Your Home Improvement Confusion Cleared With This Advice

So you’ve found this article. Are you ready to get started on all of those home improvement projects? Now you can! You, no doubt, have many questions, and this article will cover them. Find tons of great home improvement advice to help you along the way.

New couches and chair are not cheap. Instead of buying new you can get creative by finding unique pieces that are gently used. You might find great things when buying used stuff, including furniture. Some may require a bit of work, but with the right time invested, they can be a real asset to your household.

It’s time to pop those flooring bubbles! If this problem is visible in your home, you can cut it and get rid of the problem. The bubble will collapse in the short term. You Remodeling will have to inject a bit of glue, though, to keep the repaired section flush with the floor. Get the glue that comes inside a syringe to help you complete this job.

Protect your floors at all times when you engage in painting your home. This helps keep wet paint off of your flooring. A cheaper way to get this done is to layer old newspapers. Other alternatives include a drop cloth or large plastic tarp; both are available at most home improvement centers.

Think about putting in insulation whenever you plan on renovating your home. You can install weather-stripping on each of your windows and doors. Your energy bill will be more affordable as you weatherize your home. That is going to mean savings on your utility bills.

Now, you should be prepared for home improvement projects. You may have thought yourself to be ready, look at yourself now! Use the advice provided above, and get started on all of those home improvement jobs that you have been putting off.…

How to Repair a Rear Defroster

How to Repair a Rear Defroster

The rear-window defroster on your back glass is only painted on. Sometimes it can get damaged or even get a disruption in the electrical flow. Patches of frost on your back glass would be an indicator of a problem.

(1) Check your fuse, which located in the fuse box going to the rear-window defroster unit. Use a voltmeter to see if both sides of the fuse get a sufficient reading. If you can’t get a reading, replacement of the fuse will be necessary.

(2) Check the terminals on the defroster grid, which are usually located at the top or sometimes the bottom of the grid. Sometimes the terminals get broken. Check both terminals and if they are broken, they can be put back together with glue. Be sure that the broken ends are placed together firmly so as to receive continuity. (Look at your wiring diagram located in your automotive manual.)

(3) Locate the wires plugged into the back of the defroster switch for the rear window. Be sure the fuse is plugged in. then, disconnect both wires leading to the switch and touch both ends of the wires. Hold them together for a few seconds and the defroster should not come on while the wires are held together. (This will mean that you will need a new defroster switch.)

(4) Inspect the wires under the dash leading away from the defroster switch and if they are intact, check the defroster grid on the rear window for any breaks. If any breaks are found but the ends are intact, you can apply some glue on both ends of the broken pieces of the grid and stick them back together.

(5) If you find a broken piece of the grid that is missing a piece then, you will need to buy a defroster repair kit (available at an auto parts retailer) You will find conductive paint included within the kit.

(6)Clean off the area of the break with alcohol and apply the paint to the area that is broken.

(7)Let the area dry for 12 to 24 hours, then your defroster will be ready to use.

By following these steps outlined above, replacement of the entire back glass is not entirely necessary when the rear-window defroster on the car’s back glass gets damaged.…

How to Choose New Home Windows

How to Choose New Home Windows

When you set out to choose new home windows there are two distinct factors that you want to consider: style and efficiency. While the style is what will be most pleasing to the eye, the efficiency of the windows is what will be most pleasing to your wallet over the long haul.

When it comes to style, there are basically three types of windows that you can choose from. Here are the three styles of windows you can choose for your new home:

1. Casement: These are the most energy efficient windows. Casement windows open from a hinge by way of a crank operation. This enables the sash of the window to stay tight and let very little air though.

2. Double Hung: A double hung window has a lower panel of glass and an upper panel of glass and will open from the bottom by sliding the lower panel up. The drawback to these windows is that over time the weather seal usually gets damaged from opening and closing the window and this allows for more air to get through.

3. Sliding: Sliding windows are much like the double hung, only they open by sliding one panel to the side of the other. The same weather seal problem that plagues double hung windows usually persists with the sliding windows as well.

After you have chosen the style of windows for your new home, you then need to consider how efficient those windows will be. There are two efficiency guides that can help you choose the best window efficiency wise for you, these guides are:

1. R-Value: This measures how much heat loss your windows are capable of losing. This is important to the overall efficiency of the windows so you will want to go with windows that have at least an R-3 rating or better. Of course the higher the rating, the higher the efficiency, but also the higher the price.

2. U-Factor: This is a measure of how well the windows will prevent air from coming in the windows. U-Factors that are less than 0.35 are desirable and considered efficient. This factor is especial important during the hottest and coldest times of the year.

There are also different types of glass treatments that affect the overall efficiency of the windows you will select for your new home. A regular panel of glass will not offer any protection and will therefore be the least efficient for windows.

You can also get glass that is treated with a glaze either on one side or both. The glass with one side glazed will be a little less efficient versus the glass with both sides glazed and this will again affect price.

The cream of the crop in window glass is Low-e window glass. These windows feature two panes of glass per panel and in-between the glass there is an invisible gas, such as argon, that keeps heat in or out depending on what you want. …

Halloween Safety Tips For Your Family

Halloween Safety Tips For Your Family

Halloween is lots of fun, but there are also plenty of dangers lurking, and this doesn’t just mean scary costumes. This break from the ordinary provides opportunities for criminals to catch you off guard. Here are a few tips to keep your family safe this Halloween:

Choose the right costume – Kids should be wearing flame-retardant costumes that do not restrict their movement. The costume should hit your child around their ankles, it should not be hanging or dragging on the ground for your child to trip over. Your child should be able to move just as fast in their costume as they can in their regular clothing. If the costume is not warm enough for a chilly fall evening, make sure it is large enough for a layer of thick clothing underneath. Particularly for younger kids, choose a costume that is brightly colored or light colored so that you can spot them easily in the dark. Use reflective tape to make dark costumes easier to see. Kids may choose a costume by any number of criteria; make sure that you, as an adult, handle the safety aspect of costume selection.

Choose proper accessories -Give kids glow sticks or necklaces. They will have a lot of fun, but this is also an important safety measure. Select shoes that are easy to walk in, and remember that your children will be outdoors, on the street, at night. A pair of high-heeled princess dress up shoes may go perfectly with the costume, but your little one will be complaining long before the night is over. Any masks or headpieces should not restrict their vision or hearing; consider face paint instead of a mask.

Stay with your kids – An adult must accompany the children, and they must stay together as a group. Even on Halloween, it simply isn’t safe to let young children wander around outdoors alone. If you allow older kids to go trick or treating in a group without adult supervision, remind them of safety tips like staying on sidewalks rather than walking in the middle of the road, obeying all traffic signals, staying together, and never entering anyone’s home or vehicle. Consider giving them a personal alarm so that they can easily alert nearby adults if someone bothers them, and don’t forget to make sure they have a cell phone and a flashlight with working batteries. If there are dogs in the neighborhood, a keychain canister of pepper spray can keep attacking dogs at bay. Agree on a route and a curfew before they leave. All trick-or-treaters should stick to an area they know well, and only approach homes with well-lit entrances.

Safeguard your home – Halloween is a unique opportunity for criminals. They assume that anyone who is home will open the door, which makes it easy for them to find unoccupied homes. With so many people out and about, someone outdoors at night will not arouse as much suspicion. If you …

Installing Glass Block – Tricks of the Tradesman

Installing Glass Block – Tricks of the Tradesman

You can install glass block!

It’s not the easiest do it yourself project out there, but it will be perhaps the most rewarding, because it can be challenging and it will impress everyone–especially you! I have discovered the following tricks over the last eight years while building a successful glass block installation company in Palm Coast, Florida. You will not find them on any installation guide out there, because installers don’t write the guides!

Start with the fun stuff–design the window. There are only a few manufacturers of glass block–Pittsburgh Corning (distributed by Home Depot and Lowe’s, to name a few), Weck, and Mulia. Personally I prefer Mulia–the price point is usually lower, the block meets the same design standards (all 4 inch deep block meets the Florida hurricane codes–the toughest standards in the country), and Mulia paints the interior edge of the block, which makes a nicer detail when the window is finished. All three make similar sizes and patterns. Design with the opening in mind–Pittsburgh Corning has a great guide on their website for planning out the project. Whichever block you choose, you can use this site for a planning tool. Just be sure and plan for a masonry installation–it is the most cost effective, easiest to finish, and best looking. Follow that guide for a materials list: glass block, spacers, glass block mortar, panel anchors, reinforcing, and expansion joint. Don’t use channels; they complicate the project with no added benefit and less visual appeal.

Tip #1–The rough opening size

You want the rough opening to be one inch over the nominal dimension of the window. Simply put, if you want a window six blocks wide by six blocks high, using eight inch block (the standard size) your nominal dimension will be 6 block x 8 inches = 48 inches + 1 inch = 49 inches. Now that you know the standard, know the tolerance. The actual size of the glass block window will only be 47 3/4 inches x 47 3/4 inches. That 49 inch opening you are shooting for can vary up to an inch, and you can still make the window fit. So don’t split hairs.

Tip #2–The bed joint

The bed joint is the foundation–it is a layer of mortar set on the window sill. If you have a true one inch over the nominal size,split it and make a half inch bed joint. You can guesstimate this, just check the opening after the bed joint is down to insure that you have enough room for the glass block. The secret to a window that lays itself is the bed joint. Put down the mortar (made the consistency of home made mashed potatoes), then dust it liberally with dry mortar. This will allow you to level this bed without the level sticking to it. If you start with a firm, level bed, you will seldom have to make any adjustments as you go up. Using your …

Pest Control Tips For Your Home And Business

It’s hard to eliminate pests if they’re in your home.You may spend lots of money and effort trying to get rid of them. Use the tips presented here to solve your pest problem before it causes real damage.

Vacuuming the pests inside a home. This will get rid of the problem. Dispose of the vacuum cleaner bag when done.

People that are experiencing trouble with flying pests that fly need to repair all of the screens in their home. Screens on doors and windows keep most crawling bugs out of your home. Fix all the screens so that bugs can’t enter.

Look around to identify pools of standing water and eliminate it. Pests love standing water like nothing else. Make sure that you have no leaky pipes and keep all standing water in your home.Pests require water to stay alive, so getting rid of it will make it that much harder for pests to live in your home.

Fleas can be hard to eliminate, but there are things you can work on to improve the situation. Always discard the vacuum bag once you are finished cleaning your living space.

You can get control of the insects and other pests in your home. Consult the professionals at your local Lowe’s or other home improvement outlet for advice to rid yourself of these pests. They are trained to know which remedies work on whatever pest you have in your home.

Electronic pest repellents are very effective.These tiny devices plug into room outlets where they emit a low buzzing noise that chases rodents away when plugged in. Humans and pets are able to hear the sound, but the noise will not hurt you. Rodents can stand the noise and will leave.

Not surprisingly, pests are easier to attract than to get rid of. Hopefully here you have gotten enough knowledge to keep pests away. If the problem is major, you may need a professional.

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Home Window Installation: Why You Should Go With a Contractor

Home Window Installation: Why You Should Go With a Contractor

There are many reasons for you to replace the windows in your home. It might be just that you want to increase the value of your home or perhaps you want to simply make it look better so that you can enjoy it more and make your neighbors jealous. Or perhaps you are looking to reduce the cost of your utility bills and increase the energy efficiency of your home. You may even simply be planning on remodeling to repair some broken or warped windows.

Whatever your reason for replacing your windows, it is a good idea to have a professional window installation service do the work for you. Yes, you can do the work yourself but most people do not have everything they need to install windows. And while it might appear to be cheaper to do it yourself rather than hire a window installation service, you have to keep in mind that if you make a mistake, you will have to hire them to fix it anyway. You could end up finding yourself paying much more than you had ever intended.

A professional window installation service has years of experience. They have come across nearly every problem that could possibly happen during window installation. There are often problems that need to be addressed before the installation can even begin and if you are not familiar with these problems, then you could have trouble installing your windows. Another issue that a professional can more easily handle is the fact that most homes don’t have square openings for the windows. When a home settles, that can change the shape of the window openings. Shims have to be installed correctly for windows to keep out the elements and air, and for them look good and operate correctly.

A window installation service has all of the tools that are needed to install windows. Most homeowners do not have those tools. Some windows require special tools and you could pay more than you’re paying for the window in order to buy the tools you would need. You could end up having problems transporting your windows and may end up paying for delivery. You also could need a helper because windows are cumbersome and depending on the kind of window you’ve chosen to install, you might need a good bit of strength to install it. An example would be a picture window or a big bay window.

A window installation service will give you a guarantee for both their products and their services. If you install the windows yourself you will not receive this option, so if something should go wrong, you have no one that you can call to fix it. The majority of problems that occur with replacement windows are problems caused by faulty installation.

You can see why it makes sense to use a professional window installation service. If you still want to do it yourself, you can, but keep in …

How to Clean a Window Air Conditioner Effectively

How to Clean a Window Air Conditioner Effectively

Air conditioners do come in different sizes and types but they all are composed of same components. For their efficient functioning, it is important to maintain them properly. By cleaning it regularly, you not only increase its efficiency but also prolong the life of the unit and its parts. In order to clean window air conditioner, you do not require any technical knowledge, just common sense would be sufficient.

Always unplug your conditioner and make sure you wear your safety glasses and gloves before starting with it. The most crucial part of an air conditioner is its condenser coil that needs to be treated gently. In window units, as evaporator coil is placed much closer to the condenser coil, you need to take care while cleaning. Since the former one is placed outside, it maybe difficult to clean them as most of the dirt will be accumulated on it. So, in order to clean window air conditioner thoroughly, you should remove its front and back panel and keep it in a dry flat surface.

You can easily brush on both the coils using a soft coil brush. If you want to use a vacuum cleaner, always use a soft brush since these parts are highly delicate. After removing the dirt, you can also clean them with water using a spray or hose. Make sure you do not wet the motor or any other electronic wire in the unit. The pressure used should be very light and so should be the water force since you do not want to bend or damage the fins. If you find any of the fins damaged, you can easily replace them or fix them using a fin comb. You can use different coil cleaner concentrates available in the market to clean them from inside. They are available at your air conditioner dealer.

The coils will get dried in about 5-10 minutes. You can rinse them again using gentle water force. This will ensure that the dirt has been removed completely from the coils.

In continuation with your session to clean window air conditioner, you can even apply coil coating treatment that would be helpful in keeping the dirt away from these coils for a long period of time. Next step would be to check your filter. You can clean it with water, but again be careful with electrical parts attached near it.

You can now fix the covers back to their panels. These are the basic steps to have a clean window air conditioner that would be helpful in increasing the efficiency to a great extent.…

How To Wash Your Windows Like A Pro!

How To Wash Your Windows Like A Pro!

Have you ever spent the day spraying, scrubbing, buffing, polishing and “cleaning” your windows – but in almost no time at all, they attract more dirt back to their surface?

Well, believe it or not, window cleaning chemical companies are smart. They know that if their product (even the “streak-free” kind) is simply buffed on/off with a cloth, chemical residue will remain on the glass and act as a magnet for dirt. This means you have to clean your windows more often – and buy more of their product. Crafty, huh?

As a 2nd generation window cleaner, my customers ask me all the time what our “secret” is to keep windows looking so clean for so long.

The Secret!

The “secret” is not much of a secret at all! Oftentimes consumers who are serious about clean windows already are following the right steps, but they may not be using the right formula.

Well, for us, the “secret” consists of a few things –

TSP (tri-sodium phosphate)

A scrubber & squeegee

A natural sea sponge

I’ll go over these one by one and explain the benefits of each –

Tri-Sodium Phosphate (TSP)

TSP a very generic detergent that is found in all kinds of cleaning formulas.

You can buy it at most general purpose stores or paint stores (Fred Meyers, Wal-Mart, Miller’s). Painters use concentrated formulas to prepare walls and wood for painting. However, when cleaning windows, only a very small amount is needed. About 1 tsp to 1 gallon of hot water – not too much! The less you use – the longer your windows stay clean.

The other reason why professional window cleaners use TSP is that it doesn’t suds up. When soap suds are created, reside is more likely to be left behind on the window – causing windows to attract dirt more quickly.

Scrubber & Squeegee

A good scrubber and squeegee are crucial. Simply buffing a chemical on and off a window is not enough. It will leave residue behind – period.

However, a squeegee removes 99.9% of chemical residue and provides a surface that extremely difficult for dirt to stick to. Make sure you get a squeegee that uses good quality rubber. Shower squeegees are not the same thing!

Believe it or not, you can pick up professional quality scrubber wands and squeegees at hardware stores such as Home Depot or Lowe’s.

Brands that professional window cleaners use, such as myself, are ones such as –

Unger

Ettore

Pulex

Natural Sea Sponge

OK – I’ll admit it. This might be a little fancy for those who are only washing your windows once in a while. But as a professional who washes thousands of windows a month – I’m picky about my sponges.

Because of how much more absorbent and pliable sea sponges are, they soak up and hold water remarkably well. No synthetic sponge compares. After you squeegee off your window, you are left with a mess of …

Unique Home Decor Items: Great Gift Items for This Christmas

Unique Home Decor Items: Great Gift Items for This Christmas

Christmas is knocking the door. Are you ready with your arrangements? Have you decided the gifts for your loved ones? Generally, the most important part in the Christmas celebrations is the gifts exchanged between the relatives and friends. Everyone makes big plans for the Christmas celebration and spend enough time in gift shopping. The gift hunt is taken very seriously and devotedly. You will find market flooded with Christmas trees, Santa’s complete dresses and variety of colorful gifts. But to find that perfect gift you want to go some extra miles. The following is a list of unique home d?�cor items you can easily buy online. These home decorative items make excellent gifts that would be appreciated and used by your loved ones.

Photo frames: In the recent times, photo frames have become a bestseller and people like this gift idea very much. You will find unique photo frames in wood, metal, glass, plastic and rot iron. Even personalized photo frames are very much in.

Wind chimes: They are considered as a sign of good luck and are advised to be added in the home decorative items. Almost everybody loves to listen to the musical and soothing sounds from the wind chimes. Choose it for someone very special, you will surely be admired.

Clocks: Today is the time of personalized products in which clocks are the most popular. Unique and personalized clocks make a great gift for all ages. These are unique home decor items which are best fit for any home decor. You will find great design and patterns in these clocks.

Jewelry: Jewelry always makes a very unique and special gift to ladies. Bracelets, lockets and broaches are a hit and most admired amongst the ladies.

Kitchen decorative: You will find a wide variety of kitchen accessories such as vases, pottery, crystal bowls, candles, incenses, and pitchers. These are wonderful gifts to give to the person who spends a great deal of time in the kitchen.

If this list is not sufficient for you then check the online stores who are packed with these unique home decor items and other gift options.…