, the plaster should be run back of dados and baseboards, as the open spaces add greatly to the fire risk. This is in fact required by the building codes of most cities.

One man will lath about 100 yards in an eight-hour day, openings not deducted. With metal lath he can do from 100 to 150 yards, though if the plan has many corners his speed is greatly reduced. It has been estimated that a plasterer with one helper can do about 150 yards of the first two coats in a day, and about 90 yards of finishing coal.

Cornices and ornamental pediment add greatly to the cost, but are now far less common than they were a few years ago. Most ornaments are cast in the shop, while moldings are generally run on the job. When work of this kind is to be done, stock models should be used as far as possible. These are furnished by a number of manufacturers and can be ordered from their catalogues.

When plaster board is used in place of wood lath, the first or scratch coat may be omitted. This greatly reduces the labor of plastering, but the plaster often tends to crack at the joints between the boards.

For work that must be done quickly, a new type of gypsum board is now on the market, requiring no plastering, but finished ready for paint or paper. It is preferable to use paper, as with point it is hard to hide the joints. This material is only about 3/8 inch thick, while lath and plaster is 7/8 inch. It can be applied with practically no waste.

There are also a number of makes of wall board, generally some sort of wood pulp composition. These shrink badly after application, and if they are papered the paper always cracks at the joints. The manufacturers recommend covering the joints with wooden corner protectors or strips, but this greatly limits the possible treatments, and makes an agreeable effect almost impossible.

The gypsum board mentioned in the preceding paragraph is far preferable, and the cost is not much greater. Both types of wall board are made 4 feet wide, and almost any even number of feet in length.

They are very easy to apply, and if 20% is added to the cost of the material it will usually cover the labor of nailing on. This, of course, is only for plain work, with few corners, and does not include wood strips or other woodwork.

Sarah Martin is a freelance marketing writer based out of San Diego, CA. She specializes in home improvement, remodeling, and working with ornamental pediment. For the best in hardwood moulding and wooden corner protectors, please visit http://www.ferche.com/.

Attractions and Accommodation in Aberdeen

Aberdeen is situated in the North East of Scotland and it has flourished thanks to the discovery of Oil in the North Sea. That has brought a lot of business to Aberdeen and the area is becoming a popular commercial and tourist area.

Transport

There is an airport in Aberdeen, situated to the north of the city in Dyce about a 10 minute drive from the city centre and easily accessible by bus. There are a number of domestic and international flights available with flights to France and Spain as well as other European destinations.

The main train station is a short walk from the city centre and there are direct trains from Aberdeen to major cities such as London, Glasgow and Edinburgh. There are also trains to several of the smaller towns in the Aberdeenshire region.

Attractions

Many people use Aberdeen as a base to explore the local area, the whisky trail and the castle trail are both in Aberdeenshire. Both of these offer you the chance to see dozens of historic castles and whisky distilleries, with the unofficial whisky capital of the world within driving distance in Dufftown.

The local attractions in the city centre include the Maritime Museum, which looks at the effect that offshore project have had in shaping Aberdeen. In the summer the beach area is popular with tourist for a stroll and there are various vendors and activities which are run seasonally, ideal for families.

There are also plenty of activities to enjoy in the region with golf courses surrounding the area including the oldest course in Aberdeen The Royal Aberdeen Golf Club. If you want to watch a football match the Aberdeen F.C play at Pittodrie usually on a sat afternoon.

Accommodation

Accommodation in Aberdeen is usually reasonably priced with a four star hotel usually under 100 a night. The Copthorne Hotel and Simpsons Hotel offer some of the highest standard of accommodation in Aberdeen. Both have a four star tourist board rating and are within walking distance of a range of attractions.

The best value budget hotels are the Travelodge and Thistle Caledonian Hotel both of which are situated in the city centre. They offer rooms starting at 60 a night and are furnished with all the basic amenities that you will require for a comfortable stay.

If you are looking for accommodation in Aberdeen then go to hotels in aberdeen.org they have a good selection of hotel, guest houses and self catering properties available to book online.

The author is an experienced traveler and resident of Scotland, he runs several affiliate marketing based travel sites in the UK which include Rooms in Scotland.

Hard Water Deposits In Toilet
Leaking Heating Duct

Why Stay in a Boutique Hotel in France?

In today's world it seems that star ratings can be misleading; three and four star hotels sometimes provide similar services to five star hotels. This can be very aggravating when travelling overseas on holiday as opposed to a business trip; there's nothing worse than looking forward to an especially luxurious, relaxing and well earned break in a luxury hotel, only to find the service and facilities bland and sub par. The answer is to stay in boutique hotels, designed with luxury in mind and service as their number one priority. We look in detail at boutique hotels (taking France as an example) and find out why, if you want true luxury, you have to choose a boutique hotel for your stay.

What defines a 'boutique hotel'?

Boutique hotels are usually small, offer tailor made experiences and cater to your every need. They are varied and interesting; they defy definition in many respects, as they are similar to each other only in their very high level of guest services and opulence. Choosing to stay in a boutique hotel in France can mean, for example, staying in a cozy hotel close to Mont Blanc, wrapped up with hot drinks, watching the crackling fire after a days skiing. Alternatively, it can mean staying in an 800 year old chateau and sampling the delights of a well stocked wine cellar, exploring vintages with a master wine taster. The choice is yours.

Why choose a boutique hotel as opposed to a luxury hotel?

The first point to clarify here is that boutique hotels are luxury hotels. They offer the best possible services, suites, amenities and facilities. However, whereas some hotels bandy about the word luxury as a selling point, boutique hotels (especially in precision and style conscious France) earn the title of luxury in every way. They are the very peak of luxurious living, and exude sumptuous lavishness in every aspect of their design and maintenance. In addition to this, the small size of boutique hotels means that you have the one aspect that run of the mill luxury hotels don't offer - exclusivity. There are guaranteed to be no ravening hordes of guests glaring at you over breakfast, no throngs of people queuing at the concierge desk. Most boutique hotels have a maximum of 40 guests, with the average boutique hotel catering for about 10 to 25 guests in total.

Are boutique hotels always isolated?

The simple answer is no. While the idea of a small, luxury hotels often lends itself to more rural and secluded regions, there are many incredible boutique hotels in major towns and cities. With boutique hotels (especially in France) you have the choice of complete seclusion in the country, or an equally high level of service and relaxation in the centre of a city. Paris - for example - is well know for its boutique hotels, many of which are only metres from the city's centre and main sights.

Boutique hotels are the very last word in luxury, and whether you are staying in France, elsewhere on the continent, or anywhere in the world, they represent the very best in holiday accommodation and service.

Stephanie Clarke is the Managing Director of Concierge Collection, providers of some of the finest Boutique hotels France has to offer. Stephanie and her team use their wealth of experience, expertise and contacts to achieve "Beyond Special". For Concierge Collection, luxury does not have to have a large price tag but the hotels do have to be unique.

Checking The Level Floor Framing
Missing Attic Insulation

What to Look For in Bathroom Ceramic Tiles

What really impresses about bathroom ceramic tiles is their singularity of purpose- that of creating a sublime space soaked in style and sophistication. The endless selection of designs, finishes and patterns ensures that your bathroom remains more than just an edifice of brick and stone. Even the most discerning homeowner is sure to find it hard to resist their bewitching appeal.

A patch of brilliantly colored tiles near the sink, tub surround or countertop is sure to put an end to the quotidian drabness and add spunk to the surroundings. It just takes a few single tiles in between bathroom field tiles to create a colossal impact on onlookers.

All you need is a dazzling and delightful ceramic tile flooring pattern to infuse freshness into all things alive and inanimate in the bathroom.

Make Sure You Are Bang On Target

The dizzying array of colors, finishes, shapes and sizes to choose from can queer the pitch quite a bit. But that really does not mean that you deal with the onerous task of ceramic tile selection for the bathroom with passive resignation.

Here are a few tips that will ensure that you never hit a false note:

• If you are looking for a no-fuss modern look, then bright, vivid colors juxtaposed with plain backgrounds are sure to steal the show. The use of intricate designs imparts tremendous visual depth.
• If the quixotic quotient of a style-centric Victorian bathroom sends you into a tizzy, install floral ceramic tiles in soft, subtle shades like blue, green or pink. They are sure to envelope the space in a cloak of exotic mystery. Take this sophistication to a whole new level with wooden floors and a handpainted ceramic sink.
• The colors that you choose must compliment the theme and character of the bathroom. Bright, effusive colors give the country theme a fillip, while warm shades like yellow and brown enhance the cozy ambience. Bright shades like red and black must make inroads only into relatively large spaces, while whites and beiges give an illusion of space.

So without any further ado, let the hypnotic power of charismatic ceramic tiles rule the roost in your bathroom.

Here's exactly how you can generate 100's or even 1000's of positively brilliant Bathroom Remodeling Ideas ... FAST ! And you could easily increase your home's value by several $1000s fast with these 25 street-smart tips for Dirt Cheap Home Improvement.

Damaged Wood Window
Dryer Vent In Basement Window

Five Most Essential Items For Do it Yourself at Home

As a person who wants to get his or her hands dirty there is nothing like the satisfaction of getting things done and seeing the finished product in all its glory. The joy and happiness of having completed the work with utmost satisfaction is beyond words and cannot be described on a piece of paper.

That said there are few tips and things that you would need to have in case you want to enjoy the thrill of do it yourself at home. I will be listing five essential items that are a must in your tool box and you should own so that you can do things at your own sweet will without rushing off to buy the stuff every time you wish to do something.

Here is my summary of five essential items in your toolkit.

The first and foremost is the hand tools entire set tool box. That tool box should contain the main screw driver with removable head so that you can plug all other different size screw heads into the main screw driver. That said most of the tool boxes also contain the various spanners for removing various nuts and bolts of different shapes and sizes.

Before buying the tool box make sure that the box contains all the sizes otherwise it becomes an issue for getting the screws to tighten or to remove.

The next essential item is the drilling machine and that is one thing which is required for most of the tasks you do at home. The holes are needed for almost anything that you need install at home be a towel holder or a soap dispenser. You will also need drill bits of various sizes for use along with the drilling machine.

Next comes the measuring tape. You would argue that it is not that essential but believe it is very essential. Almost anytime you get to work you will need to measure the distance for drilling holes correctly as well as getting the alignment correctly. There are various analog and digital measuring tapes which are available in the market.

The fourth item that is a must have is the box full of markers, duct tape as well as etching pens. This will help you in making all the necessary marks and etchings for accurately placing the things.

Last but not the least is the safety goggles as anything you do at home there will be a strong chance of particles of things flying and these goggles will protect your eyes.

The author writes about ceramic bits and ceramic material.

Window Corner On Exterior Wall

Anyone Can Build a Deck - Construction Advice

Working in the construction business for over 30 years and listening to homeowners, tell me how fortunate I am to have the ability to work on my own home. It kind of makes me feel good to hear them praise me and when I have completed their project, they usually are extremely happy with how it turned out. I've been listening to this for years and came to one conclusion, anyone can do what I do, with the correct information.

I was building a deck and a homeowner and his son were there constantly, watching me work on the project. They would ask if they can help and if there was anything they could do, they would like to learn the deck building process, so one day they could build their own decks. Most of the time, they were in my way and slowed me down. I finally got to a point where I had to asked them if they could watch from a distance, because I was starting to run behind on the project. It was starting to cost me money to educate them. I just didn't have time for this and there was no way, that I wanted to hurt their feelings or make them mad at me.

They agreed and at the end of the day, would have a couple of questions for me. I told the father, that I would bring him a few books on deck building and he could keep them as long as he needed. Him and his son were more than happy to accept my offer and the next day, they were nowhere in sight. At the end of the day as I was putting my tools away, a homeowner and his son approached me and thanked me for loaning them the books, but they were done with them. The son explained to me, that they were going to purchase some of their own books on deck building, because mine were a little out of date.

To make a long story short, I finished the deck, got paid and went on my way. A few months later they contacted me and asked if I had time, can I come over the house and look at the new deck, that they built next to mine. I said I would be glad to, and would be there tomorrow evening. When I arrived at the job site, I couldn't even get out of my truck, the father and his son were waiting for me in the driveway and directed me to drive to the back of the home.

There new deck was about 10' x 10' and matched the one that I built pretty good. They did a great job and after I told them, what a wonderful job they did building the deck, they were like two kids in a candy store. It seemed like, I had just made their day and it made me feel good, and that they felt good.

Sometimes building a deck or home repairs can be performed like a professional, with a little bit of help, from the book.

Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors.

If you're really interested in learning more about remodeling, new home construction, home maintenance, home repairs and really want to get the nuts and bolts of home improvement. Visit our web site and select from the best-selling home building books on the Internet.

Louvered Garage Vent On Plywood

How to Sell a House Fast in a Declining Housing Market

Minor Home Improvements that will Sell your House

When the housing market is declining and you want to sell your house it is more important than ever that your home look the best it can. Though making sure your home is clean, organized and uncluttered are critical factors in successfully selling a house; making some minor home improvements can also be key. Painting, fixing crack tiled floors, gluing down curled vinyl or linoleum floors, refinishing wood floors, replacing old exterior lighting fixtures, trimming shrubs around the home exterior, eliminating old ceiling water stains from previous roof leaks are just a few of the ideas. All of these minor home improvements can transform an older home into a new home with limited costs and time.

Paint Interior Walls
If your interior walls are looking shabby with marks and dents, and old nail holes then fill in the holes and repaint the walls. However, make sure you do a quality job by taping all trim first and cutting carefully around the ceiling. Nothing can hurt the appearance of a room more than a poor paint job.

Fix Cracked Tile Floors
If you have tile floors in your homes entrance way and kitchen, make sure that you have fixed any broken tiles prior to attempting to sell your house. These are two highly visible and important areas of your home and poor flooring in these areas can make or break the selling of your home.

Glue Down Curled Edges on your Vinyl or Linoleum Floors
If your vinyl or linoleum flooring was put in after your kitchen or bath cabinets and appliances were installed, chances are there has been some curling at the edges of the Vinyl or Linoleum flooring. Apply some glue underneath the curling edges and press the vinyl or linoleum flooring back into place. You will need something heavy to hold down the edges while the glue dries.

Re-sand and Refinish your Wood Floors
If you wood floors are in rough shape then re-sand and refinish them. Quality wood floors can be a real selling point in a home. Scratched up wood floors, however, can be a real turn off to potential homebuyers.

Re-Paint the Ceiling to Eliminate Water Stains
If you roof at one time had a leak, make sure there are no ceiling stains. If there are, then repaint the ceiling. Ceiling paint is very inexpensive and can be easily applied with a roller and a couple hours of work. Leaving ceiling stains visible to potential homebuyers invites questions about your roofs integrity. No future homeowner is interested in having to replace the shingles on the home as soon as they move in.

Update your Exterior Home Lighting
If your home is at least 5 years old and your exterior home lighting is made out of brass, or brass plating, chances are that it is dingy and faded and quite frankly an eye sore. Again, outdoor entrance way lighting is one of the first things a potential homebuyer sees. Installing two or three exterior lights is relatively inexpensive compared to delaying the selling of your home in a declining housing market.

Trimming Exterior Shrub
If your homes front exterior shrubs are overgrown and swallowing up your homes front exterior then pull out the trimmers and aggressively remove the overgrowth so that the homes front exterior can be seen again.

Power Wash the Exterior Siding
Make sure there is no mold and dirt visible on your homes siding. Use a power washer and a proper detergent to remove any mold and mildew on the exterior of the home. Nothing looks worse to a potential homebuyer than to see a green sheen running up the homes exterior.

With these minor home improvements, and pricing your home right to begin with, you can dramatically increase the chances of selling your home quickly. It is important to note that a potential homebuyer usually makes an impression of your home in the first 8 seconds of seeing it. Thus, it is critical that the homes exterior, entranceway, and key rooms look as good as new before they show up at your door.

Over the past 20+ years Mark Donovan has been involved with building homes and additions to homes and is a licensed real estate agent. His projects have included: building a vacation home, building additions and garages on to existing homes, and finishing unfinished homes. For more home improvement information visit http://www.homeadditionplus.com and http://www.homeaddition.blogspot.com