Finishing Your Basement Can be Very Rewarding
August 23, 2007
Transforming your home’s basement into a finished space can prove to be very rewarding. Frequently the additional living space is used for a variety of entertainment functions including: Recreation Rooms, Bars, Gyms, Billiard Rooms, Home Theatres and Family Rooms. In addition, Bedrooms and Bathrooms are also incorporated into the floor space. Typically the square foot cost of finishing a basement is significantly lower than other floors within the home.
Planning is critical before starting a Finished Basement project. From a financial standpoint, first determine how big your budget is and how you will finance the project. Will a mortgage be required or can you refinance or obtain a home equity loan?
From the project standpoint, carefully consider what you want to use the space for. As part of this consideration, consider ceiling heights, existing pipes, Oil Tanks, and Heating and Water systems. Also consider lighting. To make a Finished Basement cozy, warm and comfortable, the number and kinds of lights to install is key. In addition, consider natural lighting. Can additional windows be installed and will they be appropriate for the finished space?
You Say Jacuzzi and I Say Whirlpool
August 22, 2007
What’s in a name? Whirlpool baths have been around forever, right? If it weren’t for the Jacuzzi brothers in 1956, we wouldn’t have the fantastic whirlpool baths of today. According to the Jacuzzi Company, the brothers invented the first pump that could be placed in a bathtub, circulating the water to aid arthritic aches and pains. In 1968, Roy Jacuzzi went on to invent the first self contained whirlpool bath by putting jets on the sides of the tub. From this idea a whole industry was born and hydrotherapy has never been as popular and important as it is today. Since the Jacuzzi’s thought of the idea for experiencing water in a new way, the tub has long since held their name. However, a whirlpool bath, and spa are also names for the same kind of tub. It is a little like Kleenex and facial tissue or Jell-O and gelatin.
The Art of Ice Dam Removal
August 21, 2007
You may have noticed long icicles hanging from your gutters and not realize the significance of the damage that may be occurring behind them. Icicles are usually one of the first warning signs of possible ice dams on your roof. This article will explain what ice dams are, how they form and the best methods for removing them safely.
What is an ice dam?
An ice dam is a wall of ice that forms at the edge of the roof, usually at the gutters or soffit. When it forms the water then backs up behind the ice dam and creates a pool of water. This pool of water can leak into your home and cause damage to walls, ceilings, insulation, and other areas
What causes ice dams
Ice dams are usually caused by heavy snowfall and improper ventilation in the attic. This causes warmer areas in your attic then the snow begins to melt, even when the outside temperature is well below freezing. When the accumulated snow on your roof starts melting it runs down your roof underneath the snow until it reaches a “colder” section like the soffit’s, valleys or in gutters then it begins to freeze again, this process of thawing and refreezing is what causes an ice dam.
Using Candles in Feng Shui Decorating
August 20, 2007
The basic belief behind Feng Shui is that there are five elements, some combinations of which create a productive cycle, and some a destructive cycle. When one of these five elements ? water, wood, fire, earth, and metal, respectively for the productive cycle ? are combined with an element adjacent to the main element, a productive cycle is perpetuated. The reason being that water sustains wood, wood feeds fire, ashes create earth, earth creates metal, and metal holds water. So if you have a room where wood is the main element, it would be good Feng Shui to add a water or fire element to the room, as water feeds wood and wood feeds fire. This is where candles would be a nice touch of good Feng Shui.
A look at the destructive cycle will show which elements do not work well together: water, fire, metal, wood, earth. And we can see that water puts our fire, fire melts metal, metal cuts wood, wood clogs earth, and earth muddies water. Although these elements are generally considered bad Feng Shui combinations, one can be used with an adjacent element in the destructive cycle to minimize an overpowering element. For instance, if a room has overpowering metal elements, maybe filled with modern metal furniture, you can minimize that with wood elements like some green leafy plants, or with fire elements such as red throw pillows, a fireplace, or even candles.
Colour Your World With Art
August 19, 2007
When you buy art, you may think you not consciously choosing a colour scheme so much as buying something which appeals to your eye. You may prefer certain subjects for your pictures, such as land or seascapes, but certain colours, which do appear in these types of painting do evoke inner feelings and emotions. We know that some colours are calm and restful, some are hot, fiery and emotive.
Apart from colours used in actual artworks, it is easy to change the look of a picture with the window mount or frame used for it’s display. Certain colours which may be used to mat a picture with can appear to alter colours used in the execution of a painting. You will not see this unless you actually place different coloured mountboards around a painting. Then you will see how different a painting can look. By selecting the correct colour mount, you can make a good painting look fantastic!
How To Artify Your Home
August 18, 2007
Would you like to make your house feel more like a home? Is it comfortable enough, but not really special? If so, I have some easy ‘arty’ tips to make your environment that bit more special.
Before you start making any alterations, or adding anything, you need to clean and declutter. This helps you to see rooms more clearly and what space you have to utilise. When this is done you can start to improve your surroundings.
Use enticing aromas. How much nicer it is to enter a room with a lovely aroma than one with the usual household smells such as pet odour, cooking smells or stale smoke. Certain scents have the power to promote clarity of mind and positive thoughts. Start using scented candles, incense or aromatherapy oils or sprays regularly.
Hang beautiful artwork. Make your home completely unique by having original artwork on your walls. You don’t have to pay thousands for gorgeous contemporary artworks. Many websites, including mine, have beautiful paintings for sale at really reasonable prices. What a talking point your original artwork will make when you have guests.
A Few Simple Facts About Gas And Electric Heating Systems
August 18, 2007
To make your home more energy efficient, you need to understand the energy efficiency of different types of heating and cooling systems. Many times people are confused by inaccurate information they receive from manufacturers and sellers of heating and cooling equipment. But all you need to know in order to make wise decisions when purchasing this equipment are a few simple facts.
First of all, the proper sizing of equipment is of utmost importance for comfort and low utility bills. Once the proper size is known, then you must decide what type of system best suits your needs. Let’s look at three ways houses are heated.
Natural gas furnace, Air-to-air electric heat pump, Geothermal heat pump (electricity).
Now, let’s consider how efficient they are. And when I talk about heating efficiency, I’m talking about how efficiently the system converts either natural gas or electricity to heat for you home.
A typical gas furnace will be rated at about 80 percent efficiency when it is new and if it is installed properly. That percentage will lessen with each year’s use. An 80-percent efficiency rating means that 80 percent of the gas used will provide heat and the other 20 percent goes up the flue. For example, look at your neighbor’s gas flue on a cold winter morning and see the steam coming out.
Feng Shui Decorating Guidelines
August 17, 2007
The importance of following feng shui decorating guidelines.
Feng shui decorating guidelines show us the correct way to place objects, furniture and how to decorate in order to achieve harmony. Living and working spaces and their decorations affect the people inhabiting them, and feng shui decorating knowledge studies the way to make that factor affect in a positive and harmonic way.
If you want to learn and be able to follow feng shui decorating tips, the first thing to do is to learn about feng shui in general and its main concepts. By learning this, you will find yourself naturally acquiring information on how to decorate any different spaces according to feng shui.
According to feng shui decorating guidelines, the way and the position in which we place our furniture, the colors we choose, the different objects and places we choose for them, everything can be done in a way that ensures harmony. Actually, in China people are used to look for a feng shui expert to guide them in occasions such as when they buy a new house.
Geothermal Heat Pumps 101
August 16, 2007
It seems like about three million of you have asked me to explain how a geothermal system works. Well, maybe not three million, but it’s a bunch of you and I’m honored that I have the opportunity to do it. Now you’ve probably already figured out that I’m not smart enough to be real technical, but I do have some common sense. So I will use a common-sense approach to explain how the most efficient heating and cooling system available today can help you.
Actually you could get the Oct. 25, 1948, issue of Life magazine and get a great explanation. That’s correct, 1948. Geothermal units are not new, but it has only been in recent years that they’ve gained in popularity. It just takes awhile for adults to embrace new ideas, especially if they cost more money. Notice that I said adults. When I show high school students how you can spend $50 more per month on installing a geothermal unit and save $75 per month on your utility bill, they simply say "cool." No discussion or argument. They would take it in a minute.
Why Is Your House Cold?
August 15, 2007
How many of you have experienced this situation? As the wind blows outside and the temperature drops, you get chilled even while you are standing in the middle of your home.
How does this happen?
The three biggest problems with the comfort of your home are,
1) air infiltration
2) air infiltration
3) air infiltration
The total air infiltration in an average house is the equivalent of having a door or window open every day of your life. Now, you’ve probably heard it said that a house needs to breathe. In all my years in this work, I’ve never had anyone really explain why a house needs to breathe or even what that statement really means. Another word for house breathing is, simply put, leaks.
Just think with me for a moment. If you can keep the cold air from getting in, it won’t take as much to heat your house. Not to mention the fact that you would be a lot more comfortable in your home. So where does the air come in?
Think of it this way. Anywhere an ant can get in, air can get in. Here are a few major problem areas:
