Green Home!

Archive for September, 2010

Things to Consider When Buying a Sander

Word Count:
691

Summary:
If you are in the market for a new sander, this article points out some facts you may want to think about before you spend your money on a sander.

Keywords:
sanders, sanding, tools, reviews, rankings

Article Body:
A sander is a key tool that will get used in almost all do-it-yourself projects involving wood. Sanders can be used to remove large amounts of material or surfaces finishes quickly and easily, as well as being able to create a smooth surface on your projects. But there are many types of sanders out there, and most of them can only be used only for specific applications. The key to buying a sander is to get the sander that will fill your needs best. Here are the varieties of sanders you will want to consider:

– Belt Sanders –
Belt sanders are most useful in the starting phases of large sanding jobs as well as for the starting phases of refinishing jobs. Belt sanders take off large amounts of material rapidly, so you need to be very careful to keep from gouging the material being sanded. Belt sanders can tend to be heavy. Think about getting one that has a variable speed control as well as a lock button that lets you lock the speed which will allow you to place your hands in the most comfortable position; this also helps minimize user tiredness when using a belt sander.

– Detail Sanders –
Detail sanders are little sanders typically used to sand around odd shapes and in small nooks and crannies such as carvings, slats, curves and inlays. Detail sanders are often used on craft projects and on mill work such as window and door casings. To get the most use from your detail sander, look for one with a lot of attachments since this will increase the flexibility of your sander and make it suited for more locations and shapes.

– Disc Sanders –
Disc sanders come in both bench-mounted and hand-held versions. The hand-held versions are most intended for occasional users whereas the bench-mounted disc sanders are most often used by those who are working with their disc sander on a larger scale. But there are some smaller bench-mounted models that are still cheap enough for consideration by the occasional user. Disc sanders make quick work of sanding angled edges and for finishing the end grain of wood. If you are considering a bench-mounted disc sander, additional features you will want to consider include: a sliding miter gauge, a tilting table, and a belt sander on the frame.

– Random-Orbit Sanders –
Random-orbit sanders have circular pads that move in a circular motion with a random pattern. The random pattern lets the user move the sander in any direction on the material being sanded, even across the grain, without scratching the surface of the material being sanded. This is the easiest to use type of sander and it is an excellent choice for a multi-purposes sanders; this makes it an excellent choice for the home user. Most random-orbit sanders require the use of special sand paper specific to the brand and/or model of the sander being used.

– Sheet Sanders –
Sheet sanders come in different sized models that use 1/3 or 1/4-sheets of standard sizes of sheet sandpaper. Some brands of sheet sanders make use of specialized sand paper with velcro or adhesive to fix the sand paper on the sander. Other sheet sanders are able to use any type of sheet sand paper. Obviously, the latter type of sheet sander is more flexible for the everyday user. Sheet sanders are different from random-orbit sanders in that the sheet sander vibrates the sand paper in a single direction, so sheet sanders must be moved along the direction of the grain of the material being sanded to avoid marring the surface. Sheet sanders are extremely versatile and, like the random-orbit sander, they can be used on a lot of different types of projects.

– Spindle Sanders –
Spindle sanders are great for edge sanding, particularly on curves. Spindle sanders are bench-mounted tools with a cylindrical spindle located in the center of a large worktable. As such, these tend to be used by more industrial users and wood-working enthusiasts. If you are considering a spindle sander, look for one with the oscillating feature; the oscillations increases the removal rate of material and it reduces the probability of gouging the stock being sanded.

Hurricane Preparedness Begins At The Foundation

Word Count:
605

Summary:
While the National Hurricane Center projects storms during the 2006 hurricane season will mirror the intensity of Hurricane Katrina, one of the deadliest hurricans in the history of the U.S., and one which caused more than $50 billion in damages to the Gulf Coast region, there are measures homeowners can take to better prepare their new-construction homes during the building phase.

Keywords:
Hurricane Preparedness Begins At The Foundation

Article Body:
While the National Hurricane Center projects storms during the 2006 hurricane season will mirror the intensity of Hurricane Katrina, one of the deadliest hurricanes in the history of the U.S., and one which caused more than $50 billion in damages to the Gulf Coast region, there are measures homeowners can take to better prepare their new-construction homes during the building phase.

The National Weather Service (NWS), the primary source of weather data, forecasts and warnings in the U.S., recommends homeowners verify that their homes meet current building code requirements for high winds, one of the many components associated with vicious Category 3+ hurricanes. The NWS says structures built to meet or exceed current building code high-wind provisions have a much better chance of surviving violent windstorms.

“Florida has some of the most stringent building codes in the U.S., led by Miami Dade County in South Florida,” says Dr. Ronald Zollo, professor of civil and architectural engineering at the University of Miami and a licensed professional engineer. “Homeowners and builders need to move away from the traditional structures that cannot withstand the type of lateral forces that extreme weather, such as hurricanes, can place on a home.”

Another concern for homeowners is flooding. Common with hurricanes, flooding can lead to extensive mold and structural damage. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) states that more than half of the nation’s population lives and works within 50 miles of a coast, areas typically more prone to hurricane flooding.

Preparing For The Future

Dr. Zollo encourages prospective new homeowners to think proactively. He urges those considering a new home purchase or a rebuild in coastal regions to talk with their builder or architects to understand local building codes and the effects of hurricane-force winds on their homes.

Dr. Zollo led a team from the University of Miami to survey damage from 1992′s Hurricane Andrew in Florida. He believes that concrete materials, by virtue of their mass, rigidity and physical properties, are generally expected to outperform other construction materials when subjected to extreme environmental conditions, if constructed according to proper building codes.

A proven solution to reduce the structural damage from hurricanes is installing insulating concrete forms (ICFs)-hollow foam forms or panels that hold concrete in place.

“Homes built with ICFs using reinforced concrete provide homeowners with sustainable structures capable of withstanding extreme weather conditions,” says Dr. Zollo. “They’re easier to clean up after hurricane weather or flooding, and they provide the homeowner with moisture resistance in the walls themselves when combined with appropriate interior finishes. Those utilizing ICFs can also expect greater energy efficiency due to added thermal protection.”

Owens Corning, a leader in building science technologies, produces the ICF option Fold-Form®. Solid concrete-reinforced walls built with Fold-Form® have been proven to provide superior protection against flying debris from winds as high as 200 miles per hour, when compared to conventional framed walls or hollow concrete block walls. By comparison, FEMA states that Hurricane Katrina achieved landfall wind speeds of 140 mph in southeast Louisiana.

According to Dr. Zollo, “In the future, I think we’ll see faster recovery times for communities built with ICFs than those that are built without.”

“While ICFs meet some of the U.S.’s most strict building codes and are up to nine times stronger than traditional wood frames, they’re not just for hurricane protection,” says Janet Albright, accessories manager, Residential & Commercial Insulation for Owens Corning. “We’re seeing a dramatic increase in consumer demand throughout the entire U.S. for building products that are greener, offer greater energy efficiencies, air and moisture management and contribute to greater comfort levels by reducing noise in the home.”

Create The Perfect Atmosphere

Word Count:
546

Summary:
If you are anything like me, you are always aware of and very concerned with the atmosphere of the place you’re in. It doesn’t matter whether you are in your bedroom, your office, or in a coffee shop. You are easily affected by the atmosphere around you and you are pretty particular about the way things look, the way things smell and even the way things are arranged around you. Sound familiar? I live every moment of every day being nagged by my desire to have the perfect atmo…

Keywords:
atmosphere

Article Body:
If you are anything like me, you are always aware of and very concerned with the atmosphere of the place you’re in. It doesn’t matter whether you are in your bedroom, your office, or in a coffee shop. You are easily affected by the atmosphere around you and you are pretty particular about the way things look, the way things smell and even the way things are arranged around you. Sound familiar? I live every moment of every day being nagged by my desire to have the perfect atmosphere no matter what situation I find myself in.

For a long time my desire for a particular atmosphere was a source of frustration to me. I wanted to stop caring so much if the furniture wasn’t arranged just so or if the paint color on the wall didn’t meet my expectations. And while I will obviously never be able to control every atmosphere I find myself in, I decided to start doing small things in any place that I could make changes, and this has made a huge difference for me.

One of the biggest things that affects me about any atmosphere is the lighting. I cannot stand being in a room that is filled with florescent lights and I hate it when natural sunlight is shut out of any room. I think that any atmosphere is made better by natural lighting and by lamps when there is a lack of natural light. I began adding a lamp or two to every room of my house and office so that I would feel comfortable and absolutely peaceful in each of both of these places. I’d encourage anyone who cares about atmosphere to invest in great lamps. They bring uniqueness, beauty, and great light into any space.

Another main thing for me with atmosphere is color. I rarely like to be somewhere that everything is white. I’m usually up for even a little bit of color on the wall, in furntiture or even just in accessories. Most homes, offices, churches, and stores could benefit greatly from choosing a great color scheme and sticking with it. I see so many spaces that are decorated with mismatching colors and it just makes the atmosphere awful. Add a little color to your walls and see what it does to the atmosphere of your space.

The third huge thing that makes or breaks an atmosphere for me is the smell. I have a pretty sensitive nose, so I’m always aware of whether a space smells good or bad. One of the best things my wife ever did was invest in some amazing scented candles that she spread throughout our home. I love the smell of our living room after a candle has been burning for a couple of hours. I take every chance to open our windows and let in the smells of nature. Oh what a difference a cool breeze or the smell of a fresh batch of cookies makes to any atmosphere. Find simple ways to make your space smell better.

I am really affected by the atmosphere I’m in. Fortunately, I’ve learned that an atmosphere can be changed with just a few small things. Take my advice: atmosphere matters. Do what it takes to enjoy the places you dwell.

London builders: kitchen installation. Part two.

Word Count:
569

Summary:
Flooring the kitchen floor with natural cork is getting more and more popular. Cork floors are produced with cork veneer or fine wood veneer.

Keywords:
kitchen installation, kitchen remodelin, kitchen renovation

Article Body:
Flooring the kitchen floor with natural cork is getting more and more popular. Cork floors are produced with cork veneer or fine wood veneer. They are rather expensive, but at the same time efficient: cork floors are not slippery, have bactericidal properties, don’t need special treatment. Such floors are much warmer, than usual parquet. Besides, they are easy to cleanup.

For a kitchen walls decoration, ceramic tile is usually used. As a finishing, different paint types are used to match other details of your interior perfectly.

Pay your attention to other coatings – wood fiber, plastic panels (which are not afraid of water and are easy to mount), as well as mosaic and relief stucco (natural stone is added to it for creating a unique surface finish). But wall covering with MDF has several advantages if compared to other coating variants. It does not need a preliminary preparation of the walls (leveling, cleaning of the old coverage, and other operations). The process of panel mounting is similar to gypsum plasterboard mounting. It seems to be very easy – firring, cutting and the wall is plane. Nevertheless, one has to rub the seams and then make finishing (with a paint or wallpaper). MDF panel is a finishing surface itself. Every producer offers lots of models of different colors and with different patterns, joined into subject collections.

As a bedding for finishing, gypsum-plasterboard false ceiling is usually mounted. It covers wiring, contains lamps and ventilation. Such ceiling provides almost perfectly plane surface without any seams. Besides, using plasterboards, it is possible to create multilevel or bent surface.

Aluminium-panel hanging ceilings look good. Their distinctive features are: lightness (about 3 kg/m2), long operating life, humidity-resistance, ecological purity, easy mounting (the ceiling is mounted to a special bearing frame). Bars can be of three types: open, closed, and with inserts. Closed bars are mounted butt-to-butt, going behind one another, similar to wooden batten. Between open bars there is a small gap left. It is almost unnoticeable. Such models are usually used in the halls, where ceiling height is more than 5 m. There are also bars with inserts. Such models look like open bars, but the distance between them is covered by the narrow aluminium strips. The ceiling is plane, without cavities or hollows. It is easy to clean. Such ceiling is perfect for a kitchen.

For ceiling coating one can use medium-density fiberboard (MDF) panels, as well as polyvinylchloride (PVC) panels of calm light colors, imitating wood or marble. There also exist panels with stripes, laminated foil of different colors (silver, golden, bright-rosy etc.) Panels have a long life, are ecological and easy to cleanup. Spot lights buried in the ceiling surface match ceiling panels perfectly.

Ultrastrong vinyl suspended ceilings have all the advantages of false ceilings. They are mounted quickly, look spectacular, and the basic ceiling does not need any processing. Besides, there is a wide range of textures and colors of the suspended ceilings. They do not fade in the sun, do not crack, are fireproof, do not form condensate, and do not absorb the smell. It is comfortable to use them, if you need to hide wiring, ventilation pipes, and faults of a main ceiling.
Drawbacks are: ceiling height reducing for 8-10sm, impossibility to change the lights location, because holes for the lamps are made during the process of mounting according to your scheme. This ceiling, if damaged, is impossible to repair.

1 800 mattress

Word Count:
295

Summary:
Looking for the best nation wide mattress retailer? 1 800 mattress is the answer to all your bedding requirements.

Keywords:
1 800 mattress

Article Body:
If you’re looking for 1 800 mattress, then you know that 1 800 mattress is a leading national bedding tele-retailer. 1 800 mattress is also the first in the industry to launch a Spanish-language call center and website, 1-800-Su-Colchon and http://www.1800sucolchon.com/, to assist its customers better understand their bedding purchases in their native tongue.

1 800 Mattress offers the best selection of the most popular brands in North America like Simmons, Sealy, Serta, King Koil and more. They have the largest selection of the number one brand in the United States, Sealy Posturepedic, and their house special, the 1-800-Mattress Collection, a hand-picked line designed by the owner to provide you with the best buy.
Currently, 1 800 Mattress is expanding into Southern California with a franchise agreement with Mattress Gallery, a 57-store retailer based here. A little history lesson tells us that 1 800 Mattress is based in Long Island City, N.Y and 1 800 Mattress has served Southern California since 1999 via telephone. 1 800 Mattress practices a Next Day Nationwide Delivery Policy and customers can order online or even call 1-800 824 7777 to speak with a specialist.

For those who have done business with the national retailer of mattress, they will know that 1 800 Mattress is super efficient and very polite on the phone. Their specialists will offer callers a wide range of prices $200 and onwards plus choices such as Tempur-Pedic, Serta, Simmons, Hypnos, King Coil and Nation’s Pride. They also will allow customers to test the mattress when it arrived and to return it if it does not meet expectations or fit the specifications.

A company experienced in mattress retailing such as 1 800 Mattress should not be ignored when you are sourcing for mattresses or other bedding products. It will save you a lot of trouble by buying from them as they are both winner in variety and pricing!