DIY Home Carpet Replacement Project: The Fundamentals
By: Daniel Spakman
For some people, the thought of replacing their carpet as a do-it-yourself project might appear to be too great of a task to accomplish on their own. Though it might be beneficial to seek the aid of other family members or friends for assistance, the process of carpet installation is a task that any individual would be able to do on their own and save money as compared to the hiring of a professional company. To aid simplify this home DIY project, it is important to break it down into simplistic steps which are easy for anybody to follow. With the installation of home carpet, it is best to follow the 3 steps of demolition, selection, and installation.
1. Demolition
For several home owners, the demolition process of any home DIY project represents the most fun a person would be able to have in relation to labor. Having the opportunity to tear out the old look in order to open the foundation to new opportunities, is a stepping stone towards total project satisfaction. When you are looking to start the demolition process, its vital to remove any objects from the room that will interfere with this process, and ensuring you remove all the pre existing flooring. For a room that has carpet, you will need to remove the carpet and even the underlay underneath, in order to avoid any undesired staining or scents in your new carpet installation. For hard wood or stone flooring, theres often opportunity to simply lay a new carpet on top and avoid the demolition process of chipping up tile or scraping out wood.
2. Selection
The very next step of this home DIY project is taken with the selection process of your new carpet. The timing associated with the selection can occur following the demolition step or before the demolition step, depending on your uncertainty about flooring options. When making your selection for the best carpet to fit your home, its vital to consider price in addition to what the carpet offers you. Selecting a product solely based on price could lead to making the wrong selection for your home environment and traffic demands. Often, a home owner will discover a quality product that doesn’t cost much more than the low cost alternative, making it the better bargain.
3. Installation
The last step of any project is commonly found with installation. When installing your new carpet, it is vital to make sure you have all the right products and also all the essential tools. With your best carpet selection, make sure you have the appropriate underlay and any adhesives or tack strips that might be required. When you have accumulated the appropriate tools and products required to complete your installation process, youll achieve fantastic results in your goal of completing your flooring.
BuildingChoice is a website created for Australian consumers in particular to freely access up to date information and prices on a wide range of building products and appliances. It features a Trades Directory to enable consumers to easily locate and contact the professionals needed to complete a building project from architects and interior designers to plumbers and plasterers.
A water garden can be the most enjoyable investment you could ever make, or the biggest wet nightmare. A recent phone call from an angry water garden owner prompted this article. What she was describing to me was just the opposite of what would be considered the ideal water garden experience.
She began by telling me the pond was leaking, and she needed to add water daily. It was full of algae and smelled like dead fish. Besides needing to pull the sump pump out of the pond every three days to clean the algae and debris from its intake screen, her electric bill was out of hand since she installed the pond. She continued: “The grandkids were climbing around on the waterfall and the rocks slid around, exposing the liner everywhere.”
When she complained to the contractor about needing to add water every couple of days, he came out and did something and it stopped losing water. She explained that she told a friend that her water bill was three times its normal cost and that she heard running water all the time and thought it might be a stuck toilet tank float. The friend investigated and discovered the contractor had installed a mechanical water level controller to the pond. He did this instead of fixing the leak, apparently assuming that the client would never figure it out.
Then came the dreaded question she asked me: “Can you help me out?” my automatic response is, “How much did you spend on your pond and waterfall?” She answered, “$6,500!” I then asked, “Before taking your money, did the contractor give you any of the negative aspects of a liner pond, such as dangers from gnawing rodents, tree roots, sharp rocks, and other such objects?” She answered, “No, nothing at all.”
Since we do not try to patch or fix other contractors’ mistakes, there was only one reply I could give: that we would have to rip it all out and start from scratch. I explained that I had counseled at least a dozen of my clients in similar situations to go to small claims court to try to recover their investment from unscrupulous contractors. Every one of them was successful in court, thanks to their consultations with me and my assistance to them as an expert witness. One did not even have a contractor’s license and the customer had to put a lien on his house to recover her money.
Here is a summary of what I tell these people whom I have helped:
1.Research every aspect of water gardening before you start. You will rarely get unbiased information from pond liner advocates that sell pond liner kits and sump pumps. All of their so-called pond advice and “how-to” information is identical because they plagiarized false or inaccurate information from each other.
2. Find a qualified contractor.
3. Build the water garden, pond and waterfall using rebar and concrete. The pond liner track record speaks for itself:
More than 37% of all waterfalls have serious structural damage within 3 years of construction.
57% of homeowners say they are rather unsatisfied with the way their waterfall came out after the project was completed.
One in three waterfalls and ponds are leaking water within nine months of completion.
63% of “do-it-yourselfers” say they wished they had the proper information from the “get go” or that they had hired someone.
4. Use an energy-efficient centrifugal pump. Sump pumps are not designed for continuous operation only intermittent duty. In addition, they have limited warranties and use up to 60% more energy than centrifugal pumps.
5. Install an autofill water level controller.
A water garden should not be considered a short term investment. Water gardens in most cases will bring more long term joy and pleasure than anything someone could spend money on. It is something that should last for decades. If it is built with concrete and rebar, it is built to last. Liner construction, however, does not last. Take it from a professional. If it is not worth doing right, then it is not worth doing at all.
We can’t live without it. Water is the very source of life. That is why we are so strongly attracted to it. Maybe because we cannot live more than a few days without water, we want to have it close by. Most people would like to live next to it, whether in the form of a stream, river, lake or ocean.
Unfortunately, there aren’t enough bodies of water to go around for everybody, even for those who can afford living near them. The price of beach front property reflects the fact that it is scarce and in high demand. Even for those fortunate enough to own such property, there is a major trade-off and a good share of disadvantages.
Who wouldn’t like to have a water garden on their property, or a flower and vegetable garden, or even a wonderful orchard with oranges, apples, plums, peaches, lemons and avocado? Maybe a corral with a horse or two. So much for thinking about a garden with most ocean front property. You’re lucky if you have enough land to be able to walk between the houses!
We can now see why water gardens with waterfalls and ponds are becoming so popular. If you can’t take your home to the water, just bring the water to your home!
Why is it so peaceful, yet still invigorating at the beach? Is it the sight or sound of the ocean waves, the smell of the salt water? You may be surprised to discover that the actual feelings of peace, relaxation, stress, and anxiety release has little to do with the sight or sounds or smell of the ocean. Extensive research has shown that moving water puts additional negative ions into the air. Breathing this supercharged air has an extremely positive effect on our body. The ocean creates the greatest quantity of negative ions of all moving water.
Therefore, it has the most beneficial effects on our moods while drawing the largest crowds. For the same reason, waterfalls create such pleasant and relaxing environments. You have probably noticed how wonderful the air smells and feels just prior to, during and after a rain storm – again negative ions.
For a fraction fo the cost of ocean or lake front living, almost every homeowner can reap the benefits of a waterfall and pond in their back yard. Ranging from an atmosphere of intimacy to one of grandeur, it’s whatever the budget can endure. Virtually everyone can own a portion of the best that nature has to offer. There are as many different varieties, shapes and sizes of waterfalls as there are rocks. Consequently, with a pond design of your choice, no two ever look the same and they provide a natural individuality for each homeowner.
Waterfalls can cascade into koi ponds, a stream, swimming pool, spa or simply spill through a rock-covered grate into a subterranean catch basin, from where it gets pumped and recirculated. This type of backyard pond design is great for someone with small children, since it eliminates the need for a hazardous pond. It’s also perfect for someone with a very small yard or for those looking for little or no maintenance.
The soil removed in excavating a pond can be utilized to create a mound or berm to provide elevation for a cascade. A waterfall can pass through terraced retaining walls on its way down to a pond at ground level. By passing through rather than over the top, it will give the impression that the waterfall always existed and the retaining wall was constructed later on either side.
A backyard pond not only provides allure and charm to your property, it is as though you own a part of the Discovery Channel. The pond’s occupants provide a never-ending and forever changing source of entertainment and education. From the antics of a pair of acrobatic turtles to the male crayfish, claws clashing and gnashing over the prize of a fair lady, each day becomes a new chapter in the life of your pond. Are you the type that might say, “I don’t ever want to own fish!” and then eventually end up with several, even giving them all names? I’ve seen this happen over and over again, because pond owners become personally attached to the inhabitants of their water garden pond as if they were family members or pets.
At night a well-designed backyard pond becomes a whole new adventure, especially if you have built-in lighting. The cascading, splashing water against the lights create an amazing symphony of light and sound. Dancing light reflected on the surrounding rocks, plants, fence or house becomes hypnotic and mesmerizing. Most people only experience this atmosphere at expensive hotels or resorts. Now you can own the same experience in your own back yard..
If you are considering a water feature as an investment in your property, may I add several words of caution. Down the road, these may save you the heartache, sorrow and aggravation of dirty, murky, green, smelly water, sick or dead fish, leaky pond or waterfall, or high maintenance and energy costs.
1. Take your time.
2. Plan it out.
3. Research the subject thoroughly.
4. Seek out an expert in the field. A few years of experience are important.
5. Make sure the expert is licensed and bonded.
6. Accept only concrete and steel rebar construction. Never use a pond liner. Proponents of pond liners will claim there is a 40 or 50 year warranty on the liner. Not true! It’s only true if you leave the pond liner in the box. It would work only in a perfect world – where there were no gophers, squirrels, chipmunks, rats, tree roots, sharp rocks, pebbles or other such objects. Once you have a hole, it is impossible to find. Even a pin-hole will allow 5 gallons of water per day to pass.
7. Do not use submersible pumps. They are inefficient and expensive to operate and are difficult to maintain. Debris collects in them, requiring frequent cleaning. Submersibles can leak oil that may kill the pond inhabitants or, worse, short out and create a shock hazard.
8. Use a biological filter to help eliminate nitrates and nitrites from the water. (I recommend a pressurized back-flushable filter, not a gravity flow.)
9. Install a skimmer for removal of surface leaves and debris.
10. Use two anti-vortex drains on the bottom of the pond for suction line to prevent whirlpools and fish or turtles from being sucked into the drain.
11. Make sure your pond is a minimum of three feet deep to regulate water temperature in the summer months and to discourage herons and raccoons from dining out.
12. Build caves and ledges for turtles and fish to hide in.
13. Install an ultraviolet light to kill bacteria that cause smells and pathogens that kill fish and algae spores that create green water.
14. Do not use mechanical auto-fill valves; only use an electronic one like the AquaFill System. It does not stick or malfunction – thus preventing pond overflow and dead fish from chlorine poisoning.
15. Use plenty of water plants in the falls and pond. They provide extra oxygen and food for the fish and act as natural filters, utilizing the nitrate nitrogen in the water.
16. Use a high-efficiency, out-of-pond pump that conserves energy. By operating it 24 hours a day, a high-quality biofilter (such as one made by Aqua Ultra Violet) will receive a continuous flow of oxygenated water, which the anaerobic bacteria require in order to live. The bacteria are essential for breaking down hydrocarbons, nitrates and nitrites in the water.
17. Make sure you have proper drainage around the pond and waterfall so run-off from the rain storms does not enter the pond and contaminate it with silt, fertilizer, pesticides, etc.
18. Learn basic pond maintenance. (An ounce of prevention is worth a [pond] cure.)
When I say “everyone should have a waterfall,” I’m not simply promoting my life’s passion. Considering how much enjoyment a water garden and waterfall can give you, dollar for dollar, cubic foot for cubic foot, hour for hour, it is your best buy for many long, healthy and happy years to come.
From my experience with hundreds of pond owners in San Diego, I have discovered that the money spent on a well designed garden pond and waterfall will surely bring you more long term pleasure and joy than anything you ever purchased in your life.
Garage Door Repairs: Fix Nagging Problems Yourself
By: Jessica Thomson
The garage that you have installed for the safety of your cars is expected to last you for a long time, and it usually does. But factors like wear and tear, corrosion can affect its longevity and especially cause nagging problem to the door. It can be quite annoying as you might come home one evening and are not able to open the door because of some fault with it or the other. Its time you took things in your hand and did Garage Door Repairs yourself.
It might seem daunting to you when you start off but its actually quite easy to do these repairs on your own. You will feel satisfied at the end of it having done it yourself and saved yourself a lot of money that one normally pays to professionals for Garage Door Repairs.
Usually the fault with your garage door could be with the door itself or the opener. Once you have identified the problem the second most important task is finding genuine Garage Door Parts that you need. Online suppliers are a good source of buying the best quality, branded spare parts for your garage.
With them in hand you are equipped to fix all kinds of doors; from ones that operate on spring tension and open up in one swing motion or those that roll up gradually to ones that slide over metal tracks. Whatever your problem might be it can be fixed.
Simple steps involved in Garage Door Repairs are:
The metal tracks and mounting brackets in the garage need to be checked first. If they appear loose, tighten them right away.
Keep the garage door closed and work from the inside to rule out and address any issues you might find. If there are any dents or crimps in the tracks flatten them out.
Only if the tracks are beyond repair should you replace them.
You can check if the tracks are aligned with the help of a level. Its important that they remained aligned the way they should be for better performance of the door
If they are not aligned tap them down till they get aligned; check with the level again
Lubricate the tracks if need be
Spring can be the problem with swing open doors, replace if necessary
Aluminum Fence – Things to Remember When Installing One
By: Aluminumfence
Aluminum fences have caught the imagination of Americans like never before due to a wide variety of designs it offers ranging from basic to ornamental. You can find numerous models including those that look like old iron fences with distinctive rails and posts. However, the similarity ends here as unlike iron, aluminum fence is more economical in the long run and far easier to install. If you are looking for maintenance free fencing, aluminum fences offer best options. When it is so easy to install aluminum fence, why pay someone else to do the job?
Most aluminum fences are available in ready-to-install panels. In other words, the pre-fabricated sections of the fence and the posts can be ordered after taking into the consideration the length of the area that has to be covered. Many aluminum fence manufacturers will tell you to start with assembling the different pieces such as putting caps on all of the posts or any other included hardware.
You can start with the posts first. Just dig a hole to lower the post in it but make sure that each post goes in the ground at the same depth so that symmetry can be maintained. Add concrete to the sides to fix the post in the hole. Then add a fence section which usually just slides into the post and is secured with screws. Work your way down to the next post and follow the earlier procedure. It is best to take a level and put it on the top rail of the fence to ensure that the posts are holding the fence sections at the same level. Just keep checking after regular intervals to ensure that the sections are at the same level before the concrete dries.
Discount Aluminum Fences is an online aluminum fencing store that offers USA made fully assembled fence sections. You can get good quality fences at discount prices delivered right at your home or job site. Their limited lifetime guarantee is backed by great customer service.
The kitchen is fast becoming the most central room of the house, as a focal point, it is important for the kitchen to look clean and spacious. A sparkling new kitchen can make a real difference to your home and lifestyle.
If youre planning to sell your property, a new kitchen or the renovation of the old one can add a real value to the house and be a key selling point to any potential buyer. Research carried out by Halifax ranked a new kitchen to be amongst one of the best ways of adding value to a house.
If a quick renovation is your objective to update the kitchen or to improve your selling potential, finding a company that can offer a budget range can be an economic solution to give your home a fresher look and feel at a low cost. By Replacing old doors, units, tiles, work surfaces or appliances can transform an old kitchen into the central hub of any house.
Essentially this requires replacing the doors, drawer fronts, cabinet handles and possibly the worktops (depending on how worn they look). If you have solid wood doors a common method and probably the cheapest method would be to paint all of the cabinet surfaces, door fronts and drawer fronts. This doesn’t have to be a time consuming process either, this can usually be accomplished in just a couple of days maximum if done correctly (depending on how large the kitchen is). It does make a bit of a mess so it’s advised that you do all the door and drawer painting outside or in a well-ventilated area of your home. For the cabinet body fronts you can paint them where they stand so putting up some plastic sheeting over the doorways to prevent excess paint and fumes from leaking into other rooms of your house would be a good idea.
Hardwood flooring neednÂt be a hard decision to make
By: Sarah Tron
Hardwood flooring is an attractive and durable choice of flooring, which can potentially add a significant amount of monetary value to your home. Like decorating the rest of your home, choosing the style and colour of wood flooring will usually depend on your personal preferences and tastes.
As there is such a wide choice of wooden flooring available it can sometimes be a tough decision to make choosing between the different styles, patterns, woods and finishes.
To make this choice easier you might want to take into account the other elements and features within your house too, as this can sometimes make choosing the right shade and finish of wooden floor much simpler. Its also important to think which type of wood floors will complement your already existing home décor.
When considering which hardwood will have the greatest visual impact its advisable to survey the space you plan to re-floor, and think through what effect you hope to achieve in doing so.
The majority of hardwood floors create a warm feel to your home, but lighter wood tones create a very different feel to dark wooden floors. Woods in dark tones can make your home seem smaller, and in some rooms can have a claustrophobic effect when you walk into them.
Vacuum cleaners come in two main types. These are the canister model and the upright. Both types of vacuum cleaners can be extremely effective on various surfaces and for different purposes. But certain vacuum cleaners have more advantages when it comes to features, options, and functionality.
Upright Vacuum Cleaners
These vacuum cleaners are usually much lighter than canister vacuum cleaners, and they tend to be less expensive. The upright is taller while the canister has a much wider shape. Upright vacuum cleaners have traditionally been better known for being superior for cleaning carpeted surfaces, rather than bare floors, such as wood, tile, or even concrete.
The upright is also usually more compact. This feature makes the upright much easier to store. There are also many more tools and options available in the upright. Some of these features include dirt sensors, a self-propelled option, and an on/off brush roll. They don’t tend to have as many long hoses and brushes as the canister models.
Many different manufacturers make the upright. Price range varies from under $100 to over $400, on the more upscale models with all the bells and whistles. The upright comes in many different colors and styles. Some have sleek lines and swooping curves, while others are more rigid looking.
The upright also tends to be much louder than the canister models. This is probably due to the fact that the suction power has to zoom through a more narrow frame than that of the canister model. Many people get used to the louder noise of the upright and tolerate it over the canister because it’s easier to maneuver on carpet.
When I started in the waterfall and pond design & construction business in January of 1982, I was asking the same question. I had a slight advantage over most when it came to answering the question, “Which pump do I use?”
I came out of the energy conservation field, so I was already savvy about energy consumption topics.
It was a challenge in the seventies, when I was trying to convince people that they should buy the Mitsubishi compact fluorescent bulb to save energy. This was the first of its kind and it retailed for $12 to $14. Its lumen or light output was equal to a 60-watt incandescent bulb, which sold for $ .60 in most stores. I needed to convince the engineer at Betty Ford Hospital that a $12, 12-watt bulb would save the facility $35,000 a year in electrical costs. I did so, and it did!
Pumps are no different when it comes to performance vs. energy consumption. The rule of thumb is: If an electrical appliance was engineered to be used only occasionally, as opposed to continually, rest assured, it is not engineered or built with the highest industry standards in mind.
