Archive for the ‘DIY’ Category
How to Install Non Slip Stair Treads no comments
When it comes to small do it yourself projects around the home, one of the most often overlooked projects but an important one to consider doing is to install non slip stair treads on your steps and stairs in your home. Wet and slippery steps can be very dangerous to walk on, and accidents can happen to anyone. This simple and easy to do project will only take a short time to complete, and the benefits will last for many years to come.
The first thing to do is to go through your home and assess which steps would benefit from non slip treads being installed. If you have hardwood floors, or outdoor stairs that are exposed to rain and ice, these are all good candidates to consider. You will want to count how many individual steps you have so you will know exactly how many treads will be needed. Next, you will want to measure each one to make sure you buy the right size. Ideally they should cover as much of the area as possible, though this is not always possible. Getting them too small will not provide as much benefit as they would if they were the correct size.
Once you have all of your measurements completed and you know exactly how many you will need, the next step is to decide which type is right for you. Often times carpet types are suitable for indoor use, as they will provide enough traction, however many prefer rubber types. For outdoors there are many different types to consider, whether they be rubber or made of a material that often resembles roofing shingles. You can often purchase these in most home improvement stores, though you can often find a better selection online.
Most types will come with directions and an adhesive backing. You will first need to thoroughly wash and dry the area you will be applying them to. Be sure to read the included instructions to make sure they are properly fastened. If they are not fastened correctly they will not last, and could even potentially be dangerous if they should come loose.
When installed correctly, stair treads can provide years of safe treading in those slippery places in your home and help reduce the chance of an accident. With the minimal investment and the safety benefits, it’s an easy afternoon project that is worth doing to make your home safer and more comfortable.
For more information on choosing Rubber Stair Treads, visit Stair Lifts Helper.
Woodworking Project Plans – Top 3 Factors to Consider no comments
When it comes to doing home projects, many factors need to be taken into consideration especially when it involves making significant improvements or building large additions to your home. Most home projects involving improvements include woodworking or carpentry to some degree. Three specific factors which need to be addressed when you are considering woodworking project plans are:
1. The cost of the addition or improvement
2. The size and scope of the project and the time investment needed
3. Detailed plans to accomplish the task.
The first consideration in most cases is going to be the cost of the project. Typically a large amount of money can be saved with a do-it-yourself project due to the fact that you can eliminate the mark up costs on material and completely cut out paying for someone else’s labor costs. Keep in mind, however, that there is still a cost on your own time and that it will usually take longer to complete the project which will vary according to your own skill sets and comfort with the tasks needed to complete the project.
Second, it is important to consider the time aspect as mentioned above and how it relates to your lifestyle. It is critical to understand the scope of the project and lay out a proper timeline for executing the project in accordance with the amount of time that you can give to the tasks as well as considering what impact the “work in progress” will have on your surroundings and overall lifestyle. Since it will usually take longer to complete a do-it-yourself project, these considerations must be taken into account.
By far, the most important consideration is to have detailed plans to work from. The plans will assist greatly in the first two considerations by giving a detailed account of the materials needed and step-by-step process to carry out the project. Having detailed plans will assist in establishing a proper timeline and can allow you to make the best use of your time therefore greatly increasing efficiency and often times cutting the amount of time needed to complete the project significantly.
There is a certain satisfaction you get when a project is complete and you get to enjoy the fruits of your labor. Not enough can be said about the feelings that you get when you complete a project and have the self-gratifying knowledge that you did it yourself. Not to mention the bragging rights that this can afford. With the proper planning and careful considerations to the details listed above, a home project can be accomplished with great efficiency and provide many years of enjoyment.
Do you want more information about woodworking project plans that can be used for projects around your home? Click here: Woodworking Project Plans
Bruce Benton is a self-proclaimed “do-it-yourselfer” with a passion for finding ways to complete home projects on a limited budget in the most efficient ways possible. For woodworking plans that can be used for projects around your home you can visit Woodworking Project Plans for more resources.
Exploring the Value of a Shed Kit no comments
If you are not familiar with outside buildings and their uses than you may be oblivious to what a shed kit even is. Should this be the case we will attempt to take you on a short journey into a world where storage kits are utilized to create cozy little getaways in the comfort of your own backyard.
First of all let’s define the shed kit. A shed kit is nothing more than a collection of material designed to be easily assembled into a shed. It is like a puzzle of enormous proportions. Everything needed to construct a shed designed to meet your expectations is placed into this kit with easy to read and understand directions.
Depending on the size and style of the shed you choose these practical little buildings can be constructed in less than a day. You will benefit from the feeling one gets when they have assembled something with their own hands. Best of all the ease of assembly will not leave you too tired to enjoy it.
Storage sheds come in many various varieties and sizes. These kits transform into log sheds, garden cabins or whatever you desire them too be. These buildings can enhance the beauty of any location. They truly look like miniature homes. These buildings can be obtained at a price that won’t break the bank through the value of a shed kit.
Sheds can be used for all kinds of activities. They can be utilized as areas to place garden tools and products. If not, how about as a glorious playhouse for your daughter or granddaughter. They can be used for storage, a place to get a way and write, a hobby house or that romantic location for reigniting passion. The opportunities are endless and are all made easier by the use of great shed kits.
Tom Razor is a marketing director for Solid Build, Inc. – provider of outdoor wood kit products. Solid Build Inc offers real wood, high quality and competitively priced shed kits, gazebos, green houses, cabins and other outdoor buildings. For more information click on http://www.woodenshedkits.com or dial 1-800-590-2508. We’ve got the Best Prices Guaranteed!
5 Great Colors to Use in Your Home no comments
A common difficulty homeowners have in the process of decorating their home is determining what colors will work best in an individual room’s décor. As a simple visit to your local paint store will reveal, there are literally hundreds of different colors and shades from which to design your color scheme. The variety of choices can be overwhelming. It can be rather difficult to pick the colors that look good together in a room, as not everyone has an eye for color. If you’re unsure as to what color combinations to use in the décor of your home, then here are five to consider.
1. Brown, Blue, and Cream
This is a great color scheme for practically any room in your home. When using brown, blue, and cream for your décor, you just need to be sure to keep a balance of colors, particularly when applying the dark brown. So if you have a dark brown couch, it’s best to lighten it up with cream or light blue pillows. On the other hand, brown and blue pillows will add some interest to a cream-colored couch. To add even more visual interest, look for patterns that contain all three colors.
2. Shades of Brown and Cream
Use shades of brown and cream to create a peaceful retreat in your bedroom or bathroom. You can choose from anything from dark chocolate brown to an off white or light cream color, as there are a wide variety of shades across this spectrum. You can add interest to the monochromatic look of this color scheme by pairing lighter and darker shades, which will result in the room appearing livelier.
3. Blue and Orange
Blue and orange lie across from each other on the color wheel, which means they are considered complementary colors. When using this color combination, you don’t want to use bright oranges and blues but rather keep the colors muted. This is a great color combination to use for a contemporary-styled room; just add white or even brown to the mix.
4. Black and White
You can use this classic color combination for practically any room you like. What’s great about black and white is its versatility, meaning it can be modern as well as traditional depending on the pieces you choose to use. Add an accent color into the scheme, such as green or red, to create even more style in a black and white room. Given that there’s no shortage of available black-and-white décor accessories, this is one of the easier color combinations to work with.
5. Pink and Green
Another complementary color scheme you might try is pink and green, which tends to go well in bedrooms, living rooms, and sun rooms. Add a neutral color into the pink and green mix, or you may end up with too much color in the room. Also be sure to choose colors that are the same shades. Mint green and neon pink, for instance, aren’t going to work well together.
These five color combinations are a great place to start if you’re having trouble coming up with color ideas for your home. Any of these combinations should give you some inspiration when decorating your home. You can create a unique look to your home by using any of these suggestions as a base and then adding your own style to them.
About the Author…
For over 40 years Leon Tuberman has helped people with their home furnishings and interior design needs. He owns and manages a popular furniture store in California. They carry a large selection of USA made solid oak furniture for your living room, dining room, bedroom and wood office furniture. Are you searching for a study area or a dining table for your dining room or a wood bookcases for your home office then they probably have everything you need.
Decorating with Different Color Schemes no comments
Homeowners will oftentimes feel overwhelmed about choosing a color scheme for a room. When you choose a color scheme, once you settle on one color you have to determine what other potential colors to incorporate into the room as well. So what’s the best way to choose a color scheme? One of the best tools to have at your fingertips is a color wheel.
What Is the Color Wheel?
After performing an experiment with a prism, Sir Isaac Newton was the first to use the color wheel. He found that pure white light had a wide spectrum of colors that would reflect. This spectrum of colors, known as the color wheel, has been used ever since for decorating and classifying colors.
The Classification of Colors Using the Color Wheel
The color wheel classifies colors into three different categories.
1. The first category is primary colors and is composed of red, yellow, and blue.
2. Next you have the secondary colors, which are orange, green, and violet. The primary colors are mixed together to create these colors.
3. Finally, there are the tertiary colors, which include colors like red-orange, yellow-orange, blue-green, and yellow-green. Basically, all these colors are formed by combining the primary colors with the secondary colors that are next to them.
Monochromatic Color Scheme Explained
If you choose to go with a monochromatic color scheme, expect the result to look exactly as it sounds. Essentially, you pick one color and use only that color for the entire room. The key is to pick varying shades of that color, from light to dark. You can also use white in the color scheme, which will help break up the color.
Analogous Color Scheme Explained
With an analogous scheme, you include anywhere from two to six different colors a room. Here, you use colors that are adjacent to one another on the color wheel. Consider the color red, for example. You might choose orange or purple as the accent colors, being that they are the colors next to red on the wheel. When choosing your colors, it’s always best to start with your main color and then choose between your accent color choices.
Complementary Color Scheme Explained
One of the most popular decorating color schemes is the complementary color scheme. Essentially, you begin with a main color (such as yellow or red) and then go directly across to color wheel to find its complementary color. If you go with yellow, for instance, than you would look to the purple family for its complement. But if your color is green, you would look in the pinks. This can always be played with a little bit. Try mixing the family of colors: it could be green and pink, or it could be green and red.
Triad Color Scheme Explained
Another very popular design for homeowners is the triad color scheme. In this case, you use a three-color combination that on the color wheel forms a triangle together. For instance, orange, green, and purple would make up a triad. Choose one of these colors as your main color and use the others for accents. Or you might use two of them as the primary colors and then accent with the third.
No matter what color scheme you choose for your home, remember that both white and black are neutrals. Thus, they can be added to any colors without changing the color scheme too much. By playing around with the color wheel and some of these color scheme suggestions, you will be able to come up with some great options for the rooms in your home.
About the Writer…
For over four decades Leon Tuberman has helped people with their home furnishings and interior decorating needs. He owns and manages a popular furniture store in Los Angeles. They have a large inventory of handcrafted American built solid wood furniture for your bedroom, dining room and living room. Are you searching for a oak nightstands for your master bedroom or a wood dining table for your formal dining room then they probably have everything you need.
Building a Stone Porch no comments
While most porches are made from wood or concrete, it is possible to have a porch made from flagstone. A stone porch can add a lot of character to a home.
First, because the stone is going to be incredibly heavy (heavier than your car will be able to handle), use a tractor to move the stone from the “stone pile” to where the porch is being built.
Use a shovel to mix the necessary mortar in a container that is put onto the porch pad (which should be made of concrete). After giving the porch pad a thorough cleaning, shovel a little bit of the mortar onto it. This mortar should go right in front of the home’s entrance. This is also where the first stone is going to be installed.
Use a trowel to spread out the mortar evenly and then lay the first stone of your porch in place. This is the stone that will be at the entrance to the home, so you should make sure to use a piece that is attractive and will compliment the entryway to the home. Make sure that the first stone has been positioned very carefully. Use your hands to work it down into the mortar. This will ensure that good adhesion and contact takes place between the flagstone’s surface, the porch pad and the mortar you are using.
Use a level to make sure that this specific piece slanted very very slightly away from the front door’s sill. This is to keep moisture out of the home. The slant will drain moisture away from the door. In doing this it also keeps moisture away from the crawlspace and the floor joist.
From that first stone, you can position more stones. Make sure they are a good fit and then lay them in the places they will go. Use your hands to pack mortar that is just a little bit drier between the stones.
This process is repeated. Just keep positioning stones, making sure that they are good fits and that they create the look you are going for. Most people go for a uniform look, but you might prefer something more mottled. It’s up to you. Use the mortar between each of the stones to serve as a sort of grout. This “grout” fills in the spaces between the stones and will also lock each stone into place. After the mortar has dried completely you will have a solid porch.
Having a stone porch can help make your home stand apart from the other homes in your neighborhood. It is often more durable than a wooden one and will last longer before needing to be replaced. It is also especially complimentary to log homes and front porches that are built using an open post and beam design.
For more information on how to build a porch and other porches related topics visit The DIY Home Guide at http://www.thediyhomeguide.com
Build Your Own Sauna no comments
People from all walks of life have grown to favor sauna as a way winding up after a hard day’s work as well as a chance to bond with friends. The sauna’s apparent healthful benefits of ridding one’s body with harmful wastes and toxins through sweating and the fact that sweating can be achieved with the most minimal effort has made people flock to establishments offering saunas.
To cater to the ever growing demand for saunas, manufacturers came up with affordable and easy to assemble sauna kits. These Do It Yourself kits afforded people with opportunities to enjoy saunas in the comfort of their own homes. Building a home sauna is the best option for people who are averse to using public saunas. Likewise it is the best option for people who have very limited carpentry skills since the measuring and cutting of the materials are done by the manufacturer.
If you have a yen to tinker and build things yourself, then the modular sauna package is for you. These modular sauna kits are self contained and free standing thus can be placed anywhere you like. This sauna kit is ideal for those with minimum carpentry skills as the walls and ceilings are pre-assembled, the exterior and interior panels are already mounted, insulation and wiring is already done. All you have to do is drive in the bolts to fasten the pieces together, assemble the interior benches, install the lights and heaters and plug in the electrical connection and presto! a sauna right in your very home.
A pre cut sauna kit is ideal if you have an existing completed room. The kit includes pre-cut boards and pre-assembled benches as well as corner and ceiling trimming that will make the sauna more beautiful and appealing. An ideal room for a pre-cut sauna kit is one that is already framed, dry walled and with a waterproof floor. But if the room is yet unframed it would be less expensive if you adjust to the manufacturer’s specification by ordering the standard size kit. Another option is to order a kit custom-cut to the size and dimension of the existing room. Of course this would be more expensive but if you want a sauna that would give you healthful benefits as well as one that would be pleasing to the eye then go right ahead and splurge. After all you will be enjoying your investment for many years to come.
Thomas Oak writes articles for http://www.hot-sauna.com/ if you are in the market for a new sauna stop in take a look at all of the latest advancements and information on new saunas and new sauna kit for your home.
Solar Heating, Solar Thermal, and Solar Hot Water Systems no comments
Solar Heating (Solar Thermal) Systems
Using solar power to heat your water is one of the most practical and cost effective ways to harness energy from the sun. Solar thermal systems absorb the sun’s heat and use it to heat your residence’s own hot water needs. In general, the solar thermal system will easily heat water to 140ºF or higher matching the range of its traditional hot water tank counterpart. Effective systems can collect up to 70 percent of the sun’s energy that reaches them and transfer it to you.
How Solar Hot Water Heating Systems Work
In general there are two types of active water heating systems: direct and indirect.
Direct Solar Water Heating
As implied, direct systems capture the sun’s heat in collectors to directly heat a household’s water supply. The system consists of collector pipes filled with water that are linked to an insulated storage tank usually located inside a home. As the sun heats the water inside the pipes, the water flows into the storage tank. Although direct systems are more efficient that indirect ones, they require more maintenance to keep the pipes clear of mineral deposits. Direct solar thermal systems also work best in warmer climates where the system is less prone to freezing.
Indirect Solar Water Heating
Indirect systems do not heat the water directly rather they use fluid with a low-freezing point to absorb radiant energy from the sun. Also termed closed-loop systems, an indirect solar water heating system absorbs the sun’s rays into heat pipes evacuated of air which in turn heats up the pipe’s thin copper laminate located on the back of each pipe. The collection array consists of multiple heating pipes that are mounted and tilted to maximize solar collection.
Often glycol (an ingredient in antifreeze) runs through adjacent pipes within the array and heats up via contact with the copper laminate. As the temperature in the pipes rise, the heat activates a pump that circulates the glycol fluid through a heat exchange coil in the water tank. That coil, in turn, transfers its heat to the water tank and voila, hot water is produced.
Solar Pool and Hot Tub Heating Systems
Solar pool heating systems work on a similar principle to a direct system solar hot water heater. However, because the water can heat up too much in a solar thermal system, the collector’s glazing is often removed. Using non-glazed pipes or a heating system that resembles a flat black mat prevents the pool water from becoming super-heated as well as reduces costs to the overall system.
While solar pool and hot tub heating systems often are exempted from federal and state monetary incentives and rebates, they often pay for themselves within 1-5 years (depending mostly on where you live).
Radiant Heating Systems For Your Home
You can also use a solar hot water (or thermal) system to heat your home. Rather than transferring the heated water to a domestic hot water heater, the solar hot water system can connect to a radiant floor and/or wall panel radiator.
You can make the collection and distribution system as simple or complicated as you like depending on your location, climate, and intended use. Most radiant heating systems use the collection array to heat water and store it in a large thermal collection tank so that you have enough heat to last at least throughout the night. A general rule of thumb is to have a collection tank that can store 1½ to 2 gallons of water for every square foot of solar collector. That water, in turn, is piped via plastic tubing under floors to create an effective heating system.
Radiant floor heating systems have many advantages. They are typically 40 percent more efficient than a forced air heating system and can be zoned so that each room has its own thermostat. Furthermore, radiant floors distribute heat beneath your feet where it naturally rises providing a cozy and evenly distributed heated living space.
Tips for Installing Solar Hot Water Systems
Solar Hot Water Heater Tips for Cooler Climates
In cooler climates during the colder times of the year, an indirect solar hot water system can help lower your energy costs by working as a water preheating system rather than an outright water heater. Preheated water reduces the load on your other energy systems to heat the water.
Another trick to increase the system’s efficiency is to wrap your water tank with an insulation blanket to keep the water sufficiently warm and further minimize the need to rely on traditional power sources to heat your water. (Note that not all water heaters need an insulation blanket. Many of the newer energy-efficient models come with a thicker layer of insulation inside the tank that eliminates the need for additional insulation).
Where to Place a Solar Thermal Collection System
Like other types of solar energy systems, solar hot water heating systems work best on south-facing walls with full sun exposure. Because of the collector tubes’ type of construction, the outside elements have less effect on its performance compared to a photovoltaic collection system; a bit of shade on the thermal array will have a less noticeable impact.
Work with a Solar Pro
As with any solar power upgrade, consulting with a solar professional can help you evaluate your potential savings and determine the type of solar hot water system that’s best for you. Solar thermal panels come both as stand-alone collection arrays and as integrated building panels. A solar pro can size your system and help you compare the different options for the collection panels and water tank you may need. And remember, solar domestic water systems often qualify for federal, state, and local tax credits and rebates!
Find more solar panel, solar power, and solar energy information at Cooler Planet.