Basement Ceiling Considerations

Posted on January 27, 2010 by The Home and Garden Guru

You may be contemplating remodeling a basement and thinking about turning it into a game room, bar or additional living space. Today a basement is no longer just a dumping ground for anything that won’t fit anywhere else in your home, however draped in cobwebs, and featuring exposed pipes and damp stains, the basement ceiling may be one area that you haven’t considered in your refurbishment plans. Luckily it is not a difficult problem to fix.

With a bit of effort your basement ceiling can be clean, pristine and beautiful again. The simplest way to do this is just to paint it with basement ceiling paint. It is best to choose white or a pale color of paint to give a light, airy look to what can be an enclosed and musty space. If there are any exposed pipes, these first have to be washed and left to dry. They may need to be sanded down if there is any peeling paint on them. You will need to use a specialist metal paint for the pipes.

The ceiling itself will need to be thoroughly cleaned and any cracks filled with filler, left to dry and then sanded. As all basements are prone to being damp either from moisture seeping through the floor and walls or from condensation, it would be wise to buy a purpose made paint. You can either buy one that is specifically made for basements or a good general kitchen and bathroom paint should be sufficient. Invest in a pair of goggles and a decorator’s mask to wear whilst you are working on the basement ceiling and you won’t have any problems with dust or paint going into your eyes, up your nose or in your mouth.

Taking your time with preparation and making sure the basement ceiling is painted properly will mean that you don’t have to repeat the job for several years.

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Achieve An Exceptional Cup Of Coffee With The Breville K Cup Brewer

Posted on January 26, 2010 by The Home and Garden Guru

If you are like millions of others then you agree that coffee is a wonderful thing. There is nothing like waking up to the sweet aroma of a fresh pot of coffee being brewed. It even seems as the older I get the more enjoyable the entire coffee experience becomes. But along with the enjoyment I find myself getting pretty picky about how I like my coffee to taste. Not just any ole coffee will do. I want my coffee fresh and desire quality and complexity in my cup. If you find yourself relating, then you too have probably tasted the swill that is served at many local coffee shops and had to toss it in the trash a time or two. What makes a one cup of coffee taste good and another taste like it was brewed through a dirty sock? This question has led me on a quest to educate myself about the intricacies of what really makes a great tasting cup of coffee.

Here are the three basic elements that I have found to be crucial to a quality cup of coffee.
1.Water Temperature.
2.Brew Time or extraction time.
3.Quality Of Water.

If you are coffee connoisseur you could make a valid argument that bean quality, roast level, roast freshness, and the grind of the coffee can also be a factor in how a coffee tastes. But for the sake of this article lets stick to the basic brewing elements and the effect it has on a brewed cup of coffee.

Temperature:
Most people do not realize the importance of the effect water temperature has in the brewing process. To prove my point just try brewing a cup of coffee at various water temps and you will see a great difference in taste. Take a coffee and brew it with water that is too hot you will be able to taste burnt or bitter notes. But take that same coffee and brew it with the correct temperature of water and you will experience a optimal taste profile for that coffee. When choosing a coffee maker it is imperative that we purchase a brewer that is capable of adjusting the water temperature. This is the first step to achieving coffee brewing excellence.

Extraction Time:
How long it takes for a cup of coffee to complete the brew cycle also plays an important role in the taste. Coffee that is brewed too fast will taste tangy or sour and one that is brewed too long can leave you with burnt or bitter notes on your palate. This makes brewing extraction also a crucial element to a achieving a quality cup of coffee.

Quality Of Water:
Its not rocket science to assume that poor tasting water will produce poor tasting coffee. In fact this is probably the most important factor in the whole brewing process. Make sure that you use properly filter water or bottled water to ensure a quality brew.

Upon discovering what makes a cup of coffee taste good I stumbled upon a coffee brewer that has the capabilities of controlling all three of these variables. Let me introduce you to the Breville K Cup Coffee brewer. This is the most advanced single cup coffee brewer on the market today that utilizes patented K Cup Coffee technology. With this extraordinary brewer you have the ability to brew a single cup of coffee while controlling the water temp, and extraction time. It also comes equipped with a state of the art water filtration system. Complete with a 60oz water reservoir allowing you to brew multiple cups of coffee without the need to refill. Another great feature is the ability to choose from several different brew volumes allowing you to control the brew strength of your coffee each and every time. So if you are looking for an exceptional cup of coffee right from the convenience of your own home. Do yourself a favor and research K Cup reviews online and you will find that the Breville K Cup coffee brewer is for you!

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The Advantages of Fiber Cement Siding

Posted on January 26, 2010 by The Home and Garden Guru

When it comes to siding installation, there are many different choices and options available. One very common and popular choice is to go with fiber cement siding installation. There are several good reasons why this is the case, as detailed below:

First, fiber cement siding’s cost is very attractive. Generally speaking, fiber cement is cheaper than some alternatives such as the more traditional wood or stucco siding homes. Of course, the cost is higher than the cost of vinyl siding installation, but the following advantages explain how that higher cost is justified.

Second, this type of siding is very durable, and can be much more durable than other types of siding, including wooden siding. It is resistant to many different problems that affect wood, including having a resistance to: termites, water damage, and fire combustion, rotting, and . Because of these attributes many people recommend fiber siding in areas that are hot and humid.

Third, This type of siding is also fairly dent resistant. This can be very important if you have children who like to play baseball in your yard, and can add tremendous value to the life of your home, as it will look nicer for longer periods of time without you having to do an overly amount of maintenance or service to the home and siding.

Finally, you can also usually get very long warranties with good siding, and fiber/cement siding is no different. In fact, if you do decide to go with this type of housing siding, then you may be able to get warranties that will cover the materials for as long as 50 years from the installation date.

As you can see, there are many advantages of intalling fiber cement siding. Speak with your local contractor or siding supplier to find out if this option is the best for you and your home.

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Benefits of Installing a Ductless Range Hood

Posted on January 26, 2010 by The Home and Garden Guru

Health problems can be caused by all the pollutants that are produced by cooking. Ductless range hoods work very well in filtering and removing these odors in the kitchen. There are some differences, however, in the style of hoods which you can install. They are important, though, as they prevent illnesses, keep the kitchen clean and provide a comfortable area to work in. Hoods come in various degrees of sophistication from the basic model to those having timer settings, lights and easy clean surfaces.

The ductless models of hood are extremely efficient at removing the smoke and steam produced by cooking. In winter time, this is particularly important as it reduces humidity caused by the steam and water vapor.

Ductless hoods are also quite easy to replace. There are many different styles and colors to choose form and they also come at a relatively low cost. Without having any duct work to put in, installation is easy. It is as simple as fixing a few screws into the wall and supplying the electricity. It is very easy to replace and old, worn out hood for this very reason.

If you are thinking of renovating your old kitchen you may find there is no original hood in place or there is an old hood fixed above the cooker. Older houses often have this problem as there is often no exhaust system, made for a modern range. So a ductless model is the easier solution to your ventilation requirements.

Although a range hood is a vital appliance in the kitchen, often, very little thought is given to it. The appliance itself contains and electric powered blower, surrounded by a cover which extracts the air, including pollutants from the kitchen. There is an abundance of different shapes, designs and styles to choose from, but they all provide the same function.

As the name implies, the main difference between these types of hoods and other kitchen hoods is that they do not contain any ducts. Air is sucked into the machine, passed through a filter and is then re-circulated into the kitchen. Some models will filter the air a number of times, removing the pollutants and odors.

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Decorate Your Entryway For A Good First Impression

Posted on January 24, 2010 by The Home and Garden Guru

The first thing that visitors see when they enter your home is your entry way.  Many people leave this area bare and neglected, which doesn’t give a visitor the best first impression of your home.  The good thing is that it doesn’t take much to spruce the area up and can be done very well on a tight budget.

An entryway’s shape will determine what fits best, some are an actual room whereas others are just a small corridor.  Either way a table of some sort is a good idea.  This gives the area a much more finished look, and offers somewhere to drop off your keys and mail when you walk in the door.  The table doesn’t have to be fancy or expensive.  Most people will use something that is taller than normal tables and narrower so that it has more impact without taking up too much space.

Decorating the table is up to you.  Many people choose a glass art piece that is easy to maintain and display.  Small statues and collectables are also common.  My favorite piece is a large glass bowl that has faux fruit or other display in it.

Blank walls are never friendly either.  A large art piece will make a great first impression on new visitors to your home.  If you can’t afford the real thing, a framed replica or reprint art piece looks great in any entry way.  Many people shy away from pictures of family here, but I think that’s totally acceptable.  If you already have things on your walls in an area that doesn’t get much love in your home, moving that to the entry way is a great idea.

It really doesn’t take much to decorate an entry, but it has a huge impact on the overall feel of your home.  There are so many things that you can do – it’s just important that you do something rather than leave it blank and empty.

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How To Keep Your Rugs Looking At Their Best

Posted on January 24, 2010 by The Home and Garden Guru

To keep your rug in good looking condition it is absolutely necessary to maintain it regularly. If cleaned superficially once a week, and deep cleaned once in a while your area rug will keep it original good look longer. It not difficult to do and does not take a whole lot of time to preserve your rug and protect the investment you made when you bought it.

Dust and rug fibers do not get along very well. The first thing to do to keep a rug in good shape is a weekly vacuum, or twice a week if it gets a lot of traffic. Use your vacuum in brush mode to pick up the most dust without damaging the fibers. In case you have just bought a beautiful contemporary round rug it will have a tendency to fluff, that means to lose fibers. Brushing your rug during this time is not a good idea as it can lead to an accelerated fluffing period, and that could damage the rug.

There are many products to clean rugs and most of them are expensive. You can remove a spot on your favorite round oriental rug at very little cost by dabbing the spot with a little seltzer water. Do not rub!

Often one problem that people have with their rug is the marks left by furniture legs. One way to redress those crushed fibers is to use a clothes iron with steam over the damaged fibers. This will help restore some of the original look of your area rug.

To cleanse a rug from germs that might have found a place there use bicarbonate soda, also known as baking soda. Sprinkle it on the rug, let it stand for about 15 minutes then vacuum.

To keep your area rug from wearing too fast, you can change its direction once in a while, this is easier to do if you own a round rug than a rectangular one and it can depend on the motif as it might look different, but it will preserve your rug from excessive wear.

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The Stand Alone Closet

Posted on January 24, 2010 by The Home and Garden Guru

A stand alone closet is often an expensive item to buy and takes considerable effort to set up in ones home. This is true whether the stand alone closet is built and put together already, being a large and cumbersome object to move, or if its in pieces, requiring time and patience to put together for the owner. Why bother using a stand alone closet in your home then? In this article we will take a look at 3 reasons you might want to consider a stand alone closet as both a proper storage item as well as an item that can be usd to aid in the overall decor or design of your home.

First of all, the stand alone closet, at face value, means you have additional closet storage in your home. This is a nice perk and I don’t know anyone who couldn’t use more storage space in their closets, do you? Many stand 4 to 6 feet tall and function much like a closet, with a closet rod for hanging clothes and a series of shelves and storage areas for smaller items, such as hats and scarves. This will be the case whether an expensive or cheap stand alone closet is installed. Which brings us to our next point!

Secondly, while there are cheap stand alone closets, many of them come in the form of a classy wardrobe armoire. A wardrobe armoire is basically any kind of wooden storage unit designed to hold clothes. Wooden wardrobe armoires are typically designed with a sense of style and class in mind, and cost many hundreds or even a thousand or more dollars. In return, a wardrobe armoire looks fantastic and will last indefinitely.

Third, consider how the use of a standalone closet can add to the look of a room. For instance, a wardrobe armoire placed by the front door hallway for storing coats and shoes looks very nice. But it could also work in the living room, dining room, and of course, in the bedroom too. The point is that a stand alone closet isn’t just for storage – they will add a nice look to any room they are placed in.

If these points interest you, take a look at your home and imagine where or how you could install a stand alone closet and what benefits it would do both for giving your storage space and being a welcome addition to the homes design.

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FAQs Regarding The Maintenance Of Wooden Sash Windows.

Posted on January 22, 2010 by The Home and Garden Guru

A lot of people have wooden sash windows installed in their homes and unfortunately, due to a lack of knowledge, they do not maintain them properly.  This can result in their windows getting into a state of disrepair that can eventually cost the homeowner money.  In this article we will answer some of the most frequently asked questions that we receive with regard to the maintenance of wooden sash windows .

How often should I clean my wooden sash windows?

Timber traditional sash windows are similar to any other type of sash window and should be cleaned regularly.  This will allow extra light into the home and give the entire house a fresher appearance.  A lot of sashes have six over six panes and this can make washing them more time consuming than say a single paned casement window, but the results will be worth the effort.  Always keep your personal safety in mind when you are cleaning any windows, especially upper floor windows.

Do wooden sash windows need regular painting?

Timber is a beautiful product in a window and one of the advantages of wooden sash windows is that you can change their colour regularly, as against uPVC sash windows for instance.  You should inspect your timber sash windows every four to six years to see that the paintwork is still intact and fresh looking.  It is best not to wait until the paint is removed from the sashes before you re-paint, as the frame timber may become damaged if exposed to inclement weather.

What other maintenance do I need to carry out on my windows?

Timber sash windows are similar to all other windows in that they operate best with small amounts of regular maintenance rather than being ignored for long periods of time.  Bad weather can result in sashes getting tight and the pulleys and counter weights of traditional sash windows should be checked every so often to make sure that the cords are properly attached and not frayed in any way.  If you are taking out sashes for any reason it is best if you can work with another person, as sashes can be heavy to handle.

The above question are regularly asked by people who have wooden sash windows installed in their homes and who want to look after them properly.  If you follow these tips for keeping your wooden sash windows in good working order you should have no problem with your windows.

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Tub Chairs For Your Living Room

Posted on January 22, 2010 by The Home and Garden Guru

A great way to add a bit of style to your living room is to have a tub chair in there. They are very reasonably priced and have a charm all of their own. They have been popular for many years, usually finding a place in the best hotels and clubs. The reason is that they are very comfortable if you choose the right design. Tub chairs come in a wide range of colors and materials, so the following guide will help determine the different types you will come across on the market.

Standard chairs are usually made of leather or fabric. These dominate the online stores and furniture shops because they are what people buy most often. Fabric is great because you can have many funky designs, with elaborate patterning and colors. They can fit into almost any living room décor without too much trouble. The fabric is very easy to keep clean, with better fibers in the material that can be cleaned up with just a damp cloth. Leather is also very simple to clean, even the lighter colors. When choosing a leather tub chair you want to have a soft feel if possible. This is where the comfort comes from, and only the highest grade will give you this luxury.

Other types of chair are made from metal and wood finishes. A common choice is brushed aluminum or stainless steel. The arms and back rests are highly polished to give a clean, crisp look that works well in contemporary homes. Wood is also very versatile, and can be treated and coated into a variety of colors and patterns to match existing items.

One very important point is the overall quality. Go for those made in the west, as they are typically hand crafted from better materials. The cushions will have high quality foam inserts and the springs will be wound tighter for more comfort. Remember, the price should reflect the quality at all times.

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Metal Carport Shelters Are Worth Shopping Around For

Posted on January 21, 2010 by The Home and Garden Guru

You can easily find carport shelters at a local dealer but it is in your best interest to shop around online before you make a purchase locally. There are many manufacturers to choose from and many offer free shipping and some even offer free assembly. Carport shelter kits are easy to put up but you will need to recruit some help from friend or two in order to successfully assemble and install one. If you simply don’t have enough time or help in order to handle the installation yourself, then you will definitely want to shop around for a company that can do it for you at a reasonable price.

Most carport shelter kit manufacturers also offer the service of installation. Some charge extra while others have that cost built into the price of their products. A metal carport shelter should arrive at your location almost fully complete with the exception of putting the pieces together and bolting them in place. It is best if you have a solid surface that your new carport can be installed onto. Most local governments require that you anchor an outdoor structure down to a solid surface because it will help the shelter remain in place under extreme weather conditions.

When shopping for metal carport kits you will need to also decide which material, size, and type will best fit your storage and shelter requirements. If you plan to store your personal vehicle under the shelter, make sure you measure your vehicle and enough space around your vehicle so you can safely maneuver in the area without being exposed to rain or snow. You can also choose to spend a little more money to get a shelter that is completely closed in so your vehicle has full protection from whatever Mother Nature may have in store. If you live in an area that is in danger of wild fires, choose a material like steel or concrete because anything else is likely to go up in flames under extreme heat.

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